Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2)

by Kunz, C. A.

  “Well I-” Becca began to explain.

  “I was being sarcastic. I don’t really want your input. Now let’s split up. We need to find that witch! Andrei will be so upset if we screw up again!” Amy slammed the closet door shut and took off down the hall. “You two idiots, move it!” she yelled, keeping her back to them as she moved quickly out of sight.

  “Who died and made her boss! She really irritates me. Come on, Linda, let’s go back to the bio classroom, maybe the witch has come back for her stuff.” Becca’s voice became more distant as she moved down the hall.

  “Okay, Jewels, I mean, Julie. I guess we should stay awhile until they leave. Do you want me to try and turn you back?”

  “No,” Julie’s voice purred. “Just give me a little while, and I’ll turn back on my own…I hope.”

  “I guess we should have a seat, we might be here for a bit. You think they’d have a couch or something in here, at least a chair to sit on,” Miss Amaya rambled on, missing the rolling of the feline’s eyes at her words.

  “How’d she get past us? I mean, really?” Amy growled, meeting up with Linda and Becca in the woods behind the school.

  “She may have gotten away, but lookie what we found,” Becca stated, holding a cell phone in her right hand.

  “Tell me it’s the witch’s,” Amy said, her eyes brightening as Becca nodded with a wicked grin.

  “Huh, so you two aren’t so useless after all. This will be perfect. Let’s call Cat. Oh, this is going to be so much fun, and Andrei will be very pleased.”

  Cat lay on her bed staring at the ceiling wondering how the meeting was going. She was told to stay home and not leave the house under any circumstances. Taylor was downstairs with Trish, and Cat knew it had been her parents’ idea to have them babysit her. Even Ryan was attending the meeting, which she felt was so unfair. She flinched as her cell phone rang at its full volume. Seeing Miss Amaya’s number on the screen, she quickly answered. “I’m so happy you called. I’m going crazy waiting for this meeting to be over and find out what’s going to happen. It’s not fair that my parents think I can’t handle this. If they only knew how much I’ve dealt with, they’d be shocked.” Cat paused waiting for a response.

  “What meeting is that, Ms. Catherine Colvin?” Amy’s voice came through the phone.

  “What are you doing with Miss Amaya’s phone?” Cat asked angrily, her eyes narrowing.

  “Well, wouldn’t you like to know,” Amy taunted.

  “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t!” Cat grounded out through clenched teeth.

  Amy giggled evilly. “If you want to know that badly, why don’t you come join the party? We’re having so much fun here.”

  “If you hurt her I’ll-”

  “You’ll what? Come now, little kitty, and play with us at the clearing by the beach. I know you know where it is. Oh, and one itsy bitsy request.”

  “What?!”

  “Come alone!”

  Cat heard a beep and realized Amy had hung up. Quickly slipping on her tennis shoes, Cat grabbed her jacket and left through her bay window. Looking over her balcony and seeing no one around, Cat floated to the ground and made her way to the shed to retrieve her bike. Sticking to the shadows as best as she could, she was unaware she was being followed. Duffie and Leif rode silently behind her, keeping a safe distance between them but not losing sight of Cat.

  Matt was taking his time heading home after helping his dad at the Port Astoria docks. It was his turn to do the dishes, and he never looked forward to the chore. Peddling up a steep hill, he cursed his car again for stalling out on him earlier. Pulling up on Nehalem Avenue, he noticed three figures dart past him in the distance. As they sped under the street lights, he could see Cat’s fiery red hair leading the pack, with two others following a good distance behind her. Is that Duffie and Leif following Cat? What the hell? They’re definitely in a hurry, Matt thought. “I guess the dishes will have to wait,” he said taking off after them. Matt almost yelled out to them, but something told him that they didn’t want any attention.

  Deep in the tunnel system below Astoria, Amy began prodding Melvin Pierson. “Wake up, you’re going to miss the show, and it’s going to be great. Wait, I think I hear the master now. Surely you’re not still scared of him,” Amy giggled as Melvin shivered, his glassy eyes filled with fear.

  “Well, girls, I assume she’s on her way?” Andrei wasted no time asking as he approached them.

  “Yep, she is!” Amy said triumphantly. Becca and Linda nodded in agreement.

