The Cursed: Book Three in The Tainted Series

by Anna Hill

  She hadn’t walked alone in the woods since the morning after she’d first dreamt of her father. Since that day, she’d relived the dream almost every night. His voice always sounded so real and so close, as if she could reach out and touch him. He was trying to contact her. She was sure of it. When she’d used her thoughts and not her words to control Faolan, she’d already discovered something Liam hadn’t known the Feicann could do. What if now she was somehow using this new found ability to communicate with her father? What if he was out there, searching for her, and her Feiceann side was allowing her to see it? What if he was the one who could save her from herself?

  Rebecca shook her head, breaking the trance she’d fallen into. She’d been standing under the frame of the wide-open front door for nearly five minutes, lost in her thoughts. She needed to clear her mind, to relax it just as Liam had taught her. Perhaps a little time alone in the woods would help her clear her thoughts and center herself.

  Zipping up her coat, Rebecca stepped onto the porch and down the front steps. As she made her way out toward the tree line, she took in the drastic changes in the surrounding landscape. In less than a week, spring had arrived. The temperature had gone from utterly freezing to approaching sweater weather. With each passing day, the layer of snow covering the ground was shrinking steadily. In some areas, small tufts of grass were already poking through.

  With the end of February looming, Rebecca realized that it had been almost six months since she’d left Cle Elum. Nearly half a year since she’d seen Emily. For all she knew, she might never see Emily again. With her Feiceann instincts becoming so difficult to control, it was probably for the best. And yet, the thought that she might lose Emily forever threatened to shatter Rebecca’s heart. Emily was the only person in Rebecca’s life who she’d ever truly considered to be family.

  Rebecca suppressed the sadness that had settled in her chest. There was enough going on in her mind as is; no need to burden herself any further.

  Reaching the trees, Rebecca kept her pace slow and steady. The forest was filled with the rhythmic dripping of melting snow falling from the branches above and gradually revealing the evergreen boughs. The frozen ground crunched under her footsteps, the muddy earth beneath the layer of ice slopping onto her shoes. On some of the undergrowth she could see a few small buds beginning to grow. It even smelt like the beginning of spring, as if the earth was slowly awakening around her.

  Rebecca walked alone for nearly two hours, practicing her breathing exercises and clearing her mind. Eventually, she made her way back to the house. She would have happily stayed out in the woods all evening, but she had made it a habit to check in with Maverick in the afternoon, to make sure he wasn’t pushing himself too hard. No matter how many times she told him that he needed to rest, he seemed determined to ignore her.

  As Rebecca traveled up to the front of the house, she realized that the garage door was open and their SUV was missing. A minor panic came over her. Could Maverick have been stupid enough to take it? He was barely walking! What if he’d run off again on one of his idiotic missions?

  All of a sudden, Rebecca’s ears pricked with the distant sound of an approaching vehicle. She pivoted to face the driveway and was surprised to see not one, but two SUVs making their way up the long, winding road.

  She waited in silence, watching as the vehicles traversed toward the house, parking side by side in front of the garage. She recognized the crew’s SUV, but she’d never seen the other, nor could she see who was behind the wheel.

  As the engines turned off, Faolan stepped out of the SUV parked closest to Rebecca. “Been out in the woods?” she asked as she swung her door closed.

  “I went for a walk,” Rebecca answered as she attempted to peer over the vehicle to get a look at the one parked on the other side. “Who’s that with you?”

  “Rebecca!” The voice was just as cheerful as ever.

  “Fina?” Rebecca struggled to hide her shock as Fina rushed around the side of the SUV and pulled her into a tight hug.

  As Fina’s arms wrapped around Rebecca’s shoulders, an image of Breadan flashed into her mind. She saw his neck snapping brutally to the side and his shocked, lifeless face disappearing backwards into the thick fog, just as if it were happening right in front of her once again.

  “How are you?” Fina asked, a bright smile on her face as she pulled back and looked at Rebecca.

