by Rose Pressey
Liam and I both looked over to see him running toward us. Annabelle was attempting to run in her heels behind him. Finally, she stopped and yanked the shoes off, then continued across the yard.
Liam let go of me and turned to face Nicolas. The last thing I needed was for them to fight. I had been between whatever weird fight they had with each other since the day they’d arrived. I didn’t want to be in the middle any more.
“What is going on?” Nicolas demanded. “Is he hurting you?”
I shook my head. “Mara is here. Liam says I must fight her for her powers.”
Nicolas shook his head. “No. No way. Don’t listen to him.”
“Why don’t you stay out of this? You’re going to get her hurt,” Liam said.
“If anyone is going to get her hurt, it’s you.” Nicolas pointed at Liam.
Annabelle stood behind Nicolas. “Are you okay, Hallie?”
I nodded, but I knew that was far from the truth.
“Hallie, don’t listen to him. You can’t fight her. You can’t trust Liam.”
“I wish you all would stop telling me that. Liam has done nothing to make me not trust him. Tell me why I shouldn’t trust him!” I demanded.
Nicolas stared at Liam, then looked at me. “Because Liam is out to destroy you.”
I stared at Nicolas.
He continued, “He wants the books so that he can take over the Underworld. It was never for your protection. That’s not why he came here.”
They stepped closer to each other and I thought at any second they would reach out and grab each other. The wind whipped harder and the flames danced. Everyone was looking to the sky and staring at us.
I looked to Liam. “Is that true?” I asked.
“Of course not. It’s all part of his lies,” Liam said.
“Enough!” I threw my hands up. “I’ve had enough.”
I turned around to run away, but I got halfway across the yard and froze. The wind blew so hard that I could hardly stand up. A strange light came from the side of the yard. It grew brighter and brighter as it came closer. I couldn’t run toward the house. I looked to my left and saw the ghosts under the bright moonlight. They were at the edge of the trees, waiting for me to come near so they could grab me and take me away. They’d drag me away and I’d never be seen again. I had nowhere to go.
Liam and Nicolas called after me. I turned in the opposite direction and ran toward the water. The ground was slippery and I stumbled but righted myself and continued toward the water’s edge. I didn’t know what I would do next. Where would I go? If I jumped in the water I’d likely drown. The light followed me. For a moment, I was blinded by its brightness.
The area was washed in nothing but the white glow. Making out anything was extremely difficult. I had to stop running because I knew I was at the water’s edge, even if I couldn’t see the water. I turned around and looked directly into the light. The light began to diminish and a silhouette was visible through the light.
The long dress flowed with the fury of the wind and her hair whipped around wildly. The light finally vanished completely. Mara was standing in front of me. I looked behind me and stepped even closer to the water. I couldn’t go much further before I’d fall in.
A wicked smile spread across her face. “I told you I would get the book. You have nowhere to go,” she said with a cackle.
She was purposely pushing me closer and closer to the water. Why had I been stupid enough to let myself be cornered like this? I stepped back again. I couldn’t go any further. The ground was wet and slippery. My feet slid in the mud and I fell to my knees. Liam and Nicolas watched nearby, but Mara was somehow keeping them at bay. It was as if we were in a bubble. She had me trapped like a wild animal.
“Go get the books and hand them over and I won’t kill you. Doesn’t that sound like a fair tradeoff right now?”
I struggled to get to my feet, but slipped again. I looked up at Mara. “Why should I believe a word you say?” I asked.
“You have no other options. They can’t help you.” She gestured at the Coven members with a tilt of her head.
“You can’t hold off their powers forever. You’re not that strong,” I said.
“I don’t need forever. Just long enough to get the books.” She beamed, obviously proud of her words.
Isabeau had no problem walking through the protective bubble that Mara had placed around us.
“Give her the book now,” Isabeau yelled. “She’ll kill you if you don’t.”
I tried to conjure up enough energy to cast a spell against Mara, but nothing would happen. There had to be a way to hide her powers. Couldn’t one of the many witches in the Coven help me? Or did they not want to help me? Where was my mother? My stomach turned. What if Mara had done something to her?
“I demand that you hand over the book now.” Venom spewed from her words.
If I could hold her off long enough maybe she would lose her powers. I jumped up and began reciting the only spell that I could remember that might help my situation. Mara threw her head back in a big laugh. Isabeau joined in her merriment.
“Halloween, you can’t stop me now,” Mara said.
I slipped on the wet ground again and slid backwards. I clutched onto the ground, but there was nothing to grab onto. There was no way I could avoid falling into the water. My legs slid back into the water with a splash. I heard Annabelle scream out my name.
I clawed and kicked my way back up to the embankment. Mara and Isabeau were standing over me now. They looked down at me with their evil twisted faces. Would they kick me back in? Mara yanked on my arms, pulling me up. I was covered with mud. My dress was ruined, but that was the least of my concerns. I continued to recite the only spell that came to mind. Mara and Isabeau had my arms and were dragging me across the lawn. I struggled and broke free, running over toward the tree line. The ghosts were waiting there for me. Dodging around the trees, I came to the old family cemetery and stopped in my tracks. My great-aunt Maddy hovered over the old gravestones. She looked as she always had with her thick dark hair piled high on her head and a white gauzy dress.
