Betrayed: Dark beginnings (14 page)

The woman led Elizabeth upstairs; they reached the poorly lit hall and into a small room. Upon entering she could see a single bed, pushed up against the wall and a white dressing table to the left of the room.

“The bathroom is through there, so you can get cleaned up. The wardrobe is full of my daughter’s clothes; you can borrow some. You are both about the same size.”

“Thanks.” Elizabeth murmured
.

The woman closed the door and trudged down the stairs. She lied on the bed momentarily, she felt numb and weak and just wanted to sleep and eat. She looked around the room lazily.

She stood up and walked over to the mirror. She was shocked at the woman staring back at her. She looked awful. She wiped some of the blood from her eyebrow and saw a crack with a small amount of blood and hair on it.

She thought it was bit odd, but shrugged it off. She was too tired to think straight. There was a photo on the bedside table. She looked closely and at first it looked as if it was her, but quickly realized it wasn’t. This girl had brown eyes, and slightly darker hair. She also didn’t have as bright lips. But she did look very similar.

“Creepy.”

Elizabeth breathed and headed into the bathroom. The suite was horrid brown colour, with grubby white tiles. She looked down at the sink and turned the tap on. She splashed some water on her face, then washed her arms, chest (as best she could) and ran her hair under the water.

Red murky water filled the sink. She grabbed a towel and dried herself then wrapped around her hair. When she turned, she saw that the bath had blood splattered on it. It was dry, so it wasn’t any splashes from her. She walked back into the bedroom and looked around suspiciously.

She opened the wardrobe and looked at the clothes. Not her style, the clothes were quite flowing and very dark. Nevertheless she pulled on a black top that cut in at her waist and flowed outwards; it covered her chest which was all that mattered.

She put on a skirt. It flowed down past her knees and was a dark purple. She dried her hair with a towel then pulled the dark tangled locks into a ponytail. She felt a little bit like herself again. She delved deeper into the wardrobe, and on the shelves in search for some shoes but came across a very heavy brown book. It was grimoire.

She turned the pages and saw that they were full of black magic and old rituals.

“Great.”

She said aloud. It seemed as if she was surrounded by witches wherever she went. She placed the book back on the shelf and walked back over to the bed. She saw another small amount of dark blood smeared on the pillow.

How had she not spotted that before? She wondered. She sneaked out onto the hallway and saw some clumped hair covered in blood lying on the floor in front of her. She put her hand over her mouth and gasped in horror.

“Do you want a cup of tea?” The woman shouted. She stopped and breathed deeply.

“Yes please. I will be down in a minute. I’m just going to go and have a shower if that is ok?”

“Sure, take your time.”

She hoped it would give her enough time to figure out what was going on here. She crept into their bedroom. Her hands were clammy, and she felt a bead of sweat drip down her forehead.

This room was larger; the bed covers were a pale blue and the wallpaper was the same as in the living room.

She looked to the windowsill and saw a torn page from the grimoire, detailing a ritual on it that involved killing ten girls. She opened the window and looked out. She couldn’t jump, and it was too high. It had been so long since she had to consider danger.

She knew the fall may kill her, as she had come to the conclusion that Lorcan had turned her into a human. It still didn’t explain the hole in her chest that didn’t heal, but she had no time to consider that.

She slithered under the bed, and breathed quietly which was difficult as she panicked. Tears fell onto the blue carpet as she stared up to the wooden slabs. She let her head fall back onto the floor and concentrated on her breathing.

She had never felt this scared for her life. She was so weak and vulnerable. She could hear the old couple’s conversation through the floor. She pressed her ear further into the thick carpet straining to make out the words.

“We will. Just wait for her to get out of the shower first.” There was a short pause before she heard a small snigger.

“Stop trying to make them happy before we kill them.”

“You know how I feel about this. I hate it.” The woman sobbed.

“I know sweetheart, but we need to bring our daughter back. Let’s just get it over and done with.”

Elizabeth could hear footsteps trudge up the stairs. She put her hand over her mouth and curled up into a ball.

She felt something stab at her arm. On closer inspection, she saw that it was an old shoebox. She lifted the lid hoping that there was an old phone or something in there she could use. The box revealed shimmering gold and silver
jewelry.

There was a small gold broach with a hummingbird on, a golden wedding ring with the words forever engraved on the band, a small silver hair grip, an engagement ring with small diamonds on it, a grubby toe ring, a brown headband, a pretty delicate bracelet with pink stones on and a set of golden earrings. She examined the
jewelry and saw that most had dry blood splattered on them.

