Forest of the Forbidden

by W. J. May

  Alarm jolted through Sophie at his words. She reached out and searched for any sign that Katie was alive. A soft sigh of relief escaped when she sensed Katie.

  Ruth glanced back at Sophie.

  “She’s still alive.” The others relaxed at her words.

  The hiss grew. “You can’t be certain.”

  Demetri swung his machete in a warning arc.

  The other three guards bulldozed their consciousnesses on hers. They shoveled in with black tentacles. She flinched against the onslaught.

  A low growl started in Tristan’s throat.

  The pressure subsided in her head.

  Her fear didn’t.

  Out of the darkness seven yellow eyes stared. Beckoned them to come closer.

  “The sun’s almost set.” Jackson jerked a thumb over his shoulder toward the doorway. “We should get this over with.” He stood tall and proud and looked ready for whatever lurked nearby.

  “Light it up, Aidan.” Demetri pointed his weapon at the dark.

  A small smile curved Aidan’s lips. Fiery light danced off his fingertips and swirled into four more balls that hung in front of him. He let them shoot into the darkness.

  The darkness receded and so did the creatures.

  “We don’t have much time.” Jackson said. The last of the sun’s rays settled behind the farmhouse.

  “When the sun fully sets the queen and her followers will be here for the sacrifice.” Sophie relayed from the guards’ minds.

  “Can you remember where you saw Katie?” Ruth stepped closer to the dark.

  “She was in the back, in a corner. Handcuffed to a beam.” Sophie surprised herself when her voice didn’t shake. She certainly did on the inside.

  The guards continued to hiss. It echoed off the walls and inside their minds. Then, it cut off abruptly.

  In the silence, the black tentacles sneaked into Sophie’s mind again. “He’s going for her. He’s going to turn her. It wasn’t in the plan but we’ve pissed off the queen. She’s awake.” The words flew out of her mouth before she could think about what she said.

  Ruth and Demetri plunged into the gloom.

  Aidan hurriedly waved an arm and two of the lights followed them.

  “This is worse than being lost in the woods.” Lilli reached for Sophie’s hand. “I hate vampires.”

  “Me, too.” Morgan shimmered and solidified. She cursed. “Why do I keep doing that?”

  “You’re afraid, Princess. It’s a normal emotion for us peasants.”

  “Aidan.” Morgan narrowed her eyes at the back of his head. He followed Demetri.

  Tristan and Jackson motioned for the girls to move. They headed further into the barn.

  Sophie reached out her other hand for Morgan to take. No one wanted to face this alone and at least for this small time they should count on each other.

  Morgan sneered, her face cold, and set off with the guys.

  Sophie ignored the fact that yes, it did hurt her feelings, and pulled Lilli along. She didn’t want to be caught out here when the queen arrived.

  Even though she knew Tristan and the others were close and weren’t going to leave them, she sped up. Everywhere she looked she saw scattered human remains. They hung across the windows, and the sickles and the old, rusted tractor sitting in the corner. Above she could see the hay loft and briefly wondered what it held.

  “Got her!” Ruth yelled.

  Sophie dragged Lilli along until they reached the others. She slid to a halt next to Tristan and Jackson.

  The lanterns Aidan had lit above them threw the old room into stark relief.

  They ended up at the end of the barn. An old square table with four metal fold-out chairs sat in the corner. A small twin bed, covered in a mothball eaten quilt, lounged opposite.

  Sophie’s eyes darted back to the middle where the lead guard held Katie against his body. The other three stood in a half circle behind them.

  In an attempt to keep from gagging, Sophie pressed a hand to her mouth.

  “Jesus!” Morgan averted her face and breathed in hard through her mouth, and even harder out through her nose.

  Lilli whimpered and increased her grip on Sophie’s hand.

  Sophie forced herself not to look away. She owed it to Katie to keep that small measure of contact.

  Katie’s eyes widened and her nostrils flared in fear when the vampire bent her head to the side and exposed the white of her neck.

  “I’m wishing for that glitter now.” Aidan glanced sidelong at Ruth.

