Shadow of the Beast (Twisted Dark #2)

Chapter Fourteen: Twisted Aftermath

Havenbrook had nothing I had needed but I had managed to steal some clothes for the little pixie. As much as I enjoyed her wrapped up in my shirt I knew that it wasn't practical for her to be running around without proper clothes. The air was turning and fall would be closing in on us. If she was going to be out in the Forest she would need to be properly clothed.

I had expected the human settlement to provide me with some information about the Covens around but no one had been willing to speak to me. That and no one had seemed to understand my question at all. I had a sneaking suspicion the Witch covens spelled the town to forget about them, which made sense especially considering who I was hunting. My lip curled up at the reminder of the cruel bitch. I did not know what she had done to the little pixie but it was not good and I would repay her cruelty tenfold.

I shifted my direction towards where I had left Violet and I paused, my hair standing up on the back of my neck. I tilted my head, listening for something, anything, but there was nothing but a still silence, not even the small animals were making sounds. I narrowed my eyes and moved towards the area slowly. "Pixie?" I called it out trying to listen for the predator that had quietened the animals but there was nothing. That thick silence was all that answered me. I knew that silence, it followed in my wake.

I inhaled deeply, trying to scent out what predator was close by when I froze. The scent of blood coated the back of my throat thickly. I snarled bolting towards the tree, crashing through the brush. I skidded to a stop, blood splashed the area, it gathered in pools on the ground and I narrowed my eyes. Rage rose up thick in me as I looked at the bloody scene. Vibrant red was everywhere. I stalked forwards, dreading what I would find. I couldn't scent anything out, the blood was so thick. I had a hot feeling in my gut, the feeling of a heavy guilt that I had left her out here to be harmed.

I looked around, not just harmed, I had a feeling that someone had died and the little female was the likely victim. No magick, small, and chained to a fucking tree. I moved further into the area and I looked around again, there was no sign of anything around. All I could see was blood, it splattered everything. I turned my head, taking another step and a pale, delicate foot caught my attention.

"Violet!" I made my way towards her quickly. She was curled up, leaning against the tree, blood streaking her skin as she trembled. I grasped her quickly, looking her over, searching for the wounds I knew she must have had. Her skin was pale, nearly grey, and almost icy cold. If it wasn't for the movement of her chest and the beating of her heart, she looked like a corpse. "Pixie, talk t' me." I jostled her, moving my hands over her skin as I searched for the wounds that I could not see.

She said nothing but slowly turned her head to look at me. There was a hollowness to her gaze that was eerie and made shivers down my spine. She opened her mouth as if going to speak but then closed it without a word. "What happened, pixie?" Her skin was sticky with blood and there was blood everywhere but she had no marks I could see or feel.

Her form shook and she stared out into the Forest. "I.... I'm fine." Her voice was a rasping whisper as if her throat was raw and sore. "I'm fine." She gave a slow nod, closing her eyes.

I gave her a small shake, baring my teeth. "I didna ask tha', Violet. What happened?" I needed to know what had happened. I needed her to explain to me why there was blood everywhere and she was unmarked. I gave her another small shake and she slowly shrugged but said nothing. "Ye need t' tell me." She didn't even move at my order.

It took a few moments after I squeezed her shoulder. "Where were you?" She looked at me, that empty look still in her eyes.

"The town, pixie, I told ye." She looked too pale, she was too cold. I gathered her close but she didn't seem to be even aware I was holding her.

"Where were you?" She repeated the question and I pressed my face to her hair, my eyes narrowing. I could smell the blood on her, it was thick in her hair and smeared across her body. The entire situation was strange, someone should have been dead with the amount of blood that was around the area but the little pixie was alive, a bit off but alive.

"Havenbrook, Violet. Tha' is where I was." I stroked her hair and my hair came back red with blood. I stared at the sticky liquid that coated my palms and my instinct hissed its anger and confusion.

"Havenbrook?" Her voice showed a bit more life as she moved in my arms, looking up at me.

I nodded at her, squeezing her tightly. "Aye, pixie. Havenbrook." I looked around carefully, wondering if anyone was hanging around. I couldn't smell anyone but the blood was so thick that it covered up any scents there could be. "What happened?" I needed to know what happened but once again she went completely silent.

I let her go and climbed up the tree, untying the chain from the branch. I landed beside her but she didn't even flinch. I reached down, helping her to her feet but she didn't seem to even respond to that, just blinked while looking at nothing. "Pixie, are ye okay?" There was another extremely long pause before she moved.

"I'm fine, Jax." Her tone was empty and hollow before she looked up at me. "I'm dirty." It was a blunt set of words and I looked at her before nodding.

"Aye, ye are." I grasped her hand gently, she felt so delicate underneath my fingertips. "Let's get ye clean." I lead her carefully through the trees, away from the bloody scene. I would take her back to the small creek that we had followed. I would clean her and she would be better after that. I glanced at her pale form streaked with red. Everything would be okay once she was cleaned and taken care of.

"Havenbrook." She muttered the word out and I squeezed her hand gently, looking around.

"Aye, pixie. Havenbrook." A tiny town that had done nothing for my search and had me returning to what looked to be a murder scene.

"Havenbrook." She muttered the word again and I looked at her carefully.

The more I looked at her, the less okay she seemed. "Are ye okay? Ye doona look fine, pixie." She looked less that okay and it bothered me.

"I'm fine." It seemed like an almost robotic rely to me, something she said because she wanted to keep my quiet.

"Ye aren't, Violet." I shook my head quickly, pulling her close as I lifted her chin.

She stared up at me, no expression to her face as she gave a slow blink. "I'm alive, Jax. I'm fine." Her voice was even and didn't waver a single inch. Her wording confused me slightly. "I'm dirty. I need to be cleaned." She looked up at me and I gave another nod at that.

"Aye, pixie." As much as I didn't want to simply accept that explanation, I knew she wasn't going to say much more. I just hoped that once she was clean she would be a bit more forthcoming with information. My instinct was just as confused with her actions and what happened to her when I had been gone. It hissed at me with words I couldn't understand but it was angry and it was telling me to do something but I didn't know what. It wanted me to protect her but I didn't know from what.

The little female was some how in trouble but for the first time in my life, I didn't know how to fix it.