Cursed Blood

by Ashley Marie

  A devastated look crosses Kayden’s face.

  I need them to know this is something real. Something to worry about.

  Jeff said I was in danger. That’s why dad took me away from all of them. This could possibly be the danger we ran from when I was little. The danger that got him killed.

  “How close?” Nick asks quietly, stepping up next to Kayden.

  Aden must have called him.

  My body snaps around towards the left. I scan the trees, “They’re here.” I sing out watching all four boys flinch from my child like tone.

  In a matter of seconds, the three of them are in front of me and Camron, bodies tense and ready. Skin rippling and gravely growls.

  A flutter of fear floats to me from Camron but quickly gets pushed into the background. As a consuming need, love, and hunger swamp me. I gasp out, my eyes going wide.

  I’ve never felt something as strong as I do now. The feelings start to increase. My heart speeds up, my pulse pounding loudly. My knees wobble.

  Need. Hunger. Joy. Love. Anger. Protect. Jealousy.

  It drops me to my knees. My breathing becomes faster, erratic. I close my eyes and turn inward. Checking my steel walls for cracks, holes, anything.

  “What’s wrong with her?” Nicks’ voice finds my ears sounding muffled as I concentrate.

  I start to reinforce my walls. Willing them to be thick. Stronger. Impenetrable.

  “You’re hurting her.” Camron cries out, “Stop!”

  The emotions start to slowly filter down to where they’re only a bothersome itch. My breathing and heart rate slows down, evens out. My head feels like a ton of bricks as I bring it up right and open my eyes.

  Bright copper eyes are all I see at first as my vision starts to clear.

  My head leans to the side. Two feet in front of me is a wolf. A black wolf with a whitish hue running through its thick fur. He’s just sitting there, where the path meets the forest edge. Just staring at me. He’s huge. Maybe larger than a black bear.

  And me. What do I do? I start to laugh theatrically. A wolf.

  Yeah, I feel little whispers of emotions from Camron, but nothing like this wolf brought forth.

  “Avery, Are you okay?” Camron’s voice comes from beside me.

  The wolf shifts lightly and tilts that big head of his. He seems kind of human like.

  My crazed laughter starts to die off as a thought comes to the forefront of my mind.

  What if he is human? But in the rage, as Camron called it. What if this big beast is supposed to be my em-path bond? I’m I suppose to save him? I don’t want to save anyone.

  My heart skips a beat as that seems more realistic than being able to feel an animal as strongly as I did.

  God. I should never have left Green Bair.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Avery

  “DON’T BE AFRAID. He won’t hurt you.”

  Camron’s quiet words have me laughing once more. Still on my knees in the dirt.

  Watching the he wolfs cock his head to the side, ears slanted back.

  Me afraid. Yeah, that’s highly unlikely. I haven’t felt real fear since that fateful day that changed my life forever. And I’m glad of it. Emotions can cripple a person. Twist them into something ugly. Make them a whimpering fool.

  “She’s not afraid,” Aden states grey eyes narrowed on me.

  My laugh is over as quick as a snap of my boney fingers. My cold eyes lock onto Aden as my doll like smile covers my face. Smart boy. I never did like him.

  “What do you mean she’s not afraid. She’s something.” Camron screeches with his hands on his slim waist, foot tapping on the path.

  The he-wolf rumbles a growl.

  I slowly stand up never breaking eye contact from Aden. A blanket of protection covers me as I feel the wolf’s emotions heighten. Anger slips through weaving into the blanket.

  All four, well five if you count the wolf, look me over in a new light.

  “She doesn’t feel anything,” Aden states in a snide tone, arms crossed.

  “What?” Camron’s mouth is gaping open like a fish.

  “I thought she was a dud. A weird dud.” Nick says in confusion.

  “No. She’s an Empath.”

  “But I thought you said she has no emotions?” Kayden snaps out, fists clenching.

  The wolf moves up to stand beside me, I shoot him an ugly look then turn back to Aden as we wage our silent battle.

  “I knew she felt blank, but I thought she just has a strong will to block people out. I mean some of the other duds were like that.” Camron says astonished, chewing on his finger.

