by Tijan
Something hot shot through my core. It jerked my body upright. My arms flew out to the sides and my back arched upward. The cage was big, but I slammed against the top. My chest, chin, and nose smashed against it.
Lucan was finally quiet.
Then my body started to shake again. The fury was white hot. My blood was boiling.
“Kill him,” a voice hissed in my head.
“I can’t,” I gasped out loud.
She hissed back, “You can. The channel is there. Open it. Do it.”
“I don’t know how!”
“Kill him! You want to kill him.”
Lucan was yelling in the distance, but the voice hissed over him. She wanted to break free. She wanted to murder, maim. Her hold over my body wasn’t like it’d been before. The Immortal had been a part of me, but it had always been me. Davy. I was in charge of myself, but this element was something different. Her fury and power was so much, she wanted to overtake me.
Something flashed in her eyes. A white light blinded me, and she smiled at herself. It was evil, filled with rage, and she reached inside. Her hand stretched out and started to cup something in the center of me, possibly my soul. The white light began to become infused with it. It was absorbing it. She was taking control.
Then she was jerked away. The white light slammed back into darkness, and my body crashed to the floor.
My head rolled to the side. Lucan’s shoes were in front of me. I heard the witches behind him, but I heard her whisper to me, “We will be free. Vengeance will be ours.”
Then there was nothing.
SAREN
Saren jerked backwards. Her feet slid against the floor, but the pull stopped as quickly as it had happened. She closed her eyes and reached out to Sireenia. “What has happened?”
“The Immortal is impatient and angry. She is trying to break free on her own.”
Saren’s head moved to the side. “The Mori magic will not allow that.”
“Not yet, no.”
“Then what would happen if she continues to try?”
Saren heard the sadness in her sister’s thoughts. “Davy will die. The Immortal will become its own entity.”
“Then what?”
“Chaos.”
Saren sighed and thought to her, “I will stop it.”
“We are all fused together. You are our body and we are the spirit together. Go to our last sister. She needs us, more than ever now.”
“No, child, you must open all your senses.” Mavic’s frustration was heavy.
Saren returned to her body form and looked to a field below her. The little witch was learning from the traitor sorcerer. They had taken camp in a valley protected by the Independent Army. He was attempting to help the little witch open her mind, body, and soul. Even from her vantage point above them, Saren knew he was only achieving with her ears. The little witch was listening, but she wasn’t doing anything else.
The wind picked up at the moment and swept Saren’s black, blue-tipped hair behind her. Her sword was clasped tightly in front of her, as if she would jump into battle that very moment. Then she sighed. Questions flew around in her head, and she knew the right person to answer them was not in that valley. Though, she would deal with the traitor later, and she would enjoy that moment.
Bastion returned from his scouting route and stood beside Roane. He waited until his arrival was acknowledged before he informed his leader, “They are coming. Due south and headed at a quick pace. They will be here within the hour.”
Roane nodded. Grim. He knew his friend had more on his mind. “You don’t approve of this alliance?”
Bastion chose his words wisely. “The Christane wolves are honorable.”
“You don’t approve of Christian?”
“He loved her as well.”
Then Roane smiled, for the first time in four months. “And you think he still holds a grudge?”
Bastion looked away and stood tall. His lean form showcased his muscles, all developed to help him as the fastest vampire any had seen. His buzzed head had a black feather tattooed on the right side. The left side showed another tattoo written in a language he had spoken to no one. Lucas once asked, but Bastion responded that only one person would know the meaning of that tattoo. He had never spoken of it again. Lucas had never asked.
Over the last four months, Lucas depended more and more on his fastest warrior. He was tempted to ask again about the tattoo, but he always held his tongue. Bastion would share if he chose to.
The vampire responded now, “I think he could love this one, too.”
Lucas was not normally taken aback, but his eyes widened a mere fraction. “You think he will fall in love with Davy?”
“You two have similar tastes . . .” Bastion moved over, a slight inch.
“Christian fell in love with Talia because he spent two summers with her. I was gone, training for the Roane Army. He will not fall for Davy, and even if he did, it doesn’t matter. He knows she is mine.”
“I hope as well.”
Lucas frowned at him. “If that is my biggest worry, then I gladly embrace it. I am more worried about finding her alive.”
“She’s alive.” Confidence emanated from the lean warrior.
“You are sure of that?”
Bastion nodded his head in an abrupt movement. “You would feel it if she were not.”
“And as of yet, I have not felt it.” Then Roane frowned. He cast a sweeping look to his left and searched into the shadows. They stood in a valley, alone for miles except for his men, but a slight tingle warned him of a new arrival. And then, though nothing moved and no one reacted, he knew this new person was coming toward him. When a shadow separated from the rest of the night, he knew who it was. She had evaded Bastion’s scouting.
Saren approached. She had watched as the vampire felt her arrival. Not many could detect her, let alone know before she wanted them to. This vampire had gone up a notch in her opinion, but she should’ve expected as much. Davy would choose her love wisely.
Roane spoke first, “Do you share in Bastion’s concerns?”
