The Cursed Witch: A Paranormal Enemies to Lovers (Nightcaster Chronicles Book 1)

by R. L. Perez

  I shook my head. “Ronaldo, I can’t—”

  “Brielle, this is the most important thing,” Ronaldo said, his voice laced with desperation. “I beg of you. When the Count returns, please go. Find my brother and warn him. He can save you. He can save everyone in this city.”

  I went still. “When the Count returns?” I whispered. “Ronaldo, what’re you going to do?”

  “It’s of no consequence to you.”

  “The hell it is!”

  “I’m already dying!” he roared. “The only reason I haven’t given up yet is because I cling to some hope that if the Count is busy with me, he will not search for my brother. But now—God has given me this opportunity. To serve you. To help you escape. If I can play a part in saving this city from his wretched curse, then I’ll do it.”

  “God has nothing to do with this,” I growled.

  “You may believe that. But I do not.”

  I clenched my teeth and made no response. Though a part of me believed in an afterlife or a great beyond or something else out there waiting for us, I wasn’t sure I believed in God. How could I believe in a god that approved of what the Count did here? He was as devout as they came, but I could never follow a religion that condoned such vile acts.

  “Nothing you say will change my mind,” Ronaldo said softly. “Whatever you decide, I will be dead soon. But I hope and pray you will take advantage. I pray I will not die in vain.”

  “Ronaldo—”

  “I heard your friend. I know she gave you a means to escape. I beg of you to take it. Please, Brielle.”

  I said nothing. My eyes burned, and I closed them against the agony throbbing in my head. My heart twisted.

  “I know you’re afraid. I know you think you deserve to stay here. But you don’t. There is a way to push out Lilith’s influence. I am sure of it. If anyone can help you, it’s my brother.”

  “What the hell can he do about this?” I snapped.

  “Demons believe differently than light casters,” Ronaldo said. “Light casters believe Lilith’s cursed witch is doomed no matter what. But demons . . .” He paused. “We don’t see it the same way. Leo is a scholar. He knows more about the legend than I do. He can help you, Brielle.”

  I remembered what Leo had told me—that Lilith possessed the witch at night, but the witch could fight off her influence by uniting herself with the beast.

  He’d claimed he hadn’t known much about the rumors. And I hadn’t pressed him on it. But what if he had known more and hadn’t been willing to tell me? I hadn’t exactly been friendly toward him.

  And for good reason. He was practically begging me to show up on his doorstep so his coven could feast on my blood.

  “He’ll kill me,” I said at last.

  “He won’t,” said Ronaldo. “Not if you tell him I sent you.”

  I didn’t answer. As much as my mind screamed to refuse, I had no alternative. And Ronaldo was right—I had to do something about this. The whole reason we were stuck in this damn time loop was because no one knew who cast the spell.

  But not anymore.

  With this knowledge, I could help reverse the curse. I might even be able to return home.

  Home. The word rang in my head, and a pang of longing stabbed right through me.

  “My coven lives at the base of the mountains,” Ronaldo said in a weak voice. “Head for the three mountain peaks. The caves of my coven are in the center of them.” He paused. “When you see my brother, tell him what happened to Lucia. Tell him I tried to save her.”

  I nodded without realizing it. “I will.”

  Ronaldo sucked in a breath. “So, you’ll do it?”

  “Yes. But I’m taking you with me.”

  A loud clang echoed in the dungeon, and I wondered if Ronaldo had slammed his head against the bars. “For Lilith’s sake, Brielle. You’ll get yourself killed trying to get me out.”

  “I can’t just leave you here to die!”

  Ronaldo exhaled long and slow. “They removed my legs, Brielle.”

  I stiffened. My blood chilled as I mulled over his words. “They—”

  “They cut off my legs. The wounds are bound to stop the flow of blood, but I’m not long for this world. I can’t run or walk. You can’t free me, Brielle.”

  “But . . . but can’t you heal?” One thing I knew about vampires was that they couldn’t be killed without a stake or a banishing spell. They could heal from their injuries.

