Uniquely Unwelcome (The Shadow World, #1)

by Brandy Nacole

  “Look, I may be different but I don’t go around slaughtering people, let alone pups. They probably taste horrible and leave a nasty flavor in your mouth. So yeah, I managed to make it without devouring my passenger.”

  Danika looks shyly to her feet and then to me. “I didn’t mean it like that. Mom said you and Ethan were bickering and feared it would interfere with your true purpose. But Aunt Dagna assured her that it would not.”

  Oh. I mutter an apology and finish pumping gas. Danika shuts down and puts distance between us after I blow up at her. We make our way inside the store in silence. I guess I can chalk up that messy introduction as my fault. Hmm. I wonder if I can blame it on Ethan somehow. He did piss me off at the last stop, not to mention his presence for the last 600 miles. That’s enough to set anyone off, right?

  After going to the restroom and buying something to drink, I wait for Danika and Ethan outside the store. Danika instructs me to follow her. Ethan lets me know he’s riding with her, which really doesn’t surprise me. I knew the first chance he got he would bail. Heck I would have too.

  We drive through the back roads of Massachusetts until the road turns from pavement to gravel. Danika said it was about an hour drive and it’s been about forty five so I’m guessing we are close.

  Danika’s tail lights disappear around a bend as a strange feeling comes over me. A fog settles in my mind as my body tingles with numbness. I try grasping onto my thoughts to remember where I am but find nothing. I slowly edge my foot off the gas to take a better look around. Why am I on a gravel road in the middle of nowhere? The last thing I remember is being at home in Virginia.

  I bring the car to a complete stop. I have a sudden urge to turn around. Something’s not right. I put the car in reverse to back up, then almost jump out of my skin when my cell phone rings. A number flashes across the screen that I don’t recognize. Instead of answering, I put the phone down as I continue to back up. The ringing stops but immediately rings again.

  I cautiously answer. “Hello?”

  “Racquel, it’s Danika.” The voice is stern but I don’t recognize it.

  “Who?”

  “Danika, listen we just went through the wards to the Covenant. You’re just experiencing a little magic from the wards. It makes people forget about why they were coming this way and to urge them to turn around.”

  “I don’t know you! Is this some kind of joke?” I ask, my voice shaking. Where am I? And who is this girl?

  There is no way I would go see the Covenant on my own free will. I’m just about to hang up when I hear this Danika person scream into the phone.

  “Listen to me. If you can remember your purpose for seeing the Elders, the magic will wear off. Remember Addie! Your sister is missing, remember? You came to the Covenant seeking answers to find her.”

  I sit there a minute trying to remember anything that might sound familiar to what she is saying. Of course I remember Addie. She’s all I have left. How could she be missing? She’s safe at the Covenant with the Elders. Then I start remembering bit by bit: Ethan’s accusations toward me, the talk with Dagna, the ride with Ethan, then meeting up with Danika.

  “Okay, I think I’m okay.” I try controlling the shaking in my voice but it’s hard. My whole body is shaking and I feel cold all over. A shudder runs over me as I think about the horror of almost losing my memories without even knowing it. That’s a scary thought.

  “You sure?” Danika asks, sounding skeptical.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks for talking me through that.” I feel stronger, less shaky and perplexed. I feel my body returning to normal. The shaking has all but stopped.

  “Okay, let’s get going then.” She hangs up, without acknowledging my gratefulness.

  Looking up ahead, I see where Danika pulled over. I shake off the little fogginess that remains, then follow behind Danika once again.

  This experience has completely freaked me out. Not knowing where I was or why was scary. Those wards must be pretty powerful. Maybe I need to learn more about my powers and how to make wards like that. I could use a ward around me to make people forget how bizarre I am. Then life would be normal. Well, as normal as it could be for any being in the Shadow World.

  I see Danika’s brake lights flare. A gate blocks her way. A man steps out beside her car, seeming to appear from nowhere. The man is dressed in jeans, a black shirt, combat boots, and wearing a weapons belt. Wondering where in the crap he came from, I take a closer look at the brush he stepped out from. Behind the brush is a small shack that’s camouflaged by vines that cover it.

