They all laughed, quickly sobering as they slid to a stop, staring at the Scriver demons as they stood around the two tables.
“Look. It’s Mathias!” Julie cried
“And Cyrus!” Jasmine added.
“What are they doing?” Julie asked, her gaze going to the sapphire, as it rose high in the air, blue reigns of light zinging from the gem, and striking Mathias and Cyrus.”
“It looks like they’re transferring the magic from the sapphire, to the brothers,” Ashwin said, as he appeared next to them.
“Ashwin?” Josslyn frowned. “What are you doing here?”
“He kind of followed me to India,” Jade said, eyeing him “But I thought you went looking for Elijah.”
“Elijah can wait. I wanna see how this plays out,” Ashwin said.
“It’s going to play out, with us destroying the damned crystal!” Julie shouted, raising her hand. Fire seeped from her fingers, flinging toward the demons, and a dome rose up over them, the fire bouncing back at them.
“Ahh!” They all ducked
“Julie!”
“What? It’s not like I knew it was protected!” Julie cried. “Don’t yell at me!”
“So what? We’re helpless?” Jasmine asked.
“I think so,” Josslyn said, as she and Jorja hurried back to the group. “The girls aren’t here.”
“But I thought they needed the girls to complete the ritual?” Jade asked.
“I think… that was part of Liam’s plan. To distract us,” Jasmine said. “I’m sorry, with all that was going on I didn’t get a chance to tell you. Liam’s the one who has the girls.”
“What? Why?”
“Something about becoming all powerful, and changing life as we know it,” Jasmine said, glancing back at the demons, as the sapphire glowed once more. A reign of blue light zinged outward, toward Satan, then toward the evil witch, toward Tony, and finally, toward their father.
“Dad!”
“Like hell I’m going to stand here and watch them torture Dad like this!” Jade cried. “Everyone, link hands!”
They linked hands, and Jade closed her eyes. “Mothers, fathers, grandfathers, grandmothers, and all my ancestors before us. Help me in this time of need, to save the ones I love, and keep history from being re-written.”
They flung their hands up, and a bright yellow stream of electricity seeping from the hands, streaking toward the dome. It pierced through the dome, and they raced forward.
“No!” The Scriver demons screamed, their heads jerking up. They’re eyes landing on Julie. “You! You’re the one we’re missing! Get her!”
“Do you hear that?” Jade asked, as a squeak filled her ears. She raised her head. “It’s the beetles!” She shouted, jabbing a finger above them as they swooped down.
“No!” Josslyn flung her hand up, creating a barrier of ice. “You can’t have my sister!”
“But I… will take everything!” Liam shouted, appearing in a reign of gold light, dropping in between the brothers. Electricity zinged toward him, and he lifted his head, letting out a yell. He gritted his teeth, tossing the potion in his hand. Mathias and Cyrus disappeared in a cloud of dust, and tentacles grew from his body. “Thank you, witches!”
“Ah. What just happened?” Jade asked, pointing.
“No idea!” Julie cried.
“I think he just stole their power!” Jorja cried. “It means…”
“He’s more powerful than anyone!” Josslyn screamed.
“Liam! Where’s Sky?” Jasmine shouted, racing forward.
“Somewhere horrible,” Liam said, grinning from ear to ear. “And you will do just nicely.” He reached a tentacle out, grabbing her and squeezing. “For my experiment.”
“Let her go!”
“And you will do nicely too,” Liam said, grabbing Julie. “And you two.” He grabbed Jorja and Josslyn. “Just think, you’ll be reunited with your daughters very soon… and you.” He glanced over at Jade and Ashwin. “I have no need for you two.” He nodded his head, and they disappeared in a flash of light.
Jade screamed, her body falling through space, and she gasped. The world opening below her and falling onto the couch.
“What the hell!” she cried, jumping to her feet.
“Jade?” Ashwin hurried into the room. “Jade?”
“I’m right here!” Jade shouted, racing around the couch as he walked toward her. “What the hell happened? Why did he take them and not me? I mean I understand why he didn’t take you. I mean, you’re a demon! But me…”
“Maybe he only needed four witches, to complete the experiment. Wait, eight. Ooh. I bet he needs the number to be even! Can you teleport back?”
“Maybe.” Jade closed her eyes, picturing Liam, but nothing happened. She snapped her eyes open. “I can’t teleport, Ashwin! Can you?”
Ashwin closed his eyes, then shook his head. “No. In fact…” he walked across the room, trying to lift the heavy TV stand lying in the corner. “All of my powers are gone.”
“Mine too,” Jade said, trying to conjure an energy ball. “Ashwin, my powers are gone! My family heritage! I’m just…”
“A human?” Ashwin asked. “Me too.”
“And with no way to get to my sisters!” Jade shouted. “Wait a minute…” She turned, racing up the stairs. She turned, hurrying into the attic, flipping the book open. “It’s blank!” she cried, staring at Ashwin in shock. “It’s like it never existed! What am I going to do now?”
“There’s only one thing we can do,” Ashwin said. “And you’re not going to like it.”
“What?”
“Find Elijah.”
Born and raised in the Midwest, Nicole Coverdale writes in several different genres: Mystery, suspense, romance, fantasy, and the paranormal. She is the writer of the urban fantasy series, The Wiccan Way, and the thriller/mystery series, The Randolph Saga.
With several books already mapped out, Nicole spends most of her days on the computer, letting the words flow, but when she's not writing she loves to shop, binge on Netflix or Hulu, cook, bake, and in the fall loves nothing more than a good football game. Go Pack Go!
Currently, Nicole lives in Sothern Minnesota with her boyfriend of four years, her black lab, Hunter, her gray and white tabby cat, Felix, and her calico tabby cat, Lucy.
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Bound by Magic Page 15
