Then I remembered Sam.
Luke followed me as I ran outside. Blood tainted the ground next to a long groove that ended abruptly. Only her body wasn’t at the end of the indentation.
I looked around at the other footprints that marred the sand, then into the sky. Did the doctor take her? Did she fly away to safety?
“Sam!” I yelled.
Luke stood close behind me, antsy and anxious. I scanned the surrounding trees. We needed to get moving if we wanted to make it home in one piece.
I bit my lip and looked toward the road. The
Gas and Go
was just beyond the row of summer rentals. If we could just get there, I could call Nicholas to come get us. Maybe we’d be lucky. So far there weren’t any vamps around.
“We need to run.”
As Luke and I sprinted with all our might to the
Gas and Go,
all the tragedy I’d caused tumbled down upon me, crushing my spirit. First Katie’s death, then Dad’s and Sam’s abduction, and now quite possibly Phil and Nicholas’ capture; all of them suffered needlessly because of me. I’d even put Luke in harm’s way by allowing him to come along tonight. Everything had become a complete mess because of my decisions, because of my stupidity, and now, when Nicholas needed the talisman the most, I’d lost it to his mother. And though she promised to protect him, I knew from the past when it came down to her needs or his, she picked herself first—even if it meant Nicholas’ death.
I moaned at the gravity of it all. If only I’d told everyone the truth from the beginning, then we could have worked together to conquer this. But instead, in my stubbornness and efforts to keep secrets, I’d thrown everyone into harm’s way. After Myhail and Alora put Cain in a coma, they’d rule with a relentless army, forcing humanity into slavery for whatever bidding they desired.
Maybe I should consider the prophesy. Maybe I should embrace my fate. Maybe I should beg Scarlett’s help and usher her, Phil and Nicholas into heaven, after all. Everyone would be better off. Who cares if it would crush me.
If it weren’t for the fact we ran for our lives, I would have insisted Scarlett take me to Cain right away.
Luke saw the sign. “We made it!”
I sighed and slowed down. A tear of thankfulness fell softly down my cheek. First thing we’d do once the guys showed up was take Luke home. But we celebrated too soon.
Twenty-five feet from our goal, a wall of vampires, all dressed in black, appeared from nowhere, blocking our path. We stopped short.
“Are they
them
?” Luke whispered, out of breath.
“Yes,” I mumbled, throwing up a shield against the overpowering bloodlust they radiated, making me want to puke.
“What do we do?”
“Pray for a miracle.”
A droplet of sweat ran down my cheek as I searched for somewhere to escape.
Nicholas! Phil! Scarlett! Please! Where are you?
“It’s a little late for a walk,” one of them heckled, a voice I recognized—Jackson from the football team.
They all laughed as Todd stepped forward, the light catching his luminous face. “Julia?”
My hands clenched into fists at my sides. If only I could land a punch right in his smug vampire face and break his nose.
“Where are your bodyguards?” he asked, blatantly checking out the surroundings.
“They’ll be here any second.” I tried to keep my voice calm as my chest heaved in huge waves of panic. “So I’d be careful, if I were you.”
A collective “ooh” came from the group. Todd shushed them, growing impatient. “Where’s Sam?”
I shrugged and noted his new honey wasn’t at as his side. “Probably staking Rochelle. Or is she not your girlfriend anymore?”
Laughter echoed from the guys.
“How is that any of your business?” he asked with a scowl.
“How is Sam’s whereabouts any of yours?”
He cocked his head to the side. “Because she’s my girlfriend.”
“Not from what I’ve heard.”
Another “ooh” followed Todd’s laugh. He shook his head. “You have a lot of nerve, which is quite impressive since you’re about to die.”
I smirked. “Maybe you haven’t heard what happens to vampires when they mess with me.” I hoped somehow my reputation preceded me. “But then again they don’t really live to talk about it.”
They responded with a hiss.
“What are you doing?” Luke demanded quietly, writhing in fear on the inside, as he stood ridged next to me.
“Stalling,” I breathed and continued to pray between insults.
Luke followed my lead as I took a step backward. The temptation to run twitched my muscle fibers, willing me to pick either fight or flight. Neither would get us very far. Todd’s patience grew weary with each insult and without a miracle, the football team would happily devour my overly delicious blood in seconds.
