I'll Be Damned (Anna Wolfe Series) (48 page)

I place my foot on one of the wooden stairs, slowly beginning my ascent. The rickety steps whine mournfully. I stare at the wooden door whose knob hangs from it like an eye that fell out of its socket. Not much security here. I rest my palm on the wood panel, pushing it gently. The disgruntled door screeches open, seemingly against its will. I slip my head in. The house smells of mold and soggy dirt. I snap my neck back when a large gust pushes its way into my nose. I try to shield it with my palm in a makeshift mask. I inspect the area and find clusters of cobwebs blanketing the black mold. The cabin is deathly silent, except for the intermittent moans of the old foundation. I enter the foyer quietly, carefully avoiding the gaping holes peppering the floorboards. Each step is calculated and cautious. The last thing I need is to fall through one of them. A large grandfather clock stands proudly in front of me, covered in grime. In the room to my left, numerous pieces of furniture lie beneath white sheets, and tiny dust particles dance haphazardly in the slim rays of moonlight. The once elegant wallpaper, now yellowed by years of neglect, curls off in every direction. I continue my inspection, dodging in and out of rooms, finding abandoned bookcases, crooked picture frames and dusty family relics, which pique my curiosity as to who lives here. Everything about this place is spine-tingling.

After scouring the entire first floor, I glance at the decaying staircase and notice gaping holes where the steps used to be. It looks like something from a deranged funhouse. Maybe this is someone's fun house. I muster all of my dormant courage, climbing the stairs with care, paying extra attention to the gaps, which try to swallow me between the steps. I reach the top without incident, and discover it's just as run-down. A soft glow escapes through the slit at the bottom of one of the closed doors. With a shy smile, I carefully walk down the hall. I glance upward at the roof, peering through circular holes that resemble a slice of Swiss cheese. Glimmers of moonlight, which escape the canopy, light my path adequately enough to prevent me from slamming into a wall. I approach the door, slowly wrapping my palm around the broken knob. With one small twist, the door creaks open.

A sickening odor of burnt hair and mold reaches my nose, offending it with every inhalation. I glimpse at the once stately bedroom nervously, hoping to find Janie somewhere between the sheet-draped furniture. A lit lamp stands on the floor, revealing the weathered floorboards and tangle of cobwebs. The silhouette of a four-poster bed throws twisted shadows on the soiled walls. I look to my left at the only window in the room. It's covered in a thick film that, no doubt, represents centuries of abandon. I walk further into the room, watching loose dirt whirl around the bottom of my dress. No one's here. I walk towards the window, squinting through the glass's sheen of accumulated dirt. It faces the front of the house, and I'm staring at the tree, which I hid behind moments ago. I sigh inwardly. Why would Cara lie to me?
She's working with him, that's why
I scold myself.

Movement in the bushes captures my attention, and instigates a line of sweat on my forehead. There's nowhere for me to run or hide in this maze of ruin. Branches fly haphazardly as they are violently pushed away and snapped off. My muscles respond by tightening, as I hold my breath.
Not now... this can't be happening now
. I inhale, then exhale deeply, searching for my healing white light, but to no avail. I slide down the window to my knees, barely able to focus on what's ready to pop out from the trees. All of a sudden, Valen, Roman, Brielle and Janie burst through the bushes, all wearing expressions of determination. My spirit enlivens when I see them, especially Janie. I try standing, but my legs refuse to support my weight. I ball my hands into fists, and bang loudly on the window. They all look up simultaneously, sprinting towards the house without a word. I slide down to the floor, revolted at the thought of what I could possibly be lying in. Loud banging reverberates violently through the house, threatening to make it collapse any minute. An earsplitting howl shatters the night, sending slow chills up my arms. Another sharp pain cuts through me, forcing me to hold my breath. I struggle to keep my eyes from closing in pain, when a pair of footsteps bangs against the floor right outside the door.
Thank God!

"Hello, love," a velvet voice says. "You look ravishing," he smirks.

I shake my head.
This isn’t happening. He's not here... it's the pain making me hallucinate
. I exhale another sharp breath, wishing the pain away.

"It's no use," Micah responds, walking towards me. He bends down in front of me, tracing the tips of his fingers down my cheek. I don't have the energy to pull away. "Your transition is taking place," he purrs with a sinful smile. "This house is saturated in magic. Your powers are useless in here... And as for your friends outside? They won't be able to get in," he replies triumphantly. He stands up, slowly pacing the room.

What did I get myself into? Through my mental fogginess and pain-throbbing sensations, the entire night begins to unfold in front of my eyes. This was a set-up. From the minute I walked into the Ball, until now, Micah had it all planned out.

"Ah, I see you're putting tonight's events together. I promised you in time I would have you," he responds, extending his arms. "And now I do."

Another pain rocks me, forcing my knees into my chest. A cry escapes my tightened lips, and the pounding from outside on the door becomes more frantic. "How?" I spit between throes of spasms.

I glance up at Micah. "How? That was the easiest part, Anna. My father believes I'm acquiring you for the two of
us
," he answers, stressing the word us. "I on the other hand, have greater plans. You will find the
Book of Imperium
for me," he says, seething with anger. "Once I have that book, I will take over the Netherworld, eradicating anyone who tries to go against me..." he trails off.

"Why would you do that?" I ask breathlessly.

"Why, Anna? Why wouldn't I? I can’t be subservient to anyone, including my father... I was born to rule," he grips my chin tightly between his fingers, forcing me to look at him. "You're the key... the key to it all. With your powers, we can do so much. I will be the king of both worlds and you will sit beside me as my queen," he finishes.

"I'll never sit beside you," I spew.

