Lexia surged up within her mind, her voice a shot of pain behind her eyes. What do you care about then? Why are you even here if not to serve Mother?
Maura’s anger and frustration suddenly left as Lexia’s question repeated in her head. Why are you here? She stood for a minute thinking of the things she’d never thought to think of before. Asking questions she’d never had the urge to ask, and then the answer came to her.
“I’m here because you created me. You needed me. I’m here to keep Lincoln safe,” she whispered.
Maura felt Lexia shrink back, sensed her retreat back into the hidden depths of her mind she’d created to disappear in. Lexia couldn’t face the truth. She couldn’t face the fact she’d created the monster inside of her, or that she had allowed Maura to take control.
No come back? Very well, shall we go and see Derrick? I suppose he’ll be at the infirmary by now.
Chapter 9
Derrick had tried to hang on for the entire punishment, but when the thirtieth lash slashed into his already mangled flesh, he’d succumbed to the blackness that called. His next thought was only of pain, but a sound drew him back to consciousness, if only for a minute.
“Lex?” he croaked, forcing his eyes to open a crack.
Her head lifted from her knees. She greeted him with the saddest of smiles and the purest of blue.
He tried to move his arm, his every instinct to comfort her, but with each flex of his muscle, fresh pain infiltrated his body, clouding his mind and threating to drag him back under.
Her tear-filled eyes widened. “Derrick, don’t move. You need to rest and heal.” Her hand clasped his, squeezing. “Go back to sleep,” she murmured.
How he wished he knew how to help her. He wanted to tell her not to cry, that none of this was her fault. Yet all he managed was a garbled gasp and then darkness descended once more.
It was a day later when he awoke. His eyes opened easier this time, though felt stiff. He scanned around as far as he could without moving his head, finding Lexia leant against the wall. Her hands slack with sleep, her head tilted forward on top of her bent knees.
“Lex?” he croaked.
When her head lifted, he was greeted with the cold gaze of Maura. “No.” She climbed to her feet, her joints cracking and popping as she moved. “I do wish Lexia would take better care of our body,” she moaned, pressing her hands to her back and stretching.
“Don’t talk like that!” Derrick hissed, his pain momentarily forgotten.
“Like what?” Maura replied, seeming genuinely interested.
“Like it’s your body too. You are the monster hijacking Lexia’s mind.”
Maura smiled. “Wrong. Lexia created me, remember? To save her precious Lincoln, and now she hides away because she can’t deal with the consequences of her actions.”
“I’m going to find a way to get rid of you!” he ground out through clenched teeth.
“Yes, yes, not the nicest of ways to talk to me, after I was so nice to go along with the little deal you made. Maybe next time I won’t be so inclined.”
Hearing the light steps of her feet, Derrick strained to see her, but the door slammed signaling her departure. Suddenly weary, Derrick closed his eyes drifting back to sleep, his mind on the woman he was so desperate to save.
It took three days for Derrick to heal enough to leave the infirmary. Neither Lexia nor Maura visited him again. It was Belinda who waited outside when he walked through the door.
“Derrick, you’re okay?”
“I’ll live. Fill me in,” he said, setting off knowing she’d follow.
“Right, straight back to work then?” she asked, jogging to keep up.
“Yes, I’ve already been out for too long as it is.” He couldn’t waste any more time. He needed to be near Lexia, keep her safe because she seemed to be cracking further each day.
“Well, nothing has happened really. Usual training. Lucy hasn’t sent anyone off site, no raids, just boring compound life.”
“Has Lucy been around?”
“Yes…I think. I’ve seen her maybe once. Why?”
“No more unexpected punishments?”
“No, like I said, boring life. Everyone is pretty freaked out about what happened. No one has stepped out of line.”
“And Le- Maura?”
“Holed up in her room, mostly. She’s only left for her training sessions.”
“Let’s go find her then,” he instructed. His walk through the compound consisted of many stares, some even cowered away from him, or quickly passed by as if just being near him, could mean receiving punishment.
