Dangerous (Courting the Darkness Saga) (20 page)

“He’s a sweet kid. He didn’t deserve what you did to him.”

Cedric gripped her hair again, shoving her forward out of
the car. “And you think I deserved what was done to me, bitch?”

“No, of course not.
No child
deserves that. Your mother should have been horsewhipped.”

“Yeah, yeah, says you,” he said as he shoved her forward
again.

Sherry stumbled, hitting her shoulder on a leaning light
pole. “Shit!” She leaned heavily against the pole to regain her footing.

Cedric pushed her again. “Stop stallin’ bitch.”

Sherry trudged forward as she looked around. The other
shifters flanked her on each side. Justin walked ahead in the lead. The cold
February wind blew into the rip in her shirt, sending gooseflesh across her
body.

She had grown up in New Orleans and knew exactly where she
was. They had brought her to the abandoned Six Flags theme park. The Katrina
ravaged theme park was a testament to the horrors the city suffered in 2005.
Debris littered the crumbling parking lot. The rollercoaster stood eerily in
the distance, hauntingly still in its silence. Other rides were a mangled mess
of broken parts and rust. Graffiti added to the desolation.

It had to be close to midnight. She should have been
attending her coronation and embracing her new life, not leading that sweet boy
into an ambush. Her heart ached. She could very well be responsible for getting
them all killed.

Drake, I’m sorry. I never really told you that I loved you
,
but I
do
, she thought.

I love you
too, vixen.

She caught her breath in surprise.
Drake?

We’re not far behind you, love.

Her heart raced.
No, don’t
come, it’s a trap.

I know. Your spell worked. I saw what happened.

She looked over her shoulder and
Cedric shoved her forward again.

“Keep movin’, bitch.”

You have to make sure little Mica stays behind. They’ll kill
him.

He insisted on coming, love.

No, please. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to him.
I love that kid, Drake.

I know you do, but trust me, that kid has a big surprise in
store for those men. He’s a brave kid and he’ll be okay, you’ll see.

Drake, there’s something you need to know. Their leader,
Cedric, he’s Caleb’s son.

What?

I thought you saw everything.

I was able to see up to the point of the car speeding away…I
thought that bastard looked remarkably like Caleb.

That story Mica told about Caleb and his pack—Caleb got that
woman pregnant. She shunned the child and this is what we ended up with—a cold-blooded
killer.

How did he get mixed up with the witch hunter?

I don’t know, but when I asked him how he found out about
Mica he said that not everyone is happy that I’m the new queen, and a little
birdie from your group gave him the information.

We have a traitor.

Do you have any idea who it is?

No, but the Fates said there would be a traitor and to trust
no one.

Be careful, Drake.

You too, love. Just keep cooperating until I get
there. I can sense your general direction. It would help speed things up if you
can tell me exactly where you are.

We’re at the abandoned Six Flags theme park.

***

Justin led their group
to the center of the theme park where the different sections split off to go to
the different main attractions. He grabbed Sherry’s arm. “You’ll have your
standoff here, boys. By now I’m sure they’re on their way to rescue our little
queen here.”

Cedric placed his hands
on his hips, glaring at Justin. “Doesn’t someone need to make a phone call or
somethin’ first?”

Justin shook his head.
“No need, boys. She’s been in contact with them from the beginning.”

Cedric scratched his
head. “Come again?”

“It was a small matter
of that little spell you said for me not to worry about because it didn’t work.
She’s led them here to us—to you.”

“You
lyin’ sack of shit.”

Justin shoved Sherry
forward. “Tell them
Queen
Sherry.”
She turned her head and glared back at Justin. He pushed her again. “
Tell them
.”

Cedric crossed his arms
over his chest. “Yes,
Queenie
, spill
it.”

She glared at them all,
then
raised her chin in the direction they came from.
“There’s no use in lying to you because they’re already here.” The sound of
screeching tires sounded in the distance, indicating their arrival.

Cedric threw back his
head and laughed, then clapped his hands together, rubbing them briskly in
anticipation. “Excellent!”

Justin yanked Sherry
back again. “You have what you want. I’m taking the girl to fulfill my end.”

Cedric leveled his gaze
with Justin. “Just so you know, if you’ve double crossed me, I’ll hunt you down
and feast on your heart.”

Jason smiled, holding
his hand up in salute. “Have a nice life. I’ll be able to retire after this
transaction.” He yanked on her arm, dragging her to the back of the park by the
rollercoaster.

“Where are you taking
me?”

“To
your destiny.
You see, Cedric
isn’t the only one with an agenda. The money I’ll get from handing you over
will set me and my daddy up for life.”

She felt the laugh
tickle the back of her throat as she tried unsuccessfully to hold it back. It
erupted into a loud heartfelt belly laugh. Tears of mirth streamed down her
face and she had to stop walking to catch her breath.

Justin stopped and
turned to her, and his expression had her laughing harder. “I find it strange
for a woman to laugh when the people I turn her over to are probably going to
kill her.”

“They may try,” she
choked out between bouts of laughter.

Justin placed his hands
on his hips. “And you find that funny?”

She shook her head,
laughing harder. “No, it’s just…hahaha.”

“It’s just what?” he
spat impatiently.

“Hahaha…I just had a
visual of what you said…hahahaha…You living it up with your daddy…
hahaha, that
was just too funny.”

“And how
is
my daddy and I living it up in the lap of luxury funny to
you? You will probably be dead, and I would think that you should find that
distressing, not funny.”

“Have you seen your
daddy lately, Justin?
Hehehe.”

