A Wolf's Duty Page 6

  “Get up!” he screamed. Reacting on instinct she quickly ejected herself from the bed, standing before him dressed in her small pyjamas. “Did you know?” he demanded, his tone expecting her to answer his vague question. Confused as to what had occurred to put him into such a state, she said nothing, allowing the silence to answer for her. “I asked you a question girl, I damn well expect an answer. Did you know?” he asked again, enunciating each word.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she replied.

  His eyes left her and became riveted on the fragile red and white orchid Tobias had given her. “Where did you get that?” he demanded, inclining his head at the flower. Again she let silence grow between them. “There are no flowers in my house. I won’t have that bitch’s things in my house!” he screamed moving towards the small table where the flower resided.

  Concern for her delicate flower overcame her hard-learned instincts and she placed herself between her rampaging father and the plant. “No,” she muttered defiantly, meeting his gaze before scanning his face. The vein on his head was engorged and throbbing. Now I’m in for it, what on earth is wrong with me?

  “How dare you speak to me like that!” The slap came immediately, followed by the punching and the kicking. She felt her eyes growing heavy as her mind tried to distance her from the pain, but the fragile orchid was still safely on the table and she felt a small smile grow on her face despite her situation.

  The beating continued, for how long she couldn’t be sure but eventually she felt Fred’s hand against her throat choking her as he pulled her up to stand on her feet. She felt herself sway as her battered body pleaded with her to fall to the ground, but she continued to stand, she at least deserved to hear what had set him off.

  “Your mother’s solicitor left us a message yesterday.” Her bruised lip prevented her from speaking and she suppressed the urge to spit the blood she knew was in her mouth into his face. Instead she braced herself against the pain and allowed him to continue his rant. “I didn’t even know she had a lawyer, but apparently she did, and money, lots of money. Money that I never saw a penny of. Money that if she had her way I still wouldn’t see a penny of. She left the money for you.” Her eyes widened at his statement but she remained silent allowing him to continue. “Yeah, she left all of her money in trust for you once you turned twenty one. The lawyer just thought we should know as your birthday is in a few weeks. I’ll let you know now, that money is rightfully mine and as soon as you get access to it, you’re going to give it all to me. Get dressed and get out.” He turned and left the room, slamming the door behind him.

  Crumbling to the floor, she choked back tears before crawling to her bed and retrieving the picture of her and Natasha together. Turning the small frame over, she unlocked it, removing the back and finding the last message her mum had left her before taking her own life. Unfolding the small piece of paper with trembling fingers, she reread the message, understanding quickly dawning.

  To my most precious flower, my Alexandria,

  Honey, we both know that I’m not strong. This life has become too much for me to bear but you have to continue for both of us. I want better for you than I had in all aspects of the word. I know that this probably isn’t the right time for me to do this, you’ve just started university and you could probably do with some motherly advise but I can’t continue to live like this. I want you to go and finish, do well. There’s so much I haven’t had the chance to tell you about yourself and with this I won’t be able to but I’m sure you’ll work it all out, I managed to do it after all. Alex, if life with your father gets to be too much don’t quit like I have, just make it to twenty one and then you won’t need to be with him anymore, you can escape unlike me. I’ll help you make it in the outside world. Just remember that I’m always with you and you just have to go to our special place to remember that.

  I love you, always.

  Mum

  Xxx

  The tears that she had been trying to hold back burst their dam and she found that she couldn’t stop their onslaught. I’ll never give you that money. Mum left it for me so that I could be free of you and I have every intention of escaping from this hell and leaving you here to rot. As the tears continued, she felt the familiar warmth of Tobias’ mind flooding her and enveloping her in its strength. Anger and determination replaced the previous fear that Fred had inspired and she found herself rising from the floor. If I’m going to do well at university I’d better show up, she giggled.

  She showered quickly despite the numerous bruises that now covered her body, bandaging her injured ribs with practiced ease. Dressing with similar efficiency in loose clothing that hid her injured arms and legs, she found that she could now move easier, and braced herself for the day ahead. Gently touching the petals of her orchid, she breathed in deep and found herself remembering her mother’s garden. You were right mum. I can feel you right here. Giving the flower a final caress, she turned and headed for the door grabbing her bag along the way.

  She made it to the university campus in good time considering her injuries, smiling the entire way; overjoyed with the unexpected surprise her mother had left for her. Checking her watch she realised that she would be early once again for the second time in a week. Couldn’t you have gotten me up later for a beating Fred? she sighed, but continued limping ever closer to the college building, her arms still wrapped around her injured ribs. Almost a week with no beatings and it’s as if I’ve forgotten what they were like. Chuckling to herself, she tried to make light of the situation she had once again found herself in. The forced laughter died instantly as she saw Emily waiting for her at the entrance to the building she needed to enter for her class. Here we go again. She thought to herself but continued on, head held high in defiance.

  “Alexandria.”

  “Not now Emily. I’m not dealing with you today.” Shoving past her, she successfully entered the building only for Emily to quickly catch up.