  The man is tall and slim, not extremely thin but not bulgy either. He leans in toward Danika, listening, then stands to look back at me. The jerk pulls out a flashlight, and points its bright light in my face, temporarily blinding me. Once my vision adjusts, I see him nod at Danika. He steps aside giving us the all clear to pass. I follow Danika as she drives on through the gate.

  Once inside, I look around amazed. There are rows of houses neatly placed like a suburb. But these houses are not like your average everyday suburban houses. They are built like any other residences but on the outside there are vines of ivy, covering each one completely.

  On top of the roofs there appears to be regular shingling but on top of that is a hay and leaf blend that makes the house blend with the forest. If it wasn’t for my excellent night vision, I would have never been able to see the shingles or the siding. In the center of all the houses is one dwelling that is covered in the same manner but is much larger.

  I get out of the car and do a quick sweep of the grounds. The first thing I notice is the shabby excuse for a fence, if you can even call it a fence. Real trees are spaced every four to five feet with three rows of ivy vines stretched between each tree.

  “It’s great isn’t it?” Danika has exited her car and is now standing beside me with a very proud smile on her face.

  “Yeah, it’s great. But the security seems kind of sketchy.” Surely they have more than vines protecting them.

  Danika looks around the grounds, baffled. “What do you mean?”

  “Well take your so-called security fence for instance. Those trees are too far apart to camouflage this place properly, never mind the vines.”

  “Those vines are magically enhanced. Even if a person got through the wards you experienced earlier, they would still never make it past the vines. The person would only see an impassable thicket. If they tried to attempt to go through that thicket, they lose consciousness once they touch the vines. Something like a magical Taser.” My stunned expression has Danika rushing to explain. “Only for a short amount of time, it doesn’t hurt them at all. It allows us to erase any memory they might have of this location and place them in a more common location back in town.”

  “Okay.” At first I’m thinking ‘harsh’ but then see the brilliance behind it. How killer is that? Magically enhanced vines and trees, not to mention the invisible wards that mess with your brain. I’m getting more intrigued by the minute.

  “What about the vines on the houses and the hay on the roof? What’s all that for?”

  “The hay is enhanced to help us flow better with nature. When planes fly over, they only see a hay field.” The astonished look on my face brings out a broad smile on Danika’s face. I guess anything can be magically enhanced.

  Ethan finally gets out of the car and joins us. He looks apprehensive as he looks around the grounds. His eyes gleam in the night, adjusting to the darkness. Ethan looks nervous and shoves his hands deep in his pockets. When Danika instructs us to follow her, he continues to remain quiet.

  As we get closer to the big house, the more power I can feel radiating from it. I wonder if it’s the ivy and hay or some other source of power.

  “Where are we going?” I ask, feeling a little intimidated and nervous.

  “This is the Elders’ house. There is dorm housing in the back, where you and Ethan will be staying. The Elders will not be meeting with you until morning. They
thought it would be better to meet after you have rested.”

  Once we get past the Elders’ house we see a big fire pit out back. In a normal neighborhood this is where a fountain with a welcome sign might be, right in the center of everything. It is vacated at the moment, but the smell of smoke and glowing embers tell me a fire had been built earlier in the evening.

  We pass many houses and end up at a longer type building with several windows. This must be the dorm house. A girl appears to be sneaking back in, although sneaking through the front door doesn’t seem so sneaky.

  When the girl sees us, she turns with an ‘I’m innocent’ smile. “Hey Danika, are these our visitors?” she asks, with a strong southern accent. I guess the Coven has been forewarned about our visit. I wonder how many visitors the Covenant gets.

  “Yeah, we just arrived.” Danika answers dismissively as she digs around in her bag.

  The girl is quick to introduce herself with a friendly smile. “Hi, I’m Fawn.” Fawn is a pretty girl with black hair that hangs down her back, framing her heart shaped face.

