by Eve Stone
He walked us over to the small alcove where a hospital bed sat against the wall. A stand with a metal tray holding medical instruments was all that was to be found in the room. All the tools were in sealed plastic bags and nothing seemed out of place—except for the whole medical room in the dungeon thing.
“Have you seen Lance or Clara?”
He shook his head. “I’ve been alone.”
My gut twisted. Something was off and it was more than just the creep factor of the asylum.
“Holly, where are the books?”
“You found them?” Tristan asked.
“I have them. When we were transported here, we must have dropped them, but they made it.”
I sighed in relief. As long as we had those books, I could still be optimistic.
“How do we get out of here?” I ask, ready to ditch this dungeon and get the fuck out of this nightmare.
“We’ve got to be underground,” he said looking around. “Look for stairs.”
We all dispersed , going through the dank dungeon, trying to locate any way out.
“They’re over here,” Holly called out, her voice echoing through the space.
When Tristan and I got to her, we all ascended the stairs, but when we got to the top, the door was locked.
“What the hell? Let us out,” I screamed, beating on the door with my fists.
“Stand back,” Tristan instructed, and I obeyed. He raised his right leg kicking the door.
“Damn it,” he yelled, but he didn’t stop kicking until finally the door swung outward. I placed my hand on his shoulder.
“Lead the way.”
We ran through the door, down the hall and finally landed in the foyer, where Clara sat against the wall, with Mallory practically curled up on top of her.
“We seem to have a very persistent ghost after Mallory,” she sighed. “Thankfully for her, I’m not affected by spiritual beings. I find that I can be just as scary when provoked,” she grinned.
“Has anyone seen Lance?”
Clara shook her head and my worry for him intensified. He’s the only one who hasn’t been seen since we entered this place.
“Lance,” Tristan bellowed, drawing all eyes to him. “We have to get out of here and if he doesn’t show soon, we’re leaving without him.”
All the lights went out, shrouding us in complete darkness. “Tristan, what’s going on?” I said, teeth beginning to chatter. Coldness, like I’d never felt, seeped into my bones, chilling me from the inside out.
A woman’s screechy cackle vibrated through the walls, piercing my ears. My hands flew to my head to try to snuff out as much of the spine-chilling sound as they could. I didn’t even realize I was screaming until the shrieking ceased.
Tristan grabbed me roughly into his chest. “It’s alright. I’ve got you,” he cooed.
“I’m fine,” I said, wiping away a stray tear. I couldn’t break down. I couldn’t allow this house to get to me it. That’s what it wanted. “I don’t want to leave him, but you’re right, we have to go,” I said, trying for bravery, but scared to death he’d agree, and we’d end up leaving Lance in that hell hole.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
It was Lance’s voice, but it was hollow, completely unlike him.
“The hall is locking itself down as we speak. You can’t escape our hold,” he said lifelessly.
“Lance? What’s happened to you?” I cry, scared for my friend.
“Lance is gone.”
I whimpered at the thought. Who or what had taken control of him? Could we save him?
The place groaned and creaked. Doors throughout the asylum slammed shut. My eyes captured sight of a window and I ran toward it, hoping it could be the way out, but as I approached I saw the sickly vines, snaking their way from the ground up, covering the windows so completely, it would be impossible to even open it.
Everything within me tightened until I felt like I could erupt. “Stop,” I screamed. “Let him go!” I couldn’t even recognize my own voice. It was strong. It was powerful. It was scary as fuck. With the force of my anger, every window in the place burst. My hands flew forward expelling the energy toward whatever inhabited Lance.
I collapsed into a heap as the final surge pulsed from my fingertips. The lights flickered on and we all blinked to adjust to the offending brightness. Lance sat up, looking dazed.
“Lance!” I said, crawling toward him. I knew he was back. When I reached him, I pulled him into my chest.
“Gwen. It wasn’t the house. The witches are here. They came for their book.”
My eyes squinted in confusion before turning to a wide-eyed Clara.
“Souveign?”
He nodded.
“Come out, Clara,” a woman called in a sing-song voice. “And be a good girl and bring me my book,” she clipped the last part.
Holly handed Clara the Souveign book of spells and she opened the door to face the other coven leader. The rest of us followed closely behind.
“Was that entrance necessary, Amber?”
The witch, named Amber looked bored as she picked dirt out from under her nails. “I always make an entrance. You should remember this about me.”
“It’s been a long time.”
“Has it?” she asked as though serious. “I think it’s been too short.”
“We got your book and I planned to bring it back to you, but I want to talk about a truce,” Clara said, head held high.
“Hmmm. I don’t think we’re prepared to make any type of deal with the devil today,” she said smirking. “Especially the very devil that failed to come to provide aid during our greatest time of need.”
Clara took a step forward. “I couldn’t, Amber. Sarah put us all in danger—”
“This isn’t about Sarah,” she seethed. “This is about the other three hundred witches that you abandoned. And for what? To not make waves with sorcerers?” she lowered her head, shaking it. “No. I don’t think any sort of truce will be made tonight.”
