Two for tragedy. Volume 2

The corridor was so ancient that its walls were covered in moss and the bars were covered in threads of rust.

Eager to get a closer look at one of the cells, I walked up to it, but saw nothing but bare walls and a handful of dirty rags in the corner. Suddenly, I was astonished and horrified to see these rags move, and from under them a dishevelled, dirty girl sprang out-she rushed with a loud cry to the bars and seized me by the arm.

CHAPTER 36

Fear ran through me to my very bones, and I shrieked loudly.

– Please help me! – The girl shouted in English, trying to pull me to her, but I fought her off and pressed my back against the opposite grate.

Suddenly someone's cold hand grabbed my shoulder. A new scream of terror burst from my chest, and I hurried to the middle of the corridor, finding myself between two cells, while the two girls trapped in them held out their hands to me and shouted loudly in horrible, hysterical voices.

– Help me! Let me out! I don't want to die! – screamed the second one, also in English, but with a strong Spanish accent. She looked no better than her neighbour.

Their horrible screams, the sight of them, and the whole situation frightened me so much that I immediately rushed out of the dungeon, hearing the terrible cries of "No! Don't go! Don't leave us!" These chilling cries haunted me. The horrible sight before my eyes was unbearable. I could not conceive how such a thing was possible in the modern world! Girls trapped in that cold, damp cellar… Poor creatures! They must have been looking forward to someone giving them their freedom back for a long time! But what are they there for? How did they get there? Who put them there?

Grayson. What a simple answer. And most likely, he locked them in there to drink their blood later.

I hurried out of the cellar and closed the door behind me, and, separated from the rest of the castle by the heavy, powerful wood, the girls' pitiful cries fell silent.

I felt sick to my stomach. I clutched the wall with my hand, and breathing loudly, horrified, and with a boundless dislike of Grayson, I wondered feverishly whether I could have taken the liberty of setting the poor captives free. I couldn't wait to run back to the dungeon and break down the rusty bars, let the girls out, give them freedom and comfort, but… Then Grayson would kill me for sticking my nose in his business. I was sure of it.

Just forget about them? Ignore the fact? It was impossible: I closed my eyes and saw the unhappy girls in front of me, their hysterical screams ringing in my ears.

Perhaps I was soon to be in one of those cells. Because I was determined to talk to Grayson about the prisoners and try to get him to let them go. Even at the cost of my own life.

Tired and broken, I walked out of the castle into the park and sat on a bench by the fountain. The morning, which had recently seemed joyful and hopeful, was as dark as the sky above my head: the smell of a thunderstorm was in the air.

"How many days have passed since Grayson locked his poor prisoners in the dungeon? How many horrors they must have endured and are enduring every day! Are they receiving food and water? Lord, if you are, how do you allow such things to happen? How do you allow some of your children to abuse and kill your other children!" – The thoughts in my head were interrupting each other, and I had to grit my teeth to keep from crying at the sheer injustice.

Soon it started to rain, but I didn't want to go back to the castle: I was disgusted to be in a vampire's home. So, without moving, I sat in the summer rain and thought about the poor girls locked in their cages.

My thoughts were interrupted by the quiet rattle of the gate opening, and as I glanced up, I saw Grayson's car pulling into the park. The gate closed immediately. The car stopped at the stone staircase, and in a few seconds the master of the castle himself stepped out of it. From now on, in my eyes he wasn't just a monster-he was a maniac, a sadist, a madman. I began to hate him even more, if that was even possible.

Grayson glanced at me and, grinning, headed in my direction. He was beautiful in a dark blue classic suit. His dark hair set off his handsome face perfectly, on which a welcoming smile shone.

– Good morning, Viper. How did you sleep? I hope you didn't get cold last night? – He asked, stopping in front of me.

I had no desire to talk to him or even look at him, but I needed to find out who those girls were, in his dungeon, and what he planned to do to them. Maybe he would hit me for my insolence, maybe ban me from the bars next to them, but I needed to know.

– Brandon," I began timidly, remembering well how angry he'd been yesterday for my not calling him by his first name.

– You finally learnt my name," he said mockingly.

– Who… Who are they? – I asked in a broken voice, not daring to look at him.

– Who are they?"

I looked up at him.

– The girls in your dungeon," I said quietly and squirmed, preparing to take his punch or slap.

To my amazement, instead of frowning or slapping me, Brandon smiled.

Fear gripped me: you could expect anything from him, I'd learnt that forever.

– Oh, damn it, you ruined my surprise! – The vampire said with reproach in his voice.

– What surprise? – I was surprised, not understanding what he was getting at.

– Well, all right. Did you find them?

– Yes! How did they end up there? What do you want to do with them? – I exclaimed.

The captives were his surprise to me? So he wanted to tell me about them?

– It's very simple. But be patient: soon you will have the surprise I have prepared for you.

– Will you let them go? – I asked with hope in my heart.

– But then the surprise will be ruined," the vampire smiled and held out his hand to me. – Let's go to the castle, can't you see it's raining?

– Will you kill them? – I asked quietly.

– It's a surprise," Brandon said shortly. – Now get to the castle, you're all wet. I don't want you to catch cold. – He grabbed my hand and pulled me with him.

We entered the lobby of the castle, and the vampire wanted to leave, but I grabbed him by the sleeve of his jacket.

– Brandon! – came out of my mouth.

The vampire raised his eyebrows in surprise, but he stopped.

– Let them go! – I begged

– No," he said harshly.