by Angel Lawson
I nodded, having suspected they were involved in some kind of protective mission that evening. I was surprised to find they separated themselves while working, though. It seemed unnecessarily dangerous.
"Everything was calm. Totally quiet. I figured we were wasting our time. There were no signs of Caleb or any other vamps. We checked-in every thirty minutes by phone and everyone had the same report; all clear." A car passed us, flashing lights across Sebastian’s scarred face. He continued in a grim voice. "Until around eleven."
"Then what?"
"We received a call from Elijah, who said he may have found an abandoned house with suspicious activity. Miles and Ryan agreed to go meet him while the rest of us held our positions. In the event he was wrong, we wanted to keep everything covered. Eventually, Miles called and confirmed that they had indeed found the nest for the coven. Elijah and Ryan were able to identify Caleb's scent as well as that of some of the others. At this point, I'd already been in contact with Judson and informed the Shifters about the situation. He and Adam traveled to the nest."
Furrowing my brow, I asked, “So the Shifters are helping now?”
“We have an agreement on keeping the area between here and Lost Cove protected. Miles wanted them to come to the nest to gather the scent of the vampires we're hunting. It’s the best way to make sure they knew exactly who we're looking for. It's a good thing they came."
“So you think working with the Shifters is a good idea?”
“Sweetheart, I don’t think any of this is a good idea, but I’m not leading this fight. I’m a solider. Nothing more.”
His reply surprised me. I thought the Palmers were all in agreement on how to handle Caleb and his gang. But Sebastian had been noticeably absent for much of my interactions with the family.
"Once we were all at the house, we searched for any clues to help us locate Caleb or the fledglings. Unfortunately, the fledglings and a couple of older vamps found us first." Sebastian’s expression turned to one of fury as he continued, and he reacted by pressing down harder on the gas. "We weren't totally taken by surprise. Olivia actually tipped us off and called just before we heard them coming. The Shifters sniffed them out before they got to the house. It was a pretty big fight, but between the five of us we had no real problem taking down the eight of them."
I exhaled in relief. "So you killed Caleb?"
"No. That's the problem. While we were fighting the fledglings, Caleb seemed to have had other plans. When we tried to reach Olivia she never responded.”
My heart sank at what they were suggesting. Caleb wasn’t dead. Olivia was missing. Once again we were one step behind.
Out the window I noticed we’d passed the exit we normally used to get to Grant’s home. “Hey, didn’t you mean to turn there?”
Sebastian’s eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. “Nope.”
“Where are we going?” A sense of unease hardened in my stomach.
“Just a different way,” he said. “We’re being followed.”
I looked behind us. “There’s no one there.”
“I didn’t say we were being followed by a car.” He glanced out his side window and frowned at the bridge up ahead. He said, “Hold on. Tight.
I clutched the sides of my seat and he slammed on the breaks. The Jeep stopped, but not before skidding across the highway with a loud, tire burning squeal. Two figures streaked past. The jeep spun the other direction—going against traffic and a loud thump landed on the hard top of the vehicle.
“What was that?” I screamed, but seconds later, screamed again when a face appeared in the window. Black eyes mocked me as the vampire clinging to the roof punched his fist repeatedly into the window.
“Get down,” Sebastian ordered, weaving in and out of oncoming traffic. Lights flashed and horns blared. I slid to the floor of the jeep just as glass shattered through the car.
I covered my head and felt the vehicle jerk to the side, passing over a series of bumps that led me to believe we were off the highway.
“Stay low and don’t move.” I heard. “Do. Not. Move.”
I felt the weight of the car heave as Sebastian kicked open the door. I didn’t have to look to know he and the fledglings were in a viscous fight. From my spot on the floor I couldn’t tell who was winning—or even what was happening. I only heard the grunts of pain and the sounds of flesh pummeling one another.
