Ever After

by Heather McBride

  “It’s a handy thing to know you don’t need a “vial” to kill a half blood. It’s a pesky thing to have a heart that’s still requires air to keep going. Too bad for you isn’t it Corrine?” Todd laughed at me as I chocked.

  I fought violently to get his hand off my neck, but he was much too strong for me. I could hear Will yelling at them to stop as my hearing got muffled from lack of air. I felt like I was going to pass out. The trees began to spin, and I was getting tunnel vision. This was dying; these very last things would be my last memories. I could see Kyle watching with approval, his arms folded leaning on the jeep.

  “Please stop.” I begged once more. I don’t know why I bothered to even try to plead for my life with what little air I had left in my lungs.

  Todd was getting exactly what he wanted now, killing me with his bare hands. I gulped air as Todd’s grip slipped briefly as a loud rumble in the distance in the swamp distracted him. I knew there was a road back there but Roth said it was probably flooded. I couldn’t imagine who might be out there.

  The rumble got louder and I could tell it was vehicles, more than one. They were big and moving fast towards us. I closed my eyes in defeat, it had to be Leo, and the Dark coven, their home was down that road somewhere. I knew Leo would kill me on site.

  “It’s their coven!” Todd yelled back in a high-pitched panicked voice.

  “Kill her already man, or their going to kill us first. You jacked around to long with her you should have just thrown her over the stupid bridge or ate her!” Kyle yelled as he kept looking down the long tunnels of the bridge waiting for whoever it was to get here. I couldn’t believe he thought it was the Followers; they wouldn’t be coming from that direction.

  Todd looked at me than to Will as a set of headlights blazed across the dark tunnel. It was a truck or something with a set of running lights on top of the roof. Todd was too busy apparently filling his pants in fear. He loosened his grip even more, so I could turn my head and look at the approaching vehicles. The first one came roaring out of the bridge, it was a black hummer, followed by two identical ones. It was my coven; they had found us and were here to save William and me.

  “Hurry up man we have to get out of here now!” Kyle yelled again in a major panic. “Is she dead?”

  “No, I’m tossing her over the bridge; even a half blood can’t survive that.” Todd yanked me over to the guardrail. Below me the river raged and churned. I felt his grip get tighter as he held me over the edge. Todd turned again to watch the hummers coming in, and once again, I was able to turn my head and watch.

  The first one drove past us and blocked the ramp at the bottom of the bridge. The second one went flying by and skidded sideways and stopped inches from the jeep. The third one pulled across the bridge entrance sideways blocking it completely.

  To my relief Roth jumped out of the hummer parked right next to Todd’s jeep, Andrew and Taylor got out behind him. Riley got out of the one at the base of the bridge and Doc, Pratt and Sam got out of the one blocking the bridge entrance. I also saw some of the other coven members getting out. Roth had rounded them all up somehow and they were all here to defend us.

  “Drop her Todd or I swear I will rip that miserable thing you call a head off!” Roth yelled at him as he walked at vamp speed towards us.

  Todd pressed the guardrail into my side as he backed up into it further. I could see Doc and Pratt followed by Sayann and Lydia running to Will who was struggling to get up. Taylor and Riley moved in on Kyle, who was backing up near Todd and me. It was an ambush by my coven.

  “Did you think you could pull this off again Downs? You mess with one of us, you’re going to get the entire coven on you, and now here we are. That’s how we work, or has nobody ever told you the rules of vampires?” Todd was outnumbered and he knew it, he looked at Kyle. They knew they were in major trouble now. I was Todd’s only bargaining tool, lucky me.

  “Give her to me Todd!” Roth ordered as he stared him now. The look on Roth’s face even scared me.

  I knew Roth had a dark and maybe even evil side to him. It was an unsaid rule of the followers to keep it under control and hidden. I watched it coming out of Roth right now. I struggled for more air and looked at Roth; he winked at me to let me know the evil glare was only meant for Todd.

  “Yeah Todd, give it up, you’re out of your league now. You don’t even know what you’re doing. Leos going to kill you even if you did bring William back so don’t kid yourself about that.”

  “Back off, or I swear I will break her neck.” Todd pushed me even closer to the edge, and I couldn’t even move now. The smell of the river was strong as he pushed my head over. I looked down at the river it was a black mass of death in my eyes. I pulled myself back up with all I had to see if Will was ok. I could see Pratt had Will up on his feet and they were talking to him as he looked at me.

  “You’re a dead man if you even pull one more of her hairs again Downs. I’m done jacking around with you here. This whole deal with you trying to kill Corrine every time we turn around ends tonight!”

  “You can’t kill me Roth. It’s your covens rule that you don’t kill is it not?” I knew he was desperate now trying to bargain with Roth who was beyond pissed off. Roth narrowed his eyes, and a wicked grin spread across his face. The raindrops beaded up in the blonde spikes of his hair as he laughed.

  “Well Todd unfortunately for you that rule only applies to humans, and well let’s see …” He shook his head and smiled. “You’re not a human anymore last time I checked, that’s sucks for you doesn’t it dude!” Doc moved closer as he overheard the conversation.

