“I have to s-stay?” Doug’s voice cracked, and she loathed herself in that moment of vulnerability.
“We will have you out as soon as possible. I promise.” Ladon squeezed her hand. “Trust me.”
“You keep saying that.”
“I need you to believe me.”
“Okay.” She swallowed hard as she watched the two men get up, knock on the door, and leave. As the click of the door echoed around the room, the dam of tears she’d been holding back crumbled. The salty tears of fear rolled quickly down the curves of her cheeks as she lowered her head into her hands and silently sobbed.
“I’m on my way to see her now,” Kylee said into her phone.
“She’s trying to be strong, but I can feel her distress. I wanted to stay, but Vern and I needed to get back to the cave so we could find a way to sort this all out,” Ladon said.
Kylee wasn’t used to hearing such a panicked tone to Ladon’s voice. Of all the brothers, he was the laziest. She only ever saw him actually come to life on the battlefield. Then he was unstoppable, but on a daily basis, he was so laid back he was almost horizontal. “I’m about twenty minutes away.”
“Walk faster.”
“Don’t fuck with me, Ladon,” she growled down the line. Kylee had been at work all day. She knew Elyse had been arrested, but she wasn’t able to leave. She had to finish her day with a stomach filled full of dread at what her friend was going through. The last thing she needed was a dragon on a high horse getting up in her grill. “I am tired, my back hurts, and I’m worried sick about Elyse. Last thing I need is your scaly ass in my face. Got it? I understand the situation is serious, I’m not fucking dumb. Now, I’m on my way. I’ll be there for our girl. Okay?”
“But—” Ladon started to say.
“Goodbye.” Kylee clicked the end button before she told him exactly where he could shove it and slid the cell phone into her back pocket.
A snap of a twig made her ears prick up. The sun had set before she had even left the office. The darkness of the night had set in earlier and earlier as the winter months were approaching. She didn’t normally worry about walking around at night, but strange things happening made her a little on edge. She stopped and bent down to fake retying her shoelace. She needed a few seconds to scan her surroundings for any danger. If someone were following her, she hoped they didn’t realize she was wearing boots that had no laces.
Casually, she looked around the darkened park she was walking through, but the shadows moved everywhere. The wind had picked up, and although she had walked this path from her work a million times, the energy tonight was weird. As the trees moved from the gusts, so did the shadows they cast.
“Kylee…” She stood back up and got mad at herself. “Don’t be a sook, there is nothing here but shadows.”
“And me…”
She froze instantly. The words carried on a hot breath that hit the back of her neck said whoever owned that deep voice was right behind her.
“I ain’t no shadow,” he continued as his hand came over her mouth. The other arm moved around her throat, cutting off her air supply. Her hands frantically clawed at the man who was standing behind her. Curling her fingers with rage anytime they hit flesh, she made sure her nails gathered evidence for her impending autopsy.
“Get the tape,” he growled to a second person standing to the left. Kylee’s head flicked to try and see a face, but he tightened his arm on her neck causing the blackness to creep in quicker. “Ready?”
The next few seconds happened like a slow-motion movie. His hand moved and was quickly replaced by a piece of sticky silver tape. Kylee didn’t have enough breath left to scream even if she had tried. The blackness had almost fully engulfed her eyes when he dropped her to the ground. Her first intake of air was so painful she groaned as a tear rolled down her cheek. Falling hard to the pebbled path, her hands braced her fall but were quickly ripped to meet behind her back where she heard a zip tie close tightly around them before the pain of it being too tight registered. She was kneeling on the hard ground, her arms bound behind her and her mouth taped shut. Kylee knew this was going to end badly, how badly depended on how clear she could keep her head.
“What are you going to do with h-her?”
Kylee didn’t move. She kept her head down as she relied on her other senses to fill in some blanks. They stood behind her. The person who had grabbed her was male. He smelled clean, so not a vagrant type wanting a quick bit of cash. He was taller than her, very strong and obviously in command. The other one was female. Her voice sounded like the strength was only skin deep. A slight quiver on the end of her sentence caused Kylee to know she would be the weakest point when needed.
