T and Jeremy glared at each other for a long moment.
“My eyes.” Nola took T’s hand. “Do my eyes look different?”
“No,” Jeremy said.
Ignoring him, T examined Nola’s eyes.
“You look just the same.” T smiled.
Nola nodded. The room didn’t spin this time.
Jeremy opened his mouth to speak.
“Where are we?” Nola asked, looking to the one window in the corner. Boards had been nailed across the broken glass in a haphazard fashion, letting the red light of the setting sun filter through.
“In an old house six miles west of the city limits,” Jeremy said.
“Raina wanted to push it farther toward Nightland. Apparently there’s a safe house, but we had to get her out of the sun and you someplace to rest.” T bit her bottom lip. “It was rough for a while. I think you were in pain.”
“I was.” Nola squeezed T’s hand. “But I’m fine now.”
“It shouldn’t have hurt.” Jeremy shook his head. “An oppressive cold—”
“I had that for sure,” Nola said.
“And then some unpleasant tingling while the Graylock got in deep,” Jeremy said. “There shouldn’t have been pain.”
“Says who?” Raina asked, leaning against the doorjamb. “Life is full of pain. Why should a chemically enhanced life be any different?”
“Says me.” The ridges of Jeremy’s neck bulged. “I was given the shot. It felt like I’d been dunked in ice, but it never hurt.”
“Had you been stabbed?” Raina asked.
“No,” Jeremy said.
“Well, I think we’ve found the difference.” Raina stepped past Jeremy, her black eyes fixed on Nola. “You going to make it?”
“I think so.” Nola straightened her spine. Embers sizzled in her stomach where the slash cut through her shirt. “I may not be able to run too far tonight, but I’m breathing.”
“I can carry you again,” Raina said. “Just don’t get too used to the special treatment.”
“I’ll carry her,” Jeremy said.
“I don’t think so, Domer,” Raina said.
“I gave up my home to protect her. I love her. I would do anything for her.” Jeremy paced the room, his boots thudding on the wooden floor.
“I’m hearing a lot of I from you.” Raina dumped Nola’s backpack out on the foot of the bed. “And I think we need to move forward with what Nola wants and needs. I mean, since she is the one who almost died.”
“I—” Nola’s heart pounded in her chest, the thump of it so strong it seemed ready to break through her ribs. She took a shuddering breath. Raina smelled of blood. Not of fresh blood, or even like the dried blood on Nola’s shirt. Her very essence held the scent of blood. Bile rolled up Nola’s throat. “I want to eat, put on a new shirt, and get ready to leave.” Nola tossed back the blankets. “The farther we get from the city, the safer we’ll be.”
“Nola,” Jeremy began.
“You can come with us. There’s nowhere else for you to go because of me. And I can’t believe you’d hurt any of us.” Nola stared into Jeremy’s eyes. “But you aren’t in charge here. You don’t make choices for me or for anyone else.”
Jeremy nodded.
“And if there’s even a hint of you trying to turn us in to the domes or betray any of us in any way, Raina has permission to kill you,” Nola finished.
“Yippee,” Raina whispered.
“She won’t need to,” Jeremy said. “But Nola, we have to talk.”
“It’s almost dark.” Nola tossed her legs over the side of the bed. Fire ants gnawed at her knees. “We can talk in Nightland.”
“This can’t wait.” Jeremy pulled a silver syringe from a hard-sided leather case on his belt. Black liquid showed through the glass.
“Graylock.” The word tasted foul in Nola’s mouth.
“I gave you one shot,” Jeremy said. “It was enough to heal you, but the medicine is meant to be given in a series.”
“Funny how Graylock is medicine and Vamp is a drug that should be destroyed,” Raina said.
“You need to be given another shot tonight and one in two weeks,” Jeremy said. “After that, it’s just a matter of booster shots when something really horrible happens.”
“Like when your chest was ripped open.” Nola blinked back tears at the memory of Jeremy lying helpless in a hospital bed. “What happens if I don’t take the shot?”
