The Forbidden Trilogy(222)

She moved closer to their camp. "Hunter?" No response. Crap.

Wind blew across the valley, carrying Mr. K's voice with it. "Lucy.... Run, Lucy!"

Oh, God, something bad did happen. She couldn't leave Hunter in trouble.

At full run, she reached the grove of trees where they'd docked.

Hunter stood in the center, but he wasn't alone. Beleth's large hands were wrapped around his mouth and throat.

No! Not Hunter. "Let him go!"

Beleth tightened his grip. "You haven't completed our deal."

No, wait, I'm not out of time yet. She counted backwards. It had only been a few weeks. She had a month. "I still have time."

"A little, but you've wasted much, spending days in this valley." Beleth's black eyes stared at her. "I wondered what occupied you, but now I understand." He squeezed his arms tighter around Hunter's throat. "He's pretty, isn't he? Consider this a reminder of your mission."

He released Hunter and threw him to the ground. In the next instant, his hand extended down into a blade, and with one little push, a drop of blood formed on Hunter's neck.

She watched helplessly as her boyfriend choked and coughed, struggling to breathe.

"No!" Fury wrapped itself around that one word and Beleth stopped.

Slowly, Lucy walked forward, as if stalking a wild animal. If she could just get her gun, maybe she had a chance. She looked around for her pack, but Beleth noticed.

"What are you hoping to find?" He lifted up his other hand from behind his back, revealing her pack. "This?" He tossed it away and the sphere rolled out of it.

Both Hunter and Beleth registered surprise.

Hunter scrambled back a little, holding his throat. "NA-1?"

NA-what? Oh crap. This is so not good.

Beleth turned to Hunter. "You know this object?"

Hunter nodded. "A Russian experiment intent on amplifying the nervous system, increasing a person's control over their body."

Beleth smiled, slow and cold. "Correct. As I recall, IPI had been the first to work on the concept... with limited success. The Russians brought the project to completion. Your girlfriend stole it."

How could Beleth have known that? Only Mr. K knew she had the sphere, and Lucy was sure he hadn't told anyone.

Beleth continued, walking closer to Hunter, eyeing the sphere on the ground as if he wanted to pick it up but couldn't. "It's unfortunate that she did not tell you of it. Perhaps it would have saved you now." His hand turned into a black spike aimed at Hunter.

Lightning reflexes gave him an edge in this game, and Hunter rolled away, dodging the attack. The spike hit the ground and cracked.

Beleth attacked again, while Hunter hopped up to his feet and dodged each new assault. He shot the spike out again, but Hunter dodged it and the spike hit the rock, shattering it.

Lucy eyed the sphere. If only she could get to it, perhaps it could give her more power. How else could she defeat Beleth? He'd kill her in a heartbeat. She couldn't stop him, except... he wanted her alive.

"If you harm him, I'll never complete our deal!"

"I don't think so. You still have a brother nearby. If you want him to live, you'll follow through." Beleth turned to Hunter, formed his hand into a giant sword and charged. "This one's death will remind you to hurry."

Instead of dodging, Hunter jumped toward his own pack and grabbed his sword. In a flash it extended to full length and he blocked Beleth, locking their blades.

Beleth pushed against Hunter's sword. "I know you, Simmons' dog. You fear to leave your master's leash."

Hunter leaped back, breaking the lock.

Black spidery legs grew from Beleth's back, and he attacked Hunter and Lucy at the same time.

Lucy fought as best she could, trying to tackle Beleth and give Hunter a better target, but Beleth lashed out to cut Lucy with his blade hand.

Hunter threw himself between Beleth and Lucy, blocking the blow and using his sword to cut into Beleth's chest.

Blood trickled out of his skin. He growled and attacked Hunter, slashing at his leg and leaving his own trail of blood. "You seem to care quite a bit for this girl. I must say I'm surprised, and I'm not easily surprised." Beleth stepped back, assessing the two of them. "I think I'll let you live, but on one condition: you must help Lucy fulfill her task. This will require you to choose your loyalties. How much do you love your new girlfriend?"

Beleth kicked the sphere over to Lucy, and again she had the distinct impression that Beleth wanted to hold it, but couldn't.

"This sphere may prove useful to you, Lucy, but you should know that its construction is flawed. It pulls out the darkness in people, and leeches onto them for life. Keep it for now, but I'll be collecting it from you before this is over." He gritted his teeth, as if the words were hard to say.