Avenge (Malice Book 2)

by Amity Hope

  “I can’t believe they let our town be overrun by those…people,” Daphne grumbled. Now she was the one searching The Rush, just as Alex had been. It was as if the two of them thought that a Striga might be here now, its eyes glowing crimson for the whole town to see.

  “Maybe,” I said cautiously, “those people aren’t all bad.”

  Daphne and Finola looked at me with matching blank looks on their faces. Alex raised his eyebrows.

  “I’m just saying…maybe they’re like…you know who…a certain friend of ours?” Was I actually defending the Striga? Wow, how my life had changed over the last month or so.

  “I don’t know, sweetie,” Finola said as she reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze. “I think you know who might be one of a kind.”

  She was right. Tristan was one of a kind. But not in the way she meant. What my friends didn’t know was that Tristan was not just a Striga. He was the heir to the entire Strigan line.

  Chapter 3

  “Magpie, you need to eat more than that,” I said to my sister.

  She was swirling her soup around in the bowl. I was pretty sure she hadn’t taken more than a bite or two. I slid another cheddar biscuit her way. Usually she loved dipping her cheddar biscuits into her soup. She eyed them but did not choose to pick one up.

  “Your sister is right,” Mom said. “You need to eat something.”

  “I’m not hungry,” Magnolia responded.

  “Eat it anyway,” Mom said firmly.

  Magnolia’s lip popped out. She continued to swirl.

  “If you do not eat, there will be no story time after dinner,” Mom threatened.

  The pout faded away into a look of grudging compliance. She reluctantly began scooping small spoonfuls into her mouth. Mom watched her with a wary eye as her bowl of soup slowly disappeared.

  I couldn’t stand the silence in the kitchen. While Magnolia was eating I kept the kitchen filled with mindless, cheery chatter. I told my mom and sister more than they ever wanted to know about how great I thought Finola and Alex were together. They got an update on Daphne’s latest hair styling mishap. I got small smiles out of both of them when I relayed the story of Mr. Henson sneezing so hard his toupee flew off and landed on top of Constance O’Reilly’s desk.

  I finally ran out of insignificant things to say.

  Magnolia looked at me, then at Mom.

  “Can I be done now?” she asked.

  Mom glanced at her bowl. It was barely half empty. She looked like she wanted to argue but decided to save that battle for another day.

  “Put your dishes by the sink,” she said.

  Magnolia nodded and did as she was told.

  “I’m going to go read now,” she announced. She stopped halfway to the door that led out of the kitchen. She turned to us wearing a tiny frown. “Is the front door locked?”

  My family’s bed and breakfast was quiet this week. Mom had stopped taking reservations for the time being. After our ordeal, having such a dangerous person in our home, I wasn’t sure if she’d ever open our doors to guests again.

  “We’re locked up tight,” Mom assured her with a smile.

  “No one can get in?” Magnolia pressed.

  “No one,” Mom affirmed.

  My sister nodded and her ringlets bounced with the motion.

  I listened to her soft footsteps as she made her way into the parlor.

  When she was undoubtedly out of hearing range, Mom tugged a frustrated hand through her hair.

  “If I ever get my hands on that Levi Devane…” she angrily muttered. She pushed away from the table and began cleaning the kitchen. I helped and we worked in silence, both very much aware of the somber mood.

  When the last dish was washed Mom turned to me. Her expression was stricken.

  “Of all of the bed and breakfasts in all of the towns along the coast why did he have to end up here?”

  I knew she wasn’t really asking me but regardless, I had the answer.

  I’d had it for days. I’d known since the night I met Levi in the mausoleum. That was the night he’d stripped Tristan’s spirit from his body. With everything else going on, I hadn’t been sure how to bring it up. Nor had I wanted to. I’d been dreading this particular conversation.

  I crossed my arms and leaned back against the kitchen counter.

  “Mom, there’s something I need to tell you about that night.” I bit my lip as soon as the words were out. I didn’t want to do this. I had to do this. I gave myself a quick mental pep talk.

