Leo slumps down next to the tree as we walk to the circle. Abby shakes her head mockingly. “I’m not sure what Contessa and Elizabeth were thinking, giving you a Guardian that has no magic. What’s the point? What is Leo going to do if the Mechente Reine shows up? Show her how to color coordinate a three-piece suit?”
“Shush,” I say, stepping into the circle. I glance over my shoulder to make sure Leo didn’t hear her jab. The poor guy is doing his best. He doesn’t look like a stealthy fighter, but he did pretty well that night when Mrs. Morrow knocked down my door. Mrs. Morrow is eighty years old, but he did subdue her pretty quickly.
The fire rises high once we are all three in the circle. It’s amazing how deep my power starts to build inside of me. It only takes a moment for Contessa and Elizabeth to appear. I haven’t seen or spoken to them since the day of my declaration as the leader of the Innocent. A lot has changed since that day. I see it in the way Contessa looks at me, like she’s been holding it in for a while. The look on my face must give away my first question, because Contessa quickly answers it.
“We couldn’t let Leo’s parents reveal your location to your mother,” she says desperately.
Contessa looks like me. I hadn’t really thought about it before, but we have the same color hair. And the curls. The curls must be a family trait. Somehow, knowing Contessa and I are related makes her betrayal cut a little deeper. “Why?”
Contessa is moved by the threat of tears in my eyes. She comes closer to me, her voice barely a whisper. “You were but a child, Wilhelmina. Roux Bessette would have captured you and killed you before you were even old enough to defend yourself.”
Elizabeth finally decides to join in. “You needed time to develop your strength. The longer you stayed away, the stronger you became.”
“I became stronger because I had to survive. I was a child. A lonely, miserable child who needed her mother and her family.”
Contessa appears in almost as much pain as I am. “And I wish every day it didn’t have to be that way, Wilhelmina.”
I try to get myself under control. Abby comes to stand next to me, her comforting hand on my shoulder. She squeezes it, and I know I have to keep our conversation on track. Anger isn’t going to change the past. I take a deep breath and remind myself why I came to the circle. “Can you tell me how to get rid of this Mechente Reine?”
“The Wicked Queen was already in existence when Elizabeth and I were born. She already dwelled inside Estelle Cote, Luther Prescott, and George Bessette. She was the reason they made the choice to try to kill us that night. She blackened their souls when they were only children.”
“How?”
Contessa pulls the long end of her skirt around. “The better question is why. Our mother, Alphine Daniels, adopted us so she would have someone to inherit her land. The story of the Mechente Reine starts with how our mother became the widow of Frog Hollow.”
Contessa whirls her arm around, transforming the smoke inside the circle into a vision we can see. “Alphine Daniels was once an orphan too. She was found abandoned at the fountainhead by Marlow Daniels and given the name Lake. Marlow sent Lake to live at the church and forgot about her. His young son, Abram, however, did not forget her. In fact, as the years passed, Abram Daniels fell in love with Lake.”
Sadie watches the vision as it shows a young boy and girl playing next to the shoreline at the lake and fishing off the side of a dock. “Where does the Mechente Reine come in to the story?”
“The Wicked Queen appeared in Sanctuary every New Moon, possessing one of Sanctuary’s patrons to perform evil acts of violence. She spoke to Lake often, trying to tempt her to follow her evil ways, but Lake resisted. In fact, Lake was the only patron in Sanctuary that the Wicked Queen couldn’t control. It angered the Mechente Reine more than anything, so she decided to take her vengeance out on the one Lake loved most…Abram.”
I cover my lips to keep the words of anguish from escaping my mouth. “What happened?”
“Lake decided to confront the Wicked Queen. It was said that during the daylight the Mechente Reine hid deep inside a cave on top of Red Crane Mountain. Lake set out to find her and end the fight with her for good. Abram knew something was wrong and insisted Lake let him go with her.”
“Did they find her?”
“Yes.”
