Yep, at this point I’d been courted by three guys for the last three months but I still got stupid around Harris. He hadn’t said one word about our dare since the break-in. He didn’t say one word about the note either. But then, like the contrary person he was, come midnight and the door creaked open.
We were using the theater because the doors were unlocked, but it was never used. Merlin College used to have a drama department, but at some point someone must have decided that was a waste of time. Now the theater was only used for assemblies and the grand interior looked a little shabby. It had no windows, but a number of escape doors off the stage, which was another perk. I was nervous and I wanted a lot of doors.
“So. You’re going through with it,” Harris said. “I’m just here to make sure you don’t open the gates of hell or something.”
“Yeah, yeah, sit down and shut up,” I said, already on edge.
I was in the process of drawing the pentagram that would contain the demon.
“Take deep breaths,” Firian said. “It’ll be fine as long as you’re calm and in control, mentally.”
Calm and in control?
I was really trying. Deep down, I thought my mom must be scared. I knew she hadn’t left on purpose. Under the surface of the demon attacks had to be a cry for help. I knew I was doing the right thing. If I could just talk to her, maybe it would lead me to a way to save her. Montague said it was possible, and if there was even one tiny chance I could bring her back to the Ethereal world—and the human world—and us—well, I would take it.
I was already wearing the pink dress. Once I had drawn the pentagram, I lit some candles and placed the photo in the center.
“Okay.” I took a deep breath. “Turn off the lights,” I told Alec, who was posted by the row of switches.
“Remember, just talk to her from your heart,” Firian said. “This isn’t just a demon you’re summoning. It’s a loved one. Love is powerful enough to reach.” He squeezed my hand before taking a step back.
Firian stood behind me. Montague and Alec were standing together at the edge of the stage, ready to back me up if something happened. Harris had taken the seat front and center, an audience of one. I had a slight regret about inviting him now.
“Mom…I want to summon you. I want to talk to you. I…I know you’re watching over me. I know you’ve tried to attack the boys you thought might be a threat to me. Thank you, for that, even if it was a little much. Please come.”
Nothing. Not even a candle flicker.
“More commanding,” Firian said.
“If she won’t appear, if something is holding her back, then…tap into a little anger,” Firian said. “She abandoned you. She owes you an explanation!”
Firian must miss her too, I thought. He remembered her more than I did. In a way my mom and her familiar must seem like his parents too, right? Even though we are not siblings whatsoever.
“Mom!” I tried again. “I command you to appear and tell me what the hell is going on! Why did you leave me? Why did you break my dad’s heart? Mom—if you have to be a demon now, then—fine! If you don’t want to be my mom, you can at least leave the school alone! But we have a blood tie and you have an obligation to honor that, at least. Who are you?”
In some desperation, I added, “It’s your little goblin. Remember?”
The candles all went out.
I heard all of us catching our breath, afraid to make a sound, as a glow tore its way onto the stage in the center of my pentagram. The wolf demon jumped into the center of the pentagram. Its fur bristled. It hunched, defensive.
“Mom?”
“Don’t—do this,” the wolf said.
“Are you my mom?” I couldn’t help but think that if this was my mom, my mom sounded like a British man.
“Don’t call her. I’ve tried, Charlotte. I’ve tried. But the Withered Lord has her now and if you go down this path, he’ll destroy everything you love. Close the gate and never speak to Sinistrals again. She didn’t want you to be a witch.”
I took a step closer. “But I have so many questions! Who are you?”
“I can’t keep this passage safe long enough!” the wolf growled. “You need to close it!”
“You know, I’m at Merlin College because I was forced to be here by Ignatius Blair. And he won’t tell me anything. You can’t answer three questions?” I cried.
Why three? I remembered that Etherium and Sinistral had been described as the realms of fairy tales and magic. And everyone knew that sort of thing came in threes.
