Dauntless (12 page)

“Get in the water, Mara!” Sebastian yelled, as he slugged a Nevermore in the jaw. I did as he said, sloshing into the water, the waves up to my knees in a few brief heartbeats. One of the men jumped out of the boat and slogged his way over to me. I handed him Nero and ignored the surprised look on his face. “Take him. I’ll help the others.”

He grunted, and I spun back to face the blood bath that only moments before had been a quiet sanctuary. Sebastian was in the water, blood trickling from a bite wound on his collarbone and a split lip, but otherwise he was okay. Annie stood in the water, also up to her knees, breathing hard, Dustin clinging to her—No, he wasn’t clinging to her, she was clinging to him.

“Annie…” I called out.

She turned towards me, her eyes streaming with tears. Dustin was limp in her arms, his neck no longer whole. I could see the white of his spine as his head flopped with each effort she made to hold him upright. I ran to Annie as she started to scream, her head tipped back to the sky, peal after peal of anguish ripping out of her. I didn’t try to hush her, just wrapped my arms around her body and held her until her voice ran ragged and her breathing slowed.

“I won’t leave him,” she whispered.

“Of course not,” I said. I motioned and Sebastian came and lifted Dustin up into his arms, so carefully, as if the boy was only sleeping and not gone forever. Annie followed them, her hand holding one of Dustin’s.

Again, I turned to the beach.

Dan, where was Dan?

I couldn’t see the crotchety old man and my heart constricted. I pushed hard and was ankle deep in a few seconds. There was blood everywhere, and no sign of Dan. The Nevermores pulled back, opening up a corridor of yellow skin, where at the back of the beach lay Dan.

“Dan!” I yelled.

“They didn’t kill me that easily,” he said, hawking a wad of blood on the ground beside him.

I tried to see a way around this; we couldn’t just leave him there.

“Don’t you dare even think about coming for me. They struck me a killing blow, a nice slow one to draw you in. You remember this, Mara. They’re getting smarter, they’re learning our weaknesses.” He coughed and groaned as I stood helpless on the edge of the beach, the water now just deep enough to cover the tops of my feet. This couldn’t be happening, not when we were so close to safety.

“Dan, we can’t leave you here. The men have guns, they can . . .”

He interrupted me. “Not enough to kill the pack quick-like so you can get me out. Even if you did,” he coughed and spit blood again. “I don’t think I’d make it. So, I have only one thing left to say.”

Tears started to creep down my face and I dashed them away. Dan wouldn’t appreciate tears, not at his expense.

He let out a low moan as he slid himself into a sitting position, just as Sebastian came up beside me, slipping an arm around my waist.

“Dan?” Bastian said his voice heavy with sorrow.

Dan grunted. “This is what I got to say to the two of you.”

We waited while he caught his breath. “I’m proud to say you were my friends, and…”

Sebastian’s arm tightened painfully around me, and I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from crying out.

“You make a damn fine cookie, considering they were burnt.” He gave me a wink and slid his hand behind him. I heard the rifle click and buried my head against Sebastian’s chest.

The boom of the gun and the ensuing squeal of the Nevermores was enough for me; I didn’t need to see what was left of Dan. We turned in the water and swam out to the boat where the men helped us in, my tears disappearing into the waves.

One of the men, who later told us his name was Pete, grunted with the strain. “Damn, you don’t look that big man.”

Sebastian grunted, but said nothing as the men hauled him over the side. Once in the boat, I held Annie, our grief binding us as nothing else could. I tried to keep her eyes on things other than her little brother’s lifeless body, but it was impossible. The men lifted Dustin’s body in and wrapped it in a tarp.

“I can’t believe he’s gone. I thought we’d made it together, we were so close,” Annie said, the highlights in her hair looking duller, the brilliant hue of her eyes clouded with grief. She couldn’t seem to stop staring at his wrapped body.

There was nothing I could say to ease the pain for her, so I said nothing, only held her, turning her head away from him and holding her tight. It wasn’t much, but it was the only comfort I could give.

We were lifted up, boat and all onto the larger freighter; no, it was one of the old ferries. No wonder it took them so long to get to us. The old clunkers were not known for their speed.

“Here we are,” Pete said. “We’ll be back in Vancouver in an hour or so. We came as quick as we could.”

