by Emma Dean
“I called 911 and left an anonymous tip and then—and then I ran all the way home. Claire never asked whose blood was all over me or why I wanted an emergency tonic to prevent pregnancy, just in case. She just burned my dress and got me cleaned up. Then she made me that tonic and put me to bed. She stayed with me all night.”
She could feel Audrey’s gaze like a stone on her back. Mika sighed and turned her head to look at her dorm mate. “I haven’t been able to do basic magic since then – nothing that isn’t my specialty,” she spat.
Audrey drummed her fingers on the desk. “It still doesn’t make sense. Battle magic has nothing to do with blood magic and yet, you can do that just fine.”
Mika shrugged. “Both are offensive and can kill people.”
“And there are a ton of blood magic spells that have nothing to do with harming people,” Audrey went on.
“I don’t pretend to understand it,” Mika muttered, wishing she could go to sleep and wake up and realize this was all a bad dream. “I just want to get rid of it.”
A hand slapped the desk right next to her face, hard. “Snap out of it, Mika. Accidents happen, but doing nothing is going to turn you into a real murderer if you don’t figure out how to control this.”
Mika sat up then and glared. “It would be better if my High Priestess just stripped me of my powers. Then there wouldn’t be any more accidents while I try to figure out a deadly magic.”
“Don’t be stupid. Giving up is not the answer,” Audrey snapped. She grabbed Mika’s jacket and shook her. “That would be like cutting off both your legs because sometimes you fall. You are helping me, now let me help you.”
Mika stared at this girl who was somehow exactly what she needed. And her resolve shattered just like it had with Ethan. Tears streamed down her face and she just…crumbled. Audrey caught her and held on – Mika gripped the other girl tight, still careful of her skin, but…Audrey had seen what she could do and still wasn’t afraid of her.
“I’m disappointed in your sister,” Audrey muttered into her hair, stroking Mika’s back. “She should have asked more questions. Someone should have asked why you couldn’t do magic anymore.”
Mika had held onto that very same disappointment until it had turned to an ever-burning rage at her family. Finding out her father and brother had betrayed her had just been the icing on the cake.
“To be fair she was only home for a few days. Claire was living here at the university when it all happened.” Mika knew her sister had said something to their mother, but there was only so much she could do from so far away – and Mika hadn’t trusted anyone in her family. High society witches aren’t the kindest creatures.
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” Audrey murmured. “We’ll figure this out. I promise.”
She didn’t ask how or why. Mika could just feel it. Audrey would help her sort things out – she didn’t have to be alone in this struggle anymore.
She took in a shuddering breath and thanked the Fates for sending her Audrey. It actually felt possible with this girl on her side.
12
Mika stared at the section in the library on blood magic. Audrey was next to her and they both just stood there, taking it in. Then Audrey took a step closer to her and laced her fingers through Mika’s gloved ones.
“I had no idea books could be so creepy.”
“Wait until you see demon books,” Mika whispered. “Some of them are sentient.”
“Okaaaaay, definitely have no plans to do that any time soon.” Audrey practically pressed into the entire left side of Mika’s body. “Why does this area feel so creeeeeeeeeepy?”
“Blood magic is considered a dark magic,” Mika whispered. “Like necromancy, and even battle magic. Witches weren’t always neutral, but since we declared ourselves such these kinds of magics have been…avoided.”
Mika could do this. She took one step over the invisible line into the vast section of the library dedicated to blood magic.
A chill ran down her spine. Some of these books were evil. But not all blood magic had to be evil right?
“Maybe this was a bad idea,” Mika whispered.
“Oh, most definitely,” Audrey agreed, but she took another step forward. “But I can’t think of any other way to get the information we need. It’s not like there’s a blood witch just…around.”
“I’m not even sure that’s a thing,” Mika said, taking another step forward. “I’ve never heard of blood witches.”
“Well, no one knew void witches were a thing until there was one,” Audrey told her. “I heard Kenzie has a demon training her. Maybe we should ask him.”
“Eisheth?” Mika would never forget that demon in her life – not when he had crashed multiple coven meetings and the High Priestess hadn’t said a word. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?” Audrey peered closer at one of the books on the shelf. “He’s older than dirt. I’m pretty sure if anyone knows about blood witches, he would.”
“I’m not summoning a goddamn demon,” Mika hissed.
Audrey rolled her eyes and gave Mika a look like she was being particularly dumb today. “No duh. But you know Kenzie. Ask her to ask him.”
Well, that was actually not a bad idea.
“Let’s see what we can find here first.” Mika reached out for one of the books, gripping Audrey tight with her other hand.
Her gloves kept her skin from touching the least awful-looking book. The spine didn’t have a title and neither did the front.
“Oh gross, this one is bound in human skin,” Audrey said, shoving a book back onto the shelf. She rubbed her hand on her coat and pulled out her gloves. “This is so not what I had planned for today.”
“As soon as Ethan is out of the infirmary I’ll keep training you,” Mika promised, flipping open the book. “Tryouts are in two days.”
