Jason didn't acknowledge he heard her and drove on. He could see the lights of the bus station ahead. There would be time enough to talk later. Right now, they had to get rid of the car and think of a plan.
He pulled the car into the lot and into the closest parking place. The harsh outside lights shined into the car, illuminating Jason and his passengers. He looked back, taking a moment to get the first really good look at them.
Lex was younger than he had initially thought. She couldn't be more than eighteen. She was short and bone-thin, with sharp facial features that made her look older and more severe. Her light brown hair reached just below her earlobes, showing off a long, thin neck.
In the harsh lights, Toby did look “Goth". His black hair was greasy and clung to his forehead and temples. His eyes weren't black, but dark brown and the bags under them made his face look sunken and hollow. His skin wasn't just pale, Jason noticed, but white. Toby flashed him a grin and Jason caught sight of the pointed eye-teeth. Classic vampire.
He closed his eyes before he looked to Amelia. She was just as he had seen her in his dreams. Her hair was red and curly, with a single streak of grey in the front. Though she had to be close to fifty if not older, she looked relatively young. There were only a few wrinkles on her face, the tiniest of lines etched on her pale flesh.
But it was her eyes that unnerved him. They were bright green and shining, they held a depth to them that seemed fathomless. Her eyes seemed to stare right into his very soul. Jason was transfixed by them, and terrified.
Finally, he looked away from her and let out a breath.
"All right. We need to think of a plan."
"I might have an idea,” Lex brought up. Eyes turned to her and she looked suddenly nervous. “But I don't know if it might work."
"What is it?” Toby asked.
"Well, we're at a bus station right? We could all get tickets and split up. It would be harder for them to find us."
Jason considered her idea while Toby scoffed at it.
"Like that would work. How are we going to get tickets?"
Lex looked crestfallen. “Oh. Right."
"Wait a minute,” Jason spoke up. “Lex might be on to something. If we get bus tickets and split up, we increase our chances of getting away.” He glanced to Toby. “It's probably the only chance we have."
"Yeah, sounds good, but once again I bring up a very important part: how are we going to get tickets? I kinda left my wallet at the crazy place."
Lex rolled her eyes. “Well, I don't see you coming up with anything better."
"Cash isn't a problem,” Jason said. “I have enough for tickets and then some."
Toby looked at him. “They didn't take your stuff when you were captured?"
"Yeah, they did, but I didn't have cash on me.” Jason leaned forward in his seat, maneuvering so he could bend slightly to reach beneath his seat. He felt around until his fingers touched metal.
He pulled out a small locked box. Removing the keys from the Camaro's engine, he jingled the key ring until he found a small, round key. He put it into the locked box and turned it.
"You keep your cash in the car?” Toby asked. Jason looked at him and lifted an eyebrow.
"If I hadn't, it would be gone now and where would we be?"
Toby shut his mouth and watched as Jason pulled out a wad of cash.
"Whoa,” Lex breathed. “How much is that?"
"It's enough.” Jason felt the weight of the bills in his hand. It was much lighter than it had been months ago when he had taken the large withdrawal from the checking account he and Rose shared. Claire's inheritance was vast enough to leave a generous sum behind for Rose and in order to not tap into that—as well as not be traced through debit and credit card transactions—he used what he had sparingly. There was about to be a hefty withdrawal from the stack.
Not counting it out, Jason took a handful of the bills and handed them to Toby.
"Take this and get whatever supplies you need at that shop there,” he said, pointing to the little store next to the bus station. “Then get bus tickets to anywhere, far from here.” He looked to Lex. “The two of you should go together. Splitting up is a good idea, but there's safety in numbers. Two and two."
Toby nodded, staring at the bills in his hand. His white hands were crusted in dried blood. He blinked. “There's still a problem. I think I'm going to draw attention to myself."
Jason hadn't thought of it before, but Toby was right. People would definitely stare at the man with blood all over his shirt, arm and hands.
