Broken Souls

by Jade M. Phillips

  I admired his bravery, yet couldn’t help but think this shouldn’t have been his time. His time should be many years from now, after escaping from this hell and making it back to his children and family. I’d robbed him of his last chance at life, as I had from Wilson— the same fate Guy would have if I couldn’t come up with a plan. I pressed my shaking hands into the glass-strewn floor.

  “Ruby.”

  It was Cloe, and I looked up from beneath wet lashes to see her standing there in the open doorway, a long black jacket wrapped around her shoulders. The moonlight cascaded down her side, her skin ashen and body thinner than ever. Surprise struck me at seeing her up and about so soon. Had I not been so devastated, I would’ve gone to her and hugged her, but my body betrayed me. She pushed the food trolley aside and knelt down next to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. I took in a quivering breath.

  “Earl is…” I rasped. “Horus… he…” I couldn’t finish my sentence, for being so clouded by pain and sorrow. Try as I might, the words just wouldn’t come out.

  “Oh, Ruby, I’m so sorry,” Cloe soothed, rubbing my back gently. “Horus is evil.”

  We sat in silence and Cloe let me cry against her shirt. It’d been so long since I cried that I let the tears rush uninhibited. But before long, she took my face in her hands and made me look at her, the ghost of a smile crossing her lips.

  “I know about the prisoner. I know who he is.”

  I considered her for a few moments in confusion. It took me a while to process what she had said, but when I realized her implication, my mouth dropped wide open.

  “But… but I didn’t tell you,” I replied, my voice quivering.

  Cloe smiled softly and ran a hand over my back. “On the contrary. You did. You said the person you care deeply about is an enemy. And it is well known that the Unfortunates only have one enemy; FUSE. And the only FUSE member close enough to be in danger here is Captain Guy Stone.”

  I let out a shaky breath at the mention of his name, wondering if I should be concerned that my secret was now out. I thought I trusted Cloe, but as of late, I wasn’t certain who I could trust anymore.

  “Are you going to turn me in?” I asked, bringing the bottom of my long skirt up to dry my tears.

  Cloe laughed, the sides of her eyes crinkling happily. It was good to see her smile even if I was unable to do so myself. She shook her head. “Of course not. In fact, I have a surprise for you.”

  I frowned. What kind of surprise could she possibly have for me at a time like this? That was the last thing I needed right now, a freaking surprise. But I sniffed and wiped my face, casting a questioning glance her way. I had to admit, I was curious after all.

  “We don’t have much time.” She urged me to stand with her. “We must hurry.”

  I shook my head, confused. “What do you mean?” I brushed the splinters of glass from my dress, still trying to wrap my mind around finding Earl gone. And what’s more, Cloe now wanted me to rush away for a surprise. I was less than enthusiastic over the idea. “Where are we going?”

  “To the Courthouse,” she said. “To see your prisoner.”

  My heart fluttered at the mention of seeing Guy again. I stood stock still unable to move, my mind a whirlwind of questions. Noticing my frozen reaction, Cloe placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

  “I’ll explain more once we get there. Okay?”

  I let a moment of silence fall between us, wondering what she had planned. I was hesitant, that much was for sure, and didn’t know how much more heartbreak I could handle. I just hoped her smile was an indication that this surprise would be a good one. Though a little wary, curiosity overcame me like a burning need and I finally nodded, taking a plate of food and canteen from the trolley for Guy. I didn’t know what Cloe had in mind, but there was no other choice. Guy hadn’t been fed in two days and needed nourishment.

  Cloe rushed me through town keeping to the shadows and backstreets, explaining the witches still thought her to be ill and bedridden. She wanted to keep it that way and needed to get back to the infirmary quickly before anyone found her missing. But she said no more.

  We finally came upon the bushes in front of the tall white Courthouse. Cloe snuck us along the side of the building and we stopped before coming to the entrance. To my surprise, the werewolf guarding the building was Orie. I’d never seen him there before and had always assumed he had a different post. He turned, acknowledging our presence with a swift nod, but just as quickly, turned back away, holding a rifle over his shoulder. Cloe touched my arm.

