Unfamiliar (The Vandran Legacy Book 1)

by Anna-Louise Dann

  “I’d like t o do something for her once this is all over to thank her. She restored my faith in human kindness, you both saved my life,” Clara said, blinking back the tears. She felt choked up thinking about how things could have been.

  Colt pulled her into a hug, and kissed the top of her hair. “You restored my faith in love, Clara. I never knew I could feel this way about someone. I love you more than life, my beautiful girl.”

  “I love you too, Colt, so much,” she said, squeezing him tighter.

  The front door opened, startling them both out of their intimate moment. Terrance stomped into the kitchen, his eyes going straight to Clara. He looked like he had just seen a ghost.

  “What the? Y -you died.” His voice shook. “You know who I am?” Clara said, frowning. “I was given a picture of you, Miles said you were

  important to the Master. Me and a few others had to go searching for you. We got word that you had been found dead and the police had your body, next thing I knew Miles was mad, saying how pissed the Master was going to be because his precious Clara was dead. Hhow are you here...? I need to sit down.” Terrance grabbed a chair and slumped down into it. She felt sorry for this guy; she should have introduced herself yesterday, he had earned their trust.

  “They had me, I was locked in that cave for two months. I was tortured and beaten by those sick bastards. I managed to escape. Colt and Heather found and rescued me from Hunters Woods – we faked my death. Now they have my sister and my niece.”

  “The name’s Colt, by the way. Tommy’s my fake ID’s name,” Colt says, walking over and holding his hand out. Terrance looks dumbfounded, shaking Colt’s hand.

  “This is fucking mental, but after all the things I’ve seen recently, I should just accept it. You’re not dead, and your name is not Tommy. Well, fuck me,” he says, shaking his head. “I understand why you lied, I can sense how strong her magic is. You’re someone important, and I am eternally grateful to you for rescuing my Kate. What do you guys need help with? I owe you my life.”

  “W e need all the info you have on Miles and Dominic. If we’re going to bring the bastards down I need to know what we’re dealing with,” Colt said. “Do you know anything about humanoid familiars?” Colt said.

  “Humanoid familiars?” Terrance looked puzzled. “Heather says, she thought they had been wiped out in the last century. They can embody the shape of their companion and possibly other familiars. We think Dominic has unknowingly bonded with one and is being double crossed,” Colt stated.

  “Wow, sorry, I’ve never heard of one before. I’ve only met Dominic a few times. He’s a mean fucker, he makes his men look like nice guys,” Terrance said.

  “It might not have been Dominic you were meeting,” Colt said.

  “Well shit...” Terrance curses. “I’m going to contact Emmie a gain to see if she has any more info, that could help us,” Clara says, feeling like she needs to do something productive.

  “Ok, beautiful,” Colt says, capturing her lips in a lingering kiss. She leaves the room and instead of going upstairs she grabs a coat off the coat rack, deciding to take a walk in the woods, hoping that being out of the house would help her concentrate without any interruptions.

  The cold, fresh, crisp air turned her pale cheeks pink as she made her way across the hard gravel. Reaching the big gate, she pulled it open, pulled it closed behind her and headed into the trees. She wanted to find the spot she first saw Colt change. She stepped over fallen branches; the trees were all bare and ready for winter. It was hauntingly beautiful, all the light and dark browns blended together on the forest floor.

  She finally found the clearing; it was so peaceful here, she could feel the magic surrounding the place. She sat on a tree stump and closed her eyes, allowing her mind to empty of everything other than thoughts of her sister.

  “Emmie, are you there?” She connected straight away. “Clara, are you alright?” Emmie’s voice was like music to her ears, she had missed her so much. “I am ok now I can hear your voice. How’s Hope? Anything happened?” Clara asked, praying everything was alright.

  “Oh, Clara, Hope is as cheeky as ever. She’s had everyone running around after her. Dominic is such a gentleman, you wouldn’t believe he was capable of all the horrible things he’s done. His sister on the other hand, that woman is pure evil.” There was a hint of anger when she mentioned Juliet.

