Coven Master

by W. J. May

  They ran through the streets of Everlore, darting between shadows, avoiding the flames, barely making it past falling houses and bleeding corpses. Atlanta could only imagine what Calen had looked like when the hybrids had first escaped, and she knew beyond a doubt that the people of Everlore were facing a similar fate.

  As they sprinted, all Atlanta could think about was her mother back in the watchtower with Adelaide, fighting a battle that could go either way. She hoped Lenore would emerge victorious, but a part of her believed that she had seen her mother for the last time. The first and last time. A surge of emotions raced through her, and she channeled her rage into her need to get out of Everlore.

  Darian’s magic restored, they raced through the remains of the city with his magic shielding them, holding off friend and foe alike, cloaking them when needed, and burning through the enemy when required. She did her best to keep up, knowing that if it were not for the Lunar Books they would probably make better progress.

  They rounded a corner, and the crumbled remains of Everlore’s outer walls came into view. There was little standing between them and freedom, the bulk of the battle having moved towards the center of the town and around the watchtower.

  If the hybrids reach the watchtower, Lenore has no chance.

  The thought blinded Atlanta, and for a brief second made her hesitate and stop.

  Darian turned to her. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “Come on, we’re almost there.”

  “I can’t,” Atlanta whispered.

  Darian rushed to her and pulled her along. “Not the time or place,” he hissed. “We’ll be back for her later.”

  “I just found her. I can’t leave her behind.”

  Darian’s expression turned to rage. “You think I’m happy about this?” he spat. “You think I’m okay with leaving her behind with that witch, again? When this time I could actually be of some use?”

  “Darian–”

  “These are what’s important!” Darian yelled, holding the books up for her to see. “They’re more important than Lenore. More important than Raul, who I fear may be dead already. These are what stands between Adelaide and the end of the world as we know it. And despite every emotion racing through me, despite everything I feel, I know there’s nothing I can do other than my duty. I’m the leader of the Coven, and you’re the last warrior of Calen. Our duties come before anything else!”

  Tears stung her eyes. She returned her brother’s firm gaze, a part of her still wanting to protest, to tell him that he was wrong, that family was the most important thing in the world. Only, she couldn’t. Because he’s right.

  “Now, let’s go before we won’t be able to,” Darian said.

  “Hurry, hurry,” a low, familiar voice hissed from between the flames. “Why in such a hurry?”

  Atlanta recognized the voice immediately, unsheathing her blade just as Darian’s hands burst into flames. From between the flames of the adjacent house a figure walked out, slowly and confidently, fangs glistening in the dim light, eyes burning red.

  “You should never leave a party without saying goodbye.” Michael sniggered, stepping out of the flames and standing between them and the remains of Everlore’s walls.

  Atlanta stepped forward, her hands tightened around the hilt of her long blade. “Come to pick a fight?”

  The hybrid laughed. “Come to join your uncle?”

  Atlanta was about to take a step forward when Darian stopped her. “Out of our way, monster.”

  “You have no power over me, Druid.” Michael moved to step around him toward Atlanta.

  “No,” Darian replied, “but I can burn you to the ground right here.”

  Michael cocked his head to one side and his red eyes burned brighter. “Not if I get you first,” he mocked. “It’ll be fun tormenting Atlanta by killing another of her flesh and blood while she watches helplessly.”

  “No!” Atlanta raised her sword.

  “It’s a trick.” Darian looked at her. “We don’t have time for this. He’s trying to stall us.”

  “He’s not as weak as you think,” Atlanta said to Michael, ignoring Darian. “We have unfinished business.”

  Darian took a step back and let the fire in his hands die.

  Michael burst into laughter. “Adelaide has no more use for you,” he hissed. “I promise not to laugh when I rip your head from your shoulders.”

  “Let’s see if you bleed green,” Atlanta shot back.

  Michael snapped at her, and with a deep growl launched himself towards her. Atlanta pushed Darian to the side and rolled out of the hybrid’s way, but Michael was quicker. He turned almost immediately, grabbing Atlanta by the leg and swinging her to the side.

  She crashed to the ground, her sword flying from her hand. She pushed to her feet, watching as Darian shot green flames at Michael, only for the hybrid to dodge the attack and come for her again. From behind a building, two more hybrids appeared. Darian turned to stop them.

