Madison could feel the change. She became dizzy and started to cough. Matt started to chant again, and she could feel the smoke inside her responding to it. Then, as if she was in a fog, she felt herself slip away.
Chapter Nine
Madison knew something wasn’t right. She could see Matt kneeling in front of her, arms raised and chanting. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She tried to move. For the first time since she entered the circle, he wasn’t holding her, but her body wouldn’t cooperate.
She couldn’t turn her head and look around. She was helpless and could just stare at the man who had once been her best friend. Matt lowered his arms and opened his eyes, the deep black depths penetrating through her chilling her body.
“All you had to do was follow directions,” he told her.
Madison couldn’t respond and he smiled, amused. “Sucks, doesn’t it?”
If she could have panicked, she would have. Instead she just watched as he pierced the tip of his finger and added his blood to where hers had landed. Even though they were inside, she felt the wind raise her hair off her shoulders.
The door slammed open behind her, but she couldn’t turn her head. The others around the circle scrambled away, right before a large grey-and-white wolf flew through the room.
Madison knew it was Tom but couldn’t call out to him. He cornered the others against the back wall as movement to her right alerted her. She had to wait until he moved into her eye line, but she could have collapsed with relief as Dante stood next to the circle.
Dante tried to walk between the candles but stopped. He looked at her, confused.
“Sorry, vampire, but you can’t get in here,” Matt told him, laughing.
Dante slammed his fist in the air, meeting the invisible barrier.
“ Madison, are you okay?” he asked, clearly frustrated.
Madison couldn’t speak or even shake her head. She didn’t know what was wrong with her.
“She’s just fine,” Matt answered for her before she felt the dagger he’d used to cut her hand at her neck.
She watched as Dante changed in front of her. His eyes began to glow a moment before his teeth lengthened and he hissed.
“Bad vampire,” Matt taunted. “But I have to say I was expecting you.”
He moved his free hand, and the curtains in the room opened. Dante hissed again and covered his face. As he retreated to a dark corner, Matt laughed.
Commotion echoed through the room until Madison saw the wolf land hard beside the circle. A dart in his side showed how ready they really had been.
“Now you have to make a decision. Help me and I’ll let you all go. Don’t and I’ll kill both your lovers and your friend.”
Madison didn’t have a choice. She would have died for Angie, and she would die to make sure Dante and Tom were okay.”
“I take it you’ll do what I want you to now.” He moved the knife down. “Now I need more blood so where should I take it from?”
Madison managed to get her eyes closed. She didn’t want to know. She felt the cut on the same hand he’d opened earlier. As the blood left her body, she felt her limbs start to tingle.
Madison moved her fingers.
“Pretty neat huh? As I drain your body of blood, you will slowly regain possession of your body.” He laughed next to her ear. “But I’ll let you in on a secret. You won’t get it all back before I have all your blood.”
The blade sliced into her leg. Her hoarse scream echoed in her head.
“Hurry, the vampire’s trying to get loose.” Another voice came from behind her.
Madison focused on her body, trying to bring it back to her faster. She ignored the next cut and the next. She brought a picture in her head of a page in the book she remembered seeing. It had to do with healing.
Her grandmother had never let her practice that one, saying she wasn’t ready, but that had only made her want it that much more. She had memorised that spell when she was only twelve.
A sharp pain in her right side had her flinching, but she refocused and chanted the spell over and over in her head. She felt heat flow through her hands and legs.
Madison waited until Matt moved closer to her hand. When he was within reach, she opened her eyes. She could hear Dante struggling behind her, and she could see Tom’s leg twitch. It was now or never.
Before Matt could cut her again, she grabbed his wrist. He jerked his arm in surprise, but Madison was ready for him. She elbowed him, causing his head to snap back. Breaking out of his hold, she stood and stumbled to the edge of the candles.
She knocked one over, causing the flame to spread and dance away. Madison glanced down at the fire and stepped away, knocking into another one.
She heard a yowl and turned in time to see Tom stand on his four legs. He growled and, Madison looked around to the fast spreading fire. The others in the room backed away before making a run for the door. Dante screamed in rage and grabbed for her, lifting her from the flame.
“Angie,” she whispered, her throat raw.
Dante pulled her over to her friend and easily crushed the cuffs that held her. Angie clawed at the necklace, drawing more blood. Dante managed to push aside her hands and remove it.
Madison jumped as she felt something touch her leg. The soft fur that came in contact with her skin had her relaxing quickly. She buried a hand in his neck.
“My heroes.”
Dante picked up Angie in his arms and held her close to his chest.. Using Tom as a brace, Madison started forward as well. Before they could make it more than a few steps, Matt blocked their way.
“Matt,” Madison cried, wobbling on her feet.
“This isn’t finished,” he said, holding the knife up. “I haven’t come this far to let you ruin everything.”
The room spun and Madison gripped Tom’s fur to ground herself. “Let it go.” she told her brother tiredly.
He screamed and dove for her. Tom lunged but not before the dagger sliced her one last time. As Madison fell, the last thing she saw was Tom’s teeth around her brother’s neck.
Chapter Ten
Madison opened her eyes and found herself in a small hospital room with only a lamp off to the side for any light. Looking around, she saw the blinds were closed tightly, and the figures of two men in chairs beside her told her she wasn’t alone.
She tried to sit up and hissed in pain as her stomach pulled.
“Stay still,” Dante commanded from beside her.
Madison looked over to him. His face was in the shadows, and she reached for him. She needed to touch him. To feel for herself that he was okay.
Dante leaned forward and grasped her hand. As his face moved into the light, she saw the angry red burns that covered him.
“Oh my God!” Madison cried and tried to move again.
Hands held her shoulders down. “Calm down.” Tom’s voice penetrated through her panic. He sat on the side of the bed as Dante held her hands between both of his.
With her free hand, she brought it to the side of his face. “I’m so sorry.”
Dante leaned farther towards her and kissed her gently. “This is nothing. I will heal, sweetheart. You are the one who was hurt.”
Madison couldn’t stop the tears. It seemed she’d cried so much lately. “How? This couldn’t have happened from just the window.”
Dante sighed and looked over to Tom. Tom rubbed her shoulders and bent down to kiss her. Just as softly as Dante had.
“It was a long drive to your grandparents. And he was in direct sunlight when he entered and exited the house,” Tom told her.
Madison covered Dante’s hand with hers and looked at the other man. “And you…are you okay.”
He smiled and Madison couldn’t help but return it.
“No worse for wear.”
“And Angie?”
“Already healed. Shifters heal quickly, honey.”
Madison shifted on the bed. She had one last question. “My brother?”
Tom looked away, so Madison turned to Dante.
Dante shook his head. “I’m so sorry.”
Madison sob caught in her throat. Tom started to pull away, but she caught his hand. “Not your fault. He was going to kill me.”
Tom met her eyes again. “I…”
Ignoring the pain, she leaned towards him. “Not your fault. Hold me please.” She looked back to Dante. “Please, both of you hold me.”
Madison was surrounded by arms and she relaxed into them. Taking the strength they offered her.
Epilogue
Madison walked into the cabin with a bounce in her step and a plan in her mind. She had closed the store early and needed to prepare for the night.