"All right.” Jason thought for a moment then looked back. “Lex, there should be a jacket back there somewhere."
Lex rummaged around and produced it from the floorboard. She passed it up to the front and Jason passed it to Toby. “Take it."
"It's a little big,” Toby said as he slipped the leather jacket on. It covered the blood pretty well. “But it'll do."
"All right. We don't have very much time, we'd better go.” Jason slipped the rest of the bills into his pocket and climbed out of the front seat. He held the seat forward. As Amelia stepped out, she stumbled but Jason caught her.
She steadied herself and stood to her full height. She was close to Jason's height, so she didn't have to look up at him. Her eyes met his. “I guess I'm still weak."
"You're bound to be,” Jason said softly. “That was a powerful bit of work you did back there."
Amelia said nothing as Jason released her and she took a few steps. He noticed for the first time she was barefoot. Her gown made her look like a hospital patient and would surely draw attention. Jason sighed.
"We'll have to get you some clothes before we do anything.” He looked over the roof of the car at Toby and Lex. He noticed the dirt and grass stains on Lex's clothing. “You should get something as well."
Lex looked down at herself and nodded.
"All right, you guys head on."
"What about the car? Are you just going to leave it here?” Lex asked.
"What choice do we have?"
"Not much,” Toby answered. “We could always ditch it. Once they find it here, they'll put two and two together. That Quenten fucker is smart. He'll find out where we went."
"Hopefully not if we go fast enough,” Jason said.
"I can do something,” Amelia spoke up. “Maybe alter the memories of the clerks at the ticket booth.” When the others looked at her, she continued. “Quenten will be sure to have photographs and interrogate them, or if anything, pick into their minds."
"You can do that?” Jason asked. “You can alter memories?"
"It's difficult and I don't like it, but I can do it."
"Okay,” Jason said. It blew his mind the level of power this woman possessed. It scared him to think that he could probably do it too, with the right training. He pushed the thought out of his mind. They had to go. “If you can do it, go for it ... but I'm not carrying you around if you pass out."
For the first time, a smile crossed Amelia's face. Jason recognized his own smirk in her smile. She really was his mother.
"I'll be fine,” she said.
Jason turned to the others and nodded his head. “Be careful."
"How will we get in touch with you?” Lex asked, looking worried suddenly.
"You won't,” Jason said.
Lex ran around the car and threw her arms around Amelia, almost knocking her back against the car. “Thank you for all you've done. I won't forget you."
"Good luck, Alexis.” Amelia held her back just as tightly. “Take care of yourself.” Lex pulled away, tears in her eyes. Without saying anything else, she jogged to catch up with Toby, who had already begun to walk away. He stood by the bus station door and waited. His good-bye was a stiff wave. Amelia returned it before they disappeared into the station.
They were alone. He looked at the woman who was his mother and she looked back at him. Understanding passed between them.
There was much they needed to talk about.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Fifteen
They made it to Cheyenne's in the nick of time. She had just pulled the Dodge to a stop in the front of her two story ranch house when Rose threw open the door and retched onto the gravel and dirt.
Cheyenne sat in the driver's seat, patiently, until Rose sagged back into her seat and wiped her mouth. She groaned and held her stomach. She felt horrible.
"My driving's not that bad,” Cheyenne chuckled, but she got out of the truck and walked to Rose's side. Careful not to step in the fresh vomit, she held the door open and helped Rose down from the cab.
Dawn was still more than an hour away, but the sky was lightening. Rose looked over the horizon. The countryside was beautiful and Rose had to admit she missed the outdoors. Before the whole mess with Simon's return and before she became pregnant, they had held pack gatherings during the full moon. She missed the freedom, the fresh air. She missed the feel of the earth and the myriad of smells the outside world offered her heightened senses. She missed the cabin where she and Jason shared until Simon tore them apart.
She couldn't shift to wolf form because of the baby and the closest she'd been to the outdoors in months was an open window at the PRDI. The rolling hills, from which Cheyenne's farm took its name, Jade Hills, were a much welcomed sight.
