Myopia (Young Adult Zombie Paranormal Romance) (Wisteria Series) (27 page)

“No, she is our only ally among the empirics. The only one. You know she told the empirics she did not see who did it. She only told me because she is loyal. Does that sound like someone who is out to get you?”

“Get out,” she told him.

“Not until you promise me that all this paranoia will stop.”

“I said leave. We’re not on the same side.” She realized it was true as she said it. “You want to believe Alba because you need to make sure the empirics don’t find out who I am, but the only reason the empirics are here is because
you
brought them.”

“No, Felip was planning to destroy the Family.”

“Yes and now we’re paying the price for your internal war or whatever it is. This had nothing to do with us.”

“Of course it does. Felip tried to have the Red Phoenix kidnap you. Felip is working with the humans here against the Family.”

“And maybe we were right to work with him? Maybe Felip was protecting us from you. For all I know, he’s the good guy. From what I’ve seen of your people, we should be very afraid of them.”

“I am not like the rest.”

“I thought you were different, but I was being delusional. I was so caught up in my own happiness I didn’t realize who you were.”

“And that is why you attacked Alba, to defend your people?”

There was no point arguing with him about this or anything. “I asked you to leave.”

Grabbing her arm, he spun her around. “Why are you acting like this? Like—your mother.”

“I consider that a compliment because she was right.” Irate, she pulled herself free from him. “If I’d stayed away from you like she said, my life wouldn’t be this messed up. I was an idiot to let you in and destroy everything I care about.”

He was about to say something. Instead, he let go of her and stepped back. “You will stay away from Alba.”

“What is this?” Quincy appeared at the end of the hallway and scowled at Bach. “How did you get in here?”

“I mean it, Wisteria.” Bach marched out through the front door.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Barton Lake was the one place on the island Bach could go to think. Wandering up the bank, he stared at the water. He wasn’t expecting to fight with Lluc, hear that his father almost died, find out he’d been forced to pledge to Alba, and now deal with a hormonal and deeply troubled human teenager.

He was horrified when Benet told him Alba had been attacked and almost killed. The last Terran to succeed in killing a Famila had killed his mother. He couldn’t imagine that happening to someone so close to him again. Furious, he threw a rock into the water, causing a massive splash. What was wrong with Wisteria? He couldn’t comprehend why she had done what she did. She was human and humans were petty and small-minded. He wanted nothing to do with this anymore.

“You are looking as cheerful as ever,” Enric said.

Enric was supposed to have returned to Jarthan with Lluc, but had stayed behind when Alba got hurt. Curious, he didn’t look very worried, considering what had happened to her.

“I heard about Alba.” Enric chuckled.

“And you find this funny.”

“A Terran scratched her with strangle weed and she fainted. If Alba was not so panicked, I would find it funny.” Enric sighed and shook his head. “I almost feel sorry for the poor Terran who attacked her, because when Alba is done with her, there will be nothing left.”

“She told you who did it?” Bach asked.

“No, but considering she did not snap the beast’s neck, I am guessing it is your Terran.”

Bach didn’t answer.

“You told me the madness between you and that Terran was over.” Enric’s tone deepened.

“It is now.” As he spoke, a large pain shot through his chest. Then as if in release, it was followed by a strange numbness. “I was wrong to string your sister along the way I did.” Breaking the Mosroc was supposed to be extremely difficult at best and impossible at the worst. But after his fight with Wisteria, Bach felt as if the bond had been broken.
 
Maybe the stories of the Mosroc being unbreakable were just stories. “I am returning to Jarthan. Once Alba is well enough to travel, I am done here.”

“You are finally ending your great walk?” Enric exhaled. “You have no idea how long I have wanted to hear that. Even if it was not my sister’s heart on the line, I am glad you finished.”

Bach nodded. He missed his home. “Alba will not be disappointed she was not able to complete her assignment here?”

“Her? I would not be surprised if she poisoned herself just get back home early. You and she were very similar in that account, until your Terran happened.”

“In what way?”

“You both loathed them. I mean, she really hates them, the way Didan does.”

“You are wrong. Alba respects the humans.”

Enric looked shocked. “What?” He burst out laughing.

“You are wrong, but I see that is why you told her about Wisteria.” Bach would’ve been angry, but now he was tired of fighting.

“Why would I tell her about your
situation
with the Terran? That would only make her upset. I hoped this thing would pass.” Enric shook his head.

“So, you are saying your sister does not know?”

“If she knew, your Terran would be dead at best. She had a Thayn once.”

“She could never have a Thayn.” Only the Ino caste, the highest caste within the Family, was supposed to renew Terrans and turn them into Thayns. Although Enric’s father was not from the Ino caste, he was granted the ability to create Thayns because he was the Lord of Jarthan, but his children couldn’t.

“Technically, he was my father’s Terran, but was told to serve me and her,” Enric continued. “But my point is, when Alba was fourteen, she broke both the man’s legs because she was bored. Natdo, or Donat, as Alba called him, was a good servant, and my mother was slightly irritated by the damage. Alba was never allowed near the Thayns after that.”

Bach tried to put together Enric’s version with Alba’s, but he found he couldn’t. Why did she lie to him? “So, why did you tell her about it?”

“She does not know about your Terran. I would never dream of letting my sister in on your secret. Do you know how humiliating that would be for her?”

“But she does know about Wisteria.” Bach frowned, worried about whom else Alba could’ve told and worse, who had told her.

“I cannot see how, unless Lluc told her.”

“Why? Lluc does not want anyone to know.”

“Are you certain she knows?”

“Yes, and she even seemed fine with it. She met Wisteria several times and protected her on different occasions.” And that gave Bach confidence Alba wasn’t going to hurt her.

