Chapter 21
Jamie took no time to answer his questions. Upon the suggestion sent from the doctor's mind, they flipped him on his back. Mr. Maxwell pulled out some rope and began to truss Doug up tightly. She helped him, and tried not to think about what she was doing. If she thought too much, she would lose her nerve.
The tears that filled her eyes were beginning to spill over onto her cheeks. She brushed them aside angrily and got to work on his feet.
"They're lying to you, Jamie," Doug's angry voice was slightly muffled with his face squashed into the leaves. "They're evil. How could you forget that?"
Jamie said one word. "No."
She and the doctor pulled Doug to his feet and bound him to the tree.
"Yes," he grated. "How can you be so blind?"
"I look fine," she said. She knew she shouldn't respond but she did anyway. "I've been living with them all week. They haven't touched a hair on my head."
Doug's eyes blazed at this. If his hands had been free, he would have punched something right then. "Of course they haven't touched you! How could they dangle you before our eyes if you were harmed?"
He stopped and breathed for a moment, calming himself. "Jamie, I want to save you." His voice cracked then. "I do, Jamie. Let me save you. I'm not lying to you. I would never lie to you."
Jamie reached a trembling hand out to Doug's shoulder and sighed. At least she wasn't crying right then. Well, not really. Her eyes were a little wet. "I know you're not lying, Doug. You're just deceived."
"No I'm not! Jamie, just listen to me!"
"He's been lying to us!" Jamie cried out above Doug's voice. "Dad's been lying to us. Not intentionally, but he has. He's wanted to believe so bad…he's wanted to believe that 'wolves are evil. But they're not. They're just like us. Sure, there's evil 'wolves too—just like humans. But not all of them."
Doug's eyes were transfixed to her face. Incredulity crossed every inch if his face. He was shaking his head at her.
"No," he was whispering. She could tell he was saying it as much to himself as to her. "They've tricked you."
Just then, Jamie's cell phone vibrated. She took it from her pocket, taking a deep breath before speaking. "Hello?"
"Jamie, honey?" Mrs. Carlyle's voice sounded in her ear.
"Have you left the restaurant yet?" Jamie asked anxiously, trying to take her eyes off Doug's accusing face.
"Yes. We left ten minutes ago…but Jamie? We took the car. We had a bad feeling about this. We want to get caught up to you. We can hide the car up in the woods once we've found you."
Jamie could hear the faint sound of a car engine in the distance. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Mrs. Carlyle was only doing what she thought was right. She wouldn't blame the woman for doing so—even if she was acting rashly.
"I think you've almost found us," Jamie said into the phone.
Headlights appeared out from between the trees, driving where no car should go. There just wasn't enough room in these woods for a wide bulky vehicle, but the group was managing all right.
"I see you," Mrs. Carlyle responded.
Jamie waved slightly and turned off the phone.
Doug stared dubiously at the approaching car before his eyes switched back to Jamie's face. He snorted derisively and spoke in a condescending tone. "I thought the Colonel would have his work cut out for him—but I was wrong. They're practically jumping right into the fry pan. You'd think they wanted to get shot at."
The adults piled out of the car and rushed toward them. Jamie was surprised they had all fit in the first place. It must have been a tight squeeze. They stopped up short, eying the captive warily.
"What does he know?" Mrs. Carlyle asked.
Jamie shrugged. "Haven't asked him."
Mrs. Carlyle gave her an oddly accusing glance.
Jamie turned back to Doug as the werewolves circled closer. She could see the feral glints in their silver eyes. She knew what they were thinking. She was barely allowing her mind to run along that train of thought herself. How he would taste—even with the sinewy muscles. Sure, he'd be a little tough chewing, but nothing too distasteful.
Jamie closed her eyes. She couldn't believe she was thinking this about her own brother. If only she'd eaten more at supper, but she hadn't been able to stomach much with thoughts of the night ahead.
