Liquid Courage

The world changed when the glamour lifted.

No one is certain what caused it, or what happened to make them come forth from the darkness they hid in. Rumors say the faeries that cloaked the world from the knowledge of the supernatural world retreated with their magic. Others say they were simply tired of hiding. Humans have names for them in legend: elves, dwarves, witches, dragons, vampires, werewolves. Some of them were more dangerous than others, but they learned to adapt and coexist with each other. It was a rough start; for nearly a century humans and nonhumans fought each other, unable to accept that there was a way to live peacefully in coexistence, but soon laws and treaties were formed. After the fear and the wars and the bloodshed had settled, earth was prospering under the love and care of humans and nonhumans alike. The merfolk were aiding in cleaning up the oceans. Sirens songs had the highest ratings on the charts. Vampires worked night jobs that no one else wanted. Werewolves got paid leave each month and crime was at an all-time low. Dwarves controlled the mobs and mafia and oil companies, and elves were bringing back forests and were the world’s top models. Peace, however, never lasted.

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“I’ll have a mocha frap, no whip, and a shot of liquid focus please.” Costia’s Cafe was a bustling coffee shop where the college students of NYU went to get all of their studying done, and that’s where Maia currently resided in an attempt to cram information for her history final in the morning. If she was going to stay up all night, she might as well have some help, and what better way to do that than indulging in some witch’s brew. Miss Costia, the witch that ran this particular cafe, was credited for having some of the best potions in the New York state; her best sellers were her liquid courage and liquid charisma. New York held the highest percentage of marriage as well as death for doing insane stunts that would otherwise terrify people.

“That’ll be $5.87 and a handful of your hair.” Maia complied, pulling out $6. She leaned forward, allowing the barista to clip some strands of her hair from her head. “Naturally blonde and healthy - perfect; Costia was running low on blonde hair.” Maia’s smile was polite as she remained silent, hand outstretched to receive her thirteen cents.

“Thank you very much.”

“Of course. Your order will be out in a sec.” Maia couldn’t tell if the barista was human or nonhuman, but she appreciated the kindness nonetheless, scooting to the side to shuffle her change into her purse, pulling her hat more tightly down over her head to hide her ears.

It wasn’t hard for people to see her for what she was. “Filthy half-breed,” was a common phrase used by the kids she grew up with, even though her father was a famous elven model and her mother, though human, was an exceptionally good artist. Maia never blamed her parents for it, but her bitterness had never settled. Humans shunned her for her elvish blood, and the elven culture saw her as an abomination to their image.

Costia’s was known for their incredible employment, and her coffee came out in no time at all. A light, tangible glow emitted a soft blue light from the coffee’s surface, suggesting its more than magical contents, and Maia sighed happily after taking a sip and feeling its effect force her brain into focus. She was going to make this exam her bitch.

The left side of the coffee shop housed a seating area with various couches and chairs of vibrant colors. The walls were decorated with local art, the artwork enchanted to move, shift, and change. Maia found herself near the window at a two person table, where it was unlikely she would be interrupted as it was tucked away from the main seating. It was raining outside, raindrops tapping against the glass, and Maia knew if it weren’t for the focus elixir running rampant through her veins, the dreary outdoors mixed with the warm coziness of the coffee shop might have succeeded in putting her to sleep. Instead, she pulled her history textbook, laptop, and notes from her knapsack and sighed.

“This seat taken?”

Maia glanced up, stomach fleeing her in a moment of giddy excitement. “Hey Josie. How did you know I was here?” Josie was one of New York’s newest recruitments to the police force and housed a drive that some of her werewolf coworkers envied. A werewolf herself, she descended from one of the purest bloodlines and had already found some of NYC’s worst criminals in record time.

“Lucky guess -- nine times outta ten I can find you here. You love this place. Say, we still on for tomorrow night? I made dinner reservations for eight at that new sushi place on 28th.” The grace of which Josie moved and sat still claimed Maia’s attention at times (not that she wasn’t graceful herself; a dancer until she was seventeen and the lithe, lean body of a model) but her smile was small and fond as her eyes flickered up to meet Josie’s, wild and feral like a wolf’s and so brown they could almost be mistaken as black.

“Of course I am; tomorrow is my last final, and then freedom for the summer. You’ll have my undivided attention.” Maia had been seeing Josie for nearly a year now after having met at one of Maia’s father’s social gatherings. Josie had been working security at the event, and had swooped in and saved Maia from some drunken asshole who couldn’t take no for an answer. They had hit it off ever since.

