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  Jarak looked at me, his eyes softened. “Forgive me, Es.”

  Not even a second passed for me to catch my breath before his arms went around my middle, and he heaved me over his shoulder. I found my inner strength build and kicked my legs back and forth, and pounded my fists onto his well-muscled back with every ounce of anger I could muster. “I can walk you jerk!”

  “Hurry up. We can’t wait for more to show up.” I could hear Victor getting impatient with my rant. His gruff, gravely tone heightened my need to be alert. I flung my head to the side, blowing a pfft of air up with my lips, to move my hair from my vision.

  “Jarak, put me down!” I was so mad that I could feel it steaming on the inside, building like fire until my fingertips burned.

  “Ouch!” Jarak lowered me to the floor. “You didn’t have to burn me.”

  I pointed to my chest. “Me? I didn’t do anything to you. You’re the one who flung me over your shoulder.”

  Victor stepped up. “There’s no time to argue.”

  “I know, I know. We need to leave,” I said as sarcastically as I marched to the crumbled door. “Where the heck is security anyway? You’d think they would be down here as soon as you broke the door down. So much for TSA being on top of things.”

  “I have the entire security team on a lockdown. However, I’m sure they’re on their way now. I can’t hold the spell any longer. Another reason we need to get going.” Victor climbed through the mess into the hallway, motioning for us to follow.

  I threw my hands in the air and took off my heels to walk over the rubble. “I can’t believe my life the last two days!”

  Five

  Arabeth

  J arak stayed close beside me as I followed Victor’s lead, sneaking out of the side door of the airport building and down rows of cars parked in the garage. I was the first time I noticed since being rescued from my second kidnapper, that Victor carried a black duffel bag that I hoped held my belongings he stole from my apartment, and Jarak carried a similar one.

  “We’re right up there, Es.” Jarak nodded toward a couple cars in front of us.

  I clenched my jaw. “My name is Arabeth,”

  “I know who you are.” He slowed his steps. “Hey, listen, I didn’t know there was a hunter in the restroom. When I went to get you, and you weren’t there—I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you.”

  A strange ache filled me—a twinge was more like it. I wanted to trust him, to forgive him, but I was still unsure of who to believe.

  Victor stopped at a tan sedan and unlocked the doors. He opened the trunk and placed the duffel bag, along with Jarak’s in there before looking around. “I think we’ve lost them for right now, but we still need to get out of here before they find us. Nicholas knows she’s here in Spain now.”

  Jarak, who donned his dark sunglasses, nodded in approval and opened the back door for me.

  “How gracious.” I couldn’t help the sarcasm as I stepped inside.

  Jarak climbed in the back seat with me, and Victor jumped in the driver’s seat. I rolled my eyes in frustration. Staying with Victor and Jarak was my best plan of action to take, since there were obviously others who wanted to take me, and they didn’t seem as kind. I leaned my head back and tried to relax. I wanted to let my dad know I was okay and at least text Ailaina. She should be home today from her trip, and will be extremely beside herself once she finds out I’m missing.

  “So, how did this guy know I was here?” I looked back and forth between both of the guys.

  “Our best guess is a Tracking Spell. After we split up, Victor tried tracing him with magic, but before we could find him, Nicholas’s guard already found you. I took care of that Crossbreed for now, but it’s best if we get away and just stay low.” Jarak seemed honest, but...

  Ugh, I wish he wouldn’t look at me with those eyes. I wanted to stay mad at him—needed to stay mad was more like it, but there was something in his stare that made me feel safe and taken care of—despite the fact that he was helping Victor in his plans to hold me hostage.

  Aggravated, I watched out the window of the car. The old architecture of Madrid was beautiful. Stone buildings filled every space available. Compared to my hometown, this was amazing. Red and yellow flags and banners hung everywhere; rail barriers bordered the main strip of road.

  “Why all the flags? They’re everywhere.” I broke the silence that had fallen among us.

  Jarak pointed to a red and yellow flag as we passed by. “They’re preparing for the parade and festivities for National Day coming up soon.”