  This isn’t good. Obviously, Aden knows something the others don’t. All his stares and puzzled looks make sense now. He was putting the pieces together one by one and the wolf just helped him finish it. What exactly did he piece together is the question? I have some unusual traits.

  “Have you figured out the puzzle?” My voice comes out sing song with a dark rasp.

  The guys flinch and look at me with wide worried eyes.

  My head cocks as a sneer slowly forms from my lips. Fools.

  “Have you?” I whisper, leaning towards Aden. I can’t help it as my lips turn up when Aden steps back from me.

  Not taking his eyes of me, Aden speaks out to the others, “She acts just like Anna did.”

  “What?” Camron whines at the same time Kayden snarls, “No.”

  Camron reaches out to me as a wave of despair touches me briefly and anger covers it up with the wolf letting out a growl, stopping Cameron and making Aden snarl at the wolf.

  “Go away.” I snap at the he-wolf as his emotions start to feel like mine. I don’t like it nor do I want any part of it.

  A hint of sadness brushes across me as the wolf slinks back to the tree line and sits down, watching me.

  “She should be scared right now. Look at her. Nothing. An unfeeling robot.” Aden snarls looking to me and the wolf.

  “That power we all felt when she first came here, isn’t because of her strength in blocking or her pure blood line, it’s so much more than that,” Nick says, looking at me closely.

  “No, it is. She isn’t just blocking others out but herself too. She’s Anna all over again.” Aden’s voice becomes soft at the end. He loves this Anna person. Is she the sister Cammie talked about?

  “So, you know what’s wrong with me.” I state idly, looking at my fingernails, “Do you want a prize?” I giggle.

  I look up. All four guys share a common look. Fear. My heart picks up speed.

  Well. Isn’t that just dandy. This Anna person that I’m supposedly acting like has them all scared. Scared for me not of me.

  What happened to the girl to make them all fear for me? I don’t fear. I don’t see what the problem could be?

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Avery

  A STRONG CALLOUSED hand latches onto my boney wrist. I don’t need to turn around to know who stopped me from turning the last bend in the path. The tingles tell.

  After about five minutes of a never-ending staring contest. I moved on and started walking again, seeing how no one was going to say anything else. I was so close to getting out of these woods and away from everyone when Kayden decided to stop me.

  The tingles intensify, moving from my hand up my arm and spreading toward the rest of my body. It lights me up like an electric shock. Feeling me with a slow sensual heat. Slowly I start to feel his emotions.

  He loves me. And he’s afraid.

  My head turns toward the confusing tingly beautiful man at my side. He’s looking towards the house. Complete concentration etched into his strong face. Our previous conversation was forgotten from his mind.

  Aden never did tell me what was wrong with me. Is that the only thing he knows? That I blocked my own emotions or does he know more? Does he know of the ethereal ribbons that like to come out and dance?

  I snap my fingers at the black wolf moving closer to my side. Protective vibes coming m
y way. Ones I don’t want to deal with.

  “Uh, why’d we stop?” Camron asks from behind us. His jittery energy is giving me a head ache.

  Yes, why did we stop? I’m wondering the same thing considering the house is right there around the bend.

  I jerk my hand out of Kayden’s death grip. His head snaps up to me, green eyes glittering taking in my face.

  “We have visitors,” Kayden says never looking away. His eyes glance down to my lips as I wet them. I see the spark. He wants to kiss me. Would I feel anything from that kiss? Could I feel anything? Do I want to feel anything, I haven’t a clue right now?

  My head falls to the side as I watch him. The black he wolfs growls. My fingers snap out at him once more.

  Why would Kayden want to kiss me? I’m uncaring and lifeless. And what’s with this feeling of love. He doesn’t even know me and yet he has a strong sense of love for me.

  “What?” Camron squeaks as his fear flutters to me.

  “What are we going to do?” Nick asks as he saddles up to Kayden, looking through the trees like he can see the house.

  “Nothing.” Kayden grunts running his hands through his dark silky hair.

  I bet his hair is soft. I jerk. Where did that thought come from?

