Burden Of Blood

by Wenona Hulsey

  “Yes I do, and my mind is made up.” She turned to walk away but he stopped her by the arm.

  He brushed her hair back from her forehead as he stared into her ghostly eyes. “I will not walk away.” He moved so his lips were only inches away from hers, “I can’t live without you.”

  Nicole stared for what felt like an eternity into his hazel eyes, feeling the pull in her soul and the breaking of her heart. “We all have to make sacrifices.” She moved around him and walked to the black Chevelle. Without another glance, she closed the door and drove away.

  Her tears trailed down her face as she drove. She sobbed in silence as she told herself this was the right thing to do. “I knew this was how my life had to be. All this dream did was get people hurt.” She wiped her tears away on her sleeve then set her face in stone. “I don’t have time to be soft. I have to save Kat and put an end to Loch.” She pulled the car over to the shoulder of the road and walked around, opening the trunk. Her police gear was packed neatly in her duffel bag. She began unpacking and dressing. She strapped her bulletproof vest on, then slid her arms into her holster that held her gun, covering it all with a blue windbreaker. She hoped to make it inside without being searched, maybe thenwith her added powersshe would stand a chance of getting Kat out safe.

  A few miles later, she was making her final turn to the airfield. She turned down the deserted stretch of road at ten minutes before eight. As she made the first curve, she slammed the brakes down, stopping a few feet from the side of a sleek, black Tahoe. Ronald leaned casually against the side of the vehicle, the barrel of his shotgun shining in her headlights. Her blood started to boil at the sight of the man who had stabbed her dad. She had to push her power down to keep from setting him on fire as anger raged in her mind.

  He motioned for her to get out as he walked around to the passenger side of the Chevelle. He leaned over, looking into the seat then moved around to Nicole. “Good girl, you’re not as stupid as you hick girls sound,” he glared at her, not a hint of humor in his voice. “How’s your daddy?” he smirked.

  “Where’s Kat?” Nicole demanded, restraining herself from reacting to his taunting remark. She scanned the area for any other active minds but there was nothing.

  “You’ll see her soon enough.” He motioned to his car, “Get in.”

  Nicole did not hesitate, she knew that Kat wasn’t here and the only way to get to her was to go with Ronald. She moved to the car, careful to keep him in her sight as she opened the door and slid inside. He stood for a moment staring at her, then he turned to walk to the driver’s side. Nicole let a small sigh escape when she felt sure that he wasn’t going to search her. Not that it would do much good to shoot him now, but at least she would have her gun when they got to where they were going.

  Nicole watched out of the window as the Tahoe moved down the dark road. Her own reflection looked back at her. “Why so quiet, sweetie? You’re not back there trying to hatch a plan are you?” He glanced at her in the review mirror. “Just a little word of advice, save everyone you love and go quietly. Loch will not stop until he has you.” He shrugged his shoulders. “No point in resisting.”

  The sky was now dark with a large, full moon hanging in the sky. The lights of the air strip lit up the horizon as they drew closer to the gate. “Why can’t he just leave me alone?” She spat out between clenched jaws, realizing her time to gather information was closing.

  “Ah, now princess, don’t act dumb. It’s not very becoming of you.” He studied her face as he slowed the car to a stop in front of the gate. Whatever he saw did not stop him from continuing. “Whoever has you controls the entire fae kingdom. Not too hard to figure out.” He opened his door, then stopped, “Don’t try anything. If we don’t show up on time, your pretty little friend, well,” he paused staring at her with dark cold eyes, “she will wish she was dead.” He moved with lightning speed to the front of the car, sliding the gate which was covered with razor wire open.

  Up until that second, Nicole had let herself forget Ronald was a warrior. He had managed to evade Luke at the airport with super human speed but looking at him, she didn’t notice there was anything special. She found herself wondering if he had any other powers, outside of being a cold-blooded murderer. She tried to probe his mind but a wall of energy slammed her back into her seat.

