Spring Rain

by Lizzy Ford

  “We didn’t find her, but we found Noah.”

  She frowned. “What’s my brother doing in town?”

  “I’d say looking for Morgan, too.”

  He betrayed you, Bartholomew reminded her.

  She shook her head. Enough time had passed that she had reconsidered what Noah did in December and assumed he was probably sorry. After all, he’d always been her sweet little brother. He’d never purposely betray or hurt her.

  But he did. Bartholomew never forgave or forgot. It had become clear he didn’t care about her relationship to Noah or the fact that blood ran deeper than anything else. She was willing to hear her brother’s apology out and welcome him home.

  He will destroy you. You cannot trust anyone, least of all him.

  “Stop it,” she growled at Bartholomew. Turning her attention to Troy, she spoke. “Where was he? What was he doing?”

  “He was at the coffee shop where Morgan works. We lost him when he left.”

  “Did he see you?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  Dawn contemplated how to handle her brother being in town. “It doesn’t matter,” she decided. “Go back to the coffee shop. She’s gotta be within walking distance. Don’t come back until you find her.” She whirled and retreated into her room.

  “What about Noah?”

  “What about him?”

  Kill him. He will turn you over to Decker.

  She gritted her teeth, tired of the constant chatter. “We will not kill him!” she snapped.

  “Okay,” Troy replied.

  It’s a mistake, Dawn. You made it with him once. Let me handle him.

  “If he becomes an issue again, you can,” she growled. “Right now, I need some sleep!” She slammed the door on a frowning Troy.

  The moment she lay down again, the baby began kicking.

  I can take all this away, Bartholomew reminded her. Just say the words.

  Dawn said nothing this time, on the verge of tears. She needed a break and some real rest, along with a certain soul stone to appease Bartholomew and destroy Beck. The thought of turning over her body until the baby was born sounded incredibly enticing.

  But the small part of her that feared for her child didn’t trust anyone, even Bartholomew, to protect her.

  “I’ll think about it,” she said. “We have a backup plan anyway.”

  Morgan’s brother.

  “Exactly. If we can’t take the stone, we’ll flush her out by torturing her brother.”

  It is a good plan.

  “About time you acknowledged it,” she replied acidly. “We don’t always have to do things your way!”

  Conviction, Dawn. If you take Connor, you must kill him. It’s the only way to break Morgan’s will.

  “We’ll see. If we can find her here in Vegas and use her against Beck …” Her Dark air magick swept around the room. She relished the thought of having Morgan pleading at her feet and slicing the witchling up in front of Beck. Morgan, too, had taken any chance she had with Beck away. But maybe, if the fire witchling were out of the picture completely, Beck would have a reason to return to Dawn.

  Kill Morgan. She’s too dangerous for what you plan. You must stop this delusion, Bartholomew said, not for the first time. You cannot be with Beck. Ever. Only his counterbalance –

  “Stop!” she shrieked, hating the reminder of what Morgan was. Dawn yanked the alarm clock off the bed stand and flung it across the room. “I don’t care what you say. I will have my revenge and if I can’t find her, I’ll cut her brother into too many pieces for anyone to identify! Beck is weak, Bartholomew! When faced with Morgan’s death or being with me, he will choose to be with me!” Air magick whipped around the room, flinging anything not nailed down into the air and toppling the furniture.

  Bartholomew was laughing. We will see. You lack the follow-through to make this happen, but I don’t. The best and most effective plans are simple. Kill her and take the stone. Don’t give her the chance to act against us.

  “There’s nothing she can do to us! Or are you not telling me something again?”

  There is a chance she can. Kill her.

  Dawn fumed, aware of Bartholomew’s constant attempts to manipulate her. Unable to control her actions, he relied on lies, trickery and sometimes even the truth to convince her to do what he wanted. The first time she killed, she was shocked by the savagery of what she had done – and also a little excited by it as well. Several deaths later, she viewed the murder of Morgan with exhilaration – but she wanted revenge against Beck more. She wanted him to choose her or suffer beyond anything anyone had ever known.

