I felt a little nauseous, like I used to when I hadn’t eaten. It could also be a sign of concussion, if vampires got concussions. It could be the effect of injury compounded by not getting enough blood in the past twenty-four hours.
I forced myself to take stock of my situation.
There was a small window above me. It was glass and not any of the frosted stuff so popular on basement windows. This was the real stuff and looked like it might be original to the house. There was a furnace and water heater in the corner. The rest of the basement just contained boxes of junk, all on shelves.
“Looks like our guest is awake,” the draugr said from his position at the top of the stairs. “We had a bet going over whether you would wake up before the sun rose. I thought you’d remain dead to the world.” He turned and said over his shoulder, “Looks like you win, as always.”
A pair of boots appeared next to the draugr then descended. Victor, wearing clothes this time, came into view.
“You’ve cost me quite a bit, fang face.”
I didn’t see Brax anywhere. He must have gotten away.
Not going to lie, wish it had been me to make the escape, but at least Brax knew the whole story. He could round up support and come searching. I just needed to survive until he and his backup got here.
“Did you hear me?” Victor said, kicking my leg.
Pain pulsed up my body. I must have done some damage to the leg and just hadn’t noticed with all the other injuries.
He crouched down and grabbed my hair, hauling my face up to his.
“I’ve been planning this for years, and you’ve managed to nearly ruin everything.”
“What do you want me to say? I’ve got a knack for throwing a wrench in things.”
One thumb caressed my cheek as he crooned at me, “Don’t worry. I’m sure we can think of something as payback.
He tapped my rib. I swallowed the pained sound, biting my lip hard enough to draw blood. He got off on my pain. I wasn’t giving him any more than I had to. He pressed harder, the pain like a band around my chest, tightening and tightening until a small sound escaped me.
He dropped my head, stepping back. I glared at his boots as I panted. A cold sweat broke out over my skin.
Bastard.
“I don’t get you,” I said. “Why do all this? Why go through the trouble of attacking the dryad and the vampire, if you just wanted to take Brax out?”
“Not many can grasp the genius of my plan,” Victor said. “I’ve been laying the groundwork for years. The wolves never even suspected the person responsible for everything was one of their own.”
I edged forward in my chains, searching for a more comfortable position.
“Why not just challenge Brax directly?” I asked.
“He’s too strong. He’s one of the strongest alphas of the last two centuries. Even if I won, I would never have been able to hold the pack. He has too many loyal followers. He has them eating out of his hand. Anyone who won that challenge would be dead by the next day. They would have issued challenge after challenge until I was tired and made a mistake. No, I needed to weaken the entire pack. Sow fear and dissention until they were ripe for the plucking.”
“Probably didn’t hurt that your chosen weapon wouldn’t have been strong enough when he first woke up.”
Victor gave me a sidelong look. “Yes, that was a consideration. The creature was much weaker than legends had indicated. He needed a few kills and to consume the flesh of humans before his power could grow enough to where he could carry out my wishes.”
I was surprised he’d admitted that much with the draugr sitting so close. The draugr might have been a tool for Victor’s master plan, but he wasn’t a mindless tool.
“I have to thank you, though. Your presence has been an unexpected bonus.” He crouched in front of me. “I had planned to start a war between the werewolves and the vampires, thin the herd if you will, with a few murders on each side. Each would blame the other, and in the ensuing chaos I would take control, making sure that any who might oppose me were killed in the fight.”
“Boy, you must have been pissed when that didn’t take effect,” I said. The pain was getting worse.
“Thanks to you. Franklin’s death should have jumpstarted things. I even made sure to time it when the vampire’s enforcer was close so he could take the blame. Then you blundered into things and ruined everything. No matter though, we’re back on track now. After we stage your death at the hands of Brax, the vampires will blame the wolves and seek revenge. Even if Brax knows I’m behind this, he’ll fall in the ensuing war, and if he doesn’t, my friend over there will finish him off.”
My laugh was ragged and wet, like one of my ribs had punctured a lung.
“You’re an idiot if you think anyone will avenge me. I’m nobody. I have no clan or family. The vampires didn’t even know I existed until a few days ago. This won’t even be a blip on their radar.”
