Unfamiliar (The Vandran Legacy Book 1)

by Anna-Louise Dann

  She had to wait until she had some privacy, then she would try and talk to Emmie. She hadn’t heard anything since she waved goodbye to her earlier on, there were too many distractions to try on the boat and she wasn’t ready to let people know yet. She felt awful keeping it from Colt but this was something she and Emmie had agreed on. She would fill Colt in when she knew no one could eavesdrop. She just hoped their telepathic communication worked long distance; once she knew for sure she would speak to Heather to see if she knew anything about it.

  “We’ll be docking soon,” Bernie the boat’s pilot says, flashing her a gummy smile. He hadn’t been what she was expecting. This guy looked like he’d had a hard life, resembling a fisherman rather than a boat’s captain with his woollen bobbled hat and big trench coat. Jack, their last captain, had been much younger and easier on the eye. It was difficult to see the resemblance between them both, this guy looked more like Jack’s father than his brother. Maybe they weren’t blood related. He seemed like a genuinely nice person and had spent the whole trip making sure everyone was fed and comfortable. He had kind eyes. Her mother had always said ‘a person’s eyes are a window to their soul’.

  The dimly lit dock comes into view and she spots Jake straight away, pacing up and down the dock’s edge looking like he’s ready for a fight. It always surprises her how much he resembles Colt. He’s a shorter-haired, more clean-cut version of his uncle.

  Sarah comes out of the sleeping quarters looking to the dock’s edge straight away. Her face seems to light up a bit when she sees Jake.

  “Did you get much sleep, Sarah?” Clara asks . Sarah sits on the seat next to her, placing her hands between her knees.

  “Some. Did you sleep at all earlier, Clara?” “No, my mind was racing too much with everything. I am sure I will get a few hours later. Are you alright, Sarah? Is something bothering you? You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.”

  Sarah nods. “I’ll be alright, just everything catching up with me, you know.” “I know. I never thanked you for coming with us, you are a valuable part of our little team Sarah, and you have risked so much, so thank you. If you ever need to chat about anything at all I have a good ear.”

  “Thanks Clara, you know I love you guys, I just have to work this stuff out in my own head first.” “I get it, lovely, we have both suffered at the hands of that sick bastard. When you’re ready, I am here for you,” Clara said, nudging against Sarah’s shoulder affectionately.

  Ten minutes later she was being lifted off the boat by Colt. Colt let her hand go to grab Jake in a bear hug. She could see Jake’s eyes searching behind her; she saw him light up when he spotted Sarah and then the worry appeared in his gaze as he realised something was wrong. He seemed to start to move towards her but then thought better of it when he spotted Danny. Danny had headed straight for Sarah, wrapping her in his big arms. “Good to see you, girl... You’ve lost weight,” he said, the concern evident in his voice. He releases her to hold her out in front of him. “What’s happened?”

  “I’m fine, Dad, just a hectic week. I’ve missed you too by the way,” she says. The laughter in her voice doesn’t quite reach her eyes. Clara’s eyes dart back to Colt and Jake who now seem deep in an important conversation; she assumes Colt is filling Jake in on everything that happened in Chester.

  They all said their goodbyes to Bernie. Clara hugged him, taking him by surprise. The guy had gone out of his way for them, and had made sure they were safe. “Thank you so much, Bernie.”

  “It was my pleasure, girly, and besides I owe your momma my life, so it is the least I could do,” he said in his broad Southern Irish accent, hugging her back awkwardly.

  Jake had led Sarah and Danny back to the van, chatting away to Sarah who looked lost in her own thoughts.

  Colt had waited for her. She gave Bernie one last wave before she headed to the sexy man beast who was standing at the dock side looking ready to devour her. “Hey, everything ok?” she asks. “You look like you’re about to kill someone.” He doesn’t answer, he just pulls her to him and slams his mouth onto hers. Heat pools between her legs and soaks her underwear; she kisses him back with just as much need. He releases her mouth and leans his forehead against hers.

