Chronicles of the Uprising (Trilogy 1): Trilogy 1 (11 page)

“Easy now, girl. I know what you need. Open up.”

Mira did, baring her fangs and locking onto Lucian’s eyes with a glare that screamed death.

Lucian uncorked a deep red vial and emptied the contents down into Mira’s awaiting mouth. As little as it was, Mira savored it, holding the blood in her mouth for a few moments, letting it wash over her tongue and hit every taste bud. It was rat blood, and old at that. Some small coagulated bits floated around, and the consistency was that of warm jello, but it was still better than nothing. She swallowed and opened wide for more.

Lucian followed one vial with another, until Mira had downed at least twenty of them. Still her hunger remained.

“I can’t give you too much at a time. People will get suspicious,” Lucian said. There was genuine concern in his tone. “But I’ll do my best to sneak in extras when I can. We need to get about ten pints from you today.”

“Why?” Still ravenous, she barely recognized her own voice.

“I wish I could tell you right now. But I cannot. You’re just going to have to trust me.”

“You say that a lot, you know?”

“And yet you continue to question me and my motives. Have I not proven to you yet that I am not trying to harm you?”

“The blood you’re stealing from my veins would say otherwise.”

“At least you are alive for that blood to be taken. The Magistrate wanted you dead.”

“At least I would have earned a warrior’s death.”

His brow furrowed with sadness, or maybe disappointment, at the mention of death. Almost as if he might truly care if that was the end Mira found. She wanted to believe that might be the case, but she couldn’t trust him or his motives; at least, not fully.

“Death is not the answer,” he said.

“Neither is slavery…. or medical experimentation.”

“We can go round in circles later. I’m going to sedate you for the time being to help ease your pain and hunger. When you have recovered, we will talk.” Lucian held up a syringe filled with clear liquid. “This might hurt a bit.”

The ridiculousness of his words made her want to laugh. After all the things done to her, he was worried about a little prick causing her pain. If she’d had the strength she might have uttered a chuckle, but before Mira could open her mouth, a strange warmth overtook her body.

Heavy, as if they’d been covered by a lead blanket, Mira’s limbs would not move. The drugs had worked to immobilize her, but Mira remained conscious, trapped within herself, experiencing the most unbearable hell she’d ever been through. Hours passed in an agony that she could neither vocalize nor fight against. She felt every drop of blood slowly leaving her parched body. Her veins burned. Deflating under the siphoning pull of the machines stealing her essence, her skin pulled taut against her bones. Each labored breath she took whistled past her parched lips. She couldn’t imagine there was any more blood left in her body, and still they found more to take.

Her only respite came the few times Lucian came to check on her. Sneaking in a few extra rations, he tipped them quickly down her throat. Each one was like a moment of pure bliss, but not nearly enough to sate the burning need for more.

He’d joked to her Owner, that she’d be punished, and so she was, in the worst way. Mira would have begged for death if she’d had the voice or the strength to push air past her vocal cords. If it weren’t for the involuntary dry rasping gasp, she wouldn’t have breathed at all.

Mira didn’t know how long she had endured. She had no way to measure the time, but eventually Lucian returned and, along with delivering her rations, he thankfully shut off the machines. Mira felt the agonizing pull against her veins stop. If she’d had the ability, she’d have moaned with relief.

With almost loving care, Lucian retracted the needles and pulled the tubes away from her wrists. Human or not, Mira was filled with thankful admiration for her patron. At that moment, he was her savior. And she hoped that he was here to end her suffering.

“I’m so very sorry, Mira.” The way he spoke had the somber tone of one saying a final goodbye.

Did she really look that bad? Or was he about to start another round of torture?

Mira attempted to make a noise. But parched as she was, all she could manage was a rasp of air, just enough though to let Lucian know she was still there.

His eyes lit up. “Good girl. Keep fighting the good fight. I’ll be right back with some rations.”

That was music to her ears. Blood would solve all her problems. She’d heal, she’d be able to metabolize the drugs and overcome their effects, and most importantly, she’d survive.

Lucian returned with a few vials in his hand. Not as much as she was hoping for, but anything would do about now.

He tipped them one by one into her mouth and waited for her to swallow. “You looked like death had already taken you.”

Was that sincerity in his voice? Mira continued to be bewildered by that man. She needed answers. Real ones… soon.

Cold, stale blood filled her mouth, and desperate as she was, it was better than anything she’d ever tasted. Awakening with revitalizing energy, her body began to repair itself.

Even after all these years as a vampire, Mira was still surprised at exactly how fast blood could help her heal.

As if she was coming out of a thick fog, her head cleared and her senses returned to their normally heightened state.  She twitched her pinky toe, then her foot. Her fingers wiggled, and she felt the weight slowly lifting away from her heavy limbs.

“I’m a vampire. Death already had its chance with me once and lost,” Mira rasped.

“Still a smart mouth, eh. Glad to see your spirit has not been broken.”

“You can break everything else, but my spirit… never.”

