Plight: A Dark Paranormal Romance (The Sephlem Trials Book 1)

by Felisha Antonette

  I turn to our front and frown. “That’s a horrible future. They are going to be around us for the rest of our lives.”

  “Yep. But that’s our family. It seems overbearing and weird to you, but the bonding and what comes along with it is another reason we stick together. For us Burdened especially,” he adds.

  “Makes sense.”

  We make it to the trail, and I am ready for my feet to pound the gravel. I let the leaf and bark scents fill my nose, taking in the outdoors.

  “Are we going to break off into a full sprint or jog?” Nathan asks, stepping to my side.

  “We will jog. And as much as I enjoy hearing your musical voice, we will do it in silence. So we can sort through our thoughts and make life make sense.”

  “My musical voice, huh?” he asks with a cocky smirk.

  I roll my eyes. “Shut up.” Putting the iPod on shuffle, I take off, stuffing the buds in my ears. Nathan quickly makes it to my side.

  We run, and I let him lead the way.

  The trail is nice. It isn’t man made like the one behind my house. Rather, Mother Nature lost control when creating it, doing what she wanted. Beautiful flowers, in all colors, bloom from the thick trees. The grass dances in the breeze as the trees sing behind my music and the wind plays the flute. It is beautiful and relaxing, lit by the sun shining its light on every other step.

  I embrace the outdoors, loving its aura.

  Taking it all in, I let everything go. Nathan crowds my mind. He’s hurt, like me, and this entire time I’ve only thought about myself. I didn’t consider what he might be going through and the extra pressure I’ve been putting on him. I’m still peeved he knocked me out, but I can’t say I don’t understand. If his hurt back there flooded me like that, I can understand what I’ve been doing to him. And after everything we’ve been through, this roller coaster ride has to be getting to him. It makes it no better that Scott’s his cousin and Nathan’s used to Scott being on top of controlling their demons.

  Scott did all of that warning me when he should have been warning Glen. If he’d applied the effort he had put into the fight into his relationship with her, things may have turned out differently. I can’t imagine my life without Glen in it. She’s been through so much and Scott should’ve been her refuge, but he’s becoming her captor. Scott’s never been violent, ever! He’s always been one to avoid confrontations, or the one breaking up fights. Maybe their bond is tearing them apart. There has to be something we can do to help.

  I’ll never find out what I did to that Jackal to make her want to kill me. Who am I? Why would she want me dead? Why do they want Nathan dead? He’s just hanging around, enjoying life. It would seem. He doesn’t do anything wrong. On the other hand, is it not what he does, but what he has done? Like what Olar had thanked him for. The mention of it drew Nathan uncomfortable. Unless it’s something else he’s keeping from me. What has Nathan done that was so bad? What else could he be hiding? Who is he?

  Whatever he is, whoever he is, he’s powerful. I can feel it flowing through me, like fire rushing through my veins. His strength implores me, but I want to bury it. Because whatever’s going on, it’s bringing to life instances from my past I prefer to keep buried deep inside me.

  I open my mind and it all goes, choosing what to push in the deep crevices of my memories and what to keep at the forefront. My endurance has improved, and I’m so refreshed from the run, I push onward.

  We round a corner. Nathan comes to a halt and snatches me back by the crook of my arm. The force from the abrupt stop knocks me off my feet. He catches me and soundlessly places me on the ground.

  infiltrated

  Nathan backs us to a tree. He raises his index finger to his lips, drawing attention to their softness, and I want to replace that finger. He beams a smile, and I realize he’s listening to my thoughts.

  I shift my gaze away, hearing him think to me, Stay back. He nudges me behind him, sandwiching me between him and the tree.

  “Come out, Nate. I can hear her breathing,” singsongs a hollow-toned voice.

  “Shit,” Nathan mouths. His face contorts as the wheels turn. Is he contemplating an out, maybe? Nathan’s body hardens, but his skin doesn’t change color. His defensive shield? I dare to take a peek at what’s troubling him, and something staggering tells me to stay put.

  Multiple footsteps crush the grass and fallen branches as whoever it is, is searching for us.

