The Crimson Hunt

by Smith, Victoria H.

  “Because it was the only reason he could formulate to justify my actions with you.” His grasp tightened on his arms. His expression grew in seriousness, then he gazed to the moon again. “I replay that night over and over again in my head. I would have saved Piper if I could have. I had to make a choice.” Turning toward me, his expression softened. “I chose you. I could not risk you being in danger by trying to save you both.”

  My breathing labored at his words, but I couldn’t be swayed by his statement. I had to stay strong and deny any power he had over me. “Did you know what would happen that night?”

  “I did not know, Ariel. I found out when you did.”

  He didn’t know? I found it so hard to believe his words, but then I replayed the events over in my mind from that night. It did seem true. True, because of one specific memory I longed to forget. Garrett’s bone-chilling words that night, at the time, hadn’t made sense. But now, I realized they’d been vengeful. And who else could they have been geared toward, but who I was with that night. But, why? “That night Garrett said he had a debt to repay. What did he mean by that?”

  Luca’s features hardened at the mention of Garrett’s name, and his nostrils flared. “Garrett has always had a personal vendetta with me. He always felt as if he was in my shadow, even when we were younger.”

  I wondered how dark this tale would be.

  “He was ordered to eliminate Lila Nix by our superior, Anchor Ivan Craven. She had been identified as a catalyst to the disaster of our world.”

  I fought the gasp caught up in my throat, trying to stay strong.

  “Garrett created a plan to get her emotionally invested in me, then reveal my interests did not match hers at the party that night. He did this so he could make her death look as if it were a distraught suicide. I did not know of his plans. He used me the same way he used her. By the time I realized what happened, it was too late.”

  I couldn’t believe what he told me. Lila … caught in the sick, delusional rivalry of a mad-man.

  Luca allowed me time to digest this before continuing. “Once Garrett completed the mission, he was satisfied. He believed he completed his job accurately, embarrassing me in the process, but Anchor Craven did not see it that way. Craven believed his actions to be childish and malicious. He chastised Garrett and gave me the credit for her death. Craven believed her pain was triggered by my lack of interest in her, and that, that was what made the death a success. Garrett became enraged and came after you in retaliation. Piper … got caught in the crossfire.”

  The ache in my heart was so severe I thought it’d never seize. It was my fault Piper had been murdered. She died because of my connection with Luca. Salty tears dripped from my eyes and into the lake, creating small ripples upon impact. There was one piece of information he left out, though, one more piece of the dark puzzle I still needed to know. I could barely see him through my blurry vision, but I fought through. The answer seemed obvious, but it needed to be said. I had to hear it from him. “Why would he come after me in retaliation?”

  He watched me and hurt reflected in his eyes. He knew just as well that I knew the answer, and he also knew I had to hear it. “Because it was my mission to destroy you. He wanted to claim you as his own.”

  The tears transformed into a steady stream down my face, my heart sinking into the depths. How had I been so foolish? How had I ignored all the signs? How could I have been so naive to think someone as beautiful as he held a romantic interest in me?

  My gaze shifted toward his. I watched his eyes in so much struggle about what he’d done, and the raged filled within me. Everything did make sense now. Every goddamn thing. “So, it is true what Gemini said at the diner. That day in the hall? You weren’t just casually there, were you? You were waiting for me, weren’t you!”

  His lips tightened. “You weren’t supposed to make it to class that day, Ariel. I was waiting there to make sure you did not.”

  I shook my head in both bafflement and confusion. “What?”

  “I did not expect to meet you that day. You were supposed to miss your quiz, so your grades would suffer and you were forced to take the extra credit. The extra credit I made sure you received.”

  I looked down, my eyes shifting in search for answers. How could he have made sure I got the— My head shot up and a tremor went through me. “You’re Professor James’ research assistant, aren’t you?”

  He swallowed, then his mouth opened slowly. “Yes.” His word was only a whisper.

