Amaranthine (Willow Shadows Book 1) (4 page)

“You
have to listen to me, Toot. You’re unique. There are very important things you must be aware of. I know how sudden this all is for you, but you must listen carefully and take this seriously. On the eve of your birthday, when your transformation is complete, you will receive a certain kind of power, maybe more than one.
You are extremely rare. You will be
sought out by other vampires, evil ones, who are seeking to attain this power, and they will stop at nothing to gain it. You being marked means if they drain you of your blood, they will get your power, and you will die.”

Khalida’s first thoughts were of her mom and fear rippled through her mind at the thought of her mother getting hurt because of her.

“My mom?” Khalida asked.

“She knew this day was a probability. Fatin is one of us. Your grandmother was a full blood; your grandfather on the other hand was a Halfling like you. She knew what you were long ago. That’s why she came here, so we could protect you from the Ubil’s. We only have to worry about Braedon, Fala, and the ones that are in their direct circle. Many of our kind have heard of the marked ones but to most of us, it’s just folklore. It seems that the Ubil’s have challenged and taken out anyone who even thought of coming after you. As you will soon find out, their clan isn’t one you want to mess with. Nobody in their right mind will go against them, but only those who want to commit suicide will go against us.”

“You all lied to me. My entire life has been a fucking lie!” Khalida finally snapped.

“It’s not like I didn’t know I was different, but you people let me believe there was something wrong with me. I knew I wasn’t like anyone else, but you all strung me along, hiding the truth. What is wrong with you people? What made you decide to wait to tell me all this now? Why couldn’t you tell me before I decided I wanted to eat my boyfriend?” her anger flowed.

“Khally, I’ve never had a normal life. None of us have. Your mom wanted to let you be normal for as long as possible. I think she was hoping your human side would be the most dominate side and you would be able to lead a normal happy life. We weren’t sure your transformation would come at all. You’re a special breed. There has never been a Halfling marked and not one that has ever lived as long as you have. Like I said, none of us were sure that this day would even come. We set everything in order just in case. And it has happened, so here we are. Due to your bite, your transition has been started and within the next few weeks, it will all be over. There is no turning back now.”

“Screw you. I’m out of here.”

“What are you going to do? Walk home?”

“No, I thought that since I’m a freaking vampire I’d just fly my happy self there!” she snapped back sarcastically.

She turned to leave and was surprised Luke didn’t make a move to follow her.

How can he really let me walk? Wha…grrr…what a Jerk!

“Just so you know, Toot, that’s a myth. We really can’t fly.”

Khalida huffed and continued down the walk way back to the house. Refusing to go back and ask for a ride, she decided she would walk all the way home if she had to.

CHAPTER 4

S
he was half way home still stomping with every step she took when she was surprised to hear a car pull up behind her.

If he thinks for one minute he’s going to let me walk five miles and then come to my rescue, his ass has another thing coming. Don’t look back, keep walking. Let him stare at my ass as I walk away. Yup, I’m still pissed, and he’s still a jerk.

She kept moving forward until she heard her name.

“Khalida?” the voice said and she froze where she stood, fear gripping her chest.

Oh, God, help me. That’s not Luke.

Carey.

“Leave me alone, Carey. I’m not in the mood to put up with you tonight,” she spoke as she turned to face him, way too mad to think straight and too proud to back down.

Facing him, she stood toe to toe, claiming her ground and determined not to let fear take its grip over her after seeing the look of hate that boiled on the surface of his face. She was desperately hoping he would take the hint and just let it go, but from the look in his eyes, he wasn’t about to let her demeanor deter him.

“Where’s your boyfriend now when you need him the most?” he took a dangerous predatory step forward.

“Why? You want him to kick your ass, again?” she spat with distaste.

Taking another step forward, she realized just how much trouble was coming toward her in the middle of nowhere, with nowhere to run and no one around to hear her screams.

“What do you think you’re going to do?” he said as she instinctively went into a protective stance.

Before she could move out his way, he grabbed her face, forcing her head back as he grabbed her hair. Khalida swung her elbow and caught him right in throat, but catching him off guard was not enough for her to escape because he didn’t let go of her hair as she expected, just gripped it tighter. In their struggle, Khalida fell to the ground just as the back of his hand connected with the side of her face. She got up as fast as she could, but Carey was gone, nowhere in sight. His car was still running on the side of the road but it was empty, headlights beaming straight ahead.

