"Saving your a.s.s," he jokes over his shoulder, but he's tense and nervous.

"Why? You ran off the last time this happened." I swipe the sword at a vampire, but miss by a long shot. "What? Did you get knocked over the head with a stupid stick sometime between then and now?"

"Witty banter during a fight," he flips around and bares his fangs, "it's like we're made for each other."

I sigh and attempt a Roundhouse kick, like I used to do at Bellator practice all the time. But my leg buckles at the knee and I drop to the ground hard. Sylas instantly pulls me up, steals the sword from me, and brings it down hard on the back of a rotting vampire's neck, beheading it. It breaks into ash and the others shriek with murder.

Everything goes downhill from there. They mob us and trample us to the ground. I can't spot Sylas through the dust and fleshless legs, but I catch sight of the hill. My heart drops. Vampires line the peak of the cliff, eyeing Greyson, Cedrix, Aiden, and Maci, who are barreling down the hill, arms flying. One of the vampires flings from the ledge, landing behind Cedrix. He takes him to the ground and I let out a scream as I'm yanked back by my ankle. I fumble through decaying bodies for the sword and find Sylas' soaked hand instead. I shove a vampire back and dive over to him.

His hand's draped over his stomach and blood splatters his torn shirt.

"Where's it coming from." I scan him over and reach for his arm. "Sylas, are you bit?"

He clamps down on my hand, puts his finger to my lips, and places the sword into my hand. Then his eyes shut and I'm not sure if he's dead or unconscious. Rage blisters my veins. I bound to my feet and ram my elbow into the nearest vampire's head over and over again. I don't stop, even when its mouth spurts blood. I keep going until it's on the ground and surge the sword through its heart. It shifts to bones and ash. I whirl, ready for the next one.

Instead, I get a moment that will alter my life forever. Vampires swathe the land. They are everywhere. Sylas is down on the ground, bleeding to death. Cedrix is missing and Maci, Aiden, and Greyson are trapped on a thin lip of the cliff. Smoke streams from the cave and the sky shows no sign of morning.

I always planned to make my decision carefully. After spending most of my life doing what someone else desired, I wanted to make sure that becoming a Day Taker was what I wanted. But it was no longer about that. It was about what was right. And standing by, watching everyone get eaten or infected isn't something I can live with.

Running to a small gap, I kneel down. My hand shakes as I reach into my pocket and take out the vial and syringe. Irreversibly, I bite the cap off the needle, stab it into the vial, and extract the black liquid. The thought never crossed my mind, when I found the vial, that it might not be the right medicine. But there's no time for a test experiment. I breathe through my nose and thrust the needle into my forearm. The medicine heats through my blood and my heartbeat's solid. Thump, thump. Thump, thump.

My eyes round and my lungs expand as the medicine courses up my body. I pant, ragged breaths that suffocating me. My skin feels like it's melting. My mind shorts out. I fall to the ground, the vial slipping from my hand. I lie in the sand immobile, watching the bloodshed.

Then I die.

Chapter 19.

"Kayla, just breathe" Aiden whispers, his honey eyes filled with worry. Chains bind him to the blood-stained wall. "You can do it, just breathe."

I lie on my back, my body pumped full of various medicines. Needles implant my skin and every muscle in my body screams. I'm burning up, my skin as hot as fire. I shut my eyes, panting, wanting to get up, but the pain constraints me to the concrete floor.

"I want to die," I murmur. There's a knife by Aiden's ankle. "I can't take this anymore. Aiden, please just kill me."

He shakes his head and kicks the knife to the side. "I won't do it Kayla. I love you too much."

I cough up blood and it drowns my lungs. Tears slip down my cheeks as the medicine eats away at my heart, my mind, my skin. It's been going on for days, maybe even weeks, a test which we're failing. "Aiden, I can't take it anymore. Please."

He slides onto his stomach until the chains reach the end. He extends his hand and his fingers brush the tips of mine. "I won't let you go," he whispers. "I love you too much."

