By the sixth reiteration, Sarah was sweating. First in tiny droplets on her brow and then in rivulets down her back. Still Eden hadn’t moved.
What was happening? Why was she so still? Had Bes’tal found a way to take over? Sarah glanced at the urn and noticed Eden’s hands were gripping it so hard her knuckles had gone white. Kai cleared her throat, a sign of impatience, and Sarah’s shush was more of a hiss.
She looked from the urn, to Eden, back to the urn.
Why aren’t you glowing?
Frustration filled Sarah’s body. This was their only chance; it had to work. Eden’s head jerked slightly, but her eyes stayed closed. What was going on inside of her? But Sarah knew. Her best friend was fighting for her life.
She couldn’t help in that battle, so she did all she could. She began the incantation a seventh time.
Eden tasted metal as she bit down on the inside of her mouth.
“I do wish you would stop doing that.” Bes’tal traced his thumb over her bottom lip. “There is no need to harm such a lovely body.”
Eden jerked away, her mind racing. Should she stop the spell? Tell Sarah they needed more sisters to complete it? Beg the Council for mercy?
“None of those will save you, pet. The drop melts into the ocean as the ocean melts into the drop. Your only option is surrender.”
“That will never happen.”
“It is already happening. The process has begun. Every urge, every impulse that drives you is mine, and will be mine until there is nothing left of you.” His eyes flashed; irritation filled his voice. “Why do you think nothing fits anymore? Your boyfriend? Your coven? Because they are too small for you? No, pet. They are too small for me.”
“No.” Eden shook her head. “That’s not true. They’re my friends.”
Even as she denied it, the feelings of suffocation, of a square peg being forced into a round hole washed over her.
“And you hate them. Their preoccupation with fixing you is a slow and tortuous death.”
“You’re the only one torturing me.”
“Perhaps what you say is true.” His gesture was conciliatory. “It still won’t save you, I’m afraid. I prefer you to surrender and merge with me, but I don’t require it. With every passing day, you lose a piece of yourself while I gain strength. How long until the balance tips, and you are lost?”
“I won’t lose myself. Not to you.” Fear gave way to anger. “I will fight you until I die if I have to.”
Bes’tal’s lips pulled back into a smile. “As you wish.”
Chapter 23
Sarah’s blood burned as if lit with gasoline. She was evaporating, pieces of herself being consumed by the fire.
But it was working. The urn held the faintest glow.
She redoubled her efforts. How much had Eden sacrificed for her? As she pulled Bes’tal through Eden and toward the urn, she caught glimpses of what her best friend lived with every second. Blackness twisted her guts and made her wonder if she’d ever be clean again.
How does she stand it?
The urn glowed brighter.
She wouldn’t fail. Could not fail.
Eden was counting on her.
Eden’s mind had become a dangerous place ever since she’d taken in Bes’tal, but now it was doubly so.
“Yes, run through all of the options, all of the ways you might overpower me.” Bes’tal seemed genuinely amused.
Eden felt naked, her thoughts no longer hers alone.
“Play out each scenario. Only then will you realize there’s only one way this ends.”
“You said that last time.” Eden met his eye. “You were wrong.”
“Except, that wasn’t the end, was it?” his eyes smoldered.
Eden felt the binding around her power loosen a fraction.
Yes! Smart girl.
Sarah must have realized she didn’t have enough to imprison Bes’tal and was taking in more from Eden.
Bes’tal stumbled, and Eden flashed him a satisfied smile. “What was that you were saying about not enough power?”
Bes’tal returned a dismissive wave. “Let her drain me dry. The problem is not a lack of power. The issue lies in the vessel.”
“It’s an Urn of Capio. It will hold you.”
They had checked and crosschecked dozens of variations of this same spell.
“Perhaps.”
They stood, eyes locked, for a long moment. Eden sensed Sarah drawing more and more power. Bes’tal appeared as weak as she felt.