  I can give you Beck.

  She froze. In all her time with Bartholomew, he had tried to talk her out of wanting to be with Beck. “Say that again.”

  I will give you what you want. Bartholomew didn’t sound completely happy about it. You would risk everything for him to return to you?

  “Yes,” she replied without hesitation, listening intently. It was the first time Bartholomew hadn’t scoffed at her about this.

  Even your child?

  Dawn touched her stomach. Her mouth went dry. Bartholomew was trying to manipulate her again. He wanted her to surrender her body to him, full time, and his justifications – combined with her fatigue – were making it harder and harder for her to find a reason why she shouldn’t.

  When you realize your brother will betray you again, when you see Morgan will elude you, when you admit to yourself you cannot get Beck on your own, you will have to make a choice. It’s been three months, and you still don’t have Morgan.

  She listened, not liking what she heard at all. “You – and she – both say I lack conviction. I’m about to prove you wrong.” Dawn went to the door and whipped it open. “Troy!”

  “Yeah?” The Dark witchling stood from his seat on the couch watching television.

  “I want Morgan handled now. If you have to torch everything within a mile radius around where she works to flush her out, do it! Find Morgan and call me when you have her. And … bring Noah to me. I don’t care what it takes. Go now and don’t come back until you’re done.”

  He gazed at her for a long moment, but knew better than to protest. He had burnt the body of the last witchling who objected to his tasking along with those of several others over the past several weeks. Troy was strong, Dark, and a good soldier. Even Bartholomew had approved of her choice of keeping him around to help, which was rare. Bartholomew trusted no one.

  “I’ll call when I have them,” he said and strode towards the door, motioning for two more witchlings to follow.

  You need to kill her, Dawn. She’s a threat to us.

  “If Decker can’t find us, nothing can touch us.” Dawn waited until the living area of the presidential suite was empty. “I’ll show you conviction, Bartholomew,” she said, satisfied with her decisions.

  We will see.

  Chapter Four

  Beck’s days all ran together. It was Saturday, a week and a half before the equinox. He woke up the same time he did every day and went through his morning routine before stepping onto the source of Light and beginning his work. Earth magick soon saturated his senses, and he closed his eyes, relaxing into the flow.

  It was midmorning when he heard the step of someone approach. Unlike Decker, who moved silently, this person crunched snow and snapped branches and was preceded by a light breeze that tickled the back of his neck in greeting.

  Not up to dealing with anyone, Beck likewise wasn’t about to turn anyone away who went through the effort to find him. The Master of Light never left someone wounded, alone or vulnerable, even if he was all those things.

  “Hey, Biji,” he greeted the approaching witchling without turning.

  “Hi, Beck.”

  “You okay?”

  “Not really.”

  Beck twisted to see her. Biji was carrying a sleeping bag and wore her backpack. The small Indian girl eyed him critically.

  “Not a fan o
f the beard,” she told him with her characteristic bluntness.

  A smile slipped free. Beck had always had a soft spot for the loyal, spirited friend of Summer. Biji was like the little sister he never had. He rubbed his jaw, where a thick growth of black hair covered his neck and cheeks.

  “You look like a lumberjack,” she continued.

  “Thanks,” he replied dryly. “What’re you doing out here?”

  “I’m moving in,” she proclaimed.

  “With me?” His smile widened.

  “Yep.” She looked around. “Where’s the cabin?”

  “No cabin. I’m roughing it.”

  Biji’s features twisted into an expression of distaste. “Really?”

  “Yeah.”

  She sighed. “All right. I’ll stay anyway.”

  Beck laughed for the first time in weeks. “What’re you doing out here, Biji?”

  “My parents are here for the equinox.” She dropped her possessions on the ground and sat on her sleeping bag.

  “That’s a long way to fly.”

  “I didn’t make it home for the holidays, so they thought they’d fly out.”

  “Cool. I’ve never met them.”

  “You don’t want to!” she snapped.