I feel his love burning through his blood and at that moment, part of me loves him back. But part of me hates him for loving me so much that he'd rather see me suffer then let me go. And for a brief second, I wish he was Sylas. Because Sylas wouldn't watch me suffer.

I hear my heart die. I feel my breath leave me. My wounds fasten up and a shiver of change engulfs me. Fangs slip from my mouth and my body is not my own. It belongs to death.

My eyes shoot open and the darkness no longer renders me. I see everything, feel it in my bones. The night is part of me. My arms stretch upward, and I break the metal cuff from my wrists. I incline my body to stand and walk through the ravaged vampires, my eyes lined with the sword. A vampire smashes into me, but my feet stay planted, secured to the ground by my inhuman strength. I meet its blood soaked eyes, spring my knee up, and hook kick it. My boot crushes into its back and sends it to the ground. Placing my heel on its chest and restricting it down, I scoop up the sword, lift it above my head, and drive it into the vampire's chest. It squeals at the night and combust into ash. I tug out the sword, the handle aligning perfectly in the palm of my hand. I march to where the vampires crowd Sylas. With a spin on my heel, I stick out the sword and they pile powerlessly to the ground. I move like I'm invisible, slaying each one straight in the heart. By the time I'm done, a thick ring of ash encircles me.

Sylas lies in the sand, the blood from his stomach ceasing. His eyes are black coals as he watches me with a mixture of astonishment and exhilaration.

"What did you do?" he asks, pressing down on his wound.

I lean above him, my hair curtaining my face. "I did what I had to do." I bust the silver cuffs from his wrist, disregarding the silver burning my skin.

His eyes don't leave me as I help him to his feet. I focus on the hill where Aiden, Maci, and Greyson are trapped by a long row of vampires. Cedrix is gone; I smell his death in the air. It hurts my unbeating heart, but I don't have time to grieve. I have three others to save.

Sylas blinks and fixates on the slain vampires that are nothing more than ash. Then his eyes focus to the flat land, where more vampires are heading for us, looking for something to eat in a desert scarce with food.

"Did you get bit?" My eyes do a quick sweep of his body.

He moves his hand away and the wound in his chest is shrinking, sealing back up. "No, I was just stabbed. That's all."

"Then help me," I say, pointing to the others, imprisoned on the ledge. "Help me save them."

He motions at the hill. "Lead the way."

We dash into the darkness, side-by-side, and it's the most natural thing I've ever experienced. I'm aware of every bush, leaf, and creature, the way my body flows together, the way my legs carry me up the hill. It's better than when I was a Bellator. I'm strong, faster, more graceful.

The slipping rocks don't stand a chance against my feet as I surge upward, past the smoky cave and to the ledge. I stop just short of the cliff and face Sylas.

"I'll distract them," I say. "And you get them out of here. Go up on the side and take them out of herea"find the nearest cave and hide."

He glances down at the land, and for a moment, he deliberates bolting, running back to his citya"saving himself.

"Sylas." I draw him back to me. "They need your help. Save them."

He nods and we part. I hike to the left, the sword hanging loosely in my hand. My eyes never waver from the vampires, who stalk closer to Aiden, Maci, and Greyson. Maci is terrified, clutching onto Aiden's hand for dear life. Greyson trembles as he debates if he'd rather fall off the cliff or be bit.

Sylas creeps around the side and ducks under the lip of the cliff. I speed up, my arms surging to the side of me, my feet hardly touching the ground. I tip my head down and barrel for the vampires. They don't see me coming. There is no hesitation as I give a springing leap and submerge into the midst of them. As I'm airborne, I side kick the nearest vampire in the head. Its bones crack against the force and it shrieks, creating frenzy amongst the rest. They turn from Aiden and the others, looking for me. But when they smell my scent, they reverse their attention back. I raise the sword back and sling it forward, through the back of a vampire, straight through the heart, and out the other side.

