I had everything I could ever want, could ever need. I had found the place where I belonged, and I would never give it up for anything or anyone. I would fight tooth and nail for them, for this. I would fight even death himself.
As if death was a person.
I was just about to kiss Dylan when I heard something wet sliding behind me. I spun on my heels, eyes locking with Maze. His nose, the cartilage, the entire thing had slipped off his face, revealing a giant hole where it should’ve been. Bright red blood seeped around the wound, and Maze’s eyes widened in shock. I was frozen, rooted in place, watching in horror as he lifted a hand and touched the area where his nose should’ve been.
“Maze,” I said, “don’t move.” I wasn’t sure why I pleaded with him, but I knew each movement he made would only make it worse.
But Maze wasn’t listening. He touched his face, dragging his fingers down. As they went, they peeled off the skin above his lips, revealing tendons and veins. “Addie,” he spoke, hard to do considering his lips were in the process of sliding off, “I don’t understand.” The last word was totally incomprehensible, an assault on my ears.
“Maze!” I shouted his name, watching as he completely fell apart, pieces of skin sliding off until he was nothing but a skeleton, still somehow standing on his own two feet. My eyes could not look away as Maze turned his skeletal hands so his palms were up, as if he wanted my help. His jaw moved, teeth gnashing against each other, but no words came out; he had no tongue.
I turned to look at Dylan, hoping he could help, hoping he could do something to fix his twin, but he faced a similar problem. I reached for his face, trying to stop his cheeks from sliding off, but all I gripped was mushy, decaying flesh. Dylan quite literally fell apart in my hands.
I screamed, tears falling from my eyes before I could stop them, not like I would.
Tears of blood.
Chapter Twenty – Addie
As I came to, the first sound I heard was raucous laughter. I blinked my eyes open, staring at the side of my cage. The metal bars around me were a more welcome sight than Maze and Dylan in my dream, or whatever the heck that was. Something induced by Clay. I felt wetness on my cheeks, and furiously swiped at my eyes, realizing I’d cried from my dream, from what Clay had done to the twins.
Clay held onto his stomach, his painted face twisted in amusement. The sword hovering before Landon shook slightly, keying me into the fact his magic was connected to his emotions. Was it something I could use against him? Regardless, I had to think of a way to get the sword away from Landon.
“I’m sorry,” Clay said, so obviously not sorry, “that was completely wrong and vile of me. It’s just, you know, a little payback for you mocking my name. I had to.” His smile dimmed somewhat, and he whispered, “I do so look forward to getting to know you even better, Addie.” He lifted his gloved hand, his fingers curled.
I felt something touch my cheek, though I saw nothing. Using magic, he stroked my face, and no matter if I moved my head or not, the feeling remained. It made my stomach ill and my mind furious. Who was he to play with me like this? I was not a doll, not a toy, and these wolves?
Somehow, I would pay him back for all he had done.
Instead of saying what I really wanted to say, because I knew I had to play nice with him until I figured out a way out of here—if there even was a way—I asked, “Is the sword still necessary? You have me. You’ve been inside my head—”
Clay cocked his head, the expression on his face making him look younger than what he was. “Ooh,” he murmured, his voice far too calm, “this one is yours too, isn’t he? He doesn’t have much time left, I’m afraid. I was going to drain him tonight.”
I did not want to get into specifics with him, didn’t want to explain the long story about my chosen guys—even though he’d seen into my head and memories, so he knew all about it already—I nodded along when he asked if Landon was mine. It wasn’t like I could say, I only met the man once, and he was kind of a jackass, so…
The last thing he said, though, made me ask, “Drain him?”
The hand that had been magically caressing my cheek dropped as he nodded. Clay was all too willing to explain, “I am not just a warlock, Addie. I’m a special kind. Of course, you wouldn’t know, since I just broke our existence to you, but let me educate you. Every witch and warlock has the capacity for whatever they put their minds to. But, for the sake of it, and since we have not figured out the spell for immortality yet, most choose a school to focus on. I am what some call a death priest.”
