I cringed at his greeting, hoping Jude didn’t hear, and extended my arms and legs, stretching my body. Jude’s body stirred with a groan, his breath heavy with sleep. His pained face and the lingering scent of liquor told me the alcohol had taken its toll. I wriggled free from between the two men, their bodies warm against mine, and stood. Fifteen, Nine, and Four were sleeping on the couches, but as soon as they heard me, all six of their eyes opened with a jolt. “Just me.” I smiled at them.
I went to the kitchen, the linoleum cool beneath my feet, and opened the refrigerator, grabbing a chilled bottle of blood and an ice-cold water. With a crack, the blood vial’s cap came off as I knelt on the ground and offered it to Gabe. He grasped the bottle’s neck, his large hands tightening around the cool glass. I’ve never been in this situation before, being wanted by two men. The worst part is I don’t know what to do…or if I even want either. I couldn’t imagine choosing one over the other. The turmoil in my heart forced me to divide my time carefully, ensuring each received some portion of my attention.
I turned toward Jude and opened the bottle of water. The warmth of his skin registered as I cupped his face, lightly rubbing his cheek with my thumb. His eyes fluttered open, heavy-lidded and bloodshot, then closed like a heavy theatre curtain once a show was over. A pained smile stretched his lips as I tilted the bottle, the liquid dribbling down his chin.
“My head is pounding,” Jude muttered, running his fingers through his perfect blond hair. “Thank you.” He lifted the bottle to his pink lips and took a long swig. The gulping of water down his parched throat filled the room, pulsing each second as if he had never tasted water before.
The bulbs within the cave flickered to life, their harsh glare made Jude wince and shield his eyes. The sudden brightness was overwhelming after the cave’s darkness. Pete hobbled into the room, his white hair sticking up in tufts.
“Ah, good.” Pete rubbed his beard. “We’re all still alive this mornin’, yeh never know with vamps in yer house, but I s’pose yer not like the others.” Pete winked at me and led us into the kitchen.
Within moments, the rich, nutty aroma of freshly ground coffee beans filled the room, accompanied by the cheerful whistle of a percolator, signaling a fresh brew was beginning. My heart leaped because in Elysium, I drank coffee every day.I lifted my head to the ceiling and breathed in the delicious fragrance wafting around me. I swore I couldn’t live without coffee, but the coffee-less hallways of Silvertown proved me wrong.
They may have had coffee, but I’m sure it’d be similar to swill.
“Do you need help with breakfast?” I leaned on the counter, looking at the short man. A wave of nostalgia washed over me as I gravitated toward him, the feeling strangely familiar, like being with my long-forgotten grandparents. It made me yearn for their connection once again.
“Quick breakfast,” Jude moaned, cupping his eyes in his hands.
“I agree with him.” Gabe nodded. “We need to get to the laboratory, and once we shut it down, we can go back to Silvertown. I expect we can do this all by the end of the day.”
The coffee maker began to bubble, indicating the brew was nearly complete. With a gentle clink, Pete poured the dark, rich liquid from the glass pot into two mugs, offering one to me with a smile. “I’ll take yeh through da tunnels. It’ll lead yeh right to the lab yer lookin’ fer.”
“Let’s go now.” From a chipped fruit bowl on the cluttered dining room table, Gabe grabbed a speckled banana and threw it to Jude. “It amazes me that there’s fresh fruit here.”
Pete shrugged. “All genetically modified, I’m sure.”
Jude scrunched his face, turning the yellow fruit like it was a grenade. “What the hell is this?”
I lowered the steaming mug from my lips, the warmth lingering, and fell silent for a moment. It never occurred to me Jude had never seen a banana before, but it made sense because it wasn’t a fruit native to our geography. The gap between vampires and humans continued to astound me.
With a second banana in hand, Gabe peeled back the slightly bruised yellow skin and sank his teeth into the soft, yielding flesh. Everyone’s eyes were on Jude, who hesitantly followed suit. My breath was bated, waiting to see the reaction on his face. Would he love it or hate it? Surprisingly, his face went from confusion to disgust, then to surprise.
He raised his head to look at all of us. “This is kinda good, I wish we had more of these back home.”
I shrugged. “Maybe one day, when this is all over, you will.”
“Maybe.” He continued to chomp on the banana, wiped his mouth, and nodded to the three military guards. “Why don’t the three of you install the charged batteries back in the snowmobiles, then we’ll go through the tunnels all together?”
Fifteen, Nine, and Four nodded and wrapped their masks around their heads. Before they disappeared behind the curtain, they put their fur-lined hoods up, each with a metallic battery beneath their arm.
“Hey, Four.” I raised my chin before he disappeared out the door. “Be careful, alright?”
He nodded and gave me a thumbs-up signal, putting me as at ease as I could be. Witnessing his brother’s final breaths filled me with a sense of responsibility for his safety.
“While they’re doin’ that, I’ll get everythin’ ready for yeh.” Pete nodded to me. “Mind helpin’?”
“Not at all.”
Pete guided me to the back of the cave, where a massive metal door loomed, its cold surface reflecting the dim light. It was so tall and rusted, it almost looked like part of the cave itself. With one hand, he wrapped his thick, calloused fingers around the cold metal lever, pulling with all his might. The lever shook, but never once budged.
Letting go of the lever, Pete wiped his hands on his overalls.
“One sec,” I said, seeing his struggle. Running back to the main room, Gabe was leaning against the kitchen counter while Jude lay groaning on the ground, nursing his hangover. “Can one of you help us?”
“Ughhhh, do you mind going, Gabe?” Jude moaned. “I’ll wait for my guys to come back.”
“Humans are so weak.” Gabe laughed as he sauntered over to me. Under his breath, he scoffed. “Can’t handle a little hangover.”
