Chapter 22: 22: Tit for Tat

Fiona

My heart filled with horror as I looked at Rowan and Rian, who were both dazed and covered in angry red rashes. Meanwhile, Cormac stood unbothered, with the dust still floating around him, reiterating that he used a silver alloy. After my crash course in Werewolves, I knew silver was their enemy.

Cormac grinned down at Rian, who was still withering on the floor. Rowan had fared better than his brother and charged my evil father, punching him in the face. He stumbled backward, hitting the sealed door and sliding to the ground as blood spurted from his mouth and nose.

I clung to Kat’s hand as we watched the spectacle unfold. Rian pushed himself from the floor, coughing, and landed a blow with his boot to Cormac’s ribs as he sat slumped over, dazed.

“Are you guys okay?” I asked, terrified.

Rowan nodded but pushed me away. “The silver dust caught us off guard.” He covered his mouth, coughing.

“Cormac has Kyra, and it’s all my fault. I’m so sorry…” I tried to stop my flow of tears. “What are we going to do? We’re stuck in this vaulted room and what about Kyra? And we can’t leave Kat!”

“Fiona!” Rowan snapped, grabbing me by my shoulders. “Get a hold of yourself. You’re hysterical and we must keep calm to survive.” He glared into my eyes, his expression hard. “Ask Kat if she knows how to get out of this fuckin’ room.” I nodded and tried to calm my erratic breathing.

“The bastard is coming around, Rowan. I may need some help.” Rian stood over Cormac, ready to take him back down.

“Sorry. Go help Rian. I’ll ask Kat about the door.” As I started toward Kat, I noticed a large ornate frame encased in glass, showcasing a bow and arrow to the left of the open metal cabinet. Pictures of me posing with my bow and arrow beside Cormac throughout the years dotted the walls. When I was young, Cormac took me outside on our expansive property and taught me how to shoot. It was the only time he spent any quality time with me. While I found the sport boring—I was more into fashion, reading, and music, especially strong females like Janis Joplin, Kelly Clarkson, Etta James, and Taylor Swift—I still wanted him to be proud of me. After years of practice, I was almost as good as Cormac.

A stone-like weight settled in my stomach, leaving me sick as I realized my father had been grooming, not spending quality time with me. He was preparing me to become a hunter like him. A nervous laugh threatened to escape my chest at his audacity and my naivety. I raced back to Kat, a crazy plan forming in my mind. “Please tell me you know how to get out of this godforsaken room.”

“If the guys can keep Cormac contained, I can try,” she said, nodding, staring into space. Kat appeared to be in shock from realizing Cormac had Kyra and her mother was the Queen of Fairies. While I empathized with her, Rowan’s warning echoed in my mind, and I shook her by the shoulders. “Earth to Kat… I know you’re upset, and so am I, but pull yourself together. I’ve got an idea and I need you prepared to get us out of this lab.”

Her head jerked up in surprise and she regarded me with focused eyes. “What are you planning?”

“I don’t have time to explain. Just be ready.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I heard a scuffle from behind. Cormac had eluded both brothers and made a run for the cabinet. Rian grabbed his ankle, but the notorious hunter was agile for his age. He staggered to his feet and grabbed a handful of vials before dropping some onto the slick gray concrete floor.

A strong odor wafted in the air, evoking the primeval scent of wood, loamy earth, wet moss, tangy pine, and a sweet floral aroma I couldn’t recall.

I knew it was now or never. “Grab him,” I yelled and rushed to the bow and arrow hanging on the wall.

“Seems they don’t like wolfsbane…” Cormac gave a harsh, bitter laugh, his rheumy eyes flat. “It’s one of my favorite poisons.” He uncapped a vial and threw the liquid at Rian, who shrieked. The sound was feral and terrifying. I turned and saw Rian clasping his face, a strange black blood covered his hands.

“No!” I roared, filled with horror as tears sprung from my eyes. Get it together! Rowan’s words brought me back to reality, and I rushed straight for the bow and arrow. I shattered the glass, framing the bow with my fist. Despite the loud crash, Cormac continued punching Rowan, who was unable to defend himself because of the wolfsbane’s effect.

“Now, Kat!” I glanced over my shoulder, and she gave a swift nod. Keeping my attention off Rowan was difficult, but adrenaline compelled me forward. With the strung bow in hand, I grabbed the arrow and studied Cormac, my hands sweating from the stress. I watched my father kick Rowan in the ribs with satisfaction, enjoying being in control while Rian still suffered on the floor.

I adjusted my legs and pulled the bowstring taut, breathing in and out, and zeroed in on the bastard before taking my shot. The arrow hit Cormac in the neck and he fell to the ground, wailing from the pain.

Rian jumped to his feet and helped Rowen, while I sprinted toward Kat at the door.

Cormac withered in misery, holding the wound, as blood gushed from his neck. “What have you done?” he yelled. “I’m your father and they are the enemy.”

“They are your enemy, not mine! And you are not my father. Not anymore,” I shouted.

Kat was occupied playing an old voicemail from Cormac, hoping to trick the voice-activated lock. “Katrina,” he whispered, crawling toward her. “Think about what you are doing. I loved you so much… Don’t turn your back on—”

I kicked him in the face, knocking him unconscious, and dug through his coat pockets until I found what I was searching for. “Bingo.” I held up the card that controlled the entrance and exit of the lab.

“Let’s go!” I declared and caught the astounded expression on all their faces. “Well, come on. We have to get you guys home and to the healer.”

“I’m already healing. Rian will be fine, too…” Rowan glanced at his brother, frowning. “But he requires some help.” We left the lab and Cormac behind. I peered between the brothers and noticed he was right. “It’s a werewolf thing, lass.”