A death priest. That did not sound good. It sounded the furthest from good something could possibly be. I felt my breathing catch in the back of my throat, and I locked gazes with Clay, unable to look away.
“Do you know why we’re called that?” Clay asked in a whisper. When I said nothing, his brown irises flashed a blood red, glowing, burning their mark in my soul. My heart sped up, and I wanted to crawl out of my skin.
The blood on the walls, the stains on the floor, every bit of red, congealed blood in the place lifted from the wood, floating. It joined into one piece, one shimmering, magical sphere of blood floating just outside her cage.
“Everything that gives life, everything that’s a little dark, spells that other witches and warlocks forbid themselves from,” Clay said, reaching for his one glove. He pulled at the pinky first, then he went finger by finger until he loosened the thumb. He did not pull off the glove, though. “We revel in. There is a price, but it is one we are more than willing to pay.”
I could not blink, did not dare turn away as Clay finally slipped off his glove. The reason he wore only one was because what sat underneath was not a hand. At one point in time, maybe. Now it was nothing more than a skeleton hand with a few loose and dried-up tendons, enough to let him bend the hand and use it.
“Another demonstration,” Clay said, his voice growing in my head, echoing through the cabin. His reddened eyes flashed an even brighter hue, and the sphere of blood slowly broke apart, sifting through the air as it made its way to his skeletal hand.
How much of him under that suit was a skeleton? I wondered. My dreams of skeletons made too much sense now. Were visions and premonitions a thing for witches? Was that why I’d had such crazy dreams lately?
The blood wrapped around the skeletal hand, curling and coiling, solidifying as it went up his sleeve. The whole thing took maybe a minute, and when the floating sphere of blood was gone, Clay stood, flashing a semi-formed hand at me. Missing skin, but much more than a skeletal hand now. Red and pink, muscles and tendons formed.
Clay frowned at his new hand. “Fresh blood always works better and lasts longer.”
It took me far too long to find my voice. “That’s why you’ve been killing wolves? To keep yourself alive?”
“I’m not that old, Addie. It’s not like I’m immortal. Death will take me like it takes everyone, eventually. He is our master, each and every one of us.” Clay slipped on his glove, hiding the glaring red on his newly-formed hand as his eyes returned to brown. “It is the spells we cast that drain our lives faster.” There was too perfect of symmetry on his painted face, on either side of the straight white line, as he smiled. “If you shifters would help a priest out, maybe I wouldn’t have had to linger here for so long.”
He turned to Landon’s cage, raising his human, flesh-covered hand and flicking it aside. The hovering sword withdrew from Landon, returning to the table of torture instruments. With another wave of his hand, the table vanished, and the only things in the cabin were the two cages, along with Clay and his wolf.
“I’ll give you some time with him, because I’m feeling generous and I know it’s a lot to take in,” Clay spoke.
Suddenly the cage I was in was not separate from Landon’s; the bars above us had joined, as had the sides and bottoms. It was now one, huge cage we shared, with a lone, magically-locked gate.
Clay’s gaze shifted, and he no longer stared at me. It was like he was
momentarily somewhere else, not truly in his body. It was a long moment before he snapped back. “Those fucking wolves will not leave the barrier alone, even if it means pain.” He laughed, though I saw nothing funny about it. I hoped the others would be all right, hoped they wouldn’t be stupid enough to hurt themselves over and over in the sake of trying to break through. “Maybe I should let them through and take care of them, though I hate to dwindle my supply of shifters if I don’t end up getting what I need from you…”
“No,” I said. “Please.” I had nothing to bargain with, nothing to tempt him with, and he was way too nuts to leave them alone out of the goodness of his heart. I wasn’t even sure he had a heart, beneath his suit. It could be all skeleton. The thought of any other wolf being in the position Landon and I were in caused me great stress and anxiety. I’d do anything to stop it from happening. “I’ll do whatever I can to—”
“I know you will,” Clay said. He looked to his wolf. “Rufus, guard them. Make sure there is no Houdini escaping. No biting or scratching her, too. I want her intact when I get back.” He sent a smile to me before disappearing from my sight. Within a blink, he was gone.
