Wyrd Calling (Wyrd Bound Book 1) (2 page)

Taking a deep breath, I focused. Time seemed to slow down a fraction as I took in every essential detail and began to take this seriously. If I were in a 4x4, I might have been tempted to try diving off-road and losing them that way, but the lower-slung muscle car would just ground out and leave me stranded. No, I had to depend on my head start and twisting turns, the hare vs the hound. I refused to ease off even a touch going around the corners. The back end inched and fought against me, but I couldn't risk losing any time. They had to slow down around the corners, though; body-roll's a bitch. My mind was beginning to turn to panic a little as I was realising I didn't have a good plan to shake them off my tail. I couldn't hide my energies properly, they had too firm a grasp on them, so any space I put between us would only buy me a little time. I really didn't have a choice here.

Some thought of the gods came into the back of my mind, but I wasn't going to turn to them. They put me here, with all this. Minutes seemed to drag on for hours while I wracked my brains, thinking of some way to get out of this. The steep sides of the motorway had given way to scraggly woodland that was rapidly closing in. Tall deciduous trees with broad trunks stretched back away from the road and spread their canopy overhead. In the end, I concluded my best chance was to dive into a dark lay-by and fight. If it was dark, I could use my shadow energies to their best effect and just hope. Gritting my teeth, I began drawing my energies up as I slowed the car and pulled into a small lay-by on the quiet country road.

The woodland offered some protection and cover should I need it. The moon hid behind the heavy clouds bringing me more darkness. The only false lights down these roads were the headlights, just the way I liked it. I got out of the vehicle and walked across the grass turning to face the road as I leaned against a tree. I refused to appear flustered. I was going to go down cool, calm, and fighting tooth and nail. A voice was screaming in the back of my mind to just shift and fly away, but I refused. Yes, I had run, but I wasn't going to give in and take the coward's way out. If I shifted now, and flew away, I'd lose all my worldly possessions and any pride I'd accumulated. No. I was going to stand and fight.

I felt them just before I heard the 4x4. The heavy earth- and fire-based energies crept along the floor searching for me. The lava-like heat seemed to pool at my feet as I stood and waited. If nothing else, I'd wring the neck of that scrawny little shit for doing this to me. I ungritted my teeth and pushed my mind to focus. I knew I should just have fought in the car park, but this way I'd had a chance to think and gather myself. I had also lost my house and wasted fuel... but that was for another time. The big 4x4 slowly coasted into the layby. There was that sickening sensation of self-assurance rolling off them. I couldn't see the faces of the passengers with the bright headlights, but I knew they were watching. I held back the rising bile.

Leaning back against the tree, I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes a little while quietly gathering the shadows behind me. I called them up carefully and slowly. If he felt them for what they were, I’d likely never escape. The leader exited the truck first. His heavy footsteps made the ground shudder a little. He wasn't playing. His eyes had darkened. His energies were swirling around him in an almost frenzied manner, making the air shimmer.
 

His lips parted into a smirk as he looked me up and down. "Now then, be a good girl and I'll get a good price for you..."

I smiled sweetly at him. "I don't think so.”

3

I stood firm and gathered the cool shadow energies around me, my fingertips tingling as the smooth shadows wrapped around my hands and gathered just behind me. The atmosphere quickly became charged with all of the energies as they built at such a rapid pace. He was trying to bring together his own fire and earth energies. His underlings hung back a little as he took his time strolling over to me. Draconics were about respect. His underlings wouldn’t dare interfere for fear of feeling their leader’s wrath. I smirked, keeping my heart-rate low and breathing steady. I had to keep as much control as I could muster. That deep bass tone rumbled in his throat as his eyes wandered over every inch of my body. My skin crawled under that disgusting gaze. We all knew exactly what was going through his mind.
 

The scrawny blond seemed to have changed, but given the lack of light I couldn't be entirely sure. I swore his hair was slightly darker, longer, and his build was a little heavier. I ignored him and returned my focus to my real problem, his boss. He was getting close to me now, his eyes fixed on mine as his energies sat in his hands and around my feet, like heavy boulders. I tilted my head a little, smiling sweetly. His lips curled, and his eyes sparked – he hadn't decided whether to break me or sell me. I had to take advantage of that. I was worth more money to be sold, but I'd betrayed and upset him. Draconics really don't take kindly to that. Taking a deep breath, I took my chance, shutting down my conscious mind. I had to move entirely to instinct. To think would just slow me down and force me into making mistakes. I couldn't afford such a luxury.
 

