Lorena nodded her agreement. “Gracias.”
Mekiah stood up before I could say anything in response, stretching his spine. “Well, we can't sit around here thanking each other all day. We need to get to the institute.”
“We still have one more security ring to face,” Silas said, standing and offering me his hand.
I took it and he pulled me smoothly to my feet. He picked a collection of twigs from my hair.
“Thanks, I bet it looks wonderful now,” I teased.
Silas coughed a laugh.
“Here.” Reason weaved her way through the group, taking a hairband from her wrist.
She moved behind me, scooping my hair up and tying it into a high ponytail. There were still plenty of loose strands that couldn't be contained within the band, but I immediately felt a little cooler, the breeze on my neck like a godsend. I thanked her as Mekiah started into the forest and our group moved to follow.
Reason stayed at my side. The forest was quiet in the wake of all the destruction and we had to walk for several minutes before we reached a part of the jungle that hadn't been swallowed by the blades.
Lorena held a gun in her grip, alert as she moved.
Silas walked at Mekiah's side and his conversation drifted back to me. “What's happened at the institute? Has Rockley taken over?”
“I was kept in a room twenty-four-seven, what do I know?” Mekiah hedged, his shoulders bunching.
“You must know something,” Silas growled.
Mekiah shrugged his huge shoulders. “Your men let us in when Ulvic told them we'd come from the shipwreck. They gave us rooms. I stayed in one with Reason. Ulvic and Rockley don't exactly invite us to their meetings.”
“So Ulvic never forced you to attack anyone?” Silas asked anxiously.
“Nope,” Mekiah said simply.
Silas ran a hand down the back of his neck and Mekiah picked up his pace, evidently not wanting to continue the conversation. Of course, for all we knew, Ulvic could have ordered them to lie to us. We could still have a fight to face when we got there. But it sounded like Silas had a lot of workers at his institute, surely Rockley and Ulvic couldn't have overpowered them all?
As the group moved ahead, I dropped behind a little, growing wary at the thought of reaching the institute. Reason stayed with me and when we'd fallen far enough behind, I spoke in a whisper, hoping Jameson wouldn't hear. “Has Ulvic commanded you guys to do anything...strange recently?” I kept my tone casual, but Reason's eyes narrowed.
“Strange?” she echoed.
I didn't think Reason even knew about Jameson and I, so I felt comfortable asking more. “Jameson's just acted a bit off lately,” I said.
Reason's brow furrowed. “Ulvic's been harsh on him. I reckon he thinks if he gets Jameson to cooperate, we'll all fall in line...”
“Why does he care? He can already command you to do whatever he likes anyway,” I said, somewhat bitterly.
Reason sighed softly. Everything about her was so gentle and refined. It was hard to imagine her hurting anyone, even as a wolf. “Ulvic doesn't want it to be this way. I think he wants things to go back to how they used to be. When we were happy. When he didn't have to make us do anything.”
“But controlling you all isn't going to bring that back, especially after what he did to your pack.”
Reason dipped her head, a white lock of hair sliding over her shoulder. “Maybe not. But Ulvic's not thinking reasonably right now. He's hurting.” Her brows drew tighter together. “It's more difficult for me to hate him than the others, because I can feel his emotions. I feel how much pain he's in, and how much he still loves us.”
My mouth twitched in a sad smile. No matter what Ulvic was feeling, I didn't have a scrap of sympathy for him. But Reason wasn't like me and I had to respect that.
“But,” Reason said out of the blue. “I'm starting to see things differently now...like how Ulvic ordered Mekiah and I to try and pair-bond. Forcing us to sleep in a bed together every night, to spend time with each other.” She heaved another sigh. “We're so different, but Ulvic won't let it go...even now.”
I gave her a sympathetic look, then a thought entered my mind that begged for attention. “Is that why Jameson and Nadine are together now?”
Everything hung in the balance as I gazed at Reason, trying not to give away how desperately I needed that answer.
“No,” Reason said simply. “From what Nadine told me, they chose to be together. I think they bonded during their time in The Sanctuary. And after our pack was killed, they only had each other to rely on. I'm happy for them, in a way.”
