Blood Twist (The Erris Coven Series)

36



LIZ



It didn’t take long once they parted ways for Theo and Brooke to start asking questions. She was happy to answer them and ask a few of her own. The first thing Theo wanted to know was Liz’s relationships status.

“Are you really involved with Braden Murphy?” Theo asked, his tone incredulous. “I thought he was some kind of celibate man god. He’s never even looked at the females in Erris.”

“I’m sure that’s an exaggeration,” Liz laughed. “But, yes, we’re together. I fell kind of fast for him. Besides, you’ve seen him, it was hard for me not too.”

“I’ve known Braden since I met Cian and he has never had a girlfriend, but neither did Torin before Lexie came to town,” Brooke added. “It must be you girls from Connecticut.”

Who knew how fate preordained things? Even though she was one of the lucky ones, she was clueless to have a guess as to how it all worked.

“I don’t know,” Liz said with a shrug of her shoulders. “But, you and Cian seem happy, too. You make a cute couple.”

“Thanks,” Brooke said. Biting on her lower lip, she studied Liz, wondering if it was okay to open up to a stranger. “I guess we’re happy. Sometimes I feel like there is something coming between us though, but I don’t know what it is. One minute, Cian is happy and showing he cares, the next he’s withdrawn and won’t even discuss the future.”

Trailing his fingers along the salmon colored lockers, Theo turned and said, “Maybe he’s thinking about you going away to college? Or, maybe Cian has finally realized he needs to come out of the closet, because he’s been in love with me all along.”

“You wish. Maybe you can convince Teagan now that he’s the only single one left.” Brooke laughed, but Liz guessed the teen wasn’t feeling it.

Brooke was a tiny thing, but looked even shorter with her chin down. Liz wanted to reassure her that all would be clear in time, but the truth was, it may not be. According to Braden, Cian and Teagan both needed to go through the final phases of the change. It was going to be a hard thing for them.

I hope they don’t end up like Riley…

While passing through different corridors in the small school, Liz couldn’t get over how different Erris Central High was compared to THS back home. Torrington was a mid-sized city in Connecticut. Even with its technical school, it needed a large high school to accommodate the growing population. Erris, however, had a small town feel. Signs in the hallways proclaimed the school’s mascot was a “Fighting Moose.”

As she focused on Theo’s jokes and humorous retelling of Lexie giving Maxim hell at a party in the woods, she couldn’t help but feel Braden through their bond. He was definitely concerned, but she assumed he was still thinking about their dream.

The owl and the fountain – she wondered if they were symbolic. The owl in the stairwell at Sunnydale Rest Home scared the crap out of her, but she also knew the birds stood for wisdom. The fountain was another thing – it had a small angel, the size of a full grown adult holding some kind of staff in her hand. Still, other than fountain’s bringing forth knowledge or springs of life, Liz couldn’t tell what it all meant. All she knew was that Braden made her feel safe in her dream. Regardless of what any of the other details meant, his love and protection were all that mattered.

Lexie didn’t go into detail about what she and Torin dreamed of together. Asking felt incredibly personal, like probing them about their quiet moments alone. Even though Lexie told Liz the instant she had her first kiss with Gabe Brown, the relationship she now shared with Torin was different. It was unique and special, the same way Liz’s relationship with Braden was. Although they were all a family, some things were meant to stay private. It was an unspoken rule she could sense without having to be told.

After checking the classroom wings and the cafeteria, Liz was surprised to learn the school didn’t have an auditorium. The only other place to check in the school was the gymnasium. Once passing through the doorway, there were crowds of people, both young and old, sitting on the bleachers, waiting for the memorial service to begin. As Liz scanned the rows, she couldn’t see any signs of Ella. The teen’s pale blond hair was normally easy to spot. Hoping Lexie and the guys had better luck finding her, Liz blew out a dissatisfied breath.

Why can’t it be easy for them? Just once?

With Ruby recovering and Lexie obviously improved, it should be time for the family to start looking forward to better times.

Making their way back out in the hall that smelled of floor wax and dirty sox, they needed a new plan.

“So, you know Ella, if you were her, where would you go?” Theo asked, “What does she even like?”

Liz shook her head. She used to know what Ella liked, but over the summer, things changed. They all changed. From her last talk with Lexie’s sister, the teen was focused on Nicolai. Could she be looking for him?

“Lexie’s mom hasn’t been feeling well since Dragos left. She’s been staying with Torin’s family until she’s on her feet. Lexie and Torin went to check out the old manor house, but maybe she just wanted to be with her mom.”

“It won’t hurt to look,” Theo said thoughtfully.

Rounding the hallway, another tug from the bond she shared with Braden yanked through her. This time, it wasn’t a gentle reminder of his love and affection. The feeling sent heat up to her face, drying her throat and making her stomach hurt.

It’s not just fear, he’s in trouble…

The realization hit her so hard she froze in her steps. Not knowing how or why, the more she focused in on him, the clearer the idea became. It unfurled in her consciousness, urging her to take action.

Braden’s in trouble…

Liz needed to go, but to where? Images of the fountain kept pushing through her mind. Just the thought of it made her stomach clench. As her body instinctually began preparing for a fight, nausea built until her mouth tasted like metal.

“I know this is strange,” Liz could barely form the words, “but I saw a fountain in town. The big kind, like over in Europe, with an angel on it? Have you been there?”

While Theo just shook his head, Brooke stared at her. The mistrust from earlier radiated from her tight expression. Finally, the blonde answered, “Yeah, in Cian’s back yard. It’s a cherub. I’ve only seen it once though. I’m not really welcomed at his parent’s house so I’m curious as to why you were allowed over there?”

