Blood Moon (15 page)

“We’re back to our other plan now, I guess,” I say to Ben.

“Find the source of the blue light?” he inquires.

I nod in response. We have the remainder of the day to find the hideaway in the forest once again. But first, I want to pay a visit to Lavenia.

“Follow me!” I exclaim. “I have an idea.”

“I don’t know if I like the sound of that,” Ben retorts playfully. I smack his arm, and he grins.

It’s not too difficult to locate the jailhouse where Lavenia is being held until her execution tomorrow. Getting past the guards is a different story. This might prove to be a challenge.

“I wish to see my cousin before she is murdered,” I declare, loud enough to make my presence known.

“What is the meaning of this?” an older gentleman asks, as he stands from behind his desk.

“Just as I already stated. I wish to see Lavenia.”

The older man and the guards begin to laugh. One of them speaks up. “She is not allowed visitors.”

I do my best to portray someone who is about to lose a loved one, even with my features—downturned lips, teary eyes. Hopefully, this will work.

“Captain . . .” one of the guards begins, speaking to the man with graying hair.

The Captain glares at me, frowns, and then puffs out an irritated sigh between his lips. “Make it quick.” He leads me to a back room—they tell Ben to stay behind—where Lavenia is being kept in a cage. Iron bars, straw flooring . . . she’s being treated like an animal. “I shall be back shortly,” he says, giving me a piercing glower.

Lavenia, who was facing the back wall, rolls over. As soon as she sees me, her eyes expand and a cunning smirk plays across her lips. “Come to gloat, have ye?”

I step forward, twisting my fingers around the metal bars. “No, but I would like to get you out of here. Alaric doesn’t believe it’ll work, so this is between you and me.”

“Alaric.” She spits, then stares off toward the other cells. “’Tis wise for him to avoid me.”

She must not realize her execution will kill him, too. “He didn’t know you actually had a spell book lying around. He only wanted to get back at you for turning his brother and Daciana into werewolves.”

Lavenia jerks her head toward me, and her eyes narrow. “How do ye know of such things?”

“I know a lot more than you think I do. Now, convince me to get you out of here. Tell me what your ultimate plan is for Colchester, and why you turned Ulric and Daciana but not Alaric.”

She laughs, though it’s not sincere. “I shall tell ye naught. Ye are a fool.”

“Maybe, but I’m not the one who’s about to die.”

Losing her mischievousness, she leans forward and says, “Ye are all going to die.”

“So, that’s your ultimate plan? Kill everyone?”

Her malicious smile returns.

I frown. “I don’t understand why you want to hurt people, why killing innocent men in the forest means so little to you.”

She ignores my observations and says, “If ye truly wish to set me free, there is only one way.”

The men outside laugh at something, and I’m reminded I don’t have long to figure this out. Talking to Lavenia might be a last resort, even if it’s pointless. But maybe if I participate in whatever game she’s playing, Ben and I can be five steps ahead of the witches. Eventually, we might be able to end their power over Colchester.

“What is it? What do I have to do?”

The Captain makes his presence known by clearing his throat. “Visitation is over.”

My eyes frantically leave his face and return to Lavenia’s, searching for an answer, a clue.

She whispers so only I can hear, “Find the blue crystal and bring it to me.”

“Are ye deaf?” the Captain shouts. “I said—”

“I heard you,” I retort. “Goodbye, Lavenia.” After a quick wink at her, I fake sniffling, even go so far as to cover my face with one hand and slowly walk away.

The Captain guarantees Ben and I are outside before he informs us of the time of Lavenia’s execution tomorrow. He doesn’t seem like he’s boasting about her death, but he doesn’t seem discouraged by it, either. He returns to the jailhouse, closing the door behind him.

Immediately, Ben asks, “Did she tell you anything useful?”

“Yep. We have to go back to the forest, to the source of that light below the statue. She told me to find a blue crystal, and that’s the only piece of information that makes sense right now. That
has
to be it.”

“What are we waiting for? Let’s go.”

It’s almost midday before Ben and I stumble upon the hidden paradise in the woods. Our stomachs growl, and we’re both tired from walking for two hours. Now, we have to solve the mystery of the flying poisonous arrows. We can’t have another mishap—not when we’re so close to unlocking the witches’ secrets and ultimate plan. If this blue crystal is what unravels them and assures we’re one step closer to returning home, then it’s well worth the risk.

