by Tara Weeks
“Selene. Cassie. Nice to meet you. I’m Ravi Saros. Marek told me you went for a bit of a wander around the estate and your friend is missing?”
“Uh, yeah…” Cassie said, frowning. She didn’t like the way he seemed so jovial, like a missing person in a strange town was of no consequence.
“I’ve made some calls, and we’ve got half the town out looking for her. You need not worry. Though I would suggest the two of you stay inside for the rest of the evening,” Ravi said with a broad smile, showing off his immaculate teeth.
“You don’t seem concerned that a visitor to your town has just disappeared?” Cassie stated, hearing the accusation in her tone, but not caring.
“I just don’t want either of you worrying your pretty little heads over something which I’m sure we’ll have rectified by morning. Trust me.” Ravi nodded at Marek and opened the door of his car.
“What, that’s it?” Cassie asked. “You came all that way just to tell us not to worry about our missing friend?” She felt so infuriated she wanted to reach out and smack him upside the head.
“No. You’re right.” He slid into the driver's seat and reached over to the passenger's side, before holding out a folder to them. “Lucky you reminded me. Here are the terms for staying at the manor. Fees and payment method are inside, as is some information about where to locate certain amenities throughout the manor. Marek told me money wasn’t an issue, is that correct?”
“Uh, yes. That’s correct.” Selene confirmed, stepping forward and accepting the folder.
“Excellent. The number to my office is inside if you have any questions. Nice to meet you both. Marek, I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” he said, closing the door and starting the car. Within seconds, he was gone.
“What an absolute…” Cassie was cut off as Selene squeezed her arm.
“He’s really not that bad. Once you get to know him.” Marek explained.
I find that hard to believe.
“What are we supposed to do now? Addie could be out there wandering around in the cold and we’re supposed to just take Ravi’s word for it she’ll be fine?” Cassie squawked.
“No. Well, yes. I mean…” Marek ran his hand through his tousled blond hair, and Cassie thought she could see a faint flush in his cheeks.
What is he hiding?
“Don’t worry about it. We can look after ourselves. Thanks for your help, Marek, and have a good night,” Cassie snapped. She grabbed Selene by the hand and pulled her inside, closing the door behind them.
Chapter Seven
Addie
T
he blasts flew towards her faster, and with more fury; Addie’s skin burned from where hot shards of stone had pierced it.
Come on, Addie. You didn’t come all this way to have your fanny handed to you by a psychopath. If you think you have powers, now’s the time to prove it.
“How much longer do you think you can keep running around in circles, Adamina? There’s nowhere for you to go so you may as well surrender,” the voice of her pursuer taunted from the other side of the orb, only momentarily out of sight.
He doesn’t care if he can’t see me. He thinks I’m trapped.
Addie placed her fingers tips on her temples, willing her brain to pull itself together and focus.
What if there was a way out, because I made it so?
Not allowing any room for doubt, Addie placed her hands on the rocky wall and imagined a tunnel. Within seconds, she had to catch herself from falling as the wall before her vanished, leaving in its wake a way out. Addie didn’t look back as she darted down the tunnel, hoping to get as far away as she could before he realized she was no longer trapped. Yet she hadn’t gotten far when she heard his voice hurtling down the tunnel towards her.
“Two can play at this game, Adamina!”
Suddenly, there were skeletal hands reaching from the walls, pulling at her hair and tugging at her clothing. For every step she took, the number of reaching hands seemed to double until she could hardly move at all. As Addie fought and struggled, her heart thundering in her chest as hot tears of panic pricked her eyes, the man behind her whistled a tune. She yelled in frustration, straining with all her might, but she was stuck.
There was a flash of white light, forcing Addie to close her eyes and turn her head away. When she looked up again an enormous wolf bounded towards her. Her eyes widened as she tried to free herself and get out of its way, but it was no use. As it leaped into the air, Addie squeezed her eyes shut and prayed it would be quick. She was knocked to the ground, and she groaned in agony for a moment before registering that she was free from the ghoulish hands that had bound her. Pushing herself up onto her elbows, she looked on in awe as the growling creature ripped the hands from their rocky sockets before spitting them across the floor.
“What do you think you’re doing here?” The man scowled as he came to a stop about ten feet away from them, his legs shoulder width apart and his fists clenched at his sides.
The wolf growled in response, deep and guttural.
Addie shuffled backwards as quietly as she could, wanting to get as far from both of them as she could. Yet, she also felt compelled to stay. The wolf had freed her.
There’s something about its eyes…
The man raised his hands up, a lighting ball forming between his fingertips. The wolf lowered its head to the ground, as though preparing to attack.
There’s no way an animal will survive a hit from that thing!
As the man hurtled the ball of lightning towards them, Addie leapt to her feet.
“No!” she yelled, shoving her hand forward. A blast of energy radiated from her palm, like a hazy wall, out over the lowered wolf before expanding and knocking the man off his feet.
Addie let out a whoop of excitement and disbelief as he lay there unmoving.
“I did it?!” she cried, wondering why the wolf still looked so defensive. Her excitement quickly dissipated as the man got to his feet in one swift and inhuman movement.