His pace was determined, his outlook strong, yet his body ached with every movement; his skin still stretched tight and sore. Derrick saw again how cunning Lucy really was. He had a large following of hunters who trusted him and saw him as a leader. But now, they saw the fifty lashings he’d received. They saw an elite punished for stepping out of line. Lucy was very clever. She’d planned this, which meant she had other plans. Plans he feared were far worse than fifty lashings.
Chapter 10
Every morning Lincoln woke, he told himself, ‘this is the day. This is the day I sober up.’ He climbed out of bed with every intention of not touching the bottle, but then it hit him, hit him square in the chest; a pain with no equal. She was gone and she was never coming back.
It didn’t help that he still felt her. Though it had been a flicker at first, with each day, it grew. Lexia had become restless. Though the darkness was still there tainting their bond, something had changed. He just didn’t understand it.
So he numbed his pain with alcohol. Swilling the amber liquid around, Lincoln told himself he’d ‘just have one.’ Yet before long, he was looking for answers at the bottom of the bottle.
He knew he should be stronger. Lexia deserved stronger, yet he couldn’t pull himself from the destructive path he was heading down. “Looks like I’m more like you than I first thought, David,” Lincoln said bitterly to the ceiling. Staggering around his room, feeling the first fire of his anger taking hold, Lincoln kicked the edge of a safety deposit box, half hidden under his bed.
It was one of the many things left behind by his grandfather; he’d not opened it, thinking it contained more attempts to lure him into human life. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he stared at the box, like he’d done many times. Today though, the effects of the alcohol still lingered, and some part of him wanted to come out of hiding. Lincoln opened it – the key was already in the lock. It just needed turning. With a click, the box opened and what was inside surprised him.
Pictures of his father when he’d been young, laid within; various shots of him with his mother and father before everything had gone wrong and Nathen had been taken from pack land. Seeing the photos hurt more than he’d expected. He’d never met his grandmother. She’d died before he was even thought of. What hurt the most was seeing his grandfather in a different light, not only younger, but happy. From the moment Lincoln had moved in with his grandfather, he’d sensed his sadness, but in these photos, none of the events that would have eventually destroy David Turner had taken place.
Dropping the photographs back into the box, Lincoln picked up the letter, but found it addressed to his father, Nathen, not himself. Opening it anyway, Lincoln read the words:
Nate,
So much has happened in our lives, and I must admit I haven’t handled them well. Losing your mother broke me in a way you can never understand.
“I understand, Grandfather. Dad would have, too, in the end,” he whispered, before carrying on.
But I owe you an explanation. Too late I’m sure, but I need to try and explain the reason why I had to leave the pack. Why I took you away from the home and life you loved.
I suppose I blamed our ways for your mother’s death. When she’d first fell ill, she refused to see the human doctor, and by the time she’d been diagnosed with cancer, it was too late. The humans said there was a slim chance chemo would work, but she
refused treatment, choosing to live out her days surrounded by pack. I understood why she chose, what she chose, but I could never accept it. I was angry with her for not trying. I still am I suppose. I hold such anger inside of me, a rage fuelled by the loss of my mate. I needed to direct that rage somewhere. I directed it at pack life, blamed it for her death.
Many wondered why I still lived, why I didn’t join my mate in death. Partly for you, but partly because I was stubborn. I was mad at her, and for that I held on and left pack life behind.
I’m sorry for all you’ve been through, son, but you must know this one thing. I am very proud of all you have done, for the life you have created. I tried very hard to keep you in the human world, but I always knew deep down; pack was where you belonged.
One day, you’ll be alpha, and one day, you’ll have a son of your own, and although I won’t show it, I am happy for you, son.
David.
Chapter 11
Maura stared at the ceiling bored. Boredom wasn’t a feeling she experienced very often. It wasn’t an emotion someone like her would normally contend with. She supposed she could get up, walk out of this room and find some entertainment. Except, she just wasn’t sure what that was anymore. With each passing day, she felt more and more…not like herself.