  “Yes Todd, we do kill, if one of our own is in danger and that girl in your hands is definitely one of ours and Williams fiancée as well. It looks like to me two of our own are in danger here.” Doc frowned and crossed his arms.

  “Looks like you’re still out of luck there Downs aren’t you?” Riley laughed.

  “You come any closer to me and I swear I will snap her neck like a twig, she’s going to die before I do!” Todd yelled back.

  I felt dizzy now even worse than before. I fought to see and I found Will again standing next to Pratt. He looked up at me, our eyes locked, and that feeling that brought us together was still as strong as ever. He pulled away from Pratt’s hold, but he didn’t let go of his arm and he pulled him back.

  “No William, let your cousins handle Todd. You’re not strong enough to fight anyone yet.” Doc warned.

  “Let me go, I have to help her. I have to help her now!” Will yelled as he struggled to break free from Pratt’s hold on him. Riley ran over to help Pratt hang onto to William as he fought hard to get away and go after Todd.

  “Corrine it’s going to be ok.” He yelled to me, sadness filled his eyes as he realized Pratt was not going to let him come to me.

  “Alright Todd that is enough. I’m telling you to let Corrine go now. I’m done screwing around with you.”

  “Did you know Leo wants Corrine dead? If he gets to her, he’s going to torture her to death. I’m doing her a favor by ending her life like this, you should thank me.” Todd was still grasping at anything to buy him time. I was getting tired of being yanked around and strangled every five minutes.

  “Ask me or any of us if we care. Leo is an ass and Doc will handle him and his plans. Quit stalling and gave her back to us.” I could hear the rage in his voice and the others were getting restless.

  “You’re dead!” Will yelled, his anger welling up inside him as he fought violently to get away from Pratt and Riley. Taylor and Roth moved in together, it caught Todd of guard. Todd yanked me nearly over the side of the bridge.

  “You want her? Go get her then.” I felt myself picked up and suddenly nothing was below me but the sound of rushing water. I was falling God only knew how many feet to the river below. I hit the water with a massive slam. I instantly sunk down in the chilled water as it rushed around me.

  The last thing I saw was the horror in Will’s eyes. I
saw for a second Roth and Taylor lunge at Todd and pull him down to the ground. I struggled and fought to swim back up to the top and gasp for air. My hands were tied still and I pulled at the ropes to get them free. I had to get them off or I was going to drown. I couldn’t help but think Todd may be getting just what he wanted now, my death.

  I pulled and pulled. I could feel the rope cutting the soft skin of my wrist. I knew I had to fight. Will was going to be ok now, but if I died in this stinking river, he might not be. I finally got my hands free and swam like hell to the surface

  I gasped for air, choking on the water and rain, which was falling, in torrents now. I was lucky I could go with any longer than a human now or I would have already died. I grabbed onto a log that was floating nearby me and held on for dear life.

  I had to try to make it to the banks as soon as I could. I had no idea where I might end up out here in this flooded river. I knew the coven would be looking for me. I hoped Roth and Taylor beat the crap out of Todd, and I wondered really, what they would do to him and Kyle. I fought to stay awake, as my head hurt so badly. I held onto the log tightly and prayed I would not pass out and drown.

  Chapter 45

  Lost

  The next thing I remembered was the bitter cold, it’s all I could feel. My body ached and I shivered. I was afraid to open my eyes, was I dead? I had no idea maybe I was in heaven or maybe hell. I knew despite being a half-blooded vampire I was susceptible to death. It would have to be a massive trauma to kill me.

  I was thinking falling off however many feet from that bridge might just qualify as a trauma. I laid there awhile afraid to move and terrified to look. I could hear the river still, and it was very close. I began to think that maybe I wasn’t dead now and decided I had to get up despite the pain.

  I slowly opened my eyes and looked up into the thin willow tree branches. I turned my head and saw the riverbank, tons of driftwood and limbs were washed up in piles around me. I wrinkled my nose at the heavy musty smell of the river. I was in fact barley a foot from the river and the water seemed to be rising.

  I was wet, muddy, and freezing and as I tried to sit up my head hurt so badly I cried out in pain. I curled my arm up to my chest quickly. It felt like it might be broken. I knew I had to somehow scoot away from the river. I was too close to the water, and it could be dangerous.

  I crawled up the bank as far as I could and leaned up next to one of the ancient weeping willow trees. I could barley sit up, and each breath seemed to hurt. I had probably broken a rib or something to top it all off. I couldn’t do anything but lay here now. I didn’t know if half bloods could get hypothermia, but it sure as heck felt like it right now.

  My mind raced, I worried the Dark coven might have hurt some of the Followers when they broke in the house. I worried Will might not actually be ok, even though I saw him standing up at the bridge. I also worried I was going to die here, all alone and never see William, my dad or Gran again.

  I could hear all kinds of strange sounds all around me. I knew I was in danger if one of the Dark coven members found me here, or some kind of animal. I did smile briefly an animal and a Dark coven member were basically the same thing in my book.