“No,
not in about a week.”
He replied
honestly. “He’ll turn up. He always does. He’s probably tracking your friend
again.”

“Hehe…he tracked my
friend one too many times. She finally got tired of it and dealt with the
problem.”

Justin frowned. “What
do you mean by that?”

“Your daddy’s been a
guest at the warehouse for the last two days, dummy.”

“You’re lying. My daddy
wouldn’t stay voluntarily with a bunch of bloodsuckers.”

She stopped laughing
and flashed him a smile. “Did I say guest? I’m sorry, I misspoke. His
accommodations are a gilded cage of sorts. Your daddy is a hairy rat.”

“Now I know you’re
lying, bitch.”

She looked up in the
air as she thought. “We’ll just see
who’s
lying. Now
how did that spell Desiree recited go again? Oh yeah, I remember now.” Her eyes
narrowed and glared into his. “Come to me, spirit from the black of night. I
call to thee with all my might. Curse this mortal who cowers before me. Curse
him now so all might see. In his heart, he is a rat. Change his form to reflect
that. Take him down to this concrete floor. Shrink him down forever more.
Please grant this spell I ask of thee. I do so wish it. So mote it
be
!”

Justin screamed, and to
her surprise he shrunk down into a rat. She hadn’t really expected the spell to
work. Instead, she had really expected him to laugh at her and take her captive
again. She breathed in deeply and felt the surge of power flow through her.
Hummm
, she thought. She lifted her chin
and yelled, “Fire!” The ropes binding her wrists burst into flames, falling
away. She stretched the kinks out of her arms and
shoulders,
then ran back in the direction she had just come from.

***

Drake, Mica, Desiree,
Caleb and little Mica climbed out of the Hummer. Desiree placed her hands on
the boy’s shoulders. “Mica, are you sure you’re up to this?”

“Yes,
ma’am.
He killed my mama and now
he has Aunt Sher. I can’t allow him to kill her too.”

She squeezed his
shoulders and kissed him on the cheek. “We’ll be right behind you, son. Save
her for me.”

The boy smiled. “I
will.”

Desiree smiled back.
“May the gods smile on you
tonight.
” She turned to
face the others. “Sherry’s strong. I know she’s alright. She won’t be cowering
in a corner like a little lost child. She’ll find the power within herself and
help us defeat them. Now, let’s stop this reign of terror so that we can all
get back to our lives.”

Desiree looked up at
the sky churning above their heads and lightning flashed, causing her to smile.
“There is some powerful magic brewing tonight. Let’s go.”

The five strode across
the parking lot and through the gate. Once past the gate the park was dark. The
smell of mildew was strong in the air. Rusted metal creaked and groaned in the
brisk breeze. Long shadows were cast behind them like growing giants in the
light of the full moon.

Drake pointed to the
left. “Mica you take the left.” He turned, pointing in the other direction.
“Caleb, you take the right. I’ll stay in the middle with Desiree and the boy to
directly face the kidnappers.”

Caleb looked between
Mica and Drake as if undecided before he spoke. “Drake, shouldn’t I be the one
in the middle, since it’s my kids involved?”

Drake frowned. “No,
Caleb. You need to stay out of sight as much as possible. If he sees you he may
become unstable. He’s already a ticking bomb as it is. I’m sorry, but we need no
misunderstandings. Your son, Cedric, will not survive this night. He can’t be
allowed to live.”

Caleb nodded. “I
understand.”

Drake lifted an
eyebrow. “Do you?”

“Yes.”

“Have you ever lost a
child before?”

Caleb shook his head.
“No, but—”

“It will tear up your
insides.”

“Drake, you really
don’t know me. I think—”

“I lost the only child
I will ever have three hundred years ago. My unborn son died in childbirth
along with my wife. I know what you will feel to lose a child. Even though
you’ve never met the child, he’s still a part of you. You will see yourself in
him. Do not let this cloud your judgment.”

Caleb exchanged a look
with Mica. “He’s right, Caleb, you need to stay hidden until it’s time.”

“Fine, agreed.”

“Come out, come out,
wherever you are,” echoed throughout the empty park.

Desiree ran her hand
over the boy’s shoulders. “It appears we’ve lost the element of surprise.”

Drake’s jaw clenched.
“We will win this night.”

“Agreed,” the others
responded.

The boy splayed his
hands. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go get Aunt Sher.”

Drake ruffled the boy’s
hair,
then
clapped him on the back. “I agree. Let’s
go.”

The three made their
way through the road in the center while Mica and Caleb skirted the buildings
on opposite sides to stay hidden. The boy was in the center leading the way
when they stepped out into the open hub of the park.

Drake noted Cedric
leisurely sitting on top of a low building with his arm draped casually across
a knee. He watched him stand and jump down as they approached the center. He
scanned the area. The others remained hidden.

Drake crossed his arms
over his broad chest. “You have my mate. Where is she?”

A cocky smile played
across Cedric’s face, and he shrugged, splaying his hands. “Do you
see
your mate anywhere, sire?” He threw
back his head and laughed. “More than likely she’s meeting her end as we
speak.”

“No!” the boy cried out
and took a forward step. Drake placed a staying hand on his shoulder.

“Not yet,” he spoke in
a low tone to the boy. He spoke louder. “You do realize that you’ve signed your
own death warrant. None of you are going to make it out of here alive.”

The smile left Cedric’s
face. “It is you and your group who will not live.” He pointed an accusing
finger at the boy. “I’ve hunted for him long enough. I will get my revenge. He
will die tonight as will you all.”