“Great! It would have been awkward for me to show up to a reservation for two without you. What are you working on? Finals?” Josie’s gaze swept over the notebook and textbook as Maia leaned back in her chair, sipping at her coffee. The coffee shop was surprisingly empty for it being finals week; only a few hardcore students sat in the lounge area, books and notes sprawled about them, and a couple flirting at the table just past Josie’s shoulder.

“I guess. I really don’t want to, but I need to pass this exam. No way I’m fuckin’ taking it again. Professor Vira is a vampire and I’m pretty sure she hates me ever since I accidentally came in smelling of garlic.” Laughter slipped from both girls’ lips, and Josie’s gaze was out of focus as she turned to look at the counter.

“You’re going to kick ass, Maia, seriously. You’re one of the smartest women I know.”

The roundness of Maia’s cheeks blossomed in faint color, her smile widening as the compliment was taken with positive regard. “Thanks, Josie.”

“You’re welcome babe. I think that’s my coffee, and I gotta get to work. I’ll see you tomorrow night, okay?” Maia tapped her pen against the table as her free hand reached out to grip Josie’s. She took a moment to marvel at their rivaling skin color. Where Maia’s was elegant and ivory toned, Josie’s was the earthly toned, dark and rich, like timberland forests’ after a long rainfall. Fingers curled around wrist and tugged, pulling Josie down so that Maia could give her a kiss, which Josie willingly indulged. A rare smile graced Maia’s cheeks, special only for Josie, and then her fingers were releasing hold on Josie and sliding down to glide along a written sheet of notes.

“See you later, baby.” Josie’s fingers danced along Maia’s cheek for a moment before she hurried over to an irritated barista, who had been waiting for her to take her coffee and leave. Maia had already turned to her notes, letting loose another sigh; it was going to be a long night.

When she woke, it was much later; she didn’t even remember falling asleep. The cafe was deserted except for Costia herself, who sat near the hearth nestled into the wall of the lounge area, reading one of her old books. She didn’t look like what mythology depicted; her face was smooth, not covered in wrinkles, and there were no warts or toads to be seen. Her hair was like spun honey, always pulled back out of her face, her makeup natural hues, elegant lines, and soft blushes. The glow of the firelight echoed off the angles of her face, and Maia’s exhale was sharp as she realized it must have been past closing time. A blanket was nestled on top of her, and she glanced over at Costia again, hoping desperately that she hadn’t been imposing. What was she to do now? Thank Costia? Try to leave without explanation? She knew taking shots of focus the night before exams came with risks, as it made the drinker feel extremely drowsy and lethargic when it wore off, but that one hadn’t lasted nearly as long as she had hoped. Hopefully she had gotten enough studying done to get her at least a C on this exam. That’s all she needed.

“There’s whispers in the wind; I wouldn’t leave tonight, dear. Shadows lurk, and they can be awfully dangerous when one does not see clearly.” Sometimes Costia spoke strangely, as most witches do, and Maia ignored her for the most part, shuffling everything into her bag. She glanced down at her phone; it was just past three in the morning, and her phone had little charge left. She would be lucky to make it home before it died. A dead weight settled in the bowels of her belly, one of which she disregarded as she slung her backpack over her shoulder and grabbed her purse.

“I’m sorry if I intruded, Costia. You should have woken me. I wouldn’t have been angry, but I really should get home. I have a test in the morning that I can’t be late for.” Maia’s smile was polite as she shuffled all of her work into her backpack and dashed past the witch, who looked eerily like a doll in the glow of the fire. Maia never liked witches too much; they were always so….odd.

“They are to rise again. We need courage now, more than ever.” Maia was startled when Costia lunged out to grab her wrist, tugging her closer. A fear settled in her chest as she felt Costia slip a vial of something into her pocket. “He needs your help more than ever. Quick now dear, before it’s too late.” The absence of Costia’s hand on her wrist left a chill in the air, and Maia was knowledgeable enough about witches to know Costia wouldn’t tell her any more. Fucking witches.

“Have er--a nice night.” She shuffled herself out the door without waiting for a response from Costia. The awkwardness of her expired welcome was bad enough.

She felt Costia’s eyes on the back of her neck far after she left the coffee shop.