“You said she’s a friend of hers?” the male replied.
“She is. I’ve seen them together, o-often. I think she was even staying at her apartment for a w-while.”
This is about Elyse? Kylee’s brow creased as she kept her head down.
“Then she is the perfect message to send. She needs to know I’m coming for her.”
Kylee lifted her head finally as she heard footsteps coming around to stand in front of her. Looking up, her eyes widened as she stared straight into the eyes of Elyse, should she have been a man.
The man looked her up and down. His stand was that of a man who was borderline insane. His eyes were darting around in a frantic pace as he watched her and kept an eye on his surroundings. She only noticed his dark clothes as she saw him reach into the back of his jeans and pull out a silver blade which had been hidden there. The way the metal glowed under the moon was ethereal-like in its lethal beauty. As he tilted it left and right, it sparkled with a deadly appeal. When he finally looked back at her, the way his lip picked up in the corner made the pit of Kylee’s stomach drop away. She could see in his eyes this wasn’t the first time he had intentions to make someone bleed, she just hoped he hadn’t killed before.
“Jenna…”
Jenna? Kylee spun her head to look at the woman standing to the side. The hunter that Elyse had spoken to. The one who shot her and Ladon.
“Ohhh…” He grinned. “Looks like she knows you, Jen. I think my cousin’s been talking about you.”
Cousin? Her head flicked back to the man with the knife.
Explains why they look the same, she thought.
The only problem being Kylee hadn’t ever heard Elyse mention having any family alive.
“Better have been a good talk. I’m a delight. Right, Toby?” Jenna said with a sly grin having gained some confidence, her voice no longer quivering.
“A delight? Ha! She doesn’t know about me, yet.” The way he grinned made Kylee inwardly flinch. “But she will after this.”
Using his foot, he kicked Kylee’s shoulder hard enough that she fell backward with a heavy thump. The pain from her shoulder being dislocated with the force of his steel-capped boot hitting it, was only paled by the radiating slice of white-hot agony that ran down her spine as her head cracked against the pavement. Her hands awkwardly behind her to the side as Jenna grabbed her feet and sat on them, letting the male place one foot on either side of her hips and lower himself until he was sitting on her hip as it angled up uncomfortably.
Kylee’s vision blurred from the impact, but she felt the sudden draft of wind hit her skin as he sliced open her shirt. Feeling his fingertips run lightly across her belly made her body instinctively buck against his invasion. Blinking her eyes repeatedly, she fought to see past the fog. Clasping onto his eyes, he grinned, riding her bucking hips. This maniacal laugh was one that would have made even the hottest of blood freeze instantly.
“Hold onto her, Jenna. This ride’s gonna get bumpy.”
The first cut of the blade into her flesh made her back arch violently. The screaming ripping from her lungs was muffled by the tape but couldn’t hide the agony behind it. Kylee’s silent screams kept coming as the blade kept cutting into her skin. It was like being trapped in a never-ending spiral of torture at th
e hands of this maniac. He was riding her bucking hips, roaring hysterically as he continued to slice the cold, steel blade into her flesh, determined to finish the job.
“What the fuck?”
Kylee craned her head to see where the voice had come from. She saw Darlington standing a few feet away from them, his eyes frantically taking in all before him.
“Walk away stranger, this has nothing to do with you.” He pointed the knife dripping with blood in the stranger’s direction.
“Like fuck it doesn’t.” Darlington looked down at Kylee, her eyes were swollen and panic-filled. Her shirt was ripped open, and her stomach was covered in blood. Noticing her hands tied behind her back, his rage tipped over with the fact her mouth was taped shut. His body began to shudder as the change started. His fury at seeing this woman being brutalized had forced his true form without consulting his brain first.
