HELLHOUND (Book Two of the Wisteria Chronicles)

CHAPTER 2~Betrayed~

Phoebe

   I stumbled out of the cabin. My feet were wobbly and my vision blurred. “Twenty-nine, twenty-eight,” Malakai counted behind me. I willed my legs to cooperate with my demands as I fled into the woods. The poison that I ingested felt like it was burning a hole in my chest. 

   The further away I got the harder it was to breathe. I ran past the trees, their branches hitting me. I could feel welts begin to develop from the hard slaps. The fire in my lungs was unbearable, causing me to cough while I ran. I spit up more blood as I tried to sprint towards safety. 

   My dress kept catching on the bushes, delivering additional cuts and bruises, hindering my progress. I leapt over a log, landing at an angle because of my heels. I tumbled to the ground and rolled down the hill. I smacked my head against a boulder, my vision going in and out of darkness.

     I needed to get up. I tried to stand, screaming from the pain in my leg. My scream triggered a cough. I hacked up more of my blood and some dark matter. Were these pieces of my lungs? The cough became stronger, my whole body convulsed as I struggled for air. Today had started out to be one of the best days of my life, but now I was about to die. I hacked up another large chunk of matter then passed out.

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    I opened my eyes and tried to focus. Malakai was carrying me, my head was flopped back and my arms and legs dangled in his hold. My body felt heavy and unmoving. He was humming a tone with a cheerful voice. My head swayed with his long strides. 

   Malakai looked down at me, “Good morning princess. You almost made us late for the party.” He chided, then continued to hum. I looked past his face and stared up at the sky. It was a new moon tonight, the stars glittered brightly.  I guess it was a beautiful night to die.

  In the corner of my eye I could see a blob of orange, red and yellow. Malakai walked us into a clearing, the blob was a large fire that was blazing. He placed me on a flat tablet stone, and tied up my hands and feet. He brought out a cloth and wiped my face, cleaning up the blood I coughed up. He smiled as he brushed my black curls out of my face.

  Twigs snapped off in the distance, drawing his attention behind him. He stood up and walked out of my field of vision. I could hear him speaking to the newcomer, the voice sounded familiar. Footsteps approached me, a head popped in front of my eyes. “Ah man, she looks like shit.” My heart skipped a beat. “I did my best Kyra. She ran faster than I expected.” Malakai said with a shrug.

     My head was swimming with questions. Why was Kyra here? Why were they doing this to me? What have I done to deserve this? “I assume you took care of my father with no problems?” Kyra asked. Malakai grunted, “He put up a bit of a fight but everything is ready. The guards should find him in the morning.” 

   Kyra grinned, “Perfect.” “Have you dealt with your brother?” he questioned her in return. “Of course I did. It helped that he was clueless the whole time. The slave-merchant paid me a pretty penny too.” My chest started to heave. My brother was alive! Tears of relief flowed down my face.  

   Kyra looked down at me, "Don't be afraid Phoebe. This should be over soon." Her voice was sugary sweet; the sound made me want to throw up. She started to laugh, "I have another surprise for you!" She pulled Malakai close and started to kiss him. He groped her chest and lifted her ass; her legs wrapping around his waist.

  Kyra pulled back from the kiss and smirked at me, “Maybe if you weren’t such a f*****g virgin, your boyfriend wouldn’t have needed to find pleasure somewhere else.” She let out a throaty laugh and continued to kiss him. My heart was completely broken. My own sister had betrayed me in the most sacred way.

  I shut my eyes and tried to put all of the information together. My father was dead, they clearly planned on killing me, and my brother was taken as a slave. Kyra and Malakai have been f*****g each other and their plan needed to happen before tomorrow. Surely this wasn’t for Kyra to solely rule. All she had to do was ask and I would’ve happily stepped down! 

   “I see you have fulfilled your part of the bargain.” a deep voice rang out. It gave me the chills; the menace behind it was palpable. I watched Kyra jump down from Malakai’s embrace and walk over to where the voice was. I tried to move my head, then my arms and legs. Nothing happened, whatever poison I drank left me completely paralyzed.

    “We fulfilled our part.” Kyra spat. The deep voice grunted, “Good. The kingdom of Nysthgroth will officially belong to you.” I heard shuffling and Kyra’s face came back into view. “Ok sis, we gotta scram. s**t is about to get weird.” She kissed my cheek and grabbed my face, tilting it to the side. I could see the fire and the man. He was cloaked in all black and his face was covered. All I could tell is that he was tall and skinny.  

     Kyra grabbed Malakai’s hand, she then turned and gave me a sweet smile before they disappeared into the forest. I was alone with the stranger. He walked towards me and sat down on the slab. He let out a big sigh, “I guess we should get started.” At first I assumed he was talking to me but then shadows began to move from the woods.

