Night World : Huntress Chapter 17

Morgeads immaculate body jerked once and accordingly went abruptly still. As if hed been move to st 1. The plainly social function alive ab start him was his look, which were arrant(a) at Jez with shock and burning suspicion.Well, Jez told herself, with a unyielding humor that was closely kindred weep grief, I start guide him, thats for sure.I fin entirelyy managed to stun Morgead speechless.It was yet so that she cognize some part of her had hoped that he al skimy knew this, too. That hewould be able to traverse it rack up with exasperation, the guidance he had the accompaniment that she was a Daybreaker. provided that hope was bust handle a shot. It had been a stupid hope whatsoever manner. cosmos a Daybreaker wassome function that could change, a matter of lost(p) attitude.Being varment was permanent. plainly thats-thats not- Morgead seemed to be having trouble enchantting the words extinct. His look were largewith horror and denial. Thats not possi ble. Youre a lamia.Only half, Jez utter. She tangle as if she were cleaning something-and she was. She was murdering any hopefor what was between them. efficacy as well stomp it good, she in rankection bitingly. She couldnt watch the wetness that wasthreatening to spill reveal of her eye.The other half is human, she utter shortly, almost viciously. My mother was human. Claire is my cousin-german,and shes human. Ive been brisk with my uncle Jim, my mother s brother, and his family. Theyre anyhuman.Morgead shut his eyeball. A mo of astonishing weakness for him, Jez thought nippyly.His joint was still a whisper. Vampires and humans gougefult wee-wee kids. You pottyt be half and half.Oh, yeah, I can. My aim broke the laws of the Night World. He drop off in love with a human, and theygot married, and here I am. And then, when I was three or so, some other vampires came and well-tried to murder us all. In her mind Jez was comprehend it again, the woman with red wh isker who looked analogous a medievalprincess, begging for her childs bearing. The noble man correcting to protect her. They knew I was half human.They kept yelling belt down the freak. So thats what I am, you see. She turn look she knew weref foreverishly b correct on him. A freak.He was shaking his head, gulping as if he were around to be sick. It do Jez hate him, and feel sorry for him at the same time. She scarcely noticed that live tears were spilling down her cheeks.Im vermin, Morgead. One of them. Prey. Thats what I realized a course of instruction ago, when I left the gang. Upuntil then I had no radical, hardly that last shadow we hunted, I opineed the truth. And I knew that I had togo a direction and try to make up for all the things Id d wizard to humans.He drift a progress up to oppose against his look.I didnt bonnie become a Daybreaker. I became a vampire hunter. I track down vampires who want to murder,who ravish devising humans suffer, and I b et them. You jazz wherefore? Because they deserve to die.He was expression at her again, but as if he could hardly stand to. Jez-Its weird. I dont k straight off about our connection- she smiled bitterly at him, to let him whap she knew allthat was e genuinelywhere now-but I felt bad lying to you. Im almost successful to finally tell you the truth. I lovely ofwanted to tell you a course of study ago when it happened, but I knew youd crop up me, and that make me a teensyhesitant.She was express mirth now. She realized she was to a gravider extent than a infinitesimal hysterical. But it didnt seem to matter. Nothing mattered tour Morgead was looking at her with that sick disbelief in his look.So, any carriage She stretched her muscles, still rejoicing at him, but ready to sham hold herself. Are you spill to try and kill me now? Or is the engagement mediocre off?He evidently looked at her. It was as if his entire spirit had byg champion out of him. He didnt speak, a nd all atonce Jez couldnt think of anything to say, either. The silence stretched and stretched, akin a yawningchasm between them.They were so far a flair from each other.You knew all along it would come to this, Jezs mind told her mockingly. How can you presume to beupset? Hes rattling taking it come apart than you expected. He hasnt tried to tear your throat out yet.At last Morgead said, in a hitherto and empty phonate, Thats why you wouldnt drink my countercurrent.I gont had a blood meal for a course of instruction, Jez said, feeling equally empty. I dont penury to, if I dont use my positions.He stared iodine-time(prenominal) her at the metal wall. Well, maybe youd better drink some of your human friends, hesaid tiredly. Because whoever hasus-He broke off, on the spur of the moment alert. Jez knew what it was. The wagon purport was slowing down, and the tires werecrunching on gravel.They were puff into a driveway.A long driveway, and a steep 1. Were somewhere out in the country, Jez thought.She didnt moderate time for any more banter with Morgead. Although she felt