Maximus took Ainsley from her arms. “Go, Eve,” he said, fighting to control his emotions as the child started to wail. He raised his hand and the iron gates creaked open at his will. “Go. But know that I’ll do everything in my power to free you from that man. Never forget that, Eve.”
But Evangeline was already walking away from him, up the hill towards Fallows Crest, looking over her shoulder with every step but moving towards the grand doors all the same.
Maximus left Blackheath shortly after in search of a cure strong enough to break Jefferson’s enchantment. He’d taken young Ainsley with him, but he’d been forced to leave eight-year-old Evan and seven-year-old Joel in Ruby’s charge. He knew she would take good care of them, with help from the other relatives if need be. It was far from ideal, but he’d had no other choice.
Often Evangeline would sneak away from Fallows Crest to watch from afar as her sons played in the back yard or in their aunts’ tents at the Blackheath carnival. She never dared to get too close, though, for by now she knew she’d eventually be compelled to leave them again. She didn’t think her tender boys could take another heartbreak—and neither could she.
Years passed by, one after the other, and still there was no cure to break her connection with Jefferson. Her compulsion. When Kaden was of age, Evangeline handed him over for Erridox. By now the boy was tough, skilled, and clever, but somehow he did not seem like the child prodigy that had been prophesised. So Jefferson took more children each year at Erridox, this time stolen or bought—he’d long given up on the idea of Evangeline carrying the children since she had failed with Kaden, Jefferson deemed her tainted, no longer ‘human’ enough to create a thoroughbred. But he would have his promised wunderkind, no matter what the cost. However to his eternal frustration, each one turned out to be more disappointing than the last.
During this time, Evangeline would often seek comfort with Maximus. She knew it was selfish of her—he’d be better off finding another woman to love, a real mother for their boys—but she couldn’t help herself. She simply couldn’t cut the ties with the only part of her life that was rooted in love, not darkness. So she’d arrange to meet Maximus outside the Fallows Crest gates, in the shadows. He’d tell her about the three boys he was raising, and she’d sob on his shoulder in frustration at not being able to go back with him to the little bungalow she still felt was her home—her real home. But even after those heart wrenching stolen moments together, Evangeline would always return up the hill to Fallows Crest, back to Jefferson. She hated herself with every step that brought her back to the gilded manor, and that self-loathing was only slightly assuaged by the small amount of solace she took in knowing that she could still be a mother to at least one of her sons.
Then came her fifth and final child, Pippin. She hid her bump from Jefferson, avoiding him for many months. She was sure a few of the Fallows coven suspected her secret, but nevertheless, no one spoke when the baby was born in the privacy of her chamber. She left the child on Maximus’s doorstep and then cut off contact completely. This could not go on, she decided in devastating grief. She could simply no longer live with the feeling of constantly being torn in two. And after all these years of longing, she had finally given up hope that Maximus would ever be able to break Jefferson’s enchantment. So what was she doing, keeping Maximus tethered to her in this way? She’d tortured him enough; she had to break this cycle and accept her fate with Jefferson. And so that was what she’d done—cut all ties with Maximus and the children they’d had together and gone back to live in darkness.
That is, until the day the aunts summoned her, warning her that her boys were in trouble. Warning her that a storm was coming.
“COME BACK,” CAME the female voice.
Joel struggled to place it.
“Come back,” the voice whispered again, reaching into his subconscious.
Maggie? he wondered.
He shuddered as he felt himself waver between two dimensions, lost somewhere between his mother’s memories and his own reality. Stuck between dreaming and consciousness. It was as though he wasn’t made of bones and flesh anymore, but rather dust and wind, light and shadows.
A bolt of fear shot through him as he realised he was stuck between dimensions—trapped between the spell and the real world.
Pippin, Joel thought suddenly.
If Joel was trapped inside the spell, what hope did Pippin have? And Ainsley and Kaden, too, for that matter. Only Evan, the Chosen One, would have any chance at all of coming out of it.
“Come back, dearest dear,” the familiar voice called to him again. It had a quiet, mousy tenor that anchored him as he drifted.
It wasn’t Maggie this time.
