Last in Line

by Sydney Addae

  “Hostage?” Simone said. “Why would he do that?”

  Baron cupped her chin in his hand and stared into her eyes. “Because you’re my kryptonite.”

  Tears pooled in her eyes as she leaned forward touching his forehead. “I promise. Please be careful, because I can’t take much more of this.”

  Camilla and Baron’s gazes met for a brief moment. He didn’t know what she saw but she stiffened and then nodded as she pulled her friend into her arms. Baron’s lips moved as he silently uttered Rhiannon’s spell. A gentle wind blew in the room, opening the door. Brieloff and Lukian stared at him as they were moved backward to the door and into the hall. When Baron stepped into the hall, the door closed and disappeared.

  Brieloff stared at the wall and nodded. “Nicely done.”

  Anger rose in Baron’s chest at Rugger’s duplicity. “Marissa must be returned first.” He placed his hand on Lukian’s shoulder and spoke the words that would allow the Sentinel to return with the child.

  Brieloff nodded. “Rugger has agreed.”

  They disappeared and reappeared in the training room. At least 20 vampires stood along the walls watching as Baron walked toward Rugger, who sat in the middle of the room. Baron noticed the absence of Baca and Strates, and was certain they’d been dispatched to take Simone.

  “Baron is here, release the child to Lukian as agreed,” Brieloff said.

  Rugger disappeared and reappeared a moment later with Marissa in his arms. Baron’s heart lurched at the dark circles beneath her eyes and the splint on her arm, but she was alive, that was most important. Lukian stepped forward, received Marissa and disappeared.

  “I didn’t expect you to agree to the terms of combat,” Rugger said, walking close to Baron.

  “He accepted without hearing the terms,” Brieloff said, standing near both men.

  Rugger’s brow rose. “Your negligence killed Orton. By creating those devices, you may as well have used it on him yourself.”

  “Based on your analogy, the person who created knives, spears, chains or any of the tools you use to train your students are guilty of every death in which they are used,” Baron said. Not that he expected to change Rugger’s mind, the vampire was too far gone, his scent smelled rancid. Rugger hoped to appeal to the vampires in the room, to slow them down.

  “Yes,” Rugger frowned. “No. It’s not the same. You’ve adapted human technology, human ways which are destroying our people.”

  “Not really. Every vampire who wears a cloaking device is able to walk freely amongst humans without detection. Even Hunters can’t tell the difference between Vampires and humans when our people use that device. We can now come out the shadows and move freely in this world,” Baron said, knowing all Sentinels and most Vemdorians used the device.

  Rugger’s face reddened. “We don’t use electronic devices.”

  “Everyone in this room, except you, uses some type of electronic device,” Baron said confidently.

  Rugger swung around, his gaze searching the faces of the vampires. One by one they dropped their heads. “Traitors! Idiots!” he yelled, pointing at them. “Leave my sight, you disgust me.”

  “Well done,” Cull whispered as the vampires left the room silently.

  “No more talking,” Rugger said, glaring at Baron. “You will pay with your life for what you’ve done.”

  Baron raised his hand to stop Brieloff from speaking. If Rugger didn’t know Baron couldn’t be killed, it might give him an advantage later.

  With blurring speed, Rugger ran toward Baron and they both disappeared.

  Chapter 23

  Simone walked out the bedroom and left the door ajar, meeting Camilla’s gaze. “She’s asleep.”

  Camilla exhaled and dropped her face into her palms for a few seconds. “My heart is still in my throat; I can’t believe how fragile she looked when Lukian brought her here a couple hours ago. Did you get her to drink more soup?”

  Simone sat at the table next to her friend and took her hand. “Yes, she drank most of it.” She paused. “Wild she didn’t recognize us at first, huh? I thought she’d run out the room screaming when she woke up. Not sure what I’d have done if she didn’t realize who I was and that she was safe.” Her heart clenched. “She’s been through so much. First losing Sharita, and as much as I hated the bastard, she lost Chavez as well.”

  Camilla squeezed her hand. “Does she remember that night? Did she say anything about it?”