Despite what he told me, I lifted myself up for a better view. What I saw made no sense. A wave of shimmer surrounded the Jeep, transparent but difficult to see through. I squinted and tried to make out Sebastian but only saw a person twice his size—even bigger than Ryan, battling the vampires outside. The fear that had settled in my stomach rolled at the sight. If that wasn’t him—who was it?
A loud hiss sounded from behind me and one of the vampires peered through the driver’s side window. His face was blurry from the wave—what the heck was that? It was glossy like the car was wrapped in cellophane. I froze in my seat, hoping he didn’t see me, but even through the distorted air I could see his nostrils flare.
He may not see me—but he certainly smelled me.
I reached to the floor searching for something to fight with—anything—like Olivia had shown me and a piece of puzzle clicked in my head. With both hands I felt the floorboard and nearly cried when I felt the satin between my fingers.
I’d just grasped the hilt in my hand when the vampire’s fist slammed through the wavy barrier. Whatever it was disappeared in a flash, leaving nothing between me and the greasy haired, female vampire. Her lips were stained red, and her eyes black as night. She had less control than even Jenna. It didn’t matter what orders had been given by Caleb about keeping me alive. This bitch was here to kill.
I kicked at her, making contact with her face. My foot stung from the impact. “Holy shit,” I cried, feeling the bones crumble against her skin.
“Stupid girl,” she hissed, diving at me, claws and teeth first. I closed my eyes and quickly held the small knife against my chest. She spotted the blade, but kept coming, landing on the weapon. “Weapons can’t hurt me.”
I pushed the blade into her, shoving it deep into her stomach. She opened her mouth, prepared to bite down on my shoulder but stopped suddenly—jerking back.
“What?” she asked, clutching the handle.
I sat up with both hands and pushed her out of the Jeep, her numb body landing like a stone. A shadow fell over her and the giant vampire—who up close looked more like a demon than anything I’d ever seen—stood over the female holding a bloody sword. Where had Sebastian gone? Was he dead? A new wave of fear rolled over me and I reached for the handle—out of weapons and time.
My fingers caught on the handle and my foot screamed in pain. The vampire looked in my direction, eyes angry and jaw set. I opened my mouth to say something—beg for my life, but his face shimmered, flickered like the wave around the car.
In an instant the beast changed from a demon back into the familiar form of Sebastian. He lifted the sword and swung it clean across the girl’s neck, severing her head from her body. With a look of disgust he kicked it out of the way and got back in the car.
“Sebastian?” I asked, realizing my hands were wet with blood. I glanced behind me and saw the decapitated bodies strewn on the ground “How? What? Are you fucking kidding me?”
He started the Jeep with a roar and rolled his eyes. “I told you not to move.”
“That’s all you have to say?” I asked.
“Well, that and good job with the knife. I never thought you’d have it in you.”
The tires kicked dirt and debris away from the Jeep as we sailed down the road. Our world was ending. Olivia was missing. And Grant? I looked down at my bloody hands. Grant was going to lose his shit.
Chapter 35
Grant
Ryan had told me Olivia had an additional vision. Something about a child—or children trapped in a cabin deep in the Smokey Mountains. Once I left Amelia, I ran to the last place we knew sh
e had been.
Elijah had told Ryan he heard water in the background and she’d mentioned the French Broad River. I ran along the path we knew she took while on patrol and stopped abruptly. A strand of white fabric hung loose on the wooden railing. I picked it up and inhaled, walked off the bridge toward the river’s edge below. Footprints were in the soft muddy banks. Kneeling, I assessed the area, spotting more prints and a broken branch. She’d gone north.
Five miles later I tracked two additional scents. Ryan and Elijah. I picked up my pace and raced through the densely wooded forest to catch them. Maybe she was just out of range, I thought, noting my own phone lacked adequate coverage. I kept pushing, over muddy embankments and rotten logs. We’d find her. The alternative wasn’t acceptable.