  I should have known. He suggested the professor give me the extra credit. Those were Luca’s flowers I saw in the office the day I received the assignment, because that was his office. But missing my quiz wouldn’t have been enough for me to have to take the extra credit in order to pass the class. True, I failed my first exam anyway because I was frazzled by my encounter with him. That wouldn’t have been enough, though. So how … ?

  I grabbed at the place of my moonstone necklace. My hand empty once again.

  My other test. I failed my other test because of the … showcase. My eyes stiffened on his. “The showcase? You made sure Lila got that, didn’t you? Because you knew it would rattle me so much I would neglect my other classes.”

  Looking away, he nodded.

  Now I was more confused than ever. What was the point of all this? Why did he want me to have to take the extra credit? Sickness curled in my gut as realization slammed into me. “The woods …. That was supposed to be it, wasn’t it? You didn’t just ‘happen’ to be there for a run that day.” I put my hand over my mouth, trying to stay calm. I had to find the strength to speak again. Closing my eyes, I found just enough. And when I finally opened my eyes, I fought so hard to say the rest. “You were there because you were going to do something to me. Because I was alone. Because I was by myself and vulnerable in a place where nobody ever goes. It would have been easy for you, and no one would have found me.”

  His lips parted to speak, but then he closed his eyes. When he opened them, they remained just as tortured as before. He then didn’t say a word. Not a single word.

  I didn’t know how I was able to stand after that. I thought he’d broken my heart in the train yard, but that pain hadn’t been anything compared to how I felt now. His admission through his silence managed to shatter my delicate heart tenfold. But as much as the pain killed me, my anger outweighed it. “I don’t understand. Why didn’t you kill me? You had your chance. Why make sure I get the extra credit, go into the woods, and then not go through with it!”

  He stared at me for a long moment, his eyes wavering as he gazed at me. Giving up, his head drooped. “I could not …. I just could not do it,” he whispered.

  My thoughts became ensnarled, a conflicting entanglement of raging emotions. I couldn’t make sense of his words, but then I remembered something. I knew exactly why he didn’t go through with it. Revulsion twisted my stomach at the realization. I stared at him, my face blazing in anger. “Well, why not, huh? Was it because of what Gemini said? Were you just playing with your ‘pig’ and getting a thrill out of it before you killed it!”

  His head shot up and his eyes widened. “No, Ariel—”

  “That was it, wasn’t it? The whole woods thing was a set up. You put that deer in that hole then saved it, so you could look like a hero. So I wouldn’t be able to help but fall for you.”

  He held up his hands. “Ariel, no—”

  “Oh, God, and the date. I knew Demitasse Café didn’t look that way before with all those lights and things. You did something to it, didn’t you? Another trick up your sleeve?”

  He shook his head. “No. Yes. But, Ariel—”

  “And my painting. You did something to that, too, so I would be chosen for the gala. So you could impress me and lure me in when I got the spot, and I would fawn all over you because you got it for me.”

  “Ariel, it was never—”

  “And the bird garden. The fucking bird garden. You had me thinking it was some special place to
you. Making me think you sharing it with me was special.” I couldn’t see him now, my eyes were so clouded with tears. With every word I revealed to him, I also revealed to myself all the trickery and deceit. The churn in my stomach was so severe, I felt like I was going to vomit.

  “But it was special to me—”

  “No! It was lies! All lies—”

  He slipped his hands to my cheeks, steadying my shake. He then wiped away my tears with his thumbs, his expression warm. “It was all real and all true. Every bit of it.”

  My eyes scanned his as he held my cheeks. The heat of his touch radiated throughout my body, and my heart thumped so hard it masked all other sounds.

  He drew in closer, his gaze fastened on mine. The hold he had was so strong, I couldn’t look away. “When you saw me in the woods that day I was walking away. I was walking away, Ariel. I physically could not make myself harm you. Because in that moment, I became completely and utterly aware of the fact that the plans stopped the day I met you.”