She was so busy looking forward trying to find Carey that she didn’t hear him as he crept up behind her. It was too late to turn around. His arm came across her neck placing Khalida in a head lock. With no other option in sight, Khalida, bit down on his arm hard enough to send a shock through his body. That was enough for him to let her go. As Khalida turned to face her attacker, he punched her on the side of her head, dizzying her to the point that she fell to her knees as he continued to hold her head up by her hair as he used her face for a punching bag.

“You crazy bitch! You’re going to pay for that!” he snarled, lifting his arm up so he could look at the wound now burning on his arm.

Half scared and half pissed off, she struggled to stand up, trying steady herself as Carey jerked her around by her hair. He stopped long enough to let her get steady allowing her leg to land right between his legs, causing him to crumple to the ground in agony.

Khalida glanced around the ground for a rock or a stick, something to annihilate that asshole with, but nothing came into view. She looked up to see a car passing with their bright lights on, causing blindness for a few critical seconds. When she turned back to Carey, he was inches from within her face. She stumbled back as a fierce slap came across her face. Khalida grabbed her mouth as the taste of blood poured out, and the car that had temporarily blinded her made a U-turn.

“HELP ME PLEASE
SOMEONE HELP!” she screamed as loud as her raspy voice would let her
.

The screeching car came to a stop inches from where she stood, and happiness poured out of her as she looked up to see a green Camaro.

Luke.

Khalida heard Luke screaming at her to get in the car, but she couldn’t move in the direction he wanted her to. Feeling woozy and struggling to stand, she didn’t move, blood dripping from her face and sharp pains searing throughout her body.

Luke went after Carey. Her mind oozed of revenge as every inch of her body was set on payback. Walking away from the fighting that had ensued with Luke and Carey, she made a last minute decision and decided to jump in the already running dark as midnight Audi. Gassing the engine, she reveled in the sound and threw the gear into drive, slamming the gas pedal down as far as it would go. The smell of rubber flew into her nose, Khalida couldn’t help but laugh. The music playing across the radio was old country and really not her type at all. Her fingers ached as she fiddled with the radio tuner, changing the channel until she came across some
Chevelle.
Turning it up, she eased back into the seat, contemplating her next move. Wiping her chin with the back of her hand, cringing from the pain and tenderness, she felt a warm sliver dripping down, reminding her of what had just happened by the taste of blood that still lingered in her mouth.

Anger instantly
flashed through her already restless and wandering mind. She eased off the gas, allowing the car to slow to a near stop, considering her next move was necessary but time wasn’t on her side. After a few seconds, Khalida decided to reap havoc. She knew there would be no witnesses to her next move; that part of town was dreary and vacant most of the time except for the random passerby on the highway. Gripping the steering wheel tight, making her knuckles glow white, she continued speeding towards the upcoming curve in the road she knew would be her best weapon, a curve that was bordered by a steep ravine. Khalida’s heart started to pound heavily in her chest as doubt threatened to sweep over her mind.

Now or never.

Khalida pushed on the gas, flooring the gas pedal as she threw the door open and jumped from the speeding car, her body rolling as she hit the gravel road. She stumbled and rolled many times before coming to a stop on the side of the highway in the dust and rocks.

Ouch! What the hell was I thinking
?

Khalida’s body, already showing signs of being battered and bruised from her earlier encounter, formed a grim smile across her face as the deafening sounds of the crash came from below. Victory hung on her face as she slowly began to limp away, but she had only taken a few steps when Luke’s car pulled up behind her, forcing Khalida into a dead halt.

Her vision started to blur as waves of nausea crashed against her stomach, and reaching up, she could feel something running down her cheek. Touching her face and looking at the wetness she had on her fingertips, she realized it was blood.

“Get in the car, Khalida!” Luke yelled at Khalida. She could see his mouth moving and knew he was yelling but it was just a blur.

Moments after, she saw Luke standing in front of her before everything stood still and she stumbled to the ground. Khalida could hear Luke talking but nothing made sense as her head began to spin.

