“Help yourselves.” Brody gestured to the stove where eggs, bacon, toast and hash browns awaited. “I’ve got to head to work. You guys should swing by if you get a chance. I left directions on the table.”
“You’re my hero,” Cassie said, as she looked at the breakfast spread.
“No kidding,” Caleb added. He grabbed a couple of plates, and handed one to Cassie. “Again, you’re awesome, my friend!”
“I do try,” Brody grinned, big and cheesy like.
“And thanks for the invite to your job site, but I don’t think we’ll make it,” Caleb said.
Brody’s face hardened. “Don’t leave without telling me, okay?”
“We won’t, if we can help it,” Caleb said.
“All right, but you should come out so I can show off my skills.”
Caleb smiled, “Like you need to.”
An urge to take Brody up on his offer struck Cassie out of the blue. “We’ll try to come by,” she said, as she piled on the bacon.
“It’s a date,” Brody stated. “See you two later.” He gave some hugs, and then was out the door.
“Man, what a spread,” Caleb remarked, while making his plate.
“So long as there’s coffee, I’m good.” Cassie sat down at the table. “Well, coffee and sugar, and I’m good. But yeah, this was really cool of him.”
“He’s a good guy.”
“How did you two meet?”
“In elementary school,” Caleb mumbled, around a mouthful of eggs. “Third grade, Mrs. Gardner’s class. Been friends ever since.”
“Wow, I don’t think I’ve known anyone for that long.”
“We used to go camping with a group of friends. We’d go all over the state.”
“Here, in Oklahoma?”
“Yeah, I’m originally from here.” He took a sip of his coffee. “But people grow up and move on. So I don’t really see any of them anymore. I was surprised to find that Brody still lived here. I guess he figured out where he wanted to end up long before I did.”
“Sounds really nice,” she said. “Growing up, I thought I would stay in Canada for the rest of my life. Now, after all the bad shit, and seeing all the places I’ve seen, I can’t imagine going back.”
“I wouldn’t either.”
She ran a finger around the lip of her cup. “So, you really don’t think my mom is my mom?”
He set his fork down, shaking his head, “No, I don’t.”
“You think this, Kianna woman is?”
“Yeah, I do.”
Cassie sighed. She picked up Brody’s directions, but didn’t really look at them. Why didn’t Dad tell me? Kept running through her mind. Her whole perception of him was changing, and she didn’t like it. The once celebrated hero was falling like a fiery comet that had just entered the atmosphere. She wasn’t sure if finding this other woman was a good idea, but Caleb was right about looking for answers. They needed some badly, and from anywhere they could get them. Regardless if they ended up killing her childhood hero. She was just about to tell Caleb to get the car keys when she noticed something.
“Holy shit!” she exclaimed, staring at the piece of paper in her hand.
Caleb looked back and forth, from her to the paper. “What?”
“Coven’s Grove.” More than just the name of the place where Brody was working, however, he’d also written a little side note at the bottom: Ask for me at the gate, or Miranda. That name came barreling at Cassie like a camera close-up in a dramatic movie scene. “Holy shit!”
“What holy shit?!” Caleb snatched the paper from her.
“The dreams I’ve been having. The place. The woman!”
Caleb gawked at her like she’d lost her ever-lovin’ mind. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’ve been having these strange dreams about this place that looks like the Garden of Eden. And this woman named, Miranda. You were there too.”
“Really?” Caleb cocked an eyebrow. “Were we all naked?”
She smacked his arm. “Not like that!”
“Oh,” he said with a smile. “Sorry.”
“Look, we have to go here.” She pointed to the piece of paper. “Like now.”
Caleb sobered, and studied her for a moment.
“Trust me.” She got to her feet. “Those answers we’ve been looking for...they’re at this Coven’s Grove place.”
“Okay,” he said with a sigh. “Let’s do this.”
After throwing their clothes on, Cassie practically shoved Caleb the entire way to the car.
“Would you chill?!” he snapped. “We’re going already!”
“Faster,” she commanded, poking his ribs.
Caleb fanned her away, as they approached a beat up truck that must have been a hundred years old.
