Girl In The Red Coat Page 9

  ‘Well, you must already know what I am going to ask,’ I sulked.

  ‘How did everything start with me and Daniel,’ he said, and gave me a reassuring smile. ‘We were friends as kids and into our preteens. Then, one day, we were both visited by a Native American man in our dreams. We were the next chosen ones, he said, chosen to take over the wolf pack and protect the spellcasters, especially your grandparents. However, Daniel was also visited by Magnus’s spirit and took on his gifted abilities. I was gifted Constantine’s.’

  ‘Holy shit! Everything in my ancestors journal is true! Constantine and Magnus actually existed!’

  ‘Yes,’ he laughed, ‘they were the first ever cited werewolves during the eighteenth century.’

  ‘Is it just males who can become wolves?’

  ‘There has only be one known case where a female was granted the power to change into a werewolf and it was recently. My cousin, Stefan,’ he told me. ‘But there is more to Stefan. Although assigned female at birth, Stefan had longed to be a transgender male. I was happy for him and so were most of our family. Then, by the age of fifteen, Stefan was given the abilities to be a wolf and live as a full male for the rest of his life. Stefan moved schools to another town as there were too many questions about him undergoing surgery at such a young age. He is currently doing art at another college but loves tattooing. Stefan is well known for his black rose tattoo on his right wrist.’

  This was all fascinating to learn all of Ben’s backstory. And it kept my mind occupied, instead of incessantly thinking about what could have just happened to me. I still had much to learn about being a spellcaster. For instance, I could block someone from reading my mind.

  This would have to be a conversation I needed to have with my grandparents sometime very soon.

  ‘What will happen to me if Daniel gets what he wants?’ This was something I needed to know for sure. If the legends were true and the evil wolf took my virginity, would I belong to him for all eternity? Ben confirmed the tale was true.

  I did like Daniel on the very first day I met him. I thought about the dance routine we had put together back in September on the first class of the year and it made me wonder if I was under his charm spell then. We were so drawn together and oblivious of what was going on around us. My thoughts were interrupted by Ben putting his foot down and being slung into the passenger seat along with the belt tugging tighter round me.

  ‘Oh, good, you are back with me.’ Said Ben, sarcastically.

  It was rather annoying that I couldn’t keep my thoughts to myself whilst I was with him. This would definitely be something I needed to work on very soon. I wished we would soon be at the hospital, so I could see Natalie.

  As Ben pulled into a car parking space furthest away from the main entrance of the hospital, I pulled him a stern look.

  ‘What? I don’t want anyone to whack their doors on my car.’

  I rolled my eyes. ‘Typical boy racer.’

  He nudged me playfully and I just giggled back at him. ‘Thank you for bringing me here.’ We gazed at each other. I couldn’t get over how good looking he was. His wolf tattoo was in view and I could have sworn it moved.

  ‘I best get going to Natalie.’

  Just as I was about to unbuckle my seatbelt and climb out the car, Ben pulled me into him and kissed me passionately. It was like he was worried about losing me and not seeing me again. The flutter of butterflies filled my stomach and it was like fireworks were exploding around us. As we kissed, I saw visions of a white wolf and a girl in a red coat walking along the base of a snow filled mountain. It was like I was in one of my dreams. I gently pulled away and, before Ben could say anything to me, I climbed out of the car and quickly headed into the hospital.

  I sensed that Ben was watching me, feeling his eyes until I was inside and had turned a corner.

  As I reached Natalie’s ward, I could see that the room she was in was guarded by security. The guard began to stop me from entering, but Natalie saw this and yelled at them to let me in immediately.

  ‘What’s with the security?’ I asked her, concerned.

  ‘They’re like me, werewolf hunters, so I’m being protected by the society who trained me up.’

  I plonked myself down on the chair next to her bed. She looked so vibrant and healthy considering everything that had happened. Natalie reached for my hand.

  ‘Did you see Ben in here, earlier?’ I asked her, wondering if she remembered anything at all.