“Okay, all I know is that one of the cobblestones pops up, if you press it,” I tell Ben. Carefully watching my steps, I make my way over to the spot where he collapsed previously.

“Before you do anything stupid and get us both killed, how about we find something useful to stop the arrows?”

Leave it to Ben to be both sarcastic and thoughtful at the same time . . .

The only items we have close by are twigs and dead leaves, and those obviously won’t help. We probably need a metal shield to stop the lethal darts. Let’s not forget the fact that we’re running out of time, as crazy as that sounds. We don’t know what the consequences of taking the blue crystal will be, what powers it may hold, or why Lavenia needs it. None of this is good.

“Ah, screw it,” says Ben. His eyes glow yellow as he extends his claws, slashing at a piece of bark. Except, he underestimates his power and claws straight through the tree trunk, causing it to topple over—directly onto the cobblestones. Ben sideswipes me in a blur, before the miniature arrows have a chance to harm us, and then shields me. The barely-audible
plink-plink-plink
s alert us that the arrows hit the tree trunk, where we were just standing.

“Well, that was close,” I say, panting.

Ben resumes his human form and glances over his shoulder. “The statue has moved, and that glow is
definitely
blue.”

Fatigued, I mumble, “I really hate this place.”

Ben eyes me curiously, then places a gentle kiss on my forehead. “We get it and get the hell out. Look at the bright side: hopefully, this is the last time we’ll ever see this location.”

Squeezing my eyes shut, I mutely wish for no remaining traps. Opening them again, I notice Ben staring at me. “I’m okay.”

He reaches out to me with one hand, and I place mine in his. As we near the statue, the light from below ground-level becomes even more radiant. A spiral, stone staircase winds downward around the edges. I peer over the rim of the hole, noticing the blue crystal at the very bottom, encased on a small platform.

“I’ll go,” I say. “In case something happens, you’d be more adept to getting me out of there than I would with you.”

Ben nods in agreement. “Be careful.” As I descend the staircase, he says, “Candra?” I look up at him. “I love you.”

Smiling, I reply, “Love you, too.”

I use my hand against the wall to guide my descent, as there isn’t a railing. Reaching the last step, I notice the small room before me has nothing in it except the crystal. Why do I feel like Indiana Jones when he snatched a stone, only to trigger a trap? I really hope that’s not the case here.

“I’m going for it!” I call up to Ben.

“And I’ll be standing right here when you come up those stairs,” he reassures, though my stomach is in too many knots to accept his encouragement.

Stretching my arm out, I hesitate, my fingers within mere inches. The blue-coloring inside the crystal swirls, forming ancient text and patterns. I’m completely transfixed by its beauty.

“What’s wrong, babe?” Ben shouts.

My mind absorbs his words, but doesn’t actually process a response; it’s busy at the moment. Why does Lavenia want this crystal? What power does it hold? What if this is just another trap corresponding with the witches’ master plan?

“Talk to me, Candra,” Ben says, raising his voice.

I snap out it and grab the crystal before I second-guess my actions. A second passes and nothing significant occurs, so I hold it up, allowing Ben to see. We both laugh, relieved . . . until white smoke seeps through small holes in the wall and the entire chamber rattles.

Oh, no.

“Candra!” Ben yells, but the trembling walls and shattering stones cause his voice to become almost impossible to hear.

I bolt for the steps, taking two—sometimes three—at a time. Halfway up, a portion of the stone wall collapses, falls on top of the staircase, and sends it to the room below. My heart races faster than ever. I’ll have to leap if I’m going to make it. Backing up a few steps, ready to jump, the stone beneath my feet begins to crumble. I nearly lose my footing.

“Candra!” Ben’s upper body leans over the side of the chamber’s mouth, in preparation of hauling me over the edge should I make it that far. “Use your powers, damn it!”

I rapidly close my eyes and think back to the moment before I seized the crystal, but something strange happens: the air surrounding me arcs, then returns to normal. Great. An invisible force field is preventing me from using my powers.

It won’t work, Ben. Magic can’t be used here.

