Dark Secrets (Dark Heritage #1)

by Samantha Hoffman

  *****

  More than seventy-two hours passed in total silence down in the dungeon cell. I wasn’t sure why Andrew hadn’t come back for me again, but that wasn’t the most pressing of my problems. I was more worried about why the Council hadn’t come after me yet. If I was such a dangerous weapon that should never be allowed in the hands of someone like Andrew, why hadn’t they busted me out yet? Why let me stay with the one man that not only had a plan to take over the world, but needed me to accomplish those plans?

  On the eve of my sixth day in captivity, I finally heard movement upstairs. Even though I knew it was Andrew coming to visit me, I didn’t mind. Going so long with nothing but the sound of water dripping to the stone floor was driving me crazy, and I found myself thinking nasty thoughts about the water droplets, almost as if they could understand my anger.

  That scared me. People weren’t meant for captivity or isolation, and I was experiencing both of those things at the same time. It probably didn’t help that I hadn’t had anything to eat or drink since the tea that had put my under, and I was beginning to feel the effects of both dehydration and lack of sleep, which I hadn’t been able to do since seeing my mothers ghosts. I’d been keeping watch, hoping that she would find her way back to me, but my hopes were dashed each other that she didn’t appear.

  When the shouting started, my head snapped up, and my hopes surged again. Maybe the Council had finally decided to rescue me. If they did, there was no way Andrew would be able to keep me from them. He had only two or three dozen paid goons, and the Council had to have a lot more than that. There were people like Finn or Ezra that could probably decimate an entire army without much help. If they were here…

  I gripped the cold iron bars in my trembling hands and used them to haul myself to my feet. My leg muscles screamed in protest after having gone unused for more than two whole days, and they shook uncontrollably, threatening to give out from under me. Even if someone did find me and manage to save me, I’d just slow them down because I was nearly positive I wouldn’t be able to run far. Not with weak leg muscles and dehydration working against me.

  The sounds of a fight joined the shouting. The door at the top of the stairs slammed open and a man tumbled down the stairs, crumpling into a motionless heap at the bottom. Andrew’s eyes were closed in unconsciousness, and I could see my pendant hanging around his neck, right beside his black one. They were both glowing brightly, illuminating the dark dungeon.

  Someone ran down the stairs, and when I saw who it was, my heart began to race with inexplicable joy. Finn dug the key from Andrew’s pocket, and forced it into the lock. When the door to my cell slid open, I just stood there for a moment, unable to move. It hadn’t been the Council that had come to rescue me; it was Finn, and he was most likely here against orders.

  “Are you just gonna stand there all day or what? In case you haven’t noticed, this place is swarming with hired guns. Now let’s move!” he shouted, snapping me back to the dungeon.

  I forced myself to follow Finn, but my weakened legs only made it about three steps before giving out from under me. Of course, Finn caught me before I hit the ground, and he frowned. “What’s the matter? Can’t you move?”

  I shook my head. “I haven’t moved or eaten in a while. Finn, I’m so weak.”

  He sighed, and wrapped a strong arm around my back, sweeping me up into his arms. To him, I probably felt no heavier than a pillow, and he ran effortlessly to the stairs. “Wait!” I shouted, startling him. “I need my pendant. It’s around Andrew’s neck.”

  “Ronnie–”

  “Finn, there’s no telling what he could do with my pendant and his. Please,” I begged. “It belonged to my mother.” He turned around and knelt, still holding me in his arms. I winced when he ripped the chain from Andrew’s neck, but I didn’t say anything, because I was glad that he’d listened to me. “We should kill him,” I said, surprising myself at how easy it sounded. “He’ll never stop until he completes his plans. He’s a threat to us alive.”

  “We don’t have time if we’re getting out of here alive,” Finn said almost regretfully.

  Without another word, Finn turned back around and bounded up the stairs, jostling me in his grasp. The way he moved with me in his arms was effortless, and I wondered just how strong he really was. Another thought troubled me more though. How is Finn supposed to protect us both if he has to carry me? I’m putting him in danger by being so weak.

  When Finn reached the top of the stairs, he looked quickly in both directions, before sprinting across the room. He ducked into the parlor room, and he flattened himself up against the wall on the left side of the door. I could hear the sounds of scurrying hired guns running around, and I wondered if they were all supernaturals or not. If they were, they weren’t very skilled to have not found us already.

