Chapter 84 Ch. 54
Pain.
That was the only thing she could feel in every inch of her body, from her flesh to her bones, and especially at her neck and fingertips.
She wanted to open her eyes, but it felt like she would tear her eyelids if she tried, so she stayed still, her ears searching for any sound in the room. The only thing she could make out was the sound of something bubbling, and it explained the steam brushing against her skin.
She forced her eyes open.
The room was dim and had a slightly bitter and musty smell that made her want to throw up. A bag hung above her with a misty liquid moving slowly through a tube and into her arm. She blinked again, her head pounding, and turned to the side. There was a counter by the left, lined with jars and metal objects, and it looked more like an experimental laboratory than a hospital.
She frowned. Why was she here, and why was she not dead?
And who the hell was keeping her here? What experiments were they performing on her?
Her thoughts were scattered, empty in some places and loud in others, and she tried to gather them together, but they kept slipping away. Then a name came to her: Dylan.
She saw bits of him in her head, then she saw herself standing in a room that wasn't hers, holding a keyholder, then she could see a report spread across the desk with the title Riverbend Mystery Murder... Then there was also the cheer of a crowd as an athlete ran toward the finish line. They came as flashes that were short and disjointed, but they were all she had.
The door opened just then, and a woman walked in. Her skin was dark, her dress long and black, and her steps were slow as she moved closer. There was something striking about her.
“I see that you’re awake,” she said, pausing by the bed.
Ivanna tried to speak, but her throat burned, and all that came out was a scratch of sound.
“I’m Imogen,” the woman said, resting her eyes on her. “I must say, you’re very lucky. Dylan moved mountains to get you alive.” She reached down and slipped a hand behind Ivanna’s shoulders, lifting her slowly and steadying her until she was upright. She picked up a goblet from the counter and placed it in her hand.
“Drink,” Imogen said, tilting it closer.
Ivanna stared at the liquid. It was dark red and rich, like wine. “What is it?” she managed to ask.
“Blood,” Imogen said like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Ivanna’s eyes widened, her lips pulling back. “Why the hell would I—” she began, but the rest never left her mouth. A sharp need rose inside her as the smell was strong enough to drown every thought, and before she knew it, the goblet was at her lips and the taste had already filled her mouth. She drank quickly, one gulp after another, her hands trembling as if she could not let it go, and when the goblet was empty, she still wanted more.
She gasped, panicking. “What the hell have you done to me?” she asked, clutching her stomach. “When did I become a monster? I just drank human blood and wanted more.”
Imogen stepped back, looking very much unbothered by it. “It was necessary to keep you alive,” she said.
Suddenly, she saw herself again, standing in the parking lot, her voice raised as she argued with Dylan. And she remembered the Uber driver, the pain of him sinking his teeth into her neck.
She remembered the hours that led up to it.
She remembered the fear.
She remembered everything.
Her head lifted slowly, her eyes finding Imogen as a tear dropped from it. “He turned me to save my life, didn’t he?” she asked even though she already knew the answer.
++++
“Wait, what the hell do you mean?” Ethan’s eyes were wide with fear. He hadn’t felt fear in a long time, but hearing what Jace had said, his heart was pounding in his chest. He wished this were one of Jace's pranks.
Jace tilted his head, smirking like he enjoyed watching Ethan squirm. “What do you think I mean?” he asked, sliding his hands into his pockets. He leaned against the wall as if what he said was not a big deal.
“Don’t play with me right now,” Ethan muttered, running a hand down his face. His chest rose and fell quickly, and he tried to calm his voice, but it only came out sharper. “You said people found out about Zara and you killed them Sunday. What are you saying? That people are watching me?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Jace replied, shrugging his shoulders like it was obvious. “The minute you started following her around, the minute you pulled her out of trouble with that rogue… Ethan, you don’t live in hiding. You don't run races and do everything like a human and think you can run from who you are and the danger that comes with it. You’re the heir to the clan. Everyone’s been watching you for years, waiting for the day you screw up. There have been talks about it... the drama with the race... Everything to discredit you, but the discredit isn't enough. And now, you just gave them something to grab onto.”
Ethan took a step closer. “Grab onto what?”
“Her,” Jace said, smiling faintly. “Zara. The girl you can’t seem to let go of. What do you think they’ll do when they find out she's a catalyst? They'll either kill her or drain her powers, and you know what that means for you? Death. They strip you of immortality, or worse, kill you immediately, and the normal life you want to live? It's gone."
Ethan’s stomach twisted. He looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. “They don’t know what she is. They can’t.”
“They don’t need to,” Jace replied. He pushed off the wall, taking a slow step forward. “All they need to see is that you care about her. That you protect her. That you’d defy your father in front of everyone for her. Do you really think that went unnoticed? Come on, Ethan. You’re not stupid. They'll dig into why and then they'll find out. Maybe some know what she is now, but they were stalking her. And that means capture... they know if they take her, you'll come... exactly what they want.”
“Don’t talk to me like I don’t understand the risk,” Ethan snapped. “I know what’s at stake.”
