The Chosen Ones by Lori Brighton

“Good. You shouldn’t.”

  What had he meant by that?

  The question rolled through my mind over and over as we hiked along the shoreline, in and out of the woods. We didn’t speak as we walked, and it gave me plenty of time to think about Thane’s odd response.

  For three hours we hiked, following the perimeter of the island, and still we hadn’t made it back to the dock, which made me realize the island was larger than what I’d expected, and how many places this Raven could be hiding. Every snap of a branch, every slight shift of a shadow had my heart jumping into my throat. Where was this supposed leader?

  I wasn’t sure why we continued, or when we would stop, but I assumed Thane knew what he was doing and so I didn’t question his plan. Still, the large boots rubbed against my heels, and the raw skin stung. Blisters were dangerous, or so Will had told me. They could get infected, they made it hard to hike, and more importantly…to run. But the fact that we had to wear clothes we’d stolen or found made it difficult to find perfect sizes, and I’d had to learn to adjust.

  “We’ll find smaller boots soon,” Thane said.

  I resisted the urge to curse. How did he always know? “I’m fine.”

  “You’re not. You’re walking funny.”

  I frowned, unsure how he knew considering he hadn’t once looked back. “Do you have eyes on the back of your head? Is that a blood drinker trait?”

  “No. I can hear the way you step.”

  Of course…superb hearing. I stared at his back, watching the way his hair gleamed and glistened under the sunlight that managed to pierce the branches above, and wondered for what seemed like the millionth time what else he could do that I couldn’t. There was no doubt about it, Thane could see better, hear better, and somehow sense things much better than I’d ever be able to thanks to his beautiful blood.

  Taking in a deep breath, I forced my attention away from his broad shoulders and looked back at the shadows. I’d been out here a month, but it felt like years. I realized now that Will had been right to push me so hard at the skyscraper those first two weeks. In this world you had to grow up fast, accept what it was and move on…always move. Never stop. Never rest.

  We followed the coastline, climbing over rocks and more rocks until my mind grew almost numb to the effort. The water was rough, slamming against the shore as if angry with the land. Rain was coming and the very wind that tore at my hair had somehow made the waves larger. How very interesting that everything in the world seemed to affect something else…it was all connected.

  Even if Will and the others had survived, they would never be able to swim through such a fierce ocean. I glanced toward the horizon, but we were on the other side of the island and the mainland was nowhere. Water. Lots and lots of water. It made me nervous to realize I was trapped on this small piece of land. Not just trapped, but trapped with Thane, with no supplies, little food, and Raven somewhere lurking out there in the shadows.

  “What were the howls?” I asked, trying to keep my mind off more unpleasant subjects.

  “What howls?”

  I sighed. Was he intentionally being evasive? “On the mainland, right before we jumped I heard the howls. You said they weren’t wolves. What were they?”

  He didn’t respond, just continued his trek through the woods.

  “I heard them before, you know.”

  “They’re dhampir.”

  I frowned, confused. “What do you mean?”

  He lifted a branch and we ducked under. “Do you remember when I told you only female vampires can give birth?”

  I hesitated, wondering where he was going with this. “Yes.”

  “It wasn’t entirely true. There have been a few female vampires who have survived a human female birth. But they aren’t quite normal.”

  I laughed as we scrambled over a pile of rocks. “Are any of us normal?”

  He shrugged. “They’re more animalistic. Wild. They don’t think, they prey on anything they can get.”

  I shivered, suddenly thankful that I was on this island and not on the mainland. “Do they look like you?”

  “No. Slightly more terrifying.”

  My stomach grumbled, momentarily distracting me. The apple had done little to stave off my appetite. I could ignore the blister, but I couldn’t ignore my hunger much longer. It had been almost two days since I’d had a real meal and my body was growing weak. “I need food, Thane.”

  “I know.” He paused, sighing. “There are rabbits and deer, but we can’t have a fire yet.”

