Bound (World of Shadows Book 2)

by Kensie King

  Gage reached for my hand, keeping me steady. The wind picked up the closer to the cave we got. I kept glancing around, making sure the entire group was nearby. Savannah was still here, spitting words in my head, tossing branches.

  Thankfully she was up against a group of paranormals who didn’t hurt easily. All except for me and my mom. When I looked for Helen again, she was right beside me.

  We arrived at the cave.

  “Let me go in first.” Helen started to protest, but I shook my head. “Please. I’ll be quick.”

  I ducked inside before she could say anything else. The air was cool. I barely saw anything but the flicker of light off the amethysts covering the walls. Using my power, I pushed a ball of light into existence.

  “Do you know where it is?” Audrey asked, hovering outside the opening.

  “No.” My voice echoed in the dark cave. “How is everything out there?”

  “The shaking stopped,” Grace said.

  Inside, the light extinguished itself, plunging me into blackness. I hitched a breath and kept my gaze focused on the opening, which oriented me. A small amount of light still shined through and I clung to it.

  “Link.” Gage peered inside, eyes probably stronger than mine in the darkness. “Are you okay?”

  “Link…”

  I whipped toward the sound of the voice. My heart banged against my ribs. Savannah was in here with me.

  “Link?” Gage said again. “Answer me, Link, or I’m coming in there.”

  “No.” I swallowed my fear. “Stay there. I’m going to try to find the book.”

  I closed my eyes and felt around with my mind. Savannah’s book held a lot of her power, especially since she herself wasn’t a physical being.

  “It’s here,” I whispered. “The book. I can feel it.”

  Its power flickered, but I was not strong enough to pinpoint it. The trembling started again, and I pitched to the ground, losing my balance on the smooth stone floor.

  “Link!” Gage started into the cave, but my mom pushed him aside.

  She was careful as she walked in, bracing her hand on the wall of the cave so she didn’t fall.

  “No, Mom, don’t come in.”

  Helen flashed a smile, then sucked in a breath when the shaking got worse. “You called me Mom.”

  I scowled at her, getting to my knees. “Not good timing,” I muttered.

  She smiled again. “It distracted you, didn’t it?” She held out her hand. “Come on, we need to find that book.”

  “I need more power.”

  She wiggled her fingers, and I took her hand. I braced my free hand on the cool cave wall and closed my eyes again.

  The book was like a beacon, its power pulsing in low, deep hums. “Can you feel that?” I asked.

  “Yes.”

  The cave stopped shaking. I pointed to the tunnel. “It’s back there.”

  “What’s going on?” Grace asked.

  “We’re going to look in the tunnel.”

  Dylan’s worried face came into view. “Be careful.”

  Gage didn’t say anything, but his mouth was tight, eyes dark.

  “Come on.” I pulled my mom’s hand. “We need to hurry.”

  When we reached the opening of the tunnel, a slow wind crept up. It was darker back here. The breeze was chilly, and it picked up speed.

  “She’s trying to stop us,” Helen said. “We must be close.”

  I could barely see the outline of her face now. I made a ball of light with my hands, but Savannah put it out right away. I reached for my mom’s hand again.

  “Concentrate,” I told her. “I need to find exactly where it is.”

  “Leave now!”

  Helen’s hand tightened on mine. “I heard that.”

  My breathing quickened. “You did?”

  “Hurry, Link.”

  The wind was almost strong enough to take my breath away. I faced the wall. “Behind these stones. Help me!”

  The cave was trembling again, the wind ripping through me like icicles. I dug my fingers into the stones, trying to pull them away from the wall of the tunnel. My mother was doing the same thing, and I could hear her nervous breath beside me.

  “Get out!” Savannah shouted.

  Her voice was so loud and strong, it reverberated through me.

  “Link!” Gage yelled. “You need to get out of there.”

  “We almost have it,” I called back.

  Then I heard a crash farther back in the tunnel. My mom’s gaze whipped that way as well and she stepped in that direction. “Hurry, Link, she’s bringing down the cave.”

