Cursed by Death

by Basia Pike

  “Don’t just stand there! Get them!” she screamed in a shrill voice. I glanced back to see the vampires flying into the air after us. Dakota spurred on towards a wooded area, and ran through the trees while I kept a lookout for the vampires. I was surprised to see no one behind us.

  The thick canopy was blocking my view above. I had a sinking feeling in my gut. They wouldn’t give up that easily. Dakota slowed, sensing something ahead.

  “What is it?” I asked, and she shook her head. “I think they’re surrounding us.”

  “Is there no way out?” I asked.

  She was silent, concentrating. “Maybe…” She bounded off towards the left at speed and several vampires came into view. I summoned as much power as I could and muttered, “Prohibere,” which threw the vampires backwards, leaving enough space for Dakota to weave past and leave them in our wake.

  I smiled as my reawakened power made me feel alive for the first time since I had joined the Verndarar.

  What I would have given for Andre to restore my magic permanently. But, I still felt a dread at the thought of telling the rest of the group I wasn’t like them.

  “I think we’ve lost them,” Dakota growled in a winded voice as she slowed.

  “Okay, we’ll carry him together from here,” I said, jumping down from her back and helping Jamie off. His wounds had already begun to heal.

  “It’s okay. I think I can walk, but that bitch better hope I never see her again. You are lucky vampires are allergic to your blood. I feel like I have been half drained.”

  Dakota looked a little wobbly on her feet as she morphed back into a human, her naked body shivering as the cold night whipped around them. “We need to get back to Undir Trenu before we get captured again.”

  I pulled my cloak off and wrapped it around her.

  “How in the hell did they know to wait for us outside the cave?” Jamie asked.

  Dakota cracked her knuckles. “If you ask me, Dominic and Genevieve aren’t who we thought they were. Let’s pay them a visit.”

  “Do you think that’s a good idea?” I asked.

  “Why not?” Jamie asked.

  “If they’re conspiring with the Cureliva, and told them of our presence, then they could be waiting for us to do that.” I said.

  “I doubt it! You are a witch anyway, so if they are you, can do your mumbo-jumbo and get us out of there.” Dakota said.

  I rolled my eyes. “Fine! Lead the way.”

  “It’s this way?” Dakota said, sniffing her way back to the village. After an hour of walking through the thick forest, we appeared on the other side of the town. An eerie darkness shrouded the town and there was a deathly silence.

  “I don’t like this,” I whispered to the other two, who both rolled their eyes at me.

  Jamie punched me in the shoulder. “I’m not sure what you’re worried about. You’re invincible against vampires, for God’s sake.”

  Dakota shook her head. “We need to get answers.”

  I followed them towards Dominic and Genevieve’s house. A candle flickered on the porch. Jamie went first up the steps, followed by Dakota and me. I watched as Jamie tried the door, which swung open with ease.

  The stairs were at the back of the small downstairs room. I froze as I noticed a body on the floor. I tapped Dakota’s arm and she turned to see it.

  “Use your magic for a light,” she whispered under her breath, and I summoned a light, directing it at the body on the floor.

  “What the hell?” A young vampire jumped up.

  “Who are you?” I asked, not recognizing him.

  “What do you mean who am I? You’re in my house. Who are you?” The raised voices drew Dominic and Genevieve downstairs.

  “And as for you two...” Jamie pointed at both of them. “Thanks for the setup with the Cureliva.”

  Their faces dropped as they looked between Jamie and the teenage vampire.

  “We’re sorry. They threatened to kill our sons.”

  A small boy stood behind Genevieve, peering around her leg.

  “This is Isaiah.” She gestured to the older of the two vampires who had been sleeping on the floor.

  “Isaiah and Xavier are our two sons. The Cureliva took them a week ago. When we were contacted about taking you in, we saw a perfect opportunity to get them back for information.”

  Jamie shook his head. I could understand their betrayal. They weren’t bad people; they were doing all they could to protect their family.

