Broken Souls (26 page)

The moment the cross dropped into my hand, the world blurred
out of focus. Warmth spread through me, reaching every inch of my body. I
breathed in sharply and looked down at the cross. There was nothing special
about it, no magic powers or fancy light beams shooting from its core, nothing
that lent me super-sonic vampire strength. But just having the treasure in my
hand gave me courage. It was like the small symbol of faith and hope had
restored my strength. I focused not on the chaos around me, but on the energy
within myself. It fizzled and sparked, shooting through me like an electric
current, the effects of the suppressant slowly wearing off. And, as if in slow
motion, time stopped when Horus’ hands reached my neck. I pushed back with all
my might, the force of my movement exploding into him. I powered ahead, pushing
the two of us out of the corner and into the open. In my world of empowered
fury, nothing else existed except for my target, my enemy. Horus.

Shock marred his features and I took advantage of the
distraction, rearing back my arm, the point of my cross aimed at Horus’ heart.
But as I brought it down he blocked me, sending my arm above his chest. I
gasped as the sharp wooden point stuck directly into his eye.

Unlike anything I’d ever heard, the screech Horus released
could’ve woken the dead. His howling scream thrilled through the desert,
causing the fine hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end. Horus stumbled
backward, gripping the rosary protruding from his eye. It was like the world
had stopped spinning, the fighting was over, and everyone held their breath. It
was a macabre dream in slow motion.

Far away, and lost in a haze, I closed in on Horus, my rage
urging me onwards. I was not done with him yet. Horus scrambled back again,
gripping the cross with his fingers. He yanked it out, pulling the damaged eye
from his face.

“You think you can kill me with a cross?” Horus laughed,
though weakly now, blood pouring from his empty eye socket.

“No,” I growled. “But I can kill you like this.”

Without another thought, I punched through the flesh of his
chest, crushing bone and muscle, finding the meaty lump of his heart.

I squeezed.

Our eyes met —or Horus’ one eye met my two, rather— and I
saw the fear in his gaze, the knowing.

I tore the beating muscle from his body and held it out in
front of me. Horus’ mouth hung open in shock and he just stood there. Fear
crawled through me as he gazed at me with his one good eye, my rosary in his
hand. For one quick moment, I thought he would come after me like the heartless
zombie he was. But he didn’t. Instead, his knees buckled and he dropped to the
ground, his limbs going limp. His body shriveled like a raisin, leaving his
bloody clothes lying on the ground.

The world faded back into focus as the wailing whine of an
alarm pierced my ear drums. I blinked rapidly, my breath coming in ragged pants
and my legs trembling, threatening to collapse beneath me. But I stood strong,
blood trickling down my arm from the heart I held in my hand. The wind whistled
through the desert trees bringing a chill to my skin.

“Ruby.” Cloe’s voice came through the settling dust like a
cool breeze. She touched my arm. “Ruby. Are you all right?”

I nodded numbly, frozen in shock.

“It’s over,” she said.

I glanced at the heart cupped within my fingers and exhaled.

It was over.

FORTY-SIX: RUBY

Within my hand, Horus’ heart beat once, twice, and then
stopped. The leathery tissue resting in my palm shriveled from lack of life. In
horror, I dropped it to the ground, holding back the urge to throw up.

I glanced around the Tombstone gates, the melted forms of
Horus’ dead vampires littering the ground. Orie stumbled over, the last traces
of his werewolf form wearing off. He pulled Cloe into him and she released a
breathy cry.

I quickly looked for Guy, and saw Wilson propping him up
against his side. Apparently the effects of my blood had worn off, draining Guy
of his energy. The two came over and Guy withdrew his arm from Wilson’s
shoulder. He stood up tall and flashed me a crooked smile.

“It’s over?” I asked, wanting even more affirmation the
nightmare had ended.

Guy nodded and I flew into his arms. He held me and ran his
fingers over my back, planting kisses in my hair. Relief flooded through me and
the warmth of Guy’s embrace enveloped me. We did it. We defeated Horus and were
free now. Free to choose our own destinies. Free to be together again.

But I paused my thoughts of freedom and quickly turned to
Wilson, images of his house exploding in a ball of fire flashing to mind. He
should’ve died. Even if he’d managed to thwart the dozen FUSE soldiers ambushing
his house, he would’ve been blown to pieces by the blast. I voiced the question
that was on everyone’s mind.

“How did you —I mean… the soldiers and… and the explosion.
How did you…?”

