by M. R. Polish
“Meadow said to go out the back, through the gate.” Ailaina spoke. Good. At least I knew she was with us.
She screamed.
“It’s okay, he’s with me.” It was Jarak’s baritone voice.
Who was he talking about? Was Ailaina okay?
A growl sounded from somewhere close, and my muscles tightened in fear. What could make that deep of a snarl inside the house? I fought the pain and opened my eyes only to see the golden iris in the eyes of a white wolf.
I struggled to get down out of his arms. The jerky movements were sudden and unsuspected, causing Jarak to almost drop me. “What are you doing?” He stopped and let me down.
Once I touched the ground with my feet, I spun around looking for the wolf. We were outside, in the backyard beside the pool. I couldn’t see the white creature anywhere. Maybe it was all in my head, like the unbearable shriek. “Nothing.”
“That wasn’t nothing. We’re trying to get away, and you jumped from my arms.” His face strained, and he threw his arms in the air.
What was I supposed to say, I thought I saw a wolf in the middle of the over populated city in Spain? While we are escaping dark hunters, I might add. I looked around once more, taking the time to look for hunters in the shadows. Ailaina was there, but no wolf. The pain in my head subsided, leaving a dull throbbing in its place. I shook my head. “There was a wolf, and it scared me.”
“I know. He scared me too,” she said.
Jarak guffawed, which I thought was inappropriate at this moment. “This is over my wolf? Seriously, Es. Didn’t you listen to anything I said? You’re in danger, and I’m a Guardian. Maztic is helping to get you out. Now that you’ve slowed this down a bit, we have to make a different plan.”
“Me?” I squealed back. How dare he blame me for this.
"Yeah, now we’re surrounded. We’ve lost the opening we needed.” He ran his hands through his hair.
I didn’t know where the wolf went, but I didn’t have time to find out. We needed to escape. I thought hard, and then it clicked in my head. I had control over all elements. It was as if Mother Nature pushed her energy into me at that moment, giving me permission to use her powers. I could feel it generate inside of me with a warmth that flooded me.
I knew what I needed to do. “I’m going to make a storm.”
“You’re what?” He looked at me dumbfounded.
“A storm… with wind, lightning and darkness.” I hoped he knew what I meant because I was still foggy on the plan and didn’t have time to elaborate.
“Great idea.” Ailaina scooted closer to me. I could see her fear and knew I needed to get her out of this somehow.
I didn’t wait for Jarak to agree. Raising my arms over my head, I pulled all the elements to us. Wind was the first arrive and whirled around as if a hurricane approached the town. The leaves atop the trees rustled as they blew off their limbs and danced across the sky. Dark menacing clouds rolled in, and long daggers of lightning flashed in the sky. It was truly the most spectacular sight I ever saw.
The storm took over, causing the day to turn as dark as midnight. It helped give us cover while the wind and thunder from the lightning helped silence our sounds. Rain pelted down, drenching all of us in seconds.
“Nice job. Now we gotta get out of here,” Jarak shouted as he grabbed my hand, dragging me to the side of the house. He pulled me close so I could hear him above the storm. “No matter what happens, don’t stop running.” He looked over at Ailaina. “You either. Stay with her.”
Ailaina nodded.
I shivered. “You’ll be right there with me, right?” It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t scared. I needed him—more than I’ve ever needed another person at that moment.
He kissed the top of my head. “Just keep running.” He tugged on my hand, urging me to run.
When my boots hit the driveway, I caught a glimpse of two cloaked figures. The torrent of rain pounded the street, making it hard to see anyone clearly, but I didn’t care if I flooded the whole dang city. We needed out.
One of the hunters dashed out, grabbing my hair, and stopping my getaway. I grasped at the hand, but Jarak was faster, snatching the man’s arm and twisting me free. I heard a crack and knew the hunter had at least one broken bone. Not looking back, I picked up my feet and started running again. That’s what Jarak said to do—run. The sky crackled with thunder, and I couldn’t hear Ailaina’s footsteps behind me anymore.
