Wicked Forest (Hidden World Book 1)

by E. J. Bennett

  By ten o’clock she had drunk a hand full of cups of alcohol. She was struggling to keep her balance and kept bumping into people.

  The ground around her felt like it was moving. Her vision had become blurry. She had lost Drake within the crowd and her stomach swirled with nausea. Crystal rushed into the nearby trees to empty the contents of her stomach.

  She fell to her knees heaving. When she had finished, Crystal wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and slowly got to her feet. She felt a little better. The scenery around her wasn’t spinning as much.

  Turning in the direction of the party she caught a flash of orange. She was in a part of the forest that was covered by a vast of darkness. void of the Halloween lights.

  Her rasping breath steamed in the moonlight and her throat was parched from thirst. Focusing, her still blurry eyes, Crystal saw the source.

  It could have easily been a stray dog, but dogs didn’t move with the stealthiness of wolves. From the shadows she watched the wolf approach with its head low to the ground. The wolf stalked her. Its head low and its pearly white teeth were on display, letting out a low growl.

  Crystal stood still, as she watched the wolf slowly creep forward. Slaver dripped from its mouth while its eyes glowed an abnormal orange, almost yellow as the light from the full moon reflected of them.

  Chapter 19

  Levi almost kicked himself as he raced to the forest at full speed. When he got a hold of Drake he was going to kill him. Something wasn’t right and he knew it. Why else would he tell him that Beth was in trouble, like an idiot he had raced to help the girl to be rewarded with hurtful words and eyes as cold as ice?

  Beth was fine. In fact she was more than fine. A new man on her arm, Levi had been forgotten. Perhaps that is what Drake wanted him to see. Either way he didn’t trust him one bit.

  He heard a scream. His body went cold as the noise echoed around the trees. He changed direction and headed away from the party.

  IN ONE FROZEN SECOND Crystal knew that it was fight or die.

  She had one problem. Her intoxicating body would never allow her to focus on her magic. She had no choice but to fight the wolf without any kind of protection.

  Spreading her feet apart and raising her fist like she had been taught in her martial arts lesson she waited for the wolf to make the first move. Her face was unreadable, no smirk, no fear she wore a mask that exposed nothing.

  A rustle came from behind her, and then a black blur sped past as the wolf fell to the ground. Growling and snapping at her savior. The young man sat on the wolf’s back, pinning it to the forest floor. He held the wolf’s jaw firmly shut.

  “Run,” the young man turned to her. Levi, he had saved her from the beast in the forest. For a split second she couldn’t move with shock.

  “Run!” this time he yelled and Crystal’s legs went into action.

  She raced through the forest she knew well. However this time she wasn’t paying attention due to her panic. She stopped gasping for air. Spinning around all she could see were trees.

  Crystal had no idea where she was in the forest or which direction would lead her home. The thought of home gave her a guilty feeling. She hoped that all her school friends were safe. In her terror she hadn’t given them a thought. Now lost and alone, she felt bad for leaving them.

  “DO YOU THINK IT WAS wise? Allowing Drake to hold the party here? I worry about those teenagers,” Mary asked her husband.

  “He has to learn to manage the curse like the rest of us,” Mary placed her hand on her husband’s shoulder. She could see the curse taking effect, his fingers and turned to claws. He dug them into the wooden desk he was sitting at.

  She waited for him to calm down. “You’re right. I am worrying over nothing,” she gazed out the window and into the forest. If anything happened to those kids she would never forgive herself.

  COLD AND HER NERVES on high alert Crystal walked forward. Hoping that she was walking in the right direction home.

  Every noise, a crunch of a leaf, the howl of the wind caused Crystal to jump. She had been walking for hours. Her legs ached and she was tired. Still she was lost in the forest. She must have wondered deep. Everything looked the same, Crystal couldn’t tell if she had been walking in circles or not. She felt defeated.

