by Lori Sjoberg
He was right, of course. When push came to shove, she’d much rather resort to her own devices. But it stuck in her craw that he knew her so well. Pivoting on her heel, she crossed the short distance to Gina.
“Have you set up the shield?” she asked the witch.
Gina nodded. “I did it as soon as I got here. None of the neighbors can see or hear anything happening within the borders of the property.”
“Are you sure?” Marlena glanced over at Dmitri and Adam. They had enough firepower strapped to their bodies to give the National Guard a run for the money.
“Positive.” Gina’s mouth quirked up on one side. “Don’t worry, those boys could set off a nuclear blast without waking up any of the neighbors.”
“You say that like it’s a good thing.”
The witch let out a low laugh, and then her face grew deathly serious. “Considering we have no idea what we’re dealing with, I’ll take all the help we can get.”
Marlena wasn’t about to argue the point. She only hoped they had enough collective power to lay waste to whatever had harmed her daughter.
With so many witches present, the air shimmered with magical energy. The younger ones were anxious and eager, while the more seasoned witches seemed nervous. Gina strode to the spot where the back patio used to stand and whistled to get everyone’s attention.
“Listen up, people! It’s time to get started. We need everyone to link hands and form a circle.”
In all, seventeen members of the coven joined hands with Marlena and Adam, forming a huge circle on the lawn just outside the ruins of Cassandra’s house. Dmitri prowled just beyond the formation, weapons at the ready in case things took a turn for the worse. Inside the circle, Gina stood within a ring of black candles. The clump of hair was woven into a long, thin braid at her feet. Voice low, she began to chant in what sounded like Latin, and the other witches picked up the incantation.
Adam leaned as close to Marlena as he could while still holding hands with Ramona. “What are they saying?”
“I’m not sure. I think it’s a binding spell of some type, but don’t worry about it. We’re just here to give an energy boost.”
The more people in the circle, the more energy it created. And even though reapers and shifters weren’t gifted with magic, their enhanced life forces gave the witches a lot more raw power to work with.
The wind kicked up, blowing out the candles along the outer circle but leaving the ones around Gina alight. The witch picked up the braid of hair and raised her hands, her strong, husky voice growing in volume when she switched from Latin to English.
“For the heinous crimes
Of your own design,
I bind your evil
To this place and time.
I bind you from the left,
I bind you from the right,
I bind you by day,
And I bind you by night,
I bind you from above,
I bind you from below,
To keep you from harming
Those we do and don’t know.”
Her voice grew to a shout when she repeated the spell, and the other witches chimed in, their joined hands lifting toward the starlit sky. The wind grew stronger, whipping dirt and debris across the lawn until the swirling air mass formed a small twister. In its center, a greenish mist appeared about twenty feet above their heads. Little by little, the mist thickened until it was no longer transparent, and the temperature outside seemed to drop at least fifty degrees.
“What the fuck is that?” Adam asked Marlena.
“If the spell worked like it should, it’s the creature that attacked Cassie.”
Whatever it was, it was pissed. Marlena squinted, trying hard to make out the shadowy figure in the fading light. She could almost feel it staring back at her. But not only could she feel the weight of its gaze, she also sensed the icy core of its evil. The instinctual urge to flee rippled through her, and it took every ounce of her willpower to remain rooted in place.
Adam’s grip on her hand strengthened. “Do you feel that?”
“Yeah.” What the hell was it? She couldn’t even begin to imagine. Through the years, she’d encountered all manner of beings, but nothing made her skin crawl like this one.
“Don’t break the circle!” Elsie cried out, the old woman’s voice sounding faint in the deafening wind.
The twister jerked to the left, slamming into the invisible force confining it within the circle. It let out an inhuman shriek that reminded Marlena of metal scraping against metal. The witches’ chant grew louder, and so did the shriek as the spell drew the mist closer to the earth.
