by Vicki Cross
My eyes grew wider in disbelief. It would be too early to tell at least that’s the way humans work.
“I knew right after it took her a weak to rejuvenate. The gestation period for a woman vampire is much shorter than for humans. My father doesn’t know of her devoted guardian. So I will do as he wants. You must save her.”
“I will,” I swallowed.
“Good. The camp is Jackson, located in the woods. I will give you the details. You must leave now and I will meet you there.”
I nodded and hopped into my truck. I licked my lips and started my truck. I didn’t know what the next few hours would bring, but what I did know it that I had to save Shay and our unborn child.
“Jude,” he called out as I shifted my gears. I rolled down my windows to hear him.
“Once you grab Shay, wait for me to make sure you two leave out safely.”
I forced a smile unsure of why his words sounded like a warning. It seemed as though he knew something that I didn’t.
Chapter 18
Sebastian
“You shouldn’t do this alone,” Eli warns me as he watches me place my dagger in a belt loop behind my back. Eli is hesitant to see me leave. If I didn’t make it back, he would need to replace me which didn’t worry me. Eli is strong and an effective leader I know he could finish the work we started.
“I won’t be alone, I will have her guardian with me,” I assured him.
He shifted his weight and slid a hand into his pocket. “What of Lou?”
My body stilled at the mention of her name. Eli and I never spoken much of Lou. He knew that she was important to me and it was obvious to what extent I cared for her, but it wasn’t up for discussion. “What of her?” I asked coldly.
He sighs in frustration and took a few steps to close the distance. I admired my brother’s way of dealing with me. He often saw right through me, and never let me forget it. We are too similar for our own good.
“You’re in love with her,” he states and I wonder where he is going with this.
“Is there a question?” I say dryly.
“Are you in love with this human?
I think for a moment. I wanted to lie, hell I’ve been lying to Lou for the last six months about how much I cared for her. But I didn’t want to lie to him. I need him to watch over her in case I didn’t return.
“I do,” I admit.
He doesn’t say anything because I know he knew the answer before asking. I trusted Eli among all others, but in this I needed to keep a secret.
“How much does she know about us?”
“I trust her,” I began avoiding the question.
He smiles and folds his arms across his chest.
“My brother, the lover of humans. Who would’ve thought,” his grin now wider than before.
He’s teasing me and I can’t but smile. It meant a lot to me that he didn’t question my choices. Whatever he chose in life, I would do the same.
“It’s not so simple,” I reply.
“No? And how did you happen upon her?”
I pause and turn towards him. “She saved me.”
He nods and smiles. “A story for another time perhaps?”
“When I return, I will tell you everything you need to know.”
“And If you do not return, what should I tell her?”
I let the thought of me not returning fill my mind. I know what it will do to her should I not return. It’s part of the reason I’ve been trying to keep my distance. I shouldn’t have let things go as far as they did the other night. If I did return, I would need to correct my lack of judgement and fix what I’ve done.
“Tell her that I am sorry. And you must watch over her. Make sure she is always safe.” I order.
“Of course.” He promises. “So what is your plan of attack with the guardian?”
I reach for my smaller dagger and eye the blade before answering him. It was important to make sure that my weapons were sharp. Killing a vampire wasn’t an easy task.
“We will meet up at the north camp about a thousand feet from the south side. It is where Jude says the trap is set for me. If I’m correct, the guardian should be able to sense where she is being held. Once he locates her, I will clear the path for him. Father expects me to go to the south side entrance, and I will do just that.”
“And if the guardian cannot locate her?” he pushes.
“Then we enter in together from the north entrance.”
“That’s insane! What you’re describing is suicide,” he shouts at me.
I raise my brow in protest. “It is the only way.”
He rakes a hand through his hair and takes a step back. His face holds a stern but firm frown and I can see there is something else that is bothering him. “What is it?” I urge.
“You’re walking into a trap, Sebastian. Gabe is no fool. If her guardian can’t control the mark and help you save her, you both may not survive. You’re asking me to stand aside so you can walk to your death.”
He was right, if Jude couldn’t control the mark, then we could both very well end up dead. But it was a risk I needed to take. By night fall Shay would be bound to Gabe and everything I wanted will be in jeopardy. It was my fault that Shay was so easily taken by Gabe. I failed to do what I told her only I could offer her. She was not as safe with me as I had guaranteed her. I couldn’t allow her to pay the price. Saving her was the only way.
“I cannot let her be bound to that monster,” I answered him.
“That is not what I want either. I can’t stand to stay here while I know you’re out there risking your life. Let me go with you.”
I shake my head immediately. Eli was too important to our mission and too important to if I shouldn’t return. I need him to watch out for Lou. I needed him to protect what I’ve built. If may be selfish but I needed to do this without him.
“There is no need for us both to die. You will stay here” I objected.
“But-,”
“I’m am not asking, Eli!” I yell.
His eyes widen at my tone. He may be my brother but I was still the Alpha. Whatever I say goes.”
