Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2) (59 page)

 “Where did they go?” Matt mumbled to himself. Coming upon the trapdoor, he hesitated. “They went down there? Really? Down there?” Matt moaned, thinking about every horror movie he had seen. Like Cat, he grabbed his bike’s light, and before he could change his mind, bravely descended the stone steps. “Man, I think something died down here. Gross!”

When he reached the first fork in the tunnel, “What now?” He stood there and thought for a minute and then pointed his finger to the right path. “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe,” he said going back and forth between the two pathways. Landing last on the left one, he continued down cautiously, careful not to touch the grimy walls. Even though he was totally grossed out by the sight before him, Matt was amazed at the tunnel system and wondered how many people knew of its existence.

Hearing only his own footsteps echoing through the vast tunnels, “Just put one foot in front of the other, Matt. You’ll catch up to them soon and hopefully find out what’s going on. But something tells me I’m not going to like it,” he whispered to himself, wanting to hear a voice just to break the quiet.

Cat turned a corner and saw a light in the distance. Clenching tighter onto the bike light, she hesitantly made her way toward it. As she emerged from the tunnel into a large chamber, the first thing Cat noticed was the tall pale man she met at the clearing two Halloweens ago.
The master
, she thought as she saw the three girls standing next to him, all grinning at her.

A moan off to the side drew her attention. At first she thought it was Mr. Pierson, but then realized the man was bigger. He was chained to the wall. His body leaned as far as his backwards-stretched arms would allow and his head was planted firmly on the ground.

“Welcome, Catherine, to our modest home. I am afraid I cannot offer you any refreshments, as Mr. Pierson is a little low right now,” Andrei quipped, bringing her focus back to him. “And I do not feel you would find Edgar Girven’s too pleasant,” he continued, gesturing to the figure chained to the wall behind him. “Ah, is that recognition in your eyes? You have met the Varulv councilman before? Of course you have. He is a good friend of your family, is he not? Well, they’re not really your family, but they have performed the part perfectly, now haven’t they? Huh, to think a pack of mangy mutts would take in a filthy little half-breed like you.” Andrei’s malevolent smile made Cat sick to her stomach.

“Where’s Miss Amaya?” Cat’s angry voice resonated off the walls.

“Alas, I am afraid Amy told a little white lie. Miss Amaya is not here, only her phone,” he said, amused as the flush of anger became more prominent on Cat’s face. Another loud moan from Edgar drew their attention. “I hate to cut this visit short, but I have other arrangements. Please forgive me.  Oh, and one other thing before I forget,” Andrei said, drawing a large silver dagger from beneath his long black coat. “Do you know what drives a Varulv mad with rage? Well, at least one that has been starved and tortured like our friend here? Vampire’s blood,” he continued and then proceeded to slice open his palm, letting the blood spill out onto the ground. “Oh, and you might need this when he changes.” Andrei sneered as he threw the dagger at Cat’s feet. The four quickly rushed into one of the tunnels leaving Cat behind, baffled. A painful cry from Edgar had Cat rushing forward, crouching down beside him.

“Mr. Girven, it’s Cat! Where are you hurt?” Cat became frustrated when he only grumbled. She reached into her pocket for her cell, “Damn, no signal! Mr. Girven, can you get up if I help you? I really don’t want to leave you here to go get help!” Cat gently lifted his head, pushing back his grungy hair to see his face clearly, wondering how long he had been down there. His eyes were closed, his face bruised and battered. “What did they do to you?”

Edgar’s body twitched, causing her to gasp. His swollen eyes shot open, they were wild and glowing golden brown. She heard familiar crackling noises, like bones breaking beneath his clothes. Backing away, Cat watched as fur sprouted on his face and hands, his mouth elongating and filling with razor-sharp teeth. Saliva dripped from his mouth, and his tongue swept the moisture from his lips. As his body began to expand, she cringed at the sound of his clothes ripping. Her pulse raced, looking at the Varulv in front of her as he began violently thrashing toward her, trying to break free of the chains. Edgar let out a loud howl, making Cat cover her ears as it echoed through the open area. Suddenly one of the chains broke from the old limestone wall. Cat moved away quickly, letting out a startled scream as Edgar swiped at her. Cat’s focus was on his huge teeth as they viciously snapped in her direction. His eyes bulged as he strained against the chain. She could feel his hot breath on her skin. Touching the cold stone of the wall behind her, Cat realized she had backed herself into a corner. “Edgar! Why are you doing this? It’s me, Cat!” she tried to reason with him. Edgar just snarled, pulling harder on the chain.

