From the Grave

by Karina Espinosa

  “You think I’m lying?” He raised an eyebrow. Enzo got out of the car, went around to my side, and ripped open the door. He grabbed me by the arm and pulled me out. I fumbled to my feet as he all but dragged me to the warehouse, where I could feel the heat of the flames lick the air. It was real. It was all real.

  “No,” I shook my head. “How could you?!” I cried out, trying to rip myself away from him and run into the fire.

  Enzo held on to me and laughed in my ear. “And here you thought I was tricking you. Why don’t we walk through the fire together?”

  “I don’t understand,” I muttered. “You said you needed me as bait. You didn’t need me at all.” My senses were that of a human, and as I attempted to stretch my hearing, I suddenly heard screaming from inside the warehouse. The sound chilled me to my bones.

  “You were perfect, Mackenzie. Thank you,” Enzo whispered as he tossed me aside, and I fell on the sidewalk. “I’m having way too much fun,” he said with a gleam in his eyes.

  “I need to shift,” I stammered. I couldn’t feel my wolf. Something wasn’t right.

  “You can’t,” he countered. “She’s gone.” Enzo nodded to one of his humans to come get me. Warm hands gripped my upper arm, and I flinched.

  “No, what? What do you mean she’s gone?” I said as he turned away from me. “What the fuck do you mean?!” I shrieked before a hood was placed over my head and I was lugged away.

  My body shivered uncontrollably as I was cut off completely from the supernatural side of myself. Although I sweated like I was in a sauna, I was cold and shaking in fear of whatever Enzo had injected me with. Was it possible? Could he have taken away my wolf? I no longer felt her, and it could be why I didn’t feel Bash. The thoughts racing through my mind were worse than the actual pain my body felt. I’d been through a lot in my short lifetime, but nothing like this. I needed to shift. I needed my wolf. I needed my Pack.

  “Help … me,” I whispered into the quiet. I was back in the closest, digging my nail into the floorboard, carving my name. I attempted to get on all fours, but I couldn’t hold my body up. Burrowing my human nails into the ground, I tried to pull my wolf out, to shift, I pushed and pushed, but nothing. I exerted so much energy, all I did was fall flat on my face. That’s when I felt it—the dark, empty void in the pit of my gut, and the icy cold it had left behind. She was truly gone.

  I now understood Amy’s hesitation. This is what it would be like if she had taken the cure. I was weak, fragile. How could I expect her to go from an invincible vampire to this? Being human meant being a liability. Being breakable. I was already broken and injured. Without my ability to shift, I would have to heal like a human. And under these circumstances, I could easily catch an infection. I was dead meat in this closest. I didn’t stand a chance against Enzo without my wolf. Or did I?

  I raised my head slowly to avoid a head rush. Whatever Enzo had given me was to get rid of my wolf but not my oracle side. Not many knew I was a hybrid. We’d decided to keep it a secret from the world so wolves wouldn’t go attacking oracles to try to replicate what Alexander and Adaline had done. Although, I think what they did was a fluke. The MacCoinnich family line was also imbued with Fae magic, as we’d learned from Drusilla, so a lot of things could have played a part in what I am. Whatever Enzo had given me may not have worked completely.

  And to think, when I first found out I had the Sight, I’d asked Ophelia if she could get rid of it. Hopefully, now it would save my life. I sat crossed-legged, wincing from the pain in my abdomen. I could feel the infection starting, but it would have to wait. I placed my hands on my knees and shut my eyes. Focusing intently, I pinpointed a location outside of the closet. I imagined the gravel and the little pebbles that littered the floor of the abandoned gas station, the sun beaming down in the blazing, summer heat, and the potent scent of petroleum. My eyes snapped open and rolled to the back of my head, showing only a milky-white glaze. But I could see. Not everything had been taken away from me. I let out a sigh of relief but regained my focus. I needed to find Enzo. Standing guard outside the closest was a human but no one else. I walked the grounds, going into the gas station, but there was no one else around except for the single human that guarded me.

  My eyes rolled my back to the front, and I was in the closest once again. “Well, isn’t that interesting?” I muttered to myself.

