“What about the humans? We’re taking them to a hospital so they can get checked out, right?”
Guy and Wilson’s silence caused a rock to settle in my stomach. I searched both of their faces for a clue, but they said nothing. I spoke up once again, this time a little louder.
“And then we’ll call their families and let them know they are alive and okay. Right?”
Wilson and Guy exchanged glances, and I couldn’t help but wonder what they weren’t telling me. A feeling of unease rose into my throat like stomach acid as I considered the two warily. After a moment, Guy cleared his throat, his grey eyes scanning the hazy horizon.
“We can’t, Ruby. They know too much. I want to see them reunited with their families as much as you do, but even if we tried, Wilson would stop us.”
I shot Wilson a glare, not understanding his audacity, not understanding how he could do such a thing.
Wilson sighed but said nothing, instead adjusting his tie calmly, causing an angry urge inside me. An urge to strangle him with his stupid bolo tie.
“Why?” I snapped. “Why would you do that?”
“If we allowed them to go back home,” he said finally. “They’d reveal information. Information that would eventually find its way back to FUSE. They’d reveal Tombstone, and even though I’ve wished that town burned to the ground a hundred times over, we’re linked to it. We are all linked together in some way or another. And not to mention the news stations. Not only would the humans go to FUSE, but so many collective stories would make the front page. Imagine the wars that would break out. The countless lives lost if Unfortunates finally revealed themselves to the world. If one of our hubs fall, they all fall, and I can’t justify creating such pandemonium. I can’t justify turning my back on my kind.” He glanced back at me. “Our kind.”
I took an uneven breath, trying to hold back my emotions as I let Wilson’s words tumble around my brain. I hadn’t realized what a ripple effect releasing the humans would have. The enormity of it finally sank in and I sighed in resignation. Though I didn’t like it, I would have to succumb to the fact that Wilson was right.
“But… what will happen to them? Where will they go?” Fear suddenly struck my heart, imagining them being locked away again, or worse… “You’re not going to kill them are you?”
I looked to Wilson. He pressed his thin lips together and, after a pause, chuckled.
“No, we’re not going to kill them, and as much as I don’t like keeping humans around, they will have to stay with us for the time being. We’ll figure out a plan for them later once we get settled in.”
My anger receded at his words, thinking I would actually enjoy having the humans around. I could help take care of them. After all, if Wilson’s theory stood correct, I was still half-human myself. But my smile melted away when thinking of merging our two groups.
“How will we house so many people? Where will we put them?”
Wilson grinned and pointed to an exit from the freeway. Guy took the off ramp, leading us to a long dirt road.
“I told you,” the old vampire said. “You’ll see when we get there.”
I suddenly remembered the letter I’d stuffed into my pocket before our escape. The letter from my real father, Frank, revealing that he was my maker and still, after all this time, being held prisoner by FUSE. In our hasty efforts to leave Tombstone, I’d almost forgot about him. I reached in and felt the rumpled paper, dread leaking into my bloodstream in realization. I turned my focus on Guy, my heart thudding hard in my chest.
“Wait— what about Frank? All this time you’ve been here… and… is he still alive? Without you at FUSE to protect him, is he…?” God, I couldn’t even utter the word, fear seeping through me like inky storm clouds. When we first parted, Guy had vowed to me that he would immediately go back to his headquarters and help ensure my real father wasn’t killed. But that had been months ago…
Terrible images rushed to my brain and I grabbed my forehead as if to stop the barrage, thinking my freedom didn’t feel so free anymore.
Guy frowned, his eyes scanning the now dim lighted road as if he, himself, was afraid of Frank’s possible demise. He inhaled deeply. “I’ve been thinking about that too. Maybe, just maybe, he decided to become an associate, there’s always that chance. And if that’s the case, I can get in touch with Todd Kemp somehow and ask him. It’s all I can do for now.” He slid me a hopeful glance, reaching out to squeeze my hand. “Don’t you worry, I’m sure everything’s alright. FUSE’s treatment of their prisoners is a little better than Tombstone. We’re human, after all. But for now, let’s get settled in to wherever it is Wilson’s taking us and get some rest. We can focus on that later.”
