Black 21: (Golden Hills Legacy of Black 21 Book 1)

by Nancy Glynn

  Christian stood and reached out to hold her but then remembered and pulled back. “Daisy, you are so strong and can fight this. And we didn’t have sex. Yes, we kissed and got excited, but nothing too bad. But you might need to leave your cross off,” his eyes swept down to her throat. “Jack will not like that.”

  “She needs it, Chris. We had it blessed for this reason.”

  Christian turned to Eric. “Then you hold it for her. Jack won’t take her seriously if he sees that shining in his face. He’ll kill you on the spot as Father Paul warned." He returned to Daisy’s wide eyes. “You can do it, honey. I know the strength in you. I’m sure Eric has seen it, too. I wish I could hold your hands.”

  She nodded and stood straighter. “I have no choice but to find the strength. I know there are certain things I’m capable of as I’m sure you know as well.”

  Christian nodded. “I wanted to tell you. I was ordered not to.”

  Eric spoke, touching Christian’s shoulder. “I’ll take care of her if we get out of there at all. I’ll always make sure Daisy is happy.”

  He shook his head. “No. I want you with me, Daisy. I can’t imagine my life without you,” Christian said hoarsely. “I’m as selfish as my dad was with my mom. I understand how he felt now.”

  Tears coursed down her cheeks. “If I can destroy Jack, I will be yours forever. We can go anywhere. But if I don’t, I’m Jack’s, losing both of you for good. I can’t lose this one.”

  Christian sat on the couch bed and shook his head. “If you destroy him, you destroy the whole town, including me,” he looked straight into her eyes. “How would we be together?”

  Her eyes widened in realization. “Oh, my God." She sat on the chair to steady herself.

  “Wait, that’s only if she does it after your birthday hour. If she destroys Jack before the hour, you’re still mortal. The rest of the immortal town won’t be so lucky,” Eric stated. “What time were you born?”

  “10:12 p.m.”

  “Okay, so it must be done before then. If she doesn’t and he gets to her first, she lives the rest of eternity with him,” Eric added.

  Christian gazed at her with awakening. “We won’t let that happen to our girl, will we, Eric.”

  “Hell no.”

  “And you just have to kiss him?” Christian asked.

  “Yes, and press the cross against his chest at the same time. So I need my cross,” Daisy said.

  Christian nodded. “He just can’t see it.”

  “Right,” she agreed.

  Eric placed his hand in the middle of them, suspending it in the air. Christian followed, hovering his hand over Eric’s and waited for Daisy to add hers. She swallowed and placed her hand over both men’s hands.

  ***

  “I hate leaving you like this, Daisy. I know how worried you’ll be until that day,” Christian said at the door.

  She ached to hold him, feel his skin against hers. Instead, she wrapped her arms around herself to restrain them. “I hate seeing you go again. I’ll be fine. I’ve been in his home. He’s been in my bed. There’s nothing more that could possibly scare me.”

  “I really despise him for touching you. It’ll take everything in me not to kill him myself or at least try,” he said through clenched teeth.

  She smiled through her tears. “If it’s any consolation, I wasn’t really with him. I would leave my body, or my soul would, so think of it that way.”

  He gave a sad smile.

  “I also loved our talk last night after Eric went to bed. Sometimes that’s better than making love.”

  His eyes popped open and gave a wolfish grin. “I’d prefer to make love to you, honey. But you’re right, just being with you is enough. For now. When this is all over, you are mine, so get ready for me.”

  She smiled but then concern set in. “That would be nice. If I can do this.”

  “You will, my love. Have no fear. Remember what your father said about fear. It’s not allowed.”

  She gave a subtle nod. Her eyes snapped open. “Oh, I forgot! Charlotte wrote a message to me. You need to be careful, Christian.”

  He gave a confused look. “How?”

  Daisy told him everything about the mirror and the lipstick, and how she thought it was him at first.

  “So, she’s using black magic on you now. How can I go back to my house with her there and knowing that?”