  Enzo must not think I was much of a threat anymore if he’d left me with one babysitter. I was mildly insulted. Then again, I had been down for the count.

  I tried to move and exhaled loudly as the claw marks on my sides twinged. The wound had stopped bleeding long ago, but infection was setting in. I’d felt the fever come on last night. I was too scared to look under my shirt and actually see it. Call me a chicken shit, but stuff like that made me queasy.

  Looking around the closet, I scoped out what I had to work with. If all I had was one measly human, I stood a chance. There were some chemicals and cleaning supplies I could use as weapons. I regretted not paying closer attention in school when it came to mixing them though. What I needed was strength, but I didn’t have the time to regain it. My time was now before anybody else showed up. Past the pumps was a car I could use to get away. But one thing was for sure: I had to get the hell out of here. I wasn’t the type to give up, and I wasn’t going to start now.

  I fumbled to stand, making noise in the process. I groaned as I clutched the metal cabinet that housed the cleaning chemicals. I worried I’d attract the attention of the human early on, but I’d been making noises for a while and he hadn’t paid me any mind. Sure enough, he ignored me, and I tried to keep the noise level to a minimum.

  A lot of the supplies were expired, and I wondered how long the place had been abandoned, but I crossed my fingers and hoped it all still worked.

  “Bleach and ammonia. That’s bad, right?” I whispered to myself. I remembered hearing something on the news about it making some sort of gas, but I couldn’t fully remember. Or was it a burn? Whatever the case, the guard was going to get a nice jug of this in his face. Grabbing a face mask, I covered myself and mixed the two liquids. Sealing the bottle, I shook it really fast.

  With my fist, I banged on the door and screamed at the top of my lungs. I was taking a major risk, but after a few seconds, the twist of the knob alerted me the human was entering the closest.

  “What the hell is going on in here?” he said as he poked his head in. I hid behind the door and slowly uncapped the bottle. “What the hell?” Walking inside when he couldn’t find me, he spun around, and we came face to face.

  “Surprise, bitch.” I tossed the bleach-ammonia concoction in his face. The fumes were strong, making him gag.

  “Fuck!” he screamed. “My eyes!” The chemicals burned his skin and blinded him as I shouldered my way past him and out of the closest. I skidded to a stop as the sun hit my eyes. I couldn’t lose momentum. I spun around and closed the door behind me, locking the door. At the sound of the bolt, my forehead fell on the door and I shut my eyes for a second, taking a moment for myself. I took in a few breaths, regaining my energy.

  “I can do this,” I said. “I’ve been through worse.” I turned back around and opened my eyes, letting in the sting of sunlight. “And when I see Sebastian Steel, I’m gonna kick his ass for getting me into this mess. Because I know that bastard isn’t dead.”

  And with renewed strength, I went straight for the car.

  12

  Everything was a blur. I didn’t know how I got to St. Paul’s Cathedral without getting pulled over by a cop. I was lucky the keys were in the car or I would have been screwed. I wanted to go to the warehouse, or even my apartment, but those were the first places Enzo would look for me. I couldn’t be caught there. I had to go to the next safest place he didn’t know of—the Head Vampire of New York City.

  “Lucian!” I called out, barely lucid. “Lucian, please …” I garbled as I stumbled into the church. “Amy …” The adrenaline was starting to subside,
and I could feel my body begin to crash.

  “Pet, what is happening?” Lucian ran out from behind the altar. “You’ve had us all worried sick.”

  “The pack … the Brooklyn Pack.” I pointed outside. “It burned.” I fell to my knees, but he ran at vampire speed and caught me.

  “What are you talking about, pet? You’re not making any sense.”

  “The warehouse was burned to the ground,” I cried.

  His dark eyes widened, and he lifted me up, cradling me in his arms. “Let’s get you cleaned up and I’ll call Amy. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

  I shut my eyes and drifted off to sleep. I was safe.

  When I came to, I was in a bed with an actual pillow for the first time in days. I curled in on myself and flinched at the stabbing discomfort in my side. The sound of crinkling plastic followed. I opened my eyes to find I was in a very familiar nursing station, and the sound was the gauze covering the wound on my abdomen.

