Page 93 of Vampires of Eden: Oliver
“But, wait,” I say, stopping as I consider. “What about that—if I disappear, how will you cover for my escape? I don’t want you to end up down here in my place.”
Hudson grins broadly as we stand in the hallway. He shakes his head. “You’ve always been my favorite of the children, do you know? The most kindhearted. I hope you know that you deserve much better than how Lord Blakeley treats you.”
A warm blush ignites my cheeks. “Ah, well, I… Thank you for saying that. But I’m serious, I don’t want you to be punished because I got away.”
“Lord Blakeley won’t know that you’ve escaped for some time. He never once came down here to see Thomas—he only requested updates. I’ll have some time to figure out my story. Plus, you need a head start.”
“Hold on.” I turn, then step up to the metal bars of a random cell beside us. “Did you tell him which cell I was in, specifically?”
“No, it wouldn’t matter. It’s not like we were picking a room at The Four Seasons.”
I snort. “Okay, good. I don’t know if this will work, but…” Blowing out a breath, I wrap my palms around one of the thick, cold bars. The texture is rough and gritty, but I clutch it hard, closing my eyes.
I’m still woozy and tired, but I need my energy to flourish. I channel that same inner fury and hurt from before. I think about Lord Blakeley ordering for me to be dumped into a literal cage. Like I’m an animal—as if he hasn’t done enough to control and manipulate my entire life. The way he weaponized his vampiric nature against me. Twice. Without any hesitation.
Slowly, my eyes warm like fire in my head as my nature springs to life. It blooms, concentrated in my hands, and I pull with all my might.
At first there’s nothing, but I put even more effort into it and grit my teeth. Wrenching. Fuming.
Soon, the metal groans from being manipulated in its hinges. Then, it’s done.
Shaky, I stand straight and dust my palms against my thighs. I take another deep breath and roll my shoulders.
“My God,” Hudson says with his hands on his hips. “Impressive.”
My eyes are still alighted, but I try stepping in between the bar I’ve bent and the vertical one beside it. I can fit through the space I’ve created without much of a struggle.
“Now it looks like I escaped on my own,” I explain. “It won’t be your fault.”
He smiles. “Brilliant. You’re very thoughtful, Oliver. And like a miniature Incredible Hulk.”
I scratch the back of my head. “I don’t know what that is.” Why am I miniature? I resent that, somehow. Hudson is probably seven feet tall, so who isn’t “miniature” to him?
“It doesn’t matter,” he says. “Thank you, your grace. Ah—I meant to tell you, my mate dried out the bouquet of wildflowers you gave her.”
My heart brightens at this unexpected news. “Really?”
“Yes. The arrangement was beautiful, so they’ve become the new centerpiece on our kitchen table in the cottage. She loves them. That was thoughtful of you to visit us, and we will truly miss your presence. It has been a pleasure watching you grow to find your own strength, voice and purpose.”
“No, I should be thanking you—for not listening to Lord Blakeley and doing all of this for me. I don’t think I could ever thank you enough.” Seriously. What could I do to repay him for this?
Hudson turns and resumes walking. “I almost laughed when Lord Blakeley said that Aries was down here. I was listening outside the door, and it was difficult to come in with a straight face.”
“Really?” The hallway curves more sharply as we walk. Suddenly, the shallow cells are replaced by larger, open chambers with the same low ceiling. I notice heavy chains and cuffs on the walls and ground. Abandoned and rusted like a tormenter’s former playground. Disgusting. I had no idea that all of this was underneath the castle.
“Aries is an outsider,” Hudson observes. “A widely celebrated one. Renowned. There’s no way Lord Blakeley could have kept someone like that down here for long. The last thing he wants is the focused attention and scrutiny of the outside world.”
“Does he know that our ways are outdated? Could he possibly have some self-awareness that the rules we abide by would be shunned by other, more modern aristocracies?”
“He does,” Hudson confirms as we move faster. “But these very old purebreds… they’re resistant to change, aren’t they? They see evolution and modernity as some personal attack to their core identity. As if embracing new ideas and ways of living leads to some distinct loss of their perceived, innate value. Forgive me for saying this, your grace, but I think it’s bullshit. As a species, we are meant to evolve and grow. Things should not always stay the same.”
Despite our grim surroundings, I smile. “No forgiveness is needed. I agree on all points.”
Hudson glances over his shoulder, mimicking my grin. “Which is exactly why you should be free, your grace. Let’s pick up our pace and get you out of here. You’re long overdue.”
ChapterTwenty-Six
Outside of the dungeon and into the woods, the night air is still cold, but dry. A steady, frigid breeze caresses my face like silk as I traverse through the brush and along the bank of the narrow stream. Hudson handed over his flashlight to aid me in my journey, but he also warned that I should only use it when I have to, lest someone from the estate notice a bright beam shining in the woods at four in the morning.