Pete continued as our tour guide. “We did see your flare, but the helicopter was running out of fuel, so they sent the boat after all of yous.” He smiled, showing us missing teeth and one gold capped tooth that sparkled in the sunlight.

“Thank you.” Sebastian reached out and shook Pete’s hand.

I kept Annie tight to my side and we went in under cover, sitting down in one of the green faux leather seats that filled the ferry. Leaning my head back, I closed my eyes, Annie’s head dropping to my shoulder, Sebastian on my other side holding Nero, one of his hands tucked into mine. I let out a deep breath.

We were finally safe.

20

The ferry, The Queen of Saanich to be exact, docked at the Tsawwassen ferry terminal where we disembarked. Walking through the terminal with its empty booths and empty lanes for vehicles was spooky. Our footsteps echoed through the hallways, feet slapping on the tiled stairways that took us down to where armoured vehicles—that at one point in their lives had been Brinks Security trucks—waited for us. I sat quietly between Sebastian and Annie, Nero asleep in my arms. None of us spoke a word for the first few minutes. It was me who finally broke the silence.

“I didn’t get the chance to thank Dan for taking Nero in when we were taken away,” I said.

Sebastian scrubbed Nero’s head, messing up his fur. “I bet the little beggar whined at Dan’s door till he let him in.” Though I doubted that very much, I smiled at the image it put in my head, no doubt Sebastian’s intent.

In under an hour, we were at the airport and taken into one of the waiting rooms. Our names and information were taken down and were then sent to the medical teams for blood work and a general health evaluation.

Annie went in first, Sebastian and I held back. This was the moment of truth, when we found out how well the cure really worked.

“We should go in together,” I said. Sebastian nodded, and I led the way when my name was called.

There was a doctor and a nurse, both women. “Hello, I’m Dr. Stanwell. This is nurse Allton.” Dr. Stanwell looked to be in her late forties, early fifties and her blond hair had grown out, showing the grey roots beneath. Sharp, intelligent green eyes met mine and I swallowed hard.

I reached inside my bra and pulled out the vial I’d stolen, what seemed so long ago, from Donavan’s compound. “My name is Mara Wilson, this is my husband Sebastian. We were held captive by a man named Donavan, and he had what he thought was a cure for Nevermore.”

The two women stared at me, their mouths hanging open as I quickly spun out our story, albeit missing the parts where Sebastian was a Nevermore. I wasn’t telling them anything I didn’t have too. I finished by explaining how Marks and his men had broken into the compound, had saved Sebastian and me, and how I’d gone back for the cure.

“Why didn’t Sebastian go instead?” Dr. Stanwell’s eyes narrowed. I swallowed and took a shallow breath.

“He was sick, running a high fever. He could barely walk,” I said, as Sebastian nodded in agreement.

“And that’s it. That’s how we got here.” I handed the vial over to her. “I don’t know if it needed to be cold or what, but at least we got it here.”

“That you did, Mara,” Dr. Stanwell whispered. She handed the vial to the nurse with instructions to take it to the lab immediately. Nurse Allton rushed out of the room.

“You have brought us hope, you and Sebastian. But,” she held up a finger, “if either of your blood work doesn't come up clear, I can’t guarantee you will be leaving Vancouver.” Again, her eyes narrowed. “I find your eye colour fascinating Sebastian. So much like that of the Nevermores.”

I had to give Bastian credit. He just shrugged and gave her a lopsided smile. “These eyes have drawn many a woman into my lair.” He wriggled his eyebrows at her as I slapped him on the arm.

“Quit that you lech,” I said, a nervous laugh escaping my lips.

Dr. Stanwell’s lips didn’t twitch. Apparently we weren’t that good at lying because she seemed suspicious.

I tried a different tactic, cleared my throat and asked, “Have you had anyone tested that didn’t pass?”

Dr. Stanwell shook her head. “No. You either are a Nevermore or you are not. I don’t think either of you have anything to worry about. The blood work is just a precaution.”

I thought Sebastian blew it when he asked. “But what if you found someone who was trying to sneak through, what would happen to them?”

