So Long and Goodnight

This is what I did last night.

Chapter Ten

When Helena woke up, she let out a steady stream of curses as she took in her surroundings. She was lying on a lumpy mattress in a dungeon cell that seemed to be straight out the dark ages. The only light was coming from far outside her cell. She could hear the cries of other prisoners somewhere beyond the dark walls.

“How dare you condemn me to your life of evil!? All of you will burn in the fires of hell!”

“Where am I? What have you done with my brother?”

“He told me he loved me . . . I never should have gone with him . . .”

She pressed the thin pillow to her head, trying to drown it all out.

Why didn’t I stay with Andy?  She silently asked herself. Why did I do that stupid video for Gerard?

But she was broken from her thoughts by the arrival of a strange visitor. He was a thin teenager, dressed in tight black jeans and with a grey t-shirt with wild grey eyes and long black hair. Tattoos ran up both his arms and he had two piercings just above his lip. He eyed her sadistically.

“Well, well, you must be Miss Dracul,” he said. “My name is Trace. You’re my five o’clock.”

She glanced at him nervously as he approached. He calmly picked her up from the bed and slammed her into the stone wall. She sank to the floor, her mind reeling. Who was this psychopath?

As if reading her thoughts as he began to beat her with a crowbar he manifested from nowhere, he started to talk.

“My life was just starting to get good. I had a band, I had an up and coming clothing line; it felt like I was finally starting to break out of my sister’s shadow. Then one night after a show, a shadow came up behind me and attacked. I blacked out and woke up here, where William told me what he had done and why.  Now thanks to you and your stupid boyfriend, I’m stuck here forever!!!”

He brought the crowbar crashing down on her skull, striking harder with every blow.

“That’s the problem with you assholes; you never think about what you’re doing! Do you think I wanted this?! To be trapped in the dark for the rest of my life, never to see my family again?! You just don’t get it!!! ”

He kicked her over and started stomping in her ribs. She gasped as one broke and punctured her lung.

“You all act like these perfect beings, but you’re not! You’re just a bunch of murdering sluts!” His wild grin grew wider as she looked up at him questioningly. “You think I don’t know my history? The night of your engagement, you slept with that Gerard. You know, I’m glad I’m not you. All your life you’ve been used! Gerard, Pete, Brendon. Heck, even William was only using you at first.”

“My past is none of your business,” she managed to retort.

“It is now,” he sneered, stabbing her in the side with a silver knife. “See you soon, sweetheart.”

Just like that, he left her battered and bleeding on the stone floor and walked out the door. She weakly tried to prop herself up, but her aching bones were no use. She slumped back to the floor.

“You got what you deserve, hellspawn,” a female voice spat. Helena looked toward the source. A petite young woman with tattered brown hair in a moth eaten dress and gloves looked at her through the bars in her cell.

“You have blue blood. That means you truly are the devil’s child.”

Helena looked down. As she eased the knife from her side, she saw the blood pouring from her wounds was no longer black, but a shimmering blue.

“My royal blood. It’s time for me to rule.”

“But you cannot rule without your mate, can you?” a familiar voice added.

She whirled around, causing a stab of pain to flash through her. William stood outside the door, watching her.

“You need to feed,” he said pointedly. She realized none of her injuries had begun to heal.

He unlocked the door and strode in, crouching to where she lay. She closed her eyes, wishing he would leave. He smiled wistfully and began caressing her gently.

“How long has it been since you fed?” he asked softly.

“Awhile,” she admitted drowsily.

“Please just give in,” he begged. “This is killing me; doing this to you.”

“I . . . I don’t know. Let me think.”

“What is there to think of?!” he demanded. “If you and I do not take over from those damn Volturi, we are doomed. We were supposed to begin our reign almost two hundred years ago! If you wish to sit down here and rot, very well. But I do not understand why you have acquired this death wish.”

He angrily stormed out, slamming the door behind him. With her last remaining strength, she mentally summoned Jared.

Long time no see. What are you doing in Albania?

It’s a very long story. But I think there’s something wrong with me.

What?

She paused.

I’m afraid.

Of what?

Ruling over all the vampires. It’s what I was trained for, but that was a long time ago.  And I don’t want to take away your freedom. If William and I are bound, then you will be forced to join his new legion of Dandies.

But what about Shannon?

If William can’t control him . . . I’m afraid he will be killed.

At least I'm trying.