6. The Cost of Freedom

SIX

the cost of freedom

"Elsbeth, I brought you something to eat," Elliot whispers, coming into the room. "It's not fresh, but it's better than nothing."

I take the small bag of blood, and the smell turns my stomach. "How old is it?"

He shrugs. "A week or so. I'm sorry. It was all I could find."

"It's fine." I drink the contents, focusing on not allowing myself to smell the foul odor. I resist the urge to gag. "Thank you, Elliot."

"We are docking off the coast of New York in a few weeks, and Kragen is taking most of the men onto shore."

"Why are you telling me this?"

He shifts from one foot to the other. "Because it might be your chance to escape. "

I lift the chains high. "Even if I have the chance, these chains weaken me and will keep me in place."

"Not if I can get the key," he interrupts.

"Kragen keeps the key tied around his neck. There's no way you can do that without getting yourself killed."

"If I can get the key, we can be together."

Elliot is young, naive, and thankfully in love with me. He's the only reason I'm still alive. I owe him my life. "I'd like that," I lie. While Elliot has kept me alive physically, thoughts of Thorne have kept me alive mentally.

Daydreams of Thorne walking down the aisle with a beautiful woman on his arm, bouncing overactive children on his knee, and thoughts of my family thriving in America are what's kept me going all this time. I did this so they could live: my family, the crew, and everyone on his ship.

The blood Elliot brought me churns in my stomach, making me nauseous.

"I'm going to get you out of here," Elliot interrupts my thoughts.

"Thank you, but don't make promises you can't keep."'

He covers my hand with his. "I'm not." He turns, leaving me chained in the dungeon that has been my home. I don't want to think about Elliot's words. Getting my hopes up will only result in pain.

The blood in my stomach churns once more, making me throw up. I'd rather be dead. Why didn't Kragen just kill me?

……

The sound of keys rattling and the smell of sulfur draws my attention to the door. It's the unmistakable warning that Kragen is coming. I prepare myself for whatever might happen. "Oh, you're home," he says with a laugh as he enters. "I thought you might be out at the moment."

Asshole.

"I just got back," I retort. Instead of the scared little victim Kragen kidnapped, I've become the vampire bitch being held captive over the years.

Kragen's laugh fills the room. "That's why I keep you around. No one else would dare speak to me that way."

"I have nothing to lose."

"Aye, you don't. That's what makes you so fun."

"Fuck you, Kragen."

He pulls a pocket watch to his face. "Looks like we don't have time today. Plus, it's time for your bath. I need to remind Elliot of his duties. Oh, wait. I forgot. Elliot is dead."

I look up at his words. "What happened to him?"

He shrugs. "Somehow, his head fell off."

Kragen's words strike me in the gut. "You bastard," I whisper.

"First, you offer your body. Now you call me a bastard. You are quite finicky today." I don't respond, and he moves closer. "You're weak-minded, Elsie. That boy was feeding you. Do you think I don't know what happens on my ship?"

I stare down my captor, refusing to retreat. "Get out."

"Look at you, being all brave." He pulls the key to my chains from under his collar, setting it on the wooden floor just out of my reach. "Let's see how brave you actually are."

I fight the tears forming in my eyes. "Kill me," I whisper.

Kragen laughs again. "What would be the fun in that?" He leaves the room, closing the door behind him.

I stand, walking as far as the chains will allow, pulling against my restraints as hard as possible. It's something I've done millions of times over the years, and even though the pain of the silver burns my skin, the desire to be free is stronger. I stretch closer and closer to the key that's just beyond reach.

"No!" I scream as my fingers are mere inches away from the freedom they represent.

"Elsie," Elliot's voice says through the door. "Are you okay?"

"Elliot? You're alive?"

"Aye." He laughs softly. "Why wouldn't I be? "

"I need your help." The door creaks open, and Elliot is standing in the doorway…head attached.

"Is that…is that Kragen's key?"

"Aye. Is he on the ship?"

"No, they just left." He rushes to the key and then to the locks holding them in place.

"Unlock them," I demand.

Elliot follows orders. The pop of the lock is the most beautiful sound I've ever heard. He moves to my side, unlocking the locks around my wrists and ankles. The sound of the chains falling to the floor is almost more than I can handle.

"Thank you," I whisper, wrapping my arms around his thin neck.

"We need to go now," Elliot says, pulling back.

"How many are on board?"

"Three including me."

"We're going to have to kill them," I tell him.

"I know," he answers. For the first time in a century, I walk through the door of my room without chains attached.

"Elliot, this has to be a trick. Kragen told me you were dead. He doesn't make mistakes. This is too good to be true."