Rose only wished she wasn't nauseous so she could enjoy it more. She groaned and sidestepped the puke as Cheyenne lead her to the steps.
"I only wish it were your driving.” Rose pressed her hand against her womb and felt a firm thump against her palm. “This kid's kicking up a storm."
"A little mini-Jason, or a mini-Rose,” Cheyenne said. “Any idea if it's a boy or girl yet?"
Rose looked away from her and didn't say anything. The baby stopped moving, as if calmed by the movement of her rubbing hand. She paused at the bottom of the steps, her gaze following the horizon.
Cheyenne didn't know about Simon, about the mating. She didn't know that this child might not be Jason's at all. This kid could be Simon's.
But the baby was hers, as much as it was anyone's and Rose found some relief in that. She wondered how Cheyenne would take it if she told her.
Cheyenne touched her shoulder gently. “Rose?"
"Yeah?” Rose turned to her, slipping out of her thoughts.
"Are you all right? You had this weird look on your face. Did I say something wrong?"
"No."
"You're not going to get sick again, are you?"
Rose shook her head. “No, but I have to pee, really bad."
With Cheyenne's help, Rose climbed the few steps onto the porch. Cheyenne fished a key from her heavy looking key-ring while Rose held the screen door open for her. She unlocked the door and pushed it open.
She flipped on the light and the foyer of the ranch house was filled with yellow light. Rose had visited Cheyenne's a few times before, but she still wasn't completely familiar with the layout of the house.
The first thing she saw when she walked in was the wooden staircase leading to the second floor. To her left was the living room, and to her right the dining room. Rose knew there was a kitchen just beyond the dining room, and a bathroom directly down the hall adjacent from where she stood now. She had never been upstairs.
Rose hobbled her way to the bathroom and did what she needed to. When she was done, she stood and turned to the sink. A round mirror hung above the basin and Rose blinked when she looked at herself.
She had half-expected to see her eyebrows singed off from being one of the closest to the blast, but they were still there. She looked fine, a little tired and pale, but otherwise normal. It had been a very close call. A few more feet and they might've been very seriously injured by the blast.
Not wanting to think on it, she hurriedly washed her hands and made her way out of the bathroom. Cheyenne was at the front door, lugging in the duffel bag and suitcase that carried most of Rose's belongings. She set them both down with a thud on the front hall floor.
"What the hell do you have in these bags? Bricks?"
Rose managed a grin. She knew Cheyenne was only joking as changed-bloods weren't as strong as full-bloods, but they were still stronger than a normal human.
"Okay, my turn.” Cheyenne smiled at Rose as she walked past her, to the bathroom. The door shut behind her, leaving Rose alone in the front hall of the house.
The place looked friendly and inviting and was so very unlike the formal façade of the PRDI. Rose felt comfortable here, safe. She edged her way to the living room and stood by the couch, leaning her weight against it. She wasn't sure exactly where to put herself, so she waited.
After what seemed like forever, Rose heard the toilet flush and water running in the sink. A few moments later, Cheyenne was back.
When Cheyenne saw her standing there by the couch, she stopped and shook her head. “You could've sat down if you wanted."
"I'm fine.” It was a lie. Her feet felt swollen and she just wanted to rest.
Cheyenne lifted an eyebrow, but said nothing. Without waiting a moment longer, she moved past her and hefted the bags easily. “Your room is down the hall. I'll have to get some blankets and sheets. The bed's not made."
Rose followed behind at her own pace. Cheyenne stopped at the only door there. She set the duffel bag down to turn the knob. She stepped inside and turned on the light, illuminating the plain white walls.
Cheyenne propped the door open by pushing the heavy duffel bag with her foot. Rose stood in the doorway and leaned against the frame as she watched her set the suitcase on the floor near the twin-sized bed. The mattress was bare, but clean. The room was so small, the dresser and overstuffed armchair made it looked cramped. Rose blinked.
