A hand reached up and grabbed my throat, making me drop my stakes as I gripped the vice squeezing my air passage. Obsidian eyes from Myles' eye sockets bore into mine, and a grin, so evil that I would only ever associate it with Obscurus stretched over Myles' face.
“I would say that you are cheating,” I wheezed out.
"No more than you," Obscurus croaked out of Myles' damaged vocal cords. He looked at my entourage through his thunderous shadows and then back at me. "It must be Sani in there with you." His disgusting grin became fuller as one of his tendrils entered my chest.
I rocked back as a sharp ache squeezed throughout my torso.
“You left a connection open,” he tsked.
Zane’s scream of agony as if he was being ripped apart made me tremble in additional pain.
I told you that both of you would be mine, Obscurus' voice was now in my head, and he flashed a vision into my head much like Zane had done earlier.
In the vision, I was standing next to Obscurus who was sitting on a throne made of bone with Zane next to me. We both were pale with burning red eyes and animal-like fangs. There was very little emotion on my face, only a look so cold that it made me shudder in my current state.
You felt that coldness here tonight, Obscurus reinforced. Not too long ago. I saw it when you looked at Daniel. You have it in you.
No, I weakly protested.
Yes, he hissed greedily. That’s the prophecy I have seen. You, undead, Scelesta, a lieutenant at my side with your cerste-liebsth. A terrifying goddess in your own right.
No, Zane repeated weakly, his connection fading.
Sani, your nature is still a part of you. Even now. Both of you, just let the prophecy happen. Stop fighting it. Obscurus clutched my neck tighter, cutting off more air. I could feel myself already growing weaker; along with Zane, on the other side of a connection that Obscurus had broken into. He couldn’t help me now.
Hot tears sprang to my eyes from my helplessness, and I wanted to cry out for help, which came in the form of a bright light in my mind. Like something out of a dream. A dream that I had already had once with an angelic voice that was all too familiar.
There’s the other side of that prophecy coin, Flora’s voice whispered, showing me a glimpse of what could be. Older versions of Meredith, Nate, and I together, laughing and smiling. A life so filled with laughter and joy that it forced the dark tendrils from my body and any traces left from Obscurus; as well as any traces of Zane.
“Go fuck yourself, Obscurus,” I grounded out in disgust and a rasp.
He slapped me across the face with a free hand, his nails ripping into my flesh and I could already feel the searing blood pull to that area, ready to drip down. And then he dug a thumb into my side wound.
Unconsciousness was not coming soon enough. I want to gasp from the intense pain his thumb had brought on, but I was limited in air, and my head began to feel like it was going to burst.
He let go of my throat for a moment to pull back my hand, yanking my hair, and exposing my neck. Then he gripped my neck again, more for control than to strangle. I was able to breathe again, and it came in heavy as there was pounding in my head and a painful throbbing in my side.
“You stupid little bitch!” He brought Myles’ face close to mine, licking the beads of blood that dripped from the wound on my cheek. “It doesn’t matter what that dead bitch showed you, you are mine. Surrender to me.” He pulled my hair tighter and my neck armor away, exposing more of my neck, which he sniffed, and let his fangs graze over.
Nausea bubbled in the pit of my stomach, but I let that pass as I tried to stealthily reach for the stake in my wrist holder. My fingers barely touched the rounded top of it, and they were slippery from sweat and blood. As his attention was on my neck, I closed my eyes, focusing my attention on reaching for the stake.
His breath skated excitedly against my skin, making me shudder and almost drawing attention away from my mission. “I have waited so long for you, Caden. For this moment.”
He pulled back to look me in the eye. “Caden, don’t feel bad. You put up a good fight. But you were always meant to be mine.”
My fingers made purchase of the stake, and I slid it up toward my wrist, trying to make my motions as little as possible.
“I’m not quite done yet,” I rasped, using all my force to bring my hand up and stab Myles’ body in the chest, letting the power flow through the stake and out.
There was a look of shock and surprise on Myles' face. I wasn't too sure if it was Myles or Obscurus who was surprised, but it didn't last long as Obscurus' dark cloud retreated back to the form that was at the side of the room.
Myles snapped back, having to now face the reality of his death. His face contorted in pain, and a loud scratchy scream shouted forth from the back of his broken throat.
I pushed up and off of him as he began to burn from around the silver stake and out, turning into ciders. An ashen form of a body lay prone on the ground until Obscurus’ roar made it collapse into nothing but a pile of dust, covering most of the floor in front of me.
I quickly glanced at Obscurus, who was fuming in more ways than one with angry red eyes and his black plume of smoke rolling thunderously around him.
"This isn't over," he growled before taking himself out the broken window behind him, leaving us with his minions, who were silenced in surprise.
“I would say the challenge is over,” I addressed Kobel.
“No!” Korina seethed.
Chapter Thirty-eight
The desire to attack her was strong, and as I glanced back at Nate, it was just as strong with him. His teeth clenched and his right hand clutched the gun in his back pocket tightly. I wasn’t quite sure what would happen if he brought it out to shoot her. It was his intention, as it was clear from every part of his body. But I had just won the challenge, so by all rights, the crowd was supposed to be dispersing. However, my group held their ground, visually confronting Kobel’s group.