  I dug faster, and then in a huff of frustration, I pushed my power to the wall. The stones started tumbling down. A chorus of voices called for us from the entryway to the cave. There was no way they could see us back here, but they could hear the noise.

  “Get out of there now,” Gage growled.

  The book hummed with energy, and I shoved my hand inside a space I’d dug from the wall. It closed around something hard. “I’ve got it!”

  Helen blew out a breath of relief. And then a sharp breeze whipped by us, and the tunnel collapsed. Rocks rained down. A large stone hit my mother on the shoulder, and then another on the head. She fell to the ground as I was pelted with pieces from the cave.

  “Mom!” I dropped to my knees, my hands fumbling over Helen’s arms and the cut of blood on her head. I shook her arm. “Helen, wake up.”

  “Link!” Dylan called.

  Gage’s voice came right after his. “Link, get out of there.”

  “Help!” My voice broke with anguish. Helen and I were the only ones who could come into the cave without getting hurt.

  The walls continued to crumble, and a stray rock hit me hard on the thigh. I yanked in a sharp breath, and then Gage was there. His cheeks were taut with pain because of the amethyst, but he was calm. He pulled me up from the cave floor. “We have to get out of here.”

  My eyes widened when I saw Audrey behind him. Her movements were slower, and I could see the pain in her eyes as well, but she made it to my side.

  “Come on,” she said, reaching for my mom with Gage’s help.

  Rocks crashed down on us, dust flying up from the cave floor and amethyst sparkling everywhere. I heard Savannah’s laughter echoing all around us, but I kept the book tight in my arms.

  In another moment, we were out in the sunshine and the entire cave crumbled to the ground. Gage and Audrey lowered my mom to the ground, and I stumbled to her side.

  My hands shook as I reached for her. Gage nudged me aside and felt for her pulse.

  Grace’s arm came around me. Tears blurred my vision and my heart stuttered when my mom didn’t move. There was still blood on her head and dirt smudged on her cheek. I had no idea how hard she was hit, but I knew she was hit several times with large rocks.

  “I can feel a faint pulse,” Gage said, glancing at me. “We should get her to the hospital.”

  I clutched the Book of Shadows to my chest and cursed Savannah in her crumbled cave as we hurried from the forest.

  Chapter 25

  I rubbed my face with my hands while I sat in the waiting room of the hospital, hoping to hear good news about my mom. The Book of Shadows was in my bag on the floor beneath my chair.

  I knew I needed to destroy the it, but I was hoping to hear something first.

  Footsteps squeaked on the shiny tile of the hospital floor, and I looked up. My shoulders slumped. It was only Dylan. With coffee.

  “I thought you were the doctor,” I said.

  “It hasn’t been that long. Give them some time.”

  I stood. I didn’t want to wait.

  “Gage went to see if he could get any information,” Dylan said. He tried to pass me the coffee.

  I shook my head. “No thanks.”

  “You should sit, take it easy.”

  I frowned, but then Grace and Audrey returned with their own coffee and Grace nodded. “Sorry, Link, but you loo
k terrible. You should have a doctor check you out.”

  My hands were still dirty, and my clothes covered with dust. But I refused to do anything or go with anyone when we got here. I wanted to make sure someone saw my mom. And then they made me wait.

  “I don’t need a doctor,” I whispered. “I need some news.”

  “Link,” Dylan started.

  Audrey shook her head and put her arm around my shoulders. “Come on. Let’s at least go to the bathroom and get you cleaned up.”

  I walked with her and Grace because it was better than sitting and waiting. But anger simmered deep inside me. I knew it only a matter of time before it bubbled over. Savannah hurt my mother. She tried to kill us both. And now I needed to take away her power forever.

  Inside the nearest restroom, I leaned against the sink while Audrey and Grace waited outside. I was afraid to look in the mirror. Afraid to see that I wasn’t strong enough to handle this. Or afraid to see that Savannah had made me so angry, I wouldn’t look like myself anymore.

