Forest of the Forbidden

by W. J. May

  I want to thank Nina, who told me when I was wrong, and fell in love with the characters as much as I did. I love you, girl!

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  About the Author

  Other Works by Author

  * * *

  Chapter One

  Sophie approached the library doors with the vision at the forefront of her mind. Panic threatened to choke her but she fought the sensation down with a few deep breaths. One hand messed with the ponytail of her ebony hair and the other reached for the library doors. Her best friend, Lilli, shot her a glance and then looked pointedly at the door.

  Guilt panged in her heart. It was her fault Lilli was in Boston, hours from home. That Lilli volunteered to follow her here didn’t matter. Now Lilli was willing to follow her inside this library, knowing Sophie’s visions, because that’s who she was. Loyal, kind, determined. Not one to turn from something she felt she had to do.

  Again she could hear the sounds of the vision. The battle, the screams. She smelled brimstone. All she remembered clearly was that Lilli used her healing gift to the point of exhaustion. Something Sophie wanted to protect her from but couldn’t. They’d made a pact years ago to always share what these gifts showed them.

  Sophie took another deep breath and entered the library. It was after dark because Morgan wouldn’t miss cheerleading practice for this Sociology project. Sophie had wanted to smack the sneer off her flawless face but she’d managed to restrain herself.

  Morgan was somehow a part of this. Whatever this was. As were the other study group members. The connection had slammed into Sophie the moment she’d met them in class. So she’d try to be nice.

  The library was quiet. No whispers echoed off the hardwood floors. Only one librarian stood behind the counter. No other students sat in the chairs or used the computers.

  “Just like in your dream.” Lilli looked over at Sophie, green eyes worried. She seemed fragile, petite in stature with a pixie-like face. She, like Sophie, wore the plaid skirt and navy blazer uniform of the Lotus Academy, one of the most prestigious private high schools in Boston. Underneath that fragile façade, Sophie sensed Lilli gathering her energy and courage, ready to heal any injury. Her friend might look fragile, but she was one of the strongest people Sophie knew.

  Still, Sophie wished Lilli were at home, attending their old high school, far from this.

  “Yeah.” Sophie sighed and walked forward. “Let’s go get the others.”

  Lilli nodded her head toward the study rooms in the back. “That’s where you said they’d be.”

  It didn’t take long to find the group. Their voices carried out from the open door in the silence of the empty library.

  When the girls stepped in the room the first person Sophie saw was Morgan. She sat in a chair in a cheery yellow dress, legs crossed. Her makeup and hair was perfect, and so was the cappuccino color of her complexion. “I wondered if you’d show.” She said in a cool voice.

  Sophie ignored her and went to take a seat. The only two open were between Tristan and Jackson. Lilli had fallen headfirst in like with Jackson’s auburn hair and deep brown eyes, so Sophie knew she’d have to sit next to Tristan. Her heart stuttered.

  Tristan’s gray eyes warmed when Sophie took the seat next to him. Her gaze roamed over his face. The square jaw, full lips. His brown hair was mussed, like he’d just woken up.

  When his lips tilted up at one corner heat rushed to her face.

  “Come on. We need to get this started. I’ve got better things to do.” Morgan’s eyes sparked at Tristan and Sophie.

  Aidan, the last of the study group, whistled. “You’re hot when you’re jealous.”

  Morgan’s blue eyes turned to ice. She glared at him. He smiled lazily at her.

  Sophie could sense Aidan’s attraction to Morgan. Could he be more insane?

  Not that Aidan was ugly. Sophie just figured his black clothing, studded eyebrow and ears, and tattoos were something the Queen of Ice wouldn’t be interested in.

  Morgan shook her curls off of her shoulder with a silent glare for the group.

  Aidan grinned again and turned to Jackson. “You play for the football team?” He leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers on the arm.

  “Could you please stop that?” Morgan speared Aidan with another look.

  “Sure thing, Princess.”