“I’m honestly surprised you agreed to skip your classes today.”
Mika shrugged. She could do most everything in her classes already. A few days of extra homework and her attendance wouldn’t even matter. “You didn’t have to do this with me.”
“I told you I would help you,” Audrey murmured, peering over her shoulder. “Skipping classes is just a bonus.”
“This one might actually be helpful.” Mika flipped another page. “I mean, it’s in Classical Nahuatl which is not really something I’ve studied much.”
Audrey gave her a look.
“Aztecs,” Mika explained. “This is in their language.”
Understanding dawned on Audrey’s face. “That makes so much sense. But wouldn’t there just be a lot of information on blood sacrifices?”
Mika flipped through a few more pages, skimming over the ones with detailed illustrations as quickly as she could. “Well yeah, but it’s not inherently evil. They sacrificed animals mostly. Like the Vikings. I should look for some books by them too.”
“Excellent start,” a cultured voice said from directly behind them.
Mika jumped and whipped around as her heart leapt into her throat. The book fell and that demon caught it before it hit the ground.
Eisheth just grinned at her and Audrey as he handed the book back.
No one said anything and Mika couldn’t bring herself to take the book from the demon.
“What are you doing here?” she asked instead.
“I heard whispers of my name and it made me curious.” He set the book on the nearest table and then slipped his hands into his pockets. The demon looked her up and down. “Well, this has certainly been the most exciting decade in a long time. I’d say it was my birthday but I don’t actually know when that is.”
Then the demon looked to Audrey.
Mika took a step in front of her dorm mate. She didn’t know much about this demon other than he was training Kenzie, but she didn’t really trust demons.
Eisheth grinned at her. “Protective. And with the power to back it up.” He tilted his head at her and that grin widened. “Even w
ith a block. How fascinating.”
At this point she should say something, but Mika had no idea how to deal with a demon who hadn’t been summoned. She was kicking herself for saying his name out loud. It was one of those things they were taught very early and she’d been stupid enough to do it anyway. Don’t use a demon’s name if you don’t want to bring their attention to you.
A snap of the demon’s fingers and about ten books slid out slightly from the blood magic shelves. “Start with those.” Another snap and a business card appeared out of smoke in his hand. Eisheth handed it over to her with a little flourish. “I’ve been spending so much time on this plane I decided to get my own business cards made. If you need anything, you’re allowed to call, Mika Morganna Gabrielle Marshall.”
The demon winked and then disappeared into thin air. There was no pop or smoke or anything. He was just…gone.
“What. The. Fuck,” Audrey whispered. “Oh my god. Let me see that.” The other witch snatched the card out of her hand and peered at it like it was going to disappear just like the demon.
Mika was too shocked to move. “He knew my middle name,” she muttered. “How the hell did he know that? We keep our second middle names out of public record for a reason.”
“What?” Audrey frowned up at her. “What are you talking about?”
She blinked and focused on the other witch. “Born witches don’t put their second middle names on birth certificates or any documents so demons can’t know our true names. But that demon knows mine.”
“Morganna,” Audrey snorted. “Of course. Are you related to her?”
“Shh!” Mika hissed. “You’re the only soul on this planet who knows that name other than my sister. Now keep it to yourself and never say it out loud again.”
Audrey studied her and then nodded. “So I’m fucked then. My whole name is out there for the entire world to Google.”
“No, we’ll just give you a second middle name on the next new moon,” Mika told her, snatching the business card back and tucking it into her coat pocket right next to the drawing Ethan had done for her. “Let’s grab these and get them back to our room. I want to get back to the infirmary before he wakes up.”
Audrey started grabbing the books that were sticking out on her side. “I don’t think he’ll tattle on you. That boy is obsessed.”
Mika snorted and started grabbing the ones on her side. “That’s literally what he said right before I almost killed him.”
With each book she felt less and less afraid. Mika was no longer alone. She had a demon on her side – whether she wanted him or not. And she had Audrey. She shook her head and smiled ruefully. The universe wasn’t taking her shit anymore.
Everyone who had offered to help her hadn’t really given her a choice – and maybe that’s what she needed. Pushy friends to get her to see what was right in front of her face.
Mika couldn’t ignore her problems anymore. It hadn’t worked for the last three years.
And now it was time to try something new.
13
Ethan was still unconscious, but his coloring was much better. Mika still didn’t dare touch him.
She had no idea what he was thinking or feeling about what had happened.
Any minute now he would open his eyes.
The healers had said the pain of a blood magic charm was excruciating and that he had to mentally recover as well. Mika felt terrible.
But she had warned him.
No one had wanted to believe her.
It was part of the reason she hadn’t said anything to anyone. ‘Mika, you’re overreacting.’ ‘Mika, it can’t be that bad.’ ‘Mika, that doesn’t justify what you did.’
No one had known about that night but Brad and now the asshole was dead, thank the Fates. Mika no longer had to look over her shoulder when she was in the coven building. She no longer had to wonder if he would do it again.