My throat stopped letting in air. I nodded, forcing a smile, but my insides were on fire with jealousy. Jameson and I had spent so much time together in The Sanctuary, I couldn't imagine when he'd spent time with Nadine. Except at night. Which made me feel all the more ill.
“We should catch up,” I said, not wanting to discuss it any further.
Reason nodded and we jogged up a little hill, finding the others moving in a line through the trees beyond it. The group moved more cautiously, huddling closer together. Jameson cast a wary eye over his shoulder, seeming to relax as he spotted Reason and I bringing up the rear.
Mekiah held up a hand, halting us, his foot pressing down on a branch.
Everyone fell silent, waiting for him to explain himself. He gazed keenly out into the forest before us, a vast stretch of thin trees reaching away from us on both sides.
Mekiah lowered to a crouch, taking the branch from under his foot. He stood, then chucked it forward between two trees. It sliced in two before it hit the ground and I inhaled sharply, moving forward to try and see what had caused it.
As I joined Mekiah's side, he pointed, angling his head to one side. I mimicked him, following his line of direction into the trees. My gut coiled at the sight of the shimmering green lasers between the boughs. They were cast in a zig-zag of lines, barely visible beneath the clouded sun.
“Great,” Lorena murmured as she pressed against Mekiah to view the lasers.
Nadine moved forward, crouching down, her toned leg muscles flexing. “We'll just have to be careful.”
“Easy for you to say,” Mekiah growled. “You're at least half the size of me, Nadine. And I'm not much of a gymnast.”
Jameson pressed a hand to his shoulder. “Nonsense, Kiah. I've seen your dance moves. You're as graceful as a swan.”
“A dead swan, maybe,” Reason muttered, flexing her neck as she joined Nadine's side.
Mekiah growled something incoherent.
I floated toward Silas. “You up for this?” I asked.
He nodded, giving me a grim smile. “Yes, but it's strange knowing that if I'm killed, that's it.” He ran a hand over his hair to flatten it down.
“Problem?” Jameson appeared, evidently having followed me.
“This is the only body I have,” Silas explained, which I realised would make absolutely no sense to Jameson. I'd never had a chance to tell him about Silas's Reaper clones.
“Yah, that's kinda how it works,” Jameson said, looking confused. “Everybody gets one.”
“Not Silas,” I muttered. By now, we'd attracted the rest of the group's attention.
“Explain,” Jameson demanded.
Silas rattled off a quick explanation about how he used Reapers to make clones of himself. The expression on everyone's faces was complete confusion.
“Clones?” Jameson questioned in a snarl. He looked ready to hit Silas, but I wasn't sure why. “Don't you think your company's done enough damage, without screwing with nature like that?”
Silas folded his arms, looking his usual composed self. “Well that's rather hypocritical, don't you think Jameson?”
Jameson lifted a brow, waiting for an explanation.
Silas went on. “You clearly chose to become a Werewolf.”
“Says who?” Jameson fired back.
“It's obvious,” Silas said simply. “You think rather a lot of you
rself – not that that's a bad thing, I happen to feel the same way about myself – so you chose an immortal life. I've done the same, minus the dog drool. There's no difference.”
Jameson looked ready to start a fight and I pressed myself between them. “Can we focus on the problem at hand please?” I gazed between them, willing the tension to dispel.
Nadine took hold of Jameson's tensed arm and he turned to look at her. “She's right, Jay. We need to move.”
“Sure babe,” he murmured and I felt like a rabid animal was feasting on my insides. “But we need to decide what happens when we get to the institute. I'm not walking into Ulvic's hands willingly.”
“We don't have a choice,” Nadine said softly.
“I'll handle it,” Silas said, lifting his chin. “I promise I'll help you all.” He reached for Jameson's hand, but he didn't take it.
“I know we have our differences Jameson, but I'm not going to let you down.”
My heart beat harder at his words.
Jameson nodded stiffly. “I'm relying on you,” he snarled, firmly taking Silas's palm.
“Trust me,” Silas said softly and Jameson released him.
