Off With His Head

37. You haven't won until your enemy's dead

"Jennings, our chances of walking out of this are slim to none." Caleb closes the trunk of the car and steps back. We brought every iron weapon that was in the room, even though there's no chance of us being able to use them all. But as Caleb says; 'rather safe than sorry'.

Is Zach's life worth Caleb's as well as your own?

"I know that." A twinge of guilt tugs at my heart as I remember Lideri's words. Deep down, I know that it's wrong of me to ask Caleb to come with me on what could possibly be our final mission. But, I'm selfish, I always have been, and I also know that I can't actually do this without him. "This is your last chance to back out, Caleb."

He frowns, his green eyes devoid of their usual sparkle. "Zach is my partner, my friend. I want to try and save him. And you." He steps closer, placing his hand under my chin and softly kissing my forehead. "I would follow you into the fiery pits of hell."

My stomach churns with guilt, a sick nauseating feeling that makes my heart thud against my chest. I need to be honest with him, to tell him how I really feel, but the words lodge in my throat, desperate to be contained. I swallow hard, trying to get them to come out. "Caleb, about us-,"

"Later, Jennings." He steps away from me and goes around to the driver's side of the car. "We can deal with all this when we have Zach back."

I nod in agreement, relief filling my chest for a moment, and climb into the passenger seat, waiting for Caleb to slide the key into the ignition. My heart pounds in my chest as we drive through the night towards Clover Street. Without Zach in the car to discuss plans, the space feels empty. Caleb tries anyway.

"So we start from the underground tunnel and work our way from there," he decides. "I remember the direction they were headed, but hopefully it will be easy to track them. Zach was bleeding pretty badly, I'm sure there will be a trail."

I try not to flinch at his casual mention of Zach's injuries. Or the fact that Zach is surrounded by blood-thirsty vampires, who would waste no time in biting him. If Caleb is right about Zach, there's also the possibility that he will bleed out before we can save him.

I have to admit I will miss you.

I nod mutely, my fear is starting to take over my common sense and I'm struggling to breathe. The air in the car feels thick and heavy, as though Zach's absence has a life of its own. This is my first mission without him, and all I can think of are the things that could go wrong. And there are so many. So many ways we could die, or be hurt, or turned.

Caleb and Matthew had only managed to prepare fifteen grenades by the time I got back. What if it's not enough?

It's my first time wielding a sword. Granted, it's a machete and not a falchion or scimitar like Caleb and Zach use, but it's still foreign to me.

I have my bow, and iron tipped arrows, but if my hands continue shaking this much I won't be able to aim.

There's also the possibility that I'm trying so hard not to face. It could be too late for Zach.

Zach, who brought me to see Caleb even when he wasn't allowed, who took the time to buy me a dress, who danced with me at the Hunters Ball. Zach, who has always pushed me to be my best and struggled to open himself up.

The same Zach who has just started to make jokes and put aside his quest to become Lideri to help me. Zach, whose eyes are as blue as the ocean and whose smile, though rare, lights up his whole face. The Zach that, somehow, without even realising it, I've fallen for.

It can't be too late for him. I refuse for it to be too late for him.

"We're here," Caleb whispers as we park on a deserted street. Though I've never been here before, I recognise it immediately from the footage we watched earlier. The same street lamp with a broken bulb stands on the corner and the dark crimson splashes that cover the tar are visible in the moonlight.