Deceived: Kassidy Bell Series, #5

By Lynda O'Rourke

For Kassidy Bell and her friends, the race is on to keep ahead of the Cleaners, reach Broken Cove and destroy the coffins. But tensions are running high within the group and the voices inside Kassidy's head are becoming stronger and filling her mind with suspicious thoughts about her friends. Who is Doshia? Which of her friends is hiding the demon?

Knowing her life is in danger in more ways than one, Kassidy puts her trust and hopes into one of the voices she can hear in her head and decides to split from the group and go it alone. But has she put her trust into the wrong hands? Is Kassidy being manipulated by her own paranoia or is there something else more sinister twisting her thoughts?

'Deceived' (Book 5) The heart-thumping conclusion to 'The Kassidy Bell Series'.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ravenwoodgreys
• Release date: Aug 31, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386113409

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Kassidy

The wind had picked up, and with it came a sense of foreboding. Not just here in the grounds of Doctor Langstone’s, but in me. I ran beside Ben, thoughts of Sylvia’s death consuming every inch of my mind. The way she had died. How I’d failed to protect her. I shuddered. I’d let her down—made promises I hadn’t been able to keep. And now, there was nothing left of Sylvia. Just the memory of her tortured existence and those haunting eyes of hers staring back at me from under her matted hair. And what now? I looked ahead at Max, Jude, and Robert racing toward the gates, Raven at their heels. We had just lost Sylvia, and now, as I stared at my friends, I wondered if I would lose any more.

The tall iron gates stood black and unfriendly against the swell of the fog—a warning to anyone considering passing through the fort-like structure. And it was the sight of those gates and what they held back that made me fear for my friends and sent terror right to my very core.

I jumped. The gates clattered with such force, it drowned out the rush of the wind racing through the trees. The fog had thickened, and its dark, grey mass seemed to gather strength as we neared the gates. The voices in my head had been quiet, but now, with the fog so close, they began to pipe up. Whispers at first. Soothing, gentle murmurs like a soft hum. The gates clattered again. I felt my heart jolt. The voices became louder, pushing my own thoughts back and twisting my feelings about Ben and Jude. They were like poison and I closed my eyes tight to push them back. I couldn’t let them consume me with their murderous cries like they had done before.

Open the gates, their voices rasped.

I took a deep breath as the sudden shift of VA20 in my veins seemed to react with the evil tones that filled my head.

Shut up! I spat, coming to a stop and holding my head in my hands.

Stopping beside me, Ben reached out, placed his hand on my shoulder, and said, What is it? What’s wrong?

The touch of his hand seemed to make the voices shrink back. I shuddered and looked up into his eyes. Voices, I whispered, avoiding the sudden urge, the command of the voices to open up the gates.

Kill him. Kill the demon. Open the gates.

I shook my head. Now wasn’t the time to be overtaken by them. We had to escape. We had to get to Broken Cove before the coffins from Cruor Pharma were loaded up onto a boat.

Ben frowned. Whatever they say, you have to push them away—let your own voice speak out. Pulling me close, he spoke softly in my ear. I know how you feel. I know what it’s like to have another voice inside your head.

I pulled away. I was frightened that the voices would win. I didn’t want to kill Ben. I didn’t want to kill Jude. But the voices had strength. I could feel their power, and I suspected that my own voice was no match for them. But were the voices in my head any match for the demons who lived in Ben and Jude? I looked down at the black veins under my skin on my arms. Who was stronger? The demons, or the murderous voices that travelled through my body, spreading their venom as the VA20 flowed around my veins? I didn’t know. But I felt sure that my voice was the weakest.

I smiled at Ben. Not out of happiness. Not because his words of comfort gave me strength or reassured me. They didn’t. I smiled to cover the anxiety that raged through me. To pretend I had those voices under control. I smiled like I had a mask on. A mask to cover over the turmoil inside of me. While I must have looked to Ben like I was in control, inside was a completely different scenario. The voices were so loud. They screamed—demanded—ordered.

Kill him—kill Quint. Cut open that useless body that houses him and destroy him! Do it!

