by K. M. Raya
Fog was beginning to roll in once the rain stopped. Blue tugged her jacked a little tighter around her midsection, fighting a shiver as the wind bit into her skin. There was no moon light, but her Slayer vision was enhanced just enough that she could clearly make out the path ahead of her without issues. She was anxious to get back to Arcane. Her mind was finally made up after hours of contemplating the right course of action. She was going to find Cole and apologize to him for being such a jealous bitch. She’d lost her sense of self somewhere along the way and started acting like someone she no longer recognized.
Something pricked her neck, stinging like a motherfucker. Blue smacked her hand to the spot that now burned. Ice filled her veins when she pulled her hand away to find blood. A shiver ran through her, and she instinctively knew she’d been hit with a silver dart. Usually reserved for vampire hunts, silver darts were often used to immobilize. Using one of those darts against a Slayer was strictly prohibited and even a little taboo.
A blow to the back of her head sent her sailing forward. Lights danced in her vision and she immediately fought a strong gag. The pain was nearly blinding, and she couldn’t catch her breath. Someone kicked her in the spine before she could get her bearings. Slamming to the muddy ground, more kicks hit her in the back, hip, head and chest. The barrage kept coming and all she could do was curl in on herself and try to protect her head with her arms while she could still control her limbs.
That blow to the skull must have knocked something out of whack too, because all she could see were colors dancing across her vision. Blood choked her throat as she tried to swallow gulps of air. She could hear grunting and laughing above the buzzing in her ears, but her eyes were beginning to swell shut.
“Stop it!” a smaller voice screamed, sounding far away. “I said stop, Vanessa! This isn’t what we agreed on, fuck!”
‘Vanessa,’ she mentally groaned. She should have known that bitch would come after her again. She should have been ready for it. It was a rookie mistake. A part of her, however small, had hoped Cole put a stop to her nonsense.
Blue heard the scraping of something metal moving along the dirt. She couldn’t pinpoint why it sent a shiver over her spine. The sound kept coming, but her eyes were swollen shut and she was sure a couple of her ribs were broken. All she could taste was blood in her mouth as it trickled down her throat. She couldn’t even scream; the pain was too all consuming.
Someone lifted her, or maybe two someone’s. But she could still hear quiet protests from someone else nearby. Their voice was soft and muffled, but she could vaguely tell they were pleading with Vanessa to leave Blue alone. Though she appreciated it, whoever it was clearly came out here with purpose in the first place.
“You’ll shut the fuck up if you know what’s good for you, bitch,” Vanessa’s familiar voice snapped at the mystery person. “Unless you wanna end up like her, you’ll keep your opinions to yourself. You’re just as culpable here, and don’t think for a second I won’t rat your ass out if you try something.”
Gods, Blue wanted to deck her right in the teeth. Maybe she’d gone too easy on the wolf the other day. Maybe she should have kicked her in the face just a little bit harder for good measure. But there was no going back now. She had no idea what she had in store for her, but all she could do was sit and wait like a fucking invalid. She felt absolutely useless for the first time in her entire life.
She’d always been in control. Even when she was a child, she’d grown up with full confidence in her own abilities. She’d always watched her own back, never needing another person to help her along. Sure, she had Harlow, but there was a difference between wanting help and needing it. Right now though, she wished with all her soul that she’d completed the bond with Cole. If she had, he’d have been able to sense her distress though the mental connection they’d form. But for now, it looked like she was on her own.
She could feel herself falling, and knew she was slamming into the ground, but by now the silver dart had flooded her veins enough to numb her to the pain. She guessed it was a lucky thing, in a way. The pain was mostly gone, but she knew it didn’t mean much. She’d actually prefer to feel the pain if she had the choice. At least then she’d know how badly she was hurt. The last thing Blue felt before her brain shut off completely, was the unmistakable sting of small flecks of dirt hitting her cheeks. Terror clutched at her heart as she realized what was happening.