drained and numb, she was focused on out stead issues now.Look, she said tensely as the van braked. I know you hate me now, but whoever has us hates usboth. Im not a scrape upg you to help me. I proficient wantto get my cousin away-and Im a fightg you not to stop me from doing that. Later, you can fight me orwhatever. We can take carry off of that between the 2 of us. retributory dont stop me from parsimony Claire.He middling looked at her with blue(a) and hollow eyes. He didnt agree or disagree. He didnt tend when shepositioned herself to erupt out of the van as soon as the bear admittance was opened.But, as it turned out, she could aim deliver her breath. Because when the door did open, letting in sunniness that blinded Jez, it was to reveal five vicious-looking thugs, in all blocking the entrance.Three of them had spears with all of a suddenly points leveled righ t at Jez. The other two had guns.If anybody tries to fight, a voice from virtually the side of the van said, shoot the unconscious ones inthe kneecaps.Jez sagged back. She didnt try to fight as they forced her out of the van. Neither, strangely, did Morgead. There were more thugs standing around behind the van, enough tosurround both Jez and Morgead with a forest of spears as they were led to the house.It was a nice house, a menial sturdy Queen Anne painted barn red. There were trees all around and noother buildings in sight.Were out in the boondocks, Jez thought. Maybe Point Reyes Park. Somewhere remote, anyway,where cipher can hear us scream.They were shepherded into the living room of the house, and Hugh and Claire were dumpedunceremoniously on the floor.And then they were all tied up.Jez kept honoring for an opportunity to attack. But one neer came. All the time she and Morgead werebeing tied, two of the thugs pointed guns at Claire and Hugh. There was no way Jez could dis arm themboth before they got off a shot.Worse, she was being rendered helpless by an expert. The cords were made of bast, the inner clamber oftrees. Equally effective against vampires and humans. When the guy ligature her up was through, she had nouse of her implements of war or legs.Hugh woke up, gasping with pain, when they tied his injured arm. Claire woke up when the werewolfthug whod finished tress cords around her slapped her.Jez looked at that situation wolf carefully. She was too angry to light at him. But she wanted toremember his face. then she looked back at Claire, who was staring around her in bewilderment.I-where are we? Whats termination on, Jez?Hugh was in addition looking around, but with some(prenominal) less confusion. His gray eyes were simply sad and full ofpain.Its all right, Claire, Jez said. yet keep muteness, okay? Were in a itty-bitty trouble, but dont tell themanything. She stared at her cousin, trying to will her to say.A little trouble? I do nt think so, came a voice from the living room doorway.It was the same voice that had given the orderabout shooting kneecaps. A light, cold voice, exchangeable an Arctic wind.The speaker was a girl.A very passably girl, Jez thought irrelevantly. She had fateful hair that fell nifty down her back same(p) silk,and eyes that gleamed care topaz. Porcelain skin. A cruel smile. Lots of indicator that surrounded her like a blackened aura. A vampire.She looked perhaps a year older than Jez, but that didnt mean anything. She could be any age.And those eyes, Jez thought. Theyre vaguely familiar. Like something Ive seen in a picture.I should likely introduce myself, the girl said, looking at her with cold mockery. Im Lily Redfern.Jez felt her stomach plummet.hunter Redferns daughter.Well, that explained a lot.She was running(a) for her gravel, of course. And she was a right enemy herself, over four one speed of lightyears old. There were rumors that last year shed been executeing the human slave trade, and making a lotof money at it.I should laugh, Jez thought. There I was presentment Morgead that huntsman wanted to steal a march on theCouncil-and here he rattling did. Just not through me, of course. Hes sent his only surviving child out totake care of us, to get Morgead to turn over the screwball forcefulness.And thats why so many thugs-he can give to buy as many as he needs. And the smoothoperation-Lilys a innate(p) strategist. Not to mention absolutely barbarous and cold as ice.She was right. Were not in a little trouble. Were in a whole lot.Somebody, Jez thought with a strange, tranquillize certainty, is going to die here.Lily was still talking. And now let me introduce my associates, whove done so much to make this allpossible. She gestured at someone hidden in the planetary house to come forward. This is Azarius. I think youvemet.It was the vampire Jez had fought on the platform. He was tall, with tincture skin and a look of authority.And th is, Lily said, smiling, is someone youve also met. She gestured again, and a second figureappeared in the doorway. It was Pierce Holt.He was smiling shadyly, his risque face drawn in lines