New York City never took time to sleep with its dazzling lights and clubs. Since the Awakening and the peace treaties had been made, the streets were safer, but they were also brimming with more life and energy than when the supernatural had been in hiding. Maia enjoyed it, enjoyed slipping into the invisibility of the crowd, becoming no one for a while (not that she had problems with that; she had been pretty much invisible her entire life). Still, since the glamour had been lifted, the world had changed. Magic became the new fuel for, well, everything. Cars ran on it, lights ran on it, entire cities depended on it. People’s lives had become so integrated in its use, Maia didn’t believe the world could know what to do without it. Still, it had saved the Earth from an eventual destruction from humanity’s disastrous footprint, so Maia could be naught but grateful.

Shifting her bag so it sat more comfortably, she tossed her gaze over her shoulder before heading down the street. It was eerie at this time of night; the back of Maia’s neck prickled but she couldn’t see anyone that seemed dangerous. In fact, the streets were oddly empty, even at this time of night. It wasn’t normal, even for the middle of the night, to be the only person out. Usually the clubs were starting to close down, and those drunk on alcohol and magic were finding their way home. Something far off howled at the moon. Maia thought it might be a werewolf, but when she looked up, she noticed the moon was only half illuminated, and Josie hadn’t mentioned anything about it being her time of month. Wolves could turn when it wasn’t a full moon, but they weren’t as strong and it was usually very painful, so it was unusual for werewolves to be “wolfed out” as Maia called it, during any time other than a full moon.

Maia’s pace quickened.

The tattoo at her hip burned, something that hadn’t happened in a very long time. Maia glanced down, lifting her shirt up to reveal the small rose inked to her skin, and noted that it was glowing faintly. The sight of it left a sour taste in her mouth as her pace slowed.

She could still remember how much love she had felt when she had gotten the tattoo with Jasper. They had dated on and off throughout high school, and had gotten tattoos when they turned eighteen as a testimony to their bond. The tattoos were imbued with magick; if one were to touch their tattoo, the other's tattoo would burn, light up, and deliver whatever the sender was feeling at that moment.

Jasper was in a great deal of anger and pain.

She didn’t see him coming, else she might have protected herself. Josie had given her instructions on how to defend herself against any of the major supernatural races, and Maia was always seen wearing a witch’s protective rune (very expensive but a gift from her father). Still, it seemed to be a moot point. One moment she was turning the corner towards her apartment, the next she was staring into the eyes of a vampire. He was tall, a few inches taller than her 5’9, with eyes that glowed a faint red in the glare of streetlight. His smile was uncanny, and Maia’s eyes narrowed in ire as he blocked her way home.

“Whatever you’re trying to do, I recommend against it.” Maia attempted to sidestep him, which he mirrored, his smile eerily dangerous, though he remained silent. In fact, it appeared as if the whole world had gone silent; blood roared in hyper awareness in the cusp of Maia’s ear, and she tried to push past him again. “Listen buddy - I’m not in the mood to deal with your shit. Move.”

He didn’t move. Fingers curled around Maia’s arm so tightly she knew it was going to bruise, and all of a sudden she was pressed up against the brick wall just inside the alleyway before she could think to breathe, his breath chilling against her bare neck. Instinctively she tried to flinch away, but his hold on her was too strong and she was pressed against the wall. She had nowhere to go. He smelled of iron and copper, and Maia wanted to faint from the stench of it.

“You half breeds are so full of spirit; I like that. Be quiet now. This will all be over quickly.” His words made Maia feel ill as they pressed up against her neck. She could feel his lips tickle her skin, and she felt violated, her personal space compromised. She wanted to bite and claw, but he had her in a position that she could not move, his strength outweighing hers.

“The Order will come after you for this. They have laws in place. You think you’re the first vampire to try and go rogue? The judge will have your ass for attacking someone on the streets. I hope you like prison.”

The laugh that braced her neck was chilled, lacking life. “At one time, that might have been true, but no more. You’ll see. You’ll all see.”

She began to scream.

He was quick to clamp a hand down on her mouth at precisely the same moment his fangs sunk into her neck. The stupidity of movies that portrayed vampire feedings as a sexual or pleasurable experience had obviously been directed by those who had never been bitten by a vampire before. Surely someone was going to walk by and see, but what felt like hours passed, and no one came. Maia could hear the blood roaring in her ears, could feel her heart pattering wildly within its confines in her chest. Tears rolled down her cheeks as pain pulsated each time he drank. She tried to bite his hand, but couldn’t quite reach, and she was beginning to feel dizzy, though whether from blood loss or adrenaline overload she could not tell.

