Infinite

by Amy Richie

  “Are you ok?” I gasped out.

  “What?” He didn’t turn to look at me.

  “He didn’t get you, did he?” His claws were sharp. I didn’t see any blood on Paris, though.

  Finally, he relaxed enough to look at me. I was still crouched low to the ground. Adrenalin was keeping me in one piece so far, but I was afraid that if I tried to stand now, it would be too much for my legs to handle. I just needed a few minutes to calm down.

  “He didn’t get me,” he said slowly.

  I swallowed thickly, not sure what else to do or say. “Thanks for…you know…saving me,” I stammered.

  “I should have been here sooner.” His eyes moved quickly over my body and then back to my face.

  “I’m ok,” I blurted without much thought.

  “You don’t look ok.”

  “I’m ok.”

  “Lexi.”

  “No, really. I’m ok. I just need a minute.”

  He knelt down until we were eye level. “Let me see,” he ordered softly.

  “I’m ok, I’m ok, I’m ok,” I repeated my mantra.

  “You’re not ok.” He touched the side of my face with gentle fingertips. “Stop saying that.”

  I nodded. “Yeah. I will be, though.”

  “We should get out of here.”

  “That’s what I’ve been trying to say this while time.” I smiled weakly, which he didn’t bother to return.

  “I should have listened to you.” He cradled his face in his hands in a brief show of despair. “If I had just thrown you on my back and just ran, we’d be safe by now. This never would have happened.”

  I couldn’t exactly argue with that. It was true. If we had gone when I said, Miranda would still be alive. Then, if we’d ran after Miranda was taken, half my blood wouldn’t be all over the ground.

  Maybe I was wrong to blame Paris, though. Maybe it was just how he was wired. He was a warrior—in every sense of the word. It wasn’t enough to know that he was created to fight in the vampire war—I needed to realize that all he knew was to fight. It wasn’t fair for me to think badly of him for not running.

  I didn’t have time to tell him any of that, though. He shot back up, a low growl already forming in his throat. He scanned the trees in front of us for several tense moments while I tried to hold my breath.

  “Can you stand up?” His eyes darted back down to me and then quickly away again.

  “Of course.” I wanted my voice to sound stronger, braver, but it took all I had to just keep it steady.

  His scowl grew darker and more pronounced as I struggled to stand up. My leg had already been sore, now it felt like it was on fire. How was I going to be able to run on it?

  Seeing my pain, he put his hands gently around my waist and pulled me the rest of the way to my feet. I bit hard on my tongue, determined not to cry out. He should have just left me to the wolf, there was no way I was walking out of here.

  “Sh… Should I carry you?” His hands fluttered halfway between keeping me steady and protecting me from whatever might fly out at us.

  “You should just leave me. I’m too far gone.”

  He was close enough to my face that I heard his angry exhale. “I’m not leaving you.”

  “It’s ok,” I awkwardly touched his shoulder, “I don’t blame you.”

  He whipped his head around to glare at me. “You are the strangest human I’ve ever met,” he accused, “and I’ve known some strange ones.”

  His expression softened slightly when our eyes met. It wasn’t the time for my heart to react to him, but I couldn’t stop myself from leaning forward.

  Both our head snapped up at the same time at the sound of the wolves. They were closer now. The wolf that had run away from Paris had gone to get the others. He wouldn’t be able to fight them all off by himself. And I wasn’t going to be much help.

  Maybe no help at all.

  His narrowed eyes swung to meet my wide ones. “Don’t worry,” he almost growled, “they won’t get you again.”

  “I’m not worried.” And I wasn’t, not when he was staring at me like that. He wouldn’t let them get near me; I wasn’t worried about myself at all. “You can’t fight them all, though.” I voiced my earlier thoughts.

  “I wasn’t planning to.”

  Careful not to jostle me and clearly not at ease with it, Paris swung me around to position me on his back. I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist and my arms latched onto his shoulders. I winced at the shooting pain in my things, but I didn’t loosen my grip.

