A sharp sting crossed my heart as I thought about Gerard. I was about to answer her when a real sting landed in my shoulder, jerking me forward.
Spinning, I ducked out of the way when an arrow flew straight towards my face. Shoving Helena out of the way, I fell to the ground.
“What’s going on?” Helena cried from beside me.
A heavy weight landed on my back, arms coming around my neck and wrenching. A scream came from my mouth as my spine was almost snapped in two. Black spots came into my vision as I reached into my pocket for my gun. Putting it on the attacker’s thigh, I pulled the trigger.
Choking as he released me, I bucked him off.
Helena was standing beside me, her hand in the air. The spell she whispered was aimed at the vampire who was now hovering in the air. Had she set me up? Why was she now strangling the vampire?
“He obviously wasn’t given the memo that you were coming. He thought you would hurt me. Still, no excuse.”
Twisting her hand, she grinned to herself when the vampire’s neck snapped so violently, his head popped off his body, blood gushing everywhere.
Jumping back, I didn’t get out of the firing line in time. Spots splattered over my top, ruining it. Oh, great, my plan to keep it clean had backfired. If I had to wear one of her stupid dresses, I wouldn’t be able to stay. It was too much of a deal breaker.
“Let’s go inside. John needs to clean up this mess. I can’t have blood and vampire all over my roses.”
In a daze, I walked behind her as she chattered on about the estate. She had just murdered the vampire in cold blood, without even a flinch. Even though he was one of her guards. She might have understood me back when I was a child, but had she always been so cruel?
Once inside, she led me up the grand staircase, showing me her art collection on the walls. I stayed silent as I took in every aspect of the place. Exits, layout, and all the things my training had taught me.
“You’re quiet, my darling. Please, tell me something.” Taking my hand, she led me to a small room that overlooked the back.
The fountain was astounding. The huge sculpture of a woman wrapped in roses spouted a huge shower of water from where she held something in her hand. I couldn’t quite make out what it was from here.
Sitting in one of the chairs next to a fireplace, Helena gestured for me to sit opposite. There was a plush bed at the other end of the room with an en-suite bathroom off on the left. Was that marble lining the walls? Of course it was.
“What do you want to know?” I asked as I sat in the chair, my bag on the floor by my feet.
It was basically my life in there, except for Kingsley, who I had left with Lilia. She had no idea that I was going, but I’d put a note under her door, asking her to take care of my best friend. My throat suddenly closed at the thought of him. Of all of them. My new family.
“Why are you really here? Are you here to kill me?”
Staring at the ground, I wondered if it was possible. Did I want to kill her? If I tried, I wouldn’t succeed. Her power was far too strong.
“No. I’m here because I felt rejected by the others. They basically kicked me off the case. The memories I have of you are different from how you are now. Except for the spell you made me create, of course, but I didn’t realise what you were doing back then.”
Slumping, I looked at the wood in the fireplace. It was waiting to be lit, probably by a slave.
“You know that I need to get rid of the warlocks, right? It’s not that I’m being unkind, but they’re constantly trying to find the link to the ley lines, so they can take control of it. Their measly dark energy isn’t strong enough for them anymore.” Helena also stared into the non-flaming fire.
“I’m part warlock. I’m sure I’d know if that was happening.” My confident statement was followed by silence.
Yes, I had been involved in the warlock community, but as the first female warlock, I’d never been accepted into any coven. Not really. Isaac Senior looked out for me, trying to include me in warlock business, but it never worked.
“I need to show you something, Devon. Something that will probably make you want to run. I hope that my promise will help you to trust me.” Standing, Helena gestured for me to get up too. “Leave your bag here, this is your room.”
Doing as she said, I was dutiful in being the sheep. Going back downstairs, I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans. My heart was racing, vibrating in my ears. I just knew what she was going to show me. I also knew that I wasn’t going to like it.
