Life Bound: The Shadow World Book 1

by Aubrey Winters

  Kol closed the door and stepped out without looking back at me. I scrambled to follow, but stayed a few feet away as he tested the ground. Then, he raised one hand and held it up in the air, palm open.

  The air glittered and morphed before my eyes to reveal a large wooden cottage that really looked more like a mansion than something from Hansel and Gretel. High stone gates that came together to form an iron arch surrounded the house. The gates opened on their own to reveal a cobblestone pathway leading directly to the front door.

  Drooping trees amidst the manicured lawn darkened the path, making the grey gargoyles on the grass look creepier than they already did.

  Kol, utterly unperturbed, nodded at me to follow as he stepped under the iron arch. Glancing back at the car, I beeped the remote to lock it and scrambled to follow.

  I was positive the eyes of the gargoyles followed as we made our way down the path, revealing a pile of pumpkins that smiled at us from the corner of a pristine white porch.

  “Pumpkins aren’t in season,” I whispered.

  “They always are when it comes to Scar,” he whispered back. Scar, he’d called her. Exactly as an old acquaintance or friend would. And why wouldn’t he?

  The back of my neck prickled, and I grabbed Kol’s arm, looking around for an imminent attack. “Something’s here.”

  He chuckled under his breath. “That’d be Scarlette.”

  The white door swung open without either of us knocking to reveal a lady I could only describe as perfect. I had never seen such feminine features on a woman; she was both disproportionate and yet somehow exactly right. She wore a long, flowing golden summer dress that seemed to shimmer with every movement.

  Her waist-length white hair flowed as though commanded by its own gravitational force. Sparkling eyes settled on Kol as I unconsciously shrunk back. Red lips smiled in warm recognition. She reached out and wrapped her arms around Kol’s neck. His arms instinctively went around her waist to hold her up.

  She began kissing him with more fervor than I could imagine was possible. I turned away and bit my lip. So their history was romantic, then. I should have guessed as much.

  “Nikky dear,” she finally said. Her arms were still around him, though he seemed reluctant—or perhaps I’d only imagined his intentions. Her startlingly bright eyes turned to me, and I wanted to shrink back further, though any farther back and I’d have fallen off her porch. Her eyes didn’t have a distinct colour to them. Instead, they were both colourless and of every colour at the same time.

  “It’s Kol,” he said gruffly. “This is Elle. We have some questions for you.”

  “You know the payment for that.” Her smile sent a chill down my back: a predatory look in her eyes that reminded me of when Kol threatened to drink from Betsy. “Is that why Elle is here? Is she my payment?” She addressed me for the first time since opening the door, eyes dragging down my body.

  “No, she’s not payment.” He pushed her off gently and stood between us. “You owe me, so I get this information for free,” he lowered his voice.

  She pouted, but there was a hard glint in her eyes. She wasn’t used to hearing no. “Fine, we’ll do it the boring way. Follow me, my dears,” she turned and led us into her house, and I cast a look at Kol. He simply sighed and followed.

  The inside was bigger than the exterior suggested, but we were rushed through her house so I didn’t get a good look. Besides, I felt like I was an intruder. She hadn’t invited me in; she invited Kol, and I just happened to tag along.

  We walked straight through her house and out the back door, revealing a large, wild terrace that resembled a clearing in the middle of the forest more than a conventional backyard.

  She sprawled across a long couch, the skirt of her dress shimmering against the sun. “Sit,” she gestured to the plush outdoor seats set across from her.

  “What is it you want to know?” She looked like a goddess, and I couldn’t remember the last time I felt such inadequacy. Which was ridiculous, because I didn’t even know what I felt inadequate about.

  “We were with Alisown’s coven before we came here,” he started. “She goes by Alice now. Her coven was attacked, but it looked like two groups of Hunters. Do you know anything about this?”

  Scarlette tensed and sat up. “I had heard something along those lines.” She looked at me briefly, as though wondering whether to say any more in front of me. “What did they look like?”