“Cat! What the hell is that?” Matt cried out.

Stunned, Cat turned to him, “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same question! What the hell is that thing?”

“I don’t have time to explain, just go. Run!”

Edgar sniffed the air as his eyes moved to Matt. He grinned widely, showing off his razor-sharp teeth, and then let out a low growl.

“Cat, why is that thing looking at me like that?”

“Edgar! No, look at me! Matt, get out of here!” Cat yelled as a shiver of fear ran through her, seeing Edgar’s attention fixed on Matt. Matt tried to move, but was frozen with fear. His mind couldn’t comprehend what was going on. “Matt, don’t just stand there, run!”

“I can’t move, Cat! I’m trying!” he yelled back, staring wide eyed at the beast in front of him.

Edgar gave one more frantic tug on the chain, breaking it away from the wall, and then charged at Matt.

“No! Edgar!” Cat screamed with desperation. Bracing for impact, Matt let out a loud yell, put up his hands as a last defense, and shut his eyes. Cat shifted swiftly between them, grabbing Matt, and pulling him out of the way. Edgar flew by them, his teeth chomping inches from Cat’s face. Cat felt pain as the air was knocked out of her when they slammed into the ground.

Edgar let out a grunt as he hit the ground and rolled down the tunnel. He skidded to a halt and then raised his head shaking off the dizziness.

“Matt…you need to go hide…now,” Cat said breathlessly as they sat up. She could tell he was shell-shocked and had no comprehension of what was going on.

“Oh…okay,” Matt replied blankly. His eyes grew wide with fear as he saw Edgar’s two golden eyes glaring at them through the darkness down the tunnel. He raised his shaky hand to point and Cat followed his line of sight. She watched as Edgar slowly prowled toward them, grumbling in a low growl.

“Matt…I want…you to run,” she whispered, helping him to his feet, and not taking her eyes off Edgar. The Varulv pawed at the ground while staring them down. “Go, now!” Cat yelled.

Edgar howled and charged at the pair as Matt took off down one of the tunnels. Cat faded to the side as Edgar leapt at her. Crashing into the wall, he let out a groan of pain. Shoving himself away from the wall, he charged at Cat again. She tried to fade out of the way, but Edgar caught her and knocked her to the ground. He pinned her under his paw, pressing hard on her chest. Edgar bent his head down and roared in her face, breathing heavily. The heat from his breath was intense and smelled like hot garbage.

“Leave her alone!” Matt cried, poking his head back into the large central chamber. Edgar quickly turned toward Matt, saliva dripping from his chops. Stepping off Cat’s chest, he released the pressure, causing her to cough as she gasped for air.

“Matt…what are you…doing? Get…out of…here!” Cat called out breathlessly in frustration. Slowly raising herself to her feet, Cat noticed Edgar making his way toward Matt. “Leave…him alone, Edgar!” Cat yelled out, trying to turn his attention to her.

Ignoring her, Edgar began to charge at Matt.

What the hell am I doing? Run, Matt, run!
He told himself. Cat saw the dagger out of the corner of her eye and lunged for it. Grabbing it, she shifted in front of Edgar. He crashed full force into her, letting out a loud growl, and then a whimper. He fell limply on top of Cat. Pushing him over, she saw the dagger plunged into his chest. She looked down at her hands and shirt and saw that they were covered in red. It was blood. Cat sat in shock as she realized what she had done.

A noise made Cat look up and she saw Matt emerging from behind the wall of the tunnel. He stared in disbelief and backed away from Cat as she approached him, his stunned eyes looking past her. They both watched as Edgar Girven slowly turned back into his human form. She looked to Matt with sadness in her eyes.

“Cat, you’re covered in blood, are you hurt?” Matt asked, finally taking his eyes away from Edgar and focusing on her.

“Oh Matt, I killed him.” Cat’s voice trembled and tears filled her eyes as she sank to the ground sobbing.

“But you saved me,” he replied shakily.