Wicked Legends: A Dystopian Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Collection

by hamilton, rebecca

  “No, Maddox, don’t be ridiculous. That’s not what I meant at all.”

  “If you say so.” A bird shrieked somewhere deep in the forest. Maddox looked toward the sound, and then shook his head. A bird, nothing more.

  She moved in front of him and put her arms around his waist. “I’m serious, last night was great. More than great. Spectacular.”

  “Is that what you think guys need to hear?” Maddox nodded. “But nothing special, right?” Goddamn it, why did his mouth always insist on saying things better left to thoughts? He felt used, and it hurt.

  “I never said that.” Genuine pain spread across her face.

  A sudden burst of rain sent a shiver through him. He pushed his hair out of his eyes. “We should go or we will be stuck spending another night out in the woods. And you don’t want that to happen again, remember?”

  Oh, he was being nasty and he could sense it. He could feel her gaze on him, but he refused to look. Yes, dammit, she’d hurt his feelings. He wasn’t a one-night-stand kind of guy, no matter how much he pretended he could be. Apparently, Allana had no issue with casual sex, and he guessed that was okay, her choice, after all. Too bad she’d made it with him.

  He wanted all of her, and not just last night, today or tomorrow.

  “Fine. You’re right.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Let’s go.”

  He didn’t respond, but headed toward the rendezvous point. Verity would settle everything.

  They came to the crest of the hill and Maddox peered at the scattering of temporary buildings and mismatched vehicles below, Verity’s base camp of sorts. They’d moved pretty close to the city so they could operate without being caught. Surprising since the Confessor would’ve likely seen them.

  Of course, it looked high tech and mechanical, but it was their provisional home used for staging the rendezvous, nothing else. Two buildings, nothing more than glorified tents, really, and a parking area. Verity could probably pack up the buildings and their contents and haul them off in a matter of hours, if not less. Still, the amount of computer technology was impressive.

  Not many people knew where Verity really operated and that was because they often moved. Maddox had heard rumors, but had never been to anything resembling headquarters, only to smaller place like this. They had always come to him, and training had been out in the city and in the storm sewers. Wherever the rescue would take place. As close as they could get to using the real location, that is what they did.

  Several people hung around outside the complex. Not really guarding, but Maddox knew better. Vehicles parked to the west, including a few scootcycles. There couldn’t have been more than twenty people total, visible at least. With the given signal, they’d defend Verity to the death, just like it was a country.

  Maddox wiped the rain from his face and messaged his contact at Verity. Soon, they’d send a welcome party up the hill to meet them. He’d turn over Allana and that would be that for this occasion. He’d be done.

  “We made it.” Allana’s breath came in shallow, excited bursts. “It’s over. I can’t believe we made it back to Verity with the information. I thought we’d get caught.”

  “I told you we would.” He clicked his screen off. “Your information will save hundreds of people. No one will wait around trying anyway. And the Confessor is dead! That’s the important thing. I told you things would only get better after that.”

  “You did.” She put her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek. “And I believed you. Wasn’t my favorite thing to do but it had to be done.”

  “Come on.” Maddox grunted and headed downhill, Allana following. The grasses were taller in this area, miles from the city, and the rain much lighter. Still, the sky was gunmetal gray with puffs of lighter clouds frothing in the air, like bursts of cleaner. She reached for his hand and held it tightly and he rubbed her fingers with his thumb. Maybe this won’t be the end.

  Halfway down the hill, a couple of helmeted Verity guards in their white skinsuits with the jagged golden “V” logo on their chests met them.

  “Identity, please.” The shorter guard held out his extra large wrist screen. “Confirm.”

  The other guard kept his hand balanced on the Lancer in his belt.

  First Maddox, then Allana, touched the screen and then waited for verification. The guards’ helmets were streaked with droplets, and Maddox wasn’t sure if it was even raining any more. He couldn’t see the guards’ faces at all through the opaque visors.

