Scarlet Forest

by Jennifer Ann Reed

  I knew what was coming next. Not even a second later, footsteps echoed against the stone adding to the symphony created my barred doors. I stayed where I sat and let my chin fall to my chest as the odor of rotten meat assaulted my nostrils. I’d tried to fight him several times before, but my body was too sluggish, and my wolf left me days ago. I was a captive in my own skin.

  Keys jingled and the metal clicked and groaned as my warden unlocked and opened the door. Aelfric’s black hair curled around his ears and his sharp nose came into view before his blue eyes searched mine. A pinch at my elbow was followed by a quick sting. Molten fire rushed through my veins and my body convulsed before settling into a fine tremor.

  “There, now.” Aelfric pocketed the syringe in the pocket of his black robe. “I’m glad to see you’re learning not to fight, Caden. I’m not your enemy.”

  Part of my mind wanted to argue. I wanted to accuse him of being the devil incarnate, but whatever he gave me settled my thoughts and I sighed. He wasn’t the enemy.

  “Someday soon you and I are going to be unstoppable. How does that sound?” Long fingers gripped my chin and my eyes fluttered closed. My pain was gone. “We’ll get our revenge.”

  A silly smile tugged at my lips. “End them all?”

  “That’s right, little alpha.” Aelfric patted my cheek after he let go of my chin. “We’ll end them all. Do you want to know how I almost did it before?”

  “Yes.” I wanted to know everything. This time we’d stop them, and I’d save my pack. Aelfric was the only way I’d succeed.

  “I released the Marks for Death.” Aelfric stood and paced in front of me. “That’s what each Supernatural species calls the entities locked away in their prison. I released them from their shackles which kept their true natures at bay.” He stopped and spun on his heel, facing me. “You can’t restrict a being created for destruction from doing its job. The others wanted to use them to police our people, but I saw them for what they were meant for; annihilation of a pest.”

  “What happened next?” My head lulled to the side and my eyes stayed closed.”

  “I attacked the humans.” Aelfric shoved both hands through his hair. “And that was my mistake!” Spittle flew from his lips. “But not this time.” He crouched in front of me. “This time I’ll take out any Supernatural standing in my way.” His words registered and I tried to stand. Aelfric’s hand landed on my shoulder and pushed me back down. “If you can convince your pack to follow me, I’ll spare them. Can you do that?”

  “Yes.” Another pinch at my elbow caused my eyes to roll back into my head and blackness took over.

  I don’t know how many times Aelfric plunged a needle into my skin when I thought about Kitra after his visit, but my mind slowly detached from the rest of my body and I found peace.

  ***********

  “Caden!” The voice was familiar, but I couldn’t place it. “Caden!”

  I jerked from my slumped position, shaking my head. “Hello? Who’s there?”

  “Thank the Creator!” A feminine sigh reached my ears. “I thought he’d killed you.”

  “Who would kill me?”

  “Caden? What has he done to you?” A tremble filled her voice. “You have to fight it.”

  “Who are you?” I crawled to the bars of my doorway.

  “Mauve.” I heard her moving to the door next to mine.

  “Mauve?” I knew that name, but I couldn’t recall the face that went with it.

  “Kitra’s aunt.” I stiffened at the name and a pale, slender hand reached through the bars on her door. “I’m right next to you, Caden. I need you to focus so we can escape and get back to the others.”

  “Others?” I clenched my teeth hard enough to crack them. I knew her words held some truth, but they were dust in the wind.

  Her fingers wrapped around a bar in my door. “I don’t know what Aelfric is doing to you, but we need to get back to Kitra and your friends.”

  “Kitra is dead!” Mauve jerked her hand back at my words and whimpered.

  “No, she’s not. We watched her fight Aelfric and his men. Apollo didn’t kill her…he did try to save her.”

  “You watched an Aswang. Nothing more.” The cuffs flared again, and the footsteps started. “I’ll kill it when I see it again. Aelfric is my only hope to do what I need to.”

  Her soft cries filled the air as Aelfric strolled to our cells. “You can’t do this!”

