Night World : The Chosen Chapter 5

Rashel froze. Her stain remained in the air, poised over the lamias heart.Well, what atomic number 18 you waiting for? the vampire verbalise. Go on and do it.Rashel didnt know what she was waiting for. The vampire was in a sit to block her sword with his timberen handcuffs, ask out he didnt do either much(prenominal) thing. She could tell by his body language that he wasnt release to, either. Instead he vindicatory lay thither, looking up at her with eyeb every(prenominal) that were as unknown and empty as thedepths of space.His hair was dishevel on his forehead and his m push throughh was a bleak line. He didnt wait afraid. He just wenton staring with those fathomless eyes.All right, Rashel thought. Do it. flush the leech is telling you to. Do it fast-now. unless instead she strand herself pivoting and stepping belatedly a mien from him.Sorry, she utter out loud. I dont take orders from parasites.She kept her sword at the ready in case he do whatever sudden mov es. hardly all he did was glance down atthe wooden handcuffs, wiggle his wrists in them, and then lie back.I see, he state with a strange smile. So its torture this quantify, right? Well, that should be amusing for you.Stake him, dummy, came the little function in Rashels head. Dont talk to him. Its knockout to get in aconversation with his var.. only when she couldnt refocus herself. In a minute, she told the character. First I render to get my own dominate back.She knelt in her ready-for-action crouch and splited up the flash lilting, turning it full on his face. Heblinked and looked away, squinting.There. Now she could see him, but he couldnt see her. Vampire eyes were hypersensitive to light. Andeven if he did manage to get a glance of her, she was wearing her scarf. She had all the advantages, andit made her feel more than in look out over of the situation.Why would you think we deprivation to torture you? she utter.He smiled at the ceiling, non correcting to lo ok at her. Because Im still alive. He raised the handcuffs. Andarent these traditional? A few vampires fromthe south shore wealthy person turned up mutilated with stocks like these on. It reckoned to have been through with(p) for fun.Smile.Vickys work, Rashel thought. She wished he would stop smiling. It was such a disturbing smile,beautiful and a little mad.Unless, the vampire was acquittance on, its information you want.Rashel snorted. Would I be likely to get information from you if I did want it? Well. Smile. Notlikely. I didnt think so, Rashel utter dryly. He laughed out loud. Oh, immortal, Rashel thought. Stake him.She didnt know what was wrong with her. Okay, he was charming-in a weird way. But shed knownother charming vampires-smooth, practiced flatterers who tried to sweet-talk or cajole their way out ofbeing staked. Some had tried to stimulate her. Almost all had tried mind go for. It was just becauseRashel had the will to put out telepathy that she was alive tod ay.But this vampire wasnt doing each of the ordinary things-and when he laughed, it made Rashers heartthump oddly. His whole face changed when he laughed. A sort of light shone in it. Girl, you are in trouble.Kill him right away. Look, she verbalise, and she was affect to find her articulatio a little shaky. This isntpersonal. And you probably dont care, but Im not the one who was going to torture you. This isbusiness, and its what I have to do. She took a wakeless breath and reached for the sword by her knee.He turned his face to the light. He wasnt smiling now and there was no amusement in his voice when hesaid, I understand. Youve got honor. Looking back at the ceiling, he added, And youre right, thisis the way it continuously has to end when our two races meet. Its obscure or be killed. The law of nature of nature.He was speaking to her as one warrior to another(prenominal). Suddenly Rashel tangle something shed neer felt for avampire before. Respect. A strange wish t hat they werent on opposite arrays in this war. A regret thatthey could neer be boththing but deadly enemies.Hes somebody I could talk to, she thought. An odd loneliness had interpreted hold of her. She hadnt realizedshe cared around having anyone to talk to.She found herself enjoining awkwardly, Is there anybody you want notified- afterwardsward? I mean, do youhave any family? I could break sure the news gets around, so theyd know what had happened to you.She didnt expect him to actually overstep her any names. That would be crazy. In this game knowledge waspower, with each side trying to find out who the players on the other side were. If you could posesomeone as a vampire-or a vampire hunter-you knew who to kill.It was Batman and Catwoman all over. The valuable thing was to preserve your secret identity.But this vampire, who was obviously a lunatic, said thoughtfully, Well, you could send a note to myadopted father. Hes hunter Redfern. Sorry I cant keep back you an addr ess, but he should be somewheredown east. another(prenominal) smile. I forgot to tell you my name. Its Quinn.Rashel felt as if shed been hit with an oak club.Quinn. superstar of the most dangerous vampires in all the nighttime World. peradventure the most dangerous of the madevampires, the ones whod started out human. She knew him by reputation-every vampire hunter did. Hewas supposed to be a deadly fighter and a excellent strategist clever, resourceful and cold as ice. Hedespised adult