by A. N. Sage
Around us, the evening settled into shadows and I could sense the hairs on my arms rise. Something wasn’t right; we were being followed. We jogged down the small street and I could see the church grow as we approached it. The stained glass windows stared back at me and the large, mahogany doors formed a large open mouth.
Just then, footsteps echoed behind me, matching the pace of our own. My mouth opened to match the church and I stopped in my tracks, yanking Peyton back with me. The steps behind me skidded to a stop.
“Don’t… move…” I instructed through clench teeth.
Peyton nodded and I saw her face pale. My best friend was already as ashen as snow but standing here in a dark, empty street with my threats in the air—she looked like a Peyton-sized statue.
I dropped her arm and kicked my boot up to snatch the dagger from its core before looping around to turn back. My breaths hung heavy and I could see it linger in the frosty air before disappearing. I curled my fingers around the dagger, not worrying about showing it off to the stranger I faced. It was a man in his late twenties with long, blonde hair and the rigid body of an athlete. He wore a knee-length overcoat and his eyes glowed in the threatening darkness; lavender orbs pointed straight at me.
“Witch,” he hissed and curled his lip to reveal a row of teeth sharpened into points. “And you…”
His bright eyes trained on Peyton’s back and I could see my friend grow rigid at his words. I peeled my gaze from him to stare at Peyton but she didn’t acknowledge my presence; her eyes were locked on the church doors just steps ahead. I could smell her fear like it was my own.
“What do you want, mind reaper?” I shouted and felt Peyton’s shoulders rise next to me.
“You,” he growled and I rolled my eyes. Why do the shadowers always have to make everything so extra?!?
“Well, you got me. Now run along before we have a problem.”
I had no intention of fighting a mind reaper right now. Not with us this out in the open and Peyton here. The last thing I wanted was to put my friend in danger. Unfortunately, the mind reaper made my mind up for me.
Before I could blink, he lunged for me, his hands outstretched to grab hold of mine.
My training kicked in and I shoved Peyton out of the way to send her tumbling off the sidewalk and unto the grassy area behind us. She scrambled on the ground, pushing herself back and dragging her ass across the grass, her eyes locked on the man. There was something different in her expression that I couldn’t place—something akin to recognition. I shook my head and turned back to the mind reaper that stood inches away from me.
He moved fast, his fingers reaching for me until he was so close to my neck I could taste his breath in the air. Without hesitation, I dropped to the ground and spun sideways, slicing my dagger at his shins. The blade cut through the thin fabric of his slacks and the smell of iron filled the air. The mind reaper cursed and jumped back, his eyes jolting from me to the cut on his leg.
“I will have you,” he whispered and my heart leaped in my throat.
He jumped and though I tried to swerve out of the way, I was too late. The mind reaper pummeled me to the ground and I could feel the cement of the sidewalk tear at the exposed flesh of my forearms. I cringed, biting my bottom lip to keep from screaming.
“BILLIE!” Peyton shouted behind us and got up.
“Stay back!” I warned her and dug into my jeans pocket for the hand-held mirror I had stashed there. “I got this!”
The reaper went for my throat but before he could make contact, I flipped the mirror and pointed it to the moon. The light reflected off the surface and I titled the mirror toward the reaper’s eyes. He yelped, shutting his lids and freeing me of his evil glare. I kicked his stomach, sending him flying backward, and jumped to stand. My eyes met Peyton’s for a moment before I tightened my grip on the dagger’s hilt and rushed for him.
Close to me, Peyton’s cries echoed, but they didn’t reach me. Everything around me grew still until all I could hear was my heavy panting. My legs pushed off the sidewalk and I leaped in the air, landing with one foot on the ground and one on the reaper’s chest. His breath burst from his lips and he coughed as my boot kicked him again. I lowered my knee to his cheek and pressed it down to hold him in place as I pushed the dagger into his heart. The sound of ribs breaking screeched in my eardrum and I dropped the mirror on the ground to pull out the amber crystal I had stashed in my jacket. After the first shadower attack, I didn’t leave the house without it.
