Moon Tortured (Sky Brooks Series Book 1)

by McKenzie Hunter

  I started to respond but he cut me off. “You were going to lie to me—” he said softly.

  “—No, I wasn’t” I rattled back. I hated lying to people and despised being accused of it when I really had no intentions of doing so.

  The air was thick with ominous silence. His lips curled into a faint amused smile. He brought my hand to his lips and lightly kissed the palm as he inhaled again. “Of course you would have. But why? Would it have been to protect Josh from his tyrant of a brother,” he chuckled lightly reminding me that my expressions often betrayed me, “or to ease my concerns about my audacious brother?”

  He waited patiently for a response.

  “Your parents must have had hell to pay when you found out the truth about Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.”

  He laughed. It was a rich, hearty, pleasing sound. It was then I realized I had never heard him laugh before. The laughter came to an abrupt stop. He looked over his shoulder at Josh standing behind him. Josh’s focus moved from Ethan’s left hand, which was still grasping mine, and then lingered to the other, which rested around my waist. It wasn’t until we were under Josh’s probing gaze that I was aware of how close Ethan was too me. His body molded to mine. It hadn’t felt invasive, but now under Josh’s watchful eye it felt too intimate. He pressed his lips into my hand again before he released it and turned toward Josh.

  Had Josh walked in unnoticed or did he just pop up, in the same manner he did when we first met? I may not be able to smell fear, but I was well versed in sensing hostility and it was a concentrated vapor off Josh. “You broke my protective field,” Josh stated in a low somber voice.

  Ethan shrugged lightly, “It was just a simple ward. Not very hard to break.”

  Josh jaws clenched; his eyes glinted with ire, “Don’t screw with me! That wasn’t just a ward; it was a protective field, and there wasn’t anything simple about it. A were-animal has never been able—”

  “—Josh,” Ethan shot a look in my direction. His voice was soft, entreating as he spoke. “Your field was nothing more than a glorified ward. We break them all the time. Sebastian’s broken them, Gavin’s broken them and even Hannah’s broken one. It’s just a broken ward. Let it go.” Ethan stood just inches from him. Oddly, it was Ethan who was calm, working to defuse the situation.

  Their gazes were locked in such intensity, I wondered if they were speaking to each other the way Josh and I did earlier. No, this was a different form of communication, the kind you can only have when you know a person in a way that only brothers could. It may have been silent but it was screaming in discord. More intense than what occurred between them earlier.

  Josh head tilted, considering the possibility. Frown lines crept above his brow as he retreated into his thoughts. He looked unconvinced. Shaking his head slowly he spoke in a harsh voice, “No. You’re hiding things from me. How long—”

  Ethan cut him off with a stern look, and then looked back in my direction.

  Josh glower remained on his brother as he spoke, his voice coarse and tense. “Goodnight, Skylar,” Josh said.

  After he dismissed me, I left, walking at a snail-like crawl, hoping to catch some parts of the conversation. But they remained quiet. I could feel them or rather Ethan, watching me as I ascended the stairs. It was doubtful they started the conversation until they heard the door leading to the basement close firmly behind me.

  I went to my room after vetoing the idea of trying to sneak back downstairs to listen to Ethan and Josh’s conversation. Fear of being around a pissed off warlock and an irate wolf had little appeal to me at 2:46 in the morning. After tossing and turning for another half an hour, I had finally fallen asleep when I was awakened by someone calling my name. It was a deep whisper. The room was empty but a strong presence was felt. Something called me. It was unusually gentle, soft, alluring, but I could feel the urgency in its call. Yes, I answered. Relaxing into its pull, I allowed it to direct me through the house.

  Its tug stopped as I entered the library, but the calling persisted. I knelt down in front of the bookcase, tugging at the bottom drawer. It was locked. Compelled, I ran my finger over the lock and heard a click, unlocking it. When I pulled out “The Symbols of Death,” it continued to speak to me in a low, demanding whisper, surrendering its secrets as it called my name

  At some point, this should have weirded me out, but it didn’t. Why wouldn’t it call me? It seemed so natural for it to do so.

