8. Raven

Raven

P ain arced through my body as I jammed my shoulder into the web-covered window for the dozenth time.

“Son of a bitch!”

A chunk of glass was still poking out of my left shoulder, but it was the last thing on my mind. I ripped it free and threw it aside.

I’d tried the door downstairs in the hope that Akmon had missed it, but it was sealed shut and even less likely than the windows to be broken through.

“Find something to give me some leverage instead of standing there gawking at me,” I barked, hot fury rolling through me as I turned to Theo.

“S-sorry.” His eyes widened in fear, and he stumbled right into action.

It had only been fifteen minutes since Diana’s departure, and nearly five since I’d heard any sign of Akmon.

I tore my sword from my belt, thrusting it into the center of the web with everything I had. My arms screamed as they thudded dully into the stuff, sending agonizing vibrations all the way up to my elbows. I stared, dumbfounded, at my sword as I yanked it free.

Faced with the strength of the web, the metal of the blade itself had given way first, the tip of it bending downward like a bent finger. I hurled it aside in a rage, sending it clattering against the stony wall, “Fuck!”

Theo let out a little yelp, wincing in fear as I turned, but I strode right past him, heading for the stairs. “Keep looking for something to give me leverage.”

Mav had disappeared elsewhere into the lighthouse, no doubt doing the same, and I was thankful that he wasn’t within reach. Because, with the way I felt right now, I wasn’t sure I could guarantee his safety if he was any closer to me.

Had Diana managed to avoid all the creature’s traps? Had Akmon seen her making a run for the jungle? And if she had made it away from the beach, would she be able to find her way to Nicholas and the others, assuming they were even still alive? A big part of me hoped she wouldn’t find them.

Because if when Akmon got back to his lair, if she was there rescuing the others, she would be forced to stand and fight rather than run like she should. And trying to protect three others, while fighting, was a good way to get killed.

“Fealty,” I spat, fingers digging into my palms.

Fuck fealty.

And fuck the Territories and everyone in them except Diana. If she got mad at me for busting out of this place and following her before her stupid two-hour time limit, that was fine. Her fucking kiss had short circuited my brain…the taste of her blood off the cut on her lips, the way her body had molded to mine.

If not for that, I’d have been out a window fourteen minutes ago.

I would do what I had to do, so long as she lived.

I surged up the countless stone steps that wound their way up the lighthouse, leaping onto the top floor a few moments later. The entire perimeter of the room was encased in glass, and in the center, a massive, unlit lightbulb.

Thing about those windows? No webs covered them. I leapt up and hung from the rafters there with ease so I could look out the window to see what I was dealing with.

I sucked in a deep breath as I stared down into the churning white caps below. The lighthouse was easily twenty stories tall, but it was a fall I could manage…

Assuming I hit the water and missed the outcropping of rocks that poked through the roiling water every few yards or so.

I let out a mad chuckle, exhilaration overtaking the fear. I lifted my fist, preparing to ram it through the glass, anticipation thrumming hot through my veins.

I’m coming, Frostbite.

“Fucking hell, Raven!”

I wheeled around, fist at the ready, to find Maverick stepping out of what looked to be a low-tech elevator, almost like a dumbwaiter but for people.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing? Do you think you’re going to be able to help her if your brains are splattered down below?” He let out a huff of disgust that almost had me launching that fist after all, but then he held up a hand. “Wait! Look, I have an idea. Come downstairs with me. It will take two minutes of your time. If you don’t think it’s solid, you can come back and…do whatever the hell you were planning to do here.” He tossed a dismissive wave toward the glass then motioned for me to join him in the dumbwaiter.

I opened my mouth to argue that there was no time for stupid ideas, but the torch he held gave me pause. “Is the webbing flammable?”

“Not as is, but I have something in mind.”

I crossed the room and stepped through the door, a mix of anger and hope rushing through me. When we reached the ground floor, Theo was waiting.

“Any luck?”

Mav stepped out and scanned the room for a brief second, his eyes settling on something near the desk at the room’s edge. He surged toward it, with a glance at Theo. “Is this your guava wine?”

The older man nodded, cocking his head. His face lit up with realization a moment later, “Hot damn, that might actually work! If I wasn’t drunk, I’d help–”

I bowled right past Maverick, hefting the keg and bringing it to the window I’d managed to smash earlier. The alcohol pricked at my nose as I doused the web in the stuff. It was strong , more like liquor than wine. And that was exactly what we needed.

