Bloodsong

Chapter 58

T he car was quiet, with Carlos next to me. I couldn’t believe I was giving a ride to a vampire.

“They’re torturing him,” he murmured. “If they kill him, we’ll both feel it.”

“You feel it, don’t you?” I asked.

He didn’t say anything, staring out the window in silence. Our joint concern for Matteo allowed me to put aside my fear of him for the time being. I concentrated on the road. We’d talked for hours through the night, Mum and Dad filling me in. I learned about Niamh’s death, that her draw to the sea had become too much on a night she shouldn’t have been in the water. I realised that I needed to figure out how to prevent Matteo’s death. She’d told me that I needed to learn what my voice could do, and it would take practice. Niamh would help me. But what Mum had said about my fate to become a vampire scared me the most. Everything I’d been through and it was all leading to that.

“How do I stop this?” I asked. “Carlos, please you have to help me.” Tears welled up in my eyes. If Matteo died, my fate would be worse than death. “I can’t lose him. I know you don’t want to, either.”

“He’s not letting me track where he is, so I don’t know how to find him,” he said, his voice low. “I don’t know how to get him out without starting a war with the Hunters.”

The Hunters. Lilith. “I need to convince Lil to tell me. She’s my friend, she’ll-”

“Don’t bother,” he growled. “Your friend is a Hunter. They’ve been taught to hate us. Generation after generation, for hundreds of years. Hunters will never let go of that hate enough to listen to reason. Even if it means hurting you. They look at us and see monsters, and that will never change. They believe themselves to be the righteous protectors of humanity. We’re enemies, and they don’t take too kindly to humans who try to help us.”

“Then I can talk to Mia.” My voice was tinged with urgency. “She knows what Matteo did for me; she’ll listen. If I tell her I’m a siren…” I choked on a sob. “She’ll listen,” I said again.

Finally he turned his gaze on me. “One thing I’ve learned about humans is that they can’t handle anything different from them. You reveal that to your friend, she may not see you the same. Then she’ll need to tell the Hunter. You’re not quite human, Quinn, and that is a secret you will need to keep. Even from your friends. Someone, somewhere will find a reason to declare you and your mother dangerous. You saw what your mother can do. Your voice is a weapon, as well as enchanting.”

I gripped my steering wheel. My friends would never betray me. “You don’t like humans very much, do you?” I asked.

He scoffed. “Humans don’t like me. So I return that sentiment. I’ve been a vampire for nine hundred years and have seen the worst of humanity, especially when it comes to my kind. I don’t usually sit down to converse with my food. You and your parents may well be the first I’ve spoken to in such a meaningful way. That you’re not completely human makes me understand why I softened to your presence.”

“Call Mia,” I said in a clear voice. My phone started to ring through the car speaker. Carlos let out a low growl beside me. “Relax, I’m not telling her. I’m hoping she’ll tell me where Lil is.”

“Quinn?” Mia answered right away. “It’s four o’clock in the morning. Are you okay?”

“Where’s Lilith?” I asked.

“She’s at the farm, why are you calling me if you want to, oh shit.” she stopped, realising her slip of the tongue. “You’re looking for Matteo, aren’t you?”

I met Carlos’s eyes. “We are,” I admitted.

She let out a sigh. “I had a feeling you would. Wait, what do you mean, ‘we’?”

I took the exit off the highway. “I’m with Carlos.”

Her silence stretched out.

“Mia?” I pressed.

“In terms of how vampires go, he is one scary guy. At least Matteo never scared me the way he does. Be careful, Quinn. I know you love the guy, but he did almost kill you. Twice!”

“I know. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I said.

“See you tomorrow,” she agreed, and hung up.

I took the turn that I needed to take me to the farm. “This is going to be a two-hour drive,” I told Carlos. “Maybe an hour and a half with no traffic.”

“Park the car,” he instructed me.

“What? Here?” I frowned.

“Park the damn car!” He boomed.

I pulled over.

“Now get out,” he opened the door and climbed out. “Lock your door.”

I un-clipped my seat belt and did as he asked. “What are you planning to do?” I asked. “Run all the way?” I realised I’d forgotten my jacket.

