Initiate

by Christina Garner

  Bes’tal advanced on them, a predatory gleam in his eye.

  Chapter 15

  Jules pounded on the door until her knuckles bled.

  “Come on.” Haley pulled at her. “We need to do what Carolyn said.”

  However much the other sisters had hesitated to leave, once the door slammed, they’d fled. Jules and Haley were the only two who remained in the antechamber.

  Jules was gripped with needing to obey Carolyn’s command but managed to shake Haley off. “They need our help. His aura was…wrong.”

  Most people were a mix of colors, but he was a tornado of them all, angry and swirling.

  Jules tried the door again, but it wouldn’t budge. She kicked it in frustration.

  “We have to go.” Haley grabbed her arm again. “For all we know, this is one of her tests, and the only way to pass is to obey. Let’s go.”

  Jules let herself be dragged away, knowing Haley was wrong, but praying to the Goddess she was right.

  Alex watched as Bes’tal advanced on Eden.

  All that potential wasted. She just sat there—a deer caught in the headlights—as he closed the distance between them.

  Alex thought about letting him have her, but stole a glance at Carolyn as she struggled furiously against her bonds. Their eyes met, and in that instant, she knew she wouldn’t let anything happen to Eden or any of the women of Coventry House.

  Alex crept slowly toward the dagger on the floor, thinking if she didn’t use magic, maybe she could catch him off guard. She wrapped her fingers around the hilt and took a quiet breath to steady herself.

  She launched herself at Bes’tal, the blade slicing deep into his shoulder. He roared in pain. Not the fatal strike she’d hoped for, but distracting enough that the bonds around Carolyn dissolved.

  “Go.” Carolyn rushed him. “I will finish this.”

  “Like hell.” Alex raised the dagger and struck again.

  Bes’tal grabbed her wrist just before the dagger plunged into his heart. He wrenched her arm, but she refused him the satisfaction of seeing how badly it hurt.

  “Oh, you are seconds from knowing what hell is.” He leaned close, his dark eyes inches from hers.

  Alex’s heart pounded in her chest. The more she struggled, the more he twisted her arm. She was sure he would break it but was also sure he intended to do worse.

  “No!” Carolyn cried. “Don’t hurt her. Please.”

  He stopped, a slow smile spreading across his lips. He tossed Alex aside and strode toward Carolyn, blood running in a river down his injured arm.

  Bes’tal gripped her by the neck and bent forward, but Carolyn slammed her palm into his chest. He flew across the room and hit a beam, his head rebounding off it.

  He was slow to rise, and when he did, Carolyn said, “You are hurt. Submit yourself now, and I will show mercy.”

  She was bluffing. Alex knew the limits of Carolyn’s powers, and she’d already played her hand.

  Bes’tal snarled and stumbled toward her. “Your mercy is meaningless.”

  Alex scanned the room. Between the ritual and the fireball, she was spent as well, but there had to be something she could do…

  He reached Carolyn, and she tried to strike him, but Bes’tal blocked the blow and held her in a tight grip.

  “Save your strength,” he hissed. “I’m going to need it.”

  Alex watched in horror as a stream of energy flowed from Carolyn’s mouth into Bes’tal’s. She didn’t know what he was doing, but the terror in Carolyn’s eyes told Alex she had to stop it.

  She hurled herself at Bes’tal, and they all crashed to the floor. She heard Carolyn gasp which meant she was still alive, thank the Goddess.

  “Don’t be jealous, pet. You’ll get your turn,” Bes’tal said.

  Alex scrambled away, but he held fast to her leg.

  A candlestick flew across the room and struck him in the back of the head.

  Now you help?

  “Don’t engage him,” she yelled at Eden. “Get Carolyn out of here!”

  She kicked her leg free and ran, Bes’tal on her heels.

  “Go!” Alex screamed, a pitiful fireball flying from her fingertips.

  She hoped she lived long enough to make Eden pay for this.

  Even with Sarah’s power, Eden had struggled with levitating the candlestick, which had done nothing except piss Alex off. For once she didn’t blame her—cursing how drained she was.

