Морган Райс - Betrayed

Caitlin, on the bottom of the pile, suffocating, thought of Caleb, of his being captured, of his needing her help. She thought of her unborn child, sitting in her stomach. And she felt the rage well within her. A blinding, uncontrollable rage. She felt her muscles grow, her veins pop out, and an incredible strength overcame her.

She leapt to her feet, throwing them all off of her in a single bound, and leaned back and roared.

It was the primal roar of a mother protecting her child, of a wife, protecting her husband. The world turned red, and she lost every last ounce of control.

She charged the group of vampires, stunned, swinging her sword wildly, throwing the spear again and again, which came back to her every time. She was pounced upon to the left and to the right, but every time, she was faster, stronger, angrier. She felt herself being clawed, scarred, scratched up, even bitten, but nothing they had matched what she had. She decapitated one after the other, and within what felt like seconds, the entire group of vampires attacking her were dead.

Sera handed herself almost as well. She had incredible strength, and she swung her axe wildly and expertly, jabbing, slashing, even using its wooden shaft to block blows. When that wasn’t enough, she also leaned back and kicked, head-butted, elbowed. She was a one-woman force. And she killed several of them.

But she was not as good as Caitlin. Several more pounced on her from behind, sending her crashing to the ground, and one vampire reached up with a sword, ready to bring it down on her.

Caitlin sprang into action, leaping and decapitating the vampire with a swing of her sword. She swung wildly, and killed several more, giving Sera enough time to regain her feet. Sera did, and went back to fighting herself.

Minutes later, all of the vampires were dead. Just Caitlin and Sera stood there, breathing heavily, covered in scratches and bruises and bites, splattered in blood. Caitlin slowly felt her rage calm.

She looked over, and noticed that Sera’s expression had changed. She was no longer angry at Caitlin. On the contrary, she sensed gratitude. It look like the face of a friend.

“You saved my life,” Sera said, surprised. “Why?”

Caitlin smiled. “Well, I guess I need you to find Caleb, too.”

Sera smiled back. They both knew that wasn’t the reason. Caitlin could clearly handle herself on her own. It was obvious, at that moment, that Caitlin had actually grown to like Sera, despite everything. And that Sera felt the same.

Suddenly, Caitlin felt dizzy. She staggered and bent over, clutching her stomach.

Sera came running over, putting a hand on her back. She grabbed her shoulder, steadying her.

“What is it?” Sera asked, concerned.

The paint in Caitlin’s stomach had been horrific. She slowly raised herself, and started to breathe again. She took several deep breaths.

Caitlin could see Sera’s expression change as she examined Caitlin’s eyes. Sera reached up and placed her palm on Caitlin’s forehead—and her expression changed to one of amazement.

“You’re pregnant,” Sera said in an astonished whisper. “With Caleb’s child.”

Caitlin nodded back.

Sera’s eyes welled up.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Would it have made a difference?” Caitlin asked.

“Yes. Of course. You’re carrying Caleb’s child. It is a piece of him. That means the world to me.”

Sera wiped back a tear.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m sorry for how I behaved. Please, forgive me.”

“I don’t harbor any grudges towards you,” Caitlin said.

“I know,” Sera answered. “You’re a better person than I.”

Caitlin smiled, her stomach feeling better, and reached up and put a hand on Sera’s shoulder.

“You’re not that bad yourself,” Caitlin said.

Sera smiled back.

The two of them lifted back into the air, heading right for City Hall, determined to rescue Caleb, whatever the cost. But now, Caitlin felt, they were more than just fellow warriors on a shared mission. Now, they were truly friends.

Caitlin and Sera landed on the steps of City Hall. It was quiet here. Too quiet.

They both looked at each other, wondering. They could feel a thick tension amidst the silence. It was eerie. Almost as if they were being set up for a trap.

They had expected to find the place guarded by scores of soldiers, to see tremendous activity, vampires rushing in and out. But then again, their vampires were already spread all throughout the city. Maybe they had all already left home base, and maybe they had, rightly, felt no need to be guarded. After all, who would dare attack them?

As they stood there, wondering, the front door opened. Out walked a single vampire.

He took a few steps towards them, and stopped and stared at Caitlin.

Caitlin could not believe it.

It was Caleb.

He stood there, smiling at her, holding the Sword. The Sword. It was a miracle. He had escaped.

Caitlin felt herself overwhelmed with a huge wave of relief. She broke into tears as she ran towards him, running up the steps. She felt such a rush of love for him, felt so sorry that she’d ever left him. She was determined to never leave him again as she raced up the steps, ready to embrace him.

Suddenly, Caitlin heard a scream: “NO!”

It was Sera’s voice.

Caitlin felt herself being shoved by Sera, right before she could embrace Caleb.

Caitlin hit the ground hard, several feet away, and turned and looked.

She could not believe her eyes.

Sera now stood where Caitlin had just been, right in front of Caleb.

But there was an expression of horrific pain on her face, and as Caitlin looked down, she could see that Caleb had stabbed Sera. Right through the heart. With the Sword.

It had been a stab meant for Caitlin. Sera had seen it coming, and had shoved Caitlin out of the way, had saved her, had taken the stab in her place. She had sacrificed herself for Caitlin.

Caitlin looked up, horrified, the entire world in slow motion, looking at Caleb’s face. How could he do this? How could he want to kill her? How could he kill Sera?

But as she looked closely at his face, her own face fell in disbelief. Right in front of her eyes, his face changed. It was not Caleb after all. It had been a trick.

And the new face that came into view sent a chill through her spine.

Sam. Her brother.

He had tried to kill her.

Caitlin felt as if she herself had been stabbed, as she realized the depth of his betrayal. Her own brother. Masking himself as Caleb. Trying to kill her. And killing Sera.

Sam seemed to register the expression on Caitlin’s face, and suddenly, he seemed to snap out of his trance. It seemed that he suddenly realized the depth of what he had just done. His expression became one of horror, of utter hatred with himself, as he looked down at the bloody Sword in his hand, at the act he had committed.

He dropped the Sword onto the cement, and it landed with a clang. As his face collapsed in an expression of grief and horror, he broke out into a shrill cry.

“Caitlin!” he shrieked. “Forgive me!”

And with that, he turned and ran, back inside City Hall, leaving Caitlin alone, the Sword lying on the steps, Sera beside it, dying.

Caitlin ran over to Sera and sat beside her, crying. She lifted her head onto her lap.

Sera looked up, smiling.

“I’m so sorry,” Caitlin said. “I didn’t know..

Sera struggle to talk, blood pouring out of her mouth. Finally, she opened her lips, her voice faint: “It was a trick…shape shifting…remember…Caleb…is a prisoner…chained…remember…he is chained.…if he is free…it is not Caleb…don’t be tricked….”

“I know, I know,” Caitlin repeated, crying, “I realize now. I’m so sorry.”