  ‘Not really, everything was a blur. Please Grace, you need to stay away from both Ben and Daniel. I am not strong enough to protect you. I have made the decision to leave after Dominic’s funeral. I’m going to work on training to become a better wolf hunter.’

  Tears began to fill my eyes. Although I hadn’t known Natalie for long, we had become so close, so quickly. She noticed my eyes filling up.

  ‘Aw, Grace, I’m so sorry but I promise to keep in touch. My cousin will still be at her little coffee shop in town if you need to chat with anyone. I know she will take good care of you.’

  I would miss Natalie so much, but not having her around worried me. She helped save my life and that was not something that could just go away.

  Chapter 16.

  I t had been a week since I’d visited Natalie in the hospital. She’d been discharged a couple of days later, the doctors putting it down to the stress of losing Dominic.

  It had been a week and a half since Dominic and Florence visited my dream.

  And I hadn’t spoken to my grandparents about the discovery of their connection to all of this.

  I was sick of the dull grey clouds and the rain falling down. The funeral nearly had to be rescheduled, as surrounding areas were hit with flash flooding. The night before the funeral, I wished for the day to be beautiful, so Dominic could have a lovely send off. Then a miracle happened as the flooded areas dried up overnight.

  Was it my wish being granted that had cause this miracle? Or had Grandma heard me wishing, and granted it herself?

  Grandma made me a new red coat after I told her some lie that I thought someone had stolen it. I didn’t have the heart to tell her it was ripped by a werewolf who tried to take my innocence from me. I had been pretty careless agreeing to meet up with Daniel, especially after learning that he’d hurt Natalie. I would have to stop beating myself up about it. After all, on the plus side, I’d found out a lot about some of the weird things that had been happening to me, such as me being ill being down to Daniel’s controlling gifts and suddenly feeling ok again being down to Ben’s healing gifts.

  I hadn’t seen Ben since he’d kissed me goodbye at the hospital. There were no messages or calls either. To try and keep as safe as possible, I stayed in my room, telling the college I was still ill. Luckily, they believed me, and Miss Hogg emailed me my assignments, even having lectures videoed for me. Being secluded at home with none of the recent distractions, I completely rested up and even caught up on all my college work. My favourite assignment was putting together my dance routine, ready for the winter show. This was an extra core unit to help towards my final grade at the end of my two years in college.

  Dominic had a wonderful send off at his funeral. His older brothers, dad and grandad carried his coffin, followed by his mum, grandmother and Natalie. I just wanted to grab hold of Natalie and hold her. I thought about Dominic losing his life trying to protect me. From my dream I knew that he was not really ‘gone’ and that I would forever be in his debt. Ben walked in last, standing at the back of the room. I felt a sharp pang that he’d not spoken to me for over a week. The bastard.

  He stared right in my direction and I turned away as tears welled up in my eyes. The opposite side where Ben was standing, Daniel hovered in the corner looking sheepish. How had he the audacity to show his face when he was the one who killed Dominic? Gran handed me a couple of tissues. As we were seated, I looked at Natalie sitting next to Dominic’s mother. She had treated herself to a perm that complimented her brown h
air perfectly; if only Dominic could see her now. I know he would love her new hair style. I could just imagine him intertwining his fingers into her new curly locks. The two of them hand in hand walking along a sunset beach. The guilt I felt was crushing, knowing I’d taken these tender moments away from them. Halfway through the ceremony, Natalie was asked to come to the front and read a piece she had put together for Dominic.

  My love, my best friend,

  You were taken too soon.

  My dove, you gave me wings again,

  To feel and love with sweet refrain.

  You were there, when I was at my low,

  To hold and protect, to take things slow.

  You will always have a place in my heart,

  A place in my dreams, where never apart,

  Enjoying our souls, from a horse and cart.

  What will seem forever, apart from you,

  My heart will always belong to you.