  “What did you tell them about the map?” Jamie asked, pointing a finger in their direction and walking closer to the teenage vampire, holding a small knife.

  “Nothing. We only told them that outsiders were here for something in the cave by the sea.”

  “What will they do now we escaped?” I asked.

  “They will search for you. It’s best you go back to where you came from if you have found what you need,” Genevieve said, staring at something on my chest. I looked down and noticed the amulet was visible. I tucked it under my tunic and nodded.

  “Come on, Jamie. We best be off.”

  He goaded the young vampire with his knife. He gave me an irritated look, but saw I wasn’t in the mood.

  “Take care. They’ll look everywhere for you,” Genevieve warned, as we left their house.

  I headed the way we came into the village. A scream made me stop in my tracks. I turned around to find a group of five vampires, fangs out and inches away from ripping out Dakota’s throat.

  Jamie changed into a werewolf and growled at them, but the vampire dug his fangs into her skin harder as a warning, blood running down her neck.

  “What do you want?” I shouted at them, irritated I wasn’t closer, as I was sure the distance would prove troublesome trying to use magic, seeing I hadn’t reconnected myself with it properly.

  “All of you need to come with us! Seraphina’s orders.”

  Dakota gave me a warning look and a slight shake of her head. She punched the vampire holding her in the face and shape-shifted into a wolf, grabbing the vampire by his neck and throwing him into the air.

  Another vampire advanced towards her and managed to bite her leg. She howled in agony as blood spurted from her leg and he latched on despite the foul taste of her blood.

  “Run!” she growled at me, and I ran past, but she gripped my tunic with her teeth, threw me through the air and onto Jamie’s back. We ran up the hill we had arrived on, Dakota limping as the blood poured from her leg.

  We’d needed to be up high for the portal to work and send us back to this time. Helen had been worried we might struggle to return.

  Jamie and Dakota sprinted up the hill ahead of the pursuing vampires. I grabbed the portal device out of my pocket. I had no intention, however, of allowing any vampires back through to Undir Trenu.

  “Get the portal ready!” Jamie shouted as the spot we had landed in earlier that day appeared. I pressed the button on the portal and it sparked to life for a moment and then flickered into nothing.

  “Shit!”

  “What is it?” Jamie asked.

  “Portal isn’t working. We need to go higher,” I suggested, unsure how else we would get back.

  “Can’t you use some of your power to feed it or something?” Jamie asked in a breathless rasp as he ran full speed behind Dakota.

  I’d never thought of using my power to boost the portal’s power. I couldn’t see why that wouldn’t work. I held the portal and closed my eyes.

  “Translatio,” I said under my breath, and the portal sparked to life for longer, but the colors disappeared. I wobbled a little on Jamie’s back; weakness overcame me.

  “Damn. I don’t think I’ve got enough power. Nowhere near.”

  “Shit! We need somewhere to hide,” Jamie growled. Dakota nodded at Jamie as he spoke with her through telepathy, a gift when they were in their wolf form.

  I held on tight and stowed the magical portal device away in my pocket. We continued at speed to climb the mounta
in, the vampires now no longer in sight, but I was sure they still pursued us. As we rounded a corner of the path I, shouted. “Stop!”

  “What is it?” Jamie asked breathlessly.

  “A cave. We can hide in there.” I pointed towards a crevice in the rocks. Dakota and Jamie sprinted for it. I jumped off of Jamie’s back once he came to a halt.

  The two of them fell to the floor, exhausted, and changed back to their human forms, both now naked.

  “Vestima,” I said, despite feeling weak. Both of them were then clothed.

  “Thanks,” Jamie said, still trying to regain his breath. I lit the cave up, hoping there wouldn’t be any golems or goblins lurking around the corner. It was only a small cave with no sign of life. I put the light out to ensure we wouldn’t draw attention to ourselves.

  “What are we going to do?” Dakota asked,

  “Why is the portal not working?” Jamie asked.

