Rubbing his jaw, Aiden jumped to his feet. “She took out my teeth,” he breathed angrily.
Kieran actually smiled. “Good to know she’s tough. I’m gonna need that in a mate. As for you,” he said, giving me a hard glare, “if there wasn’t self-defense involved here, Ava Rose would be severely punished. But seeing as you’re both going at it like a couple of school kids, I’ll have to decide what repercussions I deem appropriate for your blatant disregard for my rules and…”
“You can’t hurt her,” I said loudly.
He grabbed my arm and flinched, pain evident on his face. “Oh, I can and I will if you don’t do as I ask.” He let go and shook his hand. “Do you really want to test me further?”
I shivered. “No,” I said simply and looked down at my feet as a way to show submission. I hated it, but knew I had to play his game. I wanted nothing more than to slap him, kick him, and beat him to death. He and Aiden both. But for Ava Rose’s sake, I acquiesced.
“Good. Now, we will all go about our business here. And you will not interfere with us…as we…rescue these poor people from the wreckage.”
“Rescue? You mean feast on, don’t you?” I muttered under my breath but bravely looked him in the eye.
“Call it what you want,” he said placidly. His jaw tightened and his eyes grew smaller. “But you will not attack any of us again. Is that clear?”
“Crystal,” I said.
He chuckled. “I do like your sassiness, Lexi. We’re perfectly matched.” I must have turned a shade of green because he smiled broadly. As he pivoted toward Aiden, I was under the impression I’d been dismissed. Coming to my senses, I berated myself for forgetting there was still a little girl trapped under the debris. Without asking permission, I hauled the woman over my shoulder. Detecting she was still alive, I breathed a sigh of relief and took her with me. As I rushed away, I heard Kieran saying, “She’s a tough one, isn’t she? Gotta respect that. And don’t worry. I’ll have her heal you later. But in the meantime, stay away from her. And I mean that.”
The last of their conversation was lost on my ears, but I didn’t care. Refocusing, I went to work looking for the little girl from my snapshots. I picked up a metal chunk of railing and hucked it sideways. About that time, other people started arriving and searching the wreckage for survivors. I had to be careful; even though I could lift boards and wreckage that would have taken at least three ordinary men to move, I had to do it discreetly. The smell of beer was strong, and I discovered why when I found a keg and had to move it out of my way.
Smothered between porches, victims moaned and a few screamed for help. The whole scene was gut-wrenching, and there was no clear-cut path on how to safely reach the survivors without causing more injury. Eventually, I uncovered a bloodied girl about the same age as myself. I recoiled at the nasty four inch gash across her cheek. She was pretty banged up, but at least I could feel her short puffs of breath against my cheek as I moved her. I drenched her with Essence and slid her carefully to a grassy patch several feet away from the massive debris pile. The next person I dragged out was already dead. My eyes clouded as I pulled the young man’s body out of my way. With resolve, I continued searching for the little girl. Trying not to think about the tragedy and the aura of death settling around me like a shroud of darkness, I dug through the pile with determination. I had to find the little girl and save her life. There would be plenty of loss today, but not the girl.
I just about keeled over when I found my next victim. Smashed between boards and a wrought-iron rail post, this guy had two spiky prongs from another section of railing sticking through his stomach. Blood oozed from the wounds, soaked into his shirt and dripped onto the boards around him. Panicked, I knew I probably shouldn’t pull him off the sharp spikes, but I saw no other options. Holding my breath, I grabbed hold of his body and pulled him upwards as fast as I could. He started screaming uncontrollably as if I was jabbing a knife into his flesh over and over again.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” I said, laying him down on the grass. “You’ll be okay, though. I promise.” His eyes rolled around his head, and then luckily, he passed out. Pressing my hands against his wound, I closed my eyes and focused. Amazingly, I sensed his chest bones mending, the tissues repairing themselves, and the wound closing itself. Eventually, his Essence levels rose, bringing him to a degree of stability I felt comfortable with. He would survive. That made two so far.
