It's the eve of my birthday. It all feels like a lifetime ago, almost two years on the run already.
I should be happy.
Finally, I'm eighteen years old.
The sky is not the limit.
But no, in the last few days a feeling of anguish has been living with me, struggling under my skin.
My senses are on full alert even when I should be sleeping.
And my instincts warn me that something bad will happen tomorrow.
Like an omen. A sense of impending doom I can't shake off no matter what.
Images of Sammy and Lucca constantly come to my mind. Everything has been so quiet all this time, and the quieter it is the more it gives me a warning.
I know the house is under a spell, I know it's safe, I know Theodore can't track us here, but I just…
Something bad will happen to them, I can feel it.
Not even when Lucca told me that Loren, Amanda and Rod were coming to visit me could I be happy.
I pretend to be fine.
But Sinuhe gives me away.
He's always pacing back and forth.
Impatient.
Lucca and Sammy are worried about my agony.
I try to convince them it's nothing, but it's no use.
***
"It's been so long, I've been missing you so much!" Loren says as soon as he sees me, burning me in his arms like it's the most natural thing in the world.
He is wearing a black coat and a dark blue blouse underneath, all soft high end cotton that feels like butter against my skin.
His blond hair falls across his forehead whenever he moves, I look up at him smiling.
How I missed his warmth.
"I need to talk to you, meet me near the lake in ten minutes." I whisper.
He nods almost imperceptibly.
"Little girl, you look so different, I was worried something had happened to you, you didn't even care." Amanda pouts.
"It seems you forgot about us." says Rod.
I hug them, for a moment my worries disappear.
Just for a moment.
Not enough.
***
Loren is punctual.
I gave Lucca some excuse. I think he was just pretending to let me off easily though.
"So, what's so important…"
I hug Loren like I need something real to ground me.
He hugs me back.
My mind is threatening to spiral with worry
"Hey, what's up?" He asks in a soft voice.
I don't say anything, I just keep my arms tightly around his waist. His heartbeat is comforting.
Although I feel safe with my own boyfriend, Loren just gives me this feeling of… I don't know. Being all mature and calm, like he can solve any problem.
We stay in the same position for a long time, in silence.
"If I ask you something, would you do it?" I ask.
"Without hesitation, what can I do for you?"
I go to the lake shore, there are trees everywhere almost closing in a cornucopia of red. It's fall, the season I like most, but right now all it reminds me is blood. So much blood.
"Lately, my nightmares have returned. Before, when I was with someone, they didn't bother me, but now, even though I'm with Lucca... I can't understand them. You always encouraged me to follow my instincts, and now they're on alert, and I have a feeling something bad will happen tomorrow. What I'm trying to say is that… I want you to take Sammy far away from here. I know something bad will happen to her if she stays. I can't lose anyone else."
I cover my face with both hands, like I can't face it right now.
"I know what I'm asking is too much, but I need you to protect her no matter what, she's the only family I have left." My voice breaks.
Loren is silent for a moment then comes to my side.
"I have an island, it's near Australia, it's a private island, I can take Samantha and stay there until you give me a sign that I can return. I hope your premonitions don't come true. But just know I will protect her." His voice is very gentle.
I look up.
His eyes are clear and full of an emotion I can't understand, his hand hovers over my cheek before he ruffles my hair.
"You don't need to be like this, I… I'm happy to alleviate your anxiety even if it's just a little."
I will be able to save Sammy.
"Thank you." I say quietly, the weight of my emotions more than I can express with mere words.
He reaches inside his coat and takes out a small box.
"Here, it's your present."
"No need…" My voice trails off as soon as he opens the box.
It's a beautiful gold necklace with a heart-shaped diamond medallion.
"It was made especially for you."
"I can't accept it, you're already helping me so much…"
"That doesn't matter, what matters is that it's under a spell, it will glow when you get close to your soulmate, see?" He puts the necklace around my neck and breaks it in two, each half with a chain. "Give one half to your true soulmate." He kisses my forehead.
What do you mean my true soulmate?
I caress the necklace that rests gently on my collarbone.
Although I want to ask more, for some reason I refrain from it. I get the feeling if I say it out loud, everything will shatter.
We keep looking as the night descends over the canopy, the silence a fragile curtain over us.
Waiting.
Waiting.
Always waiting.
***
The night passes uneventfully, the celebration very quaint and intimate, everyone around the table with a big cake, candlelight and smiles everywhere.
I try my best to be present, share these memories with my friends and pretend worry isn't eating me alive.
Pietro literally disappears.
But nobody cares.
I test the necklace, when I get close to Lucca it doesn't glow.
I make the most of my time with Sammy.
Maybe I won't see her again after this.
I cut that thought off as soon as it arises.
I won't give up before something actually happens. She will be safe, so will everyone else.
I can only lie to myself now.
***
At this time of year, there shouldn't be snow, but the crystalline formations falling from the sky cannot be anything else. I marvel at how people are pretending the world is okay when there's snow falling in the middle of fall.