She was being buried alive.
Chapter Twenty Three
The first sense to return was the sense of smell. Shame, because the sterile scent of cleaning products was enough to have her gagging as she tried to crack open her scratchy eyes.
Blinking away the sting, blinding white light shone in her eyes, making her head throb. Disoriented, she tried to breathe steadily, not wanting to cause herself to pass out again. Looking upwards at the ceiling, she recognized the infirmary immediately. It was the only section of Arcane Academy that even remotely resembled a modern establishment.
The walls were a stark white, and she was laid out in a typical twin size hospital bed with tubes attached to both of her arms. She fought the urge to rip them out of her skin. She didn’t want to be that person. She always cringed when she watched those movies where people woke up in hospitals and proceeded to rip out tubes and make a run for it.
She immediately knew exactly why she was here and who put her there. Fucking Vanessa. Bitter loathing wasn’t a strong enough word for what she felt. All this over a fucking man. She couldn’t believe it. Sure, she could understand jealousy, especially over someone you thought you loved your whole life, but to attempt murder over it was just crazy.
“I’m so sorry.” Blue jumped, wincing as pain sliced down her spine. “Oh fuck!” the voice shouted, followed but the scraping of a chair over the linoleum floor. “Shit, I didn’t mean to scare you, I thought you knew I was here…”
A head of russet curls came into view as Jewel hovered to her right side. Her green eyes were filled with unshed tears, but her olive colored skin was all blotchy and red. She had dark circles below her eyes that made Blue wonder when the last time her old friend slept was.
“What are you doing here?” Blue croaked. Her throat was parched.
Jewel scrambled to the side, fetching a glass of water, leaning over to help Blue raise her head and take a sip. Though she appreciated the help, loving the cooling sensation of the ice-cold liquid as it soothed her throat, she didn’t understand why Jewel Hobbs, of all people, was here in this room with her.
“This is all my fault,” Jewel sniffed. Blue laid her head back down and watched the girl with a frown. She sat in the chair beside the bed and cradled her face in her hands. “I told her I knew where you’d be that night… I led her straight to you and I’m so fucking sorry. I didn’t know it would be that bad…”
Jewel kept crying, but things were beginning to take shape in Blue’s mind. The soft voice she heard was obviously JJ. She vividly remembered her pleading for Vanessa to stop.
“I don’t need to hear you feel bad for yourself, Jewel. I just don’t care anymore.”
“I know you’re mad—”
“I’m not mad!” Blue snapped. “I’m fucking done! Don’t you get that? I’m done with you, with them, with her… I’m done being walked on—treated like a punching bag…” Their eyes met and held. Tears were now spilling out over Jewel’s cheeks. “I’m done trying to repent for something I didn’t have any part in. You want to punish me, I get that, but this was low, even for you.”
Turning her face away, she didn’t have to watch to know Jewel stood from her chair. “I said what I came here to say, Blue. But if you don’t want to hear it then I won’t waste my breath. I still think you need to get the fuck out of Arcane, but obviously you’re too stubborn to do what’s right.” She turned, and Blue listened to her footsteps as she approached the door.
“You make enemies everywhere you go… and nobody else is responsible for keeping you alive. Ask yourself w
hat you really want to accomplish by forcing yourself on everyone around you. Ask yourself if it’s worth it, because Blue Jay…” she choked a little on the old nickname that sounded as if it accidently rolled off her tongue. “I think you’re finally in over your head.”
*
“Thank fuck—” Jasper burst into the room. His eyes were wild, and his clothes were all mussed. Blue was sitting up in bed now that the pain medication had kicked in with full force. She was mostly healed, given the fact that it had been hours since JJ left and Slayers were fast healers. It was still uncomfortable, being able to feel when her ribs clicked back into place.
“Hello to you too,” she chuckled as he practically flew to her side. He hovered over her for a second—moving and then hesitating, before doing it another two times as if afraid she’d break if he touched her too carelessly.
