Chapter Fifteen

            When Xana woke up, she felt even shittier than the day before. Many of her various wounds were throbbing. She touched her face where she was punched, and it was definitely tender. Her wrists, of course, were still burning. She was feeling sick from lack of food. And for the first time, she knew true thirst.

            She listened to what was going on around the house. Someone was watching TV. Maybe Arianna since it was another news story about Xana. Someone else was rummaging around in the kitchen. There was a Were standing outside her door, doing a lot of sighing. He must’ve been bored. Snoring was coming from one of the bedrooms. The Vampires slept almost silently.

            Xana sat up. She lifted the dress they put her in the night before to examine her ribs. Her side was practically black, and breathing hurt.

            She carefully turned around on her butt to face the wall. She stared at the spot where her chain locked onto the loop. Then she did what she had done for several hours the day before. She gripped the chain and pulled.

            She knew the effort was pretty useless. All the extra strength she got from blood was gone. But she figured some effort was better than none. She hoped she was making progress.

            After some time, Xana was exhausted. She curled herself into a ball on the bed, and let herself drift to sleep. She’d try again when she woke up.

 

 

            Jeremy was nervous. This was his first action-filled mission. People could die. He could die. But he’d do it to get Xana back to her family. Maggie and Xavier truly loved their daughter. They needed her back. His own life wasn’t important.  

            Jeremy’s part in the plan was supposed to be the least dangerous. The others would fight off the Weres and Vampires, a few other officers--a mix of Were, Shifter, and Hunter--would try to apprehend the Humans, and Jeremy had to find Xana and get her out of the house. If she was injured, Jeremy would call in medics. Then he’d stay with Xana until an ambulance and reinforcements got there.

            Jeremy just hoped Roger didn’t get to have his way with Xana. Roger was definitely going to get killed, but if he touched Xana, Jeremy hoped his death wouldn’t be quick.

            Milo had Skyped with several Night Investigators, Vampires, Weres, and Shifters in the state. Any Vampire where Xana was being held could be killed. If they got away, Kill Orders would be issued.

            “This is going to be fine,” Milo told Jeremy. They were in Milo’s car, following the police. “Everyone else will be distracted while you go get Xana. You won’t get hurt or have to kill anyone.”

            “I’ll do what I have to do.” Jeremy’s gun was loaded with silver bullets. He’d shoot if he had to. Even if the thought of killing made him feel a little sick.

 

 

            Xana woke up again around sunset. She heard a lot more movement around the house. Quick voices too. She wondered what got everyone so excited.

            She sat up and listened carefully.

            “Should we wake them?” Arianna was asking.

            “They only have the sun blocking curtains in their room,” Adam said.

            “It’s sunset,” Arianna snapped. “They stay in their rooms until it’s down. While they wait, they can come up with a plan.”

            “You two can’t come up with a plan?” Roy asked. The Weres barely spoke the past few days, but the dark haired Were had a lower and harsher voice than the red haired one. Kyle’s voice was more soothing.

            “I don’t see you animals coming up with anything,” Adam said.

            “We’re just hired help,” Kyle pointed out. “We do what we’re told. We don’t come up with plans when your original goes to s**t.”

            Arianna screamed in frustration. “I’m waking them.”

            Xana listened as four sets of feet went up the stairs. There was a knock on a door. “What?” James’ voice called with annoyance.

            “We have a problem,” Arianna said quietly.

            James sighed. “Come in.” The door opened and then closed. “What is it?”

            “I have an acquaintance at a local police station,” Arianna said. “Um. I asked him to tell me if there was any talk about the missing girl. I told him I had no part in it, of course.”

            Xana doubted this guy believed Arianna. Though she wondered why he hadn’t sold Arianna out. Maybe it was sex related? An unrequited love? Old friends? Hell, maybe he was just a crooked cop.

            James’ voice was cold. “And he told you something?”

            “Two Detectives and two Private Investigators came into his station today. They borrowed some officers.” Arianna gulped. “He said it sounded like they knew where the girl was.”

            “S**T!” It sounded like James got up. “Is the sun down?”

            “Maybe in an hour or two,” Adam told him.

            “They’ll probably be here very soon then,” James said. “Kyle, Roy, hold them off as long as you can. Arianna, Adam, you know how to shoot a gun?”

            “Yes,” they both said.