  “What is it?” Mom asked as she hesitated in the doorway. She was on her way to check on Magnolia but my admission stopped her.

  “It’s about Levi. Why he was here. What brought him to Granite Falls,” I said evasively.

  “He was searching for youngsters with exceptional power, correct?” she asked.

  “Yes. But there’s more to it. He…he already had his mind set on Magnolia before he came.” Once the admission was out, I knew there was no going back. No backpedaling. I was going to have to tell Mom what I’d learned.

  She came back into the kitchen. I had her full attention, whether I wanted it or not.

  “What are getting at, Samara? How could he have possibly known about Magnolia before his arrival?” she demanded. She narrowed her eyes at me. It was clear she was trying to work through what I’d said, trying to make sense of it. When she motioned for me to go on, I knew that the truth evaded her.

  “It was Dad,” I blurted, desperate to get it over with. “Levi didn’t go into details. That night, everything happened so fast. I mean, he didn’t say how he knew Dad, or where they met. But he did say that Dad was bragging about Magnolia. At first I thought maybe he was toying with me, trying to upset me.” I shook my head. “He convinced me it was the truth.”

  Her face paled and her expression hardened. “That dirty louse.” She shook her head and pressed her hand over her lips for a moment. “I’m sorry. I know he’s your father. I shouldn’t have said that. But…”

  “But what he did was beyond rotten,” I filled in.

  She clenched her jaw and pinched the bridge of her nose.

  “Mom…?”

  She shook her head and turned away from me. “I just need a moment.”

  I stood there in silence feeling awkward and guilty.

  Finally she pulled in a breath and turned to face me. “Why are you just telling me now?”

  “Honestly? I wish I didn’t have to tell you at all. I guess I’ve been putting it off.” I knew that the admission was going to upset her. Furthermore, I knew it would hurt her. She and Magnolia had already been through so much. I didn’t want to be the source of more pain.

  “I see. What exactly did Levi say?” She moved further into the kitchen and pulled out a chair at the freshly washed table. She motioned for me to take the seat next to her so I did.

  “Not much, really. He did say that Dad drove a hard bargain.”

  Mom let out a little sound of disgust. “He sold Magnolia out? Literally sold her out and profited off of his daughter?”

  I knew she wasn’t really asking me so I remained silent.

  “The nerve of him,” she muttered. “What else?”

  I shifted in my chair and grimaced. “He mentioned our great-grandmother. You told me that she had the power of persuasion, the same gift that Magnolia had.”

  Having the ability to persuade anyone to do anything was a powerful gift. It was far too much for my little sister to handle. It was too much for anyone to handle, really. That was the reason Mom had chosen to strip her of her power. She’d done so just in time, moments before Levi had shown up.

  He’d taken advantage of the situation. He’d stolen the essence of the magic that had been stripped from Magnolia. Then he’d kidnapped my mother and sister. He’d used them as bait to lure me in. He’d wanted to insinuate my sister’s magic into my body. He’d wanted me to become one of his vessels—a young, healthy body. He sold these vessels to elderly Striga.

/>   “You also said that my great-grandmother made some very questionable choices.” Mom nodded. “Levi said that she worked for the Striga.”

  “She did,” Mom said without preamble.

  I shuddered at the thought as chill bumps broke out on my arms.

  The Striga’s dark magic was a counterpart to our white, Lamia magic. I couldn’t help but think of Levi and what he’d been up to. From what I’d learned, it had been going on for a long while. Had my great-grandmother played a part in that? Had she convinced young Lamia to give up their lives for the Striga? She did have the power of persuasion, after all. And I could only imagine how useful she would’ve been to the Striga in that regard. It would’ve been all too easy for her to persuade a young, healthy Lamia to give up their life for the cause.

  “Do you know…?” I cleared my throat and started over. “Do you know what she did for them?”

  “No. I do not. I never asked. The subject was off limits. It was really only ever whispered about.” Mom spoke crisply. “I thought your father had dissociated himself from that side of the family. Perhaps he was more like them than I ever realized.”