Lucca takes me, Sammy and Loren to go out in Loren's city since it's the biggest around and do some sightseeing. We eat a lot of street food, window shop and laugh like everything's normal, like the teenage moments I lost. I think about school and how everything was left, maybe if all…
I cut that short too, there's no use thinking "what if's". Time won't go back. I can only make do with what I have now.
When we return at nightfall, the path is covered in a layer of six inches of snow.
Lucca's car can't get over this ice wall.
The snow is not soft, the risk of the car sinking and getting stuck is very high.
Since we're close, we decide to walk and ask some of the guys to come here and move the car later.
The closer we get the more the feeling in the pit of my stomach sinks.
I approach Loren, we exchange a silent look.
Before we get there, I stop.
"Sammy, I just remembered I forgot my bag at Loren's house, can you go back and get it for me?"
"Is it really necessary?" She asks, annoyed.
"Yes, there are very important things inside."
"Can't you pick it up tomorrow?"
"Please, Sammy!"
"Okay, you'll owe me one. But how am I going to go and come back?"
"I can take you there and back." Says Loren.
"What? As far as I know, you didn't come by car!" She laughs.
"Flying." He says.
"That's good enough." She shrugs trying to be nonchalant but I see the glint in her eye.
Loren takes off his coat.
Spreading his splendid wings is always a show on itself.
Sammy reaches him with difficulty.
Before he takes her, I hug her.
This could be our last moment together.
"I love you, little sister." I say.
"Me too. Weirdo" She jokes.
I give her a longing look, trying to memorize her face, and before she can ask anything else I let Loren leave with her in his arms.
She will be furious when she finds out what I did.
I know she will be safe.
No one will hurt her.
But in Loren's arms a piece of my heart went away.
Lucca doesn't ask me why all this, he just looks at me and we continue. I don't explain either.
An abnormal smell hangs in the air.
It isn't the normal smell of the woods, or of some animal, it's a stronger, darker odor, almost like rotting meat.
The house is dark.
The lights don't turn on when we reach the porch.
Coming closer, the odor gets stronger. Acrid and pungent.
It's blood. This thought hits me like a truck. My heart is beating fast.
Sinuhe feels it too.
He jumps from space and starts growling at the door.
"Something is very wrong." Lucca murmurs.
He approaches and opens the door, his hand in front of me, pushing me behind him.
It's as dark as it is outside.
I take the opportunity to send a message to Loren 'suspicions confirmed, protect Sammy, tell her I love her, thank you.'
The smell of blood it's almost too much to bear.
Sinuhe growls angrily, almost desperate.
I feel how tense Lucca is, a sharp glint in the night, the sword appearing in my hand from thin air.
He turns on the light.
***
The mutilated bodies of Gabriel, Tauro, Alanis, Huggo, Ivan, and Johhan lie on the ground covered in pools of blood. All in unnatural poses, like they were arranged like this after dying.
Ten men dressed in black stare at me.
Ally, Anny, Amanda, Rodolfo, Tannisha and Vinccentt are on the sofas, tied up, with a cloth muffling their screams.
Anny cries in silence.
It's macabre.
A cold shiver runs down my spine, every muscle tensing.
"Finally, the special guest has arrived." Says Theodore, coming out from behind a burly man in black.
"Soldiers." Lucca whispers, his voice unnaturally calm.
"That's right." Says Theodore, "Did you think I wouldn't find you, Alexandra? You're very special, I can't let you get away."
Something breaks inside me.
Sinuhe passes like a bullet beside me, and jumps towards the neck of the nearest "soldier".
"But what…"
The "soldier" falls to the ground with his throat torn out.
He didn't expect that.
And this is my chance.
A bloody fight begins, I use the moves that Loren taught me.
A jumble of firsts, kicks and blood splattering everywhere, I do not hold back. Holding back now is making it easier to be taken. I do not pay attention to the "soldiers" I knock on the ground, just on the ones ganging up together to take me down. I can hear Sinuhe's growls and sounds of flesh being ripped but I do not look, I know he's taking care of my blind spots.
One guy tried to come up behind me, but at last moment I take my sword from space, turn and cut his head clean off, the spurts of hot liquid on my face making me numb.
I don't want to do this.
But I don't have a choice.
I guess they still underestimated us, I don't see a single gun or anything, just people using bare hands. Why is nobody but us using gifts? How come they succeeded in killing so many gifted supernaturals and taking hostages while just being better than average?
Something's wrong. I can feel it.
I pay more attention around me, the "soldiers" are indeed well trained and if it wasn't for all I was taught I would have lost long ago, but how come they are keeping up? This doesn't make any sense.
A hand on mine takes me out of my reveries, the guy I just impaled is still alive and used his own proximity from the sword in his middle to grasp my hand and try to wrench the sword from my grasp. I headbut him hard, a crack sound echoes and he goes limp.
