Now that the time had come, Persephone didn’t want to leave. In the short time they had been here, she had found a home and now they were leaving. While Daniel said his farewells to William and Daphne, Persephone stood to the side, nervously twisting her fingers around each other and looking out for George. He had to make it before they left, he just had to.
Rosetta put her arm around Persephone’s shoulders. “He’ll be here, honey. George is reliable.” As Daniel walked over to say farewell to the inn owner, Persephone’s cousins waved her over, Daphne standing on her own feet. When she reached them, they both pulled her into an embrace.
“It’s so wonderful to have met you,” Daphne said. “Promise me that you will come back and visit if you find what you are looking for.”
“I promise,” Persephone smiled, tears in her eyes and a lump forming in her throat. As the cousins broke their embrace, William reached into his pocket and pulled out a round locket with delicate metal flowers on the front.
“Family heirloom,” he stated as he held out Persephone’s hand and placed the jewelry on to her palm. “It belonged to our birth mother, and her mother before her.”
“But Daphne,” Persephone protested.
“Would rather see it go to you. It means more to you to be accepted by family. Besides, I have this lump,” Daphne replied, gesturing to William beside her.
Persephone grinned, fighting back tears. “I love you guys,” she cried, hugging them once more.
“Persephone,” Daniel called. “Time to go.” He had swung on to Chiron, and now held Gypsy’s reins out to her.
“Not yet,” she called. “George—”
“Is right here,” finished a voice that set her heart pounding. She spun around and threw her arms around his neck.
“Thank you,” she whispered, “for everything.” He wrapped one arm around her waist and rested his other hand on the back of his head.
“You’re welcome,” he softly replied. “Anytime you need to relax, you know where I am.”
Persephone giggled and pulled back to look at his face. She studied every inch of it, imprinting it into her memory, and then cupped his jaw, pulling him in for a tender kiss. Arousal flared within her once more, so she broke the kiss before she started something she would want to finish.
“Remember me,” he murmured.
“Always.”
Turning away from him, she strode over to Gypsy and swung into the saddle, grateful for the riding suits Rosetta had purchased yesterday on her behalf.
Once in the saddle, Persephone looked around the four people who had come to mean so much to her in only a few days. Blowing a kiss, she nudged Gypsy into a canter and all too quickly the town passed by on either side and they were in the woods.
***
A few silent hours later, Persephone and Daniel reined their horses to a halt beside a stream. Dismounting, they allowed their mounts to take a drink while they stretched their legs.
“Beautiful little town,” Daniel stated wistfully, looking back the way they had ridden.
“Wonderful people, too,” Persephone replied.
Daniel turned to look at her. “You were growing to love George, weren’t you?”
She nodded. “As much as I could have in such a short time frame, with the memory of Adrian and my promise to him still lingering. George is a great guy though, and deserves someone who can give all of their love. He never would have had that from me.” Persephone hung her head. “To be honest, I still feel like I betrayed Adrian by…you know, being with George last night.”
Daniel smiled. “You’re too soft.” He placed his arms around her, and she settled into his hug.
A shout from the north broke the moment, and they tried to see through the woods. More shouting drifted closer, and they began to make out some words. ”Witch, evil, capture,” all reached their ears, but one word stopped them still. “Persephone.” The villagers had traveled around the town and were about to catch up to them.
“Quick, lass,” Daniel whispered. “Get on Gypsy, we need to go.”
Just as they were about to ride out of the clearing, some men burst out in front of them, blocking their path. Persephone gasped. They were trapped, unless the path back to the town was open. Pulling on the reins, they turned the horses around in the hopes they could make it back to town, only to see that direction was also cut off. They had been surrounded without even realizing they were in trouble.
“What do we do?” Persephone pleaded.
“I don’t know, lass,” Daniel replied morosely.
Malachi walked out of the woods in front of them, swaggering as he approached. Chiron and Gypsy snorted, backing away from the evil man.
“Well what do we have here? Two evil beings of magick.”
“The only one around here who is evil is you, Malachi,” Persephone spat.
“You’re terribly deluded, I’m afraid,” he responded. “You were under this man’s spell since you were little, for so long that you now also possess his dark powers.” He turned to call to the villagers. “We all saw what she did when men of justice tried to arrest the ones who had harbored their evil.”
Persephone looked around in dismay as all the people around them nodded and murmured among themselves. “We’re doomed,” she panicked.
“Not yet,” Daniel mumbled. He patted Chiron’s neck in some form of pattern Persephone couldn’t decipher. The stallion stomped his rear foot, kicking up dust and Persephone soon realized what Daniel was trying to do. Persephone took a deep breath and concentrated, trying to call up a small wind. Soon, a fine cloud of dust floated in the air. Before Daniel could cast any Earth Magick, however, there was a burst of light in the woods behind Malachi, causing some of the men to scream in pain. Malachi spun around and Persephone squinted, trying to find the source of the magick.
“Stand down, you cur,” boomed a terrifying voice. “You have caused enough trouble, snake-tongued demon.” Persephone watched Malachi back away from the forest as vines began to come alive and reach for him.
