Chapter Twenty-Five
Alcide awoke to his ears ringing. He could still feel his arms aching along with other parts of his body. He opened his eyes slowly, allowing them to adjust to lack of light. He tried to think back to what had happened. He knew that it there had been an accident. Then, something became very clear. Madelyn. He sat up, sending his head into a violent spin.
"Try not to move too much," a voice said.
Alcide turned to find the strangest sight he had ever seen. Debbie stood over him, wiping a cut off. He stared at her for a moment very confused. Where was Madelyn? And why in Hell would Debbie save him? She leaned down to him only to have him push her away.
"Where's Madelyn?" he snarled.
Debbie looked at him for long moment as she took a deep breath. Alcide tried to get on his feet again, but his head was spinning too much. He leaned back to find a tree was his pillow. He looked around quickly and tried to get his bearing by scent. The crash wasn't that far away. He could still smell the gasoline in the air and blood. He turned to Debbie with a low growl.
"Debbie, where is Madelyn?"
Debbie looked at him with a soft sigh. "I really don't know, Alcide. I pulled you out of the truck and when I went back for her she was gone."
"Gone?"
Debbie gave him a nod but wouldn't look at him. "Yes. I smelled a vampire."
"God damn it, Debbie! You should have looked for her!"
Alcide used the tree to get to his feet. His head was still spinning, but Madelyn was in trouble. He took a step and felt Debbie put her arms around him. He looked at her for a long moment. He knew that he needed the help, but he was not going let her to do it. He gave her a hard shove.
"Don't," he growled.
"I just wanted to help you!"
"I don't want your help. You should have helped Madelyn."
"I don't give a fuck about that bitch."
Alcide's hand flew all on its own and had her by the neck. Debbie's eyes were suddenly huge and full of fear. She tried to pull free. But he held her firm and even pressed down a little.
"Watch. Your. Mouth."
Debbie nodded. It was a long moment before Alcide even loosened his grip. He finally let her go with a loud snarl. She looked at him for a long time and noticed a shiver run down his body. He was fighting his instincts to attack. Anger, worry, and fear coursed through his body. Debbie really couldn't blame him. Madelyn truly was the love of his life. A long time ago she would have thought that, but when she found him in the truck, she knew that she no longer mattered to him. He had been lying across Madelyn's body, protecting her from harm.
"Was it Edginton?" he asked.
Debbie shrugged. "It just smelled dead."
Alcide took a deep breath, getting his bearings. He needed fresh clothes. He also knew that the smell might still be there. If Madelyn was with Eric, he might relax a little. He heard Debbie following him as he started walking. He knew that he should tell her to get back to whomever she was now sharing a bed with, but he didn't. He was not completely ready for a fight. He might need the help. It didn't take him long to reach the wreck. He could see the truck was somehow pinned against a tree. He was lucky that Madelyn hadn't been smashed to death. He looked at the path toward down to the truck and cringed.
"How did you get down there?" he asked.
Debbie laughed a little. "Very carefully. I think the truck has moved a little since I got you out."
Alcide started to climb down and stopped suddenly. There was a scent on the air. One that he knew but thought that it was dead. He sniffed the air and caught something else. Patrick Furnan was close. Alcide looked back at Debbie for a long moment; she sensed that another pack was close too.
"Has Patrick Furnan betrayed my pack?" Alcide asked suddenly.
Debbie nodded. "I have seen him at Russell's house a lot lately."
Alcide started to say something when a scream broke through the night's silence. He looked around, trying to figure out where it came from. It wasn't Madelyn and for that he was thankful. He started toward the sound and stopped. There was a loud rustle in the trees. Birds were flying away. He knew what that meant. He stopped worrying about a new shirt and took off running. Debbie's footsteps followed him. He wanted to lose her before he burst into the clearing. He stopped thinking on that when he heard the sound of fighting. He caught a flash of something as he came closer to a clearing and turned.
There, in the middle of the clearing, stood two great wolves. One was a large black wolf with bright eyes, glowing with anger and hate. The other wolf was a giant white wolf that stood a little taller than Alcide when he changed. He knew that wolf. He was a little whiter than Alcide. It was James, and his eyes burned with the same hate. They circled each other for a long moment .Alcide looked around and saw Madelyn at the edge of a crowd. She was being held by four wolves. Eric was chained to a tree nearby. He could smell his flesh burning from where he stood. Madelyn was straining to get free. If he waited until the fighting started, he could get to her and free her.
He started to move when there was a very loud collision. He looked up to find James and Patrick suddenly locked in their epic battle. He watched them for a long time as they snapped and tore at each other. Madelyn yelled to rally James. It didn't matter though. He was tearing at Patrick as if vengeance was not the only thing he was after. Alcide started to move when Debbie grabbed his arm. He spun around and noticed a wolf coming around. They quickly jumped into the shadows.
