Covet

by Smeltzer, Micalea

  I braced my hands on the counter, and forced my eyes to my reflection.

  Dark circles engulfed my eyes, giving me an almost skeletal appearance. Even my cheeks were hallow and gaunt.

  I still felt sick we’d left Theo behind—sealed his fate.

  It wasn’t fair.

  Forcing myself away from the mirror I turned on the shower and stripped off my clothes, leaving them in a pile on the floor.

  I pushed the curtain aside and stepped into the shower, pulling it closed behind me.

  I stood beneath the spray, letting it drench me, and wished it could wash and cleanse me of my sins. Realistically, I knew nothing was strong enough to do that.

  My chin began to wobble and soon the tears fell.

  Theo.

  His eyes.

  His smile.

  His laugh.

  His sarcastic and smart-ass remarks.

  All things I’d never hear or see again

  I’d thought I’d known what it was like to have my heart break with all the times Theo had pushed me away, but losing him like this had brought the most unimaginable pain. Like someone had shoved their hand through my chest and carved out part of my heart. Somehow, I was still able to live, but I was different. I was harder, less feeling, I lacked empathy.

  All that mattered now was making sure the Iniquitous paid for this.

  I knew I was in no way prepared to take them on now, but I wanted to. I’d prepare myself, train, and learn my magic, and when the time came I’d hunt down every last one of them.

  I wouldn’t let Theo’s story end here.

  I wouldn’t let him be simply another enchanter gone too soon to the Iniquitous.

  No, he’d be the catalyst to the war no enchanter wanted but needed if they wanted to survive.

  And when it was over, I’d make sure no one ever forgot his name.

  I sat on the end of the bed brushing my damp hair. It was a matted and tangled mess from days in the car and even half a bottle of conditioner hadn’t been able to save it.

  “Hey,” Adelaide said softly, slipping into the room.

  Her own hair was braided to the side, and she wore the same pair of sweatpants and t-shirt I did. Apparently, Jee couldn’t have conjured—well, I guess stolen was a better term—something more stylish. Not that it mattered. Nothing really did to me right then.

  “Are you hungry?” she asked, and I noticed the plates in her hand, one for her and one for me.

  I started to shake my head but nodded instead. I had to eat. Skipping meals was only hurting me.

  I laid my brush down beside me and took a plate from her. She sat down beside me, curling her legs up onto the bed.

  “I’m sorry we have to share a bed.” She picked up a piece of garlic bread from her plate and dipped it in her spaghetti.

  I laughed lightly. “It’s not a big deal. It’s only a bed.”

  “I know, but I’m sure you’d rather have your space.”

  I looked at her, seeing the sadness I knew I possessed in my eyes reflected in hers.

  “You miss him too, not just me. We’re better off together.”

  She nodded and looked down at her plate. I forced myself to twist some spaghetti around my fork and take a bite. It wasn’t bad.

  “I … I know he died doing what he was always meant to do, but it still hurts losing him,” she admitted. “But I’m proud too.”

  “I’m sorry he had to die because of me,” I admitted.

  That was what hurt me most. He stayed behind and took them on because of me. Because he was my protector and it was what he was meant to do.

  She shook her head. “It’s what he was supposed to do, and he loved you. He would’ve done it anyway. That’s Theodore.”

  It didn’t escape my notice she was now talking about him in the past tense. I didn’t call her out on it, though, because I knew it was for the best.

  We both had to move on, even if it was hard, especially then.

  “I have to grow stronger. I need to be strong enough to take them on.”

  “Oh, Mara,” she breathed. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

  “It’s not like I’m going to take them on right now. Theo might’ve been working with me, but I know I’m not that good yet. I have to get better.”

  I wished I was further along in my training, but the fact was I wasn’t and my age hindered me too. As enchanters grew older their magic grew stronger.

  Adelaide stared at her plate for a moment. “You know I’m with you. I won’t let you fight this battle alone. We’re stronger together.”

