by R L Medina
“Rose.” Grayson’s voice brought me back.
I was on my back, head cradled in his lap, looking up into his blue steel eyes. He brushed my hair out of my face. His fingers were calloused and warm, the sensation making me flush. I could only imagine what a nightmare I looked like.
“Hi,” I blurted, wincing.
When was the pain going to go away?
“It’s done. I’ve sworn my life to hers.” Ash stood over me.
I sat up too quickly, dizziness sweeping over me. My entire body throbbed with pain and my head spun.
“What?” I could barely get the words out.
“A blood pact. We’re blood bonded now.”
“What?”
Grayson stood and offered me a hand up. I took it and struggled to my feet.
“It means she can’t betray you. She’s duty bound to protect you at all costs.”
Ash nodded.
My eyebrow arched, but I didn’t know what to say. “Oh, thank you,” I finished lamely.
But why did it have to hurt so bad? If she was bound to me, did that mean I was bound to do the same for her?
She lifted her chin in acknowledgment and turned to Grayson. “The conduit?”
Grayson held up a small silver ring. A conduit. The others pressed in, their eyes wide with hope and excitement. I, too, could feel the pull and it surprised me. I’d spent all my time at the academy surrounded by conduits, but never felt the magic that strongly. Was it because I had my full sight now?
“Where did you get it?” Ash continued to stare at it.
She reached out for the ring, but Grayson fisted it. Her eyes narrowed.
“I just wanted to see what kind of magic it held.”
“I’ll do the casting.” Grayson fixed her with his glacial stare.
Ash’s lips spread into a smile. “Silver magic? That… could work.”
James sat up, holding his head. His eyes darted from Grayson to Ash and landed on me. I bristled. He wouldn’t get a second chance to kill me. A silent rage built inside me as he stood and walked toward us.
Grayson turned toward him, putting himself between us.
James scowled. “Magic? You don’t have enough power to cast with it, GRIMM. Ash is the most powerful witch here. Let her do it.”
Grayson’s body stiffened. I stood close to him, I could feel his heat radiating from his body.
“If you want to save your friend, we need to hurry. You said he was injured?” Ash asked.
Grayson didn’t budge. I bit my lip and touched his shoulder. He glanced back at me.
“Let her do it, Grayson. We need all the power we can get. We have to get Javi and get out of here.”
His lip curled, but he listened and set the ring on Ash’s open palm. I hated it too, but I wasn’t going to let my anger at James be the reason Javi died. The thought made my heart twist. No. I couldn’t let him die.
Ash’s eyes lit up, smile widening. “I can feel it.”
The others crowded around her with murmurs of excitement.
James gave her an envious look. “Magic?”
She nodded. “This will work.”
Her excitement stirred the air. My heart hammered in my ears, my own excitement growing. Yes, it could work. It would work. We were going to get out.
“How are we going to use this, Ash? There are too many witches up there. Once they get our conduit, we’ll be helpless all over again.” James’s words cut through the excitement.
He didn’t bother even looking at the rest of us, his eyes only for Ash.
“Then we get help. Someone more powerful than us that can break the coven wards. Then once the wards are down, we run. Make ourselves untraceable.”
James gave her a skeptical look. “Run? Run where? Most of these witches can’t do a simple disappearing spell. How are they going to erase their own auras?”
She squared her shoulders back, unbothered by his doubt. “We head for”—her eyes flicked to Grayson and me— “sanctuary. Those who can do the spell, do it now. I’ll try to cloak everyone else who can’t.”
James grunted. “I’ll help you.”
“And me,” another witch spoke up. Others whispered their agreement.
“But she knows. Jimena will know where to find us in… sanctuary,” one boy witch voiced his concern.
Now that escape was possible, they were all vocal about their opinions.
Ash held the ring up and closed her eyes. No one spoke. Grayson and I exchanged glances. What was she doing?
