Page 64 of Calling Quarters
He stopped pacing and looked off into the crowd, allowing this newfound information to marinate with them for a brief second. I found Silas in the sea of faces, noting that his expression remained stoic through Rayner’s attack on his integrity. He knew it was coming.
“Thanks to their fathers, Watchtower’s current generation of Quarters is weak and defenseless. And we’ve been able to prove it. We tested their gifts by casting a simple black magic spell on Mabon, when their shield should have been impenetrable. Not only were they unable to stop the spell from being cast, they have even gone as far as allowing it to grow and flourish while they remain absent. They’ve hunted down our daughters for their own personal gain. They’ve hidden away in their mansions that were paid for withourhard work and left us to fend for ourselves.”
A few angry shouts sounded from the back of the crowd, cursing the Quarters for their inability to protect them.
“I know, I know,” Rayner agreed, his eyes twinkling mischievously in the firelight. “It’s time for a change. That’s why I’ve gathered you all here tonight… why I’ve brought this girl here. She is Remington Wildes’ Counter.”
Two large men came up from behind me and grabbed my armpits to hoist me out of the dirt. The tip of my Converse barely touched the ground as they held me up for the crowd to see my face.
“We’re going to send a message to these boys about how the new Watchtower is going to run without them being a part of it.”
The men lifted me higher, and the forest boomed with the Movement member's raucous cheers.
The monster clawed at my chest as fear took over. He was desperate to break free and show these people the ancient magic they were really dealing with. The Quarters may be able to control the power, but I had full access to it as a Counter. I just needed to figure out how to do it without Remy near.
Before I could manage to make a plan to break free, the men began walking me toward a cross that sat beside the fire with a pile of potent, gas-soaked wood surrounding it.
My heart nearly beat out of my chest as I realized what was about to happen.
They were going to burn me at the stake.
I writhed in my captors’ arms, finally recognizing one of them as Beau. I pleaded with him to show mercy as he had before. To remember that we were neighbors, and he knew I wasn't a threat. But just when his eyes began to soften and his grip loosened the smallest amount, Rayner slapped him across the face.
“Don't listen to her, Nephew. You've already failed me once. Do it again, and your body will burn right beside hers.” I heard his low voice mumble into Beau's ear threateningly.
Beau's eyes hardened once again, and he looked away from me to begin helping the other guy tie me up to the wood.
The icy burn of panic ripped through my core as the leather straps were tightened on my wrists and ankles. When they released me from their grips and left me to hang, the pressure from my weight made the straps cut deep into my skin. My throat burned from the gasoline and the desperate screams that were tearing from my mouth, begging these people—my friends and neighbors—to save me.
Not one of them stepped forward. They just watched in complete astonishment as my body was left hanging from the wooden cross and Beau and the other man sloshed more gas around my feet. Rayner was saying something in the background, but all their attention was on me and my cries of terror.
Realizing that I'd stolen his audience, he stepped over to me and whipped a thick branch across my face, stunning me into silence. The bark tore at my skin and within seconds, hot blood poured from the wound and down my neck. The pungent air and my salty tears stung against the raw flesh, and I wanted to wail even louder just to spite him but decided to reserve my energy for an escape plan.
When he was sure I wouldn't interrupt him again, Rayner continued his twisted speech. I blocked him out, concentrating solely on the crackle and pop of the flames beside me. I slowed my breathing to the sounds and escaped deep into the bowels of my mind, just as I had with the wails coming from the hotel. I imagined Remy's face and prayed to the gods that it would work.
Within seconds, my eyelids fluttered closed, and everything went black.
Chapter 36
Remy
“What's going on?” I asked as Tabitha busted through the door with Blaire in tow. I craned my head, expecting Storie to come stumbling in behind them, but Blaire slammed the door shut.
“What are they doing here?” Rhyse pointed at the Grangers, his face twisted in a nasty scowl and the flame in the fireplace grew and licked at the top of the hearth.
Tabitha growled at him—actually growled—and dropped her bags onto the floor. “Watchtower is falling. They've got Storie and they're hunting anyone else who will get in their way.”
“Why would they hunt one of our Counters? They think eliminating them will make us stronger. Don't they want to keep us weak?” Enzo propped himself onto the arm of the couch.
“The darkness has taken over the town. Everyone is feeling violent and restless. Rayner has convinced them that she's the final piece of the revolution.” Tabitha surprised me with her candid answers. She was usually so selective of the information she shared.
“Where did they take Storie?” I called from the kitchen. I was already reaching for my jacket when Tabitha's words stopped me.
“Rayner took her to the woods on the south end of town. He knows that killing her will make you weaker.”
Enzo let out a string of curse words and Rhyse paced in front of the fireplace. His family owned the woods on the south side. Was it possible his father had crossed us once again?
“What did you find about locating your Counters?” Tabitha asked, her eyes bouncing between us fervently. We each exchanged confused glances until we directed our attention to Lux, who had been studying the book for days.