by L Baker
I closed my eyes and tried to think of the night in the field. I could feel Ari as she placed her hands on my stomach, and begin chanting.
“los poderes facilidad y mi espíritu en paz…No más estoy obligado, por la marca me aburro…Como me corté este hilo, el hechizo esté muerto y energías en libertad….
los poderes facilidad y mi espíritu en paz….No más estoy obligado, por la marca me aburro….Como me corté este hilo, el hechizo esté muerto y energías en libertad.”
I tried to squeeze my eyes tighter to imagine that night but I couldn’t. My eyes flew open in a nervous rage.
“Concentrate Anna, it won’t work unless you have the marking in your mind.”
“I’m trying” I replied exasperated and Christian walked up to me and rubbed my hair.
“Close your eyes Anna.” I complied “Think about the field, think about me in the ropes, now think about your fear.”
The events of that night came flooding back to me and Ari begin chanting again.
“los poderes facilidad y mi espíritu en paz….No más estoy obligado, por la marca me aburro….Como me corté este hilo, el hechizo esté muerto y energías en libertad.”
Pain was moving from my stomach, coursing through my veins, and I struggled to keep calm.
“Hold her down Christian” Ari ordered, and I fought against his grip as the burning increased.
“los poderes facilidad y mi espíritu en paz….No más estoy obligado, por la marca me aburro….Como me corté este hilo, el hechizo esté muerto y energías en libertad.” She continued to chant and my back arched autonomously. With one last breath I slumped down on the bed, and my eyes rolled.
“Is she ok.” Christian asked.
His voice was foggy to my ears but I knew it was him speaking because of the deepness in his tone.
“She’ll be fine, she’ll be out of it for a few hours. During this time the ropes should burn from her arms, and she may be feverish, so I need you to keep a cold towel to her head at all times.”
Ari’s voice was the last thing I heard before I slumped into a heavy darkness. Every encounter I ever had with Eric careened through my dreams. I wanted to escape his presence but I couldn’t. In my mind I screamed and cried for Christian to save me from the torment, but I was alone. It was almost as if I was watching myself from a distance, and I couldn’t do anything to help the red headed girl in front of me. After a while, I could feel again. I felt the warmth of a body next to mines, and the binding of my wrist, and just like magic, my arms separated, and I opened my eyes. Christian stared down at me on the bed and we watched the last remnants of the rope burn off from the fireless flames.
“How are you feeling.” He asked
“Better.” I said with a dry throat.
I did feel better I couldn’t feel Eric’s presence within me anymore and I knew I was free from him.
“What time is it?”
“Just past six.” Christian yawned.
“You haven’t slept?”
“No, I’m fine. I had to be sure you were ok first.”
“You stayed up all night to watch me?”
“Yes, I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” He joked, and I punched his leg.
“If your gonna keep abusing me like this, I’m gonna have to call the cops.” He laughed and I rolled my eyes at him.
Our stomachs almost growled simultaneously, and we laughed.
“How about some breakfast” he said.
“How about a shower first.” I replied realizing I was sticky with sweat.
He jumped up quickly and threw me over his shoulder, causing me to squeal with excitement.
Chapter 24-Bombs Away
The hot water ran over our bodies as we stood together. Christian leaned against the tile as I leaned into him running my fingers up and down his solid arm.
“So it’s really over?” I asked
“What”
“The bond.”
“Yes, I was bound to kill him.” He twisted my hair around his finger. “In the kitchen…I knew he was there. I’m sure he didn’t take my threat lightly.” He chuckled.
A loud boom, interrupted us, and Christian and I hurried out of the shower. We quickly wrapped the towels around our bodies and ran down the stairs. Smoke was coming from different directions of the house and small flames were scattered throughout the front. A small opening was left in the front of the house, and I rushed to my mother’s side as she lay on the floor. The left side of her body was burned, and she laid still.
“MOM” I screamed trying to pick her body up from the floor.
I looked around frantically, and noticed Charlotte and Mr. Gregory a few feet away. Mr. Gregory was holding her as her body slumped unconsciously in his arm.
“Get her to Sara, and get Dr. Pratt here now.” Christian yelled before storming towards me and picking my mother up from the floor. He handed her to Lucas, who followed Mr. Gregory down the hall.
“Tell me she’ll be ok Christian.” I asked shaking with fear.
“She’ll be fine.” He said looking me in the eyes.
Eric and Ari walked into the room still in their night clothes.