“So, if you’re done asking questions,” I suggested, “we’ll be on our way.”
I motioned for Luke to cross the street opposite the drooling group of leeches when he was whisked away before my eyes. I reached out and grabbed thin air in a panic. My scream rang through the night as jealousy and confusion billowed out from the advancing group.
“I said to wait,” Todd barked and the group slowed, stopping a few feet from me.
“Where’s my brother?” I wailed, tempted by a brief wave of insanity to rush him and squeeze his neck. Instead I moved backward, keeping my cool. “I promise you all will die if he’s hurt!”
Baffled, Todd scanned the horizon and then at all of his lackeys, wearing a frown. I searched, too, but for feelings of pain and euphoria from the hidden vampire downing his blood. But I sensed nothing.
“My boyfriend is the slayer,” I yelled. “He’ll hunt each of you down and send you all to hell if you hurt Luke!”
Not even a blip of fear hit the radar at my threat like it had with the L.A. fang gang. Only bewilderment crossed their pasty faces. Nicholas’ reputation must not have had a chance to run through their rumor mill yet—all newly changed.
Todd smiled hugely. “How would he ever know?”
Hate and evil poured out from his dark eyes, practically choking me. The vampire inside had erased anything remotely virtuous inside him, if there was anything there in the first place. Quickly, I picked up a broken branch from the gutter and clutched it in my hand. He could try to take me, but I’d go down fighting.
The faces of people I loved flashed before me, especially Luke’s. This was it, the end, and I would never get to make things right. After everything, Scarlett’s plans backfired. In her haste to get things moving by soliciting Cain here to Scotts Valley, she’d abandoned me. And now I had no clue where Luke was and Todd’s goons were about to slaughter me. I’d follow in the footsteps of all the Seers before me. The urge to pound someone in the face for giving me such a stupid wimpy body pressed into me.
I curled my fingers forward, tempting fate. I’d at least send Todd to hell for siring Sam and allowing my brother to be taken. “Come on. Give me your worst.”
His eyes flashed bright and he was gone.
“Oh, no, you don’t,” a girl said, and suddenly I was airborne by someone in tremendous pain. I wiggled around and looked up into her saddened face—Sam.
“You’re here! You’re okay.” I clung to her arm and watched the football team run around like confused and angry ants below.
“Get on my back, it’s easier,” she said, her voice raspy.
I maneuvered myself onto her back as she cruised in a low circle. “Hold on,” she called out over the wind. “I’ve got something I need to do.”
“Hey, jackass,” she yelled, gaining Todd’s attention.
He looked up and fear washed over him as his eyes zeroed in on the stake rushing towards his chest. Heat warmed the air as we flew through the burst of flames from the impact. The guys next to him wailed, accidentally catching on fire. They all scattered.
My mouth fell open. “Holy crap.”
“Much better,” she said sullenly, her body going slack as she took one last look, then coasted away from the scene toward home. “I can’t believe I wanted to marry him.”
I expected her to feel more joy, or some sort of exuberance in staking him. Only relief flowed out, which was quickly replaced by exhaustion. Astonishment stunned me as I watched the fiery blaze disappear behind the naked trees and buildings. I’d lived after all and Sam just staked the love of her life—totally without remorse.
“Wait! We have to go back! Luke!”
“It’s okay,” Sam said. “He’s fine. I knew you’d be okay with that necklace, so I got him out first.”
The air whooshed in and out of my chest rapidly. What if she was a minute later? What if she was too tired to come back for me? “Thank you,” I said breathlessly.
I didn’t have the heart to tell her Alora had the necklace now.
“Anytime.” Sam’s pain accosted me again.
I focused my energy and tried to push healing and hope her way. She relaxed a tiny bit, but slowed as we neared my house.
We landed on the lawn and Luke attacked me with a hug, knocking me off her back. “You’re alive.”
Tears trickled down my cheeks as I buried myself into his shoulder. Our relief twisted around us, healing our souls. “I thought they got you.”
“Sam came and pulled me out of there,” he said. “I told her to hurry back and get you, because—” He glanced at my barren neck.
“I know.” I continued to hold onto his arm tightly.
“Come on.” He pulled me across the lawn toward the house, sudden urgency in his voice.
