Blood Land by J.R. Lawson (top ten ebook reader TXT) 📖

spotting us?  Especially with Nora in the state she’s in…can she make it?”

“We have to try.  Nora was right, we can’t just sit here.  The only thing we can do is run…”

“No.” It was the stern tone from Nora that made both Caroline and Jay turn to her again.  When they didn’t say anything back, Nora turned her head in their direction and continued. “I don’t want to run anymore.”

“Nora…” Caroline sympathetically stated as she then walked over to her.  Her thigh-high, brown boots crunched in the snow beneath them as she took each step and as she kneeled down in front of her. “What else can we do but run?” She then placed a hand on Nora’s shoulder and as she did, Nora noticed the soft creak sound that her dark brown leather jacket made with her each movement.

“We can stay here.  We can finish what we started.  We can fight!” Nora pleaded, looking back at Caroline.

“How can we fight?  Look at you!  You’re bleeding! You’re weak!  And my brother is strong.  No matter how strong Jay and I are, we couldn’t take him together!” Caroline paused during her argument to look down at her feet and sigh before continuing, “Kale was strong.  I thought…with him with us…we could do it.” She then looked back up at Nora.  Nora noticed she was trying her best to hold back tears. “But Kale’s gone.  And without him….we’ll lose.”

“But if we run, we’ll never be free!  Aren’t you tired of running?  I am!  I am so sick…of running….” Nora spoke as she cried.  Her throat was so tight from sobbing she could barely get her sentences out anymore.

“I just don’t know what else we can do,” Caroline confessed.

There was silence among all three of them for a few brief seconds.  Nora looked at the snow falling around them and how close it was getting to being dark. She thought to herself as she observed her surroundings and it wasn’t but a moment later that she then said, “I could fight him.”

Caroline raised her eyebrows at Nora’s statement. “Nora, no.” she persisted, “You cannot fight him.  I won’t let you!  You’d die!”

Nora then turned to Jay. “No I wouldn’t.  I could do it.  Couldn’t I, Jay?”

Jay turned to her as she acknowledged him.  Caroline now stood up and looked over at him as well. “What is she talking about?” she asked him.

“Jay, you know I could beat him,” Nora spoke again. Caroline glanced back at her for a second before going back to Jay with confusion written all over her face. “What are you two talking about?” she demanded.

Jay took a moment from looking at Nora to look down at the ground.  He then nodded slightly as he said, “She’s right.  There’s a way she could.”

“How?!  What way?!” Caroline urged as she kept glancing back and forth at both of them.

Nora now stood up and looked at Caroline, who suddenly found herself taking a few steps back as she noticed the seriousness in Nora’s eyes. “I can’t really tell you because I don’t really know what it is exactly.  That is…until I get it.”

“That’s right, Nora,” Jay now said, looking up at her again, “You’d have to be…a full hybrid to get it.”

“To get what?!” Caroline shouted frustratingly.

“It’s a type of strength,” Nora answered, “It comes with having the healing ability.  But like I said…I don’t really know what it is.  I’ll only know exactly when I get it.”

“When you get it?” Caroline now sternly questioned, “How exactly are you planning to get to full hybrid?”

Nora didn’t answer but looked down.

“No.” Caroline sternly commanded as she somewhat guessed what Nora was thinking. “You can’t!”

“It’s the only way!” Nora argued.

“No it’s not!” Caroline debated right back, “That…that vampire….the one that healed you’re foot.  I don’t know if Kale told you, Nora, but—”

Nora looked down immediately. “He told me.  Right before…he died.”

Caroline paused for a moment sympathetically before she then went on, “Well….she could turn you into a full hybrid.  We could go to her and—”

“No, I don’t want her involved.  She doesn’t need to be mixed up in this anymore than she already is.”

“Nora…” Caroline now pleaded, “You just can’t!  You can’t let him heal you!”

“I have to!” Nora shouted as she felt her throat tightening again, making it hard for her to speak without crying more, “If he heals me, he’ll think he’s winning.  We can catch him off guard!”

“Kale wouldn’t have wanted this for you!” Caroline yelled back, “He wouldn’t have wanted to die knowing you gave yourself up to Dagon!”

“I’m not giving myself up!” Nora now screamed angrily.  Jay glanced over at her and saw more small rocks begin to float up from the ground and hover around her as she heatedly spoke. “I’m only using him to become a full hybrid!  Then I’m going to fight him!  And I’m going to kill him!  I’ve got to do this!  I’ve got to fight him and win!  Because if I don’t…none of us will ever be free!  Kale wanted that for us!  And I’ve got to do it for him!” There was a pause of silence as Nora and Caroline just stared at one another. “And don’t act like you’re the only one who’s upset about Kale dying!  Or the only one who’s ever….” Nora struggled to control the frog in her throat as she talked, “…who’s ever loved him…”  She then looked down as she attempted to wipe all the tears from her face, but it felt as if nothing on earth could dry her cheeks now or if they would ever be dry again.