  “I have orders to take you to the Director.” The taller guard motioned to Maddox. “Debriefing.” He pulled Maddox aside by the arm. “Now.”

  “After you,” Maddox said, touching Allana on the elbow.

  “No.” The other guard spoke. “You go see the Director. She goes with me.”

  “But…” Allana started. Her eyes wide, she leaned in to Maddox.

  He put his arm around her. “We should talk to him together,” Maddox finished. “Surely he wants to hear about our escape?”

  “Orders first. Come.” The guard took Allana by the arm and pulled her away.

  She tensed, then followed, glancing back at Maddox briefly.

  “You come with me,” the other guard said. “The Director is waiting.”

  Fear had shone in Allana’s eyes when she looked back. Something was not right, but what? Why wouldn’t they keep them together until after the debriefing? What is going on?

  “Will I get to say goodbye to Allana after I meet with him?” he asked the guard.

  “I don’t see why not. But right now, she, the Director, wants to see you.”

  Maddox cinched the pack higher. “Take me to her,” he said. “Let’s do this.”

  The Director leaned back in her rolling chair, the folding kind that only gave the appearance of luxury. In reality, the chair was as transitive as the rest of the camp. Maddox rubbed his damp palms on his pants. How many times was the woman going to ask him the same questions? Did she really think he would change his answers? He studied her face for any sign of humor, but found none.

  She steepled her fingers. “What else did Verity agent, Allana, tell you about the assassination?”

  Maddox sat up straight. The same question. The Director’s hair was so tightly curled against her head, he wondered if she had a headache. That would explain her scowl. And her mood. Matching, for sure. He needed to be really careful.

  “As I’ve said…” he kept his voice even. “She told me the job was complete. That’s all. We escaped the city and came here. She didn’t mention anything about the actual assassination.”

  “Nothing?” She leaned forward. “You are absolutely sure?”

  Maddox nodded. Why is she pressing me?

  She closed her eyes, as if lost in deep thought, or holding her temper. He couldn’t tell which. He looked around the small, windowless room. The modular building was efficient, if nothing else. And warm. Too warm. Ventilation wasn’t very good. He stood and paced.

  “Are those all your questions?” he asked. “May I see her now?”

  “That’s all.” The Director opened her eyes and stared at him. “You won’t see her again, I’m afraid.”

  “What?” Maddox slammed his palms on the desk and leaned in to meet the Director’s gaze. “What the fuck do you mean I won’t see her again?” He swallowed the bile that leapt into his throat.

  She leaned farther back in her chair. “I’m sorry, but Verity Agent Allana has committed a crime of a very serious nature. I’m sure you understand that we have to uphold law and order or risk falling into the same darkness the Confessor lived in.”

  “The hell I do.” Maddox punched the desk with his fists. “What crime? She did her job. The Confessor is dead. That’s what you wanted, isn’t it? Wasn’t that enough risk?”

  The Director blinked slowly. “Yes, the Confessor is dead, but there’s much more going on than you know, and Agent Allana has broken our law. And it’s none of your concern.”

  Motherfu
cker. He held his temper in check by faint threads. “I want to see her.”

  “There’s nothing you can do.”

  He gritted his teeth. If he could smash the Director’s face in, he would. “Tell me what she did.” Maddox lunged across the desk and yanked the Director up by the front of her skinsuit. He slammed her against the wall, just hard enough to hurt a little.

  She winced and blinked.

  He wrapped his fingers around her throat. “What did she do?”

  “That’s private information,” she choked out. “You don’t have clearance.”

  He ignored her sputtering and coughing and squeezed harder. “Tell me.”

  “It doesn’t matter now.” She smiled, though tears streaked down her cheeks. “They’ve probably already put her to death. They are quite efficient.”

  6

  Allana was dead? No. She couldn’t be. A wave of rage mixed with terror rose up through Maddox. “You’re lying.” He pressed the Director against the wall and moved his arm across her throat, pinning her more firmly. His heart raced. He didn’t hurt people. He helped people. But this bitch was messing with his mind—and was possibly responsible for hurting Allana.