As I returned to the pile of debris, sirens shrilled in the distance. Thank goodness for that. Sadly, there was still a lot of screaming. A few disoriented and shocked people had risen from the rubble and were trying to help clear away the beams. While only a few people had arrived on the scene to help, I knew it wouldn’t be long until there was a huge crowd. A short time later, my hard work finally paid off. Overwhelmed with relief, I pulled a very scared, but barely scathed little girl out of a dark hole no bigger than the size of a kitchen garbage can. I took her away from the chaos, allowing her cling to me as she cried hysterically. Devastated from emotions myself, I cried right along with her. Her blonde hair was filthy and she smelled musty, but I buried my face against her head anyways. Hugging the little girl, I tried to take away some of the trauma from being buried in the darkness. Her Essence was pure and innocent – exactly opposite of Kieran’s. Embracing each other, we shuddered for different reasons.
Helpless and repulsed, I could do nothing but watch tearfully as Kieran and his Ray-pacs swooped in and drained the life out of the injured victims. The scene was one of pure wickedness. They worked under the pretense of freeing the victims pinned in the rubble so they could attend to their injuries, but I knew better. They enjoyed the search and the reward when they found a person. They toyed with their victims. I could see it in their gleaming eyes and amused expressions. The only saving grace was that the victims had no idea they were being robbed of their life’s energy.
The newest Ray-pac was especially scary. Madness lurked in his face – a face which was already odd and disturbing. I don’t know if it was how far apart his eyes were set, his enormous crooked nose, or his expansive forehead, but there was something even creepier about him than Kieran. Even though this guy was big, he moved craftily between his victims. I closed my eyes and tried to shut out the heart-breaking whimpers of the lady he was pretending to help. It went against every fiber of my being not to intervene and fight for her life. But I couldn’t abandon the little girl in my arms or the one back at Kieran’s building.
When Aria danced her way over the wreckage and stopped in front of the guy I’d pulled off the spiked railing, I snarled like a wild animal. Lifting the little girl, who had both arms and legs wrapped around me, I hurried us over to his side. Aria was just leaning over him, a smile passing over her lips. Shoving her sideways, I said, “Leave him alone. He’s mine.”
She narrowed her furtive eyes and frowned. “You think you’re something special, don’t you?” Her voice was surprisingly soft, but her tone was harsh and challenging. Had I not been able to sense her link, I never would have guessed she was a Ray-pac. “Just because Kieran thinks that, doesn’t make it so,” she continued. After you two link, he’ll make your life a living hell. Then we’ll just see how special you think you are.” Hostility radiated from her eyes. Tipping her head, she pushed her nose skyward, and spun on her heel as if performing a pirouette. Gracefully, she leaped away like a ballerina exiting the stage. I shook my head. She was another sick one for sure.
Relief spread through me like wildfire when the paramedics and firemen pulled up. Their arrival meant the end of the Ray-pac extracting rampage. Moments later, as if on cue, Kieran motioned it was time for us to leave. Ensuring the little girl remained in safe hands, I passed her directly into the arms of a motherly looking EMT. As we slipped away, and I glanced back at the horrible accident scene filled with injured, buried, and dead Innocents, I had to fight the urge to return and heal the wounded. Angrily, I wondered how many people had died from the collapsing b
alconies versus how many had died because a Ray-pac had gotten to them.
Aiden, Aria, and the other two, Zola and Rafe, all had a good laugh at my expense when we hadn’t traveled more than a block away and I threw up all over the sidewalk. The horrors of the day are what emptied my stomach; of that, I was certain. Kieran didn’t laugh, but he watched with amusement. In an act of rebellion, I remained silent as we traveled by foot back to Kieran’s building, doing my best to ignore their jabs. Eventually though, the topic of conversation turned boastful. The audacity of their bragging sickened me even further, and I had to stop and throw up a second time. My only recompense, and it wasn’t much, was that I managed to splatter Aria’s and Aiden’s shoes in the process, and that turned the discussion.
By the time I crawled into bed next to Ava Rose that night, my emotions were raw. I felt profound grief over lost lives, but I also felt vengeful. I’d already come to terms with killing Kieran, but now I knew I’d have to destroy them all.
Whoever it was that said we should find mercy and compassion for our enemies had never met the Ray-pacs.