She had watched enough crime programs to know that these were treasures. The pieces of a person you keep when you kill them. She laid back down feeling sick, her head felt numb, she closed her eyes and wished for this to be dream. She heard them rummaging around in the other room.

“She’s gone.” She said panicked. “Check the bathroom, I’ll check our room.” Elizabeth gulped and held her breath.

“She
must have found blood in the bathroom.” Clive swore under his breath.

“I told you to clean it up.”

He said as he walked into their room. Elizabeth watched his feet as he walked around the bed. He stopped by the window and looked out.

“She must have jumped.”

“What?” The woman shouted.

“I said she must have jumped.” He shouted back. “Deaf old bat.” He whispered. The woman ran into the room.

“Clive, go find her before she tells anyone. I will clean all this up.” He grunted.

“Make sure you do a better job this time.” He shoved past her and walked down the stairs. She heard the front door slam, and the car start. Being a vampire right now would be very helpful, she thought.

She slowed her breathing as much as she could and laid there uncomfortably, rolling herself into a ball.

She tried to think of a plan, it was getting late. They should be going bed soon, if she could just wait for them to go sleep, she can sneak out the front door; they had to stop looking for her eventually.

  All she could hear was the woman rustling a bag, obviously throwing away evidence as she said. Then something horrific came to her mind, the shoebox that is sat right next to her, the woman would come to get that soon, to throw it away.

She stared venomously at the box. She had to get out now. She slithered out from under the bed, scraping her elbow along the carpet; she ran into the hallway and ran right into the old woman.

Elizabeth wished she still had her strength and then she had a thought. Even though she is weaker now, she must be stronger than this old woman and got ready to fight.

Now that the man is gone, she could take on the old lady easily, after all she is younger and stronger.

“Not today!” Elizabeth said nastily pushing the woman out of her way. 

“I’m sorry.” The old woman croaked as tears filled her eyes. Elizabeth turned slowly and watched the woman as she pulled out a gun from her pocket. She began to run.

She tripped over a suitcase, she got back on her feet quickly, but it was too late. She heard the gun fire, and just like that she was dead, her dark red blood pouring on to the carpet.

Clive walked through the door and trudged upstairs to Audrey. He stared down at the Elizabeth’s body.

“Guess she never left.” He said sorrowfully.

“No, she was under the bed,” she looked down at Elizabeth’s face and wept.

“I hate this Clive!” she mumbled.

“I know darling but soon we will have Selena back with us, and it will all be worth it, I promise.” Clive pulled Audrey into a hug as she wept. Audrey bent down and took off Elizabeth’s necklace, placing it in the shoebox.

Ten items, ten girls dead, it was time.

They walked into their daughter’s old bedroom and pulled out an old book from the shelf.

“She should have never got herself into this!” Audrey wept Clive just nodded and looked through the book.

"This is the one the man said to chant." She said quietly.

“Right here is the spell, now we know what we need, ten girls who look like Selena, ten items from the dead girls, a pentagram, candles and fire." They waited until dusk and went out onto their patio; it was breezy but not windy. Audrey bent down and drew a pentagram from the book with chalk on the patio floor as Clive lit the candles and placed them around the pentagram.

“Are you ready?” Said Audrey desperately Clive looked at her and stroked her hair.

“Yes.”

He stood inside the pentagram and started chanting the words from the book.

chapter twenty two

London 1666

Elizabeth ran with Matthias towards Pudding Lane. Her town was in ashes, and there were more people begging on the streets than she had ever seen.

Memories came swarming back as they walked down the same path that she had on that dreaded night. She looked around horrified, tears stinging at her eyes. Matthias walked on ahead as she slowed down, not caring enough to look at those who were homeless and starving.

She saw Matthias for what he was, arrogant, rude, and he didn’t seem to care about much. However, he was clever, opinionated and strong. She knew she needed to stick with him if she wanted to survive.

Matthias disappeared into a small house, one that was clearly not touched by the fire. Elizabeth stood, surrounded by beggars. She looked to the ground and pulled her hood over her eyes; she couldn’t risk being seen.

Not even a few minutes later Matthias reappeared holding a shrieking woman by the back of her neck. Elizabeth ran forwards and looked at Matthias with wide eyed.

“What are you doing?” She said appalled.

“Where is he?” Matthias spat at the woman’s face, ignoring Elizabeth. Tears rolled down her face, her legs shaking.

“ANSWER ME!” He shouted.

“Put her down, she is hysterical.
” Matthias looked to Elizabeth and threw the woman to the ground. Elizabeth grabbed her hand and helped her up.