Had he disappeared to go to the barrier and take the wolves there? Maze, Forest, and the others? Or had he gone somewhere else? It was possible he was reporting to his master, whoever the hell he was, which meant, maybe, I had some time.
Beside me, Landon’s wolfish head stirred, and his body let out a low whine as he slowly moved a paw over his ears, as if trying to rub his head. His blue eyes turned toward me, and I didn’t know what to say or what to do. It wasn’t like I could make this better. This was a disaster of epic proportions, and I had never come face-to-face with a death priest before.
I didn’t even know death priests existed before ten minutes ago.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, unable to take the pained look Landon wore. As a wolf, it was difficult to discriminate one facial expression from another, but just like with my inner wolf, I knew what he felt.
Then again, it didn’t take a high IQ to know he was in pain. I wanted to add, I’ll find us a way out, but I kept quiet on that, partly because of the wolf in the corner of the cabin and partly because I wasn’t quite sure if I could get us out of here.
Landon struggled to move, the dried blood on his brown fur matting the hair and turning it black.
“It’s okay,” I said, gingerly setting a hand on the top of his head. The instant I touched him, he calmed. His head seemed to be free of wounds, so I ran my fingers through his fur, pretty much petting him like he was a dog. I rubbed his ears, which he seemed to like, based on how his eyes closed and he leaned his head on my lap. “I hope you didn’t storm off all because of me.”
If he had, if I was the only reason he went off that day…well, all of this would be my fault, technically.
Landon let out a loud breath, moving one of his paws and resting it over my knee. I wasn’t sure what he was trying to say. Did he blame me? Was he trying to tell me it wasn’t my fault? Would he have stormed off either way because he was kind of a jackass?
Now would be a good time to suddenly learn how to speak to animals. I could talk to Landon and also the wolf in the corner.
The scarred wolf had laid down before the magical fireplace. His ashy blonde fur danced with red, and though the beast looked like it was resting, I could see the glimmer of its slit eyes, and I knew it watched me, watched us both.
Clay had control over him. Was it an unbreakable link, or could I try to sever it? I was part witch or warlock, apparently, so I had a bit of magic in me. Somewhere, deep down. I’d made a book float with my anger. Surely I could do more?
The question was how.
Chapter Twenty-One – Addie
Trying to sever the link between Clay and the other wolf was the best plan I had, although I had no clue how to go about it. If I closed my eyes and concentrated, would I be able to feel it? I’d felt the barrier almost instinctively; would I be able to feel more if I tried to? Maybe opening my mind up was all I had to do.
Or maybe I was so wrong and off base.
Why was magic so complicated? Everything would’ve been so much easier if no one had lied to me, if my mom hadn’t kept these things from me. Granted, it wasn’t like Sarah could teach me spells and whatnot—it would’ve been my father’s responsibility, if he was still alive—but still. I could’ve been better than I was now.
I had a sudden and unwelcome thought. What if Clay felt me trying to sever the link? What if he came back and killed Landon right then and there because of it? Was it a risk I was willing to take?
Landon’s head on my lap, the way he struggled to breathe in deeply, the glazed look in his eyes told me he didn’t have much time anyway. I had to try. It was now or never, do or die, literally.
“Hey,” I spoke, Landon’s head still on my lap. My gaze was on the wolf near the fire, and though his green gaze was not fully opened, I knew he watched me right back. “Your name isn’t Rufus.”
Okay, well maybe it could be, but what mother and father would name their son Rufus?
“You have another name,” I said. “What is it?”
Silence. Heavy silence, save for the occasional crackling of the fire.
“You don’t have to be under his control, you know. You can be your own wolf. You can help us get out. You can save us.”
Saving Landon and I seemed to be the last thing the wolf wanted, for he turned his head to the side, effectively staring at the wall.