Oh my goodness…
She staggered backwards, and losing her footing on the rocky floor, fell backwards. Yet instead of the hard terrain, Addie fell onto something soft. Opening her eyes, she found herself on the wolf’s back. It raised its head and howled, and Addie threw her arms around its shoulders, holding on for dear life as it hurtled down the tunnel.
Daring to look over her shoulder, Addie saw the man in pursuit, running so fast his legs appeared to be blur—and he was gaining on them.
“Argh!” Addie threw her hand backwards as fiercely as she dared, this time picturing an energy wall of ice. It flew out from her palm and raced towards him, leaving a trail of frost along the tunnel walls as it went. It hit him just as he was preparing another of his lightning balls, freezing him in mid-air. Grinning to herself, she once again clung to the wolf, hoping she’d bought them enough time to get away.
The wolf slowed its pace as the tunnel narrowed all around them, before finally opening again, revealing a smaller cavern. Addie slid off the wolf’s back and looked around. “Well, I don’t really know how to say thank you to a wolf, but… eek!” she yelped as she turned around to find a man standing where the wolf had been.
“It’s okay! I won’t hurt you, I promise!” he held up his hand to calm her.
“Are you? Were you? No…” Addie shook her head as she struggled to make sense of what was happening.
“I know. It’s a lot. Many people like the idea of shifters, until they actually meet one for real,” the man explained, wrapping a frayed piece of cloth around his waist that he seemed to have found on the floor.
“So… you’re not a werewolf?” she asked slowly.
He laughed, and despite the ridiculousness of the situation, she smiled at the sound. His dark brown hair was tousled, and he had about a week’s worth of stubble on his face. But what really struck were his eyes: Blue, and lined with magnificent laugh lines. Addie felt at ease despite hersel
f.
“Funnily enough, werewolves don’t exist anymore than vampires do. Pure fiction,” he explained.
“But shifters do,” Addie scoffed.
He nodded. “Don’t forget about witches and warlocks too.”
“Warlock. Is that what he was?” Addie asked, peering over his shoulder towards the tunnel.
“Yes. An ancient, very dangerous, warlock. Which is why we need to get you out of here right now. Your magic won’t hold him forever—at least, not yet,” he explained as he approached her, placing his hand gently on her back as he guided her to the center of the cavern. His touch sent shivers up and down her body and it was all she could do to put one foot in front of the other.
“I would love to get out of here. But how?” Addie asked.
“You need to open another portal,” he stated, gesturing to the open space before them.
“A portal? Me?” she frowned. “I think perhaps you have the wrong person. I don’t know how to do…”
“Yes, you do. You just haven’t quite realized it yet. How else do you think you got here in the first place?”
“It was the urn. It did something to me.” Addie replied.
“No. You did something to the urn. You created a portal and here you are.”
“Huh? But how? I didn’t do it intentionally. I wouldn’t even know how to go about doing it again.” Addie looked at him, wide-eyed.
“You can do it. I will guide you as much as I can, but honestly, the best advice I have is to just not think too much about it. Just let it happen naturally.”
“Right. Just let a magical portal appear in a secret tunnel naturally…” Addie said, and he laughed, the sound making her smile once again.
“If it helps, close your eyes. Imagine a portal presenting itself before you. It’s small at first, but it soon expands. Envision its ability to take you where you need to go.” His voice was soft in her ear and all Addie could think about was their proximity to each other.
“Concentrate…” he whispered.
Addie forced herself to focus on the task at hand.
“That’s it. Keep going.”
When she felt the vibration beneath her feet, Addie opened her eyes.
“Oh my!” she yelped, throwing her arms around the stranger’s neck as she saw the oval portal before her with its swirling teal smoke. Remembering herself, she quickly released him, but the grin on his face let Addie know that he didn’t mind.
“You did it! But now you have to go. Hurry!” He started leading her towards the portal, but she pulled him to a stop.
“Wait. I don’t even know your name.” Addie said, feeling herself blush.
“My name is Jove. Jove Live.”
Addie felt her heart skip a beat as he smiled again. “I’m…” The sound of falling rocks within the tunnel interrupted her.
“I know who you are. But now you have to go.” Jove stated, his voice now pleading.
“Will I see you again?” Addie asked as she stepped up to the portal.
“I’ll make sure of it.” Jove said, releasing her.
Addie took a step forward, but before she entered the portal, she quickly stepped back, threw her arms around Jove’s neck and kissed him hard on the mouth.
“Thank you,” She said, and before he had the chance to respond, she leaped through the portal.
Chapter Eight
Cassie
C
assie rifled through her suitcase where it lay on the floor, making a mess of her belongings as she rummaged around for her favorite pair of jeans. She was certain she’d packed them. Sitting back on the carpet, she sighed, running a hand through her messy blonde hair. Her eyes wandered over to the open closet on the other side of the room; she knew she’d find things with greater ease if she unpacked, yet she really couldn’t be bothered. Picturing her sought-after jeans on one of the shelves, Cassie yelped as the suitcase nudged her. Looking down, it seemed to move on its own. From the left corner of the suitcase, her jeans shot up into the air, folding themselves neatly as they approached the wardrobe before landing on the very shelf she’d envisioned.