“I’m sorry…” Caroline then softly and sincerely apologized as she began to cry again too.  She paused a moment before then saying, “We’re going to need a plan…”

“I might have one…” Nora softly responded as she now looked up again, “But it’ll involve you trusting me.  And it’s going to take a minute or two to flush out…”

Caroline now took a few steps toward Nora and put her hands on her shoulders and looked right back at her. “Of course I trust you.” She softly and somewhat sadly smiled up at her.  It was then that the two of them hugged one another again.

“Then I’ll distract Dagon.” It was Jay’s statement that cut Nora and Caroline’s hug short as they turned to acknowledge him.

“Jay…” Nora began but Jay shook his head, and spoke cutting her off. “No, really,” he said, “I’ll do it.  I’ll try to buy you guys some time while you figure things out.”

“Jay, it’s dangerous…” Caroline tried to persuade.

“I don’t care.” It was clear Jay had made up his mind as he spoke with the utmost seriousness. “For too long I’ve been afraid.  I’ve been a coward.  Nora’s right.  No more running.  No more hiding.  No more obeying orders.  I have to do this.”

Nora gave Jay a soft smile as she then said, “Please be careful.”

Jay just nodded. “You too.  And don’t be too long.” He then flashed both of them a quick smirk as he then disappeared into thin air.

It was Caroline who next spoke as she looked at Nora. “So…I take it this plan you have doesn’t involve….talking to animals?”

Nora felt almost ashamed for a moment a she opened her mouth to explain herself to Caroline, however, she quickly realized she didn’t need to because Caroline went on to say, “It’s o.k.  I understand.  I think I always suspected…”

“I just thought that if…Dagon thought…I…” Nora started.

“It’s o.k.  I told you…I get it.” Caroline said as she smiled genuinely at Nora. “Now…what’s this plan of yours?”

CHAPTER 51

 NORA STOOD, ALONE at the edge of the woods.  She looked out into the clearing that held the abandoned fairground.  Of course, memories flooded her mind as she looked at it; memories of Kale.  She let herself cry a few more times before she attempted to take a deep breath and prepare herself for the conflict ahead.  She just couldn’t believe that he was gone.  She was so confident that she would be able to save him, and yet, things didn’t go at all as planned.  She couldn’t imagine what her life would be like after she takes on Dagon.  Where will she go after this?  She didn’t know but what she did know was that she had to do what needed to be done; to free herself and everyone else.  It’s what Kale would have wanted for them.

It was then that suddenly Jay and Dagon appeared.  Obviously they had been fighting elsewhere while Jay was distracting him and now they had come full circle back to the fairground again.  Nora was waiting for this.  It didn’t take long for the two to end their scuffle with Dagon knocking Jay to the ground.  Jay was tired, Nora could tell, and Dagon was winning.  Jay could barely get to his feet and Nora watched as Dagon approached him from behind and grabbed his head, lifting him slightly up off the ground.  Nora feared the worst as she watched Dagon and anticipated his intent.  She needed to get in there now; she knew it.  She took another deep breath and then with all the courage she could gather, stepped out of hiding.

“Stop!” she instantly demanded as she came into sight, “Let him go.  I’m the one you want.”

Dagon now looked up at her.  He was still holding Jay by the head and he gave Nora a small, evil smirk. “Do you really think you’re in the position to be making deals right now?” he smugly laughed.

“I think I am,” Nora responded, “You’re the one who isn’t.  I’m not afraid to die so if you want me to come to you willingly, you’ll respect my wishes and let Jay go.”

Dagon narrowed his eyes at Nora for a moment, as if he were really mulling over the situation.  It was then that Nora noticed his grip tightening around Jay’s head and he began to pull his arms in different directions.  It was only a matter of seconds before he could easily snap Jay’s neck.

Nora panicked for only a moment. “I said let him GO!” she screamed and as she did so, Dagon’s arms flew backwards, instantly letting Jay from his grip.  Jay fell to the ground on his hands and knees and as Dagon stood over him, attempting to lung for him again, it was as if an invisible barrier was in his way, and he couldn’t bring his arms any further to touch him.  Dagon looked up at Nora in slight confusion until he saw the immense amount of intensity that was behind her eyes.  Nora thought she saw a slight bit of fear then flash across his face but it was soon quickly concealed.

It was then that Nora looked down at Jay.  The only thought in her head was that she wanted him to get to safety and no sooner had she thought that then Jay’s body slid on its own, swiftly over to the forest of trees that surrounded them to the right.  Nora watched him go and felt a surge of strength within her that even brought a tinge of relief with it.  She then looked back at Dagon, who was no longer struggling with the invisible force in front of him