The wolf cursed. Right before my eyes, he transformed into a handsome older man wearing a stylish suit. But he still looked like kind of a wreck. He struggled to his feet. “I’m your grandfather,” he said. “I’m Emily’s father, Rhys. I have to be quick. When I was a boy, I was taken in by the Withered Lord. He’s a high demon, and my mates and I didn’t have an easy time of it, but your grandmother saved us from him. She gave up her powers to do it. And so, we kept your mother from the magical world. At least, we tried. But then Samuel came along, wanting to meet his aunt who had defied the rules of the witching world. Before long he brought his little sister Ina. Your mother adored her cousins, and she wanted to be a witch like them. We told her no, no…” He grimaced. “I suppose it is no use telling you no either.”
“I can understand where this is going….,” I said.
“Ina fell in love with a promising young warlock and that was Ignatius. But your great-aunt Catherine was not happy at all that her children were hanging around with the likes of Emily, half-werewolf, and half-fallen witch. The Withered Lord preyed on that. He let us go, fair and square, but he was our enemy now. He still enjoyed toying with us. He killed Ina, Ignatius was heartbroken, and Emily was so angry that she…she bargained. Power for her, and Ina’s life back. She didn’t realize how dear the price was. All of this unfolded just after you were born. Ignatius sealed your magic and shielded you, and we left the country. All to protect you. To keep the magical world and the Withered Lord out of your life until we could take him down. But…as you may guess…we haven’t succeeded. We lost Samuel, and…now, I really don’t know if there is any hope.”
“Oh…no.” I reached for him. “No…but…you shouldn’t have left! Dad and I have been so alone and confused.”
“Alone and confused is not the worst fate you could face,” he said.
“So you’re one of the wolves…with my grandmother in Australia?”
He nodded, and briefly his face succumbed to emotion. “Yes. Emily was our only child. It was by no means easy to leave you behind. We hoped, one day, to tell you she was saved. For this nightmare to end.”
“Grandfather Rhys…” I sniffed back my pain, my terror, my grief. “I think Samuel passed his powers to me. So all hope is not lost.”
“No—Charlotte—I don’t want—“
Suddenly, my grandfather was ripped from my grasp. His body vanished in a scrape of color that vanished into the pentagram. My screams died in my throat as something else came through.
Something else.
“There you are, my little goblin.”
Chapter Forty-Eight
Charlotte
My mother appeared before me, in no form I would ever have recognized, except as a demon. A creature of shadows. Her form was sort of female, but I couldn’t really see her face. A shadow was on it so I could barely see a gleam of eyes and teeth. Her hair and dress were like black smoke. The temperature of the room seemed to drop when she appeared.
“You understand now,” she said. Her voice was calmer than before, taking on more of a human sound, but there was still a dark and hollow quality to it. “You’re frightened, I know. Your mother is a demon. That isn’t what any child wants to hear, but you are beginning to shed your child self. So…Ignatius finally unlocked your powers.”
“Apparently…,” I said, trembling.
“And Samuel passed his power onto you. Is that the plan, then? They want to ‘save’ me, but th
ere is nothing to save. I have more power than any of them. I am immortal. My home is not here in this cruel, simple, mortal world. My home is in the land of magic. A land of smoke and stars, of the greatest pleasures of wine and song. You could join me there. And…these males you have surrounded yourself with?” She looked around at all of them. Alec and Montague clutched hands. Firian had turned into a fox, his teeth bared.
Harris alone looked…as arrogant and composed as always? I mean, his eyebrow might have twitched a little. Damn.
“You could bring all of them with you, and there would be no more worry for any of you. This incubus could bring you pleasure and stop pretending he’s a nice little college boy. This vampire would never lose you to death. Firian would be ever by your side. And you—“ She looked at Harris. “Ah, you would have all the power you want. I see it in your eyes. The mark of the shadow is upon all of you, and you shouldn’t be afraid. Sinistral is not evil. Sinistral is simply the land of power and decadence and more honesty than you will ever find with hypocritical Ethereals sitting in their towers laying down rules.”
She had a point. About a few things. Maybe.
I could see that some part of this resonated with every one of them.
Except maybe one.
