Page 33 of Contract Marked (Interdimensional Beings #1)

Chapter Thirty-Three

Erin

I never thought I’d miss my boring, white-walled apartment and its lackluster furniture, but I could’ve cried after we landed on my living room floor. Well, I was crying, but it was mostly from the pain. Dez and Cal’s blood might have prevented me from bleeding out, but it sure as hell didn’t make it hurt any less.

Saya’s blood-soaked figure stained my carpet, but I didn’t care at that moment, I was just happy to be alive. Alive and back on Earth.

I did it, I made it back, but I still had one more thing to do.

“I have a shower you can both use.” I glanced at the purple-haired girl who looked close to Saya’s size. “I’ll gather some clothes that you’ll both fit into as well.” Saya gave me a grateful nod and ushered the other girl into my bathroom.

My bedroom was as I left it. My black comforter, which I got on sale, was in a crumpled heap, and half my pillows were on the floor. The only thing off was my dresser drawers, which had been opened. I always closed them when I was done.

I pulled out several pairs of clothes and knocked on the bathroom door, handing the lump to Saya. The other girl stood a head taller than me, even more so than Saya, her purple hair wet from showering. I swore her face shifted, her imperfect features smoothing into something more … unnatural, but I could have imagined it.

Saya withdrew the silver coin and piece of folded paper—more than a bit bloody—from the pile of discarded clothes on the floor. “Here, these belong to you. I … I tried to use the coin. Just to see, but nothing happened.”

I didn’t ask her what she tried to use it for, but I nodded. “I’m sure it’s because Earth is very different from there. We’ll figure out how to get you back.”

“No!” she screeched, and I flinched.

I shook my head. “No, I mean, of course not.” I nervously laughed. “I meant a place you were comfortable with, but you’re more than welcome to stay here with me. We’ll figure something out.”

The purple-haired girl remained silent, drying her hair with a towel and looking like a normal human again as I closed the bathroom door.

The rest of the apartment didn’t seem out of the ordinary—except for more opened drawers in my kitchen as if someone had rummaged through the place. Had the cops come and investigated when me and Megan went missing?

I grabbed what I needed and limped back into my living room with a tin of salt. I remade the salt circle that now had footprints all over it as if someone was trying to figure out what it was. Exchanging the dirty plate with a new one, I unfolded Llewyn’s note, the words still legible even with blood staining half the page. I repeated the strange language, different from when I first performed this ritual with Megan. My final words called on Llewynelle.

The room went quiet. Then, my skin pricked as if the air turned electric. Fire and spice permeated the room, and I rubbed my arms as a coldness swept in. Smoke bloomed in the middle of the circle before solidifying into Llewyn—and Megan.

Megan stepped out of the circle, wrapping me into a bear hug. “Erin! Oh my God! Llewyn told me what you were doing!” She leaned back, tears filling her eyes. “What the hell were you thinking!”

I smiled sheepishly, glancing back to Llewyn, who hadn’t moved. “Welcome to my humble abode,” I joked.

Llewyn nodded. “I’m glad you’re okay.” He glanced at my leg and frowned.

“What happened?” Megan gaped at my wound, and the blood that was still on me, as well as all over the carpet where Saya had trekked.

“It’s a long story.” I released Megan and stepped toward the salt circle. “Llewyn, I release you.” I kicked an opening in the salt, and Llewyn stepped through, his face blooming into a smile.

He grabbed my hand, kissing the top of it. “I’ll forever be grateful for this, Erin Jay Williams. To see Sylvain again in the flesh, even if she doesn’t remember. It will truly be a gift.”

“I should be thanking you. For helping me.” I opened my mouth, almost afraid to ask, but I had to know. “The trial …”

“See for yourself.”

I stretched the top of my blood-spattered dress, pushing back my bra. Dez’s mark was gone. “I’m … I’m free.” I laughed, my cheeks wet. “You did it, we actually won.”

Llewyn nodded. “Though, not in the way you’d expect. You have a blood bond with Dezmandaro, correct?”

I froze. “Why? Does that change anything?”

He shook his head. “Dezmandaro was not himself. I’m sure he sensed your immense fear and pain through the bond. He left in the middle of the trial. Since he did not have a representative, we won by default.”

He had … left? He’d been willing to give up his revenge and my eternal misery all because I was in danger? I scoffed at the thought. No, the Dezmandaro who had strangled me with his claws, who saturated my sleep with horrendous nightmares for days on end, wasn’t that nice. He must’ve concluded that if I was dead, there was no point in fighting for our contract.

“Is he … would he still try to come back for me?” I don’t think I’ll ever forget the look in his eyes after I obliterated all evidence of his previous lover. The previous lover who had been murdered by none other than Cal, Dez’s supposed best friend at the time. “Would Cal?” We still had a contract. I felt his ‘C’ grazing my inner thigh, and his silver dagger was still strapped to my side.

“There is a protected divide between Earth and The Higher Realms. The only way my kind can physically enter your world is if we’re invited by humans themselves or the Council has allowed special permission for an individual. Caliphiste is currently the only being with special permission to walk in both worlds, aside from the Council.”