  He slid his hand in between my sweater and tank top, and pulled my waist in toward his body. My chest pressed into the firmness of his own, and he leaned in and tilted his head to the side, his kiss approaching. Our noses brushed and I closed my eyes, my lips dawn to his. The heat was so close, I could taste him already. But before the connection could be made, I opened my eyes. I pulled away, the conflict rising in my body. It was all too much for one evening. It was too much for one lifetime.

  “I’m sorry, Luca.” I backed away, and released his hands from my body. My feet hit the lake in full force, and I left him alone in the glistening waters.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  When Luca appeared outside my window the following morning, I couldn’t even face him. I was just so confused. Confused about everything. I couldn’t deal with it. I had to get out. I needed a distraction, something to keep me from wallowing in my conflicting emotions. I went to the stables that day. I wanted to see the velvet lady. Perhaps, she could help guide my thoughts with the deep connection she had with him.

  I walked into the hay-coated stable, the dust from the straw kicking up under my feet. My gaze immediately met hers from across the room. Her beautiful velvet skin was unforgettable, and the intelligence in her eyes called to me.

  I approached her stall with caution, not wanting to startle her. I reached out to touch her, but hesitated. Mustering up the courage, I continued, but before I could go any further, her head touched my hand.

  Her presence brought peace to my aching heart, and I felt connected with her, too.

  “What should I do girl?” I asked, stroking her. She nudged my face softly, the way she had with Luca. Her small gesture made me smile for the first time in days. “I like you, too.” I grabbed a treat from a bag hanging on her stall door. After she accepted it, I opened the gate to her stall and walked in.

  As I stroked my hand against her silky body, my tears returned. The gamut of conflict I kept experiencing piled up on top of me, exhausting my body. The velvet lady nudged me, and I watched her move. She lay down on the hay in her stall, allowing herself to be vulnerable to me. I lay against the solid warmth of her body and let the tears spill. She was taking care of me, just as everyone else had been.

  At some point, I fell asleep, but the rumble of an approaching storm startled my eyes open. Footfalls followed close behind the sound. I remained very still. If whoever was in the stable was Luca, I didn’t think I could face him.

  “The town is in an uproar, Giovanni. I do not know how much longer it will be before they get to us.” Bernadetta’s panicked voice came into the stable.

  I rose to my knees and peered through a hole in the stable door. Giovanni and Bernadetta carried feed around to the other horses, their faces troubled.

  “I know, my dear, but you must stay positive. Luca will not easily give up the girl. He will fight for her. We must do what we can for him,” said Giovanni.

  “But there have been so many deaths already. I am scared, Giovanni. We just got him back. I do not want to lose him again, and Ariel …. She has experienced so much pain already. They will come for her. They will not stop until they have her. They will not stop until they have all of them.” Silent tears made tracks down her cheeks.

  A clap of thunder rattled the stable, and Giovanni and Bernadetta both froze at the sound. The rain picked up outside during the short silence.

  Giovanni walked over and pulled Bernadetta into an embrace. “We cannot choose his actions for him. He knows the repercussions. He knows he cannot go back to Elda. He even knows his actions could destroy everything. He has made his choice. He has chosen her. We have to respect his wishes. Even if that means losing him.”

  Bernadetta nodded, and dropped her head to her husband’s chest.

  “Do not lose hope.” He pulled away and looked deep into her eyes, stroking her cheek. “Ti amo.”

  Their lips locked into a gentle, passionate kiss.

  They pulled away slowly, and looked into each other’s eyes. “I love you, too, Giovanni.” She placed her hands to her husband’s cheeks and gazed into his eyes.

  Another clap of thunder sent its chilling sound waves through the stables.

  After a short moment, the couple pulled away from each other and quickly finished their chores. They departed into the storm shortly after.