  “What?! We have to do something.” Camron paces back and forth, arms waving in a panic, “Let’s hide her. Yeah. That sounds like a good idea.”

  “It’s too late Cam. They know she’s here.” Aden snaps.

  Now I’m lost.

  “Who?” I ask.

  “It’s the Silvers Pack,” Kayden says board shoulders tense. Even the black wolf at my side lets out a low growl.

  Who are they? And what does it have to do with me?

  “Did you feel that?” I snap towards Camron as a wave of intense hatred floods my way.

  No reason to hide my empathy powers, well at least some of them.

  Camron’s tan skin is sheet white, “Oh yeah, knocked my breath out.” He says rubbing his chest. “Hey. You felt it too.” He smiles. Some color coming back into his cheeks.

  My eyes roll, “Yep, I thought Aden already established that I’m an Empath.”

  Idiot boy. My teeth grind together when a feeling of hurt originates from Cam.

  “They’re coming.” Kayden snarls.

  The boys, along with the wolf form a protective wall in front of me and Camron.

  Well, I guess this isn’t good.

  “I thought you guys and other packs had some kind of truce. Why all of this?” I wave my hand out towards the others looking at Camron.

  His fear lashes out at me, “We do but . . .”

  “Cam,” Kayden growls.

  They tighten up as voices reach my ears and start backing us up until Camron and I are partly shaded in the path.

  My eyes narrow as Jeff and two men turn the corner of the bend in the path.

  Four different growls echo out as the boy’s tense. I lean my head to the side peering in between Nick and Kayden’s wide shoulders to see better.

  “Enough.” Jeff’s voice booms out loud and commanding.

  The boy is that blond haired guy from the Smoothie. Jack, Cammie called him the other is an older man. His looks like a country bumpkin. A red tattered flannel covers his wide shoulders. Ripped overalls and muddy boots. His hair is so grey it looks silver. His eyes are dark and narrowed, yellow teeth shine as his lips are pulled back in a sneer.

  He’s the man with all the hatred in his blood. It rolls off him in waves. But what’s most interesting is the black tinged red, thick ethereal ribbons twirling around his burly body like a mini vortex. It’s a maddening dance of ribbons. A never-ending hatred.

  Camron lets out a whine, pulling my attention away. My eyes flick over to him. He looks weak kneed and has a death grip around Aden’s thick wrist. This man’s emotions must be too strong for Cam. He’s doing that filtering thing he told me about. Letting Aden absorb some of that hatred emotion Cam is getting.

  My eyes snap back to the ribbons. They’re not bothering me like they are Cam. No. I’ve just got to be weird.

  Saliva pools in my mouth. I want to reach out and take them. Twist them. Consume them.

  I lock my knees. Plant my bare feet in the cool dry dirt, toes digging in. My hands curl into fists as I lock my body up from moving. It’s not till a tingle zing zips through me that I’m able to lose my needy focus off the ribbons.

  “No way.” Kayden snarls out, hand behind him touching me on my stomach that makes me realize something important is going on while I’ve been in a hunger daze.

  I look around. The boys have backed away from me except Kayden and the black wolf. Both radiating a predatory vibe. A need to protect. To defend.

  Jeff’s off to the side angry as a hatter with that boy Jack, who has a smirk on his face. Leaving the hatred of a man front and center.

  “You know it’s the laws of the pack.” Jeff grinds out, “He has a right to meet her.”

  What? I don’t know what law Jeff is talking about. That man cannot come near me. Bad things will happen. I thirst for his emotions. The ribbons. I want to touch. Taste. Take.

  Kayden is so stiff. His bones crack as he moves off to the side. Leaving me and this man face to face. My heart beats faster in tune with the ribbons as they move faster and faster. Twirl and spin. Doing a dance just for me.

  “So, this is the cursed blood.” The man’s voice is raspy and full of hatred with a touch of longing.

  Cursed Blood? I thought I was an Empath. Is this why I’m different because I have cursed blood running through my veins.

  “You can smell it.” The man breathes in deep a wicked smile curving his small lips.

