Chapter 24 - Bogdan's POV

I choose myself.

The whispered words, so soft and broken, slip past my impenetrable skin cells and reverberate against my bones. A chill follows thereafter, a foreign feeling. Oddly human. Perhaps a macabre foreshadowing of what's soon to come – the experiences I will surely have once I am forced to take the serum.

Reyo's small mouthpiece picks up my human's voice and carries through the chamber of hell. Beneath his sacrifice is a backdrop of agony, the cries and pain of humans and vampires alike weighing down the air like a living nightmare.

This is no longer a war. A war implies two sides fighting against one another. What started as a war has turned into a massacre of two species, entirely. Reyo works his jaw tighter and tighter. He doesn't anticipate this response. If he truly knew anything about my human, though, he would have expected this. Self-sacrifice and a bleeding heart are unique characteristics of my human, both his greatest weapons and biggest downfalls.

"You're not an option, Finn," Reyo says, clenching his teeth together with barely contained rage. "I need your blood. You agreed to this."

My human blinks a few times, slowly, and squints into the distance. The lights on this make-shift stage do well enough to keep the horrors of the shadows at bay, but their cries are proof enough to unveil the hidden tragedy that lies in their depths.

"I agreed to give you my blood to turn them back," my human whispers, and tears collect around his eyes. "Not to kill them."

A shift in movement catches my eye, followed by a subtle but sharp intake of breath. I tilt to my chin to the side and lock eyes with Tegan. I expect her to glare and turn away, but she holds my gaze. In that moment, my earlier suspicions are confirmed. She is no longer an ally for Reyo and his brainwashed band of Secondaries. Granted, she is not an ally of mine, either. However, we now have a common enemy – Reyo. We also have a common ally – my human.

"Mr. Primary."

A Secondary guard approaches the stage. He tries not to act affected by the broken and bloodied bodies beneath his feet, but his pallor suggests otherwise. A florescent sheen of sweat breaks across his forehead as hands grasp at his ankles, fingers clawing at the hem of his pants in a final attempt for rescue and relief. His human and vampire side are at war with one another. Such destress brings out humanity and raw emotion. Yet, it is clear that this vermin-like Secondary views being in front of his leader as a privilege.

My curiosity quickly morphs into disgust as he shields his emotions, sinking his mental claws into the meat of his Secondary soul, and casting aside his humanity. Reyo tears his focus from my human, but his scowl remains intact as he waits for an explanation to this unexpected interruption.

"The required guests have been stabilized and moved into the requested corridor."

Reyo's shoulders relax, his scowl melting away into a sinister grin. "Wonderful."

He sweeps his green eyes over his collection of visitors on stage, giving us each a cursory glimpse of recognition before bringing his hands together in a single clap. The sound booms through the mic, ricocheting against the walls and thundering through the great expanse.

"Unfortunately, Finn, this conversation must be tabled. We have dinner plans."

Reyo grabs my human by the arm, pulling him to his feet. I feel the ghost touch of Reyo's fingertips against my own arm, and my fangs elongate in warning. My instincts intervene, and I step in front of Mr. Primary, baring my fangs with a low growl.

"He stays," I snarl.

Reyo throws his head back, cackling and exposing the length of his pale neck. If my human still didn't need my saving, I would rip him to shreds this very instant. I'd tear out his jugular, letting his warm blood spill down my chin, and chewing on the muscle like a piece of gum.

"Oh, my dear friend, he is indeed coming with me. He is, after all, my greatest asset. My finest weapon."

Reyo raises a brow, challenging me. He brings his other hand to my human's face and trails a finger down his rosy cheek. His cold touch trails down mine as well, digging into my cheek, and simultaneously creating a swath of fury within me. He's taunting me. Similar to the Secondary, I remain devoid of emotions, standing tall with an unwavering gaze.

"No matter," he says with a dismissive wave. "You'll be joining us as well. You see, I have something very special prepared for us. A dinner that I anticipate will mark the dawn of a new tomorrow. It will go down in textbooks, enough to change the course of history."

Leo shivers beside me. He's had more time with Reyo and the Secondaries than I have. Either he knows what's in store for us or he is terrified of the uncertainty of it. Tegan and the other Secondaries move into position behind us, guiding us to follow Reyo. The tips of their weapons press into our backs, acting as threatening guardrails to our path ahead.

To my surprise, and further solidifying my earlier suspicions, Tegan nudges a different guard to follow behind me, designating herself to Kelly. I study her from the corner of my eye. Her expression emits indifference, but there's a gentleness in her touch and in the way she handles Kelly that reveals her true intentions.

Kelly winces as she cradles him against her body. He looks as though he's aged another decade since I saw him last. A ninety-year-old man as opposed to the thriving, young vampire I had by my side just months ago. He staggers alongside Tegan, and she whispers something into his ear as they fall to the back of our group.

"Can you hear me, Bogdan?" she whispers, pressing her mouth close to Kelly's ear.