  “You don’t have to,” I whispered. I knew Ethan, Winston, and Adelaide said they’d fight with me, but this wasn’t their battle. I didn’t expect them to be a part of this. They could die and that information was enough to send anyone running in the opposite direction.

  “I’ve been sheltered my whole life, behind those walls. I refuse to continue doing nothing while others suffer. It’s wrong, and I’d never forgive myself. They killed Theodore, but think about how many others they’ve killed.” She flicked her hair out of her eyes, the dark blue color swirling with determination. “But how will we know where to find them?”

  “I don’t know. We just will.”

  I knew it in my gut we’d find them. We had to.

  My desire for vengeance was getting out of hand, but without it I feared I’d fall apart. It was all I had now.

  I finished my food and took Adelaide’s plate when she was done.

  The apartment was quiet, almost eerily so, and since it was unfamiliar I found myself glancing over my shoulder at every turn.

  I padded down the stairs and into the kitchen, washing our plates in the sink.

  “I thought you weren’t going to come down.”

  I jumped back from the sink, splashing water on myself in the process.

  “You scared me,” I breathed, placing a hand to my racing heart.

  “I’m sorry.” Jee stepped out of the shadows, his hands clasped behind his back.

  “Oh my God.” I brought my hand to my mouth.

  His eyes were leached of color. They were all white like his eyes had rolled into the back of his head.

  “Jee?” I prompted and he tilted his head.

  “The shadows say you’re going to save us. Is it true Light One?”

  My heart thundered in my ears. I wanted to run, but something urged me to stay where I was.

  “I-I don’t know,” I stuttered. “Everyone tells me I have a purpose, that I’m chosen, but I don’t think I’m special.”

  He clucked his tongue and moved around the counter, coming closer to me.

  I edged back and he stopped.

  “Are you afraid?”

  “No.”

  His tongue slipped out between his lips and back in. “You are. I taste it.”

  “You taste it? You taste my fear? Like in the air?”

  “I see things, but I also know things.”

  “Isn’t it the same thing?”

  He chuckled. “Not at all.”

  Oookay then.

  “My abilities extend beyond seeing the future. That’s just…” He paused, flicking his fingers. “A party trick.”

  “Hardly seems like a party trick to me. Why are your eyes like that?”

  His lips twitched. “I’m seeing. You interrupted me.”

  “Oh.” I flicked my head toward the painting. “Can I see?

  He shrugged. “Maybe you can make sense of it. I don’t seem to understand.”

  I moved toward the painting and saw he’d finished it.

  It wasn’t clear, almost abstract, but I recognized the stone walls of the manor.

  “That’s Victor,” I breathed. “On the ground there.” A tall looming figure stood over him, fingertips flickering with a rainbow of colors and a sword in the other hand. I stared at the hooded profile of the figure. The body shape and commanding presence reminded me of Theo, but it couldn’t be. “Finn,” I gasped. “That’s Finn.”


  Jee made a noise in his throat. “I’m happy someone understands.”

  I watched as the white in his eyes disappeared and returned to normal.

  “I’m sorry I scared you.” He shrugged, but his tone told me he was hardly sorry. I got the impression Jee didn’t care for anyone—except apparently Ethan—and definitely didn’t care what anyone thought of him. There was something sort of freeing about being that way.

  I laughed and shook my head. “I’m sure you are.”

  He cracked a smile. “You’re right, I’m not.”

  “I should get to bed.”

  He mock bowed. “Sleep well, my queen.”

  He bled into the shadows and disappeared from sight.

  I headed back upstairs to the room I was sharing with Adelaide. She was already under the covers fast asleep.

  Her dark hair fanned around her head and her lips were parted as she breathed peacefully.

  I doubted I could sleep like that, and I felt slightly envious.

  Slipping into the bed, I laid on my back, staring up at the ceiling.

  “Wherever you are,” I whispered softly, “know I love you. I always will. And this … this is not the end.”

