Thirty-Nine…

 

Thirty-Nine: Culmination

Contains nudity, violence, and language.

Tick Tock.

The wolf’s tail swept to and fro like a pendulum, counting down the seconds until her death…

or maybe not. The ebony creature loped outside.

However, Aubrey’s relief wasn’t to last.

Jakub sat up.

Shit, shit, shit!

Her eyes darted to the exit, her brain commanded her legs to act.

Finally her legs obeyed.

Jakub stood, an arrogant grin on his face.

She dashed through the thick foliage. Tree branches whizzed by, stray twigs scraped her arms.

Jakub took his time in following.

Her heart raced in tune with her legs. The full moon glided by her side.

Loneliness and fear engulfed every inch of her. Who would save her now?

“Aubrey,” he called. “I thought you loved me!”

Quickly, she struggled up a steep hill.

When she saw Hunter, naked and stooping on all fours, she froze.

Blood marred his mouth, a rabbit’s carcass littered the ground.

He looked ashamed.

She was embarrassed and wanted to look away, but didn’t.

“So it’s true? You’re a werewolf?” she asked.

“No. There’s no such thing,” he replied. “I’m… what they call a shape-shifter.”

“Same difference.”

“I suppose. Are you running from—” his eyes veered behind her.

“Aubrey,” Jakub sang. “Let me be the father of your baby.”

He approached them, as Aubrey sprinted behind Hunter.

Jakub halted and stared behind them. He looked surprised.

                                                              …

“Aubrey,” Vaclav said.

Vaclav?!

She paced up to him.

Throwing her arms around him, she melted in his returned embrace.

God. Finally.

“How did you find me?”

“Visions of my son trying to—rape you,” he said in a trembling voice. 

“But once again, you’ve hurt me,” he said stepping back.

“If this is about Hunter, you don’t understand. He was naked because—”

“There’s no time to discuss it,” Vaclav interrupted. “There’s no time left at all.”

Vaclav strolled up to his son; a cold, blank look in his eyes. That look scared Aubrey.

She gasped, as Vaclav wrapped one arm around Jakub’s neck and dragged him a few feet away.

Vaclav jerked Jakub’s head back and withdrew something from his belt.

“No. Don’t do it,” Lucius whispered.

“Mám tě rád synku,” Vaclav said. Then he yanked the blade across his son’s throat.

The cut was deep, penetrating Jakub’s esophagus and almost reaching his spine.

Gurgling and clutching at his bloody throat, Jakub slumped to his knees; then crumpled into a fetal position.

Horrified, Aubrey covered her mouth and turned away.

He finally did it. He killed his own son… because of me.

Vaclav turned to Lucius.

“Now you know what has to be done,” Lucius said.

Vaclav nodded.

What are they talking about? Aubrey wondered.

Haas troops headed toward them.

Vaclav joined them. Two of the rogues grasped his arms.

Wait—are they going to take Vaclav away somewhere?

“What’s happening?” she cried.

“I’m being taken to prison.”  

“No!”

Vaclav enclosed her in the safety of his arms… a safety that would only last a few seconds.

“But you had to kill him! You had to!” she pleaded.

“It doesn’t matter. The laws regarding the killing of your own blood are very strict.”

Then why the hell didn’t you get someone else to kill him? You idiot!

“Go home, my essence. Be a mother to Kat and Reznik. They need you.” 

After a minute of silence, he spoke for the last time: “Now you’re safe. You’ll never have to worry about Jakub again.”

This isn’t happening… this isn’t happening… it’s just a fucking nightmare! Wake up!

The troops escorted her husband away.

“What am I going to do? What am I going to do?” Over and over she said it, as if she couldn’t stop.

She was stunned when Lucius actually tried to comfort her. Before, he’d barely acknowledged her existence.

“You’re going to do as Vaclav said. You’re going to go home and take care of your kids.”

“But when will Vaclav be able to come home?”

“I don’t know. But his reign as leader is finished. I have to take over as leader of the Haas Clan.”

“For now, just worry about your children. I’ll worry about everything else.”

He hugged her. Aubrey let her tears flow.

In the far recesses of her mind, Aubrey realized Hunter was gone. Disappeared into the shadows of Shadowvale.

But instead of going home, Aubrey begged Lucius to take her to Vaclav.

The prison was tall and overbearing, reaching toward the twinkling stars above. Dead trees surrounded it; as dead as Aubrey felt inside.

Jakub was also dead. She was safe, but she hated the price that had to be paid.

Lucius led her to the foreboding doors…

Inside, a guard stood watching.

How beautiful Vaclav looked inside his tiny prison. How handsome he was, and she couldn’t touch him.

She may as well be imprisoned with him.

He saw her and got up.

Silence.

Vaclav went over to Aubrey.

“Why didn’t you tell someone else to kill Jakub? This price you’re paying… we’re paying, just isn’t worth it!”

“Jakub was my son. It wasn’t anyone else’s place to do it. I had to be the one.”

Bullshit! she thought, but knew better than to say so.

“How long are you going to be in here?” she asked.

“At least ten years.”

Ten years?!

“I’m sorry,” he added.

His fingers threaded through the bars. Her hand met his, and then the other hand.

Vaclav squeezed her hands.

“I’ll try to get out sooner,” he promised.

“Okay.” A spark of hope lit inside her heart.

Please don’t disappoint me.

“Aubrey, we have to go,” Lucius said. “Dawn’s approaching.”

“Good-bye. I love you.”

Fighting back tears, Aubrey turned and left.

                                                             ****

Thanks for reading! ♫

Umm, Pixxi (and whomever else likes him), sorry about Jakub…  😦

Just a reminder: this will be the last chapter posted on a Monday. Every chapter from now on will be posted every Friday. ♥