  Ronald turned to face her with a malice-filled smile stretching his steely face. He shook his head tapping his temple with his index finger, “So you have learned a few tricks since that day in the woods. I thought you might have been able to feel me then but I couldn’t get a clear read on you. I honestly thought they had me gunning for the wrong country bumpkin but look at you, all grown up.” He slid back under the wheel and put the car in drive. “Loch will be pleased.”

  He pulled the car to a stop in front of the airport hangar where a sleek plane was sitting on the runway. There standing next to a tan Lincoln was Spade. He was resting casually against his car only now he had changed into a dark blue suit but still wore the cocky look in his eyes that she remembered from the cellar when he sadistically beat Kat. She could feel her power struggling to get out, seeking revenge for her friend, looking to put an end to the traitor that she hated, but she contained it. She needed to find Kat first, after that, there would be time to take care of him.

  She opened her door and stepped out. Before she could step away from the door, Ronald had her pinned against the car. “Time for you to drop this, honey.” He reached inside of her jacket and pulled out the concealed gun, waving it in her face.

  Spade strolled over to her clicking his tongue, “Now you didn’t think I was that dumb did you?” He chuckled dryly, pulling her around by her hair so their faces were cheek to cheek. “Umm,” he groaned deeply as he took her scent into his nose, “I do hope you decide to be a bad girl today, I’ve waited so long for the chance to teach you a lesson.”

  She gritted her teeth from the pain coursing through her head, “Where is Kat you slimy piece of shit?” She scanned the area for any sign of Kat’s mind but there was still nothing.

  “She’s taking a little nap,” he winked, pulling her hair tighter causing her to wince in pain. “If you go without a fight, your sweet little friend will wake up a free woman,” he moved his hand up to her face as he ran his tongue along her earlobe. “But if you fight me, she will die and so will you.”

  “Tell me Spade, what’s in this for you?” she spat out, pulling her face away from his mouth. “Why would they bring a slime ball like you into this when you’re just a weak, cruel, little man?”

  “I don’t ask questions and they pay well.” He shrugged as he released his grip on her taking a step back. “I’ll be relaxing on a beach, sipping a beer and watching the sunset as soon as I get your pretty little ass on that plane.”

  “You think it will be that easy?” she smirked. “The department knows you were involved with Ronald. They have your cell phone and bank records, so that means they won’t stop looking for you.” She watched his face turn hard and his shoulders stiffen.

  “I guess I’ll just have to go a little farther then. Now come on, time to move.” He gave her a hard shove, causing her to stumble and slide to the ground.

  Nicole stared at the pavement, her mind racing to figure out a way to make them show Kat. She searched again with her mind getting blocked from Ronald’s head. Spade’s mind was a mass of hatred as he tried to work out another plan of escape, but more mumbling poured into her mind. She held her breath as she tried to make out the words but whoever the person was, he had to be just on the edge of her range, causing interference like the static from a radio station. She scrunched her brows together, trying to expand her power further but Spade jerked her up by her arm before she could focus on the voice again. “I’m not going anywhere until you show me Kat.” She dug her heels into the ground and jerked her arm away from him.

  He glared at her, his mouth was drawn into a tight line and his eyes were narrow slits. He shoved one finge
r toward her face.

  “Give her what she wants,” Ronald stood staring off into the woods surrounding the small airport. “We are running out of time.”

  Spade shot her a daggered look then turned, walking to the trunk of his car. He popped it open with the button on his keys and reached inside pulling Kat’s limp body out. He leaned her against the bumper, forcing her upright. He held her wobbling face with one hand then slapped her across the cheek. Kat whined from the pain as she tried to control her drugged body, fighting to move away from Spade. “See? She’s still alive.” He turned back to Nicole, letting Kat slide hard onto the ground. “Now move!”

  Nicole stood there staring into the face of her best friend. She didn’t look like herself at all, the swelling and bruising was above anything she had ever seen as a police officer and there was no trace of the self-confident woman she knew as her best friend. Spade had broken her. She might live through today but she would be scared for the rest of her life.

