“Cleo,” he warned, “don’t do this.”
I chose to overlook the comment as I sprinkled a pentagram onto the wooden floor, using a mixture of earth, water, and salt. “I wish you and your friends weren’t forcing me to do this before the full moon. I had hopes of completing the ritual in the light of the night sky.” A relaxed breath escaped me when I lit the match and set the pentagram on fire.
Normally, the mixture wouldn’t catch fire, but in normal circumstances, there wasn’t a Witch to help it grow.
“It would have been purely symbolic, of course,” I continued, retrieving a golden dagger, one I stole from a museum. The museum had no idea what this golden dagger was, because it was the first and last of its kind discovered.
The cub made sure of that.
“If you do this—” There was a significant tone change in his voice. I never would have guessed that Michael could become that nasty. “—I’ll make sure you pay the price.”
Slitting my palm, I laughed outright. If only Michael knew what was headed his way…if only he knew. “Ancient fire, I call to thee, take my life in exchange for salvation. Awake Sephira, whose time was taken from thee. Give her life and show her enemies true damnation.”
Repeating the phrase louder, I slit my other hand and threw the dagger down. The energy flowed from me. It left my body through the slashes on my palms, twisting and winding its way to the mistress.
The dark, ancient magic entered her mummified mouth, filling in her taught cheeks.
I wished I would be alive to see her in her untamed glory, but the moment she opened her eyes would be the moment I had to close mine. For good.
A low, breathless moan came from me as I watched the tips of my fingers swirl into the same black energy that had just left my palms. The faster I disappeared, the faster she would awaken.
Her mouth was now plump and red, her eyes seared with permanent eyeliner, her hair rejuvenated and healthy. The mummified arms became restored. The elaborate paint that used to cover her entire body was there once more.
My eyelids closed, and I welcomed the pure nothingness of oblivion, knowing that I was successful in doing what I was meant to do: resurrect Sephira.
Chapter Thirty-Seven – Liz
I wasn’t sure how far behind me Taiton was, and truthfully it was one of the last things on my mind. Michael was my top priority; I knew that now. If only it didn’t take me so long to realize. I wished we would have known what we were doing, what we were getting into, all those years ago.
Now it might be too late.
My breath was nearly exhausted when I reached the top floor. But I wasn’t there yet. Pick up the pace, I told my fatigued mind, pick up the bleeding pace. If I didn’t make it in time to save Michael, then I had to stop Cleo.
Sephira, the Vampire she was attempting to revive, was an Original, and from the tales that were told around the Council headquarters, I knew she was the worst.
The darkness was a bit stifling. It made it obscenely difficult to find the apartment numbers on the walls. Nevertheless, I came upon a busted door and knew it was Cleo’s place. Raphael must have gotten in.
“What is this?” I swiftly asked, running to Raphael’s side. He was frozen upon a field of churning green symbols. While he answered, I dashed to the door he stood before and banged against it.
Taiton better be on his way.
“A paralyzing hex,” he was quick to say. “I’ll be freed once the Witch is—” There was a pause, causing me to face him. Raphael was too busy watching the floor’s greenness dissipate. “—dead.”
Oh, dear. If he was able to move now, then that could only mean…
His eyes locked with mine when he starkly told me, “Move.” I relocated my position, so that he could break down the door. With a gust of wind, I saw the wood splinter and collapse on the ground.
Sprinting inside the room, I yelled, “Stop!”
Cleo was no longer here. There was no trace of her. Oh, no.
I drew my eyes from the pentagonal flames and stared at the man tied to the bedpost. “Michael!”
Michael called to my attention, saying, “Elizabeth—get out! Run before…” His endearing English tone dwindled when his dark eyes met with the body standing in the corner.
My ears heard Taiton’s deafening footsteps behind me, but all I could focus on was the Original in the body frame. Sephira. Gripping the sword tighter, I observed her black eyes open. I imagined she looked as terrifyingly malevolent now as she did thousands of years ago.
We failed.
