“You know not to sneak up on me, Tristan,” Ryder said with a slight grin. Then the foursome carried on toward the sound of the explosion.
Vivien took several deep, calming breaths, willing her heart to stop racing, then thought of her mother. This—all of this—was not only to free Vivien and these people, but her mother as well, if only in memory alone. Standing a bit straighter, she was ready.
She was beginning to feel the coven’s magic surrounding her and knew they were close. She wondered how long it would take for the others to arrive. “Not too much further. I can feel the bastards,” she said, anger lacing her tone.
Within moments, she saw a side of Ryder that she’d never seen before, yet she wasn’t frightened. Long black claws extended from his fingertips, his fangs elongated, and a hollowness surrounded his silver gaze. Tristan and Amelia looked the same. Vivien felt she was in good company.
Up ahead, coming down the hill, Vivien saw five vampires heading their way and she smiled wickedly. She hoped they were turned witches. Killing them would be much more satisfying. The rogue vampires sneered, then with inhuman speed, ran toward the foursome. Vivien wasted no time. With a flick of her wrist, she set them all ablaze in a ball of fire. She heard their screams—it was a beautiful cadence to her ears.
That’s when she noticed a group of coven warriors dressed in bronzed battle gear holding long spears, glowing in a magical blue light, standing atop the hill as if waiting for something, or someone. She wondered which one was her father, but that was of no consequence now.
“Vivien, stand down.” Ryder grasped her arm to stop her from continuing to advance.
She turned to him. “Why? Isn’t this what we’ve been waiting for?”
“We should wait for the others. We need more magic; otherwise they will attempt to separate us. Do you understand?” He placed his hands on her shoulders, then looked into her eyes. “We have no idea how many more await us.”
Vivien knew he was right and she was pissed. She wanted to blow all their asses to oblivion. But she knew a cooler head always prevailed.
“Fine, but not for long.”
Tristan and Amelia were ready, standing by Vivien’s side. Amelia’s eyes glowed a menacing blue. It wasn’t long before several Harlington witches, along with Richard, Emma, and the Hybrid Coven arrived. Vivien wondered why the coven warriors still stood staring from the hill. What were they planning?
Vivien looked to the hybrid, Grace, and her witch friend, Dee, both with their magic at the ready; pink and purple flames engulfed their hands. Genevieve was the picture of calm as she assessed the scene. Grace and Dee nodded toward Vivien, telling her that they had her back.
Richard stepped forward. “What have you run into so far?” he asked.
Vivien answered, “Only five vampires just before you arrived, but they’re a pile of ash now. Then I noticed the coven warriors. I’m not sure what they’re waiting for.”
Before Richard could respond, another explosion rang out to their left on the other side of the grassy field. Vivien could see the smoke rising in the night sky from the light of the moon. She felt the coven’s magic rising all around her—could feel it along the surface of her skin—then glanced to her right as yet something else exploded in the darkness. They were being ambushed from all sides!
“It’s an ambush!” she shouted. “Everyone get in position.”
Vivien looked toward the hill where a tall, dark-haired man came to the forefront. He had to be her father. “Is this what you want? You’re a coward!” she shouted hoping Machin would hear her.
Richard placed his hand on Vivien’s shoulder. “Remember what I said. You hold all the power. This is your destiny.” Then he turned and took up his fighting position.
Everyone fanned out. Witches among witches, Hybrids and vampires standing alongside them in a show of force. Vivien knew they were outnumbered, but she was the key—she could stop any bloodshed before it happened. But was she really strong enough?
She glanced to the left and saw a group of vampires being led by several coven warriors, marching amidst the smoke. To her right, it was much the same, with coven warriors taking the lead, heading their way. Richard said she could stop the battle, but how? She needed more time, but unfortunately, time was not on her side. She had to think of something, and fast.
“Vivien, they’re advancing,” Ryder said. “I can take a good portion of the vampires out on my own, but we can’t be separated.”
