“The Gates are at the edge of the field,” Lucas explained. “We’ll be hidden in the trees behind.”
“Where’s Henry?” Nicholas asked. We all scanned the trees and then there was a low whistle. My eyes focused on where it seemed like the sound had come from and Henry waved. He was about thirty feet away from us.
“I’m going to go make sure he’s okay,” I said, starting to walk in that direction.
“No, stay here,” Lucas instructed. “It’s almost time. We need to go hide.” Lucas squeezed my arm. “We’ll just be right over there,” he said, pointing.
I nodded, too scared to speak. Lucas and Nicholas turned and started walking. I watched their backs until they blended into the trees.
I scanned the field for signs of movement. Magnus should be getting here soon, but I wasn’t sure where he would be lurking. Probably near Lucas and Nicholas, at the outskirts of the forest.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d have the guts to show,” a voice cackled from behind. I spun around. There was Tobias, standing in front of me, licking his lips in anticipation.
“Tobias, I was just looking for you. I’m so glad you’re letting me show you I can kill demons,” I gushed.
“Yes, yes.” Tobias waved his hand as though he were shooing away a pesky fly. “Let’s get on with this. I haven’t got all day.”
“Yes, the Gates should be opening any second now,” I said in a loud voice. I shot a nervous glance towards where Henry was hiding, hoping he was starting the spell to open the Gates. “Leon told me he’d send the demons up at eight o’clock sharp.”
Tobias tapped his foot impatiently. I looked around again, scanning the trees, while we stood there for what felt like an eternity. What if the spell isn’t working? Surely the Gates should be opening any second. What if after all that planning, all the stress and worry, the first spell didn’t work?
Just when I had all but given up hope, there was a loud popping sound. I jumped and scooted backwards, watching in awe as a huge crack split open in the ground right in front of us.
“It’s happening!” Tobias exclaimed, rubbing his hands together gleefully.
Mesmerized, I couldn’t take my eyes off of the scene unfolding in front of us. As the crack became wider, a bright, blinding light shot out of the hole in the ground. The noise was deafening as the crack continued to spread. When it finally stopped, there was a huge, gaping hole in the ground. It must have been the length of five cars and at least twenty feet wide. Tentatively, I leaned forward and tried to peer into the abyss. Flames licked up out of the opening, and it was then that I realized the fire was the source of the blinding light shooting out.
“Where are these demons you promised to kill?” Tobias demanded.
“They’ll be here any second,” I fibbed.
Come on, Magnus, I screamed in my head. And then I saw him. He hadn’t been in the trees, like Lucas, Nicholas and Henry. No, he must have been hiding down by the road.
“Look, I think they’re coming out of the Gates!” I exclaimed, hoping Tobias would lean forward, making it all the more easier for Magnus to push him in. He did as I expected.
“Where? I don’t see anything! What is this? Some kind of joke?”
But I didn’t have to answer. Because Magnus had reached us now, was standing directly behind Tobias.
Magnus tackled Tobias to the ground, and they rolled towards the open Gates. The whole thing happened so quickly that I didn’t have time to react. I tried to position myself next to them. Maybe I can kick them both in.
But the opportunity was lost as Tobias and Magnus pummeled each other, screaming furiously. Tobias managed to get out of Magnus’ grasp and move away from the hole. Magnus, close on his heels, again pulled him to the ground.
Where are Lucas and Nicholas? They should be here by now, overtaking both of these cretins and sending them flying through the Gates. Something must have happened.
I was torn between running towards the woods or trying to interfere with the fight that was still going on right in front of the Gates. Lucas’ words rang in my ears. Do what’s best for the mission. Which meant it wasn’t a decision, really. I had to go after Magnus and Tobias and somehow send them both to Hell, all by myself.
But they were moving so quickly, I couldn’t even get near them. Magnus managed to gain the upper hand. He had Tobias pinned down and Tobias’ head was inches from the gap.
Making a split second decision, I charged forward, hoping to ram my entire body against Magnus’ back and send both of them through the Gates and into Hell.
