As if I conjured them with my thoughts, I hear the two vampires just outside. The witches, unfortunately, hear them as well.
There’s a scuffle, a shout, and then nothing.
It takes several minutes before I see two large bodies being dragged into the same cell, and all hope that I had of us getting through this are dashed.
Maverick and Hendricks are strung up just like I am with their wrists bound above their head and legs spread and clamped at the ankles. They’re passed out, their heads lolling and eyes closed. Hendricks is sporting a black eye and split lip from where his lip piercing once sat. Blood dribbles down hischin, pooling onto his shirt. Maverick isn’t much better off. His nose looks broken and he’s sporting a burn across his bare chest, along with claw marks that he must have sustained in the fight with the werewolves judging on their subtle healing.
It seems to take hours before they become conscious. And when they do, they’re angry as hell.
“What the fuck?” Maverick yells, looking around frantically. “What happened?”
“The witches happened,” I say, seething with fury.
“I fucking knew it!” He roars.
“The hell did my shirt go?” He asks.
“Must have lost it in the fight,” Hendricks murmurs. He spits and then groans.
“What the fuck do they want with us in here?” Maverick asks.
“It’s not just us that they want,” I tell them.
“What do you mean?” He asks.
“They’re planning to take Lydia to use for a curse. This witch, Melinda, has all the witches under some spell, making them act like her flying monkeys to do her dirty work. She plans to kill Lydia tonight and siphon all our powers and life-force for herself.”
My words land like a bomb detonating.
Both Maverick and Hendricks try pulling at their chains, but it’s no use. We’re stuck.
“How the hell are we supposed to get out of here and help her?” Hendricks asks, still trying to pull his hands free.
“I don’t know.”
I wish I had the answers or a way to warn Lydia. The familiar feeling of despair clings to my chest. I’ve failed us all by not eradicating Melinda in the first place. Had I made sure I had the right witch, we wouldn’t be here right now.
It’s all my damn fault.
Maybe everyone would have been better off if I’d died all those years ago.
“Jack!” Hendricks yells and I realize they must have been talking to me, but I missed it.
“What?”
“Did they say anything else? Anything you can remember that might have been helpful?”
“The only thing I can tell you is that Melinda is the same witch that gave me a tonic that first turned me into the monster I am now, the night my family died.”
They look as stunned as I felt.
“Didn’t you kill her?” Maverick asks after a heavy moment.
“I thought I did. Turns out that it was her sister. And now we all might pay for my mistake.”
“This isn’t your fault, Jack. It’s hers.”
I hear his words, and on some level, I know it’s true, but I can’t help but beat myself up for this. The last thing I want is for any of us, but Lydia especially, to pay for my fuck up.
