Altered Souls (Witch Avenue Series #2)

by Bolton, Karice

  “He told me to tell you that he would have chosen daisies, whatever that means.” The sorrow in his voice bounced off the lake waters right into my heart. Every word he said killed him.

  I rowed quickly to the lake’s edge. I didn’t understand what was going on, but I didn’t have any more time to waste.

  Trevor smiled as I neared and bent over to reach for the boat. It wasn’t a sneer or a smirk that was plastered on his face. No show of victory. I made the right decision.

  “I’ll row,” he whispered, climbing into the boat. “We don’t have much time.”

  “Why did Logan change the plan?” I asked, shivering as the speed of his rowing swept us through the lake.

  “He was worried you’d become an Altered Soul. He didn’t want to give you all the details in case your father was able to—”

  “How long have you been involved with his plan?” I interrupted, as we glided into the last stretch of water.

  “Only since you arrived,” he began. “Something clicked when we were discussing the dark arts and Logan’s reason for leaving your father’s teachings. The last several days, before you arrived, I saw your father use his powers of manipulation to distort people’s realities…witches and otherwise. I watched him deplete others of their history and in turn he altered their futures. As you and I were talking, I realized he had been doing the same thing to me, and I hadn’t even realized it. And I was attempting to do it to you.”

  I remembered that both Trevor and my mother planted that same idea about Logan. That’s how my father does it. He starts planting small seeds of doubt, twisting memories of past occurrence until the actual events can’t be identified any longer, and then he creates new ones.

  “I knew the truth. I knew why Logan left and no one could have told me otherwise.” I replied, thinking of him.

  He nodded. “I know. I saw that truth reflected in your eyes as I spoke to you in your bedroom. You were quiet. You didn’t feel the need to argue with me. That response started changing things for me. I saw how your mom was responding to you during dinner. It was as if she had an altered version of her reality toward you. You guys had been so close, and she acted like you were a plaything.” He paused. “I also realized you weren’t ever mine.”

  I shoved away the anger as the reality of his statement hit me, but rather than concentrate on my mom I spoke to the other half of his words. “I was never an object to be claimed.”

  “I know that now.” He maneuvered the boat onto the mud, and I jumped out. My feet splashed in the water. It didn’t matter. I was already soaked.

  “When I sent word to Logan that I’d help him get his mother released that’s when the plan changed to what you saw.”

  “When was that?” I asked.

  “The first night you were here, after dinner, I contacted him.”

  So that was the surprise Logan told me about.

  “Thank you, Trevor,” I replied.

  He hauled the boat out of the water as I felt for my pendant once more.

  Still nothing.

  “Are you ready?” he asked.

  “Is there such a thing?”

  “Logan’s on the other side of the property, readying the signals.”

  “So he’s still sticking to that part of the plan?”

  He nodded. “The plan from this point forward is how it was, but he’s not going to be thrilled to see you.”

  I scowled at him not understanding why.

  “He has some unfinished business with your father, and he didn’t want you to witness it.”

  “Well, so do I,” I replied, taking off in the direction of Logan.

  We crept along the property’s edge, but I could see that the main home was bustling with activity. All the lights were on. I wondered what my mother might be doing. My father’s followers were scattering like ants, preparing for us.

  “At least my father thinks you’re dead,” I whispered, trying to lighten the mood. I must have learned it from Logan. “That’s gotta count for something.”

  “The element of surprise.”

  “Let’s hope,” I replied.

  A branch fell in front of me, and my pulse quickened. I stopped and looked up into the tree it fell from. There in the shadows was a familiar gray figure.

  “Trevor,” I hissed. “Run!”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Get to Logan. Tell him the Golems are back.”

  “I’m not leaving you.”

  “I’m not helpless. I’ve handled them before. Get out of here.” I yelled.

  Trevor took off running, and I began slowly backing away from the tree that housed the creature.

  Was I still protected like Logan presumed? I did try to kill Trevor. But it wasn’t really Trevor so maybe it wouldn’t count. Whatever the case, I couldn’t depend on being untouchable.

  My stomach clenched at the sight before me. I was surrounded. The Golems crawled in every direction, up the trees, on the limbs, on the ground before me. The darkness couldn’t even diminish their grotesque appearance. They were most definitely Golems, but there was something slightly different than the ones I’d encountered in Illinois. These creatures contained marginally more human qualities, but I couldn’t put my finger on how.

  Barely covered with stretched, grey skin the stringy muscles of the beasts contracted with anticipation. They were waiting for a command, my father’s command.

  Every direction I looked, the limbs were coming to life as the trees around me housed these creatures. I felt trapped between the tall pine and spruce trees watching as they transformed before me.

  “Unguibus pugionibus,” I whispered. Sharpness began replacing the flesh of my fingertips.

  I was electrified with a mixture of fear and anticipation. What were these beings sent to do?

  Walking through the woods, I let my claws scratch the bark of the trees, as I waited and wondered, but never letting my gaze fall from the Golems as they stalked me. Their silence became a weapon, and it was unnerving. The beings had been sent for me. They didn’t follow after Trevor and that was something I needed to know. Now I had to wait.