“Get away from my girlfriend, asshole.”

It was all over just as quickly as it began. The world was out of focus; Maia felt light headed, but she could see the stake protruding from the vampire’s back as he began to deteriorate, his mouth bloody and his eyes unseeing. Maia nearly collapsed, but Josie caught her.

“Thanks babe. Best girlfriend award goes to you,” Maia said. Josie was speaking in her walkie talkie when Maia slipped into unconsciousness.

When Maia woke she was in her bed, her mother seated beside her. Josie spoke quietly on the phone near her door. Her curtains had been drawn back to let light in, essential for elves to heal more quickly if they were harmed. Maia’s head throbbed, but she didn’t feel quite so lightheaded. She had almost forgotten what happened. She had been walking home and then…

She bolted upright, regretting it instantly as she felt a need to simultaneously throw up and pass out. Once she recognized her surroundings, she allowed her head to hit the pillow once more.

“Maia darling, are you alright?” her mother asked, concern written in her expression.

“Yeah,” she said. Josie was watching her with a quiet intensity as she spoke on the phone, and her mother had her hand pressed between her own, which were fresh with paint stains.

“Drink this. Sugar water; it should help with your headache.” Maia took the glass willingly, drinking the water as if she had been dying of dehydration. Sugar water was a sure way to give energy back to elves or faeries, and Maia was grateful for it at that moment. She could feel her headache begin to curb.

“That was the chief. I’m being called to check out an abandoned warehouse just outside the city.” Josie didn’t have to say anything; Maia could tell that Josie looked worried, and based on the flickering look she just got, Maia had reasons to believe it had to do with the vampires. She immediately sat up. This time, she ignored the vertigo that took hold.

“I’m coming with you.”

“You need to rest--”

“Absolutely not!”

Her mother and Josie had both protested at the same time, and Josie’s expression was kind but firm as she strode over to the bed and rested her hand on Maia’s shoulder. “You know how much trouble I’d get in if I brought you?”

“I think there are people in danger.” Maia swallowed the lump in her throat. She could feel her anger swelling in her chest, but it was more at herself than anything. She felt like she was on the verge of crying, and it frustrated her. Digging the heels of her palms into her eyes, she saw Josie and her mother exchange a worried glance. “Please -- I need to go.”

“Maia, you’re not thinking clearly. You’re not trained for this; you need to rest— ” her mother began, but Maia interrupted, feeling manic from the panic that bubbled up from her stomach.

“Mom,” Maia said, turning to look at her mother. Another lump had formed in her throat, but she forced herself to swallow it. “They’ve got Jasper.”

A strange look came upon Angela’s face. “How do you know?”

There was a moment of silence before Maia answered quietly. “I don’t know. I just do.”

Her mother stared at her for several moments, and then shook her head. “You can’t. This is police work. Trust them to do the job now.”

Josie sat down on the bed beside Maia as she opened her mouth to protest, silencing her. Her hand reached out to take Maia’s, holding it softly. Despite the sick feeling that cradled Maia’s throat, she felt soothed by Josie’s soft touch.

“Who’s Jasper?” Josie asked softly, eyes imploring as they captured Maia’s gaze.

“He was my boyfriend in high school. Things, ah… they didn’t end well. He’s got an elven mother and a human father, so he kinda knew what I was going through when it came to that.”

“They haven’t spoken in years.”

“And you think they have him?” Josie asked.

“I know they do,” Maia replied, not meeting Josie’s eye.

The tattoo on her hip burned again, as if in response to her shame. She didn’t regret the tattoo, but didn’t know if Josie would quite understand. No, no. She knew she could trust Josie on this.

Standing, she lifted her shirt to show off the tattoo, its soft glow an endless warning of Jasper’s situation. Maia’s eyes filled with tears. “Please, Josie. I need you to save him. I’ll stay here, I promise. Just find him.”

Josie reached out and squeezed Maia’s hand as she rose to her feet as well. The room was swaying, and the edges of Maia’s vision appeared spotty, like she was on the verge of passing out. Her mother stood by the door, worrying her lower lip, flyaway strands of hair likely caused by her anxieties.

“I’ll find him Maia. Don’t you worry,” Josie said. “Now please, please, get back in bed. I’ll call you as soon as we find something out.”

