Chapter 46
Kayla
Fear courses through me, and my heart is pounding so hard, I can barely hear anything over it.
I stare at Alicia in horror. The blood is dripping down her arms freely, and I’m torn between knowing she deserves it but also wanting to help her.
I can’t shake the fact that yes, she betrayed us; but she’s also the one who spent so many hours watching Noah for me.
It tears me apart, watching; and I wonder for the hundredth time what our chances of escape are.
I take in the vampires between us and the door, but my eyes keep getting drawn to the really scary one—the one who can control Jackson.
I feel his hand brush mine, and I resist the urge to grab it.
Neither of us are moving; we don’t want to draw the vampire’s attention back to us. And then Jackson speaks in my head.
I’m going to shift and take him down before he tries to control me again. As soon as I shift, I’ll clear a path for you. Get out of this room and run. Go hide; I’ll find you and get you out.
Jackson, that’s a terrible plan.
We don’t have any other options, Sweetheart. It will be okay; I’ll get you out.
His voice is resolute. What about you?
His fingers brush mine. I’ll be right behind you.
I intentionally brush his hand again. Don’t die.
Not planning on it.
I’m serious, Jackson. If something happens to you...I swallow hard, not sure that I understand the depths of my feelings for this guy. Surely it’s way too soon to feel this way about him.
It’s okay; this is normal for mates. For mates, it’s fast and intense.
Okay. It’s not just me, right?
He’s quiet a second. I can’t believe now is the time we’re having this conversation.
His words are pretty much a growl, even in my head. Yeah, timing might be a little bad, I admit, even as my eyes run around the room again.
We’re going to get through this, and then we’ll have this conversation again. But know this, you are not alone in your feelings. His pinky wraps around mine for just a quick touch. Ready? I hear the determination in his voice, and I take a deep breath.
I’m not stupid; I know the chances of us getting out of here are slim to none. But we’re going to at least try. Noah’s out there, and he needs me. He’s already lost our mom and dad; he won’t lose me too. I’m ready, I tell Jackson with resolve.
Go.
That’s the only warning I get. One second he’s standing beside me.
The next second, his wolf charges the vampires.
I don’t wait around to see what happens; I run towards the chaos.
There’s screaming and blood and growling; it’s a cacophony of noise.
Somebody tries to grab me, but I shove them away and continue running.
I hit the hallway and keep running. I see a fire alarm and pull it, sending the alarms shrieking and water spraying.
It adds to the chaos. Somebody grabs my arm, and I jerk away.
“Kayla!” I spin to see a tall woman with dark hair.
“I’m here to get you out. Come on.” I take a step back.
“Ava sent me; I’m Sherese. I’m from Ava and Bryce’s pack.
” Shouts sound behind us, and she grabs my hand.
“Run!” She takes off, and I run hard to keep up with her.
“We have to help Jackson,” I call out.
“Hunter’s with him.”
Two vampires appear out of nowhere, and she explodes into action. I watch as she takes both of them down. “Come on.”
We only make it a few mores steps before a door opens, and three vampires surround us. I’m starting to get a feel for them. “Sherese,” one of them says. “I knew you’d come back.” He smiles, but it’s cold.
“Not staying, Shane,” she says moving towards me.
He snaps his fingers. “Get the healer.”
They converge on me before I know what’s happening. I struggle against them, refusing to go back. “Let go!” I twist and turn, kicking out like a mad woman.
“Healer!” a voice snaps, and the command stops me.
My arms are jerked backwards at a painful angle, and I take in the vampire’s hand over Sherese’s heart.
I see the claws and go still. Sherese is breathing heavy, but she meets my eyes.
“You’re going to come with us, or I’ll rip her heart from her chest.”
“Okay, okay,” I say trying to placate him, anything to get him to leave Sherese alone.
Sherese’s eyes meet mine again, and she tries to tell me something with her eyes, but I have no idea what it is. “Whatever it is you’re planning, stop. You’re not taking the healer.”
Sherese meets my eyes, and I have no idea what to do.
“Go.” At her word, I explode into action at the same time she does.
She fights the guy that threatened her, and I free myself from whoever was holding me.
I drop to my knees and then roll and then come back up.
A vampire comes at me faster than I can track.
I take a step back as the guy stalks me stoically.
I search around me, desperately needing a weapon.
Sherese comes up behind him and stabs him.
“He won’t be down long. Let's go.” Her voice is grim, and we start running.
“Jade!” In the midst of everything, I’d forgotten about her. Sherese realizes I’m not running next to her anymore and turns back. “I have to get Jade, another healer. I’m not leaving without her.”
