Arkadia (Halfway House Series Book 1)

by Dzintra Sullivan

  Bohdan looked down at Arkadia, her eyes red and puffy. This girl is so beautiful she can’t even cry ugly. “Would you like a drink, my queen?” Bohdan asked. Arkadia sniffled and nodded. Bohdan continued, “Hot? Cold? Stiff?” Arkadia chuckled softly at the stiff part, the last thing she needed to have was alcohol. If there was ever a time she needed to keep all her wits about her, it was now.

  “I’d love a cup of coffee, please, my King.” She heard a rumble of satisfaction from Bohdan and his eyes seemed to have a little twinkle. “I take it dragon likes to be called King?”

  Bohdan laughed. “That, he does.” He moved Arkadia over to the side of the seat, got up, and said, “Be back in a few, then you can fill me in on what’s changed.” Bohdan disappeared into the house to get Arkadia’s coffee.

  The sun was beginning to set as Arkadia finished telling Bohdan about the latest fiasco with the police. “That’s crazy insane, Arkadia, I mean, we both know where you were, no doubts, one hundred percent guaranteed.”

  Arkadia nodded and said, “Yup, yup, and a hell yup,” Bohdan continued and creases of confusion danced across his forehead.

  “Then what the hell is Violet doing? Is she a few sandwiches short of a picnic?” The dragon growled in agreement and Arkadia laughed.

  “It’s hard to get used to the two of you—one who speaks, and one who growls.”

  “But both who adore you,” Bohdan said as he pulled Arkadia to her feet gently and wrapped his arms around her. Kissing the top of her head, he said, “It’s getting late in the afternoon, and I am not risking my dragonhood getting bronzed by keeping you two nights in a row. Go home, get some sleep, and we will go visit Violet in the morning and see what’s going on.”

  Arkadia looked up into Bohdan’s eyes, a playful grin creeping across her lips. “Don’t tell me the big, strong, fierce dragon is afraid of little ol’ Eloise?”

  “Damn straight he is, and he loves you enough to respect the rules.” He leaned in and brushed his lips against hers, a soft caressing kiss, one that would give her dreams of him tonight. “Now go get in the truck, and I’ll drop you off at home.” Arkadia was about to protest when Bohdan held up his hand. “I have no need to kill another wolf tonight; just let me drop you off at home.” Arkadia sighed in defeat and followed him to the truck.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  As promised, Bohdan was at the house to pick up Arkadia early. She had promised to only take a look if Violet was home. She hadn’t been at school since Diane’s death, so Chey, Cat, and she had already been worried as to what was wrong. Now with her playing happy murder witness AGAINST Arkadia, they wanted to know if she was at home.

  Raven had asked come and help, but Arkadia didn’t want to involve anyone else from the house. If something happened to her, and then people worked out that she was a witch, then the “other kids” in the house would be in danger.

  They drove to the driveway and just sat out front, watching for signs of life inside. The white wooden house was quaint and quirky. The pale blue shudders and pebble stone path in the garden made it look more like a home than a house. Arkadia couldn’t see anyone. “WAIT!!!” Arkadia exclaimed. “Did you see that movement in the window?” When Bohdan shook his head, she said, “I’m going to go knock on the door. I am sure I saw the curtain move.” Arkadia went to get out of the truck, and Bohdan unsnapped his seat belt to follow her. Arkadia turned to him. “Is it okay if I go by myself? She is one of my best friends, and I have known her since I started school. This HAS to be a mistake.” Bohdan put his hand on hers, his thumb rubbing softly up and down the back of her hand. Arkadia could feel the heat spreading through her body at his touch.

  “Okay,” his deep voice rumbled protectively. “Just stay outside where I can see you; don’t go inside.” Arkadia smiled as she nodded and got out of the truck.

  Walking up the path to the house, Arkadia noticed the garden was a little unkempt, which was unusual as Vi’s mother was a keen gardener and normally took great pride in having the best kept garden on the street. There wasn’t a car in the driveway, but the garage door was down so it could have been parked inside. As she got closer to the door, she started to feel quite unwell. Her stomach was doing back flips and she began sweating across the top of her forehead, and she NEVER sweat … EVER!!!!!

