Another loud rumble overhead sent the rain pelting down once more. Thick raindrops mingled with hardened lumps of hail. It took only a few knocks to the head before she came to her senses; why the hell was she standing there waiting for someone to kill her when she should be getting a head start?
She pushed the sopping strands of hair out of her face and moved tentatively in the direction of the B&B. The pounding rain made it hard to hear anything other than the symphony of nature, but she strained for the slightest noise and watched for any sign of movement. Her heart pounded in her ears with each step and she fought the urge to break into a panicked run.
Just as she rounded the corner and the B&B came into view, she noticed a dark shape half-obscured by the hedges and long grass that bordered the trail. What looked like a shoe peeked out of the overgrowth, and she edged forward for a better look.
It took her a second to recognise the shoe as Ethan’s, and a second more to make out his unmoving form attached to it. Her stomach flip-flopped and she closed the gap between them in an instant. A multitude of terrifying scenarios ran through her head as she crouched down beside him. Had Darius hurt him? The Mist? What the hell was he even doing out of bed?
Her hands trembled as she shook him. “Ethan. Ethan, wake up, dammit.”
The plea was met with a weak murmur, but his eyes didn’t open. Despite the chill of the rain, his skin was feverish beneath her touch. Instead of the strong, sure rhythm she expected, his heartbeat was rapid but thready. She needed to get him out of here, and she needed to get him help.
With a grunt, she hoisted the dead weight of his upper body off the ground and manoeuvred him until he was half draped over her shoulder. The weight was significant as she put one foot under herself and pushed to standing. But it was more his size that posed the biggest hindrance. Talk about déjà vu.
“I thought it was meant to be the man carrying the damsel in distress,” she groused as she trudged back up the dirt trail and hoped like hell no one saw them.
She didn’t even bother heading for the room. Instead, she made a beeline straight for their car, where she once again slung Ethan’s unconscious form across the backseat. Darius knew where they were now. There was nothing in that room worth facing him for. Plus, if he was to be believed, every second they stayed increased their odds of coming face to face with the next Mist. And that wasn’t a scenario she was up to dealing with right now.
It wasn’t until she’d gotten them on the road and a comfortable distance from the B&B that she allowed herself to take a breath. She glanced in the rear-view mirror at Ethan’s still form and her chest tightened with worry. A sheen of sweat coated his grey-tinged skin and his breathing was shallow. He shouldn’t be like this; he should have healed long before now.
With a slight twinge of guilt for betraying her promise to Ethan, she pulled out her phone and called Abi on loudspeaker. As soon as her friend answered, she blurted out the rest of the information about the Mist attack – the part that had left Ethan gravely injured.
“I don’t know what the Mist did or how he did it, but his body’s not recovering the way it should. I was hoping he’d get better but he’s not, and I don’t know what to do. If the next Mist comes, we’re in serious shit.”
Abi was silent at the other end of the phone, and Phoenix blew out a long, shaky breath.
“Okay,” Abi said finally, “I’ll speak to the others and see what we can find out about the Mists. It sounds like they’ve got some weird mojo at their disposal, so we’ll need to figure out how to counteract it. And I do mean we, Phoenix. You’re not doing this on your own any longer.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but shut it just as quickly. She didn’t want to do this on her own. She was tired of trying to figure shit out by herself. Her nerves were fried. Besides, she had a vampire to confront, and what better way to do that than to show him just how much damage he’d caused.
So, she agreed a fresh plan with Abi and hung up, feeling a mixture of relief and trepidation as she pulled onto the motorway with a clear destination.
“Where are we going?”
She jumped in surprise at Ethan’s mumbled question. When did he wake up?
“The others are leaving for a new safe house shortly. We’re going to take a detour and meet them there in the morning.” She threw a quick glance in his direction before fixing her eyes on the road.
“Do they know I’ve been hurt?”