  Reaching up to my pendant, hoping for something other than quiet, I heard them — the voices of the fairies.

  “Bacula,” I whispered. “Are we ready?”

  “Yes, all the fairies are in their places and the antidote is ready to be administered. We’re waiting for the flames.”

  “Thank you. Something’s come up. I might be a little delayed, but we’ll get the crowds moving.”

  “I know, dear,” she replied. “You’re stronger than all of them combined if you choose to understand their existence.”

  I released the pendant, scratching my neck in the process. Geez that hurt. I felt the stickiness of my own blood and wiped it away as I thought about what Bakula meant. These Golems were different but how?

  A low hum began in the creature closest to me followed by the others joining in his song. They moved closer to me. It was going to happen.

  The Golem in the tree nearest to me, fell to the ground, readying his stance for an attack. I didn’t move, I only watched. There was a familiarity about his movements, his mannerisms. I was inhaling ghosts from my past.

  “Who are you?” I whispered, staring into the darkened holes where the eyes should’ve been.

  “What’s it to you?” the being squealed into the night’s air, unleashing shrieks from the others.

  It was Preston.

  My head began spinning with the realization that the souls my father stole to feed his flames, ego, and greed were captured and stored for his use at any time. Who knew how many he had at his disposal?

  My fingers began to tingle as I watched the Golems begin their descent, dropping like bombs from the night’s sky.

  “As I’ve told you before, don’t disrespect her, Preston,” Logan yelled in our direction.

  My pulse quickened as I watched Trevor and Logan approach the infested woods. Logan stared directly
at the Golem. Logan’s broad shoulders caught the shadows of the night, creating an omniscient presence. His expression dripped with venom as he took his stance, I waited to catch my breath. I was in awe of Logan’s power.

  “They were sent for me,” I muttered.

  “If they attack one of us, they attack all of us,” Logan replied, his eyes holding the darkness I’d come to understand.

  “Preston,” I began, looking at the Golem in front of me.

  The creature tweaked its skull.

  “I’m sorry my father did this to you, but we will make it right. If you’ll let us.”

  Preston swiped at me causing me to fall backward, landing on the woodland floor. Instantly the other Golem surrounded me. Hostility dripped from their mouths as they circled me.

  Bold with a desire to destroy these creatures, I sprang to my feet, slicing and pawing in every direction. As I felt my fingertips piercing through their fragile skin, an inhuman arm wrapped its cold strength around my waist, whisking me up the pine tree behind us.

  Logan and Trevor had already begun their assault. Magic wasn’t needed. We were running on pure adrenaline and contempt. As blades and fists found their targets, chunks of clay-like flesh were thrown into the air turning into nothingness.

  Preston tightened his grip around my waist causing me to struggle for air.

  I looked down and watched as Trevor and Logan, once enemies, now worked for the same cause, to destroy my father.

  I kicked and swiped, unsteadying Preston from the tree enough to feel his grasp loosen.

  It was my time.

  Spinning around, I forced my palm through the shell of his chest. He gasped for air as I continued my onslaught of blows, striking him as hard as my fury would allow. Pieces of him sailed to the ground until he no longer existed beyond a pile of dust on the forest ground.

  A Golem wrapped its arm around Trevor’s neck and with every move Trevor made the Golem tightened his grip. Trevor gasped for air. I fell onto the back of the Golem, allowing my claws to scratch down the path of its gray flesh until I threw my fist into the Golem’s head, leaving it to shatter into thin air.

  “Thank you,” Trevor whispered, grasping his throat.

  I turned to see Logan ramming a stick through the last Golem. It staggered and fell to the ground. And to think this was only the beginning.

  Trevor began walking through the woods, and I was grateful for the quick reprieve.

  Logan glanced at me, his eyes softening as he smiled

  I felt the nectunt begin to warm once more.

  I ran over to him, feeling his arms wrap around me.

  “You did it, baby,” he whispered.

  “We did it,” I whispered into his ear.

  “What happened to you? Why couldn’t we communicate?” I hid my sobs of joy, sadness, and disbelief as he hugged me.

  “It was too dangerous. Once I realized Eben was your grandfather, I knew I had to stay quiet. If anyone could’ve tapped into us, it would’ve been him. I didn’t even know the guy was still alive.

  “Alive and active. I think he’s the cause of it.”

  I felt his arms slide down my back, but I didn’t want his touch to end.

  I kissed him quickly, but he let his lips linger long enough to make me return for more.

  I wanted this night to be over, so we could start our life together.

  Letting go of me, his expression changed as I saw the fires behind him.

  “The time has come,” he whispered.

  Chapter 24

  There was fire in every direction I looked. The beauty of what the flames represented couldn’t even be described. The building that housed Ellsy and I had already been destroyed. The stone was the only remaining element. I was sure Logan put extra gasoline around it. I would have to thank him for that.

  Followers’ screams echoed through the air with the realization they were alone. Their fearless leader was nowhere to be found: my father – the coward. We needed to get these people to the lake as far away from him as possible.

