by Lana Melyan
Sam stood with his back to me, and I couldn’t see his face, but I saw him give Nate a curt nod. For a second I got angry with Nate, and I wanted to protest. But I didn’t. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to stab someone. And if I hesitated for a second, I could put Kate in danger.
They stepped back to us. Sam grabbed the handle on the sheath and hung the sword over his shoulder.
“Brian and Logan will come with me,” said Nate. “It won’t take long for them to find out there are no books in the bag. If something goes wrong and you see that Kate is in danger,” Nate looked at Sam, “use the sword. Otherwise,” Nate glanced at me and Connie, “no one makes a move until we have Kate. And, Logan, don’t drain them completely. If they don’t have at least a slight pulse, they’re useless to us.”
Connie and I stared at each other.
“You know what?” I whispered to Connie, barely moving my lips. “It’s good we will be under the cloak. They won’t be able to see the horror on our faces.”
“Yeah,” sighed Connie, looking back at Logan, who glanced at her and shifted from foot to foot. “Maybe it would be better if they also gagged us, just in case.”
“This won’t take long,” said Nate. “There are six of us, and I doubt there will be too many of them. And remember, the first thing that we should worry about is Kate.”
Nate gave us a few instructions, and Sam joined me and Connie.
“Even though we won’t be able to see you, the three of you will still see each other. So coordinate your moves, take the right positions,” said Nate. “The cloak will give us the element of surprise. When the fight starts, I’ll have to remove it so we don’t hurt each other by accident.” He looked at me, but didn’t say anything. Then he focused his eyes on us and muttered a few words. The only one I understood was invisibilis.
Logan grabbed the bag, and Nate nodded for us to follow him.
7
We walked down the street until we reached the house. Nate stopped and eyed it. The porch light was on, and so was the light in the room, but the curtains were closed. He rounded the corner of the house, and we all followed.
The big backyard surrounded with trees was empty. Two wall lamps on the porch and the light post behind us illuminated it. Nate, Brian, and Logan crossed the yard and stopped in the middle, facing the house. Logan dropped the bag to the ground. Sam, Connie, and I lined up behind them.
I’d seen scenes like this in the movies, but I had never thought I might one day find myself in a situation even close to this one. My heart beat so loud I was afraid Nate would hear it.
“Nicky,” he said quietly, as if he did, “try to control your energy. Don’t blow anything up just yet.”
“I’m fine,” I said, but my deep breathing didn’t prove my statement, and Sam took my hand.
“Everything is gonna be okay,” he whispered.
The back door opened, and five men came out. Kate wasn’t with them.
Does this mean there are more of them? If Kate was still inside, then someone must be watching her. I wished I could see Nate’s face. It’s okay. I know my Nate. I can read his reaction in his voice.
One of the men, who looked only a couple of years older than Nate, came forward.
“Nathan,” he said, and the corner of his mouth twitched in a smile.
“Chuck,” said Nate.
They know each other?
“It’s been a long time,” said Chuck.
“And you haven’t changed a bit,” Nate smirked.
“Neither have you.” Keeping a good distance between the two of them, Chuck stopped, just like Nate, his feet shoulder width apart and hands folded behind his back.
“I wonder, how many witches did you sacrifice to make this happen?” said Nate.
“Look who's being judgemental,” sneered Chuck. “Haven’t you done the same?”
“That’s the question, isn’t it? But even if I have, I’m not the one who started the war to avenge murdered witches and then kept killing them for personal game.” I heard a heavy irony in Nate’s voice.
“It doesn’t matter how many we kill because we’re going to bring all of them back.”
Nate laughed. “Sorry. It’s just I’ve been hearing that song for more than a hundred years now. And my ancestors longer than that. But instead there are only more dead witches.”
“We’ll bring them back, as soon as we get the books,” said Chuck, looking grim now. “And I think it’s time you handed them over.”
