CHAPTER 13
The blonde looked out of the window of the plane that was flying herself, and all the other passengers to England. She had a small, content smile on her face as she thought about turning up and proving to Nora that she would do anything to win her back.
She started thinking of all the things that had upset Nora; the violence, the whole thing with Valerie, all these things she could fix and she would.
Mary Louise shifted in her seat as she thought about all the possibilities she might face; would they stay in England or would they go back to Mystic Falls?
Either way it didn't matter, as long as Mary Louise was with Nora, she couldn't care less if they ended up in some silly little run down pub that had been abandoned years ago. As long as she had Nora, Mary Louise didn't care about anything else.
She settled down a little more and prepared to sleep through the flight as it would seem like no time at all when they touched down in England.
She wondered, as she closed her eyes, what Nora was doing now.
Was she in that little cottage that she'd told Mary Lou about? Was she out feeding? Had she met someone? That thought gave her cause to panic and her eyes snapped open but then she thought about it; she knew Nora. Five months was not long enough for the other girl to move on and so quickly. She let out a calming breath and closed her eyes again, telling herself to stop over thinking things. Everything would be fine. She had nothing to worry about.
...
Nora had soon discovered the dangers of her old home and she found herself going into hiding more than she thought.
She knew people still hunted vampires but she didn't know it was such a big deal in England. Mind you, wasn't Rayna cruz, the vampire hunter, the main reason that they'd left England in the first place? There would always be another hunter to take the previous one's place. It was just a shame that Nora hadn't thought that part through too well.
Still, she had gotten used to the lifestyle.
Nora was now living in some run down flat and she went to the underground bars to keep safe and hidden.
She would never forget her first night in London when she'd been chased down the streets by a man claiming he could see the evil in her and she would be vanquished before the night was out. She hadn't thought he was serious until he pulled out nasty looking dagger.
Everytime, she thought about going back to Mystic Falls, she thought of Mary Louise and it stopped her from leaving London. She couldn't go back and face her again. It would bring it all back. All the pain and heart ache, not to mention the disappointment. She closed her eyes and stared at the drink in front of her.
'God, I miss you.'. She thought as she pictured Mary Lou's face in her mind.
That beautiful face that would always smile when Nora looked her way. She then shook her head and gulped back the rest of her drink then ordered another.
...
The plane touched down on the runway and Mary Louise smiled.
'Soon.' She silently promised Nora.
Mary Louise followed the other passengers off the plane and into the terminal.
Once she was through and outside, she breathed in the night air.
She was doing the right thing. She would get Nora back.
A man sidled up to her.
"You need a cab, love?" He asked, his thick english accent making her smile, as she remembered nothing but american now. Her accent still remained with her, as had Nora's. Although sometimes she thought she heard Nora's slipping now and again. It was only natural that she would pick it up.
She gave him a small nod.
"I do, thank you."
She was in a good mood and although she was hungry, she didn't feel like killing the man who had offered her a ride to wherever it was she was going. The first thought was London; they'd always talked of visiting it.
She followed the man across the road and away from the airport.
A black van was on the other side and behind that, sat a black cab.
The man smiled and then she was suddenly pushed, gagged and bundled into the back of the black van. Before she could even fight back, she was struck across the back of her head and knocked unconcious...
The ground was cold. Damp and it smelt...well it didn't smell too good.
Mary Louise opened her eyes and sat up to find that she was in some kind of bunker. Her eyes widened as she noticed others in here with her.
Gone were her nice clothes, replaced by a white tank top, black leggings and combat boots. She tried to ignore the fact that this meant someone had undressed and dressed her while she'd been unconcious and sat up.
The others stared at her, some showing interest, others', not so much.
One walked towards her. A girl with long black hair and bright blue eyes. She looked to be about late twenties.
"You're the new blood." She said as she crouched down in front of her.
The blonde frowned.
"New blood?"
The girl nodded.
"I'm Tamra."
"Mary Louise." Mary Lou said distractedly.
"Where...where are we?"
Tamra looked around and sighed.
"They call it the Bunker, and that's exactly what it is, a bunker. We're prisoners to the humans."
"Prisoners?"
Mary Louise knew that she was surrounded by other vampires; they could all sense each other anyway.
Then a thought flashed through her mind.
"Is Nora here?"
"Nora?" Tamra repeated with a confused frown.
"Nora Hildegard...is she not here?"
"No. I've never heard of a vampire by that name."
The blonde got to her feet and brushed her dirty blonde hair back, feelings traces of dirt and grease slide under her fingernails. She grimaced and lowered her hand.
"So what is the Bunker?" She asked with an eye roll.
Tamra showed her a scar on her right shoulder that travelled up to her neck.
"I got this, second fight I was here. I didn't want to fight; to kill my own kind but...the humans, they don't leave you with any choice."
Mary Lou tried to piece together what she was saying and finally, it clicked.
Her eyes widened and her mouth went dry.
