Page 56 of Club Blood

Warren merely nodded. “It’s not something that anyone can really see. But it’s how we were Made. Something lives inside us, turning our dead bodies into whatever this is,” he said, gesturing at himself, “and then it feeds on the nourishment we provide it. When we kill one of our kind, we need to be sure the thing dies. Fire is usually the best way, but a precise hit will effectively put an end to the vampire’s life. Then you want to crush or burn the heart to make sure the parasite dies.”

“And if you don’t make sure the parasite dies?”

“It finds a new host. Though none of us are really sure how it works. We’ve existed in the shadows for so long that it seems like our origin is just lore.”

I couldn’t imagine how weird it must have been to live with knowing you weren’t completely yourself. It was bad enough to know that becoming undead, so to speak, wasn’t your choice.

“Hey, Warren?”

“Hm?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know your story or anything, but I’m sorry if this life wasn’t your choice.”

The sadness and appreciation in his gaze broke my still-beating heart. He smiled sadly. “A story for another day perhaps. But thank you, Cece, truly.”

He cleared his throat and grabbed a couple more stakes from their stands. A devilish grin spread across his face as he tossed one over to me, careful to do so at a normal speed so I could actually catch it.

The weapon felt heavy but oddly comfortable in my hand. It was made of ash wood, the light stain embellished with writing up the side. I ran my finger over the ridged silver, trying to read it.

Nullus metus, nulla deditione.

“No fear, no surrender.” I tilted my head as I felt Warren approach at my shoulder. “To remind us that we already survived death once.”

I smiled to myself, repeating the Latin words. “That’s kind of beautiful.”

Reaching over, Warren adjusted my grip on the handle. He tucked my fingers around it, making sure my thumb was over my fingertips, practically slotting the stake into my hand as though I was an action figure.

“This will allow you to keep a tight grip on it while moving,” he explained while he demonstrated what he meant with the stakes he was holding. “If you keep your grip tight, it means you don’t need to put as much effort into the strength of your lunge; the momentum will help drive it further in.”

My body felt weirdly exhilarated as Warren showed me how to arc my arm around, thrusting the stake into different invisible points to create the most damage if I couldn’t get a heart shot. I didn’t even attempt to hide my grin when he led me to the punch-bag in the corner, letting me try to hit it like it was a real person.

Not a person…Vampire.

I almost wished Mercy was with us, watching as I found strands of confidence to weave into my personality. My body ached, not yet recovered from my deadly little tête-à-tête with Jonah, but I didn’t want to stop. And as Warren directed my movements, I let myself feel the enjoyment I knew I didn’t deserve.

I shouldn’t have wanted to be thrown further into the lives of the Known, but a part of me yearned for the way the excitement made me feel. I was living a very tedious life before I met Mercy Petrova, that much was for sure.

31

MERCY

Nullus metus,nulla deditione.No fear, no surrender.

Warren had lived and breathed the motto that had been thrown around our compound for decades, and the thrill of watching him teach it to my new human made my body tingle with fulfillment.

My eyes narrowed as I sat hunched, hidden between shrubs, branches, and other filigree within the garden walls. After Warren made me aware of his intentions with Cecelia today, I felt obligated to watch. I still wasn’t entirely on board, especially given that he had just put Jonah through rounds of torturous play time, but it was no secret that I could no longer protect her from within my own two walls. Narcissa’s invasion had showcased a weak point that startled me, and I was no longer confident of Cece’s safety within the estate. This was the best use of our resources now, whether I liked it or not.

I was incredibly intrigued with the progress Cece could make in such a short period of time, but I was also equally as invested in the budding relationship I noticed between her and my Second.

The two, for better or worse, had gotten along more than I ever wanted, or anticipated. It didn’t seem harmful yet, in the long run. At least not as harmful asmyrelationship to her was becoming. Instead, I saw a glimmer in Cecelia’s eyes that I think had been long since lost as she found her new home here at the compound. I noticed how my phrasing made the lack of the word “prisoner” and the inclusion of “home” a little less horrific. Captive or not, I was still not willing to let Cecelia leave.

Warren put that gleam in her eyes there, though, and in that way I was grateful for the sarcastic vampire I’d regrettably befriended. I hoped that relationship was enough to keep her here on her own, at least for a little while.

Although the clouds covered most of the now rising sun, my skin was already prickling with irritation. Warren’s body must have been scathing, being out there for the entirety of sunrise, but I was appreciative of the care and seriousness in which he took our pet’s training. I scratched at my skin, the nails causing long red streaks across it. It surprised me that Warren had been out training with Cecelia for this long- it had been hours now- knowing that night was coming to an end. I could see from here that his skin was starting to blister as the sun peeked out from behind all knowing clouds. With little sleep, she must have been exhausted as well. No good could come from those that were sleep deprived, or in pain.

The longer I sat watching, the more I realizedwhyhe kept her training, despite daylight opening up the gardens. It was clear that she was surprisinglygoodat it. I hadn’t been there long, only catching the tail end of their session, but even I could see that Cece was catching on quickly.

I was silent and stealthy in my voyeurism. Cecelia had already proven that I was as much a distraction to her as she was to me, and I was sure Warren wouldn’t appreciate me interrupting his studious teaching moment. He took great pride in his ability to train, and I enjoyed watching him work. He was quick, intuitive, and patient, all things I never was, or could be. It was uncomfortable from where I was crouched, but I couldn’t risk distracting her while she was in the midst of a powerful vampire. I trusted Warren, but that didn’t mean I trusted hisneed.

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