by Mia Bishop
He nodded. “The Arch isn’t just a landmark, it is literally a gateway to our world, the world you were born in. Your parents fled with you when you were a child. My best guess is that they were trying to get far enough away to save you.”
“And this insane person thinks that killing me will end his curse?”
Luc paced the room and gave her a curt nod. Rowan braced her hands on her hips, “Tell me why? What does any of this have to do with me?”
“Your great-great-grandmother was the woman who cursed them. Ulric was a vicious landowner who coveted money and power. She refused to work for him so he kidnapped her only child.” Rowan’s eyes widened as he continued, “Ulric told your great-great-grandmother that he was going to feed the child to the wolves in the forest but still she refused to help him.” She raised her hand and then laughed when he rolled his eyes. “What?”
“Why did he want her to work for him?”
“She was a witch.” He smiled as he saw her wrinkle up her nose. “Not the kind of witch you are thinking of. She didn’t have a wart on the end of her nose or green skin. She was a healer, a kind woman who used her gifts to heal the sick and wounded. The people who couldn’t afford to use the healers Ulric employed.”
Satisfied with the answer, she nodded. Inwardly she wished she could make the story stop. That she could cover her ears and drown out this insanity with some childish humming, but she knew better. “Okay, go on.”
“She refused even as he threatened to harm her daughter. Rose, your great-great-grandmother, employed the help of a woodsman to track down her daughter and return her. He did so under great risk to his own personal safety. When Ulric realized his plan had failed, he attacked Rose. He dragged her from her house, burned it to the ground and then burned her at the stake. As she was burning, she cursed him and all of his family line to live as the wolves he had tried to feed her child to. That night Ulric and his clan became beasts by night and men by day. Over the years, they have learned ways to harness their power and change at will. Ulric believes that if he can extinguish your family line then the curse will be broken.”
She frowned. “Why does he think that?”
Luc shrugged his shoulder. “I told you, he’s insane.”
“Are you sure he’s the only one who is insane? Because that story of yours is just a little bit out there, buddy.”
Luc pulled one of the knives free. “I guess you’ll just have to go on blind faith. But you know what? I might have a way to prove at least a little something to you. Are you brave enough to try?”
“Um…” Rowan shifted nervously on the balls of her feet. “Sure, I guess.”
“Close your eyes.”
“Why?”
“Just do it.” The groan he gave her told her he was starting to run out of patience with her. She closed her eyes and his tone lightened. “Thank you. Now, every member of your family has been gifted by your fairy godmother to have an uncanny skill with blades. It is what helps you all survive at least long enough to fall in love, have a kid—which is always a girl by the way—and train her a little bit before you all meet your untimely end at Ulric’s fangs. I want you to keep your eyes shut. Feel the room around you. Feel the flow of energy and act on instinct. Do you understand that? Whatever your body wants to do just let it do it. Be like water, flow with the current. Okay?”
Rowan laughed. “That’s awfully Zen of you, Master Yoda.”
“Actually I got it from an anime, not Star Wars.”
She smiled and licked her lips. “Okay, I’m ready. Do whatever it is you are going to do.” He didn’t make a sound. She was almost positive he had vanished but she didn’t dare open her eyes. She could feel the stillness in the room. Her own heartbeat was the only sound until something cut through the air. It sounded like a knife cutting through paper. Her body reacted before she even knew what was happening. She turned to the side and extended her hand faster than she thought possible, catching something in midflight. Rowan hissed as the knife blade bit into her palm. She dropped the knife and opened her eyes. “What the hell? Are you trying to kill me?”
He tossed her a rag and shrugged. “I expected you to catch it by the hilt, but the fact that, with your eyes closed, you still managed to catch a blade flying at you is still damn impressive for someone with virtually no training.”
She pressed the rag to her hand and winced to fight back the tears welling up. Her eyes settled on the knife on the floor. She had caught it, albeit by the wrong end but like he had said, she still caught it. Her eyes widened. “Can you hand me another one?”