  “Has Dominic mentioned the club or the cave at all, Emmie?” “He’s only just got back, he’s been away for a few months on business. His manager Miles has been running the club. Juliet mentioned the cave last night, from what she said it sounds like Miles runs that as well.”

  “Did you just say he’s just got back?”

  “Yes, last night.”

  Shit. Heather had been right.

  “Emmie, listen, you need to find a way to let him know, someone who he’s bonded with is a humanoid familiar. They have been imitating him, and hurting a lot of people, to get to us.”

  “Oh my god, Clara, are you ok? I don’t like this one bit, I need to see you,” Emmie said. She sounded scared. She heard rustling of trees, Colt must be coming to check on her.

  “I know, me too. We will soon, I promise. Things are about to get really bad, Emmie. Keep yourself safe. I’ve got to go, I’ve just heard someone coming. Give Hope a massive kiss for me?”

  Something hard hit Clara in head. She heard Emmie say, ”I will. I love you, sis.”

  The world went blank.

  Chapter Thirty

  Colt Where the hell had Clara got to? She had been gone for ages, he was going to have to leave for the club soon with Terrance. He mounted the stairs two at a time and entered her bedroom. The room was empty. He checked his room in case she had decided to go in there, she wasn’t in there either. She must have gone to their spot in the woods. He ran down the stairs and grabbed his jacket.

  “Just going to get Clara,” he shouted to Terrance, who was sitting chatting to Iris. He walked across the gravel to the cabins and knocked on Danny’s door to see if he wanted anything before they left – there was no answer. Strange. Iris had said he wasn’t answering earlier when she knocked. She presumed he was sleeping, so had gone for supplies without him.

  The guy had been in a sombre mood since Sarah had left; he needed to snap out of it soon though, they needed everyone to pitch in when the shit hit the fan. Deciding to leave Danny for now, he jogged to the gate and climbed over it. He made his way into the trees, walking as fast as he could.

  Something didn’t feel right; the air felt different. He sped up with the sudden urge to reach Clara, and quickly. His gut instinct told him there was evil lurking in these woods. His body was in automatic defence mode as he reached the clearing expecting to find Clara sitting there meditating. She wasn’t there. His heart beat wildly in his chest and he sniffed the air. The smell of blood filled his nostrils and he followed the scent to an old tree stump. There were drops of blood on the stump and on the forest floor. He knew the scent of that blood as well as his own.

  “Clara!” he roared, falling to his knees.

  ***

  Her head was banging. She wasn’t sure how long she had been unconscious for. She was lying on a carpeted floor, blindfolded with a gag in her mouth. Her hands and feet were bound.

  She was so stupid – why did she have to go into the woods? She hadn’t told anyone where she was going. She had left herself open and vulnerable and now she was being taken back to the monster who had her tortured and beaten.

  She cried a muffled, “Arghh!” through the gag. Tears pooled in her eyes and soaked into the blindfold. She had to stay strong. She couldn’t show any weakness, they thrived on weakness.

  A door opened and closed, and someone entered. “Are you awake, girl?” It was Danny. Thank God, they had found her. She lifted her head and nodded. It was useless trying to speak through this material in her mouth. Relief washed over her and she awaited him untying her, but he didn’t.

  What wa
s going on? She felt the gag move from her mouth and a bottle of water was put in its place. “Here, drink this, they shouldn’t be too much longer,” Danny said. His voice was void of his usual cheeriness. She drank a little, but she needed to question him.

  “Danny, what’s going on? Where’s Colt? Where are we?” she pleaded. He put the gag back in her mouth, to quieten her.

  “I was forced into this, Clara. Me and my Sarah were happy and going to make a new life away from this place, but your boyfriend had to involve us in your shitty situation, and now my Sarah is back with them. They were very intrigued when I told Dominic I had someone he’d be interested in. He cut me a deal, you for Sarah. When it comes to choosing between you and my Sarah, you lose.” He sounded deranged.

  Did he not realise he had just fucked them all? She couldn’t believe he was capable of this; he had seen everything they had all been through, he had been through it with them.

