“What about her?” Talia heard one say through her tears and searing, blinding pain.
“Leave the stupid bitch,” came the reply after a swift kick to Talia’s arse, digging the bits further in to grind harder into her bones. Through her humiliation and agony, all Talia could do was scream.
*
Alicia could not hide her smile as more of Rykard’s men poured into the compound. She took the opportunity to join the invaders and get a look at what faced her over the pile up of tanks. She reached the top and viewed the lay of the land.
Tynan stood in front of his men on the other side of the field, weapons ready. Just in front of her, the first wave of Rykard’s soldiers bolted forward. Some were cut down before firing off a shot but some fired back. Alicia cringed and turned her face away as the ground exploded in several places as the invaders crossed the field. As they got closer and closer to Tynan, the numbers had thinned. Those that didn’t get blown up were finished quickly with bullets. Body after body fell as Tynan cackled madly.
*
Nicole held her screaming baby close, hoping by covering his little ears the sounds of chaos wouldn’t overwhelm him anymore than they already had. His skin was burning up, feeling clammy. Something was wrong. Whether it was a wolf thing or a human thing she wasn’t sure but both scared her. She was shushing him, trying to settle him but failing. His hands were quivering, fists tensing tight, holding on to her top.
*
Tynan called a ceasefire, which shocked Alicia, as more of Rykard’s men were storming the ground. Nick joined her, leaning over the tanks. But coughing, struggling. She hugged him again, and the thought of battle was forgotten just for a moment.
“What’s wrong, are you hurt?”
“I don’t know…my hands…” he held them up, showing her they were shaking.
“Your eyes…they’re only partially silver but you haven’t turned. Your fangs too…”
Nick clutched his chest and grimaced so hard blood streamed from his nose. He coughed again, wheezing more out of his mouth.
“Oh my God…” she said, gripping Nick by the arm, realisation hitting her. “The same thing happened to me. He knows you’re here.”
“Who?” Nick asked, spitting more blood to the ground.
“Your son.” She ignored the look Nick gave her and spoke quickly, “He’s beautiful and he’s so…he called to me from inside Nicole. To help him. To help her. This feeling lead me to her in the hospital. I found Tynan with her in his arms. That’s how this whole thing started. Tynan wants your son.”
“I have to get to them…” he replied.
“We have a plan…”
“Who’s we?” Nick asked.
Screams unlike Alicia had ever heard stopped her from answering. A pink mist had covered the grounds like fog, emanating from small silver balls rolling along the undisturbed grass. The soldiers were tripping over themselves, struggling for air. Bloodied bile was spewing from their mouths as their bodies crumbled from underneath them. Flesh was stripping away like rotting meat.
“God almighty…” she said softly.
A dull crunch of heavy footsteps behind her indicated the vampire had arrived. He stood with pursed lips, scratching his cheek with the nails of the torn off forearm. He used the arm to point to the carnage. “What’s the go with that shit?”
Alicia indicated to Nick, nodding towards the vampire. “Friend of yours?”
“Um…”
She heard Tynan’s voice clearly, if not loudly. Yelling his words for all to hear. “Tell me…was your plan worth it? You feel good about yourself now? Look at what happens to those that defy me. Alicia! I know you can hear me. You will die horribly. Talia is bleeding to death as we speak. Your pride won’t save her. But you can save your son…if you submit to your fate. Right here. Right now. No negotiations. Choose. Now.”
Tynan’s forces, all of them, marched around the outskirts of the field. All with their weapons pointed to the entrance where they stood. She couldn’t begin to count how many were there.
She dipped her chin just for a moment. Thinking of how to get around this. She would never trust Tynan, but could there be a way she could sacrifice herself for those she loved? Would Tynan allow them to live? Was it possible? What had happened to Talia? Had she failed to get the baby and mum out? If so, there was nothing else to be done. They wouldn’t have another element of surprise.
“Surrender, Alicia. Tell your brat to stand down. Last chance, bitch…”
Suddenly, Nick stood and set his shoulders, bellowing through a pained grimace, both hands forming into fists. “No, Tynan. It’s your only chance. You have something that belongs to me!” Alicia was half way to frantically telling him to get down, but she heard it too. A shriek from far away. A cry of love, of terror. Joy and relief. His name. Shouted from the tower. Nicole had heard what Tynan said and she had come to the window to see for herself. She had heard him and screamed his name again and again.
“Nick don’t…you’re sick,” Alicia cried. “You can’t fight.”
“I’m not letting you die for me. That’s my family.”
“You’ll die if you run through there. Wait!”
But he took off, faster than a normal wolf, disappearing into the mist. She screamed after him but it was no use. He was gone.
*
“Well this is all very dramatic…but I think it’s time to put boots ta arses. S’cuse me, luv.”
Lee hopped over the tanks and tossed the arm aside, bending low and coming up with two assault rifles. One in each hand. He strolled, down the middle of the field, through the mist and spread his arms. Firing on