  Simone shook her head. “No, not yet. The funeral was yesterday, eventually I’ll need to explain. I’ll tell her.”

  The two sat in silence. Simone’s chaotic thoughts bounced from Marissa and what needed to be done from this point forward, to not hearing from Baron and wondering what was going on with him. And then to Lukian who stood in the hall to make sure no one bothered them.

  “Baron and I’ve only known each other a couple weeks,” she murmured. “It seems like much longer but it hasn’t been that long.” She looked at Camilla. “He owns half the club and said he’s a scientist with a few inventions that he sells.”

  Camilla nodded.

  “Other than that, I don’t know much about him. Where’s he from? Who’s his parents? Does he have brothers or sisters? Where does he live?” She stood and walked in a tight circle. He appears in my life and the next thing my niece is missing. Now he’s the only person who can get her back?” She wrapped her arms around her waist while staring out the window. “Something’s wrong with this picture.” Turning, she faced her friend. “He’s not human?”

  “He’s not?” Camilla said, watching her closely.

  “That’s what you said, right?”

  “No. What I said was there is more to him, then again, there’s more to me, too.” Camilla paused, stood and faced Simone. “What’s going on in the head of yours? You think Baron had something to do with Rissa’s disappearance? He left your bed, ran to the mountains, killed Chavez and tossed Rissa down the mountain? Or did he fly her up here and leave her there while you were asleep? Is that what you’re thinking?”

  Simone’s face heated. “No. He didn’t leave me alone long enough to drive to the mountains or do any of those things. But if he’s involved in something illegal, Rauff or someone else would’ve done it for him.” The words tasted bitter in her mouth and she knew they weren’t true. Baron wouldn’t hurt Marissa or her. She waved her hand and turned around. “Forget it.”

  “Forgotten,” Camilla said. “That man would walk on water for you and you’d do the same for him. Time is a number like age. It doesn’t matter how long he’s been in your life, what matters is the improved quality to your life he brings. Marissa aside, you’re happier with him. Your smiles are bigger, brighter, and better. I like him for you, even if he is an alien.”

  Simone’s head snapped up, saw the teasing glint in her friend’s eyes and laughed. “Yeah, I’m really into him. I’d like to keep him around a little longer if possible.”

  “He has no plans to let you go anywhere, I can tell you that. That one’s a keeper for sure.”

  Simone’s phone rang. “Carrie?” Had something happened to Anna?”

  “Hi Simone, I was just checking in with you to make sure you were okay. How’s the search for your niece going? Do you need anything?”

  Simone leaned back in her chair. “Thanks, I appreciate the call. Rissa is here with me and she’s fine, just a few bruises and a broken arm. I’m so thankful it wasn’t worse.”

  “That’s great,” Carrie yelled, and spoke to someone in the background, there were cheers which made Simone’s heart swell with gratitude. “We’ve been praying you’d find her soon and she’d be okay, I’m so happy for you.”

  Simone always liked Carrie’s upbeat attitude and hard work. “Thanks, how are things going at the office?” Things happened so fast this morning she hadn’t talked to Anna and would remedy that as soon as she hung up.

  “Great, lots of work coming in and inspections completed. Anna can give you a better pi
cture of things. I just go where she sends me.”

  Simone chuckled. Anna ran the office with a firm grip and watched over it like a mama bear. “I’ll get with her later today. Thanks for calling, I appreciate it.”

  “No thanks needed. I miss you and am glad everything worked out. Talk with you later.” Carrie clicked off.

  Simone called Anna, told her about Marissa and the situation. Anna gave her an update on the business. “Now that you’ve got our baby back, two guys came here looking for Baron.” She explained what happened and Carrie’s interest in Baron, and that she followed the men out of the office, stopping them to ask questions. As far as she knew, they didn’t show Carrie the photo but gave her a business card. Anna had watched from her office window as Carrie came back to the office and then left.

  “What do you think is going on?” Simone asked, too stunned to make anything of it.

  “Baron’s a businessman, so it doesn’t surprise me that people are looking for him. I was surprised they came here, the two of you haven’t been dating long. You should’ve seen her face when he didn’t pay her any attention.”

