Dark Days (The Childe Series, #2) (61 page)

 “Melvin! Where are you?” Cat shouted out, listening for an answer. Hearing groaning around the corner, Cat and Matt peeked around it to find another open chamber. Three dingy mattresses were laid on the floor, and Melvin sat propped up on the back wall, chained, his head tilted to the side. His clothes were tattered and his face covered in spotty facial hair. The pale color of his skin worried Cat. “Melvin!” Cat cried, running up to his side as Matt stayed behind as a lookout.

“Cat? Is that you?” he asked, raising his head slightly.

“Yes, it’s me. We need to get you out of here.” Cat could see the numerous puncture wounds on his neck and arms. Tears filled her eyes as she felt how skinny he was when she hugged him and lifted him to his feet. Matt watched on and became a little emotional as well. 

Two cars barreled down the road toward the beach. “Aldon, what else did the caller say?” Sam asked, sick with worry.

“I told you, Cat is in the tunnel system below town and I was given the directions of how to get there,” Aldon replied.

“Are you sure they said that Catherine’s okay?”

“Yes, Sam, that is what they said.”

“So you didn’t recognize the voice?” Dr. Bane asked, sitting in the back seat.

“I thought at first I did, but then when he told me about Cat, I stopped paying attention because I was taking in all the details,” Aldon replied as he looked to Sam, not liking how pale his friend was. “Sam, she’s fine, Ryan taught her well.”

I should’ve been with her tonight! It’s all my fault if she’s hurt! I hope the caller’s right and she’s okay,
Ryan thought, sitting next to Dr. Bane and staring out the window at Olde’s Bay.

Coming to an abrupt stop, “We’re here,” Sam announced anxiously.

“We should wait for Lucien and his men before we make a move,” Aldon said, grabbing Sam’s arm as he tried to jump out of the car.

Lucien’s car pulled up next to theirs moments later and the two groups headed toward the clearing.

“Now let’s go in quietly, I know the caller said there was no danger, but now is not the time to throw caution to the wind,” Aldon explained. “There’s the trap door they mentioned. I’ll go first. Harold, follow me, then Sam and Ryan. Lucien, your group will bring up the rear.” Aldon’s flashlight lit the way in the dark and dank tunnels. After a short trek, Aldon suddenly stopped and sniffed the air. “They went this way,” he said, pointing down the left side tunnel. “Quiet everyone, I hear something,” Aldon whispered, holding up his hand signaling for them to hold position.

“Matt, hush, it was loose. I told you it was loose,” Cat said.

“Uh-uh, those chains were embedded in that wall! You yanked them out like they were nothing. What is going on Cat? Please tell me!”

“Just keep moving, we’ve got to get Mr. Pierson out of here!”

Aldon stood to the side, letting Sam rush past him toward Cat’s voice. Cat’s eyes lit up at the sight of her father coming down the tunnel. Dr. Bane moved quickly to relieve the pair of their burden. Sam grabbed his daughter, pulling her in close, holding on for dear life. The moment Sam let go, Ryan took his place, hugging her tightly.

“I’m so sorry. I’m glad you’re okay,” Ryan whispered, kissing her forehead. After smelling the blood on her, Ryan noticed it wasn’t hers and felt oddly relieved.

“How did you guys know we were here?”

“It’s a long story, Cat. Are you okay, honey?” Sam replied, hugging her again.

“No…I killed him,” Cat choked out.

“Killed who?” Sam asked puzzled.

“I’ll show you,” Cat replied, turning and leading them down the tunnel.

The group smelled death before they entered the chamber. Cat pointed to Edgar’s body lying on the ground. “It all happened so fast…I didn’t mean to do it…please believe me,” Cat pleaded, staring at what she had done.

 “Of course I believe you, honey,” Sam said as Cat clung to him, sobbing as if her heart was breaking.

“Mr. Colvin, I saw everything. That man was a wolf and he attacked us!” Matt blurted out, looking paler by the minute. With quick reflexes Ryan caught Matt before he hit the ground, passing out.