  These vamps were definitely not attractive. Their bones hung gnarled and scabbed. Large patches of hair were missing from their heads. What was left hung in matted, greasy strands.

  It took a moment for Sophie to realize that the one holding Katie had a single yellow eye. A hollow hole stood out where the mate had been. Blackened burn scars covered his face.

  Each of the other guards looked much the same, as if they’d all suffered from the same disease. She guessed they had.

  Sophie shook her head slowly. It struck new fear in her to comprehend the fact that vampires were real. Courage drained from her body. How were they going to defeat them?

  “The sun is gone.” The leader said. His body stooped over under the heavy weight of the large hump that boiled on his back.

  The vampire’s fangs lengthened.

  Drops of venom formed on them.

  Time was running out. They had to do something, and fast. She reached out for anything to stop the leader. Deep in his mind she found his name from when he’d been human. “Augustus. Please, leave her alone.”

  His yellow eye didn’t even blink. Instead, it pierced into her. He ran his tongue over Katie’s neck, trail of green coated saliva wetting her skin.

  Katie sobbed and struggled against the iron clad grip. She didn’t look much better than Augustus, with her scratches and dirt covered skin.

  Augustus sneered at her effort. “She really is spirited.”

  The reality of their situation hit them all at once. Vampires were real. And they wanted them dead.

  If she’d had the courage to glare, Sophie would have. As it was, she had no clue how they were going to get out of this alive.

  Jackson watched the three guards on either side, measured them. He shared a calculated look with Tristan.

  “The others are awake.” Augustus tilted his head back. His eyes glazed over.

  Sophie felt the reverence he held for the queen. A heaviness grew in the air. She didn’t have time to warn the others before several more vampires surrounded them.

  “Well, well. What do we have here?”

  The voice that came out of the darkness lure them, soft and beautiful. The face that emerged matched that description. Long blonde hair framed an angelic face and large blue eyes.

  The eyes stared directly at Demetri and froze the air between them.

  “Demetri, it’s been a long time.” The blue eyes flickered over the group. Her lithe body moved gracefully. She came to a stop a few feet in front of them. Her skin seemed to hum and glow beneath her barely-there black dress.

  Augustus couldn’t take his eyes off of the queen. His every feature melted into pitiful obsession.

  Behind her came the rest of her coven. Six males, all dressed in suits and ties, came to stand at her rear. They wore expressions of boredom, like this is something they dealt with every day.

  “Let the girl go, Cairo.” Demetri’s grip tightened on his machete. His muscles jumpeded.

  “You know I can’t do that.” Cairo smiled. The beauty of it clashed with her dead eyes. “The girl is ours. We will use her in a ritual for our Lady.”

  Sophie shivered at the mention of the lady. That horrible laughter filled her mind. The visions threatened to pull her in.

  Cairo’s blue eyes settled on her and she cocked her head to the side. Her golden hair spilled over glowing shoulders. “You can sense us.”

  Tristan growled again.

  Cairo barely spared hi
m a glance and again focused on Sophie.

  Sophie resisted the urge to run and hide. Cairo held a lethal curiosity for them. One that could destroy them.

  “We want the girl.” Demetri repeated.

  The guys tensed when Cairo ran her eyes over them again and reassessed. “Who did you bring me, Demetri?” She hissed. “Would the Dark Priestess be happy if I killed them?”

  Aidan moved to strike but Demetri shook his head harshly. His jaw set and he stared across the small space at the queen.

  Ruth risked a sympathetic glance in his direction. In it Sophie read love and sadness.

  What was Demetri’s story?

  A shrill scream slashed through the silence.

  Katie had suddenly found her will to live. The echoes of her shriek pounded against Sophie with so much anguish it almost brought her to her knees. Instead, she rushed forward.

  Augustus placed his fangs on the side of Katie’s neck.

  Sophie snapped back and forced herself to remain motionless.

  Cairo’s lips curved in amusement. She watched from the sidelines with her coven. Everyone went still. Each side eyed the other. The bored expressions on the male vampires’ faces turned hungry with excitement.

  Sophie watched their pupils expand to take in all sliver of movement in the barn.

