Torn (22 page)

As I sat against a tree to contemplate what all of it meant, the wind kicked up.
Trees began to bow in submission and the clouds started to roll in. Something above me caught my eye. I was trying to figure out why it looked so familiar when the sound began.
The hum.
It was awful. I covered my ears and tried to block it out, but it was louder than ever. The tree branches groaned and snapped violently. I looked up and saw the creature that had been haunting my dreams for months. It looked like a small winged man but its body was oddly contorted. It circled above me for a few minutes before diving through the trees where it disappeared. Within seconds I heard a piercing scream and sprinted toward the sound.

Just when I thought I’d lost my direction, I stumbled over something and fell flat on my face. Dead leaves swirled in every direction as I got up and dusted myself off, making it difficult to find what I’d tripped over.

It was Branna.
“Branna!
What happened?”

“That thing got me. It’s one of the demons. It paralyzes you with a deafening noise then attacks. I think I got it though. Its wings are gone. It’s over there.” She jutted her dainty chin toward a cluster of trees.

Just behind them, huddled in pain, was the foulest creature I had ever laid eyes on. Not quite as human as I imagined, it was the color of green mud with spindly wings that had fallen askew on the damp forest floor. Its arms and legs looked too long for its body and when I got closer, I noticed its sword. About two feet long, thin, and deadly sharp, it looked more like a stinger. As I took a step closer, it moved suddenly and I jumped back, drawing my sword.

Its voice reminded me of gravel and fingernails on chalkboards. “You are Samantha.”

Circling it, my anger intensified. “I am. And you are?”

“No matter.
I know I will be dead in mere minutes. You, on the other hand, will die much more slowly and with greater pain than one could possibly imagine.” The thing coughed and hacked. Its watery eyes were bulging and weak. The open wounds from where its wings had been cut off bubbled and oozed black blood. Its entire body was covered with scaly scabs and it emitted a fetid smell that burned my nose.

“What?”

“You will join Sebastian or you will die.”

My blood boiled as sweat poured off me. “I won’t join him.” I lifted my sword.

“He is more to you than you know. He killed your father, you know. He will kill you too after he kills the boy, of course.
The one who guards you.
If you join him, he might be willing to spare at least
one
of you.”

It was laughing when I plunged my sword into its chest. I stood over it, breath heavy and muscles shaking, when it hit me that I had just killed. The realization wasn’t as disturbing as I’d thought it would be, and I turned away, uncomfortable with my satisfaction.

I walked back to Branna and found her sitting up, injured but otherwise okay. She was startled by what I’d become. “Samantha, your eyes are so wide and black and shadows circle you.”

I was still holding my sword and it dripped with black blood. “Branna, you need to go now.”

She inched back while refusing to look me in the eye. “Samantha, stop. Ethan said this isn’t you, and I believe him. Let us help you.”

Her courage was admirable considering I could feel the fear pouring off of her. Amusement toyed at my mouth. I could do so much damage.

“I won’t hurt you, Branna.”

“Don’t do this, Samantha. Wait for the others to come. We can help you.”

Full of jealousy, I realized she had the ability to rely on others. “No. I have to do this on my own.” Before I turned and ran into the cover of trees and darkness, I leaned down and placed my hands on her wounds. She began to heal the moment I touched her.

Clouds covered the moon throwing my world into pitch black. I couldn’t keep the shadows from following me, entering me so I opened up and allowed them to take over. I couldn’t keep the frustration, anger or confusion at bay, and they threatened to swallow me whole.

Once, a long time ago now it seemed, I was a normal teenaged girl. There was nothing spectacular about me. Now, nothing about me was normal. I’d become hollow, a mere shell for the shadows to fill as they pleased.

A half hour later, I stopped suddenly when I heard footsteps off to my left. They were getting closer. Just through the brush I could see Scott and Noah.
Great.
Why did it have to be the two who hated me the most? They stopped to take a break, Scott standing, scanning the area, while Noah was sitting,
his
back up against a tree. I concentrated so they wouldn’t sense me.

“I don’t trust her.”

“I don’t trust her either but my dad says we should give her space. He says she’s the only thing we have left to win this fight.”

They were talking about me and my fingers started to itch. I took a few steps closer to hear them better.

“If it were up to me, I would’ve killed her the moment I stepped into the house. Can’t you feel the darkness that rolls off her? She’s evil. She’s one of them.”

I stepped closer as my irritation teetered on anger.

“I know. I can feel it. But with it, intertwined is the purest light I’ve ever come across. I don’t know what to do with her. I just have to trust my dad.”

“No offense, Scott, but your dad is a bit too trusting for my taste. The only reason I’m here is because Cal asked me to join him and because of James.”

James?
My dad, James?
For a second, my vision cleared and something twitched in my heart.

“I know.” Scott sighed. “With this, I guess I’ll just do as I’m told.”

Noah suddenly stood at attention and cocked his ear into the night.

He whispered, “Did you hear that?”

“I did.” Scott pulled his sword from its sheath on his back.

At first I thought they’d recognized me but their eyes were focused in the opposite direction. They took a few steps off the path, and I heard a great crash that sounded like smashing rocks. It was hard to see but I heard what sounded like a scuffle. Someone yelled out and my instincts took over. I dropped my duffle and pulled out my sword. I now knew what it was like to use it even if the thought made me squeamish.

I crept toward the noises. Noah was battling with some winged creature, similar to the one I killed earlier. They were yelling things at each other, both with wings fully extended. I’d never seen anyone able to throw another with such strength and force. It was mesmerizing. I heard something a few yards away and turned my head to see what it was.

“You won’t win. Sebastian is too strong,” growled a winged shadow as Scott nailed it with his sword.