“First of all.” Nate took a deep breath. “Even with the books, you won’t be able to do it. Kenneth could, but the Order won’t be able to do it without him. Believe me, I know. At least, not in the next hundred years. If I thought you could succeed,” Nate pointed his finger at the bag, “do you really think I would give them to you?”
Sam pressed his lips together to suppress his laughter.
“And second.” Nate’s voice became serious. “Wasn’t this an exchange? Where’s the girl?”
“Just one more question,” said Chuck. “How did you get them? Or was it Vincent? I’m not even asking how you got to Kenneth’s vault. How did you open it?”
“Who? Me?”
“Yeah. You.”
“I would be proud, and I’m sure Vincent would’ve been as well, to take the credit,” Nate chuckled. “But the thing is, those books have been in possession of the Callahan and Cain covens for more than a hundred and fifty years, since before Vincent and I were even born.”
Chuck’s eyes widened.
“How did they open the vault?” Nate continued. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I can’t tell you. That secret died with the heads of the covens long ago. Now.” Nate cleared his throat. “It was nice to chat with you, but let’s get to the point.”
Scowling, Chuck glanced at the guy behind him, and the guy went back into the house. A minute later he returned, followed by two young women. One of them pushed Kate in front of her.
Kate’s hands were tied behind her, and her hair were messed up. I didn’t see any wounds on her, but when she came closer and looked at Nate, I saw her eyes were red and full of tears. The woman grabbed her shoulder and stopped her on the first step of the porch stairs.
“What did you do to her?” said Nate in a stony voice. “I warned you if you touch her—”
“She’s just scared.”
“Who do you think I am?” hissed Nate. “You thought I wouldn’t see the damage. What spell did you use on her?”
“Nothing you won’t be able to fix, Cain,” said Chuck with a smug expression. “And by the way, where’s Murphy? What did you do to him?”
“Murphy got what he deserved.”
“I see. So you killed the last Callahan?”
“A true Callahan would never betray us. Isn’t that what you do if someone goes against your mission?”
“This girl, she told us some stuff. Are you going to kill her too?”
“Nate, he’s lying!” yelled Kate.
The woman behind her pressed a hand to the top of Kate’s head, and Kate moaned in pain. Nate’s hands clenched into fists behind his back. Brian nervously shifted from foot to foot.
Sam’s jaw tightened. He pulled the sword out of the sheath. Following Nate’s instructions, we took our positions.
“I told you if you touch her, you would pay for it,” said Nate.
“What are you going to do, Cain?” said Chuck. “There’s only three of you. You can’t fight us all. Now, hand over the books before things get really ugly.”
Sam moved forward along the edge of the yard. I looked around, searching the area for useful objects. There were a couple of chairs, a few pots with dry plants, and a shovel under one of the trees. Not much.
Logan picked up the bag.
“Stay here,” Nate muttered to Brian, and he and Logan took a few steps forward. “Let her go,” said Nate.
“First we need to see what’s in the bag,” said Chuck.
“Then come and look.”
> Logan threw the bag on the ground, and it landed with a heavy thud between him and Chuck.
Another guy came out from the house and stopped next to the woman on the porch.
And the numbers keep growing. Dammit.
“There’s no one there,” said the guy. “I don’t know where they left their car, but no one followed them.”
“Of course there’s no one,” said Chuck, gloating. “His whole coven is dead.”
“You son of a bitch,” hissed Brian through gritted teeth, taking a step.
But Nate threw his hand up before Brian, stopping him.
The blood rushed to my head, and I clenched my fists. As if Nate knew it, he raised his hand to the level of his shoulder.
“No one moves,” he said.
I took a few deep breaths.
“Zack,” said Chuck, and the guy on his left started toward the bag.
So that’s Zack? Judging by his voice on the phone, I had thought he would be much older.
Sam was already at the left end of the porch. I took a few steps to the left too, so when I cast a spell I wouldn’t hurt Nate and Logan. I could see Brian’s face now, keeping his eyes on the two guys standing at Chuck’s right.