Despite the urge to bolt, Liz forced herself to remain calm. Wishing she had her phone to call Torin and his cousins, she couldn’t waist time trying to console Brooke about her intentions.

Liz’s hands were shaking and her knees felt funny. She had to get moving. “Listen, I need you to call Cian and have him and Teagan meet me there. Call Lexie too and tell her to send Torin only.”

“Why, do you think Ella might be there?” Theo asked, “at Cian’s house? We could come with you.”

“Maybe,” Liz said, “And no. I need to go alone.”

As she turned her back on them and began racing towards the school’s exit, she knew she wasn’t making the best first impression. Liz didn’t have time to stand around making excuses. She didn’t know where Ella was and it sucked that Brooke questioned why Liz was welcomed into her boyfriend’s family and she wasn’t, but all the drama had to wait.

Braden was in trouble. Nothing else mattered.





37



BRADEN





Braden’s temples were pounding. His blood had rushed to his head. He needed to get out from beneath the vampire, but couldn’t let go of his hold on Strix’s forearms without being strangled. It wouldn’t kill him, but it would give Strix a chance to tear a whole in his chest. Bucking against him, he tried using his feet to dig into the ground, but with the patio brick beneath him, his feet just slid on the loose pieces of stone.

Although the vampire was a good head shorter, his age made him wickedly strong. Braden tried remembering what Donovan had taught him and Torin about evaluating your opponent. As Strix’s snapping mouth tried reaching his, Braden let go of the vampire’s arms and clawed his chin with one hand and the old creature’s ear with the other. Pulling his right leg up while keeping his foot firmly on the ground, he managed to get one knee bent. It was just enough to gain some leverage. With a quick succession of movements, Braden raised his side in the air while dragging Strix’s head along with him. Disrupting the vampire’s balance, Braden flipped Strix over his shoulder.

Springing to his feet, Braden scanned the ground for anything he could find. Without fire, he was limited on options. Draugr were like damphyrs, they could only be killed so many ways. He could run his heart through with something or behead him. If he didn’t manage to kill Strix now, then it was his life and possibly the rest of the covens at stake.

And Liz, I have to keep her safe.

Just the thought of her coming home and looking for him, only to discover Strix in his place was enough to feed his rage. The power that brought them together was fueling their bond and after almost dying in Vancouver, he sure in hell wouldn’t give up without a fight.

Strix charged ahead twenty feet before blasting through the air and sinking his teeth deeply into the Braden’s shoulder, ripping and tearing chunks of his flesh. The pain was immediate, causing blood to pour down his shirt.

Reaching up, Braden delivered a punch, straight into the draugr’s face. Lifting him in the air, Braden hurled Strix as hard as he could against the remains of the patio grill. The vampire hit the stove with an audible thunk, quickly stood and launched himself right back at Braden again. With each swipe of the vampire’s claws, Braden jumped backwards, deflecting the blow.

Seeing the crumbled statue that once made the centerpiece of Fianna’s cherished fountain, Braden dove forward, reaching it before Strix. Somersaulting to the side, he evaded the vampire’s lunge while still managing to land on his feet.

Braden took four swift strides forward and swung the staff. The marble flew in a wide arc and hit Strix on the side of the neck. With his damphyr strength, the blow came with a terrible force. As it made contact, Braden could hear some of the vertebrae in the old vampire’s neck snap.

Just as Strix reached up to support his bones fusing back together, Braden swiveled around, and aimed for the top of the draugr’s skull, making a direct hit. Swinging for a third time, Strix caught him off guard by delivering a kick to Braden’s gut, then soaring backwards and landing at the base of the fountain. Holding the staff out in victory, Strix looked like a cat that just cornered a mouse.

Glancing down at his now empty hands, Braden barely felt him pull the object free from his hands.

“No more games. It’s time for you to be mine.” Strix’s voice grew lower and more intimate. “It’s time I tear out your hearts and bathe in your blood.”

From the corner of Braden’s eye, he could see the headlights of a small car approaching, Strix did too. But neither one of them expected the car to accelerate, then bank a hard right, and blast up the short driveway and onto the lawn.

Just as the old vampire cocked his head in confusion, Liz’s white sedan plowed into him, sailing him backwards before pinning Strix between the bumper and what was left of the crumbling cherub.

Realizing what Liz just did, Braden stood in astonishment. With a delighted squeal, she unbuckled her seat belt and started climbing out of the car. Braden was about to throw his arms around her and kiss her profusely when he realized the draugr wasn’t dead.

With the crunching sound of metal, Strix pealed back Liz’s hood and stumbled out from where he was pinned. Unsteady on his feet, but still smirking, he moved closer, glaring at both of them. Blood gushed from his mouth, but a perverse need kept him moving. Lapping at the crimson that stained his lips and chin, only his uneven gate signaled some kind of alarm.

Glancing down, both Braden and Liz saw what slowed the vampire’s movement. The staff he had ripped only moments earlier from Braden’s hands was now imbedded partly in his chest, a result of the weight and momentum from Liz’s car.

Looking down, the draugr’s face looked bemused. The arrogance he had worn like a crown since making his appearance was gone, replaced by his first semblance of unease. Wrapping his hands around the object, he pulled but the rod wouldn’t budge.

Snapping out of his trance, Braden stalked straight up to the vampire, and with a flick of his wrist, shoved the staff into Strix’s heart.

Dropping to his knees, Strix refused to take his eyes from Braden. As his features twisted and shimmied, looking almost birdlike, he muttered in disbelief, “It wasn’t supposed to happen this way…”

“Too bad,” Braden grunted, sending it the rest of the way in.