“Holy shit!” Cassie sat completely still as she stared at the wardrobe. When her heart had stopped pounding, she grinned to herself and sat up straight. Rubbing her hands together, she looked at a pair of black ballet flats. Concentrating, she pictured them on the floor of the wardrobe, and before she could think too much about it, the shoes were in the air and moving into place.
“No way!” Cassie giggled, clapping her hands together.
“You will never believe this!” Cassie bounded into the kitchen in her loose-fitting boyfriend jeans, ballet flats and simple blouse. Selene looked up at her expectantly from where she sat nursing a cup of coffee.
“I’ve discovered my power!” Cassie declared and bowed dramatically.
“Your weather powers?” Selene asked, with a slight frown.
Cassie rolled her eyes, “No—an actual magical power. Watch.” She nodded towards the refrigerator door, and it flew open.
Selene got up from the stool and walked over to the door. She moved it back and forwards with her hand before closing it.
“Do it again,” Selene ordered and stood back.
Cassie could hardly contain her excitement as she focused on the door opening, and then watched it happen almost before the thought had even left her mind.
“Okay, yeah. That’s pretty cool.” Selene smiled.
“Right? I think I might get into this entire witch thing after all,” Cassie said. “But on one condition.”
“What’s that?” Selene asked.
“You conjure me up one of those mugs of coffee too.”
Selene rolled her eyes, but laughed as she reached up into the cupboard and withdrew a second mug.
“I wish Addie was here,” Cassie said, turning her mug around in circles.
“Yeah, me too. I really hope she’s okay. I just don’t know what else to do,” Selene said.
“Me neither. I mean, it seemed odd the way Ravi seemed so dismissive about it, not to mention the way he was like, oh, don’t worry your pretty little heads about it. Ugh. I hate that shit. It makes me so mad!” Cassie exclaimed.
“Yikes! Cassie!” Selene darted off her stool and around to the sink.
Cassie jumped off her own as her coffee mug burst into flames. “Holy shit!” She pushed the mug towards the sink where it toppled in with a loud bang. Selene promptly turned the tap on and doused the fire.
“Woah. That was intense.” Selene looked at her with her eyebrows raised.
Cassie nodded slowly. “But awesome, right?”
Selene and Cassie burst into laughter before a loud banging interrupted them.
“What is that?” Selene asked.
“I think it’s someone at the front door,” suggested Cassie, as the two of them slowly walked out of the kitchen.
“Don’t we have a doorbell?” Selene asked in a hushed whisper.
“How should I know?” Cassie asked as they crept towards the door. She stopped a few feet away and held out her arm, gesturing for Selene to stand back. Lifting her other arm up, Cassie slowly moved a finger from left to right and the front door creaked open. The two women peered around, expecting to see someone there, but there was no one. Cassie flicked the rest of the door open.
“What’s that?” Selene asked, as she hurried towards a large box sitting on the welcome mat.
From where Cassie stood, she could see that it was wooden, with gold fixtures, and it appeared to have some kind of pattern carved into it. “Careful!” Cassie called out.
“Why? It’s not like it’s a bomb,” Selene said as she picked it up. “Wow, it’s heavy!”
Cassie hurried over to help, glancing around for the person who had left it, but there was no sign of anyone.
“Let’s take it in here.” Cassie led them towards the lounge room, with its art deco lounge complete with day bed, all
in teal green.
“Wow, would you look at this room? It looks like it’s straight off the set of some old Hollywood movie!” Selene gasped.
“Plenty of time to admire it later, Selene. Right now, I’m curious to see what’s in this box. It looks as old as the furniture in here,” Cassie said.
“Best not to set them on fire then, hey Cassie?” Selene joked.
“You’re hilarious,” Cassie said dryly, as they carefully lowered the box onto the coffee table in the middle of the room. They both sat on the lounge and stared at it.
“I think you should open it,” Selene finally said.
“Why me?” Cassie asked. “You’re the one that wanted to bring it inside.”
“I meant you should open it, you know, magically. Besides, it’s locked and we don’t have a key,” Selene explained.
“Oh, yeah. That makes sense.” Cassie raised her hands and unlocked the box, then flicked open the latch, before cautiously lifting the lid, listening to it creak with age and disuse. When nothing happened, she let the lid fall open, and they leaned forward for a better look. It was full of something, but there was a piece of velour resting on the top, protecting whatever lay beneath. Taking a deep breath, Cassie grabbed the corners of the material and pulled it away.
“Not what I was expecting,” Cassie stated as they looked at a box full of photographs: Very old photographs.
“Me neither. Who are they of?” Selene grabbed a stack and gasped, letting the first one fall from her hand as she quickly inspected the next one, and the next one, her heart pounding away fiercely in her chest.
“This is impossible!” Selene whispered, more to herself than to Cassie.
“What? What is it? I can’t see. Who are the photos of?” Cassie asked, leaning forward.
Selene held up one of the larger photographs and turned it around for Cassie to see. “The photographs are of us.”