  “You okay?” Audrey called from outside the door.

  I mumbled that I was okay and turned the faucet on. I splashed water on my face and dirty water ran down the drain. My body ached, bruises forming on my arms and shoulders. I could feel one on my cheek.

  Damn Savannah. She was going to pay for this.

  I used a wad of paper towels to dry my face, then opened the door.

  “We should destroy the book,” I told Grace and Audrey. “Right now.”

  “Wait,” Audrey said.

  She and Grace kept up with me as I strode down the hallway.

  “I think you need to wait,” Grace said.

  “Wait?” I spared her a glance. “So Savannah can hurt someone else? I don’t think so.”

  “But, is it really that easy?” Audrey asked. “If she did what she did when you went into the cave, don’t you think she’s going to try to do the same thing if you try to destroy the book?”

  “Or something worse?” Grace added.

  Dylan glanced over when he heard our voices and his brow furrowed. “What’s going on?”

  “I’m going to destroy the book.”

  “Right now?” When I reached for my bag under the chair, he hastily set the coffee aside and stepped in my path. “Wait, Link. You shouldn’t be thinking about that right now.”

  “Move.”

  He shot a look to Grace and Audrey, worry in his eyes. Audrey put her hand on my shoulder. “Link, please. Let’s just—”

  I shrugged her off. “Don’t try to stop me. Just let me deal with Savannah.”

  Dylan shook his head. “It could be dangerous.”

  I blew out a sharp breath. “Of course it is, why do you think we’re here? We need to stop this.”

  Before he could say anything else, I lunged for my bag. Dylan was caught off guard, but he was still faster than me. They all were. He scooped an arm around my waist and held me back while Audrey grabbed my bag.

  “Give me that!” I yelled.

  “Link,” Audrey said, eyes wide. “Please. Just stop for a minute.”

  I squirmed in Dylan’s grasp. “Let go!”

  “Link—”

  I slammed my heel back and got him in the shin. He grunted but didn’t loosen his hold.

  “If you don’t let me go, I’ll—”

  “What the hell is going on?” Gage said, coming around the corner

  We all stopped. I looked up at him, breathless, and then jerked from Dylan’s grasp. “What happened?” I asked. “What did the doctor say?”

  Gage rubbed a hand over his face. “She won’t wake up.”

  “But…” I searched his face for more answers. “What does that mean?”

  “She’s in a coma.”

  “Do they have any idea when she’s going to wake up?” Grace asked.

  Gage shook his head. “They don’t know anything else right now.”

  “Can I see her?” I asked.

  He reached out, hand sliding down my arm to grip my fingers. “Not now. No. The doctor said the best thing to do is go home and wait. He said he’d call if something changes.”

  I opened my mouth, but I didn’t know what to say. After all these years, I finally got a mother, and now I might lose her again. It shouldn’t hurt—I barely knew her. But it did.

  “What if she doesn’t wake up?” I asked, my eyes still on Gage.

  “She will.” Gage nodded with certainty. “Don’t worry.”

  But he didn’t know that. No one did.

  I whipped around, facing Audrey. I put steel into my voice. “Give me my bag.”

  Her eyes flashed to Gage. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “I’m only going to ask one more time,” I said, voice dark and low. The fire simmered in my veins and I was barely holding it in.

  “What’s going on?” Gage tried to curl his arm around my shoulder. “Come on, Link, you should sit down.”

  “Get off.” I jerked away. “I want my bag. Audrey—”

  “Link wants to destroy the book right now,” Grace said. I glared at her, but she didn’t back down. “He’s not thinking.”

  “Are you seriously talking about me like I’m a child? Like I’m not here?” I pointed down the hallway. “Savannah tried to kill my mom and you want me to wait to get rid of the book?”

  “No, not wait,” Gage said, stepping in front of me. “I understand where you’re coming from, Link.”

  “Gage,” Audrey said.

