The Chosen Ones

by Brighton, Lori

  The carriage slowed as the wheels hit the cobbled streets of town. The same town where I’d escaped with Thane. He’d been leading us back here all along. My heart hurt, a stabbing pain of betrayal. The escape, finding my grandfather, learning to fight…all of it had been pointless.

  The scene unfolded much like it had those two months ago. As before, a variety of curious beautiful ones poured from their elegant homes in their elegant clothing to watch my arrival. Only this time I was alone. We entered the large courtyard and the carriage came to a stop. Bacchus jumped from the vehicle first. I was left alone with Thane.

  “My friends,” Bacchus called out.

  Frantically, I looked at Thane. If he was going to help me, if this was all some ruse, it would be the perfect time to let me in on the game. But no words of comfort came from his lips and his gaze remained firmly on the crowd gathered outside.

  “How could you?” I whispered.

  I felt the ever so slight tightening of his hand on my arm, but he didn’t respond, didn’t bother to look at me.

  “Do you truly hate me this much?”

  His gaze remained on the door as he responded. “Do not confuse indifference for hate, Jane.”

  He might as well have slapped me. I would have preferred his hatred. At least then he’d have a reason for wanting me dead. But his indifference, his lack of emotion was too much like the beautiful ones.

  “We will no longer stand by while they attack,” Bacchus continued outside. “Today is merely the first in a long line of wars to be won.”

  Suddenly Thane was stepping from the carriage, pulling me with him. When my feet hit the cobbled street, there was an uproar of cheering. Around me faces fill with hatred glowed under the lantern light that hung around the courtyard. Monsters…every one of them.

  “I give you the rebel leader!” Bacchus cried, turning toward me.

  I wanted to deny the accusation. I was no leader. A leader wouldn’t be quivering under their hateful gazes. A leader would have figured out a way to escape and warn the others of what was to come. But calling me the leader would make Bacchus look good. Which, I knew, was why he lied.

  “Mommy! My pet,” a little girl cried out.

  A sudden tiny blur of a body hit me so hard that Thane’s hand was knocked away and I fell to my knees. A grunt of pain escaped my lips as thin arms wrapped tightly around my waist. I was horrified by the touch of the little monster, yet at the same time taken in by her innocent face. Her scent was like ripe apples left in the sun, warm and lovely. But I knew better than to find comfort in her presence. This child monster could save me no more than I could save myself. Thane gripped my upper arm and jerked me to my feet as the child’s mother raced forward to take her back to the group. And just like that she was gone. For some reason I hoped she wasn’t there to witness my death.

  “So is that what this is?” I asked. “A public hanging?”

  Thane didn’t answer, but Bacchus heard and turned toward me. “No, my sweet. Our king wants the best. We are having a celebration and you are going to be the main course.”

  A cheer went up in the crowd. I felt their thundering applause vibrate against me. Acid swept up my throat, burning the back of my tongue. I was going to faint. The heat of the evening beat down upon me, thrumming in time with their applause. They wanted to see me suffer. They hated me with a passion I understood well, because I hated them in the same way.

  Thane’s grip was tight as he led me through the crowds and into the main hall. I saw the double doors where Sally and the others who had died had disappeared that fateful night. But we didn’t go that way. Instead, Thane led me up the stairs to the right, bypassing the floor where the women had slept the night we’d been chosen. Higher and higher up into the castle. Were they going to dress me before they killed me? I swore I would never wear one of those fancy white dresses again. But in this world I had so little choice.

  “You’ll stand by?” I seethed, glaring up into Thane’s stoic face. “And watch? You’ll do nothing?”

  We paused outside a wooden door, and the dhampir who had followed stood in a neat little group, awaiting Thane’s command. He pulled the dagger from the sheath on his thigh and reached around me, stepping so close, his chest brushed against mine. I heard the soft swoosh as the ropes were cut and my arms freed. Still standing close, Thane pushed open the door behind me.

  From the corner of my eye I could see the other dhampir, waiting for their commands. But I didn’t care. I kept my gaze focused on Thane, knowing there had to be something…something good inside of him. It couldn’t have been all pretense.

