Finally, she saw Reid when he looked at her. In his eyes, she was vibrant, strong, beautiful, and good. Then she felt his love for her and more tears rolled down her cheeks as the images of Reid burned away the lingering horror of what she’d witnessed with Regan.
Feeling dazed, Avery pulled reluctantly away from him. “I saw—”
“I know,” he whispered. “I saw it too. I felt it too.”
She didn’t deserve this kind of love; she’d betrayed him, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave the shelter of his embrace. “I love you,” she whispered.
His hand clenched on her hair as he hugged her tighter. “I love you too.”
“How could you, after what I did?”
“Shh,” he soothed.
Before she could protest further, he claimed her mouth in a kiss that swept her away once more.
CHAPTER 41
Avery woke slowly the next day. Her eyes were heavy with sleep, and she felt like someone had taken a meat tenderizer to her body, but she was also strangely peaceful. The reason for her peace was because she was lying against Reid’s chest with her head propped on his shoulder and his arm around her waist.
“Good afternoon,” he said as he nuzzled her hair with his lips.
She lifted her head and smiled into his sleepy eyes. His tousled hair made him more handsome. His jeans were still on, but he’d taken his shirt off to reveal the lean muscles of his chest and abdomen.
“Good afternoon.” She kissed him as she trailed her fingers down his chest. “What time is it?”
“One thirty.”
Seven hours of sleep hadn’t been enough to revive her completely, but they had work to do. “We should get back to the Books.”
“They can wait ten more minutes.”
She grinned before leaning down to kiss him again. He clasped the back of her head and pulled her against him. She was beginning to lose herself to him when the door flew open and bounced off the wall. They broke apart, and Avery prepared to blast away whatever threat came at them when she realized Landon was standing there, bouncing on her toes and grinning.
“We’ve got it!” she yelled.
“Don’t you knock?” Reid grumbled.
“Didn’t you hear me? I said we’ve got it! We can make a spell that will bind him. We’ve got him!”
Avery’s dismay over the interruption vanished when Landon’s words finally penetrated. She flung the blankets aside and jumped to her feet.
• • •
“How are we going to get something that belonged to him?” Tina asked.
Avery chewed her bottom lip as she paced Landon’s room while pondering this. “The cave!” she cried and spun to face everyone. “Celia and Regan are buried in that cave!”
They stared at her before they began to grin.
“Yes!” Eric cried.
“We just have to find him,” Reid said.
• • •
Avery gripped the flashlight so tightly she was sure the indents of the handle were permanently imprinted on her palm. The handle of the shovel dug into her shoulder, but she ignored it. Ahead of her, Reid’s feet crunched on the rocks covering the cave floor.
Avery shoved back a strand of damp hair that had worked its way free of the knot on top of her head. She squinted to see through the shadows dancing outside the flashlight beams of the others while her hand trailed the rocky wall for support.
The clouds of dust their passing kicked up clogged her mouth and nose and clung to the sweat coating her. The rocks shifting beneath her feet threatened to re-twist her already abused ankle. She wasn’t claustrophobic, but the dank air, darkness, and purpose of their mission gave her the creeps.
“I hope this place is safe,” Tina whispered, her voice echoing around them.
Avery hoped the same thing as they crept over rocks that were once the ceiling of the cave. Now the ceiling was only two inches above her, and Shawn, Alex, Mario, Eric, Reid, Landon, and Sandra stooped to avoid hitting their heads on the jagged rocks.
Reid’s flashlight suddenly illuminated a large room as he stepped forward into the central part of the cave. No new crystal stalactites had formed over the years. Instead, the rocks overhead looked like a layer of coal dust coated them, or perhaps Regan’s evil had permeated and ruined them.
When Avery played her flashlight over the cavern, her heart sank at the amount of rubble covering the floor. It had to be at least ten feet deep, if not more. The happiness and hope she felt earlier vanished. It would take them forever to dig through this mess.
