Release (The Protector Book 3)

by M. R. Merrick

  Garrett took the claw from her throat and his hand cracked, shifting back to its human counterpart. Veronica rubbed her throat and looked at Vincent.

  “Veronica!” I yelled.

  She stepped back and shook her head. Her eyes opened wide and confusion warped her features. When she looked at Vincent, she rushed to his side, completely ignoring me.

  “Do I need to repeat myself?”

  “She’s clear, hunter!” Vincent’s voice was nearly a growl. “We both understand,” Vincent snapped, pushing Veronica away and climbing to his feet.

  My eyes lingered on Veronica. She seemed out of it for a moment before she brushed herself off and glared at me, trailing only a step behind Vincent.

  “Good, let’s go.”

  ******

  The pain in my arm subsided as we walked through the forest. Black roots stemmed from the earth with fluorescent leaves budding from each stalk. Blues and reds lined the path in a luminescent glow and sounds echoed from all directions like baritone crickets singing a chorus.

  Massive black trunks rose into the air, supporting thick branches full of dark red buds. Thick golden feathers surrounded each bud, some of which had fallen to the ground and had been trampled by whatever lived here.

  The sky was a dark blue with small orange pinholes lighting up the sky, and a bright orange moon hung overhead. It was small in comparison to most of the moons I’d seen and didn’t offer as much light as I’d expected. The glowing plants around us, however, enhanced our vision on the dimly-lit path.

  “Why must you demand I accompany you to these feral and unsettling places? You know, Chase, you could be killing vampires right now if you had listened to me.”

  “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I never said I’d kill anyone for you. I said I’d help keep your family safe.”

  “I like the old Chase better. The one who killed things without thinking.”

  “When I’m talking to you, I miss that Chase too,” I said.

  We’d been walking for hours and we were all on edge. I could feel the tension hanging in the air, but whatever Vincent was prepared to say next was overshadowed by the massive statue that loomed before us.

  Dark blue stone towered above the trees with four muscular arms carved from the rock, each holding a different weapon: a hammer, a blade, a mace, and a spear. Shoulder-length hair hung down in chiseled strands, and even from the ground, I could see the detail put into every inch of the monument.

  Wings had torn themselves from his back and spread out in both directions, a small clawed hand on one, but the other was missing. Large feet were adorned in white stone sandals, and around the statue’s neck was a stone chain with a four-fingered claw hanging at the end of it.

  “Praise, Athaniel,” Tiki said, crouching to one knee and bowing his head.

  “When this is all over, I think I’ll have a statue made,” Vincent said.

  “Why bother? Nobody worships you,” I said.

  “This is untrue. There are many who bow to me.”

  “Compelling people to drop a knee isn’t worship. Just like forcing someone to help you doesn’t make them your friend.” I pushed past him and walked around the statue.

  Tiki remained silent a moment, whispering something under his breath. He looked up at the statue from a bended knee and nodded. “Praise, Athaniel.” Rising to his feet, he brushed the dirt from his knee and looked around. “I have never met the people of the forest, for their land is off limits. It is reserved only for their kind. We are mostly unfamiliar with what lies ahead, and I think resting until a new day cycle begins would be wise.”

  “Wonderful. I’m going to find someone…something to eat.” Vincent grabbed Veronica by the arm and disappeared into the shadows.

  “Be very careful,” Tiki shouted after them.

  Garrett and Karissa inhaled their surroundings like guards on duty. They walked the open area around the statue and their eyes were constantly looking in the shadows.

  The cricket-like sounds grew louder as the night went on, and the flowers kept us surrounded with an eerie glow. Tiki stood in front of one of the bushes, his fingers running over the edges of the buds. He spoke quietly to them, soothing it with his words and caressing its feathered petals.

  Willy sat in the shadows with his shoulders slumped and his legs pulled tight against his chest. Brown eyes focused on the air in front of him with intense concentration.

  “You okay?” I sat down beside him and waited for a response, but it never came. He was lost in whatever thoughts roamed through his mind. “Earth to Willy.” I waved my hand in front of his face.

