High Stakes (25 page)

She blinks rapidly. ‘That could be anyone.’

‘He likes words,’ I tell her. Her expression flickers and I know it’s dawned on her who I mean. ‘Where is he?’

‘I don’t know,’ she stammers.

I take a step towards her. ‘Yes, you do.’ I try to soften my voice. ‘I know I’m a bloodguzzler. I know you think I’m probably the devil incarnate. But if you don’t tell me where he is, he will be killed. I can protect him.’ My eyes implore her. I need her to understand I’m no threat to Rogu3. Right now, I’m all that’s standing between him and certain death.

‘My great-uncle is with the Stuart Family,’ she says. ‘I know what it means to be a vampire. Alistair left about twenty minutes with a girl.’

‘Natasha?’ She bites her lip and nods. ‘Did you see where they went?’

‘No. But it was probably the grandstand. That’s where…’ She swallows. ‘That’s where the kids normally go. It’s beside the field where we muster for fire drills.’

She’s telling the truth. ‘Thank you,’ I say.

I join the last of the teenagers bustling out of the door at the far end of the corridor. Elbowing my way through, I make it outside. There’s already a fire engine in attendance: those guys move fast when children are threatened. I ignore the fire fighters jogging towards the school and follow the rest of the crowd. Most are ambling slowly towards the open space at the back of the buildings. They’re too used to fire drills to take them seriously. Familiarity doesn’t just breed contempt; it encourages apathy, as well.

Several of the kids whistle in my direction as I speed past them; they’re more excited by the sudden presence of a vampire than adults would be. I weave in and out of the loners, the couples holding hands and the groups of friends. I can see the grandstand now, shadowed in darkness at the far end of the school field. There’s at least one group of standing figures, none of whom seem to be fazed by the alarm pealing out from the buildings. And, for now, none of them are being attacked by vigilante Agathos daemons.

I’m halfway across the field when I spot Rogu3. He’s halfway up the grandstand steps and there’s a girl next to him, but she’s edging away as four other kids further down take what appears to be a threatening stance. High school bullies. Like I say, some things never change. I fly towards them and grab Rogu3’s arm.

‘We’re leaving,’ I tell him. ‘Now.’

‘Bo?’ He seems stunned.

The largest boy moves up a step. ‘Who’s this, Alistair? Your mum?’ The group cackles.

I whirl round, baring my fangs. The boy blanches. The girl next to Rogu3, who I presume is Natasha, lets out a small shriek. ‘A vampire? You’re friends with a vampire?’

Rogu3 gives me a half smile, tinged with relief. ‘Are we friends, Bo? Or do I have to fight you?’

I realise he thinks I’m here because of his original plea. I start pulling him away. ‘We’re leaving now.’ I look at Natasha and the group of boys staring at us. For goodness’ sake. ‘I need you to help me with a vital Family matter.’

The ringleader finds his voice. ‘Are you a vampette now, Alistair? Do you let this
thing
suck your blood?’

I step towards him and he jumps about three feet in the air. ‘Get lost, little boy.’

‘You can’t hurt me,’ he says, although there’s a tremor in his voice. ‘You wouldn’t dare.’

I raise my eyebrows. ‘Do you want to test that theory?’

He spits on the ground. ‘Forget it. He’s not worth it anyway.’ He turns to go but I let go of Rogu3’s arm and grab his instead. ‘Bother my friend again,’ I whisper, ‘and I’ll come after you.’ I stroke his cheek. He shudders. ‘I promise.’

He yanks his arm away and runs off with his cronies at his side.

‘Bo, that was fantastic. I can’t believe you…’ As Rogu3 speaks, there’s a sudden flash. I leap towards him, knocking him down just as I hear the crack of a bullet.

‘Get down!’ I snarl at Natasha. She does what she’s told, pressing herself flat. I twist my head, searching for the source of the shot. I scan the huddled groups of teenagers, several of whom have recognised the sound and flung themselves to the ground. The rest are joining them. There are whimpers and a few screams. But, despite the shadowed field, I can’t see any damn daemons.

Two fire fighters come running from the school entrance. They press themselves against a wall, looking for the same people as me. The shooters have got some fucking balls thinking they can storm a school. Then I remember they’ve just destroyed half of the Agathos court. They don’t care.

I keep my breathing calm and continue to search. Finally I spot a flicker of movement on the opposite roof. We’re directly in their line of sight. I tug at Rogu3. ‘We need to move. We’re going to keep low and head right, okay?’

