Beautiful Eternity

by Alicia Deters

  We reached his still form in record time, but no one rejoiced when we uncovered him. His mouth was gagged, and a massive gash swept from his brow to somewhere behind his temple. His black hair covered the wound.

  He put up a fight and they had knocked him out. Soil clung to his gag and must have been clogging his airways. He didn’t have a chance to breathe.

  Springing into action, I ripped the cloth off his mouth and pulled him up, forcing his jaws apart to check for debris. I saw mud clumping around his white teeth, but his throat was clear.

  “Someone give him CPR,” I shouted.

  I’d do it myself if I wasn’t afraid to crack a rib or two. Brody crawled over as I laid Max back down. Sophie held his mouth open and kept his airways free as she bent periodically to blow into his mouth. Brody pumped his chest repeatedly, but nothing happened.

  A full minute passed, and everyone’s faces transformed with the crushing weight of defeat. This wasn’t happening again.

  “No!” I screamed. “Out of my way.” My voice left no room for hesitation.

  Brody leaned back on his haunches to give me room, and Sophie curled back into the dirt wall at her back, casting her eyes down to her bare feet.

  I willed my fangs to come out, and they obeyed. Allison gasped and shrank back into Nick. Everyone’s hopelessness was replaced with fear and uncertainty. Normally, my fangs meant someone was about to die, but this time, they were going to save someone.

  Bringing my wrist up to my mouth, my fangs sank through skin, poking through the tough outer covering to get to the sweet nectar inside, like a piece of fresh fruit. The blood flowed steadily, and I held the rivulet over Max’s mouth. Pushing his jaw down with my other hand, I cracked it open far enough to allow the drops to soak into his tongue and stream down his throat.

  My bite marks closed within seconds, and I placed my palm against his chest. Praying for restraint, I jolted his body with the first compression. Easing back, I pressed again, and I didn’t stop. I wouldn’t until he came back to us.

  “Come on, Max. Breathe,” I coaxed, hoping he could follow my voice from wherever he was.

  His body was still warm. I refused to believe he couldn’t be saved. He had to come back from this.

  The backs of my eyes burned with growing fear. Twenty seconds had passed, and my companions had gone stone silent as they watched my sanity take a turn at the intersection of Nowhere Street and Nonexistent Drive.

  The next second changed that direction entirely. Something kicked against my palm, and then it did it again. Max coughed and choked as his lungs struggled to suck in all the oxygen in the country.

  Breaths that were being held prisoners rushed out of captivity in a collective sigh of relief from four mouths.

  “Max!” Allison shouted.

  Everyone converged on him, and I scooted back. The relief and guilt crashed over me. I couldn’t sit still. I jumped out of the hole and paced the cemetery. Stopping in the middle of it, I watched as the scattered clouds crept in front of the moon. I heard my friends calling for me, but the onslaught of emotions rooted me in place.

  The burn of tears worsened, and I fell to my knees feeling too lucky. The universe had never once smiled on me in the worst times. How did I just walk out of a hopeless situation without anyone dying?

  I dropped my head, and the first tear fell with it. I became aware of five heartbeats surrounding me and looked up to meet their faces, a sob breaking free at the sight of all of them standing there. The magnitude of the situation twisted my insides until I said the first thing that came to mind. Unsurprisingly, shame squeezed out of me before anything else escaped the bundle of tension.

  “I’m so goddamn sorry. I should have heard them coming.”

  “Lucy, stop blaming yourself,” Nick said.

  “Yeah, it actually wasn’t your fault. This time,” Allison remarked.

  I stood to face her, giving her a weak smile. She returned it and embraced me in a hug. I hugged her back until she shoved me away.

  “No. Too weird,” she admitted.

  “Yeah,” I agreed.

  Everyone laughed. “I love you guys.”

  “Awwww, group hug,” Brody said.

  We huddled together in an awkward six-way hug, standing in the middle of a freezing cemetery and wearing only our pajamas. It was the best awkward hug of my life.

