by R L Medina
“You have little affinity for magic.” He finally spoke, lowering his hand.
I blinked at him. “What?”
“Magic. You don’t have skill with magic.”
“I never said I did. So, can you let me go now?”
He frowned. “Your blood is weak, but it still belongs to the coven.”
Like hell it did.
“You can tell the coven to suck it. I don’t want anything to do with you witches.”
The door burst open again. I lowered into a defensive stance, difficult to do with one leg chained to the ground. My heart pounded against my ribs. Were they all coming now? The whole coven?
With their magic and me weaponless, I didn’t stand a chance against them. My throat turned dry. A group of them sauntered in. My eyes scanned them. Six. Six of them, all with some type of conduit. Power and danger emanated from them and it was all I could do to keep myself rooted and not curl into myself like a coward.
One woman led the pack. My eyes bulged. The woman from the picture. Her harsh face looked unchanged from the image, but how was that possible? Did witches live insanely long lives?
Instead of the old-timey dress, she wore tight, black pants and a black shirt that made her look more like an assassin or spy than a witch.
Her dark eyes fell on me. A smile lit her face.
“Supreme,” the guy witch gushed.
I braced myself as she walked toward me. My fingers curled, wishing I had my sword or that I could actually do magic.
“We’ve been waiting for you.” When she spoke, her voice sounded older than she looked.
The others smiled as if she’d said something clever. I snorted. Isn’t that what every villain said in all the books and movies? If the situation wasn’t so real and serious, I could almost find it funny.
I glared at her. “What do you want with me?”
“You’re one of us.”
“I’m not a witch. I can’t even do magic. Just ask your creepy friend here.”
She laughed. The harsh sound echoing in the room. Chills crawled over me. Crazy witch.
“It’s not you, we want. It’s your blood. The blood that was promised to us by your mother.”
I shrank back. My blood? I doubted it meant a simple prick of my finger. No. Not if they’d gone to such lengths to find me and capture me.
Pushing back my fear, I held her gaze. “Yeah, about that. She made a mistake. Meant to sign me up for girl scouts instead. Sorry.”
Her thin eyebrow arched. “She made several mistakes.”
I paused, her words striking me. What was she talking about?
“What do you want with my blood? I thought only vampires collected blood.”
“We have big plans, Rosita. Big plans.”
Hearing my name on her lips filled me with dread. Their eyes devoured me as if I was, the juiciest piece of steak on the table. My throat turned dry. I was completely on my own, caught in their net now, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.
My body thrummed, ready to go into attack mode. If I was going to die anyway, I had to at least fight back, right?
“Do you like the room?” Her question caught me off guard.
I blinked at her. What the hell was she talking about now?
Her lips curved into a feline smile. “It’s where all the mothers give birth. Except yours. I guess it wasn’t good enough for dear Rosa.”
A lick of anger curled in my chest. I didn’t respond. She was baiting me, and I was not about to give her the satisfaction of an answer.
“Well, I can’t blame her. The vineyard was a much better choice.”
My chest tightened.
“You were such a beautiful baby, Rosita. Ugly crier, but when you slept—”
“What is this? Some kind of mental game? You think I’m going to believe that you were there? My mom kept you psychos away.”
The witch laughed. “She tried. But like you said, she made mistakes.”
Her words rang in my ears. I couldn’t breathe. My head spun, and a tremor ran up my back. I thought I was done with the revelations. Thought my life was starting to make sense, but now?
“What do you want with me?” I cringed at my voice.
I sounded beaten and weak. Defeated.
She smiled. “I told you. I need your blood. We’ve been waiting a long time for it, and now we’re ready.”
“What are you going to do?”
Ignoring me, she turned to the others. “Leave her in here for the night. We’ll move her with the others when it’s time.”
Others? The shifters and vampires?
They started to walk away.
“Wait.”
The woman paused.
“My friends. The wolves and the GRIMMs. Are they okay?”
She shrugged a shoulder. “How should I know?”
With that, they strode out. The door slammed and clicked behind them. Hot, angry tears welled in my eyes.
“Bitch!” I called after her.
Not that she cared, but it felt a little better to get it off my chest. I paced the room, as much as I was able to with the metal digging into my ankle. They’d taken my boots and left me in the club dress. The flames flickered as I stirred the air with my movement. A strong waxy scent mixed with something medicinal filled my nose, making my throat itch.
It was their birthing room, she’d said. Suddenly the giant tub in the room made more sense. I backed away from it, stomach churning. Hard as I tried, I couldn’t stop envisioning the horrors of what had no doubtedly taken place there. Did they perform the blood oath right then and there before the babies came?
The coldness of the wooden floor seeped into my skin, but the candles gave off their warmth. Their supreme ordered me to stay for the night. A whole night in that freaky room. The thought made me want to rip my hair out.
“I hope you’re happy wherever you are, Mom.” My words bounced off the walls.
“This is all your fault.”
Silence enveloped me once more. I edged around the tub, trying to get closer to the window. My chain wouldn’t let me get halfway. I had no idea where we were. Were we even in the same state? Same country?
