Wolf Spell

by M. R. Polish

  “Well I guess we’d better get going.” I was in a hurry, but he knew that. I picked up the duffel bag full of weapons I’d brought with me. Reaching in my back pocket, I grabbed my cell. I needed to call Victor. Ree would be next; she went out hunting for Es too. We thought we’d cover more ground if we split up.

  Ailaina was already in the passenger seat as I threw the bag in the back seat and jumped in to drive.

  After two rings, he picked up. “Hello.”

  “Hey it’s me.”

  “Did you find her?” He sounded distressed.

  “No, but we know where she’s at. We’re headed there now. Zona Alta.”

  “We’ll meet you in the Parc De Monterols, it’s a garden in the vicinity of Zona Alta. We can discuss the plan then. Meadow sucked three hunters dry who we found hiding out in Calamocha, east of Barcelona. She is thirstier than usual if you know what I mean.”

  “I can only imagine. We just took care of four here. Alright, it’s ten now, can you be there by one?” I didn’t want to wait any longer than I had to. I could hear her calling to me and it killed me not helping her faster.

  “Yeah.”

  “Okay.” I hung up without any goodbyes.

  Maztic walked to the edge of the tree line. “I’ll meet you there.”

  I watched him fade away into the air. Reaching for the keys, I couldn’t help but think of Es and that night we escaped for a burger. I slammed my hands against the steering wheel.

  Ailaina rested her hand on my arm. “It’s okay, we’ll find her.”

  I clenched my jaw and ground my teeth. “Yeah.” I turned the keys, and the engine roared to life. Punching the gas, I peeled out of there. I couldn’t get to Barcelona fast enough. From here it was about an hour away.

  Poisoned

  – Esmerelda –

  October 28, 2012

  I grimaced as Nicholas tightened the rope around my wrists, twisting them behind my back. He stood up and pulled his long blond hair back, revealing his tanned, chiseled face. Nevertheless, his whole persona reeked of evil.

  “Did you enjoy the darkness, my sweet?” He traced a finger down my cheek, making me shiver. I wanted to puke—his touch nauseated me.

  I didn’t say anything to him, glancing down instead. My jeans were torn, and I could see dirt caked on to them along with my skin.

  “I think by the time we’re done, you’ll want nothing more than to work for me.” He was so sure of himself, but I blocked him out, focusing on all the energy around me as Moriah said to do. “I’m not nearly as bad as some would want you to believe.”

  I spit at his feet, my saliva landing mere centimeters away from his shiny black dress shoe.

  He backhanded me across my face. The ringing in my ears drowned out whatever he said, clearing enough to catch the last part. “Didn’t your mom ever teach you that it’s not lady-like to spit? Oh, wait… you didn’t have your mom, did you.”

  I shrugged letting him know my indifference. I couldn’t care less what wasn’t lady-like right now. I’d shove my unladylike foot right up his backside as soon as I had the chance, but he’d tied my feet to the chair too. My adrenaline pumped fast, giving me needed energy. I wasn’t going to let him get to me with remarks and hurtful words.

  He turned and walked out of the room, giving me a chance to look around at my surroundings. The light from the sun shining through the windows blinded me after being in the dark earth for so long, and I had to blink repeatedly to keep the burning tears back.

  I did a quick surveillance. There were two windows, both with iron bars on the outside and with only one door— the one where Nicholas had just left. It was like a study with bookshelves lining the wall farthest from a desk, with God only knows what sat on top of its wooden surface. It looked like something from a horror movie. Glass jars with gel-like liquid made me gag. I had no clue what was inside those, but I had a hunch it wasn’t good. At least I didn’t see human body parts floating in them.

  I could hear footsteps in the hallway getting closer. Nicholas came back in the room carrying a cluster of plants with shiny black berries.

  I gulped. “What is that?”

  He raised them up and looked at them as if they were no big deal. “This, my dear is Belladonna.” Oh, I was in trouble. I thought that’s what it was, but I didn’t want to be right. I squirmed, trying to loosen the knots in the rope.