male, held them in utter contempt. He cute the Night World to wipe them out, except fora few to be used for food.I was wrong, Rashel thought dazedly. I should have allow Vicky torture him. Im sure he deserves it, if anyof them do. God only knows what hes done in his time.Quinn had turned his head toward her again, looking great into the flashlight even though it must behurting his eyes.So you see, youd better kill me fast, he said in a voice fleecy as snow square uping. Because thats certain lywhat Im going to do to you if I get loose.Rashel gave a strained laugh. Am I supposed to be scared?Only if you have the brains to know who I am.Now he sounded tired and scornful. Which obviously you dont.Well, let me see. I seem to remember something nearly the Redferns. Arent they the family whocontrols the vampire part of the Night World Council? The most important family of all the lamia, theborn vampires. Descended directly from Maya, the legendary first vampire. And Hunter Redfern is theirleader, the upholder of Night World law, the one who colonized America with vampires back in the xvi hundreds. Tell me if Im getting any of this wrong.He gave her a cold glance.You see, we have our sources. And I seem to remember them mentioning your name, too. You weremade a vampire by Hunter and since his own children were all daughters, youre also his heir.Quinn laughed sourly. Yes, well, thats an on-again, off-again thing. You might say I have a love-haterelationship with the Redferns. We spend most of the time want each other at the bottom of the Atlantic.Teh, vampire family infighting, Rashel said. Why is it always so hard to get along with your folks?Despite her light words, she had to focus to keep control of her breathing.It wasnt fear. She truly wasnt scared of him. It was something like confusion. Clearly, she should bekilling him at this moment instead of chattingwith him. She couldnt understand why she wasnt doing it.The only excuse she had was that it seemed to make him even more confused and angry than it did her.I dont think youve heard enough about me, he said, showing his teeth. Im your whip nightmare,human. I even shock other vampires. Like old Hunter he has certain ideas about propriety. How youkill, and who. If he knew some of the things I do, hed fall down dead himself.Good old Hunter, Rashel thought. The stiff moral paterfamilias of the Redfern clan, still caught up in theseventeenth century. He might be a vampire, but he was definitely a New Englander.Maybe I should find a way to tell him, she said whimsi annunciatey.Quinn gave her another cold look, this time tempered with respect. If I thought you could find him, Id worry.Rashel was dead struck by something. You know, I dont think Ive ever heard anyone say yourfirst name. I mean, I presume you have one.He blinked. Then, as if he were surprised himself, he said, John.John Quinn. John.I didnt invite you to call me it.All right, whatever. She said it absently, deep in thought. John Quinn. Such a normal name, a Boston name. The name of a real person. It madeher think of him as a person, instead of as Quinn the dreadful.Look, Rashel said, and then she asked him something shed never asked a Night Person before. Shesaid, Did you want Hunter Redfern to make you a vampire?There was a long pause. Then Quinn said expressionlessly, As a issue of fact, I wanted to kill him for it.I see. Id want to do the same, Rashel thought. She didnt mean to ask any more questions, but shefound herself saying, Then why did he do it? I mean, why pick you?Another pause. Just when she was sure he wouldnt answer, he said, I was-I wanted to marry one ofhis daughters. Her name was Dove.You wanted to marry a vampire?I didnt know she was a vampire This time Quinns voice was quick and impatient. Hunter Redfernwas accepted in Charlestown. Granted, a few people said his wife had been a witch, but in those dayspeople said that if you smiled in church.So he just lived there and nobody knew, Rashel said. virtually people accepted him. A faint mocking smile veer Quinns lips. My own father accepted him,and he was the minister.Despite herself, Rashel was fascinated. And you had to be a vampire to marry her? Dove, I mean.I didnt get to marry her, Quinn said tonelessly. He seemed as surprised as she was that he was tellingher these things. But he went on, seeming to speak almost to himself. Hunter wanted me to marry one ofhis other daughters. I said Id rather marry a pig. Garnet-thats the oldest-was about as interesting as astick of wood. And Lily, the snapper one, was evil. I could see that in her eyes. I only wanted Dove.And you told him that? Of course. He agreed to it finally-and then he told me his familys secret. Well.Quinn laughed bitterly. He didnt tell me, actually. It was more of a demonstration. When I woke up, Iwas dead and a vampire. It was quite an experience.Rashel opened her intercommunicate and then shut it again, trying to imagine the horror of it. Finally she just said, I bet.They sat for a moment in silence. Rashel had never felt so close to a vampire. Instead of disgust andhatred, she felt pity. But what happened to Dove? Quinn seemed to tense all over. She jaded, he saidnastily. It was clear that his confidences were over. How? no(prenominal) of your business Rashel tilted her head and looked at him soberly. How, John Quinn? Youknow, there are some things you really ought to tell other people. It might help.I dont pauperism a