“Feel the floor beneath your feet,” the voice instructed. “Follow our voices. Find us.”
“Ruby?” Joel managed to speak.
“Joel!” It was Maggie’s voice he heard now, calling to him urgently.
He opened his eyes and took in the scene around him.
There, in the circle they’d formed in the turreted room, he saw his brothers, all at various stages of coming to. Joel’s gaze immediately went to Pippin, who was now balanced on Maggie’s hip, sucking his thumb and leaning sleepily on her shoulder.
Beside Maggie stood Quite Old Aunt Ruby, who was peering down at him through squinty amber eyes. Her aged face was sombre and her long silver hair was glistening in the moonlight.
As his eyes locked on hers, Ruby exhaled in relief. “There you are,” she greeted Joel, bending towards him and placing her frail hand on his arm. “I am here with you, my boy. Keep your mind with me.”
He nodded his head numbly.
Ruby turned towards Evan now, reaching out and placing a firm hand on his shoulder. “My child,” she said. “Now you must return.”
A moment later, Evan opened his eyes and blinked back at her.
“You must listen very carefully,” Ruby went on, not wasting a moment. “Do you hear what I’m saying?”
Joel watched through hazy eyes as Evan nodded again.
Ruby’s amber stare was locked on Evan’s as she continued. “We have foreseen the darkness coming,” she said, her tone calm despite the grim sentiment. “He will be here soon.”
The colour drained from Evan’s complexion.
“Wait, what?” Joel slurred. “Who’s coming?”
Ruby’s ochre gaze turned upon him now. “The end,” she murmured.
For the first time since Joel had come to, Kaden spoke up. “Father,” he said hoarsely. “He’s looking for our mother.”
“You mean Dad?” Ainsley asked.
Kaden swallowed. “No. I mean Jefferson.”
The name made Joel’s blood run cold.
“We see it,” Ruby whispered. “He is on his way. You will face him”—she bowed her head before carrying on—“and two of you shall die tonight.”
IT WAS STRANGE, thought Joel as the world rushed on around him. Death was about to knock at their door, but time just kept creeping towards it regardless. It felt odd knowing that he may only have a matter of hours left to live.
And if not him, then one of his brothers. Two of them, perhaps.
Two will die tonight.
It was not a premonition a witch made lightly. Especially not Ruby. It was happening, and all they could do about it was wait to see which two it would be.
So as Evan worked frantically on incantations and protection spells, Maggie, Isla, and Kaden bolted up the doors and tightened the locks on the windows. Ainsley and the alleged aunts scattered charms around the mansion, checking and rechecking the perimeters constantly. For his part, Joel just calmly tucked Pippin into bed, knowing that all the others’ attempts would prove to be pointless.
Their fate had already been decided.
Weary but resigned, Joel tucked the covers around Pippin and knelt at his bedside, preparing to say goodbye, just in case.
“Little brother,” Joel began, brushing away spirals of blonde curls from Pippin�
�s eyes. “I’m sorry about tonight. About all the things you saw, with Mum and Dad and . . . the bad man.”
Pippin smiled joyfully back at him. He reached out his chubby hand and touched Joel’s mouth.
Joel couldn’t help but smile back at him. “You’re a tough kid, though, aren’t you?”
Pippin tugged at Joel’s nose now, giggling to himself.
“You know I’ll protect you from whatever comes, right?” Joel said quietly. “I always will.”
“Always will,” Pippin echoed in a playful voice.
Joel planted a kiss on his forehead. “Always will,” he agreed, rising to his feet.
He walked slowly across the bedroom and switched off the light. “Night, Pip,” he said, then closed the door with a click.
MAGGIE RACED FROM room to room, bolting the shutters and locking the windows. Around her, everything seemed to be moving at a strange, surreal pace. Something bad was happening. Someone bad was coming.
Joel came up behind her and took her arm, stopping her in her tracks.
“Go,” he said. His voice was calm, but his eyes gave away his fear. “You need to get out of here.”
She shook her head. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Go, Maggie. Please.” He tried to usher her to the front door, out into the night. “The aunts have already left with Topaz.”