There can’t be a happy ending. My heart pines for it. It yearns to hear of the Wicked Queen’s defeat, but I know better. The words from the diary Louie read to us creep into my mind, and I repeat the passage aloud. “The Mechente Reine killed Abram Daniels. Lake lay over his body weeping for an entire day.”
Contessa touches her heart with both palms. “Abram Daniels sacrificed himself for Lake. His sacrifice wounded the Queen, splitting her into three weaker parts.”
Sadie gasps. “The three shadows that went into Estelle, Luther, and George.”
“Yes, the night they tried to kill us, our mother used all that power…all that light inside of her to trap the Mechente Reine inside of them.”
My hands cover my face. It’s all too much. “If you knew performing the Spell of Iniquity would set her free, why did you let us do it?”
Elizabeth’s smile is filled with pride and reverie. “Because we’ve been waiting for the right time. The right person. The only person who can defeat her.”
The panic. It’s so deep. “Me?”
Elizabeth looks around us, searching for something in the distance. “Where is your guardian?”
“You mean Leo?” I point out to the tree. Leo has fallen over asleep next to it. He appears more like a forgotten child than a grand protector.
Elizabeth seems relieved at the sight of him. “Bring him in the circle.”
“We really shouldn’t interrupt his nap.”
Elizabeth’s voice drops, her tone demanding. “Bring your guardian into the circle.”
I obey instantly and run over to shake Leo awake. He fumbles around, throwing the black book in his hands off him as if it’s a spider. Once he wakes up enough to realize it’s not, he launches himself on top of it like it might run away otherwise.
I huff at him. “Get yourself together. Contessa and Elizabeth want to talk to you in the circle.”
He sits up and rubs his eyes. “What?”
I drag him to his feet. “They want you in the circle. They seem pretty serious about it, so I would hurry it up.”
Leo quickly gathers his things and follows me into the circle. I throw my hands out, showcasing the disheveled mess next to me. Leo tries to straighten his suit jacket that has gone wildly askew, with little success. “Good evening.”
Contessa eyes him. “Did you find your blade?”
“Yes.” Leo opens his jacket, pulling the ruby blade out of the sheath strapped to his chest.
“Good.” Contessa turns to me. “Do not allow your guardian or his blade out of your sight. It is the only thing that will save you from the Wicked Queen.”
“What do you mean? Why can’t Leo just give the blade to me?”
“The ruby in this blade belongs to the Mechente Reine. It was retrieved from deep in the cavern where she dwelled. The old histories say that when she was human, it was her one and only possession. She killed for it. She betrayed her soul for that ruby.”
Elizabeth clasps her hands, making sure she has my full attention. “No Innocent can touch it, Wilhelmina. It’s too tainted with evil. You’ll need your guardian, someone who can touch the blade, to perform the final act of killing her.”
“You mean like I hold her down and Leo stabs her?”
“You are the only Innocent strong enough to contend with her.” Contessa turns to Leo, motioning toward him with her hand. “Bend a knee and recite your oath.”
Leo stands before me, bending down on one knee. He bows his head before raising his gaze to meet mine. “I shall keep the truth. I shall keep it secret. When the curse ends, thine own light will best tested. True strength and courage will guide my path to righteousness, and by life or death I
will honor my oath to the light meant to save us all.”
My fingers tremble against my lips. “By life or death?”
Leo stands and takes my hand. “No one really knows what will happen when I place the blade into the Wicked Queen. It’s my purpose to do it anyway.”
I grasp his hand in return. “How can this be your purpose in life? To just risk it blindly?”
His smile is soft, but still hinted with the sadness that can’t seem to leave him. “It has always been my purpose.”
“Because your family told you so?”
He lets out a chuckle and briefly drops my gaze. Blush fills his cheeks, but he doesn’t let go of my hand. “Because I love you, and I would do anything to save you.”
I drop his hand and step away. “What?”
“I know you’ve only known me for a short while, but I’ve known you my entire life, Wilhelmina. I followed you, even as a child, probably even more so than my parents, because I needed to know you were okay. I know you think you spent your entire childhood alone, but you’re wrong. I was there. I was always there.”