  The Director frowned, dampness breaking out across her wide brow. “Why do you care?” she sputtered. Her words were strong, but fear shone in her eyes.

  I care about Allana. The realization sent a warmth through him that no stimshot ever had. He backed away and pulled the Lancer out of his boot. “You don’t need to worry about that.” With the weapon pointed at her head, he clicked the lock onto the stun setting with his thumb. “You should take care of her. She risked her life to save the city. To save us. Why would you have her killed? She’s a hero.”

  The Director rubbed her throat, but didn’t move from the wall. “You don’t know the whole story. And I ask you again, why do you even care? You’re getting paid, as promised. But only if you put that Lancer down now.”

  “That’s not happening.” He wiped his mouth and tried to still his shaking hands. The mere fact that Verity would consider killing Allana rocked him to the core. After all she’d done for the cause? It didn’t make sense. “What has Allana done?”

  “That’s not information I can share. Besides, it’s too late.”

  He shook his head. No. His hand shook harder, but he held his aim.

  “Give me the Lancer, Maddox.” She stepped toward him. “I promise everything’s going to be okay.”

  “The hell it is.” He fired the Lancer, the beam piercing the Director’s chest and spreading out in a flash to her extremities. She stumbled backward and crumpled to the floor.

  Oh, fuck. He’d actually done it. No turning back now. He had to get away from camp, away from Verity.

  He scanned the room for anything that might help him. He had to find Allana. With only two buildings in the makeshift camp, unless they took her offsite, he should be able to find her quickly. He grabbed the Director by the legs and dragged her around behind her desk, making sure she was concealed from casual observation if anyone peered into her office. Might buy him a little time.

  She’d be out for about thirty minutes, and then all hell would break loose at the camp when she woke up and alerted everyone. He smashed her wrist screen with the butt of his Lancer, then waved his hand over the light switch to turn the room lights off.

  Dammit. He should have followed his gut feeling earlier that something wasn’t right. He never should have let them separate him from Allana. He peered into the semi-dark hallway. Empty. He took a deep breath then headed out the door, pulling it closed behind him. If he had to stun everyone in the camp to save Allana, he would. He didn’t want to, but for her, he would. He hoped they wouldn’t all come at him at once.

  He moved down the hallway, checking left and right, Lancer out in front and ready to fire. No one in sight. He passed an empty bunkroom and then a small office, also vacant.

  Where was everyone? There were at least twenty Verity members in camp when they’d arrived. Now, the place looked like a ghost town.

  He headed outside, his back to the wall, the rain pelting him in the face like tiny darts. He squinted, wiping his hair out of his face and scanning the area. No one. He moved around the perimeter of the building, Lancer drawn. His boots stuck in the mud as he walked, but he kept moving. The clouds had darkened, casting a pall over the area. The rain came down harder.

  When he approached the only other building in camp, a large tent-like structure, the faint strains of music floated on the air. Coming from inside. Lancer still set to stun, he moved toward the tent’s entrance, a large flap that slid on a pole like a curtain.

  She has to be in there.

  Two guards stepped out of the tent, chatting, their Lancers still holstered. One of them laughed, then Maddox dropped them both with quick blasts. That was easy. He ran to the tent door, stopping to roll one guard over so that he wasn’t face first in the mud. The guard wheezed and sputtered, knocked out cold by the Lancer stun. He’d be fine in half an hour. He’ll be more than fine. He’ll be pissed.

  Stepping over the other guard, he peeked into the tent. The inside was one large room filled with chairs and tables and lit by a row of dim hanging bulbs swaying from the ceiling.

  Empty. Where is she?

  He stepped outside, letting the door flap fall over the opening. Where had they taken her? It hadn’t been that long—they had to be around somewhere. He hadn’t heard any vehicles leaving the compound. Maybe they had an underground bunker?