Nadine stepped closer to the lasers. “I'll go first,” she announced, rolling her neck to loosen up.
Jameson nodded, his fingers skimming over her shoulder before she dropped to the ground. She moved with perfect grace, sliding beneath the first laser, slithering under the next. The third wasn't as easy, cutting a diagonal path right down to the ground.
Everyone watched in silence as Nadine navigated her way forward with incredible agility. She was soon standing upright a few trees deep into the field of lasers.
“Maybe there's a way around this...” Mekiah said, looking disgruntled.
Jameson rolled his shoulders, moving toward one of the lasers. “Come on. The institute's probably just on the other side of this extreme laser quest.” He dropped to his knees, army-crawling under the first two lasers before rolling under the next and standing upright beside Nadine. “Easy.”
We fanned out across the edge of the tree line, readying to undergo the maze of lasers. It was everyone for themselves. I forced my attention fully onto the path I was going to take. Bending low, I dropped flat to the ground and dragged myself forward, digging my hands into the mud. I could hear a faint humming just above me, warning me of the laser's position. As I moved under and over the next few beams, I used my heightened senses to feel out how close each of them were to my skin. I tried my best not to think about what would happen if I touched one of them, keeping my thoughts on each movement.
Duck, crawl, stand. Roll, duck, crawl.
I could hear the grunts of effort from the surrounding group. Glancing over, I spotted Silas ducking under a low beam. He caught my eye as he crouched on the other side of it, sweat gleaming on his brow.
“You alright?” I called.
“So long as I think about the decent meal waiting for me at the institute, I can manage this.” Silas smiled, dropping to his knees and shimmying under a low beam.
I continued forward, taking slow breaths as I moved in controlled movements through the maze.
“Reason!” Mekiah's booming voice filled the air.
I turned sharply as Reason cried out and a hissing noise followed. A lock of my hair was cut clean off, falling to the ground. I cursed myself inwardly, creeping forward until I was out from beneath the beam.
“Get away from it!” Mekiah called again.
I gained my feet, pressing myself close to a tree to avoid the proximity of the next laser.
I spotted Reason struggling forward through the beams, then the dark shadow that pursued her.
“Taste...”
Reaper.
“Don't let it bite you!” Jameson shouted, turning to face Reason. Both he and Mekiah closed in on her to help, weaving back through the maze of lasers.
“Taste.” I glanced to my other side, spotting another Reaper moving through the forest, scuttling on all fours under and over the beams with terrifying speed.
“Go!” Silas shouted at me.
I stepped over the next beam, swinging my leg high to keep above it, before ducking under the next. I moved in fluid twists, ducks and turns, placing all my trust in my instincts. I tried not to pay attention to Silas to my right, or on where I'd last seen Jameson.
Just keep going. They'll be fine.
Claws dug into my leg.
I stumbled, my knees hitting soft earth. Silas cried out. A shadow moved in my periphery then a hand caught my shoulder and dragged me backwards. I gasped as I came eye level with a laser beam, glimmering like star dust. I should have been dead. But I wasn't.
I glanced over my shoulder as the hands on me released. Silas was on the ground, being dragged away by the Reaper.
“No!” I screamed, shifting forward and aiming a hard kick to the Reaper's skull-like face. It hissed at me, baring pointed fangs.
Silas wriggled free, kicking out and sending the Reaper's head wheeling sideways. I took his arm, tugging him forwards and we scrambled under the next beam. A humming sounded in my ear and pain tore into my shoulder. Blood leaked over my arm, but I didn't stop, just kept crawling, tugging Silas after me.
The Reaper held back, scuttling off in a different direction, searching for easier prey. Silas and I helped each other through the maze, moving as fast as we could. Finally, we broke through the tree line and I spotted Jameson running toward me, blood pouring down one shoulder, but remarkably okay beyond that. Perfectly alive. He dragged me to my feet and I shook him off, turning to help Silas. He gripped my arm, wincing as he put weight on his leg.
I spotted the others just beyond Jameson, killing a Reaper with harsh stamps to its head. A hissing cry carried from the trees and I glanced back, spotting a horde of them moving toward us at speed. They wriggled under lasers, pressing low to the ground. Some sliced off their own limbs in their haste.
