Shift - 02 (28 page)

The flames snapped and moved up my forearms, splitting the skin and blistering the muscles beneath. I coughed again, a hint of air sucking into my lungs before I ejected another mouthful of water.

My body spun higher into the air, shadows yanking on my limbs, and Darius watched with a grim smile from below.

When he dropped his hand, the shadows released me and my body fell. Wind rushed past me, but I was paralyzed. Darius’ power was wrapped around me, refusing to let me brace for the impact. Instead, I remained still and plummeted to the earth.

I crashed into the ground and darkness swallowed me. I blacked out and a rush of magic snapped me awake. Darius’ fingers were on my head, using his power to keep me conscious.

The cuts on my chest shot pain through my body and I screamed. The agony of the impact exploded through my head and core like a sledgehammer. The pain went deep and stuck inside me, forcing more water to discharge from my lungs.

“I think you get the point.” Darius snapped his fingers and freed my body.

I tried to move, but there was too much pain. The adrenaline was gone, washed away by fear. I lay face down in the grass, my body trembling. My hands were so burnt they looked like they’d gone through a meat grinder. I couldn’t feel my fingers and the muscles were too damaged to move them. Water drained from my mouth like a never ending flood and my lungs hurt as the cold air touched them. The black dots faded as the oxygen rushed through my body, but each breath hurt more than the last.

The grass crunched and folded as Darius’ black combat boots stepped in front of my face. He crouched down, the thick leather trench coat drifting around him. “I don’t want to do this again.” His accent was smooth, each word gentle and soft as he spoke. “This is your final warning. I’d hate to steal another loved one from you, but I will do whatever is necessary. It matters not how many elements you get; it will not be enough. Be wise. Cherish your life. Do what’s best for your friends.”

I tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. My body ached and I felt the warmth of blood seeping from me.

“Do try and enjoy the rest of your vacation; it is beautiful here. I must admit, Serephina does nice work.” Darius’s magic vanished and darkness pulled itself over me. The dream world faded, leaving me alone and floating in the shadows.

Chapter 21

My heart pounded in my chest. Blood moved down my sides and panicked breaths sparked pain deep in my lungs.

“Don’t move.” A voice shot through my head.

The sound caused a million needles to shoot through my brain. Foreign hands pushed against my body. They were hot and soft against my skin.

Rayna sat in the chair by the window, hugging her knees to her chest. Her green eyes watched with fear, but desperation for sleep tugged at them. What little color her skin held was gone, leaving it a grayish tone.

Garrett, Karissa, and Chief stood over me. Karissa and Chief cared for the wounds on my chest, dabbing the wide cuts with blood soaked cloths, while Garrett mixed something with a mortar in a small wooden bowl. The white blankets beneath me were stained red with blood and sweat ran down my face, dripping onto the covers.

“Stop,” I said, but it came out in a hoarse and cracked whisper. “I can fix this.” I closed my eyes and reached deep inside. I focused on the healing power of water and drew it to the surface. Magic poured off me and both Chief and Karissa’s eyes opened wide.

The rain came down like a waterfall in my mind, washing away the warlock’s wounds. I visualized the large gashes closing, but as I imagined the skin folding over itself, the magic faded. I tried to bring it back, but it wouldn’t budge. What energy I had left, I’d used calling it forward. I didn’t have it in me to heal this. The world around me faded in and out, getting fuzzier with each attempt to bring my magic to the surface.
 

“Rest, my boy.” Chief leaned over me, dabbing my forehead with a cool cloth.

“I can’t…they’re…coming,” I whispered.

“Who is?”

I tried to open my mouth, but I’d lost all control. Black dots swarmed me and the more I fought, the faster they came, until darkness swallowed me.

********

Cloudy voices echoed around me and the sound hurt my head. My eyes were hard to open and I reached up and wiped the sleep away. The room went in and out of focus before I could finally see clearly.

“He’s awake!” Rayna moved from the window and leaned over me. “Chase, can you hear me?”

I pushed myself up and realized my hands were still covered in blood.
 
Thick gauze and bandages were wrapped around my chest and I was lying in fresh, clean sheets.

“Yeah, I’m here,” I whispered, but it still hurt to speak. “Water.”

Karissa rushed over with a glass. Her hazel eyes sparkled, but she looked worried.

I took a sip and the cool liquid soothed my throat. I drank it all and set the empty glass on the table.

“How are you feeling?” Karissa asked.

I shook my head, trying to push away the thick fog roaming inside my mind. “I’m fine…I think. What happened?”

“You had another dream. Riley, I’m guessing,” Rayna said.

“No…” I said. “Darius Sellowind.”

“One of the Dark Brothers?” Karissa asked.

“That’s what he means.” Rayna sounded annoyed.

“I’ll get Chief.”

“God, I’m so glad you’re okay.” Rayna wrapped her arms around me.

“Whoa!” I winced, my voice starting to come back. “Last time I saw you, you wanted nothing to do with me.”

“That doesn’t matter now. All that matters is that you’re okay.”

She pulled away and I slid my legs over the bed. My chest stung as I moved, but I gritted my teeth and pushed through the pain.

“How long have I been out?”

“A day and a little bit.”

“That long?” I sighed, rubbing my fingers against my temples. A migraine throbbed in my mind and I needed any relief I could get. “Were you able to shift?”

Rayna looked disappointed. “Not yet, but you can’t worry about that right now.”

“I remember waking up, but my magic wouldn’t work…”

“Your powers are getting stronger, but until you can fully control it, it takes too much energy. Energy you don’t have right now,” she said with a tone and a glare.

The door opened and Chief and Karissa came into the room.