He tipped the last vial down her throat and Mira swallowed fast, instantly regretting her gluttony. Far from sated, she’d not even allowed herself to savor the sweet life-giving essence he’d smuggled in for her.

“Take it easy. I’m going to order you on rest for the next two days before I return you to your Owner.”

“You’d be better off killing me here. She’ll let me rest in the lightbox for those two days.” Mira twisted her head from side to side, testing her mobility. Not quite back up to speed, but she was much better than she’d been even moments before. “Got any more rations?”

“Sorry, no. I’ll order you some, though. Just be patient.” Lucian worked to loosen the straps at her arms and legs. He left them on, but no longer biting into her skin. “As for Olivia… she’ll not harm you further. Not if she wants to be paid.”

“Paid?”

“For damages and lost time.”

He spoke so matter-of-factly. It enraged Mira, constantly being reminded of just how little she mattered as a slave. Her life or death was nothing more than a monetary transaction.

“Really? Is that what you call this?”

“You won’t make the next games because of time spent here, under the Magistrate’s order. Naturally, your Owner will be refunded any portion of entry fees paid for the games and compensated for time you’ve been unable to perform.”

“Really? I’m just a thing to you people, aren’t I?”

“I don’t mean it like that. This is just the business end of things.”

“And our little arrangement? How much does that cost you?”

Lucian looked around cautiously. “This is neither the time nor the place.”

Mira knew she’d stepped over the line, but she had such a hard time reining herself in when it came to her slavery. She wasn’t a person. She was nothing more than an item to be used for whatever purposes they saw fit.

“Well, when is the time and place? I want some answers.”

“You want? Are you demanding answers of me, your Patron, and Regent?”

She couldn’t tell by his tone. Was he serious? Was he mad? Or was he just mocking her? On edge and still in desperate for more blood, Mira was teetering on the edge of control as it was.

“You and I have a unique relationship, but that does not mean you should be disrespectful. I’ll arrange for another meeting soon. For now, play nice and take a nap.”

She got the message loud and clear this time and decided not to press the matter further.

An agonizing wail came from a nearby room. A cry that matched the way Mira had felt but had been unable to vocalize earlier. Male, by the sound of it. Probably younger, Mira guessed, based on the higher clear tone. The wail turned into a series of shouts and cries. Whoever it was, he was no doubt in extreme pain. Probably another vampire being tortured within an inch of his life. But why here, in a human medical facility?

Mira could see other people in the room—nurses, doctors, and even patients—craning their necks and giving each other quizzical looks.

“Do I dare ask what that was?” Mira knew she wouldn’t get the truth, but she couldn’t stop the question from leaving her lips. The man next door was making such a ruckus she wondered if they were killing him.

Lucian’s shoulders slumped. He let out a defeated sigh. When he met her eyes, there was no arrogance, only sorrow. “Phase two of our little experiment, I’m afraid.”

More than a little shocked, Mira’s jaw dropped at his honesty.

Then, a sudden and terrible realization hit her. She recognized the horror in those piteous moans coming from the other room. They were killing him in the worst way possible. It all made sense. They had stolen her blood. More than what would replace a human’s blood supply. Had they, the humans, figured out the secrets of using vampire blood? Were they learning how to turn a human into a vampire?

“I am sorry, Mira. I need to check on this. Please, for my sake, and yours, just take it easy. Nap, rest, and recuperate. We will talk soon.”

Dragged back down to the dank, dark prison wing, Mira was in no mood to antagonize her handlers or even attempt to decipher the code to her cell. She wanted nothing more than to just lie down on her mattress and sleep. She didn’t even rise to their taunting comments or the hard jab in the back from a UV torch. She simply stepped forward into her cell and held out her hands to be unshackled.

“Finally broke her,” the male handler taunted.

Mira shrugged and dropped to her mattress. Let them think she was broken, if it meant they would leave her to rest.

The handlers laughed as they walked away. As soon as they were out of earshot, George appeared at the cell bars.

“Mira, baby. I thought I’d never see you again!” The relief in George’s voice was apparent, but Mira could barely lift her head to acknowledge him.

“You okay?” George asked.

“Yeah. I’m good. Just tired. Really, really tired.”

“I can see that. What did they do to you after the fight?”

Where should she begin? “We’ve got to get the hell out of here!”

“You say that on a daily basis, babe,” George laughed. “Can’t be hurt all that bad if you’re still plotting your escape.”

“I’m serious, George. Bad things are happening. We need to get the hell out of here… all of us.”

“Whoa. Calm yourself. Keep your voice down. What happened?”

“I think they figured it out.”

“Figured what?”

“George, they took my blood. All of it.”

George’s jaw dropped. He let out a small noise, not quite an “oh,” but close enough that Mira knew he understood.

“Maybe… maybe they just know of our healing properties. You know, topical uses.”

“No… The way they were talking, it sounded like a transfusion. One to one. They took ten pints from me over the last… however long I was there.”

“About two days total.”

“It felt longer. I was drugged for most of it. Kept me still, but conscious.”

“Poor thing.” Horrorstruck, George looked as if his eyes were about to pop from their sockets. They gave you rations, right?”

