Dawn must possess a pure heart from how mystics were attracted to her so easily. She could draw them in from miles away. Marcus had plans for her too, but somehow she escaped the world with a gang of people. Jared must have had something to do with her escape as well. “There’s two, I think, who have that kind of heart,” I say.
The group steps in toward me, shocked eyes searching my face for answers.
“Who? Who, Eliza? That’s impossible.”
Murmurs buzzed through the huddled group. How could someone like me know potentially two people who possess a rare heart? I wouldn’t call accusations yet, it’s a typical hunch most people have when they already know something. A mystery already unraveled, a puzzle already pieced together. I hold on to my broomstick tightly, and wait for the murmurs to come to silence.
“A person with a pure heart can’t ever become corrupt, right?”
I look up to Rissa walking in between the grouped witches, her markings beaming in the dark. “You’re right, they can’t. They have the ability to destroy Ravamere and end whatever Christian may be planning.”
“How, exactly, do they have the ability to destroy Ravamere?” I ask.
Charlotte and Audrey glance at one another. Charlotte clears her throat and says, “When we lived in Ellevil before aiding Vaelle, Audrey read Christian’s thoughts.” She pressed her lips.
“What were his thoughts, Audrey?” Alice asked.
“I can’t really be sure whether or not it was true, Christian kept to himself most of the time. He was turned by a corrupt elf, and the elves of Ellevil took him in. He built a treehouse in the forbidden woods.”
“Elf-kissed,” I say, clearing my throat. “He led me there and it was all an illusion in the end,” I muttered. “That treehouse—would he go there often to think?” I ask.
“Yes, he would. He had thoughts about several things.” Audrey stepped closer toward me and glanced out through the hallways. “They were about the betrothal between you and him. He thought about meeting you for the first time, and how he’d react. He planned and planned for ways to corrupt you and pick at your emotions.”
“Which he accomplished,” I speak under my breath.
“The marriage was on his mind most of the time. However, it was your father he planned to kill.” Audrey rubbed her forehead. “He couldn’t do it himself, there wasn’t a way of killing him off alone.”
Audrey stumbles back a bit, releasing a stressed sigh.
“Audrey, that’s enough, I can feel you growing weak from your memories.” Charlotte held on to Audrey carefully and glanced up at me. “That’s enough of asking her questions.”
Christian couldn’t kill off Marcus, so he used me to strike at the right time. Marcus was desperate to proceed with the marriage in order to reverse the curse. The members mumbled among themselves and waited for Alice their leader to speak, but she didn’t. Alice walked out of the room, allowing a slim line of white light through.
Rissa cleared her throat. “I know of a place in Serevil where we can get the answers we need about pure hearts.”
Rissa looked around, two witches chuckled. “Why should we trust you of all Shade members? You were a Rav mystic yourself.” The witch crossed his arms.
Rissa didn’t mind the punch. “Christian used me too, I was his toy in Rav. Don’t forget I know all about his elf ways. I come from Serevil, the land of shifters, it’s best you’d trust me in order to get around safely.” The two other shifters in the room beamed on their eyes as they appeared next to Rissa’s sides. The members glanced around.
“We should wait and see what Alice has to say,” Aeron says, fluttering out of the room. I respond, stopping him from fully exiting the room.
“We don’t have time to wait,” I sigh. “Every bit of time is wasted the more we wait, Christian is always one step ahead of us. He killed Marcus for a reason. He now possesses the power to do anything he wants with this world.” I press the button on my broomstick. My purple sword slides out immediately as I say, “Think of the humans in this world. They’re all going to suffer when Christian is released.” I feel my pocket for Jared’s necklace, pulling it out. “It’ll be all of our faults if we don’t plan accordingly for Ravamere’s new King. I’m going with Rissa.”
“Christian is trapped there, there’s no way he’ll come out,” Rissa butts in.
