Meanwhile, back at the camp of the vamps and Lycans Blackclaw had planned to have Divina captured whenever she left her protective circle. He had sent Darren Divina’s ex-boyfriend to get close to her whenever possible and also to watch her house day and night and he was glad when he put in a call notifying him of the latest.

“Good news, follow her and bring her to me alive,’’ he instructed.

“Yes general,’ Darren replied with gusto. It was time to move up the ranks. He would show Blackclaw that he was worthy.

The bitterness that engulfed his heart because of the way Divina ended their relationship had pushed him too. It was the perfect way for him to get his revenge. So when Blackclaw came knocking he couldn’t refuse.

“Divina, you will finally pay’’ he said with a wry grin.

Divina pulled up at the available slot and waved at Melissa as her friend came rushing towards her. The serene was beautiful and the cool breeze made her forget all the problems that had plagued her life. Seeing people mill around smiling and laughing happily only made her feel like she was carrying the burden of the world on her shoulders which was very true. She didn’t want to be a witch. At first it had sounded appealing but as she watched others her age letting loose and just having fun. She wanted that life too.

Yet she couldn’t fully let go. Knowing that within the darkness laid those who wanted her dead for simply being a witch.

“So you made it!’’ Melissa asked hugging Divina.

“Well your offer was too good to turn down,’’ Divina replied.

“Yeah, let me introduce you to some cool dudes,’’ she said pulling Divina along.

Hours later she had forgotten that she had planned to stay for only an hour before rushing back home. Glancing at her watch she exclaimed.

“Oh no mum will kill me!” She said hastily looking for Melissa who was nowhere to be found. Oh on earth had so much time escaped her?

Just as she was about to turn on the ignition of her grandfather’s rickety Peugeot Melissa suddenly appeared from nowhere.

“Running away again,’’ she said half drunk swaying on her feet.

“Mum is gonna kill me I told you,” Divina said.

“She won’t, ’’ Melissa said as she jumped into the passenger’s seat. In less than ten minutes of dropping Melissa off at her house she was turning through the last highway into the lonely road as many town people called it, music blaring from her speakers. She could easily see why the town folks called it the lonely road.

The road stretched out, the asphalt-cold like the night. It was roomed with trees and a canopy of luminous stars materialized amongst the ocean of blackness. Some were dull, merely flickering into existence every now and then, but there was an adequate amount of shimmering stars to illuminate the dark, moonless night. From a distance, you could hear the ancient zoom of the Peugeot 501 with its antiquated engine accelerating not more than a speeding bicycle. Definitely, the car had been through thick and thin but it was still standing on the verge of cessation. The owner must have enjoyed it and loved it so much that they couldn’t let it go. It was just as hoary as the owner. The difference which existed between them was life, real life. But even in its slow pace, soft rock music blared from its stereo, Divina wasn’t caught in its antediluvian world.

She was a young blond with thin lips and blue eyes. She had striking physical features which announced her presence even before she was aware of others. An outgoing youth with an inconsistent personality. Divina was singing loudly along with the song

‘. . . Am saying right now right now am free am free am free. . . This is my big hello, if you’re hearing now let me know I can finally see, it’s not just a dream when you said am free am free am free’

One would have thought that her voice and the song from the radio was the same. She really loved rock music and hated boredom. Then, finally giving up the ghost, the antiquated junk on four wheels broke down. Divina hit the steering wheel angrily. She blamed her Dad for allowing her to spend her holidays with her Pa. Her stay had been frustrating and not until now did she wish that she had refused her father’s request. So much had happened in a short space of time she was finding it hard to come to grips with her own feelings.

“He wants to see you, I bet you don’t understand that because you are still young,” her father had said.

But he never mentioned that he had a broken car, and she had forgotten that his house was in the middle of a walled large expanse of land which made sneaking out of the house almost impossible without a car or a bicycle. The town was fun filled but her old Pa was sick. In the hospital with a brain tumor, shouting words that now Divina knew were bad.

She got out from the rickety thing and tried to open its bonnet. After seeing the horrible engine with twisted wires which were more confusing than any jigsaw puzzle, she lost hope of using the car anymore. She would walk home. Since she was now going on foot, it would be easy for her to pass through the woods, which would be the perfect shortcut. Pa had a torch in the trunk. She remembered seeing it when she was checking out the rusted death on wheels.

In minutes she found herself within the fresh organic smell of dark bleak nature, surrounded by the aged trees and a castle of woods. Creaking branches stretched away on the forest floor. Everything seemed fine for the first five minutes of walking.

Only the rustle from underneath her feet could be heard. The path was dark. Nothing could be seen beyond the light of the torch which cast shadows by the tall mossy pines on either side. The swaying shadows gave her the creeps and a chill ran down her spine.

She noticed that a thick mist began to cloud her legs, turning into a dense fog. It wasn’t natural and her mind went into instant panic.

