Amaranthine (Willow Shadows Book 1)

by Lanie Jacobs

  “Why? You want him to kick your ass, again?” she spat with distaste.

  Taking another step forward, she realized just how much trouble was coming toward her in the middle of nowhere, with nowhere to run and no one around to hear her screams.

  “What do you think you’re going to do?” he said as she instinctively went into a protective stance.

  Before she could move out his way, he grabbed her face, forcing her head back as he grabbed her hair. Khalida swung her elbow and caught him right in throat, but catching him off guard was not enough for her to escape because he didn’t let go of her hair as she expected, just gripped it tighter. In their struggle, Khalida fell to the ground just as the back of his hand connected with the side of her face. She got up as fast as she could, but Carey was gone, nowhere in sight. His car was still running on the side of the road but it was empty, headlights beaming straight ahead.

  She was so busy looking forward trying to find Carey that she didn’t hear him as he crept up behind her. It was too late to turn around. His arm came across her neck placing Khalida in a head lock. With no other option in sight, Khalida, bit down on his arm hard enough to send a shock through his body. That was enough for him to let her go. As Khalida turned to face her attacker, he punched her on the side of her head, dizzying her to the point that she fell to her knees as he continued to hold her head up by her hair as he used her face for a punching bag.

  “You crazy bitch! You’re going to pay for that!” he snarled, lifting his arm up so he could look at the wound now burning on his arm.

  Half scared and half pissed off, she struggled to stand up, trying steady herself as Carey jerked her around by her hair. He stopped long enough to let her get steady allowing her leg to land right between his legs, causing him to crumple to the ground in agony.

  Khalida glanced around the ground for a rock or a stick, something to annihilate that asshole with, but nothing came into view. She looked up to see a car passing with their bright lights on, causing blindness for a few critical seconds. When she turned back to Carey, he was inches from within her face. She stumbled back as a fierce slap came across her face. Khalida grabbed her mouth as the taste of blood poured out, and the car that had temporarily blinded her made a U-turn.

  “HELP ME PLEASE SOMEONE HELP!” she screamed as loud as her raspy voice would let her.

  The screeching car came to a stop inches from where she stood, and happiness poured out of her as she looked up to see a green Camaro.

  Luke.

  Khalida heard Luke screaming at her to get in the car, but she couldn’t move in the direction he wanted her to. Feeling woozy and struggling to stand, she didn’t move, blood dripping from her face and sharp pains searing throughout her body.

  Luke went after Carey. Her mind oozed of revenge as every inch of her body was set on payback. Walking away from the fighting that had ensued with Luke and Carey, she made a last minute decision and decided to jump in the already running dark as midnight Audi. Gassing the engine, she reveled in the sound and threw the gear into drive, slamming the gas pedal down as far as it would go. The smell of rubber flew into her nose, Khalida couldn’t help but laugh. The music playing across the radio was old country and really not her type at all. Her fingers ached as she fiddled with the radio tuner, changing the channel until she came across some Chevelle. Turning it up, she eased back into the seat, contemplating her next move. Wiping her chin with the back of her hand, cringing from the pain and tenderness, she felt a warm sliver dripping down, reminding her of what had just happened by the taste of blood that still lingered in her mouth.

  Anger instantly flashed through her already restless and wandering mind. She eased off the gas, allowing the car to slow to a near stop, considering her next move was necessary but time wasn’t on her side. After a few seconds, Khalida decided to reap havoc. She knew there would be no witnesses to her next move; that part of town was dreary and vacant most of the time except for the random passerby on the highway. Gripping the steering wheel tight, making her knuckles glow white, she continued speeding towards the upcoming curve in the road she knew would be her best weapon, a curve that was bordered by a steep ravine. Khalida’s heart started to pound heavily in her chest as doubt threatened to sweep over her mind.

  Now or never.

  Khalida pushed on the gas, flooring the gas pedal as she threw the door open and jumped from the speeding car, her body rolling as she hit the gravel road. She stumbled and rolled many times before coming to a stop on the side of the highway in the dust and rocks.

  Ouch! What the hell was I thinking?

  Khalida’s body, already showing signs of being battered and bruised from her earlier encounter, formed a grim smile across her face as the deafening sounds of the crash came from below. Victory hung on her face as she slowly began to limp away, but she had only taken a few steps when Luke’s car pulled up behind her, forcing Khalida into a dead halt.

  Her vision started to blur as waves of nausea crashed against her stomach, and reaching up, she could feel something running down her cheek. Touching her face and looking at the wetness she had on her fingertips, she realized it was blood.

  “Get in the car, Khalida!” Luke yelled at Khalida. She could see his mouth moving and knew he was yelling but it was just a blur.

  Moments after, she saw Luke standing in front of her before everything stood still and she stumbled to the ground. Khalida could hear Luke talking but nothing made sense as her head began to spin.

  Did I get hit that hard?

  Everything went silent and when she came to, Luke was carrying her up the stairs to her bedroom.

