“Good,” he said softly. “Now try merging your own power with the energy of the crystal. Use it to sharpen your magic.”
Her body hummed with energy. The forest came alive around her as the wispy voices of plants and animals called out to her inside her head. The crystal glowed, spinning faster as she pulled on the energy river and tugged it wider. The zing in her limbs intensified, and she sucked in a tight breath.
Beside her, Caspar gasped.
“What is it?” she asked, afraid.
“No, don’t stop! Keep going!”
Red light was growing brighter before her eyelids. The energy consumed her, and she at last felt it, the constricting string of her vow to Wormwart, looking so thin and yet feeling as heavy as a ball and chain. “I feel it,” she said, “the binding contract.”
“Break it,” Caspar said.
She reached for the string and tugged hard as she could. It bowed, stretching tighter. A drop of sweat rolled down her brow.
“You can do it.”
Gritting her teeth, she pulled harder –
Above, a raven cawed. A sharp pain went through her, as if someone had stabbed her right in the stomach. The connection in her mind abruptly faded, leaving her head spinning as her eyes flew open and she gasped for air.
“I… I lost it,” she said, leaning forward as her gut twisted. She closed her eyes against the pain. “It hurts.”
“What does?” Caspar’s face was knotted up with concern. “Snow, what’s wrong?”
Something fluttered its wings and they both looked up.
The sun was gone. Heavy gray clouds were rolling in, growing darker and thicker. The forest looked dead. Directly in front of her was a large tree with a twisted trunk, its branches bared of leaves. A lone raven sat on a branch, staring at them.
Something crawled over her, like maggots. The pain didn’t go away. It wrenched her stomach, like someone had stuck in a blade and was twisting it, though no physical harm had actually occurred.
Another raven called out to the first, and a moment later a second black bird lighted on a nearby branch. The air filled with the flapping of wings. Dozens of ravens soared toward them from the depths of the woods, landing on the tree one by one, coming faster and faster. All their heads were turned toward Natalia.
“Caspar…” she whispered.
He looked up, eyes narrowing.
The tree was nearly filled with ravens, so much that it appeared to have black leaves. None of them moved; they were perfectly still as onyx statues. One of the birds – the original, she thought – cawed, its eyes glowing violet.
Her heart nearly stopped and her eyes bulged.
“Caspar, it’s her! It’s her!”
“What?”
She pointed. “The raven! Look at its eyes!”
He followed her finger.
“Damn!” he said.
Thunder boomed in the distance, rumbling through the ashen sky as lightning threaded the air.
She doubled over, the pain so great she could no longer remain sitting up. It felt like something ripped inside her, and she cried out.
“It’s the contract, has to be,” he said, scooping her up. “Tampering with it must have triggered its effects. We have to get you back to the dwarf right now.”
The violet-eyed raven cawed angrily, clawing at the branch as Caspar stood and began sprinting. “Which way?” he asked.
She barely managed to keep her eyes open. “Go to the right and then straight, past that stump over there.”
I think. She prayed his sense of direction was better than hers.
As they ran, the air filled with cawing. Dozens of wings beat behind them, drawing closer.
“Look out!” he yelled.
A swarm of ravens descended upon them. Caspar threw her to the ground, covering her body with his as the ravens pecked and clawed at them, swirling around them in a vortex. She could hardly see what was happening; Caspar had her face covered with his hands.
“Caspar!” she screamed.
He grunted as the birds attacked him, trying to get to her, but he held firm. She caught the glimpse of a beak right before he swore. Several hot drops dripped onto her cheek and ran into her mouth. The texture was thick and slightly metallic.
“You’re bleeding,” she said. “Caspar, you have to get out of here!”
“I’m not leaving you!”
The air was nothing but the chaos of wings and cawing. Inside she felt like hell.
You have to try. You can’t let him do this alone. Summoning her strength through the haze of pain, she focused on the crystal in her mind. As soon as she sensed the river of energy, she locked onto it, pulling it to the forefront of her mind and stretching it out wider, fitting her own energy inside of it. Power flowed through her body, illuminating the area in bright red light.