“Wonderful,” Mario groaned.
“Well, we know they were in the middle, so let’s start there,” Karen said, refusing to lose hope.
Avery balanced herself carefully on the loose rocks covering the floor as she made her way forward. Her ankle twisted when a stone rolled over, and she bit back a cry. Placing her flashlight and shovel on the ground, she bent to rub her tortured ankle. A violent jolt swept through her fingers when they touched the ground, and a wave of evil washed through her. Her teeth chattered as nausea twisted her stomach.
“Here!” she choked out. “They’re here!”
Avery threw her arm up to shield her eyes when the others swung their beams onto her before their lights fell to her feet. “Are you sure?” Eric asked.
“Yes,” she said.
Picking up her shovel, Avery positioned her flashlight so its beam pointed at where she started digging. Within minutes, her back ached, her arms throbbed, and she was utterly exhausted, but she continued. The sounds of discarded dirt, rocks, and heavy breathing were the only noises within the cave as they worked. The only one who hadn’t come with them was Lila as she couldn’t make the journey into the cave; she remained in Landon’s room.
“Can’t you guys magic these rocks out of the way?” Tina asked as she paused to wipe the sweat from her forehead. She left a streak of dirt behind.
“We have to conserve as much of our power as possible for the ritual, even Avery,” Landon said. “She hasn’t burnt out yet, but we can’t push our luck when we’re going to need her power the most.”
“Good point,” Tina said and returned to digging.
The going was slow and arduous; Avery felt like they’d been working for hours, but she didn’t know how much time passed. Karen, Rosie, and Tina gave up their shovels and started tossing rocks aside with their hands. When Avery plowed her shovel into the rocks again, a wave of evil burst over her.
“Do… you… feel that?” she panted through her chattering teeth.
“He can’t hurt you now,” Reid said.
He was right, but she couldn’t stop the tremors rocking her.
“I’ve got something!” Alex yelled.
His triumphant shout snapped Avery out of her paralysis. She threw her shovel aside as Alex pulled a skull from the ground. He brushed the dirt away before lifting it over his head to reveal the white bone and empty eye sockets. Some of its teeth had been knocked out, small cracks raced across the delicate cheekbones, and a large chunk was missing from the top of it.
“Gross,” Isla griped.
Avery agreed, but she had to touch it and make sure it was Regan’s. “Let me see it,” she said.
Alex strode over and handed it out to her. Avery wiped her hands on her shorts before taking it from him. Her fingers slid over the smooth bone as she examined the cracks while turning it in her hands. The remnants of power issuing from the skull pulled at her.
Unable to resist, she found herself floating into someone else’s mind as memories unfolded like scenes from a movie inside her mind. Only, these memories weren’t Regan’s; they were… Celia’s.
She watched as Celia and Adrian strolled the beach together with their hands entwined and the moon shining down on them. Their heads were bent close together while they talked. Love radiated between them as their laughter floated on the air.
The memory changed to Celia standing on the beach with her gaze on the ocean while she waited for Adri
an to join her. They were to be married soon, and Celia was excited to discuss the ceremony with him.
From out of nowhere, a shadowy mist materialized behind her and crept forward. Avery tried to scream a warning as Regan began to take form, but no sound escaped her. She was a bystander in the past, with no way to change it or save those who needed saving.
No, she inwardly moaned when Celia turned and spotted Regan. A sly smile curved his lips when Celia’s hand flew to her throat. Regan seized Celia’s hand, and his words enveloped her mind while his eyes blazed into hers. Avery felt his power slipping into Celia’s mind and overwhelming her.
Like a mole burrowing through the earth, he dug deeper into Celia’s mind and twisted her love for Adrian until it became Regan she loved. Celia stood, unable to break away from him as he bent her mind to his.
Avery let out a startled cry and released the skull. It clattered against the rocks before rolling away. She stumbled back and crashed into Shawn, who grasped her arms to steady her. Small, wild cries filled the air; it took her a moment to realize they were coming from her.