  “I’m--I’m fine,” Rebecca stumbled, working to hide her discomfort. She tried to shift her mouth into a smile, but she could tell it looked as disingenuous as it felt. The last time they’d met, Fina had assured Rebecca she harbored no ill will toward her for what had happened to her brother. Still, as kind and as happy as Fina always was, Rebecca found it hard to believe that she’d truly forgiven her, especially since Rebecca hadn’t even forgiven herself.

  “You look really good,” Fina gave Rebecca’s arm a soft, reassuring squeeze, as if she’d somehow known the thoughts in Rebecca’s mind.

  “Come inside and I’ll gather the others,” Faolan asserted, making her way up toward the house.

  “Nice place you guys have here,” Fina remarked sarcastically, as she and Rebecca followed Faolan through the front door. “Do you each have four bedrooms?”

  “Five, actually,” Rebecca joked. If Fina could be so nice to her, she deserved the same treatment in return.

  “You two go wait in the downstairs living room while I gather everyone else,” Faolan commanded before turning and heading up the stairs to the second floor.

  “Downstairs living room?” Fina laughed. “Are there multiple?”

  “Three, actually,” a deep voice replied.

  Both Fina and Rebecca spun to see Maverick leaning against the far wall. A sheen of sweat glistened off his forehead and his chest rose and fell quickly with short, puffed breaths.

  “You overdid it again, didn’t you?” Rebecca rushed over to his side, pulling him up so part of his weight could lean on her. “How many times do I have to tell you--”

  “Don’t push yourself too hard,” Maverick interjected in a mocking voice and smiled down at her.

  Rebecca scrunched her face in exaggerated contempt, “Exactly.”

  Fina walked up to them, grabbed Maverick’s other arm, and pulled it around her shoulders. “She’s right you know; you look like you’re about to pass out.”

  Maverick tightened his arm around Fina, drawing her into a strong one-armed hug. “It’s good to see you.”

  Abruptly, she wrapped both her arms around his torso, trembling as she squeezed him tightly. “I’m so glad you’re OK,” she whispered into his chest, her voice wavering. “When I heard what happened to you I--I--”

  “Hey, hey. Stop!” Maverick pulled back slightly from her. He lifted a hand and wiped away a tear that had escaped down her cheek. “It’s OK, little Fina. I’m OK. See, totally fine.”

  Fina nodded sheepishly, brushing her cheeks as a soft smile parted her lips.

  “Well, if you keep pushing yourself like you have been, you won’t be,” Rebecca declared and gave him a knowing glare.

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it. You’re right, I’m wrong. Blah, blah, blah.” Maverick rolled his eyes dramatically as he held his hands up in surrender.

  Fina laughed and wiped again at her cheek, her sadness quickly fading away.

  “OK now ladies, would you be so kind as to help move these damaged goods into the living room.”

  With Maverick’s arms over their shoulders, Rebecca and Fina supported the bulk of his weight as he hobbled down the hallway to the large, downstairs living room.

  Like the rest of the house, this room had a distinct cabin-like ambiance--that is, if cabins could be gargantuan mansions. Two long, rustic, brown leather couches and two matching wingback chairs encircled a large, opulent coffee table made from the stump of an absolutely massive tree. Horns of all shapes and sizes adorned the soaring walls of the room and, at the far end, a beautiful stone fireplace roared to life afte
r Maverick flicked a switch on the wall.

  “Say what you will about this place, but it sure has some style,” he commented as he reclined on the nearest chair.

  “I could definitely get used to this.” Fina sprawled out on one of the large couches, throwing her hands behind her head.

  “Not too shabby, huh?” Owen chuckled as he entered the room.

  “Owen!” Fina sprang up from the couch and rushed over to give him, Aeden, and Trysten long hugs. “It’s so good to see everyone!”

  Rebecca stared at the door for a second longer, expecting to see Liam walk through, but he never came. She slowly turned and made her way over to the couch, guilt creeping into her chest. She tried to assure herself that he was probably just out on patrol and couldn’t join them. But, deep down, she knew his absence was intentional. He was avoiding her.