It poofs into dust and I move to the next one. It takes a swipe at my face, no longer desiring to eat me, only protect itself. I swing my arm up and block it, our flesh connecting. Its teeth drip blood and spit. We circle each other and it yelps at me. I hiss back, barring my fangs. Behind it, Sylas sneaks to the ledge and lowers Maci to the ground. Aiden watches me through the madness, longing to run to me. Sylas peeks over and tugs on his pant leg. They argue momentarily and then shaking his head, Aiden disappears over the edge. Once Greyson is gone, I jump into action because the vampires have figured out their food is getting away.

I stab the one in front of me and shove my way through the rest, pushing out of the ma.s.s. I jump on the flat section of the cliff, putting myself between the vampires. If they want to chase them, they are going to have to get through me first. Unsure what I am, they test me, smelling the air, stepping forward and backwards. Their fangs quiver with hunger, their eyes bleeding to hunt. One finally dares to inch forward with its hands skinned to bone and half of its face demolished by the disease. Its head spasms, then deciding it's going to take me out, it charges. The rest follow. I swing, gaining momentum and slice at the vampire. It dodges back, the tip of the knife barely missing it. I don't miss a beat. I curl my fist around and uppercut its withered jaw. Its fangs clank together and stunned, it stumbles. I stab the knife in its heart and it wilts to ash. Seeing I'm a threat to their species, the rest attack. I move like the wind, kicking, swinging, spinning, spearing them in the heart. They flutter to the ground, pieces of ash mixing with the sand.

I pause, realizing that my slaying is only bringing more, like they want to sacrifice themselves, like they are begging me to put them out of their misery.

I glance at the sky, which is shifting to morning grey. Why aren't they bailing? They cover the cliff and some sneak in from behind. I veer the sword to the left and the right, taking two more out. Then it happens. The sky attains the point where greyness possesses the earth. It spans the sand like a giant wave, drifting across the vampires, who burst into flames that sizzle at the sky. Their shrieks fill the air, painful and tormented. As the line of morning grows closer I run, descending off the ledge, and slide underneath a small square of shade.

The entire land roars in fire, smoke, and cries. It goes on forever, irrevocably silencing. I relax against the jagged cliff and set the knife on the ground. I twist my hair up in a knot, my skin drenched in sweat and blood. That's when it hits me. I'm the walking dead. I no longer have a pulse or breath, and I drink blood.

I tuck my fangs into my mouth. I can no longer walk outside during the day without harming myself or hiding beneath a jacket.

"You are different, Kayla," Monarch whispers. "I broke all the rules with you, so never a.s.sume anything. You are my Day Walker."

My gaze flickers to the left and the right. With attentiveness, I edge my hand out until my fingertips brush the light. My skin warms to a natural temperature and I let my hand stay there. Grabbing the sword, I push out and stand with the greyness of morning covering my body.

I glance over my shoulder at the sand stained with ash. Then I start down the hill, the one and only Day Walker. I walk alone.

Chapter 20.

They aren't difficult to track. They leave a scent so potent it travels for miles. I hook the sword through my belt loop and trek across the sand and sage brush. I go straight to their hideout, a small cave tucked between two sandy mounds and a row of fiery red rocks. I journey from rock to rock and stand in front of the entrance. A ma.s.sive red boulder is shoved against the arc of the cave. Fear leaks through the cracks and enters my body. It's then I realize how numb I've been. During battle, I was like a machine. And even now, my emotions are at a steady vacancy.

I sit on a flat rock, needing a minute to gather the numbness that is overcoming me. Maybe this is why Aiden didn't want me to change. However, if I hadn't, they wouldn't be hiding in the cave. I deicide I won't regret the choice I made.

I push up and heave the rock out of the way. Aiden, Greyson, and Maci are curled in the back of the cave. When the light hits them, they blink frantically. Maci starts to get up, eager to run to me, but Aiden puts an arm in front of her.

"Kayla, are you okay?" She blinks.

"She's fine," Aiden says with aggravation. He looks at Greyson. "You ready to go? If we're going to find a place before dark, we should get started now."