  There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Natalie’s words were so meaningful and beautiful, I knew she must have always really loved Dominic. They’d grown up together, her parents knew his parents. This was a true goodbye to the one you love. When it came to the final goodbye for Dominic, the curtain drawn across the coffin, a song played that Natalie had chosen for him. The lyrics told of how he was her superman, coming to save her after Daniel hurt her. When she’d told me about that I’d thought it was strange that she still seemed to be friends with him after this happened. It was then I realised that it was to keep an eye on him. Natalie and Dominic had planned to spy on him, especially when they learned that a spellcaster had moved to the area. They must’ve known about me before I even met any of them.

  As the people filed out, I saw that Daniel and Ben had vanished. But then, so had Natalie. She was no longer with Dominic’s family.

  ‘Grandma, I am going to catch up with my friends.’

  She nodded and ushered for me to go ahead. My grandparents lived on the same street as Dominic’s family, and she went over to them to give her condolences.

  As I headed outside, in the distance I spotted Natalie trying to attack Daniel, being restrained by Ben. I ran over.

  ‘You’ve got some nerve showing your wolf face here,’ I heard her spit at Daniel.

  ‘He was still a lifelong friend,’ Daniel snorted.

  ‘Leave it Natalie, he’s not worth it,’ Ben tried to calm her.

  Then Daniel saw me. He smiled as he looked me up and down. I froze in fear, chastising myself for not thinking straight and letting myself get close to him. He wanted me and he would try to have me at any opportunity. His eyes went black; he was using his gifts on me again, and I found I was unable to use my own powers. Ben shot between us.

  ‘Stay away from her,’ he yelled.

  ‘Grace is mine.’ Daniel snarled.

  ‘You will never touch her.’

  Out of nowhere, a lightning bolt struck Daniel and he crumpled to the ground.

  ‘Keep away from my granddaughter, you big, bad wolf!’

  That voice was my grandmother.

  I turned and there she was, standing behind me. She kept her focus on Daniel. As he stood back up, he snarled at her.

  ‘Your gifts don’t affect me, wolf. Today of all days is not the time for this. Leave now before I kill you.’

  So my grandmother knew how to make a wolf back off! I was stunned, she was so badass for doing this! Daniel took one last gaze at me, then scurried off as quickly as he could.

  Chapter 17.

  A couple of days after Dominic’s funeral, My grandmother had the chat with me about Florence and Spellcasters, she promised she would help me develop my powers sooner but under the condition I continue to do well at college and stay away from the wolves. She also explained to me about other realms and beings that exist in the world we know. A realm where unicorn people and demon people exist who enter our world. Also mermaids exist but are hard to come by, there was recently a sighting of a mermaid in Lanzarote. This would be something I would need to find out in the future once I finished my course about these other beings. It’d be lovely to meet a unicorn and a mermaid.

  ‘So, Grace, your granddad is one of the guardians who can the bad wolves away. But he also chooses whoever to become a wolf as well.’

  There was so much knowledge to take in that my head started drifting away to what it would be like to live as a mermaid and swimming in oceans by warm climates.

  ‘Grace, are you even listening to me, this is all vital information on what I’m trying to tell you here.’

  ‘Erm yes… sorry Grandma.’

  There I was believing she was poorly when I first started college but in fact she was a Spellcaster, a powerful one too. Daniel’s abilities didn’t harm her at all, it was like she predicted I would become just like her, that this was my destiny. When I was younger I thought she did act strangely and put it down to some sort of condition she was developing. But now I know the reasons for her strange behaviour, and it would explain why my grandmother never appeared to have aged at all over the years.

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  I received a text from Natalie a little later on that morning arranging to have a final lunch with her at the coffee shop. It would be the last time I’d see her for quite some time, and I knew I would deeply miss her. I respected her decision; getting away, going to a new college. Ben had asked his cousin, Stefan, to keep an eye on her and make sure she was safe. Tensions were high between Natalie and Ben. Although Daniel had killed Dominic, she couldn’t forgive Ben for not having the strength to heal the one she loved.

  I did wonder if she blamed me too, for making a stupid and reckless decision to meet up with Daniel and falling into his trap.

  But perhaps not. It seemed that she was being friendly towards me, arranging to meet up.

