Chapter Thirteen
Phil
I stared at Rani, already aware of what had happened. In fact, I’d received a call earlier in the day from Gina, telling me that Rani’s recruitment hadn’t gone as planned.
“How did you let her get away?” I’d barked into the phone.
“She surprised us all by taking off so quickly,” she’d argued. “She was gone before I could react.”
I’d frowned into the phone, trying to quickly think of a way to rectify the situation.
“Phil? Are you still there?” she’d asked.
“Yeah, just… gimme a minute.” .
“Sure.”
I’d closed my eyes and rubbed the bridge of my nose. “Okay, here is what you’re going to do - report to my father and tell him that all three were successful recruits.”
“But,” Gina had argued, “we can't do that. Your dad will find out. The new serum has some kind of tracking device. Remember?”
“Don't worry. I’ll take care of it.”
“But how? We have no idea where she went.”
“Do as I say and… don't worry about it. I said I would take care of it, and I will.”
“I hope so.”
I’d only wanted Gina to make the change for the Vass family, so my hands would be clean. I loved Rani so much, that I did not want my identity to sway her decision in any way. I even loved her enough that if she chose not to change, I’d have found a way to keep her alive.
Now, the woman I loved was sitting across from me, looking like a small child wrapped up in my robe, eagerly waiting for me to respond to the story she had just told me.
“Phil, please say something... anything.”
I reached over and put her hand in mine.
“I am so sorry that this has happened to you.”
“Yeah, well, I’m sorry it happened, too, Phil, but what in the hell am I going to do?”
I felt the syringe in my pocket and knew what I had to do. I just prayed that someday she would realize that I did this out of my love for her. There was really no other way.
“Phil?”
My heart was heavy as I looked into her innocent, trusting eyes. I knew there was nothing I could say or do to make her feel better. I also knew that her life, after tonight, would never be the same again. Ever.
Chapter Fourteen
Rani
“Phil, say something,” I begged, “anything.”
He just stared at me.
I stood up and moved closer to him, but felt so dizzy and lightheaded, that I stumbled.
“Take it easy, sweetie,” said Phil, pulling me into his arms. “You have had a really rough day.”
I lay my head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat.
Thump, thump, thump…
The rhythmic sound put me at ease at once.
“I wish you would have stayed,” Phil said as he was stroking my hair.
“Stayed where?” I asked, confused.
“Your house,” said Phil softly. “I wish you would have stayed at your house, and listened to what Gina had to say.”
A chill ran through me. I pushed him away and stared into his eyes. The fear and sadness inside of them made me catch my breath. “What the hell do you mean - I should have stayed? Did you not understand what I said about her? She’s a monster!”
“I know what she is,” Phil said grimly, “because she and I are one in the same.”
I slapped Phil in the face, horrified by what he’d just said.
He was an Eternal? A monster?
I shook my head, not wanting to believe it.
“I am so sorry, Rani,” he whispered, looking defeated.
The next thing I knew, he pulled out what looked like a syringe and quickly plunged it into my arm.
“No!” I hollered, staring at him in horror. I could feel whatever was inside of the syringe, course through my body.
Oh, God, no.
The liquid felt like it was burning me from the inside out. I tried to move my legs and then realized that I was completely paralyzed. It then must have somehow reached my heart, because I could actually feel it begin to slow.
Please, please, this cannot be happening!
Just as my heart was taking its last few beats, I heard him whispering in my ear, “ I am so sorry, Rani, I hope you know how much I love you.”
I felt him softly kissing my lips.
Then in an instant… there was nothing.
Nothing except… darkness.
***
End of Book One
Available March 10, 2014
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