Kanin cocked his head at me, appraising. Is it worth it? he asked, making me frown. Two lives for the rest of the world? he continued. Are you willing to sacrifice everything to save one and destroy another?
What do you
Answer the question, Allison, Kanin continued in a quiet but ruthless voice. I want you to understand exactly what you are deciding, right now. If we return to the city for Jackal and Ezekiel, Sarren could reach Eden, complete whatever he is planning, and unleash a virus that could destroy everything. And if that happens, everything weve done here will be for nothing. Do you understand that?
I blinked at him. We?
Kanin sighed. I cannot take Sarren alone, he said in a matter-of-fact voice. If we are to have any hope of stopping him, we must face him together. But, regardless of that, I refuse to leave one of us behind, even one as volatile as him. I created him. I am responsible for his life. So, you will not be going into the city after James, Allison. I will.
I blinked in shock. He peered down, dark gaze boring into me. I just want you to understand the potential consequences of tonight, he went on. If we are killed, if we cannot get to Sarren in time, everything could die. It will be like it was sixty years ago. You arent old enough to remember the days Before, but when Red Lung was at its peak, the entire world was madness and chaos. And when the rabids appeared, it became hell on earth. Kanin paused, brows drawing together as he gazed at the ruined city around us. It is...a very heavy weight to carry, Allison, the damnation of a world. I want you to be very certain, before we go any further. Is it worth it? Is he worth it?
His words chilled me, but I already knew my answer. It was selfish, it was unreasonable, and I knew it was the wrong choice. But I looked up at Kanin, into his impassive face, and whispered, Yes.
You are willing to let others die for this. To let Sarren win.
He wont win, I said. You and Jackal will get to him in time, I know you will. But...I have to do this, Kanin. Turning, I gazed over the dark lake, feeling Jackals faint glimmer of life, and the ugly yawning decision that awaited me with Zeke. I wont leave Zeke like that. Hes suffering, even if he doesnt realize it. If it were me, youd do the same.
And how do you expect to fight him? Kanin asked softly. Your weapon is gone.
I dont know, I muttered, feeling a sharp pang of loss at the reminder. I missed my sword; without the familiar weight across my back I felt oddly naked and incomplete. Ill find something, I guess. A pipe, a broken bottle. The end of a stick, it doesnt matter.
Kanin sighed. Without a word, he stepped close, took my wrist, and placed the sheath of his thin, razor-sharp dagger into my palm. I blinked as he wrapped my fingers around it, the blade light and lethal in my hand, and looked up at him.
Kanin, I cant
Take it, Allison. Kanin pulled his arm back, leaving the blade and sheath gripped loosely in my fingers. You will need something to defend yourself with, as I am not coming with you. If you insist upon facing Ezekiel alone, I will not send you into battle empty-handed.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. Ill return it, Kanin. I swear.
Kanin raised a hand. Just listen a moment, Allison. Before we take another step, I want you to be very sure of what youre about to do. He gazed down at me, his eyes and face dark, his mouth pulled into a grim line. We have done exactly what Sarren wanted, what he planned for us, every step of the way. It was never random chance that you found Ezekiel. He was put here to stop ushis orders were likely to kill us all, keep us from reaching Eden. But Sarren specifically left him behind for you, Allison. And Ezekiel will be his most dangerous creation, because he knows you so well. Kanins gaze narrowed. No matter what he says, no matter what you tell yourself, you must remember that your human is gone. And the thing Sarren left behind is just a twisted mockery of Ezekiel Crosse.
I bit my lip to stop the stinging in my eyes, struggled to keep my voice from cracking. I know, I almost snarled. I know hes gone. Why are you telling me this now?
Because I want your eyes to be fully open, my sire replied. You must know what you are walking into. You cannot let your feelings for Ezekiel cloud your judgment. He will try to kill you, Allison. And he will succeed if you are not fully prepared to end his life. His gaze sharpened, cutting into me. Are you absolutely certain you can do this?
No, I thought in despair. But I wont leave him...like that.
Yes, I told Kanin, and my voice was almost steady. The Master vampire regarded me a moment longer, then nodded.
Then this is where we will part, he stated, turning toward the lake. A cold wind hissed across the water, tugging at our hair and clothes, as Kanins dark gaze swept over the vastness before us. I am unsure where Jackal is, he murmured. I simply know that our blood tie will lead me to him. But I dont know what state he will be in when I find him, if he is in hibernation, severely wounded, or close to Blood Frenzy. It might take me a while to locate his body, and even longer to help him. We might be separated for a good length of time.