Mav set his makeshift torch to it a moment later, and my whole body hummed with tension as I stared at the flames.

Come on. Come on…

It felt like an hour before it took, but it was probably only seconds before the web was ablaze with bluish fire. And it didn’t just burn, it completely vaporized the stuff.

“Yes!” Mav shouted.

But I didn’t stick around for the celebration. I bolted through the open window the moment the web gave way, ignoring the stinging lick of flames. I hit the sand, using my momentum to roll so I could leap back to my feet without slowing down. I turned.

I hated to give the guy any credit at all, but for Diana…

“We have a better chance of saving her with both of us there.” Besides, I might need some bait to lure Akmon away from her. I fully expected the coward to try to convince me to wait like Diana had asked. And I wasn’t sure what would happen if he did.

Fear flashed in his eyes, but his head dipped into a nod. “Agree.”

He followed just behind me, leaping out a window no mere human would jump from, and, to my surprise, Theo pulled up the rear, letting himself out the door at the base of the lighthouse. I shook my head, holding up a hand. “You won’t be able to keep up.”

“So be it.” His bleary eyes were clear as a bell in the moonlight now, and gleaming with determination. “This is my only chance to get off this damned island, and I’m not going to miss it. Even if it kills me.”

I glanced at Mav, then nodded. I was the fastest of the three of us by far and carrying him wouldn’t slow me down much. More importantly, the old man’s knowledge of the spider could come in handy.

His eyes widened in fear as I lunged, but I had him by his midsection before he could resist, throwing him over my shoulder.

“Let’s go,” I spat, breaking into a full-on sprint.

Mav rushed after me, his strange, suspicious magic no one could really identify allowing him to almost keep up. And he’d have to do just that, because I wasn’t about to slow down for anything—not with Diana’s life on the line. We covered ground fast, avoiding pitfalls and trip wires, and it wasn’t long before a familiar scent pricked at my nose.

Diana. Or, her wolf, to be more precise.

Traversing the length of the island was faster at the speed we were going, but it still took time. Time that I felt ticking by far too fast.

The sound of water caught my ears just as Theo spoke.

“That’s his lair. Right ahead,” he gasped.

I tossed him unceremoniously to the ground and moved closer to the cave entrance, every muscle tensed for battle, ears straining to hear something–anything–over the rush of water from the twin falls.

I took in the condition of the forest from the opposite direction we’d come in, and knew that Akmon had returned, there was no question of that. He’d torn ass to get here, trampling trees and underbrush the whole way. Mav wasn’t far behind, but there was no time to wait. All that mattered now was getting to my fated mate.

I couldn’t wait for him. “Stay here.”

Not that I thought Theo would follow me in.

A riot of sensations flooded my enhanced senses at once as I entered the dank cave. The smells of Diana, Nicholas, Myrr, Kevin, and countless others. The sound of a body struggling uselessly against impossibly strong silk, thumping and bumping against the cave walls.

But that wasn’t what had my attention.

The enormous spider was just yards ahead, those milky eyes fixed directly on me. Body tensed and ready to spring.

The only way to her, is through that thing.

I let out a battle cry as I hurled myself at the monster, blood thrumming hot. I’d experienced it many times before, almost always when fighting werewolves, or other vampires, but there was something different this time. I wasn’t fighting for myself, or some aloof monarch in a high tower somewhere. I was fighting for Diana.

My heart.

One of the beast’s enormous arms snapped toward me like a switchblade, and the realization hit me as I dropped to the sandy ground and slid under it. For the first time since I could remember, it really felt like I was the underdog—that I might not survive this. It was a strange sensation, and one I didn’t enjoy at all.

Time to turn the tide.

I whipped my dagger from my belt, slamming it into Akmon’s chest and sidestepping his next attack in a single motion.

Green blood coated the tip of the blade, but it hadn’t been nearly deep enough. Maybe if I still had my sword…I shoved the thought down, leaping sideways in time to see a ball of web blast through the spot where I’d been standing.

I surged forward for another attack, but I had my work cut out for me to dodge as he lunged to meet me, massive pincers snapping closed where I should’ve been. A loud thud hit the beast a moment later, and I roared in pure elation as Diana’s wolf form came into view, spitting a hunk of the monster’s flesh from her mouth.

