by Raven Steele
Walking past Briar’s motorcycle, I approached the tall white doors leading inside. Hopefully, I could get Lynx out of here before I had to go.
I didn’t bother knocking. I’d waited long enough to see Lynx. Part of me felt responsible for her condition. I’d been so focused on Faithe that I’d neglected the growing darkness inside of Lynx. But looking back, the signs were all there. Her over-confidence in her abilities, her anger and desire to fight. Something was changing inside of her, and I don’t think it had anything to do with her being a Morgan witch. This went much deeper.
Before I had made it five steps inside, a voice stopped me. “Look what the dead brought in.”
I turned to my left slowly. Lilith stood with her arms crossed wearing a short sundress with heels. She reached up and swirled her fingers through the tips of her long ponytail.
“Where’s Lynx?” I didn’t have time to banter with this spoiled witch. She had been with Dominic for close to two years, despite their age differences, which meant she not only had the influence of her mother to make her even more cold-hearted, but Dominic’s too. There wasn’t an ounce of decency in her, and, coming from me right now, that was saying something.
“Lynx,” she began, sneering at me in disgust, “doesn’t want to see you. You’re a plague to her and our kind.”
Briar arrived just then, crossing the room to us while holding a Big Gulp in one hand.
“Oh look,” Lilith drawled, “Another disease.”
The corners of Briar’s mouth twitched slightly as she removed the straw from the cup. She stopped in front of us and flicked the straw at Lilith. Liquid drops splashed across her face. “Demons begone, you foul bitch!”
Lilith gasped and wiped at her face.
“Not enough.” In the blink of an eye, I snatched the drink from Briar’s hand, ripped off the top, and threw the rest of it at Lilith. She yelped. I turned to Briar. “Where is she?”
Briar laughed. “This way.”
“I’m going to kill you both!” Lilith called after us.
“Good luck with that!” Briar flicked her the middle finger as we walked off, and Lilith huffed but didn’t follow us.
The Morgan witches had never liked me, didn’t matter what ancestor. I’d had my fair share of encounters with them over the last century since coming to Rouen. It amazed me that we hadn’t killed each other yet.
Briar led me down a long hall on the first floor of the mansion. We passed a library, a formal dining room with a chandelier that looked larger than my car and with more glass and chrome, and several other rooms that looked as useless as the next. Wealth in its grossest form.
“How is Lynx?” I asked, my voice quiet.
“I haven’t seen her yet. They had me sitting outside her door. I was there for about five minutes when I smelled death. That’s when I found you.”
I ignored her playful jab. I wasn’t in the mood. “Who told you she was awake?”
“Lynx texted me, but she didn’t say anything else. I’m worried.”
We turned a corner, reaching the end of the house. A tall male servant straightened near a closed door. “She’s resting.”
“We’ll be the judge of that,” I said. If Lynx had texted Briar, she wanted to be seen. I wasn’t going to let them keep her from us just in case they were holding her prisoner.
The servant held out his skinny hand. “No visitors. The lady of the house insists.”
Briar pushed him to the side. “Tell the lady to shove it up her skinny ass.”
I turned the doorknob and opened the door. Briar and I slipped inside and closed the door behind us. We both froze at the sight of Lynx hunched on the edge of her bed dressed in black pants and a maroon tank tap. She didn’t wear a single piece of jewelry or have on any makeup. Her red hair lay flat to her back. Everything about her appeared … lifeless. The light she had once emanated was gone.
Briar hurried over to her. “Lynx?”
I stayed back a few feet, my heart skipping several beats in a row.
Lynx looked up slowly. Though the rest of her seemed to be a great void, her green eyes still held fire, but this was a different kind of heat. The kind that liked to rage.
“Hey guys,” she said, her voice slightly lower than usual. “Thanks for coming.”
“Are you okay?” Briar asked. “We’ve been worried sick. Your psycho family wouldn’t let us see you.”