But as time stretched, Eden became aware of something else—a burning sensation. The stronger it became, the more she understood it wasn’t actually happening to her. It was happening to Sarah. The spell—the power—was burning her from the inside.
“She’s the vessel you meant.” Eden stared wild-eyed at Bes’tal.
A slow, cruel smile danced at his lips.
“She is not like you and me. She is strong, but she is common.” He closed his eyes, a rapturous expression coming over his face. “It won’t be long now.”
He was right. If Sarah succeeded, at best she would burn herself out, at worst…
“She will die.” Bes’tal finished her thought aloud.
“No.” Eden’s heart raced; her palms grew sweaty.
I can’t let that happen.
“You’ll have to think of something quick.” His smile grew insolent even as he became translucent.
The spell was working, but it was killing her best friend.
Eden closed the distance between them.
“Tell me.” She didn’t even try to keep the pleading from her voice.
“You are so beautiful when you’re desperate.”
Eden’s blood raced hot through her veins; Sarah’s must be on fire. She had to do something—had to stop the ritual. She couldn’t pull back the power because Sarah was in control of it.
“All you need do is break the circle.” His tone was offhand, but his misty eyes narrowed.
Was that what he wanted her to do, or did he just want her to think that? Breaking the circle once the transfer had started would let Bes’tal jump to anyone in the room.
Sweat rolled off Eden. All she could feel was fire.
No. It was something else. Something in her hands. Not the hands she could see in her mind’s eye, but in her actual hands, there in Quinn’s living room.
If she only broke the spell, Sarah would try again. She would never accept defeat, never listen to Eden that it was too dangerous. Sarah’s loyalty was too absolute for her own good.
Eden let herself dissolve; the last image of Bes’tal was his mouth as he whispered, “Soon.”
She jerked back into her body, felt her fingers in a death grip around the Urn of Capio.
When her eyes flew open, she didn’t have to feign horror at the sight of its shattered pieces splayed out in front of her.
Sarah snapped out of the trance with a gasp, slick with sweat and feeling faint. The fire in her veins receded, but she flinched at their memory.
“What happened?” Quinn leapt closer and knelt in front of Eden.
“Babe, are you okay?” Kai rushed forward and wiped the matted bangs from Sarah’s eyes.
Sarah shook her head, bewildered.
“It was working. I-I don’t know what happened,” she said, glancing at Eden. Her friend’s eyes were wet with tears.
“I didn’t mean to.” Eden cast her head down, and for the first time, Sarah noticed the urn in pieces on the floor.
Her heartbeat stuttered.
“It’s okay.” Quinn pulled Eden into his arms, and she began to sob. “It’s okay. We’ll get another one.”
Quinn wasn’t privy to what had happened at the black market. He didn’t know how much easier that was said than done.
Kai did, and her expression grew grim. She was going to put up a fight when Sarah decided to go back. But what other choice did they have? It had been working. They had to try again. The fire inside of her had been magical in nature
; she wouldn’t really burn up. She just had to be stronger. For Eden.
Sarah reached out and fingered one of the jagged pieces. As her fingers closed around the clay, pain lanced through her skull, and she dropped it.
“What is it?” Kai rushed to her side.
“Nothing.” The sensation subsided, and once again, she was just dizzy. “That much magic takes a toll.”
Kai pitched her voice so low that only Sarah could hear. “You are never doing that again.”
But Sarah would try again, even if she had to do it behind her girlfriend’s back. For a brief moment, she’d experienced what her friend lived with all the time. Eden was feeling it even now as Quinn comforted her. It was twisted and dark and torturous, and Sarah would not leave her in it.
Sarah nodded to Kai and mouthed, “I won’t. I promise.”
“It’s okay,” Quinn murmured. “We’ll get another urn, or we’ll try something else.”
Eden let herself be held but could not be comforted. Quinn didn’t understand. How could he?
Bes’tal was right—she was stupid. Stupid to think she’d beaten him the night his body had died, and stupid to think she could beat him for good. She cried harder into Quinn’s embrace.