At the top of a steep hill I crossed a gravel road, pausing to clarify her direction. I closed my eyes and inhaled. A branch snapped to my left and my eyes popped open—too late, as a body, moving fast as a train, slammed into me.
Through the air we flew, landing with a skid. Our bodies rolled across the sharp gravel, eating into our skin. I got an arm free and hit my attacker in the jaw, successfully detaching myself.
Crouched low and ready to pounce I got a look at his face.
Fuck.
“Ryan? Seriously?”
My stupid, thick-headed cousin rubbed his jaw. “Sorry, dude. After everything going on I had to be sure.”
“Where’s Elijah?”
“Up ahead. When we heard you barreling through the woods, I told him I would hold back and check it out.”
“Any word?” I ask.
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
“Let’s go then.”
Elijah wasn’t hard to find. He paced the lawn of a large rustic building. The sign by the door indicated it was named, “Greenwood Hall.”
“What is this place?” Ryan asked.
I scanned the grounds, noting the crisscrossing paths leading to other buildings. “I think it’s a camp.”
“For kids?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Maybe that’s what Olivia saw—the camp?” He mulled over the details until a horrified expression landed on his face. “Grant, kids go to camp in the summer, right?”
I nodded. The uneasy feeling that had been building in my chest all night tightened.
We approached Elijah and he said, “I don’t think she’s here.”
Ryan sniffed. “Are you sure? I smell her.”
“I ran the length of the property. The trail stops here.” He pointed to the ground and to a set of tire tracks from a large vehicle. “I’m pretty sure they loaded her in a truck and took her out of here.”
Ryan took off on his own, obviously needing to confirm this information.
“What was she doing here? Something about kids?” I asked.
“I don’t even really know. The fledglings had just shown up and the Shifters were all over the place—God, they freak me out. And Olivia wasn’t making any sense. Something about kids and a nest. I told her not to come up here but…”
“She didn’t listen,” I said, shaking my head. Of course she didn’t. When did she?
“She was so desperate to get something right. To contribute.” He rubbed his face. “The shit with her visions was really messing with her. Like, big time. She told me not to tell anyone but I was getting worried.”
His admission hit me like a slap in the face. I should have known she was struggling. I would have known if I weren’t wrapped up in Amelia. Olivia was just another person I’d let down.
“Don’t do that,” Elijah said.
“What?”
“Blame yourself. She would kick your ass.”
I laughed darkly. “True.”
He sniffed the air one more time. “She was onto something though—it reeks up here. Caleb must have kept a nest up here.”
Ryan jogged up. “Yeah, Elijah’s right. She’s gone. Not a trace of her scent once you leave this spot.”
“Can you track the truck?” I asked.
“Nope. The tire tracks end at the paved road.”
Elijah growled with anger, his fists balled and tense. We watched helplessly as he darted over to a tree and pummeled it with his hands. Leaves and bark shook off the battered tree, showering over our heads. He was scared. For the first time I truly understood his feelings.
His rage was cut short by a high-pitched screech. I looked to the air thinking it was a bird—maybe a hawk or an owl. Ryan did the same, while Elijah rubbed his bloody, healing knuckles on his pants.
“What was that?” Ryan asked. “Shifter?”
Another screech sliced through the darkness—and another. This time followed by a bone chilling growl. Elijah stopped messing with his hands and snapped out of his worry. “What the hell?”
Feet, dozens of them trampled through the forest, encasing us in an unmistakable stench.
Ryan pulled a blade from his boot. Elijah and I shifted to defensive positions.
“How many?” I asked.
“A lot.”
The first figures moved from the cloak of darkness. Dozens of dark eyes glinting off the moonlight. Their faces twisted in pain. Teeth gnashing and hungry.
“They’re starving,” Ryan said.
“And completely feral,” Elijah added. “Who did this?”
I nodded, trying to figure out how to handle this. How to handle them. “Caleb did this,” I said. Eyeing the fledglings descending upon us. “He made an army of children.”
Chapter 36
Amelia
“Can you please tell me what that was all about back there?”
