Slay Alive

Chapter 6

six

“I need to go home,” I tell Tamsin, because she’s the only slightly reasonable one out of the leather trio. I still don’t even know the other two’s names. Blondie just gave us the order to move out and I fell in line because I was terrified of being left in the woods alone. Emo boy hasn’t spoken a word to me, but he’s looked over his shoulder a few times at me with a frown on his face. I’ve made it a point to stick my tongue out at him when I catch him, because fuck him. This is my dream, I’m not going to be bullied.

“We are going to your new home,” Tamsin tells me slowly, like she’s talking to a toddler that needs patience. I probably do seem that way to her. “Haven is no longer your home but in time and with adequate training, you can return.”

I bite my lip. “No, like listen, I know this is going to sound insane but I-I’m dreaming, okay? None of this is real, it’s all in my head. You’re all in my head. And I have to wake up because I love vampires. I’m not going to go around killing them. Do you know how traumatic that is?”

Tamin stops walking and whirls around to face me. The move is so sudden that I almost catch a face full of torch. “Keep your voice down,” she whisper-screams to me. “You do not love vampires. No hunter does. To do so means immediate exile from the order.”

“But I-”

“If Riley finds out, he’ll leave you here,” she tells me. “That is a death sentence. These woods belong to the vampires and they won’t hesitate to make a meal out of you.” She glances over her shoulder at the other two men. “Bonnie, never speak of this again.”

“Who’s Riley?” I ask her because that seems safer than continuing down the line of I can’t kill vampires and this is all a dream.

“He’s the patrol leader,” she tells me and then adds, “the blond one,” because I know my confusion shows on my face.

Ah, the superhero wannabe is the group leader for this excursion. That makes sense but…oh my god, I know Riley.

“Riley Moonlight?” I ask her softly, even though I already know the answer.

“The one and only.”

Riley has always been my strong and stoic boyfriend option. The one I go to when I feel a little less like quips and banter. His game description comes to me as easily as if I were reading it now. I have them all memorized after a decade of playthrough.

RILEY MOONLIGHT

NIGHTWARDEN ENFORCER

Brooding Watchman

Born into a legendary lineage of Vampire Hunters, Riley is always on the lookout for danger. Known for his dedication to the Nightwardens, Riley is passionate about protecting the innocent and is a man of few words. Personality- Intense, deeply empathetic, and romantic at heart. Stoic nature calls to those searching for a protector against the forces of evil. Drawn to those strong enough to display vulnerability. Secretly afraid of the dark.

Riley’s character is one of the more tender-hearted characters, even if his dialogue options are often one word answers or that of thoughtful silence. When he’s been my choice, he’s wooed me with grand gestures—once he filled the Dawn’s Rest Cathedral with roses and candles, another time he wrote me a book of poetry and played guitar with me. Then there was the time he challenged the Nightwarden leader to a duel for the honor of a single dance with me.

In all those playthroughs, in all those years I’ve known Riley Moonlight, one thing has always remained constant—Riley is the picture perfect gentleman to his core. No exceptions about that.

“Move your asses and stop gossiping like school girls!” Riley bellows from the front of the line and the fucker actually stops walking and starts jogging. He knows I’m shoeless. He’s intentionally making this march back to Briarwood Hollow as miserable as he can. I glare at the fever dream version of Riley my brain concocted and watch his torchlight as it bobs through the darkness ahead of me. Maybe I can set him on fire?

“I wish I killed him instead of Dante,” I mutter.

Tamsin shoots me a shut-the-fuck-up look over her shoulder but says nothing. I sigh and settle into running. The good news is that my dream self has no problem keeping up with the pace Riley sets for us. The stones and sticks I run over aren’t so bad anymore, now that I’ve sort of gotten used to it. The world passes in a blur as we run through the trees. There’s the odd snap of a branch or howl of a wolf that has me on edge but nothing comes from the darkness like Dante did. That doesn’t mean I don’t feel eyes on me the entire run through the forest.

When we make it out of the trees I want to sob in relief, but that’s before I see the road. There’s no streetlights and the road can barely even be called that. It’s not paved, or even graveled. The road is a dirt road. A simple winding dirt road that cuts through the trees ahead of us and disappears from sight.

“W-where’s Briarwood Hollow?” I ask.

Riley surprises me when he answers me first. I expected him to ignore me. “Not far. Another half hour and we’ll be there. Here,” he says and he thrusts a waterskin into my hands. “Drink.”

“Thanks,” I tell him, even though I’d rather not show the patrol leader an ounce of manners. I can’t help it. I’m nice. I chug half the waterskin before Riley rips it away from me and snaps his fingers for us to start running again. We run for about half an hour, during which time I fantasize about decking Riley Moonlight, before I see the lights of Briarwood Hollow come into view. I’m never choosing him as a playthrough option again.

When Briarwood Hollow fully comes into view, my breath catches. Even in the early morning gloom it’s exactly like I imagined it might be in real life. Oh my gods, even if Rhia’s drugs sent me on this lucid dream trip, I think seeing Briarwood Hollow up close like this makes everything worth it.