Same world?
That thought made me shudder. I couldn’t freak out now. Replaying my mom’s letter, I tried stupidly, to see if there was something I’d missed.
I found Los Reyes. Their faces flashed in my mind, making my chest tighten. They couldn’t help me find the wizard. Cleo couldn’t find the wizard either. Another shudder ran through me as I envisioned her black eyes and slit throat.
Anyone who tried to help me now would only be a target for the coven. I sighed and slumped down on the cold ground. I was alone, and I didn’t have my sword or my conduit.
Javi’s words came back to me. Being a GRIMM, meant I did have a connection to magic, same as the witches. He’d warned me to be careful to not accidentally perform a spell. Could I even do one if I tried? Hope flared inside me.
Now, if I could just get my hand on a conduit. I glanced at the metal around my ankle. Was it enchanted? Could it work?
If there was any chance of me escaping, this was it. I had to try. My mind raced, pulling up useless information I’d memorized from school. Magically drying my clothes or finding a specific book from a shelf was not going to help me unlock the chain.
Feeling stupid, I placed a hand on the metal ring and shouted chant after chant, all the words I could remember, but was pretty sure I wasn’t pronouncing correctly.
When nothing happened, I wasn’t surprised. My shoulders slumped.
A loud pop sounded from the other side of the room, making me jump. I crouched, ready to defend myself. Two figures appeared.
They turned, eyes widening on me.
“Javi! Grayson!”
Relief flooded me as they rushed toward me. I struggled to my feet, wincing as the metal pinched my skin.
Javi made it to me first. “Are you okay?” His brow was furrowed in worry.
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Grayson lifted his hand and chanted. “Rose?”
The chain fell to the floor. My cheeks flushed. It literally took him one try.
“What did they do to you?” Javi’s voice snapped me to attention.
“I’m okay.”
“Let’s get you out of here,” Grayson urged.
He grabbed my arm. I sagged against him and nodded. He tensed but didn’t move away. My cheeks flamed at his reaction. We were trapped in the hideout of the Luna Negra, barely escaped with our lives and yet there I was blushing like an idiot and he was back to hating me.
Before we could step forward, the portal closed.
A stream of curses came from Javi, and Grayson’s jaw clenched.
My heart sank.
Our only way out and it was gone.
“It’s going to take time for that portal to be operable again and by then…”
“It will be too late. They’ll seal it off,” Javi finished for him.
I stood between them, staring at the empty spot. “What do we do?”
“We get out of here,” Grayson answered.
His face was full of determination and confidence. A confidence I couldn’t understand. He was a GRIMM through and through, just like Javi.
My heart hammered against my ribs. Could I ever be one of them?
13
I looked to them. “Do you know where we are?”
Javi shook his head. “No, but let’s find out.”
I turned to Grayson. “Where are Brady and Shiloh? Are they okay?”
He stiffened. “I didn’t have time… I don’t know. We jumped into the portal right after you. If we’d waited. It would have been too late.”
Javi moved to the window, pushing back the curtains. “They’ll be fine. The GRIMMs will take care of them.” He sounded like he was trying to convince himself.
I just hoped he was right. The thought of either of them hurt—or worse—because of me made my stomach sick.
“You shouldn’t have come for me, Javi. You shouldn’t have come to the club.”
He whipped to me, eyes furious. “Don’t. Don’t do that, Rose. You’re family. I never should have let you go alone in the first place.”
I blinked back tears.
“But, Javi—”
“We have to go,” he cut me off.
Grayson stood, holding his gun, watching our exchange. His face was a mask of coolness that left me unsettled. Was he seriously still mad about being out of the loop?
“The window warded?” he asked Javi.
“Of course.”
“Well, let’s get it open before the witches come back.”
“What do you think I’m doing, Chapman?”
Grayson threw up a hand and shouted a chant. The windows flew open with a bang. Javi stepped back and motioned me forward. I stared down at the street below. My head spun. That was no small drop. Moonlight shone on the buildings around us, revealing broken windows, peeled paint, and empty rooms. Were we still in the city?
“Where are we?”
“Looks like the old Witches square,” Grayson answered me.
“I’ll go first and create a landing to cushion your fall.” Javi took charge.
Before we could move, the bedroom doors burst open. Grayson was first to attack, using a chant to keep the witches from advancing. Javi’s hand shot out, casting his own magic.
They tore through their invisible barrier like tissue paper. Javi fired his gun. The bullets dropped to the floor and dissolved into thin air.
My eyes widened. To see magic at work in the movies was one thing but seeing it for real was terrifying. We were so completely inadequate against the coven. Fear took over, my whole body tensed.
The guy witch from before strode in, this time unhooded. His young, freckled face and long, tussled, brown hair made him look harmless. Like someone you’d see hanging out in a skatepark not here with a bunch of evil witches.
His brown eyes narrowed on me, a small, triumphant smile on his face. My hackles rose.
He swept a hand across the room. An icy cold buried in my skin, making me shiver. I turned to find Javi and Grayson enduring the same assault.