Maia still didn’t like the thought of Josie out in the field -- something about that vampire had her on edge, but she trusted Josie’s capabilities. The woman could handle herself, and it would be an unkindness to her to distrust those capabilities.

So she got back in bed and smiled softly as Josie pressed her lips to her forehead.

“You’re welcome to my guest room, Mom,” Maia managed to say just before her eyes grew too heavy to keep open and she fell promptly to sleep.

When Maia woke again, it was the middle of the night. A soft breeze billowed against her curtains, the window pushed up to let the spring air through. Josie or her mother must have opened it, but as Maia stood, a chill rolled down her spine, and she moved to close it.

Standing in her empty room, she sighed, running her hands through her hair. She sat on the edge of anxiety, like something terrible was about to happen, but she was ignorant to it. She turned to go warm some milk in the kitchen, only to stop dead in her tracks.

Leaning up against her door was a vampire. She was gorgeous, by society’s standards—soft honey brown eyes sat beneath the longest eyelashes Maia had ever seen, and her hair was coiled and pulled back into a high ponytail. A soft, inviting smile graced her features, like she wasn’t invading a stranger’s home, and Maia felt frozen in place.

“Oh, she’s awake. It’s about time,” the woman said softly, picking invisible dirt from underneath her fingernail and pushing off the doorframe. She wore simple clothing, jeans and a black t-shirt, but the sway of her hips when she walked made her feel entirely underdressed.

“Get out,” Maia said, tone low. She hated the quiver in her face, the way her hand was trembling at her side. Her mind begged her to move, to find something to defend herself with, but she remained planted in the middle of her room, even as the vampire woman sidled up beside her, taking a strand of her hair in her palm and running it through her fingers almost sensually.

“Why would I do that, when I’ve been waiting for you to wake up?” She drew in close, her nose ghosting the curve of Maia’s neck, and Maia found the urge to move then, memories of that vampire in the alleyway all too fresh. Maia’s hand lashed out, slapping the vampire across the face as she stumbled backwards. Get mom, get out. She repeated it like a mantra, making it to her door before she felt a great and terrible pain on the back of her head, and then nothing.

Maia awoke to a small pinch at the crook of her elbow and several people standing over her. It didn’t take long for her to realize they were vampires, their elongated teeth sharp and flashing as they bared themselves to her. One of them was the woman from her room, and her expression now bore only disgust.

A quick glance around the room revealed that she was inside an abandoned warehouse, and Maia wondered if it was the same one Josie had been sent to investigate. There were rows upon rows of people strapped to beds, dosed up on what looked to be morphine to keep their compliance.

“Where’s Josie?” The words felt thick on her tongue, her world moving in slow motion as she struggled to remain conscious. She wasn’t sure why she asked, wasn’t even sure where she was, but it was her first thought as she came to. A woman finished putting her IV in and glanced down at her with such cruelty that Maia found herself going quiet, though her anger still burned like a raging lava that staked claim to her bones. “Why are you doing this?” Her stomach lurched when she realized it was her history professor, Jane Vira. Her lips were stained blood red, whether it was lipstick or not Maia could not tell. Her eyes were sparkling with life that Maia didn’t know could exist in a vampire’s gaze, and Vira began to laugh, followed quickly by the chattering of what sounded like bats overhead.

“Because we can. Because fuck the laws. The founding mothers and fathers were fools to think we all could ever coexist peacefully. We ache for the vein, for the feeling of warm blood against our skin. That synthetic shit that those human scientists invented barely keep us alive. We have no strength in our bones, no vigor in our step. Enough. We have had enough complying with the rules of this world. We’ll build a better one. One where everyone bows to us.” Vira spit and then stepped back, arms folding over her chest.

“As for your bitch, well, she’s where dogs belong: in the fighting pits.” More laughter ensued, and Maia felt sick with rage, trying to stifle the fear that threatened to steal her courage. There were other vampires coming forth from the shadows, their eyes gleaming red as they began to bite into the necks of the sedated people on the beds.

