“True. But there is also smoke before the fire burns.”
I frowned but continued with my story. “So anyway, I go to bed as normal at ten and set my alarm for eleven-thirty. I wanted to be at the abbey by the stroke of midnight, but I seriously underestimated how fit I was and how far it was.”
He laughed.
“Anyway, it was about half past midnight when I finally reached the top of the steps. I was doubled over, heaving for breath—I’d ran up the whole lot.”
Marcus raised his eyebrows. “Were you seeing spots?”
“I wasn’t seeing anything except darkness. It was a full moon, so the moonlight was my only guide. It was really spooky and just how I wanted it to be. Anyway, I got to the top of the steps and took a breather. Once I was good to go, I headed for the abbey. It looked…” I shivered as I remembered that night “…magnificent. All of its ancient beauty, all that history locked inside those bricks, it was such a sight under a full moon. I was in awe, just stood there, staring.”
“It is quite something at night.”
“I started to get this feeling that I was being watched, you know that nagging little paranoia you get in the back of your mind? So I turned around and right there, against the far wall, was this huge black wolf. It just stood there, staring at me, with its bright yellow eyes gleaming under the moonlight.” I shuddered.
“A wolf?”
“Yes, a wolf.”
“Not a dog?”
I shook my head. “No, this was not the Barghest or a loose domestic pet. This was something else.”
“What happened next?”
“I froze. I just stood there. It just stood there. We stared at each other for what felt like forever. I couldn’t take my eyes away from it, something about it had me hypnotised, completely entranced.” I shook my head, trying to dispel the memories. “Then it started walking towards me.” Terror clenched around my heart in an instant as I relived the moment all over again. “It…it opened its mouth…” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath “…and said my name.”
I waited for the roar of laughter, but it didn’t happen. I opened my eyes and looked up at Marcus. His face clouded with serious shadows; his eyes full of concern. He seemed to be completely invested in my story.
“Then what?” he said, his voice calm and gentle.
“It just kept saying my name over and over again. When it was about ten feet away, whatever hold it had on me broke and I ran away, screaming. I ran down the steps, but I tripped and fell and knocked myself unconscious. When I finally came to, it was stood over me, just saying my name over and over again. That was it. I ran like my life depended on it.”
“That’s quite a story.”
“It’s not a story. It happened. When I woke up, when it was stood over me, I had drool on my forehead. Whenever I doubt myself, I remember having to wash off that sticky, gloopy drool. It was gross. That thing, whatever it could have been, was as real as you and me.”
He squeezed my hand. “Well I promise, Scout’s honour, to protect you from any dogs, wolves, or anything supernatural.”
I gave him a small smile. “This thing was huge. I mean like the size of a small horse.”
“I can manage,” he said, giving me a cheeky wink. “Would you like to do the steps or skip them and go straight to the abbey?”
“If I have a choice to avoid walking up two hundred steps, what do you think my answer will be?” I said, laughing. I could have worn make-up after all.
“It’s one hundred and ninety-nine, and you might say you like the exercise,” he replied, chuckling.
I shook my head. “Sorry to disappoint, I'm not an exercise fan.”
“I guess that denotes where I'm going to park then,” he said, giving me a wink.
Goosebumps popped up all over me and a tingle ran down my spine. I tried my best to ignore it by looking out of the window. As we cruised down Green Lane, the view opened up to reveal the infamous Abbey in all its glory. The collapsed stone walls and the wild countryside laid out before it only ramped up its spooky presence.
Approaching the end of the road, the abbey sat to my left, commanding the darkening horizon like a dark relic awaiting some ancient ritual to revive it back to life. Marcus turned left onto Abbey Lane and slowed the car down to a crawling pace.
“Amazing building isn’t it?” he said, staring straight ahead at our destination.
I nodded, totally in awe of it all over again.
With the stars twinkling overhead and the pale blues of twilight merging into darkness, I allowed myself to imagine what this incredible place must have looked like in all its former glory. What I wouldn’t give to see it as it was.
Marcus drove straight past the entrance to the car park and carried on down Abbey Lane, past the sign that said, ‘No public parking beyond this point’. I was about to question it when I remembered what Sue had told me earlier this morning.
As we drove closer and closer, the old stone wall became of better quality and obviously more looked after than further out on the perimeter. The brewery came up on the right and a violent shudder ran down my spine.
“There,” I said, pointing out of the window towards the stone wall on my left. “It was stood right there against the wall but obviously on the other side.”
“Well then that will be the first place we visit,” he said.
He guided the car around the corner and then parked in one of the spaces against the far wall that said, ‘Permit Holders Only’. I couldn’t help but smirk.
He turned the engine off and glanced across at me. “Ready?”
“I think so...”
He opened his door and stepped out of the car. By the time I'd sucked in a deep breath and released my seat belt, he stood at my door, opening it for me. How deep of a breath had I taken?
“I have to ask,” he said, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “How exactly did you get onto the abbey grounds that night?”
I blushed and giggled, then pointed to two wheelie bins sat against the stone wall. “They give a surprising boost in height.”
