Last Descendants (Vitarian Chronicles Volume 2)

by S. L. Watson

  “Bree’s right,” I offered. “There’s nothing wrong with some friendly competition.”

  Jasper edged closer to my side as he studied Bree. “I don’t think friendly is in her vocabulary,” he whispered in my ear, earning himself a green-eyed dagger glare from Bree.

  I nudged him in the ribs with my elbow and added, “Besides, my wait list is always full.” I smiled at Bree. “There’s more than enough business to go around.”

  “Great!” Bree announced. “Then I think it’s time I go open my doors. May the best studio win.” She spun, her heels clicking against the wood floor as she whisked out the door, and left the gift basket and its remaining contents behind.

  Luna moved between Jasper and me, and watched Bree go. She glanced up at us like she was thinking the same thing we were: What was that all about?

  “Is it just me, or did she seem overly enthusiastic about taking your clients?” Jasper wondered, concern etched upon his brow.

  I leaned my head on his shoulder. “Don’t worry about her. I won’t.”

  “That girl is trouble,” Jasper mused.

  I laughed. “You would know. You dated enough like her in high school.”

  Jasper placed his hand on his heart. “Oh, ouch. Don’t remind me. Those days are long past.”

  “Hi, Jasper,” chirped the remaining students in unison as they passed to leave the classroom. They couldn’t resist glancing back at Jasper several times before finally turning out of the door.

  The laugh I’d held in burst free once the room was clear. “Those days might be long past for you, but you’re still the heartthrob you’ve always been. Why don’t you ask one of those nice girls out on a date?” I suggested. “Who knows? Maybe it’ll turn into something special.”

  The smile faded from Jasper’s face. “You know why.”

  A knot formed in my stomach.

  I glanced around the studio at everything I’d worked hard to build over the last year, and a crushing weight settled over me.

  “Yeah, I know.”

  2

  Luna barked happily as I curved into the driveway. She sat in the passenger seat with her head sticking out the window, looking toward the thick wall of forest-green arborvitaes that bordered our property. She was probably imagining all the animals she’d be chasing momentarily. I laughed at the big happy dog grin on her face.

  I drove past the main house and pulled around into the carport near the guesthouse that’d been my apartment for nearly the last three years. My mom had insisted on having the guesthouse remodeled when she’d agreed to let me move into it after high school graduation as part of our compromise over me spreading my wings. I hadn’t planned to live in it as long as I had, but after everything that’d happened last year, I knew my time on this planet was limited now. Felix was handling the affairs on Aenoas-Vita, but his updates continued to remind me that they needed my presence.

  I knew I was only delaying the inevitable by remaining on Earth, and that I’d eventually have to return to the planet I had been conceived on. But I wasn’t ready to leave my home, or my mom. She had no plans to return to the planet she’d spent most of her life on, and had fled from during her pregnancy with me.

  Felix believed fate had chosen me as Oria’s heir.

  Destiny or not, Aenoas-Vita held nothing for me but a duty I’d sworn myself to in order to save Darion’s life. Earth would always be home in my heart.

  I got out of my car and opened Luna’s door. She immediately bolted out and into the field of wildflowers that fed the bees for my homemade honey. She bounced after the honeybees, spinning in the air as her jaw clamped down over her prize. If she ever got stung, it never seemed to bother her.

  My heart ached at the thought of leaving my family and all of this behind for a planet I’d only seen in memories that weren’t my own. But I’d made a deal and had accepted my role. There was no turning back from it.

  I drew a deep breath and stuffed the dark thoughts away.

  Soft jazz echoed from the open kitchen windows of the main house, a dead giveaway that my mom was in the kitchen, preparing a meal.

  I decided I’d pop in and say hi before heading into my place. Luna would be fine out in the field. She’d come into the house through her dog door when she was ready, or go to the apartment. She never strayed from the property.

  “Hey, Mom. It smells amazing in here.” The sweet scent of vanilla bean greeted me as I entered the kitchen through the back door.

  She glanced up from whisking custard in a bowl. Wisps of raven hair fell from braided twists on either side of her head and framed her face at chin length. Her sapphire eyes beamed at me as she bounced to the jazz beats playing from her Bluetooth speaker.