  Meadow taught me everything about herbs and nature in my training, and this was one of the first plants we studied. It was the most toxic plant to witches—ever. Even a tiny amount would make a witch delusional with hallucinations for days and possibly kill you. Anything more than that would kill you for sure. It sucked your magic, leaving you vulnerable. It was what she thought poisoned her before the accident. Right now was a time I wished I wasn’t supernatural, and then I wouldn’t be so scared of the plant.

  Where was Jarak? If there were ever a time for a dramatic rescue, now would be it. I didn’t even care if he had a freaking white horse and knight’s armor. I just wanted someone to save me.

  I pulled at the elements around me, trying to focus on my own energy. I didn’t realize being in the dark void for so long would drain me as much as it had. A plant in the corner wilted as I sucked it dry. After a few tries, I magicked a small knife in my hands and tried to cut the rope that held me, but it was harder than I thought.

  “Now why would you do that?” He set the plants down on the desk, next to the creepy jars.

  “Do what?”

  He stood before me in a flash and grabbed my throat, tightening his fingers, closing off my airways. “I can feel your energy drawing from everything in this room. You do not go against me. You will work for me.”

  I squirmed and wriggled in the chair. Fighting against him, desperately needing him to let go, I dropped the knife. I didn’t have enough energy to use my magic against him. I guess now would be the time I would’ve used Jarak’s training that I blew off. The room blurred then faded. Finally, he let go, and I gasped for oxygen.

  I watched him through blurry eyes. He placed the plants in the bowl fashioned like a stone grinder, looking as if it came directly from the caveman days. He used another stone to mash the leaves and berries together. A faint bitter smell from the berries wafted in the air. I threw up a little in my mouth, and then gagged as it slid back down my throat.

  He carried the plants over to me. “So, will you help me create my cross-breed army? You can be my queen as I will be your king.”

  I shivered. The thought of being his anything was repulsive. “Go to hell.” I clenched my teeth.

  He frowned. “Well, thankfully I have found other ways to make this work without you. It’ll take more time, but the effects will be the same. Not to mention, I’ll have to kill more witches to make it work…”

  I didn’t wait to hear anymore and used whatever energy I had to send a gust of wind through the room, sending papers and plants flying around. I wouldn’t give up without a fight. I shot a current of electricity directed at him.

  He dodged it right before it found his chest, then holding his hand up he redirected it, and sent the jolt into the desk. The wooden desk exploded into splinters around us. The wind picked up the smaller pieces shooting them into the walls. It was as if we were in the middle of a tornado.

  I couldn’t do much with my hands tied behind me, so I concentrated on the rope, feeling it loosen. I wiggled my hands enough until they were free. Nicholas’s hands shot out toward me, but I placed my hands in front of me, blocking his energy.

  Thankfully, he let up. My energy wasn’t up to par yet, and I could feel myself weakening. I sucked in air as if it was water in a desert. I wasn’t sure how long I could last against him. He was a seasoned warlock with almost three hundred years of training, and I was drained.

  Before I knew what had happened, he soared over to me and shoved a mouthful of the mixed berries and plants in my mouth. “If you won’t work for me, then I’ll make sure no one else can use yo
u either,” he seethed.

  I coughed and spit out as much as I could, but I knew that too much had made it into my system. Anger boiled under my skin, making my body shake. It wouldn’t be long before I would be gone. I needed to do whatever I could to stop him. I listened and pulled from every living piece of energy I could find, including his. I soaked it all in, letting it fill me entirely.

  The room spun around, and I saw shadows flutter around both of us. I couldn’t see straight anymore. The Belladonna already took effect on my body. I could feel the warmth flooding my limbs, making them heavy. I blinked several times trying to clear my head, but it didn’t work. I focused on him as much as I could. Nicholas’s body stretched and bent in odd shapes. Bile rose and burned the back of my throat. I was unquestionably sick.

  I pushed my magic out. I didn’t know where I threw it, but I knew that not using it could be worse. Urging out more, I saw more shadows dance around the room.

  Warmth seeped from my nose. I wiped it away with my hand, and it came back crimson. I continued to thrust everything I had toward Nicholas. I saw him fly backwards from the force of my energy.

