Without A Heartbeat

It was on the evening of that first awful night spent in Sinner’s Vault that Scarlett first caught sight of Gabriel Quinn.

She saw the back of his head first, dipped over his clay cup of blood in the food hall. The food hall was a grand term for a claustrophobic and poorly lit tunnel lined with grimacing skulls, which had been carved out of a space the width of three cells on level two hundred. A long table had been set in the middle of the hall, packed with prisoners who ate and drank as ravenously as a pack of hyenas. The sound was deafening and Scarlett felt like a rabbit in a lion’s den as she stood on the threshold of the narrow room. Adara stood next to her, one of many guards who were overseeing the men and women inmates. An enclosed kitchen stood at the far and of the room. A Succubus in white overalls leaned through a serving hatch, dumping foul smelling food onto plates and pouring different liquids into cups.

“The one you are looking for is at the end,” whispered the Vaultguard, her tone far more friendly than it had been hours before. “We made sure there was a space nearby so that he could see you. Be careful, there are very dangerous people on this floor.”

“Thank you.”

Scarlett edged her way to the end of the room, trying to avoid the leering gazes of all manner of male prisoners, including Incubi, Bloodlings and Ifrits. The space was only just wide enough for her to move down between the backs of the prisoners and the guards who stood behind them. It was as she neared the end, that she caught sight of Gabriel, his ash-coloured hair unmistakable, even in the dim light that the hanging wall lanterns provided. Her stomach twisted into knots as the memories of him looming over her in the well returned and she had to pause to control her emotions, letting her mind switch to calming thoughts of her father.

“Move along inmate,” barked a Vanguard and shoved her in the back, causing her to stumble forward. Several prisoners turned to look, including Gabriel. Scarlett made sure she did not return his gaze, but out of the corner of her eye, she could seem him staring, his cup paused at his lips.

Scarlett took a cup of her own from a stack by the hatch and the sneering Succubus tipped blood into it so aggressively it spilled onto the girl’s hand. Keeping her eyes to the floor, she worked her way back until she found the space that the Vaultguard had mentioned and sat down between a female Imp and an Incubus. Gabriel was sitting diagonally across the table from her, far enough away that it wasn’t suspicious, but close enough that he could see her clearly. Scarlett pretended not to see him, busying herself with staring down at her cup.

“What did you do?” said the Imp, picking up some sort of gruel with her fingers and stuffing it into her mouth. He teeth were blackened with rot and the stench on her breath was so foul that Scarlett almost retched.

“I killed my employer,” she answered in a quiet voice.

The Imp gave a giggle that was flecked with madness. “Nice. Very nice.” She stopped laughing all of a sudden and fell silent, as she swilled her gruel around with her purple fingers.

“What did you do?”

“I ate five children,” she said with a proud grin.

“My god, why?” asked Scarlett in a horrified voice.

The Imp shrugged. “Because I was bored.”

Repulsed, Scarlett turned away from the insane Imp as much as she could without causing offense. The Incubus next to her gave a grin, and tipped his cup towards her in greeting. As she looked at him, he seemed to take on a glow that exaggerated all of his features, making him appear impossibly handsome.

A fist smashed into the back of his head, driving his face into his food and sending it spraying onto Scarlett.

“No glamouring inmate!” barked a Vaultguard. Several of the surrounding prisoners laughed. The Incubus raised his face - which was flecked with bits of brownish grit - and glared at Scarlett, as if it were somehow her fault.

“Bitch,” he whispered, grabbing her knee under the table.

Scarlett seized his fingers and wrenched them off her knee, twisting until they were at the point of breaking. His face went pale with pain.

“Get your disgusting hand off me,” she hissed into his ear.

He snatched his hand back and glowered at her, before returning his attention to his food. Scarlett returned her own hand to her cup, trying not to let the fact that she was trembling show. She could feel Gabriel watching her and she knew that it was time to make contact. Preparing herself, she lifted her eyes and feigned surprise as their gaze met. His lips curled into a smile, which she didn’t return. The idea was not to forgive; it was to make him work for her friendship, so it seemed to be his idea. Draining the contents of her cup, she stood up and made her way as quickly as she could from the room. Gabriel stood up too and walked along the opposite side of the table, matching her speed.

