by LJ Swallow
I chew a nail. How long will this take? We'll need to get the hell out of here as soon as we have Maeve and Tobias; no time for reunions and shit.
A stick cracks nearby and I spin around to look into the dark. Nothing. I focus my heightened senses on my surroundings, distracted from events as I look and listen.
The night's chill drops several degrees and an aura from something else in the woods creeps closer.
“Jamie,” I whisper. “Do you feel something?”
“Yeah, I feel bloody terrified this plan might not work.”
“No. Something else.”
He pulls a non-committal face. “I don’t sense things the same way you do.”
I chew my lip. Something. Somewhere.
Another sound, this time from above, leaves rustling but not from the breeze.
A dread I’ve not felt for many years runs through me from my scalp to my toes as the dark aura reaches out to mine.
Fuck. No.
“Jamie!” I call and reach out to him.
A male figure drops from the branches above and knocks Jamie to the ground. He cries out and rolls onto his front, squashing the backpack between himself and the dirt.
Placing a boot on Jamie's back, the man tips his chin at me. A vampire’s teeth glint as he smiles. “Hello, Andrei.”
Jamie remains immobile and I dart a look between him and his assailant. I don't recognise the slender man or have any idea how he knows my name. He's taller than me. Wiry. His move on Jamie shows he's adept at fighting and undoubtedly a vampire. The teeth scream that he’s hemia too.
And I can sense he isn’t alone.
Shit.
“Leave us the fuck alone,” I growl. “I'm with powerful witches. Over there. Other side of the trees.”
He gives a cursory glance in the direction I point. “Uh huh. But you wouldn’t want to interrupt them, would you? Not until your friend breaks free.”
I bristle at his sardonic smile, and the booted foot on Jamie’s back; I’m still primed to attack if he threatens Jamie any further.
“What do you want?” I ask.
His dark eyes shine but he doesn't respond.
A different malevolence shrouds me, one that’s crept up unnoticed, thanks to this arsehole’s distraction. I tense, sensing her presence as keenly as if she’d run her fingers down my spine, and my blood wavers between angry heat and cold fear.
Slowly, I turn to face the woman stepping out of the copse.
“Hello, my sweet.”
Years. Years since I spent time in my mother's presence or looked her in the face. She hasn’t changed—not since the 1700s—and I fight against remembering her tenderness when I was a small child—her pride at creating a blood-born, one who’d become a scion for the family.
But I was too much like my father to bend to my mother's will and spurned her teaching.
As I stand here now, I’m reduced to the twelve-year-old child she left; the one with a bare knowledge of Dominion, sheltered by my family’s Confederacy links. I push him away and find myself the fourteen-year-old my mother returned to one day and demanded I join her. She offered me power—a place at the table beside her. The chance to rule.
When I refused, she swore my life would be hell.
At the time, I thought my mother meant she’d personally make my life hell—and she does. Not by her actions, but by her existence.
I saw the photo of Maeve. Read the message on my phone. I know exactly why Gabriella stands in front of me now.
“Hello, Mother.”
She laughs but her perfect features don’t crease. “Andrei. It’s been too long. How are you?”
I clench my jaw at her false platitudes. “Oh, you know, rescuing a friend from the Blackwoods.”
Her full lips spread into a smile. “You always were such a caring child. Is this the witch the world wants to possess?”
Possess. “I think Maeve will make her own decision regarding who possesses her.”
My mother taps the side of her head. “I know. You’ve been putting your hands on goods you shouldn’t touch, haven't you, my sweet?”
“You’ve invaded Maeve’s head?” I ask, mouth falling open.
Moistening her lips, she leans forward and whispers. “That’s nothing compared to where you’ve invaded.”
Her mouth tips at one corner. She’s provoking me, the way she did with the picture.
“What do you want?” I snap.
She looks over my shoulder at Jamie’s prone figure. “You know our kind have a little conflict with the Blackwoods that needs laying to rest. I’m here to right a wrong.”
“How?”