“The work the medicine has started will begin to reverse,” Jeremy said. “The wound in your stomach will stay healed, but the rest of it—the changes to your immune system, nervous system, ability to heal—will all disappear.”
“And then?” A chill that had nothing to do with Graylock shook Nola’s shoulders.
“It’ll kill you,” Raina said. “Your body won’t remember how to function at normal capacity, and you’ll just stop.”
“Okay then.” Nola held out her arm. “Give me the shot.”
“And then the next shot in two weeks, then again when you get hurt,” Raina said. “You’re chemically tied to Jeremy Ridgeway.”
“How many shots do you have?” Nola asked.
“Five,” Jeremy said. “Each guard is sent into the city with two. I stole two off each of the guards—”
“If you say anything other than who tried to murder Nola,” T warned.
“—off the guards who didn’t need them anymore,” Jeremy finished.
“Then give me three and you keep two.” Nola held out her hand.
“The injections have to be done carefully,” Jeremy said. “To work best—”
“Then give me one shot now, and I’ll hold my other two,” Nola said. “I’m sure I can find someone in Nightland to give me a booster in two weeks.”
“I would never keep the Graylock from you.” Jeremy pulled two more syringes from his pouch. “But they would be safer with me. The case is built to pad them.”
“I don’t want to be tied to you, Jeremy.” Nola took the two black-filled syringes from him. “If your conscience says to kill some people I don’t want dead, I don’t want to be stuck chasing you because you have a fancy pouch.”
“Then take the one you need—”
“I need both.” Nola held up her arm for the injection. “If I don’t have a full syringe, what am I supposed to give Dr. Wynne to study?”
“Nola, you can’t…” Jeremy sagged, his whole frame crumpling. The giant Outer Guard, with shoulders broad enough that once upon a time it seemed like he could fold himself around Nola and keep her safe forever, shrunk to nothing more than a boy filled with horrible sadness. “Take the whole thing then.” Jeremy unfastened his belt, sliding the case free. “Give Dr. Wynne as much as you like after you’ve taken your booster. If he’s still half the doctor I remember him being, he should be able to do some good with it.”
“Thank you.” Nola took the black leather case. Inside, padded ridges separated the vials, keeping the glass from breaking and the precious liquid from being lost. Nola slipped the two extra syringes into the case. “Give me the shot and be done with it.”
Jeremy looked to Raina.
She helped T to her feet, and both women moved to the head of the bed.
Nola held up her arm.
“That’s not—” Jeremy looked to Raina again.
Raina raised her dark eyebrows.
“That isn’t where the shot has to go,” Jeremy said.
“Then where?” Sweat beaded at the nape of Nola’s neck.
“In your heart.” What little color Jeremy had drained from his face. “It would be better if you lay down.”
“You’re kidding.” Nola looked to Raina. “Tell me he’s kidding.”
“Most vampires don’t do it that way since aiming is a bitch and it hurts like hell,” Raina said, “but yeah, Domer’s right.”
“Okay.” Nola lay back on the bed, the sheets puffing up dust in protest. “Okay, that’s fine. I can do this.”
“The ic
e is going to come back,” Jeremy said.
“And the fire?” Nola’s voice trembled.
“I don’t know.” Worry creased Jeremy’s brow. “Just breathe and know I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“And know once the shot is in he doesn’t get to touch you again,” Raina said.
Nola nodded. Her jaw had locked shut in fear.
Jeremy pressed a button on the side of the syringe. The needle grew, tripling its length.
“Close your eyes,” Jeremy whispered.
Nola clenched her eyes shut. Her pulse thumped in her ears. Other sounds cut through the pounding. Footsteps downstairs. Jeremy’s ragged breaths. Raina’s hard-soled boots stepping closer.
A sting pierced her chest. Ice cold pain flooded her heart, racing out into her veins. A scream tore from her throat as everything went black.
Chapter Three
Arms wrapped around Nola, holding her tightly.