            “The Hunters will probably be the most vulnerable,” James stated. “I assume a lot of the cops are Weres or Shifters. Kyle and Roy will be able to sniff them out. Just try to injure them all as much as possible before Magenta, Roger, and I can get down. Killing is better.”

            Xana was feeling conflicting emotions. She was hopeful. Her friends and family knew where she was, and were coming for her. She could be home soon. But the people coming for her might get killed. She knew Milo had a great reputation as a Night Investigator. If he went for a kill, he usually got it. But she didn’t know about the cops. Or Jeremy.

            God. Jeremy. He was new to the whole professional Hunter thing. Goofy Jeremy who played along when she invited him to hang out while he and Milo were over. Who she felt she bonded with while he drove her to and from school. He was only twenty-two. He shouldn’t risk his life for Xana. From what she heard, his dad died on the job. He was all his mom had left.

            Xana felt her heart pounding, and her adrenaline pumping. If she had a chance of getting free, she was going to fight for her life.

            She turned around and started pulling at the chain with more fervor than before. She braced her feet against the headboard, not that it was helpful. It wasn’t a solid headboard. I just had the stupid lily shapes on it with a lot of open space between each flower. She could feel the lilies leaving indents on her feet. Eventually, she had to stop. It was too much for her left ankle.

            Frustrated, Xana punched at the headboard. One of the horrid lilies bent a little. She punched it again and again hoping to break it free, her knuckles getting bloodied. It got loose enough for her to bend it back and forth with her hands. It broke free after a few minutes.

            Xana examined the end of the metal lily. If she tried hard enough, she could stab someone with it.

 

 

            Xana’s rescue group pulled up in front of the house at the end of the driveway.

            Jeremy assumed the people in the house already knew they were there. His theory was proven correct when a bullet went through Milo’s windshield.

            Jeremy ducked in his seat. Milo opened his door, got out, and used his door as cover while he shot back. Jeremy took a moment to collect himself then copied Milo.

            After peeking over his door, Jeremy could see one window in the house where someone was shooting. When he saw the person pop up and shoot again, he took a shot of his own. He heard a cry coming from the house, and figured he got someone.

            It was the first time Jeremy ever shot a person.

            Jeremy went back to cover and took a few calming breaths. He couldn’t let it get to him now. And it wasn’t like he killed the person. He hoped.

            Jeremy was aware of Milo moving up, and heard him say, “Find Xana.”

            Jeremy nodded to himself. He had to remember his part in all of this.

            He watched Milo and the cops move forward. The gunfire was all concentrated on them. He ran up to the house, and placed his back against the outside of it. No one in the house seemed to have noticed him. He wondered if that meant those in the house were outnumbered. That would help them immensely. They hadn’t been sure if James called more Clan members in.  

            Figuring there had to be a backdoor, Jeremy inched around the house, making sure to keep his head lower than the windows. As he moved, he heard more cries of pain, and smelled more and more blood. Jeremy hoped it wasn’t too many of their people. He specially didn’t want anything to happen to Milo. He still had a lot to learn from his mentor, and did care about him.

            He shook his head. He had to focus on the task at hand. Xana was more important.

            Jeremy rounded a corner, and was facing the beach. The sun was pretty much gone. The Vampires would be able to move soon.

            He shut his eyes and listened. In the house, a few people were arguing. One was complaining about being injured. Another was basically saying “get over it” as he was injured too. Upstairs he heard another conversation that made him uneasy. He had to get in the house immediately.

 

 

            Xana waited on the bed, gripping the flower she ripped from the headboard. She listened to the gunshots with anxiety. Though she was pleased Adam and Roy had been shot. And from Roy’s complaining, it sounded like silver bullets were being used.

            Then the Vampires started to plan.

            “We’re outnumbered,” James said. “We’re going to have to leave them. The Weres have no loyalty to us, and the Humans have proved useless.”

            “What about the girl?” Roger asked.

            “Leave her,” James answered. “Xavier now knows I can get to those he loves. I did it once, and can do it again. I’ll just have to get the help of people who aren’t idiots next time.”

            “Milo’s boy is sneaking around the house,” Magenta informed.

            “We’ll just jump out the window,” James said.

            “I’ll catch up,” Roger said, sounding determined.

            Magenta groaned. “Is it really worth it?”

            “She’s a little b***h who deserves it. And besides, maybe I’ll get a chance to kill her for you, James. You promised me this.”

            James sighed. “If you must.”

            A window opened then footsteps made their way to the room Xana was in.