And it worked – sort of. I caught Magnus by surprise. He tipped forward and rolled headfirst through the opening of the Gates. But my attack hadn’t budged Tobias. He was still lying where Magnus had him pinned down, and as soon as Magnus went through the Gates, Tobias was on his feet again.
“You betrayed me!” he seethed. “You led me here to let Magnus send me to Hell? I knew I should never have trusted you!”
Tobias dove at me, knocking me to the ground. I tried to scramble to my feet, but Tobias was a lot faster – and stronger – than he looked. He grabbed my hair and started dragging me along the ground, towards the Gates, towards Hell.
He’s going to throw me in. I tried to dig my hands into the ground, to kick my feet, but nothing was working.
“You couldn’t mind your own business,” Tobias screamed. “And now you’re going to pay. Have fun in Hell!”
We were at the opening now. Tobias let go of my hair and began kicking and pushing my torso. I flailed out wildly, punching the air, trying to connect with any part of Tobias that might slow him down. I could feel the heat, the overwhelming heat, as my head was pushed over the gaping hole. A few more pushes and I was going through it. To Hell.
I couldn’t see what was happening; I was completely disoriented by the blinding light, but Tobias had stopped pushing me towards the Gates. I rolled away from the opening, trying to get my bearings, and climbed to my feet. And then I saw it. Tobias was lying on the ground on his back, and standing over him with a huge mallet in his hand, was David Matthews.
Chapter 11
David and I locked eyes. Neither of us spoke. Why is he here? Can Henry see him from where he’s doing the spell?
“He’s just stunned,” Mr. Matthews finally said. “You need to leave before he wakes up.”
“I – I can’t,” I stuttered. Henry still had to shut the Gates, and I had to find out what had happened to Lucas and Nic!
“Help me!” I said. I rushed towards Tobias’ crumpled body. “Let’s send him to Hell,” I instructed, vaguely aware that I had no choice at the moment but to trust the enemy.
We each grabbed a foot and started dragging him. But the blow that Mr. Matthews inflicted didn’t keep Tobias knocked out for long. He twisted his feet out of our grasp and kicked at David’s ankles, making him lose his balance, sending him hurtling to the ground.
“You betrayed me!” Tobias screamed at David. “After everything I’ve done for you, this is how you repay me? Help the living dead bitch throw me into Hell?” He was hitting David over and over. At first, David tried to fight back, but now he was still, lifeless.
I sprung into action, diving towards Tobias and knocking him away from David.
“Oh, you want your turn?” he asked. “By all means.”
For some reason, my stupid superhuman strength was still not kicking in. Tobias easily gained the upper hand, and for such a small man, he was incredibly powerful.
“Remember how I told you I could kill you?” he asked, easily holding me against the ground. “Well, you’re about to find out how.”
Tobias took his fingers and pressed them, hard, into the side of my neck, where I used to be able to feel my pulse, when I was alive.
“I killed the last person who was brought back to life,” Tobias said, his slimy fingers digging deeper into my neck. “I never should have entertained working with you. I will be the only resurrected person – no, the only resu
rrected God – to walk the Earth.”
I’m really about to die. Everything has gone horribly wrong, and now I’m going to cease to exist.
I expected to feel like I was fading away as whatever life force had been keeping me alive finally left my body. The universe was against me. I couldn’t activate my power when I needed it, and now I was going to die.
But as Tobias kept pushing on my neck, cursing, looking more and more angry, it hit me: It’s not working. Whatever Tobias did to kill the last person brought back by the spell – well, it was having no effect on me.
The realization gave me renewed strength – and determination. Finally, the heat, the fire I needed to feel burning inside of me, starting to ignite. I slapped Tobias’ hands away from my neck and sprung up from the ground in one effortless movement.
“You can’t kill me,” I hissed, “but I can sure as hell kill you!” I had Tobias restrained now, easily holding him down with one hand. I took the other and placed it on his neck, in the same exact spot where he’d pressed on mine.