Nola didn’t have to open her eyes to know it was Raina’s shoulder her head bounced against. The scent of blood both old and new cut into Nola’s nose. The soft squeak of leather against leather punctuated Raina’s every step. The heartbeat stayed steady beneath Nola’s ear, despite the extra effort of carrying a full grown person.
Vampire.
The definition didn’t bring fear, but all Nola’s instincts told her she was right.
Ice still filled Nola’s limbs, warning her with every throb that moving would be agony.
She let her mind explore, moving where her limbs didn’t dare.
Behind Raina’s left shoulder, that was T. Her feet fell heavily on the crisp ground, and her breathing didn’t reach the bottom of her lungs. Behind her walked Beauford, his shoes crashing through the brush on the ground without any hint of grace.
Jeremy moved at the back of the group, his faint steps taking him from side to side. Not staggering. Searching.
A twig snapped up ahead.
Nola tensed. Ice stabbed every piece of her. Tears welled in her eyes as she bit back her scream.
“Give her to me,” Jeremy whispered.
“Not a chance.” Raina lowered Nola to the ground.
Movement rustled in front of them. Like dry leaves crumpling underfoot.
“There,” Nola croaked, the single word tearing at her throat as she pointed toward the sound.
“I’ll stay with them,” Beauford said.
Nola forced her eyes open at the sound of his knife clearing its sheath.
Raina and Jeremy looped to the sides of the sound, creeping through the trees, which towered in the darkness.
Scars marked the wood. Pockmarks from the acid rain that plagued the city, but this wasn’t the forest near the domes. These trees had young branches struggling to survive.
Nola turned her head, ignoring the screams of the cold as she squinted at the trees.
The nobbles on the branches were clear. Tiny protrusions where leaves would soon fight to grow poked through the thin bark.
I can see it.
Night darkened the forest with barely a hint of moonlight to give the world shape, but she could see the tree. Not as though a new light existed, her eyes simply no longer required the assistance.
She locked her gaze farther into the trees where Raina and Jeremy had disappeared.
Trees dotted the hillside, quickly forming a wall of wood Nola couldn’t see beyond.
The sounds of movement in the decaying leaves carried from the darkness. Coming from three places. But the size of what moved was impossible to tell.
Gritting her teeth against the inevitable pain, Nola pushed herself to sit up.
She swayed as her brain rejected the agony of her limbs.
“I’ve got you.” T wrapped her arms around Nola.
“Get her up.” Beauford held a knife in each hand, his eyes flicking between the trees.
“They’re up the rise,” Nola said through gritted teeth as T helped her to her feet. Or rather the two ice blocks that had at one point been her feet.
“It shouldn’t be taking this long,” Beauford said. Bruises marked his face and neck. A chunk of his shaggy hair had been torn out. “Not if it’s an animal.”
“It’s okay. They’ll be okay.” Nola felt her belt for her knife. The black case had replaced the blade. Someone had changed her shirt, too.
The scrape of bark peeling off a tree cut through the dark overhead.
“Raina!” Nola screamed as black eyes caught the moonlight.
A lopsided mouth twisted into a smile. The expression stayed on the Vamper’s face as he flung himself out of the tree at Nola.
Crashing carried from up the hill, but the Vamper landed ten feet in front of her. His eyes flicked from T to Nola as he bared his sharpened teeth.
Beauford leapt forward, a knife in each hand.
The Vamper grabbed the knife from Beauford’s left hand. Blood dripped from his fist as the blade sliced his palm, but the Vamper didn’t seem to mind as he tossed the weapon into the trees.
Beauford lunged, his remaining knife grazing the Vamper’s ribs before the monster punched him in the back, sending him sprawling to the ground.
“Beauford!” T screamed.
The Vamper’s eyes fixed on T. He opened his mouth to laugh, baring his fangs.
“No!” Nola dove at the Vamper’s knees as he reached toward T’s throat.
“Nola!” Jeremy shouted as Nola and the Vamper tumbled to the ground.