“I left my men to search the tunnels for the three girls the caller mentioned. What in the world?” Lucien Bancroft exclaimed as he made his way into the open area. 

“It’s Edgar Girven. From what I observe, the poor man has been down here for a while. Held captive by these chains. The way he was tortured and starved would explain his actions tonight,” Aldon said sadly, shaking his head.

“Uncle Aldon, I’m so sorry. I know he was…your friend. I didn’t…mean for this to happen.” Cat raised anguished eyes to her uncle.

Taking her chin in his hand, “You have nothing to be sorry for, this was not your fault,” he said kindly.

“Cat, one question. What is Matt doing down here?” Sam asked, looking at the unconscious young man.

“I don’t know. He must’ve followed me or something.”

“Lucien, we found the girls!” Ivan called into the room. “They were tied up and knocked out just like we were told.”

 “We need to make a decision about the boy’s memory,” Lucien said.

 “You’ll do nothing to his memory!” Cat said hotly, staring at her friend lying on the ground. “He’s one of my best friends, and I won’t sit by and let you do that. He’ll never tell anyone about this if I tell him not to!  Dad, you won’t let them do this, will you?”

“I think Cat’s right. Wait, before anyone protests, I trust this young man, and I trust him with my daughter’s life.  She’s right, he’ll keep this secret,” Sam replied confidently.

“If you say that he will not divulge anything, then that is all I need to know,” Lucien said, and then received a smile from Cat.

“Me too,” Ryan piped up.

“Okay, so we agree. We shall not erase his memory,” Aldon stated. 

“Harold is tending to Mr. Pierson. Sam, take the youngsters to your house. I’ll make arrangements for the body to be picked up and photographed for proof of the torture and starvation.  And, I guess Druanna, Elsie, and I will be having houseguests for a while in our basement. I’ll need assistance transporting the three girls there,” Aldon explained.

“We shall take care of that matter,” Lucien announced.

The phone rang in Blanche Caulder’s quarters. “Hello, councilwoman Blanche Caulder speaking.”

“It is done,” Andrei said quickly and then hung up. Blanche smiled smugly in the knowledge that her plan had worked. She made her way to Reynard’s office, the head of the Varulv Council, with a bounce in her step. Knocking on the door, she impatiently waited. “It’s Blanche,” she said through the door when there was no answer.

“Come in,” Reynard said, sounding distracted. Opening the door, Blanche saw him on the phone shaking his head sadly.  Hanging up, he raised his eyes to her. “We have quite the mess to contend with,” he muttered.

“Whatever do you mean?” Blanche replied, attempting to look surprised.

“It involves the Colvin girl,” he sighed.

“Has something happened to her?” she asked, trying to keep the glee out of her voice.

“No, not her. Edgar Girven. The poor councilman is dead, and it seems she was involved. Aldon says it was self-defense. He assures me that he has evidence to prove this, which he plans to show at Catherine’s council hearing…which is inevitable.”

Blanche’s eyes narrowed. The plan had backfired.
That stupid Colvin girl’s still alive! How dare Andrei lie to me like this!
She thought as anger filled her.

“She killed him? Poor, poor sweet Edgar? I told you that girl was dangerous! But no, no one listens to me! Well, now maybe things will change,” she stated.

“Blanche did you not hear me? If what Aldon says is true, and Edgar was starved and tortured in those tunnels, then someone must have planned on this happening.”

“Do not be ridiculous, Reynard. Who would have planned such a thing?”

“I have no clue, Blanche, but my brother would not lie about something like this. That I can assure you,” he answered.

“So, you do not think Aldon would be biased?” Blanche asked sarcastically. “I mean, why would he be, right? Even though he loves that little half-breed.”

“I suggest you be mindful of where you take this conversation, Blanche. If my brother has evidence, then he does,” Reynard said, looking pointedly at her.