“What’s the rush, inmate?” said Adara, as Scarlett reached her.

“Please may I be returned to my cell?” She could feel Gabriel hovering just behind her.

The Vaultguard frowned down at her and then to the Bloodling loitering only a few feet away. “Is there a problem?”

Scarlett shook her head. “No I’m just finished with food now. Please may I be returned to my cell?”

Adara nodded. “Fine. Walk three paces in front of me.” She guided the girl from the room, pulling a skeleton key from her pouch. Scarlett turned around and saw Gabriel Quinn standing at the edge of the food hall, watching her. The memory of his intense gaze lingered, long after he was out of sight.

The tortured howls of the prisoners echoed through Sinner’s Vault as Scarlett sat on the grimy floor of her cell, knees drawn up to her chest. A filthy cot with only a ragged blanket stood against one side of the tiny room. Underneath was a bedpan that smelled as if someone else had used it recently.

“Lights out!” shouted a Vaultguard from far below. The words were echoed by other guards on the various levels, like a vocal wave that swept up the prison. Soon afterwards the whole place was plunged into darkness and it took a few seconds for Scarlett’s eyes to adjust. The wails of the prisoners grew louder.

Faru. Faru can you hear me?

There was a long pause and then Scarlett felt the sensation similar to a seizure consume her body. When the convulsing has stopped, she heard a voice appear in her mind.

I can hear you Scarlett. Will you let me come to you?

Scarlett didn’t know what he meant, but she agreed. A few seconds later a second wave washed over her and when she was able to open her eyes, she was shocked to see the Huntmaster standing in front of her. She stood up in shock and reached out a hand, only to have it pass through his body as if he were an apparition.

“I am not here physically, but in your mind, seeing through your eyes as well as mine.” He clasped his hands together. “Is everything alright?”

“No,” she whispered, trying to control her emotions. “This place is awful. They treat people like animals here.”

Faru nodded his head. “Sinner’s Vault tends to attract Chosen of a more unforgiving nature. Their methods are not something I condone. Unfortunately however, I have no authority to intervene with their practices. Are you safe?”

Scarlett shook her head. “I don’t think so. They are all mad.”

“A long time sealed underground can do that to a person I am afraid. Remember, you are only there for two more days.”

“If I survive that long,” she whispered.

“You will.” He paused. “Have you made contact with Gabriel?’

“Yes, but only briefly. I don’t know when I will be able to speak with him properly.”

“Tomorrow morning, during Collection. I have arranged for it,” he said.

“I don’t know if this will work.”

“Scarlett it will. All you must do is ally yourself with Gabriel. Everything else has been taken care of and the rest of the plan will unfold as it should. You must simply do your part.”

Scarlett nodded and then shuddered when a piercing howl came from the cell next to her. “Promise me no matter what happens you will not leave me in this place.”

“I promise.”

The next day, the plan fell apart.

Viktor appeared at Scarlett’s cell, glowering at her through the bars. “Get up inmate,” he ordered. “It’s time for Collection.” She unfurled from her position at the foot of her cot and stood up.

“Interlock your fingers together at the back of your head.”

Scarlett did as she was asked and she heard the clanking sound of her cell door being unlocked. Viktor spun her around and shoved her out onto the walkway. Dozens of other Vaultguards were retrieving inmates from their cells and loading them into the cage elevators. Scarlett saw Gabriel standing a few yards away. He stared at her and raised a hand in greeting, before getting pushed inside an elevator.

Viktor opened the door of a nearby elevator. “Get in.”

Several other inmates and Vaultguards joined them in the elevator and Scarlett was forced against the rough side of the cage, as it descended through the yawning mouth of the prison. It reached the bottom and Scarlett joined the scores of prisoners walking through an open archway at the rear of the area. The passageway they took sloped downwards until the skulls turned to rock and they entered a series of twisting tunnels, thick with the acrid scent of burned wood. The tight passage eventually opened up into a vast cave that was supported by a network of wooden beams. Hundreds of Vaultguards were positioned around the cavern, whips in hand, ready to strike. Some prisoners were already standing at the edges, digging at the dark walls with blackened hands, as if trying to escape. They pulled chunks away and deposited them into open carts that sat on rails, which ran all the way into the distance.

