Night World : Huntress Chapter 17

Morgeads entire body jerked once and then went short still. As if hed been bendinged to stone. The merely issue alive ab show up him was his eyeb any(a), which were staring(a) at Jez with shock and burning disbelief.Well, Jez told herself, with a grim humor that was nearly wish well sobbing grief, I startled him, thats for sure.I fin anyy managed to sandbag Morgead speechless.It was exclusively then that she realized some part of her had hoped that he already k untried this, excessively. That hewould be able to brush it off with exasperation, the way he had the fact that she was a Day openinger. solely that hope was shattered surfaceright. It had been a dopy hope anyways. creation a Daybreaker wassomething that could change, a matter of confused attitude.Being vermin was permanent.But thats-thats not- Morgead seemed to be having trouble getting the words go forth. His eyeball were largewith horror and denial. Thats not possible. Youre a vampire.Only fractional, Jez state. She felt up as if she were killing something-and she was. She was murdering any hopefor what was between them.Might as champion indicant stomp it good, she sentiment bitingly. She couldnt take care the wetness that wasthreatening to spill surface of her eyeball.The otherwise half(a) is human, she say shortly, almost viciously. My mother was human. Claire is my cousin-german,and shes human. Ive been living with my uncle Jim, my mother s brother, and his family. Theyre allhuman.Morgead shut his look. A moment of astonishing weakness for him, Jez vox populi coldly.His voice was still a whisper. Vampires and humans apprizet hand over kids. You flowerpott be half and half.Oh, yeah, I can. My father broke the laws of the Night World. He fell in love with a human, and theygot married, and here I am. And then, when I was three or so, some other vampires came and tried tokill us all. In her assessment Jez was seeing it again, the woman with red copper who looked s imilar a mediaevalprincess, begging for her childs life. The tall man resolveing to protect her. They knew I was half human.They kept yelling Kill the freak. So thats what I am, you see. She turned eye she knew werefeverishly bright on him. A freak.He was shaking his head, drink as if he were round to be sick. It made Jez hate him, and thumb sorry for him at the same time. She scarcely noticed thathot rupture were spilling chain reactor her cheeks.Im vermin, Morgead. One of them. Prey. Thats what I realized a year agone, when I left the gang. Upuntil then I had no idea, yet that operate night we hunted, I remembered the truth. And I knew that I had togo away and try to make up for all the things Id done to humans.He put a hand up to press against his look.I didnt simply become a Daybreaker. I became a vampire hunter. I track down vampires who handle to kill,who enjoy making humans suffer, and I brand them. You know wherefore? Because they deserve to die.He was looking a t her again, but as if he could votelessly stand to. Jez-Its weird. I dont know ab issue our connection- she smiled bitterly at him, to let him know she knew allthat was over now-but I felt bad lying to you. Im almost glad to finally circulate you the truth. I kind ofwanted to tell you a year ago when it happened, but I knew youd kill me, and that made me a littlehesitant.She was express joy now. She realized she was more than a little hysterical. But it didnt seem to matter. nil mattered while Morgead was looking at her with that sick disbelief in his eyes.So, anyway She stretched her muscles, still smiling at him, but ready to defend herself. be you handout to try and kill me now? Or is the engagement vertical off?He simply looked at her. It was as if his entire odor had gone out of him. He didnt speak, and all atonce Jez couldnt commend of anything to say, either. The silence stretched and stretched, akin a yawningchasm between them.They were so further away from each o ther.You knew all along it would come to this, Jezs mind told her mockingly. How can you presume to beupset? Hes actually taking it better than you expected. He hasnt tried to tear your throat out yet.At last Morgead said, in a flat and empty voice, Thats why you wouldnt drink my blood.I conductnt had a blood meal for a year, Jez said, feeling every bit empty. I dont motif to, if I dont use myPowers.He stared past her at the metal wall. Well, per medical prognosis youd better drink some of your human friends, hesaid tiredly. Because whoever hasus-He broke off, suddenly alert. Jez knew what it was. The cutting edge was slowing down, and the tires werecrunching on gravel.They were pulling into a driveway.A long driveway, and a steep one. Were somewhere out in the country, Jez thought.She didnt have time for any more banter with Morgead. Although she felt drain and numb, she wasfocused on outside issues now.Look, she said tensely as the wagon recrudesce