by J. L. Weil
My heart imploded. “Took you long enough.”
“I won’t ever let you go,” he said fiercely, the back of his knuckles running along my jaw. “I won’t let them hurt you, never again. I would destroy them if it meant keeping you safe.” His eyes burned brightly in the dark.
He was sincere in his vow to protect me, but the Institute wasn’t only one person or a half dozen. How many lives would be lost? Hundreds? Thousands? More? Was our love worth the price?
“I love you,” I said in return.
Shortly after, I closed my eyes and fell into a deep slumber, not the hundred-year kind, but a dreamless sleep. No snapshots or glimpses of nightmares to come. It was a refreshing change, and it made me wonder if maybe Dash’s arms were as magical as his lips.
They sure felt like it.
Chapter Twenty-Three
I don’t know what woke me. It wasn’t a vision but an eerie ambiance that drifted over my skin. Moonlight streamed through the curtains, telling me I’d only slept for a few hours. Dash still slept soundly beside me, and as I surveyed the room, I saw nothing out of the ordinary.
And yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.
I wanted to blame it on the full moon, but then a flash of a green glow lit up the window from outside.
What the—
It wasn’t my imagination. Something was out there.
I climbed silently from the bed, careful not to wake Dash, and went to the window. It faced the marsh with a clear view of the mist beyond, and in the darkness, something swirled in the toxic haze that kept us boxed into the Heights. It kept appearing to me for a reason, and I needed to find out why, what it wanted, and what it was.
Tossing on my discarded clothes, I slid my feet into my boots. Dash didn’t wake, which was good, because he would have only talked me out of what I was about to do. Probably rightfully so.
This was a stupid idea.
But hopefully, I would be back before Dash even noticed I was missing.
I left the little cottage and took off around the marsh, running toward the mist. The green glow was on the move, coming toward me. At this pace we would meet right at the point where the mist tapered off into the Heights.
Glancing over my shoulder, I kept the cottage in sight. I didn’t want to wander too far and lose my way—trying to be smart. When I got to the threshold of the marsh, close enough that I could touch the mist if I reached out, I stopped. I felt like I stood on the edge of the world.
Do or die.
I don’t know why I had the urge to test out the boundary, but I did. It somehow became important to me. I moved closer, putting one foot in front of the other when a sense of vertigo struck me so strongly that I had to catch myself on a nearby tree.
Okay. Let’s not do that again.
Once the wave moved through me, the green glow caught my attention again. It was close, but the thick mist made it impossible to see clearly. Yet I was positive the two dots I could make out were eyes.
I wished Dash were with me, that I had woken him up before coming out here alone. I was getting all kinds of bad vibes and berated myself. But it was too late. I was here and that thing was dancing toward me.
I held my breath as it got nearer, and a sound like a moan carried in the wind. A figure slowly surfaced and took the shape of a human. Reeling inside, I gasped. It wasn’t just the eyes that glowed green, but its skin as well. I couldn’t decipher if the figure was male or female. Heck, at this point, I would have sworn what stood in front of me was an alien.
The glowing creature stared at me, its eyes sunken, its clothes ripped and dirty, barely hanging together by a thread. It swiped out an arm, as if reaching for me.
Scrambling backward, I tripped and landed on my butt. The impact rattled my brain, and I couldn’t think straight, couldn’t comprehend what I thought I saw. A monster? I wasn’t ready to give up on the alien theory, which had a series of visions running through my head including being abducted and never seeing Dash again.
This had to be a joke or a nightmare.
I was still sleeping.
In either case, my theories needed work.
It was second nature to defend myself, and before I thought about it, lightning cracked across the dark sky.
“Charlotte!” Someone called my name from the shadows.
I twisted my head to see Celeste coming around the marsh. She was barefoot, wearing only a long white nightgown. When I turned back to the mist, the creature had gone.
Pushing myself to my feet, I dusted off my backside and met Celeste as she emerged from the path. “Are you okay?” she asked.
I nodded. “Yeah, I think so. I fell. It’s no big deal.”
“Are you normally a fan of strolling in the moonlight?”
I exhaled a little, my nerves still on high alert. “How did you know I was out here?”
“I couldn’t sleep and went to make some tea. I saw you through the window and got this horrible feeling something bad was going to happen to you.”
We shared a long quiet pause. Celeste had probably saved me from something awful. “I’m okay. Just on edge. I thought a walk might help. Dumb, I know.”
“Hmm, depends on who you ask. I have a feeling you can take care of yourself, plus I’ve been known to take a few midnight walks myself,” she said, giving me a faint smile.
I twined my fingers together. “Do you mind if we keep this between us? I don’t want Dash to worry.”
She started walking back the way she’d come, and I followed, anxious to get inside to Dash. “Probably a good idea,” she agreed, surprising me. “I don’t know the Slayer well, but he is fiercely protective of you. Wandering off on your own so close to the border would definitely send him into a tizzy.”
I snickered, conjuring up an image of Dash in a tizzy. “Thanks, Celeste. For everything. I don’t know what we would have done without you.” Look at me, making friends left and right.
We trudged back to the cottage together in silence, and all I could wonder was: Will anything ordinary ever happen to me?