Fireflies dance in the fields in front of Briarwood Hollow and fly onward to the brass and glass lanterns swaying from posts lining the road leading to the city. I watch the lanterns move in the wind, their golden light can’t be fire, not from the way it moves and swirls in the glass. In the game it was magic and I bet it’s the same in my dream. A river slices across the land and the dirt road gives way to a flagstone bridge and then cobblestone as it crosses into Briarwood Hollow proper. The architecture is a mix of Victorian Gothic and pure fucking fantasy.

Stone and wood buildings mingle in a mix of residential and commercial on the fringes of Briarwood Hollow. There’s even a few garden plots that I can see along the outer ring of houses. I spy a stone archway in the distance and my heart squeezes, because I know through that archway is the way to the very center of town, Crimson Crossroads. Stone the color of blood makes up the stonework there and gives the center of town its signature name. At the center of the Crimson Crossroads there’s a bubbling fountain, made of silver, of a woman holding a torch above her head while a floating orb hangs magically above her. In the daylight, the orb mirrors the sun and when the moon rises it does the same. Longing rises up in me. I want to see the fountain and watch the magic shift with the day while I walk on the red stone of the place. If I went there, all I would have to do is keep walking North until I reached the Midnight Market. Despite its name, it should just be starting to open now as the sun rises. My mouth waters thinking about the street food the market has in it. What I wouldn’t give to taste the famous Dragon Flame Chicken Skewer. Gods. I’d give anything to give that a try. Oh and the cakes.

The cakes.

Never did a pineapple upside down cake look appetizing to me than in the game. I’d even learned how to make it out of curiosity of what it might taste like when it was never available on any menus near me. Yes, the monstrosity that only Donnie would eat and warranted a “you tried and that’s what counts” comfort hug from Gio, wasn’t really edible but I just knew the Midnight Market version of the cake had to be immaculate.

My breath catches as I see the outline of what I know has to be Umbra Cathedral come into view. I want to scream when I see the tops of the silver trees I know can only be from the Silver Gardens.

Oh my gods. I’m really fucking here.

“Recruit, did you hear me?”

I’m jolted out of my fangirl moment by Riley’s bullshit and I sigh. “No boss, what did I miss?” When he glares I give him a little salute that I think is a fine interpretation of what I’ve seen in military movies but just makes him look pissy.

“I’ve had it with her. Tamsin, take her to the bunkhouse. Keep her out of my sight. Adrian will see to her in the morning.”

My blood pressure drops, or maybe it skyrockets. Whatever it is, it does the thing where you feel like you’re going to faint and I have to grab onto Tamsin’s shoulder to keep from face-planting and eating shit.

“Adrian Darkwood?” I ask. “As in Adrian Darkwood, leader of the Nightwardens?” If Adrian is here, I’m saved. There’s no universe, alternate dreamscape or not, that he gets as twisted as Riley, and I’m not going to kill him like I did Dante. I reach into my brain and go through Adrian’s description like it’s a sacred text. I can’t fuck up my first meeting with him.

Orphaned and alone, Adrian grew up as an outcast on the streets of Haven but through determination and drive the outcast has now become the leader of Briarwood Hollow’s prestigious Nightwardens. Known for his quick mind and wit, Adrian is a lighthearted soul who always takes the opportunity to lighten the mood with a well timed joke. Personality- Charismatic, jokester, and deeply family-oriented. Drawn to those who can laugh at life and deep soul connections over one night affairs.

“Of course, that Adrian Darkwood,” Riley snaps before Tamsin can answer me. “Who else would there be?”

I don’t answer him. If I do, I might blurt out that I know all about him being scared of the dark, which is a totally okay thing to be, but not when he’s acting like a jackass. My sour mood at having to deal with Riley vanishes the second I step onto the flagstone bridge.

“Oh my gods. It’s real.” The water rushes by in a roar louder than I thought. Funny how things like that don’t really register in game form. I move to the side to stare into the dark water but I’m only there for a second before Tamsin grabs my arm and pulls me with her.

She doesn’t even have to say a word. I know what she’s mentally screaming at me. Stop being fucking weird. I give her hand a sympathetic squeeze because there’s no denying the truth. I’m a weirdo. Sorry, Tamsin.

We keep walking, me with Tamsin holding my hand because if she didn’t drag me along, I wouldn’t be able to keep up. I’m too busy gawking at every building and statue I come across. I almost scream when I see the set of stone stairs that leads to Stargazer Plaza. I bet if I snuck away I’d still be able to see where the constellations line up with the gemstone star map embedded in the plaza.

“You can bunk next to me,” Tamsin tells me.

That brings me back to Earth from my sightseeing. I look away from the stairs and to her. “Really?” A bed is good. A bed means I can go to sleep and wake up where I belong. I’ve got no business thinking about sneaking to Stargazer Plaza or eating pineapple upside down cake in the Midnight Market.

I have to wake up.

She nods and gives me a smile. “Sure. The recruit that was using it never came back from her patrol. I never met her but it’s been open for a week now so I think it’s safe to say it’s up for grabs.”