  Nathan nods for us to round the tree, and keeping half of myself behind him, I follow. Five men stare us down. Male twins stand at the end of their line. They share matching water shaped markings on their skin, resembling the darkness of my vines. They’re as big as Nathan is. The inner two are of equal height and thinner, both with long hair pulled into a ponytail. They resemble each other, but not as heavily as the two on the ends.

  The haughty dispositions of the four are nothing compared to the stocky man in the middle. He is why I stay behind Nathan. His bright, golden eyes stay locked on us, studying our movements. A half-sun rests against the right side of his face, reflecting the soft beams of the afternoon light.

  “Come out,” the twin on the right says low, too low for me to hear if I were still normal.

  “She’s fine,” Nathan responds bleakly. “What brings you to my area?”

  “We had business here,” the long-haired one with no markings answers with a smile.

  “Did you handle said business?” Nathan asks.

  “Yep,” the twin on the other end answers.

  They speak in sequence, as if they know who’s going to say what.

  “Then why are you still in my area?” Nathan’s voice darkens, and fury rolls off him.

  I don’t know if I should touch him or let him stay angry, unsure of this situation. Remembering his dad had told me I was a distraction to him, that it took him to meet me for him to let his guard down, hence him getting chained and nearly dying. I won’t interfere.

  “More business!” the middle one answers. His honeyed voice is just as creepy as the weird sun on his face. “We hear your father is no longer around.”

  Nathan’s short, “Okay.”

  The middle one smiles. His sharp, pointed teeth match his eyes. “I had a few things I needed to discuss with him.” His gaze flicks from Nathan to me, then back.

  “As you’ve observed, he isn’t around. That should be your exit.”

  “Now, Nate, is that how you treat your brother? After all we’ve been through?”

  Nathan smiles a dark, devilish grin. “You’re no brother of mine, Roehl.”

  Roehl’s hand flies to his chest, despair wiping over his caramel toned face. “Nate, it hurts me to hear that.” He steps closer. “We’ve run together as brothers, shared as brothers.” His gaze flicks to me. “Stood side by side as brothers, protected as brothers, even killed as brothers. Not to mention, we share a father. Or should I say shared?”

  Nathan’s arms flex as he balls his fists. “We may have, and that might be so. But you,” he nods his head toward Roehl, “are not my brother.”

  Roehl rubs his hand thoughtfully over his naked chin, his smile fading. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  I scan the faces of their small group. They show no emotion as their gazes observe Nathan and me. They absorb us, anticipation for us to make a move heavy in their eager eyes. I try to keep each of them in sight, not wanting to miss a fidget.

  “Considering my father is not here, I believe that’s your exit.”

  “Not anymore, Great Nate.” Roehl struts forward, and Nathan sidesteps in front of me. “I have new business. You know I wouldn’t fight you, brother. There’s no need to get defensive.”

  “Won’t you? Then it sounds like this business can be handled later, without company.” Nathan squares his shoulders and straightens his neck. I can’t see the expression he gives him, but without malice, he says, “You’ve walked close enough, Roehl.”

  “I see you, Nate. Let me see her,” Roehl urges.


  “That’s not happening. Again, Roehl, take your exit,” Nathan warns, a threat implied by his tone.

  Sorrowful, Roehl declines, “I can’t do that.”

  “And that, I am sorry to hear.”

  I stay behind Nathan, watching the shadows from the other guys move in closer. Nathan steps forward, and they stop.

  “Will you, Nate, kill your own brother?”

  “I’ll kill anything and anyone that breathes.”

  “That’s the Nathan I know!” The jubilance in Roehl’s voice rattles me.

  I don’t know what I expect to follow those words, maybe a gesture or a rebuttal from Nathan. But Roehl and his flunkies’ next move panics me.

  Roehl vanishes, much like Nathan’s cousin, Olar, did in the hall. His four comrades lunge toward Nathan, all piling on him at once.

  I lurch forward, ready to fight them off, and something pulls me backward, yanking my shirt. I’m spun around and meet the stinging, golden eyes of Roehl.

  “You’re a dark one. And Nathan is trying to keep you all to himself. I’ve known Nathan a long time, never seen him so protective over a piece of ass.” Roehl smirks, allowing his shiny gold teeth to peek out from behind his lips. “Why don’t you tell me your name?”

