21. Have You Checked the Children?

TWENTY-ONE

have you checked the children?

"Where are the children, bitch?" I don't have time for niceties or games.

"What children?" Patrice answers. "There are no children here."

"Cut the bullshit, Patty," Amelia spews. "We know you have Alex, Everly, and Autumn."

Patrice laughs, sending chills down my spine. "Oh, you mean those children. You should've been more specific."

"Alex. Are you inside?" I'm met with silence. "Alex?"

"Are you okay, dear?" Patrice continues. "You looked a little confused."

"What did you do to them?"

"Them?" She crosses her arms across her designer spandex-clothed body. "Oh, the children. I keep forgetting the reason for your visit." She laughs again. "They're around here somewhere. "

"Give us the children, and we won't kill you," Amelia says, filling me with anxiety. If Patrice lives, Alex and the girls will never be safe.

"You smell like the dog you fuck." Her words are full of hatred "Shifter, I believe you're confused. You hold no power here. In fact, you hold no power anywhere." Patrice moves vampire speed inside the lighthouse, returning in the blink of an eye with Everly gripped tightly in her arms. Everly's eyes grow in realization of who we are.

"Are you okay?" I ask the terrified girl. She nods her head, while her eyes tell a different story.

"Of course, she's okay. She's been well-fed since being here, haven't you, girl?"

"Yes, Mother."

"Where are Alex and Autumn?" Topher interrupts the insanity.

"Shut up, wolf. You are beneath the air required to speak to you."

"You just did," Topher retorts, making me smirk.

Patrice puts her hands on the girl's shoulders, pushing her away from her body. "Make them leave," she whispers into Everly's ear.

"Please don't make me, Mother."

Patrice turns the young vampire toward her. "You know what will happen if you don't. Do you need a reminder?"

"No," Everly sobs .

"Good." The evil mother turns her immortal child back toward our group. "Make them leave."

"I'm sorry," Everly whispers as she stares at the lycan behind me. She closes her eyes just as Micah's scream pierces my ear drum. I turn, finding him lying on the rocks, curled into the fetal position, and holding his head in pain.

"Make it stop!" he screams.

"Good, girl. Now to the others," Patrice says calmly.

"Everly?" I question the young girl. She ignores my words, turning her attention toward Luna. Her eyes close, and seconds later, Luna is on the rocks next to Micah, both writhing in pain. Topher shifts, hovering over the two lycan, protecting them with his wolf body. Whatever Everly did to Micah and Luna is affecting him, too. He keeps shaking his head and fighting to keep his footing on the rocks.

"Stop!" Amelia demands.

"You know, for the longest time, I didn't believe this one had any ability." Patrice pulls her hands from Everly's shoulders. "What a surprise it was to discover just how wrong I was." She laughs dramatically. "It's not often I admit when I'm wrong. Consider yourselves lucky."

I shift my attention toward the young girl. "Everly, don't do this," I warn. "Whatever you're doing, let them go."

"I can't," she whispers with tears flowing down her cheeks. "She'll kill them."

"You're killing them!"

"She'll kill Alexander and Autumn."

"Find the children, I'll stay out here," Thorne speaks through my mind.

"What about the lycan?"

"Amelia and I can handle it. Get to the kids."

I don't wait to be told twice. Thorne steps between Everly and the lycan as Amelia shifts into wolf form. Banking on Patrice's distraction, I move at vampire speed inside the lighthouse.

The room I enter is nothing more than an empty shell. The smell of mold fills my nose as I search for Alex's familiar energy. "Alex!" I call through the space. I don't think twice about shouting my announcement. If Samirah is here, there is no doubt she's aware that we're here.

"Alex!" I call again. My voice echoing off the concrete walls.

"Elsie," Alex whispers through my mind. His voice sounds weak and barely audible.

"Where are you?"

"Under."

"Under what?" Alex doesn't answer. "Alex!" Shit. What did that bitch do to them? I change tactics. "Samirah? Where are you, you crazy bitch? I know you're here. What happened? Did you get tired of Kragen? He's a hard pill to swallow." My words taunt her, hoping to draw her from her hiding spot.