“Korina, she is right. By Obscurus’ departure and his silent admission, she has won, and we must leave." Kobel looked at his group and gave a signal of dispersing before turning his simmering eyes on me. “But I agree with Obscurus. This isn’t over.” He turned his back to us, making sure his group was leaving, even if they were snarling and growling quietly.
And they were. All except Korina who was fuming next to Kobel, glaring at us as if we did the worst possible thing in the world. I had seen her angry before, but I had never seen her this furious and this animalistic.
“You have taken everything from me!” She enraged.
“There will be a time and a place, Korina. I promise you.” I nodded at her, recognizing that there would eventually be a fight between her and me.
Korina snapped her jaws at us and took off across the circle toward us, faster than I had anticipated, grabbing Nate and pulling him back with her toward the group of vampires that had now stopped their retreat and looked questioningly at Kobel.
Ajax and Finn’s magic hit an all-time high as it grew toward the group, crackling and no longer invisible. Together, their magic would decimate the vampires quickly, from the power it radiated in the air.
“Stop, Korina!” Kobel shouted as the wave etched forward. "Korina you must let the human go.”
She growled, clawing her fingers into Nate’s shoulder, who cried out in pain. I was dying to run forward, but from the magic in the air, I knew Ajax and Finn would take care of this faster than I would get to Nate.
"He is mine! She has taken everything from me! I will take what she loves most!" She snapped through her clenched teeth. Her movements were very erratic, and I had no doubt that she intended to kill him or kill him and turn him.
Kobel’s expression was cold, but there was an underlying waver to his voice when he demanded that she let Nate go.
“This violates the challenge, Korina,” he admonished. He turned back to his horde of Scelesti and snapped at them to disperse, which they did slowly
and hesitantly, but they still did.
“The challenge may be over,” Korina growled. “But I am taking what is mine.”
Kobel shook his head. “No more blood may be drawn from my line today. Those are the laws that Obscurus has decreed. He has very little rules, but the ones he does have, we must follow.”
Korina continued growling and shook Nate, who looked just as nervous as I felt even though Finn’s and Ajax’ magic was surging toward the two remaining vampires.
I brought up my chin and shouted across the way, “Korina, your problem is with me. Come and fight me.”
She measured the challenge in my face and then looked down at the ashes around my feet. She glanced back at me, doubt etched on her features. And then she felt the first sizzle of the magic wave that had reached her fingers that were tightened around Nate. It scorched them, instantly blacken them.
Immediately, she let go of Nate and then took off running with Kobel not too far behind. The magic dissipated the moment they were no longer visible, leaving Nate shaking as he stood up. He took the gun out of his back pocket and shook his head as we walked toward him.
He looked up at me sadly and ashamed, “I was too scared to get a shot off.”
Anahita swiftly took the gun from his hands and placed it in her back pocket. “It wouldn’t have mattered anyway. It was a silver paintball gun.”
Shock left Nate’s mouth agape before he closed it, giving her a dirty look. “I wish I could say that I’m surprised, but I don’t think I am.”
I hid a smile behind my hand before feeling Ajax clap my shoulder.
“You kept your promise.” He looked worn and still soot covered.
“So did you,” I replied in kind.
He tilted his head to the side, his mischievous grin that I had grown used to over the year back in place. “I never promised.”
“You didn’t have to. I was just kinda hoping that this proved we are still friends.”
His smile grew a little wider. “I guess.” He shrugged a shoulder. “I suppose not all Fae are bad.”
Finn grunted next to me. “We are. But she’s not completely Fae. She’s been left in the human world far too long.”
I turned to glare at him but saw a twinkle in his eyes even if his face was aloof of emotion.
“Your mother would be proud,” he whispered tenderly so that only I heard before clearing his throat.
“So what are we going to do about Korina?” Nate asked me, bringing my attention back.
“She’s kinda evil, Nate,” I prodded carefully, cringing a bit from the topic. The truth was that she was very evil. She would be coming after Nate at the very least. She for sure wanted vengeance. But she was Nate's girlfriend, and at some point, he loved her. He still may have loved her. I wasn't sure how to delicately say that I had to kill her.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to say anything because Anahita interrupted.
“Forget the girlfriend! What are you going to do about Obscurus?”
I sighed, raising my eyebrows and rubbing the back of my neck. Hell if I knew. He was THE leader of the Scelesti. The one in charge. The top dog of hell on earth. How would I be able to kill him? Could I even kill him? Was there a law against it?
“I have no fucking clue,” I eventually responded.
“Language,” Finn cleared his throat and glared at me.
I shrugged. “Well, I don’t.”
“He’s got a hardon for you and Zane. That’s for sure,” Anahita said.
Remembering Obscurus’ vision for Zane and myself made me shiver.
"Tell me about it-" I froze for a second, suddenly reminded that Zane was no longer with me. The connection wasn't broken exactly. I could feel Meredith, who was actually unconscious from the energy of her spell, but the link was still open slightly. And I felt Zane, but it was more his emotions. He was resigned, and a dull ache was leaving him hurting.
