She watched his profile. ‘How?’
He turned back to face her and touched her nose with his index finger. ‘I heard Wendolyn mention you once and I liked the sound of it. I remembered it. I should have known then that things would go awry,’ he joked.
‘Things haven’t been so bad though, have they?’
‘Oh, no, darling. Quite the opposite.’
That was the last thing Mia heard before she fell into a much needed slumber.
Colt lay at her side for some time after that, observing her steady breathing, until eventually he too fell into a comfortable sleep.
An hour passed before Colt was awoken again. A deafening cry jolted him into alertness. He glanced at Mia, who continued to sleep soundly beside him.
The cry grew louder and more agonising. Colt recognised the call at once.
The death of a Hunter.
He sprang to his feet, and in a blur he was gone.
Chapter Fourteen
The Call of Duty
Colt sped through the grounds, his legs moving with the wind at a speed that tripled that of a normal human. The night sky was dark and layered with an opaque purple fog. Such a congested sky was never a good sign. It meant that heavy magic was at play.
In the depths of his mind, Colt heard the unmistakable cry of a Hunter. Innately, he knew which direction to head. At a nail-biting speed, he weaved in and out of the forest’s pine trees, closing in on Lotan.
‘Brother!’ Colt called out to Lotan, who lay crumpled on the forest floor. ‘I am here.’ He dropped dutifully to his friend’s side.
‘Colt,’ Lotan responded in a strained breath. ‘Where have you been?’ His dark eyes were harsh, but not condemning.
‘I’ve been in my chamber,’ Colt replied, as honestly as possible. Of course, he had no intention of mentioning his Arcana companion.
‘The coven was struck,’ Lotan informed him. ‘We were attacked by the rival Hunters.’ He let out a throaty cough and a trickle of blood spilt over his lips.
Colt staggered for words. He was racked with guilt. He should never have abandoned his coven at such a crucial time. ‘And the outcome?’ he asked, in barely a whisper.
‘They are strong and fast. They picked us off, one by one.’
Colt’s heart hammered in his chest. ‘They made a kill?’ He already knew the answer.
‘They took down Roc,’ Lotan confirmed. ‘I could not stop it.’
The world seemed to move in slow motion as Colt realised that his brother, Roc, was dead.
‘And Siren?’ he asked frantically.
‘Siren set off in pursuit, but he is no match for them. They will slaughter him.’
‘I’ll go,’ Colt snarled. ‘I’ll take them down myself.’ Avenging Roc’s death would not only be an obligation, but a tribute.
‘No. You will not survive,’ Lotan stated flatly. ‘Colt, their leader is in the first stages of ascension.’
Colt was taken aback. ‘How can a Hunter perform an ascension? The ritual is protected by the Arcana.’
‘They run with an Arcana. A boy from the castle. Dino.’
Dino. Colt’s stomach knotted at the mention of the name. Mia’s brother.
‘Their leader is beyond powerful,’ Lotan went on. ‘I read his thoughts and felt his capabilities. He has begun the ascension and it has heightened his power. He will render you useless in one strike.’
Colt took a steady breath. ‘Then I won’t let him get a strike in.’
‘You cannot face him alone,’ Lotan cautioned.
‘OK. When you’re sufficiently healed, we’ll attack…’
‘I won’t heal,’ Lotan cut him off bluntly.
Colt stopped dead. ‘What? Of course you will heal. Where are you hurt?’ He looked him up and down, scanning for possible injury. There was a small puncture wound just below Lotan’s rib cage.
‘I’ve been infected with a poisoned tip. It’s spreading quickly, I have held on for your arrival. I needed to warn you not to go up against them.’ Lotan clenched his fists in the throes of agony. ‘If you try, you will fail. Flee from the forest,’ he commanded.
Colt stammered for words. ‘No!’ He shook his head firmly. ‘I will never flee. I will track them down and bring you the blood of their coven. It will remedy the poison.’ His thoughts returned to his own narrow escape and how effective blood of the coven had been in aiding his recovery.
‘They’re too powerful,’ Lotan argued, struggling to speak as his pain worsened. ‘You won’t get close enough to make a kill.’
