White Charms and Dark Secrets (Grey Witch Book 2)

by Cece Rose

  Anxious, I wrack my brain, drudging up what little I know of vampires to try and understand what’s happening. Witch-vampires are still alive and much stronger and more powerful than vampires who were turned from humans, who are technically dead. I deduced the vampire that came in with us is the dead kind, due to his lack of breathing. Witch-vampires can go a while without breathing, but not while sleeping for sure. The vampire he’s kneeling before is a witch hybrid, I’d place money on it.

  Don't the dead vampires worship the witch-hybrids?

  “Trying to steal first bite of the fresh meat?” a voice calls from the furthest edge of the room, drags me from my thoughts. People shuffle aside as a dark-haired man approaches, coming to a halt a few paces away from the blond man. A prominent scar mars the left side of his face in a jagged line.

  “Of course,” the blond drawls in response. If possible, his voice sets me even more on edge than I was. “I'm also doing a little recruitment.” He signals to the vampire still kneeling before him on the floor. “You may rise.”

  The unnerving sound of something cracking reaches my ears all of a sudden. I turn and spot the shifter next to me has tugged off his clothes and shifts faster than I ever imagined possible. I stare, unable to look away, as his mass expands and fur sprouts out of his skin. I connect the cracking I heard with his bones breaking inside of him. Finally, a hulking grey wolf stands beside me. Wary eyes watch the inmates, but they seem to be ignoring him, instead, focusing their attention on the three of us still standing here like idiots.

  He sniffs the air, before grabbing his bag in his jaws and sprinting from the room. Nobody stops him as he leaves. I feel dread pool in my gut. Why go after the wolf when you could go after the defenceless?

  The blond hybrid levels us with the full weight of his gaze. “Now, I will only explain this once, so pay attention. It’s really quite simple: If you don’t give us a reason to, we won’t kill you. You see, we have certain dietary needs we would much rather fulfil with a warm body than a chilled blood bag. So if you comply and bare your necks whenever asked, we will allow you to continue your miserable existence. Do we have an understanding?”

  Hell no. Nobody is biting me ever again.

  I glance at the others, who have remained silent through his speech, to see what they plan to do. I don’t know them, but others fighting back too would boost whatever meagre odds of survival I have. They’re standing firm, but they’re also not making a move to strike either, as if undecided on what to do.

  My magic pulses underneath my skin, as if wanting to remind me it’s there. That I can call it, and it will come to me. However chaotic my powers are because of my curse, surely any result from their use will be better than a slow death by draining, courtesy of criminal vampires.

  The blond releases an aggrieved sigh, giving us a disdainful look with a shake of his head. He almost acts as if we’re his children, and he’s disappointed in us for acting out. “Teach them the hard way,” he mutters, waving his hand and turning on his heel to leave. The scarred man steps back as well, leaning against a wall as the other vampires in the room fan out and begin to close in on us.

  I’m gearing up to cast a spell when a fist strikes the side of my head from nowhere. I stumble, and my neck rears back from the jarring movement of the hit as my face pulses with pain. Blinking, I try to clear vision so I can identify my attacker. I catch a glimpse of the other two I arrived with attempting to fight off attackers, but I soon lose them when a vampire steps in front of me, blocking my line of sight. The Ripper. Great.

  “You talked too much,” he snaps as his hands clutch the front of my shirt and drag me towards him. He brings his mouth down to my neck, and I freeze. Suddenly, I find myself transported back to the night of my attack. All I can feel is the cold air blanketing me on the street that terrifying night and the vampire’s savagery as he tore into me, intent on killing me. The recollection of the helplessness I felt as I began to lose myself and fade away rushes through me again. I feel a tongue lap over my neck, shocking me back to the present and reviving my senses. He hasn’t bitten me. Not yet anyway. It’s just a memory; I can’t give up now. “Someone has tasted you before,” he whispers.