  Acid pooled in his stomach and gnawed at his throat. He couldn’t lose her. Not now, and not like this. He hadn’t told her how he felt or how she made him feel. Meera’s face flashed in his mind. He hadn’t told her how much he loved her before she died. If Allana was dead…

  He had to find her.

  “Maddox!”

  Her scream pierced through him. From the direction of the sound, she had to be somewhere behind the buildings. Oh, my god, she was alive, but for how long? He clenched the Lancer and skimmed the area, looking for any sign of Verity guards or Allana. She had to be close by, but where?

  Lancer fire traced the sky over the tent like green and blue strings and the music stopped. People yelled. Maddox’s heart slammed as he ran toward the commotion behind the tent. When he turned the corner, he stopped.

  Allana walked toward him, a Lancer in each hand. Around her lay at least fifteen guards, on the ground and not moving.

  Maybe dead.

  He swallowed hard. “You okay?”

  She ran, not stopping till she had her arms around his neck, the Lancers clinking as they hit together. “They said they were going to kill me, and I believe they mean it.”

  “They do mean it. The Director told me they were going to kill you.”

  She nodded. “I had to do it.”

  “Are they…” Maddox spit the words out.

  “No, not dead. Stunned.”

  He heaved a sigh. Thank goodness. “We’ve got to get out of here, away from this camp. Fast.”

  “I can’t, Maddox.” Her tears mixed with the raindrops.

  He brushed her hair over her shoulder. “Yes, you can! You got out of the tunnels, so this is easy. We just have to run. No small spaces, just wide-open land.” He looked out over the camp. They’d have to hurry. And where would they go? Not many places to hide unless they made it to the forests, or back to the city. Never.

  “It’s not that.” She studied the bodies on the ground for a moment before continuing. “I’m not ready to die.”

  “What are you talking about?” he scratched his head. “Of course you aren’t going to die. You’re being ridiculous.” Had Verity injected her with something?

  “I’ve done a very bad thing.” She bent her head and stepped away from him. “I panicked.”

  “I’m sure it’s nothing any one of us wouldn’t have done. We have to support Verity.”

  She shook her head and stuck the Lancers in her boots. “You don’t understand.”
>
  “Then explain it to me.”

  “I’m trying. I wanted to tell you the truth, but when you asked, I panicked and didn’t.” She stepped back. “I was afraid.”

  Maddox wiped at the rain. “What truth? That you’re human like the rest of us? And you’re afraid I would find out?”

  “No. That’s not it.”

  “What then?”

  “You’ll hate me for lying.” She sighed. “I hate me for lying to you. I should’ve told you the truth from the beginning.”

  Maddox’s heart iced. This was bad. He could feel it. Like a beamcar coming straight for him, but he couldn’t move out of the way. “What did you lie about?”

  “Everything is a lie. All of it.”

  “Like what?” He frowned. “Are you not an assassin? You sure act like one.”

  “Oh, I’m definitely an assassin.” She twirled a lock of her hair, squeezing out the excess water. “That part is true.”

  The rain had lightened up some, but the cool wind pressed in making him shiver. This was no time for games. The Verity guards and the Director were going to wake up soon and he and Allana had to be far from camp when that happened.

  “Tell me!” He clenched his Lancer. Losing her now, after all they’d been through, was unfathomable.

  She looked up at him, her eyes full of tears. “You aren’t going to like it.”

  “Allana—”

  She paused then took a deep breath. “The Confessor was my father.”

  “What?”

  “I killed my father yesterday.”

  Maddox blinked. His mind filled with crazy thoughts and he didn’t know how to respond. Allana was the Confessor’s daughter? No wonder Verity wanted her dead. They knew she was the Confessor’s daughter; he had no doubt about that. They used her to get to the Confessor, and planned to take her out, too. They’d have to kill her. They couldn’t resist having the Confessor’s flesh and blood around—especially one they’d trained as an assassin. Keeping her alive would be stupid.

  He rubbed a hand over his face. Oh, my god. The Confessor was her father.