The Witch Born to Smoulder (Inferno Book 4)

by Tanya Milne

  I took one last glance around the camp; a place that had kept Jet and me safe. Gratitude flooded through me. With tears in my eyes, I made my way inside the tent and lay down. Pearl decided to forgive me and snuggled against my leg.

  As I closed my eyes, I was filled with visions of my family. I’d known by the look on Ezra’s face that they were suffering. My heart overflowed with pain before heat engulfed me once more, turning my pain into a thirst for revenge.

  ‘Eva – wake up!’ said Jet as he gently shook me.

  ‘What? What’s wrong?’ I sat up, my senses switching to high alert.

  ‘Everything is okay,’ said Jet.

  I slumped back on my pillow, and the reality of what the day ahead might bring flashed through my mind.

  ‘Come on,’ he said, passing me my jacket.

  ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘We’ve got work to do.’

  I gazed through the door flap and was met with an inky sky.

  ‘Now? It’s okay – we have time to pack up in the morning. Come back to bed. I promise not to attack you again.’

  ‘Do you want to learn the curse or not?’

  I sat bolt upright. ‘Really?’

  ‘Come on, before I change my mind,’ he said, shuffling from the tent to where Boy stood waiting.

  In seconds I was beside him, slipping on my shoes.

  ‘Let’s go,’ he said, striding ahead into the bush.

  I followed him and had to almost jog to match his long strides. He took us on a new path, which went straight up into the nearby hills. I was completely out of breath by the time we reached the apex of the tallest hill.

  The light around us began to change, and I made out an old rock cairn in the middle of the small flat space where we stood.

  ‘Eva, I will teach you the curse, but again I beg you – please promise me that no matter what happens, no matter how bad things get, you will follow your heart – your true heart.’

  I stepped towards him. ‘I’ll try, Jet – but I’m changing. What if I can’t?’

  ‘You wrote that note last night, didn’t you?’

  ‘Well, yes, but that was after I threw myself at you. I’m sorry about that – it wasn’t fair. It won’t happen again.’

  Jet glanced away for a long moment before he turned back and took my hands. ‘Eva, you must know that I care for you.’

  ‘I know, and I’m incredibly grateful for your friendship.’

  ‘As I am for yours.’

  Inside me, my broken heart started to hurt, as though someone were tugging at it.

  ‘I don’t only care for you as a friend,’ he said.

  A nearby kookaburra started to warble its song to welcome in the day.

  ‘I know, we’re more than friends – more like best mates,’ I said. ‘How could we not be after what we’ve been through?’

  Jet took a deep breath, stepped forward, closed the space between us. Then he bent down so that his lips gently touched mine. ‘My best friend and my soulmate and…’

  Desire bloomed inside me as he reached for me, pulled me close and kissed me in a way that told me we were not just friends. And then he pulled away.

  ‘I want to be with you, Eva – not just because we’ve been stranded together and not just because we’re witches and you happen to be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. I want to be with you as your boyfriend because I love you, because I’ve always loved you.’

  All around us the sky turned the colour of an apricot.

  ‘But you’ve been hurt, badly. I know you love Ezra and if it weren’t for his father, you would be with him now…and you may be with him again.’

  In that moment, I pictured Ezra asking me to marry him – to become his partner for life. The pain, which I’d managed to lock away, broke free.

  Jet dropped my hand. ‘And that’s why we can’t be together.’

  Tears spilled down my face.

  ‘Not now,’ he said, gazing out across the view that was revealing itself in the too-beautiful morning light.

  I reached out and took Jet’s hand, kissed it. ‘Don’t give up on me, okay?’

  Jet grinned, dimples appearing on his face. ‘When have I ever given up on you?’

  ‘Well, you might – if I become the Fire Queen.’

  The smile froze on Jet’s face. ‘Maybe not even then.’

  I took a deep breath and dug deep, searching for the young woman capable of keeping her promise to Jet. There she was, hidden deep inside me.

