Girl of Glass, #1 Page 13

  Dr. Wynne raised a hand as Kieran began to protest. “She will be at no risk of being changed, but I don’t think her mother would like her returned to the domes sans a leg.”

  “You’re sure it won’t change her?” Kieran asked. “Dad, you have to be sure.”

  “I am quite sure.” Dr. Wynne picked up a threaded needle. “ReVamp will only affect the brain and circulatory system if it is injected directly into the blood stream. Think of this as a localized anesthetic.”

  Kieran opened his mouth to argue again, but Dr. Wynne waved him away. “You must trust me, Kieran. I did invent the stuff after all.” He turned to Nola. “You might want to take a deep breath, dear, I have nothing to numb you with.”

  Nola squeezed Kieran’s hand, shutting her eyes tight as the needle pierced her leg.

  Her stomach seized at the tugging of the thread pulling through her skin.

  “Prison,” Nola said through gritted teeth, searching for something to distract her from the nauseating sensation of her flesh being violated by a needle and thread. “The man who attacked us, why can’t he go to vampire prison?”

  “There’s no such thing as vampire prison,” Kieran said with a touch of laughter in his voice.

  The needle pierced Nola’s leg again, and she redoubled her grip on Kieran’s hand. “But we’re underground. With all the tunnels, why can’t you make a prison? Then you could lock him up instead of just killing him.”

  “We barely have the resources to keep Nightland safe from the outside,” Dr. Wynne said, his voice low and slow as he continued to work on Nola’s leg. “And if the Outer Guard really are going to try to break in, well, we can’t afford to have people guarding someone who attempted to kill a Nightland guest.”

  “Put him in a steel room and deliver him meals,” Nola said, trying hard not to think of the fact that she had nearly been the vampire’s meal.

  “He’s a vampire, Nola,” Kieran said, stroking her hair as she bit her lip, trying not to pull away from the pain.

  There was the tink of metal on metal and the sound of footsteps walking away.

  “If we left him alone, he could try and dig his way out or tear through the stone,” Kieran said. “There aren’t many things an angry vampire can’t break through given enough time. And we only have enough of that kind of metal for the door to the outside. There isn’t a way for us to lock him up.”

  “Silver doors all around?” Nola said.

  Kieran chuckled. “Vampires can touch silver.”

  “So, it’s not like the sun allergy going to get lots of blisters and die type thing?” Nola asked as Dr. Wynne’s footsteps returned.

  “Well,” Dr. Wynne said, “I wouldn’t recommend wearing silver as some irritation can occur. A bit of discoloration and some nasty swelling in rare cases, but if you’re afraid of a vampire, I wouldn’t suggest trying to kill them with a silver cross. It could take hours for him to be bothered with it at all. This will sting a bit.”

  A needle pierced Nola’s skin again. Pure ice poured into her flesh, freezing the wound on her leg. Nola groaned as cold unlike anything she’d ever felt before seared her skin.

  Keep breathing. You have to keep breathing.

  Opening her eyes, she glanced down at her leg. The skin around the wound had become stark white, while the cut itself turned a violent red.

  “Don’t watch it,” Kieran said, taking Nola’s face in his hands and turning her to look into his eyes. “It’s better if you don’t watch it.”

  Nola let out a deep, shuddering breath. “What about stakes through the heart? Is that true? Should there be a ban on wood in Nightland?”

  “If you destroy a vampire’s heart, he will die,” Dr. Wynne said.

  The sound of metal instruments being laid on a metal tray came from the end of the table, but Nola didn’t look away from Kieran.

  The ice in her leg had changed now, from something stagnant to something squirming as though worms crawled under her skin.

  “It’s about the only thing a vampire can’t heal from,” Dr. Wynne continued. “Well that,” he paused, “and decapitation. But I see hardly any of that in here. It is very hard to cut an entire head off without meaning to. And if you meant to cut a person’s head off, I don’t know why you’d bother bringing them to me for help. At that point, it’s really a matter of hiding the body where it won’t smell too terribly and the Outer Guard won’t find it. I suppose that’s what makes the river so popular for those things. But there must be lots of other choices—”

  “Thanks, Dad.” Kieran cut his father off just as Nola began to wonder how many bodies had been dumped in the river and if there were any bones left or if the toxicity was so high everything had been eaten away.

