Two men strode in wearing balaclavas. One lifted a hand to remove his mask and my hand shot up to cover my eyes. Damn Siren. I wasn't going to let him use his power on me that easily.
A second later, someone took hold of my wrist and I clamped my eyes shut instead.
“Fine, we'll drag you then,” one of them growled. And they did just that, hauling me out of the room. I didn't fight. I'd been ordered not to already by Silas. And they weren't particularly rough with me anyway, probably on account of the baby. I supposed my child was still valuable to Silas until he took what he wanted from it.
I ground my teeth, letting them guide me along, having no choice but to comply.
“Where are we going?” I demanded, trying to quiet the anxious voice inside me that told me it was finally happening. That Silas was going to do as he promised and steal my baby from me. And if he gave me the order to keep still, there wouldn't be a thing I could do to stop it.
My breathing grew ragged when the men didn't answer.
They walked me onward and I peeked through my eyelashes, spying the glaring white lights of the corridor. I was hauled into an elevator and we rose up, up, up.
When we stepped out, I was shoved in front of Silas.
“Open your eyes,” he said, his tone soft.
The command ran through me like heated water. My eyes flew open and I gazed at his handsome face. But it didn't seem remotely handsome anymore. This was the face of a monster. A man who would see my child killed for the sake of his sick experiment.
Silas nodded to dismiss the guards, taking my arm and guiding me forward. There was no point in resisting and I despised being ordered around by him anyway.
“How are you this morning?” he asked.
I turned and spat at him. His left eye twitched as he pulled his sleeve over his hand and wiped the moisture from his cheek. His grip on me firmed and a ripple of fear stirred in my tummy.
“What do you want?” I snarled as he tugged me along.
“We're leaving,” he said simply.
“Leaving?” I breathed. “To go where?”
“To another institute.”
I didn't know how I felt about that. But at least it bought me some time. Possibly a day or two. I doubted it would be more than that. But the most frightening thing of all was that, once I left this island, no one would know where I was. And despite the fact Jameson was gone, I still hoped he'd find a way to come back to me. It was such a small possibility, but I suddenly realised how strongly I'd clung to it since we'd been torn apart.
Tears welled and I swallowed them hard. I clutched my tummy, on the verge of begging Silas again. I'd done plenty of that already. And I wasn't ashamed of it. If there was one thing worth begging for in this life, it was the safety of my own child.
It struck me that there was something I hadn't offered yet. So I took Silas's arm, halting him, preparing to voice my hysteric thoughts.
His brow creased, but he said nothing, waiting for what I had to say.
“I'll do anything, Silas. Anything.” And I meant it. I had an offer in mind. And no matter how mad it sounded in my head, I knew it was going to sound even crazier when it left my mouth. “Let me have my baby. Then I'll carry Emma for you. You can harvest stem cells from my child when he or she is born and then give them to Emma. That's all you want isn't it?” I clung to Silas's arm, knowing I was leaving a mark, but unable to stop myself. The tension in my fingers was turning them white. “Please,” I whispered again.
He frowned, resting a hand on top of mine. “I'll talk with the lab. Maybe it can be done that way...”
I slumped with relief, clinging to his arm, nearly dropping to my knees as the glimmer of hope broke like sun rays through my chest.
He nudged me upright, rubbing my shoulder. “I don't want any more casualties than you do.”
I let the comment slide, knowing full-well he had no idea how this felt. Even if he had lost a child. It wasn't the same as murdering one. I nodded, giving him a very small smile, knowing I needed to stay in his good books if he was going to stick to his word. “Do you promise?”
“I do.” He walked on without another word, keeping me close.
A small tear of relief escaped my eye and I quickly wiped it away before Silas spotted it.
We arrived at the steel doors that led out into the jungle. Two armed guards stood on either side of it, opening them at Silas's command.
Sunlight poured over us and I squinted out at the helicopter waiting for us, the rota blades spinning atop it, the whirring engine filling my ears.