  When I closed my eyes it felt like a pair of lips were pressed to the corner of mine, but when I opened them, no one was there.

  Sun shone into the apartment, reflecting the shadows of the windowpanes onto the living room floors.

  “I’m not a bed and breakfast. You make your own beds and your own damn food,” Jee ranted from the couch, poring over a sketchbook, his charcoal pencil moving madly.

  “No one suggested you were.” Winston grabbed an apple and took a large bite.

  “Food isn’t free either,” Jee grumbled.

  “In case you hadn’t noticed, we’re kind of on the run and broke,” I snapped.

  He glanced at me. “What’s got your panties in the bunch this morning?”

  “Nothing,” I muttered, and moved into the kitchen searching for some cereal.

  I finally found some under the sink. Who put cereal under the sink?

  I grabbed a box of Frosted Flakes and found a bowl in a drawer. Jee had an interesting way of organizing his stuff.

  “You want some?” I asked Adelaide as she slid onto one of the barstools. Her hair was a tangled mess, but she looked rested at least.

  She nodded. “Is there coffee too?”

  “Stay out of my coffee,” Jee warned.

  “Don’t listen to him,” Ethan said, strolling into the room. He tugged a shirt on and glanced at Jee. “He likes to mess with people.”

  “Maybe I don’t like people in my space using my stuff. Did you ever think of that?”

  Ethan sighed. “Drink all the coffee you want. I’ll buy more.”

  “Well as long as you’re buying.” Jee chuckled as Ethan sat down beside him. Ethan kissed his cheek and I’d swear Jee blushed.

  I fixed Adelaide a bowl of cereal and gave it to her before starting on the coffee. When it was ready, I poured the two of us mugs and sat beside her to eat. Winston had hopped up on the corner of the counter, finishing his apple.

  Adelaide took a sip of her coffee, her eyes closed with a look of pleasure on her face.

  “Now I can start my morning.”

  I shook my head at her and ate my cereal.

  “What are we doing today?” I asked no one in particular.

  Ethan and Jee exchanged a look.

  “I need to start learning,” I pleaded with Ethan. “There’s so much more I need to know.”

  Theo had done his best to train me, and I knew I was ahead of other enchanters my age because of it, but I also wasn’t dumb enough to think I couldn’t learn more.

  I had to learn more if I had any chance of defeating them.

  They were stronger, faster, ruthless.

  They didn’t care about killing, and I … I did.

  I had to let that part of myself go.

  I had to become like them.

  Well, not one of them, but I had to let go of my sensitivities.

  “I know,” Ethan agreed. I knew there was a but coming. “But we don’t know how safe it is here yet. I don’t want you out in the open, practicing magic, and draw them in unaware.”

  “I thought they couldn’t go out in the day?”

  “They can’t, but they can still sense your presence if they’re near.”

  “Wouldn’t they be everywhere, though? You know, like in all cities?”

  He shook his head. “They’re not plentiful like you’d think. Yes, they’re powerful and they’ve hurt a number of enchanters, killed them, but there’s not many and they stick together.”

  Again, I wondered why no one had tried to fight them before. It seemed like an easy win to me, but I also realized I was a newbie in this world. I didn’t know what all kind of damage they’d done. Fear paralyzed you, and it seemed to me like most enchanters were terrified of them.

  “I promise I’ll train you, Mara,” Ethan promised. “You too, Adelaide. But I won’t do anything that might risk your safety.”

  I nodded. I understood, I did, but it didn’t mean I liked it.

  “Why can’t we train here?” I asked.

  Jee glared at me. “I won’t have untrained enchanters burning down my house so don’t even go there.”

  “What about hand to hand combat?” I pestered. “I want to learn to use a sword too.”

  Ethan tilted his head toward Jee with a questioning look. “Fine! You can use my training room, but no magic in there, got it? Take all magic outside these walls,” he gestured madly.

  “You use magic,” I countered, messing with him.

