by Pat Esden
—Transformation Spell, traded to Rhianna Davies
Translated from Archaic Welsh by Magus Dux
“Keshari!” Chloe wailed as Devlin dragged her out of the building. The light from the bloody sword in her hand illuminated the smoke-filled alleyway, revealing a team of firemen thundering toward them.
Devlin flagged them on. “We’re fine. But there’s a girl trapped. Inside. Near the end of the hallway.”
Chloe yanked free from Devlin and started to follow them. “I’ll show you where.”
He snagged her arm. His grip was firm as he pulled her away from the firemen and the emergency exit, through the smoke, up the alleyway toward the street. “Let them do their job. Keshari wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”
“No!” Chloe twisted, wrestling against him, trying to break free. “It’s my fault she’s in there! If it weren’t for me, she wouldn’t have come.”
“Stop it, Chloe.” Devlin took her by both arms and looked her square in the eyes. All around them emergency vehicles screamed, their blue and red lights strobing in the thick smoke. People ran past, shrieking, crying, zigzagging in every direction. Devlin nodded at the sword in her hand. “This isn’t over, is it?”
She glanced back down the alleyway. Flames now crackled from the windows and eaves, illuminating the smoke. With all her heart and soul, she ached to run back and find Keshari. But there was something else in the air besides the smoke and heat, something even more powerful and horrifying than the fire. The Shade. She could sense his magic out there, somewhere, buzzing and snapping. She hated it, but Devlin was right. The firemen were already searching for Keshari. The rescue workers were everywhere. The words Keshari had said in the club’s hallway reverberated in her head: Returning the Shade is more important than your welfare—or mine. If you fail, then all we love will be destroyed.
Devlin gave her a shake. “Chloe, snap out of it. What’s going on?”
She clenched her teeth, drawing up her magic to bolster herself. Adrenaline pushed into her veins. She had to finish this. For the Circle. For her family. For Keshari and all she loved. “We—I have to get to the Earth Clock. The sword. Before midnight.”
“Do you have a car?” Devlin asked, releasing her arms.
She pulled the keys from her pocket and thrust them at him. “The Cherokee. It’s near the park.”
Devlin nodded, the tips of his fingers grazing hers warmly as he took the key. “You might want to do something about that sword.”
She shoved the sword under her sweater. Light leaked out from the loose weave, still it was less noticeable than before.
“Let’s go,” he said.
She took one last look down the alleyway. Please, Gods and Goddesses. Please watch over Keshari, she prayed. Then she turned and headed down the street.
They jogged between police cars and firetrucks, keeping their heads down, moving as fast as they could. Her throat burned from the smoke. Grime packed her nose. As they skirted an ambulance she spotted the Rescue Twins, helping a short woman onto a gurney. Chloe’s heart stumbled. Juliet.
She took a second look. Not Juliet. The breath sucked from her lungs and the world once again seemed to collapse around her. Where was Juliet? Trapped in the building like Keshari? And Em. And Midas…How about the rest of the coven? Who was dead? Who was alive? Where were they?
“Keep going.” Devlin seized her hand, linking them together, towing her along as she once again struggled to refocus. Firetrucks raced by. Car horns blared. A tide of people rushed toward the fire, impeding their progress. Chloe clutched the sword tight against her body, its heat and magic radiating into her, lending her more strength and conviction.
They turned onto Church Street. The smoke smell diminished. Only a few people passed by. The Thinker was gone. The park was empty. They dashed past the fountain…
“Devlin! Chloe. Wait,” a woman shouted, just as they reached the Cherokee.
Chloe wheeled toward the voice. A tiny part of her prayed it was Keshari, though in her heart she knew that was impossible.
Em came flying up the sidewalk to them. No soot or filth on her face or clothes. She was out of breath from running, but otherwise appeared oddly unfazed.
Chloe gaped at her, shocked but delighted. “You weren’t in the club?”
“I was at an A.A. meeting.” Em raked her hands through her hair, talking fast. “It’s been hard enough to not drink at the coven gatherings. I wasn’t about to go to a club, no matter how much they badgered me.” She took a breath. “I was there in the meeting, thinking…I got this feeling. At first I thought it was a ghost calling me, then I heard the sirens. I saw you and Devlin running. I have to tell you something, right away.”
