by Emma Shade
Alistair paced the area, every so often cursing under his breath. His reaction over my sister was a conundrum. They had ran in to each other in the past, I was sure of it. And whether my assumptions were right about their involvement, it wasn’t any of my business. Just like the truth had with me, Alistair’s secrets weren’t going to stay hidden long.
My life was a total disaster. I loved a woman who hadn’t fully given me her heart, my friends doubted my status with the conjurers, and now the people I once ruled were headed this way to finish what they started. Unfortunately, they weren’t after me. They were out to slaughter the love of my life.
Ashton gave the go ahead for the Contingents help and my heart sunk. Time was running out.
Even though I loved Lily Canton more than my own life, her heart belonged to another. I saw it in her eyes, even if she hadn’t admitted it to herself. Sure, the option of pushing Lily into choosing me was there, and if coerced, she might love me how much I had her. I had no doubt I’d make her happy in the long run. But if you had to force somebody to love you, it wasn’t really love, was it?
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
LILY
Ashton decided to use Ward’s back up, and with the help of his guards and weapons stash, we all had our chosen defense.
Sam picked a broadsword, arching it in the air. Paige held two guns in her hands and checked her ammunition, tucked a few clips in to her waistband, and clicked the remaining magazines in place with the heel of her hand. Alistair wielded two wicked swords, expertly twirling them in his hands.
I was slightly jealous of Alistair’s expert movements. Until I spotted Ashton doing the same with black, arched blades.
My eyes followed his movements, his muscles rippling under a tight black shirt. He tossed the blades in the air and caught them as though he were a juggling master. Dressed in the black combat pants I’d longed to see Ashton in, I swallowed back the desire rising to the surface.
Forcing my eyes away, I glimpsed at Blake. In all his glory, he was magnificent. The only weapon he selected was a single hand gun. But he flung it around like a western gunslinger. No doubt Blake’s supernatural ability was always going to be his main choice of arsenal.
I sighed. In comparison, I felt inadequate. I gained some controls over my abilities, but in order for me to do so, I had to block them completely. It was disconcerting.
Let’s not forget my coordination with weapons. According to Paige, I resembled a blundering monkey swinging a sword. My firearm training had consisted of squeezing the trigger and hoping for the best. Even during my training, Alistair cringed when target practice began. The two times I actually nailed my target was when I unloaded bullets into Con’s dead body, and when I shot Ward and his contingent buddy. But to be completely honest, I had actually aimed for Ward’s head. Not his throat.
“You’d think this was a cliché movie set with all these people and their weapons,” Sam said with a chuckle. He gestured to each group as he spoke. “First, you have the hot guys with their burly muscles, the badass girl who wants to be Lara Croft from Tomb Raider, and then the questionable adversaries we aren’t sure whether or not to trust.”
I smiled, thankful for the momentary respite. I slung my arm around Sam’s shoulder, and replied, “And which category do you fit into?”
“Why the hotties, of course,” he offered, waggling his eyebrows.
“Of course,” I agreed, and leaned in to Sam for both friendship and internal fortitude. “I love you, Sam.”
“I love you too, bestie,” he whispered. “But after this is over, I think you need to finally decide what you want.”
“Or do you mean who I want?” I added. “How am I supposed to figure it out? You saw my vision, Sam. Even fate doesn’t know who I’ll pick.”
After assuring that the others were too busy with their weapons, Sam turned to face me. With a smile, he said, “I read this book one time about a woman who travels the world to find herself. Great book, by the way. There was a quote or something about horses. Or was it elephants?” He shook his head. “Yeah, pretty sure it’s horses. Anyway, it read something like that we dash through our lives like circus performers clashing on two speeding side-by-side horses. One foot is on the horse called "fate," the other is on the one called "free will." Lily, you need to figure out which horse is which. Which one is not under your control, and which do you need to direct with strenuous energy? It’s time to pick your horse, babe. Before you get bucked off and land on your ass as the horses leave you in the dust.”
I frowned at him, and he patted me on the cheek. I muttered, “Horses.”
