Betrayed: Dark beginnings

by Rebecca Weeks

  They pulled the creature on to the bank. Lorcan threw off his other shoe and sighed looking down to his dripping wet clothes.

  “Meyercortum sebaceous.” He whispered.

  He felt his jeans go rigid as they dried quickly. He got in and turned on the ignition; he rubbed his eyes before moving off. He drove quickly and glimpsed over to Elizabeth’s house. He pressed down on the pedal hard as the others laughed in their victory from the back. Lorcan rolled his eyes and shook his head.

  chapter thirty

  Jordan followed Abbelonna closely towards the mansion. He glanced back, being careful for watching eyes when he saw a man appear between the trees, instinctively he ducked.

  “Abbelonna,” he hissed.

  She turned around and looked at Jordan oddly. He looked at her then to the trees, the man was walking towards them.

  Jordan got up and hid behind her, he couldn’t risk getting caught, not now that he was so close. Jordan strained his eyes as he studied his face, it looked awfully like his dad, but this man looked older, he had dark circles under his eyes and black stubble etched across his chin and neck.

  As the man got closer he recognized that it was his dad, the unmistakable dark eyes, the dazed look in his eyes and slight hunch as he walked confirmed this. His girlfriend followed behind, she hadn’t changed at all and still looked well dressed, young and quite pretty.

  Abbelonna watched the woman venomously; her long brown hair wore a dark blue tinge. Her eyes were a deep indigo and sparkled mysteriously.

  “JORDAN!” His dad bellowed.

  “Don’t worry it’s my dad.” Jordan said slowly.

  “Keep him quiet, do you want to get caught?” She said keeping her eyes locked on his dad’s girlfriends.

  “I won’t be a minute.” Jordan huffed and got to his feet. He stormed over to his dad.

  They both stopped facing each other. Jordan stood tall and ground his teeth. His dad looked driven with insanity, his right eye twitched involuntarily. His girlfriend stopped behind him and smiled to Jordan.

  He didn’t look her way; he couldn’t take his eyes off his dad.

  “Why are you here?” Jordan said through his teeth.

  “Get away from them Jordan.” Abbelonna’s voiced shrieked behind him. He saw blue sparks shoot past him hitting his dad’s girlfriend in the chest, she fell to the floor.

  Jordan looked to Abbelonna, shock rippled through him. He knelt down next to his dad and checked her pulse. Her eyes turned to a dark blue; the entirety of her eyes were blue.

  “What did you do to her?” He looked at Abbelonna panicked.

  “She is an Encantado.” She breathed.

  “I know, dad told me…”

  “I don’t think you realize what the creatures are like, they are dangerous.” She said venomously.

  “We need to go, now.” Abbelonna grabbed Jordan’s t-shirt and dragged him away. When they were out of earshot Abbelonna stopped.

  “I do not know if you are aware, but she has enchanted your dad. He is not himself, and once they are ready they take their victims to their underwater world. She is going to make your dad into one of them.” Abbelonna said softly.

  Jordan turned his head slowly, feeling the adrenaline pulsate through his veins. He watched his dad help her to her feet. She looked to Abbelonna and hissed.

  He took a deep breath. He realized now why his dad had left, it was because of her. Chloe wouldn’t have left if their dad was still there. Abbelonna grabbed the collar of his t-shirt to stop him running, after she had seen the murderous look in his eyes.

  He ripped his top off him and sped towards his dad. He felt like growling, something grew inside of him, all the hurt and pain he had held inside all came out at once.

  “JORDAN DON’T!” Abbelonna’s screams only fuelled him on more.

  He pounced on her, pinning her to the ground. She bit his arm; he broke concentration momentarily, shocked that she had bitten him. She pinned him to the floor and hissed.

  He grabbed her arm and twisted it until she fell on top of him. Abbelonna pulled her off of Jordan and threw her against Jordan’s dad.

  “Stop it.” His dad said through tears as he held the creature in his arms.

