Awaken (39 page)

“
Tell the new
blood if she returns, this is on her hands. But she can save the
boy if she wishes. Turn herself in and she can save his life.....a
life for a life...that’s what he said.”

I shake my head at
his words, like I ain
’t hearing right.
The Prezedant, he did this...he killed all these people...that
innocent young’un, because of me? What have I done? And Ben! Now he
had Ben! That was my fault too. We had been so close. Ben was
here...I had seen him! I could have went back and helped him but I
didn’t ‘cause I had chosen to listen to Jax! And now he was
snatched away again! It ain’t fair!

“
Tara...” Jax
says still grasping my shoulders but as grateful as I had been
earlier for his support, his touch now feels as if it’s making my
skin crawl. Ben was gone again...taken away from me ‘cause I had
been stupid enough to believe in Jax’s empty promises! I lay my
hands flat against his chest and shove him away from me…hard! He
staggers backward but he don’t fall.

“
This is your
fault!” I hiss at him, lashing out angrily, needing to take the
crippling pain out on someone. I can see his eyes open wide in
wounded shock at my words but I don’t stop.

“
We were so
close...last night...I wanted to go back! I wanted to go get him!
But you talked me out of it...I let you talk me out of it! Now the
Prezedant has him and I ain’t ever going to see him again!” I shove
him again, wanting so badly to hurt him, but he don’t say nuthin,
he just keeps staring at me.

“
This is your
fault Jax!” I scream it at him, furiously.

I turn and run
then....I cain
’t be around them any more.
I ignore the voices calling my name ‘cause I can feel the anger
rising, the blood catching fire and I’m scared to be around them.
I’m scared for what I would do to Jax. So I run...into the
darkness, away from the mine and Littlepass. I run and run ‘til I
ain’t got no breath left and I finally fall to my knees in the
dirt. I stay there for a bit, on my hands and knees gasping, the
soldier’s words bouncing around in my head. A life for a life. A
life for a life. I say the words over and over again like a chant
‘til my anger disappears and my blood cools down. A life for a
life.

I take a couple more
ragged breaths then release them....give myself a mental
shake.
I can feel calmness overtake me
and my next breath is even...controlled. All the fear and anxiety I
feel for Ben, it solidifies ‘round the chant in my head forming one
rational thought, and the idea of it...of what I have to do now
strikes me with intense clarity. A life for a life. If that’s how
it had to be. If it was a life the Prezedant required, then let it
be his own ‘cause it sure as hell wasn’t going to be
mine.

I can hear the voices off
in the distance still calling for me...Jax and Mack. I know I
should answer them. I should go back. I have to go back. Ben was
depending on me. His life probably depended on me, and if the only
way to get him back meant becoming what so many believed the gods
had decreed, then so be it.

I get to my feet and
turn t
owards the voices, truly ready to
accept what I had to do now. It was time to live up to their
expectations....Orakel’s, Lily’s, gra’da’s. It was time to face the
truth and become what they already believed me to be. It was time
to stop being afraid and to live up to my destiny. It was time to
awaken the new blood.

# # # # # #

Coming soon

Ascension

New Bloods Book
2

About the author

Michelle Bryan lives in Nova Scotia
Canada. Besides her family, her other passions in life consist of
chocolate and writing, and she is lucky enough to work with both.
When she is not busy being a full time chocolate store manager and
writer, Michelle enjoys spending time with her husband and son.
Please visit her on facebook or follow her on Twitter @
michellebry101. She would love to hear from her readers so feel
free to leave comments or ask questions.