by M. K. Dawn
“Sounds like a great place for a bunch of witches to hide out.” Darrien jumped to his feet. “I think that’s where we should head next.”
“Agreed.” It was better than searching another damn village. “We’ll need supplies—food, camping equipment if we can find it.”
“Have you seen this place?” Darrien threw the curtain back on the window to reveal the shacks these people called home. “Don’t think camping is their thing.”
“I meant supplies we can easily carry with us. Can you handle that?”
Darrien scanned the room. “When did I get nominated for shopping detail?”
Evie perked up. “I’ll go with you.”
“No,” Ethan and Samantha said in unison.
Samantha turned to Darrien. “I’ll go.”
“Perfect,” Darrien clapped his hands. “Then you can use your mind control to get us whatever we need.”
“Stealing?” Ethan cocked an eyebrow. “Don’t you think these people are poor enough?”
Darrien grinned. “It’s not stealing if they willingly give you the items.”
“It is not willingly,” Nikko dug in his pockets and pulled out the rest of their cash, “if you force them to do it. Here, take what we have left and buy whatever you think we’ll need.”
“What if it's another dead end?” Ethan asked. “We’ll need that money to get home.”
“I will stay behind,” Nikko said without hesitation, like this had been the plan all along. “There is work to be done in this village that most cannot do. I will do what I can and when you return, we will have money to go home.”
Darrien crossed his arms over his chest. “No. This is not the time to split up.”
“It is the perfect time. The four of you—or three of you, if Evie would like to stay behind—can handle whatever it is you find hidden in those woods.”
“I’m not staying here,” Evie said. “I need to go with them. Two wolves versus two vampires. It’s only fair.”
“There are no enemies in this room; no one needs protection from anyone else.” Darrien had a way of getting through to her unlike anyone else. “It may be better if you stay. That way your murderous tendencies don’t interfere.”
“I’m going.” Evie glared at Samantha. “That’s final.”
Samantha was sick of arguing with her. “Come, don’t come. I don’t care. Just keep your opinions about me to yourself.”
As Evie opened her mouth to retort, Darrien interrupted. “We should go get those supplies now before it gets too late. We can leave at sundown tomorrow.”
Samantha followed Darrien out the door, careful to stay out of Evie’s way. Something was going on with her friend and it was more than the werewolf’s hatred of vampires. Not once had Ethan or Nikko treated her in such a way. Plus, Evie didn’t seem to have a problem with Darrien, and he had way more experience being a vampire than she did. There was something else going on. Samantha prayed they’d figure it out before the two of them came to blows.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
As the phone in their room didn’t work, Darrien took the stairs two at a time back to the hotel room after ordering a taxi from the lobby.
Nikko had left first thing this morning wanting to get a jump start finding work in case their venture into the jungle either didn’t turn up anything useful or they found what they needed and got the hell out of there in a day or so. Darrien had thought it’d more along the lines of the unspoken option three: they’d be captured and held prisoner until the next full moon when the natives would try to use them as a sacrifice and have to eat their way out. Since there wouldn’t be another full moon for another couple of weeks, Nikko had plenty of time to make enough money to get them home.
The cracked door of their hotel room allowed Darrien to hear the muffled bickering of the two females. Or more accurately, Evie taunting Samantha to the point of her having to play defense. This would be a long damn trip if they couldn’t find a way to coexist.
Darrien ventured into the room as the conversation heated. “You know I can hear the two of you arguing in the lobby?”
They froze, Samantha with an icy glare and Evie with a seductive smirk. Both put him on edge; each for very different reasons.
Samantha tossed a messenger bag over her shoulder. “Talk to Evie. I’m sick of her non-stop insults. What am I supposed to do, let her bash me repeatedly with a smile plastered on my face? Not going to happen.”
“Ignore her?”
Samantha responded to Darrien’s suggestion with a middle finger as she pushed past him. “I’ll meet you downstairs.”
“Okay. Cab will be here in ten.”
Samantha slammed the door so hard a picture fell off the wall. The glass splinted but didn’t leave the frame, so Darrien rehung it. “Let’s not mention this when we check out.”
Evie’s eyes shone as they locked on Darrien. “Thank God she’s gone. Just the sight of her makes my blood boil.”
“Enough, Evie.” Ethan emerged from the bathroom, hiking boots on and backpack ready. “There wouldn’t be so much tension if you just backed off.”
“But—”
Ethan stopped her with a dismissive wave. “I don’t want to hear any more excuses. I have half a mind to order you to keep your mouth shut for the foreseeable future.”
Her posture sagged. “I’m going to check the bathroom. Make sure we didn’t forget anything.”
“I’ve already done that,” Ethan said, but it was too late; she’d already hurled the door closed.
It was a sound Darrien had sadly gotten used to. “That was harsh. I know you’re new and all, but taking away a werewolf’s freedom is the punishment of all punishments.”
“I’m aware.” Ethan busied himself around the room. “I don’t know what the hell has gotten into her. Even as a child when a group of mean girls bullied her, she never stooped to their level. Has never been so…”
“Catty?” It was the best description that came to Darrien’s mind without being too abrasive considering Evie was in the other room. A raging bitch was more accurate, but he didn’t dare speak those words out loud. “Her dislike for Samantha isn’t unheard of. The werewolf gene can cause aggression—towards vampires especially.”
