She opened the door and checked her surroundings. There was an opening in the trees that she would go through. She wanted to find the tree that gave her shelter the night Colt found her. She needed to put her fears to rest one by one, before she came face to face with her biggest demon. At least looking like she did would put fear in most; she hoped it would anyway.
She made her way through the trees stepping over fallen tree trunks and branches; the brown and red leaves crunched beneath her boots. She hadn’t been walking long when she found a tree she recognised. She was quite impressed with herself that she had managed it on her own, she had been sure she would have needed Colt or Heather’s help.
All the branches she had used that night were still lying to the side of her makeshift hideaway. She stepped into the gap and let her body slide down the trunk of the tree until she sat with her knees bent. She rubbed at her thigh – the wound was just scar tissue now, she had refused to heal it herself. It was a reminder of her escape, a reminder that she was a survivor. She looked up into the trees into the overcast sky.
This is where it all began. She smiled to herself. She had come a long way since her encounter here that night. She closed her eyes for a minute, listening to the sounds of the forest. She didn’t need to be afraid anymore, the magic surrounding this place was Cailleach, it was her mother’s magic, it was part of her now. She let herself feel it all, absorbing the euphoria of being a part of this unbelievable sensation.
Her eyes flew open, hearing footsteps from behind the tree pulling her from her daze. Her whole body came to life as she anticipated a confrontation.
A familiar voice filled her ears and her body relaxed. Colt. “She wasn’t in the van. Heather, if that fucker has done anything to her I swear I’ll kill him, yeah, I am her—”
She pushed herself up from the floor and met stunned eyes. His usual tanned complexion had lost all colour.
“Hello Colt.” She gave him her best seductive smile. He put the phone back to his ear, a genuine look of fear and bewilderment on his handsome face.
“Heather you’re not going to believe this... A- Annabelle’s here.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Colt
“Colt, are you still there?” Heather’s voice shouted through the phone. “Yeah, I’m still here, I’ll call you back in a minute.” He ended the call with Heather and focused on Annabelle. What the hell was she doing here and where was Clara?
She took a step towards him; her dark hair reached her waist and her chocolate brown eyes were watching him intently. She was looking at him like she wanted to rip his clothes off.
“Hey, handsome,” she purred in a really bad Irish accent. “You better call my mother back and tell her that you’ve found me.”
What?
“C-Clara?” he asked, not quite believing it.
“Um hmm. It worked, Colt. The spell actually worked,” she said excitedly in her own voice. “Fuck, Clara, is that really you? This is awesome. A little bit freaky but so awesome,” he said with just as much excitement, grabbing her in a hug and then looking down at her. “Hey, Annabelle was hot,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows at her jokingly.
“Stop it,” she said, laughing. “Seriously though, Clara, it wasn’t sa fe for you to be wandering around these woods. What made you come back here?” he asked.
“I just needed to face one of my fears, Colt. I am sorry if I worried you, but as you can see I had the ultimate disguise,” she said, looking quite pleased with herself. But the fear that she had put herself in danger and something might have happened played on his mind.
“Iris can’t make it until later, we tried to call you but there wasn’t any connection. I came back to the van to get you but when I got there you were gone. I was so afraid they had found you, Clara, please don’t ever do that to me again. My heart can’t take it,” he said, hoping she would listen.
“I won’t, I promise,” she said, looking a little guilty. She threw her arms around his neck and smiled mischievously. “Call Heather, tell her we are on our way. I can’t wait to see her face. I am starting to enjoy being a witch.” She nuzzled at his neck; her warm breath on his skin made a shiver run through him. His body reacted like it always did to her, but it didn’t feel right.
“I am quite enjoying you being a witch too, as long as you don’t put yourself in any more danger.” He smiled down at her. “Change back soon though, I miss getting lost in those gorgeous emerald eyes of yours,” he said, leaning in for a kiss.
“Charmer,” she said, pulling away from him before their lips touched. “Race ya to the cliffs!” she shouted and took off, giggling, her dark hair trailing behind her.
He pressed call on Heather’s number, she answered straight away.
“I’ve found Clara, I’ll explain when we get there,” he said quickly. “Hurry up, it’ll be going dark soon.” Heather sounded relieved, although she was being her usual demanding self. He hung up and started running.
He caught up to Clara quickly, but he was impressed at how far she had gotten in the seconds he was on the phone. He had seen her this free spirited before with Jake and Sarah, but she had never shown this side of herself to him. He had been too busy trying to stay away and pretending he didn’t care, he had longed for her to laugh at him the way she was right now.
Her giggle was infectious and before long he was laughing along with her as she hid behind trees trying to scare him.
When they reached the parting in the trees that led to the cliffs he was about to walk through when Clara tugged on his arm. “If anything happens today then I just need you to know that I love you, Colt.” Her dark eyes were filled with adoration and love.
“I love you too, Clara, more than life. Nothing is going to happen today. We’re going to be ok, baby. Come on, let’s get this over with. Oh, and maybe try and work on that Irish accent, it’s well dodgy,” he said with amusement, which earned him a playful dig in his arm.