I twirled around but couldn’t see her. Where was she? I hoped she was with Jarak.
The pavement on the road became slick with the rain, making it hard to keep my balance. I made it to the tollbooth, darting behind a bush next to the little building. My chest heaved as I gasped for air.
“Jarak!” I called out hoping for a response. I would go back and look for them both if they didn’t show up soon. “Ailaina! Where are you?” The sky growled with thunder.
There was no response. I bent over, still catching my breath when I heard footsteps running in my direction. Finally. Standing up, I poked my head around the corner of the booth.
Whack! Something hit my face like a cannon ball. Heaviness consumed my body, and I fell into the black void of unconsciousness.
Jarak
Grazing my fingertips over the wound in my forehead, I grimaced. I never saw what hit me, but whatever it was, left a nasty gash.
I groaned. None of that mattered now. Es was gone.
I pulled my hand away staring at the sticky red liquid that covered my fingers from the blood that still seeped from the wound.
Guilt consumed me. I leaned back against the wall of Es’s guest room. I hated that I couldn’t control my emotions for her better. With her gone, I hated myself even more. I didn’t protect her, and it killed me.
“She’ll be fine.”
My head snapped up to find Maztic standing beside me on the floor. “I hope so. I’m not sure why I care so much about her, but when things happen to her, they feel as if they happen to me too. I’m dying without her, and I don’t understand. I should be worried as her Guardian, but it’s so much more… Do you think it has something to do with Julie?”
“You know the answer to that. Deep inside, listen to your heart,” Maztic said, inside my head.
Reaching over, I ran my hands through his fur. “Maztic, I’m afraid. I can’t lose someone again.”
“You’re a part of me, and I am not afraid.” His gold eyes stared back at me, daring me to argue with him.
I looked back over at her empty bed. “Help.” Her voice echoed in my thoughts.
Her request filled my chest with an intense ache. I failed her. How could I help her when I didn’t know where she was?
Maztic’s muzzle lifted up my hand. I petted his soft fur, running my fingers down his back, feeling the thickness rake between my fingers. It comforted me and helped clear my mind enough to think once again. Maztic’s strength radiated into my soul. “Thanks,” I whispered.
Maztic faded into the spirit realm, leaving me to my thoughts. I stood. There would be no sleeping tonight. I would find her.
Ailaina blocked the doorway, her arms folded across her chest. “I’m going too.” As if she heard my thoughts.
I scanned her face. Dried blood smeared on her cheek from her own injuries. I was glad when I found her alive. Es would never forgive me if anything ever happened to her friend. I felt guilty enough that she had been unconscious.
I shook my head. “No. It’s too dangerous, and Es would kill me.”
“Es would do the same for me, and you know it,” she interjected. I knew she was right, but I couldn’t chance it.
She stepped to the right as I tried to pass, preventing me from leaving. She was so small that it would be easy to move her, but I stopped instead, looking down into her hazel eyes.
“Please. I don’t understand, but something is telling me to go. I have to find her. She would never sit back if something were to happen to me. I would never do that to her.”
“If you don’t take me, I’ll just go by myself.” She moved her arms from her chest to her hips, planting her footing.
I threw my arms up. “Fine, but you listen to me, no matter what. Got it?”
She reached up around my neck and hugged me. “I will, I promise.”
Ugh. This was turning out to be one bad idea after another.
Thirteen
Esmerelda
A blindfold covered my eyes and a cloth had been stuffed in my mouth. It tasted dirty, like mold, or something equally horrible. And the smell was putrid, but mixed with the taste, made me gag even more.
It was hard to get my bearings. The only thing I knew for sure was that I was in the arms of someone, being carried somewhere. Each jolt as he carried me down a set of stairs made my head feel like it would explode.
I had long ago stopped trying to wiggle free, after his hold got so tight my ribs were probably bruised.
A smooth, low-toned voice spoke. “Throw her down there.”
