Bitter Magic

by Raven Steele

  I forced my gaze down and stared at the ground while I tried to overcome the effect the creature had over me. I shook my head, wondering again why this was. Auras couldn’t “feel” Vykens. At least that’s what Sophie had told me, and my mother had been killed by one whom she considered a close friend, so obviously she couldn’t.

  Christian once spoke of an Aura in the thirties who could do the same thing as me. “It’s a gift, Llona,” he’d told me. Looking at the Vyken in front of me, I wondered if it was more of a curse.

  The Vyken raised a leathery finger toward me. “I want that one.” A string of saliva dripped from his deformed lip.

  I straightened, my strength returned, and stepped next to Jackson.

  “I’m all gristle,” I said, “but you’re welcome to try.”

  Jackson glanced at me sideways, scowling. “Shut your mouth, Llona.”

  Jackson’s unwelcome command along with the threatening Vyken in front of me, sent a searing, rage-filled heat through my veins. It was so sudden, I sucked in a quick breath. Every part of me yearned to fight, to kill, to see and feel blood.

  The Vyken parted his lips and attempted a smile, but his worn skin wouldn’t stretch that far. “I like you.”

  I opened my mouth, all set for a perfect, sarcastic retort, when the Vyken lunged for me. I fell backward with the Vyken practically on my chest. His face was inches from mine, and he snapped his jaws wide, tearing the tight skin on his face. I barely managed to hold him back, giving Jackson enough time to kick him off me.

  The Vyken rolled into a crouching position, and when his head snapped up, he saw only me. I scrambled backward as he leapt into the air, but before he could touch me, Jackson tackled him. They tumbled to the ground, the Vyken kicking and clawing at every part of Jackson.

  I jumped to my feet, angling for a position where I could be of some use, but the two were too tangled for me to do anything but watch in both horror and delight. The opposite emotions made me dizzy.

  Jackson kicked the Vyken from him, and I prepared to throw a ball of Light the size of my fist into the monster’s chest, but Jackson got in my way again.

  “Move it, Jackson!” I growled.

  He glanced back at me and grinned. “I’ve got this.”

  He swung his fist, connecting it with the Vyken’s jaw, but when he swung again the Vyken disappeared only to reappear behind him in less than a blink of an eye. The Vyken picked up Jackson and tossed him into a nearby tree. Jackson fell to the ground, moaning.

  “You were saying?” I mumbled and crouched low ready to fight the Vyken who had refocused his attention back on me.

  “I can’t wait to taste you,” he said. Part of his torn flesh flapped as he spoke.

  I didn’t bother with retorts this time. I just wanted to fight.

  Before the Vyken could lunge for me, I attacked him, proud to see his eyes widen in surprise. I swiped his legs out from under him and dropped my elbow into his face. He cried out and shoved me away. I stumbled forward, almost tripping. I was about to turn around when he took hold of my hair and jerked me onto my back. He pounced onto my chest, forcing all the air from my lungs. I sputtered and gasped as I tried to suck air back in, but I was also trying to keep the Vyken’s hand from squeezing my throat.

  And then everything changed.

  A voice I never thought I would hear at Lucent, said, “Have you forgotten everything I taught you?”

  Through my struggling, I glanced over. Christian was leaning against the same tree Jackson had been thrown into moments ago. My Christian. Here. Jackson stood next to him, rolling his shoulders back. I wanted to smile, to laugh, and to cry, but my emotional moment was ruined when I got punched in the face.

  “Aren’t you going to help her?” Jackson said.

  “Nope. She’s got this. Right, Llona?”

  I smiled inwardly. Hell, yes, I’ve got this.

  With the Vyken still straddling me, I bucked hard, knocking him off balance just enough for me to squirm out from under him. When the Vyken looked back at me, I kicked him hard in the jaw and then jumped to my feet, giving me a few precious seconds to create three tight balls of light. He charged me just I tossed them, drilling each one into his face.