  “Do you know where he is? Dad I mean?”

  She eyed me warily.

  I shrugged. “It just seems he must be keeping tabs on us, if he knew that we still live in Granite Falls. The day Levi checked in he said that The Bella Luna came highly recommended. I just wonder if it was Dad who recommended it.”

  My father had left us when Magnolia was a toddler. It wasn’t until after he left that Mom had turned her beloved childhood home into a bed and breakfast. She’d needed to do so because she’d needed the income. I could tell now that she regretted that decision. It had left our doors wide open to the likes of Levi.

  “I wouldn’t put it past him,” she said. “But no. I don’t know where he is. You know that I still speak with his sister, Jane, every now and again. But the two of them aren’t close. She’s never mentioned where he is. Or what he’s up to.”

  I frowned. “Do you think he was working with Levi?”

  I wished I’d had more of a chance to question Levi on the matter. But the moment hadn’t been very conducive to conversation. He’d been too busy threatening my life. Besides, I supposed it really didn’t matter.

  Dad was involved. That was all I really needed to know.

  “I don’t know, Samara. I really don’t. I would hope that he’d have enough good sense to stay out of their business. But clearly, he’s shown that he does not. This gives me even more reason to believe we should leave town for awhile.”

  “What? Why? Because of Dad?” I felt my heart rate pick up as my panic kicked in. I couldn’t leave Granite Falls. Mom knew that. Or she should given that I’d told her countless times already. “Mom! I can’t—”

  A sharp rap on the kitchen door cut her off.

  Cecily’s face appeared in the window.

  Mom hurried to the door to let her in.

  “Hello, there,” Cecily said.

  “Come in, Cecily.” Mom stood back to grant her entrance.

  Tristan’s surrogate grandma stepped into our kitchen and closed the back door behind her. She was a small woman but after the ordeal this past week, she seemed positively fragile.

  “Hi, Cecily,” I said in a quaking voice. I bit my lip as I tried to hold back my panic-induced tears.

  “Renee, am I interrupting? You two look awfully serious,” she said. Her bright blue eyes peered at us from behind her silver rimmed glasses. Her gaze darted between Mom and me. Her steely gray hair stuck close to her head in its tight curls.

  I dropped my gaze to the table. My mother was much more gracious.

  “Of course you’re not interrupting. Please, have a seat. Can I get you anything? Lemonade?” she asked. “We just finished with our dinner but I could warm you a bowl of soup. It would only take a moment.”

  “No, thank you,” Cecily said as she pulled out a chair.

  “How are you doing?” Mom asked.

  “Oh,” Cecily said with a sigh, “I’m hanging in there. It’s awfully lonely around my cottage. Tristan is such a quiet boy but he really did keep me company. I’m missing him something fierce right now.”

  “I’m sure you are,” Mom said sympathetically. “I’m glad you stopped by.”

  “Are you sure? I have a hunch I’m interrupting something,” she said.

  “We were just discussing the visit we have planned. We’re leaving this weekend to stay with my sister,” Mom explained.

  Cecily blinked at her in surprise. “I see. I wasn’t aware of that.”

  “It’s a fairly recent decision,” Mom said.

  Cecily nodded and her gaze swung to me. In that moment inspiration struck.

  “Mom, maybe Cecily could stay here with me? You heard her say that she’s lonely at the cottage all by herself. You know how badly I want to stay here. I can’t imagine leaving Granite Falls right now. Please? Cecily, what do you think?” I looked at her, too afraid to look at Mom.

  “Well…I…I’m…” she stammered.

  “No,” Mom said. “We couldn’t impose that way.”

  “But Cecily will probably be lonely without us,” I pressed. I turned to her and prepared to unload the full impact of my desperation. “You’ve stayed here before to watch over The Bella Luna for us. So it’s not that crazy of a request. I can’t abandon my friends now. Not when they’re so close.”

  “Samara, it’s rude to impose on Cecily that way.” Mom’s tone was a quiet warning.

  “It’s no imposition,” Cecily said. “I don’t mind staying. In fact, I would really enjoy Samara’s company.”