“Snow –” Caspar started.
“Leave him alone!” She tugged her hands free and pushed the air outward. A boom rang through the air, propelling the birds away. Several smashed into trees, falling limp to the ground and evaporating into black smoke, leaving nothing behind. The rest swirled toward the sky, bursting through the canopy and sailing away. The raven with purple eyes hovered above them. It hissed then followed after the others.
The forest was quiet. Her heart hammered against her chest. The surge of energy faded rapidly as the glow in her skin dimmed, leaving her feeling exhausted.
“Cas…per,” she said, then blacked out.
***
She was moving.
“Stay awake,” a man said. “Don’t you dare fall asleep!”
Conscious thoughts danced around the edge of the darkness in her head, urging her to open her eyes. Her lids felt heavy as weights. The forest floor was flashing beneath her, the tips of black boots sprinting in and out of her vision.
“There it is,” the man said, sounding relieved. “Snow, I can see the cottage. We’re almost there. Please hang on a little longer.”
The next minute passed in a blur of black and silver. Several voices were shouting, sounding far away one moment and then too loud because they were so close the next. A sword was drawn and the hands under her suddenly vanished. She opened her eyes right before she hit the ground. With a groan, she lifted her cheek off the metallic grass.
They were in front of the cottage. Caspar stood in front of her, rapier held up in the defensive. All the dwarves surrounded him, save for Midnight, who was scurrying toward her.
“I’m all right,” she said as he placed his hands on her arm, worry in his eyes. “Really I am, but thank you.”
The sound of metal grinding against metal rang in the silence. Caspar blocked Twix’s sword attack, picking him up under his outstretched arm and flinging him into Goldentongue, who was rushing forward with a shovel. The two dwarves went down and Caspar whirled, parrying Slither’s gouges. Avalanche crept up behind Caspar.
“Behind you!” Natalia screeched.
Caspar started to turn but not soon enough. The gigantic dwarf’s arm smashed into his back. The prince’s eyes widened in shock as the breath left him and he stumbled forward. Slither leapt out of the way, preparing to throw his knife, but Caspar saw him. His expression scared her. It was fierce, the look of a lion in battle.
The rapier sliced out. Slither managed to clumsily block the thrust, forced to use the knife to do so and leaving his chest exposed. With a flick of his wrist, Caspar tapped the blade against Slither’s arm, making him drop the knife before he delivered a punch to his face. Slither fell back, swearing as blood poured out his nose, which was set at a crooked angle.
Natalia’s head was throbbing, consumed by a jaw-rattling pain she felt in the roots of her teeth. She rubbed her temples as she sat up and then stood, stumbling forward.
Midnight grabbed her hand, pulling her back.
“What?” she asked, turning. “I have to help him.”
Midnight shook his head, but she gently pried her hand free and jogged forward.
&nbs
p; An arrow whizzed past Caspar’s head, grazing her arm and tearing the sleeve of her dress. Fire bloomed along her bicep, but she kept running, eyes fixed forward as Caspar blocked Leaf’s crossbow assault, knocking aside arrow after arrow. She stepped in front of Caspar as Leaf notched his last arrow. “Wait!” she said, holding her hands out.
Leaf raised the crossbow but hesitated. He glared at her. “That wasn’t a nice trick you pulled.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice like steel, “but you hardly left me a choice.”
Wormwart stormed toward her, ax in hand. “Rotten, meddling human. Yeh cost me a good beheading and a nice meal!”
“I couldn’t let you harm the boy,” she growled, standing her ground.
“I might just kill yeh instead.”
Caspar pushed against her, trying to get around her, but one look at his searing eyes told her to hold him back.
“So you’re the little bastard who’s been holding her prisoner, then?” Caspar asked.
Wormwart smirked, unimpressed. “Oh yes,” he said, looking at Natalia. “How is the binding contract treating yeh?”
“I’ve never felt better,” she said. It wasn’t a total lie. She actually did feel better.