  I pant, heart racing, as fear trickles down my spine. Don’t speak, Tracey, I remind myself. This man freaks me out, and I want to tell him anything to make him move. He has a petrichor scent, as low he rose from wet soil. His rugged dark hair hasn’t been combed in days, and his white shirt’s dingy with rips and dirt.

  I back away.

  “What are you doing?” He follows my steps, never giving me the distance I need. “Come on, I won’t bite.”

  I doubt it.

  “You don’t want to talk to me?” he asks, piercing eyes taking on a convincing sadness.

  I try to step around him. No luck.

  “You’re trying to get to Nathan. He’s still busy, providing us time to chat. Tell me who you are.” He smiles, and the gold in his eyes intensifies. His eyes beam at me as bright as the sun, and his smile widens, golden teeth sharper and more venomous up close. Roehl grabs my hand. He shocks the shit out of me, and I bite back my yelp. He snatches his hand back, releasing us from the shudder. “Oh yes. . .” he says with a malicious smirk. “This is going to be fun.”

  I veer, and he catches me before I can make a run for it.

  He twists me around by my shirt, ripping it. “All you need to do is tell me your name.”

  I say nothing, and he growls hostily.

  “Nathan’s gotta share this,” he ratifies, more to himself. Grabbing my face, he doesn’t jolt away from the shock. I grit my teeth, managing the strikes; this shock hurting worse than the first. He sniffs the left side of my face, dragging in a hearty breath. “You reek of Nathan,” he mutters, disgusted. “You’re covered in his scent.” My cheek stings as he slides his acid-like tongue over it. I bite down, fighting my scream, fighting the tears. “Mmm, but you taste magnificent.” His mouth smashes down on mine, and it stings worse than his lick as he tries to force his tongue in my mouth.

  I jerk and shove at him with no luck of breaking free of his grasp. My hand heats and a raging burst of fire blasts from my palm through his chest. He stumbles back, looking at the hole. I’m proud. . . until it rapidly closes, and he smiles.

  “I don’t think you should have done that,” he sings. In front of me before I can blink, he snatches me up by my arms. Smiling, he sings, “Ah-ha, you’re Nathan’s mate, aren’t you, pretty girl?”

  I bite down on my lip, keeping quiet, trying not to scream.

  “It’s obvious Nathan hasn’t rightfully tasted you yet. But I plan to.” His shocking hand wraps around my neck as he yanks me forward, inhaling my air. I turn away from him, squeezing my eyes shut, trying my damnedest to fight my discomfort and his hold on me. My capturer moans, grazing his god-awful tongue over my neck to my shoulder. His teeth barely scrape my skin before they plow into my right shoulder, sending a searing, jolting shock through my entire body.

  I scream, and he yanks back, ripping my flesh away with him. Glossy, wide eyes lock on me. “Do that again!” he gloats as I watch my blood drip from his lip.

  Growing dizzy, my vision blurs.

  “Drop her,” Nathan growls from behind me.

  Roehl looks over my head and releases me.

  I hit the ground.

  I try to rise, pushing myself from the ground with my hands. His saliva in my shoulder acts like a drug to my body. Double Nathans are in full Burdened fighting double Roehls. They move fast, twisting and flipping each other, punching and kicking one another. Every time Nathan breaks something on Roehl, it instantly heals. They throw bone-breaking punches, and neither of them falter.

  I’m high and discombobulated as I lose blood and try to keep up with my mate’s quarrel. Delusional, I beg, Nathan, help me. Babe, please? Streams of blue and red leaves fall around me. I twirl in them, weightlessly, floating with them descending around the forest.

  My back cricks, and I involuntarily arch against the sudden strike that obliterates my illusion. I stumble backward, tripping over a root, as Nathan’s thrown against a tree. Roehl catches me. His touch is the least bit easing, though he cradles me in a caring manner. I cringe and wince as he stares at me for a moment, eyes glossy, full of wonder and excitement.

  “I know you now, Tracey Warren, and I can see why Nathan is so enraptured by you.” He smells me again. “You may smell like Nathan, but you taste much sweeter. You appeal to me. And I will have you.” He kisses me, burning my lips with his tongue.

  I punch his face.

  Roehl’s ripped away, yelping as he hits the ground. Scrambling to his feet, he cackles, saying, “Nathan, you have something special there. I will have it.”