Then, fucking jump! Those stairs aren’t going to last another fifteen seconds. C’mon, baby.

He extends his hand, urging me to press on. In a final attempt, I soar over the open space and latch on to what’s left of the staircase. My palms burn where the skin has ripped open, the gravel texture scraping me like sandpaper. I manage to use all of my upper body strength to pull myself onto the steps. Without hesitation, I kick my legs into action, sprinting as fast as I can. On the last loop, Ben snatches me and tugs both of us backward. We collapse on the cobblestones just as the remainder of the entryway to the chamber caves in on itself, puffs of gray ash exploding from below and lingering in the air.

Ben throws himself on top of me, one arm circling around the back of my neck, the other gliding up and down my side. His lips are firm against mine, unrelenting, and that’s when I realize how petrified he was. Using his free arm, he stops rubbing my side and, instead, slides it behind my back, pulling my body closer to his.

He ceases kissing me so he can say, “Don’t scare me like that again. My heart can’t take much more.”

I embrace him in a warm hug, and his head rests against my neck. “It’ll all be over soon, then we can be free,” I murmur.

“We need to get back. By the time we clear the forest and return to Fiona’s, she’ll be closing up shop. I think she worries too much, and we don’t need to give her another reason to be suspicious.” He rises up on one elbow, staring down at me. “And then tomorrow . . .”

“We’ll use this stupid crystal somehow to save ourselves and Lavenia.”

Chapter Twelve

The following morning, a majority of Colchester’s citizens have congregated around a stake placed in the center of the town’s square. Fiona thought it best to leave Francine at home, because she didn’t want her exposed to the horrifying execution. I can’t say I blame her; if it was my kid, I’d want the same.

A town crier leads the death procession, ringing a bell and calling for everyone’s attention. Lavenia is shackled and walks down the middle of the lane. The guards pause at the steps of the church, where, I’m guessing, Lavenia is supposed to repent her sins. Instead, she spits on the church door. Members of the community gasp, repulsed by her actions.

Glancing to my left, I notice Ulric and Daciana are in attendance. I nudge Ben and point toward them. He frowns, but doesn’t comment on their presence. Fiona seems anxious; she squeezes and wrings her handkerchief, and chews on her bottom lip. I lightly touch her arm, and she flinches.

“You okay?” I ask her.

She nods. “Aye, I just wish to see my husband’s death avenged.” Uptight, she hisses through clenched teeth, “My gut tells me she is behind many innocent lives lost, and I wish for her to rot in hell.” There’s a fire behind Fiona’s eyes, a burning ember I’ve never witnessed before. She’s normally so calm and caring, but this is a completely different side of her.

The executioner, who is wearing nothing but black, guides Lavenia to the stake. A priest stands to the side, overseeing the ceremony, although I don’t understand why; Lavenia obviously doesn’t believe in his religion. As soon as she’s fastened to the post, the executioner leans forward and whispers, “I shall make this painful for ye, witch,” for Lavenia’s ears only.

Asshole.

To the crowd of onlookers, he announces, “The witch’s final words shall now be heard.”

In my peripheral vision, I notice Ulric and Daciana leaving. I also notice that Alaric is here, giving his brother a disgusted look. When he turns back around, all of his attention is directed at Lavenia.

“May ye never know love again,” she cries out, locking eyes with Alaric. The crowd follows her gaze. “May ye remember every day that ye caused my death. No matter how much time passes by, thy every waking thought will be consumed by me. I
curse
the day I met ye! I curse thy offspring! Ye shall forever remain a monster outwardly as ye have always been inwardly. Ye shall walk this earth alone, for all of time. Ye shall instill terror into the hearts of men, women, and children,” she shouts, now focusing on Alaric, Ulric, and Daciana. “A curse upon thy houses!”

Ben and I stare, wide-eyed. Well, at least now we know where the curse
really
came into play. Lavenia scans the crowd once more, searching. As soon as she sees me, though, her exploration ends.

“Did ye bring it, Candra? Do ye have the crystal?” she inquires.

Unsure what’s going on, the people gathered around us become worried, restless. Gasps and chatter immediately begin, as people speculate our involvement with the accused.

“I did,” I respond.