by M. R. Polish
Carefully and as quietly as we could, we got Jarak outside. My mom jumped out first. I placed my foot in the windowsill when Jarak’s door slammed wide open. I pushed myself forward, not wanting to see who was behind me, but they grabbed me around the waist and pulled me back in the room.
I spun out of their grasp and shot a stream of electricity at whoever it was. Ian jumped back through the window at the same time, barreling into the woman I just shocked. I ran over to them; Ian pinned her down. My mouth hung open. It was Meadow.
While she was far from dead, she was still having a hard time breathing. “You won’t make it out of here alive.” She let out a raspy chuckle.
“Neither will you,” Ian said as he pulled out a small zippered pouch from his back pocket. He never ceased to amaze me, always prepared for everything. I really needed to learn all his little tricks. “This will be more fun that just stabbing you. Although, we’ll still have to take your head, just in case. I don’t want you coming back from the dead. I’ve been saving these for a raining day, and after seeing my brother like that, I’d say it’s pouring.”
He unzipped the pouch and I was surprised at what I saw. Five tiny vials filled with sparkling red fluid were carefully held in rows by elastic straps. There was another zipped area with mesh netting that held syringes.
“Where did you get those?”
He bobbed his head as he pulled out a vial and needle. “I, uh, I dated a girl who worked at the B.O.M.B. a long time ago and I kinda, you know, took some.”
I smirked at him. “Well, that explains why you have a bag of illegal potions.”
Meadow’s head lifted to see what Ian had, her eyes widening. “You’re just bluffing. Things like that are impossible to steal; otherwise I’d have killed you all by now to get them.”
Ian tapped the syringe after filling it with the liquid. “You sure? Cause, that’s what these are. You know, I’ve never used these, but I’ve heard they just get more potent over time, kinda like wine.”
She opened her mouth to scream but I was quicker and placed my hand over her mouth. “Hurry, Ian, before she lets everyone else in the house know we’re here.”
“I know,” he said as he stuck her arm with the needle.
My heart thumped wildly in my chest, caused by a mixture of adrenaline and watching Meadow’s body slowing become limp. A part of me wanted to stop Ian, but I knew it had to be done. My stomach flipped as I watched her take her last breath.
Life definitely hasn’t been the way I thought it would be growing up. Even though we had our differences, Meadow and I loved each other at one time. Maybe a part of me still did; at least, I loved the memory of who she was before my life flipped upside down. A tear slipped down my face. Closing my eyes, I thought back to her funeral. The one she had when I thought she was dead and this life was nothing more than a fairytale.
Pink roses had been draped over the casket. How I had wished more than anything that I could hear her voice, feel her arms wrap around me and embrace me, or that she was still alive. I swallowed hard. That day changed my life.
I opened my eyes and watched Ian removed the needle. It was hard to understand the irony of the situation. It wasn’t too long ago that I wished she was alive, only to find out she was, but she’d die unless I turned her into a Crossbreed, and now I had to kill her. I had to remind myself that she wasn’t the same. She was darker, inhuman, and she wanted me dead.
Sucking in a deep breath, I stood up. “We better go before someone else finds us. Without Luna and Dregan we won’t be able to keep our strength.” Well, I knew he couldn’t for sure.
He nodded and stood also, zipping his pouch and returning it to his back pocket just as Nicholas barged in the room. He sent Ian flying with a single force of magic. The window shut before my mom or dad could get in. Nicholas kept his hand out, holding Ian down to the ground. I sent a ball of fire at Nicholas. It bounced off him and died out before hitting the floor. Running, I jumped on his back, and tried to take him down.
Nicholas laughed. “You poor thing, I’m too strong for you. You can’t kill me, that was part of my deal with the Death Keeper. I wanted your magic to be useless on me.”
Nicholas lowered his hand, so I let him go and dropped down by Ian. He was breathing, but not moving. “What did you do to him?”
