Awakened

by Inger Iversen

  “And how do you plan to get us across that body of water to the compound?” asked the giant in the corner, whom Jace had introduced as Servitto. He sat in his chair with his legs crossed, quiet until that moment. He pulled his Satellite phone from his pocket and held it, waiting for Kale to answer his question.

  “I am not suggesting that we swim, if that’s what you are thinking,” Kale said crossly.

  Servitto laughed, not bothered in the least with Kale’s attitude. He leaded forward, with his phone in his hand. “Son, all I’m asking is if you have a plan for after we land in Chote Hill.” He wiggled the phone in Kale’s direction. “Because if you don’t, I can charter a boat from Chote Hill to Tusk now.”

  Everyone looked at Kale, awaiting his response. He inclined his head, and Servitto made the call.

  “What if we do this?” I stood up and pointed at the stables. They weren’t big, holding at best three or four horses, and one person could keep watch there. “I stay here in the stables; Kale and Deacon enter through this back window—shatter it out to cause a commotion while Jace and Servitto head in through the front door. All the Chorý will scatter, hoping to be able to contain us all.” I pointed to each place as I explained my idea, which plan seemed to come together in my mind without a problem. If we landed on a different island, hiked on foot to the compound, and arrived unannounced, we didn’t need someone at each station. We could do a smash and grab, giving Laurent’s men no time to create a counter attack.

  I just needed someone to grab Ella and run during our preemptive attack. I knew it was dangerous—someone might not make it back—but it really didn’t matter if none of us made it back, as long as she did. I was sure that everyone there was willing to make that sacrifice, all for different reasons.

  Everyone was quiet. When I looked up, Tamsin stood, leaned over, and smiled. Her plump pink lips pulled back, revealing shockingly bright white teeth. She was one of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen, and though she was wiry and petite, her gaze conveyed strength. Her stance commanded my attention, and her smile promised a tongue-lashing if not worse, if I offended her.

  I hadn’t forgotten her. With Ella and Tamsin both being so petite, it seemed that it would be easiest for them to make the narrow escape ahead of us.

  “And where will I be, while all this is going down?” Tamsin placed her hand under her chin and gave me a sexy yet coquettish smile.

  I resisted the urge to stare at her lips and looked her in her eyes. “You, Tamsin, play the most important role of all.”

  Her eyes widened in surprise before she caught herself. “Oh, yeah? And what is that, Alex?” Tamsin sat back, crossing her arms over her chest while she eyed me curiously.

  “Yes, Alex. What the heck is she going to be doing that is more important than jumping through panes of glass into a group of Chorý?” Jace asked.

  Everyone stared at me. At first it was unnerving, but they weren’t looking at me as if I were insane. They were waiting to hear the rest of my plan. I was starting to feel like more than just the human that was dragged along because they had no other choice—I was necessary for Ella’s return.

  “She is most important, because she is the only person that Ella will see until we all make it back to the jet, and she is the one that has to make sure Ella gets there safe and sound.” I watched each of them intently for their reactions. I knew that it was risky to leave a Council member in charge of getting Ella to safety and that Kale would not agree. His pale face and darkened eyes held a hint of challenge as he glared at me, but he said nothing.

  I was nervous too, but I needed Tamsin and her impassivity for this part of the job. Kale and I were way too emotionally invested in Ella, and that could possibly be a distraction.

  “So, it’s settled, and the boat has been chartered.”

  Everyone turned to Servitto.

  “We are letting Alex guide us now?” Tamsin asked, genuinely concerned.

  Servitto met her gaze. “Do you not like his plan?”

  She looked over the map again. “It’s fine. I just—”

  “Then it’s settled. Everyone memorize your posts and your duties.”

  Tamsin sat back and nodded her acquiescence.

  “Alex, have you been given a weapon yet?” Servitto frowned at the small blade at my side. It had worried me when Kale gave it to me. During the fray the night Ella had been taken, I’d believed that Mia had been shot, but Jace assured me that Chorý and the Council didn’t use guns, since immortals were unaffected by the wounds that bullets inflicted.