  “They wore all black cloaks and indistinguishable from one another. Typical Hunter garb. They had both exploding and flaming arrows.”

  I hadn’t even noticed any fire, but then again, I’d been quite distracted.

  Scarlette shuddered. “Fire. A witch’s enemy.”

  “And wood: a vampire’s weakness,” Kol nodded, somber. “To top it off, the human Hunters had ash in their system. They knew what they were doing.”

  “And the others?”

  “Definitely vampires. Strange thing was that they seemed to target only the hunters.”

  This seemed to pique Scarlette’s interest. “Are you sure the vampires targeted the hunters?”

  “I think so,” he said. His eyes flitted to me before returning to Scarlette. “I was a little preoccupied, but I think so.”

  If she noticed Kol look at me, she didn’t mention it. “I’ve heard of this, but I couldn’t get confirmation until now. There are rumors that a group of Hunters have started taking down Shadows—they started with the new and the young, but they’re getting braver and going after older ones now. If they dared to try Alisown’s coven,” she shook her head. “I think they’re getting bolder than ever.”

  “But this is hardly new information,” Kol objected. “Hunters have been trying us for centuries. What made this different was the vampires.”

  “Right,” she nodded. “Along with rumors of the Hunters rising is a group of vampires who call themselves Red Dawn. I hear they’re hunting the Hunters and any Shadow who’s hurting humans.”

  “Why are Shadows turning on themselves?” I asked.

  Scarlette turned her withering gaze toward me and I wanted to shrink back, wishing I’d never opened my mouth.

  Days ago, I had no idea that this world even existed, and now it appears I’ve stumbled onto a secret war where these supernatural beings sounded like they were fighting over how to protect humans. Surely, I misunderstood.

  “No, she’s right. Why would they do that?” Kol asked.

  “Who knows why anyone does what they do,” Scarlette shrugged. “The important thing is to stay out of it and let everyone else deal with it. The fire will burn itself out eventually.”

  “I’d forgotten that was your approach to things,” he glared, letting ice drip from his words.

  “Come now,” she tutted at him. “I shall be sealing the charms of my home. You may join me if you’d like.” She stared only at him, making it obvious that I was not invited.

  Instead of answering her request, he nodded toward me. “Elle has some questions for you, too.”

  The snub hadn’t escaped her, and she turned her chilly gaze toward me.

  “I was hoping to find more information about the Kores,” I fought from looking away, keeping my hands in my lap despite the urge to fidget.

  “Oh?” She released me from the grip of her gaze to study her nails. As though her nails were more interesting than I. It had been a long time since I was in a situation where both I and the other woman knew I felt inferior to her. This witch, with her silky white hair and tan skin, who was both so old and yet looked so young, was like the female version of Kol, and I didn’t know where I stood in this triangle.

  “And what business do you have with the Kores?” She tilted her head.

  “Cut it out, Scar,” Kol interjected. “No games. You owe me. Her questions are included.”

  “I told you to stop calling me that,” she turned back to him, delighted that she’d captured his attention again.

  I cleared my throat and sat up str
aighter. “It’s no concern of yours what I want with them,” I tried to channel Kol’s haughtiness, remembering how much it annoyed me when he was so cavalier with taking what he wanted and leaving no regrets behind. I both envied and hated his confidence.

  “I want to find out more about Anna Kore’s life and of her recent family,” I looked Scarlette in the eyes and steeled myself for a biting retort.

  Her eyes flashed, but the insult never came and I couldn’t discern what she felt. Any emotion behind them disappeared in an instant, covered up by a well-practiced veil.

  “Well, I guess if that’s what Nik wants. Word on the street is that Anna Kore has been missing for a long time. There’s quite a hunt for her, but no one’s even heard from the last Kore witch for over half a century.” She shrugged and snapped her fingers. A little poof between us appeared and disappeared again before I even registered that it had happened. All that remained was a little card with a bit of dissipating white smoke.

