Nightmares (The Coven, Book 1)

by Erica Stevens

  I’m going to die. I don’t want to die!

  Those last five words became the only coherent thought she could manage while she swung around, desperate to connect with anything solid. When the pain in her eyes and chest became unbearable, she was sure they were both going to explode. Then the horrifying image of her eyes bursting out of her head filled her mind and her panic intensified.

  Just when she was certain she couldn’t take anymore, her plunge slowed, light filtered in, and the air didn’t beat against her as severely. Avery stared in disbelief as she was lowered to the ground. Upon landing, her knees buckled, her fingers hit the ground, and her wounded ankle throbbed.

  She took a deep breath of blessedly fresh air and held it in her tortured lungs while she surveyed her surroundings. Beautiful, stained-glass windows with geometric designs in them encompassed the wall across from her. The light filtering through the windows cast dancing patterns of color across the blue and white rug.

  Where is that light coming from? Avery pondered as she rose to examine it.

  What would happen if she did try to walk out of this house of nightmares? Would she find herself in a world full of light, in that barren wasteland, or maybe even somewhere else?

  For some reason, Avery doubted she’d find any of those things and believed it more likely she’d be eaten by a giant sandworm if she stepped outside this place. The light was probably another one of Regan’s tricks.

  Turning away from the windows, she searched the empty room for her friends but didn’t see them anywhere. “No,” she whimpered and staggered toward the door fifty feet away from her.

  A voice halted her before she reached the door. “They’re safe.”

  Avery whirled to find Regan standing by the windows. The light filtering over him cast mysterious shadows across the sculpted angles of his face. He’d changed into casual black pants and a blue dress shirt that hugged his broad shoulders and enhanced the color of his eyes. Despite her growing hatred for this man, something inside her reacted to him, and her pulse raced.

  “Where are my friends?” she demanded.

  “They’re safe.”

  “Where?”

  “Don’t worry about them.” His voice was a caress against her skin. “There is something more important right now.”

  “Not to me.”

  “Really?” He purred as he strolled closer to her. “I’m not more important than them?”

  “No.”

  “Ah, but I think I am,” he said as he stopped before her.

  Avery tilted her head back to glare at him. “I don’t care what you think.”

  When his sensual lips parted, and he gave her a cocky smile, the impulse to kiss him again tore through her. Avery quivered with dread and a yearning she despised as she fought to restrain the clamoring urges of her body.

  Just one more kiss.

  Before she knew what was happening, his arms wrapped around her, and he was enveloping her within a cocoon of power.

  What are you doing? He’s evil! What about Reid?

  Reid, she thought, but her feet refused to move as Regan lowered his head.

  Remember Reid. Hold on to him. Remember… remember…

  But a cloud had descended over her mind, and no matter how she strove to remember someone… No, it was something important she had to remember, wasn’t it? Then it all slipped away from her.

  Shivers of longing raced over her flesh when Regan’s hands ran up her back, and his lips brushed hers in a butterfly caress that seared her to her toes. She moaned as she forgot everything except this man and his effect on her body and soul. The deepening kiss swept Avery up in a tidal wave of emotion as lava coursed through her body. Her knees turned to Jell-O, and she slumped in his embrace.

  When he pulled away, a sense of overwhelming loss crashed over Avery. Whimpers issued from her throat, and she could scarcely believe they came from her. A part of her knew she should be ashamed by her behavior; the other part didn’t care.

  The desperate need in Regan’s eyes rattled her, but she didn’t know if that need was for her or something else. But what else can it be for? And what am I doing here?

  With the kiss broken, some of her senses came back to her and Avery tried to recall why she was here, but she felt like she was trying to swim through quicksand. His hands tracing her spine weren’t helping her. She tried to ignore the desire his touch awakened so she could think, but it was so difficult.