She nodded, not really sure whether he was looking or not. A weary sigh and some shuffling were the only response from the back seat. When she glanced in the rear-view mirror again, Ethan’s eyes were closed and he sat with his head leaning against the window.
Her grip loosened on the steering wheel a touch when she sensed no anger from him, but any relief was immediately replaced by a twist of anxiety. She might have just avoided an argument with Ethan, but there’d be a lot more to come if she was going to confront Shade face to face about his betrayal.
Lily trudged into the kitchen, idly wondering if it was possible to die from exhaustion as she made herself yet another cup of bitter coffee. The walls of the safe house were starting to close in on her and if they didn’t get moving soon, she was afraid she’d start screaming and not be able to stop. Then again, what did it matter where she was? The location was all the same to her. Once she got the confirmation that Phoenix was dead, she’d be heading straight to the Council to fix everything.
Her nerves were completely frayed from the waiting. Every time someone’s phone rang, her stomach dropped and a wave of nausea rolled through her. She felt like she was on a never-ending rollercoaster, blindfolded. She was trying to keep the end goal in sight, but it was getting harder and harder the more time passed.
The steaming cup was halfway to her lips when the sound of a phone ringing reached her ears from the living room next door. She froze, instantly recognising Abi’s ringtone. Her heart jack-hammered in her chest as she waited for the cry of grief, or some sign that the deed was done. None came.
With a shuddering breath, she forced her feet to move one step in front of the other, out of the kitchen and into the hall. She paused at the open doorway of the living room where Abi stood completely still with her phone held to her ear. Unable to hear the other side of the conversation, Lily tried to read between the lines of the girl’s furrowed brow and intense concentration.
After listening for a moment, Abi straightened up and strode purposefully from the room without even a glance in her direction. Before Lily could move, Shade appeared in front of her, his face an unreadable mask.
“If he doesn’t recover from this, it’ll be your fault.” He didn’t wait for a response, just followed in Abi’s wake, calling over his shoulder. “You’re going to want to hear this.”
An insidious thread of fear wove its way through her confused thoughts as she stared at his receding back. What had his vampire hearing picked up that she’d missed?
With clammy hands and a very bad feeling, she ran down the hall, stopping only when she caught up to them at the office Nate had commandeered for the duration of their stay.
A metal desk sat in the centre of the room, covered in an assortment of screens and gadgets that obscured Nate from view. Only the rapid tapping of fingers on the keyboard gave away his presence. Abi stood over his right shoulder with her arms crossed and lips set in a determined line as she stared at the screen.
Shade waited inside the door and pointedly ignored her as she stepped into the room. Lily returned the favour and moved closer to the computer for a better look. “What’s going on?”
Nate shifted in his chair but didn’t look up from the screen. “Ethan’s been hurt.”
“What?” The question came out in a whisper as the bad feeling turned into a churning pit in her stomach.
“He told Phoenix to keep it quiet so we wouldn’t worry, but he was hurt when the first Mist attacked. He’s not healing the way he should be.”
A low, buzzing noise fi
lled Lily’s ears as she tried to make sense of the words. She slumped against the wall, her legs going weak beneath her.
“But he’ll be okay, won’t he?”
Abi gave her a sympathetic look that did little to soften the grim expression on her face. “Nate’s trying to get as much information as he can so we know what we’re dealing with. We’re thinking the Mist left some kind of poison in his system. Maybe you can start researching spells that might help?”
Lily nodded absently, the buzzing in her ears growing louder. Abi was still talking, outlining the plan she’d agreed with Phoenix, but the words seemed distant.
Diana promised. She promised me no one else would get hurt.
While the others crowded around the computer and brainstormed ideas for dealing with the Mists, she slipped from the room with her phone gripped tightly in her hand. She barely made it out of earshot before she had pressed the call button.
Diana answered on the third ring. The warm greeting that, until now, had helped to calm and reassure Lily, this time left her numb.
“You said it’d just be her. That no one else would get hurt.”
