“I’m sorry this happened,” I told him as he watched me. “I do respect you, even if I’ve not shown it very often.”
His face grew softer as he came over and offered his hand. Taking it, I laughed when he brought it to his lips and kissed my knuckles. “Devon Jinx, you’ve kept me on my toes. You’ll always be a part of the London warlock coven. Isaac Senior accepted you as a half breed, and so do I. Now, give us our link back and all will be well.”
“Don’t I know it,” I muttered, taking a deep breath.
“Okay, everyone.” Mary shooed Maxwell away as she guided me to stand right next to the stone. “We haven’t got long.”
My mother was by my side, her eyes glazed with unshed tears. “I’m so proud of you,” she whispered when we made eye contact.
“Me too,” my father piped up. “Although, you’ve almost given me a heart attack numerous times recently. Let’s just get this done so we can get on with our lives.”
Hugging them both spontaneously, I closed my eyes and breathed them in. I finally had my whole family, and it didn’t feel dysfunctional anymore.
“Well, isn’t this sickly sweet,” came a familiar male voice.
Releasing my parents, I turned to face the impossible. “Vernon Jupiter, how the fuck are you here?”
The warlock was standing directly where I’d killed Bradley. His eyes were bright red as he grinned manically, waving at us in greeting. “I managed to connect to Bradley after you killed Helena and sent me back to hell. Thanks for that by the way.”
His grimace was satisfying, even if it only lasted a moment.
“You’re welcome,” I replied.
My hand wrapped around my dagger handle, bringing it out of my pocket. I didn’t leave the agency building without it, even if I believed that I wouldn’t need it.
The beating of my heart increased when Vernon took a step forward. What did he want? He would not ruin the ritual. I was sick and tired of people trying to bring me down.
“When you killed Bradley, you opened up a tiny slit from hell. It’s okay, it was my energy print, so I was the only one who was able to come through it.”
“Oh, well, that’s okay, then.” I sneered as I stepped in front of my parents.
Maxwell’s warlocks started to advance, their intent clear from the balls of multi-coloured magic in their hands.
“I wouldn’t, if I were you,” Vernon said as he bent his head to look over his shoulder.
Maxwell was poised nearby, his arms raised and ready to fight.
“Vernon, this is our fight.” My father drew his attention away from the leader of the warlocks. “Let’s go somewhere to sort it out.”
Throwing his head back, Vernon let out a high pitched laugh. Ugh. I’d forgotten how creepy he was. Not only was he insane when I killed him, but Helena had brought him back from the dead. He was still dead, but his soul was branded by hell. He was pure evil.
“I don’t think so,” the previous leader of the Stonehenge warlock coven hissed. “Your lovely daughter has something I want.”
My knees bent slightly, my stance strong. Okay, so he wanted a fight. It was only moments away from the solstice, so I had to put him down quickly.
Pointing my dagger to the ground, I crouched further, touching the tip to the dirt. Pure witch energy instantly zapped into the blade causing white flames to lick it before they disappeared.
“Let’s play,” the spirit warlock shouted.
Spinning, he threw out a steam of black and red magic. It soared through the air, hitting all the warlocks, including Maxwell. They instantly fell to the ground, their bodies convulsing. Shit, that was dangerous. Really dangerous. Evil magic went beyond anything I could handle.
Glancing over my shoulder, I gestured for my dad to protect my mum and Mary. He nodded, dragging them both into the middle of the cairn closest to us. As Vernon faced me, I kept my gaze on him, throwing a protection spell around the cairn to protect my family.
Rushing forward, I extended my dagger arm, throwing the magic out. It flew forward, grazing Vernon’s arm as he ducked to the side. My momentum kept me going as he howled, clasping the area I’d hit. My witch magic would probably harm him more than the warlock, but I’d need to use both.
“I don’t think so,” he said as I tried to skid to a stop.
He lunged, his fist ploughing into my cheek. Pain exploded through my head, my skull rattling as I fell backwards, my arms flailing. Just before I hit the ground, I froze. Oh great, I remembered this trick he’d pulled before.
