Covet

by Smeltzer, Micalea

  Suddenly, nothing seemed to make sense.

  More hours passed, I slept, I woke up, and even more time passed before Thaddeus made his return.

  The foggy black smoke seeped from the ceiling and solidified into his shape.

  “It’s time,” he declared cryptically.

  “Time for what?”

  He flew at me and I found myself pressed against the wall. A knife was held to my throat and my eyes widened with fear.

  Theo! I shouted into my mind. Theo, I’m so sorry. I love you.

  Thaddeus licked his lips gleefully and pinned my left arm above my head.

  I focused on my center, trying to find my magic to shove him off of me, but there was nothing. Not a flicker. Not anything. It was as dried up as the Sahara desert and I didn’t understand it.

  “You’re magic doesn’t work here, light one,” he growled, plunging the knife into my arm.

  I screamed as he dragged it down, tearing open my flesh. Blood pumped freely from my arm, dripping down my flesh and onto the floor.

  He let me go and I dropped to the floor like a rag doll. I clutched my arm, trying to stop the bleeding but there was so much. In the little jar around my neck the firefly buzzed madly.

  With a manic smile Thaddeus pulled a vial of a smoking deep purple potion from his pocket and uncorked it. He tipped the knife, letting my blood spill into it. When that wasn’t enough he grabbed me up by injured arm, causing me to scream in pain, and bled me into the vial. The color of the potion changed from eggplant to a deep emerald and he swirled it around.

  Dropping me once more he backed away and with a pleased laugh he drank the potion.

  I held my arm tightly, trying to stop the bleeding, but scarlet still dripped around my pale fingers.

  I love you, I love you, I love you. I thought over and over again. I didn’t know if he could hear me, but I assumed he could, and I wanted him to know when I died my last thought would be of him.

  I glanced over at Dani, saying more silent apologies because I couldn’t get her out of here. I couldn’t save her.

  Thaddeus began to choke and I looked over at him, finding the veins in all his body turning black. His face looked grotesque like some kind of monster with all the roads of black on his face.

  “No,” he growled, looking at his hands. “No, it’s not possible.”

  He ran at me and grabbed me by the throat.

  “What have you done to me?” He shook me.

  I couldn’t answer him.

  He shook me some before dropping me. I let out a grunt.

  “It’s not possible,” he repeated. He bent down at me, staring right at me with his head tilted. The black was spreading to the capillaries in his eyes. He pushed my head back and tilted my chin. Appraising me from every angle.

  “I was blinded before, blinded by your mother’s beauty in you so I couldn’t see it.”

  “Couldn’t see what?” I bit out gravelly, my throat raw and my body screaming in pain as my life force drained from me.

  “That you are not my daughter. You’re his.”

  I had no time to react to his words, because there was a large explosion, massive really since it shook the whole place, even this stone underground part.

  “No.” With one word he disappeared into his puff of smoke and was gone.

  There was another explosion and I knew this was my chance to escape. I was barely in any shape to get myself out, let alone an unconscious person, but I couldn’t leave Dani here.

  With my good hand I slapped her hard, I hated to do it but I needed to rouse her enough that she could support some of her weight.

  I tugged and kicked at the door trying to get open.

  Once more, I tried my magic and this time it worked. The door blew apart into a million little pieces. Whatever spell had been cast on the room was broken now.

  I went back for Dani, tossing her arm over my shoulder and dragging her from the room.

  My vision was growing blurry and I wasn’t sure I could even remember how to get back to the room we’d come into the mansion in, but I had to try, even if I died doing it.

  Dani’s head lolled to the side and she threw up. Her body grew slack against me.

  “Come on, Dani. I need you to help me out here,” I begged.

  I pulled her further down the hall while I leaned against one of the walls for my own support. My body was so tired and weak and my arm was still bleeding.

  I turned to my left, hoping I made the right choice.

  Another explosion rocked the building and I lost my balance, dropping Dani and falling to the ground myself.

  I began to cry from the pain, but I refused to give up. I was not dying without a fight.

  I somehow managed to get Dani up again and wrapped my arm around her waist.

  “We can do this,” I said more for myself than her.

  I began to smell smoke and I knew a fire had been started. There were screams above us and running feet. This was our chance for escape.

  I gritted my teeth and did my best to forget the pain.

  Another explosion at the end of the hall sent us flying through the air.

  My body felt more broken and battered than it had before. I tried to get up, to move, to do something, but I couldn’t. I could barely see my vision was so foggy at this point. Ash and sparks of flame floated in front of me. It was really kind of pretty. I guessed this was a better way to die than being beaten to death by Thaddeus.

  A dark shadow fell over me and I couldn’t see the person’s face. I knew it was male from the shape of the broad shoulders but I didn’t think it was Theo. I didn’t get that familiar buzz I got when he was near. I didn’t even know if the person was friend or foe, but I begged, “Save her. Save her please. She doesn’t deserve to die.”

  The person said nothing. He just bent and scooped me into his arms like a rag doll. My head lolled back. I had no fight left in me.

  Around me the mansion began to burn. I knew it had to be some sort of enchanted fire to burn the cinderblock that encased us.

  Through my foggy eyes I saw the brightness of daylight, freedom I hoped, and I swore I saw the shapes of my friends. I smiled to myself, whispering “Theo,” and then my eyes closed for the final time.

  Possess the final book in The Enchanted series coming soon.

  This book is so long coming and I want to thank my readers for being so patient with me. I didn’t want to force this book and I needed to let it simmer for a while, so thank you for allowing me to do that. I’m happy that so many of you fell in love with Enchant and couldn’t wait for more. The best is yet to come I promise. I can’t wait to get Possess into your hands.

  A big thank you to Wendi the best editor and formatter ever for putting up with me this last year and my crazy schedule since my health dictated my life. I love you so much girl and I don’t know what I did before you. I mean that. Thanks for cracking the whip.

  Thank you to Regina Wamba and Yuli Xenexai for the incredible photo shoot for this series and the amazing covers. They’re so beautiful and I couldn’t love them more.

  Thank you to my family and all my writer friends for constantly motivating me to keep going. Love y’all!

  Thank you to everyone who’s read Enchant, and now this book, and is hopefully eager for Possess. It’s been so fun to venture back into paranormal. I’ve missed it a lot.

  Until the next time…

  XOXO,

  Micalea