“Escape death?” Wilson finished for me with a wide grin.
“What, did you think I wouldn’t be prepared for an attack of that sort?”

Guy and I said nothing, but stared at him wide-eyed, waiting
for an explanation.

Wilson stretched his neck to the side nonchalantly and
cracked his knuckles. “What you probably thought was a bomb set off by the
soldiers to kill me, was in fact a bomb I’d constructed myself. I made it in
the instance of any unwanted intruders. Plus, it demolished any clue I was ever
there.”

“But how did you not blow up?” I asked, still not
understanding how he managed to get away without turning into vampire bacon.

Wilson glanced at me with one mischievously cocked eyebrow.
“Do you remember the red room that I always kept locked?” I nodded, my
curiosity brimming. “It took me years to build, but I’d constructed a
steel-plated bomb shelter underground, only accessible by a cellar door beneath
the carpet. I kept enough provisions down there to last me an entire month, yet
after I ignited the bomb, I knew I’d only need to stay below ground for a few
days. I finally emerged to reconvene with my friends.” He glanced over his
shoulder at the remaining Unfortunates who surrounded the van.

Guy released a rumbling laugh and pounded Wilson on the back
in an affectionate man-to-man way.

“I should’ve never underestimated you old friend. But I
still have one question.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “How did
you know we needed your help? How did you know it was tonight we would escape?”

Wilson cleared his throat. “Wasn’t it you who called me the
smartest vampire on the continent? Let’s just say I have my ways.”

I released a giggle and shook my head in awe of our friend
Wilson. He was something else. Guy pulled me closer into his side and I ran my
fingers down his rippling chest. He was thinner from his stay in Tombstone, but
his muscles remained solid, emanating his core strength. Guy surprised me by
turning my face with his thumb and crushing his lips against mine, warmth
rushing through me from our point of contact. And like the first time he kissed
me, my knees turned to liquid and fire shot through my veins.

“Save the make-out session for later,” Wilson grumbled.

My lips parted from Guy’s and I brought a hand to my mouth
and laughed. But my joy became lost beneath the sound of another blaring alarm
bell. Wilson frowned.

“If you have the desire to stay alive we need to get the
hell out of here. Now.”

“Yes,” Orie said, stepping forward with Cloe in his arms.
“The lockdown drill has ended. And now they’ve begun a distress signal. We
don’t have much time.”

“Right,” Wilson agreed. “The vampires will be swarming us in
a matter of minutes. We mustn’t stall.”

I glanced over to see the humans were already piled into the
van. Wilson’s Unfortunates stood in a circle around it as though protecting
them. Wilson nodded to his crew.

“We can take it from here.” The werewolves, vampires, and
witches receded into the darkness leaving us alone. I wondered who they were or
where they’d come from, but there was no time for questions just now. We needed
to get the heck out of Tombstone.

“Are you coming with us?” I asked Wilson.

“You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried,” he smiled and
then gestured to Guy. “And with Captain Stone behind the wheel, we’re in for
one hell of a ride.”

I laughed out loud, remembering the time we were in a car chase
with FUSE, Guy like an overeager teenage boy behind the wheel.

“Forget something?” My attention flickered to Cloe, my
rosary hanging from her finger, now clean of Horus’ blood, and more
importantly, his eye. I released a thankful sigh and took my necklace from her.
Happiness flooded through me, but the fear of getting caught again overshadowed
my joy. We rushed to the van along with Orie and Cloe.

“Wait,” I stopped dead and swiveled around to face the gates
of Tombstone. “Where’s Pandora?”

The incessant alert signal rang out but no one spoke. Dread
fell through me at their silence.

“Where is she?” I breathed, barely above a whisper.

“She’s gone,” Wilson said, and Guy ran a tentative hand down
my arm.

I shook my head in disbelief, but my heart knew it was true.
Tears threatened to spill free but I held them back, wondering how many times I
would have to feel this way. Guilt over someone dying to protect me wasn’t
anything new at this point, I just hoped this was the end of it.

“It’s okay,” Wilson said, bringing me back to the screeching
sirens.

I turned to my friends. Their faces looked anything but okay
and I could feel a collective sadness washing over us all.

“Pandora would never have been welcomed back inside the
gates,” Wilson said. “Yet she loved Tombstone and wouldn’t be happy on the
outside, either. This is what she would’ve wanted.”

Another bell sounded out causing our group to flinch.

