Magic Unleashed (Delphine Rising Book 2)

by Angela Sanders

  I looked out into the foyer and told Genevieve to make herself at home. We would be ready to go soon. I smiled at her coven, a lot of whom I already knew from hunting rogues.

  Once we cleared the kitchen, Allison and Catherine walked around passing out cloaking potions to everyone, while Mom did the same with protection potions. The next thing on the agenda was transportation.

  Genevieve had brought along two large vans big enough to carry ten people in each of them. The rest of us decided to pile into my SUV. Before we left, Danny ran another magical sweep of the area with Danielle searching for lost spirits—we didn’t want to be tailed and definitely didn’t want any unexpected surprises.

  It was cooler tonight, maybe high sixties, and I was grateful for the lack of humidity. A full moon shone in the night sky and I hoped it was a good sign, that our magic would be at its strongest.

  I walked the perimeter of our home with Danny one final time, but didn’t feel anything out of the ordinary. Everyone was ready to go and already packing their things and getting into their assigned vehicles.

  My childhood home was located in the older section of the Garden District. I hadn’t been out that way in years for obvious reasons. I felt apprehension flutter in my gut, but it was mostly due to the fact that my father had died there. I prayed to the ancestors to keep us safe from harm this night and asked that if Daddy could hear me, to protect us from evil. I was scared. Not necessarily of the evil that awaited us in that house, but of the old memories that might rise to the surface once I entered. My heart sank in my chest.

  Danny must have felt my anxiety because he walked toward me, then wrapped his arms around me. “You’re going to be okay. It’s just a house now,” he said as if he had read my mind.

  I looked up, wrapped my arms around his neck, then kissed him passionately.

  “Eh hem.” Someone cleared their throat. It was Danielle. Dammit.

  I broke the kiss and glared at her. “Yes?”

  “So, we’re waiting on you two. About done?” she asked arching a brow with a wide grin splitting her face.

  “Yep. You’re an asshat, Danielle,” I said, walking toward the vehicle.

  “I know,” she said in a singsong voice.

  Danny just shook his head and followed.

  Once we were settled in the SUV, Mom and Catherine told us to drink our protection potions—we had no idea what we might come up against on the way.

  We did as we were asked and sat back for the ride ahead. I was in a fit of nerves. I knew that I needed to get my head straight before we arrived at the old house, so I began to pray to God and the ancestors—my source of strength.

  Our old house was only a ten-minute drive into the Garden District, but the closer we got, the more I could feel a dark presence. I called out to Mom. “I think we need to pull over and check the area. Do you feel that, the dark presence surrounding us?” I asked.

  “Yes, I do. Let me call Genevieve and tell her to pull over in the old warehouse parking lot up the street.”

  While Mom was talking to Genevieve, Danielle leaned back to look at me. “I feel it too and it’s not good, Abbs. It almost has the same signature as the dark spirit, but it might be a demon now. That means it’s killed, but I can’t be sure from this distance,” she said, her eyes wide.

  “What are we gonna do?” Liz asked, looking to me and Danny.

  “We’ll just have to see what we’re dealing with,” I replied. “We knew going in that this mission wouldn’t be that simple. Marcus is probably onto us and sent his minions out to look for us. We haven’t taken the cloaking potion yet.”

  Mom pulled over into the dimly lit parking lot and we proceeded to file out of the SUV. Genevieve parked right behind us.

  “Abby, look out!” Danielle shouted, just as a stream of red and black dark magic flew toward me from the nearby tree line.

  I turned left, then threw myself to the pavement taking Danny down with me. It was a near miss and too damned close. I looked up to see everyone with their magic on display, ready to fight whatever it was that had just tried to kill me.

  I was pissed.

  I picked myself and Danny up off the ground and started toward the tree line from where the dark magic had originated. I heard rustling in the leaves and took off running with Danny, Liz and Danielle hot on my heels. I could hear Mom and Catherine yelling for me to wait, but that wasn’t happening.