  “You have all night, but you must be out before sunrise. That’s when the next guard will come for the shift change.”

  I spun to face her, my heart slamming up against my ribcage. Heat rushed to my face. “What are you saying?”

  Cloe smiled, tucking a long brown tendril of hair behind her ear. “I’m saying you have the entire night to spend with the man you love.”

  My hands came to my chest where my heart pounded like a jackhammer, threatening to break free.

  “Orie knows?” I asked, doing nothing to keep the shock from my voice. Cloe stepped forward on wobbly legs.

  “Yes, but you have nothing to fear. You have done so much for the both of us, this is the least we can do to repay you.”

  I exhaled a loud breathy cry, but Cloe continued.

  “When I was paralyzed you asked me for help…” She paused. “Am I right in assuming it was to break your Captain free?”

  “Yes.” I nodded anxiously. “And you could come with us. And Orie—”

  “I accept your request,” she said, relief washing over me like a cool rain. Cloe smiled sweetly. “I will help you. But until we can come up with a foolproof plan, this will have to do.” She nodded toward the large wooden doors.

  Tears welled up in my eyes, this time not from sadness, but from joy. Not only was I going to see Guy, but be able to stay with him for the whole night. It was more than I could’ve ever hoped for. I missed him so much it hurt, the pain in my gut overwhelming.

  “I can’t thank you enough,” I breathed, scanning the empty streets cautiously.

  She nodded with a smile, her legs shaking weakly beneath her weight. “I have to get back before anyone realizes I’m gone. For any of this to work, Horus cannot know —nor anyone else— that I am getting better.” She waved me away. “Now go.”

  I started toward Orie but stopped, looking back to Cloe.

  “What about Horus? How do I know he won’t come here?”

  Cloe shook her head. “Orie was told the prisoner would not be questioned again until tomorrow night. They have a pattern. One day for questioning and one day to heal. If they tortured the prisoner everyday he wouldn’t be well enough to answer their questions.”

  I nodded and took a deep breath. Was I really about to spend not only a few minutes with Guy, but an entire night? My heart swelled.

  “Wait,” Cloe said. “I can’t guarantee in which state you might find him though. He was visited by Horus and Natalia last night. Brace yourself.”

  Natalia. I let the name ring through my head. Natalia must be the female vampire who was keeping close tabs on me. The one who called me baby vampire like Horus did.

  And with that, Cloe sank back into the vegetation, disappearing into the darkness. With a nervous sigh, I turned toward the entrance and walked up the flight of crumbling stairs. I stood in front of Orie with a plate of gruel in my hands.

  “I’m here to feed the prisoner,” I said, keeping my voice as normal as possible, though I shook inside.

  Orie nodded, but did not say a word, offering me a set of keys. He took the rifle at his side and tucked it into a sling on his back. He opened the doors for me and guided me through the narrow, dark halls, torch light flickering against the painted bricks. We reached the back hall where the cells were kept and came upon cell B. Guy’s cell. I pulled out the required key and unlocked the cell. Orie handed me the torch from the wall to take inside.

  He
leaned close to me and talked in a hushed voice. “I will be back before sunrise to guide you out. If for some reason there is any trouble I will whistle to warn you.”

  My heart pounded in my chest and my blood raced through my veins. I was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

  Orie noticed my trepidation and offered me a gentle glance. “It’s okay. No one ever comes here except for questioning. Everything should be just fine.”

  I inhaled and attempted to give Orie a smile, as wonky as it might’ve been for my overwhelming anxiety. Orie left, and I turned on my heels, letting myself into the cell. I hung the torch on the wall and locked myself inside with a metallic click of the keys. I placed them in my pocket, my nerves on fire.