“She’s not acting that way towards you.”
“Well,” Darrien tugged at the collar of his button-up flannel shirt; the only style of shirt he could find in his size, “can you blame her? I ooze sex appeal.”
The corner of Ethan’s mouth twitched. “More like deranged mountain man.”
Darrien shrugged. “Tomato-tamahto.”
A horn blared from the street level.
Ethan peeked out from the blinds. “Evie, taxi’s here.”
They waited a full minute and when she didn’t come out, Darrien knocked on the door. “Time to go.”
“I’m not going anywhere until Ethan promises not to order me silent.”
“I promise,” Ethan grumbled. “It was an empty threat anyway. I’ll meet you downstairs.”
Evie poked her head out as Ethan closed the door. “Is he gone?”
“He went downstairs to meet the taxi,” Darrien checked his watch, “which charges by the minute, in case you're wondering.”
“Maybe Nikko was right; maybe I should stay here.” She looked up at him from underneath her lashes. “I wouldn’t want to anger Ethan by hurting his little vampire lover.”
Darrien knew better than to argue with Evie on this point, but he couldn’t help himself. “That vampire you speak of so poorly risked her life—no, almost lost her life—breaking into the synthetic blood center looking for you. Show some respect.”
He picked up her bag from the ground and adjusted it over her shoulder. The last of the money Nikko had given them covered a small amount of food, a few essentials, and a change of clothes for each of them. Samantha had to sweet talk an old man to get the bags—along with a promise from Nikko that he would pay him back double what they were worth. Darrien thought the
idea was foolish. The man didn’t even know they had taken the bags. Going back to pay for something they hadn’t taken might raise some unwanted questions.
“I didn’t ask her to rescue me.”
“No one said you did.” He motioned her to the door, scanning the room one last time. “You have to admit, you’ve changed. And not in a good way.”
Evie paused at the top of the stairs and ran her fingers down his chest. “Are you sure about that?”
As much as he craved her touch, he shoved her hand away. “I think I liked it better when you blushed at the slightest innuendo.”
If his confession hit a nerve, it didn’t show. Instead, she moved closer until her body was flush against his own. “I’d like to put that to the test.”
A test he would no doubt fail. “Time to go.”
They took the stairs in silence, Evie brushing against him every chance she could. Never in his life had he been so relieved to leave the company of a woman. “You want to sit in the back or front? I would suggest—”
She didn’t answer before climbing in the back with a mischievous smirk. It was the opposite of what he would have recommended.
Darrien slid into the front seat, knees jammed against the dashboard. “Can I scoot the seat back a little?”
The driver’s brown eyes swept over Darrien. “It’s as far back as it will go. Where to?”
“Crescent Moon Forest,” Ethan said from the center of the backseat.
He stared at Ethan for a moment. “Are you sure? There are plenty of other forests that are more suited for visitors.”
“Yes.” Darrien settled into the tight space as best he could. “Is that going to be a problem…what’s your name?”
“Paulo.” He put the car in gear and headed out of town. “No problem. Just don’t get many requests to go that far out of town. Especially at night.”
“Why not?” Samantha asked. “Do locals not visit the forests around here?”
“They do, just not that one.”
Darrien couldn’t be sure, but he swore he heard the man’s voice tremble. “Why not?”
Paulo kept his eyes on the dark, narrow lane that substituted as a road; his dim headlights were the only source of light. “Suppose it has to do with the legends that those who enter those woods come back changed if they return at all.”
Darrien wanted to leave it at that. He hated superstitions, but the reporter in Evie wouldn’t let it go. “Do the legends have to do with the vam—Sanguines?”
“Nah, we don’t get any of their kind around here,” the driver said. “Sun’s too hot.”
“Then what?” Evie pressed. “What are people so afraid of?”
“Macumba—black magic.” Paulo bounced his left knee. This was clearly a subject that made him nervous.
“Black magic?” Samantha repeated. “Why do people believe black magic is connected with the forest?”
He pulled into a clearing and parked the car. “Because it was in theses woods black magic was born.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
They waited at the edge of the dense forest as Darrien paid the driver. No one spoke, everyone lost in their own thoughts. A few months ago, Ethan would have laughed at the driver’s warning. Now, after everything they’d seen, everything they’d gone through, black magic wasn’t much of a stretch.
“Did he say anything else?” Ethan asked as Darrien joined them. After Paulo had mentioned black magic, he refused to elaborate any further. He claimed lack of knowledge, but Ethan was certain fear drove him to silence.
“Nope.” Darrien gaze fell on the jungle’s tree line. “Wow, that’s something you don’t see every day.”
“The good news is,” Ethan said, “the sun shouldn’t be a problem for the two of you. And the bad news—”
“We bought umbrellas for nothing,” Darrien interrupted.
Evie was the only one who laughed.
“At least one person gets me.”
“As I was saying,” Ethan continued, “the bad news is we’re going to have a hell of a time navigating. Not to mention finding our way out.”