  “We still have unfinished business from Friday.”

  “We have absolutely nothing to discuss Emily, nothing.” Striding forward she began to walk up the stairs and along the empty corridor, with no particular destination in mind. Emily’s hand on her injured shoulder once again prevented her from moving; she winced as her nails began to dig in before forcefully shrugging the hand off. The sudden movement caused her ribs to protest and she sucked in a deep breath unprepared to allow her enemy to witness her weakness.

  “There’s no one to help you now Alex, so why don’t we just skip right to the end where you give me what I want?”

  “Like I said on Friday, there’s no way that’s going to happen, so I advise you to get over yourself for once and stop acting like such a spoilt brat.”

  The slap came so suddenly she didn’t have time to brace herself against it, Emily’s palm caused the stinging in her face to return and she felt as though the skin would tear under the pressure. Another slap came immediately after and she staggered under Emily's onslaught. “You’re going to give me what I want,” she laughed as her palms continued their assault. Alex felt her eyes begin to water as the pain increased, her arms ached from Fred’s earlier attack and she couldn’t lift them to defend herself. A quick jab to the stomach had her on the floor, curling up defensively.

  “Well what do you know?” Emily cackled, “It seems like you were all talk and no substance.” Kneeling down, she began to work at the bracelet’s clasp.

  The pain began to fade as her anger rose once again at the situation she found herself in, it became thick and ugly as it transformed itself into a living creature swelling within her, straining for release. She could feel something in the back of her mind begin to splinter and shatter under the weight of her rage. Her anger rolled though her body, blocking out Emily’s frustrated attempts to relieve her of Tobias’ gift before the dam broke and whatever was behind it was freed. She felt a moment of calm despite the anger, where she was detached from her surroundings and felt complet
ely at ease, and then the whispers came. They were insidious creeping through her mind and flooding it with their voices, and there were so many. She clenched her head with her hands trying to drown them out and removing her arm from Emily’s grasp. Their voices became louder, sharper as the seconds ticked on.

  We’re coming. We’ll help you.

  She groaned, “What?”

  The voices stopped suddenly, the silence they had left in her mind was almost deafening after their noise, but the real world saw fit to replace their noise with Emily’s ear piercing shrieks. The ground beneath their feet was churning and the wind outside had picked up and was now howling against the glass windows.

  “An earthquake,” Emily cried.

  “Don’t be stupid,” Alex snapped in response. “We don’t get earthquakes in England.” Struggling to her feet, she found that the ground was indeed trembling, almost loosing her footing to its shakes. The earth quickly settled, but the wind seemed to have gotten louder.

  Rising to her feet easily now that the tremors had ceased, Emily’s eyes had once again targeted Alex’s wrist. “Give it here.”

  “You have got to be kidding, I can’t believe you’re still banging on about this,” she yelled in response, screaming over the wailing winds outside. “You get absolutely everything you want, there isn’t anything you’re denied and when I finally get something precious of my own you think you can take it from me! I’m through dealing with you Emily, you hear me? This is over!”

  The last words of her rage-induced tirade were drowned out by the sound of breaking glass as the winds were silenced. The windowpanes that lined the hall simultaneously shattered causing Emily to scream once more. Despite the breaking glass, Alex felt calm, centred even as the voices returned.

  Turning her head in the direction of a window, she watched in detached amazement as a thick tree branch twisted though the now empty pane and began moving in their direction. Looking down the hallway she found that all of the windows were now being filled with the leafy appendages, each making their way surprisingly quickly down to where she and Emily had now ceased bickering.

  What on earth?

  A branch had now reached Emily, curling its way around her ankles while she tried frantically to remove it, pulling wildly at it while it steadily continued its journey up her leg. She watched as another branch moved past her before gripping Emily’s arms tightly, another snaked between her legs before wrapping itself around Emily’s torso. Her enemy’s screams were drowned out by the whispers and she strained to hear what they were saying.

  I can’t hear you! She screamed frustrated.

  The din of the whispers momentarily increased before dying out, a lone voice now filled her head. Want us to hurt?

  I don’t understand.

  Want us to hurt? The voice repeated, the branches holding Emily captive tightened and she shrieked in response. Her eyes turned to take in the person she had viewed throughout so much of her life as an enemy, she watched intently as the branches that had studiously avoided harming her tightened even further.

  Are you doing that?

  She was hurting you but we’ll protect you. The voice’s tone had hardened and Emily's face seemed to become even redder as a branch twisted itself around her throat.

  Oh God don’t. You’ll kill her.

  Silence followed her request and the limbs around Emily’s throat tightened while the ones that had captured her limbs began to pull, stretching her body taut.

  Stop it! Alex shrieked, desperation flooding her.

  Why? She hurt you, we hurt her. The lone voice’s whisper sounded confused as to why she was so intent on keeping Emily alive.

  You can’t do this.

  Bad?

  Very. Let her go, please, she whispered, her voice pleading.