  I remained still, pondering their words. How could I have been so stupid? He was giving up everything. Everything he had, and everything he ever loved, for a girl who had nothing. For me. I wasn’t going to let him do this to himself. I wasn’t going to let him throw everything he valued away. Giovanni and Bernadetta said there were people out there dying, probably being caught in the crossfire as Piper had. Now that Luca refused to kill me, his people must be looking for me. They were burning through the town trying to find me, and killing innocents.

  My eyes shifted as I realized something else. This was even bigger than that. The headlines I read from the computer that day, the chaos on campus … the source was me. Perhaps, the reason for why his people were coming in full force was because Luca hadn’t killed me. Maybe if Luca destroyed me, none of this would have happened. I was a ripple. If I was destroyed, the chain would have stopped there, and they would have moved on. This whole thing was my fault. It was my fault everyone was dead. I had to stop it, once and for all.

  I put my hand on the velvet lady. As if she sensed my need, she rose to a stand. With a guide chart located on the stable wall, I managed to saddle her. After she was set up, I mounted. As we rode off into the storm, I knew that she knew. She knew where I needed to go to find him.

  *

  The rain pelted my body and blurred my vision within seconds of leaving the stables, but I didn’t care. This couldn’t wait. I had to end this now.

  I had never ridden a horse before, but that didn’t matter. The velvet lady took the lead. I just had to hold on for the ride as she sought him out. I had confidence in her. I knew she would take me wherever I needed to go.

  We rode for a long time before an old, wooden barn came into view. I’d never been out this far. I wondered why he was so far out, especially in the oncoming weather.

  The velvet lady found us cover under the connected canopy of the barn. I dismounted her. “Thank you.” After kissing her warm face, I ran inside.

  The interior of the large barn had two levels. The second level was a small overlook with an old, wooden ladder connected to it. There was hay scattered throughout the area, and rain poured in through large holes in the roof.

  This place looked like it had been abandoned for years. Maybe she took me to the wrong location? I called his name anyway. “Luca!” A clap of thunder was my only answer. The charge in the air rattled me, but I tried again. “Luca!” I called louder.

  He appeared on the second level. Alarm was present on his handsome face, and the strain of sadness shone around his eyes.

  “Ariel? What are you doing out here? How did you get out here?”

  “The ve
lvet lady brought me—I mean your horse. Your horse brought me.” I said, still catching my breath.

  His eyebrows furrowed. “Sadie brought you? Do you even know how to ride a horse?”

  Sadie. That was her name. “No, not really,” I said, shaking my head.

  He stared at me and the sadness in his eyes receded.

  His presence distracted me from what I came to do. I climbed the ladder to join him. As I made it to the top of the ladder, he reached out to help me off, but I pulled away. I didn’t deserve anything from him.

  Being this close to him and his striking beauty, made my mouth go dry. I felt my confidence waning, but I pushed through. “I know. I know about everything. You can’t do this. You can’t give up your life for me.” My words were staggered and breathy.

  His eyes shifted as he stared at me and confusion moved across his features. He grabbed my hand and walked me over to several large bales of hay. We sat, and I was grateful to get off my feet. I was ready to drop from fatigue.

  “What are you talking about?” His lips tipped up in the corner, but straightened out quickly.

  Was he fighting a smile? I shook my head and ignored it. “I know what you’re giving up, and I don’t want you to. I overheard Giovanni and Bernadetta talking. They said your people are tearing up the town looking for me, and I found out what happened on campus. The same has happened there, too. It’s all because of me. You need to just give me to them, and go live your life. I don’t care. I don’t want anyone else dying because of me. It’s not worth it. I’m not worth it. I—”

  The touch of his soft lips on mine stalled my words. The warm sensation and taste of him drowned my panic and hushed my words. There was no more me and there was no more him. It was just us as our lips explored one another. He was just as soft and gentle as I dreamed, his kiss both light and passionate. My thoughts became completely lost in the current flowing between us. My lips grew dependent on the addictive charge.