  She was missing something, forgetting something…

  The image of black leeches, tiny monsters, and hideous flowers floated through her mind. Then a pair of beautiful silver eyes filled her vision, and she recalled the pleasure the touch of another gave her. That pleasure wasn’t as all-consuming as this one, but it wouldn’t destroy her as she knew this touch eventually would. No, that touch would lift her up and make her stronger instead of trying to make her forget everything that mattered to her.

  Reid!

  She wrenched free of Regan’s arms and stumbled into the wall, almost knocking herself over. “No!” she cried. “I’m with Reid. I want him, not you!”

  Regan’s face hardened, and smug superiority lit his eyes. “You don’t kiss like it’s him you want.”

  A wave of shame washed through her as she remembered her awful behavior. What was this control he had over her and why? There had to be some way for her to break it, but she was scared she’d never be able to free herself from him.

  “That kiss meant nothing!” she spat.

  “You didn’t feel anything from it?”

  “No.”

  “You’re lying; I can see it in your eyes and feel it in the way you respond to me. I can give you whatever you want, Avery, and take you wherever you ask to go. I can show you all the wonders of the world and make all your dreams come true. Do you like jewels? I can give you any jewel you desire.”

  He held his hand out to her, and an array of glittering jewels materialized in his palm. It had to be another one of his tricks, but they all looked so real. Avery’s mind spun as his voice wove around her, seeming to drape her like a warm cloak. He was doing something to her again as those eyes and that voice worked their way inside her.

  Remember Reid and the others! Remember what he’s done to you.

  “And what do you want from me in return?” she managed to choke out as she put more of her weight on her wounded ankle. The pain lancing up her calf helped to keep her grounded enough to recall the horrible things he’d put them through since arriving here.

  “I only want to be with you, Avery.”

  It couldn’t be that simple, not with him. He wanted something more, but he’d never tell her until it was too late. By then, she would have sold her soul to the devil, and she’d never escape him. He would destroy her; she was sure of it.

  “I don’t want to be with you,” she said.

  “You can deny it, but we both know the truth; you want me too. It’s only a matter of time before you come to me. I can wait until then.”

  “That will never happen.” The hypnotizing effect he had over her eased when he moved away from her. “Where are my friends?”

  “They’re around.”

  He smiled cruelly before vanishing with a flick of his elegant fingers. “Regan!” she shouted as she spun in a circle. “You can’t hide them again!”

  She received no answer from him. “I will never be with you!” she bellowed.

  Knowing she would get no response, Avery stalked over to the door and flung it open; it bounced off the wall with a resounding bang. In the hallway, Alex, Rosie, and Tina jumped and braced themselves as if they were about to be attacked. Avery gawked at them before racing over and flinging her arms out to embrace them.

  “I’m so happy to see you!” she cried.

  “We thought he took you,” Tina gushed. “I was so scared, Avery. Don’t disappear like that again.”

  “I’ll try not to,” Avery vowed, but she had no idea what Regan had in store for any of them, and sh
e didn’t expect it to get any easier now that she’d denied him.

  CHAPTER 28

  “We should start searching,” Alex said.

  Avery released them and stepped back. “Are you going to explain what is going on?” Tina asked.

  Avery didn’t get a chance to respond before Alex opened the first door and they all leaned forward to peer into the large game room. Pool tables, pinball machines, foosball tables, arcade games, a giant chessboard, dartboards, and five large trunks packed the room. The red and black checkered squares that made up the floor shone under the glare of the overhead lights.

  They exchanged wary glances before stepping into the cluttered space. When Rosie entered last, the door slammed shut behind her with a thunderous crash. Avery jumped and then sighed. She should be used to it by now, but her nerves were completely frayed.

  Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her escalating dread. She could handle this. She could handle anything after having to deal with Regan again. Avery wished she could erase her memory of Regan’s touch, but she couldn’t bury her guilt over letting that monster kiss her again. At least this time she’d been able to come to her senses on her own, but that didn’t make her feel any better.

  “Why did the door do that?” Tina asked.