  “Please,” I whispered.

  He lowered his gaze, meeting mine. For one long moment we didn’t speak. I could read nothing in his eyes, nothing in his firm lips or the hard planes of his face. Not surprising, for I’d always had a difficult time understanding him.

  “Thane,” I whispered, pleading.

  With firm hands, Thane gripped my shoulders and shoved me into the room. I fell hard to the ground, bouncing. I had just enough time to see the smirking faces of the other dhampir before the door was pulled shut with a sure thunk, and I was left to face the reality of my situation alone.

  ****

  I wasn’t sure how many hours went by as I remained seated against the far wall…waiting…waiting for them to return. Waiting…waiting for death. The evening sky had grown dark, my room cold, but my mind remained on Will and Jimmy.

  It was only when I heard the soft sound of music floating up through the windows that I stirred. Although it wasn’t quite a full moon yet, the party had begun. As if in a trance, I stood slowly, using the stone wall for support. I could accept my fate, or I could fight to the end. I might not be able to win, but hopefully I could take one or two down with me. Will hadn’t taught me to give up. I would make him proud.

  If I was going to fight, I needed to move, stretch my body and prepare. I walked the room, taking in the details as much as I could without any light. I’d be at a huge disadvantage. They could see in the dark, they were stronger, faster. Frustrated, I paced to the window and stared out over the garden. The moon was full, highlighting the woods in the distance, the fields beyond. I was at the back of the building, that much was clear. I leaned further out the window and dropped my gaze to the ground. Something glimmered below….something that looked suspiciously like water.

  I pulled back, surprised. Thane had placed me in the very room from where we’d jumped those months ago. My heart hammered madly as I tried to understand what it all meant. Thane wasn’t stupid, far from it. So why had he placed me here? Did he think to mock me, knowing I couldn’t swim? I leaned back out the window. In the dark, the water didn’t look so far, but I knew it was a long, long way down.

  Still, this window was my only way out. If I jumped into that water, if I could manage to make it to shore, I might be able to escape again. I had no choice. This time, I wouldn’t have the cumbersome skirts around me. With trembling fingers, I took off my boots, knowing I couldn’t handle the weight. I would gladly run barefoot and naked if need be. Besides, better to die by drowning than by their hands.

  Taking in a deep breath, I climbed onto the window sill. The warm air whipped around me, tugging my hair loose from its braid. In that moment everything came rushing back. The day Thane had saved me by forcing me to jump…the fear, the anger, the confusion. But it had all been a ruse. He hadn’t cared. The only person who could save me was myself. Clutching the window sill ledge, I pushed off.

  Like that moment those months ago, I flew through the air. I felt oddly calm as I drew my arms in tight and closed my eyes. Until I hit the surface…hard. Cold water surged over my head, dragging me down. I wouldn’t die…I couldn’t. But as the chill water pulled me deeper…deeper…the fear I tried to control overwhelmed.

  As I hit the water, and sank further and further into the cold darkness Thane’s voice came to mind. “I have you, Jane. Close your eyes, relax.”

  Although
the memory of him on the island trying to teach me to swim should have angered me, should have terrified me, oddly enough it calmed me. My panic fled, and I let the water naturally push me back to the surface. When I felt the pressure of the moat ease, I knew I was close. With as much strength as I could muster, I shoved my arms through the surface, breaking through. Frantic, I sucked in a quick gulp of air before I went below again.

  Don’t panic, don’t panic.

  I focused on my memory of Thane swimming through the ocean after we had jumped off the cliff. The way his body had moved through the sea, his arms surging, his legs kicking. Using my limbs I somehow managed to break the surface once more. This time, I didn’t sink, but surged toward the shore. If I could keep moving, keep paddling, I might make it.

  Keep swimming. Keep going.

  The shoreline wavered. My limbs trembled with exhaustion, but I kept my attention on that dark shore. The sounds of the party out front mixed with the thunder of my racing heart, urging me onward like the beat of a drum. Forward, forward, forward. I tried not to focus on the fact that they were celebrating my eminent demise and instead concentrated on survival. Closer…the shore seemed so near that I thought maybe I dreamt.