  “You can sit up now,” Dr. Wynne said, pushing himself backwards on his rolling stool.

  Nola opened her eyes a crack to look at her leg. The squirming had stopped. Now it felt like someone was holding a bag of particularly cold ice on her calf. The skin around the cut was still pale, but the cut itself was what made Nola sit up to examine her leg more closely.

  There were twelve stitches in her leg, holding together a cut that looked to be at least a few days old. Shiny new skin had bridged the gap between the two ragged sides.

  “The stitches will make sure everything heals in the right place, and the scarring should be minimal,” Dr. Wynne said, his brow furrowed and lips pinched as though afraid Nola might not approve of his handiwork.

  “That’s incredible.” Nola poked the cut before Kieran lifted her hand away. “If they had this in the domes—”

  “They’d never use it,” Dr. Wynne said. “ReVamp alters you at a genetic level. Not badly for you. In a week, you won’t notice you were ever injected. Still, the whole point of the domes is to preserve a genetically healthy human race. ReVamp changes the way DNA works. It alters your body at the most basic level. Why do you think they despise the vampires so much?”

  “Because all the ones they deal with are violent.” Nola’s voice rose in excitement. “If you could show them this—”

  “Then they’d still kill us all if they had the chance,” Raina said as she slunk into the room. “A drug is a drug, impure genes are impure genes, and a vampire is a vampire. They don’t see differences. It’s all black and white, and they don’t give a shit how many of us die out here.”

  Nola opened her mouth to argue, but Raina held up a finger.

  “Please don’t fight me on things you don’t understand, little girl. You’ll make me sorry I didn’t manage to stab you through the heart.”

  “You’re the one that stabbed me?” Nola said, looking at the knife tucked into Raina's belt.

  Raina followed her gaze. “Did you expect me to throw my knife away in remorse? You were sneaking around.”

  Nola opened her mouth to explain, but Raina cut her off with the wave of a hand.

  “I know you were coming to save us from the big, bad guards. And I do appreciate the sentiment. But the way I see it, it wasn’t my fault you were in a very bad place at the wrong time, and I did lend you some of my very fine old clothes. And since you’ll apparently be needing to borrow yet another pair of pants, as you can’t seem to keep from bleeding all over the place even if I didn’t cause it, I would say we’re pretty even.”

  “Pants versus stab wound,” Kieran said, one dark eyebrow raised. “That’s a rough trade to call.”

  “It’s a cold, cruel world. You take what you can get.” Raina glared at Nola. “We’re good, right?”

  Nola nodded. “We’re good.”

  “Excellent.” Raina flashed a smile that made Nola more nervous than the knife had. “Because we’ve figured out a way to get you home. And any trust issues could definitely get a few people killed.”

  Nola looked to Kieran who gave the slightest shrug.

  “Emanuel wants us all to meet in the gallery.” Raina turned back toward the door.

  “It must be a grand plan if he wants us in the gallery,” Dr.
Wynne said, moving over to a sink in the corner to wash his hands. “He always likes to make big announcements in there.”

  Kieran took Nola’s hand and helped her off the table. Her leg still felt shaky as she put pressure on it, but the unbearable pain and terrible weakness had gone.

  “Thank you, Dr. Wynne,” she said, taking his hand in hers as he moved for the door. His skin was warm to the touch.

  “Of course, dear.” Dr. Wynne smiled. “You are family. And, well, it is my job, I suppose.”

  “I’ll help her.” Kieran wrapped an arm around Nola’s waist. “You go on ahead.”

  “Your dad,” Nola whispered as soon as Dr. Wynne was in the hall, “he hasn’t taken ReVamp, has he?”

  “No. He hasn’t needed it yet. He had more immunities than I did from sneaking in and out so much, and he doesn’t think people should take it unless they have no other choice. How did you know?”

