Chapter 7 ∣  One Plan, Two Missions

-Evicka

It feels like someone shoots me in the heart, Lucca's strong arms wrapping around me securely.

"T-that was..." I can't even bring myself to admit what Lucca and I already know. I feel Lucca's pain as he blinks away the tears that form in his eyes. He won't show weakness, not now when we must focus on escaping from this underground prison, protecting myself and his unborn child is his highest priority.

"This way," Lucca is stepping around hunters he'd just recently knocked out who had been guarding the exit. I'm hesitant about leaving for one reason, I have no idea what Orion will do to my family if I run away...but Lucca is persistent and insistent on us leaving this place.

It's easy to sense the hunters' movements, weaving around them and evading their eyes. It doesn't take that long until we reach a tunnel leading to a metal ladder to the earthen ceiling above us. Lucca motions for me to climb first, not wanting to leave me behind and alone. It will be much easier for him to keep an eye on me from the ground, than leading us.

Reaching the top of the ladder that is embedded into the wall, I touch my hand against the soft and slightly damp surface, pushing lightly to reveal the exit to the surface. My eyes glance down beneath me before I smile.

We're almost out.

We can't come back to this place, Evie.

I'm taken aback, becoming slightly emotional at the thought of leaving my family behind and at the mercy of Orion. I shake my head and attempt to take a step down from the ladder, only to have Lucca swiftly catch me from behind and whisper, "No, you can't, angel."

"Lucca...they'll kill them!" I push against him, but he holds me still in his strong arms.

I said no. It was your mother's orders.

She'd never do that.

Wouldn't she?

My eyes fill with tears, my sorrow blatantly written across my face as I lift my chin back up to the small exit above me. Feeling Lucca's hands gently slide away from my body as I climb up out of the underground city, emerging into the bedroom of an abandoned house. I glance around me, stepping away from the hole in the floor to observe my surroundings. Lucca is behind me in the next minute, glancing around for himself and kicking the door in the floor shut.

"We need to alert the coven," Lucca begins, "they feel the loss just as much as we do and are probably wondering what is happening."

"We need to find Erebus," I turn around, my eyes meeting his hazel ones as I whisper, "it's the only chance we have for peace."

Lucca shakes his head, "Orion killing Rynn and Eryx, I can't even see us making peace. Locaine won't allow it now."

"Orion wouldn't do that..."

"You know him that well?" Lucca narrows his eyes on me, slight anger coming from him. I reach out my hands, touching both of his arms.

I state, "It wasn't him. I'd bet my life on it. He wants this to stop as much as I do and would never jeopardize it. What bothers me, is that my father should outlive both Rynn and Eryx...that's the only reason I know for sure. Orion said only my father would die...no one else."

Lucca appears to be letting everything settle in before saying, "I'm not sure how I feel about you going on a search across the world."

"Would you rather me sit around and wait to be captured again?" I know this bothers him, his muscles tensing beneath my touch, "No, I didn't think so. Please, Lucca...we need to find that journal."

"This journal?" Lucca withdraws the small book from the side of his right combat boot. My heart fills with relief and happiness...

He took it with him when we left...

"The last page," I speak, not remembering exactly where Erebus' stated his location is...or at least where it might be.

Lucca flips through the pages, coming to stop on the last one. The bottom page holds the last two words I'd glanced over when I was in my grandfather's home; Erebus, -Antarctica.

"Oh joy..." Lucca's voice holds a sarcastic tone, "...we're going to a frozen, barren, wasteland..."

"Maybe we'll at least see penguins?" I giggle, trying to sound optimistic and pushing away the deaths of the coven that are eating me from the inside out. I need to break away from this and focus my efforts on Orion's and my common goal.

Lucca shoves the journal back down the side of his boot, walking cautiously toward the door of the abandoned house. Pulling the door inward, he glances outside to see the sun had just set, the purple and pink hues of the sunset stretching across the sky. He steps out onto the soft grass, I follow behind him, standing out in the open.

It's a ghost town. Not a soul in sight.

We both breathe in sharply, feeling the sudden presence of quite a few hunters surround us. Lucca places his back up against mine, watching out for each other as ten hunters surround us in a circle, blocking off any easy escape.

The exciting movement that radiates from my lower abdomen fills me with love and a new type of fight, one to protect everything close to me.

"They're purebloods," one of the hunter's states, edging closer.

Another hunter whispers, "Get Orion."

"No, Orion's no longer in charge," the first states.

What? I'm confused.

"Right," the second agrees and turns to a third, "go get Enock and Kadessa."

Shit...

...I knew something was up. I knew Orion wouldn't kill anyone besides my father, he wants as many of both hunters and vampires to come to an agreement.

Lucca's hand wraps around one of mine. I'm not exactly sure what he's doing until I feel his thumbnail sharply pierce my skin, my blood slowly dripping to the ground. I bite down on my lower lip and he digs his nails in deeper, hitting deeply into my veins.

