by Jenna Lee
“Breath in deeply, one, two and out three, four, five… and again.” The scent fills my senses, my body relaxes into the breathing rhythm. I feel my magic buzzing within for the first time in weeks.
“Repeat after me, in your head,” Jolie instructs us.
“Help us in guiding Dara to her Ruby stone. Help her see where Ruby is. Show her the way. Take our power and give it to her. We are one. We are her warriors. Help us, help her. Show her Ruby.” Jolie’s words finish, and silence greets me.
Several seconds go by, then my body starts buzzing and a light tingle starts in my toes moving ever so slowly up my legs moving into my hips, then my belly explodes with butterflies. My spine, where my tattoo is, starts tingling slowly at first then the sensation picks up, it’s getting hotter and hotter until I think that I can’t bear it anymore. My head snaps back and I let out a piercing scream.
“Keep repeating what I said,” Jolie screams out over the top of me.
Stars explode in my vision then I feel my magic bursting to the surface; it’s raging to explode out of me.
My eyes snap open but I’m not in the living room anymore, I’m somewhere else entirely. I’m floating above a room but it’s blurry and dark. I try to glance around panicked. But then I feel it, I feel her. My Ruby is here. My vision starts to fade back into the living room, I try to stay here to find something that I can remember but everything’s fading away. A bright red light blinds my vision with sparkles.
Come get me, Dara, I want to be with my family, I hear a voice sing to me but then everything starts fading away; I try to open my mouth to talk but I can’t. This place feels familiar, but I can’t see anything.
Everything vanishes and I’m back in the living room surrounded by my warriors. I gasp pulling my hands away from Jolie and Oliver. I jump up into a standing position. My body feels alight, my tattoo is tingling, and I need to move. I feel Ruby, she’s close.
“Quick, get everything ready, Harlan and Declan. We need to go with Dara now. She’s connected to Ruby it’s guiding her,” Jolie yells to the room but I don’t stop. I follow the pull leading me straight out our door.
She’s pulling me closer I can feel her. My body moves without me doing anything. I feel Jolie next to me and Declan on my other side as we walk through the forest. We make it to the border of our village just as the others catch up. Everyone’s here including Alaric and Kayla. Harlan places himself next to me, as I lead everyone. I can’t look at anyone, I need to keep my focus on Ruby and I feel her pulsing, connecting with my other stones. A flash of black invades my vision as I see Oliver transform into his panther charging ahead.
Taking a deep breath, I remove him from my thoughts focusing back on Ruby. We continue walking through the sparse forest. I only hear our feet crunching against the ground. I can feel everyone’s on edge not knowing where we’ll be led to. We make turns left and right then keep straight. The surrounds start to become familiar the trees become dense then the castle comes into view. My body suddenly stops, Blair smashes into my back almost causing me to fall but he wraps his arm around my stomach holding me up.
We’re at the back of the castle and it’s then I know she’s in there, my Ruby. Of course, she has to be in the worst possible place. James has the castle on lockdown, and it won’t be long before the slayers came out in numbers fighting us away. They are probably watching us now, waiting for our next move.
“Ruby’s here inside the castle,” I say turning to my warriors.
Oliver is still in his panther form; he moves ahead slightly sniffing the ground. Suddenly he stops and lets out a piercing roar that has me covering my ears. We all step back, his warning setting off alarm bells, he senses something. Alaric moves closer to Oliver stepping in front of Kayla as we slowly continue to move backward. What the hell is he doing?
Run, now, Oliver screams through our bond but it’s too late.
Half of the castle explodes.
Fire burns my skin. I’m thrown back landing hard against the ground. My ears ring loudly as I look around panicked. I can’t see a thing; smoke fills the air.
Where is everyone? It takes some effort but eventually I’m able to push myself up into a sitting position. Everything’s hazy, smoke fills the air and my lungs, but I have to find my warriors. They have to be okay.
The smoke fills my nose causing me to cough; it burns deeper, and I keep coughing. Covering my mouth and nose with the sleeve of my top I look left and right trying to find everyone.
