Fighting For My Undead Soul

Chapter 10

Lena's POV

I squirmed on the ground, pinned beneath the body of some unknown vampire. My hands were being held in a firm grip behind my back and all I could see were the shoes of those around me as my cheek was squished into the hard floor. On my other side, I knew Cassie was being held in the same manner. Spencer had been pulled out of the room, requiring multiple vampires to keep him at bay. Our attempt to overpower Roman and his people was utterly pathetic, at least on my part. I was the first to go down, Cassie not far behind me. Spencer probably could have managed on his own if he hadn't tried to help us.

I stopped moving, realizing it was getting me nowhere. Someone entered the room and walked over to us. "Get them up. Roman wants them contained in separate rooms," a voice spoke. I grunted as my body was heaved from the ground forcefully. Cassie was already being walked in the opposite direction. I didn't fight back as I was guided to a door and shoved into a different room. The door was quickly shut behind me and I heard a lock click into place. I snorted, knowing I could break the door down if I really wanted too, but I could hear a few heartbeats on the other side, letting me know I was guarded and any attempt to escape would be fruitless. I looked around the room, noting a couch sitting against one wall and a small table in the corner next to it with a lamp sitting on top. The room was dimly lit, with no windows to allow natural light inside. I sighed and made my way over to the couch. Exhaustion hit my body quickly as I sank down into the cushions.

My head fell into my hands as tears welled up in my eyes. I thought I would be sitting in the car by now, holding Artemis in my arms and going back home. But even though I know who took her, I was no closer to getting her back. And I had no idea what they were doing to her. Was she being kept in a room like this? Was she being tortured like I had been with the hunters? Was she still alive? I shook my head while wiping the tears away with the back of my hands. I wouldn't think like that. I would be strong for her, and I wouldn't stop until she was back with me. And when I did get her back, I would do better. Be better. I would let go of the past and finally move on with our future.

A sound from the wall opposite me caught my attention and I watched in wonder as what I perceived to be an ordinary piece of art began to split apart and open. Behind it emerged a TV screen. The picture on it was black and white and slightly fuzzy, like a video recording. I stood and walked closer, curiosity taking control of my body. I watched a woman sitting on the floor, rocking back and forth. She was facing away from the screen and muttering something that was unintelligible. On the edge of the screen, I saw a door open slightly and someone fell to the ground, like they were pushed inside. The door slammed shut quickly, and the person who fell to the floor jumped up, facing the door and slamming their fists repeatedly against it. It was a young woman, and she was terrified as she yelled and cried, begging for the door to be opened back up. In a matter of seconds, the woman rocking back and forth had moved behind the younger woman and yanked her head back by the hair before sinking her teeth into the flesh of the woman's neck.

The young woman gasped and tried to reach behind her head to fight back, but no matter where she grabbed, the other woman didn't stop. I watched in horror as the life was sucked out of the young woman and she slowly slumped to the ground. The other woman, the vampire, stood next to the door with her head down, presumably looking at the dead body before her. I moved closer to the screen, my heart hammering in my chest. "No," I whispered, my hands resting on the screen. Terror ran through me, and it felt like ice had filled my veins. I didn't want to believe what I knew to be true. But there was no denying it as the vampire slowly moved her head up, until her eyes were staring straight into the camera. A gargled noise left my mouth as I stared into her eyes. Once vibrant and loving, now as dead as the woman on the ground. There was no soul behind her stare. No indication of remorse or disgust. No ounce of my Artemis. "No," I sank to my knees and watched the stranger before me.