by P. A. Lupton
“Does this feel weak?” he yelled and punched me again. “How about this?” Another strike. This time no matter how hard I wrestled against it, my body finally surrendered to the blackness.
Time was beginning to lose meaning, I no longer measured its passing by minutes or hours—I was measuring by breaths. I had no idea how long I was blacked out that time, but I was surprised to see I was alone when I awoke. I tugged on the chains viciously trying to free myself, but they were impenetrable. Slouching over, I began to meditate in an effort to forget the throbbing that went straight to my bones.
As I took deep, steadying breaths, I imagined myself in a happier place. I thought about meeting Nathan, that first day in his office when I was struck stupid by the sheer perfection of his chiseled face and sinewy body. I recalled the first taste of power I felt from him and the deep connection between us that very first meeting. I had never believed in love at first sight or soul mates, but over the past few months I’d committed to memory every nuance of that first meeting. Now, as corny as it sounds, I believe my soul recognized its mate that day. I envisioned in detail our first kiss, the first time we made love, and the first time he bit me. The memories became so real I suddenly felt as though I was being pulled in two. My body was trapped here, hurting and chained to a wall, yet I wanted with all my soul to see him once more. To tell him this wasn’t his fault, I loved him, and most importantly there was nothing he could’ve done to prevent this. As lost as I was in my head, I hadn’t noticed immediately that I no longer felt any of the pain that had racked my body only moments before. I opened my eyes to discover I was floating, free from the confines of my chains. I looked down to the ground and was startled to see my body still restrained.
Oh great, I’m dead. I thought to myself.
Wait a minute. I don’t feel dead. It was barely perceptible, but I could sense it, there was an almost indiscernible link to my body, connecting me to it. The connection felt powerful as if an invisible thread kept me tied to my body. I wanted to move closer, and in the next moment I found myself directly beside my chained and unconscious form. I watched the rise and fall of my chest and was relieved to see that my body was still breathing. It was strange. It looked like I was asleep.”
I realized that this was some form of astral projection. Nathan had discussed the phenomenon in one of our lessons—although I had no idea how I was actually doing it. As soon as my mind returned to Nathan I clung to his image. Suddenly, I was moving, outside of the barn where my body was trapped and along a highway. It wasn’t like floating anymore, it was like I was propelling through the air. I couldn’t tell how much time had elapsed but the next thing I knew I appeared directly behind him. I heard him talking calmly on the phone, but there was an undercurrent of savagery in his voice. It was lifeless, cold, and terrifying.
“Be ready to move in five minutes.” He ordered, and then slammed the phone down and took a in a shuddering breath.
“Nathan?”
I hadn’t thought he’d be able to hear me, but he spun around so fast that to the naked eye it appeared he was suddenly facing a new direction. “Brianna?”
Relief flooded me. “Nathan, thank god you can hear me. I think I’ve somehow managed to astral project, but I don’t know how long it will last.” I reached out to touch him but my hand just passed through him like a cloud. It killed me that I couldn’t touch him, I wanted to comfort him so badly.
“Brianna, where is he keeping you?”
“I’m in an abandoned barn somewhere, but I don’t know the exact location. I was unconscious when I was brought there.”
“Has he hurt you?” His eyes were wild, desperate.
I looked away, unable to lie to him. “Listen Nathan that’s not important. It’s one of your body guards.”
His face distorted with rage, “What! Who is he?”
“I don’t know his last name, but his first name is John.”
He shook his head. “He’s been with me for years.”
“Nathan that’s not all. Lisa has been helping him. She’s the one who told him where to find my family.” I rushed to tell him, unsure how long I’d be able to stay. I needed him to know he couldn’t trust her.
“I know. I—” he started to tell me something but I felt a fierce, powerful tug.
“Nathan, I can’t stay. I’m going back, I can feel it. I wanted to tell you that none of this is your fault, and that I... I love you.”
“I love you too! I will find you. I promise.” I heard the vow seconds before I slammed back into my body with a jolt.