  “I have wanted to do that since we boarded that dammed boat. Fuck, Clara. It killed me to see you so broken after we left Emmie. I am so sorry, baby,” he says, his eyes never leaving hers.

  “It’s not your fault, Colt. Emmie had already made up her mind, she’s stubborn,” she says, trying to reassure him.

  “Yeah, it runs in the family,” he says, smirking. “You better watch yourself, wolf boy.” She digs him playfully in the ribs. He grabs her closed fist and kisses her knuckles tenderly, adding to the heat already coursing through her. “You wound me, beautiful,” he says, nibbling on the back of her hand. She bites her lip to stop the moan wanting to escape from her, the sensation almost unbearable.

  “I would love nothing more than to feast on you right now but we need to make tracks, and besides I think Bernie would enjoy the show too much.” He nods behind her. She turns to see Bernie waving at them from aboard the boat. She feels her already flushed cheeks heat with embarrassment; she really needed to control herself around Colt before she got into more trouble... Who was she kidding? She couldn’t keep away from him.

  They both waved Bernie off and headed to the van to catch up with the others.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Clara Clara sat in the back of Colt’s van with her back resting against the seats. The battered mattress still smelt strongly of petrol which she had complained about when they first got in. Colt had reassured her they wouldn’t be stuck back here for long, a few hours at the most. Her last experience in the back of this thing hadn’t been a pleasurable one and to say she was feeling a little on edge was an understatement

  – she was ready to lose her temper again.

  Sarah had sat next to her and still hadn’t snapped out of her weird mood, she was currently sitting hugging her knees staring into space. She looked a million miles away. Danny, who seemed oblivious to Sarah’s sombre mood, was waffling on about some film he had watched the night before about an alien invasion and how he wondered if aliens existed.

  Clara was half listening to Danny for a little while but her mind kept wandering back to the vision she had earlier of little Hope locked in that room. She had looked so scared and tiny in that bed. She couldn’t cope with the guilt that ate away at her gut every time she envisioned Hope’s little face. They needed to sort out a plan and fast because she wasn’t going to leave Emmie and Hope with that evil bastard for longer than she had to. God only knew what that sick asshole would do to them if he decided they were of no use to him.

  “We’re nearly there, ten more minutes.” Colt’s deep voice vibrated through the van. “At last,” Sarah stated to no one in particular. She kept her head to the floor, not making eye contact with anyone.

  Clara wanted to quiz her again about what was going on with her but thought better of it; she had more pressing issues to worry about than consoling a moody teenager who wasn’t interested in discussing what was bothering her. Clara’s patience was wearing thin and Sarah’s bad attitude towards everyone wasn’t helping. She had to focus on contacting Emmie and coming up with a plan.

  As soon as Colt turned the engine off Sarah was the first up and waiting by the door. Danny glanced over at Clara, his eyes full of worry and unspoken questions. Clara just shrugged and offered her best reassuring smile. Danny obviously knew not to push the issue with Sarah either.

  Jake pulled open the van doors; the fresh air was welcoming after being stuck inside that tin can for two hours.

  Jake offered Sarah his hand but she ignored it and jumped down, barging past him and striding off. He looked a little hurt at her brush-off. “Just leave her, Jake. She’s got a bee in her bonnet over something, she’ll talk when she’s ready,” Danny said. “Here, help an old fella out, will ya?” he
said, grabbing Jake’s shoulder to jump down.

  “She’s been in that mood since we left Liverpool,” Clara said. “It started after me and Emmie bonded. You don’t think she’s upset that I didn’t do the bonding spell with her, do you?” Clara said, looking between Danny and Jake.

  “She knows why you had to do the bonding spell with Emmie, it couldn’t have gone any other way. I don’t think it’s that, Clara,” Colt says, walking from around the side of the van, making them all turn in his direction. “I think all of our emotions are running high and she’s dealing with it her own way,” he says, grabbing Clara around the waist to lift her from the van. He didn’t let go when her feet were firmly on the ground. “Hey, you didn’t try and headbutt me this time,” he says, laughter in his eyes.

