She starts to walk closer to me. I point my broomstick at her and press the button, trying to activate it into the deadly whip I saw Donovan use. Nothing happens. The mermaid tilts her head to left. Suddenly, she runs at me.
I press the button on my broomstick, rapidly hoping for something to happen. The harsh scent whips across my nose. I glance up just in time to move when I see her nails scratching the air. She slices my jacket.
The forceful swipe throws my body against the slide. Grunting as I fall to the ground, the mystic runs toward me again, slashing her hands in the air as they come down above me, but I quickly roll to the side. She scratches the mulch instead, causing dirt to spray into the air.
Smiling and laughing, she skips over beside me.
“Are you sure you’re a witch? You are nothing.”
I find the bottle of salt that fell out of my grip lying on the grass. I swing my leg, jabbing her in the face. Then I run to the bottle and pick it up. I glance at the mystic in front of me. She looks at my hand, and when she sees what’s in my grip, her face becomes innocent and her eyes and markings stop beaming.
“What’s that?” she asks.
“Your death.”
I throw the bottle of salt at her face. The bottle shatters on impact, and the mystic screams in pain. Her face becomes moist with water dripping down onto her neck. She stops panicking, throwing out her hands in the air toward me.
Icicled shapes of water fly off her face and toward me, stabbing through the air. I stand still as I see my death flying at me too fast to even consider dodging.
A swift movement glides past me. My jackass hero leaps in front of the mermaid. He’s holding up a shield, so the crystalized sweat from the mermaid’s face thuds against the silvery surface, protecting and saving me once more.
“Watch and learn, rookie.”
“I’ve got this. Get out of my way!”
I roll to my side, pulling out my dagger and running toward her swiftly. She notices my approach and waves her fingers at my body. I feel like the blood inside of me is stiff and hard. I begin to float in the air as her fingers claw at me.
In the corner of my eye, I see Donovan dashing toward the mystic, preparing his attack. One of my bottles is in his hand. My mouth drops. He waves his broomstick in the air, releasing a whip. This whip is different from the one I saw my mom use. Water is hovering around it.
The mermaid shrieks in fear, releasing me from her hold as I crash to the ground. She runs toward the woods.
Jackass thrusts his whip toward her. It wraps around her neck, pulling her back. The mermaid then falls to the ground. She begins to shake, paralyzed.
Donovan walks over to her slowly and pulls out a silver dagger. He stabs her in the chest and twists it. Then he yanks the blade from her body. Colorful water sputters into the air, spraying on to his face.
He turns around and looks at me, all glittery from the mist the mermaid projected. I can’t help but laugh. He looks so pretty.
As I try covering my mouth to contain the laughter, he stands in front of me.
“You think this shit is funny?” he snaps. “What were you going to do about the crystals, rookie?”
“Well, I came prepared. I had salt…that you took from me, by the way.” I purse my lips.
I glance up and see something move in the woods behind him. Sand from beneath us shifts toward him. A pile of sand flings onto his skin and roots from the ground come out of the earth, holding him down. I see green eyes in the dark forest watching me from the shadows. Someone, more likely than not a mystic, is in there. I pick up the dagger off of the ground and race over to Donovan, cutting him free.
The roots keep shooting from the ground and sand becomes thicker by the minute. I feel a presence inside the forest. I need to stop whatever is making this happen. My broomstick is useless, so I take out my dagger and run into the forest.
When I enter the woods, I hear my boots crackling the dead leaves. My instinct is telling me I’m about to face an elf.
I notice something beaming on the ground around a bunch of twigs. I see my glowing rose on the ground.
I lean down and grab it. Then I look up at the figure standing afar. Green markings are glowing on the figure. Slowly, I blink once to clear the image. All I catch is the mystic’s brown hair before it glides back into the shadows.
“Hey! Why the hell did you run away?”
Jackass is behind me. He takes my arm and turns me around. “I thought it’d be smart to see who was causing the shit you were going through,” I say.
