Kin Bound by Holly Hook

Author:Holly Hook [Hook, Holly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Juvenile Fiction, Occult & Supernatural, Paranormal
ISBN: 1794250921
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: 2019-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Now I lead the others through a sea of darkness.

All traces of light remain behind, in the neutral grounds between the Noble territory and the Savage. Even though the sun stays out, its rays don't touch my skin. The black pulses form a shell around me instead. My stomach turns as my palms sweat. Every time I blink, inky darkness stares back at me, just waiting to leap on, seize, and consume me.

How much magic has the cult done since I was here last?

But maybe I can steal his spellbook—Leonora would call it his book of shadows—while I'm here and the Hunters are distracting the others. We can get rid of the curse for good. The thought brings a spark of light back inside me and the air thins, making breathing easier.

"I hate this place," Callie says. "How can the Savages even stand this?"

I don't smell them right now, or maybe the dark spirits are clogging my senses. They're famous for making me not notice things I should. "Don't let anything distract you. The spirits will try, and then cult members or Savages can sneak up on us."

A deer runs off into the underbrush, spooked, and Alex turns his bow to it for a split second before shaking his head and returning it to the trail ahead. "Got it."

"That's a classic example right there," I say.

I find the gravel trail a minute later, crunching loose stones that are no longer frozen over with ice. I lighten my step, silencing myself. The wind blows from behind me for a second. Everly and Remo are now a quarter mile back, at the border, and just entering this territory.

I won't think of the dark spirits. I won't feed them. But they're everywhere. Suffocating again...

A mountain presses on my chest.

Breathe, Brie.

"Are you okay?" Callie asks.

"Yes. Fine," I say.

Alex catches up with me. His beard wiggles as he asks, "Are you certain?"

"This place is very relaxing, you know," I say. My sarcasm makes a ripple through the dark, making the dark spirits back off for a second. But they close in again. But at least this time, the pressure stays back.

Alex continues. Now that we have a trail I no longer have to lead the way. All I have to do is watch out. A flock of crows explodes into the sky. Distractions. Pulling my gaze away, I listen as the crack of a breaking branch sounds from above.

I ram into Callie, pushing her into Alex. I shove the three of us off the trail as a branch as thick as an anaconda lands on the gravel—where we stood—and rolls into the trees. Callie's mouth falls open and Alex just nods.

"That's mild," I say, hoping Everly and Remo can get through this okay. They've just heard the crack for sure. But going back now to warn them isn't an option.

"I believe you," Callie says. Her lower lip quivers. She's holding back terror.

We reach the hidden road. I freeze. This time, it has spray-painted graffiti all over it.

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