Betrayed: Dark beginnings (16 page)

chapter twenty five

Lorcan ran into the garden. Jordan looked briefly around their living room when he spotted something that made him stop dead.

A pink phone, it was unmistakably Chloe's, with the two scratches and the heart sticker on the back of it. He walked over and picked it up.

Flipping it open the picture of Jordan, his mum and Chloe confirmed his fears. He scrolled through her messages and saw that his had been read. They had stopped being read two days ago. Panicked he ran into the garden where Lorcan was in deep conversation with Audrey and Clive.

"So she is dead." Lorcan said sorrowfully. Audrey broke into a flood of tears.

"I didn't want to do this." She looked over to Elizabeth's body.

"She lost it though. She was dabbling in black magic; she did some ritual and we found her dead… on her bedroom floor. There were strange markings in chalk on her carpet." Audrey trailed off.

"Either way." Clive said finishing the story. "We picked up that book thing she had that was full of magic."

"A grimoire." Lorcan said in disbelief.

"Yes, and we found a ritual, one that can bring someone back to life. But you could only use it if you were a witch. So we set off; we tried to find you but when we went to your house, they said you were in Cumbria." Lorcan looked to the floor.

"We found another witch, one who helped us. She said that Selena is trapped on the other side, as a wraith. Of course, we didn't know what that meant but then she started talking about a dark side.
We asked her what she meant; she said it’s what we would know as… hell. Then it became pretty obvious. She said if we kill ten women, around Selenas age, with similar appearances, well Selena would come back." Audrey cut in.

"We did consider it, we have never killed anyone, but it’s our baby." Audrey said tearfully.

"So we killed ten girls, the last being this one." He pointed to Elizabeth. "We got ten of their things, mainly jewelry and began the ritual. Lorcan, she loved you. Help her." He pleaded. Lorcan looked to Elizabeth then to Jordan. Jordan stood with his mouth open.

"The girl who owned this phone, you killed her didn't you." He said as tears flooded down his face. "Yes." The woman wept. Jordan began to sob.

"Jordan, that's not Elizabeth's phone..."Lorcan said confused.

“It’s my sisters." Jordan said with disbelief.

He knew that only one could be brought back from this ritual. Audrey and Clive planned on bringing back Selena, Lorcan wanted Elizabeth back, and Selena.

Jordan wanted Elizabeth and his sister. He couldn't shake the sickness he felt, he knew he had to choose, and quickly. If not, they would all be gone. Everyone looked to Lorcan for answers.

He decided his love for Elizabeth overwhelmed his love for Selena and with deep remorse he cast a spell on Audrey and Clive. They dropped to the floor gasping for air, but only water spilled from their mouths. He watched as they struggled for life, their eyes red. They were in pain, and lots of it. Lorcan slit their throats, ending it quickly.

"Lorcan?" Jordan stared at him, waiting for an answer.

"My sister?"

"Yes, of course. Umm, go back to the mansion, I will hold off the ritual. Get me my grimoire; we can bring back the other girls. Please hurry." Lorcan lied.

Jordan believed the sincerity upon his face and ran out the house, shoving his way past Abbelonna. Lorcan stood, now alone. He looked to the dead couple and closed his eyes.

"You just gave me the hardest decision I have ever had to make." He said, tears brimming at his eyes. He sighed and turned to Elizabeth, placing his hands on hers. They were as cold as ice and rock solid.

He looked at her lifeless face and wept. If he hadn't turned her back into a human, she wouldn't have died. Selena would have been brought back.

He rubbed his eyes and began to work. He had little time. Her wounds began to heal. Her body became limp as he enchanted words in the darkness. Her cheeks flooded red; her skin became warm.

She took a breath and opened her eyes briefly before closing them again. Relief flooded over him; she was alive.

Suddenly fires had begun around the garden, they were bodies. He hadn't spotted them before. He ran over to them and watched the fire engulf the women, as they were banished to the dark side forever. He saw Selenas eyes before she became dust.

He closed his hands over his mouth and wept profusely. The loss punctured his heart, making him unable to breathe properly.

He fell to his knees and wailed loudly. Jordan ran through the door wide eyed.

"Where is Chloe?" He said looking down to the now breathing Elizabeth. Lorcan couldn't talk; he sniffed and coughed as he found it harder to breath.

"No... No." Jordan looked to the piles of ash. Abbelonna ran in.

"Sorry, I know you told me to wait but I heard screaming and...Oh." She looked at Elizabeth sourly, but then Lorcan who was now wailing on his knees.

Jordan stood motionless, staring venomously to Lorcan.

"What happened?" Abbelonna said taking a step back.

Lorcan slowly got to his feet and dusted himself off. He walked over to the pile of ash where Selenas body was.

"Get me a jar." He shouted to Abbelonna. She ran into the kitchen and saw a jug.

"Here, it’s all I can find." She passed it to him, and he swept her ashes into it.

"YOU DIDNT BRING BACK CHLOE!" Jordan shouted, finding his voice.

"Sorry... only one could have survived. I am sorry about your sister." He said sympathetically.

"Jordan looked down to the ashes and wept. Abbelonna put her hand on Jordan's shoulder and led him to the ashes.

