Ever After (58 page)

“You’ll be an endangered species before long, looks like pretty boy over there is about to check out for good on us.” Todd sighed, as he let go of my hair. I was on the ground curled up. It felt like Kyle broke my back and with his strength. I knew it was possible.

“Shut up he’s not!” I slowly got back up, but only to my knees.

“Let me help you.” Todd pulled me up by my hair again. I fought him as he pulled me up. He pulled me over to where Will was laying motionless and shoved me to the ground again.

“Say your goodbyes Corrine. I would love to kill him myself but Leo wants him alive. You on the other hand are another story. I can and will kill you and rest assured I will be dammed sure you are dead this time.”

“Say good bye to him already.” Kyle snapped at me. I was shocked to see Will had his eyes slightly open, he was waking up now.

“Corrine?” He whispered. I tried not to cry as I could see the confusion in his eyes as he looked at me.

“I’m sorry Will I can’t help. I was going to save you, but I’m all alone.”

I began to shake knowing I would be killed soon and lose William forever. I would be losing him and never see my father or Gran. I wished I could at least get to say goodbye. I knew my death would hurt Gran deeply and most likely destroy my father. The rain began to fall harder, and mixed with the tears streaming down my cheeks.

“Don’t be sorry, I should be the one saving you. I love you Corrine and always will even into death.” He was struggling to speak as he tried to keep his eyes focused on me.

“I love you.” I gasped in pain as Todd yanked me back up to my feet away from Will.

Todd shoved me into the door of the jeep. I dropped to the ground as he stood there watching me suffer. I had no time to catch my breath before he grabbed me again and threw me into the door headfirst. My head already hurt from the wreck in the hummer and now it was so bad I could barely stand the pain.

“How do you want to do this Todd? We can take her blood like a human. I heard half bloods are delicious. They are like a rare wine from what I hear, a mixture of power and innocence in their blood.” He knelt down next to me and stoked the hair off my face. I was in too much pain to even care now.

“It’s a shame though; you are a pretty little thing. Maybe we could keep her as a pet?”

“Oh no… were killing her. I have waited too long to get her back for destroying my life.” I knew my time was running out, and it hurt me even more to know Will was going to watch all this.

“No!” Will yelled. I knew if he had only gotten a few more days to recover, they would never have been able to kidnap him. I could see he wanted to get up and fight for me, but he was too weak.

“Shut up pretty boy, we have other plans for you later.” Todd yelled.

He yanked me again over to the entrance to the bridge. I braced myself as he threw me into the wooden pole holding up the roof to the old bridge. I turned my head trying to hit more with my shoulder, but he forced my head into it. I couldn’t take much more. I would rather just die than take being thrown into poles and jeeps.

“Please stop.” I said breathlessly.

“Told you one day I would pay you back Corrine, and I never break a promise.” He whispered in my ear, I hated the feel of his hot breath on my skin. I tried to turn away, and as I did, he grabbed my throat and began to squeeze as hard as he could.

“It’s a handy thing to know you don’t need a “
vial
” to kill a half blood. It’s a pesky thing to have a heart that’s still requires air to keep going. Too bad for you isn’t it Corrine?” Todd laughed at me as I chocked.

I fought violently to get his hand off my neck, but he was much too strong for me. I could hear Will yelling at them to stop as my hearing got muffled from lack of air. I felt like I was going to pass out. The trees began to spin, and I was getting tunnel vision. This was dying; these very last things would be my last memories. I could see Kyle watching with approval, his arms folded leaning on the jeep.

“Please stop.” I begged once more. I don’t know why I bothered to even try to plead for my life with what little air I had left in my lungs.

Todd was getting exactly what he wanted now, killing me with his bare hands. I gulped air as Todd’s grip slipped briefly as a loud rumble in the distance in the swamp distracted him. I knew there was a road back there but Roth said it was probably flooded. I couldn’t imagine who might be out there.

The rumble got louder and I could tell it was vehicles, more than one. They were big and moving fast towards us. I closed my eyes in defeat, it had to be Leo, and the Dark coven, their home was down that road somewhere. I knew Leo would kill me on site.

“It’s their coven!” Todd yelled back in a high-pitched panicked voice.

“Kill her already man, or their going to kill us first. You jacked around to long with her you should have just thrown her over the stupid bridge or ate her!” Kyle yelled as he kept looking down the long tunnels of the bridge waiting for whoever it was to get here. I couldn’t believe he thought it was the Followers; they wouldn’t be coming from that direction.

Todd looked at me than to Will as a set of headlights blazed across the dark tunnel. It was a truck or something with a set of running lights on top of the roof. Todd was too busy apparently filling his pants in fear. He loosened his grip even more, so I could turn my head and look at the approaching vehicles. The first one came roaring out of the bridge, it was a black hummer, followed by two identical ones. It was my coven; they had found us and were here to save William and me.

“Hurry up man we have to get out of here now!” Kyle yelled again in a major panic. “Is she dead?”

“No, I’m tossing her over the bridge; even a half blood can’t survive that.” Todd yanked me over to the guardrail. Below me the river raged and churned. I felt his grip get tighter as he held me over the edge. Todd turned again to watch the hummers coming in, and once again, I was able to turn my head and watch.

The first one drove past us and blocked the ramp at the bottom of the bridge. The second one went flying by and skidded sideways and stopped inches from the jeep. The third one pulled across the bridge entrance sideways blocking it completely.

To my relief Roth jumped out of the hummer parked right next to Todd’s jeep, Andrew and Taylor got out behind him. Riley got out of the one at the base of the bridge and Doc, Pratt and Sam got out of the one blocking the bridge entrance. I also saw some of the other coven members getting out. Roth had rounded them all up somehow and they were all here to defend us.