Alcide felt Debbie press against him. He turned his head, watching the wolf. He pushed Debbie away and quickly changed. The sudden change caught the wolf's attention, but that was what Alcide wanted. He jumped the wolf quickly and with force. He heard the neck snap. He looked out at the fight to see James throw Patrick against a tree with such power that it made Alcide's teeth rattle. He started moving silently toward Madelyn.
"I FOUND HIM!"
Alcide spun around to find that Debbie had stepped out into makeshift arena. All the wolves seemed to be eating up what she was saying. James got down into a crouch, growling loudly. Debbie stared at him for a long moment as Alcide started moving. If they didn't catch his scent, they didn't have him. He turned the corner close to where Eric was standing and saw Madelyn looking around wildly.
"She's lying!" Madelyn was screaming.
She was trying to get everyone to stop focusing on what Debbie had said. He looked around the camp. Patrick was getting to his feet in his human form. The situation would soon be out of control and he couldn't fight all of these wolves.
"Find him," Patrick growled. "And make sure he stays alive."
Madelyn found herself wanting to scream for Alcide to run when she felt lightness around her arms. She pulled one free and turned back, finding that she could move it freely. She turned to see a white wolf ripping at one of the humans who had held her. He looked up at her, giving her a quick head incline. She took off as another commotion broke out. She turned to see three wolves fighting. Patrick and Debbie were double teaming James.
"Madelyn," Eric yelled, snapping her back to attention.
Madelyn ran over. Alcide had taken care of his guards. She pulled the silver chains from his arms and looked at him for a long moment. He gently touched her cheek.
"Run," he said simply.
Madelyn looked up at him. "To where?"
"Go back to the wreak and then head east. You will find the road."
"Not without you and Alcide."
Eric started to order her to run and stopped as a sick silence fell over the whole place. They spun around to find James standing over a wolf. He was panting and his wolf coat was covered in blood. Madelyn moved a little and saw that Patrick Furnan laying at James's feet, slowly turning back human.
"He's dead," Eric said.
Madelyn looked up at Alcide. He was staring at James. Suddenly, James turned back human. He was holding his ribs and had blood running from various places. He bent down over Patrick and looked up. The silence that had fallen over everyone was shocking. They didn't really know what to do next. Madelyn felt Eric grab her arm again and looked up.
"Go now," he growled. "Alcide and I will handle what happens next."
Madelyn took off. She hoped she could find the wreck. It wasn't that far. She started down hill, knowing that the vehicle had rolled. She ducked under a tree when she felt a hand grab her throat. She tried to scream when she hit the ground. Hard. She looked up to be face to face with Russell Edington.
"I see your guardian took care of that interloper Patrick Furnan," Russell said as he stared down at her.
Madelyn felt her hand reach for her necklace. She stopped it as she started crawling back from him. She could see the moonlight highlighting every part of him. Her heart was in her throat. He reached for her when she tried to kick his hand away. He grabbed her leg and pulled her toward him. She felt herself being lifted off the ground. She grabbed for the grass when she smashed back into the ground.
"You are going to give me that necklace," he hissed.
Madelyn closed her eyes, trying to stop the double vision. She reached for the necklace. She was going to have to use it. The stone felt so cold on her hand that she wasn't sure it would even work. Russell pulled her up and so close to his face that she could smell death on him.
"Do not touch her," Eric said from behind them.
Russell looked past Madelyn's shoulder at the big, Viking vampire striding down the hill. Eric had already dropped fang and looked ready to kill. Russell held Madelyn tight and suddenly pushed her head back. He could feel her blood pumping in fear. He ran her hand down the vein looked at Eric with a scary smile.
"Have you tasted her?" Russell asked.
Eric looked at her for a long moment and then turned to Russell. He knew what Russell had plan. The only way to make the necklace work for him was to have her blood or turn her. Eric was not going let any of that happen. He took a step closer only to have Russell force a scream from her throat.
"Answer the question, Northman," he growled.
Eric stepped back with a shake of his head. "No. But she has tasted me."
Madelyn locked eyes with him and suddenly threw all her weight against Russell. He fell back from surprise and perhaps a little strength. She ran a few feet and stopped behind Eric. He pushed her back a little.
"Run," he whispered.
"No," Madelyn snapped back. "This started with us together and let's finish it."
Eric looked at her for a moment as Russell got to his feet. He glared at both of them. Madelyn felt her hand reach for Eric's, and he suddenly grabbed hers. Russell looked at them with a dangerous smile.
"Well, aren't you two so sweet," Russell said. "I'll kill you slow, Northman."
Eric let go of Madelyn's hand and lunged. Madelyn stepped back as she heard the two bodies hit. Watching two vampires fight was different than two werewolves. Werewolves were pure animals when they fought. Vampires hand more of a savagery that came from animals and people combined. She saw the blood and heard the hitting and scratching. She took a step back, running into something hard and warm. She turned to find Alcide. He had at least found some pants.
"We need to get out of here," he said quickly.
"Alcide, we are finishing this," Madelyn said. "Tonight."
