by S. L. Morgan
“Well, I don’t know why we’re still moving,” Harrison looked at Levi. “Perhaps it’s because I craved a good fight after realizing how boring it was to watch Jenna beat the evil while we stood by and watched?”
“Who are you?” Levi demanded.
“The ones who have finally come to reap the benefits of our work. Where’s the child?” she seethed.
“The tween?” Harrison taunted, seemingly enjoying that the dark coven of witches was here. God only knew if that was the case or not, but the commander definitely seemed excited about this next threat. “Yeah, she’s grieving the loss of a friend at the moment. She’ll have to get back to you. Until then, as her adopted parent, you get to deal with me.”
She snarled and spewed off a louder, different spell as I fought to get my magic surfaced and working again while Harrison was out there, risking his life by stalling these creeps.
“Now, then. That should silence and still you from speaking and moving any farther,” she croaked.
Harrison lunged, swiped his sword out, and held it to the witch’s throat. “Nope. Might want to try your dark, crazy talk on someone else, witch,” he said in a threatening voice. “Oh,” he cocked his head to the side, “maybe if you speak your spooky little spells with a little more passion, perhaps that will work.”
The witch took both her hands, wrapped them around Harrison’s sword, and spit at him. The ground began to shake as the Guardians swiftly approached, surrounding the witches I knew were behind Edgewater’s darkness, the evil I’d battled, and the sacrifice of my mother.
“They say killing an evil, ugly witch is a curse that follows you for life,” Harrison looked at Levi after he did some crazy maneuver that was so quick, I had to wonder if the commander had a hint of vampire in his genetics.
He now had her in front of him, dagger to her throat while his hand gripped her hair, exposing her neck to him.
“You would be a fool to kill me. I’m ancient, and my powers are stronger than you can imagine,” she said.
“So strong that they have placed you in this vulnerable position with my commander?” Levi eyed her. “Perhaps, you are already cursed,” he smirked at Harrison. “I believe you have already killed a dark witch or two in trying to end the threats this coven began at this school.”
“Indeed,” Harrison said, turning to face the mob as they started chanting. “I think they are trying to curse us,” he taunted. “I do not feel a thing.”
“Before I order my men to destroy the people who are responsible for the taking of so many innocent lives—human and supernatural—I will give you a chance to confess so my commander does not feel guilty for taking your head.”
Now, both the Guardian warriors seemed to be taunting a very dark enemy. How in the hell was this witch coven not having any effect on them while we were paralyzed?
That’s when the witch eyed me. She spouted off another spell, and it felt as though lava had entered my bloodstream. My insides felt like they were on fire.
“Now, you are dead, witch,” Harrison snarled as he took her head, prompting the Guardians on horseback to storm into the mob. Within minutes, the horde of evil witches was gone, and we were released of their spell. “When will anyone ever learn that I don’t appreciate being taunted like that?” Harrison asked Levi, wiping the blade of his dagger on his black pants. “Attacking my little wolf shifter was not something I was prepared to tolerate.”
“And now you are cursed,” Levi smirked at his cousin. “That witch was one of the most powerful supernaturals out there, and you ended her life with no confession?”
Harrison rolled his eyes, “It wouldn’t be the first death I’ve delivered without giving a dark force some last, meaningless words to spew out at me. You want to talk about being cursed, you’ve met mine and Angie’s kids, right?”
Levi shook his head and laughed, “You must really stop being so harsh on those twins. We all know that curse was handed down to you with your mother and father’s compliments.”
“Indeed,” Harrison said, walking over to me, Dom, and Ethan like they hadn’t just faced off with the darkest witch coven out there and ended them in a matter of seconds. “Even though those boys are just like me, it gives hope to the future of the Guardian Warriors.”
“Undeniably true, Commander.” Levi chuckled, “Soon, we shall have two warriors with your personality, fighting and annoying the partners they will be assigned to protect humans with.”
“What the hell?” I said when they both approached us. “How were you invincible to their spells?”