“Horses, babe. Saddle up and finally let go of those reins. Let what will happen, happen.” With one last pat on the cheek, Sam strolled off.
“Are you going to saddle up there, Lily?” Page teased from beside me, and I started.
I hadn’t noticed her nearness during the conversation with Sam. I rolled my eyes, and said, “That was a horrible way for Sam to explain things.”
She smacked me on the ass, and laughed. “Giddy up! We need to get you a gun.”
“I couldn’t shoot the broad side of a barn from two feet away,” I groaned, reluctantly following her.
“Well, you did get Ward in the throat,” Paige reasoned and nodded her head in the direction of Ward who spoke with a large group of men.
“I was aiming for his head,” I admitted and my face flamed.
“Now that’s not surprising!” She cackled and slapped me on the shoulder.
Once we reached the stockpile of weapons, I shuffled around nervously. I was given a hand gun, a dagger inside a sheath strapped to my thigh, and another gun to tuck into the waistband of my jeans. According to Paige, the reason for two guns was just in case I lost the first one or wasted bullets trying to unsuccessfully shoot the bad guys. Funny.
Ward announced the Enforcers were spotted heading our way, and I choked back my anxiety. I had to be strong. I had to fight. I promised myself that I wouldn’t be weak anymore. This was my moment to shine, and I had to prove everyone who doubted me wrong.
Ashton pulled me in to his arms, interrupting my inner pep talk. He held me close, and kissed me on the lips. He whispered against them, “I love you, Liliana. I’ll try to keep you safe.”
I nodded, and replied, “I know.”
“Ashton! A word please,” Ward ordered, pulling him away from me.
Blake slowly edged closer to me. He appeared hesitant on whether to say anything. Then as though a light switch clicked on, he rushed forward and yanked me in to his arms. My feet suspended in the air for a moment, and he said, “Lily, no matter what happens today, or if you’re still pissed at me, I do love you. It may not matter now, but know that I always did. You were the best thing that ever happened to me.”
It was as if he was saying farewell, and felt like my life was unraveling. Each string slowly separating until I wasn’t secure anymore. I grasped at the strings like a balloon floating away on a strong breeze. I begged, “Don’t do anything stupid, okay? I couldn’t handle it if you did. I may be mad about the lies, but I still care. I can’t imagine you not in my life.”
“I know,” he murmured, and set me on my feet. He tucked a stray hair behind my ear, and offered his signature smirk. “I’m irresistible.”
I laughed and smacked him on the arm playfully. Blake kissed me on the forehead, inhaling sharply. And just as quickly as he had pulled me in his arms, he pulled away. Blake made his way to the men gathered around Ward and glanced back at me one more time, eyes haunted and remorseful.
I couldn’t help but think that this was goodbye. The sinking feeling inside my gut screamed at me to do something. Yet, I held still and felt like I was silently drowning. Which caused me to think of why I held back. Why hadn’t I said something about the sinking feeling or called him back?
Blake was going to do something foolish. I just knew it. What or how I had no clue. But it was written all over his face. I observed him as he spoke w
ith Alistair in a hushed tone. Something crossed between the two of them and they shook hands.
My heart ached and my eyes misted. When a caravan of vehicles swarmed in to the parking lot, I blinked back the tears. Right now I had more pressing things to worry about. Like staying alive. But Blake’s haunted eyes as he glanced back at me when he walked away, was a constant presence in the back of my mind.
CHAPTER FORTY
All hell broke loose. Enforcers poured out of the vehicles as though they were clowns in a clown car. They swarmed the parking lot and attacked without mercy. Different abilities, ranging from simple telekinesis to the more skilled fighters who manipulated fire or the weather, filled the air with supernatural energy.
Ashton and his brother fought the opposing forces with their impressive swordsmanship. Each arc of the blades caught an Enforcer, slicing clean through. Ward and his comrades did the same with their weapons as well. Paige pointed her dual guns with expert precision. Sam roared with his fangs exposed and sliced through any Enforcer who came his way.
