by Zara Zenia
“What?” Brent’s shrug mirrors indifference.
There’s that same laugh again, bursting out of my lips. “You act as if he’s a child you are ready to rear and raise as your own.”
“I’m not saying that.” Brent’s hand raises with annoyance as he shakes his head.
“Then what are you saying exactly?” I ask with dumbfounded apprehension. “This immature idiot is going to ruin everything.”
“The stakes are high,” Carl interrupts. “It doesn’t take a genius to understand that.”
I’m pacing back and forth in the den again. It’s the only way to tranquilize the daggers of fire I want to breathe into Carl’s face.
Sitting back down, I lock eyes with the blood thirsty vampire. “I’ll believe it when I see the human girl.”
“You’ll see her.” Carl’s eyes flash with confidence.
“You are certain?” A smirk curls in the corners of my lips.
Carl stands up and paces the room next. He doesn’t respond to me right away. Something anxiety inducing festers underneath the torment of his expression.
“Roger has never let me down before.” His voice rings with defensive protest.
“I can’t trust a vampire I’ve never met,” I sneer.
“You don’t trust any vampires,” Carl reminds me.
I nod my head with approval for once. Maybe the dumb kid isn’t such a total idiot after all. The wait is itching at us all. Tinges of paranoia slice through me with every creak of the wall or the howl of the wind outside.
“Let’s just agree to disagree,” Brent chimes through the dark corner.
“I suppose you are right, brother.” My shoulders sag. I will never win an argument against him no matter how exceptionally hard I try.
Carl looks satisfied that he’s not going to be burned to ashes for the moment and plops back down in the same chair he’s been sitting in all along. He has a mouth on him, and he’s not afraid to use it.
“If you just give us a chance, we can prove to you how invested we are in this.” He flicks his eyes to me.
My heart dances with anticipation. I’m hungry with an insatiable appetite. “The stakes are high,” I remind him again. I don’t care how many times I have to say it.
“I know.” Carl’s nod is as grave as my emotions. “You may not think you need me, but you need Katie.”
“We all do,” my brother says as he towers over Carl.
I take a deep breath. The waiting game continues.
Chapter Eighteen
Brent
“I wish you would stop pacing already.” I groan with displeasure as Ken’s green eyes burn a hole right through me.
“It helps calm me down.” Ken remains argumentative and unapologetic.
“I can understand that,” Carl’s voice mumbles through the dank air in the den that’s more of a cave than anything else. “I have nervous energy a lot too.”
“I don’t have nervous energy,” Ken scoffs defensively.
“Okay…” Carl’s hands raise to his sides. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just agreeing with you.”
“You two are bickering like children.” I roll my eyes and stand up. I need to stretch my throbbing muscles. I’ve been down here waiting for too long. A dragon shifter needs wide, open spaces and freedom to branch out. Unfortunately, this den provides neither one of those options.
“Tell that to him.” My brother points a resentful finger at the vampire, who says nothing.
“It’s not easy to get along,” I admit. “But somehow we have to find a way to keep the peace.”
“Do you see me scorching him to ashes right now?” Ken raises an eyebrow and his sarcastic tone isn’t lost on me either.
“No,” I roll my eyes again. “You aren’t exactly being pleasant though.” I have to use restraint not to burn either one of them to a crisp at the moment.
“This is the best I can pull off,” Ken states of his current demeanor. “Take it or leave it.”
“Hate me all you want,” Carl mentions. His eyes are hollow and empty looking and he has dark circles under his eyes. He’s thirsty and in need of a proper blood meal. “Katie is the key.”
“As long as you don’t sink your teeth into her neck as soon as she gets here,” Ken snickers.
“Come on,” I barrel, stifling an argument before it has a chance to heatedly begin. “Maybe things aren’t as bleak as they seem.”
