by Kasi Blake
“You knew he was this delusional and you didn’t tell me?”
“I only just found out. Anyway, I agreed to kill him. What more do you want?” Jack sarcastically said, “Okay, so he’s cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.”
Jersey lifted Pagan into his arms and started up the stairs. Everywhere he went, Jack and Silver appeared in the background, watching him in silence. Jersey took Pagan outside. He dumped the body on the ground before going to the tool shed for a shovel. A few minutes later he struck the hard earth with the blade, whistling as he dug a big hole.
Jack shifted from foot to foot, uncomfortable watching Jersey grieve for the only true friend he’d had. Silver watched Jack instead of Jersey. Jack could tell what she was thinking. She was afraid Jack had changed his mind about killing Jersey, but she couldn’t be more wrong. Seeing the way Jersey was suffering made Jack want to put him out of his misery more than ever.
Jersey scooped the body up and dumped it into the hole. He leaned on the shovel. His eyes went up to the stars for a moment. “Dear Pagan, I know you never understood a word I uttered, and you hated poetry with a fierce passion, but allow me one more. I want to send you off with flowery prose the way you deserve.”
He folded his hands in front of himself and bowed his head as if in prayer. “I tell you hopeless grief is passionless, that only men incredulous of despair, half-taught in anguish through the midnight air beat upward to God’s throne in loud access of shrieking and reproach.”
Jersey raised his head and smiled. “That was Browning again. Elizabeth, not Robert. I never cared for him.”
He threw a shovelful of dirt on her face. “Goodbye, my sweet. Rest well knowing I will feed your bloodthirsty nature soon. Perhaps I will even bury your murderer beside you.”
Jack and Silver found themselves back in the classroom. They let go of the comb at the same time, and it fell back into the drawer. She glanced at the clock. Jack’s gaze followed. It was almost time for their next class. No doubt Jersey would have another substitute in his place. He was out there somewhere plotting his revenge.
“That was useless,” she said. “We still don’t know what he’s planning.”
“We can’t wait for him to attack. We need bait. I’ll draw him out and then use the rock.”
“You can’t.” Silver folded her arms over her chest. “Jersey will be waiting for an attack. You saw him. He’s freaking crazy. You won’t get anywhere near him now, and I don’t want you to try.”
“I don’t think we have a choice anymore. He’s going to try to kill us. It’s only a matter of time. We need to be prepared.”
Speak of the devil and he appears. The door opened and Jersey Clifford stepped inside, a box in his hands. He wore the familiar amused expression they had come to know and dread. It grew when he saw their shocked faces. He approached his desk and they retreated, walking backwards hand in hand. He set the empty box down and scanned the desk as if he expected to find something important missing.
For a split-second Jack thought he was still in a memory. Then Jersey spoke to them.
“Good to see you, Jack. You as well, Ms. Reign. Would you like to join us today, stay over to hear my lecture on Shakespeare? It's going to be fascinating.”
Jack swallowed before answering. “I thought we were moving onto Beowulf?”
“Changed my mind. I want to talk about betrayal, deceit, and murder.”
The growing lump in Jack’s throat refused to be dislodged by simply swallowing. He was finding it difficult to breathe normally too. Silver’s hand slid up his arm to grasp him above the elbow. She pulled him towards the door while addressing the werewolf teacher.
“Jack was telling me he isn’t feeling very well,” she said. “I was about to walk him to the nurse.”
“Really?” Jersey stared at Jack. A flash of contempt touched his eyes. “I was hoping to hear your opinions on certain stories. Pity you won’t be in class today. I wanted to talk to you after class as well. It’s rather important.”
Jack reached into his pocket and fingered the rock. He wondered if he moved vampire fast, could he touch Jersey with the rock? Could he end this whole mess now?
As if reading his mind and hating the idea, Silver yanked on him harder. “You were saying you felt like you might throw up. We’d better hurry and get you to the nurse.”
“I think I’m feeling better.”