  A flash of red flew between the trees and I followed. “Come on out, you coward!” We were wasting time and needed to get to that damn house.

  I felt sick, as if I was trekking through dark twisted magic—it made my stomach tie itself in knots. I steeled my nerves and continued walking, searching at a much slower pace. Danny, Liz and Danielle caught up with me and stood by my side. I heard movement behind us and turned abruptly on my heel.

  It was the other witches and hybrids coming to back us up. Thank God and the ancestors. If this thing was indeed a demon, we needed all the help we could get.

  Once they were within a few feet of us, I heard a sadistic laugh coming from the tree just ahead of me. I looked up into the darkness of the tree limbs to see a man, or what looked like a man staring down at me, his hands ablaze with red and black fire. I took a small step back and threw out a blue and white blast of magic hitting him squarely in the chest, knocking him from his perch in the tree.

  His steaming body lay on the ground about ten feet from where we were standing. I lunged forward just as the man raised his right hand casting another dark stream of black magic my way. I ducked and yelled for everyone to get out of the way, but the magic hit a nearby tree behind Danny.

  Before I had a chance to move, Mom, Catherine and Genevieve rushed past me. “Liz, your sword!” Mom shouted. They were holding the man down with an immobilization spell. The hybrids were standing in a fighting formation in and around the tree line.

  I ran alongside Liz to see who it was and my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Franklin Davenport. This man was supposed to be in prison for conspiring against the coven and killing a council member, essentially draining her with dark magic. His daughter, Crystal, had killed Danielle with black magic over two years ago. How had he escaped? Marcus! I was seething. Who else was he going to enlist to try and kill me?

  When Danielle made her way over to see who was lying on the ground, she lost it. Her hands glowed in a bright purple hue, then she blasted him with her magic, setting him ablaze from his torso on down. “That’s for your daughter, you psycho piece of shit!” Then she looked toward Mom. “What’s Liz’s sword gonna do for that bastard? He’s a dark witch who needs to go back to prison where he belongs.”

  “Danielle, sweetheart. Please calm yourself.” Mom stood wrapping her in a hug. Danielle was trembling with anger from head to toe. “Before I saw his face, I thought he might be another vampire infected with dark magic.”

  “Obviously not. I want him gone, Mrs. B. I’m positive it was Marcus or Francesca who helped him escape, but he needs to go back or I’ll kill him,” she said, seething, looking down at Franklin who was still writhing in pain.

  “Danielle, we’ll call the council now, but you can’t kill him,” Mom said, pleading. “Do you understand? I know what he and his daughter did to you, but you still have a pure soul and were gifted another chance at life, however long that might be. Please, just pray.”

  Danielle looked down at Franklin then back to Mom. I could see the wheels turning in her head. “I promise. I just need to go.” She took off running back toward the parking lot.

  Catherine was already on the phone with Gregory telling him what had happened and that they needed to pick Franklin up immediately. The witches sedated him and tied him to a tree after Gregory assured her that they would be there in no less than five minutes.

  I took off after Danielle.

  She was leaning against Genevieve’s van with her head in her hands. I walked over to her and put my arm around her shoulder. “Hey, munchkin. You gonna be a
ll right?”

  Danielle looked up with tears rolling down her face. “Abbs, I was gonna kill him. That man and his evil ass daughter took my life, my hopes and dreams! I can’t ever see my mamma or sister again,” she said, then began to sob into my shoulder.

  “Come here. He’s going back where he belongs and you can always go see your mom and sister. I’ll go with you to soften the blow, okay? You need to do this. It could be part of your unfinished business.”

  The thought of Danielle completing her unfinished business on earth and leaving me again crushed my soul, but I knew it was only a matter of time. God had not only blessed her with a second chance, but me as well. She was my twin soul, my best friend in life and in death

  — nothing would ever change that.

  Danielle sniffled a few more times, then dried her tears. “Okay, no more crying. We have a talisman to get and some ass to kick. Everyone’s walking back this way now,” she said side hugging me. “Thanks, Abbs. Love you.”