“Oh, that? Another part of my deal. I think you’ve heard of it, Wolfing. Not that I have to use that on him in this house. Without your wolves, you all are just like the rest of us.”
For crying out loud, how deep did that deal go? “You only have one soul to sell, Nicholas, how did you get so much out of the deal?”
He laughed louder. “I didn’t just sell mine.”
“What are you talking about? You can’t sell someone else’s soul!”
I hated how I felt. My whole body ached and was heavy—not to mention hollow from not being connected to Luna. I guess that answered the unknown question to whether or not it would affect me like it did Jarak and Ian.
“That’s the beauty, I didn’t have to. I just had to lead someone, anyone, to the Death Keeper. It appears that he was lonely and wanted a companion. I didn’t know it would be so easy to get your friend to be that person, but hey, I’m not complaining.”
I jumped up and pushed him. “You’re an asshole!”
“We both knew your days were numbered, at least now you’ll be able to see your friend when you die.”
He was so sick. Everything about him was evil. He grasped my arm roughly and dragged me from the room. The last thing I saw was Ian struggling to get up. The door slammed shut and my heart sank with the sound.
My powers had no effect on Nicholas, but I still had the vial Davin gave me. I wanted to laugh. So that was why he gave it to me. He knew I wouldn’t be able to kill Nicholas alone. He must really want Nicholas dead, but then again, he said his deal with Ailaina was off if I died. He must really like her to give up so much.
I had to almost jog to keep up with Nicholas as he continued to pull me along. He opened a door to a room on the other side of the house and pushed me inside. I landed on my knees on the red carpet. A raspy cackle sounded and I looked up to see the most hideous woman watching me. Her eyes were solid black, but I swore she could see into my soul. Her skin rolled and her body shifted instead of having fluid motions. She must be the demon-lady.
“I’d like you to meet Raya. She’s actually the Queen of the Watchers, so I’d be respectful if I were you. She’s helping me learn some new magic.”
I stood up slowly. “You mean dark magic.”
Nicholas shrugged. “Magic is magic. It makes no difference to me whether it’s light or dark, black, or white.”
Okay, I had to think. I had enough in my vial to kill Nicholas, but what about Raya? How could I defend myself against her? My heart raced so fast my fingers tingled. I didn’t have enough energy to fight against dark magic. Heck, I didn’t even know if I’d ever be able to fight against it even with all my powers.
“Es!” I could hear my dad yelling for me.
Oh no.
He can’t be here, Nicholas will kill him.
Nicholas gave a wicked grin. “I think the party is starting, and it seems we have more guests. What kind of host would I be if I let them amble through the halls with no direction?” He turned and left me alone with Raya.
“I have orders from the Death Keeper not to kill you,” she seethed, but her words weren’t convincing.
Thank goodness Davin really cared. I was beginning to like him a little more.
She moved a little closer. “But, I have never listened to orders.”
And all hope died. I wondered if I was up to testing out her magic to mine. I could already feel a strain on my energy by being separated from Luna and using so much magic, but I had to try. In one motion, I let the sizzling energy shoot out from my hands. It connected with her, but all she did was laugh. I didn’t let up.
She walked toward me and my legs turned to Jello. My magic wasn�
��t affecting her. She cackled again. “You stupid witch. Don’t you know that you feed a Watcher’s energy with your magic?”
I dropped my hands. So I just made her stronger and me weaker. Yeah, that was great.
The door opened, slamming against the wall. My dad ran in, crashing into Raya. “Es, get out of here! The others need you,” he yelled as he wrestled Raya to the ground.
They scuffled for a moment before I realized Nicholas never came back with my dad. I ran from the room out into the hall, taking off toward the front door, but remembered Ian was still in the house somewhere.
I jogged back to the room, but this time the door was locked. I ran into it with my shoulder, trying to break it open. After three times I could hear Ian hollering for me to stand back. His foot came through the wood door and I helped by kicking out the rest, just big enough for me to crawl through.
I ran into his arms. “We need to hurry, I don’t know where Nicholas is at.”
