My pulse kicked into overdrive. What’s happening? I heard two heavy footsteps and then the creaking sound of the dungeon door opening. I didn’t close my eyes this time—I was too afraid I wouldn’t be able to open them again. It didn’t seem to matter if I looked anyway, so I curled tighter until I could see over my legs. A patch of light shined through the open doorway, casting whoever my visitor was in shadow. Judging by the height and width of their shoulders, I knew it had to be one of the Knights, coming to make sure I hadn’t escaped.
The Knight stepped forward, letting the door slam shut behind him and casting us in darkness. I held my breath. I could just barely make out the shape of his arm as he reached out to the side. My chest burned. I needed to breathe, but I was afraid. Bright golden light suddenly filled the dungeon…and my gaze landed on a red rose tattoo on a tanned hand.
I exhaled in a rush and bolted upright. “Jackson.”
For a moment, he just stood there. Staring. His golden bronze hair was a disheveled, hot mess, and I wanted so badly to run my fingers through it. His jaw was scruffy and his eyes bloodshot. He had on the same dark blue jeans and navy jacket ensemble he’d had on when we left for our quest, but they looked wrinkled and worn. A look Jackson Lancaster never carried. But none of that was what shook me—it was the destroyed look in his eyes.
Even still, my body burned and yearned to touch him. To be near him. Despite the ice in my heart and the chill in the air, his mere presence made me feel warmer.
I licked my lips and tried to move closer, but I simply didn’t have the energy to move. “Jackson…listen, I…”
He closed his eyes and shook his head, and my words dried on my tongue. Sharp pain shot through my heart. He was in so much pain, and I’d put it there. I wanted to tell him I was innocent. I wanted him to know it wasn’t me who stabbed Timothy. But the hurt in him sucked the life right out of me.
A few heavy, silent moments later, Jackson looked at me with those beautiful ocean-colored eyes of his. His gaze was sharp and intense. “I just spent hours relaying what happened to Constance and Daniel. Over and over, I told them what happened.” His voice was thick and heavy with his British accent.
I nodded, because I wasn’t capable of anything else yet.
“I’ve gone over the details too many times to bloody count, yet I can’t come up with another explanation for what I saw.” He pushed off the wall and strolled over to the black iron bars separating us. He gripped them with both hands and squeezed until his knuckles turned white. “But no one has heard your side of the story, and I want to. Right now.”
I swallowed through a hot lump in my throat. I nodded and licked my cracked lips. “In the car ride over—” I cleared my throat then swallowed a few times to relieve my scratchy voice. “Timothy told me a story. A tragic story about his sister, nephew, niece, and brother-in-law. About how they died.”
Jackson scowled and opened his mouth, but I held my hands up.
“Please, this is relevant.” I waited until he nodded, then continued. “I don’t know if you know the story, and I’m not going to waste your time right now by telling you, but it was horrible. And I couldn’t stop thinking about it the whole time we walked to the Old Lands gate. I was distracted, hung up on the sadness I knew he must’ve felt every day…and then everything happened so fast.”
“Tell me.”
“He told me he was texting our location to Constance, and then something moved in my peripheral vision. Before I could look, things started flying at me through the air. I dove to the ground to miss getting hit, and as I did—” I sighed and shook my head. This was the part no one was going to buy. “As I did, something large and dark flew over my head. When I got back up, I was across the clearing from Tim and not close to the gate. Then there was all this magic and chaos. I pulled my sword out and did the spell you taught me to make it light up. But it was too dark. I couldn’t see. Tim started throwing up walls of ice and screamed for me to run through the gate. We tried, except something tackled us back down—”
“Something?” He gave me that old, familiar snarl. “What do you mean something?”
I threw my hands up. “Do you remember seeing that shadow creature in the Old Lands? The ones that took Erin?”
His face paled and he nodded.
“It was them. I have no idea what they are. But they attacked us. They surrounded us and threw these white objects right at us. Tim kept throwing ice at them, but it wasn’t fast enough. Before we could get to the gate, one of those white objects…one of them slammed right into his chest.”
