B008GMVYA4 EBOK (39 page)

“What’s that meant to mean?” Gabby whispered, turning
slightly embarrassed.

“Forget it!” Trace snapped his voice cold and hard.

Gabby stared at him, her forehead creased and her eyes
narrowed further in confusion.

Madison watched as Gabby tried to piece together what
Trace’s statement meant and why he had become so defensive when she questioned
it.

Sharp fingernails pitched the skin on Madison’s chest, she
became weightless again as she was pulled up quickly onto her feet. She had
been so caught up in the drama between Trace and Gabby, she hadn’t noticed
Trace approaching - grabbed her t-shirt and pulling her up to her feet.

Madison gasped. Even after all the times the Vampire’s and
Demons had thrown her around, she was still shocked by their strength and
speed.

Her eyes widened as Trace lifted her off her feet and pulled
her down closer to his face. Her heart jumped up into her throat and she held
her breath in fright.

“What Brendan doesn’t seem to understand is that we don’t
all feel remorse and guilt for the people we’ve killed? We don’t all feel pity
towards the families we’re taken from, or the poor excuses for human’s that
have suffered because of us! Some of us enjoy killing... Some of us are too old
to evolve like Brendan and the others! Some of us can’t go into the light… Some
of us will always dwell within the shadows… Some of us still possess the
killing gene, the gene that keeps us a Vampire, that hasn’t been washed out
with this evolution crap! The biggest mistake was turning centuries of newborn
vampires with weak blood! The human gene’s has infected the vampire gene,
killing it off, making it weak! All of these ‘new aged’ evolved Vampires are a
pathetic excuse of the real species of Vampire! Brendan’s just lucky we like
him!

Not all of us can be brainwashed by the coven’s insulting
rules, we were born to hunt, to kill. Not to spend our lives in the basement -
serving them, following them around like little dogs!  You see… we’re the
better ones, the stronger breed! Brendan’s generation are the weaker ones,
luckily there are only a few of the evolved type. The best thing The Coven ever
did was put a stop to them breeding, infecting us all with their diluted human
filth! So don’t you for one moment…think…that I am like him!

The only thing that is keeping you alive right now is the
Black Orchid and that won’t be forever, once they have what they want, they
won’t give you a seconds thought when I snap your neck. You’re dead!” Trace
spat angrily.

“And when that time comes you can scream and shout all you
want. I might even enjoy it, but until that time you keep it shut! If I hear
you causing any more problems, that time will be coming a lot quicker than you
think! Scroll or no scroll…Do you understand?” Trace continued.

Madison’s bottom lip quivered in fear and she could feel
Trace’s cold, bitter breath against the soft skin of her face. Her finger
nail’s scratched the skin of his knuckles as I tried to prize his hand away
from the fabric of her t-shirt.

Trace shook her slightly, urging her to agree with his
demands.

Madison nodded reluctantly, her teeth chattering together
loudly.

“Good.” Trace said, slowly lowering Madison back down to her
feet.

Trace turned towards Alex who was stood with his back
against the closed office door. Up until now he had been listening intently to
Trace’s demands and threats that he hardly noticed when Trace began to eye him
in frustration.

“Is the corridor clear?” Trace asked Alex.

Alex jumped up from where he was lent, quickly turning to
his side and lent his ear against the solid wooden door. Alex listened for a
few seconds, his eyes staring into the space.

“They’ve gone” he whispered, lifting his ear away from the
door.

“Gabby, take Madison. I trust you to keep her quiet” Trace
said, staring at Alex as he gave Gabby orders.

Gabby suddenly looked hurt by Trace’s unwillingness to look
directly at her when he spoke, but her features quickly changed at the prospect
of being close to Madison. A satisfied smile crept from the corners of Gabby’s
lips, her eyes flashing with adrenaline. Madison met Gabby’s eyes and worry
spread across her face which seemed to satisfy Gabby greatly.

Gabby stepped towards Madison and the smile on her face grew
larger as she approached. Her bright green eyes flashed through the darkness in
the room. She raised a hand in front of Madison, stopping a few feet away.
Gabby gently grassed her fingertips over the naked skin of Madison’s upper arm.

“You’ll be good for me, won’t you, Madison?” she purred, her
cold finger lips running down towards Madison’s wrist.