  Arkadia swallowed past the feelings deep in the pit of her stomach and knocked on the door; there was nothing, not a single sound. She looked back at the truck where Bohdan waited and watched her, his arm resting across the back of the seat. He had slightly angled his body to be able to easily see her, and he winked at her and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. Rolling her eyes dramatically, she chuckled. “Cheeky dragon,” she muttered.

  Arkadia turned around to knock one last time. Her hand froze, not the winter cold kind of frozen, but the kind of frozen that left you completely incapacitated. She tried to move her hand again by shifting her weight and quickly realized it was not just her hand. Her entire body was frozen like a statue. She could think, move her eyes and blink, take shallow breaths, but that was it. As Arkadia felt the terror take over her mind; her heart raced at such a pace she thought surely it would fail at any second. Her veins felt like they were visibly pulsing with the pressure of her heart beating so fast. Panic began to engulf her very essence. Bohdan felt her panic with the wolves, Arkadia remembered. He should be able to feel this, he will be here soon, he will feel me, and he will …Won’t he? “BOHDAN … HELP ME … BOHDAN … PLEEEEEAASSSEEE!” Arkadia screamed in her head, tears beginning to run down her cheeks. “BOHDAN … I CAN’T MOVE … SOMETHING HAS ME … HELP …please?’ Arkadia had never felt so powerless. Something or someone had her. It gripped her by magic like a lump of wood in an ever tightening vice.

  A movement caught her eye. The curtain parted ever so slightly. “VIOLET!!!” Arkadia screamed in her head. “HELP ME … SOMEONE HAS HOLD OF ME … HELP ME …” The blood drained instantly from her body as she saw the evil flash across Violet’s eyes. Arkadia had never seen anything evil from Violet before; she had seen Violet the bitch, of course, that was a common view, but to see a true look of evil flash across her eyes made her heart stop for a split second. She watched as Violet raised her finger into view through the crack in the curtain. Confusion entered Arkadia’s mind, then Vi made a small movement of her finger that made Arkadia’s hand knock on the door once; another finger movement, and Arkadia was made to knock twice.

  Ice filled her veins and she stared horrified at the eyes behind the curtains. Violet’s a para? Arkadia’s head screamed a million messages all at the same time, despite the fact she couldn’t move a single muscle; there certainly wasn’t any limiting aspect to her mind. Arkadia had to dig deep and give herself a virtual slap. It was the only way she could stop herself from screaming, or at least that’s how it worked in the movies. Arkadia was dumbfounded. She had known Violet since first grade, and their mom’s had been friends. She considered Violet to be one of her longest and closest friends. But as she stared at the crazed eyes in the crack of the curtain, Arkadia was quickly realizing how wrong her judgment appeared to be. Violet shook her head slowly as she placed her thumb to her throat and ran it along horizontally. She mouthed the words, “You’re dead.” Then she vanished from the window.

  As quickly as she had been physically restrained by the magic, it vanished. Vanished as in instantly she could move freely as if nothing had happened. She took the deepest and sweetest breath she could muster. Backing quickly away from the door, she spun and ran for the truck, tears running down her cheeks as she yanked open the door, jumped in, and screamed at Bohdan. “DRIVE … AS FAST AS YOU CAN … DRIVE NOW!!!”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Bohdan changed gears as fast as he could, swerving and dodging in the traffic to get Arkadia home. He could feel her fear and it was palpable in the car.

  “You look as white as bed sheets. What happened, Arkadia?” he asked, concern in his voice. Arkadia spun around so fast to look at him that he
jumped with the speed of her movement.

  “You didn’t feel anything, did you?” She was speaking so rapidly he could hardly understand her. “When the wolves attacked me, you said you felt my fear, right?” Bohdan nodded as she continued speed talking and stared at him with an intensity that unnerved him. “And as I was standing at Violet’s door knocking, you felt nothing? Correct?” Bohdan nodded again, but this time it was a slow nod as it was dawning on him that something major had indeed happened and from the direction of Arkadia’s story, it happened right in front of him and he knew nothing. Dragon was waking up very quickly with the thought of Arkadia being in danger and them being unable to detect it.

