by Janie Marie
She looked away from his intense look. In a way, she felt a bout of rejection from his scolding, but it helped her regain her thoughts.
Finally, the edge of the school property came into view. It was wrong to see a place normally populated with laughing children so empty of life. Cars were stuck in the same collisions they’d been abandoned in. One was even tipped over and smoldering while an ambulance with its doors open had a trail of dried blood and gore leading away, across the parking lot.
David held up his hand, and they all came to an abrupt stop. Tristan stood at his left while Gawain took his right. Jane stayed directly behind David while the remaining knights scattered around her.
“They’re already shifting,” Tristan said.
David nodded and searched the perimeter as agonized screams and the sick sound of bones breaking came from inside the school.
Jane had never heard such a series of gruesome noises. Her eyes were wide and fixed on the school doors as she listened to the most horrifying cries of pain.
“How many, David?” Tristan asked.
“Sixteen,” he replied quickly. “Including Lance. He might have more stashed elsewhere, but I do not think there are as many as before.” David said nothing more, but the others spread out once he nodded.
Geraint, Bors, and Gareth went to the side of the school while Tristan and Gawain stayed with her and David.
The tortured cries ended abruptly, only to be replaced by growls, and the scraping of claws on tile floors.
Tristan and Gawain moved forward as David turned to her. “Jane, they’re going to come out those doors any moment now. You stay with me, sweetheart.” She nodded, and he bared his fangs before quickly pulling her to him. His aggressive action didn’t hurt. She knew he was already struggling to have her be part of this fight because of Lancelot’s presence. He kissed her forehead, and pulling back, looked into her eyes and said the words she craved but tortured her all the same. “I love you. Stay close.”
She could only bob her head. There was no time to ponder over his love, although it pushed the bloodthirsty monster down and pulled the girl that David and Death adored back in full view.
David reached over and flicked the safety on her rifle just as a loud crash from inside the school sounded. He quickly grabbed her elbow and positioned her at his side. Giving her a tight smile, he turned to watch as the windows shattered at the main entrance.
They unleashed a hail of gunfire. The first three monsters let out ferocious roars before splitting up, and two others tore through the parking lot toward Gareth. Jane heard more glass shattering, but she was already firing at the two wolves approaching her new brother.
She moved away from David a bit but not far enough to be alone. She felt his gaze on her back, but he had his own target.
Gareth didn’t stop firing until the first wolf reached him, then, faster than she thought possible, he pulled his sword and began hacking at the beast. Jane didn’t stop her attack on the other wolf and smiled when it dropped to the ground without moving again. Gareth swung, delivering a powerful chop to the werewolf’s neck, removing its massive head.
Two down.
She caught Gareth’s gaze and smiled as he sent her a quick wink before taking off to help Bors and Geraint.
Tristan and Gawain had moved away from her and were battling three wolves together. David had also switched to his sword and took on four wolves by himself. Jane felt a sense of pride as she realized he was completely capable of taking on more than the others.
While the knights held their own, the wolves growled and dodged the blades coming at them. It still shocked her that these bulky creatures were nearly as fast as they were.
Panic surged through her veins when Gareth, Geraint, and Bors suddenly chased after the four wolves they were fighting. It seemed foolish to leave, but she remembered the wolves would be killing innocent humans if they didn’t stop them.
As they disappeared around the school, Jane looked away and froze at the sight of a figure strutting out of the broken entrance of the school.
Lancelot.
He was still in his human form, but that did not prevent the icy chill from crawling up her spine when his dark eyes settled on her.
David had yet to see him, and Lancelot continued watching her. She didn’t know what to do, so she resumed firing her rifle whenever a wolf came in range.
The heavy smack on the pavement alerted her that at least one other wolf had been disposed of.
Thirteen.
David was still fighting off three huge wolves, and another lay a couple yards away. She caught his gaze and somehow understood he was issuing her an order: don’t leave. Of course, she wasn’t going anywhere, but a soft whimper made her turn back to Lancelot.
