That we can save the world before it’s too late.
Chapter 18
The cold night air feels like it should be affecting me, slowing me down or hindering my endurance, but it doesn’t. I never get tired and Sylas keeps up with me easily. It’s kind of perfect running through the desert at my own speed.
“This is fun,” Sylas says as we hop over rocks.
“You think?” I leap over a large rock and land gracefully on the other side.
He drops down beside me and smiles. “I do. In fact, I think we should do it more often.”
I don’t answer, however I smile as we race off again. We’re just on the outskirts of the colony, feeling good about how fast we’re moving, when we cross a herd of vampires in our path. They’re wandering around, trying to find something to feed on, with their heads tipped back towards the sky, crying out.
I slam to a halt when I notice them and draw out my knife, ready to attack. I know that the vampires are afraid of me, but Sylas’s scent might attract them. He slows down beside me, starting to ask what I’m doing, but then he turns his head and his eyes slightly widen as he sees them and steps back.
One of the vampires glances over at us and then the rest smell the air.
“Sylas, run,” I order as I stick my hand out to protect him.
He doesn’t budge and I’m about to shove him back when the vampires suddenly lower their heads and cower back. One braver one comes running up towards us, but then it veers quickly to the right and takes off with the others.
I give Sylas a puzzled look from over my shoulder and he shrugs.
“They probably caught your scent,” he says, yet he doesn’t sound completely convinced. We’ve been attacked before together. My scent doesn’t always repel them so easily.
Still, I nod and then we start running again down the path and over the hill to the outskirts of where the vampires have migrated. It’s like we’re herding them away, forcing them to run.
Every once in a while, one will turn back towards Sylas like it’s about to attack him, but then quickly darts forward like it’s afraid. They head out to the flat land and finally they’re a safe distance away.
I stop and so does Sylas, watching them cry in the distance. He looks at me funny and then we continue to walk. “Maybe my scent isn’t normal,” he says with a confused look on his face. “Well, normal for me.”
“What do you mean?” I ask as I hop from a large rock to a smaller one.
He matches my move breezily. “Well, think about it. I had changed into an abomination. The vampires are afraid of them. Maybe I still have the same smell as when I was changed.”
“You could be right, but if that’s the case, I wonder if it will be permanent.”
“Maybe. I wonder if there’s a cure for that.”
“Do you want there to be a cure for that?” I ask. “It’s kind of convenient.”
He wavers. “Yeah, I guess, but still… those things smell disgusting.” He sniffs himself and pulls a puzzled face. “I honestly can’t smell anything, except dirt.”
I lean over and sniff his chest. “You smell fine to me.”
He bites his bottom lip as I lean away. I can tell that he wants to do something to me; maybe kiss me like he did back when he was changing. I take off before he can do so, knowing I could easily get caught up in his kisses. He jogs after me, smiling to himself.
We maintain a rapid pace and make it back to the cave before daylight. Sylas insists that he can make the rest of the journey in the daylight and that he’ll keep his jacket on to protect himself. I argue for a moment then I hear Monarch’s words echoing in my head once more.
There are other things more important than Sylas and Aiden. You need to realize that you can’t save everyone. Not if you are going to save the world.
His words haunt me. I shake my head to try and clear it, but it doesn’t work and I hear them again.
There are other things more important than Sylas and Aiden. You need to realize that you can’t save everyone. Not if you are going to save the world.
“You’re right, we should keep going,” I tell him, not liking myself that much at the moment.
His lips curve to a pleased grin. “I think you are finally starting to understand what you need to do.”
“Maybe.” Or maybe Monarch’s just stuck in my head.
Sylas draws his hood over his head and tucks his hands up into his sleeves. We start moving again as the sunlight casts against our backs. Sylas slows down a little, but not enough that it makes me feel like I’m lagging. Finally, after racing around rocks, going uphill and downhill, we arrive at the colony.
There are two guards posted on top of the wall created from scraps of car. It’s the same two that were there when Aiden and I left. They stand up on the wall, pointing their knives at us as we approach.
“Stop where you are, both of you,” the guard closest to us threatens, raising his knife in a threatening manner.
Sylas and I both stop at the bottom of the wall and stare up at them. The one guard hops down in front of us, landing with a grunt, then holds his weapon out as he circles around us.
He walks up to me, eyes roving my long, black hair and short height. “I remember you. You’re that Kayla creature that left here not too long ago.” He eyes me over again as Sylas’s jaw tightens and he inches closer to me protectively. “Mathew told us that we’re supposed to let you back in when you return.”
His scrutinizing gaze diverts to Sylas. He aims the tip of the knife at his chest. I’m worried Sylas will retaliate, however he tips his head down away from the sun.
“But you’re not the same guy who was here before,” the guard says suspiciously. He pauses. “He can wait here. We don’t know what he is or what he wants.” He shoves the weapon into Sylas’s chest and the blade glazes through the fabric of my jacket he has on.
Before I can blink, Sylas smashes his elbow into the guard’s face then, without missing a beat, he thrusts his knee into his wrist, steals the knife and flips it around so it’s aimed at the bewildered guard’s face.
The guard on the top of the barricade lets out a scream and then I hear the sound of a ringing bell. I’m not even sure where the hell it’s coming from, but I do hear a rustle of commotion from the other side of the barricade. Sylas continues to stand, pointing the weapon at the guard’s throat who doesn’t dare move. The other guard jumps down and points his knife at Sylas.