Gradually, the haze thickened as the creature assumed a corporeal form. Its body was massive and heavily muscled, and even though it stood with a distinct hunch, it was well over eight feet tall. Its arms were nearly as long as its legs and its body was covered in the same thick olive green fur that she’d found in the ruins of the house. A ridge of bone protruded over its brow, while six-inch fangs extended from its massive jaws.
But it was the eyes that sent chills down Marlena’s spine. Glowing red, the creature’s glare fixed upon her and gleamed with malevolent intelligence.
She could have sworn it smiled.
The beast charged in her direction, and although the spell kept it caged within the circle, the impact sent out a shock wave that knocked her back a step.
“Are you all right?” Adam’s grip on her hand tightened, keeping her from falling.
“Yeah. I just wasn’t expecting that.”
To her left, Maria whimpered. The poor woman was white as a sheet. Marlena gave the witch’s hand a hard squeeze. “Don’t let go, do you hear me? If you break the spell, it’ll escape.”
Maria nodded like a bobblehead, her eyes wide and unblinking.
Inside the circle, the creature loomed over Gina, saliva dripping from its fangs. She ignored it, protected within her smaller circle, her eyes closed and her voice barely audible over the animal’s roar. Grasping the braid, she tied the ends together and held it over a candle until it caught fire.
The beast let out another unearthly shriek, and when it charged the barrier of the circle this time, the force restraining it buckled.
“Keep chanting!” one of the witches yelled.
Marlena adjusted her grips on Adam and Maria, morphing her fingers into claws just in case the monster managed to break free. The thought of attacking it scared the living daylights out of her, but she couldn’t bear the thought of what it might do to the witches if given the opportunity. She owed it to Cassie to protect the coven, regardless of the cost.
Wind whipped her hair and stung her eyes, making it hard to keep track of the monster’s movements. It lunged at the barrier over and over again as if testing different spots for weakness. If they could just hold on for a little while longer, until the braid completely burned to ash and the binding spell was complete, then they could force the beast into the vessel they’d brought to imprison it indefinitely.
Adam glanced down at her claws. His face hardened into a scowl. “I didn’t slog through four centuries of bullshit just to watch you get killed.”
“I’ll be careful.”
“You’ll be dead.”
It all happened so fast. Maria screamed when the beast broke the circle and sank its fangs into Antonella’s side. Acting on instinct, Marlena jumped onto the creature’s back and stabbed it with her claws. It let out a roar, reaching back to pull off Marlena but unable to pry her loose. Razor-sharp talons tore into her ribs, sending spears of pain through her side. She hung on for dear life, anchored to the beast by her claws in its back, making them longer so she could work them in even deeper.
“Get out of here!” she yelled to the witches. A few of them stared, too shocked to move, while the others formed a new circle and began chanting another spell.
Shots rang out, and the creature stumbled as bullets plowed into its abdomen. Marlena looked up in time to see Adam dive to the righ
t when the beast lunged for him. He sprang to his feet, aimed his shotgun, and fired off two more rounds.
This time the bullets seemed to only piss the creature off. It charged, and Marlena’s heart lodged in her throat when its talons raked Adam’s torso. He let out a grunt and fell to the ground, the wounds on his chest raw and bloody.
“Adam!” Using her claws like hooks, she scrambled up the creature’s back, leaving bloody gouge marks in her wake. She shifted again, forming a long blade with her right hand and forearm, and hacked at the monster’s neck. The skin was thick and had the consistency of leather, and she struggled to pierce the tough hide. She was on her third or fourth attempt when the beast grabbed her leg and slammed her to the ground.
She hit so hard it knocked the wind from her lungs, and the creature was on her before she could scramble to safety. All she saw was teeth, and then her mouth dropped open in a silent scream when its jaws clamped onto her shoulder. She lashed out blindly, her claws ripping flesh, but the beast didn’t act like it noticed. Each breath was a struggle, and the taste of blood filled her mouth. If she shifted, she might be able to break free, but she couldn’t summon the strength to trigger the change.
A burst of automatic gunfire filled the air. The creature jerked, and its hold on her suddenly released.
