Betrayed: Dark beginnings

by Rebecca Weeks

  “What has he done to me?” She said tearfully. They looked into her frightened eyes and nodded to each other. One grabbed her legs, the other her arms and carried her out into the hall.

  Had he removed the shield again? She thought. She was fed up with magic. Warlocks and witches gathered on the hallway, watching her. In the corner of her eye, she spotted the girl who had given her the knife. The girl smiled cruelly and raised an eyebrow to Elizabeth.

  “YOU BITCH! YOU TOLD HIM. YOU SET ME UP. I WILL KILL YOU; YOU WATCH!” She screamed as they carried her into the hall she was in earlier. They threw her onto the steps, cracking her rib on the stone.

  “OUCCHHHH! THANKS FOR THAT!” She screamed after the men. They closed the doors, leaving her alone. She got to her feet and looked around for an exit. She went to walk over to the window but was stopped. She felt around her, and there was a shield around her.

  “Seriously, he wasn’t even here to cast the spell.” She laughed to herself.

  “Brilliant.”

  She nodded her head and gave up. Slumping to the floor, she sat and looked to the door. She didn’t see the point in fighting anymore. She looked to the big wooden table that stood in the centre of the room; it wasn’t there earlier when she was in here. Probably going to have a feast after they kill me, she thought angrily.

  The men opened the door, and she stood up quickly. They were followed by Lorcan and the girl from the woods, who had betrayed her.

  “Abbelonna, can you go and get her, please.” Abbelonna nodded and hurried out the room.

  “How are you?” Elizabeth said cheerily, mocking him. He ignored her and walked to the table, avoiding looking at her.

  “You know, the silent treatment is a bit childish. Don’t you think?” She said sarcastically.

  He looked over to her and sighed. Abbelonna re-entered the room, this time holding on to Cecile.

  “Wait, you can’t hurt her. It’s me you’re pissed with.”

  Elizabeth looked to them with her mouth open. Cecile looked to Elizabeth tearfully. They pushed her on to one of the thrones.

  “Stay seated.” One of the men said in a monotone voice. They reminded Elizabeth or robots following orders. Lorcan watched Elizabeth as she wept and placed a shield around Cecile. He swiftly hurried out of the room, after the men.

  “Cecile, don’t worry. I’m going to get you out of her. I... I promise.” She sobbed.

  “Elizabeth what’s going on?” Elizabeth broke down, as Cecile looked to her for answers.

  “Lorcan, he tricked me…. I’ve ruined everything haven’t I?” Cecile looked to Elizabeth concerned. She lent her head back on the throne and sighed.

  “Oh Elizabeth, I am not going to let this one go. I know you care, and I love you as a sister, but you should not have killed Jordan. None of this would have started if you had listened to me. You should not have called Lorcan to get that Limnade, I never asked for immortality.” She said it with prolonged disappointment. Elizabeth cried harder.

  “Please… I won’t let them you hurt them. I never meant for any of this to happen. It’s his entire fault…. I know I shouldn’t have killed Jordan, I actually did…”

  She was unable to finish her sentence and cried hysterically.

  “Calm down. I know you didn’t mean for any of this to happen. You just need to get over this barrier you have been putting up. Let your guard down once in a while. I know it hurts; I do, and I just want you to be happy. Stop crying, whatever happens we will get through this. How many times have we got into a mess and been strong enough to get ourselves out of it?” She raised an eyebrow to Elizabeth who breathed heavily and nodded.

  “I’m sorry for bringing you into this. I should have let you leave. I should have listened to you. I am so sorry Cecile.” She bit down on her top lip and looked to the floor.

  Cecile closed her eyes and lent forward.

  “Elizabeth, its ok…” “It is not ok, please stop protecting me. I should have just admitted I love Jordan.” They both went silent as the words spilled from her lips. She knew it was too late to backtrack. The pain she felt about Jordan tripled at that moment.

  “I tried to save him, but Lorcan out up a stupid shield and stopped me. Now he is dead, and I am probably going to die, so are you. I have killed everyone important to me. Matthias, Jordan, Even my sister, and now you may die. I will try my best to get you out of here, I will.”

