Frosted Torment (Marked Mortals Saga #1)

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

I raked my fingers through my tangled locks. “Y’all are freaking me out.”

“We’ll come back to you leaving, Noa. Finish telling us what you saw,” Jossy urged.

“Um, okay.” I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to remember. “I saw the three of you, but the rest was hazy, fragmented... like puzzle pieces I couldn’t fit together.”

Though I’d been able to trust them, if I mentioned the Baneful, it would get me admitted to a psychiatric hospital. I wasn’t ready to cross that threshold, but I wondered if they were already planning a trip for me to a padded cell. I felt a knot tighten in my chest as fear washed over me.

“Damn it!” I winced at nerves firing off like an explosion in my lip again.

“What is it?” Ivy squealed and scooted back from me.

I cursed under my breath and tried to push out the unsettling thoughts about psychiatric hospitals. I focused on the physical pain at hand – my lip.

“I’ll be fine,” I assured her as I rubbed my aching scar.

Except I wasn’t, and despite my efforts, it continued to ache. The uncertainty of why it was happening now terrified me. My anxiety rose no matter how hard I tried to shake it off. Lex furrowed his brow in confusion, his fingers rubbing at the tension in his forehead. He took a long, slow breath and looked at Jossy.

“This is getting out of hand, you guys,” he stated.

Ivy shifted a few times next to me, crossing her legs back and forth, then stood when she couldn’t get settled. Her voice wavered as she looked at her brothers. “This situation isn’t going anywhere, and Noa needs to rest.”

“Sit down, Ivy,” Jossy snapped. “You’ve done enough.”

She pursed her lips and flung herself onto the couch with a huff. “You’re welcome, brother,” Ivy shot back.

“Hey there.” A woman with a rounded figure and blue scrubs walked in, beaming.

“Hello,” I offered, still dazed at my friends’ exchange.

“Hi, Mr. Sazerac.” Jossy nodded at her. Then, the lady turned to me and said, “My app notified me that your infusion will be done in a minute, so I need to remove it. Then I’ll get out of your hair.”

“Of course,” I managed with a weak smile.

Ivy’s demeanor transformed into artificial cheer. “We’ll get you some food while you rest.”

“Good idea,” Lex and Jossy echoed.

My brows twitched, and I shook my head. “Not until you tell me what you know. ”

Lex’s eyes ballooned as he pointed at me. “Rest first, eat second, then talk later.”

Their insistence on food and rest compounded my unease. Despite the tension in the room, they seemed unconcerned. They’d leave me alone for a while. I realized that my fears of hospital confinement were a result of an overactive imagination. As the nurse removed the IV from my arm, I felt a sense of relief from its confines.

“Fine, I’m starving anyway.” I lifted my arm, and when I turned my head to the right, I pinched my nose. “And I need a shower. So, when you get back, I expect answers.”

Ivy leaned over and kissed my cheek. “Absolutely.”

The nurse bandaged my hand and had me sign release forms. After that, she gathered her things and left, ignoring our conversation altogether. Jossy paid her and waited by the door with Ivy and Lex.

Jossy tipped his chin toward me. “Rest up. We’ll bring back enchiladas.”

My stomach roared in response to the mention of food. “Chicken and sour cream sauce,” I begged, my eyes wide.

He laughed and started to close the door.

“Oh! And a Dr. Pepper,” I called out.

“You got it!” he replied.

I exhaled in relief, relaxing into my now silent apartment, but solitude left me vulnerable. I knew turning to drinking was a bad idea, but I couldn’t stand the way I felt inside. It was the only thing that kept my emotional demons away. So, I poured myself a healthy dose of whiskey and gulped it down.

The junk drawer in my kitchen contained a few extra vape cartridges, so I opened one and took a sharp inhale. The minty flavor filled my lungs, a familiar refuge. One I’d relied on over time to help me suppress the chaos in my mind.

I opened the patio door, letting in a crisp breeze. Ominous clouds rolled over the mountains, signaling another snowstorm headed our way. My glance fell to Dust Bunny’s makeshift cardboard home. I had been feeding that stray rabbit all winter, and her box needed cleaning.

Taking a few small carrots from the fridge, I brought them outside. Her tiny brown nose emerged, sniffed, then withdrew into the warmth. I placed one carrot inside the box, allowing her to investigate. As she began to gnaw on it, I carefully extracted her and sat her inside the door.

After replacing her fleece bedding, I tucked her back into the makeshift shelter. The last thing I needed was another living being depending on me; yet here I was.

After closing the patio door, I reveled in a rare moment alone. Even Uno and Dos were quiet, but I did tell them to get lost for a while. I started the shower, letting the steam fill the room.

As I waited, I poured one more drink followed by another long drag from my vape. After I escaped from the pink outfit Ivy put on me, it didn’t take long to wash away the last twenty-four hours. Stepping out of the shower, I wrapped myself in a fluffy towel.

As light as I felt, a tick in the back of my mind cautioned me not to let my guard down. A wave of drowsiness swept over me once I situated myself back on the couch under my comforter. The alcohol and weed lulled me into the embrace of sleep. Then, a tug in my gut catapulted me into the heart of a snow-cloaked meadow .

