Unfamiliar (The Vandran Legacy Book 1)

by Anna-Louise Dann

  “What do you and that witch bitch Heather want from me, Colt!?” she screamed, scaring herself with how angry she was. She knew she sounded like a petulant child and he didn’t deserve her wrath after saving her, but at this moment she didn’t care. “You fucking keep me here for days, when my family could be in danger, feeding me a line about keeping me safe. What about them, hey? You better get them and bring them here now or I am leaving to go and be with them, you fucking asshole!”

  Colt just stood there watching her; he didn’t argue back, or say she was wrong.

  It pissed her off even more.

  “Are you going to fucking answer me, or just stand there? Ugh! Fucking men!” She swung her legs off the bed and stood up, ignoring how lightheaded she was. She didn’t have time to be ill anymore, she needed to get home to Emmie and Hope, get them somewhere safe. Rational thought was gone, all she could think about was getting home.

  She tried to push past Colt on her way back to the bathroom, but he didn’t move out of her way. She shoved at his chest again and when he didn’t move the second time she took a swing at his face to slap him. He grabbed her wrist before she connected.

  She couldn’t look at him, she knew as soon as she stared into his eyes her façade would crumble, and she’d be a puddle.

  She knew he was doing what he thought was right, he had saved her and awakened feelings inside she never knew she possessed, but if it came to choosing between him and her sister, Emmie would win every time.

  She tried to pull her wrist out of his grip. “Clara, look at me!” The anger in his voice made her jump and stop squirming, but she wouldn’t give in. She met his eyes with a stubborn glare of her own.

  “Your sister and niece are safe, Heather’s got people watching them,” he said. Was he being serious? “Watching them?! Are you shitting me?! They should be doing more than just watching them for fuck’s sake! They should be hidden somewhere where that evil bastard can’t hurt them.”

  Her front was slipping and her bottom lip quivered. The thought of that evil son of a bitch hurting little Hope or Emmie crippled her inside; they were all she had.

  She struggled to free her wrist from Colt’s big hands. “Let me go, Colt, I need to get to them,” she pleaded.

  His grip loosened but he didn’t let go. “Clara, listen. There’s things you need to understand, things about the way our kind deal with situations like this. Just give me five minutes to explain. If you still decide you need to go, I’ll take you myself... even if it means I die protecting you...”

  She nodded and he released her hands. She sat back on the edge of the bed, her head racing. His words echoed in her brain – she couldn’t lose Colt.

  “You’ve got five minutes,” she said finally, looking into his stormy dark eyes.

  Colt He sat on the bed next to Clara and rubbed his temples. How the fuck did he start this explanation? When he had heard Clara throwing up before, he knew she had reacted badly to reading Heather’s journal. She had taken him by surprise with how feisty she was, he hadn’t seen that side to her since the night he brought her here.

  He had to admit seeing her so wild had pleased him; he was glad she had some fight left in her. She was going to need it, with everything that was coming.

  “Your sister and niece aren’t in any danger, we don’t believe your sister Emmie has inherited the gene... Hope is too young for her to be of any use, the magic doesn’t begin to surface until around the age of sixteen, but only when you are aware of what you are, Clara. Your true awakening comes when you are bound to your familiar using the binding spell.”

  He kneels between her legs and places his hands either side of her face to try and make her listen. “He wants you to go to them, Clara. He’s counting on you going so he can snatch you again. I wasn’t joking when I said you’re important, to him... If we pick them up and bring them here he’ll find a way of tracking them to find you.” He takes a shaky breath. “The Sanctuary will be put under threat. I won’t risk Iris or Jake getting hurt, he’s already taken enough people I care about,” he spits out, sounding more pissed off than he intended.

  He can see Clara’s brain working overtime with all the questions she will want answered. Oh, to be able to hear her thoughts.

  After a minute, she nods at him.

  “Ok Colt, I won’t run, but when Heather gets here, we’re all sitting down to talk. I need to know everything about my ancestors and why I am so important to everyone... Once that’s sorted we need to discuss me at least being able to see my sister, even if I can’t talk to her. I need to know that they’re alright.” She looks lost in thought; the realisation of it all must be too much for her. He feels like crap for dropping it on her like this.