‘Then I’ll take the boy,’ Colt said callously, referring to Dino. As he uttered the proclamation, something tugged at his heart, but he immediately blocked it out. His weakness for Mia was what had distracted him from his duty in the first place. Perhaps if he had blocked her out sooner, he could have prevented this. Or at least he would have been at his coven’s side during the attack, like a true soldier.
‘No. They protect the boy,’ Lotan divulged. ‘The leader goes by the name of Tol. I listened to his thoughts. He holds an Enticement over the Arcana, which drew him into their coven. If they seal him as their fourth, Tol will be able to complete the ascension. He will be unstoppable.’
‘So I’ll kill the boy and they’ll lose their fourth,’ Colt deduced simply. ‘The leader cannot ascend without a full coven.’
‘True,’ Lotan agreed. ‘But they guard him. They’ve almost turned him, and no doubt they’ll be anticipating your retaliation.’
‘Well, I have to do something!’ Colt exclaimed. He felt utterly helpless, and that wasn’t a feeling he was used to. He hated it. He’d sooner die with his coven than stand back and watch.
‘Foolhardy retaliation will be suicide. Go to Wendolyn and tell her of the Hunters’ siege. Tell her they need the boy to join the coven in order to complete the ascension. The boy is the key,’ Lotan wheezed. ‘Go!’
Colt wanted to obey, but he found that he could not move.
‘Go!’ Lotan rasped again.
‘I…’ Colt swallowed. He knew that his next words would sound pathetic to Lotan. ‘I want to stay with you,’ he said.
Lotan let out a broken laugh. ‘My boy! What has she done to you?’ Despite his cold words, their delivery was surprisingly warm.
Colt’s lips twitched into a grudging smile. ‘Nothing, brother. I wish to stay with you in your final hour. It would be an honour.’ He bowed his head as a show of respect.
Lotan smiled curiously. ‘Respect is a fine quality, but attachment will be your demise.’
‘And if I am attached to you?’
‘Then you are truly in a sorry state!’
‘Well, then, it’s a good thing I consider you expendable,’ Colt teased. However, his humour was but an unconvincing mask for the grief that tore him up inside. Although only a few years his senior, Lotan had raised Colt from the day he had arrived at the Glass Castle. Lotan had been a father, brother, leader and friend.
Colt resented being witness to such a distressing end, but nevertheless he refused to leave Lotan’s side. It was one last act of devoted loyalty.
‘Forgive me,’ Colt implored. ‘Forgive me for not being with the coven when the enemy attacked.’
‘I’m glad you were not with us,’ Lotan replied. His body lay limp and his lips had turned pale.
‘Why?’
‘Because you would have been killed, too.’
‘Be careful, Lotan,’ Colt smiled sadly. ‘That sounded like a trace of humanity.’
Lotan smirked. ‘Disgusting! It must be airborne.’ He paused. ‘Although, I dare say, you wear it well.’
Colt sighed. There was something he needed to do. ‘I have lied to you,’ he confessed.
Lotan continued to smile passively. ‘I quite enjoy your lies, Colt.’
Colt frowned. ‘You don’t know them all yet!’
‘Don’t I?’ Lotan toyed with him like a cat with a mouse.
‘No! You would exile me if you knew the treachery I
have done!’
‘Go on,’ Lotan goaded him. ‘Surprise me.’
‘I…’ Colt closed his eyes. ‘I gave the girl blood of the coven.’
Lotan laughed. ‘The most absurd thing is that you thought I would not know.’
‘You knew?’
‘Of course I knew!’
Colt winced. ‘Do the others know?’
‘No. Only myself.’
‘How did you…?’ he trailed off. Lotan was a Reader, but Colt had lived with him long enough to adeptly block his power – just as Dino had done with Wendolyn.
‘You may think you can fool me,’ Lotan chuckled, ‘but I know you too well.’
‘Why didn’t you tell Roc and Siren?’
‘Because my loyalty is to you, foremost.’
‘I am a traitor.’ Colt hung his head in shame.
‘Yes, you are,’ Lotan taunted him with a smile. ‘But you are a born protector, also.’
‘And yet I could not protect my brothers.’