“I tried to keep you at home with a nurse,” I added, but my voice cracked. Maybe I hadn’t tried hard enough. Maybe Lynx had been awake for some time surrounded by the darkness that infested this home. Something had to account for the dramatic change that had come over her.
“I’m fine.” She rose to her feet and walked to the other side of the room. She turned around. “I’m glad you came. I need to tell you both something.”
“It can wait,” Briar said. “Let’s go home, away from the Bates Motel. We’ll have a big party, invite some hot shifter guys over, get Samira drunk—”
“No.” The flames in Lynx’s eyes rose.
Briar and I looked at each other. It was me who asked, “What happened to you that night?”
“That’s what I need to tell you. Please sit down.”
The pressure in the room changed, and I found myself sitting down along with Briar. Lynx didn’t move, not even an eyelash fluttered. Whether she knew it or not, she had just used her powers to make us obey. I’d seen very few witches with this kind of power. I almost brought it up, but decided against it in case she really didn’t know what she’d just done. She didn’t seem to be in the right frame of mind to deal with a new ability right now.
“I returned to White Pine,” she began, “to try and track the Phoenix. I felt it was our only chance to recover those who were taken and to try and stop him from further destroying Rouen.”
Briar lifted her eyebrows. “But it was too dangerous.”
“It was worth the risk.”
“Were you successful?” I asked, my voice holding an excited note. If we could find the Phoenix, we might have a chance at discovering what kind of bond had been created between him and Korin. I suspected the fae could help break it. Or the witches. One of them had to have some ideas.
Briar glared at me. My excitement must’ve been evident.
“I was. Or I got close.”
This got Briar’s attention.
Lynx began to pace, staring at the floor as she spoke. “I managed to catch a hint of the Phoenix’s magic and followed it for a while into the forest, until it began to separate into hundreds of magical tendrils in all directions. No doubt the Phoenix’s goal was to stop anyone stupid enough to do what I did.”
“At least you can admit it was stupid,” Briar mumbled.
“To follow the correct thread, I had to go deep within my conscious to a place I didn’t even know existed. There was magic there.” Her breath hitched. “It was strong. And dark.” She looked up at us. “And powerful.”
Goosebumps erupted all over my skin, a reaction I rarely had. Briar must’ve felt the same thing because she was rubbing at her arms. Neither of us dared say a word.
“When I latched onto it, it’s like the world before me changed and suddenly I could see the magic the Phoenix had used. It is by far the most powerful thing I’ve ever encountered. Even as I tried to mentally follow it, it kept trying to suck me in into some sort of mind trap.”
It was her turn to shiver. “The weird thing? Something about it was familiar.”
I came to my feet unable to hold still any longer. Whatever magic Lynx had used to make me sit was gone. “This reinforces the idea that the Phoenix is someone close to us!”
“But how close? Do you mean, close close?” Briar asked. She also stood. “Like could it be Luke? Could I be screwing the Phoenix three times a night?”
Lynx’s eyes widened. “Three?”
“Out of everything I just said, that’s what you’re focusing on?”
“It could be anyone,” I reiterated.
“This is fucked up.” Briar walked to the window and stared into the darkness.
“We just need to be careful.” I glanced back to Lynx. “What happened next?”
She ran her fingers through her hair, almost tugging at it. “I followed it as long as I could, but when I reached the bad part of town—”
“Hell's Peak?” I interrupted.
She nodded. “Once my mind reached that area, a blast of dark, cold energy overcame me and I went unconscious. I only woke up yesterday. I think the Phoenix is in Hell's Peak somewhere.”
“You woke up yesterday?” Briar didn’t hide the hurt in her voice.
“Sorry, but I had to talk to my mother about a few things, which leads me to the next thing I need to tell you. And you’re not going to like it.”
“Say it,” I ordered, tensing against bad news.
Lynx inhaled a large breath. On her exhale, she said, “My mom has ordered me to go the Principes Noctis. She wants me to leave tonight.”