I give a curt nod. She's quiet thereafter, most likely watching the Secondary guards between us for any indication they heard her as well. Ever the hunter, she uses her intelligence as a weapon of her own; her instincts are keen. Any slight change in body movement or physical response to her words will be cause enough to abandon her plan at communication.

Our feet shuffle across the dirt floor beneath us, each gate distinct from the other. Tegan must have enough confidence in our anonymity, because after a few beats of silence, she continues.

"They found the remaining members of Axel's followers – the leaders of the Vampire side of the war. They also have Fiona and Mark. Reyo's holding them captive, keeping them alive just long enough to determine their fates."

Kelly whimpers at the mention of Fiona's name. In reaction, Tegan snarls, barking at him to keep up. She's playing her part well. Reyo continues to guide the way at the very front, seemingly oblivious to the fact that one of his most trusted advisors is unraveling away from him side.

Tegan's voice becomes softer, more muffled, as she presses her lips flush against Kelly's ear. "He's going to ask both sides to surrender, with the terms that if they do, both sides must submit subservience to the Secondary population. But I don't trust he'll keep his word. Even if they agree, I anticipate he will kill them all."

I frown, playing out the scenario in my mind. Tegan is right in her assessment that they will all be killed, but it won't be now. Reyo has shown himself to be quite the showman in times of warfare. Whether they surrender or refuse, he will use either choice against them. They will be killed in front of their own people, either as punishment for an act of defiance, or as a token 'sacrifice' of good faith to keep each species in line.

She isn't telling me as a means to save their lives. She doesn't care. She is telling me to warn me of Reyo's true intentions – to become the ultimate leader of all three species. To deem all Secondaries as most worthy, making humans and vampires alike slaves to their cause. After seeing what will soon be a mass grave, our window of opportunity in throwing a coup is dwindling. Even if we had numbers, we'd need the power of both sides. Would they come together? Would it be enough?

We come to an abrupt halt and are guided through a set of wooden, double doors. The dimly lit room takes the form of a small dining hall, something intimate and recluse. Perhaps the dining area for the highest of officials. In another circumstance, I imagine this room makes for quite elegant affairs.

Now, however, they house the familiar faces of captives awaiting our arrival. Seven individuals sit around the table with hands bound and mouths taped shut. The vampires, Axel's followers, stare back at us with red eyes. Their hunger is almost tangible. They've been starved for quite some time. Two of them even have a few bright gashes and deep bruises painted across their otherwise flawless skin. They're not healing. They've been starved and beaten, far worse than a human could know or experience. Because of our ability to heal, abuse must be taken to a different level entirely if it's meant to leave behind a permanent scar.

Mark, two of his men, and Fiona sit on the other side of the table. All are equally as bruised and beaten, but Mark seems to be the closest to death's door. His face is terribly swollen. I wouldn't recognize him had I not smelled his scent once before. The humans reek of piss, blood and body odor. The vampires smell worse. They smell of coagulated blood and death.

"Sit, all of you," Reyo commands to the group of us filtering into the room.

He tightens his hold on my human, and I feel his possessive touch workings its way around my wrist. The two of them move to the head of the table, and my human is forced to sit beside him. My human; the deadliest weapon of them all.

I choose a seat beside one of Mark's followers, leaving room for Tegan to deposit Kelly beside me. It's a silent request, one she picks up on without missing a beat. She gives me nothing more than a warning glance before shoving Kelly towards the table. I catch his frail body as it smacks against the wooden seat. He wheezes from the pressure of pulling himself up, and my human's sadness fills the space inside me. The sight unfolding before him is breaking him, so potent that I can nearly feel it in my veins.

Kelly slumps against me, his labored breathing coming out in staccato gasps. Under the table I lay my hand atop his knee, giving him the only form of solace and comfort I know he will understand.

"Welcome, welcome. So good to have you all hear," Reyo says.

Silence.

He clears his throat, waving away the lack of greeting as a matter of no importance. "I assume by now you realize that the Secondary population, indeed, is still alive and thriving. More than that, I hope you see the misstep of both sides."

He glances around the table, letting the silence build for dramatic effect.

"It's hatred," Reyo continues. "My people have watched your species – both of your species for centuries, you know. We watched and waited, until one day, the hatred you harbored towards one another was enough to fuel a war."
          "For both of you, it was a chance at victory, a chance of freedom. But neither of you realized, you already had it. You lived in peace with other another, blinded to the real threat, a population overlooked and kicked. Your creation; the Secondaries."
          "It took planning, mind you. Centuries of development, preparation, and training for this day. We needed to be ready, to be equipped for a massive overthrow of vampires and humans alike."

Reyo stands and gestures around the table. "And now, I think I have made my point quite clear. And I bring you all hear not to brag or boast, but to put an end to all of this madness, once and for all."

Tegan's hands tighten to fists at her sides, and our prior conversation replays in my mind.

"I bring you here today to offer your surrender. Surrender to me, to my people, and this will all be over. This nightmare, as you know it, will end."

Reyo leans his palms onto the table, and locks eyes with Mark, then to Axel's follower. "So, what'll it be?"