I moved quickly as I pulled the shadows around me, wrapping them tight like a cloak. They felt like a beautiful oil slick, smooth and cool, familiar and comforting. I knew this would hide me visually. Not completely, but enough to give me some help. It was a big risk. If he figured out my control over the shadows, then I’d be in far more trouble than I was. Shadow dancers were a rare thing, and they weren’t liked, but I didn’t see another option. His eyes lowered as he began scouring the area by the tree, looking for me. I paused a moment.
 

If I moved straight away, he'd catch sight of me again and I'd lose some of my new advantage. I felt him gather his energies tighter into his hands before he swung at the tree behind me. I darted to the side, feeling the rush of air as his fist went by my cheek. His fist hit the tree with a sickening thud and crunch, causing the huge ash tree to shake and wobble. He paused, waiting for my reaction as he looked slightly away from me I shot forwards, kicking his hip with the heel of my foot before hitting his lower jaw with my fist. I stepped back, staying slightly behind him, I couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed when he wasn't particularly fazed. Shrugging it off I continued my assault. He was twice my size. I had to depend on speed and agility rather than brute strength.
 

It didn't take him long to turn on his heel and land a heavy punch to my ribs, and once he'd found me he didn't let go. I danced and spun, ducking and diving trying to avoid his hard blows while landing my own. Something in the back of my mind was thinking this image was wrong, but I ignored it, dancing to my left before kicking his ribs and risking my balance to stretch and kick his throat. A guttural groan told me I'd hit my mark and finally had half a chance. I was growing sore and tired. It felt as though he'd caused a good bit of damage to my own poor body. I needed to finish this. My kicks had been enough to throw his balance. He stretched forwards trying to grab my throat. Hitting his arm aside I used my other fist to hit his lower jaw, then something changed. He went flying sideways and landed with a sickening crunch. Confusion flooded my mind. There was no-one else there, what the…!?

Blinking, I lowered my body, preparing to attack this other person, then I realised it was that scrawny blond. He stood looking at me, with his arms crossed and a rather sickening smile on his face. His voice was smooth as silk and arrogant as they come.
 

"Thought you could do with a hand."

I dove forwards aiming to pin him by his throat to the closest hard object. He stepped back and accepted it, not even a glimmer of fight from him. Instead, a very soft purr edged out past his lips as he looked down into my eyes, an odd spark held within them.
 

Shaking my head, I freed him and stepped back, saying to him, "What the fuck were you playing at!?"

He grinned before moving to stand only inches from me. "Just a game... like the old days."

I raised an eyebrow. The hackles were standing up on the back of my neck, but the flood of emotions was overwhelming me. I turned away from him to look at the groaning males sprawled out on the grass. We had to go. Wait, did I think “we”? This was just… wrong.
 

The male didn't give me a chance to go through my thoughts. "I'll drive, sweet thing.”

I growled as I tried to understand what was happening. This... male had screwed me over, but I couldn't help feeling safe with him. There was something pushing, squirming in the back of my mind. Flashes of images were trying to cut through the confusion and pain. I knew him, I trusted him. We kept each other safe. But, it was him who had gotten me into all of this. I turned away from him, trying to understand. After a few moments, I snarled and spun around to face him. I had to trust my feelings.
 

He shrugged and reached forwards with an open hand before gesturing for me to hand over my keys. "You're in no state to drive.”

I pursed my lips looking deep into his eyes, trying to feel his energies and make some sense of this. Instead, it felt like my head was going to split in two, and the rest of my body was rebelling against me. I glanced over to the draconic’s 4x4. I couldn’t risk leaving it mobile. When they came to, if they came to, they would be pissed. I took a deep breath and walked back to my car where I pulled out a small blade. It had seemed foolish to try and use against the draconic, given the blade would likely snap rather than pierce their absurdly tough skin. I kept a close eye on the blond, who was standing with his arms crossed watching me, that smile firmly resting on his lips. With practiced ease, I slashed all four of the tyres on the 4x4 before nodding with satisfaction. My body was screaming at me, and my vision started to swim. I growled to myself, handed him my keys, and skulked over to the passenger seat of my own damn car.
 