What was happening to us? I couldn’t move. My body stood, frozen at their mercy. Panic clawed up my throat.
“Take them to the supreme,” the witch spoke with authority.
The others rushed Grayson and Javi, who continued to struggle against the burning cold grip holding us in place.
My heart stuck in my throat. In unison the witches threw their hands out and chanted. Javi and Grayson’s eyes rolled back.
They dropped to the floor with an echoing thud.
“No! What did you do to them?” My voice rose an octave.
I tried to move toward them but couldn’t go anywhere.
My eyes shot to the lead witch. A quiet rage slithered through my chest. He’d pay for what he’d done. I didn’t know how or when, but I vowed revenge.
“Let them go.”
His gaze locked onto me. “The supreme will decide their fate. And you will face yours when its time. There is no escaping fate.”
I glared at him. “Fu—”
A blow landed hard across my face. Dark spots danced around me, my head spinning from the hit. Blind fury filled me. I looked to the witch who’d struck me, seething as blood coated my tongue.
Her eyebrows raised in warning. My muscles strained under the icy hold, my hand itching to strike back. To hurt them like they’d hurt me.
She raised her hand once more. I didn’t flinch. I refused to show them my fear.
“Leave her,” the male witch ordered.
They moved away, two of them grabbing Javi and Grayson. My throat turned dry. No.
“Let them go! I swear I’ll do whatever you want. Just let them go.”
The door slammed shut, making me flinch. A hollowness filled me. Whatever magic hold they’d put me in disappeared as soon as they left. I flew to the door and turned the knob. Locked.
My heart sank. Pounding on the door, I screamed a stream of profanity. My voice was raw, and my fist burned with pain. Giving up the fight, I crumpled to the floor.
Silence surrounded me. Visions, horrible visions flashed in my mind. What would the witches do to them? I threw my head into my hands and sank into despair. Fear and sorrow. Regret and anger.
They were in trouble and it was my fault. I was useless against the witches. Hot tears pricked my eyes. Why didn’t my parents prepare me? I could have helped if I knew what to do. If I’d had more training.
I scoffed. Even with their training, Javi and Grayson didn’t stand a chance. None of us did. Not when it came to such power. How could we ever hope to win against it?
Pain filled me. There was nothing I could do and for the first time in my life, I wished I was a GRIMM. A real one that could stand against the coven. Someone more powerful than even the supreme.
A wizard.
My shoulders slumped. That’s what we needed now—a real wizard. But I didn’t even know where to begin to look for him.
“You did a crappy job of helping me, Mama.”
The bitterness in my voice made me cringe. Jaded at 17. This was so far from the life I expected to have. So unfair it made my chest burn.
You don’t get to choose. Tío’s words echoed in my ears.
I swiped away tears from my face. He was right. I hated it, but he was right.
The candles around the room flickered and died one by one, leaving me in pitch blackness. Even the moonlight didn’t shine through the curtains. Trying the door once more, I let out an angry breath. Still locked.
Pushing away the dark thoughts of what the others were enduring, I sank to the ground once more, bracing my back against the door.
If the witches returned for me, I’d be crushed, but I didn’t care. There was no way in hell I was going to sleep in the bed where who knew how many women had given birth in. Wrapping my arms around my knees, I inhaled the melted wax and musty sm
ell. I closed my eyes and forced my mind to focus on the positives. There weren’t many. If Javi and Grayson followed me through the portal, maybe the other GRIMMs weren’t far behind. Maybe Tío would come.
My lips twisted in a wry smile. For once, I’d be thrilled to see my tío. Guilt filled me. He’d warned me, but I didn’t listen. If I’d stayed locked in their mansion… done as I was told, would the witches have still come?
I shook away the thoughts. It was too late now to change the past and there was no way of knowing what the outcome would have been had I stayed. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I rested my head against the door and listened for any voices or movement on the other side.
Only silence came.
Shuddering, I opened my eyes to scan the darkness. An idea sparked in my mind. The witches used conduits the same as us. Could there be something in the room that was still spelled or enchanted? Something I could use to escape? The thought gave me hope. I rose to my feet and squinted against the blackness. Feeling more confident, I moved slowly, hands outstretched as I tried to recall the layout of the room.
Bed. Cradle. Rocking chair. Tub. Toys.
My mind raced. Could the bed have enchanted metal? Or the wood? There was such a thing as wood magic, but only if the wood had come from a dryad. I bit my lip and shuffled toward where I thought the cradle would be.
That seemed the most likely to be enchanted. A chill went through me. Even if it were enchanted, how would I use it? There weren’t many chants I remembered, and my magic ability was pretty much nonexistent. I’d barely even begun the proper training, but I had to try.
This was our only hope. I pushed myself forward. I was no wizard, but I was a GRIMM. I could do this. My knee collided with something solid, pain sparking. The cradle?
I reached down and squinted at the dark outline. My hands ran along the edge. Smooth and cool.
“Alright. Now just think of… something.”
Doubt filled me. I couldn’t sense anything special about the wood, but did that mean it wasn’t enchanted?
“I really should have paid more attention in class.” My words echoed around me.