  “Love you too, munchkin.”

  Once we were back on the road, Liz looked back at me. “What are you thinking?”

  “You mean about Franklin? Marcus, is all I have to say. This was nothing more than a distraction,” I said, then called out to Mom. “I think we should take our cloaking potions now. That was too close.”

  Mom and Catherine agreed, then called Genevieve telling her to do the same. Danny sat silently next to me holding my hand. I could tell he was worried about Danielle by the way he was watching her. When she died, a part of him had died too. Seeing Franklin tonight had dredged up old wounds and I was certain that was Marcus’s intention. Crystal not only killed Danielle, but she nearly killed Danny as well. She was safely tucked away in a prison somewhere, or so I hoped. When I fought her, I’d almost killed her in the process. The wounds she sustained were substantial and from what I understood, she woke up having lost her mind or what was left of it.

  Defeating Franklin this time around had been too easy and it was bothering me. It was almost as if he was trying to get caught. I realized he was a distraction, but why not fight back? Was it because he was outnumbered or was he being controlled? I had no idea, but the whole thing seemed off to me.

  We drank our potions and sat back, with only a few miles to go. Mom was talking to Catherine and Allison about the illusion spell and that they needed to be prepared for anything. I looked at Danielle, who seemed to be feeling a bit better, but I understood why she was so angry. I only hoped it wouldn’t affect her when we stormed the house. I didn’t want to see her get hurt.

  When we were a few blocks away, Mom pulled over on a side street and parked. She, Catherine and Allison began the spell, moving closer to the old house, while Danny, Liz, Danielle and I did our part creating a magical barrier, blocking sight and sound from humans. The streets were empty and lined in tall oak trees. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky blocking the full moon, and we could feel our powers strengthen as we performed the spell.

  After we completed our incantation, we met up with Mom and the other witches to make sure we were on the same page. Danny wanted to go in through the front, while the hybrids broke in through the back entrance.

  When I glanced over at my childhood home, it didn’t feel the same. What was once a prominent, blue Antebellum home, was now a haze gray color and some of what used to be white shutters were now hanging off to the side. The three-story house looked rundown and abandoned; even the front porch was caving in. There wasn’t a light shining in the place and I wondered if Marcus and Francesca had already disappeared.

  James, Genevieve’s second in command, agreed with Danny because the hybrids could use their inhuman speed to reach the back entrance without anyone noticing. Genevieve said she would use her magic to open the door, then search the bottom floor, while we rushed through the front. We would all meet in the attic once we deemed everything secure. If we ran into trouble, we would fight together as a team.

  The plan seemed pretty solid, I just hoped we weren’t too late.

  Mom had everyone gather around behind the trees across the street. She wanted to pray to God and the ancestors asking for their blessing, strength and protection before we went into battle.

  “First, I would like to thank all of you for coming tonight,” Mom began. “As you know, we’re heading into danger and I appreciate each and every one of you and everything you’ve done for my family.

  “Everyone, please join hands in prayer.”

  Witches and hybrids stood together as one, holding hands and bowing their heads awaiting Mom’s prayer.

  “Ancients and Ancestors, we call upon thee with the powers of God Almighty. We thank you for giving us your strength and lending us your power. We ask for your blessing this night to watch over and protect us. So, we have called it. So, shall it be.”

  Once the prayer was complete, I looked to the heavens above and thanked God one more time. I finally felt at peace and was ready to face Marcus.

  Danny clutched my hand and kissed my forehead, then asked me if I was ready. I nodded, then we went to stand with the other witches just as the hybrids took off in a blur across the street. Any human eye would’ve thought it was just a trick of the light. If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought the same.

