Behind the Evil (Villain Series Book Two)

The Scream

Chapter Nine- The scream

The house is now in our view, it’s a large cottage with a tower and it sits in the middle of a large clearing. A garden surrounds the house with vegetable, fruit and wheat plants. Birds tweet happily to each other as they fly over the cottage, a trail of smoke drifting out from the chimney. It looks like a very peaceful and comfortable place.

I look at Duke; his eyes are focused on the target before us. The day’s drama scene we had earlier is forgotten now, what matters most is that we find Calista. I reluctantly take my eyes off the perfect face of Duke, I can’t let myself get distracted, it can be the difference between living and dying.

“You smell that?” Duke whispers, still eyeing the suspicious cottage. It’s just too sweet and lovely looking to be a safe haven.

“Yeah, someone’s cooking an early dinner.” I mutter back.

Zaebos returns from his surveillance of the house. He flies to my shoulder; From what I can se, it’s empty minus an old lady brewing something in a pot and a lumberjack man asleep on a chain. I think the girl is in the tower but I can’t be sure because it’s on a complete lock down. Zaebos describes the situation. Trust Henry to lock away Calista like that, as if she’s not locked away in this place enough as it is.

I relay the words to Duke who nods and listens intently. “Best chance is now while the old lady is concentrating on cooking and the big guy is asleep.” He says.

I nod, taking a step out of the dense undergrowth we hid behind. Nothing happens as I place my foot down, the forest continues on without any notice of intruders.

We speed up, making our way through the clearing to the cottage. We press our backs against the cottage exterior once we reach it. Duke nods to me, I exhale and turn around. The cottage is made up of stone and I grip the stone, climbing up the side. Duke turns around as well and knocks on the door numerous times; soft enough so the man won’t wake but loud enough so the old lady hears.

I pull myself higher as the lady opens the door from below me, she looks confused at receiving a guest.

“May I help you, dear?” The old lady asks in a grandma-like way. She wears a pink floral dress that drops just below her knees with brown shoes. She wears a polka dot apron and her hair is pulled back with a matching bandana. Her looks are basically the stereotypical grandma.

“Yes, I have urgent news.” Duke replies in a friendly but professional tone.

I am much further away now, I am up to the second storey and I have almost reached the barred window.

“You’d better come right in then, dear.” The surprisingly trusting old lady says, stepping aside and leading Duke inside.

I reach the window and I place my fingers on the ledge, pulling myself up with one last push. I cling to a bar, behind the bars is a thick window and closed curtains. This is going to be a bother to open. I think glumly.

I grip the bars, clinging so tightly that my knuckles turn white. My power surges through my palms to the bar and it turns red with heat until it eventually melts into a bendable state. I push them out of the way but now is the thick glass.

Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and place my palm against the mirror. It’s almost a minute before the glass melts away before me. It leaves a rotten burnt smell; if the girl is inside there then I need to morph now before she inspects the smell.

I push off from the ledge, a feeling of weightlessness quickly follows as I fall from the cottage. I morph easily and quickly, when put into a dangerous situation natural instincts take over and it becomes easier. I fly back up to the window and through the holes I made and only then do I remember the curtain.