  We do as you want, you call we answer.

  Her eyes widened in shock. I did this?

  You call, we answer. The voice responded. You’re family.

  The branches loosened their grip on Emily allowing her to fall to the ground straining for breath. The branches suddenly sprouted leafy green foliage before coming to surround her, caressing her face and stroking her arms.

  Safe? The single voice had been drowned out as the whispers joined to speak in unison.

  For now.

  Need help?

  I’m going crazy, she sighed, resigning herself to life in a mental institution.

  The leafy foliage that had surrounded her became thicker and stronger before her eyes, before they gently but securely wrapped around her body and lifting her easily off the ground.

  What are you doing? she yelled; fear suddenly creeping up on her as the voices refused to answer her for the first time since they had entered her mind. I asked you a question, answer me! she shrieked, her heart beginning to beat faster. The voices continued their background chatter but no single voice could be heard as they lifted her bodily from the ground and began easing her out of the window.

  Her wide eyes quickly took in the distant ground. I never though the second floor was this high up, it looks a lot closer when you’re on the bloody ground! She gripped the branches within her reach tightly with her fingers, nails digging deep into the hard bark she held on for dear life as her feet left the safety of the solid ground. Her feet swayed wildly as she was guided through the air away from the building. Her heart jumped into her throat as she took in the college building. The once pristine building was now completely covered in greenery, from branches to weeds to amazing large flower blossoms. The wild shrubbery that now flooded the corridors had shattered the windows on all three floors. Her stomach lurched as the branches took her higher and higher into the air, the ground quickly losing its focus.

  “Put me down!” she snarled between clenched teeth pounding at the branch. “I said put me down!” she screamed, continuing her frantic efforts to be free.

  Hurt?

  I want you to stop ignoring me and put me down, right now!

  Sure?

  I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life, now you put me on firm ground right now or else.

  Mad at us?

  She frowned as the voices floated through her mind, realising that all the destruction they had wreaked was in an attempt to help her. Not mad, just well...In future listen when I speak ok?

  We understand.

  Her feet touched the grass covered ground and she breathed a sigh of relief as the branches released her. She took one final look back at the plant covered building before turning and running home as fast as her feet could carry her. Ignoring every ache and pain that flooded her, she managed to successfully return home, throwing wide the open door and staggering inside. The door closed silently behind her as she panted, trying to catch her breath and she didn’t realise that she wasn’t alone until a cold hand clamped itself over her mouth. She felt the cool sensation of a knife’s edge at her throat and decided it would be unwise to scream.

  A man’s voice whispered at her ear. “I know what you are witch, and I intend to take your power from you, even if I have to cut it out.” The blade at her throat pressed down and she felt the warm trickle of her blood slide across her skin.

  Chapter Eight

  The hand at her mouth clamped down further, preventing her from calling for help and the man continued to whisper in her ear, making her shudder as his hot breath ran across the back of her neck.

  “I’ve been waiting for a long time for this day, you know? I was beginning to think that you’d never show your true potential but then I felt you this morning and your power washed over me like nothing I’d ever felt before.” The body at her back shuddered at the memory and his hot breath caressed the side of her face. “I just had to come, Alex, I just had to come and take it for my own. I thought your mother was good, but you’re something else entirely.” Her eyes widened at the mention of her mother, but the knife dug in deeper and she felt her eyes begin to water at the pain. “Is there anything you have to say before I kill you?”
>
  The hand on her mouth was removed and she sucked in deep breaths of air. “I don’t understand, but look whatever it is you want, I don’t have it. Please let me go.”

  “Well that’s the biggest lie I’ve ever heard you say, Alex, I felt you this morning,” The body at her back shivered as though in pleasured agony. “Your power was amazing and you’re going to give it to me.”

  “If I could give it to you don’t you think I would?” she whispered aware of the cold feel of metal on her skin.

  “It doesn’t work like that my dear,” his voice whispered, the man’s breath coming closer to the side of her face with every word. “You can’t give it to me when you’re alive, I can only take it from you when you’re dead.”

  She shuddered at the calmness with which he had spoken of her imminent death. “Please, don’t do this,” she whimpered, feeling the blade at her throat dig deeper, cutting the outside skin and touching the muscle underneath. The droplets of blood that had flowed from her cut flesh increased and she felt each one with amazing clarity.

  “Why shouldn’t I do this, Alex? I’ve waited long enough.”

  “I don’t want to die.”

  “Well I’ve wanted what’s inside of you for long enough now and I’ve earned it.” His chin moved to rest on her head. “You know, I was beginning to think that you’d never come out of your shell and show me what you had. I mean, obviously it was in there somewhere, it's genetic you see and your mother had it, so you just had to have it as well. But I didn’t expect to have to wait so long for it to come out. I would have thought with all the beatings your father gave you over the last few years that they would have reacted by now, but alas nothing until this morning. What happened, Alex? You can tell me, we’re friends.” The voice laughed, the sound devoid of any warmth.