The Hunt

Chapter 28

Darren:

Pain. A sharp, stabbing pain in my neck. I feel her fangs below the surface of my skin, feel the blood leaving fast and something else entering my blood stream, something burning with cold, like liquid ice. It's spreading, travelling quickly, reaching all corners of my body.

The ice reaches my heart and I feel it battle against the onslaught, beating fiercly, fast, as though trying to dispel the intruding substance. But the ice takes hold, constricting it, slowing it down. The beating has become lethargic as it's gripped by the icy hand.

They came for me today. Two vampires. It wasn't long after we'd run from the snakes. I could read nothing from their faces, nothing from their body language. I recognised them as some of the vampires that brought us in.

"What the hells do you want?" Jack called at them as they approached the bars of our prison. They said nothing, as though they heard nothing.

My stomach sank at the sight of them. Already? I knew what it was, her words filled my mind, her statement: I want him as a vampire. They'd come for me, I was sure of it. And the familiar feeling of doubt and uncertainty was back, mingling with my fear like a cocktail of emotions. A longing, a curiosity, a desire. To feel immortality, to taste blood, to be consumed by the cold. And a fear, a disgust at myself and the idea.

As they reached the bars keeping us trapped they started to rise, grating and screeching as they rubbed against the stone. I felt Jack tense at my side, and the others too, as though ready to fight. But it would be useless against their strength. I looked at the vampires, one was built thick and strong, the other's eyes looked like glowing flames.

"Do not fight, humans. You cannot win." The smaller of the two with the burning eyes said.

As the gate lifted higher, as though he'd heard nothing, Percy lunged forward, Jack as well, one at each vampire. Jack flew backwards immediately, slamming into the ground. I didn't see how it happened, it was so fast.

"Jack!" I shouted, lunging forward automatically, driven by some unseen force. Percy looked like he was holding in his battle, but then he was thrown back too, the vampire he'd been fighting looked entirely unaffected. I have no idea why they made us learn hand to hand combat.

Taken over by instinct and anger I charged forward at the vampires, fists flying and thoughts reeling. The large one grabbed me by the arms and I felt a burning pain shoot through them at the force. The metal began descending again, faster this time, separating me from my  companions. I couldn't move.

"Darren!" Jack called. I heard him get to his feet and shuffle towards us. The vampire holding me slammed me against the gate, knocking the wind from my lungs and causing shooting pains to run through my entire body. I struggled against him, trying to fight back.

"I told you not to fight." The other one said. His fist struck at me, fast and hard, in the side of my face. My head banged against the metal and stars and shapes erupted in front of me, ringing echoing in my ears. Bang, another blow to my face.

I was losing consciousness, I felt my head become heavy and it started drooping.

"Darren..." It sounded like a whisper from behind me and then darkness took me.

Then I was here, as I opened my eyes, slowly, hesitantly, it was hazy. I could just make out her face, and I winced as I felt the pain everywhere in my body. So much pain, so much suffering. I didn't know what to feel. All my confusions, fears, desires and curiosities multiplied by my injury, by the burning desire in her eyes and the obvious strength and power she held. I let out a whimper and close my eyes again.