Reining In (The Network) (19 page)

“I know, Khallie. I’m not upset about it. You gave them a choice. They made their choices, and I respect that.” Once he realized what had happened, he explained, he knew that they were the key to getting me and Jake out alive. It didn’t take much convincing. Protecting me was what they had always done. It was Mack who had stopped Set’s advance on me; the others taking out Vyktor’s men.

“What happened to Set?” I asked, confused. Surely, Mack hadn’t been able to kill him.

“You gave him what he wanted,” Mack answered. “After you killed Vyktor, he left. I tried to stop him, but he is damn strong. I’m sure he wasn’t in the mood to take on an entire room of vampires, either. He looked a little shocked when he realized what was happening.” He went on to explain his shock at finding Set there.

Markus later explained what had happened. He had seen Vyktor take Jake. He knew what was going to happen. He didn’t want to see me take on Vyktor, again. He went to Vyktor, telling him that if he went to Set and freed him, that he would know how to destroy me.

He thought Set would know him instantly and kill him right there. He figured that the two of us would be able to contain Set once again, and with Vyktor gone, it would be easy to go in and rescue Jake. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out quite the way Markus had hoped. He had never planned on me being forced to kill my own son.

I sighed, and closed my eyes. I felt a pang of guilt when Mack mentioned Vyktor’s death. Even after everything he did, it hurt to think I had taken his life; my son’s life. I tried so hard to avoid this. Deep down I knew it would come to this one day, but it still hurt.

As if he read my mind, Mack spoke up. “Don’t you feel sorry for him. You did what you had to do, Khallie. You protected him as long as you could. He made his choice. Khallie, he forced your hand. He should’ve never taken Jake like that.”

“Jake! Mack is Jake ok? Where is he?” I suddenly realized I hadn’t seen Jake at all. I was here, in his house; in his bed. But he was nowhere to be seen. Mack looked down. He finally looked back up at me, picking up my hand as he did.

“Jake is gone.”

“Gone!!” I shot up in the bed, a wave of nausea hitting me as I did. Mack forced me to lie back down, trying hard to reassure me as he did.

“Mack, you said he was ok. I heard you. It wasn’t a dream. It couldn’t have been a dream.” I kept babbling on until Mack finally put his hand over my mouth, shooshing me.

“Gone, I said. Gone; not dead. He left, Khallie.”

“Left?” I was even more confused. Why would he leave? He was safe now. I looked up at Mack. I could read it in his eyes. Jake was really gone. I shook my head. I wanted to cry. I couldn’t. I had nothing left.

“Oh sweetie, you have to understand. He’s in shock. This was all just too much for him. He loves you, he truly does. But I don’t think he realized what being in love with a vampire entailed. He…..” Mack trailed off. I knew what he was trying to say. Jake was gone, and he wasn’t coming back. He had seen my true nature, and it scared him. I had scared him. We all had. I did cry then.

“How could he leave me, Mack? How? Doesn’t he understand what I just did? What had to do, for him?” I sobbed like a baby, as Mack pulled me close to him.

“I know.” He answered. “Look at me.” He tipped my chin up, so I was looking directly into his eyes. “He’s alive. That’s what you went in there for; to keep him alive. He may not be here with you, but he is safe because of you.”

Mack swallowed hard and looked away. God, I was so insensitive. He was right, of course. At least Jake was alive. Marlene was not so fortunate. Mack had lost the love of his life, all because of me, and here he was comforting me. But it hurt so much. Jake was gone, and Vyktor was dead.

“Come with me,” Mack said, forcing me to stand up. I swooned a little, and Mack caught me before my legs gave out completely. “Carefully,” he said gently. “You took quite a beating. It will still be a few days before you are feeling like yourself again.” He led me out of the bedroom and towards Jake’s living room, where I could hear a humming of lively conversation.

As we neared the living room, I saw Darren standing there. The moment he saw me, he broke into a childish grin. He ran towards me, scooping me out of Mack’s arms and swinging me around.

“Girl, we didn’t think you were gonna make it,” he laughed, still swinging me around.

“Darren, I’m gonna be sick,” I blurted out. My head was still spinning, and I really did feel like I was going to be sick. Darren blushed, and set me down gently.

“Sorry, Kal. I was just excited to see you up and walking around.”

Mack laughed in the background, and the rest of the crowd followed. Surprised, I looked around the small living room. There was barely an empty spot. They were all there; the entire network. Those that were still alive, anyway. Smiling faces and laughing eyes met me. I looked back at Mack. He smiled and hurried over to help me sit down.

“It wasn’t just Jake,” he whispered into my ear as I settled into the overstuffed chair. “It was all of them. You saved all of them. Your family; the people who love you. Always remember that. You gave Vyktor a thousand lifetimes. Your job as his protector is done.”

He kissed me on the top of the head, and I smiled. He was right. It would take time for me to heal, to forgive myself, but he was right. And as long as I had Mack with me, it would be ok. He would make it ok. They would make it ok. I settled back into the chair and began my new life with my family. My real family.

The story continues in
Finding Hope
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