“Sure.” He pulled out another knife by the tip and handed it to her hilt first.
She held it in her palm. It felt heavy but evenly weighted. She flipped it in the air, catching it by the tip and smiled. Luc started to step forward but before he could take a step, she drew back and flicked her wrist. The knife cut through the air, end over end, and sank deep into her dining room wall. Rowan squealed with delight. “Did you see that? How did I do that?”
“It’s a natural talent.” Luc looked at the knife and rubbed the back of his neck. “You did a great job with that. Now do you believe at least some of what I’ve said?”
Shaking her head, she fiddled with her hands in front of her. “I don’t know. This all seems like something out of a fairytale.”
“It is.”
“Really? That is what you’re going to say to someone who doesn’t know whether or not they should believe your crazy story? You need to work on your sales pitch better.”
“It’s the truth and we’re running out of time so I see no reason to beat around the bush, Red.”
“Red?” She took a step back. “Wolves.” Her eyes focused on the red cloak peeking out of the box. “The red cape?” She swallowed past the lump forming in her throat and whispered, “Are you saying that I am Little Red Riding Hood?”
“I figured you would have pieced that all together by now, but yes, that is what I’m saying. And unfortunately, Phillip is setting you up. I know it’s hard to believe but I know it in my gut. I’ve heard rumors around the Hideout. Someone is blackmailing Phillip to lure you to the Gateway Arch so that Ulric and his wolves can hunt you down.”
“Why now?”
“You are of age. Ulric fears that if you live any longer, then you might find your Prince Charming as it were and have a child. Right now, if he kills you, then your family line dies.”
“And if I die, his curse will be broken?”
Luc shook his head. “He thinks so, but there is no proof.”
“And why do you want to help me? What’s in it for you?”
“I just want to see Ulric fail. His insanity has poisoned the entire forest. His wolves prowl the woods and ruthlessly kill anyone who comes across their path. There has to be a balance, you know?”
She met his gaze. “And who are you, Luc? In all the fairytales, who is Luc Marrok?”
“Nobody. I’m simply someone who knows that Ulric, the Big Bad Wolf, needs to be stopped. And I’m the only one who can help you.”
There was something in his eyes, a sadness there that made her want to ask more questions but the tic working in his jaw told her he was done talking about himself for now. “Tell me what we do.”
“We run.”
“Run?”
“Yes, run.” Luc yanked the knife out of the wall and picked up the bloodstained one from the floor, placing both in the leather case and closing it. “Phillip wants you at the Gate in the morning, which means we need to get you there now, enter the forest and try to track down Ulric before his goons can find you. And then you will have to kill him.”
“Kill him?” She slapped her hand over her mouth as the neighbor below her pounded on the ceiling. She hadn’t meant to yell but he took her by surprise. Luc raised an eyebrow at her and waited for her calm down. Finally she uncovered her mouth and whispered, “I can’t kill someone. I wouldn’t even know what to do.”
“You have to and when the
time comes you will. It’s either you or him and I’ll be damned if he’s going to live another week, let alone an entire lifetime. You and I are going to finish this, Red. I’ll help, but this is your fight.”
“My fight…” Her words trailed off. Why did it have to be her fight? Why couldn’t she have a normal life, with normal friends, maybe even a normal boyfriend? Nothing was ever normal. She couldn’t focus on anything. Nothing he was saying made any sense and the more he talked, the more questions she had. “Wait, Luc. How long is a lifetime for Ulric? You said he was cursed by my great-great-grandmother. He’d have to be at least one hundred and fifty years old or more. That’s impossible.”
Luc looked up at her. The smile he gave her was still stunning but she could tell he was hiding something. The smile was a mask. There was sadness in his eyes. He shook his head. “It’s not impossible. Haven’t you learned anything from what I’ve told you? Nothing is impossible. No one knows his true age but at best guess, the old wolf is somewhere around two hundred years old. The curse hasn’t made the wolves immortal, but it extended their lifespans to such a degree that they might as well be immortal. At two hundred, Ulric physically shows very few signs of old age. His mental state is another matter, but physically I think he could go on for another five hundred years at the very least.”