  Opening the page to the Gem of Levage, I whispered the title of the book in a low voice. It was as though knowing its name gave me power. Pulling it closer to me, I listened carefully to what it needed to say. But I was met with utter silence, a forced silence.

  I’m listening, I urged the book, knowing at some point I was going to feel ridiculous. I waited for a few minutes for a response, but the silence persisted. I returned the book to the drawer and headed for the door. Pausing at the threshold, I had a distinct feeling that I had missed something important. It was that same sickening feeling you get right before you lock your keys in the car.

  Walking back to the bookshelf, I took the book out again and held it. What do you want from me?. Blood flashed through my mind. It wanted blood. Biting into my finger, I dripped blood over the picture.

  Without warning or hesitation, it spoke loud and clear. A piercing pang shot through me. My body stiffened, I dropped to my knees, pulling in breath that didn’t help ease the pain. I pulled the book closer to me, resting it firmly against my chest. My eyes were rigid; closing them became impossible as the light slowly faded into complete darkness.

  A deep red stone, enclosed by a series of bronze rings, dangled freely from the chain around Demetrius s neck. I’d never met him, yet identifying him was quite easy. His wavy hair, a midnight shimmer with hints of deep blue, stopped just short of his chin. Pale, flawless skin was aptly complimented by strong angular features and sharply defined jaw and cheeks. Black opal eyes with small ringlets of red looked upon me with great satisfaction. He could easily be considered handsome if he weren’t the face of my death.

  I shivered; fear enveloped me as he walked toward me. I tried to reach out and touch the gem around his neck, but my movements were restricted by the constraints on my wrist. Bound against the wall, my arms were outstretched and my legs pinned close together. I was placed in this sacrilegious pose purposefully to make a mockery of the crucifixion. The air felt cold against my face, but my body remained a blazing fire, fueled by my fear.

  Demetrius stood close, eying me from head to toe as though I were nothing more than a specimen under a microscope. He stroked the Gem of Levage affectionately. “Skylar.” My name rolled off his tongue with a strong accent. He stepped closer, his lips brushing against my jaw as he spoke. “I thank you in advance for your gift.”

  His thin lips made dramatic precise movements as he spoke. They became the focus of my attention, promising a painful end. I could feel the dark presence of his seethe, but they kept to the shadows. Their joy illuminated the room as Demetrius stroked my neck. I ached to move, but my bindings were excruciatingly tight, limiting even the least movement.

  Demetrius turned to his seethe, “On this night, my honored family, we shall fear the light no more. A wooden stake will be nothing more than an inadequate form of weaponry and we will never experience reversion ever again. Never again must we request admittance into anyone’s home, but we become free to roam as we please. A cross will be nothing but a senseless object of religion. This will be the gift offered by our sweet Skylar. To Skylar.” His voice gentle as he gave me insincere accolades. It was nothing more than a condensed eulogy.

  “To Skylar,” the seethe responded in unison.

  He was too close to my face. My panic and fear were making me feel ill.

  “These things you will gift to us upon your death and for that I thank you,” he stated in gratitude near my ear again. Without warning, he sunk his teeth into my neck. I screamed.

  “Shall we feed?”

&n
bsp; Piercing pain engulfed me as sharp enamel penetrated my skin, drawing blood. I grew cold as the warm blood was taken from me. Bite after bite, my sounds of pain became nothing more than a whimper. Soon I was too numb to the feel of piercing stabs inflicted on the greater part of my body. When they finally stopped feeding, I could hear the sound of my slowing heartbeat. Words were spoken, but they seemed so far away that I couldn’t decipher their meaning.

  “The gift has been received,” Demetrius spoke softly into my ear. My eyes widened in response to the overwhelming pain as he sunk his teeth into me again. Drawing in deeply, he took away what little life remained. My heartbeat was barely an inaudible thump as the pangs of my torture stopped and my life slipped away. At that moment, everything became strangely bearable. I found that place between life and death, where I lingered. Then I was consumed by the emptiness of crossing over to the other side. Death welcomed me freely—almost expectantly—it was strangely familiar to me.

