Curse Breaker

by Karina Espinosa

  “Tell me!” he yelled in my face.

  I flinched, then answered smugly, “It’s been under your nose this whole time.”

  He jerked as if I’d slapped him. “What?”

  “I am the cure.”

  I was lying through my teeth, but it was all part of my plan. I stood there, swaying drunkenly as if I’d tip over at any moment.

  “That’s impossible,” Isaac muttered as he watched me more closely, but I could tell he was intrigued.

  “The cure runs through my veins. I was the only way to keep it safe. It was foolproof,” I chided. The others were starting to come toward us. Amy’s eyes had grown to the size of saucers.

  I saw a myriad of emotions flit through Isaac’s eyes. The possibility was there, and the idea had merit. If I knew how to do it, I might have done it from the very beginning.

  His nostrils flared as realization finally hit him. He’d almost killed me, the vessel that held the cure.

  “You—” he sputtered, stumbling back in shock.

  I took a step forward.

  This was it, my opening. He thought I was weak, that I had no more fight in me. How wrong he was. I hadn’t pulled my wolf out yet. That was my reserved energy. He stood there, numb and in shock. Now he was the defeated one. I could go in for the kill. I could—

  The doors to the church burst open and a man walked in with none other than Sebastian Steel. The man’s hand was outstretched, his palm toward us shooting out a beam of yellow electricity that hit Isaac as he stood wide-eyed beside me. The impact of the jolt caused his body to seize, and he stood paralyzed in front of me.

  “Now, Mackenzie!” Bash yelled as they continued to walk toward us.

  I didn’t question him or how the hell he knew what was going on.

  I turned toward Isaac, his eyes still saucers of horror as they darted from side-to-side between me and the man who electrified him as if it were a tennis match.

  “Good luck in hell, Isaac.” I grinned and effortlessly pulled out my wolf, extending my claws and swiping across his neck, decapitating him in one fell swoop.

  His body and head fell to the ground in a loud thud that echoed in the otherwise quiet cathedral. As I watched the last of the Elders expire, I released a pent-up breath. It was over. Finally.

  My head was lowered, but I lifted it up to meet a pair of ocean blue eyes. Bash stood beside a man dressed in an impeccably-pressed suit. He had a short, trim beard, and a head full of dark hair that fell to his shoulders in light waves. After what I just witnessed, I knew he was definitely a warlock.

  “Bash,” I sighed, wanting nothing more than to run to him, but refraining. I had so many questions. The others came closer and surrounded me.

  “Perfect timing, boss.” Jackson grinned.

  Sebastian shrugged. “What matters is that I got here.”

  I eyed the warlock, who stared just as intently at me with a smirk that tugged up one corner of his mouth. I frowned. “Are you going to introduce us?” I nodded toward the mystery man.

  Bash cleared his throat. “This is Waldo Wagner.”

  I could have fallen over from the million concussions I probably had. This was Waldo Wagner?

  “What?” everyone practically yelled at the same time. Everyone except Jackson. He didn’t look surprised at all.

  “A pleasure to meet you all.” Waldo bowed slightly.

  “Wait a minute, back the fuck up.” I held up my hands and shook my head.

  “I told you her vocabulary wasn’t necessarily the best,” Bash muttered apologetically.

  I ignored his little jab. “How the hell did you know what was happening?”

  Bash sighed. “Mackenzie, do you really think I wouldn’t know? I’ve known from the very beginning. And trust me, it’s taken all my willpower to stay away.” He tightened his fists and clenched his jaw with visible restraint. “But I couldn’t just sit around and not do anything. So, I went in search of Waldo.”

  “How’d you find out?” I asked, my eyes never leaving his.

  “I had a man on the inside.” He winked.

  I whirled on Jackson. “Traitor!”

  He lifted his shoulders. “Sorry,” he winced. “It was for your own well-being, Kenz. All good intentions.”

  Good intentions, my ass.

  “Now who’s that guy?” Bash raised a brow and pointed to Mason, who was seated on one of the altar steps, clutching his wounded shoulder.