“Everyone here should be anxious every day, they should be preparing themselves for what’s to come. I’m not going to sit here scared like the rest of you, waiting to be killed off by corruption.” I hiss through my teeth. The door in the room creaks back open, and the floors squeak and crack from someone stepping into the room.
“We leave by sunrise.” Alice says, standing in the doorway. She glances at the few other witches in the room. Rissa places her hand on top of my shoulder, spreading a slight grin across her face. Even though I’ve known the truth for some time now, it’s still all coming to me.
I knew for a fact that something was wrong with my brother. He could barely remember anything from the past. I saw him being stolen away by the Verel in my projection, I had another projection seeing the guy I’ve developed feelings for and wanted to trust. He turned out to be using his hands to do the murder for his brotherhood.
Christian’s always been odd to me. Whether my emotions are being played with doesn’t prevent me from understanding his methods and wants. An elf like that will forever be corrupt; there isn’t any going back from the things he’s been behind. He’s like a snake in the grass, quiet and silent, waiting to be stepped on in order to attack. Christian knew of me being a myth, he worked with Terese and Marcus to betroth the two of us. He was that evil at such a young age, it was his destiny to be Ravamere’s King.
The room grows darker and colder. I wait alone, standing in front of the glass wall. I’m aware that Rissa is behind me, my senses are tingling. My myth and I have teamed up together, I don’t need a mood ring to seal my fate anymore. I feel the corners of my lips pinch into a grin.
“I brought this with us through the Rav portal.”
I turn around, Rissa is holding a glowing red rose. This flower is the key to breaking my betrothal. “I’m already betrothed to a corrupt mystic, so why aren’t I corrupt?” I ask.
“You don’t become corrupt unless you marry him.”
I step forward, taking the flower from her grip. “Thank you, Rissa.” I glance down at it and try bending it to snap. Her eyes grow in shock.
“What are you doing!” she exclaims. I raise my gaze to her.
“I’m ending the hell I’m in.”
I place the rose on a table nearby, form my broomstick into a sword, and slash my blade down against the green stem. Nothing happens. It’s like the rose has crystallized itself in magic. There’s a pulse of energy that cracks the glass wall in the room. I step back, glancing over at the thin line.
“You can’t break it here, there’s a charm on it. That’s why I wanted us to go see an old shifter; I’ve been told he has the ability to undo a charm. This one will be hard because it was done by a powerful elf. This man is a powerful shifter, so I think our best bet is to take our chances.” Rissa releases a huff and grabs the rose from the table. She tucks the flower away in her brown pouch.
I hear her mumbling to herself. “You have no idea what this rose is capable of.” Her gaze slides over to me as she walks out of the room.
We’re standing outside of the alley entrance to the Shade. The café to the Mystique club is to my left and to my right is another street, leading down into the suburbs. The wind here doesn’t feel magical, it feels normal and healthy. Nothing of large ferns or fairies flying out in the open is present.
There aren’t any castles, just Richmond Virginia. A place I call home. I wonder if Dawn will be back at our condo.
***
“I’m going to grab some things from my place, I’ll meet you back here.”
“I already have your scent, I’ll find you.” Rissa says, shifting into her w
hite wolf form. She howls as two other wolves appear behind her. They race on the sidewalk and disappear in the midst of the night.
Releasing a deep sigh, I walk down the street, passing the many golden lights around the small city. I can’t believe everything still feels the same. It’s like I’ve been away for some time now and can’t stand straight in this world.
I end up in my old neighborhood. My condo is a few blocks down the street. I finger through my auburn hair and zip up my black jacket as I walk.
I remember when Mom was talking to the bookshelf crazily. I want to take back everything I said about her.
Was it too late to do so?
Mom wasn’t crazy, she was being controlled within our own home. That bookcase was connected to the corrupt world she kept venturing off into. Now that I’ve stepped my own two feet there, I don’t ever want to think about the evil things that ran through my mind.