  “Watch me dearest aunt.” Aelfric’s grin spread until it gleamed with his evil intent. “Caden, I need your arm.” I obediently shoved my arm into the light outside my cell. Mauve gasped as Aelfric turned it for her to see the hundreds of small dots marring the skin. “Caden is mine now.” The needle was shoved into my arm with more force than normal and I grunted, but I didn’t pull away.

  “You’re a monster!” He dropped my arm as her declaration.

  “That may be true.” He pulled his set of keys out of his pocket and turned to me after the initial spasm wracked my body. “Time for you to be questioned, Mauve. You’ll tell me what their plans are.” The keys turned in the lock and I heard Kitra’s aunt scuttle backwards. “And if you don’t, I’ll just break you until you do.”

  Aelfric entered her cell and she shrieked when he dragged her from the room by her hair.

  “Stop! Please!” Mauve kicked and screamed as Aelfric cackled and continued on his journey.

  A few minutes later, tortured cries filled the air and I put my hands over my ears. In the dark recesses of my mind, I knew I should do something. I’d spent time with Mauve and gotten to know her, but my mind blanked anytime I tried to recall anything from the past, or what I had planned to do to keep my pack safe. I wanted to focus but my thoughts muddled even more.

  What was I thinking about? It was important. I needed to find it. The drug coursing along my veins took over and I fell asleep with the woman’s screams piercing the air.

  Chapter 4

  Kitra

  O NCE WE WERE ALONE, Phobos shoved his way under the desk and laid next to my feet, and I dropped my forehead against the desk. My heart ached when I realized I was waiting for a growl and a tanned hand to buffer my action, but neither came. I squeezed my eyes closed and breathed in through my nose, holding the breath as long as I could until it raced past my lips. If I wanted to find Caden and Aunt Mauve, I had to pull myself together.

  Two enormous hands landed on my shoulders; the scent of chocolate filled my nose as warm breath tickled my left ear. “You’re doing great, Luna.”

  A chuckle escaped me, and I sat up with Linc’s hands still clasping my shoulders. “Can you stop with the Luna stuff?”

  “Sure, Luna.” Linc jumped away from my swatting hand and moved to sit in a red leather armchair in front of me. He leaned forward with both elbows on the desk which separated us. “What I said was true. You’re handling this better than I could if I were in your shoes.”

  “He’s right.” Ryn took the other chair next to Linc. “Lucian would be proud.”

  “I feel like I’m paralyzed, sinking with a concrete block attached to my ankles.” My fingers tapped against the desk and my voice dropped to a whisper as I stared at the bookshelf instead of them. “I’m drowning and can’t reach the surface. I’m an empty shell filling with hate and I’m not sure I can find myself again.”

  “You can do this.” Ryn covered my tapping fingers with his palm. “And when you feel you can’t go on, remember you’re not alone. We’ll carry you when the road is too difficult to walk. I’ll carry you, Kitra. Don’t forget that.”

  A tear slipped from the corner of my eye, and I turned my hand over to hold his. “I know you will.” I looked back at the two of them and reached for Linc’s hand. “I know you all will, but I… I can’t lose anyone else.”

  “You won’t.” Linc squeezed my fingers.

  “Don’t promise something you can’t keep.” I pulled my hands from both of them and felt Phobos rub against my leg. “We’re not promised tomorrow
… not even our next breath.” I loosened the bun in my hair and ran my fingers through the strands. “Darkness has surrounded us and it’s only getting more oppressive. I’m afraid this won’t be our last loss.”

  “You’re right. We don’t know that.” Ryn sat back in his chair. “But I for one will do everything in my power to do what needs to be done to beat Aelfric… no matter the cost.”

  “Even if you lose yourself?” My head tilted and even Linc turned towards Ryn.

  “It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. War steals parts of your soul and if it saves Faerie, I’ll give it away willingly.”

  A knock on the door interrupted Ryn’s declaration. Sable poked her head inside and asked if I was ready to see them. After I motioned her in, she and a tall man who appeared to be in his thirties entered the office.

  “Luna, this is Jacob.” The man stepped forward. “He worked with me in advising Lucian.” Jacob reminded me of Darrick in his muscular build. At first, he seemed intimidating, but kindness mixed with sorrow radiated around him.