Ken’s eyes flash with quizzical intrigue. “What the hell are you talking about, brother?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug as my feet shuffle against the hard-cold ground of the den. “Just think about it.” I’m vague, but it’s purposeful. I want these two idiots to stop bickering and dig into their psyche’s in order to grasp the broader spectrum.
“What are you talking about?” Ken demands.
I glance over at Carl. He might pass out any second, but he remains calm.
“I mean, what if there is another way? What if all the answers don’t lie on Earth?” I pause to let this new bombshell of a theory sink into their brains.
Carl and Ken exchange a glance and then look back at me for answers. “I guess there’s a remote possibility…” Ken agrees.
Running with his compliance, I continue. “We just need to keep our minds open for other ideas and avenues.”
“Yeah.” Ken nods as if I’m onto something. He wags an olive green finger in my general direction. “You are smarter than you look, big brother.”
I leer at him at his passive aggressive insult bruises my ego, but I let it roll off my back like water from a faucet. “I’m just trying to think of some other approach.”
“Maybe we could—” Ken begins, but then instantly halts whatever speech he was about to branch out from.
The hairs on the back of my neck prickle and my senses alarm within myself. Ken’s eyes are urgent, hungry and full of shock.
“What is it?” Carl stands up and shifts his weight with nervousness. We’ll have to find a way to iron out his jitters later. He clearly feels our alertness buzzing electrically through the den.
“Do you hear that?” Ken’s voice is barely above a hushed whisper.
“I hear it.” My voice sounds foggy as it drifts and floats through the den as I confirm sounds outside of the cave.
Our three silhouettes lurk in the shadows, as still and silent as immobilized statues. “Ken, go to the door,” I instruct my younger brother.
He nods in agreement as his feet take measured steps to the door. “There’s someone out there,” he hisses over his shoulder.
“Maybe it’s Roger and Katie?” Carl’s eyes are full of hope as he glances between Ken and me.
“Could be,” I shrug with a resolution of promise.
Carl and I wander over to join Ken by the door. Ken and I have an acute sense of hearing, even from far away distances. “We have to remain hidden,” I warn Ken as his hands creep slowly to the knob on the door. He wraps his fingers around it. I hold my breath while he pulls.
“Ken…slower,” I command. “Hidden? Remember?”
“I know,” he spits back sullenly.
“It’s best to just get it over with.” Carl’s fraying voice chimes through the darkness. He visibly trembles beside me.
“I thought vampires weren’t afraid of anything?” I taunt him.
“We’re…not…” Carl trails off unconvincingly. There aren’t many ways for a vampire to die completely, but he knows Ken and I have the ability to wipe him off the map in an instant.
Ken swipes the door open and immediately jumps to the side behind the door. Carl and I follow suit, peering out as bravely as we can.
“We cannot be discovered by anyone else,” Carl whimpers.
“We’re in the woods you idiot,” Ken drones, patronizing him.
“That doesn’t mean we still shouldn’t exercise caution,” I remind my younger brother. “You already know the others are looking for us. We can’t give them any clues.”
&n
bsp; “Like bringing a human girl back to the den where we’re hiding?” Ken retorts.
“We need her,” Carl mentions.
“I know that too,” Ken’s voice erupts through the cave like an echo.
“Close the door,” I demand. I have an ominous feeling.
“Why?” Ken eyes me suspiciously.
“There’s nobody at the door,” I belt out hastily and point.
“What if they are coming?” Ken asks.
“Roger knows how to get inside,” Carl assures him.
“Fine.” Ken groans and slams the door shut again, sending a plume of dirt and dust into the air.
I cough and spit, waving the dust away while Carl stares at me, completely unaffected. “I’m sure they are close now. Maybe it’s really them that we heard before.”
“You sound more like you are trying to convince yourself more than us.” Ken shoots Carl a slimy smile that’s laced with cynicism.
Carl balls his fists, but doesn’t bait Ken any further. Ken shakes his head as if Carl is more of an annoyance than a threat. “I bet it must be hard for you, blood sucker.”