  Atlanta rolled again, dodging Michael’s attack, but this time drawing her short daggers from her suit and throwing them at him. The daggers sliced through empty air, and she felt her breath suddenly knocked out of her as the hybrid slammed into her and threw her back. She landed with a thud, her head spinning.

  She tried to kick him off, but he lifted her shoulders and threw her hard into the cobblestones below them. Her head hit the ground and the world suddenly darkened.

  She lost consciousness, falling into an abyss of nothingness.

  * * *

  “I warned you.”

  Atlanta couldn’t see her uncle, but James’ voice was clear in the darkness around her.

  “I told you your emotions would be your undoing.”

  “I had her,” Atlanta whispered. “I felt my blade slice through her.”

  “There’s still so much to learn,” James replied. “And I can’t be there to teach you. You’ll have to start making wiser decisions. Decisions you were accustomed to me making for you.”

  Atlanta felt a shudder race through her. A sudden realization dawned on her. “I won’t make it through this, will I?”

  “You will,” James said. “But to do it, you must find peace. You must find acceptance. You must find yourself.”

  “I’m lost.”

  “No, you only believe you are,” James replied. “But look how far you’ve come. You’ve found your mother, learned about your past, understood where you fit in this world. You’re not just the defender of Calen anymore. You defend everyone.”

  “It’s too much,” Atlanta sobbed. “I can’t do this alone.”

  “You’re not alone,” James replied. “You have Darian. You have Ryan. You have the races of Vampires and Werewolves at your disposal. They’ll follow you, if you lead. And you can’t lead if you don’t forgive yourself.”

  “But all of this,” Atlanta stammered. “I did this. I caused this. You’re dead because of me.”

  “No one decides their fate. I died protecting what I loved, as will you one day. But that day hasn’t come yet. Forgive yourself, Atlanta. Forgive yourself.”

  Atlanta opened her mouth to reply, when a sudden burst of pain erupted inside her and her throat clenched. And with that, the darkness subsided.

  * * *

  “You’re mine,” Michael hissed.

  Atlanta’s eyes fluttered open. Michael held her by the neck, high above the ground. She violently tried kicking her legs in the air to break free of his hold. Darian was still fighting one of the other hybrids; his green fire had knocked one down, the other he was now tossing about like a rag doll. And yet they kept getting up and attacking him. She knew he couldn’t keep it up much longer.

  “Say hello to your uncle for me, child,” Michael chuckled.

  Forgive yourself.

  Atlanta closed her eyes and let her emotions wash over her. In her mind, she saw her past, a kaleidoscope of images of her life with James—training, laughing, crying. She saw Ryan smiling at her, his eyes saying so much withou
t the need for words. She saw Calen, the beauty of the city, the dark corners that promised malice but shimmered with life and peace. She saw everyone and everything she loved, wrapped up in a sheath of warmth, held together, drawn to her, guiding her. And she saw Darian fighting by her side, holding her hand, promising a new life, fighting together.

  And through it all, she saw Lenore. She heard the lullabies. And she saw the truth.

  She was the last wall between this world and the world of monsters. She was the master, the Coven Master meant to the keep of peace. She was a Druid, a warrior of the Coven, salvation and punishment all in one. And if she had been used to set the hybrids free, it was her duty to rid the world of them. Of Adelaide.

  She was not to be blamed for the evil in the world.

  But she could be blamed for failing to fight.

  She opened her eyes, and for the first time since she had laid eyes on the hybrid Michael’s expression changed from his usual cocky confidence to one of fear. Atlanta felt her eyes burning, and the fire in her mind spreading through her veins. She grew stronger, more in tune with herself—something that had lain dormant in her broke free.

  “Impossible,” Michael whispered.

  She grabbed the hand around her neck and pulled it away, dropping silently to the ground. She stood and blocked each swing he took at her. Reaching between his arms, she wrapped her hand around his neck and squeezed with all her might. She felt different. Stronger. Michael gagged, trying to break free of her hold, but she wouldn’t let him go.

  “You can’t have magic,” he gasped as he struggled against her. “It’s impossible.”