She opened her eyes. “Just trust me. I’ll get us to safety. First we need to worry about breaking the wards so we’re going to summon somebody who can help us.”
James frowned. “Who?”
She met his eyes. “Lilith.”
Gasps echoed. The room grew noisy once more with shock and murmurs of agreement.
Grayson scowled. “No. Pick someone else. And hurry the hell up. Before the coven comes back down here.”
James glared at him. “It’s not up to you, GRIMM.”
“My conduit. My rules.”
James’s face turned scarlet, his fists clenched. The memory of his hands around my throat made me shrink back while at the same time, it flamed the fury of my anger.
“She’s our best chance,” Ash explained.
The only thing I could remember about the name was that it belonged to some super powerful extraordinaire that some claimed was a goddess from another realm who popped in and out of our world when her followers needed her. Others claimed she was an ancient creature, whose true nature was erased by history, even from the GRIMMs.
“Call Baba Yaga.” Grayson insisted.
James snorted. “That old cow? I have more power in my pinky toenail than she has in her entire body.”
My lip curled at the image.
“We don’t have time to argue about this. We’re summoning Lilith. We can’t waste our once chance. Summoning anyone of power takes too much of our energy. We’ll be weak afterwards and we won’t be able to cast again for at least two hours. By then, the coven will know what we’ve done.”
Ash’s words rang through me. It was now or never.
Grayson sighed and gave her a nod. We watched as the witches gathered in the center of the room. Grayson backed up, his body still blocking me from James, who ignored me as if nothing happened.
Anger rolled in my gut. How could he just stand there and pretend he wasn’t a murderous little snake? If I’d died… would that be end of Jimena? Was it that easy?
They stood in a circle, hands clasped and mouths moving in a chant. A coldness settled in the room.
“Summon her.” James nodded.
The air grew warm for a brief moment and then cold again. So cold, it felt like ice coated my skin.
“What’s happening?” My voice was a whisper.
Grayson grabbed my hand, his face hardened into a fierce determination that made me lightheaded. The boy was nothing like any other teenage guy I’d known. He was smart, strong, and so confident. It was impossible not to be impressed by him.
We stumbled back as the chants grew louder. Cold air clashed with warm, making my skin tingle with the same sensation. A ringing filled my ears and a strange, bitter taste filled my mouth.
“Is it working?”
No one answered me.
The witches continued to clasp hands, their eyes shut tightly as their words swirled around us. Wind whipped through their hair and clothes. Above, the light flickered, and I fought the urge to run.
Something was happening. Something real and freaky.
I stared in shock as a figure appeared. A woman. Not much taller than Shiloh. Her hair was a vibrant shade of purple, cut in strange, jagged strands. Her dark, pupilless eyes roamed over us. Fairy? She wore a tight, black tube-top and giant silver tutu with fishnet stockings. If it weren’t for her creepy features, I’d think she was part of some strange carnival entertainment.
She smiled, revealing sharp, little teeth. De
finitely fairy, but where were her wings?
The witches blinked at her, foreheads creasing in confusion.
“Who are you? You’re not Lilith.” James spoke first.
A giggle escaped her. “Lilith? Why would you want her? She’s a bore. Trust me, you got someone much better.” Her eyes gleamed.
I fought the urge to shudder under her gaze.
“But who are you?” another witch asked.
The fairy lifted her chin. “Maloret. Princess of the Court of Shadows. And who are you?”
Her eyes landed on Grayson, all humor vanishing. “Shadow magic? But you’re human. How?”
All heads turned to him. He didn’t answer. Shadow magic? That wasn’t something I’d learned in the academy. What did it do?
“Keep your secrets then, boy. But not even the shadows will hide the truth from me.”
I gaped at him. “Grayson, what is she talking about?”
He looked away and shook his head. A clear sign that he wanted me to drop it. I frowned. He was angry with me for keeping secrets, yet he was hiding something too?
The fairy inhaled loudly and exhaled. “And you… babies. Witch babies.”
