by M. R. Polish
“I can try. He’s been having a hard time hearing me lately.”
Why did I not know that? I didn’t have time to think about it any longer. “That’s fine, just try, please.”
She disappeared into the air, and I spotted Ian picking through the debris over by where the front door used to be.
I went over and picked up some of the smaller pieces, moving them out of the way. A large beam fixated right at the door, stopping our progress.
“Alright, Princess, it’s time to use those powers.” He gestured to the door with his hand.
Ugh, this was so not a good day. I moved my hand out and lifted the beam upwards then to the side. After some coaxing, the beam followed my command and moved off to the side.
We cleared the door. Well, as good as we could anyway. Ian opened it, and I became confused. Nothing outside changed during the tornado. What happened?
Ian shuffled past me as I stepped out of the house onto the dirt ground.
“Jarak is on his way.” I turned to spot Luna by the door and nodded.
“What is going on?” I asked.
“I don’t know, but I don’t like it… Dregan!” Ian hollered. His massive black wolf appeared next to him.
“I think I found something.” I flinched when I heard Dregan talking to Ian. Even though it was sporadic, hearing more than one wolf was unheard of. I still hadn’t heard Hela, my dad’s wolf, so I wasn’t sure what to think of the fact that I could hear both Maztic and Dregan. I shook my head slightly, clearing my head. I needed to focus.
Heavy footsteps sounded and Jarak with both of my parents came running from around the corner of the house. He rushed up to me, embracing me. Jarak pushed back and looked me up and down. “Are you okay?”
I nodded and brushed more dirt off my legs and arms.
“Luna told Maztic that you and Ian were trapped in a house. And, your dad had a vision of the house. That’s how we knew where to find you.”
I nodded again. “It’s because of the Joining Spell.”
“Yes, but I didn’t think we’d receive actual sight or visions in times of distress. Your blood is exceptionally strong—magically.” My mom stepped forward, closing the distance between us. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“Ian was the one in more danger.” I wasn’t sure why, but I wanted them to recognize him.
Jarak tensed up. “Why?”
“He threw himself over me, protecting me with his body.”
“I’m fine, let’s not talk about it.” Ian squatted down beside Dregan.
“Well, there must be something in the house because nowhere else seemed effected.” My dad darted up the rickety steps of what used to be the porch.
“I thought it was a tornado, but I was able to stop it.” I hesitated. I wasn’t sure I wanted to go back in there.
A cold chill swept over me and a shiver coursed down my body. Something wasn’t right. Then everything stopped and looked as if I moved with super speed while everyone and everything was slow motion. Glancing at Jarak, he seemed still, too still. My heart sped up.
“Esmerelda…”
I spun around to meet the voice. A lump formed in my throat.
“Esmerelda, join me.”
My breathing picked up the more I became scared. Nothing was right. An abnormal movement to my right caused me to turn. Nicholas stood right before me, or an apparition of him. He was iridescent, and I could see through him like a ghost.
“I knew you’d come.”
“What do you want?” I shivered again, this time from fear.
“You know what I want. You. It’s that or everyone you know will have to die to get what I want. If that’s what you choose, then I’ll kill you too.”
I shook my head. “You can’t have me. You can’t have them!”
“You mean I killed all these people for nothing? You can save them, help me turn them. With your magic and guardian blood, you can revive them without me having to kill you. Let them live!”
“No! That’s not living. I can’t. I won’t!” As soon as I started yelling, everything went back to how it was. Instead of yelling at Nicholas, I yelled at everyone.
Ailaina’s face scrunched together in concern. “Are you okay? What’s going on?”
I turned, looking for Nicholas. He wasn’t anywhere that I could see. I spotted my dad, still on the steps, staring at me, as was everyone else.
“Nicholas was just here. You didn’t see him?” I scanned each of their faces.
“We didn’t see anything,” Ian said.
I threw my hands in the air. “Well he was right here!”
My mom rested her hand on my shoulder. “I believe you.”