She was alive.

Footsteps sounded from all around, but there was no time to look at them. I dashed forward, kicking off as the monster’s milky gaze shifted to Diana. He turned back to me just in time, and shooting pain coursed through me as he caught me in the side with a swipe of his spindly leg.

He was on me in an instant, following up with a flurry of attacks that few could have blocked. Fortunately for me, I was one of the few fast enough. I rolled under his body when the opportunity came, slicing at his belly in a counterattack of my own. My eyes flitted to my stomach for just a moment, and I cursed. He’d cut me badly, and the same could hardly be said the other way. The tiny dagger was a ridiculous weapon against such a monster, but I’d have to make it work.

I’d make it a death by a thousand cuts if I had to. And I’d make sure the blow he’d landed on me had been his last. I sliced off the tip of his leg on his next attack, falling into the groove of the battle as Diana fell in beside me. A burst of web surged toward her, with Akmon’s pincer-like jaws just behind, but I was on him before the attack could be realized, jabbing my blade into one of his eyes.

A horrible scream that fell somewhere between a Hunter and a banshee split the air, and I winced as one of his legs smacked into Diana’s jaw. She flew across the room as if hit by a cannon, bouncing off the wall and hitting the ground with a thud.

My vision went crimson, and I leapt forward in a rage, exchanging a dozen blows with the monster in a matter of seconds. His legs, jaws, and spinneret all worked in practiced harmony, never giving me the opportunity to land a clean attack. But, if I was anything, I was fast. And that fucker couldn’t see me.

I parried or dodged every strike, landing minor cuts and scratches every time I could. I just had to find my moment to finish him off–

A rock smacked into the side of Akmon’s deformed, human head, stunning him for the briefest of moments as he turned to see a defiant-looking Theo at the mouth of the cave. I took advantage and lunged, curving mid-air to dodge an attack from one of Akmon’s legs and jammed my dagger directly into his neck. I roared victoriously, but he wasn’t done yet.

His mandibles shot toward my arm, and I released my dagger just in time to keep my arm attached to my body, then rolled to the ground. Diana was at my side but looked shaky.

“Careful,” I shouted, dodging under a combination attack of the monster’s web and legs.

Judging by the amount of blood gushing from the wound on his neck, it was only a matter of time. But that was a fact I could hardly make use of, given Diana’s condition.

I slammed my foot into an unsteady-looking leg, grinning as it snapped beneath my boot. The monster reeled, letting out a high-pitched screech, but didn’t go down. Diana snapped with her jaws, and swiped at it with her claws, and I let out a growl as its eyes flitted toward her. The spider struck at the cave’s ceiling, whirling backward to blast a massive gob of web at her in the same motion. Rocks and stalactites rained down on her, but I had no time to see if they’d hit.

I pushed off with everything I had, getting to eye-level with the creature just as a form appeared behind him. The spider screeched in pain as something hit, and I seized the opportunity, gripping my dagger from where it had lodged into his collarbone, and shoving my other arm into his chest as I dragged the blade in a circular motion.

Stinking, green blood oozed coating me in sickening spurts as I decapitated him, in tune with the final few beats of the dying monster’s heart. Mav came into view at the monster’s back, yanking his sword free of its spinneret.

I whirled toward Diana, sprinting to the pile of rubble blocking my view. “Diana!”

One of the rocks rumbled, then rolled aside, revealing her wolf form. The fur faded slowly from her skin, as she shifted back to two feet, and my heart skipped a beat. Was she hurt or worse?

Her chest heaved as she pushed herself unsteadily to her feet. She let out a weak chuckle, shaking her head at me. “God damn you’re a mess.”

I looked her up and down, ignoring the thick green blood that was now all over my body. I whipped off my shirt and gave it to her. “Are you hurt?”

“I’ve been better, but I’m okay.” Her brows knit with worry as she glanced at my stomach, tucking my ripped shirt around her. It dangled to the tops of her thighs. “Definitely better than you.”

“It’ll heal before long. We just need to get the hell out of here,” I said, finally getting a chance to take in the surroundings. The cave was enormous, with a half dozen mossy, dripping passages leading in all different directions. “Did you find the others?” I winced at the smell of spider entrails as I sniffed the air.

