Without A Heartbeat

Scarlett spent the next two days recovering back in her chamber in the Warren. After a Guardian appeared with several carafes of blood, she drank enough that her belly became distended and she sank into a numbing oblivion while the blood did its work, healing her wounds and clearing the fog from her mind. It was not long before she felt her strength return to her.

On the afternoon of the second day, Larik came to visit her. He gave a wide smile as she let him into the room and sat down on one of the chairs.

“I have come to take you to Faru and Sage Blackwood, but first I wanted to know how you are feeling.”

“Much better, thank you,” she replied, sitting down on the edge of the bed and clasping her hands together in her lap.

“I hear you are to be leaving us soon.”

Scarlett nodded. “I plan to return to Ireland.”

Larik rubbed a thumb against the arm of the chair. “I am happy for you. I must admit though, I heard about your progress in the Blood Trials. From everything I know, I think you would make a superb Guardian.”

His kind words made Scarlett smile. “I’m not sure about that. However, I think the best thing for me now is to return to my family and explain things to them. Hopefully they will accept me for what I am now.”

“I have no doubt they will. From the way you speak about them, they seem like very kind and understanding people.”

“Thank you.”

“Also in case you were unsure, do not worry about feeding. Sciath Outpost has several blood depository located around Belfast and the surrounding areas. They will provide you with what you need. There is normally a cost, but as Faru’s ward, I doubt you will be charged.”

Scarlett gave a wry smile. “I do hope it’s free. I doubt I will have a job at Oakley Manor anymore.”

Larik chuckled. “I doubt it. However, if you need money you could always join the Outpost,” he suggested in half-joking voice.

“No thank you. After all of this, I just want to return to my normal life.” She gave a humorous laugh. “As normal as it can be now.”

Larik gave an understanding nod and then there was silence for a moment. After a while Scarlett asked a question she had been thinking about since she had first met the other Bloodling. “This is a little impolite, but I cannot stop wondering how old you are.”

Larik crossed one leg over the other and smoothed down the leather of his uniform. “It is not impolite at all. I am one hundred and forty eight years old.”

“That-that is…”

“Quite old, yes I know,” chuckled Larik.

“If you don’t mind me asking, how old were you when…” she trailed off once more.

“I was thirty five years of age when I was turned,” replied Larik. “During the Seven Years’ war I was a naval captain. My ship was among the fleet that followed Admiral Sir Edward Hawke into battle at Quiberon Bay against French naval commander Comte de Conflans. We were successful in chasing the enemy away, but I made a fatal error in judgment and my ship was wrecked on rocks. I was thrown into the water, having suffered grievous injuries.” He gave a sigh and his eyes glazed over as he recalled distant memories. “I thought I would die there under the waves, but someone dove in and pulled me out. I was taken to a small house near the port by a simple looking man. He said the only way to save me was to turn me. I didn’t understand what he meant then…I did soon afterwards.”

“He saved you?”

Larik nodded. “He did. However, I didn’t see it that way at the time. I thought he had turned me into some type of demon.”

Scarlett nodded. “That is what I thought of Gabriel. So what did you do?”

Larik squared his jaw. “I befriended him and then I killed him when he wasn’t expecting it.”

A heavy silence hung in the air. “Gabriel is the only person left on Earth that I want to kill,” said Scarlett after a moment.

Larik leaned forward in his chair and caught her gaze. “Do not do it Scarlett. Let him face his justice. Killing him will not bring you any satisfaction, believe me.”

Larik’s expression reminded Scarlett of how she felt when she had killed Master Clarke, the hollow emptiness that had made her feel as if she had lost more than she had gained with her act. “Thirty years in a prison is not justice,” she said in a small voice.

“I know, but he is insane. He will either attack someone in Sinner’s Vault and be killed, or he will commit another act once he is free and will be dealt with by the Alliance.”

“So someone else must suffer for him to receive the true punishment he deserves?” snapped Scarlett. “I cannot accept that Larik. My womb is dead because of him. I will never have a family of my own. My own family will grow old and die before my eyes and I will be left to mourn them, only able to see them in my memories. He took everything from me!” She took in a stabilising breath as emotion washed over her.

“Then you must take it back Scarlett,” replied Larik, his voice intense. “Be your own moral compass. Do what you feel is right in your heart, the heart that drives you, not the lump of meat that stopped beating long ago. Love your family and never forget them, even when they depart this world. Honour their memories and their love for you, by finding others to love. Create a family of your own choosing – create as many as it takes for all the centuries you survive. Live a dozen lives and ensure that each one makes you and those around you happy. Do these things so that you can show those men who hurt you that they did not break you.”