“He… he is dead, I can’t help you.” Elizabeth placed her hand on the woman’s shoulder, and to Elizabeth’s surprise she shrugged it off.

“He died after doing that stupid curse on you…monsters.” She stared venomously into Matthias’s eyes.

“He can’t be dead?” Matthias shook his head. “No, we need someone to help us, to remove
the curse.” The woman took a step forwards and gathered her strength.

“I can’t help you, no-one can.” She looked to Matthias with a cold stare. He grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the house.

“You will help us, if you want to live.” He dragged the woman inside. Elizabeth looked around to all the people staring at them. She hid her face and hurried towards the house.

Matthias pushed the girl into a chair, making her and the chair fly across the room.

“Matthias, stop it.” Elizabeth said exasperated as she closed the front door.

“You have got the attention of all the people out there. You were the one who told me to lay low.” She lifted an eyebrow. Matthias turned and reluctantly helped the woman up.

“If you try to run, I’ll kill you.”

The woman nodded and looked to Elizabeth.

“I know you need help but I ca….”

“You will try!”

Matthias shouted interrupting her.

“Only the witch or warlock, or a descendant can reverse the curse. You and your friend killed his descendants. No-one can help you.” Matthias sat down and buried his face in his hands, lost in thought.

Elizabeth looked around the room; it was small and dusty. There was not a lot of furniture; the only nice thing was a silver cross that hung on the wall.

“Look, this woman is called Elizabeth. She did not have anything to do with the killing of those witches that night. She was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.” The woman looked to Elizabeth sympathetically.

“Do you think that it’s fair that she is punished for something she has not done? You need to help us.” Matthias pleaded.

“I am sorry to hear that, I really am. But I cannot help you. I’m sorry.” She looked to Elizabeth and sighed.

“But... it’s not fair.” Elizabeth said close to tears. 

“So what will the curse do? Kill us eventually?” Matthias spoke as he walked over to Elizabeth and placed his hand on hers. The woman sat forward.

“No, it won’t. It has made you into what you may know as a vampire. Well you are sort of a vampire. Either way, you are immortal now. You will crave blood and stay young forever. But it comes at a price.” She said seeing the delight on his face.

“You will not be able to die, you will watch everyone you love die, and you won’t be able to do anything about it. You will kill people, therefore, damning your soul to hell.”

They both sat silently, listening to her intently.

“It’s an old curse, not one we ever use. Well except in extreme circumstances.” Matthias stood up clenching his fists.

“So … witches
are
evil.” He said biting down on his tongue. He took a step towards the woman.

“But wait, there is a way, but it’s very difficult.” There was a short pause whilst the woman contemplated whether she should tell them.

“Damn it, if I don’t tell you, you will only kill me.” Matthias nodded.

“There is a water Nereid that resides in the Atlantic Ocean. I don’t know much about them, but they are dangerous creatures and hard to capture. But they do have powers to help with this type of situation … if you can persuade them.” She watched Matthias carefully as he stood back up.

“Thank you.”

He sped towards the woman, shoving his face in
to hers.

“Please... I can help you find one…”

Matthias grabbed the poker by the fire and rammed it into her neck, making blood fly on to the wall. He pulled out the poker and started to drink from her neck.

Elizabeth was
appalled, but she could smell the blood. She wanted it so bad, as if she was trapped on a desert and was close to dehydration.

Matthias moved away, and Elizabeth locked her lips around the hole in the woman’s neck and drank. The blood trickled down her throat calming the raging thirst she felt. She sucked harder, completely draining her until she could taste nothing more.

“I want more.” Elizabeth breathed.

She looked to Matthias as blood dripped down from her lips onto her dress. She looked at the blood still around his mouth and kissed him unexpectedly. He was taken aback; she could taste the blood in his mouth. He kissed her back for a moment then pulled away.

“Let’s not get caught up in the moment.” He gulped. Elizabeth took a step back embarrassed and looked down to the woman and felt like crying.

“We need to find some more clothes.” Matthias got up and walked up the stairs. Elizabeth kneeled on the floor as tears spilled onto the dust, forming small puddles.

“Sorry.” She whispered to the lifeless woman.

She removed the long black robe the woman was wearing and pulled it around herself. It was scratchy and irritated her skin. She walked over to a bucket in the corner of room and dipped her hands in the water. The water turned red as it washed away the remains of the woman’s blood.

She dabbed a wet cloth on the dress desperately trying to get out the blood stains. She washed her face and wiped it with the cloak. Matthias walked downstairs wearing a long brown cloak. He still had dried blood on his face and arms.

