The Witch and the Hellhound (The Seaforth Chronicles Book 2)

by B. J. Smash

  “I see that.” I paused and then said, “Will I turn out like that?”

  “We’ll have to wait and see.” Lucian snickered.

  “Not hardly,” said Niall. “I see in you a peace that’s set aside from the rest. You’re a healer, a rare gem in the Seaforth line.” He sputtered and rolled his eyes.

  “Still, this is extraordinary,” Conri said, and then he turned his head up at me. “A little help now, Ivy? Before we perish.”

  They had paled and were clammy and sickly in appearance.

  “Oh, yes, of course.” I interrupted Aunt Cora. “Aunt Cora, can you undo these shackles?”

  Her grim stare turned to me. “Certainly.” She smiled, walked forward, pointed her bone-crystal wand, and said, “Release them.” A silver bolt flashed out, and instantly the shackles dropped from their limbs.

  “Oh dear God. That feels so much better.” Jorden rubbed his legs. Conri fell to his back, relaxing for a moment, concentrating on his breathing. Niall stood; not saying a word, he sat at a tree.

  Shortly after, all three Elven were sitting beneath trees, a warm, white glow about them. They gathered healing energy. It wouldn’t be long now, and they would have their strength back.

  About this time, I noticed my sister inching away. This didn’t escape Aunt Cora’s attention. She turned to Zinnia. “And you—you are going home to your father.”

  Zinnia, afraid of what Aunt Cora might do, ripped the three-inch heels from her feet, tossed her fur to the ground, and turned and fled with the book. She ran through the trees, wincing and hopping from the rocks and limbs that her soft, pampered feet weren’t accustomed to. Her dress caught on a limb, and after a few tries she tore it and kept going; looking once over her shoulder, she saw that I was calm. My only guess is that she knew that I did not doubt that I could catch her, and this made her more nervous. She sped on, jumping over jutting limbs and rocks, and when she hit a dirt path, she ran as fast as her legs could carry her.

  Aunt Cora motioned like she was going for her, but I stopped her. “I got this, Aunt Cora.” I scratched my head and waited until Zinnia approached two humongous rocks that leaned upon one another, creating an opening at the base that was big enough for people to walk through. Yes, why not let her think she could escape? She liked to play games. I felt the corner of my mouth go up into a grin, and then I shook my head to diffuse the Seaforth mentality. To those watching me, I might have appeared insane for a moment—but only for a moment.

  Leaning forward, my right foot pushed into the earth, sending me forth with great speed. I ran so fast I’m sure all they could see was a blur of green.

  I jumped midstride, flying the last several yards, and tackled her to the ground. I knocked the wind from her lungs, and she landed face-first to the ground. She held fast to the book of spells, hiding it beneath her chest. “Ouch,” she managed to mutter.

  Her silky white dress was in tatters and covered with dirt. The temptation to grab a fistful of hair and rub her face in the dirt was great. However, keeping my cool, I flipped her over and fought for the book.

  “No! You can’t have it. It’s all I have left.” She truly believed she had no family left. That we’d deserted her.

  Sitting up, I asked, “What was all that back there? Why did you help Aunt Cora by killing a Fae fighter?”

  “I had to. Rodinand was too bossy. Too controlling. Every move I made, he watched. The only time I had free time was when I bathed. That’s when Aunt Cora showed up.” She blew a long, wavy curl from her face. “I was bathing in the hot spring, enjoying my time away from Rodinand, when she approached me. I don’t know HOW she did it—she is powerful even without this book.” She squeezed the book of spells tightly to her chest. “She used some cloaking spell or something.”

  In hindsight, I remembered earlier when I was scoping the area with my newly found senses. I had sensed something like a deer following us. I had no doubt in my mind that that had been my Aunt Cora.

  “And?”

  “Well, she said to come this way for some reason. She’d be following us in the woods and when the time was right, she said she’d take care of him. I knew she could. Her eyes were glowing purple, Ivy! So, I told Rodinand that the book told me we should come this way—”

  “Wait a minute—the book speaks to you?”

