The Blood Boss by Davidson King

Chapter Thirteen

Jayce

Iraced down the manmade path, slipping and falling every few steps. I kept looking over my shoulder, waiting for someone to be chasing me, but there wasn’t anyone…because Cain was fighting them—for me.

Abruptly, I stopped and leaned against a large tree, trying to catch my breath. Could Cain fight whatever had followed with that huge wave? What if he got so hurt he couldn’t get away? Without The Blood Boss, Black Veil would become Hell. I had to go back.

I looked around me, trying to find anything I could use for a weapon. All I saw was a rusty pole where the No Trespassing sign was dangling from. The ground was so soggy, I was able to pull it out. I closed my eyes, took a moment to steady myself, and raced up the path toward Cain. No one else was dying for me.

My legs felt as if they were on fire, and my lungs were grasping at any air they could by the time I made it. Cain had the Triton by the throat; there was crimson and blue mixing with the rain. Both were hurt. The large Triton lifted his arm up, and I saw the lethal dagger in his hand.

“No!” I shouted as I charged at them, pole extended.

“Jayce,” I heard Cain say just as the dagger impaled him and he fell back.

The Triton didn’t spare Cain another glance; all his attention was on me. “Yes, come to me, little prince.”

When I was mere inches from him, he moved to the right and I slipped by him. My own momentum was a traitor, and I barely managed to stop before tumbling over the cliff. The pole fell from my grasp and sunk into the dark sea.

“Shit.”

I turned and the Triton grinned. “Shall you try again?”

I looked over at Cain; a river of red flowed from his unmoving body. I found myself surprised vampires bled at all. I should ask him. I wonder if I’ll get the chance.

“Okay.” I took a few shaky steps toward the Triton. He watched me with amusement, as if I were a joke to him, and maybe I was. From the corner of my eye, I saw Cain’s arm move.

“What will you do to me?” the Triton asked.

“You came here to kill me.”

He tilted his head up, staring at me through hooded eyes. “I did.”

“Why haven’t you yet?” I moved to the left, forcing the Triton to position his back to Cain.

“I admit, I’m curious. You are nothing. I expected some warrior. After all, the son of a queen and a god should be a sight to behold.” His lip curled in disgust. “You are pathetic.”

My heart beat so hard in my chest, I thought it would punch through. Fear was dominant, but anger was brimming to the surface. I had to be great, like this Triton said. I could see Cain starting to rise; I needed to give him more time. I didn’t think I could defeat this beast, but…yes, of course.

I thought of a time I was my most angry. Once, when child services came to get one of the kids and they fought and the little girl fell, hurting her knee. I’d charged the worker. Yes, that would work. I opened my mouth and the Triton smirked…Not for long, fucker. I sang. It wasn’t a special song, but that didn’t matter; the emotion did. I wasn’t sure it would work completely, but I had to try.

A moment later, the Triton’s smirk fell, his eyes widened, and he took a step away from me. Holy shit, it’s working. I sang and didn’t stop. Cain rose to his full height, then turned toward us. I knew my voice had no effect on him, so I wasn’t worried. But he knew. He was behind the Triton in a second, one arm wrapped around his chest. The Triton was paralyzed. I saw Cain’s fangs drop and with a deadly strike, he sank them into the Triton’s flesh. His other hand lifted and like a knife through butter, tore open his chest. When he pushed away, blue dripped from his mouth and the Triton’s heart was clutched in Cain’s hand.

The Triton collapsed—his body shook the rock—and I watched as Cain threw the heart out to sea.

“Cain.”

“You were supposed to go to the car.” He glared at me, stepped over the body, and gripped my face. “You disobeyed.” I should’ve been terrified, but I wasn’t.

“If I didn’t, you’d be dead.”

“We all die!”

“You don’t…do you?” I whispered the last part.

“We need to get out of here.” He released my face but took my arm. I didn’t tug away; I let him pull me along. He wasn’t hurting me, and I wanted to ask if he was okay, but judging by his expression it was best I say nothing. If Cain was hurting, I couldn’t tell at all.

We got in the car and as soon as I buckled in, he hit the gas. I took the time to watch him. His hands had dry Triton blood on them, his face too. Any signs that he’d bled were gone.

“You’re staring.”

“Are we going to talk about that?”

He looked at me briefly. “You ran, I found you. You went near the fucking water. Rogos was waiting for that, and you handed yourself to him on a silver platter.”

“Hold up.” I positioned my body to better face him. “You’re mad at me?”

“Be quiet.”

“Um, no. I never asked you to come and get me. If I die, then let it be on me. You told me to run and I came back, saving your ass.”

He chuckled. “Had I not told you to run, you’d be dead.”

“My choice!”

He slammed on the brakes, put the car in park, and glared at me. “Is that what you want, Jayce? You want to die?”

“What do you even care, Cain? Does it have to do with the fact that I can’t pay off my father’s debt if I’m dead?”

“You know nothing.”

“You’re right, I don’t, and anything I’m told, I don’t understand. I know nothing about you and that’s fine, you don’t have to tell me shit, I’m nothing but a deal for you.”

“I feel by lying to you, it was more dangerous than telling you the truth. No one has prepared you for your life now. Forces of great strength are going to come for you—not to learn about who Jayce is or what grand part you play in this world, but to destroy you because you are an unknown in their perfectly placed existence. As for me, I see you as someone who lives in my area of power, and therefore you’re my responsibility. Keeping you alive is paramount. You do matter, Jayce. Like every other living soul I guard in Black Veil.”

“Yet you killed the Triton.”

“The sea is not mine. Only what sails on it.”

“I want to know what Sibell did to you to make you hate her so much.”

He sighed, and the weariness of it felt heavy. “After what she told you she did, you find it hard to believe I despise her?”

“First of all, if it was just because of my story, yes I would. Hating her for what she did to me, someone with no connection to you, makes zero sense. I’m talking about your disdain for her long before we knew any of this about me.”

He narrowed his eyes, and I thought he might be about to divulge the reason. Instead he faced forward, put the car in drive, and accelerated down the street, effectively ending the conversation.

When we pulled into the driveway and he shut off the car, he sighed. “My story is not a good one. I’m not innocent in it like you were in yours, but what happened to me was unjust.” He faced me, and for the first time he wasn’t the kept-together vampire I’d come to see. “I don’t owe you my story, Jayce.”

“No, you don’t.”

With that, he got out of the car and went inside. I followed slowly behind him and when I entered the foyer, I saw what must have been fifty vampires.

“I was attacked tonight by one of Rogos’s soldiers. He came for Jayce, but he was defeated. I want it out there that first blood was struck from the Tritons and for all vampires to be on their guard. None are allowed near the water, and if Rogos or Sable approach any with an offer to kill Jayce, I am to know immediately. Secrecy or deceit will be dealt with swiftly and with finality. Am I clear?” Cain stood before them all, crusted blood on his skin, suit in tatters, and his dark hair wild. But he might as well have been pristine, because he looked godly as he spoke.

“Clear,” they all said in unison.

He turned and faced me, and I thought he’d say something about how I helped tonight or give me an order that would secure my place in this fight, but instead I was told, “Go to your room, get cleaned up, and rest.” He then pivoted away and went into his study, where he shut the door.