“Get in,” Devlin interrupted. He flung open the driver’s door and vaulted into the seat. “Hurry.”
Chloe pulled the sword out from under her sweater, the air around them brightening like daytime as she jumped into the passenger seat and set it on her lap. Em dove into the back, not even as much as blinking at the sword. No huge surprise, Chloe thought. Em was the girl who spent her time talking to the dead. Why would a glowing sword alarm her?
As Devlin threw the Cherokee into reverse, Chloe briefly explained to them about the Earth Clock and what she needed to do. None of them mentioned the fire or who could be dead or trapped. Everyone seemed to understand they couldn’t afford to think about those things.
Devlin floored the gas, zigzagging through traffic. Streetlights exploded on both sides of them. Ahead, the traffic lights flashed erratically. Fire licked along their wires, sparks sprayed down. The sword’s glow intensified.
“Who’s Rhianna?” Chloe asked bluntly, as Devlin took a shortcut through a parking lot. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know. But Athena had called herself by that name when she was ranting. Now that she thought about it, Devlin had mentioned someone named Rhianna too. It had been right after she’d talked to his grandfather Zeus on the phone.
“Rhianna Davies?” Devlin’s voice cracked. “She’s the woman who was—” He frowned, a deep shadow darkening his eyes. “She was my father’s first girlfriend, and later his mistress. My grandfather banished her from the Circle, way back when it was located in Saratoga Springs. She’s powerful and crazy.”
Chloe’s head whirred, the pieces of a disturbing puzzle beginning to come together. This was beyond horrific, all the way to downright petrifying.
For a moment, Devlin didn’t speak as they flew through another intersection and squealed around a corner. He let out a loud breath. “I’m not kidding about the crazy part. She’s a registered sociopath.”
Em leaned over the back of Chloe’s seat. “You’re thinking this Rhianna is behind everything?”
“Not exactly,” Chloe said slowly, gathering her nerve to say what she really thought. Devlin wasn’t going to be happy to hear it. “I think Rhianna is masquerading as Athena. The way the Shade changed his appearance.”
Devlin stomped on the brakes, slowing before he veered around a stalled car. “I knew something was wrong. I thought she was obsessed. I thought…She manipulated all of us.”
The anger in his voice sent a chill up Chloe’s spine. She bit her tongue, holding in a question that would only deepen his rage. A question that sent nausea creeping up her throat. If Rhianna was masquerading as Athena, then where was the real Athena?
Em raised her voice. “You know that thing I wanted to tell you?”
Bang! Something heavy smashed against the windshield. The Cherokee swerved. Chloe’s hands went to the sword, clutching it as Devlin swung the wheel, bringing the car back into the road.
Em screamed, “Monkey!”
Right in front of Chloe’s face, giant nut and bolt eyes glared through the cracked windshield. Its knife-blade fingers yanked on the broken glass, ripping pieces free.
Devlin jerked the wheel hard to the rig
ht, steering into the curb again. The monkey slid across the hood, claws squealing against the metal. Its wings jackknifed open. Devlin stomped on the brakes and the monkey summersaulted over the windshield. Its body thumped against the car’s roof.
Another thump sounded, this time at the back of the car.
“Shit, it’s another one. Hold on!” Devlin hit the gas, tires squealing.
Em began to murmur a prayer. “Bless us. Protect us…”
Chloe swiveled and glanced out the back window. The silhouette of a monkey rolled across the pavement, illuminated by the headlights of a car behind them. A second monkey nosedived onto that car’s hood, punching its fists against the window. The car swerved, skidding wildly from one lane to the other. As it careened under a streetlight, Chloe caught a glimpse of a sign on top of the car. A taxi. Not the Shade. Not Athena. And there were no other cars following.
“The Shade has to have recovered by now,” she said, facing forward. “Where do you think he—and everyone else—is? They aren’t behind us.”
“Not far.” Devlin stepped on the gas, streaking down the street. They’d be at the turn to the complex and park in a minute.
