Ever After (57 page)

I looked at my watch it had now been two hours since Roth had called me. I worried he wrecked too, or something else happened. If that were the case, he wouldn’t have got to call Doc and get more of our coven out here to help get William back. Todd and Kyle had to know we would come after them, so I expected for them to be looking for us.

I tripped over a large root, and fell over and had to claw my way back up the bank. I was terrified of falling in the out of control river. I tried to wipe some of the thick stinking mud off me, as I did I could make out the pillars of the underside of the bridge just down from me. I saw the headlights of a jeep parked just at the entrance and it wasn’t running. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my cell hoping some kind of message was on it from Roth or Doc. I was sad to see their wasn’t.

“
Where are you Roth
?” I whispered to myself. It shouldn’t have taken this too long for him to get here, especially since he was a vampire. I decided to move closer to the bridge. I knew I had to be careful so I stayed along the tree line. It would be easy for them to spot me with their hawk like eyes.

I knew I might as well be signing my own death certificate right now by even trying to face Todd and Kyle alone. Will was in that jeep and I was his only chance to be rescued. I crept up the embankment as quietly as I could. I crouched down behind the guardrail and scanned the bridge.

To my surprise, I could sense Todd and Kyle before even seeing them. They stood at the front t of the old black jeep. They had the hood up, and white smoke was billowing out of the engine. I decided to wait and see what was going on before I even tried to approach them.

“This piece of crap is never going to start!” I heard Todd yell as he kicked the front tire.

“It will, it’s only stalled out from driving through all that water back there.” Kyle argued as he looked over the engine.

“Why are all the Dark coven’s vehicles crap? The Followers have frigging tricked out hummers and Mercedes. We have to drive twelve year old broken down jeeps.” Todd gripped as he leaned up against the jeep.

“They have Doc… that’s why.”

“What’s that got to do with anything?” Todd snapped.

“Don’t you know, that’s half the reason Leo hates Doc so much, it’s because he was always more successful than Leo and he is stinking rich. Doc invented some medical devices, and vaccines to save humans and that made Leo even more pissed off, since he hates humans.”

“He did all that stuff?”

“Yep, he’s been doing it for centuries or longer I guess.” Kyle slammed the jeeps hood down and took a deep breath. “I can’t believe he even let you live when Shane and Casey found you that night in the woods.” Kyle muttered.

“That’s easy. I promised him I could help him get William back with the Dark coven. If I succeed, he will accept me fully into the coven as one of the honorary elders.”

“Good luck with that one. Vincent was Leo’s pet, and that’s why he wants William back. That guy is his only blood link to Vincent, that’s why he wants him so bad.”

“Well, I m good enough to take Vincent and Williams place. I will show Leo that, by getting pretty boy hand delivered to him here shortly.” Todd said arrogantly.

“Ok whatever you say Todd. I will let you in on a secret though. Leo changes his mind
a lot
and he could care less about you. It doesn’t even matter if you do get William hand delivered, he might decide to kill you anyway.” I could see Todd was a bit nervous now after Kyle’s little talk.

“You didn’t rough him up to much back there did you?” Kyle asked, his voice shaking.

“No not much man. I just tossed him into the jeep. We are old enemies after all. I can’t help but smack him around a little you know.”

“Uh… yeah I get that, but Leo told us he was recovering still, from Vincent’s attack, and that we shouldn’t rough him up. Did you forget that already? Leo wanted him alive and not half dead.”

“Why in the hell does it matter?” Todd grumbled.

“He wants him to become an elder in the Dark coven. I heard he thinks William will begin to act just like Vincent if he is with the DC long enough or something.”

“Oh” was the only thing Todd said.” I slowly put my hands on the ground so I wouldn’t fall over.”

“I don’t like how you said that. What did you do to him?” Kyle took off for the back door of the jeep.

I ducked down as Todd walked right by me as he followed Kyle. I covered my moth as Kyle pulled William out of the back of the jeep. It looked like he was completely out, or had been knocked out cold. Kyle laid him next to the jeep.

To my surprise, he grabbed a blanket from the jeep and covered him. I could see he had blood on his cheek and near his mouth. I hoped he wasn’t hurt too badly. I knew he was in the recovery stage, but getting the crap beat out of him at this point, couldn’t be good. Seeing this only fueled my intense hatred for Todd Downs. I seethed as I watched Todd walk around William, like a hunter examining his kill.

“You idiot, you beat him up! I told you not to get to rough with him. Leo’s going to kill us both if he dies.” Kyle said as he shook Will trying to wake him up. “He couldn’t even fight you back, and you still beat him up? You really are a sick twisted freak like I heard.”

“Oh shut up, he won’t die. He deserved what I gave him anyway, for jacking up my life for the past year.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked over to the front of the jeep.

“He looks bad, I’ m not even sure he will make it back to the coven house alive.” I prayed Kyle was wrong as I tried to get a better look at Will as I peeked in-between the high grass.

“If he dies, Leo will kills us and not even ask any questions. I have seen him do it before, and it’s bad.” Todd seemed even more un nerved now, as he checked Will’s pulse. I desperately wanted to snatch Will away from them and get him back to Doc and Pratt.

“Hell he’s still breathing; he won’t die any time soon anyway.” Todd got up and looked around.

“You idiot if you had just stuck to the plan we wouldn’t be worrying about him dying right now. It’s just like in the woods a few weeks ago; you just had to bite that chic… Corrine. Leo told you that you had better follow his rules
this time
.” Todd was silent, as he stood there listening.

I had enough of it all by now. Kyle was whining about their pending deaths thanks to Leo. Todd was just acting stupid and Will needed to get medical attention as soon as possible. I slowly moved out of my hiding spot. I crept back around the side of the jeep, out of the site of either moron.