She laughed again. “I’m pretty much healed by now, Jas, you can touch me.” He sighed and grabbed her by the cheeks, hauling her lips to his. He kissed her deeply, running his tongue along the seam of her lips. She ran her hands along the hard ridge of his shoulders and down his arms. Having him there brought her peace.
“Baby, what the fuck? When Jewel found me, I almost didn’t believe it.” His words were tight and clipped. “Goddamn wolf… what was she thinking?”
Blue cupped his stubble covered cheek. “I don’t know and I don’t care. I just want to know what happened after I was out.”
Jasper sat on the mattress, running his fingers through her hair over and over again, almost absently. “You’ve been out for twelve hours so far. Jewel came out of the woods after dinner was letting out. She burst into the dining hall and practically dragged me and Cole outside, saying something about Vanessa and that you were hurt.” His eyes were dark as he recounted everything. “Cole took off and wolfed out, but I followed his howls through the woods. We found you in a three foot deep ditch, unconscious. I think the bitch dosed you with silver.”
Blue nodded. “She had help,” she muttered bitterly. “Jewel set it up, but I don’t think she knew it would go down like it did.”
He grunted, shaking his head. “Well, Vanessa’s gone. Gareth, Arcane’s Alpha had her ass hauled to the Conclave a few hours ago. I don’t think we’ll be seeing her back here any time soon.”
She was glad for that, but it still didn’t change the facts. She was brutally attacked by a Guardian—someone duty bound to serve as a shield to the Slayer community. She broke nearly every law they had, and for what, for a fucking guy? She loved Cole, but she couldn’t imagine nearly killing someone over him.
*
Jasper took off an hour later, needing to get to class. Blue was told to stay in the infirmary for a little while longer, just to make sure the silver was completely out of her bloodstream. She was dozing off when the door squeaked open.
Dresden shut the door behind him with a heavy click. She didn’t say a word as he approached the side of the bed. She hadn’t expected him of all people to visit. After their deep talk the other day in their shared training room, she figured he’d keep his distance for a while since every time they seemed to get closer, he just turned right back around and got distant. But the look on his face right then told a different story entirely.
“Glad to see you’re alive, rookie,” he drawled. His cadence was teasing, but there was a growl just beneath his calm façade. “You look like shit.”
Blue shook her head. “Shoulda seen the other guy,” she teased, knowing damn well Vanessa walked away without a scratch.
He snorted, catching her off-guard as he smiled widely. “I did see the other guy… she may have looked even worse than you.”
Cocking her head to the side, Blue frowned in confusion. What the hell was he talking about? She hadn’t even gotten a swing in before Vanessa had her in a ditch. He saw the confusion and laughed. “Your boyfriend had a little something to say to her before she was hauled off to the Conclave… what I would have given to record that for you.”
“Jasper? That doesn’t sound like something he’d d—”
“Wrong boyfriend,” he quipped, smirking down at her.
Her heart stuttered. “Tell me what happened…” She noticed now, as he took a seat in the chair next to the bed, that his knuckles were wrapped in bandages, and there were dark spots of blood seeping through.
“After he found you in that hole,” his eyes darkened. He shook his head. “Cole freaked the fuck out. Jasper and I carried you back to Arcane, but Cole ran off.” Her eyes widened as he went on. She wasn’t even aware Dresden had been a part of any of this. “I went back to find him when you were safe, but instead I found him standing over Vanessa’s body, and she didn’t look good…”
“Did he—”
“He didn’t kill her, if that’s what you’re asking. But she was hurt, badly. I think their wolves fought, but we all know Cole’s the more dominant wolf. She didn’t stand a chance. I’m not sure if he’ll be punished for it, but I fucking hope not. Bitch got what she deserved.”
Damn right she did. She deserved to fucking rot. Blue couldn’t believe she actually started feeling bad for the girl, back when she thought she was getting in the way of some unrequited love situation. Turns out, Vanessa was just a grade A psychopath. She called that shit from the beginning.