Maggie clicked her tongue to the roof of her mouth. “Nice,” she muttered.
“I told them to,” Joel explained. “They’ve got nothing on Jefferson. You need to go, too.”
“No,” she said plainly, placing her hands on her hips.
“Please, Maggie,” he said. “Get Isla and take the Jeep.”
He tried to slip the car key into her hand, but she thrust it back at him.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she insisted again. “I’m in this with you. You fight, I fight.”
“No,” Joel exhaled in a broken breath. “You can’t fight this. You’re not like me.”
Maggie smiled wryly. “I’m every bit like you,” she said. “Stubborn and stupid.”
Joel sighed and rubbed his neck. He stared up at the dark ceiling before meeting her eyes again. “You are stubborn and stupid,” he agreed, allowing the smallest smile to tug at his lips.
She carefully folded his fingers down over the car key in his palm. “I can’t drive that beast, anyway. I’m a terrible driver.”
“That’s true,” Joel agreed.
“And I seem to be partial to life-and-death situations,” she added with a nervous laugh.
Joel made a similar noise. “Looks like we all are.”
“See?” said Maggie, straightening her shoulders and meeting his pale violet gaze. “We’re the same, Joel Tomlins. You and me, we’re the same.”
“Nah,” he said. “I’m a really good driver.”
And then he kissed her.
AS IT HAPPENED, Joel had been right—their fate was already sealed. Charms and incantations were irrelevant, and locks and bolts were pointless. For when Jefferson arrived, he blew the door open with nothing more than a flick of the wrist, nearly tearing it off its hinges. He stood tall in the open entryway, bathed in silver moonlight, his very presence suffocating.
Jefferson was alone on the porch, which Joel supposed showed just how little he feared the Tomlins coven. He mocked them with a simple sneer—a mere curve of his lips—showing his contempt for them all. His cold black eyes went first to Kaden, flashing with distain. Then they landed on Ainsley, and then Joel, and finally Evan, whom he looked upon with such hatred that it turned the air ice cold.
Of course he hates Evan, thought Joel without surprise.
Actually, it was clear he hated them all. They’d taken from him the one person whom he truly believed belonged to him, for her heart had always resided with her Tomlins sons. But couldn’t he see that he’d taken Evangeline right back from them?
“Where is she?” Jefferson demanded in a low voice. “Where is Evangeline?” His fists tightened and cobalt veins rose to the skin.
Joel heard a little squeak of fear from the girls’ hiding place beneath the staircase.
He swallowed. “We don’t know.”
Jefferson’s eyebrows drew downwards. “I know she’s here. I tracked her right to you.” He glanced back to the dark forest behind him, taking in a deep breath of air. “She’s near,” he murmured.
Joel’s heart skipped a beat. She’s near?
He kept his focus on Jefferson, fleetingly wondering what his brothers’ faces portrayed at that moment. Wondering what his own expression exposed, too.
He remembered the gloss of the Venatus spell, follow the trail until that what is lost is returned. Maybe they weren’t being led to Evangeline, after all—maybe she was being led to them.
Did we summon her back to us? Joel thought suddenly. And if so, they’d led her right into Jefferson’s hands.
“Come out, Evangeline!” Jefferson bellowed. “I know you must be weakening by now. You need me, remember!”
A squall of wind funnelled through the vestibule, groaning as it went.
“My son,” Jefferson said, his eyes transfixed on Kaden now. “Stand with me. You’re not one of them.”
Joel bristled. “He’s our brother,” he said tightly. “You’re nothing to him. You’ve done nothing but use him for your own purposes.”
Jefferson didn’t blink. “Kaden, come here,” he commanded. “These will die tonight,” he pronounced, flicking his fingers towards the others. Joel felt a sudden twinge of pain surge through his body at the mere motion. “You can either stand with me,” Jefferson rumbled, “or die with them.”
With barely a hesitation, Kaden stepped forward into the oil lamp’s light. His footsteps echoed in the hallway as he made his way towards the porch and took his place at his father’s side. A gust of frosty air blew through the open doorway in response.