  “That’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” I answered with a shrug.

  Mason rolled his eyes.

  Ignoring him, I turned my attention back to Bash, crossed my arms over my chest, and popped my hip. “Well?” I raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to kiss me or not?”

  Bash chuckled. “There’s my girl.” He raced toward me and lifted me off the ground, his mouth finding mine eagerly. I wrapped my arms around his neck, loving the way his muscles bunched. As I melted into him, I relaxed for the first time in weeks.

  “Get a room!” Amy yelled, followed by a chorus of chuckles.

  I laughed and pulled away, sliding down Bash’s body. This was different. We usually didn’t do public displays of affection, but I needed it now. I needed him.

  “About this cure,” Waldo interrupted. “May I be of some assistance?”

  11

  I left the church on my own two legs. Even after repeated protests that I needed to go on a run to heal, I brushed them all away. I was a mess, I looked like I’d been run over by a truck , and the looks I got on the street confirmed it, but I didn’t care. Waldo Wagner offered to make sure the cure was conducted properly so the same mistake that happened to him, didn’t happen to Amy. He said since he created the original serum he’d performed the ritual for others and it was a success. I could have kissed the man. Well, no, not really, but you know what I mean. I didn’t care about healing my body; all I cared about was Amy getting the cure, so that was where I was headed. To get the cure.

  I made it to the bus station in record time, ignoring the shocked looks from people as I weaved through the crowd. Luckily, I had everything memorized in case I lost the burner phone ... which I had. I approached the locker and punched in the code. As the locker door opened with a soft click, I saw the wooden box. I opened it and sighed with relief when I saw the cure nestled securely inside. Thank God. So many things could have gone wrong.

  With this task complete, I shut the locker and left the station with my most prized possession. We were all meeting at my apartment now that it was safe. My things should already be back there from Bobby’s house, since Jackson and Amy brought them after I left to turn myself over to the vampires.

  I got to my apartment and everyone was there, even Mason. That made me raise a brow. We hadn’t shared this little tidbit with him. He wasn’t in the know about the cure, so I wondered why he was still there.

  I handed the box to Waldo and he took it to the kitchen, where he’d set up a temporary laboratory.

  “What are you still doing here?” I asked Mason.

  “Welcoming as ever,” he snorted.

  I rolled my eyes. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just surprised. I thought after you killed your fill of vamps and after knowing the Elders were dead, you’d be off to your next hunt.”

  He nodded. “You’re not wrong. I was just waiting for you. I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye.”

  “Oh,” I mumbled, not really knowing what else to say.

  His smile broadened. “You’re tougher than they say. It’s been nice fighting alongside you.”

  I didn’t know whether to take that as a compliment or not, but decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. “Thanks. Maybe you should re-think your plan to kill all vampires. There are some good ones out there.”

  He exhaled loudly. “This was a one-time deal, Mackenzie. You know what I am.”

  “And you know what I am. You come for mine, and I’ll come for you,” I threatened, looking him straight in the eyes.

  Followi
ng alpha code, he didn’t look away. “Duly noted.”

  We were in a stare-off, and I was determined not to blink first. I didn’t have many vampire friends. Hell, I could count them on one hand. But they were still my friends. If I ever found out they were being hunted by one of these hunters, I’d go to the ends of the earth to find and destroy them. That was a promise.

  Mason finally looked away. “Goodbye, Mackenzie. Hopefully we don’t run into each other again.”

  “Hopefully not.”

  With that, he left my apartment and was gone.

  “Everything okay?” Lucian asked behind me.

  I took a deep breath before turning and facing him. “Yeah, just peachy.” I smiled tightly.

  “I heard,” he replied. “Way to be subtle, Pet.”

  “Subtlety is not my forte. I’m a straight shooter.”

  “That, I know very well.” Looking uncomfortable, he peered down at his feet. “I just spoke with your father.”

  “Oh?”

  “The jet is waiting for me at the airport.”