  Her hurt turned to anger. She tried to chant a spell but there was something blocking her magic. “It’s no use trying that, they gave me something to put in your water, to stop that from happening,” he said, sounding pleased with himself. Shit.

  Clara She closed her eyes and tried to focus… nothing. It was like a static sound in her brain, like a radio without a signal. Whatever they had fed her had stopped her magic from working for now.

  “Danny, please don’t do this,” she begged through the gag. She felt so helpless. “I just want my Sarah back,” he said. At least she could hear a little remorse in his voice now, but he better hope he was nowhere around when her magic returned, because she would make him pay for putting them all in danger. What the hell had gotten into him?

  A phone rang and Danny answered.

  “Yeah, I’ve got her, I’ve brought her to the place you said.”

  Someone was talking on the other end, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying. “Ok, see you in ten minutes... Yeah, I pr omise you’ll be pleased. Ok, bye.” She heard him take a shaky breath, he was just as scared as she was.

  Ten minutes later there was a knock at the door; she heard Danny open it.

  “So, what do we have here, Danny boy? Let me see.” A familiar voice sounded, sending her blood cold. No, no, no.

  Anyone but him. Her skin crawled and bile rose in her throat.

  “Shit, Danny, you’re a fucking miracle worker. So she wasn’t dead after all then?” A sharp pain coursed through her back as she was mercilessly kicked. Her hair was gripped in a tight fist and he lifted her, digging his nose into her face.

  “Hello, whore, did you miss me? The Master will be pleased we’ve found you alive, but you’re going to be punished for deserting him.” He threw her back to the floor again. She refused to shout out even though her arm hurt badly from landing awkwardly.

  “I forgot how strong-willed you were... Ooh, I will have some fun breaking you,” he hissed with venom. “S -so will Sarah be free to come home now like we discussed, Miles?” Danny stuttered. She could hear the fear in his voice.

  This was Miles? She prayed her magic returned soon, so she could fuck this prick up. “Danny, Danny, Danny, you know better than to question what the Master has in store for his girls, you know this, and yet you just keep on pushing. Not cool, Danny boy. Really not cool.”

  There’s a scuffle. “Please Miles, please. I’m all Sarah has left. Please don’t do this,” Danny sobbed. She tried to free herself but it was useless, the ropes just cut into her skin the more she struggled.

  “Sarah has me now, you fat fuck. Taste this,” Miles sneers. There’s silence, all she can hear is a horrible gurgling noise, and then there’s a thump like something heavy hitting the floor.

  “No!” she cries through her gag. The tears stream and she struggles some more to try and free herself. Hands grab her and lift her off the floor – a fist punches her hard in the cheek, making her head spin. “Carry on, whore, and I’ll stick you with this blade as well,” he snarls into her ear. She stops fight ing, she doesn’t want to give them a reason to kill her. She lets them drag her outside where she’s put into a car. She can feel her cheek swelling; her eyes fill with tears again and she doesn’t fight them. Her worst fears have come true.

  She’s so lost.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Colt The drive to Perdition was done in silence. There was a heavy atmosphere hanging in the air, he was close to losing his shit all together. He had been such a dickhead bringing Danny into their lives; he should have realised the fucker would betray them. Terrance was sitting next to him in the van looking just as pissed – his forehead was creased with a menacing frown. Heather had stayed with Iris, in case Dominic’s men decided to pay a visit. He didn’t know how much information Danny had divulged.

  Colt accelerated, he needed to get to the club and quickly. If Heather had been right and this was the work of a humanoid they needed to get to her before the sick bastard tortured her some more.

  “Jeez, slow down, Colt!” Jake shouted from the back of the van when he took a turn too quick. He ignored Jake’s protests, putting his foot down harder.

  Colt parked the van twenty minutes later opposite Perdition. “Jake, you stay here, be our eyes for who’s coming in and out. If there’s any trouble I’ll call you and vice versa,” Colt ordered.

  Jake nodded. “Keep yourself safe, man,” he said, looking a bit rattled. “I’ll be fine, Jakey boy. These fuckers don’t realise who they’ve just messed with,” Colt said, turning his attention back to the club. He blew out a breath to try and ease the tension inside him. “Come on, meathead, let’s get in there,” he said to Terrance, pushing the van door open and then slamming it shut behind him.

