The Ultimate Sacrifice, Talia Jager [novels to read .TXT] 📗

I couldn’t risk bringing danger to Glendale. “No.” I shook my head. “Let’s find somewhere to eat.”

“Okay.” He started driving.

I turned to Auralee and asked curiously, “Could you read Vala’s mind?”

“No,” she answered.

After we ate, we checked into a big hotel with a pool, and we had a good time. I tried not to let my impending death get in the way of being with my friends. I couldn’t keep dwelling on it. At least not in front of them. I had to be strong so that they could be strong. But at night, when they were sleeping, I’d break down. Why had I been brought into this life if I was to leave it so young? Why did I have to die in such an awful way?

“This is nuts! We’re not going to let you sacrifice yourself,” Daxton said, abruptly. This caught the attention of everyone in the room, and they turned toward us.

Knowing this was the only thing that would work, knowing I had to do it, there was only one thing I could say. “Don’t make me hurt you.”

His eyes widened. “You wouldn’t…”

“If I have to.”

“Mira…she can stop you.”

Looking over at her, I responded, “To save me, she’d have to let all of you get hurt. Do you think she’ll stand by while that happens?”

“What about that drug that knocks you out?” he threatened.

“How much of that do we have? We’ll run out at some point,” I countered.

“Noe?” He seemed desperate now. “Can’t you see a way around this?”

Poor Noe. The look in her eyes clearly showed she wanted no part of this conversation. “No. I’m so sorry.” She took a deep, shuddering breath. Then she suddenly sprang up from where she was sitting and ran to the bathroom. Auralee went after her.

Daxton’s lip quivered and tears formed in his eyes. “Do you expect me to just let you do this?”

My heart broke for him. I wanted to reach out to him, bring him to me, and beg him to keep me safe. I swallowed hard. “Then don’t watch.”

He picked up a book and threw it across the room. “Dammit, Kass!”

Tears sprang to my eyes. “Don’t you all understand?! I did this. I brought this on. They want ME! They will kill you to get to me. I have to protect all of you.” I looked at Mira, who was bawling on the bed. “I failed before. I have to succeed this time.”

I shifted my gaze to Daxton. “You have to let me go. I have to do this.”

“I don’t want to,” he said between his teeth.

I stood up and walked over to him. “I know.” I grabbed the hair on the back of his head, pulling him toward me, and kissed him. “We were just getting started.”

“Seems like we’ve always been together.”

“I’ll love you forever.”

Sadness replaced his anger. He led me to the bed and we snuggled close.

I asked Daxton, “Why do you love me?”

He looked puzzled at my question. “Why do I love you?”

“Yeah. Why?”

He grinned. “That’s easy. You’re smart, kind, loving, and you have a great sense of humor. I love how sarcastic you are.” I giggled, melting a little inside. “But most of all, I love how loyal you are. You’d do anything for the ones you love.” He brushed his lips against mine, gently kissing me. “Why do you ask?”

“Just wanted to know.”

Miraculously, it took another two days until the demons showed up again. When I saw them, my heart sunk. This was it. My time was up. My number had been called. I thought about not telling anyone and just going off with the demons. I shook off that idea. I knew I had to say goodbye.

But how? How did I say goodbye to the best group of friends anyone could ever have? How did I look Mira in the eyes and convince her that it would be okay when I didn’t believe it myself? How did I say goodbye to the guy I’d fallen in love with? Hot tears burned my eyes as I watched the cat-hound demon sniff the ground. He knew I was here. He was just waiting for his buddies.

Noe stood next to me. “I can’t see everything, Kassia. It’s not clear to me what will happen. I guess that’s good…” Her voice trailed off. “You’re making a huge sacrifice. I wish I could have helped more. I’ll miss you,” she whispered.

I hugged her. “Thank you for being my friend.”

“Always,” she said and kissed my cheek.

Auralee walked up to me next. “I know you’ve been hurting inside. I know how badly you are struggling with this. I also know how sure you are. This sucks.”

“Yeah, it does,” I agreed.

“You’re the best,” she said, hugging me.

Zane approached me next. “They’re here, huh?”

“Yup.” I turned back to the window. “Two of them now.”

“I’m sorry, Kassia. I wish we could have found another way.”

I scoffed. “Me too.”

“I hope it’s not painful.”

I reached over and hugged him. “Thank you for your help. You’re a good guy.” He smiled and nodded before walking away with both his hands shoved in his pockets.

Mira and Daxton just stared at me. I smiled and shrugged. Finally Daxton got up and walked over to me. “I am sorry that I can’t protect you.”

“It’s okay. Sometimes the girl has to be the hero.”

He smiled that crooked smile of his that warmed my heart. “I just wish it didn’t have to be my girl.”