  We waited thirty seconds and took off toward the front door. Mom blasted it with magic, shattering the door completely. So much for going in silently. When we entered the foyer, the hybrids had already searched the bottom floor. James and Genevieve gave us the signal to head up the steps, but I couldn’t. When I saw the old parlor, memories of my childhood began flashing before my eyes. Liz and Danielle were yelling for me to move, but my feet were firmly planted to the floor. I could only see images of my father—his smiling face—pushing me in the swing set in the backyard, playing in our old treehouse. I was lost and didn’t know how to escape my own mind. Then I saw Liz and me playing in the old attic with our dollhouse and practicing magic when we weren’t supposed to. Mom found us and was about to punish us, but Daddy stepped in and gave us ice cream instead.

  My memories flashed again to the day Daddy died. We were having brunch with Uncle Julian when Daddy told Mom something was going on in the attic and to keep us downstairs. I smelled the smoke when it came rolling through the house and watched as Mom frantically ran me and Liz to the neighbor’s house. It was as if I was reliving this day all over again. Then I felt pain—excruciating pain inside my head. It was reverberating in my skull then spread throughout my body. Darkness ebbed my vision and the memories were gone. I felt myself falling just before I lost consciousness.

  “Abigail.” A male voice echoed in my mind.

  Was I asleep? Dead?

  “Who are you?” I asked in my mind. All I could see was darkness.

  “It’s your father. You need to wake up now, sweet girl. You’re in danger.”

  “Daddy? But I don’t know how or why this happened to me. Please help me.”

  “I’m always with you, Abby. Your mother and sister need you now. Wake up, child. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Daddy,” I said, choking back a sob.

  “Just concentrate on your power, the power within your soul. That’s all you need. I must go now. Tell your mother and sister how much I love them.”

  “Daddy, please don’t go. I’ll do as you say, but I just want to see you one last time. Please,” I begged.

  “In due time, Abby. When this is all over. You’re the chosen one—the power lies within you.”

  And he was gone.

  I cried out for him a few more times, but only silence answered me. I knew I had to follow his instructions. Mom and Liz were in trouble; they needed me. I wasn’t sure how or who put me in this position, but I was banking on Marcus attempting to disable me so he could kill my family and friends. That was my motivation and all it took to get my power going.

  I felt the familiar magic coursing through my veins and, suddenly, my eyes snapped open to a bloodbath. Hybrids and witche
s that I didn’t know were lying in pools of blood all around me. There was blood all over the walls—so much blood! I jumped to my feet and called out for Mom and Liz. I looked around frantically, not seeing them in the pile of bodies strewn about the room. I dashed toward the stairs, taking them two and three at a time. I could hear screams coming from the attic. Liz—I heard Liz scream. My blood ran cold and I pushed my legs as fast as they would go until I came to the attic door. Danny was fighting off two witches, while Mom held Francesca by her throat. Danielle was holding her own with a redheaded witch I’d never seen before. When I looked to my right, Marcus was about to kill my sister. She was doubled over in pain and he was readying for a death blow to her head. I lost it and saw red.

  “Marcus!!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. “Get your hands off my sister!”

  Liz fell to the floor and my heart stopped. Marcus turned and sneered. “Did you like your little trip down memory lane, Abigail?”

  “Screw you, asshole!” My magic was ready and begging to be unleashed. I took two steps forward and with both hands outstretched, blasted him with white power, the magic of God’s light. Then I called up my fire in my left hand when he hit his knees and set his ass ablaze. I continued to advance, then snatched him up by his dark brown hair.

  “I should kill you, but I won’t. I’m not like you. Where’s the talisman?” I demanded, holding a ball of flames dangerously close to his face.

  Marcus was panting now, attempting to put out the fire I had caused and screaming in my face. I leaned in closer. “I can make this painful for you. Tell me where the talisman is. Now,” I snarled.

  I heard Liz cry out again and looked to where she was lying on the floor. Genevieve was healing her and I took a deep breath, silently thanking her and so grateful Liz was okay. In that moment of distraction, I was thrown to my back, sliding several feet across the floor. Dammit. When I attempted to move, I was hit with a spell that took my breath away. Thankfully, I had taken my protection potion, but it still hurt like a bitch.