A muscle in his jaw popped. “Keep going,” he growled.
“There was so much blood,” I said softly, remembering how fast it had gushed out of him. I knew I was leaving out details, possibly important ones, but this was the first time someone was actually listening. “I screamed for you, but you were already inside the Old Lands. Then Tim told me to get the object out, that he had no chance unless it came out. Then his heart stopped. I couldn’t get the thing out. It was lodged and I’m not that strong, so I—God, I’m an idiot—I used my sword to get the object out. But when I pulled it out, it vanished into thin air like it was never there. That’s when you showed up.”
Silence.
Long silence.
I couldn’t have said just how long he stood there staring at me before he suddenly cursed and hung his head.
He rested his forehead on the iron bar and closed his eyes. “Timothy was like a father to me, more so than my own father. Since the day I got here at six, he took me under his wing and protected me. He taught me everything I know. He wanted to make sure I was ready for Michael so that I could be free of the pressure and the guilt of my family. He cared for me, and I for him.”
I blinked and tears spilled onto my cheeks. “Jackson, I’m so sorry.”
He opened his eyes and looked down at me with more pain than I’d ever seen in someone’s face. “When the rest of The Coven arrives, they’re going to question you.” His voice was scratchy and rough.
I nodded.
“You need to tell them every single detail. The smell of the air, the color of the grass. Everything.” He pushed off the bars and scrubbed his face. When he pulled away, his skin was red and his eyes were watery. He sighed then met my gaze. “You don’t know how much I want to believe you, Bettina.”
I gasped. “Believe me.”
“My heart and my instincts are telling me to, but is that because I like you? I don’t know.” He tugged on his hair. “Except you…you killing him doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t add up. Truthfully, I do believe you. Even if logic is telling me I shouldn’t, I do. I just hope it’s not in vain.”
I started to speak, but he turned away from me. Hope flared in my chest. He believed me. He didn’t understand it, and I understood that. But at least he heard my story and believed in me. Maybe there was hope for me after all.
Jackson spun to face me again. Then he reached into his jacket and pulled out a brown bag. He reached through the bars and tossed it into my lap. Without another word, he marched out of the dungeon, leaving me alone once again.
I opened the bag and found two sandwiches, an apple, and a bottle of water. The smile that spread across my face felt foreign and wonky, and I welcomed the flutter in my heart. He’d brought me a bag of food and a drink, which meant he’d intentionally gathered it before coming to see me. That had to count for something.
He believes me.
Chapter Five
Jackson
“Constance, I’ve already told you my side of the story.” I sighed and scrubbed my face with my hands. “Half a dozen times already. It’s not going to change. I’m not the one you need to be asking.”
“I know.” Constance grumbled. “But I want the entire Coven to hear her story the first time she tells it. They’ll be here soon. I can’t act on this without them.”
I opened my mouth then shut it. Her story. I groaned. I’d heard Bettina’s side of the story, and I’d
intentionally gone to the dungeon to get it. And although I believed her, I wasn’t sure if that was because of how I felt about her. Was she clouding my judgment? I couldn’t say. I knew she was a distraction enough. She had my head all twisted. Maybe I simply wanted to believe her. Regardless, just because I did didn’t mean The Coven would.
Constance was The Coven Leader, but now that I’d gotten my first glimpse of the Emperor and High Priestess, I realized they were in charge. They’d taught us in Coven History class that fifteen years ago, most of The Coven was killed down in Florida, and Constance and Timothy had been among the few survivors. The rest had voted them in as Leaders. I’d never realized how big of a deal that was…until I saw the others.
Constance always hesitated a second—she seemed anxious and slightly unsure of her answers. That was why she relied on her husband so much. I’d always assumed it was just the pressure of the job that weighed on her, but now I saw. She didn’t think she was worthy of her role.