“Don’t call me that,” Carl growls.
Ken stands directly in front of him, towering over him by at least a foot, maybe more. “What are you going to do about it?”
“Ken—” I warn. “Stop it.”
“This blood sucker is trying to get a rise out of me,” Ken protests as if he’s a tattling child.
“Just ignore him then,” I say robotically and pick at my fingernail. “Besides, he hasn’t said anything in a while, so how can he be bothering you?”
“Anyway,” Ken states because he’s not wired to give up that easily and he wants to press my buttons by ignoring my advice. “I know it must be hard for you vampires to go so long without a proper feeding.”
A taunting smirk curls at the edges of his mouth, but I can barely see it through the blanket of shadows and collapsing darkness around us.
I can feel Carl’s energy boiling to the surface with fury, but he must be smarter than Ken because he says nothing in response. It might be funny to us, but the sarcasm is completely lost on the blood sucker.
Chapter Nineteen
Katie
The leaves crunch under my feet in a blanket of oranges and browns cascading across the forest landscape. The humid and foggy air curls my hair, giving it a more vivacious bounce out here in the woods than I’m used to in the city. My throat is narrow, dry.
It’s insufferable being here again. The trees stretch to the sky and umbrella us with shadowing branches that dance in the wind. Being here sears me with stabbing burns of memories containing my father and my sister. The cobwebs of my past unearth themselves in the soil with each guarded step I take, deeper into nowhere.
Roger’s weary eyes inspect me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I nod reassuringly.
“Are you sure? You look a little…faint.” Roger’s edgy tone reflects concern.
“Really.” I chuckle as butterflies of nervousness bounce in my stomach.
“Maybe we should take a little break?” Roger is relentless with offers to satiate me.
I roll my eyes. “We are almost there, right? You said it yourself.”
“Right.” Roger nods and stares straight ahead. His dark hair flashes through the draping cascade of late evening sunlight beaming through the cloak of trees, as the sun plays hide and seek through the bushes.
I press on, pushing one foot in front of the other as I order my mind to persist and remain curious about this adventure. I also take mental pictures of my surroundings just in case I need to come back here later or worse…if I find myself in a situation to where I need to run and flee.
I mark a mental escape path in my mind so that Roger won’t catch on to what I’m doing. I’m the epitome of nonchalance and vague open mindedness as we shuffle along in silence. The only sound around us is the occasional squawk of a bird flying overhead.
Roger halts a few seconds later, so abruptly that I barrel into him in my distraction. I rub the pain as it soars through my shoulder. “Ouch.”
“Well pay attention to where you’re going then,” Roger states defensively.
“Fine,” I hiss through clinched teeth. “Whatever you want, your highness.” I cast him a bow in sarcasm.
He responds with a flashy roll of his eyes. “We’re here.”
I glance around. We’re standing in front of the thick trunk of an oak tree with rotting, peeling woodchips. It smells sour and the curving, winding branches look like arms waving in the sky.
“It’s a…tree.” I point to it in verbal obviousness, but Roger shakes his head.
“This is where they are.”
“I don’t really…understand.” A nervous chuckle escapes my lips.
Roger ignores me and takes another cautious step in front of the tree. I observe his body language and demeanor as he stands proud and confidently, knocking on what I assume to be a hidden door contained within the tree.
His knuckles beat against the wooden trunk as if to a special beat or song because there’s a pattern and rhythm to the way he’s engaging it. I don’t interrupt him and let him focus on whatever it is he’s doing because apparently it will open the door.
A gentle breeze floats across my cheek and tickles the edges of my hair against my skin. Tucking a strand behind my ear, I glance back over at Roger. His posture droops and his eyelids sag.
“What is it?” Panic ensues in my mind.
“I must be missing an imperative step in the special knock.” Roger’s voice drifts into the wind with melancholy.
“Can you try it again?” I suggest, swiping at my arm as an undetermined bug buzzes past my elbow.
