The human and vampire continued on until they came to a huge walled-off section of the city a couple blocks away from the water. Jade looked up at the tall wall and whistled. It must have taken forever to put up something like that. Which begged the question, how long ago was it built? She looked to the human expectantly.
"This used to be a quarantine zone when the outbreak first started but the vampires escaped simply by refusing capture and they spread into the city. We eventually moved in after making sure it was abandoned. It just needed a clean up. A really big clean up. But just as it was made to keep them in it also does a good job of keeping them out," he explained.
"I'm assuming the way in isn't as stupid as a door," Jade replied after running her sharp gaze over it once more.
"Well, we had to insure a one way in and out deal. It's hard on us but even harder on them because it gives us a simple guarding post. They rarely ever come sniffing around anyways. The one time they did we took them down pretty quick," he mentioned, walking over to the wall and then following it off to the left. It looked like he was counting under his breath. Jade tuned in and heard that he had just hit fifty when he stopped and toed at the ground.
"Here we go," he said, crouching down to dig his fingers under the dirt and broken cobblestone. He began to heave, lifting a slab of concrete. The vampire rolled her eyes before moving to help, jerking it clear out of the way with one hand.
"Thanks. Usually there's two of us when we go out but I insisted on going alone. I can travel quicker that way," he explained.
"You were pretty certain that you'd be coming back with me weren't you?" she taunted.
"What can I say? I'm certain of my skills," he replied with a shrug. She scoffed and shook her head.
"You have no skill. I'm starving and here you are offering fresh blood. How can I turn that down?" she remarked, running her tongue over her fangs purposefully. He gulped but forced a casual smile and ran a hand through his hair.
"I guess so. Um, ladies first?" he inquired with a gesture at the hole in the ground. Jade only crossed her arms and cocked a hip.
"Scrawny humans first?" she mocked in return. He frowned and she smiled triumphantly. He quickly brushed off the jab and climbed down. Jade followed him in, finding the handholds in the dark with her better eyesight. She lowered the slab of concrete down as she descended and then jumped the rest of the way. She landed gracefully at the bottom and squinted her eyes at the torch he held. It was a little too bright in the enclosed space for her eyes to look anywhere near it.
"Hey, pretty boy. Mind holding that away or preferably extinguishing it?" she suggested, shielding her eyes.
"Oh, sorry," he replied, moving it away from her.
"Yeah, no, never mind. That isn't working," she decided, grabbing it from his hand and dropping it in a small puddle of water at their feet.
"Hey, I can't see!" he exclaimed.
"Relax, I can see. Come on," she insisted, grabbing him by the arm and tugging him along. His warmth seemed to burn her hand and made her want to let go. It was like a reminder that blood flowed in his veins and she wanted it no matter how hard she tried to deny herself that pleasure. She told him of the different junctures and he replied with the right way to go. Eventually they reached a light up ahead. She quickly released him and sped up. She stopped under the source of light and waited for him to catch up. He climbed the handholds and pushed at the covering. Jade rolled her eyes at his struggle and tugged him back down. She then climbed up and pushed the cover aside. She let him exit first so that she didn't startle anyone. As soon as he was up and out she followed, climbing out to barrels of rifles pointing at her. She wouldn't have cared if her instincts didn't warn her to stay wary of the weapons. She had a feeling they could still harm her no matter how fast she healed.
"Nice welcome," she spat sarcastically.
"Sorry. They're just taking precautions, which I'm sure we don't need," he emphasized, pushing the nearest guard's gun away from her. He earned a glare in return before sending Jade a distrustful glance.
"Relax. If I wanted you dead I would have already killed you," she spat.
"That's not really helping your situation," he pointed out.
"Does it look like I care?" Jade questioned.
"No, no it doesn't," he agreed. Jade nodded, pushed aside a guard, and then stopped in front of her tour guide.
"Well?" she prompted impatiently.
