‘You’re spectacularly stubborn. Has anyone ever told you that?’
Allie fixed him with a challenging stare. ‘Yes. Where is she?’
Sighing dramatically, Nathaniel raised his right hand. ‘Gabriel. Show her the girl. She won’t talk sense until she’s seen her.’
Gabe.
Allie’s heart seemed to shrink to the size of an ice cube.
Jo’s killer stepped out from the shadows, dragging Rachel like prey. One of his thick arms crossed her chest, holding her immobile. The other held a knife pointed at her throat.
Pale and terrified, Rachel trembled in his grip. One eye was swollen shut. Blood had dried under her nose. Her arms were wrapped in bloody bandages.
They’d beaten her.
Despite all her efforts to stay calm, anger coursed through Allie’s blood like flames.
‘Gabe!’ she screamed, her voice breaking into a sob. ‘You psycho bastard, you let her go.’
But he only grinned and brought the knife closer to Rachel’s fragile neck, pressing the tip into her skin.
Something about his smile caught Allie’s attention and she focused her torch beam on his face. Gabe had always been Cimmeria’s golden boy – handsome and athletic, with perfect features. In those days, he only had to smile for a girl to fall for him.
His thick, dark blond hair had been shaved close to the scalp. An angry, red scar crossed his face from the outer corner of his left eye to his upper lip.
Realising he must have received that scar in the kidnapping attempt last year, Allie felt a rush of bitter pleasure.
Then Nathaniel flipped his hand back in a dismissive gesture and Gabe stepped back into the shadows. Rachel gave a terrified, animal cry.
‘Rachel!’ Allie shouted desperately.
But she was gone.
‘Oh God.’ Allie trembled with such violence the torch beam shook.
She had to stay calm or she wasn’t going to be any help to anyone, so she took a deep breath and, although it turned her stomach, she walked closer to Nathaniel, stopping about fifteen feet away from him.
‘I did what you wanted.’ She was surprised by how calm her voice was. ‘I came to you. Now let her go.’
His smile was easy, as if they were having a pleasant chat about the weather. ‘I will let her go when I know for certain I can trust you, Allie. And I will know that when I hear your response to my offer.’
Allie held her gaze steady. ‘What offer?’
‘As I said in my note, I want you to come with me, willingly, as Christopher did. I want you as part of my team. I will bring you back to Cimmeria once I take over running the school – you will complete your education here, I promise. Christopher wants his sister back and I want to see your family reunited. With me you will have all that you deserve based on your impressive bloodline – your life will have purpose. You will be an important part of Orion and I will make certain you get the training you need to prepare you for the role you will some day have in the organisation. You will have wealth and power you can only dream of now.’ He held out his hands, palms facing upward. ‘So that is my offer, Allie. Give me your answer and Rachel can walk out of here alive.’
The rain fell hard now, pattering off the ancient stones around them with a million tiny thuds. She dropped her head, watching the water run from her hair to the dirt at her feet. There was bound to be a trick. He’d never let Rachel go. She needed to be ready.
Finally, she straightened, looking at Nathaniel through the falling water. ‘Fine,’ she said. ‘Yes, I’ll go with you.’
Clearly delighted, he held out his arms as if he expected a hug. She stared at him, her expression incredulous.
Grinning, he dropped his arms. ‘For the first time you’ve surprised me, Allie. I was certain you’d say no.’
‘But –’ she held up her hand – ‘I’m not going anywhere until Rachel is safe. I will go with you, only if she walks out of here right now. This second.’
‘Now, Allie…’ he began, his tone placating.
She shook her head so hard drops of water flew around her in a circle. ‘Don’t, Nathaniel. You have your rules, and I have mine. I came alone. I did as you said. Let Rachel go now and you can have me. Otherwise the deal is off.’
He shot her a sour look.
‘I should have expected something like this.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘Still, I think we can make this work. In the interest of our new relationship and to prove my sincerity.’ Turning, he called back into the darkness. ‘Gabe. Release her.’
A voice from the shadows said something Allie couldn’t make out. Whatever it was it infuriated Nathaniel, who spun with the speed of a cobra strike. ‘I did not ask for your opinion. Release her.’