"This is a fight ring?"
Tamra nodded and tears threatened to come forward but she held them back.
It would do no good to show her weaknesses here.
"They find you...the vampire hunters. They have contacts in other countries and they wait for you. Once they have you, they bring you here and there's only one way out."
The blonde looked at Tamra with barely concealed hope in her eyes.
"And that is?"
Tamra's blue eyes locked with her's.
"You die."
Mary Louise sank back against the wall.
"So that's it? They make us fight like dogs until one kills the other?"
"Pretty much."
Mary Louise swallowed and licked her lips nervously.
"And how long have you been here?"
Tamra grinned but there was a sadness to it.
"Tonight will be my sixty-fifth fight. I've never lost and I've been here almost three years."
The blonde tried not to show how she felt but it was difficult, given the circumstances.
Tamra looked her up and down.
"How did they get you?"
She blinked a few times then replied;
"A man asked me if I wanted a cab, the next thing I know, they're bundling me into the back of a van and I woke up...here."
Tamra nodded.
"And you?" Mary Louise asked but really she was trying to take her mind off how hopeless she felt right now.
Tamra shrugged.
"I went out with a 'friend' and they got me drunk, drugged me up and I woke up here. Turned out the 'friend' was working with these guys and he was paid to bring me in, and here I am."
Mary Louise looked at the others.
"And them? I can't be the only one who came in new today."
"You are. The rest have been here for only a few months. The next best fighter after me is Gray. He's a bastard; literally pulls no punches but he's only doing what the rest of us are doing in here; trying to survive." She explained with a hard look in her eyes.
Mary Louise nodded.
Then a harsh sound, like a metal bar being scraped against the wall could be heard and she frowned as a man came into view.
"Almost time guys. Tamra, you're up against Lisa. Shouldn't be too hard for you."
Mary Louise watched as Tamra snarled at Lisa and Lisa shrank back into the shadows.
Lisa was going to die tonight, that much was clear.
Tamra started doing stretches while Lisa was comforted by a tall woman with peroxide blonde hair.
"Tamra?"
The black hair vampire looked up at Mary Louise.
"You're not really going to kill her, are you?"
"I have to hun, I'm going out of here in a body bag otherwise."
The blonde's gaze went from Tamra to Lisa and she gave the younger girl a sympathetic look.
It was another two hours before Mary Louise heard human voices and she knew that the fighting was soon about to start.
Tamra stood, squaring her shoulders while Lisa just stepped up next to her but kept a safe distance.
Then two huge doors slid back and showed a crowd of humans. surrounding a cage.
Mary Louise glared at them from the darkness of the bunker.
They were exactly what she had expected; all rich and pompous people with more money than sense, who enjoyed watching other people-or in this case, vampires- tear each other apart for their own entertainment.
Tamra and Lisa walked into the cage and the metals doors were shut behind them.
The other fighters could watch too.
Mary Louise watched as Tamra made short work of Lisa. She waited for the younger girl to move in close before, sweeping her feet out from underneath her and snapping her head back until her neck broke. Then just like the others, she was dragged away, out of sight.
A huge cheer erupted from the audience and Mary Louise turned her head away.
She shouldn't be here. This was all wrong. It felt like some terrible nightmare that she couldn't wake up from. She didn't want to fight, they couldn't make her. She'd promised no more violence and she had to stick to it if she ever wanted to get Nora back.
They opened the gate and Tamra went back into the bunker as the humans celebrated her victory.
She grinned at Mary Louise.
"Knew she wouldn't last a minute."
"You didn't have to kill her. We are stronger than all of them put together and we fight for their amusement! Have you no shame?" Mary Louise growled at the other vampire.
Tamra locked eyes with her.
"These people...they're not stupid. We all have others on the outside and they are using them to keep us here. If we step out of line, they kill who we love."
Mary Louise stared to panic.
"Nora..." She breathed.
"Do you think they have her?"
Tamra shrugged.
"Probably."
The back haired vampire turned away while Mary Louise turned her face the wall and silently cried.
...
Nora kept drinking. It helped to ease all the horrible thoughts that constantly ran through her head. This underground bar was a safe haven for her and the warlock running it didn't seem to mind her being there at all. Well, she didn't cause any trouble so why would he mind?
There were a few others in here with her tonight and they were quietly chatting. That all stopped however, when the door opened and a man walked in.
The warlock held his hand up in a threatening manner.
Nora stopped drinking and watched the exchange between the two.
She knew that the man was human but something else had set the warlock on edge.
They talked, about stupid little things. Each man was defensive and guarded.
The man suddenly looked at Nora.
"Is she?-"
"Human." The warlocked snapped.
The man raised an eyebrow.
"So what is she doing in here?"
"She has telekinesis, which alients her from other humans. She feels more like a freak than one of her own, so she comes here."
Nora frowned.
Why was the warlock lying? She opened her mouth when the warlock shot her a look that made her keep her mouth shut.