I remain beneath the archway, half in the light, half out. "Where's Sylas?"

On cue, Sylas strides around the corner, leaning in my face, one hand gripping onto the arch above our heads, the other resting on his side. His hair hangs in his dark eyes.

His gaze notes the golden land just behind me. "So you can walk in the light," he says with a bit of envy.

I nod and tip to the side, aiming my attention at Aiden. "You can let Maci go. I'm not going to hurt her."

He glowers at me. "I'm not taking any chances with you."

Shaking my head, I stomp over to him. My sudden closeness surprises him and he shuffles back.

I hold out my hand. "Come with me for a minute."

"No thanks." He's afraid of me.

I wrap my hand around his, entwining our fingers, and pull him to his feet. He tries hard to stay mad as I escort him to archway, but his skin touching mine chips away at his fury. Sylas shoots us a dirty look before skulking back into the shadows. When we step into the greyness, his fear diminishes. Seeing me in the light brings him a sense of peace.

I drop his hand and we travel over the rocks. I hop from one to the other. With effort, he keeps up with me. I bound from the last one and sit in the sand. He takes a seat next to me and we stare at the sky.

"So you're one of them now," he says softly. "You're a Day Taker."

"A Day Walker," I clarify. "I'm not completely the same as them."

He hesitates. "Why did you do it, Juniper? Why did you have to change?"

"I didn't change. I'm still the same person," I lie. "And I did it because you guys would have died if I didn't."

"Cedrix died," he breathes quietly, his chest trembling as he fights back the tears.

"I know."

He inhales, sucking back the tears. "You know he was the one who found me after The Gathering. I was trapped in the body bag and couldn't get out. I probably would have died if he hadn't shown up. And then, to make matters worse, there was a flood and the land was soaked. It took us ages to get to the hillsidea"so long that night hit."

"If Cedrix wouldn't have shown up," my voice holds carefulness, "would you have done it? Would you have changed to survive?"

He swallows hard. "No, I never wanted to be one of them. It's who I am."

"Behind the red door, you wouldn't kill me, even though I was suffering." I shut my eyes, recalling the memory. "You wouldn't let me go even to spare me pain."

"You remember that?" he asks. "I thought Monarch would have put that one in my head."

I tilt my head at him, my hair slipping from the knot and covering my shoulders. "You don't know everything he put in there?"

He shakes his head. "Sometimes I can grasp them, like when I'm sleeping, or when I'm close to you. But not everything."

"So if I want to remember everything," I say. "I need Ryder."

"Ryder's gone." His jaw tightens. "We're going to have to do without her."

"No, she's not gone. Just detained," I say. "And I'm going to get her back."

He presses his shoulder into mine, wanting to touch me, even though he fears me. "She doesn't deserve to be free. She made her choice and bailed on the rest of us."

"Oh, I'm not doing it for her," I tell him. "I only want her for my memories. That's all. Then, if you want, we can let the Day Takers have her."

His expression is pained. "I don't want her to suffer. Just like I didn't want you to suffer. I don't want anyone I love to suffer." His eyes line with my lips and he wants to kiss me. But knowing what I am holds him back. He gets to his feet and dusts the dirt from his jeans. "We should get a plan going and figure out what we're going to do next."

"Is there still a we?" I wonder aloud.

He pauses, his muscles tensing. "I'll always be there for you, Kayla, whether you're human or not. That's one thing no one can take away."

"Aiden," I start, about to ask him why he won't save himself. He knows he'll die if he doesn't become a Day Taker. But I stop, not wanting to feel the emotions trying to sneak up on me. "Never mind."

He nods and ascents over the rocks, fading inside the cave. I sit for a while, staring at the sky, feeling the alteration in my body. Every nerve-ending is connected, working my body as one. My mind is alive and determined, but there is deadness in it, something I've never felt before. Eventually, I get up and head back to the cave, ready to move on, ready to start saving the world.

Chapter 21.