I reached back to grab Sam’s hand, finding her slumped in a ball on the lawn. “No!”
Luke scooped her up into his arms and charged toward the house. I mumbled an invite under my breath as we crossed the threshold so she could be taken inside. Her head lulled around on the crook of his arm. She opened her eyes and searched for me.
“Please tell my mom the truth,” she whispered. “Tell her I didn’t run away with Todd. That I didn’t have a choice—”
“No,” I smoothed back her hair from her face as Luke laid her on the couch. “You’re going to live.”
“It’s too late. I’m dying.” She lay completely still, staring at the ceiling with glassy eyes, already looking like a corpse.
“Here,” I said, offering her my wrist. “Take some of my blood. You need a transfusion.”
She pinched her eyes shut and rolled her head away, curling into a ball. “No. Just leave me be.”
My hands trembled as I placed them on her body and imagined the conflicting venoms working together symbiotically to heal her, to stop fighting. She only writhed more. I switched back to hope and healing and she relaxed, but her suffering was still increasing.
“We need to get her to the doctor.” I looked to Luke for help.
Austin, Dad’s main guy from the ET unit, stood in the darkened hall, his face ashen. “You’re a sympathizer,” he said, his eyes filled with shock. “You told them. You’re the one who ruined the mission.”
In his hand was his laser, ready to shoot. I flipped around and held out my arms to shield Sam. “Don’t you dare!”
“That’s how they knew we were coming. They created a decoy and took Russell in revenge. I thought I lost you as well, but someone said they saw you both leaving with the bloodsuckers willingly. I didn’t believe it.” His cheeks reddened as if he’d been slapped. “Your father’s abduction wasn’t my fault, but yours.”
I stood up and signaled for Luke to keep Sam covered. “Don’t pin this on me. You told me you went in unauthorized and you left the scene without him.”
“No.” Austin walked toward me, hatred in his eyes. “He was with us and we all left together. His car never made it back here, though. That’s because they snatched him en route. Because of you.”
“Look,” I said, my hands shaking. “I know things you don’t. Vampires are not all bad. I’ve been rescued countless times by them. Sam in fact just did that for us.”
He laughed nervously and pointed his finger at me. “They’ll sweet talk you just enough to break down your defenses. Now it makes sense why you refused a bodysuit. Are you one of them? Part vampire?” He aimed the light at me and crisscrossed the beam over my torso.
“Stop that!” I said, feeling the burn from the light through my clothing.
“Or are you in love with one of them? Are you a donor?” He pulled back the corner of my shirt and examined my neck. “Are you sleeping with one of them?”
“Don’t touch me!” I slapped his hand away. “I lost my mother to a vampire so you can save your judgment. But as we stand here and argue, I could lose my father as well. Don’t you people have trackers on your bodies? You’re dealing with killers!”
He squinted his eyes, radiating distrust.
“You do! Where’s my dad?” I wasn’t sure if I should mention that he’d most likely be at the doctor’s hide-out. “Tell me, Austin. He’s my father!”
“We already looked for him. The phone had been tossed in a field. He’s not there.”
“You only use your phones?” I grabbed his collar. “What field? Where?”
“In the middle of nowhere.” He pushed me away. “It’s useless. They’ve won and you helped them.”
“I didn’t.” I staggered backward. “Where are the other ETers?”
He lowered his head and sat down. “Do you see anyone here? They are all gone.” He bent over and pressed his palms into his forehead.
I fell to the ground to get at eye level and took his hands away. “I have to go to the spot you found the phone. Please tell me where?”
He smiled, crazy behind his eyes. “Bonny Doons Road.”
“And the suits? Where are they?”
“All gone,” he said, with a sick and twisted laugh. “It doesn’t matter. They know how to disarm them. Did you give them Luke’s suit? Traitor?”
My eye twitched. “I’m no traitor.”
I let go and stood up. We were wasting precious time. I needed transportation to the field.
“Luke, where’s the keys to my car?”
The horror in his eyes hit me like a slap. “You’re not going back out there?”
“I have to save Dad.”
He shook his head.
“Please, Luke,” I begged. “Dad is out there. I need to find him before it’s too late. This problem isn’t going away. You heard the doctor and his plans. And I have to do whatever I can to save Sam.”