  “How are you feeling, pet?” Lucian sat at the foot of the bed. “Looks like you’ve been through hell and back,” he smirked.

  “Something like that.” I tried to sit up. “Where’s Amy?”

  He twisted his mouth to the side as if contemplating whether to tell me something. “I’ve been trying to get in touch with her, but she’s not answering.”

  I gripped the bedding. “She must’ve been in the warehouse, Luce. She was inside!”

  He shook his head. “No, pet. I don’t know where you’re getting your information, but the pack is just fine—”

  “I saw it with my own eyes!” I yelled and pointed at my face. “I was there when they burned it down!” Tears began to roll down my cheeks, and my bottom lip quivered. Amy could have been inside, helping Bash find me.

  Lucian’s gaze narrowed as he inspected me closely. His dark orbs trailed from my wild expression to my trembling hands. Everything about me was erratic at best.

  “Why’d you come to me, pet? Why didn’t you go to your mate?” He crossed his legs. “I know I’m unequivocally everyone’s favorite, and rightfully the best dressed, but your wolf would seek out Bash first in a time of need. So … why are you here?”

  I gulped loudly as I stared into his eyes. I was scared to tell him what happened. If it was even possible. “My wolf is gone,” I whispered. “Whatever Enzo did to me, he made the wolf disappear.”

  Lucian’s pale face was like stone. He didn’t blink nor move. He only watched me as I explained what had happened from the very beginning until the moment I stepped foot in St. Paul’s Cathedral. By the time I finished, I was out of breath. His non-expressions made me nervous, but I knew he was listening to every word coming out of my mouth.

  “Tell me, Luce. Is she gone?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, pet. If that monster had taken her away from you, it would’ve been an excruciating process. You would know. You’d be hollow. Right now, she’s dormant. I’m concerned about how long she will be gone though. It’s sort of like what your mum did when you were a baby. He’s suppressed your wolf. Luckily, he didn’t know you were an oracle as well.” Lucian sighed. “Oh, pet. The pickles you get yourself into.”

  I released a breath. I dropped my face into the palms of my hands and bawled. I didn’t realize how important this was to me or how empty I felt without her.

  “There, there, pet …” Lucian stroked my hair. “Being human isn’t all that bad.”

  My head popped up.

  He grimaced. “Sorry. I mean, this won’t last forever. Not like a certain someone we know …”

  I sighed. “I know … I thought of her too.”

  “And you think this Enzo really did burn down the Brooklyn warehouse?”

  I shook my head as if I could shake out the images of that night. “I was there, Luce. I didn’t believe it at first. I thought he was playing a trick on me, but then I felt the heat of the flames. It was so real.”

  “There is hallucinogenic magic that could have made you see what you saw, pet.”

  “Really?” My hopes skyrocketed, although I knew they shouldn’t have.

  “But,” he raised a finger, “let’s take a ride to Brooklyn and see for ourselves. Whatever that wolf gave you should be leaving your system soon. Drink this.” Lucian handed me a teacup and saucer. “It's my own remedy. Flushes all kinds of toxins from your system.”

  I took it, not so gracefully might I add, and chugged it. I winced and almost gagged from the bitter taste, but I didn’t care—I swallowed all of it. If it would bring me back to a hundred percent, I’d drink a whole gallon if need be.

  “Anything else?”

  Lucian grimaced. “Yes. You desperately need a shower. I refuse to go anywhere or be seen by anyone until you do.” He reached for a towel and clean clothes behind him and tossed them my way. “This is non-negotiable.”

  Water, soap, shampoo, and conditioner could do wonders for the soul. Although I still had some physical aches and bruising, I felt rejuvenated after a shower. Lucian got me some ointment for the wound on my abdomen, and we wrapped it up like a human. Luce got one of his vampires who’s a nurse to take a look at it. It’d begun to get infected, just as I thought, but she applied some balm and gave me a shot to combat the infection. I was starting to feel better, but the wolf was still nowhere in sight.

  “It takes time, pet,” Lucian repeated for the hundredth time as he drove into Brooklyn. I rode shotgun in his sleek, all-black sedan. “She’ll return. I promise.”

