The Forbidden Trilogy

by Kimberly Kinrade

  She lowered it and ran back. Please don't be too late.

  She reached the prison area just as Beleth walked toward her, holding Simmons in his spider legs. No. Did he kill Hunter and Luke?

  Beleth rushed at her, no longer appearing slowed by his battle against Steele's control. Lucy twisted away, but he grabbed her ankle with one of his spider legs and threw her against the ground. His eyes flashed to the sphere in her hand, and he hesitated.

  "Lucy, I...." He stopped again, unable to say the words.

  Was he trying to apologize again, this time for killing her?

  Instead, he wrapped his tail around Simmons. "Our agreement."

  He still wanted her to kill Simmons. Was it for revenge, because she'd left him in that warehouse to suffer under the whim of a madman?

  "She's not a threat anymore. What does killing her accomplish? I know she hurt you. I know this isn't your fault, but there has to be a way to break Steele's hold on you." Could he tell her? Help her to save him?

  "She can't live." Maybe he couldn't respond to the rest—wasn't allowed to. "I will not allow her to be in a position of power at IPI, or at Steele's side."

  "Why? Because of jealousy? She's no longer in power at IPI. She's been arrested. She can't hurt anybody now."

  Beleth chuckled without humor. "Simmons has been with IPI a long time. She has deep connections there. Do you really think anyone here has the authority to overrule her?"

  "Of course they do. She was about to kill a whole building of innocent children and she'd gone crazy. She was going to kill me and Luke. We have witnesses, agents who will testify."

  "Most of whom are dead. The others... they will not matter. Steele is rising in power. He has taken down billions of dollars in military aircrafts and cost the lives of many. Do you think IPI will think what you did was noble? You think any government agency wouldn't choose the lives of the world over a building full of kids? You need to wake up to reality. Even the U.S. Government, the supposed leader in human rights, would sacrifice the innocent for the bigger picture."

  No. That can't be right. I don't believe that.

  Beleth shook his head. "For all your skills, you are still so naive."

  In a very cruel and twisted way, his logic made sense. Simmons would use her clout, and the events that occurred after she was taken in, to prove that she'd been right all along, and that we'd screwed up. She'd win, and then she'd use her power to end paranormals—out of jealousy, out of fear—when she had no more use of them.

  Lucy remembered Simmons's words from the vision. "As for the ones left... you can burn in hell for all I care."

  She understood now why Beleth had wanted Simmons dead all along. How much of this could she have avoided by killing Simmons earlier? But what kind of person would she have become if she had?

  "She'd never join Steele. I can use her and then...."And then what? Kill her?

  Beleth walked towards Lucy. "Like I said, it's too late."

  Then his tale whipped back around a tent and dragged Hunter out. He pulled Hunter against his chest, blade to neck. "Kill her, or watch him die."

  Lucy hesitated. The choice between Hunter and Simmons would be an easy one, even if that act did send her down a dark road. But that wasn't the choice she was forced to consider.

  Without Simmons, Lucy had no way of getting close enough to Steele to stop him. He wanted Simmons, and she could strip him of power and end this all. If Lucy saved Hunter, how many more would die for her choice? If she saved him, and they lost their only chance to take Steele down, would any of them survive?

  "You've been commanded to kill us, haven't you? To kill us and bring Simmons back."

  He couldn't answer her, but his eyes could not hide the truth. He was about to snap. He couldn't resist his compulsion much longer, but he at least wanted Simmons dead first—a small victory, maybe his last.

  "This should be an easy choice for you," he said. "The man you love or the woman you hate."

  She did love Hunter. Oh, my God, I love him so much. Even when he'd kept her sphere without telling her, she loved him. He'd fought to save her life, willing to give up his life to the sphere to do it. He'd saved her so many times, and more than that, he'd filled her with something she'd never had before, something pure and beautiful.

  She pointed the gun at Simmons, finger on the trigger.

  Simmons raised her hands and backed away. "Lucy, please don't do it. I can help you. I can help those kids. Your best friend and her baby—they'll die without me."