  “Not if my legs aren’t here to be reattached. I cannot grow the limbs back. They took my legs with them to ensure I couldn’t heal.”

  Bile crept up my throat. They freaking chopped off his legs . . .

  I crammed my eyes shut to ward off the sting of more tears. “Ronaldo.” My voice broke.

  “Don’t weep for me, Brielle. With your escape, you’ll give me a purpose. I can carry that with me into the next world.”

  I clenched my teeth. It wasn’t enough. I didn’t even know if I fully believed in an afterlife. This might’ve been it for him. This horrible, wretched dungeon would be the last thing he ever saw.

  I opened my mouth to speak, but footsteps on the stairs stopped me. The steps were loud, and they multiplied. It sounded like the Count had returned with his mages.

  My heart raced, thrumming incessantly against my chest. For once, the presence within me was silent, though the heat from the flames still burned my insides.

  “Prepare yourself,” Ronaldo hissed.

  I slid the knife out from behind me. My arm was numb from being wedged under my back for so long. Gritting my teeth, I slid the blade against the leather strap. Agony flared in my head, but I gripped the knife more firmly and pressed harder, though I felt weaker than a dry twig.

  The footsteps were getting closer.

  Faster, Brie. I quickened my pace, sawing frantically through the leather. Then, with a light snap, the restraint fell off. I relaxed against the table as if I were still restrained.

  I thought of Ronaldo sitting in his cell and waiting to be killed. Clinging to the hope that I’d carry out his final wish.

  What if I failed him?

  I choked on more sobs and bit my tongue to keep myself from crying.

  You can do this.

  I held my breath as the footsteps drew nearer, wondering what I would do if the visitors went into a different cell. There were other demons here, after all, though it seemed they were either too injured or too incoherent to make conversation like me and Ronaldo.

  The footsteps grew louder and louder, matching the rhythm of my heartbeat.

  Then, my cell door swung open.

  “Excellent,” the Count said quietly. “You’re awake. We can resume our work.”

  Before I could say anything or even look in his direction, a blood-curdling scream wailed throughout the dungeon. My heart lurched in my throat as I looked around.

  But it wasn’t Ronaldo.

  Another shout pierced the air, mingling with the first.

  Then, came Ronaldo’s voice. “Help me! Help! Get it off me! Something is attacking me!”

  Moans and howls filled the dungeon as if the whole place were haunted. Under different circumstances, it might’ve been funny.

  But in this instance, it made my skin crawl.

  The Count hollered something at the mages, who all darted off in different directions.

  Now! I lunged for the Count and slammed the knife into his chest. He screeched and stumbled backward, but I didn’t wait and see if he recovered. I yanked the knife out of his chest, hurried out of my cell, and smashed the vial of orange liquid on the floor. A plume of amber smoke engulfed me.

  My stomach dropped, and then I was weightless, floating in the air. The orange mist surrounded me, shielding me from view. The Count’s roar of fury mingled with the noises of the other demons in the dungeon.

  I closed my eyes, succumbing to the vanishing potion. Take me away, I urged it.

  I soared upward like a balloon. The stench of the dungeon le
ft me, and the cacophony of sounds grew fainter. For a brief moment, I thought I heard Ronaldo’s voice shouting something at me, but I couldn’t make it out.

  Then, something heavy pressed against my chest, squeezing the air out of me. I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think.

  A blinding light struck my face, and I squinted, raising a hand to shield my eyes.

  My breath caught in my throat. I was in the hallway by the staircase. I was aboveground.

  For one stupid moment, I stood there frozen. Izzy. I had to get her out of here!

  Then, shouts echoed from below me, and I knew I was out of time. I swore under my breath.

  Forgive me, Izzy.

  I bolted down the hallway, praying I wouldn’t run into anyone. I had no idea what time it was, but perhaps everyone was dining right now. Maybe luck would be on my side.

  “Oof!”

  I slammed into someone and stumbled backward. My mouth fell open, and my eyes widened in terror.

