The Traitor's Crux (The Dark Powers Book 1)

by Jessica Prather

  I pry deeper, keeping her attention on me. “Well, then, how did you escape the second time?” I kick the dirt with my heel, ignoring how dusty they’re getting as I try my best to shove my emotions out of the way.

  The new, more vulnerable Harlow answers quietly, surprisingly going along with all my questions. “It was a day that I knew they were having limited security. The president has temper tantrums and had just fired a bunch of guards. I, uh, killed the distracted guard and stole the keys. A few of us got out before Reed realized what was happening.”

  “God, I didn’t realize…” I shake my head, sickened by it all. She’s about to go back, and there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m the one handing her over to the devil himself.

  “Don’t feel sorry for me.” A spark of the original Harlow rises up from the sorrow of the moment, “It’s over and done. He pulled my head from the clouds and I thank him for that. Humanity doesn’t exist, and that’s why the war does. He made me see it.”

  There’s a movement in the corner of my eye.

  “Harlow,” I whisper, turning the girl towards me as, suddenly, a guard appears around a tree. “I’m so sorry!”

  A guard steps from the trees. Then another, and another.

  Harlow looks at me with raw terror in her eyes.

  The first one fires his magic at her, but it doesn’t take Harlow long to send him screaming, flying through the air. More and more soldiers appear, streaming out of the aspens. She’s surrounded, a bird in a cage. A spell flies toward her and with a swipe of her hand, she reflects it back on its owner. Another round of bright blue sparks emits from someone’s hands. She sees it, but she isn’t quick enough. A second person joins in, combining their powers. Then a third, and a fourth, and—

  Harlow doubles over, clutching her head and crying out in pain. Someone else adds to her pain, sending a flurry of red jolting into her stomach. She’s struggling, trying to climb back up, but I can see her shaking limbs from here.

  Hot tears burn my eyes as I force myself to watch Harlow’s undoing. I did this to her, I ruined her life.

  She makes one last feeble attempt to use her powers. I can see her hands raise, but the sparks only spiral to the ground, burning out with her strength. There’s nothing left for her to give.

  A slow clap comes from my right, making my spine crawl. The president appears beside me, his gait slow and leisurely, sunglasses sheltering his eyes, hiding them from both the sun and me. “Good work, Miss Coria, I must say that I’m impressed. You are a great actress!”

  I stand firmly and say nothing. All I can think is that this is it. There’s no turning back now. Out of my peripheral vision, the soldiers yank Harlow to her feet. There’s another flash of light, a buzz of electricity, and she screams in pain, crumpling to the ground.

  “Ah, Harlow Creston. I must say that I am happy to see you again,” the president taunts as the guard makes her sit up. She’s limp, propped up like a rag doll in the soldier’s arms. His hand cups her chin as she flinches, “Sorry it had to happen this way. Miss Coria fooled you though, didn’t she? You really thought she was on your side, even though you knew I was behind it all? I’d expect it from watching that dense young leader, Bryce, but not you. I’d hate to see you growing weak on me.”

  Even though her mouth is now covered, I can hear the obscenities crystal clear. The president laughs, turning back towards me, “Magic-proof binds. Invented by my very own magical soldiers. They’re a miracle. They mute the powers so they can’t fight back. This also helps.” He produces a shiny needle from his pocket, taking his time to fill it. Harlow screams, fighting and kicking as he stabs it into her neck, then collapses against the guard. They drag her towards the forest.

  “Don’t worry. Your friend, Harlow, is fine.” He looks to me, laughing at my expression, “It’s just a sedative. I find it particularly useful for dangerous criminals.”

  I don’t answer. Salty tears trickle from my cheeks and I stubbornly bat them away. I did what I had to do. “I did what you asked. Now are they safe?”

  “Well, that’s something I must discuss with you, Kenadee.” He fakes a grimace, though I can see how his eyes glisten, “I’m a little worried about where your loyalties lie, dear girl. You seem to struggle with this too.”

  “I did everything you asked!” I point towards the spot where Harlow had been. “I-I brought her to you!”

  “I’m no fool. You’ve been purposely leaving out information for a while now, trying to take their side and keep it hidden. I thought maybe you could use a little bit of… motivation to help you remember who you work for.”