  Bitch. Stop talking. Her hand shook from the stress. What should she do? There were no right choices here. None.

  "Lucy." Hunter's eyes pleaded with her. "We need her. Both of you, run now!"

  Sam. Ana. All those kids. She looked at Hunter, his green eyes glowing with his power, slitted like a cat. She needed him, wanted him, couldn't be the reason he died.

  Her gun shook again, and she steadied it and pulled the trigger a fraction, staring into Simmons's eyes. They filled with tears and her lip trembled. To kill someone in cold blood, even to save another.... Could she do it? Could she risk what that would mean to her friends and to the world?

  There had to be another way.

  She locked eyes with Hunter, and he nodded.

  She said a quick, silent prayer... and threw the pulsing sphere at him.

  Chapter 124 - Drake

  Drake stared at the broken vials on the floor as they leaked purple fluids in the hairline cracks in the cement floor. His entire plan depended on those drugs. He stuck his hand in the liquid and sucked it off his fingers, hoping even a small bit would give him some powers. A spark moved through him, looking for a foothold, but died out before it could flare to life.

  The emptiness returned, and with it, hopelessness.

  Sam. What had Steele done to her? He'd clearly taken control of her mind, made her his puppet. With this drug Drake could've mind-controlled her, tried to save her and Ana. Now he had nothing. No hope of saving them.

  Sam sneered at him. "So pathetic."

  Drake couldn't argue with her on that.

  Her black boot nudged him none too gently. "Get up."

  He faced her but didn't stand. "Sam, you have to fight this. He doesn't control you."

  Her face contorted into fear, then concern. "Drake...." Her voice penetrated his mind but then disappeared, along with any recognition or awareness. "You're right, he doesn't control me. I follow my father because he is right. Power should go to the people who deserve it, not scum like you."

  "Sam, that's not—"

  She kicked him in the groin hard. Pain splintered his mind in half, and he had the passing thought that Ana may be the only child he'd ever have after that damage.

  Sam didn't seem to care, and it killed him to think he might have lost her forever.

  "I said get up."

  Drake groaned and pulled himself up. From the corner of his eye he saw Robyn, still in Grunt form, charge Sam.

  Electricity filled the room and a zap of light sent Robyn tumbling backward into the wall.

  Sam waved her finger like a pre-school teacher—a scary, psycho pre-school teacher. "Nah, ah, ah. Misbehavior will not be tolerated."

  What the hell? How was she able to do that? She didn't have that kind of power, unless.... "Steele gave you more powers."

  Sam's macabre smile grew. "Aren't you a clever boy? He did give me powers, temporary ones only, but that will change once I make Daddy proud. Although, even with all this power, it's nice to have backup." She pulled a gun from her back. "Move."

  Drake walked toward the door, but Robyn glared at Sam and stood her ground. "I'm not going."

  Sam laughed. "What? Poor, stuttering I'm-too-scared-to-get-my-blanket-back Robyn is finally standing up for herself? This is good."

  "You won't shoot me," Robyn said. "We're friends."

  Sam pursed her lips as if considering it, then lifted her gun and shot her friend in the arm.

  Robyn screamed and fell ba
ck, crying, blood running down her arm.

  Drake pulled off his outer shirt and wrapped it around her arm, unable to process the fact that the woman he knew and loved could be turned into the monster that stood before him.

  Sam blew on her gun like an actor in an old western, and grinned. "You give yourself too much credit, Robyn. You were never really my friend. I just felt sorry for you. You got pregnant by accident and still came on this assignment. How stupid is that?"

  Drake looked at Robyn, who sobbed in his arms and shook from shock and pain.

  She didn't deny the pregnancy. She just cried louder, then took a few deep breaths and spoke. "I don't care what you think, you crazy bitch. Give me my friend back."

  Sam's smile disappeared and she aimed the gun at Robyn's head.

  'Please, don't do this, Sam. You've got to be in there, don't!' Drake willed her to hear him, to listen—willed the real Sam to put a stop to this.

  Sam slid her finger over the trigger, licked her lips, then dropped the gun to her side. "Don't upset me again." She crooked her finger at Drake. "Let's go, pretty boy."