Kylee’s screams dried up in her throat as she watched the officer, who had been harassing her for the last few days, turn into a bear. One minute he was Darlington, the next he was over ten feet tall and covered in a golden honey-colored fur. His paws were easily bigger than her whole head. She felt the weight lift off her hips and feet, and Jenna and Elyse’s cousin get off her and stumble backward at what was happening. They obviously didn’t know he was a bear either.
Darlington rose up onto his two back legs and roared his fury loud into the dark night. His jaw opened wide enough to show huge, death-inflicting teeth. If Kylee’s mouth wasn’t taped shut, it would be hanging open in awe of how massive this beast was.
“There are bears here, too?” Jenna stared at the male accusingly. “I thought you said it was just dragons and phoenix?”
“Apparently, the bears have been hibernating,” Elyse’s cousin replied with a maniacal smile. “Just makes more critters for me to hunt.” He looked down at Kylee, his finger extended to her face. “See that Elyse gets this message. War is coming, and I’m leading the assault.” With those few words, he turned and ran. With a quick glance back, not quite believing there were bears here too, Jenna turned and followed him into the darkness.
The thud of the bear’s front feet landing on the ground next to Kylee made her jump slightly. She knew it was Darlington, she just hoped he still knew her in his beast form. As he came closer, each thump of his huge paws was heavy on the ground. Kylee tried to make a comforting noise against the agony she was presently feeling. Her eyes widening as the bear’s nose went to her stomach. It was covered in so much blood even her white bra was now stained red. The bear growled and shook its head, taking a few steps back from her.
Kylee watched as the beast began to ripple once more, the fur retracting as his bones seemed to break and reform back into a human form. Albeit it, now a very naked human form. He ran to her, crouching beside her. For a moment, his eyes were frantic as to what to do first before his training as an officer of the law kicked in. He took a deep breath and looked her in the eyes. For the first time, Kylee saw compassion, an empathy of what she’d just endured. Maybe even regret that if he had been there sooner?
“This might hurt… I’m sorry.” He picked up the corner of the tape and ripped it off. The cry of pain when he tore it from her mouth ripped his heart in two. He looked around for something to cut the zip tie holding her hands behind her but couldn’t find anything. “I’m just going to snap it myself. Again, I’m sorry if this hurts.”
Kylee nodded as she floated in and out of consciousness. She felt him lean over her, the pressure on her wrists, then a snap. Her body arched with a fresh wave of pain as her bone snapped along with the zip tie.
“Fuck! I think I just… fuck… I’m sorry. Fuuuck.” Darlington held his hands out, turning them over as he took them in., They were covered in her blood from trying to help her. He had just caused more pain for this woman by snapping her wrist to free her. Darlington’s clothes were ripped from when he’d changed and were lying on the ground. Even from here he could see his phone was smashed. He must have stood on it because it was flatter than a pancake. He thought for a minute about his best plan of attack. His station was only a ten-minute walk away, five if he ran. From there, he could phone for an ambulance.
“I’m going to scoop you up. Okay? I need to get you help. Again…” He sighed at having to say again that something he was going to do would indeed hurt her. He had no choice but to do what needed to be done. “I’m sorry if this hurts you.”
Kylee’s eyes flickered from looking at him to rolling back in her skull as her state of consciousness filtered in and out. Darlington tried to be as careful as he could as he placed one hand under her knees, the other around her chest and under her arms as he picked her up. She cried out once more in pain as he stood and held her against his bare chest. Her blood smearing his flesh as she gripped onto him tightly.
“Don’t let me go,” she said, but her voice was barely audible.
“I got you,” was all he replied before her body went limp in his arms.
The darkness of her mind finally winning out against her battle to remain strong.
He tucked her against him and ran to the station.
“Kylee’s in the hospital.” Jo clicked off his phone and looked at V.
“Huh?” He looked up along with the others from the mountain of paperwork they had spread out over his desk. A plan of attack was being formed to get Elyse out on bail.
“Kylee was attacked. That’s all they’ll tell me. She’s in surgery.” He swallowed hard, his best friend in the entire world had been hurt, and he hadn’t been there to protect her. Jo was known as the joker in the group, but right now, there was not one single thing to find funny about this situation they found themselves in.