They scowled.
Before they could correct her, she held up a small pale hand and laughed. “Now, now, don’t cry, babies. What can I do for you?”
My eyebrows shot up. She was going to help us? Could she help us? It was hard to imagine this strange creature as princess of anything, but definitely not a place with shadow in the name.
“Ash, this was a mistake,” James whispered.
The fairy’s eyes shifted toward me, the same creepy smile plastered on. “Well, mistake or not, you summoned me. At least have the decency to tell me what you want? I’m busy. It’s All Hallows Eve. Don’t have time to stand around here all night long.”
Halloween? Was it only a week ago I was at Brady’s party? How was that even possible? Fear filled me. I shook my head. Had I really been trapped with the witches that long? Why hadn’t the GRIMM found us already?
“Well?” She tapped her foot impatiently, scattering my thoughts.
I gaped at her. “Uh… we need help to get out of here. The witches are holding us hostage.”
She pursed her lips together and tapped her chin thoughtfully, “A break out? Is that what this is?”
Ash nodded. “Yes. The Luna Negra means to use us as the sacrifices for their blood ritual.”
“Blood ritual, huh? What kind?”
The excitement in her eyes unnerved me.
“They’re trying to channel the power of the coven into the supreme.”
She arched a brow at Ash. “You don’t say? That’s a bit of a task.”
Her arm swept across us. “And what are you? The firstborns?”
I nodded. My heart thrummed in my ears. What if the witches came back? We needed to convince this fairy princess to help us and soon.
“Even you?” she asked Grayson.
“No.”
“Ooh. My, my. Aren’t we tall, tan, and mysterious?”
She chuckled to herself before turning back to us.
“If I help you, what do I get out of it?” Her words were soft and child-like, but there was nothing innocent or naïve in her gaze.
No. It was sharp and calculating. Ancient. The hair on my neck bristled. This was no ordinary fairy princess. She was dangerous and dark. As if sensing my apprehension, she turned to me and smiled.
“You didn’t think you could call on me for service for free, did you?”
James scowled. “We didn’t mean to call on you at all.”
“We wanted Lilith,” Ash added.
Her smile turned vicious. “Lilith is busy. It’s Halloween, idiots. I’ll have to charge you double for this.”
“So, you will help us?” one girl asked.
The fairy stilled. “If the price is right, dearie.”
I stepped forward. “What do you want?”
She circled me, her hips swaying to a silent beat. Was she… dancing? With a final pop of her hip, she stopped in front of me. Her ink drop eyes unnerved me more than anything. They were dark and fathomless. No hint of emotion and I wasn’t so sure the smile on her face counted as sincere. More like predatory.
I shuddered. This was a mistake.
20
“What do you have?” The fairy’s voice echoed around us.
The witches glanced at each other. “We can give you a spell.”
She cackled. “A spell? Please, you little witchlings couldn’t give me any spell I don’t already have.”
Her hand waved across us, a dark plume of smoke rising from her fingertips. The witches lifted their arms in unison, chanting something.
The smoke disappeared as quickly as it came.
“Just a little shadow magic, darlings. No reason to fret. Isn’t that right, darling?” she crooned to Grayson.
I pushed away the fear and glared at her. “Just tell us what you want.”
Her eyebrow arched. “Now, now. Don’t get snippy. You’re the one that called on me. As if I didn’t have anything better to do than help a bunch of baby witches. On Hallow’s Eve!”
“I’m not a witch.”
Her lips quirked into a smile. “If you say so, dear.”
Irritation flared inside me. We were wasting our time with her. She wasn’t going to help us.
She folded her hands together in front of herself, a mock look of innocence on her face. “I can help you, but you must give me something. That’s how these things work. Something valuable.”
We glanced at each other. What did a fairy consider valuable?
Clucking her tongue, she shook her head at us. “Nothing? Well, sucks for you then.”
“Wait.” Ash spoke.
