Chapter Eight: Betrayal

Even though the sky was dark and threatening to rain, the heat from the ground was almost enough to make me sweat.
Sarah and I had descended the stair case, the memories of doing something similar with my younger sister haunting me but when I saw Tyler waiting for me and Mrs Danvers saying how beautiful we both looked, I could only imagine how radiant she herself would have been.

It was awkward for me to step into the back of Tylers hummer with heels on, but I managed it and stared at Reid as he face me from the passenger's seat, Tyler waiting for Sarah. She was speaking to Caleb and I could almost feel the fear on everyone, and the lack of trust that Caleb and Reid had for me. Fixing up my long braided hair, I also wiped off some of the makeup Sarah had put on my cheeks.

'You look good.' Reid mumbled when I didn't break my stare with him. He surrendered, facing back to the front as Tyler snickered.
'Caleb said for us to keep you on a monkey strap.'
At that I rolled my eyes, only to catch Caleb's. He watched me very carefully, and in those brief seconds knew just how much he would do anything for her. With a huff Sarah was next to me and the engine roared to life.
The trip was silent, everyone contemplating what the night would bring.
For me, the pain down my side was a shattering reminder that I was not free just yet.

I could hear Chase's words in my head as clear as I could hear the thunder and the school bell.
Remember Leah
I felt the chill of his laugh down my spine and Tyler wrapped his arm around my waist as we walked closer to the dance, the lights and laughter of everyone inside a good distraction for what Chase had planned. We stopped by the wall as Reids phone rang, Sarah close beside me. I had just finished loosening Tylers tie and messing his hair with a laugh when I lost control of my body.

I kept the smile on my face, even as Sarah gave me a confused look when I gripped her shoulder, mumbling a spell.
Heaving in a breath when I felt Chase release me, I almost fell to the ground, gripping the wall where Sarah had been. The panic in Reids voice suddenly was loud in my ears as I fought to get my balance right again.
'Something's happened.'

Reid ran off, searching through the crowd for Sarah while Tyler stood in front of me, his eyes narrowed.
He knew I did it.
'Tyler, I-'
'Don't Leah. We trusted you...'

Reid came back, shaking his head when he didn't find her and faced me, shoving me back hard into the wall. No one saw, they were too focused on dancing and the person in front of them, let alone behind them.
'What did you do?' he snapped, eyes fierce and voice quiet but hard. I shoved him back, my arms still weak and mind spinning from his sudden use of power and my own spell.
'Chase, uses me. Transported Sarah...' I gasped, my head flaring as though it were burning and I cried. 'I'm so sorry.'
Reid snarled, eyes returning to their normal colour as he franticly tried to search for Sarah again. Tyler remained in front of me, torn between helping me or leaving me.

Everything was happening so fast, I could feel each blow Chase was getting, my crystal still hanging around his neck and my mind was racing to make up my mind.
I could either stay as Chase's toy forever or I could do something about it.
Of course, as my eyes met with Tylers after he sent a happy birthday to Caleb, I knew there was no more time to think.
Just do.

'I know what to do.'
'You know what? I am not going to be listening to you anymore you bitch.'
My head snapped around to Reid and I allowed my eyes to fade to a white, my rage and fear no longer under my complete control.
'Garwin, shut your fucking mouth. You are not as tough as you think and if you want to save Sarah and Caleb, you'll need to listen to me.
Reid and Tyler were both taken back and I smiled when they both remained quiet. The hate in Reid's eyes gave way to concern and I nodded, lifting the front of my dress as I ran back to the dorms.

I could hear and feel both the boys behind me, and I crashed into the doors, hissing when they didn't open. Reid pushed me aside, Using to unlock the bolt. With a click it fell away and I gave him a weak smile before I took off down the dark hall. The walls towered over me and our feet echoed down the empty halls strongly, bouncing back to us.
Pain surrounded me suddenly and I fell to my knees, clutching my chest as it fought for breath. The white hot throbbing pounded through my skull and it felt like my ribs were being crushed slowly.
Strong hands lifted me off the floor and I stared up at Tyler as he raced with Reid beside him up the stairs and towards my dorm.

'I'm alright,' I coughed as Tyler set me down on my desk chair. Sage jumped through the window, meowing as she shook his coat from the cold rain.
'Reid, under the bed, a bowl and the herbs; Tyler, on the top shelf in the cupboard, all three of the tubes.'
As they hurried to gather the stuff, I gently lifted Sage from my bed, stroking his fur as he gently purred, so relaxed and without a clue of what was going on.
I grabbed some chalk from the bowl, kneeling on the floor as I drew and wrote down a signal and words of magic. Next was a dagger and I hesitated as I looked at Sage, so innocent. I gripped him tightly, closing my eyes as I spoke as clearly as I could.

The old language rolled from my tongue as if I had said it all my life. Reid passed me the tubes and I mixed them into the bowl.
Next was the sacrifice.
'What are you doing?' Reid asked, alarmed as I gripped the dagger tighter and stabbed it into Sage. He didn't even moan as I held him over the bowl, continuing my chant as his blood dripped heavily into the bowl.

It was almost done, just one last thing to be added.
With sad eyes I looked up at Tyler.
'Whatever happens, know that I never wanted to hurt you. Any of you.'
'Leah, what are you-'
After shoving my hair from my face and gathered my energy and placed my hands on the bowl. I could feel it suck everything from me and I watched as my hands became old once again, spreading like a disease up my arms until I could feel it grip my heart.
Shouts filled my ears but they may as well have been speaking under water for all I could make out.
Plus I wasn't focusing on that.
All I could see was everyone I had ever met, my family growing and dying in front of me. All I could feel was the sudden death like chill that crept over my skin, Tyler's embrace now nothing but a memory that seemed from a dream but the satisfaction that maybe, hopefully, Chase would know how it felt to be betrayed.

Everything went still suddenly, silent and dark as I released the bowl.
The howling wind settled, and briefly I saw that both Reid and Tyler were unharmed. Weak, I fell back, caught by two pairs of hands.
I couldn't speak to them.
I couldn't even smile up at them.
All I could do was lay there, unable to even fight off the growing darkness that inked around me. I hung onto Tylers eyes, suddenly able to read them. I clung like a drowning man to air but I slipped, falling into the waiting darkness.

Finally, I knew what it was like to have freedom.

Dun dun dun...
Yeah right haha anyway, it is going a bit fast but I know you guys really want it up. Any problems or if you want more detail in any of the chapters, let me know..

Silver-Kirin
xXx