Blood Ties (Blood Lust Sequel)--COMPLETED

Chapter Twenty: The Burden of Truth

I stood between Linc and Nero, dumbstruck by the quickly approaching vessel...and by Linc's wings. I wanted to ask him about them, to touch them, but there were more important things at hand.  

"What do we do?" I asked no one in particular. 

I wasn't keen on the escape plan, but now that the AOD was coming back to Lachlan Island, it was a tempting venture. If I couldn't protect the other vampires by Influencing the AOD, maybe I could lead them away? It was me they wanted, after all. 

"Stick to the plan." Nero said on my left. "Get you off the island, and head to Duke's safe house in Alaska."

Alaska?! 

"Nah, man, it's too late for that now." Linc spoke with a stoic tone. "They're too close; they'd just follow us." 

Nero heaved out a heavy sigh. "Damn it!" He kicked at some sand. 

"Then let them." I spoke, keeping my eyes on the horizon. 

"What?" 

Nero and Linc spoke in unison before Linc said, "Aud, are you crazy?"

"Audrey," Nero added, "there's no way we could outrun them now. They'd catch us before we could reach the mainland." 

I looked at them both for the first time in what felt like forever, and saw they shared the same uncertainty, the same fear, that I felt. I swallowed hard. "We have to do something! I don't want to give them another opportunity to hurt any of you. I won't."

"They can't hurt us." Duke's voice came from behind. 

I was startled, but didn't make a sound until I turned to face him. "How can you be so sure?"

Duke approached us, hands in his pockets, face pensive. He got about a foot or two away from me, then stopped. "Because, you Influenced them not to do so. If they had any ill intent for us, they wouldn't be able to plan a trip here, let alone set foot on the island." 

Linc's wings retracted audibly, seeming to shrink as they disappeared behind him. Once he put them away, he inched closer to me. "He's right, Aud. But just 'cause they're Influenced to not hurt anyone doesn't mean they're comin' here with good intentions."

I stared at him hard, and not just because of what he said. 

What exactly was Linc? He wasn't a vampire, and he wasn't human--not entirely, anyway. Was he part bat? Gargoyle? Dragon? Did those last two things even exist? 

Yes, they do. Duke's thoughts interrupted my own. But no, Lincoln is not any of those things.  

Then what is he? I thought at him. 

Duke looked me in the eye and shook his head slightly. It is not my place to tell. 

I was already miffed with him and his attempt to send me away, and now his reluctance to answer me only exacerbated my irritation. Though I couldn't really blame him. Whatever Linc was was his business, and if he wanted me to know he would tell me.  

I let out a small sigh.

Duke proved once again that he was a decent person, respecting Linc's privacy even though Linc was technically the enemy. 

He made it hard to stay mad at him...but not impossible. 

"Could they be coming to retrieve you?" Nero asked Linc.

Linc shrugged. "Could be. Havoc knows I can't leave without Audrey, unless he orders me to."

"It appears we're about to find out." Duke said as the rumbling became deafening.