“What the fuck happened?” John demanded.
I was gasping once again, overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught of pain throbbing everywhere.” What are you talking about?”
“I’ve been trying to wake you for twenty minutes.” He was clearly suspicious about why I wouldn’t wake up.
“Well excuse me, I’ve been tortured and stabbed, not to mention drained of a lot of my blood. I’m a tad weak.” I said flatly.
“You know a thought occurred to me while you were ‘resting’. At first I thought you might be trying to provoke me into killing you quickly so you wouldn’t suffer, but I think you’re a lot smarter than I gave you credit for. You know I won’t kill you until you do that spell. You wouldn’t by any chance be trying to get some of my blood to heal yourself, hmm?” he eyed me, speculatively.
“You have an active imagination.” I ridiculed. “I don’t want any part of you near me.”
“I don’t think so. I think you know that my blood would clear out that pesky drug keeping your powers at bay.” He gave me a frightening smile. “I’m going to let you in on a secret though, if I take just a wee little drop of my blood like this...” He scored end of his finger and a drop of blood welled up. “And I press it to the outside of your wound like this...” he pressed to my first stab wound and I felt the familiar tingling healing sensation. “Then your body will heal the wound enough so you won’t die, but it’s not the same as ingesting it, the drug will still pump through your blood. And in case you’re wondering, we gave you another shot to top you off while you were out.”
My heart sank and my stomach clenched, there goes my big escape plan. At least I saw Nathan and told him that I loved him. I knew he was looking for me, but I had a sinking feeling that he wouldn’t find me in time.
I heard Lisa moving behind him, she came into view with a bigger knife in her hand. Her face twisted with disgust. I felt the hatred and desire for vengeance seeping out of her pores. “Do I get to have a little fun too?” She asked with a sexy pout directed at John. He smiled at her and waved his hand at me in offering. “Of course baby, I promised you a turn. Just don’t kill her.”
“Him I can understand, he’s just plain evil, but you’re my... sister. What do you think our father would say if he saw you like this? He only did what he thought was best for you.” I pleaded with her.
She sneered at me, “I don’t give a shit what he would think. He abandoned me for his beautiful little princess.” The knife suddenly sliced the side of my face in a deep searing gash. I cried out, mostly from shock. “Daddy wouldn’t find you so beautiful now, huh.” She laughed and then struck out at my other cheek.
The two of them taunted me more before a beeping noise sounded from a device on John’s hip.
“No! It’s not possible.” He swore before leaving the barn with Lisa quick on his heels.
They may only be gone for a few minutes, but those minutes gave me some time to think. I was still able to sense their emotions, I mused. So the part of me that channeled emotions and feelings was still working, even through the haze of the drugs. So why couldn’t I attack with my powers? Probably because the part of me that channeled emotions was instinctual, I didn’t have to think about it the same way I had to concentrate for an offensive attack. I felt John returning before I saw him, the power literally rolled off him. I had met a few vampires now and the energy they emitted was intense. I could sense a vampire and
a witch’s power easily now. It was always there I just didn’t know what I was feeling, until Nathan taught me.
“I am going to ask you one more time before I get very angry.” His tone was obviously frustrated. “Are you going to do the spell now?”
“Nope.” I answered succinctly.
He rushed at me and grabbed onto my hair, pressing the knife up against my face,” If you’re waiting for your boyfriend to rescue you, don’t. He’ll never find you.”
As tired as I was, I managed to let out a bark of laughter. “You must have been born in the nineteenth century.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” he snarled.
“You seem to think I’m some damsel in distress waiting for a big strong man to come to my rescue. I’ll let you in on a secret,” I whispered, conspiratorially, “times have changed. Women rescue ourselves now, asshole.”
Now he was the one to laugh. “I’d like to see that trick. Even if you weren’t completely chained up to that pole, and at my mercy, you’re simply not strong enough to fight me. Make no mistake Brianna, I know all about your martial arts training, and I am not afraid of you little girl.”