  “Someone’s in here,” Avery replied.

  “This doesn’t look too bad,” Rosie said.

  “Neither did the pool,” Avery reminded her.

  “Good point.”

  They spread out to search the room. When Avery flung open one of the trunks, a pile of games spilled around her feet. She kicked aside the checkers, marbles, dice, game pieces, and cards before peering into the space beyond.

  “Here!” Rosie cried.

  Avery turned to find Rosie tearing a large closet apart. Seven-foot-tall, marble chess pieces toppled out and bounced against the floor. Through the jumble of pieces, Landon emerged. Her beautiful hair was in disarray, and her aqua eyes sparkled as, behind her gag, she smiled. Rosie tore the gag from her mouth to reveal a smear of blood at the corners of Landon’s mouth.

  “I thought you guys would never find me,” Landon said, her voice dry from the cloth.

  Alex ran over to help Rosie untie her as Tina and Avery walked over to watch while they freed Landon. When Landon stepped from the closet, they all embraced with a desperation bordering on frantic.

  Rosie pulled away and wiped the tears from her face. “Landon, you have to tell us what your worst fear is.”

  “What?” Landon asked.

  Avery filled her in on what had happened, minus the details of the blue room; she wasn’t ready to let anyone know that shameful secret. Landon’s eyes roved around the room, and her face grew ashen as she listened.

  “Well,” Landon said, “any second now the games in this room are going to come alive.”

  “That’s your fear?” Tina asked.

  “Yes,” Landon said. “When I was little, I used to think that when we left the room, our games and toys would come alive and play by themselves.”

  Landon had just finished speaking when something clattered behind Avery. She had to turn and see what was happening, but she was so tired of this constant battle. When Rosie yelped, Avery spun to find a black knight looming over her with its razor-sharp teeth on full display.

  “Watch out!” Alex shouted as a pawn clattered toward Landon.

  The pawn rotated on its round base faster than Avery would have considered possible as it bore down on Landon. Alex snagged Landon’s arm and shoved her behind him while a white queen rushed forward.

  The marble body of the queen shoved past Avery to go after Rosie. Rosie dodged to the side, tripped over a board game, and sprawled across the floor. Tina raced for the door they had entered through, but the knob disappeared the second her hand touched it. She spun back around and flattened herself against the wall as she gazed around the chaotic room.

  These monstrosities were no more frightening than anything else they’d faced, but Avery found the commotion in the room nerve-racking and confusing. The ping-pong table had come to life; two paddles, suspended by unseen hands, hung in the air as they bounced balls across the green surface.

  The loud clack of pool balls filled the air. The pinball machines and arcade games had become a spectacle of flashing lights and earsplitting dings. The feathered missiles of the darts flew with uncanny aim as one pierced the back of Rosie’s leg. Rosie screamed as she rolled over to rip the dart from her calf.

  Avery didn’t know where to look first or where to go as she tried to get her bearings amidst the turmoil. So focused on the chess pieces closing in on her, Avery didn’t see the rubber ball that hit her in the stomach until it knocked the wind from her and tossed her to the ground. She rolled across the floor as the black king homed in on her with its man-eating teeth bared.

  When it leaned over her, Avery was confident it would fall over and splat her like a bug, but it managed to keep its balance as it grabbed her shirt and plucked her off the ground. Pain lanced down her hands and arms as she beat against the marble while the king shook her back and forth like a dog with a rag doll.

  Rearing its head back, the king tossed her across the room. Air whistled around her before she crashed into a wall and the breath wheezed out of her lungs. She slid to the floor and, unable to move, sat with her palms up beside her. She had to keep fighting, but she was so battered and tired that for a moment, she had no fight left in her.

  She thought the king was going to come for her, but a savage gleam filled its blue eyes before it turned and clattered toward Landon. “No!” Avery yelled as adrenaline and terror for her friends renewed her fight.