  Drake stood and helped Robyn up, and they followed Sam out of the bunker and to the center of the crater. Below them, cracks in the earth sent an eerie red light through the rock and shrubs.

  Isn't this supposed to be dormant?

  There shouldn't be any volcanic activity here, but then Steele was playing with powers no one understood. Who knew what he planned to unleash?

  As they walked, Drake wondered if he'd gotten through to the real Sam buried in Steele's puppet. Did she pull back from shooting Robyn because he'd asked, or was he just looking for something that didn't exist anymore?

  Chapter 125 - Lucy

  The sphere flew through the air toward Beleth, who stared at it, his face stuck between wanting to touch it and wanting to run from it. As it neared him, he stepped back, letting Hunter loose to catch it.

  Lucy wondered why Beleth couldn't touch the sphere. What would it do to him?

  Hunter ignored the glow of the sphere in his hand and went on offense, attacking Beleth with his sword. They locked blades and Hunter growled at him. "I've beaten you once."

  Beleth pressed forward, attacking. "Yet here I am."

  When had Hunter beaten him? Of course. Hunter must have been the one to capture him in the first place. Lucy wanted to smack herself in the head for never even considering how Beleth had been brought down when he was their prisoner. So, if Hunter did it once, they might have a chance. For the first time since she fought this invincible foe, Lucy had hope that they could actually win.

  She could feel the power of the sphere influencing Hunter, making him stronger and faster. He landed a kick that sent the giant man flying through the air as if he were a tennis ball. She suppressed a cheer.

  Hunter fought as he spoke, never missing a beat. "Lucy, help Luke."

  His voice came out harsh, breathless. "Get Simmons and get into the helicopter."

  She paused, heart clenched in fear as he fought for his life, for all their lives.

  He growled at her. "Go!"

  She ran past them, scrambling to find Luke. He lay near the pen, limp, barely moving. Small cuts on his arms and legs trickled blood. Rage and worry bubbled inside Lucy. Beleth may have been a good person, but no one hurt her brother. She shook him gently.

  He coughed and struggled to stand.

  "Thank God, you're okay." She hugged him, and when he groaned, she backed away. "Sorry."

  His smile twitched with pain. "Help me stand?"

  She nodded and pulled him up.

  The fight continued behind them, her boyfriend paired against a foe almost impossible to beat. What if Beleth had let himself get captured the first time? They could have been set up in order to take out the team sent to save the kids.

  Which would mean Beleth is still unstoppable. "Hunter, I'm not leaving you."

  Beleth's spider legs erupted and attacked, but Hunter moved with lightning speed, chopping off three of the legs with one stroke, then twirling around and kicking Beleth in the back. "I'll be fine. You need to stop Steele."

  She hesitated. Once again she had to choose between two horrible choices: stay and risk losing this chance against Steele, or leave and risk losing Hunter. How many more times would she have to live in this suspended realm of needing to take two opposing actions?

  She had to stop Steele. Hunter could take on Beleth with the sphere; she needed to believe that, or she'd never do what she had to do.

  "Okay." She relented, and helped Luke walk as they went to find Simmons and track down Steele.

  When Beleth noticed them leaving, he redirected his attack toward Lucy. He jumped at them, using his spider legs to move extra fast.

  She pulled her brother aside and guarded him with her body, but before Beleth landed, Hunter jumped, moving even faster through the air. With an impressive flip, he landed in front of Lucy. His slitted cat eyes glowed an inhuman green. When Beleth was within reach, Hunter jumped straight at him and plunged his blade into Beleth's gut. They both fell to the ground, Hunter landing on his legs with a feline grace, while Beleth fell onto his back, clutching a wound that bled a black oily substance. What kind of paranormal was he?

  Hunter waved at Lucy without taking his eyes off Beleth. "Go. I'll finish this."

  She turned to obey, but doubt plagued her heart. Beleth's death would not be justice, it would be tragic. He hadn't chosen this course; he'd been coerced and controlled by Steele, then left to die by Simmons. Another shitty choice in a series of shitty choices. She hated how pragmatic she'd become in the face of death.

