AWAITING IN THE DARK

Chapter 18

I am awoken by screaming from the neighbors. I run to my window and see vampires dragging them out of their homes. We're in danger! I rush to my mom's bedroom and before I can turn the door knob she has already opened her door. Her hands cradle my face speaking to me. She's telling me to call Noah. Running down the stairs I find the book I am looking for and dial the number. 

It rings two times before a lady answers. I have no time to question who she is. I had completely forgotten about her answering the last time I called. I ask for Noah and with seconds he is on the line. I tell him what is happening to our neighbors as my words come out in a rush. He growls. He tells me to hold on.  In seconds the air around me begins to move. I blink a couple of times and I am standing in Noah's house. No! He was supposed to come to us. 

"My mom!" I cry to Noah.  

Noah concentrates hard for a few moments before shaking his head. 

"She's not letting me. " He voices in frustration. 

"She's not letting you do what?!" I cry. 

"She's not letting me transport her here. She's putting up a magical block. "

"We have to go to her!" I yell. 

"We can't. It's not safe.  We have to go. " Noah says more to himself than to me. 

Noah quickly runs upstairs and I follow him not wanting to be alone. Noah pulls out a cell phone and dials a number. Waiting for the person to pick up he starts to rummage through his things. Finding what he is looking for, he holds it up. A bowl.  Noah starts to throw herbs into a bowl chanting something that I am not educated enough to understand. He grabs my hand and places his lips upon my palm. I immediately feel a sharp sting on my palm and realize Noah has cut it with his fang. He does the same to himself and places his injured hand to mine chanting.  Smoke begins to fill the room and I try not to cough. I can feel my hand start to burn. I try to pull my hand away from Noah but he holds it in a tight grip. Refusing to give it back. 

Noah stops chanting and lets go of my hand. Looking at my arm I notice I now have a purple tattoo that runs up my arm. Glowing. Just like Noah does. What did he do? I want to ask him but realize there's more important things to do. I rush out of the room and down the stairs in an attempt to get back to my mother. Suddenly, I am back in the room with Noah. What just happened? I do this again and again with the same results. I turn towards Noah. He has a guilty look on his face. 

"I am sorry love. " He breathes before running down the stairs. I am stuck. I try to run after him but it's no use. I can't leave this room. Crying, I fell to the floor. I need my mom. I can't believe I just left her like that. Why didn't Noah take me with him? I sit against the wall looking at the clock. Two hours have passed by and nothing has happened. It's silent here. My mother hasn't appeared and Noah has not returned. My tears have all but dried out. I have thrown everything I could think of in this room and chanted every word I could possibly think of to break the spell.  No luck. Noah's magic is too strong to try to reverse. 

I hear the door open and I look up. Noah stands in the doorway hesitantly. 

"My mother?" I squeak. My red eyes are beginning to burn. 

Noah shakes his head and says "She's gone. " 

"What do you mean she's gone?" I am alarmed. 

"I mean, when I went to your house to find her, she was not there. I searched for her and helped out where I could. I have no idea if she was taken or if she got away. " Noah says with a pained look upon his face. 

"No!" I scream. 

I pull my knees up to my chest and sob. This can't be happening. She's supposed to be here safe. She's supposed to watch me succeed in my magic. To hold me. To support me. 

Noah walks over to me and pulls me close to his body. 

"The vampires had to be staking out the coven for a while now to be able to attack so many houses. I think they took the place of some of your protectors to blend in. They're wanting to take out as many of the kingdom's allies before trying to start a war. " Noah says 

"Why is the kingdom allowing this to happen?" I ask bitterly. 

Noah sighs, biting his lip piercing. 

"They're not. They send out a letter to all covens, clans, and packs asking them to move back onto kingdom land. Your coven's leader didn't want to move the coven. She said your members have always been safe here. She wanted to be allied and a part of the kingdom without having to move. " 

"Mary did this?" I was surprised. 

"Not directly but she didn't help prevent it. Your mom disagreed. She wanted the coven to feel safe. Being on the kingdom grounds is safer than here. There are protectors but they are more permanent. Trained better than the small training course they go through in your coven. They train their whole life for the position. Your volunteer protectors train for six months. That's not nearly enough time. " 

"Are the kingdom's protectors not volunteers?"

"No. It's their job. They're specialized. " 

"Is that where the coven got their idea to have protectors, from the kingdom?" I ask. 

"Yes but the kingdom calls them guards.  " 

"What will happen now?" I ask. 

"We will have to go to the kingdom and prepare for war. If your mother is ok, she will know where to find us. " Noah says, standing up and holding out his hand. 

"How will she know where to find us?" 

"Ah. About that. I knew your mother in my youth. Back when the coven lived on kingdom lands. Before the fall. She knows I am from there. She knows that's where I would take you. " 

"You're from the kingdom?" I was shocked. 

"Your mother was too. She lived there. " Noah says with a small smile. 

My mother never told me that the coven used to reside on kingdom lands. She didn't like to speak about the Kingdom. Whenever I would ask about it as a child, she would ignore my questions. 

I grab Noah's hand and try to brace myself as  a gentle breeze appears around us. Here we go.