A shift of light woke me hours later, and my eyes fluttered open to the pink-streaked sunrise streaming in through the little window. The warm glow highlighted Dash’s face beside me, making him appear peaceful and innocent. My heart softened at the sight of him sleeping, and I leaned in, brushing my lips over his.
The night was over and the uncertainty of our future lay before us, but I wanted just a few more stolen moments in his arms. I snuggled against his chest, and my lips curled as his arms secured around me. My love for him made me feel stronger.
“Is this a dream?” I muttered, stretching like a lazy kitten.
“I’ve been told I’m dreamy.”
I whacked him softly on the chest. “I meant the bed and us together.”
He gave me a fake offended look. “No you didn’t.”
“Tell me we don’t have to leave, that we can stay here forever.”
“If I could, I would give you just that,” he said quietly.
This might be the last time I woke up in a bed for some time, and I wanted to prolong the feeling for as long as possible, but Dash had other ideas.
Propping his head up on an elbow, he studied me, and I recognized the expression on his face. The honeymoon was over. “We need to say goodbye.”
“Already? It isn’t even sundown.”
“Which you know is my favorite time to travel.”
“That and midnight,” I grumbled, reluctant to leave this little room.
He kissed me and rolled out of bed. I wasn’t so quick to follow, taking a moment to appreciate the fine male specimen that was all mine.
“Do you like what you see?” he asked, slipping a shirt over his head.
“I’d like it more if you were still in bed with me.”
He strutted to the edge of the mattress, placed his palms on it, and kissed me. “So would I, Freckles. Someday, just not today.”
“If we don’t die.”
>
That got me a reluctant smile in return.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Night was at its peak—the sun completely gone, the moon having taken its place. A dark cluster of clouds moved in front of the moon. We would have to rely on the stars to illuminate our way and hope we didn’t get too close to the mist. I remembered how it had felt over a hundred years ago—the way my eyes had burned and watered, a hazard I wanted to avoid at all costs.
The chill in the air was more pronounced than what I’d become accustomed to in the Misty Marsh. Dash wrapped his arms around me, sharing his warmth, before we headed out. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m ready.”
We passed over Celeste’s property line, Dash’s eyes darting east and west. He hustled us through the marsh, weaving around a bundle of trees.
With each step, I became uneasy. “I have a bad feeling,” I whispered, grabbing his forearm with my free hand. My stomach was tied in knots.
Dash sported a major scowl on his face. “Did you get a vision?”
“No, but I wish I had.” I was starting to hate not knowing what was coming.
As we walked, I could smell the floral scent of Celeste’s soap on my skin and the musky aroma of the marsh. I didn’t bother to ask where we were going, because it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that the Institute didn’t find us. I wanted to tell Dash about what I saw last night, but that would mean I would have to confess that I had snuck out… alone. Nibbling on my lower lip, I wrestled with the decision of whether to tell him or not.
My mind couldn’t shake the feeling that it was important, and at the same time, I had a hard time coming up with a rational explanation for what I thought I’d seen. It couldn’t possibly be what I thought. There was no life beyond the mist, wasn’t that what I’d been told? What we’d all been told?
By the Institute, my brain reminded me.
Dash grounded to a halt, throwing out an arm in front of me, blocking my ability to go any farther. “They’re waiting for us,” he whispered, a menacing expression darkening his features.
He didn’t need to tell me who. The Night’s Guard had finally caught up to us. Through the bushes and the trees, I could see multiple sets of eyes glowing in the distance. Panic clawed inside me. “What are we going to do? We can’t outrun that many or fight them.”
“Well, that is inconvenient,” he said dryly, his hands clenching.
“Inconvenient?” I echoed. “Uh, that is one way of putting it.”
“No matter what happens, Freckles, stay close to me,” he said quietly.
As if I would leave his side. The guards would have to pry me away if they caught us, but by the looks of it, I didn’t see Dash and I getting away.
“There’s no need to panic yet,” Dash said, his thumb running along my wrist, feeling my pulse quicken. Indecision played over his features, and I wasn’t convinced.
I squeezed his hand. “Do or die.”
Dash’s lips cracked into an eerie grin. “We’re not dying today, Freckles.”
Knowing that the Institute didn’t want us dead helped. No matter what happened, at least we would be alive, but I wasn’t sure if the thought should comfort me or not.
Dressed in dark blue, a group of guards closed in around us, including the commander and my sister. Go figure. Of course Ember would be part of the team to hunt me down. No doubt she was the first to volunteer.
“You’re surrounded,” Jaxson yelled. “There’s no reason for anyone to get hurt. You can’t fight us all.”
I froze, unable to drag in a breath. People were going to die. I could see it in Dash’s face. He wasn’t going to just surrender. Why? Because the Institute wanted our DNA. “This is insane.”
Dash’s jaw set with grim determination. “You’re going to have to kill me to get to her.”
My heart jackhammered in my chest as I glanced at Jaxson, the commander of the Night’s Guard. “We have orders to bring you both back to Diamond Towers. Don’t make this difficult, Darhk. We all know what you’re capable of, but do you really want to risk her getting hurt in the process of fighting us?”