‘Nor could I,’ Lotan spoke regretfully. ‘But, my boy, you are strong and you will carry on without us. Soon you will find a new coven, and this time you shall lead.’
‘I can’t lead,’ Colt choked. ‘You are my leader; I follow you. If you die, then so should I. I can’t live knowing that you are not here.’
‘Brother, take courage.’
‘I can’t do this without you.’ Colt pounded his fist against the soil, and the ground shuddered beneath him.
‘My boy, it is your time to lead. I have every faith in you. After all, you learned from a great warrior,’ Lotan boasted in jest.
‘I will never be the Hunter you are.’
‘Probably not,’ Lotan joked. ‘But you’ll outlive me at least.’
Colt didn’t laugh. He slumped to the ground and lay beside his friend, looking up into the towering trees. ‘I don’t want to outlive you,’ he muttered desolately.
‘You’re a born Hunter, and yet you’re affected by humanity,’ Lotan commented, baffled by the juxtaposition.
‘Why me?’ Colt grumbled. ‘What did I do to deserve such a fate?’
‘None are exempt from fate,’ Lotan pointed out shrewdly.
‘I hate it,’ Colt growled. ‘You were right – I should not have allowed her to do this to me. She ruins me.’
‘Your heart was awakened,’ Lotan replied. ‘I understand it is a powerful thing.’
Colt grimaced. ‘Yes. It’s repulsive.’
‘Perhaps not,’ Lotan murmured, the life slowly leaving him. ‘In a way I envy you.’
‘Liar!’ Colt snorted.
Lotan chuckled and closed his eyes. ‘Take care, my boy.’
‘Lotan,’ Colt snapped fiercely. ‘Not yet. Hold on for just a little while longer,’ he pleaded desperately. He wasn’t ready to lose him. In fact, he supposed he never would be.
‘Courage, boy,’ Lotan repeated, before his final breath of air escaped him.
Colt froze. Time stood still for him as he mourned his loss. In a mixture of sorrow and rage, Colt let out a shattering howl. Above him, the sky echoed with a strident clap of thunder – a storm commanded by his own will.
As Colt stood beneath his vengeful sky, the rain poured down over him like never before. It was Colt’s rain – terrifying, viscous and merciless.
Yes, Colt thought venomously, now it is my reign.
The rumble of thunder awoke Mia from her sleep. For a moment she forgot where she was. The unlit room was unfamiliar to her. But then the memories of the eventful evening came flooding back.
She rolled over in the bed, her eyes slowly adjusting to her dim surroundings. The four candles remained on the floor where she had sat amidst their confines just hours earlier.
Mia shuddered as she listened to the thrashing of the rain outside. High up in the turret room, it sounded as though the roof would cave in from the onslaught.
‘Colt?’ she called into the darkness.
When there was no response, she sat upright, still clutching the blanket to her chest.
‘Colt?’ she tried again.
A rupture of lightning illuminated the room in a flash.
Mia crawled out of bed and stood before the vast window, looking out at the violent storm. She had never seen such torrential weather before.
All of a sudden, the bedroom door burst open.
Mia gasped. The person shadowed in the doorway was not Colt.
It was Dino.
‘What are you doing here?’ Mia asked with a start.
‘Come with me,’ Dino ordered. He strode into the room, kicking away the arrangement of candles.
Mia backed away from him. ‘How did you know I was here?’
‘I tracked you.’ His expression was blank.
‘You tracked me?’ Her brow creased her brow. As far as she was aware, only a Hunter had the ability to track a person.
‘Yes,’ he said in a dull voice. ‘Now, come!’ He extended his hand to her.
Mia stared at his outstretched hand. ‘What’s wrong with you?’
‘Nothing is wrong. I need you to come with me.’ Dino’s eyes were hollow and unblinking.
‘Where?’ Mia asked guardedly. She hardly recognised him. He looked worn and detached – almost inhuman.
‘I need you,’ Dino said in that unnerving, robotic voice.
She took a step closer to him. ‘Why? What’s wrong?’
‘I need you,’ he repeated. ‘It won’t take long.’
Questioning him was getting her nowhere. The bottom line was that he needed her. The only real question that remained was, would she go?