  None of this made any sense. All Eden had done was make a sphere of light. A big one, but still… Who was this monster and why was he here?

  After whatever he’d done to her, Carolyn had collapsed in a heap on the floor. Alex had saved their lives by leading Bes’tal away, and now Eden and Sarah helped Carolyn to her feet.

  They made it to the antechamber, but when they started toward the stairs, Carolyn stopped them.

  “This way.” Carolyn stumbled toward a darkened corner.

  “But that’s—”

  Carolyn tapped on the wall, and a panel slid open, revealing a hidden stairway. Eden’s eyes widened, but they didn’t have time for questions. The three of them ducked inside.

  The panel slid shut behind them, and she and Sarah helped Carolyn climb the stairs. It was frightening how weak she had become.

  What did he do to her?

  “What about Alex?” Eden glanced back. He could be killing her. “Shouldn’t we—”

  “Alexandra can take care of herself.” Carolyn didn’t seem entirely convinced but continued her climb. “What happened in there, Eden? Tell me everything you remember.”

  “I don’t know.” Eden shook her head. “I was doing the test and then suddenly everything went from light to dark, and then…he was just there.”

  “There has to be more to it.” Carolyn’s eyes bored into hers. “Think.”

  “I was just doing the test. I had merged with the light and—”

  “Merged with it?” Confusion crossed her face. “What about the relic? Did you bring it? Did you use it to focus?”

  “I did. I swear.” Eden pulled it from the pocket of her robe. “I don’t know what happened. I was just doing the test.”

  “We need to contact the Council of Magic.” Carolyn missed a step but righted herself and continued up. “There is a High Priest who lives a few hours away. He has experience with—”

  Carolyn stopped, panic taking over her face.

  “What is it?” Sarah asked.

  “His phone number… I don’t remember it.” The admission shook her. “I don’t remember any of them.”

  “You’re in shock,” Sarah said. “It’s okay. Where’s your phone?”

  “You don’t understand.” Carolyn rubbed her temples. “It is forbidden to record them. I committed them to memory, but they’re just…gone. It’s as if he took pieces of my mind.”

  Eden’s blood ran cold.

  Chapter 16

  Alex slid her hands along the basement wall, searching.

  Where is it?

  “I told you you’d get your turn.”

  Bes’tal’s voice made her jump. She turned to face him, pressing her back against the wall.

  “Thanks, but I’m not one for sloppy seconds.” She continued to feel behind her.

  “Then looks are deceiving.” Bes’tal grabbed her by the throat. Alex spit in his face, and he gripped her so hard her eyes bulged. “You are fortunate that I am weak from my travels and need your essence. Otherwise I would peel off your skin in strips and feed them to you.”

  Hate burned through her. “If I had a dime for every time I’ve heard that line.” Her voice was nothing but a raspy whisper.

  He leaned in, and when he did, she kneed him in the groin as hard as she could. He groaned and doubled over.

  She found what she’d been looking for and slammed her hand into a slight depression in the wall. The section she was pressed against spun a full one hundred and eighty degrees, and she was now in the basement antechamber.

&nbs
p; Alex fumbled for the latch and tripped the lock just as Bes’tal snarled and slammed himself against it.

  The door shook but held, and Alex raced up the stairs. She had something in her room that might help. It had to help. And then she needed to make sure Carolyn was all right.

  By the time they reached Carolyn’s bedroom on the top floor, Eden and Sarah were all but carrying her.

  Eden grabbed Carolyn’s phone off the nightstand while Sarah eased her into a chair.

  “I’m calling an ambulance.”

  “Don’t.” Carolyn’s voice was thin and strained. “They can’t help me. This creature… He looks human, but he is Av Rek.”

  “What’s an Av Rek?” Eden’s studies now included demon basics, but she’d never heard that term.

  “A soul eater. He lives by consuming a person’s essence and absorbing their power.”

  Eden’s flesh pebbled. He ate souls?

  “That’s horrifying.” Sarah held a bottle of water up to Carolyn’s lips.

