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“But they are imprisoned. What if the evil escapes because they’re worried about their siblings? And then it destroys innocent lives. What happens if the evil kills one of them properly, and they disappear? No, there’s a greater plan at play. Listening to the Rakehell Six, whoever gets free first will find their family. We must allow events to take place naturally,” Maggie commented.
“I agree. As much as I wish to throttle Benedict, I don’t want whatever he is guarding to escape. I feel that would be terrible indeed,” Mariah agreed.
She could only imagine a Master Vampire on the loose, and she didn’t wish to frighten them. But knowing Margery was at the Jekyll and Hyde gave Mariah pause to consider what she was doing.
“We should take an oath, together the six of us, we will not tell them until they return to life and vanquish their evil,” Maggie suggested.
“Big words,” Tilly teased.
“A blood one,” Cole responded.
Mariah jolted. That was serious from him. They’d only done two blood oaths in their lives. Cole believed in the power of blood oaths, and none of them ever challenged it. Cole was entitled to his beliefs. He ensured no one was looking before cutting shallowly into his palm and handing the knife to Maggie. She winced but sliced into it and grasped Cole’s hand. One by one, they all repeated the actions until they all had clasped hands and exchanged blood.
“We swear to hold the locations of the siblings a secret until they are brought back to life, and we’ll allow fate to lead the way,” Maggie said.
They placed their cut hands on one another and swore the oath.
???
Mariah returned to the Black Cat and parked her vehicle. The workers had blocked her entrance to the rear of the inn, but Mariah did not mind. As she got out, a shiver shot down her spine. Someone was watching her. Mariah warily gazed around the car park but didn’t see anyone. Holding her bag tightly, she kept her keys in her other hand as a weapon and ran across the road. The Black Cat’s door flew open, and Mariah stumbled in and nearly screeched as she saw a figure standing at the entrance to the parking lot. The Black Cat trilled a warning, and Benedict appeared.
In one glance, he took in Mariah’s dishevelled state and the terror in her eyes, and he and the Black Cat locked the inn down. Mariah’s gaze was firmly fixed on the door even as shutters slammed shut over windows and heavy bolts slid into place.
“Mariah?” Benedict asked.
She shook herself from her fear, raced across the bar, and burrowed into him. Benedict stepped back in surprise, but Mariah clung to him, and he wrapped his arms around her.
“What on earth happened?” Benedict demanded.
“Someone was out there; they were watching me as I got out of the car. And they wanted to hurt me. I sensed it. Whoever that was hates me and wouldn’t be saddened by causing me harm!”
“Calm down. You’re safe now. Your heart is pounding. Take some deep breaths. Nobody can get into the inn. We’ve locked it down,” Benedict soothed, rubbing Mariah’s back. He went to move off, but Mariah gripped him even tighter, and he remained in place, soothing and calming her.
Finally, Mariah felt strong enough to step away.
“Sorry,” she whispered bashfully.
“It’s okay. But what happened?” Benedict asked as he guided her to a chair.
“I’ve been for a meal with my friends. We had a nice time, and I drove home. I can’t reach the drive at the back because of the equipment, so I parked in the car park,” Mariah said.
Benedict nodded in encouragement.
“When I exited the car, I felt eyes on me. Somebody was watching me, and they hate me. I sensed the hatred flowing from them towards me. They wanted to harm me and frighten me. When I ran across the road, the Black Cat let me in, and I spotted someone standing at the entrance. It terrified me. If I hadn’t run, they would have hurt me.”
“The child does not lie. There was somebody there; I saw them. Even now, they watch the inn with greedy eyes and intent,” a ghost said, appearing before Mariah.
Mariah shrieked and leapt off the chair as Benedict reached out to calm her down.
“It’s Black Cat, the Lady Catherine!” Benedict exclaimed as Mariah burrowed into his back.
“Such cowardice is not expected of someone who battles Benedict,” Lady Catherine chided, and Mariah peeped out.
The ghost in front of her wore long flowing robes in the eleventh or twelfth-century style, and her hair was loose and jet black. Her lips were red and plump, while her nose was straight and noble. Her eyes were the same hazel as Benedict’s, and their kindness caused Mariah to appear from behind his back. Lady Catherine was exquisite, and Mariah was a little shy and frumpy in her presence.
“Hi,” Mariah said and winced. Way to make herself look a fool. Then again, she’d already made herself one!
“Hello, child. I mean you no harm. Benedict and I have agreed for you to stay. Events are in motion that I cannot determine, but I fear Benedict would be lost without your existence. I can sense Margery far across the distance, and she is awake.” Lady Catherine spun on Mariah, and her knowing eyes stared straight at her.
