I looked deep into her eyes. It couldn’t be. She looked like someone who wanted nothing more than to live. Even if it meant begging for mercy from the one person she hated most in this world. I held her life in my hands. My fingers tightened around the sword’s hilt.
“Zoë,” William snapped, “kill her!”
“I–”
“It’s not true, Zoë. I can change,” she insisted, “I swear it! P-please, don’t k-kill me!” Samantha cried out as the sharp edge sliced further into her stomach.
“Remember who you are,” William hissed. “Kill her! Now!”
Baldric was laughing in the background. I caught Josh’s eye. Tears streaked his cheeks. He clenched his jaw, shaking his head.
“I-I can’t,” I breathed.
I waited too long. Baldric snapped his fingers and Samantha lunged for my throat. She was fast but William was faster. He ripped her body from my blade and threw her onto the ground. He raised his sword and it was all over. Sam’s head rolled across the tower rooftop, a pool of blood trailing after it.
Josh doubled over and threw up. It was a natural reaction for a human. I’d seen decapitations done far too many times to be sick anymore. After all, that was one of the few ways the bloodsuckers could be killed. They healed, just like us, only much slower.
“You can try to find good help these days but, in this time period, good is just not quite good enough. A shame really, I had high hopes for that one. She was quite beautiful. Oh well, there are plenty more where she came from,” Baldric sneered, his eyes dancing over me. He stepped over Samantha’s body – it was still twitching. “Without my help, you stand no chance in my world. Do not forget that warriors,” he warned. “Enjoy the time you have left on this Earth, for you too will soon meet the final death.”
With that he leapt from the side of the tower, sailing into the darkness on the back of one of his beasts. His laughter still hung in the air.
Josh tried to climb to his feet, collapsing back to his knees. I wanted nothing more than to run to him, but I couldn’t move. William flashed him a choice look, one that seemed to scream ‘I told you so’. Josh’s head fell in defeat.
Samantha’s blood dripped from my fingertips and, even though I wasn’t the one to take her last breath, I felt like I’d killed her.
If Josh didn’t hate me before, he would now.
Chapter Eighteen
"It will not be long now,” William said as we rounded down the long stairwell. “The General will attack very soon. Ryuu?”
He was at William’s side in a second. “Yes?”
“Go to the medical chamber. Destroy Litharo’s remains. I do not want a repeat of what happened earlier. You know the procedure. Go.”
Ryuu nodded and took off down the narrow passage.
“I will summon the shadow people and warn the forest nymphs,” Alec announced. “I’ll tell them to prepare for battle.” Alec was gone in the blink of an eye, not waiting for William’s approval.
“Jade, please alert our troops and tell them to ready every means of weaponry we have available to us. We will need everything we have.” William turned his attention to Annie, his eyes dancing over her with such longing.
“What would you have me do, William?” she asked with her bell like voice.
“When the General attacks, I want you to gather all of the children and take them down into the basement. You will look after them and keep them safe. Protect them with your life. They are the only hope our people have for a future.”
She gave him a crooked look and then nodded, following after Jade.
When everyone had left except William and me, I picked up my pace, trotting along side of him. He kept his eyes forward. I didn’t mind. It wasn’t like I necessarily wanted to see the disappointment on his face.
“What are you doing,” I said, grabbing hold of his forearm.
He torn away from my grip and glared at me. “What are you talking about?” he snapped.
“You’re sheltering her,” I accused.
“I am protecting her,” he insisted, baring his teeth with anger. “That is what we do, we protect each other. Just as I protected you up there when you were too weak to do what you were called to do.” Of course, he would throw that in there. Just like William to make sure I knew my place.
“You’re killing her is what you’re doing,” I snapped. “What is our weakness, William? Tell me what our weakness is.”
“Stop,” he whispered.
“What is our weakness?” I repeated.
“Pain.”
“By sheltering her, you’re only signing her death certificate. What, was Baldric right? Have you grown soft, William?” I scowled at him. It was strange, being the disappointed one for once.
“I will not lose her again!” he shouted.
His voice echoed against stonewalls and his head hung low. He almost looked human – almost.
“She isn’t Adele,” I whispered, putting a hand on his shoulder. He flinched under my touch. “She will never be her.”
“Do you not think I know this?” he breathed. “She is so much like her. Everything about her reminds me of my Adele, just as you remind me so much of Jocelyn.”
“Annie is her own person,” I reminded him. “Just as I am. She is no different from the rest of us. She should receive the same treatment that we do and go through the same training that we had to. If you care for her William, you will show her what it really is to be one of the Chosen. If you don’t, then I will.”
William just nodded, turning his face away from mine.
“Why is it that Annie and I resemble Adele and Jocelyn so much?”
“I am not certain. Our kind cannot bear children like humans can. I suppose it is a coincidence. I have found that God has a reason for everything.”
I thought over his words for a moment. There were a number of questions I had for God, but I feared I’d never get to ask Him them, on account of my going to Hell and all. That is, of course, if I ever finally died.
“Why didn’t he just kill me when he had the chance?” I asked William after a moment. “If he wants us out of the picture, then why didn’t he cut off my head right then and there?”
