Wolf Spell 1 (19 page)

“Well I guess we’d better get going.” I was in a hurry, but he knew that. I picked up the duffel bag full of weapons I’d brought with me. Reaching in my back pocket, I grabbed my cell. I needed to call Victor. Ree would be next; she went out hunting for Es too. We thought we’d cover more ground if we split up.

Ailaina was already in the passenger seat as I threw the bag in the back seat and jumped in to drive.

After two rings, he picked up. “Hello.”

“Hey it’s me.”

“Did you find her?” He sounded distressed.

“No, but we know where she’s at. We’re headed there now. Zona Alta.”

“We’ll meet you in the Parc De Monterols, it’s a garden in the vicinity of Zona Alta. We can discuss the plan then. Meadow sucked three hunters dry who we found hiding out in Calamocha, east of Barcelona. She is thirstier than usual if you know what I mean.”

“I can only imagine. We just took care of four here. Alright, it’s ten now, can you be there by one?” I didn’t want to wait any longer than I had to. I could hear her calling to me and it killed me not helping her faster.

“Yeah.”

“Okay.” I hung up without any goodbyes.

Maztic walked to the edge of the tree line.
“I’ll meet you there.”

I watched him fade away into the air. Reaching for the keys, I couldn’t help but think of Es and that night we escaped for a burger. I slammed my hands against the steering wheel.

Ailaina rested her hand on my arm. “It’s okay, we’ll find her.”

I clenched my jaw and ground my teeth. “Yeah.” I turned the keys, and the engine roared to life. Punching the gas, I peeled out of there. I couldn’t get to Barcelona fast enough. From here it was about an hour away.

Poisoned

– Esmerelda –

October 28, 2012

I grimaced as Nicholas tightened the rope around my wrists, twisting them behind my back. He stood up and pulled his long blond hair back, revealing his tanned, chiseled face. Nevertheless, his whole persona reeked of evil.

“Did you enjoy the darkness, my sweet?” He traced a finger down my cheek, making me shiver. I wanted to puke—his touch nauseated me.

I didn’t say anything to him, glancing down instead. My jeans were torn, and I could see dirt caked on to them along with my skin.

“I think by the time we’re done, you’ll want nothing more than to work for me.” He was so sure of himself, but I blocked him out, focusing on all the energy around me as Moriah said to do. “I’m not nearly as bad as some would want you to believe.”

I spit at his feet, my saliva landing mere centimeters away from his shiny black dress shoe.

He backhanded me across my face. The ringing in my ears drowned out whatever he said, clearing enough to catch the last part. “Didn’t your mom ever teach you that it’s not lady-like to spit? Oh, wait… you didn’t have your mom, did you.”

I shrugged letting him know my indifference. I couldn’t care less what wasn’t lady-like right now. I’d shove my unladylike foot right up his backside as soon as I had the chance, but he’d tied my feet to the chair too. My adrenaline pumped fast, giving me needed energy. I wasn’t going to let him get to me with remarks and hurtful words.

He turned and walked out of the room, giving me a chance to look around at my surroundings. The light from the sun shining through the windows blinded me after being in the dark earth for so long, and I had to blink repeatedly to keep the burning tears back.

I did a quick surveillance. There were two windows, both with iron bars on the outside and with only one door— the one where Nicholas had just left. It was like a study with bookshelves lining the wall farthest from a desk, with God only knows what sat on top of its wooden surface. It looked like something from a horror movie. Glass jars with gel-like liquid made me gag. I had no clue what was inside those, but I had a hunch it wasn’t good. At least I didn’t see human body parts floating in them.

I could hear footsteps in the hallway getting closer. Nicholas came back in the room carrying a cluster of plants with shiny black berries.

I gulped. “What is that?”

He raised them up and looked at them as if they were no big deal. “This, my dear is Belladonna.” Oh, I was in trouble. I thought that’s what it was, but I didn’t want to be right. I squirmed, trying to loosen the knots in the rope.

Meadow taught me everything about herbs and nature in my training, and this was one of the first plants we studied. It was the most toxic plant to witches—ever. Even a tiny amount would make a witch delusional with hallucinations for days and possibly kill you. Anything more than that would kill you for sure. It sucked your magic, leaving you vulnerable. It was what she thought poisoned her before the accident. Right now was a time I wished I wasn’t supernatural, and then I wouldn’t be so scared of the plant.

Where was Jarak?
If there were ever a time for a dramatic rescue, now would be it. I didn’t even care if he had a freaking white horse and knight’s armor. I just wanted someone to save me.

I pulled at the elements around me, trying to focus on my own energy. I didn’t realize being in the dark void for so long would drain me as much as it had. A plant in the corner wilted as I sucked it dry. After a few tries, I magicked a small knife in my hands and tried to cut the rope that held me, but it was harder than I thought.

“Now why would you do that?” He set the plants down on the desk, next to the creepy jars.

“Do what?”

