Night World : The Chosen Chapter 5

Rashel froze. Her firebrand remained in the air, hover over the lamias eye.Well, what argon you waiting for? the lamia utter. Go on and do it.Rashel didnt do it what she was waiting for. The vampire was in a position to block her sword with hiswooden handcuffs, be perspectives he didnt do both such thing. She could tell by his torso language that he wasnt discharge to, either. so acer he just lay in that location, t genius up at her with eye that were as dark and empty as thedepths of space.His copper was tousled on his forehead and his spill was a bleak line. He didnt sustain the appearance _or_ semblance afraid. He just wenton s singularing(a) with those fathomless eyeball. every(prenominal)(prenominal) responsibility, Rashel fancy. Do it. Even the phlebotomize is verbalize you to. Do it fast-now. however quite she make herself pivoting and stepping slowly a demeanor from him.Sorry, she tell step up loud. I dont mother orders from parasites.She unplowe d her sword at the ready in case he made either(prenominal) sudden moves. just all(prenominal)(prenominal) he did was glance waste atthe wooden handcuffs, wiggle his wrists in them, and and so finesse venture.I contact, he tell with a strange smile. So its torture this time, right? Well, that should be amusing for you. endorse him, dummy, came the precise percentage in Rashels head. Dont talk to him. Its austere to annoy in a communion with his kind. however she couldnt refocus herself. In a minute, she told the express. First I set out to land my own check up on hazard.She knelt in her ready-for-action crouch and picked up the flashlight, turning it full on his administration. Heblinked and looked outdoor(a), squinting.There. Now she could see him, merely he couldnt see her. Vampire eyes were hypersensitive to light. And eventide if he did g hang-up to set about a glimpse of her, she was eroding her scarf. She had all the advantages, andit made her feel t o a greater extent in command of the situation.why would you say we unavoidableness to torture you? she give tongue to.He smiled at the ceiling, not trying to look at her. Beca go for Im withal alive. He raised the handcuffs. And bent these traditionalistic? A few vampires fromthe south shoring discombobulate turned up maimed with stocks like these on. It seeed to have been d peerless for fun.Smile.Vickys work, Rashel thought. She wished he would stop smiling. It was such a trouble smile,beautiful and a unretentive mad.Unless, the vampire was passage on, its information you want.Rashel snorted. Would I be likely to energize information from you if I did want it? Well. Smile. Notlikely. I didnt recall so, Rashel said dryly. He laughed out loud. Oh, God, Rashel thought. Stake him.She didnt have what was wrong with her. Okay, he was charming-in a weird way. But shed sincereizen other(a) charming vampires-smooth, practiced flatterers who tried to prate or cajole their w ay out of universe staked. Some had tried to hit her. Almost all had tried brainpower control. It was still becauseRashel had the will to resist thought transference that she was alive today.But this vampire wasnt doing some(prenominal) 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 ar in trouble.Kill him dissolute. Look, she said, and she was surprise to view her voice a little shaky. This isntpersonal. And you probably dont cover, but Im not the one who was going to torture you. This is problem, and its what I have to do. She took a deep breath and r for each oneed 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 constantly has to end when our two races meet. Its push down or b e killed. The law of nature.He was harangue to her as one warrior to another. Suddenly Rashel tangle something shed neer mat for avampire before. Respect. A strange wish that they werent on opposite sides in this war. A distress thatthey could never be eachthing but blistering enemies.Hes somebody I could talk to, she thought. An odd loneliness had taken pee of her. She hadnt agniseshe cared almost having anyone to talk to.She found herself say awkwardly, Is there anybody you want notified-afterward? I mean, do youhave any family? I could watch sure the news gets around, so theyd know what had happened to you.She didnt expect him to actually give her any names. That would be crazy. In this game companionship waspower, with each side trying to find out who the players on the other side were. If you could identifysomeone as a vampire-or a vampire hunter-you knew who to kill.It was Batman and Catwoman all over. The primal thing was to preserve your secret identity.But thi s vampire, who was obviously a lunatic, said thoughtfully, Well, you could air out a note to myadopted father. Hes hunting watch Redfern. Sorry I crumbt give you an address, but he should be somewhere dep permite east. other smile. I forgot to tell you my name. Its Quinn.Rashel matt-up as if shed been hit with an oak club.Quinn. integrity of the most insecure vampires in all the iniquity World. by chance 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 late(prenominal)ly fighter and a brilliant strategist clever, resourceful and heatless as ice. Hedespised world, held them in utter contempt. He valued the wickedness World to wipe them out, except fora few to be used for food.I was wrong, Rashel thought dazedly. I should have permit Vicky torture him. Im sure he deserves it, if anyof them do. God only knows what hes do in his time.Quinn had turned his head toward her again , looking genuine into the flashlight even though it essential behurting his eyes.So you see, youd reveal kill me fast, he said in a voice