“I had Anatasia here bring you to me,” Vira said, gesturing to the woman that had been in Maia’s room. “We steal half breeds like yourself because no one will miss you. No one cares about the half breeds. You are nothing but waste, a food supply. The faster you accept it, the easier the transition into our new world will be. Once we are strong enough, the world you know will crumble. Not that you’ll be around to see.” Vira was obviously insane, gesturing wildly as she spoke. A long manicured finger came to press painfully against Maia’s neck. When she pulled away, blood had collected on her finger, which she licked at gleefully. “Elven blood, even diluted, is intoxicating. Mix it with human blood, and you have the tastiest blood you can find. A true delicacy.”

“You’re fucking crazy if you think you’re going to get away with this.” Maia tugged at her bounds, trying to force the anaesthesia from pulling her under a wave of compliance, her teeth gritted in determination. She was beginning to feel dizzy, the corners of her vision blackening as unconsciousness threatened to take hold once more. She was so tired of passing out.

Vira merely laughed at her attempts.

“Of course I will. I’ve been planning this for nigh over a century. You will see. You will all see. Hope you weren’t too attached to that wolf. She will likely be dead before the moon comes to rescue her.”

A tear slipped from Maia’s cheek, unbidden, as Vira whisked herself away, whispering orders to her vampires as the room became vacant of them. Before she left, Anastasia leaned over, lips cradling the base of Maia’s ear.

“You will pay for what your girlfriend did to my friend. He’s the one that cornered you in the alleyway. You should have just accepted your fate then.”

Maia said nothing, and when Anastasia pulled away, she spit in her face.

Anastasia hissed at her, lips pulled back over elongated teeth, but she did nothing else, pulling away to disappear in the darkness.

A quiet prayer formed on Maia’s lips, directed to the Goddess of the trees, and she reached out in an attempt to pry the IV from her skin with her teeth. It was no use, and as she felt herself getting pulled under, she began to cry.

Her last thought was of Josie.

The shifting of her IV pulled Maia from her sleep once more. A scream latched itself in the base of her throat, threatening release, only to be stifled as a hand pressed firmly to her lips. When she looked up, terror became her when she realized it was an elderly looking vampire that loomed over her. He looked to have been turned in his late fifties - salt and pepper hair was thick on his head, and, despite his lingering malice, his eyes were kind. Was he looking for an evening snack? Maia began to struggle.

“You elves always have so much spirit. It won’t help you now, not unless you let me help you. Now when I take my hand away, do not scream.” He slowly began to pull his hand away, only to slam it back down on Maia’s face when her scream pierced the room. His lips tickled the cusp of her ear, and she shuddered. “Not all of us wish to see the end. We do not enjoy our solitude, but mindless bloodshed was for our ancestors. We seek liberation, but through other means. Vira must be stopped, as the others must be stopped, but I need to be able to trust you. Do. Not. Scream.” This time, when the vampire pulled his hand away, Maia remained silent.

“Thank you.” He went to work, pulling the IV from her arm and then releasing her binds. “Do not move. I have unlocked your binds, but you must wait until the majority of the vampires have gone to the dog fights. Then, you can escape. I trust you know how to deal with the lingering vampires. Then, you must tell everyone what you have witnessed here today.”

“Wait, my girlfriend is in those dog fights. I can’t just leave her. And all these people, I ----”

“Sacrifice is the heart of war. I am sorry.” She was about to argue, but he had already disappeared, and she lay with her eyes closed and her head scrambling, heart pounding against her chest. That earlier rage was heating in the bowels of her belly. She refused to leave these people behind. She had to figure something out.

She waited an hour for the sedatives to wear off and for the mass majority of the vampires to vanish as the sun disappeared and day became night. She still felt sick with fear, and when she unlocked her binds and sat up, she felt the vial in her pocket. That’s right—Madam Costia had slipped it into her pocket the night previous. The vampires must have overlooked it. When Maia pulled it out, she was overjoyed to see the words Liquid Courage in beautiful cursive on the side of the vial. Maia took only a drop, and felt its effects immediately. An idea began to form. She glanced around her before pushing herself from the bed and made her way around the beds, slipping a drop of the Liquid Courage into as many drips as she could before it ran out. She tried not to cry out when she noticed more than a few of the prisoners were no longer alive.

Her heart skipped a beat when she found herself at Jasper’s bed, his chest rising and falling very slowly. A sob lodged itself in Maia’s chest, but she refused to make a sound as people began to wake up around her, their confusion apparent. “Jasper,” she whispered, pouring the last few drops of the Liquid Courage right into Jasper’s mouth. “Jasper wake up, please.” A low whine took to her words, and her tattoo felt almost cool now, a bad sign on Jasper’s part. She could not lose him. He wanted to be a scientist. The world needed him.

