9.3 Chains and Anchors

Sat in the driver's seat of my car, overlooking the dock and the endless sea stretched beyond, my fingers shook as I dialed Dark Dorian's number. No answer. Exhaling in disappointment, I listened to his voicemail.

"I'm not here, probably because I don't like you. But go on, leave a message. I'll ignore that too." Beep.

"Dorian, I'm at the docks. Call me as soon as you get this--please." I sighed, resting my head against the steering wheel. "They killed Opal. And they have him." I sniffed, wiping the tears from my cheek. "You have to help me stop Elijah, Dorian. If we don't, he'll come for you next." I swallowed. "I can't lose you too. Please, Dorian, please... I need you."

I hung up and left the car, holding the door as I stared at the boats and yachts stretched ahead. An eagle circled above, catching my attention with an imploring cry. Gathering the last bit of courage I had, I closed the door and followed the shifter, into the lion's den.

How many times had I gone out to sea with Vanida and Danny on his family yacht? Too many times to count. If I could've read the future, if I had known that one day I would be standing on this deck surrounded by Elijah and his army of supernaturals, I would have burned his boat to the ground.

Danny sat in the corner, gaze averted as he re-tied his boots. If I had to take a guess by his somber expression, leading a former friend to her doom wasn't the pinnacle of his life achievements.

"Alright," I said. "I'm here. Now where's Dorian?"

Elijah stepped in my path, cutting off my view of his brother. His face was bathed in the shadows cast from the moon. "Below deck. Waiting for you. Don't worry, Amelia, you'll have plenty of time for good-byes." Elijah whistled. "Get that engine going! We have to beat the sun!" His minions sprang into action - silent, grim faces, who didn't dare look me in the eye. They knew this was wrong just as much as I did. But like Danny, they were too afraid to stand against Elijah.

I lifted my chin. "Is that your grand master plan, Elijah? To kill us both?"

"It would have been." He stepped forward, eyes blazing, arms folded across his worn leather jacket. "But there's an alliance--supernaturals have rules. I break them, I get broken. And lucky for you, Danny reminded me that I owe you one. You spared my life back at the Fairway."

"Yeah, well, I won't make that mistake again. You killed Opal."

"She was a hunter. She got exactly what she deserved." Elijah called over his shoulder. "Take her downstairs."

"You won't get away with this, Elijah."

"I already have." He twiddled his fingers, pouting in mock sympathy as a trio of Supernaturals descended. With hands like iron shackles, they dragged me away.

"Let me go, let me go!" But struggling was as useless as pleading with Elijah. "Remember what Leo said: go against me and you'll lose! Danny, don't let him do this! Danny, please!"

My last view was of Danny taking his place at Elijah's side. The battle lines were drawn. There was no going back.

I was pushed down a short flight of steps into dimness, the hatch door in the ceiling was closed and locked behind me.

I lunged forward, banging my fists on the steel door. "Let me out! Damnit, Elijah! Let me OUT!"

"Amelia! Amelia, stop."

I whirled. Confined to a chair in the middle of the cramped and cluttered space was Dorian. A spotlight swung over his head, pushed to life by the gentle movement of the sea. The boat was moving, which means we didn't have much time.

I hastened to his side. His torn, bloody clothes were dusted in soot and ash. He had already healed, but blood still caked his face and matted his hair. And his entire body was wrapped in heavy chains, the tail of which ended in a massive, rusty anchor.

"No." I dropped to my knees in dismay. "It's just like my dream..."

"Your dream?"

"Leo, he showed me... It doesn't matter. I'm getting you out of here." But I hadn't the faintest idea where to begin. The chains were padlocked together, the anchor was enormous. First, I tried lifting the heavy weight. When it didn't budge, I grabbed a hammer from a small table cluttered with tools, lifting it high over my head...

"Don't." Dorian shook his head. "You can't break it. Even if you tried, they'll hear the noise and they'll chain you up as well."

I stared back at him, chest heaving... then dropped the hammer with a sob, covering my face as fresh tears flowed.

"Amelia, there's something I have to tell you..."

I couldn't bear to hear another sad word--I turned my back so I wouldn't have to look at his face while he did. Resting my palms on the sturdy metal table, I tried to collect myself. But how to be strong and brave when the walls are closing in, with no escape?

"The beach house--it's gone. And Opal, she's--"

"I know." I turned to face him, leaning morosely against the table.

"If you knew then why would you come?"

"Do you really have to ask? Dorian, I will never leave you behind--ever."

"I hate that I did this to you." He glanced aside, letting his head hang. "Everything is my fault. I never should have come to the Village."

"Don't say that." I sank to my knees before him and took his bloody, beautiful face in my hands. "I should've left with you when you asked me to. Then we wouldn't be in this mess."

"Until they find my demon-side, you'll still be danger, Amelia. I need you to promise me that as soon as you make to sure, you'll the Village. Promise me."

"No. I can't leave you--I can't."

"You have to." Dorian pressed his forehead to mine. "I love you, Amelia. Always."

Eventually the engine was cut; the boat cruised to a stop. The hatch was opened moment later and the lower deck was invaded, Elijah's crew flooding the small space to drag us back into the moonlight. It took four of them just to carry the anchor attached to Dorian.

I couldn't say how far or fast we had traveled. All I knew was we were stuck in the middle of the sea with no land in sight and no place to run. Dorian stood tall before me but I could see in his eyes that he was afraid. And for the first time ever, I had no idea how to save him.

"I wish it didn't have to come to this," said Elijah, hands behind his back as he paced beside us, his crew surrounding us in a silent ring. "It's like you said, Amelia, I'm law enforcement. But I'm also a shifter, and we handle the law our way."

"Your way means nothing." I glared at the monster flouting his badge like it stood for something. "Go to hell, Elijah."

"Him first." The cruelty in Elijah's eyes glittered like diamond dust. "He's immortal. Since he can't be killed, Dorian Gray will die a thousand deaths. The sea will be your tomb, eternity will be your sentence." He nodded at his crew. "You know what to do, boys."

"No!" I cried, watching his henchmen step forward and lift Dorian's anchor. "No!" Panic rang in my ears as I watched them toss the anchor overboard. The slack in Dorian's chains uncoiled at whiplash speed. I sprang forward, wrapping my arms around him. "I won't let you leave you!"

"I can't let you sacrifice yourself." He kissed me, heedless of the salt tears wetting my lips. "Let me go."

When I didn't listen, someone pulled me roughly away.

"I love you, Amelia Thorne. Remember that."

The last of the chain uncoiled itself. I cried out, helpless as I watched Dorian yanked across the deck and over the ship's edge. I heard the splash and ran to the rail. Staring over the edge, into the churning waves, I watched him pulled down, disappearing into the depths of the unforgiving sea...

Someone was kind enough to place a blanket over my shoulders and a steaming mug before me. But I couldn't drink, much less say thank you. All I could do was sit at the small, metal table, frozen, as I watched the sun rise, the shore appearing on the horizon as we left Dorian further and further behind.

"I didn't mean for any of this to happen," said Danny, gently, taking the seat across from me. "My brother... He's in a dark place. I'm sorry, Amelia, really, I am."

"You're sorry?" I said, my dull, empty gaze fastening on his. "Genesee only had to die once. How many times do you think Dorian has drowned since we left him? You sentenced him to a fate worse than death, but he was innocent--it was his demon side that killed Genesee! You could've stopped this. You could've stopped all of it, Danny."

"Yeah? Well, so could you."

"This isn't over. You and Elijah will pay for this, I promise you." I looked away, wrapping the blanket tighter around me. Nothing else was said.

We reached the shore in silence.

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