His death jerked me from my stupor. This was my chance to live. I crawled to the broken, deceased chosen one and grabbed his sword. He had no use for the weapon. Before I could even stand, from the corner of my eye I saw the shadow leap toward me. I didn’t think, merely swung the sword wide, hitting the vampire. The blade sliced through his side, pausing at bone.
He cried out, stumbling back. Injured but not dead. I pulled the blade free and in one fell swoop, swung it toward his neck. Even if I’d wanted to celebrate, I didn’t have time. As his head fell from his body and blood spurted into a silver arch, another vampire hit me. We fell to the ground and the sword slipped from my fingers.
“No!” I reached for the dagger at my leg, but it wasn’t there. Bacchus had taken it when he’d captured me.
The vampire shoved his hands into my shoulders, pinning me to the ground. His smirk showed those long, pointed canines. I tucked my knees to my chest, keeping them between us in an attempt to prevent the blood drinker from feeding on me. But it didn’t work. While they fought around me, he gripped my ankles and jerked my legs down. His lips lifted, a low growl vibrating in his throat.
I hadn’t come this far to die now.
“Jane!” Suddenly Will was there, always there, sword in hand. The vampire’s head went one way and his body another. Will reached down, grabbed my hand and yanked me to my feet. I swerved, the world around me spinning as my body and mind tried to reconnect with the fact that I still lived.
“You okay?”
I nodded, scooping up my sword. Around us, vampires fought chosen ones and dhampir, people crying out and swearing, swords clanging and blood arching against the moonlight. I tried to figure out who was winning, but it was difficult to tell in the darkness.
“Keep safe,” Will said.
Unwillingly, my gaze went to Thane as Will raced off to fight a vampire. Thane was locked in battle with two. As far as I knew he hadn’t fed in days; would he last long? Frantic, I searched for Bacchus. He stood in the background, merely watching everything unfold exactly as he thought it would. His soldiers were winning.
As much as I wished I could drive my sword through his heart, I knew I couldn’t get to him. His soldiers would never allow it. Will was fighting a vampire, Thane was still holding his own with the two but I could tell he was weakening. Despite the fact that he’d put me in danger and kept me in the dark, I knew I would still put my life on the line to help him. Sword in hand, I raced up behind them and swung, hitting the closest vampire in the neck. Blood spurted across the sky, hitting my shirt. I didn’t wait for, nor did I expect, Thane’s gratitude. He’d saved me, I’d saved him. It was a partnership.
Knowing there were more who needed help, I spun around and suddenly found myself face to face with a dhampir. Frozen in place, I wasn’t sure if he was friend or enemy. His lips lifted into a hiss. When he raised his arm I knew. I dropped to the ground and lifted my sword up at the same time. The point went straight into his chest. With a growl, he jerked back, taking my sword with him.
“Damn,” I whispered.
He tore the sword from his chest, holding the weapon in his tight grip. “Prepare to die.”
He lifted the sword. A soft swoosh whispered overhead, barely audible over the clash of fighting. The arrow pierced him directly in his right eye. The dhampir dropped the sword with a cry of outrage. I rolled out of the way just as the dhampir collapsed. Thane swept past me, crossbow in hand. He didn’t ask if I was okay, but lifted the bow and shot the next vampire coming at us.
I grabbed my sword and scrambled to my feet, following him. “How do I know who is working for us and who isn’t?”
Thane thrust his arm forward, stabbing a vampire, who was fighting a chosen one, in the back. “The enemy are the ones trying to kill you.”
“That helps,” I snapped, lifting my sword and swiping it across the neck of a vampire about to bite into a chosen one. The blade got stuck again. As the vampire cried out in surprise, I jerked my weapon free.
“We’re outnumbered, Thane.”
He lifted his crossbow and pointed it at a vampire fighting Will. “You worry too much.”
I released a harsh laugh. “Yeah, I wonder why that is.”
He released the arrow and the vampire fell. Will quickly cut off its head. “Just wait.”