This is a coal mine. She had read about it in the handbook. The collection and sale of coal was how Sinner’s Vault was able to pay for its own upkeep.

Viktor thrust her towards a nearby patch of wall. “There.”

“You don’t have to keep pushing me,” she hissed as she stumbled forward. “I’m doing what you ask.”

“I know,” he said leaning close, “but I enjoy it. Now get to work.”

The Vaultguard stepped away from Scarlett, and she squeezed into a spot next to a Pixie with blonde hair and a web of scars on his face. She dug her fingers into the dark material, using her strength to tear away a large chunk of coal. Carrying it over to one of the carts, she deposited it inside.

“My sweet girl.”

Scarlett tensed as she recognised the voice. She turned and saw Gabriel standing right behind her with a wide smile on his face, his hands as dark as night.

“Look at you. You have been reborn as perfection.”

“Don’t talk to me,” she said and pushed past him, returning to the wall. Gabriel followed, wedging into the space between her and the scarred Pixie.

“Get your own spot, Bloodling,” he growled in a menacing tone.

A single glance from Gabriel was all it took for the Luminar to shrink away, busying himself with collecting coal.

“Please do not be so cold, sweet Scarlett,” he soothed, pressing his fingers into the wall and tearing large slabs of coal away as if it were cardboard. “I have missed you,” he added when he returned from the cart.

Refusing to look at him, Scarlett focused on digging her own fingers into the wall, her stomach tight with anxiety at being so close to the man she despised. “You left me to rot in that well, scared and alone.”

He placed a cold hand over hers. “I did not want to leave you, please believe me. I had no other choice. I wanted so desperately to return and save you.”

“Get off me.” Scarlett wrenched her hand away from his in genuine disgust. She let tears form in her eyes, which wasn’t difficult given her situation. “You promised you would come back and you didn’t. I-I didn’t understand what was happening to me when I woke up.”

Gabriel hung his head. “Words cannot express my guilt for leaving you.”

Scarlett glared at him. “How about the guilt for what you made me do! You are the reason I am in here. I killed because of what you turned me into!”

The Bloodling’s eyes steeled. “You killed Richard Clarke?” His face broke into a smile. “I am proud of you.”

“I killed two other innocents as well. They were my friends.”

Gabriel’s smile faltered. “That is regrettable.”

“Regrettable? You bastard,” she hissed. Turning away from him, she carried on pulling at the coal. “I almost killed my own brother. Then those people from that organisation came. They abducted me and told me I was evil…a murderer. They sentenced me to forty years in this godforsaken place.” She narrowed her eyes. “Forty years because of what you did to me.”

“My sweet girl, please forgive me,” he said, trying to put a comforting hand on her arm.

A flash came from behind them and Gabriel howled as something lashed against his face, drawing blood. He turned and glared at Viktor, who stepped towards them, reeling in his whip. “No touching inmates! If you don’t get on with your work, you will both receive five lashes.”

Gabriel wiped the back of his hand against his face and stared without moving. “You interrupted me,” he said calmly.

“Oh I am sorry,” said the Vaultguard, his voice full of menace. “Perhaps I can apologise by peeling the skin from your worthless back?”

“Divine retribution will come for you as it will all sinners,” hissed the Bloodling.

“I look forward to that.” Viktor unfurled the whip, letting it trail on the ground.

“Stop it,” hissed Scarlett.

Gabriel let his attention turn to the girl and he gave a nod. “My apologies Vaultguard, I don’t know what came over me,” he said without looking at Viktor. He set his hands back into the wall and continued working. The guard grunted and stepped away.

“You promised me answers, but left me with nothing but confusion,” Scarlett whispered as they kept working. “It was only because those horrible Alliance people told me that I even know what I am now.”

“I am so sorry for causing you pain. All I ever wanted was to save you.”

“Save me? All I see is abandonment.”

“I promise you, I will make everything alright,” he said in a pleading tone that made her skin crawl. She couldn’t believe that she had once seen him as attractive; his very presence sickened her to her stomach. “I will make everything up to you when we leave Sinner’s Vault. I will never abandon you again.”

“In forty years.”

“I received a sentence of thirty.”