Her mouth fell open. “I have to fight a two-hundred-and-something-year-old wolf-man who is out to kill me?”
He nodded but said nothing, obviously letting it all sink in.
Now I’m going to have to go off and kill a werewolf, she quickly reminded herself. I mean a shifter, who has been murdering my family for more than a century. She glanced at Luc who was busy pulling the cloak out and gathering more weapons from the box. Can I trust him? No. I should trust Phillip. I’ve known him all my life. This man is a stranger. She shook her head in silent protest to the argument going on inside her head. He’s the only person who has been honest with me. Phillip was secretive. Luc has told me the truth. I’ll trust him for now.
“You ready, Red?”
“Yeah, but what all do I need to take?”
“I’ve got your weapons and your cloak. You shouldn’t need anything else. We’ll have to hunt for food when we get to the forest.”
“But I need my phone and my wallet. I can’t live without my phone.”
“Darlin’, there’s no cell service where we’re going, but suit yourself.”
He headed toward the door but she hesitated. Placing her hand on the door, she turned to face him. He was closer than she had expected, his toned body pressed against hers. She licked her lips again, mesmerized by his green eyes. “Is killing Ulric the only reason you’re helping me?”
He flashed a wicked smile, one that made her practically swoon. She was certain he wasn’t going to answer, but after several seconds of silence, he leaned in. Letting his whiskered cheek brush against her soft skin, his lips skimmed her earlobe as he whispered, “Maybe I just hate the thought of a pretty little thing getting tossed to the wolves.”
Rowan’s legs felt as if they had suddenly turned to jelly. Her heart pounded. He laughed and opened the door, obviously satisfied with throwing her for a loop. “Come on now. We need to get there before it gets too late. We are in for a long night but we should put as much distance between us and whoever Phillip is working for.”
It took a moment for her to snap out of her daze. She grabbed her gym bag by the door, thankful it was already filled with most of her daily necessities and quickly shoved her phone and purse inside it. Tossing it over her shoulder, she locked her apartment and followed after him into the cool night air. Doing a quick look around, she knew instantly the souped-up Harley parked by the curb was his. It fit him. He would look out of place sitting in a minivan or a town car.
“A motorcycle. Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
Luc grinned. “You didn’t think I’d make you walk all the way to the Arch, did you?”
“Well yeah, I kinda did.”
“The park is huge. I didn’t want it to take all night. This will be much quicker.” He stowed the cape and knives in a side bag.
She watched as he threw his leg over the bike and waited for her to get on behind him. “You can’t ride a motorcycle through the park.” As soon as she hopped on the back and placed her arms around his waist, the bike roared to life. The vibration of the engine sent a shiver through her body that was made more intense by the fact that her chest was pressed against Luc’s well-toned back.
He glanced back, his smile widening. “Who’s going to stop me?”
Rowan’s breath hitched. She could have sworn she caught a glimpse of a fang when he smiled so big. That can’t be right. My mind is just playing tricks on me. It was the best way to rationalize everything happening to her. Maybe she was just having a bad dream. She held on tight, burying her face against his back as Luc pulled out into the street. Her hands unclenched and rested against his stomach. She could feel every ripple of his six-pack abs. Licking her lips, she held on tighter. The warmth of his body and the lean, coiled muscles beneath her hands told her this was definitely not a dream.
* * * * *
They arrived at the Arch in a matter of minutes and true to Luc’s word, no one had tried to stop them. He parked the bike behind a bush and held out his hand to help her off. The moment her feet touched the ground, she felt something flutter in her stomach, energy coursed through her as if she couldn’t contain her excitement. Luc looked her over from head to toe, sending a different kind of fluttering through her body, this one accompanied by a rush of heat that pooled between her legs.