For a long moment nothing happened – Allie could see only darkness. Hear only the rain and her own ragged breathing.
Then something moved in the shadows.
A second later, Rachel stumbled out into the light of Allie’s torch. As she passed Nathaniel she ducked fearfully as if anticipating a blow. She looked so weak, Allie feared she’d fall.
‘Rachel!’
Allie ran to her side and slid an arm under her shoulders, pulling her away from Nathaniel. Ripping the tiny microphone from her jacket, she whispered rapid-fire instructions, hoping Rachel was strong enough to absorb the information.
‘The others are in the woods. Your dad is coming. Run to the trees and hide until this is over. Don’t get caught.’ But Rachel seemed to be in shock; she stared at Allie blankly.
‘Rachel, do you understand?’ Fear burned Allie’s stomach like acid. If Rachel couldn’t get out on her own, the whole plan failed. ‘Can you do it?’
‘I won’t… leave you with them.’ Rachel’s voice was weak.
I will not cry, Allie told herself. I will not.
‘I’ll be fine,’ she said, loud enough for Nathaniel to hear.
‘This is so touching.’ Nathaniel sounded bored. ‘But I really don’t have time.’
‘Please, Rach,’ Allie whispered, squeezing her shoulder. ‘Trust me. There’s a plan.’
She held her breath as Rachel studied her for a long moment. Then she nodded and let go of Allie reluctantly. ‘I’ll go.’
With a sigh of relief, Allie released her, watching with worried eyes as she began to walk away – she was unsteady but upright. She’d make it.
Turning, she walked back to where Nathaniel watched her with clinical interest, as if she were an experiment in a lab that had done something unexpected.
Stopping just out of reach, she stood with her hands on her hips. ‘What now, Nathaniel? Does Gabe stick a knife to my throat now? Is that your big, clever plan?’
Above the sound of rainfall, a deep rumble caught Allie’s attention and she frowned, looking up at the turbulent sky. Was that thunder?
‘No.’ Nathaniel gave a delighted grin. ‘That is not my plan at all.’
The noise, which, now that Allie thought about it, had been there for some time, grew louder.
The wind picked up, whipping her wet hair into her face so hard it stung.
A bright light appeared above them, illuminating the castle ruins and highlighting the rain so it looked like tiny diamonds falling around them.
Blinded, Allie shielded her eyes as she looked up for the source.
The noise had changed into a repetitive thudding. It was louder now, and familiar. The air whipped around her like a mini-tornado. She knew what it was before she could see it.
A helicopter.
‘No knife,’ Nathaniel shouted at her above the steady thump thump thump of the rotors. ‘I have a more sophisticated method.’
Raj was shouting something through Allie’s earpiece but the noise of the helicopter was deafening. She cupped her hand over her ear, trying to make out what he was saying as the helicopter began to lower itself on to the castle grounds.
At that moment, a hand grabbed her arm roughly, twisting it behind her back sending a stabbing pain through he
r. She looked up to see Gabe’s scarred face. He was smiling at her.
She screamed.
Holding her in a bruising grip, Gabe dragged her roughly towards the helicopter, which now hovered ten feet above them. Struggling with all her might, Allie tried to swing at him with the torch but she couldn’t hold on to it, and it flew from her hand.
Then, through the wind and the rain, and the thudding of the rotors, Allie heard Nathaniel shout, ‘What the hell…?’
Twisting in Gabe’s grip, she saw the others hurtling across the stones, Zoe in the lead – always the fastest. The others were right behind her. Sylvain and Carter divided. Sylvain headed for Nathaniel.
Without breaking his stride, Sylvain drew back his fist and punched him in the face. The force of his forward motion added power to his the blow. Nathaniel dropped instantly.
Allie’s heart leaped with excitement, but Gabe’s grip tightened around her throat and he dragged her more quickly towards the helicopter.
Suddenly, though, Carter stood in front of them, blocking their path.
‘Let her go, Gabe.’ His voice was steely, his gaze didn’t waver from Gabe’s.
They’d been friends once, before Gabe had betrayed them all. And Allie could see the loathing in Carter’s eyes.
