Afterlife

by Dannika Dark

  Wait a second—this street leads to the subway station.

  On a hunch, she headed that way at breakneck speed. She weaved around cars, people, lampposts, every obstacle that blocked her path, all while scanning the street to make sure he wasn’t hiding between buildings or among a group of people.

  Finally, she spotted him just ahead. He glanced back, his face red and glistening with sweat. It didn’t take long to catch up, and when she did, she grabbed the back of his shirt with such force that it ripped.

  Panting heavily, Graham leaned against a sedan. “You don’t have anything.”

  “I bet if we asked nicely, some of those people might remember you visiting the victims or giving them drugs. Who knows? Maybe some of the bottles are still lying around.”

  “Doesn’t matter. If it killed the victim, that means they took all the poisoned pills.”

  She smiled at his admission. “There’s always residue.”

  Graham wiped his face with his hands, finally regaining his composure. “You still can’t prove anything. Slander is against the law.”

  “All we need is a Vampire. I’m sure you’ll sing like a bird, you conniving little monster. You poisoned all those people—even children. Why would you do that? How could you hurt a child? For what? So you could sow violence by killing young alphas?”

  He scoffed. “Shifters don’t need alphas to survive. Not really. Some of the groups might disband, but maybe that’s for the best.”

  “It’s not for you to decide.”

  Rings of sweat had formed on the armpits of his striped shirt. Graham tried to step away from the car, but she shoved him right back in place. When she did, a visceral look crossed his face.

  “Alphas are entitled little mutations who do nothing but control people and cause pain and suffering,” he spat out.

  Her eyebrows popped up. “That’s not entirely true. You got a few dark souls out there, but most alphas are decent men.”

  “Oh? I spent my childhood around packs, tagging along with my parents while they saw clients. I’ve seen what alphas are capable of.”

  “So now it’s your mission in life to murder them or anyone who can produce them? You’re an idiot. Anyone can have an alpha. It’s not just redheads.”

  “Anyone can, but not everyone does. Most couples never produce an alpha. Redheads almost always do, and they make the stronger ones who have to be put down. Why do you think I can’t have kids? That’s a Relic’s entire purpose in life—to build knowledge and then have children to pass it down to. This is the time in my life when I should be settling down with a family, but that won’t ever happen. An alpha wolf took that away from me when I was twelve. He and his friends thought it would be fun to see how many times they could kick me in the testicles before I lost consciousness. It was part of some initiation thing after the alpha went through his first change. Their little game did irreparable damage.”

  Blue leaned in, her expression tight. “I’m sorry about your balls, but murder is murder. You’re going to jail for a long time.”

  “Why do you think I have all this knowledge about drugs and poisons? To save Shifters?” He laughed wildly. “This is my destiny. I’m the last of my bloodline, and it all makes sense. It took me years to figure out that this is what I was born to do—it’s the will of the fates.”

  Blue touched her chest and got a sickening feeling. Why was he telling her all this? Criminals didn’t just confess their crimes unless they were boasting because they had a backup plan.

  Graham sneered, revealing teeth that were slightly yellow. “Why do you think I didn’t put any mustard on Raven’s hot dog? I know you like mustard because you put it on that chili dog back at the diner. I pay attention. The poison only works on Shifters, so I mixed it in with your condiment.”

  “You’re lying.”

  “Am I? Remember that gum you so eagerly took from me? That was the first dose. It’s a cumulative toxin that doesn’t leave your body, and when you get enough of it—death.”

  “You’re not that stupid. It would look suspicious if I suddenly dropped dead.”

  He smirked. “Not if you two were thinking this was a virus. I really like that idea. Very smart.” Graham pushed away from the car and dusted off his sleeves. “I gave you the first dose just in case, even though I was certain you wouldn’t find anything. But when Raven called and said you had a connection, I knew I had to finish what I started.” Graham cockily adjusted his watch, as if proud to finally brag about his plot. “I had to be careful about dosing. Giving someone a single pill that does the job is foolish. If they died after taking it, people would have figured it out. So I divided the toxin into multiple doses and gave them their first one. The remaining tainted pills in the bottle would only be enough to kill that person and nobody else, just in case they decided to give away or share the medication. Had to be careful I didn’t kill the wrong person. Wouldn’t want that! Sometimes it was heartburn or indigestion pills, other times vitamins. The ones who weren’t my clients, I gave a stick of gum to. When I bumped into them the next time, I’d give them a tainted pack that would finish the job, like I did with that Shifter on the motorcycle.”