Her eyes pleaded with him not to be stupid. She pulled on him again. “The nurse is a better judge on whether you should be in class or not. Let’s go see her. Now.”
“You’d better go, Jack.” Jersey’s lips twisted into an amused grimace. “The bell is about to ring. You and I will have a chance to talk privately later. I promise you that.”
Silver yanked him out the door. Once outside the room, she whispered in his ear. “You are not going to try to use that thing! No way in hell. Did you see his eyes? Let’s get out of here before he kills us both on the spot.”
Jack listened to her, more for her sake than for his. He would kill Jersey later when they were alone. No sense in putting Silver’s life in danger. They took each other by the hand and ran down the hallway as fast as they could, darting around curious students. They burst through the glass doors, went to the car, and drove home at top speed.
Chapter Twenty-Three:
GOING OFF TO WAR
Silver’s parents were on his side for once. They told her if he wanted to use the stone to kill Jersey, he should be allowed to do it without her interference. She sat in a corner with arms crossed and lips compressed for over two hours. He was beginning to think she wasn’t going to speak to him again. He went to bed alone that night, no visitors other than the cat.
Morning came too quickly. He got dressed but skipped breakfast. Today was the day. It was Saturday. He was going to Jersey’s home to finish him off. Silver wanted to accompany him, but her parents put their collective foot down, and Jack agreed with them. She’d put her life in danger enough this week.
When Jack reached the bottom of the stairs, he found everyone waiting for him. They lined up to say goodbye as if he was going off to war. He guessed it was close enough to the truth. There was a very real possibility that he wouldn’t return. He didn’t want to think about that.
Vanessa hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. “You be careful. I consider you one of my children already.”
Andrew took his hand and pumped it twice. “I’m not crazy about this plan, but you have my respect for trying it.”
Silver’s parents went outside, giving the rest of them privacy to say their goodbyes. Billy went next. He embraced his brother warmly. Since rehashing the past they were getting along better than ever. He whispered in Jack’s ear, “Are you sure you don’t want backup on this?”
“I’m sure.”
Billy took a step back and said, “Okay. I don’t need to wish you luck because you have good instincts. You’ll do fine.” Billy grinned. “Of course you’ll be putting hunters everywhere out of work.”
“There’ll still be vampires,” Silver said.
“Yeah.” Billy rolled his eyes. “Until you two figure out how to wipe them off the face of the planet.”
He clapped Jack on the back before vacating the room. That left Silver. She and Jack stood in the foyer, toe to toe. A million things went through Jack’s mind, things he wanted to say to her in case he didn’t make it home alive, but he couldn’t bring himself to utter a solitary word. It would be like giving up. Besides, she would insist on tagging along if he showed even a miniscule amount of doubt about this mission.
“Awkward,” she said with a wry smile.
He agreed with a quick nod.
Her arms snaked around his waist, and he hugged her. They held each other for a long time, each reluctant to let go just in case it was the last time. Her cheek rested on his chest. She sniffed. He almost a
sked her if she was crying, but he didn’t want to know. Tears might convince him to forget the mission. If he decided not to go, Jersey would eventually come after them. He might even kill Silver.
“I wish I could help,” she said. “I should have worked harder to train. Maybe I would be able to suck his soul out by now.”
“You might get your chance someday.”
She pulled away and looked up at him. Her lips trembled and her eyes glistened, damp with tears. “Don’t say that. If you can’t get close to him, if you think he suspects anything, then run. Okay? I mean it. Run back here as fast as you can, and we’ll stand against him together.”
Jack nodded. “Werewolves are strong, but vampires are faster. Good thing I have a little of both. My powers might not be up to his standards yet, but I think I can take him even if it comes down to a big fight.”
A half-sob escaped her mouth. Her face hit his chest again, and she grabbed onto his shoulders with both hands. “Please come back in one piece.”
“Promise.” He kissed the top of her head. “Stay out of trouble while I’m gone.”
She glared at him but kept her mouth shut.