  “This is the address to my contact at the Revolving Library,” she sighed dramatically. “I presume you know what that is. I haven’t heard any news about her for years, but there’s probably history on her and the family at the Library.” Before I could confess that I hadn’t heard of it, Kol took the card and studied it. “I’d always wondered about the Revolving Library. Thank you, Scar.”

  “Who are the people looking for Anna?” I gulped.

  “Besides you? I don’t know, dear. That’s old news,” she waved a hand. “Nik, I’m only going to offer one more time,” her eyes glowed golden in the sun. “Come with me. Let the battles burn themselves out. We can survive together. We always have.”

  For a tense moment, I was afraid that Kol would agree. But when he stood up, I realized it was an unfounded fear.

  “We’re fine,” his voice was low and thick with an emotion I couldn’t place. He turned to leave, and I scrambled to follow. Scarlette called for him as we reached the door.

  “Kol,” her eyes pleading.

  They stood staring at each other across the terrace for moments that seemed to stretch into years. I felt like an intruder of an intimate moment—like they were continuing a conversation that had begun and been left unfinished well before I was even born. I felt inappropriate being present for whatever was unfolding before me between them, but I couldn’t leave without drawing attention, either.

  I settled on staring at the perfectly manicured grass.

  Eventually, Scarlette got up and walked stiffly toward us. Ignoring me, she pressed a card into Kol’s hand, holding it with both of hers.

  “If this thing goes down the way I think it will, you might not be able to find me for a while.” Her voice was soft—nostalgic for whatever they had lost a long time ago. “Keep it. You might want to find me again.”

  She let go of his hand, and he wordlessly turned to leave, but not before slipping the card into his pockets.

  “Elle, was it?” She stopped me as I turned to follow him.

  Kol stopped, but his eyes stayed trained forward. I could see the iron gates through the front door.

  “Could we have a moment, just Elle and I?” Scarlette asked, staring at Kol’s back. Kol looked to the side and sighed.

  “She can do as she likes.” He left the house, leaving me alone with Scarlette.

  She watched as he leaned against the iron gate, pulling out his phone. Then she turned on the faucet.

  She studied his form. “He’s something, isn’t he?”

  “I don’t know what you mean,” I lied, hating the tremble in my voice. Kol seemed to have walked out with my confidence, too.

  “You can see it.” She leaned against the counter, playing with the handle of her faucet. “I know you can see it. He drives girls insane. Why wouldn’t he?”

  “I—”

  “You don’t even know who he is, do you? Not really. You don’t know what he’s been through.”

  I let her talk. It was clear she wanted to talk at me instead of having a discussion with me.

  “I’ve known Nikolas since they Made him.” She twirled her finger over the handle, dragging a finger over the intricate designs on it. “Besides his invulnerability, he has always been the strongest and the fastest. Vampire or other races, he’s the best. And have you seen him?” She sighed.

  “I know everything there is to know about him, so let me give you a piece of advice.” She turned her steady, colourless gaze to me. “He is ruthless. He doesn’t have a heart. He doesn’t even have friends. So whatever hold you have on him, you’d better release it before he releases the savagery that he’s capable of.”

  “I don’t know what you mean,” I repeated, wanting to be anywhere but here.

  “Not only are you two traveling together, but he’s pulling favors for you. Trust me when I say this: it was not a small favor that he cashed in today. So what is it you have over him?”

  Scarlette studied me as though her gaze alone could figure out the answers she wanted. To my surprise, instead of feeling naked, a small flame ignited within me.

  She tipped my chin up with one perfectly manicured finger and asked again, her voice soft. “What do you have that’s got him leashed like a dog? Leashed the way I couldn’t in the thousand years I’ve known him?”