I shake my head. He’s wrong. “You didn’t know who I was that day you came to my house.”
Leo reaches up and touches my cheek. “Keep the truth. Keep it secret,” he whispers. “There are many things I’ve had to deny you throughout my life. Most of the time that’s been honesty. For that, I am sorry.”
“This is ridiculous. I should be able to kill the Wicked Queen myself.”
Leo does touch my face this time. He cups my chin in his palms, and I see it so clearly in his eyes. Somehow, this stranger truly cares about me. “You are an Innocent, Wilhelmina. You will always be an Innocent. It is my duty and my honor to make sure of it. You can’t touch the blade.”
I don’t know what to say. I keep fumbling for words. I can’t let him do this. It isn’t right. This boy shouldn’t have to risk his life for me. “Do you have some kind of rule book? Some standard that says caring about someone means you must die for them?”
He pulls the black book from his backpack. The tree emblem shines on the cover. “It was my choice to take the oath, Wilhelmina.”
“So, we are going to do what? Go find her by ourselves?”
“Yes.”
“Do you hear how ridiculous that sounds?”
Leo steps toward me. “We must go now, Willa. We have to find her before the next New Moon. Before she can leave her cave and destroy more lives trying to get to you.”
“He’s right,” Contessa says, the light in the circle starting to dim. “Trust your Guardian. Together, you can defeat her. You must.”
The light around the circle slowly goes out, and the vision of Contessa and Elizabeth disappears with it. But not before Contessa gives me one last piece of advice. “You are the strongest of us all. Trust yourself, Wilhelmina. Bring the light back to Sanctuary.”
Chapter 21
ONLY THE BRAVE
A light flips on, popping a couple times before filling the second story room of my bookstore. I squint, wiping tears away from my face. I didn’t expect them to find me so soon. I tucked myself away in the hidden corner not even an hour ago, my breath tight in my chest as I fell into a panic that threatened to cripple me.
It’s only happened two other times in my life. The first time I accidently used my magic in front of one of my foster parents and they threw me out into the street. I thought I would be left there, barely old enough to be called a teenager, sitting on the curb in the rain. My caseworker picked me up an hour later, but not before I hyperventilated and threw up in our neighbor’s rose bush.
The second time…well, the second time was pretty much like the first, except I was older. I’d done the magic on purpose to piss off said horrible excuse for a parent. The results were the same, though.
Sitting alone in my bookstore tonight, focusing on my even breaths, is the only reason I’m not hung over the banister puking my guts out, or passed out in the circle from lack of oxygen. They are so wrong about me…the ability to survive can’t possibly equal strength. I know I’m powerful; I’ve seen the things I can do. It doesn’t mean I can do this one thing, though. I can’t defeat the Mechente Reine.
Reid cups my face in his hands. “Thank goodness you’re here.”
I’m dizzy. The vision of him is still unclear. He disappears for a moment, and I have to search for him. He throws open the door to the balcony, and I can hear him shouting down the street. “I found her. She’s up here.”
Reid returns to me, and I’m able to finally focus his face into form. “I didn’t mean to run away.”
His thumb brushes down my cheek. “Yes, you did.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t mean for you to worry.”
“I always worry.” Reid sits in front of me and crosses his legs.
“I just needed time to think.”
“Leo told me what Contessa and Elizabeth said. Are you afraid?”
“That they want me to go find her with only Leo by my side? Absolutely. I can still hear her voice in my head…that laugh.”
Julien bursts into the room, gasping for breath. “You can’t just disappear,” he says, his brows creasing together. “Not without taking me with you. I thought you knew that was always a stipulation.”
I roll my eyes. “I wasn’t trying to disappear. I just needed some time to…I don’t know…find my own bravery.”
Julien stands above me, his arms crossed over his chest. “You’re not going up there alone.”
“Leo will be with me.”
Julien throws his hands in the air. “He doesn’t count.”