  “Have pity on her, Christian. She loves you. She’ll do anything to be with you. Be kind but cautious.”

  “She doesn’t know what love is, never did. But I’ll do it for you, Daisy. Only for you." He stared at her with such intense love in his eyes it almost brought her to her knees.

  “I love you, Christian. Forever. Remember that. No matter what happens.”

  “Don’t talk like that. I just wish I could protect my dad. I’m not quite sure what’ll happen to him when Jack is destroyed. All I know is I love you with all my heart, what there is of it.”

  “Christian, you have the biggest heart I know. There’s nothing black in there.”

  “Just be safe, Daze.”

  She blew him a kiss, and he caught it and tucked it in his jeans pocket. “For later,” he smiled.

  “I will lavish them all over you as soon as I’m able,” she promised.

  “I’m counting on it.”

  Before he walked away, she stopped him. “Christian, I want you to know that I will love you anywhere...here, the moon, or even hell, because I know that light will always shine in me and in you. Love can’t live without light." She brushed away the escaped tears.

  He stared into her eyes and smiled. “Thank you for that." He blew her a kiss and walked down the hall to the elevator. He gazed at her long and hard, memorizing every detail of her, before stepping inside and the doors closing.

  ***

  Eric sat at the kitchen table, reading the paper on his reader. He looked up as she entered. “I’m still baffled you would forget everything,” he scolded.

  She sat across from him and looked down at her hands.

  His voice softened. “But I get it, Daze. I know what he means to you. I just don’t want anything happening to you. You kissed him, so now I’m scared of what that did to your immune system,” his voice cracked.

  “I’ll go to church. I’ll pray. I don’t know. Can I just hide?” she smiled, trying to ease his concern.

  “I wish it were that easy. I’m not an expert on how these things work, but I do remember Mark’s words.”

  She chewed on her nail and stared off.

  “It’ll be fine. I’m being an ass. Don’t listen to me, Daisy. Okay?" He waved his hand in front of her.

  “I was just thinking about Bessie. I need to help her find Leon.”

  “Daisy, you can worry about that later!”

  “What if there is no later? What if I’m Jack’s forever? I’ll be no good to her then!” she hissed.

  He pounded the table, rattling it and making her jump. “That won’t happen. Stop talking like that,” he said in a hushed tone laced in fear.

  She continued to chew more nails.

  He resigned. “Fine, I’ll bring you to find her. You know where she is?”

  She sat up straighter. “Yes.”

  “Fine, let’s get ready to go.”

  She gave a big grin.

  “You’re welcome. It’s only because you’re so damn cute,” he grinned back.

  ***

  It felt strange being back in this little town that held so much evil and yet so much love at the same time. The church was not too far from where she stood, which gave her chills. How could anything so vile be nestled in a grove of such green splendor?

  A splendor that converted into something more sinister at night, concealing what truly lived here, was worshipped beyond the sad willow trees.

  The smell of burning leaves reminded her it was the last place she saw her cousin alive, Lydia alive, and where her soul had begun to consider another possibility of life.


  A life with the man she loved.

  It also was the home of a lost soul looking for her true love. Daisy’s soul intertwined with Bessie’s, understanding her need. They were connected.

  Eric interrupted her thoughts. “Do you just want to walk and see if she comes out?” he asked. “I don’t get how ghosts work, so...” he grinned.

  She elbowed him. “Maybe if I’m alone? That’s how I saw her last time.”

  “Want me to go back to the car? I will if you feel safe enough out here.”

  “Go sit on that bench over there and I’ll walk around. If I need you, I’ll yell out. Okay?”

  “You got it, boss." He found the bench and sat, looking around as if a ghost would pop out at him.

  Twigs snapped under her light feet as she searched for a direction. The foliage crushed her in a shrubbery hug, every so often reaching down and scratching her.

  Insects buzzed around her, as if guiding her, beckoning her to follow. Birds chirped and flew from tree to tree, observing her once again.