“Come now,” Guy urged me on. “I don’t know what I’d do if
they separated us again. I can’t lose you.” I numbly walked to the vehicle, my
gaze lingering behind me as though I might catch a glimpse of Pandora. I
imagined her impassive expression, her red hair, and her sarcastic attitude,
but there was no one left standing. I sighed heavily and reluctantly let Guy
and Wilson guide me into the van, Cloe and Orie in tow. I checked over the
humans as we peeled off into the night, Guy driving like a bat out of hell. I
wondered what we were doing and where we were going, but figured anywhere was
better than where we’d come from. I glanced at my love in the driver’s seat,
the light from the moon flickering over his chiseled face as we flew. I knew in
that moment, that anywhere I went would be okay, as long as my Captain was by
my side.

FORTY-SEVEN: RUBY

“Has anyone followed us?” I asked, hunching my way to the
front of the van after checking on the humans, making sure to ignore Orie, Cloe,
and their wooing each other in the second row as I passed by. Guy’s eyes found
mine in the rearview mirror and we shared a moment of relief. We’d been driving
for well over an hour, Guy blowing down the highway so fast, the dark scenery
rushed by in a blur.

“No.” Wilson adjusted himself in the passenger’s seat and I
knelt down in the empty space between him and Guy. The old vampire scanned the
road ahead. “We’re lucky, though. I thought for sure those scouting motorcycles
would catch us. They are damned fast. Someone must’ve stalled them.”

“Jax,” I said under my breath with a smile, thinking that
none of this would’ve been possible without his help, and it was probably him
who stalled the motorcycles.

Guy turned the wheel to miss a fallen branch in the road, causing
my body to sway with the motion. And then it suddenly dawned on me and I
wrinkled my brows in thought.

“But with Horus gone and without a leader now, how much of a
threat can the vampires actually be?” I asked.

“Natalia escaped,” Wilson replied flatly. “And if I remember
anything about that vicious vamp, she’s relentless. No doubt she’ll step up to
take Horus’ place.”

Guy’s body tensed at the use of Natalia’s name and my heart
poured out to him. Though he said nothing of it —keeping his always brave
façade— I couldn’t begin to imagine how it had affected him, all the beatings
and torture he’d endured. I wondered if it would always plague his mind.

Despite my sadness over the notion, and the fear we still
might be caught, I changed the subject to a lighter note.

“Who were those Unfortunates?” I asked, remembering Wilson’s
entourage appearing from the shadows. “The ones that came to help us?”

“Friends. You’ll see in due time.”

The van fell quiet, and I figured the humans had passed out
after such a traumatizing night. I glanced back to see I was right, and even
Cloe and Orie’s eyes were closed, wrapped peacefully in each other’s arms. I
couldn’t help but smile, knowing that things were going to be very different
from now on. But try as I might I couldn’t imagine what the future held in
store for us and Wilson hadn’t been very forthcoming with details of our
destination. My curiosity got the better of me.

“Where are we going?” I asked, gazing out at the passing
scenery. It was the tail end of the night and still dark.

Wilson kept his gaze firm on the road. “We’re going
somewhere safe, a place they’ll never find us. But for now, we have a stop to
make.”

Wilson nodded to Guy and he slowed the van, pulling to the
side of the road. I glanced around in confusion but my eyes landed on an old
beat-up Nova parked beside us, the grey paint peeling from its sides. A sleepy Cloe
and Orie appeared behind me hunched over as not to bump their heads on the
roof. My heart sank as I realized what was happening. I slid my best friend a
sad smile.

“You don’t have to go yet, do you?”

Cloe shook her head. “I’m sorry, Ruby. We made Jax a
promise. We have to find Orie’s family.”

I nodded sadly. “Let me walk you out.” The van door slid
open and I followed Cloe outside. I looked back to see Orie shaking Wilson and
Guy’s hands, thanking them for their help. Cloe leaned on the hood of the Nova
and I turned to her.

“Are you going to be okay?” I asked, worried for my friend’s
well-being.

“Of course,” she smiled, the breeze whipping her brown hair
in front of her face. She wrinkled her nose with a smile. “And it’s all because
of you.”

I blushed, looking down at my dingy brown boots that
reminded me so much of torture and sadness.

“Really,” Cloe continued. “My bond to Horus is broken and I’ve
never felt so alive before. So free. I can’t begin to thank you enough for what
you’ve done for Orie and me. We can be together now, without fear. I have a
feeling that good things are in our future, and yours too.”