  Cecile picked up a small stone from the floor and rolled it between her fingers.

  “I never thought I would see the day, where you would admit that you love someone.” She laughed.

  Elizabeth laughed back, she couldn’t help it. Even in horrible situations, Cecile always knew how to put a smile on her face.

  “Elizabeth, it is ok. What can they do to you anyway? You are a vampire and you cannot be killed, but if something happens to me…” Elizabeth interrupted her.

  “NO! I won’t let that happen.” Cecile looked at her with a stern expression.

  “Please just listen to me, because if it does you need to promise me something. Promise me that you will stop hurting people for no reason.” Cecile looked at Elizabeth sorrowfully. She flung her hands in front of her face as her tears spilled on to the floor.

  “Nothing will happen to you Cecile; I will make sure of it. We will be out of here by tonight, and we can go somewhere far away from here. You can do what you want. I won’t make you do anything for me anymore.”

  Elizabeth looked at Cecile determined, she knew she would do anything to prevent anyone from hurting her.

  “Just promise me Elizabeth.” Cecile sighed.

  Elizabeth opened her mouth, but quickly closed it on the sound of the doors flying open. In marched five men, Abbelonna and Lorcan. He didn’t look at Elizabeth. Instead, he looked to Cecile who shot him a murderous look and ground her teeth.

  Abbelonna stood next to Lorcan; her lips curled into a cruel smirk. Elizabeth looked at her and mouthed I will kill you, she looked cold and determined, Abbelonna’s smile disappeared.

  “Lorcan what is it this? Why is Cecile here? She has not done anything wrong.” She looked at him through sore eyes.

  “She is here for your punishment.” Lorcan said weakly. “NO, please, please don’t hurt her. Punish me, not her. SHE HASN’T DONE ANYTHING WRONG!” She pleaded, screaming.

  He ignored her pleas and walked over to the table. He pulled out a jar from his pocket and sprinkled its substance over the table. Elizabeth lowered her eyes to his hand as she watched Lorcan carefully. He let his hand hover over the table and closed his eyes.

  Slowly the dust like substance he had sprinkled rose off the table. He chanted under his breath. Elizabeth could not make out what he was saying. In frustration, she watched the dust shake in mid-air then drop back on to the table.

  “Bring her.”

  Elizabeth jumped backwards and hit her back on the edge of the shield. Three men walked over to her and grabbed her arms. She was usually stronger, but it was as if Lorcan had made her weak. The men were muscular; two were quite a bit shorter than her, which was saying something considering she was only five foot five.

  The other man towered over her; he must have been at least six foot. She attempted to fight them, but knew there really was no point and went limp in their arms. She wasn’t going to make it easy for them, as she watched them straining to drag her to the table. They dropped her by Lorcan. She looked up and smiled sarcastically until she spotted a large dagger in Abbelonna’s hand.

  “No… please don’t Lorcan.” She gasped “Please don’t kill me, please.” She began to weep, Abbelonna laughed.

  She got up and threw her arms around Lorcan, knowing it was the only thing that might work.

  “Please Lorcan. How long have we been friends? I know that you’re in love with me. Please don’t do this. I am sorry…. I am so sorry. I was just scared.” She sobbed into his shoulder.

  He sighed and stroked her back, and kissed her cheek. Abbelonna looked t
o her sourly. Lorcan pushed Elizabeth on to the table, the same men from earlier tied her down. The rope cut in to her wrists.

  “NO... PLEASE LORCAN!” She screamed and kicked but couldn’t break free. She was so sure hugging him would work, but she could see now, the hurt in his eyes. They grabbed Cecile and dragged her over to the table.

  “Elizabeth, don’t worry… its ok...” “No, No please Lorcan. Not Cecile. Please” She pleaded, but she was ignored.

  Cecile sobbed as she stared down to Elizabeth. Abbelonna and Lorcan began chanting. Lorcan slit his hand with a small golden dagger, letting the blood pour on to Elizabeth’s chest. He bit down on his lip and clenched his fist. Elizabeth squirmed, tears stung at her eyes.