I nodded, trying to let his words comfort me, but I still couldn’t help the sinking sensation that made me feel like I was drowning. From what I recalled of Frank’s letter to me, which I’d basically memorized each word of, he’d stated that he would never give into FUSE’s demands and never give them information. Unfortunately, I sort of believed him, and if that was the case…
Stop it, I inwardly scolded myself, knowing if I continued to dwell on the fact that Frank might be dead, I’d continue downward on a dark slippery slope of doubt. I needed to keep strong and just hope that Guy was right, hope that Frank had changed his mind, deciding to work for FUSE in exchange for his life.
I sighed in resignation and looked at Guy. If he said everything would be all right, then I needed to trust that it would be.
We continued driving in silence, Wilson guiding Guy down another dirt road, a small mountain range appearing at the end. But as we got closer, it grew into a not-so-small mountain, its looming peaks shadowing the sky. After a short while we arrived at the bottom of the deserted ridge. Guy cut the engine and Wilson glanced back at me.
“There are others out there like us, you know. Unfortunates who’ve been banished, that are on the run, or are in fear for their lives. They are called the Rogues, and this is where they live.”
He gestured to the mountain in front of us. “And now we will be a part of their society, as Rogues ourselves.” Wilson opened his van door and nodded toward the sky-scraping rocks. “Let me show you to your new home.”
Wilson instructed us to temporarily leave the sleeping humans in the van as we followed him up to the face of the rocks. He slid inside a crevice, disappearing into the dark. Guy and I exchanged nervous glances before slipping in after Wilson.
My heart pounded in anticipation as we edged through the blackness, feeling our way down a narrow path. After a few minutes, I saw a light breaking through the dark and found myself stepping out onto a rocky cliff. Behind me, Guy placed a reassuring hand on the small of my back. Wilson stood in front of us, blocking my view, but once he moved, I gasped in spite of myself.
We stood in the midst of a majestic cavern, tunnels of every sort running in all different directions and rock bridges spanning the vast opening. Torches and hanging lamps lit the inner workings of the mountain, shining against sparkling spires and hanging crystals. I instinctively dropped my gaze. Far below us, a glistening lake rippled, and sprawling trees surrounded it as if in a magical forest. I then lifted my head to look at the ceiling, noting a large hole that offered a view of the outside sky, pink and purple clouds painted by the now rising sun floated by. Despite the darkness that had permanently planted itself in my body, and worry over my real father’s well-being, tingles ran down my spine at the pure colossal beauty of the place. I looked at Guy beside me, his face mirroring my wonder, grey eyes sparkling.
Wilson glanced between the two of us and smiled. He turned, facing into the great space, his arms wide open.
“Welcome… to The Sky Islands.”
~THE END~
Did you enjoy Book Two of the Unfortunate Souls Series? Be on the lookout for the next book in the Series: Rogue Souls (Book 3) Available for Pre-Order December 2015! Also, don’t forget to sign up for my mailing list here to receive valuable information on
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ABOUT JADE
Jade M Phillips writes in the Paranormal Romance and Fantasy genres and is the author of the highly acclaimed Unfortunate Souls Series amongst other titles. Jade, aside from being an author, can play guitar, do a frighteningly accurate portrayal of a spider monkey, and has the magical ability to vanquish entire armies of supernatural creatures with a flick of her pen. When she is not writing about mystical beings and lovable characters, she’s having nightly dance parties with her kids, blogging about whatever tickles her fancy, and testing new recipes on the stove (which coincidentally, usually ends up testing her smoke detectors as well.) Jade resides in Arizona with her husband, two children, and her crazy cat, William Wallace Braveheart Fuzzy McFarland the Third.
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