  “We need to ready our other guest, he’s not feeling very well I fear, but the show must go on,” Andrei said. “Linda, do you have a question, my sweet?” Andrei’s fangs descended as he talked.

  “Is it safe for us to be around him, I mean will the chains hold him?” Linda’s voice trembled.

  “Don’t you worry your pretty little head. He’s heavily sedated my dear,” Andrei said calmly.

  “Yeah, but weren’t the chains made of silver before? To keep him from changing?” Linda replied.

  “All part of the plan, Linda. Now, let us go prepare for our guest, shall we?” Andrei gestured for them to walk ahead and Amy moved quickly to take the lead. In the next chamber, a shape was slouched over, quietly moaning. Andrei squatted down beside the figure and pulled its hair back revealing a face. “Ah Edgar Girven, old friend and noble Varulv councilman. Not feeling so well, huh? Don’t worry, it will all be over soon.” Andrei let go of Edgar’s matted hair. “Okay ladies, let the show begin. Make sure you hurry to the clearing and show our honored guest the way to our little trap. I’m dying from anticipation,” he said, rubbing his hands together, piercing his lip with his fangs in his excitement. “Mmmm, that reminds me, I haven’t eaten. And I shall not meet our guest on an empty stomach. Mr. Pierson, ready or not, here I come.” His laughter echoed though the tunnels.

  As Cat reached the clearing, she immediately saw the trapdoor she was unable to open before propped open. Throwing her bike on the ground, she rushed over to it and peered into the dark hole. Cat retraced her steps to her bike, removed the headlight from the handle bar, and turned it on. Taking a deep breath, she slowly descended into the floor of the concrete foundation. I’m absolutely nuts for doing this! But I can’t let them harm my friends! Buck up, Cat, you can do this! Making her way down the winding tunnel, Cat wrinkled her nose at the damp and moldy smell. The bottoms of her shoes were taking on water as she trudged forward. She shuttered at what she might be stepping in. Coming to a fork in the tunnel, “Left or right?” Cat asked out loud and then waited to see if she got an answer.

  “Leeeeeeffffffftttttt,” an eerie voice came down the tunnel, causing goose bumps to erupt on Cat’s body.

  “Okay, you can stop with the dramatics! I’m here, show yourselves!” Cat yelled, but she received no reply. “Damn cowards, like I’m scared,” she said out loud, trying to sound confident. Come on, you can’t let them know how scared you are, Cat.

  Cat took the left tunnel, and it seemed like she had been walking forever. Her frustration began to build with each step she took. “Okay, which way now?” Cat demanded, coming to another fork.

  “Leeeeeffffftttttt,” the eerie voice loudly whispered again.

  “I’m so over this!” she huffed as she stormed further into the tunnel system.

  “We’re lost, Leif, Cat must’ve gone the other way,” Duffie whispered.

  “Let’s backtrack then, she wasn’t that far ahead of us. How many tunnels could there be?” Leif’s frustrated voice echoed in the stillness.

  “Wait, I hear something behind us. Be ready for an attack, it might be one of the vamps tracking us,” Duffie whispered in Leif’s ear.

  “Ahhhhh!” Duffie yelled as her flashlight beam caught a terrified little rodent quivering in front of them.

  “Duff, relax, it’s just a mouse.”

  “Well, I told you I heard something. Poor little thing. Look it’s fallen over but it’s still breathing,�
� Duffie replied.

  “Come on, Cat may be in danger. Let’s focus!” Leif whispered in frustration, pulling on her arm.

  “Alright, let’s move ahead,” Duffie said, and then the two headed farther down into the tunnels.

  “Where did they go?” Matt mumbled to himself. Coming upon the trapdoor, he hesitated. “They went down there? Really? Down there?” Matt moaned, thinking about every horror movie he had seen. Like Cat, he grabbed his bike’s light, and before he could change his mind, bravely descended the stone steps. “Man, I think something died down here. Gross!”

  When he reached the first fork in the tunnel, “What now?” He stood there and thought for a minute and then pointed his finger to the right path. “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe,” he said going back and forth between the two pathways. Landing last on the left one, he continued down cautiously, careful not to touch the grimy walls. Even though he was totally grossed out by the sight before him, Matt was amazed at the tunnel system and wondered how many people knew of its existence.

