by LJ Swallow
"Anton Lewis has joined us for training too," says Nikolai with a smile. "Obviously he can't use Blackwood magic, but his elemental is strong, despite his great grandmother marrying a human and weakening his family line. The guy can command water in a way I've never seen before."
"Oh?" My interest is genuine. The elemental witches at the academy fascinate me, and I'm awed by simple spells.
He grins. "Oh yeah, I'm impressive."
Gina rolls her eyes. "And modest."
"He went to a Nightworld academy too. The one in the States," puts in Tamara. The mention of the academy lurches my stomach and the smirk tells me this was a deliberate dig. "Seems not everybody likes the Confederacy grooming."
I have to bite my tongue so hard not to retort. The longer I spend in this room, the more stifling the air becomes. Not magic, but the growing panic. I'm on alert for a magic assault or something to prompt this curiosity into revealing her magic. "Don't you have a drink?" asks Anton.
"I don't drink," I repeat.
Anton cocks his head. "Anything? Or just alcohol?"
"I'm uncertain about eating or drinking anything in this house."
Nikolai looks at me as if I killed his dog. "How base! We're Blackwoods, not lower witches with no real power. If we wanted to harm you, we'd use better magic than simple poisons."
I moisten my lips and place shaking hands behind my back.
"You don't want to harm her," replies Anton.
"I know." Nikolai chuckles. "Perhaps some gentle brainwashing."
I glare. "I'd like to see you try."
"You would?"
"No! That's not what I meant. I wish you'd leave me alone, you creep." I cover my mouth as soon as my thoughts spill out into words. What the hell? Anastasia stands several feet away giggling.
She wanders up to her brother and places a hand on his shoulder. "Never mind, Nikolai. You could always use your magic."
Bile pushes into my throat at what's she's suggesting. The witch commanded me to slit my palm the other night and just pushed my thoughts into words. I'll need one hell of a strong barrier against Nikolai. With a disgusted noise, Nikolai tips his head upwards and stalks away. My shoulders drop as some tension leaves with him.
"Excuse me, I'd like to borrow Maeve." The tension springs back again as Anastasia guides me to one side. Her cool fingers on my arm are as unpleasant as her brother's. "I can help, Maeve. My brother's intentions for you aren't pleasant."
"I doubt any of your family's intentions for me are pleasant."
Her laugh tinkles and I clench my jaw. "If I help you, would you help me?"
"How?"
"I'll teach you how to access the deeper side to your magic. Fulfil your potential. Nobody has succeeded in teaching you because they're scared of your capabilities. I can teach you how to repel or control people deliberately, not as a side effect of emotion." She smoothes her skirts. "Emotion is your downfall. You spent too much time in the human world. Too many close relationships. You need to disconnect and listen to what pulses through your veins."
"I do. I'm practising." My words sound pathetic, like a young pupil placating a teacher.
"But now you have some Blackwood energy to aid you," she says softly. "To take the edge off the emotions."
To corrupt me?
"I'd rather not access that energy," I say. "But thank you for the offer."
I shrink back as she steps forward and into my face. The same heady perfume drags me back to the night outside the farmhouse, the aura from the dark magic she's forcing on me sucking more oxygen from the room. "Sweetie, you would be sensible to co-operate."
"You won't kill me."
Her face lights up at my bold statement. "Not you, no."
"Tobias?" I blurt.
She waves a hand. "He'll kill himself."
"What?"
"You heard what the curse means. The man won't turn away from you, however many lovers you take. What's your current count? Three?"
My mouth parts. Why are the Blackwoods all obsessed by sex? "Who would you kill?"
Slowly running her tongue along her lips, Anastasia pauses until she detects my pulse quicken. "All of them," she whispers.
I'm too stunned to ready an answer, which would be pointless anyway, as Anastasia enjoys her dramatic statement, then turns and walks away, her dress trailing along the floor as she does.