"Do you know how many young girls he took advantage of? How many innocent lives he stole, drained, and abused?" I continue my taunts, working my way up the spiral staircase toward the living quarters. "I can't imagine what it's like to be you, willingly giving your body to a monster like him. You're just one of hundreds, hell, thousands of others." I stop walking. "Oh, wow. You might want to get checked for diseases. Oh, wait. Vampires can't get STD's, can they?" I continue moving. "Either way, the lack of self-esteem you must hold deep inside. You know, I've heard that never really goes away. Whatever sort of person you were before being turned is intensified after you're turned. You must have been one hell of a human."

Samirah's energy overwhelms me as she rushes in front of me. "You know nothing of me or my life." Anger fills her words.

"Sure, I do." I continue my verbal assault. I look her up and down, realizing she's wearing the same sort of dress Kragen forced me to wear so many years ago. I can't hold the laugh inside. "Look at you. He's dressed you like one of his little wenches. One of his toys." I look around at what's left of the lighthouse. "Let me guess. Kragen sent you to do his dirty work? He never was one to get his hands dirty. At least in that way."

"I should've killed you when I had the chance."

"Don't fool yourself, Samirah. You never had the chance to kill me. In fact, you don't have one now. Where are the children? "

"The children are none of your concern," she retorts.

"That's where you're wrong. They are every bit of my concern." I step closer to the woman. "You're nothing but a plaything to him. When he's bored of you, he'll throw you away like I witnessed him do so many times before. You're an idiot if you think anything more."

"Kragen loves me."

I laugh. "The only person Kragen loves is himself. I was with him for nearly a century. I know him. He'll discard you like the trash that you are." I move even closer, sending my energy throughout the room and filling every open space.

"You're jealous."

My laugh echoes off the brick walls. "No. Jealousy is not an emotion I'm feeling at the moment."

It's Samirah's turn to laugh. "You're weak. That goat's blood you're drinking makes you a weakling, just like it did Thorne." She looks behind me. "Where is he, by the way? I was hoping to see him again." She licks her lips. "He was always so delectable . Tell me. Does he still whimper just before he comes?"

I don't hesitate. The back of my hand slaps across her cheek, shoving her hard into the staircase wall.

"That almost hurt." She holds her cheek, smiling. "Seems like I've touched a nerve." She stands straighter, removing her hand from her face.

"Where are the children?" I return to my mission .

"Didn't you and Patrice just have this same conversation? I'm beginning to see why Kragen got rid of you in the first place."

"I'm done with you." I move in the blink of an eye behind Samirah, wrapping my elbow around her neck. "It's time for you to die."

Samirah shoves her head backward into mine, slamming our skulls together with such force, that the impact forces me to loosen my grip. She's across the room in a heartbeat and standing on a half-destroyed chest of drawers. "You know, Thorne and I fucked for years. I was just one of many he enjoyed the company of while he was seeking solace from your disappearance. Your captain isn't the saint you think he is."

I refuse to listen to the ramblings of a crazy woman. Or in this case, a crazy vampire. "Where are the children?" I repeat for the last time.

Samirah leaps from the chest of drawers, landing on top of me, and knocking me to what remains of the wooden floor. She wraps her legs around my waist, holding my arms above my head with hers. "I'm older than you, bitch. You don't stand a chance."

I take a deep breath, searching for the strength that's reared its head a few times in the past. My ability, as Amelia and Fran believe. Deep in the recesses of my mind, I find it. Imagining the tiny ball of strength spreading throughout my entire body, I close my eyes, allowing it to take control. Before when I've used the ability, it was just something that happened. Now, I feel it. The surge of power rushes me.

"Just because you're old, doesn't mean you're strong." I lift my arms easily, throwing her petite body off mine and across the room. Samirah slams into the metal railing of the stairs, sending a high-pitched ring throughout the lighthouse. She stands, shaking her head and reminding me of a cartoon character.

