putting my hide on the line here,
too. I've never wanted to get into the detention area before.” His
lips
were drawn into an angry frown. “In fact, I usually avoid it. It's not some place an illegal Inhuman usually wants to hang out."
I had suspected he was. As a Seeker, you start to understand the differences an ID makes. I had learned to see it in their body language, the way they spoke, and how they carried themselves. Some legals still clung to the old ways of life, like living in basements or under bridges so it wouldn't be that shocking to find he was, but an illegal Inhuman living inside of Brimstone? He was just rubbing our noses in it. I liked him even less.
"Okay fine,” I said after a moment. “Let's go." "I'm not going,” Karl said as he slid into the shaft next to me. “I did what I told the big wolf I would. That's it. I'm out.” He skittered into the darkness. "You little shit,” I said quietly. I was definitely squishing him when, or if, I got out of this. Pulling myself into the adjoining vent, I wriggled ahead as quietly as I could. Realizing the guards were probably below me, I carefully calculated every move. Pushing past the first two openings in the shaft, I came to my destination. Through the thin slats in the vent grill, I could see the brightly lit detention area. A long row of cages lined both sides of the room with solid glass fronts. I knew from experience the glass was electrically and magically charged to keep the beasties in. They were also soundproof, reducing the chance one of the other prisoners could yell for the guards and screw me. I spotted the cell I had personally escorted Vlad into. Three up from the door, it was almost exactly beneath the vent shaft. I popped the vent cover free and set it neatly inside the shaft. Pushing my head and shoulders through, I rolled my legs over and dropped silently onto the floor. My senses on high alert, I turned my attention toward Vlad's cell. Our gazes met. I didn't realize until that moment how much danger I was in. I stepped to the side and activated the intercom. "Seeker,” Vlad greeted me.
Vlad's white shirt was stained with blood from the fight, but his head had healed nicely. Only a large bruise and barely any scarring were visible despite the fact I had blown a gaping hole in his head. The two fang marks on his neck were still readily visible though. The residual effect of my venom was slowing down the healing process. His hair still looked perfect. I had to find out how he did that. Sliding off the bench built into the wall, the Master Vampire moved languidly toward the glass. His limbs seemed almost too heavy for him to control. He hadn't fed enough. The guards had been giving him just enough to keep him going, yet this could easily backfire. Vampires often kept a reserve of energy in situations like this that enabled them to capture prey and feed. We were, after all, predators. Vlad was like a tightly coiled spring ready to explode. I had to be wary of the Master, even though six inches of charged glass separated us.
"Garrett,” I acknowledged, using his real name. I didn't think needlessly upsetting a hungry Vampire by calling him “Vlad” was my best option right now. Vampires in his condition had been known to kill other Vampires and feed off them just to survive. Blood was blood after all. "What brings you to my humble crypt?” Vlad asked, spreading his arms wide. “I would have prepared tea if I had known you were coming."
were drawn into an angry frown. “In fact, I usually avoid it. It's not some place an illegal Inhuman usually wants to hang out."
I had suspected he was. As a Seeker, you start to understand the differences an ID makes. I had learned to see it in their body language, the way they spoke, and how they carried themselves. Some legals still clung to the old ways of life, like living in basements or under bridges so it wouldn't be that shocking to find he was, but an illegal Inhuman living inside of Brimstone? He was just rubbing our noses in it. I liked him even less.
"Okay fine,” I said after a moment. “Let's go." "I'm not going,” Karl said as he slid into the shaft next to me. “I did what I told the big wolf I would. That's it. I'm out.” He skittered into the darkness. "You little shit,” I said quietly. I was definitely squishing him when, or if, I got out of this. Pulling myself into the adjoining vent, I wriggled ahead as quietly as I could. Realizing the guards were probably below me, I carefully calculated every move. Pushing past the first two openings in the shaft, I came to my destination. Through the thin slats in the vent grill, I could see the brightly lit detention area. A long row of cages lined both sides of the room with solid glass fronts. I knew from experience the glass was electrically and magically charged to keep the beasties in. They were also soundproof, reducing the chance one of the other prisoners could yell for the guards and screw me. I spotted the cell I had personally escorted Vlad into. Three up from the door, it was almost exactly beneath the vent shaft. I popped the vent cover free and set it neatly inside the shaft. Pushing my head and shoulders through, I rolled my legs over and dropped silently onto the floor. My senses on high alert, I turned my attention toward Vlad's cell. Our gazes met. I didn't realize until that moment how much danger I was in. I stepped to the side and activated the intercom. "Seeker,” Vlad greeted me.
Vlad's white shirt was stained with blood from the fight, but his head had healed nicely. Only a large bruise and barely any scarring were visible despite the fact I had blown a gaping hole in his head. The two fang marks on his neck were still readily visible though. The residual effect of my venom was slowing down the healing process. His hair still looked perfect. I had to find out how he did that. Sliding off the bench built into the wall, the Master Vampire moved languidly toward the glass. His limbs seemed almost too heavy for him to control. He hadn't fed enough. The guards had been giving him just enough to keep him going, yet this could easily backfire. Vampires often kept a reserve of energy in situations like this that enabled them to capture prey and feed. We were, after all, predators. Vlad was like a tightly coiled spring ready to explode. I had to be wary of the Master, even though six inches of charged glass separated us.
"Garrett,” I acknowledged, using his real name. I didn't think needlessly upsetting a hungry Vampire by calling him “Vlad” was my best option right now. Vampires in his condition had been known to kill other Vampires and feed off them just to survive. Blood was blood after all. "What brings you to my humble crypt?” Vlad asked, spreading his arms wide. “I would have prepared tea if I had known you were coming."