Two witches flew forward, flanking either side of Clara and dragging her toward Amber.
“We have to do something,” I said to my friends.
“No,” Clara’s head snapped toward me. “This is coven business. You can’t interfere. No matter what.”
“Look at that ladies, the Dowager coven has made friends with some sorcerer brats.”
Holly growled at Amber and the witch laughed. “Except you. You’re a mutt if I had to guess,” she looked at Clara, brow raised. “Yours?” Clara remained silent and Amber shrugged her shoulder. “Either way. It’s no concern of mine. I only want what’s ours,” she bobbed her head toward the book in Clara’s hand, before seizing it.
I wanted to cry. Our one bargaining chip with Dowager depended on this book and their alliance. What now? Was it all foiled? Something had to be done, so I stepped forward.
“Souveign, there is a great danger to your kind. The council plans to exterminate every
last one of you. Their power is great.”
Amber laughed. “Their power is nonexistent. Do you think we’re stupid child? We know Clara and her coven wiped their powers from them.”
“Only the council, not all other sorcerers, and right now, they are building an army for their cause. They’re coming for Excalibur and when they do, they’ll do their best to wipe out any of you they find.”
“When that time comes, we’ll be prepared,” she said. “We don’t need you and your band of misfit sorcerers. Now that we have our book.” She turned with the book in her hand and started toward the woods.
“You don’t have the chalice,” I said, hoping that would change the tide.
She turned. “What do you know about that?”
“Just that you don’t have it and you need help finding it.”
“You find the chalice and then we’ll talk of truce. Until then, you’re on your own,” she tapped the top of the book with her finger. “Are you Gwen?”
My eyes nar
rowed. How could she possibly know my name?
“I know a great deal, girl. I come from a long line of seers,” she pointed that finger at me. “I believe you could be the one to retrieve the chalice, because of that, I will share something with you. With all of you.” My frown deepened and I sucked on my teeth trying to figure this witch out.
She came to me, walking slowly around me, sniffing the air around me and I slunk away from her unwanted perusal.
“Two men whose beds you share are at your back this eve. But the one who held you last night did not know that the other had you last night while you dreamt.”
I inhaled sharply. My eyes flew back and forth from Tristan to Lance. Lance’s eyes were narrowed as if he was trying to work out the details of her riddle.
“W-what is she talking about?” Lance asked confused.
Amber sighed dramatically. “Keep up, lover. Your girl dream slept with your pal here last night while you held her in your arms.”
I closed my eyes as she spilled my secret to a room full of people. Tears began to leak from the corner of my eyes when I saw the moment that Lance understood. Watching him break in front of me was painful. He hadn’t deserved what I’d done.
Before I could say anything, Lance charged at Tristan, tackling him to the ground.
“Who would’ve known we’d get our book and entertainment tonight,” Amber said, gleefully. I took a menacing step toward her and she put up her finger, wagging it back and forth. “You may be a powerful girl, but I’m more so. Don’t press your luck.”
“I will kill you one of these days,” I seethed.
“Why? I told you I’d share something with you. You didn’t think that was it, did you?”
she tsked. “Your true love will die before the full moon. The spirits inside made it so. If you find the chalice, I’ll permit you to use it to save him. You’ll only be able to use it once, as that’s the way the magic of the chalice works. Get busy,” she ordered. “Oh…and get out of here. The council is on their way.” Snapping her fingers, they disappeared.
My head spun with all that she had said. My true love would die before the full moon. I had to find the chalice, but more importantly, I had to get everyone out of here. She said the council was on their way.
“We have to go,” I bellowed. “Council’s here.”
Clara separated the boys, both seething in anger, red and sweating profusely.
“You’re going with Holly,” she instructed Tristan, pointing toward the red car at the end of the drive. “Move,” she boomed.
“Gwen—”
“Tristan, please. I’ll be fine. Go.”
He nodded and finally did as asked, jogging off in the direction of the red car where Holly was already waiting.
“Tell me it isn’t true, Gwen,” Lance said, coming to my side.
I looked up at him wearily, knowing we didn’t have time for this, but feeling like I owed him something. But I never got the words out.
Gunfire exploded all around us and over a dozen council members rushed the lawn. Clara did her best to hold off the ten men coming from the right side of the woods, while Mallory—finally seeming to function—took on the left side.
“We have to make it to the car,” I yelled over the chaos. I turned back toward the fighting to find myself face-to-face with Martha Croft. I had never thought her to be evil, but at this moment, she looked barely human. I guess the death of her son was enough to push her to the dark side. Right now, she looked like an avenging angel, ready to level us all.
I didn’t even have a chance to think as her arm rose, pointing a gun directly at me. She took the shot and there was nothing I could do. I was paralyzed in place. My life flashed before me while all of Evie’s attempts at training evaporated from my mind. I was useless. My eyes closed in preparation for death, but it never came.
“Gwen,” ripped through Lance’s throat as he jumped in front of me, taking the hit directly.