He wore a wicked grin and pulled something out from behind him. Jane’s eyes widened in horror. He had a little boy, no older than five, clutched in his firm grip. She scanned the child’s tearstained face, and her breath hitched as his terrified, hazel eyes met hers.
Lancelot suddenly grabbed the boy by his hair and lifted him in the air, causing a blood-curdling scream from the little boy.
Jane’s heart pounded. She was scared, but fury drowned her fear, and she unsheathed her sword.
Lancelot smiled and curled his finger at her, taunting her to follow him. She hissed, enraged as he tucked the wailing boy under his arm and ran the other way. Two wolves she hadn’t noticed followed him.
She took one step after them and David yelled, “No, Jane!”
She paused, but her rage was far too great now; there would be no reasoning with her. The deadly creature David had turned her into was awake and snarling.
The distraction she caused earned David a scratch across his back. He let out a terrifying growl and turned his attack back on the wolves. His hand shot out and grabbed the nearest one by the throat, and with incredible force, he threw its massive body into a nearby car. The windows exploded, spraying out shards of glass and buckling the tires from the powerful crash. A loud series of snaps most likely indicated a broken spine on the monster.
Without waiting, David hastened his attack. He delivered strike after strike to the next wolf on him. The monster roared and stumbled from each deadly blow it received, until it collapsed into a mutilated pile of flesh.
He was already busy slaughtering his final wolf when a noise from the street sounded.
All three sets of icy stares from her remaining vampires focused on her. Stay, they begged, but she shook her head at them.
David roared at her. “NO!”
But Jane was already running, and six more wolves had been added to their fight with one successfully jumping on his back, preventing him from chasing after her.
Jane worried about him, but upon hearing his powerful roar, she knew he’d be okay. Even though a strong part of her told her to help him, she had to save the boy. Her protective instinct for the child was too great to ignore.
She didn’t look back and ran faster. The distinct sound of flames and howls mixed with David’s yells for her to come back, but she didn’t stop.
The sound of the battle faded, but she heard the little boy’s hysterical cries. She hissed and slid to a stop after rounding a building.
Lancelot stood there casually with the little boy dangling by his arm. “So you’re the one who is causing so much trouble.” Unlike the tender way her deadly vampires or Death looked at her, there was nothing but disgust in his dark gaze. “After all this time, I should have known David would be paired with a freak.”
The lapdogs at his side growled and snapped their jaws. Jane wanted to growl back, but she bit her tongue and stared Lancelot down. “Put him down. You can take me.” Bargaining herself was something she was very much prepared to do. All that she cared about was the little boy with hazel eyes. She’d give her life for him.
He laughed. “Foolish girl. You make it so easy; I was not prepared for you to come to me so soon.”
The little boy reache
d out to her, and she screamed. “Please let him go! Do whatever you want to me.”
“I should kill you right now,” Lancelot said, his lip curling in disgusts. “But my master has plans for you.” Her eyes widened, and he grinned. “Does David know of their little game?” She didn’t answer, and he chuckled. “Then I will wait. It is no fun if he doesn’t get to see you in the arms of another.”
She bared her fangs. “I won’t go with Lucifer.”
“Are you sure?” He smirked. “There is much evil in you, I can almost taste it.” He inhaled deeply. “Ah, that’s what my master desires. I may as well be a good servant and draw that beautiful darkness out of you. All the more fun to watch David lose you this way. After all, he is one of Heaven’s most beloved warriors—and you, well, you are simply undeserving of the noble knight.” He chuckled as tears stung her eyes. “You are not worthy of his pure heart. Remember that, whore. Because I know David, and I promise, when he sees what my master and I see in you, he will throw you away.”