She smiled widely, then said, “Use the power of earth, air, water and fire.”
I wanted to stay and talk with her. There were so many questions to ask, but the sound of movement behind me let me know that Mara and Isabeau were close behind. Running past the graveyard, I made my way back out to the same spot where I’d entered.
Mara and Isabeau were standing there waiting for me. I stepped backward and Mara and Isabeau walked after me. They were pushing me closer and closer to the water again. It looked as if my only way to escape was to swim through the river. The odds of me surviving that weren’t good. I wasn’t a strong swimmer to begin with.
Stepping closer to the water, I looked back, then took a deep breath and jumped in. My body instantly shivered as the cold water surrounded my skin. Even colder than I thought it would be. It sucked the breath right out of my lungs. I splashed and tried to remain calm, reminding myself that I had to swim or I would sink.
Words floated across the night air. “Use the power of the water.” It wasn’t Aunt Maddy this time. Nicolas called to me. I had to use the power of earth, air, fire and water. The water could possibly give me the energy that I needed.
Words came to me… words to a spell that I’d never performed before. I wasn’t sure how I knew what to say but I did. I willed the water to work for me. Holding my head back away from the water, I recited the words. The swimming was effortless and the next thing I knew I found myself back at the edge of the water again.
I lifted myself out of the cold water. Mara and Isabeau seemed to be frozen on the spot. Neither one could move. When I looked over, Nicolas was standing by the trees. A wave of energy came off the trees through him and over to me.
I looked over at the fire as the flames danced high in the air toward the night sky. The moonlight cast a bluish hue over everything. I knew that magic was the most powerful on the
night of the full moon, when energy spells were at their strongest. Tonight was a full moon and it held the energy that I needed—at least that was what I’d been told.
A wave of energy emanated off Liam and over to me the same way as it had with Nicolas. The fire crackled and popped. Were they sending me power? The power of earth, water, air and fire to cast the beings back to hell? I had to bind them from returning to this earth. They used every ounce of their power, sending the energy through the night air.
The light returned just as it had when it brought Mara. I hoped it was now taking her and Isabeau away. It came out of the sky around the trees and up from the earth. It was everywhere. This time the color was yellow and it wasn’t as bright. The glow wrapped around Mara and Isabeau and in one giant swoop it carried them away. Scraping and grabbing at the earth, I wrestled my way up the embankment. I looked down at my muddied dress and hands. I could only imagine what my appearance looked like.
With Liam and Nicolas’ powers to help me regain my new skills, I had been able to cast a spell and send Isabeau and Mara back to hell. I couldn’t believe what I’d done. Liam had used his power to pull energy from the fire and Nicolas had used the power to pull energy from the earth. I hoped that they weren’t just doing this so they could get to the books.
Liam and Nicolas ran over to me, each taking one arm and guiding me safely away from the water.
Annabelle ran over to me. “Hallie, are you okay? I was freaking out. You fell in the water and I thought you were going to drown. Not to mention those wicked women who were trying to take you away.”
The more she talked, the faster her words came out.
“I’m okay. Try to take a deep breath.” I patted her on the back.
She breathed in and out. “I’m okay now. I was just freaking out.”
“It’s understandable. I was freaking out a little,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.
“What happened? How did you get rid of her?” Annabelle asked.
I looked at the men. “I had a little help.”
It looked as if my grand ball was over for the evening. The Coven members were gathering around me though.
“What you did was amazing,” a woman said as she walked along beside us.
I smiled. “I just did what I had to do.”
As we neared the manor, my mother came running toward me. The real Misty Middleton was beside her. Tears streaked down my mother’s cheeks.
“Where have you been?” I asked when she was near.
She looked me up and down, then grabbed my arms. “I was so worried about you. Mara confined us to the house. We couldn’t get out.” She hugged me until I thought the circulation would be permanently cut off.
A hot tear rolled down my cheek. Holding in the emotion was no longer an option.
Chapter Forty-Nine
After going inside, I hurried upstairs to change out of my clothing. I wanted to get back downstairs to say goodbye to my guests and to apologize. It wasn’t my fault Mara had shown up to cause problems, but I felt bad all the same. I had to slip in the shower though, I had caked-on mud in my hair and I smelled like the river. Not the most pleasant scent. And Cinderella thought she had problems. At least she’d only lost a shoe.
After dressing in jeans and an off-white sweater, I stood at the closet door. I was afraid to look. I knew I’d left the books there and apparently my powers had returned, but I still had that worrying feeling that they wouldn’t be there. It would probably always be that way.
I had to make a decision. Did I really want to be the leader of the Underworld? There were pros and cons to the job, that was for sure.
I pulled my secret spot up. The books and boxes were still there. Apparently the books were mine now. I seriously needed someone to explain this whole ‘leading the Underworld thing’ before I officially accepted the job. Did I have to report to an office every day? Did they have an Underworld headquarters?