Jack left. He turned around once to look at Silver. They waved to each other as he headed to his brother’s car. He got in fast, worried she might come running after him and insist on joining the party. When he drove away, he looked in the rearview mirror. He saw her shut the door. She was safe, at least for now.
It didn’t occur to him to wonder why she’d given up so easily.
Jack took the two-lane highway between their home and town. He would have to drive fifteen minutes before he reached a little offshoot that would eventually lead to Jersey’s home. He slid his hand into the pocket of his coat. The rock was heavy and smooth, a comforting weight in his pocket.
He pressed harder on the accelerator. He couldn’t wait to confront Jersey. One way or another it would be nice to have the whole thing over with. He would try hard not to die. Silver needed him. He couldn’t protect her if he was dead.
He finally made it to the road, turned, and drove down it at a cautious speed. The tires kicked up a storm of dust. If Jersey was home, he’d see Jack coming from a mile away. Jack tried to figure out a way to convince Jersey to relax long enough to touch him with the rock. Maybe he could trip and fall on his teacher with the rock hidden in his hand.
Billy had left his favorite sunglasses on the passenger seat. Jack grabbed them without thinking. He wanted to hide his eyes from the head werewolf. He slid them onto his face. A spark of electricity shot through his fingers. “Oh no.”
He tried to put his foot on the brake, but it was too late.
Billy stood in the living room, waiting for Silver to close the front door. She hurried inside as Jack drove away, and he asked her, “Are you sure about this?”
“I thought you wanted to get the werewolf responsible for killing your parents?”
“I do. I just don’t understand why you all of a sudden want in on it. Why don’t you wait here for the conquering hero?”
With a sad look, she explained, “Jack is going to kill someone he’s come to…I hate to say it... love... and he’s doing it for me. You know how badly he wanted to use the stone on the janitor. Once he kills Jersey, the janitor will be human. Untouchable. If we kill him then, we’ll go to prison for murder. So you and I are going to do the deed now, before he turns human, and save Jack a lot of grief. We owe it to him.”
Billy wasn’t sure about this idea. Silver had sent the guy a message to meet her in the field near the cemetery. Even if the janitor showed, that didn’t mean they could take him in a fair fight. Silver had admitted herself to losing the first fight with the guy. What made her think she could take him on now?
“I have the weapons in your car,” Billy said, shuffling from one foot to the other as second thoughts turned to third thoughts.
“Let’s go then.”
“Maybe we should invite your parents along.”
She made a face. “I don’t need their help. Trust me. I probably won’t even need you. Let’s go.”
Chapter Twenty-Four:
BATTLE BEFORE THE WAR
Jack sucked in a painful breath and returned to his own body with a disoriented shiver. The car was off the road, parked at an awkward angle in a ditch. At least he hadn’t hit a tree. The engine continued to rumble. He tossed the sunglasses aside, still trying to get his bearings. He couldn’t believe his idiot brother was helping Silver attack the psychotic janitor without him. They were both going to die.
No wonder she had given in so easily on being left behind. She’d had her own plan. She was going to get herself killed while trying to do something nice for him. The werewolf-janitor had almost killed her once before. She couldn’t have developed her power enough to win in such a short time. It hadn’t been that long since the attack.
Jersey would have to wait.
Jack had a difficult time getting the car back on the dirt road. It got stuck a couple times. Swearing beneath his breath, he hit the accelerator hard and twisted the steering wheel. He would get out and push if he had to. The tires finally caught a strong piece of soil and he shot off like a well-aimed bullet.
Within five minutes he was on the highway. He tried to calculate how far they could be ahead of him. After he left the house, they’d probably followed before the dust could settle. He also had to factor in the time spent in Billy’s memory. And it had taken a while to get on the road again. All things considered, he didn’t see how they could be that far ahead of him. Hopefully he would catch them before they met with the janitor.
Jack slapped a hand against the steering wheel. What was she thinking? And what about Billy? Had he lost his mind? Jack didn’t know which of them he wanted to strangle first.