  And, apparently, to the Council and Laurent, guns were only for cowards, a quick way to end your enemy without properly facing him. I disagreed, but that didn’t matter. Kale had handed me the knife and told me to get used to it.

  “They gave me this.” I took the knife out of my pocket and handed to Servitto when he reached for it.

  “That is fine, and I am assuming that it is silver plated, to ensure the death of the Chorý?” He raised his brow. I didn’t know what he was talking about—either about the sliver or Chorý. Maybe it was another name for immortal.

  Just as I was about to ask Servitto to clarify, he pulled a dagger from his side. I hadn’t seen it, camouflaged in his leather trench coat.

  “In battle, we use swords, daggers, and knives. It’s always best to fight any immortal with a silver-plated sword. The Immortals that we fight tonight cannot survive if silver enters the bloodstream or if decapitated.” He held up the dagger to give me a full view the scrolling foliage and clusters of grapes and inscription on the handle. “This is an antique Spanish Main Gauche, forged circa 1650 from silver stolen from the mines of Mexico and Peru in 1535. This is a left-handed dagger.”

  He passed the dagger to me, and despite its seemingly small size, it had a bit of weight to it. I caressed the cluster of grapes and foliage, in awe of the way the dagger gleamed in the light.

  “The folded edge of the sail form guard,” —Servitto pointed where I had just caressed— “is supposed to capture the point of your opponent’s blade, and the diamond section blade is able to penetrate doublets.”

  “Doublets?”

  “Yes, it’s something similar to what human police wear and call bulletproof vests, only doublets wouldn’t stop a bullet.” Servitto frowned. “We don’t use guns.”

  “Yeah, Kale and Jace explained that to me, but I still don’t get it. Wouldn’t it be easier to wound your opponent with a bullet and then finish the job?” I asked Jace that question, and he just shook his head at me without answering.

  Servitto, on the other hand, looked at me and smiled. “I suppose there are plenty of ‘easy outs’ to take in battle, but I refuse to take them. If I take a life, I will do so in hand-to-hand or sword-to-sword battle. I fight for a purpose, and it has always been to release humans of the Chorý burden.”

  Jace cleared his throat, and Servitto looked over to him, but I was unconcerned with their silent conversation. I handed the dagger back to Servitto, regretting that I had to give it back.

  “No, you keep it. I don’t think the knife will do you much good.”

  “Are you sure?” I twisted the dagger in the air, amazed that it would belong to me, even for a short time. I held the dagger to the light to read the inscription on the side, but I couldn’t make it out.

  “I’m positive, Alex. Keep it for tonight. I want you prepared.” He sat back and looked out the window.

  “What does this inscription say?” I tried to read it aloud, but I didn’t speak any Spanish.

  “A cada puerco le llega su San Martín,” Servitto said.

  Kale snickered. Tamsin and Jace sat silently in their chairs, as did Deacon.

  “What does that mean?” I looked to Servitto, but Kale answered.

  “It’s a reminder that for every man that dies by that sword, the man who welds it—the man who takes those lives—will ultimately have to answer for his actions.” Kale’s dark eyes stayed on Servitto. Maybe there was somethin
g about this dagger that the two of them shared, because there was something in Kale’s gaze that made me think it was best if I changed the subject.

  “I sparred with Kale and Jace, but only enough to learn the basics.” I told Servitto, but he didn’t seem concerned.

  “Okay, when this is over, I will teach you more than the basics. I will teach you to fight and defend yourself against the Ch—”

  “He is ready for this mission. For some reason, there aren’t many immortals showing up on the satellite pictures,” Jace interrupted, causing everyone to look at him.

  “I guess we will see tonight, won’t we?” Servitto replied, just as the jet landed on the small airfield in Chote Hill.

  Chapter 22

  Ella

  “Alex, what are you doing here!” I ran to him. He didn’t look like Alex. He looked dangerous in the black combat outfit, with the long silver knife in his hand. Once I made it to him, I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed so tight I heard the sharp intake of air. When I released him, I was on the verge of tears.