  “Brielle.” It was Riker. He looked me over, his face draining of color. “What—”

  I tried to sidestep him, but he stood in my path. I stared up at him, trying to look fierce despite my numbing fatigue. “Get out of my way.”

  He watched me, and something like pity stirred in his eyes. It only made me angrier.

  “Don’t make me fight you, Riker.”

  Riker shook his head. Muffled shouts echoed behind me, and my heart stuttered in panic.

  My anger fled from me. “Please,” I whispered.

  Riker glanced over my shoulder and looked at me again. Then, he stepped aside. “Be safe, Brielle.”

  I surged forward and then stopped to look back at him. I have to tell someone. “The Count cast the spell. He created the time loop.”

  Riker’s face slackened in utter shock, but I turned away from him before he could respond. With a sudden burst of energy, I sprinted down the hall toward the giant front doors. Sucking in a breath, I hauled them open, slid outside, and slammed them shut behind me.

  28

  Brielle

  MY LEGS THROBBED, AND every inch of my body pulsed with agony. But still I ran. The sun beat down on me, blazing against my vision that had grown so accustomed to the darkness of the dungeon.

  Keep running. Keep running.

  I pushed on until my lungs burned. My vision darkened and my head spun, but still I ran. I raced down the steps and flew past the gardens, past the spot where I’d trapped and questioned Leo Serrano.

  Sweat poured down my face, mingling with grime and blood as it formed a sickening paste.

  A stitch formed in my side, but I couldn’t stop or even slow down. If I did, I knew I wouldn’t be able to run again. I’d be too weak.

  Shouts echoed behind me, and panic sliced through my chest.

  Keep going.

  At long last, I reached the wards surrounding the castle. I finally allowed myself to come to a stop, remembering how the wards had rebounded me last time I’d tried to get through.

  Gasping for breath, I doubled over. My heart thumped so painfully it felt like it would burst from my chest. Agony crashed over me in waves, threatening to drown me.

  Come on, Brie! I told myself.

  I straightened and brushed my fingers against the bloody gash on my arm. My fingers trembled, and the wound throbbed from my touch. Then, I lifted my fingers to the invisible ward, reaching forward until the tickle of its magic whispered against my skin.

  I closed my eyes and muttered a spell in Spanish.

  “Magia arriba, te convoco

  Rompe este encanto.”

  A burst of blue light flashed, and magic prickled against my hand. Then, with a loud crack, a ripple of electricity bolted in the air in front of me like lightning. The smell of ash tickled my nose.

  Hesitantly, I stepped forward.

  Nothing stopped me. The wards were down.

  More shouts echoed behind me.

  I surged forward and then turned back to face the castle. Raising my bloodied hand, I muttered another spell.

  “Alta Magia, te convoco

  Restaura este encanto.”

  I had no idea if it would work—perhaps I needed the Count’s blood to secure the wards. But to my surprise, something rippled in the air, forming a hazy film in front of me like a layer of clear plastic.

  My heart surged with relief, but I wasn’t safe yet. I’d only restored the Count’s wards. If that were the case, he could easily remove them.

  But it might’ve bought me some time.

  I broke into another run, weaving through grass and shrubs that thickened until I reached a large wood. But I didn’t stop there. Still I ran, avoiding tree roots and low branches. My skin itched and burned. The smell of dirt and dead leaves filled my nose.

  I couldn’t last much longer. The small mountains in the distance were miles away. The pain rippling over my body would claim me, and I’d pass out soon.

  But I had to find a good place to hide in case the Count’s men found me.

  I finally found a huge oak tree with low branches, and I started climbing. Though my limbs burned from exertion and the darkness crept into the corners of my eyes again, still I climbed.

  When I was high enough to be concealed by the leaves of the branch beneath me, I stopped, settling onto a thick branch with my back resting against the massive trunk of the tree.

  I leaned my head on the tree bark behind me and closed my eyes, my breaths coming in sharp wheezes. My chest burned with each breath I took, and my heart wouldn’t stop racing. My legs ached, the muscles stiff and tense as if I were still running.