He paused there in the middle of the clearing. I waited next to him, watching the fight around us and wondering why we weren’t helping. “Look.” Thane nodded toward the right.
I followed his gaze and watched as a vampire knelt beside the body of a dying chosen one. He sank his teeth into the man’s throat. My stomach lurched. “We need to help him.”
“It’s too late, the man’s dying. But keep watching.”
“I don’t want to keep—” The vampire pulled back, gagging like a cat with a hairball. Realization washed over me. “The serum?”
“Yes. We had enough to give it to the men and women fighting today.”
He wasn’t the only vampire who was gagging on human blood. “Even if it prevents a few from feeding, they can still kill us.”
“True, but at least it’s a start.” He snatched the sword from my hand and swung it wide before I even had time to realize a vampire was coming straight at us. The blade hit the blood sucker in the neck and he went down. Thane handed the sword back to me. “Thanks.”
“Sure.” Just like that he was gone, scooping up the sword of some fallen man and heading into the fray.
With no choice, I followed him, protecting his back when he didn’t seem in the least bit concerned. But before I could get to Thane, I tripped, tumbling toward a fighting couple. I stumbled out of the way just as a sword swooshed by me. Off balance, I fell to my knees. Around me the fury of war raged on, but the battle cries faded as I stared into the eyes of a decapitated head. A chosen one. An innocent woman with short, curly hair that reminded me of Kelly.
Gasping, I jumped to my feet. The need to get away from the death and destruction overwhelmed me. I spun around to find someone I knew, needing the grounding familiarity, and that was when I saw Bacchus sweeping across the field. Hell, he was headed straight toward Thane.
“Thane!” I cried out, but he either didn’t hear me or was too busy fighting to care.
Will caught my gaze, saw Bacchus and we both started running. Although Will was fast, I was much closer.
Bacchus scooped up a dagger from a fallen vampire. Thane was battling in the midst of a group: vampire, dhampir and humans entangled in a fight for survival. Bacchus was close. So close.
I leapt over a fallen man and lifted my sword just as Bacchus turned toward me. The blade hit him in the neck as he raised his hand, his dagger sinking into my side. I wasn’t sure who was more surprised.
I stumbled as I landed on my feet. Bacchus gripped his neck, the blood pouring down around his fingers in silver ribbons that glimmered under the moonlight.
“Jane!” Will called out.
Trembling from fear, or perhaps shock, I fumbled to grab my sword as the blood trailed down my side. Bacchus stumbled toward me. Vaguely I was aware of Thane turning our way. I lifted my sword and swung again. It hit Bacchus in the side, sinking into his waist. Injured, he fell to his knees.
I hadn’t killed him, but I had injured him enough for Will or Thane to finish the job. Panting, I merely stood there, my hand pressed to my wounded side as I stared at Bacchus who glared up at me from the ground where he lay bleeding…hopefully dying.
“You saved me?” Thane asked. There was no surprise or even gratitude in his voice, mere curiosity.
I took in a deep, trembling breath and met Thane’s gaze. Now that the shock was fading, pain replaced the numbness, beating in time with my heart. “Despite what you’ve done, I couldn’t let you die.”
It was over. Somehow we had won. Around us, the chosen ones were thriving with help from the dhampir. I could finally rest. Will had grabbed Bacchus’ arms and was holding him to the ground. I wondered why he didn’t just
kill him but was too exhausted to care.
“Is she okay?” Will asked Thane.
The sword fell from my fingers as the world around me spun. It was over but I definitely wasn’t okay. My knees buckled. I felt myself sinking toward the ground. Suddenly, Thane’s scent swirled around me, his arms holding me tight.
I didn’t want him to touch me and tried to push away. But he wouldn’t relent and my strength waned. Unable to help myself, I gave into temptation and let the darkness come.
Chapter 19
“You’re seriously going to let him live?” I seethed, trying to keep my temper in check, attempting to understand Will’s insane decision. “After all he’s done?”