  It took Paris a few minutes to get his stride. Whether he was unsure because I was on his back or because we were surrounded by wolves, I didn’t know; I didn’t loosen my grip though. And soon, we were soaring through the trees. My heart lurched with excitement.

  The wind rushed past me in a familiar caress. I couldn’t help the small sigh that escaped my lips. Even though I knew the situation had gone from bad to worse—at least we were flying again.

  This was where I was meant to be. Running like this with Paris was where I felt free. Even when I was with the sisters, the only time I felt free was when we were running. That was the only tie I ever felt like I wasn’t encumbered by being human.

  This was how we should have started out this day. Now that I had blood pouring form me, it seemed too late. Oh well. I tried to shrug, but my shoulder hurt too much. Even if I died now, at least we were running!

  Paris grunted his disapproval at my thoughts, but I didn’t let him bother me. That’s what he got for listening to them.

  “There’s too many wolves,” he called to me after only a few minutes, “we need somewhere to hide out.”

  “The cave. Where Miranda and I hid.”

  “Do you remember where it was?”

  “On the cliff.”

  “Yeah, I figured that part out.”

  I laughed out loud and he laughed back. The sound mesmerized me until I found myself thinking we were going to be ok. “It was near our camp. We couldn’t have run far.”

  He nodded and switched direction.

  It wasn’t easy to find the place where the cave was half hidden by low hanging branches on the cliffs above. The forest was huge and just became more massive as I saw more of it.

  I kept a hold of Paris and we easily avoided the jaws of any wolves that were brave enough to take a snap at us. He didn’t say much as he scanned the rock face, but if he stood still for too long, the wolves tried to close in.

  His steps were sure and determined, though, and eventually the body of the white wolf came into view. I cringed into his shoulder, but he still didn’t hesitate. With one fluid movement, the wolf was gone and we ducked inside the small space

  It seemed even smaller with Paris‘s large frame inside with me. Everything was quiet outside so I was able to hear our hearts beating out a strange rhythm together. I felt tired, like I hadn‘t slept in many days. It was probably just the adrenalin wearing off.

  I felt the ground beneath my feet before I realized he was setting me down. The world swayed slightly at first but Paris didn’t let me go so I was able to stay upright.

  “You ok?” he whispered close to my temple.

  “I won’t fall,” I whispered back. Maybe I wasn’t completely ok, but I wasn’t passing out yet and I wasn’t falling over. Things might be ok still, as long as he could keep the wolves away.

  “I…” I heard his loud intake of breath, but he was still too close to be able to see his face, so it was hard to tell what he was thinking.

  “Are you ok? Did they hurt you?”

  “Of course not,” he sighed.

  “Then, what’s wrong?”

  “They’re coming.”

  Sure enough, a huge jaw snapped into the opening. A sick wave of déjà vu swept over me, making me sway on my feet. This wasn’t like last time, though. I wasn’t the strong one this time. I wasn’t even sure if I still had my knife.

  There was a loud crack and Paris curved himsel
f around my body while hundreds of rocks fell to close up the only opening to the cave. There was one loud yelp and then everything outside went quiet.

  The dust took longer to clear. “Did you do that?” I gasped.

  “I already told you, they aren’t getting you.”

  Chapter 39

  I opened my eyes as wide as they would go, but I still couldn’t see much. I could just make out flashes of the rock around us. Tiny flickers of light played with my imagination.

  I couldn’t hear the wolves anymore either. I wasn’t sure if the sudden rock fall had scared them away or if they were only muted out of the cocoon Paris had created. Not hearing them made me feel safe—too safe.

  Gloria had often told me not to trust only one of my senses. Just because I couldn’t see something didn’t mean it was gone and just because I couldn’t hear something anymore didn’t mean it had given up. I was only a human after all.

  “They’re still out there,” Paris confirmed.

  I flinched at the sound of his voice; I didn’t realize he was standing so close. “You can hear them?”