She looked at Ryder’s pleading expression, then over to the advancing men. Magic. It was the one thing she had the power to wield, far stronger than that of her father.
She left Ryder’s side and took several steps forward up the hill where she knew Machin would hear her.
“Machin! Show yourself, you coward!” Taking another step forward, she heard Ryder’s pleas for her to stop, but she ignored him. She knew what had to be done. “I am your daughter—your flesh and blood—yet you would rather see me killed, and over what? Power?”
“She lies!” Machin shouted, looking around at his warriors, then glaring down at her. “She’s an abomination and will be the end of this coven if she lives!”
“Says who? You?”
“Kill her!”
Vivian raised both arms, palms up, halting advancing forces from either side all at once. They were powerless to move.
“What if I can prove that I’m your daughter and because of you, my mother and I had to flee the coven the night I was born?”
“You have no such proof,” Machin yelled. “The prophecy states that a child born on the night of December third, 1984 with both powers of witch and shapeshifter would be the undoing of our coven. The child being the product of both witch and demon blood.” He took a step forward and pointed toward Vivien. “That child is you!”
Vivien laughed. “That’s some story you’ve contrived.” Then all at once she heard a commotion behind her. Vampires. She sensed them as they attacked from the rear. Wondering where the hell they came from, Vivien gave Machin one last look, then took off down the hill to join the fight. She couldn’t allow her friends and allies to fight her fight without her.
TWELVE
RYDER COULD HEAR the vampires as they advanced from behind, he needn’t turn around to know they were there. He glanced to his left giving Tristan a sign, then abruptly turned on his heel, taking off at an inhuman speed, clashing with the advancing enemy.
Fangs and claws extended, Ryder sliced through the necks of the first three vampires he reached. Six more moved toward them. With Tristan and Amelia at his side, each took two at time, ripping their hearts from their chests. Blood sprayed across Ryder’s face, and he continued, seeing several more coming from his left. The trio turned, but were stopped immediately by what could only be magic.
Ryder felt as if his flesh was burning. He could feel his organs twisting in and around themselves—the pain was excruciating, unlike anything he had ever felt before. He couldn’t see who was torturing him, but he was banking on one of the coven warriors. The pain intensified, and blood streamed from his eyes, nose and mouth—he could taste it. He could see the coppery liquid as it covered his irises. He began to choke on chunks of the crimson gore—his body seized several times, then rose in the air. Blinking, he glanced to the side where he saw Tristan and Amelia seizing on the ground. He only hoped that they lived through this.
In his pain-induced haze, Ryder heard a sardonic laugh—Damien—he was close. Piece of shit.
“Ryder, I warned you what would happen if you didn’t bring me the girl.”
Ryder had stopped choking and could see Damien clearly now with two coven warriors standing at his side.
Vivien’s heart felt like it was being sliced in two—Ryder—she was feeling his pain. He was hurt, and she needed to find him, but didn’t see him anywhere. Vampires lay in heaps of ashes all around her; she’d fried them where they stood, with the help of hybrids and other witches. But where the hell were Ryder, Tristan and Am
elia?
She yelled for Emma and Genevieve. The two women ran to her side immediately. “I can’t find Ryder. I can feel that he’s in trouble. Have you seen him?” She was near frantic.
“No, not since the first vampire attack,” Genevieve answered.
“Nor have I,” Emma said, looking around.
“We’ll gather the witches and search for him while Machin seems to be occupied. He has disappeared,” Genevieve said.
“I doubt that he’s disappeared. He’s a spineless coward, but I’d say he’s off regrouping somewhere. Let’s just hurry while he’s gone.” Vivien ran a hand through her hair. “I’m not sure how much more time Ryder has. He seems to be in a lot of pain.” Hot tears were threatening to spill, but she knew she couldn’t allow herself to lose control.
Vivien was searching the battlefield high and low for Ryder while the others were gathering witches. She couldn’t find him anywhere. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the coven warriors and vampires she’d immobilized earlier were beginning to stir. Her heart began to race. She needed to find Ryder, but she had to stop the enemy from annihilating everyone in their path. Her mind was in chaos.