  “Shut up.”

  Jackson watched their exchange with a small smile. A curl fell over his forehead that made him look devastatingly virtuous. “Tristan and I are on the same team. We’ve played together since we were little.”

  “Wasn’t it your quarterback that went missing back in the summer?” Aidan asked.

  Sophie stilled. She caught the look Lilli sent her.

  “It was. And a cheerleader the next month.” Tristan spoke up. His voice rumbled through Sophie. “I heard they haven’t found the person doing it yet.”

  Other visions, ones of the kidnappings, rose to the surface of Sophie’s mind. She shut her eyes, knowing the violet color would start to recede against the black of her pupils if the visions came too close to her mind. Was it a coincidence that the kidnappings were brought up now? She had to hope the kidnappings and her most recent vision of the library fight weren’t connected.

  “We could study male and female communications.” Aidan was saying.

  Sophie hadn’t realized she’d missed any of the conversation. Hopefully the others just thought she was tired and closed her eyes.

  Aidan held up his hands. The light glinted off the tips of his blond, spiked hair. “I don’t joke around all the time.”

  “You had me fooled.” Morgan spit out.

  “Look, we have to get this done. Can we get along for the small amount of time we’re here?” Tristan leaned closer to the table. Sophie noticed the way his muscles moved underneath the white t-shirt he wore. “You said so yourself. You have places to go.” He kept his gaze on Morgan’s.

  Their voices sounded far away to Sophie. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears and the pressure in the back of her mind screamed at her to run. It was hard to stay seated when everything begged her to listen. But she couldn’t run. Like Lilli, it wasn’t in her nature.

  Morgan uncrossed her legs and raised an eyebrow. “You’re certainly touchy since Cecilia left town. She left for...what’s his name?”

  “Morgan, stop.” Jackson’s face brooked no argument but Morgan barged on.

  “Oh, no. I’m not going to stop now. His name was Cory, right? Cecilia and Cory. How cute.”

  Tristan’s jaw clenched and his gray eyes narrowed.

  The feel of Tristan’s past hurt and Morgan’s spite swirled together to mix with the pressure in Sophie’s mind. The dam burst.

  “Morgan, stop it!” Sophie jumped up. Her stomach dropped. Something was in the library and it wanted them. “We need to go.” Maybe if she could get them to leave with her, the vision could be changed.

  “Sophie?” Lilli’s face paled.

  Looking between the stoic faces of the guys and Morgan’s frown, she knew she’d never get them out and she couldn’t just leave them. “There’s something in the library.
” She refused to meet Tristan’s gaze.

  “How do you know that?” Morgan’s voice raised a notch at the surety on Sophie’s face.

  The others stood. Jackson moved closer to Lilli, standing next to her like an avenging angel. She could almost see him as Michael, the archangel, with the curly hair and sword. She got the impression that he would die to protect Lilli. By the end of the night, he might get the chance.

  A scream echoed of the walls, in Sophie’s mind.

  She darted out the door before she had time to think. The librarian’s fear choked her. She had to help.

  “Sophie, wait!” Lilli called after her.

  Sophie hoped Lilli wouldn’t follow. Her breath came in quick, harsh pants. She forced her feet to move down the darkened hallway. The librarian’s emotions were shards of agony that dug deep into Sophie’s skull. She fought something off and whatever it was, it scared the hell out of her. Sophie stopped behind a row of bookcases and shut her eyes to gather her courage. Her body shook from the horror that raged through her mind.

  The librarian didn’t scream again.

  Using every ounce of her will, Sophie stepped out from behind the bookcases. The lights flickered. For a moment she couldn’t see.

  When her eyes focused her heart skipped a beat. The librarian lay on the floor in a puddle of dark blood. A metallic smell reached her. Sophie’s stomach churned.

  She skidded to a halt and knelt beside the woman. The librarian’s eyes were closed and her breath came in shallow gasps. Blood bubbled and steamed through the jagged marks on her chest.