  “His hands are still warm,” Nola said, sinking into the cold of Kieran’s hand cutting through the leather that separated their skin. “And his eyes are still green, like yours used to be.”

  “Very observant,” Kieran said as they walked into the hall, him supporting most of Nola’s weight. “He’ll have to take it soon, though.”

  “What wrong with him?”

  “He’s started losing weight. He can’t focus. He goes on tangents even worse than usual.”

  “Maybe being underground is getting to him,” Nola said. “Maybe, if he got out—”

  “He’s too valuable,” Kieran said. “They won’t let him go where they can’t protect him.”

  “Even if he wants to?” Nola stopped walking and nearly toppled over as Kieran continued forward.

  “This is about saving people, thousands of people. He understands that,” Kieran said. “He’s starting to show signs of toxicity poisoning. If he takes ReVamp, he’ll get better. And when we get out of Nightland, he’ll get all the fresh air he wants.”

  Kieran pushed through the heavy, wooden door into the gallery.

  Bryant and Desmond sat stone-faced on one of the large couches. Raina sat next to Dr. Wynne while Julian leaned on a bookshelf, and all of their eyes were fixed on Emanuel who stood in the center of it all.

  “Nola.” Emanuel spread his arms to her. “I see you’ve recovered nicely from your accident.”

  “Yes,” Nola said, suddenly aware that everyone’s attention had shifted to her. “Dr. Wynne is brilliant, and the garden was amazing.”

  “I’m glad you appreciate what we are trying to accomplish here”—Emanuel’s brief smile vanished—“as I am afraid we need to ask for your help once again.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “What kind of help?” Nola asked, resisting as Kieran tried to guide her to a chair.

  Emanuel paced across the carpet. “The only way to get you home is for the domes to believe you were brought here against your will. If we are operating under the guise that vampires broke into the domes and kidnapped you, then, and I mean no offense, we must also maintain that we wish to give you back. I am sure we can all agree it would be a very unlikely story that we in Nightland kidnapped sweet Nola and she managed to escape us and arrive home undamaged.”

  The group in the room nodded.

  After a reluctant moment, Nola nodded, too. “I don’t think I could escape a few hundred vampires in an underground lair alive.”

  “Good.” Emanuel’s shoulders relaxed. “We’ve contacted the domes and informed them of your kidnapping and made our ransom demand.”

  “What did you ask for?” Nola’s said.

  If the domes have to give something vital, it could put the whole system in danger. The life boat could sink, and it would be my fault.

  “We asked for things that will be very valuable to us and can be easily replaced by the domes,” Emanuel said. “Common seeds of plants that no longer grow on the outside. A few doses of medicine for the children. Nothing the domes will even miss.”

  Nola nodded.

  “We’ve asked them to meet us on the bridge tomorrow, an hour before dawn,” Emanuel continued. “That should make them feel secure while giving us ample time to get back underground. By daybreak, you’ll be cozy in the domes, and Kieran will have some new seeds for the garden.”

  “But if they think you broke in and kidnapped me, won’t that give the Outer Guard a reason to come after you?” Nola asked.

  “They don’t need a reason to come after us,” Desmond said. “They’ll come no matter what we do.”

  “And you have to be back in the domes when the Outer Guard bang on our door.” Raina’s hand rested on the hilt of her knife as though expecting the Outer Guard to run into the gallery as they spoke.

  Nola reached for Kieran’s hand. “But what will I tell them when they ask me what happened?”

  “That’s where I come in,” Julian said. “We’ve worked it all out so you can give them enough details to be believable without telling them anything that could endanger Nightland. I’ll coach you on all of it. Dr. Wynne and Kieran won’t be involved. As far as the Outer Guard will know, we broke through the glass in Bright Dome to get you.”

  “They’ll seal it,” Nola said. The squirming knot of fear in her stomach disappeared, leaving her hollow. “I won’t be able to get back out.”

  “I think,” Dr. Wynne said, looking down at his hands, “that will probably be for the best.”