Marlena rolled to her side and struggled to stand, her entire right side throbbing with pain. She shook her head to clear her vision, and a wave of nausea washed over her.
“Marlena, down!”
She dropped back to the ground, and Dmitri shot a jet of fire over her head. The creature howled, beating at its chest in an attempt to extinguish the flames. Dmitri hit it again, bathing the beast in fire until its entire body was consumed in a bright orange ball. The stench of gasoline and burnt hair fouled the air, and she nearly gagged at the smell. Lying on her belly with her claws still extended, she crawled toward the edge of the circle.
Focusing inward, she forced the worst of her internal injuries to heal. The rest would have to wait until later. The process required a considerable amount of energy, but she wasn’t much good to anyone if she was too banged up to fight.
The flamethrower died, most likely because the tanks ran out of fuel. Dmitri shrugged off the backpack holding the tanks and tossed it to the dirt. The creature was frantically rolling on the ground, trying to put out the flames. All of its hair was burned from its body, its skin charred to a crisp. When the last of the flames went out, the monster surged to its feet. The flesh was completely burned off its lower jaw, exposing the blackened bone beneath.
Dmitri raised his shotgun and pressed the stock against his shoulder. The creature charged as he fired a round, knocking it sideways but barely slowing it down. He fired again, the recoil slamming against his shoulder as the round plowed into the monster’s chest. It let out a grunt, staggered, but kept going.
Another blast tore into the creature, but it didn’t come from Dmitri. Marlena turned toward the sound and saw Adam on one knee, his weapon pointed in the monster’s direction. He pumped another cartridge into the chamber, aimed, and fired again. The slug punched a hole through the creature’s forehead and blew out the back of its skull. It hit the ground with a heavy thud, sending a plume of dirt into the air.
“Is it dead?” Marlena asked.
“I don’t know.” Still bleeding, Adam stood and inched forward. “It doesn’t look like it’s breathing.”
It wasn’t moving either. Dmitri crept toward it from the opposite angle, his aim never wavering from the target. When he got to within a few feet, he shot it two more times in the head before stopping to load more shells into the tube.
Clutching the wound at her side, Marlena surveyed the damage. Antonella was laying on the ground about twenty feet away, the bite to her side bleeding heavily. Maria was crouched beside her, tending to her twin sister’s wounds. The rest of the witches appeared unharmed but thoroughly shaken. Gina was still standing inside her protective circle, the braid of hair burned to ash. At least that part went according to plan. For better or for worse, the creature was now bound to this realm.
“Aw, hell,” Adam said, snapping her train of thought.
“What’s wrong?”
“The fucker’s regenerating.” As soon as Dmitri finished reloading his shotgun, he slapped a fresh magazine into his automatic rifle.
Sure enough, the creature’s wounds were healing at an alarming rate. New skin grew over the repaired tissues and tendons, and fur sprouted up like weeds. A low growl emanated from deep in its chest as it lifted its massive head.
Adam pointed his shotgun and pulled the trigger, but there was only a click instead of a bang. “Shit.” Eyes wide, he backed up a few steps. Dmitri tossed him a box of shells, and while Adam feverishly reloaded, Dmitri unleashed a stream of machine gun fire.
Marlena rushed over to Gina. “Can you get that thing into the vessel?”
The witch held her hands out in a helpless gesture. “I tried. It won’t go in.”
“Try harder!” She rounded on Dmitri. “So much for never meeting a creature you couldn’t kill.”
He shrugged as he yanked the spent magazine from the machine gun and slapped in another fresh one. “Anything that lives can die. It’s a good thing I enjoy a challenge.”
The beast stood, its red eyes glowing with fury. Adam raised his weapon and carefully took aim while Dmitri reached for one of his grenades. But before either man could act on his intentions, an invisible force immobilized the beast and lifted it into the air. It gave out a startled cry, thrashing in vain against the bonds holding it captive.
“How pitiful.” A man’s British accent filled the night air, his tone thick with contempt. “Sending her pet to do her dirty work.”
