Holocaust (The Deadwood Hunter Series Book 3) (8 page)

Chapter 11

Maura stared at the ceiling bored. Boredom wasn’t a feeling she experienced very often. It wasn’t an emotion someone like her would normally contend with. She supposed she could get up, walk out of this room and find some entertainment. Except, she just wasn’t sure what that was anymore. With each passing day, she felt more and more…not like herself.

She was Maura; cold hearted and calculated, Maura. Yet she felt trapped. Trapped like a caged animal, desperately wanting escape but not seeing any way out. She never wanted out before. She’d never wanted to escape…no that wasn’t true. It wasn’t that she’d never wanted it before, because she had, and many a time she’d thought of going. It was different though. She still had the strength to escape, but she no longer could. Now she had these…these people, she couldn’t leave. No, it was Lexia who couldn’t leave them, and Lexia had more control every day.

I do not care what happens to them.
She repeated to herself for the hundredth time that day.

Yes, you do. That is why you feel trapped. You could still walk away. The difference now is you care what’ll happen when you do.

I do not care what happens to them.

There was a knock at the door. Maura sat up. Knowing it was Derrick and Belinda, she jumped from the bed far too quickly. Her movements, the sudden surge of joy, not from her but Lexia. Maura fought to take control, to keep the emotions churning and rising inside of her in check. Only the joy, the urgent need to see Derrick, was just too much for Maura to contend.

The blue in her eyes slid in place as Lexia won the battle for control. A battle she’d not even realized she’d been fighting.

She swung the door wide, her smile lighting her face. “Derrick. You’re okay.”

A look of surprise passed over his face and the smallest of smiles graced his lips. Lexia reached forward, clasping the front of his shirt she pulled him inside and into her arms.

Belinda walked in behind them, closing the door.

“You’re okay,” Lexia breathed again.

His body tensed as the smallest sound of pain left his lips.

Lexia pulled back. “And you’re still injured,” she stated crossly. “Why are you here when you clearly need another day’s rest?” She pursed her lips, angry he was out of the infirmary when he wasn’t fully healed, which meant he wasn’t at full strength to defend himself.

Derrick stared at her dumbfounded. “You’re…You.”

“Don’t change the subject, Derrick. You should go rest.”

“I’ve had enough rest. Now I’d like to know what Lucy is up to.”

Lexia frowned. “Who says she’s up to something?”

“She had me whipped in front of the entire compound and had you execute Mathew.”

“Yes…well, it was clear she was losing control of her people. She simply made an example out of us, to show even her favorites cannot get away with disobeying her.”

“I fear it may be more than that.”

Lexia opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted by a knock at the door. Belinda jumped from her position by the door. Lexia stepped forward to answer but Belinda blocked her way.

“Eyes,” she whispered, indicating with her hands.

Shit! “
Yes?” she barked through the door. It was a human behind the door; her mind’s eyes seeing only fear in the person’s aura.

“I…I’ve a-a message. Y-you are t-to meet y-your mother a-at her office…Immediately,” the human male stammered through the closed door.

“Thank you,” Lexia replied, trying to sound as cold as possible.

They all stood in silence for a second. Lexia’s heart thumped in her chest, her emotions overwhelming her.

Derrick broke the silence. “She knows I’m up,” he stated, looking serious. “I can feel it. She’s planning something.”

Lexia looked at Derrick, a little shocked by his ruffled exterior. “Derrick, that isn’t like you.”

“Yes, you’re right. I’m just saying, be careful, Lex.”

Lexia swallowed the lump in her throat, not able to keep her fear in check.
You’re up, Maura.

Switching had become easier. Lexia closed her eyes, forcing the swirl of emotion she felt down deep inside of her. The second her mind became clear, Maura pushed forward, pleased to have control.

“Well, let’s see what Mother wants then,” Maura said, her voice cold and detached.

The walk to Lucy’s office took around ten minutes. Maura had never moved from the room Derrick had given her; there didn’t seem to be much of a point. She liked to be away from the other hunters, to separate herself.

Maura didn’t knock. The door opened with a soft whoosh. Maura’s cold eyes settled on Lucy. She was sitting behind her desk, her head bent over and her hand franticly scribbling into a journal. Maura watched, surprised as Lucy’s head shot up, her eyes widening for the briefest of seconds and as Maura stared, she could have sworn she saw fright. The journal slammed shut, the sound echoing around the small room.

Interesting.

Very, what does she write in there?

I wouldn’t know, Lexia, but I plan to find out.

Since when do you care about anything?

Since Mother made a fool of me and I had to stand by and watch. It is not a feeling I like.

“Maura,” Lucy snapped, her voice like frost, “what can I do for you?”

“You sent for me,” Maura replied, just as coldly.

Lucy froze, caught off guard, and Maura fought to keep the smile from her lips. “Oh, yes, so I did. Silly me.” She pushed her chair back, the wheels screeching across the concrete floor. “Shall we go then.”

“Go where?” Maura asked, wary.

Picking up the phone, Lucy glanced at Maura with a cruel smile. “It’s a surprise, darling,” Lucy’s eyes dropped to the desk as whomever she was ringing answered. “Yes, I’d like the package. Have Derrick deliver it.”

Derrick? What has she planned?

Lucy placed the phone down, coming around her desk.

“What has Derrick got to do with this?” Maura asked.

“Nothing. I just thought he wouldn’t want to miss your surprise.” She walked past Maura. “Shall we go?” Lucy asked sweetly, holding open the door.