  Eating raw meat wasn’t a possibility, at least not for me. I’d have to wait. He reached into his satchel and pulled out another wrinkled apple, handing it to me.

  Grateful, I took the fruit and we started forward once more. “Why not find the Raven? Head inland and announce ourselves?”

  He didn’t reply but continued to walk. Frowning, I bit into the apple. What was his plan? He knew where the man’s cottage was located. We had to eventually contact him. What was Thane waiting for? Obviously there was something he wasn’t telling me.

  “Soon,” he said as we started toward a patch of fir trees.

  Waiting could only mean one thing…he didn’t trust this Raven. I lunged forward and latched onto his arm before he got too far away. “Thane, what are we doing?”

  He looked back at me. “Hunting.”

  Warily, I released my hold. “Hunting what?”

  “Not what, but who.”

  A shiver of unease raised the fine hairs on the back of my neck. “Raven.”

  He nodded.

  My appetite gone, the apple fell from my hand and bounced into the underbrush. I searched the dark woods, looking for indication of the elusive man. The branches wavered under the breeze, shadows shifting eerily across the deer trails. Where was he?

  Frustrated, I raked my hands through my hair. “We don’t even know if anyone is on the island.”

  “He’s here. I can sense him.”

  Startled, I looked up at Thane. Was he serious?

  “Trail,” he said softly, stepping onto the dirt path that wove up into the dark forest.

  I followed him, heading uphill, attempting to decipher person from shadows. Only a few birds chirped in the trees above, but for the most part the forest was quiet. Too quiet. “If you know he’s here why don’t we go to him?”

  He paused and turned to face me, so suddenly that I had to draw up short, yet still found myself only a breath away. “Because I can’t be sure he’s the man we’re looking for, and I can’t be sure I can trust him.”

  Exactly what I’d thought but it certainly surprised me that Thane was admitting as much. He spun back around and found the trail once more. The wind picked up, rattling the branches above and sending a few new leaves fluttering to the ground. Rain would be next. We needed to find shelter. I dropped my gaze from the canopy of trees above to Thane’s broad shoulders. Although I hadn’t a clue where we were going, and although he said I shouldn’t trust him, I couldn’t deny that I felt safe with Thane. I’d known him over a month now, and yeah, I trusted him. Yet I still didn’t feel like I truly knew him.

  “I guess I should say thanks.”

  He didn’t respond, merely walking the winding path, surging through weeds that grew alongside, as if nothing could hold him back. I tried to follow, attempting to dodge the thorny vines, but they clung to my clothing, piercing the material and scratching my arms like vicious claws.

  “For, you know, forcing me to jump,” I added. “I don’t think I would have.”

  He paused, so I paused. “Because of Will?”

  I wasn’t sure exactly why he was asking. Did he actually care? The dream of Thane kissing me rushed back to mind. Unwillingly I touched my lips, grateful his back was to me. Just a dream, I had to remind myself when a heated blush raced to my cheeks. I shoved the memory aside. We had more important things to worry about. “Because of Will. Because of Kelly and Tony. All of them. I felt guilty. I
still feel guilty, and I don’t understand…why me? They could have died, but you and Will decided to save me only. Why? Because I’m weak?”

  He turned to face me. “Maybe because Will’s in love with you.”

  “That wasn’t funny the first time you said it.” That blush returned full-force. Was he mocking me? He didn’t look like it, he didn’t really have any sort of emotion on his face, as if he was merely stating the facts. “Besides, Will cares about everyone.”

  He released a wry laugh. “Right.”

  Did Will like me? We had kissed, but I’d been getting ready to jump off a cliff, and let’s face it, he probably thought I wouldn’t survive. I certainly hadn’t thought I would.