  “She has enchanted you.” Jordan panted. His dad stroked her hair and looked to Jordan through tears. She looked into Jordan’s eyes; he stared back for a second then he couldn’t look away.

  He realized how blue they were and before he knew it he was on his feet walking over to her. He felt a hand on his shoulder pulling at him, but he didn’t want to look away. He felt so free. He broke from her gaze then looked into Abbelonna’s, who had nowhere near the same effect.

  “She is trying to enchant you.” She snarled.

  “How did you find him?” She said gesturing to Jordan.

  “A spell.” His girlfriend spoke for the first time, her voice sounded distorted, as if she was talking through a tube.

  “You… you need to leave and never come back. If you come back for him, I will make sure that every witch and warlock I know hunts you down… including the vampires.” Abbelonna said with a cruel smile.

  Fear washed over the woman and she released Jordan’s dad. She broke into a run and darted off between the trees.

  “NOOOO” His dad shrieked and began to run in the direction she went. Abbelonna threw her hands forward making a rope appear from nowhere, tripping him over.

  He went to get back up but another spell hit him in the back, knocking the air out of him. He fell to the floor and struggled for air.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Jordan said with disbelief. She worked her hands in a circle, binding his dad with rope. She lifted the spell once he was tied up.

  “Sorry I had to do that. If I didn’t he would have carried on looking for her for the rest of his life, which would have been short seeing as without her he would not want to eat. He is enchanted by her.” She said answering his questioning stare. Jordan looked to his dad struggling and crying and had to fight back the tears himself.

  “Please tell me there is a way to break this.” Abbelonna looked to his dad who was now an empty shell of a man.

  “I hope so….” She said trailing off. They dragged him into the woods, kicking branches out the way. They tied him up to the tree.

  “Will he be safe?” Jordan said looking around.

  “Yes. I have put a barrier spell around him. No person or thing will be able to get near him, except for us.” He looked down and sighed.

  “See you soon dad.” Jordan walked off leaving his dads muttering and sobs behind.

  chapter thirty one

  They sat on a jagged wall in the garden, Jordan watched the water fall over the fountains edge and splash into the pool beneath it; he could hear no sounds around him. He watched blankly before Abbelonna pinched his arm.

  “Earth to Jordan, anyone there?” She smiled menacingly but he took no notice.

  He could feel his hope slip away; he was close to giving up. He had always pitied those who fell into depression, he thought of them as weak, but he did no longer. He understood now the pain, the numbness that penetrates your skull.

  The feeling of your personality, your hope and life being sucked out of you slowly as you watch everything disappear around you.

  He was constantly on edge; he knew it wasn’t long until he gave up. Abbelonna huffed as she played with a small stone, rolling it between her fingers. Jordan could feel his eyes filling up, he didn’t want to cry but his eyes betrayed him, showing weakness, letting the tears spill over onto his top.

  Abbelonna watched him pitifully, she knew how he was feeling, and she too had felt the grip of depression entangle itself around her core, as it squeezed out what hope she had left. Lorcan had helped her, had brought her back from the clutches of despair.

  That was why she felt so strongly towards him, he was the only one to show her light when she was surrounded by darkness. She wanted to do the same for Jordan, to bring him back.
>
  “I know it hurts, but I am here for you.” She placed her hand on his shoulder.

  He took a deep breath and wiped his tears. All he could think, and how stupid it was, considering he had never wanted it before, but he just wanted his mum to tell him everything was going to be ok.

  The sun beat down on his back; the material was damp as it absorbed the beads of sweat. It was at least 30 degrees, which considering how cold it had been over the last three summers, this was a blessing.

  He thought of how he should be enjoying himself, laughing. Jumping off the rope swing with Chloe, playing football with his friends, he missed the memories, even if they hadn’t happened.

  He longed for this to become true and closed his eyes, tightly, hoping that when he opened them he would wake up from this never ending nightmare. No matter how many times he blinked, he was still sat there, staring at the fountain as Abbelonna hummed quietly.

  “I am so close too…” He cleared his throat, he hadn’t spoken in so long that his voice had become hoarse.