Curling my fingers tight, I felt my limbs move against my will. I forced myself to step away from Ben. My lips began to part as those screams and orders rose from deep within me and rushed up my throat. I snapped my mouth shut like a trap. I was frightened. If I let the voices out, then who knows what might happen? I turned away from Ben. No, I’m not doing it. I’m not letting you out! I screamed inside at their evil demands. I’m not listening to you. I won’t kill him. I snatched at the crucifix around my neck and held it tightly in my palm. My right hand slipped into Father Williams’s satchel and grasped at his bible. I held it tightly, eyes screwed shut. Help me, I muttered. Please... anything. Just stop the voices.

Kassidy...? whispered Ben.

I shuddered as I felt his hands on my arms, his warm breath tickled the back of my neck. The voices fell away—disintegrated. My head felt clear—purged of all the evil that had swamped it. I wasn’t sure if it had been the crucifix, or whether it was Ben’s touch, the sound of his voice maybe, but for now, I felt free, I felt myself again. Although left shaken and disturbed, at least I could hear my own voice and no one else’s.

Turning to Ben, I whispered, I’m all right. I took his hand and we continued forward. I shivered as the cold seemed to draw closer—the light fading—casting shadows across the gravel path. The trees creaked and groaned as if in pain from the gusts of wind that hit out at their bare branches. My eyes fell upon the gates and I suddenly felt sick. The prospect of having to go through the fog terrified me. I spun around and peered through the dense trees. Surely there was another way out. But I was just clutching at straws—ever hopeful that a safer way could be found. I felt my heart sink. I knew there wasn’t. The border was surrounded by the fog. I had seen it up on the roof where Doctor Langstone had taken us. We were encased—trapped.

Why have you stopped? asked Ben, staring at Jude. We don’t have time to hang around here. In case you’ve forgotten, there’s a whole bunch of demons after this lot! Ben stared around at the group. Doctor Langstone’s body may be destroyed, but Vectis isn’t. He looked over his shoulder, back at the way we’d come. While Vectis has no body, we have no idea where he is. He could be standing among us right now for all we know.

I wrapped my arms about me and shivered. Raven peered through the clusters of burnt trees. Her eyes darted nervously about. I followed her gaze and stared into the dark abyss of Doctor Langstone’s grounds. Ben was right. Langstone could be anywhere. But he was a demon. He wouldn’t be lurking around the trees. He would be looking for a body. And the only bodies in this godforsaken place was mine and my friends’. I looked around at the group suddenly on edge. Langstone wasn’t in my body. The voices in me didn’t belong to Langstone—and besides, I had heard those voices way before Langstone’s body had been destroyed. I stared at Max, Raven, and then Robert. Could Langstone be in one of them?

With his voice raised and face clouded over in anger, Jude glared at Ben and said, And who put you in charge? I don’t think anyone here has asked you to be the leader!

Ben’s eyes narrowed and he shook his head. He opened his mouth to speak, but I stepped in between the both of them and shouted, We don’t need a fucking leader... we just need to get out of here! I could feel my heart beginning to race. The shadows from the trees felt closer—oppressive—and whatever was hiding amongst them was waiting. This side of the gates was not safe, but neither was the other side where the Cleaners waited. It’s not just Langstone... I mean, Vectis that we have to worry about. There’s Doshia... Doctor Middleton... I broke off and looked at the gates. That feeling of foreboding—like death was close by—seemed to squeeze at my nerves even more. The fog appeared to swell, adding more pressure to the gates like an ocean eroding the cliffs.

Kassidy’s right, piped in Max, standing beside his brother Robert. We need to get away from here.

We have to get to Broken Cove, said Robert. There is no time to argue... if we don’t get moving... we’ll miss the...

Robert’s voice seemed to fade out as I continued to peer at the fog. The grey mass pushed against the gates and the sound of iron bars rang out. Dark shapes seemed to move like ghosts floating under cover of the swirls of fog. Then it dawned on me. I snatched hold of Ben’s arm, panic exploding through me like fists wrenching at my heart and hammering at my brain. I gasped and said, Doctor Langstone’s body is gone... his power—strength has been weakened...

And...? glared Raven, her face sullen and dark. Tell us something we don’t already know.