  Ben didn’t contact me after the funeral. Our time together was obviously too good to be true. I felt so stupid believing that Ben would be happy to take things slow with me. Did he just want to take my innocence from me, after all?

  ‘I’m never looking at guys again,’ I blurted out to Natalie as soon as I saw her.

  She just giggled at me, it was nice to see a smile on her face again. She had such a beautiful smile.

  ‘C’mon, tell me about Ben then.’

  ‘He is there to protect me whenever Daniel’s about, well mostly. We’ve kissed a couple of times but then since that day he dropped me off at the hospital, I haven’t heard anything from him.’

  ‘Well girl, take your grandmother’s advice and stay away from the wolves’

  Jenny brought us BLTs and peppermint lattes. I quickly changed the topic.

  ‘So, how do you feel about changing colleges?’

  ‘To be honest, I am freaking scared as I don’t know what to expect. I’m not going to know anybody either. At the same time, I’m super-excited for a change of scenery and a new town.’

  ‘I’m totally gonna miss ya, girl.’

  ‘I’ll miss you too.’

  ‘I know we haven’t known each other for very long, but you are very dear to me.’

  ‘Oh shucks girl, stop or you’re going to make me cry!’

  We giggled and had a few tears.

  ‘What are we like?’ she laughed. ‘Come on,’ she said, ‘let’s tuck in.’

  The food was so good. I made a pact to myself to visit here at least once a week. I was used to my own company, so I didn’t really care if I had to come alone. And I could always bring Gran.

  Deep in thought again about my Gran being a powerful spellcaster, I hadn’t realised Natalie was trying to talk with me. She playfully reached over the table and tapped a couple of times onto my cheek.

  ‘Hello, Earth to Grace. Come in.’

  I snapped out of my trance and knocked over my latte. It was still pretty hot it scolded my hand.

  ‘Oh shit, I’m so clumsy.’

  Jenny rushed over with some ice in a cloth and another clear up my mess. She then brought me another pepper
mint latte.

  ‘Thanks, I’m sorry for making such a mess,’ I said, embarrassed.

  ‘It happens to the best of us,’ Natalie assured me.

  ‘Just don’t knock this one over!’ Jenny joked and soon, seeing my hand go red she dashed off to get a cold compress to try to reduce the hot swelling that was forming. I felt really embarrassed but both Jenny and Natalie assured me all was fine and to not worry about it. These things do indeed happen to the best of us.

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  I felt restless, not wanting to go back to my grandparents just yet. My hand was still hurting, and I contemplated going to A&E, but I didn’t want to waste anyone’s time on a minor burn. This was where I needed Ben to show up, but he was still avoiding me. I’d seen neither him nor Daniel since the funeral.

  The evening air was gradually getting cooler, Halloween was not too far away, the dead leaves were falling to the ground. As I walked along the pavement in a daze, deep in thought in a world of my own, the sound of leaves crunching beneath my trainers, I hadn’t noticed I was being followed again. I had my ear pods in, listening to the music for my winter show dance.

  The clouds in the sky had formed swirls of red, pink and orange with the night sky drawing itself over the falling sun. I shivered. The sense that there was someone closing in on my personal space broke through my thoughts of the show. I glanced over my shoulder to nobody being there and carried on, trying to clear my head. Then one of my earpods fell out and landed on top of a pile of dead leaves. Kneeling to pick it up, I heard my name being called. It was a deep, masculine voice.

  ‘Piss off whoever you are.’

  I was having none of this bullshit right now between Ben and Daniel. I grabbed my earphone and started marching away, stomping my feet. I reached for my phone from the pocket of my red coat to check the time; it was already gone half six and I knew my Gran would be serving dinner in half an hour. Just as I slipped my phone back into my coat pocket, I was grabbed from behind and then everything went black.

  I woke to a blacked-out room. My wrists and ankles were tied to what I believed was a chair. I try to move but I was restrained too tightly, and I couldn’t scream out as I’d been gagged. This time Daniel had got me and there was no one around to help me.