  The lake was filled with small boats of every kind, waiting to be filled with unsuspecting patients. The silver glimmer surrounding each boat was the occupant’s admission. One dose of the antidote from the fairy, willing or not, and their soul would be on the way to being released. Dace and Bakula instructed the fairies waiting at each boat that no one was to get across the lake without the antidote.

  My eyes searched the crowd for my father. I saw many of the people who were at the dinner, the farmers, the guards but not my father. Complete chaos was ensuing. People were running around attempting to stop the fires but there was no stopping these flames.

  Someone had to step up to corral these poor souls.

  A line of our people began forming from the lake, up the bank, toward the property in order to usher the crazed followers in the right direction. The chants of peace and calm began harmonizing through song in the night’s smoky air. But more was needed.

  I grabbed the first lost soul wandering in front of me and led her to the line of people waiting.

  “Get her to the boat. Start the process. I’ll get more,” I replied to the first person in line.

  I spotted Marco, one of my father’s right hand men, wandering off toward the woods.

  “Oh, no you don’t,” I whispered, running toward the defector, reaching for my wand. I sprinted passed Logan as he was ushering a group toward the lake, and he hollered after me.

  “I’ve gotta create a perimeter,” I yelled.

  My voice startled Marco who stopped and turned to face me.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” I panted, standing only feet away.

  “Non Impetus,” I hollered, before he could respond, purposefully leaving off Temporarium, as his body stiffened into a frozen state.

  Logan came running up behind me.

  “Nice work. Who was that?” he asked.

  “Marco. He was one of my father’s favorites. I’ve gotta get the perimeter secured. Think coyotes will keep everyone on the inside?”

  “Absolutely,” Logan smiled, reaching for his wand.

  “Coyotes oppugnare,” I whispered, closing my eyes and repeating it several times.

  A purpose driven growl came from behind, and I turned to see my spell in action.

  “Nothing like a snarling pack of coyotes to keep people in line,” he whispered, unable to hide the pride he felt for me.

  Feeling secure with the perimeter, we ran back to the center of the action.

  Trevor was arguing with someone I didn’t recognize, but I didn’t have time to worry about it.

  Aunt Vieta was directing someone toward the lake.

  “Have you seen my mom?” I asked her.

  She shook her head no, and I turned toward the main building.

  “Everyone! My father has a line of boats waiting for you. Please head to the lake,” I screamed as hard as my throat would handle. “He doesn’t want you worrying about saving anything but yourselves.”

  God, I hated lying to make him sound better than he was.

  A shift in the energy began to take hold. The shrieking began to be replaced with muttering of self-preservation.

  “Where is she?” I muttered.

  “I don’t know, but we’ll find her,” Logan replied.

  “Do you hear that?”

  A deep drumming began reverberating through the air.

  “Oh no,” he replied. “We’ve got to get these people to the boats. Forget the orderly chaos just get them off this property.”

  I ran to our people and spotted Jenna.

  “My father’s starting a ceremony. We’ve got to get these followers off the grounds. Get them in the boats and worry about the antidote in the center of the lake. If they don’t have it before they get in, that’s going to have to be fine.”

  She nodded and began spreading the word to everyone. Understanding the urgency, they began grabbing and pulling anyone they could toward the water.

 
I saw Logan near the woods. He turned to look at me and held out his hand to stop me. My father must be there. I shook my head and began running toward him. He held out his arms to grab me, but I wouldn’t let him.

  My mother was standing in the middle of the sorcerers, with her flowing, peach dress blowing in the wind as the followers bowed down to her.

  “This could have been you,” my father yelled over the drums, looking at me. “You could’ve found your full potential.”

  “Is that a threat or a misguided promise?” I hollered, struggling to get out of Logan’s embrace.

  “Baby, I love you. Please don’t. Let me handle it,” Logan whispered.

  “I’ve got this,” I replied.

  Looking at each of the sorcerers who were dressed in their plague masks and ivory robes I shook my head and landed my gaze back on my father. They were preparing to take more souls.

  “Well?” I shouted.

  “Whatever you want it to be,” he said with a sneer in his voice.

  “I’m not going to allow your actions, or that of our families, to remain invisible to the witches of the world. Your false history will no longer be viewed as reality.”

  His jaw clenched and so did his fist. I knew he wanted to hit me or worse but that didn’t stop me from continuing.

  “The time has come for our family’s legacy to be stopped.”

  “What do you know? You’re just a girl.”

  My father knew what his presence did to people, especially people who provided some sort of opening, but I wouldn’t allow an opening to exist. His jabs only made me stronger, but that was the difference. His words infuriated me but brought comfort to others depending on what he tapped into.

  “Just a girl?” I laughed. “I’ve heard worse.”

  His anger was bubbling over. He was used to his words having an effect, and they had none on me. Whether someone was experiencing loss, guilt, or shame my father deciphered it quickly and played on those emotions, providing a promise of tranquility to the individual who was suffering. Unfortunately, it looked like the tranquility was brainwashing, but often the people were so desperate for peace they fell for it. I still didn’t believe that my mom could be put in any of those buckets though, and that’s what wouldn’t stop bothering me.. She seemed so happy at home with me. There had to be more.