  They caught up with Simmons, who ran with them into the jungle. She clearly didn't want to be anywhere near Beleth.

  As if they'd crossed into another dimension, Beleth and Hunter felt suddenly far away.

  The helicopters should be just a little farther ahead. Luke paled and hunched over as he walked.

  She carried more of his weight. "We're almost there." He stumbled and nearly fell, but she caught him.

  "I'm so tired." He swayed in her arms, his skin clammy and cold.

  The cliff fell away beside them, and the valley below was mostly ash now. Mr. K had burned down there, all because of Steele. They would stop him.

  Lucy touched the seeds she still had in her pocket. "We can do this." She whispered to Luke, "For Mr. K."

  He nodded, and put one foot in front of another, doing his best to stay upright.

  They moved so slow, she didn't know how they were going to make it.

  A rustling sound rose from the bushes to her left, and a bright blue light flashed from the glint of the sun. The giant beetle with the unique markings that had helped her before moved through the trees. She smiled, grateful that he'd survived the fires.

  Simmons stopped and frowned at her. "Hurry up."

  Lucy scowled at the bitch, and couldn't believe she'd ever liked the snake of a woman. "Shut up before I change my mind."

  Simmons smiled a calculating smile. "You need me."

  "You're right. I do." She propped Luke up, walked to Simmons, and punched her in the face. "But I just need you alive. Remember that."

  The bitch clutched her nose as blood poured out. "Mmm nosssse."

  "Yes. Now stay quiet." Lucy pulled her brother up and pushed them faster, until they made it out of the forest and found the helicopter, as well as the rest of the base.

  One of the few remaining agents who hadn't been killed came running out to meet them. "Are you all right? What happened?"

  Lucy took command of the situation. "A paranormal attacked the other side of the base. We have to get to Diamond Head."

  The agent nodded. "Take the helicopter. I'll warn the others."

  He ran back to the base as Lucy, Luke, and Simmons got into the helicopter. Lucy dropped her twin into a seat and crawled to the front to pilot, and halted. The controls had cracks through them. She flicked switches in a desperate attempt to make them work, but nothing turne
d on.

  No. No. No. No. She banged her hands against the metal.

  "What's wrong?" Luke slurred his words like a drunk.

  "Beleth." She tried to keep the hopelessness out of her voice. "He must have done it before he came to get Simmons. He... he disabled the controls."

  Her blood boiled with fury. With her friends in danger and those kids in trouble, she was tired of feeling useless, tired of failing at everything she did.

  "It's okay, Sis," Luke said. "We'll figure out a way."

  Lucy nodded but didn't really believe it. Steele had spun a web, intricate and tight, and though she'd hoped to find holes in it, to find a weakness, she always ran into a dead end.

  Steele had been too clever: using Beleth to stop Lucy and Luke, using Drake to get Sam. Everything was connected.

  Everything is connected. An idea grew in Lucy's mind. She calmed herself and focused, as Mr. K had taught her, and let the frantic thoughts fall away. This has to work.

  Outside, the agent they'd seen a moment ago came running to the helicopter, pulling her out of her meditative state. He waved frantically and pointed into the trees, as if warning them.

  A streak of black flew through the air, crashing into the agent and sending them both flying out of view.

  Lucy swore under her breath, jumped out of the helicopter, and ran to check on them.

  The agent crawled on the ground, struggling to breathe.

  Beside him lay Hunter, the sphere rolling away from his outstretched hand. He pulled himself up and looked at Lucy, sorrow in his eyes. "I'm sorry. I thought I could beat him."

  Her heart thumped so loud it nearly deafened her, as they all looked to the jungle.

  Beleth walked out from the trees, his wound healing with each step.

  Hunter struggled to stand, using his sword for support. "That black blood of his fixed-up the wound, and he fought as if all new and shiny. We have to leave, now."

  Lucy nodded and picked up the sphere. She passed it to Hunter, who tried to take it, but then dropped it, looking even more exhausted. It drained him. She picked it back up and stared at it, and another thought hit her. I still have the serum.