I lifted my wet lashes to look at my dear friend. Since I’d
died and became the vampire hybrid I was —which seemed years ago— Cloe had been
my one true friend, the only friend I fully trusted with all my heart. My love
for her rushed through me, not wanting to let her go. Yet I pushed aside my own
selfishness and grabbed her in for a hug. All I wanted for my friend was
happiness and freedom and love. And I knew now that is what she would have,
with Horus gone and Tombstone in her past.

I pulled back and held her at arm’s length, looking into her
sweet face. “I want to thank you. Without you, none of this would’ve been
possible. You’re the bravest girl I know. You saved Guy, and because of that,
you saved me. Thank you a thousand times over.”

Cloe fanned her moist eyes. “Stop it,” she laughed. “As if I
haven’t cried enough already.”

“Okay then,” I giggled, taking a step back. “I’m going to
miss you.”

“And I you.”

Cloe rounded the car and gave me one last glance. No more
words were necessary, we both knew what this was. This was not a mere ‘Goodbye
and I’ll see you later.’ This was a ‘Goodbye and I genuinely wish you the best
in your life.’ A bittersweet ending to a great friendship.

Cloe’s chest expanded with breath before she opened the car
door and got in. I turned away just as Orie climbed out of the van, the blush
of the sunrise highlighting his silhouette, indicating we didn’t have much time.
He came to me and gave me a brotherly hug. At this point it was all I could do
to hold back an ugly, sobbing cry. He stepped back and looked at me kindly.

“Thank you Ruby. I hope you find what you’re looking for and
I wish you the best. And even though I don’t know the captain very well, I can
tell he will take good care of you.”

I nodded. “Yes he will.”

“You take care.” Sadness tore through my chest at having to
part from my housemate, my friend, my brother. I held out a hand. “And don’t forget
the vanilla.”

Orie frowned, confused.

“The pancakes, silly.” I punched him playfully in the arm,
taking great care to do it lightly. “When you make pancakes, don’t forget to
add a dash of vanilla.”

Orie laughed heartily and walked backward toward the car,
rubbing the spot where I punched him. “I won’t ever forget. Vanilla.”

Wilson rolled down his window and tossed a set of keys to
Orie. He caught them and nodded, hopping into the Nova and shutting the door.
The car sputtered and then roared loudly before peeling out onto the highway,
dust pouring from the back.

“Come on, girl!” Wilson shouted from his window. “We haven’t
long until roasting time.” I glanced at the rosy hue blanketing the mountains
and inhaled deeply. I closed my eyes and let the cool breeze brush across my
face. I would never see Orie and Cloe again, but I’d always hold them deep in
my heart.

Guy turned in his seat and watched me climb back into the
van. He winked and I flashed him a coy smile, sliding the door shut. I couldn’t
wait to finally be alone with him, to have him hold me in his arms without any
fear of being caught. I couldn’t wait to feel truly free and at home and happy
again. I was on my way.

The van shimmied while going over a patch of potholes and I
glanced back at the humans. There wasn’t much room for them back there, but I
supposed they were used to that. Crammed together, they slept on each other’s
shoulders, and now with their freedom, I imagined they were sleeping better
than ever.

A pang of sadness shot though me at Earl’s absence. I wished
more than anything he were here to finally witness freedom. I’d grown to love
the old man like family, as I did the rest of them. But Earl had gone to a
better place now, and nothing I could do would bring him back. All I could do
was make sure the rest of them were safe and taken care of. I crouched my way
to the front and knelt between the two men again.

“What about the humans? We’re taking them to a hospital so
they can get checked out, right?”

 Guy and Wilson’s silence caused a rock to settle in my
stomach. I searched both of their faces for a clue, but they said nothing. I
spoke up once again, this time a little louder.

“And then we’ll call their families and let them know they
are alive and okay. Right?”

Wilson and Guy exchanged glances, and I couldn’t help but
wonder what they weren’t telling me. A feeling of unease rose into my throat
like stomach acid as I considered the two warily. After a moment, Guy cleared
his throat, his grey eyes scanning the hazy horizon.

“We can’t, Ruby. They know too much. I want to see them
reunited with their families as much as you do, but even if we tried, Wilson
would stop us.”

I shot Wilson a glare, not understanding his audacity, not
understanding how he could do such a thing.

Wilson sighed but said nothing, instead adjusting his tie
calmly, causing an angry urge inside me. An urge to strangle him with his
stupid bolo tie.

