By morning, Emma was extremely hungry. She and Casey had not talked again after she went off to think. She ended up falling asleep. She saw that all the other women were still lying down. She could tell that some of them were awake while others were asleep. Casey was standing in the corner, making different signs with her hands and chanting some words. Emma soon realised that the young woman was trying to summon her powers but whatever she was doing was not working, evidenced by the look of frustration on her face.
“I’ve tried everything,” Casey said. “Nothing is working.”
“It hasn’t been twenty four hours yet.”
“I know, but I thought there would be a loophole or something,” the woman said. “I was hoping for even a small sign that I could be able to use my powers any time soon. This is hopeless. I don’t want to stay here till I get…” Casey stopped and glanced at the other women. “I just can’t take this anymore. I hate this place.”
Emma didn’t know what to say since she hated the place as well, but there was little they could do about it. She was not a big fan of complaining because it never helped.
Suddenly, Casey started crying and slumped down the wall. With time, her sobbing got so loud it started to wake the sleeping women. One of them groaned. “What the hell is wrong with these stupid kids?” the woman said.
Casey just continued sobbing. Emma stood up and went to where she was. She leaned over and patted her back. Casey didn’t stop crying. Emma didn’t know what to do so she just sat next to her, saying nothing wrong and giving mean looks to the women who were giving Casey mean looks.
“This place is terrible,” Casey said. “It’s so dark here.”
The candles had all gone out during the night and the only light in the room was coming from the high windows. The room was still had cold as ever. It didn’t smell as much as before. Emma figured it was because she had got used to it after being there all night.
Emma was not very good at comforting people so she just let Casey cry it out. When Casey’s emotions had subsided, she stopped crying and stared listlessly at the opposite wall. Emma waited for her to speak.
“I can’t even do a spell,” she said. “Another thing that worries me is that I may never have peace in my home again. Even if I escape, these people are always going to try to hunt me down. I was just protecting my property from those rascals. They wanted to kill our two cows that we’ve had for years. I had to defend them. Was that so wrong?”
“Something needs to be done about these vampires. I hate how they think they can do whatever they want and get away with it. I’m tired of hearing about them terrifying others and it has got to stop.”
“You sound like two great visionaries,” one of the women said.
“Shut up, old hag.” Emma said. She was tired of the negativity those women kept displaying towards them. She had felt bad for them at first but she was liking them less as time passed. Emma and Casey hadn’t done anything to them but they kept saying negative things.
“I can’t wait to laugh at you,” the woman said. “Soon you’ll be all skin and bones like we are. Enjoy your glory for now, knowing that it won’t last. Soon, I’ll be saying ‘I told you so'”
“We don’t intend to stay here. I was enslaved in a pack before and I escaped twice. Yes, I got caught the first time but I got away the second time. Trust me, I don’t like to stay in one place and I don’t plan to stay here for long. The only people you’ll be telling ‘I told you so’ are your companions. Casey and I won’t be staying in this dump.”
The woman cackled and turned to her companions. “This one is quite fiery. I can’t wait to see her when the fire blows off.”
“Aren’t you tired?” another woman asked. “Leave the girls alone.”
The door opened and a pregnant woman was bundled in. two guards came in with her. One of them had a syringe. He walked towards Casey and Emma.
“What is that?” Emma asked.
The man grabbed Casey’s hand and pulled her to standing position. Emma stood up and tried to separate them but two other guards came in. one of them knocked Emma to the ground while the mysterious yellow liquid was injected into Casey’s body.
“Why is she here?” Emma asked. “Can’t you see she’s pregnant? These conditions are not safe for her and the baby. You will all pay for what you’re doing, maybe not now but that time will come.”
The men ignored her and went out. Emma wanted to run towards the door but Casey grabbed her wrist. Emma pulled her hand away but it was too late. The door was already locked.
“What is your problem, Casey?”
“Let it be,” Casey said before leaning close and whispering in Emma’s ear. “It’s a good thing that she’s here. If she’s one of the women that was impregnated by the king, these fools have just made things easier for us”
Emma frowned. “How? What do you mean?”
Casey smiled. She walked forward and stood in front of the pregnant woman. The woman frowned.
“Do you want to get out of this place?” Casey questioned.
“What are you going on about?” the woman asked with an annoyed look on her face.
“Do you want to get out of here?”
“Yes, of course but we all know it’s impossible to escape this dungeon.”
“Thanks to you, I don’t think it will impossible.”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you carrying the vampire king’s baby?”
“Yes,” the woman said, rolling her eyes.
“That’s great. Let’s get to work.”