  He blinked and looked at me, confusion moving over his features. “Huh?”

  “I said you okay?”

  His eyes studied me for a moment before he nodded. “Yeah, I’m fi—fine.”

  “Why don’t I believe you? Is it Vincent again?”

  “Can’t you ju—just leave this alone, Chase? I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “If you really want me to, yes, I can. But I’m not entirely convinced. You’ve been out of it lately, Willy. I thought it was your transition into the Shadowpack, but now I’m not so sure. You need to get whatever’s eating away at you off your chest.”

  “It’s just Vincent. Like always, he makes being around him intolerable.” His stutter faded as anger came through in his words.

  “And?”

  Willy turned his gaze to the stars, peering up at the orange pinholes in a murky blue sky.

  “It all happened a long time ago.”

  “That doesn’t make it any less important.”

  Willy shrugged, but the orange moonlight showed the glassy sheen in his eyes. “I was nin—nineteen, living life about the same way I was when I met you—unnoticed. I met Duncan, who quickly became my friend…my only friend, and he taught me to use my ability to go unseen to my advantage.” Willy wiped his eyes against his sleeve and shook his head. “He showed me how to turn it into a business.”

  “Going unnoticed is a business?”

  “It is if you know how to use it,” Willy said. “We became hired ears, selling information from one Underworlder to another. All we had to do was lurk around and b—be ourselves. We got paid for it, and I was good at it. For the first time in my life, I was good at something...”

  Willy wiped the stray tears that trailed down his cheek and sniffed. His brown eyes looked black, even with the added light of the surrounding flowers. After a deep breath, his hands fidgeted together and he looked uncomfortable, adjusting his weight from one side to the other.

  “You okay?”

  Willy nodded and then shook his head. “Some vampire from outside Stonewall hired us to find out info about the Tar—Taryk family—where they ca—came from, what Vincent could do, that kind of stuff. It was a pretty routine recon so Duncan took it on. Some—somehow…” His voice trailed off and he took another deep breath. “Vincent found out. He’d used me for information before, so he immediately thought I was the one and…”

  “What?” I asked, leaning forward. I could feel the heat churning in my stomach. Fear of whatever Willy was about to say coiled in my soul, and anger for whatever Vincent had done was on the outside edge of it all. It pulsed like a feral creature, ready to strike.

  A snap sounded in the distance; Karissa and Garrett crept forward, and when the sound came again followed by branches and leaves rustling, they ordered Tiki to keep watch and cautiously stepped into the shadows.

  “Vincent caught me, locked me away in a cage beneath his wa—wa—warehouse, and he...”

  Tears rolled down his cheeks and he turned to me. I didn’t know what else to do, so I opened my arms and Willy fell against my chest.

  “I tr—tried, Chase. I tried as hard as I could…” Willy sniffed. He sobbed heavily against my chest, and all I could do was hold him there. His body convulsed against me, and I felt his tears soaking through my shirt.

  “I’m here, buddy…I won’t let anything like that happen
to you again.” I squeezed Willy tight.

  Willy pulled away, taking deep, shaky breaths. He tried to wipe the tears away but he couldn’t keep up with them.

  “I didn’t want to gi—give him up, but Vincent wouldn’t stop. Hot pokers at first, then he cut up my chest and stomach with sci—scissors. After they healed, he did it all again, and while he waited, he lit my feet and han—hands on fire, one at a time…”

  “Willy, I…”

  “Let me finish.” Willy’s voice was stern, but his hands were still shaking.

  I bit back my words and nodded. The heat had risen in my chest and spread to my arms. My left arm throbbed and seared with pain, but the anger was too much. I didn’t want to hear anymore. I wanted to jump to my feet, find Vincent, and destroy every inch of him for making Willy feel like this.

  “When I finally told him who it was, he sent everyone he had after him and brought Duncan back to the warehouse.” Willy stopped and dropped his forehead to his knees. He shook his head, and after a few quivering moments, he rested the side of his face against his knee. “Vincent could’ve compelled me at the start but he didn’t. He wanted to cut Duncan’s name out of me. He wanted to hear me scream. Instead, he saved his mind rape for when Duncan arrived.”