She also felt her shoulder's stiffen protectively. She knew the others wouldn't bite Doug—even if they wanted to. They had their policies on humans. But she couldn't help feeling a little territorial. He was her brother. Her prey.
Not prey, she told herself.
Jamie looked Doug straight in the eye, trying to ignore the adults. She folded her arms across her chest. "Well, Doug? Where is the Colonel? Where is the bomb?"
Doug only gave her a dark look, like a wounded animal ready to strike out.
"Fine," Jamie said. "You won't tell me? I'll make you."
"You can't make me, Jamie," Doug said firmly. "You can't make me do anything."
She couldn't believe what she was saying, even as she said it. She knew right then, it was the only solution. She could hurt him, torture him, even—and he would still keep his silence. There was only one thing he feared more than anything else. And she hated herself for dangling the idea in front of his face.
"I'll bite you," she threatened.
Doug frowned, refusing to understand. "What are you talking about?"
It was then that Jamie realized the contacts were still in her eyes. She lifted her hands to her eyes and peeled them away. She gripped his chin and made him stare her right in the eye. She knew what he would see. Dark pools of brown, surrounded by an unmistakable ring of silver.
His eyes went from surprise to disgust to utter revulsion. He swallowed hard, as though he was trying to keep bile from rising up his throat. And he probably was. Jamie hadn't prepared herself for the sickening wave of his disgust. She couldn't feel him the way she could feel the wolves, but the wave washed over her anyway. Her own feelings mirrored in his eyes.
"You filth!" He screamed wildly at the others watching. "How could you do this to my sister? I hate you!"
Then his eyes turned to hers, his teeth gritted. There was bitter self-mocking in his voice. "No wonder you're on their side. I should have known. They took away your heart. You're not my sister anymore."
"I am your sister," Jamie felt another tear trace down her cheek. She couldn't believe he was saying this to her.
"You just look like her," he said darkly. "You're evil."
The tears were running down her face freely now.
"Don't try to trick me. It won't work."
She gripped the front of his shirt with her hands. To anyone watching, it must have looked like she was threatening him. She held on tight, trying to keep her feet from swaying. She didn't know how much more she could take.
"I will bite you," she threatened again. His face swam before her eyes. "If you don't tell me what I need to know, I'll bite you."
Doug smiled darkly, but Jamie could see the weariness beneath the bitter smile. He leaned back into the trunk wearily. All the fight seemed to have gone out of him.
"It's too late," he told her. He sent an icy glance at the adults. "The Colonel knew they would come early. The bomb's set to go off at ten."
Jamie's heart jumped into her throat. Her watch told her it was quarter to ten. It would take her fifteen minutes just to get down to the house. She lifted the speed the phone and punched the speed dial. It wasn't too late to call Mr. Carlyle. That's why he was down there, anyway.
A volley of shots rang out loudly. Jamie stared at the phone dumbly. She was fine. They were all fine. It must have been Mr. Carlyle. She put the phone to her ear, speaking frantically. She paced back and forth. "Mr. Carlyle, are you there? Mr. Carlyle? Answer me!"
She faintly heard Mrs. Carlyle screaming in the background. "Mitch? Is he all right? Just tell me! Is he all right?"
The shots continued in the background like a constant drum. Jamie had to place a hand over her other ear, just to be able to hear. The sound was still deafening.
"Jamie?" A voice finally answered, groaning.
"Mr. Carlyle, are you all right?"
"I've been shot in the foot," he managed with a wince. "It hurts. Bad. And I can't stop the bleeding. It's silver."
"What about the TryptoKeri?"
"What? Oh y—eah!" He finished with another wince.
"Great. And when you do, I want you to go and get Bella. Do you hear me?" she yelled over the shots. "That bomb is going to go off in fifteen minutes! Less!"
A cry of pain reached her ears. It was so loud that Jamie squinted with the sound.
"Mr. Carlyle? Mr. Carlyle?" She repeated insistently. He had to be okay. He just had to. He was their only hope.
There was no reply.