  ‘I promise you that I will follow my heart, no matter how bad things get.’

  Jet nodded before whispering, ‘Okay, I will teach you.’

  My heart began thudding in my chest. I was about to learn the darkest of dark magic – the kind of magic that would make me powerful, but that could also fulfil my destiny and kill all of the goodness inside of me.

  From his jacket, Jet pulled out a long black crystal.

  ‘For a witch to issue a killing curse, they must use the power of a black wand.’

  I reached out for the wand, but Jet moved it further away.

  ‘For the wand to work, it must first be cleansed using the light from the sunrise and the darkness on the darkest night of the month, so tonight.’

  Every part of me wanted to take hold of the wand, let its powers ooze into me.

  Jet cleared his throat, and my gaze darted to his eyes. With deep creases on his forehead, he held out the wand. I stopped myself from snatching it, instead reaching out for it and taking it from him. Immediately, a dark power unlike any I had ever known seeped through me.

  ‘The wand is powerful and it will help you in all of your magic. But it will make you desire dark magic; it will make you want to kill.’

  My eyes opened wide as dark feelings grew inside me like ghosts on Halloween.

  Jet continued, ‘Once the wand is cleansed, the killing curse is simply a word. The difficulty is resisting the wand’s power and thirst for dark magic.’

  My breath came in fits and starts, but my voice sounded like a demon’s. ‘What’s the word?’

  Jet took a step back.

  ‘Tell me!’

  Boy started barking at me.

  ‘As you like to say – a promise is a promise,’ I said, stepping forward, anger burning through me, red flames dancing on my skin.

  ‘Do you remember your promise to me, Eva?’

  The sun broke free over the horizon and its rays shone on me. I raised my wand high in the air, and the energy from the sunshine filled the black crystal until it turned clear and drained the darkness inside it. My lips parted as I stared at the opaque wand. Power rushed through me, but now it was filled with light and love.

  ‘I promise,’ I said to Jet, whose gaze flickered between me and the crystal.

  ‘I’ve never…seen that before.’

  I brought the crystal back down, held it close, never wanting to be parted from it.

  ‘The word?’

  Jet’s face was the colour of chalk.

  ‘Trust me, Jet.’

  Finally, my words were my own; I had returned to being me.

  Jet looked me in the eye when he whispered, ‘Dolofonia.’

  I longed to play with the word on my tongue, to commit it to memory, but I knew better than to say the killing curse while Jet stood only feet away.

  ‘Thank you,’ I said, placing the wand in my jacket, its pure energy restoring me.

  ‘You seem like your old self again,’ said Jet, watching me closely.

  ‘I feel like I used to,’ I said, then smiled, realising that even my worry for my family and my heartache for Ezra had lifted, leaving me energised and ready for what lay ahead.

  ‘You will feel like you do now until sunset,’ said Jet sadly.

  I turned to the sun, which was fast rising in the sky. By sunset, the crystal would be turned to the darkness – I would be turned to the darkness; we would belong to each other.

  Chapter Thirteen

  As our dinghy
moved out from the rough seas of the cove and into calmer waters, Jet and I gazed back towards the little cove where we’d both found shelter.

  ‘I never thought I’d say this, but I’m going to miss it,’ said Jet.

  He was completely different from the boy who had arrived here after narrowly escaping Orpheus’s death penalty. Gone was the smart-arse boy hiding from a terrible past. Beside me was a kind yet tough young man who’d faced his demons and was stronger for it.

  Jet met my gaze and didn’t turn away. ‘It’s good to have you back…for a while at least.’

  I smiled. Not even his reminder about the night ahead and what the blackened crystal would do to me could bring me down. The healing energies of the white crystal were boosting me, protecting me, restoring me to the best version of myself.

  I steered the dinghy around the headland, and the cove disappeared from sight. Jet immediately began scanning the waters with his binoculars before creating mist that would hide our re-entry into Melas.