Larik’s words hung in the air as if corporeal beings, the power of them driving deep into Scarlett’s mind. She opened her mouth to reply, but there were no words that could counter what Larik had said. He had spoken the truth – the only truth that could help carry her through her immortality. She gave a nod.

“We must go now.” Larik stood up and Scarlett was surprised when he wrapped his arms around her. “I will always be here if you need a friend. Never, ever feel that you are alone. You will always have a place with us.”

Scarlett pressed her head against his chest and smiled. In that moment she felt true acceptance. I am not alone. This bizarre world is full of other lost souls like me. People who are different and simply want to survive.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Scarlett followed Larik through the mansion until she came to a grand entrance hall that was big enough to fit her own home several times over. A dozen ornate doors - including a set of golden ones that depicted the Alliance crest she had seen many times before – lead off to unknown rooms. Many Guardians walked in various directions through the hall, giving nods and smiles to the pair as they walked up a grand staircase that led up to a vast painting of Sage Blackwood. The artist had captured his pomp and arrogance perfectly and he seemed to look down on everyone from his perch high up on the wall.

Scarlett felt apprehensive as they reached the picture and stopped. She took no issue with seeing the Huntmaster again; in fact there was something about him that always gave her comfort, despite his actions. There had been no genuine malice from him at any point; he had only been doing what was necessary. However, Sage Blackwood was a different matter entirely. He was the man who had called her a whore and tried to sentence her to death for his own political agenda.

Larik touched a series of protruding keys fixed to a panel on the wall, inputting some type of code. After a moment a voice came from within.

“This is Sage Blackwood. Speak.”

“Guardian Godren with Miss Reid as requested.”

There was a pause and then Scarlett watched in amazement as a yawning hole appeared in the centre of the picture and a set of glass steps emerged from within, descending down to their feet. They walked through, and she found herself in a long corridor that was lined with trees that sprouted golden leaves and crystalline water that felt solid underneath their feet. A set of double doors at the end of the odd hallway swung open and when they passed through, Scarlett saw that they were in a large chamber.

The massive heads of several beasts - including ones she recognised from the Hasea Handbook, including a Manticore and a Behemoth were mounted on the black walls, their once proud eyes marbleized and absent. A vast desk sat at the rear of the room, in front of a spiral staircase. It was filled with various oddities such as a knife adorned with glinting gems and the mummified remains of a small creature with human features and beetle wings. The Sage was sitting behind the desk on an oversized chair similar to the one in the temple, made from fine wood and leather, and finished with decorative flourishes. Faru was standing to one side of the room, arms folded behind his back.

Sage Blackwood did not stand up when they entered the room. Instead he flexed the fingers of his coiled hand that rested on the desk. “Thank you Guardian Godren, that will be all.”

“Yes sir.” He saluted the Sage, who did not bother to return it. It was evident that his actions to defend Scarlett in the Court of Chains had made him fall from favour with the Sage. Placing a fleeting hand on Scarlett’s arm, Larik left the office. The doors slammed shut by themselves, making her jump.

“You have a knack for survival Miss Reid,” said Sage Blackwood without preamble. “I commend you for that.”

“I am glad you approve,” she replied, adding a touch of ice to her voice.

The Sage squared his jaw. “I must admit I was quite aggrieved by my Huntmaster’s decision to make you his ward. However, it seems that your ability to avoid death might prove to be quite the asset.”

Asset? He sees me nothing more than an object. Scarlett felt her hatred of the pompous man grow even deeper. “How is that?” she asked.

Faru stepped forward. “You are no doubt aware that Gabriel Quinn was sentenced to a very short period of time in Sinner’s Vault.”

“I am. I found it quite offensive considering I was to be sentenced to death when he was given only thirty years.” She glared at the Sage as she spoke.

Faru nodded. “I agree. However there was reasoning behind that decision.”

“What reason could there possibly be for that?”

“Huntmaster Solignis came to me with a proposition,” added the Sage. “Gabriel is dedicated to his master and as such even through torture, we have been unable to locate who he serves and where he took all of the people he abducted. If he had been sentenced to death, then those people would be lost to us.”

Scarlett frowned, unsure of where the Sage was heading with his point.

“Huntmaster Solignis came to me and suggested that we convince the Magistratus to give him a basic prison sentence instead.”

“Why would you do that?” she gasped, staring at the Seelian.

“Because Scarlett, it was simply for show. I was hoping that you would assist us in one final act before you depart home.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Gabriel does not know what happened to you. As far as he is aware you could well be dead. He went to great lengths to abduct you and we feel that you would be the only person who he might tell of his plans. However, he is a fanatic who views the Alliance as the enemy to whatever twisted cause he serves. If you were to approach him under our protection, he would not utter a single word to you.”

Scarlett felt her stomach tighten as the Huntmaster spoke. She had an inclination what he was going to say next, and she did not like it one bit.