Finally, figures appeared from between the trees. Persephone recognized the towering figure of William, with Rosetta standing in front of him. Her heart leapt when she saw George, but she couldn’t make out the faces of the people behind them. Rosetta lifted a hand and a ball of light formed, the crackling power making Persephone’s hair stood on end. She heard a whimper from Malachi. Gazing around, she saw most of the other villagers were quivering.
“Not so tough without your pet, are you, coward?” Persephone called out to Malachi. “What happened to him anyway, did he run away?”
Malachi turned to her, and something about him looked different. “On the contrary, bitch. He’s with me at all times, now.” He tipped his head back and began to laugh maniacally. Chills began to race down Persephone’s spine.
“This can’t be good.”
Everyone’s eyes were on this man, who cackled like an insane person. The clearing began to flicker and Persephone could smell lightening. When Malachi looked at her again, his eyes were white like a blind man. He raised his hand, pointing at her. “You should have just given in,” he called out, his voice echoing through the clearing. “Now you get to watch your little friends die painfully. Just like your winged companion.”
“Adrian,” she whispered as cold rage consumed her.
“Adrian,” Malachi mocked. “You were a fool for thinking your life belonged to you. You belong to me.” Movement from the edge of the woods caught her eye, and Persephone noticed that all the villagers that had accompanied Malachi all had white eyes, just like him. They began to run towards her and Daniel. A fire bolt took out three of them, and when Persephone followed the direction from which it came, she saw that Rosetta had stepped forward, raised hands holding more fire balls. When William charged a few of the villagers, George and the rest of the townsfolk followed suit.
“I guess we should join the fight, lass,” Daniel called out as bodies collided. He swung down from Chiron, holding
out his hand for her. As she jumped down to join him, he whacked the horses’ rumps, sending them racing away. “Better they don’t get caught up and injured.” Persephone nodded.
A shout nearby drew her attention and she saw the baker from Mythosandria, sword raised over his head aiming for Daniel’s chest. “No!” Persephone shouted, throwing her hand out and shooting a blast of electricity at the villager. He fell to the ground limp, smoke rising from his body.
“Thanks,” Daniel acknowledged. Persephone threw her arms around him.
“I love you, Father,” she whispered as he patted her back.
“I love you too, lass,” he replied. They broke the embrace and looked at each other.
“Just in case,” Persephone smiled.
Daniel nodded. “Just in case.”
They raced off in different directions to fight Malachi’s possessed minions. Bodies fell around them and the smell of blood filled the air. Shouts sounded in the clearing amongst the clashing of swords and the crazed laughter of Malachi, who now stood in the center of a group of Mythosandrians. Persephone knew that he was the key to ending the battle, but no matter how many people she cut down with her powers, more took their place. A few of those she fought landed blows on her, but nothing serious. After a hard few minutes, she backed off to try and figure out a new plan of attack. A scream of pained rage sounded to her left and she looked around to find the source. William towered over four villagers, his right arm raised with a large axe while his left arm hung limp at his side. She watched him swing the axe, taking all four villagers down. Racing to his side, she gasped as she saw blood pouring from where his hand used to be. Her large cousin stumbled, loosing color as his blood poured on to the ground.
“Sit,” she instructed.
“I can keep fighting,” he panted.
“Not until I stop the bleeding, you can’t.”
“But we’re vulnerable here.”
Persephone waved an arm over them in a sweeping motion, an action that felt right even though she wasn’t sure it would work. A Mythosandrian slammed against the new force field and mindlessly slammed his fists against the invisible shield. “There, we’re safe. I can’t hold it for long, so you damn well sit down and let me stop that bleeding.”
William sat down, hard, which worried her. Taking a look at the wound, she was pleased to see that it was clean. She had only attended small scrapes and cuts on her younger siblings, but she knew what she was doing. Somehow she just knew. Taking off her riding jacket, she tore a strip of material from the lighter materiel of her shirt and wiped away some of the excess blood. Holding the stump in the palm of her left hand, Persephone closed her eyes and concentrated, using the same principles Daniel had taught her for the magickal cupboard. She visualized open veins closing, healing, flesh knitting itself shut and muscles rebuilding around the wrist. Daring to open her eyes, she heaved a sigh of relief to see the healing process taking place and the skin now a raw pink.
Looking up at William’s pale face, she smiled encouragingly at her cousin who looked at his wrist in awe. “You’re truly a gift, Persephone,” he gushed. He gingerly touched the skin where his hand used to be, hissing in pain as the tender skin flamed red.
“Don’t touch it,” she chided. “I’ll walk you to the edge of the forest and try to call Gypsy. She’ll take you back to the village and I want you to stay there.”
William nodded, agreeing too quickly. Persephone frowned, concerned. She helped him stand and put her arm around his waist, walking with him and making the shield travel as they moved. Once they reached the shelter of the trees, Persephone put her fingers to her lips and whistled, hoping Gypsy would hear it.
“How did you all know we were in trouble?” she asked.