Bacchus sat against an oak tree only about twenty feet away. The smirk on his face made me ill. We talked quietly, but I knew he could hear. His hands were chained behind his back, his ankles bonded as well. But with his strength, and with blood coursing through his body, he could easily break the bonds. Thank God Will wasn’t allowing him to feed, which meant he would only grow weaker. One small consolation. How long would he last without blood? The sooner he died, the better.
“He’s an asset,” Will explained as the camp around us awoke to their early morning routine. We’d been traveling for a week and my side was slowly, if painfully, mending. Will had managed to stitch the wound and Thane was keeping tabs to make sure there was no infection. Although it hurt, it could have been much, much worse.
I released a harsh laugh. “You think he’s an asset because he claims he can help you?” I shook my head, frustrated and bemused. “He’s lying and will kill you the moment he can.”
Will sighed and raked his hands through his hair. “It’s a chance we have to take.”
I had to remind myself that this wasn’t my group to lead, that Will had been their fearless captain for years. They listened to him, they trusted him. But I still worried. “And if he turns on you?”
“We’ll have him under constant watch.”
It was pure stupidity. But it wasn’t the first time Will had done something I didn’t agree with and I assumed it wouldn’t be the last. But then it wouldn’t matter much longer. I scanned the group, chosen ones and dhampir mingling together, working in cooperation thanks to Thane. It was the only way we could win this war…with their help and the serum. We’d lost a lot of men and women a week ago, but we could have lost so many more. In the end, I supposed we had won. Although where war was concerned, I wasn’t sure if anyone could truly call themselves a winner.
“I’m doing what’s best for the group,” Will said.
Irate, my hands curled. “What’s best for—”
“Hey.” Kelly moved close and slid her arm around my waist, her presence always comforting. She smiled at me, but I could see the worry in her gaze. She’d arrived two days ago with a new group of chosen ones. Our camp had surged to at least seventy. A small army. “It’s done, it’s over. We won.”
I knew she was trying to keep us from arguing. She was right…I tired of the fighting too. Still, the smile that lit my lips was forced. “Yeah. Great.”
But it wasn’t over. It wouldn’t be over until the beautiful ones were dead. The wound throbbing at my side was a painful reminder.
“Will,” someone called out.
He hesitated, his gaze on me, but always a leader, he went off to help. Will would forever be called away by someone who needed him. He would never have a life of his own. But he thrived on it, so who was I to judge him?
“We’ll start on the compounds,” Kelly said. “Help the other chosen ones escape, even force them to leave if we must.” She laughed, shaking her head over their naiveté. “They’ll be like newborns, unsure of their surroundings and—”
“I’m leaving Kelly.”
Startled, she drew back. “No. Where would you go? You belong here, with us.”
But I didn’t. I never had. “I have to go, you know that, right? I have to find Raven and see if he knows the recipe for the serum. If I don’t, then those chosen ones you rescue will be no better off outside the compounds.”
She turned slowly and walked to a stone wall that had once, long, long ago, separated someone’s property from another. Her head bent, her face pale, I’d obviously surprised her. I moved to her side and leaned against the wall. “You know I have to.”
She nodded, but didn’t speak.
“Kelly,” my voice caught. “When you help my brothers and sister escape, take care of them, okay?”
When she finally met my gaze, tears shimmered in her dark eyes. The early morning sun rose behind her, making her glow. I would remember her this way forever: beautiful, kind, caring. “Will I see you again?”
“Sure,” I whispered. “Of course.”
But we knew the truth. I couldn’t survive long out there on my own. I’d most likely never see her again. But I couldn’t stay here and watch more people murdered either. If I could make it to Raven…at least find him and plead my case, they might have a chance.
My attention went to Will. I watched him give the orders, watched as he listened patiently to the others who came to him with questions. Even the dhampir who stood warily to the side, unsure how they fit into this group, respected Will and his orders. Will was exactly where he was supposed to be. I’d miss him, but I knew he belonged here. As did Kelly.