  Blue gripped a sign, trying to steady herself when she got a sudden dizzy spell. “Even if it’s true, you’re still not getting away with it.”

  “If you want the antidote, you’ll let me walk. And yes, there’s an antidote. A smart man doesn’t create a poison without also understanding how to reverse it. Once I’m in a safe place, I’ll call you with the information.”

  She fisted his shirt when he tried to walk away.

  Graham wrenched free. “What are you going to do, arrest me in front of all these humans? Maybe stab me with a dagger? If you tell people about me, who will believe such an outlandish story without any proof? That a reputable Relic whose family has been working in the community for generations decided to go on a murdering spree? I have a number of Packmasters who would testify on my behalf. I’ll convince them it’s a virus, and they’ll believe me.”

  “A Vampire works on our team, you nitwit. He can charm the information out of you.”

  “If your partner comes after me, I’ll make this available to everyone. I have a buyer on standby, and all I have to do is send him the formula. How many people do you think would pay good money to launch a massive attack on Shifters? They can sprinkle it in a water source, on food—the possibilities are endless. And it only kills Shifters. I don’t think you want that on your conscience,” he warned her, holding up his phone as he backed away. “All it takes is one call to destroy your kind. Whose life is more important? Yours or every Shifter on the planet? Don’t worry—you still have a few hours. Once I’m safe, I’ll call you with the antidote. Follow me, and all will perish, including you.”

  Graham turned and ran.

  Blue started to go after him, but her weakened muscles wouldn’t allow it. Instead, she slumped against the car and reached for her phone, but it wasn’t in her pocket.

  Chapter 27

  I ran in circles before locating the hot dog stand. When I got there, Graham’s table was empty, nothing left behind but wadded-up wrappers, drinks, a few hot dogs, and Blue’s phone. I spun in a circle and searched the immediate area. “Blue?” I called out.

  When no one answered, I grabbed her phone and crashed the neighboring table. “Did you see where my friends went? They were sitting at that table a few minutes ago. Big guy with brown hair and kind of a beard; the girl has long hair and feather earrings.”

  A blonde sipping her orange drink raised her hand, the baubles on her wrist clattering together. “I did,” she replied, her accent so Southern that it was clear she was a tourist. “They went running across the street thataway. Well, he went running, and then she tore after him. Almost got hit by a car. Are they lovers? They didn’t look like it.”

  I dashed across the street and ran down the sidewalk, searching for Blue. There wasn’t any sign of commotion going on, just people having a goo
d time. I asked five or six people who looked like they’d been out there a while if they’d seen anything, but it wasn’t until I reached a corner that a man directed me to the right. I shoved through crowds of young people pouring in and out of the bars. Finally, away from all the people, I spotted a man hunched over by a brick wall. A familiar pair of boots stuck out from the person sitting in front of him.

  Matteo looked over his shoulder at me, a few small braids mingled in his long hair. He was crouched in front of Blue.

  “Is she okay?” I asked, out of breath. “Blue, are you hurt? You can shift in the alley. Help me—”

  “No,” she cut in. “I can’t shift.”

  Matteo gave me a grim look. “The Relic poisoned her.”

  “What the hell are you even doing here, Chitah?”

  He narrowed his eyes. “You don’t have to be insulting. I wanted to ensure Blue is safe.”

  “And where’s Graham?”

  “He got away,” Blue said, her voice barely audible. “I can’t shift, and I can’t run. I think he gave me twice the dosage. It’s not just chest pain and a headache, but my muscles are weak.”

  I knelt beside her. “What happened?”