“Breadcrumbs?”
“Darrien,” Samantha rolled her eyes, “this is serious.”
“Poor little vampire afraid of the dark?” Evie mocked.
Ethan glared at his sister. “Don’t start. As ridiculous as Darrien’s suggestion is, he’s right. We need to leave some trail we can follow back.”
“What about carving a mark into the trees?” Darrien pulled a swiss army knife from his back pocket. “Arrows pointing the way?”
“It’s better than breadcrumbs.” And better than nothing. “Can you handle the responsibility?”
Darrien smirked. “I’ll try.”
“I’ll make sure he does.” As transparent as Evie’s offer was, two eyes were better than one.
“It’s all fine and dandy we have a plan to get back,” Darrien joined Ethan, who had moved closer to the trees, “but I think the better question is: where are we going?”
The same question plagued Ethan. “Your guess is as good as mine. Samantha, any ideas?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know what I was expecting, but this wasn’t it. I thought there might be a path we could follow, or some clue on the direction we should head towards.”
“Brilliant,” Evie muttered under her breath.
Samantha whirled around. “You have something else to offer besides insults, we’re all ears.”
“This isn’t helping.” Darrien moved to Evie’s side. “We need to play nice if we have any chance of making it out of the scary forest alive.”
“Love the confidence.” Ethan scanned the area best he could in the dark. Even though his eyesight had enhanced significantly since his transformation, he didn’t see as well as the vampires. “Salty said they came into these woods to harvest the special trees the Council had requested. There must be some sort of indication of where they entered. Spread out and check the tree line.”
Darrien and Evie headed left while Ethan and Samantha went right.
“Your eyes are better than mine while I’m in human form,” Ethan said.
“You’re not thinking about shifting, are you?” Samantha chewed her lip. “Because then Evie would shift and lose what little control she has left. I really don’t want to have to hurt her.”
Ethan forced a small laugh, trying to lighten the subject, but he knew Samantha was dead serious. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Maybe when we find the witches, they can help.”
“If we find them. If they’re even here.” She faced him with a heart-wrenching frown. “I shouldn’t have suggested we come here.”
“The forest?” Ethan asked.
“No, Brazil. We’ve found nothing but trouble.”
Ethan pulled her into a tight hug. “And how is that any different from our other adventures?”
“Adventures?” Samantha chuckled as she tilted her head. “I wouldn’t call what we’ve been through adventures.”
Without thinking, Ethan brushed the tips of his fingers along her cheek. His heart swelled as some unknown emotion tried to break free.
“Are you okay, Ethan?”
He stared at her lips as she spoke, mesmerized, remembering how good it felt to kiss them. But the emotional attachment he had known had faded. No. Faded wasn’t the right word. Disappeared. As if it had never been there at all.
He clutched his chest as the pain worsened. Real, physical pain.
“Ethan?” Samantha cupped his cheeks. “What’s wrong?”
Backing away from her touch, he fell to the ground. The pain vanished the instant they parted. “Damn that hurt.”
“Your heart? I could hear it racing. What were you thinking about?”
Ethan rubbed his temples, not sure how he would explain when Darrien called out,
“We found something!”
Samantha held out her hand to help Ethan off the ground. He hesitated taking it after what just happened, but he didn’t
want to hurt her even more than he already had.
Grasping her fingers, she hauled him off the ground and the pain didn’t reappear.
Samantha cocked her head to the side. “You look a little pale. Do you need to rest for a few minutes before we head in?”
“I’m fine.” He jogged away without warning, hoping a little space might help him gather his thoughts.
Darrien wrinkled his brow as Ethan approached. “Everything all right?”
“Fine. Why do you ask?”
“Well for one, you fell flat on your ass. Two, you left Samantha standing there all by herself.”
Evie snickered and Darrien shot her a warning glance.
“I didn’t leave her.” He peered over his shoulder at Samantha, who was heading their way; she didn’t look happy. “At least I didn’t mean to leave her; I thought she was right behind me.”
“I wasn’t.” Irritation laced her voice.
“I’m sorry. I was going to explain then Darrien interrupted.”
He held his hands up in defense. “Don’t blame this on me.”
Turning away from him, Samantha focused on Darrien. “You said you found something?”
Darrien clicked his tongue as his eyes danced between Ethan and Samantha. “Alrighty. Moving on. It’s hard to see, but we’re standing at the entrance of a narrow path. About a hundred feet in, there’s a marker.”
Ethan squinted to get a better look. It took a second for his eyes to adjust, but in the distance, he could make out a wooden stake with a pink plastic ribbon attached. “I see it. Though it could be a random stake. It’s hard to tell how far the path goes from here.”
“With your weak wolfy eyes,” Darrien bumped Ethan's shoulder as he passed, “I see how it would be hard to make out the path. But it’s there and so are several more markers.”
Samantha moved closer to the edge of the trees. “Where do you see more markers?”
Darrien cracked his neck from side to side. “Are we going to stand here auguring or take the only path we’ve found?”
“Take the path.” Evie floated to Darrien’s side. “We came all this way.”
