by Devon Ashley
Emily stared out into the foliage. She watched it sway gently, still reacting from those that just passed through. “Just trying to figure out why they lie to us all the time.”
“The Order?”
“Technically lie isn’t the right word. Lying would indicate telling us something in the first place.”
Puzzled, Abby waved her hand in front of Emily’s gaze. “You wanna help me out by telling me what the hell you’re referring to?”
Emily motioned to the journal on the ground. She had already discussed the contents with the other huntresses. Originally worn, she had added a few wrinkles to the book herself by over-reading it. Abby picked it up and flipped through the handwritten paperwork.
“This is one of the books you took from the Chancellor’s office.”
Emily nodded. “They knew Eraticus tracked down and killed us on our twenty-fifth birthday, long before Valerie, even long before your time. They had notes on the mistakes we made fighting him. Which means, they actually trailed some of the hunters to their death. Not to help us but to watch us die.”
“Ugh.” Disgusted, Abby replied, “That’s just sick.”
“Glad you agree with us.” Frustrated, she added, “How the hell could we succeed when we weren’t even aware he existed? And then this. You knew everything about each of those demons. What species and how to go about killing them. We didn’t.” She paused and shook her head. “We never had a chance. All those hunters lost. They were our friends, our family.”
Abby handed the journal back to Emily. “Well, I can’t really speak for the Order of today but the old one didn’t give a rat’s ass about the lives of their hunters. They always had another training to fill the void.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t work for them anymore. I think it’s time for new leadership. Viva la revolucion!” she joked as she waved her fist in the air.
Abby, however, wasn’t laughing. In fact, she nodded her head in disagreement. Emily was afraid she would react this way.
“Oh, come on Abby. We’ll learn more from your kind in a few years than all the advisors put together for a lifetime. We have the same objective: kill vampires. Why can’t we work together?”
The groan that escaped her throat was like nothing Emily had ever heard. She was clearly going to need some convincing.
“Emily, it doesn’t really matter who you work for. Both roads lead to death. You won’t be any happier dying under my guidance than you would the Order’s.”
“But we don’t have to. Let us work with the Order until we die. Then you can reincarnate us and have us help your organization. The Order would never know.”
“I can’t just go around reincarnating people I don’t know. It may not be what they want. And who’s to say that once they’re reincarnated they’ll even want to continue fighting?”
“You didn’t know me,” Emily replied boldly, crossing her arms in a matter-of-fact manner. She winced when she felt the rawness of her broken arm, but kept it crossed regardless.
“Actually, I did.”
Emily strained her eyes and racked her brain, trying to remember a time in which she may have mistakenly met her and forgotten about it. Perhaps an acquaintance she spoke to briefly on the street or maybe even a fake victim at some point. But nothing.
“Noel and I spent decades trailing Eraticus but we were always one step behind. Then a few summers ago, Noel needed to go to Portland to meet up with a contact. As fate would have it, he came across you. One of the ten hunters loose in the world. You were a sure bet for finding Eraticus.”
Emily uncrossed her arms, her bold expression failing.
“I followed you every night for the six months leading up to your death.”
Dumbfounded, Emily sputtered, “What? Why?”
“I had to make sure you were protected long enough to make it to your birthday. I used the time to study your skills, your personality. Sometimes I even helped a little trouble find you to see how you would react in certain situations.” Abby paused before adding, “Still think I’m better than the Order?”
Emily thought on it. Granted, she wasn’t completely innocent in the matter, but Abby never abandoned or gave up on her. “You weren’t there to watch me die, so yes.”
“True. But I didn’t save you either. I was reckless with your soul. You could’ve been lost forever.”
“How so?”
“When you died…I felt responsible, guilty. I had been watching you for so long I actually became attached to you. I had never used the reincarnation spell on anyone before. I really wasn’t sure how you would turn out,” she said, her eyes watching the ground now. “I could have damned your soul forever.”
“Oh,” Emily said, distressed. She shifted awkwardly in the mud. Her bum was becoming numb.
Abby continued, “My point is…that although we now know that it works, we still can’t go around using it on people. I knew after watching you that you would be able to deal. That you felt strongly about hunting and would most likely continue. And I trusted that you wouldn’t tell the Order the truth. I don’t know that about the two hunters we lost today. Do you?”
“No, I guess not. I really only know Darby and Mira that well.”
They sat in silence for a moment. Emily rocked back and forth. She really wanted to shower and change clothes.
“For what it’s worth, it’s a noble idea to offer a second life to hunters that have died in the line of duty.”
“And a third,” Emily added quickly.
Abby knew exactly what she was pushing for – to willingly allow the hunters to become pure vampires. Emily didn’t care that she disapproved. She pleaded, “Think of how successful the movement would be if you recruited hunters here on out.”
“That’s waaaay farther than I’m prepared to go right now.” Abby rose to her feet, determined to end the conversation.
“Still, it’s worth discussing in the future.”
Before Abby could leave, Emily lifted her broken arm and asked, “Hey. Could you help a girl out?”
Her face answered the question long before her voice did. “I think we should wait a bit. Confrontation is still a few weeks away. I’ll heal you before the battle. Just in case I need you.”