She met the fairy’s burning gaze. “What about vampire blood?”
James shot her a dark look. I watched the fairy’s reaction. She was smiling. My lip curled. What could she want with vampire blood?
“From the queen,” the witch added.
A laugh escaped the fairy. “The queen? The vampire queen is going to give me her blood?”
Ignoring James’s adamant head shaking, Ash pressed on. “She’s trapped here same as us. If you help her too, she’ll give it to you.”
Another witch snorted. I shared the sentiment. What made Ash think the queen was going to agree to that?
“Trapped, you say? Oooh I do love a good plot twist.”
She clapped her hands together. “What makes you think I won’t just take the blood for myself and leave you to rot?”
“You can’t. We made a deal,” the witch argued.
“No. We didn’t.”
Anger stirred inside me. We were losing our chance, and it was their fault. I wracked my brain, trying to come up with an idea. What would the fairy agree too?
“Promise me your firstborn, and you have yourself a deal.” The fairy grinned.
My eyes widened. The witches gasped, but Ash just snorted.
“Fine. Dea—”
“Ashlyn, no. What are you doing?” James cut her off.
“Stealing humans is illegal,” Grayson bit out.
The fairy turned to him and giggled. “I’ll give her a fairy in its place.”
His brow furrowed. “Changelings are not allowed here.”
What was he doing? We needed this fairy to help us so we could get to Javi. He needed us.
“Let her make the deal if she wants. We don’t have any other options.” I heard myself speak.
James’s eyes shot to me. “Easy for you to say, GRIMM. It’s not you making the promise.”
I flushed. True. The wrongness of it wasn’t lost on me. A firstborn pledge was what led us all to our current problem. Making the witch vow the same promise wasn’t ironic—it was cruel.
“Deal.” The witch lifted her chin.
The fairy smiled “Done.”
She raised a hand over us.
I inched closer to Grayson, fear crawling up my
spine. He raised his hand, chanting something.
“Easy, tiger. I’m just… assessing.” She tossed her head to the side, “Take me to the vampire and I’ll break the wards.”
Ash paused. “You can’t find her yourself? We don’t know where they took her.”
The fairy pouted. “No vampire. No deal.”
She turned to go.
“No. Wait. We’ll find her.” Ash’s voice rose with panic.
My own heart hammered against my ribs. The fairy was our only way out. We needed her. Though something warned me she might not be completely trustworthy.
Her dark eyes roamed over us, sharp teeth revealed as she smiled at us. “Well, hurry up then, witchling. I don’t have all night. People to steal. Unlawful things to do.” She waved her hand with a careless shrug.
Grayson frowned at her. “The GRIMMs are on patrol. Full force tonight, I’d imagine.”
She laughed. “Yes, I know. That’s what makes it so fun. What’s the point in breaking the laws if there’s no one there to try to stop you?”
I was startled by her boldness. Who was this fairy princess that she could outwit the GRIMMs time after time?
“Can you… do you have enough power to stop the supreme?” My words tumbled out before I could stop them.
Her head cocked to the side. “The supreme? There are many, dearie.”
“Jimena. The Luna Negra supreme.”
She smiled. “Of course. She’s only human. Weak like all of you.”
Ignoring her jibe, I racked my brain for something that would sway her to help us. If she could stop the supreme… would she do it? Would it get me and all the others out of the blood promise?
As if reading my thoughts, she clucked her tongue. “But I don’t see any point in destroying her. She’s never done anything to me.”
“But… she’s trying to dominate all the extraordinaires here.”
The fairy snorted. “And I wish her luck with all that.” She splayed a hand over her chest. “I don’t really care what happens to your little world here. In fact, I admire her ambitions. Shaking things up and all. I might even extend my stay just so I can watch.”
Anger rushed through me. “The GRIMMs will destroy her. You want to stay and watch that?”
Her smile widened. “I don’t care who wins. I just like watching the bodies drop.”