  Suddenly, I was lying on the library floor, blaring sounds of pain at the top of my lungs as the book clung to me. My body ached from the bites inflicted on it. My neck throbbed, recalling the sharp overwhelming pain of Demetrius’s last kiss. I was cold as an ice block.

  “Skylar,” Josh called, but I couldn’t respond. My eyes fixed on the ceiling, unable to move from the spot where I had witnessed and experienced my ritualistic death. Water—or perhaps it was tears—filled my eyes, stinging as it ran down my cheek. I couldn’t blink, forced to relive the vision over and over like a living nightmare in three dimensions. The book penetrated my very being, sending gut-wrenching pain through me continuously as punishment for my request for answers.

  “What’s happening to her?” asked Sebastian’s strained voice from behind me.

  “I don’t know. Skylar, look at me,” Josh demanded as he attempted to turn my face toward him. I was locked in the position, unable to move no matter how I tried. Josh’s hand covered mine touching the book. “A-na rische. Release.”

  He tugged at the book but it wouldn’t budge.

  “Shit!” He pulled at the book again with more force. “A-na rische. Unbind.” He tugged at it again. The book heated to a lava temperature, searing my fingers. The smell of burning flesh filled the room.

  “Why can’t you stop this?” Ethan asked, frustrated, from a distant.

  “She bound herself to the book. Somehow, she held on to the magic from earlier. I don’t know how it’s possible. I released her from it.” Josh sounded panicked. He touched my face again, trying to get me to focus on him.

  “Winter, I need you to charm her. She’s holding the binding and needs to release herself from it.”

  Winter sat next to me. Leaning in, she whispered into my ear, “Skylar.” Her voice was a harp-like musical sound that invited me to her. She moved in front of me, speaking words of trust and comfort as her hands covered mine. Her lips curled into an inviting smile as she spoke. Her voice held me captive, rendering me defenseless of free will as her familiar serpent eyes entranced me. I freely accepted the consolation she offered.

  “Release yourself to me,” she requested. Her finger placed firmly under my chin forced my eyes to keep in contact with hers. The very eyes that seemed peculiar and intimidating before were enchanting and beautiful at this moment. I couldn’t resist her request; my will was expunged from my body. I gave in freely to her.

  The “Symbols of Death” forced itself from my hold, landing in the middle of the room as flames ignited from the letters. The flames died out quickly as the book saved itself from destruction.

  I was surrounded by a room full of were-animals who looked at me with morbid fascination and apprehension.

  Josh inched toward me. “Skylar,” he called in a composed level tone.

  “Yeah.” My throat felt like sandpaper and sounded close to it as well.

  He was frowning when he turned my head to look at my neck. I ran my finger along it and felt two bite marks. There were similar marks all over my arm as well. I lifted my shirt and pant leg, more markings were on my stomach and legs where the vampires fed from me in my vision. Panic came on fast. Tears of fear and panic started to form. The more I tried to stop them, the more they fought to escape.

  Sebastian walked over, knelt down and examined the marks. He gave me a small, reassuring smile. “Skylar, it’s okay. They’re going away. Look.” He showed me my forearm, which had been riddled with bite marks, now free of all markings.

  He took my hand in his. “Get Jeremy,” he instructed Steven, making great efforts to keep his voice quiet and calm. I didn’t know how and why he wasn’t freaking out, but his calmness settled the room.

  “Everything’s going to be just fine,” he assured me as he sat next to me, resting his hand on my knees. My erratic breathing began to slow down to something resembling a normal breathing pattern. I didn’t have it in me to speculate what abilities Sebastian possessed to do this.

  The were-animals continued to stare at me strangely as though I sprouted horns and grew a tail. Inconspicuously, I ran my fingers over my hair and down my back just to make sure I hadn’t. Weird things were happening these days, and nothing seemed too implausible.

  “You saw it; didn’t you?” Josh asked in a strained voice.

