“She shouldn’t have been able to do that,” Noah added. “Imprinted shifters can only communicate with each other when they’re in the same room.”
“But Raven’s not a shifter, is she?” Mary said.
“No.” Noah looked at me proudly and gave my hand a squeeze. “She’s not.”
My heart warmed. Since meeting Noah and Sage, I’d thought I was weak because I was human and not supernatural. But the way Noah was looking at me now made me feel stronger than ever.
“I think you’re correct about your gift,” Mary said, turning to me. “Stubbornness, bullheadedness, willfulness, or whatever you want to call it. You’ve got fire in you, Raven Danvers. And you know how to use it to get your way.”
Noah smirked after she said bullheaded. It was a word he’d used to describe me way earlier in our journey.
Personally, I thought “stubborn” was a much nicer way of saying it.
“After Geneva created the memory potion, I gave it to you and Susan,” Mary continued. “Do you remember Susan? The other human you’d been kept with?”
A flash passed through my mind—a woman sitting hunched over in a cell, her wrists dripping with blood. But it was gone before I saw a clear picture of her face.
“Not really,” I admitted, shifting back and forth on my feet. “I don’t remember much. All I know is that what I do remember—a trip backpacking around Europe—doesn’t feel like it truly happened. Hopefully you can help me fill in the blanks.”
“All I know is what Annika told me,” Mary said. “She had control of Geneva’s ring, and therefore, of Geneva herself. Do you know about Geneva’s ring?”
“No…” I shook my head and looked to Noah, since he and Sage had been in charge of my “supernatural history” lessons.
“I gave you the basics,” he said in defense. “We had a lot to cover. Geneva’s ring didn’t seem important. Especially since she’s dead.”
“He’s right,” Mary said. “The story of Geneva’s ring is long. I’ll save it for another day. All you need to know for now is that Annika—the Earth Angel—was working with Geneva to infiltrate the palace at the Vale. She needed to disguise herself as a vampire princess. But witches don’t have the power to turn humans into vampires. So Geneva improvised by making Annika appear to be a vampire princess. She stole two humans and a vampire princess, locked them in a dungeon, and used their blood to make transformation potions. One for Annika, and one for herself, since she accompanied Annika to infiltrate the palace. She mixed the vampire princess blood into Annika’s potion, which gave Annika the abilities of a vampire princess for twenty-four hours.”
“Aren’t humans not supposed to know that drinking vampire blood gives them vampire powers?” I flashed back to when Thomas had forced me into a blood oath where I promised to never tell that secret to anyone.
“We like to keep it secret,” she said. “But you already knew.”
“How did you know that?”
“It’s one of the benefits of having many gifted vampires at the Haven.” She smiled. “We know things. Anyway, where was I? Oh, right. The humans Geneva kept in the dungeon so she could brew the potions.” She tilted her head, her gaze locked on mine. “One of those humans was you.”
6
Raven
“A dungeon,” I repeated, standing perfectly still as I spoke.
It should have been jarring.
But it made sense. The flashes I’d been having of a dungeon… the weird dreams. They were all adding up now.
“You remember?” Noah asked.
“Sort of,” I said. “I’ve had flashes and dreams. Nothing concrete.”
“The Earth Angel didn’t know Geneva was keeping you in a dungeon,” Mary said. “Once she found out, she demanded Geneva bring both of you to the Haven. She insisted on the memory potion for your own good.”
“I didn’t agree to the memory potion.” I didn’t remember, but I didn’t have to remember to know it was true. I knew myself.
I’d never agree to having my memories taken away from me.
“You didn’t,” Mary confirmed. “I compelled you and Susan to drink it. Susan drank the potion without a fight. You, on the other hand, weren’t so complacent. You tried fighting my compulsion. It was unprecedented, because humans aren’t aware when they’re being compelled. They certainly aren’t able to try fighting it. You weren’t able to fight it, of course—my powers are strong—but you were aware of what I was doing. I should have realized you were gifted right then and there.”
