and so far you’ve complied, yet I need to be certain, before I move forward. This will prove it.”
“This proves nothing!” Derrick interrupted.
“Quiet!” Lucy screamed, her face becoming twisted and enraged. “This is a test, Maura. Are you truly with me? By all means, save the pathetic life of your friend, but first you must choose one of them to die.” Lucy waved her hand toward Belinda and Marcus.
“We get it, boss. Save her,” Marcus said gravely.
“Oh, I do love volunteers. You inspire such loyalty, Maura. Do you not see the things we could accomplish together?”
I can’t do this. I can’t do this!
As her body shut down, overwhelmed with defeat, she turned to face Alice. “I’m sorry, Alice. It was never supposed to be this way.”
For a moment, Lexia saw the fear in Alice’s eyes disappear. When she looked at her friend, she saw Alice’s fire, her spark. “You really did die, didn’t you? There’s not a trace of Lexia left inside of you. There’s nothing but a monster. I don’t know you anymore.”
“You’re right, Alice. I’m nothing like the girl you once knew.” Lexia faced her mother, feeling a calm settle over her. “Very well, Mother, you may have your fun. I hope now you can see I’m willing to stand by your side.”
Lucy’s smile lit her face. Derrick dragged Alice forward as she screamed. Lexia watched as Lucy jabbed the needle into Alice’s neck. Alice’s eyes widened, her body contorted in pain and then she went slack, collapsing to the floor.
Lucy looked up. “It will require a few days to take effect.”
“Well, if you’ll excuse me, I have a unit to train. Marcus, Belinda, Derrick, come with me,” Lexia instructed.
Marcus helped Belinda from the room. Lucy didn’t even look up; she’d accomplished all she’d wanted, and in turn brought Lexia out of the hidden depths of her mind.
No more hiding. No more cowardice. I will have my revenge.
Chapter 12
Lexia only made it a few feet before she started to crack. Bent over and gasping for breath, she braced her hands on her knees and tried to regain control over her mind.
“Maura?” Belinda asked tentatively.
Lexia lifted her head, the clear blue of her eyes visible through her tears. “No, not, Maura. Never again.”
“You could have saved her, boss. We’d have understood,” Marcus said.
Lexia stood up with one final deep breath. She hardened herself, pushing every feeling she had away. The time would come when she could truly feel the pain for all she’d done, but now was not the time.
“What did I ever do to earn such loyalty? I couldn’t sacrifice your life for hers.”
“Her life was worth more than ours,” Belinda added. “Now you hold the guilt of her loss, too.”
Lexia looked at Belinda; angry she had no self-worth. “Do not ever think that. You’re deserving of life just as much as she is. You were never given the choice for this life and instead of allowing the hunter gene to consume you, you’ve held on. Alice will hold on, too. We need to make sure she holds on.”
Belinda sighed. “What is it we are holding on for? I used to hope there was a way out, but–”
“Enough of this! I know I have failed you. I know I have hidden away, but no more. We are all going to walk away from this. All of us. I will find a way. Marcus, take her to the infirmary. I’ll see you later.”
No more death. No more blood.
Striding away, Lexia called upon her need for revenge and held it around her like a shield. To the outside world, she was Maura: cold, unfeeling and deadly. Yet in reality, she was torn and fractured, held together with a strength born from hate. It fuelled her, drove her into tomorrow, and when she finally had her revenge, when she finally freed her people from the torture they endured, she planned to rid the earth of one last monster. And maybe then, she’d find her peace.
Rain pelted against her, dripping down her face in torrents. The wind held the cold edge of a winter intent of not giving up. Lexia watched her unit, the group of hunters who still had their humanity, however small. These people only survived because of her, yet she’d failed them. They followed her because they hoped she’d save them, yet Lexia had no idea how. She’d been hiding from all of them, hiding from the pain of living without her mate and from the grief and anger