Cursed by Death

by Basia Pike

  “What about the dragon?” I asked, glancing towards Jamie.

  “It’s the first we have heard of it. I don’t know how they’ve been hiding one all this time,” she said. I felt she doubted my claims. “Are you sure they didn’t use magic to make you believe you saw a dragon?” she asked, making my jaw clench.

  “I’m immune to their powers. It would have been impossible.”

  Her brow furrowed.

  Jamie stopped pacing. “If they have a dragon, it won’t play a part in this war,” he said. “The rest of the witches wouldn’t stand for it.”

  “Do you feel well enough to come downstairs?” Mrs. Wolfrik asked. “Your team is worried about you and would love to see you.”

  I nodded and pulled myself out of bed. I followed her down into the entrance hall of the castle, where a large fire was raging.

  Tom was standing to one side, and his face lit up upon seeing me. “Elijah, thank God you’re okay,” he said, placing a hand on my shoulder. I didn’t intend to tell him about the dragon, as I knew it would only ignite fear in the entire group.

  There was a knock and Mrs. Wolfrik glanced at the door. Bleddyn was standing there with two dozen men and women behind him. They entered the house and Jamie and his parents went to greet them.

  Tom’s hand was still rested on my shoulder. “How are they going to put up that many people?” Tom asked.

  I rolled my eyes at him. Tom was great, but often he came out with the most stupid questions.“We’re in a castle. There has got to be at least twenty bedrooms here.”

  “I guess.” He shuffled on his feet and placed his hands in the pockets of his black cloak. “It’s freaky that they can turn into wolves, isn’t it?”

  It wasn’t the first time I’d seen a werewolf change. I hoped the rest of the group hadn’t noticed how unfazed I’d been at their turning.

  “At least we are on their side!” I elbowed him playfully, and a small smile flitted across his lips. As quickly as it arrived, it disappeared, as he looked towards the body on the chaise lounge.

  A twinge of pain hit me as I stared at Mary’s lifeless body. I’d been so dead set on getting everyone out of Canterbury and escaping the witches and dragon, the reality hadn’t hit me.

  “Mr. Elson is making arrangements for her funeral,” Tom said, his lip quivering and eyes twinkling with tears. I placed my arm around him and steered him away towards the drawing room, where the rest of the group was sitting in silence.

  Julius leapt to his feet. “Thank the God’s you’re okay!” He advanced toward me and placed both hands on my shoulders in disbelief. “How did you get away?”

  I shook my head, not wishing to explain to the shocked group that dragons existed.

  “Let’s be thankful he is in one piece,” said Luciana. “It’s more than can be said about M…” She broke into sobs before she could utter her name.

  Josh had his arm around Casey, who had tears in her eyes. Deon was sitting twirling his dagger on a marble-topped table.

  I couldn’t explain the grief I felt at her death, and the guilt. She’d approached me and told me she didn’t feel ready. She had fought bravely against the witches, and she ever managed to get close to Regina. I knew that it was my fault. If I’d picked up my father’s ring the morning we left for this time I may have been able to save her.

  “What happened to her?” Deon asked, looking up from his lap.

  A lump formed in my throat at the thought of having to retell her death. “Regina killed her with a spell before disappearing into thin air. I tried to jump in front of it, but I … I was too far away,” I answered.

  Deon’s brow furrowed. “How are you immune to their powers?” Deon asked.

  My hand reached into my pocket and thumbed the book Mrs. Wolfrik had given me. “I don’t know.” I shrugged.

  Deon didn’t look convinced, but returned his attention to the dagger on the table, and twirled it.

  “Mr. Elson is seeing to her funeral arrangements tonight. We’ll bury her tomorrow morning,” Tom said, tears streaming down his face. “I’m going to bed.”

  “But it’s three o’clock in the afternoon!” Josh protested.

  Tom turned without another word and rushed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. It was hitting Tom the worst. He’d grown close to Mary—well, as close as she’d allowed him—and it was possible Tom had developed feelings for her.