“Yeah.” Roger’s expression is hollow and distant as he distractedly begins rapping his fist against the door again.
This time, whatever attempt he is making works and the door creaks open with an eerie and crusty creak.
“Are we really going in there?” I point to the darkness swallowing the hole inside the door.
“Yes.” Roger casts me a blank stare. “What’s the problem?”
“Nothing.” I shake my head. “I’m ready.”
I wring my shaky hands together and lick my parched lips. My pulse swooshes through my ears and my legs are a little wobbly as I take a timid step inside the tree.
A dank hallway envelops me as the walls narrow. Dirt and mud cake below our feet as we walk along the trek, with me following closely behind Roger.
“I promised not to harm you, remember?” Roger’s voice is a song of reassurance that I desperately cling to like a koala on its mother’s back.
“Thank you for not breaking that promise,” I advise him. My voice echo’s off the walls. A black and slimy looking worm slithers and wiggles along the edge beside me and I instantly jump backwards.
“Are you okay?” Roger’s eyes flash with frustration.
“I’m fine. Now walk,” I order.
“Be careful,” Roger warns as we approach a steep staircase. “We are going down here.”
I take a cautious step down, careful to keep my balance. The steps groan in protest as my weight shifts between them. “Are you sure these can hold us?” I ask with trepidation.
“Yep.” Roger nods. “Hold onto the wall if you need to.”
I place a hand on the wall and step down, noticing how wet and cold the dirt crusted walls feel as my fingertips brush against it.
“We are almost there,” Roger announces.
The air scent is musty, wafting through my nostrils. “It smells like mildew in here,” I mention. The tiny folds above my nose wrinkle in displeasure.
“No daylight gets down here,” Roger confirms.
A peppery sensation infiltrates my nose and I sneeze out the tickle. “Yeah it’s really dark.” My fingertips graze across the walls once more.
“Come on.” Roger’s voice is a whisper.
My stomach flips and my insides rol
l. A sinister chill makes the surface of my skin prickle as I adjust to the darkness. Roger’s eyes shimmer. “What are we doing?” Suddenly I don’t trust him anymore.
“We are here.” His voice floats through the empty space between us.
“What do I do?” I try not to envelope myself in panic, but the mind over matter process isn’t working for me and I’m tail-spinning.
“Just follow me.” Roger’s cold hand sends a chill up my spine, but I have to remind myself that he’s no longer warm blooded.
A cavern like setting reflects around me. A dim orange glow flickers in the distance and becomes larger with ever step we take in its direction. The walls narrow, then expand. Breathing is difficult through my fear of the unknown.
Narrowing my eyes, my vision focuses on the faint dot of light that pulls me in to its center as if I’m absorbing into a black hole. My pulse races. My throat is dry and it’s hard to swallow. My hands visibly tremble and shake by my sides.
“Don’t be afraid.” Roger subsides my trembling momentarily. At least I’m not walking through this cave alone. He stops walking and grips my hand. I gasp as his fingers squeeze and stretch my skin. “Just stand here,” he instructs.
I do as I’m told and hold my breath, rooting my feet into the ground. My muscles tighten and freeze, anticipating nothing and everything all at once. Roger hasn’t exactly been forthcoming with information about where we are and what he intends to do with me.
A shadow and shape stretches closer to us, creeping along like beckoning fingers scraping the air. The shadow emerges behind the darkness and I stare up in shock. My mouth gaps open wide and a scream builds in my throat, but I have more sense than to release it.
“Don’t scream.”
The thing speaks English to me. He has a human physique, but olive toned skin and sculpted muscles that resemble tiny mountains adorn his features. His eyes glow magnificent green. To me, he looks like a mighty warrior.
“We won’t hurt you.” Another figure floats across the room and then another, one by one.
I stare at them, dumbfounded. Two of them have the olive skin and same colored eyes. One of them looks like Roger, then as my eyes adapt to the new light further, I realize it’s Carl.