“That’s the thing, little munchkin,” Harrison teased. “We are Guardians. We aren’t supernatural creatures, and therefore, ridiculous spells of any kind from the supernatural forces have no hold on us. We are sort of programmed to be different from the rest. How else does a race of beings such as ourselves take on enemies of all types to protect humans?”
“You and your men have just destroyed a dark coven that’s been in hiding—even from us oracles—for decades. There is no way for us to offer the correct appreciation for this.”
“No need,” Levi nodded at Ethan. “They have obviously been at this for quite some time.” He glanced back to where his men were lighting fires and turning the coven of dark witches into flames and ash. “They were lured out of hiding, and it seems as though the final threats have officially ended.”
“Darklings! Dark Warriors! Hell’s servants of valor!” I heard Professor Marguerite scream out so loudly that I jumped into Dom’s side in a knee-jerk response to the psychotic vampire professor who had obviously been hiding throughout this entire showdown.
“Who in all of creation is this?” Harrison caught the woman by the back of her neck, “Did we somehow miss a witch out of that coven?” Harrison eyed her while she was snarling and choking on her spit. “Good God,” he said as if he’d smelled the worst thing in the world, “it’s a vampire?”
“That vampire was our professor after you had the staff replaced on your last visit,” Dominic said before I could.
“What?” Harrison looked at her as if to examine his decision. “What’s your name, freak?”
“Marguerite Wilson!” she sang out in some diabolical tune.
“Marguerite Wilson!” Harrison repeated her name, mocking her tone. “Who told you that you were selected to teach these poor immortal students?”
“Darius Edgewater—the darkness himself. Evil personified! I came to ensure this and all of his darklings were exposed, exploited, and burned for their evil ways.”
“Well, you are right about Darius,” Harrison said, “However, you’re a tad bit late to the evil ways burning party.”
“You sent for this individual to instruct the students? Do not tell me this was one of your sick jokes, Harrison,” Levi said as he eyed the professor with disgust. “This woman’s mind alone warrants her to be in one of the supernatural institutions. Did you escape one?” Levi questioned her.
“I requested Margery Wilson, not Marguerite,” Harrison said as he shook his head. “Do I have to do everything myself? I swear. I give a fairy one job—find Margery Wilson—and they cannot even do that right.” He looked over at the spot where Areion had killed the dean, “You know, I’m never going to forgive your moody horse for not allowing me to end that man myself, Levi.”
I’ve wanted that man dead longer than either of you. I thought before realizing these two men sat on the Elite Council and most likely had been dealing with Edgewater for a lot longer than I had been.
“I’m glad you internalize your thoughts, Jenna,” Harrison said with a grin while shaking the professor’s neck to shut her up before she spoke out. “It’s a remarkably amusing commentary for us mind readers to listen in on.”
“Get out of my head,” I sighed. “I think you know my mind has had more than its fair share of invasions of privacy today.”
Dom put his arm around me, “When you internalize your thoughts, sometimes they are so strong that you impre
ss them into the minds of those who can read them.”
“It’s because she’s the true daughter of evil,” the vamp professor growled. “She must be burned with the rest of the darklings of this school.”
“Caleb!” Harrison shouted, and a young, handsome Guardian dismounted his horse and briskly walked to his commander.
“Sir?” he said.
“Get this thing out of here.” He spun the professor out of his hands and threw her into the Guardian’s chest. “She belongs in an institution. That’s a whole lot of crazy.”
“Which one, Commander?” the Guardian asked.
“Flip a coin for all I care,” Levi said. “Just get her out of our presence and the presence of the school. This place has seen enough insanity to last a lifetime.”
“Yes, Emperor.”
“Alright. Is that the last of it, or are we taking up residence here?” Harrison asked Dom and me.