  He nods at a guard, and the image appears. It looks as if I’m in the room—a dark, grey bunker with a buzzing fluorescent light and… blood. Blood splattered like ink all over the walls.

  Dread pools over me as I realize what’s happening. The door flings open, and my mother gets dragged into the room. She’s limp, and covered in blood. I clap a hand across my mouth in horror.

  “No! Please don’t!”

  Reed appears, a drink in hand as he walks slowly around her. He whispers something, low in her ear, then turns to the soldier closest to him. “Kill her.”

  I scream, unable to do anything. Tears stream down her face as I watch my mother squirm in their arms. She’s my size, barely above five feet tall. It takes one soldier to send her shrieking to the ground. Their voices chant in a low, melodious spell. I recognize from a grimoire instantly. It’s a spell for dark magic—for Reed’s army to pull off.

  My mother begins to thrash violently on the ground, screaming, crying for mercy, but they don’t stop. I feel a ragged howl escape my chest as I sink to my knees.

  I did this. I killed my mother. I—

  Her cries grow fainter, weaker, as her twitching limbs grow limp. Reed steps over her stilled form, nearly kicking her. All the air is gone from my chest. All I can do is stare at her lifeless body in shock.

  The room dissolves and the real Reed smirks beside me. His words barely register in my brain, like a distant, taunting echo. “Next time, you’ll remember whose side you’re on. Goodbye, Miss Coria.”

  The screen shuts off, and I continue to stare at the spot that my mother had been. I killed her. I killed her. I killed her.

  I tilt my head back, suddenly not caring who hears as I scream, a hollow, ragged, aching scream.

  25 I LIE UNDERNEATH MY COVERS, feeling angry at the sun for being too bright, and angry at the world for moving on. My clock shines back at me with a ripe green face, taunting me for lying in bed all day. It’s 3:54, and I’m here, unable to make myself move, unable to care about a single thing.

  My mother’s dead. Who knows where Eli is, or whether Reed kept his promise, and Harlow—I betrayed her. I gave her to a man that’s tortured her very existence. I’m a monster. How could I have been mad at Bryce when I was the one to betray the girl who offered me a second chance?

  Instead, I chose the man that murdered my mother. I hate him with every part of me.

  There’s a knock on the door, but I don’t move, hoping they’ll go away.

  No such luck, as it clicks open and Tess’ voice rings merrily from the hall. “Kenadee? Where are you?”

  “Go away!”

  The blankets are ripped from their position over my head and Delia appears, arms crossed neatly over her chest. She raises a quizzical brow. “Alright. Explain what you’re doing moping around in bed at four in the afternoon.”

  “Maybe she’s sick?” suggests Tess, popping up beside her best friend and watching me with a cocked head.

  “I can hear you.”

  Delia plops down on the bed, tucking a corkscrewed curl behind her ear. “Have you eaten today?” I shake my head no and she sighs. “I’m going to make you some food and you’re going to tell us what the hell is going with you. Come on, outta bed!”

  For a doctor, Delia is widely unaware that she’s about to pull my arm from my socket as she yanks me to my feet and pushes me into a chai
r in the kitchen. I run a hand over my eyes, exhausted.

  “So? What’s wrong?” Delia calls, padding over to the far cabinet and rummaging around through the food. “No offense, but you look like a wreck.”

  There’s another knock and Tess bolts towards the door, “Bryce is here!”

  He appears behind her before I can react, brows furrowed as he stares down at a map. “Have any of you seen Harlow? She never came in today, she wasn’t at home, and she’s not appearing on the map.” He stops, glancing up and seeing me. “Whoa—what happened? Are you okay?”

  All heads turn in my direction as I chew on the inside of my cheek. Reed murdered my mom. I was stupid to trust him, stupid to think he’d spare her. He jumped at the chance to declare his power over me, to make me watch as he had her slaughtered. I turned in Harlow to try and save them, and my mother died anyway.

  How could I have been so foolish?

  I sniff, balling my fists in the sleeves of my sweater as I shake my head at Bryce. “No… I’m not okay. Can I talk to you?”

  He nods, looking worried. “Yeah, yeah, of course. Is this about the attack, because—?”

