Page 6 of Jackal's Pride

I jerked forward as Newt hands passed over my face, waking me from the sleeping spell Gavin threw in my face. Newt was crouched beside me with his elbows resting on his knees when he sighed.

“You should stop betting with the vampire,” he said as I got up.

I dusted off my ass and hissed. “Don’t worry. With this final win, he’ll no longer find a way to bet with me.” I sought his eyes for confirmation. “You woke me as soon as he did it?”

He stood, his slinky frame taller than mine, but I was curvy and feminine with more muscle than what the warlock had. “It’s not been even a minute, but that’s plenty enough time for him to have already ported there ahead of you.”

I nodded. “See ya.”

Right before I faded, Newt whispered, “Good luck. Gavin isn’t the one I’m worried about.”

Without admitting it aloud, I reminded myself that his words rang true. My family recently went head-to-head with one of the Devil’s entity, Harvest, and if it hadn’t been for Isabella loving my brother Sebastian enough to defy the hold Harvest had on her, then… I would never acknowledge it. My pride would never let me. Still, I knew the truth, and it felt like acid raging inside me—pumping up that nasty curse.

And once again I was about to face an entity—Jackal, a being no one had seen or heard from for thousands of years. As far as I knew he was a myth. A story. A spooky legend to some. Regardless, all I had to do was place this magical collar around his neck before Gavin could. It sounded easy enough. Something I could do with my eyes closed.

I faded to the memorized coordinates, then later visualized the exact place in my head. Reappearing, I blinked and took in my location. Chill bumps spread over my bare arms as puffs of smoke left my lips. I peered up at the large snowflakes falling, and then down to my black leather boots which were covered deep in snow. Typically, climates didn’t exist in the Underworld. There was no sun and only a fake moon. The Underworld was a dark place unless you counted enchanted places like this where the creatures living here affected the way their atmosphere worked. Only thing about this place was no one seemed to live here. I was standing on the edge of a huge ass mountain. Around me all I saw was more and more white-covered mountains. Bitter cold bit my skin as I gazed at the dark night lit up by the pretend moon. Maybe what lie underneath this snow wasn’t green at all—it was probably just as rotted as the rest of the Underworld.

As I took a step, my boot crunching into the snow, I came to a conclusion. The only one that I assumed was here was most likely the one bringing on this never-ending snowfall. As I walked, I materialized a new set of clothes over the ones I wore. I hated freezing. I hated the cold. Period.

I tugged the hood closer to my ears—that was attached to the coat I now wore. My snow boots were so much better and warmer than the leather ones. I couldn’t help but let out a little pleasant sigh as I walked some more then stopped abruptly. This was going to take all day unless… I smiled, closed my eyes, and reopened them. When I did, I could see the strings of fate which was everyone’s lifeline. Of course I didn’t expect to see any chains around here, but I hoped for one. I wasn’t disappointed. All around the mountains, a thick glowing black chain floated. I also saw my eternal chain glowing orange which represented my immortal life. I realized this was the first time I had used my eyes to look at the string of fates since finding out the world was ending and knowing that Reapers would die soon. I was happy to find that mine was still everlasting and vibrant, no sign of any death looming. A relieved shudder washed over my body as I refocused on the other eternal life next to mine, flowing all over the place, it too, was vibrant but riddled with darkness. I followed the chain searching for where it originated. Considering it seemed to have no end, I guessed it belonged to Jackal. Problem was, it had to have a beginning—a point of attachment. Like everyone’s, our lifelines hung out of our chests. It was a gift passed down from my mom that I was able to see them. Only her, Barron, and I could use this trick. None of the other siblings had been born with fate’s eyes.

After minutes of concentrating, I was almost positive that the string was coming from the other mountain across from me. It was also in that moment that I caught sight of another chain flowing with Jackal’s and mine. Another immortal but less vibrant since vampires were only everlasting until someone managed to kill them.Gavin.

Luckily, he didn’t appear to be over there. Fading quickly, I found myself on the correct mountain. Several feet above me I could make out the edge of an opening—most likely a cave. I grinned and jumped, clearing the distance in one leap. There were perks to being born an entity after all.

My pep died down though as I reached the entrance. It was time to get serious. I had no idea what the fuck I was walking into. No one knew Jackal. He was like an unopened history book because he never stayed around long enough for anyone to ever really get a chance to talk about him.

Knowing that the chain led inside, I let go of my ability and returned to my normal eyesight. I ventured into the cave slowly. It paid to be cautious. I was an act first, think last kind of girl but right now, my spine prickled with the kind of awareness that meant danger.He’s here.My target. My soon-to-be… I guess I’d call him a prisoner. Once the collar was wrapped around his neck, I owned him.

I tried not to smile, I really did but there was a certain type of undeniable deviousness inside me. Just thinking about it made me sick. It reminded of my brother, August. Although his curse made him extremely unlikeable sometimes, I’d kill anyone that messed with him or any of my siblings.

I tested the cave walls with each careful step I took. The barrier Newt spoke of didn’t seem to exist. So the true obstacle must have been in finding the entrance—an easy task for me.

I would let Jackal go once I won the bet. At least that’s what I told myself. No point keeping an entity on a leash, but then again maybe I should. The world was in utter chaos right now because of Harvest and Jackal might as well be his brother. They were all created the same day; I assumed anyway. They all had the same creator. At least, I think Jackal was male. Maybe I’d find a girl. Somehow, I doubted it. Something about his chain screamedmaleif that made any sense. It was dark and ominous.

Wind blew into the cave, bringing a creepy howling sound and snow along with it. I paused and turned around just as I sensed his presence. I sidestepped and materialized Ben and Jerry as Gavin moved beside me. “I knew you’d find him,” he whispered with so much smugness I wanted to punch his face.

I rolled my eyes and lowered my blades. “I’ll kill you eventually,” I muttered.

“So you say.” He peered ahead of us.

“After I win this last bet,” I promised as I trudged along.

“I’m trying to decide if I’ll have your pussy or ass first.” It took a lot of willpower not to hurt him. So I kneed him in the groin instead and continued inside the cave. I wasn’t made of patience, virtue, not even butterflies and all that shit. Bitchiness, sarcasm, and hatred were my foundation. I didn’t take shit from males or entertain the stupidity sputtering from their mouths.

I didn’t hear anything else from Gavin, but I felt him as he rushed past me with his vamp speed. I cursed and followed suit. Fading further inside wasn’t a smart move. Showing out was better when I was with other Reapers. Right now my ass and other holes were on the line, and I’d rather die a thousand times over than let Gavin anywhere near them.

Yet, I couldn’t say no when challenged. My chest burned like liquid fire even as I ran. I didn’t lose. I wouldn’t—Icouldn’tever lose.

The last time I lost at something was against Barron and let’s just say I became my own version of how Barron raged out during his curse. Only instead of being a danger to others like Barron was when his wrath kicked in, I was a danger to myself. My body attacked itself from the inside, specifically, my stomach.

The wind ceased, and it became eerily quiet. When I came to a clearing, I stopped running and gazed around. My breath was visible in front of me.

“I don’t see anyone.” Gavin chimed in standing next to a huge boulder that covered the side of the cave wall. I ignored him. The ass was always trying to get ahead of me.

It was strange though. I clearly saw the chain lead into this cave, and yet I couldn’t sense anyone other than Gavin and me. The presence of an entity was hard to miss, hence my confusion.

“Did Newt give us this opportunity to be alone?” Gavin chuckled in that sly, blunt manner of his that I hated.