The Emperor and the High Priestess? They didn’t seem unsure of anything. I’d only just gotten glimpses of them. Hell, I’d only just learned their names. Everyone in Eden knew the elder Coven members’ names, but the teenagers weren’t as clear. We’d heard a few here and there, but never the big three. Well, the twins had only been in the picture for a few months—before that, they were intentionally hidden.
And the Emperor? Everyone was always too afraid of him to dare speak his name.
I never understood that…until now. And I hadn’t even met him yet. I was a little nervous about it, too. This was not the circumstance I thought it would happen, either.
I glanced up from where I sat and found Constance pacing barefoot in the grass. We were out front of Coven Headquarters, which was a massive mansion that happened to be behind campus. It sat along the edge of the Old Lands, where there was a section of holy ground. It was early, early morning. The sun had only risen a matter of minutes ago. Constance had called me over about a half hour before that. She’d wanted to hear my side of the story. Again. I hadn’t been sure why until I saw her. She was falling apart. Timothy was her best friend. He also trusted me, and she knew that. So my story was the one she wanted the most.
“They here yet?” Headmaster Daniel asked from suddenly right behind me.
I frowned. I hadn’t heard or sensed him approach. That wasn’t like me. My head was a mess over Bettina and my heart ached over Timothy. If Michael showed up now, I’d never pass his test.
Constance sighed and blocked her face from the sun with her hand. “No. They should be here any minute.”
Daniel moved over to his wife and took her hand. “You called them hours ago. I’m surprised they’re not here yet.”
“Tennessee was in Manhattan with Deacon and the twins. Massive demon attack went down last night. Lots of people were hurt, maybe even killed. I’m not sure yet.” She cursed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Tenn said they had to make sure New York was secure, then they’d portal down to Florida to pick up everyone else.”
Daniel cursed and pushed his glasses up his nose. “I understand, but still… Timothy…”
“I didn’t tell them yet,” she whispered.
“What?” Daniel and I both yelled at the same time.
Constance glared at us both. “The Coven has already lost three Cards since July, and Kenneth—” Her voice broke. She shook her head. “I couldn’t tell them over the phone. I just couldn’t do it. Timothy deserves more than that.”
“I understand. They will too.” Daniel pulled her into his arms. “They arriving by Tegan’s portal?”
Constance nodded and leaned into her husband’s chest.
I turned away to give them privacy just as a ball of light lit up the air a few feet over. “Consta—”
Before I could even get her whole name out, the air flashed white, and a wall of sizzling, pulsing energy slammed into my face. I blinked and then a huge group of people stood before us. Constance sighed with relief, but only part of my brain registered it. I was too busy scooping my jaw off the ground. The rest of The Coven appeared out of thin air…all of them. At once. Together. I’d never seen them all in the same spot before. It took every ounce of self-control not to reach for a weapon. My instincts were registering a greater source of power and were ready to fight.
The first people I saw were the Emperor and High Priestess. One, because they stood in front of everyone else. Two, because their auras were so intense and bright I had to blink a few times before I could actually look at them. I meant to stand, or to bow, but the sheer impact of their power kept me glued in place. They both wore the same outfit: black leather jackets, black shirts, ripped-up black jeans, and beat-up black combat boots that had definitely seen hard times. Not to mention their matching black hair and the identical soulmate glyphs covering their right hands. I was pretty sure even Sapiens would be afraid of them.
They narrowed their eyes and glanced around. I felt electric pulses slide over me as they pushed their magic out, like they were looking for trouble. My own pulse skyrocketed as a result. I peeled my eyes off of them—and frowned. The two people right behind them didn’t look like they belonged. The attractive blond bloke wore a black tuxedo, and the pretty blonde girl clinging to his arm had a crystal-covered evening gown on. Both of them were covered in blood, human and demon.
“Constance.” The Emperor’s voice was low and rough, like the growl of a tiger. “What’s wrong?”
The High Priestess cocked her head to the side. “You said emergency, but not danger?”
Constance stepped away from her husband and tucked her hair behind her ears. “Yes. Sorry, but you are all needed.”
Tennessee’s sharp, mismatched gaze turned to me. He frowned. “Jackson, you’re back already?”