  “No,” I say quickly, as Tess and Delia exchange curious glances. “It’s something else.”

  “Yeah, okay.” I can tell he’s confused, but I don’t give him anything else to go off right now. I have to tell him. I have to let it out.

  As we walk away, I can hear Delia loud and clear. “Well that was strange.”

  ***

  BRYCE TAKES THE WICKER CHAIR opposite me as we step out on the porch. The breeze picks up, blowing a stream of leaves across the ground as I shiver, tucking my legs onto the chair.

  “It’s my fault,” I say after a long moment, peeking at him to see if he catches on.

  “What do you mean?” He asks slowly, suspicion glimmering in his eyes. I love the warmth in them, the depth of his gaze. Bryce, always so sweet and kind, always trying to see the good in people. Well, probably until now.

  I sigh, trying to compose my quivering voice as I spill everything. I tell him about President Reed sending me here to spy and capturing my family. I tell him about the explosions and the phone calls and Alex. Finally, worst of all, I tell him about how I led Harlow over to Reed and his men, like sheep to the slaughter. He watches me incredulously, his lips parted slightly and his forehead wrinkled. His eyes search my face, desperate for an explanation. They’re disappointed, afraid. I did this. I’m the monster that destroyed camp. I’m the one that betrayed his trust.

  “So… it was all you?” he finally asks, his voice hoarse. He refuses to look at me as he comes to terms with it, searching everywhere but me.

  I blink to wash back the tears, “Not everything. Reed didn’t tell me about the explosion until later. I didn’t do it. I don’t know how he did… and Alex? I didn’t control her. I just—”

  I reach for him, trying to make him understand my side. He pulls away, “Don’t touch me! You know, we took you in. Harlow took you in and you just betrayed us all. Don’t you think that you could’ve told us? We can take him! Those people were put in harm’s way over nothing!”

  I can’t hold back the emotions any longer, “I’m so sorry, Bryce. I thought—”

  “Whatever, Kenadee.” His voice is cold and harsh, ripping into me with brutal force, “Just do me a favor and stay away from all of us. You’ve done enough damage.”

  “Bryce—” I cry, but he’s already gone, disappearing into the depths of the trees.

  ***

  I SIT THERE NUMBLY, UNSURE of where to go or how to feel. My eyes feel strangely dry, as if I have no more tears left to give. Tess and Delia creep through the door after he leaves, wondering about all the yelling.

  I run a hand through my hair, too drained to explain myself. “Bryce will tell you everything, I’m sure.”

  “Okay…” says Delia with a frown. “Well, he’s walking up the sidewalk now with Jay, so…”

  My head pops up and for a moment, hope wells through me. Maybe I’m forgiven. Maybe Bryce or Jay will help me.

  “What is this?” I whisper.

  His eyes are cold as he leans against the railing. Bryce is no longer the boy I fell for, but a stranger. “I considered it, Kenadee, and Harlow was right all along. I didn’t trust her… I should have. She knows Reed’s games more than anyone and-and I blew her off.” Jay avoids my gaze as he comes behind me. Metal cuffs snap firmly across my wrists as Bryce swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing, “So I’m doing what Harlow would do. I won’t hand you over to Reed, but I’ll be damned if you endanger this camp again.”

  “Whoa, what?” Tess looks back and forth, mouth open wide.

  “Bryce,” I struggle against Jay as he grips my arm. “Please, listen to me…”

  “No!” he snaps, eyes flashing. My heart races as he comes close to me. Instead, he only lowers his voice to a harsh whisper, emerald eyes like daggers, “You’re still better off than Harlow right now. Think of that as you rot in a cell.”

  26 JAY QUIETLY TAKES ME TO Bryce and Harlow’s office, leading me past Julie, and to a closet door at the end of the room. His fingers tap the vault door in a strange pattern, each movement making a clicking sound deep within.

  “Take a step back,” he warns in a gruff voice, grabbing me just in time as the door flings open, nearly taking me out with its force.

  I try to move forward to peek inside the room, but the man lunges for my arm. “Not yet—we have to wait for the stairs.”

  “Stairs?” I repeat hoarsely.