  He shot her a look of warning and she shut up. Then he looked back at me. “You want to destroy the book.”

  I nodded. My heart was slowing down, beating at a more even speed. In fact, I felt more relaxed altogether.

  Gage nodded at me, holding my gaze. His eyes darkened. “I understand, Link. That makes sense. But first, we should go home.”

  I frowned. Part of me wanted to jerk away from his stare, although I didn’t know why. And the other part of me wanted to keep listening. To be soothed by the low lull of his voice. Gage understood. He’d help me.

  “That’s right.” Gage smiled. “We should go home and relax. Doesn’t that sound nice?”

  I nodded.

  “Good.”

  He released my gaze and put his arm around my shoulders. I heard him murmur something to someone else, but right now I didn’t care what he was saying. I felt so much better than I did a few minutes ago. Calm. Collected. I wasn’t worried at all because…because Gage said we could go home and relax.

  I peered up at him as we walked toward the exit. He smiled down at me. I saw the strain in it and angled my head.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” He flashed another smile. “Everything’s fine. Right?”

  We didn’t even say goodbye to the others. We just walked from the hospital straight to Gage’s car. He helped me inside and made sure I buckled before getting in the driver’s seat.

  He pulled out of his space, and I shifted in my seat. I felt like I was forgetting something.

  “I think…”

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “I think I forgot something.”

  “No, you didn’t forget anything.”

  “I think I did,” I murmured. I searched for my satchel on the floor and then by the console. “My bag.”

  “We’ll be home in a few minutes,” Gage said, glancing at me. His voice was still gentle—soothing. “Just a few minutes.”

  “But…” I searched my memory. I barely remembered getting in Gage’s car. I barely remembered anything else that happened this morning. Except…the cave. That’s right, I was in the cave with my mom.

  My hands clenched together slowly. The cave collapsed on us and…

  “My mom,” I said.

  “She’s fine. We’re almost there.”

  “Gage, my mom is hurt. And…”

  Gage reached out for me, but I leaned against the door. “Let’s get home first and we’ll talk.”

  “There’s nothi
ng to talk about. You—” Realization hit me suddenly, and I gaped at him. “You did something to me. You influenced me.”

  My house came into view at the end of the block.

  “Dammit, Gage,” I hissed. “Who took the book?”

  More importantly, where did they bring it? They were all in on this—including Gage.

  Gage pulled into the driveway. He rested his hand on the keys before shutting off the engine and turning to look at me.

  “I can’t believe you did that to me,” I said. “Who took the book?”

  “Link—”

  “Did Audrey take it? Is it at your house?”

  “We should talk about this inside.”

  “Take me to your house.”

  He sighed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  It was there. Usually it was harder for me to read Gage, but this time I knew he felt guilty—it was written all over his face.

  “Take me to your house.” When he still hesitated, I snatched his keys from the ignition. “Fine, I’ll drive myself.”

  I hopped out of the car, but in the blink of an eye, Gage was in front of me. I tucked the keys behind my back.

  “Please,” he said, voice low. Tired. “Come inside.”

  “I want to take care of this once and for all.”

  “And we will.” He continued in his soft tone of voice, but this time his eyes started to go black. “We’ll figure it out together. Let’s go inside—”

  “No!” I pushed him out of the way. “Don’t you dare try to do that again, Gage. I—”

  He grabbed me at my thighs and hauled me over his shoulder, heading for the house. He didn’t even breathe heavy as he hiked up the porch stairs and walked inside.

  “Gage!” He set me on the couch, but I shot to my feet again. “How dare you.”

  He held out his hand. “Keys, please.”

  Anger burned inside, hot flames rising to the surface. I squeezed the keys so tight the metal dug into my flesh. “You are not going to stop me from doing this.”

  “We’re all stopping you from doing this. Not forever. Just for right now. Long enough for you to get your strength back and figure out a plan.”

  “I’m sick of planning. Planning hasn’t gotten me anywhere. My mom’s in the hospital, Gage—”