  He shoves me away with such force, and the movement so unexpected, I smack into the wall, my face and left wrist taking the brunt of it. A cry of pain slips through my lips, just as I feel a hand grab my hair and yank me back. I twist in his grasp, trying to escape, clawing at his hand with mine in an attempt to dislodge his hold on me. Realising physical fight is futile, I take a deep breath and call on my cursed magic.

  “Imperium cutis ardeat!” I scream, hurling a curse I’ve only ever read about and pushing my magic into the vampire holding me. The release of his grip is instantaneous, and I fall to the floor, unable to catch myself in time. A horrific howl of pain rings out into the cave.

  I turn, and bear witness to the burning vampire. His skin bubbles as blue flames engulf his body. I feel eyes staring daggers into me, and I spin to look at everyone else. A combination of shock and fury paint their expressions, apart from the scarred, dark-haired vampire. He smiles like a cat that’s got the cream. Shit.

  I swallow my nerves as I pull myself to my feet. Bluff. For all they know you're a crazy-powerful witch. Hell, for a second, I felt crazy powerful too.

  “Get out of my way or I’ll burn you too!” I yell at the vampire standing in front of me. He spares a glance at the vampire that now lies on the ground, still aflame and screaming, before stepping aside. I pause only long enough to snatch up my backpack, before sprinting for the exit to this part of the cave. I need to find somewhere quieter to hole up, and then I’ll come up with a plan for escape.

  As I back out of the cave, I glimpse the other two I’d come in with, seeing that vampire teeth already pierce their flesh. Guilt batters my chest as I force myself to look away and run. In truth, I don’t think I could fight all of the vampires in there, and while they may be willing to let me slip away, I can tell they wouldn’t be happy to sacrifice all the fresh, new blood.

  I run until my legs ache, taking numerous twists and turns in an effort to put as much distance between me and them as I can. When I find myself somewhere I think far enough away, I stop, my breathing haggard. I crouch down in a dark corner, leaning my back against the wall so I can keep an eye out for anyone that may come across me. My body hurts worse than I ever remember it hurting before, and I’m sure I’ll be covered in nasty bruises in a few hours.

  Now that I’m alone, I close my eyes, picturing my living room as I move my hands in the motion of the sigil to conjure a portal. “Segmentum aperire conscidisti in mundo. Ite ad locum creare hunc locum,” I recite, pulling as hard as I can on my magic. A blue light shimmers, but doesn’t stabilise in front of me, shattering only seconds later.

  I try again, with the same results, before leaning back with a huff and crossing my arms over my stomach. Of course they blocked portals. They would have thought of something like that. I can’t believe I let myself think for even a second it could be so easy.

  I can’t believe I’m really trapped here. How did this happen?

  There was a time, a scant month ago, when I thought a demon stuck in a helpless cat’s body and being suspected of murder were the worst feasible things that could happen to me. Look at me now, proving that you can always sink deeper into shit.

  I snort.

  Solas would get a laugh out of seeing me trapped here, I’m sure.

  An unexpected thought suddenly strikes me. Could I summon him and make him a deal for a way out of here? Would that even be possible?

  I feel eyes watching me again and look around. The glint of fangs show from the man across the section of caves I’m in. A shiver runs down my back, and I pull a protective circle up around myself. The magical barrier shimmers in the darkness.

  He looks at me in curiosity a moment, before moving on to find an easier snack. I let out a breath I didn’t realise I was holding. I’d never really fe
ared vampires prior to the night of my attack, secure in the knowledge that the pacts holding the races together demand their compliance. But now, now I recognise that some vampires just don’t care, and in The Tomb, I bet there are a lot of those vampires down here.

  Shit. I’ll try anything to get myself out of this hell.

  Even if it does mean making another damn deal with a demon.

  Eleven

  Blackmail & Deceit

  Shit. I can’t believe it’s come to me summoning a demon to ask him to break me out of prison. I hold onto the hope that Aunt Silvia was right about Solas not killing me, because I don’t exactly have the damn equipment necessary to hold him. Hell, I don’t have anything needed for a normal summoning.