We went to the window and after finding it locked, broke the glass out. Ian was pale. I knew that Nicholas zapped most of his strength earlier, and without Dregan he would never recover. “Go, you need to get outside with Dregan.”
“Not without you. I tried to break the door down and get to you, I swear.”
“I know, it’s okay. Just go. My magic has no affect on Nicholas, and I didn’t have time to use the vial.”
“What vial might that be?” Nicholas entered the room, stepping over Meadow’s dead body.
“Just go, Ian,” I pleaded.
He shook his head. “No.”
Nicholas grinned. “Isn’t that sweet. He’s willing to die for love.”
“You don’t want him, you want me.”
“What is this? He’d rather die than leave, you’d rather sacrifice yourself to save him… Interesting. I knew you two were an item, but I didn’t realize you bonded. That whole guardian forever together thing isn’t for me. I’m glad I don’t have to spend eternity with just one person. Oh wait, you won’t have to either.” He walked to Ian. “Because she’ll be dead. You can thank me later.”
Ian threw his arm back and decked Nicholas straight in the jaw, sending him backward, but it only made him laugh. He rubbed his chin then cocked his hand back to return the favor. I knew Ian couldn’t handle too much and my heart plummeted. I jumped in the way just in time to feel Nicholas’s fist meet my cheek. Losing my balance, I heard a high-pitched ringing in my ear. I blinked rapidly, trying to regain my focus. I’d been hit before, during training with Jarak and Ian, but never like that.
When my eyes finally focused I saw Ian and Nicholas wrestling, tangled in a mess of arms and legs. I pulled out the vial and attached the small tip that Davin gave me. I rushed over but couldn’t get a clear shot at Nicholas. I had to do this, but if I missed… No, I couldn’t think like that.
Ian’s movements were slower and hardly effective, but he kept trying. I readied the vial in my hand and waited for my time to jump in. It didn’t take long before Nicholas rolled Ian over and pinned him by his throat to the floor. With Nicholas preoccupied with Ian, he wasn’t focused on me and that gave me the perfect opportunity. I jabbed the needle into his side and watched the liquid seep out of the vial into his body. He jerked up straight and backhanded me. It was enough to send me backward, but nothing more.
My heartbeat pounded so loudly I couldn’t hear anything else. Nicholas stood up and plucked the tiny vial from his side, throwing it on the floor. He started my way. I inched back until I felt Meadow’s cold body on the floor. Crap, how long did it take for that stuff to work? Silently I prayed it wasn’t a trap and that Davin didn’t try to finish his end of the deal this way.
“You little witch. You think you can defeat me? You don’t even know where to begin. I’ve been around for much longer than you. Hell, I started this war; you won’t be the one to end it.” He lifted his hand, and I braced myself with an energy shield before he could attempt to let loose his power.
He thrust his hand out toward me but nothing happened. I was so relieved that the vial finally began to work. Davin came through for me after all. I wasn’t sure what I would have to do in return for the precious potion that could take away all magical abilities and turn the immortal mortal, but I was certain Davin knew. He was never without a plan, at least not when it came to his deals.
I gave Nicholas a smug smile. “What’s wrong? Feeling a little powerless? Now,” I tapped my finger on my lips, “what were you saying? Oh yes, that I wouldn’t know where to begin. Maybe you should worry that I know how to end it instead?”
He swallowed hard. “What was in that vial?”
I held up the empty potion bottle. “This? Oh, just something the Death Keeper gave me. Some kind of concoction he made just for this occasion.”
He rushed after me, but I was faster and flung myself out of his way. I stood up and went to run from the room but he caught my leg, bringing me to the floor. My head hit the floor, making the room fade in and out of darkness. He flipped me over and wrapped his hands around my neck. I grabbed at his hands, but he was stronger than I was. I tried not to panic as the room went black. Instead, I pushed out whatever energy I had left in me, electrocuting him.