Cassie laughed, “Whoa, what a junker.”
“Beggars can’t be choosers, right?”
“As long as it gets us there.” She hopped in the passenger side.
Caleb got in, and cranked up the engine. It roared and shook from the cold, as a funnel of black smoke curled up into the sky from the exhaust pipe. He turned up the heat, and rubbed his hands together. “What makes you think your dreams and this Coven’s Grove are related?”
“There’s too much coincidence for one thing.” Cassie crossed her arms, putting her hands in her armpits for warmth. “I mean, c’mon. Brody just happens to write down the name of the woman I’ve been talking with in my dreams? No way.”
Caleb raised his brows and nodded. “Ya got a point there.”
“I’ve been in the same bizarre, forest paradise every time in my dreams. It turns out the place Brody’s working at is called ‘Coven’s Grove’ for Godsake.” She bounced in the seat in hopes of generating more heat. “Either I’m a fool, or I’m being slapped in the face with signs.”
“Okay, you got two good points there.”
“Is that enough?”
He chuckled, “More than enough.”
The old pickup finally started to warm up. “Let’s go get some answers.” Caleb put the truck into gear, and headed down the driveway. Before they got to the street however, a big-ass U-Haul pulled into the drive, blocking their path.
“What the hell?” She squinted at the moving truck, trying to get a look at the driver.
Shots fired, punching holes in the windshield.
“Shit!” Caleb yelled. He slammed on the gas. The pickup slid to the side, but moved forward. “Duck!”
Cassie hunched down.
More shots rang out, as they picked up speed. Caleb turned into the yard and popped the curb, sliding onto the main road. Cassie looked back and saw the back of the U-Haul open. “It’s them,” she said, watching the insectoid-like demon climb out of the trailer. “They’ve found us.”
“We gotta get out of town—”
“No!” She yelled. “We have to go to Coven’s Grove. I know it’s where I’m supposed to go.”
Caleb dug into his coat pocket with a grimace. “Here,”—he tossed her his cell—“Call Brody. He needs to know we’re bringing trouble.”
Cassie fumbled with the phone, until she found Brody’s number. She tapped it, and handed Caleb the directions, as she glanced back. The demon was running after them, and the U-Haul was backing out of the driveway. “Shit.”
“Don’t tell me you guys are leaving already,” Brody said loudly through the speaker.
Cassie almost dropped the phone his voice startled her so. “Jesus...no, we aren’t leaving. We’re headed your way with an ass-ton of trouble.”
“Ho shit. Don’t bring them here!” Brody sounded panicked. “I don’t want to get my clients killed!”
“I think they’re tougher than you think,” she replied. “Just tell them there’s trouble coming—” She screamed, as the sprinting demon suddenly leaped into the air. “Caleb, look out!”
Caleb tried to swerve, but it was too late. The demon landed on the edge of the tailgate, rocking the truck up and down. Caleb str
uggled to keep the pickup on the road. The demon scrambled into the bed, and then surged forward toward the cab. A clawed fist smashed through the back window, sending shards of glass everywhere. The creature’s black talons dug into Caleb’s shoulder. Caleb bellowed in agony and grabbed at the demon’s hand, as it tried to dislodge him from the driver’s seat.
Cassie could hear Brody yelling on the other end of the line, as the phone slipped from her grasp. True terror ran through her, as she watched Caleb’s shoulder tear open. Before she could act, Caleb managed to get hold of the gnarled fingers of the beast. With strength she didn’t know he had, Caleb wrenched the claws out of his shoulder, and bent the monster’s fingers back, until they broke with loud snaps.
The demon roared in pain, as it yanked its hand away.
Cassie squeezed through the back window to grapple with the monster, only to be jerked out when she was halfway through.
Carreau’s powerful grip crushed down on her throat like a vice. “You should be mine, little whore,” the demon hissed, pulling her close.
She had some choice words for a response, but was having trouble breathing at the moment.
The monster’s too-long, sinewy legs bent and flexed, ready to jump.