“Really...” I drawled.” Then why am I chained to the wall? You’d better kill me now Johnny boy. If you don’t, mark my words, I’ll get out of these chains and when I do I’m going to kill the hell out of you!” My threat held so much conviction he actually took a step back. Then he seemed to realize what he’d done and lunged at me, his fist connected with my temple and my head flung back from the impact. I ducked my head down on my chest with fatigue and feigned unconsciousness.
Enraged, I heard him stalk over and smash the table in the center of the room into splinters. “Fucking stubborn Bitch!” he ranted. His fury filled me, along with the defeat and helplessness he felt at being unable to force me to do his bidding. I smiled to myself that I was able piss him off so badly. Despite the agony I was suffering, I beamed with pride inside. He’d chained me, beat me, stabbed and tortured me, and yet I still held power over him.
As I slumped over thinking about my options, an impossible idea began to form. John’s and Lisa’s emotions were still clear to me. I didn’t really know how that gift worked, just that I was able to draw other people’s emotions into myself, and then interpret them as my own. I could distinguish the difference between their emotions and my own, but I still felt them. Yet, I couldn’t seem to push anything out with this drug in my system. Maybe I could take something in, though. I sensed power similarly to the way I sensed emotions. Maybe if I tried to somehow channel and absorb his power, I could use it as my own the same way I did with emotions. It’s worth a shot.
Something Nathan had said in training stuck with me. He said that the most important part of magic was the belief in your abilities, and the outcome. I closed my eyes and opened my mind, believing I could do this. Rather than trying to concentrate and push something out of my body, I simply let myself feel and draw what I felt into me—that always came more natural to me. I heard Nathan’s voice resonating inside my head, encouraging me. “You can do this Brianna.”
I detected the dark, foreboding power that surrounded John. It was similar to Nathan’s power, only where Nathan’s was filled with light and goodness, John’s was full of darkness and evil. The electricity under the skin, the familiar thrumming of power, I picked it out of the air clearly. I opened my mind and decided not to push away at the hum but envelop it, take it inside myself. I felt it drawing toward me, and then inexplicably it entered my body weaving and mingling with my own power. I was thoroughly disgusted to allow any part of this monster inside me, my natural reaction was to fight it, but that wouldn’t help me get out of here, so instead I embraced it.
Miraculously, the power pervaded and filled me. With it, a familiar tingling sensation began to infuse all of my wounds. I was actually aware of my skin threading back together. Increased strength emerged through my body, and I became aware that my senses were sharpening. I heard Lisa outside rummaging around in her car and I realized I could actually hear her heart beating and the in and out of her breath. I picked up her scent as well. In fact, I could smell everything, the trees, the grass, my blood, my sweat, and even the dust in the air. Everything was crisper and more discernible.
John finally stopped ranting long enough to glance over at me. His face turned into a mask of stunned surprise. “How did you manage to heal yourself?”
“I just borrowed a little of your power.” I felt the corners of my lips tug and I grinned at him with a smug satisfactory smile. “Thanks for that by the way.”
I reached up, grabbed hold of the chains, and used my newfound preternatural strength to tug the chains out of the walls. It was amazing. The chains I couldn’t even budge earlier ripped as easily as paper. Next, I kicked my foot out freeing myself of those chains as well.
“Now comes the part where I kill you.” I said.
His eyes widened and he quickly attempted escape, but now with both of us moving at inhuman speeds I easily beat him to the door and blocked his exit. He struck out at me again, and I blocked it without difficulty. My vision was unbelievably sharp. Rather than the blur of movements I saw before at his speed, I could now discern every nuance of each action as though he were moving almost in slow motion. With my martial arts training and my borrowed powers we were now on equal footing. However, I still had to figure out how to kill him without an ounce of silver in sight.