Sam moved closer to the woman holding Kate.
Zack bent down. He unzipped the bag and glanced inside. A blonde model beamed at him from the cover of the magazine. He looked up at Nate.
“Oops,” said Nate.
Sam glanced at me. Preparing myself, I gave him a nod.
“There are no books—”
Before Zack could finish his words, the woman holding Kate screamed in pain as Sam stabbed her shoulder.
Nate removed the cloaking spell at once, and it worked exactly as he expected. For a second, Chuck and the others froze in their spots, staring at us.
“Move,” I yelled at Sam. He grabbed Kate and pulled her to the side. I raised my fists, and aiming my energy at the second woman and the guy standing on the porch, I threw my palms open. The windows and ceramic pots exploded. The woman and the guy were pinned to the wall, and at that moment, the wooden poles supporting the roof above the porch shattered, collapsing the overhang.
My eyes darted to Nate. I shrugged guiltily, but he grinned.
Chuck stared at me with wide eyes. But then, looking furious, he raised both hands, directing them at Nate.
Nate was ready for the spell. He punched the air, and Chuck flew backward and crashed down on the remains of the porch.
Logan’s advantage was his speed, and he had to use it to avoid spells. He flashed to the guy on Chuck’s left and sank his teeth into his throat. Brian cast a spell at the guy on the right. The blond guy next to him cast a spell at Connie, who clenched her fists and crossed her arms, blocking the spell. Since Connie wasn’t that powerful yet, blocking the spells was the first thing Nate had taught her.
Sam rushed to Connie, and before the blond guy could send another spell at her, Sam stabbed him in the stomach.
Getting up, Zack aimed his spell at me. Nate lifted his hand above his head. Moaning in pain, Zack grabbed his head with both hands and dropped to the ground. With Nate distracted, Chuck pulled himself up and punched the air, aiming his spell at Nate. But he stumbled on splinters and missed, and the spell hit Nate’s shoulder, pushing him back and knocking off Brian instead.
Nate caught his balance, and in that same moment, Zack and Chuck turned their hands at him.
Not my boyfriend, you cockroaches.
Nate blocked their spells, but the wave was too strong, and he swayed. Aiming my hand at Chuck’s throat, I squeezed my fingers. Nate slammed his hand to Zack’s chest, who shuddered and dropped down again.
“Nicky, we need him alive,” said Nate as Chuck began choking.
Sam threw the sword to Nate, and Nate thrust it into Zack’s shoulder.
Still holding my grip on Chuck, I looked around to make sure no one had escaped.
“Guys,” yelled Kate, pointing her hand at the woman and the guy on the porch.
They had unpinned from the wall pretty quickly when I released them and were now trying to get out from under the collapsed porch. Her palm open, the woman punched her way out, sending splinters flying all over the place. A piece of wood flew at Kate, but she threw her hand in front of her, stopping it halfway. Another piece flew at Logan. The thought that it could kill him stopped my heart. I let go of Chuck so I could freeze the piece of wood in midair, but Connie had already cast the spell. Then she pointed her hand at the chair standing under the tree, and with sharp wave of her hand, she sent it flying at the woman. The chair slammed against her, and she lost her footing.
Together, Nate and Sam stunned the woman and the guy next to her.
The guy Brian was fighting against was trying to fix his twisted arm. Nate threw the sword to Brian, and Brian stabbed him.
Then Logan put the sword through the guy he had bitten, who lay on the ground, bleeding. I bent over him to heal his wounds.
Zack raised his hand, trying to cast a spell. Nothing happened. His powers were gone, which meant that the method I suggested was working. I stared at the sword in Logan’s hand. It looked dark gray now.
Chuck was catching his breath and trying to get up. Nate approached him, pushed him down, then dropped on one knee in front of him. The rest of us stood in a circle to make sure no one escaped.
Nate pressed his open hand to Chuck’s chest, and Chuck winced in pain.