  Hearing only his own footsteps echoing through the vast tunnels, “Just put one foot in front of the other, Matt. You’ll catch up to them soon and hopefully find out what’s going on. But something tells me I’m not going to like it,” he whispered to himself, wanting to hear a voice just to break the quiet.

  Cat turned a corner and saw a light in the distance. Clenching tighter onto the bike light, she hesitantly made her way toward it. As she emerged from the tunnel into a large chamber, the first thing Cat noticed was the tall pale man she met at the clearing two Halloweens ago. The master, she thought as she saw the three girls standing next to him, all grinning at her.

  A moan off to the side drew her attention. At first she thought it was Mr. Pierson, but then realized the man was bigger. He was chained to the wall. His body leaned as far as his backwards-stretched arms would allow and his head was planted firmly on the ground.

  “Welcome, Catherine, to our modest home. I am afraid I cannot offer you any refreshments, as Mr. Pierson is a little low right now,” Andrei quipped, bringing her focus back to him. “And I do not feel you would find Edgar Girven’s too pleasant,” he continued, gesturing to the figure chained to the wall behind him. “Ah, is that recognition in your eyes? You have met the Varulv councilman before? Of course you have. He is a good friend of your family, is he not? Well, they’re not really your family, but they have performed the part perfectly, now haven’t they? Huh, to think a pack of mangy mutts would take in a filthy little half-breed like you.” Andrei’s malevolent smile made Cat sick to her stomach.

  “Where’s Miss Amaya?” Cat’s angry voice resonated off the walls.

  “Alas, I am afraid Amy told a little white lie. Miss Amaya is not here, only her phone,” he said, amused as the flush of anger became more prominent on Cat’s face. Another loud moan from Edgar drew their attention. “I hate to cut this visit short, but I have other arrangements. Please forgive me. Oh, and one other thing before I forget,” Andrei said, drawing a large silver dagger from beneath his long black coat. “Do you know what drives a Varulv mad with rage? Well, at least one that has been starved and tortured like our friend here? Vampire’s blood,” he continued and then proceeded to slice open his palm, letting the blood spill out onto the ground. “Oh, and you might need this when he changes.” Andrei sneered as he threw the dagger at Cat’s feet. The four quickly rushed into one of the tunnels leaving Cat behind, baffled. A painful cry from Edgar had Cat rushing forward, crouching down beside him.

  “Mr. Girven, it’s Cat! Where are you hurt?” Cat became frustrated when he only grumbled. She reached into her pocket for her cell, “Damn, no signal! Mr. Girven, can you get up if I help you? I really don’t want to leave you here to go get help!” Cat gently lifted his head, pushing back his grungy hair to see his face clearly, wondering how long he had been down there. His eyes were closed, his face bruised and battered. “What did they do to you?”

  Edgar’s body twitched, causing her to gasp. His swollen eyes shot open, they were wild and glowing golden brown. She heard familiar crackling noises, like bones breaking beneath his clothes. Backing away, Cat watched as fur sprouted on his face and hands, his mouth elongating and filling with razor-sharp teeth. Saliva dripped from his mouth, and his tongue swept the moisture from his lips. As his body began to expand, she cringed at the sound of his clothes ripping. Her pulse raced, looking at the Varulv in front of her as he began violently thrashing toward her, trying to break free of the chains. Edgar let out a loud howl, making Cat cover her ears as it echoed through the open area. Suddenly one of the chains broke from the old limestone wall. Cat moved away quickly, letting out a startled scream as Edgar swiped at her. Cat’s focus was on his huge teeth as they viciously snapped in her direction. His eyes bulged as he strained against the chain. She could feel his hot breath on her skin. Touching the cold stone of the wall behind her, Cat realized she had backed herself into a corner. “Edgar! Why are you doing this? It’s me, Cat!” she tried to reason with him. Edgar just snarled, pulling harder on the chain.

  “Cat! What the hell is that?” Matt cried out.

  Stunned, Cat turned to him, “What are you doing here?”

  “I could ask you the same question! What the hell is that thing?”

  “I don’t have time to explain, just go. Run!”

  Edgar sniffed the air as his eyes moved to Matt. He grinned widely, showing off his razor-sharp teeth, and then let out a low growl.

  “Cat, why is that thing looking at me like that?”

