The Beast Within

by S. C. Stephens

  Through the fog of pain enveloping me, I heard movement above me, felt a body slide to a stop beside me. I tried to open my eyes, but even that small motion was too hard. Something soft touched my cheek, brushed my hair back from my face.

  A panicked voice breathed in my ear, “Hunter?”

  Small hands rocked my shoulders, trying to flip me over, and I cried out in pain. My eyes flashed open, and I saw an impossible sight illuminated by the weak glow extending from my hazy vision. An angel of mercy, come to save me. “Halina?” I whispered, my throat rough and raw. “You came for me…?”

  Her face contorted into an expression of sorrow and joy. “Of course I came for you. I love you.”

  She tossed her arms around me, burying her dark head into my shoulder. I wanted to hug her back, I wanted to weep with joy, but I hurt so much all I could do was whimper. The movement of her clasping her arms around me shifted the arrow in my chest, and my stomach clenched in a disturbingly familiar way. Quickly turning my head away from her, I heaved up a stream of blood. The silver was slowly poisoning me. I knew it, yet I couldn’t do anything about it.

  Halina instantly released me. “Jesus, Hunter, what’s wrong with you?”

  I could only vomit again in response. Despite my weak, pain-filled protests, she flipped me over. I gasped, then whimpered. I was tired of pain. I just wanted it to end. “Help me,” I pleaded.

  She hissed as the silver instrument of my torture became clear to her. Bracing herself, she grasped the end of the arrow and pulled it out of me. Since both of us were sensitive to the cursed metal, we screamed in pain together. Halina tossed it into the darkness while I panted, recovering. I heard my name being shouted from above. It sounded like Nika. Had she found me too?

  Halina was letting out a steady stream of low, fast Russian. I was sure she was cursing everything under creation. I was doing the opposite. I was suddenly grateful for everything. Especially the fact that the pain in my chest was fading with every breath I took. It was a slow process, though. The silver from the arrow had leached into my body. The immediate pain was gone, but the ache lingered. Moving was difficult, but now that my head was clearing, I suddenly remembered that I couldn’t lie here much longer. I had somewhere I needed to be. We all did.

  As Halina made a move to scoop me up like a ragdoll, I put my hand up to stop her. “Leave me here. You need to go, and I’ll only slow you down.”

  She narrowed her bright eyes at me. “I just found you again. I’m not leaving you behind.”

  Exhausted, I shook my head. “You have to. He’s going after the ranch. He could already be there.”

  “Who…?” Instantly realizing who I meant, her voice darkened. “Your son-of-a-bitch father?”

  I nodded as I peeled open my eyes. “He sent people to clean the nest. You have to stop him. Don’t let him destroy our home.”

  She cupped my face, her expression overjoyed for half a second. Then my words sunk in. Cursing again, she threw her arms around me and lifted me into the air. A grunt left me as she effortlessly tossed me over her shoulder. A part of me wanted to make the journey back to safety on my own, but I knew I couldn’t right now, so I let her carry me.

  How far I’d fallen quickly became apparent as she zipped me back up to the top. In some spots, she had to shove her fingers deep into the rocky cliff wall as she scrambled upward. It was awkward with me holding on to her, but she was strong enough that she got us there in only a few minutes.

  Once we were at the top of what I could now tell was a steep canyon, Halina gently set me on the ground. She examined my body for other injuries while I groaned and laid my head back on the dirt. Her hands ran over my freshly healed limbs. While I felt okay, I knew that a couple of my fingers had healed at strange angles. Murmuring, “This will hurt,” she broke the misshapen digits again. The surprise of the move blocked out the pain. At first. When it did hit me, I gasped, then cried out, slamming my uninjured fist into the dirt beside me.

  Nika was instantly at my side, smoothing back my hair and stroking my cheek. “Hunter, are you okay?” Leaning down, she started peppering my face with tender kisses.

  Exhaling a slow breath as I felt my hand healing in the proper way, I nodded. God, I hoped she didn’t find any more out-of-place bones on me. Lifting my head, I looked down at Halina examining my legs. “You don’t have time for this. You need to go.”