  “Luna.” Jacob bowed his blonde head, the medium length locks falling forward. Espresso colored eyes watched me with intrigue when he raised his head. “I was in charge of Lucian’s guards and helped with security. How can I be of service?”

  “Aelfric will regroup before his next attack.” I glanced back at the bookcase. “I need maps of Serenade Falls. Anyplace able to hold his army. If you have an idea, I want to hear it. We’re taking the offensive approach this time. I’m tired of waiting for the shoe to drop.”

  “Certainly, Luna.” Jacob walked to the shelves.

  “Jacob, call me Kitra.”

  “Yes, Lu… Kit… Kitra.” Jacob pulled books and papers from the bookshelf as Linc sniggered. I kicked him under the desk and gave him a dirty look while Phobos huffed next to me and moved out from under the desk. “This is all we have.” Jacob set his finds in front of me.

  I flipped the first book open and turned the fragile pages. “Can you show me any place you’d hide?”

  Sable moved next to me and opened one of the folded papers. “I’d say we start along the western border of Serenade Falls near the state line.”

  “Our search may take a few days, Lu… Kitra.” Jacob pointed to the area that Sable mentioned. “From here until the next county there are cave systems big enough for the Dark Ones.”

  “Have we searched these before?” I focused on the section of map and knew Aelfric was within my grasp and my wolf growled, wanting his blood.

  “Not extensively.” My violet eyes cut to Jacob and he gulped before he went on. “It’s a lot of area to cover and our guards were only able to search so much of the caves.”

  The office door burst open and Allie bounded inside followed by the others. “We’re back.”

  I said nothing about her “Captain Obvious” moment, but steepled my fingers in front of me.

  “This is what I want to do,” I said once everyone was inside. “Jacob, you and Sable gather as many people who will help search the caves. Once we have a definite number, we’ll split up into smaller groups and take sections of the caves to search.” Ryn leaned forward as Uncle Kalen walked closer. “Our search has to be stealthy. I don’t want Aelfric to know what we’re doing or what we’re planning.”

  “Bretton and I will help.” Ryn was shaking his head and stood up.

  “So will I.” Uncle Kalen crossed his arms. “We have to find them.”

  “It will take all of us.” I looked around the room, nodding. “I’ll take my Guardians once we start, but the rest of you will lead separate groups. I want people I can trust on this mission. Once we find Aelfric, we will regroup and plan our next move.” I stood. “I don’t want a final plan in play until we’re ready to move. The fewer people know, the easier it will be to rescue Caden and Mauve before the Dark Ones know what’s happening.”

  “Let’s go.” Sable moved to the door with Jacob, Ryn, Bretton, Lilly, and Uncle Kalen following.

  I sat back down with a sigh; all my energy leaving with it.

  “Have you tried teleporting to where they are?” Gwen moved from Austin’s side. “Like you did to bring us back to Serenade Falls.”

  “I have tried ever since we returned.” I looked at my lap before meeting the gazes in the room. “Every time I think I’ve locked onto one of them, my hold breaks. It’s as if I’m being pushed away and their location gets muddled before I can reach them. Aelfric is blocking me somehow.”

  “We’ll find them.” Allie wrapped me in a hug. “We’ll move mountains and destroy anything that stands in our way.”

  “I know.” I smiled and believed her words. We’d do anything to get them back, but it didn’t mean it’d be easy.

  “You need some rest.” Allie pulled me to my feet, and I yawned. “Let’s find you some food and then tuck you in for the night. You’ve done enough for today.”

  I let her lead me to the kitchen, and I sat on a hand carved wooden stool with leaves etched into the legs. In front of me sat a butcher block counter covering a white island. The kitchen was light and airy; the white colors accented in the same wood as my seat. The room was enormous with gigantic bay windows, giving ample views of the clearing and forest beyond the fields. Sheer valances with hand sewn gray wolves matched the stainless steel flat top stove. Allie pulled open a large door that I thought was more cabinets, revealing the massive refrigerator.

  No one else joined us and I assumed they were helping Sable and Jacob rally the troops for our search. The smell of steak filled the air and saliva pooled in my mouth. I had eaten little in the last few days and my stomach let its protests be known in a loud grumble. Allie laughed when she passed me a plate and I dove in like a starved woman. She waited a moment before she slid a cup of hot chocolate in front of me and I almost wept when the decadent flavor touched my tongue.