“Are you all right?” Reid demanded as he pulled her away from Shawn and embraced her against his chest.
“That’s not his skull,” Avery gasped. “It’s Celia’s!”
“Oh,” Alex said, his face falling in disappointment.
“She didn’t… She didn’t join him willingly,” Avery stammered as tears spilled down her cheeks. “She loved Adrian, and they were going to be married. Regan went to her, forced himself into her mind, and took it over until he made her think it was him she loved.”
“Shh,” Reid whispered as he stroked her nape. “It’s all right.”
“He’s caused so much suffering, and I almost went to him.”
“He used that same power on you.”
“I should have been able to fight him better!” Avery cried. “Instead, I felt a connection to him.”
“There is no connection, Avery. It’s only his power and his lies making you think there is. He’s the most powerful being we’ve ever encountered; you were lucky you resisted him at all.”
“He’s inflicted so much damage over the years,” she whimpered.
“And we’re going to end it now!” Mario declared.
Avery turned as he lifted a second skull into the air.
• • •
Avery glanced around the circle and then up at the starlit sky. The full moon shining onto the beach illuminated the night and lit a pathway across the ocean. The warm air carried the scent of the sea as it crashed against the shore. Her gaze traveled back to the coven; the faces surrounding her were taut with tension.
It had been two days since they discovered Regan’s skull. Two days in which they waited for the full moon while gathering all the ingredients necessary for this spell. Everyone had been on edge, snippy with each other, exhausted, and eager to get on with the binding.
However, they were also scared to death. Without any set spell for Regan, the coven had pieced together a spell they believed would work; she could only hope it did, because if it didn’t, they had no idea what to do next.
Regan’s skull sat in the center of the circle surrounded by their dust, herbs, and crystals. Avery had used blue agate in place of her crystal to make her dust. Landon, Rosie, Isla, Shawn, and Mario had gathered the herbs and spent a day charging the vertivert, mandrake root, bay leaves, frankincense, sacred root, garlic, dragon’s blood, and bloodroot so their protective qualities would be stronger.
Calcite, carnelian, coral, jasper, jade, clear quartz, topaz, and turquoise crystals created an outer circle around the herbs. Sandra, Reid, Eric, Alex, and Avery had gathered and charged them. They’d barely gotten everything done in time for the full moon.
“It’s midnight; time to start,” Landon said before stepping forward and pulling the athame from the holster at her side. Lifting the knife over her head, Landon took a deep breath and turned to point the athame east. “I call upon the watchtowers of the east, the power of air to protect us!”
A blast of air whipped past Avery, and its current raced to join the circle of protection they’d created around the skull. The wind added an extra barrier between them and the skull.
Landon turned to face south. “I call upon the watchtowers of the south, the power of fire to protect us!”
The flames of the candles sitting before all of their feet surged like a blowtorch and flowed forth to join the circle of air.
Landon faced west before continuing. “I call upon the watchtower of the west, the power of water to protect us!”
Ocean water rose from the bowls before them and added another barrier of protection.
“I call upon the Watchtower of the North, the power of the earth to protect us!” Landon cried after she turned north.
The earth beneath Avery’s feet trembled before sand rose up to complete the barrier. Once the sand locked into place, their dust, crystals, and herbs also rose to join the swirling elements until a wall of color and light barricaded them from the skull. A wave of déjà vu swept Avery as she watched the swirling elements encasing the skull. It looked almost identical to the one her ancestors used to bind Regan and Celia.
Landon lowered the athame and rejoined the circle. She returned the knife to its holster and linked hands with Alex and Sandra.
“Go on, Avery,” Rosie urged.
Avery took a deep breath before giving herself over to fate.
CHAPTER 42
“We call forth the spirit that belongs to this skull!” Avery declared, she was pleased her voice sounded so confident. “We call forth the spirit of Regan to join us.”
