Her eyes slowly cracked open and her surroundings were distorted. “Bowen?” Ally’s voice was only a whisper as she struggled to find it. Her tongue was sore and she could taste blood. Her body was twisted and resting against something hard and cold. When she tried to move, she couldn’t. A seatbelt had her feet tangled together and they were above her head. The truck was upside down. Ally’s shoulders and head were against the thick cracked glass of the windshield. While struggling to release her feet from the belt, she looked for Bowen but she was alone. “Bowen?” Fear forced its way into her stomach when she smelled his blood. Her powerful eyes were able to spot remnants of blood of the driver’s side of the windshield she was resting on. After releasing her feet, her body folded, forcing her knees nearly into her face. Ally flipped over and crawled across the cracked windshield toward the driver’s side window. It had been shattered. Careful around the sharp edges, she finally made it outside the overturned truck. Every inch of her body ached but her hellhound blood would heal it quickly. “Bowen, where are you?” She scanned the darkness for him.
Ally lifted her nose to the air and tried to track where Bowen was, but he wasn’t anywhere to be found. The sound of her cell phone ringing back at the truck captured her attention. She rushed to find it before it quit.
Theron’s face was lit up against the cracked screen. “Ally, thank god you’re alright?” he questioned frantically.
She scanned the darkness of the wooded area and sighed deeply, “We’ve been in an accident and I can’t find Bowen.”
“An accident? Where are you?”
“I’m not exactly sure where but we were traveling on Willow Road. I think we hit something.” Ally ran her fingers through her hair but hissed against a startling pain on the back of her skull. When she pulled her hand away, it was covered in blood. “I’m bleeding pretty good but I’m alright. I just can’t find him.”
“We’re on our way,” Theron growled. Ally heard everything on the other end of the call as he started his truck and spun his tires.
“How did you know I was in trouble?”
“I didn’t but that fuckin’ guy escaped the jail,” he replied angrily.
Ally didn’t fear much but Brent was a dangerous person. She gulped, “Escaped?”
“Yes. Your dad caught him shifting into a mouse when he was bringing him food. Fucker slipped right through the bars before Jay could catch him.”
“A fucking mouse?”
“Yes, but I’m coming.”
“You think he’s after me or something?”
“We don’t know his motives, but we can’t be too careful, baby cousin.”
Ally spun around and saw nothing but trees and darkness. The thought of Brent finding her was far-fetched, but it still didn’t settle well with her. “Please hurry, T,” she begged. Her throat grew tight as she imagined what condition Bowen could be in after being thrown from the vehicle. Tears burned her eyes.
“I’ll be there soon, Ally. Stay put.”
“I’m in a ditch. I’m going up to the road.”
“No, stay there,” Theron commanded, but Ally had never been one to listen to him. She climbed up to the road but Bowen wasn’t there either. She held her phone to her chest and screamed for him but there was no reply. A sob bubbled out of her as she searched the road. ally began to follow the burned-rubber tire marks on the road. They directed her back to where initially hit. There were two sets of tracks but the other vehicle wasn’t present.
“Ally?” She put the phone back on her ear. Theron was frantic. “I’m on Willow Road. I don’t see you.”
Headlights shined from a distance. Ally tossed her free hand in the air and waved. “I’m right here.”
“Where?”
She rushed to the middle of the road and began to wave higher and jumping slightly. The headlights were directly on her and the engine revved. “Right here.”
“I don’t see you.”
“How can you not see me? I’m right here in front of you,” she expressed as the vehicle grew closer. Her fingers clenched around her phone as she was forced to jump out of the way. The van only missed her by inches. The hard pavement caused her body to ache even more. The van swerved a little and spun back around to face in her direction. The left front bumper was crushed inward. Ally got to her feet quickly.
“Ally, what the fucks going on?” Theron bellowed.
