“It’s almost time, Julie,” Liam said, resting a hand on the glass capsule, and staring inside at Julie, as her belly grew. “The potion I gave you has you about six months pregnant now, which means, it’s about time to start the ritual. A ritual that will lift the burden of carrying a demon’s child.”
He chuckled, turning away from her, and striding to the cauldron. He took the vial from his cloak, sprinkling the mermaid fins into the bright, green solution, before stirring the concoction. “Now, I just need the baby.” He flung his hand out, the lid to the casket flinging open, and a fireball shot through the sky, striking the cauldron.
“No!”
He shouted, spinning around, his eyes narrowing as the witches, Ashwin, Elijah, and Micah raced across the bright, red ground. “You!”
“You didn’t think you could get rid of us that easily, did you?” Jade asked, grinning, as she stared at Liam. “Although, you definitely did give it a good try. Sending me back to earth, and sending demons of the past after my sisters.” She shook her head. “You’re pathetic.”
“And you are like damned cancer!” Liam shouted, his tentacle striking out and grabbing Jade by the throat. “You destroy everything you touch!”
“Just demonic beings like you,” Jade spat out, struggling to breathe, as the tentacle tightened around her throat.
“Jade!” Ashwin raced forward. “Let her go!” He shouted, wrapping his hands around the tentacle.
“Never!” Liam shouted, his tentacle slapping back, knocking him to the ground.
“Ahh!”
Jade opened her mouth, letting out a loud scream.
“Josslyn, now!” Jasmine struck her hands forward, white light reigning from her hands.
Josslyn nodded, disappearing in a reign of icicles and appearing behind Liam. She held her hand out, a large icicle appearing in her hand and struck it forward, slicing it through Liam’s body.
“Agh!”
Liam cried out in pain, his tentacles slinging back, and striking them.
“Ahh!”
Jade gasped, the prongs of the tentacle releasing their grip on her. She fell to the ground, next to everyone else.
“He’s too strong!” she shouted. “We can’t defeat him! Only Sky can!”
“We know!” Ashwin shouted as he thrust his hand forward. The wind rushed from his hands, striking Liam. “Leslie paid us a visit and told us. What do we do!”
“We do our best to injure him until we can find Sky!” Jasmine shouted, jumping to her feet. She closed her eyes, her body turning a bright pink, as her astral self appeared next to her.
“Hello, again,” astral Jasmine said, nodding to her, as she and Jasmine slung their hands forward. Bright white light spread from their hands, striking toward Liam.
“I told you! You can’t defeat me!” Liam shouted, his tentacles striking forward. Lightning flung from his tentacles, striking Jasmine.
“Ahh!”
“Jasmine!”
Jasmine gasped, falling to the ground, her body shaking from the force of the lightning strike.
“Oh my God! Jasmine!” Josslyn rushed forward. “Jami! Help!”
“I’m coming!” Jami cried, racing forward and kneeling next to Jasmine. She placed a hand over Jasmine’s heart, a yellow hue spreading from her palm.
Jasmine stopped shaking, staring up at Josslyn and Jami. “Did I get him?”
“Sadly, no, but that was a little stupid,” Josslyn said, as she pulled her to her feet. “Do you have a death sentence?”
“I just miss Sky.”
“I know,” Josslyn turned, glancing back behind them, as Liam trudged across the bright, red ground toward the others. “I don’t know how we’re going to defeat him,” she whispered.
“Roar!”
The loud roar filled their ears, and Liam’s eyes widened. “Wait. It can’t be?”
“Oh, did we forget to introduce you to Micah?” Jorja asked as she let out another loud scream, soundwaves dancing through the air and striking Liam. He stumbled back. “He’s one of Sky’s friend and a three-headed lion.”
“With a roar, loud enough, to even capacitate you,” Ashwin said, as he turned, racing around Liam, creating a vortex. “Elijah, now!”
“With pleasure,” Elijah said, striking his hand forward. Fireballs flung through the air, striking against Liam. “Jade! A little help here!”