CHAPTER 16 – DIRTY BUSINESS
The next couple days were spent much the same way – with Kieran carting us all over Oklahoma City to visit the local attractions while our entourage of bodyguards and Ray-pacs shadowed not far behind. I had a hard time comprehending how Kieran could be a cruel, heartless maniac one minute and then a jovial tour guide the next. I decided he was a bi-polar Ray-pac with split personalities and a penchant for total control. He acted as if he really was Ava Rose’s uncle and as if our little outings together were the most natural thing in the world. While I wanted to focus on the good – namely Ava Rose’s obvious joy – during our non-stop adventures, it was difficult. At times it was painful to see her so animated with a perma-grin plastered to her face, but then when I really thought about it, I knew it was for the best.
Granted, Kieran had calculatingly fostered their relationship, but she’d fallen for his ruse so easily. And now the bond between them was strong – at least from her side. She trusted him, and I believed she truly loved him like an uncle. While I knew I couldn’t blame her, part of me couldn’t help but feeling betrayed. How could she be so accepting when she’d known him for such a short time? Didn’t it take longer to build trust like that? Quite often, I had to stop and remind myself she was young and gullible, and she needed my protection now more than ever. With a heavy heart, I knew that in the blink of an eye he could, and would, destroy her, shattering her heart and soul.
At one point, when they were laughing uncontrollably together, I wondered if maybe Kieran had grown as attached to Ava as she had to him. Was it possible he wouldn’t be able to harm her? I could have kicked myself for even allowing that glimmer of hope because with one sideways glance my direction and a ruthless grin, I knew he was more than capable. Why kid myself? Kieran would hurt anyone at any time if it meant getting what he wanted. If I did a little reverse psychology here, I would probably find out he’d been faking an interest in Ava Rose all along in an attempt to give me a false sense of security. Kieran, with his black heart and absent soul, was evil to the core.
Deciding we were in need of some action-packed thrills, Kieran whisked us away to Frontier City Theme Park. Much to my surprise, I learned Ava Rose was quite the little daredevil. She laughed and screamed with delight as we rode the high-speed rides and zipped through the renegade water rapids. The gravity-defying roller coasters had my head and stomach spinning, but they only seemed to whet Ava’s and Kieran’s appetites. And they ate horribly, somehow consuming everything from corn dogs and French fries to a host of sweets like taffy, caramel corn, and snow cones, all within a couple hours of each other.
Despite being an adrenaline junkie, the next day, Ava Rose proved she was equally happy in a quiet introspective environment. During our mellow, self-guided tour of the three-storied Oklahoma City Museum of Art, her eyes were alight with wonder. Apparently, the museum boasted one of the largest collections of Dale Chihuly glass pieces in the world. Ironic, but Chihuly was from my hometown, which also had numerous exhibits of his glasswork. All of a sudden, I was thinking about my parents and feeling homesick.
“This is so cool,” Ava said, interrupting my thoughts. She grabbed my arm while gazing at a stunning 55 foot tall tower of twisting and spiraling multi-colored glass. “Hey,” she added, pointing to a picture of the artist, “he looks like the same guy who did the glass tunnel. You know, in that museum kind of by where you used to live.”
“Ah, yes, in Tacoma,” Kieran answered for me, giving me a superior look. “Lovely place.”
“Good memory, sweetie,” I said, grabbing her hand and ignoring him.
“How awesome,” she said. “I can’t wait to see your parents again.” Her voice became softer and more thoughtful. “They were so nice to me. And they let me swim in their great big swimming pool. Have you been there?” Ava asked Kieran.
“Not yet. But I’m sure Lexi will be inviting me soon.” His voice was steady and challenging.
I glared at him, and as Ava Rose ran off to study a painting, I said to him, “Stay away from my family or I will kill you when we’re linked.”
“And kill yourself, too?” He laughed. “I don’t think so.”
“If that’s what it takes,” I answered honestly, my tone cutting like a razor.