“Jasper, wake up. I need you.” She began to shake his shoulders and a shuddering sigh passed his lips as he groaned and eyes opened to reveal grey pigment underneath. “Maia?” His voice was weak, his lips parched as he attempted to wet them. He blinked several times, his brow furrowing as he attempted to jolt into a sitting position. “Maia you need to leave. Now.” Maia ignored him and turned to the others, who many were struggling against their bounds.

“We all need to leave, but we need to hold our courage and keep our heads clear. We also need to find a way to save the werewolves.”

“Maia there’s no way ----”

“No Jasper. We have to. I won’t leave her. I won’t leave my girlfriend.” Tears were shining at the corner of her eyes again, her fingers trembling as they balled to fists. She had lost Jasper to the tragedy of death. She would not lose Josie too.

“Promise me, Jasper.”

“Always so stubborn. Comes from our human genes, I think.” Jasper’s gaze was imploring, a quiet sound passing his lips. “There’s little chance this is going to work, but I’m not going to let you go alone.” Maia nodded, feeling the effects of Liquid Courage swimming through her veins as she unlocked the shackles that bound Jasper to the bed and then together they began to work on the others. Half of the people bolted, but the other half held the determination to aid Josie and the other werewolves from mindless slaughter. She felt lightheaded but sure of her situation, as if there were more in that bottle than just courage.

She almost felt that luck was also on her side.

“You guys get out of here. I have an idea, but too many of us will be too loud. Go get the police, tell them the vampires are planning a rebellion. I’ll get the wolves.” Many of the people did not need to be told twice and expressed their gratitude, kissing Maia’s hands or pressing their own against her shoulder before bolting. Jasper remained, his brow furrowed in poorly concealed anger.

“What do you think you’re doing? There’s a whole room of vampires in there. Twenty at least. You can’t expect to come out of that alive, even with witch interference.”

“We’re gonna make a deal.”

“A deal?” He tugged on her arm, attempting to pull her towards the door as bitter laughter escaped her lips. “I changed my mind. We’ll let the police deal with this. You’re not thinking clearly.” She pried herself away from him and bolted. Perhaps it was the Liquid Courage making her reckless, but her only thoughts were of Josie.

His protest was far too loud, but she continued on anyway, pulling open the door that led down the stairs where the dog fights were surely happening and pushing her way down. She heard Jasper follow behind, hissing her name. Her only thoughts were of Josie.

“I’m not leaving without her, Jasper. If you want to leave, fine.” Her whisper was so harsh it almost took her own breath away, almost as feral as a werewolf. There must have been a wild look in her eye, because Jasper halted and even stumbled backwards. Maia didn’t give him time to respond before she was rushing around the corner and through the door where she heard the screams and shouts and the sounds of snarling.

Everything seemed to go silent. At least, that’s what it felt like to Maia. She could see the vampires shouting and screaming from their spots in the stadium style room surrounding a massive cage. Inside were two wolves who looked worse for wear, driven to insanity by their rage. Maia’s heart leapt into her throat at the sight of Josie, lips curled back over teeth and bleeding profusely from several different wounds that matted her fur. It was only when her hearing began to return that she heard the vampires slowly fall prey to silence and turn to stare at her, their mouths agape and their elongated canines flashing.

“Foolish girl ---”

“How did she get out of her restraints?”

“Doesn’t matter, she’s dead now. And so is he.”

She could feel Jasper’s presence behind her as the wolves continued to fight even with the vampire’s attention diverted. “You have a traitor amongst you.” Maia spoke calmly and without fear, knowing that without the Liquid Courage, she would not have been able to stand where she stood now. “The police will be notified of your treachery soon enough.” An angry buzzing passed through the crowd of vampires as Maia finally sought out Vira, who was staring at her with pure hatred.

“How do I know you are not lying? What is stopping me from ripping you apart?”

“How do you expect Jasper and I got free?” An eyebrow cocked, she challenged Vira to deny her claim, her brow furrowed slightly and her jaw set in determination. The room was cold, and the wolves were quiet now that Josie had the other one penned and they weren’t being forced to fight at the moment. “It was him.” She pointed to the vampire who had freed her from her binds, her gut twisting in guilt as she betrayed him.

