Page 33 of Stolen Oath
Maybe what I saw as an opportunity to set things straight was not a blessing at all.
But my energy was nearly depleted and black roses were blooming at the edges of my vision. I fought as much as I could but at the end exhaustion won and I succumbed to the darkness.
CHAPTER17
With a groan I rolled to my side in hopes not to vomit all over myself. Acid was burning the inside of my mouth and swallowing thickly I pushed the bile down. Why was my bed so hard and cold? With everything in me I prayed that I was not dead and this was not some sort of hell for me. Because let me tell you, nothing can be worse than an uncomfortable bed.
Faint sounds buzzed in the distance which were not cars driving by and that little thing had me snapping my eyes open. Owlishly blinking I rubbernecked left and right so I could get my bearings. A difficult task since only a faint light was flickering from somewhere far away giving me glimpses of shelving and if I was not mistaken a tall cabinet from medieval times. That almost made me laugh.
A large lump close to me moved and I squeaked as I practically bounced across the hard floor to get away from it. I was ready to lob it with whatever I could find if it attacked me until dark eyes locked on mine that I would recognize anywhere.
“Char?” I scrambled back toward her and yanked her into a hug. “Thank the stars you are okay.” I squeezed her tight and stars burst behind my tightly closed eyelids. “Ouch!”
“Be careful, Allie.” She peeled me off her and holding my arms to the side gave me a once over as much as she could’ve in the romantic set up they had going on for us.
“You should’ve led with that, Char. I know now to be careful without you telling me.” I hoped my reassuring squeeze on her arm softened my sass. “Where are we? And tell me that you booked this hotel so I never let you forget it, please.”
“In Angela’s basement.” Mouth twisted like she just tasted something sour, Char sagged where she was on the ground. “Dimitri argued we should be taken to a room or away from here but she gave him a long mute look, ordered us to the basement and him to follow her. That was over twenty four hours ago.”
“How accommodating.” My sarcasm was layered on thick. “Moderate temperature but the view sucks. One star, don’t recommend.”
“Can you get serious for one minute, please?” Jerking her tote in her lap she groused, giving methelook like an annoyed mother reprimanding her toddler. “We are held prisoners after you help that ungrateful, albeit beautiful, bitch win that fight. Which reminds me.” her finger came up and pointed at the tip of my nose so I had to cross my eyes to see it. “Don’t you ever do that to me Alaska McCullough! Do I make myself clear?”
“What am I not doing?” A thick fog had settled in my head so my brain was sluggish in sorting out information. I blinked innocently at her scolding face. “And before I forget I want to say I’m very proud of you for remembering to say something nice about Angela right after you called her an ungrateful bitch.”
She grinned. “It’s all about balance.”
“Touché, my friend.” With another groan I pressed a hand to my belly hoping it’ll keep the bile back and wiggled closer to her. “More importantly, please tell me you have something in that bottomless pit of a bag that can get us out of here.”
“Unfortunately, nothing works. I’ve been trying anything I could think of.” Her foot did little circles as if she was loosening the muscles of her ankle. “I even kicked the door at one point.” Turning the same foot to the side, she showed me the dark bruise smudged over her skin. “For all the good it did. I think they have some talismans on the other side that are counteracting my potions.”
If looks could burn doors she would’ve eviscerated the one we were eyeing from across the space which was keeping us locked up.
“Okay.” With a fortifying sigh I pushed myself off the ground.
“What are you doing?” Char gasped and grabbed my hand so she could pull me back down. “You were dead for close to a day, Allie. You need to rest first.”
“I’m just going to try and open it.” My jutting chin pointed at the door. “What are the odds that they have talismans against witch magic?” Cocking my head I rocked it left and right as if debating the said odds. “My guess is none.”
“I don’t know what you did to help Angela win, but it took everything from you. I honestly thought you were dead. Even your pulse was barely there, Allie.” Tears glistened in my friend’s eyes and a fist squeezed my chest. “We can wait a bit longer and try later maybe? You should rest more.”
“I feel okay, I promise.” Crouching so we can be level eyed I took her hand in mine. “Let me try open it and I will tell you everything. I doubt anything will stop me but who knows.”
Char nodded since she couldn’t talk by the looks of it. Her lips were pressed in a thin line whitening at the edges. I wanted to slap Angela for stressing my friend out like that. She really was an ungrateful bitch.
“You can ask, you know.” Char mumbled conversationally and when I looked back at her over my shoulder she pretended to straighten out the permanent wrinkles on her dress.
“Ask what?” Facing the door I pressed my hand on it and closed my eyes. “I can see that you are banged up but okay. I can totally live with that. After running through a forest hanging off of trees like monkeys, and fighting crazed vampires and hyenas it is to be expected to be battered and bruised. No?”
“I think it worked.” She said barely above whisper.
Whatever spells they had on the door were vibrating under my palm strong enough to warm up my skin. Like cats they rubbed on my power seeking attention, or luring me into false safety was more like it. I focused on the power trying to latch onto it and destroy it that way but it kept slipping away and being elusive. After the few times I kept at it I shoved away from the door in frustration.
“I think I’m going to go through it.” I told Char not turning around to look at her. “What worked?”
I took a deep breath and got ready to speak the spell. “À se...”
“The oath that was binding Dimitri and Angela broke.” My friend’s tone was soft almost tentative but I heard it so loud the spell I was going to cast lodged in my throat and choked me. “She didn’t sound thrilled about it, in case you were curious.”