“But you didn’t,” I said hollowly. “You shipped me back home. You let me believe I’d been backpacking through Europe, when I’d actually been kidnapped by a dark witch and locked in a dungeon.”
“Geneva could do both dark and light magic,” Mary corrected me. “She was equally strong on both sides, which is incredibly rare. It was why she was so powerful.”
“Whatever,” I mumbled. “That’s not the point.”
“It’s not,” Mary agreed. “The point is that you have a decision to make. Do you want to go to Avalon? Or do you want to stay here? You’re gifted, and you show strong potential. I’ll turn you into vampire myself. You wouldn’t just be a regular vampire. You’d be a vampire princess.”
Her eyes gleamed, like she expected me to say yes on the spot.
I didn’t. Because sure, being a vampire princess would have its perks. I’d have strength, immortality, and I’d be able to use compulsion. Not like I’d actually use compulsion. I’d had my memories toyed with enough that I’d never want to play around with anyone else’s free will like that.
But Noah was mortal. Did I really want immortality when the man I’d imprinted on—and might mate with—would eventually grow old and die?
No. Absolutely not.
“I’m going to Avalon,” I said. “But thank you for the offer. I truly do appreciate it.”
After all, Mary was a powerful vampire queen. I didn’t want her to think I was ungrateful. She wasn’t someone I wanted on my bad side.
“I’m disappointed you won’t be staying here, but I do think you’ll make a great Nephilim,” she said with a curt nod. “The Earth Angel will be proud to have you join her.”
I didn’t know about that. I had a lot of things I needed to say to the Earth Angel about her decision to erase my memories, and none of them were nice.
But I’d deal with that once I got to Avalon.
“I have to go through the Angel Trials to save my mom,” I explained, hoping to help her understand why I’d rejected her offer. “Rosella told me that when Noah and I met with her on the Pier.”
Just then, the door creaked open and a familiar, white gaze stared in my general direction. “Speaking of me,” Rosella said with a knowing smile. “I thought it was about time I dropped by to say hello.”
7
Thomas
Bella and I didn’t need to sit in on the question and answer session the gifted humans were having with the witches of the Haven.
We had other matters to attend to.
Matters named Dr. Foster.
A tiger shifter named Sanjay took the doctor’s wrist and led us to the holding room he’d stay in while at the Haven. Sanjay was in his human form, but he shifted his fingernails into claws, warning Dr. Foster not to try anything.
Dr. Foster tried nothing, He was such a typical male witch. Weak in comparison to his female counterparts.
Male witches really got the short sticks in the supernatural world.
I didn’t know what Dr. Foster was doing with those demons in that bunker. All I knew was that the Foster witches were helping the demons. They were the reason why Sage had been bound to Azazel. Now Dr. Foster was one of the reasons why Cassandra was dead.
He was going to pay.
But first, I was going to avenge Cassandra’s death. I was going to get Sage turned back to normal.
To do that, I needed information.
Dr. Foster likely had that information.
Which meant he was in for a rough night. Because I wouldn’t rest until I knew everything he did.
We marched into the main building where Haven residents congregated to eat meals, trade goods, and spend time together. Like all of the public buildings in the Haven, it was glamorous and colorful, both inside and out.
Beautiful public spaces and minimalist private spaces encouraged residents of the Haven to spend as much time together as possible. It was empty now, due to the late hour. But it was normally bustling with people.
Sanjay eventually led us into a room in the back of the building. I knew this room. Bright, welcoming, and colorful, it was where the Haven entertained visiting guests. It was even set up like it was ready for teatime.
“Don’t you have a more suitable place for prisoners?” I sneered as I looked around the room.
“The Haven is a kingdom of peace,” Sanjay answered. Not a muscle in his face moved as he spoke.
I couldn’t help noticing Bella roll her eyes. Rightfully so. Tiger shifters were always so catty.