‘Follow me.’ He turned and stalked out of the room with a stride that would crush anything in its path.
Mia succumbed to his request.
They descended Colt’s stone stairwell and emerged into the dark Hunter corridor. In silence, they paced swiftly along it. Mia presumed that they were heading back towards the Arcana wing, but instead Dino led her to a bolted oak door. He slid the bolt across and opened the door, which led out into the courtyard.
‘Dino!’ Mia held back as her brother stepped into the pouring rain. ‘It’s a thunder storm! Where exactly do you plan on going?’
He glared at her. ‘Follow me.’
She folded her arms. ‘No way. Not until you tell me where you’re taking me.’
Dino reached through the doorway and grabbed her arm, yanking her into the lashing rain. She wriggled to free herself but he held her tightly, dragging her across the courtyard.
Mia stumbled to keep up with him as they passed beneath the arched hedge and emerged into the gardens.
‘Let go of me!’ she cried. ‘Have you lost your mind?’
Dino stopped walking for a moment. ‘Lost my mind? No. Quite the opposite.’
‘We’re getting soaked out here!’ As the water drenched Mia’s skin and hair, she began to realise that it was no ordinary rain. It was Colt. She could sense him in every drop. And he was in pain. Mia dug her heels into the mud and tugged her arm free.
‘I need to go!’ she cried, overcome with the urgency to find Colt. She spun around, but before she took a step Dino was in front of her, blocking her path.
‘No,’ he said. ‘You have to come with me.’
‘Dino, not now!’
‘It has to be now.’ He grabbed her arm again.
‘Stop it!’ she yelled at him. She shoved him forcefully, but he remained glued to the spot.
‘Keep walking,’ he barked.
The rain continued to plummet down, streaming through the garden and forming fast flowing rivers.
‘You don’t understand!’ Mia wailed.
‘No, you don’t understand!’ he shouted back at her. ‘I need you.’
Mia took a shaky breath. ‘OK,’ she reasoned with him. ‘You keep saying that, but you won’t tell me anything. What do you need me for?’
‘I need to rid myself of you,’ Dino explained.
She gawped at him. ‘What does that mean??
??
‘I need to free myself from humanity,’ he rambled on. ‘You’re my humanity, Mia. You’re what makes me human. If I can rid myself of you, then I’ll be free.’
Mortified, Mia clouted him around the head. ‘You’re talking like a psychopath!’ she exclaimed.
‘No.’ He shook his head, causing a spout of rain to spew from his ebony hair. ‘I’m sorry, but it’s the only way. Come with me.’
‘I’m not going anywhere with you!’
In one swoop Dino hoisted her up and carried her across the garden, just as he had done when she was a little child – except, now, his intentions were sinister.
Mia kicked and screamed, but Dino heard and felt nothing. One way or another, this would end tonight.
Chapter Fifteen
Facing Demons
Colt tore through the grounds, his fury focused into every stride. The sky rumbled above and the rain lashed down upon him. It was as though he had opened up a wound that would not stop bleeding. With each step he took, the ground quivered beneath him. He wanted revenge, and he intended to get it.
Like a tornado, Colt burst into the castle. He charged towards Wendolyn’s private chamber. But the chamber door swung open before he had even reached it. Wendolyn stood in the doorway wearing a pale-blue dressing gown over a floor-length cotton nightgown. Her white hair was combed and swept to the side.
‘Come in,’ Wendolyn beckoned. She ushered Colt into the chamber and guided him to a throne-like chair that stood in front of a smouldering log fire.
Shaking, he sat down and gripped the velvet arms of the chair.
‘Make yourself comfortable,’ Wendolyn told him kindly. She busied herself around the fireplace, heaping wood on to the glinting embers.
Colt shivered as his body adjusted to the change in temperature. The crackling flames warmed his wet clothes.
‘You’ll catch a chill,’ Wendolyn fussed. She bustled over to him carrying a fluffy towel. Without warning, she began towel drying his hair like a mother caring for a toddler. Colt let her, his body numb and his face blank. She used a corner of the towel to blot the water from his face, as though she were wiping away a tear. Rain, tears – it was all the same to Colt.