  “I assume because you were in your little compound, shut off from the world, you don’t quite get how relationships work.” He started up the trail again, leaving me to scramble after him. He seemed annoyed and I wondered why. “You go about your life, believing everything the vampires tell you. And why? Because they are beautiful, because they dress in fine clothing and bring you gifts. Of course they couldn’t be lying. Of course they have only your best interests at heart.”

  “Not me.” I glared at his back as I clambered after him, wondering why he was trying to rile me up. “You know I didn’t trust them, so don’t lump me in with everyone back at the compounds.”

  I swear I thought I heard him laugh. My fingers curled as I resisted the urge to grab a nearby branch and hurl it at his head. Then again, his skull was so thick it probably wouldn’t do much damage. How had this gone from me thanking him, to Thane mocking me?

  “And you’re so experienced with love?” I snapped.

  I realized my mistake almost immediately.

  He spun around to face me. I froze. The hardness in his gaze would have sent me stumbling back a month ago. “I have known love unlike you can ever imagine. While you’ve been stuck in your little world blind to what is really out there…”

  He paused, as if attempting to hold himself back, trying to regain control. Harsh. But he was right. What did I know of love? Really? I thought I had loved Tom and I did, but not the way he had wanted. And I wasn’t even sure if he had loved me. Tom was gone now. I’d most likely never see him again.

  “Did you think you loved that red-haired boy in your compound?” He laughed, a hard, brittle sound. “You didn’t love him. He didn’t really love you. He was bored and you were the most interesting person there.”

  It wasn’t the first time it felt as if he’d read my mind and I didn’t like it one bit, even if he was right. “You don’t know anything.”

  He smirked. “Can you tell me you loved him?”

  I flushed. “No. I didn’t. But I never said I did.”

  He wouldn’t relent. “And do you honestly think he loved you?”

  I shrugged, uncomfortable. I thought he had. But if he had loved me, why hadn’t he trusted me? “How would I know?”

  Thane shook his head, as if disgusted. “Well let me enlighten you. When you’re in love you don’t replace the person within a month’s time. You don’t ignore their warnings. You trust them completely.”

  Deflated, my shoulders slumped. “Okay, he wasn’t in love with me. And no, I wasn’t in love with him.” I gave him a tight smile. “I suppose I don’t know real love. Are you happy now?”

  He didn’t respond, just turned and followed the trail again. Frowning, I went after him. The guy didn’t seem to like what I said no matter how I replied. What, exactly, did he want from me?

  “Watch the thorns. Your blood will draw attention if there are any beautiful ones nearby.”

  Gripping my forearms, I frowned. He couldn’t have possibly seen the marks through my long-sleeves, which meant he smelled the scratches. The tiny lines I’d gotten while hiking this morning, miniscule drops of blood… I shivered, uncomfortable with the thought.

  “Will the beautiful ones who attacked on the mainland come after us?” I asked, hoping to change the subject to something we could agree upon…a common enemy.

  “Doubtful.”

  I glanced back, but the water was barely visible through the forest. We’d moved further inland than I’d thought. I switched my gaze to the tree tops. The thick clouds had covered the sun, making the woods dark and mysterious. My stomach grumbled. I pressed my hands to my belly, forcing myself not to think of food. “How can you know for sure they won’t follow?”

  “I lied.”

  I shook my head, confused. “Lied about what?”

  “The beautiful ones hadn’t arrived. They were in no danger.”

  Shocked, I froze. He continued walking as if the words he’d just said were no big deal. I raced after him. “Why? Why would you do that?”

  “They were in the area, but far back enough for them to escape.” He lifted a branch and ducked under. “I needed to get you away from the group.”

  Annoyed and frustrated, I shoved the branch aside just as it was coming back down to whack me in the face. “Again, why?”

  “Because someone in the group is a traitor.”

  I quickened my steps, all the while shaking my head. “No. They can’t…”

  My steps slowed. Could they?

  He shrugged. “All I know is that somehow Bacchus knew where we were located, and when we would be gone.”