  Crystal came upon the most magnificent tree she had ever seen. Its skeletal branches twisted and glittered like brass coils.

  The early approach of down made the remaining leafs look gold. What caught Crystal’s eyes the most was the huge tree trunk. Within its thick bark a symbol was craved in gold. Crystal reached her hand out touch it with her finger tips.

  “Crystal, no!” she turned to the voice. Levi and Drake were running towards her. Her finger tips hummed. She had an urge to trace the symbol. Feel it. Ignoring the boys shouts and protests, in a hypnotic trance she gently followed the swirling symbol. As she did it began to glow. Her whole body vibrated. A rush of electrical power ran through her veins as the tree turned into a sliver shimmering vortex. It looked like water caught in a current. It rippled and swirled.

  Agony seized every bone and muscle in her body. It tore through her body like a tornado as she was propelled forward into the spinning vortex.

  She tried to dig her heels into the ground. It was no use the vortex was too strong. Within seconds she found herself free failing and her stomach somersaulting as she was pulled in all directions at once.

  Finally she hit the hard floor with a thump. The landing knocked the air out of her body and made her choke. Seconds later she heard two more thumps.

  “Now what?” she heard Drake’s voice which held a hint of annoyance.

  “We need to get out of here,” Levi said in his masculine tone.

  “Crystal get up we have to move,” Levi bent down and rolled her over. Crystal let out a small moan as the last of her energy left her fragile body.

  JEANETTE FROZE AS THE entire house filled with a flash of bright light. A light so bright it blinded her. As suddenly as it came it vanished. She rushed to the window and looked out. All she could see were the lights from the party. What the hell were those kids doing out there? Even as that thought passed through her mind she thought there was more to it than school kids.

  She racked her brain. Fear overwhelmed her as the light tormented her. She was in charge. Jeanette had to know what it was. The phone rang. Picking up the receiver she said “Hello,”

  “Did you see the light?” it wasn’t only her that had seen it, which only proved it wasn’t her imagination.

  “Yes Martha,”

  “What was it?”

  A BRIGHT FLASH OF LIGHT blinded Mary. Seth jumped up from his chair and they both gazed out the window. It had gone.

  “Magic,” Seth said in a deadly tone.

  “You don’t think?” she couldn’t bring herself to say the word.

  SHE HAD DONE IT. BUT to Drake’s amazement she had done it without Levi’s power, she truly was amazing. He had to hide his grin from Levi. He could see how livid he was. Then again if he was in Levi’s position he would be too.

  Drake let Levi take the lead, snap and show Crystal what a moody guy he actually was. The more they were in Athens the more Crystal would see of the real Levi. Soon she would be all his. She had the power to stop them all. Create her own rules and laws. He would be the one stood beside her.

  Chapter 20

  Crystal heard the sound of water. Like when you run a tap only ten times louder. She could smell the damp earth. Opening her eyes she had to shut them again to block out the bright light that instantly made her head pound.

  Opening her eyes into little slits she made out the scene in front of her. A curtain of white water came over the grey rocks and crashed into the water below.

  She heard the low mumble of voices and sat up. She was sitting on the cold ground beside a stream. Just ahead was a beautiful breath taking waterfall. Her eyes now fully open she could see a slight shimmer around the water.

  Crys
tal wanted a better look, she got to her feet and took a few step to the water’s edge.

  “Don’t get too close, the merfolk are not nice folks,” Drake held her elbow and steered her away. Her gaze caught Levi’s. He looked angry. It was easy to tell with the way he held his body rigid and the look in his eyes.

  “We need to keep moving,” he said in a low and gruff voice.

  “Where are we?” Crystal asked the question that had been in her mind since she had wakened.

  “The other side of wicked forest. Thanks to you,” Levi snapped.

  “My fault? Do you think I asked to be attacked by a wolf? Did I ask for your help?” she shot back.