“What the hell?” she asked just as Amarog walked inside holding a man by the neck. From the looks of it, he was young, and couldn’t have been no older than twenty. The sentinels must have had a go at him because his shirt was ripped and his face was bloodied and bruised.
“What happened?” Christian questioned.
“An explosive was thrown, we caught this one fleeing.” Amarog answered.
“Who sent you?” Eric growled, now in the man’s face.
The man chuckled and spit a mouthful of blood on the floor.
“I ain’t telling you shit.” He laughed.
“Fine,” he calmly stated, before snapping the man’s neck. I gasped and buried my face in Christian’s chest. The body hit the floor with a thud, and Christian pulled me from the room. Walking back to the bedroom, I could hear Amarog giving orders in Christian’s absence, as everyone shuffled frantically to restore order in the house.
Christian went straight to the closet, but I was stuck, and in shock. I stood in the center of the room, still in my towel. He walked up to me fully dressed in his slacks and shirt. He grabbed my arms and lightly shook me.
“Get a hold of yourself Anna, I need you strong right now. Get dressed, and meet me downstairs. OK?”
I snapped out of my daze and nodded my head with a yes. He kissed my forehead and walked out of the door.
I walked to the dresser and grabbed the first thing I could get my hands on, a pair of sweat pants and t-shirt. I quickly threw them on and hurried downstairs. Christian and the men stood in the hallway.
“Eric and I are going to find Andrew, Amarog you’re in charge, so have the men on guard,” Christian ordered before grabbing my hand and heading for the door.
We didn’t have to go far because as we stepped outside, a group of figures lined the yard no more than fifty feet away. We stopped at the door and stared at the assembly.
“No matter what, Anna you don’t get involved. Run if you have to.” He murmured only to me.
The woman stood in the center, as her army stood to her side. I counted a total of sixteen, including the fragile girl standing behind them.
Amarog, Lucas, Eric, Ari, Mr. Gregory, and the six guards stood behind us ready to attack. At the sight of our gathered faction the Dire wolves growled, and we returned the threat with growls of our own. Andrew was pulled from behind the group, and knocked to his knees as silver shackles bounded his wrist. Christian stepped forward ready to attack, but I grabbed his hand and stopped his irrational move.
“I’m sorry.” Andrew mouthed.
“We’ve come to claim our prize.” The woman said with a Russian accent.
“Over my dead body.” Christian replied.
“Have it your way she said as she pulled out a long blade and stuck it through Andrews abdomen.
He dropped to the
ground and Christian jumped to his wolf form, and ran towards the Dires, as did everyone in our division. The Dires shifted mid stride leaving the woman, three of her men, and the girl standing behind in their human forms. I stood by the door in a crouched position, remembering Christian’s orders. I watched the wolves as they collided, and attacked each other. Ari stood in front of me with her hand directed towards the battle. A matted brown wolf was thrown on his back, and whined in pain from her invisible power.
I looked at Christian as he quickly grabbed a chunk from one of the wolf’s neck and rammed his body into another. Eric’s black form fought head to head with a massive white wolf with fiery red eyes. They jumped back and then smashed into each other repeatedly, ripping and tearing savagely in combat. My eyes darted around the yard at the fight, until they rested on the woman. She flipped her head, and the three men who stood with her charged towards me and Ari. I shifted and my burned clothes floated to the ground. Ari flicked her hand and threw the bigger one across the field. She stepped forward at an attempt to slow the second one, but was nocked backwards into the wall.
Out of nowhere Eric’s black form crashed into the third one, giving me a chance at a fair fight. He took on the two wolves unaided as the other snarled at me.
I lunged at the brown and grey beast, knocking him to the ground. He jumped up, and shook his head before growling. I pulled my lips back and bared my teeth. We jumped at each other and my teeth connected with his front leg. He whimpered before jumping back, and limped on the bitten leg. Using his injury to my advantage, I lunged forward and knocked him on his back exposing his throat to my teeth. Without thinking I clamped down and squeezed with the force of my jaw until he no longer struggled against my grasp. This was a fight to the death, and I wouldn’t hesitate to stay alive.
I looked up to see Christian finishing another wolf, before jumping the massive white wolf, that had Eric pinned.
The others were either submissive or dead at this point, so I scanned the crowd for Ari. She was gaining her composure, so I directed my attention back to Christian, who was now fighting the white wolf.
Ari stood and threw the wolf to ground, he whimpered in pain until he stopped moving. I looked at the woman and the girl as they gazed at the sight in front of them. The shocked look on the woman’s face spoke volumes. She knew that it was over and they had lost.