Em leaned forward, talking fast. “That thing I need to tell you. It’s important, especially after what Chloe said about Rhianna masquerading as Athena.” She gulped a breath. “Don’t hate me, Devlin. I can’t be sure. But there are murmurings.”
“What are you talking about?” Devlin snapped. “Who’s murmuring—about what?”
“The dead. They said…The orb loves you, Devlin. It loves the coven. That’s the reason it didn’t want to leave.” Her voice quieted, almost to a whisper. “I think the orb is Athena’s spirit.”
Chloe clamped her hand over her mouth, smothering a gasp. Where was the real Athena? Whose spirit was the orb? Em’s theory answered so many questions. Out the corner of her eye, she stole a look at Devlin.
His knuckles went white as he steered with one hand. He pulled his phone from his jacket and thrust it at her. “Tell my grandfather about Rhianna. That she—” His voice stuttered. “We might not make it out of this. Someone needs to know.”
He slowed the Cherokee, steering around the corner. Chloe found his grandfather’s number, but the call went to voicemail. “Zeus, this is Chloe. We think Rhianna might have done something to Athena.”
“Tell the truth,” Devlin snarled. “I’m going to kill her.”
Thump! Something hit the roof as they passed the complex’s driveway.
Em began to pray again.
Chloe clutched the phone, enunciating each word carefully. “Rhianna killed Athena. We’re—”
Headlights blared against their shattered windshield. A pickup sped straight at them.
“Hold on!” Devlin shouted. He stepped on the gas, accelerating instead of swerving.
A scream tore from Chloe’s mouth. She dropped the phone, hands flying to the sword.
Devlin jerked the wheel hard, throwing Chloe against the door. Metal screeched as they sideswiped past the truck. She caught a glimpse of the driver. Matt. Brooklyn beside him. The Cherokee jumped the curb, thumping into the roadside weeds.
“You okay?” Devlin asked.
Chloe had her door open, already climbing out. She nodded.
“I’m fine, too,” Em said, joining her.
The pickup lay crumpled on the other side of the road. Half its hood was smashed flat against its windshield. A monkey wing protruded from the wreckage. Brooklyn leapt from the passenger side. She ran around to the driver’s door, yanked it open, and hauled Matt out. She punched him square in the face. Matt staggered back against the truck, blood streaming down his face.
“What the fuck?” he stammered.
“Son of a bitch. You’re not screwing with my coven.” She punched him again, this time in the ribs. She kneed him in the groin and he sunk to the ground, swearing and groaning.
For an instant, Chloe couldn’t believe her eyes. Brooklyn was going after Matt, like she was beyond pissed. Like she was on their side, not the Shade’s. Either way, she didn’t have time to figure it out. She had to get to the stone, before it was too late.
Leaving them behind, she raced down the road and into the park with Devlin and Em hot on her heels. Ahead, the circle of stones loomed, shadowy under the sword’s eerie brilliance.
Tires squealed behind them and headlights fanned the path. An engine roared, closing in. The whine of a smaller engine joined the pursuit.
“They’re going to run us over,” Em shouted, veering off the path and into the trees.
Devlin snagged Chloe’s arm, hauling her along with him. She pushed all she had into her aching legs, running faster than she ever had. She was almost to the circle, too late for even a car to catch up. The cars screeched to a stop. Doors opened and slammed shut. Midas’s voice. Jessica. Shouting. Footsteps closing in. The snap of angry magic.
The outline of a monkey swooped from the darkness, its razor-sharp wings folded as it jetted toward Chloe. She skidded to a stop. Devlin let go of her, an energy-ball building in his hands.
“Solvo fasciculos!” Chandler’s unexpected voice echoed nearby. A sizzling arc of light shot toward the monkey, slamming it in midair. Every weld on the monkey glowed white-hot. It broke into hundreds of pieces, arms, legs, eyes, wings…all rained down across the circle of stones, hissing against the damp grass, steam rising.