  “What the hell happened? I watched you knock at the door, you smiled at me and knocked again, then next thing I knew, you were running like a bat out of hell to the truck and demanding I become the next Schumacher and peel rubber.” Arkadia slumped back in the seat, a fleeting look of desperation bordering on panic crossing her face.

  “Nothing, just take me home.” Bohdan went to ask again, but got silenced with a look that would have frozen a lava pit. He changed gears again and headed for Arkadia’s house.

  The truck barely stopped before Arkadia was leaping out. Her sanity was hanging by a thread as she turned and looked in the window at Bohdan. “Do you trust me, Bohdan?”

  “With my life,” Bohdan replied.

  “Then go home. This is personal.” She ran up to the house and disappeared inside. Bohdan was left with the choice to do what she told him and leave, or to not accept the brush off. He loved her and would defend her; after all, her personal was now his personal.

  Arkadia looked up as Bohdan walked in the front door. “I am not going anywhere till I know you’re safe,” he said. He walked over to her, grabbed her around the waist, and held her tight against him. Nothing felt as right as having her in his arms. His hand lifted to cup her cheek, rubbing his thumb just under her amazing green eye, and he sought her soul through her eyes. “You’re my queen and I will lay my life down for you. Don’t ever dismiss me again. I don’t like that, and dragon REALLY doesn’t like that.” A single tear ran down Arkadia’s cheek as she tried to smile.

  “Oh Bohdan, I am so scared,” she sobbed as she collapsed against his chest.

  Eloise came running in from the backyard, panting. “I was outside, and I felt you, Arkadia. My dear girl, what’s happened now?” Arkadia looked up from Bohdan’s embrace.

  “Eloise, you’re never going to believe me.” Eloise frowned.

  “I will always believe you, my child, never doubt me. Now again I ask, what’s going on? ‘Cause your energy level is off the scale.”

  Arkadia let go of Bohdan, turned to look at Eloise, took a deep lungful of air, and slowly exhaled, failing at the feeble attempt to slow her heartbeat. Arkadia whispered, “Violet is a paranormal, and she wants me dead.”

  Eloise gasped. “Arkadia, when did you meet Violet? I know I am new here, but I get the impression you have been friends for many years.” Nodding Arkadia replied, “I met her in first grade, so what’s that about six or seven years old? I have known her about ten years.”

  Eloise spoke softly, “Don’t jump down my throat, but sweetheart, she can’t be a para, you would have known, you must be mistaken.” Arkadia shook with a mix of fear and anger; fear from her encounter with Violet, and anger at not being believed by Eloise. She said she was on my side. She is just like the others, makes you think they care then they slap you in the face and call you a liar. I am so angry with myself for believing she might be different. Arkadia’s mind was running like a wild, rapid river crushing anything in its path.

  “Arkadia Castner,” Eloise’s voice was strong and loud, “I’ve never lied to you, I have never betrayed you, and I do believe you. I believe you believe what you saw. Just because I don’t understand, doesn’t mean I won’t. I just need you to explain it with more detail to me. I am only here for your benefit, Arkadia. Don’t accuse me of things I haven’t done. You of all people should know how that feels right now. Yes?” Arkadia lowered her eyes making a mental note for the hundredth time. Eloise can read your mind, idiot!!!

  “I’m sorry, Eloise, I trust you.” Bohdan walked into the kitchen.

  “I’ll start the coffee. Arkadia, you start telling us what happened so we can help, yeah?” Arkadia met his eyes, hers misty with unshed tears, and nodded.

  “Yeah, okay, but you better make the coffee strong ‘cause you’re going to need it.”

  Eloise and Bohdan stayed silent as Arkadia described in great detail what had happened in those few minutes at Violet’s door. Arkadia couldn’t emphasize enough how the look in Violet’s eyes scared her to her very marrow. She sincerely believed her life was in imminent danger, and it was Violet who was the hunter.

  “Bohdan.” Eloise turned to look at the handsome young dragon. “You didn’t feel anything? Not a twinge?”

  Shaking his head, he replied, “Nothing, it was all perfectly normal to me. When the wolves attacked her, I felt it miles away, but this, was … well … normal.” He shrugged.