Chapter 4
“You can’t go, Lynx!” Briar blurted.
Lynx shrugged. “That’s why I’ve asked you to come. I need advice. I feel like I should go.”
Briar jumped up. “Like hell you are!”
Lynx stood tall, lifting her chin through an air of defiance. “What if I think I need it?”
“Cassandra’s manipulated you into thinking you do.”
Lynx stared her down. “Believe it or not, Briar, I can make up my own mind. My mother doesn’t determine everything I do.”
“She sure as hell tries.”
“Why, Lynx?” I tried to break through their fight. “Why do you feel you need to go?”
It took a moment for Lynx to tear her gaze away from Briar. “Because I’m not strong enough. I felt the Phoenix’s power. We don’t stand a chance at fighting him if I don’t do this.”
“I know people at the Ames de la Terra who can train you.”
She shook her head vehemently. “They won’t be strong enough.”
“That’s not true.” I moved slowly toward her. “There are people there who have learned to harness white magic using the elements of the earth in a way you’ve never seen before. I bet Cassandra isn’t even aware of it.”
“I’m sorry, Samira. I’m going.”
“Did you really want our advice? It sounds like you’ve already made up your mind.”
She nodded, folding her arms across her chest defensively. “I think I have. I just needed your guy’s approval for some reason. But it seems like I’m not going to get it.”
“Please don’t do this,” Briar began. “It will change you into one of your mentally unstable cousins.”
“I won’t let it,” she said, but there was no strength to her words and fear flashed in her eyes.
Living with the Morgans and the evil that surrounded them was nothing compared to the influence of the Principes Noctis would have on her. And by her reaction, she knew it.
“I’ll be strong,” she added, probably more to convince herself.
“This is bullshit.” Briar raised a finger and pointed it at Lynx. “I’m going to go talk to Cassandra about this. I’m sick of that bitch trying to control everyone around her.”
Briar stormed past Lynx.
Lynx called after her, “Don’t do this, Briar!” When Briar didn’t stop, Lynx turned to me. “Samira. You understand, don’t you?”
I stared into her eyes, seeing her need to be understood. The Kiss whispered inside me, tempting me with sweet words. Lynx can help you get your revenge. Her dark power is what you need.
I took a step towards her and tilted my head to the side. “Do you honestly believe you can control it?”
She bit her bottom lip and nodded her head slightly, uncertain.
I touched her shoulder softly and her power hummed. It was true. I needed something more. I couldn’t even kill Korin, and I’d held a knife so close to his heart that it had marked his skin. But he was too strong, too powerful for me to kill. Korin would destroy this world—my world, my friends, if I let him. He had bigger plans for Rouen. His desire to control humans was well known, and we needed to squash him before he grew too strong. Lynx was right. We needed to use every tool possible to destroy him and the Phoenix. Even if it meant that Lynx had to connect to her darkness.
Even if that meant I had to, too.
“I think you can do it.” My voice was harsh, cutting through the silence.
Her eyes widened. “You do?”
I nodded. “I do, Lynx. I’ve always known you were powerful. Maybe it’s time you learned how powerful you can be.”
“Really?”
I nodded, and her lips parted. She took in a deep breath and certainty settled over her. She steeled her face. “Okay. You’re right. I’m going to do it.”
The Kiss inside me purred its approval, and I couldn’t help the smile that played over my lips. She was right. I’d spent the past few days fighting against the Kiss inside me when I should’ve embraced it. It was time we changed. We couldn’t expect to fight against Korin or the Phoenix without becoming something more. We had to embrace our dark sides; otherwise, the dark would destroy us anyway.
And getting my revenge would be the first thing on my list.
“Thank you for believing in me, Samira.” Lynx hugged me.
I felt a slight pang at my manipulation, but I quickly pushed it aside.
The sound of something crashing made her pull away, laughing. “Go after Briar and make sure she doesn’t do something stupid. I once saw my mother give someone a tail.”