  Carolyn took a sip then waved her away. “It is a perversion—a distortion of how witches channel energy for spells. Only the most vile use such methods. Not even the darkest covens would have him.”

  “He’s a witch? You mean…he’s human?” Eden knelt beside her.

  “He was, once.” Carolyn’s breathing grew labored. “But taking souls has a price. The Av Rek becomes a prison for each of the souls he has consumed. He becomes a tangled mass of energy—less than human, and yet more.”

  “What does that mean?” Sarah appeared as terrified as Eden felt.

  “It means that depending on how many souls he’s taken, he may be very hard to kill.” Carolyn’s voice was barely a whisper. “If he has consumed enough of them, the weapons of man will prove useless against him, whether bullets or spells.”

  “Then what do we do? What will work?” Bile rose in Eden’s throat; panic threatened to overwhelm her.

  “I-I used to know…” Carolyn struggled for words as she fought for breath. “I have books…”

  “Books?” Eden looked around but saw nothing. “You mean in your office?”

  “Behind.” Carolyn raised a trembling hand and pointed to a shelf that held artifacts. “Press the center of both pentagrams.”

  Sarah jumped up and completed the task on twin pentagrams that had been carved above the shelf. A panel slid open, revealing a hidden row of books.

  “Don’t be frightened by the titles,” Carolyn said, “They are for research only. You can’t lead even a light coven if you aren’t versed on what waits in the shadow.”

  Her voice trailed off and her eyes closed.

  Eden prodded her gently, but she didn’t open her eyes. She shook her again, harder this time “Carolyn!”

  Sarah rushed back to Carolyn’s side. A moment later, her eyes fluttered open. Carolyn gripped Eden’s arm, her words pained and deliberate.

  “The appetite of an Av Rek knows no bounds. He is drawn to power. If he roams free, he will consume all the great Wiccans left on Earth. You are strong enough to stop him, Eden. You must find a way.”

  “I will, Carolyn. I promise. You just rest here. Everything’s going to be fine—”

  “Tell Alexandra… Tell her that she did well. She saved me. She won’t believe you, but tell her anyway. This is better…”

  Carolyn’s eyes drifted closed, and her features froze.

  “No!” Eden cried, shaking her. “Carolyn, please. Don’t go.”

  But this time Carolyn didn’t open her eyes.

  Chapter 17

  “She’s gone,” Sarah said, but Eden kept shaking Carolyn until Sarah removed her hands. “He must have taken too much. She’s gone, Eden.”

  They stared at each other, eyes wet with tears, and then Eden smacked her palm on the floor.

  “No! She can’t be dead because of a stupid test! This cannot be happening…”

  “I know,” Sarah said softly. “I know it can’t be, but…it is. It is happening, and we need to figure this out. That thing that did this to her is running loose, and we need to do something about it.”

  Sarah was devastated too, but they didn’t have time for processing.

  “Build a wall.” Sarah squeezed Eden’s hand. “Build a wall between what just happened and what we have to do next.”

  Eden studied her friend’s demeanor—first as though she were a heartless monster—but then she nodded. “A wall.”

  Eden lifted the blanket that was folded neatly on the arm of the chair and spread it gently over Carolyn. “Okay, we’ll figure this out.”

  Sarah gave her another squeeze and then went back to the hidden shelf of books.

  Sarah reached for a thick volume. “She had to think one of these—”

  A flash of light burst from the book, and she cried out—her hand searing with pain.

  Eden scrambled to her feet. “Are you okay?”

  “Not really.” Sarah winced and cradled her hand.

  “Let me see.” Eden’s breath caught when she saw the immediate blistering on Sarah’s hand. “This looks really bad.”

  “It feels bad.” Sarah panted with the effort it took not to pass out. “What was that?”

  “I’m guessing a protection ward.”

  “Then how do we take them?” Sarah willed herself not to cry. Her hand was on fire. “We need them. We don’t have any idea how to fight this thing.”

  “I’ve got a book in my room.” Eden headed toward the door. “There’s a chapter on wards. I haven’t read it yet, but it might have something that will help.”

  “You want us to go back out there?” Was she insane?

