Ordained (26 page)

“Noel and I spent decades trailing Eraticus but we were always one step behind. Then a few summers ago, Noel needed to go to Portland to meet up with a contact. As fate would have it, he came across you. One of the ten hunters loose in the world. You were a sure bet for finding Eraticus.”

Emily uncrossed her arms, her bold expression failing.

“I followed you every night for the six months leading up to your death.”

Dumbfounded, Emily sputtered, “What? Why?”

“I had to make sure you were protected long enough to make it to your birthday. I used the time to study your skills, your personality. Sometimes I even helped a little trouble find you to see how you would react in certain situations.” Abby paused before adding, “Still think I’m better than the Order?”

Emily thought on it. Granted, she wasn’t completely innocent in the matter, but Abby never abandoned or gave up on her. “You weren’t there to watch me die, so yes.”

“True. But I didn’t save you either. I was reckless with your soul. You could’ve been lost forever.”

“How so?”

“When you died…I felt responsible, guilty. I had been watching you for so long I actually became attached to you. I had never used the reincarnation spell on anyone before. I really wasn’t sure how you would turn out,” she said, her eyes watching the ground now. “I could have damned your soul forever.”

“Oh,” Emily said, distressed. She shifted awkwardly in the mud. Her bum was becoming numb.

Abby continued, “My point is…that although we
now
know that it works, we still can’t go around using it on people. I knew after watching you that you would be able to deal. That you felt strongly about hunting and would most likely continue. And I trusted that you wouldn’t tell the Order the truth. I don’t know that about the two hunters we lost today. Do you?”

“No, I guess not. I really only know Darby and Mira that well.”

They sat in silence for a moment. Emily rocked back and forth. She really wanted to shower and change clothes.

“For what it’s worth, it’s a noble idea to offer a second life to hunters that have died in the line of duty.”

“And a third,” Emily added quickly.

Abby knew exactly what she was pushing for – to willingly allow the hunters to become pure vampires. Emily didn’t care that she disapproved. She pleaded, “Think of how successful the movement would be if you recruited hunters here on out.”

“That’s
waaaay
farther than I’m prepared to go right now.” Abby rose to her feet, determined to end the conversation.

“Still, it’s worth discussing in the future.”

Before Abby could leave, Emily lifted her broken arm and asked, “Hey. Could you help a girl out?”

Her face answered the question long before her voice did. “I think we should wait a bit. Confrontation is still a few weeks away. I’ll heal you before the battle. Just in case I need you.”

Emily groaned. Even with the pain killers, her arm was really annoying her. She kept forgetting it was broken. Every movement caused a sharp pain to travel the length of her arm. “Please? I can fake the injury. I’ll leave the cast on and everything.”

“And what happens when Michael wants to X-ray it in a week to check its progress? Are you gonna let me break it again so he won’t get suspicious?”

Emily cringed. The pain of snapping the bone would be far worse than the numbing sensation she would otherwise endure for the next few weeks.

She took too long to contemplate the pros and cons. Abby looked to her curiously, as if to bait her. She raised her arm towards Emily and a warm glow formed a halo around her hand.

Emily cradled her arm protectively, thinking once again of the pain Abby would cause if it became necessary to snap the bone broken again. She twisted her arm away from Abby’s healing hand. “Eh, on second thought, think I’ll wait.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

The thunderstorm outside rumbled, lightning flashed into the room. A sheet of rain pounded horizontally against the windows. Valerie couldn’t believe that just that morning she had gone down to Twindel’s to seek help from Madam Melina. The day just wouldn’t end. More than ever, she wanted to complete her vision.

She did as the gypsy asked. She placed the dream sachet under her pillow, lit the incense on the table and anointed her eyes with the sleep potion. The combination of oils and incense was pleasant and relaxing. Within minutes, she felt herself slip away.

Mid night, Valerie began to toss fitfully in her sleep. From beneath her eyes, a golden glow shined for several minutes. She murmured, “Abby.” The glow dissipated from her eyes and she shot up in panic.

“He’s here!” she burst.

Still in pajamas, Valerie fell out of bed and rushed through the manor. The halls were dark and empty. She slammed into walls as she turned corners, refusing to slow down on her own. She threw open the door to Abby and Noel’s room, not caring if they were indecent, but the room was completely empty. She continued down the hallway, turned the corner and smashed directly into Jayden. She hit with such force that both were knocked backwards several feet. Her chest ached from the impact.

“Would you slow down!” he hushed violently, holding his own chest in discomfort. “It’s the middle of the night. You’re going to wake the manor!”