  “Good to see you too, Fina. To what do we owe this pleasure?” Owen asked as the rest of the crew headed over to the sitting area.

  “Fina has something she needs to tell us about, something rather important,” Faolan responded. Instead of sitting like the rest, Faolan wandered over to Maverick’s wingback and leaned against it. “Also, I’ve invited her to join our crew.” She looked down at Maverick, awaiting his reaction.

  “Of course!” Maverick exclaimed without hesitation. “As long as your safe house is well taken care of, we’d be lucky to have you.”

  Fina’s smile disappeared instantly and she began fidgeting uncomfortably in her seat. “Actually, that’s kind of why I’m here.”

  “What do you mean?” Maverick’s sat up a little straighter, hearing the tension in her voice.

  “Well, I don’t really know how to say this. I mean, you all deserve to know, that’s why I came. I just wish I wasn’t the one who had to tell you.”

  “Out with it already,” Aeden jested. “I promise, we won’t shoot the messenger.”

  Fina gave a soft, timid laugh, but her face remained somber. “Etain arrived at our safe house a little over a month ago.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, Rebecca saw Maverick go rigid in his chair. The room hung in a tense silence until Fina continued, everyone’s nervous eyes pinned upon her. “At first, I thought it was only a routine visit, so I happily invited her in. She told me she had some important information she needed to share with everyone and asked me to gather the household. She asked for everyone to come to the meeting, including the youngest children. I should have known something was wrong then, but I did as she asked.

  “When we were all together, she started to tell us about what happened at the other safe house when it was attacked. She told us how Aeden was badly hurt, how several young Truaillithe died. She told us it was all Rebecca’s fault. She said that the soldiers that had been sent were Elites, like those whose bodies we’d found at our house. She said that they had attacked because of Rebecca, that they were killing us all because they wanted to get to her. She said that the children died, that Aeden almost died, because of her.”

  “No way!” Aeden yelled, his face growing red with rage as he nearly leapt out of his seat. “How can she say that? The Elites were attacking the house before we even arri--”

  “Sit down,” Faolan commanded. “Let her finish.”

  Still agitated, Aeden sat back down slowly, crossing his arms over his chest as he fought back his anger.

  “I know,” Fina said timidly. “I knew it was a lie the moment she said it. But unfortunately, not everyone thought the same. Looking at the other’s reactions, I could see that many were beginning to believe her. You see, Etain has been calling the safe houses for months, telling everyone that we needed to be wary of Rebecca, that we needed to be afraid of her.”

  “What?” Shock and fury spread across Maverick’s face.

  “Fina is telling the truth,” Rebecca whispered, causing the entire room to spin their attention toward her.

  “You knew Etain was doing this?” Maverick struggled to come to grips with what he’d been told. Etain had been his closest friend for years. How could she stab him in the back like this?

  “Fina warned me months ago,” Rebecca continued, “when we went to their safe house to examine the Elite’s bodies.”

  “And no one thought to tell me about this? No one thought I should know what she was doing behind my back?” Maverick’s nostrils flared with rage.

  “Not many were listening to her back then,” Fina spoke up. “None of the Truaillithe were taking her seriously. We’ve all spent our lives being feared for being different. So, Etain trying to spread that same fear about one of our own didn’t go over well, initially. But, after she told us about Aeden, they began to believe her and what she said next only solidified their belief.”

  Fina fell silent. She lowered her eye line to the floor and took a long, slow, deep breath. As she exhaled, she brought her eyes up to meet Rebecca’s, tears glistening at their corners. “She told them about Braeden--about what happened to him when we were attacked. I couldn’t believe she would bring that up, especially in front of the young children. She told everyone that Rebecca caused his death. That--that she killed him.”

  Disbelief and grief hit Rebecca like a weight crushing her chest. As much as she knew Etain claims were false, there was still a gnawing doubt in the back of her mind, always there, always darkening her thoughts. Could she have done more? Could she have somehow saved Braeden?

  “She was lying. I was there. I know what really happened,” Fina desperately reassured Rebecca. “It wasn’t your fault, Rebecca. No matter what Etain believes, I know the truth.”

