“Magic is not evil,” Sage found herself saying, before she’d even committed to the thought.
“Really?” Rina’s eyes narrowed on Sage. “You have been wronged by every person in this room. Your own mother I bet didn’t even tell you what you were. Secrecy is wrong. Condemning you to a life you did not choose is wrong.”
“She didn’t condemn me to anything,” Sage said. “She died fighting a battle you started.”
Rina’s contempt didn’t falter. “He tricked you.” She pointed at Grey. “He drank your blood.” Her finger moved to Zack. “He filled your head with false prophecy.” Her finger landed on Devon. “Everyone in this room has wronged you…”
“Including you.” Sage finished the sentence for her.
“Magic has wronged us all, Sage. I was trying to fix the wrong done to me. The wrong done to innocent people who are murdered at the hands of those vampires. Like my father.” She had no more tears. Her voice cracked as she spoke. “I believed in what my father did. I believed all the stories. My father was the knight in shining armor, the great defender of peace between the races of magic.” She sniffled and wiped her face. “But the truth is, he wasn’t even my father, and he did little more than turn a blind eye to murder. And what did he get for his trouble? Death.”
“I’ve heard enough.” Zack’s hungry eyes were locked on Rina’s puffy face. “She’s admitted her crimes. I claim justice.”
“She’s not Terra!” Devon said loudly.
“She’ll bleed just the same.” Zack licked his lips before sending a smirking glance at Grey. “I’ll make sure her body is properly disposed of so as to not cause any more problems with ASSET regulations.”
This wasn’t how it needed to end. As angry as she was at Rina, death at the fangs of a vampire didn’t feel right. Sage cringed, remembering how painful those teeth could be, and searched for something to say to stop it from happening. “We don’t have jurisdiction.” Whether it was true or not didn’t matter; her words stopped Zack and Devon from coming to blows.
A knock at the open door added further distraction.
Ava Williams, stood in the threshold, suited up and ready for action. “Oh good, I’d hoped to see everyone here.” Her domineering tone bordered on cocky.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Devon replied to her.
“You think you have the market cornered on deception?” Ava shot back at him. Hands on her hips, she stared at them like naughty little children. “Grey, your information was an easy lie to uncover, but I commend you for the effort. Did you really suspect me?”
Grey shrugged. “If not you, someone in your inner circle.”
“Yes,” she scoffed, her eyes moving from one face to another. “I’ve been looking into that myself. When I saw little Rina here sneaking away, I hoped my suspicions were unfounded. But look where I found her.” Ava pushed past the group and came face to face with her assistant, who was crying again. “It’s time she came in for questioning.”
“She’s already admitted her guilt,” Sage offered.
“Signed, sealed, and delivered. Excellent work. I have three agents and a transport vehicle waiting in the parking lot.” Ava cracked a wicked smile. “And as for you lot” – her gaze turned to Sage – “let it be known the weapon has been retrieved.” She spoke the words louder than was necessary. Sage wondered if her intent was to ensure that anyone lurking in the shadows might hear her too. “It is currently under armed transport to its final destination in Germany. So we can be done with all the posturing and threats.”
Sage’s hand nearly flew to the necklace, but she stopped herself from revealing even through body language that Ava was lying.
“I wasn’t told this.” Zack growled angrily. He’d been so close to a meal, only to be denied at the last second. Sage was all too glad to not have to witness it. “I’m here as the representative for my people,” he said furiously. “I demand justice.”
“It will be given. Publicly,” Ava countered, with just as much domination in her voice. “I’ve called for an emergency meeting of the magical councils in this city, and Rina will be placed on trial for her crimes, with punishment to be doled out at their discretion.”
“More tricks to protect your people’s mistakes. We have the guilty party. Justice will be dealt with now.” Zack had never looked so deadly.
Ava rose up to her full height and stared him down like an alpha wolf. “It must be done publicly. That is the only way we can return to peace. This war must not happen. You all know the cost is too high for any of us to pay.”
Devon picked up a wrapped bundle, made of dried leaves and twine, and lit the end of it. As it began to smoke, Sage watched the magical barrier shimmer. As if burning its magic out, it grew brighter until it shattered into a glittering shower.
Rina stood for a moment as if she had seen what happened, although being human, she couldn’t have. Sage scrutinized her expression and then turned back to Devon.
“If that is the will of ASSET, we can do nothing but allow this to happen,” Devon agreed respectfully. He made one final pass with the smoking stick and then snuffed it out in a bowl on the desk next to Rina.
Zack looked murderous. He’d been eager for revenge, and in one fell swoop, Ava had robbed him of it. But to his credit, he did not make a move toward Rina as Devon worked to unravel the magic imprisoning her.
Grey wasn’t taking any chances. His eyes were riveted on the vampire as he gripped the handle of his machete, ready to strike.