  I lifted my shaking hands and whispered another spell.

  “Magic above and powers that be,

  Conceal me from my enemy.”

  My hands glowed blue, but the light flickered slightly like a fading light bulb. A warm pressure enveloped me like a blanket. The cloaking spell had worked. But I wasn’t sure how many more spells I could cast while I was so weak.

  I wanted to rest my head and close my eyes again, but I couldn’t risk sleeping and falling from this height. Instead, I wriggled out of my loose tunic and tore at the laces and strings, pulling them free. Then, I draped the tunic back over me, though now it was nothing more than a large piece of fabric. Locking my legs together over the tree branch, I tied the strings around my thighs, binding them together over the tree branch. I formed several strong knots and shifted my legs to test them. The strings held, but I could easily break them if I used enough force.

  I just had to trust I would wake up in time to catch myself from falling.

  Swallowing down my unease and terror, I leaned back against the tree trunk and let the darkness overtake me.

  FLAMES BURNED AGAINST my face. A mighty roar consumed me. A triumphant laugh poured from my lips.

  I jolted awake, and something snapped. My arms flailed, wrapping around the tree branch just before I slid off. My heart raced a mile a minute as I glanced down and noticed my knotted string falling to the ground.

  I gripped the tree branch tightly, trying to calm my panicked breathing.

  Dusk had fallen. The wood was cloaked in darkness. Owls hooted nearby. Insects chirped. The sounds were eerie, but I tried to take comfort in them—it meant the forest was undisturbed. If I was being pursued, the insects and other creatures would fall silent.

  I took a moment to clear my head. I climbed back into a sitting position and rested my forehead against my knees. The frantic pounding of my heart was a warning rhythm. The shock of almost falling out of the tree wasn’t the only thing that rattled me.

  I’d dreamed of the beast again. I’d felt her inside me again.

  The fire within me had been suspiciously quiet since the Count’s last experiment. I didn’t like the silence. The stillness inside me. It screamed at me that something was wrong. That something big was coming.

  I’ll deal with that later. Right now, I had to focus on finding food. And, eventually, refuge.

  My stomach c
hurned at the thought of seeking refuge with Leo Serrano. I had no doubt they would see my presence as a threat. After all, the Count had led many attacks against their coven.

  My only hope was that they would pause long enough to hear my plea before imprisoning me. Or killing me.

  Sucking in a deep breath, I wriggled off the branch until my feet found the branch below me. With slow, careful movements, I climbed down until I was low enough to the ground to hop down.

  I froze at the base of the tree and waited. Being on the ground again made me a target. If the Count or his mages were lurking nearby, now was their chance to grab me.

  But nothing happened. The sounds of the forest consumed me like white noise. I exhaled.

  It was slow work navigating through the forest in the middle of the night. In the moments when I feared I was lost, I cast my light spell to use my hand as a flashlight. Each time I did this, insects swarmed around me, and I worried about drawing too much attention. But I had to make sure I was headed in the right direction.

  Occasionally, I paused to climb up another tree and check that I could still see the mountains. Each time I did, I was discouraged by how far I still was from my destination.

  After hours of walking, I couldn’t ignore my hunger any longer. I found a large bush and crawled inside, using the foliage to conceal me from view. Then, I waited.

  I tried to squash my discomfort and unease at the thought of hunting. I’d never hunted animals before.

  But the fear swirling within me only made me angry. You’re a Demonhunter, for Lilith’s sake. Get a grip. If you can stake a vampire twice your size, then you can catch a few animals.

  So, I waited. After a few hours, fatigue crept in my mind, and my eyelids drooped. I shook my head, trying to wake myself up. You can do this.

  A rustling nearby made me stiffen. I stared through the brush, eyes wide, as a large rabbit hopped into view. I swallowed, trying not to make a sound. Slowly, I lifted my hands and uttered in a hushed whisper,

  “Magic above and powers that be,

  Strike this animal in front of me.”

  A bolt of blue light flashed from my fingertips and struck the rabbit. It jolted and seized before collapsing on the ground, motionless.