She doesn’t bat an eye. “Okay.” I take the lead, racing down the hallway, scanning numbers as I go.
“Kayla!”
Relief flows through me when I see Jade running towards me. “You were going to leave without me,” she accuses me.
“Incoming!” Sherese shouts. A vampire is upon us before I even see him coming.
Sherese fights him, and Jade and I get in on it too.
“Go,” Sherese demands as soon as he’s incapacitated.
She’s an amazing fighter; there’s no way we’d have made it as far as we have without her. But she’s lagging now; I can see it.
“Are you okay?” I ask as we run back to the elevators.
“Yes.” Her answer is swift, and I don’t question it.
To get back to the elevators we have to run past the laundry room.
I didn’t notice it when we were running earlier because I was looking at room numbers.
I notice it now. It’s silent as we run past it, but I stop inside anyway.
My eyes scan the room for Jackson, and my heart drops when I don’t see him.
Maybe that means he got out already. My eyes land on Alicia, who’s laying on the floor.
There’s blood all around her. I take a step towards her, but Sherese puts a hand on my arm, stopping me.
“Don’t, she’s not worth it.”
I shake off Sherese’s hold and walk over so I’m a few feet from her. Then I make up my mind. “You’re coming with us.”
I hear sounds of rebuttal from both Jade and Sherese, but I squat next to Alicia. “You can’t kill me,” I tell her, looking into her eyes. “But I’m also not leaving you here for somebody to kill you. I don’t want to die today.”
She heaves a sigh and drops her gaze. “We’re not connected that way.” Her voice is so quiet, I know only I heard her. My eyes widen as I stare at her. She looks up and rolls her eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic. I needed leverage; so I created it.”
“So the vampire serum you put in me didn’t connect us?” I ask, just as softly.
She scoffs. “No. You idiots will believe anything.”
I shake my head. “Come on. Get up.” I put my hands under her arms.
“What are you doing?” she barks at me.
“This idiot is helping you up. Now, let’s go. I’ll heal your arms along the way. Unless you want to stay for that vampire to find you again.”
She looks away a moment. “Fine.”
I turn around and meet Sherese’s eyes. She looks back at Alicia, and I can see the anger in her eyes. “Don’t trust her for a moment,” she warns me.
“I’m not planning on it. Let’s go.”
We start for the elevators once again, but Alicia stops us. “This way.” We all three stop and stare at her. “Stairs.” I glance at Sherese, and she gives me a reluctant nod.
“Let’s go,” Alicia snaps and starts down the hallway.
I don’t have time to decide whether or not to follow her.
Do I trust her? Absolutely not, but if there’s a chance we can take the stairs and avoid more vampires, then that’s what I’m going to do.
Jade and I run after her. I glance back to make sure Sherese is with us; thankfully, she is.
When we finally get to the end, Alicia puts in a code, and a panel slides out of the way, revealing a door.
Jade looks at me with wide eyes, and the three of us follow her up the steps.
When we get to the top, Alicia stops a moment before reaching out for the door handle.
“Wait.”I grab her wet hand and try not to get squeamish. Her hand tightens, like she’s going to pull away. “Let me do this,” I tell her sternly.
“You do realize I could rip your heart out, right?”
I don’t meet her eyes; it’s too painful for me. “Got it.” I try to get my heart to stop beating so fast, so I can do this.
“Aren’t you a healer, Sherese?” The words from Alicia are taunting.
“I’m not healing you,” Sherese says flatly as I finish the first wrist and move to the other.
“These are so deep. Why did you make them so deep?” I ask.
“Oh, I don’t know. I thought it would be fun,” Alicia snaps.
“You know, you could be thankful that Kayla’s even willing to heal you,” Jade interjects.
Where are you?
Jackson’s sudden voice in my head startles me. Relief flows through me so hard, I stop what I’m doing. Jackson! You’re okay?
Yeah. Where are you?
We’re in the stairwell at the end of the building, the opposite end of where they kept you.
I’m coming to you.
I look down at Alicia’s arm. “Any day now,” she mutters.
Alicia’s with us, I warn him.
She’s with you? There’s a new intensity to his voice. Are you safe at the moment?
I start healing Alicia’s second arm. You can’t kill her, I send back. The door at the bottom of the stairs is thrown open, and a furious Jackson races up the stairs. Before I know what’s happening, he’s between me and Alicia and has her up against the wall with his forearm against her throat.
“Jackson, no, don’t,” I put my hand on his back.
I hear a sound, and then there’s another male joining us.
He’s tall and muscular and goes right to Sherese.
He runs his hands down her arms and stares at her intently; I get the feeling they’re talking through their bond. Then he turns towards Alicia.