I watched the bloody scene in total astonishment. Until the ground shook below my feet and I fell to the ground.
The same man from the masquerade ball, the one that hurt Paige, stormed towards me with purpose. He stalked forward, every so often swiping his hand around, and the ground trembled. The pavement cracked with the force of an earthquake. This man was powerful, and I crab walked away as soon as he closed in on me.
Rolling to my feet, I finally let go. The power rushed through my system like a hurricane. Hair stood on end and my bones vibrated like a tuning fork. My eyes sharpened to microscopic detail and my gums burned. I focused in on the man who corralled me, pulsating the ground with each swipe of his hand.
The Enforcer finally fixated on me and hesitated for a moment, shock covering his face. That’s when I pounced, the gun I held forgotten, plummeting to the ground. I wrapped my arms around his waist, knocked him down, and bounced his head off the pavement with a crack.
We wheeled on the ground, each of us struggled to gain the upper hand. The man was stronger than me and eventually pinned me below him, folding his hands over my throat.
My air cut off and I choked to heave air in my lungs. I clawed at his fingers, drawing blood from my fingernails. He pressed down harder on my neck, and my lungs burned for oxygen. My vision begun to fade around the edges.
As a last ditch effort, I snatched his wrists and released all my pent up energy. My body used him as a ground wire, electricity arcing from my hands and in to his skin. As he shuddered, he released his fingers enough for me to draw a short breath.
I closed my eyes and concentrated on discharging everything I had in me. Suddenly, warm liquid coated my face and my mouth. The man released me in an instant, falling to the side with a thud.
I opened my eyes and swallowed something sweet and cloyingly thick. My tongue dipped out to lick the sugary fluid from my lips, and I glanced up to Ashton.
His lungs heaving with exertion, he put both of his swords in one hand and pulled me to my feet.
My attacker laid on the ground decapitated. Blood poured out of his headless trunk and pooled on the pavement. I stared at it in confusion and then I gasped. The pleasurable liquid I licked clean from my lips was his blood.
“Are you okay?” Ashton asked.
I nodded even though I wasn’t. I drank blood. And I’d liked it. That petrified me to my core. Trying to ignore the thought, I heaved air into my lungs which still burned from lack of oxygen.
Ashton’s face was covered in gore, and his blue eyes stared back at me. As though he read my mind, he kissed me on the forehead. “You’re fine, Liliana.”
A cry of pain turned his attention away from me and back to the fight. Alistair held his gut and swiped his sword with his other hand to take down his attacker before he fell to the ground in agony.
Blake rushed to his side, columns of electricity penetrating anyone who tried to get near them. Paige, on the other hand, stared at Alistair in horror. She hurried to Alistair’s side, collapsing next to him.
Ashton blurred forward, tugging Alistair away from the battle. Paige protesting the whole time. Ashton growled out, “He’s going to be fine, Paige! He’ll heal, remember?”
She nodded, clarity finally penetrating her concern.
Another Enforcer, this time a dark skinned female, ran in my direction. She held up a gun, aiming it directly at me. I froze.
“Shoot her!” Paige screamed.
Paige’s words breaking through, I yanked the gun from my waistband, unclicked the safety, and pulled the trigger. The bullet ripped through her chest and she gasped as she fell. Her gun skittered across the pavement and bounced off my foot. She clasped her chest and stared at me in horror and understanding. She was dying.
Another Enforcer rushed to her side, crying out, “No, no, no, noooo!”
As she fell forward into the arms of the distraught man, I noticed wedding bands on their fingers. Tears pooled along my lashes. I killed her. Murdered somebody’s wife in cold blood. I choked as she inhaled a ragged breath and exhaled her last one, blood dribbling out of her mouth.
I stumbled back and bumped into Ashton. He wrapped a blood crusted arm around my waist, and murmured, “I’m sorry you had to do that.”
The mourning husband looked at me in disbelief, and full of tears, I mouthed, “I’m so sorry.”