“No matter.
At least I’ll be able to rid the world of you,” Scott yelled back as he hit the leg of the shadow with such force that it lost its balance and stumbled.

The two of them were locked in a dance to the death. Both were deft with their respective swords. Scott’s was a fiery red that reminded me of flames and the other carried a heavy stone-gray sword. The noises emanating from them when they clashed were ear splitting. Just when it seemed Scott had the upper hand, the shadow swung his sword from behind and sliced off Scott’s wings. A terrible groan of pain escaped Scott’s lips before he fell to the ground, bloody. The shadow walked over and kicked Scott onto his back. My hand flew to my mouth. I ran towards him but I knew it would be too late.

The dark shadow stood over him with his sword pointed at Scott’s chest. Before I could do anything, it pushed the sword into Scott’s heart. I heard Scott murmur a “Screw you,” before the light dimmed from his eyes. I was so astonished, I was struck dumb. I didn’t even scream out, but my anger was building up again. The familiar twist in my stomach, haze over my eyes, and nerve-piercing vibration reared its ugly head. This time, however, my intent was on slaughtering the thing that killed Scott.

In a rage, I exposed myself to the shadow and it howled in delight. With my sword drawn, I suddenly felt weak but I knew I couldn’t think that way. I had to let it know I was strong and ready for a fight. I wouldn’t be able to fight if I didn’t allow the darkness in.

“So, Samantha.
The one we’ve been waiting for. Sebastian will be so happy to see you.”

Its laugh was sickening and a wave of nausea threatened to overwhelm me. Still, my resolve to destroy it continued to build and I struck first. Surprised at my first move, it still easily blocked my blows. It was toying with me. “You’re gonna have to do better than that, my dear. Haven’t those boys taught you anything?”

The mere mention of Lucas and Ethan fueled my need for destruction. I dove into myself, pulled forward all the training I’d been through and redoubled my efforts. I swung the sword from overhead, slicing sliced its arm open. Black blood bubbled from the wound, and it was momentarily stunned. I used the surprise to my advantage and spun around for a second blow, this time to the other arm. It squealed in pain as its arm fell to the ground, leaving only a bloody stump attached to its body.

“You will pay. I will see to it.” The shadow came at me with such ferocity, I could barely fight back. It wasn’t until Noah attacked it from behind that I was able to do any damage.

When the thing turned around to see what hit it, I used the opportunity to hack its scaly black wings off. What came out of its mouth was so piercing, my ears rang, and I was deaf for a moment. I watched as Noah drove his sword into its heart and swiftly pulled it out. The last words out of the thing’s mouth were, “You’re all dead.”

Scratched and bloody, Noah looked at me. His wings were damaged, and he was having trouble standing up straight. He wasn’t as surprised by the look of me as Branna was. He must’ve expected me to look like that and though distrust was still evident, he surprised me with a “Thank you. Have you seen Scott?”

I turned and walked towards Scott’s motionless body. I placed my hand gently over his eyes and closed them.

“He’s dead. I watched that thing cut off his wings and then drive its sword into his chest. It caught him by surprise. I really thought he had it.”

Noah stared at Scott’s lifeless body, lying on the ground with bluish-purple wings strewn about like afterthoughts. He walked over, picked up Scott’s body and asked me to lay the wings over him, like a blanket. I did so and couldn’t help but notice how light the wings felt in my hands, like there was no weight to them at all.

“I must bring him back to his father and get the others. You’d do well to stay put. They will kill you, Samantha, even if you join them. Sebastian won’t let you live. You are too powerful for him to allow you to remain alive. And, regardless of my earlier and personal distrust of you, I want to thank you for taking care of the one who did this to Scott.”

I reached out and ran my fingers down Noah’s injured wings.

“It’s time for you to go now. As for them killing me, that still remains to be seen. You do what you have to but don’t think I will stay here. I have to face him. I have to find Lucas. I need to do this. If the others come, they can help find Lucas. Sebastian is for me to deal with.”

For the first time he looked at me like he understood and nodded curtly. Carrying Scott’s body, he disappeared into the woods. I readjusted my focus to hide myself and turned back in the direction of my destination.

CHAPTER 19

Samannnnnnthaaaa...Where are you, silly girl
?

I froze in my tracks. Sebastian. I heard some of the others talking about how he liked to taunt his prey. I guessed I was no exception. My nerves danced and I instinctively shut my eyes to keep the darkness at bay before I realized the darkness was exactly what would help me as it had moments before. I needed to concentrate. He wouldn’t find me if I concentrated.

Samannnnnnthaaaa...Are you hiding from me
?
I have your precious Lucas here. He’s waiting for you. Better hurry. He hasn’t got much time.

I heard a deep moan of pain. Lucas!
Sonofabitch
!
My head was screaming. I broke into a run, all the while doing all I could to remain hidden. I broke through into the clearing where Jesse and I had our discussion only hours before. The memory slowed me for a moment before I heard the moan again. Was it in my head? Was it close? It sounded like it was everywhere and nowhere. I scanned my surroundings.
Nothing.
I had to get to the cliff. That was where Jesse said “it” was to happen. I just hoped “it” involved me saving Lucas and destroying Sebastian.

I raced to the other side and found myself in the thickest part of the woods. I stopped just before I hit the opening that led to the cliff, crouched low behind a tree and, listened. I was fidgety and my eyes were constantly moving. I shifted my position several times but nothing shook out the restless excitability.

I heard murmured voices. I had no idea who they belonged to, but they were talking about me. One of them had to be Sebastian and he sounded angry.

“You said she would come.”

“She’ll come. I promise. There’s no way she won’t.” The second voice was so low and gravelly I could barely make out what he was saying.