The line was silent for a moment.
“There are always casualties in war, Lily.” Diana’s voice turned cold and a deep chill settled in Lily’s chest.
“We’re not at war.”
“Aren’t we?”
“Ethan is innocent,” she insisted. “He’s trying to stop this thing, just like you. He’s not healing, Diana. He’s really hurt.”
“The wolf got in the way. If he hadn’t, this would be over now. You’d have your sister back and my witches would be safe.”
The buzzing in her head turned to a barely contained scream as all the conflicting emotions fought for attention. Of course she wanted her sister back, dammit, but this wasn’t right. Every part of her being was telling her this was wrong.
“I can’t do this,” she said quietly. Her final thread of hope faded and took a piece of her soul with it.
“I’m afraid it’s too late for second thoughts now.” Diana’s voice turned hard, no hint of her earlier warmth and compassion remaining. “What will your friends think when they find out you betrayed them? Do you think they’d still accept you? You’d be even more alone than you are now. No, you will go through with this, Lily. And when it’s over, you’ll be reunited with your sister. Just like you wanted.”
The morning sun was splitting the sky as Phoenix navigated the winding coastal road, finally en route to their destination after a long night laying diversions. The clear blue sky formed a surreal juxtaposition to the erratic thunderstorms of recent days and she raised her face, relishing the warmth of the sun as it beamed through the car’s windscreen. Rolling sandy beaches followed their path on the left, and jagged cliffs covered in lush green foliage bordered them to the right.
In the bright light of day it seemed almost idyllic. Yet there was an energy to the place that she couldn’t quite explain. She’d felt it as soon as they’d reached Portrush, and it had only grown stronger as they drew near their meeting point. It made all of her senses tingle, like a feather whispering across her skin. There was something both foreign and strangely familiar that called to her and pulled her in.
She debated asking Ethan if he felt the same thing, but an awkward silence had settled between them once he’d regained consciousness. There were so many things unsaid from their disagreement the night before, and they’d only increased in significance after her run-in with Darius.
Arguments played over and over in her head, but she knew that voicing them again was a waste of time. It was okay though, because very soon she’d confront Shade herself and prove the truth to Ethan. And didn’t that thought just make her gut twist painfully.
Beside her, now slumped in the passenger seat, Ethan gave a low whistle. She looked over at him, and her jaw dropped as they crested the hill and she was awarded a clear view of the ancient ruins that had caught his attention.
Dunluce Castle stood proud and imposing on the edge of the cliff. The sea was calm behind it, but an image filled her mind: waves crashing against the rocks as lightning split the sky. A shiver of anticipation ran through her.
Craning her head for a better look, she slowed the car as they neared the entrance. Coaches were parked along the grass verge and tourists milled about with cameras. They all seemed suitably impressed with the historic site, pointing and posing at random locations around the grounds. Were any of them aware of the immense power vibrating from the place? It was almost impossible to think that even the most mundane of humans could be oblivious to it.
“You feel it?” Ethan asked, his eyes glued to the castle as he sat up a little straighter.
She nodded even though he wasn’t looking at her; she was too in awe to speak.
A car horn blared and she was snapped from her trance. At some point she’d slowed the car to a complete stop, and they were now blocking the narrow road with an irate driver making angry gestures behind them.
Ethan glanced at the car and gave her a somewhat dazed smile. “We better go meet the others. We can come back and explore later.”
The rest of the drive was a blur. Colourful seafront houses came into view ahead and minutes later, the sat nav instructed them to turn into the drive of one of them. The mint green facade was a questionable choice of colour and the white paint surrounding the windows was cracked and flaking, but the views were stunning. Situated right on the seafront, she could easily imagine herself nestled behind one of the large bay windows and curled up with a cup of tea while she watched the waves beat tirelessly against the rocks. It wasn’t quite what she’d expected from the safe house.