“Ha! I made it too weak, then. It should’ve brought yeh to yer knees.”
Caspar shot daggers at the dwarf with his eyes, a low growl rising in his throat.
“I knew yeh wouldn’t able to stand being gone fer long,” Wormwart said, crossing his arms with a smug smile. “Bind them.”
Movement flickered from the corner of Natalia’s eye as the dwarves stalked toward them. Leaf and Slither looked murderous, and she cringed, wishing she had her sword. She started to reach for the dagger, having forgotten she had in the heat of the moment, when a stone cold voice rang through the air.
“Stop right there.”
Her heart rate shot up as they all whirled around.
Chapter Sixteen
An Ultimatum and an Exchange
A hooded figure stood before them.
Natalia froze while Caspar moved in front of her. He looked confused.
“What is it?” she asked, eyeing the figure and feeling like her heart was going to beat itself apart. Any minute now, she expected the hood to fall back and reveal the bloodstained smile of the Queen.
“I… I don’t see anything,” Caspar said.
Natalia’s eyes flashed to the figure, which was definitely there. “What?”
Before Caspar could reply, Wormwart stalked forward. “Hey! I don’t know who yeh are, but yer trespassing on private property.”
For a moment, the figure didn’t move. Then it lifted its arms, a bow of white light forming in its hands, arrow notched and aimed for Wormwart.
He hissed. “A Charmed one! Reveal yerself, witch!”
That white light, Natalia thought. I’ve seen it before.
With a shake of her head, the hood fell back, revealing Via’s stone-cold face.
Natalia felt a huge weight lift from her shoulders, and she stepped around Caspar. “Where were you?” she said, smiling.
Via looked a lot better. The light had returned to her blue eyes and her hair had a renewed gloss to it. Via’s eyes flickered to Natalia for a split second before hardening again on Wormwart, who stood frozen nearby with a sneer on his face. “I told you that fighting Nefrim took a toll on me, so I had to stay away for a bit to regain my strength. Sorry if I worried you.”
“It’s fine,” Natalia said hesitantly, not sure what to make of Via’s commanding tone. “I’m just glad you’re all right.”
“What do you want, White Lady?” Wormwart said evenly.
“White Lady?” Natalia asked. “What is he talking about?”
“It’s a nickname the forest locals have given me.” Her mouth twitched in the faintest imitations of a smile. “Some think I’m a ghost.”
“Are you?” Natalia wanted to ask, but she couldn’t because Via decided to address Wormwart’s question. “I’m here to help the girl,” Via said. “I know you’ve placed a binding contract on her, and I demand you remove it now.”
Wormwart snickered. “And why would I want to lose out on a slave, useless as she is?”
“Because if you don’t –” Via pulled back on the arrow – “you’ll be dead within three seconds.”
Every eye turned on Wormwart, whose face had soured.
“One,” Via said.
Wormwart flinched.
“Two.” She narrowed her sights on him.
Wormwart didn’t move.
“Thr –”
“All right!” Wormwart cried. “Fine! Have it yer way! I release the damn gurl from my service!”
Instantly, Natalia felt something inside her snap, and her skin tingled briefly before returning to normal. Her eyes flashed to her wrists. The Marks were gone, leaving behind the same bruise-like outline the Queen’s Mark had left the day it vanished. “I’m free?”
Via lowered the bow, smiling. “Yes, you are.”
Natalia let out a long sigh. I’m free. I can save Rose now. She blinked slowly, as if to make sure she were awake, and then ran over to Via and wrapped her up in an embrace.
“Thank you,” Natalia said into her hair. “Thank you so much, for everything. You’ve been so good to me.”
It was brief, but she thought she saw a flash of pain run through Via’s eyes before she replied quietly, “You’re welcome.”
“Who are you talking to?”
They all turned around. Caspar stood there, dumbfounded, looking from Natalia to Wormwart as if they had gone mad.
“He’s Blind,” Via said, “because he’s a Barren. He can’t see or hear me.” She hesitated. “But I believe I can fix that.”