A lone cherry blossom welcomed me. Its pink petals fluttered down around the majestic mountains that encircled the field. In the distance, silhouetted against the moonlit sky, stood the man from my nightmare. With his back to me, I took a step closer to investigate as petals floated around him.

My heart fluttered as I crept closer, my bare feet sinking into the powdery snow with each tentative step. The frigid air prickled my skin as he swiveled around in one fluid motion, seeking the source of the sound. His eyes danced like fireflies in the velvet night. He swept his dark hair behind one ear and leaned toward me, cupping his ear.

I could see his chiseled features, with the sharp angles illuminated by the faint moonlight. Despite our closeness, he remained blind to my presence. Or so I thought. In a single heartbeat, he stood before me, our breaths colliding.

A deep sigh escaped him as a smile twitched at the edge of his lips. “You’re back,” he acknowledged.

“How in the hell did I end up here?” I panted.

A shiver ran down my spine as I tried to piece together my reality. Ignoring my confusion, he took hold of my wrist and started inspecting my mother’s bracelet. His touch sent jolts of uncertainty through me. Who was this man, and how did he know me? Part of me wanted to know more, while another part was afraid of what I would discover.

“Let’s go!” His command echoed in the silence.

But as he pulled me across the field, I yanked my hand away and then found myself upright on my sofa. Remnants of my elusive traveling melted into the cushions. I patted myself down, confirming I was whole, though my feet remained icy and numb .

Uncertain of my reality, I rubbed my arms and waited for someone to barge through the door. No one came. I pushed my hair back and cradled my knees to my chest, wanting to run but paralyzed with terror. Nothing made sense as I rocked back and forth.

Unsure of what was real, I wrapped my arms around my knees, rocking as I awaited some sign I wasn’t losing my mind. Only silence greeted me. I leapt up and scurried to the door, peeking out.

The hallway stood empty and quiet. I shut the door and turned the lock, relief washing over me as I steadied my breathing. My mind swirled with questions as I paced my apartment. Then it hit me. Could this man be one of the Baneful?

Anger simmered beneath my skin. I had to leave for Texas—it was my only chance to protect my friends. I rubbed my hands down my face and grabbed my vape, taking a deep breath before releasing a long exhale.

I knew it wouldn’t be long before my friends returned. That’s if they went to the closest Mexican restaurant and picked up an order to bring to my place. I rushed to shove toiletries and a change of clothes into my backpack.

This was my life on the line. Besides, I couldn’t risk theirs for whatever this was, especially if this man was after me. I needed to know for sure before telling them anything. Home was the only place I could think of that held any answers about me or my mom, so that’s where I’d go.

“How ya doing, doll?” Uno’s voice was a welcome sound.

I choked back tears. “What’s going on, Uno?”

Dos cleared his throat. “We aren’t sure yet. The Veil is getting blurry, but we’ll keep trying for answers. ”

I rolled my eyes as I searched my apartment for a clean pair of socks, then found a pair hiding in the back of my dryer.

Uno added, “Something is coming.”

My lip began to sear in pain like someone held a match to my skin. Whispers filled the air around me with gentle echoes bouncing from one side to the other in my mind. Spirits. I didn’t have time for any of them. My stomach dropped as flashes of my mother in my vision warned me.

“That’s our sign to leave,” Uno said as her voice faded into the distance. “Be careful, doll.”

“Wait!” I spun around in my apartment, hoping they would stay.

Dos sniffed, and his voice turned sad. “Take care of yourself, and we’ll be in touch soon.”

“Fuck,” I groaned and threw my head back.

Once I pulled on my socks, I slid on a pair of jeans, a hoodie, and boots. Then, I pocketed my vape and locked my apartment. Dodging patches of ice across the parking lot, I ran as fast as I could to my truck. A stillness hung in the air, broken only by the distant hoot of an owl.

My keys jangled as I unlocked the rust-flecked door of my weathered truck. It screeched open, and I winced at the sound. My heart ached to leave my friends, but I had to do this alone. I punched the directions into my phone and sped off into the frigid darkness.

Fat snowflakes began to pelt the windshield. I flicked on the wipers, and a wave of nausea crashed through me. Rubbing my temples, I blinked hard against the pain throbbing behind my eyes. As I opened them, I thought one of the lights had turned green for me to go. Except when I looked again, Jossy, Ivy, and Lex were standing in the middle of the intersection.

I rolled down the window and stuck out my head. “Where the hell did you come from?”

“We followed you!” Jossy yelled.

I shook my head in disbelief. “Of course you did.”

Why I thought I could do anything by myself was a joke to the three of them, and I was becoming annoyed.

“Get back in the truck, Noa, and go home,” Ivy ordered.

I leaned out even further when I heard them chanting in unison. No way my friends were doing some kind of magic. After putting the truck in park, I joined them in the abandoned street.

Surrounded by a glowing ring of green light, Jossy stared at me in a trance. His lips twitched. He drew circles in the air with each pointer finger, counterclockwise. Ivy stood to his left. Both hands were out, lunging forward as she strained against some invisible force. Lex stood on Jossy’s right side, holding his hands in prayer with his head bowed.