I smiled and closed the door, locking Cormac in with my heart lodged in my throat.

“Whatever it is, I’m glad. I was so worried.” A deep sigh escaped my lips as I took one last look around my childhood home. My father, the man I grew up idolizing, was pure evil, the worst kind of monster.

We all ran, and with every step, I felt my heart drumming in my ears as my bosom heaved. I kept looking over my shoulder, fearing some new threat or enemy would emerge from around some corner and take us back to Quinn’s lab.

But we made it to the SUV, leaving the danger behind, and I almost felt relieved until I thought about Kyra.

Rowen started the vehicle and the smell of blood, sweat, and flora filled the inside of the car from their burned skin.

“Shit,” Rowen shouted, slamming his hand on the dashboard. “Shit, shit, shit!” Silence engulfed the SUV.

After giving him some time, I reached over and touched his arm. “I’m so sorry…”

“Don’t. None of this is your fault,” Rowen responded in a firm voice.

“But he has Kyra! And you both could have died.”

“We all knew what we were doing, going in,” Rian announced from the back seat and I turned, regarding him. Even with the smeared black blood and red whelps covering his skin, he gave me a reassuring smile.

“Why didn’t you guys want to search the house for Kyra?” Kat asked, staring at Rian seated beside her.

“He would never try hiding her there,” Rian answered.

“I’m the reason he was able to get to her. I should have listened to you, Rowan, and stayed with Kyra. Can you ever forgive me?” I heard Kat’s sniffles and looked back, observing tears pouring down her flushed cheeks.

“Kat, if I wanted you to stay with Kyra, you would have stayed. It was my fault. Don’t antagonize yourself over my shortcomings.” Rowan slammed his palm on the steering wheel.

We traveled on in silence until Rowan pulled into a long gravel driveway and the morning sun passed behind the clouds. “What are you doing here?” Rian asked and groaned.

“I will be fine, but you aren’t healing, bro. You got the brunt of the poison and we need her help.” Rowan peeked over his shoulder at Rian with a hard glare. “Just wait in the car and I’ll see if Elma is home.”

“I can’t stand witches. Elma’s okay, but I despise her granddaughter, Viona,” Rian complained. “She’s that crazy one from the other night.”

“Well, we need a witch, jackass, and Elma is an old, kind, and powerful witch. Plus, we need Viona now more than ever.” Rowan parked in front of a thatched-roof cottage that looked straight out of a yonder-year fairytale. Ivy covered most of the house, and weeds were taking over the garden, strangling the remaining plants and flowers. “I’ll be right back. Rian, keep an eye out and honk the horn if there’s trouble.”

“Aye.” Rian sat up alert. “My senses are still intact, despite my wounds.”

My ears perked, and I stared out the window, watching the sky turn gray. “What’s going on? Is someone following us? And why is it getting dark?”

“It looks like it’s about to storm,” Kat said, gazing out the back of the SUV.

“There’s nothing to worry about, but it’s not a storm. Sit tight, I’ll be back.” Rowan got out and disappeared inside the creepy-looking cottage.

Within minutes, the early morning sky was now pitch black, and I saw Rowan exit the cottage, jogging toward the vehicle with his hands full. As soon as his ass hit the seat, he locked the doors and placed some small glass jars in the center console. He took a handkerchief, dousing it with a swamp-colored liquid from one of the containers, and handed it to Rian. “Elma hasn’t seen Viona and doesn’t know where she is. But, I’ve alerted the pack about Kyra.”

“Good.” Rian wiped his face with the wet cloth and a sizzling sound resonated throughout the vehicle. He hissed in pain before a groan of relief passed from his lips.

“Are you going to be okay now?” I asked, grimacing.

“Yeah, but wolfsbane is lethal to wolves. It was eating my skin. We got to get rid of these clothes, bro.”

Rowan glanced back at Rian, and I saw an ominous look pass between them. “Yes, let’s do it now.”

They hopped from the vehicle and Rowan opened the back hatch, pulling out a duffle bag and supplies. “They are gonna strip naked, and I’m so upset that I’m not even tempted to peek.” Kat frowned. “This is all so unreal.”

“I don’t know what to feel, say, or think, Kat. We are lucky to be alive, but this whole day…” The words died on my tongue and I sighed.

“Yeah, I know. We need to discuss it, but I have to process everything first.” Kat let out a deep sigh matching mine. “And why is it dark? I’m so freaked out.”

Before I could respond, the smell of smoke caused us to turn, and we stared in awe as the brothers threw their wolfsbane-stained clothing into a raging fire of intense blue, green, and purple flames.

“I think it’s safe to say that this day just keeps getting more bizarre.” Kat kept her gaze on the fire.

“And I think we should stop being stunned by all this, since it seems to be our new norm,” I said right before the guys hopped back into the vehicle, leaving me to eat my words. My mouth dropped open, and my eyes widened in shock as I stared at them. “This can’t be real. You are both completely healed.”

Rowan chuckled. “We heal a lot faster than humans, but with wolfsbane, depending on the severity, it requires a special antidote. Elma’s brew was potent stuff, inducing Rian’s skin to heal within minutes.”

“Why was that fire green, blue, and purple?” Kat asked, brows hitting her hairline.

“It was a fatuous fire,” Rian explained. “We used it to burn our clothes, and it keeps certain people or things from tracking us.”

“Are we being followed?” I stared at Rowan, waiting for a response, but he ignored me and turned the SUV around, leaving Elma’s cottage. “Rowan…”

“Let’s just get back to the house, lass.” He gave me a tight smile. “Rian and I need to shower and set up an emergency council meeting. We have to make plans with the pack to find Kyra.”

As we traveled back down the dark, long gravel drive, I spotted a pair of yellow glowing eyes watching us.