Raphael began to mutter something under his breath. It was scarcely audible, but what I heard I recognized as an ancient language. His hands glowed a dark blue as he flashed before Sephira, who hadn’t moved a muscle.
She let loose a petrifying growl as she took one look at the blue of his hands. Staring into his eyes, Sephira compelled him in perfect English—a language she shouldn’t have even known, “Stop.” The cobalt glowing soon ceased, leaving Raphael to wonder what happened. A kick to his chest sent him through the wall and into the neighboring kitchen.
“Here,” I handed Taiton the silver sword before I ran to Michael. My frantic fingers were having minor problems with the knots, and I was sure the trembling didn’t help.
“I’m telling you,” he whispered, “go. Leave me.”
“No,” I told him. Two of his limbs were now free. All Michael had to do was untie his last hand and leg. Feeling my heart pounding through my chest, I turned back to Taiton, who had just missed cutting off the Original’s head. Even with his towering figure, he appeared powerless to Sephira.
Taiton, I willed, be careful.
“In all of my travels,” Sephira said with a sly twitch of a smile, “I have never come across a behemoth such as you.” Her jeweled hand held his arm at bay. In the blink of an eye, Taiton fell to the floor and the sword slid to my feet.
Raphael appeared, full of dust and plaster, allowing me to witness the transformation. His eyes were a bright green, his teeth elongated to the extreme. If there wasn’t an Original in the room, I’d have second thoughts about having something like that on my team.
He lunged for her, but she masterfully evaded, countering with an exceptional punch to the gut. While the two Demons fought, Taiton shook off his fall and made motions to get to his feet.
I bent to grab the sword and toss it to him, but was cut off by a body that was thrown at me, causing me to tumble back and hit the ground. Raphael was certainly heavier than he appeared to be, and I couldn’t move him off for the life of me.
“Be a good boy and stay down.” Sephira’s eyes narrowed at Raphael, who immediately felt heftier.
I didn’t blame Raphael, for I knew she was an Original, therefore she had more power than him. In Demon terms, he was her subordinate. There was no possible way he could avoid her compulsion. I simply wished that he hadn’t landed on top of me.
I also wished this was all a bad dream.
“Michael,” I gasped, outstretching my hand to the bed, “I can’t…breathe…” I spotted Sephira using my peripherals. She had Taiton back on the floor; one foot rested on his chest and the other on his chin.
“A shame I didn’t encounter you when I was looking for soldiers.” Her bare foot traced his cheek. “You would have gone far.”
Michael’s knees intercepted my perception of the scene that was transpiring less than ten feet from us. He tried peeling Raphael off me, saying, “He’s too heavy. I can’t lift him.” There was sadness in his eyes, just as there was in mine.
I pointed to the sword that lay a few inches from me.
Determination replaced the sadness as he pounced on the sword and stood. An earsplitting crack echoed in the room as Michael yelled, “No!”
Paining to move my neck to wholly view the commotion, I hoped that wasn’t Taiton’s neck. It couldn’t be. The smile that curved on Sephira’s lips and the blankness in his dark eyes told me all I didn’t want to know.
Tai
ton was dead, his huge, lumbering body collapsing to the floor, head bent unnaturally.
Her evil eyes fell to Michael as she opened her mouth, exposing her knife-like teeth. They were much sharper and longer than a normal Vampire’s. A flash blurred my vision. I blinked and prayed for Michael. I couldn’t lose him.
“I smell him in you,” Sephira snarled as she viciously sent her fangs into the base of his neck. The sound of Michael’s ripping flesh took out what little breath I had away.
Wetness fell from my eyes when the silver sword was dropped before my face. During the next few seconds, I could hardly think. It was difficult to capture a breath, Michael was being drained dry, and I was powerless to stop it. Taiton was gone, and we were all about to follow suit. All was lost.
Those thoughts were abruptly stopped when Sephira brusquely tore her teeth from Michael’s neck and dropped him to the floor. Her face had twinges of confusion when she whispered, “Tainted blood…” In an instant, her teeth shrunk to normal size.