braked. I know you hate m e now, but whoever has us hates usboth. Im not asking you to help me. I just wantto get my cousin away-and Im asking you not to stop me from doing that. Later, you can fight me orwhatever. We can take care of that between the two of us. clean dont stop me from sparing Claire.He just looked at her with dark and hollow eyes. He didnt harbour or disagree. He didnt move when shepositioned herself to erupt out of the van as soon as the back door was opened.But, as it turned out, she could have surrenderd her breath. Because when the door did open, letting insunlight that blinded Jez, it was to go bad five vicious-looking thugs, on the whole blocking the entrance.Three of them had spears with deadly points leveled right at Jez. The other two had guns.If anybody tries to fight, a voice from around the side of the van said, shoot the unconscious ones inthe kneecaps.Jez sagged back. She didnt try to fight as they hale her out of the van. Neither, oddly, did Morgead. in that location were more thugs stand around behind the van, bountiful tosurround both Jez and Morgead with a forest of spears as they were led to the house.It was a nice house, a small sturdy Queen Anne painted boron red. There were trees all around and noother buildings in sight.Were out in the boondocks, Jez thought. Maybe Point Reyes Park. Somewhere remote, anyway,where nobody can image us scream.They were shepherded into the living room of the house, and Hugh and Claire were dumpedunceremoniously on the floor.And then they were all tied up.Jez kept reflection for an opportunity to attack. But one neer came. All the time she and Morgead wereorganism tied, two of the thugs pointed guns at Claire and Hugh. There was no way Jez could disarm themboth before they got off a shot.Worse, she was being rendered helpless by an expert. The cords were made of bast, the inner bark oftrees. equally effective against vampires and humans. When the guy tying her up was through, she had nouse of her wea pons system or legs.Hugh woke up, gasping with pain, when they tied his injured arm. Claire woke up when the werewolfthug whod entire winding cords around her slapped her.Jez looked at that particular wolf carefully. She was too angry to glare at him. But she wanted toremember his face. so she looked back at Claire, who was staring around her in bewilderment.I-where are we? Whats going on, Jez?Hugh was also looking around, but with much less confusion. His gray eyes were simply sad and full ofpain.Its all right, Claire, Jez said. Just keep quiet, authorize? Were in a little trouble, but dont tell themanything. She stared at her cousin, severe to will her to hear.A little trouble? I dont have in mind so, came a voice from the living room doorway.It was the same voice that had given the commitwell-nigh shooting kneecaps. A light, cold voice, like an Arctic wind.The speaker system was a girl.A very pretty girl, Jez thought irrelevantly. She had black hair that fell straight down her back like silk,and eyes that gleamed like topaz. Porcelain skin. A cruel smile. Lots of Power that surrounded her like adark aura. A vampire.She looked perhaps a year older than Jez, but that didnt mean anything. She could be any age.And those eyes, Jez thought. Theyre vaguely familiar. Like something Ive seen in a picture.I should probably introduce myself, the girl said, looking at her with cold mockery. Im Lily Redfern.Jez felt her stomach plummet.Hunter Redferns daughter.Well, that explained a lot.She was working for her father, of course. And she was a powerful enemy herself, over four hundredyears old. There were rumors that last year shed been working the human slave trade, and making a lotof money at it.I should laugh, Jez thought. There I was singing Morgead that Hunter wanted to steal a march on theCouncil-and here he really did. Just not through me, of course. Hes sent his only surviving child out totake care of us, to get Morgead to turn over the stupid Power.And thats why so many thugs-he can cave in to buy as many as he needs. And the smoothoperation-Lilys a born strategist. non to mention absolutely merciless and cold as ice.She was right. Were not in a little trouble. Were in a undivided lot.Somebody, Jez thought with a strange, quiet certainty, is going to die here.Lily was still talking. And now let me introduce my associates, whove done so much to make this allpossible. She gestured at someone hidden in the hall to come forward. This is Azarius. I think youvemet.It was the vampire Jez had fought on the platform. He was tall, with dark skin and a look of authority.And this, Lily said, smiling, is someone youve also met. She gestured again, and a second figureappeared in the doorway. It was pierce Holt.He was smiling pass outly, his aristocratic face drawn in lines of genteel triumph. He waved one slender handat them, his eyes as cold as Lilys.Morgead gave an inarticulate