"Let's go to the conference room," he said, turning away to lead her once again. She followed at her own pace behind him, idly inspecting what she could see of the apartment block that was the only sanctuary for the surviving humans. The looks she received ranged from pure malice to intrigued curiosity.
"So, I never got your name," he spoke up as they entered the only big building in the area. It must have been used as a processing office at one point.
"I didn't give it," Jade answered. He glanced back at her with that insufferable smile she wanted to wipe off his face.
"My name's Beck. What's yours?" he introduced and then asked in return. She sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Jade," she finally replied.
"Pretty name," he commented.
"Yeah, like I care," she retorted. He just chuckled and walked on, unaffected by her bitter personality. She hated that she couldn't get a rise out of him. Beck pushed open some double doors and walked into the conference room. It had a long table and many scarred older men and woman. A few Beck's age loitered in a group off to the side. He made his way over to them.
"Beck, my man! You're alive! And look at that, you made a friend," a dark skinned guy greeted, leaning a little to the side to see past him. Jade stayed back, quietly scrutinizing the group. Unlike the geeky guy with fear in his eyes, and the smaller chick who was curious, the dark skinned guy was a mix of intrigued and friendly. He didn't seem to care what she was.
"You thought I wouldn't make it? I said I would find her. You have no faith in me," Beck pouted, a hand over his heart like he was wounded.
"Whatever dude. So, who's this?" the other questioned. Beck glanced back at his vampire acquaintance and held out a hand.
"This is Jade," Beck introduced. He then began to point out each of the group members.
"That's Andre, Robbie, and Cat. We've all been childhood friends through this and grew up learning to survive together. We're the only ones willing to actively scout beyond the wall with the older, more veteran, fighters," Beck explained, glancing over at the other people in the room, the scarred older men and woman.
"She doesn't talk much, does she? Can she talk?" Robbie pointed out. Jade growled and her emotionless eyes pinned him down.
"Insult me again and I'll make you eat your own glasses," she hissed at him. He yelped and cringed away from her.
"I, uh, I have to go," he stammered, walking away awkwardly. Jade smirked, knowing he soiled himself in fear.
"Damn girl, no need for hostility here. We're your friends," Andre spoke up, nudging her arm. Her body went rigid at his warm touch, and she naturally wanted to snap at him, but held back.
"It isn't a part of my personality to play nice. It's only gotten worse. Not to mention it's hard to be remotely nice to what I see as my prey," she answered evenly, voice eerily calm. Andre's eyes widened a little but Cat gasped.
"Oh my god," she whimpered fearfully, suddenly taking off out of the room.
"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Beck asked her, arms crossed. Jade was beginning to get fed up with his scolding tone.
"It's the truth. I just had a little bit of fun at her expense. What about you? Should I try a little harder to send you running?" she replied, eyes now on Andre.
"Um, well, no, I uh, I'll leave on my own," he stuttered with a nod and a wave. He walked quickly out of the room.
"We really need to get you something to eat," Beck remarked.
"Make it fast," Jade demanded. He opened his mouth to reply when he was interrupted.
"Beck, you've returned. And is this her?" a broad man with a similar countenance to Beck, except for a stronger build and sharper features, questioned as he walked up flanked by a heavily scarred man with a crew cut and a stern faced woman. All three scrutinized her with a critical stare she felt threatened by.
"Yeah, it is. Jade, this is my father, Michael, and his crew, Danielle and Jason. They're the ones that taught me, Andre, Robbie, and Cat to scout and fight," Beck introduced. Jade was busy analyzing them as well. After a tense minute more she nodded her acknowledgment and they returned the gesture.
"Take her to be fed. I don't want her losing control in here. You know as well as I that she'll have to be put down should that happen," Michael stated in a matter-of-fact manner.
