Saving Mitchell

Chapter 36 – "Immortal Game"

Browsing through the books at Emily's shop I start to think about Tyson. The sweet spiky haired boy had proven to be a true friend. I know George liked being around him, liked having someone to share his affliction with. Tyson is indeed a mountain, his nearly seven foot frame completely full of broad muscles. His kind eyes and young face always with a smile for me, almost as if he craved my attention. For such a large man he has the gentlest disposition that would lead one to believe he is more teddy bear than grizzly bear.

My fingers stop at the book I am looking for and I quickly pull it from the stack. "Emily, I need your help."

Mitchell, Liam and Emily come into the shop's back room, Emily placing her crystal ball pendant around her neck. "Did you find it?"

"We can do the location spell now; I'm ready to see if I can talk with Tyson." Turning the page I see the incantation that will allow me to send my thoughts to Tyson, letting me hear his as well.

George hands me Tyson's ripped shirt, Emily beginning the location spell. Liam gives me a satisfied smile seeing the dagger Emily had bewitched sheathed in my belt.

The crystal points to the funeral parlor, making Mitchell's jaw clinch tight. "I knew that lying bastard had him. I will see him dead."

I repeat the words from the book, sending all of my energy out to Tyson. I feel my body tighten as my eyes roll back in my head. Instantly I see a dark room and hear the rattling of chains. Rounding a corner I see a cage, Tyson chained inside. I grip the bars, calling out to Tyson. "Tyson, look at me."

He lifts his teary eyes, his face beaten and bloody. "Cara is that really you?"

"I'm only here in your mind but we are coming for you. How many vampires are here?" I look about the room and see a table with some empty beer cans and an ashtray full of cigarette buds.

"Three maybe four. It's always the same vampires. I did hear the one they call Patrick tell them if you or Mitchell came for me to capture you but not kill you. The others they could kill. Cara, I'm scared … come get me." He looks at through one eye swelling shut, his bottom lip trembling.

"Do you know exactly where you are in the funeral parlor?" I reach in wrapping a hand around his as he takes a deep breath.

"I saw some caskets when they brought me in and I think some shipping boxes." I knew Mitchell would be able to tell me where they are holding him so I cut the connection to Tyson after telling him to hang on and goodbye.

Mitchell gives me that creased brow thinking look as he rubs his chin. "That could only be the basement or maybe the loading dock. If it's the basement that will be tricky but I think I know a way in. It's not going to be easy Cara; we'll have to fight our way in."

"I'm with you." Liam walks in between us, placing his hand on Mitchell's shoulder.

"And me." George walks in the room, his eyes burning with a new confidence.

Emily and Heather both agree to help, Emily giving me a soft hug. "I've been practicing and while I'm not as strong as you I can move objects around with ease now."

"I don't want to put any of you in danger but if I stand a chance of getting Tyson back and ridding myself of Patrick I'm going to need all of you. He's called checkmate on me; it's time to show him I still have some pieces on the board." Looking at my friends and loved ones I feel a pride swell up in me and a tiny flicker of pain. If any of them didn't make it out of this I would never forgive myself.

George calls Erin and Fred, letting them know we've found Tyson and we're going after him. Fred asks to speak to me, George handing me the phone. "We want to help. Tyson did his best to protect Erin and our baby and I want to do what I can. I don't want Erin to be involved so I'll send her to cousins in London. She has relatives on her father's side that will watch over her for me. I'll be at your flat as soon as I see her off."

Fred was new at the craft but every little bit helped. I completely understand him wanting Erin far away from all of this; her being pregnant made the discussion easier.

Emily walks out of the storage room, a fist full of wooden stakes. She passes them out, giving Liam a wink. "I think you'll appreciate this one. It was carved by a priest that got turned. A vampire that hunted vampires … that's so you."

With a pocket full of different potions we make ready to leave for the funeral home, Mitchell making sure Herrick wasn't about. "I called the police station and he's out on patrol, we should be good for now."

Mitchell gives me a tight hug and a long kiss before we get in the car, his eyes telling me what his lips couldn't. I stroke his hair, giving him a wide smile. "I love you John Mitchell, more than I've ever loved anyone before."

"Stay with me Cara, don't leave my side. We're coming out of this, all of us." Taking his hand we walk to the car, Liam twirling his new stake in his fingers.

We stop at the flat, waiting for Fred. Mitchell and Liam go over their plan to get into the funeral parlor, Emily telling George what each potion does. My little band of merry men were about to face down pure evil in hopes of saving our friend and killing our foe.

Fred arrives with a nervous look on his face. He seems jumpy as if he wasn't sure he really wanted to do this. I ask him for a word outside, Fred's fingers fidgeting with something in his pocket.

"Fred, I can tell there's something wrong with you. It's not even that warm out here and you're sweating. You've been fidgeting with something in your pocket and your eyes dart away every time I look at you." I lean in, taking a whiff of his shirt. "You're not here because you want to help me but to trick me. That thing you keep fumbling in your fingers, it's a bottle of witches bane. I smell it on you; you spilled some on your shirt. Time to confess, what's happened?"

"He's going to hurt Erin and the baby if I don't bring you to him. Tyson is just bait to get the others to the funeral parlor, he wants them all dead … expect Mitchell. Please Cara, I can't lose her." Fred begins to weep as he hands me the bottle.

"You're not going to lose her, I promise. Go inside and tell the boys what you know. I'm going to go find my brother and put an end to this." Fred hugs me, his tears falling on my shoulder.

Fred gives me the keys to his car, his hands trembling as he opens the car door for me. "Thank you Cara, I'm sorry but I didn't have a choice."

"We all have a choice Fred, some of them a little harder to make than others." With that I start the car and drive off.

Pulling up to the funeral parlor I see Patrick standing at the red doors as if waiting for me. I walk up to him, the witches bane in my pocket. "Hello sister, I was expecting your witch friend to deliver you. This would have been easier if you were under the influence of the potion but this will have to do." Patrick opens the door, waving for someone to come to him. "Herrick will have to wait to get Mitchell. I'll let your little doggie go and call my men to leave Erin; all you have to do is get in the car with me."

"Where are we going Patrick?" He smiles back at me, a big toothy grin.

"We need to have a little chat about you turning me … you'll either turn me or I'm going to make your life a living hell." The smile was now gone only to be replaced with an evil scowl.

I smile back at him, pulling the bottle of witches bane from my pocket. "I can't turn you if I'm not me now can I." I pop the top and swallow the entire bottle.

"You are a cunning little thing but thanks to those little books I stole that isn't exactly witches bane, that my dear is a sleeping draft laced with witches bane." He grabs the top of my arm dragging me off to the car.

As he throws me in the backseat I feel my body go numb, my vision going black. Patrick had outsmarted me and now I had to pay for underestimating him.