roar and tried to move at him.He only succeeded in falling on the floor, a struggling body in a cocoon of bast. Lily and Azarius bothlaughed. hurtle just looked scornful.You really didnt guess? he said. Youre so stupid, Morgead. Coming out this morning to meet me, sotrusting, so naive-I thought you were smarter. Im disappointed.No, youre dead, Morgead raged from the floor. He was staring at Pierce, black hair falling over his forehead and into parkland eyes that were gross with rage. You are dead when this is over Youbetrayed the gang. Youre complete scum. Youre- come together him up, Lily said, and one of the thugs kicked Morgead in the head.He must really be out of power, Jez thought, wincing. Or hed have blasted Pierce then.Im smart, Pierce was saying. And Im going to survive. I knew something was fishy when she- henodded toward Jez without looking at her- said she had a bus with Hunter Redfern. It didnt secureright-and then the way she was so worried about that vermin kid. So I made a few calls, and I found outthe truth.You realize that your friend thither is working with disseminate Daybreak, Lily interrupted. She was alsolooking at Morgead and ignoring Jez. She lied to you and tricked you. She was trying to get the dodderingPower for them.Morgead snarled something inarticulate.And shes not just a Daybreaker, Pierce said. finally he looked at Jez, and it was with venomous spite.Shes a mutant abomination. Shes half vermin. She should have been drowned at birth.You should have been drowned at birth, Morgead said through locked teeth.Lily had been watching in amusement, but now she waved one hand. Okay, enough fun and games.Down to business. devil of the thugs sat Morgead back up, and Lily walked to the middle of the room.She looked at each of them in turn, Jez last. Ive only got one question for you, shesaid in her cool, quiet voice. Which human is the wacky Power?Jez stared at her.She doesnt know. She knows almost everything else, but not that. And if she cant find outJez gave Hugh and Claire one long, i ntense look, telling them to keep silent. Then she looked back atLily.I have no idea what youre talking about.Lily hit her.It was a pretty good blow, but nothing to compare with what Jez got when she was in a fight. Jezlaughed, a natural laugh of surprise and scorn.Lilys hawklike golden eyes went icy.You think this is funny? she said, still quietly. My father sent me to get the Wild Power, and thats justwhat Im going to do. Even if it means tearing you and your vampire boyfriend to pieces, mutant.Yeah, well, look I dont know? Did you ever think of that? Then I cant tell, no matter what you andyour little Jez glanced at Pierce and Azarius. Your little hobgoblins do. Lilys porcelain skin was flushing with fury. It brought out faint scars on one side of her face that Jezhadnt noticed before, like mostly-healed burn marks. Look, you little freak- Then she turned to thethugs. Teach her a lesson.Things were elicit for a while. Jez could hear Claire and Hugh yelling and Morgead snarling while thehobgoblins beat her up. She hardly feltthe blows herself. She was in a place where they didnt matter.When they finally got tired and stopped, Lily walked up to her again.Now, she said sweetly, has your memory gotten any better.Jez looked at her from under a swelling eyelid. I cant tell you something I dont know.Lily opened her gumshield, but before she could speak, a new voice cut in.She doesnt have to tell you, Hugh said. Ill tell you. Its me.Lily swiveled belatedly to look at him.He was sitting up straight indoors his cocoon of bonds, his face calm under the dried blood. His gray eyeswere clear and straightforward. He didnt look afraid.Oh, Hugh, Jez thought. Her heart was beating slow and hard and her eyes prickled.Lily glanced at Azarius.He shrugged. Sure, it could be. I told you, it could be either of them. They were both at the stationwhen the flash came and the train stopped.Hmm, Lily said, a sound like a cat purring to dinner. She moved toward Hugh. He didnt look awayfrom her, didnt flinch.But beside him, Claire gave a convulsive wiggle.She had been watching everything with a desperate, dazed expression. Jez was sure she didntunderstand a quarter of what was going on. But now she suddenly confounded the muddled look. Her dark eyessparked and she looked like the Claire whodtaunted Jez a hundred times in the hallway back home.I dont know what youre talking about, she said to Hugh. You know perfectly well its me. Sheturned to Lily. Tm the Wild Power.Lilys mouth tightened. She put her hands on her hips, looking from Hugh to Claire.Then Jez heard the strangest sound of her life.It was laughing-a wild and reckless laughing. There was an edge almost like instant to it, but alsosomething that was exhilarated, daredevil, free. If you really want to know who it is, Morgead said, ifs me.Lily whirled to glare at him. Jez simply stared, dumbfounded.Shed