“Then what was up with the house?” Ian asked.
I shrugged. “I haven’t a clue.”
“I think I know.” My dad squatted down and moved a piece of debris off a step. Jarak went over to help him lift a large board, but then held it up for me to see.
I gasped. It was what I searched for. My name in blood.
My mom walked over to them. “I think I understand now.”
I twitched my mouth. “Good. Then you can explain it to me.”
“He knew you’d see that picture and come. There must be a reason he wants you here. He bewitched it so when you entered the house it would trap you. Only, your magic is strong, and you were able to stop the spell before it could finish.”
Ian stepped up. “So no tornado? It was just a spell? That was one hefty dose of magic.”
I let out a pfft. “Yeah, you’re telling me.” I stepped over to where my dad sat not talking, just staring at my name.
I walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Are you okay?”
He reached over and patted my hand with his. “Yes. I don’t know why it seems as if the universe always wants to take you away from me.”
“It’s not the universe, Dad, it’s Nicholas.”
“I hate to break the moment, but why was Torres the only one to get a vision? Why not all of us?” Ailaina looked at my mom.
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. Like I said, I didn’t even know that would happen. It might be who the spirit wants at the moment, or maybe who would be the best person for the one in need.”
“What did he say to you?” Jarak came up behind me.
“What?”
“Nicholas. You saw him, what did he say?”
I scanned the disaster we stood in. “He told me this was my fault. All of these people who died did so because of me. He said I could bring them back. My magic could do it, but that’s when I yelled out, and he was gone.” Tears blurred my vision as I thought about it. My heart was heavy. Was this really my fault?
“Don’t think about it. It’s not your fault. He’s the one who killed, not you.” I stood back up, and he tried to make eye contact with me. I looked away, embarrassed that I was crying.
Jarak ran his hand up and down my back. “He’s right. You didn’t do this. It’s not your fault.”
I wiped the tears off my face and sniffled. I needed to suck it up, at least for right now. A low groan startled me. “Did you hear that?”
“Yeah, it’s coming from inside the house.” My dad shot back up and dashed through the doorway.
“We were just in there. No one was there, and if they were, they would’ve died,” I whispered to Jarak.
“But you guys came out alive.”
“Yes, but we have abilities humans don’t have…” my voice trailed. “Dad!” I jumped over debris and ran in the house. “Dad!”
“Over here!” I could hear his voice over by where the stairs used to be.
Jarak and Ian rushed past me. I followed with my mom who quickly entered with Ailaina. The men were moving boards and pieces of home decor. The groaning got louder as they hurried to uncover the victim.
“Be careful. I think it might be someone Nicholas tried to turn.” I bit the inside of my cheek. Anxiety crept up my spine as I waited for the guys to uncover the stranger.
My mom grabbed my hand, and I squeezed hers in return. I pushed out with my power trying to see if I could feel anything. It was as if I reached my hand out in fire. “Wait! Stop.”
“Esmerelda, we have to dig him out.” My dad didn’t stop.
I left my mom and went over to Jarak, tugging on his shoulder. “Stop, please. It’s a vampire. I can feel him.”
All three of them stopped and looked at me. “What?”
“He’s a vampire, but he’s weak. I think that even if you dig him out, he’ll still die. Besides, we’re supposed to kill them anyway, right?”
Jarak bent back over and shimmied a beam out from under a wall. “We have to, Es. He might have a message from Nicholas. Why else would he be in this house?”
I sighed. A bloodied hand that popped up through the debris moved. Ian heaved the heaviest piece of sheetrock off the body. I gagged at the sight and covered my mouth with my hand then looked away. Even under all the blood and gruesome bluish puss that crept out from his mouth, I could see Trevor. A section of the wall had embedded itself into his stomach. I knew he didn’t have a lot of time left.
“Esmerelda…” Trevor’s voice was weak. He tried to lift a hand out to me. I took a step back.