He doesn’t answer. Instead of repeating my instructions, however, I’m forced into silence as I see the familiar Michael-shaped silhouette appear at the building’s edge. He must have heard the shot. He springs upwards, not bothering to hide his approach. Two heads appear and the unmistakable shape of a long-barrelled gun swings in his direction. The daemons squeeze off three shots in quick succession.

I hold my breath, my heart in my mouth, but I needn’t have worried. Michael’s a far older and more powerful vampire than I am. He flies up into the air like Batman on speed. That’s a nifty trick, being fast enough to dodge a bullet; I wonder if he can teach it to me. He lands beside the two shooters before they can fire again. In the blink of an eye he grabs the gun, flinging it over the edge of the building. Then he lifts them both by the scruff of their necks and dangles them over the side. I can see his mouth moving but he’s too far away for me to hear the words or lip read. Satisfied that he has things under control, I turn back to Rogu3.

‘We’re going…’ My voice falters as I take in his pale sweating skin and dilated pupils. I realise I’m soaked in blood – and it’s definitely not mine.

Frantically, I search for the wound. I pull up his shirt and stare at the mess of blood. No, no, no, no, no.

‘Stay with me, Rogu3,’ I say, pulling out my phone. ‘I’m going to get an ambulance.’

His eyes catch mine and I can sense the life draining from him. His lips move but there’s no sound. I stare down at the ragged flesh in his side. The bullet caught him at an angle and must have penetrated his stomach. There’s no coming back from this.

I hear a loud thump from near the building, followed quickly by another. ‘Michael!’ I scream.

I press my palms to the wound, trying to staunch the blood as best as I can. I keep my eyes trained on Rogu3 but I see the movement in my peripheral vision as Michael scales back down the school building and runs towards me.

‘It’s okay. I’ve got a plan.’ I whisper to Rogu3. I don’t know whether he hears me or not.

The second Michael’s foot lands on the concrete of the grandstand, I yell, ‘What do I do? How do I turn him?’

He’s by my side in a flash, leaning over Rogu3’s body. I pull my hand away from the leaking, gaping hole long enough for Michael to see it. His voice is grim. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘Tell me what to do to turn him. If he’s a vampire, he’ll heal. There’s no other way.’

‘Bo.’ Michael’s voice is gentle. ‘You can’t.’

‘Of course I fucking can! I drink from him, he drinks from me, then drinks from a human. I just need to make sure I do it right.’

‘The chances of him surviving the turn are too slight. And you can’t turn someone without their agreement.’

‘You did it to me,’ I snarl.

‘That was different.’ He puts his hand on my arm. ‘Even if he wanted to be recruited and even if he had a good chance of surviving, it’s against the law to turn a child.’

‘He’s fourteen. He’s not a little kid.’

‘But he is still a kid. You can’t do it. The laws are in place for a reason. You can’t just recruit someone because you feel like it. There’s a process.’

I stare at him. Maybe there is but Michael doesn’t know what I do. I’ve got the cure. I pick Rogu3 up in my arms.

‘What are you doing?’

‘If you won’t help, then I’ll take him to a hospital.’

His face is full of sympathy. ‘The wound is too serious. He won’t…’

‘Get out of my way.’

He sighs deeply but he steps aside. Holding Rogu3’s dying body as carefully as I can, I run. Again.

*

Unable to use the bike and hold Rogu3 at the same time, I smash the window of the first parked car I come to. I’ve never hotwired a vehicle before but I understand the mechanics of it. I’m about to put Rogu3 down so my hands are free when there’s a jangle of metal and a set of keys lands next to me. I look up and realise it’s the teacher.

‘Take it. Get him help.’

Our eyes meet in understanding then she quickly turns away to deal with the rest of the still-cowering pupils. I open the passenger door and lay Rogu3 inside, feeling an odd sense of déjà vu. The last time I did this, it was for O’Shea. He made it out to the other side – but then he has stubborn daemon blood running through his veins. I rev the engine and drive off, calling the office as I do.

‘You’ve reached New Order, how may I help you?’ Matt’s voice is chirpy.

‘I need Connor,’ I growl.

‘Bo? Are you okay? There’s a video of you at the Agathos court…’

‘Find Connor and tell him to wait outside my flat.’ I hang up, swerve round the corner and double check in the mirror that Rogu3 is still with me. He’s still breathing. I put my foot down.

I don’t bother to park the car, I just stop it in the street outside the office and retrieve Rogu3’s limp body. Three protestors are still there, clearly shocked at what they see. No doubt they’ll call the police, the press and even the army in to deal with me. I won’t have much time.