A smoky, gray haze began to ooze out of the skull’s eye sockets and mouth; it wove sensuously on the air while it rose higher. When more mist spilled free, Regan took shape above the skull and solidified.
His eyes were the same electric blue, but his features were disfigured again. This time, she knew his disfigurement came from the damage his body sustained during the cave-in. His tattered clothes drifted around him in the breeze created by the barrier encompassing him.
His eyes locked on hers and a smile played across his sensual lips. When he glided to the edge of the barrier, Avery felt his mind prodding at hers and whispering promises of power and love until his eyes became the only source of light in a world of darkness.
“You are mine, Avery,” he whispered, and his words clouded everything she knew. “Deep inside, you know that. Our hearts beat as one. Come to me, Avery. Join me and let us be one.”
When his elegant hand beckoned to her, his ring flashed in the light. He needed her, and she needed him, but there were others who needed her too—others who she loved…
Others…
Her friends, the coven… Reid!
Avery tore herself free of the magic digging into her brain as the warmth of Rosie and Reid’s hands returned. Furious that he’d almost gotten to her again, Avery lifted her chin and glowered at Regan before she started reciting the words Landon had her memorize.
“We call upon the spirits of the past to guide us and strengthen us in our time of need. We call upon the spirits of the past to come forth and join us. We call upon the spirits of the past to lend us your power.”
Regan laughed, but malice filled his eyes. “You can’t destroy me,” he taunted.
“We call upon the spirits of the past to join us and lend us your strength!” The rest of the coven joined in her chant until their voices rang across the beach.
The world in front of Avery blurred when a smoky haze rose up from the beach only a foot in front of her. Avery stared in amazement as the mist took shape. She’d known this was supposed to happen, but she still couldn’t believe she was staring at the transparent back of Celia. When Celia turned her head to look over her shoulder at Avery, she smiled. They gazed at each other for a minute before Celia faced Regan again.
“Let these spirits join with ours! Let our powers be as one!” the coven yelled in unison.
>
The ghosts of the old coven floated backward until their transparent bodies lightly touched each member of the coven. Goose bumps broke out on Avery’s flesh as Celia’s essence chilled her skin, but their joining also created a burst of power unlike anything Avery had ever experienced.
Avery steadied herself and focused on Regan as she yelled, “Let this connection be unbroken!”
Something seemed to snap into place as the ghosts joined hands and the current of power intensified.
“With this connection, we as one, will the darkness to be done,” the coven chanted together. “With this connection, we as one, will this spirit to be bound. With this connection, we as one, bind Regan to this skull. With this connection, we as one, bind Regan to this skull.”
Regan screamed with rage when the crackling voices of the ghosts rose to join the coven in repeating the last sentence over and over again. His hatred lashed out of him in a wave of malevolent black light that bounced off the protective circle, before slamming into him and flinging him to the ground.
They continued the chant as Regan rose to his feet in one fluid motion. His screams of fury echoed through the night as he clawed at the barrier, but they couldn’t drown out the twenty voices determined to end him.
Exhaustion crept into Avery’s bones as his wrath and strength sapped her power. The voices of the others weakened in volume but never faltered from their words.
Black oozed out of Regan again, but instead of trying to attack the barrier, the blackness engulfed him. Avery was barely aware of the words still spilling from her mouth as Regan’s wails reverberated in her head. She yearned to cover her ears and block out the sounds, but she couldn’t break her connection with the others.
An explosion of black light smashed into the barrier, and an eerie howl filled the night as Regan’s skull sucked his spirit into it like a genie returning to its bottle. Black sparks shot into the sky before the black ooze and wall of elements flowed into the skull after him. Bright light and the colors of their dust spilled out of the eye sockets and mouth when the skull lit up like a firework. It glowed for almost a minute before going dark.
Nightmares (The Coven, Book 1) Page 24