  “Es!” I heard the most beautiful sound of my knight in shining armor before everything went dark.

  – Jarak –

  “Maztic, in here.” I swallowed hard as I watched Es fall over.

  Ailaina brushed past me, holding Es’s head up. Tears ran down her face. “Jarak, I think she’s alive, but barely.”

  Nicholas lay slumped in the corner of the room, but my attention wasn’t on him. It was fully on Esmerelda.

  I placed my fingers on her neck searching for a pulse. “Please beat, please.” Then I felt it, very faint, but it was there. Thank you God. I nodded at Ailaina, reaffirming her that she was alive.

  I twisted and spotted Nicholas trying to get up. All my fury and rage exploded, and I unleashed it on him. I kicked him in the jaw, sending him backwards into the wall, and Maztic jumped on him, biting him. I bent down closer to him, then with all the force I could muster I punched him. He stopped moving.

  I sprinted toward Es, where Ailaina already had her legs untied and held on her lap. Maztic growled behind me, causing me to turn in time to see Nicholas dash through the now shattered window. Maztic sprinted after him.

  “He’s gone, he transported somewhere.” Maztic came back through the window. “He did it before I could catch him.”

  I nodded. “He won’t live long. He’ll pay for this.” I picked her up. Her small frame hung limp in my arms. “I need to get her back to Victor. He’ll know what to do.”

  Ailaina stayed close, her hand never leaving Es’s. She looked up at me hopeful. “She’s gonna be okay, right?”

  I wasn’t sure what to say, so I just held on to her tightly. I didn’t know the details of what happened to her, but I hoped she wouldn’t die. I carried her to the car I parked out on the street, out of view from the house. As careful as I could, I laid her in the back seat. Ailaina climbed in with her, resting Es’s head on her lap.

  I quickly jumped in the driver’s seat and took off. Victor searched the other side of Zona Alta. I needed to let him know I had her, so he could meet us back at Ree’s house.

  I sped through the city streets, honking my horn and blasting past everything on the roads. Ailaina never said anything. I looked back in the rearview mirror and watched her cry over Es’s almost lifeless body. I punched in Victor’s number on my cell and waited for him to answer.

  “What’d you find?” He asked as soon as he answered.

  “Hey Vic, I got her, but it’s not good.” I looked back at her and spotted the slow rise of her body. She was still breathing. I didn’t hear anything he said, “I’m on my way to Ree’s.” I hung up. I was in no mood for talking. Besides, he’d let Ree know we were on our way.

  “Stay with me. You can’t leave me, not now,” I whispered, hoping that on some wavelength, she could hear me.

  – Esmerelda –

  I could hear far off and distant voices, muffled in an incoherent echo. I strained to listen. What happened? Where was Jarak? I tried to move but couldn’t tell if I did or not. My body was heavy, compressed as if thousands of pounds lay on top of me.

  I needed to know what happened, but I felt trapped in my own body. The noises sounded as if they were underwater. My mind wanted to shut down, making it impossible to listen anymore. I drifted back off into the welcoming void of unconsciousness.

  I needed to focus. I could still hear muffled voices, but when I opened my eyes, blurry creatures talked back. What’s wrong with me? I used every ounce of oomph I could muster and forced my fingers to move. Exhausted, I wanted to cry, but no tears came.

  Tiny prickles danced across my skin over my hand from some kind of movement. It felt as if my hand had fallen asleep and now tried to awaken. I flinched and tried to move it away, but I couldn’t, I was still too weak. Whatever was on me, hurt so badly. I wanted to cry, scream, yell—anything.

  “I think she can hear us now.”

  Oh my gosh, I heard that. It was small and garbled as if I was underwater, but I heard it. That was the first clear thing I’d heard. I had no clue how long I’d been in this dead like state, but I assumed a while. I couldn’t remember the first time I started hearing voices or seeing blurry creatures, but it felt as if it was weeks.

  “You better be right because if she doesn’t get better any faster, I’m afraid she may not make it.” A man’s voice muddled with another one. I could hear them, but no sound erupted from my throat.

