Page 36 of Stolen Oath
Char nudged me with her arm to show me she had a talisman in her hand. I blinked at it not understanding and she jabbed it in my palm losing patience with me. In her other hand she had one of her potions gripped tightly between her fingers ready to pitch it at the back of Damian’s head. It felt wrong to allow her to attack him so I reached over and snatched it from her.
If the Druid was going to feel betrayed I rather he aimed that at me not Char.
I cost the two of them too much already.
“Whatever you are planning, I suggest you wait until we exit the tunnel, Miss McCullough.” Damian said, almost cordially.
My arm was already cocked back so I could toss the potion at him but Char grabbed my forearm to stop me. She didn’t say anything only shook her head barely perceptively and since I’ve never known my best friend to be overly cautious I froze immediately. My throat tightened with such strong emotions I almost choked on it.
How hard must it be for Char to be willing to fight Damian?
Not that she remembers what she felt for him but I’ve seen her steal glances occasionally. It’s still there. Their connection. I know it as well as I know my own name.
I lowered my hand and jerked my head once in a nod to tell Char I wouldn’t do anything to the Druid. She was still frowning and watching his retreating back as if it had all the secrets of the universe.
“Please don’t act impulsively, and hear them out before you decide what you want to do.” This time Damian turned to glance at us over his shoulder and with that cryptic comment stepped out of the tunnel.
“I actually want to turn around and go sit back in that basement after that comment.” I screeched to a halt and yanked Char back with me.
“If they have a seer, they already know what we would do.” My bestie mumbled distractedly while searching her bag.
“We don’t even know if it’s the witches waiting for us out there.” Gnawing on the inside of my mouth I watched her turn her purse this way and that. “Does this mean they have Angela and Dimitri? And why is Damian so nonchalant about it?”
“Here, put this on.” Char pulled a necklace over my head, the talisman dangling heavy on it. “It won’t stop an assault of magic but it’ll hold it off long enough for you to find cover.”
“And you?” I was already pulling my head out of it when she stopped me.
“I have one, too.” She showed me the same one in her other hand.
“I’m really not in the mood for this shit.” My grumbling had my bestie snickering. “I’d like to be put on time out for like a month. I’ll reconsider joining the shit show after that.”
“Wouldn’t it be nice?” She said dreamily and despite myself I laughed.
Chances are we were getting captured or killed.
“Ready?” I took a deep breath before taking her hand.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” With a reassuring squeeze she squared her shoulders and lead us out of the tunnel.
We were both a mess with matted hairs and sticks and leaves sticking out everywhere but the sorceress looked every bit the goddess she claimed herself to be. I on the other hand shuffled behind her slouching and hating life. My whole body hurt and I was sick and tired of everything.
What I needed was a week-long sleep, a spa day and about seventeen cups of coffee. Why seventeen you’d ask? Because why the hell not? I could die at any moment; might as well enjoy what time I had left.
Char stepped out into the darkening evening. I mistook the light from afar as the sun coming up, but it seemed it was going down. Quite appropriate for the situation. What waited for us outside on the other hand was not.
Women stood in a semi-circle facing the opening in the ground from which we emerged. In all stages of life, they all had one thing in common, their long hairs nearly touching the small of their backs. One of the reasons I kept my hair above my shoulders in length. Witches saw their tresses as extensions of themselves and no witch worth her magic would allow scissors anywhere near her hair.
There was so many of them it was overwhelming and I had to fight my instinct to run. That’s why when Char stopped to face them and snapped her back straight like a soldier I wobbled on my pumps next to her and gazed tiredly at the bunch. Not surprisingly, the same woman that was in our shop looking for a candle before the hyenas showed up, stood at the front of them.
“The Dreamcatcher.” The whisper spread like a cloud of buzzing bees over the group and they all watched us with wide eyes, some of then leaning to whisper things to the person next to them.
Damian was to the side, his face expressionless and his body at ease. It should’ve told us there was no danger, since he was a friend but what my eyes were seeing said otherwise.
“Miss McCullough.” The lady stepped forward. “We would like you to come with us.”
Rubbernecking around told me the mansion was at our back far enough for them to have time to escape if the wolves decided to attack but not far enough for me not to see the outlines of the people watching through the windows.
“Listen lady, it’s been a rough month or so and I have blisters on my feet from these dumb pumps. If I knew, which I should have now that I think about it, I would’ve come to the party wearing flipflops. So, go ahead and try to kill me because I’m not going anywhere with you or anyone else. I’m tired.”