“Myrr’s fine. I tucked her away when Akmon brought Nicholas back. He’s hurt, but he’ll live, if we can get some blood into him.” Diana turned to face Maverick and Theo. “You two, wait here and keep watch for any Vanators while we get the others.”

I followed as she led the way toward the nearest passage. She was a bit shaky on her feet, but werewolves were a sturdy lot, and, miraculously, it seemed like mostly minor cuts and bruises were all she had been dealt.

“It was good timing you showing up when you did, vampire,” a familiar, raspy voice called.

A loud, chewing sound hit my ears, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Even at a time like this, she eats.”

“Her powers make it easy to be calm, I think. I’ll wager she already knew we were going to win,” Diana reasoned with a weary smile as Myrr and Nicholas came into view a moment later.

Myrr was setting a banana peel atop a pile of a dozen others, and she turned to greet us with a nod. She took a bite before speaking, “Can’t we just stay here for a bit longer? The spider’s dead anyways, and there’s so much good food here.”

Diana rolled her eyes, gesturing roughly for the older woman to rise. “We’re leaving immediately. There could still be more Vanators here, and we need to get off this island before they find us. We’re battle-scarred as it is, and we need the head start on getting to Jade before more come looking for us.”

A shape poked out from behind a nearby rock, and I stepped to get between it and Diana before realizing what it was. Despite her words a moment earlier, Diana dropped to her knees as a massive beast loped into view.

“Kevin!”

The hell-hound’s ears perked, and he leaped from side to side in between taking licks at her palms. He rolled over as Diana petted him, and she set upon him for a belly rub.

Myrr glanced over at her. “He’s a smart one. Tried to fight off the spider at first, but then gave in and stayed very still, so as not to draw attention to himself. He managed to get free when he scented Diana, but the fighting was over.”

“Definitely smarter than he looks,” Nicholas agreed.

I turned away from the reunion, shooting a glance his way.

He raised a hand in greeting, grinning as he met my gaze. His other hand was pressed against the large gash on his side. “Wish I got to see how you guys killed that fucker. Speaking of which, you’ve got a little…” he gestured to his cheek.

The adrenaline flooded out of me in an instant, and I found myself laughing with relief as I wiped a chunk of spider meat from my jaw. “Man, it’s good to see that you’re alive.”

His eyes bulged as he looked around to confirm that I was, indeed, talking to him. “Coming from you that may as well be an ‘I love you buddy’. Are you getting soft on me, Raven?”

“Nah,” I said as I reached down to help him off the ground. “I just don’t want to be the only vampire in this ragtag crew. Right now, we’re the majority. I want to keep it that way.”

Despite my words, though, I couldn’t deny that my heart felt a little less heavy seeing his grinning—if pale—face. “We’ll get some blood into you soon. Can you walk?”

He accepted my hand, pulling himself to his feet. “I should be good, as long as we don’t have to run anywhere. Myrr…helped me in that department.”

Myrr rose as well, and a jolt of surprise shot through me as I glanced at her. There was a large, reddened bite mark on her wrist. Nicholas had drank from her, and recently.

“Bleh.” She waved me off as she caught my gaze. “I’m drier than a bale of old hay. Didn’t seem to do much good.”

“It did a lot,” Nicholas cut in. “Even if it did taste like dirty socks.”

She let out a cackle, gave him a light shove, and then went in for another bite of her banana. “If he could have used one of the Vanators that would have been better, but they all died. On their own, like they did when you caught them before. Their mistress don’t like them getting caught.”

I looked at Diana and she tipped her head. I could almost hear her thinking that if Lilis had taken her wrath on her own men, then we really needed to get the fuck out of here.

“You guys about ready to head out?” Maverick called. “Probably best if we go before Lilis gets her second wind.”

Again, I had to agree with the shitbird. And no doubt, Diana did too.

“Hop to it, all,” she said as she strode past us, Kevin in tow as she led the way toward the cave’s exit. “We’re headed for the beach and whatever boat is still floating.”

“Back to being bossy, as usual,” Myrr muttered, stuffing a few choice fruits into her shirt before following.

We made our way out as a unit, finding a victorious-looking Theo staring up at the sky right outside the mouth of the cave.

“Last look at the most beautiful stars in the world,” he said with a happy sigh. “Now let’s get off this damned island.”