Madison snapped her hand back in disgust, taking a step back
from Gabby. She winced as Gabby’s smoky burnt scent filled her nostrils,
causing a sick feeling at the pit of her stomach.  Gabby chuckled at her
reaction. She liked that she scared Madison and she found great pleasure in
causing her as much discomfort as possible.

Gabby lunged for her, grabbing her forearm and pulling her
towards her body. Madison whimpered as her back pressed against Gabby’s cold
torso - her breasts pushed up against her back. This was a little too close for
comfort for her and she had never intended to be this close to Gabby.

Madison stood rigidly against her, catching her breath every
time she felt her move against her back. Gabby’s finger nails dug into
Madison’s pink flesh and Gabby hummed quietly with the sound of Madison’s heart
beat as it thudded against her chest. Her heart beat echoed through Gabby’s
empty body, Madison imagined it probably felt strange to her to feel the
beating of a heart so close to her still heart once again.

“Don’t be scared” Gabby whispered, using her free hand to
sweep away the many strains of hair that hung down over Madison’s shoulder. The
hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as the cool chill from Gabby’s
breath tickled them.

Gabby pushed her fingers against Madison’s temple, causing
her head to tilt to the side. Madison did not react, she allowed her to
manipulate her movement without any protest. She took shallow gasps of air; her
whole body trembled against Gabby’s small cold frame. Gabby’s fingers stroked
the delicate skin on Madison’s neck and she traced the jugular vein with her
fingertips. Madison whimpered, flinching at Gabby’s touch. The urge to scream
began to build inside her, a bubble of air formed in my throat - she swallowed
it down hard. She wanted Gabby off her - she didn’t want her anywhere near her.
Goosebumps prickled up on the delicate skin of her neck where Gabby’s cold,
smoky breath grew closer to her skin. Gabby pressed her head against Madison’s
neck and ran her tongue the whole length of Madison’s neck up to her jaw line.

Gabby’s body was tight against Madison’s and she quivered at
the taste of Madison’s flesh – slowly pulling her head away. She sighed in
pleasure as she took in the taste of her soft, smooth skin.

Madison screwed her eyes shut, waiting for the sharp pain of
Gabby’s razor sharp teeth to pierce her skin.

“Gabby, stop messing around!” Trace ordered, suddenly aware
of Gabby’s attempt to intimidate Madison.

Madison opened her eyes to Trace who was staring at Gabby
from beside the office entrance, his features stern. Considering Gabby had
pulled this plan together herself and made all the important (and somewhat
stupid) decisions up until now – Trace had taken the role of leader quite well.
He was more tactful, focused and thoughtful than Gabby and he thought things
out – looking at every angle. Gabby tended to run at things head first and then
hope she didn’t get knocked over along the way.

Gabby’s relaxed and huffed a little in frustration but she
did not argue with him.

Madison relaxed a little, but her whole body began to shake
slightly with the terror of being paired with Gabby.

“Let’s get to the elevator before they come back” Trace
muttered turning towards the office door.

Gabby pushed Madison towards Trace. She stumbled forwards a
few feet in front of him. Gabby clutched her forearm, her soft cold skin
grazing against Madison’s rougher, warmer skin.

Madison paused as Alex turned and quietly twisted the door
handle, slowly pulling the door open. Alex peered around the corner of the door
and then slowly nodded and gestured towards Trace.

Trace joined him, peering out into the corridor and then
edging forwards, opening the door wider and stepping out into the corridor.
Alex quickly followed, who was followed reluctantly by Andy – who seemed more
lifeless than usual.

Gabby nudged Madison forwards again from where they had been
stationary, anticipatively awaiting the ‘all clear’. Madison stumbled again,
slowly walking towards the open door. She paused once she had reached the foot
of the door and staring up and down the corridor. Madison ached to see anything
that resembled Brendan - a dark silhouette that would offer her some light
within the darkness.

Gabby pushed Madison towards the elevator. Her rib ached
with Gabby’s force, but she didn’t have time to nurse her broken rib now.

 Trace stopped outside the gold elevator doors, his
eyes focused on the join in the center of the two doors.

Alex sped up to meet Trace, stretching out his hand and
pressing the gold button to the left of the elevator. The arrow above the
elevator doors began to flash red as the elevator began to descend towards
them.