“Why didn’t you use your broomstick?”
“It doesn’t work. I think it’s broken.” I look up at him. He grabs my broomstick out of my hand. When he presses the button, it morphs into a silver sword. He places the sword against my neck and stares directly at me. I shudder.
He purses his thick lips, keeping the sword against my skin as he speaks. “If you’d stop partying with my brother, you’d be way more advanced than what you are right now. If you’d stop thinking about others and trying to save them, you’d be skilled. You have what it takes, but your girly feelings are in the way. You’re never going to get through the transformation,” he snaps. “This is why your broomstick is ‘broken.’ It doesn’t feel like it needs to help you with anything.”
He presses the red button again. The sword disappears and forms back into a bar. Who knew my broomstick had feelings?
“You have a brother?” My eyebrows furrow.
“Don’t act like you don’t know. Are you dumb too?” he says. “Eric is my brother. He sent those mermaids after you,” he explains as he walks out of the forest. I take one last glance at where the figure stood. I hold the rose gently. It feels different. It’s cold and light green markings are glowing on its stem. These weren’t there before.
I look up to see that Donovan is already out of the forest. I feel a light breeze of air brush against my back. I turn around to see nothing but the leaves and branches moving along with the wind.
On my left arm, there is a freezing tickle followed by goosebumps. I lower my eyes and see green markings, the same on my rose, now crawling around on the top of my skin. They end with a burst of green light that lights up the forest. New markings that aren’t silver? I’m not writhing on the ground either.
I run after the witch and say, “What do you mean he’s your brother?”
I shake off the fact that I’ve received new markings and keep my hands behind my back, waiting for him to reply.
“He’s…my brother.” He glances at me, his eyebrow raised. “Do I have to explain how that works too?” He shoves my broomstick against me.
“No, you don’t,” I say quickly, looking away. “Do you know that he’s been talking with my mom? Her boyfriend is part of the Verel.”
Donovan looks at me, narrowing his eyes at what I’ve said. “The stuff he’s involved with, I take no part in.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t. I haven’t talked to him in months.”
I stand still as Donovan continues walking. If what he says is true, if Eric sent the mermaids after me and he’s Donovan’s brother, it would mean he’s also a witch. I wonder if the guy who’s been saving me is someone I can trust. My grimoire clearly states not to trust male witches. Well, I’m looking at one now.
Is Donovan good or evil?
Chapter 22
I catch up to him, unanswered questions running through my head.
“Wait! What’s your name?” I ask. I already know his name because of the goons, but I want to be sure. He never really told me himself.
“Donovan,” he mutters. “I’m not here to be your friend. I’m here to kill mystics.”
“I’m not asking you to befriend me,” I blurt. “Did you—” I jump in front of him to make him stop. I need him to answer my questions. “Did you kill Miss Canary?” I ask, crossing my arms.
“What? The elf? It’s impossible to track elves in the woods. I’m sure you’d know that
by now,” he mocks.
I breathe slowly and think about how swift and flexible Miss Canary was when she dodged Donovan’s whip back at her house. He chased her off into the woods, but I guess that didn’t end in her death. I pinch the tip of my chin. Ask him about the Verel. What are you waiting for? I bite on my bottom lip, thinking and lowering my gaze at the ground.
“Are you okay? Why do you have that mask on? You’re not a ninja.”
He starts to take it off. I smack his hand away from my face. I squint at him, irritated.
“Feisty. I guess you are a witch.” He laughs. “At least you look better than you did from our first meeting.”
“Shut up!” I snap. “Stop being such a jerk.”
“All witches are jerks. Trust me, you’ll learn to love it.”
“There’s more of you?”
“Yeah?” He starts to walk. I find my way in front of him and stab my index finger on his muscular chest.
“You’re not one of them, are you? Like…the Verel?”