Jefferson sneered as he placed his hand on Kaden’s shoulder.
Kaden bowed his head. “I’m sorry,” he uttered to his brothers.
For a long moment, Joel simply stared in disbelief. He could feel Evan’s eyes boring into him but he couldn’t bring himself to meet his brother’s stare.
Don’t do this, Joel pleaded silently with Kaden. Stand with us. We’re your brothers.
“I ask for forgiveness,” Kaden said. He was speaking to Jefferson now, his voice quiet and strained. “You wanted an heir, and I failed you.”
Joel looked at Evan now, and Evan shook his head remorsefully.
“Kill the Chosen One,” Jefferson answered in a beat. “Do what you were supposed to do all along. Through his death you will absorb his powers. You can become the heir I always wanted.”
“No!” Joel found his voice in the darkness. “No, Kaden, you don’t need to do this. You don’t need him.”
Kaden licked his lips anxiously, and suddenly his eyes became wild. “I’m part of the Fallows coven,” he said with a sharp breath. “And it’s time I took my rightful place.”
Before Joel knew what was happening, Jefferson was withdrawing a knife from the back of his waistband. It glinted in the silvery moonlight as he handed it to Kaden.
Joel flung his arms out to protect Evan.
But Kaden wasn’t aiming for Evan. He swivelled on his heel and plunged the blade deep into Jefferson’s heart.
“OHMYGOD, OHMYGOD, OHMYGOD!” Ainsley paced back and forth in the hallway, shaking out his hands. “He totally just killed a guy on our front porch! I’m freaking out, man. I’m totally freaking out!”
Joel paced alongside him. “Don’t freak out.”
“I can’t help it!” Ainsley shook his hands faster. “This is me, freaking the hell out, Joel!”
Evan was leaning against the closed door, which he’d slammed shut only moments before. Kaden was banging on it, shouting to get inside.
“Let him in!” Joel shoved past Evan and unbolted the door.
“What took you so long?” Kaden demanded, blowing on his hand
s for warmth. “It’s cold out here.” He stepped over Jefferson’s lifeless body and strode inside.
There was a beat of silence as everyone stared at him.
“What?” Kaden asked, wiping the blood-stained blade on the sleeve of his sweatshirt. “This is what you wanted, right? Jefferson dead?”
“Uh, yeah . . .” Joel cleared his throat. “But . . .”
“You did it so easily,” Evan managed.
“And?” Kaden scoffed. “What do you care? It’s done, and it was easy. You saw what he did to our mother, and you know what he was about to do to you guys. Maybe I’m the only one with guts enough to do it. So what?”
Evan’s eyes hardened as he focused on Kaden. “But why did you do it? It sure as hell wasn’t to protect us.”
Joel glared at Evan. “Of course it was. Give him a break.”
Kaden flexed his hands in the lamp light. “What, Evan, you want me to apologise for the fact that I get his powers now? Cause I won’t.” He grinned at Joel. “And I did. Get his powers, I mean. Pretty cool, huh?”
Dazed, Joel blinked at him. “Uh, yeah, I guess.”
“They just . . . I don’t know . . . poured into me.” Abruptly Kaden raised his voice. “Isla, come out here!” he yelled.
Isla crept into the lamp light from her hiding place in the shadows beneath the staircase. Maggie tried to hold her back, but Isla shook free of her grip and rushed to Kaden’s side. She buried her head in his chest and he slung an arm casually around her thin shoulders.
Maggie’s approach was far more tentative. As she emerged into the hallway, Joel instinctively pulled her closer to him, shielding her—from what, he was not yet sure.
“Guys,” Kaden said, his grey eyes dancing. “I gotta tell you, I feel fantastic!”
Joel, Evan, and Ainsley swapped a glance.
“It’s like . . .” Kaden went on dreamily, “. . . it’s like I’ve got so much. So much power. I can feel it seeping into my bones.” He flexed his hands again and grinned as Isla nestled closer to him. “Holy crap, guys!” he exclaimed. “I’ve got Jefferson’s powers!”
Blackheath Resurrection (The Blackheath Witches Book 2) Page 19