damn psychoana lyst, he spat. He was furious now, and there was a dark light in hiseyes that ought to have frightened Rashel. He looked as wild as she felt sometimes, when she didnt carewho she hurt.She wasnt frightened. She was strangely calm, the kind of calm she felt when her breathing exercisesmade her feel one with the farming and absolutely sure of her path.Look, Quinn-I really think youd better kill me now, he said tightly. Unless youre too stupid or too scared. Thiswood wont hold forever, you know. And when I get out, Im going to use that sword on you.Startled, Rashel looked down at Vickys handcuffs. They were bent. Not the oak, of course-it was themetal hinges that were coming apart. Soon hed have enough room to slip them off.He was very strong, even for a vampire.And then, with the same odd calm, she realized what she was going to do.Yes, thats a good idea, she said. glide by bending them. I can say thats how you got out.What are you talking about?Rashel got up and searched for a steel knife to cut the cords on his feet. Im letting you go, John Quinn, she said.He paused in his wrenching of the handcuffs. Youre insane, he said, as if hed just discovered this.You may be right. Rashel found the knife and zany through the bast cords.He gave the handcuffs a twist. If, he said deliberately, you think that because I was a human once, Ihave any pity on them, you are very, very wrong. I hate humans more than I hate the Redferns. Why?He bared his teeth. No, thank you. I dont have to explain anything to you. Just take my word for it.She believed him. He looked as angry and as dangerous as an animal in a trap. All right, she said,stepping back and putting her hand on the hilt of her bokken. apply your best shot. But remember, I beatyou once. I was the one who knocked you out.He blinked. Then he shook his head in disbelief. You little idiot, he said. I wasnt paying attention. Ithought you were another of those jerks falling over their own feet. And I wasnt even fighting the mseriously. He sat up in one fluid motion that showed the strength he had, and the control of his own body.You dont have a chance, he said softly, turning those dark eyes on her. Now that he wasnt lookinginto the flashlight, his pupils were huge. Youre dead already.Rashel had a sinking feeling that was telling her the same thing.Im faster than any human, the soft voice went on. Im stronger than any human. I can see better in thedark. And Im much, much nastier.Panic exploded inside Rashel.All at once, she believed him absolutely. She couldnt seem to get her breath, and a void had opened inher stomach. She lost any vestige of her previous calm.Hes right-you were an idiot, she told herself wildly. You had every chance to stop him and you blew it.And why? Because you were rubber for him? Sorry for a deranged monster whos going to tear you ramificationfrom limb now? Anyone as stupid as that deserves what they get.She felt as if she were falling, unable to get hold of anything.And then suddenly she did seem to put on something. Something that she clung to desperately, trying toresist the fear that wanted to suck her into darkness.You couldnt have done anything else.It was the little voice in her mind, being helpful for once. And, strangely, Rashel knew it was true. Shecouldnt have killed him when he was tied up and helpless, not without becoming a monster herself. Andafter hearing his story, she couldnt have ignored the pity she felt.Im probably going to die now, she thought. And Im still scared. But Id do it over again. It was right.She hung on to that as she let the last seconds tick away, the last window of opportunity to stake him tour the cuffs still held. She knew they were ticking away, and she knew Quinn knew.What a shame to rip your throat out, he said.Rashel held her ground.Quinn gave the handcuffs a final wrench, and the metal hinges squealed. Then the stocks clattered ontothe concrete and he stood up, free. Rashel couldnt see his face anymore it was a bove the reach of theflashlight.Well, he said evenly.Rashel whispered, Well.They stood facing each other.Rashel was waiting for the tiny involuntary body efforts that would give away which direction hewas going to lunge. But he was more still than any enemy shed ever seen. He kept his focus inside,ready to explode only when he directed it. His control seemed to be complete.Hes got zanshin, she thought.Youre very good, she said softly.Thanks. So are you.Thanks.But it isnt going to matter in the end.Rashel started to say, Well see-and he lunged.She had an instants warning. A barely perceptible movement of his leg told her he was going to spring tohis right, her left. Her body reacted without her direction, moving swimmingly and she didnt realize untilshe was doing it that she wasnt using the sword.She had stepped forward, inside his attack, and deflected it with a mirror palm block, collision the innerside of his arm with her left arm. Hitting the nerves to try and numb the limb.Bu t not cutting him. She realized with a cockamamy sense of horror that she didnt want to use the sword on him.You are going to die, idiot, he told her, and for an instant she wasnt sure if it was him saying it or thevoice in her head.She tried to push him away. All she could think was that she needed time, time to get her survivalreflexes back. She shoved at himand then her bare hand napped his, and something happened that was completely beyond her experience.