Moment of truth time. If Zack wanted to, he could have Rina’s throat in a heartbeat. But he’d be stupid to try. Either Grey or Devon would end him with little more than a nod from Ava. Bloodshed was the last thing Sage wanted to see. As angry as she was at Rina, vengeance was what had started this; it would not end it. Only justice would bring peace.
Her heart thrummed as she watched Zack, hoping he’d let them take Rina into custody. It was better to slink away and lick his wounds than to die a pointless death demanding his satisfaction.
A hand slithered down Sage’s leg. Before she could react, Rina had lifted one of the knives from her belt, and the blade found her neck.
The sharp edge stung her neck, opening up a hairline slit in her skin as she gulped.
“I will not be murdered to please your bloodlust!” Rina found her voice loud and clear. She had both arms wrapped around Sage’s neck, hugging her, making the knife press even deeper against Sage’s skin.
“You don’t want to do this, Rina,” Devon cautioned.
“You’re planning to murder me. What’s my play here?” Rina shrieked like a madwoman clearly at the end of her rope. “Everyone better back away nice and slowly, or Sage here will be the last of her line.”
For a moment no one moved. They stared at the pair, their eyes moving from Sage to Rina and back again, as if judging whether or not they should cooperate. Ava’s eyes didn’t quite meet Sage’s. She looked at her, but her gaze was lower, as if searching for something beyond the knife at her throat.
Devon was the first to hold his hands up and take a non-threatening step away from Rina. “You want to be a hero?” he asked. “You gotta earn that cape.”
“I tried being a hero,” Rina spat back at him.
But he hadn’t been talking to her. Sage remembered Devon’s promise to make her a cape when she’d proven herself. She needed to remember all the training sessions, and find a way to get the knife away from her throat.
“You see what happens when you deny swift justice?” Zack gnashed his teeth and turned to Ava. “How many more innocent deaths will be on your head?”
Ava’s scrutinizing gaze remained on Sage, perhaps calculating the cost of another life to bring her assistant in for trial. Sage prayed she’d not have to pay that price, but between Rina’s grip and the bite of the blade at her neck, the situation seemed grim.
Zack backed away, following Devon’s lead. “My people will be told what happened here tonight.”
“See
that they are well informed. This isn’t over,” Ava agreed. “Your people will have justice.” She inched back one step at a time, her eyes still locked on the pair. “Grey, come on. Let Rina have some space.”
Grey was the last to move, looking more reluctant that the rest. He was the only one to look Rina in the eyes as he backed away. “You had other options. Why take this one?”
“You left me only one choice.” The tremble in her arms proved Rina wasn’t a fighter. But desperation made people do crazy things, and all it would take was a flick of her wrist to open Sage’s throat.
“Not killing me would be a very good option,” Sage said as calmly as she could, though her heart was thundering loud enough to echo in her ears.
“We do what we have to do,” Rina said, but rather than loosen her grip when the room cleared, she pressed even harder. “It’s not personal.”
“Never is personal.” Her throat burned as the knife’s blade ripped at her neck. There would be no talking sense into the girl. All hopes for a peaceful way to avoid death trickled down her neck in a warm stream of blood. Sage sighed, knowing what she had to do. She moved quickly, lifting her hands up before Rina could react. Both her hands tightly gripped Rina’s forearm and pulled sharply away from her neck. She tilted her shoulder hard at the same time, creating enough of a window between the weapon arm and her body to slip her head away.
Rina struggled to keep a hold on the knife, but Sage refused to let go of her forearm. She twisted free, and let the tension of Rina’s arm do the rest of the job.
As sharp as it was, the knife sliced through her skin like butter. A moment of silence passed between them as realization struck a split second before the gasp of pain. Blood bloomed out from Rina’s chest.
This wasn’t how it was meant to end. Sage reached out to steady her, but she was too slow. Rina crumpled to the ground with a silent moan. Blood stained her shirt as she futilely pawed at the dagger, sheathed three inches into her chest. It was buried so deeply there would be no removing it. And doing so would only kill her quicker.
Sage fell to her knees next to Rina. “You left me no choice.”
Rina gathered her breath and replied, “Better I die…this way than fall victim to… a vampire.”
Sage should have felt satisfied, she’d avenged her mother, but as she held Rina dying in her arms, all she could do was weep. She could neither hate her nor love Rina for what she had done. Secrets and manipulation had twisted noble intentions into evil deeds. If not Rina, someone else might have taken up arms, feeling they were working for justice. How many more Rinas were out there? Sage could have easily fallen into the same trap. Thankfully she was a true Terra, and the weapon that had started it all was useless in her hands. She vowed then and there to never let it out of her sight. She’d take the secret of its location to her grave. No one should wield such power, no matter their intentions.
