On the Edge of Humanity (15 page)

Sloan gripped his prisoner’s arm and pulled him forward, depositing him into Olivia’s jeep.

Webb retrieved his sword from the sidewalk, retracted it, then clipped it to his belt.

“Why were you two late?” Webb barked as he straightened his uniform. “This better be good.”

“Sir, one of the Plutariums sideswiped us back at Fifth Street. It was like they knew our route,” Olivia explained.

“Get back to headquarters and prepare the meeting room,” Webb ordered.

“Yes, sir,” Olivia replied. She withdrew her cell phone and pushed a few buttons while taking long strides back to her jeep, her partner in tow.

“Tripp?” Webb waved his right hand.

“Sir?”

“Radio command and let them know we have another human returning with us,” Webb instructed.

Tripp nodded and traipsed off toward the sedan that we drove in.

Ben was now sitting down on the grassy edge of the sidewalk with his head in his hands.

I didn’t blame him. All this was freaking me out a bit too. While I’d had some time to process it back in Mr. Jackson’s office, hearing about it and seeing it were two completely different things.

I touched Ben’s arm. “Hey, you okay?”

“What’s going on?” His voice was stifled. “Who are these people?”

“They’re military. They call themselves the Jupiter Sentinels. Some Navy SEAL team.”

“They’re not Navy SEALs. They’re va—”

“I know.”

I couldn’t say anything else. I couldn’t bring myself to tell him I might be one of them. I had to give him time to process all of this. I’m not sure I believed it myself.

Webb bent down and picked up the needle that Jonah was going to use on me.

“Let’s go. Ben, you’ll need to come with us. We can take you home later today.”

Ben didn’t move. What was Webb planning on doing with Ben? Heck, what was he going to do with me? Did humans know vampires existed?

“Ben, come on. Come back with me. You can keep me company. It’s bad enough without Sam. Then Webb will take both of us back to your house.” I grabbed his hand.

He raised his head.

“Do this for me and Sam. Please?”

He rose to his feet. He was red-eyed and splotchy. He squeezed my hand as we walked to the car.

I slid in first, then Ben followed. Webb walked around to the other side and climbed in. Sloan was behind the wheel while Tripp sat in the front seat. I’d hoped that Sloan’s driving would be better this trip, unless we were ambushed again. Olivia and her partner were in the jeep ahead of us sitting idle with the prisoner in the back.

I wasn’t sure what happened to the guy that Webb had fought with earlier. There had to be a few of them.
What did Olivia call them?
I gnawed the inside of my lip, struggling to remember, hoping it would come to me.

As the car moved, the wind blew in through the opening in the windshield and the side window, thanks to Jonah. I was thankful it wasn’t cold outside, otherwise we would all freeze to death. Ben had closed his eyes and was leaning back against the seat. An electric charge tingled the air and goosebumps rippled up my arms. I wanted to look at Webb but was afraid he would snap at me again.

I raised my head. Sloan’s green eyes were staring at me in the rearview mirror.

“Sir, do you want me to alert Dr. Vieira that he needs to prep the room?” Sloan asked.

I knitted my eyebrows together and glared at Sloan. “Prep the room?” I asked. “Who died?”

“Your face is a mess, Jo,” Webb replied.

Had my zombie look returned? I couldn’t seem to get away from it. Maybe Blake was right when he said, “You can’t change creepy.”

“What else is new?” I muttered.

I closed my eyes and leaned my head back. Nausea threatened in the pit of my stomach. I didn’t want to think about all the scars that would crisscross my face. Out of nowhere, I remembered the name Olivia had used for the attacker.

I opened my eyes. “What does ‘Plutariums’ mean?” I asked.

“Not for discussion,” Webb snapped.

“What was that guy going to inject me with?” I asked.

“Again, not for discussion.”

“I think he kidnapped Sam,” I blurted out.

“What makes you think that?” Webb asked.

“He was the guy who was outside my hospital room. The one who put the cop in the coma.”

Tripp’s head turned to face me and Sloan glared at me through the rearview mirror.

Did I just say something interesting? I must’ve hit a nerve.

Webb glared at me. A sudden wave of fog flowed through me. He was doing that thing again, with his eyes or something. I shook my head and broke eye contact with him.

