by Emma Dean
Mika actually smiled. Eisheth wasn’t like any man, or person of power, she’d ever met before.
The demon linked his arm through hers and casually started walking toward the library. “I’m here because Jessica asked me to do damage control while she yells at Lucifer. She’s been dealing with the seals for a while now. Someone’s been trying to open them and Lucifer tasked her with finding out who a bit ago.”
Mika didn’t ask for more details, she didn’t really want to know what was going on between Jessica and Lucifer – especially when she had a feeling Jessica had enough power to rival the prince of hell himself.
“So I’m going to tell you why that seal is there.” Eisheth turned them toward the temple at the last minute and Mika didn’t resist.
It had to have been hard thinking a friend was dead for centuries only to find out they were trapped somewhere. Eisheth hadn’t known which meant he couldn’t help her. Maybe he would now. Mika was curious why she was even trapped in the first place.
“Before this was a school,” Eisheth murmured quietly, glancing only once at the trees. “It was an asylum against the witch hunts. Before that, it was a place of learning and sanctuary, but not the way you know it to be now.”
The trees were silent as they listened and Mika wondered if they would tell the dean about this conversation. The last thing she needed was the Council knowing she was friends with a demon.
“There was a castle over the sea, glittering and enchanting,” Eisheth said, his lyrical words painting a gorgeous picture. “The Vikings had discovered this land and the people here, but this island was deserted and so here they lived, trading with the shamans and shifters on the main continent.”
Mika could barely comprehend how long ago that was, and Eisheth didn’t see time quite the same way that she did. There was a massive difference to her between five and ten centuries.
But the dark forest felt comforting for the first time since she’d found the first body here.
Eisheth looked up at the trees and their dark leaves with a slight smile. “Blood witches were very common in the Viking tribes. Ravens and witches lived side by side and they worked together to end wars. But as time went on, the English started invading and the Morrigan and her people fled their country to live here. For a long time things were peaceful.”
“And then they started colonizing.” Mika chewed on her lip as she considered. It wouldn’t have been hard to keep this place a secret.
Eisheth nodded. “And with them came the witch hunts. The witches here begged her to open the wards, and so the Morrigan did.”
He started walking again, hands still in his pockets. Then the demon actually sighed – did he even need air? Mika wondered what the air was like in hell.
“Other witches came to live here, and a school was created for everyone. But things got weird.”
Mika followed him, watching for the edge of the forest. This time when the cliff appeared she was ready for it. And off in the distance the temple practically glowed under the moonlight, like the lights were on for an old friend.
She glanced up at Eisheth and wondered what it had looked like the last time he was here.
“Corruption festered in the witches’ ranks,” Eisheth explained. “They wanted to access more power – the ones who weren’t blood witches anyway. So they found a way to open a door to hell and take that power for themselves.”
A chill ran down Mika’s spine as they stepped onto the first stone of the temple and it echoed something like joy. Had the Morrigan’s blood been spilled here? Was that why this place always felt so alive?
Whatever it was, it recognized the demon and it was happy about it.
“Was there a seal to hell here before?” Mika asked as they climbed the steps to the statue at the top.
“No.” The demon shook his head and stopped when they reached the fountain. “It took the death of forty-nine witches to rip a hole in the universe between planes that would stay open. The spell was a perversion of blood magic and a lust for power.”
“So that’s why those witches haunt the original building.” Mika crossed her arms over her chest and considered the raven on the Morrigan’s shoulder. What was Corbin doing with his time away? What would he be like when he came back?
“That was the first initiation of the Hellfire Society,” Eisheth admitted. “They made deals with demons, some procreated with demons, and some escaped into the hell realm. That moment in time has caused ripples in the universe that are still spreading.”
The demon eyed the statue of his friend and Mika felt reckless for a moment – she had nothing to lose really. “She told me I can summon her on the full moon here, if you want to come.”
Eisheth looked down at her in surprise. “You’d be okay with that?”
Mika snorted. “Not like you really need my permission. You’re a demon after all.”
He looked down at her, considering. Then Eisheth reached for her wrist, lifting up the hand that had been covered in Lucifer’s blood. “I haven’t seen anything affect a divine creature like that in a very long time – aside from Kenzie of course. Kenzie can take power from me, from Lucifer. Whoever she wants.”
“Including me,” Mika murmured, unable to look away from the demon’s perfectly manicured hand wrapped around her wrist. Her magic didn’t try to push her to act either. “The Morrigan said only a void witch could take what was mine.”
Eisheth chuckled at that. “There is always a check and balance it seems. But now we have Jessica who possesses as much strength and power as Lucifer himself, enough to challenge him for his title if she wished. Then we have Kenzie who can take power from anyone. And you…who can take blood from Lucifer as if he were a mortal.”
Mika shuddered and pulled her hand out of Eisheth’s. “I’m not interested in some prophecy or fate,” she warned him. “That’s not what I want my life to be like. I’m not like Jessica.”