She pulled back, wiping her eyes as she turned to Sarah. “Are you okay?”
Eden had been scorched by the fire in her veins and knew how much her friend had suffered.
Sarah’s face was pale and drawn. “I’m fine. I’m just trying to figure out what happened. We almost had him. The urn was glowing, and I felt him…” Sarah cast a meaningful glance. “I felt him.”
Eden felt naked. Of all the secrets she’d been keeping, this was the one she’d been most afraid of having revealed—what was happening in her own mind. She spoke before Quinn or Kai could ask what Sarah meant.
“I sensed it too. Like a weight was being lifted. He was being drawn out. And then…” And then I broke the urn to save your life. “I don’t know, my body seized or something. He must have been fighting back.”
“Did he talk to you?” Kai asked, her expression unreadable. “Did he say anything?”
Eden shook her head. “It was just colors and feelings.”
“Colors?” Kai said.
“Dark swirls. Bes’tal isn’t corporeal anymore, it’s not like he needs form.”
Eden wanted to stop talking. She couldn’t handle an interrogation right now. Quinn saved her.
“We can go over the details tomorrow.” His tone was firm. “It’s late. Eden needs to rest, and Sarah looks like she should too.”
Kai nodded, seeming abashed. “You’re right. Come on, Sarah. Let’s get you to bed.”
Sarah let Kai help her to her feet, and the couple made their way to the door. Eden followed and pulled Sarah into a tight hug.
“I felt it too,” Eden whispered. “I felt the fire. I’m so sorry.”
“It was nothing.” Lies slipped so easily from Sarah’s lips these days. She spoke softly, right into Eden’s ear. “I’ll be ready next time.”
The pair left, and silence shaped the room. Quinn came to her, but he seemed to know not to speak. She couldn’t bear his encouragement right now. He wrapped her in his arms, his clean scent filling her nostrils.
For weeks, she had longed for quiet, and whether the ritual had drained enough energy to keep the voices at bay, or it was just a ruse to lull her into a false sense of security, she was finally alone with her thoughts.
They were not safe company.
Chapter 24
Eden woke with a start.
“What is it?” In his bed next to her, Quinn sounded on high alert.
“I’m not sure, I just…” Slept. She’d slept. For nine hours, confirmed by a check of her phone.
Since Bes’tal, she’d gotten only a few fitful hours a night. The dreams of the dead, their voices…
The voices.
Eden blinked.
“Are you okay?” Quinn’s weary face was filled with concern, and Eden guessed he’d been the one lying awake last night.
“I am. Sorry. I just woke up and remembered what happened last night.” It was true, but it wasn’t the only reason Eden seemed out of sorts.
The quiet in her mind was almost unnerving. She hadn’t realized how accustomed she’d become to the constant chatter.
“I’m starving.” The words were a revelation. For the first time in weeks, she was hungry for actual food. Not power, not revenge, just pancakes. “Do you have time for breakfast before class?”
Quinn’s smile was almost a full-blown grin. He brushed hair from her forehead. “My first class started an hour ago.”
“What? Why didn’t you go?”
“I wanted to be here when you woke up.”
“Thank you, babe. That’s sweet. But I didn’t mean for you to miss class. Do you want to make your next one?”
“Not really,” he said, pulling her close. “And I’d love it if you played hooky too.”
She flinched inside, waiting for the feeling of suffocation that now came with being held, but it didn’t come. She was bound from magic, and that still had its own lack of air, but Quinn’s embrace was nothing but a comfort, and she allowed herself to settle into it.
“I would love to play hooky with you.” She sighed, feeling content until her stomach rumbled loud enough for both of them to hear. “As long as hooky includes breakfast.”
Hooky did include breakfast, and when Eden popped a piece of pancake into her mouth, dripping with syrup, it was as though she were eating for the first time.