“Stop it,” I said. “I know you’re doing something to make me dizzy. I get it—you don’t want to talk about it.”

“We’re almost there, sir,” Tripp said.

I crossed my arms over my chest. Webb wasn’t going to tell me a whole lot, which was fine for now. I wasn’t about to give up.

Chapter 10

A
s the car stopped at
the gate to the Jupiter Sentinels’ headquarters, I lifted my head. Two security guards manned the first entrance. Another gate lay ahead where two more sentries stood outside their posts.

We drove through both gates after the guards searched the car, not once, but twice. Camouflage-patterned buildings dotted both sides of the road as it twisted and turned back and forth. The cement structures blended well with an assortment of evergreen and deciduous trees that towered over them.

We rounded the last curve and an old building emerged. A dilapidated sign hung from its hinges, indicating the site had once belonged to Stafford Textiles. The brick edifice was four stories high and flanked by two similar buildings. All three had a black iron fence lining the rooftops. As I scanned the old structures, I saw guards walk along the edge of the fence, standing sentinel with large guns in their hands, all watching for any threats below. It was as if I were entering a maximum-security prison. Even the windows were decorated with iron bars on the outside.

Stationed at the entrance of the steel double doors were four guards. Each was armed with a full-length sword strapped to his belt, a knife holstered at his waist and an extremely large gun hanging from his shoulder.

Ben had his head pressed against the window, looking out. Tripp was writing something down on a notepad. Webb, as usual, was staring straight ahead. I wrapped my hand around the top handle of my backpack, and began tapping my foot on the floorboard.

Webb placed his hand on my knee.

I wanted to stick my tongue out at him, but instead, I just slid him a sideways glance.

Without looking he said, “You don’t have to be nervous.”

Easy for you to say. You’re not the one freaking out. You don’t have a brother missing, and oh yeah, you just told me that I’m on the verge of becoming a vampire.

“Do you think your team will have news of Sam?” I asked. “Maybe Jonah will tell you where Sam is.”

“I doubt that,” Webb replied.

“Why? Just threaten him with that horse needle, maybe then he’ll tell you,” I countered.

Tripp laughed.

I turned to Ben. “How you doing?”

He shifted his glance between Webb and me and just shrugged. For Ben not to speak suggested he wasn’t processing this very well. He thought my eyes changing colors was cool, but this, vampires, probably not so much.

The car pulled in front of the building. Sloan put it in park. Both he and Tripp jumped out and opened their cell phones. Webb had slid out, his hand resting on the edge of the car door, waiting for Ben and me.

“Things will be fine. They’re not going to hurt us,” I said.

“I know. It’s just...”

“Let’s concentrate on finding Sam,” I said.

He nodded and we both scooted out.

Two of the guards stood at attention while holding open the ten-foot steel doors. I wasn’t sure I was ready for this. I wasn’t ready to believe Webb and the whole natural-born vampire thing, even though a lot of what Tripp and Webb had described had my name written all over it. Plus, it was hard not to believe in vampires when I witnessed Webb’s fangs in action along with his opponent’s.

I scanned the surrounding area. Olivia’s jeep was nowhere to be found. Where had they taken Jonah? The building was large enough to house a mini city of people. I imagined this place had a jail for criminal vampires. Or whatever they called them in the vampire world. Something told me I was about to learn more about these creatures than I ever wanted to know.

I stepped across the threshold and chills peppered my arms. As I peered over my shoulder, I had an eerie feeling that I was saying goodbye to a world I hated, but stepping into a world I wasn’t ready for.

The air was brisk inside and the atmosphere had a tinge of sterility. In front of me, a circular desk was centered in the entryway of the Jupiter Sentinels’ headquarters. A petite lady sat behind the desk with a phone headset on, talking to someone on the other end. Just beyond the desk was a set of elevators, guarded by two armed sentinels. A plaque hung between the silver doors with the following message.

Jupiter Sentinels

A SEAL Team Community

We protect the Superior World from all enemies, human and non-human, and uphold the laws of our existence. We strive to shield and protect the Inferior World from those who seek harm upon them.