Fire burst from my fingers as I slammed the crystal to the reaper’s forehead. I could feel him writhe under my hold as he squirmed to get away. His arms jerked and he kicked his legs back but between my dagger in his chest and the crystal ripping his mind apart; I had him trapped. I stood up, forcing my magic into the crystal as I let go. With a swoop motion, I lifted my boot and smashed it into the dagger’s hilt to drive the blade deeper into the reaper’s heart.
Behind me, Peyton gasped.
The reaper let out an agonizing scream as flames burst from his body, burning him into oblivion. My eyes widened and I watched the man’s skin turn to ash and his lavender eyes become vacant. He let out a last breath and I pulled the amethyst pendant off my chest and threw my magic outward. A gust of wind engulfed the reaper, twirling like a small tornado and dispersing his ashes around me. My hair whipped over my face and I closed my eyes, breathing to pull the magic back.
The wind settled and when I looked down, the reaper was gone and my dagger and crystal lay on the cement.
It was done.
“What…in… the… actual… hell?” Peyton breathed heavily behind me.
I turned to my friend and ran to scoop her into a hug. My arms tightened around her shoulders as I squeezed the living daylights out of her. “Are you okay?”
“What the hell was that?”
“Mind reaper,” I whispered.
Peyton pushed away from me and walked to the empty spot where the reaper just lay seconds ago. “Okay, you really need to fill me on this crap,” she said, her face still ashen.
“I will. Let’s just get to your place now. Hey, why did that guy look at you like you’ve met before?”
Peyton shrugged and arched her eyebrows. “I’ve seen nothing like that before. Let’s get home, I’m freaking out over here.”
I nodded and intertwined her fingers in mine. We walked the rest of the way in silence, zigging and zagging through the church’s grounds as I let Peyton lead the way to her backyard. My lungs burnt and my hair was a matted mess of sweat and knots. When we got to a large fence that encased the yard, I stood back while my friend fumbled with the lock to let us through. My gaze watched her as she cursed before finally getting the back gate to open. Even with the shadower gone and both of us safe, I couldn’t get my heart to stop racing. That mind reaper knew Peyton somehow, I was sure of it. But why? What did my best friend have to do with the lavender-eyed monster I just vanquished? More importantly, why was she pretending like it didn’t happen?
You’re Not Here For Her
There is no way Peyton could be involved in the weirdness happening in Shadowhurst. No freaking way!
I recited the thought like a mantra as I walked through the halls of the academy the next morning. With everything going on, it was becoming harder and harder for me to concentrate on the classes. How was I supposed to think about velocity equations right now? I wanted to skip the day and take time to dig into my lead on the fae families but I knew that wasn’t an option. Missing class meant word would get back to the Chandlers who would no doubt contact my fake caseworkers and I did NOT want the High Coven to butt in. At least not until I can figure out why that mind reaper knew Peyton and if she was involved in these murders.
My body vibrated from thinking about it. Could my best friend—my only friend—be a part of this somehow? Could she be the witch I’m looking for?
I didn’t sense magic off Peyton in the entire time I’ve known her but this witch was more powerful
than I gave her credit for. If she could block herself from being scried, she probably had no trouble blocking her magic from me. But could Peyton be this evil and cruel as to kill all those students? I couldn’t picture it. Then again, I couldn’t picture River being a witch hunter, and yet here we were.
That’s it! As soon as school’s over, I’m going straight for the books. I didn’t care if that meant spending time with River, all I wanted was to find out who the next target was so I could catch the witch in action. What if it’s Peyton? My head wanted to explode and my mouth dried. What would I do if my plan worked and it was Peyton who showed up for the kill? Could I surrender my best friend to the High Coven?
“Focus, moron,” I cursed myself.
A student from one of the junior classes locked her gaze on mine and I smiled before mouthing “sorry” and scurrying off. I was starting to lose it here.