  Nathan springs toward Roehl, and he vanishes.

  Anger flashes through me, coming from Nathan. I flop down on the ground, wiping my mouth and grab my numbing arm.

  Night blue and gray eyes pierce through me. The evil in them stings, but the sorrowful look in them burns. Something about his dismayed expression tells me something worse is to follow this moment.

  He crosses the thick grass and kneels before me. Grudgingly he suggests, “Come on.” When I make it to my feet, we’re back at the house. Nathan guides me into a bright room I’ve never seen. Taylor, Justin, and Olar accompany us with medical materials; Taylor holds towels, Olar holds a silver bowl, and Justin has wraps and alcohol.

  My nerves rattle as everyone but Nathan stares at me. He sits me on a metal folding chair, and he sits on one across from me. “Baby.” He avoids my eyes as he says, “This is going to hurt.” He takes the alcohol from Justin. “We need to heal your arm and try to get his saliva out of you before it’s too late.”

  Taylor steps to my side with the towels, and Olar places the bowl between us.

  My stomach drops.

  Nathan scoots even closer and rubs his thumb over my lips. I try to open my mouth, but I can’t. It’s rough under his touch.

  Horror raises the hairs on my arms.

  I try to grab his hand, just for temporary relief, but my throbbing right arm won’t move.

  “Tracey.” He blinks, cobalt a constant swirl in his eyes. “I’ll cut out the flesh of your shoulder first. I’ll heal it after, but before I do, we’ll have to drain you.” He takes a breath and continues, “This will bring you near death, and that’s why everyone else is here. Olar will be the one to drain you, it’s an ability he has. It’ll be painful, and you’ll feel my strain. Taylor is here to hold me back, so I don’t kill him. Once all of Roehl is out of you, I’ll heal you.”

  He pulls my chair the remaining distance and examines my arm. “Look away, Tracey,” he warns.

  I ignore his warning, and Taylor comes to my side. “Tracey, just look at me.” She tries to comfort me as best as she can, patting my left shoulder.

  I shake my head.

  Nathan moves over a little. I look for a knife or a sc
alpel he’ll use when something breaks my skin. My hands shake and knees tremble as whatever it is digs through my flesh, centimeter by centimeter. I cry out, teeth clenched so tightly my gums hurt. It worsens, spreading throughout my back and my chest, throbbing my entire body. My eyes fill, and I hide my falling tears, bowing my head.

  Taylor offers me her shoulder, and I sob when my shoulder moves, and the wound widens. Something slops into the silver bowl.

  The entire right side of my body hurts, and I have only one way of expressing my discomfort. Nathan adjusts and kisses my cheek as I cry against Taylor’s shoulder.

  She rubs my back, saying, “I would advise you to either try to keep your head down or your eyes closed. You won’t want to see this part.”

  She stands and heads to the farthest corner of the room with Nathan. My eyes stay glued on him.

  Olar takes my side. His worried-filled expression is troubling. Standing over the bowl, he pours the alcohol on his hands. I meet his eyes, and he shakes his head, pointing to my left.

  Justin kneels here. “Hi, Tracey.” He gives me a soft smile, and my eyes beg him to take the pain away. “I’ll stay with you through this one. Just keep looking this way.”

  Fear rolls in my stomach, and I dare to turn around. I’m so scared and blind to whatever the hell is going on.

  Scorching fingers press into my wound. They’re like tubes digging into me, sucking my blood from my body. The dark-tinted film covers my eyes, and I yell.

  Nathan shoots toward Olar and me. Taylor jumps in front of him, shoving him back against the wall. They tussle, and she pins him. He’s trying not to fight her back, but experiencing his restraint on top of my agony is making it worse for me.

  The fingers dig deeper, and the world fades. My head swims, and I float in and out of consciousness.

  “Tracey, hold on. Don’t pass out.” Justin’s voice comes distant and faint. “Hurry up, Taylor. We’re losing her.”

  “I am. Come on, Nathan. Get up. You need to heal her. Get up!”

  Sluggish footsteps drag across the floor. I continue to drift until Nathan’s icy hands press against the good side of my neck while he kisses the other. I want to touch him, but I can’t.