I tried to reach out with my powers, but they stayed with me, pushing back into my body. It was like thrusting the opposite ends of a magnet together, no matter how hard I tried, the air shoved my magic back at me.
The man holding me spoke, “Your magic is void here. You’re just wasting your energy.” I could hear the evil sneer laced in his words.
He let go of his intense hold on me and ripped the blindfold off. I squinted at the unexpected light—even though it was more dark than light, but it was brighter than the blackness I grew accustomed to. I didn’t even have time to see where I was before he tossed me aside.
I screamed, expecting to hit the ground—hard, but instead I kept falling. That frightened me even more. My heart raced as I fell into a black oblivion. I desperately reached out for help. My hands searched for anything that could stop my fall into the abyss. I couldn’t see anything as I dropped into the sinkhole. It was as if light didn’t exist. Wherever my kidnapper had thrown me was deep.
The rush of the wind flashed my skin with immense cold and made me gasp for air. I screamed again, but no sound came from my lips.
A weak whimper in my mind sparked an unknown connection inside me. I didn’t have time to process where it came from, the speed at which I fell shifted and it was as if time itself slowed.
My descent into the dark unknown left me apprehensive. What was to come? What would happen to me? Strangely, I began to fall even slower. Then, without warning, my body hit the ground, knocking the wind from my chest. At least I didn’t hit the ground at full speed. I wasn’t sure what slowed me down, but I was sure magic had something to do with it. Only, it wasn’t mine. That meant whoever kidnapped me was a witch—or warlock.
There was only one I knew of besides Victor, and the fear that Nicholas had found me made bile raise in my throat. I’d heard enough about that man to know I had every right to be frightened.
Lying on the cold, unforgiving floor, I wheezed and gasped for air. Blinking rapidly, I tried to see anything, but the only thing around was blackness.
Moving my hands around me, I rubbed the compacted earth I still laid on with my palms. Dirt crumbled under my fingertips, but I also touched something familiar. It was a hard slab of stone, buried under what felt like an inch of dirt. It was rough and made me think of concrete.
I took a deep breath. It was ragged, but at least I was finally able to fill my lungs with air. If I could survive someone kidnapping me—twice—find out that I came from a family of wolves and witches, then I could survive this. I would figure this out. I was strong enough to endure the dark. Or so I hoped.
Sitting up, I decided to see what damage the fall did to my body. Running my hands down my legs and torso, I grimaced as I hit sore spots, but nothing seemed more critical than bruises. My head was another story. It pounded fiercely.
I placed my hands at my temples and focused energy on my headache. It was harder to use my magic with my surroundings pushing back on me like an iron blanket, but eventually the throbbing ceased. I decided to try another spell. I had to help myself. After many minutes, I conjured a small orb of light centered in the palm of my hand.
I groaned as it flickered and went out. Shaking my hands out, I tried again. Small glimmers of light flashed, but nothing wanted to stay. I pushed all the energy I could feel into the light, watching it try to glow.
The tiny sparks of light began to brighten the darkness. Assessing my surroundings the best I could, I was unmistakably underground, but I couldn’t see too much. A small hole was in the side of the rocky earth several feet away. I ran toward it, but froze. A bright light floated toward me, lighting the blackened room, much brighter than my small pathetic orb.
It was easy to see clearly now, as if I stood in daylight once again. I looked around me; the dark abyss I fell into was nothing more than a large pit in the ground, like an old prison cell dug hundreds of feet into the earth. Tiny rocks fell from above me, and dirt sloughed off in piles by the crude walls.
A figure walked with the light, and I wished with all my might that this was a dream, and I would wake up and see Jarak’s face.
“There is no reason to be afraid my dear, Esmerelda.” The woman’s soft singsong voice floated through the air.
Gasping, I took a step back. A beautiful woman with long blonde hair stepped out from behind the light.
A smile lit up her face, and she wrapped her arms around me. “Esmerelda, you’ve grown into a beautiful woman.”