Coming closer, Vernon laughed as he looked down at me. My spine was arched backwards, my legs bent from the knees. My muscles screeched in pain as he stared. “You’re quite remarkable. It’s a shame you have to die.”
Without saying anything, I felt into mother earth for the impure warlock magic. It flowed into me, heating my insides, almost boiling them. At least I’d never get cold when I had my warlock magic to keep me warm. Although, the intensity of it made my muscles shake.
“Okay,” Vernon started.
Before he could go on, I twisted, breaking the weird spell he’d cast on me. My hand touched the earth before I pushed myself up into a stand. My leg kicked out, my knee coming into direct contact with his nether regions. I wasn’t usually a fan of taking a man down by hurting his balls, but needs must and all that. Plus, he kinda deserved it.
His grunt was followed by a howl as I grabbed his shoulders and thrust my head towards his, my forehead smacking straight into his nose.
Rubbing my skull as I backed off, I opened my other hand and envisioned a ball of white light. Yes, I was mixing my warlock and witch magic. The threads of dark blue lightning that zinged through the light magic showed that it wasn’t just pure.
“I wouldn’t if I were you,” Vernon said, spitting blood on the ground.
Lifting his arm, he pointed behind me. I didn’t look, not daring to take my eyes off my enemy.
“Leave my daughter alone.” My father was close, too close.
Why wasn’t he in the cairn with the others? How had he got past the barrier spell? He must have come back out once he’d put the others inside, before I’d put the protection spell up. Great.
“Dad, get back inside,” I shouted, unable to do anything but hold my magic.
My heart thumped in my chest. My whole body was lined with sweat, small droplets falling down my neck and back.
“We’ve only got two minutes,” Mary called.
Oh crap. I had to get this done. Now.
Without saying any more, I lurched forward, my arms pushing the ball away from me and towards Vernon. His eyes widened as he spun, trying to get out of the way. I hummed deeply as the ball travelled, the size increasing as it went. The link kicked in, making it ten times bigger.
As it smashed into the spirit warlock, it dispersed all over him. He was silent as his body started to go into seizure. He shook violently as his back hit the ground and his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Good.
Spinning, I undid the protection spell so that my mother and Mary could join us. They both rushed over as my father went closer to Vernon. Grabbing my hand, my mother dragged me to the stone.
“Quick, otherwise it will be too late.”
Trying to keep a grip on the handle of my dagger as sweat made it slippery, I brought it to my other palm. Slicing quickly, I indicated that my mother should do the spell. She grabbed my hand as blood welled up from the wound. Whispering the spell, she placed my palm flat on the stone’s surface.
“Devon!” my father screamed.
Turning, I gasped in a breath. Vernon was standing, his arms around my dad from behind. He held a blade to his throat, a wicked grin on his face. No.
About to rip away from the stone, I struggled when Mary pressed my hand harder. The contact suddenly melded my hand to the stone. I tried to tug away as midnight hit and the spell ignited.
A white mist descended around me as I tried desperately to pull away from the stone. No, if I
didn’t get to my dad, he would…
Vernon’s blade sliced across my father’s throat. My father looked at me, his gaze seeking mine. I stared, unable to look away as he mouthed the words ‘I love you’. I screamed as the life in his eyes drained, leaving his body with the blood that now drenched his shirt.
“Go,” I told the other two as Vernon stepped past my father as he fell and came towards us. “Now.”
My mother was on her knees, her head in her hands. She’d watched my father die too. It would be a memory forever ingrained in our minds.
“Mum!”
Stumbling to her feet, my mum grabbed my shoulders. Vernon was taking his time, almost teasing. And, yet, only seconds stretched by.
My body started to shake as the link pulled into the stone.
“I can’t leave you,” my mum said, grabbing my free hand.
“I can’t lose you,” I told her.