She blinked several times as if trying to process his question. Taking in a short sharp breath she answered. “I suppose we would have to decide that at the time it happened. Most likely we would have to eject them from the airport, at the very least. More likely, they would be executed as there is no cure and the last thing we need is more Nevermores.” She paused and leaned over the desk. “Is there something you’d like to tell me Mr. Wilson?”

I froze and felt Sebastian do the same beside me. He let out a laugh and shook his head. “No, I was just curious that’s all. We’ve been out of touch with the world for weeks and have no idea what’s going on out here.”

She slowly stood, pushing her chair out behind her and changed the subject.

“I think there are people here you would like to see. You mentioned a “Marks” in your story, correct?”

The words sank slowly in and I blinked several times. “Yes, that’s right. Why? Did you hear something? Did he make it out alive?”

Now she did smile. “I think I’ll just send you down to the barracks and you can see for yourself.”

She drew my blood first, and then Sebastian’s.

Bastian didn’t look so fine by the time the needle was prepped and ready. He was positively green as Dr. Stanwell drew blood from him.

“Is there anything else you need me to attend to?” She asked as she labelled the vials.

“I’m pregnant,” I said.

She nodded. “I can see that.”

“We had an ultrasound that showed the baby might have deformities. I would like a second opinion,” I said. My heartbeat picking up. I hadn’t believed Donavan when he’d said the baby was deformed. That was the only thing that got me through, but now I had to know the truth.

She nodded, and called out to another nurse who brought in an ultrasound machine. I lay on my back on the sterile, white paper-covered gurney, sucking in a breath as they spread the cool gel on my protruding belly.

The machine beeped to life and Dr. Stanwell rolled the sensor over my skin. “You look to be about four months along.” At my nod she continued. “Everything looks good so far. I see fingers and toes. Heads, arms, legs. Yes, everything looks just fine.”

A loud buzzing rushed through my ears. “Heads?” I squeaked out. Donavan was right then. What kind of deformities did our baby have?

Dr. Stanwell smiled and nodded as Sebastian gripped my hand so hard I thought the bones would pop.

“Yes, heads. You knew you were having twins didn’t you?” She asked.

Silence reigned for a brief second and then Sebastian let out shout that made everyone jump, including me. His hands were in the air and his eyes filled with tears, as did mine. Twins. We had TWO babies. That’s what Donavan had been seeing, not three arms on one baby, but two babies with only some parts showing.

Dr. Stanwell left us as they put the machine away; Sebastian sat beside me, his hands over our babies.

“I didn’t ruin this at least,” he whispered.

“You didn’t ruin anything my love,” I whispered back, my hand grazing his cheek.

We were assigned rooms that had once been offices and then were encouraged to go down to the main hall to see when the next flight was and where it was going.

On our way, we bumped into Annie, her hair and face clean; she’d even put on fresh clothes and a light dusting of makeup. But, her eyes were haunted. I knew that it would take a long time before the shadows disappeared.

“We’re going to the barracks, Annie, do you want to come with us?” I asked. She shook her head.

“No, I’ll wait for you here.”

I nodded, and we struck out for the barracks. We made our way out to one of the small airstrips where it was practically a tent city.

“I guess they need to be close to where the fighting would be, huh?” I said

“Probably,” Sebastian answered.

We were met at the front tent, the large green canvas flaps rustling in the wind, by a young man in well-worn uniform.

“I’m looking for Marks,” I said.

The man—boy really—nodded. I was reminded of Burns and a sudden lump rose in my throat. He ran into the camp, motioning for us to wait for him. Only a few minutes passed and a familiar figure jogged into view.

I lifted a hand, “Marks!”

“Good to see you beautiful. I knew you’d make it. Give me minute, I need to check out and then I’ll walk you to the command center.” He flashed me a smile and ducked into the tent.

Sebastian put his hands on my shoulders and spun me slowly to face him. “I have to know, was there anything between the two of you?”

I blushed and Sebastian’s mouth tightened into a thin hard line. “No. Marks . . . he wanted more than friendship. Sebastian, I have never looked at another man, never loved another man the way I love you. I would never break our wedding vow, not even . . .”

“Not even while I was a Nevermore,” he said. I shook my head and he pulled me tight against his chest. “I’m sorry I doubted you.”

I shrugged. “I doubted you too, with Jessica, and I know that nothing happened there.”