  Beck shifted to face her. She wasn’t dressed for life in the wilderness. Her expensive snow boots were fashionable not practical, and she wore a light jacket that wasn’t going to stand up to the night cold. If she was serious about attempting to rough it, she’d change her mind by morning.

  “So you don’t want to see them?” he prodded, sensing there was more.

  “I do. I don’t want to see him.”

  “Who?”

  “The guy they want me to marry.”

  Beck had heard rumors about her wealthy parents arranging a marriage for her in India. He’d also heard something else. “And you like Noah,” he said.

  “I do not like Noah! He’s an ass. He left without saying goodbye and never texted anyone to say where he went!”

  “That’s a yes,” he teased.

  She glared at him.

  “Bad news, Biji. I have to go back to civilization tomorrow anyway. I’m not leaving you in the forest,” he said.

  “I’ll find somewhere else to hide tomorrow. Can I stay today?”

  “Sure.”

  She appeared satisfied.

  “If I tell your parents where you are, will they give me an elephant?” he asked, unable to help poking the grumpy air witchling.

  “Just try it, Beck,” she warned. “And I won’t tell you the school gossip.”

  “Is it about me?”

  “No.”

  “Hmmm.” He pretended to consider her offer. “Deal. I’ll keep my mouth closed. You talk.”

  “Decker and Summer got in a huge fight,” Biji informed him. “Decker doesn’t want her living so far away from him and she said she can do what she wants. And Decker got mad and then Summer told him when he can act like the Master of Dark and not a two year old throwing a hissy fit, she’d talk to him again.”

  Beck was laughing hard by the end of Biji’s story. The air witchling had a flair for the dramatic.

  “It wasn’t funny, Beck,” Biji protested despite the smile tugging up the corners of her lips. “This happened during a field trip two days ago.”

  If there was one thing Beck knew, it was that his brother had met his match in the shy, sweet, yet strong Summer. By now, they’d probably made up and Decker had promised never to act out again. Summer could handle Decker in a way no one else could.

  I forgot how much I missed Biji and the others. And laughing. He regained his composure and grinned at Biji. Having her there, even for a day, would brighten his world.

  “C’mon. I’ll show you where I’ve been staying.” He stood and offered her a hand, helping her up. “Anything else going on?” he asked curiously and began moving towards the tree house.

  Biji recounted school life, from rumors about their friends to the fact the dorms of the Light witchlings were over capacity after his recruiting efforts. He listened absently, enjoying her company despite his desire for privacy.

  They reached the tree trunk. He ducked inside, and she followed.

  “ … in Nevada,” Biji finished saying. She frowned at the tiny space. “Really, Beck?”

  He chuckled. “Yeah. What’s this about Nevada?”

  “That’s where Dawn is.”

  “Wait, what?” he faced her, startled by the casual pronouncement.

  “Decker found her last week. Didn’t he tell you?” Biji put her things down and surveyed her temporary home, unimpressed.

  Last week? “No, he didn’t.” Beck frowned. His brother had clearly lied when he visited the day before. He didn’t put it past the Master of Dark to hide his official activities, but he didn’t expect his brother to lie to him about something as important as the fact that Dawn had been found after three months.

  “Uh, oh.” Biji was gazing up at him. “Was I not supposed to tell you?”

  “I’d be the last to know if so,” he replied. “You’re sure?”

  “Yeah. I overheard a meeting of the administrators talking about whether or not you or Decker was stable enough to handle her and if so, what should be done.”

  Stable enough. Beck’s jaw ticked. They really did think something was wrong with him despite all his work on buffering and building the Light source. He was beginning to understand how Decker felt since it became clear he was destined to become the much feared and distrusted Master of Dark.

  Was it so hard to think he was just doing his job?

  “Not that I was spying,” Biji added. “I was practicing listening from afar with my air magick.”

  Feeling her concerned gaze, Beck forced a smile. “No worries. I won’t tell.”

  “Did I upset you?”

  “Nah.” Beck motioned to their surroundings. “So, this is home!”

  “Yeah. Interesting.”

  “Get comfortable. I’ve got some work to do before I can entertain.”