  I turned and when I saw Guy lying there, face bruised and body thrashed worse than ever, I gasped, wondering if he was already dead. But by his fragrance of leather and musk that I knew so well, I could tell he still lived, though barely so. I couldn’t help but think he would definitely need more of my blood and that this would be a bittersweet night.

  THIRTY-TWO: GUY

  I slipped in and out of consciousness, knowing the next time Horus and his female lackey arrived, it would be the last. After that, I was to be made a human sacrifice, as Horus put it.

  Now that they knew FUSE was not a current threat to them, I had no chance of survival anyway. The only thing I could do was stay strong and not break when being asked about Ruby or any allegiance I might have with any vampires. Horus was one-hundred percent certain that no one from FUSE was coming, and in that he was right. But I rest assured that he was only ninety-five percent certain about my connection to Ruby, and I needed to keep it that way. One small flinch or blink of an eye on my part would result in her death.

  I shivered, my body cold and numb, the effects of Ruby’s blood having worn off since my last beating. My body had weakened considerably, my bruised ribs making it hard to breathe, and my torn muscles keeping me from moving. Like usual, my body broke out in a sweat, and I faded away into the depths of deep and fevered sleep.

  “Guy.” It was Ruby, her voice soft and liquid. “Can you hear me?”

  It was yet again another one of my regular delusions. Ruby stayed with me always, if not in my subconscious and in my bond to her, in my dreams, sleeping and awake. I would hear her voice in my mind.

  “Guy.”

  I could feel her energy, her presence so real and close, it was as though she were physically in the same room with me. A soft, cool hand touched my blazing forehead and electric jolts shivered through me.

  “God, you’re on fire.” Her melodic voice sounded like the twill of songbirds, yet it held concern. “Drink.”

  The coolness of flesh touched my lips, the warmth of blood trickling into my mouth, and I couldn’t help but think how vivid this dream was. The bitter thickness ran down the back of my throat and I swallowed, choking it down. My limbs were numb, fingers and toes icy cold, but as the warm liquid traveled my insides, heat spread through me.

  “That’s it,” her voice cooed. “Drink.”

  My chest relaxed as I consumed the healing blood, and I breathed deeply through my nose. My lungs burned, but in a good way as if breathing for the first time ever. My fingers twitched and my eyes blinked open to see her standing over me, a beautiful and angelic vision.

  Her violet eyes glistened with emotion and her long blonde hair hung over her shoulder in a braid. I was suddenly aware that this was no dream, remembering the rosary she normally wore was not around her neck, but in fact hidden within my mattress where I’d placed it upon finding it a few nights ago.

  At seeing me awake she released a cross between a laugh and a cry, and sat on the bench next to me. Her fingers trailed down the side of my face, drawing a burning line over my flesh.

  “Faith.” I whispered.

  “Yes,” she smiled, and that smile lit up the entire room. It lit up my soul. It lit up my life —what little life I had left. I could feel my strength returning with abandon, my flesh kneading back together and my bruised muscles mending. She was no dream, but real and in the flesh.

  I sat up and cupped my hand to her cheek, the ache at finally touching her so intense, I was positive I’d explode. She placed her hand on top of mine, and turned her face into my palm to kiss it gently. She turned back to me, her lips quivering, but said nothing.

  “You shouldn’t be here,” I rasped in sudden realization, knowing what would happen if she were found out.

  She released my hand and looked down at her lap. “But I want to be here. I need to be here.”

  Her words hit a spot deep inside of me. If she desperately yearned for me in the slightest way I did for her, I knew she’d been in severe pain.

  “If they find out…” I breathed. “If they knew…”

  “They won’t know.” Ruby’s downcast eyes drew up to mine, and just the sight of her face melted my heart. I wanted more than anything to grab her and hold her, to kiss her like I had the night we last parted. The night I made the biggest mistake of my life. The night I left her.

  But if I kissed her now, if I let my guard down, I’d never be able to stop. I’d never be able to face my death that was looming just around the corner. I needed her to leave right away. My body tensed.