  Teren had been watching his daughter cover me with affection, but trained his eyes on my face once he heard the urgency in my voice. “Go where? What’s going on?”

  Shooing Halina from my aching body, I struggled to sit up. A wave of nausea struck me, and I couldn’t speak for a second. When the feeling passed, I was panting. Nika put her arms around me, and I leaned into her body, grateful for the support. Focusing as hard as I could on not being sick, I lifted my eyes to Teren. “My father has sent hunters to the ranch. They could already be there. You need to go.”

  Teren’s eyes widened, then his head snapped around to stare toward where I assumed he could feel the others; I still couldn’t, but the burning sensation in my head told me I probably would be able to soon. Nika’s arms around me tightened. “Dad…Julian…” Her voice wavered, and Teren returned his gaze to her. “He’s worried. I thought he was worried for me, but…maybe that’s not it.”

  Teren glanced at his wife, then pulled out his phone. He looked at the screen, checking for service. We must have been close enough. He pressed a few buttons on his phone, calling someone, while Halina cursed and gave me soft eyes. She was torn. She didn’t want to leave me. But she had to. I would only slow her down. Teren cursed as he ended the call that had switched over to voicemail. He called someone else, and I could again hear voicemail pick up. He cursed again, and I told him, “It’s started. You need to go. Now.”

  Teren’s eyes were wide when he shoved his phone back into his pocket. “He’s right, Great-Gran. I can’t get a hold of anyone.”

  Imogen stared toward the ranch, her face strained with worry. “Alanna…” she whispered.

  Suddenly, Nika shot to her feet. With her support gone, I slumped back to the earth with a groan. “Dad! Julian’s scared.”

  Nika looked about ready to run to him, but like Halina, she was torn. She didn’t want to leave me. Her father grabbed her elbow. “Great-Gran already had to save you from plummeting over a cliff wall today. And she just barely managed to catch you in time.” Nika rubbed her shoulder while I wondered just what she’d done to try to get to me. Frowning, Teren added, “Let’s think for a second before we react.”

  Nika nodded, but she was biting her lip, and I could tell she wanted to be doing something.

  Halina immediately took a protective stance in front of me. “I can’t leave him like this.”

  Teren shook his head. “You’re the fastest and the strongest. None of us can get back there as quickly as you can.” He swallowed a pain-filled lump in his throat. “Mom and Dad need you. Julian…needs you. Please.” He indicated my prostrate body. “I’ll stay here with him. I’ll protect your child, if you protect mine.”

  His voice was ripe with pain. I thought my earlier torture was nothing compared to his grief over not being able to run home. Halina hesitated just a fraction of a moment, then sank to her knees by my side. Kissing my forehead, she told me, “I’ll come back for you as soon as I can. I won’t be gone long.”

  I clutched her arm as she pulled away from me. I could barely believe the passion in my voice when my words left me. “Be careful. I can’t lose you.”

  Halina gave me a sad smile as she nodded. Then she crooked a grin. “Have no fear, beloved. Hunters run from me, not the other way around.”

  She gave Teren a stiff nod, then looked to Imogen. “Let’s go protect our family, daughter.” Imogen nodded, eager to leave.

  Just as they were about to streak off, Nika’s mother stepped forward. “I’m coming with you.”

  Teren grabbed his wife’s arm. “No.”

  Emma shook
her head as she gave him a stern expression that clearly said her mind was made up. “Stay here with our daughter. I’m going to our son.”

  A look of torment crossed Teren’s face. It was a look I knew well. Here was a man divided. I attempted to stand, to make it to the ranch with the others so no one had to stay behind with me, but I was still too weak; the residual silver coursing through my veins was taking its toll. I still felt nauseous, and had to clench my stomach to keep the blood inside my body.

  “Em…” he whispered, begging her to stay.

  Smiling, she gave him a soft kiss and murmured, “I’ll be fine.” Then she gave Nika a swift hug, telling her, “Watch after the boys.” She nodded a farewell to me, then the trio of women blurred away to go save their home. I wished them well.