Emily groaned. Even with the pain killers, her arm was really annoying her. She kept forgetting it was broken. Every movement caused a sharp pain to travel the length of her arm. “Please? I can fake the injury. I’ll leave the cast on and everything.”
“And what happens when Michael wants to X-ray it in a week to check its progress? Are you gonna let me break it again so he won’t get suspicious?”
Emily cringed. The pain of snapping the bone would be far worse than the numbing sensation she would otherwise endure for the next few weeks.
She took too long to contemplate the pros and cons. Abby looked to her curiously, as if to bait her. She raised her arm towards Emily and a warm glow formed a halo around her hand.
Emily cradled her arm protectively, thinking once again of the pain Abby would cause if it became necessary to snap the bone broken again. She twisted her arm away from Abby’s healing hand. “Eh, on second thought, think I’ll wait.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
The thunderstorm outside rumbled, lightning flashed into the room. A sheet of rain pounded horizontally against the windows. Valerie couldn’t believe that just that morning she had gone down to Twindel’s to seek help from Madam Melina. The day just wouldn’t end. More than ever, she wanted to complete her vision.
She did as the gypsy asked. She placed the dream sachet under her pillow, lit the incense on the table and anointed her eyes with the sleep potion. The combination of oils and incense was pleasant and relaxing. Within minutes, she felt herself slip away.
Mid night, Valerie began to toss fitfully in her sleep. From beneath her eyes, a golden glow shined for several minutes. She murmured, “Abby.” The glow dissipated from her eyes and she shot up in panic.
“He’s here!” she burst
.
Still in pajamas, Valerie fell out of bed and rushed through the manor. The halls were dark and empty. She slammed into walls as she turned corners, refusing to slow down on her own. She threw open the door to Abby and Noel’s room, not caring if they were indecent, but the room was completely empty. She continued down the hallway, turned the corner and smashed directly into Jayden. She hit with such force that both were knocked backwards several feet. Her chest ached from the impact.
“Would you slow down!” he hushed violently, holding his own chest in discomfort. “It’s the middle of the night. You’re going to wake the manor!”
“I’m sorry. I need to find Abby. Have you seen her?” Valerie asked frantically between heaving breaths.
Jayden brushed the floor dust off himself. “She’s outside hunting for stray demons.”
Valerie rushed past him but he reached out and pulled her back. “You can’t go out there! You don’t know how to protect yourself.”
“Get out of my way!” She spun and kicked him the way Abby taught her. He folded and fell backwards onto the floor. She continued down the hallway, not apologetic for her action. Before she turned the hallway, she glanced back. He was staring coldly at her, almost evil-like.
Moments later, Valerie rushed through the pouring down rain outside the manor gates. Being atop the mountainside, she was used to being close to the overpowering thunderclaps and bright flashes of lightning, but she had never been outside during one of the storms. The thunderous cracks made her jump in fear every time.
She searched the woods endlessly until it dawned on her…her vision - the one that had haunted her for the past several weeks. Her dream-self had managed to get a little further in the conversation.
Finally, she would get to finish it. Here. Now.
She rushed to the cliff’s edge where she knew Abby would be. In the corner of her right eye, Valerie saw a burst of movement, the swiftness of a body rushing through the woods near her. It resembled a familiar huntress.
“Abby!” she called out. At least she thought she had. Her shout had been lost in the rain and thunder. She took off after the figure, continually calling out Abby’s name, but she couldn’t keep up. The figure escaped her visibility.
Out of breath, Valerie finally caught up to her at the cliff’s edge. Just as she foresaw, Abby had her back to her, facing out over the lake, completely drenched.
“Abby, stop. I’ve seen something,” she gasped, reaching out for Abby’s shoulder.
“I knew you’d eventually see the truth about me.”
“What? No! You don’t understand. Morphus is HERE!!!”
Abby turned her head around slowly, coldly. Valerie’s eyes widened and she stepped backwards. Abby reached for her and snapped the amulet from her neck. Valerie quickly grabbed for it, refusing to let go. They struggled but Abby easily pushed her up in the air and over the cliff.
Valerie felt a rush of wind against her backside. Her heart burst from her chest as gravity pulled her downward. She looked to Abby atop the cliff, getting smaller with every nanosecond. She felt the back-breaking thud and the air being thrust out of her upon impact, followed by a rush of cold.
Chapter Thirty-Six
The rain had calmed to sprinkles. Noel was running hard. He could’ve run faster, but he and Abby swore they would do nothing to draw attention to their abilities here. You never knew when someone was watching. He had felt a sharp twinge down his spine – that sixth sense that allowed him to feel fear.
He had become acclimated to the stressed feeling in his back since he and Abby had arrived here. Given the state of things, the fear across the manor was strong and long lasting. But this was different. This was a sharp pain that indicated an immediate threat. It gradually increased the closer he got to the source.
He ran along the lake front and saw two figures in the distance, one kneeling over the other. Abby had beaten him and was already alongside Valerie, holding her hand. Her body was deformed from the fall. She had landed on the edge of the lake, part on ground, part on ice. The thin layer of ice had broken around her legs. The cold slush had already turned her blue. Her body shook spastically, her breath was raspy and blood trickled from her mouth.