  I sniff the air. Smelling lake water and Kayden. Who smells delightful, fresh cut grass delightful.

  It’s quiet for a beat as his beady eyes rove over my body. They flash and I smile.

  It’s not my fault if I hurt this man if it’s in self-defense. Right?

  “I told you, Lee. Death smells heavenly.” Jack purrs from beside Jeff.

  “Shut your mouth boy.” Lee the older man snaps.

  “You know what they say about Death Jack? It likes to play.” I cackle as Lee moves in what seems like slow motion towards me.

  My heart hammers. My hand comes up. Fingers curled into the palm of my hand. I twist my wrist. The man, Lee falls to his knees. A loud thud echoing out. His back arches. A painful scream blankets the air. And me I laugh. Gleefully.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Avery

  HIS AGONIZING SCREAMS cut off my laugh as I jerk my hand up and twist again. His thick back bows, something snaps. And yet I’m not letting go.

  I’ve twisted the ribbons to my will. Making them something there not. Controlling this man like a puppet. And I relish in it.

  My head cocks as I watch the ribbons become completely black. They thicken and widen. My body craves them like nothing else.

  Yeah, I am a different breed than my family. A cursed blood as the screaming guy so put it. But what that means is another question.

  My fingers flutter as I call the black ribbons to me like a siren. They slither like invisible snakes through the air. Wrap around my wrist and up my arm. A gasp grabs my eyes.

  The man is no longer in pain. Laying on the ground like a broken doll. Harsh pants escape from his blue tinted lips. That smile.

  Huh.

  My body jerks as the ribbons sink into my skin. Pain and pleasure fight for dominance in my body. A deep moan pulls from my chest. My soul. I feel alive, full. They just keep coming. These ribbons feeding my soul. Heating my blood. My body trembles from the exquisiteness’ of them.

  My hand comes up once again. I want more. As much as I can get from this fool on the ground.

  “Avery.” Kayden is in front of me. Blocking my view. Hovering but not touching.

  His green eyes flash with a yellow shine, “You need to stop this.”

  Stop. Why should I stop? That man deserved what I di
d. If they could see what I can then they would understand. Know that he’s hurt people very badly.

  “Avery!”

  My eyes snap back onto Kayden. “Stop.”

  I feel a push against my barrier in my mind. My eyes narrow. He’s trying to break in. That’s not very nice.

  “Stop.” It’s the whispered plea that pulls me out of my head. Away from my thoughts and the filling ribbons.

  My hand drops and I pull up a block inside myself. Blocking the ribbons from being seen. It’s difficult but I do it. Something about Kayden. The fright I heard in his voice gives me the strength I need to block the ribbons.

  All sounds come back to me in a flash. Growls and screams. And crying. My eyes snap around.

  Jeff and Nick are holding Jack, that came with the one I’d broken, Lee. I what? What did I do to him? How could I do it? Do I care? No, not really.

  My eyes flash, my head jerks to the right where Camron cries behind Aden. Wet streaks mark his usual happy face.

  “Why are you crying?” I whisper at Camron. Aden lets out a growl and Kayden tenses by my side.

  Cam gasps a couple of times and finally whispers, “The pain. So much pain.” His eyes are glossy.

  Ahh. He could feel it. Feel me ripping the hatred from the man. I guess it was painful for the guy.

  I look towards the broken doll. He’s barley breathing, eyes wide and unseeing. Is he reliving all the terrible things he did?

  “Why care for him? When he was going hurt me.” I ask Cam, looking at him from the corner of my eye.

  My only answer is a whine.

  “Take her inside.” Jeff barks out.

  Kayden inclines his head and I move stepping around the broken man and back onto the path.

  “Kayden.” Fear fills Jeff’s voice.” Send Shelly and Lilly away.”

  I’m guessing Jeff doesn’t want them around me, which I don’t blame him. Instead of bringing home his traumatized niece. He brought home a monster instead. A cursed blood.

  I pause in front of a trembling Jack, “Do you want to play?” I whisper and he jerks back paling.

  I cackle as Kayden shoves me forward and around the bend. The house looming a few feet in front of us.