Someone screams in the distance, I can faintly hear it, but it sounds like Kayla. It sounds like she’s calling Alaric’s name. I walk toward the sound all while trying to see through the haze. My foot connects with something then I hear Harlan swearing. Thank fuck. I move forward to find him, Declan, and Blair standing next to each other. They are trying to find the others. Harlan’s features soften as he sees me. Blair joins me taking my hand in his pulling me toward Kayla’s screams for help.
We walk slowly in single file, Harlan leads us with me in the middle and Blair behind me, he doesn’t let go of my hand. Declan walks next to me on edge, he’s got black ash down the side of his face and it makes him look lethal. Harlan stops and the smoke clears, my heart stops and I run past Harlan falling to the ground next to Kayla. She’s leaning over someone’s body sobbing loudly. I wrap my arms around her, and she falls into me. She moves back and I can see Alaric laying on the ground, unmoving.
18
Dara
No, please don’t be dead. We can’t lose anyone else, not when we’re so close. Looking back to Alaric I notice he’s got burn marks down the side of his right arm and down his cheek. It looks terrible. I hold Kayla in my arms as Blair kneels beside Alaric checking him over. Alaric moves slightly, his eyes fluttering open. Blair leans back on his knees offering me a nod. I sigh in relief.
“He’s going to be okay, Kayla, but you need to do me a favour, please?” Blair says taking Kayla’s hand pulling her away from me.
She wipes away her tears and nods.
“You need to get him back to our home and get help for him. He’s going to be okay, he’s still with us. But you need to hurry.”
Kayla leans over Alaric pulling him into a hug. Alaric’s eyes are now open, but he looks terrible. Harlan and Blair help Alaric up. He stands up by himself but sways slightly. Kayla rushes over letting Alaric rest his hand over her shoulder for support.
“Be safe and go straight home for help. The healers will heal him,” I say offering her a nod.
“Dara, do whatever it takes to bring that motherfucker down. I will see you back at home,” Kayla says, so sure of herself.
I offer her a tight smile. I know I will do everything I can to save Silvia, but, honestly, I don’t know if I will make it out of this alive. She won’t go right now if she knew my doubts.
They leave then I turn back around to find Jolie and Elijah walking toward us. I run over to her pulling Jolie in for a tight squeeze. She’s okay apart from some burn marks that are scattered over her arms. Elijah looks completely unharmed which I am thankful for. Everyone’s okay so far but I had no idea where Oliver is.
“We need to keep moving it’s about to get crazy here,” Harlan yells taking a step around the edge of the castle.
We move past the burnt section of the castle where nothing, but flames burn away. Moving around the castle it looks untouched on the other side and that’s when I see them, all lined up. The white catches my eye first then my heart starts beating a million miles an hour. This is it, time to fight till death. Fight to get my Ruby in my hands.
We charge forward toward the large group of Slayers as one united unit just as I hear a piercing roar, Oliver pounces out of nowhere jumping on a group of five Slayers bringing them all down in one swift movement. His claws cut open their necks drawing forth so much blood. My distraction causes me trouble as a Slayer crashes into me bringing me down to the ground. I snap out of it instantly laying into him with my fist and get right back up.
>
Jolie joins me, she gives me a tight nod telling me she’s got my back for what’s ahead. The guys attack the Slayers one by one and it’s a bloodbath. Two Slayers come running at Jolie and me as we are advancing toward the castle. Jolie grasps my hand and I take a deep breath pulling my magic within reach. I’m ready to knock some fuckers down.
Jolie squeezes my hand just as the Slayers get within arm’s length. I let out a squeal pushing my hands forward, magic bubbles up through my chest and explodes from my wrists hitting my target in the chest. He flies backward landing a hundred metres away. I watch as his body lays still. Jolie screams my name, but I turn around too slowly, catching a glimpse of white before I fall to the ground. The Slayer jumps on top of me pinning my arms with his knees. I squirm around trying to knock him off, but his hold is too strong. He lifts up his hands and I see the metal of a knife.
Fuck, I’m done for. He moves his hand down placing the knife against my neck. He pushes in and I feel the blood trickle down. My heart pumps hard and sweat moves down my cheeks. This can’t be how I die. I need my Ruby, she’s too close.