  “He compelled him? Why?”

  Willy shook his head. “Not Duncan…”

  “Why would he compel you after he got what he wanted?”

  “Vincent wanted to send a message to me, and anyone else who mi—might try this again.” Willy shook his head.

  “So why did he compel you, then? What did that accomplish?”

  “He took over my mind, and made me…” Willy’s voice caught in his throat and he covered his face with both hands. “He made me…ki—kill him. My best friend, Chase. Vincent took over my mind, and made me stare into his eyes be—before I took his life.”

  “Oh…” I said, and I couldn’t hold back my surprise. There wasn’t much Vincent could do that would surprise me, but making Willy kill his best friend, well…I hadn’t seen that coming.

  “Do you know what it’s like to be compelled? Your mind screams at you, telling you to stop…but you can’t.” Willy’s hands curled into fists and the drops came down his eyes in a flood of tears. “I cut his head off with a serrated bread knife. I wasn’t allowed to tu—turn away until every inch of him had turned to ash.” Willy jumped to his feet and started pacing. “And now, ev—every time I close my eyes, I see his face. I see the betrayal in it…all because I wa—wasn’t strong enough.”

  “Willy, that is not your fault!” I stood beside him and grabbed his shoulder. “None of this is your fault. You were brave, Willy. Duncan would’ve been proud.”

  Willy pushed me away. “He wasn’t proud!” he screamed. “You know what his last words were?” Willy’s gaze was a mixture of anger and sadness, and I shook my head. “ ‘How could you? I thought we were friends!’ ” Willy spat the words out and stared at me.

  “There was nothing you could…” I took a breath and shook my head. “I’m sorry, Willy…” I didn’t know what else to say, and it wasn’t good enough. Nothing I could say would ever be good enough.

  “What’s all the yelling about? Did you get your panties in a twist again?” Vincent said, glaring at Willy.

  Willy jumped as Vincent stepped from the shadows, his yellow eyes glowing in the darkness.

  “Relax, I already ate. And even if I was starving, I don’t eat junk food.” Vincent laughed.

  Willy stared at Vincent and the anger in his eyes was already gone, replaced by fear. He stepped back, letting the shadows of the forest cover his face.

  “Calm yourself, hunter. I only killed some kind of animal. No need to get that look in your eyes.”

  The heat sitting in my chest would no longer contain itself. It begged for release, and I had no problem giving it just that. I arched my arm back and launched a flaming ball of power towards Vincent. The blue and red flames tore through the air, crackling before they exploded over Vincent’s back. My damaged arm spiked with pain and I pulled the magic back. I didn’t need it. Not for this.

  I stormed towards Vincent, and Veronica jumped between us. She hissed, long, violent fangs dropping from her gums, and before her talons could burst from her fingers, I grabbed her by the throat and threw her with all the strength I could muster.

  Pale limbs flailed in the dark air and her body vanished into the forest. I heard another snap when her body hit the ground, but I didn’t slow my pace. I stalked the ground, and with each step, the anger swelled inside me.

  Images of Willy chained and dangling from the ceiling flashed in my mind. Vincent was on his knees, dipping one of Willy’s feet in kerosene. His perfect white smile and flawless skin flickered in the dim light of the room. Vincent struck a match and laughed as Willy’s leg lit up in bright orange flames. Willy’s skin flashed from yellow to blue then red, smoking as the flames crept up his legs.

  I shook the vision away. Vincent had torn his shirt off and was extinguishing the flames in the dirt. His muscular, white back was smoking, flexing as he gripped the earth.

  “Williams!” he roared, but before he could act, I smashed my fist into the back of his head.

  Vincent crumpled and tried to roll away, but I pulled him back and smashed my knee into his chest. He gagged as the air was forced from his lungs. I pulled each blade from its sheath and squeezed them in my hands. Launching fist after fist into his face, the blade’s handles reinforced my punch and I didn’t hold back.

  “Chase Williams, that is enough. He has done nothing!” Tiki pulled me off Vincent and pushed me away from him.