I didnt like the idea of splitting up, but there was no better choice. Jackal had to be found, and I had to face Zeke. Better that Kanin find the raider king and get them both out of Old Chicago. That way, if I diedif Zeke killed meat least they would still have a chance of stopping Sarren. And even that seemed like a long shot now. Time was slipping away from us; Sarren mightve already gotten to Eden and destroyed the only hope left for the rest of the world. We might already be too late.
Where will you go from here? Kanin asked, turning back to me. I shrugged.
Back to the city, I guess. Unless you think Zeke is riding around with the patrols?
No. Kanin shook his head. If I know Sarrens mind, Ezekiel will be waiting for you to come to him. Probably in a place that has significance to you both. I do not know where that will be, but... His brow furrowed. Im certain you will find it, and him, fairly soon.
All right, then. I sighed, taking a step back. Nothing left to do now but go, face the boy I had to kill. I guess...Ill see you and Jackal when this is over. One way or another.
Allison.
Kanin was still watching me as I turned back, his expression unreadable. When you have dealt with Ezekiel, he said, wait for us on the eastern road out of the city. If were not there by tomorrow evening, go on to Eden without us. Something passed through his eyes, a flicker of emotion, before it was gone. Be careful.
I nodded. You too, Kanin.
He turned then, and walked into the black waters of the lake without looking back. I watched until his dark head vanished below the surface, then made my way up the bank, into the street, and back toward the flooded city. Back to Old Chicago and Zeke.
As I slipped through the silent, ruined city, canyons of cement and rusting steel towering overhead, I could feel the lingering pain in my chest start to fadethe physical ache, anyway. My body was finally healing; the blood Kanin had given me was repairing the last of the damage from the wooden spike that had been driven through my heart by the boy I had lost.
My stomach clenched, and not from Hunger this time. I...was really going to do this. Kill Zeke. Because some sick, demented vampire had Turned him into a monster. Wiped his mind clean, destroyed his memories, and twisted him into something I didnt recognize.
My stomach clenched, and not from Hunger this time. I...was really going to do this. Kill Zeke. Because some sick, demented vampire had Turned him into a monster. Wiped his mind clean, destroyed his memories, and twisted him into something I didnt recognize.
Im going to destroy you, Allie, because he wanted it to be me. He wanted you to see me tear the heart from your chest and crush it in my fist. It will be poetically ironic, he said, whatever that means.
Damn you, Sarren, I growled, as the stupid angry tears pressed behind my eyes again. If I survive this, nothing will stop me from finding you and tearing you in half. The world could be falling apart around us, and Ill still see you dead before its over, I swear it.
But that didnt stop the ache at what I had to do now.
I shot a quick look at the tops of the ruined skyscrapers, crumbling and skeletal, against an ominous navy blue sky. Not much night left. Maybe a couple hours to sneak into the flooded city, find Zeke, and kill him. But I couldnt turn back. By this time tomorrow night, I would either be on the road to Eden, hopefully with Kanin and Jackal, or I would be a pile of ashes swept away by the wind.
At the edge of the river, I paused, gazing over the water into the flooded city. Apparently, the traps and mines Zeke had set when wed first come through had been taken down, because the city was no longer empty. Torches and lanterns were lit again, glowing orange in the darkness, and humans milled about the platforms and crossed the walkways and bridges without fear, though not in the numbers Id seen before. In fact, only a few people seemed to be out, in small groups or pairs, or just wandering the bridges alone. I wondered if the majority of the raider force was out patrolling the city, looking for three escaped vampires. Or maybe they were all with Zeke, and I was walking into another trap.
Slipping into the water, I retraced my steps from the night Jackal had led us through. I swam to the base of his tower but, instead of going through the flooded stairwell, entered the building through the front doors and surfaced in the lobby.
It was empty. No raiders or guards lurked in the shadows or paced the walkways overhead. It seemed odd that no one was expecting me, but I wasnt going to question it. Silently, I made my way to the far wall where, just like on the very first time Id come through, the elevator sat, still coughing and spitting sparks, in the corner of the room. Not bothering with the lever or the questionable machinery, I climbed atop the rickety box, grabbed the cable, and shimmied up the shaft, going hand over hand, until I reached the very top floor.