I instinctively ducked my head as Silas guided me across the white roof of the institute. A guard opened the door for us and Silas waited for me to climb in before following. He sat beside me, the whizzing blades deafeningly loud. He passed me a headset and I pulled it on. I tried to buckle up my belt, but my hands were starting to tremble with anxiety. Silas reached around me, locking my buckles into place and tightening them gently over my stomach. A wave of irritation went through me as he dropped into the seat beside mine, arranging his own straps before pulling on his headgear.
“All clear for take off,” Silas's voice sounded through my headphones as he directed the pilot.
The helicopter lifted slowly, rising higher and higher until the forest dropped away below us. A sea of green stretched out for miles around. It seemed like a lifetime ago that we'd travelled through that jungle. And even longer since I'd ever called Silas a friend. How could I have been so stupid?
My stomach dipped as the helicopter turned sharply toward the sparkling ocean.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“England,” Silas replied and my gut spun wildly.
Oh my god. I'm going home.
Jameson
I woke to hushed voices out in the hall. I tried to ignore them but my Werewolf senses wouldn't let me. Especially considering I had a hangover the size of New Zealand taking up residence in my brain. I groaned, rolling onto my side, reaching for Nadine, wondering if I could bribe her into fetching me water. And snacks. Lots of snacks.
She wasn't there.
I focused on the voices, recognising hers and Ulvic's.
“-is he going to think when he finds out? You can't hide it forever,” Nadine whispered.
I sat upright and my vision swum before me. I was either about to throw up, or dry-retch.
It was the latter.
I stumbled out of bed, moving toward the door.
“I'll deal with it. Just do as I say till then. Are you even trying to pair bond?” Ulvic asked.
I frowned, planting my feet. I didn't want to alert them to my presence. Something told me I needed to hear this.
“Yes, but he doesn't want me,” Nadine hissed.
“Oh don't be ridiculous.”
“I practically threw myself at him, Ulvic, and he couldn't even-”
I swung the door open. Nope. No way. I was not going to have that particular rumour circulating through my pack.
“Morning,” I said, my voice raspy.
Nadine folded her arms. She was dressed in jeans and a vest top. It looked like she'd been up for a while, the scent of shampoo sailing from her silky hair. Had I slept through the sound of a hair-dryer but been woken up by their weird whispering? Guess that did kinda sound like me.
They glanced at each other, saying nothing.
I leant against the door frame, folding my arms. “So...I'm guessing you guys have some secrets?” I raked a hand through my mussed-up hair, stifling a yawn. “You gonna fill me in, or keep gawping at me like I just slapped a kitten?”
Ulvic came to life first, releasing a sigh. “Obviously things weren't all smooth sailing while you were gone. There was some trouble with the Hunters, that sort of thing. But I'm making it right. So we're leaving today.”
“To go where?” I asked. “And what kind of trouble?”
“I'll explain later,” Ulvic said, glancing at Nadine. He was wearing those weird gloves again. Not a c
ool look. “We're heading to see a friend of mine.”
“Let me guess, Rockley Jones?” I raised a brow, giving him a suggestive expression.
His gaze narrowed on me. “What do you know about Rockley?”
“Just that you snuck off to have secret phone calls with him last night. Mekiah mentioned his name.” I shrugged.
“He's a pig,” Nadine muttered.
“He is a friend,” Ulvic corrected.
“Whatever,” I said, heading back into the room. “So long as he's got enough food to soak up this hangover, I'm in.”
*★*
We were on the road by mid-morning. I had half the breakfast buffet packed in my bag. The waitress had given me a little ticket which was good for one meal. So I'd piled up my plate to the size of Mount Everest and poured the contents into my pack. It was crumbs galore in there. I had enough croissants to feed a small french family and their dog.
We were heading to the airport in our little rental car. It was weird not remembering anything before this trip. Not even the plane ride.
Ulvic dumped an array of passports with fake names in my lap. “Pass these out, will you?”
I snatched Ulvic's one as I spotted his photo; it was him back in the eighties. Thick moustache? Check.