She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the coven warriors from earlier descend the hill, shouting what sounded like a battle cry, along with the others on either side of her. As much as she wanted to go to Ryder, she knew she couldn’t leave these people to die. This was Machin’s doing. He’d set those men free from her magic. It would be the last time he fucked with her. She was done playing nice.
Vivien roared, then ran toward the horde of vampires and warriors. She felt her magic coursing through her veins, making her stronger and more resilient by the second. She conjured a long steel sword in her right hand just as she clashed with the first warrior, removing his head from his shoulders. Glancing around, she saw more were coming for her—they all were. Then she saw Genevieve send out a powerful stream of blue magic, wrapping it around three warriors like a lasso, slicing them in half. The other hybrids were holding their own, fighting like real warriors—survivors of a curse given to them against their will.
Taking a step back, Vivien joined a pair of Harlington witches just as one female was about to become a vampire’s dinner. Hell no! Not on her watch. With a flick of her wrist, the tall, greasy-haired bloodsucker burst into flames. Then, Vivien joined the witch’s side. “Thank you,” the witch said, bending at the waist and breathing hard. “I’m Faith.”
Vivien nodded, then felt magic rising from behind her. She took a step back and swung her sword. She hit her target, slicing him just below his armor. When he was about to hit the ground, Vivien lit his ass up with a magical blue flame. “Die, you, sick son of bitch!”
All at once, a sickening thud reverberated in Vivien’s skull. Pain radiated throughout her entire body. She felt herself fading. Her surroundings were beginning to blur, and blackness was ebbing the corners of her vision. She heard Richard shout her name, just before her body went numb and fell to the ground. “Shit, shoulda seen that comin’.” Then her eyes closed, and darkness consumed her.
THIRTEEN
VIVIEN AWOKE to the sound of Ryder’s voice, but she couldn’t open her eyes. Everything hurt. Hell, breathing hurt. Holy shit! Ryder! Her eyes snapped open and she turned her head in search of him. She was no longer on the battlefield, but somewhere else. She could feel the presence of others, but her senses seemed off.
“Ryder,” she croaked.
“Vivien, you’re awake. I’m here.” He knelt down and touched her face. She just stared at him, something about his eyes was different, or maybe it was the hit she took to the head.
“You’re okay, but I felt your pain,” she said. “I thought you were dying. How did you get away?” The feeling in her arms and legs was coming back. Definitely a good sign.
Ryder sighed, then turned away from her. His shoulders slumped, then he looked back down at her face. “I didn’t want you to see me in such a state. So, I fed and now I’m as good as new.”
Vivien only nodded. Something wasn’t right. Ryder wasn’t himself. He wouldn’t have fed on any of these people. She felt Ryder near death. This person didn’t smell like him either. Son of a bitch! Machin—it had to be. She continued to lie there, pretending to doze off until her strength returned. It didn’t take long.
She sat up on her elbows, but wasn’t prepared for what she saw. Coven warriors and vampires—everywhere—hiding behind the trees. She could feel the coven’s magic surrounding her. Why was she still alive? Were they toying with her first? Ryder!
“Ryder,” she gently called out to him.
“Yes, Vivien.” He leaned in toward her.
“Fuck you!” She blasted him with magical fire straight to his face, then stood. That’s when she noticed all of the witches and hybrids were tied up near a blazing fire.
Fake Ryder fell to the ground, clutching his face and screaming. Out of the corner of her eye, Vivien saw warriors approaching cautiously.
“Stop!” she shouted. “I wouldn’t come any closer if I were you.” She looked around into the shadows where they were hiding, glaring at each one of them while she waited for whiny ass to stop bellowing on the ground.
Laughter rang out from the ground where fake Ryder once lay. Ryder’s dark hair and features morphed into a taller, almost black-haired man dressed in armored battle gear.
