She reached her room, unlocked the door and once inside, laid out on her bed, staring at the crack in the ceiling. Pulling out the phone, she stared at the words. ‘Time is of the essence.’ Don’t I fucking know it?
She didn’t need reminding; seeing Lucy was reminder enough, as was living inside this concrete hell, being surrounded by the people she still wasn’t sure how to save. Every breath she took was a reminder time was running out. Every time she saw Lucy, she pushed her closer to the edge, closer to the point of no return. It wasn’t a matter of if Lucy put her friends’ heads on sticks, but when.
It was only a matter of time before Lucy couldn’t turn a blind eye, before a threat wasn’t enough. Lexia honestly thought that somewhere deep inside Lucy’s sick, twisted mind, she loved Maura. She’d written in her journal how she wanted Maura by her, but it was becoming clear to Lexia now, that Lucy didn’t really need her to accomplish what she planned. Lucy had enough manpower and she clearly had friends in powerful places. So why did she keep Lexia around? Why bother manipulating and threatening her into submission?
Sitting up as she felt her friends’ auras approaching, she reached the door when she felt an extra aura paused outside her door. A second later, a slip of paper was pushed under it. Whipping the door open, Lexia spotted the retreating figure of the human who’d been warning her.
“Hey!” she yelled, giving chase. He had no chance outrunning her, even with her injury, but Lexia had no reason to run because as he rounded the corner, he collided with Lexia’s friends. “Don’t let him go,” she ordered, gesturing for them to hurry.
Once safe inside, away from prying eyes, Lexia’s eyes travelled from his head to toe. The human male was what she’d call a nerd. Glasses, plaid shirt and way too shiny shoes, he looked like he should be hiding behind his computer, not helping Lexia in her dangerous games.
“Sit down; get comfy. You’re not going anywhere,” Lexia spoke as she retrieved the note near her door. “I wonder what this one says?” She continued flapping the small bit of paper in the air. “She’s watching you,” Lexia read aloud. “How mysterious.” Lexia took a step toward the human who sat quaking in the dark green sofa chair he’d taken a seat at.
“Who?” Belinda asked from her position leant against the wall.
“Mother dearest, I presume,” Lexia replied to Belinda, but looked at the human.
He gave a shaky nod, gulping loudly.
“There is no need to look so frightened. I’m not planning on hurting you. I’d just like to know what you know and why you’ve been warning me.”
“I’m not above killing humans if you don’t corporate,” Derrick threatened.
The human visibly paled, glancing quickly at Derrick who sat on the sofa across from him.
“Ignore him. He’s having a bad day,” she said, flashing Derrick a cheeky smile. “So what’s your name?”
“A-Andy,” he stammered.
“Okay then, Andy, talk.”
“Lucy doesn’t trust you. She’s becoming more and more obsessed with watching you. I work in surveillance. She has us collect the footage of you throughout the day.”
“She can watch me all she wants. I’m not doing anything wrong.”
“Not on a daily basis, no, but you were caught on camera helping that shifter escape.”
“That was you who corrupted the footage?”
“Yes,” he nodded.
“Why are you helping me?”
“Lucy’s biggest fault is treating humans as though we don’t matter. I’ve heard things I’d like to un-hear. I’ve seen things no one should have to see. Lucy must be stopped and you’re planning to do that, so I help where I can.”
“How do you know what I have planned?” Lexia asked.
“I don’t know the exact details but I’ve seen enough to know you’re not happy and you are the kind of person who can’t sit back and watch. Lexia, you must be more careful.”
“Why’d you call her that?” Derrick demanded.
“Because you do on a daily basis and Lucy’s heard.”
“What are we going to do?” Belinda asked quietly.
“Nothing,” Lexia replied.
“Nothing?” Alice asked. “So your plan is to just wait until we’re all murdered? Are you insane, Lex?” she snapped, jumping to her feet from the sofa.
“Let me think,” Lexia mumbled as she paced the room.