Ummm…. Awkward for sure. I had no idea who this woman was and her arms were nearly hugging the life out of me. “Thanks, I think?”
She pulled away. “Oh, I’m sorry. How rude of me. I’ve just waited so long.”
“Who are you? I don’t understand.” I backed up a little more.
“My darling Esmerelda, I’m Moriah, the witch who gave you the gift of spirit. I don’t have a lot of time in my spirit form, so listen carefully. Don’t let Nicholas ensnare your mind. Fight him at all costs.”
She paused, a sad smile graced the corners of her mouth. “Esmerelda, you need to escape. You are in the earth under Nicholas’s house. It’s a deep void and magic is hard to use, but yours is strong. Stronger than any I’ve seen, and it’s also why you were able to create light. I’m having a hard time with the lighting spell, and it will fade quickly.” She swallowed hard. “There is nothing to draw energy from, so be careful.”
She grinned. “I’m losing strength as I speak and I don’t have much time left down here. I will see you again, but in true form. A Seer already foretold what will come.”
I couldn’t process anything she said. My head began to hurt again, so I rubbed my temples, trying to alleviate the throbbing pain. “Seer? I’ve heard the term, but I don’t understand.”
“They are unique immortals, with only the purest of hearts, and they are usually connected to a witch in some way. For every witch born, a seer is also born. They help see the future, so we know what to do. That is how all five of us witches knew to give you our gifts.”
I stood there, soaking it all in. The light flickered as I stared into her azure eyes. “What about Nicholas?”
“Nicholas will take you from here sometime, to torture you. When he does, you need to draw energy from everything around you, then and only then, to protect yourself use your powers. Use it against him, hold nothing back.”
The glowing orb faded, and I could only see her face. The light flickered like a candle—in and out, in and out. “I’m… too weak… Esmerelda…” Her figure faded as her light went out.
“Moriah!” I cried in panic.
I fell to the ground, crawling on my hands and knees in the darkness. I couldn’t feel her anywhere. “Moriah!”
No response.
Tears ran in torrents down my face, landing on the clay dirt beneath my fingers. I didn’t want to be alone.
Losing all hope, I laid down, exhausted.
A deep echo
of evil laughter filled the void. “Let’s begin, shall we?”
Tiny stabs of pain fluttered up my legs as if a million fire ants made a home under my skin. Screaming, I frantically smacked my thighs to fling off whatever attacked me.
“Get off! Leave me alone!” My shriek bounced off the dirt walls of my dungeon, heard by no one.
I wasn’t sure how long I laid there on the cold ground, but the pin pricks from earlier ceased, leaving me to feel agonizing, pulsating throbs all over my body.
Has a day gone by? Two? I lost track of time frames and without any window to the outside, I couldn’t tell if it was night or day.
My stomach growled in response. It had been forever since I last ate anything.
Remembering what Moriah said, I didn’t reach out with my energy, trying to conserve what I had left. Pushing up on my hands and knees, I ignored the sharp stinging in the palms of my hands.
“I hope you’re comfortable.” My heart skipped a beat. I knew that voice—it was the same one I’d heard before the fiery ant bites assaulted me. I tensed, preparing myself for another attack.
I strained to see who it was, but it was impossible in complete darkness.
“Do you know who I am?” the voice asked.
“No.” My hoarse voice surprised even me, sounding so foreign.
A light suddenly illuminated all of the underground where I stood. Squinting, I brought my hands to my face to shield my eyes from the brightness.
Once my eyesight adjusted, I lowered my hands. I tried not to notice all the dirt encrusted to my skin and under my nails. The wetness from my tears made the dirt stick to me like mud.
A man walked toward me from the same small hole Moriah came from. His greasy hair was slicked back in a ponytail and except for the delicate line around his jaw, he was clean shaven. Snake skin boots and black suit gave the impression of drug lord, but my gut told me otherwise.
“I’m Nicholas.” He smiled, revealing perfectly straight white teeth. “We need to talk.” He had a slight Spanish accent.