Firian took my hand and squeezed mine so tight it almost hurt.
“What about Dad?” I asked her. “He loves you.”
“He’s just a human,” she said.
“No! I don’t believe that! Mom, please—this isn’t you. I don’t care what you gave up for power. I know you loved him once. You loved our family. This human world is my home, and we all want you back. No power could be worth what you gave up!”
“You just don’t know, Charlotte, but you will. You’re coming with me, and I’ll show you.” She reached for me, a cold hand grabbing mine. It wasn’t cold like Montague was cold, a “vampires have bad circulation” cold. This was a penetrating, horrible cold that seeped down to my bones and made me feel like I would never be warm again.
I screamed, trying to pull back from her grip. “I won’t go. I won’t! Mom—go away. I want to shut the gates! I expel thee, demon!”
Even now, I felt bad ‘expelling’ my mom, but I was not going to go to Sinistral and meet ‘the Withered Lord’. That was not a name that instilled confidence.
The only problem was, she had a hold on me that wouldn’t break. Or maybe I was the one who refused to let go.
Her smoky form seemed to turn into actual smoke that surrounded me. I couldn’t see. Shadow blocked my vision. My whole body was shivering. “Charlotte, you’re my daughter. Your place is with me.”
Wards. I need wards.
I struggled to remember the magic I had been studying.
It’s a video game, I thought. Focus. Choose the right components. Defeat the Demomma.
I felt my power, drawing around me, but then I felt as if I was being dragged down, like the floor was opening beneath me, and I realized she was pulling me into my own pentagram. I was losing. This was not a video game and I was going to die.
I felt fingers brush mine. Firian. He tried to catch me, and he slipped away.
My mother let out a terrible scream and I felt something like claws raking down my body as I flailed a hand out.
Firian caught me. Then I felt a colder hand. Montague. A very strong hand around my wrist. Alec. They were all trying to pull me out of this strange, dark vortex.
Then a fourth hand seemed to reach deeper and grabbed my hair and I heard Harris say, “You let her go. The darkness shall not touch her. She is under my protection and either you will come to her, or we will destroy you, this I swear.”
“I love this world!” I cried. “The human world! I don’t care about power but I need the people I love!”
The word ‘love’, the feeling of it, felt so powerful that even in that moment I felt sure that I could save my mother. That she would feel it and I could reach her.
Instead, I was finally pulled free of her. The shadows moved from my eyes and I felt myself yanked upward, back in the normal world. The candles were now lit again, and the guys were all looking down on me, worried.
“She’s bleeding!”
“Get help!”
“Charlotte, look at me,” Firian said. “Stay with me.”
I was still so cold. So cold…
“Mom…,” I said, a feeble cry of defeat and despair. “Dad…I’m so sorry…I couldn’t…”
My head was spinning, my eyes filling with shadow and little sparkles.
I really hope I’m not dying. That would be so stupid of me.
Don’t die, Charlotte. Dad needs you.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Charlotte
I woke up. It felt like a new world. Sunshine everywhere. A hand holding mine.
“Charlotte?”
“Dad!?”
I looked around, trying to make sense of it all. I was in the school infirmary. Dad was there. An electric blanket covered me and I was still shivering. There was an IV in my arm. “Augh!” I screamed. I’d never had an IV before. “What’s going on?”
“You’ve been out for three days,” he said, taking a deep breath. “Oh, thank god. But the dean said you were touched by an enchantment and you’re going to feel very cold.”
“Ohh…” That was definitely true. I felt like I had the chills that come with fevers. “Dad…did they tell you…?”
“I know you talked to your mom. Man, that was my fault. I told you to find the answers. I was hoping you would find a way to talk to her. I never imagined she would hurt you.”
“I wanted to save her. I wish I had something good to tell you. I tried, Dad, I really tried—“ I started crying. He put his arms around me. “I just wasn’t strong enough to stand against a high demon,” I said.
“I have to just accept…” He stopped, pulling back, and looked at the high ceilings in one of those I’m-not-crying faces.
