“Oh, the little one has magic,” the vampire cooed, starting to circle us. I moved, keeping Lucia behind me. I made sureto keep my shoulders back and stand tall even though I was terrified.
“If you come near me, I’ll use it,” I warned.
“I’d like to see you try,” she growled just a second before she ran at us. I pulled my hand up, forcing my magic out. I watched as it slammed into the vampire, knocking her back a few feet. She screamed, and I forced it forward.
My arms shook, and my vision started to blur, but I didn’t stop. If I were going to save both of us, I needed to do this.
The vampire screamed even louder. The sound echoed around the woods. I remembered being that small person, wishing I could save the people from them, and now I was that person.
Chapter 24 - Westley
I was looking around, trying to find out where the warning was even coming from, when I felt something else. There was a strong pull, a new scent that filled the air. I knew that scent belonged to Gabriella; it was her magic. I knew it almost as well as I knew my own body.
“What is that?” Kaleb asked, pausing next to me.
“That’s Gabriella’s magic. But she’s at home. Asher told me he was there and going to meet up with me for breakfast.” Or she was supposed to be at home. Had something happened at home? But it wasn’t coming from that direction. It was coming from the woods.
“It’s coming from the woods, though.”
Belrose was a mess, and people were looking around, trying to figure out what was going on. People were inside buildings looking outside the windows. No one seemed to know what was going on.
I moved around people, my eyes glued to the woods. I felt that pull continue, worrying building deep in my gut. “Something isn’t right.”
“Westley!” I turned as I heard Asher coming down the road toward us. I expected to see at least Lucia or Hazel with him, but he was alone. My stomach dipped.
“What is going on? Where is Gabriella?” I asked in a rush.
“She and Lucia are gone. I can’t find them.”
Shit. I knew something was wrong.
I turned back toward the woods and hurried. I tried to shake off the worry, but it only grew. How the hell had she gotten away from Asher? What was going on?
And Lucia was gone. Gabriella mentioned she was worried about her doing something. What if she were causing all of these problems? And we’d had her in our house.
I was running now, and I could hear Asher yelling after me as I headed into the woods. I scanned the area, taking in the white sheet of snow. But I saw prints heading in. There was only one set, though.
I kept moving, following the footsteps but not stepping on them. The woods grew quiet, almost like the wind didn’t even want to be around. Asher was getting closer. “Westley!”
“How did this happen?” I snapped, turning to him. “You had one job! I asked that you help watch after her!”
Asher froze and looked at me, stunned. “She went to her room to cool off. Lucia went to talk to her, but she didn’t come back. They both snuck out.”
“And why didn’t you watch them closer!”
“I was giving her space! How was I supposed to know she was going to sneak out?”
“You were supposed to protect her!” I yelled.
A scream erupted, and we both turned and took off up the incline. As we peered over the hill, my eyes widened in horror. Gabriella. She was on the ground, her hair splayed out around her. She wasn’t moving, and Lucia was hovering over her.
I took off, running down the hill. “Gabriella!”
Lucia looked up at me. I could see her mouth moving, but I didn’t hear what she was saying. All I knew was I couldn’t trusther. I should have listened to Gabriella when she told me and done something right away.
“Let her go!” I yanked Gabriella from her hold, shoving her away. Lucia fumbled back, looking at me with wide eyes.
“Westley…” Asher stopped next to me.