Are the guys here already? Or does she have somebody inside the academy working for her? Whichever situation, Anastasia could snap her fingers and they'd be dead.
A girl passes, carrying a silver tray containing champagne flutes in the palm of her hand, and I reach out to take hold of one.
I need to leave this party.
No more magic.
No more mind games.
Chapter Nineteen
MAEVE
Taking advantage of the open patio doors at the far end of the room, I walk past the gauzy black curtains moving in the breeze and step outside. The hubbub from the guests talking over each other in the room dies and is replaced by murmuring voices from a group in the corner of the terrace. Vampires. Petrescu kids look semi-normal at night, but the shadows and light combine to give them eerie expressions.
I hold the glass of wine I don't intend to drink and move to a small, circular mosaic table with two round ornate metal chairs either side.
Placing the drink on the table, I take in the surroundings. In front of me, lawns stretch into the dark and the shape of the distant trees can be seen against the clear night sky. How long would it take to cross into the dark and run? Some guests looked at me with amusement when they saw my Converse poking out from beneath the blue dress. I didn't wear them intending to run, but is that an option?
I look over my shoulder at the walls above the doors. Unlike a normal home, security cameras and lighting are missing. Why would they be needed anyway? No, my biggest worry isn’t being caught in a security spotlight but slamming into a magic barrier.
I slump back and repeat to myself that I will get out. Someone, somewhere, must have a plan.
Otherwise I’ll be forced to access the energy Anastasia hints she can grow. My stomach clenches.
Is that what the Dominion want?
The sound of metal grating against stone pulls me out of my musing and somebody sits beside me. I ready myself to leave, especially if this is Nikolai.
“Too much for you, Maeve?” Anton places his glass beside mine and raps his fingertips on the table.
“Life is challenging right now. I’m not in a party mood.”
He nods. “Understood. The people here are overwhelming.”
I study his profile in the dark. He doesn’t look related to the other witches, reminding me a little of Jamie with his longer hair and friendly face. I’d worry this is deceptive, but he doesn’t give off an aura to match the Blackwoods.
“Do you live here?” I ask.
“At the moment. I’m learning magic—stronger magic, I mean.”
I slide across my chair away from him. “Blackwood?”
“Not their strongest—I don’t have any affinity to blood magic. That’s against my elemental teaching.”
I swallow. Is this what Anastasia and Nikolai have planned for me? The reality of containing Blackwood energy sends prickles across my scalp.
Blood magic.
"Don't look so worried," he says and he's the first person I've sensed genuine words from.
I look at my hands. "How can you say that? I don't know what will happen to me."
Anton falls quiet. I look up and he stares ahead chewing on the corner of his lip. Laughter behind startles me and I look over my shoulder. Two of the creepy vampire guys, one who's told a joke the other finds hilarious.
I wish I could find humour in this situation.
Anton's chair creaks as he leans across the table and I stiffen as his arm almost touches mine. "Maeve. I can help." His words are low and urgent. "I know people."
"What people?" My heart skips as a tiny
light glimmers at the edge of the dark tunnel.
"On the outside. They know you're here. We can get you out."
The impossible words filter into my head. "Get me out?"
"Off the estate. You need to get away from the Blackwoods."
I stare at my beacon of hope. "How will you do that? Why would you?"
"Because if I don't, you'll never leave, Maeve." He looks behind me and sits back in his seat, eyes widening as he does. "Nikolai."
I twist in my chair. Nikolai stands, arms crossed, brow pinched with displeasure. "Anton. Are you trying to woo Maeve?" His old-fashioned word is loaded with malice that the man dare approach me.
He stands abruptly. "Apologies. We were just chatting about the differences between our academies."
"Ha." Nikolai takes Anton's chair and pulls it to one side to sit instead. "They'll be exactly the same soon. Non-existent."
"What are you planning to do to the academies?" I ask.
He sneers. "Destroy them, of course. What a ridiculous question."
Does he mean physically or through the insidious prejudice and hatred that's taking over at the moment?