  “Breaking down. I want to know everything; I think I deserve to know.” She sighed, and looked into his eyes sadly.

  “I know. But I pretty much know what you know when it comes to Elizabeth. Your dad many never recover from the enchantment he is under, and he may turn mad. Sorry.” He smiled softly.

  “At least you are honest.” She shuffled closer to Jordan and placed her hand on his. He didn’t pull away, instead held it. Their fingers locked together and it felt good to have some comfort.

  “At least Elizabeth isn’t a vampire anymore.” He laughed nervously, trying to find some good in this situation.

  “She never really was.” Abbelonna shrugged. She saw his confused stare and guessed he didn’t have a clue about it.

  “The curse placed on Elizabeth wasn’t done properly. Basically in 1666 she was cursed by a warlock, who failed to do it right. Therefore she and the other men who were cursed are not full vampires. If she was, she wouldn’t have so many men running after her.” She snorted. Jordan still looked puzzled.

  “Real vampires are not so, umm, well formed. They have wings, although it pains them to fly. They will pretty much viciously attack anyone who has blood coursing through their veins. They do not usually remember their human life, they cannot go out in sunlight, they do not sleep, they haunt people and they have little or no morals or sense of self. They are truly frightening.” She said spookily

  “Witches on the other hand, are much more frightening.” She laughed.

  “Hmmm,” Jordan didn’t know what to say, he never put much thought to Elizabeth’s back story.

  He tried to calculate how old Elizabeth is.

  “Three hundred and fifty eight,” he said shocked.

  “Huh?” Abbelonna stared at him curiously. “Elizabeth’s age, I am surprised that she is still so alluring.”

  She got to her feet and stood in front of Jordan. “Why do you even like her?” She said jealously, she had wondered why so many men fawned over her.

  “She is jealous, self-centered, hurtful and a liar. She tried to kill you…”

  “She changed her mind and tried to save me!” Jordan jumped to his feet.

  “Whatever.” Abbelonna said rolling her eyes.

  “Stop being so jealous, I don’t understand why you passionately hate her; you have made her into your own arch enemy.” Jordan raised an eyebrow, something changed in Abbelonna, whether it was she was uncomfortable or shocked, he couldn’t tell. The only thing that he liked was that it got to her; he didn’t understand why she was so jealous.

  That was one thing he hated in people.

  “Because everyone loves Elizabeth, sweet, beautiful Elizabeth, no-one else is ever good enough.”

  She said through her teeth. The last sentence got to him. He sat next to her and looked back to the fountain. He could see she was hurt, mainly about Lorcan. He reminded himself that she doesn’t hate Elizabeth because of jealousy, it’s because she is hurt.

  “We should go.” She got up and stormed towards the mansion but was pulled back by Jordan.

  He looked into her teary eyes and smiled gently. He wrapped his arms around her tightly; she rested her head on his shoulder and let a tear fall.

  He rubbed her back and sighed. He still cared, and even if he didn’t have his mum, sister or Elizabeth, he still had a good friend in Abbelonna.

  They pulled away and walked arm in arm to the door.

  chapter thirty two

  Jordan snuck up the stairs whilst Abbelonna distracted everyone with a new spell she had learnt. He watched as she turned water into liquid gold with admiration.

  He reached the top of the stairs and hid in-between the two walls in which he had hid last time. He could hear people clapping.

  Footsteps pattered up the stairs as nine witches and one warlock headed towards their rooms. Abbelonna followed closely behind them and looked around cautiously.

  “Jordan.” She whispered. He stepped out and looked behind him.

  “This way.” He followed her down the hall and was confronted by a bright orange door. She ducked and walked through it. It was smaller than the other doors he had seen here. He entered the room and saw another corridor.

  “It’s like a maze.” He whispered.

  “Shush.” She said quickly and walked off to the left. She opened a brown door and walked through.