She was Maura; cold hearted and calculated, Maura. Yet she felt trapped. Trapped like a caged animal, desperately wanting escape but not seeing any way out. She never wanted out before. She’d never wanted to escape…no that wasn’t true. It wasn’t that she’d never wanted it before, because she had, and many a time she’d thought of going. It was different though. She still had the strength to escape, but she no longer could. Now she had these…these people, she couldn’t leave. No, it was Lexia who couldn’t leave them, and Lexia had more control every day.
I do not care what happens to them. She repeated to herself for the hundredth time that day.
Yes, you do. That is why you feel trapped. You could still walk away. The difference now is you care what’ll happen when you do.
I do not care what happens to them.
There was a knock at the door. Maura sat up. Knowing it was Derrick and Belinda, she jumped from the bed far too quickly. Her movements, the sudden surge of joy, not from her but Lexia. Maura fought to take control, to keep the emotions churning and rising inside of her in check. Only the joy, the urgent need to see Derrick, was just too much for Maura to contend.
The blue in her eyes slid in place as Lexia won the battle for control. A battle she’d not even realized she’d been fighting.
She swung the door wide, her smile lighting her face. “Derrick. You’re okay.”
A look of surprise passed over his face and the smallest of smiles graced his lips. Lexia reached forward, clasping the front of his shirt she pulled him inside and into her arms.
Belinda walked in behind them, closing the door.
“You’re okay,” Lexia breathed again.
His body tensed as the smallest sound of pain left his lips.
Lexia pulled back. “And you’re still injured,” she stated crossly. “Why are you here when you clearly need another day’s rest?” She pursed her lips, angry he was out of the infirmary when he wasn’t fully healed, which meant he wasn’t at full strength to defend himself.
Derrick stared at her dumbfounded. “You’re…You.”
“Don’t change the subject, Derrick. You should go rest.”
“I’ve had enough rest. Now I’d like to know what Lucy is up to.”
Lexia frowned. “Who says she’s up to something?”
“She had me whipped in front of the entire compound and had you execute Mathew.”
“Yes…well, it was clear she was losing control of her people. She simply made an example out of us, to show even her favorites cannot get away with disobeying her.”
“I fear it may be more than that.”
Lexia opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted by a knock at the door. Belinda jumped from her position by the door. Lexia stepped forward to answer but Belinda blocked her way.
“Eyes,” she whispered, indicating with her hands.
Shit! “Yes?” she barked through the door. It was a human behind the door; her mind’s eyes seeing only fear in the person’s aura.
“I…I’ve a-a message. Y-you are t-to meet y-your mother a-at her office…Immediately,” the human male stammered through the closed door.
“Thank you,” Lexia replied, trying to sound as cold as possible.
They all stood in silence for a second. Lexia’s heart thumped in her chest, her emotions overwhelming her.
Derrick broke the silence. “She knows I’m up,” he stated, looking serious. “I can feel it. She’s planning something.”
Lexia looked at Derrick, a little shocked by his ruffled exterior. “Derrick, that isn’t like you.”
“Yes, you’re right. I’m just saying, be careful, Lex.”
Lexia swallowed the lump in her throat, not able to keep her fear in check. You’re up, Maura.
Switching had become easier. Lexia closed her eyes, forcing the swirl of emotion she felt down deep inside of her. The second her mind became clear, Maura pushed forward, pleased to have control.
“Well, let’s see what Mother wants then,” Maura said, her voice cold and detached.
The walk to Lucy’s office took around ten minutes. Maura had never moved from the room Derrick had given her; there didn’t seem to be much of a point. She liked to be away from the other hunters, to separate herself.
Maura didn’t knock. The door opened with a soft whoosh. Maura’s cold eyes settled on Lucy. She was sitting behind her desk, her head bent over and her hand franticly scribbling into a journal. Maura watched, surprised as Lucy’s head shot up, her eyes widening for the briefest of seconds and as Maura stared, she could have sworn she saw fright. The journal slammed shut, the sound echoing around the small room.