“You’re shitting me?” Ladon said. “I just spoke to her. She was walking to the station.”
“Then you were most likely the last person to speak to her before some butcher took to her with a knife,” Jo spat at his brother. “All this focus on Elyse, and one of our own was out wandering alone, unprotected.”
“Jo, calm down,” V said firmly.
“Calm down?” Jo’s voice rose sharply. “It’s your fault she was out there by herself. You fucking kicked her out.”
“I did nothing of the sort,” V replied incredulously.
“You made her feel like she wasn’t part of us. You made her feel unwelcome. You drove her from the protection of the clan.” He sighted V directly. “Her blood is on your hands, brother,” Jo spat the last word as he turned and walked out of the office, the chamber, and the cave. His best friend needed him now more than ever, and be damned if he would let her down twice.
“What do we do, V?” The brothers had watched the interaction and then saw Jo leave, so they turned back to V. “Which one are we—”
“Which one?” V growled to Tor as he asked the question. “Which one? Would you like me to choose which one of you I would save? The answer is both… we go to both,” V said firmly. “Ladon, Vern, and I will stay here and keep going with this paperwork for Elyse. Tor, you take Payton and Taryn to the hospital. Kylee will want some support from them, I’m sure.”
Tor nodded and stood to leave.
“Tor?” V said.
“Yeah?”
“Keep your phone on you. I got a bad feeling about this. I’ll need you to report back exactly what happened to Kylee.” Tor nodded at V’s request and went to pick up the ladies and head to the hospital.
Jo paced up and down the hallway of the hospital. Kylee had gone in for emergency surgery over two hours ago, and there had been no further word. He had arrived a little over an hour ago and hadn’t been able to sit still.
How could he have been so stupid to leave her alone?
With everyone focused on Elyse and her being arrested for murder, he had dropped the ball and left one of the most important women in his life open for attack. Attack… he let the word roll around his head. Attaaack… he repeated as he drew it out. Someone had attacked her, hurt her, damaged her enough to n
eed surgery to repair the wounds. Jo could feel his blood boiling as his dragon roared in fury to be let out. His beast wanted instant revenge—his beast wanted to rip whoever did this limb from limb. Slowly. Jo fought hard to keep his beast on its chain. Last thing V needed was reports of a huge, raging dragon loose in the emergency room of the hospital.
The doctor came walking out. Jo saw him slide off his cap and sigh deeply as he looked around for relatives to discuss Kylee’s progress. As Jo walked up, ready to claim his status, the doctor saw another man who had been sitting by the wall waiting.
“Officer Darlington?”
“Yes. How is she?”
“Normally, I can only speak to the relatives, but as she has none here and you’re the one who saved her, I’m making an exception.”
Jo froze as he listened. This man saved her? Jo looked him up and down. He was wearing mismatched shorts and shirt, they didn’t even look like they fit him properly. Sure, he was a big guy, but if you can’t even dress yourself properly, how could he have saved Kylee?
“She has some very deep lacerations to her stomach, some of which perforated the intestines in three places, but I think we have that all sorted now. We have stitched up the all of the cuts, and she’s resting quietly.”
Jo listened. ‘All of the cuts,’ ‘perforated intestines,’ he felt ill with what she had endured.
“How many stitches?” the man asked.
“I lost count, to be honest, but there were a lot. We cleaned it up, though, and got a picture as you requested of the message. He cut it into her really deep. I will have them bring that out to you shortly,” the doctor spoke softly.
Message? Jo thought. What on earth happened to her?
“I appreciate that. We will need that for the investigation.”
“Of course. Who would do that to a young woman’s stomach?” the doctor said quietly. “She will forever live with those scars.” He clicked his tongue in disgust. The doctor would have been easily in his sixties and simply didn’t understand why someone wouldn’t just use some pen and paper if you wanted to write a message.
Submerge (Apalala Clan Book 3) Page 18