“Do you?” Jace asked. He tilted his head, studying him. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’ve put a big, glowing sign over her head that says she matters. And when people believe someone matters to you, Ethan, they’ll do whatever it takes to use her against you. And when they do, they'll find out what she is if they don't already know... And might assume motives you don't even have."
Ethan’s throat was dry. He swallowed hard. “You make it sound like they’re planning something. My uncle is uninterested in taking over from my father and..."
“They’re always planning something,” Jace muttered. His eyes flicked toward the cafeteria where students were laughing and talking like nothing was wrong. “Distant relatives, cousins, people who would sell out their own blood if it meant they could take your father’s place. They watch everything, and right now, you’ve given them something new to watch. She’s not just a human girl anymore in their eyes. She’s leverage."
Ethan’s fists clenched at his sides. He hated how true it sounded, how every word sank into him like a reminder of something he already feared. “You don’t know that,” he said quietly.
“I do know that,” Jace answered. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t."
Ethan narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean? Why are you even here? You just show up out of nowhere, transfer into my school halfway through the year like it’s normal, and then tell me you’re killing people for me? What the hell are you really doing, Jace?”
Jace smirked and held his hands out like he was surrendering. “Relax. I’m not here to make your life worse. I left the fun I was having because you needed me.”
“I didn’t ask you to come,” Ethan muttered, shaking his head.
“You didn’t have to,” Jace said. He took another step closer. “Ethan, you’re looking after her, but who’s looking after you? Who’s making sure you’re not the one who ends up cornered? You’re too busy keeping her alive to notice who’s circling around you. I came because someone has to watch your back. Your father is going to take away the one person that really matters to you. He'll use her as leverage for you to take your place in the clan seriously. Other people want her too, just to get to you... What do you think happens when they find out your dad does too? They'll work harder, faster... You can't do this alone, Ethan. You're fighting against forces other than your dad... I'm here to help."
Ethan laughed under his breath, though it didn’t sound amused. He ran a hand through his hair, pulling at the strands. “Since when do you care about my back? Last time we talked, you made a mess by killing that woman. That was going to be in the news, that I was a murderer, if my uncle didn't sort it out."
“Yeah, well,” Jace said with a grin. “Turns out watching you from a distance got boring. And I figured if you were going to make the dumb choice of catching feelings, someone had to make sure it didn’t get you killed.”
Ethan froze. He looked at Jace sharply.
“You heard me,” Jace replied. “Feelings. Don’t look at me like that, Ethan. You think I don’t notice it's not just about protecting her from our kind? You’re not subtle. You’re following her around like a lost puppy, glaring at anyone—even humans who even look at her too long. You've liked her for a long time. It's why you started running the last two years... Because her dad was a coach. You've had the fantasy of being normal and just having the courage to be closer to her."
"Jace—"
"So you do what?" Jace laughed. "Become that bad-boy runner for a year. Screw girls, look to see if she's jealous and notices you... It doesn't work. You start enjoying the running, and it makes you happy she's always there watching... You didn't pursue her actively because you knew what it meant bringing her into our world, and because you should not like a human... but then she found out, and you couldn't compel her. And you were so angry, but not because she told people or because of the rumors."
"Jace," Ethan said in a warning tone.
"You were angry because not being able to compel her made her see you as a monster... And maybe it was dangerous for her, but now your feelings have intensified and somehow you two are closer... You're addicted, Ethan. You care, and honestly... I don't blame you. You take after your uncle more than you take after your dad... It's a good thing. Ruthless, but capable of love. Or maybe not a good thing because it's bad leadership."
“That’s not true,” Ethan said quickly. His voice cracked slightly, and he hated that Jace would notice. “I’m not—It’s not like that.”
Jace raised a brow. “So what is it then? Why’s she so different? Because the Ethan I know, the Ethan I grew up with, he would have used her by now. He would have figured out how to exploit what she is instead of wasting time protecting her.”
Ethan’s chest felt tight. He took a step back and shook his head. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t I?” Jace asked. His eyes narrowed slightly. “You’re not fooling me, Ethan. You’ve changed. And it started with her. The question is, are you willing to admit it? Or are you going to keep pretending she’s just another human?”
Ethan opened his mouth, but no words came out. He looked away, staring at the floor.
Jace watched him for a long moment, then sighed. “Look, I don’t care if you want to keep lying to yourself, but don’t lie to me. I know you too well. I've been your best friend for centuries. And I’m telling you, the way you feel about her? That’s dangerous. Not just for you, but for her. You’ve painted a target on her back, Ethan, and now everyone’s watching.”
Ethan exhaled sharply and pressed his palms against his eyes. “God, this is a mess,” he muttered.
“It is,” Jace agreed. He shoved his hands back in his pockets. “But hey, it’s not the end of the world. We’ll figure it out. Just… don’t shut me out. You may hate me being here, but trust me, you’ll hate it more if I leave.”
Ethan looked up at him, his face pale. “You really think they’ll come after her?”
“I don’t think,” Jace said simply. “I know. And don't just protect her. Protect yourself because if you're in danger... she is too. You can feel each other's pain."
"This is a mess," Ethan said again with a sigh.