  “Of course. The one who holds it, controls it.” She batted her eyelashes several times. “We came this way, and believe me, I knew you were following us. I knew you would show yourself if only I was about to take away something dear to you. Your Elven kinfolk. Your true-bloods,” she said mockingly. “I knew you wouldn’t let them die.” She smirked. “You’ll need to learn a cloaking spell too, if you’re going to play in these games.”

  “Grrrrr,” I said. “Stop talking like this is all a game. I nearly died playing your ‘games.’ You’re a fool to think this is a game.”

  “I was coming back for you! I was going to free you myself, but I watched, hidden behind the rocks, when Izaill freed Lucian. I thought, well, he has to be on your side.”

  “You almost killed us both. Lucian against several demon dogs? I mean…really?”

  “He fought with pride…and probably for you. He wasn’t going down, no matter what you believe.” She still lay on her back hugging the book as tightly as possible. Her arms were strained and oddly white below the ivy tattoos.

  “And what is this? These raised tattoos?” I touched one of the rubbery vines with the tip of my finger.

  “I’m bound to the Unseelie in ways you cannot fathom. Rodinand has made sure of it. These are his doing.” Were her eyes tearing up? The vivid blue seemed to be glistening more. “Hey, your eyes are blue now. Earlier they were green.”

  “I know. You messed up my cloaking spell when you pummeled me to the ground. And my dress is dirty,” she whined. “It’s supposed to be clean.” She sniffed. “And my hair is a mess, plus I think you broke a rib.”

  “If your rib was broken, believe me, you’d know it.” I sighed. What was I going to do with my sister? “You know, Father is dying. And you need to get home. He’s asking for you. I’m beyond positive that Izadora can unbind any spell.” I paused, remembering that Izadora hadn’t been able to help her own self, and she lay in a deep sleep because of it. Still, I pretended that she would be able to help Zinnia if I could only wake her up somehow. Aunt Cora must know the reversal spell; she’s the one who gave her the cake in the first place.

  “Father? He’s not well? I knew I should have went for him. You’re the one killing him by keeping him there.”

  Raising my hand, I almost slapped her across the face. But I was bigger than that, and I wouldn’t resort to that. Not yet. “He’s not going anywhere. He’s staying in Merribay. You have to come home.” Then, to get her attention, I figured that I had to speak her language, and I added, “Game over.”

  She pouted and blinked several times, focusing on the sky, trying not to cry.

  “You didn’t win.” She brought her gaze to mine.

  “What is that supposed to mean?” I said, narrowing my eyes.

  “It’s not over,” she said so low that I barely heard it.

  Footsteps were heard, and I turned to see Lucian approaching us. Zinnia lifted her head. “He’s so hot.”

  Rolling my eyes at her comment, I waited for him to arrive. All she could think about was how cute she thought Lucian was, at a time like this? While I watched his broad steps and confident gait, I had to agree, he was quite handsome. Briefly my thoughts turned to Drumm. “Zinnia, have you seen Drumm?”

  She didn’t answer me.

  “Zinnia?”

  No answer.

  Leaning over her, I positioned my hands on her shoulders and began to shake; my fuse was blown. “Where is he?”

  Fear spread over her face. “He—he was last seen fighting off a crew of Fae fighters.”

  “A crew? Of how many?”

  “Oh, thirty or forty.”

  My heart sank to the pit
of my stomach. Tossing my head back, I closed my eyes and wished that I were dead.

  “What’s up? Why are you doing that?” Lucian had arrived.

  “She’s worried about Drumm.”

  Pushing aside my feelings, I opened my eyes. “Let’s get her back to Aunt Cora.”

  Zinnia faked a sprained ankle, in addition to a fake broken rib, so that Lucian had to carry her back to Aunt Cora. The whole time the book remained in her possession.

  Rodinand could be heard screaming till he finally shut his eyes. This pleased my aunt.

  “I’ll be needing that book, missy,” she said to Zinnia.

  To which Zinnia replied with a super sly grin by saying, “Over my dead body, auntie.”

  My sister must have “healed” and gotten her bearings. She flipped from Lucian’s grasp and punched him in the nose. “You’re cute, but way too slow for me.”