     Several cloaked figures filed out and circled us. One of them started to beat a drum while the others started to hum. The cloaked man stood over me and started to chant, they were using dark magic. My blood ran cold as I saw the figures wave their hands in the air and hum louder. With horror-filled eyes, I watched the man pull out an obsidian blade. He stood above my head and raised both arms. “GIVE US YOUR DARKNESS!” he shouted as he used the blade to slice my throat. I wanted to cry out but felt no pain. 

       I could feel the warmth of my blood spread across my chest, seeping into my dress. Everything started to sway, my double vision intensified. I struggled to keep my eyes open, my heart beat coming slower. The cloaked man and his comrades uttered one final phrase, “Amon.” They vanished, leaving me to listen to the crackle of the fire as I took my last breaths.

Unknown POV

      My companions and I stared at the body on the stone slab. She was tied up tightly, her hands and feet were a discolored purple. Her dress was ripped, exposing her body and revealing countless welts, cuts and bruises. The cut on her throat was a clean slice, the blood completely drenching her white dress and dripped on to the soft bed of earth. Her black curls were matted and her lifeless eyes were still open.

  “Eleanor, is she still alive?” I asked. Eleanor had tears in her eyes, “Barely. My sweet child, how could they do this to you?” Lilith stepped up, an annoyed frown on her face. “She doesn't look like it.” Eleanor glared at her. Lilith gave an unapologetic shrug and placed her hand on the girl’s forehead. “Her soul is wandering between this world and the next. We need to do this quickly.” Lilith stated.

   “Is this the only way we can save her?” Eleanor asked, a large tear rolling down her face. “Yes.” I replied sternly. Eleanor hiccupped, “But it will change who she is.” Lilith scoffed, “I’m sure she won’t complain. Everyone who goes dark never does.” Eleanor whipped her head around, a white ball of magic formed in her hands. Lilith smirk and created a ball of dark magic, fully prepared to fight. 

   “ENOUGH!” I shouted, my voice reverberating through the clearing. “We only have minutes until midnight. We do not have time to bicker like children!” They put their hands down and cancelled their magic. I shook my head and walked to the girl, placing my hands on her temples. I closed my eyes and focused on her soul.

   Phoebe Valmira Virmys, Princess of Nythsgroth, do you wish to live?  I questioned her. There was a long pause, I began to fear her soul had already crossed over. Her response was filled with anger and bitterness. Yes! Even if it means losing your light elven status? I asked her. I’d rather be alive and dark, than light and dead, Phoebe hissed. Lilith crossed her arms with a satisfied smirk.

     Listen child, if we bring you back, you will not be the same. Everything about your being will change. Are you sure you want to continue? Phoebe paused for a moment, Yes. I nodded to Lilith and Eleanor. We grabbed each other's hands and got to work. If this girl was going to survive the change, she would need all three of us.

   Lilith worked on securing Phoebe’s soul, willing it back to the world of the living. Her soul was a blinding white glowing shape that resembled her figure. The more Lilith commanded it, the darker it became. Eleanor worked on keeping Phoebe’s body and magical essence alive. She was the only reason why Phoebe lasted as long as she did. 

     Lilith reached for the soul and guided it to Phoebe’s body. Her soul had completely turned, forever blackened with dark magic. The figure had laid down and rested within her body. Eleanor cried out, the black magic starting to take its toll on her. It was finally my turn. I cupped Phoebe’s head, extending my claws and sunk them into her temples. 

  Phoebe’s body gave a sudden jerk. I concentrated and murmured, “My child, I summon you here tonight. I grant you the life and body to live on Midhaven. Come forth and claim your destiny.” The wind picked up around us, creating a whirlpool of air. Eleanor cried out again, the stress becoming too much to bear. We were almost done, she needed to hang on a little longer. 

   I will answer your call, a small but strong voice whispered. Phoebe’s body jerked again and the wind dissipated. Eleanor let go of Lilith’s hands and slumped to the floor. I withdrew my claws and stepped back as well. “It didn’t work. We didn’t make it before midnight.” Lilith pouted, crossing her arms once again. 

    Eleanor started to cry, her sobs echoing. I was feeling disheartened too. We had failed to fix a wrong, we had failed to protect the future. I reclaimed my place by Phoebe’s head and closed her eyes. “Look!” Lilith shouted, pointing at Phoebe’s neck. I looked down and saw the gash on her throat slowly begin to heal.  

    Eleanor stopped weeping and held Phoebe’s hand, giving her a magical boost. Phoebe’s body healed while Lilith and I untied her arms and legs. Her body was transforming, her dark magic aura eclipsing her. Her black afro curls were now a metallic white, and her nails grew out to small stiletto points. She was completely healed. We waited in the quiet of the night.  

  I could hear her heartbeat grow stronger. Eleanor rested her hand on the steady rise of Phoebe’s chest. “Phoebe, wake up!” Lilith demanded. We hovered around her and waited. Phoebe looked up at us, her once brown pupils were now white orbs outlined with black. “Who are you?” she asked.