  Where the trail split I paused, the realization washing over me. Jimmy had died because of a traitor. Someone who had known the boy, had given up our location, realizing the others would be murdered. Knees suddenly weak, I sank back against a tree.

  “Why didn’t you tell Will?” I whispered.

  He stopped and sighed, but didn’t respond. Although there was no expression upon his perfect face, I knew the truth. I thought, maybe, just maybe, I was actually starting to understand Thane.

  “Because you don’t trust Will.”

  The realization shocked me. How could he not trust Will? He didn’t respond, but I didn’t expect him to. Will was the only one I believed had my best interest at heart. “I thought you were friends.”

  “This isn’t one of your little books, Jane. No one is friends here.”

  He was utterly serious. Did Will and Kelly feel the same way? Were we mere acquaintances, using each other for survival? “I can’t live that way.” I shook my head, feeling suddenly lost and desperate. “I can’t live in a world where you can’t trust anyone.”

  “Then good luck,” he said and started left. The man had absolutely no compassion or empathy for anyone. And that was where he differed from Will. I surged after him, my anger propelling me forward. He might not understand the idea of friendship, but then he also might be more monster than human.

  “You don’t understand…”

  He held up his hand, indicating for me to be quiet. I parted my lips, intending to tell him exactly what I thought about him when he stepped in front of me. It was instantly apparent what he was doing…becoming a protective shield, the same thing Will had done more than once. And once again I was struck by the fact that they seemed to take extra care with me. It didn’t make sense. I knew deep down this had nothing to do with Will’s feelings for me. And it sure as heck didn’t have anything to do with Thane caring about whether I lived or died. His indifference was proof enough. So why?

  “Beautiful ones?” I whispered.

  He shook his head.

  I might not have trusted him, but I trusted his instincts. I pressed my hand against my thigh where the dagger rested in its sheath. If it wasn’t a beautiful one I might actually have a chance.

  “Be ready.”

  He didn’t have to tell me twice. We moved through the trees. Thane was of course quiet, while I managed to step on two branches, sending a loud snap through the woods. And while his feet somehow left no prints, I trudged through the forest like a wild boar. We walked for a few minutes before Thane finally paused.

  Hidden behind a pine tree, he looked at me. “He’s straight ahead, across that clearing.”

/>   “Raven?”

  He refocused on the clearing. “We can only hope.”

  Great. He wasn’t sure. I took in a deep, trembling breath, then followed as Thane moved from tree to tree. Instinctively, I reached for my dagger and pulled it free. I thought about Will. I thought about Kelly. Mostly, I thought about Jim. If we needed to find the Raven to destroy the beautiful ones, if I had to put myself in danger, so be it.

  Thane heard the sound before I did, a sudden blast followed by a swoosh as a piece of bark chipped away from the tree next to me. I didn’t have time to understand. Suddenly, Thane tackled me to the ground. My heart seized. For one long moment we merely lay there, his hard body pinning me in place as we waited…waited.

  “What was that?” I finally asked.

  “Stay down!” He rolled off me and stood, hidden behind the tree.

  I managed to turn onto my stomach and peered through the weeds in front of me, trying to make sense of the situation. Although there was a cold chill in the air, sweat peppered my forehead.

  “Looks like we found our man,” Thane muttered, edging closer to me.

  I shoved my hands into the damp earth and sat up. “What the hell was that?”

  “Gunshot.”

  “Gun?” I’d read about them in my books, but had never been sure if they were real or myth. Guns could do damage, real damage if what I’d read was true. Where had he gotten a gun? And if they really existed, why didn’t the rest of us have them?

  “One shot and you’re dead, so stay down.” He moved to the next tree.

  Hunching low, I followed. “How? How does he have a gun?

  “I don’t know. The beautiful ones had gathered and destroyed all they could find years ago. We thought.”

  I found it utterly fascinating to see Thane so caught off guard. At any other time I would have laughed at the shocked outrage on his beautiful face. As it was, his obvious lack of understanding only made me nervous.