I ducked past a group of students huddled outside the music room and turned the corner. I had taken the long way to second period, knowing Peyton was likely late as usual so I had no chance of running into her. I felt bad avoiding her and not responding to the gazillion texts she sent me this morning but I really did not know how to face her right now. Something about the shadower interaction I witnessed wasn’t right and I couldn’t talk to my friend until I had some answers.
Putting some weight into my steps, I zoomed by an open classroom door when a hand reached out to tug me inside. My breath hitched and I pushed whoever grabbed me, following with a swift punch.
“OUCH!” River yelled, rubbing his elbow. “Morning to you too.”
“Oh my god, River!” I gasped and brought my hands to my mouth. My eyes landed on his and I licked my lips before crossing my arms over my chest. “What’s with the assault?”
“I called your name like three times.” He shook his head. “Had to get your attention somehow.”
“It couldn’t wait till after class?” I snapped.
River stepped to the side and I gasped when I saw we weren’t alone in the room.
“Told you I’d let you meet the other hunters.”
The air thickened around me and I had to dig my heels into the floor as my gaze rippled over the other people in the classroom. Directly behind River, at a table, sat Tyler with Abigail perched like a spider monkey in his lap. Abigail’s mini-dress was bunched up so high I could see where her legs started and her hands were dug into the front of his button-up. Neither of them bothered to look my direction. Next to them, Morgan and Jayden argued over something I couldn’t hear. As always, Jayden sported his academy varsity jacket and Morgan had on yet another version of the floral tanks she seemed to be obsessed with. She glanced up at me and winked before returning to the argument. With difficulty, I tried to force a smile but my face froze when I turned my head to the last person in the room.
Sitting cross-legged on a classroom table in leather leggings and a crop top was Savannah. Her eyes pierced into me and a snarl formed on her lips as our eyes met. She shook her curls and leaned back on her hands like she was trying to make herself look less intimidating. It did not work. At all.
I swallowed and turned back to River. “So these are the hunters?”
“Yep!” He announced, “Well, most of them.”
“Who’s missing?”
River cleared his throat and his eyes darkened into a deeper shade of emerald I’ve seen.
“Grady,” he said before facing me again. “Welcome to the team.”
Morgan smiled and Jayden gave me a thumbs up. Abigail still refused to look at me but I noticed Tyler glance over her exposed shoulder and grin. To my left, Savannah murmured something nasty under her breath.
I wasn’t surprised to find out River’s closest friends were the hunters. Of course, they were. It made sense now why someone as nice as him would hang out with the hyenas.
“Um,” I choked out. “Hello. Again.”
“This is a mistake, River,” Savannah snapped.
“Cool your jets, girl,” Jayden said. “If River says she’s cool and can help, then it’s totes fine with the rest of us.”
River turned to his friend and nodded. “Thanks.”
“I got you, bruh.”
Morgan turned to face me and it surprised me to see a smile on her face. “So, Billie. Why don’t you fill us in on what you dug up so far.”
Before I could answer, Savannah hopped off the table and made her way toward me. Her eyes darted between me and River and when I followed her gaze, I realized that I had been holding his hand the entire time I was in the classroom. My cheeks flushed and I unwound my fingers from his just as she approached.
“I don’t trust her,” Savannah hissed. “She’s not one of us. You should have checked in before you went blabbing all our secrets to the new kid.”
“She has a name,” River said. “And the others don’t seem to have a problem with it.”
The queen snapped her neck to look at her friends who all looked away in unison to get back to what they were doing before. “This is some serious bullshit, you all know that, right?”
I stepped closer to face her. “Hey! I’m here to help. So deal with it.”
She was in my face in seconds. The curls of her hair brushed against my cheek and I uncurled my spine to meet her eye to eye. Savannah’s face was grim; a shield of rage and hatred. She pointed a finger at my chest, her arm shaking. “You,” she growled, “don’t belong here.”
Without thinking, I slapped her hand away.