  “Yes.”

  “How many?”

  “Too many.”

  I nodded mutely. I figured as much, but it didn’t sound any better coming from him than it had in my own head. “Are we just going to stay here? Wait them out?”

  “I don’t know.”

  I couldn’t tell much just from his voice. “It’s so dark in here,” I muttered.

  A bright light flashed on suddenly, momentarily blinding me. I blinked rapidly, trying to see where Paris was, but all I could see was black. “Paris?”

  My hand shot out and immediately crashed into his hard body. “I’m right here,” he comforted gently.

  “Where is that light coming from?”

  “Flashlight.” He raised one eyebrow and shook the small metal flashlight he held in his left hand.

  “Oh.”

  It was disorienting to see the beams breaking against the rocks and bouncing from the ceiling. I was glad Paris had thought to bring a light. Obviously, it wasn’t for him. The corner of my mouth lifted slightly.

  “I need to see you,” he murmured. For someone who wanted to see me, he was making a point not to look at me.

  “I think I’m ok,” I assured him. I knew the wolf had gotten my arm, but it really didn’t hurt as bad as I thought it would.

  “You’re in shock.”

  “No, I’m not.” My eyebrows gathered to a low point. Was I in shock? Was that possible? “I’ve been hurt before.” Just in the past couple days, my foot busted open and I was bitten by a werewolf.

  “Just stand still,” he ordered.

  I didn’t say a word as Paris gingerly, but thoroughly, inspected my arms and shoulder. He slowly lifted my shirt, then let it fall back into place quickly.

  “Look, Lexi.” He ran a nervous hand through his hair, refusing to look at me, “It’s bad. Real bad.”

  “It doesn’t hurt very bad. Not really.” My hand brushed lightly against the gashes on my arm, but I let my hand fall quickly at the sting I didn’t expect.

  “Don’t lie.” He raised his arms out to me, but let them fall again before he could touch me.

  “I was just torn to shreds by the big bad wolf.” I shrugged awkwardly. “Of course it hurts a little.”

  He chuckled just as awkwardly as my shrug. “As long as it’s just a little.”

  “I’m not going to die or anything. I can hold out for awhile longer.” When he still didn’t look convinced, I added; “I’m stronger than I look.”

  “I don’t doubt that.” He gave a reluctant smile, but he was still worried. Probably scared I was going to die on him.

  “I’m fine,” I repeated the lie that we both knew wasn’t true. I took a few steps back until I could lean my back against the rock wall. Maybe if I didn’t put all my weight on my injured leg, the world would stop spinning.

  “I only see one way to keep you alive,” he said suddenly. His voice was louder now, more sure.

  “What?”

  “I can give you some blood.”

  “Give me blood?” After Jewell hit, a lot of vamps gave humans blood. They thought they were saving them. A few drops and it healed them right up.

  Only it didn’t.

  “You want to make me an SH.” It wasn’t a question, but he nodded anyways.

  I had never seen an SH up close, especially not once they were too far gone. But I had heard enough stories to know they were a zombie species. I didn’t want to be like that.

  “I don’t want to be a zombie.

  “You won’t be a zombie.”

  “The SH… they turn into…”

  “I know.” He held up a hand to stop me.

  There was a moment of awkward silence. “Have you made a lot of them?”

  He scoffed at my question. “Of course not.”

  “How… how many?” I insisted.

  “This isn’t something I offer lightly, Lexi. I’ve never… never…”

  “I still don’t want to be a zombie.” I closed my eyes against his expression.

  “There’s a girl I know. Anya.”

  “I don’t…”

  “She used to be SH, lived for years as SH.”

  “Five years?”

  “Decades.”

  My head jerked up. “How?”

  “Injections.”

  “For the rest of her life.”

  “She’s a vampire now. A Letrell.”

  My thoughts turned suddenly to the sisters. I missed them with such an abrupt ache that tears sprang to my eyes. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Paris watched me with his dark eyes, the vein in his temple throbbing to its own frantic rhythm.