“Oh my God,” she said around a mouthful. “This is amazing.” She went for a bite of crispy hash browns. “What do they put in these? They’re the best I’ve ever had.”
“Pretty sure it’s just potatoes.” Quinn watched her, seeming amused at her gusto.
A sip of orange juice exploded on Eden’s tongue. She took another gulp as her taste buds sang. How many meals had she suffered through? This one made up for all of them.
“I’m happy to see you finally eating again, but what is going on?” Quinn pitched his voice low. “Does it have to do with last night?”
“It must,” Eden said around a second mouthful of pancake. “I feel better than I have since…the thing.”
“Is it possible the other thing—the last night thing—worked?”
Eden considered lying. If Quinn thought they’d succeeded in expelling Bes’tal, he wouldn’t have any reason to worry about her anymore. But he deserved as much of the truth as she could spare.
“No, but it weakened him. Weakened them.” They were sitting in a corner booth away from anyone else, but she glanced around just the same. “I feel good, Quinn. Really good. I know we’ve got to figure something else out, but for today, can we not talk about any of those things? Can we just be boyfriend and girlfriend with the day stretched out ahead?”
“Okay,” he said, trepidation in his tone. “But only after you answer the most important question.”
Eden’s stomach tightened, and she stopped herself from taking her next bite. “Which is?”
Quinn grinned. “Where to next?”
“You feeling sesame or plain today?” Kai entered her small dorm room carrying a paper bag, and Sarah glanced up from the text conversation she was having with Eden.
Apparently, her best friend felt great and wanted her to know not to worry. She wasn’t sure that was possible, but she was willing to give her a day of peace. The memory of Bes’tal—the way his essence had felt as it coursed through her—came back, and she shuddered. A day off was the least Eden deserved. Spent as they both were, they shouldn’t head to the black market for at least a week anyway.
“Plain,” Sarah replied. Her stomach had been queasy since last night.
She poured two cups of coffee, adding extra milk to her own, hoping to cut the acidity she usually enjoyed.
“How’s Eden?” Kai gestured to the phone.
“Fine.” Sarah pulled off a small section of bage
l. “Better than fine. The spell didn’t work, but I guess it helped.”
“Helped how?” Kai’s face was neutral, but Sarah knew what was coming.
“She woke up feeling good—like herself. She and Quinn just finished breakfast and are headed to an indoor art festival happening on the other side of town.”
Kai took a sip of her coffee then set it down, her gaze penetrating. “Are we seriously going to do this?”
“Going to do what?” Sarah forced herself to eat the bite of bagel. She wasn’t convinced it was going to stay down.
“Pretend things are fine. The spell didn’t work. Eden broke the urn.” The way Kai emphasized the last sentence gave Sarah pause.
“What are you getting at?”
“Do you really need me to say it?”
The two stared at each other in silence for a long moment.
“You think she sabotaged the spell.” Sarah felt anger bubbling up inside of her. “She would never do that.”
“Are you sure?”
“Stop it.” Sarah pushed back her chair and rose from the table. “Stop trying to make me doubt my friend. You don’t know her.”
“That’s the point, Sarah. Neither do you. Not anymore.”
“I’m not listening to this.” Sarah crossed to the door and grabbed her coat.
“You have to listen to this.” Kai put her hands on Sarah’s shoulders. “I know she is your friend, and you love her. I love how much you love her and how loyal you are. But she is not the same person she was.”
“You’re right.” Sarah shook loose of Kai’s grip. “She’s not the same. She’s been living with something you can’t ever understand. Something I didn’t come close to understanding until last night when I felt it.”
Kai’s eyes narrowed. “Felt what?”
“Bes’tal. His essence. The dark, twisted toxin that’s polluting my friend.” Sarah shuddered, and her voice softened, pulled into the memory. “After just one minute, I felt like I’d never get clean again. Eden has been living with that for every second of every day for the past two weeks. There is no way she would do anything to ruin the one chance she had to be rid of it.”
Bound Page 12
