“Got it.”
He hung up the phone. Oh crap. Oh poop doodles. Now what? If I go in there most likely both of us will end up dead. That man will just kill Jess, then me. Of course I'm faster than he is, so maybe I can stop him in time, but he made it sound like he has help. Can I get Jess out before anyone can stop me?
The phone rang again. I looked down at it, wondering whether to answer it or take it to Celeste, but I realized it wasn't her phone that was ringing, it was mine, which was on the table across the room. I hurried to it.
“Hello.”
“You have to save her Brynne,” Peggy sobbed.
“Pe...”
“She said to tell you not to, but they hit her! I could hear them hitting her!”
They are beating her! Oh my gosh, I don't know if I can handle this.
I want them dead. All of them. Including Agent Marcus.
“Brynne?” It was Ted now. “Jess said you knew them. She's tied up, and it sounds like some guy, some...”
“Agent Marcus,”
“Is running things, but he has some partner. She tried to tell me more, but every time she opened her mouth they hit her again.” He sucked in a deep breath. “Get my little girl back, Brynne. Please.”
“I'll do my best. I better go now before they do anything.”
“Be careful.”
“I will.”
“Take care of yourself, too.” he said. “We love you.”
“I love you guys.” I told him. “Don't worry, I will get her out of there.”
Sure Brynne, make promises you're pretty sure you can't keep. Well, it's been interesting anyway. I've been wondering if the VI would kill me when this is all said and done, and now it looks like someone else may take care of that instead. If I can get Jess out, I'm okay with that. She's worth it.
“Are you ready?” Celeste asked.
I looked up and she was in the doorway to her bedroom, heavy boots on, a holster on each side with a gun in each. Across her back was strapped a scabbard with a sword handle protruding above her left shoulder.
“Wow.” was all I could think to say.
“Need to get anything before we head out?” she asked.
“Oh, you... can't go.” I said.
“I'm going.”
“No.”
“This is...”
“Far too dangerous.” I told her.
“I can handle myself.”
“Undoubtedly. But I don't want you to get hurt.”
“Fine.” she said. She leaned against the doorway. “Have fun finding them.”
“Have... what?” Oh. She's the one who knows where they are. “Let me guess, you're...”
“Not telling you.”
She smiled and strolled toward the door, preparing to leave. I can't let her go. If she does, he'll make sure Jess dies. Maybe I can ditch her once I find out where they are.
“I don't think this is a good idea, and especially since your father is...”
“My father is involved in this somehow, but I'm not convinced yet that he would just...” She shook her head and closed her eyes. “He would never resort to turning his back on the VI just because he hates you so much.”
“Gee, I feel better already.”
It was nearly dark when we got there. A huge abandoned mall in Olathe. A part of me felt a sense of loss and pity that such a grand structure with so many joyful places and stores that so many people had shopped at was now practically in ruins. And then I snapped out of it and realized my best friend was in there somewhere and I had to go save her.
“You stay here.” I told Celeste.
“Not a chance.”
“I will break your legs if I have to.” I told her. I kind of meant it, too. “Look, I'll need some backup in case Jess and I have to make a hasty retreat. You can be waiting, all weapony and hot looking, to cover us while we get away.”
“Brynne,”
“Just stay!” I said. She nodded. “And I'll take the sword.”
I did a quick walk around the perimeter of the building, and I could feel eyes on me as I did. I hoped Celeste would be safe while she waited.
On the back side there was a door that led to what signs declared to be the home and hobby entrance. Uh-huh. All I saw was torn up carpeting and broken glass. I entered that way, sword ready. Not really sure how well I'll do with a sword, but it seemed like a better choice than the guns for this particular occasion, since Jess would be there and I didn't want to accidentally shoot her. Plus, Celeste may need the guns.
“Brynne,” I heard Jess's voice call out, muffled like someone was covering her mouth.
“I'm coming Jess.” I mumbled to myself. “Hang in there.”
I worked my way toward a mall directory, trying to get a feel for how the mall was laid out. There were an inner and outer ring of stores, with a corridor between and some hallways shooting through the center of the inner ring. I was guessing she'd be somewhere down one of those, based on where it sounded like her voice had come from.
Two steps further away from the door and it was pitch black. No light was reaching from the dim remains of the day outside. Luckily I could see well in the dark, but it didn't make it any less creepy.
“Hello there.” he said.
Standing in front of me, no more than ten feet away, was Roderick. I sucked in a breath and raised the sword defensively. Oh crap! How did he get here?
“Don't worry,” he said with a chuckle. “I have no interest in hurting you.” He paused and looked behind him, chuckling again. “Yet.” He motioned down the corridor. “Come.”