A metal door was behind a bookcase in the library. Not very original, and yet, I wished it led to a treasure chest instead of what was bound to be horrific.
“This is my greatest shame, my love. My greatest addiction.”
Helena asked me to step into an elevator. It grew colder as it chugged down into the depths of the earth. My hair started to stand on end, the electric making it static.
“I don’t know if I can-”
“It’s too late.”
Shoving me out as soon as the door opened, Helena grabbed my arm and dragged me further into the huge stone cavern. My stomach rolled as the fire torches that were planted on the ground lit the huge area.
“What the…?”
Ripping away from the evil woman, I bent over and finally threw up what I’d eaten. My head pounded as I squeezed my eyes closed, trying to get the image out of my mind.
“Please,” Helena started, spinning me towards her. “I need you to accept me as much as I’ve always accepted you.”
My gaze traced the legs, torsos and arms that were hanging from the ceiling. Several witches were chained to the stone above their heads, their eyes closed. Something was attached to them, a line of plastic that was slowly draining their blood, and probably their magic.
“How can you do this? It’s horrendous!”
What the hell was I doing here? In my madness, I had forgotten how insane my grandmother really was. She was a psychopath. And, I had wanted her acceptance? What was wrong with me?
“You need to understand that many people are here for a reason. Life happens for a reason. You think that these people didn’t agree to this before they were reincarnated here?”
What? “Wait. Hold on. Are you justifying your disgusting behaviour by believing that these people chose to have this happen to them? What’s your fucking problem?”
My legs moved before my brain engaged. My arms almost reached her before she threw her hand into the air. Flying back, I smashed into the wall. A loud crack in my spine made me scream in agony as I thumped to the ground. Tingling washed over my back as the bottom half of my body went numb. Fear rushed through me as my heart pounded in my head. I couldn’t move.
“You paralysed me,” I sobbed, tears soaking my hair as pain vibrated through the rest of my body. “You fucking broke my back!” My scream echoed around the huge cavern.
“I’m so sorry.” She was beside me, touching me.
“Get the fuck off me, you sick bitch!” I couldn’t move, I was useless. It served me right. I should’ve never left the ones who truly cared about me.
Putting her hands on my back, Helena whispered a spell. Over and over, she chanted as a warm heat started to spread over me. I cried, unable to think, unable to breathe.
“John!” Helena screeched.
Clicking her fingers, she scowled as footsteps sounded nearby.
“What happened?” The horrid man sounded horrified. As if he could dare to be worried about me when there were people… witches… hanging from their wrists around us. What had I done?
“Take Devon to her room. Be careful, she’s healing.”
My arms flapped around when John picked me up. Helena had performed a healing spell. Would there be enough power in the world to mend a broken back? A severed spinal cord? Only time would tell.
An image of Kurt came into my mind, and for the first time ever, I missed him. He would’ve healed me. Maybe he wouldn’t have had the magic to fix me complete
ly, but his offer to take away my memories was looking pretty good right about now.
John was slow as he took me back upstairs. My whole body was numb now, probably from a spell created to take away the pain. Helena was strong. Way too strong. No witch should ever have that amount of power, not even when they were connected to the ley lines.
“Devon,” Helena said once John had put me in bed. “I’m so sorry. I thought we could become close again. Dreamed that we could be grandmother and granddaughter. I see that can’t be possible.”
Shaking my head, the only part of my body I could move, I bit my lip to stop myself from crying. Not because I was sad that we would never be how we were, but because I was stupid enough to even want it.
“I made you a promise. And, now… I fear that I cannot stick to it. You see, you’ll always try to stop me. I was going to give up everything for you, but you’ll never accept me, my love.”
“No, I won’t.” My mouth was dry as I spoke, but I forced the words out. “I’m not related to someone who can do what you do to other creatures, no matter who they are.”
Her gaze dropped, her eyes closing. She was sad. The woman had no right to be upset. She deserved to go to hell.