As the van sped toward her, Brent’s angry bloody face glared through the windshield. Bowen was next to him, fighting him for the wheel. “RUN, ALLY!” Bowen called before punching Brent in the side of his head, making him lose control for only a moment, giving Ally enough time to scurry out of the way. When the van passed her again, it came to a screeching stop. Then there was an explosive sound and the cab lit up for only a second.
“Was that a gun? Ally!” Theron screamed from her phone that she held at her side. “Ally?”
“Bowen!” She screamed and ran toward the black van. The tires spun violently before speeding down the dark road and disappearing around the curve. “No!” She ran after them but there was no use. They were long gone. Ally lifted her phone to her ear, “He’s going to kill Bowen!”
Chapter 22
Intense heat radiated around Bowen. The sound of a wood fire captured his ears and he finally opened her eyes and lifted his head. He was seated in a chair in front of a blazing fire. The heat of it reminded him of the sweat lodge. He tried to back away from it but couldn’t move. He was tied to the chair and his hands were secured to the legs of it. Even his feet were tied to it. He tried to focus and shift into something small, but when he couldn’t, he looked down, there was a spider medicine bag hanging from around his neck. It was the only thing that was powerful enough to keep a Skinwalker from shifting. He did attempt to struggle but a pain in his right shoulder halted all movement. Bowen hissed against it and looked down. His shirt was gone. Blood oozed slowly out of the bullet hole. Brent would have killed Ally if Bowen hadn’t tried something.
Bowen recognized where he was immediately. It was the place he used to play as a young boy. He hadn’t returned to the caves since his grandfather brought him there years ago. Bowen tried to pull at the tight cordage but all it did was grow tighter and cut into his skin.
“There is no use in trying to get free.” A voice stated from the shadows of the cave. The light from the fire played against him slim frame but kept his features hidden. Bowen watched as he toyed with the gun in his hand.
“What are you planning, Darrell?”
Darrell marched over and struck Bowen across her right cheekbone with the weapon. The pain was deafening. He gripped his hair tightly and forced Bowen to look up at him. Darrell’s face was bruised and his left eye was still swollen. “Don’t ever call me that!” he growled with clenched teeth. Bowen noticed the glisten of metal in his snarling mouth. The doctors had to wire his mouth shut so his jaw would heal from the pounding he took. While pressing the barrel of the gun under Bowen’s chin, he continued. “My name is Brent! Darrell is dead! Got it?” His eyes were crazed. He released Bowen violently and tossed his head forward before walking away. “I should have killed you when you found out.”
Bowen was on shaky ground but he knew if Darrell wanted to kill him, he would have done it already. He had a plan for Bowen and he didn’t want to experience the final result of his demented mind. While trying to twist himself free of the restraining cord, Bowen kept him talking. “You know everyone is looking for you by now.”
Darrell spun around and grinned. “Yes, but they aren’t looking for you, now are they?”
Terror flooded Bowen but he couldn’t let it show. “So, your plan is to take my place?”
“Word travels fast around here. You’ve betrayed me. Taking my place in the music business. You think you’re a lead man?” Darrell kept his grin plastered on his lips as he began to toy with the gun again.
Bowen scoffed at his ridiculousness, “I didn’t betray you. You betrayed me by trying to have you
r way with Ally. And let’s not talk about who else you betrayed.”
“Don’t test me, Bowen. Yes. Since you chose her and decided to leave me behind, I am going to take your place. Including the place in your bed with that fine cunt. I will enjoy dipping deep into that piece of ass.”
Rage slammed into Bowen. He pulled against the cord but it didn’t give him any slack. He wanted to pound Darrell’s face in again. “You won’t put a hand on her! I’ll kill you first!”
He chuckled the best he could through his wired teeth, “Or you will die trying. You are in no position to be making threats, Bowen.” He knelt down on the other side of the fire and put the gun down beside him. If only he could get free, Bowen would empty the clip into him. Darrel stood with a camping cup in his left hand. He slowly approached Bowen, leaving the gun on the ground.