  “What’s the plan,” I finally asked, as we paused behind another pine. Steeling my nerves, I dared to peek around the tree and toward that field.

  In response, the man shot again. I heard the blast and ducked right before a piece of bark was torn from the trunk and went twirling through the air.

  Thane moved forward, darting behind the next tree. He slung the bag he carried over his back and knelt low. “We need to get closer. Make sure to stay behind me.”

  He’d stopped shooting. Perhaps those first couple blasts had merely been a warning. “But…how does he have guns?”

  Thane shrugged, his gaze scanning the clearing. “Must have found one. Or maybe he made them. I don’t know. But I’ve had some experience with guns and either his weapons are old and not working properly or he’s a terrible shot.”

  So, Thane didn’t think he was missing on purpose? So much for warning shots. “Do the beautiful ones have guns?”

  “They have a few saved just in case. But they don’t need them and have destroyed most. The beautiful ones don’t trust your man-made machines. They’d rather rely on their genetic abilities.”

  A glimmer of hope whispered through me. If we had guns, would this war turn in our favor? The clearing ahead showed no one, no movement, no shifting shadows…nothing. Where was this Raven? I narrowed my eyes, trying to make sense of the light and darkness. Nothing. I saw nothing. But if Thane said he was there, I had no doubt he was.

  “If I attack, there’s a chance I might kill him, trying to protect myself,” Thane muttered, reaching toward his leg and pulling out his own dagger. “We don’t want that to happen.”

  Another reminder of his strength. “Then let me go.”

  “No.”

  I rested my hand on his forearm, but he didn’t bother to look at me. “Thane, think about it. If he sees me, a human, he won’t shoot.”

  He slid me a glance. “You hope.”

  “He won’t.”

  For one long moment we merely stared at each other. I tried to read the thoughts in his gaze, but like always, I sensed nothing.

  “I’m going.”

  He swore, looking away. “Then walk out slowly, arms up, and tell him you escaped the mainland. That you need shelter. If he sees me he won’t believe you.”

  I highly doubted this Raven would trust me either, but decided to keep my thoughts to myself. I looked out into that wide, open field. Nowhere to hide, nowhere to find safety. And Raven was obviously the type of guy who shot first, and asked questions later. I was starting to have second thoughts. “What if he shoots me?”

  “I won’t let that happen.”

  I wasn’t sure how he would stop a bullet, but for some crazy reason I believed him. I took in a deep breath and straightened. My heart hammered loudly in my chest, and with each step closer toward the field, it thumped even harder, so hard I thought it would burst through my ribs. Arms raised, my entire body trembled as I moved through the last few trees.

  “Sir,” I called out. “Please, I need help.”

  My voice echoed across the field. No one responded. I could hear nothing around me, for my own harsh breathing drowned out the chirp of birds and insects. I stepped further into the field, momentarily blinded by a ray of sunlight that somehow managed to pierce the dark clouds. Disoriented, I could see nothing at first, only empty weeds, and the perimeter of the forest beyond. Slowly, I kept my pace, forcing my feet to move when all I wanted to do was run back to the safety of the trees and Thane.

  “Please,” I called out. “I need help! I escaped—”

  Suddenly, something tight clamped around my ankle and jerked me upward. A scream ripped from my throat as the world around me turned sideways. I was flipped around, and found myself hanging upside down, the ground below me wavering back and forth, as I swung. Dizzy from the sudden movement, I barely understood what had happened.

  Frantic, I tried to bend upward, using what little stomach muscles I had to look above. A rope held me from a thick tree branch. My stomach muscles quivered from the exertion, and I fell back down, hanging there like a fish on the end of a line. “Thane!”

  But Thane didn’t come. Instead an old man stepped from the woods and into the clearing. He carried what I knew immediately had to be a long gun of some sort. “Who the hell are you?”