  “National Day? What’s that?”

  He shrugged. “It’s kinda like their Independence Day. They have a big military parade and what not. It happens every October.”

  “Oh.” I continued to watch the city pass in a blur.

  Victor drove down one road just to twist and turn down another. When no cars covered the roadway, he would speed up, passing everything in sight without regard to the speed limit, which I never spotted on a sign.

  Sighing, I settled in my seat, resting my head on the backrest. The rays from the late morning sun streamed in through the window, magnifying the heat. The black in my dress soaked it up, making it burn against my thigh. I was grateful when Victor turned a different direction, making the sunlight land in Jarak’s lap. I wanted to sympathize with him in his tight, dark-blue jeans as I watched him rub his thigh with his palm under the direct light. Ha–I almost felt bad. I averted my gaze before he could catch me staring at him.

  We drove for about an hour, leaving the city behind us. “So how much further?” I asked Victor.

  “Not too much, the house is outside of the city, in Monte Alina.” He spoke in a thick Spanish accent as he said the name.

  My mouth twitched. “Is that Spanish for something? Like Flower Pot Road or something?”

  Jarak guffawed. “No, but it does sound beautiful. Doesn’t it. Spanish is a language that rolls off the tongue.”

  “And you speak it?” I asked, completely intrigued.

  He nodded. “It helps if you’re going to stay for a long time. It took me a while to get it down, but now you can’t tell that I didn't grow up in a Spanish home. Don’t worry, I doubt you’ll be here that long.”

  “Really? Tell me something.” Something about the accent weakened my senses and I turned into a drooling Barbie doll.

  He looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “Like what?”

  “I don’t care, anything. Enlighten me. I’ve had a terrible past couple of days.”

  He nodded his head and rubbed his hands together as he thought, then leaned over. He grasped my hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing it softly. A husky whisper floated between us. “Usted es la mujer más bella que he visto nunca.”

  My heart hit the floor in a puddle of my own drool. Nothing in my entire life ever sounded so sinful, yet so amazingly good. I shivered. “Wha—what does it mean?”

  “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” He moved back over to his seat with a cocky grin.

  Dang men. He knew what he had done. It was as if he lit the deepest pits of my soul on fire, and I awakened. I pushed the unwelcome feelings away, refusing to let his charms overwhelm my senses. I’d let him get to me for a moment, but I’d be on guard in the future.

  “That wasn’t too bad. I think you could still use some practice.” I folded my arms in front of me and bit my cheek to keep from smiling. His face dropped the smirk.

  “Alright, but if it’s okay, I’ll use you as my guinea pig. That way you can tell me when I get better.” He winked at me.

  Crap. That totally backfired on me. I shrugged my shoulders. “Fine, whatever you think would help.”

  “Good.”

  Victor chuckled. I could tell he held a full laugh back, so I glared at his reflection in the rearview mirror again.

  “Just get us to this house,” I said as I settled back in the seat. Anxiety still pulsed through my body from today’s events. I coul
d feel it in my fingertips, thrumming against my skin.

  Victor stopped at a tollbooth that blocked unwanted visitors from a secluded part of town. Luxurious homes sat amongst the trees. This was undeniably something that would be new to me. I was accustomed to an eight-hundred square foot apartment in the desert. It wasn’t that Spain didn’t look like Nevada, it had more green foliage to go with the dry land surrounding it, but I could fit at the minimum four to five of my homes in one of these, easily.

  We drove down the road for about a mile before he turned the car into a circular driveway next to an ivory house. It was gorgeous. Tall trees surrounded the property and large beautiful windows covered the front of the house, making it appear open and welcoming.

  My heart skipped a beat in eagerness. If Victor was telling the truth, then my mom was inside. I opened the door and jumped out, half expecting the invisible blockage, but nothing was there. I darted toward the house, not waiting for either guy.

  “Esmerelda, wait,” Victor called out to me. I ignored him and headed to the front door, making sure to pick up the skirt of my dress so I wouldn’t trip.

