"Don't worry. I swear I'll get you out of here if anything was to go wrong. You're in good hands, Red."
He gives me a wink, and then he vaporizes to disappear into the darkness. In all my life, I never thought I'd be playing bait for night stalkers while my rescue lay in the hands of a dark user.
I'm either incredibly stupid or insanely brave. I'm not betting on the latter of the two.
I hear the rustle of the limbs, and I take a steady breath to calm my rampaging nerves. In an effort to play the part, I start playing the prey. I just hope I don't play the prey too well.
"Is anyone out there? Please, someone?" The fear in my voice is authentic, for I'm scared out of my frigging mind right now.
I'm sure they can hear my mortal heartbeat pounding against my chest as it tries to explode from the anticipation. Then I see them - glowing eyes in the distance. They keep fading in and out of sight as they start toying with me.
"Hello? Someone? Anyone?" My voice breaks this time. The squeaky pitch exuded is unintentional, but it still goes with my character.
Little Red Riding Hood only had one damn wolf to worry about. I've counted five sets of glowing eyes so far, and there were only supposed to be three. Already this plan is amiss.
Gage, you better not fuck this up.
I almost wish he could read minds right now. I'd tell him I changed my mind, and get me the hell out of this sacrificial placement.
"A lost lamb?" an eerie voice pronounces, but it's alone. Where are the other four?
"Can you help me? I don't know how, but I got turned around," I murmur to the vacant, dark air, trying to find the place where the voice came from.
My breath is stolen as the glowing blue eyes suddenly find mine - directly in front of me. I would gasp, but the painful air is trapped deep in my lungs, refusing to budge.
"Pretty girl," he breathes, playing with me all the more. "Let's see how pretty you scream."
I do scream. I can't help it. When at last the sound finds my lungs, I can't stop screeching a terrified shriek, praying the action is about to go down.
He wasn't supposed to touch me, but his hand is clamping my mouth just before my back slams the tree. Just when I think the game is over, he's flying backwards and crushing the tree behind him, causing the giant oak to creak, crack, and crash.
"Fucking trap!" another voice screeches, and within a blink, the five start rushing away.
Four others from Gage's mystery, masked brigade come into sight and start aiding in Gage's attempt to keep the night stalkers from fleeing.
I breathe out in relief as they are thrown back toward the circle the guys have prepared. Slumping down against the tree, I silently watch, my heart still pounding. Though I want to help, it's best not to reveal to them I'm a witch with mortal blood still co
ursing through my veins.
Blue balls of energy shoot free from Gage's hands, striking the snarling bloodsuckers. I cringe when I see the dark blood shooting free, and I'm forced to turn my head when the gruesome sights become unbearable.
Then I hear Gage shouting, "Now!"
I look up in time to see one of the guys slamming down a stone to complete a circle. A red, almost blinding light shoots into the sky from the circle, shedding light on all the curious forest creatures that instantly take cover.
I've only ever heard of trap nets such as this. I've never actually seen one for myself. It's incredible.
The night stalkers scramble around, but as soon as one of them tries to leap out, they're slammed back into the circle from the magic hidden inside the stones.
"Don't bother," Gage says as he runs a hand through his dark hair, pushing it away from his face after the ruffling fight. He quickly pulls his hood back down, though now it seems pointless.
At least his face is still well hidden.
The night stalker who had me pinned doesn't seem very frazzled, or even worried about the situation. That scares the shit out of me. How can someone remain calm while facing imminent death?
"You have no idea who you're messing with," the night stalker snarls, his tone threatening.
"Don't I?" Gage taunts. "You're Isolis, leader of this coven. I admit we were just expecting two to be following your lead. I didn't realize you could find four to follow you on a single kill."