Saren’s nostrils flared.
Bastion’s head whipped to the side. His own flared, but in a different emotion.
Her voice was curt. “I care not about your human emotions. Love or jealousy, both are wasteful to non-human species.”
“Such as yourself?”
Her eyes narrowed, but not before a flame leapt in them.
Roane didn’t react, but the sight made him pause. This thing was becoming more and more than he knew what to do about. His gut was telling him that she was a fighter, probably the best he would ever see. An ally like her was priceless, but her presence didn’t sit well with him. He couldn’t factor her in, she was a variable given to him, perhaps a gift or perhaps a curse. They would all have to wait and see.
Bastion spoke, “They are here.”
“They moved faster than you thought.”
“I said within the hour.”
“It’s been a minute.”
Saren’s eyes skirted between the two. She tilted her head to the side. “Do you always argue as comrades? Is this another wasteful emotion?”
Roane’s arm shot out before she could react. His hand grabbed her throat and lifted her in the air. He growled, “I don’t know who or what you are, but the only reason I don’t kill you is because I can smell her on you. And I can smell that you’re as scared for her as I am.” He settled her back on her feet. “So you can keep your ridicule to yourself. I am in no mood to hear it.”
Her eyes were cool as she reached up and untangled his hand from her throat, one finger at a time. Their gaze never broke, but the flame increased in her eyes. The fire touched the air and the smell of smoke swept around them. When his hand was free, she moved back one step. “You will not touch me again, vampire. The only reason I have not killed your kind is because I know how she cares for you. If she did not, I would slaughter all of you.”
“You don�
�t like vampires.” Roane nodded, but his gaze shifted to the tree line before them. He had smelled the werewolves when they were five miles away and they were near now, very near.
“I don’t like anything.”
“You like Davy.”
Saren’s lips clamped shut, and then she took a whiff of the air and turned. Her arms were flexed, ready for a fight, and her legs were bent, ready to leap forward. The wolves had arrived. They sat watching them, their heads outside the tree line and their bodies hidden in the shadows. All of them were in their wolf forms except a group in the center. The young man was Christian Christane, leader of the Christane Pack. The young girl smelled of Davy. Saren knew this had been the girl that Davy considered a friend, who had helped her. The other two, both older men, reeked of their power. They were ancient wolves, each a lineage amongst themselves. Still, though they were old and powerful, both adhered to the younger man. They remained behind as the other two moved forward.
Roane stepped forward to meet them.
Christian Christane stepped forward with blond locks that the wind whipped back and forth. He had blue eyes, as clear as the aqua colored Mediterranean, and he strode forward with confidence and authority that emanated from him. Large muscular shoulders and a trimmed waist, not many men could measure against the Alpha Christane, but many would try. An air of sharp intelligence gave others an impression that Christian didn’t care what others thought of him; the only item of importance was what he thought about others. What he deemed is what was.
Pippa approached behind her brother by a step. Her reddish hair was no longer worn in two braids, but flowed freely around her face. It tossed around her shoulders, the same as her brother’s, but both ignored it. As they continued to approach Davy’s boyfriend, her fingers twitched. She lifted her hand to adjust her coveralls strap, but they stopped short on her shoulders. She no longer wore those coveralls anymore. When she had returned home, their older sister burned every piece of clothing Pippa owned. Her closet now housed clothing that she had only ever seen on models, such as now as she wore a white cashmere sweater that showcased her slender body over custom tailored jeans.
Pippa no longer looked like the awkward freshman she had been. Lola Christane wanted her little sister to be the beautiful woman that she knew was in there. Unfortunately, at tense moments like these, Pippa longed for her coveralls and braids. She would’ve felt more comfortable.
“Pip?” Christian stopped and glanced over his shoulder. He could feel his sister’s nerves.
She forced herself to relax. “I’m fine. I’ll be fine.”
He patted her on the arm. “We’ll find your friend. Roane is the best hunter I know.”
She nodded. “I know.”
Then they turned together, Pippa beside him, and stared across a space of fifteen feet.
Roane, Bastion, and Saren stared back.
Christian’s eyes swept over the blue-leathered girl and frowned. He couldn’t remember this vampire, and from the condescension on her face, he knew he would’ve.
He nodded to her and asked, “Have you sired a new warrior?”
Roane narrowed his eyes and stepped forward. He blocked the Alpha’s view of her. “Thank you for coming, Christian.”
His blue eyes snapped to Roane’s. “As if I had a choice. I could not ignore my sister’s friendship with this new thread-holder.”
Roane’s lips curved upward, but the half grin was gone in a second. His face was emotionless again. “Of course.”
“Of course.”
“It is nice to see you again, Pippa.” Roane’s voice was guarded, his body tense and on alert.
She gave him a tentative smile and said faintly, “I’m sorry about Davy.”
A dark emotion flashed in Roane’s eyes, but it was gone again instantly. As Christian watched, if he hadn’t been told by Pippa how much the Hunter cared for his lover he wouldn’t have been able to judge it for himself. Lucas Roane had never given him any window to his emotions. At one point the two might’ve called themselves friends, but it’d been shattered. While he respected Lucas Roane, he would never trust him enough to let down his own guard.