“She saw what you did to her, attacking her,” Andy said to Alice. “You’d be best to get a handle on that temper.”
Lexia blocked Alice’s path as she stepped toward Andy. “He’s right. From now on you’re never to be alone. You’ll stay with Belinda.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,” Alice ground out through clenched teeth.
“Yes, you do. Lucy has no use for you. You’re only here because of my mother’s sick games.” Looking at the rest of her friends, she continued, “Every single one of you needs to be careful. Stay together. I can’t handle any more deaths. My ledger is already too full.”
“So what’s the plan, boss?” Marcus asked from the far side of the room.
“Get rid of him first,” Derrick interrupted.
“Come on. Let me help,” Andy whined.
“You’re of no help,” Derrick barked, dragging Andy to his feet.
“Wait, wait, I might work in surveillance, but my hobby is hacking.”
Hacking? “Computers? You can hack computers?” Lexia asked.
“Yes, yes, networks, computers, anything, I’m your man,” Andy said hopefully.
“Leave him, Derrick.”
“Lex.”
Ignoring Derrick, Lexia asked Andy a question. “Suppose someone was looking for the blueprints to this place but couldn’t find them on any public record.”
“Ha, this place isn’t on any record. It doesn’t exist.”
“So how do I find out the best way to blow it up?”
“Blow it up?” the room gasped.
“Without me in it, I h-hope,” Andy asked, stumbling over his words.
“Of course.”
“Might not be blueprints, but there must be some plans of this place somewhere. If there are, I’ll find them.”
“Good, no one can know.”
“I might not be a trained killer but I’m not stupid. I’ll get on it right away.”
Lexia showed him to the door. “Thanks, Andy.”
“What the hell is going on?” Derrick demanded the second she closed the door.
Leaning her forehead against the door, she muttered, “Lincoln found Ethan.” Turning to face them, Lexia continued, “He gave up the board.”
Chapter 27
They listened to Lexia explain Grey’s plan without much interruption. They had no problem with killing the board members and destroying the compound, but when it came to taking Sarah’s hypothetical cure, they all protested apart from Alice.
“Look, she might never figure it out, but I need her on board, guys. There are at least a hundred hunters in here who deserve more than death.”
“And what then, Lexia, once Sarah, cures us, where do we go?” Belinda asked.
“To your lives, I guess,” Lexia answered, sitting on the end of her bed. “Look, I don’t have all the answers. I’m just me. I didn’t even graduate from high school for God’s sake.”
“Do you trust Sarah?” Derrick asked.
“Yes, she wants nothing more than to help. Her sons are here. To save them, she has to make a cure.”
“What about you, boss? Where do you go after this?”
To my death. “I don’t know. I can’t think past tomorrow.”
Grey had done a good job at injuring her. The next day, Lexia hadn’t healed enough to go out hunting for the wolves again, though it didn’t stop Lucy from sending out twice as many men. Only one returned however, injured but carrying the one thing Lucy wanted more than anything right now. The hunter, Hector, collapsed at the gate, the wound on his side, pooling blood. Lucy watched as t
he medics wheeled him in, her face lighting up as she saw what he clutched in his hand.
“I got one, Madam Hunter. I got one.” He gasped as he neared, holding the severed wolf’s head out to her.
“Yes, you did, Hector.” She smiled, taking the wolf from him. “I’m so very pleased,” she said, touching his face. “Rest now.”
Lexia watched on in horror, not understanding the worship some hunters showed Lucy.
Thrusting the head at the nearest person to her, Lucy demanded, “I want this mounting on a stick as a warning to every filthy animal who thinks they can defeat me.” Lucy paused on her way past Lexia. “Seems Hector brought me what you couldn’t.”
“Twelve hunters for one wolf,” Lexia answered.
“That’s what you don’t seem to understand, daughter. I don’t care who or how many I have to sacrifice.”
Lexia watched her walk away, feeling more and more like the walls were closing in on her. Once out of earshot, she murmured to Marcus, “I can’t wait for Sarah to come to me. I wonder if Andy can help.”