Christian and Amarog stalked towards her baring their teeth. She turned to run but was stopped in her tracks. Lorena stood behind her, and spoke inaudibly as she looked at the woman. We all watched on shocked at the sight. A loud shrill cry came from the woman as she dropped to her knees, grabbing the side of her head. Lorena continued to chant silently staring the woman down until she fell to the ground. The now submissive wolves yowled in pain at Lorenas chanting until they were dead. The young fearful girl looked down at the woman on the ground and then to Lorena. She shifted and trotted off into the woods. No one tried to stop her because a threat wasn’t detected.
Christian now in his human form ran to Andrew, picked his body up, and rushed into the house. Everyone shifted and followed close behind. In my human form I stayed outside next to Ari, as she squeezed my hand with obvious disbelief. Sara ran out the house holding a towel to cover my body. She handed it to me, before running back inside.
We both stared in disbelief at the sight of Lorena strolling towards us. She was beautiful. Almost an exact version of Ari but with long brown hair that fell past her waist. As she approached, Ari released my hand, and ran into her sisters arms. They embraced each other and I walked into the house to find Christian.
“Andrew?” I questioned Sara as she raced from the kitchen.
“He’s alive.” She said with relief holding her chest. “Doctor Pratt should be here soon. Your mother is still out but Charlotte is healed.” She said before following the blood trails that led to the study.
I rushed behind her but went into the sitting room instead. Lucas and Amarog stood in the room with my mother. Christian and the others must have been with Andrew. I walked to my mother as she lay unconscious on the couch. I fell to my knees and placed her hand in my mines. I knew she would heal but hot tears still rolled down my face at the sight of her burned face. Lucas sat next to me and wrapped his arms around me.
“You know she’s tough Anna, she’ll be fine.”
We had lost one parent because of war, and the thought of almost losing another had a way of taking its toll. After a while of sitting, Christian stood and placed his hand on my shoulder before walking out the door with Amarog. I could hear Andrews pained screams down the hall, but my focus was on my mother. I slumped down and closed my burning eyes.
I sat up in the bed. I wasn’t expecting to sit up in the bed of Christian’s room. The last thing I remembered was holding my mother in the sitting room. It was dark outside, and I was alone. I jumped out of the bed, someone had obviously brought me upstairs, and dressed me in a nightgown. I rushed out the door and raced down the stairs. Other than the hole in the wall, there was no sign of the battle that had taken place as the house was neatly clean and organized. I stopped on the last stair gripping the post for dear life until I heard my mother’s voice. I marched towards the laughter and chatter coming from the kitchen. A different kind of feeling washed over me while I stood in the doorway, and saw everyone I loved celebrating a victory.
I ran into my mother’s arms at the sink. I touched the burned scar that ran down her neck.
“I’m fine.” She simply stated.
I hugged her tightly never wanting to let go. She kissed my cheek with a smile, and turned me towards Christian. I jumped into his arm and placed my lips to his and allowed our tongues to dance together.
I didn’t care about the crowd watching us, any doubt I ever had about this life was gone. Even Eric’s presence could not make me object to what I was feeling. Although he tried to take so much from me, he gave me a chance at survival in the battle, for that I was grateful.
I was happy and at the moment, nothing could take away what was in front of me.
Epilogue
I walked to the yard as Lorena was disposing of the bodies. With a small nod of her head she set them all on fire.
“Ariadna told me you didn’t practice magic, said you gave it up for the pack.” I stated as I looked at Lorena and felt the energy radiating from her skin. She was obviously more powerful than I expected, much more powerful than Ariadna.
She remained calm never once looking at me as she answered.
‘That is true.” Her voice came out smooth, slow, and magnetic.
But that was all I received as an answer.
“Ari also said.”
Before I could finish my sentence I was cut off by a sharp tongue and an angry tone.
“Well maybe Ari should learn to keep her mouth shut.”
I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much. ~Mother Teresa As she approached, Amarog caught my eye. He was sitting on the ground on his knees, across the lawn. I quickly released Aris grip and walked towards him fearful of him being injured. As I approached him from behind I saw the lifeless body in front of him. Eric was limp on the grass with blood covering his neck and chest. I touched Amarogs shoulder and he gripped my hand for a silent moment. He stood up and picked Eric’s limp body up, carrying him into the house. Ari, Lorena, and I followed behind silently.
He sat Eric’s body on the couch.