“Okay, you don’t have to save us. Just let us go. Don’t chase after us.”
Wishful thinking, all of it.
If only I could talk to wolves…
I stopped. I couldn’t talk to wolves, but I had one inside of me. Would my inner wolf be able to help? Maybe, but I would have to reach her first, and getting there while conscious seemed an impossible task. It was one I would have to try, if Landon and I had any hope of getting out of here alive.
I closed my eyes as I laid back. Landon took his head off my lap to watch. I had no time to explain my plan; really, it wasn’t even a plan—I was just throwing a bunch of things at the problem and hoping something stuck.
If I had any hope of reaching my inner wolf, of stepping foot in that forest I knew was my mind, I had to shut my racing thoughts off and calm my rapidly-beating heart. I breathed in through my nose, feeling my lungs rise with a slow, meaningful breath. Once I’d taken in all I could, I held it in for a few seconds before releasing it.
Over and over I breathed like this, focusing on relaxing my nerves and body until I could hear no other sounds. My mind was slow to shut off, and soon I knew. Somehow, I just knew when to open my eyes again.
When I did, I found myself laying in the forests of my mind. I sat up, looking around. My wolf sat ten feet away, her head cocked as it stared at me quizzically. My wolf probably wondered why I was here, or maybe even how I got there.
I didn’t have time to explain it all to her, though maybe the wolf knew, since we were one in the same. I still didn’t understand it perfectly, but now was not the time to sit and wonder.
“I need your help,” I said. “I need to talk to another wolf while he’s still…well, wolfy. Is it possible?”
My wolf responded by standing, trotting closer, stopping only when she stood beside me, her brown and pink fur less than a foot away. The wolf turned her emerald stare upon me, and I knew what I had to do. I could not let my wolf out, not yet, but I could let my wolf in.
What was the difference? I didn’t know; I only knew there was a difference. Slight but distinct. Perhaps due to my father’s side, due to the magic running through my blood. It was very probable I had different options because I was a half breed, a hybrid. Not fully a shifter and not fully a witch.
I set a hand on the side of my wolf’s muzzle, running it along her cheek and down to her chest, stopping when I felt my wolf’s heart beating beneath my palm. “It won’t be too long, girl,” I promised, “before yo
u’re out of here.” Before she and I were one.
Today was not that day.
A rush flowed through me, taking hold of each and every part of me. My muscles hardened, my hearing adjusting. A whirlwind of sounds and sensations catapulted around me, and when I opened my eyes, I saw everything anew. New, fresh colors, even in the night of the forest. When I breathed, I felt each and every muscle contracting, expanding, and then shrinking.
My wolf sat across from me, her eyes even greener than they were before, her tail wagging slowly. Thump, thump. I could see, hear and feel the movement of my wolf’s tail. Everything was intensified, amplified.
“Thank you,” I whispered. Even my voice sounded different. Softer but firmer, more confident and smooth. “I’ll be back for you soon.” It was a promise, a promise I would not break.
I let my hand slide from my wolf’s chest as I closed my eyes. Once again, I focused on my breathing, on getting back to the real world.
It was only a few seconds until I no longer smelled the forest’s scent of earthy nature, no longer heard my wolf’s slow and steady humming of breath through her snout. When I opened my eyes, I was back in the horror cabin, though I’d admit it looked a lot less scary now, with the blood gone.
Beside me, Landon’s head sprung up fast. A lot faster than I thought him capable of, given his grievous wounds. His metallic stare was wide open, and his thoughts raced. I knew exactly what he thought too, because…
Because I was as one with my wolf as I could be without actually shifting. Because I felt everything my wolf felt and thought everything my wolf thought. Every instinct, each and every impulse, I now had.
Landon couldn’t really sense my inner wolf before. The others could, only slightly. Now, it was glaringly obvious what I was—a female shifter. A female shifter with no mates. Deep down, I knew the word: unclaimed.
This would change things, I knew. Speed certain things up.
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