"Good night, Maeve," says Anton with a smile. "Excuse me, Nikolai."
Nikolai watches Anton walk away and taps his forefingers against his lips. "Is that what you really spoke about?"
I throw up my mental barrier before he can touch my mind. Nikolai's mental magic powers aren't as strong as his sisters and he's hinted his skill lies elsewhere. "Yes."
"I think you're lying."
My chest constricts. "No, we—"
He runs his tongue across his top lip. "Let's hope you don't form any kind of relationship. That would upset me."
Oh, hell, no. The last place I want to be is sitting in the dark with Nikolai. "I'm tired."
As I stand, Nikolai grabs my wrist. "Please don't be rude to me."
"I'm not. I'm tired." Where he holds my wrist, the skins burns. "I need to sleep."
Nikolai turns my wrist over and rubs his fingers against the pulse point. "You're a brave girl. I'm sure many warned you that vampires kill witches, yet you allow them close to you.” My blood pulses against his fingers and he smiles. "I'm also sure you're told to stick with your own. A powerful witch like you needs a powerful partner."
“Anastasia said that she’ll teach me more.” I attempt to pull my arm away but his grip tightens.
“That’s not what I mean, and you know that.” He rises from his chair and yanks me away from the table. “How old are you, Maeve?”
“Nineteen.”
His lips twitch into a smile and I’m pulled further into the shadows. “You have a lot of power for somebody so young and who spent a life amongst humans.”
“Yes. And I’m prepared to use that power.” I attempt a warning tone as I look back to the group nearby.
“Are you?” he whispers.
“Yes.” Although my mouth dries and heart thumps, I hold back shaking to betray the fear. This is a test.
“Which one? I hear you have a few.”
I’d reach into Nikolai’s mind, but the pitch-black aura matches his sisters and every person in that room tonight, and I’m more scared by what I’d find in his mind than what he could do to me.
“I’d like to sleep now. I believe Anastasia has a busy day for me tomorrow.” I make one last attempt to free my wrist. How can this guy hold as tight?
“Do you want to see my powers?” he asks.
“Not particularly. I’ve heard most use blood and I'm squeamish.”
Nikolai chuckles. “I wouldn’t expose witch blood with a group of vampires nearby.”
I take a relieved breath. “Maybe tomorrow. Please, Nikolai. Allow me to go and sleep. If you’re worried I’ll wander off, bring Mhairi to collect me.”
His eyes shine coal-black in the night, fixed on mine, and I snatch my chance. I reach inside his head with my mind and pick at the corner as if peeling a sticker from paper. The expected darkness is there, and I wade through the thick sludge until I hit a barrier. A pain hits the front of my head and I press my palm against my forehead, as if I physically ran into the barrier.
As the surroundings lurch, Nikolai's laugh sounds distant, and when I blink back to reality his eyes shine darker still. “Now I can tell you need more teaching. I’m unsure if you were about to read my thoughts or take over my mind, but you’ll achieve neither.” I shrink back as he stands and looms over me. “I’ll walk you to your room. Follow me.”
As he moves to take my hand, a sickness spreads upwards into my chest and grips my heart.
No.
I don’t move. “Ask Mhairi. I’m sure you have people to entertain at your party instead of wasting your time as an escort.”
“Anastasia’s party. All I wanted to see was my uncle and Anastasia challenge each other and boringly, that never happened. Now come with me.” He tugs me until I trip. “Before I lose my temper.”
No. No. No.
“I won’t force my way into your room, if that’s what you’re worried about,” he says.
“Yes. Because you have a key, I expect.”
He arches a brow at my sarcasm and walks again.
I’ve no choice and allow him to lead me back towards the building. I couldn’t penetrate his mind; I’ve no chance of controlling his mind.
Each step I take through the echoing halls and up the carpeted stairs feels one closer to an unimaginable fate. I’d heard about and was prepared for the Blackwood evil, but I expected magic, not a physical assault.