With only a thought, Vivien released the witches behind her from their binds while Machin studied her face with what looked like hatred and vile disgust.
“Where’s the real Ryder, you, sick bastard?”
Machin laughed again. “Waiting for you, of course. But… we want you to see him one last time before you both die—together. Poetic, isn’t it?”
Conjuring a short steel blade, Vivien lunged for Machin, clutching his head, and holding the knife to his throat. “You should’ve killed me when you had the chance. I’ll ask again—where’s Ryder?” she shouted, drawing blood along the side of his neck.
Warriors stepped from the shadows. “You assholes are pretty fuckin’ stupid. What makes you think I won’t kill him, then all of you at the same time? Wanna try me?” she barked.
She looked back at Machin. “Answer me, shit bag.” She’d had enough.
A derisive smile split his face and she felt magic—his magic—envelop her. In a matter of seconds, Machin transformed into a white wolf and Vivien took several startled steps back. Her heart was racing.
“Two can play that game,” she snarled, then felt her transformation take place. It was as simple as changing clothes. Her black wolf met the blues eyes of the white wolf’s stare. Then she pounced, going for his throat.
Genevieve signaled the other witches to follow her quietly from the fire into the wooded area while the warriors and vampires were engrossed in the wolves fighting. The sounds of gnashing of teeth and yelps of pain were fueling her to take these warriors down, one-by-one.
She put a finger to her lips as they approached three warriors standing side-by-side near a large tree. Instead of using magic the way she normally did, she thought of another way after speaking with Emma. She motioned for all of the witches to join hands. She leaned toward Emma, asking her to send them a mental picture of what she wanted each of them to do—just as they had discussed while being held prisoner. Once everyone nodded that they understood, it began.
With the combined powers of Harlington witches, New Orleans witches and hybrids, they were able to take down three Brighton coven warriors with the power of their minds. They only needed to concentrate on the same thought at the same time—stopping their hearts, killing the coven warriors instantly and silently.
Genevieve smiled at the group, then continued moving under the cover of trees, taking several more coven warriors down until she reached where the two wolves were fighting.
Machin had an advantage and just before he tore through Vivien’s throat, Genevieve held out her hands and blasted him with a force so strong, he was sent fly
ing at least ten feet from a bleeding Vivien. She shifted back into her true form once Machin was gone; her breathing was erratic.
Quickly, Genevieve went to her side to assess the wounds. Many were deep, but she knew she could heal her in a matter of moments. “Vivien, try to remain still. I am going to heal you now.”
Vivien nodded, with tears rolling down her face. Genevieve spread her hands around the length of Vivien’s body, then gently pressed on the gravest of wounds along her side. She could see a bone fragment protruding from her skin. Concentrating and praying to the ancestors for their power and strength, Genevieve’s hands lit up in a blue and white light—healing powers of the ancestors—and radiated around Vivien’s entire body.
She watched as the wounds began to seal themselves and blood receded. Genevieve felt the moment Vivien was completely restored. She removed her hands and lifted the witch up to a sitting position. “Better now?” She smiled.
“How can I thank you, Genevieve? I thought I was dying—but you saved me.” Tears slid down Vivien’s face, then Emma came to stand next to her.
“Get up, dear. We have to finish this and find Ryder before Machin comes back,” Emma said, extending her hand and looking around. She and Genevieve helped Vivien to her feet, but before Genevieve turned around, Vivien pulled her into a backbreaking hug. “Thank you for saving my life.”
Genevieve patted Vivien’s cheek. “Anything for a fellow witch, especially one with a soul as kind as yours. You should remember that,” she said raising a brow, and touching Vivien’s heart as a reminder, then smiled.
Vivien felt Ryder again—his pain—his heart—his soul. He was close, but where? She turned and walked in a wide circle. The coven warriors and vampires had disappeared. A vision of the battlefield flashed before her eyes—through Ryder’s eyes. She knew exactly where he was, and she was pissed.
Shadows and Stars Page 85