It hurts so much, movies make it seem easy but it hurts like hell.
I feel a little dizzy but force myself to be alert.
The more "soldiers" we kill, the more appear. I start to feel like fighting against a never ending tide.
I can't let Theodore win.
I break necks like twigs. Taking hits without feeling anything.
I'm already soaked in blood that isn't mine.
My body is tired and protesting but I keep going, I can't falter now.
One of the guys manages to deliver a strong kick to my thigh, almost making my leg give out, but I force myself to stay upright and return a swift cut to his face, cutting to the bone.
Four "soldiers" surround me.
As I fight them, from the corner of my eye I see a "soldier" put Lucca in an arm lock, he falls to his knees on the ground and Theodore plunges a dagger into his heart, the same dagger I had left at Sally's house.
I recognize the symbols.
"NO!!!" I can hear myself scream. Everything sounds muffled.
I immediately counterattack the "soldiers" that surround me, my sword plunging though muscle like butter.
I run to Lucca.
I place his head on my thigh.
He vomits blood.
I take the dagger from his heart.
The "soldiers" remain still, static. None of them make a move to attack.
I feel so numb I don't realize I'm crying until a glistening tear falls onto the slit the dagger made.
He is dying. It shouldn't be like this. How can he die with just one dagger? He has broken my neck before and I'm here like it was nothing, how can he die just like this?
"Bite me." He whispers weakly.
Sinuhe comes in front of us and growls at Theodore.
No one dares to come closer.
"What?" I whisper back.
"Just bite me."
I can feel his body going cold, like a little flame fighting to not be blown.
He raises his arm, and I bite his wrist.
Blood flows into my mouth.
Lucca whispers unintelligible words.
"What the fuck is this?" Theodore roars.
I stop.
I don't want him to be gone forever.
This can't be happening?
Why is this happening?
"I just want you to know that I love you and will always be with you!" His voice is choked like he's drowning.
I see black veins quickly inflate in his face, his skin pale and lackluster.
Blood is flowing from the corner of his lips, but all he does is look at my face like he is imprinting in his mind.
I feel hot and cold all over, my body trembling. This can't be happening.
My tears soak a small patch of his clothes, right beside his heart. He tried to touch my face but doesn't have enough strength and his hand falls limp again.
There's so much blood, the cut the dagger made seems to expand by itself, the flesh trying to grow back but unable to.
I feel truly powerless.
I kiss Lucca's blood-soaked lips. The heavy copper taste floods my senses. All I can see and smell is the tangy flavor of blood. My stomach churns, nausea and dizziness making my head foggy.
Lucca tries to say something but his voice is too low to understand.
And then his life is gone, the light in his eyes extinguished, along with another part of my heart.
I gently place his inert cold body on the floor.
Hatred.
That's all I can feel.
An unprecedented hatred, devouring everything inside me until there's nothing but the desire to kill.
He took everything I had.
I get up.
I have nothing left to lose.
I thirst for revenge.
I head towards Theodore.
He doesn't move.
"What are you going to do? Kill me? You have no real ability…" He tries to jeer.
Again that feeling of being too fast to think, like everything else is moving too slow to notice, then I'm in front of him, baring my teeth and digging my nails into his chest.
I feel the breastbone give in and part like broken chalk, feeling my way around his lung until I grasp the sac holding his heart and rip it out like plucking a ripe apple.
Nothing more fair than me taking the life of someone who took everything from me.
His warm heart still beats. Pulsing rhythmically, the veins attacked spurting everywhere. But I don't feel anything.
He falls to his knees, his face a mask of horror and fear, then face down on the floor.
I constrict the heart in my hands, the muscle like putty, then throw it aside.
I feel a little like laughing at how easy it was. But I'm still not satisfied. Like a cartoon villain, he kept underestimating me, giving me chances, and that brought his demise. He gave me time to grow, time to train, to become better, and then he broke the final restraint in my mind.
Everyone looks at me in a daze. I'm ready to make my next move and unleash my wrath when I feel a slight sting on my neck.
I bring my hand to the place and feel around.
There's a kind of capsule with a needle at the end, similar to the one used to put tranquilizers in animals to make them sleep.
I look at the door.
Pietro is standing there with some kind of long-barreled gun.
He had thrown that thing at me.
But the smell doesn't resemble that of a tranquilizer.
It smells like sulfur, but milder. I had smelled that smell before, Loren had shown it to me when he was training my senses.
That's when he showed me how to differentiate the smell of different types of... Poison.
Pietro poisoned me.
"Traitor!" I scream.
My vision gets blurry, my body feeling weak all over.
That was a deadly poison, carbon sulfide.
A dose of ten grams is lethal.
That capsule would have at least twenty grams.
My heart is slowing down, erratic.
I fall to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Heavy and uncoordinated. Theodore's head in my line of sight, his hair like spilled silk all around, the ends crimson.
The last thing I see is Sinuhe lying beside me.