  I turned to Mom, my expression pleading. I was prepared to argue my case to the fullest.

  “Mom, please. I know how worried you are about Magnolia. I know you think it would be best for her if you left town. But it wouldn’t be best for me. And you have nothing to worry about. The Bella Luna is heavily warded. I’ll stay with my friends at all times. If Cecily is here, she can watch over me. The Council is looking for Levi so I doubt he’ll come back to Granite Falls. And it’s not like he has anything to come back for.”

  “Oh, Samara…” She sighed heavily, letting me know how much pressure I was putting her under. I knew that just a little more and she would crack.

  “Mom, Tristan saved my life. Twice. He protected me on the boat and he willingly risked himself to save me from Levi in the mausoleum. You can’t ask me to walk away now. Not when Alex is working so hard at getting him back.”

  “Perhaps…perhaps I can send Magnolia off to my sister’s. I could stay here with you,” she said.

  “I think Magnolia needs you now.” I didn’t want to say that I thought my sister needed Mom more than I did, but that was the truth.

  Turning to Cecily she said, “If you’re sure we’re not imposing…?”

  “I’m sure,” Cecily said. She reached for Mom’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Samara is right. I would enjoy her company. I’m about going out of my mind with loneliness and worry right now.”

  Mom nodded her assent.

  The tension I’d been wearing like a cloak since the beginning of the conversation drifted away.

  “Thank you,” I said. “To both of you.”

  “Yes, thank you,” Mom said to Cecily. Then she turned to me. “Would you mind checking on Magnolia?”

  I knew it was a ploy to get me out of the room. I didn’t mind.

  I slid my chair back from the table. “Sure.” I stood and as I pushed the chair back in I turned to Cecily once more. “Did you happen to find something of Tristan’s that Alex could use?”

  She gave me a small smile. “I found a few items that I think might work. I set them aside so I could give it a little more thought. However, I do think I know just the thing that will anchor him.”

  I scurried to the other side of the table and slid my arms around her neck in a backwards hug. “I’m so glad. I can’t wait to tell Alex.”

  She patted
my hand. I could hear the smile in her voice. “I guess pretty soon we’ll see what that Necromancer friend of yours is really capable of.”

  Chapter 4

  I awoke to the sound of my window pane rattling. My heart slammed against my chest as I flew out of bed. In my haste I nearly tripped over my own feet as I hurried to my door. I had one hand on my doorknob as I cast a terrified glance toward my window.

  I froze for a moment.

  A bright pink streak hit the window pane. The sound was like glass tinkling against glass.

  I only knew one person who’s aura was that color. Our auras didn’t always show themselves when we used our magic. It only happened when we let it out. Sometimes we did it for show, but most often it was used for recognition.

  “Fin?” I muttered.

  I wasn’t convinced. I glanced at the clock next to my bed. It was after two. I’d been asleep for several hours. It wasn’t like Finola to be out in the middle of the night. Daphne, maybe. But Fin?

  I crept closer to my window. A stray thought—that it could be someone impersonating my best friend—flitted through my mind. A few weeks ago I would’ve scoffed at the thought. Actually a few weeks ago I probably never would’ve had that thought in the first place. But things were different now.

  Caution was a necessity.

  As I edged closer, carefully avoiding stubbing a toe, another spark of magic hit the window. I was able to get a better look at it this time. The shade of pink showing Finola’s caring, compassionate soul, matched the magic hitting my window.

  It had to be her. Right? I slid up against my wall and slid the curtain aside.

  Finola stood in my backyard. Her blond hair glowing in the moonlight. The moment she saw the curtain move, she motioned for me to come down. I blinked hard just to be sure I was really seeing what I thought I was seeing.

  She motioned again.

  This time my feet moved. I didn’t like the thought of my friend standing outside alone. In the dark. In my backyard where I knew someone, at one time, had lurked in the woods watching me. I quickly crossed my bedroom floor, hurried out into the hallway and down the staircase. I was careful to avoid the creaky stairs.