Chapter 179
Over the sound of my own sobs, I heard Giovani say something about their ride and titanium bullets. A moment later, there was a roaring sound that reminded me a bit of the train and then the sound of shattering glass. Brandon’s hands went up and I instinctively covered my head, too. I looked up in time to see my sister disappearing through the ceiling, attached to a black grappling hook. She was being sucked through a hole in the glass, swallowed up by a helicopter. Something told me that one didn’t belong to Cale. Cadence was gone, and a few seconds later, chaos broke out around us.
The Vampires were still standing there, their bargaining chip having just disappeared through the ceiling. It turned out my sister’s friends were sneakier than Giovani had given them credit for. Around me, I heard hidden weapons come flying out, and the Vampires opened fire as LIGHTS began to take aim at their assailants. Brandon scooped me up into a ball and threw himself between me and the gunfire. Terrified, I did my best to stay hidden, knowing the Vampires couldn’t truly injure him, though I was sure the sting of their bullets had to hurt, and he had a few choice words as he took a few bullets that would’ve ended me. The helicopter sound faded away, and the sound of running all around me let me know that LIGHTS had launched their attack. I peered around Brandon to see some of the Hunters and Guardians that had been behind me closing in on the Vampires, though Giovani and Zabrina appeared to be gone.
Aaron shouted a few orders, and I heard my name, though I had no idea what he was talking about. The realization that the Vampires were moving away from me led me to believe that I was safe, but my sister was gone, swept up into the night, and I had the mark of a Vampire on my arm. It would only be a matter of time now. I began to sob as Brandon moved around so that my head was in his lap.
“Cass, it’s okay,” Brandon said, and I looked up into his green eyes to see they were filled with tears. “You’re going to be okay.”
“My… arm…” I stammered.
“I know. But it’s fine. It’s just a little scratch.”
“No,” I began, realizing he had no idea. “It’s ... too late.”
Before he could say more, I heard another familiar voice. “Hey, Cass. How are you doing?”
Other than seeing my sister on the bridge a few minutes ago, I have never been more relieved in my life to see someone. “Jamie…” I stammered. “My… arm. She….”
“Let’s take a look,” he said, his voice every bit as calm and cheerful as anyone could possibly be in this situation. “Oh, it’s just a little scratch,” he said. “I’m sure it’s fine. Let me clean it.” He opened his medical bag, but I saw him exchange a worried look with Brandon and then start talking to someone on the IAC. At least my sister still had that. She wouldn’t be completely alone, wherever she was going. I believed Aaron would find her, that she would be okay until then. I had to. In the meantime, I also remembered what she’d said about Gibbon, that he wouldn’t be strong enough to defeat her. As Jamie cleaned my arm and bandaged it, the pain stopped, and I had to believe Cadence would be okay. I tried not to think about it, tried to focus on Brandon, but the world seemed to be spinning around me.
“Why is she shaking?”
I looked up at Brandon to see he was talking to Jamie and wondered who they were talking about. Was there someone else Jamie needed to be helping?
“She’s in shock.” Jamie took off his jacket and draped it over me, and I realized they were talking about me. I was trembling. I was freezing, yet I could feel the sweat pouring down the back of my neck. Despite the fact that I was practically convulsing, I realized Jamie had a vial and a needle in his hand. Words failed me, and so did thoughts. I could neither ask nor consider what he might be doing.
“I’m going to need you to hold this for a minute, okay?” Jamie’s voice seemed faint as he spoke to Brandon. I closed my eyes, wondering where they were going. I could feel Brandon’s legs beneath me still, Jamie’s knee pressed up against my hip, but they may as well have been on the other side of the station.
I forced my eyes open and focused on Brandon’s green ones. “You’re okay, Cass,” he said reassuringly. “We won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.”
I wanted to believe him, but I knew there was no anti-venom for Vampires. I was going to be just like Zabrina soon. My sister might end up even worse. Through trembling lips, I said, “I’m so sorry. I never should have… it’s my fault… Cadence….”
“It’s all right. It’s all right,” Brandon said. I could feel his hand running through my hair and it was slightly calming. I felt my heartrate start to drop. “Deep breaths.” I tried to take his advice but the air just wouldn’t completely fill my lungs.
Jamie’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Cassidy, I know you’re upset, but I’m going to need you to try to hold still as best you can, okay?”
My eyes flickered over to his face, and I realized he was holding a syringe with a very long needle. It was the second longest, pointiest thing that had been positioned above my head that day, next to Zabrina’s fangs. “What are you doing?”
I felt Jamie’s hand on my arm and something else and realized he’d tied a tourniquet. Instinctively, I jerked away from him.
His usually calm voice sounded slightly frantic now as he said, “I’m giving you the Transformation Serum.”
I stared at him in disbelief. A thousand questions entered my head, all of them having to do with my age. I’d been told this couldn’t work. Or if they tried, I might die. “But I’m not old enough,” was all I could manage to say.
Jamie smiled at me. “Close enough.” I felt him reposition my arm. I thought he must’ve wedged it between his knees. “Now, let’s try this again.” I did my best to comply as he bent my arm for a second before straightening it, still holding it still. I was shaking, and there was nothing I could do to control it. I felt him feeling around on my arm and turned my attention to Brandon. He was smiling at me, but there were tears in his eyes. I focused on the smile. What a sweet young man he had turned out to be. He’d shared this adventure with me. Done his best to try to save me. Jeopardized his standing in the organization all for me….
A sharp prick had my mind filled with words my dad says when his favorite football team is losing. I felt an influx of burning pain all up my arm, regardless of Jamie’s hand being positioned there as I assumed he pushed down on the dabber. My mouth dropped open and my eyes bulged out of my head. I wanted to scream, but nothing would come out. Every muscle in my body went rigid as the pain shot up my arm and seemed to radiate through every single part of my body. Even though my eyes were wide open, my field of vision went completely black. Never in my entire life have I ever imagined this sort of pain could even exist. It was as if every fiber of my body was filled with molten lava. In that moment, I wished Zabrina had bitten me or tossed me off of the bridge. I couldn’t breathe, and I prayed I would either pass out from the pain or Jamie would realize my horror and find a way to end me.
I couldn’t see him, but off in the distance, I heard Brandon asked, “Is she okay?” His voice sounded as panicked as I felt.
“I don’t know.” Jamie’s answer was not reassuring. “She’s still with us. Her heart is racing.”
He was right. My heart felt like it was going to beat right out of my chest. I would be one of the youngest people in the world to die of a heart attack. I was okay with that so long as this pain stopped.
“That’s not good, is it?” Far Away Brandon asked.
“I have no way of knowing, Brandon. I’ve never done this before.” Once again, I was not comforted by Jamie’s response.
“You’ve never done this before?” He sounded closer now, or perhaps just louder.
Jamie’s reply was faint as I felt myself succumbing to the blackness and welcomed it in. “No, I’ve never attempted to change a Resurrecting Vampire into a Hunter. I don’t think anyone ever has.”
“How do you know it’s not going to kill her?” Brandon shrieked.
The last thing I heard before the prick of the second needle went into my arm, and the pain began to dissipate, the darkness spreading throughout my body, eating up the pain and sending me off into oblivion was the Healer’s honest answer. “I don’t.” I faded away, wondering if I’d ever open my eyes again.