  “Okay. I’ll be here.” Biji pulled out an iPad and sat between a stool and her sleeping bag.

  Beck left his small home. He plucked his phone from his pocket and pulled up Decker’s contact, hesitating before he texted.

  I hear someone found Dawn in Nevada. Decker would confront him while Beck usually tried to ask nicely. It was how they usually operated. Decker would understand Beck wasn’t happy about being lied to.

  He tucked the phone in his pocket and went back to the edge of the Light source to work, sensing he was never quite going to be ready for the truth.

  Hours later, before twilight, Beck stood, drained and body humming with warmth. He stretched before starting back towards the tree house. He normally worked until he fell asleep and awoke in the wee hours of the night, but with Biji there, he didn’t want her getting worried. He checked his phone as he went.

  Biji or Summer? Decker had responded.

  Beck smiled to himself. Biji, he typed back. Why didn’t you tell me????

  Before he reached the tree, Decker had answered. Because I wanted to handle it.

  “Not on your life, Decker.” Beck told him as much in response, not about to let his hot-headed, Darkness wielding brother swallow Dawn and the child she carried. They had agreed in December to deal with the situation together. If even Decker was avoiding him, the perception that he was broken must be greater than he imagined. Too great to be brushed off the way Beck had been doing. He didn’t feel remotely ready to leave the forest, but he couldn’t put off dealing with the rest of the world any longer.

  Biji had managed to start the fire and rearranged the furniture, folded the blankets on the bed and cleaned up. Beck blinked as he entered, not realizing how messy it was until he saw everything uncluttered and clean.

  She was reading a book. “How can you stay out here?” she complained and lowered the paperback. “My iPad ran out and there’s no running water.”

  “That’s why
it’s called roughing it,” he said with a smile and sat down on a stool. “Want me to walk you back?”

  “No. I can make it one night.”

  Amused by his companion, Beck pulled out a protein bar. “I keep some food in the fridge, too.”

  She looked around.

  He laughed. “In the snow bank behind the tree.”

  “This is not cool.” Biji returned to her book.

  Beck’s phone vibrated. You still coming home? Decker had asked.

  Hell yes. Tomorrow. So we can talk about Dawn, Beck replied. He tucked his phone away.

  Biji ended up being a good housemate. By the time they were ready for bed, she’d made him laugh several more times. Upbeat for the first time in too long, Beck settled into the sleeping bag she brought while she took his bed with all the blankets. The fire died down to glowing embers.

  “Do you think about her?” Biji asked in the quiet.

  “About who?”

  “Morgan.”

  “All the time,” he replied truthfully. “Do you think about Noah?”

  “No. Maybe. It doesn’t make any sense that I do, Beck,” she said with a sigh. “I don’t even know him.”

  “I barely know Morgan.”

  “Same here. Noah, not Morgan.”

  “I understood.” He smiled, gaze on the fire. “He risked his life to save you and Summer. He can’t be all-bad.”

  “Yeah. It feels like something started and never had a chance to finish,” she murmured. “I want to know how it should’ve ended.”

  “If it ended,” he corrected her. “There’s a chance it wouldn’t. At least, I felt that way with Morgan.”

  “Everything ends, Beck.”

  Except the pain. He said nothing.

  “At least she didn’t have to see your beard.”

  “Is it that bad?” Beck rubbed his furry jaw once more.

  “Yeah.”

  He chuckled. Biji was the most honest person he’d ever met. “You’re good people, Biji.”

  “So are you, Beck. Thanks for letting me hang out.”

  “No worries.”

  Not long after, her breathing deepened as she slid into slumber. Beck listened, not feeling tired despite all the work he’d done with the Light this day.

  His mind was on Dawn and the child she carried. He and Decker hadn’t known how to deal with her three months ago when they discovered she was possessed by Bartholomew, a Master of Dark who committed great atrocities in his time. As far as he knew, no one understood exactly how to deal with her now. Decker’s idea about the soul stone intrigued him. He returned to it again, wishing there were more details known about how Bartholomew’s sons had managed to trap his soul with the stone before sending it into the Darkness.