Interesting.
Very, what does she write in there?
I wouldn’t know, Lexia, but I plan to find out.
Since when do you care about anything?
Since Mother made a fool of me and I had to stand by and watch. It is not a feeling I like.
“Maura,” Lucy snapped, her voice like frost, “what can I do for you?”
“You sent for me,” Maura replied, just as coldly.
Lucy froze, caught off guard, and Maura fought to keep the smile from her lips. “Oh, yes, so I did. Silly me.” She pushed her chair back, the wheels screeching across the concrete floor. “Shall we go then.”
“Go where?” Maura asked, wary.
Picking up the phone, Lucy glanced at Maura with a cruel smile. “It’s a surprise, darling,” Lucy’s eyes dropped to the desk as whomever she was ringing answered. “Yes, I’d like the package. Have Derrick deliver it.”
Derrick? What has she planned?
Lucy placed the phone down, coming around her desk.
“What has Derrick got to do with this?” Maura asked.
“Nothing. I just thought he wouldn’t want to miss your surprise.” She walked past Maura. “Shall we go?” Lucy asked sweetly, holding open the door.
Maura did as instructed. Lucy pulled her door closed, double-checking it was locked.
Following her mother through the compound, Maura struggled with the growing unease within her. With each step, her heart kicked up a beat. The taut band tightened around her chest, restricting her airways. Lucy led her to the far side of the compound, the side the humans frequented. The side Lucy carried out her experiments.
“We’re here,” Lucy chimed, turning with her back pressed against the door. “Are you excited?” she asked.
“I do not get excited, Mother,” Maura replied coldly.
Lucy’s smile dropped. “Oh, you really are no fun.” Reaching for the handle, she pulled it down and pushed the door open with her back. “Ta da!” she exclaimed.
Maura stepped into the room and frowned at Lucy. “I don’t und
erstand.” Belinda and Marcus were on one side of the room looking distressed. A member of the elite stood beside them, his gun clasped casually in his hand but no less deadly.
“Oh, well, not everyone is here yet,” Lucy answered. Walking over to the other side of the room, she spoke to the human scientist standing quietly in the corner.
Maura’s chest constricted, as dread churned in the pit of her stomach. Attempting to regain control of her body, she clenched her jaw, forcing the feeling away. “Mother, what is this?” Maura snapped.
Lucy turned slowly around to face her, her chipper façade gone. “I said it was a surprise. Now be quiet and wait.” The tone of her voice warned Maura not to question her further, or she’d wish she hadn’t.
Cracking her fingers as her control slipped, Lexia grew agitated and restless inside her mind. Maura coped by masking Lexia’s feelings with anger. “I do not like surprises or games, Mother. I have kept up my end of the bargain. Now tell me what is going on?” she demanded.
The tension in the room rocketed. Lucy’s eyes turned deadly, her true psychotic self, showing through. She opened her mouth to answer but the door opened behind them and Lucy’s angelic mask slipped back into place.
Maura spun around, already knowing the horrible truth, yet wishing she was wrong, wishing she’d lost her mind because it couldn’t be true. An avalanche of emotions smashed into her mind, crushing Maura and allowing Lexia control.
Lexia already knew what she’d find when she faced the door. She’d not felt her aura in a long time, this aura, this person, belonged to another life. Not this nightmare. Yet as she faced the door, knowing didn’t lessen the blow. The air rushed out of her in sudden shock. Her heart beat so fast she couldn’t hear anything above the pounding in her head.
“Alice,” she whispered, horrified.
Derrick stood to the side of her, his hand clasped lightly around her arm, though Alice had no chance of escape. The deep cut across her thigh looked days old and infected. Her face was covered with purple bruises, her left eye barely visible beneath puffy, swollen skin.
Holocaust (The Deadwood Hunter Series Book 3) Page 6