  “Another corridor?” he laughed, but it wasn’t. He was surprised to see a large king size bed with a patterned quilt. The dressing table was covered in makeup and the walls were a light indigo. He had expected black with pentagrams everywhere. Lorcans voice echoed outside of her door.

  “In here.” She pointed to her wardrobe but it was too late, Lorcan was turning the handle. She pushed Jordan behind the door and opened it.

  “Lorcan,” she smiled. “I was just coming to see you.” He went to walk in but she put her arm across the door stopping him.

  “We can talk out here.” He looked around suspiciously.

  “Why?” He said as he peered around her room.

  “Girly stuff.” She said not really sure what she meant by that. Lorcan didn’t either but dropped it. They closed the door and Jordan stepped out and breathed. His heart pounded too loudly in his chest as if it wanted to give away his position. He thought Lorcan was going to come in and find him. He listened through the door and heard their rushed voices. “We will perform the ritual tonight.” He said excitedly.

  “What about, umm, Selena?” James, one of the other warlocks said hesitantly.

  “Don’t… I will, eventually sort it out.” James sighed.

  “Your choice,” he muttered.

  “You got a Limnade then.” Abbelonna said sourly.

  “Yes, now meet me downstairs at 10-o-clock. Abbelonna you will be helping with the chants.” He said dismissing her.

  When Lorcan’s back was turned she did a small courtesy and a sarcastic smile making James snigger. She opened the door and walked back into the room.

  “We need to do it tonight. We have no choice.” She said biting her lip.

  “I agree,” Jordan knew if he didn’t he would die. He mentally prepared himself whilst Abbelonna faffed around with some books.

  “I will be right back; I need to find a couple books and a black candle.”

  She walked towards the door.

  “I will put a spell on my door, so no-one can get in. They will think it’s a wall.” Jordan nodded and she left, leaving him to his thoughts. He looked down to the floor, her carpet was a place lilac colour; it reminded him of Chloe’s room.

  He buried his head in his hands and felt tears yet again prickle at his eyes. He felt nauseous and wasn’t sure if it was because of the lack of food or recent events.

  “Chloe I am so sorry.” He whispered. He knew she couldn’t hear him, but he had to say it out loud, at least once. He bit down hard on his lip, attempting to prevent more tears from spilling.

  He felt as if someone h
ad stabbed him in the chest, leaving a hole where his heart is. How had everything gone from being so normal, to his world being turned upside down within the space of a couple of months? He had only one regret, he wished he had let himself enjoy it more.

  Lorcan’s face swirled around his thoughts, rage bubbled inside of him, knowing he was in the same house as him. He wondered why Lorcan had taken everything from him, when he didn’t even know him. He stopped Chloe from coming back; he didn’t even try to save her. He wished he had seen through Lorcan that night and just found a way to save Chloe.

  Although he loves Elizabeth, he loves Chloe more, family will always be more important to him. He gritted his teeth and stared angrily at himself in the mirror.

  I should have stayed away from Elizabeth, spoken to my mum more, made sure Chloe was ok. I should have seen through my dad’s girlfriend. This is my entire fault, and now the people I love are dead or insane, because of me. He thought angrily before punching the mirror.

  The glass shattered and landed on the dressing table. His hand was bleeding. He swallowed hard embracing the pain. It distracted him momentarily from the pain, but as soon as that pain was gone it all came rushing back.

  Sometimes he hoped to simply go to sleep and to not wake up. Or that this was one long nightmare that would soon end, this all seemed bizarre, something you would only dream about, right? Suddenly, before he could stop himself, he felt it all build up and wept uncontrollably into Abbelonna’s pillow.

  His nose was soon blocked and he was coughing as he tried to breath. He cried for ages, letting it all out. The pain of losing your family cuts deeper than anything he had ever experienced. He heard the door creak and sat up quickly, wiping his nose and mouth on his sleeve.

  “Oh my, what’s the matter?” Abbelonna dropped her books and ran over to Jordan, pulling him into her arms.

  He sobbed on her shoulder, he felt weak and foolish but she didn’t laugh, nor did she think he was weak, which surprised him.