“So long as President Garrison—”
“That dark fairy will be leaving with us,” Levi said, cutting Dominic off with his now serious tone. “I shall have a few of my men remain behind to assist with those who have lost their lives.” He took a slow, deep breath and continued, “I am genuinely, deeply sorry for your profound losses. Your young friends sacrificed themselves unselfishly, and the unfortunate souls who were possessed by the darkness are also now at peace. That your friends are at peace might not make things easier on you at the moment, but it is my sincerest wish that it will do so very soon.” He looked at me. “I appreciate your understanding that we initially came to destroy each and every immortal at this school, but I do recognize innocent beings when I see them. Even if only one pure soul is fighting for what is right, sometimes that is enough. My people and I are indebted to you, and on behalf of the humans who shall never learn of this event, or what you have done to save them, I sincerely thank you.” He looked at Dom and Ethan, “All of you. Now, go handle matters. I am quite confident that most of the students here will need a sense of hope amid their devastation and grief. As good leaders, it is your job to deliver them past this deep sorrow and fear. You three have this in you, and I look forward to confirming your graduation from Immortal Academy in the near future.”
“If my fake dad would give us a pass on that dumb panel interview that we have to go through, then maybe we can focus on getting this school past its grief and onto graduation day,” I smiled at Harrison.
Harrison planted both hands on his hips. “Tempting; however, I am not budging on the demands of this school that was put into place when it came into existence. Perhaps I can allure you with this,” he smiled at me, Dom and Ethan, “You three will be promoted above all on the Supernatural Elite Forces, and perhaps one day in the future, we’ll protect humans from your kind together.”
“Let’s hope that never happens. I don’t think I can handle you joking and taunting the enemy you’re about to kill.”
“Trust me, you get used to it,” Levi said, mounting his horse. “Until next time.”
“That’s it for now, kiddos,” Harrison said, following the emperor’s lead. “It’s been fun, but it could have been a bit more eventful.”
Just like that, I watched the two men race their horses toward the closed entrance gates of the school. Before the horses could crash through, jump, or wait for the gates to be opened, a bright light flashed, and the leaders of the Guardian Warriors were gone and somehow back into their realm.
“It was a temporary doorway,” Ethan confirmed. “Once the last of these men return home from IA, it will be closed.”
“Who opened it?” I asked.
“The emperor’s wife. She is a very powerful woman,” Ethan said. “I promised I would help protect her too.”
“That’s a lot of promises and a lot of people to protect, E.” Dom gripped his cousin’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you, bud. You and Vannah saved Jenna—all of this. We couldn’t have done this without you.”
“I know,” Ethan confirmed.
Chapter Forty-Four
I thought I was a strong shifter with the emotional strength that could hold my own—that was until I realized I had to be a part of the supernatural burial of Vannah, Scott, and Finley. Three days had passed, and now, here we were at the ceremony. I didn’t want to stand here and watch the flames consume their bodies, and that wasn’t even because I was afraid of fire. It was knowing I would never see them in this form ever again, that was too much for me to handle.
I would rejoin their spirits once my immortal one expired, but being an immortal, who knew when that would happen. I was selfish and lonely, even if I had Tanner holding my hand while we cried together, trying to honor these supernaturals who had sacrificed their lives.
“They say burning the bodies gives their souls peace in the afterlife,” Tanner said. “After what you did, do you think they have peace now?”
“I think burning the bodies gives us peace, Tan,” I said, feeling agitated and angry now. “I think it’s bullshit, and I don’t want to be here.”
“You’re only saying that because you’re afraid of fire. I would think that after everything you’ve been through, a fire would be the last thing you feared.”
I glared at the teary-eyed shifter. “I don’t need you telling me how I should feel about burning the bodies of our friends,” I said—too loud, disrupting the grieving of the others around us.
Tanner eyed me, then I was embraced tightly by my other best friend who’d survived this siege on our school. I tried to fight him away, but I crumbled in his arms. “I can’t believe this, Tan,” I sniffed, and said with the agony I felt. “She would be so irritated with me for acting like this.”