  “We don’t have enough power to reopen the portal here. If we climb higher we may have a chance. Andre said the closer to the stars you are, the more power it can draw from the atmosphere.”

  Jamie looked fed up. “What if we’re stuck here forever?” he asked.

  It had crossed my mind, but right now I had to remain positive. “No, there has to be a way back. We have to figure it out.”

  “I don’t think it helps that there are few witches in these times. They work as an outlet for the portal’s power,” I said, looking at the little device. All of them fell silent at the sound of voices passing the entrance of the cave.

  Seraphina’s voice echoed into the cave. “They couldn’t have gone that far! Find them! Now!”

  I held my breath in the dark as they passed by.

  “We are so screwed if we don’t make it out of here before dawn,” Jamie said once the sound of the vampires subsided. “As wolves, we can outrun them, but as soon as the sun comes up we are as good as dead.” “Anyone up for rock climbing?” Dakota asked sarcastically.

  “I’ve got an idea. Although I’ve never tried it before…”

  She looked sideways at me. “What is it, witch boy?”

  “I know a spell to transport us to the top of the mountain in an instant, but I’ve never done it before.”

  Dakota shrugged.

  “Well, it’s worth a shot, isn’t it?” Jamie asked.

  I pictured the top of the mountain we had been climbing in my mind and grabbed Dakota’s and Jamie’s hands.

  “Lactus,” I said.

  I opened my eyes and we were at the top of the mountain.

  “Awesome!” Jamie said, looking around in amazement.

  “I know witches and werewolves rarely get on, but you guys are the best,” Dakota said.

  “Here goes nothing.” I pulled the device back out of my pocket and set it on the ground. I pressed the button and the lights shot up, stronger this time, and remained on, but were intermittent. The three of us exchanged uncertain glances.

  “Do you think you can boost it briefly to walk through?” Jamie asked.

  “I can try. It takes a lot of power. Ready?” I asked. Jamie nodded. I focused my energy into the portal and the colors grew stronger.

  Jamie ran through and I relaxed, dropping to the floor at the amount of energy it had taken. Shouts a little way behind us could be heard.

  “Elijah, it’s taking too much of your power!”

  “They’ll be on us any minute. We must go through together.”

  Dakota pulled me to my feet and I tried to focus the little power I had left into the portal. We staggered through together. Dakota gripped onto me tightly as the terrible falling feeling ensued. I heard a scream and Dakota and I were separated.

  29

  Jamie laid unconscious on one side. Dakota was lying next to me. I could feel something wet under me. My hand was covered in red liquid, and that’s when I saw the gash in Dakota’s stomach.

  I placed my hands over the cut. There was blood everywhere. I grabbed cloths from the racks against the wall of the storeroom and held it to the wound.

  “Help!” I shouted, hoping Helen was close.

  Jamie was awake but disorientated.

  “Sana,” I muttered, my hand over the wound. “Why isn’t it working? It always works for cuts and wounds!” The healing spell should have worked on her. Then I remembered her words back in the cell: “The healing spell doesn’t work on werewolves.”

  “What happened?” Jamie asked, coming to her side. Dakota’s eyes flickered open at the sound of Jamie’s voice.

  “I don’t know. We went through together. It was taking too much power. I don’t understand. I tried to heal her with my power and it won’t work because she’s a werewolf.”

  “Jamie…” she said.

  He grabbed her hand tightly. “Dakota. I’m here. You’re going to be okay.”

  “Don’t lie. I know I’m dying. Elijah, the map is yours. Make sure you never let those bastards get to … the Creaturae…”

  “Stop trying to talk,” Jamie said, tears running down his face.

  “I love you, Jamie.” Her eyes shut and she breathed her last breath. I placed a hand on Jamie’s back.

  “You’re back!” Helen said, coming up behind us. “At last, we’ve been so…” She trailed off seeing Dakota’s lifeless body and the blood covering the floor. “What happened?” she asked.

  I shook my head, my throat tightening. “We had to go through together. Vampires were right behind us. The portal had a weak connection even at the top of the mountain, and somehow she got injured on the way.”

