POISONED BLOOD

Chapter 16

 "It didn't have to be this way if you had just let us pass through." I say, feeling a bit sorry for him. This has to be damaging to his ego. His face holds a furious expression and those eyes gleam brightly in anger. I'm happy he's hanging and a good distance away. He might try taking a chunk out of me if he was closer. Daisy winces as he glares her way.

"Sorry... really." His eyes lose their menacing look and he sighs.

"If you let me down... I will let you through and you'll have no problems out of me or my pack." Grey studies him and looks at I and Daisy.

"He's my friend." The vines lower him slowly. He gets up, trying to hide his loss of alpha dignity.

"I'll escort you." He takes the lead from Daisy and she follows closely. The werewolf takes a quick glance at her and his pace slows letting her walk beside him.

"He likes her." Grey whispers to me and takes my hand as we walk. He could be right. Daisy smiles at something Eek said and I soften towards him a tiny amount.

"I think she likes him, too." We travel through the woods silently as those two babble on about random things.

We come out of the woods realizing we're standing in the library's backyard. That was easier than expected. Eek actually holds his hand out to Daisy. She stares at it surprised and shakes it once. He smiles at her and I can almost see the hearts floating around her head.

"I would say it's been nice meeting you-" Daisy stops him before he can finish his sentence. Aww.

"I am sorry for stringing you up like that... I was just trying to get us through." He laughs and I feel Grey lay an arm across my shoulders. It's nice seeing her happy. I wish I could be. I peek up at Grey and finally understand something I should have in the first place. Grey is a Crelo. My heart aches as I pull away from him, going to my best friend, and whispering low enough for only her to hear.

"We can't trust Grey." Her head tilts forward to let me know she heard and maybe already knew. The trees called him a liar. Why am I just now seeing the white shine in his eyes? Because he didn't want me to know. Grey is watching me closely and I have to look down at my feet. I hope he can't read my mind.

"Problem, witch?" Eek asks, annoyed that I have interrupted his conversation and disrespected his alpha's role once more. I feel Grey next to me, as if I hadn't moved away a moment ago.

"I needed you to trust me and if you had known, you wouldn't." A frown covers my mouth and I meet his eyes with anger in mine.

"You lied to me. You lied to all of us because I know he wouldn't be your friend if he knew you were a Crelo." A growl comes from Eek's chest and he launches at Grey. Daisy and I are faster. She forces vines to cocoon Eek up to his neck and I make a shield in front of Grey, pulling out my remaining energy.

"Stop." Daisy whispers to Eek's struggling form. Grey doesn't pay much attention to them; his gaze is on me.

"I'm sorry." My energy dissolves and I fall to the ground.

"Laney!" Daisy and Grey exclaim. Without warning I'm suddenly in Grey's arms, held like a child or bride. I shove at his rock hard chest weakly.

"Put me down." He shakes his head, narrowing his eyes at anything but me.

"You shouldn't have done that. You used enough magick earlier." I stare in shock and fear...

"You know what happened."

"Just that you used magick. I have no idea why."

Ever so slowly, the vines begin to release Eek and he just stands there staring daggers at Grey. I have the idea that if they were real, a few'd be aimed at me. One vine slips around his wrist, more as a comfort than a restraint.

"Daisy, I wish you no harm but let me go, or I will force it." She raises her eyebrow at the threat, though the vine retracts.

"I remember it was me who had you by your toes, Eek." His humour and hers had vanished. A buttercup glows brightly in her hair and he reaches out, holding it gently in the palm of his large hand. A few seconds pass and he lets it fall. He turns to Grey and a part of me wants to shrink into Grey's chest to avoid the betrayed expression on Eek's face. His arms tighten around me, challenging my heart to beat faster. I think my energy is coming back. Glancing up at Grey makes me shutter.

"Never come through these woods again, Grey. You are not welcome here and neither are they." Eek nods his head to Daisy and I. My best friend gives him a -go to hell- look.

"I understand. I'm sorry, Eek." Grey's voice is unwavering and it feels true but I just can't trust a word he says now. Daisy doesn't say a word but Eek does.

"These are your woods as much as they are mine.. I have no right to keep you out of them but him and the witch will be punished if they come into the forestry." She seems unsure of what to say. He gives Grey one last penetrating glare before stepping back into the cover of the trees. I focus on my hands and do my best to zap the hell out of Grey, but he just grins down at me.

"That tickles." You're joking. Daisy's hands are curled into thorned fists as she stomps towards us with her hair whipping out behind her.

"Put her down NOW!" Oh, she's pissed. Grey considers her and not too slowly places me on my feet.

"Calm down children. I believe one of you are here to see me?" Elaine. I smile and turn around to my friend who helps when I need her. It may be true that I trust a bit too much but she hasn't caused me pain like most people I know. Grey and Elaine look at her with open curiosity. She looks like a teenager in years, but she is much much older than us... maybe as old as our ancestors. She saw me coming.I have to admit Elaine's way better than I am at predicting the future. Although, she does have Fairy blood on her side.

"Hello, Elaine and yes... I or we need your help." Glancing at Grey with a scowl, I walk to her. Daisy and Grey follow and we go inside the library's ancient walls. Literally. A cellar door was already open from when she came out to meet us. She must have new arrivals in today. Elaine is a pagan and alternative beliefs store owner and also has a small area along with the shop beneath the floor of the library. The lights hang above us precariously waving slightly. Wind chimes line up around the perimeter of the room, which are warnings of spirit visitors. One or two are jingling a sweet music and she reaches out to stop the movement, her long sky blue sleeve draping a few inches from her wrist. My mouth is touched at the corners with a tiny smile seeing her curly purple hair staticky and floating as if it's alive. She has deep brown colored skin and if you look closely enough you can view the dash of freckles covering her cheeks. The walls have shelves upon shelves of containers: glass jars, wooden boxes, bowls of all colors, incense smoking and feeling the room with multiple scents, and a few white candles lit to cleanse this space which is a good thing with all the talismans and magical objects.

"Laney, this isn't a visit about ghosts, is it?" I shake my head and a bell sounding laugh escapes her red painted lips.

"You are going to need more than I can give you." My heart falters and her grey eyes meet mine.

"Who do I go to?" My question is a plea and I know by the sympathy on her face that she is wary about the answer. For a moment I'm blinded by a light so bright it leaves dots in my vision once it's gone. A circle of light.. What does that mean?

"It's about time you called on your guardian."