“We don’t keep anyone here against his or her will,” he continued. “However, this is a special case, so Mary has deemed the meeting room as the appropriate place to house Dr. Foster during his stay with us. This room has extra strong boundary spells around it, in case any of our visitors get… worked up during their time here.”
I nodded, since I knew from my time living here that a fair share of fights had broken out in this room. Usually the leaders who visited the Haven to broker deals in neutral territory handled themselves with decorum. But not always.
It was better to be safe than sorry when it came to supernaturals. Even weak, old, male witches like Dr. Foster.
“We’ll be questioning Dr. Foster privately,” I informed Sanjay. “I trust the room will be guarded while he’s here?”
“Myself and another tiger shifter will be patrolling,” he assured us. “Like you, we wish for no trouble in the Haven.”
I nodded, trusting the man at his word. “Very well. You may leave now.”
Sanjay gave a slight bow and left the room.
Once the door clicked shut behind him, I glanced over at Dr. Foster. The man had backed into a corner and was quivering in his boots.
He was right to be afraid. Especially since Bella and I still hadn’t cleaned ourselves up after the fight with the demons in the bunker. We were covered in their blood.
Not just their blood. Cassandra’s blood too.
I walked to the wall and brushed my finger against the light switch. Immediately, an image of all of the electronics in the room filled my head, my body buzzing as I connected to the energy emanating from them. There were cameras, of course. The Haven was the safest kingdom in the world, but even they needed cameras.
I shut them off with a single thought.
Mary and the others at the Haven would never agree to the techniques Bella and I were about to use to acquire information from Dr. Foster. But I knew Mary well enough to know that in this circumstance, she’d happily turn the other cheek.
She couldn’t be responsible for something she knew nothing about.
“Cameras are down,” I told Bella. “What’s the status on the magical barrier?”
I didn’t know for sure there was a magical barrier up. Only witches could sense magic. But I assumed there was.
“There’s one in place.” She spoke slowly, concentrating hard on the room around her. A few seconds later, her eyes zoomed back into focus. “A permanent light magic boundary spell keeping all conversations in this room safe from eavesdropping.”
“Wonderful.” I nodded and turned back to Dr. Foster. He was still cowering in the corner. “Would you like to take a seat, Dr. Foster?” I asked with a purposefully chilling smile. “Because it’s time for you to share everything you know.”
8
Thomas
“I can’t tell you anything.” Dr. Foster’s voice shook as he spoke. “What I told you back in the bunker is true. The Foster circle doesn’t exist anymore. I was kidnapped by the demons, just like those humans. I don’t want any part of this. I just want to get out of here. Please.”
“Pathetic.” Bella rolled her eyes again and whipped out her longsword. She examined it, as if imagining everything she could do with it. “You’re already a part of this. You know it as much as we do. But don’t worry. We’ll get you to talk.”
“Easily.” I smirked, since I held the trump card here. Focusing on my vampire prince abilities, I called forth magic into my tone and locked my gaze with Dr. Foster’s. “Take a seat on that couch.”
Dr. Foster didn’t budge.
“Interesting,” I said, turning back to Bella. “Check him for wormwood.”
She frisked the doctor, using her sense of smell to assist her. As a vampire, I couldn’t detect the scent of wormwood. It was invisible to us. But witches could smell it.
She backed away from him, irritation flicking in her eyes. “Nothing,” she said. “The Foster witches must have done something to him. Some kind of spell to make him resistant to compulsion.”
“Have you ever heard of such a spell?” I asked. Because I certainly hadn’t.
“No,” she said. “But the Fosters are one of the most ancient circles in the world. They’ve created spells and potions that no one else has ever heard of.”
“Very well, then.” I also reached for my weapon—a dagger—and toyed with it. “Looks like we’ll be doing this the hard way.”
Dr. Foster backed up further so he was pressed to the wall, his eyes wide in terror. “Please, don’t,” he begged.