  “He confessed everything. It’s not a virus, Raven. Thank the fates for that. It’s just a personal vendetta because of a childhood trauma involving bullies, and he’s taking it out on alphas.”

  “I shouldn’t have sent that message. I’m sorry.”

  “It doesn’t matter. He poisoned me as soon as I sat down. He had it all planned. I tried to hold him, but I didn’t have the strength. He said if we go after him, he’ll give the ingredients to a buyer. They’ll use it on every Shifter—not just alphas. I think he has the file on his phone, because he threatened to send it to his contact.”

  “Then I need to find his ass for the cure.”

  When I stood, Matteo seized my wrist. “Blue doesn’t have to die. If you do nothing, he’ll call with the antidote.”

  I yanked my arm out of his grasp. “Sure he will. That’s what guys like him do: stay true to their word. He’s not a Chitah. His word isn’t his bond, and he’s already killed countless people—including children. Do you really think he cares what happens to her?”

  Matteo locked his fierce eyes on mine. “He’ll call. He has to.”

  I turned my attention to Blue, deciding she needed to make the call. “What do you want me to do?”

  Blue sighed and rubbed her chest. “Go after him. He went to the subway.”

  “You can’t.” Matteo looked up at me pleadingly. “Then he won’t give her the antidote. Blue will die, and you’ll be responsible for what is unleashed.”

  I pulled a dagger from my belt. “I have an effective way of charming men. No Vampire needed.”

  “And if you fail, you’ll have her blood on your hands.”

  “He’s not going to call. We’re not getting a cure sent to us by a messenger boy.”

  “He stands to lose more if he lets her die.”

  “I want you to find him,” Blue snapped. “No one will care if I die. I don’t work for the higher authority—I’m a nobody. But don’t let my death be in vain. He’s going to murder people regardless, so we need to stop him. You’re a Chitah. You can scent his trail.”

  Matteo flashed his canines. “I’m not leaving you to die alone. I won’t go!”

  I tossed Blue her phone. “Then I will.”

  Ignoring the law, I flashed toward the subway. Most of the bystanders were drunk and would probably blame the alcohol if they did see anything. I needed to catch up before Graham got on a train. When I reached the station, I bounded down the stairs. A couple blocked me, and I almost slipped when passing them. Then I sprinted down a long tunnel, forced to run human speed since there were people around.

  No wonder he wanted to meet in a busy section of town. He knew we wouldn’t be able to use our powers or weapons around humans, and that would give him a better chance of escaping if needed. Niko had once told me never to let an enemy choose a meeting place because they would always have the advantage by selecting a familiar location. But I couldn’t have imagined that Graham would be the enemy.

  The end of the tunnel opened into a mezzanine. People entered from different directions and headed downstairs. Even though Viktor had given us metro cards, I didn’t have time to fumble with my wallet, so I jumped the gate. When I reached the lowest level, past the murals, I wound up on the platform. The trains usually came by every fifteen minutes or so, and I hoped it wasn’t too late. A homeless man strummed on his guitar, a hat tipped upside down with a few bills inside. I stood behind a pillar and searched both sides of the track.

  Gotcha.

  On the other side of the tracks, Graham was sitting on a wooden bench, his shirt drenched in sweat and a phone in his hand. His face was beet red, and he was panting heavily.

  Dammit. I picked the wrong side to enter.

  I needed to cross over, but there was no rush. Even with the tracks between us, it wasn’t as if the man could outrun me. He looked ready to keel over, and I also had the advantage of being a Mage.

  Instead of a sneak attack, I strutted alongside the track and stopped directly across from him. “How were the hot dogs?” I asked loudly. “I’m a big fan of the cheese dog. Don’t bother getting up.”

  Color drained from Graham’s face when he noticed me. Phone clutched in hand, he stood but didn’t run. He was too smart for that. And too tired.

  “You won’t escape,” I said, putting my hands in my coat pockets. “No matter what you’re thinking of doing, you won’t walk away. I’m sure you counted on Blue saving herself, but you don’t know what that woman’s willing to die for. Are you going to make this easy or hard?”