“I can see it now as clear as day. She’d give you that look, you know, with the eyebrow arch,” he said as I felt him softly laugh as he wiped a tear from his cheek. “She would be all over you for interrupting a burial ceremony because you got pissed off about something. Her mother-hen side always came out strongly when something would happen that would require you to act properly. She always kept you in check, while I made sure you had the pie to give her a hard time with. I can’t imagine life without her.”
“I don’t even know how to explain how much I’m going to miss her,” I sniffed again and pulled back. “She was the best friend we both could ever have. I’m sorry I snapped at you. I know I’m not the only one who lost someone they love today.”
“Anger will be part of grieving, I think,” Tanner said. His eyes filled with more tears. “Did I tell you that Finley promised me a date once we survived this whole thing?”
“Oh, my God,” I looked at him in shock. “I had no idea you two—”
“It’s been more me than her. I started making moves on her once you and Dom got together, and I got to know her. She was definitely a badass.”
I smiled and hugged Tan again. “We’re going to get through this somehow. Where’s Lusa? I haven’t seen her since Ethan started acting weird earlier.”
“Dom didn’t tell you?” Tanner looked at me like I’d missed out on some vital information and was shocked that I did.
“Tell me what?” I responded. “I haven’t seen him since his parents got here with a few of the Elite Council members.”
“Well,” he pinched his lips together. “God,” he ran his hand through his hair.
“Spit it out, Tan,” I demanded.
“I don’t think it’s my place to say anything.”
“You’re my best friend—the only one I have left. Tell me what’s going on.”
“Ethan is with Lusa and Mr. and Mrs. Rossi.” Tanner sighed, eyes roaming through the supernatural crowds of kids and parents of the living and deceased, looking for someone to most likely answer for him. “He isn’t taking Vannah’s death very well.”
“What?” I questioned. “Since when? I mean, I get it, he was there when she sacrificed herself for him to get help, but he reported the facts in his usual Ethan way.”
“Once the news went out—most like
ly delivered to the Elite Council by the Harrison guy—and all the parents and variety of staff and council showed up, Ethan really started going down. He tried to hide it, but I don’t think Dom was buying it.”
“Was this when I went looking for you, and Dom went to find Ian to go handle everything after Levi and Harrison left?”
“It had to be then,” Tanner answered.
“Oh no,” I swiped the sweat from my brow. “I have to find him. This isn’t good. Is he feeling guilty? Does he think he killed her or something ridiculous like that?”
“Not from what I overheard when I saw Dom talking to him,” Tanner said. “God, it’s been so chaotic since all the deaths—” He sucked in a breath of air. “Ethan—well, he loved Vannah, Jenna. He was in love with her.”
“Oh, my God,” I said, my gut twisting so tightly that I felt like throwing up right then and there. “We all should have seen that coming. Damn it.” I began crying again and hurting for sweet Ethan. I rubbed my fingers over my forehead, staring at the ground to keep myself from bursting into another round of tears. “They worked hard together, and I think she adored him more than I ever knew. They were both on another level together since all this shit started happening.” I scanned the grounds, looking for Dom, who’d given his farewell speech after his dad, but I couldn’t find him or the Rossi’s anywhere. “I need to find Dom,” I said. “I need to talk to him or Ethan.”
“I think they’ve got Dom working with him,” Tanner said. “Lusa’s been keeping him quieted down through the ceremony.”
“I wish someone would have said something to me. Or at least come and got me,” I said in disbelief. “I can’t believe this.”
Tan’s lips went up on one side, “You haven’t been in the best mindset since Levi and Harrison left with most of their men, taking Garrison and the psycho vamp professor out of here with them.”
“It doesn’t feel like it’s been three days, much less three minutes, since it all ended,” I said. “I’ve been selfishly crying over this since seeing Vannah gone and knowing I couldn’t bring her back. Poor Ethan. Damn it to hell, man. I need to get over myself. How selfish can one person be? I feel horrible.”
