Authors: Jennifer Mccullah
“I’m so sorry,” Ruby began, “I
don’t know how they knew we were here.”
There was now banging on the steel
door. This was not a normal home invasion; it was the BC. They would just have
to fight without any plan of attack. Allison’s heart pounded and seemed to leap
into her throat.
“Don’t apologize,” Walter told
Ruby, “They have their ways and you did the right thing coming here.”
He grabbed Ruby by both arms and
pulled her in, pressing her lips against his. In spite of their current
situation, Allison laughed a little and so did Vinnie. It was sweet, but a
little gross at the same time. When they broke apart, Ruby’s cheeks were bright
pink.
“Well, it seems we are all in for a
fight sooner than we expected,” Ruby said.
Ursula let out a tiny whimper.
“It’s going to be okay,” Vinnie
assured her.
“They weren’t supposed to come
here,” Ursula said.
“I know. We were supposed to go to
them,” Vinnie said.
Tears were rolling down her cheeks;
her shoulders were shaking in silent sobs. Walter looked struck with horror. He
understood what she was trying to say.
“What did you do?” Walter asked in
a quiet voice.
All eyes in the room were fixed on
Ursula. No one seemed aware of the banging just on the other side of the door.
“They knew you would return here,”
she said to Ruby in a pleading voice.
“Of course they did,” Ruby said in
an even tone.
“They approached me two days ago
while Daddy was gone. It was Jackson and a young man. They wanted to know the
last time you came here. I told them it was months ago, but that wasn’t enough
for Jackson.”
“He didn’t,” Ruby said.
She began to cry harder.
“What?” Allison asked.
“Jackson has a way to find out if
you are lying among other things. With a simple touch of your temples, he knows
your hopes, dreams, deepest fears, biggest embarrassments, everything,” Cain
said.
“All he had to do was touch me, and
he knew that my biggest fear was losing Daddy to the same people who killed my
mother and my best friend. He told me that if you showed up, I was to let him
know. If I didn’t, he promised to come and kill Daddy in the most slow, painful
way imaginable. He said if I let him know when you arrived, they would not come
here again. He promised they would wait for you to go to them. He even promised
not to kill any of you.”
“Ursula,” Walter whispered.
“I had to,” she cried, “Ruby, I was
hoping, praying you would not show up here at all.”
“Of course you were,” Ruby said,
walking over and rubbing her arm.
Ruby may have understood, but
Allison wanted to attack Ursula for her betrayal and utter stupidity.
“So you just got us all killed
because you trusted the word of the man who killed your mother and mine? By the
way, do not call her your best friend. If you were any friend to my mother, you
could never sell her family out. You’re just a coward,” Allison said.
Every muscle in her body was
convulsing with anger. Ursula collapsed as if the weight of Allison’s words had
rendered her unable to stand. She began sobbing louder and louder. Allison did
feel a twinge of pity, though it was subdued when she considered their
situation. Either way, Ursula was no good like this. Allison crouched down
beside her, making every effort not to yell or attack her.
“Look, there’s no way to change
what happened. We’re all in this together now, you and Walter have to fight if
there’s any hope of survival.”
“I am so sorry.”
“Now’s not the time. We need a
plan.”
“We need these,” Walter said.
He opened a trunk, filled with
weapons.
“I didn’t think you could use guns
or things like that against The BC.”
“No, not guns or most weapons, but
these are special.”
Everyone walked over to the trunk
and looked inside. There were large shining daggers, all with ornate carving.
They looked expensive and special.
“These have been in my family for
years. They are supposed to be blessed by the gods themselves. I don’t know
about all that, but I do know they’re powerful. Their magic is powerful enough
to slice through any protective charms. I only have five, though.”
“One for each of you,” Cain said.
“No, Cain,” Ruby said.
“Look, I grew up with these guys, I
was trained by them. Not to brag or anything, but I was the best fighter in my
age group. I can handle them without a dagger.”
“What’s our plan then?” Vinnie
asked.