“Oh, God,” he cried. “What happened?”
Valerie tried to speak but choked on the blood swimming up through her mouth.
“I don’t know,” she said, looking sincerely up at him. “But I can’t heal this much damage.”
Valerie continued to spasm and bleed. She was turning a dark shade of purple.
“Abby,” he said gently, “don’t make her suffer.”
Her eyes rebutted, disgusted at the suggestion.
“You can’t save her,” he urged.
She continued to look in disbelief, frozen in place.
Noel leaned in and grabbed Valerie’s neck. Her panicked eyes pleaded to Abby. She moaned in disagreement.
Softly, Noel whispered, “I am so sorry.”
Abby closed her eyes as Noel snapped Valerie’s neck. He laid her lifeless body on the ground. Through her tears, Abby closed Valerie’s eyes and folded her arms across her abdomen. She then pulled the jeweled amulet from Valerie’s hand and pocketed it.
The slush underneath the ice began to turn pink.
The following morning was dark and gloomy, perfect for the mood felt across the manor. Rumbling clouds filled the sky. Standing around four freshly covered graves were the remaining hunters and Order members, including two newly appointed female huntresses and one male advisor.
Noel was grateful for the weather. Had it not been overcast, unwanted attention would have been drawn to Abby and himself for not showing up for the burial. Particularly since Abby had befriended one of the deceased. He had no doubt the lingering gloom in the sky was her doing, subconscious or not.
The graves read Constance Malloy, Calley Thallen, Brit Ryems and Valerie Whitney. The Priest finished the sermon. One by one, each dropped a handful of dirt onto each casket and then dispersed.
Abby was the only one to linger over Valerie’s grave. Noel stepped up and put his arm around her, pulling her tight. Thankful, she wrapped herself around his waist.
Valerie’s advisor didn’t seem too upset over the loss of his charge. He didn’t shed one tear during the service, even during the part devoted to her.
“Abigail, did you happen to pick up Valerie’s amulet? It was a gift, a lucky charm if you will, that I gave her for protection. I’d – I’d like to have it back.”
Still looking down on Valerie’s grave, Abby replied rudely, “I’m sorry for your loss, Roger. You must be truly heartbroken.”
Roger cleared his throat. “Um, yes I am. But please, the amulet?”
She sighed and roughly exposed the amulet hidden under her shirt. “You mean this one?”
“Yes!” he cried ecstatically, his eyes bright. “May I have it?” He reached out for it.
“No,” she answered bluntly, tucking the jewel away again.
He recoiled into himself. “I’m sorry?”
“No, I’m sorry. Let me speak more clearly.”
Oh, dear, Noel thought. The tone of her voice had attracted the attention of a few advisors and hunters that had yet to leave the small cemetery.
“The only way you’re getting your grubby little hands on this amulet is by prying it off my dead body.” Abby walked off, leaving Roger appalled and shaken as he retreated in the opposite direction.
“Shouldn’t you go after her?” Emily asked. He hadn’t even realized she was there.
“No. Not yet.”
He had feared Valerie’s passing might mimic that of a dear friend she had lost so long ago. A much darker time, Noel recalled all too well the steps that led to Abby’s internal destruction. She was mere weeks from confrontation. He couldn’t lose her now.
Was this the beginning of the end? Should her internal balance be disrupted, be pushed toward the darker side, would she be able to pull herself back? He knew he wouldn’t
be able to aid her this time. Her evil side was as clever as her good side. She would never fall for his tactics twice. She barely tolerated his presence the last time, and knew she had it in her to dispose of him completely the next time she came out.
Not to mention, her evil side would be far more likely to join Morphus than to fight him.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Dressed in a comfortable tank top and cotton bottoms, Abby crawled up in bed with a bottle of red wine. Normally she didn’t drink. She knew she shouldn’t. But the queasiness coming from within needed to be dulled. She never did well with loss and learned not to make friends over the years. One by one, they all died on her. Whether early in the relationship or later, it was never easy. But lately they had all been strangers. Losing Valerie caused a sharp sensation to pulsate throughout her body, particularly in her chest. She just wanted the pain to go away.
Within an hour, Noel slipped into the room, leaned against her and held her tight. She welcomed the release.
“I think she was lying to me.”
“Valerie?”
“About the vision. The one she said she was mentally blocked on. It never happened. Why would she see something that was never gonna happen? What was she hiding from me?”
He dug in deeper, his voice muffled, “Doesn’t really matter anymore. We can’t change the past.”
Abby pulled herself away. “The hell it doesn’t matter! What are we doing here? We can’t save these people or anyone else for that matter. Whether they die now or sometime later, the fact is, they’re all gonna die. We can’t protect everyone every day.” She took another long swig.
Noel pried the bottle from her hands with a look of disappointment, whether from her words or her drinking, she didn’t know. Hell, probably both.
“You shouldn’t be drinking this. You know it makes you angry.”
She rolled out of bed and stumbled for the door. Sarcastically, she complained, “And we know the Order wouldn’t want that!”