“I’m sorry. I need to find Abby. Have you seen her?” Valerie asked frantically between heaving breaths.

Jayden brushed the floor dust off himself. “She’s outside hunting for stray demons.”

Valerie rushed past him but he reached out and pulled her back. “You can’t go out there! You don’t know how to protect yourself.”

“Get out of my way!” She spun and kicked him the way Abby taught her. He folded and fell backwards onto the floor. She continued down the hallway, not apologetic for her action. Before she turned the hallway, she glanced back. He was staring coldly at her, almost evil-like.

Moments later, Valerie rushed through the pouring down rain outside the manor gates. Being atop the mountainside, she was used to being close to the overpowering thunderclaps and bright flashes of lightning, but she had never been outside during one of the storms. The thunderous cracks made her jump in fear every time.

She searched the woods endlessly until it dawned on her…her vision - the one that had haunted her for the past several weeks. Her dream-self had managed to get a little further in the conversation.

Finally, she would get to finish it. Here. Now.

She rushed to the cliff’s edge where she knew Abby would be. In the corner of her right eye, Valerie saw a burst of movement, the swiftness of a body rushing through the woods near her. It resembled a familiar huntress.

“Abby!” she called out. At least she thought she had. Her shout had been lost in the rain and thunder. She took off after the figure, continually calling out Abby’s name, but she couldn’t keep up. The figure escaped her visibility.

Out of breath, Valerie finally caught up to her at the cliff’s edge. Just as she foresaw, Abby had her back to her, facing out over the lake, completely drenched.

“Abby, stop. I’ve seen something,” she gasped, reaching out for Abby’s shoulder.

“I knew you’d eventually see the truth about me.”

“What? No! You don’t understand. Morphus is HERE!!!”

Abby turned her head around slowly, coldly. Valerie’s eyes widened and she stepped backwards. Abby reached for her and snapped the amulet from her neck. Valerie quickly grabbed for it, refusing to let go. They struggled but Abby easily pushed her up in the air and over the cliff.

Valerie felt a rush of wind against her backside. Her heart burst from her chest as gravity pulled her downward. She looked to Abby atop the cliff, getting smaller with every nanosecond. She felt the back-breaking
thud
and the air being thrust out of her upon impact, followed by a rush of cold.

Chapter Thirty-Six

The rain had calmed to sprinkles. Noel was running hard. He could’ve run faster, but he and Abby swore they would do nothing to draw attention to their abilities here. You never knew when someone was watching. He had felt a sharp twinge down his spine – that sixth sense that allowed him to feel fear.

He had become acclimated to the stressed feeling in his back since he and Abby had arrived here. Given the state of things, the fear across the manor was strong and long lasting. But this was different. This was a sharp pain that indicated an immediate threat. It gradually increased the closer he got to the source.

He ran along the lake front and saw two figures in the distance, one kneeling over the other. Abby had beaten him and was already alongside Valerie, holding her hand. Her body was deformed from the fall. She had landed on the edge of the lake, part on ground, part on ice. The thin layer of ice had broken around her legs. The cold slush had already turned her blue. Her body shook spastically, her breath was raspy and blood trickled from her mouth.

“Oh, God,” he cried. “What happened?”

Valerie tried to speak but choked on the blood swimming up through her mouth.

“I don’t know,” she said, looking sincerely up at him. “But I can’t heal this much damage.”

Valerie continued to spasm and bleed. She was turning a dark shade of purple.

“Abby,” he said gently, “don’t make her suffer.”

Her eyes rebutted, disgusted at the suggestion.

“You can’t save her,” he urged.

She continued to look in disbelief, frozen in place.

Noel leaned in and grabbed Valerie’s neck. Her panicked eyes pleaded to Abby. She moaned in disagreement.

Softly, Noel whispered, “I am so sorry.”

Abby closed her eyes as Noel snapped Valerie’s neck. He laid her lifeless body on the ground. Through her tears, Abby closed Valerie’s eyes and folded her arms across her abdomen. She then pulled the jeweled amulet from Valerie’s hand and pocketed it.

The slush underneath the ice began to turn pink.

The following morning was dark and gloomy, perfect for the mood felt across the manor. Rumbling clouds filled the sky. Standing around four freshly covered graves were the remaining hunters and Order members, including two newly appointed female huntresses and one male advisor.

Noel was grateful for the weather. Had it not been overcast, unwanted attention would have been drawn to Abby and himself for not showing up for the burial. Particularly since Abby had befriended one of the deceased. He had no doubt the lingering gloom in the sky was her doing, subconscious or not.