I loop the handle onto his fingers and he moves it up to the vent. The light trickles through and the creature inside goes mad, banging, rocking, and shrieking. Smoke hisses from the vent and Sylas leaps back as the locker tumbles to the ground.
“It’s got a vampire in it,” he states, leaning over the locker. “But I don’t think it’s the same breed as the ones we know.”
“The cry is different.” I point at the locker as it flips over. “It sounds almost human.”
The locker stills. Sylas and I look at one another and I say lightly, “Hello.”
We tense and wait for the unidentified beast to respond. Sweat trickles down my skin as I sense no fear inside the locker.
“Hello,” a creature echoes in a shriveled voice.
Sylas seats the lantern next to the locker and the yellow light orbs the cemented room. “Who are you?”
“Who are you?” the voice wheezes back.
“We’re… from The Colony,” I say. Sylas shoots me a look and I shrug. “You gotta better answer?”
He rolls his eyes. “We’re the ones you have to win over in order for us to let you out of your cage.”
“Clever boy.” The creature rocks the locker. “I used to be clever too, until I was turned into the beastly creature that goes against nature.”
My jaw drops. “Dominic, is that you?”
The locker subdues. I reach for the door handle, but Sylas smacks my hand back.
“Don’t even think about it.” He raps his fist on the locker, hard hits that splinter the air and dent the metal. “Tell us who you are or we’re going to leave.”
When the voice doesn’t answer, Sylas departs for the door. “Let’s go, Kayla. This is a waste of time.”
“Wait, it’s me,” a beady voice calls out. “It’s Dominic.”
“Where are the others?” I ask sharply. “Did you lock yourself up after you handed them over to the Highers to be burned?”
“I thought I was doing what was right,” he chokes. “But the Highers… it was a massacre. They killed everyone with their bare hands.”
I shift my weight and my shoe squashes a vial. “So that’s where the blood came from. They weren’t burned.”
“No, they were burned,” he replies. “They’re always burned afterward as a precaution...”
“What are you talking about?” Sylas asks. “Humans are burned as a precaution to prevent what?”
“You have it wrong. I’m not talking about humans.” He coughs as he bangs on the locker. “I’m talking about vampires.”
“You mean everyone was infected with the vampire disease.” I force the lump down my throat. “Before they were burned.”
“It was their punishment, and mine, for not doing everything the way the Highers wanted it,” he snaps. “But I won’t tell you more until you let me out of here.”
“You’re not human anymore,” I say, because he has no pulse. “What are you exactly? Human? Vampire? Higher?”
“That’s like the pot calling the kettle black, isn’t it?” He clicks his teeth together. “And no, I’m not a Higher…I did get bit, though.”
Shocked, I step away from the locker and run into Sylas. “A vampire bit you. But how can you still be talking?”
“No, a vampire didn’t bite me.” He gives a deliberate pause. “A Higher did.”
Sylas looks as baffled as me. He holds a finger up, signaling me to be quiet. “You say a Higher bit you,” he speaks calmly. “But that doesn’t really explain much, because the Highers we know don’t bite. Well, humans anyway.”
“Yes they do! Yes they do!” he rattles on, slamming against the inside of the locker. “They bite people all the time, but no one can remember it.”
I absentmindedly touch my neck. It’s like glass prickles at my brain. “I think one bit me once.”
“Huh?” Sylas picks up the lantern and shoves it in my face. His eyes are all over me, checking my neck, my arms, my legs. “A Higher bit you? When? Back in the street?”
“Not in the street… before that.” I put a finger to my lips. “Shh, just a second. I’m trying to remember.”
***
I stand in the center of the training room mat. Bellators circle me. Garret, my trainer, is secretly glad to see me going up against a Higher; he fears my strength and wants me gone.
Gabrielle moves in on my like a predator, his white robe dragging behind him. A small girl, with curly blonde hair, named Lina winces as I take a swing at Gabrielle. My arm makes contact with his neck and there’s a loud pop. His bone breaks and protrudes from the skin. Blood pours out and drips on me, staining my hands and arms.
His white robe is dripping red. He covers his wound with his hand. Then his fangs slither out and he lunges at me. His teeth sink into my skin and he devours me whole, almost drinking me dry. When he steps away, I’m lightheaded. I cup my hand to the wound on the neck and gaze around at the horrified Bellators’ faces. Some are backing against the wall. Others gape, their jaws slack with shock, their faces screwed with disgust. Fear tornadoes the air. Gabrielle’s own fears mixed with it because I’m still standing, fully embodied.
“I told you my name already,” I say. “It’s Kayla. Kayla Juniper.”
He drops me to the ground. “You’re supposed to be dead.” He whirls, swishing his robe. “Monarch will pay for this. Secrets are the worst offence.”