  Her arms felt cool and damp from the dewy atmosphere. A crow perched on a thick branch in front of her, cawing as if to warn her away. Every step she took, the crow hopped with her.

  The sun that was just blazing, now hid behind dark clouds, casting a gray blanket over the shadowed grounds.

  Daisy brushed away any fear and continued on. She walked deeper and reached out to an Oak tree. The cold bark cut into her palms. She closed her eyes and a vision of a girl running from someone or something, enfolded before her.

  The girl stopped and called out to her. “Daisy, he’s behind you!”

  Daisy opened her eyes and spun around to only more trees and the cawing crow. Her heart thudded against her chest. The bench seemed to disappear.

  “Eric?”

  She ran to where the bench should have been. “Eric!”

  A deep demonic laughter drenched the forest.

  Bessie appeared in her torn white dress and dirt-smeared face. “Daisy! Help me before he comes!”

  Daisy unclasped her cross and held it out and began to pray. “Almighty Father, eternal God, hear my prayer for your daughter, Bessie. Welcome her into the Light where You live forever and ever. Bring her to Leon.”

  More laughter boomed through the woods. Birds flapped their wings furiously to escape. A wind whipped through the trees, snapping one of them in half.

  Daisy touched Bessie’s head and repeated the prayer over and over until she saw Leon appear on a path, a shower of light radiating over his head. He held his hand out to Bessie and smiled.

  “You can go, Bessie. You’re free from Jack. Go be with your beloved,” Daisy smiled.

  “What about you, Daisy?” the spirit looked concerned.

  “I’ll be fine. Just go.”

  Again, the crow cawed and flew off.

  Bessie shook her head. “No, you won’t. I’ll never see you again. You’re not going where I’m going, Daisy." Bessie smiled at Leon and joined him, taking his hand and looking back at Daisy. “Thank you, my friend. I’ll pray for you." They held hands and disintegrated into the Light.

  Tears burned Daisy’s eyes. What did Bessie mean by that? “Good-bye, Bessie and Leon. And I will see you there when I’m ready,” she stated.

  A blast of wind spun Daisy in a circle, tossing her cross out of her hand into the sea of sticks and leaves. “No!”

  She tried getting her bearings, tried to steady herself through the tornado-like funnel, sucking in the wind.

  Daisy then felt arms grab her, snake arms, coiling around her. The sound of monstrous wings flapping and lifting her up in the air.

  Jack’s voice low and soft in her ear. “I told you you’d be mine.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  At first, Daisy’s vision seemed blurry, trying to adjust to her dark surroundings. It appeared to be some sort of a dungeon. Fire-filled sconces hung from the brick walls. It felt damp and chilly to her exposed skin. Her head lolled to the side and then looked up. Her wrists were chained above her head, as her bare ankles were cuffed together, her feet dangling on cold concrete floor.

  All her senses came alive at once. “Help!” she screamed over and over. She struggled to slide her hands through the steel chains, grunting, only to cut deep into her skin. The blood oozed along her arms from her wounds.

  She looked down at the short cotton gown molding her body and to her bare feet. “Damn you, Jack! You don’t scare me! You can do all you want, and I’ll never be yours! You hear me!” her voice cracked.

  “Is that so?" He appeared in front of her, challenging her, his glowing blue eyes penetrating hers.

  “Yes,” she hissed. She calmly spoke. “You can take my body, but my heart belongs to Christian and my soul belongs to God,” she scoffed. “You think you own me, but you don’t.”

  “Hmmm, we shall see who wins your soul in the end. Feel a little sore?”

  “My wrists hurt a little but I’ll live.”

  “Not sore there...” his eyes dropped down her body and back up, giving a cold smile.

  Tears threatened to form but she refused them. “Not. At. All." She smiled back.

  “I’m hurt you don’t remember, but there’ll be other times that you will,” he purred.

  “I’ll kill myself before I let you touch me again.”

  “Darling, you’re immortal. How exactly would you kill yourself?”

  She stared at him, her heart quickening. “You’re lying.”