“Some… yeah. Lucian brought them, but not nearly enough.” She hoped he would keep his word and send her more rations. As much as she wanted to tell all, her conversation with George was already taking more energy than she had. Mira needed rest and blood, in whatever order they came. She wasn’t going to remain conscious much longer.

“That man is really looking out for you. Did you see the way he stepped in at the games and stayed your execution?”

She remembered his swift work staying the Magistrate’s order for her execution, but she’d have much rather he’d let it be done. The alternative was a fate worse than a quick death would have been. “Yeah,” she scoffed. “So he could use me as his blood bag.”

“Still, you could have been killed. That Mitchell guy was no joke.”

It took all she had, but Mira lifted her head, shooting daggers with her eyes at George.

“Hey.” George held up his hands in surrender. “Not saying you’re a joke or anything, but that guy did have you dead to rights.”

Mira hated to admit it, but she’d had no chance against Mitchell with that damn flail. “He fought well. I lost. End of story.”

“It wasn’t a fair fight, if you ask me.”

“Thanks.”

“So. If the humans are doing what you think they are doing–”

“They are!”

“What’s your big plan? I mean, we’re at their mercy as it is.”

“I don’t know. I haven’t thought that far in advance. My head’s still fuzzy. I just know we have to stop this. Think of what will happen if they succeed!”

“Total population control. We’d be even more expendable than we are now.”

“Exactly!” Visions of uncontrollable carnage flashed in her mind. Vampire heads on spikes adorning every pike in the arena, piles of dead vampires being dragged off through the
other
arena door, the one for losers in the arena, and the dirt of the arena stained permanently red with spilled blood. “You think we have it bad now. Just wait. It can get so much worse.”

“So, what do we do?”

“I wish I knew. I wish…” Her head hurt. Thinking required too much brain power. “Wait. I need to talk to Lucian. Maybe…”

“A human is not the answer to our human problem.”

“Probably not, but I have nothing better to go on, and my head hurts too much to come up with something better.”

“Is that you, Mira?” A loud male voice shouted from a nearby cell.

“She’s here,” George answered for her.

“Hey, Mira,” the man taunted. “How’s it feel to get put on your ass?”

That was all she needed. On top of the migraine and as tired as she was, now she had Tegan’s gloating to deal with.

“Screw you, Tegan,” Mira yelled.

“Everyone gets a taste of their own medicine once in a while,” Tegan responded. “It’s how you handle it that makes you a real warrior.”

Shocked and a little surprised, Mira had not expected a seed of real wisdom from the hulking Neanderthal of a vampire.

“I hear ya. Still licking my wounds,” she answered back.

“Live to fight another day,” he shouted again, his voice sounding more congenial than taunting.

“Let’s hope so.”

“Losing might have been a good thing for you, you know.” George said.

Was everyone happy to see her lose a battle? “Really? How?”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re a bit of an ass. And no one likes a cocky bastard. Especially one who never gets their comeuppance. You walk around here like your shit don’t stink.”

She’d love to wipe the smirk off of his face, but for now she settled for giving George a ‘shut the hell up’ glare.

George’s smile faded. “Other people think this. Not me.”

“And what exactly is your point?”

“Well…this time, you got a taste of defeat, and you’re being cool about it. That makes you likeable. People respect that.”

“And you’re saying this because…”

“It’s always good to have friends.”

“I have you…”

“You know I’m a lover, not a fighter.”

“I think with the right motivation, you could be both.”

“Let’s hope we never have to test that theory.”

A loud clip-clop of heels on concrete ruined the otherwise perfect sentimental moment. Mira dreaded having to speak with her Owner. That woman infuriated her more than words could say.

“Have a good time at the spa?” she snipped at Mira.

“Oh, lovely. Had the works: hair, nails… you know how we girls love all the pampering.” Mira’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

“Cut the bullshit. What were they doing with you?”

“You mean besides punishing me for losing? Nothing.” Mira wasn’t about to let on that she knew more.

“And how did they go about that?”

“Chemical warfare.” Damn, she was nosy!

“Meaning?”

“I don’t know. Poison. Whatever it was, they fucked me up good. I can’t even get up.”

Mira hoped that would be enough to satisfy. She didn’t want to let on that she was healthier than she looked, or that her Owner was being kept in the dark about what was really going on.

“I don’t want to hear your crybaby excuses. I’d have you in the lightbox right now if it weren’t for the fact that your Patron has requested you.

“Not sure I can get up to see him. I’m so weak.”

“You’ll get up and you’ll serve him in whatever manner he wants. Do you understand me? You keep that man happy and satisfied with you.”

“I can’t do much without blood.”

Her Owner huffed. “I’ll have a ration sent down early. But it’s coming out of your dinner supply.”

“I appreciate your generosity.”

“I’m certain you do.” Her tone was dangerous, but Mira wasn’t worried. Olivia might despise her and desire nothing more than to make Mira’s life a living hell, but because of the money she earned, Olivia couldn’t give up such a prize stallion as Mira. No matter how bad an attitude she had.