Alcide started to say something when a body slammed into both of them, knocking them down. Alcide got to his feet to find that Eric had hit them. Madelyn was lying a few feet away. He got to her as Eric slowly got to his feet.
"You can't beat me," Russell said. "Any of you!"
Eric thought of what Russell just said. He was strong and old. Older than Eric and Alcide. And Madelyn was only a human. He tried to think back all those years ago. How had Madelyn stopped Russell? Things were different now. Russell was older. Eric was now a vampire. He looked back to find Alcide helping Madelyn to her feet. There was faint glow coming from her neck. The necklace was glowing. It was ready.
Russell saw the glow too. Eric easily saw the hunger in his eyes as he got ready to charge at them. He started to yell at Alcide when there was just a blur. He spun around to find Alcide standing in front of Madelyn, holding Russell off with what strength he had.
"Eric!" he growled. "Help me!"
Eric flew at Russell. It distracted Russell enough that Alcide could a get a little bit of an upper hand. He managed to lay a good hit on him and push Madelyn back. She held on to him for a second and noticed that her necklace started to glow more. She knew what that meant.
"Eric!" she yelled and grabbed for him.
She wasn't fast enough and Russell had her by the hair. Pain shot through her whole head as she clawed at the hand holding her. He dragged her forward and pulled her close. The nails of his other hand were digging into her shoulder. She tried not to scream, but the pain was almost unbearable.
"Let her go!" Alcide roared.
"Shut up, Wolf," Russell hissed.
"I agree with the Wolf," Eric said, moving closer.
"Don't come any closer," Russell said, giving Madelyn's hair a vicious yank.
Madelyn screamed and felt something rising in her body. It was a strange and raw power. She had felt power the last time the necklace had wanted use but not like this. This was more elemental. It wanted to be used. She could feel the warmth and power going through her veins. The pain that Russell was inflicting on her didn't really seem to faze her. She closed her eyes and all of her senses seemed to erupt. She could feel Alcide standing close to her. Eric's presence was there too, but it was not like Alcide. She could feel Alcide's warmth, smell his body, and feel his need for her safety. Eric she just felt his presence. Then, she felt that Russell had let go of her.
Madelyn suddenly spun around and pressed the necklace to his face. The empty woods were soon filled with screams. Madelyn pushed the necklace against his face harder. Alcide looked up at Madelyn and found the strange glow that came from her necklace had spread to her whole body. The glow was flowing into Russell with a force that was almost ripping him apart. Then, he noticed that it was also ripping Madelyn apart.
"Maddie!" He took her arm, feeling the power run through him.
It was so raw and powerful that he wasn't sure he could even handle it. Images flashed through his mind. He saw Madelyn in a white, medieval gown with a crown of leaves. The images came faster and brighter. He saw children. A man. All of it was the Madelyn from the past life. Then the images cleared, and he saw her just weeks before. Then, he saw the night he proposed. The memories, rushed through him to the point that he was seeing other things. Madelyn's parents. Her grandmother. Then, the past crashed into him again. It was when the first Madelyn had gotten the necklace. He felt himself falling into this. If this was what Madelyn felt since she had this necklace, no wonder she had been so messed up. And just as suddenly the images were gone. He looked up to find Eric had pushed him out of the way.
Alcide forced his head to stop spinning and looked up. Eric was holding Madelyn. The necklace was glowing red now. Madelyn looked like she was about to die and so did Russell. He was starting to burn as if he was meeting the sun. None of this made sense. The necklace was so much powerful than anyone gave it credit for. The light got so bright that he had to look away, and then it was dark. Alcide was on his feet in seconds, looking over at Eric, who was now on the ground. The forest seemed darker than before. He stared around, letting his eyes adjust.
Madelyn was lying in a small clearing. There was a faint, purplish glow on her neck. He looked down to see that the necklace was burning out. He bent over Madelyn and pulled her close. She was breathing very shallow. Her heart beat softly, but he could still feel it.
"Madelyn," he whispered.
She didn't respond. He spared a glanced over at Russell and Eric. Russell looked like he had met the sun twice. Eric was burnt in a few places but not badly. A little blood and he would be back to normal. It was Madelyn that he now worried about.
"Maddie," he said against her ear.
"Alcide," her voice was so soft he could barely hear it. "I love you so much."
"Hang on, Madelyn, I'm going to get you out of here."
Madelyn held on to him for a long time. She looked at him for a moment, touching his face. Alcide looked at her and pulled the necklace from her neck. There was a small scar on her neck. It was in the shape of a small wolf. It was the same emblem that was on the back of her necklace. He pulled her close and hefted her up. Madelyn let out a soft moan. Pain shot through Alcide as he heard that. He couldn't lose her. Not now. He started toward where the wreck had been when he heard cars.
"Alcide!"
Alcide turned to find his father and some other pack members running toward him. Alcide wanted to move, but he couldn't risk jogging Madelyn around like that. His father ran up to him and looked at Madelyn.
"She needs a hospital," was all Alcide could say.