  “There’s still time, wolf boy,” she says, and he tickles her sides making her squeal.

  Colt was probably right about Sarah; she would be fine soon, they all would. Clara was impressed with Heather’s choice for the safe house, the old cottage oozed history and had most of its original features. She was currently admiring the big old fireplace in the sitting room. The place had been recently renovated and extensions had been added to the side and back of the property to add more bedrooms and living space. It lay on two acres of farming land and was hidden behind a big old mill – she could envision herself living here.

  Colt had reassured her that their little group were going to be the only people staying here. Because the cottage was so close to the busy Dundrum town centre in Dublin, if they ventured out she would need to wear her disguise. She had removed the wig and contacts as soon as they walked through the door, and she had no intention of putting it back on until they left for The Sanctuary.

  She and Colt had chosen the bedroom at the back of the property – it had an en-suite bathroom and the window looked out onto the fields covering the farmland. It was so peaceful.

  She sat on the big king-size bed with her legs crossed and her eyes tightly closed. She had chased Colt out of the room ten minutes ago, she needed the quiet. She didn’t have the first clue about how to channel her power and was hoping that meditation would help her contact Emmie. She was new to all of this and was hoping she was doing it right.

  She freed her mind of everything other than her sister and envisioned her blonde hair and bright blue eyes looking at her.

  Emmie, can you hear me?

  Are you there?

  Nothing, maybe she needed to chant a spell or Emmie was sleeping. It had been a crappy few days, for all of them. She tried again, blocking out everything but Emmie’s face.

  Emmie. Suddenly her mind became fuzzy and she could hear a static sound – it reminded her of the noise a radio or a walkie talkie makes.

  It’s working.

  Emmie, is that you?

  A buzzing sound started which tickled her ears.

  Clara, I’m here, it worked. Emmie’s voice echoed through the buzzing noise. She was really distorted. Oh, thank God. Emmie, are you safe? Clara asked, feeling relieved. I’m staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Liverpool docks, I am going to head home tomorrow morning. Did you all get to the safe house? Emmie asked.

  Clara felt her mind beginning to pull away and the connection became weaker.

  We did, Emmie. I’ll try this again tomorrow night around nine, the connection is weaken— The buzzing stopped and Emmie was gone. She opened her eyes, feeling physically and mentally exhausted. A wave of nausea took over and she had to run to the bathroom, making it to the toilet just in time. She was violently sick. She slumped against the wall catching her breath.

  It worked.

  Colt barged through the open bathroom door, looking panicked.

  “Clara, fuck. What happened?” The concern in his voice made her heart melt. “I’ll be ok, Colt, I’ve just contacted Emmie,” she said, flushing the toilet and attempting to stand up. Her legs felt like jelly. Colt’s big arms reached out and steadied her; she pushed him off, not wanting to be crowded. She needed to process everything. She felt instantly guilty at the hurt look on his face.

  “Is she ok, Clara? Has something happened?” Colt says, looking a little confused. “She’s fine... Colt, I’ve been hiding something from you since we left her,” she says, her voice coming out sharper than she wanted. She was struggling to find the right way to explain things.

  “What is it, Clara?” She can feel the tension radiating off him. He turns her to face him, staring down at her with raised eyebrows waiting for her answer. She was expecting him to be pissed but she was surprised to see fear in his eyes.

  “We can communicate telepathically... I mean we could hear each other on the docks but I wanted to be certain it would work long distance before I told anyone,” she says quickly.

  Colt releases a long breath he had been holding on to. “Fuck, Clara, after everything I thought you had changed your mind about us or you were in the middle of another vision. The look on your face when I came in here.” He strokes her cheek lovingly, looking relieved. “Wow, I can’t believe you guys managed it on your first attempt. Telepathy in spectrals is a rare power, and takes years to master properly, no wonder you were sick... What did she say?” He sounded excited.

  She should have known Colt would know about telepathy, she was so glad he wasn’t mad at her, for keeping it from him until now.