“Get off your high horse, princess. You’re not the boss of anyone here.”
Behind us, Jayden whistled. “Whoa! I like her!”
“This won’t end well, River,” Savannah said but kept her arms at her side this time. Her eyes jerked back to me and she sneered. “He’s waaaaaay out of your league.”
Heat filled me from head to toe and my vision blurred. If I thought I was fed up with Savannah and her holier-the-thou attitude before, I was definitely over it now. My teeth ground against each other and my jaw tightened as I fisted my hands at my side. On my finger, the moonstone ring felt cold against my burning skin as my magic rushed to the surface. I could feel its power and energy flow through me, begging me to act. Shaking, I brought my hand to the amethyst at my neck and pulled on its element. Energy soared from the crystal, shattering my bones into pieces. If I acted quickly, I could make this girl drown right in the classroom.
My lids fluttered and I tried to push the magic away but it was too strong and too wild now. My entire body shook with its hold on me and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from lashing out. Why am I trying to control this? She’s a hunter, they all are. I should hurt them. I should kill them right here and now.
Beside me, River moved to stand between us and the smell of wood and earth surrounded me. My eyes blinked as I tried to focus on his face and not on Savannah’s spiteful insults. She was yapping so fast I couldn’t make out the words, but I knew that everything she was saying should hurt me somehow. River grabbed my hand, yanking it away from the crystal and looked at me through those beautiful, thick lashes of his. My breath quivered and I found myself limp in his grasp; unable to follow through with what my magic wanted me to do. His thumb drew circles over my palm and I counted them as I took deep breaths to calm down.
“You’re not here for her,” he whispered, “you’re here for those students.”
Sixteen circles.
My heartbeat slowed and I swallowed his words like they were a life-raft, clinging to every syllable to keep from going under. He was right. I had to calm down and follow through. I needed the hunters to understand all this. Follow the blood. Sebyl’s words flashed in my mind and I buried the heels of my boots into the floor. I had to follow the blood. Grady’s blood, Lacey, and Ariana’s blood—fae blood.
I peaked over River’s shoulder to scan the hunters. Now I got why they were so dead set on finding the killer witch; she took their friend from them. I almost fell sorry for the group until Savanna
h rolled her eyes and groaned. Infiltrate the hunters, use them to lead you to the witch, then call in the High Coven to deal with them. The plan wouldn’t change no matter how many damn circles River drew into my palm. Twenty-seven. I ripped my hand away from him and stepped around his wide shoulders to face the hunters.
“So,” I said and half-smiled. “Who’s ready to help me catch a witch?”
Clay Clayton
“Yo, B! Wait up!” Peyton yelled out as I marched down the path leading to the bike locks.
I cringed at the tone of her voice before turning around. My eyes narrowed, but I slapped a smile on my face to not give myself away. I still had no clue if I should trust her but as instantly as I turned to my friend, I was filled with worry instead. Peyton’s hair was a hot mess and her eyes were puffy like she’d been crying all night. I furrowed my brow and waited for her to catch up.
“Crazy busy day.” I shrugged. “You okay?”
Peyton spat out the string of hair she was chewing on. “Yeah, yeah. Couldn’t sleep last night. I found something. A name.”
“Huh?”
“Girl, catch up! I found another name! Like the…” She lowered her voice, “Fae.”
Oh. OH!
“Holy crap, for real?” I asked, my fake smile warping into a genuine one.
“Sure is! After you left, I spent all night searching the web for original families that could have married outside of Shadowhurst.”
“Why?”
Peyton shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Because of this petty thing called vows and how women fall for that stereotypical bullshit of giving up their entire identity to take on the man’s name?” My friend’s face looked disgusted as though the thought of changing her name made her want to tear her eyes out. “Anyway, there was a ton to go through, but I was able to track one of the last names from the book Ms. Broussard gave us to a family living at the edge of town.”
She paused and I bit a loose cuticle from my thumb. “WHO?” I half-shouted.