“You used my sister to protect your Terran?” Angrily, Enric grabbed his neck. Being bigger and stronger, Enric easily threw him to the ground.

“She said she did not want to be my intended. It was her idea to help us. She came to me. I did not go and ask her.”

“
Qwaynide
.” Enric punched him in the stomach.

“I told you, it is over.” Bach jabbed him in the ribs and his friend fell back.

“I am glad about one thing. Alba will end your obsession with Terrans.” Enric swore and stomped away. “Because I know there is no way this side of Jarthan, Alba of the Third house will allow that Terran harlot you have been communing with to continue to pollute your mind. She will have the sense I lacked: to get rid of Wisteria.”

Bach got up. “Enric, I told you it is over with Wisteria. There is nothing left for Alba to do. It was just a childish crush.” He knew Enric was speaking out of anger.

“But you still dragged my sister onto this forsaken island.”

“No, no, no, she is an empiric and was sent here to do her duty.”

“Oh, she is an empiric, but she came here because she wanted to be with you. She lobbied my father endlessly until he got Didan to include her on this cohort and to be your intended. Do you think I would force my sister into a marriage with someone with your problems?”

“I did not know.”

“Of course not; your mind was contaminated with other things.” Enric stepped up to him.

“I am leaving.” He wasn’t going to process anything right now. Wisteria had lied to him. Alba had lied to him, and it seemed no one was on his side.

“For your sake, I hope you are serious this time. You may be my best friend, but Alba is my sister and I will make you suffer if you hurt her again.”

“Do not threaten me, Enric. I told you the thing between me and the Terran was a phase. The phase has passed.”

*****

Wisteria easily distracted Quincy with a large plate of stew and a few shots of Irish cream. Soon, the burly man was fast asleep in the living room.

“And you’re certain this is a good idea?” Garfield sat on her bed, watching her pack her sword and a flashlight in her backpack.

“I checked Coles’s old notes. A sea merchant is arriving today. These are the Russian merchants, so they’re extremely suspicious and do not dock on the island. The only way I’m going to see them is if I swim or sail to their ship.”

“And if you drown?” Garfield asked.

“At least I would’ve died doing something.”

“And you’re sure they’ll listen to you? What will stop them from just taking you? No one will know you’re there and so no one will come looking for you.”

“I’m hoping I can get them to be practical.” She wrapped her backpack in a sheet of plastic to make it airtight. “We’ve got a lot of stuff on Smythe. I’ll just find out what they want. Once they tell me, I’ll have three weeks to get it together before the boat will pass back.”

The plan was shaky, especially since the Dungeon Dwellers could come at any time, but it was all she had and she wasn’t going to wait around while the Family or the Dungeon Dwellers attacked.

“Even if it works, what about everyone else? You can’t leave everyone here to suffer?”

“Garfield, if you have an idea, please tell me.” Turning to him, she put her hands on her hips, waiting for an answer.

He shook his head.

“We’ll have three weeks to think of something better, I hope.” Grabbing the backpack, she left.

Taking her bike, she rode back to the hole she’d used to sneak out and rescue Garfield.

The hole was covered with rocks, just as she’d left it. She worked at removing the rocks and stones as the sun was starting to set.

Crawling through the hole, she realized once again that this was her fault. The Famila were here because she brought Bach here and kept his stupid secret. Mackenzie and her thugs were on their way here because she’d brought Garfield.

Once on the other side, she leaned against the wall.
This is your fault.
A large tanker was floating in the distance and as she approached the icy water, she realized there was no way she was going to be able to leave everyone here to die. She at least deserved to die with them. Perhaps, she could barter safe passage for her brother and a few other people. Then she’d stay in Smythe with her mother until the end.

“Can you spell hypocrite?” Amanda crawled out from the hole.

“I wasn’t going anywhere,” she decided.

“But you’re outside the wall. You were the one who was having a cow because of the parties on Norton.”

“As you can see, I’m not partying with the infected.”

“So, what are you doing out here? I kind of assumed between Quincy, Garfield, and your mother, you’d be busy.”

Wisteria exhaled. “We should talk about your dad. There’s something going on and he’s been affected.”

“What happened to him?”

Wisteria had to determine who on the island hadn’t been turned into sleepwalkers and somehow prove to them what was going on.

“Talk to me. Ahh!” Amanda screamed as a burly man appeared out of nowhere and grabbed her.

“You!” Drawing out her sword, Wisteria pointed it at him.

“Hello.” It was Sammy, one of Mackenzie’s men, from the dungeon. “Mackenzie sends her best.”

“Where is that psycho?” Shaking, Wisteria carefully inched back toward him. The last time she’d encountered Mackenzie’s men, they’d almost strangled her to death. She wasn’t keen to repeat the experience.

“She’s nearby.” He laughed as more men sailed toward the island.

“What are you doing here?” She tightened the grip she had on her sword, but saw the blade was shaking in her hands.
Calm down, Wisteria.

“Put down your toy before your friend gets hurt,” Sammy said, squeezing his hand over Amanda’s mouth. “You just get over here and—Ahh,” he cried as the girl bit down on his finger. “You little—”

As Amanda dashed toward her, Wisteria charged at the still stunned man, knocking him back into the water. The fall wasn’t deep, but hopefully it would give them enough time to get back through the hole.

Amanda crawled through first, while Wisteria checked to make sure Sammy wasn’t following. Instead, she saw another boat of men motor toward the island.

“Hurry,” she said as she climbed down.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Sammy hauled her back, flinging her to the ground like a piece of paper. Pointing a shotgun at her, he jeered, “I don’t think I have to worry about any biters over here.”