Bloody Curse | Book Two of Blood Trilogy

Chapter 23

Violet 

I was blinded by a bright light that had manifested before me. I turned my head and saw Asher barely twisting past the roots and vines. He froze on the spot with his mouth slightly ajar. Cameron and Derek mocked his expression. 

Sizzling and cracking noises came from the Shadow's direction and when I turned around, it was already too late. The previous figure who was standing at the exact opposite end had been disintegrated into a pile of ashes. The black substance lay on the dry leaves as if part of nature. 

I took a step forward and wavered on my toes a bit but caught myself before Ash could even reach a hand out to me. 

"Are you alright?" His eyes darted from one side of my face to the other then they landed on me with a very concerned expression. I couldn't say anything because I feared that once I opened my mouth to say anything, I would forget whatever the Shadow told me. So I only replied with a nod and pulled him in for a deep embrace. 

I sensed Asher look at Cam and Derek from over my shoulder then nodded towards the dust pile for further investigation. I sighed deeply against his seducing scent of cologne. It felt like home had wrapped its arms around me tightly and refused to let go. 

"Are you sure you're alright?" His deep voice vibrated against the side of my face. I nodded once more but pulled back with a reassuring smile. He pecked a kiss on my forehead then allowed me past his stance to join Cameron and Derek. 

"There seems to be nothing here, but this pile. I already searched around those trees." Derek pointed to where the Shadow stood when we first spotted it. I sighed then rewinded those words in my mind. 

He is somewhere well kept in the deep memories that haunt your past. I shuddered at those words as they carried themselves from my mind down the length of my spine. The vivid image of the Shadow closing in on me as it spoke was terrifying as it replayed over and over again, but everything faded away when Asher reached for my elbow. 

I knew he had heard and seen what just ran through my mind, but the fact that he had nothing to say was surprising. Maybe he was just being strong for the both of us, I thought. I sent another small smile back in his direction. 

"Let's go." I mumbled. "I think we're done for today." I added with defeat laced within my words. I spun on my heels to head back towards the castle, but something in my gut told me that we weren't done yet, so I turned back around to stare at the tall, muscular men. 

Before I would feel intimidated at the presence of these type of men, especially ones with dark features just like Asher, but they wouldn't do a thing to harm anything they loved. It was a fact. Even when Derek was one of the most intimidating guards, he was actually a softy once you got to know him. So now staring at these powerful men who could ruin a kingdom did no damage to me as they even waited on my instructions. 

I rolled my eyes. Their only excuse is that "I'm queen." I groaned internally. Asher had a small smirk playing along his lips. Who am I to complain? Girls would kill to have guys like them at their beck-and-call. 

"Whatever. Let's go this way." I pointed to the deeper parts of the woods with a mumble. Truth is that I felt drained after using that much power, but Asher was there to restore that lost energy for me. I thanked him silently. 

We crunched through multiple layers of leaves and trekked across streams as well as hills but there was nothing in the stretch for miles. 

"I think..." Asher trailed off with his eyes squinted in the eastern direction. "I think we're done." He exclaimed. None of our feet ached but it was the frustration that ran high. 

I led the way back home just as I led us away from home. All was quiet. All was peaceful. I felt calm. Asher's heartbeat felt calming. 

We pushed past the gate when guards on patrol greeted us with confusion. I waved a hand and dismissed their curiosity because nothing happened and I intended to not share the clues with anyone but Asher. 

He is somewhere well kept in the deep memories that haunt your past. But the only thing that haunted my past is dead. He's gone now. 

Mother flashed into my mind but she had nothing to do with father but be his slave. I doubted he even shared a basic conversation with her since he's kidnapped her and stolen her from me. My hands balled up in fists and I wanted to rip the two front doors off their hinges when I pushed to open them. 

But I fell through because at the same time when I was opening the doors, Jilly bursted out with her face the color of lava. A very panicked and distraught Caleb was chasing after her but his jumbled words did not have any effect on her. 

"Don't ever come to me and beg me back. You will never be there for the birth of our daughter." She spat in his face with a finger jabbing his chest at every word. Asher and I stood on either side with frowns and so many emotions. Cam and Derek as well. 

"Jill. Jill. Jill. Jill! Please please listen to me. Baby, you're overreacting. You know that was only a joke. Baby, I think you are amazing and I would never replace you for anyone in this world." Caleb tugged and tugged on her hand but she kept charging towards the garage. 

Jilly stopped on her tracks then turned around with the nastiest look I have ever seen on a person. Her head was going to blow off. "Oh Caleb. I believe you. One hundred percent. You motherfcking liar." She screamed at the top of her lungs then landed a slap across his face. The impact was hard enough to snap his head to the side. 

His head remained still. It was still turned and he was staring down at the ground with his jaw clenching and unclenching. I was very confused but as everything played out in front of me, I could not move from my spot. I was planted by the front door. 

An engine roared to life and Jilly revved the engine of Asher's Porsche. I still could not move but Ash was the first to react and ran up to the driver side window before she took off. 

"Asher. Let. Me. Go." She glared at him when he tried to reason with her. He asked her to stay and listen to whatever Caleb had to say for himself. "Oh trust me, Ash. He's said plenty for me to enjoy for the next ten years. You." She jabbed a finger through the window at her husband's fallen look. "Don't ever find me or our daughter. I'll make sure she'll be protected from the lies that you fed me all these months." 

Before Ash could reason with her again, she sped off down the road. Everyone stayed where they were for the longer time ever. I was frozen. I had definitely not seen that side of Jilly before and I knew Cameron hadn't either. I was scared and worried for the mother and baby. My eyes were glued onto the horizon where she disappeared into. 

It wasn't until I snapped out of my trance when Caleb fell onto his knees with his face buried within his violently shaking hands. A hand shot up to cover my mouth from weeping aloud. My gut took a plunge since it wasn't common when a man is broken in half and a best friend is gone without explanation.