“Why?” I snapped. “Why would you do that?”

“If we allowed them to go back home,” he said finally. “They’d
reveal information. Information that would eventually find its way back to
FUSE. They’d reveal Tombstone, and even though I’ve wished that town burned to
the ground a hundred times over, we’re linked to it. We are all linked together
in some way or another. And not to mention the news stations. Not only would
the humans go to FUSE, but so many collective stories would make the front
page. Imagine the wars that would break out. The countless lives lost if
Unfortunates finally revealed themselves to the world. If one of our hubs fall,
they all fall, and I can’t justify creating such pandemonium. I can’t justify turning
my back on my kind.” He glanced back at me. “
Our
kind.”

I took an uneven breath, trying to hold back my emotions as I
let Wilson’s words tumble around my brain. I hadn’t realized what a ripple
effect releasing the humans would have. The enormity of it finally sank in and I
sighed in resignation. Though I didn’t like it, I would have to succumb to the
fact that Wilson was right.

“But… what will happen to them? Where will they go?” Fear suddenly
struck my heart, imagining them being locked away again, or worse… “You’re not
going to kill them are you?”

I looked to Wilson. He pressed his thin lips together and,
after a pause, chuckled.

“No, we’re not going to kill them, and as much as I don’t
like keeping humans around, they will have to stay with us for the time being.
We’ll figure out a plan for them later once we get settled in.”

My anger receded at his words, thinking I would actually enjoy
having the humans around. I could help take care of them. After all, if
Wilson’s theory stood correct, I was still half-human myself. But my smile
melted away when thinking of merging our two groups.

“How will we house so many people? Where will we put them?”

Wilson grinned and pointed to an exit from the freeway. Guy
took the off ramp, leading us to a long dirt road.

“I told you,” the old vampire said. “You’ll see when we get
there.”

I suddenly remembered the letter I’d stuffed into my pocket
before our escape. The letter from my real father, Frank, revealing that he was
my maker and still, after all this time, being held prisoner by FUSE. In our
hasty efforts to leave Tombstone, I’d almost forgot about him. I reached in and
felt the rumpled paper, dread leaking into my bloodstream in realization. I
turned my focus on Guy, my heart thudding hard in my chest.

“Wait— what about Frank? All this time you’ve been here…
and… is he still alive? Without you at FUSE to protect him, is he…?” God, I
couldn’t even utter the word, fear seeping through me like inky storm clouds.
When we first parted, Guy had vowed to me that he would immediately go back to
his headquarters and help ensure my real father wasn’t killed. But that had
been months ago…

Terrible images rushed to my brain and I grabbed my forehead
as if to stop the barrage, thinking my freedom didn’t feel so free anymore.

Guy frowned, his eyes scanning the now dim lighted road as
if he, himself, was afraid of Frank’s possible demise. He inhaled deeply. “I’ve
been thinking about that too. Maybe, just maybe, he decided to become an
associate, there’s always that chance. And if that’s the case, I can get in
touch with Todd Kemp somehow and ask him. It’s all I can do for now.” He slid
me a hopeful glance, reaching out to squeeze my hand. “Don’t you worry, I’m
sure everything’s alright. FUSE’s treatment of their prisoners is a little
better than Tombstone. We’re human, after all. But for now, let’s get settled
in to wherever it is Wilson’s taking us and get some rest. We can focus on that
later.”

I nodded, trying to let his words comfort me, but I still
couldn’t help the sinking sensation that made me feel like I was drowning. From
what I recalled of Frank’s letter to me, which I’d basically memorized each
word of, he’d stated that he would never give into FUSE’s demands and never
give them information. Unfortunately, I sort of believed him, and if that was
the case…

Stop it
, I inwardly scolded myself, knowing if I
continued to dwell on the fact that Frank might be dead, I’d continue downward
on a dark slippery slope of doubt. I needed to keep strong and just hope that
Guy was right, hope that Frank had changed his mind, deciding to work for FUSE
in exchange for his life.

I sighed in resignation and looked at Guy. If he said
everything would be all right, then I needed to trust that it would be.

We continued driving in silence, Wilson guiding Guy down
another dirt road, a small mountain range appearing at the end. But as we got
closer, it grew into a not-so-small mountain, its looming peaks shadowing the sky.
After a short while we arrived at the bottom of the deserted ridge. Guy cut the
engine and Wilson glanced back at me.