Standing with his arms folded, Jude continued to argue with Ben. I should be the one to take the lead... I got them this far... I...

Grabbing hold of Jude and shaking him, I shouted, Will you shut up! Listen to me... Langstone is weak now...

Yes... I know, Kassidy, snapped Jude. That’s why I’m trying to take the initiative here and take the lead...

Fuck your leadership skills! I snapped, glancing back at the gates. Langstone had some kind of barrier around the perimeter of this place... to stop the Cleaners from getting in... but... I stopped and peered through the iron bars, suddenly afraid. We had no plan. No direction. And now, it was too late.

As the penny dropped among my friends, the inevitable happened. In those few split seconds where the gates came crashing down and the fog rolled forward like an avalanche, it felt more like an eternity—like watching it unfold in slow motion. Then, as if suddenly waking from a nightmare, our closely huddled group burst like a firework, exploding out in all directions as the Cleaners stretched out their gloved hands from their shrouded lair.

CHAPTER TWO

Kassidy

Desperate to escape, and with no time to think what way I should go, I fled through the charred trees, dodging left and right, stumbling and tripping over fallen branches. Cries and screams filled the night. I continued to run. My hair snagged on the trees as if every branch was working against me. My heart hammered in my chest and I gasped in lungfuls of cold air. The fog moved through the trees, spreading wide like an airborne virus threatening to kill everyone and everything that breathed. It covered the trees in a thick, murky gloom so that every branch looked like twisted limbs sticking out, ready to snatch at me. It distorted everything and disorientated me. As I charged through the burnt crops of trees, slipping and stumbling, my heart thudded at the sudden ear-piercing scream that cut through the fog like a knife. I stopped dead in my tracks and shivered inside. Who was that? My limbs trembled, breath stuck in my throat. I daren’t breathe. Slowly, I turned my head, too afraid to move my feet for fear I may step on a twig and bring the Cleaners to me. My stomach twisted and knotted, and my lips quivered as I realised I was lost and whoever had screamed could be dead. Had I just lost another friend? Raven, Max, Jude? I cupped my hands over my mouth, scared that just my breath would disturb the fog as it lingered around me. I wanted to call out. I wanted to call for Ben. But I couldn’t. Where was he? Was Ben dead? I blinked back the tears beginning to well in my eyes. No. I shook my head. No. Quint wouldn’t let Ben die... would he? Quint needed Ben. He needed Ben’s body. I turned quietly back in the direction I had come, desperate to know if Ben was alive. But had I come from that way? I no longer knew as the fog presented me with nothing more than a blank canvas. I knew I was still on the grounds of Doctor Langstone’s, as I hadn’t gone through the gates. If I could just find the fence, maybe I could climb it and escape. Holding my hands out in front of me as a guide through the fog, I walked cautiously on. The silence in the fog was unnerving. The wind had dropped, and now I couldn’t hear anything. I cringed as my foot snapped a fallen twig. Pausing, breath held, I waited. I listened. An uneasy sense of dread filled me from head to toe as I strained to see through the fog—struggled to hear over the sound of my own thumping heart. Had the Cleaners heard me? I could feel myself waver as I tried to keep perfectly still.

Silence.

I screwed my eyes shut and tried to calm my racing heart. But it was no good. There was nothing calming to soothe me in this lonely place lost in the fog. My eyes sprang open. What was that? I felt sure I had heard something. Some kind of movement to my left. I stared into the churning darkness. In the corner of my eye, I caught something. A shape. A creeping, dark shadow. I felt the blood stop in my body. My breathing stuck as if my very breath was too afraid to perform. I backed away slowly. Any minute now, I would hear the creaking of leather. Any second now, I would see those black gloves reach out from the darkness. I gasped as a figure emerged. Stumbling back, I fell to the ground and a small cry escaped my lips. I held up my hands, unable to believe who I was seeing.

Ben, a look of relief across his face, reached down for me and whispered, I thought I’d lost you. I thought maybe the Cleaners had found you. He pulled me to my feet and looked back over his shoulder. We have to get out of here. The Cleaners are everywhere. We have to get out of this fog.