THIRTY-FOUR
Ava gave orders to her agents to remove the body. She spoke with Grey, commending him for keeping a close eye on Sage. She even sounded kindly when discussing the upcoming meeting with Zack. Sage had never seen the diplomatic side of Ava. She was scarily good at it.
One by one, people were talked to and sent away. When only Sage remained Ava zeroed in on her with all the swiftness of a predator. Confidence sparkled in her eyes. Something else too, but Sage wouldn’t go as far as to say pride. Though they had pulled victory from the jaws of defeat. “You and I share a secret now.”
Sage looked around the empty office, making sure that they were alone before answering. “I don’t know what–”
Ava clucked her tongue at Sage and waggled her finger. “Mark assured me you were smarter than that.”
She knew. Sage’s eyes widened as she sucked in a breath. How long has she known? The question burned on her lips, but she didn’t ask it.
Ava pointed her waggling finger at Sage’s chest. “The price of peace is often higher than we are willing to pay. But it must be paid. For that, I am truly sorry.”
Miranda had sacrificed too much for peace. Sage wasn’t sure she had it in her to pay the same price. “My mother–”
“Was truly a noble woman,” Ava added with a note of reverence. “She may not ever have a plaque to commemorate her courage, but those of us who keep the truth will always honor her memory. She was the best of us.”
“Thank you for saying that.” Sage fought the tears. She’d cried too much already.
“No matter what you decide to do with your future, you must always bear the burden of that secret.” Ava’s tone turned serious. “I need your word on that.”
Sage reached for her mother’s necklace. Buried beneath her shirt, the silver had warmed to the temperature of her skin. She fingered the outline of the tree pendant. “My Mom told me to keep this close and I would always feel her presence.”
“Of that I have no doubt. And I will take that as your solemn oath.”
Sage nodded. She would keep it close, and guard its secret. In her hands it was little more than a trinket, its power neutralized. And with no one the wiser to its location, it was safe from the destructive forces of its tempting justice.
“You have a choice now, one I feel you need some time to consider.” Ava placed a hand on Sage’s shoulder. She took a breath, pausing as if struggling with the right words. For a woman who wore her power like a second skin and strutted around with unchecked confidence, Ava’s hesitation spoke more truth than the words coming from her mouth. “Go home. Think about your future. And if you feel I have earned your trust, come back, become an agent, and work with me at ASSET.”
“It’s hard to know who to trust, with all the lies and manipulation I’ve dealt with so far,” Sage said calmly. The offer sounded genuine, and she would go home and think.
“You’ll learn. Trust comes from actions, not ass kissing. Those you can truly trust might anger you at times, but they’ll always have your back, no matter the cost.” Ava’s hand fell from Sage’s shoulder as Sage remembered her mother’s final words.
When the time comes, you’ll understand why I had to remain silent. But know that I have never once left you vulnerable, and even in my absence, I have thought of your protection.
Her mother had surrounded her with the best ASSET had to offer. Mark understood what needed to be done. He had sent her to Ava who ordered Grey to be her shadow. And despite all her efforts to shake him, Grey had not left her side. Faithful to his mission, despite his obvious dislike of Sage. Even placed in the path of Zack and Devon, Sage had been surrounded by people who would not harm her. It had been manipulation of the worst kind, but done out of respect for the sacrifice her mother had made.
Sage wasn’t sure how long she’d been standing there stupidly staring off into space. When she blinked back to reality, she found Ava staring at her – arms crossed – as if waiting for a reply.
“Thank you,” Sage mumbled, still not able to make the commitment Ava clearly wanted.
“When you’re ready to take the oath, I’ll see you in my office.” Ava wore the satisfied grin of a woman who’d just gotten what she wanted. “Until then…. Dismissed.”
About the Author
Katie Salidas is a best-selling author known for her unique genre-bending style.
Host of the Indie Youtube Talkshow, Spilling Ink, nerd, Doctor Who fangirl, Las Vegas Native, and SuperMom to three awesome kids, Katie gives new meaning to the term sleep-deprived.
Since 2010 she’s penned four bestselling book series: the Immortalis, Olde Town Pack, Little Werewolf, and the RONE award-winning Chronicles of the Uprising. And as her not-so-secret alter ego, Rozlyn Sparks, she is a USA Today bestselling author of romance with a naughty side.
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A TASTE OF YOUR OWN MAGIC
Agents of A.S.S.E.T. 2
Just when Sage thinks she’s getting the hang of this whole agent thing, a smooth-talking Djinn named Luke moves in, right next door to her apartment. As if she needed anymore magical men making her life a living hell. His arrival coincides with a number of strange disappearances in the supernatural community. It’s all hands on deck at ASSET as rumors from the underground suggest that the missing creatures are part of a magical recipe. Someone’s attempting to recreate the lost Amulet of Emmuri: an artifact of legend capable of bestowing the power of the gods on whomever wears it.
A Weapon Of Magical Destruction Page 26