  Ethan utters a ‘hey’ but keeps his head down. Weird. This is a side of him I have never seen before: shy, nervous, and quiet. It’s kind of nice.

  “Hi Fawn, I’m Racquel.”

  “Ah, the mysterious one.” I hold back an eye roll as she continues. “I’ve heard so much about you. So what do you think about our little village here?”

  “Honestly?”

  Fawn’s smile widens. “Honestly.”

  “Well, it’s not really what I expected.”

  “What did you expect?” she asks.

  Gods, please don’t let me offend anyone here. “Well it’s kind of stereotyping but I expected to see grass huts, like back in the day. Maybe a big black kettle pot hanging outside by the fire with a pig or something rotating on a rotisserie thingy.”

  Fawn and Danika chuckle, “What, no hay-stick brooms with Witches flying around?” Fawn asks with a smile.

  “No, of course not.” I sway from side to side a bit nervous, knowing I’m being ridiculous.

  Ethan just stands there, shaking his head like I’m the biggest moron in the world. Well I would like to know what he expected. Limos? Mansions? All the gold you could ever want? Jeez.

  “Well each home does have a black kettle pot, also known as a caldron, but it’s normal size, to fit in a smaller fire place or on a stove. We don’t mix a bunch of pigs’ feet or chicken hearts in them. We just make herbal infusions, decoctions, and tinctures in them. I guess our houses do look kind of like the old grass huts, but with modern plumbing on the inside.” Fawn chuckles again before continuing. “But why would you think we would be roasting a pig on a rotisserie?”

  I blush; this is so stereotyping not to mention embarrassing. I’ve watched too many movies. I just shrug once again, looking away. The last Coven I visited was in Africa. They lived like that—but then so did the humans.

  The dorm building is three stories high, its walls covered in vines like the others. As I step closer to the building, my nose is assaulted by the smell of basil, and maybe thyme. Looking to my right, I see rows of plants surrounding the building. Some of the plants are in pots, the rest are planted in the ground. They wrap around the front of the building and expand across the side to a bigger garden.

  Danika opens the door, ushering us all inside. I’ve never been in a college dorm but I imagine this is what it would look like. Nothing but hallways and doors with pictures or some type of personal signature marking the door. Although, I did imagine a college dorm being a little more noisy. For a dorm house that occupies newly young Witches, it’s unusually quiet.

  “So where is everyone?” I ask, peering down the halls.

  “Asleep, studying, who knows? Lights out is supposed to be at midnight except for special occasions. The Elders think it’s important to let our minds relax and our inner power to unwind for a while.” Fawn looks down at her watch.

  “Well, I’m this way,” Fawn points behind her, “and you’re that way. So I guess I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

  We part ways with Fawn, and continue on down the hallway with a few heads popping out here or there to get a look at the visitors. Some look curious, standing openly in their doorways, while others look scared, sticking their heads out only for a second.

  Danika stops at the end of the hall. “This is your room, Racquel, and your room is across the hall, Ethan. Here are your keys,” she says, handing us our keys. “You need to return them before you depart. If you get hungry or need something to drink, there is a kitchen down that way with a diamond window on the door. My room’s past the front entrance, with a painted sun on the door. You can’t miss it.” She gives the instructions like a hotel clerk before turning back toward her room. I wonder if she’s always like this? She doesn’t seem like a teenage girl who’s in college for Witches. She seems more like the dorm mother, uptight and full of rules. But I did notice the small smile she gave Ethan before she turned to go.

  As I’m turning the knob to go in my room, Ethan clears his throat. “Um, don’t you think we need our bags? I know I would like to change.”

  Crap. I forgot all about my bags, let alone his. I was too busy looking around, checking for threats, scoping out the security, and well, just being nosy.

  “Yeah, I guess we do.” I turn back toward the front entrance, but notice Ethan isn’t following me. “Um, are you coming?”

  He sighs and runs his hand through his hair. “Can’t you just get my bag for me?”