  Helen crouched down and her brow wrinkled as she moved the rags I had placed over the wound. ”I’ve never seen anything like this before,” she said.

  I still couldn’t understand it.

  “I must take her home to be buried,” Jamie said through his tears.

  “Jamie, you need to rest.”

  “I can’t leave her here.”

  “We will get the funeral director to take her to the morgue,” Helen said. “He will put her in a coffin.”

  I placed an arm around Jamie’s shoulder and guided him away, tears filling my eyes. I hadn’t known Dakota long, but she was a fighter. “Go back to your room.” He gave a single nod and headed away after a quick glance back at her.

  “I don’t understand,” I said, looking back at Helen.

  She shook her head. “How did this happen? I knew there was a risk. Especially going back so far, but…” She trailed off.

  “But what?”

  She stood holding a knife. “Where did that come from?”

  “Do you think the vampires threw it in after us? They were close behind.”

  She nodded. “It is an old dagger from that era.”

  “We’d better not tell Jamie. He’ll want to go back after them and tear them all apart if he knows it was murder.”

  Helen looked at the dagger uncertainly as I held out my hand. “I’ll dispose of it.”

  She handed the dagger over and I wiped it on the rags before stowing it in my pocket. I pulled my father’s ring off my finger, feeling the magic leave my body.

  “What took you so long?” asked Helen. “Everyone was so worried. Deon was ready to go after you.”

  “What are you on about? We’ve been gone a day.” She pulled her phone out and passed it to me. It was two months from the date we’d left.

  “So going back that far makes time go slower. I wondered if that might have happened,” she muttered to herself.

  “Is Tom back from his assignment?”

  “No, but we’ve heard from him two days ago. He’s almost finished.”

  “I can’t believe we’ve been gone two months.”

  “I had to talk Deon out of going after you yesterday, but I contacted Andre because I was worried and he’s on his way back.”

  My heart sank. Great.

  “He’ll be here tomorrow.”

  “Can’t you call him and tell him everything is fine?” I asked, and she shook her
head.

  “He wanted to come back anyway. How did it go?”

  “Helen, I can trust you, right?” I asked.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” An offended look flashed onto her face.

  “Someone has been informing the Kugarar. I found out in Kent that a man named Jensen knew about us and our presence there.”

  “You know I’ve got nothing to do with it. I’ve been part of this since the start with Andre. There’s no way I’d compromise you.”

  “I know, but because I had no idea who it was I didn’t tell anyone the truth. We found a part of the Creaturae while away. A witch has split it into three pieces, and this is one.” I revealed the amulet around my neck.

  Her eyes widened. “Andre will be glad to hear this. If you have a piece, it means as long as we protect it they can’t use it.”

  I nodded. That was my exact thought. “But, we should still try to find the other pieces. If they were to find out somehow that we have it, it will put us in a precarious—”

  “Position, indeed it would,” Andre said behind me. I turned to face him.

  Helen walked towards him, flustered. “Andre, I didn’t think you were arriving until tomorrow morning!”

  “Travel can be unpredictable. Elijah, it sounds like we need to catch up. Come with me.” He turned and left the room. Can’t I get a moment of rest? I followed him through the dining room and into a large library I didn’t even know existed.

  “Take a seat,” Andre said, signaling to a chair in front of a small desk. “You’ve found a part of the Creaturae?” he asked, placing his hands together.

  “Yes, Did you know it had been split?” I asked.

  “No, it’s news to me. Good news, but news all the same. What else have I missed?”

  “Mary’s dead.”

  He nodded. “Yes, Helen told me. I’m sorry. I was sure she would be perfect, but it seems on this occasion I was wrong.”

  I glared at him. “Why on earth didn’t you listen to me? I told you she wasn’t right.”

  Andre shuffled the papers on his desk. “Mary has fulfilled her destiny. You couldn’t have prevented her death.” He looked up his eyes filled with guilt.