He laughed. “We definitely won’t be using them tonight.”
“How are we getting up there then?”
He offered me his hand again which I gladly took. I tried not to let his touch hypnotise me like it had done earlier. I felt so awkward and...young around him, I had it constantly in my mind to be a grown up, act like a woman, not the weird mix of teenager/young adult.
“I’m going to lift you up,” he said. “Then climb up myself.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You’re going to climb the wall?”
“I have quite a spring in my step I'll have you know,” he said, his lips tweaking up into a coy smile.
Looking at his long legs as I got up out of the car, I didn’t doubt him for a second. He reminded me of an athlete, with his lithe strong body. We walked across the empty tarmac space, which had the purpose of being a turnaround point save for a few ‘special’ parking spaces, and reached the wall.
“I need to put my hands around your waist to lift you up.”
I laughed. “Well I didn’t think you were going to levitate me up there.”
Chuckling, he replied, “I didn’t want to put my hands on you without you being aware.”
He seemed to be such a gentleman and I secretly loved it. None of the guys my age would ever think to be so considerate. They'd just grab first and think later.
“It’s ok,” I said, smiling. “You can touch my waist. Nothing else though.”
He tilted his head back and laughed. “Yes, Miss Summers. Of course.”
I braced myself for his touch. Warmth seeped through my top and into my skin. His grip was firm yet light and he lifted me up with no struggle, as if I weighed nothing more than a bird. He sat me down on the grass and then jumped up himself, clearing the wall with one bounce. He made it look so easy, like it was nothing to him, and he did it with such poise, it stunned me. How could someone move with such refinement?
Ever the gentleman, he offered me a hand, which I gladly took. He helped me to my feet, putting his free hand on my back as I stood up.
“Thank you,” I said.
“My pleasure.”
As I stood next to him, he removed his hand from my back but didn’t even attempt to break our hand hold. I ignored my fluttering heart and indulged in the moment. Something about him made me enjoy the closeness. I found him intriguing and I felt the only way to satisfy that was to follow his lead and take the open doors he presented.
“Feeling brave?” he said, gesturing towards the wall, the fateful spot from three years ago.
I glanced over to the wall, my heart now hammering against my chest. I knew there would be nothing there but that didn’t stop the memories from that night flooding back to the front of my mind. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I nodded. “Yes.”
“It really terrified you that night, didn’t it?” he asked as we started walking towards the wall.
“Is it that obvious?”
“What’s the correct answer here?”
I gave a nervous laugh but it came out a little louder and shriekier than I expected. I clamped a hand over my mouth and apologised.
“It’s ok,” he said, smiling down at me. “I can tell you’re nervous. That laugh for one, your pulse is racing like a herd of wild horses, and you have a slight sheen on your forehead.”
Taken aback to say the least, I didn’t know what to say except, “You’re very observant.”
He chuckled. “Bad habit I’m afraid. My parents taught me from a young age to be perceptive of those around me. Sometimes it’s not always welcomed.”
“Yeah, I can see why,” I replied. “I feel like I’ve just been exposed.”
“Your secret is safe with me.”
I smiled at him and I actually found myself believing him too. He didn’t strike me as the sort to make jokes or take the mickey out of anything personal. It was a welcome relief and refreshing to be around someone with old school manners.
Keeping at a steady pace, we eventually made it across the long grass to the exact spot I’d seen my demon. I stood on the spot where it had been, a thousand days ago, and found myself trembling from head to toe.
“Turn around,” he whispered. “And look at where you were stood.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and then slowly did as he said. Half of me expected to see the beast staring back at me, our positions reversed, but when I finally opened my eyes, I saw nothing but darkness, grass, and the looming abbey.
Instantly, my whole body relaxed like I’d just been given a shot of sedative except the drug happened to be nothing but Marcus.
“See? Nothing to be afraid of,” he said.
I nodded and let out the breath I’d been holding. “Thank you. Maybe it’ll help stop the nightmares now I’ve done this.”
He glanced down at me, his eyes full of concern. “You have nightmares about this?”
“Yes. At least two or three times a week.”
He pressed his lips together and seemed to deliberate something for a minute or so. “Well, hopefully this will help.”
Something about his composure had changed, however much he tried to hide it. His entire body had tensed up and I couldn’t help but notice his eyes roving over the horizon like a security camera. We continued on, ambling across the field, making small talk about various wonderings from the past.
By the time we’d made our way around the whole ruins, the moon sat high in the sky, nothing but stars and a cloudless background highlighting its beauty. Even though it was only half a moon, it still looked glorious and seemed to accentuate the setting we were in.
“It’s nearly eleven,” Marcus said. “Perhaps time to be getting Cinderella home.”
“Wow, that’s gone so fast.” I glanced up at him and said, “Thank you for bringing me here tonight. I really do think it’s helped massively.”
“Anytime.” He gently squeezed my hand. “It’s been a pleasure.”
We headed back to the car. When we reached the wall, he jumped down first, landing with barely a sound on the path below. Then he reached up for me, his hands aimed at my waist. I debated sitting down so he could hold me from there, but something made me want to lean into his hands, so I did.