“Stay still, or I’ll hurt you more,” said Nate, removing his hand.
“Who is that girl?” wheezed out Chuck, frowning at me.
“She’s my secret weapon.” Nate looked at me, smiling.
Sam grinned.
“She’s as powerful as—”
“As her father,” said Nate. “I know.”
“It can’t be.” Chuck stared at me, looking stunned. “He didn’t have kids.”
“Yeah.” I nodded slowly. “That’s what Murphy thought too. He thought he was the only one.”
Logan drew closer and handed the sword to Nate.
“This is your stop, Chuck. This is where you get off.” Nate thrust the sword into Chuck’s stomach.
Chuck winced in pain, but Nate didn’t pull the sword out.
“Nate.” I stared at him.
“Sorry, Nicky. But he’s immortal, and I need to give it a second for the spells to work properly.” He pulled out the sword. “I didn’t damage important organs. We will still be able to heal him.”
We waited for a moment, staring at Chuck’s stomach. The wound wasn’t healing.
“What’s happening?” asked Chuck, doubled up from the pain.
“Thanks to her,” Nate nodded toward me, “you’re not going to die from this injury.” Nate held his glowing palm over the cut. “And she’s right, you shouldn’t die just yet. Losing your powers is the worst punishment you could get, and you’re not immortal anymore. Most important, the Order will kick you out because they won’t need you anymore. And that’s best case scenario.”
“Was that the sword?” asked Chuck, looking horrified and grabbing Nate by his clothes. “How did you do that?”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Nate, pushing his hand down. “Because you won’t remember any of this. You’re not a warlock anymore, and I can do this now.” Nate looked into Chuck’s eyes. “You’ll forget that Vincent had a daughter, and you will forget about the sword. All you will remember is that I showed up with two others. We had a fight and I used a spell, after which you lost your powers.”
“Nate,” said Brian, “shouldn’t we erase their memories of the books?”
“I’m sure the Order knows about the books already. But it’s better if less people know about them,” said Nate, straightening up. “So, yes, we should, but not Chuck’s. We still need him. I removed the first layer about the fight because it’ll make it easier to remove the rest later.”
“So we don’t need Zack anymore?” asked Logan.
“No, we got ourselves a bigger
fish.”
We healed the wounds of the rest of them, erased their memories, and headed back to the car, taking Chuck with us. The others just stood there, staring after us in astonishment.
“Yeah,” Sam chuckled. “It’ll take them a while before they will be able to think straight again.”
8
It was nearly midnight. We arrived at the motel, led Chuck into our room, and tied him to a chair.
“I’m starving,” said Connie, sinking onto the bed.
“Yeah, me too,” I said, dropping down next to her.
“Let’s order pizza. There must be twenty-four hour delivery here.” Connie grabbed her phone.
“Seriously?” Nate looked at her. “We have work to do.” He pointed his hand at Chuck.
“What?” Connie shrugged. “He’s not going anywhere. Besides, they still need to make it and deliver.” She grinned as she glanced at Logan. “Should I count you too? You just ate. Maybe you’re not hungry.”
I couldn’t suppress my laughter, and Sam laughed along with me. Staring at Connie, Nate shook his head, then turned his eyes to Logan.
“What did you do to her? She seemed normal when I first met her.”
“Let me do that.” Smiling, Logan pulled the phone out of Connie’s hand.
“Kate, won’t your father be looking for you?” asked Brian.
“No.” She shook her head quickly. “I told him I’m staying at my friend’s place tonight.” Leaning against the wall, she turned her guilty look on Nate. “I’m sorry. Nate, I was about to leave, but one of them came from behind—”
“Kate, the first rule—follow orders. I asked you to watch them for a couple of hours, and you stayed the whole day. How do you think would I feel if something had happened to you?” Nate pushed his hands into his pockets and leaned on the desk. “And look what they did to you.”
“I’m fine. It was my fault, and you shouldn’t worry about it.”