Wolf Sirens Night Fall: What Rises Must Fall (Wolf Sirens #3) (36 page)

Sam came
towards the bars of our gaol. I didn’t know where Sky or Reid were,
but I knew I had seen Giny. I wondered with a stab what Sam had
done to her. What the pack had done to them.

“Sam, other
hunters will come for us,” I hissed angrily through the bars. “Giny
will get a message out,” I challenged.

Sam reeled.
“Giny? Ha. Nonsense!” She smacked her lips and sighed. “They
haven’t come and they won’t.” She paused and narrowed her eyes in
thought. “Who do you think warned us about your little army?” She
tilted her head, waiting for my reply as her white hair fell over
her shoulder.

“You can’t keep
us here forever,” I protested emotionlessly, wondering if the
others were all dead, while trying to hide the shock at the
possibility that Gin had betrayed us. It couldn’t be true.

She leant in,
as I held my game face. “I can’t let you out. How can we live in
fear?” She was taunting us, enjoying my pain, as I realized it was
true. The remaining colour in my cheeks drained away. But I hadn’t
lost the will to fight. I liked to hear her say she feared us; that
was all I had and I savoured it. Bravely, I glared back. I knew
soon, Cres would wither away into a sleep she would never wake
from. Surely I would be tortured and bitten or starved as well.
Things weren’t exactly looking up, but I wouldn’t let it break me –
not yet. I didn’t know where Sky was, or if he was alive. Why
hadn’t Reid come inside the house during the fight? Who had lived?
We were barely alive. She turned and switched off the light. The
door latched closed as my heart beat desperately. I knew in the
darkness that I dared not ask what had become of them as I turned
to other thoughts.

My mind began
to reel. The pieces fitted. Giny, it had been Giny. I felt a
terrible, blood-draining feeling drag like a mudslide into the pit
of my stomach. It was Giny, a little human who had undone us and we
had laughed at her. Why for all my common sense hadn’t I taken her
aside? Why had I smiled when Jackson made fun of her wish? I knew
better - I knew the longing - but how could she, how could she side
with them to our demise! How could she watch us be slaughtered,
beaten and caged?

I feared the
worst for the rest of our side and I gasped back tears that pushed
their way out regardless, through swollen eyes. When Giny was
turned, she would be a miserable creature and I hoped she got her
wish because given the chance, I would be the first to extinguish
her.

Tisane knew it
wasn’t a good idea, she knew Angele wasn’t a concern. I thought
then with regret, maybe if she had met Giny, she would have sensed
her betrayal. But regret is a useless emotion. Nothing changes the
past, not sorrow or remorse…nothing brings back the dead and I
would live a thousand years without Sky if it meant we could go
back, to when C.J was alive…

The swelling
Artemis rises higher. Sheeting rain beats on her stone face like
tears. The hairline flaws over the stone goddess began to fissure.
Parts of the statue start to crack and break away, disappearing
into the dark water.

Hours later Sam
unbolted the door; I awoke with a jolt, as she came in alone with a
plate of food.

I tried to make
a deal. “We are prepared to make a treaty,” I offered through the
bars, as though I had cards to play.

“Ha,” she
scoffed. “What gives you the right? Why is our kind any less
important than yours?” She looked at us, a snarl on her lips.
“Huh?” her eyes lit up hungrily.

I looked away.
“You can’t keep us here for -”

She cut me off,
raising her voice over mine “This time I decide what is just.”

Sam turned to
walk away, through the low doorway.

Pathetically I
called after her. “We would rather die than live like this.” My
voice became breathy at the end, evidence of weakness.

She turned the
full strength of her flecked glare on me through the welded bars
and for several moments she glared at me. Bravely, I met her cold
stare. Though my eyes were growing sad, with the realization that
we were defeated, I unyieldingly held her gaze.

“Then we will
make you immortal,” she said slow and hard, in a voice thick with
hatred. She turned and I heard her mutter. “I’ll finish what I
started.”

I raised my
voice. “More will come to replace us.” Her sore point, as the door
was bolted shut.

I hated that,
goddamn it. Somewhere inside me I wished she’d bite me, finish it.
But how could I go on, after this night? I knew before long Cres
would fade - and that it was likely I would follow, whether I
wanted to or not. I thought about C.J, as gut wrenching grief
welled up inside me and I gasped tears. I didn’t want to believe
she was dead and at the same time I knew painstakingly that she was
gone. Muffled sobs escaped my body. I thought about her brother and
her parents, with an ache in my guts. I let her down, I let her
die, I let them murder a child...she was gone because of me. I
clung to the bars weeping through swollen eyes. I didn’t deserve
anything and my only solace was that we would all be with her soon.
There was no one to save us. I was shattered, but it wasn’t as easy
as all that. The wolves were now ruled by Samantha again, and she
wasn’t in any hurry to put us out of our misery.

END.

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Wolf Sirens Dusk in
Shade, the fourth in the series, is due for release later in
2013

We read to lose
ourselves for as long as we can in another universe, with
characters that seem real. Writing has given me a voice and an
outlet that has made my life so much better. To my readers, I thank
you for choosing to spend your time enjoying my work. Mum, thanks
for supporting me, always. Thanks dad for being a loyal ear and
support, no matter what. Roger for being there as an archangel in
the wings. Angella I give you my gratitude for the edits and much
needed critique. Samara I am thankful for you loving my books and
reading them with such passion and offering me support.

Bev, thanks for being
on board from the start with encouragement. I appreciate your
advice Thank you for your time and diligence in editing my work
from the beginnings of the very first book.

Last but by no means
least, Sally, it is said that our weight in this world is measured
by how good we make other people’s lives. Your selfless dedication
is something that deserves so much more than a humble thank you,
for working so hard, continuously, in critiquing my work and for
giving me so much of your time and energy, to achieve my
dreams.

So to my angels,
consider yourselves significant – here’s to more good times and
more great books. Thank you for your time and for believing in me
from the beginning.

Thank you

Love Tina