“I don’t accept it,” I said. “I don’t. There are more things to try. I was just too impatient, that’s all. I have to study harder and learn more about what I’m getting into.”
His eyes cut to me and I saw something in them I didn’t really like. “I’m going to get the dean. He told me to tell him when you were awake.”
“Wait—“
The curtains fluttered behind him as he left.
Firian stepped inside a moment later. He didn’t say anything, but just put his arms around me. “You’re okay,” he said.
“I guess.” I was shivering more now, and he pulled the blankets up to my chin. “Is Master Blair mad at me? Am I expelled?”
“You’re not expelled…,” Firian said. “Well…I don’t know.” He sighed. “He sealed your magic back up. You’re going home.”
“Oh, no,” I said. “No way.” I tried to get out from under the covers. Firian put a hand on my chest, holding me down. “Can I get this IV off me? Firian…where are Montague and Alec?”
“I’ll tell them you’re awake,” he said, as Master Blair pushed open the curtain, rather dramatically. He looked like he hadn’t slept well, and his suit was nearly as disheveled as Firian’s uniforms. “Charlotte,” he said. “I’m glad you’re awake. I’m very sorry. This is all my fault. Hubris.”
“It wasn’t your fault. I wanted to see my mom. You tried to keep me from using magic to protect me, and I—“
He waved a hand. “I knew what you were up to. And I was fully on board. In fact, I wanted to see how determined you were. I relished your rebellion. She is the one, I thought.”
“Oh, so it was all just one of those stupid tests.”
“Stupid is definitely the right word for it,” he said. “Well, I was trying to lead you into summoning Samuel by implying he would have all the answers. I even told Brodie to tell you how easy it was to summon the dead. Samuel’s dead. Your mom is a Sinistral. I didn’t think you would go straight for your mom first.”
“So you’re telling me I’m stupid for summoning my mom!?”
“No, I’m stupid!” he said. “I should have realized when you took my photograph. Well, anyway, I made a huge mistake by bringing you here. I’ve been planning this since you were born, but I was so selfish. I never thought about your father. How he could lose you. You were this abstract thing, ‘Emily’s child’. I’ve just been moving you around a game board. I didn’t know your mother would try to suck you into the Sinistral world, or that Samuel would be killed. As it turns out, I’m really bad at this. Anyway, I’ve blocked your magic once again and I want you to go home and go to the University of Georgia.”
“Are you serious? I can’t just do that! Isn’t it dangerous? I want to be here!”
“Why? Because of magic or because of HAM?”
“Ham?”
“Harris Alec Montague. Sorry. They have a faculty nickname. I didn’t start it. Their teachers from their high school warned us they were…well, anyway. They actually haven’t been bad at all. It sounds like becoming a vampire was good for Monty.”
“I don’t think that’s true,” I said, because I knew it wasn’t easy on him at all. “Master Blair…you used to be friends with my mom. She’s not…evil, right? I mean, there’s good in her. There must be. My dad always believed there was.”
“Of course there was good in her. Let’s put it this way: in all the infinite possibilities, are there outcomes where we might save her? Yes. I think so. Those are the outcomes I’ve always focused on. The outcomes I never considered were the ones where you are lost or killed. I can’t risk those now, and you shouldn’t either.”
“But we could be careful this time! Maybe if you had actually just said all this stuff from the beginning! I want to talk to Samuel, like you said. I don’t want to go home.”
“It was never just about saving your mom,” Master Blair said. “For all of us, this goes back to plans we made. I know to you, I seem pretty old. But to the council, I’m still considered a young upstart. The council is very very old, and if they do let someone young onto it, it’s someone like Harris. An old, old family. This goes back to the reason your grandmother left the witching world: witches and warlocks are segregated by gender, and rebellion is suppressed. Yes, Samuel and I pulled a magic trick to get you into this school because we wanted a girl at Merlin College. We were going to use you to prove that women can handle warlock magic. The council is, even now, furious that I admitted you.”
A Witch Among Warlocks: The Complete Series Box Set Page 25