  I have one thing working to my advantage. Because we share a connection from a previous favour owed, I can request his presence without the formal ritual. Which is good, because I sure as hell don’t know summoning spells by heart.

  I debate cutting my hand on a jagged rock to draw a blood circle, something strong enough to hold him, at least for a little while. However, with all the evil that has sharp teeth down here, I don’t think bleeding is a good idea.

  I’m more scared of them than I am of him. Which is beyond ridiculous as pretty much every race considers demons to be the deadliest creatures. A title that those fucked up assholes seem to love.

  At least if any bystanders get hurt by me summoning Solas, they’ll all be criminals anyway. No innocents reside in a place like this. I doubt anyone else has bad enough luck to be here while innocent.

  After discovering a secluded section of the series of spelled caverns, I take a few deep, calming breaths as I try to centre myself. Somehow, I’m both praying for it to work and for it to not work, due to my uncertainty of Solas’ willingness to murder me.

  I bite the bullet and decide to spit the words out before I can talk myself into chickening out of this. “Solas, I summon you,” I whisper. My eyes dart around the space, looking for any sign of the demon in question. When nothing happens, I try again. “Solas, I summon you,” I call a little louder, struggling to shove a little conviction into it. I wait in silence for a few minutes, before sighing. Maybe he can’t hear me? Maybe the magic of The Tomb cuts off our connection?

  “Solas, I swear to the fucking goddess you better not be ignoring me,” I mutter. I look around again, still no signs of him. Shit, maybe he really can’t hear me.

  A sinking feeling grows in my gut as I slump against the wall in defeat. I could be trapped here forever just because of a fucking case of mistaken identity. I put my head in my hands as I fight back the urge to cry.

  “Solas, I summon you. I need your help. Please.” One last ditch effort. I don’t even bother looking up, sinking into hopelessness. Shivering from the cold, I try to blink back tears of frustration.

  The smell of brimstone tickles my nose. I suck in a deep breath, the familiar scent both terrifying and relieving me.

  “What has got you looking such a mess, little witch?” a distinct voice asks.

  I jerk my head up towards the sound and see Solas standing right in front of me. His black eyes run over me, almost clinical in his assessment. He’s again dressed only in snug black trousers, leaving most of his inked skin on display.

  Does he walk around half dressed just to show off all the tattoos?

  I blink, moving my gaze back up to his face after realising I’ve been staring for too long. I send a silent prayer to the goddess he didn’t notice.

  “You came,” I stammer, still in shock.

  “Yes, I was curious what would have you calling for my help again so soon. Granted, I knew you would eventually, all witches do, but this quickly? I’m shocked at the sheer amount of trouble you often find yourself in, witch. It’s quite amusing, actually. I might even start taking bets on how long until you find yourself in trouble once again.” He snickers, taking up a position against the wall across from me.

  “Do you have to be this much of an asshole?” I snap before common sense can filter it. I regret the words in the next instant; he’s across the room with his hand at my throat in a flash. I feel the harsh, unforgiving rocks from the wall behind me digging into my back.

  Yup, great idea to insult the demon, Kayla. It’s not as if he could kill you with a snap of his fingers if he really wanted.

  “What is this place?” he demands. To my surprise, his grip on my neck loosens. I expected him to tighten his grasp and kill me, but instead he just asks questions. I’ll never understand demons.

  “The Tomb,” I answer, wondering if he can feel my rapid pulse from his hold on my neck. His fingers linger with a light brush over the vampire bite on my neck as he releases his hold. I shiver and try to swallow my nerves as I wait to see what he’ll do.

  After a long minute, he steps back, glancing around in curiosity. “I’ve often wondered where they hid this place,” he murmurs.

  “Well, now you know,” I mutter, rubbing my neck where he’d grabbed it.

  Again, he moves faster than I can blink, but this time he places a gentle hand over my chest. I stand frozen, freaked out by the close, though seemingly non-violent, contact. Unless he’s planning to rip my heart out, that is. That would be pretty damn violent.

  “For showing me,” he explains in response to the confusion in my eyes, not that I understand what he’s explaining.

