Chapter 89 The Dancer
SARAH
I've been dancing at Madame Violette's blood club for three years. Long enough to stop seeing the horror. Long enough to normalize vampires drinking from willing humans. Long enough to forget I used to be different.
But tonight something changes.
I'm preparing for the evening show. Costume on, makeup perfect, preparing to dance while vampires feed in the shadows. Normal Tuesday.
Then I see the cells.
I'm not supposed to go to sublevel one. Performers stay on the main floor. But I dropped an earring backstage and followed it down the stairs.
The cells are new. Madame Violette must have had them built recently. Three of them, silver-lined, reinforced doors.
Two are empty.
The third holds a dhampir woman. I recognize her from wanted posters Mordaunt circulated. Valentina Corvino. Resistance member. Considered dangerous.
She doesn't look dangerous. She looks terrified.
"Hey," I whisper. "You okay?"
Valentina's head snaps up. "Who are you?"
"Sarah. I'm a performer here. Dance for the club." I approach the cell. "What happened? Why are you locked up?"
"Bait. For someone named Callum. Mordaunt's using me to trap him."
"When?"
"Tonight. Midnight. Maybe sooner." She stands, grips the bars. "You should leave. When Callum comes, there's going to be violence."
"Is he coming to rescue you?"
"Probably. Even though it's obvious trap. That's who he is. Saves people even when it's stupid."
I should walk away. Return to the dressing room. Forget I saw anything.
But I can't.
I used to be a nurse. Before the blood club. Before I became addicted to vampire venom. Before I sold my humanity for a fix.
I had principles once. Helped people. Saved lives.
That person is buried deep but not dead.
"What if I helped?" The words surprise me.
"Helped how?"
"Information. Guard positions. Where the wards are. Anything that makes the rescue easier." I'm thinking out loud. Dangerous. "I know this building. Know the security. Could leave clues for your friend."
"Why would you help me?"
Good question. Why would I?
"Because I used to be better than this." I gesture at my costume. "Used to help people instead of entertaining monsters. Maybe this is my chance to remember what that felt like."
Valentina studies me. "If you help and get caught, Mordaunt will kill you."
"If I don't help and live with myself, that's worse." I make the decision. "I'll leave information where Callum can find it. Guard schedules. Ward locations. Your exact cell. Timing recommendations."
"Mordaunt expects him at midnight."
"Then I'll suggest dawn. Vampires are weaker when the sun's up. Better chance."
"Thank you." Valentina's voice breaks. "I don't even know you."
"That's okay. I barely know myself anymore." I head back toward the stairs. "Stay alive. Your friend's coming."
I return to the dressing room. Think through the plan.
Can't write directly to Callum. Don't know where he is. But I can leave clues. Bread crumbs that point toward success.
First: guard positions. I sketch a map on the back of a receipt. Mark where each hunter is stationed. Note the weak points.
Second: ward locations. Madame Violette showed me once, bragging about the security. I remember where each magical barrier is placed.
Third: timing. Big note: "Mordaunt expects you at midnight. Come at dawn. -A friend you don't know"
I fold everything into an envelope. Write "CALLUM BRENNAN" on the outside.
Now how to deliver it?
The blood club has human servers. One of them, Marcus, is decent guy. Helps me when I'm too high to function.
I find him during his break.
"Marcus, I need a favor."
"What kind of favor?"
"Deliver this letter. To the Rookeries. Ask for Callum Brennan. Hand it to him personally."
Marcus looks at the envelope. "This is dangerous, Sarah. Whatever this is."
"I know. But it's important. Please."
He hesitates. Then takes the envelope. "You're going to get yourself killed."
"Probably. But at least I'll die doing something right."
He leaves to make the delivery.
I return to the main floor. Show starts in an hour. I need to prepare.
But first, one more thing.
I slip down to sublevel one again. The cells. Valentina's still there.
I unlock the cell door halfway. Not fully open. That would be too obvious. But unlocked enough that if she needs to escape quickly, she can.
Then I find silver weapons. Stakes, knives, UV flashlights. Things Callum might need. I place them in strategic locations around the building. Hidden but findable.
Small helps. Tiny advantages. Might not matter.
But might make the difference between rescue and death.
I return to the dressing room. Start preparing for the show.
Madame Violette finds me fifteen minutes later.
"Sarah. You're on in five minutes."
"I'm ready."
She studies me. "You seem different tonight. Nervous."
"Just tired."
"Don't be tired during the show. The customers pay for energy." She leaves.
I finish my makeup. Look at myself in the mirror.
I was a nurse once. Saved lives. Helped people. Meant something.
Then I got addicted to vampire venom. Lost everything. Became this. Dancing girl at a blood club. Entertaining monsters.
But tonight, maybe just tonight, I get to be who I used to be.
Someone who helps instead of performs.
Someone who saves instead of serves.
It won't fix everything. Won't undo three years of degradation.
But it's something.
The show starts. I dance. Vampires watch and feed. Business as usual.
Except underneath my costume, I'm wearing a silver cross. Blessed silver. Burns slightly but I ignore it.
Protection. Just in case.
Because if Callum comes and the fighting starts, I want a chance to survive.
Want a chance to help.
Want a chance to be better than what I've become.
The show ends. I retreat backstage. Wait.
Midnight approaches. Mordaunt's hunters position themselves. Waiting for Callum.
He doesn't come.
Midnight passes. One AM. Two AM.
Dawn approaches.
The hunters relax. Think the target isn't coming.
That's when I hear it.
Footsteps. Quiet. Multiple people moving through the building.
Callum and his crew. Coming at dawn. Just like I suggested.
I smile.
Small helps.
Tiny advantages.
Making a difference.
For the first time in three years, I feel almost human again.