  “Thanks, sweetie.” She licked the spoon before tossing it in the sink and then dipping another and handing it to me. “I’m making Monarda tarts, Jasper’s favorite, for dessert tonight.”

  “Hopefully, you made extra for the rest of us.” I nudged my mom’s hip with my own, and we both did a twirl to the saxophone solo.

  She laughed. “Oh, I made plenty.”

  “What’s for dinner?” I asked, glancing at the bounty of dishes in the sink. I tugged open the dishwasher and started rinsing and loading.

  “Well, let’s see. Since it’s Calista’s first night back from her trip, I’ve made her favorite butternut squash lasagna, and I know how much you love my polenta cakes with fried sage, so we’ll have those as an appetizer. Oh,” she added, gesturing with her fork, “speaking of sage, did you include a sage candle in the welcome basket for the owner of the new yoga studio?”

  “Yeah, but you’re not going to believe it,” I said, scrubbing some dried food from a bowl before adding it to the dishwasher.

  My mom peeled off her apron while she waited for me to finish.

  “She returned the basket this morning with everything still in it.” I shook my head.

  The creamy skin around my mom’s eyes creased with her frown. “She returned a welcome gift?” Incredulity filled her tone. “What was her reason?”

  “She said she wouldn’t use any of it.”

  “Tsk.” My mom clicked her tongue just as Molly had done earlier. Then she smoothed her navy-blue silk shirt, which complemented her eyes. “I’ll drop by her studio with some treats from the café. No one can resist your lavender scone recipe.” She ruffled my hair.

  “I doubt she’ll appreciate the gesture.” I wiped a splash of water from my cheek as I rinsed the last of the dirty silverware.

  Heat bubbled in me when I thought of how Bree had treated Molly. “You know, she was a real snot and not worth our trouble. Argh!” I looked down in time to see one of the forks in my hand bending. I tossed them into the dishwasher before my mom could see what’d happened. I inhaled a deep breath and forced the magic back before turning around.

  Furrows wrinkled my mom’s forehead, and for a moment, I thought she’d seen what I’d done.

  I prepared to explain, but then she tucked the fallen wisps of hair behind her ears and said, “Everly. You asked me to teach you Vitarian traditions, and this is one of them. We welcome new friends and neighbors. Regardless of how this young lady acted, she is new to our town and one of us now. If we stoop to her level, what type of people would that make us?”

  She pulled me into her arms and kissed the top of my head. “You’re a queen now, and the first Ever to rule in centuries. When you return to Aenoas-Vita, you’re going to lead a planet of people, and old fears of Orien’s terror remain. Show them the strength of their new queen, who rescued her family and defeated Siobhan with mercy over malice.”

  “I know, Mom. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let her get to me like that. It’s just …” I couldn’t tell her I struggled with Siobhan’s dark magic inside me, and that each day it grew stronger, and my resistance, weaker. I didn’t want to worry her further.

  “What is it, honey?”

  I shrugged. “Not everyone will see Siobhan’s punishment as just. I
absorbed her magic from her and sent her to the dungeons.”

  My mom sighed. “Let’s talk no more of Siobhan. That woman took too much from me. She has her life, which is far more than she gave others.”

  “You’re right. Let’s forget about Siobhan.” I forced my lips into a reassuring smile and pulled out of her arms. Reaching across the counter, I clicked the music volume up.

  Trumpets buzzed over the speaker. Bright metallic beats filled the kitchen with an energetic tempo, creating a welcome distraction as we dipped our spoons into the custard and filled the mini pie crusts.

  I smiled watching my mom shimmy her hips and twirl her spoon. “You know, these will last about two-seconds once Jasper gets his paws on them.”

  My mom laughed. “Yeah, but they’re so fun to make.” Her finger shot across the edge of the bowl, scooping up a glob, which she plopped on the tip of my nose.

  We giggled as our chins and noses dripped with custard, and both my sides ached, reminding me of all the times we’d spent in this kitchen laughing and making messes when something troubled me.

  “I miss this.” My mom passed me a clean towel.