  “Jane.” I blinked my eyes, trying to focus, but his weathered face was all a big blur. “I was a chosen one who escaped.”

  “Liar.” He lifted the gun and pointed it directly at me. “What do you really want?”

  Where was Thane when I needed him? The guy had probably dumped me here and high-tailed it back to the mainland. Raven started toward me, coming closer…closer.

  “I promise, I mean you no harm. I’m here because I need help.”

  “I know you didn’t swim here, so how did you find me?” He shoved the end of his gun into my belly, making me grunt. I swung backward from the force, turning in a whirl that made the dizziness worse. “What do you want? Truth, girl.”

  I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the pain of the rope burning around my ankles, the thrum of blood rushing to my head, and focus on the man who was upside down. Or was I the one upside down? I couldn’t really remember anymore. Good God, I was going to pass out. “They’re getting worse. The attacks on the mainland. The beautiful ones are out to destroy us. We heard that you might know how to stop them.”

  “I know nothing and want nothing to do with them, or you.” He leaned forward, his face a few inches from mine. The deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and around his mouth fascinated me. The yellowing of his teeth and general scent of decay that hovered around him proclaimed to all that he was ancient. Stunned, I could merely stare at him. This Raven was the oldest human I’d ever seen or heard of.

  He lifted the gun again, pointing it at my head. “Now get off my land before I kill you!”

  Suddenly Thane appeared shoving Raven back and stepping in front of me. “Harm her, old man, and I swear you’ll regret it.”


  Thane’s appearance startled him enough that he froze in indecision. The pale set of his wrinkled face showed his fear. “Using her as bait, dhampir?”

  “No.” Thane turned his back to the man, pulled the dagger from the sheath on his thigh and cut the rope. I fell into his arms with a thud. He caught me easily, settling me gently upon my feet. It happened so quickly that the scenery around me still spun and for a moment I thought I might get sick.

  Fortunately he didn’t let go. “You okay?”

  I nodded. Yeah. I was all right. I was starving, cold, had almost been shot, and my ankle throbbed, but Thane hadn’t left me, he hadn’t set me up so he could escape. So I figured I was doing better than I could have been.

  There was a soft click as the man lifted his gun once more, pointing it directly at Thane this time. “You have ten seconds before I start shooting.”

  Thane stepped in front of me, placing himself between me and the old guy. Still off balance, I had to press my hands into his back and use him as support. “Calm down. We don’t mean you any harm. But she’s right. We need your help.”

  “As I told her, I don’t have anything to do with the beautiful ones. I want no war with anyone.”

  Thane released a harsh laugh. “You think the war won’t find you? You think you’re safe here, old man? We know you’ve been working on a way to destroy them once and for all. We need your help.”

  “Leave.” He turned and started back toward the trees. “I have nothing to offer.”

  “At least he didn’t kill us,” I muttered.

  “Whether you want a war or not, it’s coming, Raven,” Thane called out. “They’ve been asking after you. Slaughtered good people trying to find information. You’re no better than the others kept in compounds, hiding out, blind to what is truly going on around them.”

  He spun around to face us. “Shut your mouth, boy.”

  For one long moment none of us said a word. I inched around Thane, peeking over his shoulder. The old man looked like he might start foaming at the mouth as he stood there stewing in his righteous anger. Thane had certainly made an impression, although I wasn’t quite sure if that was good or not.

  “They are coming,” Thane finally spoke again. “And I have a feeling they’ll be here soon. Very soon.”

  Raven lifted his lips in a growl, holding his gun high. “Then let them come.”

  “It doesn’t matter how many guns you own,” Thane snapped. “They will overpower you.”

  Slowly, he pointed his weapon at us once more. “You’re one of them. Why should I trust you? Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kill you.”

  “Because,” Thane said, stepping aside and leaving me out in the open, alone and vulnerable. “She’s your granddaughter.”

  Chapter 13