Capture (Book 2 in the Magicals Trilogy)

Chapter 1

6 weeks later....

I'm walking thick, white fog, so thick I barely see in front of me, there's a shimmer to the fog so I know magic's been used to create it, but I keep moving because I know he's here. I can sense him. He's weak but he's here. If I just keep moving I'll get to him, I have to. I hear footsteps behind me, moving fast. I break into a sprint and in my desperate need to find him I start calling his name. Not caring if I gave my own location away. I had to find him, it was my only chance then ever so quietly I hear his voice. No more than a whisper but still his. "Belle" he says. His voice sounds weak and hoarse. Hearing it brings tears to my eyes instantly. I've been praying to hear this voice every day since my birthday and finally I hear it again now if only I could see him. "Garrett! Garrett!" I call out running faster trying to find him. I trip over something I can't see through the fog and then I'm falling and it's like I'm in a bottomless pit. The fall is endless until...

My eyes spring open with tears already forming. This same nightmare over and over for the past six weeks was a slow torture. However, it had been different tonight, I'd wondered deeper in the fog and I'd heard his voice. It was just a whisper but it had been his. The tears start rolling down my cheeks and in an instant Luna is by my side. I pat her head and she tries to comfort me but I know no comfort will come until Garrett is back home.

I get out of bed and as soon as my feet hit the hardwood floors of my bedroom and chill takes over my body. It's cold outside because it's almost Christmas but this is a different kind of chill. Quickly I turn the lamp on my nightstand on, scanning the room I see nothing but I can't shake the chill. The dream of Garrett's voice has gotten to me more than I had originally thought.

As I make my way to the bathroom I look out the window towards Garrett's house. His dark window only makes my heart break more. I can't believe it's only been six weeks since I've seen his smile, or smelled the woodsy, minty smell, or ran my fingers through those lose blonde curls. For a minute the pain is so strong that my legs start to wobble. Just as my heart is about to rip out of my chest I grab my composure. Breaking and crying won't help us. It won't help me and it definitely won't help Garrett. He needs me to be strong. He needs me to find him and save him. I can't do that if I'm lying on the ground broken.

Splashing water on my face in the bathroom I look in the mirror. I don't look in them often like I use to. Without Garrett I really don't care too much about impressing anyone. Plus, my appearance is less than stellar. Between trying to recover from almost being killed, then the loss that had ate at me for two weeks after finding out Amadeus and Evan had taken Garrett I had went into warrior mode. I spent all my extra time either doing homework or catching upon working my magic. I spent countless hours outside with my parents, one of the Freeman's, Javi or one of my other friends, Riley or Erika, practicing how to use it in fighting. I had to be prepared to fight in order to get Garrett when the time came.

Giving up on sleep I got up and found the mix cd Garrett had given me a few days before my birthday. He had written the list of songs on the inside along with a romantic note to me. Even though it hurt to read it and listen to the songs that he had said reminded him of me it also made me feel close to him and it helped find strength without being with him.

Pulling out the paper tucked inside the case I got a whiff of Garrett's smell. It's vague but it's still there and it's him. All him, unfolding the paper I see his writing:

My beautiful Belle,

I'm not good with words like you are but I do know how I feel about you. You went from my best friend to a complete stranger. When you came back home I was unsure of what to expect but you walked back into my life and gave it light again. I had no idea how much I was missing until those green eyes met mine. What was numb and lost suddenly felt whole again. It was like I was home. You, Arabella are my home. You are my light. You are everything I ever wanted and needed plus so much more. I love you my beautiful Belle. I'll keep you safe and you'll keep me wild.

Yours always, Garrett

I placed the headphone over my ears and listened to each song carefully. Each lyric held something special to me. Over the past six weeks since my birthday whenever I felt like I was going to break or get weak I'd grab this cd and listen to it. It muted out everything else and gave me strength to keep up this fight. I knew that I had to but everyone has their moments of weakness. Its part of being human but I hated that I ever felt weak. I always ended up mentally kicking myself because if the roles were reversed Garrett would have already found me. I couldn't help but feel like I was failing him...where ever he was.

At some point I must have drifted off to sleep because the next thing I remember is MaKayla sitting on my bed and telling me I had to get up. Fear shot through me and I instantly jumped up "What's wrong?"

"Whoa, easy. Nothing's wrong I just have to be in Mobile this morning and since I'm protecting you for now you have to come with me." she replied.

"Mobile? Why Mobile?" I asked making my way to my closet to find something to wear.

"I have a....appointment" she said hesitantly.

Her hesitation caught me off guard. There was something she wasn't telling me about this "appointment". As I stepped out of my closet fully dressed I scanned her face for anything that I could find but I saw nothing. "I get why I need to go with you but what am I supposed to do with you at your appointment?"

"Oh! You don't have to go with me. You can grab breakfast and go to the bookstore or something." She laughed but it was a nervous one. I might not be connected to her emotions the way I was to Garrett but I knew she was hiding something.

"Well...if I'm not going with you to the appointment then what's the difference if I'm here or there? Either way we'll be separated."

MaKayla was getting frustrated I could see it by her actions. She took a deep breath and then stood up. "Just get dressed so we can go. Stop asking so many damn questions." she said as she left my room.

Yeah, something was definitely bothering her. I quickly finished getting ready then headed downstairs and outside to meet MaKayla. She was sitting in the car staring outside the window at the road. She was deep in thought. "Sorry I tried to hurry." I practically whispered.

She shook her head and turned my direction. Her eyes looked like they had unshed tears in them. "I'm sorry Arabella I didn't mean to snap up there. I'm just stressed and I'm not use to protecting anymore. Not to mention look what happened to the last one I was supposed to watch. If anything happens to you Garrett would never forgive me. Hell, I'd never be able to forgive myself."

I reached over and grabbed her hand. "Don't apologize. I get that you're stressed but listen to me when I say this. You didn't let anything happen to Amadeus. That would have happened even if you followed him everywhere. The only thing is that if you had followed him everywhere you might not be here right now. I'm sure the dark version doesn't mind killing anyone. So, don't worry about protecting me so much. It's all going to be ok." She nodded then removed her hand and started the car. I grabbed my seat belt. "Let's do this thing!" I said with more enthusiasm than I felt.