Cassie lashed out with a punch before the demon could leap away with her in its clutches. She caught it in the chin with a vicious uppercut. Her power was already in full swing from all of the adrenaline coursing through her veins, so the blow had enough strength to shatter concrete.
The Demon’s head whipped back, forcing its grip to loosen.
She twisted away from the clawed hand, stumbling to the side of the bed as the pickup bounced and swerved. The U-Haul behind them was gaining, and there was nothing to be done about it.
“Give up now, witch,” the demon purred, “and I won’t skin your plaything alive.”
The fear that had gripped her melted away, as the creature’s threat boiled her blood. Caleb meant way more to her than just some casual fling. The feelings she had for him were solid. Real. Something this piece of shit would never understand, and would never take away from her. “You won’t be skinning anything after I rip your fuckin’ arms off!” She lunged at the beast.
Bad move.
The demon countered her sloppy attack with the swing of a massive, club-like arm. The savage blow to her head and shoulders brought stars to her vision, and knocked her to her knees.
“Ah, just where you should be, my Sweetling,” the demon taunted, as it raised its arms to deliver another crushing blow.
The pickup jolted and slid, as Caleb slammed on the breaks. There was too much ice for the truck to come to a squealing halt. But the change in momentum was enough to throw the demon off balance, and send Cassie sliding against the back of the cab. Caleb then hit the gas, causing the beast to topple over, and crash into the tailgate.
Cassie clung to the seat through the rear window, bracing for the inevitable collision.
Sure enough, the U-Haul slammed into the back of the pickup. The demon lurched forward, as the truck bed crumpled like an accordion. Cassie kicked the beast square in the face when it tumbled forward. The attack didn’t stop it from plowing into her, but rang its bell pretty good. She grabbed the demon by the neck, her fingers dug into the exposed muscle tissue. With a roar laced with desperation and rage, she threw the monster from the pickup bed.
Carreau hit the ground and rolled.
Caleb turned the truck sharply. The sound of metal tearing signaled the bumper pulling free of the U-Haul. The massive orange and white truck made the turn as well, but almost went off the road in the attempt. The tumbling demon was caught by the sliding vehicle, and sucked under the wheels.
A laugh, tainted with a bit of hysteria, escaped Cassie. “Take that, Asshole!”
Caleb glanced back. “Are you okay?!”
“Yeah, keep driving!”
They sped from one wooded area to the next. Every so often Cassie caught a glimpse of the U-Haul still following them. The demon, as if out of a bad action movie, had managed to survive, and currently climbed up toward the roof of the U-Haul.
Cassie shook her head. “Damn, just can’t catch a break.”
“Hang on!” Caleb yelled. “We’re here!” The pickup turned sharply again, this time sliding off the road into the ditch just outside of a gated entrance. “Shit!”
Cassie didn’t hesitate. She jumped out of the pickup, and grabbed hold of the twisted back end of the old truck. “Hit the gas!” She shoved with all her might.
Caleb did as he was told. The truck popped out of the ditch, as snow and mud flew everywhere. “Get in!”
Cassie scrambled into the back while Caleb floored it. They weren’t fast enough.
The U-Haul slammed into them, driving the pickup forward. Luckily the gates to the grounds were already open, otherwise the old truck would have been grated like Swiss cheese through the metal bars.
Caleb spun the wheel in a desperate attempt to keep the car from turning sideways, but his efforts were in vain. The pickup teetered back and forth, until spinning out of control. The barreling U-Haul sent them off the road, and Cassie was thrown from the truck bed. She landed hard, and rolled to a stop against a large tree.
Numbing pain rifled across her shoulders from the impact. Doing her best to ignore the injuries, she struggled to her feet, and scanned the surrounding area. Not more than twenty yards off, the pickup lay on its side, wrapped around a large oak. One tire still spun uselessly, and dark columns of smoke spiraled up into the canopy. “Caleb!” She staggered toward the old truck, praying that he wasn’t dead.
Something slammed into her side, sweeping her off her feet. Claws raked down her front and back, tearing through layers of jacket and flesh, with equal ease.