  “Khalida, your body is weak right now. I never should have let you go off by yourself,” he sounded disappointed.

  Her own bed was all she needed. Falling into a place where darkness surrounded her, she drifted off to sleep.

  Khalida could hear voices, utterances calling out her name through the darkness. Alone, she began to walk down a long, dark and narrow road, withering from the heavy usage and rain it had endured over the years. Darkness dancing around, the only stream of light beamed from a brilliant round moon in the star filled sky.

  The voices were calling her name, calling to Khalida as if she were lost, and yet, somehow, she knew she was the only one that would be able to help them to a safer place. Khalida was overwhelmed, drawn to the voices like she was the one that had to help them, feeling she was the only one that could. A benevolent need took over, urging her forward to protect the ones that sought her out and wanted her to be their protector.

  She picked up her pace and headed straight toward the sound of their weakened voices. “I hear you!” Khalida screamed into the dark black night, “Where are you?” she quizzed, shaking as her voice filled the emptiness around her.

  Again, her name is called out, only this time it was more urgent, filled with desperation.

  Moving closer, she heard the voices more clearly, and with a spark of reckoning and ringing in her ears, the sound threatened to bring Khalida to her knees. The familiar voices were that of Khalida’s mom, Fatin, and the other voice was Luke’s. Khalida could hear the worry and stress cracking in the fragile voice her mother, the sounds of hopelessness hanging on the edge of every word. She spoke as if Khalida couldn’t hear her, like she wasn’t close enough for her to hear her mother speaking. Luke was speaking to Fatin but she couldn’t hear what he was saying, but she knew it was about her.

  The voices were coming from the darkness beyond the dirt road she traveled down. Now running, Khalida made her way down the ditch and into the dense gathering of the tall, overgrown trees. The voices of her mother and Luke had quieted, and as she breached the darkness of the forest, they faded so softly that she couldn’t hear them, anymore. Khalida began to doubt that she was headed in the right direction and stopped, resting her hand on the trunk of a dying willow tree, leafless and slumped over
.

  Trudging forward, she picked her pace back up to a slow jog, going further down the path then what she really wanted to go. Trying desperately to find the familiar voices, she was back to running, still moving forward, surrounded by an eeriness that made goose bumps scatter across the back of her neck. Coming to a sudden stop, she listened more intently.

  The air was still, a dead calm with a bestowing feeling. There were no sounds at all except for the rapid rise and fall hitching of Khalida’s own breathing. She listened harder, straining to hear something, anything. Suddenly, her muscles stiffened as a cold draft drifted across the desiccant land sending chills across her skin, chilling her to the bone.

  The hair stood up on the back of her neck, instantly alerting her to the danger that was closing in around her. Khalida saw nothing as she looked around, still hesitant and aware of the worry that was sinking into her gut. These sorts of feelings weren’t normal, and Khalida struggled with the fear that was creeping up her spine. She knew it wasn’t the chill of the air that surrounded her that was causing this fear.

  Through the darkness, Khalida sensed that someone was watching her every move from the distance. She looked to the shadows, wandering through the darkness, searching, sighing as she found nothing.

  “It’ll all be over soon,” the grim voice whispered through the wind.

  Snapping her head in the direction of the voice, Khalida stood still, her chest heaving heavily with fear. “Who’s there?” she called out.

  “Me?” laughed the voice, “I’m the one who wants you. I can give you what others can’t.”

  Evil shadows flitted through the trees, wrapping around them, inching forward slowly to where Khalida stood. The wind tossing her hair slowly, catching her attention and stopping the trance she found herself slipping into. The only thing that came to her mind beside the fear that clenched in her throat was out of survival.

  RUN!

  Khalida turned, throwing her legs into gear. She started running as fast as her feet would allow without falling face forward. Her heart had practically exploded with fear, banging against her chest as pure adrenaline was carrying her. Khalida gasped as the evil began closing in around her. She could see nothing as she bolted forwarded but could feel the atrocious malevolence nipping at her heels. It was cold, dark, pure evil, and it was coming straight for her.

  Stopping dead in her tracks, Khalida realized something. This thing wanted to scare her; it wanted her to run.

  Khalida took a deep gulp of fresh air trying desperately to catch her breath. She stood still for a few moments, contemplating what she should do next.

  Do I keep running or stand up and fight?

  Khalida glanced around desperately as she tried to make sense of this moment.

  “You want me? Here I am! What are you waiting for?” she screamed as loudly as she could.

  The response she received sounded like a hundred hyenas cackling in the far distance but the evil shadows receded. Khalida stood, watching and waiting, but the shadows slithered further away.

  “This has only just begun,” the grim words came as a deadly whisper.

  CHAPTER 5

  Khalida opened her eyes to see Luke and her mother talking right outside her bedroom door. They were whispering, making it hard for her to understand what they were discussing.

  Ugh, shut up and look at me, Luke. I hate secrets.