"I'm right here asshole, and I may be some creature to you but I can still feel. And FYI, I'm in perfect control of myself," Jade growled, advancing on the offending man. His eyes grew stormy as he waited for her to get closer before landing a blow to her face and then securing her hands behind her back while she was distracted. He wrestled her to the floor and held her there as she struggled, snarling her fury. He was barely able to hold her down, which meant she wasn't as starved as he had thought. As much as she fought to get free she hadn't tried to bite him which told him that she really was in control. He threw her to the ground hard as he stood up. She pushed off the floor slowly and got to her feet, fighting back the urge to at least punch the man. It wouldn't help to strike back in any way so she forced down the thought. Beck tried to help her up but she just shoved him away.
"Get away from me," she growled, walking away to remove herself in order to calm down again. She didn't go far but it was enough to feel like she had some space to herself.
"You didn't have to do that," Beck said with a hard lined frown at his father.
"I had to make sure. No creature allows itself to be handled in that manner without striking back. She didn't. I'm impressed," he replied, eyes still on Jade.
"I already trust her or I wouldn't have brought her here. You know that. Don't you trust my judgment?" Beck inquired. Michael fell quiet for a moment before looking down at his son. He clasped a hand on his shoulder.
"I do, but as I said, I was taking necessary precautions. Now take her to the infirmary wing and get her fed," he commanded. Beck nodded and walked over to Jade. He carefully placed a hand on her back but she instantly pushed him away.
"Don't touch me," she mumbled, voice already less forceful.
"Come on then," he replied, signaling for her to follow him. She shuffled along behind him while he headed down the hall and turned into the room they used as a type of hospital.
"Take a seat. I'll be right back," he instructed, pushing Jade to sit down on a cot. She complied only because there was no use in fighting. Beck left and was gone long enough for her to wonder when he was coming back. She reclined on the cot and folded her arms behind her head, waiting. He came back in with a jug Jade instantly knew was filled with blood. She could smell it. A small growl left her lips unintentionally and she sat up to scent the air. She hopped off the cot and strode to Beck.
"Easy now. Calm down," he spoke softly, holding out the jug to her. She snatched it from him, yanked off the top with her teeth, and tipped back the jug to chug down the thick life giving liquid. When she reached the last drop she groaned and licked at her lips. She had barely spilled any of it. The blood that didn't make it in her mouth ran off her chin but she caught it to lick it off her hand.
"Shit, I was fucking starving," she mumbled.
"Feel better now?" he asked, taking back the jug and filling it with water at a small sink. He rinsed it and then set it aside.
"Yeah," she replied, feeling more grounded than before.
"Good. Are you up for some training?" he questioned next.
"Training?" she repeated, mildly interested.
"Mhm, you can join our scouting group. With senses and strength like yours it would really help us to have you lead the team," he remarked, casually pocketing his hands.
"You would let a vampire lead you?" she asked, disbelief coating her words.
"I trust you, and the others trust me, so therefore they should trust you," he rationalized.
"You're stupid," she stated with a shake of her head. A small smirk pulled at her lips despite her disagreeing tone.
"But my stupidity is funny to you, right?" he teased. Jade only shrugged dismissively.
"Maybe, maybe not. So, this training. Show me," she replied, her voice hinting at a command.
"Ok then, if you insist," he accepted.
"I do," she retorted. He chuckled and led her from the room. They crossed the conference room to another hall branching off it and into a huge room full of various weapons and training gear. The other members of the group were all there. Robbie was hard at work examining gadgets and gizmos on a workbench in the corner, Andre was lifting weights, and Cat was running a small obstacle course. She was pretty quick. Jade supposed it was a good skill to be fast. She would excel at running away at least. Beck brought her in further, and as soon as they were noticed, the other three stopped to join them.
"Story time?" Cat asked hopefully while she hopped in place.
"Our stories, yes. Then Jade can tell us hers," Beck replied.
"Who said I would?" Jade responded, glaring at him.
"It's a trust and sharing exercise," he told her.
"I don't trust any of you," she remarked.
"That's where this comes in. Don't worry, we'll go first so you can get comfortable," Beck said as he took a seat. The others sat in a circle formation. Jade was the only one standing now.
"Don't patronize me," she warned, crossing her arms.
"Jade, sit," he commanded.