My heart stopped. I had to read the plaque again. I couldn’t believe what I was reading. Pythagoras was right with his theory about three worlds. A part of me was beginning to believe that maybe Ms. Costner wasn’t even human.

The squeaking sound of the doors sliding against the floor jarred me out of my trance. As I stood in front of the blonde receptionist, the steel doors closed behind me and I cringed.

Ben touched my shoulder.

“Here we are,” he said.

“Yep, here we are,” I repeated.

“Now what?” he asked.

“No clue.”

Ben scanned the area then looked at me. “Do you think they know where Sam is?”

“I hope so,” I said. “Why did you follow us, anyway? If your dad finds out...”

“I wanted to help. Sam is my best friend and like a brother to me.”

“Well, you sure stepped in vampire shit.”

“So did you,” Ben replied.

“You don’t know the half of it.”

I didn’t even want to know. I released a sigh when the elevator doors opened. A short, squat man wearing a white lab coat stepped out. The name on the coat pocket read,
Dr. Vieira
. He walked with his hands wrapped around his stethoscope while he peered out above his thick, black-rimmed, square glasses.

“He’s gunning for you, Jo,” Ben said.

“He could be coming for you. He might have orders from the fearless leader, Webb, to put you in a straightjacket or maybe erase your memory.”

“Not funny, girl.”

I wasn’t kidding, but I wasn’t going to tell Ben that. Webb might have something planned for Ben since he was human. Who was I kidding? I was still human and Blue Eyes might have plans for me as well.

The squat little man cleared his throat. “Oh my. You look awful,” Dr. Vieira said.

“You do. You know,” Ben chuckled.

I slapped Ben in the arm. “You want to stay human or should I ask Webb to turn you into a vampire?”

“Jo, it’s so nice to finally meet you. My name is Dr. Damon Vieira. I’m the resident doctor for the Jupiter Sentinels.” He reached out with a stiff hand.

Had he waited all his life to meet me or something? I wondered if he were a vampire, too.

“You look just like your father,” he said as we shook hands.

Ben leaned over. “Your father? They know your dad?”

“Let’s get you cleaned up. Follow me.” He lightly touched my arm then flicked his head toward the elevators. “The medical facility is on the fourth floor.” He nodded to the guards, then one of them pushed the elevator button.

I turned my head. Webb was talking with Tripp. They were engrossed in some heated discussion near the entrance because Webb didn’t budge when the elevator dinged.

I grabbed Ben’s arm to follow me.

Dr. Vieira held the elevator door, his glare urging us to hurry.

“Do you think it’s safe?” Ben asked.

“We’ll find out, won’t we?”

Ben and I stepped in. As the doors closed, Dr. Vieira pulled out his phone, his fingers dancing across the buttons.

“Is your dad…you know…a…?” Ben asked.

I shrugged and turned out my palms. I didn’t have enough information on my so-called father to answer Ben’s question. Besides, I didn’t want to know. My father had abandoned Sam and me a long time ago. To me, he was dead.

My life was Sam and no one else.

My pulse raced as the elevator doors opened. A cold air wafted in as we stepped out.
I guess vampires like it cold.

“This way,” Dr. Vieira commanded as he pointed to his left.

We walked down a long hallway, then several others. After a solid five minutes, we made it to a steel door. On the side of it, a small box glowed as Dr. Vieira pressed a button. A beep sounded. He positioned his eyes directly opposite the translucent bar on the top of the panel. After another beep, the steel door slid open.

“Follow me,” Dr. Vieira said.

Ben and I did as told and the door slid shut behind us. Another chill crept up my arms. The lights above illuminated as we walked down another long corridor. At the end, Dr. Vieira pushed open a set of double doors. It reminded me of when Sam and I escaped from Highland Memorial. Only this time I was entering, not exiting. It was a long shot, but maybe Sam would sneak in and rescue me again.

The inside of the clinic didn’t look anything like a hospital. The large open room was divided into two areas. Against the left wall was a gray metal box with a slatted roller door. Above it was a hooded vent. A stainless steel bench lined both sides of the metal box. In front of it, a black lab bench traveled the length of the room with small openings on each end for access to the area between the two structures. A refrigerator and a sink lined the back wall with cabinets to the right, ending at an entrance of a room.