I made a face. “What makes you think you can hurt me?”
“Because you’re human. Your gifts don’t make you immortal.”
“Good answer,” I muttered.
A black bird flew down from the sky, giving one long squawk before landing. Ryker. The Night’s Guard materialized and our gazes locked. I pleaded with my eyes for him to stand alongside Dash and me. “Don’t fight them,” he said to me. “I’d rather not see you hurt.”
“You’d rather see me imprisoned?” I tossed the question at someone I had thought my friend. I had trusted Ryker.
“As if father would put his precious Charlotte in the dungeons,” said Ember. She stepped forward, shoulder to shoulder with Ryker.
“No.” I shook my head. “You don’t understand what they’re doing. I’ve seen it.”
“What have you seen?” Jaxson demanded.
“It doesn’t matter,” Dash seethed, putting himself in the middle. “I won’t let you touch her.” His bow was out and drawn before I had a chance to blink.
“You don’t want to do this, Slayer.”
“You’re right. I don’t. But you leave me little choice,” Dash said with regret.
“Think about what you’re doing,” Ryker argued. “This is madness.”
Ryker’s betrayal was a vicious pill to swallow and tasted like barbed wire in my throat. “You lied to me.” I spat at Ryker’s feet.
“I swear I didn’t, Charlotte. Whether you choose to believe me or not, it is the truth.”
Ember stepped forward. “Who would have ever thought our own Ryker could turn into a bird? You can imagine my surprise when I saw him shift and take off toward this little cottage in Misty Marsh.”
“You followed him,” I hurled at Ember before turning to Ryker. “That was why you never came back?”
He nodded, his expression neutral. “I kept my promise, but Ember gave me an ultimatum I couldn’t refuse.”
“Let me guess,” Dash spoke up, venom dripping from his tone, “Ember threatened Charlotte. It’s what she is good at.”
“Among other things,” Ember sneered. “Isn’t that right, Dash?” The implication in her voice wasn’t lost on me. She was trying to cause a division between those I considered allies. It wasn’t going to work.
Anger burned inside me. “Do you actually have something worth saying? Because if not, let’s just kick the shit out of each other and see who is still standing.”
Ember cracked her neck. “Works for me.”
My stomach dipped as my gaze bounced between my sister and Dash. I didn’t know what I expected to happen, but things kicked off so fast, there wasn’t time to think about what we were about to do. Dash fired his bow, the arrow splitting off in the air, sprouting into four points that zoomed in multiple directions and sliced open four guards.
And just like that, it all became about survival.
Flames engulfed Ember’s hands. Someone shot a red flare of light, aimed straight for us, and several guards advanced toward us. Chaos erupted, the kind I’d never witnessed before.
I didn’t hesitate, tossing up an impenetrable bubble around Dash and me. Bolts of flames tingled from her fingertips, hitting the invisible shield and fizzling out. Flares pinged off the unseen armor of defense, and the guards rushing us hit a clear solid wall.
I angled my head to the side, keeping the hold on the force field around us. “You’re becoming predictable, sister.”
Ember’s eyes, along with everyone else’s, stared in wonder at the air surrounding us. “And you are just full of surprises.”
Sparks of anger burned through me. This isn’t my sister, I had to constantly remind myself. Each time was like a punch in the gut.
Everything stopped. The attacks from the guards ceased as they scratched their heads trying to come up with a solution to crack my safeguard. Ryker scowled from the other s
ide.
Truth be told, I wasn’t sure how long I could hold it intact before I became weary. The last thing I needed was to pass out during a standoff with the Institute. I might as well have just gone with them peacefully at that point.
“We need a plan,” I murmured to Dash.
“Do we ever, Freckles. I’m all ears. What do you suggest?”
“Me?” I squeaked.
“Well, you’re the one who threw up the shield. I only got to hit four guards with my arrows.” He sounded disappointed.
“We’ve got all night!” the commander yelled.
“I’d love to strike him with a bolt of lightning,” I mumbled between my teeth.
Dash shouldered his bow. “You might get your chance.”
At no point when I had woken up today had I imagined things going down like this.
“I’m getting bored, Slayer,” Ember hollered. “It’s not like you to hide from a fight.”
The pulse in Dash’s neck popped. Ember was goading him, and it was working. “Don’t listen to her,” I told him.
“She has a point. What is our game plan here? I know you’re only trying to protect us, but we can’t just sit here and pray they get tired and leave. The truth is, you’ll probably wear out before they do.”
Dash wasn’t being malicious but practical, and he was right. I could already feel myself weakening. “You want to fight?”
He angled his head to the side, contemplating our odds. “Yeah, Freckles. I say we go out there and kick some serious Night’s Guard ass.”
“Just say the word.”
“And if we get caught,” he rested his forehead against mine, “just remember that I love you.”
“I won’t let them separate us.”
“We might not have a choice.”
“We’re not getting caught,” I said with conviction.
“How about a good luck kiss, Freckles?” He winked. “Just in case something goes awry.”
My eyes frantically searched his. “Nothing is going south. We can escape... I think.”
“Now would be a really great time to have one of those visions, preferably on how we get out of this mess.”