Paige sighed, and said, “It was either her or you, Lily. He knows that.”
“I killed her,” I whispered.
“I know, Liliana,” Ashton crooned. “I’m so sorry.”
Then, like the parting of the red sea, Leslie strolled through the Enforcers who fought for their lives. Unfortunately for the conjurers, they were losing substantially.
Nobody had noticed Leslie just yet, and her eyes focused solely on me. I shivered at the malice aimed in my direction. Time stood still as she strolled forward.
Blake, as though he sensed her, turned and narrowed his eyes. He cautioned, “Watch out for her. She’s got some...”
And then like leaves in a tornado, they all were blown away from me and tossed several feet away. The wind whipped around me, the hair from my ponytail thrashing against my face.
My friends fought against the gale-force winds, trying to reach me. Their feet slid along the ground as the squall thrust against them, and it reminded me of the newscasters fighting against a hurricane at full force.
Leslie approached with a Cheshire cat smile. I stood my ground and held strong. No matter what this woman planned to do to me, I wasn’t going down without a fight.
“Well, hello again, Lily,” she taunted. “So nice to see you.”
“Screw you, Leslie,” I sneered.
She laughed, tossing her head back as if I told a hilarious joke. Then her laugh ended immediately, and she said, “You going to finally give up? Or do all your friends have to die for you to surrender?”
“No, I won’t give up and they aren’t going to die. I promise you that,” I hissed.
She shrugged. “Don’t be so sure of yourself.”
Yet, I was sure she forgot one little tidbit. Sam wasn’t caught up in the airstream behind me.
Smirking as Sam strolled up behind her, I said, “I’m pretty sure of myself. Actually, I’m quite sure your forgetting one tiny bit about me.”
She sneered, “What’s that?”
“That I have friends and people who love me.”
She rolled her eyes and waved an indignant hand in the air. “Love never gets you anywhere, Lily. It’s a weakness.”
Sam edged closer to Leslie, practically stalking her. I shook my head at her stupidity. “Love is everything. Without it, we’re as good as dead.”
Sam sprung forward, wrapped his arm around her, and pressed his bloody sword against her throat. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, “Sometimes love can save your life. The people who truly love you, would kill to keep you out of harm's way.”
Leslie stiffened at
first as Sam’s sword dug into her neck. Then her eyes met mine and she leered. “You think that your friends are going to save you?”
“I guarantee it,” I shot back. “But I don’t need to them to rescue me. I can save myself.”
I channeled my supernatural energy again. I held my hand out, and columns of purple lightning sprouted from my palm. She eyed my hands and cackled. “Lily, you realize that if you kill me, you put a death sentence on your head?”
“Apparently I already have one now, Leslie,” I replied, and lifted my hand to release the voltage in her direction.
A hand grasped mine, stopping me in my tracks. Blake’s voice broke through as he said, “Don’t!”
But he was too late. The bolt shot through the air and headed directly towards his sister. Her eyes widened and time slowed to a standstill.
Then I realized what I’d done. By releasing so much pent up energy, once it hit Leslie, it was also going to penetrate Sam in the process.
“No!” I screamed and started to run, but skidded to a stop in surprise.
The man, whose wife I murdered, jumped in front of Leslie, taking the full assault of electricity. The Enforcer’s skin singed as he shuddered to the ground before going still. I gaped in horror, yet at the same time, thankful that it hadn’t struck Sam.
That was all it took for Sam to jump back and Leslie to take control again. In my shocked state, she reached me before anyone could react. Not even Blake.
A wicked, sharp knife pressed against my throat, pricking the skin.
The wind died down, allowing the rest of my friends to slide to a stop in front of me. When they stepped forward to attack, Leslie sunk the blade in further and a drop of blood started to trickle down my neck.
“Don’t move or I’ll slice her throat,” Leslie cautioned, stepping back and dragging me with her.
I was frozen, afraid she’d do it. I was part vampire, yes, but I wasn’t able to heal without help. And I knew Ashton wasn’t going to reach me in time if she acted on her threat.