  “You’re done,” she whispered, realizing she was hovering in the air holding him away from her. “This is the end for you.”

  “A-Adelaide will avenge m-me,” Michael stammered, his fangs snapping at her, his eyes burning red.

  “I’m counting on it.” And with that, she let the magic loose. It rushed out of her in waves, as if a dam had been broken and a flood let loose. It shot up her arm, red fire burning, and engulfed Michael completely.

  The hybrid screamed, fighting to break loose, but still she held him. And with a final push of force, he exploded into ashes in her hand.

  The other hybrids stopped their attack, confused by this sudden surge of power. She turned to them, and smiled when they raced toward her. Before they could reach her, she rushed to her blade, grabbed it, and sliced through them with the same red fire that had enveloped Michael. The hybrids burst into ash.

  Atlanta lowered her weapon and turned towards Darian, his eyes wide and his mouth open.

  “It’s time to leave,” she said. Without waiting for a response, she turned and raced past the broken walls of Everlore.

  Epilogue

  “You failed me.” Adelaide sat in the large chair facing the window of the watchtower, watching Everlore burn. Behind her knelt three of her hybrids.

  “My queen, she overpowered the First,” one of the hybrids hissed.

  Adelaide’s face shifted into a deep scowl, her eyes burning a bright green. The death of her favorite hybrid sent waves of rage coursing through her. All she could think of was finding Atlanta Skolar and burning her alive.

  “The books are gone?”

  The hybrids didn’t reply. Adelaide stood up in anger, tossing the chair aside. A bright flash of green escaped her fingers and one of the hybrids exploded into a cloud of dust. The other two flinched, but were smart enough to keep their positions.

  “The books are gone!” Adelaide screamed, her voice shaking the walls.

  “Yes, my queen,” one of the hybrids replied.

  “Where is she now?” Adelaide demanded.

  “Our scouts saw her leave towards Calen,” came the low reply. “We believe she aims to rejoin what remains of the rebellion there.”

  “But do not fear, my queen,” the other hybrid quickly cut in. “Her efforts will prove fruitless. The remaining Wolves and Vampires are scattered. We heard Marcus himself is on the run. She returns to a city with no hope.”

  “Fools,” Adelaide spat. “She has the books. That will be enough to give her hope. I want her stopped before she gets to the city.”

  “Yes, my queen,” the hybrids said in unison.

  Adelaide turned back to face the flames of Everlore. Soon it would look the way it had when she’d first brought Lenore here: broken, desolate, without hope or life. A dark place for the darkest of creatures. And they would all bow to her command.

  “And what about the woman?”

  Adelaide turned, shifting her gaze to where the hybrids were looking. The lifeless body of Lenore lay sprawled on the floor, her blue eyes staring into nothing. Adelaide smiled. “Place her head on a stake at the top of this watchtower.” Adelaide scoffed, thinking of the child returning to find her mother. “Burn the rest.”

  The hybrids nodded, quickly gathering Lenore’s body and slithering out of the room before Adelaide’s mood changed.

  She watched them leave, then turned back to the window and gazed out at the flames. In the fire she saw the future, and how the rest of the world would burn in her wake. The Lunar Books would be hers, and then the entire world would be hers to rule.

  But first she needed to destroy the last of Beatrice’s line, once and for all.

  “I will see you again, Atlanta Skolar,” she promised the wind. “And when I do, I promise to be slow and merciless.” Her laughter shook the watchtower and soared high over the sounds of the burning city below.

  THE END

  Alpha’s Permission Blurb

  Calen has fallen. Everlore has fallen. And once more, Atlanta Skolar is on the run. Barely escaping the clutches of Adelaide, and believing her mother is dead, she escapes the fires of the ancient city.

  Her escape, though, is bittersweet. Coupled with the unknown ability she has recently discovered, and the curious case of her platinum colored hair, she has yet to find a way to defeat the witch and her followers. Joined by her band of trusted friends, Atlanta must work to find the remaining Lunar Books and figure out the secrets within if she wants to stop Adelaide’s conquest for complete dominance.

  But with hybrids and the compelled hot on her trail, the task seems almost impossible. Atlanta must find the strength within her, and unleash the powers of the Coven Master, if she wants to ensure the survival of her friends...and herself.

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