  “You cannot be here, Faith. You need to leave.” It took all my will to urge her away, my own words crushing me. “Go now, before anyone finds you here.”

  “No.” Her voice was strong and willful, and I knew this wasn’t going to be easy by any means. She grabbed my hands in hers, and though her flesh was the cool flesh of a vampire, it still warmed me just the same.

  “I’ve made friends here,” she explained, nodding toward the door. “They’ve arranged for me to stay with you tonight.”

  I ripped my hands from hers, feeling myself snap, though not so much from anger as from fear for her life. I growled.

  “Have you lost your mind, Ruby?”

  She blinked slowly at my outburst, and I could tell she was shocked. “But I thought… I thought you’d be happy to see me…”

  “No.” My treacherous words cut her like a knife, as they did me. “I am not happy your life is in danger because of me. This is not safe for you. You call these beasts your friends? How do you know they will not turn you in? How do you know this is not a trap?”

  “Because I know,” she whispered. The flame from the torch shone in her eyes, lighting the unshed tears pooling above her lower lashes.

  I shook my head and turned away, unable to see her hurting. “I will not have you killed because of me. Not on my watch. I vowed to protect you, and in lieu of my vow, I command you to go.”

  She let a moment of silence pass between us, then shook her head. “No,” she said barely above a breath, eyeing me obstinately. “I won’t.”

  “Ruby…” I breathed, gritting my teeth, trying my best to hold back my anger and fear. My words were doing no good and she wasn’t listening. I needed to be more direct. “Leave now. I do not want you here.”

  The pain on her face was too much to take as she looked at me through long, wet lashes. But she kept her willful silence.

  “Go!” I boomed, throwing my blanket off, causing her to stumble from the bench. She stood, her hands shaking, and my heart clenched at the fact I was scaring her. But if being cold was the only way to keep her safe, then so be it. I watched her soft chest rise and fall, but she still hesitated to leave me. Stubborn girl.

  My mind churned desperately to find a way to make her go. I would not in a million years allow any harm to come to her, and if I knew Horus well enough from the times I’d studied him, he would show her no mercy if he found us out. My temper got the best of me.

  “Leave! I am to be executed soon and will not have you taken down with me.”

  Her eyes widened at my words and she clasped her hands to her chest.

  “Executed?” she breathed. “How? W… when…?”

  I shook my head, averting her g
aze. I could not bear to look upon her when speaking about our situation. It was too painful. I inhaled, the expanse of my chest surprising me, indicating that her blood was healing me quicker now. I glanced her way before dropping my eyes again.

  “I am one of the most influential members of the FUSE sect of the government, Ruby.” I spoke sternly as if to a child. “And I’m in a vampire’s nest. Did you think it would turn out any other way?”

  “No,” she answered. “I mean… yes… but…”

  “But what?” I asked, my tone sarcastic and cold. “Did you think you’d come in here to have a nice little reunion with me, unlock my chains and set me free? Did you think we’d just ride away in the sunset carefree and happy?”

  Her face twisted with emotion and though it killed me inside, I knew I was finally getting through to her.

  “Is that what you thought Ruby?” I continued grilling her. “Tell me, what the hell did you think you would accomplish by coming in here tonight? By staying with me and sharing a bed with me? If only to torture yourself more once I’m dead?”

  I flew from the bench, though on unstable chained-up legs and stood before her. My shredded clothes barely covered my body and I looked down to see a plate of food she brought me on the edge of the bench. In spite of myself, the image enraged me. It made me think of the simple things in life, the way things should be.

  Though I wanted it more than anything, the only way I’d have a life with Ruby was in another world, another realm. Not where we lived now. I needed her to see it was not possible. I needed her to get it through her head. I loved her beyond words and that is why I needed to make her see.

  “Is that what you thought?” My anger reached an all-time high, fear egging me on. “That we could ever be normal? Even if by some miracle you rescued me from this hell, we’d never be safe. Ever. And with the snap of a finger, I’d be an old man. You’d never want me that way.”