“I’m with you, my friend. But your rescue comes with a price. These two need to borrow your wrist,” Diana said, waggling a hand between me and Nicholas. “They both need to heal if we want to get back to the beach and unwedge our ship from the rocks.”

“My name is Nicholas, and I do apologize for requiring a favor so soon after meeting you, but I’m in a pinch.” Nicholas managed a sheepish smile as he gestured to the crimson stain spreading across his white shirt. “I won’t take too much, don’t worry.”

Theo went a little green around the gills, then reluctantly tipped his head. “I do owe you...and all the others I may have led astray.”

He held out his arm and squeezed his eyes closed.

“Go.”

Nicholas made short work of it, piercing the man’s skin with one fang and then drinking deeply before releasing him.

“Th-that’s it? I thought it’d hurt a lot more.”

“That’s it. Thank you.” Nicholas hesitated before continuing. “And I’m sorry for what you’ve suffered.”

Theo froze and stared at the vampire for a long moment. “You saw…in my head?”

Nicholas nodded.

The old man seemed to absorb that quickly. “Thank you. It’s been difficult, but I’m ready to move on.”

I had questions. How long had he been here? Did he have anyone to go home to? But I opted to save them for another time, instead, taking hold of his arm. I took a few, hard pulls from his wrist, suppressing the rush of hunger that gripped me. When I pulled back, I could already feel the surge of power rushing through my body.

I was about to thank him as well, when he let out a gasp. “And who is this magnificent creature?”

We all looked around in confusion until it became clear that his attention was fully focused on Myrr.

“Name’s Myrr.” She cocked her head and sized him up with a glance. “And while I prefer my men a little prettier than you, I like the hobo look. Like you woke up today and said, ‘I don’t care what anyone thinks of me.’ Refreshing. I do that too sometimes.”

“Or maybe he woke up as the prisoner in a fucking spider’s lair and fashion wasn’t high on his priority list,” I muttered to Diana under my breath.

She swallowed a laugh that made me feel even better than the fresh infusion of blood. If she was still able to laugh after all we’d been through…gods she was amazing. So, fucking resilient.

“We’ll see. Maybe I’ll let you make me dinner sometime if you play your cards right,” Myrr continued.

I had to admire both of them. Myrr for the confidence when she looked rather like a goblin herself, and Theo for shooting his shot, and seeing Myrr’s inner beauty. Though even that was questionable.

More likely she was the first woman in his age range he’d seen in who knew how many decades…

Either way that and the fact that none of us were dead lifted my mood.

For the next few hours, we trekked through the forest, making our way to the beach in good time despite the two older humans slowing us down. We had to take a lot of breaks, which allowed Myrr and the others to grab more fruit.

We were nearing dawn when we popped out of the treeline, and I gestured down the beach a piece. “That’s where we hid the skiff. I’ll drag it down to the shore and–”

An ominous crackling sounded at our backs. Soft at first but growing louder with every second. Then the creak of wood being torn, followed by what could only be a huge tree crashing to the ground.

I whirled, unable to make anything out in the dark, dense brush. “What the fuck was that?”

Theo dropped to his knees; eyes wide with panic. “Oh boy. This is bad. Worse than bad.”

Diana made her way to my side. “Lilis?”

“Could be. Maybe she’s creating some kind of earthquake or?—”

Theo was already rising shakily to his feet. “That’s no earthquake. That’s Bathsheba.”

“Who?” the rest of us demanded in unison.

His wrinkled throat worked as he swallowed hard. "Bathsheba. She only rises twice a year. She shouldn't be here, she’s months early from rising, but she must've sensed Akmon’s death."

“How big is she?” Diana asked.

Another tree fell in the distance, closer this time. Then, a horrible screech filled the air, drowning out Theo’s reply, but I saw my answer soon enough. The ground beneath us shook as a cluster of trees crumbled near the edge of the forest twenty yards away from us, and the first of Bathsheba’s legs made contact where the beach met the jungle.

Kevin whimpered as the spider stepped onto the sand, her dozens of bright red eyes fixing directly on us as she advanced. A woman’s torso and head protruded from the top of her thorax, barely visible on her enormous frame. Standing a solid thirty feet tall, she made Akmon look like something you might find in your cellar.

There was only one thing we could do.

“Run.”