  “What? Whose face? What are you talking about?” Simone asked, trying to keep up. When Anna was excited she talked faster.

  “Carrie. The first time she saw Baron was the day he followed you to the mountains. She was drooling by the time I walked through the front door. When she found out he wanted you, her face dropped. Since then she’s asked a lot of questions about him but I don’t have answers, so she stopped asking.”

  Anna never liked or trusted Carrie. Simone had hired her over Anna’s objections. Since then, Anna watched Carrie like a hawk. For the most part, they all got along, but if Carrie was interested in Baron, she’d run into a wall of hostility from Anna, Camilla, Tressie, and Simone.

  “Thanks, I appreciate you having my back. Baron’s not available.” She waved off Camilla’s questioning glance and disconnected a few moments later.

  “Baron’s not available?” Camilla asked.

  Simone repeated what Anna shared.

  “Looking for Baron? At your office? Wonder what that was about? Should we ask Lukian?”

  Simone hadn’t thought much about it, but it was strange that they came to her office. “Yeah, that’s a good idea.” Camilla walked to the front door, but before she touched the handle, it opened and Lukian stepped inside. Simone told him of the two men searching for Baron.

  “Does she recall what they look like? Did they talk or act strange?”

  “Is there something going on that I should know about?” Simone asked. “Why would anyone go to my office for Baron? Better yet, why would men be searching for him? Is he doing something that he shouldn’t?” She crossed her arms over her chest and met his gaze.

  “Baron is a genius,” Lukian said, and then shook his head. “The man is a walking laboratory. There are those who envy his brilliance.”

  “So what you’re saying is this has something to do with his work?” Camilla asked.

  Lukian nodded. “It could be. I don’t know for sure.”

  “Should I be concerned?” Simone asked. “Marissa lives with me, we’ve never had any problems before. I don’t want any more upheaval in her life. I need to make sure she’s... we’re safe.”

  He didn’t say anything for a few seconds. “As far as I know there’s no need to be concerned. Ask Baron when he returns, he may check into it further. Seems strange they didn’t leave a calling card or something for him to contact them.”

  “They left when Carrie came out and asked questions. Anna said they looked surprised to see her, which isn’t the normal response men have when they see her,” Simone said, returning to her seat.

  “Who is Carrie?” Lukian asked.

  Simone explained her position in the company.

  “She sounds familiar,” Lukian said slowly. “Short? Blond? Athletic build?”

  “Yes, do you know her?” Simone asked, surprised.

  “Not personally. I’ve seen her around. Like I said, when Baron returns let him know what happened and he’ll handle it,” Lukian said. “How’s the little one?”

  “Resting. It took a while for her to settle down. When we get home and she’s around her things again, I think it’ll help,” Simone said, praying she spoke truth.

  Camilla reached over and squeezed her hand.

  Lukian nodded and walked out the door again.

  Chapter 24

  Baron and Rugger rolled across a stone floor and stopped short of hitting the cave wall. Baron jumped up and looked around as Rugger stood slowly, watching him. “You are the reason the council refuses to stand against the Hunters. The weapons you make allow them to hide their skills as superior warriors. You’ve single-handedly turned the best fighting army on this planet into a bunch of scared humans.”

  Baron’s brow rose at that last accusation. “He’s lost his mind,” Cull said sadly. “It’s a pity, he held such promise.”

  “Rugger’s been crazy for decades,” Bulgar said. “No one wanted to deal with him, so it’s come to this.”

  “Only one of you will leave here alive,” Ian said softly. “Since you can’t die, make this quick, don’t toy with him.”

  “Toy with him?” Baron watched Rugger press against a wall, which slid aside to reveal several weapons. Many he’d only seen in Breve’s collection. “Thought never entered my mind.”

  “Choose a weapon for the first round,” Rugger said, pulling a short curved blade from the wall.

  “A karambit,” Icar said. “He’s made this personal. That weapon is for close combat and will gut you like a fish.”

  Baron exhaled and extinguished the visual. “What weapon should I choose?” he asked his linemen.

  “The only way to kill him is to separate his head from his body or remove his heart. Since he knows this, it’ll be harder to accomplish,” Sven said.