Clara Colt’s warmth radiated though her when grabbed her hand and they walked together out of the woods. The cold air from the sea hit them straight away and made her catch her breath. Memories of staggering across this rocky ground raced through her mind. It brought back an array of different feelings for her.
“We’ve got to head west,” she said, pointing to her left. “There’s rocks and stuff to climb, it’s a pretty long walk.” Talking was helping to ease the fear forming in her stomach.
Colt must have sensed her unease because he gave her hand a squeeze. “Heather is just over that mound with Jake and Terrance, we’ll go meet them and start walking.”
She was thankful she had proper walking boots on this time, they would definitely be able to cover more ground quicker.
“Heather,” Colt shouted, “there’s someone here I think you’re going to want to see.”
By the way Heather was sniping at the others it didn’t sound like Heather was happy being beckoned. “What took you so long, Fido? I swear I’ll be in the market for a new companion soon, mine is useless.” Clara watched Colt’s jaw tick with frustration at Heather’s wicked words. It was her turn to reassure him. She gave his hand a little squeeze before releasing it and winked at him, which made the corners of his mouth turn up.
“Do you think it’s polite speaking to him like that in my presence?” Clara stated, putting on her Irish accent again as Heather appeared from behind the mound of rocks. She felt Colt stiffen next to her like he was trying to compose himself.
Heather stopped in her tracks. Her perfectly manicured hand went to her mouth. “You – youryou’re...” Heather stuttered. Her already pale complexion went lighter.
“Hello Mother,” Clara said in her own voice, and started laughing uncontrollably. She could see Colt found it hilarious as well, his big shoulders shook but he was trying his best to hide it and failing miserably.
“Clara?” Heather said, her eyes bulging out of her head. “The one and only. The transformation spell worked better than I anticipated. G
ood, eh?” Clara said, turning around to give Heather the full view of her handiwork.
“Good... It’s bloody brilliant, darling,” Heather said, walking over and pulling her in for an awkward embrace.
“Anyone else who asks, Clara didn’t feel up to it. I’m Annabelle, got it?! Are you guys ready to go?” Clara asked, eager to get this done with. Heather just nods once, still looking a little rattled at her transformation.
“It’s this way,” Colt says, grabbing Clara’s hand and giving Heather evil looks as he brushes past her, heading the way Heather had emerged from only minutes earlier.
Colt quickly introduced ‘Annabelle’ to Jake and Terrance before they began on their journey. She couldn’t get over the size of Terrance, and judging by the state Terrance’s face was in, Colt had fought back just as hard last night.
She knew Jake wasn’t soft, he kept giving her little scrutinising glances every so often, like he was trying to decide where he had seen her before.
They had been climbing, jogging, and walking for about five hours; the sky had started to go dark. All of a sudden, Clara felt a stirring of déjà vu. “I think we are nearly there, it’s just over these next set of rocks. It’s like a doorway embedded into the cliff, with a pathway leading from it,” she said, pointing. She shivered but it wasn’t from cold.
“Are you certain?” Colt asked, sniffing the air. “There’s a cloaking spell,” Heather said, and immediately began chanting.
The air seemed to lift and become fresher around them.
Terrance growled. “I smell it now,” he said, his eyes glowing red.
“Easy, kitty cat,” Heather said, patting Terrance on the arm. “We need to see if there’s a way in.” Colt peered over the rocks. “There’s cars parked near, so the other way in must lead to a road,” he said, looking at Clara.
She had an idea but wasn’t sure if it would work.
“I have an idea,” she said, and everyone’s eyes landed on her.
“We could set one of the cars on fire, and then when they come out to check, we’ve got a way in.” Colt’s eyebrows rose at her and he walked over, taking her hand and leading her out of earshot of everyone.
“Are you sure you want to do this, baby?” he said, worry in his eyes. “You know you’re going to see me do things, Clara, and they aren’t going to be nice. My beast is unsettled as it is, as soon as I let him out he’s going to tear some throats out. I don’t want you becoming afraid of me.”
She knew she had put that doubt in his eyes about her commitment to him, but she knew what she was getting herself into and what this whole horrible situation was going to mean for them.
She placed her hand on his cheek and made him look at her. “Colt, it’s alright. I know what we have to do, and believe me, after what those men down there put me and countless others through, they deserve everything that is coming to them. I won’t say it won’t scare me because I am shit scared, Colt, but I need to stop being afraid and face whatever comes next.” She kissed his cheek, and spoke into his ear. “I really want to kiss you now, but there are too many eyes watching.”
“I love you, Clara,” he whispered back against her ear, making a shiver run through her. “Love you too, now let’s go free those women,” she said, looking over to Heather who looked like she was about to conjure up another spell.
She realised what the spell was when she heard Heather shout, “Ignis!” and there was a huge explosion from the other side of the rocks.
All eyes turned to Heather who looked pretty smug. “Well you were taking too long and I was getting bored,” Heather said with her usual resting bitch face. “Guess there’s no going back now then,” Clara said, and pushed past them to take a closer look at the damage her mother had just caused.