  She pushed herself to her feet and, dodging a dart that would have taken out an eye, ran toward Landon and Alex. Landon flung her arms up as the king seized her shirt and lifted her. Alex lunged for Landon while Avery launched herself onto the king’s back.

  Landon’s eyes rolled as she pounded her fists against the marble until her hands bled. Avery wrapped her arms around its neck and jerked back. When the king teetered toward her, Avery’s heart stopped as she waited for it to fall over and crush her, but the piece righted itself and flung Landon away. Landon’s head hit the wall with a sickening thud, her body slid limply to the ground, and her chin dropped to rest on her chest.

  “Landon!” Tina yelled as she ran toward Landon’s motionless side.

  The king reared again, and Avery lost her precarious hold on it. She fell to the floor and scrambled to get out of the way when it spun on her. Avery crawled backward before getting onto her hands and knees; she scurried forward only to be cut off by a pawn.

  Avery staggered to her feet and dashed around the king when it moved to block her. The noise in the room was deafening; she could barely think past the pounding in her ears and head, but through the chaos, she spotted something amazing.

  “Tina, Rosie!” she shouted. “The door is over there!”

  Avery ducked a bishop before rolling around the back of a rook. Tina and Rosie appeared in front of her, and Tina gripped her arms when Avery stumbled and nearly fell. Alex stood beside Rosie with Landon’s limp body cradled in his arms. Panic gripped Avery when she spotted the blood trickling from behind Landon’s ear.

  “Is she all right?” Avery yelled over the deafening cacophony of the room.

  “Yes,” Alex said, but unease filled his onyx eyes. A tennis ball crashed into his cheek and knocked his head to the side. “Ow!” Alex’s face contorted as a red welt emerged on his face.

  Rosie reeled back when a knight closed in on her; she knocked Tina and Alex off balance, and they fell into a wall. Avery leapt toward them and instinctively positioned herself between the others and the knight. Regan had said he didn’t want to hurt her; she’d been beaten up since then, but would they come through her if she used her body as a shield?

  Eerily grinning, black and white monsters circled them and clattered steadily closer. Avery gulped; would they attack her to get at them?
However, none of them tried to grab her shirt again, not even the king who’d flung her across the room.

  “What do we do?” Tina grasped Avery’s arm as a dart careened past them.

  “Landon, wake up!” Alex yelled and tapped her cheeks.

  Landon groaned but didn’t wake.

  “Get up!” Rosie yelled and tugged on Landon’s arm. “We need your powers!”

  Avery lost sight of the door as more chess pieces swarmed them. “Rosie,” Avery said, “it’s been a while since you used your powers, are they stronger now?”

  “Get away!” Tina screamed as she ducked a pawn swiping at her.

  A ball hurtled past Avery and smashed into the wall, cracking the plaster; it would have indented her face if it had hit her. “Rosie?” she yelped.

  “I’m trying!”

  Avery’s heart sank when the pawn made another lunge toward Tina; eventually, these things would get past her. Avery spun on the pawn, and her eyes narrowed on the monstrosity; she was desperate to stop them from injuring anyone else.

  “Please, leave me alone,” Tina pleaded.

  That wretched plea broke something inside Avery, and before she knew what was happening, the power flowing through her flashed up and burst free of her. The force of it tore some game pieces in half, others shattered on impact, and the rest fell over with resounding bangs. The ping-pong paddles clattered to the table as the balls rolled off and bounced onto the marble. The darts fell as the arcade games and pinball machines shut off.

  The silence filling the room was almost as unnerving as the roaring clamor that had filled it. Rosie gawked at her as she inspected Avery like she was an invader from Mars.

  “All right, Rosie!” Alex shouted triumphantly.

  “I didn’t do it,” Rosie whispered.

  “What do you mean…?” Alex’s words trailed off as his gaze traveled to Avery.

  Avery shrank away from their suspicious stares. She didn’t know why, but she felt like she’d done something wrong. “It just happened,” she said defensively.