"Well, this is it,” Cheyenne said. She moved to the closet opposite the bed and opened it. She pulled out a pile of clean blue sheets and pillow cases. “It's not much."
"It's fine,” Rose answered, not really sure if it was. “I think I'm bigger than the room, though. I might get stuck."
"No, you're not.” Cheyenne pulled the fitted sheet tight on the bed, leaning over to make sure it was snugly tucked under the mattress corners. “And you won't get stuck. This used to be a guest room, then a storage room. When Skye moved in, he slept here, for a while."
Skye was Cheyenne's former lover, and the full-blood were responsible for changing her. Rose didn't know the particulars of the situation, but she knew he had died somehow horrifically. She watched for a moment as Cheyenne opened a flat sheet and spread it out over the bed and smoothed it down, then turned her attention elsewhere.
The room wasn't much, but she could see where the walls had discolored over time, revealing brighter white places where a picture or wall hanging had once been placed. She wondered what might've been there, but didn't ask. There was a window across from the bed, a pair of faded blue curtains tightly pulled together.
Cheyenne was back in the closet, pulling out two thick pillows. She began to shrug them into the pillowcases. When she was done, she tossed them on the bed. “I have a comforter upstairs. I'll get it for you."
"Thanks.” Rose stepped out of the doorway to let her pass. “Uh, Cheyenne?"
She turned back to look at Rose. “Yeah?"
Rose took a deep breath. She had the urge to tell Cheyenne everything. Confess what had happened with Simon and let the worry and anxiety she had bottled up about the baby finally explode. As Cheyenne looked at her with concern in her hazel eyes, Rose decided against it. She was exhausted. Now, if ever, was not the time.
"Thanks,” she said again, dropping her gaze away from Cheyenne. “Thanks for everything."
"Don't mention it. Really, it's the least I can do.” Cheyenne hesitated, as if there was something else she had to say. Instead, she added, “I'll bring that comforter down as soon as I find it."
Rose didn't look up. Cheyenne turned away and walked down the hall and turned the corner. A few minutes later Rose heard her footfalls on the staircase. Sh
e let out a breath.
She knew eventually, the entire pack would find out about Simon's involvement, especially if the baby were his. With Jason and Simon being half brothers, Rose knew it might be difficult in discerning who the child's father really was, but she was afraid there would be some tell-tale sign. Maybe the kid would have Simon's grin, or the same glinting look about the eyes.
Rose closed her eyes as she leaned against the doorframe again. She felt divided about telling Cheyenne. Cheyenne was trustworthy enough, but Rose wasn't sure what to do.
Feeling exhausted, she decided to let the thoughts go until later, when she was rested and feeling better. She bent awkwardly, taking hold of the duffel bag's strap and pulled it away from the doorway. The door shut and she sat on the edge of the bed, dragging the bag with her. She settled it beside her and unzipped it.
Inside was a jumbled mess of clothes, shoes and toiletries. She wished now she had thought to fold everything before stuffing it into the bag, but she wasn't thinking clearly when she was packing. She had just wanted to get out as soon as possible. Now, she had a tangled lump of clothes she would have to sort, probably wash, and put away.
That could wait for tomorrow. She rummaged around in the bag, pulling out her hairbrush, soap, bath stuff, and makeup. At the bottom of the duffel bag, she found what she was looking for.
The rings were cold in the palm of her hand, their weight heavy. She pulled the necklace out from the bag, cupping the chain. For a long time, she only held them, feeling the realness of them with her fist closed. Then she opened her hand and looked down.
The wedding ring and the engagement ring that were once symbols of their love lay forsaken in her palm. Tears began to well but she blinked them away. Once again she closed her fist around it, holding it to her broken heart.
Jason should really be here. We should be together, in our cabin. He should be holding me, running his hand over my pregnant belly. He should know about the child. He should be the father of the child.
Rose couldn't keep the tears back any longer. They spilled out of her eyes, wetting her warm cheeks. She tilted her head back, letting them slide down her face.
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