I thrust my foot into his gut and watched with satisfaction as he flew across the barn and collided through a beam. There was a loud crashing noise as splinters of wood exploded around me and John landed in a confused heap on the ground. It was thrilling, my body and thoughts were able to travel at exactly the same velocity. The instant I thought about moving next to him I was there, it was remarkable, and a little exhilarating. He stared at me perplexedly, unable to comprehend how the tables had suddenly turned so drastically. “How are you doing this? It’s impossible.”
“It’s just that insignificant power of mine. I bet you’re wishing you killed me while you had the chance.”
He growled and sprung at me again with a momentum that almost had his fist making contact—almost. Again, I blocked his punch without difficulty and returned one of my own. This time he went smashing through the outside wall of the barn and landed on a car in the laneway. The glass from the car’s windshield exploded, John had shards protruding everywhere. I watched as his wounds healed right in front of my eyes.
I stalked out to the car behind him reveling in the look of fear on Lisa’s face. She picked up the gun she had shot me with earlier, and I marveled at how slow her movements seemed now. My actions, however, followed as rapidly as my thoughts. I saw the gun and I moved to the weapon, tearing it from her hand before she had a chance to blink. Then I punched her in the face, with pleasure. I had wanted to do that to her since the first moment I met her.
The force of the blow sent her spinning through the air, and she collided with a thundering crash into an unconscious heap on the ground. While my attention was aimed at Lisa, John seized the opportunity to grab me from behind. He held me with incredible strength. “Thanks for the advice before, and believe me I’ve learned my lesson, I won’t take my time killing you this time.”
Three things happened at that exact moment: He hissed and dove for my neck, attempting to drain my blood. I reached my arms up, thrusting them behind my head, barely managing to hold him back. And, at the same time, I saw a car rushing up the laneway.
I was surprised I could make out the vehicle it was half a mile down the road, and I could actually hear the voices inside—I loved these heightened senses. But more surprisingly were the voices I heard. It was Nathan and ...Morrison? He wasn’t dead. I could clearly make out his voice. Instantly, I was flooded with relief and joy. My hands were still holding back John’s attack. I braced my stance, stretched further until my hands gripped him behind his neck, and I dropped my weight and pulled. The maneuver flipped
him over and had him landing on his ass directly in front of me.
His back was against me. A glint of metal caught my eye, and as I looked for the source I realized the chains were still wrapped around my wrists and dangling. Without thinking, I wound the chain around his neck and pulled with every ounce of otherworldly strength I had flowing through my veins. I heard a sickening crunch as the bones in his neck ripped apart and his head went rolling forward.
Overcome with relief, I stood there staring at his body as it shriveled into dust. I did it. I killed my mother’s murderer.
I looked up and found myself staring into three familiar faces, all gaping at me wide-eyed with shock. Nathan was the first to break rank as he ran over to me, sweeping me into his arms and peppering my face with kisses. “Are you all right? Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m not hurt. I’m super—literally.” I said with a grin.
I glanced over and caught sight of Morrison. His eyes were brimming with unshed tears. I carefully extracted myself from Nathan’s embrace, and ran over to Morrison hugging him fiercely. “How? I thought you were dead.” I cried. “I’m sorry. I should have sensed what she was going to do.”
“Don’t sweat it Reece, it wasn’t your fault.” He wiped my tears with the back of his hand. I wasn’t sure who I sensed the most relief from, Morrison, Nathan, or myself. I don’t think any of us expected me to survive. As I stood there trying to decipher what I was sensing in the air, I noticed something strange radiating from Morrison. I stepped back and scrutinized him carefully.
“Morrison, I feel power coming from you. What is it?” I asked curiously.
Nathan stepped up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and leaned his head against my shoulder. “I had to change him. He would have died otherwise. His injury was beyond healing.”
Overjoyed, I spun around and hugged him. “I thought you couldn’t change a human. I thought they’d die from the change?”
“No, I said it was rare, and they often died. Luckily, Todd is stronger than most.” He looked over to Morrison, who beamed from the compliment. “As I said, I knew he would die for certain if I did nothing, so I decided to risk it.”