“How? Why?” I wasn’t sure what I wanted to know first.
“El no me necesita más… ” His eyes closed.
“In English damn it! Your dying, just talk to me!” I yelled at him. I knew he would be dead in a minute, but I needed answers.
“He says he isn’t needed anymore.” Jarak looked up at me then back down to him. I watched as the bluish tint crept down Trevor’s face.
“Trató de encender. No es lo suficientemente fuerte.” The blue turned dark, almost black as his body started decaying in front of us. His eyes stared at me. I swore they teared up, but that could have been my own.
“What did he say?” I whispered.
Jarak lay Trevor’s hand down, and we watched as it too shriveled and fell apart. My eyes never left his. Why didn’t his eyes leave? I couldn’t take it. They looked just as they did the day I met him in Spain. The copper color looked bright and alive.
“He said Nicholas tried to turn him but wasn’t strong enough. I believe he fought against it.” Jarak choked a little at the end.
Finally, Trevor’s eyes sunk in then rotted with the rest of him. Parts of him crumbled, turning to a dark ash. I fought the urge to cry, but lost. A sob escaped my throat, and Jarak wrapped his arms around me. “It’s okay, Es.”
Ian cursed under his breath bringing me out of my thoughts.
I looked over at him. He stared at the wall behind me. Before I could look at what he saw, Jarak took my head in my hands and wouldn’t let me move.
“What is it?” I cried out and struggled to get loose. Defensible magic didn’t work on Guardians, so I needed to use my strength, which at this moment, wasn’t much.
“Don’t let her look Jarak, get her out of here!” Ian yelled.
Jarak tried to move me, but I wriggled free. I almost wished I hadn’t looked. Smeared on the wall behind me was blood, fading away, but I could still see it. It still had a shiny gloss and ran down the wall. It read: Your fault.
The words faded into the wall and disappeared. I needed to get away, to go somewhere where I was all alone and I could breathe.
I ran outside and didn’t stop. I rushed past the group of Red Cross volunteers making their way past the house. My vision clouded over with tears, but it didn’t stop me. My foot caught on something as I made my way through the wreckage of the tornado. Flinging my hands out to catch myself, I found a sturdy pole; at least I think that’s what it was. I didn’t have time to debate as I continued to run.
Jarak
A hand caught the tail of my shirt as I lunged for Es. “Let her run, Jarak,” Ailaina whispered. “She needs some time.”
I kicked out at a wall. “Nicholas is close, she shouldn’t be by herself.”
“I’ll go watch over her.”
I scowled at my brother. “No. If anyone goes it’s me.”
“Yeah, because we both know how well you take care of your girlfriends. How could you even think that I’d be okay with you attempting to be with Esmerelda anyway? You know exactly what she means to me and yet you push yourself onto her. Don’t you think you had your chance at happiness?” Ian started for the door.
Adonia beat him there, stopping anyone from leaving. “Both of you will just let her be for a minute. Let her breathe without one of you taking all of her air.”
I ran my hand through my hair. Crap.
“Besides, we’ll know where she’s at. We’re tied together, remember.” Torres gently brushed past his wife.
I threw my hands in the air. “Fine.” I walked past Adonia and outside where Torres stood, waiting for us to come out.
“Maztic… watch her for me.”
I knew he would do that. He knew how much I loved her and would protect her—I couldn’t lose her too. This whole trip to find the tomb stressed me out. I wasn’t sure how the ending would be, but I couldn’t think about that now, I needed to make sure she was okay. It didn’t matter what she was to Ian, maybe she would chose me.
“So what next?” Ian spoke behind me, coming out of the house too.
“We go to the witch’s tomb. I believe that is why Nicholas lured Esmerelda here, but there is nothing left here for us to find.” Adonia answered. She held her head high as she walked to Torres.
“Great, more witches.” Ian’s sarcasm rolled out of his mouth a little too easily for me. I walked over and slugged him right in the jaw.