The Slayer pulls back slightly glancing around nervously. Odd. I use his distraction to my advantage, lifting my hips up he loses his balance and I push him off me, landing a hard kick into his nuts. He stumbles back groaning.
Jumping up I find all my warriors finishing off the slayers. Jolie’s up ahead blasting her magic into three slayers. She looks like a beacon; her white-blond hair is glowing with her purple magic. I run toward her reaching her as she finishes the last one off.
“We need to get inside to find Ruby,” I say. Moving past her, I look back to the guys.
“Leave them to finish off the last of them, they will join us soon,” Jolie suggests as she takes my arm pulling me toward the castle.
We move around the edge and stop as we reach the master bedroom’s courtyard. It looks untouched around this side. Jolie places her hand on my shoulder.
“I need to scope it out first to see what’s on the other side.”
I watch her as she closes her eyes; she leans down on her knees touching the ground where purple magic flickers from her wrist for a second then she’s back up.
“James isn’t in his headquarters and only four slayers are in the courtyard. Let’s go.” Jolie jumps up catching the rail of the fencing that surrounds the courtyard. Looking back over my shoulder I sigh in relief as I see my warriors and Elijah coming our way. I follow Jolie over the railing landing on the other side. A fist smashes into my stomach just as my feet touch the ground. My breath catches in my throat as I stumble, quickly catching myself I blast the Slayer with an electric bolt. He drops to the ground his body thrashing around. Jolie grunts and I watch her as she unleashes her magic on three Slayers bringing them all down on to their knees. Fucking, badass.
Harlan, Blair, Declan, and Elijah join us. Blair catches my eye and I notice the worry in his eyes, his brows are drawn together and he’s constantly looking around. He’s back in the one place that haunts his dreams. Placing my hand on his shoulder I give it a tight squeeze trying to make him feel better. Oliver runs over joining us, he’s still in his panther form. His blazing green eyes meet mine then move toward the door.
It’s time to enter the castle. My home. To take back what’s mine.
19
Dara
Stepping into the master bedroom my body shivers all over, energy like nothing else fills my centre pulsing through all my muscles. My body lights up; glancing down at my hands they are glowing with a red hue. Everything feels light, all the negative energy vanishes. She’s here in this room. Jolie must notice as she yells to the room.
“Stop! Lock the doors it’s here, look at Dara.”
Everyone’s watching me closely, I close my eyes calming down my breathing then opening them back up I faintly hear somebody whispering in the distance. My legs start moving farther into the room, there’s a large king-sized bed to my left, I pass that heading straight for a set of double doors ahead.
My body follows the pull that’s leading me to the double doors as they fly open at the flick of my wrist. Power runs through my veins; I feel untouchable. I hear a commotion behind me screaming and the sound of knives scraping against one another, but I keep moving with one mission on my mind. The voice picks up.
Dara, come to me, let me be with my family.
The voice begins to get louder and louder as I step into what seems to be a walk-in closet. It’s an open room with clothes lining the walls on either side of me and at the end of the room is a huge display unit filled to the brim with men’s shoes. I stop in the centre of the room and fall to my knees.
You found me, I’m here beneath you. Come to me, Dara, hurry.
The voice screams into my mind. Placing my hands down in front of me on the cold floorboards, I feel her. My hand’s pulse and my tattoo on my back starts burning. Someone touches my arm; my hand snaps out toward them grabbing them by their throat.
I squeeze hard cutting off their airway. They try to scream but I won’t let them. They won’t step in the way of me claiming my Ruby. She’s mine.
“Dara, stop it’s Jolie,” I hear someone scream.
I shake my head. Who’s Jolie? I don’t move I keep my grip on their neck. I’m hit by a force, falling to the ground I let go whipping around ready to unleash.
Harlan?
It takes me a moment to snap out of my illusion to find Jolie on her hands and knees struggling to catch her breath. She’s holding her neck that’s a nasty red colour. Oh my God, I did that. I run toward her, but she stops me by putting up her hand.