  Deon stowed his knife back in his pocket. “After the funeral tomorrow, are we going back to Undir Trenu?”

  “We can leave as soon as Dakota is healed. It’s too dangerous to leave her here with the Kugarar searching for her.” Silence fell over the room. Everyone’s morale was low. Jamie entered the room, followed by Bleddyn and a man and woman I didn’t recognize.

  “Elijah, can I introduce you to Estella and Rico? They are the seers of our pack.”

  Jamie stepped aside, allowing the woman to walk toward me. She was as tall as me, slender, with beautiful dark skin and delicate features. Rico, the man, stepped forward, standing behind her. He was about the same height as Estella, but stocky, with caramel color skin.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” I said, holding out a hand to Estella, who looked at it before looking back at Rico. Rico came forward and shook my hand.

  His eyes narrowed. “I hear you’re the reason we’re in this mess?” He looked me up and down.

  I folded my arms across my chest. “Sorry, the Kugarar were after Dakota. We couldn’t leave her with the witches.” Rico was standing with his fists clenched. Estella placed a delicate hand on his arm and he looked at her. Almost as though she had spoken to him, he sighed and backed away.

  “I’m sorry about Rico. He’s just upset about the predicament we find ourselves in. We ran into Jensen Killoran on the way here, and that put him in a bad mood.”

  “Jensen? As in the supposed leader of the Kugarar?” I asked.

  “Yes. He’s aware of your arrival.”

  How did she know? Surely, he wouldn’t have told her. She laughed lightly and placed a hand on my arm.

  “No, he didn’t tell me.”

  Did I say that out loud?

  “I have a rather unique gift. I can communicate telepathically and read minds.” I gulped and she laughed. I wondered if she had read my mind the moment I’d seen her. She was stunning, and it was rather difficult not to notice.

  My mind was racing. If Jensen knew about them being there, then he must have been tipped off by someone in Undir Trenu.

  “Is there anyone you suspect?” Estella asked, her eyes sparkling.

  I didn’t like having my thoughts read. It felt evasive. “The only person who knows about our assignments is Helen, but she couldn’t have—”

  “Who is this Helen?”

  “She’s the group’s researcher. I’m certain she wouldn’t have betrayed us. But there are many people that work in city hall who could have heard our plan. Weren’t you able to find out who it was from his mind?”

  Estella shook her head. “Jensen’s mind showed me the meeting. I was sure it was a female voice, but the person he met with was cloaked, and he doesn’t even know the identity of the informer.”

  I watched as she turned away and walked toward the rest of the group. “Are you going to introduce me?” she glanced back at me.

  On command, I stepped forward and introduced my team. “Everyone, this is Estella. She is the seer of Jamie’s pack. Estella, this is Luciana, Julius, Casey, Josh, and Deon.” I signaled to each member in turn.

  “It’s nice to meet you all.” She stared at all of them for a while in silence, and awkwardness fell on the room. “Well, at least you know you don’t have a mole in your team,” she said, clapping her hands together and turning back to me.

  I laughed at the puzzled looks plastering the group’s faces. “Estella can read minds,” I announced.

  “Yes, and someone has betrayed the Verndarar to your enemy. We don’t know who.” If Mary’s death wasn’t bad enough, we
now had a spy in Undir Trenu. I’d always felt that place was detached from the conflict we were facing.

  I could almost feel everyone’s moods sink even more. I took a seat and placed my head in my hands. Our time in Kent had been overwhelming, and we’d only been here two days.

  I stood. “I think I’m going to bed.” Everyone looked like lost puppies expecting direction.

  “But what are we going to do about the spy in Undir Trenu?” Josh asked.

  “It’s been a tough day. Mary’s death followed by news of a spy living amongst us in Undir Trenu. Right now we need to rest and clear our minds. Tomorrow we’ll bury Mary. Then we’ll decide what to do. All of you should think about getting some sleep.” I turned without another word and headed out of the room into the hallway, which was still full of werewolves milling around and chatting.

  “Excuse me,” I said to one gigantic man with long black hair. He gave me a disapproving look before moving out of the way—allowing me to rush up the stairs to the safety of my room.

