Bloodbath (Order of the Unseen #4)

Chapter Six

Quinn

“ I s she okay?” I hear Jensen ask.

“What’s going on?” Micah demands.

“Quinn? Quinn?”

“There’s someone standing outside my window. He’s wearing a mask. Your mask. But it’s red… with devil horns.”

“We’re on our way,” he reassures me. Even with the closed window and heat blasting, a chill travels straight through my body. “Are you in your room?”

I nod.

“Quinn?” he urges.

“Yes, I’m in my room.”

“Lock your door.”

I rush toward it, turning the lock with trembling hands. “It’s locked.”

“That’s my girl,” Damien praises.

“Quinn.” Micah’s voice sounds rough through the receiver. “You’re okay, baby. We’re on our way to you now.”

The Jeep’s engine roars to life.

“I was in the shower… I came back to my room and found a note on my pillow…” My heart accelerates. “That wasn’t you?”

“Call Asher, now,” Damien orders.

“I’ve already got him on the line,” Jensen answers.

“What did the note say?” Micah asks.

“Knock, knock.”

“This isn’t the time for jokes—”

“No. That’s what the note says.”

Everyone starts talking all at once. More voices than I can count. I lose track of the conversations almost immediately. My head is spinning.

“Where the fuck are you?”

“You’re supposed to be on watch.”

“Did you find them?”

An unfamiliar voice speaks up. “I’m still here. There are no threats. I’m literally out front—”

“Someone is standing outside her window, Asher,” Micah presses.

“They got into the house,” Jensen snaps.

“Who is that?” I question.

There’s not a single word in response. Silence takes over, and it takes me a few seconds before I realize they’ve muted themselves.

“Damien? Jensen? Micah? Hello?”

“We’re still here,” Micah replies, and although he’s trying to hide it from me, there’s an urgency to his tone.

“Who was that? Who is Asher?”

More silence.

“What the hell is going on?” I demand, desperate for an answer and hating how it feels like they’re keeping something from me. They must know who the person outside is and why they’re here. The fact that they aren’t filling me in tells me it’s serious. I hug my knees to my chest, staring toward my window. “I really don’t want to be alone right now. Someone was watching me earlier. I assumed it was you and didn’t really think anything of it, but now I’m freaking out. I don’t understand what is happening—”

“You’re staying with us tonight,” Damien declares. “We’re about five minutes out. Our friend is going to stay with you until we get there.”

“Your friend? What?”

“Asher,” he says. “You can trust him. He’s my cousin.”

There’s a soft knock on my door. “What the hell? He’s here already? Is that him knocking?”

“Yes, that’s him,” Jensen answers.

“If you don’t feel comfortable letting him in your room, that’s fine,” Damian says, “but he’s going to stay with you until we get there. Okay?”

“Okay.” Once I pull on some sweatpants and a hoodie, I slowly approach the door, cracking it just enough for me to peer through.

Just as Damien has said, their friend is here, standing right outside my bedroom. Somehow, he has made it into the sorority house, up the stairs, and into the dimly lit hallway, even though we always lock the doors. The thought of someone being able to find their way inside makes me feel woozy.

The stranger stands prominently before me, towering over my small frame. He’s almost as tall as the doorway. His demeanor radiates safety, yet commands power. He has broad shoulders and a muscular build, his limbs long and well-defined even beneath his clothing. To my surprise, most of his facial features resemble Damien in a way. Dark wavy hair, eccentric blue eyes, a chiseled jawline.

“Quinn?” Jensen questions, on high alert.

“Yeah, I’m here,” I quietly mutter. “Your friend is here, too.”

“Are you hurt?” Asher asks me, and even though this is the first time I’m hearing his voice in person, there’s a noticeable tightness in his tone, too.

All four of them are stressing me out.

“Shhh!” I quickly peek my head out into the dark hallway to ensure we’re alone before grabbing his forearm and yanking him into my room.

Once I shut the door behind him, I study him carefully, noticing the perspiration on his forehead. His posture is rigid as he stands motionless in the center of the room. His brows are furrowed, and he doesn’t even bother to hide the troubled expression that has claimed his face.

“Asher?” I ask.

“Yeah, that’s me,” he replies, his voice strained. “Are you okay?”

“Why are you here?”

He blinks at me, mouth agape.

“Quinn,” Damien says through the receiver.

“Just happened to be hanging around outside my sorority?”

“I was in the area.”

“Right. That’s convenient.”

Asher avoids direct eye contact and makes his way to my window, peering outside and scanning the surroundings. Suddenly, his gaze becomes fixed on something, his eyes growing wide.

“Damien,” Asher warns, raising his voice.

I step beside him, following his stare. My phone falls from my hand and clashes on the hardwood floor as I take in the sight of three tall dark figures standing on the grass below. As if it’s not creepy enough being watched by strangers through my window, their faces are hidden by black, beaked masks, illuminated faintly by the moonlight.

Crows.

Is this what they were warning me about?

Am I going to go missing next?

Not only can I not catch my breath, but I’ve become paralyzed, my bare feet glued to the floor. My knees grow weak and my stomach churns. Whoever these people are, they are staring straight at me, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to look away.

“Asher?”

“Quinn?”

“What is it?” Micah demands.

“Fucking talk to us, Asher,” Damien commands.

Asher places himself in front of me and blocks me from their view. I back away, not even bothering to retrieve my phone. Asher picks it up instead, takes it off speaker, and sets it against his ear.

“It’s them. They’re here,” he announces. Millions of questions race through my mind. “Yeah, I’ve got her. She’s safe.”

“W-who are they?” I rush out while sinking into bed, unable to shake the uneasiness that has swallowed me whole.

Asher ignores me. “They’re heading east.”

“What is going on? Who are they? Is this another prank?”

“They’re out of my view now. We’ll be fine. Just go find them.” He ends the call and finally meets my frightened eyes. “Do you need to pack a bag or anything?”

I shake my head.

“You sure?”

“Everything I need is already at their place,” I tell him, visibly shaking at this point. I just can’t wrap my head around everything that’s happened within the last half an hour or so. I shouldn’t have been so stupid, especially after knowing someone was watching me earlier on campus. Why did I brush it off so easily?

Na?ve little Quinn, I scold myself.

He sits beside me on the bed, his eyes searching mine. It takes him a while before he breaks the eerie stillness between us. Asher considers what he’s going to say next, a cautious look in his eyes.

“Everything’s fine,” he says bleakly. “It’s just another prank.”

I want to believe him. I really do.

Although, my gut is telling me that there’s something far more sinister going on in the town of Salem, and that I might be next.