“You really have to ask?” Jade asked, flinging her hands forward. Energy balls flung through the air, striking Liam. “Josslyn! We need some ice power here!”
“Coming!”
Josslyn raced forward, narrowing her eyes, and tossed her hands forward. Ice pelted through the sky, striking Liam.
“Ahh! You witches! You will never defeat me!”
“Ahh!”
Jorja let out another loud shout, as Micah let out another loud roar, and Jasmine raced forward, white light flinging from her hand and striking Liam.
“Ahh!”
Liam let out a shout, his body shaking rigorously from the force of their powers, stumbling back, the tentacles from his body shattering, and falling to the ground.
“You did it!” Josi cried. “He’s done for!”
“Not quite, witches!” Liam shouted, striking his hand forward. Lightning struck downward, shaking the ground.
“Ahh!”
“You may have won this round, witches,” Liam said, as he disappeared from sight. “But I promise you, I will be back, and I will get rid of you, and the rest of the hybrids. Your days are numbered!”
“Where’d he go?” Jessi asked as she pulled her mother to her feet.
“Who knows,” Josslyn said, as she turned, racing with everyone toward the casket. “But he’ll be back!”
“Julie!”
They slid to a stop, gathering around the casket, staring at the crystal as it lay, hovering above the casket.
“The sapphire’s creating vortex around the casket. We can’t touch it,” Jorja said, nodding to the bright, blue hue surrounding the casket. “We need to destroy it.”
“Allow me,” Jasmine said, narrowing her eyes, the sapphire exploding in a reign of blue light, and a key falling to the ground.
“The key!” Jordyn cried, scooping it up, and staring down at the golden, skeleton key lying in the palm of her hand. “We found it!”
“Ah, guys, do you mind helping me with this thing?” Jade asked as she tried to lift the lid off the coffin. “This thing is really, really, heavy!”
“Whoops! Sorry, Jade!” They each gripped the lid, pulling it off the casket, staring down at Julie as she lay there, unmoving in the casket.
“Julie. Can you hear me?” Jade asked, swallowing past the lump in her throat as she stared down at her sister. “We’re all here. I just need you to open your eyes.”
“She’s not waking up,” Elijah whispered, his voice hoarse. “You don’t think…”
“Liam has nothing on me,” Julie said, her eyes snapping open, and staring up at them. “Thank God you are all here! I was getting very claustrophobic.” She sat up, staring at everyone around her. “I can’t believe you’re all here!” she cried. “Elijah, and Micah?” Her eyes widened as he changed from lion to man. “You’re a lion?”
“Technically, we’re called shifters,” Micah told her. “And now that you’re safe, I must be getting back to London. I have some family matters I need to attend to.”
“Wait. Micah.” Julie took Elijah’s hand, jumping out of the casket and hurrying forward. She wrapped her arms around Micah, hugging him. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything you’ve done for me, and if you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“I’d do anything for you,” Micah said, winking at her. “And thank you. I have a feeling I’ll be cashing in on that favor very soon.” He glanced at the group standing behind them. “Does anyone know how to use that key?”
“I think there’s only one who can really open it,” Jordyn said, handing it to Jessi. “Think you can get it to wor
k?”
“Please! I could do this in my sleep!” Jessi cried, closing her eyes. “Home.”
The key rose from her hand, spinning in a circle above them, shooting a reign of light north, south, east, and west. A portal opening before them.
“Whoa! That’s so cool!” Josi cried as Micah raced through the portal.
“You really slept with him?” Elijah asked, walking up to Julie and staring down at him.
“Well, in my defense, my husband was evil,” Julie said, staring up at him. “Jealous?”
“Absolutely,” Elijah said, wrapping his arms around her waist. “I love you, Julie. I always have.”
“But I don’t know if I could ever trust you again, Elijah,” Julie whispered, staring up at him. “You manipulated me, what’s to say you’re not going to do it again?”
“Because I’m determined to show you how good I can be,” Elijah told her, leaning forward. “And to show you, how much I care for you.” He brushed his lips across hers.