  “What the hell are you doing out here, Ella? Everyone is inside,” Alex whispered fiercely. He spotted Ana over my shoulder. “And who is that?” Alex pushed me behind him and pointed with what I’d at first thought a knife but was actually a large dagger.

  “No,” I pushed my way back around him and shoved the dagger down so that it pointed at the ground. “She and Darke recused me.”

  “Who is Darke? And you don’t look rescued to me, seeing as that you are still here on this island and not at home. There is a jet on the coastal town over there called Chote Hill, to get you away from these freaking Chorý.”

  Alex’s words warmed me, but I still needed to get him to take Ana with us. “I know, and thanks for coming for me, Alex, but she and Darke are the ones that let me get outside for a Council member to find me.”

  Ana moved closer to us and silently inspected Alex. “He is not a Council member, Ella. He is a human.” Ana curiously stared at him.

  “You stay right over there.” Alex pointed the dagger at her again. “Ella, when we get home, you are going to tell me what the heck a Chorý is.” Alex pulled me behind him again.

  I’d forgotten that I hadn’t gotten the chance to tell Alex about Jace, the Council, and what Kale truly was, but we didn’t have time for it now. Even when we got home, there would be more important things to worry about.

  A horse neighed, reminding me that we were wasting valuable time standing around talking.

  “She can come with us, but it’s up to the Council if she gets on that jet or not,” Alex finished.

  I pushed away the urge to roll my eyes. The Council would decide nothing about me or anyone else I cared about. We headed past the house where I had been kept, toward the wooded area that would hopefully lead me to Chote and then back to Cedar. It was eerily quiet, and I realized that I hadn’t heard the sound of fighting since Alex had shown up.

  “Alex, who did you come with?” I asked. Kale or Jace had told Alex about the Council, just not about Chorý.

  “Some Council members, Kale, and a guy named Deacon—he’s an old friend of Kale’s.”

  “Kale, the Chorý that Laurent made?” Ana asked. “I have heard much about him.”

  “Yeah, well, keep moving forward, and we may have a chance to meet him.”

  We picked up the pace, running for the trees.

  A light rain started to fall just as we made it to the first row of trees that outlined my freedom. My heart was pounding, and though I was sure that there were sounds of life around me, all I could hear was the drumming of my heart and the pounding of my feet as we hoofed it through the woods.

  I wasn’t sure how long the run would be. I hadn’t gone outside any further than the enclosed patio, but I was sure that the island was large enough that we would have to stop and catch our breaths sooner or later. Ana was behind us and would hopefully serve as the first line of defense against any Chorý that had followed us into the woods. I glanced back at her in time to see the two Chorý enter the woods, headed straight for us. I wasn’t worried about myself, because if we got caught, I would at least be safe for a while, but Ana would be punished and Alex most likely killed. Ana caught the look of dread in my eyes and screamed for Alex and I to continue forward. Alex glanced back and cursed.

  “Ella,” he gasped between breaths as he pulled me forward faster. “It’s a long way back to the dock where we ported, but it’s a straight shot from here.” Alex’s feet seemed to move faster as he spoke, and though he easily dodged trees and shrubbery, I struggled to keep upright.

  “Okay,” I huffed. My calves were on fire, and I was sure that I wouldn’t be able to run much longer. The faith that I’d earlier had in myself started to dwindle when I tripped over a large root. “There are two men back there—”

  Ana was between the two Chorý, her fist deeply embedded in the face of one, and her knee made a swift but hard connection with the other’s shin. As the second fell and rolled to the side, the first Chorý quickly recovered from the bone-smashing fist to the face and backhanded Ana. Alex and I soon passed a row of trees that blocked the Chorý and Ana from sight.

  “When we get on the boat, go. No turning back, no waiting for anyone—”

  “Wait, whoa!” I choked out. Speaking was soon to be impossible, and my chest was seconds from exploding into a fireball of pain. I couldn’t get enough oxygen in my lungs, and my knees were about to lock up on me. All of that aside, nothing hurt worse than realizing that if we got to the boat before Kale did, we would have to leave him on the island.