  An expression of sorrow and loneliness was etched on Teren’s features as he closed his eyes and fisted his hands. Knowing he had sired Nika’s mother, I wondered if he was feeling the same pulling sensation from the bond that I was feeling—and that was when I realized the shot had completely faded and I was connected to the family again. Closing my eyes, I welcomed the discomfort of feeling Halina leave me. Because even though it was an uncomfortable ache, feeling it was by far a better feeling than being cut off from her…from all of them.

  Teren twisted to me after a second of contemplation. “Let’s get you on your feet, and we’ll follow after them. Maybe we’ll get there in time to help…”

  His voice trailed off as I nodded. We wouldn’t get there in time, not when every movement was a struggle for me, and the attack was happening now, but we could at least pretend we wouldn’t be too late.

  Teren lifted me. Pulling against him, I struggled to my feet. My stomach heaved as my vision faded to black, and I immediately sank back down to my knees. “I’m sorry, I can’t yet,” I panted. Breathing slowly and surely, I waited with my head down for the effects of the silver to pass. I could feel time ticking away, and I wanted to stand and run, but I couldn’t leave yet. I needed a few minutes to collect myself.

  Nika rubbed a circle into my back. “Why are you still hurting? Grandma pulled the arrow out?”

  I shook my head. “It was in for too long. The silver got into my bloodstream. It’s going to take a while before I recover.” I looked between the two of them. “You should leave me here and go with the others. You can feel me now…you can come back for me.”

  Teren’s lips pressed into a firm line, like he’d been thinking the same thing. What he said though, was, “I gave my word that I would stay and protect you. I won’t go back on it.”

  I sighed, wishing this honorable man beside me could somehow be less honorable. Several minutes passed before I felt somewhat okay enough to stand. Halina and the others were speeding toward the ranch; they must be over halfway there by now. I cursed myself for not being strong enough to go with them. If anyone died tonight, I’d never forgive myself. God, I hoped no one died.

  Teren again helped me to my feet, ducking his shoulder underneath mine. Nika immediately supported me under my other arm. With the pair of them acting as crutches, I managed to stay standing. I felt wobbly, like I’d had too much to drink. My vision swam, my fingers trembled. I even gagged as my stomach lurched. I’d never realized as a human just how awful silver was to vampires. We knew it hurt them, but the lingering weakness from the exposure was something that had never occurred to me before. The group of us took a hesitant step forward. I felt more in control than I had during my mad, panic-driven dash with an arrow in my chest, but without the adrenaline rush giving me strength, moving was wearisome. Getting home was going to take me a while in this condition.

  Just as I was considering begging Teren to leave me behind, a loud crack sounded through the air. It echoed around the canyon walls behind me, silencing the minute sounds of nature nearby.

  All three of us snapped our attention to the source of the unnatural noise. Another loud bang pierced the night, and the ground at my feet exploded in a small puff of dirt as a bullet punctured the Earth. I instinctively positioned myself in front of Teren and Nika, pushing them back a step, while still leaning on them in support. We didn’t have far to retreat, though; we were still very close to the cliff wall.

  I had no idea how it was possible that he’d found me after my mad dash from the cabin, but my father stepped into the circle of light that Teren’s and my glowing eyes provided. Astonishment flashed through me. How had he found me? Again?

  A music player in his pocket streamed hard, fast rock into his ears. It was at a frequency that our family had discovered completely blocked the trancing effect of vampires. The human mind couldn’t be coerced if it couldn’t hear the commands. Dad walked toward us with his weapon raised to chest level. I froze, not sure how to get all three of us away if he started firing. True, we were marginally faster than bullets, but he would still likely hit one of us. I wasn’t at my best right now, and Nika wouldn’t heal like Teren and I would.

  Dad gave me a sad smile as he showed me a tracking device in his other hand. I could see my location blinking on the screen. He must have put another one on me during our scuffle earlier. Shaking his head, he murmured, “You didn’t think I’d let you get away that easily, did you?” He sighed, and his face momentarily looked as conflicted as Teren’s had earlier. “Not when we have unfinished business, Hunter. I’m very sorry about this.”

  And then, without wasting another second, the man I’d loved and idolized, the man who’d taught me everything I’d ever known, pulled the trigger.