What was she talking about?
Not tearing her gaze from Michael, who had his hand pressed hard against his neck to stop the bleeding, Sephira said in a stupor, “Rise, my child, do my bidding and kill those who oppose me.” In a Vampiric flash, she was gone.
Raphael rolled off me, giving my lungs enough room to inhale deeply. “I’m sorry,” he quickly apologized.
I would have said that it was all right, because it wasn’t his fault, but I was too entranced at Taiton, who maladroitly stood. His pupil and iris faded into nothing; all that remained in his eyes was a pure white.
“A zombie?” Michael picked up the sword with his free hand. “Bloody hell.”
“Michael,” I cautioned, “you’re injured.” Sephira was long gone, and I wasn’t about to let him stumble into a battle he had no hopes of winning.
“I know,” he replied as Taiton ineptly took a mechanical step toward him. “Raphael, go protect Kass.”
“I’m on it,” Raphael spoke before he dashed away.
Taiton set his foot on the magic flames, setting his leg on fire. He didn’t seem to mind at all.
Michael glared up at him, saying “Elizabeth, stay back. There’s a dead man walking that I need to take care of.”
Nodding, I dug my cell from my pocket and dialed the house’s number.
Chapter Thirty-Eight – Kass
I’d seen Lion King a million times, and somehow this time I decided to get teary eyed when Mufasa died. Or, in reality, was murdered.
God, I hated Crixis.
Speaking (or thinking) of the Demon, I glanced around the room, where was he?
While Max and Gabriel were entranced in little Simba’s journey through the thorn patch, I stood to find the very guy I wanted to beat up like no other. If he was investigating our home like some creepy serial killer getting ready for the kill, I was going to sever his head just to show him that I wasn’t going to give him another chance to murder someone else I cared about.
The ringing of the phone captured my attention, making me temporarily forget about Crixis. As I picked up the phone, I asked, “What’s wrong?” My mind ran through all the horrible possibilities.
“Kass,” Liz was out of breath, “Michael’s fine, for the moment, but Taiton’s…gone.”
“What about—”
Her voice wavered, “Sephira is alive and awake, and she’s coming for Crixis. Tell me he’s not with you at the house.”
Crixis must’ve flashed inside without her knowing, before she left in a rush.
“Crap,” I exhaled, dropping the phone and running into the living room. Gabriel and Max were now being mesmerized by Timon and Pumba, but I broke their concentration when I said, “She’s coming.”
Max asked “Who?” the moment Gabriel said “Here?”
“Sephira,” I answered, looking around for my rose blade. Spotting it beside the fireplace, I ran for it. The feeling of the metal in my hands reminded me of the good times. Stabbing John’s heart, purifying countless Nightwalkers…those were the only times I could remember. “She’s coming for Crixis.”
“How does she know he’s here?” Max’s eyes fell to the floor, and I could only guess where his mind went next.
“She must sense his blood.” I clenched the hilt harder.
The little red head’s expression went from confusion to worry when he spoke, “Claire has some of his blood in her. You don’t think she’ll…” Max’s voice trailed off. It was obvious he didn’t know how to finish that question.
He was worried for Claire. How sweet.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t focus my mind on how sweet that actually was, because my eyes identified Crixis standing in the backyard. I ran to the door with Gabriel on my heels. Max was busy dialing Claire’s number to make sure she was okay.
Isn’t that cute? If they both lived through this, they should definitely start dating.
“If we make it through this,” Gabriel mumbled behind me, “we should definitely start dating.”
There was no time to give him a smart reply. My focus was now on the Daywalker who stood on the grass, watching the dense forest that stood opposite our house. “Crixis—”
“Quiet,” he commanded, throwing a quick glimpse to me before returning it to the woods. “She’s coming.”
“We know,” I began, but was once again cut off.
“Here.” Crixis dangled his keys to me. I didn’t take them; instead, I simply stared as if I’d never seen a car key before. “Take my car and go.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m sick of running, whether it’s from you or this Sephira.” I froze when a woman flashed in front of me. The sight of her sent shivers down my spine. Here I thought Crixis was the only one who could do that to me.