Nicholas flew back away from me, hitting the wall and slumping to the floor. I gasped for air and got up on my hands and knees as I fought for more oxygen. Nicholas rolled over to sit up. I felt a sizzle in the air and channeled it to use it against him.
The light fixtures shattered and I heard the hum of electricity surge in the house. With each breath I took I could feel my energy growing with a second wind. The air filled with the hot metallic scent of melted wires.
I used whatever energy I could draw from around me and every inch of my skin tingled as it formed a new strength of magic. The power inside the house filled me and I had to restrain myself from using it too soon.
I stood up on shaky legs, sending out a stream of power toward Nicholas, pushing him back over. His body twitched and shook as my magic infiltrated his mortal body. He groaned, but the words he tried to say were muffled and inaudible. I held the energy for as long as I could before my hands dropped to my sides. Between being separated from Luna, fighting, and the use of so much magic, I was worn out. My whole body was heavy and it took all I had to keep standing.
Nicholas rolled to his side. A small dribble of blood came out from the corner of his mouth. He coughed as he sat up, blood splattering on the floor as he did. His breathing was heavy and he held his stomach with one arm, grimacing.
My heart skipped a beat. I wasn’t sure who’d win now. We were both spent. I dropped to my knees as I watched Nicholas stand, but I couldn’t call upon any energy to stop him. I had nothing left, but deep inside I felt my soul calling out to the spirits. Surprisingly, many spirits connected with me and I felt their energy as they neared me. Each floor of the house creaked and doors slammed throughout the house as it filled with ghosts from the dead.
Wispy forms gathered in the room and surrounded us. Whispers floated around me as they talked to me, allowing me to draw from their beings.
Nicholas wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his jacket and laughed evilly. “I told you that you wouldn’t win.”
The spirits entered my inner core. Instantly my insides were so cold I felt frozen, but I was awakened in every possible way. I had energy, I was alert, and most of all… I had magic.
As Nicholas took one step toward me, I stood up and used what the spirits gave me. A blue sparkle radiated out from me in a powerful explosion. Nicholas stood shocked for a moment. His mouth was open, but neither sound nor breath escaped him.
He took a step, but faltered, losing his footing and falling to the floor face first. His spirit remained where he once stood, staring at me with wide eyes before it turned black and crumpled away like ash.
I released the breath I held in, and took a few more quick ones as I fought to slow my heart. Such a strong use of magic, even if the spirits did help, left me all but want
ing to pass out. It took all I had to crawl over to Ian. He was definitely alive, but unconscious. I needed to get him out of the house. I had no clue where my dad was. The last I saw of him, he was fighting that demon woman. Even without Hela he was incredibly strong; I just hoped he was strong enough. My mom was with Jarak somewhere outside, but I didn’t dare leave Ian again.
I picked up his arms and dragged him across the floor. I’d never be able to pick him up high enough to get him out the broken window, and if I did he’d be torn to shreds with the shards of glass. After peeking my head out of the door and not seeing anyone down the hall, I pulled him out with me and continued to drag him to the front door.
I heaved his body an inch at a time as my body began to weaken. I wanted nothing more than to give up and just fall to the floor and die with Ian. Every step I took ached in every muscle. I swore even my ears hurt. Over my shoulder, the front door was only about ten more feet away. I could do it, I chanted to myself.
I dropped his arms and bent over, resting my hands on my knees. Okay, maybe I couldn’t do it.
“Here, let me help.”
I lifted my gaze to see Davin standing beside me. I nodded and stumbled out of his way. “Get him out first,” I barely said before I slumped to the floor.
Davin picked up Ian’s limp body and flung him over his shoulder. It wasn’t two seconds, I swore, before he was back and picking me up.
Sixteen
Esmerelda
T he fresh air helped clear my head, but I was too weak to look for Luna myself. I laid in the grass watching the clouds pass over us, unable to move. “My dad…”
“I’ve already got him, he’s with Hela. I’ve taken care of Raya myself. She won’t be bothering you again.” Davin squatted down in the grass next to me.