  “Sophie? Sophie!” Lilli came around the bookcases. She paused when she located Sophie and the librarian.

  Sophie tried to put pressure on the wound but it was too large. Both her hands barely covered the width of the claw marks. She couldn’t think too much about the fact that whatever did this was around. The sinister darkness still lurked in her mind. She heard Lilli’s footsteps halt beside her.

  “Is she?” Lilli’s eyes filled with tears.

  Sophie shook her head. “Can you heal her?”

  Lilli’s eyes hardened with determination. “I can try.” She brushed Sophie’s hands out of the way and placed her own over the gaping wound. It gurgled as a warm, golden light shone from Lilli and spiraled into the gash.

  Something teased the edge of Sophie’s senses. She cocked her head to the side like she was listening to someone speak across the room. The pressure in her mind thickened.

  Whatever attacked the librarian was coming. Sophie opened her mouth to warn Lilli.

  Icy fingers wrapped in her hair and jerked her upward. Fetid breath hit the back of her neck.

  “Guardian.” It hissed.

  * * *

  Chapter Two

  That one word evoked feelings in Sophie that she didn’t understand. Fear, hope, survival.

  The fingers tightened in her hair. The man’s thoughts crowded in on hers and overcame her own. She knew one thing. He wasn’t human.

  A shadow blanketed his mind. Terror screamed through her blood. It was darker than anything she’d ever known.

  “Sophie!”

  Sophie heard Tristan’s shout but couldn’t see him. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a black wolf stalking around the bookcases. It stopped in front of her. When it growled the hair on its back stood on end. Muscles rippled underneath the fur as it crouched. Sophie thought it was beautiful.

  “She is mine.”

  Sophie’s stomach twisted. The voice was cold and dead, like he’d been created out of the darkness she felt in his mind.

  The wolf leaped. The man shrieked in pain. The fingers loosened their hold on her hair and she saw her chance. She shoved at his loose hold and feel to her knees.

  “Tristan, be careful!” Jackson yelled. He and Aidan ran into the room.

  Sophie stared in wonder, watching the black wolf viciously bite the man’s leg.

  Tristan was the wolf?

  “She’s healed.”

  Sophie snapped her head to the side and saw Lilli sit back. Her body swayed. Sophie noticed the pasty color to her skin. “Lilli.”

  “I’m fine.” Lilli leaned against one of the tables for support.

  The wolf yelped, the sound piercing their ears. Sophie watched the man shake him off. He kicked the wolf so hard it slid across the room and blood smeared the floor. The wolf hit a book case and rammed to a stop.

  Three deep slashes ran down the wolf’s abdomen. The blood spurted with each heartbeat. Sophie’s heart dropped.

  The thought that Tristan could change into a wolf didn’t shock her at the moment. Neither did the fact that the man had claws the size of machetes instead of hands. It might later, she thought, if they got out of this alive.

  The creature, because there was no way she could think of it as a man, took a step toward them. His lips curled back in a predatory smile. More fear snaked through Sophie.

  Jackson waved a hand and several chairs lifted off of the floor. They shot like missiles and hit the man in the chest. The force knocked him over a table. Wood flew.

  “Tristan.” Sophie ran to him, almost slipping in a puddle of his blood. She steadied herself and hopped over the falling wood before kneeling down beside him. Fur receded back into tanned flesh. Green-yellow eyes grew stormy again.

  “Lilli!” Sophie glanced over her shoulder at her friend. She saw Lilli already crawling over to where they were. Lilli’s pasty skin shocked her. Instantly, she was torn. Could she ask her best friend to save Tristan, even if it weakened her to the point of exhaustion?

  “I’ll take care of him.” Lilli nodded to her. “Go help the others. They’ll need you.”

  Sophie bobbed her head. She glanced at Tristan one more time and her heart stuttered. His clenched jaw and ashen color frightened her. A wry smile flirted on his lips. “We’re not so different.”