“Briar might like that.” A smile teased the corners of my mouth. “One more thing to kick your mother’s ass with.”
Lynx laughed quietly; the flames in her eyes still burning bright.
I rested my hand on her shoulder briefly, squeezing it. There was no need for words. I turned before my determination could take over my face and show Lynx what I was really feeling. I was going to use her power to take down everything Korin owned. I paused at the door to get one last look at her, for I knew that she would not return the same person. “I will see you soon.”
She nodded, and I grit my teeth and left her, following the sound of Briar’s footsteps as they stomped along. Occasionally I’d hear a screech against the floor as if she were deliberately trying to scuff the polished floor with her rubber-soled shoes. Moving quickly, I turned the corner and found just that. Large black scars marring the tile. I chuckled and kept walking, keeping my eyes out for Lilith or her sisters. We didn’t need another altercation with them. The one with Cassandra would probably be bad enough.
“Hello, evil mother of Lynx,” Briar’s voice said in the distance. I kept listening, picking up my pace.
“One more word, and I’ll send you flying face-first out of this house,” Cassandra snapped. “You’re not welcome here.”
“How could you do it? Sending Lynx to that place. She’s too good for it, and you know it.”
I arrived just then, standing in the doorway with my arms folded.
Cassandra’s gaze flickered to me as she sat behind her desk, swirling a glass of wine in her hand. The crimson liquid nearly reached the rim’s edge. “Oh, goody. Another one of Lynx’s delinquent friends.”
Briar’s hand shot out and latched onto a lamp sitting on an end table. She tossed it at Cassandra but a second later, the lamps motion stopped and it hung suspended in air. Cassandra smirked, then flicked her finger. The lamp shot toward Briar, but Briar ducked just in time before it shattered on the wall behind her.
Briar snapped her head up, a storm brewing in her eyes.
“Enough!” I grabbed Briar’s arm and jerked her back. “Calm down. This isn’t the way.”
“Violence is all that mutt knows,” Cassandra sneered.
“She is not a mutt.” Lightning quick, I snatched a porcelain shard from the broken lamp and tossed it toward Cassandra. It grazed her shoulder, cutting into the blue silk of her dress. Scowling, Cassandra
hissed and flicked an envelope opener towards me, but I caught it easily. She hadn’t even tried very hard.
Frowning, she brought her palm to the wound I gave her, nearly spilling the wine from her glass in her other hand.
Briar snorted. “Witch bitch got what she deserved.”
Grinding my teeth, I turned towards Briar. She wasn’t helping the situation. The more these two poked at each other, the less answers I’d get from Cassandra.
“Out!” I ordered her.
Briar glared at me.
I softened my expression. “I’ll talk to her. I promise.”
Briar gave me a slight nod. That was all I needed. “Now go home.” I pushed her outside the room and closed the door behind her, ignoring her protests. I turned around slowly.
Cassandra lowered the wine from her lips. “Now maybe we can have a civilized conversation. I’ve been meaning to talk to you anyway.”
“And why’s that?” I crossed the room and sat across from her.
“Wine?” she offered. “It’s all I have.”
“Pass.”
She set the glass down and shoved it away from her. “How long have you been alive, Samira?”
“Enough to remember that your great-great-grandmother was just as difficult.”
Her lips curled up. “I wish I could’ve met her. She could’ve taught me a lot, I think.”
“You would’ve been kindred spirits.”
She leaned back and took me in. “You’re missing the point.”
“And you’re missing the ability to be a good mother. Why are you doing this to Lynx? You know how the Principes Noctis will change her.” Even though I agreed with Lynx leaving, I needed to understand Cassandra’s motivations for wanting it, too.
She set the wine glass in front of her and reached into a drawer. She withdrew a half empty bottle of wine and poured it into the goblet. After a long drink, she said, “Two faces of magic exist inside Lynx. She must harness both to become a powerful witch.”