Lancelot’s teeth suddenly elongated and sharpened. He grinned, looking very much like she’d imagine a shark would look if it were to smile at you, and she watched in terror as he savagely bit into the boy’s neck. The little boy didn’t even have time to scream before Lancelot tossed him away. His tiny body hit the ground hard as his blood spilled onto the pavement. “See you again soon, whore.”
Jane was in shock, but she looked away in time to see Lancelot disappear down the street.
Bloodthirsty snarls forced her to return her attention to the scene in front of her. One of the wolves took a few steps in her direction, and one went to the boy.
“No!” She screamed and threw out a burst of energy, just like she had practiced with Death. A low boom shook the ground and knocked both wolves back. It wasn’t enough to injure them, but it distracted them and turned their focus solely on her.
Jane didn’t care or fear them; she wanted their heads. She gripped her sword tight and charged.
The wolves stood no chance under her unforgiving blade. She snarled and hissed as her blade went right for the first one’s leg. It fell to its knees, and she aimed a powerful kick at its torso, knocking it to its back.
Again and again, she sliced at it, cutting away the arms and head then stabbed her sword through its heart. Even though it was dead, she continued to roar out like a wild beast and cut him up further.
As black blood flew into the air and sprayed across her face, Jane heard a separate growl. Now she remembered the second wolf. She hadn’t realized she’d used her power on it, but now, focused on his monstrous face, she grinned.
The monster growled again, and she hissed, but as she took a step, a sudden darkness blanketed her sight. She snarled and shook her head. The black faded but lingered around the edges of her vision as a faint whispering teased the back of her mind.
Taking another step, a faint wicked smile formed in her mind. “Leave me alone,” she yelled and approached the werewolf.
Dark blood dripped from her blade as she raised her blade to the paralyzed wolf’s neck.
It snapped its razor-sharp jaws, but she bared her fangs and slashed his jugular. Blood sprayed out like a broken hose across her body. The wolf whined and fought against her hold to no avail, and she laughed, closing her eyes as the blood covered her face and clothes.
The desire to torture him more excited her, and she moved her arm to cut into its belly. Only, before she could, a pair of muscular arms wrapped around her waist and dragged her back.
She thrashed and screamed out as her captor held her tight. “Jane, baby, I’ve got you,” David cooed in her ear. His arms stayed wrapped tightly. “Shh, I’m here. I’m here, my love. Calm down.”
The black that darkened her surroundings lifted, and she gradually regained her thoughts. Slowly, the bloodthirsty rage waned, and she relaxed in his hold.
David turned her around quickly. He wasted no time and began wiping the vile blood from her face, then pulled her to him. He hugged her and held her head to his firm chest. His heartbeat was fast but returned to a steadier pace as he breathed in her scent.
There was no way she would refuse him at that moment, and she wrapped her arms around his waist to return his embrace. Her own pounding heart slowed, and her hearing now settled on the soothing beat of David’s heart.
“The same girl?” Gareth was talking to Tristan.
“I think this must be the brother,” Tristan said.
Jane pulled out of David’s hold as she remembered the boy, and she ran to where they all knelt. She quickly fell to the little boy’s side.
He was still alive, but only just. The blood pumped slowly from his wound and oozed between her fingers as she tried to apply pressure.
Terrified hazel eyes opened to lock with hers, and Jane finally cried. Tears pooled in his eyes, but they did not fall.
Jane held his neck while Tristan pulled gauze out of his pack until he pushed her hand away to tend to the wound. The nameless little boy’s lips moved, but blood spilled out of the corners of his mouth.
“Shh… You’re going to be okay,” she said, stopping him from speaking.
David knelt behind her and rubbed her back but said nothing.
“Mommy?” the little boy managed.
Jane sobbed and nodded. “Mommy’s here, baby. It’s going to be all right.” The words were automatic. She knew he wasn’t her son, but it didn’t matter, and she leaned over to brush his soft brown hair away from his forehead. “It’s okay,” she whispered, placing a kiss on his head. “I’m here.”