  I hated this. I wanted to scream at the unfairness of it all. But if Lucian stayed, there would be repercussions. He turned on his own people, and it didn’t matter if what they were doing was wrong. And of all supernaturals, he sided with Lycans. To the vampires, that was an unforgivable act. He was no longer safe here, even with the Elders gone.

  “I’ll visit all the time,” I promised. “And as soon as I can, I’ll make it safe for you, Lucian. I’ll make it my mission.”

  He grinned. “Ah, Pet. Don’t stress. I’ll be fine, and I’m sure we’ll see each other soon. For me, time moves fast. Next thing you know, you’ll be in Scotland as Queen of the Lycans.”

  I snorted. “Don’t hold your breath.”

  “Call me psychic, but I see it already.” His grin widened. “You know what they’re calling you now?”

  “Who?”

  “The few vampires who survived, and with whom I’m still in contact. They’ve given you a name.”

  I sighed. “Great. Just what I need; vamps and more name-calling when I’m out in the street.”

  Lucian chuckled and shook his head. “No, Pet, it’s not like that. They know what you’re doing for Amy. They’re calling you ‘Curse Breaker’.”

  My cheeks reddened, and I was just about to tell him how ridiculous that sounded when Jackson popped his head out of the kitchen. “He’s ready.”

  Lucian and I both looked at one another and walked to the kitchen together. Bash, Waldo, Amy, and Jackson stood around the counter. Waldo held the vial in his hand.

  “The cure is ready to be administered. You might want to lie down for this,” Waldo said to Amy.

  I could tell she was nervous. Her emerald green eyes looked up at me with trepidation and excitement. Amy was petite, but in that moment, she looked even smaller than she already was.

  I held her hand. “Come on. Let’s go to the couch.” I led her to the living room and everyone followed. She sat down, and I sat on the coffee table in front of her.

  She chuckled nervously. “I really thought you had the cure in you.”

  I smiled. “I had to make something up. He was kicking my ass. Lucky for us, he bought it.”

  “Yeah, he did,” she whispered. “His guard was down. You could have killed him, even without the guys walking in. I saw it.”

  I nodded. “It doesn’t matter anymore. What matters is what’s happening right now. Are you ready?”

  She blew out a shaky breath. “Yeah, I am.”

  Waldo stepped beside me. “You must drink it all,” he instructed, handing the vial to Amy.

  With unsteady, tattooed hands, she took the vial. She peered at its contents, then up to me, and then to everyone else in the room before landing back on me. “Bottoms up,” she announced, and threw it back.

  Jackson sat next to me on the coffee table, watching expectantly until she drank the last drop. Waldo took the empty vial from her.

  “Babe, are you okay?”

  Amy stared at Jackson through glazed eyes. He took her hand, but she wasn’t really seeing him. It was as if she was seeing through him. She swayed side to side until her eyes rolled back in her head and she fell against the couch. I caught her before she tumbled to the ground.

  “Easy there,” I coaxed as Jackson and I situated her on the sofa so she was lying down.

  “What’s wrong with her?” Jackson demanded from Waldo, furious. His chocolate eyes flashed a golden warning.

  “Relax, Jack.” I held up a hand to stop his charge toward the warlock.

  “She’s in transition right now,” Waldo answered. “Now we wait.”

  “Calm down.” Bash put a soothing hand on Jackson’s shoulder. “It’s part of the process. She’ll be okay.”

  The next few hours were spent huddled around Amy, watching and waiting. According to Waldo, it was almost the same process as becoming a vampire, except in reverse. A conversion was working its way through her body, flushing out all of her vampire parts, working its way from the inside out.

  Lucian tried to stay for the whole process, but unfortunately, he had to get to the airport. He couldn’t stay here any longer. It wouldn’t be safe. He said his goodbyes and kissed Amy on the forehead, wishing her well.

  Day morphed into night before we saw it.

  “Guys!” Jackson yelled, and we all ran over. “Look,” he muttered.