‘Oh, Carter,’ Gabe sighed pityingly. ‘Still in love with the girl who doesn’t love you back? How pathetic. Wasn’t Jules —’
At that moment, something hit him on the back of his neck and his grip loosened enough for Allie to squirm free.
Whirling, she saw Nicole standing behind him with the same board she’d used earlier in the cellar. The French girl’s eyes met Allie’s.
‘I’m starting to like this thing,’ she said of the weapon.
Then, just as suddenly, she fell with a scream of pain.
Stunned, Allie looked down to see Gabe holding a heavy stone he’d used to hit Nicole in the knee. As she writhed in pain, he knelt above her and lifted the rock over her head.
Carter shot past Allie, throwing himself at Gabe, knocking him off balance. The rock fell to one side and Gabe and Carter rolled into the mud. Allie was scrambling for the stone when she heard a cry from behind her. Turning, she saw Nathaniel pick Zoe up off the ground. Sylvain crouched in front of him looking for any opportunity to pounce.
‘Is this what you want, Allie?’ Nathaniel cried, tightening his grip on Zoe’s slim throat. Her face had begun to turn purple. ‘Do you want her to die so you can live?’
The corners of Allie’s vision darkened.
Propelling herself at him with all her might she screamed, ‘You let her go.’
Before she could reach him, though, Nathaniel hurled Zoe at Sylvain, knocking them both down. By then, though, Allie was moving too quickly to stop. She ran directly into his arms.
Nathaniel wasn’t as strong as Gabe, but he was skilled. He had Allie by the throat in seconds. A knife appeared from nowhere and pressed against her cheek, she could feel the sharpness of the blade.
‘It’s you,’ he said into her ear. ‘Or them. Choose.’
The helicopter was now just a few feet above the ground. The wind from its spinning blades hit them with the force of a hundred fists.
Allie’s gaze skittered around the castle yard. She saw Carter and Gabe still fighting. Nicole lay on the ground clutching her leg. Sylvain and Zoe were on their feet, circling Nathaniel, looking for an opening – a chance.
They could all live if she just went with him. There wasn’t really a choice.
‘Take me.’ She let her body go limp – she stopped fighting him. She pressed her face into the knife, hoping for the bite of the blade. Hoping for all of this to be over. ‘Let them go. Just take me.’
When Nathaniel smiled she saw his teeth were covered in blood. Sylvain’s punch had been accurate.
‘Good girl.’ Still holding her, he stepped towards the helicopter. Numbly, she stumbled with him.
Her heart seemed frozen in her chest. Everything felt unreal. Was she really going to go with the man who killed Jo? Really going to give in? Was there no other way?
In the distance, Gabe hit Carter with a sickening crunch. Allie watched in horror as Carter toppled like a felled tree. For a moment, Gabe stood over him, looking down at him, and she stiffened, fearing he’d try to finish him off. But then Gabe turned and limped towards the helicopter. Behind him, Carter lay still in the mud.
The thump of the rotors seemed to come from a hundred miles away as she stared at Carter’s body.
He isn’t moving. Why isn’t he moving?
She had to know Carter was alive. Suddenly, she lifted her feet, letting her body weight drop like a stone. Caught off guard in mid-stride Nathaniel grunted in surprise. The rain made her skin slippery and he lost his grip. As he fought to hold her the knife sliced through the flesh of her shoulder.
She hit the ground and rolled. Gasping, she rose on to her knees, clutching her bleeding arm. It felt as if someone had set her arm on fire. Hot blood poured over her fingers and she stared down in puzzled dismay, too stunned to flee.
But Sylvain and Zoe were between her and Nathaniel now. Zoe held a heavy stone in one hand. Sylvain didn’t need one.
The wind from the helicopter rotors buffeted them – she saw Zoe’s jacket inflate around her like a balloon, and felt herself being thrown around by the deadly, spinning blades. Fighting the force of it, she threw up a hand to protect her eyes from beads of rain being thrown with such force they struck like stones.
Then, looking past her, Nathaniel cursed.
Following his gaze, Allie saw a mass of black-clad guards climbing over the castle walls. Dozens of them. Moving in silence, with deadly grace, they poured over the stone like black oil.
Raj was here.
Nathaniel turned back to her, his gaze narrow.