“Drop her Todd or I swear I will rip that miserable thing you call
a head
off!” Roth yelled at him as he walked at vamp speed towards us.

Todd pressed the guardrail into my side as he backed up into it further. I could see Doc and Pratt followed by Sayann and Lydia running to Will who was struggling to get up. Taylor and Riley moved in on Kyle, who was backing up near Todd and me. It was an ambush by my coven.

“Did you think you could pull this off again Downs? You mess with one of us, you’re going to get the entire coven on you, and now here we are. That’s how we work, or has nobody ever told you the rules of vampires?” Todd was outnumbered and he knew it, he looked at Kyle. They knew they were in major trouble now. I was Todd’s only bargaining tool, lucky me.

“Give her to me Todd!” Roth ordered as he stared him now. The look on Roth’s face even scared me.

I knew Roth had a dark and maybe even evil side to him. It was an unsaid rule of the followers to keep it under control and hidden. I watched it coming out of Roth right now. I struggled for more air and looked at Roth; he winked at me to let me know the evil glare was only meant for Todd.

“Yeah Todd, give it up, you’re out of your league now. You don’t even know what you’re doing. Leos going to kill you even if you did bring William back so don’t kid yourself about that.”

“Back off, or I swear I will break her neck.” Todd pushed me even closer to the edge, and I couldn’t even move now. The smell of the river was strong as he pushed my head over. I looked down at the river it was a black mass of death in my eyes. I pulled myself back up with all I had to see if Will was ok. I could see Pratt had Will up on his feet and they were talking to him as he looked at me.

“You’re a dead man if you even pull one more of her hairs again Downs. I’m done jacking around with you here. This whole deal with you trying to kill Corrine every time we turn around ends tonight!”

“You can’t kill me Roth. It’s your covens rule that you don’t kill is it not?” I knew he was desperate now trying to bargain with Roth who was beyond pissed off. Roth narrowed his eyes, and a wicked grin spread across his face. The raindrops beaded up in the blonde spikes of his hair as he laughed.

“Well Todd unfortunately for you that rule only applies to humans, and well let’s see …” He shook his head and smiled. “You’re not a human anymore last time I checked, that’s sucks for you doesn’t it dude!” Doc moved closer as he overheard the conversation.

“Yes Todd, we do kill, if one of our own is in danger and that girl in your hands is definitely
one of ours
and Williams fiancée as well. It looks like to me two of our own are in danger here.” Doc frowned and crossed his arms.

“Looks like you’re still out of luck there Downs aren’t you?” Riley laughed.

“You come any closer to me and I swear I will snap her neck like a twig, she’s going to die before I do!” Todd yelled back.

I felt dizzy now even worse than before. I fought to see and I found Will again standing next to Pratt. He looked up at me, our eyes locked, and that feeling that brought us together was still as strong as ever. He pulled away from Pratt’s hold, but he didn’t let go of his arm and he pulled him back.

“No William, let your cousins handle Todd. You’re not strong enough to fight anyone yet.” Doc warned.

“Let me go, I have to help her. I have to help her now!” Will yelled as he struggled to break free from Pratt’s hold on him. Riley ran over to help Pratt hang onto to William as he fought hard to get away and go after Todd.

“Corrine it’s going to be ok.” He yelled to me, sadness filled his eyes as he realized Pratt was not going to let him come to me.

“Alright Todd that is enough. I’m telling you to let Corrine go now. I’m done screwing around with you.”

“Did you know Leo wants Corrine dead? If he gets to her, he’s going to torture her to death. I’m doing her a favor by ending her life like this, you should thank me.” Todd was still grasping at anything to buy him time. I was getting tired of being yanked around and strangled every five minutes.

“Ask me or any of us if we care. Leo is an ass and Doc will handle him and his plans. Quit stalling and gave her back to us.” I could hear the rage in his voice and the others were getting restless.

“You’re dead!” Will yelled, his anger welling up inside him as he fought violently to get away from Pratt and Riley. Taylor and Roth moved in together, it caught Todd of guard. Todd yanked me nearly over the side of the bridge.

“You want her? Go get her then.” I felt myself picked up and suddenly nothing was below me but the sound of rushing water. I was falling God only knew how many feet to the river below. I hit the water with a massive slam. I instantly sunk down in the chilled water as it rushed around me.

The last thing I saw was the horror in Will’s eyes. I saw for a second Roth and Taylor lunge at Todd and pull him down to the ground. I struggled and fought to swim back up to the top and gasp for air. My hands were tied still and I pulled at the ropes to get them free. I had to get them off or I was going to drown. I couldn’t help but think Todd may be getting just what he wanted now, my death.

I pulled and pulled. I could feel the rope cutting the soft skin of my wrist. I knew I had to fight. Will was going to be ok now, but if I died in this stinking river, he might not be. I finally got my hands free and swam like hell to the surface

I gasped for air, choking on the water and rain, which was falling, in torrents now. I was lucky I could go with any longer than a human now or I would have already died. I grabbed onto a log that was floating nearby me and held on for dear life.

I had to try to make it to the banks as soon as I could. I had no idea where I might end up out here in this flooded river. I knew the coven would be looking for me. I hoped Roth and Taylor beat the crap out of Todd, and I wondered really, what they would do to him and Kyle. I fought to stay awake, as my head hurt so badly. I held onto the log tightly and prayed I would not pass out and drown.

Chapter 45

Lost

The next thing I remembered was the bitter cold, it’s all I could feel. My body ached and I shivered. I was afraid to open my eyes, was I dead? I had no idea maybe I was in heaven or maybe hell. I knew despite being a half-blooded vampire I was susceptible to death. It would have to be a massive trauma to kill me.