Somehow, someway, I pulled myself through and didn’t let Christian or my father corrupt me. I ball my fingers into a fist as I walk down the street. He’s dead now. Marcus is dead and Christian is trapped in that world.
I don’t have to worry now, do I?
I watched my boots walk along the pavement and then raised my gaze at the person I wished not to have a relationship with. Pressing the button on my broomstick, I hear the metal scrape as it forms into its purple sword. Donovan stands in front of my door with his arms crossed. On his face is the same emotion he gave to me while Christian killed my father. How did he even escape from the portal closing?
“What are you doing here?” My voice is plain and direct; I don’t have time for this shit. “Give me a reason not to kill you right now.” I say once more, as my hair changes into blonde slowly. I feel my eyes freeze into green, and my markings light up.
“You knew about Jared, you knew about it all.” I try to control my anger.
Donovan turns his chin to look elsewhere, he drops his broomstick and covers his face with his hands. He bares his teeth in agony and regret. “I told you,” he breathes. “I didn’t kill him.”
“I had a projection in Vaelle, and I didn’t want to tell you because I thought…” I press my lips and feel my hands fidget. “I thought it wasn’t you, but it was, wasn’t it? Jared was right when he said he saw you the night the Verel killed him.” Donovan didn’t speak for a while, the whistles of wind raced through the trees nearby. The tires on the cars that drove by rumbled on the street.
“Was it you, Donovan?” I finally exhale.
He turns around and stares back at me, clear tears from his eyes rise slowly. He wipes his face and says, “I didn’t know what I was doing at the time. I was around Jared’s age, and my father told me it was a special ceremony for me. My family held it to welcome me into the brotherhood. I had to kill another witch. I didn’t know what I was doing. You have to believe me, Rose.” Donovan steps forward. I shake my head and immediately step back.
Clearing my throat, the sound of the trees now have my attention. I can’t go back to how I used to be, my myth and I have come so far with control.
What else do you have to lose? He’s corrupt and evil like the rest of them, off with his head. I feel her inside of me, biting on her bottom lip, waiting to lunge out.
I press my lips together and hold her back, there’s no reason to risk the growth and connection we’ve been developing.
“Rose, please. Please listen to me. I was told that we only killed females, so when Jared arrived in the secret chamber I knew something was wrong.” The ends of his boots scratch against the cement sidewalk, I can’t help but feel the tears sliding down the sides of my cheeks.
“You killed my brother to be a part of your brotherhood.” The warmness on my face becomes unbearable, my broomstick drops to the ground. “Don’t come any closer to me.” I raise my glare up slowly at Jared’s murderer. “We’re witches, look around you.” I toss up my hands. “We’re supposed to be keeping this world safe from corruption. How does killing an innocent witch, Verel or not, solve anything? How is killing another witch going to keep you from turning corrupt yourself?”
I bend down and pick up my broomstick, my eyes grow cold and the elf markings on my arms swirl around my wrist. The cold air rushes through my nostrils as I breathe harshly. “How did it make you feel? Did you feel good killing an innocent and harmless kid?” I click on my broomstick, allowing the sword inside to slide out and it’s purple glow to light up Donovan’s face.
“The only family I have is Jared. How could you take that away from me?” My voice is low as the wind chills the wetness on my cheeks. “How could you!” My scream is raspy and buffeted by the wind around us.
“I didn’t know what I was doing, Rose. After the ceremony was finished, I received my witch markings early.” Donovan’s voice irritates me more.
Weakness from my knees surges up my thighs and across my body.
Kill him, he killed Jared, your brother, and your only family will cease to exist soon.
I drop to the ground, falling into my sea of sadness. “I’m trying to—hold her back.” I cry out. “She wants to kill you.” I breathe harshly. “She wants to kill you so badly.”
My palms cover my eyes as the wind blows harder and the music of the trees’ leaves and branches cloud my judgment.