  Shouting and banging echoed up the stairs to my room. I rubbed my eyes and looked at the clock. It was ten o’clock in the evening, and I had slept for a few hours.

  I stretched my arms up above my head before dragging my aching body up. The shouting seemed to get louder, which rushed me to get dressed. I headed out of my room and bumped into Bleddyn, who looked spooked.

  “Sorry, I didn’t see you there,” he said, looking behind him as if he was being chased.

  “Bleddyn, what’s all that shouting?”

  “Ah, that’s the pack having too much fun.” He patted me on the shoulder and rushed off in the opposite direction. I looked down the hall, wondering what it was he was rushing from, and then Jamie’s words the first day I’d met him flashed into my head: “He’s always paranoid.”

  I made my way down the winding staircase into the entrance hall to find out what all the commotion was about. My stomach rumbled. It had been at least twenty-four hours since I’d eaten and I was starving. The noise was coming from the dining room.

  I pushed the door open to reveal the wolves sitting at the table eating and drinking. It was Estella who noticed me first.

  “Elijah! Come and join us,” she shouted across the room, and I made my way toward her, noticing there were two free seats next to her. Josh and Casey were sat together at the table already, but the rest of the group wasn’t there.

  “You’re starving, have some food,” she said, grabbing a plate and putting it in front of the chair next to her.

  “Have you seen any of the other Verndarar members?” I shouted, despite sitting right next to her. Suddenly I heard a voice in my head. It sounded like Estella’s. She had that similar mischievous gleam in her eyes.

  “I’d say it’s easier to converse in your mind, wouldn’t you?” she asked in my head, and I was stunned.

  “How are you doing that?” I asked, and her sweet laugh echoed around my mind.

  “I told you, I have a gift of telepathy.”

  “I know it’s easier than shouting, but being honest, it’s creeping me out a little.” She laughed, and then there was no more sound in my head. Josh had got up from his seat and was heading to join me.

  “Josh, are you okay?” I asked as he sat down in the seat next to me and glanced over at Casey. She was chatting with a handsome member of the pack.

  “I’m fine.” He shrugged and downed a glass of mead. I wasn’t the best at detecting people’s feelings for each other, but it was obvious Josh liked Casey. I could see why. They both had so much in common, and she was beautiful.

  The problem was Josh lacked confidence in himself. After getting to know him better, this had become obvious. His childhood had been difficult. He’d dealt with an abusive stepfather at home, and bullies at school because of his intelligence.

  “Who is Casey speaking to?” I asked, trying to prompt him to open up.

  “Some bloody wolf!” huffed Josh, his shoulders slumping.

  “Well, why don’t you stay over there and make sure she talks to you instead?”

  Josh looked up with a confused look and then sighed. “Is it that obvious?”

  “What, that you have feelings for Casey? Yeah.”

  He shook his head and looked down. “Well, it doesn’t matter anyway. There’s no way she feels the same.”

  “I’m not sure that’s true. You need to be more confident, Josh.” I placed my hand on his shoulder. He gave me an uncertain look and then glanced at Casey again. He gave a slight nod and stood with renewed confidence, a small smile on his face.

  I watched as Josh sat down and joined in with the conversation she was having with the young man. A smile curled onto my lips. I was so distracted by watching them I hadn’t noticed Jamie come up behind me.

  “Elijah, can I have a word?” he asked.

  “Sure, what’s up?”

  “Follow me.” I followed him into the entrance hall and he proceeded up the stairs without saying a word.

  “Where are we going?” I asked.

  “There is something you need to see. It’s hard to explain.” He turned left down the hallway, the opposite way to my room, and opened a door on his left. We entered a large bedroom with a huge four-poster bed and a bookcase down one side of the entire room. There was a lump in the bed.

  “Dakota has something to show you.”

  Jamie led the way to her bed. Her face was pale and coated in sweat as she lay flat and lifeless. If it wasn’t for the rhythmic rise and fall of the sheets covering her, I would have thought she was dead.