  ‘All clear,’ murmured Jet before reaching down and patting Boy, who was tucked into the bow of the dinghy alongside a rather disgruntled-looking Pearl.

  ‘Good news,’ I said, throttling the engine and heading straight for the woods where we would hide our boat, along with Boy and Pearl while we attempted to rescue my family. Boy would hate not being with us, but there was no way he could make it through the manhole and down the ladder into the underground tunnels.

  I checked my watch, and it was right on three. We were bang smack on time.

  Jet continued scanning the waters. As we neared the woods, I stopped the engine and Jet began rowing.

  ‘Do you think…Anna will be followed?’ said Jet, voicing his concern, yet again, about meeting up with Anna.

  ‘Anna is smart. She’ll be careful.’

  Jet pressed his lips together. Contacting Anna had been the one thing we’d disagreed on. For Jet, he saw it as an unnecessary risk. For me, seeing Anna, letting her know of our plans, was essential. Anna and Elijah loved each other, and she deserved to know what was happening, that we were leaving.

  ‘I hope you’re right,’ whispered Jet before he produced more mist and let the boat gently slide onto the pebbly shore.

  My senses switched to high alert. For a few moments we sat in silence, my every sense straining. Orpheus’s security would be at its height today. He would be hoping the trial of my family would flush me out from hiding. His henchmen would be everywhere, including in these woods.

  The wind lightly threaded its way through the tops of the trees, but otherwise the woods were quiet, watchful.

  Jet pulled on his large backpack before leaping from the boat, Boy following close behind him. Together they walked into the woods, then returned a minute later.

  ‘All clear,’ he said quietly.

  I put on my backpack and jumped from the boat. Together we hauled our boat and the second dinghy that was attached behind ours into the woods, then hid them in the undergrowth.

  ‘I wish we could take Boy,’ said Jet, placing his hand on his shadow.

  For a moment I remembered the days when Boy had belonged to me and only me.

  ‘Come on, let’s make a move,’ I said before stepping into the woods, where I hadn’t been for some time. Memories leapt from their hiding places. Amongst the leaves and the trees, I remembered my times with my brother…and with Ezra.

  Seeing Ezra, knowing he wanted to help, that he still loved me…that he wanted to come away with us had reopened a tender wound. For the last three nights, I’d lain awake in bed, trying to come to terms with the fact that, if our plans worked, I would have to see Ezra all day, every day. And not only him, but his mother too!

  Once again, I pictured how Orpheus would react when he found his wife and only son had gone away with witches. He would never stop until he got them back.

  Jet came to a halt and put up his hand.

  I stopped, my heartbeat pounding in my ears.

  Jet hid us with mist and we waited to see who drew close. We heard someone lightly scampering through the woods. Anna. And somewhere further away was another who strode after them, following them. Noah.

  Jet swore under his breath, and together we moved behind a grove of trees. The moment Anna came into view, I stepped into her path, placed my fingers on my lips. She froze, her eyes opening wide as she appeared to realise she was being followed.

  I motioned for her to follow me, which she did. In seconds, we were hidden again in the bushes and by Jet’s mist.

  I took her hand and whispered, ‘Is your phone off?’

  ‘It’s at home.’

  I took a good look at her; she looked both the same and completely different. Her face was gaunt and the rims of her eyes were red raw. Her clothes hung from her frame, and she was carrying a large backpack.

  I peered out to see Noah walk into the clearing beside us, then stop as though sensing we were close. Noah was dressed from head to toe in the special police uniform. For informing on us, ruining and endangering our lives, he’d been rewarded; he’d become one of them.

  Anna froze beside me. Heat grew in my hands. I knew then that if the crystal had been black, I would have burned Noah to a crisp.

  ‘Who’s there?’ Noah called out.

  We stayed silent and I gripped Anna’s hand as Noah walked closer to us. Jet’s mist floated through the woods, hiding us.

  Noah was nearly upon us when his radio blared. ‘Noah – are you there?’

  Max!

  I dropped Anna’s hand, flames growing inside me.