“So, what’s up with your hands?” she asked him bluntly. Dresden curled his fingers into a fist, eyes darkening and his face instantly closing off. She hated when he was like this. She craved the other Dresden. The one that joked with her and teased her good-naturedly. But that Dresden could flip on a dime.
“Not important,” he grumbled, sitting forward. “I have somewhere I need to be…” He stood but hesitated before making his way to the door, but before he could reach it, it opened.
Blue’s breath caught as Cole stepped through the door. His eyes zeroed in on her, flitting over her body as if searching her over, but before he could say a word, Dresden had him slammed up against the wall.
It was then that Blue was able to get a good look at her wolf. Despite how fast wolves could heal, she could clearly tell someone had put him through the ringer. His right eye was swollen shut, and his lips were scabbed over but healing rapidly. Her eyes bounded back and forth between his beat up face and Dresden's bandaged hands. She didn’t know how to feel about it. She could put two and two together and work it out for herself that Dresden beat the absolute shit out of Cole at some point in the last hour or so before coming to see her.
Anger swelled in her chest the longer she looked at Cole. She wasn’t mad at Dresden. She was mad at the situation in its entirety. Dresden was muttering in Cole’s face, threatening to take him down again if he didn’t walk away right then. Blue appreciated his protection, but still, she didn’t need it.
“Dres, it’s okay,” she said, and the man went still. “I need to talk to Cole, and it might as well be now.”
He took a moment, just staring at Cole with shrewd eyes, before he let go of his collar and backed away. She watched his shoulders drop and his hands relaxed at his sides. He turned around and strode back to her bed on quick feet, bending down and placing a gentle, soft kiss on her forehead. His lips lingered there for a few long moments while her heart ran wild. Her hair waved slightly as his breath caressed her skin, “I’m glad you’re okay, Blue Jay.” With those perplexing last words, he blew out of the room like his ass was on fire.
They waited until his footsteps disappeared down the hall, before Cole locked the door to the room. Blue felt her heart leap into her throat as he stalked closer to the bed. She didn’t know how to feel. Her body wanted to reach out and haul him to her, but her heart wanted to slap him across his stupid face for putting her in this situation. All of it could have been prevented if he’d only take her seriously.
He took a seat on the hospital bed next to her, hesitating briefly before draping his big arm over her waist. His eyes were darker than she ever remembered, though his right eye was rapidly healing and looked a
little more normal now. His long hair was disheveled, and his skin was streaked with dirt and blood, but she still couldn’t help but marvel at the man, wondering how such a creature could have come to mean so much to her.
She was spitting mad still, but she was also wise enough to realize that it wasn’t all that black and white. Cole searched her face. “I don’t even deserve for you to look at me right now,” he whispered. His voice was breaking, and it made her heart clench. He reached out, running a finger over her black strands of hair that fell over her cheek. “I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself for not believing you.”
Blue bit the inside of her cheek. She couldn’t argue that. He should feel bad. She sighed. “There’s nothing we can do about it now, Cole. What’s done is done.”
He shook his head. “Fuck that!” he snapped. “It’ll never be done for me. You’re my mate and fucked you over…”
Cole threw his face in his hands, shoulders hunched. Blue placed her palm on his shoulder and he stiffened. He raised his head, looking her in the eyes. Her breath caught when she saw tears gathering in them. “I’m so sorry, baby girl. I didn’t think V was capable of something like this. I knew she had a thing for me when we were younger, but I never imagined…”
“I’m not going to tell you it’s okay,” she whispered. His jaw clenched, and he just nodded. “I won’t tell you any of this wasn’t your fault, because you let me down, Cole. I won’t sugar coat things to try and make you feel better, because we both know it won't be the truth.” He just stared at her with sad resolve in his eyes. He ran his gaze over her face reverently.