"Fine, but I'm doing it because I want to," she grumbled. She sat down in the open space between Andre and Beck.
"Ok, I'll go first," Beck began after clearing his throat.
"Aww, but I wanted to go," Cat spoke up.
"We'll all get to go," Beck replied.
"Really?" she questioned.
"Yes," Beck assured her with a gentle smile.
"Yay!" she exclaimed. Jade rolled her eyes and was glad she wasn't sitting next to Cat. She might just permanently shut her up out of frustration.
"So, I'll go, Cat can go next, then Andre, then Robbie, and then you'll share, Jade," Beck instructed to the nods of the others.
"How about, you'll all go, I'll attempt to listen, and maybe I'll share?" she proposed, a faked friendly smile on her face. In her dark eyes there was distrust and agitation. Beck just sighed but said nothing more to refute her. He just began his story. As most of them there, Beck was born right in the middle of the virus outbreak. They grew up in this lifestyle, were taught to survive, to fight. His father and mother began gathering survivors, supplies, and weapons early on and then found this place. They established the safe zone known as Sanctuary with their motivation being to keep him safe. They wanted their son to be born and raised in a place that was stationary and well defended. His mother died on a raid which left him with his father who seemed to become sterner and closed off after his wife's passing. Cat was born three years after Beck. By then Sanctuary was slowing becoming stronger. Cat's mother died during childbirth.
Her father stuck around long enough to find her brother, who they had lost days before. He had been turned, and killing him drove her father crazy with depression. He died in a suicidal run into a pack of vampires, taking as many down as he could before he was killed. Cat then sought comfort with Robbie who found his own way to Sanctuary after his mother died getting him there. It had always been them two and his grandmother but she was the first to get taken. His father had left them a long time before that. He was only a year younger then Beck, which begged the question of why his father would leave them at such a desperate time. He did though, and the journey to the one place they knew would be safe took his last parent from him. He kept himself busy by lending his presence to Cat who was also pretty much alone. Andre was the same age as Robbie but he was the last of the group to arrive. He made the trip all by himself.
Before the virus grew in number he was living with his grandmother who was mentally unstable. She was the reason he had escaped their house in time, her near constant ramblings warning him of vampires that had gotten into the house. She kept them distracted with a bat long enough for him to get out. She didn't make it but he made it his goal to find shelter. Running into a wounded person in his wanderings gave him the information he was looking for. After the person passed he made sure he wouldn't turn and then headed for Sanctuary. Each of them had their own hardships but they all agreed that Andre's must have been the hardest as he made the trip mostly alone. Jade sat quietly as they each explained, voices heavy and Cat crying through some parts. When Andre was finished, a silence fell over them before they looked at Jade expectantly. She glared back in return. A hand on her knee made her look at Beck.
"Get your hand off me or you'll lose it and I won't share anything," she growled. He raised his hands, trying to placate her, and then let them fall in his lap. Jade sighed and ran a hand through her hair. It felt like it had all happened so recently, but in reality, it had been years. She admitted to herself that she was scared of reliving it, but at the same time, she wanted to get it out. She wanted to let someone know the fucked up things she'd been through, if only for some comfort and relief.
"Ok, it all started nineteen years ago when my family was forced to abandon our home. The spread of the virus had gotten worse and we had to leave. I was only eight years old and my younger brother was five. For years we traveled with our parents, learning to fight and survive, until one day we were ambushed…" Jade began, voice emotionless to keep back the pain. She told her story with a blank face and monotone voice. Only when her brother's death was mentioned did she falter. After it was all out the group of humans remained quiet, heartbroken for their new member. They now understood how she had overcome the instinct to kill. They had a new appreciation for her and they showed it with Andre patting her back, Beck rubbing her arm, Robbie offering her a sad smile, and Cat grabbing her in a hug. Jade was new to such forms of affection, and she might not have accepted it before, but in all honesty she missed it. Sharing their life stories did what it was supposed to do, bring them closer as a group.