The Progeny: Chapter 10

Evie’s heart was in her throat when the door swooped open and there stood Nico, settling his glasses a little askew on his nose. His grey eyes squinted at her for a silent moment. She just stood waiting after figuring that the backlight had probably turned her into a black splodge. Finally, Nico’s vision seemed to have cleared because he took a step back, eyebrows raised.

“Evie…what…?” He looked down at himself stood before her in nothing but black boxer shorts. “Oh, I’m so sorry. Let me get my robe. Do come in.”

He reached behind the open door and flung on a navy checked dressing gown, tying the cord around his waist. He stepped aside, gesturing her to enter. She curled her fingers into her sleeves and stiffly made her way into her room, making sure to keep the tears flowing.

The door shut behind her and she turned to see Nico with his back against it, watching her with a sympathetic look in his eyes. The lamp on his bedside table was on but they were still cloaked in a grey darkness, making Evie miss her vampire sight. “What’s wrong?”

She shrugged and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. “I’m sorry to bother you. It’s just…everything’s getting to me. I don’t feel like the same person anymore.”

“Oh, Evie.” He swept over to her and the next minute, she was in his arms with her head bent into his chest. “It’s okay. I know it must be hard. But you know that this change is good, right? You are the girl you once were. The girl you had been before the vampire stole your humanity.”

“I know. I know.” She wrapped her arms around his narrow waist and held him tightly, feeling oddly comforted by the contact.

“Did you tell him about him becoming human too?”

Her heart stammered as she thought about what he would want to hear. “Yes.”

“And what did he say?”

“He said he’d do it if it meant getting out of here.”

Nico released his grip on her and held her at arm’s length. “But you were supposed to stay here, with me. You will be the one who made the cure possible. I want you by my side.”

“Then you’ll have to have two of us by your side. Because I’m not leaving him.”

He frowned a little and slipped his hands from her arms. “I guess that will have to do then.”

She smiled faintly and sat down at the edge of the bed. That’s when she noticed his clothes flung onto a chair in the corner. There was a pointy bulge in the pocket of his pants. Must be his keys.

Now it was time to get rid of him so she could get them.

She scratched her arm to break the scab and sucked in a breath when she felt her blood dripping down her arm. She sighed heavily so she caught his attention then lifted her arm to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. His eyes widened.

“What’s that?”

She jumped and looked up at him. “What’s what?”

He glided over to her and grabbed her wrist. He twisted it slightly and tugged at her sleeve. “That.”

Quickly, she pulled her sleeve from his grasp and covered the bloody stain. “It’s nothing.”

He sat down beside her and leaned into her to get a closer look. “That’s not nothing. Give me your arm.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Evie-” He grabbed her wrist again, making her let out a growl of irritation. He yanked her sleeve up and gasped at the slice up her forearm. “Oh, Evie…what did you do?”

Tears began to brim her eyes and she yanked her sleeve back down. “It’s fine.”

He squinted into her eyes, unconvinced. “You did that to yourself?”

She looked away with a shrug.

“Oh, Evie, why would you do that?”

“Because…” she mumbled.

“Because…what?”

“I wanted to test something.”

“To test what? You know you don’t have vampire healing anymore.”

“I know…” she mumbled into her chest. “I just wanted to see for myself.”

He sighed and got to his feet. “It’s bleeding again. Let me clean it up for you. I’ve got a first aid kit in my bathroom. One second.” He disappeared into his ensuite with his robe floating behind him. Wishing she had her vampire speed again, Evie rushed over to the chair, grabbed the keys and hurried back to the bed. That’s when she realised she had no pockets. Why hadn’t she thought of that? Watching Nico’s shadow in the ensuite getting bigger and bigger, she panicked and shoved the keys into her bra. The metal stung her skin and bit down on her lip, half expecting the sizzle of burning flesh. After manoeuvring the keys around a bit, they sat comfortably, just in time for Nico to return with a roll of plasters and a small pair of scissors.

“This is all I’ve got up here,” he said as he settled back down beside her.

“That’s fine,” she replied and rolled her sleeve up.

