Discovering Riley

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Riley’s POV

I woke up with Josh gone. I didn’t even realize that I’d fallen asleep. I jumped out of bed and walked into the bathroom. I took a quick shower, lathering myself in the berry body wash that was there.

I finished in a good fifteen minutes later and changed into a pair of jeans and dark t-shirt from my suitcase. I pulled my hair into a messy ponytail and left the room. I walked towards where I thought the living room was, but when I turned the first corner I ended up in another hallway. Confused, I started down that hallway just to end up in yet another hallway.

Oh, boy. I think I’m lost.

“Are you okay?”

I glanced behind me to see the boys’ sister, Casey. Her golden hair was curled behind her back. She had on tight jean shorts and a pink t-shirt. I felt a little self-conscious beside her because she was a lot more beautiful than I was.

“I’m fine.” I forced a smile. “Do you know where Josh and Derek are?”

“They’re down in the basement putting up the wards.” She told me.

“Oh.” I frowned, knowing that it was my fault that they even needed it. “I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize.” She said sharply.

I pressed my lips together, keeping myself from apologizing again. Did she not like me or something? “Can you tell me how to get to the living room?” I asked her.

She nodded and started down one of the halls. “I was heading there anyways.”

“Thank you.” I said as I followed her. It didn’t take long to get to the familiar large living room. I thanked her again before walking outside. The fresh air hit my face softly when I did. It felt nice to get out of the house although it was pretty cold out. I’d forgotten winter had already started.

I leisurely walked down the porch steps. I raised my eyes to the sky to see a weird sizzling blue blanket appear. It slowly started to grow downward. Maybe that was the ward Josh had told me about. It would protect the house.

I lowered my eyes back down just in time to catch a figure in the distance. I raised a hand over my eyes to block out the sun to make out whatever it was. It was a person. Most definitely a guy. I had the urge to step closer to him in case he was lost, but stopped myself. Last time I did that, I was attacked in the girls’ dorms.

I stood stock still and watched as the person did the same. Relief washed over me when I saw the ward had almost surrounded the whole mansion. If that person was a Shadow witch, he wouldn’t be able to get in. I looked back at the figure to find out that it disappeared.

Gasping, I stumbled backwards and hit something hard. An arm wrapped around my waist and before I could scream out, a leather-gloved hand covered my mouth. I kicked out and tried to scream as the person dragged me away from the house.

Out of the safety of the ward.

I shoved my elbow into his gut, getting his grip loose, and burst out of his arms. I ran a good couple of feet back towards the house before I was dragged down to the ground onto my back. The assailant climbed on top of me and covered my mouth again with his gloved hand. I lifted my eyes to the emerald, steely gaze of the guy. The only thing I can make out was his shockingly familiar green eyes because his whole face was covered with some kind of black cloth. I could tell that his hair was blonde because some of it was peeking out from under the cloth.

He hovered his free hand above my face and started to mumble something. From how close I was, I could make out the words but didn’t know what they meant because it was a different language.