For once, he actually flinched. Recovering quickly, a half-smile crossed his face. “Empty threats,” he said confidently. “You value life too much. And you have a long one ahead of you. Not to mention all the Innocents you’ll want to try and save. There will be some give and take in our relationship, I suppose.”
“Don’t be so sure about that,” I muttered and walked forward to join Ava. What really bothered me about his statement was that it was true. I just hadn’t thought about it from that angle. I might not be as concerned about my own life, but there were countless others who would die if I died. Not that I wanted to die. No. I’d been through this already. I wanted to live, and I wanted to love. Love Jason and kill Kieran.
Later in the day, when we were back at Kieran’s building, Ava and I were left to entertain ourselves while he went to a meeting. I couldn’t have been happier. Before leaving, he informed me he’d be taking me out for a special dinner at an “adults-only” restaurant. This did not please me at all, and I wondered what he was up to. He raved how Ava Rose and Maya could cook up whatever they wanted for dinner and then follow it up with a movie and popcorn in the theatre room.
Not long after he left, Ava Rose said she wanted to paint for a bit and then go swimming. I told her that was a great idea and that I had a couple of things I wanted to get done while she worked on her art. I told her I’d grab her in an hour and we’d swim together. She readily agreed, and once I had her situated in front of her canvas, I went exploring. Forty-five minutes later, I was beyond discouraged. My attempts at trying to access “off limits” areas were futile. Disappointed in making no new discoveries, I wandered into the fitness room, and my eyes lit up when I noted the camera on the balcony was still broken.
Walking outside, I leaned against the rail and studied the scaffolding as it dropped to the pavement nine stories below. With my strength and agility, I could probably work my way down fairly quickly, maneuvering my way and ducking under the cameras on each of the balconies. It would require some tricky moves on my part, but I had taken gymnastics for four years when I was younger. This would be like performing on the high bars – only the drop would be a lot further down. Any injuries would be easily fixed. I sighed. There was no way Ava Rose could do it, so this method of escape would be a last ditch effort.
With the sun blazing down on my face, I stared out at the impressive Devon Tower. Overshadowing other neighboring buildings by miles, it looked lonely in all its magnificence. I stared at the top floor and frowned. No way would I be celebrating anything at the Vast restaurant. Not unless it was a celebration of Kieran’s death. I tapped the rail with agitation.
Over the last couple days, I’d been sorting through my options and hadn’t come up with any good solutions. Right now, I was leaning toward contacting Ash – thinking maybe it was time to tell him and the rest of the Bellingham Circle exactly what had happened and why I’d submitted to Kieran’s demands.
No matter how many times I worked through different scenarios of how things would go down with Kieran, there was no perfect ending. I had no doubt that when he tried to link with me and couldn’t, I’d have the advantage and could take him out. But then what? There was no way I could defend myself and Ava Rose against the rest of the Ray-pacs, and chances were good they would destroy us immediately if I killed Kieran. In the back of my mind, though, I was still trying to figure out a way to get Ava out of harm’s way the day before the full moon. The logistics of that plan were still unknown, but I hadn’t given up on the idea yet.
I knew I couldn’t allow the other Ray-pacs to survive – to seek revenge and possibly harm my family or my friends in a surprise retaliation attack. Nor could I allow Ava Rose and me to disappear without a trace, never to be heard from again while our families and the Guardians wondered what had happened to us. The idea of my parents or brothers hearing about us on another segment of Unsolved Mysteries every couple years was gut-wrenching. And what about Jason? I couldn’t take the chance I’d die without ever explaining myself.
In a conversation I’d overhead between James and Vincent earlier in the morning, I knew there were more Ray-pacs lurking about. Besides Aiden, Aria, Zola, and Rafe, there were more, but I didn’t know how many more. I was definitely going to need back up, and even though that meant putting my friends at risk, I knew they’d jump at the chance to be involved. I could count on Jessica to heal any of my friends injured in the fight. But I was going to need them to arrive at precisely the right moment. That meant I would need the Bellingham Circle here in Oklahoma. They would need to be far enough away their links weren’t detectable but close enough I could call them in for a surprise attack right after I terminated Kieran. Maybe then, Ava Rose would have a chance.
Dentelle #3 Guardian series Page 28