  “Nothing? Nothing?” I shouted. “You have no idea what he’s done. I had no idea. Until Willy told me.” I turned my icy blue stare to Vincent.

  Vincent’s face was covered in blood and the yellow of his eyes was gone, replaced by black. His jaw dropped, dislocated from his face. He pushed his chin up forcefully and bones grinded against one another before snapping back into place. His eyes were locked with mine as he pushed himself up and his fangs bit his bottom lip.

  Veronica lunged out of the forest, stampeding towards me, but Vincent jumped to his feet and his arm shot out, grabbing her by the hair. Her feet slipped out from beneath her and she hit the ground with a thud. Thick blonde locks were wrapped in Vincent’s hand and he didn’t let go.

  “You’re hurting me,” she whimpered.

  “Good. You fight when I tell you to and only then.” His voice was firm but his eyes were still locked on me.

  Veronica nodded and cried out until Vincent released her.

  “I have done many things, Mr. Williams, that I am not proud of. I took the hatred I had for the Sovereign and what they did to me, and I released that fury on anyone who crossed my path.” Vincent reached up and adjusted his jaw a few times. He wiped the fresh blood from his mouth, all the cuts and breaks in his skin gone and replaced by smooth, blood-smeared flesh. “I am not proud of those moments, but they exist nonetheless. As a vampire in hiding, I had little desire to have my information sold to the highest bidder.”

  “You tortured him and made him kill his best friend. You will pay for that.”

  “Will I? We need each other, hunter. That much is clear. For that reason, I will allow this…outburst of yours to be forgiven. For now…”

  I fought against Tiki’s grip. Fire burned through my soul and I channeled it into my blades. “You son of a—”

  “Chase, leave it alone!” Willy shouted, appearing between us and helping Tiki hold me back.

  My anger flared and I pushed forward. Both Tiki and Willy’s feet slid backwards in the dirt as I inched myself closer to Vincent. “Get out of my way.”

  “No,” Willy said, a low growl rumbling from his chest.

  “He won’t get away with what he did, Willy. Now get the hell out of my way,” I commanded.

  Willy pulled his hands off my chest and stared up at me, the sadness and anger filling his eyes again.
<
br />   “What?” I asked.

  Without a word, Willy threw his fist forward and it cracked against my jaw. Anger peaked inside me but I pushed it back down.

  “What the hell is your problem?” I yelled.

  “I didn’t tell you all this so you could run off, half-cocked like some hero to the rescue, you stupid ass!”

  “What?”

  “I told you because…because I’ve never told anyone before. Duncan was my only friend until I met you. You’re the best and only friend I’ve ever had other than him, and I thought I could share that with you.”

  “But after everything he did, how—”

  “I don’t want revenge, Chase. I don’t want to cause anyone else pain. Even him.” Willy pointed at Vincent.

  His words tore the anger from my soul and the tension began to leave my body. I rubbed my jaw and Willy shook his head, walking away from me.

  The yellow of Vincent’s eyes returned, and for the first time, I saw sadness in them. “Willy,” he said, stepping forward.

  “Don—don’t talk to me, Vincent. Don’t look at me and don’t come near me. Stay away from me and stay out of my life.”

  Vincent stopped in his tracks and looked between us. “Willy, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I did…unspeakable things to you and your friend.”

  “Duncan.”

  “What?”

  “He has a name. Duncan. You cut me apart, made me bleed, lit me on fire, and ripped apart my mind. You made me watch my best friend’s life fade from his eyes. The life you made me take. Don’t you ever forget that name.”

  Vincent’s eyes were lost in the anger swirling around Willy, and he nodded. “I did terrible things to both you and Duncan. Things I can never take back. I treat you the way I do out of that guilt, and for that…for everything, I apologize.”

  “How kind of you,” Willy said, spitting the words at him.

  Vincent lowered his gaze. “I don’t expect forgiveness, and I’m not asking for it. But I assure you I am no longer that person.”

  “Congratulations, but your assurance still means nothing to me. Just stay away from me, and I’ll die happy.”