He stood before me in a flash and grabbed my throat, tightening his fingers, closing off my airways. “I can feel your energy drawing from everything in this room. You do not go against me. You
will
work for me.”

I squirmed and wriggled in the chair. Fighting against him, desperately needing him to let go, I dropped the knife. I didn’t have enough energy to use my magic against him. I guess now would be the time I would’ve used Jarak’s training that I blew off. The room blurred then faded. Finally, he let go, and I gasped for oxygen.

I watched him through blurry eyes. He placed the plants in the bowl fashioned like a stone grinder, looking as if it came directly from the caveman days. He used another stone to mash the leaves and berries together. A faint bitter smell from the berries wafted in the air. I threw up a little in my mouth, and then gagged as it slid back down my throat.

He carried the plants over to me. “So, will you help me create my cross-breed army? You can be my queen as
I will
be your king.”

I shivered. The thought of being his anything was repulsive. “Go to hell.” I clenched my teeth.

He frowned. “Well, thankfully I have found other ways to make this work without you. It’ll take more time, but the effects will be the same. Not to mention, I’ll have to kill more witches to make it work…”

I didn’t wait to hear anymore and used whatever energy I had to send a gust of wind through the room, sending papers and plants flying around. I wouldn’t give up without a fight. I shot a current of electricity directed at him.

He dodged it right before it found his chest, then holding his hand up he redirected it, and sent the jolt into the desk. The wooden desk exploded into splinters around us. The wind picked up the smaller pieces shooting them into the walls. It was as if we were in the middle of a tornado.

I couldn’t do much with my hands tied behind me, so I concentrated on the rope, feeling it loosen. I wiggled my hands enough until they were free. Nicholas’s hands shot out toward me, but I placed my hands in front of me, blocking his energy.

Thankfully, he let up. My energy wasn’t up to par yet, and I could feel myself weakening. I sucked in air as if it was water in a desert. I wasn’t sure how long I could last against him. He was a seasoned warlock with almost three hundred years of training, and I was drained.

Before I knew what had happened, he soared over to me and shoved a mouthful of the mixed berries and plants in my mouth. “If you won’t work for me, then I’ll make sure no one else can use you either,” he seethed.

I coughed and spit out as much as I could, but I knew that too much had made it into my system. Anger boiled under my skin, making my body shake. It wouldn’t be long before I would be gone. I needed to do whatever I could to stop him. I listened and pulled from every living piece of energy I could find, including his. I soaked it all in, letting it fill me entirely.

The room spun around, and I saw shadows flutter around both of us. I couldn’t see straight anymore. The Belladonna already took effect on my body. I could feel the warmth flooding my limbs, making them heavy. I blinked several times trying to clear my head, but it didn’t work. I focused on him as much as I could. Nicholas’s body stretched and bent in odd shapes. Bile rose and burned the back of my throat. I was unquestionably sick.

I pushed my magic out. I didn’t know where I threw it, but I knew that not using it could be worse. Urging out more, I saw more shadows dance around the room.

Warmth seeped from my nose. I wiped it away with my hand, and it came back crimson. I continued to thrust everything I had toward Nicholas. I saw him fly backwards from the force of my energy.

“Es!” I heard the most beautiful sound of my knight in shining armor before everything went dark.

– Jarak –

“Maztic, in here.” I swallowed hard as I watched Es fall over.

Ailaina brushed past me, holding Es’s head up. Tears ran down her face. “Jarak, I think she’s alive, but barely.”

Nicholas lay slumped in the corner of the room, but my attention wasn’t on him. It was fully on Esmerelda.

I placed my fingers on her neck searching for a pulse. “Please beat, please.” Then I felt it, very faint, but it was there.
Thank you God.
I nodded at Ailaina, reaffirming her that she was alive.

I twisted and spotted Nicholas trying to get up. All my fury and rage exploded, and I unleashed it on him. I kicked him in the jaw, sending him backwards into the wall, and Maztic jumped on him, biting him. I bent down closer to him, then with all the force I could muster I punched him. He stopped moving.

I sprinted toward Es, where Ailaina already had her legs untied and held on her lap. Maztic growled behind me, causing me to turn in time to see Nicholas dash through the now shattered window. Maztic sprinted after him.

“He’s gone, he transported somewhere.”
Maztic came back through the window.
“He did it before I could catch him.”

I nodded. “He won’t live long. He’ll pay for this.” I picked her up. Her small frame hung limp in my arms. “I need to get her back to Victor. He’ll know what to do.”

Ailaina stayed close, her hand never leaving Es’s. She looked up at me hopeful. “She’s gonna be okay, right?”

I wasn’t sure what to say, so I just held on to her tightly. I didn’t know the details of what happened to her, but I hoped she wouldn’t die. I carried her to the car I parked out on the street, out of view from the house. As careful as I could, I laid her in the back seat. Ailaina climbed in with her, resting Es’s head on her lap.

I quickly jumped in the driver’s seat and took off. Victor searched the other side of Zona Alta. I needed to let him know I had her, so he could meet us back at Ree’s house.