“Stop, stop.” Tobias’ bravado was gone; he was a weak, pitiful excuse of a creature. And he was going to die. I pressed harder, watching in fascination as Tobias’ face went completely white. His frenzied kicking and flailing slowly stopped as his body became eerily still. Next, his eyes glazed over. His mouth opened slightly, revealing a disgusting, bloated purple tongue. I kept pushing on his neck, just for good measure, even though I could tell it was over. That was it. Tobias was dead. I don’t know how I knew with such certainty, but I did. Deep down in my gut. I had just killed him.
I stood up and walked over to David Matthews. His breathing was shallow. His eyes were open, trying to focus on me, but just like Tobias’, they looked glassy and lifeless.
He’s dying.
I reached my hand out and placed it over David’s face, watching as the horrible gashes Tobias had inflicted healed before my very eyes. As the glassy eyeballs started to focus, as his pale face began to return to a normal color.
David gasped and sat up. “How?” he sputtered. “I – I was dying. I could see the light. I knew I was about to walk through it.”
“Because I can.” I stood up and David got to his feet as well.
I looked back towards Henry and our eyes locked. He had seen his father. All these months of hiding, and Henry now knew.
There was a rumble from the fiery pit and David and I both jumped. I returned my gaze to Henry. He was staring down now, focused on the spell. The crack in the ground spewed out flames as it started shrinking, closing in on itself.
He’s doing it! Henry’s closing the Gates! I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Henry, paralyzed, watching him add item after item to a bubbling pot. And then he took a knife and ran the sharp blade down his arm. Blood flowed out as I watched in horror, unable to stop myself from screaming out. The Gates were closing, the Earth sealing back up, but at what cost? Why had Henry hurt himself for the spell? After cutting his own arm, he was now slouched over, passed out, his head resting on his knees.
David and I ran towards him. “What’s going on?” I screamed over the roar of the Gates closing.
“I don’t know!” David said frantically. He crouched down next to Henry and lifted his head up. I gasped. Blood was pouring out of Henry’s nose.
“The spell! The spell!” I yelled frantically. “What if it’s killed him?”
“Aurora!” It took me a minute to realize someone was saying my name. Lucas! He was okay!
“Your friends are fine,” David said, still cradling Henry. “When Tobias told me about tonight, I thought it might be a trap. So I got here early and drew circles and markings all along the edge of the woods. I covered them with leaves so no one could see. No supernatural creature can cross the line if they’ve been trapped inside one.”
“Then I can’t either!” I said frantically. “Please, help!”
Looking torn, David stood up and gently let Henry’s head drop back down on his chest. We rushed over to where Lucas and Nicholas were trapped by the drawings David had made. He kicked up the leaves and scooted his foot over the chalk, smudging the line. Nicholas and Lucas were free.
We all hurried back to Henry’s side. “Is he going to be okay?” I asked frantically. “The spells – they’re killing him!”
“He’s going to be fine,” Nicholas assured me.
“How do you know?” I sounded hysterical, but I couldn’t control it.
“We need to get the fuck out of here,” Lucas swore. “But Nic is right, Henry will be fine. Let’s get to my apartment, now!”
“I’m coming with you,” David said.
“Haven’t you done enough already?” I asked angrily as Nicholas and Lucas each grabbed one of Henry’s arms and lifted him up.
“I’m not leaving my son!” David replied.
“Well, come on, then,” Lucas growled. We headed back to where Lucas had parked his car, away from the Gates.
“I’ll take Henry’s car to your apartment,” Nicholas said. They put Henry in the backseat and David got in next to him.
“Here are his keys.” David fished them out of Henry’s jeans pocket and handed them to Nicholas.
I climbed in the front seat and pulled the door closed as hard as possible, wanting to punch something, wanting to scream, but not knowing who or what to take my frustration out on.
“Start talking,” Lucas said to Mr. Matthews, cranking the car and peeling away.