  A loud mechanical clicking drowns out his voice as I spin back around. Lights flicker on, one by one until the entire room is lit up. Sure enough, planks of wood fly all around below, carefully arranging themselves piece by piece into the shape of a grand staircase. Once they reach our feet, he nudges me forward.

  No one else is down here, despite the line of cells on each wall. We don’t stop until we reach the very last one, which is lit up with blinding fluorescent lights. There’s a single cot and a toilet behind what I’m guessing is a clear barrier.

  Jay pushes me against a wall once again, ignoring my protests as he sticks a needle into my arm. Once he’s done with the blue liquid, he unlocks my bonds and shoves me into the cell.

  “What was that?” My head feels groggy. I blink, leaning against the cot for support.

  He snaps his fingers as the lock of the black filing cabinet clicks and creaks open. He shuffles through a bunch of files, not looking at me. “A sedative for witches and wizards. Restrains the powers, weakens you so that you can’t perform your magic.”

  I stare at my quivering hands, now rendered useless under the drug’s spell. Jay scribbles his signature on a piece of paper and sticks it into what I’m assuming is my file, then snaps again, as the drawer shuts. He comes back towards my cell, watching me with dark brown eyes. “I don’t know how you pulled it off, Kenadee Coria, but I’m afraid you’re in some deep trouble.”

  I gulp, “I know.”

  He rubs a hand over his beard, grimacing. “Look, Bryce is mad now. Everyone is, and rightly so—”

  “I—”

  He holds up a hand to stop me, “But Bryce told me your story. He wasn’t sure what to do with the traitor that so desperately wanted to save her brother…” He takes a step closer, kindness in his eyes, “I don’t want you to give up yet. Fight with everything you got, kid, ‘cause I can take just one look at you and know that you aren’t happy with your decisions. You know why Bryce is so good at what he does?”

  I shake my head and he smiles, “Not because he has Harlow’s brains or fighting skills. No… what makes Bryce a great leader is his compassion. He has this rare, and sometimes naïve, tendency to see the best in people. If you’re smart, you’ll turn this around and start acting like the Kenadee Coria that he saw. Even an old bat like me could see how smitten he was with you.”

  And with that, he leaves me to dwell in my thoughts.

  ***

  I LOSE TRACK O
F THE days in confinement. A day turns into weeks as I’m left alone with nothing but the white walls staring back at me, mocking me with their solitude.

  Jay comes several times a day to bring meals and inject the sedative. As my only company, I’ve come to look forward to even those small interactions, moments that keep me grounded. He never has news of the raid, though I ask him repeatedly. He says he’s not allowed to share that information with me anymore.

  “So, tell me, what do I need to do to get a bath around here? I think my smell might be killing off these bugs,” I ask one day as the door bangs open. I nearly jump out of surprise when it’s not Jay, but Bryce who appears, frowning back at me. “Oh—”

  “I’ll send a female guard to come help you with that. Wouldn’t want to kill off the bugs, would we?”

  “I-I didn’t know that it was you,” I mutter, mortified.

  He doesn’t smile, but grabs Jay’s stool from the corner and props it in front of the cell.

  “Look, Bryce—”

  He shakes his head, running a frustrated hand through his chestnut hair. “I don’t know what to do, Ken, but Jay insisted I come talk to you. How do we make this right?”

  “I-I’m not sure,” I sigh, leaning against the wall.

  Emerald eyes flicker up, “I can’t just let you go. I know you were doing it for your family. I understand Reed’s been threatening you, but—”

  “But what, Bryce?” I throw my hands in the air helplessly, “Tell me, what would you do? Would you do everything you could to save your family, Bryce? Because that’s the kind of person I am! Maybe I am selfish, but don’t pretend for one moment that I don’t feel bad for every single thing I’ve done since I came here. I can’t sleep, I can barely eat. All I can picture is Harlow’s face when I turned her over. Look at me, Bryce! Don’t you turn away!” My voice cracks with the plea, but he obeys.

  There’s raw emotion swimming in those brilliant green eyes. I feel my heart break into several pieces as they burn into mine. For a still second, he’s mine again and this never happened. But as he breaks the moment, gaze turning downward, I know that things won’t ever be the same again.