He started unravelling the roll of plasters and cut off a strip that was about the size of her cut. “Good, because I don’t feel like traipsing downstairs at this time.”

“I’m sorry for waking you.”

He laughed and shook his head. “I’m glad you did. You’re my responsibility now, Evie. I don’t want you suffering in silence. Whenever you have a problem, I’ll be here for you.”

That made her feel a little guilty. Which then made her angry. After what he’s done to her, to Caius, to all those other vampires, how dare he act all sweet and caring. Manipulating son-of-a-bitch.

“That’s good to know,” was all she said. She watched him as he covered her cut with the plaster and rolled her sleeve back down.

“So, while you’re here, want to talk to me about anything else?” he asked.

“No, no,” she replied, smoothing down her sleeve. “I think I’m good now. Tired. I should probably get back.”

He stood up with her. “Okay, want me to walk you back?”

She laughed and shook her head. “It’s just down the hall. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

He laughed too, and followed her to his door. “Okay, well, you know where to find me if you need anything.”

She smiled and opened the door. “Bye, Nico.”

He slotted his hands into his dressing gown pockets with a soft smile. “Bye, Evie.”

She double checked when she was at the top of the stairs that Nico hadn’t followed her. When she knew she was alone, she made her way down to the basement. Her heart pounded when she got to the foot of the stairs and the two men guarding the front door sized her up. She smiled weakly in an attempt to look nonchalant. It seemed to work. They both nodded to her then lost interest.

She rounded the staircase to the basement door and grabbed the keys from her bra. This was where she really needed to do some convincing. Down there, everything could either go perfectly, or seriously wrong. She sucked in a breath and unlocked the door. The guards watched her from their posts beside each door as she descended the stairs but it wasn’t until she stood in front of the doors that Caius was behind when Mark shifted to the side and blocked her way.

“What are you doing down here?” he asked, his eyes narrowing at her accusingly.

“Nico said I could see my Maker.”

He arched a dark eyebrow. “Really? Then why isn’t he here?”

“He needed rest. Said I could come down myself.”

“Why aren’t you resting?”

She sighed at him. “Yesterday, I was a vampire. My body clock is all messed up. I can’t sleep.”

“How can I be sure you have Nico’s permission?”

She jingled the set of keys before him. “He gave me these. Proof enough for you?”

He gave her an incredulous look that made her heart pound. “Maybe I should give him a call and double check.”

Shit, this wasn’t how it was supposed to go. “I really wouldn’t do that if I were you,” she said, her voice peaking from fear as he reached down to grab his phone from his pocket.

He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “And why not?”

“He’s had a long day. He’ll be pretty pissed with you. And I don’t think you want to get on his bad side. Nico trusts me. He won’t be best pleased if he thinks that you are doubting him.”

“She’s right, Mark.”

Evie shifted her gaze to the man stood beside the middle set of doors. He had short red hair and a ghostly complexion. He nodded down to Evie. “Let her in. She has the keys.”

Rather reluctantly, Mark gave in and slipped to the side. She slid the second key into the door and pushed it open. She flinched when it banged closed behind her. For a moment, she stood there in the brilliant white room, trying to calm her nerves but it felt like she was charged by electricity. She was trembling with adrenaline.

Suddenly, she kicked herself into motion and made her way down the walkway, making sure to not lock eyes with any of the bloody vampires around her. She had come for Caius and only Caius. No matter how much she wanted to release all of them, one was going to be tricky enough.

“Caius,” she whispered and his head pricked up. He was sat in the centre of his cell, one knee tucked up to his chest. His eyes flew up and he jumped to his feet. Judging by his swift motions, it was clear that her blood had worked.

“Stay quiet,” she whispered in a tone only his vampire hearing could catch. “I don’t know if the cameras have audio.”

He just nodded at her.

“We’ve got to do this fast. The guards have Nico’s number ready to dial and I’m pretty sure there’s going to be an alarm. Once I get you out, we have to be at those gates outside in minutes. Okay?”

He nodded.

“Do what you have to do to get us there. No matter what. Being human, I’m pretty useless so it’s down to you.”

He gulped but nodded.

Caius watched, his muscles coiled and ready, as she unlocked his cell and opened the door.