Mary came around the stone, took my mother’s arm and pulled her away. She went, staring after me as I turned my attention back to Vernon. Trying to access my magic, I held my free hand towards him. Nothing came. Except pain. The link was rushing into the stone, taking my energy with it.
“No!” Vernon shouted suddenly as I leant my head against the stone.
I was helpless, unable to do anything to stop him from harming me. But, it was okay. I could join my father with our ancestors. I was ready to leave this life behind. He’d died for me. He was dead.
Arms suddenly wrapped around my legs. Glancing down, I frowned as Vernon clung to me, his arms trying to get a grip. His body was being dragged back by something invisible. Looking up, I released a shuddery breath. My team were standing there, all three of them performing a spell.
They were sending Vernon back to hell. Thank fuck. The pressure grew as Vernon squeezed my legs. What was happening?
I suddenly went lightheaded, the heat from my warlock magic becoming extremely cold. Except for where he held me.
“If I’m going back to hell,” he shouted over the vibration of the stone. “I’ll take a part of you with me.”
Something beneath my feet snapped harshly as Vernon was ripped away from me. Agony resounded through my body as I screamed, my muscles shaking so hard I couldn’t hold myself up. My hand was still stuck to the stone, the energy of the link being transferred still rushing through my bones.
Wind swirled around me violently, causing my hair to flick into my eyes. I just made out the image of Vernon being sucked into the ground, back to where he belonged. My father’s body lay lifeless on the ground, all alone. Tears streamed down my face as a sucking sensation popped out of my body, and my hand was freed from the stone.
“Fuck,” I muttered.
Gerard appeared, wrapping his arms around me as my legs gave way.
“Are you okay?” my man asked, holding me tightly against him. “What happened?”
My body was numb, the pain that had spread through me leaving a trace of something once familiar, but now almost too sore to bear.
“I…” My throat closed at the realisation of what had happened. “I’m no longer a warlock. Vernon severed my link completely, and…” I tried to breathe, but I couldn’t catch my breath. “…my dad is dead because of me.”
Chapter Fourteen
Half witch, half… no, no, that’s not right. Not anymore. My fingers shook as my mind played what had happened over and over again. My mother sat in the chair beside the bed, her head fallen to the side, her eyes closed in sleep.
Kurt had insisted that I rest in the infirmary. Gerard had refused, bringing me to my bedroom instead. Kingsley had kept me company through the rest of the night, the others coming and going as they dealt with the scene in Scotland.
My father couldn’t be dead. I’d told myself that he must be alive. That he was probably in the infirmary. Maybe it was best to go there and see him.
“Are you okay?” My mother’s voice caused me to jump.
I’d been about to climb out of bed. “Yes, I just need to go and find dad.”
Fresh tears instantly came into her eyes. Oh, crap, I’d ruined that moment of just waking up where you forget all the shit. Her expression made me squeeze my eyes shut. No, there was no going to find dad, he wasn’t…
“He died because of me,” I whispered, unable to cry.
Numbness made it hard for me to move my arms, even to hold my mother when she shoved to her feet and came to sit on the side of the bed. Not even when she grasped me tight, holding me as close to her as possible.
“It wasn’t because of you,” she said quietly. “It was because of Vernon Jupiter.”
The image of my father’s gaze made grief crash through me, bursting down my barriers. Pain lanced harder than my disconnection from impure magic. My whole body shook as I screamed, tears streaming down my face.
Arms were around me, more than one pair. My eyes were closed, unable to see the expression on their faces. All of them. I could smell them as I buried my head into the nearest shoulder. My mother’s. Gerard climbed on the bed behind me, putting his arms around me as much as he could. Justina’s tears mixed with my own as she kissed my head, stroking my hair. Kurt’s breathing was harsh as he flung himself over all of us, somehow managing to stay standing. And, through it all, I only saw the image of my father in my mind, falling to the ground as he mouthed I love you.
We stayed that way for a while, unable to pull apart, unable to do anything but cry. When I could hardly breathe, I managed to untangle myself from my family. Each one of them had wet cheeks. Even Gerard had a snotty nose.