  Nicole walked toward the idling airplane because there was no other choice. If Loch got her, would he leave everyone she loved alone? They could all go back to their safe, normal lives and she would live out her fate, however short it was. She suddenly stopped where she was as thoughts rang out loud and clear in her head. “Don’t get on that plane.” Sage’s voice was as clear as if she were standing next to her.

  Nicole spun on her heels taking in Spade’s confused expression as he watched Ronald crouch down, backing toward the plane. She took the opportunity to send a gust of wind toward Spade while he was distracted, hurling him backwards. She felt a rush of wind pass her, filling her nose with the scent of Luke’s woodsy aftershave. She watched as he dove into Ronald. Both of his hands were blazing with blue flames as he sailed through the air reaching for Ronald’s neck but missing. The rogue warrior dodged the attack with a speed even Nicole’s superhuman eyes had trouble tracking. Luke rolled to his feet but Ronald was already on him, kicking him in the side of his head. Luke quickly recovered from the blow as he spun around slinging balls of blue flame into Ronald’s chest, but only one met its mark, causing him to stagger backwards.

  Sensing movement off to her side, Nicole pulled her eyes away from the fighting warriors to face Spade again. He was holding Kat around the neck with Nicole’s own gun pointed to her best friend’s temple. “You better call your friend off if you don’t want her brains on the ground!” Kat whimpered from the pain as he pulled her tightly against his chest.

  “Luke stop!” she screamed through her gritted teeth, keeping her eyes on Spade as he started dragging Kat toward the roaring plane. Luke and Ronald were circling each other waiting for an opening to attack. “He’s going to kill her if you don’t back off!” She could hear the wheels spinning inside of Spade’s head. He was panicking, wanting to get out of here and he didn’t care if he had to kill everyone else. “I’m going with them so please just stop.” She pleaded with Luke as she saw Ronald’s plans to kill Kat then shoot Luke, so he could force her to go. Tears prickled her eyes when Luke turned his attention to her, a fresh cut along his cheek dripped blood and his hands were glowing red and blue. He reluctantly took a step back from the other warrior as he viewed the scene.

  “Now that’s a smart girl,” said Ronald as he moved toward her, careful to keep a wary eye on Luke. “Get on the plane and Spade will let your friend go.” He reached the steps and started to climb. A cocky smile played across his face as he turned his back on Luke and stepped inside.

  She could hear the engines roaring as the pilot revved them and prepared for flight. Spade smirked at her as he motioned with the barrel of her own gun for her to move along.

  What happened next was over in a heartbeat but to Nicole it was like watching a stop motion film being made. Each step clicked by, each moment agonizingly slow. Kat swung her hand wildly knocking the gun away from her face and sending Spade stumbling backwards. She dropped to the ground as Sage and Rhys swarmed him. They circled around him as he fought to regain control of his gun.

  Nicole was excited with the turn of events, and looked for a way she could help. She gripped the rail of the steps with white knuckles as her eyes gauged the situation. Then, she felt a hand wrap into her hair and pull her back. She landed on the stairs, hitting the back of her head on a step. Her vision blurred but she could make out Ronald looming over her. She reached back, grabbing onto his arm as he tried to pull her to her feet by a handful of hair. With her fingers locked around his wrist, she sent fire to her palms. Ronald growled and jerked away from her. Nicole could smell singed hair and burning flesh in the air.

  Nicole raised her head from the steps to find, Luke, Rhys and Sage all staring in her direction, distracted by the fight on the stairs. Nicole looked past them as Spade regained his footing and shoved Kat to her knees in front of him. A gunshot rang out, echoing off the hanger and pavement like thunder.

  Nicole shot two balls of blue fire from her hands as she bolted forward, catching Kat’s slumping body before it hit the ground. Blood poured from Kat’s chest, seeping through her torn shirt and dripping onto the ground.