“How are you feeling?” Chief crouched in front of me.

“My chest hurts and my head is pounding, but otherwise I think I’m okay.”

“Here, take these.” He dropped two aspirin in my hand and gave me another glass of water. I swallowed both pills with a gulp.

“Let’s have a look at these.” Chief crouched down and peeled back one of the gauze wraps.
 
“Wow. You heal fast. That’s impressive, even to a shifter.”

The wide gashes were now thin strips of scabs, starting below my shoulder and moving down across my stomach. The edges of them were bright red and raw to the touch.

“You gave us quite the scare. You sure you’re okay?”
 
Chief asked.

“I’ll be fine,” I said, rubbing my temples. “Has Jonathan been around again? Last night, or whenever it was…”

“I heard, and I’m sorry. I’ve never seen him like this. Obviously my warnings have not been acknowledged, so I’ve sent him back to Stonewall.”

“Is he okay? I didn’t mean to hurt him.”

“He’ll be fine. Nothing more than a bruised ego.” Chief smiled. “Best thing for you now is some fresh air. Can you walk?”

I pushed myself off the bed and tried to stand. It hurt at first, but once my feet were on the floor, it felt good to stretch. I washed off all the blood I could, but there were still spots of blood I’d have to get later. I threw a
 
gray hoodie on, careful not to tear the bandaging, and I met Chief on the porch.

“Sorry ladies, I’d like this to be just Chase and I. And Rayna, you need to rest.”

Rayna nodded and tried for a smile.

“Ready?” Chief asked.

“Yeah, but can we keep the bush whacking to a minimum?”

Chief laughed and began walking, leading me into the forest with a trail to navigate.

The air was crisp, giving us another sign of fall. Water dripped from the leaves and moisture rolled on the air, leaving the smell of what I thought was a coming storm to fill my senses. Judging by the muddy trail and wet grass, however, I’d already missed it.

“Hell of a night you had,” Chief said.

“You’re telling me.”

“From what I understand, it’s been your father entering your dreams?”

“That was the first time. This time it was Darius Sellowind.”

“The Dark Brothers are a powerful duo, feared by most of the Underworld. You should tread lightly. They are not a power to be tested.”

“So I’ve heard, and now seen, but I don’t understand it. Marcus fought them and made it out in one piece.”

“Marcus is a powerful hunter but don’t be fooled. The Dark Brothers only let you see what they want you to. They are masters of their craft.”

“What’s their deal anyways? Until a few weeks ago, I’d never even heard of them.”

“The brothers keep to themselves and people don’t talk about them. They fear it will bring unwanted attention.”

“Who are they? How did they get to be so powerful?”

“Everyone has a different story. Some believe they practice blood magic, stealing life force from others to give themselves immortality. The reality is, nobody knows. I fear for you having them as an enemy.”

“I’ll take the brothers over Riley, especially if he completes the ritual. A jacked up hunter with the power of a god is not something I want to see.”

“Do not underestimate the Brothers. The fact that they’re hurting you physically while in your dreams speaks volumes about their power.”

“Everyone that’s after me is powerful,” I said.

“Perhaps I can help.”

“How?”

“I can’t change what is already done, but I can help in the matter of your dreams being invaded.”

“I’m listening.”

“It’s a matter of having control, even when you’re asleep. It may be their magic that harms you in the dream world, but that isn’t what allows them to enter it. They have control of their minds in such a way that allows them to leave their dreamscape and enter yours. If you learn to take control of it, you can prevent unwanted visitors.”

“So…like I can shield a vampire from entering my mind while awake, you can teach me to shield while asleep?”

“Exactly.”

“Why do I feel like there’s a
but
coming?”

“I wish to offer my services to your cause. The Hollowlights are willing to help you in any way we can, but before I can make such an offer, I need to know where your devotion lies.”

“I’m not sure I follow.”

“The Hollowlights pride themselves on being loyal. When we make an allegiance, we live by it. We will stand beside you, no matter who your enemy may be, but we expect the same in return.”

“We could definitely use the help, and if there’s some way I can return the favor, I’m happy to.”

“We have an allegiance then?”

“Are you sure you want to make one? You said yourself the Dark Brothers are not a power to be rivaled.”

“I have faith that together we can conquer many things.” Chief extended his hand to me.
 

“Then we have a deal.”

“Excellent.” He smiled and shook my hand.

We walked in silence for a few minutes. The aches in my body began to fade. My muscles loosened up and the pain in my head receded. The cuts on my chest hurt more, but the rest of me had started to feel better.

We followed the dirt path deep into the forest, and after an hour, the gray clouds faded letting the sun break through. The warmth brought the forest back to life, drying the wet leaves and waking the birds who sang from the treetops. A mild breeze rode the air and brought with it the scent of the revitalized woods.

Chief and I stepped through an opening in the trees. It was a smaller, more private version of the gathering area back at camp. There were three stumps that sat on the wet earth and the small fire pit in the middle was filled with old, wet ash.

“Here we are.” Chief reached into his jacket and pulled out a matchbook. He went through several matches trying to light the moist wood, but each burned out before he could get a spark. “Care to help?”

I smirked and reached down into my soul, pulling at the fire magic inside. I channeled the energy down my arm and into my hand, and the flame came to life with ease. I pushed it forward, and a stream of heat smoldered towards the wood.

The bark smoked, but the wet, soggy wood resisted the flame. I turned my focus to the flames’ heat, and the temperature spiked. Small flickers of bright ash shot up into the air, but still the fire didn’t catch. I gave the magic one last push, the flame turning into a bright white scorch of heat and the wet logs lit up with a crackle.