Fighting For My Undead Soul

Chapter 5

Artemis' POV

I came to in the same room, but I was laying in the corner without restraints and the chair I was previously bound to had disappeared. My hand went to the back of my neck, rubbing it gently as I rocked my head this way and that. These fuckers were going to pay for breaking my neck over and over when I finally get free of this situation. I seemed to be okay this time, same as before. Actually, I felt a little bit stronger than before. Without the spell ridden ropes tying me down, I could feel more of my typical power flowing through my body. As if my senses just starting working, I realized I could hear another heartbeat in the room with me.

Looking around, I finally noticed a trail of dried blood a few feet away from me and it led to the other side of the room where the young girl from earlier was still laying. Her eyes were open, though her breathing was still shallow like before. She was watching me through half open lids. Her hand closest to me was outstretched, like she was reaching for me to help her. I started to move, slowly at first, still testing my reflexes. I crawled across the room, which wasn't much more than ten feet wide. As I got closer to her, she pulled her hand back the tiniest bit. I paused, realizing she may be slightly afraid at having seen my neck snapped only for me to wake up again later. I had no clue what may be going through her head, but I could hear her weak heartbeat quicken slightly.

Her other hand was pressed down as tight as possible onto her stomach to stop the blood flow. I pointed to her wound and tried to speak. My voice came out hoarse and I noticed how dry it was. How long have I been here? I cleared it and tried again, "I want to help you." I continued crawling again, speaking softly to not cause alarm. "My mom is a doctor, so I know a little bit about first aid. My name is Artemis, I just want to help you." I reached her seconds later and gently put my hand on top of hers that was covering the wound. A small groan escaped past her lips. "I know, I'm sorry," I said to her. "I need to move your hand, so I can see it better, okay?" I lifted her hand and placed it higher on her stomach. Her shirt was soaked with blood, and I had to lift it up too to even see beneath it.

There was a gash in her stomach. It looked like a knife had been plunged into her and ripped back out. Why, though? Who is this girl? I put my hand back over the wound to keep applying pressure. I looked around the room, it was utterly empty except for us. I had no tools to stitch her back up, cauterize the wound, or anything else of the sort. I chewed on my bottom lip, knowing the only viable option was to give her my blood to drink. It would have plenty of time to heal her, but I would have to explain to her after why it did. I sighed. She was so young; I couldn't let her die like this. I wouldn't. I bit into my wrist and brought it to her lips. Her eyes widened a fraction, but she was too weak to move otherwise. I pushed my wrist down until my blood had no choice but to go into her mouth and she had no choice but to swallow it.

I immediately noticed color reentering her shockingly pale cheeks and her eyes were getting brighter the more she drank. After about thirty seconds, I pulled my wrist back and crawled to my spot across the room. Without having drank any blood myself for a bit, I felt weaker after sharing some of mine. At least she would be okay though and maybe she could tell me a little bit about why we are here.

I don't know how long I waited, but eventually she sat up against the wall and her heartbeat sounded closer to normal. I watched as she lifted her shirt up to inspect her wound, but it was gone. She felt all around, even going so far as to take her shirt completely off. Confusion lit up her features and she finally looked up, her eyes meeting mine. How? Her eyes asked me. I ignored her unspoken question, "Do you feel okay?" I asked her. She took stock of the rest of her body then, clenching and unclenching her hands, twisting her core to the left and right. "Y-yes," she responded, her voice a little feeble despite her response. "Why are we here?" she asked me. I shook my head, "I don't know. I thought you might know something I don't."

She looked around the room, licking her dry, cracked lips as she did so. She was pretty, I decided. She had long, wavy brown hair with green eyes that had a brown tint to them. Freckles dotted her cheeks, and her eye lashes were naturally long and almost brushed her cheeks when she blinked. She looked like... Lena. "I don't really remember anything," she said, her eyes returning to mine. "I was shopping at the mall, and someone grabbed me. I felt a pinch in my neck and then I don't know what happened until I woke up here. A little bit before you were brought in, someone came in here and stabbed a knife into my stomach and then left." Her hand absentmindedly returned to her stomach, and she held onto the spot the stab wound had previously been. "How did you fix me?" she asked out loud this time.

I ignored her again, "Listen to me. I know the people who brought us here," Valerie's face flashed through my head, "I don't know why we're here, but they are not good people. If you get a chance to go, take it. Until then," I slightly nodded my head in the direction of a security camera situated in the corner of the room, she followed my gaze, "lay low."

We didn't speak again outside of her giving me her name. After what felt like a few hours, Lola laid down and closed her eyes. She shivered slightly, but she fell into sleep quickly. I wished I had a jacket to give her, but I had been taken from home before I could change out of my pajamas. I was at a loss for what to do. I couldn't call Spencer or Cass to get me out of this mess. I had also never been taken by another set of vampires before. Hunters, yes, but even with their spells and witchcraft I've always been able to find a way out. Here though, my enemy was my equal in every way. I could try to run when the door opened, but even if I made it out, I'd be leaving Lola behind. I couldn't leave her here, knowing what they might possibly do to her.

What did Valerie want? She would have to know that by taking me she's starting a war between my family and hers. Maybe that is what she wants, I mused. The last time we met, she was worried about hunters. But my family and I fixed that problem for them for the time being. So now, they have no enemy except for us. I guess it comes down to what it always does for vampires. Blood and money. That's what their after and they want to use me to get it. Maybe if I play along, Spencer will have time to figure out where I am and come for me. I know by now Lena must have realized something is wrong.

Oh god, Lena. We've been fighting so much about her work and us not spending enough time together. I put my face in my hands. What if she thinks I left again? No matter what she says, I know she hasn't truly forgiven me for leaving once and attempting to leave again. How could she? I don't blame her for struggling to move on with me and with her new life. I try not to start arguments or cause tension. But things haven't been easy, for either of us. I've needed her, after losing my brother and my aunt. And she's needed space, after losing herself and having to rebuild her life. Things between us just haven't been what I expected. I would never leave though, not again. Not for anything. Please, please know that I tried to send my message to her telepathically. Wherever you are, I love you.