  Allie watched me eat silently for a minute and turned back to the stove, cooking more food for the others. Once I finished, I sat with only the sounds of meat sizzling and aromas filling the air. My eyes grew heavy, and I slumped forward to keep from falling out of the stool until she called the others inside to eat.

  “Come on. Let’s get you to bed.” She nudged my shoulder, and I followed behind her.

  We climbed the stairs and stopped in front of an oak door in the hallway with the same woodsy theme as downstairs. She opened the door and stepped aside for me to pass her.

  “I thought you’d like his room.”

  My face scrunched, thinking I was in Lucian’s room, but cotton and mint met my nostrils. It took all my strength not to sink to the floor as I realized I was in Caden’s bedroom. “T… Thank you.”

  Allie smiled at the floor. “I’ll let you get settled.”

  She closed the door behind her, and I waited until I heard her descend the stairs to fall apart. Tears saturated my cheeks, running in rivers to the floor. I don’t know how long I sat on the icy floor, but eventually I wiped my face and glanced around the room. A large king-sized bed covered in a navy comforter took up most of the space. A cherry wood dresser sat to the left with folded t-shirts still sitting where Caden left them. The soft gray walls held posters of bands I’d never heard of and a few colleges’ sports teams. The wall on the right had a built-in desk with shelves holding athletic trophies. A door near the shelves opened into a small bathroom with a walk-in shower.

  I walked back to the bed and fell onto my stomach, surrounding myself in Caden’s scent. After today, I refused to show weakness. It was time for me to do what I was meant to do. Slowly, I drifted into the best sleep I’d had in days.

  ***********

  At Uncle Kalen’s insistence, we fell into a rigid schedule for the next three weeks. I still had a bounty on my head, and we wanted to evade any of those who tried to collect the reward. We never knew who lurked nearby and my Guardians, along with the trained members of the pack, completed patrols throughout Serenade Falls to keep tabs on the Council’s movement. So far, they were
none the wiser of our return and after a while, Uncle Kalen agreed to let me join the search for Caden and Mauve as long as I kept my identity concealed. Our groups would split up and scour the caves for hours until evening. As darkness fell with no clues, mounting frustrations caused harsh words, but I refused to give up.

  By Friday, we’d searched only half of the underground caves and defeat laughed in our faces. I called a meeting to discuss a new strategy when Lilly suggested we focus on finding Roland instead of Aelfric. She believed Aelfric and Roland would stay together. Since he was the King of the Unseelie Court, he’d leave more of a trail for us to follow. Several of my Guardians and even Sable disagreed, but I sided with Lilly. If I’d learned anything about King Roland, I knew he was a showboat and desired to be at the center of attention.

  Two days later, we hit pay dirt. King Roland left us some cookie crumbs to follow. Jacob wasn’t just in charge of Lucian’s guards for the pack, but he had worked with Lucian at the police station. Now, as acting interim sheriff, we pulled CCTV footage from several businesses in Serenade Falls who operated near entrances to the cave system. At a Mom and Pop diner, a camera captured King Roland and two individuals we hadn’t seen before. They sat in the back-corner booth away from the other patrons and stayed for almost two hours. Once they left, the outdoor camera showed them entering the forest on the other side of the road.

  Today, Bretton and Ryn joined my group as we searched the cave entrance near the restaurant. Uncle Kalen, Sable, and Jacob took their groups to other entrances near ours in hopes we’d meet in connecting tunnels and flush out Aelfric’s hideout. I bit my lips and rubbed my hand against my thighs as I watched our groups pile into different vehicles. What if this was a trap? My mouth dried at that thought and I had to swallow a few times to get saliva to build up again.

  I jumped into the driver seat of Caden’s Hummer and waved at the small crowd standing in front of the main house. We left Allie, Gwen, and Lilly to protect the remaining pack members since most of the guards were helping us. What if it’s not enough? What if Aelfric knows what we’re up to? I couldn’t let my thoughts drift. I had to stay focused on our mission or I’d lose my mind to every worry I had.