Christian spoke curtly, “Should we be going then?”
“How many wolves have you brought?”
His eyes narrowed further. “Around forty.”
The blue-leathered girl sneered at him. “He has seventy-five men. Only thirty have come forward to intimidate us, but he has more behind them. He wasn’t going to let you know about the last forty-five.”
“How do you know that?”
Her eyes narrowed, and a flame leapt in them. “I counted, dog.”
Bastion glanced at Roane, both hid their amusement as Christian threw his head back in a snarl. His body flipped in the air, and a werewolf with sleek white fur landed in front of them. He pounced on Saren, ready to hold her captive with his large paws. She reacted before he could grab her and leapt higher in the air. Her knees bent forward and her arms stretched out as she lifted higher and higher in the air.
Christian roughly landed on the ground, but his head reared back, and he was after her in the next second.
“Christian!” Pippa yipped at him.
He looked back, and his werewolf transformed back to his human form. Two of his men ran forward, and he emerged from behind them with clothes on instantly. When he stood in his place beside his sister again, Saren returned to her place.
Roane looked at her. “You are not helping here. Leave.”
She growled.
“Now!”
Pippa shifted on her feet and clasped her hands as the two were locked in a staring battle. After a moment, the girl warned, “I will be back, vampire. You will need my assistance.”
“I’m sure we will. Come back. Later.”
Saren took one step backwards and vanished from their sight.
Pippa’s eyes went wide, and she gasped.
Christian’s eyes narrowed even further. “Who was that?”
Roane sounded weary. “She is an ally. She cares for Davy, as we all do.”
“She knows Davy?” Pippa’s voice squeaked.
“I will not travel with an ally I do not trust.”
Roane studied him a moment. “You don’t trust me, but you will fight for my cause.”
Christian fell silent, studying him in return.
Bastion moved forward a step, closer to his leader.
Roane didn’t look away.
Pippa stepped between them and held up her hands. “I don’t know the history between you two, but I can see now that there is some. But I’m here for Davy. Chris, you know how much I care for her. She’s the only friend I have.”
“You have other friends.”
She sighed. “They aren’t my true friends. They’re nice to me because you’re my brother, because I’m a Christane wolf. Davy liked me even when she thought I was there to hurt her. I respect her, and we need to go help her. She gave us Pete back, Chris. Don’t forget what she’s done for you, too.”
At the reminder, his shoulders relaxed a bit. “My sister is right. We should start. Traveling to the Mori will be long and taxing. We don’t have time to fight amongst ourselves.”
Roane extended his hand.
After a pause, Christian reached for it. They clasped their hands around each other’s wrists and shook once, a firm and final shake. Pippa watched the two and felt something new in the air. It was something powerful, hopeful, inspiring. It filled her with new energy, a new adrenaline rush of excitement. And something told her that she’d see more moments such as this to come, many more.
DAVY
When I opened my eyes, I was still on the floor. Some new food had been placed in a dish beside me, but too many flies buzzed around it. The smell of citrusy garbage made my stomach clench and vomit regurgitated out of me. I hadn’t the energy to move, and so it came out as a cough, then it dribbled down my chin to fall on the floor. I couldn’t move away and I couldn’t stop when another cough sh
ook my body. More vomit came out, then another and another cough. Each time it was slower than the last and each time my body shook harder and harder.
My stomach was violently assaulting my body. I was helpless to stop it. After an hour of it, my eyes started to droop. The unconscious started to beckon me. Slowly, so slowly, I heard my breaths grow shorter, shallower, and then—
“Wake up!” a voice boomed.
My eyes snapped open, and I jerked upright. A scream ripped from my throat from the pain in my limbs. A butcher knife felt like it was embedded in my spine with little knives and razors inside my body, all over. Each ligament felt like they were being cut with each movement I made.
“Who—” I doubled over, and another wave of nausea hit me. Fresh vomit spewed out again.
Then the door opened. When I tried to lift my head, another scream came out of me again. My neck felt paralyzed. I couldn’t move it. A pair of shoes came to my head and they squatted down.
I had expected Lucan, but this was a female. She had long red hair, brown eyes, and white skin. A memory flashed in my head, and I remembered the Mori, when they had followed Bennett to my college. She looked like them. This was one of them.
Her eyes were blank as she watched me, then she reached through the cage and touched my head. It was a gentle touch. If I hadn’t watched her do it, I wouldn’t have felt the touch. But then a surge of heat raced through me. My heart started pumping fast. I gasped as my back arched again, my lungs filled with something warm, and every ligament of my body tingled.
She said softly, “I have given you life now, stand.”
And I could. It was a miracle. Then I remembered. “Magic.”
She stood as I did, my eyes parallel to her the entire time until I was able to stand tall again. When I squared my shoulders back, the Mori did the same. When I took a deep breath, the vampire copied again. She was copying everything I did.