The ice in Nola’s veins shook as she crumbled into the decaying leaves. Pain blinded her, sending bright spots dancing in front of her eyes.
A thump shook the ground. Then a bellow and a snap.
“Nola are you okay?” Jeremy’s arms wrapped around her, lifting her to her feet.
“Don’t touch her.” T’s voice shook.
“Shut up.” Jeremy brushed the curls from Nola’s face.
“Where’s Raina?” Nola blinked away the spots. “Is Beauford okay?”
“I’m fine.” Pain filled Beauford’s voice as he pushed himself to his knees.
“Raina went up and over the hill,” Jeremy said. “There was another Vamper heading that way. I was tailing him with her when I heard you shout.”
“We have to find her.” Nola swayed.
Jeremy wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her upright.
“You need to slow down,” Jeremy said. “You’ve still got Graylock working in your system, and Raina will be just fine.”
“If she’s not, we all die,” Beauford said. “You understand that, right?”
“Why don’t you sit?” Jeremy said, his hands moving to take Nola’s.
“I’ll help her.” T took Nola’s elbow.
“I’m really fine.” Nola’s legs gave out halfway to the ground, landing her in the leaves with an undignified thud. “Shouldn’t I be all strong and agile now that I’ve had Graylock?”
“Sort of.” Jeremy knelt in front of Nola.
“Back off,” T said.
“Do you want to explain the effects of Graylock?” Jeremy asked.
T didn’t answer.
Beauford moved over to the Vamper, driving a knife into his heart with a sickening squish.
“Your vision and your hearing should already be getting better,” Jeremy said.
“They are.” Nola looked up to the trees. “I can tell it’s dark, but I can still see. I heard the Vamper in the trees. I can smell the dirt from the domes on you.”
“Good.” Jeremy gave a small smile. “It means the Graylock is working.”
“Was there a chance it wouldn’t?” T asked.
“It’s never been used on a female before,” Jeremy said. A hint of a blush crawled up his cheeks, peeking through the stubble.
Nola wanted to touch the red. To see if it held heat. To know if his face still felt the same as it had only a few days before when they had been nothing more than a boy and a girl who loved each other.
“Why not?” Beauford asked.
“Bree
ding,” Nola said, sparing Jeremy from explaining as the red swallowed his whole face. “In the domes, women have to be kept away from chemicals to make sure they can bear healthy children. They’d never let a woman take something like Graylock.”
“Not even to save them?” T asked.
“They wouldn’t be worth keeping in the domes.” Nola searched Jeremy’s eyes.
“No, they wouldn’t. Nola, I’m so—”
“When do I get my super strength?” Nola cut across him.
No pity. Don’t let yourself feel pity.
“It all comes in stages.” Jeremy’s voice returned to normal, all hint of pleading gone. “The first shot fixes what’s wrong with you. The second improves you. The third locks the changes in. The others—”
“Bring you back from the brink of death,” Nola said. “I saw, remember?”
“Of course I remember,” Jeremy said. “I could have healed without the injections. But it would have taken weeks for me to regain consciousness while my body tried to fix that much damage. Better to get an injection and be able to fight again.”
“You mean almost die again,” Nola said.
“Sometimes they’re the same thing,” Jeremy said. “And sometimes you don’t care if there’s not a difference.”
Nola’s stomach flipped, twirling itself up to the blissful place where reaching out to hold Jeremy would be the most natural thing in the world.
“When do I get to be strong and fight?” Nola asked.
“Your strength and reflexes should start getting better in the next few days,” Jeremy said. “It’ll come on slowly, so don’t push things too fast. Graylock makes you stronger, but bones can still get broken, so can skin. And you won’t be fighting anytime soon.”
“Why not?” Nola narrowed her eyes.
“You’ve never been taught,” Jeremy said. “Strength doesn’t always help if you don’t know what you’re doing. I was trained in the skills needed to fight long before I was given Graylock. The medicine just helps me do what I was taught…better.” He gave a wary smile.
Night of Never Page 2