Sebastian stared straight ahead, never once looking in my direction. “Didn’t Grant tell you?”
“About how you can transform yourself into something different? And that you use magic? Because hell, no. He didn’t tell me that.”
“It’s not magic. Not really,” he said, grimacing.
“Then what?” My hands shook and were caked in drying blood. I wasn’t sure if it was mine or the vampire’s.
“I can create illusions. On myself and other things. When we got attacked I thought it may help to make myself bigger than I really am.”
Illusions. Right. Telekinesis. Compulsion. There wasn’t much I could do but roll with it. “Okay, I guess. What did you do to the Jeep?”
“I just cloaked it. From the outside it looked empty. It was a long shot since they had already seen you, but fledglings have notoriously short attention spans. I thought it may buy us some time.”
The wind whipped through the broken windows, my hair flying into my eyes. I tried to get a good look at him. He still won’t look at me and even though he saved my life, the feeling that there is tension between us grows. “It’s like no matter how much I learn about you guys there’s always something else lurking under the surface.”
My comment gained a laugh but it wasn’t a friendly one. Between the post-fight exhaustion and my worry about Grant, something in me snapped and I twisted to look at Sebastian. “Look, thanks for saving me back there. It’s pretty clear you only did it because of Grant. I get it. You don’t like me or like my relationship with Grant—or just the fact that I’m human. But treating me like crap won’t make me stop loving him.”
His hands clenched tight on the steering wheel and I thought his jaw may snap, but he didn’t reply. Sebastian simply stared out the window like I didn’t exist. Soon we arrived at Grant’s home and he pulled to a fast stop at the front curb.
“You’re not coming in?”
He shook his head and the front door opened. Genevieve stepped outside.
“You’ll be safe here.”
I exited the car and a pile of glass fell from my dress, scattering to the ground. “What about you?”
“Don’t worry about me.”
Genevieve ran down the stairs and looked us up and down. The look of panic on her face didn’t do much to calm my nerves. “What happened? Are you okay?” She sniffed. “Amelia, a
re you hurt?”
“I’m okay. I think.”
She turned to Sebastian but he’d already revved the engine and peeled away from the curb. “Okay then, guess he’s got something to do.”
“He saved me. Both of us.”
She nodded and wrapped her arm around my shoulder. A surprising gesture. She hurried us into the house and locked the door behind us, employing Grant’s extensive system.
There was nothing for us to do now but wait.
Chapter 37
Grant
The children moved closer, their small feet snapping branches on the forest floor. As they crossed into the clearing the sheer horror of the situation crashed down on us. Beyond the tell-tale signs they’d transformed, they were filthy, their clothing disheveled, and hands dark with mud. They’d probably been out here for days. Starving and lacking supervision. Evidence of fights between the fledglings was obvious—viscous bite marks up and down their arms and legs.
Ryan was the first to speak. “What the hell do we do?”
Because that was the question.
“We can’t leave.” I stated the obvious. We couldn’t just walk away from an entire camp of children, transformed into vampires. We couldn’t allow them to slip through the woods and stumble upon society. We couldn’t allow the public to know—not the truth. We had no choice but to terminate them. To clean up the wake of Caleb’s utter lack of mercy and righteousness.
“We’re losing time,” Elijah said, and that was the truth. Caleb had forced our hand—forcing us to choose between what was right and our family. I refused to allow that to happen.
“Go, we can handle this,” I told him.
“Grant, there’s no way you two can do this alone.”
I slammed both hands against his chest. “Go! Get her!”
He nodded and made a break toward the forest. The fledglings saw him move and seeking food or a fight they raced in his direction. Ryan barreled in front of him, knocking the fledglings to the side. One by one they toppled but were immediately replaced by another, equally starved child.
Elijah skidded to a stop, unable to get through the growing hoard of vampires. Before I could react I heard a sound behind me and turned to find a handful of fledglings approaching.