  “One call and everyone dies,” he said sharply, finger swiping the face of his phone.

  “She told me why you targeted the victims. I don’t think you feel that way about everyone. You’ve spent your entire career helping these people, and nobody wants that much blood on their hands. Not even you. I’m willing to bet you don’t even have a buyer.”

  “I’m calling.”

  “Great! And then what’s your plan?” I jumped onto the track, ignoring the lady who gasped. Carefully stepping over the tracks, uncertain if they would electrocute me, I climbed the wall and dusted off my pants. “Put him on speaker. I’d like to say hello.”

  Graham hesitated, and I knew immediately it was all a ruse. He thought the only way to keep us off his tail was to spin an elaborate threat that no sane person would risk.

  No one ever said I was sane.

  “Did you ever get back at the boys who picked on you?”

  Graham’s eyes became slivers. “Picked on? Picked on? My family line is severed because of what they did. Centuries of inherited knowledge—gone!”

  I could only guess what they had done to him. “You killed a bunch of innocent people. I’m just curious if you ever got the ones who hurt you or if you’re just another sadistic serial killer.”

  “They’re all infected with the same evil. That’s what it is. Evil.”

  “You didn’t answer my question. Did you ever get back at the ones who did that to you?”

  His lips thinned. “I can’t. He never liked me, and he won’t let me near his territory.”

  “Coward. You could have used that poison against some of the worst of the worst, but you’re too scared to confront the real bullies in this world. Instead, you chose innocent people—vulnerable people.”

  Graham’s eyes darted around, and he glanced at his watch.

  “Where’s the antidote?” I pressed. “If you save her life, I’ll tell the higher authority you cooperated.”

  “I don’t have it on me. We have to go back to my place.”

  I folded my arms. “I don’t believe you.”

  He approached the edge, searching for the train at the far end of the tunnel.

  “Look, we’re not going back to your place. Either you’re stalling, or you’ve g
ot some elaborate scheme cooked up, and I’m not playing that game. Tell me where the antidote is, and I won’t slice off your toes.”

  His eyes dragged over to mine.

  A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. “Do you know why they hired me? Because I enjoy doing the dirty work. I’m the monster your bullies have nightmares about. We’ll start with all the small appendages—including the one between your legs. Assuming you still have it. Then the tongue.”

  He blinked, mouth parting as panic and despair washed over his features.

  I inched toward him. “Tell me where the antidote is. Unlike you, I don’t make empty threats. I’m also not very patient.”

  From the distant tunnel, I heard the rumble of the oncoming train. Before I could get an answer out of Graham, he jumped onto the tracks.

  My eyes widened. There was no way in hell I’d be able to get him out of there by myself. Graham lay there with his eyes slammed shut, waiting for the train to run over him.

  Panicked, I leaned over the tracks and waved my arms frantically to get the conductor’s attention.

  “Stop the train!” someone shouted, also waving their arms. Several people joined in as the train rolled by the platform, the brakes screeching.

  “Stop, you idiot! Stop!”

  The train neared, a woman screamed, and I turned my head away.

  When it stopped, I braced myself for a gruesome sight. How the hell was I going to get the antidote now? I peered over the edge.

  Graham sat facing the train, his legs apart and a rivulet of blood dribbling from his scalp. “I can’t go to jail,” he babbled. “I’d rather be dead. I won’t get my food; I won’t see anything but bars and walls. Not even television.” He swung his gaze up at me, his eyes pleading. “Let me die. You have the power to do it. Just one shock.” Graham began sobbing like a little boy.

  I’d had plenty of men beg for their freedom or even their lives. But not once had anyone ever begged for death.

  “Stay where you are,” the conductor said. “We called an ambulance.”

  This was my case, and I had to make a decision. Turning him in would open up an investigation, and the higher authority might find out about the kids and what we’d done. I wasn’t worried about the paramedics arriving. Even if they took him to the hospital, Graham couldn’t escape. Not unless he got himself committed, and imprisonment was what he was trying to avoid.