“Here.” She showed him the bucket. He started to wash himself.

“The blood will not come out of the dress.” She whined.

“Just keep the cloak over it until we find a new dress ok?”

She nodded and pulled her hood up. She walked into the hall and picked up an old brown blanket and threw it over the woman, covering her body.

“She was going to help us; you didn’t have to kill her.” Elizabeth ground her teeth.

“Don’t be naive Elizabeth, she would have run off as soon as she had the chance. We got the information; we do not need her help.” She hated that he was right.

“Plus we needed the blood, and we have a house to stay in for a while.” She looked around and placed her hands on her hips. She never expected to live in a place like this.

“I don’t want to stay here; I’m going to make this right. I’m going home.” She sped towards the door, but Matthias got there first.

“They will kill you when they realize what you are, don’t be stupid. Stay here until we can get a Nereid. I want to protect you; it’s kind of my fault that you’re in this mess.”

“It’s not. The other men would have burned them, regardless if you were there or not.” She laughed.

“No, the warlock went to kill me. He said he would spare my life if I told him who else was involved; I pointed to you.” He looked to the floor.

“YOU. ARGGHH!” she launched herself at him, throwing him into the wall. She heard his ribs crack.

“You… get… me … out… of… this… now!” She looked deadly.

“Ok, ok I’m sorry.”

“I cannot believe I kissed you, you horrible, evil …” She couldn’t finish her sentence and walked upstairs. Matthias smirked, aggravating her more.

“But you did kiss me.” He raised his eyebrows. She stormed off, kicking the wall on the way.

“Where are you going?” He shouted after her.

“I’m going to sleep… You’re lucky you can’t die.”

chapter twenty three

Cumbria – present day

The sun shone down on the lakes surface, two men walked past. Jordan watched them from the edge of the lake.

He sat wondering how he had even got into this situation. A head broke the water’s surface. She looked at him with her dark yellow eyes. She nodded and disappeared back under the surface, he watched her body descend into the green depths. He got up, feeling the gritty mud beneath his palm. He was still wet, dripping in fact. He began to run in the direction of her house, feeling strong, more alert than ever before.

He watched the birds as they nestled in the trees, the leaves as they swayed in the breeze. Everything was more beautiful now.

He ran at his usual pace until he reached the familiar door to her house. He knocked loudly but heard no noise from within. He turned the door knob and thankfully the door swung open, revealing an empty hall.

"Elizabeth?" he waited for a few moments then walked into the living room.

He looked to the sofa disdainfully. He turned and walked up the stairs. He came to stop on seeing the clothes that were thrown all over the floor. It looked as if the place had been turned inside out, burgled, or they were in a big hurry to leave.

He decided the third one was the most likely. He walked into Elizabeth's bedroom; he glanced over to the bed but looked away quickly. He remembered the last time he was here, how he felt about her, how everything made sense when he was with her. He felt nothing of love anymore, only hatred.

She had betrayed and manipulated him, he could never forgive her. Jordan let out a startling growl as he ran down the stairs and saw a man’s jacket hanging on the peg.

He guessed it belonged to the man that had appeared when he was grabbed that night. He picked it up and threw it across the hall. He picked up Elizabeth's gloves from the side table and walked out, slamming the door behind him.

He watched the sun set as he made his way back to the lake. He reached the water’s edge and couldn't see anything. He looked around him, making sure the coast was clear before swimming into the lake.

He bobbed up and down for a few minutes before Candika and Aristeo swam up to him. They looked to his hands, he passed them the now wet gloves and they disappeared back under the surface.

He treaded the water waiting for them to finish whatever they were doing. All he knew he had to do was to get something of hers and bring it to them. He took a deep breath and looked out across the water wondering what other creatures existed that he didn't know about.

Jordan felt the water swirl around his feet, Candika appeared in front of him. She looked into his eyes. It still felt unnerving, knowing these creatures were swimming beneath his feet, knowing that they could kill him, if they wanted to, in an instant. He shuddered at the memory of how they used to swim in this lake as children.

"She is in Edinburgh that is all we know." She hissed.

"How will I find her, that could take weeks?" there was a short pause.

"You better try, you don't have long." She pointed to the darkened sky. He took a deep breath.

"I know. How did you do that anyway? Locate her?" Jordan said lowering his eyes to webbed hands.

"We have powers you couldn't dream of. She is there, believe me. Remember find the one who took her powers and kill them. If you don't Tamina can never be put to rest and you will die." She dived back under the water.