“Mmmm.” That would have been preferable.

“I love you,” he said. “I will always love you.”

A tear escaped and streamed down my face. “I love you, too.”

He cupped my face with his hands and leaned in real close like he did with our first kiss. Slowly and gently, our lips touched and we kissed. We ended with our foreheads together and eyes closed. I brought my lips to his one last time, not wanting this to end. For a second, I felt safe. “Can you remember the places we’ve been?” he asked.

“Yes,” I answered.

“What was your favorite?”

“The white sand beach.”

“When it’s time,” his voice shook, “you go there in your mind. You’ll always be safe there.”

More tears fell down my face. “I will. Maybe someday you’ll meet me there.”

“I will. I promise,” he said before quickly turning and walking away.

The only goodbye left was Mira. How do you say goodbye to your soul mate? She had been my best friend forever. Fate made us sisters even if we didn’t share the same blood. Glancing out the window, I saw a handful of demons; I knew time was running out. “Mira…” I beckoned to her.

She shook her head, flat out refusing. “No.”

I sighed and walked to where she was sitting on the bed. I sat on the floor and put my head in her lap like I had done so many times over the years. She couldn’t resist stroking my hair like she always did. Her tears fell on my face and mixed with my own tears, but I didn’t mind. I finally had the courage to speak. “You have been my best friend for years. You’ve protected me, cared for me, and loved me. Now you have to let me do the same for you. I want you to live a long life, okay? I want you to live for me. Can you promise me that?”

She didn’t answer right away. “I’ll try.”

I lifted my head up and looked at her. “Try hard.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know what I’ll do without you.”

“You have them.” I nodded to the rest of our friends, who were staring out the window.

“They aren’t you.”

“I know. I’m the most awesome.” I giggled.

She let a little smile get through her tears. “You are.”

“We were awesome together. Now, you need to be awesome on your own.”

“I don’t want to be.”

“I know.”

“How are you being so strong?” she asked.

“Oh Mira…” I shook my head and my lip quivered. “I’m not. I’m trying to hold it together…”

I pulled her to me and hugged her hard. My arms never wanted to let go. I let myself cry—sob—but only for a minute. “I love you,” Mira whispered.

“I love you too, Mira.”

Zane’s voice was barely above a whisper. “There are a lot of them now. They’re approaching the hotel.”

“It’s time then.” I took some deep breaths, trying to steady my body.

Noe spoke next. “We all must go out there and fight so they don’t think something’s fishy.”

“Kassia, do you have your dagger?” Auralee asked.

I double-checked its place on my leg. “Yes, nice and hidden.”

Together for the last time, all six of us headed outside to face the evil demons. Filled with adrenaline, I started to run ahead. Daxton ran after me and caught my arm, spinning me back to him, and pressed his lips to mine. Salt from our tears mixed into the kiss, making it more passionate. I melted a little right then, knowing this was the last time I’d be with him…knowing I was going to my death.

It took everything in me to push him away. I couldn’t even look at him. Turning and facing the demons, I could feel a numbness in the pit of my stomach. The air hung heavy with the smell of sulfur. I used my power to drop some of them to the ground. The cat-hounds screeched, sending tremors through my body.

When the giant demons appeared, I knew it was time to let them capture me. I released the last bit of power I had and looked back at my friends once more. This is for them, I told myself again. Auralee looked up, tears streaming down her face now. Watch out for them, Auralee. She nodded. Yourself too. She nodded again.

I pretended to be concentrating on the bigger demons, as they got closer. One of the grotesque beasts with horns charged at me, stopping only inches from my face. His almond-shaped eyes were wide open and the red light poured out of them, making me dizzy. He smelled foul, like rotten food, and my stomach churned. I was paralyzed with fear. My heart pounded, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

An extra arm came out from the demon, and he grabbed at me with his slimy hand. I jumped back a few times out of habit and fear. One of the smaller demons had already grabbed a hold of my leg, sending shooting pain up it. This was insane. I couldn’t believe I was letting this happen. Could I change my mind? Before I could think about it any further, the big demon grabbed my body. A bone-chilling cold spread throughout my body. I let out a scream.

The demons seemed to get excited by my capture, acting all frenzied and letting out short high-pitched shrieks. My body was shaking and tears were running down my face. I didn’t want to be captured. I didn’t want to die. Pushing those thoughts out of my head, I reminded myself who I was protecting.

As the big demon started to retreat, all the smaller ones followed his lead. I heard Mira scream my name. I watched Zane hold Daxton back, and the girls clung on to Mira to keep her from coming after me. “Zane!” I yelled. He met my eyes. “You remember your promise!” He nodded and I knew he would.

That was the last thing I remembered before everything went black.