  “True,” Icar said. “Take the machete, but we will assist you with any of the weapons you fight with.”

  Grateful for his line, Baron pulled the long, sharp blade from the wall and jumped, barely missing a swipe from Rugger’s blade. Landing behind the older man, Baron had no time to think and moved on instinct as Rugger came at him again with blurred speed. For the next several minutes, Baron was on offense as Rugger sought to cut off his head or rip him open from top to bottom.

  “Stop running and accept your punishment,” Rugger yelled, his eyes white with red pinpoints in the middle.

  “Me? You’re the one who forbade Orton to use a cloaking device to keep Hunters from recognizing him. If he’d worn one, he’d be alive today,” Baron yelled and swung, missing Rugger by inches.

  “Liar! Don’t you dare say his name.” He ran toward Baron and jump-kicked him at the last moment, sending Baron into the wall.

  Stunned, Baron shook his head and moved just in time to keep it as Rugger swung the curved blade. Rolling a few feet away, Baron jumped up and missed being kicked again. Unable to stop, Rugger continued into the kick and hit the ground. Baron landed behind him and kicked Rugger so hard he flew forward into the wall next to the weapons.

  Dropping the short blade, Rugger pulled out a metal mace with a barbed head and ran toward Baron.

  “Drop,” Icar said just as Rugger swung. Baron did a split, dropping to the ground, rolled and stood behind Rugger. This time, he jumped and kicked Rugger in the head, sending him flying forward. Blood gushed from his mouth as he hit the stone wall.

  Eyes glazed, Rugger held the mace high as he stalked toward Baron. One second Rugger walked, the next he was airborne with the weapon swinging toward Baron’s head.

  Baron dropped again, feeling the breeze from the swing on his cheek and threw the machete at Rugger. It lodged in his back, causing him to fall from the air. Moving quickly, Baron placed his foot on Rugger’s neck, watching the other man.

  “Do not play with him,” Marias the Just said. “End this with dignity.”

  Struggling to remove the deeply embedded blad
e Rugger looked up at him with hate-filled eyes. “I will not rest until I destroy you and everyone you love.”

  Fear spiked in Baron’s chest as he thought of Simone. “Your pride killed Orton. He wanted to use the cloaking device but you refused. How can you live with yourself knowing you killed the only person who mattered to you?”

  “Arrrgghh,” Rugger yelled, removing the machete and throwing it at Baron. The blade caught Baron in the shoulder and then fell to the ground. His wound healed immediately. It was good having a physician in his line.

  “I didn’t kill him!” Rugger looked around and ran toward his weapon. Picking it up, he threw it at Baron, who ducked. In a blurred move, Rugger punched Baron in the stomach and then the chin, snapping his head back. Another punch landed on his stomach, his face and sides.

  “Block those fists,” Icar yelled. “You’ve been taught this. Take him out right now.”

  Baron blocked the next hit, and the next, and the next, and then he punched Rugger in the stomach. The man returned the favor, knocking Baron back a step, but no other hits landed. Baron punched Rugger beneath the chin and then kicked him in the head, sending the older man into the stone wall again. Still bleeding from the machete wound, Rugger’s movements were slower, but his eyes burned with hateful intent as he retrieved the mace from the ground.

  “You’ve insulted a great man.”

  Baron snorted as he strode to the weapons cabinet and grabbed a sword. “You’re a proud fool.”

  “True. But Orton overlooked my faults and I will avenge him. You will not leave here alive. When I die, others will come to avenge me, they will never stop. Your life, that of your line and your mate are cursed from now until eternity.” Rugger bit into his finger and rubbed the blood between them as his lips moved.

  Immediately Baron uttered words from Rhiannon to combat whatever Rugger was doing. Empowered from his entire line he strained beneath the weight of a different kind of fight. For several minutes they battled curses and premonitions until Rugger dropped to the floor with blood running from his nose. Rhiannon sighed in satisfaction. “There’ll be no curses against you on my watch, Baron. We blocked everything he attempted, which is a good thing because those were ugly and would’ve destroyed your seed.”