Bloodlust (Page 35)

Just then the attic door opened with a flourish, and Gallagher strode into the room, his boots echoing on the floor.

"The vampires are awake!" he bellowed.

The two guards hastily jumped to attention, pretending theyd been watching us the whole time. Gallagher strode toward the cage, kneeling at our eye level. His three-piece suit was impeccable, as if hed made his fortune as a financier rather than by torturing vampires.

"Well, well, well the family resemblance is obvious. Im embarrassed to not have noticed it sooner." He reached through the bars and grabbed the front of my shirt, pulling me against the side of the cage. My face clanged against the bars, and I winced as something wooden jutted into my chest.

A stake.

"And you almost got away with acting like a human!" Gallagher threw his head back and laughed, as if it were the most amusing thing in the world.

"You wont get away withthis," I hissed, pain ripping through my body as he dug the stake farther into my skin.

"Pay attention, vampire!" Gallagher said, his lips curled back in a snarl. "You know, I think Im going to bet youre the one wholl get killed. Yes, I think that will do very nicely." He turned toward the two guards. "Hear that? A tip from the boss. Bet on the dark-haired one," Gallagher said, twisting the stake against my body. "I think his brother has more hatred in his belly."

I couldnt see Damons face, but I could picture the smirk that no doubt played on his lips.

Gallagher snorted in laughter and threw the vervain-soaked stake to the floor. "Oh, and I dont want you using the stakes on the vampires for sport anymore," he said in the direction of the guards. The heavyset one glanced guiltily down at the floor.

"Why not?" the other asked indignantly. "Its good for em. Shows em their place."

"Because we want them in tip-top shape for their fight," Gallagher said, his voice an exaggerated parody of patience. Then Gallagher smiled at us. "Thats right, boys. You two are going to be fighting, to the death. Its the perfect solution. Ill have one dead vampire to sell for parts, a live one for performances, and profit beyond my wildest imagination. You know, it might be sacrilege, but I say, thank God for vampires!"

With that, Gallagher turned to leave the attic, slamming the door behind him. I sank back against the bars. Damon did the same, shutting his eyes. The two guards gaped at us through the bars.

"I know the boss said the dark-haired one, there, but aint he lookin a little weak? My pennies are goin for that boy," one commented.

"Eh, I always go with what the boss says. Besides, aint all about size, right?" the scrawny one said, sounding affronted by the first guards implication. I slumped against the wall, closing my eyes. The hatred that my brother had for me was surely enough to want me dead. But would Damon really kill me?

"Im more vicious than a crocodile, brother," Damon said with a smile, his eyes still closed. "And this is the best piece of news Ive heard since we turned into vampires!" He laughed, long and loud, until one of the guards clambered over and, despite Gallaghers decree, jabbed him with a vervain-laced stake.

But even then, he continued to laugh.

Chapter 28

Remember the time we broke Mothers crystal bowl? And I was so worried about how she would react that I cried?" I asked.

"Yes, and then Father decided I was to blame and whipped me and called me wicked," Damon said dully. "I tried to make your life easier, little brother. But Im done. This time, I want you to get exactly what you deserve."

"What do you want me to say, Damon?" I asked angrily, so loudly the two guards looked up in surprise.

Damon paused, his eyes at half-mast. "Ill tell you exactly what I want you to say right before I kill you."

I rolled my eyes in angry frustration. "I thought you were the one who wanted to die. And now youre going to kill me?"

Damon chuckled. "You know, now that I think about it, being a beast from hell might not be so bad. In fact, I think its a role I could take to, immensely. Perhaps it wasnt my newfound state I despised. It wasyou. But if youre gone–"

"If Im gone youll be in Patrick Gallaghers freak show forever," I interrupted.

"But admit it, brother. Dont you think Patrick Gallaghers freak show is more fun than hell? And once I get some strength, I think I can plan an escape quite easily."

"And then Im sure youll get caught, just as you did the first time," I said in disgust.

I leaned my head back against the cage bars. The fight was one short hour away, and I hadnt given up on trying to engage Damon, to spark any possible thread of connection between us. But no matter what Id say, hed taunt me or ignore me.

It was impossible to know just how long wed been trapped. Since I had become a vampire, time had taken on a different quality. Seconds and minutes no longer mattered. I found being imprisoned gave time back its importance, because every second brought us closer to our battle. As I waited, I played out in my mind the various scenarios the fight could take. I pictured Damon snapping my neck, roaring triumphantly for the crowd. I saw myself succumbing to anger, accidentally stealing life from my brother–again.

But what would happen if we both refused to fight? Could we take on the entire audience together? Could we somehow engineer an escape? Yes, Gallaghers minions had vervain and stakes, but we had Power. If only I had Callie on my side

My heart panged painfully at the thought of Callies betrayal. The image of her flame-red hair and gleaming eyes floated to my mind constantly, inflaming my anger–and hurt–over and over. I curled my fists. If only Id listened to Lexi. If only I hadnt let a human in.