  Jackson struck first. He hit the group of beautiful vampires with an invisible force that knocked them back and off their feet.

  Cairo sat up fast and bared her fangs. Her eyes narrowed and her lips thinned.

  Demetri and Ruth jumped on the others. Their bodies moved in sync as they attacked.

  “Crap!” Sophie looked from one group to the other. What good would a psychic do now?

  Aidan stood in between the girls and the advancing vampires. They stalked them. Wanted to taste them.

  In her mind Katie’s terror spiked. Sophie faced Augustus. She had to admit to herself that some of the terror she felt was her own as she watched Augustus and his ugly partners.

  Augustus’s one eye widened.

  Sophie looked back to see what he was so afraid of. Tristan’s body became lean and long and swathed in golden fur. Dark brown hair sprouted from his face and head and formed a mane. When he finished, he was five hundred pounds of mature lion.

  Sophie thought he was beautiful.

  Tristan tilted his head back and roared. The rafters shook.

  Sophie flinched at the sound.

  “You’re not human.” Augustus took a few steps back. He dragged Katie across the floor.

  His cruelty was too much to bear.

  Something brushed past Sophie and left the air shimmering. Through that she could see Lilli leaning against one of the beams, her face ashen. It was easy to forget that Lilli, having no visions, wasn’t exposed to this type of violence.

  Still invisible, Morgan grabbed Augustus by the greasy strands of hair and jerked back hard.

  He hissed and swung out. His hold on Katie severed and she fell to her knees.

  Augustus’s fist connected with Morgan’s shoulder, making her solidify. His eye gleamed and he wrapped his hands around her throat.

  Katie crawled toward the barn wall.

  “Morgan!” What was she supposed to do?

  Tristan swept by her. His large body prowled toward Augustus. In an instant, he pounced. Razor sharp teeth tore into the vampire’s blackened flesh. He growled from the back of his throat and pinned Augustus to the ground.

  Katie knelt with her shoulders hunched. Morgan crept to her.

  Sophie and Lilli rushed to join Morgan. Behind them chaos reigned but all Sophie saw was Katie’s unfocused eyes and heard the breaths that rattled in her chest. The girl’s clothes hung from her body in tatters. Sophie frowned at the number of scratches and bruises that marred her skin.

  “Lilli.” Morgan pleaded. Worry for the redhead lined her face.

  Lilli placed a hand on Katie’s shoulder, making Katie flinch. Her eyes rolled back in her head and she slumped forward.

  “Is she dead?” Morgan whispered.

  Lilli shook her head. “No, she passed out. Too much was happening for her to process.”

  “Look out!” Morgan screamed.

  * * *

  Chapter Twelve

  Something wrapped around the collar of Sophie’s jacket and lifted her easily into the air.

  Cairo held her and Lilli up, one in each hand, like they were both a sack of feathers. Her unblinking eyes settled on Sophie. “You’re so powerful. How does a human become this way?”

  Out of the corner of her eye, Sophie saw Morgan struggle to pick Katie up. When she realized that wouldn’t work, Morgan dragged her gently out of the way.

  Sophie balled up her fist and swung.

  Cairo dodged it effortlessly. Her musical laugh grated on Sophie’s nerves. “You can’t possibly think it’d be that easy?” Cairo tilted her head to the side and watched the brightness of color surrounding Sophie. No longer in control over her actions, she released Lilli to concentrate fully on the light. “You have such an aura. So much light. I miss that, you know. I may keep you for myself.”

  Tristan moved from Augustus to two of Cairo’s entourage.

  A sudden waft of heat hit them. Cairo cried out.

  Sophie hit the dirt and rolled. The air pushed out of her lungs and she coughed. When she turned on her back and lifted herself on her elbows, she gasped.

  Flames covered Cairo. Her glowing skin blistered.

  Aidan forced more heat into the fire that engulfed her.

  Demetri shoved one of the guards into the back draft of Aidan’s flames. With practiced movements he swung his machete and severed the head.

  Aidan turned to the last two remaining guards.

  Cairo pulled her severely burnt form toward Sophie. The vampire’s eyes were no longer a cerulean blue but a deep red that stood out sharply against charred flesh.