She nods at Jamie. “The witch has the Blackwood grimoire in his possession. I’ll ask him nicely if he’ll hand the book over, and if he doesn’t, well...” She pulls an apologetic face.
I jab a finger in the direction of the distracted witches and Ash. “They’ll stop you.”
She sighs and examines her fingernails. “Just tell him to co-operate or things could become a bloody mess.”
I swallow, because a threat from Gabriella Tepes is as big as they get. If I interfere, I can’t see my position as her son will make any difference.
“Take the book, give it to me, or my dear friend Leon will deal with him.”
“No,” I say. “This won't happen.”
I’m knocked backwards into a trunk as Gabriella slams into me, her delicacy hiding the strength of an ancient. She holds me at arm’s length, her face—beautiful moments ago—now disfigured by the vampire mask of evil.
“I haven’t finished my story yet. I want you to come with me to the Blackwood house. They think I’m weak because I can’t control you.” I make a derisive noise and she pushes harder against my chest. “I want you to take the grimoire and walk onto the estate with me. You’ve been framed for murder once, let’s not add fuel to the fire you’ll burn on.” She flourishes her other hand at Jamie.
Her veiled threats and clever words piss me off and terrify me at the same time. Whatever my relationship with this woman, she’s dangerous and not someone I could hope to fight and win.
"I won't do that," I retort. "Ash!"
As I shout, the world blurs and I'm pulled away from the trunk and further away from the others. Gabriella's long, cold fingers surround my neck and she draws them away, her sharp nails scratching the skin covering my jugular. "That's better. A little more privacy for our discussion."
The trees are thicker here and further from the group, but the sound of the elemental earth magic hardly fades. Ash would never hear me.
My mother's eyes and teeth flash. "Get me that book before I instruct Leon to hurt your friend." She inclines her head and through the dim I make out two figures, one dragging another through the trees towards us.
Jamie's standing again—unsteady but upright.
"I know you're soft-hearted like your father. Help him."
"You can't take the book."
She laughs in my face and her breath is scented by blood. "Leon," she continues without looking around. "Take the rucksack off the boy."
I despair at Jamie's stupidity as he struggles against Leon, but impressed how long he puts up a fight. Leon throws Jamie to the ground again and rips the backpack from his shoulder. As he tosses it across the ground, Jamie yells and attempts to crawl towards his bag. With a chuckle, Leon crouches down and picks up Jamie as if he's a father about to play with a small child by tossing him in the air.
"No!" I shout out, picturing Jamie's broken body hurled against a tree.
Or will he attack him?
"No, Andrei. He hasn't bitten your friend. Yet." I jerk my head back to Gabriella. "Of course, I can read your mind, my sweet."
If she calls me that one more time... I stare her straight in the eyes and think a huge 'fuck you'. Her laughter echoes around the trees.
"This is a simple situation. Take the book from the bag and come with me."
"What's the point in taking me to the Blackw
oods? I'm not working with the Dominion. I've friends whose family you've killed. I'd die rather than work for you." Her eyes narrow to slits at my words.
She sighs and pats my cheek. "Darling boy, is your life worth so little that you won't save yourself by becoming who you're meant to be? You were always a stubborn child, but try to see the future."
"No. Drag me in that house, fine, but I won't cooperate."
I recoil as she hisses and locks her hands around my neck. "Your friends who are focused on their rescue mission? I will pick them off one by one, unless you come with me. They think they're such clever little witches, but their distraction helps us. There are a few of my friends nearby."
I shift my gaze from side to side and focus on the surroundings. I can't sense anybody but Gabriella and Leon, but we're beside an estate filled with witches. Who knows how many are in there? Or is she bluffing?
She clicks her fingers at Leon, who drops an unconscious Jamie to the floor, and I wince at the thud. Looping the rucksack strap around his arm, Leon then heads over. With a grin, he unfastens and holds open the bag for Gabriella to see. One hand still on my neck, she peers inside before reaching for the book. Her lips spread into a satisfied smile as she pulls the book from the bag.
Shit.