“Is that wise, boss?”
“We’ve no choice, Marcus. We’re out of time. The wolves will retaliate. They won’t wait.”
Lexia wished she’d come to Andy sooner. The wait for him to be alone was long but it took him seconds to find Sarah’s number.
“How is the search coming along?” Lexia asked at the door before she left.
“I’m looking. Hacking into Lucy’s secure system isn’t as easy as I’d thought.”
“Work faster, Andy. I’m out of time.”
Leaving him to his work, Lexia walked as fast as she could without actually running toward her room. Unlocking the door, she slid inside and locked it behind her. Retrieving the cell from its hiding place, she saw there was a message waiting.
You’re out of time.
Just a little longer, Grey. Please.
She took my friend’s head. I want hers.
Lexia didn’t know how to respond. He had every right to want Lucy dead, to see every hunter die along with her. Shifters lived by a code of loyalty and honor. Driven by their emotions, every second that wolf’s head stood on a pole, killed them a little more.
You’ll have it. Please just give me a little more time, so I can help my friends.
You have two days.
Blowing out a breath, Lexia dialed Sarah.
“Sarah speaking.”
“Sarah, it’s Lexia.”
“Lexia?” She gasped quietly into the phone.
Lexia listened to the sound of her footsteps and muffled voices, the scrape of a door, then silence.
“How’d you get this number?”
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is you’ve not come back and I’m left here in the dark.”
“I’m sorry. Lucy cancelled my visit.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. I had no other way to contact you, but the sample I took from you, it was what I was looking for.”
“You have a cure?” Lexia asked hopeful.
“Well, yes, I think so. I’ve not really got any subjects to try it out on.”
“Listen, Sarah, I rang for a reason. We have the board members’ names. The wolves won’t wait much longer. I need your word that you’ll help the hunters here. If I kill Lucy and destroy this place, I need to know that these people will be looked after, not killed or locked away. They deserve to be given back what was stolen.”
“I’ll try,” Sarah answered, sounding unsure.
“No, Sarah, try isn’t good enough for me. You said you knew people who could help. Well now is the time to get them to help, because if you don’t, I’ll personally make sure both of your sons die.”
“What would your father think? His daughter threatening to kill his friend’s sons?” Sarah snapped, feigning confidence, but the slight wobble to her voice highlighted her fear.
“My father is dead and I’m sure there are many things I’ve done he wouldn’t approve of. I’m not the daughter he once knew. I have people to save, and I need your word you’ll help me. Help, and I’ll give you your sons unharmed. Go back on your word, and, well, you already know how that ends.”
“You have my word,” she answered quietly.
“Be ready to move on a moment’s notice. I’ll be in touch.” Lexia ended the call as a knock sounded at her door.
“Belinda, what is it? Where’s Alice?”
“What? Oh, she’s fine. She’s with Marcus. I’ve just come off patrol. Lex, the wolves, they’ve just attacked the supply run.”
“Lucy’s staked their friend up for all to see; I expected retaliation.”
“You don’t understand, Lex, four days ago, I did an inventory count of all the food. There was only enough to last a week, at most. We needed that supply run, all our food’s now burning along with the trucks.”
“Does Lucy know this?”
“I guess. We did the inventory and logged it in like always.”
“So what you’re telling me is there is enough food to feed everyone for three days?”
“Yes, but I’m pretty certain, we’ll have run out of some things already.”
“Okay, don’t tell anyone about this. I’ll speak to Lucy.”
When Lexia walked into the cargo hold, she saw utter madness. There were wounded on the floor, one of the trucks had made it back on fire, some currently rushed to put it out. As she looked around, not one person seemed to be in charge. If she’d learnt one thing about the men and woman inside the compound, it was that they needed order. In times of crisis, they looked to their superior and right now while hunters bled out on the floor and the cargo hold filled with smoke, not one person was giving orders.
“What shall we do?” Belinda asked, standing beside her, watching the chaos.