  They were obviously expected because the two doormen nodded at them as they passed. Colt was on a mission tonight, the anger was bubbling just below the surface. If they had hurt even a hair on Clara’s head the whole fucking club would feel his wrath.

  “Hey, handsome,” a familiar voice called out from the reception desk as they made their way through. He wasn’t in the mood for being hit on tonight, but Princess had other ideas. “I never did get to give you that dance,” she said, leaning on the counter so her double D’s pushed their way out of her top. The look on her face was predatory.

  “Maybe later, Princess, someone I need to see,” he said, brushing her off. She pouted at him. “Well I’m here all night. Don’t leave me hanging, handsome,” she purred. He ignored her come-on and followed Terrance through the big double doors into the club.

  Before entering the VIP area Terrance stopped and looked at him. “You ready to do this, Tommy lad?” he asked, using Colt’s fake name. There was concern on his face. “If we’re doing this, whatever is waiting for us in that room, you’ve got to go along with it. I know it’ll be hard, but if we play along there a chance we can find out where they are keeping her,” Terrance said.

  “Fine, but if I find out they have hurt her in any way, them fuckers won’t know what’s hit them,” Colt growled.

  “And I’ll be right next to you, let’s do this” Terrance stated, and pushed open the door. He looked around and spotted Sarah straight away; she was in the middle of a strip tease swinging around one of the poles on the podium. A dick in a suit was ogling her, trying to coax her into joining him and his friends. She didn’t even acknowledge the guy’s desperate pleas as she put on her performance. She made it look so easy. She looked so different; her dark hair was in high pigtails, she was scantily clad in a pink thong and a tiny string bikini top which barely covered her breasts. Colt was glad he had told Jake to stay in the van. If he saw her like this the lad would probably carry her out of here caveman style. She caught sight of him and he saw a flash of something which looked like panic register in her eyes before she looked away, but she didn’t stop dancing. Did she know what her father had done?

  “You know that girl?” Terrance asked.

  “Long story, I’ll tell you when we’re out of this shithole,” Colt said. He didn’t hav
e time to explain everything. They entered the white hallway and Terrance knocked on the hidden door to the interrogation room. The lift to their left pinged and the doors opened.

  Dominic. “Terrance, glad you’re here, and you must be Mr McEwan?” His voice was filled with bass and oozed authority.

  “Yes, I am pleased to finally put a face to the name I’ve heard so much about,” Colt said, and offered his hand.

  Dominic took it in a firm grasp and looked him over once before turning his attention to Terrance. “I have a job I need you to do, we’ll discuss it in here,” Dominic said and pulled a key out of his pocket to open the door in the wall.

  Upon entering Colt noticed the hook had been removed from the ceiling and the table with the tray of knives wasn’t in there anymore either.

  “Please take a seat, we have much to talk about. Miles should be here in a few moments,” Dominic said, walking to a cupboard and pulling out a bottle of vodka and four small glasses. He added ice to each and poured the vodka over the ice, handing Terrance and then Colt one.

  “Please, join me in a celebration,” Dominic said, taking a sip of his drink.

  “What are we celebrating?” Colt asks, inspecting the clear liquid in his glass. “I have acquired something I thought was lost to me forever. Miles tracked it down for me. That reminds me, Terrance, can you go to this address and sort the situation out for me? Apparently, Miles left a bit of a mess while he was retrieving my surprise.” He handed Terrance a slip of paper. “I am going to keep Mr McEwan here to get to know him better – take Phil with you,” Dominic said. His eyes didn’t leave Colt’s.

  Terrance took the slip of paper and left, acknowledging Colt with a nod as he walked out the door. The worried look in his eyes told Colt that Terrance didn’t like this new scenario.

  Colt decided to keep things casual to see how this played out. “It’s a great place you have here,” he said, taking a big gulp of vodka. The bitter drink slid down his throat and reminded him how much he detested the taste of the stuff.