“Okay. Can we go home now?” Jasmine asked, averting her gaze, smiling when she spotted the mermaids swimming toward the portal. “Looks like the mermaids are ready to go home.”
“Hey! Can somebody help me please!”
The young voice sounded from behind them, and they turned, staring at the young boy hanging in the tree behind them in a wooden cage.
“Oh my God! Mark!”
Jami spotted him, in the cage hidden in the trees, and turned, racing forward. She slid the lock free, flinging the door open. “There you are! We were so worried!”
“That evil witch kidnapped me!” Mark cried, shuddering, as he stepped out from the cage. “She gave me to Liam! He was going to experiment on me!”
“Well, you don’t have to worry about him any times soon,” Jasmine told him. “We hurt him pretty good! I’m guessing we won’t be seeing him for a while. Now come on, let’s go home!”
Chapter 41
24 hours later…
“Dinner’s ready!”
“You seriously made all of this just twenty-four hours after escaping the wasteland?” Ashwin asked, glancing over her shoulder, and stealing a piece of bread from the pan.
“Hey! That’s for dinner!” Jade cried, slapping his and away. “And yes, I like to cook.”
“Jordyn, did you hear that?” Josi asked as she dropped the remote to her PlayStation. “Dinner’s ready!”
“I heard,” Jordyn said, hurrying after Josi. “I’m so excited! I haven’t had good food in years!”
“But we weren’t done with the game!” Jessi cried, sighing, as she rose to her feet. She winced, holding a hand to her ribs. “Ooh. Ow.”
“You still feeling the after effects of what happened in the wasteland?” Jami asked, looking at her sister with concern.
“Well, I did get smooshed by a demon! Even though you healed me, my body is still healing from it. It’s going to take a little bit of time to get back to normal.”
“She’s right,” Josslyn said, as they sat around the table. “Even though she was healed, her body and brain have to readjust. Trust me, it takes time. After all, I have nearly died, twice.”
“Yes. We know,” Jade said, squeezing her hand. “I’m just grateful everyone is here, all in one piece.”
“Well almost everyone,” Jasmine said, sighing. “We’re still missing one.”
“And we’ll find him,” Jorja told her, squeezing her hand. “I know we will.”
“Hey, Ashwin, did you remember to carve the turkey?” Jade asked, glancing over at Ashwin.
“Of course I remembered to carve the turkey,” Ashwin said, as he placed the turkey in the middle of the table. “Hey, Elijah, will you get the green bean casserole from the oven?”
“You seriously made green bean casserole?” Jorja asked, wrinkling her nose in disgust. “Who even likes that stuff?”
“I do,” Jasmine said, laughing at the look Jorja gave her. “What? You like your stuff, I like my stuff.”
“But it’s disgusting!”
“Mom, be nice,” Jordyn said, rolling her eyes.
“I am being nice!”
“As nice as she can be that is,” Julie said, as she walked into the room, taking a seat at the table, glancing at Ashwin. “Hmm. Looks like Jade put you to work, huh? I don’t think I remember the last time she let someone help her in the kitchen.”
“I don’t remember the last time one of you guys offered to help me in the kitchen,” Jade shot back, sobering, as she looked at her younger sister. “Julie, how are you feeling? Is the baby okay?”
“We are both doing just fine,” Julie said. “Even though it is kind of weird, being six months pregnant when I should only be about a month along, but we’re both doing good.” She eyed Jade. “So, why are we celebrating Thanksgiving so early? It’s like four weeks away yet!”
“With all the demonic interruptions we have to deal with? I think an early Thanksgiving isn’t a bad idea. Plus, we do have a lot to be thankful for.”
“I can’t argue with that,” Julie said, smiling at Elijah, as he took a seat next to her. She squeezed his hand.
“So, are you two still together?” Josslyn asked, nodding to the two of them.
“Yes, we’re together,” Julie said, laying her hands over Elijah’s. “After all, we are still married, and he did kind of prove himself when he risked everything to save me.”