  As I came to a halt, my brain protested. It was still in survival mode, but I wasn’t leaving Kale or Ana on the island.

  Alex skidded to a halt a few steps ahead of me. “Don’t do this, Ella. It’s what we all agreed to—your safety first,” Alex pled breathlessly. I almost went with him as he held out his hand and inched towards the freedom I’d dreamt about since I’d been held on the island.

  “You should have known that I wouldn’t leave him here, Alex!” I could still hear Ana and the two Chorý fighting, though I couldn’t see them, but I couldn’t help myself. “You had to know that, Alex, and I can’t believe you weren’t going to tell me sooner.” I turned around to head back, but a painful grip on my arm stopped me dead in my tracks.

  Alex was breathing hard, his faced twisted in anger.

  “I refuse to let you go back,” Alex said, and my eyes widened. “I will go back, if it means you get on that boat.” He yanked me forward, and I was too shocked to pull away at first. He pulled me over a few roots and tightened his grip as I almost tumbled to the ground. Seeing Alex this angry was shocking, but I couldn’t leave Kale—I wouldn’t.

  “Alex,” I gasped as I tried to pull away from him. “Maybe I can help. There has to be something I can do!”

  “Don’t be stupid!” Alex pulled me so hard that I screamed out in pain.

  “No, by all means be stupid and come back with me.”

  We both turned to see the large Chorý leaning against the tree. His beady eyes trained on Alex as Alex pulled out his dagger and rooted himself in front of me.

  “Now, now, little human,” he drawled. “That is an awfully big knife ya got there. Why don’t you put it down so you don’t poke your eye out?” the Chorý taunted with an evil grin.

  “Back. Off,” was Alex’s hard reply. I peeked over his shoulder for Ana; Alex nudged me back, pushing me against a tree. I knew he wanted me to run, but there was no way that I was leaving Alex alone with that Chorý.

  “Hmm. Now, son, let me do you a favor.” The Chorý slowly moved away from the tree and stood up straight. His leaning position had hid the fact that he was almost seven feet tall. Alex was not prepared for the Chorý’s skills, either. “Instead of taking you back to my master, how about I sink my teeth into the thick vein on the side of your neck and end you painlessly?”

  “What in the—” Alex balked. He turned to me for a second, and con
fusion and nervousness in his eyes. Alex had no clue what he was dealing with, and it was my fault. I should have told him before I was taken.

  “Oh, please. Don’t tell me you don’t know a Chorý when you see one, boy. I know the Council has trained you better than that.” The Chorý stifled laughter.

  “Dude, are trying to say that you’re a freaking vampire?” Alex asked in amazement. “Ella, you need to run now. This dude is not only immortal; he is insane.” He spat the last word with utter disgust.

  I needed to warn him about the can of worms that he was about to open. “Alex—”

  The Chorý glanced at me and growled. “Do not run, little girl.”

  “Ella, I said—”

  The Chorý flashed his very vampire canines.

  I was shocked, too. Kale never extended his teeth, and though Ana and Darke both kept their teeth extended, they never bared them at me as a warning or anything else. I’d read in books and seen in movies how a vampire bite could feel good, but there was nothing that was going to convince me that having the long sharp teeth buried in the crook of my neck would ever feel like anything other than excruciating pain.

  “What was that you said?”

  “What the hell are you?” Alex asked. I moved away from the tree that I had been hugging and placed my arms around Alex’s waist. He placed his free hand on my arm and squeezed.

  “Touching, but that proposition is still on the table. When Laurent gets you, he will show you no mercy. Me, on the other hand.” The Chorý pointed to his teeth. “I promise to make it feel good to the very last drop.”

  “What is going on in this world?” Alex whispered as the Chorý crouched, eying Alex like prey. It’s silly to say that a moment moves in slow motion, but there was no other way to explain what happened next. I could see every muscle coil and tense in the Chorý’s body and as he leaped into the air, seeming to remain motionless for a moment.

  I heard his response to Alex’s question: “Evolution.”