Maura did as instructed. Lucy pulled her door closed, double-checking it was locked.

Following her mother through the compound, Maura struggled with the growing unease within her. With each step, her heart kicked up a beat. The taut band tightened around her chest, restricting her airways. Lucy led her to the far side of the compound, the side the humans frequented. The side Lucy carried out her experiments.

“We’re here,” Lucy chimed, turning with her back pressed against the door. “Are you excited?” she asked.

“I do not get excited, Mother,” Maura replied coldly.

Lucy’s smile dropped. “Oh, you really are no fun.” Reaching for the handle, she pulled it down and pushed the door open with her back. “Ta da!” she exclaimed.

Maura stepped into the room and frowned at Lucy. “I don’t understand.” Belinda and Marcus were on one side of the room looking distressed. A member of the elite stood beside them, his gun clasped casually in his hand but no less deadly.

“Oh, well, not everyone is here yet,” Lucy answered. Walking over to the other side of the room, she spoke to the human scientist standing quietly in the corner.

Maura’s chest constricted, as dread churned in the pit of her stomach. Attempting to regain control of her body, she clenched her jaw, forcing the feeling away. “Mother, what is this?” Maura snapped.

Lucy turned slowly around to face her, her chipper façade gone. “I said it was a surprise. Now be quiet and wait.” The tone of her voice warned Maura not to question her further, or she’d wish she hadn’t.

Cracking her fingers as her control slipped, Lexia grew agitated and restless inside her mind. Maura coped by masking Lexia’s feelings with anger. “I do not like surprises or games, Mother. I have kept up my end of the bargain. Now tell me what is going on?” she demanded.

The tension in the room rocketed. Lucy’s eyes turned deadly, her true psychotic self, showing through. She opened her mouth to answer but the door opened behind them and Lucy’s angelic mask slipped back into place.

Maura spun around, already knowing the horrible truth, yet wishing she was wrong, wishing she’d lost her mind because it couldn’t be true. An avalanche of emotions smashed into her mind, crushing Maura and allowing Lexia control.

Lexia already knew what she’d find when she faced the door. She’d not felt her aura in a long time, this aura, this person, belonged to another life. Not this nightmare. Yet as she faced the door, knowing didn’t lessen the blow. The air rushed out of her in sudden shock. Her heart beat so fast she couldn’t hear anything above the pounding in her head.

“Alice,” she whispered, horrified.

Derrick stood to the side of her, his hand clasped lightly around her arm, though Alice had no chance of escape. The deep cut across her thigh looked days old and infected. Her face was covered with purple bruises, her left eye barely visible beneath puffy, swollen skin.

“Finally, everyone is here,” Lucy spoke into the silence, pleasure dripping from her words like poison. “Shall we continue?”

Lexia stood with her back to Lucy, her eyes glued to the friend she’d left behind; a friend she’d thought safe. “What is this? Why is she here?” Lexia asked, her voice devoid of hope.

“Well, you’ve just seemed a little down. I thought I’d do what all good mothers do and find my daughter a friend, and what better friend than your best friend?” Lucy answered, sounding like she was having the most fun she’d had in a while.

Lexia stared at Alice who was frightened and beaten, here in this living hell. Lexia wanted to drop to her knees and scream; she just wanted it all to be over. She wasn’t even sure what she was doing any more and would give everything up to save the people she loved, yet before her one such person stood, dragged into the world were monsters ruled and the good crumbled.

“Bring her in, Derrick. Bring her in,” Lucy snapped.

Lexia whirled around overcome with rage. It lit her up from within, licking through her blood like fire, fuelled by the need to save Alice.

“She is human. What use is she here?” Lexia asked, trying to keep her voice collected.

“Not much use at all. That’s why I’m planning to turn her into one of us,” Lucy replied, lifting a syringe into the air.

“What? No!” Alice begged, struggling out of Derrick’s hold. She scrambled back pressing herself against the door, her face as white as a sheet. Fear and desperation rolled off her in waves, assaulting Lexia’s senses. “No, I’d rather die than become a monster,” Alice trembled.

“So dramatic. I can see why you got along so well with Lexia. Let’s hope you get along with Maura just as well. Derrick, bring her forward,” Lucy instructed.

Panicked, Lexia moved to block Derrick’s path. Everything happened so fast, she struggled to keep track. The sound of gunfire ricocheted around them. Alice’s petrified screams mingled with Belinda’s yelp of pain.

Lexia didn’t know which way to turn, who to save or how to save them. Her body was at war, pulling its self in both directions. In the end, she just stood frozen, feeling utterly lost, listening to Lucy’s cackle fill the room.

“The next bullet goes in her head,” Lucy bellowed, motioning to Belinda who was bent over gripping her leg. Blood flowed from the bullet that had just torn through her.

Lexia knew she was trapped; knew deep within herself she had no way out. Sure, she could try and fight. She’d most likely leave the room uninjured with Alice by her side, but Belinda now had a gun leveled at her head. Even Lexia wasn’t quick enough to reach her in time. Alice was her best friend, a friend from another life, but Belinda was her friend too.

How can I sacrifice the life of one to save another?

You can’t. Allow me full control.

Lexia met Belinda’s gaze, then Marcus’s and in the depths of their eyes, she saw the lengths they’d go for her. They would die here and now, so she could walk out of here with Alice. They were willing to give up any hope of a future just for her.

I am so unworthy.

Let me take control.
Lexia pushed her back.