  “Dakota…” Jamie took her hand in his. Her eyes flickered open and she grimaced in pain.

  “Sorry to wake you. Elijah’s here.” She grumbled as she turned to face Jamie, trying to sit up a little.

  “Jamie, why don’t you show him,” she said, grimacing.

  He grabbed a wooden chest off the bedside table and opened it, pulling out an ancient-looking piece of parchment.

  I watched as Jamie unfolded it and put it on the bed. It seemed to be a map. My heart raced. Could this be a map to find the Creaturae? I neared the map and inspected it. It was in an ancient language I couldn’t read.

  “What is this?” I ran my fingers across the creased parchment.

  “It’s a map,” Dakota said.

  “A map to what?”

  “We’re not sure. It’s been in Dakota’s family since she can remember. It’s been passed down through generations, and we think it’s the reason the Kugarar are after her.”

  “Could it be a map to the Creaturae?” I asked, and Jamie gave me a slight nod.

  “Who else have you shown this to?” I asked Dakota, who was still grimacing in pain.

  “Only Jamie and you. I’ve always known it was something important, so I kept it well hidden. When I go back to Undir Trenu, it will come with me, and we will have to decipher it.”

  I nodded. Was it safe in Undir Trenu? Who could I trust?

  “What’s wrong?” Jamie asked, noticing my demeanor.

  “Did Estella tell you that there is a mole in Undir Trenu?” I asked, and Jamie shook his head. “She passed by Jensen on the way here and read his mind. He knew about the Verndarar, and that we were here.”

  “And you’re worried that if news of this map gets out, it will draw them to Undir Trenu?” Jamie asked.

  “Yeah, I’ve got no idea who the spy is.”

  “Then we keep it between us three. We won’t even tell the rest of the Verndarar.”

  I paced up the floor. Could I keep this from them?

  “It’s difficult. We’re supposed to be a team.”

  “But surely, they will understand … you don’t know how the information is being fed to the Kugarar, so the best option is for a small amount of people to know about this.”

  “How are we supposed to decipher it?” I asked, looking back at the map.

  “It’s an ancient language. We may have to travel back in time to find someone who can read it,” Dakota sai
d. The room went silent as she rested her eyes. Jamie and I stared at the map as if suddenly we would be able to read it.

  “As long as it’s in Undir Trenu, it takes the danger away from this area where the Kugarar are actively seeking it,” Jamie said.

  “How are you feeling, Dakota?” I asked.

  Her eyes flickered open. “It’s taken its toll, but I’m on the mend. You may be surprised to hear, but by tomorrow evening I will be back on my feet.”

  Good. I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.

  “Come on. Let’s give Dakota a chance to rest,” Jamie said, folding the map back up and stowing it back in the chest by her bed. I looked at it, reluctant to leave it. But I knew it was safe so I tore myself away and followed Jamie, shutting the door behind me.

  “Are you going to be able to keep this from Tom?” Jamie asked.

  “Why do you ask about Tom?”

  “He’s your second in command, isn’t he?”

  “Yes, but I agree it’s more important to keep this between as little people as possible.” As I said the words, I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. It went against everything that governed our group. We weren’t supposed to keep things from each other, but the possibility of the map becoming known to the Kugarar was too much of a risk.

  I knew I could trust the entire group, but if any of them were to speak without thinking in front of staff or out and about in the city, it could pose major issues. Perhaps the Kugarar would ambush them in Undir Trenu, and that was the last thing I wanted.

  “I think I need time alone. Goodnight, Jamie,” I said.

  “Goodnight, Elijah.” I turned and headed down the dark hallway, leaving Jamie standing alone.

  25

  Mary’s funeral was emotional. Tom and Luciana said some word in the family graveyard in Wolfrik Castle’s grounds. Jamie and his parents had been happy for her to be buried there.

  Morale was at the lowest it had ever been. I couldn’t help but feel angry at myself and Andre. If I’d trusted my gut feeling about Mary and Andre had listened she wouldn’t be dead. At the same time If I’d just packed my father’s ring I would have been able to save her.