That puts a damper on my joy at having a bed. Never coming back equals dead. I’m being given a dead girl’s bed. “I, ah, thanks?”

Tamsin doesn’t pick up on me being weirded out and gives our hands a swing. “Sure thing! They just changed the sheets too so it’s perfect timing really.”

We keep walking through the darkened streets of Briarwood Hollow and I don’t miss the vampires we pass. They’re dressed impeccably and devastatingly gorgeous. I can’t help but look in every face and wonder if it’s Lucien that’s looking back at me. I want to think that I’d know his green eyes and auburn hair when I see him, but I didn’t know Dante or Riley. When a vampire with green eyes gets a little too close because of my staring, Tamsin flashes the stake strapped to her side at him and taps the silver cross she’s wearing.

“Back off, fanger, or I’ll dust you, ” Tamsin spits at the vampire. I haven’t seen her like this before and I’m startled for a second.

“Tamsin, it’s fine,” I start but it’s no use.

The vampire bares his fangs at us. “Cursed hunters,” he snarls before he vanishes down the lane in a blur.

“Ignore the vamps. Stay close,” Tamsin orders. “This isn’t Haven. Just because we share the city with the vampires doesn’t mean they aren’t predators. One wrong move with them will cost you your life, Duskweaver.”

I stay quiet the rest of the way to Hunter’s Watch. When we turn the corner and it’s suddenly just there I stumble in surprise. I wasn’t expecting it to be this close by, not with the way I’ve tried looking for Lucien.

Hunter’s Watch is like much of the rest of Briarwood Hollow. It’s made of stone and gothic as hell looking. It looks like a fortress more than anything else in the rising dawn. I see vampire hunters walking the length of the building’s parapet and spires rise from the highest levels of the building. I know hunters are in there overlooking the city to keep the peace.The stained glass windows glow with light. I yawn at the sight. There’s a bed in there waiting for me and dead girl’s bed or not, it’s my ticket out of here and back to reality.

“Rhiannon will not be pleased.”

That stops me dead in my tracks. All thoughts of sleep leave my head and I grab Tamsin. “Rhia?” I ask but when Tamsin raises an eyebrow, I realize she doesn’t know Rhia the way I do. “You know Rhiannon?” I try. If that drugging backstabbing ass is running around in my dream, I want to deck her. I think I deserve it.

She nods. “Of course, everyone does.” Tamsin spreads her arms and gestures around then looks down the grand hall we’ve just entered with a little bow. “Welcome home, Duskweaver. You’ve arrived.”

Happiness settles into my belly. Yes, this is a drug induced fever dream but she’s right. I have arrived. I am in the single place that I have always dreamed of. How many souls can say that?

“Thanks, it was a long time coming to get here,” I tell her honestly.

Hunter’s Watch is nicer than I imagined it to be, definitely a cross between Victorian and Medieval aesthetics. Thick dark blue carpets cover the hardwood floors and high above us a chandelier sparkles. At the center of it all the bust of Briarwood Hollow’s first hunter sits—Thespia Von Helsing.

For one shining moment I forget about punching Rhia and step towards Thespia’s bust with a laugh. “This is seriously cool.”

“Get to bed,” Riley snaps, ruining the moment. He power walks away like an asshole with his emo boyfriend in tow.

Tamsin ignores Riley. “We were meant to welcome you much earlier in the night but seeing as it took longer than expected to…locate you, we’ve missed the festivities. We will send word to Rhiannon tomorrow.”

“Festivities? Like a party? What does Rhiannon have to do with a party?”

Tamsin waves me off and heads for the grand staircase at the opposite end of the hall. “Oh, you’ll see. There’s time enough for that tomorrow. First, we have to get rested up. You’ll be in for a full day tomorrow. No exceptions.”

“So I’ll get to meet her?”

“Certainly..”

That news satisfies me. I’ll give Rhia the ol’ one two if my nightmare situation gets worse and I don’t wake up in the right reality tomorrow morning. We go up to the third floor of Hunter’s Watch and it’s just a short walk to Tamsin’s room. A fireplace crackles merrily at one end of the room and I can’t see much else other than eight beds. Four are occupied with sleeping women, if the lumps on them are anything to go by. Tamsin guides me to the far end of the room and points to a bed by the wall. There’s a window between our beds and gray light filters in, making it a little easier to see.

“That’s you.” She tosses me an extra blanket. “Let me know if you need anything else.”

“Thank you, Tamsin.” I mean it when I say that. I think she hears it too, if the pause she gives is any indication.

She turns to me and frowns. “Are you okay, Bonnie?”

Tamsin is good people. The kind of woman I’d be friends with. At least my brain got one thing right when it conjured her up.

Y-yeah, just a lot to take in tonight. I’ll be better after a good night’s rest. Goodnight, Tamsin.”

“Goodnight, Bonnie.”

I climb into bed and pull the blankets up to my chin. Only then do I take in a deep breath and let it out again slowly. I relax into the bed, close my eyes, and think of home. Sleep comes instantly.