He swallows hard and extends his hand out in defeat. I clasp his arm with mine at the forearm and take him by the back of his neck to meet our foreheads together.
“I won’t die out there.” I promise him.
“Be safe, brother.” I release him from my hold and he turns on his heels to exit the room.
Jude
Wilson sat at his desk typing on his computer as I approached him. I need to talk to him, and to explain my actions from a few nights ago. This man had been there for me more times than I could talk, and he deserved that much. I couldn’t go down the path I was heading without at least telling him I was sorry. I owed him that much.
“Wilson, can I talk to you in private?” questioned.
He looked up at me and it was if he knew what I wanted to say. I guess he was expecting my apology and he seemed proud to see me.
“Of course, Son” he replied. I winced at him calling me son. He hadn’t called me that out of respect of me becoming Sherriff. We stepped into my office and I closed the door behind us. Wilson gave me a quick once over noticing that I wasn’t quite dressed for a Saturday shift at the police station.
“Look,” I began trying to find my words. I was practicing my speech the entire car ride down to the station and doing my best to not beat around the bush. I knew what the end of today might bring me and I needed him to know just how much I appreciated him for all he’s done for me.
“I’m need to apologize for what I said to you a few nights ago. You’ve always been there for me, and you’ve been a father to since I can remember. I’ll always be grateful for that.”
“Jude, if you think for one second what you’ve done hurt my feeling then you don’t know me at all, son. I love you, and you know that. I don’t ever want to see you become your father and I made a promise to your mother that it wouldn’t happen.”
I forced
a smile. The emotions of what I was about to say next was starting to hit me, but I knew it had to be done.
“I have to leave for a while and I’m not sure when I’ll be back…or if I’ll be back” I felt the lump and my throat growing heavier with each word.
“Shit Jude, why does it sound like you’re saying goodbye?” He rubs his chin in worry and leans back against the black filing cabinet.
I was trying to say goodbye, it wasn’t something that I was good at and it wasn’t something I did often. I had never expected to be standing in front of him, preparing myself to never see him again. But I couldn’t leave Shay, she needed me and I swore that I would protect her.
“It may be,” I acknowledge placing my hand on the back of my neck.
“Just tell me if you’re in some kind of trouble. I can help?”
I shook my head confidently. He was truly a great man. “There’s nothing you can do Wilson.”
He eyes my gun on my right hip and shuffles his feet. “What do you want me to tell the guys?”
It was another question I had given a lot of thought to. I had run this station for nearly four years now, and couldn’t work with a better group of people.
“Tell them I’ll be back. I don’t want them to get suspicious or ask you any questions. For all they know, I’m on vacation,”
“Alright then, just promise me one thing?”
“What’s that?” I ask.
I could feel the emotion stirring in him. He was doing his best to hold back his tears and it was what I needed right now. I couldn’t walk away knowing that he was worried about me.
“Come back,” he states firmly.
Chapter 19
Jude
We’re approximately one thousand feet outside the camp. From the looks of it, Sebastian’s father had turned an old abandoned factory into some sort of military-like training ground. There are vampires guarding every side of the building. The mark burned letting me know that Shay was close. I could almost hear every breath she takes. Her fear becomes my own and I know that she wants to fight but can’t.
Sebastian is beside me looking at through the bushes. He is expressionless. I’m not sure if I should be relieved or worried. He is much more skilled with vampires than I have ever been.
“Her father is gathering his men to help find her,” he says.
“Not without me,” I declare
“Can you tell where she is?” Sebastian says in a low voice.
“She’s close but I don’t know which entrance she is closest to.”
“Her father’s men will be too late. That won’t be good enough. We can’t take on every guard my father and Gabe has. You need to control your mark.”
“How?” I question unsure of what to do. It wasn’t exactly as if a user manual came with it.
He turns to me and I can see his frustration. Working together wasn’t something he was planning on doing.
“You’ll have to try and travel to her. When a guardian’s ward is in danger, they have the power to travel to them without being seen by anyone else.”
“That’s must be what happened before! But it came and went just as fast.”
He nods and turns back towards the bushes. “You’ll have to do it again. But you can only see what she sees in that moment or what she’s seen before. We need to know exactly which side to enter on. If the mark is still burning, then she is still in danger which means the connection is still open. You’ll have to focus hard on her.”
I close my eyes and try to focus on Shay. I need to get this right, Shay and Sebastian were depending on any information I could gather. The sound of my heart beating fills my ears. I’m anxious and angry. I want her back and I need to prove myself worthy of being her guardian.
When I open my eyes, I am not no longer kneeling between the bushes with Sebastian. Instead I’m back inside the room where Shay is being held captive. I stand to my feet and see her before me laying still on the bed. My heart races and I swallow hard. She looks weak as if she’s been drugged. Her breaths are ragged and slow. Her eyes are closed and I wonder if she can feel my presence.