“There is one little flaw in your plan.” He tried to pull away from him but Darrell gripped his hair tightly, keeping his captive from looking away. He looked into his eyes and placed the cup to his lips.
“Really? And what’s that?” he asked and stopped trying to force him to drink whatever was inside the cup.
“You have to love the person you kill.”
Darrell’s expression grew tender. “I do love you, Bowen. I always have.” His lips quickly met Bowen’s, shocking and freezing his body. Darrell quickly pinched Bowen’s nose causing his mouth to gasp for air. When he pulled away, Bowen gasped for breath, giving Darrell leave to pour the contents down his throat. Bowen had no choice but to swallow. He choked against it. There was no real flavor. “That’a boy.”
“What did you just give me?” Bowen spat on the ground but there was no use. The liquid was already swimming in his gut.
Darrell strolled back to the other side of the fire and sat down. “Only a sedative. It shouldn’t take too long to take effect.”
Bowen thought about the way he kissed him. He never imagined Darrell being gay, let alone bi-sexual. He was a womanizer and always has been. “How long?”
“How long, what?”
“How long have you been bi-sexual.”
Darrell burst into chaotic laughter. “I’m not bi, you idiot.” He stated with a smile while shaking his head and poking the fire with a long stick. “Kissing you was the only way I could get you to open that pretty mouth of yours,” he grinned and winked.
“Are you fucking kidding me? You truly are sick in the head,” Bowen growled. His vision began to blur and he could barely keep his eyes open.
Darrell stood and brushed his hands together before rubbing them on the thighs of his jeans. “Maybe so, but here in a minute, I will have the fame and the girl. And you will be forgotten in these caves.”
Bowen’s tongue grew numb and his head went slack. He tried his hardest to keep his head up but the sedative coursed through his body. “No…” he tried to say but it came out as a long whisper. His head was spinning and Bowen knew the outcome if he didn’t get free. His eyes closed as he began to pray for a miracle.
Bowen opened his eyes found himself standing near the fire. The scene was evident. He was traveling for the second time in his life. His body was still secured to the chair and Darrell was watching him closely. He stroked Bowen’s hair tenderly before untying his body. He gently lifted him from the chair and placed Bowen next to the fire. The sensation of his skin prickling crawled all over him. “No! Damn it!” Bowen rushed over to his body.
Darrell lifted the knife to his palm and sliced deeply into it. Blood flowed. As he began to chant in their Native tongue, he started painting ancient symbols on Bowen’s chest with his own blood. “Wake up, asshole! Or you’re gonna fucking die!” Bowen helplessly slapped his cheek and pinched his skin, trying to wake. “Fuck!” He ran toward the entrance of the cave. He couldn’t allow this to happen to Ally. There had to be something he could do. Even if he were to die, Bowen had to stop Darrell from taking his form.
Outside the cave, the sound of a hollow drum carried in the wind. The beat seemed to get Bowen’s feet moving toward it. He made his way down the mountain to discover Achak sitting near a fire. He was beating a drum and chanting. For a moment, Bowen was relieved to see him. His drumming and chanting suddenly stopped as he looked up. “Come sit next to me, grandson.”
“Have you come to help me?”
He smirked, “I have come to make you an offer, Bowen.”
Bowen knelt beside him, “I’m in deep shit. Darrell has me in the caves. He’s going to take my form, just like when he took Brent’s.”
Achak nodded, “I know, and there is only one thing you can do now.”
“I’m open to suggestions anytime” Bowen urgently pressed.
“In order to save yourself, you must first learn to connect with your power.”
“I have no power.”
“Yes, you do. You always have.”
“Whatever you say, old man.”
“You’re the rightful leader of our tribe. You must consume my power.”
Bowen knew what he was asking. “But if I do that…you’ll die.”
“It is the only way,” he insisted and put his hand on his grandson’s shoulder. “You are meant to do this. It is your path.” Darrell’s chanting was growing stronger. Bowen’s spirit began to grow weak. “You have no other choice, grandson.”