  By the time he reached me, his face was smoking and one eye had melted from its socket. I flipped forward, my hands landing on the ground just in front of the monster, and when my feet locked around his neck, I used my momentum to swing me up so I was sitting on his shoulders. I ignited my hands with the Light inside me and clutched the Vyken’s head. Light poured into him, coating his insides, destroying his organs. The smell was horrific, and yet, I also took pleasure in the flesh-burning scent for it meant I was winning.

  The last time I did this was on Mr. Steele, and to do it I had to suck the lights from the school to have enough power to kill him, but, feeling the way I did right now, I knew I had plenty without having to borrow it.

  Light poured into the Vyken until he began to crack and peel. It wasn’t long before he exploded into dust, and without him under me, I fell to the ground.

  Christian laughed and clapped his hands. “That was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen! Good job!”

  Jackson turned to him, his chest heaving. “Are you mental? She could’ve been killed.”

  Christian shook his head. “I wouldn’t have let that happen. Besides, Llona could handle it.”

  I brushed myself off and stood. I couldn’t stop smiling. Christian stood less than ten feet away. I wanted to throw my arms around him, feel my lips against his, but I was all too aware of Jackson. “What are you doing here, Christian?”

  “Change of plans.” The corners of his mouth twitched like he was trying to keep from smiling, but he failed. The dimple I’d fallen in love with almost a year ago appeared on his cheek, and it sucked me toward him like a black hole.

  I stumbled forward and reached for him, no longer caring who was around, but when I did, his eyes grew big and he shook his head. Just barely enough for me to notice. I brought my arms back to my side.

  “Good to see you again, Llona,” he said and held out his hand.

  I stared down at it. A handshake? Is he serious? I searched his eyes. He was very serious. Fine. I could play this game.

  I cleared my throat and said in my most formal voice. “It’s good to see you too, Mr. Stocket.”

  I shook his hand. It was warm and gripped my palm tightly but with a desperation I felt all the way to my toes. I sensed his urge to pull me to him and saw it in the way his gaze kept dropping to my lips.

  Only when Jackson began to speak did Christian let go, his jaw clenched tight.

  “Since when did a Guardian’s job involve teaching an Aura to fight?”

  Christian’s eyes never left mine. “She mostly taught herself, and it took me a while to admit it, but Llona’s a very capable fighter. Afraid of a little competition, Jackson?”

  “Hardly, but when the Council hears about you encouraging Llona to kill a Vyken, you’ll both be gone.”

  This made Christian turn away from me, worry lines creasing his forehead. “Come on, man. No harm was done. Don’t tell them.”

  “What’s the big deal?” I asked.

  Jackson snorted. “Are you kidding? You just killed a Vyken.” He waited for me to say something, but when I didn’t, he continued, “By fighting. Auras aren’t supposed to fight, let alone fight a Vyken. It’s the Guardian’s job.”

  He shook his head at Christian. “Seriously, C. The Council is going to skin you alive.”

  “Actually, Jackson,” I drawled, my fingers twirling a strand of my hair, “you were here too. Why didn’t you kill the Vyken?”

  This made him pause, and he puffed air through his nose. He looked from Christian to me, scowling. “Fine. I won’t say anything this time, but you better not sneak out again. It’s not safe out here.”

  “I’ll go out whenever I want, jackass,” I said but instantly regretted my words. Where had that open defiance come from?


  Jackson smirked. “You must’ve had your hands full with this spoiled one, C. I’m surprised they let her come to Lucent with that mouth.”

  Christian balled his hands into fists, but before Jackson could notice, I turned around and started for the school. “I’m going back. Enough fun for one night.”

  Jackson laughed. “I knew you were scared.”

  I kept walking.

  Behind me I heard Christian say, “I’ll see her back.”

  “She’s all yours,” Jackson responded.

  A moment later, Christian caught up to me. “Sorry about that. Jackson’s always been a little rough around the edges, but he’s harmless.”

  “How long have you known him?”

  “Since we first started training together when I was eight. He’s a year older.”

  I didn’t say anything else as I wanted to put enough distance between us and Jackson to where he wouldn’t be able to hear us. After a minute, I asked again, my voice low, “Seriously. Why are you here, Christian?”