“Everything all right?” he asked as he grabbed the side bag.
“I just feel excited, I guess. Like a kid who’s had too much sugar.”
He frowned. “I’m guessing your mind is starting to unlock what you’ve kept hidden for so long. Just take a deep breath and follow me.” He took her hand and led the way. She expected him to head for one of the entrances but instead he led her straight for the opening of the Arch. She’d always felt a pull to this place but this time it was different. Energy coursed through her and she was suddenly filled with the urge to rush forward. In the past she’d felt the pull but it was always subdued, this was intense. She was just about to take another step when Luc pulled her back to his side. A man stepped out of the shadows and held up his hand. Luc laughed. “Easy there, old friend. She’s coming with me willingly.”
Rowan’s eyes widened when she finally saw the man. He was the same person she’d seen in the Hideout with Luc. Up close, she could take in just what an impressive figure he was. He was dressed in black military fatigues. His tall frame and lean muscles made him look even more imposing. She caught a glimpse of a gun tucked into a shoulder holster and a knife on his belt. He gave her halfhearted smile and then leaned in as Luc clasped him on the shoulder. The man whispered something and Luc squeezed his shoulder. “Thanks. We’ll be careful.” He turned his attention back to Rowan and motioned toward the Arch. “Ready?”
She shook her head. “Do we just walk through?”
“In a nutshell, yes.” He held out the red cloak to her. “Put this on, you’ll need it when you cross through the gate.”
She didn’t hesitate, slipping the cloak over her shoulders and fastening it around her neck. He reached over, pulled the hood up over her head and took her hand again. She started to take a step but stopped. “Um… Is it going to hurt?”
“Going through the gate?” When she nodded, he laughed around a smirk and motioned toward the Arch. His tone sounded more like a dare. “I guess you’ll just have to find out. Come on, you wouldn’t let a little thing like pain stop you, would you?”
“No, I guess not.” He led her through. There was no pain involved but she had been too chicken to watch what might happen so she closed her eyes as she took three steps.
Luc shook her hand. “You can open your eyes, nothing bad has happened. Look around you.”
Rowan blinked and loo
ked around. She was in the middle of a forest, a real and proper forest. They stood on a dirt path lined on both sides with large trees and bushes. She could hear the chatter of creatures in the thicket. “Who was that man and where are we?”
“That was Alad. He’s a Watcher. He makes sure things don’t come through the Arch that shouldn’t be seen by humans and that unknowing humans don’t accidentally come through either. We had an incident a while back. Some humans got through and some bad things got out, it was a mess.” He grinned and tilted his head to the side, “And, my dear, we are in the Black Forest.”
She listened to him while still trying to take in her new surroundings. It’d make sense to have someone at the Arch making sure things didn’t run amok and it explained why dozens of people didn’t go missing during tourist season.
The forest was beautiful. The colors of the trees, flowers, even the sky seemed more vibrant than in St. Louis. “Does everyone enter here?”
“No, the gate takes them where they need to go. For us, it is here, for others it is wherever they are intended to be.”
“Magic?”
“Yes, Red. Magic.” There was a hint of amusement in his tone. Instinctively she weaved her fingers with his and looked down at their entwined hands. Where her black hoodie sleeves should be, she saw white ruffles of lacy fabric. “What the—”
Luc snickered. “I told you modern stuff wouldn’t work here, that includes clothes.” He pointed to his clothes, the trendy dark jeans had been replaced with leather pants, riding boots and his chest that had once been encased in a tight black t-shirt and a leather jacket was now covered with a thick, black wool sweater, though his bag hadn’t changed. Rowan blinked and looked down at herself. Her gym bag was now made of canvas. No longer was she wearing jeans, a tank top and her favorite hoodie. She gasped at the sight of the dress she now wore—dark red with white lace trim. The only things that remained the same were her knee-high, black leather boots. She could barely breathe as the corset squeezed every breath from her lungs. “A dress? Really?”
