“He was able to send them to you, in Seattle?” Vincent’s eyes were wide, his already pale, partially translucent face growing even more so.
“Yes. Somehow he sent them to us.”
“They were corporeal?”
Anastasia stared at Vincent. “Seeing as how they put a hole through a metal dumpster, I’d say they were pretty damn corporeal.”
“This means he’s gaining more power. We have to stop him.”
“Thank you for that observation, Vincent,” Carmen said dryly. “But how about you tell us something we don’t already know?”
Vincent glared at the older woman. “If Thames is able to leave Luxe without Dakota, it’s because he’s powerful enough to not need him anymore.”
Anastasia’s stomach dropped. “You think he’ll kill Dakota?”
“I think that’s a possibility we need to address.”
“But he hasn’t been able to leave yet,” Elizabeth insisted.
“Not yet, but if he can send creatures to a completely different world, he’s getting close.” Vincent looked back down at the book. “As much as I hate to say it, I think you’re going to have to wing it with this portal.”
“Wing it?” Carmen gaped at him. “You’re suggesting Anastasia conjure a portal, in water, that could close in and drown her at any moment, all without proper education?”
“Whether she drowns or not isn’t going to matter if Thames manages to get Terrenian’s life core and murder you all while we all have our noses buried in books.”
“If Anastasia drowns because of a botched rescue attempt, we don’t stand a chance in hell at defeating Thames,” Carmen growled.
“I’m standing right here, and I’m pretty sure it’s my decision.” Anastasia folded her arms and stared at her grandmother and the uncle who was getting on her nerves less and less these days.
Funny how that’s happened.
“Fine,” Carmen said tightly. “What do you want to do?”
Anastasia studied her. There was no way she was going to approve of Anastasia’s answer, but from her point of view, they didn’t have many options. No one knew where the life core was located, or if she would even be able to hold its power.
Dakota couldn’t die. She had to rescue him, even if it meant pissing off her last living relative.
“I wing it.”
“Anastasia—”
“I’m sorry,” she interrupted. “But I can’t risk Dakota’s life on whether or not we find something on this. I can conjure portals; seems like conjuring one in water shouldn’t be that hard.”
“You and I both know if a portal is not done correctly it could be disastrous. You could end up trapped, half in Luxe and half in Terrenia. Or the damn thing could shut down around you and leave you trapped below the surface. This isn’t something you should rush into.”
“I don’t think I have much of a choice.”
Carmen’s face twisted with anger, and she glared at Vincent. “If she dies, it’s on you.”
“She won’t die.”
Carmen scoffed. “You hope.”
“I know she won’t. Anastasia is powerful. If anyone can do this, it’s her.” Vincent looked over at Anastasia and nodded.
“I certainly hope you’re both right.” Carmen slammed the book on her table closed and turned to shelf it. “When do you want to do this?”
“Within the hour. That will give me enough time to change and gather my weapons.”
“Us,” Tony said. “I’m going with you.”
Anastasia glanced over at him. “You do know that could mean we both drown.”
Tony shrugged. “I’d rather do it together than send you in alone.”
Looking over at Elizabeth, Anastasia saw she was one word away from breaking completely down. Her mouth was a tight line, eyes wide and full of tears, and she was refusing to look anywhere but at her feet.
“We’ll come back, with Dakota,” Anastasia promised her.
Elizabeth nodded, then pushed the door open and disappeared outside.
Standing beside the pond Dakota disappeared into with Rosabel was more difficult than Anastasia would have thought.
Logically, she knew it was nothing but a body of water. But it was hard to not picture the way he’d taken her hand—even if it hadn’t really been him—and disappeared into the liquid depths with the Siren.
Kaley nuzzled Anastasia’s hand, the soft fur easing some of the bad memories. “Thanks, girl. I know you’re always here.”
Kaley growled deep in her throat just as Vincent appeared beside them.
“You ready for this?” he asked.
Anastasia didn’t look at him, just continued to stare at the glassy surface. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
“If you feel for an instant it’s too much, you have to pull back.”
She turned her head and looked at him. “Worried about me?”
“I am.”
“Never thought I’d hear you say that.” When he opened his mouth to retort, she shook her head. “I didn’t mean anything by it, I’m just on edge. I know you were being controlled.”
“It’s still hard to look past it.”
“It is.”
“I am troubled by what I’ve done. It eats at me, and I know I’ll never be able to make up for it.”
“Helping me rescue Dakota is a start.”
Vincent smiled softly, and for a moment, it was as if Anastasia was looking at her father. “You know, I never would have chosen the route I did if I hadn’t been such a coward.”
“What do you mean?”
He sighed. “Gregory was my only family. When he met Annabelle, he began to grow distant. It was painful at first, but I understood.” Vincent stopped talking and continued to stare out at the water. “I’m not sure if either of them told you, but they’d had trouble conceiving a child before you.”
Anastasia turned to face him. “I didn’t know that.”
Vincent nodded. “They’d tried for a few years, and she miscarried four times during that time.”
“Four?”
