Goldie Lox And Her Trio Of Bears (Goldie Lox Prophecy Book 1), стр. 23
“Vesh noque waure,” the voice hissed.
I don’t understand. Jillian tried to speak, but as her lips parted, she was completely paralyzed. Panic took hold as she fought the weight of her own body as it threatened to collapse on itself.
“Vesh noque waure!” The lips of the creature dripped with metallic saliva that reminded her of mercury. Its mouth opened, revealing jagged teeth that glinted as a long tendril of saliva trailed down.
No. Jillian whimpered, trying to turn her head, but she was powerless. Just before it touched her face, she broke free of the prison of her body, springing forward as she sat up in a cold sweat.
The sun shone through the curtains, and she realized it must have been some weird nightmare brought on by all the stress. The sweet-savory smell of bacon sizzling wafted in from the next room. Folding back the covers, she pulled up her pant-leg to examine the scar left by the snake bite: two white circles and one little line where a smaller fang scraped the skin.
Jillian stretched, filling her lungs with mountain air. She reached under her pillow, where she usually kept her phone before remembering that she hadn’t had it with her since Ted attacked her.
Did I drop it in the woods? Or did it go into the river when I jumped? She shrugged. It’s not like there are any outlets in this place anyway.
Standing up, she made the bed, smoothing out the blankets. She had slept over with friends who didn’t have housekeeping before. Making the bed was just good manners. She bit her lip as her hand touched the doorknob.
I hope things won’t be weird with Vincent after what happened last night.
She opened the door to find the boys darting around the kitchen.
“Did I miss breakfast?” She frowned, sitting down at the bare table.
“We packed it to go.” Conner winked. “Vincent said we’re hiking back to the circle. He wants to show you…”
“Conner quit blabbing and fill the canteens.” Finn slapped a big leather pouch onto Conner’s chest.
“I guess they want you to see it for yourself.” Conner winked, and Jillian’s heart skipped a beat. “You want to help me fill these?” He held up all three handmade canteens that more resembled wineskins that she’d seen in movies.
“Sure.” She yawned, rubbing the last of the sleep from her eyes. They walked out to the hand well.
“You and Vincent stayed up late.” Conner handed her the first canteen and started pumping.
“I guess.” Jillian held the canteen to the spout as water started to flow. “Not that you can tell what time it is out here. Why are there no clocks?”
“We don’t need them.” He looked up at the blue sky. “When it’s light out, we do repairs on the cabin, wash clothes and dishes, work in the greenhouse.”
“Do you guys take turns hunting?” She took the stopper that was attached by a braided cord and pushed it into the mouth of the canteen.
“Finn has pretty much taken over the hunting.” His nose wrinkled. “We all pitch in on occasion, though. I more of a fishing guy.”
“How long have you guys been living out here?” She waited for the next canteen to overflow.
“Vincent was out here first, and then he took in Finn. A few years later, I joined the party.”
“How many is a few?” Water flowed down the side of the canteen over her hand, and she pulled it away, placing another stopper.
“Well, Finn mentioned that you guys talked a little bit yesterday. So, you know how when Finn turned for the first time, he killed those mob guys?” Conner didn’t look up from the pump.
“Yeah…” Jillian held up the last canteen, studying the pain behind Conner’s nonchalant expression.
“Well, the first time I turned, I was arguing with my parents. I was grounded, and I snuck out. They heard me come in through my window.” He stopped pumping as soon as the canteen was full. “I’d been out drinking with my friends.”
“Oh my God.” Jillian stopped up the last canteen. “What happened?”
“I remember getting mad and feeling sick. I thought it was all the tequila.” He cracked his neck. “But I woke up naked in the woods the next morning. I hid until dark… then somehow managed to make it home without being seen. The house was torn to shreds, and there was blood everywhere. Cops and animal control had already come and gone. My mom was sitting at the kitchen table. She had a pile of crumpled up tissues in front of her.”
“Your dad?” Jillian put her hand on Conner’s shoulder. “He got hurt?”
“He was in the hospital on life-support, but he was on his way out.” Conner hung his head. “Mom had told them that a bear had gotten into the house somehow and dragged me off into the woods. She said if I didn’t want to get locked up for what I had done, that I should disappear, so that’s what I did.”
“That must have been horrible.” Jillian put her arms around him. “I’m sure she only wanted what was best for you.”
“She was terrified of me.” He lifted his arms to hold her close. “I could see it in her face. She yanked her hand back when I tried to touch her.”
“She was probably having a hard time processing what happened. Have you reached out to her since then?”
“No.” He blinked the sheen from his eyes. “I got killed by a bear, remember? I can’t ever go back there.”
“You guys ready?” Vincent waved from the corner of the cabin.
“Hell yeah!” Conner held up the three canteens and nodded to Jillian. “Let’s go.”
“I still don’t have any shoes.” Jillian pointed at her bare