Zone Zero: Vengeance (Book 3 of 3)

Chapter 9

The image of Cail's head being detached from his body is still fresh in my mind as I gather some things I might need. A few changes of clothes have already been shoved into my duffle bag as it lay open on the bed.

Next, I enter the 6 digit code that allows access into Alex's wall safe. The safe that houses his blood bag stash located in the bedroom he once called his. I also called it mine for a short while when I was first turned into a vampire.

It's funny how we shared this bed yesterday yet we felt like strangers to this room. This castle feels strange to us both. So much has changed and so much has happened since either of us called this place home.

The sun will be rising in a couple of hours and I need to hit the road. I zip up my duffle just as the door opens.

Alex steps in running his hands down his face. He is clearly upset and it makes my breath catch.

He opens his eyes and they fall to my duffle bag. His face drops even more as confusion settles in.

"What are you doing?" He whispers.

I look down to my duffle trying to form the words.

"I...I have to-"

"Are you leaving me?" He cuts me off with a sharpness to his question.

His words fill my ears but I don't fully hear them. It takes me a few moments to overcome the shock from his question and respond.

"Of course not! How could you think that?" I splutter out as fast as possible.

He looks from me to the bag and back again. I follow his eyes and let them stay fixed on the duffle. This must look bad from where he is standing.

"I have to go. I need to find them."

"So you were planning on sneaking out. Leaving without so much as a goodbye?" His words are becoming harsher and I know it's because he is hurting right now. He was already in pain after having to end his brother's life and this sight has made it so much worse.

"I'm not leaving for good. I need to find Logan. I can't sit around waiting anymore." My words come out harsher than expected but I don't retract them.

"And we will find him. Together we will find them both. We will sit down and work out a plan. Take a group of people-"

"No!" I cut him off mid-sentence. "No one else will die because of me. I'm doing this alone."

I grab my duffle and swing it over my shoulder with finality and take a step towards the door but Alex doesn't waver. His blue eyes are locked on me with a fierce yearning that I can't quite decipher. I want to fall apart under his gaze but I refuse to stand down.

"I won't let you do this on your own," Alex states with a firm tone.

"And I won't watch anyone else be slaughtered because of me!" I yell back.

My heart is racing and my lip is quivering. I am on the verge of breaking down but I force myself to stay strong. I cant watch anyone else I care about die.

"We are in this together. Forever. Remember?" He whispers taking a step to close the distance.

A traitorous tear breaks rank and flows down my cheek but before I can reach up to wipe it away I feel Alex's strong hands do it for me.

"Wherever you go, I go. If you leave, I leave. If you die...so do I."

His voice sends more tears flowing down my cheeks as I bite down on my lower lip. The mere thought of him dying is too much to bear. I can't be without him which is why I need to protect him. I need him to stay here and be safe.