His other hand clasps onto my remaining hand as well, repeating what he had just done, drawing more blood. I sigh lightly, feeling the warmth sliding down my skin, the familiar pulsating connection to my blood magic reassuring me that I am in control, and exactly when we need it the most.

"Awe, isn't that just cute," one hunter chuckles, "holding hands before their lives are extinguished forever."

Do it my angel, end them.

Thank you, love.

If they are going to threaten us, and it's true that Orion is no longer in control, I have no choice but to protect my family. I exhale slowly, my eyes closing briefly as the connection flows through me, creating a shock wave through my body as I pull the blood up from the ground.

I immediately cross my arms in front of myself, Lucca's hands leaving mine as he drops low to the ground, avoiding the blood that soars over his head in a thin serpentine line. It snakes its way at top speed, piercing through one of the hunters, entrapping their heart before targeting the next one.

The hunters drop their weapons in shock, clutching their hearts as the blood begins to harden. I only must hit two more targets. The last two hunters decide to hightail it out of the vicinity, but I flick my wrist, the bloodstream hitting them square in their backs, coming out the other side as it links his heart to the final hunter.

Each one frantically tries to free themselves, though the blood is clearly through each side of their bodies.

Lucca stands to his feet slowly, turning around to face me. He smiles as he sees my black rose eyes, my focus little to nothing holding the hunters in place. Brushing the palm of his right hand against my cheek, he kisses me deeply, my connection never faltering for a moment.

He pulls his lips away whispering, "You are far from weak."

"I needed to hear that," I smile back before my smile slowly turns into a wicked smirk. I bring my right hand up to be level with my chest, bring my thumb and middle finger together.

The snapping of my fingers instantly pulls the blood back to me, ripping the hearts of the hunters I'd captured from their chests. Their screams are brief, but vivid as their bodies simultaneously collapse onto the ground, loud thuds echoing in our ears.

"Now...how about we go see those penguins?" Lucca laughs lightly, ignoring the bloodshed that lies around us.

**

-Lucca

"Lucca?" Killian's voice is just above a whisper, glancing between the two of us as we had arrived back at the new location in Dyer, Washington. Kenzie's eyes search my face, seeing the pain that lingers is all she needs to confirm what everyone already knows.

"Locaine and Annika are prisoners to Enock," I state, trying to keep my face void of emotion and not a waiver in my voice. I know I will be the one to lead them as of now, and I can't show weakness or doubt. I must be completely sure in the decisions I will make.

Kenzie scans Evie and her jaw practically hits the floor, "You're pregnant?!" Her eyes then find their way back to me and a smug look crosses her face.

That's right...no one knew but Annika and myself...that I know of anyways.

Evie nods before her friend embraces her in a warm hug, "Why didn't you tell me?!"

"I was afraid of what was happening to me," Evie glances at me and then back to Kenzie, "it was taking everything away from me."

Kenzie's brows furrow, leaving it alone and asking, "What are we going to do? Why did they take you away?"

It isn't long before the entire coven is coming from the separate buildings, surrounding us with the same questions burning to be answered.

"Who killed my sister?" Flynn approaches me, his eyes full of rage. I knew this was going to happen; there is no avoiding him as his green eyes spark with revenge.

"Flynn," I calmly reply, "I don't know who killed her. I have an idea of who it might be, but I'm not sure."

He just glowers back at me, muttering under his breath, "I'll fucking kill them all..."

"What do you want us to do?" Michael comes through the throng of people, Adam right behind him, "You are in charge with Locaine gone, what would you have us do?"

"The individual leading the hunters is named Orion. He and Locaine have bad blood between them, but in the bigger scheme of things, he wants for the fighting between the hunters and vampires to end. Apparently, his ranger, Enock doesn't see it that way. He is in charge now and will more than likely seek us out," I inform them all.

"Why would we come to an agreement with them?" Killian asks, confused by my speech.

Evie steps forward and states, "Because hunters are akin to vampires. We need to STOP killing each other. The hunters were forsaken a long time ago..."

"How do you know that?" Michael asks.

"I've read the accounts of Erebus," Evie informs him.

There is an eerie silence that falls on the coven.

Everyone knows that name.

"One of the first purebloods? How would he know?" Killian is intrigued.

Evie glances at me and I just nod my head. She's doing a very good job of enlightening the group that there is no need for me to step in.

"Because his son was a hunter...one of the first. Their race evolved from a pureblood mating with a human," Evie finishes, "we need to find Erebus, only then will the hunters and all of you believe me."

"I believe you, Evie," Kenzie smiles.

It's then that Janie pushes through the crowd and asks, "Where is Zak?" Rainier is right behind her, raising his eyebrows as she questions me.

"He's with the hunters...I don't know what they did with him," I admit, having no idea what is happening to him. It's hard enough just worrying about Locaine and Annika. At least Zak is a hunter if anything they will accept him..I hope.

Tears begin to form in her eyes, turning her face away from me and casting it toward the ground.

"Evie and I are going to find Erebus," I order, "you all need to protect each other and move far away from here. Kato and Michael, I am leaving you two in charge. Whatever you do...keep moving, they are skilled and will hunt you all down."