Andy crept around to Trace’s right side, his features
lowered to the ground – like a moody teenager.

Gabby pulled Madison along, her finger nails pitching her
skin.

Madison looked around worriedly; her head was spinning back
and forth, up and down the corridor searching for some sign of hope. She
guessed it had to be a good forty minutes since they had left the nightclub, if
Brendan was hot on their heels, then he had to be close. If Gabby had been
right about Leon, that he could see things, then he would be able to see
Madison now and inform Brendan of her location – that if he could get reception
at The Lodge and The Black Orchid hadn’t cloaked Madison’s location.

Gabby stopped between Trace and Alex, Madison stood
awkwardly behind her.

The palms of her hands began to sweat as she realised she
was about to be forced down into the depths of The Coven, the most dangerous
part.

Madison peered over Gabby’s shoulder at the elevator, her
eyes widened as the elevator binged and the doors slowly slid open.

She jumped, startled by the two black figures that stood in
the center of the elevator – awaiting them.

The two boys stood side by side, their heads lowered towards
the red carpet on the elevator floor. Their backs hunched over, their body’s
motionless, their postures reflecting each other as if the other boy had been
nothing more than a reflection in a mirror.

Madison hadn’t been the only one who had been startled by
the appearance of the two hooded boys, Gabby, Alex and Andy had all jumped at
the sight of them. However, Trace has remained perfectly still and at ease,
completely unfazed by the appearance of the two boys.

“Where did you two go? You were right behind us?” Alex asked
confused.

Both boys remained silent, their faces shadowed by the
darkness of their black hooded jumpers.

Both boys took a step backwards, their movement mimicking
each other – unnaturally in time, like a rehearsed play.

Alex stepped into the elevator followed closely by Andy. The
twins stood side by side in front of the two boys.

Trace stepped into the elevator, standing in front of Andy
and stared at Gabby as she pulled Madison into the elevator behind her.

Madison squeezed in between the left wall of the elevator,
alongside Gabby. Her heart raced as the doors of the elevator slowly slid shut
and the elevator jolted to life.

Her legs went light as the elevator began to descend into
the depths of the coven. Panic began to erupt in Madison’s mind, she was
anxious, her thoughts unstable and erratic.

“Please… I don’t need to come with you. I can stay in one of
the offices. I promise I won’t move. Please, I don’t need to come with you!”
Madison whispered to Gabby, tears beginning to streak her cheeks.

“But I thought you wanted to play with the big boys” Gabby
smirked.

“Please……” she wailed unable to control her emotions any
longer.

“Keep her quiet, Gabby!” Trace spat, his voice low and
gusty.

Gabby moved her hand down Madison’s arm to her hand and she
held it up in Madison’s line of sight.

“You see this here?” Gabby asked grabbing a hold of
Madison’s little finger with her free hand.

Madison nodded wearily.

“If you don’t keep quiet I’m going to start breaking these
off!” she spat, pushing her finger backwards.

The pain was excoriating, tears ran down Madison’s face fast
and heavy. She whimpered, not wanting to make a sound. She gritted her teeth,
forcing herself not to wail in pain.

“Please, stop!” Madison whispered, her face turning red with
pain.

“Then keep it shut!” Gabby demanded, letting go of her
finger and throwing her hand down to her side.

Madison nodded, grabbing her hand and smoothing it better.
The skin on her finger was white from Gabby’s strength and the pressure she had
put the small finger under.

Her finger throbbed as the pain subsided and she began to
regain some feeling back. She stared helplessly towards the two golden doors of
the elevator, Brendan’s face floated about in her mind. Madison would have
given her soul just to see him again and take comfort in his cold arms, to feel
his waxy skin against her cheeks.

The elevator was small and crowed, Alex and Andy shifted
nervously behind. The two hooded boys and Trace remained calm and collected,
standing motionless towards the doors of the elevator. Gabby seemed calm but
her face was full of uncertainness and confusion, her consciousness was
beginning to play doubt in her mind. Trace dismissed that older Vampires had
any humanity, but it was becoming clear this wasn’t true – Gabby, Andy and Alex
had all shown human emotions. Sorrow, confusion, doubt, hate, hurt and
jealousy. It appeared that only Trace showed only one human emotion, anger.
Other than anger, Trace was numb.