  “You were the one who just had to draw around the symbol of Athens. You are the one that brought us here,”

  “Wait, what do you mean?” a sudden panic came over her.

  “We are no longer in our world, but in Athens,” Drake said softly.

  “Athens, like the land of the gods?”

  “For heaven’s sake. Don’t they teach you anything? Athens is the world in which we came from. By the way a world in which we have been exiled from and if we are caught here then we will be put to death,” Levi stated.

  “Exiled, Death?” she whispered as the news sank in.

  “We have to find the door that leads to our world. Hopefully when we get there you can open it,”

  “If I can’t,” she asked Levi who looked to be losing his patience his jaw set firm.

  “Then we are stuck here,”

  The guilt she suddenly felt mixed with her fear felt like ice in her chest. She felt the beginning of tears sting her eyes and started to walk taking long strides.

  “We better get going,” she was surprised at how strong her voice sounded, even though she was close to tears.

  “You’re going the wrong way,” Drake called out to her. When she turned back, both the boys stood in the same spot. Huffing she followed along behind them in silence as they made their way through the forest.

  Even though, Levi was mad at her for taking them to such a place. Still Crystal couldn’t help but bask it the beauty it held. Each flower, each leaf, everything was more vibrant and colorful. There colors seemed to sparkle with the sun.

  Crystal soon noticed that they were following the river upwards, as the currents moved past her.

  She paused as she saw a flash of white head to the stream. Its stunning white coat was as white as snow. But that wasn’t what had made her pause, but the horn on the horses head.

  It lowered its head into the stream and began to lap up the clear water. Her body moved closer to the unicorn on its own accord. It lifted its head slowly and their eyes met. The unicorn’s eyes were the most stunning blue she had ever seen. She couldn’t take her eyes of them. Her body began to feel light. It was like she was floating closer to the beautiful animal.

  Suddenly her vision was blocked by a black t-shirt. She found herself looking at Levi’s chest.

  “You are worse than a child,”

  “Am not,” she folded her arms and stamped her foot which made Levi raise his eyebrows.

  “Then why did you let the unicorn hypnotize you. You’re lucky I stepped in. Another minute or second who knows and you would be dead now,”

  “Levi, knock it off. It is clear that the Starlight coven has taught her nothing,” the way that Drake spoke about her coven caused Crystal to become defensive of them.

  “Maybe they had their reasons,” she said.

  Levi laughed and carried on walking, it was obvious that he didn’t agree.

  As she walked, she looked back on her lessons within the community.

  She couldn’t recall a single one about unicorns,

  Nor Athens. Granted she wasn’t much of a student and spent most of her time daydreaming. Still if they had mentioned another world with enchanting creatures, she would have paid attention.

  There was still so much she didn’t know. Not only about herself, but where she had come from, another world was hidden within the forest she loved dearly.

  Was that the real reason her mother didn’t want her there?

  Chapter 21

  Soon day fell into night. Even the shadows that the trees cast were swallowed by the encroaching darkness. The trees and rocks from the daytime took on an ominous form. It was like by stripping them of their colors and warmth the night also stole their friendly sprits leaving behind malicious demons. Even the bright stars and the light from the moon couldn’t make them look less threatening.

  Crystal’s stomach roared loudly which made the two boys pause and look at her.

  For the past hour they had been walking a head of her, talking in hushed tones. Crystal didn’t care what they were talking about.

  She wanted to go home and curl up in her double bed. Under the soft duvet where it was warm,

  she shivered from the cold, still wearing her witch’s costume, although the hat had long since gone. Where she had lost it she didn’t know. The outfit did little to offer her warmth let alone comfort. Her stomach roared again, louder this time.

  “You hungry?” Drake asked. Crystal nodded, as her stomach grumbled again.

  “Let’s make camp for tonight,” Drake said to Levi who didn’t look pleased with the idea. He gave Drake a scrawl which didn’t go unnoticed by Crystal.