As he brought me down, I felt like I was flying, and for the briefest of seconds, I knew what Baby felt like as Patrick Swayze held her up high. It was an invigorating few seconds that made me feel truly free.
It soon finished however, when reality came back into play and he had to drive me home. All the way back, I chewed on my lip as I debated whether this evening would end with a kiss or not. I was excited to find out but also nervous in case I’d read it all wrong.
He guided the car around the back of the hotel and switched it off. Still undertaking his gentlemanly duties, he opened my door and then took my hand to lead me to my ‘invisible door’.
“I’ve had a wonderful time tonight,” he said, still holding my hand. His eyes exuded nothing but joy. “I really hope I get to see you again soon?”
“I’d really like that,” I said, blushing.
He placed a hand against my cheek and leaned down, slowly, his eyes watching me for a reaction. I parted my lips, anticipating his kiss. He glanced past my mouth and instead brushed a kiss over my blushing cheek.
“Goodnight, Caitlyn,” he whispered. “Sweet dreams.”
My heart fluttered in my chest. I couldn’t deny my disappointment, and also felt slightly idiotic that I’d expected a kiss on the lips, but at the same time, his noble nature only made me want him even more. He left me breathless and giddy.
“Night,” I said, really not wanting him to leave me. “Thank you for tonight. I’ve really enjoyed it.”
“Me too,” he said. “I’ll call you in the morning.”
He stepped back, only taking his hand from my cheek when his arm could stretch no further. Then he vanished into the dark of the night.
Chapter 5
I couldn’t help but settle into bed with a massive grin on my face. I kept reliving the moment of his lips brushing over my cheek. It felt like I’d been touched by pure velvet. As my eyes became heavy, I allowed my imagination to take over and wonder what a kiss on the lips would have felt like.
As I slipped into sleep, the ghost of Marcus’ kiss pressed against my face, making me snuggle further into my pillow. I couldn’t wait to see him again. Finally, I gave in to the darkness and hopes of Marcus filled dreams.
Looking around me, horror filled every last fibre in my body. The moon hung high in the sky, its full body gleaming down on earth and highlighting the abbey in all its ghostly glory. Behind me stood the very wall I’d seen my wolf demon at three years ago. Then I realised the truth—I was now exactly where it had been.
I glanced out across the field, holding my breath, waiting for my eyes to come across what I knew would be there waiting for me. Sure enough, there it stood, in the spot I’d been in three years ago. Our places had been switched.
It stared at me. I stared at it. Its yellow eyes burned through my memory and settled right in my core, in the depths of my soul. They were such a haunting sinister shade, nausea and fright welled inside me just looking at them.
Step by step, it padded towards me, never blinking, never taking its eyes off me, and never altering its slow, methodical rhythm. I inched backwards, not wanting to make any sudden movements. When my back hit the stone wall, the wolf only a few metres from me, I froze.
My palms were flat against the rough bricks, my fingertips pressing against the coarse surface harder and harder with each step it took.
“Caitlyn,” it said.
Its voice sounded terrifying, deep, grumbling, almost ghostly but demon like.
“Caitlyn.”
I gripped the bricks and felt a sharp scratch against my fingertips.
“Caitlyn.”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
“Caaaaitttttlyyyyynnnn.”
“Caitlyn. Caitlyn.”
My heart rate had blurred into one long beat. My entire body shook from head to toe.
Then, silence.
I held my breath for several seconds. Nothing. I let my breath out and then dared to partially open an eye and peek through it. Nothing. I relaxed and opened my eyes fully, then lifted my hands from the wall.
Blood poured down my fingertips, smeared all over my palms. One of my nails had a chip in it right down to the nail bed, its throbbing telling me I’d gotten dirt in it.
I looked up, ready to walk back across the field. As I did, the wolf jumped at me, pinning me back against the wall. Its hot breath covered my face and its burning yellow eyes were all I could see. As it started chanting my name over and over again, I could do nothing but close my eyes and scream.
Jolting upright in bed, heaving for breath, I ran a shaky hand through my hair and sucked in a deep breath. So much for the theory of last night’s expedition helping stop my nightmares. I’d never had a change of dream before though. The nightmares I still suffered from were that night replaying over and over. This was new.
I glanced towards the kitchen and debated getting a glass of water. As I did, I swear I could make out the shape of someone’s head, neck, and shoulders.
I frowned. “Hello?”
Nothing but silence greeted me but the quiet somehow seemed heavier, like something might be forcing the stillness.
I turned to my bedside table and grabbed my phone, tapping the screen to life. The bright light barely breached the opaque corners of my apartment, but it cast enough of a glow for me to see that of course, nothing and no one were in here, except me.
Ambling over to the kitchen, I grabbed a glass and filled it with water. As I took a gulp of water, I noticed something murky on the side of the glass. I flicked the kitchen light on to get a better look. When I saw bloody fingerprints all over the crystal-clear tumbler, my heart leapt into my throat.
Love, Lies and Immortal Ties: A young adult paranormal romance (Love, Lies and Ties Book 1) Page 4
