The Bite [Luke Hemmings AU]

Chapter Twenty-Two

I needed to find Darcy. Maybe she'd know what was going on with me.

There really couldn't be anything going on. We needed to focus on Zac and the plan.

Luke and I drove to the abandoned factory at the edge of town while I called Darcy and told her to meet us there.

When we got there, she was already there. I pulled in beside her car and started getting out. I saw Jackson once I got a better look.

"Why do you keep bringing him?" I asked. I really didn't trust him all that much. He could hear what I was thinking it made me feel uncomfortable.

"Just hear what he has to say," Darcy said.

"I can't hear anything anymore. The last thing I heard from someone was Collin. He knows you guys are up to something. He doesn't know that we know. But after that, I couldn't hear anything else," he said.

I looked him over and I remembered that I could read his mind. I looked into it and he was telling the truth.

"What do you mean you can't hear anything?" Luke asked.

"I can't read anyone's mind anymore. I've tried and it just will not work," he said and rubbed his eyes.

"I still can," I said softly. "But, I called because there's something weird going on with me. It's the exact opposite of his problem."

"What?" Darcy asked.

I grabbed Luke's arm and pulled out my claws. I dug one of my claws into his arm and waited a few seconds. He flinched and winced before I grabbed it and hair laid my hand over the wound. I pulled it away and it was completely healed.

"I couldn't do that 12 hours ago."

"So, you're gaining power while the rest of us are losing it?" she asked.

"What do you mean the rest of us?" I asked.

"Talia's bite isn't as lethal as it used to be. Her venom only does what every other bite does. It didn't used to," she said as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Get them out of there," I said. I had an idea of what was going on and it scared me to be honest.

I wanted to try something. I held my hand out for Jackson to give me his and he gave me a weird look before he gave me his hand.

I focused everything on pushing the gift into his hand. His grip tightened when I could literally feel it leaving my body.

"How did you do that ?" he asked when he took this hand back. "I can read your mind and it's even more clear than it was before."

I smiled and looked at my hands. "I just thought that it might work so I wanted to try it," I said.

"Thank you," he said with a smile.

I smiled back and pulled Luke to my car. "I'll see you tomorrow," I said and got into the car.

I drove us back home and after I dropped him off at his house I went straight for Cooper's. I pulled in and ran right inside. "Cooper!"
I yelled as I ran up the stairs.

"Cooper!" I yelled again. I pushed the door to his bedroom open and the smile from my face dropped.

Cooper was on the ground in a pool of blood. There was a huge gash in his side and he was grabbing at it. "He's still here," he grunted in a quiet voice.

I nodded and turned to find whoever it was that did this. i had an idea who it was.

"So, you're Claire!" I heard a voice from down the hall. I turned my head to look at the voice.

"Oh. We haven't met yet. I'm Adam," he said with a menacing smile.

He stood so tall his head was almost hitting the ceiling. His light hair was styled perfectly on top of his head. His creepy smile made his whole appearance fit together.

He started walking my way. I had no idea what to expect.

I saw two of him. I didn't know if I was blacking out or if it was really happening.

It was really happening. They both started punch at me and I ducked every time. I grabbed two of the four hands and electrocuted them before pushing at both chests with fiery hands. The two fell to the ground and became one again.

I walked over to him quickly and put my hand over his chest and pulled his ability from him.

I stepped back and tried to duplicate myself. It was a lot harder than any other ability I'd had. I finally did it while Adam stood up.

"What?" he asked, completely confused. "Colin is the only one I've seen that can do that."

I smirked. "Not anymore," I said. Both of me ran at him and pushed him back to the ground. I pulled my claws out and pulled the other me in. I slashed at his face a few times before I stood up and took in my claws.

I walked back to get Cooper. He was still laying on the floor. I knelt down and put my hands over his side. He winced once before I took my hands away and all that was left was a small scratch.

"Let's get him to Saunders," I said.

We took Adam to Saunders's house. I got out and grabbed Adam by the back of the neck and zapped him to get him awake.

He jerked awake and I tightened my grip on him. "Claire, you have really surprised me," he said as we got to the doorstep. I zapped him again and Cooper opened up the door. I pushed Adam inside and we shut the door.

"Claire," Saunders said as he came into the
room. He looked to Cooper then to Adam. "Adam? What the hell is he doing here?"

"Wait, you two know each other?" I asked getting completely confused.

"Saunders and I were stationed in Iraq together," Adam said with a raised eyebrow at me.

"Collin bit Adam after Candice died," Saunders said and looked down. "Now what is he doing here?"

"He broke into my house. He was there when I got home from school," Cooper said and glared at him.

"I just thought you'd know what we need to do with him," I said.

"We need to kill him," Saunders said under his breath.

"Okay then you can kill him right in front of your new girlfriend," I sarcastically said as I could see Lorelei coming into the room.

"Candace?" Adam said as he got a look at her.

She looked at him funny and shook her head. She looked frightened as she stood by Saunders.

Adam smirked. "She looks just like her," he said.

Saunders ignored the comment and told Lorelei to go to the bedroom.

Saunders grabbed Adam by the back of the neck and dragged him down to the basement. Cooper and I followed.

He had his claws around Adam's neck, ready to rip open his throat.

"Stop," I said and Saunders froze. "Let me," I said.

I walked over and I dug my claws into his stomach. I thought maybe if I killed him, I could take his power further. Maybe I'd be able to make the most of it.

I twisted my hands and Adam let out a loud, hurling shriek. I pushed my claws in deeper and I could literally feel something going through my veins. It was painful, like I was feeling his pain too, but it also felt powerful.

"Claire, stop," Saunders grabbed my arms and pulled me away. I was panting as I stepped back.

I looked at Saunders and he looked scared of me. Cooper did too. I looked at my hands and it was gross. Pieces of skin and blood were under my claws and blood stained my hands to my wrists. I swallowed hard and looked up to see Adam's lifeless body on the ground.

i knew that when Saunders looked at me, it was just like he did when he saw Collin.

I was turning into him.