First and Only: Ember Lane (Book #1)

by Kelly Goode

  Carter fired twice more. Each shot hitting its intended mark until the half-ogre slumped to the floor with a thud leaving a deafening silence.

  78

  ‘Give me the stone.’

  Harvey felt the prod of a gun on his back, the second he emerged from his smoke cloud back outside the briefing room. He’d teleported the broken door straight to Chief Andrews’s office, intending to use the element of surprise and strike the old man with it. It had been heavier than he’d anticipated and he’d only just managed to intercept the flying debris before it chopped Ember’s head off.

  He should have known the manipulative bastard wouldn’t sit idly waiting for him to return. He should have realised he would come for the stone. Fake or not, he couldn’t take the chance.

  ‘Don’t make me ask you again, son.’

  ‘I don’t have it.’

  Chief Andrews jabbed the barrel of the gun harder into Harvey’s spine making him wince.

  ‘We had a deal. Where is it?’

  ‘I told you, I don’t have it.’

  ‘So who does?’

  Harvey nodded towards where Ember and Carter were standing over Gerrard’s burnt corpse. Neither of them had noticed the chief’s arrival yet, but he knew the vampire was lurking somewhere. He’d moved away from Ember’s fire in such a blur that he could’ve ended up anywhere but maybe he’d feel inclined to help him out of his predicament.

  ‘You gave away your ticket out of here?’

  The chief sounded incredulous at Harvey’s uncharacteristic action.

  ‘Yeah, well I didn’t think your offer would ever materialise. I thought I’d eventually end up in a room like Ember. Set up to be slaughtered.’

  ‘I must admit the fire-witch has been more trouble than she’s worth. If that stupid ogre couldn’t kill her, I’ll have to do it myself.’

  Chief Andrews lifted his gun and aimed it at Ember. This did gain Carter’s attention and the soldier positioned himself between Ember and the gun.

  ‘Out of the way, Carter,’ the chief said coolly. ‘This doesn’t concern you.’

  ‘I beg to differ, sir. I think this concerns me very much. What’s going on?’

  ‘I don’t have time to explain. Get out of the way. That was an order.’

  Carter shook his head.

  ‘I can’t do that, sir. We’re not following the correct protocol.’

  ‘This is a new protocol,’ the chief replied.

  ‘One that included you killing Sasha?’

  Harvey could practically hear Chief Andrews’s teeth grinding together at being challenged by a subordinate.

  ‘The succubus served her purpose. She kept visiting my dreams, draining too much energy from me. I had to get rid of her.’

  ‘And Gerrard?’

  ‘He served his purpose too. These creatures are scum, Carter. Have you forgotten that? They’re all murderous criminals. They complete their missions, or they die trying.’

  ‘What’s bothering me, sir, is what we do to them after they complete their mission.’

  Harvey was slightly impressed. Soldier-boy was finally growing a backbone and standing up to his superior. Now all the demon had to do was teleport to Ember, grab her and go.

  As if reading his intentions, the chief moved the gun from Harvey’s back and pressed the muzzle against his hip instead. He hit the trigger and Harvey roared in pain as the bullet ripped through his skin and hit muscle. It must have bedded deeply, as there was no exit wound and no blood.

  It hurt like a bitch.

  ‘That’s an electro-tag, son. You try to teleport and it rips you apart from the inside out. Understand?’

  Ember stepped forward to confront Chief Andrews. Her hands glowed as giant flames flickered across her fingers.

  ‘Let him go,’ she said.

  ‘Once he gives me the stone.’

  Ember’s brow crinkled. ‘I thought you already gave him the stone.’

  Harvey opened his mouth to explain but Chief Andrews beat him to it.

  ‘He went back on the deal when he heard I’d arranged your termination. Stupid if you ask me.’

  ‘Yes, it was stupid,’ Ember said, though he noticed her facial expression didn’t match what she said. ‘So where is the stone now?’

  ‘You have it,’ Harvey replied.

  ‘I do?’ ‘She does?’

  Ember and Carter both spoke at the same time.