He stops to glance down at my finger. “Didn’t I tell you not to touch me?” He grips my wrist and twists my arm, bending me to the side. “Just because I’m a guy, you want to label me as part of an evil gang?”
Grunting in pain, I swipe my leg under his, tripping him. I fall to the ground as well, landing on top of him with my dagger across his neck.
What did I…? How?
His eyes grow wide. When he tries to move, I jab my knee on his chest.
“Useless witch my ass,” I blurt. “Your brother is trying to kill me and my mother is being corrupt by a Verel. I have had enough of this shit, so answer the question!” I say through clenched teeth.
He stares at me in shock.
“Speak,” I say, tickling his neck with my dagger’s side. “I swear to you...I’ve lost the main person I care about. Don’t think this useless witch won’t slide this dagger across by accident,” I snap.
His lips tremble. “So sexy.” He looks up at me.
“I’m serious, Donovan.”
“I’m not a Verel, but yes, Eric hangs out with them,” he says. He clears his throat and adds, “I’d like a name to use for you. And who’s this important person you’re missing?”
I was right. Eric is associated with the Verel, which means he’s probably helping to corrupt Mom. I search Donovan’s eyes to find any signs of lying. He stares back at me and doesn’t avoid eye contact. He waits for me to tell him my name. I don’t trust him, not fully. For all I know, he’s a Verel, so I decide not to give him my first name.
“Rose,” I say, releasing him. “My mother is gone.” I walk away, sticking my dagger back on my belt as I strut down the sidewalk.
“Rose…Cute name. I’m sure we’ll run into each other again. I’ll be prepared. Loving the skin through your pants!” he whistles.
I remember that Dawn cut up my outfit and there are two strips under my butt cheeks. I quickly cover the back of my thighs as I proceed to run. I can hear Donovan laughing. How embarrassing.
I turn to look at the road I’m about to cross only to see him on the other side, waiting for me. He was just behind me and now he’s in front of me. This guy is really working my nerve. I’m guessing he’s so fast because he’s a witch and witches are fast. I’m starting to feel stronger and faster myself. I mean, I just got an obviously heavier person who is twice my size on the ground, no problem. Yeah, it must be this transformation process.
“How is your mom missing, Rose?” he says as I cross the street.
Cars pass by, beeping their horns. One drives over a large pothole. A rock from the hole is forced into the air, aiming for my face. I am pulled to the side as the rock flies behind us. I feel Donovan’s hands around my waist. I look up at him, my lips part slowly to thank him.
“Is that the fourth time, rookie?” He’s still gripping my waist. I pick his hands off and clear my throat. I nod my head slightly.
“She was sucked into some portal in my house.” I answer his first question about mom.
“A portal?”
“Yeah. There’s this big bookcase in our living room. It split up and a portal was behind it.” Silence grows between us. “I’m going to that elf’s house to see if she knows anything more about it. My mom told me to go to her if she ever disappeared.”
“Your mom’s a witch, right? Why in the hell would she tell you to go to a mystic for help?”
“I don’t know, but she’s been telling me since I was a kid, so I’m going there for some answers.”
“No, you’re not. Rose, are you insane?” He pulls me back from walking toward the forest. I turn around and look at his hand on my arm.
“Do not touch me,” I say, echoing what he said to me.
“I’m not letting you go to some elf’s house alone,” he breathes against me.
“Who are you for me to listen to? I’m going.” I chuckle. “And I’m taking the forest to get me there faster.” We start to walk down the street. My plan is to run through the forest to see what Miss Canary meant when she talked about traveling in the woods. She said that it was a faster way to get to both Witcher’s Place and her house.
Also, forests don’t really creep me out that much. I’m always in a state of calm when entering one. It’s always been like that with me, ever since I was a child.
“This dumbass,” he mumbles. I shake my head, pull my hood over my hair, and run to the entrance of the forest. Thousands of trees lean above me. I bite on my bottom lip and watch them sway right and left, along with the cold wind.