  Chapter 46

  “William’s Point of View”

  It was nearing dawn and we had been searching for her for over two hours and not one sign. I was sick inside. I had seen the terror in her eyes as Todd held her. I could do nothing to help. Pratt and Riley wouldn’t let me go. Pratt warned me I would be no match for Todd, as I was too weak to fight.

  I wasn’t now, with each hour I regained my strength, my speed and a deeper hatred of Todd Downs and the Dark coven. Doc and Pratt said Corrine would likely survive the fall from the bridge. It was only the fact that she had phased into a half blood merely days before that saved her.

  The problem she was going to have as Pratt explained to us was that she had not had any blood in many hours. It was critical for new vamps even half bloods to have a steady diet of blood to make their system strong. Pratt worried she was going to be too weak to handle being out in the cold and rain, not to mention her injuries from Todd and the fall.

  I couldn’t bare to think of my sweet Corrine all alone and hurt in this hellish swamp. The weather was acting strange as another freakish cold front settled in on the New Orleans area. Doc worried Corrine might get hypothermia being out here. The sooner we got to her the better.

  Doc had the coven house secured, we were lucky Leo had not come with Todd and Kyle to kidnap me. None of our coven had been hurt in the break in; it was only me that they wanted. Doc was still trying to negotiate with Leo on settling this mess between them.

  Pratt was anxious though. The elders of the Irish coven had arrived in New Orleans just an hour ago and were heading to Doc’s plantation house as we searched for Corrine. They were irate with Leo and what he was doing to us. I knew they were also still raging about the murder of their own half bloods in London.

  The elders of the McClain coven were very good friend’s with Doc and Pratt and would help us in any way they could. The thing Pratt worried about was the fact the McClain’s had very bad tempers, and if Leo pushed them or us, they might snap and just go after him. They had very little patience for the Dark Coven.

  I had heard that many of the Irish covens were hot tempered. Honestly, I hoped they did snap and go after Leo and the entire Dark coven and kill them all. I had not met any of them, and from what I heard, about ten more of their coven were coming from Ireland later next week.

  It was planned to set up in teams to search for Corrine. Pratt, Roth, and I made up one party. Andrew, Riley, and Sam made up party number two. The last party was Doc, and two of the elders James and Seth. It was a heavy swamp area we had to search, so we had to spread out and search the area carefully.

  The rain still fell as we walked the banks of the river. I walked slowly as I thought of Todd escaping us. Roth and Taylor had jumped for him after he threw Corrine over the bridge. The thing they had not expected was that he too jumped over the bridge before they could get a hand on him. Kyle did not get away though at least. Roth and Taylor drug Kyle off into the woods, and they did not come back for a good twenty minutes. Kyle was no longer an issue after that.

  Doc gave us all his permission to kill Todd Downs; he was not to be allowed to live under any circumstances. We all knew he was definitely still alive, being a full-blooded vamp the fall, and the cold wouldn’t kill him. I was what would kill him, somehow some way I was going to get him out of Corrine’s life for the last time.

  I was not going to have her worry about him hunting her down anymore. I just hoped she was still alive, and that Todd didn’t find her before we did. They were probably in the same area, since they went off the bridge within minutes of each other.

  It was so cold and wet as we traveled deeper into the swamp. Doc had called Pratt on his cell phone and warned us the river was set to flood even more as heavy rain was moving in. Time was not on our side, as if it ever was anyway. It was also possible Leo sent some of his vamps out into the swamp to look for Todd or even worse Corrine.

  Doc and Pratt begged me to go back to the coven house and rest, but I refused. There was no way in hell I was leaving Corrine out here; I would die searching for her if I had to. I would never stop until she was back safely with me and in my arms. She was my world my purpose for living and nothing was going to stop me from getting to her, not Todd, Leo or this dammed swamp.

  Chapter 47

  (Continued: Back to Corrine’s Point of View)

  Lost

  I drifted in and out of sleep as the river roared louder and woke me up. I slowly raised my head despite the searing pain in my temple. The water was higher now and the sun was rising. The sky was masked with heavy rain promising clouds. I sighed and laid my head on the tree trunk. If it rained, more that damned river would flood the lower swamp and I would never get out of here alive.

  I knew I couldn’t swim. I was just too tired and we
ak. I heard an ear-splitting crack of thunder in the distance and shuttered as a chill went through me. I curled my legs up to my chest, put my head down on my knees, and cried. I didn’t know how much more of this I could take.

  I coughed and my skin felt like it was on fire, no doubt the effects of not “eating” coming down on me. I knew I needed blood to keep my system from shutting down, but there was no way I could get any here. I would have to catch a rabbit or something. I had heard Roth say he did that when he had to in his early days.

  I couldn’t catch a dammed turtle in the shape I was in right now. The tears came heavier as I thought of William and my family. I had only wanted to share my life with William, but it always seemed things got in the way for us. I close my eyes in defeat. I had cheated death many times this year, and it surly seemed it was going to win this go around.