  GETTING SHOT SUCKED, and as I lay in my bed at the ranch, I decided I never wanted to experience it again. Arianna clasped my fingers, her expression worried. I threw on a smile for her so she wouldn’t stress over me. I was fine. The bullet was gone, and my leg was stitched up. My small wounds were even still numb from the anesthetic my grandmother had used. An anesthetic I was pretty sure my family had obtained in less than conventional methods. A perk of having a compulsion-wielding pureblood in the nest.

  “How do you feel, Julian?” Arianna whispered, brushing some hair off my forehead.

  Her touch felt wonderful. My head buzzed, and my brain itched a bit, but I was pretty sure that was just the bond returning to me. Either that, or I was having a really strange reaction to the drugs I’d been given. Ignoring the prickling, I focused on my sister’s stress pushing in around me. She was back in Flagstaff searching for Hunter, and by the feel of things, the scouting mission wasn’t going well. I compressed my lips, which made Arianna’s frown deepen. Shaking my head, I told her, “I feel fine. It’s Nika who’s losing it. She’s worried about Hunter…”

  Arianna looked even more concerned over my pronouncement. I think it still wigged her out that Nika and I were empathically linked. “Oh…”

  Her gaze drifted to our interlaced fingers. A tension grew between us, filling the air with apprehension. I could almost hear the words We need to talk vibrating in the silence. I really didn’t want to hear anything she might have to say, and I suddenly wished my grandparents were still in the room. But Alanna and Grandma Linda had left after I was all patched up. They were downstairs with Grandpa Jack, discussing the situation with Hunter. They weren’t sure what to do about him either.

  Arianna cleared her throat, and I tensed. Wanting to distract her from what I was afraid she was going to say—that being with me was too much for her—I sputtered, “It was nice falling asleep with you last night.”

  I stroked her thumb as I said it, reminding her that while that moment had been laced with fear and aggravation, it had also been full of comfort. Once Hunter had left us alone in a house we couldn’t leave, Arianna had wanted out of the dungeon-like basement. Since Hunter hadn’t forbidden us from leaving the room, I’d taken her upstairs. My stubborn sister had stayed behind to wait for Hunter to return. Looking back on it now, I probably should have dragged her ass with us, but I’d wanted to be alone with Arianna.

  Waking up with my arms still draped over Arianna’s
body had been just as amazing. We hadn’t done anything the night before, but somehow just sharing the intimacy of resting together had brought us closer. We’d had a quiet brunch with the old man, who’d seem completely unfazed that we were squatting in his house, then we’d tinkered throughout the home, looking for things to do until the sun went down. That was when we’d spotted the hunters outside with large gas cans. I’d never had a surge of adrenaline quite like that as I’d watched a trap being set. But still, I hadn’t panicked, hadn’t had an “episode.” I’d known that Arianna, Nika, and I needed to leave, but before we could do that, Hunter had to release his hold on my girlfriend. So, I’d done what was necessary to make that happen. Even though the entire event had been scary as hell, I was proud of myself for not falling apart. Maybe I could be the hero my dad was after all.

  Arianna’s voice in my bedroom pushed away the fragments of my memories. “Is life with you always going to be this…crazy?” she asked, her voice hitching.

  I clenched her hand tighter, wishing I could just lie and tell her no. “I don’t know, Arianna. Maybe. In spurts.” Since Halina wasn’t anywhere close enough to hear her answer, I asked, “Is it too much for you?”

  My heart thudded as I waited for her response. It felt like it took forever in coming. Lifting her shimmering hazel eyes to mine, she shrugged. “This is a lot more dangerous than I’d anticipated, but maybe I shouldn’t be surprised, considering how we got together. I just thought…” she bit her lip as she mulled over her answer, “when you first told me what you were, I didn’t really think about what that might mean. I just liked you so much, and wanted to be with you…I think I allowed myself to overlook a few things.” She shook her head as a shimmering teardrop fell onto her cheek. “I’m only sixteen, Julian, and I’ve already been shot at twice now because of your family. Then there’s Raquel being attacked, this weird bond with your sister, your grandmother wanting me to get pregnant, Nika’s boyfriend threatening to take every memory away from me. It’s just…a lot to take.”