Chapter XX: The Interrogation

  Luke sat rigid in the cold metal chair, his wrists resting loosely on the table, though his hands remained clenched into fists. The walls around him were bare, a suffocating gray, and the only source of light buzzed faintly from above, casting shadows beneath his eyes.

  Then, the door opened.

  Two men entereda€”one older, one younger.

  The first was a hardened figure with short, graying hair and deep lines etched into his face. His uniform was pristine, black with golden accents, the insignia of a high-ranking officer on his chest. General Hatch. His presence carried an air of command, of cold efficiency.

  The second man, Sergeant James, was younger, sharp-eyed, and restless, his fingers drumming against the table before he even sat down. Unlike the general, he lacked patience.

  Hatch sat first, placing a folder on the table, while James leaned forward, staring Luke down as if he were a puzzle waiting to be cracked.

  Then came the first words.

  a€?What is your name?a€?

  Luke met the generala€?s eyes. a€?Luke.a€?

  There was no hesitation, no embellishment. Just cold, simple truth.

  Hatch nodded, expression unreadable. a€?How old are you?a€?

  a€?Twenty-two.a€?

  The questions continued, Hatch maintaining a steady, methodical rhythm.

  a€?Where were you born?a€?

  a€?San Diego.a€?

  a€?Where did you grow up?a€?

  a€?A place that doesna€?t exist anymore.a€?

  Hatcha€?s lips pressed together slightly, but he moved on. a€?And after the collapse?a€?

  a€?Survived.a€? Lukea€?s voice was flat, devoid of detail.

  The general studied him for a moment. Then, he shifted in his chair.

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  a€?And how did you end up in vampire captivity?a€?

  The words cut through the air like a blade.

  For the first time, Luke hesitated.

  The memories clawed at him. The mansion. The screams in the night. The weight of a collar around his neck. The feeling of being less than human.

  His jaw tightened. Then, he spoke.

  a€?The mansion was a prison.a€? He exhaled slowly, steadying himself. a€?A place where humans were taken and branded, stripped of names, identitiesa€”reduced to nothing but livestock. We werena€?t just workers. We werena€?t just slaves. We were food.a€?

  Sergeant James stiffened slightly but said nothing.

  Luke continued. a€?The vampires who ran ita€”monsters. Butchers. They didna€?t just rule over us. They played with us. Broke us. And the petsa€”a€? His voice faltered, just for a second. a€?They were treated worse than dogs. Owned. Used. Some were discarded when they were no longer entertaining enough.a€?

  A shadow flickered across Hatcha€?s face. But he didna€?t interrupt.

  Lukea€?s mind drifted to Maria. Anya. Lexie.

  To the way Michael would mock them. To Jake, swearing hea€?d protect them.

  To the countless faces he would never see again.

  His fingers dug into his palm.

  Hatch leaned forward slightly, his tone quieter now. a€?And the Arch Vampire who ruled it?a€?

  Lukea€?s expression darkened. a€?Valerius Duskborne.a€?

  There was a beat of silence.

  Then Hatch asked, a€?What do you know of his powers?a€?

  Luke exhaled. a€?Shadows. Darkness itself bends to his will. He can peel the flesh from a mana€?s bones without lifting a finger. Ia€?ve seen it happen.a€?

  Hatcha€?s grip on the table tightened.

  a€?And the others?a€?

  a€?They all had their own abilities. Mind control. Strength. Speed. Some could command fire. Others could break bones without touching you. But Valeriusa€| he was different. The others feared him.a€?

  Hatch nodded slowly, absorbing the information.

  Then his gaze flicked downwarda€”to Lukea€?s wrist. To the number branded into his skin.

  a€?Tell me about your designation.a€?

  Luke swallowed, shifting his arm slightly but not hiding it.

  a€?We werena€?t given names. Just numbers. Just property. But we gave each other names. We tried to hold onto something human.a€?

  There was something in the generala€?s eyes then. A flicker of somethinga€| like understanding.

  But James? James was staring at him like a predator.

  The sergeant leaned forward. a€?And your escape?a€?

  Lukea€?s lips parted slightly.

  Then, slowly, he said, a€?We used the ferals.a€?

  The room seemed to drop in temperature.

  Luke exhaled, recalling the night of chaos, blood, and fire.

  a€?We made them turn against their masters. The vampires thought they had everything under control, but they were arrogant. The ferals broke free, and the mansion turned into a slaughterhouse.a€?

  Hatch listened, nodding along. He already knew most of thisa€”it was a test.

  But James wasna€?t convinced.

  a€?Youa€?re leaving something out.a€? His voice was sharp now, edged with suspicion.

  Luke glanced at him but said nothing.

  The sergeanta€?s fingers slammed against the table.

  a€?Youa€?re hiding something!a€?

  Lukea€?s gaze snapped to his.

  A storm raged beneath those cold green eyes.

  He wasna€?t hiding anything. Not really.

  But there was one thing he hadna€?t said.

  One name.

  Lord Malric.

  The vampire who had given him the key.

  The vampire who had let him go.

  The vampire who had let him live.

  Lukea€?s breath was steady.

  He wasna€?t going to lie.

  But he wasna€?t going to tell them everything, either.

  Not yet.