  “Thank you, Clara, I know this is really unfair on you. I promise, anything you need to know I will tell you if I can,” Colt says, pressing his forehead to hers. She doesn’t pull away from him straight away, giving him slight hope that she might be coming around.

  As if reading his mind, she pushes herself into the middle of the bed. Crossing her legs, she grabs the journal and turns it to his page.

  “So, if I am related to this big magical goddess I need to see if this shit works,” she says. Amusement seems to have replaced the fear and anger, but something in the way she’s looking at him tells him she isn’t over her funk.

  “Clara, it can wait until later, there’s some people I want you to meet,” he says, trying to distract her. “Nope! No time like the present,” she says, a sly smile on her lips. She’s definitely busting his balls. “Clara, you need to understand. The first time with a new familiar isn’t a pretty transformation. You’ve seen werewolf films where they change, all the bones crack and skin is peeled off... right?” She nods. “Well, the film creators actually had the right idea. Most people throw up the first time they see me change. I think you’ve spewed enough for one day, don’t you?”

  He can see the wheels turning in her gorgeous head, then she put the journal down and jumps off the bed, heading back to the bathroom.

  “Ok Colt. Later tonight then, it’s happening today! Now get out of my room before I change my mind, and turn you into Fido.” She’s laughing at him, but there’s a wall up between them.

  Please don’t hate me, Clara. “I’ll meet you downstairs when you’re done,” he says, slamming out of the room and heading back to his own.

  Another cold shower and coffee, that’s what he needed. Even when she was pissed at him, she hadn’t been able to hide the effect he had on her. Her nipples had turned into little hardened peaks under that flimsy vest top she was wearing. His cock hardened again painfully just thinking about her perfect breasts; all he wanted to do was bury himself in her and fuck her until she forgot her own name.

  Get your shit together, Colt. He checked his watch – 08.45. Danny and Sarah should be up now. He decided against the shower, there was too much to do today. He would just have to shake himself out of this shitty mood, and take whatever she threw at him.

  He headed downstairs to make coffee and see what Iris had in for breakfast. His stomach grumbled at the thought of food, he hadn’t eaten for over twenty-four hours.

  Colt entered the kitchen expecting to get the third degree but it was empty, Iris must be pottering about somewhere.

  The coffee machine had been filled and was still hot – there was a note left next to it. Colt,

  Jake called he’s home tomorrow.

  I Had to go and grab some stuff from town. Can you make breakfast for everyone? There’s bacon and eggs in the fridge and fresh coffee in the machine.

  I won’t be long. X

  Colt placed the note on the table and headed out to see Danny and Sarah. The sun was shining but there was a slight chill in the air as he made his way across the gravelled car park. The stones crunched beneath his big boots.

  The door of their cabin opened before he got there. Sarah greeted him with a big smile on her pretty face; he was amazed at how cheerful this girl was after ev
erything she had been through.

  “Hey Colt, we’ve been waiting for you. I was going to come up to the house after I seen that lady leave, but Dad said to wait,” she said, looking a little guilty. “Sorry guys, it’s been an eventful morning... Do you guys want to come up to the house for some breakfast?” he asked.

  Sarah nods eagerly and steps outside.

  “That sounds great,” Danny says from inside the cabin.

  Danny follows Sarah out and closes the door behind him.

  They stroll back to the house together, making small talk.

  “Did you guys sleep ok?” Colt asks.

  “Yeah, I was shattered after last night. This place is something else,” Danny says, looking around. “Yeah it is. We only normally have spectral beings here, but obviously, you’re a friend to our kind. Is Sarah your biological daughter?” Danny and Sarah share a glance between each other.

  “Sarah’s mother Karen was a familiar, she was pregnant with Sarah when I met her. She left us when Sarah was five, she just disappeared one night without a word. We never saw her again. I assumed she had found her companion or had grown bored of our life.” The haunted look on Danny’s face tells Colt he knows more than he’s saying. Colt doesn’t push the issue.

  “That sucks, man,” he says and then changes the subject. “Hope you guys like bacon? Iris has bought enough to feed a small army.”