I'm in front of her a heartbeat later. "I asked you a question." Lifting my foot, I roundhouse kick her in the stomach, knocking her into the concrete wall once more. "I won't ask again."

She struggles to stand, wiping blood from the back of her skull. "Bitch," she mutters under her breath. "How are you so strong?"

"Because Patrice isn't the only one who collects special humans." I move faster than she can track, slamming her head into the wall and leaving a head-sized dent. "I'm guessing that's why Kragen sent you here in the first place."

"Kragen didn't send me, you stupid whore." Samirah pulls away from the wall, staggering as she attempts to stand still.

"What's with all the name-calling?" I tease before hitting her once more. The blow is more than her weakened body can handle. She hits the wall and slides to the floor in a crumpled pile. "If you think Kragen doesn't have his hand in this entire situation, you're dumber than I thought. "

Samirah's face transforms into a creature from nightmares. She flies off the wall, moving straight toward me. The world slows down, giving me the ability to see every detail of the situation. The roar of the waves stops, the whisper of the wind goes silent, and my body focuses on nothing but Samirah. Without any thought, I grab her throat mid-flight, wrapping my fingers around her throat tightly until her body and head are no longer connected. She falls to the floor in a sickening thud and immediately begins to disappear.

I wipe her blood on my already-stained pants. "Told you I wouldn't ask again."

Turning back toward the stairs, I take in every inch of the narrow lighthouse. I don't know what's going on outside, and I don't take the time to figure it out.

"Alex! Autumn!" My voice echoes through the building. "Make a sound, do something to let me know where you are!"

Dammit, I don't feel his energy anywhere. I run the length of the staircase, looking in every nook and cranny along the way. Other than remnants of broken furniture and rusted metal, the lighthouse is empty, which means the children are not inside.

I move outside not sure what's waiting for me. Patrice and Everly are standing in the same spot as before, but the image in front of me is terrifying. Luna and Micah are still in human form, lying on the rocks with Topher lying on top of them. All three of them are convulsing from whatever Everly is doing to them .

My eyes are drawn to Thorne. He and Amelia are fighting each other while Patrice cheers them on. Thorne is exhausted and filthy, while Amelia is covered in blood.

"Thorne! What's going on?"

"Not in control," he breathes through our connection.

Not in control? What does that mean? My eyes turn back to Everly.

"Everly?" I yell toward the young girl. Tears are streaming down her cheeks, as she stands victim to her crazy kidnapper. "Are you doing this?"

"Why don't you show her, my dear," Patrice says with a sick smile. "Show Mommy what you're capable of."

"Don't make me, Mother," Everly begs. "I'm not strong enough."

"Do it, or they die."

I step in front of the duo, blocking Everly from the pain she's causing my friends. "Leave her alone, Patrice."

"Oh, for God's sake. Why must I do everything myself? If you release them, your brother and sister will die. Do you understand me, Everly?" The immortal vampire doesn't respond as she wipes a tear from her cheek. "You just can't find good help these days."

Patrice turns her attention toward me before landing on top of me, knocking me to the sharp rocks below. Feeling the strength return, I stand, straightening my torn shirt. "My patience is running thin, Mother . Where are the Alex and Autumn?"

Instead of answering, Patrice runs toward me faster than my eyes can track. Like before, the world around me slows. The cries of my friends are nothing more than faint echoes as the fight behind me moves in slow motion. In front of me, Patrice is running toward me with her teeth bared and death in her eyes. I don't wait for her arrival.

Leaping through the air, I land behind her, wrap my arm around her throat, and twist until there's nothing left holding her head and body together. Patrice's body collapses to the rocks below, followed by her head. "You're right. It is hard to find good help these days."

The moment Patrice is dead, Everly releases whatever control she has over the lycan and vampires. Amelia and Thorne stop fighting, both collapsing to the rocky terrain as Topher moves toward his wife, still in wolf form. Luna and Micah sit up, working to catch their breath.

"I'm sorry," Everly whispers. "I didn't mean to hurt anyone."

Everly collapses into my arms the moment I reach her side. "It's okay," I console her. "No one blames you."