  “You almost died out here, Nola,” Kieran said, turning to face her. “Next time, you might not make it through the woods.”

  “So, I’ll just never see you again?” Nola’s voice was tight, higher than usual. “I’ll just go back to the domes—”

  “And live the life you’re meant to have,” Dr. Wynne said. “You can’t keep going back and forth, and you can’t stay out here.”

  “Why?” Tears crept into Nola’s eyes. “Why can’t I stay? You need me. I could help with the garden. I know more about agriculture than any of you.”

  “You’d get sick,” Kieran said, his voice barely a whisper as he brushed the tears from Nola’s cheek. “You’d get hurt. I won’t let you die out here.”

  “What about ReVamp?” Nola said, remembering the bitter taste of metal in her mouth. “It saved you.”

  “You could never go home.” Pain filled Kieran’s eyes. “You would never see your mother again. I want to keep you more than anything, but I won’t take the sun away from you, Nola.”

  He pulled Nola into his arms, and she buried her face in his shoulder. “How many times are we going to have to say goodbye?”

  “Not to be completely insensitive,” Raina said, “but a few of us still have to risk our lives to get the princess back to the castle. So, rather than focus on true love lost to circumstance and the bad luck of her going back to Jeremy my-father-wants-to-destroy-Nightland for comfort—”

  ”Raina, don’t,” Kieran muttered.

  “Don’t tell the truth? I think we all know why Jeremy gave Nola the info that sent her here. And we can be sure the Domer will take care of her once we make the trade.”

  Nola’s cheeks flushed in anger and embarrassment.

  “Let’s stop pretending this is Romeo and Juliet unless you both want to end up dead. Why don’t we give Nola to Julian to make sure she doesn’t get herself caught for being a traitor, and once they’re done, you two can go feel each other up in a dark corner.”

  The room froze for a long moment.

  Bryant moved first. “Gonna go make sure we have enough vamps on board for the swap.”

  Desmond followed him out into the tunnels.

  “I’ll take you to the kitchen to work on your story,” Julian said, awkwardly patting his hands on the sides of his legs. “I think we have something that resembles tea for you to drink.”

  “Anyone want to help me bury the guy who tried to kill Nola?” Raina asked, looking at Kieran.

  “Just go, Raina,” Kieran said, his face stony and impossible for Nola to read.

  “All
the dirty work for me. How kind.” Raina stepped forward, baring her teeth.

  Julian’s hand closed around Nola’s arm, and he led her from the gallery.

  The door muffled Kieran’s shouted response.

  “Does it all make sense?” Julian asked as Nola finished her third cup of what was not really tea.

  “Yes.” Nola traced a jagged line that had been carved into the wooden kitchen table with her fingertip.

  “It’s about more than being able to repeat the details to me.” Julian sipped from his dark mug.

  Nola had closed her eyes when he had poured something from the refrigerator into it. Knowing he was probably drinking blood and actually seeing him do it were two very different things.

  “You have to understand the story you’re telling,” Julian said.

  “I get it.” Nola kneaded the point of pain that pierced her forehead. “You kidnapped me to find out whatever you could about what my mother had learned at the Green Leaf Conference. I got hit on the head and stabbed a bit. Told you what you wanted to know since it didn’t really matter anyway. You made the trade.”

  “Good girl.” Julian tapped his knuckles on the table.

  Nola dug her fingers into the wood, watching the white of her knuckles blossom through the red scars on her hands. “What if I don’t want to?”

  “Want to what?” Julian cocked his head to the side.

  “What if I don’t want you to make the trade?” Nola said. “What if I want to stay in Nightland? Help with your work.”

  “Kieran’s already explained.” Sympathy crept into Julian’s voice. “If you stay here, you’ll end up a vampire. Perhaps not right away, but eventually it would be either ReVamp or death.”

  “But being a vampire doesn’t seem so bad.”

  “It’s not,” Julian said. “It took me a few years to get off the human blood and a decade more to forgive myself for all I’d done. But once you get used to blood and darkness, it’s not such a bad life.”