  Colt opens the front door to the house and ushers them in. “There’s coffee in the machine and fresh orange in the fridge, help yourselves while I start breakfast.” Colt grabs the juice out of the fridge and places it in the middle of the table. Much to Colt’s relief Iris had set the table ready for them, so the glasses and cutlery were already laid out.

  He got started on breakfast, wondering when Clara would make her appearance. They sat through breakfast making small talk. Colt explained to them about The Sanctuary and how Iris had come to own the place. Danny and Sarah talked about their lives before all the trouble went down with Sarah joining the night club. They sounded like your typical father and daughter; Danny had worked as an electrician and had owned a business for a good few years, giving Sarah a ‘normal’ upbringing.

  Sarah had done well at school and had one or two good friends but always felt like an outcast, especially as she got older and started wanting to explore her true calling.

  Colt was pleasantly surprised with how much he enjoyed their company. Looking at Danny’s battered face made him feel guilty, he could have killed this guy and left Sarah with no one.

  The sound of movement on the stairs drags Colt’s attention away from their conversation.

  “Who’s that?” Sarah asks. “It’s Clara. She’s a companion, but not like the ones you may have encountered before, she’s special. You’ll see,” Colt says as Clara enters the kitchen.

  She looks beautiful. Her long auburn hair is pulled up into a ponytail so her emerald eyes are highlighted against her perfect pale skin.

  She smiles at his guests which lights up her whole face. Colt is in a trance watching her.

  Say something, dickhead. “Clara... hey... this is Danny and Sarah. Sarah’s a familiar like me, they will be staying with us for a while.”

  Clara smiles again. “Hey, did you guys come with Colt last night?” she asks. Sarah, who looks mesmerised by the being in front of her, just makes a humming sound and nods, looking more dumbfounded than him. Danny seems oblivious to it all. He stands and offers Clara his hand.

  “Nice to meet you, Clara. Yes, we did. Colt saved us from some ass... er, bad people, and brought us here,” he says.

  She smiles in Colt’s direction, an understanding passes between them. She shakes Danny’s hand nervously and then proceeds to make herself a coffee from the machine. “You guys want a fresh coffee?” she offers.

  Sarah seems to wake up from her trance and looks embarrassed.

  “I am so sorry, where are my manners? It’s just – I’ve never – I’m Sarah,” she stutters. “Hey Sarah, that’s ok. I guess I am going to have to get used to reactions like that. I only found out this morning what I am,” Clara says. “It’s all a bit overwhelming.” Clara smiles nervously at Sarah.

  “Wow, so you didn’t know? How is that possible?” Sarah asks, becoming very intrigued. Clara looks a little taken aback by Sarah’s sudden forwardness. Colt, obviously seeing her unease, answers for her.

  “Clara and her sister were adopted when they were young, and as you know companions are normally prepared from small children. Clara was abandoned before she was taught anything. She needs time to process everything,” he says, offering Clara a smile.

  “Yeah, Colt’s right, it’s a strange situation. I’ve spent so many years wondering who my birth parents were. This is not the reality I expected at all.” A small laugh escapes her.

  “What happened to you, sweetheart? How did yo u end up here?” Danny asks. The concern shows in his voice.

  “I was held captive by bad people and managed to escape. Colt found me in the forest, battered and broken, and brought me here. I owe Colt and Iris my life,” she says, smiling in Colt’s direction again.

  “Dominic,” Sarah spits out, making everyone look at her. “I think so, but we need to wait before I say either way. I have a friend coming in the next few days to speak with Clara and myself, she will hopefully know more,” Colt says.

  “I know that name,” Clara says. All the blood has drained from her face and she takes a seat next to him, looking like her legs are going to give way. “I don’t know his name from the cell I was kept in, Colt, but from the nightmares I’ve had since leaving that place. He called himself Dominus back then, his face is imprinted into my brain. He’s the one who had Annabelle and all her family killed. How can he still be alive? It’s not possible.”

  Colt hears the panic starting to rise in Clara’s voice. He takes her hands, ignoring the odd looks they are getting from Danny and Sarah.

