Chapter 15

Warning, this story contains dark scenes with graphic detail that some readers may find distressing.

“That guy is such a dick,” Carter said, and I just rolled my eyes at Bryce and Elijah.
“What Kingsley? Don’t you think so?” Crater asked.
“I could think of some better words to call him.” I replied slamming the car door as I climbed in beside Bryce.
“Prick, monster, evil bastard.” Carter muttered as he and Elijah climbed in the backseat. I swear that guy never shuts up. Always as to have the last word.
Bryce pulled away and I put my hand up to signal my thanks to the officers still milling around. As on que my phone rang. “Father,” I answered.
“You and the boys better get here right now!” his angry voice didn’t go unnoticed, and I sighed.
“Head to my fathers place Bryce.” He didn’t need to say anything the deadly silence that occupied the car told me they had all gathered we were in trouble and Father was goanna do a number on us all.
What we did tonight wasn’t an order from my father, therefore we’d have to pay for our actions.
I couldn’t help it. When I pulled Lilly from the water and I saw the word “Murder” carved into her wrist, now an angry scare. I was livid. Then when I rolled her onto her side and the bottom of her back was exposed, “Slut” was branded on her. Still red and swelled. It had been done recent. I nearly lost my shit.
I don’t know what it is about that girl. I want to protect her, get to know her. It was never our intention of befriending her or inviting her into our close-knit group. I don’t want to drag her down with the shit that where involved in.
She’s dangerous, we know that. We had been warned about the red-haired beauty that would soon arrive. If we thought that what we were facing now was bad, the woman had said that she alone could bring hell to earth.
We didn’t believe her at first. Thought the woman was mad. A week later we were told that Robert and his family would be moving to town, and he’d be taking up the new position as Sheriff. We were showed a family of three, all smiling and looking like an average family. Then we were given a photo of Lilly, bright, unnatural red hair, violet eyes and skin as pale as snow.
My heart had stopped in that moment. The woman couldn’t have been right. We did decide to visit the woman again. She had laughed at us. The words she spoke sent shivers down my side.
“The daughter of Darkness with come to town. Power to wield fire, the ability to find your deepest desire. Goldpeaks sits on the gateway to hell, the town will fall, saying its final farewell. The gates will open. Bringing hell to earth. Only the ones who can prove their worth, will be able to stop the gates and save the earth.” Again, we didn’t believe the nonsense until Bryce and Carter left her in the woods. The part of the woods where she was held had been scorched and she was no where in sight.
The woman’s words rang truly. We were already dealing with things not of this world. But to think that Lilly could open the gateway to hell was something I really didn’t want to think about. Yet I had too. Perhaps befriending her, we help her to trust us. Maybe we could stop her from destroying us all.
We needed to visit the old woman again. See if there were any more clues, she could give us. If Lilly had the power, she was saying then why had she allowed her uncle to abuse her? It didn’t make sense. I needed to find out what and who Lilly was.
“Ready?” Bryce asked as he parked in front of my father’s mansion. Taking in a deep breath I nodded. I hated the man with a vengeance. Yet I had no choice but to be his lapdog, for now anyway. My father’s house was the largest and grandest in Goldpeaks. He likes to show his wealth and power and spared no expense on the lavish exterior. White bricked walls, and large windows that let in loads of light. The house looked gorgeous. It was a shame despite its modern interior it always felt cold inside.
Slowly but confidently, we walked to the front door, before either of us could Knock, Mr Jameson, my father’s butler opened the door. He was in a black suite as always and never said a word. He’s perfected blending in with the background and took servants should never bee seen or heard seriously. He was a strange man in his late forties. He beckoned for us to follow him down the hall and to the library where my father was stood with his back to the doorway. A large fire burned in the log burner and the room felt stuffy. The walls were lined with bookcases that held ancient and antique books. My father had always been obsessed with the supernatural and the books showed it.
With a menacing grin on his face, he turned and stared at us one at a time. It was a look that could easily put the fear of God into you. His dark hair that was almost black was neatly gelled back. He looked the part of a successful business man, if only the people who respected him knew exactly what he delt in, perhaps then there opinions of him would change.
“Tut, tut” the sound seemed to echo and my heartbeat faster. I hated the way he made me feel. Like a scared little boy.
“Tell me boys? Why on earth have I had a frantic phone call from the Sheriff?” none of us spoke, our tongues rooted to our mouths.
“The word “Monster” carved onto his stomach; the word “Abuser” carved into his back “Evil” onto his wrist?” he looked at us questionably. The thing his, when we handed out the same punishment to him as he had done to Lilly, I wasn’t satisfied I wanted to hurt him more, murder came to mind but I had to drive the thought away. I should have felt guilty. I felt nothing towards the monster that called himself a man.
“He had been abusing my sister’s friend, so we did to him what he had been doing to her.” Bryce spoke up.
“Lilith?” father asked, his eyes held a twinkle that I knew all too well. He had an interest in the girl.
“Come here Bryce.” Bryce walked slowly, we knew what was coming and our stomachs sank. Father placed a red crystal in his hands and Bryce squirmed. Trying his best not to scream out. We all knew it was no use and his screams began low than turned to high pitch squeals until he collapsed.
Smiling my father beckoned us over one by one. He left me for last, I stepped forward my shoulders back and head held high. I refused to look at my friends, no brothers lying on the floor.
Before he put the crystal in my hand he smirked. “We’ve been looking for Lilith for many years. You will report to me, everything you find out about the girl. Understood.”
“Yes father.” Then the stone was in my hands and my head felt like it was about to explode. Fighting it only caused more pain, so I let my body relax and welcomed the darkness that came to take me under its wing.
I woke up to the boys staring at me. “You ready to go?” Bryce asked and I stood. We all knew that my father knew what they knew about Lilly. The crystal he had used was called a seer’s orb. Used correctly it could be used to tell the future. In the wrong hands it could be used to extract memorises. My father had taken a copy of our memorises. We had no choice but to warn the old woman. I had no doubt that my father would hunt her down and hold her captive. She was a seer and could show him the future he so desperately wants to see. She would become his prisoner and treated no better than a slave.
I couldn’t allow that to happen. I couldn’t be the one to warn the old woman. It had to be Taylor. I couldn’t be apart of it nor could the boys. If he found out that I had warned the old woman than my mother would never be free and everything I had done would have been for nothing.
One day I would seek my revenge on my father, but for now all I could do was obey his commands and bide my time.
“We better move fast.” Elijah said as we all got in the car. Shit was about to hit the fan and we were in the middle of it all.