High Stakes

Part Twenty-four

With excitement for having over 200 followers--here's the next part!!

xoxo, SB

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Part 24

OWEN:

After leaving Sean's house, I feel uneasy, and it grows with every step I take away from my perfect little Sang Sorenson. Last night--and then this morning--was everything. Everything. Now? Being away from her? It physically hurts.

Really hurts. My body tingles--something's not right. There's a distinct feeling of...dread. The look on Sang's face earlier was shocking. It was so strange to see her feel such empathy for the vampires we're hunting. Her words--bias, prejudice--they burrowed deep into my mind and now I can't shake them. I've always slain my kind. I've never known any others to have a conscience.

But then there's Sang. Hell, she's more human than most people I know! What if she's right? What if we've been killing vampires when they could have been rehabilitated? Now I'm feeling uneasy, and I'm sure it's because of that nagging doubt. Are we doing the right thing?

"Good, you're here." Sean's voice pulls me out of my thoughts. I had driven, parked, and exited my car, all on auto-pilot, mind elsewhere--with Sang.

My team is assembled outside the mall, shrouded by shadow and car coverage. "Report," I say, my voice not conveying my anxiety. But why do I feel anxious? Is it really just the doubt?

Kota immediately answers me. "Victor has been monitoring the taps, and we've discovered the Master's plan. He's having his team assemble at the mall, and they're going to be killing one person every nine minutes--something about sending us a message."

"When?" I close my mind off to Sang and her unease. Good doesn't murder people. Good doesn't plan mass killings. These creatures are not good. I force myself to focus on the task at hand, I can't worry about her right now. People will die.

Kota looks down at his watch, and I know he probably doesn't have to. He's probably been doing a countdown in that brain of his since Victor relayed the details. "In about ten minutes."

I stand a little straighter, and hold out my hand. Instantly, North is ready with a knife, placing the hilt into my open palm. I touch the blade and quickly pull away from the sting. I do this every time, even though I know the silver coating will burn. I have to know, though, always. Maybe I'm checking that it'll do it's job. Maybe I'm checking to see if I'm still a monster.

"Hey--isn't that the girl? What's her name? Jade?" Nathan points out a shape sticking to the shadows of the mall before ducking inside. It's not hard to see her, the parking lot is mostly empty, not many people like to wake up early to go shopping. It makes me wonder...

"Wait--and there's another one. Her brother I think," Luke points to a figure going the opposite direction.

I narrow my eyes. This all seems a little too easy. They're not even trying to hide.

"Um, does anyone else have a weird feeling about this?" Gabe fiddles with his earrings.

We all nod. "Trap?" Sean eyes me. "Why would they set us up? We're nine against four. We have training. There's no way..." he trails off. "Sang's back at my house?"

My whole body tenses. She's alone. Vulnerable.

"Tap into the bond. Is she okay?" Sean continues to stare at me, concern evident.

I remember the unease I felt earlier. I concentrate more, not completely sure how to hone in on her feelings. Before, when she was drunk, it just sort of took over my body. I close my eyes, willing every cell in my body to focus.

"I feel... She's tired. Very tired. And nervous. More nervous than I've ever felt." My voice is sharp, even to my own ears.

Kota's lips curl downward into a frown. "Well, she's nervous we're hunting, right?" He doesn't even sound like he believes himself.

I clench the knife hilt tightly in my hand, my knuckles going white. I want to get to Sang. This is clearly a trap. Yet, an innocent life every nine minutes? I can't exactly ignore that either.

"You all can handle those four, yes?" I ask, expecting an immediate answer.

I'm not disappointed. I get an immediate "yes" from eight voices.

"Okay. I'll go to Sang. Do not split up. Stay together. Mr Lee?" I glance at Kota, directing that he take the lead.

I turn on my heels, still gripping the knife, pulling out my keys. The dread I've been feeling has intensified tenfold. My body actually starts to tremble, and I know it's not me doing the quaking. Sang is in trouble.

I open the car door and then let out a scream. It's involuntary, it's wrenched from my ribcage. There's a fire lit inside my chest, a flame charring me from the inside out. It feels as if my heart is being torn in two. No, not two, it feels like it's being clawed and scratched and shredded. I'm blinded with pain, clawing at my shirt, my chest, trying to get inside. I need to put out the fire. I hear a noise, a man's voice cracking with screams of agony. It might be me.

Finally, the fire eases slightly, slows to a sear. My heart is being cooked now, with a charbroil finish. It's a slow simmer of torment.

The screaming stops, but it's replaced with horrible gasps. I finally open my eyes, looking down. I'm on my back on the asphalt, my shirt torn to shreds, my chest bloody where I tried to dig out my heart to stop the flames.

Looking up, I see eight pairs of eyes circled and staring down at me with looks of horror.

"Owen?" Sean's voice is slow, careful--terrified.

I take a raspy breath, trying to get some moisture in my throat after screaming it raw. "Sang," I croak, "I don't feel her anymore. The bond... the bond is gone!"

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Gasp!

The next part will go back a bit and show what kind of shenanigans that pesky Master is up to with our leading lady. I wanted to tease a little. Because I'm mean like that! Mu wa hahahaaaa!

What'd you think? Love the comments, always! :)

Thanks for sticking with me even with all the waiting for me to update. Why do jobs have to get in the way of writing? Uggghhh.