She had a sense that someone or thing was watching her, the hairs on the nape of her neck prickled. All the horror movies she had ever watched flashed in her mind, it gave her a sense that something was a little off but she continued the journey down the bleak part, until she heard the soft footfalls of something or someone behind her. She turned sharply her eyes doing all the work. Her heart began pouncing almost hitting her ribs. The unidentified object or thing ran past her swiftly, and then a branch fell off a nearby tree. That was all she needed.  Her heart leapt in her chest rattling against her rib cage as her breath halted in her throat. For a second she was rendered immobile. Glued to the spot in utter terror.

‘Run, run!’

She spoke to her legs, which jumped to action. The wind rustled past as she was making her way through the woods, she needed to get away from whatever it was. Behind her, she could hear heavy footsteps getting closer and it only propelled her to run faster. Sooner than she thought, she burst into a clearing, she paused to listen. Nothing.

Then just as she was about to take a step, the torch in her hand exposed a face having a saber-tooth like that of a tiger. Then it was all bleak and blank.

Divina had been passed out for three hours after she had seen the inhumane figure. Darren who was manipulated by Blackclaw to achieve his own ends held a smug smile. It had been easier than he had first thought. Infact he hadn’t had to lift a finger. Only to carrier her to her cell. Of course he picked the smelliest and one out of them all. He wanted her to suffer.

Blackclaw entered the cell that Divina was placed in and he smiled. He couldn’t believe his luck. Prophecy had foretold that she would be very powerful even for him. But he had little or no problems in capturing her. It was indeed game time. He moved closer to her and sniffed her examining her closely.

“She is quite beautiful,’’ he said aloud unexpectedly.

He recovered sharply from the sincere admire he had to curtail himself from giving his prisoner any further compliments, after all she was condemned to death. If he didn’t need to kill her to ensure his own survival she would have indeed made a great pet. General Blackclaw collected the bucket of water Darren had and rained it hard on Divina.

“Jeez,’’ Divina exclaimed suddenly regaining consciousness.

“Welcome to the party prophecy seeker!” Blackclaw said mockingly

“Where am I? Who are you?” Divina asked as tears began to well up in her eyes. She had never been so afraid in her life.

“Where you are . . .?”

“I wouldn’t bother about that, lil girl’’

“Release me please, I have not done anything wrong,’’ she pleaded.

Blackclaw let out a sinister smile.

Divina caught a glimpse of Darren her ex with the corner of her eye and she turned swiftly to confirm.

“Darren, what!” Divina looked perplexed.

“Hello Divina,” Darren replied emerging from the corner of the room with a smirk on his face.

“Finally, I got my chance to pay you for what you’ve done. An eye for an eye,”

“Please, Daren untie me,”

“Untie? You really don’t know who you are. Just as innocent as you look,” he grunted.

Darren was still a jerk. Just a bigger one than before. Divina couldn’t believe at one point she loved to be on his arm and to be called his girl. Now she looked at him in disgust.

Blackclaw interrupted both of them and instructed that Divina should be kept under lock and key until he was ready to deal with her. Divina got a chill down her spine with the way Blackclaw had said “Deal with her,” like she was nothing but a piece of property.

***

BACK HOME AMY WALKED into the house after a very long day. It was indeed a very long day as she was moving from one store to another getting the right ingredients for the rite of passage which would bring to the fore Divina’s powers. She strutted into the house and laid the groceries on the kitchen table calling out to Divina.

“Hey pumpkin am home,” She said turning to go to the kitchen.

Amy had spent several minutes in the kitchen arranging the groceries without any reply from Divina. She called out the second time

‘’Divina dear, Mum is home,’’

Still no response from her daughter, Amy decided to go check on her. She climbed upstairs and she knocked on Divina’s door. She got no response.

“Sleeping are we?”Amy said peeping into the room.

Amy received the greatest shock of her life, Divina’s bed was empty and there was a note indicating where she was.

“This can’t be,” she thought.

“I begged her not to go outside, I told her it was too dangerous,” Why didn’t she listen?

Immediately, panic set in as thoughts of different events happening to her daughter came rushing into her perturbed mind. Hastily she picked up her phone and dialed the only one person who she knew was very good at finding people, her ex husband.

“Hello Aiden I can’t find her,’’ she said dejectedly.

“What! Amy I thought you told her the dangers involved in going out?”

“Believe me Aiden I did but,’’ she couldn’t continue as tears rolled out effortlessly and sobs escaped from her mouth. She felt helpless.

Aiden knowing full well how emotional his ex-wife was, knew better than to push things further.

“Calm down Amy, I will find our daughter. I promise you,’’ he reassured her. Amy didn’t have the same hope she heard in his voice. The fight with Blackclaw could be the one they couldn’t beat. Divina wasn’t ready.

“Please Aiden, please find her,’’ she begged trying to latch onto his hope.

Aiden after ending the call set to motion immediately. He put a call through to Vanir and he wasn’t too surprised with the outcome.