  ‘I put it in your pocket earlier. Whoever hands it over is entitled to receive this pardon.’

  Harvey held out the paperwork that he’d swiped during his second visit to Chief Andrews’s office and then threw it onto the floor.

  ‘No, Harvey,’ Ember said. ‘That’s yours.’

  He shook his head. ‘It’s yours now. Take it.’

  79

  The flames in my hand died the second I reached into my back pocket and felt the stone. I was both annoyed and amazed that yet another man had managed to slip something onto my persons without me noticing.

  ‘Why would you do this?’

  The enormity that Harvey would give up his freedom for me was weighing heavily on my conscious. He stared resolutely back at me. He was breathing heavily as he pressed his hand to his hip, covering the wound where the tag had entered his body.

  ‘You know why I did it, Red,’ he replied, swallowing deeply. I felt my stomach flutter at the gruffness in his voice and the unwavering emotion in his eyes.

  ‘Now take the damn pardon and get out of here before I change my mind,’ he shouted.

  I scooped the paper from the floor and scanned the contents.

  ‘Is this genuine?’ I asked Carter, handing him the sheet.

  After checking it over, he nodded his head.

  ‘Enough talking, give me the stone, Ember,’ Chief Andrews demanded.

  I held out my hand, studying the bluish stone in my palm. It had tiny flecks of gold inside which glittered as I examined it from each side.

  ‘It is a genuine toothstone,’ I heard Chief Andrews say reverently.

  ‘What do you mean? What is this thing?’

  I took a closer look at the stone, which was now starting to glow. The fragments inside sparkling like diamonds. My hand was also starting to tingle from holding it. An icy feeling crept up my arm and across my shoulders, making me shiver.

  ‘The ancient powers stored inside that stone are evil, Ember. Pass it to me quickly. It needs to be contained.’

  I shook my head.

  ‘Not until you release Harvey too. He did what you asked him to do. He deserves to leave with me.’

  Chief Andrews sighed as he reached into his trouser pocket and loaded another bullet into the chamber of his gun.

  ‘The deal was one pardon. Now this is your last chance, Ember. Give me the stone or I’m going to shoot you.’

  Harvey must have sensed an opportunity to escape as he suddenly lunged for Chief Andrews but the old man was ready for him and hit him hard across the jaw with the gun, sending him crashing to the floor.

  ‘The stone…now.’

  I hesitated. I really didn’t want to leave Harvey behind.

  ‘I’ll make this easier for you. It’s obvious you care for the demon, so let’s take him out of the equation.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  Chief Andrews smiled calculatingly before lifting his gun and pointing it at Harvey.

  ‘I mean take him out permanently.’

  ‘Nooooo,’ I screamed as Harvey’s body jolted from the impact of the bullet entering his chest. It was a kill-shot from such a close range, straight to the heart.

  Harvey barely had time to register what had happened to him. The look of surprise on his face would be forever etched in my mind as he clasped his hands to his chest.

  ‘Don’t cry, Red,’ he gasped, before he faded into a black smoke cloud, which immediately turned fuzzy as it blurred and vanished.

  Tears burned my eyelashes. I threw the stone to the floor and lifted both hands expecting giant
fireballs to materialise but nothing appeared. I chanted the magical words to evoke the fire but again nothing came.

  Chief Andrews laughed.

  ‘You touched the toothstone. It absorbed some of your powers leaving you defenceless for a while…’

  ‘Not totally defenceless,’ Carter interrupted, reaching down and picking up the stone. ‘She’s still got me.’

  80

  ‘I won’t let you hurt her,’ Carter said, feeling the adrenaline soar through his body as he confronted his chief. This is what he should have done for Cassie. He should have listened to her pleas. He should have helped save her Alpha if that’s what the chief had promised. Carter had a feeling the old man had made many promises, to many recruits over the years that had never materialised.

  ‘Ember is leaving the unit with this certified pardon, or I’ll crush this damn stone into a million pieces.’

  Chief Andrews looked genuinely worried by that declaration.