  Like lightning, appearing out of nowhere, a woman in a long black and red dress medieval looking dress, materialized outside the door. Shoulder length, black hair brought out her copper eyes. Her face lit up with excitement when she saw me.

  “Esmerelda.” She gave me a cold grin. Her almond-shaped eyes looked uncaring with them almost in a squint. My insides tingled the closer I got to her. The hair on my arms and back of my neck stood up. There was definitely an odd vibe radiating from her, but I couldn’t place my finger on what it was. It was almost a cold feeling that swept over me. Like death.

  Open mouthed, I stepped back but didn’t speak. I couldn’t.

  Victor was behind me within seconds, reaching out to take the woman’s hand. “It’s good to see you, Ree. This is Esmerelda, but she’s used to being called Ara.”

  “That’s because it is Arabeth,” I corrected.

  “Well, it’s nice to finally meet you, Esmerelda.” She held out her hand for me to take, but I refused. “I’m a little old fashioned at times so you will forgive me that I’ll use your given name.”

  I let out a deep breath; it was a losing battle getting any of them to listen to me. “You’re not the only one.” Scowling, I glanced behind me at Jarak, who already had a pet name for me. I couldn’t get it through anyone’s head that my name is Arabeth.

  Ree shrugged. “He’s always done what he’s wanted.” A soft smile played at the corner of her mouth as she gazed over at Jarak, too.

  Jealousy ate away at my throat, closing off words. Did Jarak have a thing with this woman? Not that I could blame her, he was very sexy.

  “Aw, come on, Ree. We’re tired and just want to come in. She wants to see Meadow.” Jarak’s voice sounded defensive, but I was grateful he knew what I wanted.

  “I’m not keeping her from seeing her.” She feigned innocence, with her hands held palms up, gesturing toward the door.

  “You know she can’t enter without your permission or she’d be prey.” Victor stepped forward brushing past me, using his arm like a shield, splayed out in front of me. The word prey scared me. What did he mean?

  Ree’s smile vanished at the demeaning insult. “She would never be prey in this house. I’d like to live, thank you very much.” She stepped aside, and the door opened.

  “Esmerelda, would you please come in and be my most honored guest?” She gestured inside, smiling once again.

  I nodded and stepped around Victor, who stood unmoving, waiting for his invite into the house. Everything in sight looked clean and luxuriant. White furniture with dark wood trim and bouquets of flowers sat on a large oval table near the front door. It was considerably bright with all the large open windows that had only sheer treatments.

  Ree swept passed me quickly. It happened in a blink of an eye. I’d never seen anyone who could sweep into a room like that before. It was as if she moved from one place to another without truly moving. It was unnatural and honestly frightened me.

  “You can leave your sweater down here. I’ll take you to Meadow. You will be meeting Trevor in a little while. He… stepped out… for a bite.” Ree walked to the staircase.

  It didn’t go unnoticed by me that everyone called my mom Meadow and not referred to her as my mom anymore. I threw my sweater on the back of the nearest chair, and then ran up the stairs not too far behind Ree. Although, she was much faster. I hesitated before following her to a closed door where she waited for me.

  “She’s been in and out of consciousness, but I told her that you were coming the last time she was awake. Someone slipped her a lethal dose of some sort of mixed Hemlock potion not too long before the accident. Any mortal would have been dead by now, but her immortal side has been fighting it. There are certain things that can kill witches, and this is one of them.”

  A twisted knot formed in my stomach. Nobody told me how I would find my mom, then again, I never asked. I didn’t know what to expect. I knew a few bumps and bruises from the crash would be assumable, but I never asked how she was doing. Alive should be enough, but I suddenly became fearful of what I would see.

  Ree pushed open the door. I could hear the rub from the bottom of the door brushing across the carpet.

  I forgot how to breathe. Shuffling one foot in front of the other, I entered the well-lit room, expecting to find it dark and gloomy, but that was not the case. The curtains were open, letting in the natural sunlight.

  Taking a slow even breath, I moved my gaze from the window to the bed, where my mom lay still—too still. My heart picked up its pace, quickening to a full thumping in my chest.

