“Anything you want to say to the old man?” Finch asked, his voice deeper and smoother, further tearing me apart on the inside. It was Hiram Merlin’s voice. It was Hiram Merlin’s body he was wearing. But he wasn’t Hiram Merlin. He didn’t need to obtain my father’s DNA to copy him. It was already present in the blood running through his veins. That and a picture seemed to have been enough. He was trying to rile me up, and I found it extremely difficult to keep it together.
“Yeah, actually,” I replied, keeping my cool. “I know about Sál Vinna, the Icelandic love curse. Someone close to my father actually told me about it, so we did some research. Turns out it’s a powerful spell. Are you familiar with it, Finch? Do you know what it does?”
Hiram-Finch narrowed his eyes at me. “What’s your point?”
“I’m positive that it was used on my father, just like it was used on Oberon Marx, and who knows how many other people. It’s extremely perverted mind control, the kind you don’t even realize you’re under until it’s too late. Until you do something terrible, like killing your wife, the love of your life, the mother of your child. All because Katherine Shipton didn’t like your rejection,” I replied, suddenly addressing him as Hiram. It felt therapeutic somehow, as if I was, in fact, talking to my father. “You see, I know the truth, Dad. I know it wasn’t really you who did those terrible things, and I will prove it. I will clear your name and let everyone know that you were never a killer. That you were just another victim of Katherine Shipton. I promise you.”
A minute passed in heavy silence, until Hiram-Finch finally burst into a mocking cackle.
“You think you’re clever, but you’re actually delusional,” he said. “You really think our dad was that kind of a saint? Hah!”
“Have you ever met him?” I asked.
He shook his head. “He didn’t even know I was alive.”
“So then why the hate toward him?” I replied, smiling. “Every memory I have of him shows me a man with a good heart and a soft smile, who loved his child more than anything in the world. Had he known about you, Finch, he would’ve taken you into his home. He would’ve been your father. He would’ve loved you like he loved me. You never gave him a chance because it was easier to believe Katherine’s lies. I get that. But don’t expect me to be as gullible and as easy to manipulate as you.”
That was the boiling point for Finch. He shifted back to his original form and lunged at the door, roaring and cursing and punching and kicking as hard as he could. Mallenberg sighed, then closed and locked the latch on his door. Finch’s rage echoed through Purgatory. On one hand, I felt sad for him. However, I also knew full well that his circumstances were simply the result of his poor choices.
But I believed every word I’d just said. I was positive that, had my father known about Finch, he wouldn’t have stood by. He would never have allowed Katherine to poison his mind like that.
“It’s been a while since he’s had a fit of rage,” Mallenberg said, while Finch continued to snarl and bang his fists against the door. “The prison physician gives him some powerful antipsychotics. You managed to get the beast out again, it seems.”
“He deserved some hard, cold truths. Medication can’t protect him from that,” I answered, then raised my voice for Finch to hear me. “I’ll see you again, soon, Big Brother! Like it or not, I’m the only family you’ve got left.”
“Go to hell, Merlin!” Finch punched the door again.
“It will be a while until you figure this part out, Finch,” I replied. “But Katherine won’t give a crap about you unless you’re useful. Right now, you’re anything but. Your best chance at any kind of redemption and recovery is if you help me take her and her associates down, before she destroys any more lives.”
“You’re going to die, Harley! You’re going to suffer and die!” Finch barked.
“Keep telling yourself that.”
I rolled my eyes and gave Mallenberg a polite nod. He escorted us back toward the reception hall. Wade walked by my side, still silent and curious, while Finch’s bellows rippled behind us, fading as we drew farther away from him.
“Do you think you’ll make him talk?” Wade finally asked once we were back in front of the reception hall’s mirror.
“Eventually,” I said. “He didn’t know about the Icelandic curse; I could tell from his reaction. He didn’t think Katherine would use such magic on her lover, his father… my father. Soon enough, he’ll start wondering what else she hasn’t told him. Who else she’s used the curse on. It’s only a matter of time. I’ll keep working on him until it happens.”
Wade nodded slowly, hands behind his back. I stepped toward the rippling mirror, then glanced over my shoulder to find him watching me.
“By the way, I’m in,” I said.
He blinked a couple times. “You’re in… what?”
“Is your brain glitching? I’m joining the San Diego Coven,” I replied, but didn’t wait to see his reaction.
As I strode through the mirror and left him behind, I found myself smiling, filled with sheer excitement and relief—all Wade’s. Actually, most of it. Well, more like half. I, too, was glad to have made the decision.
He joined me back in the Assembly Hall and let out an audible sigh.
That was his response. To some, it would’ve been insufficient. To me, it was more than enough. He wanted me here, and he didn’t have to say it out loud. I could feel it in the very center of my soul.
I wanted to be in the San Diego Coven. I really did. It had become my home, the center of my universe.
And it needed me, now more than ever.
Ready for the next part of Harley’s story?
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Book 2 of Harley’s journey. I hope you enjoyed it!
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As for Book 3: Harley Merlin and the Stolen Magicals, it releases October 31st, 2018. Not long to wait!
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I can’t wait to continue Harley’s journey with you!