“Guess not,” Colt said, removing his clothes, the transformation into beast tearing through his body within seconds. Jake followed his uncle, stripping himself of his clothes. She was astounded to see that Colt wasn’t wrong when he called him bear cub, except he wasn’t a cub at all. A huge brown bear stood before her; she ran her fingers through his fur and he growled his appreciation, nudging her with his big head.
Voices from the other side of the rocks meant their plan had worked. Colt and Jake were the first to bolt over the rocks without a word or second glance. They were closely followed by Terrance, who was now a panther.
Clara was a bit surprised by his transformation, she really hadn’t thought that a panther was his beast – she had expected a gorilla or something bigger, the size of the guy.
She turned to Heather who was watching her with a weird expression on her face. “You truly are my daughter,” she said, offering her hand. Clara looked at it for a second before walking over and taking it.
“Are you ready to face your hell, my beautiful girl?” Heather whispered.
“I’m ready,” Clara said.
No going back now.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Clara Clara watched as Colt tore at flesh like it was paper, clawing and ripping apart anyone who challenged him or got in his path. Her stomach turned over at the sight of the torn skin and the bones protruding from the wounds of the slain bodies that scattered the floor outside the cave. The strong smell of the blood which covered the ground in crimson pools made her gag, but she wouldn’t allow her weakness to show. She swallowed it down and took a gulp of air; she had to prove a point to herself and to everyone who believed in her. They had to show Dominic they were serious, she just needed to get it into her head that all these men were not innocents – they had all raped, tortured, and murdered countless women in the name of the Domini Bellatorum. They were facing their own karma.
She had learnt a few spells to ward off attackers and restrain them but none that would kill them; she had wanted to follow in Annabelle’s path and just become a healer but at this moment in time she was regretting that decision, as one of Dominic’s men grabbed her arm and brought his fist into her left cheek. She felt the swelling straight away. No way was this fucker going to get the better of her.
Her fighting instinct kicked in and she swiped her assailant’s leg from under him, sending him toppling over. He let go of her arm in his panic. She brought her fist into his nose, feeling the bone crunch.
She was about to throw a kick to the side of his head when Jake in all his grizzly glory pounded over, swiping at her attacker’s chest, killing him instantly. The blood oozed out of the slash marks, his ribcage now visible. She had to turn her face away for a second to compose herself before looking to Jake, who looked like he was waiting for a command from her. She smiled at him.
“Thanks Jake,” she said. He growled his response and left her, bounding off to help Colt who was currently snarling at another man. Terrance was battling with someone else; his teeth were buried into their arm, about to tear it off.
She looked around for Heather and spotted her heading towards her, so she decided to walk ahead. The door at the entrance of the cave was ajar and the coast seemed to be clear. She made her way over, her eyes darting everywhere. She had to dodge bloodied and dismembered bodies – every one was just as gruesome as the last. She tried to avert her eyes but it was difficult without falling over something.
She finally got to the cave entrance and was about to enter. Clara! There’s someone in my house...
Emmie?
Emmie, are you there? Who is it? Emmie, can you hear me?
Nothing. “Emmie!” she screamed, feeling so helpless. Everything that had happened recently built like a ball of anger in her gut and without a second thought she stormed into the cave, set on creating a little carnage herself.
Heather caught her up seconds later and pulled at her arm to get her attention. Her face had a look of despair and panic.
“Clara, why did you scream your sister’s name before? What’s happened?” “She has just tried to contact me. Someone is in her house, we lost connection.” She really didn’t want to discuss this here; she needed to find him. She
hadn’t seen him outside with the others, he had to suffer for the weeks of abuse he had inflicted.
“What’s the word for pain or torture?” Clara asked Heather, whose face dropped even more at her question.
“Clara, it’ll change you.” “I don’t care, my sister is in danger and I am in the middle of the place where I was beaten and tortured by some evil asshole. I need the words, Heather... Now.” She glared at her mother, daring her to challenge her.
“It’s cruciatus for torture and adducere eum morte, which means bring him death,” Heather said warily. Clara just nods, unable to form words right now without losing her cool. The anger inside her is eating her whole, she can feel her Cailleach screaming to be released.
She walks down the rocky pathway leading to the cells. The lighting is dull, eerie, and exactly how she remembered it. The smell of urine fills the air, letting her know she is close to the first set of cells.
A ruckus of snarling and growling from behind her tells her Colt and the others have joined them in the cave, probably looking for more blood.
At least now she can concentrate on helping these poor souls trapped in here, while they deal with any of Dominic’s men.
She reaches the first cell and holds her hands up, channelling her magic. “Get the next one,” she says to Heather, who was watching her intensely. “We need to free these women.”
Heather hurries to the next cell and holds her arms out. “It’s aperio, it means unseal or open,” she said, and shouted, “Aperio!” at the cell door, which she hears unlock.
Clara looked at the door in front of her. “Aperio!” she shouted. The cell door clicked open and she nodded at Heather and pushed at the heavy metal. The hinges groaned.
She saw her almost immediately, a young girl who looked about seventeen, curled up in a ball in the corner of the room, her light brown hair matted and her clothes torn and dirty.
Unfamiliar (The Vandran Legacy Book 1) Page 24