“I guess you know I’ve been working with Tobias,” David said. “I realized he was crazy right away, but I had to stay on his good side; I was too terrified of what he’d do to me – and my family – if he thought I would ever cross him.”
“Don’t paint yourself out to be the victim here,” Lucas said harshly. “We know you were supporting Leon, trying to send Aurora back to the grave.”
“Yes,” David said. “I won’t deny it. But I swear I had nothing to do with Aurora’s murder – the first time, at least. I’d never heard of Leon; sure, I had been practicing magic for a long time, but I stayed away from demons, mostly took on small jobs where I could lay low.”
“But Henry said you wouldn’t help look for me,” I said suspiciously. “The night I was murdered, when I disappeared from that party.”
“It’s true,” Mr. Matthews confirmed. “There was talk that something big was coming; I had been hired – by whom, I didn’t know – to sit at home and wait for instructions. No one called, though. I didn’t find out until later on that Leon was the one behind it. He was scared, after what the prophet said, that his plan to kill you might not work without, um, magical intervention.”
David paused. “Henry’s mother was originally supposed to pick him up, but she was ill and went to bed early, so I was trying to get Henry home as quickly as possible in case I needed to do a spell. That’s why I brushed him off when he insisted that we go look for Aurora.”
“That’s all fine and good,” I said angrily, “but what’s your excuse for working with Leon after you figured out I was the one in the prophecy?”
David sighed. “When Leon approached me about ways to send you back to the grave, I admit I did agree to it. He was offering a lot of money for my services, and I had a family to support. Henry’s Ivy League bound, and that doesn’t come cheap.”
“But you’ve known me since I was a little kid,” I sputtered. “How could you do that to me? To Henry?”
“Henry had already dealt with your death,” David argued. “He’d been through the long, painful grieving process. And frankly, I didn’t want him to know that you were back. He was just moving on, starting to do normal things again. I thought if Leon and I could quietly, discreetly reverse the spell that brought you back in the first place that I would be helping Henry in the long run. I’m not saying what I did was right; I’m just telling you my reasoning.”
Henry moaned in the seat next to his father. “I had no idea he was going to be here tonight,” David continued. “Tobias told me you ha
d promised to show him your demon killing ability, Aurora. I immediately suspected something was fishy; no one in their right mind would help Tobias. But I didn’t have a clue that my son was involved,” David said in a strained voice. “In retrospect, I should have suspected something. I was a fool to think if I hid my true identity that Henry would never figure out that he was a warlock, too. I didn’t want this life for him, not now, not ever.”
“Being a warlock doesn’t automatically mean you have to use your ability for evil, to support the bad guys,” Lucas said angrily from the driver’s seat. David didn’t answer and we all fell silent.
“How do you know he’s going to be okay?” I asked finally. “I feel like I keep asking that question, and no one is giving me any real answers.” We were almost at Lucas’ apartment now.
“Let’s go inside and talk,” Lucas said, once again dodging my question.
When he pulled Henry from the backseat, Henry’s eyes flickered open briefly. He was starting to wake up! Henry half-walked, half let Lucas carry him into the apartment. Nicholas was right behind us.
Lucas placed Henry on the couch, and I was reminded of the last time Henry was passed out at Lucas’ place, poisoned from the vampire bite Bartholomew had inflicted. But this time, Henry didn’t look close to death. He didn’t even look sick. No, he looked as alive as I’d ever seen him. His breathing was regular, strong. And his coloring was normal.
“I guess he’s really going to be fine,” I said in relief. “But – ” I turned to look at Lucas and Nicholas, who were both hovering by the door. “It doesn’t make sense. Why were you so sure?”
They exchanged glances. “Why?” I asked again; my voice sounded shrill, even to my own ears.
Lucas’ face was hard and he was methodically clenching and unclenching his fists. Nicholas looked nervous. This can’t be good.
“Because,” Lucas finally said, “Henry isn’t human anymore. There’s no good way to break it to you, so I’ll just say it. He’s a vampire.”
Chapter 12
End Game (Vampire Hunter Book 6) Page 7