“I thought that, given my magic, I could help, so I went in search of someone who could help them.”
Anastasia stayed quiet, afraid that if she interrupted, he would stop speaking.
“I searched for months and came up empty handed. One night, when I was about to give up, I had a dream of a man in a castle. He told me his people had magic that could help my brother… all I had to do was come see him.”
“Thames.”
Vincent nodded. “It was a foolish errand, one I should have seen for what it was, but the thought of helping Gregory—of getting my brother back—was too alluring to pass up.”
“So you went to Luxe.”
“I went to Luxe.”
“How did you get there?”
“A portal, but once I was on the other side and I’d given myself over, he used my magic to block all others from entering, sealing himself—and me—inside.”
“How did he take over your mind?”
“He told me that the power to heal could only be transferred if I allowed him control of my body. Said once the spell was in my mind, it would stay, as would the power to enact it. With how desperate I was, I believed him, and a dark sorcerer was born.”
Anastasia looked back at the water, pondering what he’d told her. If all of it was true—and he had no reason to lie to her now—Vincent had never been the horrible monster she’d pegged him as, but rather a loving brother wanting to help his family. Only, instead of helping, he ended up losing everything.
What a horrible price to pay.
“When I returned home, I learned Annabelle had birthed a child. I was so ecstatic that I didn’t think about the timing, and it wasn’t until after I visited them, and Gregory shut the door in my face, that I learned what happened to me. It was just too late to stop it.”
“I’m sorry, Vincent.”
Vincent turned to her. “For what?”
“For not seeing
the bigger picture. I could’ve saved you.”
Vincent laughed lightly, but there was no humor in the sound. “My dear, I was well beyond saving when I met you. The damage he did to me—mentally, that is—changed who I was. I hated myself, and the day you killed me is the day you set me free.”
She opened her mouth to respond, but Carmen, Tony, and Elizabeth stepped up to the edge of the water.
“Ready?” Tony asked.
“Let’s do this,” Anastasia said. With one last look at Vincent, she turned to the water.
“Remember, if it feels wrong, pull back,” Vincent warned.
“I will.”
“And do not kill Thames’ body while he is in control of Dakota.”
“Why not?” Tony asked.
“Because there will be no way to get him out of Dakota unless you kill him, too.”
Anastasia swallowed hard. “It won’t come to that.”
“Let’s hope not,” Vincent said softly with a nod.
Gripping Tony’s much larger hand in hers, Anastasia jumped into the water. The coolness enveloped her, and after grabbing one last breath at the surface, the duo released hands and dove down. Swimming hard, she pushed herself toward the bottom of the water, and when the ground came into sight in the clear water, Anastasia closed her eyes and pulled at her magic.
Lungs burning, she reached for Tony’s hand again and called for a portal to take her to Dakota.
The water roared around her, a loud thundering filling her waterlogged ears, as light shot from the ground.
Blue light appeared before her and began to spin, sucking the water down into its whirlpool. Lungs burning, she tried to swim away with Tony, but the water pulled her down, down, down, until the world around them went dark.
9
Luxe
Anastasia
The ground came fast, and Anastasia slammed into the marble, coughing up water and gasping for air. She rolled over onto her back, body too exhausted and oxygen deprived to do much more.
A blue portal swirled on the ceiling, and seconds later, Tony fell through. The portal closed, and she rolled to her side to reach him.
“Tony?” she said hoarsely, but he didn’t respond. “No, no, please no.” Anastasia crawled to him and bent her ear over his mouth.
She couldn’t hear or feel any breath, so she pressed a hand to his wet chest. Pushing magic through her, Anastasia urged him to breathe.
Nothing happened, so she sat up on her feet and slammed both fists down onto him. He shot up, coughing, as water spurted from his mouth.
“Fuck, what happened?” he asked, falling back onto his back.
Anastasia stayed sitting, studying the area they’d landed in.
They were in some sort of foyer, sitting on a hard ground made of marble.
“We’re here.”
Tony sat up. “Luxe?”
Anastasia nodded and got to her feet. Walking to the only window in the space, Anastasia looked outside and swallowed hard. The living dead—as Vincent had described them—spanned as far as the eye could see, writhing and moaning in complete misery.
Tony stepped up beside her. “I’d say we’ve arrived.”
Dread pooled in her stomach, and Anastasia took a deep breath before turning to face the hall that would hopefully lead them to Dakota.
Was he alive?
Would Thames have control over him?
Tony put a hand on her shoulder, and she looked up to see him smiling softly. “It will be okay, have faith.”
Nodding, she took her first step forward.
Tony unsheathed his sword and did the same. Her blade would do no good to her compared to the magic at her disposal, so Anastasia left it securely attached at her back.
Their steps were silent as they moved down the hall, but Anastasia was sure everyone near would hear the thundering of her racing heart.
Creeping down the hall, they passed portraits where the faces had all been scratched out. The work of a madman, I’m sure. Staring at the faces of his family would have been too hard for Thames, she imagined. Especially after what he’d done to them.