“We want you to go into Sinner’s Vault as a prisoner.”

“Are you insane?” She stared between the Sage and the Huntmaster, shaking her head in disbelief. “I have read about Sinner’s Vault. It is an awful place full of deadly criminals and murderers. You would force me to go there?”

“We are not forcing you to go anywhere against your will, Scarlett,” said Faru, walking to the desk and placing a hand down on the surface. “You are free to go, as promised. However, I implore you to hear us out first.”

Scarlett let his words hang for a moment before answering. I owe him that much. “Fine.”

“You would not stay in Sinner’s Vault for long. A few guards would be aware of your involvement and aid you. The plan is for you to go into the prison and seek out Gabriel. You would tell him the truth of what you did in the first few days after your change, but lie about us giving you support. We believe that if you cast us as the enemy, you will be able to establish a bond with him. After that, we will set in motion a series of events that will result in both of your escapes. At that point you can have him lead you to his master and we would follow.”

Sage Blackwood cleared his throat. “I know you hold me in very small regard Miss Reid, and that is understandable. I have treated you very unfairly. However, you must believe me when I say that my organisation desires to find those people Gabriel took as well as his master, so that we can prevent any more attacks of this nature. In addition, if you are successful in finding the others – no matter what state they are in – then Gabriel Quinn will stand a second trial for the abduction of all of the other individuals as well as his conspirators. Miss Reid, you could make all of those involved answer for their crimes. Answer for the crime committed against you.”

Scarlett took a moment to gather her thoughts. Trembling, she walked over to the seat opposite Sage Blackwood’s and sat down without being asked, staring at her clasped hands. As horrified as she was by what they were asking of her, she had to admit that the plan was an effective one. I am the only one who he will trust. He has a weird obsession with me.

“What is to say that I won’t get attacked by one of the other inmates? I could die in there,” she said, looking up.

“Two of the guards who oversee your level will be looking out for you. In addition I will provide you with a unique method of communication, which will allow you to communicate directly with me at any time should you need to. You will survive in there, Scarlett,” insisted Faru. “That is why the Sage had me force you to take to trials. To convince him what I already knew, that you are a survivor. Scarlett you are strong enough to do this, I would not ask it of you if I had any doubt.”

As arrogant as it seemed to admit it to herself, she had to admit that the Huntmaster was right. Somehow, she kept surviving everything that was thrown at her. Perhaps I can survive this too.

“For a moment let’s say I agree. I befriend Gabriel and try to escape. What happens if one of the guards gets hurt or killed when we try and escape? What would happen to me then?”

“You will not be responsible for anything that might go wrong during your escape Scarlett.”

“Surely someone has to be held accountable?”

“Yes, me. As you are my ward, I will deal with any consequences that may arise.”

“I don’t want you to get in trouble because of me,” she gasped.

Faru gave a smile. “I knew the risks when I became your custodian. “I believe you will do only what you have to.”

“And if the plan doesn’t work? If we don’t manage to escape?”

“Then we will come in and extract you. I will not abandon you Scarlett, not after everything you have already been through.”

“I trust you, but how can I trust him?” she said, thrusting a finger at the Sage. “He would probably overrule you and allow me to rot in there.”

The Sage grit his teeth together. “Because we have rules, Miss Reid.” He opened a folder and produced an official looking document stamped with a seal. Sliding it across the desk, Scarlett caught it and scanned the words. It was a more formal version of everything they had asked of her. Magistratus Tull had signed his name in sprawling letters at the foot of the page. There was a space next to her name, for her to sign. “This is an official Alliance document supported by all Sages. To break it is an act of treason. You either sign your name which means you agree to do this, and we can attempt to capture everyone involved, or you can return home to your family, and Gabriel serves thirty years before walking free. Perhaps to return to whatever nefarious acts he was doing before we caught him.”

Scarlett knew that the Sage was trying to elicit a guilty response to her, but it wasn’t him that she was concerned with. Only two thoughts were in her mind.

The first was Faru, who had risked so much to allow her to survive. He had given her the means to recover from her ordeal and had used his connections to help push her towards becoming the strongest version of herself possible. The only thing he had asked in return was for her to help stop a criminal from hurting more innocents. More girls like me, who will have their lives ruined.

Her second thought was of all the people like her who had not managed to escape, who now were most likely scared and afraid, away from their homes and their families. All the people who might never see their mothers and fathers and siblings again, just because a fanatical Vampire had followed the wishes of his no doubt equally fanatical master. I could have been one of those people. Can I really just ignore that and walk away? Scarlett recalled the words that Larik had said to her only moments before. ’Do what you feel is right in your heart.’ She looked up at the Sage.

“Hand me a pen.”