  I wiped my face. “Me too.” I returned her smile, wishing sugar and laughter could tame the shadow that haunted me now. “I better go get cleaned up.”

  The guesthouse that served as my apartment was quaint and homey. Light filtered in through the tall windows that made up the wall on either side of the front door. The weather was on the chilly side, but I slid open a window anyway, letting a gentle breeze filter through the room. It didn’t take long for the mellow scent of the wildflowers from the field to permeate the space.

  I pulled the long vertical blinds closed, relaxing in the solitude of darkness. Controlling Siobhan’s powers was draining. I’d buried her magic deep within me on the night that had sealed my fate, but each day, a little more seeped past my barrier and wormed its way through my blood, luring me with its intoxicating rush.

  Darion was right. I needed to do something soon, or it wouldn’t be a matter of if I hurt someone, but when.

  Suddenly the sweet, decadent scent of Daphne “Eternal Fragrance” that filled the air turned rancid, and I turned toward the vase of flowers I’d just cut earlier this morning to find them bending and blackened with rot. I heaved a groan, resolved that I’d have to ask Darion for his help sooner rather than later.

  I caressed the hardened dead flowers, then crushed them in my hand. Is this what’s happening to me? Am I blackening inside just like these flowers?

  More and more, I found myself drawn toward a darkness I didn’t understand. Something unseeable had sunk its claws into my soul. It fed on the light inside me, and I feared what would happen when no light remained.

  I snatched the vase from the table and tossed the flowers into the trash.

  Was it Siobhan’s dark magic inside me causing the change, or something else?

  It’d been a little over a year since I’d discovered my true origins; maybe it wasn’t Siobhan’s magic alone affecting me, but something deeper, more genetic. What if Darion wasn’t the evil twin after all? Siobhan had manipulated him his entire life, and once he’d learned the truth, he’d helped us, and chosen to remain on Earth to be with me and my mom. He’d spent every day since atoning for his past deeds, while I continued to slip further into darkness.

  I squeezed my eyes shut and swiped away the tear that pressed free.

  Everything will be fine. Darion will teach me to control Siobhan’s magic, and I’ll go back to feeling like my old self.

  I glanced back down at the rotted flowers, then took my foot off the garbage can pedal. The lid fell closed with a thunk.

  My feet lifted heavily as I made my way into my bedroom. The energy it took to absorb the darkness from my class was still taking its toll. I peeled off my yoga clothes and dressed quickly in a pair of navy-blue skinny jeans and a soft cobalt cotton off-shoulder top. The vertical slits opening on the sleeves gave the shirt an airy feel. After adding a spritz of detangler to my long raven hair, I brushed it out and added a French braid along the top and over to one side, leaving thin wisps to frame my face. I slid on a pair of black flats and headed for the main house.

  Luna bounded from the field and slowed at my side. “Did you have a good run, girl?” I smoothed the fur between her ears.

  My answer came as a lick across the cheek. “Okay.” I giggled and wiped Luna’s slobber off with my shirt sleeve.

  As we neared the back door, which led into the kitchen, the air filled with scents of sage and fresh rosemary, causing a rumble in my belly.

  My hand paused on the doorknob, and a smile burst from my lips at the familiar laughter on the other side. My spirits lifted as I entered the kitchen.

  “Calista!” I flew into her arms and breathed in sweet scents of coconut and vanilla. “You smell like the tropics. I’ve missed you so much. How was your trip?”

  Calista’s chestnut curls cascaded over my shoulders as she bent her head to kiss the top of mine. “I’ve missed you too, sweetie. And the trip was good.” She lifted her head back and smiled down at me.

  A pinch twisted in my gut. Calista held something back. She guarded her energy, but a murky blue-gray hovered over her aura.

  She tugged away and diverted her attention to Luna, who’d just let out a happy bark as she spun around the two of us.

  “And I’ve missed you too, Luna.” Calista laughed as she bent down to let Luna lick her face, and she tickled Luna’s tall pointed ears.

  “I have something for you both,” Calista said to me and Jasper. “Oh, and you too, Luna.” She scratched Luna’s furry belly, then stood and walked into the living room.