  He glanced behind us, seeming to share my thoughts about not being heard, and whispered, “Right before I was to leave for Oregon, I got a call from Sophie. She told me to come out here instead of returning to the training facility.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe I’m in more trouble than I think.” He shrugged and smiled like it wasn’t a big deal.

  I stopped and looked at him, really looked. He was the same Christian, but he seemed stronger somehow, more sure of himself. When I noticed he was staring back at me the same way, I averted my gaze, afraid he’d see something new he didn’t like. “Are you sure it’s a good idea for you to be here? With me?”

  He glanced around one more time before he swept me into his arms, embracing me tightly to his chest. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be. It about killed me to say goodbye to you.”

  “I know the feeling.”

  I breathed him in. The smell of cologne, mixed with a gentle aroma of cotton and Tide, filled my nostrils. I remained still, my head resting against his chest, while I listened to the steady beat of his heart. It felt like home.

  We stood like that for a while, alone in the dark, listening to the quiet rustlings of the forest. He sighed and leaned away. “This is going to be harder than I thought.”

  I panicked. This was it. He could sense that something was wrong with me. “Please don’t say it. I know—”

  Christian’s mouth crashed into mine and swallowed my words.

  Chapter 6

  Christian’s lips were warm and soft, sweeping over mine. I gripped his back and forced him closer to me. He moaned and deepened the kiss. His fingers hooked into the top of my jeans and pulled me even closer until I could feel every part of him. I ground into him, my body desperate to feel more.

  A new kind of hunger ignited inside me, overwhelming all my senses. I had to have him. My hands clawed up his bare back and attempted to remove his shirt, but he pulled back just then, gasping. My chest heaved at the sudden cool air between us.

  He chuckled uncomfortably and created even more space around him. “As much as I want to stay here with you, you really should get back. Several Guardians are out here patrolling so we need to be careful.”

  I barely nodded. My body hummed with uncontrolled sexual energy, a sensation I’d never felt before, and it was taking all my self-control not to tear his clothes off.

  Mistaking my silence for disappointment, he looked at me with pleading eyes. “No one can know we’re together, or they’ll kick you out of the Academy. I don’t want that for you.”

  I lowered my gaze to the ground and focused my breathing. I had to calm down. My hand went to my neck, to rub or hide my bite marks. Something was wrong with me. I didn’t like how out of control I’d been feeling lately. Christian wouldn’t like it either, if he knew the truth.

  “Maybe we should stay away from each other while you’re here,” I whispered.

  His perfectly-blue eyes widened. He took hold of my hand. “That’s not what I mean. I’ve missed you so much, and I don’t want to be apart anymore. We just have to be careful is all. That’s something we’re used to, right?”

  I didn’t know what to say. My brain and my heart battled against each other.

  Staring into my eyes, Christian raised his hand to push aside my hair, but when I realized he was about to expose my bite marks, I panicked and stepped back.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked

  I quickly smiled and turned toward the school. “Nothing at all, but you’re right. I should get back. Vykens outside of the school and all.”

  How could I ever tell him about the dark poison I felt coursing through me? If it repulsed me, what would Christian, or anyone else for that matter, think?

  He fell in step next to me, his hands stuffed into his pockets. His shoulder occasionally brushed into mine, reigniting the uncontrolled heat inside me. I ground my teeth together to keep from giving in to the raw feeling.

  Christian stopped abruptly and stared at something on the ground.

  “What is it?” I asked.

  He bent over and picked up an object from within a shrub, his face pale. He held up a familiar-looking empty plastic bag that, upon inhaling, smelled of blood. “Do you know what this is?”

  I swallowed the growing saliva in my mouth. “It’s an IV bag. The nurse used one on me tonight when she drew my blood. How did it get out here?”

  He fisted it into his hand and scanned the forest. “I don’t know, but I don’t like it.”

  I shivered at the harsh tone of his voice and rubbed at my arms. “You don’t think a Vyken has access to our blood, do you? Because that would be really bad.”