“Go!” I cried and we started running. I kept at Silas's side, helping him along.
“Give him V blood!” Jameson shouted at Reason. She fled toward us, passing out a bottle from her bag. I snatched it, giving it to Silas and he drank it in one go. In a heartbeat, he was healed, quickening his pace.
I spotted Lorena behind us still back in the maze of lasers. She'd fallen behind. I'd been so focused on Silas, I hadn't checked we were all together. A Reaper's skull exploded as she took a shot at it. Her hair spun around her as she turned to shoot another. But there were so many of them.
Jameson turned back just as she stumbled. Her cry was cut off as she lost her footing. A Reaper had hold of her leg. With a scream of horror, she fell onto a laser. I caught Jameson's arm, my gut curdling at the sight of Lorena's body severing down the middle. The Reapers dove on her and all I could do was watch as they ripped into her.
“It's too late,” I gasped and Jameson nodded, turning me and pushing me onward. I tried to blink away the sight of the blood imprinted on my vision, but it wouldn't leave.
We met the bottom of a hill and I just spotted a glimpse of white up above.
The institute.
The Reapers closed in on us from behind and gunfire ripped through the air as the Werewolves took fire.
“Hurry,” Silas barked at me and I pushed myself harder, my thigh muscles flexing as I sped up the hill.
So close. We're so close.
Mekiah led the way onto a white dome that must have held the entrance to the institute. He ran down a dip in the middle, leading to an iron doorway.
“Open up!” he roared, pounding his fist on the door.
The Reapers were hot on our heels, pouring onto the dome, some of them now in Lorena's form. A motorised whirring noise sounded around us and electronic guns sprang up along the perimeter of the dome. They moved in quick succession, firing shot after shot. Our group pressed harder against one another. Bullets sprayed through the air. I winced against the drill of noise. The Reapers exploded in a shower of bones, pieces of their bodi
es strewn everywhere. But we were fine. Impossibly unharmed.
The door behind us clunked loudly and we practically fell inside.
I came eye to eye with Ulvic. Shock tore through me, followed by rage. In a flash, I dove at him, my hand outstretched, but I never reached him. Reason, Mekiah and Nadine wrenched my arms back, restraining me.
“I'm sorry, we're under orders,” Reason whispered in my ear.
I snarled at Ulvic, feeling like a feral animal as he gazed at me, his eyes dark. He seemed as angry to see me as I did him. “Jameson,” he growled. “Come with me.”
Jameson headed after him, throwing me a lingering look over his shoulder.
Several guards closed in on Silas. “Sir, are you well?”
“Yes.” He drew his shoulders back, his posture suddenly commanding despite his bedraggled appearance. “Bring spare clothes and a hot meal to my room.” He took hold of my elbow, guiding me forward.
“Wait-” I glanced back at the Werewolves.
“It's alright,” Nadine said, her gaze resigned. “We have our own room. We can't stay with you.”
I nodded, relaxing marginally.
“Come,” Silas said and I moved to his side.
Jameson had been taken away again. But perhaps things would be different now. Silas clearly had power here. Maybe a deal could be made.
We followed the guards down a white corridor, passing into a stairwell. “Rockley Jones?” Silas inquired of his men.
“He's well, sir. He seemed quite concerned for your safety.”
Confusion spilled through me.
“Well?” Silas snarled. “He took this place by force, did he not?”
“No, sir.” The man seemed equally confused. “He has been staying here as a guest. He's been practically sleeping in the security quarters, keeping an eye on you out on the island.”
“Then why wasn't the security system turned off!?” Silas roared, halting the man and giving him a deadly stare.
Nerves trickled through me.
The man seemed at a loss, glancing at his colleague. “We thought it had been, sir. Rockley sent the Werewolves to bring you in.”
Silas's eyes turned Arctic. I'd never seen him look so fierce. “You're dismissed,” he growled, glancing at the other man. “Both of you. I want you out of this institute by sundown.”
Wolf Games: Island of Shade (The Vampire Games Book 5) Page 19