He lets out a deep snicker, apparently amused by my resistance. "Love, you will obey everything I say," he responds with cold eyes. "If not, I'll kill everyone you love, one by one, while you watch... then I'll kill you," he growls. "Make no mistake. I will eradicate you in an instant, if you become more of an inconvenience than you’re worth."

I roll my eyes at him. I'm smart enough to know the difference between a threat and a promise. Any power-hungry man will destroy whomever and whatever he has to for a place on a throne. My brain races, trying to devise a plan to get me out of here. The banging from my rescuers is now just background noise, eclipsed by my impending danger. I can't let him take me. I concentrate all my energy into my magic, but nothing. Between the pain and Micah's magic, I can't do much of anything.

"What about the Treaty?" I ask, hoping to create some doubt in his plan.

"What about it?" he counters. "Do you believe anyone will be able to defeat me? Not even The Highers will be able to after I have the book" He throws his head back, laughing hard. "The Treaty no longer matters to me or my father. Kidnapping you isn't a crime... besides, no one will find out until I destroy the humans, and by then, it will be too late. I've been training an army of dark witches for centuries, Anna... and with your powers, we will be invincible."

I cringe at his grandiose plans, and vow never to help him, no matter what. My eyelids feel heavy, as sleep beckons me. Micah stands and walks over to the door. "We're ready," he announces in the hallway. A beastly wolfman slides a cage fit for a tiger in front of it as it enters the room. I scramble, trying to move, but am unable to budge a single inch. Its red eyes study me intently, devoid of emotion. It slides its chunky tongue across its lips like it’s about to eat a T-bone steak.

"Don't even think about it," Micah demands. "Get her in that cage unharmed, or it's your life," he says pointing to the steel enclosure.

When the creature approaches, its offensive smell fills the pockets of air around me. I wince, in disgust. Another shooting pain reverberates inside me, causing me to let out a loud cry. The creature stops in front of me, clumsy and slow. Its body reminds me of a wolf on hind legs, except its knees are bent the wrong way. A stiff, steel collar is wrapped around its neck. Red and blue veins throb under the pressure, threatening to pop its head like a balloon. Its gray skin glistens when it comes in contact with light, revealing a slimy texture. It extends its arms towards me, sliding them gently under my back. Its lifts me without any struggle, suggesting it's a lot stronger than it looks. I feel its rank breath on my cheek as a string of drool lands on my chin. I glance at it, and observe the two small lines tattooed behind its left ear. I'm in the arms of a Vulkodlak. I squirm, but the creature cuts its long fingernails into my skin. I shout in anguish, watching round splotches of blood seep onto my dress. It throws me in the cage roughly, slamming it shut and locking it. I roll onto my side, trying to catch the breath it knocked out of me. Micah strides in, bending over to view me like an exhibit. I feel like a wounded animal, trapped and anxious to die.

"It's time to go, love," he says with bright eyes.

I refuse to respond. He places his hands on the steel bars, chanting a spell I've never heard. The bars glow a deep crimson, before returning to their original gray color.

"There, you're all set," he states with a crooked grin. "I wouldn't think about touching those bars," he adds, shaking his finger.

I groan. Fanfriggintastic! I hear the shuffle of footsteps and a woman's voice. I perk up, and force myself into a sitting position, careful not to touch the bars. Adrenaline pumps in my veins, alleviating the spasms enough to let me think straight. I will my magic to work, focusing on everything Roman ever taught me. Nothing. The woman's voice grows louder before bursting into the room. Cara strolls over to me, this time, without blood and tears. My mind tries catching up to reality, but is unable to comprehend.

"Cara?" I question.

"Hey sis," she says, waving like a toddler.

Astonishment numbs my brain as I sit and stare at the person who was once my sister.

"Shocking, right?" she adds condescendingly. "I knew you believed I found Janie!" she says excitedly. "It was too easy really..."

"Why? Why did you do this?" I stammer, my sadness morphing into anger. "We're your family!" I scream.

Cara throws her head back with a snort. "Family? Please, Anna.”

“What about Mike?” I question. Was he in on this too?

Cara flicks her wrist, snorting. “Mike? He was a decoy. Micah had him spelled. Isn’t that amazing?”

Isn’t what amazing? How she lied to everyone? Turned into a sellout? Or messed with an innocent person’s head? “Cara how could you do this?”

“Do what, Anna? Finally get what’s coming to me?” she bellows. “Micah offered me something better than family... a place in the Netherworld kingdom as his queen," she gushes.

I shake my head. There it is. Her own vanity was her downfall. "You're so foolish, Cara! He's not going to make you queen! He's using you! Can't you see that?!" I spit.

Cara's jaw sets in a tight line. "Poor Anna... trapped in a cage like a pathetic animal. Of course you would tell me lies! For once, it's not all about you... all those years of attention and praise for Anna... Now, finally, it's my chance to get ahead and you want to ruin it!" she screams, kicking the cage with her foot.

She's lucky I'm trapped in this steel box or I would give her a serious ass-whooping right now. "Cara, you better hope I never get out of here..."

She snorts. "Please Anna... your life is over," she says, regaining her composure. "And after you help us, I'm going to have Micah kill you and all of your friends," she giggles like an evil, little clown.

"Cara when I get out of here, I'm going to kill you!" I grasp the bars in rage, forgetting Micah's warning. All I want to do is slam my fist into her smart mouth. An electric shock jolts my entire body, tranquilizing my muscles. My arms fall to my sides, heavy as lead, and the remainder of my body follows, collapsing onto the floor of the cage. Cara's voice echoes in my ears like a muffled drone. My eyelids gradually slide in front of my eyes for the final act. Micah's war will begin, Cara is insane, and everyone I care about is in danger.
I'll be damned!