Offering me a tissue, he sat up and pulled me to lean back against him.
“How are you feeling within yourself?” Kurt said. “You know, now you’re no longer a warlock?”
Blinking, I tried not to throw a punch in his direction. And, yet, he stood there, as red eyed as the rest of us. Losing my father was a shared grief. They hadn’t known my parents for long, but they’d embraced them as much as they had me. Somehow, we’d made this weird family together. And now…
“Mum, I’m so sorry,” I whispered, wiping the tears from under her eyes. “How can I make it better?”
Rubbing her face, my mother looked up at the ceiling. “You can just…” Looking back at me, she tilted her head to the side. “…be strong. And, allow yourself to grieve. I…” she almost choked. “…need time to grieve.”
Nodding, I tucked her hair behind her ear. She sucked air into her lungs before she climbed off the bed. The others followed, leaving me and Gerard alone. Kingsley squeaked, his hatred of being ignored overwhelming him. Leaning back against my man, I opened my mouth and started to sing. It was a song my father used to sing to me when I was a baby. Kingsley instantly stopped making noise, his little eyes watching me as I waved at him.
Rocking me back and forth, Gerard stayed silent until I’d finished. A part of me was gone completely.
“Not only has my father been taken away from me, I’ve lost what I did have of him.” I hiccupped, swallowing to try and bury the pain.
Gerard’s arms tightened around me, his hands coming up to wrap around my shoulders from behind. I was cocooned in his embrace, his scent comforting me as he breathed next to my ear.
“He will always be a part of you,” he whispered, kissing my neck gently. “His DNA can never be taken away, and neither can the memories.”
“I’m a full Essex witch now.”
My statement made me sad somehow. When I’d thought I’d lost my connection to the witch side of me, I’d been distraught. Now that I actually had lost my link to the warlock magic… the warlocks!
“Did it work? Wait… Maxwell, the others. Are they alive? Wow, I’ve not even asked about them, I-”
“Devon.” Sitting up, Gerard shifted so we half faced one another. “Calm down.”
Letting out a shaky breath, I leant into him, kissing his chin. He moved my hair back off my sticky face. “The warlocks are fine. They’re recovering from Vernon’s hit. It mi
ght take a few days, but there’s no lasting damage. Kurt checked the link. The ritual worked perfectly. Mary’s back at home, worried sick about you, but we’re keeping her informed.”
My energy drained as I sagged against Gerard. He indicated that we should lay down, face to face. I did as he said, looking into his eyes as he stroked my arm. The moment was silent, my body was numb.
“How am I going to support my mother?”
The shock of no longer being half warlock hadn’t set in. I’d wanted to get rid of the main link so badly, I’d almost brought it upon myself.
“You’re going to grieve, and then you’re going to get up, and help us get Cameron. Your father wanted us to catch him. He was a good man, even if he didn’t approve of me.”
The tiny quirk of his lips made me smile for a split second. “They’d arranged for me to meet an Essex witch. Although, I think my dad was probably dragged along by my mother.”
“They did what?” Gerard went to get up.
Gripping his arm, I forced him to stay with me. Taking a deep breath, he laid back down and settled again.
“You’re right,” he said, tracing the tattoo of my silhouette on his arm. “This isn’t the time to get angry about that.”
Sighing, I put my hand over his cheek, tucking my little finger behind his ear. He went still, his gaze intensifying when it met mine.
“I told them that I would never consent to anything because I’m with you. They accepted that.”
His tightened jaw relaxed as he put his arm around me. “That’s good.”
“Vernon was sent back to hell?” My mind was swirling from one thing to the next.
Nodding, Gerard leant forward and kissed my forehead. “Yes. I’m sorry, Devon. I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there for you.”
Blinking, I swallowed hard when Gerard pulled back. Tears were gathered in his eyes, one sliding out to roll down the side of his face and onto the pillow.
Hunted Witch Agency Box Set Books 4-5 (Hunted Witch Agency Set Book 2) Page 27