  When the footsteps had passed by, Finn started to run. Doors flew by faster than I could see, and I kept my face pressed against his shoulder. Everything was already blurry from lack of food and water, and I didn’t need to make myself sick by watching Finn practically fly from room to room, searching for his way out. Plus, he would probably never forgive me if I threw up on his chest.

  We reached a massive oak door, and he brought his leg back and snapped it forward, kicking the door off its hinges with a sound like an explosion. Wooden fragments went flying in all directions, and Finn was running again before most of them had even hit the ground.

  Being outside in the sunlight for the first time in days had me blinking rapidly to keep from crying as the intense sunlight burned my eyes. Colorful patches of light floated across my vision, and I closed my eyes tightly, trying to force them away. They weren’t helping my dizziness any and I could feel the bile rising up in the back of my throat.

  Stop thinking about anything. Just hang tight, and you’ll be home in a little bit. Finn will get us both out of here…

  To keep myself from puking, I focused on the sound of Finn’s harsh breathing as he panted in my ear. His breath was warm on my skin, and the hairs at the nape of my neck rose as little bumps spread over my arms. Next I focused on Finn’s musky scent that smelled of dirt, moss, and the wild, and I felt a warm blush rise in my cheeks at the thought of how masculine he smelled.

  Finn skidded to a halt in the dirt, bumping against me. “Where do you think you’re going?” A voice asked. It was a voice I recognized, even though I’d only heard it twice before. The man whose foot I’d broken during the first attack–the man that had Finn beaten–was blocking our way out.

  And with you in his arms, he’s not going to stand a chance in a fight…

  I craned my head around, and gasped. There was a gun in the werewolf’s hands, and it was aimed directly at Finn’s head. He stood only a dozen or so yards away, but if his eyesight was as good as any other werewolf’s was, he most likely couldn’t miss. “Put me down,” I whispered in Finn’s ear. “You can’t fight with me in your arms.”

  Finn shifted me so I was curled up in one muscular arm, leaving one free to fight with. “Let us by, and I won’t hurt you,” Finn threatened, sounding oddly confident considering he had me in one arm, no weapon, and was facing down a werewolf of equal power that happened to have firepower on his side.

  The werewolf grinned wickedly, revealing razor sharp canines that looked ready to rip into the nearest throat. I swallowed nervously, and hoped that he couldn’t tell how scared of him I was. He’d threatened to slit my throat once, and he probably wouldn’t have any trouble pulling the trigger now. Was I about to die?

  I closed my eyes, unwilling to watch what was about to happen. Strangely, when I closed my eyes, the pendant that was clutched in my hand began to hum quietly, and I could see the souls of recently deceased dogs hanging around. Their corpses were nearby, and a plan quickly began forming in my mind, and I buried my face in Finn’s shoulder again, hoping neither of them would guess what I was up to.

  While Finn and the other werewolf stared each other down with
their hands clenched and nostrils flaring, I took deep, even breaths, preparing to use my power. I could feel it building inside of me, rushing to my fingertips, awaiting my orders. As the power moved through me and I began the job of forcing their spirits back into their bodies, I could distantly hear the sounds of Finn and the other werewolf arguing, but it was almost like hearing something from underwater.

  I was so focused on what I was doing that I couldn’t make out the words, but I could tell that they were harsh and angry. Finn and this other werewolf obviously had history together, and it was giving me the time I needed to reanimate the dogs. I could see them out of the corner of my eyes, and when they started to twitch and get to their feet, Finn and the other werewolf saw them too.

  With their fangs bared, the two dogs charged, tearing across the ground like bullets. The werewolf turned and fired four shots, none of which stopped the already dead dogs. The first to reach him lunged, slamming into the werewolf’s chest and knocking him to the ground with an oomph. His teeth went for the throat as the other dog joined the fight, and Finn didn’t waste his opportunity to escape.

  He shifted me back until both of his hands were under me, and he leapt over the werewolf’s bloody form, sparing him only one last look while he fought of two zombie dogs. He worked one hand free and grabbed the gun he dropped as the dogs attacked, and he waved it around, trying to find the best angle to shoot.

  Finn sprinted off across the grounds, pausing only to bunch his powerful legs before leaping over a low fence. The grass on the other side lead into a thick tangle of trees, and Finn raced for them, still holding me in his arms. As he reached the line of trees, a shot rang out, and Finn gasped in pain, before stumbling to one knee.