He grinned. “Exactly.” He reached for me, lifting me into his arms. “You have to show me the way. Let me into your mind, Quinn.” His voice was soft, the brush of his mind pressing against mine. I relaxed. He took what he needed. “Now hold on.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he started to run at a speed no human could.

“Why are you helping me?” I asked, as the streets blurred by.

“You’re good for him. I’ve seen him fight against his feral side for centuries. Your presence calms that side of him.” He smiled, and it wasn’t the cold or smug smile I was accustomed to seeing on him. There was warmth in his eyes. “I think I have a soft spot for you,” he laughed.

Stunned, I leaned my head on his chest. “Thank you,” I said .

Our conversation halted. But it wasn’t long before I started to shiver, and Carlos noticed.

“Why are you shaking?” he asked.

“I left my jacket at Mum’s,” I said. “It’s the middle of winter.”

He stopped running and lowered me to my feet. “Put this on and wait here.” He peeled off his leather jacket, handed it to me, then was gone.

I stood in the street alone for ten minutes, his jacket around me. He returned without a word and lifted me in his arms again. I noticed he was warmer.

“You stopped to feed?” I asked.

“It’ll help keep you warm. I can’t have you freezing to death on your way to rescue Matteo,” he said.

Silence returned, and I struggled to keep my eyes open.

“I heard what your mother said. Your fate is to become a vampire,” he reiterated. “It’s what Matteo’s wanted for you from the beginning.”

I didn’t want to think about that, so I closed my eyes, overcome by lack of sleep.

“We’re here.” His voice pulled me from a dream of Matteo, and he lowered me to my feet again.

“Okay, now what?” I couldn’t see very far in the dark.

“I can sense him. He’s in there.” He pointed and scanned our surroundings. “There are a lot of Hunters here. I’m going to draw them away; you go in and try to help him.”

A roar filled the air. Matteo’s. Agony tore through my heart.

Carlos winced in pain and growled. “I’m going to tear all of them apart.”

“What are they doing to him?” I stared into the darkness.

“They’ve shot him with arrows, deliberately missing his heart. I can feel his pain, and he’s hungry.” He reached a hand towards me, lifting my chin. “You’re a brave woman, Quinn, I need you to be so now. Run.”

He was gone. Voices immediately rose from the darkness. I moved forward, hoping I was going in the right direction. People ran past me, shouting about vampires.

I found where Carlos had pointed to. A bunker, brightly lit around it. Inside it was just as bright and I ran forward, hoping it was empty. I ran past cells but stopped at one, somehow knowing he was inside.

Peering through the door, my chest ached. Tears spilled over. Matteo was chained to a wall, with arrows sticking out of him, and a muzzle on his face. A smaller arrow was embedded in his throat. His head was bowed, and his stillness was almost unnatural. It was the first time I’d seen him since he’d almost killed me, but seeing him like that caused a pain to pierce me deep within my chest. I gasped, unable to look away.

He moved, slowly raising his head, and meeting my eyes. I reached a hand towards the bar on the window without thinking. A tear slid down his cheek as he continued to stare at me, pain in his eyes tearing through me. He tried to say something, but it was muffled by the muzzle. Hands grabbed me, pulling me back.

“Not vampire, human,” Richie said. “Quinn? What are you doing here?”

“What are you doing to him?” I asked Richie.

“Get her out of here,” he said. “Before he makes her free him or something stupid.” He glared at me. “How did you get here? Are you here with the other vampire?”

I was led away, and tears streamed down my face, and I turned around as if to get a glimpse of Matteo one last time.

‘ Quinn, mi amore, I’m sorry. ’ I could hear his voice in my head, and it broke my heart. He knew he was going to die, and his sorrow and regret flooded through me. ‘ I would do it all over again to have the time I had with you, as short-lived as it was.’ His feelings flooded through me, an affection and tenderness. I was powerless to do anything to help him. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said again.

“So am I,” my voice was low, but I knew he’d hear me. I wished things could have been different. That we could leave, travel far from here. Surrounded by people I’d known my whole life, their cruelty hurt. That Lilith would be a part of this, hurt. “Carlos is here with me,” I whispered.

Unfortunately, those escorting me out heard my words to him. “She’s trying to communicate with him.”