  “We love you too, Lucy,” Max said. Under his breath, he whispered a thank you for only me to hear.

  “Can we go now? It’s freezing balls out here,” Nick commented.

  “I second that,” Brody said.

  We walked toward the exit, and I stopped. “Wait. Does anyone know where we are?”

  Five faces clouded with confusion.

  Max cracked a grin. “Damn, we’re lost as f—”

  14

  We managed to find our way back to the bed and breakfast. I scouted ahead for signs of life and had discovered a town nearby. Luckily, a man at a service station spoke English and was willing to give us a ride, which ended up being an hour-long drive.

  Since none of us had our wallets or phones on us, we paid the man in smiles. I got the impression he was hoping to get more out of us scantily clad girls, so it served him right.

  Sophie had passed out from exhaustion, and I watched Brody carry her to her bed before the rest of us returned to our own cabins. We immediately rushed to our showers, and I scrubbed myself clean while basking in the warm steam.

  I drank over half of the blood supply Gavin had replenished the other day. “Thanks, sweetheart.”

  Speaking of my absentee boyfriend, my phone flashed with a voicemail when I picked it up off the nightstand.

  When I opened it, his deep voice growled at me. “You better call me back immediately, Ms. Masters. I don’t know what’s going on, but I just felt your fear from another country. If I don’t hear from you soon, I’m coming back for you. I’ll be in a meeting with the Keepers in ten minutes, and if I don’t hear from you by the time I’m done, I’ll hunt you down.”

  I smiled. His bossiness brought out my feistiness.

  I wondered why he’d be in a meeting at such a late hour, but then, the house members must have been operating on vampire hours to stay alert. A pang of sadness hit me for what they must be dealing with. My friends and I had just gone through that experience in Canada, and I didn’t wish it on anyone.

  Dialing his number immediately, I replayed that message in my head, my combative nature gaining steam. It rang seven times before going to his voicemail, and once the beep sounded, I let him have it.

  “Must you be so dramatic, Mr. West. I’m fine. Everything’s fine. And do you always have to sound so threatening? I get you threatening others who are trying to kill me, but you always seem to end on a threat directed toward me, like it’s automatically my fault someone is trying to kill me.”

  I paused to consider that statement. Was it my fault? It almost sounded true to me. Damn.

  “Don’t respond to that. The point is, there was a minor incident that’s been resolved for now, but I will say that another issue sort of sprang up that I need to address right away. Um, so I might be doing something reckless in the near future, but I’ll fill you in with more details later, okay? I love you. Bye.”

  I ended the message and reflected on what I just admitted. Shit. I didn’t want him leaving before he solved any of their problems in Munich. I’d have to find a way to diffuse that bomb before he abandoned his duty.

  Way to go, Lucy.

  As I got to work untangling my wet hair, a scream shattered any relief our return trip brought. The same voice that woke me hours ago sent me sprinting to Sophie’s back porch. Without knocking I burst through the door to see her pacing frantically by her bed, grasping handfuls of her dirt covered hair.

  “Soph? What is it?” I asked, hearing pounding footsteps entering the room behind me.

  “What’s going on?” Max asked. Others followed to join the confusion.

  When she
finally looked up to acknowledge us, guilt and fear waged war in her brown eyes. “It’s gone! It’s all gone,” she screeched.

  “What’s gone, Sophie?” Allison asked, her tone more gentle than I’ve ever heard it.

  I didn’t need her to answer. The pieces I felt missing before were beginning to fit into place. Shane hadn’t killed my friends because he wanted to give me a reason to not follow him. And he was a sick bastard. He wanted me distracted while he and his mini army of lifeless drones came back here for the one thing in our possession they needed.

  Answers. They stole Sophie’s laptop with the scanned copies of Gavin’s book collection.

  “My laptop! And all the books. They’re gone,” Sophie answered.

  The others either cursed or gasped in surprise, but at this point, nothing surprised me. As they shouted over each other about what to do next, I contemplated my next move. I could go after Shane to get the valuable information back, and I’d probably catch up to him before he made it very far, but I wouldn’t.