  “Edgar! No, look at me! Matt, get out of here!” Cat yelled as a shiver of fear ran through her, seeing Edgar’s attention fixed on Matt. Matt tried to move, but was frozen with fear. His mind couldn’t comprehend what was going on. “Matt, don’t just stand there, run!”

  “I can’t move, Cat! I’m trying!” he yelled back, staring wide eyed at the beast in front of him.

  Edgar gave one more frantic tug on the chain, breaking it away from the wall, and then charged at Matt.

  “No! Edgar!” Cat screamed with desperation. Bracing for impact, Matt let out a loud yell, put up his hands as a last defense, and shut his eyes. Cat shifted swiftly between them, grabbing Matt, and pulling him out of the way. Edgar flew by them, his teeth chomping inches from Cat’s face. Cat felt pain as the air was knocked out of her when they slammed into the ground.

  Edgar let out a grunt as he hit the ground and rolled down the tunnel. He skidded to a halt and then raised his head shaking off the dizziness.

  “Matt…you need to go hide…now,” Cat said breathlessly as they sat up. She could tell he was shell-shocked and had no comprehension of what was going on.

  “Oh…okay,” Matt replied blankly. His eyes grew wide with fear as he saw Edgar’s two golden eyes glaring at them through the darkness down the tunnel. He raised his shaky hand to point and Cat followed his line of sight. She watched as Edgar slowly prowled toward them, grumbling in a low growl.

  “Matt…I want…you to run,” she whispered, helping him to his feet, and not taking her eyes off Edgar. The Varulv pawed at the ground while staring them down. “Go, now!” Cat yelled.

  Edgar howled and charged at the pair as Matt took off down one of the tunnels. Cat faded to the side as Edgar leapt at her. Crashing into the wall, he let out a groan of pain. Shoving himself away from the wall, he charged at Cat again. She tried to fade out of the way, but Edgar caught her and knocked her to the ground. He pinned her under his paw, pressing hard on her chest. Edgar bent his head down and roared in her face, breathing heavily. The heat from his breath was intense and smelled like hot garbage.

  “Leave her alone!” Matt cried, poking his head back into the large central chamber. Edgar quickly turned toward Matt, saliva dripping from his chops. Stepping off Cat’s chest, he released the pressure, causing her to cough as she gasped for air.

  “Matt…what are you…doing? Get…out of…here!” Cat called out breathlessly in frustration. Slowly raising herself to
her feet, Cat noticed Edgar making his way toward Matt. “Leave…him alone, Edgar!” Cat yelled out, trying to turn his attention to her.

  Ignoring her, Edgar began to charge at Matt.

  What the hell am I doing? Run, Matt, run! He told himself. Cat saw the dagger out of the corner of her eye and lunged for it. Grabbing it, she shifted in front of Edgar. He crashed full force into her, letting out a loud growl, and then a whimper. He fell limply on top of Cat. Pushing him over, she saw the dagger plunged into his chest. She looked down at her hands and shirt and saw that they were covered in red. It was blood. Cat sat in shock as she realized what she had done.

  A noise made Cat look up and she saw Matt emerging from behind the wall of the tunnel. He stared in disbelief and backed away from Cat as she approached him, his stunned eyes looking past her. They both watched as Edgar Girven slowly turned back into his human form. She looked to Matt with sadness in her eyes.

  “Cat, you’re covered in blood, are you hurt?” Matt asked, finally taking his eyes away from Edgar and focusing on her.

  “Oh Matt, I killed him.” Cat’s voice trembled and tears filled her eyes as she sank to the ground sobbing.

  “But you saved me,” he replied shakily.

  “Face it, Duffie, we’re lost!” Leif stated exasperatedly.

  “I realize that, Leif,” Duffie replied, continuing ahead. “Wait did you hear that?” she whispered.

  “What am I supposed to hear?” Leif whispered back in frustration.

  “Voices, coming from over there,” Duffie replied, pointing down the tunnel.

  “I don’t hear anything, Duff, just face it, we’ve got nothing!”

  Duffie put her index finger to his lips, “Will you shush and listen?” Leif rolled his eyes while humoring her. She smirked as the faint sound of a female voice came from in front of them. “Let’s move,” she ordered, pulling the black hood of her jacket down and over her face.