Caged in Darkness (Caged #1)(42)

“We have been waiting for you.” Diamante said, as she stepped towards Liam and gestured to me.

“Why is there a panther in the middle of the floor?” I forced the question before I lost my nerve.

Diamante smiled. “He is a gift for you. He will help to show you the world, as you have never known it. There is no need to be frightened. He will not harm you, and he knows that he is with friends”

“Who…what are we going to do?” I stammered.

“We are going to bond you with a spirit animal my dear,” replied Diamante. “Come, we must begin soon.”

“What does that mean?” I turned to Liam and asked, as Diamante led me to the circle.

Diamante replied softly, as she moved me into the circle. “This beautiful creature will be with you always, as your friend and protector. Once you have bonded, you will be able to take his form.”

A warm tingle of excitement ran down my back, as I knelt down besides the panther’s head, but ice quickly followed. “What happens when he dies? Will I die too?”

Diamante shook her head. “No, you don’t understand. He is already close to death. This is called a bond for a reason. His spirit will become a part of you, and his soul will live on inside you.”

Diamante held out her right hand, palm up and white smoke wisped from her finger tips. The smoke twisted together, tore apart into strands of smoke, which extended to transform into wings. Finer wisps merged into the shape of a head and beak.

In a matter of seconds, a falcon make of smoke appeared above Diamante’s hand. The falcon’s eyes were deep green to match the stones on her dress. “This is Celeste.” The falcon opened its beak, and although there was no sound, the air vibrated with its call. Diamante closed her hand and the falcon faded into mist.

I reached out to brush my fingers down the back of the panther’s head and he shifted to lay his head in my lap. I smiled as I stroked his fur, and a deep rumbling grew in his chest.

Diamante spoke at my ear. “Excellent, he likes you.”

“Will this hurt him?” I asked with worry building inside me.

“No, you will be easing him from pain. He lived a hard life before he came into our care.”

“What happened to him?” I asked and looked up.

“You will see.” Diamante said softly, as she motioned for the rest of the coven to take their places around the circle. “Remain calm Savannah. I promise you this will not hurt, but it will be like nothing you have ever experienced before.”

I looked down into the big cats eyes, and murmured, “What’s his name?”

“Kit,” replied Diamante before beginning a slow chant. One by one, the rest of the group matched her rhythm.

I remained looking down into the panther’s dark eyes. They grew larger, until his eyes filled my field of vision and my world went black. Seconds creped by and a speck of light appeared. It expanded until it was all I knew.

I reached out to touch the colors within the light. Suddenly, I was being taken from my mother to be placed in a box. When I tried to jump free and run back to my mother, something grabbed my neck and pushed me towards the darkness.

I jerked my hand back from the colors. What I had just felt, were Kit’s memories and he had been terrified. I knew what it was like to be young and afraid, but Kit’s yearning for his mother was unfamiliar to me. I sank my fingers into the colorful array once more.

I was trapped in a cage, while each day new people came to stare at me. When all the people had gone, the man with the stick would hit me, before throwing a few meager scraps of meat into my cage. I was hungry and tired.

A tear trickled down my cheek at what this poor animal had endured. I knew what it was like to be caged and tortured each day. I could relate to feeling lost and alone, while being surrounded by a darkness that threatened to consume me

I was in Kit’s cage and could barely move. I had no energy and my body ached. A tall woman handed the man with the stick a thick envelope and walked over to the cage. She knelt down and looked me in the eyes. I saw the woman’s compassion before she spoke.

“You are safe now, little one. My name is Diamante, and you will be part of my family now. No one will ever hurt you again.” My chest rumbled, but for the first time in my life it was not because of fear or anger. It was hope.

My hand dropped to my side and tears fell freely down my cheeks. The light faded, and distant chanting grew louder. The darkness faded into color and I was again within the circle. Kit's body was gone, but his memories were imprinted on my soul.





LIAM





I opened the door and Savannah walked through before me. “Do you want something to drink?”

“Um, do you have any soda?” I nodded and headed to the kitchen to grab a sprite. When I came back into the living room, I found Savannah fidgeting.

“Afraid I might bite? Please tell me you don’t think I’m some kind of monster that is going to pounce on you?” Her silence confirmed her worry. “Princess, I have never needed to pounce on any female. They usually pounce on me.”

“What females?” She gave me a sour look and I had to laugh, which seemed to anger her.

“Princess, how could you believe that there are any other females in my life right now? It’s just you.” I deposited a chaste kiss on her lips.