Before she had two feet out of the car, the front door swung open and Abi sprinted down the driveway towards her. She braced herself to avoid being knocked over by her friend’s enthusiastic embrace and laughed while hugging Abi back just as tightly. For a brief moment, her heart felt lighter than it had in days.
Nate and Lily followed Abi from the house, their expressions tight with concern. Her happiness soured a little as she saw them. Shade was no doubt waiting inside to avoid the morning sun. Her stomach twisted at the thought of the confrontation to come. Would the others take his side too?
Lily hurried to Ethan’s door and helped him from the car. He tried to brush her off, but his movements were slow and laboured, even the smallest exertion causing a sheen of sweat across his forehead.
Abi cast a worried glance in his direction before turning back to her with a reassuring smile plastered on her face. “Come on. Let’s get you inside.”
Together they followed the others into the house and upstairs to living room, which was ideally situated to make the most of the stunning views. Nate and Lily helped Ethan to the sofa, and Lily muttered something about a serum before scurrying out of the room.
Phoenix couldn’t help but notice the lines of worry that now seemed permanently etched on the young girl’s face as she passed by. Lily had lost weight in the short time the group had been apart, and her once tanned skin was almost as pale and sickly looking as Ethan’s. The signs of grief were all too familiar to her. She wished there was something she could say to take Lily’s pain away, but no words could ease the loss; she knew that better than anyone.
“Did you manage to find anything that will help him?” Phoenix turned her concern to Ethan and frowned as she noticed the fist he held clenched over his sternum. He had his eyes closed, and the rise and fall of his chest was shallow as he fought to catch his breath.
“We think there might be some kind of poison in his system that’s stopping him from healing.” Nate’s amber eyes met hers, worry depriving them of their usual sparkle. “Lily has put together a serum we hope will work, but we’ll need you to melt some gold for us.”
“Gold?”
“Yeah, we’ve found some references that indicate the Mists react badly to it. We’re hoping their magic will be the same.” He shrugged. “Worst case scenario it does
nothing, but it won’t hurt him to try. Not any more than he already is.”
“He is still here, you know,” Ethan grumbled but didn’t open his eyes.
Phoenix bit her lip and looked around for Lily. How long did it take to prepare? She pushed back the niggling fear of what would happen if the serum failed. It would work; it had to.
Abi grabbed her hand and pulled her down to sit on the second sofa. Plump cushions swallowed her as if the sofa itself was trying to force her to relax. She didn’t want to. She couldn’t.
A large clock hung on the wall over an open fireplace, and she watched the second hand move around at a snail’s pace. She was vaguely aware that Abi was telling her all about the training she’d been doing with Nate. She nodded in the appropriate places and gave her friend a weak smile, but her eyes were glued to Ethan. His whole body seemed tense. Every now and then he’d wince as if in pain.
She’d just about had enough of waiting when Lily walked back into the room holding a glass full of greenish-blue liquid in one hand and a gold ring in the other. The girl’s eyes flicked to Ethan and she flinched before looking to Phoenix.
“You ready?”
***
Lily closed her bedroom door with a soft click and rested her forehead against the cool wood. She scrunched her eyes tight and tried to force air into her lungs. Each breath she took pulled the invisible band tighter around her chest, and her head swam as she struggled for much-needed oxygen.
It was too much. Seeing Ethan’s body spasm with the crippling pain that overtook him as the serum fought the poison in his system. It was all just too much.
She had no idea if the serum would work, and she’d been too much of a coward to stay and face the consequences of her actions. If he died, it would be her fault; she as good as murdered him herself. The knowledge twisted like a knife in her gut.
Silent tears streaked her cheeks and she slid to the floor, curling into a ball and hugging her knees to her. The pain in her chest increased, and she idly wondered if she was too young to have a heart attack. A dark place in the back of her mind welcomed the idea with relief.
2 Minutes to Midnight: Urban Fantasy Midnight Trilogy Book 2 Page 12