"Here." She said softly.

She held his hand and moves hers over the different piles until one began to glisten.

"These are your sister’s ashes." She said sympathetically. He looked at them and breathed deeply, holding his hands over his mouth. Abbelonna appeared next to him again with an empty sugar jar.

"Here," she passed it to him and he nodded to her. She took a step back and walked over to Lorcan.

"We need to leave." Lorcan nodded and stood up. Jordan swept up Chloe's ashes, trying not to vomit. Abbelonna and Jordan walked out the house together. Lorcan picked up Elizabeth and carried her to the door. He looked up to a picture of Selena hanging on the wall and placed down the jug of her ashes on the side table.

"I am so sorry Selena." He whispered.

chapter twenty six

London 1667

They had lived under cover in the woman's house for several months without being caught, unless you count the woman who came knocking on the door looking for her friend, well they killed her, no harm done.

Elizabeth often wandered from the house to follow her sister and Richard. She watched them scornfully as the held hands and arranged wedding plans. She watched with envy as he kissed her on the lips gently, as if she was the most important person in the world.

The rage boiled inside of her. Her instinct to kill them was overwhelming but was quickly silenced by Matthias and his warnings. She shouldn't have kept watching them, Matthias told her this often but she couldn't help it.

It was as if she needed more proof of her sister’s betrayal, like she didn't want to believe it. She would often come back and tell Matthias that it could be another Richard who looks similar to the description she was given. He just looked at her pitifully every time, making her feel small and childish.

It wasn't stupid of her though, no one wants to accept the truth of your family betraying you. It’s hurtful and heart-breaking.

When she was forced with the reality of what had happened, she often materialized scenes in her head of the revenge against her sister and Richard. Her sisters face as she ripped out Richards’s heart and threw it into the fire.

The dreams kept her insidious instincts at bay. She got sick and tired of being hidden behind the doors, only to come out at night and even then she had to walk around in disguise.

She wanted her freedom back and Matthias promised her they would leave soon. The thing is, he had been promising her that for months.

She watched Matthias as he sat at his desk, his hand on his head. He looked frustrated as he stared at the papers sprawled across the desk.

"Do you want go out somewhere?" Elizabeth said brightly.

"I don’t know why you keep asking, you know what the answer is going to be." He didn't take his stare off the papers.

"Yes?" Elizabeth said sarcastically.

He looked up to her and shook his head.

"Not now Elizabeth." He looked back down to the papers.

She stood up and stormed out of the room. She looked up the stairs and heard footsteps behind her.

"I will get us out of here." She turned and looked at him sourly.

"When? You have been saying this for months." She pursed her lips.

"I was actually arranging for a horse and carriage to pick us up next week. It was going to be a surprise."

"Oh." She looked to the floor. Matthias placed his hand on her waist and pulled her closer to him. She stared into his eyes then lowered her gaze.

She still felt embarrassed from kissing him last time. He kissed her briefly on her forehead and walked away.

She held her breath for a moment then swept up the stairs. She sat in her favorite spot by the window. She looked out hazily to the street. She sighed and rested her head against the window. She sat lost in thought about Matthias.

She didn't like him most of the time, but when he was in close proximity to her she felt like jumping on him, kissing him, running her hand through his blonde locks.

Her breathes quickened as she saucily thought of them together. She felt a bit stupid; he didn't like her, and she could see that. If he did, he would have done something about it by now. She turned and saw Matthias in the doorway. She would have blushed if she could. She turned her head away from him feeling embarrassed about the thought she just had.

It wasn't as if he knew it, but she felt dirty. She wasn't the type of woman to think like this, ever. He sat next to her and looked out the window. She felt his arm rub against hers, sending shivers down her back.  He turned to look at her; she turned her head the same time, and their mouths were only
centimeters apart. She felt his hot breath tickle at her lips and she didn’t mean to but she leant in to kiss him.

He pulled away and turned back to the window. Her eyes filled with tears, and she stood up.

"I have to ask." She said shaking. "If you are in love with me, it’s just one minute you act as you do, then you are so cold and distant." She couldn't believe the words had escaped her lips, he looked at her shocked.

He stood up and faced her, looking at her intently. He grabbed her and pulled her against him. For a moment, everything stopped. She could hear nothing, see nothing but him. He leant in and kissed her; she grabbed his back and pressed herself against him.

His tongue darted into her mouth, they didn't let go of each other. He pulled away slightly.

"Does that answer your question?" He breathed.

"Yes," she groaned.

chapter twenty seven

Edinburgh –present day

Lorcan placed Elizabeth onto his bed. She looked so peaceful, so different to when she was awake. She looked genuinely content, something he had never seen in her.

Bending down, he kissed her lips softly. She did not stir. He didn't want to disturb her. He knew she was safe. He had finished the ritual tying her to him.

He knew when she would awake she would only want and love him. He walked out of the men, quietly closing the door behind him. He nodded to two of his men as they stood guard by the door.

"Remember, if she awakes, let her out. Let her roam around the house. Just keep an eye on her." The men nodded, and Lorcan walked down the stairs. He ordered three of his men to get a car ready.