  And he knew that. He made sure of it when he mentioned the kidnappings. He didn’t just want me distracted long enough to steal the books. He wanted me distracted long enough for him and my father to translate them and find the Sword.

  “Lucy, what the hell? Are you even listening?” Nick shouted.

  “Do you realize we’re totally screwed, now?” Allison echoed his frustration.

  Max studied my calmness and asked, “What’s up, Luce?”

  With everyone’s attention fastened on me, I answered, “We’re not screwed. We’re all here together and alive. That’s all we ever need.”

  “Oh yeah, and what happens when Psycho Dad finds the Sword and unleashes hell on earth, or whatever it is sociopathic vampires do?” Brody asked.

  “Then, we’ll figure out how to stop him, but right now, we need to relax. There’s nothing we can do about it.”

  I was so over trying to fight my fate. My father was determined, and he had many resources at his advantage. The odds would always be stacked against me. I would always be at the bottom, constantly underestimated.

  The beauty of it was that I have always come out on top. This time would be no different, because I was a force to be reckoned with. A smile cracked my face when that realization dawned on me.

  “Lucy, are you high or something? How is this something to smile about?” Allison sounded more annoyed than frustrated.

  “We’re in the same position we’re always in, another step behind our enemy, but it’s okay. That’s where we thrive. Under pressure. We’ll just regroup and come at it from a different angle. Let’s all go back to my room, and I’ll get a fire going.”

  “So… we do nothing?” Brody asked.

  “No. We come up with a plan of action. The books are gone. So what?”

  Sophie gasped but covered her mouth. “I’m sorry, Lucy. I should have hid them better.”

  “No, Soph. There was nothing we could have done. They were going to get them eventually. I’m just thankful they didn’t take you instead. We’re all lucky to still be here. Think of all the shit you guys have dealt with in the past few months, and you’re still alive.”

  Each of them grew somber, replaying battles with an assassin army, losing their home, losing friends and family. So much loss. Being buried alive probably flashed through their montage of epic shittiness. I watched as smiles broke out across the group when they finally came to the same place of acceptance I found.

  “Well, when you put it that way, I guess we’re doing all right.” Max probably had more to be thankful for after coming back from the dead, and I beamed at his optimistic outlook.

  One by one, my friends shuffled toward the door to meet at my place.

  “Um, can I shower, first?” Sophie’s timid voice came from behind us. We all glanced back to see her shifting back and forth on her feet, as if she were contemplating following us or staying to clean the dried mud off of her.

  Everyone broke out in laughter. “Stay and shower, Soph. Meet us at my place.”

  When her eyed bulged at the thought of walking the twenty yards in the dark, I eased her mind. “Don’t worry, Soph. They won’t be coming back tonight. They got what they wanted, and they’ll be busy trying to decipher the texts. We’re safe from their attacks for a while. Enjoy this time off from looking over your shoulders.” I spoke to the group as a whole but turned back to Sophie. “I’ll wait for you if you’d feel more comfortable.”

  Seeing the fear eased from her features, I guessed her response. “No, go ahead. I’ll meet you there.”

  †

  The fearless five huddled around the massive fireplace in the middle of my cabin, soaking up the warmth of the blazing fire. Sophie and Max hunkered down in the large wingback chairs, while Brody sat on the hearth. Nick and Allison cuddle up on the animal skin rug, leaning against Sophie’s chair. Snacks were passed around as we joked around with each other.

  When I went outside to retrieve more logs from the stack on the porch, Max jumped out of his seat. “I’ll help!”

  He followed me out the back door and began gathering wood. The moonlit sky was brightening with the help of an approaching dawn.

  “Lucy, I wanted to tell you I know what you did for me. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to you. I mean, it was a little weird waking up with the taste of blood in my mouth, but you saved my life. I owe you.”

  “No. You owe me nothing, Max.”