"Why would he do that?" He laces his fingers through mine, pulling me up the stairs toward the main deck. "Kragen's an ass, but even he's not that bad."

I reluctantly follow him to the empty deck. Fog covers the sea around us, and in the distance, the shadows of buildings peek through the open spaces. "Is that New York?" I ask.

"Aye. We'll have to swim to the coast." We move to the rail overlooking the sea below. "I'll jump first. You can follow me."

"What are ya doin', Elliot?" a man asks from behind us.

Elliot turns toward the voice. "We're goin' for a swim, Felix. Kragen left orders that she be cleaned. Since the ship isn't moving, I'm going in with her to make sure she doesn't escape."

A second man joins the first. "Is that what yer doin'? Takin' her for a swim?"

"Aye." The two men share a look.

"Elliot…" I warn.

"I know," he answers.

I turn, facing the two men. Both smile wide. I recognize them both from their "visits" to my room through the years. "Don't make me kill you," I warn.

Both men share a laugh. "Kill us? I think you're confused, little girl."

"I'm not confused. I have a hundred years of anger built up inside. I won't hesitate to use it. Let me go."

"We can't do that, wee one. Why don't you come over here, and we'll show you what you're good for?"

Rage fills me. Not a normal rage, but the kind of rage that's been building for a century. I don't bother with walking. Instead, I leap from the railing, directly in front of them. Wrapping my arms around each of their necks in unison, I twist both hands, ripping their heads from their bodies.

"Elsie," Elliot says from the railing. "You killed them."

"Aye, I warned you."

"How? You…you shouldn't be that strong."

"Elliot, I have to go, and you can't go with me."

I instantly regret my words. Out of everyone on this ship, Elliot was the only one who helped me. The only one who was nice to me. He kept me alive when Kragen tortured me.

"I love you, Elsie," he whispers.

"I can't let you come with me," I repeat. "I have to go alone. Kragen will never let me go. He will follow me no matter where I go, and you'll only slow me down." My words are cruel.

"Elsie," he begs.

"No, Elliot. You can't stay here, but you can't come with me."

He closes his eyes, sadness covering his face. "Okay," he whispers.

Out of nowhere, something runs between the two of us, knocking Elliot to the ground. I catch a glimpse of a girl, not much older than me, as she retreats behind a pole.

"Who are you?" I shout at her shadow.

She copies her movement from before, crossing between us, grabbing Elliot this time. Her dark auburn-colored hair is a tangle of mats, and her clothes are worn with holes. "I'll kill him," she warns.

"Who are you?" I repeat.

"I am death," she answers.

"Are you being held here against your will?"

She laughs. "I am death," she repeats, clearly out of her mind.

"Aubrey?" Elliot says, drawing the girl's attention to him.

"You're leaving with her?" she asks. "You said you loved me."

"I do, Aubrey." He closes his eyes.

I don't know what's going on, and Aubrey doesn't give me the time to figure it out. She pulls a wooden stake from her dress and moves in front of Elliot at vampire speed. She raises the stake, stabbing it through Elliot's heart with a guttural scream. I don't know who she is or how long she's been here, but she's insane.

"Aubrey," I start.

"Shut up, bitch," she yells, interrupting my words. She releases her hold on Elliot's body, which falls to the deck with a heavy thud.

"I'm leaving this ship. You can come with me if you like, but I'm not staying one minute longer."

"You can't leave," she mutters. "No one can leave. We're all captive here. We're all food here. We're all vampires here."

"Aubrey," I pull her attention back toward me. "I'm going to jump. If you try and stop me, I will defend myself. Do you understand what that means?"

"No one can leave," she begins repeating. "We're all food here. We're all vampires here."

I move to the top of the railing and prepare to jump when she wraps her arms around my thighs, pulling me back to the deck. "No one can leave. We're all captives here…"

"Aubrey!" I scream, slapping her across her cheek. "Wake the hell up."

I recognize the look in her eyes the moment she makes eye contact. She's going to kill me. Two sharp teeth protrude from her mouth, and she hisses, reminding me of a lion on the prowl. "No one can leave," she screams and jumps toward me.

I catch her in midair, throwing her body to the ground. She's back on her feet in an instant and moving quickly toward me.

"I will kill you this time," I warn.

She continues her assault, and I make good on my promise. Waiting until she's in the perfect position, I grab her neck, turn her back toward me, and pull her close. I bite into her neck, ripping her head from her body.

"I'm sorry, Aubrey. You deserved better." I turn toward what's left of Elliot. "Thank you, my friend."

I move back to the top of the railing, this time jumping into the water below.