Behind me is Donovan, the witch I can’t get rid of. He’s made it his responsibility to watch over me. I take out my broomstick to move the thin branches from in front of my face. I enter the natural disaster waiting for me. Comfort overflows my body. I can’t explain but I feel like I need to start running.
Donovan is saying something from behind me, but I’m too determined to find out what’s urging me to run.
“Okay, stay behind me. Mystics are out and about, Rose. It’s past eight.”
I ignore him and run, dodging the large roots and branches. Doing this is effortless; I forget about everything and just let the woods and my surroundings take over my emotions. Time feels quickened and my heart drops. There is a minute where it feels like I’m not breathing, that the only thing worth noticing is the trees.
I wake up from whatever state I was in and find myself standing behind Miss Canary’s place. Donovan isn’t behind me. I’m sure he’ll be fine. He’s always fine when it comes to mystics.
Did time really fast forward while I was running?
I shrug my shoulders and walk to Canary’s back door. Miss Canary is waiting for me. She doesn’t say a word. She just lets me inside, purposefully leaving the door open. I follow her, a mixed scent of flowers trailing her. She’s humming a melody as the night grows darker.
She places her bags down in the kitchen as a black cat leaps onto her shoulder. This looks like the same cat that chased Jared out of Witcher’s Place. The cat purrs slowly in Miss Canary’s ears.
“My cat tells me you’re aware of Jared being your brother now, hmm?”
“Yes, I am. He told me a while ago.”
“I wonder if he has anything more to say,” she says.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
I remove my hood, allowing my green eyes to collide with hers. The cat’s tail sways around slowly. He hops off of his owner’s shoulder and runs off somewhere.
Jared told me the cat he was fighting was a shifter. This shifter almost managed to kill him. I feel my pocket to see if my dagger is available for me to fight off anything strange in this place. Witches aren’t supposed to trust mystics for a reason.
Miss Canary unbundles her fancy bun and allows her beautiful strands to fall down and flow over her shoulders. She watches me carefully and then glances at the living room, which she then walks to. She sits down and puts one leg over the other.
“I want to ask a question, which is w
hy I’m here.”
“Oh, I’m very aware why you are here, Eliza Rose.”
“It’s about my mother…”
“And you wonder where she is?” She purses her lips together tightly.
I walk over to a chair to sit down. There is a knock on the window from the kitchen. I turn to look before I actually hear the knock. It was like a big prediction. Miss Canary laughs at how I reacted to it. She gets up and grabs a bright yellow water can from on the top of her counter and begins to water her plants.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m wondering.”
She chuckles. “Your mother, dear, is far gone.”
“What are you talking about? Stop playing around with the truth and just tell me what’s going on. Where is she? Why has she been telling me to come to you if anything were to happen to her? You’re not trying to help with me. You’re an elf playing with my mind.”
Miss Canary looks up at me and blinks for a minute or two. Her cat runs to her. It meows and claws at the ends of her sun dress.
“Do you think I wouldn’t know you and your friend were in my shop? Come on now, Eliza Rose. You’re smarter than that.”
“Again, tell me the truth,” I say, taking out my dagger from my pocket.
“Oh dear, what are you going to do with that? You can’t even handle the magic within yourself to control your very own broomstick.”
“Don’t test me.”
“Your mother is far too deep in corruption. She’s been sucked into Ravamere, trapped, and to never return.” Her eyes fluttered up at me.
I fight the tears that are developing in the back of my eyes. I hold on tightly to my dagger. Miss Canary looks at my weapon and places her water can on the table next to her.
“You ask for the truth yet you can’t even handle it?” She released a slight chuckle.
“How do I get there to save my mother?”
“There’s no saving her.”
“How do I get there?” I growl. My lips curl at the ends of my mouth. This elf is not helping me. I don’t know why my mother even instructed me to see her in our time of need. She’s playing around with my emotions.
Mystical (The Mystical Trilogy Book 1) Page 21