Tony tapped her shoulder and held up a finger, asking her to wait and let him move ahead into the room in front of them.
She nodded and stepped back, allowing him to pass.
He leaned in, checked the space, and then looked back at her, nodding silently.
They moved forward into a large circular space with a single staircase leading up. Still moving as quietly as possible, they crept up the marble steps before reaching a landing that split off into three separate halls.
Tony looked back at her for direction, and Anastasia shrugged. She’d only ever been in the throne room; she had no idea where to go from here.
He gestured to the hall in front, and she nodded, they had to start somewhere. Creeping forward, they made their way down the hall to the first door. Opening it slowly, they peered in and, after determining it was empty, closed it and moved on to the next.
Four doors later, they were at the end of the hall and were no closer to finding Dakota. Frustration grew inside her, and Anastasia bit down on the inside of her cheek. He has to be here somewhere.
And if not, they would wait, because Thames would be coming back.
Once they reached the foyer again, Tony led them down the hall to the right. Another dead end with nothing but dust-filled, empty rooms greeted them.
Two down, one to go.
They started down the last hall, and Anastasia reminded herself to breathe. Soon, they would find Dakota, kill Thames, and move on with their lives.
She would not lose.
Stepping lightly, they made their way to the end of the door-less hall, until they reached the throne room.
A large cage sat on one side, and in it, the shape of a man curled into a ball.
“No,” she whispered and started to push past Tony.
He stopped her with a hand on her arm and shook his head.
“We have to move!” she whispered loudly, and Tony shook his head again.
“We need to be smart, check the room first, then we go to him.”
Anastasia huffed. He was right, she knew, but holding off when all she wanted to do was run to Dakota was difficult.
Finally, she nodded, and they crept soundlessly into the room.
It was empty, so they ran to the edge of the cage.
“Dakota,” she whispered. He rolled over, his body splattered with dried blood, eyes hollow as he looked up at her.
“Ana?”
She smiled and nodded, tears filling her eyes. “It’s me.”
“Thank God.”
Dakota pushed to his feet and ran to the bars. “How did you get here?”
“We can talk about that later,” Tony urged. “We need to go now.”
“You have to get Vinny.”
“Where is he?”
“In a room down that hall.” Dakota gestured toward a hall leading off to the right.
“I’ll go,” Tony offered. “Get him out of that cage.”
Anastasia ran around the side to the lock and, using her magic, broke the hinge. The lock dangled uselessly until she removed it a moment later, setting it quietly on the ground.
Dakota rushed out and gathered her into his arms. “I thought I’d never see you again.”
“Me too.”
Pulling back, he cupped her face with his hands and kissed her deeply.
“Are you hurt?” she asked once he’d stopped, resting his forehead on hers.
“No, but, Ana—Shane.” His voice cracked, and he shut his eyes tightly.
Anastasia gripped his forearms. “Dakota, look at me, that was not your fault. You hear me?” With a lump growing painfully in her throat, Anastasia fought back tears as she looked at the man she loved more than life itself.
“It was. I shouldn’t have accepted that fucking magic.”
“You were only doing what you thought was right.”
“I killed him, Ana.�
�� Dakota’s voice cracked, and a tear slipped down his cheek.
Anastasia’s heart broke for the pain he was feeling—pain she knew all too well. “You didn’t kill anyone. Thames is the only one responsible.” Her fingers brushed an iron choker. “What is this?”
“Thames is using it to keep me here.” He leveled broken blue eyes on her. “You have to kill me, Ana.”
“I won’t kill you, Dakota. We will get you out of here.”
“It’s no use, Thames will only take me back. Killing me is the only way to stop him.”
“We need to go, now,” Tony said, rushing into the room, Vinny in his arms.
“I should be able to portal out normally,” Anastasia explained, raising her hand and conjuring the familiar blue light.
“I can’t leave, Ana. He’ll just use me again. I could kill someone else.”
“I will protect you.”
“Isn’t this sweet.” Thames’ deep voice reverberated through the room, and Anastasia turned as he stepped inside from the hall Tony had come through only moments before.
“Tony, go,” Anastasia said, stepping between Thames and Dakota. As long as she had eyes on him, she’d know the second he tried to take over Dakota.
“I can’t leave you.”
“You have to go.” She stood between Thames and the portal, the only thing stopping him from getting to Tony.
“You leave with my boy, Fighter, and I’ll slaughter everyone you love.”
“Go, Tony,” Anastasia urged, conjuring twin flames on her palms. “I’ll handle this bastard.”
Thames laughed. “You’re so arrogant, Sorceress.”
“Pot, kettle?” She mocked, though he probably wouldn’t get the reference.
“You damn well better follow,” Tony said just before stepping into the light with Vinny.
Thames growled. “That was a mistake.”
Not wasting any more time, Anastasia flung the flames at Thames. He grinned when the power hit him square in the chest.
“Your magic can’t hurt him, Ana, you need to go.” Dakota touched her arm.
“You better listen to my brother, Sorceress. Your magic is no match for mine.”
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