  He pointed to her porcelain-like skin that looked like stone, which we saw had started to gain its color, making way for a blush on her cheeks. The translucent filter on her skin disappeared, and for the first time I realized how drastically Amy had changed when she became a vampire. Even her tattoos lost their brilliance and dulled a little.

  We watched with amazement as the process continued all throughout her body, and were startled when she gasped and shot up from the couch.

  Jackson was the first one by her side. “Amy?”

  She was breathing heavily. She’s breathing!

  “Jack?” she gasped, looking around the room, disoriented.

  “I’m here, babe, I’m here.” He hugged her and she clutched him like a life raft, shutting her eyes tightly.

  Bash came to my side and nudged me, tilting his head toward the kitchen to give them privacy.

  I looked down at Jackson and Amy. Waldo was now with them, checking her vitals.

  I nodded to Bash and followed him to the kitchen. He was so big and muscular. I could see the coiled muscles on his back moving with each step he took.

  He ran a hand through his midnight hair and looked at me with cold blue eyes. “I’m angry with you, Mackenzie.”

  Of course he was. I knew this conversation was coming, I just thought I had more time.

  “I know.” I didn’t deny it.

  “You should have come to me. I should have been the one protecting you,” he growled.

  I could tell he was holding back. He was angrier than his words allowed, but he was refraining from showing me the depths of his ire.

  “I needed to protect you,” I refuted, lifting my chin defiantly. “And if I had to do it again, I wouldn’t change a single thing.”

  He frowned. “What do I need protection from?”

  “Charles, the Summit, take your pick. I drag you into so much crap, Bash.” Agitated, I started to pace. “Everything bad that happens is because of me, and even when it’s not, it’s still my fault. I can’t do that to you anymore.”

  His eyes were fierce as they locked onto me. “What are you trying to say, Mackenzie?”

  “I don’t know.” I shrugged.

  “Are you ending things with me?” he growled, the fury just under the surface. His eyes flashed into sapphire orbs and his jaw ticked in exasperation.

  “I’m too selfish to do that,” I looked down, “but I’m selfless enough to know that I can’t keep involving you in my messes.”

  “Look at me, Mackenzie,” Bash demanded. When I didn’t, he strode toward me and gripped my chin,
lifting my head to look at him. “I love you. Every single part of you. No matter what, that will never stop. I don’t care what you do, Mackenzie. You can burn this whole system down, and I’ll stand by you, Summit be damned. Do you understand me?”

  I could only stare at him. My throat constricted and I couldn’t speak. If I did, it would come out as a sob. I didn’t deserve him. He had to know that. I was fucked up, and I came with a lot of baggage. I had to do better. For him. Hell, for my fuckin’ self.

  “Kenz!” Amy burst into the kitchen, killing the moment, a bright smile on her face. “I’m human!”

  She ran to me and jumped into my arms. I caught her with ease and that’s when I heard it. Her heartbeat. Amy was human.

  I went for a run, but unfortunately, I had waited too long to heal and I was left with light scarring on my back from the lashes. Sebastian was more upset than I was. I thought it would bother me more, but I just shrugged it off. It would be a reminder of the evil some people were capable of inflicting.

  After a full night’s rest followed by most of the morning, I woke up to find Bash in my kitchen with the coffee pot already turned on. My hero.

  “You,” I pointed to his bare chest as he stood there in his boxer briefs, “are a god among men for making coffee.” I went to the pot and poured some in my favorite mug.

  “Or maybe I just know you too well,” he replied with a grin.

  “That too.” I winked. “Where did everyone go?” I’d passed out soon after celebrating Amy’s transformation. After my run, we went out for dinner and I was just too exhausted to be my usual delightful, witty self.

  “Waldo went back to his hotel room, and I think Jackson and Amy went to find a hotel room,” Bash chuckled.

  “They’re going to be fuckin’ like rabbits,” I murmured. “Not that they weren’t before, but it looks like things are finally back to normal.”

  “As normal as they can be,” he said. “Go shower and get dressed. I want to take you somewhere.”

  I raised a brow. “On a date?”