A chill swept down Marlena’s spine. Oh, God, she knew that voice. Four centuries had passed since the last time she’d heard it, right before the executioner lit the pyre. She spun around, and her lips peeled back in a snarl.
“Finch.”
Chapter 25
It took every ounce of Adam’s strength to hold Marlena back when she charged toward Samuel with her claws extended.
“Let me go!” Her legs kicked out when he grabbed her around the waist and lifted her off the ground. “It’s Finch! I want to rip his throat out!”
Confused, Adam’s gaze darted back and forth between Samuel and Marlena. “What are you talking about? That’s my boss.”
“Your boss?” Her voice shot up an octave. “You work for Finch?”
“No, I work for Samuel. Why do you keep calling him Finch?”
“Because that’s who he is. Reverend. Samuel. Finch.” Marlena spat out his name like it was an obscenity. “How can you not remember him?”
Adam stared at Samuel, and an odd feeling of recollection swept over him. Disjointed images flashed through his mind, but they didn’t make any sense. Then a piercing pain shot through his temples and the feeling disappeared. “I’m sorry, I—”
“He’s the witch finder who sentenced us to death!”
Stunned, Adam’s jaw dropped open. Of all the things to be missing from his memory. He gawked at Samuel. “Is that true?”
Samuel’s expression held a hint of compassion as he watched them from a distance. He tugged at the cuffs of his impeccably cut suit, such a change from the jeans and polo shirt he’d worn the last time Adam saw him.
“Yes. Back then I was known as Reverend Finch, but now I’m simply Samuel.” He said it so casually, as though he were verifying the score of a baseball game. “Don’t be angry with him, Miss Walther. It’s not his fault. I placed a block in his mind when he became a reaper to ensure he’d never recall my prior identity.”
“You son of a bitch.” She wriggled free from Adam’s grip and rushed toward Samuel. With the grace of a predator, she leaped over the charred remains of Cassie’s kitchen table but froze in her tracks a few feet shy of her target. Teeth bared, she fought against the invisible force holding her in place.
�
��I’m sorry, but I cannot allow you to do that.” Samuel shifted his attention back to Adam. “If you like, I could unlock the memories, but you’re much better off without them.”
Adam wasn’t sure if he agreed with Samuel or not, but one thing was for certain. He was really getting tired of being played like a puppet. He wanted some answers, and he wanted them now. “I don’t understand. How could you be Finch?”
“We all have to start somewhere, boy.” Samuel sniffed. “Your journey as a reaper started on the streets of Chicago. Mine began with a holy crusade.”
“Holy crusade my ass,” Marlena snarled, still straining to break free of the bonds holding her immobile. “You’re nothing but a fucking murderer!”
Samuel moved closer to Marlena. His hands were clasped behind his back, his face giving nothing away. “You’re right, my dear shifter, I am a murderer. I’ve killed so many, so often, that I’ve lost track of the exact number. At the time, I believed my actions were noble. Mankind was drowning in wickedness and decay, and I fought on the side of righteousness. And in pursuit of my holy cause, I committed unspeakable acts. At the time, I thought the ends justified the means, but upon the loss of my humanity Fate showed me the true depth of my mistakes.”
“Burning people to death isn’t a mistake.” Marlena’s eyeteeth had elongated into fangs, her voice low and distorted. “It’s an abomination.”
If Adam hadn’t been around Samuel so much in recent days, he wouldn’t have picked up on the darkness passing over his features.
“Yes,” Samuel said, the word sounding flat on his lips. “I understand that now. And for those crimes I have paid penance for over four hundred years.”
Marlena’s face pinched tight. “What, do you expect me to feel sorry for you? Forgive you?”
“No, you’re far too spiteful.” Samuel gripped her chin, forcing her eyes to meet his. “Second chances are rare in this world. I suggest you not squander yours.”
Turning away, he walked toward the creature, which still thrashed against the bonds holding it captive. It stilled at his approach, not making a sound aside from its labored breathing. “I could destroy you, but that wouldn’t send the right message to your master, now would it?”