  “It didn’t last long, it took a lot out of me. She said she is staying at a Holiday Inn on Liverpool docks for tonight, and she’s safe. I told her I would try again tomorrow night at nine, the connection was lost before we could say anything else,” she says.

  “It’ll get easier, Clara. Me and Heather don’t h ave that kind of bond, it’s a very rare connection between Caliche and familiar. This just shows how strong you both are... You look exhausted, beautiful,” he said, the worry back in his eyes.

  “I am. I need to take a shower and eat something then I’ll call it a night, I think,” she said, yawning. “Jake has just gone into town to see if there’s anywhere open for food, we can go down after our shower,” he says.

  “Ok, I won’t be long,” she says as he exits the bathroom. She grabs the mouthwash off the little shelf next to the sink and rinses her mouth out, feeling better already.

  Colt reenters the bathroom. She doesn’t move from the spot as he walks to the shower and turns on the spray. She watches as he lifts his black t-shirt over his head, displaying his ripped torso. Her eyes trace upwards from the little line of hair at his navel until they reach his face; his eyes burn into her, full of primal need.

  “Did you want to shower first?” she says to him playfully, her voice husky with need for him. He walks to her and without a word he lifts her sweatshirt over her head and throws it to the floor. He lowers his mouth to her right breast, using his hand to pull the flimsy material of her white bra down her arms, exposing her to him. She gasps and then moans loudly as he feasts on her sensitive flesh, using his tongue to flick each of her hardened peaks.

  He unclasps her bra and that joins her sweatshirt on the floor. His mouth carries on the sweet torture down her body. He kneels and makes quick work of unfastening her jeans, pulling them down her legs. He removes her boots and socks, then pulls her jeans the rest of the way down until they are off and join her other clothes on the floor. She is left standing in just her soaked panties. He looks up from his kneeling position on the floor; his eyes are amber. He growls as he pulls her hips towards him and nuzzles her through her underwear. She cries out with pleasure. He discards the flimsy material and pulls her hips towards him. Cupping her ass with his hands, he licks and sucks at her centre until her legs feel like they are going to give way and she comes hard against his mouth, panting his name.

  He removes his own jeans and frees himself. She will never get tired of looking at this man’s ripped body

  – he is magnificent. More heat pools between her thighs as he fists his manhood and strokes it twice.

  “See what you do to me, Clara.” His voice sounds pai
ned. “Tell me what you want.” She walks to him and wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him passionately, tasting herself on him. This drives her mad with passion.

  “I need you, Colt, right now,” she says against his mouth breathlessly. He lifts her up and presses her against the wall, entering her in one thrust. They both cry out at the joining of their bodies.

  He fucks her hard and she meets his rhythm with her own until she is whimpering his name again and seeing stars.

  “Fuck, Clara, I’m going to come,” he growls, pulling out of her quick. She kneels and takes him in her mouth, tasting her release on him. He grips her hair and thrusts three times into her mouth, calling her name as he finds his own release. She drinks him all up; she can feel the muscles in his thighs vibrate as his aftershocks from his ejaculation subside.

  She looks up at him from her kneeling position, he looks sated and happy.

  “Fuck, Clara, I swear you’re going to be the death of me,” he says as he lifts her to her feet. They take a shower together, taking turns to wash each other. Colt washes her hair, earning a contented moan from her. His big hands work their magic on her scalp – she could get used to this.

  “Right, beautiful, I am vacating this shower before I take advantage of all of that moaning... I’ll see you downstairs when you’re ready.” He kisses the tip of her nose and exits the shower leaving her to finish rinsing the shampoo out of her hair.

  *** She padded into the kitchen twenty minutes later feeling a lot more human. She had tied her wet hair into a messy bun on top of her head, and she had put on some blue sweat pants and a white t-shirt Heather had left for her. She was so thankful to be out of jeans and in comfortable clothes.

  Colt, Jake, and Danny were all sitting around the kitchen table tucking into a large pepperoni pizza. Sarah wasn’t with them.