I read the name beneath it aloud. “Miles Underjoy.” I laughed and he glanced over at me from the driver's seat, tapping my passport which was resting on my leg. “Something funny, Mr Wang?”
My mouth fell open, then a laugh tumbled out of my throat. I glanced into the back seat where Mekiah and Reason were flanking Nadine, all crammed in like sardines. I beamed at them, but they didn't seem to be paying much attention.
I chucked each of them their passports. “Roland, Lucinda, Viola.”
Nadine rolled her eyes, but a hint of a smile danced on her lips as she caught her passport. “Thank you Mr Wang,” she teased.
When we arrived at the airport, I was surprised to find us heading to the UK. A direct flight to London.
I flirted with an air hostess as we took our seat onboard the plane, taking the aisle seat next to Ulvic.
He fiddled with his gloves, distracting me from the girlish giggle the hostess gave in response to my joke.
“What's with the gloves, bro? You look like a dominatrix.”
Ulvic glanced at the hostess, easing the one off of his left hand a little. Scales covered his hand, sparkling green and blue, looking like they belonged to a rainbow fish.
“What the hell?” I muttered as he tugged the glove back on.
“I had an accident. A friend fixed my hand with Mermaid scales,” he whispered.
“Woah.” I raised my brows. “What kind of accident?”
He cleared his throat, taking out a magazine from the rack on the seat in front of him. “Another time Jameson. We can't talk about this here.”
I frowned, glancing down the aisle to spot the hot air hostess. She was busy pushing luggage into the overhead bins. She glanced my way, almost dropping a suitcase when I offered her a wink.
Mini Jameson had no interest in the matter.
Dammit, what's your problem little man?
Cass
The helicopter soared over the azure sea. I kept my eyes trained on the horizon, thinking of Jameson, letting the memories of him fill me up, recalling the moment I'd discovered what Ulvic had done to us. It broke my heart to think of the way I'd treated Jameson in the past weeks. Guilt coiled in my stomach like a snake. I hadn't known the truth, but I couldn't shake the feeling that if I'd let myself trust him more then none of this would have happened. Surprising really, considering how hard I'd fought to keep him from getting under my skin. But trusting him would have been our salvation. If only I'd had more faith.
I rubbed my eyes, a sigh parting from my lips. I wondered vaguely if Silas knew what Ulvic had done to us, ordering Jameson to lie about his feelings for me. But I doubted it. He didn't seem to care much for anyone beyond himself.
I rested a hand on my stomach where a round bump was beginning to form.
Hang in there. I'll figure out a way to get us out of this. I promise.
Silas spent the flight tapping out messages on his phone. I didn't care. I was just glad he wasn't talking to me, trying to convince me of his divine ideas.
The sun arced through the sky as we made our trip, hours slipping by. Eventually, a land mass grew in the distance and the pilot announced we were approaching Tenerife where we'd board a plane. As we sailed above the sandy beaches and choppy waves, a small part of me felt glad to be going home soon. I'd missed England. Even though I'd never had much of a life there in the past. I suppose some things just needed to be parted from to be appreciated.
I knotted my fingers together as we flew over a small private airport and came to land on a circular helipad next to a large airplane bunker.
An armed guard slid the helicopter door open and Silas unclipped my belt, tugging off my headphones before I reached for them.
“Follow me,” he ordered, taking the lead as he headed out of the helicopter.
I dropped onto the tarmac, a warm breeze blowing against my cheeks. It was a relief in comparison to the heat of the tropical island. Not that I'd been outside since I'd arrived at the institute a few days ago. Being out in the fresh air made me long for freedom more than anything. My time in The Sanctuary had been so short-lived. And before the V Games, I'd been in prison for two years. Was I ever going to be free again? I couldn't imagine a time where my world wasn't full of chaos and pain anymore. But I wouldn't let it grind down my heart like it had in the past. I wouldn't give up. For me, for Jameson, for our child. I conjured an image of us all together, somewhere safe and far away. It brought a smile to my lips, just long enough to lift my spirits.