“Perfect,” said Scarlett with fake scorn. She could feel the eyes of other Vaultguards on her, so she fell silent for a moment.

“I will keep you safe while I am still here,” Gabriel whispered.

“No one is safe in a place like this.” She cast him a sideways glance. “However, after everything you have caused, the very least you can do is tell me your name.”

“Of course. My name is Gabriel Quinn.”

Scarlett nodded, acting as if she had never heard the name before. “Make me a promise then, Gabriel.”

“Anything.”

“Come back for me when it is my time to leave. Take me to your master, whoever that is and convince them to accept me.” She lowered her gaze. “In forty years I will have no family left to call my own and you have robbed me of the chance to create new life. You will have to be my family.”

Gabriel’s face broke into a smile that made Scarlett want to vomit. She had said exactly the thing that he wanted to hear.

“Nothing would make me happier.”

After endless hours of pulling coal chunks from the walls and placing them in the carts - which rolled away when full and were replaced by a constant stream of new ones – a Vaultguard placed a whistle between his lips and blew, signaling the end of the shift. There were groans of relief as the prisoners started to shuffle out of the cave, their fingers bloodied and raw from the hours they had spent digging out the coal. Scarlett’s own fingers screamed with a deep cramp that not even her vampirism could heal fast enough.

Gabriel walked with her, his face set into an expression of happiness. The first part of her plan had worked perfectly. It hadn’t even been difficult. He wanted to believe everything I said. He wants to make it up to me.

Every inmate was taken back to their respective levels. As Scarlett was winched up in the elevator, she watched them all being ushered down corridors that stood to the north of each walkway. Stepping out onto her level, Viktor took her arm and pulled her away from the crowd. Gabriel tried to step out as well but was shoved back into line by the one-eyed Vaultguard.

“Where are you taking me?” Scarlett demanded as she was ushered in the opposite direction to the others.

“You can’t use the communal washroom,” he said low, glancing over his shoulder. “You will have to use the female Vaultguard one instead.”

“Why?”

“I heard a rumor that Fenrika is planning to kill you in there. The Sage would not appreciate that very much.”

Scarlett’s mouth fell open. “”Who?”

“Fenrika, the Imp you sat next to in the food hall last night. She took offence to something you said.”

“But I barely said anything to her!”

“You are in a prison full of serial murderers and rapists. Are you really surprised that someone has irrationally decided to harm you?”

He has a point.

Viktor lead her through a metal door and into a corridor that was far nicer than anything else she had seen in Sinner’s Vault. The floors were carpeted – albeit stained with coal boot prints - and the walls were painted vermillion, with hanging gaslights that seemed overwhelmingly bright, compared to the infinite gloom of the rest of the prison.

“I see that you have been doing your part with Gabriel. The plan will go ahead tomorrow,” said Viktor. “As agreed, we have convinced two inmates to take part in exchange for reduced sentences. They will start fighting next to you when we are preparing to take you all down for Collection in the morning. You will have a limited opportunity to take the key from my pouch during the struggle, so if you fail, that is your fault. Remember, you are not to use it straight away, and I will overlook it when we conduct a subsequent room search. As agreed, you must wait until nightfall when Boone will come to you and give the signal. The elevators will be in position for a quick getaway. Free Gabriel from his cell and get the hell out of my prison.”

Scarlett nodded. Maybe Viktor isn’t as bad as I thought. He just doesn’t want me here.

Viktor stopped at a metal door and unlocked it with his key. “In here,” he said.

Scarlett stepped inside and saw a large room covered completely in white tiles. Several rusting pipes ran up the wall to protruding metal plates similar to the one she had seen at the Warren. There were several levers in the wall to activate the water. A metal stool stood over a large circular drain in the centre, with a towel and fresh clothes placed on top.

“Five minutes, inmate,” he said and closed the door.

Scarlett stripped off her clothes and stepped under one of the plates. As she pulled the lever, there was a loud gurgle and the pipe shook. A few seconds later water spewed down on her. Scarlett pressed her head against the tiles for a few minutes, sighing as the water washed away the grime.

The door cranked open.

“I’m unclothed!” she gasped, trying to wipe the water from her face.

“Even better,” said a sinister voice.