“Get outside and fight our way to
the cars,” Walter said, eyeing the other steel door, the one leading to the
outside, “Everyone grab a dagger, and we need to get the potions put into
containers. We have to carry as many as possible. Once we make it to the cars,
we leave. That is the only way to buy ourselves more time.”
Ruby threw a glass vial on the
ground. Within seconds, a greyish, black smoke began billowing from the spot
where it hit. Soon the entire basement was filled with the smoke, though it did
not seem to inhibit Allison’s vision. The smell was horrendous, though.
Walter opened the basement door. He
did not open the door at the top of the steps, but the one leading to the
outside. As everyone expected, there were members of The BC waiting on the
other side of the door, ready to ambush them. Several men rushed in to find
themselves stumbling around, unable to see. Once Allison’s group was outside,
they were confronted by two stragglers. Cain attacked one of the men, knocking
him to the ground. Allison watched for a moment, impressed by his fighting
prowess.
There was not much time for
admiration, however. The second man was advancing on Ruby until she pulled out
a handful of bright maroon powder, tossing it toward his face. While the powder
was in flight, he tried to retreat, but it was too late. He fell to his knees,
screaming in agony. Giant blisters were forming all over his face. Allison felt
her stomach lurch. Cain was on top of the man he attacked, landing blow after
vicious blow until the man seemed to be unconscious.
“Let’s go,” Ruby said.
The group hurried to the cars,
hoping to escape. When they rounded the side of the house, they realized that
would not be an option. Jackson, Adam and several other people were standing
among the vehicles, as if they knew they were going to run.
“So we’re fighting,” Ruby said.
They all nodded. Everyone in the
group had a pocket full of useful concoctions, designed to give them the upper
hand. Everyone except for Cain also had a dagger.
“Rush them?” Allison asked.
“Rush them,” Ursula agreed.
Allison noticed she had a crazed look
in her eyes, but she preferred this Ursula to the one who was a sobbing mess.
Cain threw one vial from the side of the house, which landed among the BC,
breaking on the gravel. As the smoke billowed up, they all rushed on the men.
Through the haze, Allison found Adam, punching him in the jaw with all her
might.
“Allison?” he asked.
“Where are Sam and Jane?”
“They’re fine. They’re safe.”
She punched him again.
“Don’t be like that,” he said in a
mocking voice.
Another man grabbed her, knocking
her to the ground. She struggled, finding her dagger and plunging it deep into
his side. He released his grip. She looked up to see Vinnie getting the better
of two blinded men. Cain was fine, too. Her heart sank when she realized the
noise had attracted the other BC members who had been in the house. They were
now out-numbered, but she fought on beside her group. They were doing well
considering the odds.
Members of the BC continued to
fall, but not without a fight. Allison learned of their magic first hand when a
tall, fierce looking woman grabbed her wrists. The skin on skin contact sent a
painful electric current through her entire body. Every muscle tightened and
the pain was blinding. She was afraid she might die right then, but Walter
realized what was happening. He was there in an instant, throwing a green
liquid on the woman. The woman became rigid, and fell to the ground.
They were beginning to regain their
sight. Allison took another vial of the blinding potion, but before she could
break it on the ground, someone grabbed her hand. Adam was prying it from her
fingers. He threw the vial with all his might and it landed somewhere in the
grass.
“Not again,” he said, grabbing her.
Everyone around her was still
fighting; no one noticed when Adam picked her up.
“I have her, let’s go,” he yelled
to Jackson.
Allison stopped fighting. If she
just went along, maybe they would kill her, but everyone would be safe. If the
BC would leave right now, she was sure between Ruby and Ursula, they could find
Sam. What was there to consider? Everyone she loved would be safe, and that was
all that mattered.
Jackson looked at Allison.
“Call them off. Make everyone leave
and I will go with you,” Allison said.
Jackson put his fingers to his own
forehead and every member of The BC looked at him. No one said a word. They all
stopped what they were doing and walked away. They walked to the edge of
Walter’s property, disappearing into the woods.