  Sophie managed a smile.

  “Go!” Lilli shoved softly at her shoulder.

  By the time Sophie made it back to Aidan and Jackson they were staring at the unmoving body of the creature. “Is he dead?”

  “I don’t think so. By the way, Jackson, how’d you do that?”

  “Does it matter right now?” Jackson’s face was alight with a warrior’s tenseness. His eyes never moved from the body.

  “If that guy gets back up, I’ll show you what I can do.”

  “Wait, you too?” Sophie stared at Aidan. She had a gut feeling that the fact that they all had supernatural gifts wasn’t a coincidence. “Where’s Morgan?”

  “She...I don’t know.” Aidan furrowed his brows.

  The shock of his worry swallowed Sophie and almost covered the tickle at the back of her neck. “Look out!” A blast of light filled the room and heat warmed the side of her face. She dove at Aidan and Jackson. Her body collided with theirs. They landed on the floor in a heap of limbs, elbows and knees covering her.

  Sophie drove her elbow into Aidan’s ribs, trying to get up. He sucked in a gasp and coughed.

  Jackson reached down a hand.

  “Thanks.” Sophie allowed him to pull her up. She looked to where they’d been standing.

  Smoke curled around the edges of a hole in the wall. Paint peeled down, charred and gray, revealing the sheetrock behind.

  “What the hell?” Aidan glanced over Sophie’s shoulder. His lips were tight and his entire body was rigid.

  Sophie turned to see what caused his reaction and her eyes widened. The creature stood over the ruined table, looking like he’d grown several feet in a matter of seconds. Scales rippled on his flesh, rose up his neck and over his face. When he opened his eyes they glowed red with blood lust. Two wicked looking fangs gleamed in the flickering light. Leathery wings sprouted from his back and flapped twice, ripping the blue shirt he wore.

  “Okay, something tells me he’s not human.” Sophie murmured. She backed up a few steps.

  “Really? What makes you think that?”

  “Shut up, Aidan.” Morgan’s
voice hovered around them.

  “Princess?” Aidan spun around in a circle. His frown turned quizzical when he failed to locate her.

  Sophie glanced around. She could feel Morgan’s essence, so she knew the girl was close. “Morgan?”

  “Where are you?” Jackson looked around.

  “Right here.”

  Sophie raised her eyebrows. “Seriously.”

  The air around them shimmered and then Morgan stood next to them. Her hair fluttered as if she’d been bathed in a light breeze.

  “Why would someone as hot as you want to be invisible?” Aidan winked at Morgan. She glared at him before shimmering out of sight.

  “He’s licking his lips.” Jackson murmured. He braced his feet shoulder width apart and prepared for the next attack.

  Sophie knew then his parents should’ve named him Michael. If ever there was someone who reminded her of the Archangel, it was Jackson. “Aidan, what are you doing?” She asked when she saw he walked toward the creature. She reached out her hand but he shook it off.

  He paused a few paces in front of the scaly manthing and put his hands in front of his body. The air stirred, becoming hotter. Within seconds Aidan’s hands were on fire.

  “Wow.” Jackson stepped in front of Sophie to block her from the creature‘s eyesight.

  “That we should have expected.” Sophie moved around him to see what was going on. Jackson grimaced at her. It was nice that he was trying to protect her, but she wanted to see what was happening.

  “Please tell me it’s not because you think Aidan’s hot.” Morgan’s voice drifted to her left.

  Sophie’s lips turned up in a wry grin. “No.”

  “Thank God.”

  Aidan jerked his hands and the fire formed into balls of flames. He let them lift off and speed toward the creature. The smell of burnt flesh and scales permeated the room as the fireballs struck it in the chest.

  The strength of the blow caused it to stumble back a few feet and shriek in pain.

  When it found its balance, it unerringly located Aidan. Once it had its prey locked on, the creature cocked his head to the side.