  What does he think I am, a bell hop?

  “No. I’m not carrying all my stuff and your stuff too.”

  Ethan lets out a big huff and then pushes past me. Jeez, he’s being awfully moody tonight. I wonder if the wards had an effect on him or something.

  Once we get back outside, we walk back down the path that leads around the big house. I notice a few people standing outside now. They watch us as we walk down the path like we’re naughty teenagers sneaking out late at night. No, they’re probably thinking more along the lines of monsters out for a snack.

  I try easing the tension—really the unease of being watched like this—by talking to Ethan. “So did the wards have any affect on you?”

  Ethan shrugs his shoulders. “No.”

  Well he’s a big conversationalist isn’t he?

  “I wonder why?” I ask, curious, but also trying to keep the conversation going.

  “Danika said her car and all those within it were protected from the wards. I guess it has some type of shield to ward off the wards.” Ethan mumbles so low I can barely hear him.

  “That’s so awesome,” I say with a little too much enthusiasm. But it’s true. Wards to ward off wards. How freaking cool!

  Ethan just shrugs his shoulders yet again, and keeps walking. I decide talking with him is just as much trouble as worrying about the eyes watching us, so we walk on in silence.

  Once we get our bags, we head straight back to the dorms. Halfway back, I remember that I left my phone charger in the console of the car. I tell Ethan to go on ahead while I go back to get my charger. What a surprise, all he does is shrug his shoulders. Ugh.

  On my way back to the dorm, I feel a little exposed and threatened. I didn’t feel this way before but now I’m alone with people watching me like a hawk getting ready to dive upon its prey. I pick up my pace in case one of them decides to burn me at the stake to rid the world of something so ‘unnatural.’

  Once inside my room, I relax just a bit. My room holds a single bed pushed in one corner, a bare dresser, a night stand with a lamp, a small closet, and a full bathroom. The walls are bare, probably left open for any new resident who may move in.

  Not feeling comfortable being so exposed in an unfamiliar place to enjoy the relaxation the shower could offer, I take a disappointingly quick one. While drying off, I glance in the mirror. I trail my fingers over the lightly pink scars that crisscross my stomach and disappear around my back, remembering the torture I w
ent through this past year. I had really fooled myself into thinking my life at home was hell. Ha, that was a windy walk in the park compared to the storm of pain I had faced. Pulling my shirt down, I cover the scars, wanting nothing more than for them to stay hidden from the world. What I’ve been through is my business and my business alone. I don’t need nor want sympathy for something that’s already done and for a life that I can’t change.

  Walking out of the bathroom with my wet hair soaking into my shirt, I plop down on the bed. I try relaxing, knowing I need some rest, but find myself restless. I can’t seem to shut my mind off. I lay there thinking about Addie and where she may be. Wondering what’s happening to her. Then I think about how strange my life has flipped in the past twenty four hours. It all just seems so unreal.

  I continue tossing and turning. My body should be out, my mind in a deep dark dream after such a long drive. I turn on my side, closing my eyes and lying still. I try not to think of anything at all.

  After a few minutes, I grow impatient and fling the covers back. I get up and look out the single window.

  Beyond the fence I can make out a cliff that overlooks the ocean. I hadn’t realized how close we were to the coast while we were driving up here. It seemed as though we were going into the middle of nowhere, with nothing around but trees.

  My tired body is screaming at me to lie back down but my restless mind is keeping me from sleep. I decide a nice late night walk might just be the trick to calm my racing mind.

  I grab the flashlight hanging on the wall and head out. I try my window but it’s sealed. That’s weird. Why would they seal the windows, with no way to escape in the event of an emergency? Not wanting to break it, I decide to head out into the hall to look for a close, quiet exit.

  After checking every exit door, the front entrance is the only exit I can find that’s open. I question whether I should take the chance of going back out or whether I should head back to bed to toss and turn. My curiosity wins and I head out the main door. I don’t run into anyone on my way out or when I get outside.