  ‘The consequences of doing that would be catastrophic, son. You could release the darkness that’s being safely contained inside.’

  ‘That’s a chance I’m willing to take. Ember is the last recruit standing. She deserves her freedom, and I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure she gets it.’

  Carter felt Ember’s tiny hand slide into his. She squeezed gently as if telling him thank you. The action tugged at his heart, but he couldn’t respond in the same way, in case he gave the chief another weakness to exploit.

  ‘Are you sure about this?’ Chief Andrews asked. ‘This is your career you’re throwing away. I can’t keep you on the team if I can’t count on your loyalty.’

  Carter hesitated. Hadn’t he wondered what life outside of the unit would be like? Maybe one that included Ember. Or even a family of his own one day. But was he really ready to walk away from his men? His friends were here. His life was here.

  Even if the methods the team used were debatable, their results were high. The world was a safer place because of their successful missions.

  Could he leave all that behind?

  ‘You don’t have to do this for me, Liam,’ he heard Ember say. ‘You’re a good man, and you belong here.’

  He looked down at the beautiful redhead, remembering the first time he’d seen her on arrival day. He’d known the second she’d walked in that things were going to change.

  Ember had shown him that life was not always black or white. That it was right to challenge some orders. He couldn’t continue working for the First and Only team with that mind-set, even if he wanted to.

  ‘I’m not sure where I belong anymore,’ he finally said, ‘but I know where I want to be.’

  Carter threw the toothstone to Chief Andrews, who lowered his gun to catch it.

  ‘Don’t follow us,’ he said, hustling Ember towards the exit that would lead them down to the underground parking garage.

  ‘Not today, son,’ the chief replied. ‘But soon. Watch your back.’

  ‘I always do.’

  Carter kept Ember in front of him as he disengaged the lock and opened the door. He didn’t get very far before he found Pete waiting for him, his gun raised.

  ‘Stop right there, Carter.’

  Carter drew his gun in response.

  ‘Move aside, Pete.’

  His friend shook his head.

  ‘I don’t know what the fuck is going on around here. I can’t find anyone. Where’s my charge. Where’s the chief?’

  ‘Harvey’s dead,’ Ember said, her voice cracking with emotion.

  ‘What?’

  Carter nodded. ‘The chief shot him. He killed Sasha and set Gerrard on a suicide mission. Ember is the only one left so let’s not do this. Lower your gun and I’ll lower mine.’

  Pete seemed to contemplate for a couple of seconds before nodding and holstering his weapon.

  ‘Shit. It’s never ended this messily before,’ he said.

  ‘No, it hasn’t.’

  ‘Here, take the van.’

  Pete held his keys out which Carter took.

  ‘Thanks mate.’

  ‘You’re not coming back, are you?’

  Carter shook his head.

  ‘No. I don’t think I am.’

  ‘The chief’s not going to let this go. They’ll be a team on your tail by tomorrow night.’

  ‘I know. I’m sorry.’

  Pete extended his hand, and the two men shook hands.

  ‘I’m sorry too,’ he said. ‘I just hope I’m not the one who finds you first. You know I won’t hesitate to take you down.’

  ‘I know, mate. I wouldn’t expect anything less. Be careful.’

  ‘You too.’

  Carter directed Ember towards a black van and opened the door for her.

  ‘What’s happening?’ she asked.

  ‘We need to lie low for a while.’

  She nodded and climbed into the passenger seat.

  ‘Did Pete mean what he said? Is he really going to come after you and kill you?’

  Carter thought about his friend. Of all the missions that they’d completed together. He was a reliable soldier. One who always followed orders.

  ‘He’ll try,’ he said resolutely. ‘But I’ll try harder.’

  81

  We drove in silence, both of us wrapped up in our thoughts. Carter kept checking his rear view mirror and switching lanes. I stared out of the window, watching the first rays of sun rising in the distance. I was tired, but couldn’t close my eyes. When I did, I kept revisiting the moment Chief Andrews shot Harvey and the utter look of defeat in his eyes.