“What have you done to her?”
“Haven't laid a hand on her pretty little face.” he said.
Sure. Okay. So Agent Marcus is working with Roderick? That doesn't even make sense!
“Paolo is expecting you.” he told me.
“Paolo?” I said. I stopped in my tracks. “What?”
“He's very excited you decided to come.”
If Paolo is in on this then I can't trust anyone. And I'm pretty much dead. Oh I just hope Celeste can get away. Unless she is in on it too.
“Run Miss Brynne!” Paolo shouted when we entered the room.
“It's too late for that.” Agent Marcus said.
“Where's Jess?” I asked.
Yes, I'd like to save Paolo. He is obviously just a prisoner and not part of this. A relief for certain. But given the choice, Jess is and always will be my number one priority, above everyone else.
“She's...” Paolo said, jerking his head to the side.
Jess was slumped in a chair. There were ropes around her arms and wrists, holding her down. They were heavy ropes, tied to a heavy chair. She wasn't going anywhere. And she seemed to be knocked out at the time, anyway.
“Is she okay?” I asked.
“For now.” Roderick answered, again with his hideous chuckle.
“What do you want, then?” I asked them.
“Oh, the show is just about to begin.” he said.
“Dad!” Celeste's voice rang out from behind me.
“Celeste, what are you doing here?” Agent Marcus asked. His eyes narrowed on me. “You promised me.”
“What the hell is this?” she asked. Roderick chuckled again.
“They must die!” Agent Marcus insisted. “They are evil, Celeste. And you, you're too close to this one.” he said, his meaty fingers once again pointing in my direction.
“So you...” she looked at Roderick. “You teamed up with this thing to keep me away from her?”
“I saw the way you looked at her.”
“Dad,”
“It is unacceptable!” he shouted. “I will not have my daughter involved with a vampire!”
“Whoa!” I said, holding my hand up. “Seriously? That's what all this is about? You join a monster who kills children just because you are worried your daughter may, like, date me?”
“You are
evil!” he said, scowling at me. “You will corrupt her, and her soul is more important to me than the lives of any thousand children!”
“That's messed up.” I pointed toward Jess. “Let me take her and I'll leave and you will never see us again. I can promise you I will never come near Celeste.”
“I don't trust...”
“Am I late for the party?” a man's voice interrupted.
How many people are we going to have here? This is ridiculous.
Wait.
No way! No! No!
“A... a...” I sputtered.
“Hello Brynne. Been a long time.” he said. He had a Texas accent now, but it was him.
“You're dead.” I said.
“Eh, not so much.” he-- Alejandro-- said.
“Oh my gosh! I'm so glad you're alive, I just...”
“Sorry to say, you won't be for long.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Glad.” he said, flipping his hand as if that explained everything. “Or alive.” he added. “I've been disappointed in you, Brynne.”
“Me?”
“I should have just killed you when I wiped out your family. But you're sort of pretty,” he said, moving his hands about as he spoke, like he always did way back when I knew him. “And I have a weakness for pretty girls.” He tilted his head. “Don't I, Marissa?”
She suddenly appeared over by Paolo. She was stroking her hands down the side of his face. She winked at me, then turned her attention to Alejandro.
“So... so what is this?” I asked him. “You... what, had her date me?”
“Oh that,” he said, smiling.
“Damn Brynne, you're so easy.” Miranda said from over by Jess. “I can have you seeing things at the snap of a finger, sis can make you feel and believe things, and it's all just hilarious!” Her laugh was scary.
“It was good for a laugh, that's for sure.” Alejandro said. “Truth be told, I wasn't completely certain I wanted to off you just yet. I thought maybe you still might come around to reality and realize that these people aren't like us.”
“No kidding.” Celeste chimed in.
“They're cattle, Brynne. Only there to feed us and serve us.”
So that's what this is about? People being cattle. Me never being quite the killing machine he thought I should be? Insane!
“So you're the werewolf thing?” I asked him.
“Yep,” he said, laughing. “You can thank Miranda for that one. She's good, ain't she?”
“I'll just take my daughter now and be on my way.” Agent Marcus said, moving toward Celeste.
“Oh, sorry about that partner,” Alejandro said. “Not going to happen.”
Roderick grabbed Agent Marcus and swiftly... well, broke him in half. Not literally, but he bent his back over the wrong way, shattering Agent Marcus's spine.
“Dad!” Celeste shouted. She started toward him and Roderick turned toward her, forcing her to stop.
“For... you...” Agent Marcus gurgled. “I did... it... they said... safe.”
“Daddy!” she cried out. “Help him!” she implored me.
“Well look at that, wouldja?” Alejandro said, laughing. “Our boy Rod here has been working out.”