“Shay,” I call out to her, hoping that she could hear me. She doesn’t move. I’m not sure how much time I could keep the connection going. I reach out to her but I can’t touch her. I have to fight every urge to pull her into my arms and tell her that it will be ok.
“Jude,” she slurs fluttering her eyes open. I force a smile and nod.
“I’m here,” I say and she smiles widely.
“Are we home?”
I shake my head no, wishing to God that we were. Her face wrinkles as she looks around and realizes that she is still inside the camp. Tears slowly trickle down her cheeks as she stares at me.
“Save me, please” she cries.
“I will, Shay. I’ll never leave you.”
“Promise?”
I fight the stinging pain in my eyes. I can’t cry now; I can’t show weakness. She has to know that I’m strong and that I will protect her. “Yes.”
She struggles to swallow and licks her lips. She wants to tell me something and I can see it written all over her face.
“What is it?” I whisper softly.
She looks me in the eyes and her lips tremble. “I-I’m pregnant.”
Hearing her say it makes me smile and the tears I forced back starts to slowly roll down. “I know…and I couldn’t be happier.” She needs me to reach out to her and I curse under my breath. I want to hold her so badly and tell her that everything will be alright. But I can’t dwell on that. I needed her help to find her. I could only see as much as she’s seen and so far, it didn’t give me enough to know where she was.
“Shay, listen to me. I need your help. Do you know which entrance you’re closest too?”
She shakes her head no. “I-I wasn’t conscious when he brought me here.”
Damn it, of course she wasn’t. The bastard drugged her to get her here, or else she would have put up a pretty good fight.
I step closer and kneel down to here level. “I need you to look around the room and help me see what you see. Can you do that for me?”
She nods a yes and her eyes shift from me and around the room. I see a desk, the large door, a window covered with blinds and a ceiling fan. It wasn’t enough to go on. I needed more. If she could tell me what she sees when she looks out that window, I know I could get a better sense of which direction she faced.
Her eyes travel back to me and she looks defeated. “I-I can’t tell where I am,” she stutters.
“You did good.” I assure her. “There is a window to the left of you. I need you to look out of it and tell me what you see.”
“Ok.” She mummers. She struggles to gather her strength and I know the drugs are still coursing through her veins. Placing her feet carefully on the ground she pushes herself up with her hand and stumbles forward.
“Careful,”
She takes a few cautious steps towards the window, taking her time to not stumble again. Her strength gives me hope and I want know that saving her is the only thing that matters to me. Going back home would mean nothing if she isn’t there.
The sound of heavy footsteps can be heard in the distance. The sound echo’s in my ears a noise I couldn’t normally hear without being connected to her.
“He’s coming,” she squeaks, the fear is clear on her face. The way she reacts lets me know it is Gabe. She looks at the door and the footsteps become closer. I need her to focus, but her fear is grounding her. Her shaking causes her to stumble down to the floor.
“Shay. Focus on me, I need you to look out that window.” I shout.
Her eyes slowly roll up to me, the tears still trickling from her eyes.
“H-he’s going to bind me to him,”
I’m staring at the door unable to change the view.
“Turn around…please!”
“Y-your too late,”
The door swings open and Gabe spots her on the floor. He smiles wickedly at he
r and every part of my body aches to wipe that smile off his face. I hate him. I’ve never hated anyone before, not even my useless father.
“Oh sweet Princess, I hope you aren’t trying to leave me.” He chuckles closing the distance between them. I’m still by her side and for a moment I feel as though he can see me.
“No,”
“Good,” he breathes rubbing her cheek with the back of his hand. She winces and looks away.
A sudden feeling from the mark makes me feel distant from her, and I’m afraid the connection won’t last too long. I kneel beside her and whisper in her ear, “Look out the window.”
Her eyes are still focused on Gabe whose finger’s trail her jaw line. He touches her lip with the padding of his thumb and leans in to kiss her. I clench my fist tightly and whisper to her again. Their lips meet and I curse under my breath. Whatever he’s done to her is no use to me. I’m losing her.
Gabe places a kiss on her forehead and stands up and extends his hand to her. “Get up my Princess.” She slides her shaking hands into his and he pulls her gently to her feet. She doesn’t look at me, as I’m starting fade away.
“I’m sorry,” she tells him before standing on the tips of her toes and giving him another kiss. She angles her body and forces his back to the window. As she slides back down her eyes travel back to me and her lips mouths the words I love you. I swallow hard and I can see something is different in her eyes. She has made the decision to fight back.
Shay drives her knee into Gabe’s rib cage and uses whatever strength she has to push him down. He falls down to one knee and clutches his ribs in pain. She doesn’t look at him, instead she runs towards the blinds and pull them apart and I can see a tower amongst the trees.
“You bitch!” Gabe roars yanking her backwards and tossing her on the bed. I step forward to help and run into Sebastian. Just like that, the connection is broken.
My mind races like crazy. I spin around looking for the tower and try to get a good view. I need to find her. With that stunt she just pulled, if he didn’t hurt her before, he was going to do it now.
