“I’m certain,” Alex replied, not even opening his eyes. “It’s been a pleasure working with all of you. Jamie, I’ve never seen another like you in all of my years. And that’s a lot of years. Aaron, you’re a fine man and an outstanding leader. Miss Findley is lucky to have you as her betrothed.”
“Thank you, Alex,” Aaron said as Jamie replied much the same way. If he were to stop and think about the national treasure expiring in front of him, it likely wouldn’t compute. This man had signed the Declaration of Independence, allegedly died in the most famous duel in history, and had a Broadway play based on his life. Not to mention he’d saved Cadence from certain death not that long ago.
Alex’s breathing became staggered, and it became clear that he was about to pass away. Despite the Blue Moon Portal, despite the fact that he was a Guardian, and only a Hunter should’ve been able to kill him. Whatever this place was, it had no regard for the rules as they’d always known them to be.
His eyes flew open, and a smile formed on Alex’s face. “Betsey!” he said, looking off in the distance. “There you are, my beautiful bride!” And with that, his eyelids slowly lowered, his chest rose only once more, and his arms dropped to his sides.
Jamie looked at his watch one more time, as if he were checking the time of death, though Aaron didn’t think he could know for sure. He had figured it was sometime between midnight and 6:00 AM on September 1. That was about the best he could do.
Dax and Brandon both had tears streaming down their cheeks, and Elliott was trying to comfort them, but Aaron knew his best friend well enough to understand that he was shocked by what he’d just witnessed. If Alex could die here, then so could Elliott. Granted, as long as Jamie was able to heal them, it shouldn’t be a problem, but if something happened to Jamie... they could all be at risk.
“Well, there ain’t no such thing as digging a grave round here.” Heather sounded not at all affected by what she’d just observed. “Vampires turn into ash, these other critters seep into the limestone. I have no idea what a Guardian does when it dies ‘round here, but I seen a buncha bones down one of them tunnels nearest the dark, back when I used to be foolish enough to head down there. Maybe we should move ‘im that direction.”
“If we get out, will we take him with us?” Brandon asked, wiping at his cheeks.
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Aaron replied, assuming Brandon was asking him. “Alex wouldn’t want anything to impede our progress toward getting out.”
“We should keep his musket and any ammo he has on him. His knife.” Elliott’s tone conveyed he wasn’t being insensitive, just trying to think of something practical to say.
Aaron agreed and went about removing all of those items. He passed out the ammo cartridges Alex had on him. There were a lot, enough for all of them to have another round, and he handed the musket to Heather who seemed to know how to use it despite the fact that Christian had helped Alex modify it. He gave Dax Alex’s knife. He had a locket and his wallet in his pocket, which Aaron almost put in his own pocket before giving it a second thought. Pulling Alex’s phone out of his jacket, he handed all three of the items to Brandon. “You should probably keep track of this.” If any of them made it out of the portal, Brandon would be out first, Elliott would see to that.
“’Kay,” Brandon said, though his expression read that he didn’t quite know why he was being the one entrusted with the fallen Guardian’s belongings. “Do you think I should text Cass, or just wait?”
“I think we should let them know,” Aaron said, contemplating what might happen if the team members on the other side of the portal could figure out how to open it. “We don’t want them waiting for someone who isn’t coming out. But why don’t you send that information to Cadence? Let her tell her sister. In fact, I think we’ll just send everything to Cadence from now on. One phone to one phone will be easier.” He didn’t bother to mention that he’d already conveyed that plan to the Hunter Leader the last time he texted her.
Brandon nodded, and Aaron tried not to think about the fact that he sounded like a complete hypocrite, talking about people leaving. He knew they couldn’t possibly all make it out unless Cadence and the rest of the team came up with something that defied the laws of the portal. And the portal seemed pretty fond of its own rules.
“Let’s just move him into one of the tunnels that has already opened,” Jamie suggested. “That way, we can be fairly certain we won’t be using that passage again for a while.”
It sounded like a good idea, and Aaron helped the Healer move him, even though either of them could’ve done it alone. Moving him this way seemed more like he was just asleep, not expired, though as Aaron picked up his left side it was evident the Guardian was already growing cold and stiff. He was temporarily reminded of the last time he’d seen a fallen friend, and it choked him up, despite the fact that Elliott was standing a few feet behind him. He prayed he’d never have to go through something like that again.
Once they were about halfway down the tunnel, Jamie indicated he thought this was a good enough place to set him down, and Aaron rested the Guardian’s body on the ground. Jamie folded Alex’s arms across his chest and said a little prayer, to which Aaron said, “Amen,” though he hadn’t been particularly religious since the night he realized Vampires were real. “Are you all right?” he asked Jamie.
“I will be. It’s hard to watch someone die when you know you can save them, but this is what he wanted.”
“You’re right. It is,” Aaron agreed, clapping Jamie on the shoulder. “We’ve just got to make sure no one else passes away in here.”
“Right. Everyone else wants out of this place. God, I hope they’re getting close to something on the other side. My healing power might be endless now, but my patience is wearing thin.”
“You and me both, brother,” Aaron agreed, realizing he sounded more like Elliott than himself at the moment and accepting that was okay. They headed back to the center circle, and Aaron was determined to focus on figuring out which tunnel would open next so he didn’t have to think about the fact that Alex was dead—and that his fallen comrade wasn’t the only one who wouldn’t be leaving the portal.
