The Silver Cross - The Path Of A Monster (Book One)

Chapter Twenty Two - A Trap

The music pounded in his ears, every face resembling his brother's. Cain had given up on Jack once, he wasn't going to leave without seeing him, speaking to him. If he could get him out of the country, he'd be safe, away from anyone who could find him, who could kill him. Out of the order, away from their influence, he could feed in hiding, live out his days until they forgot his name, his face and everything about him was lost in history, until he was another dead hunter on the list of thousands.

Phoenix wasn't a club Cain would ever visit, too many vampires around for it to be safe, especially with some knowing his face, Jack's face but if Jack had gone, it would have been for protection, his own protection, amongst friends, people like him. It was probably best for him, but Cain had to know if he was alive, or if he was dead and his hopes and dreams were merely dashed, blown in the wind like leaves off a tree.

"Have you seen my brother?" he asked the woman again, sternly as he looked into her disgusting vampire eyes.

"You need to leave, before something happens to you," she warned as she pushed him towards the door. "You're not safe here, it won't end well for you if you're caught. I can't protect you from them, if they see you, you're dead."

There was something in her voice that he latched onto, serious, deadly. She escorted him out the building quickly, constantly looking behind him as she did, but Cain couldn't leave without Jack, he had to find his brother, protect him no matter the personal cost, because he'd give up everything for his brother. Jack was important, no matter what he'd done, where he'd gone or the danger he'd gotten himself into.

"Please," Cain pleaded with nothing but hope in his eyes, the dying remains of hope staining them with tears.

She nodded once, handing him a small key card, her eyes dark and deep, commanding his silence as the pair watched the door carefully, all four eyes fixed on it. There was nothing she could do for him, if he was caught, he knew that too well, but he appreciated her attempts to help. There was nothing but silence, yet he could tell she was worried, hiding something as they stepped away from the club, to the large building next door.

"If you are caught, you will be killed, there are no exceptions, they will not take kindly to you being in their space."

"Where is he?"

"They have him, but be careful... you may want backup, they are powerful and if they get you, they won't hesitate, I'll be cleaning up your remains when they've finally killed you."

No matter what he kept telling himself, he couldn't outrun what he'd done, leaving Jack there to suffer, thinking about his other family over his brother, the one who had his back no matter what happened. Although Cain could not undo the past, he could protect the family he had left. He did not want to leave Jack there, but he could not risk involving another hunter, that was too dangerous for the pair of them, for the hunter would surely kill Jack if he was found.

There was no going back for help, Jack needed him, and he needed Jack, no matter what, he was still his brother. Using the card to get in, he snuck inside, slowly making his way up the darkened steps. The smell of rust made his insides turn, yet he continued up the stairs, hoping beyond all hope that Jack was there, that the vampire hadn't just lured him to his death.

He fought the urge to hiss Jack's name, the metal stairs heavy, echoing his footsteps, his heart racing in his chest as he took another step. It hit him, the smell of rust, what it was... not rust, there was no rust, it was blood... human blood perhaps, or vampire... a mix, maybe if they wanted to torture him.

Time was not on Cain's side, if Jack was starved, the sunlight could be deadly to him, or worse. If he needed blood, Cain's would have to do, at a push, he'd make it do, make it work.

He snuck quickly down the hallway, surprised by how empty it was as he followed the scent of rust to a large room. Chains rattled, the smell of seared flesh as Jack hung like a piece of meat, still alive, conscious... just. He looked up at Cain, his eyes filled with a bloody rage, red as the blood he craved.

"Get... out," Jack ordered.

"Not without you, come on. I'm getting you out of here."

"You... don't... understand, Cain... if I can... hear you, so can they..." Jack began as he grunted, trying to pull the chains from the ceiling, his body weight not enough to move them. "I can hear them, you have... run!"

Cain had no time to react as they surrounded him. He could not fight them off, the four were stronger than he ever could be. Jack pulled at his chains, cutting deeply into his flesh as he desperately struggled, attempting to break free, to save his brother.