  My toes scraped against something soft, something that shifted under the pressure of my feet. The ground. My heart leapt into my throat. Close. So very close. When my feet sank into the bottom, gritty sand seeping through my socks, I almost cried out in relief. But I couldn’t rest. Not now, maybe not ever.

  Determined, I somehow managed to drag myself to the shore. But I knew better than to take even a moment to catch my breath. I shoved my wet hair from my face and stumbled toward that rock wall in the distance. Around me, the party continued. The sound of music trilled eerily through the night sky, mixing with the rumble of laughter. I could picture them drinking their blood in wine glasses, laughing and conversing as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening. And somewhere, within that crowd, stood Thane.

  Thane.

  He would know which way I’d head…toward Kelly. I paused halfway to the wall, fighting for breath. Yes, Thane would know which way I’d flee, which meant once I got over that wall, I needed to go in the opposite direction. I couldn’t go to Kelly, at least not now. The moon shone above, lighting my path, urging me onward. I bolted the last half to the wall. I would make it. I would not die at their hands.

  I shoved my palms onto the rock and lifted myself. With a grunt, I fell atop, the ledge biting into my gut. Desperate, I somehow managed to throw my legs over and tumbled to the other side, landing with a thud to the hard ground. For a brief moment I merely lay there, staring up into the dark, dark night. Soon Thane would realize I had escaped. Soon that bell would ring, warning the others.

  I pushed off the ground and darted up the hill. Who knew where I’d go, if I even managed to escape. Somehow I made it through the trees and into a field. When I dared to glance back it was to see the castle aglow in the distance. No warning bells…yet.

  My heart told me to head toward Kelly and warn the others. My head told me to get as far away as possible, hide until they stopped looking. Save myself first. I paused for the briefest moment in indecision and that’s when I sensed him. Too late. Suddenly I was tackled to the ground. My body hit the hard earth, that familiar form pinning me to the dirt. Thane’s scent swirled through the air, making me ill. Twisting, I threw my arms up, hoping to at least hit him once before he tore out my throat. But his firm fingers gripped my upper arms and shoved them to the ground.

  “Let me go!” I screamed, my voice echoing into the night sky.

  “Damn it, Jane, just open your eyes!”

  Startled, I paused in my struggle, not realizing I had closed them. Slowly, I lifted my lashes. Thane hovered over me, an overly long lock of hair falling across his scarred cheek. Thane, the man I had cared for. The man I thought had cared for me.

  Staring into his glowing eyes tore at my insides, ripping apart my heart piece by broken piece. “I hate you.”

  “I know.” He lifted, standing. I didn’t miss the crossbow attached to his back and the daggers at his thighs. He was dressed for war. “And you can, but first I need you to look around.”

  Suddenly, I became aware of a pulsing energy around me, as if a thousand hearts beat at once. My entire body buzzed. Confused, I sat up.

  Shadowed forms stood near the perimeter of the field. Cold sweat coated my body. Although I trembled like a frightened child, I jumped to my feet, my legs braced apart. I would not die on the ground like a worm.

  “Humans, Jane,” Thane said, as if sensing my unease.

  I wasn’t quite sure what he meant, until I took in a deep breath and truly looked at the people surrounding me. Thirty, maybe more. Not vampires, but humans. From the group stepped an all too familiar form.

  “Will?” I whispered.

  I was still trying to understand what had happened when Will headed toward me. He didn’t slow but threw his arms around my waist and drew me up into his warm, familiar body. Stunned, I merely stood there while he hugged me close.

  “I’m alive. It’s okay. It was an act. Thane didn’t really kill me.”

  His words pierced the numb confusion. Angry, I shoved away from him. “You had planned this all along?”

  “No.” He shook his head. I couldn’t help but notice that he, too, was dressed for war. Daggers were strapped to his thighs and his familiar sword was in its sheath on his back. “Thane didn’t tell me until we were out there in the woods.”

  “The blood…”

  “A deer.”