I struggle against her—I could take the book. Run. Destroy the grimoire. But can the book be destroyed?
Gabriella smooths her fingertips across the leather cover and then wrinkles her nose as she releases me to flick through the pages. I draw in breath.
"Who killed Nikolai?" she asks in an offhand manner, eyes still on the book.
"Who?"
Snapping the book close, she looks up. "Nikolai Blackwood. Anastasia's brother. Don't you remember him? You played together as children, once or twice."
"I don't know who you mean, but one less Blackwood will do us all a favour." How long is the spell taking through the trees? If I distract her long enough, me and Jamie will be missed, and they'll look for us. "Take the book," I say gruffly. "But I'm not coming with you."
Gabriella's features pull into disappointment, but her eyes shimmer with a different intent. "Leon. Kill the witch."
"No!" I protest as Leon bends over Jamie's prone figure. "Leave him. I'll come with you."
My mother pinches my cheek with one hand and her lips spread into a malevolent smile. "There's my good boy."
Chapter Twenty-Eight
MAEVE
"Shit!" Izzy drops her arms, pushing downwards towards the ground before sweeping them up again. Stones and earth levitate and follow the movement, swirling around and obscuring her body. Shouting something unintelligible, she throws her arms forward and I duck as stones fly over our heads. Loose dirt hits my face and eyes and I stumble.
Tobias catches my arm and pulls me onwards, as I hold my other arm across my stinging eyes.
"Stop!" yells a male voice, as one of the men who appeared runs towards the chasm. "Simeon, bring Anastasia and Nikolai. Now."
My spirits life that Anastasia isn't with him, but how powerful are these men? Tobias guides me through the whirlwind of earth still rushing by as footsteps thud behind us. A man swears loudly and something thuds to the ground.
I'm blinded by debris and terrified I'll fall and slow us down. We've a few metres to go but they feel like a mile. The tunnel ends and I look up at where Ash kneels at the edge, reaching down. My tears wash the dirt from my eyes as I take hold of his hand and he effortlessly pulls me up. I didn't want to break down. Not yet. But as he encloses me tightly in his arms, I fall forward. I'm overwhelmed by the immediate safety I feel from his strength and comfort, not protesting when he lifts me from the floor and turns and runs with me. I cling onto his neck as the ground rushes by.
"Where’s Tobias?" I ask.
"He's following." Ash kisses the top of my head. "Are you okay?"
I nod and bury my face into his neck, inhaling his comforting scent and swallowing down my tears.
"You're safe," he whispers. "We're here for you."
A huge sob escapes and I cling tighter, never wanting him to let me go. "We were followed," I rasp out.
"Yeah, but look."
Ash sets me down, hugging me close to him to keep me upright. I blink the remaining dirt from my eyes and stare in disbelief. Magic creating a sudden chasm in the ground shocked me, but now a wall of water rushes through the space, filling the small gorge.
My heart leaps in my chest at the water's speed and ferocity, stunned by seeing magic this strong. How far will the deluge go? A man stands inside the chasm in the place we jumped down, yelling obscenities as the whirlwind of rocks and stone circle around his face.
A large stone smacks the side of his head and he falls forward into the water. Even if he's conscious, he'd need to fight against the swirling waters that bear down on him as heavily as the stones.
Anton's figure stands at the opposite side of the newly created riverbank, his hands outstretched to match Izzy's stance, water from the emptying lake at his command.
"Anton! Jump in," calls Izzy in desperation as the roar from the earth and water melds and grows.
Tall figures appear from the shadows, a couple at first followed by several more. Ash swears and I pull away to rush forward for a closer look. I almost trip over Tobias, who sits close to the edge of the scene with his head in his hands, back shuddering with his rapid breaths.
Anton lifts his arms again and the maelstrom becomes a mass of water and stone, roaring like a tornado as it storms upwards and outwards. Izzy's face pains with concentration as the pair's magic intensifies, the effect doubled by their skill at controlling the elements combining.
"Holy crap," breaths out Ash. "That's insane."