Did I get hit that hard?

Everything went silent and when she came to, Luke was carrying her up the stairs to her bedroom.

“Khalida, your body is weak right now. I never should have let you go off by yourself,” he sounded disappointed.

Her own bed was all she needed. Falling into a place where darkness surrounded her, she drifted off to sleep.

Khalida could hear voices, utterances calling out her name through the darkness. Alone, she began to walk down a long, dark and narrow road, withering from the heavy usage and rain it had endured over the years. Darkness dancing around, the only stream of light beamed from a brilliant round moon in the star filled sky.

The voices were calling her name, calling to Khalida as if she were lost, and yet, somehow, she knew she was the only one that would be able to help them to a safer place. Khalida was overwhelmed, drawn to the voices like she was the one that had to help them, feeling she was the only one that could. A benevolent need took over, urging her forward to protect the ones that sought her out and wanted her to be their protector.

She picked up her pace and headed straight toward the sound of their weakened voices. “I hear you!” Khalida screamed into the dark black night, “Where are you?” she quizzed, shaking as her voice filled the emptiness around her.

Again, her name is called out, only this time it was more urgent, filled with desperation.

Moving closer, she heard the voices more clearly, and with a spark of reckoning and ringing in her ears, the sound threatened to bring Khalida to her knees. The familiar voices were that of Khalida’s mom, Fatin, and the other voice was Luke’s. Khalida could hear the worry and stress cracking in the fragile voice her mother, the sounds of hopelessness hanging on the edge of every word. She spoke as if Khalida couldn’t hear her, like she wasn’t close enough for her to hear her mother speaking. Luke was speaking to Fatin but she couldn’t hear what he was saying, but she knew it was about her.

The voices were coming from the darkness beyond the dirt road she traveled down. Now running, Khalida made her way down the ditch and into the dense gathering of the tall, overgrown trees. The voices of her mother and Luke had quieted, and as she breached the darkness of the forest, they faded so softly that she couldn’t hear them, anymore. Khalida began to doubt that she was headed in the right direction and stopped, resting her hand on the trunk of a dying willow tree, leafless and slumped over.

Trudging forward, she picked her pace back up to a slow jog, going further down the path then what she really wanted to go. Trying desperately to find the familiar voices, she was back to running, still moving forward, surrounded by an eeriness that made goose bumps scatter across the back of her neck. Coming to a sudden stop, she listened more intently.

The air was still, a dead calm with a bestowing feeling. There were no sounds at all except for the rapid rise and fall hitching of Khalida’s own breathing. She listened harder, straining to hear something, anything. Suddenly, her muscles stiffened as
a cold
draft drifted across the desiccant land sending chills across her skin, chilling her to the bone.

The
hair stood up on the back of her neck, instantly alerting her to the danger that was closing in around her. Khalida saw nothing as she looked around, still hesitant and aware of the worry that was sinking into her gut. These sorts of feelings weren’t normal, and Khalida struggled with the fear that was creeping up her spine. She knew it wasn’t the chill of the air that surrounded her that was causing this fear.

Through the darkness, Khalida sensed that someone was watching her every move from the distance. She looked to the shadows, wandering through the darkness, searching, sighing as she found nothing.

“It’ll all be over soon,” the grim voice whispered through the wind.

Snapping her head in the direction of the voice, Khalida stood still, her chest heaving heavily with fear. “Who’s there?” she called out.

“Me?” laughed the voice, “I’m the one who wants you. I can give you what others can’t.”

Evil shadows flitted through the trees, wrapping around them, inching forward slowly to where Khalida stood. The wind tossing her hair slowly, catching her attention and stopping the trance she found herself slipping into. The only thing that came to her mind beside the fear that clenched in her throat was out of survival.

RUN!

Khalida turned, throwing her legs into gear. She started running as fast as her feet would
allow without falling face forward
.
Her heart had practically exploded with fear, banging against her chest as pure adrenaline was carrying her. Khalida gasped as the evil began closing in around her. She could see nothing as she bolted forwarded but could feel the atrocious malevolence nipping at her heels. It was cold, dark, pure evil, and it was coming straight for her.

Stopping dead in her tracks, Khalida realized something. This thing wanted to scare her; it wanted her to run.