Then, Ivy’s breath grew ragged. “Do you see it, Jossy?” she gasped. “We have to stop it!”

“What are y’all doing? There’s nothing out here!” I shouted through chattering teeth.

Ivy’s eyes turned completely gold and beamed like oncoming headlights. I shielded my eyes with my arms, and as I turned to run back to my truck, something tugged at my hair. My blood ran cold, and spiders ran down my back. I spun around to see a monstrous creature.

It had reddish-yellow hair resembling a woman with a face half human, half pterodactyl. Baring rows of jagged teeth, she lunged toward me. Her hollowed-out eyes filled me with terror as her claws sliced through the air. One ripped through my hoodie, grazing my shoulder.

I fell to the ground as the creature towered over me, teeth oozing with brown saliva, and ready to strike again. As the monster’s claws came down for me a second time, I threw my arms up, crossed in front of my face. A deafening explosion sent us all hurtling through the air. Shards of glass and tires whizzed past us as we tumbled through the air.

Enveloped by a rush of wind, the abrasive symphony of twisting and scraping metal echoed in my ears. The smell of burning rubber and gasoline filled my nose, turning my stomach. My back cracked before I slammed into unforgiving asphalt, having the wind knocked from my lungs. I rolled over and retched. Violently. Then, I fell back and hit my head on the concrete.

A snarl in the back of my mind, followed by a sinister laugh, taunted me. I jolted into a sitting position, but steely arms held onto me. I couldn’t tell if they intended to save or imprison me. Disoriented, I struggled to escape.

“It’s me, Noa,” breathed Lex, loosening his grip. “I can’t believe you’re alive.”

“I’m not sure I am,” I coughed as I looked around.

Brilliant sunlight streamed through a stained glass window of a church across the street. The snow had even stopped. Where the hell were we in the middle of the day? A few minutes ago, black painted the night sky. I lowered my gaze, then rubbed my eyes with the palms of my hands .

When I looked again, I noticed two wooden doors that formed an archway to the entrance of the church. I scrambled to my feet and spun around. I tried to find where I had landed after whatever had happened.

My head throbbed with questions and confusion. Other than the church across the street, waves of farmland surrounded us. I stood on a two-lane road in the middle of nowhere, not sure how any of us got here.

My eyes hunted for Ivy and Jossy, but my vision blurred. Was this Judgment Day? A hand gripped my shoulder, and I screamed. But it was Jossy, his voice soothing as he folded me into his arms. Fiery pain seared my shoulder.

“You’re okay, Noa,” Jossy said.

“Oh, Jossy,” I choked out, trying to catch my breath. “Are there scratches?” I asked, turning to raise my hoodie up over my shoulder for him to inspect.

“It’s not as bad as it seems. They’re already healing.” His fingers tilted my chin up. Dizziness washed over me as he scanned my face for other injuries.

“Healing from what?” I managed.

“Venom. And your bones are mending.” Jossy checked my pulse. “Teleporting can do that.”

I shook my head in confusion. “Who the hell teleported?”

He took my hands and took a deep breath. “We did.”

My throat bobbed. “Explain that monster and the claws, Joss. You’re way too calm.”

“I can’t believe you survived,” he said, confused.

“Why did I? Why did any of us?” I blurted.

For once, he had no words. Then, Ivy burst from the church and engulfed me in a crushing hug, relief etched on her face .

“You’re okay!” She set me down gently.

With my feet back on the ground, Ivy squeezed me hard enough to crack a walnut, but I felt nothing. I should’ve been full of cuts, broken in two, besides the wound on my shoulder. I should’ve been dead, but I wasn’t. None of us were.

I placed my hands on her shoulders and steadied myself. “I might get sick again.”

She pulled out her phone and checked the map. “We’ve landed on Highway Eighty-Seven between Stanford and Windham.”

Lex sprang up from the road, brushing off his jeans. “At least we’re still in Montana,” he called out.

Jossy turned my face back to him. “Lex saved you. It took a lot out of him, but he’ll recharge.”

My words spilled out in a gush. “What do you mean? What’s going on?”

“It’s time for the truth,” Lex admitted. “We planned to tell you after dinner, but here we are.”

Before I could respond, Ivy said, “Let’s go inside. Someone might drive by.”

Jossy replied, “I warded the area. We’re safe.” He looked directly at me. “That thing was a demon. Some kind of energy in you repelled it.” His eyes darted skyward momentarily. “And you brought us here.”

“Wait, I teleported us from the intersection to... the middle of nowhere?” My voice trembled with disbelief.

Lex passed out water bottles from a stash by the roadside. “Yep, because we can’t do that. We move quickly but can’t just appear anywhere.”

As Lex handed me a bottle, I took a long gulp, trying to wrap my head around Jossy’s revelation. The weight of his words felt like heavy chains pulling me down.

A demon? Energy repelling it from me? Teleporting? It all sounded unreal—as if I’d stumbled into an alternate dimension.