She was the same woman I saw in my visions; there was not a single thing different about her…except maybe the vengeance in her fiendish black eyes. And she was totally naked.
“You are not worthy to speak of me,” she growled, raising her hand as if she was about to back hand me.
Crixis stepped between us, cutting off my thoughts of shoving my rose blade into her serpent face. “Sephira. You came for me. Let’s end this for good.” Why was he trying to act like such a standup guy?
“The Witch gave me new abilities.” Sephira traced the sides of his cheek, like she always did. “This time it is I who will come out as the victor.”
“You will lose,” Crixis said, headbutting his maker and sending her flying ten feet back. “Just as you did before.” The sky darkened, and sudden clouds appeared, swirling overhead. How fitting.
Raphael flashed beside me, shielding me from the scene that was surely about to unfold. But I was having none of it, so I moved him aside to witness Sephira slowly stand and glare at Crixis.
Crixis responded by lifting his hand in the air and swiftly bringing it down, sending a yellow lightning bolt to the unsuspecting Vampire’s chest.
If she was unsuspecting, then I was flabbergasted.
Crixis could control lightning? What couldn’t the stupid Daywalker do?
“Kass, you need to go inside,” Raphael spoke sternly, “now.”
I was too awe-struck by Crixis’s manipulation of the lightning to do anything but stare with an open mouth. “Did you see what he just did? What was that?”
“I don’t know, but you need to—” He acted hurt, which was ridiculous, when I cut him off.
“This fight involves the safety of the entire freaking world. There’s no way I’m going anywhere.” I thought about finishing the sentence with unless it’s in a body bag, but then realized that would be in poor taste.
It occurred to me that the blonde boy hadn’t said much, so I looked for him. He was nowhere to be found. Where did he go? Gabriel wouldn’t run away.
“Calm down,” Gabriel told me after throwing down an oversized wooden chest that, until now, rested peacefully in our living room. “I was just getting some weapons, since Liz was so kind and took mine.” His tatt
ooed fingers turned the lock and flung the top. “Kudos to Michael for supplying us with—” His blue eyes peeked into the chest. “—a machete, crossbow, mace, axe, and…whatever this is.” He yanked out a weird contraption.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say it was a throwing star, complete with its own detachable mini-stars. Awesome.
A wolf-like growl rung through the darkened skies, deterring my eyes to the huge, six-legged wolf that Crixis had transformed into. He was one with the dark surroundings. If Sephira wasn’t laughing like a maniac, I would have thought he was winning.
Gabriel loaded the crossbow, just like Michael had taught him to, and released the trigger, sending the arrow soaring to Sephira’s head. The boy was a fantastic shot. It was too bad she caught the arrow and sent it spiraling back, straight into Gabriel’s arm.
I winced in pain for him, but he acted like it was nothing as he tore the arrow out and reloaded. His skin healed before I could ask if he was all right. Of course. He could heal himself. Handy little trick that was.
“You know what?” Gabriel was basically speaking to himself, so I didn’t bother saying anything. “I think I’m going to go for something more—” He handled the axe. “—badass.” With a grunt, the axe was sent through the air.
Amidst her fight with the wolf-like Crixis, Sephira caught the axe and flashed before Gabriel, startling him.
And me.
Raphael swept his leg under hers, seeking to knock her over, but she easily dodged the attack and glared into his green eyes. Her voice was compelling, “Play with Crixis while I take care of this boy.”
The man beside me flashed away, landing in front of the wolf and tangling with him in a fight that neither could win, but not before he whispered the f-bomb, which surprised me. During the whole time I’d known the guy, he never said that word.
“Do you know who I am, boy?” Sephira growled.
Gabriel’s comeback came swifter than I expected, “I don’t need to know who you are to tell that you’re an ugly bitch.” The anger in his voice mixed with hatred perfectly. Not the best thing to say to something like her.
The Nightwalkers Saga: Books 1 - 7 Page 102