See you on the other side…
Love,
Bella x
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Read more by Bella Forrest
HARLEY MERLIN
Harley Merlin and the Secret Coven (Book 1)
Harley Merlin and the Mystery Twins (Book 2)
Harley Merlin and the Stolen Magicals (Book 3)
THE GENDER GAME
(Action-adventure/romance. Completed series.)
The Gender Game (Book 1)
The Gender Secret (Book 2)
The Gender Lie (Book 3)
The Gender War (Book 4)
The Gender Fall (Book 5)
The Gender Plan (Book 6)
The Gender End (Book 7)
THE GIRL WHO DARED TO THINK
(Action-adventure/romance. Completed series.)
The Girl Who Dared to Think (Book 1)
The Girl Who Dared to Stand (Book 2)
The Girl Who Dared to Descend (Book 3)
The Girl Who Dared to Rise (Book 4)
The Girl Who Dared to Lead (Book 5)
The Girl Who Dared to Endure (Book 6)
The Girl Who Dared to Fight (Book 7)
THE CHILD THIEF
(Action-adventure/romance.)
The Child Thief (Book 1)
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Deep Shadows (Book 2)
Thin Lines (Book 3)
Little Lies (Book 4)
HOTBLOODS
(Supernatural romance. Completed series.)
Hotbloods (Book 1)
Coldbloods (Book 2)
Renegades (Book 3)
Venturers (Book 4)
Traitors (Book 5)
Allies (Book 6)
Invaders (Book 7)
Stargazers (Book 8)
A SHADE OF VAMPIRE SERIES
(Supernatural romance)
Series 1: Derek & Sofia’s story
A Shade of Vampire (Book 1)
A Shade of Blood (Book 2)
A Castle of Sand (Book 3)
A Shadow of Light (Book 4)
A Blaze of Sun (Book 5)
A Gate of Night (Book 6)
A Break of Day (Book 7)
Series 2: Rose & Caleb’s story
A Shade of Novak (Book 8)
A Bond of Blood (Book 9)
A Spell of Time (Book 10)
A Chase of Prey (Book 11)
A Shade of Doubt (Book 12)
A Turn of Tides (Book 13)
A Dawn of Strength (Book 14)
A Fall of Secrets (Book 15)
An End of Night (Book 16)
Series 3: The Shade continues with a new hero…
A Wind of Change (Book 17)
A Trail of Echoes (Book 18)
A Soldier of Shadows (Book 19)
A Hero of Realms (Book 20)
A Vial of Life (Book 21)
A Fork of Paths (Book 22)
A Flight of Souls (Book 23)
A Bridge of Stars (Book 24)
Series 4: A Clan of Novaks
A Clan of Novaks (Book 25)
A World of New (Book 26)
A Web of Lies (Book 27)
A Touch of Truth (Book 28)
An Hour of Need (Book 29)
A Game of Risk (Book 30)
A Twist of Fates (Book 31)
A Day of Glory (Book 32)
Series 5: A Dawn of Guardians
A Dawn of Guardians (Book 33)
A Sword of Chance (Book 34)
A Race of Trials (Book 35)
A King of Shadow (Book 36)
An Empire of Stones (Book 37)
A Power of Old (Book 38)
A Rip of Realms (Book 39)
A Throne of Fire (Book 40)
A Tide of War (Book 41)
Series 6: A Gift of Three
A Gift of Three (Book 42)
A House of Mysteries (Book 43)
A Tangle of Hearts (Book 44)
A Meet of Tribes (Book 45)
A Ride of Peril (Book 46)
A Passage of Threats (Book 47)
A Tip of Balance (Book 48)
A Shield of Glass (Book 49)
A Clash of Storms (Book 50)
Series 7: A Call of Vampires
A Call of Vampires (Book 51)
A Valley of Darkness (Book 52)
A Hunt of Fiends (Book 53)
A Den of Tricks (Book 54)
A City of Lies (Book 55)
A League of Exiles (Book 56)
A Charge of Allies (Book 57)
A Snare of Vengeance (Book 58)
A Battle of Souls (Book 59)
Series 8: A Voyage of Founders
A Voyage of Founders (Book 60)
A Land of Perfects (Book 61)
A Citadel of Captives (Book 62)
A Jungle of Rogues (Book 63)
A Camp of Savages (Book 64)
A Plague of Deceit (Book 65)
A SHADE OF DRAGON TRILOGY
A Shade of Dragon 1
A Shade of Dragon 2
A Shade of Dragon 3
A SHADE OF KIEV TRILOGY
A Shade of Kiev 1
A Shade of Kiev 2
A Shade of Kiev 3
THE SECRET OF SPELLSHADOW MANOR
(Supernatural/Magic YA. Completed series)
The Secret of Spellshadow Manor (Book 1)
The Breaker (Book 2)
The Chain (Book 3)
The Keep (Book 4)
The Test (Book 5)
The Spell (Book 6)
BEAUTIFUL MONSTER DUOLOGY
(Supernatural romance)
Beautiful Monster 1
Beautiful Monster 2
DETECTIVE ERIN BOND
(Adult thriller/mystery)
Lights, Camera, GONE
Write, Edit, KILL
For an updated list of Bella’s books, please visit her website: www.bellaforrest.net
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Harley Merlin 2: Harley Merlin and the Mystery Twins Page 36