  “Hey, beautiful, look at me.” Her eyes are full of fear and sadness, it breaks his heart. “I told you we’re safe here. No one will come within a metre of you, unless you want them to, I promise.” She seems to relax at his words. “It won’t be the same person in your dream, he is long gone. If this Dominic is the one who had you snatched then it’s likely he’s either a descendant of Dominus or a copycat, that’s what we need to find out. You’re going to be alright, Clara, that sick fuck won’t get a chance to touch you ever again.”

  She nods at him and moves her hands from his grip. “I hope you’re right, Colt.” The rest of the day goes by quickly. He shows Danny and Sarah around The Sanctuary; they seem happy to stay until everything blows over. He isn’t surprised by their love of the place, the soothing calmness of The Sanctuary draws you in.

  Clara stays out of his way for the rest of the day; she was very quiet after meeting Danny and Sarah. She had retired to her room straight after breakfast. He thought about going and checking on her, but he didn’t want to put any more pressure on her, her head must be battered with the bombshell he dropped this morning. Guilt gnaws at his gut, but he knows it was better to tell her before she found out from someone else, even if it meant she wanted nothing more to do with him.

  Iris arrives back late afternoon, her car full of supplies and groceries. Colt helps her put all the things away before helping start dinner. It’s the perfect time to talk about everything.

  “Can you pass me the stuff for the fridge?” Iris says, rearranging the containers in the big fridge-freezer. “Sure, here ya go.” He passes Iris a full bag of food. “Thanks, Colt,” Iris says, filling the fridge while he concentrates on stocking the cupboards.

  “Iris, I’m sorry, I just kind of landed new guest on you,” Colt says, a guilty look on his face. Iris turns to look at him. Her expression is soft. “It’s ok, Colt, I know you. They were in danger, you wouldn’t have brought them otherwise. I trust that the decisions you make would never hurt anyone you care about,” she said.

  He didn’t realise how much he
needed Iris’s reassurance that she wasn’t pissed at him. “I thought you were going to give me what for when I got here. Thanks for being the best big sister ever,” he says, walking up to grab her in a bear hug.

  “How is she?” Iris asks, hugging him back. “I gave her Heather’s journal to read, she knows everything now. Did I do the right thing, Iris?” Colt says.

  Iris places her hand on his cheek lovingly. “She needed to know, Colt. Better you than a stranger, hey? How did she take it?” He loved that she understood what was going on in his head.

  “She didn’t take it well, Iris. She threw up and then demanded I take her to her sister, she thinks they are in danger. I think I’ve convinced her that it’s best to wait for Heather, she’s not ready for that yet. I told her that her sister doesn’t carry the gene. I couldn’t tell her we believe her sister’s a familiar. I think that would have tipped her over the edge knowing she’s been lied to her whole life by her own blood.” Colt walks to the table and sits, putting his head in his hands.

  “Shit, Colt, that poor girl,” Iris says, and takes the seat opposite him. “I know, Iris. There’s more,” he says, looking worried. “Heather left a conjuring spell for Clara to try. It’s for me. Clara wants to try it tonight.”

  “Does she know what your spectral creature is?” “Yes, I just... I am terrified that it’ll scare her even more and she won’t confide in me, you know... I can’t... fuck.”

  “Have you developed feelings for her, Colt?” Iris asks and takes his hands in hers. Colt looks at their joined hand for a second, pondering his answer. “I don’t know what I am feeling right now, Iris. All I know is that I want to protect her from everything bad, including myself... Shit, Iris, she’s all I think about.” He lets go of Iris’s hands and runs his hands through his hair. He’s no good for Clara.

  Iris grabs his hands again, and he looks into his sister’s eyes which are full of love and admiration. She gets him, like she always does.

  “You’re not bad, Colt. You’re one of the best people I know. She’s tougher than she looks... I think you need to trust her strength. She escaped that asshole and didn’t let him beat the fight out of her. I see a lot of potential in our little Clara. She just has to believe in herself now, that’s the only way she’ll gain the most out of her magic... Maybe letting her change you later will be exactly what she needs to help her understand who she is, and what we are.”