Prisoner

Chapter 7

My eyes widen. I stand up and peer into N's vault. The orange-haired vampire was nowhere to be found. "What happened while I was asleep?" I ask. My voice sounds a bit strained.

He shakes his head. "I don't know. He was just sitting here quietly. I blinkd, and he was outside the vault. I called his name, but he acted like he couldn't hear me. He ran right past you and went into the hall." N points to the door.

My heart thuds. That's the way to Vault 120. I go to Leo's vault and pull the door open. Doll-eyes blinks as I hold it out. "Come on, Creepy-eyes," I snap. "I know where the vampire is, and I'm taking you with me. You won't let me go alone, anyway, and I can't risk Leo getting out, too."

Doll-eyes moves out of the cell and follows me to the door. "Wait, Noelle," N says. I turn. He looks out from his cell, his eyes glowing. "Please find him."

My tone softens. "I will, N. I'll find him." As I close the door on the maximum vaults, Doll-eyes moves closer.

"You're taking me with you?" He asks.

"You wouldn't let me come alone," I say. "You would have bent the bars again, only Leo would have escaped, too." I hesitate. "I feel bad for N. I never said I would find Ravi alive."

Doll-eyes remains quiet as he follows me towards Vault 120. I glance at him before taking a deep breath and pulling the door open.

As soon as I step inside, my eyes fall on a figure moving towards the monster in chains. My eyes widen fearfully. "Ravi, stop!"

The orange-haired vampire freezes at the sound of my voice. I look over his shoulder at the red-eyed creature standing behind him. HIs eyes meet mine, and I am sickened at how familiar they look. He slowly reaches towards Ravi.

"Don't touch him!" I yell loudly. He pauses. Ravi is still dazed, entranced. I glance at Doll-eyes. "Get Ravi out of here," I murmur under my breath. "Take him back to N."

"I'm not leaving your side," he says quietly.

Ravi is reaching for the monster's mask. The low, cat-like laughter that has haunted my dreams fills the air, a crescendo from the metal muzzle. Before Doll-eyes or I could move, Ravi lays his hand on the mask and yanks it off.

"Ravi!" I shout. "Get away from him!" I run forward. Doll-eyes sprints past me and swipes Ravi away before the red-eyed beast can make a grab for him. As soon as Doll-eyes touches him, the flame-haired vampire blinks. The spell is broken.

"Take him back to N," I order Doll-eyes. "Now." He stiffens. He cannot refuse. He has to obey me.

As he stiffly moves towards the door, Doll-eyes brushes past me. He leans down and murmurs in my ear, "I will be back for you. You had better still be alive when I return."

I don't take my eyes away from the monster. "Just go."

After the door closes, the creature speaks. His voice is surprisingly smooth and musical, just like the purr from my dream. "Stupid."

I raise an eyebrow. "Who?"

"All of you," he muses. He ducks his head in a mocking bow. "Hello, Warden."

That voice sends chills down my spine. "How?"

He tilts his head inquisitively. "What?"

"How did you manipulate Ravi?" I ask. "How and why did you kill Simmons? How and why am I dreaming about you?"

His lips curve up in a predatory smile. "The warrior princess has been dreaming about me?"

"Don't change the subject!" I snap, bristling at the sound of my age-old pet name. Only my family can call me that! "I'm not afraid of you!"

"Liar, liar, pants on fire," he sings in a taunting voice. "I can hear your heartbeat from here. You're absolutely terrified of me." The pleasant tone of his voice is sickening, as if my fear delights him.

"I said not to change the subject!" I hiss. "Since you seem incapable of following my questions, I'll start off slowly. Why did you kill Simmons?"

His smile drops. "How unprofessional. You're not even going to ask my name?"

"I don't want to know your name," I say slowly, "nor do I want to associate with you. I don't repeat myself often, but--"

"I'll tell you anyway," He says, chuckling. "My name is Hero." His eyes met mine. "You've grown into a very beautiful woman, Noelle." 

"I want answers, not flattery," I say, trying to stay calm. The doors open again, and Doll-eyes appears by my side. 

Hero laughs. "It's been a while since I've seen you, puppet." 

"Shut up," Doll-eyes answers. His voice is cold and sharp. He leans towards me and says something quietly in my ear. "He won't give you any answers. Even if he does, he is lying."

Hero sighs. "Badmouthing me? I've never been a liar."

"You could hear that?" I exclaim, surprised.

"Of course I could hear that," he says, sounding bored. "I have superior hearing."

Doll-eyes reaches for my hand. "Let's go, Noelle." I nod and turn around, ready to follow him. I had been itching to escape that Vault for a while.

"Your soldier was bored," Hero says, causing me to pause. "He came in and decided to tease me. I was tolerant of his jests until he insulted my strength. Why would they waste so much energy and time on one creature who looks like any other man?" The chains shift as he moves. "So I strangled the insults out of his insolent body."

"Let's go, Noelle," Doll-eyes urges. I follow him towards the door, deciding to ignore Hero.

"The past Wardens underestimated me," Hero purrs. "I hope you won't do the same, little warrior princess. I rather like you."

"Shut up, Hero!" Doll-eyes snarls, finally revealing how angry he was.

"Make me, puppet," Hero cooes. He smiles, revealing slightly sharp canines. "But you only take orders from her, don't you? Has she never asked what you are?" He throws his head back and laughs. "You both are bound--you by your very being, and her by duty."

I glance at Doll-eyes' stitched eyes. "What is he talking about?"

Hero's red eyes flash, just a flicker of aquamarine, before fading back to red. "Weak human," he muses softly. "At least I can break my chains."

Doll-eyes grabs me and shoves me towards the door. "Run! Get out!" He yanks me towards the door. As he pulls it shut behind us, I hear a different sound. Not the sound of quiet laughter or struggle or shaking chains.

The sound of chains snapping and breaking.