Is Tobias nearby? How near does he need to be for me to project thoughts to him?
Chapter Twenty
MAEVE
The final hallway towards my room is dark and far from the party room. With each step, I regret my decision to leave the party for the gardens. The company in the room wasn't pleasant to be around, but I could’ve avoided a situation like this.
I walk along the hallway towards the room and the atmosphere changes as Nikolai doesn’t accompany me. Halting, I turn to face him. He stands in the space at the end of the hallway, blocking the light from the lamps hanging above the stairs behind.
His face is illuminated by the old-fashioned gas lamps on the wall, his eyes bright but unnerving in his expressionless face. Is the barrier I've carefully woven around my mind as we made our way here enough to protect myself? My stomach has turned over and over as I remember the helplessness when I was under Anastasia's control.
“Are you—" I begin, and stagger backwards as a screeching in my ears reverberates in my head, setting my teeth on edge.
Steadying myself on the wall, I close my eyes and focus on pushing out the noise. The screeching continues to disorientate me as I blindly search my mind for the place he found his way through to seal the hole.
I’m vaguely aware of him moving closer and as the noise stops, he reaches out for me. “Is everything okay, Maeve?”
I push one hand against my temples and eye him, heart now beating twice as fast as two minutes ago. His sardonic grin grows as he bends to meet my eyes.
“Yes,” I say and straighten.
“Are you sure?”
I hold his gaze—even if I can’t attack his mind, I can keep him out of mine. “Yes,” I repeat through gritted teeth.
“Do you want to hear something special?” he asks.
“What?”
“Something very few people have the privilege of hearing.” I rub my eyes in confusion as he taps the side of his head. “Because few people know Blackwood spells.”
I don't comprehend a lot about my time here, but I’m positive of one thing—I don’t want to hear any Blackwood spells.
“Tomorrow?” I suggest.
He regards me, unblinking, and whispers something I can barely hear. I shiver as if ice rather than diamonds line my spine. Nikolai continues to murmur to himself and the cold feeling grows, the air around darkening and cooling. Ink-black spots dance across my vision—or are they shapes around me? I’ve n
ot seen the shapes in the room since I arrived here, but I sense these have the same aura.
I can’t back up without hitting the wall at the end of the hallway, where a Blackwood ancestor smiles malevolently from a portrait. The only way out is to run past Nikolai. The shadows grow and swirl closer to him and he lifts his hands, palms upwards, allowing them to wind around like rope.
As my vision blurs further, I stumble towards the end of the hallways towards him and the stairs leading down. I can barely move, as if the carpet became thick cement that I’m dragging my feet through until I’m held in place as the imaginary cement hardens.
I've never experienced this magic—nobody at the academy can conjure darkness.
Blinking away the dark spots, I focus on Nikolai and fight down the rising fear as the shadows swarm around him. He takes slow steps to close the gap between us, murmuring still. His voice is clearer but the words unintelligible.
He reaches out to touch my face and I can't flinch away; I’m more paralysed than I realised. “Sometimes, when people aren’t compliant, they need a little persuasion. Strangely, people don’t offer up their blood willingly.”
I struggle to breathe as if my lungs are filled with water. Nikolai or terror? I drop my eyes to his hands, ready to defend myself in case he has a blade.
No. I need his eyes on mine. To put every spark of magic I have into invading his head before he assaults me. We stare at each other unblinkingly and each time my magic touches his thoughts, he slams back against me with a chuckle. My energy drops away with each attempt to wear him down.
Digging deep, I find a new well of energy to fuel my ebbing magic. Power surges from my heart into my head and I give one last push at his mind. If I break through, I may be able to take control. A vain hope, maybe, but I’m not yielding to whatever he plans.
Nikolai’s barrier splits open and his memories spill out.
Image after image filled with blood, terror, and death at his hands; unimaginable scenes that will haunt me forever. As the memories flood, I’m pulled into the events, petrified that this could be a vision and not his memories and desires.