Josh passed by us, keeping his head down. He looked like the walking dead – no pun intended.
William sighed and turned to face me. “He wants you for his own, Zoë. So he will never actually kill you. You remind him of the woman he could never have and you now possess a power that is beyond his reach, whether you know how to use it or not. Therefore, he must and will have you. It is only a matter of time. He is not one to accept defeat.”
“He will never have me,” I snapped. “I won’t go with him.”
“The General will find a way, one day. There is no doubt in my mind. It is what you do when you get there that will matter most.”
William started back down the stairs. “Why does he want Josh?” I called after him, but he kept going.
I knew he’d heard me.
–
The air felt thick. I sucked in small breaths, trying to avoid the taste of blood in the air. I leaned against the rusted balcony railing. It was covered in dirt and grime, ivy weaving in and out of the metal and up the decaying columns. The outdoor balcony would have been a sight to see when it was in its glory days. I could see it now, railings made of gold and the floor lined with candles. Lush flowers would wrap around the tall columns and rose petals would be scattered across the floor. The King would slip away from his guests to steal a kiss from his blushing bride under the moonlight.
I looked up and sighed. How I missed the moon.
Below, the sound of shovels digging into the muddy ground filled my ears. They were building a graveyard for our dead. I wasn’t sure how many we’d lost but they were making quite a few holes. Maybe they were preparing for the future.
Jade made her way to the center of the graveyard, giving the men further instruction. I didn’t envy her job as she helped them lower the bodies, what
was left of them, into the shallow graves.
“So sad, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is,” I replied.
I froze. That voice. My heart started to race as I turned around. No one was there; at least, no one I could see. I scanned the balcony. Taking a few steps forward, I drew my blade, listening.
“I thought we were bonding,” the serpent voice hissed. “No need for violence, my precious.”
Something stirred in the darkness.
“You aren’t real,” I breathed. “I know you aren’t real.”
“That hurts my feelings, it really does.”
I spun on my heels. The Sythen was slithering down one of the columns, aged stone crumbling underneath its weight. I held out my blade as a warning, taking a few steps back. It was just in my head. It wasn’t real. If it wasn’t real, then why did I take another step back?
“He will never forgive you for what you did to her,” it sneered, a long forked tongue shooting out at me as it stepped onto the balcony. “He would be better off leaving. It’d be better than you killing him. You know it will happen, warrior. You’re nothing more than a monster, just like me.”
“That’s not true,” I snapped. “I would never hurt Josh.”
It chuckled. “Is that what you were doing when you nearly killed him? Or perhaps it was what you were doing when you had his girlfriend slaughtered. Not hurting him.”
“Stop it!” I shouted.
“Oh, isn’t this rich,” it sneered, making circles around me, crawling through my memories. “Maybe it would be best if you killed him, before he kills you. I can see into that head of yours, warrior. The vision will indeed come to pass. Your beloved friend will kill you!”
“No!”
I thrust my blade forward.
“Zoë, no!”
I exhaled and looked to Alec. He was standing beside me, trying to stop my hands, but it was too late.
“I-I got it. I killed it,” I tried to tell him.
Alec’s face was grim. “No, Zoë. You didn’t.”
He turned away from me. I followed his eyes down my blade and up to Cindy’s pale face. Blood trickled from the corners of her mouth and tears spilled from her eyes. She grabbed the sword with both hands and gasped, choking on her own blood. She slipped to her knees and slumped over, a pool of blood spreading around her limp body. Her lifeless eyes stared up at me.
My mouth hung open. I backed away, tripping over my own feet. I collapsed to the balcony floor, scooting back until my spine pressed up against the railing. It creaked under the pressure.
“No,” I breathed. “No! It was there, I saw it there!”
Footsteps barreled through the great hall and out onto the balcony. Josh and Tony hit the brakes. I couldn’t come to look at their faces.
“W-what happened?” Tony’s voice was trembling. “Zoë, what did you do?”
“I-I…”
“Both of you leave. Now,” Alec said flatly. Neither man moved an inch.
I crawled on hands and knees through the blood, tearing the sword from Cindy’s flesh. I tried to put it in Alec’s hand. His fingers trembled and he dropped it to the ground, it clanked back to me. I screamed, thrashing my fists into the cobblestone floor. The three of them just stared at me. I grabbed his hand and put the bloody hilt back into it, coiling his fingers around it.
“Kill me,” I begged, kneeling before him. No one spoke, no one even breathed. “Do it!”
“Zoë,” Josh breathed, stepping forward. Tony grabbed him.
“I-I can’t do that,” Alec whispered, taking a step away from me.
“I can’t keep doing this, Alec. I can’t! It’s only going to get worse. Who’s next? It’s always in my head. I can feel it crawling through my mind, taunting me. Even when I don’t see it, it’s there! I can’t control it. Kill me before I kill someone else!”
“No!”
“Kill me!” I screamed, forcing the blade to my throat. It sliced through the thin skin, the pain felt good, freeing even. Tears built up in the back of my eyes, fighting to get past my defenses. Didn’t Cindy deserve tears?
“Leave us,” Alec ordered.
