Chapter 64 - Escape

It was a strange sensation, feeling the blood drain from your veins. You don't really notice your blood until it's being pulled from you. The initial pain had subsided, and now the sensation was almost enjoyable—a bit ticklish and almost like I was on the brink of something incredible. Almost like an orgasm.

Damon's shouts were still audible, though they had somehow faded into the background. I felt myself start to get light-headed, and then very dizzy. It didn’t last long, though, which was almost a disappointment I would never admit out loud. The blonde woman hissed and pulled away, pushing me aside with a growl that rumbled through her lips. I struggled to stay conscious as I found myself back on the floor.

“What is that?” she hissed again, her words dripping with venomous disgust. “What are you?”

She choked on the blood she had drawn from me. The pain returned, and I felt as if my skin was somehow raw. Damon looked at us, wide-eyed, clearly confused about what was going on.

How could I explain that my blood was toxic to vampires, completely inedible, because I had injected myself with his blood to survive the gassing?

"What’s happening?" Damon demanded.

We watched in shock as she collapsed to her knees, clutching her neck with both hands, desperately trying to spit out what she had already consumed.

"You...filthy!" she sputtered, coughing, "You filthy, dirty demon!"

Suddenly, I realized it was now or never. I had no idea how this would end—whether the blood would kill her or just irritate her—but I couldn’t risk waiting. I looked around for something I could use as a weapon. The only thing nearby was a bucket, and that wouldn’t do. Her choking grew worse. I decided I had to act now and hope for a weapon. I scrambled to my feet and rushed toward the exit.

"Ava," I heard Damon shout," where are you going!?"

I didn't have time to explain. I sprinted through the empty corridors, searching for something wooden. The walls seemed to close in on me; I was exhausted and injured, but adrenaline pushed me forward. I found myself beneath the prison's metal gates, hoping to find a tree branch outside to use as a stake against the vampire.

I tried repeatedly to climb the walls of the cell, each attempt resulting in new cuts and bruises. Frustration made me scream out. I needed to escape, find a weapon, and save Damon.

I buried my face in a muddy corner, feeling defeated and helpless. This was my only chance, and I was failing. As I dug into the wall, I felt something sharp hidden in the corner. Pulling it out, I discovered it was the cross-shaped stake Damon had used on the vampire at the celebration. Relief washed over me, and I quickly wiped my face and ran back down the hall. I followed the sounds of the choking vampire girl. Damon glanced at the stake and said, "You can do this."

Seeing the fear in my own eyes—heavy breathing and limping—I wasn't sure I could. I looked at the girl, who was now catching her breath.
"We're running out of time!" Damon shouted " do it now!"

"H-how!" I cried out," where do I stab her?"

"Through the brain, use her ears-"

"I can't!"
It was true. I could not even move my hands let alone stab this evil creature. I guess it was true that I was simply incapable of death, even if it meant saving the ones I love.
"Uncuff me now, I'll do it. We are running out of time."

I nodded and hurried to where he was. I was able to use a broken brick that had slid off the walls surface to hoist myself up. I reached as far as I could and clicked on the button to release Damon from his cuffs. Just as his feet hit the ground in a graceful landing, the vampire girl had recovered and with the same lightning speed, she had her hands at his throat. She pushed him against the wall and choked his neck until his eyes began to bulge.

"You thought you could outsmart me," she growled," a human with the blood of a wolf. Good one."

I looked around with panic and picked the stake up from the ground. I did not hesitate this time nor did I doubt myself. I dug the sword as hard as I could onto her back. She released her grip on Damon who flipped her immediately so that she was now on the ground. He somehow had the stake in his hands.
I could hear the sounds of others approaching.

"They're coming, do it now!" I exclaimed.
Damon did not need to hear it twice. He thrust the cross through her left ear and it punctured out into the other side. I could have vomited if I had the strength to do so. Damon pulled back the stake and grabbed my hands.

"Let's go-"

""No, you follow me," I insisted. "I know the way."

His eyes conveyed trust. We ran through the hallways, staying away from the approaching voices. I caught a glimpse of something in the shadows of another corridor—a girl lying still on the ground.

"Wait—" I stopped, and Damon did too. "Doesn’t she look familiar?"

"What are you doing? Let’s go," Damon urged, pulling on my arm, but I couldn’t move. I recognized the girl: her hair, small frame, and clothes. She was lying face down, a bleeding bite mark visible on her neck.

"Who is that?" I whispered, mostly to myself. I took a few steps toward the body, but Damon pulled me back.

"Ava, we don’t have time. We can come back for your friend when it’s safe, but we need to leave now!"

He was right. The voices were getting closer. We had to move.

But why wouldn’t my legs obey? I had to find out who she was.

"One second," I yanked my arm and ran for the girl. The next movements must have happened in less than a second because somehow, the girl had found time to get up on her feet and leap at me. Damon blocked her just in time, throwing her body across the cave. I could hear her evil hiss echoing. I could see her red eyes shining even through the murk.

"Tessa!" I exclaimed as realization slapped me like a ton of brick," Tessa! Is that you?"

"Let’s go! We can’t help her now—"

Damon pulled on my arm, but I fought against him.

"We can’t leave her like this; we have to do something—"

"It’s too late; there’s nothing we can do!"

Damon wouldn’t give me any more time to argue. He lifted me onto his back and raced toward the end of the cave, finally reaching the exit. He set me down and checked the top.

"Step back," he said, then leaped up and smashed through the metal gates. He picked me up again, tossing me over his shoulders as if I weighed nothing. We climbed the walls swiftly, and soon we were out of the cave. I took a deep breath of the fresh air, which seemed to heal most of my internal wounds.

Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling of betrayal for leaving Tessa behind. How did she end up there? What had they done to her and why?