Cassie screamed, as she tumbled to the ground. Pain surged through her body. She lay on her stomach, stunned.
“You will never escape me, Sweetling,” the demon said, as it walked up beside her.
She blinked, trying to focus on Carreau’s inhuman feet. She managed to look up at the monster, and spit a mouthful of blood at him.
“You have run for far too long,” the demon hissed. Its face looked even less human, as the giant mandible rotated in irritation. Drool oozed between jagged teeth, to dribble down its skinless chin. “Let’s see how far you run with a broken back!” The demon raised both fists over its head.
Cassie tried to roll as the monster’s club-like arms came crashing down, but her body had seized up from the pain. All she could do was watch in horror.
The roar of some feral animal interrupted the timeless fall of the demon’s fists. Out of nowhere, a huge grizzly bear barreled into the demon. Dark tattoos covered large swaths of its thick fur. The intricate patterns wove in and out of each other, to dizzying effect. The bear’s savage assault ripped chunks of muscle and bone from the demon, and drove it back into the woods.
Cassie couldn’t believe it. “What in the hell was that?”
“She’s a friend,” a woman’s voice answered. “Just like us.”
Cassie craned her head around to see a young woman about her size, dressed in purple winter wear. A large portion of the girl’s shoulder-length hair matched the color of her outfit, while the rest was jet black. Her smile was warm and broad. Two men stood with her: a stocky redhead, and an athletic looking black guy with dreads. Both dressed in dark shades of green and brown, but there was nothing winter about their outfits. They wore tight fitting t-shirts and cargo pants. Tattoos covered their arms, and the fringes of their necks. Cassie just stared at them, not sure what to do or say.
“I’m Alix,” the girl in purple said. “This is Troy and Dominic.” She motioned to the redhead first, and then the guy with dreads. “We’re here to help.”
Cassie tried to frown, but it turned into a grimace of pain. “I don’t understand.”
Alix raised her brow and said, “Brody told us you’d be coming...”
“Ah,” Cassie said, finally putting it t
ogether. “You guys own a bear?”
Alix smiled, “Sort of.” She knelt down. “You’re hurt. I think I can help.”
“It’s okay, I just need a minute,” Cassie replied. The pain had already begun to subside, and her flexibility was returning. “Caleb,”—she pointed to the mangled pickup—“he might be in trouble.”
“Boys,” Alix said. “Would you mind helping Mr. Caleb?”
“On it,” the redhead said.
“There’s more than just the demon,” Cassie said, as she rolled onto her side. “There are a few sickos that came with it.”
“The warning is most appreciated,” Dominic said. He nodded to the other guy, and then the two of them trudged off toward the truck.
The roar of the grizzly, and the wicked screams of the demon, echoed through the trees. Alix held out her hand. “C’mon. We’ve got a demon to kill.”
“But Caleb—”
“If this demon is half of what Brody told us about, then it’s gonna take all of us,” Alix interrupted. “Your boy’s in good hands. I promise.” The woman’s pale green eyes held nothing but truth.
Cassie glanced at the pickup, and the two men jogging toward it. She took the purple-haired girl’s hand. “Okay, I’m ready.”
Caleb’s entire body felt as if it’d been put through a meat grinder. How he’d survived the crash he had no idea. The world had tumbled, and then the lights went out. He groaned, as he opened his eyes. The pickup was on its side, and he was laying on his back with his legs pointing straight up toward the passenger side door. The windshield had so many cracks in it, it looked like a sheet of spider webs.
His shoulder ached more than anything else, which was saying something. He looked down at his shredded jacket, expecting the worst. Instead he found the once torn skin already scabbing over, as if the wound was over a week old. What the hell? he thought. That’s not right. I should be bleeding out.
“Caleb?” someone called. “You okay, man?”
Caleb didn’t recognize the voice, but figured the guys chasing him wouldn’t be asking if he was okay. Not to mention, he was pretty sure they didn’t know his name. He was about to respond when a thought came to him like a bolt of lightning. Cassie! She’d been in the truck bed when they flipped.
Cassie (The Coven's Grove Chronicles #3) Page 11