Chapter 3
“What am I going to do?” I mumbled frantically. It was almost nine o’clock, I didn’t have any more time.
I slid back onto the cold hard floor. When Xavier informed me he was paying an early visit to check-in on Logan, I feared the worst. He was likely coming to get her, which meant I had one shot to convince him to take me instead. Once she was on The Island, there was no escaping – except by death. This night needed to go perfectly and my hair still being recognizably blonde was not the impression I was aiming for.
“I think I need to go for a swim,” I said abruptly.
It was the worst possible time, but I wanted to feel the sand between my toes, inhale the salty Pacific air. Just one last time.
I pushed off the marble floor and trotted back to the closet, abandoning my towel. The faint scent of wet dog ever-so-slightly crept into my nose, a smell I never got used to. I grabbed the first bathing suit I could find, black Michael Kors with the tags still attached, and made my way to the second story balcony outside my bedroom.
Our beach frontage was private, but never camera free – even if it was just our security cameras tonight. As I pulled at the elastic of my suit bottom with one hand, I keyed in the code to our security system with the other, disarming and shutting down Richard’s expensive safeguard. I didn’t want my late night ocean swim raising any unnecessary questions after I was gone and I certainly didn’t want proof of Xavier’s visit.
I inhaled sharply just before I dove underwater, slowly letting the air escape my lungs one bubble at a time. For years, I’d thought being immortal meant I was invincible. Then, I bore witness to my first werewolf execution.
In addition to us visiting The Island, Xavier had also sent for a young werewolf from Paris. When our helicopter landed, Raphael whispered something in Xavier’s ear and they both stared in our direction, calculating. Xavier finally nodded and motioned for us to follow.
“Please, come,” he commanded.
Kevin took my hand as we followed the Alpha Pack toward a garden courtyard. The Island was a twisted mix of magnificent romantic landscape and horrifying medieval architecture, charming rose-lined cobblestone paths and shadowy sinister dungeons.
Thoughts of The Island made my inner wolf rumble toward the surface.
Shackled on either side of the small wooden stage facing each other were a teenage boy and girl. She stared at him in a tormented mix of panic and desperation. He glared at Xavier with a hostility suggesting he was not going to submit easily.
A crowd of lower pack members had gathered and the scent of death and roses hung heavily in the air. Xavier removed his vintage suit jacket and vest, baring his chiseled chest. For a moment, I thought he might be preparing to shift. Instead, he neared the boy.
“You have one minute to explain yourself, Thomas,” Xavier announced as he slowly paced back-and-forth on the small wooden stage.
“I have nothing to say to you,” Thomas spit.
Xavier coldly smiled and paused toe-to-toe with the boy. “Very well,” he grinned forbearingly.
Thomas’s eyes bulged, body vibrated as Xavier turned his back on him, searching for Raphael. With a deliberate blink, Raphael shifted nearly on top of the boy as he struggled to shift against his restraints. Alexander stabbed a needle into the boys arm, releasing only a portion of its liquid contents. Thomas instantly weakened and slumped to the floor.
Xavier sauntered to the girl, her beautiful dark blue eyes spilling tears as her body trembled.
“You have one minute to explain,” he whispered gently, making a half-hearted attempt to soothe her into confessing.
“Don’t tell him anything,” the boy slurred.
Her eyes were locked on Xavier’s, as if mesmerized.
“I told him I loved him,” she whimpered, “…and he wanted to show me something…” Xavier clapped his hands together loudly with a devilish smile, snapping the girl out of her trance and back into reality. She stared at her lover in complete fear.
“But…” she protested.
“I’ve heard enough,” Xavier countered, turning his back on her.
“I’m one of you,” she screamed. The scent of her desperation was overwhelming.
Xavier paused, tilting his head to the side. He was no longer smiling.
“I’m one of you,” she repeated.
Head still cocked, Xavier pivoted slowly and purposefully toward her.
“He turned me… he’s already changed me,” she bawled.
I looked at Thomas, his eyes wild with fear, as he fought to rise from the ground.
“He told me if we were going to be together forever, he had to change me. I love him, I’d do anything for him.”
Xavier’s look of frustration slowly curled back into a menacing smile. “Anything?” he asked.
No! I mentally screamed to myself. Kevin shifted his weight slightly and gave me a knowing glance, silently pleading with me to not make a sound.
“Anything,” she answered.
“Well then,” Xavier sneered.
He snatched the girl into his embrace, wrapping his hands tightly around her throat, “Die for him,” he whispered softly.
I closed my eyes just before I heard her take her last breath. Kevin pulled me tightly against his chest. There was a loud snap, then a dull thud as her body hit the floor.
When I reopened my eyes, the boy was on all fours shaking, face down and slumped over.
“You know the rules,” Xavier roared, calling the boy’s attention. “Why would you let her stand there and lie to me? She wasn’t a werewolf,” Xavier spit.
My eyes widened. Kevin squeezed my hand.
“Do you take me for an idiot?” He backhanded the boy across the face with a sharp slap.
Thomas’ eyes rose to meet Xavier’s. “Yes,” he replied defiantly.
“Yes, what?”
“Yes, I take you for an idiot. You’re nothing but a coward.”
Xavier drew a loaded syringe from his pocket and wrapped his arms tightly around Thomas’s weakened body. He growled so quietly in his ear, it would’ve been easy to miss Xavier’s words as he pressed the needle into the boy’s neck.
I buried my face in Kevin’s chest, choking back a sob, focusing on his uneven breathing.
“I’ll never let anyone… anyone, even him, hurt you,” he murmured softly against my forehead.
I resurfaced from the ocean, gasping for air. Stars glittered across the sky as the dark water rolled with the rhythm of a lullaby. I slowly paddled back to shore, wishing I could crawl into bed and wake up to a normal, peaceful life.
I’ve never forgotten that day, in Xavier’s palace, when I learned we weren’t untouchable. Immortality brought agelessness and being a werewolf gave you a very short list of things you could die from. But neither could save you from Xavier.
I needed to call Kevin.
Andrea L Wells – The Midnight Hour