  Just then, Luke stopped talking and turned to look at Khalida.

  “Ah, you’re awake,” he said, walking over and sitting on the edge of her bed, “how do you feel?” he asked as he grabbed her hand, pulling it to his chin, his brow furrowed showing worry on his handsome face. Khalida smiled wryly, aware of how warm his skin felt next to her clamminess. Khalida was also very aware of the senses that Luke brought out in her and exactly how much she liked him being beside her but maybe not so much the whispers he’d been sharing with her mother. She suspected the whispers were about her, but she wasn’t sure she should ask about the conversation that the two were having moments before she came to.

  “What is that all about?” she asked, knowing she wouldn’t get the answer she wanted.

  “We’ve been worried about you, that’s all, Toot,” Luke said as he softly swiped her fingertips across his lips, knowing that’s not what she meant. Khalida sighed roughly, showing signs of aggravation with the name and the dismissal of her question.

  If he calls me that one more time, Ima bite him.

  “You know what I mean so stop trying to dismiss me. I want to know everything, so... let’s start first with how long I’ve been home and how I got here. And then let’s finish with what you two were just talking about,” Khalida held her breath as she waited for one of them to answer, but they both just stared at each other, neither daring to go first.

  “Well?” she demanded impatiently.

  Fatin sat on the other side of her daughter’s bed, reached out and laid a cold hand on Khalida’s arm.

  “Three days, honey. Today is Monday,” hearing the softness of her voice reminded Khalida of her dream. Khalida instantly had regret for being so demanding at the sound of worry that was pouring through her mother’s voice.

  Luke looked over at Fatin and then slowly turned his gaze back to Khalida. “Monday evening actually, so on a lighter note, at least you don’t have to get dressed for school,” Luke joked.

  Khalida looked at him with the most extreme look of disgust she could muster and said, “Very cute. I can’t believe I was out for three days.”

  Fatin tried to wash the worry away as she looked at her daughter lying like a small child cuddled in her blankets.

  “Your body has begun to go through its transition, Khalida. So far, your body is holding up though you are weakened. For now, we can only assume that it won’t complete until your birthday,” she said softly, “you biting Luke wasn’t supposed to happen, but since it did, we can only guess that it ultimately sped up the process. Once his pure blood hit your system, it must of jumpstarted your change. Your body started showing signs of change shortly after Luke brought you home,” Fatin replied, glaring at Luke.

  Khalida could tell by the way her mom was looking at Luke that she wasn’t happy about the way things went down, and tension was hanging over their heads like rolling clouds.

  “We didn’t have sex, Mom, if that’s what is bothering you,” Khalida shamelessly blurted out, blushing suddenly at the thought of what might have happened that night if this whole fantasy world hadn’t come crashing down on her.

  “What?” Fatin said, shocked at the words that came from her daughter.

  “Well, you’re upset about something, and right now, it seems like its Luke? I can tell you are, so don’t bother denying it.”

  “I’m not upset... at Luke,” she replied. “I’m not particularly happy that you two are bonded by your blood right now, but honestly, the way you two are and have been over the years, I suppose the two of you have a connection and would have been blood-bonded sooner or later. I think I’ve always thought that, it’s just sooner than I wanted.”

  Khalida thought for a moment. “I really don’t see why it’s a big deal. If that is what our kind does, then why does it matter now?” she asked, quizzing her mother further.

  Khalida’s mother was looking directly at her daughter now.

  “Well, first of all, Little Miss, because you are still seventeen, and second, bonding to someone by blood,” she said nervously, “it’s, well,” Fatin was stuttering with nervousness, “it’s more intimate than just sex.”

  Oh, now that’s embarrassing.

  Khalida looked over at Luke for help, but he looked away, quickly smiling wide but offering no assistance.

  “So, about Friday night,” Khalida started as she tried to get Luke’s attention, “what happened with Carey? I can’t remember.”

  Wasn’t that an understatement?


  To even try and remember that night was splitting Khalida’s head in two. With the mention of Carey’s name, Luke went utterly still, the smooth line of his jaw hardening, the muscles jerking as he clamped his teeth together. His cool blue eyes went dark and hard and the relaxed posture he once had moments before became firm and rigid.

  “He won’t be bothering you, again.”

  By that short answer, Khalida knew she shouldn’t keep probing around for more answers. With her mother in the room, going through all the details probably wasn’t a good idea. That night wasn’t that important anyway. Khalida decided to shrug it off; she wasn’t sure she wanted the details, anyway. It was over for now and from the coldness that rolled off of Luke, she decided to let it go until he brought it back up, if he decided to, anyway.

  “Okay, so, how do you feel?” her mother looked over at her cautiously.

  Am I supposed to feel different? Cause I don’t. I feel like me, after a really good nap.

  Luke let out something that resembled a laugh, the tension noticeably easing out of his body.

  “What’s with you?” Khalida asked cocking a brow at him.

  Luke wiped the smile from his face as her mother began to laugh while she stood up.