For a second Chloe was sure she’d gone crazy. It was crazy, everything that was happening. She took a fresh grip on the sword and a deep breath. Focus, she told herself. No distractions. The sword. Have to get it to the stone on the far side of the circle—
Lightning streaked from the sky, striking the ground directly in front of the stone. Smoke fanned outward and the Shade and Athena materialized. An oozing burn covered his neck. His shirt was torn and charred, but the buzz of his energy made even the grass tremble.
He and Athena strode toward Chloe and Devlin. The Shade pointed his staff at her. “Well done. But I tire of this game…” His gaze slipped sideways to Athena and he wrinkled his nose as if he smelled something unpleasant. “My dear, strip off that foul artifice. Seeing you like that is most unsettling.”
She smirked. “My pleasure. I’d like the boy to see the truth before he dies.” She yanked the beaded choker off her neck. The rippling halo Chloe had caught flashes of before descended over Athena, like an iridescent burial pall. Then Athena vanished, replaced by an unnaturally blond and curvaceous middle-aged woman with stretched-tight skin that suggested she’d done far too many youth-spells.
“Rhianna,” Devlin growled.
The Shade grinned proudly. “Wise child. Would you care to guess what—or should I say whom—the necklace was made from?”
“You bastard!” Devlin’s voice bordered on hysteria.
Fear for Devlin thundered through Chloe, but she couldn’t let anything take her mind off her goal. Twenty yards to the Shade and Athena. Twenty yards beyond them to the stone.
She drew up her energy until her body quivered with it. The sword heated in her hand. She set her jaw, eyes on the stone.
“Fuck you.” The thwack of a hard slap came from behind her.
“Stupid bitch!” Jessica shouted.
Brooklyn’s voice rose. “You deserved it, asshole!”
Chloe redoubled her focus, refusing to waver as all hell broke loose behind her. Jessica. Midas. Everyone yelling. Fists hit flesh. Magic hissed.
Devlin rocketed toward Rhianna, a wave of blue magic surging from both hands. She staggered back, her legs collapsing beneath her. But her hands were already gathering a blazing energy-ball. A foul burning smell filled the air, warring with an earthy scent of juniper.
Chloe extended the sword out straight in front of her, readying to race for the stone.
The Shade grinned. “You don’t want to do that.”
“Bow before me,” he bellowed. His voice hit her, a seismic wave of energy pushing against her and demanding she drop to the ground. She locked her knees, no longer able to move forward but refusing to do his bidding. His magic pressed against her body. It drilled into her skull, screaming and cycling like a siren.
She clenched her teeth, straining to block out the sound. He wanted to break her and bring her into his fold. She clamped her eyes shut and focused on the heat of the sword in her hand. Damn him. He wasn’t going to win.
A blast of cold air sliced across her face, as frigid as midwinter.
Her eyes shot open. What the hell was going on?
Fog blanketed everything now, so impenetrable it obliterated the trees and sky. It spiraled from the ground. It clung to her skin and clothes.
Chloe grasped the sword in two hands and turned in a slow circle. The sword’s light reflected off the swirling gray and glimmering silver. The Shade’s magic whispered and spun all around her like a million hornets, disorienting her.
Somewhere beyond the screen of fog, Devlin groaned. Em shrieked. But she couldn’t see anyone, not even the Shade. No one. Nothing, including the stone she desperately needed to reach.
“Two more minutes,” the Shades voice crooned. “Bow to me and live. Everyone else has.”
She didn’t believe that, but still she prayed, Please Hecate. Please Nimue. Someone help me.
“Too late for that,” the Shade’s magic whispered.
A shudder worked its way up her spine, morphing into a cold sweat as flecks of purple light sparked in the fog. Not the savior she’d wanted. It was the glimmer of the staff crystal. Merlin’s weapon in the hands of his shade. Its light sparked and sluiced into the gray, mixing with it and whirling faster and faster on every side of her.
“Because of you, the boy will never recover,” the Shade taunted, as the purple sparks spun like merry-go-round lights gone insane. “Listen, do you hear the squeak of a faucet and the splash of water? That’s the sound of Greta filling her bathtub.” He laughed. “Juliet would do anything I asked. Drink bleach. Drink hemlock. Hold Greta’s head under the water—”
