CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Bianca gripped the seat as Talon sped down street after street, his expression grim and determined. She had never been to this part of the town before. It was less populated, and the houses and shops were spaced farther and farther apart until finally the last crumbling building fell away into the distance behind them.
In front of them was just a badly paved road that seemed to lead out of town and into the wilderness beyond.
“Talon,” Bianca cried. “Please, tell me what’s going on. Where are we going?”
She looked around with wide, frightened eyes. Talon’s maniacal driving had terrified her. The car turned out onto a dirt road and slowed down.
Were they stopping here? Why had he driven her out here? There was nothing but trees and tall grasses around.
Finally, she saw a dilapidated building in the distance. It looked like an old abandoned barn.
Bianca turned to Talon and opened her mouth, but her words were lodged in her throat. She stared at the shimmering air around Talon and saw his features move and change.
“Glamour,” she whispered.
Talon flashed his eyes to her. Bianca gasped when she saw the pinpoint of red in his gray eyes.
“You...you’re not Talon.”
Horrified, Bianca watched the red bleed across his iris. She made a shocked sound of recognition as she stared at those blood red eyes.
Bianca stared at the hands on the steering wheel. Those hands were shrinking, becoming thin and wrinkled. Dark spots appeared on the crinkly, papery skin.
The wavy, brown hair on his head kept receding until he became a bald, hunched, skeletal woman.
“Sariah!” Bianca choked out. “You! What...what’s happening? What are you doing? Just where...”
The witch threw her a venomous glance. “Shut up!”
Bianca turned and tried the door. “Stop the car! Let me out right now.”
“Keep quiet! We’re almost there.”
“Where?” Bianca’s eyes rounded in panic. “Where are you taking me?”
Sariah’s thin lips twisted in a sadistic smile. “I did warn you, you know. I told you to mind your own goddamn business. It doesn’t pay to cross a witch, foolish human.”
Bianca wrenched desperately at the door handle. “Stop the car, Sariah! You...”
Sariah smiled as the barn loomed up. “It seems I’m not the only one you’ve offended, Bianca. You’re new in town, yet you seem to have a penchant for stirring up trouble.”
“What are you talking about?” Bianca said, her blood running cold.
“The black wolves.”
Bianca turned and saw three black wolves emerge from the barn. They stalked towards the car as Sariah slowed the car to a stop.
“Don’t stop now. These wolves are dangerous! Go!” Bianca shrieked. “Keep driving! We have to get out of here. Drive, Sariah! Come on!”
But Sariah killed the engine and smiled.
She turned to Bianca and said, “You wanted to get out of the car? Here’s your stop, Bianca.”
“No...” Bianca said in a terrified whisper. “No, you can’t...”
“Oh yes I can.” Sariah opened the car door and stepped out. “Cliff Woodrow paid me to deliver you here.”
Bianca gasped when she saw the three wolves shift into human form. The stocky male with salt-and-pepper hair was wearing an eye patch. This was the alpha black wolf. Talon had gouged out his eye that night.
Behind him were two young men, presumably his sons. Bianca could see the familial resemblance. All three men had stony faces, close-set, shifty eyes and moved with the same heavy gait. The corner of their mouths were downturned, as if they were perpetually unhappy with the world.
Bianca heard Sariah addressing the man with the eye patch. “Here she is, Cliff. Right where you want her. Now where’s my money?”