Scarlett wiped her eyes and tensed when she saw the Incubus who had grabbed her in the food hall standing in front of her.

He was carrying an oak knife.

Fear filled Scarlett up and she looked behind the Incubus to see Viktor standing by the door, wearing an evil smile.

“It seems your continued existence has become an issue for Sage Blackwood. He sends his regards. Enjoy yourself Sarul, but make it quick.” With a final stare, he closed the door and locked it.

Panic filled up Scarlett. She had been so, so wrong. Viktor was not as bad as she thought. He was worse.

Sarul licked his lips and moved towards Scarlett, clutching the knife. “You thought my humiliation was so amusing didn’t you whore? You won’t be laughing when I’ve finished with you.”

“Get the hell away from me,” she hissed, moving away from the water.

The Incubus made a tutting sound. “Always so rude. You will be much more compliant soon.”

Scarlett looked around for an escape route, but there were none. The only way out was sealed, with the traitorous Vaultguard on the other side.

“You don’t know how long it has been for me.” He waved a hand around. “Ninety-three years locked in this cesspit without tasting a woman. The Sage promised me freedom if I did what he asked.” He gave a laugh. “I would have done it anyway.”

Scarlett fought to calm herself, remembering the training that Larik had given her. Stepping forward, she stared right at the Incubus. “If you attack me, I will kill you.”

The Incubus stalled for a moment, her confidence confusing him. “Perhaps you didn’t see my knife.”

“With or without the knife.”

His mouth twisted into a dark grin. “We’ll see.”

Sarul ran at her and slashed out with the blade. Scarlett pivoted and drove a foot into his side, sending him spinning into the wall. His face cracked into the tiles. Scarlett raised her fists and smashed them into the back of his head in quick succession, sending his blood spraying up the walls. He whirled around and streaked the blade at her, cutting a deep gash on her arm. She stepped backwards, hissing as smoke and blood poured from the wound. Her fangs snapped down and she pulled back her lips, snarling.

“I am going to cut you to pieces, bitch,” he growled.

Scarlett waited as he lunged towards her, knife raised and fury in his eyes. As he brought the blade down, she turned her body and pressed her back to him, grabbing his arm and flipping him over her back. He landed hard with a grunt and she stamped down a foot onto his chest. With a growl, he stabbed the blade into her ankle and she collapsed to the wet floor, as searing pain rushed up her leg. Sarul rolled on top of her and tried to pin her arms down, but she lurched upwards, driving her forehead into his nose. Sarul fell onto his back and Scarlett scissored out her legs, toppling the nearby stool. Wrapping her hands around it and wrenching, she tore a leg from the base and climbed to her feet. Bending down, she yanked the smoking blade from her foot and tossed it away.

“I am getting really fed up with being attacked by arseholes,” she growled. She pounced onto the Incubus, who flailed madly, trying to wrest her off, but she batted his arms away. Forcing his head to the side, she pressed the sharp end of the metal pole against his ear.

“No, stop!” he yelled.

“You wouldn’t have.”

With a shriek, she thrust the pole into his ear and kept pushing until it pieced through the meat of his brain. The Incubus started to twitch as blood seeped from his mouth, nose and ears, mixing with the water and swirling down the drain.

Scarlett crawled away from the mess and tried to stand up, pain radiating through her leg. Moments later there was a click as the door swung open. “You need to hurry up Sarul, or the other guards will get suspicious.” Viktor stepped into the room, pausing when he saw the twitching body of the Incubus and the bloodied, naked Scarlett staring at him. “What the hell?”

Scarlett rushed towards him at the same moment he went for his gun. Kicking him in the arm, she sent the weapon flying from his grip. It clattered along the tiles and slid away. Viktor punched her in the jaw and pain shrieked up her face as the spikes of his gauntlet sank into her bone.

“Looks like I’ll have to do this myself.”

He uncoiled his whip and lashed it out at Scarlett, catching her shoulder and sending fiery pain sweeping along her skin. She pounced on him, trying to sink her teeth into his flesh, but everything was covered in metal. With a grunt he threw her off him and she tumbled along the wet floor.

Crack.