  “Incantartium, melvourisum, silorsiam, melverse.

  They chanted the same four words over and over. Their voices echoed around Elizabeth’s head as if a million people were saying it at once.

  “AHHH!” She screamed, tears streaming down her cheek. “STOP, MAKE IT STOP.”

  Lorcan looked as if he was in a trance. His and Abbelonna’s eyes were all white. Abbelonna held the dagger above Elizabeth’s chest.

  She usually wouldn’t be worried, seeing as she is immortal. But she knew magic could do all sorts of things, considering it is magic that made her immortal.

  “NO.”

  She kicked and pulled, trying to free herself, but Abbelonna plunged the dagger into Elizabeth’s heart. She shrieked loudly and started to shake violently. She had never felt pain like this before. She could hear Cecile shouting for them to stop.

  Lorcans and her own blood bubbled on her chest, as if it was sizzling. The pain seared through her entire body, first through her arms, her stomach then her legs. Lorcan pulled the dagger out leaving a gaping hole in Elizabeth’s chest. She looked at Cecile terrified. Tears streamed down Cecile’s cheek as a knife appeared at her throat.

  “NOOOOO!”

  But it was too late, Cecile’s blood splattered over the Elizabeth and the table as the blade glided across her throat. Cecile tried to breathe but only let out a gurgled scream before dropping to the floor. Elizabeth wept hysterically, unable to breath. Lorcan and

  Abbelonna carried on shouting as the blood boiled, as if nothing had happened. Elizabeth felt the rage boil up inside her, she ripped the ropes with some newly founded strength and fell on to the floor.

  They all looked to her with surprise, no one moved and she ran out the door, she tried to run as fast as she could, but she felt much slower than usual. She was getting out of breath, which never happened.

  She felt different and pushed through the throbbing pain in her chest. She ran down the stair case, leaving small splatters of blood over the marble. They ran after her; one of them slipped over. She hurried to the main door, pushing away anyone in her way.

  The sunlight hit her; she covered her eyes with her hand and blinked several times, trying to focus on the gate. She ran across the drive, the gravel cutting into her feet.

  She made it onto the street; it was quiet, people drove past, slowing down to get a better look at the half naked girl covered in blood.

  A car slowed down, stopping next to Elizabeth. An old woman hobbled out the passenger side in a hurry.

  chapter twenty one

  Elizabeth covered up the hole in her chest with her jacket as the woman approached her.

  She tried to conjure up a story to explain her appearance, but her mind was blank. She felt overwhelmed.

  “What happened dear? You look petrified.” The woman looked kind; she had one of those faces that you could instantly trust.

  “I have nowhere to go.” She wept.

  “Ok, ok calm down. Come back with us, and we will get you cleaned up then get some help, ok?” She led Elizabeth to the door.

  “Clive, were going to take this young lady back to ours, then get her some help. She has nowhere to go.” The man turned his head, staring at the splattered blood.

  “What happened?” She buried her head in her hands and wept uncontrollably. The man dropped it, looked to his wife then pulled off. Elizabeth turned looking out the back window anxiously. Lorcan appeared on the street as they turned the corner.

  He spotted Elizabeth and began to run. She sat quietly, panicking. Lorcan was on their trail, and now she was going to get these nice people killed because of it. She remembered what Cecile had said to her before she died. She contemplated telling them to stop and to run, that way she wouldn’t get them killed.

  “We are here.”

  The woman said brightly as they pulled up on the side of the road. The house was quite small, mid terraced with a white worn down door. She looked around and couldn’t see Lorcan anywhere. Breathing a sigh of relief she opened the car door. The woman fumbled for her keys whilst Elizabeth did her best to stand up straight, her legs felt like jelly and she was quite sure she would pass out any minute.

  She looked to the woman and found it odd how she couldn’t smell her blood. In fact, she didn’t feel thirsty at all, instead she felt hungry. She hadn’t noticed it until now, the hunger pained her stomach, and she craved food, normal food.

  The woman finally pulled out the keys and opened the door. They walked into the house. She could smell potpourri and musk. It was small and cozy. They had an open fire with logs surrounding it and pale blue wallpaper decorated with red flowers.