  A warmth spreads throughout my body without further warning. I look down at my arm in front of me, watching my bruises fade and my cuts heal. The warmth dies off, and he pulls his hand away.

  “You healed me?” I question, uncertainty and confusion colouring my tone at his actions. We didn’t have any formal deal, so why would he help me?

  “Don’t go getting any ideas of us becoming friends, little witch. I do not wish to be indebted to you, deal or no. That is all. A little healing took nothing from me other than an insignificant second of my time.”

  I snort. “Friends with a demon, as if. I’m not stupid.”

  “You could have fooled me.” He gives me a dubious look. “Now, did you summon me to kill whoever put you here, or to get you out of here? I can do either, but one would be far more enjoyable.”

  “Why do I think you’re referring to the killing?” I groan. “I’ve told you before, I’m not a murderer, so I’m not going to send you to kill anyone.”

  “And I’ve told you before, you wouldn’t be the one doing the killing.” A mischievous smile graces his face, despite already knowing my answer.

  “Can you get me out of here or not? And what do you want in exchange?” I huff.

  “Of course I can break you out of here, little witch. I won’t even ask you for your soul as payment,“ he says in a charming tone. He looks a little too happy and amenable. Whatever he wants can’t be good.

  “What do you want?” I ask again, and he smiles even wider.

  “There’s a vampire-witch hybrid in here that has information that I seek. His name is Elias. He’s tall, sandy blond hair, terrible temper. You can’t miss him.”

  “You want me to get the answer from him?” I respond with caution. I really don’t want to be around a vampire right now. Even if it’s a witch cross-breed. I’d only been somewhat comfortable around Kier after the attack because I know him, and I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t sink his teeth into me.

  “Fuck no. You would know what he said, and I can’t have that. I want you to find him and bring him here, to me, then I will broker a deal with him for the information I require,” he replies.

  “Why not go and search for him yourself?”

  “Because I have better things to do than stalk around a bunch of caves and tunnels looking for the man. You will do the grunt work, and after, I’ll drop you off, soul intact, at your lovely London abode. Do we have a deal?” he demands, narrowing his black, depthless eyes at me.

  “You are not allowed to damage any part of me. I want all of me taken back to my home intact and unharmed,” I clarify, wanting to be smart
about this. For all I know he would kill me and find a dark reaper to bring my dead soul to my house before carting it off to wherever dead souls actually end up.

  “Of course, love. No harm will come to you at all.” He grins again. “I wouldn’t want to do any damage you just yet anyway; We have so much time left for that. I like to take these things slow. Killing, sex, manipulation; they can all be so much fun when drawn out tortuously.”

  I swallow thickly at his words. Killing, sex, manipulation, and torture all seem to be on the same level of enjoyment for this thing. This Demon.

  I can’t believe I’m making yet another deal with this damned demon, but what choice do I really have?

  “Fine, we have a deal,” I concede with a sigh. A heavy feeling already pools in my gut, leaving me worried that maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.

  “Fantas—

  “Solas, you were meant to meet me an hour ago. Where have you been—what is this place?” a male voice bellows from over Solas’ shoulder, cutting off whatever he’d been about to say. I freeze, the undeniable smell of brimstone stronger.

  “What are you doing here?” Solas demands as he turns to face the man—demon. He’s turned to face a demon. Suddenly I feel a lot more afraid. Solas might be weird about killing people in my family, but Aunt Silvia said nothing about any others having such concerns. Solas is standing between us though, blocking my view of the other demon.

  “I came to see what had you running late. I thought your need of my services was urgent. Apparently not,” he bitches in an irritated tone. “Who is the pretty thing you’re hiding away behind you?” he asks, his tone shifting, a suspicious note sliding into it.

  “Nobody interesting. A witch I’m making a deal with. A deal which you are interrupting, by the way,” Solas snaps. He turns around again to look at me, his eyes staring at me with a meaningful glint in them. A warning. “Hannah, say hello to the nice demon.”