  Mumbling beneath her breath, she started the process of a vanishing spell, wavering in and out of reality. But I was too quick for her and once again tackled her to the ground; the book flew from her hands and into Lucian’s. This time, a snap and crunch could be heard, and alas, she had a broken rib.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  We spent the day treading through the forest toward the coastline. According to Conri, we would then find a path that led straight to the land of the Elven, a shortcut where I or my aunt could then break the spell that Zinnia and Rodinand had cast upon their gateway.

  There would be hundreds of Fae fighters still present, and we’d have to do some fancy magic work and no doubt some fighting to make our way through the barricade. We’d get no help from Rodinand and Zinnia.

  At one point, Niall was so tired of hearing Rodinand shriek out in horror, he made some sort of gummy paste from a plant, picked two leaves, and pasted them over Rodinand’s eyes. We walked on in silence.

  At dusk, Conri called it quits for the evening. We’d camp for the night, resting, gaining our strength, for we would be sorely outnumbered at the gate.

  My mind buzzed with thoughts of Drumm. Conri reassured me he was still alive, and I believed him, as I still felt his presence in my heart.

  The Elven lit a small fire and roasted some sort of plant they found in the forest, but it didn’t interest me in the slightest. They had to practically force me to eat a jackfruit chip, and then I retired.

  Holding tight to the closed book (I didn’t dare to open it), I slept high in a tree by myself. Lucian gave me my space and slept on the ground by the Elven fire. He seemed quite sad from my lack of conversation with him, but it couldn’t be helped. I was in a sour mood. My sister was a bag of rocks. Rodinand was an ass. I didn’t know where Drumm could possibly be. And to top it off, the McCallisters were still out there somewhere—heaven only knew where. Even though I knew Lucian felt as bad as I did, with his family being astray, I couldn’t console him. Everything seemed to be a big, fat mess, and if we had to stop (which I disagreed with), then I was going to try to get some shut-eye.

  Finally blocking out their idle chatter, I passed out.

  ***

  I dreamt we were at the beach. Drumm and I, swinging around dancing and chasing each other. The sun felt hot on my skin, and the ocean swished to the shore, lapping at my sand-covered feet. His eyes were that beautiful turquoise, sparkling in the rays from the sun. His golden hair hit right above his shoulders, and it was wet. We had been swimming earlier. His long but well-proportioned nose was perfect, and his golden chest glistened in the sun. “I love you, Ivy,” he said to me.

  He’d never said that before, but I knew it to be true.

  I reached my hand out to him, and he stepped forward to accept. Opening my mouth, I tried to say, “I love you, too,” but the ocean began to roar with an anger that didn’t fit the current setting. Suddenly, the sky was dark and ominous. Clouds were like coal.

  Glancing out to the water, I could only see giant waves reaching much higher than the rocks that jutted out from its depths.

  “Good-bye, Ivy,” I heard him say. Turning back to him, I noticed he was suddenly far away; a mournful expression invaded his features. A wave so tall, I couldn’t tell if it was part of the sky, fell down upon him, carrying him out to sea.

  He was gone. Forever.

  My eyes flew open as I hugged the book close to my chest. Tears trickled down my cheeks. “No!” I called out. “No!” I said with much more force than needed.

  From where I sat, the base of the horizon was a deep blue, topped by a slim layer of purple, and then the sky a grayish silver. The moon greeted me as it hung low, fading out. Long, spindly tree limbs hung between me and the sky. The setting was gothic.

  Lucian and Niall were on their feet. “Ivy!” I heard someone say. “Are you all right?”

  Faintly, I heard the howling of some wolves. No, not wolves.

  Hellhounds.

  Aunt Cora sat next to Zinnia, who had been tied to a tree. She rubbed her eyes and pulled her robe about her. Rodinand, tied to the adjacent tree, complained, “What is happening? You know I can’t see. This is preposterous.”

  “Oh shut your bloody mouth,” Aunt Cora said. “Looks like it’s time to go.”

  During their little spat, I had jumped down from the tree, grabbed my belongings, and began my trek through the misty forest. I wouldn’t wait for anybody. Drumm was alive, and he was near the gateway. I knew it. And I was going to find him.

  “Wait up!” Lucian called. “Did you hear them? I heard them. I’ve been sensing them all night.” Clearly excited, he caught up to my wide gait and looped his arm through mine. “We’re going to find him, Ivy. I promise you that I will do everything in my power to help you.”