And just like that the spell was broken and Eisheth turned back to the statue with a sad smile. “No, and I honestly couldn’t tell you what’s going to happen, but it has my ancient bones aching in worry.”
That wasn’t something she was particularly pleased to hear. Mika sighed and took out the vial of Lucifer’s blood. “I’m keeping this. I know with what I am…there’s a good chance things will start looking for me, start trying to control me and the power I wield. It’s not something I’m going to allow.”
The demon smiled slightly. “You learn quickly. That was a hard lesson for Kenzie to swallow. She had to kill a being who was basically a god to earn her autonomy.”
Mika hadn’t known that – though she’d heard bits and pieces of the aftermath. It had been during everything she’d had to deal with once Kenzie had exposed the traitors in their coven, so a lot during that time was fuzzy.
“I want to be an ally not a pawn,” Mika murmured, rolling the vial between her fingers. “I don’t want Lucifer to think he can push me around, no matter who he is. That’s why I left. He was going to demand I work for him, giving him information. I understand he’s the prince of hell and the kind of power he wields, but if I can take his blood – he isn’t stronger than me. Not really.”
“Lucifer and Samael have never liked that little trick of the Morrigan’s,” Eisheth admitted, winking at the statue of the raven. “She basically gave all her daughters a piece of the power she had, and only daughters. There are no male blood witches which is why there is always a raven for every morrigan. I assume that’s why someone locked her away and then murdered all her children. They didn’t like their power being challenged by mortals.”
Mika turned and started back down the stairs toward the library, texting everyone she would be back in a few minutes. “Do you have any idea who would be able to imprison a goddess?”
Eisheth followed closely behind. “I’ll start looking into it. Now that I know where she is I can start trying to get her out. I’ll be back on the full moon.”
Then Mika heard the tell
tale pop.
The night hadn’t gone exactly as she’d planned, but she’d at least gotten what she needed out of it, and then some. Mika took off her necklace and slipped the vial on it, letting it clink against one of her blood crystals.
But she still had a long way to go before the people she cared about were truly safe.
23
Corbin still wasn’t back yet, and Mika had mixed feelings about it. On one hand it was day three and still no word from him. She had no idea if he even planned to come back. But on the other hand she’d been able to handle the shit she’d needed to, and now she could go on her date with Lucien without worrying about the raven hovering over them.
Telling everyone what had happened with the demon – about meeting Lucifer…no one had looked pleased, especially Lucien and Ethan. But Malachi hadn’t had anything to say about it. Mika had told them all what she’d learned, but honestly it didn’t really help them.
Knowing the history of the Hellfire Society, and how they’d been the ones to overturn the Morrigan and all the blood witches – that they’d been the ones to sacrifice forty-nine witches so they could rip open a hole between earth and hell just so they could gain more power…
None of that helped them with what was happening here and now.
They still had to find out when the Hellfire Society planned to strike, and how. Would they try to open the seal again? Would they hurt Malachi? Would they try something else?
In the meantime she knew Jessica was doing what she could from the outside and so was Eisheth. Lucifer couldn’t open the seal on this plane, but he could wait on the other side she supposed, if and when it ever did.
At least that’s what Jessica had told Eisheth. Lucifer would keep an eye on that portal from hell, but that’s all he could do. The rest was up to Mika, Audrey, Ethan, Lucien, and she supposed Malachi.
But Malachi…he had a lot to deal with. It’s why after he’d left the library she’d asked Ethan and Lucien to keep an eye on him – to make sure he was safe, and to make sure he wasn’t going to try anything stupid like hand her over to those nut jobs, not that she would blame him with the ultimatum his father left him with.
Adjusting her dress, she shoved that thought away. Malachi wouldn’t have told her what they wanted if he planned to betray her.
Mika studied herself in the mirror and decided she looked cute enough for a stay-at-home date.
A little black dress with a white Wendy collar and comfortable boots were definitely cute enough for a movie and whatever kind of dinner they could have at the hunters’ house. Mika grabbed her jacket and kissed Audrey on the cheek as she left.
Her dorm mate was studying her ass off for finals even though they were still weeks away. Mika helped when she could, but for the most part Audrey had it all down, she was just obsessive since she’d gotten such a late start in life.
Mika blew a kiss at the plants in the giant pots outside her House’s door, knowing Ethan was still having them watch her.
The weather was finally warming up. It was April, and Mika was honestly shocked at how long it had taken the island to shake off the weight of winter, but it was her first east coast winter and spring. She supposed it would still be raining for another month or two in San Francisco, so she should be counting her lucky stars.
The forest had birds chirping and the sound of animals getting ready for summer. Mika breathed deep and relished the scent of rich soil and growing things. Soon she would be back in her greenhouse with her plants, and Mika felt torn.
She couldn’t wait to work on the Marshall greenhouse now that she had her magic back, but she was also depressed that she had to leave her friends…and boyfriends.
At least Audrey would be in the same city.