Reid rubs his eyes. “We have to do what Contessa and Elizabeth suggest. If they say Willa and Leo must be the ones—”
“Screw them,” Julien screams. “I’m not an Innocent. I don’t have to abide by their rules.”
Reid stands to face him. “You’re also not one of the Haunted anymore, thanks to them. We have to trust them.”
“No.”
Reid turns his back on Julien and helps me to my feet. “When are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow morning. Leo says it will take two days to hike up the mountain to her cave.”
“Hello?” Julien yells around Reid. “I’m still here. And I’m still not letting her go up there with just a Galloway.”
Reid shoots Julien a stern glare. “I will deal with you in a minute.”
My boyfriend turns back to me and takes my face in his hands. “Fear aside. Do you think you can do this?”
I take stock of myself. I look past the fear and anxiety at the things that are stronger inside of me. I want to rid Sanctuary of this evil, not just for myself, but for all of them. That core desire is more powerful than the Mechente Reine. Nothing can be stronger than that. “Yes.”
“Then I believe in you. If you tell me you can do this, you will do it. You will defeat her.”
“I can’t believe this,” Julien mumbles behind him, but it’s only Reid’s words I truly hear.
I can do this.
I can defeat the Mechente Reine.
***
It’s quiet as Leo and I gather our things the next morning. Louie arrived at daybreak to tell his brother good luck, as did everyone in my family. Everyone except Julien, because he refused to leave my house the previous night. He slept on the couch. I’m not sure if he thought I would try to sneak off and go alone, or he could somehow talk me out of it.
Reid had a private chat with him while Sera and I packed my bag. He hasn’t said anything to me since. In fact, when I hug everyone goodbye, Julien leaves.
“It’s his way of coping,” Reid assures me, kissing my cheek. “If he told you goodbye, it would be like him giving up on you.”
“He doesn’t think I can win?”
“Of course. He’s still scared, though. It’s only natural.”
“Are you scared?”
“No. I’ve seen your strength, Wilhelmina. I’ve felt it. The light inside of you takes on the form of a
storm because it’s the only thing that can contain it. The darkness falls to light every daybreak, and only returns because the sun chooses to set. Even then, the moon stands on guard. You are a child of the Innocent, declared our guard and leader. You can do this. I know it.”
I throw myself at him. “Thank you.”
Leo waits for me at the end of my driveway as I hug each of my family goodbye. I even hug Erika. Every time I see her, she looks a little more like her brother, and my fondness for her grows. I stop, taking in the sight of them one last time, just in case.
Leo and I have to walk down the road before crossing into the forest. I’ve never been to Red Crane Mountain, but Leo seems to know his way. It’s only accessible by foot, he says, standing tall between the borders of Frog Hollow and Shadow Bend. It takes all day to get to the bottom of the mountain. The sight of its peak steals all confidence from me. A shadow hangs over it.
“We have to go up as far as we can until sunset. Then we’ll find a camp for the night,” Leo says, breaking off a tree limb to use as a walking stick.
My gaze steadies on the darkness, and I let my anger for everything the Wicked Queen has done fill every inch of me. “Lead the way.”
Chapter 22
MECHENTE REINE
There’s a flat area beneath an overhang, and I know it’s going to be the best shelter we can find for the night. We need a real fire. As much as I’ve tried to project my warming spell to include Leo, he’s starting to shake all over. The temperature dips into the teens, and I’m afraid we’ll both end up with hypothermia if we don’t stop soon. I tug on Leo’s backpack. “Let’s stop here for the night.”
Leo’s out of breath. He bends over, placing his hands on his knees, but then thinks better of it and shoves them inside his coat pockets. “Are you sure? I can make it a while longer.”
His cheeks puff out again as he takes in air, and its very obvious he can’t go much longer. “I need to rest,” I say, going toward the level spot near the rock.
Leo sits down, leaning himself back against the nearest tree trunk. “Give me a minute, and I’ll gather some wood for a fire.”
Shadow Bend (Witches of Sanctuary Book 3) Page 17