  I swallowed a response and bit down on my lips too hard, puncturing them and causing blood to seep into my mouth.

  “What did she see?” Sebastian asked as he started to distance himself from me, since I seemed to be much calmer than before. I was calmer, but the images in my head hadn’t subsided.

  Josh sighed, filling the room with a heaviness that left everyone on edge. “Her death,” he said softly. “She saw what they are planning to do with her,” he elaborated. He was still frowning when he turned back to look at me. Placing his hand on my shoulder, his gaze held mine as he spoke to them. “I had to research the information further in hopes that what Caleb showed me was wrong. But … ” he shook his head “ … he showed me nothing but truth. The Gem of Levage is used to transfer power sources from one person to another, or, in this case, from Skylar to Demetrius’s seethe. During the ritual, if there is a blood exchange by both people then they exchange abilities. This isn’t anything very special for a vampire because it is one of their gifts and the very dynamics of the trade.”

  He looked at Sebastian then Ethan before continuing. I wish we were outside because the strong emotions radiating off everyone made the air feel thick and suffocating. Leaning my head as far back as possible—I inhaled.

  Josh took a seat in front of me. Distress covered his face as I listened to the tale of why I was going to die. “They want her abilities; and with the ritual, there only needs to be a one-way blood exchange. Once life is drained, with the use of the gem, the donor abilities remain indefinitely. Their seethe, which is well over two hundred strong, will possess immunity to light, will no longer go through reversion when staked, can enter any dwelling without an invitation and will be unaffected by religious symbols. They will also gain her strength, making them significantly stronger and faster than you all,” he stopped for a moment and looked at Sebastian, who was listening to him attentively. “This will be true of anyone they create thereafter as well.”

  “But why her?” Ethan finally asked.

  “Most humans, due to their fragile nature, can’t sustain life long enough to complete the ritual. Apparently, this ritual has already been attempted by Demetrius using a mage, several humans and a were-puma. They even tried a dhampir, obviously without success. Most dhampirs have human fragility and couldn’t survive the ritual. They were just fishing for candidates until Skylar came to their attention,” he looked at me, I assumed to see how I was doing. The panicked look that was now etched on my face should have let him know that I wasn’t doing well at all.

  “The mage was human, though he had magical ability, he was unable to survive. For reasons unknown to me, were-animals are immune to their magic. That’s why they can’t enthrall or change you all and the v
ery reason they failed when they used the were-puma. Skylar is somehow connected to them; the terait is evidence of it,” he stated, pointing toward his left eye. “That is the reason they were able to enter her home without an invitation. I don’t know how this occurred but it did. An anomaly at its worst. She heals as the were-animal does and would be able to survive to complete the ritual. It is not definitive whether or not the transference will work, but since Demetrius is going to such extreme measures to get her, he must believe it is highly likely.”

  Sebastian stiffened, seemingly taking the information worse than I did. He kept his focus on Josh, stealing short glances in my direction. Everyone else went through great pains to keep their focus anywhere else but on me. “Steven, take Skylar to Jeremy and let him check her out,” he stated, taking me by the elbow and guiding me toward the door.

  Who was he fooling with that? He wasn’t that concerned about marks that were virtually gone. They no longer wanted me there. They needed to discuss things that they deemed sensitive pack information, and I was no longer welcomed. I glimpsed over their faces as I followed Steven out of the room, and the tragically disturbed looks on everyone’s faces made leaving the room easier.

  Steven dropped me off at the office. I kept looking at him wanting some type of assurance that things were okay. A look that said, this was nothing; they had seen it all before. But he looked concerned. It was the first time those lambent, olive green eyes looked so deeply troubled that it scared me.

  I expected Dr. Baker to lock me in one of the recovery rooms with the padlocks that I had seen earlier. But instead, he examined me on a small table next to his desk in the corner of the large infirmary. He was assiduous as he went over the marks, examining them. Each touch was skilled and gentle as he handled my injured limbs. Was it because he was the pack doctor and had seen so much that there were very few things that rattled him or was it because he had mastered stoicism to an art form? I wasn’t sure. .