I pulled my hood back, and pushed the strands of wet hair out of my eyes. This was a one shot deal, if I messed this up Will and I could both end up dead. I couldn’t wait for Roth anymore. Something must have gone wrong, causing him to be delayed. I knew he wouldn’t leave me here to face Todd alone unless something bad happened.

I inched my way along the side of the jeep, trying not to slip in the mud. I stepped out carefully, making sure I wasn’t within striking range of either one of them.

“You’ve got to kidding me!” Todd gasped in shock. “Your suppose to be dead. I hit you hard enough to kill you.”

“Didn’t we go over all that already Todd? I’m not dead you’re not dead so let’s get over that already ok?”

I fixed my eyes on him, trying to look un afraid and in control. I knew I couldn’t put him in a trance but I could try. “Back away from William now.” I hissed.

Kyle backed up slightly, not too sure about what I was going to do next. Todd seemed nervous as he looked behind him several times, as we stood there. I think he expected to see the rest of my coven coming up behind him. I wished that was the case, as I stood there facing my worst enemy alone.

“Here to save pretty boy eh? Kind of backward isn’t it. I think it’s the other way around most of the time.”

“This is not the eighteen hundreds Todd. Girls don’t have to always be the ones getting saved.” I kept my hand in my coat pocket on the knife.

I had found it in Roth’s glove box, so I brought it just in case I needed it. I looked over for a minute at William, he was motionless. Todd was watching me. I could feel his dirty eyes on me. I looked up at him and saw the same evil smile he wore the night of the Frat party nearly a year ago.

“Ready to play Corrine?” He shook his head. “You never learn do you? You will never beat me. It’s simply not possible.”

“Really why is that Todd?” I stalled for time hoping Roth would show up.

“You want to discuss this right now?” He laughed waving his hand around, to emphasize we were in the middle of a swamp.

“Why not? No time like the present is there.” I tried to act confident, if they knew I was scared they might attack me.

“She’s stalling Todd; you are such an idiot anyone could tell that. She knows she can’t take us on alone, she’s a half blood after all.” I really hated Kyle now. Todd would have gone on talking to me for a while if he hadn’t butted in. He was still stupid.

“It’s a shame we will have to kill you. Are you sure, you don’t want to switch sides and leave the Followers? I could try to talk to Leo. He might let you live if you tell him you want to be one of us.” I was so mad I clenched my fists to keep from trying to hit him.

“Never, I would rather die than be like you and the Dark coven. You all make me sick and are nothing but murders and criminals.” I moved back trying to edge my way closer to William.

“Just because she won’t join our coven doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun with her Kyle.” I felt my chest tighten. I knew that tone in Todd’s voice all too well. If I didn’t do something soon they were going to hurt me or even kill me.

“You are insane Todd, absolutely insane no wonder everyone said I should stay away from you.” I hissed.

“Do you really think I care what those insignificant humans think about me?” I could see he was getting angry now.

“I’m not part of that world now, and I made Leo a promise to bring Will back to him and I intend to do just that. I’m not standing here wasting my time with you anymore.”

I moved back further as he Todd stepped closer to me. I couldn’t move before he lunged at me and grabbed my arm. To my amazement, I was able to jerk free and shove him backwards. Todd fell and hit his head on the front bumper of the jeep. I knew it wouldn’t faze him but it might slow him down a bit.

“Playing hard to get eh?” He laughed as he got up wiping his jeans off.

“Todd we don’t have time for this crap. Leo will be expecting us back at the coven house... with William”

“Screw Leo, I've got other plans Kyle you’ll wait till I’m ready.”

“Fine if you want to get yourself killed let me take William back to Leo and you can mess with that chick. I’m not getting my head ripped off because of you!” Kyle yelled. I was in massive trouble now. Kyle was going to leave and Todd would probably tear me to shreds when he did.

“Let me have William and I will go.” I begged.

“That’s funny Corrine, like we would even let you do that. Sure, you can take pretty boy and go on your merry way. Not a chance in hell sweet heart! Did you get stupid or something when you turned into a vampire?” He sneered.

“No… but you did!” I yelled. I pulled the knife in my pocket out and held it tightly as I faced Todd.

“Well, well got a knife little girl? You do know that won’t kill me Corrine.” He laughed in my face, but he did back up a step away from the knife.

“So wrong Todd. This is not a normal knife at all. Its Roth’s knife and its blade is made of ancient metal from Ireland.” I smiled.

“Wow… I’m scared now.”

“You should be, the metal in the blade kills vampires, and has been around for centuries. Did you miss that part when you were learning the rules of being a vampire Todd?”

I saw his eyes lock on the blade of the knife. I was bluffing 100%, although knifes like that did exist. I was not lucky enough to have one right now. This was just a regular pocketknife. Doc had told me about the metal in Ireland that vampire hunters used centuries ago to kill our kind. Todd was stupid and had no idea if I was lying or not, even Kyle looked nervous.

Todd jumped at me suddenly and Kyle followed. I had no time to even think before Kyle had my arms behind my back. He squeezed my wrist so hard I thought my bones my snap. I dropped the knife instantly. Kyle kicked it over the side of the bridge and down into the river below. Todd wrapped his hand into the hair on the back of my head tightly and yanked me back towards him. Kyle pulled a rope out of his coat pocket and tied my hands together.

“Stupid girl, you should learn to stay with your own kind, what few of them there are.” Kyle whispered in my ear as I tried to pull away. I hated having him so close to me.

“I’m a vampire.” I gasped in pain, as Todd pulled my hair tighter in his fingers.

“Yes you are Corrine, but you’re not a full blood. Half bloods are like the half ass version of real vampires you know.” Todd and Kyle laughed at me as I cried out in pain, as Kyle hit me in the lower back making me drop to the ground.