  “Aura. So bright.” When Cairo spoke the flesh on her throat flapped in and out. The whistling sound it made shot goose bumps up Sophie’s arms.

  Sophie couldn’t make her legs work. All around her she could hear the sounds of the battle but still, she couldn’t move. She watched helplessly while Cairo came closer, venom dripping from her fangs.

  Over Cairo’s shoulder Sophie watched Morgan and Lilli bend over Katie. Lilli’s hands gently ran over Katie’s body, searching for Katie’s most lethal injuries.

  Ruth ran past her line of eyesight to protect the girls.

  Someone yanked Sophie up by the arm. She started to resist.

  “Stop.”

  That clear command, in Demetri’s harsh voice, stilled her.

  His entire body tensed when he pointed his machete at Cairo. “You won’t get away from me this time. You will pay for what you did.”

  His voice broke and tears sprang to Sophie’s eyes. What was he talking about?

  Before she could ask, something twisted in her hair and jerked backward. She landed in the heated straw. Smoke rose fast and the flames became too much for Jackson and Aidan to handle.

  Her vision suddenly filled with one angry vampire.

  “She was my wife! You destroyed her beautiful face!” The guy spit out. Even fuming, he enthralled Sophie with his beauty. Not a section of his body was marred by wrinkles or blemishes.

  His weight settled over her. He leaned down and sniffed her neck. Blond hair tickled her cheek.

  Sophie struggled against him.

  He chuckled. “Keep doing that. I like it.”

  She froze at the sound of husky desire in his voice. Her mind raced with her heart. She needed to get away.

  “So beautiful. So bright.” He trailed a sharp fingernail down the side of her face. His eyes traveled the length of her body.

  She arched her back in pain and her throat closed on a sob. His fingernail left a burning wake on her face.

  “I could use you to replace her.”

  When he nuzzled her neck, she felt his sharp teeth trail her skin.


  She had to find some way to get out from under him, some way to escape—-

  With a whoosh the vampire’s head fell from his shoulders and bounced off of her chest. His body collapsed on hers, the weight sudden.

  Sophie panicked. She thrashed, trying to push his body off of hers. The smell of old blood and decayed skin choked her.

  The eyes in the head stared up at her accusingly as she shoved it off.

  As she scrambled backward, she managed to wriggle out from under him. She glanced up to see Demetri standing behind the body, his face was devoid of expression but his stance aggressive. The dark red blood on the edge of his machete caught her eye.

  Sophie was mesmerized by the slow drip, drip as the red spots bounced onto the ground. She tore her gaze from it to look up at him. “Cairo?” She forced herself to stand. Around her the fire swelled in the dry hay and wooden walls. The smoke thickened and wrapped around them.

  “Her remaining lackey took her and ran.” Demetri wiped the machete clean on the leg of his pants. Sophie couldn’t tell if that admission bothered him.

  “Guys, I can’t hold this much longer!” Aidan yelled over the increased roar of the flames. Sweat beaded on his brow and he grit his teeth. His hands faced out and far away from his chest, and he pushed the fire back.

  Jackson lost his patience and focused on the wall where Ruth, Katie, Morgan, and Lilli hunkered down. He reached out his arm, hands facing outward, and flexed his fingers.

  The wall blasted outward and skyrocketed a couple hundred feet.

  Oxygen rushed in, feeding the fire more.

  “Get out of here!” Aidan stumbled backward and the fire expanded.

  Jackson knelt down and lifted Katie into his arms. Lilli and Morgan ran after him. Tristan nudged at Sophie with his mane, urging her to make it fast. Beams groaned and splintered right after they passed under them.

  Ruth and Demetri rushed out, Aidan close on their heels.

  The first thing Sophie did was suck in a lungful of crisp, night air. Her heart beat painfully in her chest. She thought about what had been in there.

  The barn groaned and she turned in time to see it collapse. Heat and smoke billowed out and engulfed her and her friends.

  Exhaustion set in while she stared at the barn-turned-bonfire. Had they really just fought a whole coven of vampires?