Magic? (Book 1 of The Aluna Search) (completed)

Chapter 9

There was a knock on the door. Lucy's head peered around the corner.

"Sorry" Lucy said bitting her lip. “Ralph ordered it." Lucy pushed the door fully open and there behind her were six men in black. Four of them held shackles and chains, another two held podding stick. Lina’s feet felt their way backwards to find the mirror fixed to the wall and nowhere to go.

The men walked in a formation. The formation broke and they surrounded her like a mouse being toyed with by a cat. The two men with the podding sticks jabbed Lina.

"Aw." Lina let out a small whimper. Her body fell forwards. Lucy quickly caught her.

"Sorry" Lucy whispered. The men leaped at the opportunity and shackled Lina's arms and legs. Lina’s wrists and ankles felt heavy, without a word the men behind podded Lina again. The men with the chains to her arm pulled her forward forcing her to walk. Every time she slowed down she would be podded and let out another whimper.

They stopped at a large black door. It was quite an omnibus spot because of the lack of light.

“Wait here” Lucy said a slid though the large black door. Lina turned her head to have a look around. The corridor was lined with windows. The glass looked as if it had been shattered then glued back together. The long, thick heavy curtains were draped on either side of the windows which would probably be pulled closed before dawn. Looking out of the window she saw the moon hanging high.

As Lina gazed out the window she thought ‘probably four in the morning, probably’ the large door open slightly and in the eerie silence Lina heard the person behind the door gulp.

Lucy poked her head around the door “His ready now.” The was a pause “bring her in.” Lucy’s eyes looked mournfully at Lina. Lucy started pushing the large wooden door with ease to reveal a hoard of vampire all looking at her, or more the mark on her left sholder, and mostly her neck. Her neck was standing out like a sore thumb and was now glad that the two girls had scrubbed her down. A sharp pain in her back forced her forward. She could feel her heartbeats among all the vampires. As she walked forward she could felling the cold seeping off them. Some vampires leaned closed to have a good looked at the mark others leant in to get a wisp of her sent, then smile at her showing  her their fangs. Whenever this happened the men with podding sticks podded the vampires instead of her.

Lina’s eyes found themselves to the metal table in front of her. On each corner of the table there was a clasp were the chains could connect. Lina stopped walking and froze. Pain stretched up her back as the sharp podding sticks pieced her skin.

“No” she uttered under her breath “I refuse.” Lina’s mind ticked over ‘no one is coming to save me. I don’t want to a vampire. no. No. NO!’ Lina’s knees buckled and she sank to the floor. The men with the podding sticks started podding harder, while the four men with the chains and shackles tried to pull her to her feet. A mummer started spreading through the crowd of vampires. She closed her eyes, wanting the end. Then it all stopped, the mummer, the podding, the pulling, everything was quiet. She opened her eyes and turned her head to look behind her at the podding men their eyes were glazed over and one was licking its podding stick. She inched her hand behind her then felt her back. She felt something, something wet. She brought her hands around to reveal red stained hands.

“Oh no” Lina said looking at her blood.

“Lina, Lina listen to me. Lina!” she lifted her head to meet jess’s eyes. Lina’s eyes dragged themselves to focus on jess’s blue eye.

“Lina, you’ve got to heal yourself” jess said looking into Lina’s eyes with deep concern.

“Why? I’m already going to be a vampire, why not die?” Lina protested without much will.