“Go find Derrick and Marcus. Bring Alice with you. I don’t want her alone.”
“On it.”
Lexia had learned another thing while she’d been here; she led. Half the time she had no idea what she was doing but still others looked to her for orders.
Walking toward the burning truck, Lexia barked out orders. “Get that thing outside now before we all die from smoke inhalation.” Several hunters paused. “Snap to it,” Lexia yelled. “You.” She pointed at a hunter who just stood staring. “Help them move that truck out.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Walking toward the wounded, Lexia directed her next question at a young female. She was rushing from wounded to wounded, attempting to help but not having the supplies to do it. “Has Medical been informed?”
“Oh, erm, I’m not sure,” she stammered.
“Go ring them.”
“L-Maura.”
Lexia turned, smiling at Derrick’s mishap, again. He’d never called her Maura, even when she was her. “Good, you’re here. Can you take care of this mess? I need to speak to Lucy. Oh, and the truck, salvage what supplies you can.”
“I suspect none of it is worth saving,” he said, staring at the blackened, charred vehicle outside of the cargo hold, its smoke twisting into the sky.
Lexia lowered her voice. “Belinda’s just told me we have enough food for three days max. Salvage whatever you can.”
“The wolves, surely, they’ll let us pass if they know we are starving.”
“After what Lucy’s done, all bets are off. They’re not going to kill me, but I’m not sure about the rest of you.”
“Go, talk to Lucy. I’ll take charge.”
“Thanks. Hey, don’t let Alice out of your sight,” Lexia said, casting a quick glance at Alice as she wrapped ripped cloth around a bleeding man’s leg.
Lexia found Lucy in her office; when Lucy answered, her brows lifted in surprise.
“May I come in?” Lexia asked.
“I suppose.” She stepped back to allow her entry. Quickly walking past Lexia, Lucy snapped shut a book and slid some papers into her drawer. “I am rather busy, Maura. Could this not wait?”
“Not really, Mother. A
re you not aware of the situation we have going on at the moment?”
“The supply truck?”
“Yes and our food shortage problem.”
“Of course I am. I know every whisper within these walls,” Lucy replied curtly.
“Well, in that case, why are you sitting in your office instead of out there helping your people?”
Lucy laughed. “Let me tell you something, Maura. They are not my people. They are my experiments, and when they fall, I simply make more.”
“You’ll have no experiments left at the rate you’re going. We’ll be out of food within days. Please tell me you have a contingency plan.”
“Of course, I’ve already instructed the kitchens to keep aside food for those who matter, and yes before you ask, you and your precious friends are on that list.”
Are you joking, You crazy-ass bitch? “And the others?”
“I’m on the brink of achieving what I’ve always wanted and to do so I need only an elite squad. I’ve only ever wanted the best. The rest I have no need for.”
Lexia’s heart pounded with a heavy beat and her brain throbbed with anger. She fought to keep her voice steady as she spoke while clasping her hands behind her back, in case she gave into the impulse to strangle her. “What is it you hope to achieve?”
Lucy’s musical laugh filled her office as she sat down on her chair, swinging it like a child. “My silly girl, why would I tell you when you so clearly care for my people, as you call them. I am not a fool. I know you do not share my vision.”
“What is it I have to do to prove my loyalty? I have given you everything and still it’s not enough.”
Dropping her head to one side, Lucy pulled a pouty face. “Oh, my sweet, Maura, life has been so unkind to you.” Lucy stood and rested her hand on Lexia’s back, guiding her toward the door. “It isn’t your fault. It’s mine. I allowed Johnathon to raise you and he tainted your soul. You can never be, nor could ever be, what I want, but I keep you around anyway because you’re my daughter and, well, I find great pleasure in watching you scramble to keep your friends alive.”
Lucy pushed her out the exit, her head protruding between the small gap in her door. “Now, darling, do run along. I’m rather busy and you, well, you have your people to save.”
Holocaust (The Deadwood Hunter Series Book 3) Page 16