  “I don’t want to, but what else can we do? We need those books. Can you think of a way to get them that won’t burn them—or us—to a crisp?”

  She couldn’t, and Sarah knew whatever they were going to do, they had to do it quick. She could feel herself slipping into shock.

  Eden picked up the burnt remains of the volume, and they made their exit, neither allowing themselves to look back at Carolyn’s still form.

  Eden led the way to the hidden staircase. She and Sarah searched for the way back in, tapping every inch around the panel. Even that was so well hidden, Eden wouldn’t believe it existed had she not stepped through it only minutes earlier.

  They had to find it or risk running into Bes’tal, who could be anywhere, doing the gods knew what.

  You are strong enough to stop him, Eden. You must find a way.

  Carolyn’s voice echoed in her mind, and she blinked back the tears threatening to spill. Sarah had been right about building a wall. Later, she would mourn. Right now, she had to focus.

  Where is the damn trigger?

  She cast a worried glance at Sarah, appearing ghostly pale except for the dried blood below her nose. Bes’tal must have been planning this for weeks. No wonder she’d been struggling with magic and getting nosebleeds. He’d done something somehow—touched her mind, and brought himself here. That would explain why the others had gotten sick.

  After another minute of searching, she and Sarah exchanged apprehensive glances.

  “Not-so-secret staircase it is.” Sarah was doing her best to mask it, but it was clear she was in agony.

  They crept to the other end of the hall. Eden took the lead, rounding the corner, then shrieked and leapt back.

  Nicole brandished a baseball bat, Paige cowering behind her.

  “Thank the gods you’re both all right.” Eden put a hand to her heart and tried to stop its racing.

  “Stay back.” Nicole raised the bat.

  “What are you doing?” Eden stepped away, and Sarah did the same, appearing equally bewildered.

  “I mean it, Eden. Get away from us.” Nicole’s eyes flashed with menace. “We saw you summon that thing.”

  “Summon him? What are you talking about?” Eden retreated farther as Nicole advanced.

  “I’m talking about you bringing another demon down on us. Or do you expect us to believe this
was a coincidence like the last one?” Nicole seethed.

  Sarah’s expression was apoplectic. “Are you out of your mind?”

  “Careful, or I’ll start to think you’re in on this too.” Nicole shot Sarah a warning look.

  “I would never do that.” Sarah’s eyes popped. “And neither would Eden.”

  “Paige, come on.” Eden was pleading, desperate to diffuse the situation. Bes’tal could be coming any second. “You, at least, have to believe us.”

  “I want to.” Paige looked down. “But—”

  “I don’t.” Nicole raised the bat higher. “Look at what she’s holding—Principles of the Dark Arts. You used that, didn’t you? You found some spell in that book and brought him here.”

  “I didn’t, I swear. This isn’t even mine.” Eden racked her brain for a way to explain, but they didn’t have time. “Listen to me. It’s not safe for us to be standing here like this. We have to—”

  Bes’tal rounded the corner.

  “There you are, pet.”

  Nicole swung at him, but the bat didn’t connect. He grabbed her by the throat, a look of disgust crossing his face when he glared into her terrified eyes.

  “You will not sate me.”

  He snapped Nicole’s neck and threw her body at Paige, sending them both crashing down the stairs.

  Eden’s heart leapt into her throat, blocking her scream.

  Bes’tal turned, and she and Sarah backed away.

  His movements were jerky—not graceful like they had been. If he’d become this weak, maybe Eden could kill him.

  “There is no reason to be afraid.” His convivial words were at odds with the dangerous expression in his eye.

  “Why, because you aren’t going to hurt us?” Eden’s rage made her bold.

  She was terrified, but she would make him pay for Carolyn and Nicole.

  “Oh, it will hurt.” He licked his bottom lip. “But fear is optional.”

  Eden’s breath caught when she and Sarah ran out of hallway—their backs now pressed against the wall.

  Sarah squeezed Eden’s pinky finger with her own. Eden felt a trickle of power pass from Sarah to her. It wasn’t much, but it was more than Eden had left.