“I can’t disagree with that,” Jade murmured. “But so help me, if you hurt her, or even think about crossing over to the dark side, I will kill you.”
“I have no intention of doing either,” Elijah informed her. “Just like I’d like to get the chance to get to know you three,” he said, nodding to the triplets. “What do you think? Think you’d like the chance to get to know your Dad?”
“I think it would be a great idea,” Josslyn said, eyeing him. “Although, this whole situation is still really weird!”
“We’d like that, Elijah,” Josi said, ignoring her mother. “Right Jessi? Jami?”
Jessi and Jami nodded.
“Great. So then there’s just one thing left to do before we eat,” Elijah said, nodding to the candle in front of them. “Who would like to start.”
“I will,” Ashwin took the lighter, lighting the first candle. “In memory of the ones we’ve lost… Alana. My dear sister who has crossed to the dark side. I hope one day, you’ll come back to us.”
“For my twin sister, Jax,” Josslyn whispered, taking the lighter from him and lighting the next candle. “I may have not known you, but you will always be a part of me.”
“For my baby, Celeste,” Jade said, lighting the next candle. “I may have not known you. I may not have gotten the chance to hold you, but you will never be far from my heart.”
“And for Melena,” Jorja said, lighting the candle in front of her. “We may not be able to understand your pain, your suffering, but we hope you find peace wherever you end up.”
“And for Sky,” Jasmine whispered, a tear trickling down her throat as she stared into the last candle. “You may be gone for now, but I swear, I will never stop looking for you.”
“And for our family,” Josi said, linking hands with her sisters.
“And our powers,” Jami added.
“And food!” Jessi cried.
They all laughed.
“And for being together,” Jordyn added, as she stared around the table.
“Amen.”
They blew out the candles, reaching for the food.
“Man, this looks so good!” Jordyn cried. “Jade, you’re going to make me fat!”
“Nonsense!” Jade cried. “I make healthy food.”
“There’s nothing healthy about pumpkin pie,” Jorja said. “Although I am not complaining. You are a much better cook than I ever could be.” She paused. “So, has anyone else been thinking about that new evil that’s rising up in the underworld?”
“Apparently you have,” Ashwin said, as he passed the potatoes down the line. “We�
�ve talked about this, Jorja. There’s no sense in worrying about it. It’s not like it matters anyways, with the protection spell the sorcerers cast on the underworld, none of us can step foot down there right now.”
“Until I create a potion to break through it,” Julie said. “And I will. I promise.”
“Do you really think that’s a good idea?” Jade asked, around a mouthful of turkey. “The fumes from the potions can’t be good for the baby.”
“Oh, will you stop being such a worrywart?” Julie asked, rolling her eyes, as she played with the stuffing on her plate. “We’re fine! Plus, don’t you want to know what’s in the tomb?”
“We’ll find out sooner or later,” Jade said, wrapping laying her hand on Ashwin’s, and smiling at him. “Because the one thing about being a Morgan… trouble always comes knocking.”
***
The dark fog swirled through the darkness of the underworld, and Alana smiled, as the portal opened in front of her, holding her hands out. “Talia. It’s so good to see you.”
“It’s good to be seen,” Talia said, as she stepped through the portal into the underworld, sighing. “It was torture being away from here. This is my home!” She glanced at Alana. “You did well, my dear.”
“I did, didn’t I?” Alana asked, smiling. “They did exactly as we expected them to do.”
“They’re nothing but predictable,” Talia said, as she stretched her arms over her head. “The moment they used the two books together, it created a crack in the veil, allowing me to cross and reclaim what is rightfully mine!” She turned, walking through the doorway, eyeing the vampires as they bowed. “Oh, will you get on your feet!” she shouted, rolling her eyes as she descended the stairs into the great room and stared at the tomb lying in the middle of the great room.
“It’s perfect,” she whispered, grazing her hand along the black and red patterned tomb. She reached or the bag of blood, reattaching it to the tube, and opening the door to stare at the woman lying inside. “And soon, you will be free my dear. Free to exact your revenge.”
Anarchy Rising Page 17