Adam carried Allison, who did not
struggle. She was ready to die for her family and friends. They, however, were
not ready for her to die. Vinnie noticed what was happening and ran toward
them, stabbing Adam in the chest. Allison was sure he had pierced a lung or
maybe even Adam’s heart. He and Allison hit the ground. Allison’s head hit the
gravel with a dull thud. She glanced at Adam who was laughing while he writhed
in pain. The sticky blood flowed from his chest. She did not have to be a
doctor to realize this could be a fatal wound.
“Allison, I want you to know
something.”
“What?”
“I’m glad I’m dying, I’m so tired
of all this. If we had been two normal people, I think we could have had
something special.”
She stared, bewildered. Allison
tried to think of something to say, but there were no words. Her eyes filled
with tears and she sat in silence while Adam took his final breath. When she
looked up, she could see that Jackson had called his group back, and the
fighting continued around her. Walter was on the ground, bleeding. Jackson was
advancing on Ruby. He moved his hands and seemed to hit Ruby with an invisible
punch. The cracking sound was sickening, Allison was sure it was the sound of
bones breaking.
“No!” she screamed while Jackson
approached her grandmother’s weakened form, “You want me? I’m here.”
He looked up at her.
“Just you and me. Whoever lives
wins.”
Jackson laughed while Allison
backed up. She wasn’t sure what she was saying, but as long as the focus was
off Ruby, she did not care.
“What are your terms?” Jackson
asked, amused.
“Everyone from both groups has to
stay out of it. If you can overpower me, get the upper hand then you can take
me, kill me, whatever. Just leave them out of it.”
She heard protests from everyone,
which she ignored, “It has to be out there,” she pointed to the far end of the
yard, near the pond.
Jackson laughed.
“Are you afraid?” she asked.
“No. I just can’t believe you’re
making this so easy for me. Humor me. Why does it have to be out there? Are you
going to drown me?”
“If I get the chance. I want it
away from everyone else, no interference.”
“No one from The Blood Coven is to
interfere,” he ordered, turning serious.
They all nodded.
“That goes for my group. Whatever
happens; let it happen. And in return, you all leave them alone?” she asked
Jackson.
“Of course.”
They tried to protest, but Allison
urged them to stop. “Take care of Ruby and Walter. That’s more important right
now.”
She could see they were still
breathing, but both were injured. Many of the BC were also scattered on the
ground, wounded or dead. They, too, had enough to keep themselves occupied.
“Allison, protect your gift no
matter what. It’s your magic, don’t let anyone take it,” Cain said.
Allison looked at Ruby who was
being attended to by Vinnie, “I am protecting my gift.”
“How do you suggest we do this?”
Jackson asked with an arrogant smirk.
Allison did not know what to say as
she glanced over the pond. She had managed to stop the fighting and draw
Jackson’s attention to her. Now what? She had no idea what she was doing.
“Just take me if you can,” she
said, trying to sound confident.
He laughed a little before his
expression became vicious. He gave a flick of the wrist, similar to what he had
done to Ruby, but Allison was fast enough to move. Whatever type of attack that
was, it missed her. She grabbed a vial full of liquid from her pocket and threw
it at him. She wasn’t even sure what she had thrown. He dodged it and examined
the contents soaking into the ground.
“Ooh, that would have been
painful,” he said.
He began advancing on her while she
took cover behind a tree, fumbling through her pockets to see what she had
left. She found the maroon powder that Ursula had called, ‘boiling powder’. She
had to make this count. When she came from behind the tree, she was within
three feet of Jackson.
Right before she was about to toss the
powder, she heard a scream. The voice was unmistakable. Someone was not keeping
their word. Someone had attacked her grandmother once again. The unexpected
noise took Jackson by surprise as well, because he was staring across the yard
when Allison looked at him. She threw the powder while he was preoccupied.
Jackson’s shouts were immediate and
he hit the ground, covering his face. This was the chance to rid the world of
him for good. She pulled out the dagger, set on ending his life. Before she
could deliver a fatal wound, he grabbed her wrist, forcing himself up and to
his feet.