  Dashing to the bed, I gasped. It was her, but I wasn’t prepared to see her like this. She looked dead. It was just like someone stole her from her casket yesterday. The sight made me ill. Her bloated face was black and purple with bruises all over, making her look disfigured. I saw her at the funeral home, but she didn’t look this bad. I couldn’t imagine what happened to her since then. This was some sick joke.

  I swallowed, trying to keep the vomit down, shaking my head in denial.

  A warm hand settled around my shoulder. “We used a doppelganger at the funeral home. They didn’t actually bury anyone of importance.”

  I turned to face Jarak, who entered the room behind me. “A doppelganger?”

  “A doppelganger is a person’s magic double. They can be created with certain magic elements, so, in this case, Victor created your mom’s with a spell. It was more of an illusion, like a witch’s hologram.”

  “She doesn’t look good. Are you guys sure you can save her?” I was now hesitant about letting any hope inside me at all.

  Jarak smiled, flashing his white teeth. “Oh no, not me.” He waved his hands around. “I can’t do anything.”

  I let out an aggravated sigh and let my shoulders fall. “Then why are we here?”

  “Because we can with your help.”

  I spun around at the sound of Ree’s voice. I forgot she was still in the room. “You can help her?”

  She nodded. “Yes. You can with Trevor’s help too.”

  “Okay, what did I miss? Who exactly is Trevor? And how can I help?”

  She stepped closer to me, but the closer she got the more I became dizzy. “He’ll be here soon.” Her voice made my stomach roll.

  She smirked and moved away fast. All the dizziness and sickness left with her. I stared at her pale face. “What was that?” I asked, rubbing my forehead with my fingers.

  “You’re just as surprised as I am.”

  “Well whatever it was, don’t do it again, it made me sick.” I wrapped my arms around my stomach. She gave me a half-smile. “Back to my question… how can you save her?”

  Ree bit her lip before speaking. “Because she is a witch it will take two of us. Her blood is strong, and we’re guessing it might fight against our venom. Once her body sustains the venom, then her turning process w
ill begin. It takes about eight hours for the change to be completed, but that’s where you’ll come in. Her magic will fight against the turning process. You have to force it to stay inside of her long enough to let the venom change her forever.”

  A stirring on the bed averted my attention to my mom, and I forgot all about what Ree was saying. Her left eye was open, but only slightly. She tried to raise her hand toward me but failed, and it dropped back to the bed.

  I grabbed it and held it close to my chest. “I’m here, Mom.”

  A glistening tear fell from her swollen and bruised eye. “Ara—I’m sorry.” She whispered in between short, raspy waves of breath. “I didn’t tell you.”

  I shook my head. Even though I wished she’d have told me everything before now, I still couldn’t be mad at her. “No, don’t you be sorry.”

  “I have to tell you… you’re in danger.” Her short breaths became even heavier as my own quickened.

  “I don’t understand any of this.” I tried to swallow without sounding as if I gulped down a lump.

  “Nicholas, he wants your powers. He’ll stop at nothing. I know this because…” She trailed off, breathless.

  She inhaled, causing a loud wheeze to pass through her bluish lips. “There have been many stories about the half-breed chosen one who can defeat him. They were about you…” With the last word she trailed off again.

  I looked at Jarak. He backed up and shifted his weight.

  “You knew this, didn’t you?”

  He held his hands up. “I told Victor you should’ve been told.”

  I did a quick scan of each of their faces. “Does everybody know but me?”

  Ree took my hand. “Come on, let’s go downstairs and talk. Your mom needs her rest.”

  I hesitated before agreeing. Leaning over, I kissed my mom on her forehead and promised to be back soon. I didn’t want to leave her yet, but I needed answers and knew she needed rest.

  Jarak followed close behind me downstairs, never straying too far. It was a small comfort, in an odd way. A tall man with long dark hair waited in the sitting area by the back sliding glass doors. He talked to Victor as if they were best friends, with his hands folded behind his back. I had no clue what they were saying because it was all in Spanish. I should’ve paid better attention in high school Spanish class.