  Jasper guarded an area of the counter while he shoved bites of Monarda tart into his mouth.

  “Jasp, you know those are for dessert,” I scolded him.

  He nodded as he chewed a mouthful. “Yeah, but your mom made extra for me to graze on. She told me to help myself.” He scraped the edges of the dish, scooping up any remaining bits of custard onto his spoon. He closed his eyes and sighed with pleasure as he finished his last bite. “I’m sorry, Ev, but your mom’s tarts are the best on the planet. I love yours too, but hers are out of this world.”

  I laughed. “It’s okay, Jasper. You don’t have to like mine best, but I do hope you saved some for the rest of us.”

  Luna’s nails clicked on the hardwood floor. She pranced in circles around the gift bags Calista carried in and set on the marble countertop. She sniffed out her gift and watched eagerly as Calista unwrapped a flavored bone for her. “Good girl,” Calista complimented her as Luna sat proudly, licking her chops in anticipation. She happily latched onto the bone with her teeth and took her gift and ran out of the kitchen.

  Forks and plates clinked as Jasper rinsed and loaded his tart dish and spoon into the dishwasher. “All right, let’s do this,” he said, clapping his hands together as he leaned over the counter and wiggled his eyebrows at us.

  I couldn’t resist rolling my eyes at him and laughing at the same time.

  Calista ruffled his dark waves and plucked out a bag from the bundle she’d brought in and handed one to Jasper.

  The next bag was larger, and she carefully held the bottom while she lifted it. “This one’s for you.” Her chestnut eyes shone with excitement as I carefully took hold of the bag.

  “Oh, wow.” My muscles tensed with the weight of it. I gently set the bag back down onto the counter, worried the bottom might tear out, and admired the tribal artwork that decorated the paper bag.

  Calista noticed my curiosity. “A local woman in Bali handcrafted these bags. She painted her tribe’s symbols on them. They’re meant to be reused.”

  “Lovely.” I admired the swirling lines.

  “Seriously, Ev,” Jasper groaned. “I can’t take the anticipation. Can you open it already?” he insisted.

  “Okay, simmer down.” I lifted the tissue from the top of the bag. “You know, Jasper. Some of us like to e
njoy the packaging before tearing it open.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” He nodded eagerly at the bag as I slid my hand inside and lifted out a box.

  Jasper wasted no time in whipping out his pocketknife and swiping it across the tape that secured the box together. I slipped my fingers under the folds of the box flaps to pull them open.

  “Careful,” Calista warned. “There’re sharp bits.”

  I folded the box flaps back and placed my hands on the sides of the item inside and carefully lifted. The overhead light reflected on a stone statue. A golden crown glistened atop the head of the fierce warrior who sat upon her tiger companion, which bared its deadly fangs. Multiple arms wielded a sword, a trident, a knife, and other weapons.

  My breath caught. The details carved into the white marble were done with beautiful craftsmanship, and the colorful glaze painted on the stone shimmered with life.

  I glanced up to find Calista smiling from ear to ear. “You’ve always loved my Durga statue, and now you have one of your own. I thought it would fit nicely in your studio. I picked up some pure patchouli incense at one of the local markets for it too. You place it in the back here.” She turned the statue to show me. “And the smoke travels up through the statue and out of her hands and the tiger’s mouth.”

  “I love it! Thank you! It’s perfect, and I know just where it’ll go in the studio.” I wrapped my arms around Calista in a tight hug. “Your turn.” I nodded to Jasper.

  He quickly tossed out the decorative tissue paper and drove his hand into the bag. “Sweet!” he said, admiring his gift as he lifted out a handcrafted bamboo flute and beamed. He brought it to his lips, and the kitchen filled with haunting notes, causing goose bumps to spread across my skin.

  “It’s beautiful, Cal. Thank you so much.”

  Calista pulled Jasper and me into a group hug. “Of course, kiddo. I knew it was perfect for you the second I saw it.”

  A familiar energy floated into the room, and then I heard the soft voice to match. “Having a group hug without me?” said Selkie as she carried in a tray of stuffed mushrooms and popped them into the preheated double oven.