I turned to Anahita, who quickly shifted her gaze after locking with mine. And her face hastily averted mine, but from the corner of her downcast eyes, I saw sorrow within.
“What’s going on with Zane?” I demanded.
She closed her eyes and shook her head as if a heavy burden had been placed on her shoulders.
“He’s leaving, isn’t he?” My heart suddenly clenched. I didn’t know how I knew, but I did.
“He has some things he needs to sort out before he comes back.” Her voice was timid.
I slowly backed away from her, from the group. There was an urgency in my chest to get out of the cafeteria, out of the school, and find Zane.
I looked at my group, and from their expressions, they knew I was going to flee. But their confident resignation told me that they would be okay without me for the moment.
"I have to go." My voice wavered, and my hands shook, as I continued backing away.
“I will see you back at Underhill,” I asserted before turning completely around and running back to the mansion. I felt like time was of the essence. If I walked with the group, there was an ache there that told me that by the time I would reach Underhill, he would be gone. And my heart told me that I had to talk to him. To at least try to get him to stay. The connection between us was almost palpable to me at that point.
I don’t remember much of my run home, only that it must have been fast because before I knew it, I was bouncing on my feet and my hands fidgeted while I waited for the magic at the gate to recognize me before it opened. I rushed at the front door, opening it with force; so much so that it slammed back closed just as quick without any motion from me.
Meredith’s prone form was lying on the two-seater couch in the entryway where we had placed her before we had left. I knew I would be a cad if I just ran by; so I gave her a once-over, feeling better seeing that she seemed to be in a peaceful sleep. And I placed a throw blanket that was resting on the back of the couch over her before I raced down to Zane’s room
He was just in the process of finishing up his packing. A ruffle sack that would fit on his motorcycle was already quite full, as he was stuffing a few more things in. He looked up at me, a pained expression on his face.
Fury forced out the upset stomach that had sent it churning initially knowing that he was leaving and even more, he was going without saying goodbye.
“What the fuck do you think you are doing?” I demanded.
He looked away from me, putting another clothing item into the bag. “What does it look like I am doing?”
“It looks like you’re leaving. Why? Why are you leaving?”
He snorted, derision in his voice, "You're alive, you made it. No thanks to me." He went to grab something else from the dresser, and walked back to his bag, dropping whatever it was inside.
“What are you talking about?”
“The spell made it easier for Obscurus to take you,” he grounded out. “I did nothing!” He clenched his hands, the muscles in his arms bunched and his eyes lit with barely contained rage.
“I made it through because of you.”
He curled his lips in a sneer of doubt.
“I honestly did. You made me feel confident. Comforted. You helped me more than you know. Without you, I would have died.”
He looked away, ashamed, but not any less angry.
“You don’t know that,” he bit out.
“What about the next challenge? I am still not prepared. I need you.”
More pain streaked across his face. “You don’t need me. You just need a trainer. And you have one.”
I thought for a moment. “Anahita?” Certain pieces of events started to fall into place. At first, I thought that she was just here to serve as an itch for Zane to scratch or to at least emotionally distance myself from him. But then she became more involved with my training and fighting. And that’s when it dawned on me, like a slap in the face.
I stepped back, feeling more hurt than I thought I would. "That's why Anahita's here, isn't it?"
He refused to look at me, turning his back, and let
silence confirm what I had finally figured out.
I was shaking from the hurt and anger, and my voice was proof. “You were planning to leave me all along, weren’t you?”
Again there was no response as he continued packing.
I wanted to grab him and turn him around. Perhaps even slap him in the face.
“Look at me, damn it!” I shouted, stomping my foot.
He stopped with a flinch in his back. His hands went back to clenching as he finally turned to look at me. There was so much pain on his face. And every vein was standing out from his arms. Even the tendons in his neck were taut and stiff. All of this as if he was trying to keep everything bottled up, and yet some was still spilling out.
“We’re supposed to be partners,” I prodded gently, affected by the emotion on his face. “At least somewhere down the road.”
He avoided my gaze. “You don’t believe that.”
“I don’t believe that fate would be so cruel. I don’t believe I am some sort of punishment. But I do know there is a connection between us that I don’t understand.” I tapped my chest. “I feel it here. Don’t you?”
“You are too young to possibly know anything about this.” A muscle in his jaw clenched.
“I know I am young. I know I am not an equal to you yet," I continued. The look on Zane's face scrunched up as if he was about to dispute me, but I pushed on. "But am I that bad a fighter for you?”
His lips curled. “It’s not your fighting skills.”
I was slightly taken back. “Then it’s me? Is it that torturous to be around me? You truly feel that I am some sort of horrible punishment for you?”
"Yes," his voice was barely a whisper as he glanced quickly at me. His eyes made contact with mine, and I could quite clearly see the pain in them. He didn't elaborate, and his response hung in the air.
I was pretty sure my heart died a little. I know for sure it cracked, and I couldn't say why exactly. We hadn't known each other long. And even though there was a connection between us, I was starting to understand that it was the cerste-liebsth thing. There should have been nothing between us, but my aching heart told me differently. And all the hate and anger burned a hole as I stared Zane down.
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