Page 69 of Before We Burn

My smile fades and reality sets in. Everett is human. There is too much risk when it comes to him being around me. Sure, the majority of the vampires in this world wouldn’t just kill a human without fear of consequence. There were always a slim few though. People who hate me could hurt me through him, and I don’t like that.

The dynamic between us is interesting, though. “The two opposing soldiers, destined to be each-others end. Instead we fell into a deep sea of bliss.” The thoughts come out as words, and I don’t care to hide it.

Everett finally stops his abhorrent snoring and his eyes slowly peel open. I can tell he forgot where he was for a moment. The second he remembers, his hands reach for me and I melt into his touch.

“I’m either dreaming, or I was good enough to make you want to stay.”

I can’t contain my laugh. He was great, I wouldn’t lie about that, but that wasn’t why I stayed. I thought that was obvious enough by the way I looked at him. Plus, I’m still very naked. Everett smiles back at me, his hands traveling down my shoulder in a caressing touch. I’m practically putty from the inside out. His touch is so soft and reassuring, and I never thought I would need that.

His mind trails off into dirty, despicable things he wants to do. I clench my core and he tries to pull me on top of him.

I move quickly. I can’t get stuck in this room all night while Everett fucks me senseless, as good as that sounds. We have things to talk about, things to go over.

“We have to talk about some things, Everett. I’m going to take a shower, have a few moments to myself. You should do the same in another bathroom.” My brows raise, and a daring smile pulls at my lips.

Something inside of me hopes he won’t respect my need for a moment. The thought of having alone time with my own mind feels dangerous. I need it, though. I have been surrounded by people longer than ever. Even when I was an assassin, I would only spend three to four days out of a month with someone before disappearing into the wind.

Everett raises his arms in defeat and understanding crosses his face. He stands to his full height next to me, and I nearly grab his dick as it reaches for me. I don’t need more sex per se, but he let me dry hump him until he came in his underwear. If that isn’t true love, I don’t know what is.

“I need a moment, too.” He leans down and kisses me gently. My eyes close naturally and my body feels at ease.

He walks into the bathroom and grabs a towel to wrap around his waist as he heads to one of the bathrooms down the hall. I fight with myself about following him out, but he said he needs a moment as well. This all must be so hard for him.

Guilt creeps into my thoughts as I enter the bathroom. I didn’t even think about what Everett must’ve felt last night. He learned that not only did Benny know the truth about everything, but so did Onyx.

I get in the shower, hoping it will ease the tornado of thoughts taxing me. If I’m going to face this, I have to face all of it. So first thing’s first, Onyx will die. I don’t know how, but I know it will be slow. Painful. Onyx sold out his family—his own son—all because he knew that when that little boy grew up, he would find and rewrite everything Onyx was. He would label him as a monster instead of the savior of the wolves. The next step was Alexander. I will make sure he never sees the night sky again.

I will find someplace cold and damp. Keep him there, barely fed. I will have him get frostbite so he can lose fingers and toes. Once he suffers through the worst of it and those parts fall off, I’ll then bring him some blood so he can heal up just enough to start all over.

But the first step to this is stopping the Premier Leader. Unveiling his face and making him pay for the monstrosities he’s done to this world. I won’t allow him to die—that’s too easy. Now I know how peaceful death can be, he doesn’t deserve that. I want him to feel his bones grow weak, his mind get lost in a haze. I want him to forget whatever he deemed as notable accomplishments, perishing under the idea that he was nothing, that he had no one, and not a soul thought about him.

I would let him know I made it my duty for him to be erased from the history books, and when they speak about him, it will be because he was a monster and they’re saying his name with shame.

I shut off the shower, standing under the steam for a moment while breathing. I’ll be a monster one more time, but this time for my own reasons.

I dress and shower, then take a bit of time to practice saying ‘I’m okay’ over and over again. I know Ciro will ask and so will Nadiya. Gray and Malcolm won’t, but Constantine will be watching me like a hawk. She won’t ask, but her eyes will say it all. I’ll reassure her without her asking, solely because I know how much she worries.

I walk down the hall, noting how bland the grand house is. There is no personality or homey touches. The art on the walls feels generic, and the pee-beige color irritates me. To have so much wealth and choose a color as horrific as this one seemed odd in our day and time. But to me, it’s further proof that some people have nice shit just to have nice shit.

Low voices trickle down the hall the closer I get to the living area. I make out Benny and Everett’s voices, even though they are low and controlled. I thought everyone would be happy I decided to join the party, but instead the silence feels heavy.

Everyone’s eyes focus on me, their faces sunken and eyes dark. Bunny stands in a corner with Constantine, her body emotionless and heavy. She isn’t in a vision; her mind is completely still. Something is wrong.

“What happened?” No one answers.

Benny’s thoughts flash to the muted TV. A grainy, pixelated image appears on the screen where a white light radiates behind what looks like the outline of a man. His features are completely hidden in darkness. My ears throb as I search for the small remote on the couch to unmute the TV.

I guess wealth does come in handy after all. A good majority of people don’t have televisions or radios, but those who do always stay aware of what’s going on. Even if the sound and quality was terrible.

“Some of you have joined on old radios to listen. Others on pods or older televisions. Times have been rough, but the eradication of the vermin that plague our world is at our fingertips.” I go still. Benny and Everett recognize the voice, their minds filled with memories of previous addresses they had throughout their military career. Fear coils in Benny’s mind more than Everett’s, but I don’t push to find out why. I have a feeling it has to do with the beatings he had to endure. Footsteps sound behind me as Everett walks around the couch to stand with me.

He stands at my side, his hand wrapping around my back until it rests on my hip. I don’t push him away or fight him off. Something was shown before. Something he knows will upset me. Everyone’s minds cloud it, so I can’t get a clear vision. So, I watch. I listen.

“I’m doing this broadcast to warn you. There is a group of rabid vampires on the loose. One goes by the name Marzana, or Marz. The others Constantine and Bunny. They’ve hunted and gruesomely killed righteous men who simply wanted to protect their home.”

Imagines flash on the screen of the men I killed while trying to rescue Benny. My body stiffens as I realize he’s initiating a witch hunt—well, a vampire hunt in this case.

“They’ve also taken two hostages—Benedict Hernandez, also known as Benny, and Everett Hill. Both are crucial members of the Private Operations Team.” Images of Benny and Everett are now on the screen. They must’ve been taken when they first entered the sector, because they look so young.