  Who was with me? Where was I? I willed my eyes to open, but they remained shut. Jarak! Ailaina! I called out to both of them in my head.

  “I saw her finger twitch.”

  Hope fluttered inside me. I knew that voice. It was Ailaina. Even underwater garble couldn’t hide my friends sound.

  “Did you see it? She moved! Es, I’m right here, can you hear me?”

  “I’m here! I can hear you.” I tried shouting but still no sound left my mouth.

  Someone grasped my hand, holding it tight. “Es, if you can hear me, squeeze my hand.” Jarak’s voice came through much clearer, except he sounded far away, not muddled like Ailaina’s.

  I was numb, how was I supposed to move, let alone grasp his hand? Didn’t he know what a nearly impossible task he asked of me? Ugh!

  Instead of letting myself give in to the pity party my heart tried to give me, I concentrated on my inner power, grasping around the invisible chord that tied me to Jarak and pulled… hard.

  I used his energy to move my hand. It wasn’t a tight squeeze, but at least I made a connection with him. As soon as I squeezed his hand tighter around mine, the energy drained and faded away. I wouldn’t be able to hold onto his hand for much longer.

  “I knew it!” Ailaina squeaked in delight. “Luna look!”

  Luna? Who’s Luna? Luna must belong to the soft voice I heard.

  “Esmerelda, you need to sleep so you can heal. We’re right here with you.” It was a soft-spoken woman talking. That must be Luna. Her voice was calming, and it helped lull my mind back into the darkness.

  Meeting a Wolf

  – Esmerelda –

  November 1, 2012

  I looked around, watching the pale light of the moon cast shadows around the darkened room. The window was open, letting in a brisk breeze.

  A small shift of movement under the dancing curtains caught my attention. A large white wolf lay curled up asleep on the floor. I watched the steady rise and fall of the beast’s chest.

  Jarak lay sleeping against the massive wolf’s body. He had his legs kicked out and crossed over, with his arms folded, resting on his chest. He looked so peaceful while he slept.

  My heart leapt for joy seeing him there and I wondered how long I’d been out. My memory of what happened was fuzzy. Something pressed me into thinking I needed to remember.

  I sat up, careful not to make too much noise, not wanting to disturb Jarak and the massive wolf. I watched them as
I lifted the coverlet off my legs. The wolf’s ears turned forward as if he listened to my movements. I held my breath and sat still.

  “You scared me.” Jarak spoke without opening his eyes.

  I jumped a little at the unexpected sound. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “I’m not talking about that.” He was fully awake and rose from his position. “I’m talking about you almost dying. I’ve sat here for days while you were unconscious.”

  I lowered my eyes. Warmth spread through my cheeks as I blushed, knowing he’d watched me sleeping for days. “Sorry. How long was I out?”

  “Four days, it was touch and go at the beginning. Victor helped take some of the pain, but he couldn’t do too much since it was a poison deadly to all magical beings.” Jarak stood in one swift motion and was on his feet walking over to the edge of the bed, sitting down next to me. His eyes met mine and I searched his, studying every flake of cerulean blue in his iris. His gaze made me warm all over. “What happened?”

  “I’m not sure, it’s still unclear. I remember the darkness and something crawling all over me, hurting me. Dark shadows consumed me, making me think horrible things.” I shifted my gaze to the wolf, which was now wide-awake yet still under the window. Jarak followed my stare and smiled.

  “Maztic, come here, meet Es.”

  The large beast got up on all fours and stretched his hind legs before leaping over to the bed. My eyes were wide as I watched the full size of Jarak’s wolf come into my view.

  Maztic must have experienced pride at my expression because he puffed out his chest in a proud stance. “Esmerelda.”

  I jumped back, and hit my elbow on the headboard, in my mad rush to move away. “He talked!” I had lost my mind.

  He cocked his head at Jarak, and then looked back at me. “Of course I can talk. I’m just a little surprised you can hear me.” Maztic barked back. It was weird. I heard him in my head not my ears. His mouth never moved.