never seen him look so handsome-or so mocking. His smile was splendid and flashing, his dark hairw as falling all over his eyes, and his eyes were blazing immature emeralds. He was tied up, but he was sittingwith his head thrown back like a prince.Something tore inside Jez.She didnt understand why he would do it. He must know he wasnt saving her. The only people hemight possibly save were Hugh and Claire. And why would he care about them?Besides, it was a futile gesture. He didnt realize that he couldnt be the Wild Power, that he hadnt beenaround when the train stopped.But-it was such a gallant gesture, too. Probably the most gallant thing Jez had ever seen.She stared at him, feeling the wetness spill fromher eyes again, wishing she were paranormal and could ask him why in the worlds he had done it.Then his green eyes turned to her, and she heard his mental voice.Theres just a chance theyll let one of them go with a beating. Just maybe-as a precedent to CircleDaybreak not to mess with Hunter anymore. oddly if I convince Lily Ill work with her.Jez couldnt answer, but she shook her head very faintly, and looked at him in despair. She knew hecould read that. Do you know what theyll do to you? Especially when they find out youre a fake?She saw his faint respond smile. He knew.What difference does it make? he said in her mind. You and me-were muddled anyway. And without you, Idont care what happens.Jez couldnt show any reaction to that at all. Her visual sense was dimming, and her heart felt as if it were tryingto claw itself out of her chest.Oh, Morgead Lily was cellular respiration hard, on the verge of losing control. If I have to kill all of you-Wait, Pierce said, his cool voice a striking contrast to Lilys strained one. Theres a simple way to findout. He pointed at Jez. Stake her.Lily glared at him. What?Shes never going to tell you anything. Shes expendable. And theres something you have to understandabout the Wild Power. He moved smoothly to Lilys side. I think Morgead was right about one thing. Ithink the Wild Power isnt operating consciously at this point. Its only when the danger is greatest, when theres no physical way to escape, that the power comes out.Lily cast a sideways look at Hugh and Claire, who were sitting tensely, their eyes wide. You mean theymay not know which it is?Maybe not. Maybe its completely automatic at this point. But theres one way to find out. They allseem-attached-to the halfbreed. Put her life in danger, and then see which of them can break free and tryto save her.Lilys perfect lips slowly curved in a smile. I knew there was a reason I want you, she said. Then shegestured at the thugs. Go on, do it Everything was confused for a bit. Not because Jez was struggling.She wasnt. But Claire was screaming and Hugh and Morgead were shouting, and Lily was laughing.When the worst of the noise died down, Jez found herself on her back. Azarius was standing over her,and he was holding a hammer and stake.Isnt it interesting, Lily was saying, that a stake through the heart is the one thing that takes care ofhu mans and vampires equally efficiently?And halfbreeds, too, Pierce said. They were on either side of Azarius, looking down and laughing.Lily, listen. Listen, Morgead said, his voice hoarse and desperate. You dont have to do this. I alreadytold you, its me. Just wait a minute and talk to me-*Dont even bother, human-lover, Lily said without glancing at him. If youre the Wild Power, then saveher.Dont any of you do anything Jez yelled. Not anything, do you understand?She was yelling it mainly at Claire-or was she?Suddenly Jez felt strangely uncertain.Her heart was beating very quickly, and her mind was racing even faster. Fragments of thought wereglittering through her consciousness, like bits of melody almost too faint to catch. It was as if all theprophecies shed heard about the Wild Powers were echoing, ricocheting around her brain at insanespeed. And there was something about them, something that was bothering her. Something that made herwonderCould it be that Claire wasnt the Wild P ower? Jez had assumed she was-but was it possible that shedbeen wrong?Hugh had been on the platform, too, watching the train approach. Hugh had reason to be upset at havingto watch Jez die. He cared about her. Jez knew that now. And Hugh was seventeen.Could Hugh be the Wild Power?He hadnt been in the Marina district-but he lived in the Bay Area there was no reason he couldnt havebeen watching the fire just as she and Claire had.But there was still something nagging at her. The prophecies two eyes are watching quaternity ofblue fire, power in their blood.Lily was speaking. Jez heard her as if from a great distance.Do it. Right beside the heart first.Azarius positioned the stake. He raised the hammer.Morgead screamed, JezJez shouted, no(prenominal) of you do anything-And then the hammer came down and the universe exploded in red agony.