  What happened to demons after they died?

  ‘Are you ok?’ Carter asked me, after circling the roundabout twice to ensure no one was pursuing us.

  I shook my head. ‘Not really.’

  ‘Things are going to be okay. I’ll make sure of it.’

  ‘I wish I’d never agreed to this damn mission.’

  ‘How can you say that?’

  I turned in my seat to face Carter. His grip had tightened on the steering wheel as he stared at me.

  ‘Nothing good has come out of me leaving the detainment unit.’

  ‘You’re free.’

  I scoffed.

  ‘Free? Mari, Sasha and Gerrard are dead. Harvey is…’

  My voice trailed off as the lump in my throat prevented me from swallowing properly.

  ‘Harvey is dead,’ I continued, licking my dry lips. ‘I’ll never be free from that.’

  Carter signalled to leave the flow of traffic and turned the van into a hotel car park. He pulled into a space and switched the engine off.

  ‘I’m not going to lie to you, Ember. I didn’t like Harvey, but I respect what he did for you. I’m sure he wouldn’t want his death to be for nothing. He’d want you to live.’

  He reached out and took my hand.

  ‘I want you to live. Something good has already come out of all this.’

  His blue eyes were too astute for me to hold his gaze for very long. I pulled my hand away and looked down at my lap. I heard him sigh and lean back in his seat. He removed the key from the ignition and opened his door.

  ‘Come on, we can’t sit in here all day. Let’s go see if they have a room.’

  I opened my door and got out. Carter locked up and after removing a duffle bag from the back of the van, he led me towards the reception.

  The hotel was part of a decent chain and despite it being Christmas Eve, they did have a vacancy. Normally, we’d have to leave again at noon but Carter managed to blag a late checkout giving us a decent amount of time to rest.

  ‘What name shall I put down?’ the receptionist asked.

  I opened my mouth to answer, but Carter cut in.

  ‘Mr and Mrs Smith.’

  ‘Of course. How will you be paying?’

  ‘Cash.’

  I stayed quiet while Carter filled in the paperwork and paid.

  ‘We serve breakfast between seven and ten,’ the woman said. ‘Come down whenever yo
u’re ready, and help yourself.’

  I nodded my thanks and followed Carter through the door and up a flight of stairs to our room. Inside the layout was minimal, but functional.

  ‘You take the bed,’ Carter ordered. ‘I’ll kip in the chair.’

  ‘Are we safe here?’

  ‘For now.’

  I slid my shoes off and climbed onto the double bed. The mattress was so soft that I couldn’t help but groan in appreciation. I heard Carter clear his throat as he settled into the tub chair.

  ‘You don’t look very comfortable,’ I said, snuggling beneath the warm duvet.

  ‘I’ve slept in worse places. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.’

  He stretched out his long legs and closed his eyes. I propped myself up on my elbow and watched him for a few minutes, drawn to those scars above his eyebrows.

  Cassie had left her mark on him both physically and mentally. He had a permanent reminder of what he’d done to her every time he looked in the mirror. I wondered what invisible scars my presence would leave on the agent.

  ‘I know you’re watching me,’ Carter said without opening his eyes, but I saw his mouth twist into a small smile. ‘Go to sleep.’

  ‘Yes, sir,’ I said, my eyelids already starting to droop as I lay down on the pillow and within minutes I’d drifted into slumber.

  82

  The little girl cowered in the corner of the room while Roger and her mother argued. They were shouting and screaming, and she wished she’d never said anything about her finger. She heard her name mixed in with the other vile words coming out of Roger’s mouth.

  The little girl tried to make herself smaller by tucking her knees under her chin and wrapping her arms around her legs, but it didn’t help. Roger continued to gesture in her direction.

  ‘The brat is lying.’

  ‘Why would she lie?’

  ‘She’s a kid. All kids lie.’

  ‘Not Ember. She’s a good girl.’

  Roger picked up a framed family photograph from the mantelpiece and threw it to the floor. The glass shattered, sending shards scattering across the floorboards like marbles.