When I stepped out from my room, Nicolas was sitting on the front step waiting for me.
“Hi,” I said softly.
“Do you feel better now that you got rid of the mud?” He flashed his devastatingly irresistible grin.
I nodded. “I ruined my dress.”
“You look beautiful in the jeans too,” he said with a smile.
He knew how to make me feel better. I stepped down then sat beside him.
“Tell me something,” I said, looking over at him.
“Anything,” he said.
“No more secrets. I want to know why there was so much animosity between you and Liam. And tell me the truth, because you said you’d be completely honest with me now.”
He ran his hand through his hair and stared straight ahead. He didn’t speak for a moment, then he finally said, “Liam was in charge of guarding my mother when she was killed.”
I didn’t know what to say, but it explained a lot. Why hadn’t they just told me this to begin with?
“I’m sorry about your mother,” I said. “What happened?”
“Liam didn’t lie. He was the detective assigned to my mother. Her death happened on his watch and I accused him of not doing his job.” He shook his head as his eyes glazed over. “There was no proof of that though. I was just taking my anger out on him. He was the easiest one to do that to, you know? I mean, I felt like he should have protected her.” He searched my eyes.
“That’s understandable.” I touched his hand and he squeezed back.
“You can understand why I didn’t want you to be involved with the Underworld. I didn’t want to lose someone else who I care about. I now realize that Liam had no control over Mara or her demons. It was something that I refused to accept until now.” He let out a pent-up breath. “There is one more thing.”
“I’m almost afraid to hear what you’re about to tell.”
He ran his hand through his hair, then said, “Liam is my half-brother. We have the same father.”
My mouth fell open. “That’s why you look so much alike.”
After a few seconds of silence, I whispered, “We should get downstairs so I can say goodbye to my guests.”
He helped me up from the step. “You sure know how to throw one hell of a party.”
I smiled. “I think I injured my side, don’t make me laugh.” I chuckled, then said, “Ouch.”
“Are you okay?” He touched my side and it sent shivers through my body.
I nodded. “I think I’ll have a big bruise tomorrow.”
“You’ll probably have several.” He squeezed my hand.
When we got downstairs the crowd had disappeared. Only a few people had remained. Annabelle was sitting on the sofa with my mother, chatting quietly. They still looked a bit frazzled.
“Do you feel better?” my mother asked.
I nodded. “I’m sorry that I ruined the party.”
“Are you kidding?” Misty had walked up behind me. “You’re the leader now. Everyone in the Coven loves you. We’d like to welcome you into the Coven. That’s if you’ll have us.” She smiled her sweetest smile.
I looked at my mother and she nodded.
“You are singing a different tune now. Earlier several Coven members had some not so nice things to say about me. How quickly things change.” I shook my head. “Nope. I think I’m doing fine without the Coven. I think I’ll stick with being on my own.”
She frowned and stared at me for a moment, but didn’t say a word. What could she say? Finally she said, “Well, thank you for hosting the party. We’d love to have another one here sometime.”
I nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Well, thank you again. I’ll be going now. The caterers will clean up everything,” she said in a clipped tone.
“Thank you, Misty.” I tried to project a calm, in-control tone.
“I’m proud of you,” my mother said when Misty stepped away.
“You’re not upset?” I asked with wide eyes.
“Screw them. Annabelle told me what happened
. You don’t need them and neither do I.” She folded her arms in front of her chest.
Wow, I couldn’t believe my ears. My mother prided herself on her good standing with the Coven.
“My daughter is the queen of the Underworld now.” She beamed.
Oh no. She was already bragging.
Annabelle stood. “Well, I’m going home and collapsing into bed.”
“Thank you, Annabelle. You’re one tough cookie.”
“You call me tomorrow. We still need our girls’ night. And I want to know everything about a queen’s duties.” Annabelle wiggled her finger.
“I don’t think they call me a queen.” I snorted. “But I’ll make sure to let you know as soon as I find out.”
After walking Annabelle to the door and watching as she drove down the driveway, I felt eyes on me. I peeked out onto the veranda. Liam was sitting on the step, peering out into the dark night sky.
“There you are,” I said as I stepped outside.
He turned around and took in my whole appearance. “You clean up good,” he said with a grin.
“Thank you,” I said as I sat down beside him. “Thank you for everything.”
He nodded. “Just doing my job.”
“Is that it? You were just doing a job?” I searched his face questioningly. I wasn’t sure what else I wanted him to say.
He glanced over at me. “No, it was much more than that. I think you know that.”
My stomach flipped. I did feel that it was more than a job for him. I just wasn’t sure how much more.
He reached over and held my hand. “I was never out to destroy you, Halloween. But I can see why you were so confused.”
I touched his cheek. “Nicolas explained everything to me. How you were protecting his mother the night she was killed.”
“He blames me for her death and I can’t say that I blame him. She was my responsibility and I let her down. I let him down.”
I shook my head. “I talked with him. He doesn’t feel that way anymore.”
“Halloween, you know he’ll always feel that way,” Liam responded softly.
I looked away. What could I say? Maybe he would, maybe he wouldn’t.
