Unwhole: Chapter 26

Darklite808's book keeps surprising us! Last time we left, Caleb was locked in a dungeon with Katie. What's going to happen next?!—Sparkitors

As if on cue, a dozen girls and boys stumbled out of the darkness. Caleb stared in horror. They were all young teenagers, dressed in dirty and torn rags that barely covered their scarred skin and emaciated bodies. They all stared at Caleb with hungry eyes. One boy walked up from the group and bent down beside Caleb. His mop of dirty blonde hair fell in thick tangles around his hollow cheeks, the curly tips dancing on his broad shoulders. His deep black eyes sparkled at Caleb—but behind that veil Caleb could see hatred, anger, and vengeance.

“Hello. Welcome. My name is Daniel.” Without another word he began searching Caleb’s pockets. When he found nothing he hissed disappointedly and walked back to the group of teenagers. Everyone immediately began making room for him as if he was in charge.

Caleb stared with his mouth open. “They’re holding all of you?! I don’t get it!” He turned to look at Katie demandingly. “I thought that the Unwhole was last placed in a faery, so it has to be in a faery now. You’re not a faery. And I don’t think all of them are faeries either.” His eyes darted nervously to Daniel. Daniel flashed him a quick cold smile, exposing gleaming fangs. “So why are they holding all of you guys?”

Katie smiled somewhat sadly. “Good question, Caleb. You see, Caleb, the Demonic Vampires are pretty desperate. They want the Unwhole and they want it now. If they sense some unusual power, they will bring in whoever they sensed it in, whether he or she is a vampire, demon, faery, or wolf. They think that maybe the faery married a wolf, demon, or vampire instead of a faery and reproduced and so forth. You get it, Caleb? Because two different people can get married, but it’s very rare for them to have children unless, like the Demonic Vampires, they bond their powers together. But it doesn’t matter to them. So for now, Caleb, they could care less what the person is. And soon they’re going to kill us all; if not for the Unwhole, then just for the pleasure of it.”

A sick feeling tore at Caleb’s stomach. “They are sick monsters,” he spat, his eyes flashing in the dim light.

Katie patted his shoulder pitifully. “Well, the Demonic Vampires themselves aren’t really, it’s mostly The O—” Katie suddenly threw a hand to her mouth and all the teenagers gasped and sat still, including Daniel.

Caleb raised his eyebrows questioningly. “The One. I’ve heard that name somewhere. What is it, some kind of—OOF!” Caleb’s head flew back as Daniel pounced on him, sharp fangs pressed against his neck.

“Daniel! Daniel, now, calm down,” Katie purred, gently prying his fingers away from Caleb’s throat. “Calm down and sit back. Yes, that’s a good boy. Now take a deep breath. Let’s explain to dear Caleb first.” After settling Daniel a few feet away, Katie returned to Caleb’s side, an apologetic expression on her face. “You have to excuse Daniel, Caleb. We all get scared and tense when you mention… It. You see, It is a very horrible thing. The only sorcerer alive and the worst one! If we mention her name, it’s a huge dishonor.”

She… interesting. So The One was female. “But aren’t you going to get killed anyway?” Caleb inquired dumbly.

Daniel groaned. “Can I just kill him and get over with it? He’ll die anyway from his own stupidity.”

“No,” Katie snapped at him. Looking back at Caleb, she forced a friendly smile. “You see, Caleb-boy, their way of killing is a quick snap of the neck or a blade to the heart. It… well, she enjoys slow torture and torment. She keeps you around for about a week or so, until she gets bored and lets her guards finish you off."

Shuddering, Caleb turned to the group of teenagers. “Let’s get to know one another.” I may have a plan, Caleb added thoughtfully.

Katie nodded agreeably. “Yes, introduce yourselves to Caleb! That’s a nice idea.”

A girl came forward in strong strides. She was probably the only one with meat on her bones—at least Caleb guessed so from the curves shown under her ragged garment of clothing. She had very long brown hair and deep brown skin. Looking at Caleb with sharp green eyes, she smiled. “Hi. My name is Sabrina. I’m 16 and I’m a wolf.” She threw a glance at Katie, and then went to sit beside Daniel, who was eyeing Caleb as if pleading him to do something wrong so he could suck Caleb dry.

A boy came forth. He was only skin and bone, with short red hair and light brown eyes. He grinned crookedly at Caleb, exposing a small dimple on his chin. “Hey, I’m Timothy, 16, and a faery.”

Caleb smiled back sincerely. “From one to another.” He shook his hand warmly.

After Timothy was Brianna, also 16, who was a demon not only in power, but also in looks. She had short black hair that fell against the sharp angles of her cheeks. Her eyes were slightly slanted and pitch-black, appearing pupil-less. She didn’t smile at Caleb.

Then came two twin boys—both with wavy brown hair and brown eyes. They grinned at Caleb. They were both faeries, Edward and Ellis.

Everyone was 16.

Caleb looked around him at his new roommates. Sabrina returned his gaze and smiled warmly.

Less than a week ago Caleb’s utmost concern was starting classes at the magic unit in FaeryMoon. Now he was surrounded by a demon, two wolves, and a vampire and stuck under the castle of the Demonic Vampires.

What other surprises lay waiting ahead of him? Caleb shuddered at the thought.

What will Caleb and his new prison-mates do? Will they escape?

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