His heart ached. “But…grandfather.”
He smiled, “It is my time, Bowen. You must do this. If not for yourself. Do it for her.”
The vary thought of Darrell taking Ally sickened Bowen’s stomach. Even if he didn’t make it through this, Bowen had to stop him. He finally nodded and Achak began pounding his drum and chanting again. Bowen sat across from him and began to follow the melody. It was one he had always known but never used. The magic behind it held purpose, resulting in the transfer of one lifeforce to another. It was nearly the same magic Darrell was using against him now. After a few seconds, their voices were in unison but Bowen was growing weaker by the second. He tried to focus on the power behind the words.
“Now,” Achak stated. He smiled and looked at the bright light flowing slowly out of his head and entered the sky. It quickly slammed into Bowen. He gasped deeply as he was engulfed with energy. Heat coursed through his ghostly body. Tingling began at the base of his skull and ended at the tips of his fingers and toes. When Bowen finally came to his senses, he watched Achak smile at him one final time before his spirit burst into a cloud of dust. Bowen couldn’t hold back a sudden sob over losing the only man he had ever loved.
Chapter 23
Ally didn’t give her cousins any time to reach her before giving chase in the direction of the van. She entered the woods and allowed her shift to take over. It was a quick transition and she quickly put her nose to the ground. It took nearly an hour before she was able to catch Bowen’s scent. Once in Kansas, she followed it southeast. The more steps she took, the thicker the scent grew.
“Of course.” she spotted Mt. Sunflower. A vibration coursed through her and something began to pull her toward her destination. She wasn’t sure if it was instinct, a natural need to be near him, or the utmost love she held for him. In an open field, Ally allowed her powerful body to go from a slow stroll to a full sprint. Bowen’s scent grew even stronger once she reached the base of the mountain. There was no other way but up. She began to climb as quickly as she could. Ally’s lean body gave her the agility but the jagged stones made footing nearly impossible. The sharp edges dug deeply into the pads of her paws. She dug them into the stone and winced in silent pain when one would draw blood. Once she finally reached a smooth surface of a large boulder, Ally stopped and lifted her nose to the air. She could smell fire and Bowen. “I’m coming, Bowen. Stay alive for me, baby.”
She finally discovered a game trail and followed it up slowly. She was caution so Brent didn’t spook and kill Bowen before she could reach him. The cave opening was only a few feet away from the trail. She lowered her body and slunk up to it. She listened while Brent spoke in strange to
ngues inside. His putrid voice echoed off the stone walls as Ally entered. As she rounded a corner, she spotted him. He had his back to her and rage bubbled inside her. Ally exposed her teeth and held back a growl which was building inside her. She slowly crept up behind him but when she noticed Bowen lying on the ground in front of him, her heart sank. His eyes were closed and he was covered in blood. The love of her life was dead. She had failed to protect him.
Before Ally could think, she lunged at Brent and bit into his shoulder. He released a horrid scream which echoed against the cave walls. The flavor of his tainted blood flooded her mouth. Brent began to fight by pulling her fur and at her ears. His body collapsed over Bowen’s and Ally released him. He groaned deeply against the pain as he attempted to lift himself up. Ally backed away so he could turn and face her. Blood poured like a fountain down his chest.
Brent’s body began to sprout long brown hair and as he shifted, he cried out and the wires in his mouth popped. His bellow of pain quickly turned into a menacing roar. Ally took a step back, ready to defend himself. Brent’s body began to contort, forcing him to fold forward and topple to his knees. More groaning and growling erupted from him as he shifted. Ally steadied herself and flexed her claws. His body grew thicker and muscle definition rippled across his back. He lifted his head and growled in her direction, taking Ally aback. She only had a split second to take in what she was seeing. His features were of a primate. He stood up and his head hit the top of the cave. His arms and legs were long and his feet, larger than any man. Brent had shifted into a Bigfoot.
Echos in the Shadows (Mystifying Music Book 2) Page 14