Lilith arrived. “What are you doing, Quinn? Everything you’ve gone through, and you’d let yourself fall into his sway again?”

“I’m not doing anything.” I glared at her. “Is this really what you want to be? They tortured him!”

“They’re monsters.” Richie snapped. “Your sympathy with such a creature is unnatural.”

“Monsters?” I scoffed at Richie. “You need to review your definition of what a monster is. He has an arrow in his throat. How is this humane? Is this what you did to Rowan? They grieved the loss of their own, just as we would. His death hurt them.” I turned back to Lilith. “Lil, do you condone this? Does Mia know that this side of you exists?”

Matteo’s presence surrounded me, as it had when we were bonded. He was doing it on purpose, reaching into my mind.

‘ I tried, ’ I thought to him, hoping he’d hear. ‘ I’m sorry, Matteo. I love you .’ The need to say the words became important. If I were about to lose him, at least I’d have told him that.

His mind pulled back.

There was a loud noise and curses. “He’s trying to escape,” someone called out.

Lilith pushed at me. “Go into the house, Quinn. You’ll be safe in the house.”

I ran outside and stopped. Animal growls and screams came from inside the bunker. People were yelling, and then he stumbled from the bunker, tearing arrows from his body, removing the muzzle. His eyes found mine before Hunters surrounded him. He fought against them. Even wounded, he seemed to have no trouble, punching one and sinking his teeth into another.

“Get the spear!” a shout came, and I thought it was Lilith’s Dad.

“Richie’s down,” Lilith screamed, running from the bunker with a crossbow. “He killed Richie.” Her voice was heavy with emotion, and I felt for her. I knew the loss of a sibling all too well.

Her words had an affect on her dad. “Kill him!” he yelled. “I don’t care how you do it. Take him down now . He cannot be allowed to leave here.” His voice was filled with anguish and fury.

The moment his words were said, Matteo’s body was filled with arrows again. He dropped to his knees and pulled them out, a deep growl rising from him.

“Lilith, hold him. I’ll get the spear,” Lilith’s dad instructed.

I didn’t know what the spear was, but it didn’t sound good.

Matteo struggled to his feet, hunger flaring in his eyes as he attacked Hunters. He wrapped his hands around the throat of one, lifting him off the ground and throwing him against the concrete bunker. Another arrow pierced him, and he let out a roar, before sinking his teeth into the exposed throat of another. The Hunter screamed. It was a side of Matteo that I hadn’t seen. His strength, rage, and hunger were on full display. Every time he took down a Hunter, his eyes sought me out.

“Carlos, where are you?” I asked in the dark. “We need you.”

Lilith lifted the crossbow and let off an arrow, which pierced Matteo’s arm. He turned to face her. All the other Hunters that surrounded him were dead or too wounded to move. I could tell by his stance that he was ready to kill her. She aimed for him.

My heart pounded as I realised, I was about to watch Matteo die. Or Lilith. Our friendship would never be the same. I wasn’t sure she trusted me anymore, nor I her. That hurt more than anything. I turned my gaze to Matteo. If he died, I would feel that death for the rest of my life.

“Stop!” I shouted. “Matteo, please, don’t kill her. I’m yours. I’ve always been yours,” I sobbed. Realisation hit me that Mum was right. The weight of what I was about to agree to pressed against my chest. What I was giving up. My closest friend. My career. I took a deep breath. Tears were falling down my cheeks, and I whimpered. He was there in an instant, his arms around me. “I want to go with you,” I clung to him. “Leave here. I’ll go with you. Just please, I can’t watch you die. You are my world. If that means I have to join yours, I will.” He wasn’t moving. “Matteo?”

“I’m hungry,” he replied. “And wounded. I need blood before we can leave. A lot of it. If you don’t want to watch this, close your eyes, and cover your ears.”

“Just not Lil, please Matteo,” I begged.

Before he could respond, I caught sight of Lilith aiming an arrow at his back. The sight of Luke flashed before me. My sister’s soulmate. Her death had ruined him. I couldn’t let Lil kill my Matteo. My feral vampire who’d been so tender with me, keeping me from becoming a vampire even though that was what he wanted.

I made the decision in a split-second and moved around Matteo to beg her not to kill him. She nonetheless fired the arrow.