  ‘We need you back here, pronto.’

  ‘Shit,’ mumbled Noah before speaking into his radio. ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘We have a situation. Stop asking questions and get your arse back here, NOW!’

  Noah grumbled before replying, ‘I’m on my way.’

  For another minute, Noah stood where he was, listening. A short and swift reminder from Max was the only thing that got him moving again – away from us.

  We waited until we heard his car start up on the road.

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ said Anna, wiping her tears away. ‘I had no idea he’d followed me.’

  Jet glared at me when Anna wasn’t looking, but then he spoke kindly to her. ‘It’s all okay, Anna. He didn’t find us.’

  Anna burst into noisy tears. She hugged Jet and then me, not letting me go.

  ‘Hey,’ I said, patting Anna’s long blonde hair. ‘You okay?’

  Anna pulled back, her watery brown eyes telling me everything I needed to know. ‘These last few weeks – they’ve been hell. Orpheus is out of control and half the town have gone nuts. I’ve been worried sick about you, Elijah and your…your parents. And it’s all my brother’s fault. I…can’t believe what he did.’

  I remembered back to the night when Noah betrayed me, betrayed us all, because he couldn’t have me and to protect his sister.

  ‘It’s going to be okay,’ I said, tucking her hair behind her ears. ‘We have a plan to get my family and Violet out. And I will look after Elijah, I promise you that.’

  Anna wiped away her tears and glanced between me and Jet. ‘I’m coming with you.’

  Jet cleared his throat. ‘That’s not a good idea, Anna. You’re safer here, much safer than you would be with us.’

  Anna folded her arms. ‘I can’t stay – not without Elijah.’

  I rubbed Anna’s arm. ‘When things settle down, you can be together again.’

  Anna laughed, her voice strange.

  ‘When things settle down… Really? And when will that be?’

  I opened my mouth to reply, but Anna cut in again. ‘When hell freezes over, that’s when. Nope, I’ve made up my mind – I’m coming with you.’

  I glanced at Jet, a single crease marking his forehead.

  ‘I know the risks and I don’t care. I can’t live without Elijah.’ Anna reached out and placed her hands around her stomach. ‘And neither can our baby.’

  For a few mom
ents, time felt suspended, as though it hung in the air.

  ‘I’m pregnant, Eva. In seven months, you’re going to be an auntie, and Elijah and I will become parents. So there’s not one percent of a chance I’m staying here so they will take my witch baby from me and kill it.’

  ‘You’re pregnant,’ I said, her news finally reaching me.

  Anna nodded, a small smile. ‘It was an “accident,” but you know, we would have been married by now.’

  ‘A baby,’ I said, and unexpected happiness made me laugh.

  ‘A baby,’ said Anna, a smile lighting her pretty face.

  ‘Oh, Anna.’ I pulled her to me. ‘That’s pretty much the best news I’ve ever heard.’

  It took Jet clearing his throat before we pulled apart.

  ‘Congratulations, Anna,’ said Jet, hugging her, then turning to me. ‘We need to make a move.’

  The reality of the night ahead returned, stealing away my joy.

  ‘So, what’s the plan?’ said Anna.

  Jet ran his hand through his hair. ‘Ezra is helping us get into the cell where everyone is being held. Once we have them, I’ll go get my Gran and then Ezra, and his mum will meet us at Ezra’s boat – and we’re getting the hell out of here.’

  Anna’s lips parted and she glanced between me and Jet. ‘Ezra?’

  ‘He came to see us – him and his mum need to get away as well,’ I said. ‘That’s all.’

  ‘That’s all,’ asked Anna, her eyes asking me the same question I’d been asking myself.

  ‘Ezra and I are not together anymore. We broke up, that night. But we can’t stop him and his mum coming with us, and we won’t stop you either. But Anna, with your condition, I’d feel much better if you didn’t come with us to rescue the others. It’s going to be dangerous and Jet and I, well, we have our powers.’