Had she known he was a serial rapist she would have said something, but she’d been terrified. What he’d done had left ripples in her life she’d shoved down in the deep dark recesses of her mind.
Her sister had to ask their mother for the tonic and that had spread through her family like wildfire. Mika was no longer a virgin.
Their mother hadn’t known about the blood covered dress, but it wouldn’t have made a difference.
The transgression had been reported and Mika’s engagement to her boyfriend – that had been agreed on when she’d turned three – had been disintegrated. The contract had required she be a virgin – some stupid rule only high society witches still followed from the last century.
It was there for a reason though – for their protection.
A virgin witch had to be protected until her magic fully matured. A broken witch was useless, or worse – dangerous and unpredictable. It forced every male to protect the females or risk losing them.
Which made her wonder, had Brad done it on purpose? Had he done it to make her virtually powerless?
The thought made her sick and Mika almost vomited right then and there. She put her hand on her stomach and took deep breaths to calm down. The last thing she needed was to be admitted to the infirmary too.
Mika had thought the disintegration of her engagement – her betrothal – had been for the best though. The pain of breaking up with her boyfriend hadn’t been easy. Fates, she’d loved that boy with her entire heart and soul.
But it was safer for him this way. She didn’t have to worry about hurting him.
Sometimes she wondered what her life would have been like had she told her family the truth. But Mika knew the reality, the rape would have been buried as shameful and they would have sent her away to get the block removed – the equivalent of a psych ward for witches.
The last three years had been lonely, but at least she’d been free.
Would she beg Matthew to take her back if she could get control of her magic again?
Mika looked up at Ethan and decided that the Mika who had loved that boy didn’t exist anymore. He would always have a place in her heart and she remembered him fondly, but Matthew wasn’t the kind of guy who could handle blood magic.
He was too sweet and gentle.
And she…she was not.
It was late and dark. The infirmary was empty, beds along the walls like in the old hospitals. Only curtains separated them from each other, but Ethan was the only one there at the moment so she could see the entire length of the infirmary on this floor.
The floor above was where the private offices for the doctors and healers were. There were private exam rooms there as well. This floor was like an ER rather than somewhere a patient would be admitted.
She studied Ethan and the way his hair curled over his forehead. Mika wished she had the guts and control to brush it back without worrying if she’d make him worse.
Taking another deep breath she let it out slowly and took out one of the books the demon had been so nice to suggest. She had a lot of reading to do based on the stack of books currently sitting on her nightstand.
“Mika?”
She looked up to see Ethan peering at her in confusion. The small sphere of warm light that encased them in the darkness made his brown hair appear gilded and his coloring looked a thousand times better than before.
“How are you feeling?” she asked. Her voice was barely above a whisper in the heavy silence of the infirmary.
“What are we doing here?” he asked. Ethan sat up in the bed and looked around like the answers to all his questions were hiding in the dark.
“What do you remember?” Mika closed her book and handed him a glass that the nurse had told her to give him when he woke. “Drink all of this. It will make you feel better.”
“We were in the greenhouse and I made you a storm.” He frowned then and sipped the tonic. “Then I kissed you.” Ethan gave her a wink and his eyes sparkled at her. “And you kissed me back. After that I don’t remember.”
Mika watched him down the tonic and she took the
glass from him when he was finished. Ethan took her hand in his before she could move away and studied the elbow-length gloves she wore – inside. Mika snatched her hand back and placed the glass carefully on the nightstand.
“I nearly killed you,” she told him quietly.
Touching Audrey with the gloves on was fine. Nothing happened. But Ethan made her entire body stand up and pay attention. She didn’t trust the gloves to keep her magic from reaching out for him again even if she understood why.
He was gorgeous and entrancing.
“How the hell did you nearly kill me?” Ethan asked, staring at her in disbelief. He looked down at her gloved hands again and frowned. “Why are you wearing those Mika?”
She glanced around nervously. “Can you do a silencing spell?”
Ethan drew a sigil in the air and then spoke the word to seal a small bubble around them the size of the light. She looked up and admired the way it sparkled.
“Why can’t you do the spell?” he asked.
Mika flexed her fingers and decided to tell him everything. He deserved the truth after what she’d done to him. So Mika told him in whispered words what had happened to her as briefly as she could and why she couldn’t do basic magic. His eyes grew wider as she explained but he didn’t look disgusted or worse – frightened.
At this point, Mika didn’t think she could handle Ethan being afraid of her. He was one of the ones who’d asked to help her. Now that she knew what it felt like to share the secret…she didn’t want him to abandon her.
“It didn’t occur to me my affinity was blood magic until the healer mentioned it looked like you were hit with a blood magic charm,” she whispered, looking down at her hands. “I knew I shouldn’t have touched you.”
His large hand took hers and Mika stared at it in wonder and disbelief. She’d nearly killed him and still he wanted to risk it.
“I should have listened to you,” Ethan admitted. “But to be fair, I didn’t think sucking blood out of my body through my pores was something you could do with a simple touch.” The idiot even laughed at that. “What does it say about me that I find you even sexier now?”