“NO!” I screamed as he fell to the floor at my feet. Martha’s eyes met mine and widened. My fists clenched and rage built inside of me. An inferno I couldn’t contain. If I thought my outburst earlier was intense, it had nothing on what was building now.
With all the wrath I could gather, I hurled a fireball directly at her. It exploded on impact and body parts sprayed across the yard. I walked down the steps like something out of a horror movie. No emotion, no sound. I hurled balls of flame at every council member in sight, decimating each and every one of them until there was no one standing.
A few lay sprawled out on the lawn, moaning in agony, but I wouldn’t put them out of their misery. For all the pain they’d caused, they’d suffer.
“Gwen, help,” Mallory cried.
I ran to her side, looking down at Lance. All the fear and pain that had momentarily been forgotten flooded me and I fell to my knees at his side. Clara had closed the wound, but he had lost a significant amount of blood.
“I need the coven. He’ll need an operation, the bullet is still in there,” Clara explained.
“Why? Why would you do that?” I cried, looking down at Lance, whose eyes blinked slowly.
He attempted to smile up at me, but it was more like a grimace. “I love you, Gwen.”
Tears began to cascade down my cheeks at his declaration. Damn him for doing this.
Damn him for being my protector even after I’d hurt him.
“We have to get him out of here,” Clara said softly. “I’ll go for the car.”
I stayed by Lance’s side, wiping the sweat from his forehead and playing with his hair, trying my best to soothe him. Finally, Clara pulled up with the Kia, opening the door and motioning for us.
“Help me lift him,” I instructed, and Mallory went to his other side to help me lift him.
With Mallory and I at his sides and Clara at his back, we were able to get him situated into the back. He groaned in pain and I could hardly take it.
At some point, about fifteen minutes into the drive, he went quiet and I panicked.
“What happened? Is he alright?”
“He’s fine,” Clara assured. “He’s passed out from the pain. It’s better this way.”
“Will he survive, Clara?” I asked, eyes begging her to be truthful.
“Our magic can only do so much, Gwen. He took a shot to the chest. He shouldn’t be alive right now. Every minute that bullet remains in his body makes his chances less. I may have sealed the wound, but I don’t know what I sealed into his body. Infection is our greatest threat right now.”
“Do you think Lance is who Amber meant when she said my true love would die before the full moon?”
Mallory made a noise up front, but I ignored her. I already knew her feelings on the matter of my love life.
“The full moon is in three days, Gwen. It would seem as though Lance is who the coven spoke of. I’ve sent Holly ahead to have the coven perform a locator spell to get the chalice. Now that we have Excalibur and our book, they should know where it is before we return.”
I didn’t say another word the rest of the ride back to the coven’s dwelling. My eyes remained on Lance, watching for his shallow breaths. I was so scared of what was going to happen to him. If he died, a very large piece of me would die with him. We had to find this chalice and soon.
When we pulled into the safety of the coven’s lair, Holly came running out to meet us with three other witches, carrying a stretcher of sorts. I helped place Lance onto the bed and watched as they carried him away, eager to start preparing him for surgery.
I was bone-weary, but I was determined to be there throughout the surgery. I needed to know he was going to be alright.
“Gwen, I need to talk to you,” Holly said, sounding off.
I could not handle any more and if Holly’s body language was any indication, whatever she had to say was not good. I looked at her resignedly.
“Something is wrong with Tristan.On the way home he…he started to cough up blood.”
“What
?”
“One second we were arguing because he wanted me to turn back for you and the next, he was hunched over, dry heaving blood. When we got back, he collapsed. They’ve taken him to the hospital wing.”
“Where. Take me,” I said hysterically.
She grabbed my hand and led me through a network of halls before we finally reached what the coven called their medical wing. Tristan was lying in a bed, ghostly white and eyes closed. I hiccuped a sob.
Olive came to his side, hooking up what looked to be an IV. “What’s happening to him?”
She eyed me despairingly. “He’s been cursed.”
“Oh my God,” Holly said from my side.
My hands were clasped over my mouth, smothering the cries that wanted to break loose. “Cursed? What does that mean? What can you do?”
She approached me. “We don’t know how or who cursed him, but see this black mark?” she walked me toward the bed, lifting his shirt to reveal a black jagged circle that looked almost branded into his skin. “That’s a sign of an ancient curse.” She pulled his shirt back into place, patting his arm lightly. “He needs the chalice, Gwen. Without it, he’ll die.”
My world stopped spinning. Everything around me ceased to exist. Colors muted and I swayed. Your true love will die before the full moon.
Two men’s lives lie in the balance. Both I love with all my heart. The chalice has the power to save, but only one. My heart screams for one while my head screams for another. The weight of the world is pressing down on me and it’s enough to finally break me.
No matter what, I have to find the chalice, or I’ll lose them both and that would definitely be the end of me.
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About Eve Stone
Eve Stone is the author of the Avalon Institute, as well as a few other upcoming worlds. She lives in Avalon along with Gwen and crew, and can often be found trying to pull the sword from the stone, drinking some tea, and reading.