“He has her man,’’ Vanir said.

“Am gonna kill Blackclaw if he lays a finger on my girl,’’ Aiden said clenching his fist.

“We will have to work together brother,’’ he continued.

“Are you ready to battle Vanir?’’

“Hell yeah man. I want my daughter’s back,’’

“Good, am gonna update you soon,” Aiden said dropping the call. They both wanted the same thing. Their babies home and safe. They would fight to the death to ensure that happened.

***

IT HAD BEEN TWO DAYS since Divina has been kept in Blackclaw’s company. She noticed other girls in other cells being murdered and she was tired of being tied up. She decided to make a frantic effort to get herself released.

“Hey Darren are you happy to see me like this?’’

“I thought I meant something to you,” She did mean something to him but that was a long time ago. Nothing she could say could change his mind. Daren’s soul had been buried in evil. Divina wasn’t the cause for all those but an external force. He yearned for power more than he could get or control. Being who he was, was a blessing which he enjoyed and cherished. To him, Divina was just another pawn.

Darren moved closer to the cell and gave Divina a hard look.

“Oh don’t play yourself Divina, that trick isn’t gonna work,” he said turning his back on her.

“What happened to you Darren, you were once good, kind and-”

“You broke my heart Divina, that’s what happened and am going to get my revenge now,’’ he strutted away.

“I gave you everything Darren but I don’t know you anymore, killing those innocent people. . .’’ she said tearfully.

“No one is innocent Divina. We all have black stains on our heart!” he yelled at her his cheeks puffing out with uncontrolled rage.

“Stay away from the girl,’’ Blackclaw entered and declared with a female behind him. Divina knew it was a female by the pitter patter of her heals on the stone floor.

Divina noticed that the lady behind Blackclaw was trying as much as possible to hide herself from Divina. She stayed behind Blackclaw with her face turned to the shadows.

“I would like to introduce you to....”

“My mum?’’ Divina said as the lady left Blackclaw’s shadow.

“Your Mum indeed,’’ he said drawing the sinister laughter from the rest of the group.

Divina was confused, she had seen this woman before in her dreams and she looked exactly like her Mum. Different questions roamed her mind. The lady reading Divina’s mind gave her the needed answers.

“I am your Mum’s twin sister,’’ she said without blinking.

“I abducted her when she was young and raised her to do my biddings,’’ Blackclaw said with glee.

Oh yes Divina could now remember that her Mum and Dad had bruised the idea of a twin sister when they were disclosing the truth about her kind to her.

“So you too just kill innocent people like him?’’ she inquired.

“No one is innocent little girl, life is unfair,’’ she remarked.

Words were thrown at each other and Blackclaw told her that she would be history tomorrow because tomorrow was the full moon and it was the perfect time to drain her power and kill her.

“Dad, Mum-where are you guys?” She sobbed quietly.

“No one can save you little witch,’’ the witch twin sister said with disgust.

“Such a weak and naive little girl,” she added. 

***

BACK HOME AIDEN BEGAN gathering the necessary items for the little expedition to save his daughter. He knew the task at hand was enormous and he also knew that it would be very tough to kill Blackclaw at first strike but he was determined to do whatever was necessary to save his girl and Vanir’s daughters. Blackclaw had destroyed one family too many and messed with the wrong one. He would see to his end if it was the last thing he did.

“Got everything?’’ Amy said with anxiety.

“I think so I can’t think straight now,’’ he replied to her with a disturbed look. It was be the most important battle he had ever gone into. If anything happened he risked losing everything. Even his sanity. This time he had to think things through. Be smart. His baby girls life was at risk and he had no room for errors.

Amy had seen Aiden in that situation before whenever he was about to embark very dangerous situations. He would always wear that disturbing look on his face. She knew she had to keep Aiden in one piece if she ever wanted to see her daughter again.

She moved closer to him and gave him a warm embrace whispering in his ears which prompted a smile from him.

“I have never doubted you and you know I love you,’’

“Exactly the motivation I needed,’’ as he held tightly to his ex wife. He knew why he loved her, he always had. Even a divorce couldn’t change his love.

“Oops wolf bane-almost forgot that,’’ he said scratching his head.

Amy shook her head and motioned to him to get the antidote.

“I am sure where going to get through this together,” she said smiling, relishing how an embrace and words got to him easily. She indeed meant what she said to Aiden. She loved him so much.

“Yeah, I got this,’’ Aiden said emerging from the kitchen. What a funny place to keep the things he wondered.

“Bring back our daughter,’’ Amy said kissing him on the cheeks.

With that Aiden exited the building and got into the car that had Vanir in the driver’s seat. He looked back one last time at Amy who looked lost and afraid. He wouldn’t fail her.

In no time they zoomed off heading for Blackclaw’s protective mansion. Both of them held a knot of fear and anxiety in the pit of their stomachs. They knew full well that not all of them would come out of the battle alive.