  “Still, I can’t believe I’m even standing here right now. Do you have any idea what this means, Luce? Think of what your blood could do.”

  His eyes practically twinkled as much as the stars, and I squirmed uncomfortably. I didn’t like where this was headed.

  “Whoa, whoa. Slow down. You’re starting to get excited. The next thing you know, you’ll be suggesting we bottle and market it as the next fountain of youth, and I might have to punch you. I’m not a cash cow.”

  “No, that’s not what I mean. Nothing like that, but just think of the lives you could save in the future when this kind of thing happens again.”

  I had considered it, actually, but what he didn’t know, and I wouldn’t tell him, was that my blood didn’t always work. Maybe it was powerful enough back then, or maybe it wasn’t, but I lost a friend and didn’t want to fool myself into thinking my blood could magically keep them all alive. I wasn’t God and preferred to leave the miracles to someone more capable.

  “We don’t know what kinds of effects it might have. How are you feeling, by the way?” I asked, steering the discussion into safer territories.

  “I’m good, Lucy. Thanks. Look, I didn’t mean anything by that suggestion. I’m sorry. It’s not my place. Are we still good?”

  I waved him off and carried my armful to the door, which he opened with his free hand. “We’re good, Max. Don’t worry about it. I’m just glad to have you back.”

  “Shut the door. It’s cold out there,” Allison whined.

  We placed our new pile of logs next to the dwindling one on the hearth opposite Brody, and Max stoked the flames.

  “So, what is our next move?”

  Sophie, the brave new Sophie, was the one to broach the subject everyone else seemed reluctant to address. She was never the one to discuss strategy, but her growing involvement showed how far she’s come into her own skin. I knew she always had it in her, and I was so proud to see her confidence blooming.

  Brody’s mouth gaped with a chip poised outside of it. The side conversation between Nick and Allison, which no one wanted to hear, came to a halt. Thank God for that. Times like this made me curse my super hearing. I so needed to scrub my brain from the images that arose from their dirty talk.

  Bleh. Don’t dry heave, Lucy. Keep it together.

  “Luce, are you okay?” Max asked.

  Clearing my throat, I focused on the important stuff. “Yeah, I’m good. And I have a plan. I am heading up to Urals soon. I just wanted to make sure you guys were doing okay.”

  A
long pause followed my declaration, as expected.

  “Wait, I’m confused. Are you saying you’re leaving us?” Max asked.

  “Yes.”

  I told them what Shane had said about the kidnappings and watched the horror creep over their faces.

  “I’m heading out soon, but I need you guys to stay behind. I’m sorry, but I’ll be much faster on foot. Please don’t fight me on this one.”

  Something odd happened. They each looked to one another, waiting for someone to be the spokesman. My friends seemed torn between wanting to help and acknowledging the same kind of wisdom I’ve miraculously inherited from experience.

  “Lucy, I think we’d all love to be there for you, but we’re no match for the First, especially after getting our asses handed to us and buried alive with little to no effort.” Max met my eyes straight on and pleaded for understanding.

  But I got it.

  “You don’t have to explain to me that you don’t want to participate in a suicide mission. That’s my job.”

  Nobody laughed at my attempt to lighten the mood. Tough crowd.

  “I do have a favor to ask though,” I added.

  “Anything you need our sexy vampire exterminator,” Nick announced.

  My joke didn’t get a single titter, but his lame comment received a snort from Brody and a smile from Sophie, which she tried to cover by ducking her head. Allison gagged and rolled her eyes at the same time before elbowing Nick in the stomach.

  I glared at Max, waiting for a response. “What? He’s right. We’ll do whatever you need.” There was a pause and I raised an eyebrow, knowing he wasn’t finished. “And you are hot as hell, Luce.” He winked.

  It was my turn to roll my eyes, but Brody felt the need to add his two cents. “True story, Lucy. But I bet your vampire lover tells you that all the time, especially while you two are doing the—”

  “Enough! I think it might be nice to get away from all this testosterone.”