‘You made the wrong choice, Allie,’ he shouted above the cacophony. ‘You will pay for this. Tell Lucinda she’s already lost.’
Around them, black-clad guards swarmed the castle yard.
His shoulders high, Nathaniel climbed into the helicopter. Through the rain, she saw him motion to the pilot and it began to climb, swinging dangerously in the wind.
Allie leaned back to watch it go, willing it to crash. But it rose into the storm and disappeared, the rhythmic thud of the rotors gradually fading.
THIRTY-FIVE
‘Ouch!’ Allie jerked her wounded arm out of Sylvain’s grip, wrapping her hand round it protectively.
‘Allie, I must roll up your sleeve to see the wound,’ he insisted gently. ‘I know it hurts but we have to stop the bleeding.’
‘I know,’ she said. ‘It’s just… ow.’
Around them, guards swarmed like insects, searching the castle grounds for anything Nathaniel might have left behind.
‘Hang on a second,’ Carter said. He turned to one of the guards. ‘Excuse me, mate. Have you got a knife I can borrow?’
The guard stopped and took in the scene. Blood still dripped from Allie’s arm, mixing with mud on the ground. Pulling a dangerous-looking blade from a holster on his hip, he flipped it over expertly, handing it to Carter hilt first.
‘Thanks.’ Carter held the knife out to Sylvain.
‘Come on, Allie.’ Sylvain held out his hand. ‘One more try.’
Biting her lip hard, she held out her arm to him. Very carefully, he lifted the cuff of her sleeve and slit it with the knife. The blade was sharp. The fabric gave easily, all the way to the shoulder. Handing the knife back to Carter, Sylvain peeled the sodden fabric back. The cold air felt good against the wound.
Sylvain’s breath hissed between his teeth as he saw the cut. His grip tightened on her wrist.
All Allie could see was blood. Wincing, she tried not to look at it.
‘It’s a long cut but I don’t think it needs a tourniquet.’ Sylvain glanced at Carter for confirmation.
Peering at the wound, Carter nodded. ‘The bleeding is slowing. Bind it and let’s get her back for stitche
s.’
As the others watched, Sylvain pulled off his own jacket and cut off one of the arms with the knife. He wrapped that around the wound snugly then used a strip of her shredded sleeve to tie it in place.
The makeshift bandage was secure. Allie’s arm instantly felt better.
‘Hold it like this.’ Sylvain demonstrated, holding his arm across his chest. Obediently, Allie emulated him and he smiled, squeezing her good hand. ‘Now, we need to get you back.’
‘We have to find Rachel first,’ Allie insisted. ‘I’m not going without her.’
Frowning, Nicole peered into the distance. ‘Zoe went after her ages ago. She should be back by now.’
‘Let’s find Raj,’ Carter said. ‘He’ll know.’
‘I think I saw him over by the wall.’ Sylvain pointed.
They headed that way. Carter had one arm around Nicole, whose damaged leg barely bore her weight.
Allie didn’t like the bruise on his jaw – it was purple and swelling. ‘That looks bad, Carter.’
‘It just needs some ice.’ He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘It’s my neck that really hurts. I didn’t like the way it crunched when Gabe hit me.’
Sylvain looked at Allie. ‘It’s you I’m worried about – you’ve lost a lot of blood.’
‘I feel OK,’ she said. She looked over at him. ‘You and Zoe were great back there. I haven’t had a chance to thank you.’
His lips tightened. ‘I’m sorry Nathaniel got away.’
‘Me too,’ Allie said quietly.
When they reached the wall, one of the guards directed them over it towards the woods, where he said they’d find Raj.
Carter helped Nicole over first. Sylvain climbed up next and helped Allie across, lifting her gently as if she weighed no more than a child.
‘There’s Zoe.’ Ahead of them, Carter pointed towards the woods to where a small figure had emerged, leading a taller one by the hand.
Allie’s heart seemed to stop in her chest. ‘Rachel,’ she breathed.
She took off towards them, ignoring the jarring pain in her arm.
‘Rachel!’ She shouted it now, running to her. She heard Rachel call her name, saw her stumbling towards her and then they were both sobbing, hugging each other.
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