“I’ve healed your back. You’ll be up and about by tomorrow.”
Pushing up from the side of the bed, she reached over and cupped my cheek. Dodging away from her touch, I grimaced. “You’re not going to let me go, are you?”
Tucking her dark hair behind her ear, she looked down at her red dress. Brushing at the blood from the dead vampire, she seemed to not hear what I’d said.
A small sound came from her throat when she finally looked at me. “No, my dear. You’ll be my prisoner. But, there’s no need to worry, they’ll be no torture this time. I’ll make you love me again, you’ll see.”
Chapter Thirteen
The glass wouldn’t break. My fist slammed against it for the sixth time. My knuckles bled, but I wouldn’t give up. She could not keep me here.
Although she treated me like a guest, bringing me food, new clothes and films to watch, I was still trapped.
The energy drained out of me as I leant my head against the window. I couldn’t use my magic in the room. She must have put a spell over it to stop me. I had to get out. I had to save those trapped in the cavern below the house.
“Please, mother earth, help me find a way out.”
The night sky was lit with stars, the moon nestled between them. For so long, I had wanted a family. People who loved me enough to want me. And, yet, when I found them, I had run away. It was strange how I thought that they were rejecting me when they wanted me off the case, but in reality, they were protecting me. They cared enough about my wellbeing to put me before work. And, I had thrown it all in their face.
However, I was here. I was in the lair of the beast, which meant I could get close to her. It had been five nights since I’d been paralysed, and yet, she saw straight through me when I pretended to want to be her friend.
“Will anyone rescue me?” I whispered, staring at the steam that formed on the glass.
Maybe I could create an SOS somehow. Standing back, I tried to think of something I could use. Something magical would be ideal, even if it wasn’t mine. Wait.
Looking over my shoulder, I studied the painting on the wall. I’d been staring at it for three days straight. There was something odd about it. There was a family of four, playing in the snow. Two dogs were on either side of them, staring out of the painting.
When I had been at Harry’s house, the wolf guardian painting had resonated with me. My grandmother must have been the one to create the spell, which was why the wolf hadn’t attacked me.
Going over to the painting, I watched the dogs closely. Yes, their eyes were moving, watching me. The painting was spelled. Which meant that Helena was probably watching me through it. Shuddering at the thought, I hoped she hadn’t seen me dance around naked when I was bored. Getting out of the shower, I had decided to dry off with a boogie. There had been nothing wrong with that. Until now.
What if John…? Ewwww.
“Okay, you son of a bitch,” I whispered to myself as I went to my bed.
The angle of the picture made it so that the dogs couldn’t see me. Maybe Helena had decided to give me a little bit of privacy, the crazy old witch.
Closing my eyes, I thought about how I could entice the dogs without being seen. If I could get them out of the painting, I could use them to attack the woman who came in to clean. She never spoke to me, didn’t even look in my direction. Which would be a good thing. However, could I set them loose on an innocent slave? No, I couldn’t.
Going back over to the picture, I reached out and traced one of the dogs with my fingers. He moved slightly, his head sticking out and butting my finger. Good, he was a friendly guy. That made it easier.
Not speaking, I backed up and turned, whistling as I did. A thump behind me made me jump. When I heard the panting, I moved around slowly. That was almost too easy.
Reversing to my bed, I held my hand out. The husky type dog was similar to the wolf in the other picture. He sniffed the air before he took three strides towards me. Ducking his head against my fingers, he insisted I scratch his ears. Smiling to myself, I forced the lump that came to my throat to go away.
“Well, you’re no Kingsley,” I muttered. “But, you’re adorable anyway.”
A tiny banging sound made us both look up. The dog’s lip lifted above his teeth, his hackles raising. Was there someone on the roof? When the banging crossed above my head, I got up from the bed.
“Go back in the painting,” I told the dog absentmindedly.