I shook my head.
“You’re crying.” A huge, hulking man with blond hair and amber eyes stepped around the Emperor with a frown. He glanced back and forth between Constance and Daniel. “What happened?”
A woman who looked almost identical to the High Priestess moved closer, and her gaze scanned the area. “Where’s Timothy? Do we need to wait for him?”
Silence.
The High Priestess’s eyes widened, and her face paled. She knows.
“Timothy…” Constance sniffled and pushed her hair back.
“No,” a man said. This one looked a lot like the big hulking one but slightly smaller. His eyes were gold like champagne…and wide as saucers. He stared at Constance, then a horrible, strangled kind of cry left his lips. “No. No, no. Don’t…don’t—”
“Don’t what…” the pretty girl in the gown whispered. She turned to the guy behind her. “Dad, don’t what?”
But he just closed his eyes and shook his head, his face scrunched in pain.
The brunette woman gasped and clutched her chest, and her hand was covered by a soulmate glyph. Her pale green eyes watered as she gripped the guy beside her—her soulmate, I assumed. “Please, no,” she whispered.
Constance hung her head, and tears dripped down her face. “Timothy… He…he’s gone.”
The girl from the video chat, Henley, pushed forward. Her sapphire gaze swept the yard then resettled on Constance. “What do you mean he’s gone?” she growled through clenched teeth.
Constance let out a horrifying sob that would haunt me forever. She didn’t try to hide her pain or tears. She balled her hands in fists at her sides and stood tall. “Timothy was killed yesterday. That’s why I called you.”
There was a split second of silence, and then The Coven erupted in shouts. Everyone rushed toward Constance. The brunette woman pulled Constance in close, and I saw the Mark of the Chariot on her arm. Holy hell, that’s Devon Bishop. She was a legend in the Sword Suit. She would’ve been Sword Major had her Mark not appeared. Everyone knew she was a beast. Gen and Erin worshiped her. Timothy used to talk about her all the time.
Devon held on to Constance, then with her Marked arm, she yanked her soulmate in w
ith them. That means that guy is Hunter Bishop, Temperance Card…and the bigger one who looks like him is Kessler Bishop, the Strength Card. The adult Coven members embraced Constance and Daniel, both seeking and giving comfort.
But it was too much to watch. I was going to lose it if I didn’t look away.
“Not him, too!” a girl cried, pulling my attention before I broke down. She had strawberry blonde hair and big brown eyes that were filled with tears. Blue magic flickered around her, and then I saw the Magician’s Mark on her arm. “We just lost Larissa. Not Tim now!”
“Why does this keep happening?” the Fool Card cried. She had her arms raised over her head and tugged on her curly brown hair, leaving her Mark for me to see.
Pain swelled inside me so intense I thought I was going to crack. I hadn’t expected them to react like this…like it hurt them as much as it did me. It was like experiencing it all over again. My eyes burned, and a hot lump formed in my throat. I shouldn’t have been here for this moment. I wasn’t in The Coven. I didn’t know these people. I wanted to be with my friends, with people who could provide some kind of comfort. Watching the two other couples holding on to each other with tears in their eyes was a knife to the severed heart. Salt to the wound.
Every part of me wanted to go to Bettina, and it just made the hurt so much worse. My heart told me she couldn’t have done this, but my brain kept saying don’t be so foolish. It was a raging battle inside me, logic versus what I knew of her. And even if she was as innocent as I thought, there was a damn good chance The Coven would charge her with murder.
I scrubbed my face with my hands, then looked up in search of my escape… That was when I spotted Tennessee, the Emperor. His face was ashy pale as he stared down at the ground. The expression in his eyes matched the pain trying to swallow me whole.
“Damn it,” a guy who looked exactly like Henley shouted. “It was the Old Lands, wasn’t it? I knew we should’ve gone with him. Was it the balefire? One of those creatures? Cooper, what was that thing called we saw—”
The Coven - Academy Magic Complete Series Page 27