  Gloria would have known what to do. She wouldn’t have left the decision up to me either. She would have told us all what to do and it would have been done. She was always so sure. I wasn’t sure about anything.

  Gloria never would have turned me into a SH. She hated the SH. Kill on sight. I pinched tight on the bridge on my nose. What would they have done right now?

  The answer came immediately to mind. They would have changed me to save me. We had talked about it before. Melody always wanted to change me, but Liza flat out refused. Gloria had made the decision that we would wait until I was actually at risk of dying before changing me.

  Lying here now in the cold cave and my body riddle with puncture marks, blood spilling on the ground, this would have been one of those times. All Paris wanted to do was change me into a zombie. A SH didn’t last forever.

  “I’m not doing it.” I shook my head, my jaw set firmly. “I’ll wait here until your brothers come. It won’t be long now.”

  “It could be days still before Achilles can get them all here. They won’t come for a rescue mission, Lexi—they’re coming to clean up a mess.”

  “The wolves?”

  “Yes, the wolves. They’re parasites; a diseased species.”

  “Like the SH,” I muttered low enough so he couldn’t hear me.

  “My brothers will come in and kill all the wolves that are stupid enough to try and fight them.”

  “Well…” I inhaled sharply, “I’ll be fine until then.”

  “No you won’t.”

  “You could…” I was almost afraid to say what I was thinking out loud.

  “Could what?” His motions all stilled until he was only staring at me, breathing heavily.

  “It’s what the sisters would have done.”

  “What?”

  “You can change me.”

  “Change you how?”

  “Change me into a vampire.”

  He blinked rapidly, which I didn’t take as a good sign. I was hoping for more of a smile and maybe even a hug and a quick agreement. What did blinking mean?

  “What did you say?”

  Shock. Blinking meant he was in shock. “It’s the only way.” I leaned closer to him so he could tell how serious I was.

  “You
have no idea what you are asking from me.” There was a pleading in his voice that I recognized immediately. It was the same pleading I heard in my own voice.

  “I do know what I’m asking,” I contradicted.

  “If you did…you wouldn’t ask.”

  “It’s the only way,” I repeated.

  “No,” he shook his head, eyes wide and slightly wild. Just like a caged animal. “There is a way out of this. I’ll find a way.”

  He turned away in a flash and just as quickly was pushing his fingers against the rocky walls. “There’s no way out of here, Paris,” I uselessly told him. “I checked last time I was stuck in here.” With Miranda.

  “You’re human,” he scoffed. “Of course you couldn’t find a way out. I’ll find a way out.”

  I didn’t think there was much room in the cave, so I was surprised when he disappeared completely. Maybe he had found another way out. But his next words squashed what little hope I had.

  “I don’t think we can get out of here,” he said wearily.

  His voice came from far away, though, warbled and shaky like it sounded in a dream. I wasn’t worried, though—not yet. We were still together and in this cave, with the entrance caved in. The wolves were trapped outside.

  “If you don’t want to change me,” he made a small noise of protest that I ignored, “we can wait here. We’ll be safe.”

  “You’re hurt.”

  I don’t know why he said it, we both already knew that. So I responded with something just as obvious. “I know.”

  I only became concerned when his outline began to shimmer at the edges. I knew I had lost a lot of blood, but clung stubbornly to the misconception that Paris Letrell was strong enough to save me. It was that dancing light that made me second-guess.

  “I think I’ll just sit down,” I whispered.

  “Lexi,” he took my elbow and guided me to the wall of the cave so I could slide down to the hard ground, “I’ll get you out of this.”

  I nodded, only understanding the desperation in his voice—not the actual words.

  “We just have to,” he pulled roughly at his chin, “we just need to stay here until my brothers get here.”

  I nodded again.

  I probably wouldn’t make it until his brothers got here, I think he knew that, too. That’s why he was watching me with such a tortured look. He was going to lose us both.