The men pause, distracted and awed by the scene, but in seconds one launches himself at Anton. Izzy yells out as the water subsides for a moment and I cover my face in horror as two figures bear down on him.
"Anton!" Izzy screams.
The water lifts high from the chasm and forms a wall. I gape at the size—the entire lake, almost as tall as the Blackwood mansion—and watch the water rush forward, a monstrous tidal wave filled with debris. The estate isn't visible anymore, hidden by Izzy and Anton's impossible creation. Izzy continues to call out for Anton, her arms trembling with the effort to keep her spell working, as Alaric stands with his hands on her arm. In comfort or enhancing her magic?
As the wave ploughs into the assailants, Izzy drops to her knees and her arms slacken. She leans forward and wraps her arms around her head and as the magic drops away and noise subsides, her sobs fill the sudden eerie quiet.
Alaric stiffly strides towards the ruined ground left by her and Anton's magic and stands on the edge of the chasm with his arms crossed. The lake is still, the water returned as if nothing happened, and the sodden earth and stone pushed into piles in the chasm. Hesitantly, I join him, Ash's grip on my hand firm. A handful of bodies are scattered around the area, limbs at the wrong angles.
Dead.
"We need to leave. Now," Alaric says gruffly.
"Is Anton there?" comes Izzy's faltering voice. She stands and staggers to Alaric. "Anton?” My heart aches as I look down at the desperate fear in her eyes.
Fear I've felt myself, for Andrei.
Andrei.
"Are Jamie and Andrei with you?" I ask Ash.
He jerks his head towards the trees. "They hung back near the car in case things took a bad turn. Alaric wanted to keep a couple of us separate—in case we needed help."
"I have to see them." I don't know how I'm still standing, but weeks in the supernatural world have taught me that shock and fear will fill my veins and keep me moving. "Where are they?"
"Behind those trees.” Ash bounds to catch me up in a couple of steps as I stagger away. “Wait!"
I reach the edge of a country lane where two cars are parked and run over to peer through the window. Empty.
"Where?" I ask Ash as he joins me.
Rubbing a hand across his
head, Ash slowly turns full circle. His silence trips a shiver down my spine.
"Ash?"
"Alaric!" he calls and the cold spreads through my body.
We're now a few hundred metres from where Alaric kneels beside a distraught Izzy. Leaning in to whisper something then hugging her, he stands and crosses to us. Tobias hauls himself to his feet and follows.
"Where are Andrei and Jamie?" asks Alaric.
Ash shakes his head.
"Shit." He nods at me. "Do you sense anything? Maeve?"
I strain to detect people or thoughts. I only hear Tobias's—exhausted and muddled. "No.”
Ash charges towards the trees and Tobias's figure blurs as he catches him. "Stop. If someone else is around, don't alert them."
"Of course, they know we're here," he retorts and drags his arm away. "Let me go."
Alaric joins Tobias and they stand shoulder to shoulder. "He's right."
"I'm not bloody leaving here until we find them," Ash snaps. "We can't find two and lose two."
I take Ash's hand and squeeze. "At least we stopped the people on the estate from following us."
"Death does that," mutters Alaric. "Izzy is freaking out. Anton's dead too."
The world tips sideways for a moment. Somebody died helping me. Tobias wraps an arm around to steady me and his emotions match mine. Guilt.
"We need to find the others and leave," repeats Ash.
"How can you be this heartless?" I ask him hoarsely.
"I'm not. We need to act before anybody else dies."
My heart jerks.
"Ash is right," says Alaric. "I'll take Izzy back to the car and prepare to leave." He nods at me and Tobias. "Are you able to help?"
Tobias’s face is covered by mud, the suit crumpled and torn. He’s standing and bright-eyed but he’s on the edge of coping. “Yes. Come on,” he says with determination.
I creep after Ash and Tobias walks behind, placing me between them, protected.
"Stop." Tobias grabs my hand. "Ash. I sense someone."
"A witch?"
He shakes his head. "Vampire. A strong one. There are a few at the estate currently, Ash."