  “There is a cave about three miles from here. It should give us enough cover until first light,” Levi said walking ahead in a fast pace. Crystal had to run to keep up with them.

  “How do you know?” she asked.

  “You don’t need to know that,” he replied which only angered Crystal more. Levi Carmichael she had become to realize was arrogant, sarcastic and a complete jerk. She was glad that Drake was there with her too. She would hate to be alone with him. He didn’t seem the beast everyone made him out to be, however he was a monster in another way. He made Crystal feel like a small child. One who needed a helping hand and couldn’t do much of anything for herself. He made her feel stupid, while he held all the knowledge.

  When they arrived at the cave she let out a loud groan.

  “You want me to climb up there?” she asked, looking up into the mountain side in which the cave was located. She could only just see the opening, in the vast darkness.

  “Or you could just stay down here and take your luck with the dragons, Athos, Arachne, Echidna let’s not forget the unicorn’s,” Levi smirked.

  Crystal had no idea what most of them were. However she didn’t want to find out. She had no choice but to follow the boys up the mountain and pray she didn’t fall to her death instead.

  As she climbed the rocky mountain, she felt the rocks crumble and fall away. Her feet slipped many times. Drake each time gripped her hand and pulled her further up the rocky terrain. She knew that if she turned her head, even slightly she could easily lose her balance and tumble to the ground below. It was a certain death. The adrenaline cursed through her veins, urging her to do what otherwise she wouldn’t be able too. It was hard to see where to place her feet and where to grip the wall. She followed Drake’s lead, placing her foot and hands where his had been seconds before.

  When they reached the opening of the cave, both the boys climbed in easily, by pulling their upper bodies through first. Crystal however, was another story. Her hands shook from the strain as she gripped the ledge. Pushing her upper body up and using her feet to walk up the rocky mountain. Her feet slipped as the rocks broke away from under her. It happened in slow motion. She knew she was about to fall, yet she couldn’t stop it. Her hands came free of the ledge and her stomach dropped and flipped as the sudden drop took her breath.

  A hand caught hers, leaving her suspended in the air. Levi heaved her up and into the cave where she tucked her knees up and rested her chin against them. She was shaking uncontrollably.

  “I think she is in shock,” she heard Drake whisper.

  “I almost died,” Crystal gave life to the thought that was on replay in her mind.

  �
��But you didn’t so get over it,” Levi snapped.

  “Jerk,” Crystal muttered.

  Levi didn’t respond to Crystal instead, he began to whisper with Drake. It started in hushed soft tones then they became louder.

  “Fine,” Levi almost shouted and plopped down leaning his back against the stone wall.

  “I won’t be long, I will bring us back some food,” Drake bent down to her level.

  “What? Why can’t he go?” Crystal asked, she didn’t want to be alone with Levi, and was scared for Drake’s safety out in the forest alone.

  “See,” Levi muttered.

  “I am a better hunter. You will be fine. Get some shut eye.

  I will be back before you know it,” he winked. She watched his retreating form. Sadness swept over her as he disappeared from view. She closed her stinging eyes. She was homesick and missed her mother’s overbearing ways.

  She never thought she would feel the way she did.

  Chapter 22

  Something wasn’t right. He could feel it in his bones. Drake a better hunter? They would be lucky if he caught a fish. But he had been adamant and in the end Levi didn’t have the strength to argue.

  Crystal lay shacking in a tight ball. If only her coven had told her the truth. She would have ran from the rune. Instead curiosity had taken control and now they were stuck in a world that would see them dead.

  If what his people thought to be true about Crystal they would be hunted. He feared he wouldn’t be able to keep her safe in a world that was overrun with monsters. Crystal didn’t belong in Athens, her innocence would be shattered.

  COLD LICKED AT HER face and crept under her clothes, seeping into her bones. Crystal’s teeth clanged together as she pulled her body into a tight ball. She was so cold she was afraid her muscles would ice up leaving her stranded in the cave.