  “No, not about this. I do tend to use lies to get my way, but not this time,” he said with intense eyes. “I told you you’d be mine forever." A deep laugh shot out of him as he caressed her cheek. “You are so beautiful, so enticing. I’m going to enjoy you for a good century or so, more than I did Bessie.”

  Daisy envisioned herself running in the woods like Bessie, seeing people but they not seeing her. This couldn’t be possible.

  “Penny for your thoughts? Oh, wait. You’re thinking about Bessie, right? I’ll get you down from there and position you on your bed, only tied up but you’ll be more comfortable. Guards!” he ordered to two hulk-like men who released her from her cuffs and onto a King-sized bed. They loosely tied her wrists to the posts.

  “Why the ties? It’s not like I can escape,” she said dryly.

  “Well, with your powers mixed with new ones, I can’t chance it. My, you are lovely to look at. That bed will be big enough for what I have in mind,” he grinned. “Get some rest. I’ll have dinner brought in. It’s so nice having you back with me, Daisy. I’ve really missed you. I truly think you might be the one for me,” he chuckled. “My soul mate.”

  She curled her lips in disgust. “What happened to Eric?” she asked before he left.

  “Eric’s dead,” he stated before vanishing.

  ***

  The tray of food awaited her when she woke up after passing out, but she turned away from it. She didn’t care about eating or even being alive at this point. She stared at the ceiling and allowed the tears to fall. Eric was dead. An ache filled her chest, constricting until she sobbed. “Oh, Eric. I’m so sorry,” she cried. She tried to see what happened to him in her mind, but she blanked.

  She slammed her feet against the bed in anger. “I will never be yours,” she hissed.

  Jack entered from the other end of the dungeon and walked to her tray. “You need to eat,” he said, running his index finger along her jaw.

  She clenched her jaw against it and stared straight ahead.

  Jack sat on the bed and ran his hand down her leg. “I had your dress designed for you for the big day,” he smiled.

  “What big day?”

  “That got your attention? Well, Black Twenty-One, of course. Christian’s birthday. We will go as planned. I’ll impregnate you and then hand you over to Christian. You’ll marry him and run the town as his high priestess and my whore.”

  Hope rose up in her, but she kept her mind empty so he couldn’t read it. “I see. Fine then. I can do that,” s
he said, trying not to betray herself.

  His eyes softened and he smiled. “Wonderful. William will also be pleased since he’ll get Charlotte. Money is money to her, and Stone is Stone, so I’m sure that won’t be a problem." He returned his gaze to her lips and bent to taste them.

  Bile ascended in her chest and up her throat, swallowing it down as hard as she could. She allowed him to kiss her and played along.

  He pried her mouth open with his long tongue, her tongue not moving. “Kiss me,” he ordered.

  She went to that place of peace and serenity, the same place she went to when she was whipped, and when she was with him the other times. She allowed her tongue to dance against his but never felt it.

  “My Daisy,” he growled, running his hand up and down her body. “My whore for eternity. God must be so pissed,” he grinned.

  She could feel his excitement grow against her thigh and numbed herself to it. His pseudo-handsome face hovered above hers as he entered her, his breathing labored and grunting, his eyes turning yellow. Closing her eyes was the only way to block it out. He didn’t seem to care. He was lost.

  She climbed the stairs to another dimension, joining her meadow friends again. She danced with the other girls in the field of lush grass and daisies, little girls holding her hands and laughing in the sun. Diamonds and rubies sparkled in their hair, and they each gave her a rose.

  Scales scratched her thighs and belly. Pain seared in her as he stabbed her with his male anatomy. He gave a final grunt and last thrust. She floated back down into her body as he finished.

  He panted against her. “That was delectable. I think I might love you, Daisy,” he grinned, his face returning to normal. “You’ll come to enjoy me as well, I promise. You’ll be begging for it,” he said, pulling out of her. “You can open your eyes now. Next time I want them open the whole time. I want you to scream my name. Understand?”

  She clenched her jaw and nodded. “What shall I call you?”