  “It would be bad. Far worse than finding a Vyken outside of the school.”

  “I take it that’s not normal?”

  “It happens, but it’s rare. Looking back, though, Jackson didn’t seem surprised. I’ll ask him about it.” He grabbed my hand, his head on a swivel. “Let’s pick up our pace.”

  “By the way, how’d you know I’d be out here?” I asked, walking quicker to keep up with his long strides.

  Christian chuckled. “Your first night in what you would consider a strange place? I knew you’d escape. I just wasn’t sure what time. I’ve been out here for a while.”

  “Did Jackson know?”

  “No. I got here at about eleven. He was already out patrolling.”

  The wall was just ahead.

  “I bet Guardians love being our babysitters.”

  “It’s not like that.” He smiled and squeezed my hand. When we reached the wall, he turned to me. “I’ll be looking for you, and we’ll meet whenever we can.”

  I forced a smile, wondering how I’d be able to keep everything from him.

  Christian glanced up. “You want help over?”

  Because I was still buzzed from killing the Vyken, I felt like I could jump over myself, but I wasn’t about to tell him that. “That’d be great.”

  He pulled me in for one more hug and a quick, disappointing kiss. “I’ll see you soon. And please don’t come out here again, at least until I know more about the Vyken situation.”

  “Sure,” I said and stepped on his clasped hands. He lifted me to the point where I could reach the edge of the wall. I pulled myself up the rest of the way.

  “See you,” I said and jumped to the other side. I didn’t want our goodbye to linger. It only made me that much sadder.

  That night the sandman, who looked a lot like a Vyken, appeared in my dreams hunched over a body lying on the forest floor. A glimmer of silver shined in the moonlight as he held a dagger high before plunging it into the stomach of the person at his knees. A gut-wrenching scream cut through the night.

  “No!” I sprinted to the sandman and skidded to a stop.

  He slowly turned toward me, the knife in his hand, and licked at the crimson liquid running down the blade. My mouth fell open and fear paralyzed me.

  “
Llona?” a familiar voice groaned.

  I sucked in a hitched breath and lowered my gaze to the person on the ground.

  Christian stared up at me, pain wrecking his face. His fisted hands pressed to his stomach where a puddle of blood grew with every beat of his heart.

  I dropped to my knees, tears blurring my vision. I wanted to say so many things, call for help even, but I couldn’t find my voice. It was trapped within the walls of my chest, buried beneath the pieces of my breaking heart.

  He opened his mouth to speak again, but blood bubbled past his lips. He coughed, misting the air with blood. “Look at me, Llona.”

  I did as he asked, sobbing through great breaths.

  He lifted his bloodied palm to my cheek and stared into my eyes. “This is your fault. Do you understand? Your fault.”

  “There must be a mistake,” I told Ms. Ravitz the next morning. Please let this be a mistake, I prayed. There were at least twenty twelve-year-old girls in the classroom staring at me wide-eyed.

  Ms. Ravitz looked down at my paper and tapped it with her pen. “No. This is the right class: Nineteenth Century Auras.”

  “But Ms. Ravitz,” I said, “I’m eighteen and these guys are . . . little. This has to be a mistake.”

  “Have you ever taken this class before?” The glasses on her face slipped to the end of her nose. With one push of her middle finger they returned to their rightful place, making her brown eyes appear bigger than they really were.

  “I’ve never had this class before. Remember? I’m new here.” I had met her just last night at dinner, but now she acted like she didn’t know who I was.

  She glanced at my schedule again. “Llona Reese. That’s right! Of course you’re in my class. I know it may seem awkward with these younger girls, but this class is important. Please take your seat.”

  I turned slowly, still trying to recover from my nightmare, which seemed to have drained me mentally. My only defense was forcing myself not to think about it.

  The girls seated in the desks in front of me were all dressed the same: brown slacks and navy blue polo shirts. I lowered my gaze to my Levis and white cotton shirt. I didn’t remember anyone saying anything about a dress code.