“I thought you cut the power?”
Gabe lowered his head, his perfectly arched eyebrow conveying skepticism. “Do you think your father wouldn’t have a generator inside the vault?”
I rolled my eyes again. “Of course he would.”
Inside, a towering wall of wooden crates, overflowing with canned goods, created a narrow aisle leading to a sturdy metal door. The door featured a combination lock dead center, with a large Dog wheel directly underneath. The hatchway resembled the kind of vault door used by banks—imposing, steel, and clearly designed for maximum security. How subtle.
“I don’t know the combination, do you?” I asked Gabe. “I suppose we could try all the numbers I can think of—birthdays, anniversaries, important moments.”
“I don’t think we’ll need it,” Jude answered, opening the thick door. “It’s already open.”
“I’ll go first,” I whispered, circling Jude and stepping foot inside. “Don’t lock us in.” The door was so thick, and the locks were so definitive that I was scared if it closed fully, we’d be stuck inside forever. Trapped.
As soon as we delved deeper, the overhead lights slowly flickered on, casting a warm glow on our surroundings. Jude’s mouth fell open, his shock apparent as he took in the opulent room. The room was a bizarre mix of luxury and tackiness—plush seating sank under the weight of its own opulence, while gold leaf clashed with the cold, hard surfaces of numerous, oddly placed animal statues. To someone who didn’t know, this room would’ve looked very rich and over-the-top, which I’m sure it was.
I hated my father’s taste. And this wasallhim.
Continuing deeper into the bunker, the musty smell intensified as we entered a room filled with exercise equipment, followed by a surprisingly large kitchen and living area. These rooms looked similar to the first we were in—old and garish. It was clear this vault had been designed over sixty-five years ago and hadn’t been updated since. Then again, why update something you hope never to use?
From the kitchen, a man straightened from his crouched position, his face pale, letting out a slight yelp when he saw us. Once his mind registered it was me, he clutched his chest. “Vincent, you startled me. Did my guards find you?”
“What?” I was confused; it was like he was expecting me.
His eyebrows pinched together. “I told my staff to find you and bring you here for safety.” He shifted toward Gabe. “Ah, there’s my boy. I knew I could count on you for bringing Vincent to me.” His eyes flashed to Jude with distaste. “Who’s your friend?”
“Dad, wh-what is this place?” I ignored his question, trying to subtly shift the focus from the human in the room.
“It’s my bunker,” he answered, extending his arms like he was welcoming me home. “I made it in case we were ever attacked, another nuclear war broke out, or a new sickness affecting vampires came to fruition.”
“For us?”
He laughed. “Of course, who else would I want to be with at the end of the world?”
Me, for my blood. He was playing a game.
“There are rumors outside Elysium that this vault holds the key to killing all the vampires.” Gabe stepped in and scanned the room, clearly searching for answers.
My father laughed again. “Nope, just a bunker. I don’t believe there’s a way to kill the vampire race. We are here to stay. That is, as long as we have enough blood to sustain our bodies, which we always will thanks to my son.”
Gabe, Jude, and I subtly exchanged shared looks. “I’ve heard that too. Why would everyone think that if it’s not true, Dad?”
“Hmm, maybe for the secret room I created?” He crept toward a secluded door on the far side of the living room. “I needed this place to be a true safe haven, so I developed this room and stocked it to last a few years, just in case.”
I walked toward my father, the smile on his face crinkling the corners of his eyes, as he held the door open for me. Jude and Gabe remained, their hands hovering over their holstered weapons, ready for action. The air crackled with tension. As I leaned into the room, the sudden burst of light from the motion sensors startled me, revealing a surprisingly tidy space. A long hallway stretched before me, filled with shelves upon shelves of large crystal decanters that were filled to the brim with blood.
“What is this?” I breathed as a sudden wave of prickliness scratched at my skin.
“Isn’t it obvious? Blood!” he screamed in delight. “Years ago, when I started experimenting, I found a way to create a longer-lasting strain of blood and stocked this bunker with it. See the big red button at the far end of the wall?”
I nodded. Knowing my father, a big red button didn’t mean anything good. He’s such a cliche.
“It’s the last resort. If pressed, that button will detonate bombs all over the city. But not us.” He smiled. “We have this new blood that stays fresher longer, although it has a shorter rate of effectiveness. We’ve actually had it for quite a while, but have never distributed it to other Elysiums.” He shrugged once he noticed the disgust on my face. “What? Supply and demand increases the price of goods.”
“Speaking of that…there’s been something I’ve wanted to talk with you about.” I knew my voice was shaking, but I tried my hardest to remain calm and steady. “I heard some things about you while I was kidnapped.”
“My dear boy, you cannot believe a word the humans say. They’re all liars.” He poured himself a drink and took a swig. “Look at their politics before the collapse. They cannot be trusted.”
No more beating around the bush—I have to finally be direct and honest. “Dad, did you help create the Dogs and keep them in production this whole time?”