Celeste let out an angry roar and opened fire with her guns, unloading into Roderick. One of the bullets grazed my side as I took the opportunity to move toward Jessica.
Jess was waking, I could see her body moving now. I was almost to her, but Miranda was finally realizing what was going on, and she was stepping in my direction. I swung the sword hard, hitting her in the midsection. She doubled over in pain as I continued to swing, a huge downward ark, slicing the ropes that held Jess. The blade continued on to the floor, clanking as a six inch piece broke off the end and went flying somewhere. I dropped the sword, feeling weaker now that I was unarmed.
I turned just in time to see Roderick reach Celeste. He gripped her throat and was choking her, but Jess was quick to wake, and even quicker to her defense. Roderick was weakened from the bullet wounds, and was pulled off of Celeste easily. I started toward Paolo, hoping to free him before Alejandro could do anything, but Alejandro was nowhere to be seen.
But Marissa was. She was standing by Paolo, one hand gripping his hair and pulling his head back, exposing his neck. If she bit him he would die. She would not go easy and just drain a little blood, she would rip his throat out.
“Don't do it.” I said.
“Why?” she asked, laughing.
“You have to have at least a little bit of a conscience. Don't you see how wrong this is?”
“Wrong for us to be the top of the food chain? We were made this way! It's nature!” she said. “You don't see a mountain lion take pity on a rabbit, do you?” she asked.
“He's a person!”
“So what? Oh I am so glad I don't have to listen to your whiny ass anymore. Alejandro said you were a whiner, but I had no idea until I spent time with you just how true that was.”
“So it meant nothing to you? You can't, like, do me just this favor?” I asked. “Let this one meaningless creature go for me?”
“For you? Oh honey, you honestly believed I cared about you, didn't you? How pathetic!” She laughed. “But damn I can act! I'm not even into girls and I had you and everyone around you going!”
“You deserve the Oscar, sis.” Miranda said. She had somehow made it back to her feet and stumbled over to Marissa's side. “Let's get out of here.”
“Yeah, you're right.”
With that Marissa reached down with her other hand and gripped Paolo's jaw. His face took on a shocked look, then sort of a grimace, just before she twisted. She didn't break his neck and end it there, she twisted far enough around to break it, then with a swift jerk it came off.
His head came off.
I stared in disbelief as they began to walk away. Marissa paused, kissed Paolo's lips, then laughed and threw the head in a lob to me. I caught it and stared down into his eyes.
I read somewhere once that when they beheaded people in the middle ages that their heads were actually still alive for as long as fifteen seconds. A live brain, unable to move or breathe, but still alive inside there.
The thought that I was holding Paolo's head in my hands, staring down into eyes that were still alive and still seeing me creeped me out to no end, and I shuttered.
“I will make them pay for this.” I promised him. “I'm sorry.”
I placed his head in the lap of his body. I turned to Jess, to get her to come with me to pursue the sisters, and I could see that she had been fighting with Roderick all this time. She had him pinned face down to the floor, one arm behind his back and the other arm actually laying ten foot away. She was bloodied and breathing hard, too, but Roderick was gasping as the blood rushed from him.
“If we hurry we can catch them.” I told her.
“Yeah,” she let go of his arm. “He's done.”
He didn't move when she let go, and even his arm remained behind his back. He gasped a couple of times, then went silent.
And then Alejandro reappeared.
“Well well, you've got more of a killer instinct than I figured.” he said, smiling. “But it's too late to change my mind, little girl.”
“Bastard.” I said.
“Well, now, that's your opinion, and I...”
“I'll second that.” Jess said.
“And me.” Celeste added.
“Seems to be the general consensus.” I told him. “This didn't have to happen.”
“Sure didn't. Coulda killed you off a hundred and a half years ago. Shoulda, but like I said before, you're pretty.”
“There doesn't seem to be a lot of point to this conversation.” Jess said.
“That's true enough.” Alejandro said. “Goodbye Brynne, it was good seeing you again.” He smiled. “I really regret having to do this.”
He lunged at me, gripping my arm and swinging
it around behind me like Jess had done to Roderick. I heard popping as he broke my right arm in at least two places.
But I didn't scream out or cry. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of that. Instead I used my heel to kick his shin as hard as I could.
And broke my heel.
He was much tougher and stronger than I was. Much. We outnumbered him, but I suddenly understood that we weren't going to overpower him. Celeste was human, and needed to stay out of it and get out of here. Jess was stronger than me, but she wasn't nearly as strong as he was, she was banged up from fighting, and she didn't have his experience fighting.
Betrayal: Book 2 of the Non-Vampire Series Page 15