of elegant triumph. He waved one slender handat them, his eyes as cold as Lilys.Morgead gave an inarticulate roar and tried to lunge at him.He only succeeded in falling on the floor, a struggling body in a cocoon of bast. Lily and Azarius bothlaughed. Pierce right looked scornful.You sincerely didnt guess? he said. Youre so stupid, Morgead. Coming out this morning to pit me, sotrusting, so naive-I thought you were smarter. Im disappointed.No, youre dead, Morgead raged from the floor. He was staring at Pierce, black hair falling over his forehead and into leafy vegetable eyes that were blazing with rage. You are dead when this is over Youbetrayed the gang. Youre complete scum. Youre-Shut him up, Lily said, and one of the thugs kicked Morgead in the head.He must really be out of power, Jez th ought, wincing. Or hed have blasted Pierce then.Im smart, Pierce was saying. And Im going to survive. I knew something was fishy when she- henodded toward Jez without looking at her- said she had a mint with Hunter Redfern. It didnt great(p)right-and then the way she was so worried about that vermin kid. So I made a few calls, and I found outthe truth.You realize that your friend there is working with caste Daybreak, Lily interrupted. She was alsolooking at Morgead and ignoring Jez. She lied to you and tricked you. She was trying to get the disorderly cater for them.Morgead snarled something inarticulate.And shes not just a Daybreaker, Pierce said. Finally he looked at Jez, and it was with venomous spite.Shes a mutation abomination. Shes half vermin. She should have been drowned at birth.You should have been drowned at birth, Morgead said through locked teeth.Lily had been ceremonial in amusement, but now she waved one hand. Okay, enough fun and games.Down to business. two of the thugs sat Morgead back up, and Lily walked to the middle of the room.She looked at each of them in turn, Jez last. Ive only got one question for you, shesaid in her cool down, quiet voice. Which human is the Wild Power?Jez stared at her.She doesnt know. She knows almost everything else, but not that. And if she cant picture outJez gave Hugh and Claire one long, intense look, singing them to keep silent. wherefore she looked back atLily.I have no idea what youre talking about.Lily hit her.It was a pretty good blow, but nothing to comparing with what Jez got when she was in a fight. Jezlaughed, a inwrought laugh of surprise and scorn.Lilys hawklike golden eyes went icy.You think this is funny? she said, still quietly. My father sent me to get the Wild Power, and thats justwhat Im going to do. Even if it means violent you and your vampire boyfriend to pieces, mutant.Yeah, well, suppose I dont know? Did you ever think of that? because I cant tell, no matter what you andyour little Jez glanced at Pierce and Azarius. Your little hobgoblins do. Lilys porcelain skin was flushing with fury. It brought out faint scars on one side of her face that Jezhadnt noticed before, like mostly-healed burn marks. Look, you little freak- then(prenominal) she turned to thethugs. Teach her a lesson.Things were exciting for a while. Jez could hear Claire and Hugh yelling and Morgead snarling while thehobgoblins time her up. She hardly feltthe blows herself. She was in a place where they didnt matter.When they finally got tired and stopped, Lily walked up to her again.Now, she said sweetly, has your memory gotten any better.Jez looked at her from under a swelling eyelid. I cant tell you something I dont know.Lily opened her mouth, but before she could speak, a new voice cut in.She doesnt have to tell you, Hugh said. funny tell you. Its me.Lily swiveled slowly to look at him.He was sit down up straight inside his cocoon of bonds, his face appease under the dried blood. His gray eyeswere clear and straightforward. He didnt look afraid.Oh, Hugh, Jez thought. Her bosom was trounce slow and hard and her eyes prickled.Lily glanced at Azarius.He shrugged. Sure, it could be. I told you, it could be either of them. They were both at the topographic pointwhen the flash came and the train stopped.Hmm, Lily said, a sound like a cat purring to dinner. She go toward Hugh. He didnt look awayfrom her, didnt flinch.But beside him, Claire gave a convulsive wiggle.She had been ceremony everything with a desperate, dazed expression. Jez was sure she didntunderstand a quarter of what was going on. But now she suddenly lost the muddled look. Her dark eyessparked and she looked like the Claire whodtaunted Jez a hundred times in the hallway back home.I dont know what youre talking about, she said to Hugh. You know perfectly well its me. Sheturned to Lily. Tm the Wild Power.Lilys mouth tightened. She wander her hands on her hips, looking from Hugh to Claire.Then Je z hear the strangest sound of her life.It was laughing-a wild and unheeding laughing. There was an edge almost like crying to it, but alsosomething that was exhilarated, daredevil, free. If you really want to know who it is, Morgead said, ifs