  “I feel naked without her.”

  “You mean without him.” He grinned, and I flashed him my non-existent canines and attempted a growl. “Nice try.”

  “Gah!” I threw my head back. “I can’t even be intimidating!”

  He twisted his mouth to the side. “Try fewer teeth and furl your upper lip. And growl from your gut, not your throat. It makes you sound hoarse.”

  “I hate you,” I grimaced.

  “You love me.” He smiled and pulled the car to a stop. “All right, pet. Around this corner is the warehouse. Whatever happens, keep your composure, understand?” He peered over at me.

  “Hey, I’m not the theatrical one.” I raised my hands in the air.

  “Seriously, pet. I know how you get. If this goes in a less desirable way, I need to know we can work as a team. Especially in your condition.”

  My very human condition was what he was trying to say in a diplomatic way. If we were to be attacked, I was a liability and he’d need to protect me.

  “I still know how to fight,” I argued. “Roman didn’t train me for nothing.”

  “You’re injured.”

  “But I’m not broken.” I winked. “Just trust me, Luce. I’m better than I was a few days ago.”

  Lucian released the brakes and slowly pressed on the gas. The car inched forward, and he made a right turn on the quiet street where the warehouse was.

  “Dear … God …” Lucian mumbled as we saw the wreckage from a block away.

  The charred remains of what once housed the Brooklyn Pack was now a skeleton. The inside could be clearly seen from the outside as all that separated us were black, crisp beams that used to frame the warehouse and the metal double doors that were still standing.

  I got out of the car and ran to the building that, by the grace of God, was somewhat still standing. Yellow police tape covered the surrounding the property. Not caring, I ran to the double doors and snatched the piece of paper that had been taped to it.

  “Pet …” Lucian warned.

  “I’m just reading,” I said. “It’s the SIU.” I showed him the notice. “They’re taking over the investigation with the fire department.”

  “I see that,” he replied hesitantly, not bothering to read the paper. “How are you handling this?”

  “I was here that night.” My bottom lip quivered. “I could have stopped it.”

  Lucian’s face fell. “Come here,” he whispered and tried to pull me into a hug.

  “No.” I kept him at arm’s
length. “He’s alive. Amy’s alive. They all are.”

  “Mackenzie—”

  “I would have seen him!” I yelled and slapped a hand over my mouth. Of course. If Bash had died, if any of them had, I would have seen them like I had seen Blu or Jonah … Oh my gosh! Jonah! “I need to go to my apartment right now!”

  “Pet, are you having an existential crisis? You’re really starting to worry me.”

  “Just shut up and drive.” I pushed Lucian toward his car. I was acting like a crazy person, but that’s what I felt like. I forgot I still had my oracle abilities, which meant I could still see the dead as long as their ashes hadn’t been buried.

  We hurried to my apartment, but it’d been days—I shouldn’t have expected Jonah to still be milling around my place. Hell, even Netflix wouldn’t be on anymore. Finn was the only other person who could see him. We had to go to the SIU. I double-checked that Jonah’s ashes were still where I’d left them, and I breathed a sigh of relief before directing Lucian back out and to the police station. That’s where we’d get answers. We had to.

  I took one look at myself through the car mirror as we drove into the city and almost didn’t recognize myself. Was my mind playing tricks on me, or did I really look like I had something missing? My typically tan skin and gray eyes were pale in comparison to my former self, but I looked void of something else. My cheeks were indented, thinner, as if I’d lost weight, and there was a vacancy in my gaze that scared even me. The Mackenzie that stared back at me was not identifiable, and I couldn’t help but wonder I was suffering the consequences of the mountain of secrets Bash and I had kept from each other. Had we just been more open with one another, maybe we could have worked as a team. But it was too late for what ifs.

  “Pet … we’re here,” Lucian whispered as he slowly shifter the car mirror back in its place. “When the wolf returns, you’ll shift.”

  “I’m not that vain,” I smirked, laughing it off. “I don’t care about how I look.” It wasn’t a lie necessarily. I didn’t care that much—it was the inside that worried me the most. I spent eighteen years with the wolf suppressed. I’d die if I had to go another eighteen.