  Then, abruptly, she turned and addressed the rest of the crew, “I spoke up immediately. I tried to tell the house what I’d seen. I tried to tell them what had actually happened to my brother, but no one would listen. Everyone started yelling, blaming me for not telling them sooner about what had happened. They accused me of taking your side--over my own brother’s.”

  Fina’s voice cracked and tears began streaming down her cheeks.

  “It’s OK,” Owen, who sat next to her, pulled her toward him and into a tight hug.

  “I know it’s hard, but you need to tell everyone what happened next.” Faolan’s grave face made it clear that the worst of the story was yet to come.

  Fina sat up straight again, striving to keep her emotions in check so that she could continue. “They put Etain in charge of the house. I didn’t want to stay. I don’t think Etain wanted me there either, but I knew I needed to keep an eye on her. It wasn’t long before she began reaching out to the other safe houses, even visiting several of them to tell her story in person. She made everyone afraid of, even hate, Rebecca and I couldn’t stand it. I started calling houses behind her back, to warn them of what she was doing and tell them my side of the story. I think it helped a little, but so many of them already believed her.”

  Fina turned to face Maverick, “Then, when we got word about what happened to you, I knew there was no stopping her, so I left. I was finally able to locate Cailleach a few days ago and she put me in contact with Faolan. There are likely still a few in the safe houses who don’t believe Etain’s lies, who refuse to follow her, but the majority are on her side. I’m so sorry. I wish I could have done more.”

  “It’s OK, Fin--”

  “Dammit!” Maverick yelled, slamming his fist into the arm of his chair and cutting off Faolan. “Damn her!” He pounded it again, his entire body now shaking with rage.

  “Maverick!” Faolan stared down at him, stunned.

  “I should have known she would do this. I should have known she would betray me!” He stood quickly from his chair and attempted to say more, but instead he collapsed forward, gripping his chest in pain.

  “Stop. Now!” Faolan demanded. “Yelling helps no one here, especially you. We need to address this like adults.”

  “Is that what she’s doing?” Maverick’s anger was mirrored on Aeden’s face as he stood too. “She’s using fear to turn everyone against Rebecca. And if they�
��re against her, then they’re against us. Etain’s tearing us all apart.”

  “I agree,” Faolan said, trying to calm the group down. “But getting angry at her won’t help the situation.

  “I need to leave.” The room fell silent, every head spinning to look at Rebecca as she rose from her seat. “It’s what I should have done as soon as Breaden was--” Rebecca couldn’t finish her sentence.

  “Rebecca, don’t be ridiculous. If you leave, you’re giving her exactly what she wants. You’d be letting her win.” Owen stood as well, facing her.

  “Maybe she should win. Maybe she’s right. How many more of you have to get hurt before you understand that?”

  “Rebecca, we’ve discussed this before. We’re all aware of the risks we’re taking.” Faolan’s penetrating glare held Rebecca’s eyes. “We’ve made our choice. The same choice we know you would make for us.”

  “You’re one of us. You’re one of the crew.” Trysten rose as well. The whole room now stood, facing her, determination written across their faces.

  Rebecca was touched. What they wanted to do for her was extremely valiant, but that didn’t change the truth. That didn’t change what she had to do.

  “Thank you,” she responded, scanning the resolute faces of the crew. “It feels good to hear that. You’re right. I’ll stay. We can figure this out together.”

  Rebecca smiled softly, even as her own resolve solidified inside of her. She would stay--for now. But, when the time was right, she would disappear.

  The tension in the room eased as nearly everyone nodded encouragingly. Faolan, however, continued to stare sharply at Rebecca. After a few seconds, Rebecca couldn’t take her intense stare any longer and looked away.

  “Fina, I think you and I need to speak together, alone,” Maverick said as he began hobbling toward her.

  “Of course.” Fina hurried over and pulled one of his arms around her shoulders. “We can speak in your room so that you can rest.”

  “We should start making dinner,” Faolan reminded the rest of the crew.