I bit my lip. “Is there … is there any way to protect myself? From being taken again?”

“For some beings, a salt circle is enough to contain them. Or keep them out. For Caliphiste …” Llewyn’s gaze lowered, his white lashes sweeping across his pale blue eyes. “I’m sorry, Erin. This is the path you chose, but many branches still have yet to be traversed. I know you’ll choose the one that resonates best with you.”

I nodded, knowing this outcome was already more than I hoped for. Megan and Saya were safe, and I was back on Earth. I no longer had to worry about my everlasting doom with Dez. If my only concern now was Cal, so be it. I fumbled my way this far; I’ll figure out a way to win my true freedom.

“Thanks, Llewyn, for everything.” I pulled out the silver coin. “Oh, and here. This is yours.”

He gently pushed the coin back toward me. “Destroy it or hide it; Cal will come for it to take it to the Council. I’d hate for it to be in their hands.”

I blinked. I forgot Cal had been hunting for this since he’d let me use it against Dez. Now, he’ll want to confiscate it. I nodded.

Before Llewyn left, he changed into a pair of khakis and a Hawaiian shirt, his hair now cropped short. The change was … different, to say the least. I gave him and Megan space as they exchanged a few words before Llewyn hugged her goodbye. Tears streaked my friend’s face, but she looked happy, making promises to meet up again now that Llewyn was free. Then he left to be with his true love until Cal was sent to execute them. I hope he never finds them.

“Are you okay?” I whispered to Megan when Llewyn left.

She wiped at her face and nodded. “When Llewyn suddenly went missing years ago, I was so worried. Even though my mom and Sylvain had stopped talking, Llewyn stayed and watched over us, protecting us like the father I never had. I didn’t even know if he was still alive.” She smiled. “I’m glad he’s free and can see Sylvain again, even if she doesn’t remember.” Megan bit her lip, glancing at the ground. “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you. I didn’t even know where to start or how I was even going to find Llewyn. If you’d even believe me.”

I shook my head. “It’s fine.” Megan was right. If I hadn’t experienced The Higher Realms firsthand, I’m not sure if I would have believed her. Not that it mattered now.

“Are you okay? What happened?”

I caught her up to speed, Megan’s eyes wide by the time I finished. “Mom runs a B&B. I’ll ask if the girls can stay there for now.” She frowned. “Shoot, my phone.” We found her cell on the floor by the salt circle, where it had been left prior to leaving for The Higher Realms. I lent her my charger.

“Oh God, I have to figure out what I’m going to tell her.” Megan rubbed her temples before calling her mom.

“At least you still have your phone. Mine’s at the bottom of a hole in another world,” I said, dreading the price tag of a new one I’ll have to get soon.

While Megan was on the phone, I checked my work laptop, which, fortunately, had been left in its case on the floor from where I had taken it to Megan’s house the last time I worked. After charging it, I checked the time and date. Only a few weeks had passed here, which was long enough for the authorities to be alerted, but at least it hadn’t been the same length of time as it had been in The Higher Realms. It felt as if I’d already lived half a year in that other world, but it couldn’t have been more than two or three months. I couldn’t fully log into my PC using my work credentials, leaving me to assume I was fired after my disappearing act of three weeks.

The blood from my thigh wound dried down my leg, and my body felt like it needed a chiropractor and a hospital visit, but I was alive, and I wasn’t going to sit still and let my thoughts spin out of control.

Most of the things in my fridge had spoiled and needed to be tossed. I frowned at the opened drawers, closing them one by one. I watered the two plants that still clung to life and cleaned up the burger wrappers that were still on my coffee table from that night that felt like ages ago.

Saya met me in the kitchen as I cooked several bowls of instant macaroni and cheese, the only good thing I had. She looked much better now that she didn’t look like the girl in the movie Carrie. My black tank top and shorts were a little big on her, but they worked.

“You should be sitting down, your leg …” she said.

I waved my hand. “I’m fine.” I wasn’t. “I’m not sure if you’re hungry. This is all I have.”

Saya frowned and glanced around the apartment—looking for a silver slate. “I’m not sure how much you remember, but things on Earth … well, it’s a bit different from Dez’s place.”

She flushed, nodding.

While Megan continued to get chewed out by her mom, who I heard yelling on the other end, I gave Saya and the purple-haired girl bowls of instant macaroni and cheese. It may not be gourmet, but who knows when the last time they ate. They looked to be skin and bones, though at least a shower brightened both their faces a bit. The purple-haired girl still hadn’t spoken a word as she and Saya sat and ate at the coffee table. I winced, wishing I had an actual table now, but it would have to make do.

“I will, I will. Love you too,” Megan said, choking up. She slid the phone into her pocket. “Mac and cheese, really, Erin?”

I shrugged, wanting to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Moments ago, I’d been facing death and the worst pain of my life. Now, I was about to eat microwaved pasta at my coffee table as if nothing had happened. I needed to call my therapist as soon as possible.

But at least I was home again.