“Rosetta,” William panted. “She said something about sensing terrible danger about to strike, so she rounded up the villagers, and sure enough, we came across the clearing as these men were surrounding you both.” The large man was breathing heavily and Persephone knew he wouldn’t last much longer before passing out. He’d lost too much blood. Reaching her hand to his chest, she sent a small shot of energy into his body, hoping that it would give him enough of a boost to get back to the inn where he could be taken care of. Moments later Gypsy appeared on the path, and Persephone helped William put an arm around the mares’ flanks, knowing he’d be too large for the horse.
“Thank you,” he groaned.
“You’re family; it’s what I’m supposed to do. Now be quiet and let Gypsy lead you back to town. I trust some people stayed behind?”
William managed a nod and grunt of affirmation.
“Good.” Walking around to stand in front of the mare, Persephone stroked the horse’s head. “Hey, girl, I want you to take good care of my cousin, can you do that for me?” The mare tossed her head. “Good girl. Get him back to town so someone can take care of him.” Gypsy snorted. Persephone kissed the horse’s nose the returned to gently embrace William, who kissed her on the forehead. “Take care now, okay?”
William nodded and smiled, so Persephone nudged Gypsy forward at a gentle pace. When they turned around a corner and passed out of view, Persephone turned back to the battle raging in the clearing behind her.
Bodies littered the ground while others fought around them, most with injuries to some degree. She saw Daniel using his Earth Magick to fend off a small group of possessed villagers; Rosetta had been fighting off attackers with fire, but Persephone was grateful to glimpse her figure rushing to help William get back to the inn. George was on his knees under the sword of another villager, so she raced to help him, firing off a shot of power that took off the other man’s head. Reaching her new companion, who was struggling to stand, she knelt beside him. A small wound on his temple bled slowly, but was nothing to worry about. The slice in his leg, however, was more serious. She could see bone, and knew he wouldn’t be able to stand on that leg. Putting his arm around her shoulders, she helped him to his feet just as another villager from Mythosandria charged at them, short sword raised for a killing blow. Persephone froze as memories of another fight in another clearing just days ago rushed back to her. George pushed her out of the way, breaking her thoughts. She looked up from the ground and cried out as she saw the sword protruding from George’s chest. Blood gurgled from him mouth as his blue eyes began to dim.
The sword was pulled from his chest, allowing him to fall to the ground. Persephone blasted the villager with a black bolt of energy as she began to shake with fury. Bending over George, she threw a shield around them and lifted his torso on to her lap. She gently brushed his cheek as tears fell from her eyes. Only days ago, she had sat in this exact position with Adrian dying in her arms.
“Please, not again,” she sobbed. “You can’t die, you just can’t.”
He looked back at her and tried to smile. Blood trickled from his lips. “I’m sorry,” he coughed.
“Hush,” she murmured. “Save your strength, you’ll need it because I won’t let you die on me. I won’t.”
“I love you, Persephone.” His breath rattled in his chest.
Laying a final kiss on his mouth, she closed his eyes, which were now staring blankly at the sky. She wept over his body as it grew cold.
Persephone began to shake harder as she gently laid George’s body on the ground. She stood up slowly, rage filling her until she grew colder than her lover’s dead body. Leaving a shield around his body, she stepped away from him and slowly advanced on the crowd that surrounded Malachi. Villagers she had grown up with charged at her but she blew them away with a single shot of power. Soon, very few people were still fighting, all the attention focused on Persephone as she stalked towards the man responsible for the death of two men who had once been important to her.
As she watched him continue to hide from the carnage, Malachi’s cowardice only fueled her flames of rage, and Persephone could feel heat building in her hands. She didn’t have to look down to know that she held a ball of fire in each palm; the
magic flowing in her veins whispered to her, directing her thoughts and actions.
It was time to end this.
***
Daniel watched Persephone as she stalked towards Malachi, and his heart ached. The Darkness had claimed her again. Blood soaked her shirt and hands, and her eyes were solid black like obsidian orbs. Dancing colors caught his eye, and as he peered at the colorful dome, Daniel saw the source of her rage. George lay still on the ground in a large pool of blood. His chest had a gaping wound that would have been the fatal blow. Sadness for his daughter filled him. It was the second time in less than a week that she had held a close friend, a lover, as he died. Her heart must have been breaking.
She strode towards the man behind so much pain and death. Malachi hid in a crowd of bewitched villagers, using them as helpless, living shields. Daniel knew that all hell was about to break loose, but he was too far away to get to her in time. He dreaded what her magic might drive her to do, and he knew he had to try to get to her before she caused too much damage. Swinging his sword in front of him, Daniel charged towards Persephone, cutting down attackers in his path.
“Persephone!” His voice cut across the clearing, and he thought he saw Persephone pause. Her hesitation gave him hope, and Daniel lengthened his stride, his legs aching from battle as he fought to reach her. She glanced over to him, and although they were still a few feet apart, when she whispered, he heard every word as though she were right next to him.
“I have to do this.” Her sepulchral tones sent chills down his spine. “His poison on this world has caused enough damage. I need to end him.”
“It will destroy you, my daughter. Using that magick to kill him will crush your spirit. You can’t let the power control you. We’ll find another way.”
“Don’t you see? This was why I was born. I am the only one who can stop him now. The only one."
Beyond The Veil: A Paranormal & Magical Romance Boxed Set Page 285