  “Yes, because I’m old enough. So is Ethan.”

  “So am I.” Winston raised his hand and I shot him a glare. He slowly lowered his hand.

  “See—” Jee pointed to the three of them “—we can use magic properly. But I won’t let you two go running amok.”

  “Is this the part where I chant ‘amok, amok’?” I asked, and the three of them stared at me.

  “No magic,” Jee warned again.

  I sighed. I wouldn’t argue further because after the library fiasco with Theo and tumbling all the books to the floor I didn’t want to risk something happening and pissing off Jee. He wouldn’t think twice about kicking us out and right now he, and his apartment, were all we had to keep us safe.

  “When can we start the other training?” I asked Ethan.

  He shrugged. “Today, I guess. I don’t see why not.”

  My heart soared with excitement. It wasn’t magic, but it was something. Something to keep me busy, and something that would get me one step closer to being able to take down Thaddeus and his loons. For a moment, I pictured myself piercing the heart of one of the Iniquitous and before the light left their eyes telling them they were dying because they took Theo from me.

  “Can I get in on this?” Winston asked. “I’m not proficient with a sword, and I’m not the best at hand to hand either.”

  “Sure. We’ll start after lunch. Jee and I will go scout the surrounding area for anywhere safe to practice magic.”

  “We will?” Jee looked none too thrilled at being volunteered for this adventure.

  “Yes, we will,” Ethan bit out and stood up, dragging Jee with him.

  The sketchpad fell to the floor with a thump and I heard a hiss from beneath the couch. I guessed Nigel didn’t like having his beauty sleep disturbed.

  Ethan and Jee headed out, and the three of us were silent until we couldn’t hear the elevator clacking anymore.

  Winston let out a breath. “This is crazy. I can’t believe we’re here.”

  “I know what you mean,” I agreed.

  It all still felt like a bad dream I was waiting to wake up from, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t wake up.

  “Do you think we’re safe here?” Adelaide asked softly, pushing her cereal around the bowl. “I mean, Ethan trusts this guy but he’s a little … o
dd.”

  “He’s definitely different,” I agreed. “I’m not sure he’s entirely enchanter.”

  “What do you mean?” Winston hopped off the counter and came over to lean against the overhang of the island where Adelaide and I sat.

  I shrugged and pushed my bowl away. I’d actually managed to eat all of it, so I was impressed.

  “I came down last night to clean our plates.” I pointed to Adelaide. “And he stepped out of the shadows. It was like he was actually a part of them if that makes any sense. His eyes too … there was no color. He said it was because he was seeing, but … I didn’t believe him.”

  Winston pressed his lips together. “We’ll all keep our eyes open, okay? The minute something seems bad we’re out of here.”

  “What about Ethan?” Adelaide asked.

  “If we can’t trust Jee, can we trust him?” he reasoned.

  Adelaide bit her lip. “I guess you’re right.”

  It sucked, but it was true. We had to be careful with everything we said and did.

  Even with each other.

  Anybody could be working for the other side.

  Anybody.

  It seemed like an agonizing wait for Jee and Ethan to return to the loft.

  But once they were back we got right down to business.

  Ethan handed me a sword, then Adelaide and Winston, off the wall.

  I was impressed with Jee’s training room. It was well-equipped with workout equipment, weapons, and even a rock-climbing wall.

  Ethan cleared his throat and grabbed a sword off the wall for himself.

  “When fighting with a sword, be aware of your surroundings. In other words, pay attention.” He zeroed in on Adelaide who stood looking at the intricate work on the hilt of the sword he’d given her. When she didn’t get the hint he cleared his throat again.

  Her head jolted up.

  “Huh?”

  “Like I said, pay attention. A strike can come from anywhere.” He balanced his sword on the palms of his hands. “You want a sword that balances you. If it’s too heavy for you, you’re not going to be able to fight properly. And when you’re fighting, relax; a tense body is not good for fighting. You need to be loose so your movements are fluid.”