Slumping down in the leather seat, I cradled my head in my hands and tried not to actually think. Breathing slowly, I focused and returned my energies to their normal state, releasing the shadow and grounding the excess energy that hadn’t been used. As the car rumbled to a start, the shadows slid off me and slinked along the floor back into the woodland while my natural energies flexed and extended, dancing and bowing around me for a moment before settling. It felt good to stretch my energies again. I didn’t appreciate the constricting feeling of them being pinned down around me. It was almost a physical sensation of restraint. The longer I kept it up, the more agitated I felt them becoming. Unfortunately, releasing them also meant I didn't have my cloak to hide the pain. Ugh. I needed to get back into training. I'd focused so much on money and moving I'd let my fighting slip.
 

I half opened my eyes and peered warily through the window. I wasn't sure who the hell this guy was or what he was up to, but I was tired, hurt, and my stomach was starting to growl, too. I muttered to myself and thumped him in the leg before turning my back to him and looking out the window, watching the trees fly by as I ignored the protests of my body.
 

It took him a second to respond and say, "What was that for, Suriel?"

Hearing him wrap his tongue around that world 'Suriel' sent a shiver down my spine and made my toes curl just a little. There was something to it, the slight lilt in his tone and voice. I could feel him waiting for my reply. I refused to look at him.
 

Instead, I growled, "You got me into this."
 

A soft sigh escaped his lips, but he gave me no other reply. I could feel the fluctuating tension. It felt as though the emotions were rolling through my mind and body. I didn't know what to do or think. Everything was a ridiculous mess. I have no idea how much time passed or where exactly we were, but he pulled up into the small car park of a standard chain hotel place. I groaned to myself, hauling my bag of essentials off the back seat before slowly getting out of the car. I felt like I'd been hit by a freight train, and it'd only be worse the following morning. The guy fidgeted and played with my keys a little as he watched me walk around my car. His eyes glinted before he lifted his chin, smirked and handed them back.
 

He said softly, "You can keep them, Suriel."

That shiver shot up my spine again. I scowled at him and tried to push the flood of images out of my mind. Sleep. That was what I needed. I had to assume that he was someone I knew in the past, perhaps even a previous life. He was clearly someone of value and importance to me, but I was exhausted and the memories refused to come forward.
 

I eyed him carefully as we walked across the car park. I knew he was someone that I had known in my past. The shivers down my spine suggested that we’d been intimate. That didn’t mean that I could trust him. I’d been intimate with a great many people whom I wouldn’t trust as far as I could throw them. The concern and suspicion didn’t remain in the fore of my mind for long. My body was desperately screaming and complaining at every movement. I wanted a comfortable bed and plenty of sleep for the night. He dealt with the room while I looked around at my surroundings. There was no doubt that I’d been in better places, but nothing suspicious or noteworthy caught my eye. My focus was quite firmly on the concept of that comfortable bed.
 

I knew I should have paid more attention when he was dealing with the rooms. He opened the door to the simple room, one double bed in the middle. I raised an eyebrow and brushed past him to inspect the accommodation. There wasn’t a second bed hidden around the corner. Did he really think he’d be sharing my bed with me that night? I turned to look at him. He didn’t have a chance of me giving in. Pain be damned, that bed was mine and mine alone.

I did my best to stand tall with my arms crossed and my shoulders back. I failed. My ribs were screaming at me as each breath was laboured, and my shoulders refused to go back fully. I raised an eyebrow and lifted my chin, glaring at him, daring him. He smiled. It almost appeared to be genuine, if you ignored the fact it didn't reach his eyes. There was a clear shimmer of sadness there, in those pretty green eyes. A tension sat through his shoulders and held his torso up just a little too straight. His hand were slightly curled, but he kept himself still, in control, and silent. The internal conflict raged through every muscle, yet his face remained soft, painfully neutral. He held my gaze for a minute before offering a small nod and spinning on his heel and leaving the room. My room.