"This just sounds fantastic," Kenzie rolls her eyes and then narrows them at me, "you're going by yourselves?"

"Watching out for each other will be easier than having multiple people to care for," Evie nods.

"Let's move, now," Kato turns around, ushering the coven toward the homes and gathering what they will need.

Michael locks his eyes with mine, "This is the only way?"

"Yes," I reply, knowing the best chance we have is finding Erebus.

He nods, "Alright, we'll watch over them." With that being said, he takes Emily with him, shouting orders to the coven as I turn to Evie. She's quietly looking down at the ground. I can tell she's not really with it...but I can't leave her alone here, if anything haps like before in Orion's office, I will have to be right beside her.

"Evie?" I ask, gently placing my arm around her waist.

I chuckle at her startled expression, her not having realized she'd dazed off for a moment. She sighs and answers, "I'm fine, really. We need to go as well...it's going to be a bit further of a journey. It's going to be cold!"

"Let's change first, then we'll leave," I reply, looking down at the same outfit she'd been taken away in.

**

-Evicka

Lucca insists that he carry me when I became tired, but I don't want him pushing himself. I told him we can rest, but all he wants to do is get to Antarctica as soon as possible.

It's the penguins calling him.

I smile to myself, my arms crossed in front of my chest as Lucca has one arm under behind my knees and the other wrapped securely against my back. We will need to stop soon anyway, my gaze drifting to the night sky, the light from the approaching sun starting to turn the sky a baby blue.

"Lucca..."

"Just a little farther," he replies, holding onto me tightly as he begins to run faster.

I roll my eyes and order, "Stop!"

"Ev-"

"No! I said stop this instant!" I growl lowly at him. He immediately slows, coming to a halt, his eyes gazing down into mine.

"We need to get there...we have to save your parents..." his voice drifts off. I motion for him to set me down, looking to the sky and then back at him.

I swallow the pain down, knowing that every day that ticks by, could be the last one for them...though I tell him, "Lucca...if you wear yourself out, then we won't be able to get anywhere. We must go about with caution. My fear...if we can't find Erebus, what then?"

"I don't know, angel," Lucca replies, noticing the town that's just roughly a half a mile ahead of us, "there," he points. I nod my response, my mind beginning to wander and wonder what will happen, should this plan not work.

Will Enock kill my mother and father? Can we never come to an agreement?

I want this fighting to end, more than anything in the world. I want this being to come into a world that he won't have to fear for his life. That he can accept the hunters and he will be accepted by them because he won't know any different.

The first of a new generation.

We approach the town, humans busying themselves as some are awake at the crack of dawn. The city limit sign says, Ushuaia. We are in South America and tomorrow night, we will be able to make it to Antarctica.

They're going to suspect something...asking for a room as the sun is rising.

No, they won't. I'll make sure of it.

Lucca glances at the doors to a motel, stepping toward them and holding the door open for me. It's nice and warm inside. Most humans are checking out, standing at the front desk paying for their rooms, their luggage trailing behind them. Lucca waits patiently, his eyes constantly darting to me and then away once I catch him doing this.

What are you doing?

Doing what?

Looking at me like that.

I'm not.

Yes, you are! Why are you doing that?!

"Sir?"

Lucca's attention is drawn away, saved by the manager behind the counter. I cross my arms again, staring daggers at his back.

Why isn't he being honest with me?

It doesn't take long before Lucca manages to get a room without raising suspicion. Apparently, being pregnant means that anything that might be weird to others is perfectly normal...great...let's use the pregnant lady. I sigh, Lucca motioning toward the elevator just down the hallway of the wood flooring.

We stand in front of the doors, Lucca clicking the button. He continues to ignore me as I stare directly at him. The doors chime and we both step inside. He presses the button to the third floor and the awkward silence continues, save for the cheesy elevator music.

Don't lie to me.

I'm not lying.

Well, you certainly aren't telling me the truth.

The elevator comes to a sudden halt, the doors sliding open.

"After you," Lucca motions to the opening. I scoff at him and leave the elevator, waiting for him to lead the way to our room. It isn't that far, stopping three doors down: 3C is etched into the gold plating. Lucca slides the key card into the lock and opens the door for me, the unfamiliar room putting me on edge.

I miss my home...I miss my mother and father. I want this all to stop!

"Evie?"

"Nope," I growl, heading toward the bathroom and flicking the light switch on.

"What the hell?!" Lucca scratches the back of his head and shuts the door to the hallway behind him.

I whirl around, glaring at him before hissing out, "You don't get to 'Evie' me, not until you tell me what the hell is going through your mind! It's obviously bothering you and if you can't tell me, who the hell can you?!"

Before he can say anything, I slam the door in his face, gripping the porcelain countertop and glaring into the mirror. The porcelain crunches beneath my grasp, not realizing exactly what I'm doing.

What are you hiding...Lucca?

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Ascension of the Hunters by K. A. Young.

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