When he reached the field, he caught sight of Silver through the dirty windshield. She and the janitor were locked in a silent battle. They stood frozen, eyes connected as she tried to suck his soul out. Billy was on the sidelines, rifle in hand. Jack didn’t even bother to turn off the car’s engine. He jumped out and ran to Billy.
His eyes were on Silver the whole time. Her body was shaking like a tiny leaf in the midst of a hurricane. She was losing the battle. The werewolf-janitor was trying something none of them suspected he could be capable of; he was trying to suck her soul out—and by the terrified look in her eyes, Jack suspected it was working.
“She’s losing,” Jack said, talking to himself more than to his brother.
“She’s fine,” Billy said, but his voice didn’t have a trace of confidence.
“No, she isn’t!”
Jack charged the battling couple. He tackled Silver, breaking the eye contact between the two. She grunted as she hit the ground. Jack kept her body covered, fearing instant retribution. Nothing happened. He looked up to see Billy fighting the thing.
Now his brother was in danger.
Silver looked up, eyes widened in fear. There was a bleeding cut on her cheek, but she didn’t seem to notice. “You have to help Billy!” she shouted.
The stone had fallen from his pocket. It was on the ground near Silver’s arm. She grabbed it and tossed it in the air. Jack caught it.
“Use it,” Silver yelled.
“But…”
“It’s going to kill Billy! Hurry!” She shook her head, tears in her eyes. She sobbed, “This is my fault. Don’t let him die because of me.”
Billy was flat on his back with the lunatic janitor on top of him. The werewolf wasn’t trying to scratch him because that could lead to him being infected. It didn’t want to create another werewolf. Its hands were around Billy’s throat. The werewolf wanted him dead.
Jack ran to the struggling pair. He intended to slap the stone against the werewolf’s head before it could guess his intentions, but the ugly janitor was smarter than he looked. He swung an arm,
hit Jack on the wrist, and sent the stone flying. Jack’s eyes lost it in the bright sunlight.
The werewolf returned to choking Billy. It didn’t seem concerned with Jack or Silver at the moment. Jack’s eyes went to the grass where the stone had landed. If he used vampire-speed, he might be able to find it in time. He looked to Silver. She was on her feet, her expression set. She was going to attack the janitor again. This time she might not be so lucky.
Jack kicked the beast in the shoulder, knocking it off his brother.
The werewolf jumped to his feet. The thing’s glowing eyes pinned Jack. It growled.
Jack snarled back.
The werewolf janitor lunged at the same time as Jack. They clashed in the air, landed hard on the ground. A vicious fight ensued. The janitor ripped at Jack with invisible claws. It missed every time. Jack’s fangs pushed through the gums. His powers returned in a rush.
Surprised, the werewolf lost his concentration.
Jack swung his hand. Metallic claws reflected the sunlight. The claws caught the werewolf on his arm just below the shoulder and ripped through his shirt, cutting him deep.
The werewolf-janitor stumbled away. It gazed down at the wound in wonder. It touched the torn shirt. A strange sound emanated from its throat. It began to tremble from head to toe. The thing went to its knees in front of Jack.
Billy appeared at Jack’s side, sword in hand. “You killed my family. Now you can go to hell.”
He swung the long blade, cleanly removing the werewolf’s head. It rolled several yards, stopping before the body fell forward and hit the ground. Finally the murderer was dead. In seconds it turned to a pile of ashes.
Silver came up behind Jack. He lifted his arm, inviting her to step closer. His arm went around her. He held her tight.
“It’s over.” Billy smiled.
“I didn’t have to use the rock,” Jack said, pleased with himself. “We can still use it on Jersey.”
Silver shook her head. “No, please. Not yet. I think I’ve had enough hunting for a while. Too much excitement is bad for the heart.”
Jack squeezed her. “If Jersey comes after us, we won’t have a choice. Anyway, what were the two of you thinking?” He glared at his brother. “You almost got her killed, idiot.”