The forest opened up to Wolfsbane House and Mika admired the old building all over again. She could see its age in the architecture, in the way it looked like some sort of plantation mansion, but the repairs had been kept up, and there were some additions that had been made over time.
Mika took the front steps two at a time and knocked on the door, remembering the last time she’d been here and everything that had happened.
It was crazy to think how volatile and out of control her magic had been only a few months ago. So much had changed since Mika had first arrived at Morgana and it had only been one semester. What kind of a person would she be after five years?
The door opened and Mika smiled at Natalie. “For Lucien?” Natalie asked, smiling slightly.
Mika wasn’t sure what the other hunter thought of her, and she didn’t want to ask. That was Audrey’s business. “Yes, thank you.” Mika stepped inside when Natalie opened the door farther for her to pass.
“He’s been preparing for most of the afternoon,” Natalie told her. “I hope you two have fun. Is Audrey at Oleander House?”
Mika nodded, inspecting the House that she’d only ever seen once during a party. For the most part it looked the same, but it had a homier feel to it than she’d expected. There wasn’t much residual magic in the air or on the furniture, but she could feel it deep down in the building itself.
“Glad you could make it, little witch,” Lucien said, coming from around the corner, giving Natalie a nod.
The other hunter smiled and waved goodbye before leaving. Mika hoped things would go smoothly between her and Audrey.
“What’s the plan?” Mika asked, running her hands over her dress to dispel some of her nerves.
Why she was anxious in the first place, she didn’t really know. It wasn’t like she hadn’t spent time with Lucien over the last few months, saving each other’s lives, investigating murders, sparring…kissing.
Lucien’s smile was vulpine as he offered her his hand. “Let me show you what I’ve prepared.”
She let him lead her out of the foyer and through the main living space toward the back where their massive kitchen was. Much like Oleander House there were multiple common areas so all the students in the house could have their own space.
Not everyone liked to watch the same show, or movie. Not everyone needed or wanted silence while they studied. Creating multiple spaces kept the fights to a minimum.
Mika glanced outside where she’d tossed that girl across the yard, where the ghosts liked to hang out, and where she could see a pool. She’d had no idea there was a pool over here. How had she missed that the first time?
“So for dinner, I asked Ethan for some pointers, and he reached out to Selene for me. We managed to grab a few things from San Francisco, and Selene delivered it to the portal door herself.”
Mika stopped in her tracks when she saw the spread on the coffee table in front of the TV. They were in a common area just off the kitchen. And it looked like the spread was a little bit of everything from all her favorite food places back home.
Not only had Lucien thought to ask, Selene had remembered.
Tears pricked her eyes and Mika had to clear her throat. “This is amazing.”
Lucien chuckled and tucked her into his side. He led her toward the couch and turned on the TV. “Ethan told me I wasn’t allowed the latest Marvel movie so I had to pick something else. I’ve no idea if this is something you even like, but I figure it doesn’t really matter.”
A comedy show started playing and Mika had to laugh. “It’s not really my thing, but as you said, it doesn’t matter. I’m here to get to know you better Lucien.”
The fox looked down at her then with a curious look on his face. “Same here, little witch. I love comedy shows, but prefer to see them in person. I also have a Russian movie about vampires in case you want to watch that, but it’s got subtitles.”
Mika grinned. “I love that movie, but I’d rather watch this with you tonight. Did you pick anything that you like to eat?”
For the first time Lucien looked flustered. “I saw there was Korean BBQ on the list and got some of that. I wanted to make some for you, but I don’t have all the stuff I would need to make it properly.” He ran his hand th
rough his hair and Mika thought he looked adorable.
She didn’t think she’d ever seen Lucien really nervous before. Mika popped up to her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Maybe next time.”
He let out a deep breath and then smiled at her. “Come on, I’m starving.”
“You know I actually kind of like Ethan,” Lucien confessed, turning the TV off. He laid back and clasped his hands over his stomach. “Man, I am so full.”
Mika was already laying back with her boots off and her feet up. She’d given up long before Lucien, but couldn’t help picking at the delicious food here and there.
“What’s not to like?” Mika asked with a chuckle, sipping the Boba tea.
Lucien gave her a side glance. “He’s a witch.”
“So am I.”
“And that’s not always a point in your favor,” Lucien chuckled, poking her in the side. “But neither of you are like the witches I was warned about as a kit.”
Mika sat up and looked around the room. “Someone could have heard you.”
The fox shrugged. “I don’t even care anymore. I know you’ve got my back.”
Something about that made her feel warm and fuzzy inside. Mika relaxed once more and rolled to her side so she could face him. “Ethan likes you too.”
“What’s not to like,” Lucien teased.
This time she was the one to poke him in the side. “Sometimes you’re an annoying know it all.”
He turned to face her so they were nearly nose to nose. “I do know a lot.”
Mika studied his golden-brown eyes and watched as they started to glow a gorgeous gold that had always enamored her. Just letting her see that part of him meant he’d trusted her from the very beginning, and that was more than Mika felt she deserved.