  Kat’s eyes were wet with tears as she tried to focus on Nicole. Her mouth opened and closed several times as she tried to form words.

  “Don’t, just stay still,” Nicole whispered stroking her friends matted hair. Behind her she could hear the plane start to taxi down the runway.

  “I’m so sorry,” Kat’s voice broke off in a strained gurgle, “I wasn’t a good friend.” She took an unsteady breath trying to continue.

  Nicole pressed her hand against Kat’s bleeding chest. Fresh tears fell from her chin, cutting trails across her crimson stained hands. “Please Kat, don’t do this. I need you here with me,” her voice quavered. She pulled her tightly to her own body as Kat’s breaths became more shallow. In her mind she heard “I love you Nicole,” as she watched the life fade out of Kat’s dark eyes.

  A sob filled her chest as she rocked her best friend’s lifeless body. Sorrow began dragging her into the dark depths as she prayed. A tear dropped from the tip of her nose and she watched as it mixed with Kat’s blood, barely making a ripple in the still expanding pool of crimson. She shook her head from side to side as she raised her head. “I will not fail.”

  She stood, rage fueling her heart and soul, as her eyes darted from side to side searching for Spade. The air around her began to spin as her fury spilled over. The scent of charred flesh offended her nostrils as her eyes spotted Spade’s body several yards away in a flaming heap. “That was too good of a death for you,” she yelled.

  Nicole turned toward the low flying plane, raising her hands up to the night sky. The wind obeyed by leaving her side and rushing up into the blackness. Black clouds filled the sky above her as lightning struck the ground in front of her. Trees twisted and snapped as the wind around the runway began to spin. She gave it everything she hadinduced by everything she lostuntil a flame filled funnel dropped from the clouds. The funnel, as if it were the devil’s finger, cut a burning trail across the field as it closed in on the plane. Within seconds, the tornado consumed the jet sending it to the ground in a fiery explosion.

  Nicole walked back to Kat’s body and kneeled down placing one hand on her friend’s head and the other over her friend’s silent heart. She didn’t think, she just pushed with everything she had left inside. A bright white light emerged from Nicole’s hands causing Kat’s entire body to be engulfed in pale flames. She watched as the ghostly glow danced over every inch of her friend’s still body. She continued until she was sure the power had touched every inch of Kat, then she let her hands fall heavy at her sides. She looked around at the growing flames dancing along the ground around her, filling her vision with red, then everything went black.

  Chapter 14

  Nicole stood in the familiar graveyard with Queen Titania at her side. The once green grass was now black and smoldering. The smell of smoke filled the air around her as a dark haze drifted across the graves. The light of s
mall, creeping fires cast an orange glow across her skin as scorching air filled her lungs.

  “So now you are ready to fight?” Queen Titania spoke softly but did not meet Nicole’s eyes.

  “I have no choice!” she snapped with tears streaming down her cheeks.

  The old woman nodded as she placed her hand on a crumbling headstone. “We all have choices,” she waved her hand across the graves. “We fight or we give up,” she shrugged, “it’s that simple, my dear.” She turned her ghostly blue eyes to Nicole. “Are you strong enough to stand up for your people, even when you doubt yourself, when darkness blocks out all of the light and you feel as if you’re alone?”

  “Alone,” she snorted, “I decided long ago that alone was how I would live my life.” She paused staring up into the ominous smoke as she wrapped her arms around herself. “But I’m not a leader for anyone, I failed Kat tonight, and now she’s gone.”

  Queen Titania placed a hand under her granddaughter’s chin raising her eyes to her own. “My dear, you are just beginning to live. Who you will be tomorrow could be someone you do not know today. You have the power to set everything right again.”

  “And if I do nothing?” Nicole’s brows pressed together as she looked pleadingly into the woman’s eyes for answers. There was a throbbing hole where her heart once lived. She could think of nothing but Kat. She shook her head trying to erase the image of the beautiful woman she had known most of her life lying cold and bruised on the ground with her blood pooling into the dirt.