  This meant something to me. Lucian had become so close to me; other than Drumm, he had to be the best friend I’ve ever had.

  “Thank you, Lucian. I know you mean it.” My hand went up to my heart. I planned on saying more but stopped myself and kept walking, lest I choke up. The dream had shaken me, but I refused to be sentimental.

  Soon everyone had caught up. Aunt Cora forced Rodinand to run by casting a spell. He only ran into a tree once, almost knocking himself out. Zinnia kept up her pace, regardless of her broken rib. Actually, I think Niall had attempted to heal it last night while I dozed off. I recalled the conversation going something like this:

  “Sit still and bite down on your tongue. Your rib won’t heal all the way, but it will help,” Niall commanded her.

  “Bite my tongue?” she asked, confused.

  “Yes, bite your tongue. It’ll help.”

  She must have obeyed him, for I heard not another word, and I knew it was his way of shutting her up.

  We ate while we walked, but I was getting antsy. I needed to run, and with the sun beginning to rise, it was all I could do to walk.

  Zinnia complained continually. I had let her wear my Elven slippers, so that wasn’t the problem. She was cold, and she wanted the book. Aunt Cora asked Niall if he had any more of that gummy paste, to which he answered, “Yes.” She accepted it with a “thank you” and plucked a leaf and plopped it over Zinnia’s mouth. Zinnia’s hands were tied with rope, and she couldn’t remove it.

  We were close to the shoreline. The water did not sound settled; in fact, it sounded like it did in my dream. A woozy feeling hit my head when it dawned on me that my dream could be some type of real-life premonition. Stumbling, Lucian grabbed my arm before I fell, but he didn’t say a word. We kept our pace.

  “Sounds like a storm is coming. A massive one, at that,” Aunt Cora observed as we made our way to the path. The path lay straight ahead; the entrance was a tunnel of overlapping tree limbs.

  A short time later, we heard the faint call of the hellhounds again. It was enough to stir us.

  Lucian informed me, “Ivy. I am going to leave you now. I’m going to track them, but I won’t be far off.”

  “No problem, Lucian. I’m fine. Better than fine.” For I knew as soon as he left, I’d be taking off, too.

/>   The others overheard this, and Jorden offered to go along with Lucian. He accepted.

  The problem with pride and over eagerness is sometimes you couldn’t see the stupidity of it. I knew I couldn’t fight off the Fae fighter alone, but I didn’t want to wait for my sister, Aunt Cora, and Rodinand to keep pace with me. The Elven could probably smoke me when it came to running. The others were like snails.

  And so when I couldn’t sense Lucian and Jorden any longer, I took off. “I’m only running ahead a short distance,” I had informed them. They hadn’t believed me, giving me funny looks. Concerned for me. But I ignored them.

  A great passion drove me. Something fierce. Consuming. The feeling that Drumm could die at any moment. My thoughts were jarred. Confused. Anxiety swept through me as a cold and frigid wind.

  But I was about to learn a lesson of the powers my sister still held onto—even without the book. She would fool me, and she would have no pity or remorse for it.

  Hadn’t Ian once told me, while playing chess, “Never underestimate your opponent”?

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Alone. The forest was too quiet for my taste. I scurried through streams and swampy areas, jumping over brush and fallen limbs. I’d left the path about a half mile back, and I had closed my senses off, leaving them back at the path. Where was I going? I couldn’t answer that question for the life of me.

  I should have known that something was wrong. This wasn’t like me.

  When his arm came out behind an oversized tree and clotheslined me, I knew I’d been fooled.

  Somehow, I’d been driven to this outcome.

  My throat closed as I landed on my back. The only thing that I could think of to help me was the tree. Reaching for it, I just missed the gnarly gray trunk. The Fae fighter pulled my feet till we were way out of reach of any trees, out in the open to a small, grassy pasture with pretty yellow flowers.

  “Keep you away from them trees,” he barked at me.

  I grabbed my throat, willing myself to breathe again. The book had fallen out of my grip and lay back by the tree. Trying to stand, the big Fae fighter hit me hard and held me down with his foot, compressing my chest with his ox-like strength, an axe over his head, and I couldn’t do a thing.