I whizzed toward him and pressed the dagger into his neck. “We know about the binding spell the demons are creating with the shifters,” I told him. “Now we need to know how to break it.”
Confusion passed over the doctor’s eyes. “I thought you wanted to know what the demons wanted with the gifted humans?” he asked.
“We’ll get to that,” I said. “But first, the blood binding spell.”
“I can’t tell you about that,” he said.
I moved away my knife, lifted my leg, and whammed it straight into his old wrinkly jewels. He made an oof sound and bent over, his face twisted in pain as he cradled his balls.
With him in that position, I easily picked him up and threw him down onto the couch.
Now he was where I’d originally wanted him. Much better.
“Can’t?” I asked, towering over him. “Or won’t?”
“I can’t tell you what I don’t know.” He didn’t meet my eyes when he spoke.
Liar.
I circled him like a hawk, knife in hand. “You know one of the most painful sensations that exists?” I asked, continuing before he had a chance to answer. “Getting your fingernails ripped off. One by one. Then toenails. And then, if that isn’t enough, there are certain fingers and toes that aren’t needed to survive. Do you want to find out which fingers and toes those are, Dr. Foster?”
He whimpered like a pathetic animal.
I might have felt bad, if he didn’t deserve it. Because he was a liar. He knew how to save Sage, and he was keeping the information from me.
I wouldn’t stand for it.
“But don’t worry,” I said. “Once you tell us everything we need to know, Bella can acquire you some healing potion and fix you right up. Can’t you, Bella?”
She eyed him up, looking as distant, disgusted, and angry as I felt. I couldn’t blame her. Along with taking the humans and binding shifters to himself, Azazel had killed one of her sisters. She wanted Azazel and his accomplices—including Dr. Foster—to pay as much as I did.
“I could.” She shrugged. “But to save us time—and a mess—I’ve got a simpler solution.”
“Oh yeah?” I tilted my head, curious. “What’s that?”
She reached into her weapons belt, her eyes glimmering with mischief as she pulled out a vial of dark blue potion that I was starting to recognize well.
Complacent potion.
“This,” she said.
Irritation flickered through me at the sight of the potion, but I reigned it in. “You said you used all of your complacent potion when we fought Abaddon’s Locust,” I reminded her.
“I lied,” she said. “I always like to have extra on me. For times like these.” She gave me a knowing smile, aware that it wasn’t an offer I could refuse.
I just stared at her, showing no emotion. I was good at holding in anger. I’d always been good at it, even before being turned. And I hated being lied to.
I also wasn’t stupid enough to turn down something that could help me. So I noted for the future that Bella could be a bit of a loose cannon. A useful loose cannon, but a loose cannon nonetheless.
“All right,” I agreed. “I suppose complacent potion is the most logical option.”
“Stupid witch,” Dr. Foster muttered from the couch.
“Stupid?” Bella raised an eyebrow, threw back her head, and laughed. “I’m not the one who’s caught and captured. You’re the stupid one here. Not me.”
“I meant you’re stupid for bringing complacent potion here of all places,” he said. “The Haven follows the laws of the vampire kingdoms. Complacent potion is illegal. You know it as well as I. If you’re caught with it, they’ll eradicate your magic.”
“No one will believe the word of a Foster witch over mine.” Bella stuck her chin up, not appearing intimidated in the slightest. “Plus, I’ve got an antidote tablet. Once we’re done with you, there won’t be any trace of the complacent potion at all.”
“And no one knows what’s going on in here,” I reminded him. “Remember? I turned the cameras off. It’s just the three of us now. Alone. And we can do whatever we want to you.”
His eyes widened as the true realization of his predicament set in.
I nodded to Bella to proceed.
“I don’t think he’s stupid enough to think he can beat you in a fight,” Bella said to me. “But hold him down.”
The Angel Trials- The Complete Series Page 64