  “Interesting,” Eloise said as she sat back in her chair sipping a now lukewarm coffee. “If in fact—” She didn’t get a chance to finish when Arkadia jumped up and yelled.

  “IF … IF … there is no IF about it! She is a freaking para! She is a freaking psycho, and she freaking wants me DEAD! What aren’t you understanding?” Eloise held up her palm to quiet Arkadia down.

  “I will tell you what I don’t understand, Arkadia. I don’t understand how after ten years of friendship, and a close friendship at that, you wouldn’t know she was a para. How is that possible? I don’t understand what you have done recently to this troubled young lady to have her wanting you dead. And I don’t understand how it is that a dragon who is completely and utterly your soul mate can sit not even fifteen feet away from you while you are being violated and attacked and him not know a damn thing! That’s what I don’t understand, Arkadia.” Eloise panted with frustration and fear for Arkadia. “Now if you would just stop accusing me of being against you, accept I am on your side, and help me work this crazy shit out, we might have a chance of you surviving this.” Arkadia winced. She had never heard Eloise swear ever, and she didn’t like having pushed her to that point.

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she chanted as she buried her head into her hands, tears running freely from her eyes.

  Bohdan came over, picked her up in his arms, and sat back down with her on his lap, wrapping his strong arms around her and whispered, “I got you, baby, I got you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Arkadia never left her bedroom all day Sunday. All the stress and worry had turned her head into an over-inflated balloon, and at any time, she thought it might pop and she would drop dead. So she had pulled the curtains, slipped under the covers, and hidden herself away from a world that felt like it hated her. Arkadia refused to answer the phone or talk to people who came over. She just wanted to hide and wished that it all would go away. Arkadia knew it was a fruitless wish, but for the split second it took her to make it, she felt a glimmer of hope. Then reality came back and reminded her that life may not be a long-lived event for her, which made Arkadia just pull the covers back over her head and cry herself back to sleep.

  Eloise decided to let Arkadia wallow in herself-pity for the moment; at least she knew where she was, while Eloise did some investigation. Google could only go so far; she needed to find out what kind of para would have the ability to control another para and mask her abilities. Eloise shook her head as her thoughts jumped around. It wasn’t just masking, masking your presence was common for short periods of time, but to be able to uphold it for nearly a decade? That is something special, not to mention dangerous.

  Eloise wondered if the council knew about this. She could just see them having a fit to learn that there were paras they didn’t know about. The council, though normally happy to remain in the background of all their lives, if n
eed be, they were a force that could deal out death to any para without notice. The council was like the government for the humans, but far more deadly. The same three men and two women had ruled as long as history had been recorded. They stemmed from the original family that fell from heaven and started the paranormal invasion on earth. All paranormals answered to them, no matter their breed or powers. The rules were easy to follow and punishment was swift and often deadly. The most important rule, the golden rule if you like, was “never let the humans know of our existence.” Eloise shook her head, a black pool of dread forming in her belly, the council couldn’t be far off from being notified of this mess, if in fact they hadn’t already. This was going to get far worse before it got better.

  “Is there anything we can do?” Eloise turned as she heard Emerson speak to her. Zahmali was standing back a little, and she was clearly uncomfortable with what was going on. The look of worry on Emerson’s face broke her heart; she knew he was especially close to Arkadia, and his inner wolf would be feeling very protective. Eloise smiled, walked over to him, and gave him a soft hug.

  “Oh honey, I wish you could. The best thing you and your sister can do is stay out of trouble, and let me sort this out.” Eloise placed a kiss on the top of his head. “I am always here for you both, you know that, right?” Both Emerson and Zahmali nodded as Eloise continued. “However, in saying that, Arkadia needs me right now, and if I am to keep her safe, I need to concentrate.”

  Zahmali interrupted. “It’s okay, Eloise. We understand. Raven has been explaining and making sure we have what we need.” Eloise let a proud smile dance across her face, her eyes misting a little.

  “Raven is a godsend. I promise this will all get sorted out. We just have to stick together and stay strong, yes?” Both Emerson and Zahmali agreed with a group hug before going outside to find something to chase, most likely. Eloise laughed a little. Please don’t let it be the neighbor’s cat again.