Bell - The Culling (Book 2): The Hollow

The Hollow
by A. C. Bell

2019 A. C. Bell

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Gone

An array of pinks and purples lit the stratosphere above the horizon, melding with the rich darkening blue of the sky overhead. Stars were already sparkling by the dozens with no city light pollution to obstruct them. Snowfall had encrusted a layer of white cotton over the forest and glittered at my feet in the moonlight. The enchanting beauty of the scene was not lost on me, but I was not in the emotional state to appreciate it. Two streaks of neglected tears had crystallized on my cheeks in the dropping temperature. I shivered and wrapped my arms around my knees for warmth.

Dads cabin sat thirty feet behind me. I had occupied this spot frequently in the eight weeks since Id been abducted by a troubled sorcerer. Ian Brackett had followed in the footsteps of his bigoted father and had taken me with plans of curing me of my newly discovered dhampir blood with an experimental serum. But Ian had recruited a dangerous source of help to secure the success of the kidnapping and in the process of rescuing me, my good friend Peter had gone missing. I was far enough from the edge of the drop off that I wouldnt slip and fall, even with the steady decline of the hill, but close enough to see the glossy surface of a strand of Vermonts Otter Creek below; Close enough to see the spot where Peter had climbed from its frozen depths to the other bank and vanished into the black woods, peeling off his shirt so he could transform into a wolf.

The memory of Peter being pulled over the edge by Gabriel and down into the black water still haunted my sleep. No matter how I tried, I could think of no reason why Peter wouldnt have come home or contacted us in some way after all this time. If he was alright, why would he stay away? But I couldnt give up on him, either. My frame of reference with the supernatural was basically non-existent, but even though Gabriel was a terrifying cynocephalususually shortened to cynephi in the supernatural communitythat didnt mean Peter couldnt beat him. One of these days, he would emerge from those trees with a broad grin, happy to be back home. He had to.

I didnt jump when footsteps crunched through the snow behind me. Moments later a water-resistant wool-lined blanket was draped over my shoulders to protect me from the crisp December air. Raiden lowered himself to the ground at my side. His dark umber hair was neatly groomed, as always, and the moonlight almost seemed to set his skin aglow in stark contrast. Unlike his usual wardrobe, comprised of slacks and button-up shirts, he wore jeans and a regular t-shirt beneath his coat. His thin lips were pulled together in concern.

Nikki told me I might find you here, he said softly. I clenched the blanket in my fingers and pulled it tight around myself. Please say something. Let me help.

Thank you for coming to check on me, I said evasively.

Raiden wrapped an arm around my shoulders and I rested my head on his shoulder. Of course. His whisper was so faint that it almost sounded like the breeze, even with him so close.

I took comfort in his presence and the warmth of his essence. We sat like that for a long while. I even started to drift to sleep as the moon rose higher.

The glint of two orbs reflecting the moonlight caught my eye across the river. I straightened, fighting my drowsiness off. Could it be? No. His eyes only glinted when he was a wolf and these eyes were far too high off the ground for that. A cold chill traced my spine made me tense. The creature was blending in so well that I almost didnt see it. It appeared male, but I wouldnt categorize it as human. Dark hair contrasted with its lifeless grey skin. It was watching us.

Raiden, whats that?

What?

He followed my gaze and opened his mouth to answer, but something wretched him from the ground hard. I spun to see him roll across the ground, leaving dark stripes where his body scraped the snow away. An instant later, something cold grasped my throat and dragged me to my feet. I couldnt find the air to scream in surprise, it squeezed so tight. It hauled me backward and my back slammed violently into the trunk of a tree. The adrenaline now flooding my veins made me shaky, but also activated the supernatural strength my dhampir blood gave me. I tried to pull the hand from my throat, but the hand was frighteningly strong.

The woman glaring down at meand Im 58, so that doesnt happen often unless a woman is in heelswas at least six feet tall. Her irises were such a light shade of pink that at first, I mistook them for white and her hair was dark like the males. Dark grey veins streaked her pale grey skin like vines of ink and the creases of her lips were blackened. Her lips curled back in a hateful snarl, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth protruding from grey gums.

Viesci, she spat.

Spots started to obstruct my vision. I forced as much strength as I could into my fist and struck her in the jaw. The blow seemed to surprise her more than anything, but her grip loosened. I thrust my palm up into her nose which managed to make her stumble back a few steps, but she wasnt far enough away to be safe. Despite my instinct to fight, a stronger instinct told me not to get any closer to her. I was outmatched.

Raiden darted behind her as she took a step toward me and wrapped his arms around her. A golden aura started to pass from her to Raiden and her muscles started to relax. As the light dimmed, her knees started to tremble as if she were having trouble finding the strength to stay upright.

Rage contorted her face. She pried his arms off of her and turned. She threw her hand into his abdomen with such force that he flew several feet to the right, landing poorly on the ground again. She gave her head a violent shake as if to shake dizziness away. Her white irises turned on me. At least, until a deafening sound cracked the air and a blast of energy hit her full-on, a brilliant beam of golden energy. The blow sent her flying back. She hit the ground with a weighted thud and left a deep imprint in the snow and dirt. She was heavy . Way heavier than made sense even at her height. Before she could catch herself, she slid to the edge and tumbled over, gravity and the snow working against her hefty density.

Mouth agape and mind stalled, I looked to find Raiden, the only source it could have come from. He was leaning against a nearby aspen for support, his hand still outstretched toward the beast. But she had also dealt him a devastating blow and he gripped his ribs, face contorted in pain. He was trembling with exhaustion.

Adeline, I cant...

I barely heard him speak. Raiden fell to a knee and I bolted to help him but I didnt get to him before he fell forward into the snow.

Please be okay, I pleaded as I knelt beside him.

His face was still when I rolled him over, unconscious. There was no point in checking his pulse since lamia didnt have one and I didnt have time to think about what to do. Instead, I wrapped his arm over my shoulders and used my strength to lift him and carried him quickly around the house. My fingers trembled when I plucked my keys from my pocket and I lay Raiden as carefully as I could in the back seat of my 1966 Dodge Charger, Farrah. I think I bonked his head once.

Im sorry, I'm sorry, Im sorry, I muttered as I folded his legs inside.

I continued to apologize as I shut the door and bolted around to the drivers side. He wasn't awake yet. That was dangerous, I knew. Did the beam of energy have to do with his unconsciousness? We were screeching down the dirt driveway when a dark shadow bolted around the side of the house.