I wrung my hand out. Dang, he had hard bones. He looked at me with a stunned expression. “What was that for?”
“You know how much I care about Es and you can’t stop yourself even for a minute to appreciate her or what this means. More witches, yes, bring them all if it helps her!”
“You have no right to say that to me. You know how I feel about her! Of course you’d want them to come back to life! Have you even told Es?”
“Boys!” Torres stepped in between us. “Now is not the time. I can feel something, but it isn’t right. We need to find Esmerelda, now.”
I stopped my anger long enough to feel the ominous feeling. He was right. Something was amiss. Es. My heart sped up.
“I can’t feel where she’s at.” My eyes widened. I could feel her, but not her location. “I thought you said we’d know where she’s at!”
“The spirits have chosen one of us to know, but it’s up to them to give the gift when they are ready. Esmerelda must not be in imminent danger, or we’d know. We might be feeling something that won’t happen for a short time.” Adonia tried to reassure all of us, but I didn’t feel it.
I scanned each of their faces. “Okay, so which one of you knows where she’s at?”
Adonia looked at Torres. He lowered his eyes and shook his head.
“Ian?” Ailaina looked hopeful.
He let out a heavy sigh and grimaced. “No.”
“Me either.” She chewed on her bottom lip.
I willed myself not to panic and focus on finding her.
“We need to get going. There are too many people around to talk anymore.” Torres pointed to the group of volunteer workers searching the area for survivors.
I nodded in agreement. “Where do we go?”
“Since we don’t know where she’s at right now, we need to separate until we either find her or the spirit shows us where she’s at.” I didn’t like Torres’ idea, but it was the best we had to go on.
“Alright, so when we find her, what next?” I asked.
Adonia gestured for us all to walk as we talked. “We’ll let everyone know that she’s found, but instead of backtracking to travel together, we’ll just all meet at the tomb.”
I stepped over a fallen tree. “Where exactly is the tomb?”
Ailaina shrugged her shoulders. “In the middle of Tennessee.”
Stopping in my tracks, I looked at h
er. “You mean you don’t know? Just somewhere in the middle of Tennessee?” I threw my arms up in the air, “Great. Just freaking great!”
“Ailaina will know. She has the power to locate them.” Adonia looked over at Ailaina and nodded. “You can try tonight at the hotel.”
“Okay, I’ll try.”
“Fine. Let’s just go.” I took off, not waiting for anyone to say anything.
Twenty Six
Esmerelda
S ince leaving the house, I hadn’t stopped running and now my lungs hurt each time I breathed in. A sharp pain in my side made me stop and bend over, and apply pressure to it with my hands. It was dark, and I knew I should turn back around and find everyone, but I didn’t know what to say yet. How long had I been gone? Two, maybe three hours?
I sniffed again. My nose still ran from crying so much that I couldn’t even do that anymore. All of my tears were gone, dried up and making my eyes burn. I looked around me. Everywhere I glanced was a tree. The whole state was nothing but green and I had no clue where I was. I backed up into a tree trunk and slid down to the ground, choking another sob back.
“Esmerelda.”
I looked up and saw Luna then reached out for her. Why hadn’t I thought to call her before? It didn’t matter. She was here now. She pushed her muzzle up under my chin. I hugged her, not wanting to let go. I didn’t have to say anything. I knew she could feel what I felt.
I cried harder, tears coming from an unknown well. Why was I so stupid to leave by myself? Nicholas could be anywhere, and here I was in the middle of who knows where, the sun already set, with no protection other than my magic and Luna. Dark shadows played with my mind, and I could no longer hear the birds singing.
I silently prayed that whoever the spirits sent my location to was on their way soon. There was no way I could find my way back now. Luna might be able to help, but without light, it would be hard.
Rustling leaves and twigs snapping caused me to tense up and place my protection shield up. I scanned the area, but it was hard to see. Please don’t let it be Nicholas.
“Princess…”
I released the breath I held and jumped up. Thank goodness.