Her tears made it hard to see him as he gurgled blood, trying to breathe, until finally, she watched his pupils dilate, and the rapid rising of his tiny chest stilled.
“Jane,” David whispered.
She didn’t respond. All she could do was sit and stare at this lifeless, little body. The massive amount of blood loss had already turned his light complexion to a chalky white color.
David ran his hands up and down her arms to soothe her, but only one thing reached her mind: Jack, her baby brother. That’s all she saw now.
“Sweetheart, he’s gone.”
Still, Jane kept her eyes fixed on the little boy and his blank hazel eyes that nearly matched her own. Her mind tortured her further by causing the little boy’s face to morph into Nathan’s. She was close to screaming and falling into madness as her own son’s face became clearer.
“Baby, please say something,” said David. She finally turned away from the terrible sight to look at her vampire. David cradled her face in his hands. “I’m so sorry, Jane.”
Her teary eyes wandered over his face then behind him. The rest of her knights had returned; none appeared to be injured. They all gazed down sadly at the small, broken body by her side. She noticed Gareth being handed a young girl’s body. She was older than the little boy, maybe in her teens. Still a child. The way he had to cradle her head made it obvious that her neck had been broken. Jane couldn’t even bring herself to look at the girl’s empty eyes after seeing Gareth’s heartbroken look. So, she looked back at David.
She shook her head as she tried not to break down, but she couldn’t hold it anymore. She wailed.
David quickly pulled her into his arms and stood up. When he turned to carry her away, she cried louder and tried to break out of his hold. He held her tighter and fixed her across him. “It’s okay, sweetheart—we will not leave them behind.”
She cried, in agony over her failure. “I couldn’t save him.”
David sighed and kissed her head. “I know, baby. I’m sorry I did not get to you faster. You did everything that you could, and you kept them from hurting him further.”
“Nathan,” she blurted out. “Where are Nathan and Natalie?”
“They’re safe, my love. Arthur is keeping them safe for you.” He walked faster and kissed her hair. “Stay with me, baby. Don’t lose yourself.”
She shut her eyes and cried. So many thoughts bombarded her mind. Failure, fea
r, shame, guilt, worthlessness. Lancelot’s words cut into her heart like a jagged knife, and she hugged David. Lancelot was right; she was evil and unworthy. She didn’t deserve him. He would throw her away when he saw her.
“Talk to me, baby,” David murmured in her ear as he began to jog with her. “Are you still with me?”
Tears soaked her face, and she shook her head. “He’s right.”
“Who?” He nuzzled her but looked around to find his bearings and ran down a new street. “Baby, did Lance say something to you?” She didn’t answer him. He heaved a heavy sigh. “Whatever he told you isn’t true. He’s trying to get in your head to make you doubt yourself.”
“It’s true, though.”
“What’s true?” She stayed quiet. “Dammit, Jane!” She flinched, and he sighed. “Baby, tell me what he said.”
She couldn’t say anything. There was too much sadness and guilt over everything that had happened. She realized now how much she had enjoyed slaughtering that wolf. Lancelot was right about her; she was evil inside, and she was a whore. She didn’t have to have sex with anyone to be one; she was jumping from male to male, and she wouldn’t stop no matter how wrong she knew it was.
David’s hot lips touched her temple. “Don’t doubt me, Jane. Even if there is some truth to anything that comes out of Lance’s mouth, it doesn’t matter. You are still amazing and beautiful, and nothing can stop me from loving you.”
It only hurt to hear him say that. She wanted him to love her, but she knew once he saw through his feelings, he would leave. They all left eventually.
David sighed and kissed her temple, murmuring he loved her, that she fought her best, that the boy’s death wasn’t her fault, and that Lance was a liar But she couldn’t accept it. If Lucifer himself saw the darkness in her; if he was willing to make a bet with Death for her, he obviously had a reason to, and she wondered if her so-called entity was really something separate from her. For all she knew, Death was telling her what he thought would hurt her less.