  The small fire roared to life, and I pulled out of her grip, nearly giving myself whiplash. My heart pounded hard, thundering in my ears. What she said about Kol felt wrong. She might have known him for longer, but she wasn’t right—not about this. I’d wrestled with myself on whether Kol and I had become more than ill-fated acquaintances. I’d denied our friendship, telling myself that he was kind to me out of necessity.

  But I was lying.

  “Maybe he just didn’t like you,” I glared.

  Again, those timeless eyes flashed with an emotion I couldn’t understand, and again, it was gone in a heartbeat.

  She gave me a sugary smile. “I’ve known him for a millennium, dear. The closest he’s ever been to loving someone was me. It’s always been me.”

  “Thank you for your advice. I think I’ll be going now.” My voice sounded flat, even to me. Her words had affected me, and there was no way of hiding it, so I didn’t bother.

  Instead, I took a step and then another, turning away from her. I made sure not to look back when I stepped through the door.

  CHAPTER 9

  KOL DROVE THIS TIME because I gave up on any semblance of control over my life. Every time I thought I had a grip on things, the rug was pulled out from under my feet. I thought Nana left the Shadow world of her own accord—but if that were true, then who are the people hunting for her, and why?

  What if they were the ones who made her disappear?

  “So, what do your friends think you’re doing right now?” Kol asked, shaking me out of my fears.

  “At home with Nana. Scarlette didn’t know that your life is bound to mine, did she?”

  He stilled. “No, she wouldn’t have known. The more people who know, the more danger you’d be in. I have a feeling there are a few who already know, but it seems to not have reached her ears, yet.”

  He cast a sideways glance at me. “What did she say to you?”

  “You couldn’t hear?” I looked at him. “I thought you had superhuman hearing.”

  “It’s not superhuman hearing. There’s nothing human about it—it’s vampire hearing,” he corrected me. “But no, she turned on the tap, and the background noise makes it difficult to eavesdrop. Not that I was trying to.”

  “What makes you say some people might know already?”

  He noticed that I’d averted his question, but he left it alone. “I would have taken out every one of those guys, Hunters and vampires alike,” he stated like it was the simplest thing in the world. “But I didn’t. I grabbed you and took off.”

  “Which is rare for you?”

  “Which is rare for me,” he nodded. “I have a feeling someone there might have recognized me. I wasn’t exactly taking care to hide my identity.
”

  My phone rang, and we both looked at it. In the time we’d been together, my phone hadn’t rung except for the occasional text message.

  “Who is it?”

  “I don’t know.” It was a number I hadn’t seen before. I picked up and put it on speaker.

  “Elizabeth?” A female voice, hushed but hurried, blasted from my phone.

  “Who is this?”

  “Alice. Is this Elizabeth?”

  Kol’s brows pulled together, but happiness shot through my body. I’d lost her address in the chaos and was frustrated to find that my phone hadn’t saved it.

  “Alice! I’m so glad to hear from you. Are you okay?”

  “We didn’t escape unscathed, but we’re safe now, I think.”

  “Where are you? How did you get my number?” My heart raced with excitement. I’d been worried about her and the coven.

  “We aren’t far from where the attack happened. I’ll send you our location. But listen, Elizabeth,” Alice’s voice dropped lower. “I need to tell you something, but I can’t do it over the phone. Can you come and meet me? It’s about Anna.”

  I nodded fervently, even though she couldn’t see me. “We’ll come. Stay safe. We’ll see you soon,” I hung up.

  Kol was silent, but I could see that his mind was racing.

  “Pull over. We have to wait for Alice’s message.”

  “I don’t think that’s the best choice,” he glanced at me.

  “We have to see her,” I protested. “You heard her. She has information about Nana.”

  He worked his jaw and his knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. “I think this is a mistake.”

  I shook my head. “Kol, she’s the only tangible connection I have to Nana right now.”

  “But how could she have learned anything between yesterday and now?”

  “Let’s find out.”

  He growled his disapproval but pulled over.

  “Why don’t you trust her?” I asked while we waited on the side of the highway.