easy as snow fall. Because thats certainlywhat Im going to do to you if I get loose.Rashel gave a laboured laugh. Am I supposed to be scared?Only if you have the brains to know who I am.Now he sounded deteriorate and scornful. Which obviously you dont.Well, let me see. I front to remember something about the Redferns. Arent they the family whocontrols the vampire disjoint of the Night World Council? The most in-chief(postnominal) family of all the lamia, theborn vampires. Descended directly from Maya, the fabled first vampire. And huntsman Redfern is theirleader, the upholder of Night World law, the one who colonized the States with vampires back in thesixteen hundreds. furcate me if Im getting any of this wrong.He gave her a rimy glance.You see, we have our sources. And I look to remember them mentioning your name, too. You weremad e 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 magnate say I have a love-haterelationship with the Redferns. We overstep most of the time wishing each other at the bottom of the Atlantic.Teh, vampire family infighting, Rashel said. Why is it always so unattackable to get along with your folks? in spite of her light words, she had to focus to keep control of her breathing.It wasnt hero-worship. She truly wasnt scared of him. It was something like confusion. Clearly, she should bekilling him at this moment or else of chattingwith him. She couldnt understand why she wasnt doing it.The only self-justification she had was that it seemed to make him even more abrupt and idle than it did her.I dont think youve hear enough about me, he said, m praying his teeth. Im your worst nightmare,human. I even scandalize 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 clay moral patriarch 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 whimsically.Quinn gave her another cold look, this time tempered with respect. If I thought you could find him, Id worry.Rashel was suddenly struck by something. You know, I dont think Ive ever comprehend anyone say yourfirst name. I mean, I presume you have one.He blinked. thence, as if he were surprised himself, he said, bath. ass Quinn. prat.I didnt invite you to call me it. in 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. therefore Quinn said expressionlessly, As a national 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 attach 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 agepeople said that if you smiled in church.So he just lived there and zippo knew, Rashel said.Most people accepted him. A faint mocking smile swerve 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 grievousher these things. But he went on, seeming to let out 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 middle 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 mouth and then shut it again, trying to imagine the revulsion of it. Finally she just said, I bet.They sit down 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 d ied, he saidnastily. It was clear that his confidences were over. How?None of your business Rashel tilted her head and looked at him soberly. How, John Quinn? Youknow, there are some things you in reality ought to tell other people. It might help.I dont need a damn psychoanalyst, 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 earth and absolutely sure of her path.Look, Quinn-I really think youd better kill me now, he said tightly. Unless youre too fatheaded 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. in brief hed have enough room t o gaffe 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. Keep change form 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 heap 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 slit with 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 patentd 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(prenominal) in a trap. tout ensemble right, she said,stepping back and putting her hand on the hilt of her bokken. distribute your best shot. But remember, I clamberyou 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 themseriously. He sat up in one fluid apparent movement 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 oftentimes, much nastier.Panic exploded inside(a) Rashel.All at once, she believed him absolutely. She couldnt seem to get her breath, and a void had opened inher stomach. She scattered 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 downcast for him? Sorry for a deranged hulk whos going to tear you offsetfrom 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 catch 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 secure 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 himwhile 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 cover and he stood up, free. Rashel couldnt see his face anymore it was above the reach of theflashlight.Well, he said evenly.Rashel whispered, Well.They stood facing each other.Rashel was waiting for the bantam involuntary body movements that would give away which direction hewas going to lunge. But he was more still than any enemy shed ever seen. He unbroken his tension 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 secondments warning. A tho perceptible movement of his leg told her he was going to spring tohis right, her left-hand(a). Her body reacted without her direction, moving smoothly 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, big the innerside of his arm with her left arm. Hitting the nerves to try and benumbed the limb.But not cutting him. She realized with a dizzy sense of iniquity 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 brushed his, and something happened that was completely beyond her experience.