Waverly released a muffled scream as a roach crawled over her foot. She kicked at it, and it flew into the air towards her head. “Jesus Christ. I hate bugs.”
Viktor swatted it out of the air, sending it slamming into the floor. “Are you okay?”
“What’s in here?” she gasped. A low hum grew louder as she took a step towards Viktor. “Something’s in here with us.”
Well before Waverly’s eyes had a chance to adjust to the darkness, Viktor saw them. Hundreds of cockroaches swarmed on the wall.
Then he heard the heartbeats. Humans.
“I need you both to get ready to flash.” Viktor suspected that whatever lay beyond the door was far worse than bugs.
“I hear them.” Rafe nodded in understanding
“We’ve got to get through the door, and we’ll deal with whatever is on the other side.” Viktor reached for Waverly’s hand. “I’m going to need you to close your eyes until we get on the other side of the door.”
“What?” Waverly asked, panic in her voice.
“I need you to trust me. There’s something in…” Before he had a chance to finish his sentence, a single cockroach flew into the air, setting off a mass flight of hundreds of cockroaches. Waverly screamed in terror as the swarm attacked them.
In a split decision, Viktor laid his other hand on Rafe and dematerialized, despite being unsure of his destination. The stench of urine rushed him as they appeared inside an enormous basement area. His stomach clenched as he caught sight of dozens of dog cages, filled with men and women. Dirty needles and IV bags were strewn all over the floor.
“Oh God,” Waverly cried at the sight. She attempted to run to a cage to open it, but Viktor caught her by the wrist, stopping her. He yelled to Rafe. “Call PCAP. Now.”
“Let me go. They need help,” she told him, attempting to wrench her arm from his grip.
Rafe retrieved his phone and tapped at the glass. “Done.”
“Ivar!” Viktor yelled. He looked to Waverly. “Don’t move. I need you to stay here with Rafe. It’s too dangerous. I promise you I’ll help them. Understand?”
Shaken, Waverly nodded, tears streaming down her face.
“I smell you, little pig.” Viktor kicked an empty beer bottle, sniffing the air.
“What’s happening?” Waverly’s eyes widened as she caught sight of a wall of knives, whips and restraints. Tools of all shapes and sizes sat atop a rectangular table. A reticular saw rested upon a drain on the floor. A stainless-steel bed with leather straps sat on the blood-stained floor.
“It’s going to be okay,” Rafe told her, taking her hand. “Let Vik handle this.”
Viktor stole a glance at Waverly. Furious, a fresh rush of anger stabbed through him. “Ivar!”
A singular rapid heartbeat stood out among the barely living humans. Viktor stalked through the rows. Like a laser beam on its target, the ancient vampire detected its source. He reached for the cage door and tore it off, tossing it clear across the room. The quivering vampire inside rolled onto his back holding up his hands defensively.
“Come here!” Viktor reached for him, grabbing him by his throat and dragging him out of the container. “What is this place?”
“It’s none of your business. She…she will not be ha…ha…happy,” he stuttered, scrambling back towards the wall.
“Who is she?” Viktor reached for him and held him off the floor by the back of his neck.
“The Missus. She owns th…thi…this place. You have to get ou…ou…out.” Ivar kicked his feet in an attempt to break loose of Viktor’s grip.
“What are you doing with all these humans?” Viktor growled, sickened by the stench. Torture. Bloodletting. “PCAP is going to be here any second. And when they see what you’ve done, they’re going to kill you…if you’re lucky. Because if I do it, I’m going to break every finger in your hand and rip out your tongue. Now answer me. What is her name? What are you doing with the humans?”
Viktor tossed Ivar onto the cold concrete floor, looming over him.
“They’re just blood bags. No one will miss them. Why do you care?”
“Because they’re human beings.” Viktor grabbed Ivar again and flung him across the room. He flashed to his side and stomped his boot onto the vampire’s throat. “You’ve got one minute. PCAP is coming for you soon. Will you be alive or dead?”
“They’re food. Nothing more,” Ivar managed, blood dripping from his mouth.
Viktor pulled out his phone and swiped to a picture of Adam he’d copied off the museum website. He shoved the screen toward his face. “Do you know him?”
“I’m not telling you—”
Viktor landed a kick to his jaw, sending a blood-soaked tooth skipping across the floor. “Do you know him?”
“Yeah.” Ivar coughed and spat bloody sputum onto the floor.
“What’s his name?”
“I don’t know. The Mis…Missus is coming.”
Rage tore through Viktor. He strode over to the blood-soaked table. Using the cuff of his jacket, he selected a silver knife. Careful not to burn himself on the toxic metal, Viktor returned to Ivar and held the blade to the vampire’s forehead. It sizzled as Viktor held it to his skin, the stench of burnt flesh filling the room.
Viktor lifted the knife and released a feral growl. “What the fuck are you doing with these humans? Where is the owner? What’s her name?”
Ivar began to laugh, a deep maniacal laughter that echoed amongst the moaning humans who’d begun to wake.
The sound of gunfire echoed from above. PCAP.
Ivar stumbled to his feet, blood streaming down his face. His laughter grew louder.
“What the fuck?” Viktor looked to Waverly and Rafe as the floor beneath his feet began to shake.
“We’ve got to save these people,” Waverly cried, her face swollen with tears.
“Dude, what the fuck is happening?” Rafe asked.
A pounding thud rumbled throughout the room. Flecks of concrete stung their face as a wall crumbled before them. A silhouette stepped out of the shadows as debris sprayed throughout the room.
“Missus! Missus!” Ivar screamed as he ran toward her and cowered at her feet.
Wearing a tight candy apple red jumpsuit, the feminine figure stood silent. Her jet-black hair had been tied into a high ponytail. With her face covered with a mask that revealed only a set of dark eyes, she glared at Viktor. Then in a flash, they disappeared.
“Goddammit!” Viktor yelled as they escaped.
The voices from above grew louder, and he flashed to Waverly and Rafe, taking them into his arms. As he dematerialized, he realized what they were up against was far worse than a human brotherhood.
Viktor sat in the great chair, staring at Waverly who slept in the bed. They’d come full circle. Once again, she’d been traumatized, and once again, it was his fault. He wasn’t deserving of her love. Death had followed him his whole life and tonight had been no different. He’d released his beast, showing her his true nature…she’d never love a monster.
Viktor sensed his brother before he’d said a word. “I shouldn’t have taken her there tonight.”