            Fear consumed Xana. She told herself to keep a clear head. She put her little weapon under a pillow. Before, she wasn’t going to fight and give Roger the satisfaction. But there was hope of escape now.

            Roger opened the door. A predatory grin was on his face.

            Xana backed up against the headboard and crossed her legs.

            Roger was suddenly on the bed. He pulled he legs apart and settled between them. “Did you really think that would work?”

            Xana just glared at him. She heard the sliding glass doors downstairs being opened. Someone was coming for her. She let out the loudest scream she could. Roger pushed her head hard against the headboard, making the world spin.

            “Bad. Very bad,” Roger said.

            Xana could feel him hardening beneath his pants. He started to lift Xana’s dress. She became frozen with terror. All other sound was dying out as Roger untied her halter dress, revealing her breasts. While he fondled her, tears swam in her eyes. She felt paralyzed while listening to Roger’s heavy breathing. But a voice calling her name broke through the fog.

            Jeremy was still trying to find her.

            That was enough to break Xana from her spell. Roger bit into her neck, and she used the moment to grab the metal lily. She was able to summon enough strength to plunge it into Roger’s neck.

            Roger leaned back with a hiss, and pulled the thing from his neck. “B***h!” His fangs were still out. He bent over and stuck those fangs into her stomach. He dragged his fangs down to leave long cuts on her stomach leading to her underwear.

            Xana cried out in pain.

            Roger straightened back up with a laugh, blood coating his teeth. He started to undo his pants. Xana thrashed around to make it more difficult for Roger.

            A bang sounded. Blood and brain matter splattered onto Xana. Roger’s body fell over. Xana pushed it off before its quickened decomposition process could start.

            Xana covered herself up and retied the dress. She sat up more, and looked at the bedroom door. Jeremy was standing there, gun still at the ready, with wide eyes.

            “Jeremy,” Xana said softly, “please break me free.”

            Jeremy lowered his gun and made his way toward the bed. He had to push back the fact that he just killed someone. Instead, he thought about how horrible Xana looked. She was so pale. There were bags under her eyes, and she had bruises and cuts all over her face.

When Jeremy kneeled on the bed, Xana lifted her hands. The cuffs looked like they were burning her, and Jeremy guessed they were silver. He reached into his duster to pull out his lock pick kit. “Where are James and Magenta?”

“They left.” Xana let out a sigh as one wrist was freed. “They decided it wasn’t worth it. Thank God.” Her wrists were still throbbing, but the burning would now stop. She could hear someone reciting the Miranda Rights downstairs. Was it over?

“Come one,” Jeremy helped Xana off the bed. He saw her wince. “You okay?”

Xana resisted the urge to snark. She was sort of glad she still had it in her. “My ankle is fucked.” She looked over to where Roger’s body fell. It was just bones now, and would soon be dust.

“Here,” Jeremy lifted Xana up, and carried her bridal style out of the room. Xana rested her face in Jeremy’s chest, not wanting to see the rest of the house. She was done with the place. She was feeling more lightheaded than usual, and recalled Roger hadn’t used his saliva to stop any of the bleeding he caused.

Xana felt the breeze and heard the ocean. She was free.

“I called the paramedics,” someone said.

Xana caught the scent of Were and Shifter as Jeremy walked. She heard Adam cursing and Arianna crying.

“What happened to the Weres?” she asked Jeremy.

“Dead,” Jeremy whispered. He set her down on the hood of Milo’s car. Her tired eyes met his. “Why aren’t you healing?” he asked.

“No food, water, or blood. Can’t heal without blood in my system.”

“Take some of mine.”

Xana shook her head. “I can’t make the bleeding stop with my spit like Vampires can.”

“I have a first aid kit.”

“I don’t have the energy.”

Jeremy looked at her neck, and the large spot of red forming on the front of her dress. “Because you’re losing a lot of blood.” He took a knife out of one of his pockets. He took his duster off and put it over Xana’s shoulders. He cut his forearm with the knife then held it up to Xana’s mouth.

Xana hadn’t smelled anything so good in her entire life. Her fangs slid out, and without thinking, she put her mouth on Jeremy arm and drank his blood. She wasn’t sure if it was because she hadn’t had any substance in a while, but Jeremy’s blood tasted so much better than her mother’s.

Once her head felt clearer, Xana made herself pull away. "Thanks," she said as she heard the siren getting close.