Via walked over to Caspar; she seemed to float, her skirts not making so much as a sound. He furrowed his brows, his eyes locked with Natalia and clearly not seeing Via at all. Natalia walked up to him, casting a questioning glance at the other girl.
“Tell him to close his eyes,” Via said.
“Er, um, close your eyes,” Natalia repeated.
Caspar looked at her like her hair had suddenly caught flame. “Why?”
“Please?”
He searched her face with a skeptic pout to his lip but then shut his eyes. Via placed both hands over his eyes and white light sprouted from her fingers, seeping into Caspar’s skin. His mouth opened in a quiet gasp. The light remained on his lids when Via withdrew her hands, eventually fading away into nothing. Slowly, he opened his eyes.
Natalia knew when the spell had taken effect because his breathing calmed and his eyes focused on her.
“Wow,” he said, taking her in. “That’s incredible.”
Her gaze sharpened. “What is?”
“That… aura.” He stepped back, examining her from head to toe. “You’re glowing.”
She looked down at her arms. “I am not.”
“Yes, yeh are,” Wormwart said. “I told yeh the first night we met I could smell the power on yeh. Well, it’s not just about being able to smell it – I could see it. Magic gives off a certain light, and yers is brighter than a star.”
Caspar looked past Natalia. His eyes widened. “Where did you come from?” he asked, eyeing Via warily.
She smiled at him, blushing slightly. “I’ve been here, my Lord.”
“Really?”
Natalia nodded. “Via’s not –” She looked to Via for help, not wanting to say anything to offend her.
Luckily, Via picked up with the very word that had been about to come out of Natalia’s mouth. “Normal,” she finished. Her face grew serious and she turned to Natalia. “I need to speak with you. In private.”
“Oh. All right.” Natalia started to walk with Via toward the cottage when Caspar grabbed her hand.
“Wait,” he said, pulling her to him. He glanced at Via, who was now speaking quietly with Wormwart, and lowered his voice. “I don’t trust her.”
Natalia turned and looked at Via.
“She just forced Wormwart to revoke my binding contract. If that’s not grounds to start trusting her, I don’t know what is. I’ll be fine,” she added with a smile.
Though he didn’t look convinced, he didn’t argue, and she followed Via into the cottage. Several candles were lit, keeping the darkness at bay but not bright enough to provide much light. Soon as they were both inside, the door slammed shut of its own accord and the bolt slid into place. A chill ran up Natalia’s spine, and she wondered if she had made a grave mistake in trusting Via. “What’s going on?”
“Nefrim has returned.”
Natalia felt her heart drop into her stomach. “When?”
“Earlier today. The air always feels deader when he’s in this dimension.”
“So he must have healed then.”
Via locked eyes with her. “He’s hungry. I’ve seen him out in the woods, devouring any creature that has even the smallest trace of magic in its blood. He’s little more than skin and bones now. His Host – the Queen – is weakening, her magic drying up like a well.” Via cast a wary glance over her shoulder at the door and dropped her voice. “It’s of the utmost importance you learn how to use your powers quickly so you can defend yourself. Nefrim wants you as the next Host.”
The thought of being possessed by that creature made Natalia’s skin crawl. “Can you teach me how to use my powers? I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“I can,” Via said slowly, “but even if I did, your powers alone wouldn’t be enough to kill the Queen and save Rose.”
It felt like her spirit had been chained down with a lead weight. “There has to be another way.”
“There is.” Via’s eyes shimmered with candlelight, looking both scared and excited at once.
“Your powers alone…” Natalia looked at her, hopeful. “Are you suggesting you come with me?”
Via shook her head, though her eyes remained locked with Natalia’s. “No, I’m suggesting I give you my powers.”
Natalia stood there, dumbstruck. “But that’s impossible. Magic can’t be ‘given’. You have to be born with it.”
“True, for the most part,” Via said.
Natalia watched her, holding her breath.
“There is a ritual,” Via said, “one that can only be performed by two Charmed in direct agreement with one another, which will allow one person to pass her powers along to the other. It’s called Transference.”
A White So Red Page 17