We make it up the stairs to my flat. Connor is already there, his eyes wide.

‘Stay there for now,’ I command. I kick open the door and lay Rogu3 down on the sofa. I don’t know if I’m doing this correctly but I don’t have a choice. I brush away his air and, without even thinking, sink my fangs into his neck.

His blood tastes tainted. I can only think it’s something to do with the weakening of his body. I suck for about as long as I think Michael did when he started to turn me. Then I bite my own wrist and offer it up to Rogu3’s mouth.

‘Drink,’ I tell him. He doesn’t respond. I press my wrist closer. ‘Drink, damn you!’

For a heart-faltering moment, I think he won’t do it. But, somehow, primeval instinct takes over and his mouth moves. There’s no pain although the sensation is oddly uncomfortable. I count in my head and, when I reach twenty and can see Rogu3’s eyes starting to roll back in his head as the unconscious coma of the turn affects him, I yell for Connor. He bursts in.

Connor’s eyes fall on Rogu3 and the wound on my wrist. ‘Bo, what have you done?’ he whispers. ‘You’re not allowed…’

‘Give him your blood.’ I’m calm now but I know there’s not much time left. ‘Now, Connor.’

I don’t know if this will work. Typically, after receiving a vampire’s blood, a human falls unconscious for up to three days. That’s not going to help me; I need to speed up the change, which means I need Rogu3 to sip from Connor before it’s too late and he can no longer manage it.

Connor’s indecision is clear. He knows the ramifications of what I’m doing. ‘It’s alright. This is my decision and I have a plan. You just need to trust me.’

He swallows. ‘Okay.’ He offers me his wrist. ‘Here. You’ll need to break the skin.’

My disgust at drinking blood has vanished. I waste no time in opening up Connor’s vein and gently guiding it to Rogu3’s mouth – but he’s already out cold. I curse and slap his cheeks. He doesn’t respond. I do it again and he jolts, eyelids flickering.

‘Come on, Rogu3. Just a tiny bit. That’s all it’ll take.’ I hope. ‘You can do it, Alistair.’

Connor looks at me. ‘He’s drinking.’

I breathe a sigh of relief. As soon as I’m sure he’s swallowed some blood, I tell Connor to leave. ‘You don’t want to be here for this.’

‘But…’

‘I mean it, Connor. Get out. In fact, go down to the office and get everyone out.’

‘It’s only Matt. The others have gone home already.’

‘Good,’ I say grimly. ‘The two of you wait outside. If the police arrive, try to stall them.’

‘The police?’ He’s alarmed.

‘It’s okay,’ I soothe. ‘You’ve not done anything wrong. I have.’ I glance down at Rogu3 and smooth my hand over his damp hair. ‘Go,’ I repeat.

Connor leaves, closing the door behind him. I listen carefully until I hear his footsteps heading back down then I run to the fridge. I take out the chocolate, throw it aside and grab X’s vial. Unstoppering it, I sniff. It still seems alright but I don’t know if this will work. It might be too soon – Rogu3’s not turned properly yet. I might be forcing a process that should take up to full lunar month into minutes. I can’t risk waiting, however. This is Rogu3’s only chance.

I look at his stomach wound: it’s already healing. The combination of my blood, Connor’s blood and the start of the turn is making fast work of knitting the flesh back together. I hold the vial next to his pale lips, praying there will be enough time. Rogu3 whimpers and I hush him gently.

‘It won’t be long now.’ I stare at the clock on the wall, watching the second hand tick round. The seconds stretch into minutes. The police will be overstretched with what has happened at the Agathos court and the school. In fact, so much time passes that I’m starting to think they won’t involve themselves because it’s a vampire matter. When I finally hear the sirens, however, I know they’re not going to let the opportunity slip to show the world just how monstrous bloodguzzlers are. I wait until the cars pull up outside, then I tilt back Rogu3’s head.

‘It’s now or never,’ I tell him. I let every last drop of X’s blood slide into Rogu3’s mouth. It gurgles in the back of the throat but he eventually swallows. When I’m sure he’s taken it all, I stand up, brush myself down and head out to face the music.

Chapter Twenty: Plea Bargain

I’m fully aware of the gravity of my situation but I’m still shocked at the number of people outside New Order. There are six panda cars in an arc around the teacher’s abandoned vehicle. To the right, I count five photographers and eight journalists. To the left, the protestors’ numbers have swelled. I guess they have their buddies on speed dial. Connor and Matt are facing them all. It’s hard not to smile at the relief on their faces when I emerge.