  My heart thundered, my mind spinning as I tried to understand exactly what had happened. Thane had moved toward the others and was quietly giving them orders in that calm way of his. Will was still alive. Thane wasn’t evil. I had somehow escaped. Nothing made sense.

  “You’re okay?” He took my chilled hands in his.

  Somehow I managed to nod. Although the night was warm, I was still soaked through and growing colder by the minute. My gaze found Thane’s and held. He had tricked me, lied to me. The heart-break, the fear, the anger had been moot. How could he?

  “Why would you put us through that?” I demanded, the outrage coming to the forefront. Unable to help myself, I tore my hands from Will and rushed toward Thane. Before he could realize my intent, I punched him in the shoulder. He didn’t even cringe and I was pretty sure I’d hurt my knuckles more than I’d hurt him. The others around us had grown quiet, watchful. I didn’t care, my focus remained on Thane.

  “Why?”

  “You both wear your feelings on your faces. They would have known,” he explained with no remorse, no guilt. “Besides, they are good at sensing things. Even if the truth hadn’t been obvious on your face, they would have felt your ease.”

  Perhaps he was right, but it didn’t make me feel any better. The pain I’d felt had been crushing, almost unbearable. Did he have any idea what he had done to me? I shifted, my wet, stocking-clad feet growing numb from cold. “You put me in the room on purpose so I could jump?”

  “I did.”

  Will moved to the group, taking over where Thane had left off. Although they were close, it still felt as if only Thane and I stood there. I crossed my arms, trying to keep warm, and glared up at him. “And what if I hadn’t jumped?”

  “I knew you would.”

  For one long moment we merely stood there, staring at each other. Maybe he knew me better than I knew myself. Or maybe he just didn’t care if I’d made it or not. If I had been caught, or drowned, would he have mourned my death?

  “We need to get going,” Will said, interrupting our silent battle.

  “Going where?” I turned my back to Thane.

  I couldn’t deal with the dhampir right now. Will might have been able to forgive him, and maybe Thane was right, but I was still angry and I didn’t trust myself. Not when it was obvious so many others were on Thane’s side. We had more important things to worry about than my hurt feelings.

&n
bsp; “We’re attacking the castle.”

  “I’m sorry,” I stumbled over my words, confused. “What did you just say? Surely I misheard.”

  “You didn’t.”

  I jerked my attention to that huge, stone castle glowing in the distance. It looked impenetrable. How would we ever get in? I returned my gaze to the group who was awaiting their next order. From what I could see, most were chosen ones. Some I’d seen in passing during our travels; the majority I didn’t know. But it was when I looked closer that I noticed the glowing eyes dispersed throughout the darkness.

  Dhampir.

  “So, I guess that was another lie.” I glanced at Thane. “They were willing to work with you after all.”

  “No,” Thane replied quite calmly. “Their decision to join us was a recent event.”

  I lowered my voice to a whisper. “And you know we can trust them?”

  But it didn’t matter how low I spoke, they still heard me and I swore their eyes grew brighter, a few growls peppering the air. I’d offended them.

  Thane leaned toward me, his lips brushing my ear and startling me. “As much as you can trust me.”

  I flushed, annoyed with his teasing response.

  “Let’s go,” Will said. “While they’re celebrating.”

  “You know,” Bacchus’ voice carried through the woods. “I really thought more highly of you, Thane. I believed you were smarter than this.”

  I spun around. Everywhere I turned, we were surrounded. Vampire after vampire. Their dark forms stepped from the woods, their eyes glowing bright and deadly. The fear that had eased returned full-force.

  “That’s where you’re wrong, Bacchus. I was thinking,” Thane said, quite calmly. “That it would be easier to fight you outside the walls.”

  So this, too, had been a set up. Thane had wanted them to follow me, to find us. Was anything he did honest?

  “Attack!” Bacchus cried out. “Kill them all. I don’t want one left living!”

  The vampires surged forward, a blur of bodies, a wall of death. At the same time Thane shoved me back. I fell some feet away, landing on my bottom while the chosen ones, dhampir and blood drinkers crashed together with a roar. Only feet from me a vampire hit a chosen one, taking the man down. Within seconds the chosen one was dead and the vampire had moved on.