I nodded my head, too startled by his sudden appearance to speak. I had been so certain that the Cleaners had found me. ...I thought... I... I thought the Cleaners had killed you... I reached out and touched the side of his face. His eyes stared back at me, and although they had a warmness to them, I could see the alarm just under the surface of those blue crystal pools.

I dropped my hand away and whispered, Can we do this... can we really get to Broken Cove and destroy the coffins without any more death? I turned my gaze away from Ben, too afraid to see the look in his eyes. I didn’t want to see defeat. I didn’t want to see that look of hopelessness. Not from him—not from Ben. It would destroy the little hope I had inside of me. When he didn’t answer, I looked back at him and said, Well? Can we do this?

Ben’s hand tightened around my arm. He pulled me close and whispered, We have to. If we don’t... He shook his head, eyes ever watchful of our surroundings. Let’s just get out of here. We need to find the fence.

Feeling sick at heart, his words hadn’t convinced me that we stood a chance. The doubt had been planted, and I knew we were on borrowed time. I pulled on his arm as he began to walk away. Wait. What about the others? Where are they? We can’t go without them. But before Ben could answer, I felt the creeping silence sneak up on me. Death had stepped nearer and I froze at the sound of creaking leather.

CHAPTER THREE

Kassidy

Go! cried Ben, snatching my arm and dragging me through the woods.

The fog, although everywhere, seemed to thicken up alongside us as we raced through the grounds of Doctor Langstone’s property. I glanced over my shoulder, just briefly, long enough to see the dark shapes of the Cleaners following our every move. Their rigid, black leather aprons and gloves seemed to creak louder than the tree branches. Louder than my own racing heart that thumped through my head. I faced front, and although Ben was holding onto my hand and just a pace in front of me, I could no longer see him clearly. The fog had got in between us like it was trying to separate us. I quickened my pace, desperate to keep up with Ben.

Where’s the fence? I called, tripping over something hidden by the fog. I gasped as I looked down and realised I could no longer see my feet. Just fog. I hadn’t tripped over something lying on the ground concealed by the mist. It was a gloved hand—several gloved hands, actually, sneaking through the fog, snatching at my ankles.

I pushed myself forward, desperate to create a gap big enough between myself and the Cleaners. But no matter how fast I ran, the hands kept coming. They’re gonna get me! I cried out, a cold sweat now shivering down my back.

No, they won’t, shouted Ben as he wrenched me forward. Keep moving. We’ll outrun them soon enough.

With my lungs gasping for air, I struggled to find my voice. I could feel my hand slipping from Ben’s. I can’t... I can’t keep running... I stared ahead and could see nothing but the fog. The fence... where was the fucking fence? How could we outrun the Cleaners when we were trapped this side of the fence?

Come on, Kassidy! yelled Ben, almost pulling me over as he yanked me forward. You can’t slow now. Don’t give up...

His voice was drowned out by the sudden sound of cries and shouts coming from the left of me. Without speaking, Ben charged to the left, pulling me with him.

The cries came again. It was Raven. Another voice called out somewhere in the fog. That’s Jude, I gasped. Where are you? We’re lost in the fog. We can’t find the fence! I no longer cared if the Cleaners could hear me. What did it matter? They could see me. Their masked faces and dark, ever-watchful eyes were on me. I took another quick glance over my shoulder as Ben continued to lead me toward the voices. Yes, the Cleaners were still there. They wouldn’t give up their hunt. They were relentless creatures. But the gap had widened a little. I was suddenly filled with hope that Ben and I could make it. I called out again.

Jude... Raven... where are you? My voice sounded muffled in the fog and I wondered if my friends could hear me. Jude!

Head towards our voices, shouted Jude. We’re on the other side of the fence!

I found the strength to keep going—to pick up pace. We ran together, still blinded by the fog, but guided by Jude’s voice. And then the silence of the fog was shattered. Ben hit the iron fence, followed by myself. I stumbled back and fell down. It had appeared out of nowhere. The ugly black fencing towered over us. I grasped the iron bars and pulled myself up.

Kassidy, cried Jude, his face suddenly appearing between the bars. You have to climb... do it... do it now. They’re coming!

I looked at Ben. He stood beside me and shouted, Hurry up. He crouched down behind