“You can’t be serious,” Josh shouted. Tony was holding him back as he fought to get to me. “Don’t do this, Alec! If you put one hand on her, I’ll kill–”
“Get the body out of here,” Alec interrupted him. “Bury it, put up a cross and make sure her name is on it.”
“Fido, I–”
“Do it now,” Alec growled. “Or I will kill you both and do it myself.”
Tony closed his eyes and nodded. He released Josh and headed for Cindy’s body. Josh made a break for me. He knelt before me, cupping his hands around my cheeks. Tears glazed over his ice-blue eyes.
“Don’t do this,” he begged. “I can’t lose you, too. It wasn’t your fault. None of this is your fault.”
I shoved him away from me. I wouldn’t allow Josh to be next. I’d die first.
“Alec,” Josh pleaded, “please don’t do this. You can’t do this. If you love her at all, you won’t do this. There has to be another way.”
“Leave us,” Alec repeated, never making eye contact with him.
The two men dragged Cindy’s limp body from the balcony. It was the last time I’d ever see her. It’d be the last time I’d ever see anyone. It was for the best. I stole one last look at Josh before he disappeared forever. Our eyes met and I knew I was doing the right thing. I had to protect Josh. I wouldn’t let him be next. I’d die first.
I looked up at Alec once we were alone and nodded. “I’m ready.”
Alec lifted my blade over his head and closed his eyes. I waited for death to take me. I wasn’t innocent like Annie; I knew where I was going. And, I could accept that, as long as it meant I didn’t ruin any more lives. It was too much to handle, the weight was too much to bear. Death would be easier.
My sword fell from Alec’s hands and he dropped to his knees, wrapping his arms around me. I thought I felt his tears on my bare shoulder. “I can’t do it, I’m sorry, Zoë. I won’t do this. I can’t lose you. Josh is right, I love you too much.”
“No!” I shouted, pulling away from him and trying to put the sword back into his hands. He dropped it once more. My hands trembled as I tried to pick it up again. “If you won’t do it, I will! I killed her, Alec. I killed her! It’ll happen again!”
“I won’t let that happen,” he said, pulling me back into his arms. “The fault lies with me. I should have gotten here sooner. I should have been here to stop you. Cindy’s death is on my hands.”
“You can’t control it. No one can. This is the only way.”
“No, it isn’t. We will find the beast whose blood lies within you, and we will kill it.”
He scooped me up and carried me away from the murder scene. I went limp in his arms. “Where are you taking me?” I breathed.
“I have something to show you.”
We rounded the stairs to the top floor and Alec kicked open one of the wooden doors to a bedroom chamber. He set me down on my feet and steadied me. I noticed that he made sure to keep my sword in his possession. It was probably a good idea if he wanted me to survive the next five minutes.
I kept my hands behind my back, avoiding staring at Cindy’s blood on my skin. I reminded myself of Alec’s promise to slay the beast that was behind her murder, the beast that crept through the shadows of my mind, waiting for more.
There was a fire blazing in the massive fireplace on the left wall, candles lining its stone mantle. A large four-post canopy bed sat in the middle of the room, the finest silks draped from its wooden beams. The rich burgundy and gold fabrics reached all the way down to the floor. A metal tub sat on the other wall, a small fire burning beneath it, heating the water that someone must have collected by hand. It was warm, comforting. It felt like a home I’d never had. It healed a very small piece of the hole in my chest.
Alec pulled me into his chest and rested his scruffy chin on the top of my head.
“I had them set it up for you. This was once the King’s chamber. It is fit for royalty once more.”
“Thank you,” I breathed.
He turned me to face him, running a hand over my cheek. “You will always be mine,” he said. “I will do everything in my power to make sure that that creature goes back to Hell where it belongs.”
Where I belonged.
And then Alec did something that shocked me to no end. He kneeled down before me and took my left hand in his. The fire reflected in his warm golden eyes.
“Zoë,” he started, kissing the palm of my hand, “will you marry me?”
My heart stopped beating and all of time seemed to stand still. I looked out past the doorway and spotted Josh. He’d come to make sure I was still alive. He looked broken, defeated even. I held his gaze, feeling something within me begin to shatter.
“Zoë?” Alec brought be back to reality.
“What?” I asked, shaking my head. I looked back to the door. Josh was gone.
“Will you marry me?” Alec repeated, standing to his feet. “Will you be mine from here until forever?”
“I-I need time,” I whispered, pulling away from him. “I just–”
“It’s been a long day,” he finished for me.
I nodded, keeping my eyes low.
“You take all the time you need. After all, we have forever. But, please, don’t take that long,” he added. He kissed my forehead as he walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
“Forever,” I said to an empty room. Forever was a long time.
I headed for the bathtub, shedding my blood-soaked clothes and slipping into the hot water. Within two minutes, the water was stained a crimson color and I exhaled. I looked at my hands, black markings stained by the blood of another. It was just like Markus said – no matter how hard I scrubbed it would still be there. I slipped further into the water, until it covered my head.
–
“You must be new around here?”
“Excuse me?” I said, turning to look at the shorter girl behind me. She smiled brightly, deep dimples on either side of her round cheeks.
Until Dawn: Last Light Page 18