How could I hear someone on the roof? It was a mansion, a very well built one. And, yet, there it was again. It was as if someone was walking across the roof towards the edge of the house.
A nudge from the dog brought my attention back to him. Tip toeing to a window, I looked out. It was still dark, although the moon illuminated the grounds.
The sound was just above my-
“Shit!” I screamed when a face suddenly appeared in the window outside. What the fuck?
Falling backwards as my heart almost burst out of my chest, I grabbed the dog when he went to jump. He started to bark at the figure lurking outside the window. My hair flicked into my face as I tried to grab the fur around his neck. He would get Helena’s attention, which meant the painting would be taken away.
“Devon!” The shout came from outside the window.
The tightness in my throat eased as I frowned. Tugging on the dog, I hissed into his ear. “Get back in the painting, now!”
It finally did as it was told, snarling as it jumped through and rested where it originally had been sitting by the family.
Going over to the window, I threw my middle finger up at Gerard. He was hanging from the roof, his handsome face smiling. He found it amusing that he’d scared the shit out of me.
“Are you going to let me in?” His deep voice sent a small shiver down my nerves.
As much as I wanted to hate him, I couldn’t, not even a little bit. “I can’t, they don’t open.”
“Okay, move out of the way, I’ll do it from this side.”
Looking over my shoulder, I looked at the painting. Helena was going to come charging into my room at any moment. Going over to the bed, I grabbed the cover and threw it over the picture. Maybe it would buy some time, although I very much doubted it. How the hell had Gerard managed to find me?
Rushing to the door, I moved a nearby cabinet in front of it. There was no way it would stop Helena, but it was worth a shot.
Looking back at Gerard, I stood, waiting. His hands were on the window, his fingertips growing red. How was someone not coming to find out who was sneaking around? Surely, Helena would’ve heard something? She was the almighty witch that contained all the other witches’ magic.
Gerard needed to hurry up. I was getting antsy, which kind of made me need to pee. But, it wasn’t the time. He
was breaking into our enemy’s mansion. I needed to pay attention.
The tiny sound of something breaking made me step back as the window pane moved. Gerard swung inside, almost going straight back out. Running to him, I caught hold of the harness that held his waist, taking the glass off him as he settled.
The bloody thing was almost bigger than me. Struggling, I rested it against the wall, staying silent as he unclipped himself.
Facing him, I swallowed, unable to think of what to say. Would he hate me?
“I’m so glad you’re okay.” His arms came around me before I could react.
Tears stung my eyes as he held me against him, his head bent low to bury into my neck. Why was he not shouting at me? I would totally be swearing at me by now.
“How are you here?” I whispered in a very small voice.
He turned his head so his mouth was right next to my ear. “I will always find you, no matter how hard you try to run.” Moving back to look into my eyes, he smiled. “Unless you really don’t want anything to do with me. Then, I’ll respect you and leave you alone. I’m not a stalker or anything.”
The grin that split my lips held more than amusement. Was he being romantic? How had Hard Mac-grumpy turned into Soft Mac-romantic?
“Helena is going to come through that door and kill you. Very soon.” Okay, it was a bit of a mood killer, but it was the truth.
“About that,” he said, letting me go and straightening to his full height. He was so going to get a sore back dating me. And, not because I would wear him out, but because he had to bend so low. Poor man.
“What’s going on?” Every nerve in my body tingled.
What was he up to? This building was a fortress, hidden from the world by a very powerful spell. The witches in the basement were a grid of magic, more powerful than even my mother, who had a direct connection to the ley line.
“Gerard,” a voice hissed from somewhere in his jacket. “…we’ve searched the lower floor, no luck.”
“Justina’s here? How?”
Getting the walkie out, Gerard was about to speak into it. Grabbing it before he could reply, I squeezed his arm. “You need to tell me what’s going on, right now.”
Hunted Witch Agency Box Set Books 1-3 (Hunted Witch Agency Set) Page 42