The man walked over to her and smiled pleasantly.
"Telekinesis is nothing to be ashamed of. Now if you were like anyone of these...I would be a little worried. You would be sought after and no one wants that." He said by way of warning.
Then he smiled again.
"But you...you're a beautiful girl and you shouldn't be worried about such things."
Nora looked down.
The man lifted her chin to make her look him in the eyes.
"I'm Hugh. What's your name?"
"Nora."
"Nora, what a lovely name. Would you mind if I sat with you, Nora?"
The brunette shook her head.
She had a feeling she should be afraid of this human. The warlock's expression had told her as much.
She forced a smile.
"I'll get us some more drinks."
Hugh nodded and waited while she went over to the bar.
The warlock stared at her when Nora gave him a questioning look.
"Would you like to tell me what that was all about?" She asked in a hushed voice.
The warlock looked from Nora to Hugh and then back again.
"Hugh is a hunter. A vampire hunter to be exact. He comes in here looking for vampires to add to his stupid little fight team."
Nora's eyes widened.
"What?"
"If he knew you were one, he wouldn't be flirting with you. He would take you to the Bunker and you wouldn't come out. So please, do yourself a favour, act human and leave here as soon as you get the chance." He warned as he placed her drinks on the bar.
Nora nodded and took the drinks back to her table.
"So, telekinesis...that must be fun." Hugh said with a smile.
Nora shrugged.
"Sometimes."
"Have you ever killed anyone with it?"
Nora remembered the warning about the fight team and shook her head.
"No. My family are strict and forbid me to use my powers."
He sat forward, clearly interested.
"Aw, that's no fun. Show me what you can do. Move that empty glass over there." He said, pointing at a glass on another table.
She offered him a small smile.
"I'd rather not."
"Oh come on, it'll be fun. I've never seen anyone use telekinesis before."
"I really don't want to."
Nora silently cursed the warlock for saying that she was telekinetic when she had no clue of how to prove it without muttering a simple spell but it's not like that would go unnoticed.
"I promise there's nothing wrong with using it."
"I said no." She snapped, trying the firm approach.
Hugh held up his hands.
"Alright, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pushed it."
"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped like that."
They both finished their drinks with awkward chit-chat and then Hugh spoke up.
"Look, I'm sorry about before. How about I make it up to you? Take you out somewhere."
Nora scratched the back of her neck.
"Oh I don't know. I just got out of a relationship and-"
"I promise it'll be fun. I doubt you've ever seen anything like this before."
Nora felt uneasy and looked at their empty glasses.
"I'll think about it. I'm just going to get another drink. You want one?" She asked, silently hoping that he would just leave.
"I can't. I have to get home but I'll stay until I get an answer from you. I can wait at least that long."
Nora nodded and went to the bar again.
The warlock looked at her and filled up her glass.
"You have to go."
"What?"
"You have to go out with him. It'll look suspicious if you don't."
Nora frowned.
"I didn't know you were listening in."
"I'm trying to save your arse and if you want to live, go with him on this stupid date and then leave as soon as he takes you home."
Nora nodded.
"You're serious about this...aren't you?"
"Things have gotten bad here. Once the humans realised they could use vampires for sport, they didn't stop and it's been going ever since. You only need one person to identify you as a vampire and it's over for you, Nora. Go. Home."
The brunette frowned.
"I've been coming here for five months and you're telling me this now?"
He shrugged.
"A hunter hasn't been in this bar in almost five months. I thought you were safer not knowing."
Nora shrugged. She didn't understand his logic but then she didn't have the time to argue.
All she had to do was go on this ridiculous date with Hugh and then leave. Back home. Back to Mystic Falls. Back to Mary Louise...
"There is just one problem with all this." Nora began.
The warlock looked at her expectantly.
"I'm gay."
"So?"
"So? If he expects me to...do stuff and I don't, then he'll find it weird and I won't know what to do."
"You'll tell him you're gay." The warlock said with a shrug.
Nora frowned.
"So why would I agree to go on a date with him if I'm gay? That doesn't make any sense."
"Look, just do the date and find a way to slip away." He said with an exasperated sigh.
Nora rolled her eyes.
"There are so many flaws in your plan, warlock."
"The name's Marv, and you'll be fine if you just keep it simple."
He then nudged her impatiently.
"Just go over there and tell him you'll go. I want him gone from my pub."
"Yeah, you're not the only one."
Nora sucked in a breath and took her drink back to her table.
Hugh looked up at her, waiting for her answer.
"So?"
"So...I accept."
He smiled brightly.
"Brilliant! I'll pick you up tomorrow night at six."
Nora forced a smile she didn't feel and nodded.
"Great. I look forward to it."
Hugh left and Nora sat there, wishing she'd never left Mystic Falls.
Author's Note- Hope you enjoyed this new twist. Please rate and reveiw!
P.S. sorry for any mistakes. X