“I’m so sorry, Jolie, I had no idea who you were,” I plead falling next to her.
She takes a few deep breaths.
“It’s fine, we need to hurry. James is trying to get in here. He’s out there with a heap of Slayers,” she whispers out, her voice cracking.
My head falls, I caused that pain. I’m a monster.
Harlan takes my hand pulling me back to the spot I was before. I glance toward the double doors to see they are closed shut.
“Ruby is underneath us right here,” I say to Jolie pointing in front of me.
She moves next to me and Harlan steps back. Jolie grabs my hand; she turns toward me.
“We need to smash through these floorboards to get to it.”
I nod. We kneel down placing our hands out in front of us aiming them toward the ground. My magic is bursting just below the surface ready to unleash.
I need you.
I hear Ruby speaking to me.
“Now,” Jolie screams.
We push our magic toward the floorboards the ground shakes below us then we are falling. I hear someone’s sharp scream then I hit the ground a second later. My body shatters, pain ripping through my knees and legs.
“You won’t be taking Silvia off me,” I hear someone scream from above me.
Peeling open my eyes all I see is debris, broken parts of the floorboards lie everywhere around me.
“Dara,” someone yells from above. I look up to find Harlan and Declan both jumping down into where I am. Jolie and I made a huge hole blowing up the flooring. Panicking I try to find Jolie, but I can’t see her anywhere.
Quick, time is running out. Come to me.
Ruby screams into my mind. I can’t see her all I see is debris.
“Show yourself to me,” I scream out to Ruby in frustration.
I feel her, a red light shines out from in front of me, I move toward it, but someone grabs my shoulder yanking me backward.
“No Silvia is mine; you won’t be taking it away from me.” His voice sends shivers down my spine.
I turn around breaking his hold on me, to come face-to-face with James. He’s steaming, his cheeks are red, and his brows are drawn together. He looks like he’s about to attack and I’m right in his firing line.
“Silvia is mine, I will rule what’s rightfully mine,” I growl, standing up straighter rolling my shoulders back.
I feel my warriors coming up behind me. James doesn’t back down. He laughs, then he jumps on to me bringing me down to the ground. His fingers dig into my neck. Magic bubbles up inside of me, my body lights up then I let out a loud battle cry. He flies off me and floats above me; he kicks and screams but I don’t give in.
I throw him above the hole discarding him. I hear a thud as he hits the ground and the floor above thunders. A loud battle cry draws my attention upward to find James standing above us. He grins and his red magic appears in his palm. He goes to throw it toward me but just before it leaves his hand he’s thrown backward.
I look over to see Jolie smashing him with her magic. She’s glowing purple, her face turning an angry red, but she doesn’t stop until she lifts James up in the air above us. His face is strained, and he’s struggling to try to break free, but Jolie’s got him in a good magical hold. She screams bringing him straight down toward us.
Blair grabs my hand jerking me back just as James falls right in front of me. I hear the snap of his neck as he falls to the ground. Dust flies up around him. I take a step forward to find his limp body. His neck is twisted and his mouth ajar. I let out a gasp. A weight lifts off my shoulders; turning around I find all my warriors behind me. Except for Jolie. She appears wobbling over to me. She sways and I catch her just as she falls. Her body falls into my arms, she flutters her eyelashes.
“Let’s end this, for my mother, for your parents and for Silvia,” her voice breaks and her eyes start dropping.
Elijah appears next to me taking her from me. He offers me a nod telling me he’ll look after her, telling me to go.
Swallowing back my tears I nod in agreement. It’s time to finish this.
I jump up heading toward the glowing red light. As I reach the light, I move a large chunk of floorboards out of the way and my breath catches. There in front of me lays my Ruby. The ruby red crystal is wedged into the ground. She glows brightly calling out my name. I fall down in front of her taking her with both of my hands. She disappears into my palms; my body shivers and I feel light. My body lifts up into the air. I’m floating, I see my parents and Anna. They are crying in joy. Tears stain my cheeks. The ground starts rumbling and a loud crack of lightning fills my ears. I land back on the ground on my feet.