Blood in the Water

Five

There were several things I knew for sure. I knew that I was completely utterly done for. I knew that since the beginning we'd been dealt a losing hand against the Vampyre's. I knew that whatever I chose to do about mine and my pack's fate lay directly in my hands, and there wasn't a soul I could talk to about it.

But, for everything, I did know there was something I didn't. I didn't know what would happen now, what they would have me do to my own pack. I didn't know how to protect them. I had no idea how to protect myself. And, the biggest thing I didn't know was what would happen to the mate bond.

All I knew what that I was completely fucked and that thought alone brought tears to my eyes.

It was some time before they came for me.

I'd managed to open the door that I'd suspected led to a bathroom. It did - cue happy dance. My face hadn't been that bad, it was healing, slowly. I still wasn't a hundred per cent on my feet and I'd swayed back and forth a wave of nausea taking over. Somewhere between Lord Briss and being thrown back in here my leg had healed enough. Still hurts like a bitch though.

I'd given myself a hand wash, wiping all the dried blood and dirt off. I'd cried as I washed my leg - I was going to have one ugly ass scare on my shin.

Most of the time in the room I'd spent alternating between admiring the beautiful room and bathroom and thinking over what Lord Briss had said. My feelings were beyond complicated. All I needed to do was get back to the base and figure out my next steps.

At least I was going to be freed. I had to warn everyone. I had to make sure no one died because of me and if the consequence be my death – then so be it.

"Cassia Bane." The door opened and an extremely bored-looking man was stood behind it. I sniffed the air, human.

"That's me." I shifted, hobbling around the foot of the bed. I'd found it to just as comfortable as it looked.

The softness wasn't lost on me. We didn't have luxuries like this back on the base - it was a camping bed in a room shared with other people. At the end of the day, you were there for the cause and NOT a fashionable weekend away. But we had been there for months and it had felt like forever since I'd had the pleasure of a warm bed.

"I've been instructed by Lord Briss to escort you to the tree line." The human didn't make eye-contact and upon closer inspection, it wasn't boredom on his face but rather pure exhaustion.

"To the tree line?" I looked around the room, "but I don't know my way back-"

"Lord Briss accounted for this, and he passes on his farewells." I highly doubted that. The human bowed at the door; I took this as my cue to leave. "Now, if you will follow me Cassia Bane."

It was odd, to say the least - following another human around the grounds of a Vampyre infested manor. It was even weirder not being bound and gagged at every waking moment. I limped behind the man- following his every turn. The hallways were practically abandoned, and every corner we turned gave way to even more beautiful wallpaper and pictures. My boots sunk into the plush carpets - this place would be beautiful – haunted but beautiful.

The man in front of me was dressed in tatters, clothes hung off his body in an awkward manner. I couldn't help but notice the fang marks dotted around his neck.

"Do they feed off you?" I couldn't help the question - it popped from my mouth before I could stop it. He tensed but didn't stop, he turned his face towards me - it was blank of any emotion.

"I provide services here." That was all he said.

"Do they hurt you?" The question was quiet, and he tensed but he didn't turn to face me again. All I could do was follow behind him as best I could - the limp was making it difficult. Especially when my leg wasn't healed yet.

"Beyond those doors is the exit and the entrance to the trees." There was a slight panic in his voice. I followed his line of eyesight and sure enough, was a grand looking door.

"Whe-" But he was gone, running back the way we had come. For a second I had debated running after him – or trying to – but a single glance at the door made my mind for me.

I sighed and dragged my body to the door - time to go home.