“I’m so sorry. I had no idea Tony would…” A tear slid down her cheek, and then another. Her guilt ate at me. I couldn’t leave letting her think this was all her fault.
“I know. We were all fooled,” I lied.
“If I would have—”
“Kelly.” I grabbed her hand. “Even Will believed in Tony. It wasn’t just you.”
She met my gaze. “But you didn’t trust him, did you?”
I didn’t respond. No need to make her feel worse.
“It’s why you’ll survive over all of us.” She pulled her hand away and swiped at her damp cheeks. “You trust your instincts. You’ll take care of yourself?” She threw her arms around my neck and hugged me close before I could respond. I savored that embrace, the comfort of her touch. People died too quickly, too suddenly in this world. How long would she last?
I pulled back and smiled at her. For two months I’d been with these people. I’d seen the season change from spring to summer. Buds grow to flowers and then leaves. But would we still be here for the next season? “See you soon.”
She nodded.
“Go on.” I glanced toward the camp. “They need you.”
She moved hesitantly toward the injured and ill. As she left my side, Will started toward me once more, his steps slow and unhurried. Our gazes met and held. For a long moment we just stood there, staring at each other.
“You’re leaving, aren’t you?”
I could see the vulnerability in his eyes and it surprised me that he cared. But things had changed the moment Will took Susan’s side. Perhaps our relationship had never really been what I’d thought. Maybe, just maybe, I’d put him on a pedestal when he was merely a guy…a normal guy. Not a god like I’d read about in one of my books.
“Don’t go,” he whispered.
Even as I knew I couldn’t stay, my heart leapt with hope. It would be so easy to remain here, and allow things to fall back into routine. But if I stayed I would once again be labeled, placed into a position, told what to do. I needed to think for myself, find my own way through this strange world. “I’m going to find Raven.”
“I see.” And he did understand. He knew it wasn’t just about the serum, but about me making a life for myself. We had two separate paths to travel.
“Good bye, Will. I’ll see you soon.”
He nodded, gripped my shoulders and pulled me close, pressing his lips to my forehead. Then, without a word he turned and started back toward the group. I took one last look at Will. He’d already gathered the others together and was shouting out orders once more. A born leader. The predictability of it all made me smile.
“Your blood smells c
lean,” Bacchus called out. “No infection. Very good for you.”
My body went cold. Slowly, I shifted my attention to the vampire. The steel manacles around his wrist would supposedly hold. But at times, when I found him watching me, I wondered if his capture was all an act. Perhaps he wanted to be caught for some nefarious reason.
“Thane is good at finding the ripe ones,” Bacchus added. A slow smile spread across his lips. He didn’t seem to be in the least bit frightened or worried about his future. “But I’m better.”
“Good for you.” I scooped up my pack and threw it over my shoulder, determined to get as far away from him as possible.
”Jane, dear. I know.”
I paused, my back to him. Keep walking, keep walking. I couldn’t. “What?”
“I know you didn’t take the vaccine. Your blood smells as clean as it did two months ago.”
The vaccine I’d hidden in my bag felt heavy, thrumming and alive. How did he know? No, he couldn’t. I shoved aside my fear, I would not let him manipulate me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I started up the hill toward Thane, but all the while I could feel Bacchus’ gaze on me, burning a hole into my back. The vampire was merely trying to scare me; I wouldn’t let him. Still, the urge to leave the camp and get as far away from him as possible overwhelmed me.
Halfway up the hill Thane’s intense gaze met mine and I forgot all about Bacchus. He leaned against a tree, his pack at his feet. On the outskirts, always on the outskirts of camp. “Hey.”
He didn’t respond, just watched me with those unreadable eyes. We’d barely talked in the week since the battle. He showed up every evening to check my wound for infection and then would saunter off, sitting in the dark shadows of camp. Once in a while he’d speak with the other dhampir, but no one else. For the first time in a long while I was excited and nervous about what the future might bring.
The Chosen Ones Page 26