  The sofa was large and brown. The curtains were closed, which was good. She didn’t want Lorcan walking down the road and spotting her through the window. Her hands were shaking as she sat herself down.

  “Wow, you are a nervous wreck. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

  The woman led Elizabeth upstairs; they reached the poorly lit hall and into a small room. Upon entering she could see a single bed, pushed up against the wall and a white dressing table to the left of the room.

  “The bathroom is through there, so you can get cleaned up. The wardrobe is full of my daughter’s clothes; you can borrow some. You are both about the same size.”

  “Thanks.” Elizabeth murmured.

  The woman closed the door and trudged down the stairs. She lied on the bed momentarily, she felt numb and weak and just wanted to sleep and eat. She looked around the room lazily.

  She stood up and walked over to the mirror. She was shocked at the woman staring back at her. She looked awful. She wiped some of the blood from her eyebrow and saw a crack with a small amount of blood and hair on it.

  She thought it was bit odd, but shrugged it off. She was too tired to think straight. There was a photo on the bedside table. She looked closely and at first it looked as if it was her, but quickly realized it wasn’t. This girl had brown eyes, and slightly darker hair. She also didn’t have as bright lips. But she did look very similar.

  “Creepy.”

  Elizabeth breathed and headed into the bathroom. The suite was horrid brown colour, with grubby white tiles. She looked down at the sink and turned the tap on. She splashed some water on her face, then washed her arms, chest (as best she could) and ran her hair under the water.

  Red murky water filled the sink. She grabbed a towel and dried herself then wrapped around her hair. When she turned, she saw that the bath had blood splattered on it. It was dry, so it wasn’t any splashes from her. She walked back into the bedroom and looked around suspiciously.

  She opened the wardrobe and looked at the clothes. Not her style, the clothes were quite flowing and very dark. Nevertheless she pulled on a black top that cut in at her waist and flowed outwards; it covered her chest which was all that mattered.

  She put on a skirt. It flowed down past her knees and was a dark purple. She dried her hair with a towel then pulled the dark tangled locks into a ponytail. She felt a little bit like herself again. She delved deeper into the wardrobe, and on the shelves in search for some shoes but came across a very heavy brown book. It was grimoire.

  She turned the pages and saw that they were full of black magic and old rituals.

  “Great.”


  She said aloud. It seemed as if she was surrounded by witches wherever she went. She placed the book back on the shelf and walked back over to the bed. She saw another small amount of dark blood smeared on the pillow.

  How had she not spotted that before? She wondered. She sneaked out onto the hallway and saw some clumped hair covered in blood lying on the floor in front of her. She put her hand over her mouth and gasped in horror.

  “Do you want a cup of tea?” The woman shouted. She stopped and breathed deeply.

  “Yes please. I will be down in a minute. I’m just going to go and have a shower if that is ok?”

  “Sure, take your time.”

  She hoped it would give her enough time to figure out what was going on here. She crept into their bedroom. Her hands were clammy, and she felt a bead of sweat drip down her forehead.

  This room was larger; the bed covers were a pale blue and the wallpaper was the same as in the living room.

  She looked to the windowsill and saw a torn page from the grimoire, detailing a ritual on it that involved killing ten girls. She opened the window and looked out. She couldn’t jump, and it was too high. It had been so long since she had to consider danger.

  She knew the fall may kill her, as she had come to the conclusion that Lorcan had turned her into a human. It still didn’t explain the hole in her chest that didn’t heal, but she had no time to consider that.

  She slithered under the bed, and breathed quietly which was difficult as she panicked. Tears fell onto the blue carpet as she stared up to the wooden slabs. She let her head fall back onto the floor and concentrated on her breathing.

  She had never felt this scared for her life. She was so weak and vulnerable. She could hear the old couple’s conversation through the floor. She pressed her ear further into the thick carpet straining to make out the words.

  “We will. Just wait for her to get out of the shower first.” There was a short pause before she heard a small snigger.

  “Stop trying to make them happy before we kill them.”