Scarlett jerked her head to the side and Viktor’s whip hit the tiles where her face had been with an echoing snap. He spun around and lashed out again, connecting with her leg. Blood sprayed out of the long gashes it created and Scarlett scrambled backwards in agony, smearing claret along the tiles.

Focus. Focus or you will die here.

Ignoring the pain, she jumped to her feet and raised her fists. Viktor looked amused. “I am not some pathetic Incubus, girl. I am a Chosen.”

“Then why don’t you take off your armour and fight me like one?” she hissed.

“Because it will take me longer to do that than to kill you.”

He sent the whip streaking towards her- its nine tails opening up like a hand. Scarlett stepped to the side and grabbed the end of one of them, coiling it around her arm and pulling with all her strength. Viktor stumbled forwards - his boots slipping in the water - and fell to his knees. Scarlett ran towards him and shifted her grip on the whip. Flicking her wrist, she sent the tails streaking back into the Vaultguard’s face, dislodging his mask. Diving over him, she wrapped her naked body around his back and wrenched the unlatched mask from him, throwing it as far away as she could.

With his neck now exposed, Scarlett sank her fangs into his flesh and tore away, pulling a chunk with her. He yelled as blood streamed down the wound. He thrust a fist into the space between her eyes and spots appeared in her vision. Stunned for a moment, Viktor was able to break her grip. He coiled a hand around her throat, hoisting her off the floor. With a growl he charged towards the wall and slammed her into it. Coughing up blood, Scarlett tried to push him off, but he swatted her hands away. He seized her hair and smashed the back of her head repeatedly into the tiles, sending ceramic shards spilling to the floor.

“You dare bite me, you fucking parasite? I am going to grind you into meat, you little piece of scum.”

He alternated between forcing her head into the wall and punching her in the face. Scarlett felt her nose crumple and teeth break free from her gums, joining the blood that filled her mouth. Unconsciousness rolled in and she knew death was near.

The pinknife.

With a hand that shook uncontrollably, she fumbled at her wrist, sinking her fingers into the flesh as the Vaultguard continued to smash his gauntlets into her face. Her fingers touched the end of the blade and she wrapped them around it and pulled, agony igniting in her arm as it slid out of the wound.

She stabbed the blade up into the soft flesh beneath Viktor’s chin.

The Vaultguard froze, his fist hovering in the air.

Scarlett pressed the button twice.

Purple veins appeared on Viktor’s face, spreading outwards like a growing tree. His eyes filled with the liquid until they had turned completely purple. He took a few steps backwards and gave a hacking cough. Bile spilled from his lips and he started to convulse. His face contorted into a scream of agony, but no sound came out - his mouth simply became a silent O, as the toxin rushed through his shaking body. He clawed at his throat, pulling out the blade, but it made no difference. Sinking to his knees, he reached out a hand and tried to grab at Scarlett, but she stepped away. A final gurgle escaped his throat and he collapsed to the floor, the purple ooze seeping from his ears and nose.

Scarlett nudged a foot against the Vaultguard, but he didn’t move.

Spitting out blood and teeth, Scarlett walked to the water that still gushed from the metal plate. Opening her mouth, she winced with pain as it cleaned her wounds. She bent down and retrieved the sodden clothes from the floor, struggling as she put them on. Then she called out to Faru in her mind.

A moment later the Huntmaster appeared in the room. His expression turned to horror as he took in Scarlett’s naked, battered appearance and the two dead bodies.

“Dear Elementals, what happened?”

Scarlett tried to steady herself. “Sage Blackwood tried to have me killed. The Vaultguard Viktor sent in a prisoner to rape and murder me, but I managed to best him. Then the guard tried to kill me himself. I had no choice Faru, I had to kill him.”

The Huntmaster was so shocked it took him a moment to compose himself. “You are certain it was the Sage who ordered this?”

“That’s what Viktor said.”

“Then he is in defiance of all forty nine other Sages and the Magistratus. That is an act of high treason. Can anyone prove this?”

“I don’t know. I think he was acting alone.”

“Stay there, I’m coming now.”

Scarlett shook her head. “No, that will ruin everything. Besides, there is no time. It won’t be long before another guard comes here and then its over. I’ll be dead before you can even step foot outside the base.”

“Then what are you planning to do?”

She paused.

“What I came here to do. Escape with Gabriel.”