His eyes flashed in pure anger for but a moment before he composed himself as Vira turned to look at him. “I accept the claim the girl speaks of. You are insane. All of the other elders think so. We have order here, a place to live where we are not hunted. You wish to crumble it.”

Sacrifice is the heart of war. That’s what he had told her. She had no love for what she had just done, but she would do whatever necessary to save Josie.

“What have you done, Garrett?”

“I freed them. Some of them were naught but children. I cannot allow your foolishness to eradicate our race. I did the right thing.”

Vira was uncharacteristically calm as she turned back towards Maia. “Kill her and her friend.” She heard Jasper intake sharply behind her, but she felt no fear as she held her hand up.

“I’ll tell you where to find more people like me. My kind has to stick together, after all. You said half-elven, half-human blood was the best. Let us all go, and I’ll supply you with a steady income of blood.” There was laughter that roared through the vampires, but Maia only had eyes for Vira, whose grin was as wicked as her gaze. A couple of vampires had seized Garrett, who was staring at Maia as well.

Run. The voice in her head jarred her and she flinched, her eyes flickering to Garrett, who nodded with such stillness that Maia wasn’t certain he had done so at all. I will make sure your wolves survive, but you need to run. Vira will not listen to you. I do not like what you did, but I am a dead man anyway. Let me make my death worthwhile.

Maia watched in horror as the vampires began to move toward her, halting only when Garrett emitted a high pitched scream and all of the lights in the room went out.

After that, it was chaos.

Maia knew for certain that if there hadn't been some luck in that Liquid Courage, she would be dead. She could only be thankful that vampires couldn't see in the dark as she found herself fleeing back the way she thought she came. She had no idea where Jasper was.

She could hear the sound of wolves snarling as they tore through vampires, their screams guttural and high-pitched as Maia refused to cover her ears. She would have been frightened when a vampire grabbed hold of her in the dark, but she reacted instead, striking out with as much force as she could muster in the direction she saw the gleam of teeth. She heard its wail, saw Josie had sunk her teeth into his shoulder, and then Maia was running again, stumbling as tears poured from the corners of her eyes. I am not afraid. I am not afraid. I am not -----

Seek out Malachi. He will know what to do. Vira is not the only vampire to think this way. There will be an uprising. Sacrifice is the heart of war, but so is hope.

Maia heard Garrett’s voice in her head just as the light flickered on. The vampires had been massacred, all save for Garrett and Vira. Josie was beside Maia, her fur matted and bloody, her lips pulled back behind her teeth in vicious snarl. She made no move towards the two vampires left, and Maia refused to look anywhere other than Garrett. Jasper was still nowhere in sight, but she did not see him among the dead. Her only hope was that he had fled.

Garrett’s gaze trapped hers, and he had time to nod in affirmation to the words he spoke in her head before Vira plunged a stake through his heart.

Maia stumbled backwards and tripped over the body of a vampire still in the process of turning to ash, gaze turned upwards and lifeless. Josie had begun to transform back, somewhere between beast and man, her fingers wet and slippery with blood as she pulled Maia to her feet.

“We need to go. Now.” Josie’s voice was deep and throaty, halfway between her voice and a wolfish growl as she forced Maia to her feet and pulled her along, up the stairs and towards the door. She halted when Vira appeared in front of her.

“You stupid bitch. You don’t really think I’m just going to let you go?”

“I think you are, actually.” It was Maia who spoke, her smile tired but triumphant.

“And why’s that?” Vira’s lip was curled back into a sneer.

Instead of Maia answering, the werewolf police man behind Vira shot two quick fires in each of Vira’s shoulders; Maia knew it was laced with holy water. Vira screamed as her wound began to burn, and that’s exactly when Josie passed out, her wounds finally taking their toll. Maia caught her, pressing a kiss to her bloodied temple, her heart thudding rapidly against her rib cage. She could feel the effects of the Liquid Courage beginning to wear off. The police had arrived just in time.

“Josie needs a hospital. Josie -------” She could feel the hysteria building up in her chest, all of the things the potion had been suppressing bursting forth at once. It was such a reason that Liquid Courage was not used all that often, why its properties could prove addictive. She could feel tears burning the corners of her eyes, cascading down her face as one of the officers took Josie from her, only after assuring Maia that they were safe now.

Maia knew the truth though. This was only the beginning. There were other vampires who shared Vir’s vision.

She needed to find Malachi. He was the answer to all of this.

Hope could overwhelm the fear.