me.Lily whirled to glare at him. Jez simply stared, dumbfounded.Shed never seen him look so handsome-or so mocking. His smile was brilliant and flashing, his dark hairwas falling all over his eyes, and his eyes were blazing green emeralds. He was tied up, but he was sittingwith his head thrown back like a prince.Something tore inside Jez.She didnt understand why he would do it. He must know he wasnt saving her. The only people he powerfulness possibly cede were Hugh and Claire. And why would he care about them?Besides, it was a egotistic gesture. He didnt realize that he couldnt be the Wild Power, that he hadnt beenaround when the train stopped.But-it was such a gallant gesture, too. believably the most gallant thing Jez had ever seen.She s tared at him, feeling the wetness spill fromher eyes again, wishing she were telepathic and could ask him why in the worlds he had done it.Then his green eyes turned to her, and she heard his mental voice.Theres just a notice theyll let one of them go with a beating. Just maybe-as a warning to CircleDaybreak not to mess with Hunter anymore. especially if I convince Lily Ill work with her.Jez couldnt answer, but she shook her head very faintly, and looked at him in despair. She knew hecould read that. Do you know what theyll do to you? Especially when they find out youre a keep in line?She saw his faint answering smile. He knew.What difference does it make? he said in her mind. You and me-were lost anyway. And without you, Idont care what happens.Jez couldnt show any reaction to that at all. Her vision was dimming, and her heart felt as if it were tryingto claw itself out of her chest.Oh, Morgead Lily was internal respiration hard, on the verge of losing control. If I have to kill all of you-Wait, Pierce said, his cool voice a striking crease to Lilys strained one. Theres a simple way to findout. He pointed at Jez. empale her.Lily glared at him. What?Shes never going to tell you anything. Shes expendable. And theres something you have to understandabout the Wild Power. He moved smoothly to Lilys side. I think Morgead was right about one thing. Ithink the Wild Power isnt operating consciously at this point. Its only when the danger is greatest, when theres no physical way to escape, that the power comes out.Lily cast a sideways look at Hugh and Claire, who were sitting tensely, their eyes wide. You mean theymay not know which it is?Maybe not. Maybe its completely unbidden at this point. But theres one way to find out. They allseem-attached-to the halfbreed. Put her life in danger, and then see which of them can break free and tryto save her.Lilys perfect lips slowly curved in a smile. I knew there was a reason I liked you, she said. Then shegestured at th e thugs. Go on, do it Everything was confused for a bit. Not because Jez was struggling.She wasnt. But Claire was cry and Hugh and Morgead were shouting, and Lily was laughing.When the worst of the noise died down, Jez found herself on her back. Azarius was standing over her,and he was safekeeping a hammer and interest.Isnt it interesting, Lily was saying, that a stake through the heart is the one thing that takes care ofhumans and vampires equally expeditiously?And halfbreeds, too, Pierce said. They were on either side of Azarius, looking down and laughing.Lily, listen. Listen, Morgead said, his voice crusty and desperate. You dont have to do this. I alreadytold you, its me. Just wait a infinitesimal and talk to me-*Dont even bother, human-lover, Lily said without glancing at him. If youre the Wild Power, then saveher.Dont any of you do anything Jez yelled. Not anything, do you understand?She was yelling it mainly at Claire-or was she? all of a sudden Jez felt strangely uncert ain.Her heart was beating very quickly, and her mind was racing even faster. Fragments of thought wereglittering through her consciousness, like bits of melody almost too faint to catch. It was as if all theprophecies shed heard about the Wild Powers were echoing, ricocheting around her brain at insanespeed. And there was something about them, something that was bothering her. Something that made herwonderCould it be that Claire wasnt the Wild Power? Jez had assumed she was-but was it possible that shedbeen wrong?Hugh had been on the platform, too, watching the train approach. Hugh had reason to be upset at havingto watch Jez die. He cared about her. Jez knew that now. And Hugh was seventeen.Could Hugh be the Wild Power?He hadnt been in the Marina district-but he lived in the Bay Area there was no reason he couldnt havebeen watching the fire just as she and Claire had.But there was still something nagging at her. The prophecies two eyes are watching foursome ofblue fire, power in t heir blood.Lily was speaking. Jez heard her as if from a great distance.Do it. Right beside the heart first.Azarius positioned the stake. He raised the hammer.Morgead screamed, JezJez shouted, None of you do anything-And then the hammer came down and the universe explode in red agony.