We're not done yet.
Silas ignored me, talking with the guard as he led us across the airfield toward the bunker. It was a huge metal square that looked about as inviting as my old prison cell.
Two large doors slid open as we approached, revealing the cavernous space inside. Several airplanes were lined up beside one another and the guard led us to the finest one in the row: a private jet.
“This one, sir,” the guard said, but Silas halted, shaking his head.
“I ordered a Cessna,” Silas said, his tone firm. “I'm not made of money.”
The door to the private jet opened and at the same moment, several men in black suits stepped out from behind the airplanes, holding huge machine guns.
My heart froze in my chest. I raised my hands as they shouted for us to do so, but Silas didn't move.
“Ah, Mr Madigan.” Rockley Jones stepped out of the jet, looking surprisingly low-key for once in a leather jacket and jeans.
My breathing increased as he took his time descending the small staircase leading down from his jet.
“Rockley, what the hell is this?” Silas growled.
“This is what happens when you say no to me,” Rockley replied, smiling brightly as he gazed between us, drinking me in. “I told you I want de girl. I would have funded your company for a hundred years and you'd want for nothing. But you had to be greedy.”
Silas squared his shoulders, stepping forward.
Several of the men raised their guns higher.
“Hands up,” Rockley demanded, his smile never faltering. “Or I'll give de order to shoot.”
Silas blew out a huff of frustration, raising his hands. I glanced at him, but he avoided my eye. I was in serious trouble. If I went with Rockley, I was dead. But if I stayed with Silas, my baby was in danger. Neither option was appealing.
“Let's do this nice and orderly, shall we?” Rockley gestured for me to come toward him.
“Don't,” Silas ordered under his breath and my feet became glued to the floor.
Rockley laughed loudly and obnoxiously, dropping off of the last step. “You are so stubborn, Silas. I can't help but like you. Come now, let's not let dis end our friendship. I'm sure a deal can be made.”
; “What deal?” Silas demanded, his jaw ticking.
Rockley rubbed his chin. “Hm, well I get de girl, of course. But perhaps you can have her back once I'm done with her. If...”
“If what?” I snapped, hating that they were having this discussion as if I was some prize cattle to be sold.
Rockley's dark eyes swung to me. “If you survive.”
“Is there another choice?” Silas asked calmly, still not meeting my gaze.
Rockley considered it, his smile growing. “No.”
Silas's hands curled into fists. “If she or that baby is hurt, I'll-”
“You'll what?” Rockley drawled, the smile falling spectacularly from his face. He approached us, swaggering as he walked, taking his time. He came to a halt before Silas, staring him in the eye. “I am de one wid de guns now. You should have been a better employer and maybe de men in your institute wouldn't have given up your flight plans so easily.”
Silas's left eye twitched, betraying his fury at that fact.
Rockley turned on his heel, stepping in front of me, sizing me up like a butcher. “You burned down my resort,” he breathed, his sickly sweet breath rolling over me.
I gazed evenly back at him, my upper lip curling on a snarl. “And I enjoyed every second of it.”
Rockley laughed, looking to Silas. His fist came at me so hard, I didn't have time to react. His knuckles cracked against my cheek and I hit the tarmac, my head spinning, my face alight with pain.
Silas lunged at him, shoving him back. “You touch her again and I'll kill you!”
Rockley laughed as his men ran forward to restrain Silas, quickly tethering his arms behind his back.
“How dare you?!” Silas jerked against his binds and one of the guards pressed a gun to his temple.
I glanced over my shoulder, hearing the helicopter starting up behind me. Rockley gave a nod to his guard and he ran forward a few steps before bracing his machine gun against his shoulder and firing. The thumping rattle of bullets made me wince. The windows of the helicopter exploded on impact. The pilot screamed. Blood splattered the ground and all fell quiet.
Wolf Games: Severed Fates (The Vampire Games Book 6) Page 2