Thorne joins us. He's covered in blood, and his clothes are practically nonexistent. "Are you okay?" he asks, out of breath.

"Yes. Samirah's…gone." Thorne nods in understanding. "I can't find Al ex and Autumn."

"They're underneath," Everly mumbles the words into my filthy shirt.

I pull away, looking her in the eyes. "Underneath where, Everly?"

She points to the solid rock underneath our feet. "Underneath," she repeats.

"I'll go," Thorne pants.

"No. You'll never make it. You're too weak and need to heal." I look around the rock at my friends who are recovering from the battle they just fought. "It has to be me."

I move to the edge of the water. Other than the piece of land I'm standing on, there's nothing else in sight, God, I hate this. Memories of being dragged behind Kragen's ship flash through my mind. Relax, Elsie. You can do this.

"Give me ten minutes. I'll be healed enough to do it." Thorne moves to my side.

"Alex and Autumn may not have ten minutes." I turn toward the immortal child, who's leaning against the door of the lighthouse with tears streaming down her cheeks. The pain on her face gives me the strength I need. "Take care of her." I nod toward Everly. "She's terrified."

Thorne turns his head toward the girl, and I take advantage of his distraction, diving into the water below. The moment I make contact with the murky water, flashbacks of my time with Kragen threaten to overtake me. I've worked for two centuries to block those memories from surfacing, and I'll be damned if I allow them in now.

"Alex?" I call, changing the direction of my thoughts.

I swim deeper into the water, staying next to the solid rock that's provided the base for the lighthouse for a century.

Both Alex and Everly said under, which makes no sense. The rock will go to the sea floor. Unless…

I push away from the rock, focusing my eyes on every crack, every crevice, searching for an opening. Maybe there's a cave or something. "Alex?" I call again, still receiving no answer.

Swimming super speed, I work my way around the rock. I'm almost around when I spot what looks like a narrow crack close to the sea floor. Approaching it, I realize there's barely enough room to squeeze through. Dammit, this has to be it. This is the only possibility.

Turning sideways, I slip an arm and leg through, shimmying my way through. Once inside, the darkness of the cave is nearly overwhelming. Through the murky water, the walls of the cave are barely visible.

I send my energy through the space, searching for any energy and receiving nothing in return. Dammit, where are they? I continue swimming until hitting what feels like the back wall of the cave. Running my hands along the stone, I search for anything that doesn't belong. Kicking through the water, my foot rubs against something not made of stone. Something soft yet solid.

Swimming closer, I find Autumn. Her tiny body is chained in silver, and her eyes are closed. Large welts cover her face, left by the chain that holds her in place. I don't hesitate. The chain burns my hand but doesn't debilitate me as I rip it away, rushing the immortal child toward the cave entrance.

Squeezing both of us through the narrow opening, I kick toward the surface, jumping from the water to the rock in one move. "Oh, my God. You found them," Amelia exclaims, taking the small child from my arms.

"She was chained," I say, moving back to the edge of the rock.

"Alex?" Thorne asks, moving to my side.

"I'm going back." I jump without another word and return to the small hole underneath the lighthouse. I move quickly to the spot where I found Autumn, finding nothing. The cave is empty. What the hell? "Alex!" I call through our connection.

I search every inch three times, hoping somehow I missed his tiny body. Why would she separate them? Fear overtakes me, thinking of the young boy I've grown attached to. Could he be dead?

Seconds later, I'm back on the surface. Amelia has Autumn cradled in her arms, rocking her. Everly is next to the two of them, with Luna's arms wrapped around her.

"She's not waking up," Everly cries .

"She's a vampire. Give her body a moment to acclimate," Amelia reassures her.

"Alex?" Topher asks.

"He's not down there." My voice is no louder than a whisper. "I searched the entire cave. Autumn was alone."

"That's not possible. Mother took them together." Everly stands, moving toward the edge of the water.

"The woman took him," Autumn's weak voice says.

"Autumn!" Everly wraps her arms around her sister.

"What woman, Autumn?" I ask, moving to her side.

"The goddess," Autumn answers before closing her eyes again.