“I’m not ever going to leave your side, Rose. If she wants to kill me, then go ahead. I’m wrong for keeping this from you. From the time I first saw Jared and knew he was your brother.” Donovan’s voice grows louder, “Go on with it, I deserve it!”
I’m drowning in a stormy ocean. I claw my way through the seaweed and thick sand, I’m unable to breathe, the sea salt grinds against my eyes and everything is slowly becoming blurry around me.
You have the power to do it. Click your broomstick, slit his throat. He’s like your father, he’s like Christian. They’re all out to get you.
“Me leaving my brotherhood behind in Ravamere like this completely removes me from the Verel.” He kneeled down and placed his hand on my arm. Our markings lit up and we burned immediately, maybe that’s the reason why every time we touch we burn.
Kill him, do it now while you have the chance, he’s in a perfect position.
“No, I won’t kill him!” I glare up at the witch in front of me. “Donovan has been there for me!” I shout into the air; the wind stops its howling. Eliza’s voice fades away from my thoughts, I fist my hands tightly and watch my markings stop their glow.
“I didn’t leave you before, and I’m not going to leave you now, not ever,” Donovan says, placing his hand under my chin. He looks into my eyes. I know the guy staring at me isn’t a killer by choice. I know his family has manipulated him and treats him as their puppet. My hand grazes the side of his jaw and I breathe, I breathe and control myself.
“Out of all the male witches in Vaelle, your brotherhood chose Jared to kill?” My heart is hurting still, my breathing isn’t helping. “Why? He was a little boy, there’s no way he could have gone through his witch transformation, so why murder him, sacrifice or whatever you did to him?” I glower up and repeat, “Why him?”
With Ravamere locked up and never to open again, I have to hope for the best now. Donovan has no connection with his brotherhood anymore, so hope is our only bet now. I gently move his rough hair from his eyebrows.
“Hope is our everything,” Donovan says. “I know I can never take back what I’ve done. I will forever hold my debt to you, you will always, always be my rare rose.” He pulls me close and says, “Nothing I can do will ever change the fact that your brother’s soul is trapped in Ravamere. I will do everything with my given ability to destroy that world.”
He glances over at the trees and presses his lips.
“I’ll find a way to reverse whatever the Verel made me do to him. We’ll get him back.” I lay my cheek against his leather jacket. Anyone would call me stupid for trusting a murderer, but does a murderer go against his brotherhood for love? Is Donovan as manipulative and dange
rous as Christian? He’s different than anyone combined. Sometimes you have to let down your wall and trust and hope for the best; that’s exactly what we need, hope.
“You followed through the portal after me.”
“My father planned everything. It wasn’t part of the deal. Killing Jared again in Ravamere, that wasn’t what I had in mind at all.”
“What did you have in mind?” I ask.
“We were supposed to lure out your father and kill Christian instead.” Donovan switches his gaze. “As you can see, it led to something else; he’s something far more than evil. That elf, he’s—he’s…”
“I know,” I cut him off. “You don’t have to say anything.”
“You’re brave for following through with our plan to fit in. He doesn’t love you, his obsession is with power and he knows you have it. That’s what he loves. Christian knows that you’re the only witch alive that can defeat him.” Donovan shakes his head. “He’s scared, and now that the portal is closed and there’s no way for him to stalk or manipulate you, you can bet he’s losing it right about now.”
I relax my cheek back on his chest and inhale a deep breath. “I’m in love with my brother’s murderer.” The burning grows hotter with the time we touch, and my heart pulses harder once again when he’s with me. I shouldn’t be upset with Donovan, I slide my gaze at the leaves within the forest rustling. I should be upset with his brotherhood.
He lifts my chin up, his soft lips brushing against mine. I didn’t think I’d ever feel them again.
Chapter 28
I know Christian isn’t completely gone. I feel him trying to penetrate my thoughts. The only way for me to be at peace is killing him. Donovan holds me close, the wind brushing against my skin and around us. I snap my broomstick on my belt. Turning around, I walk down the street. Stretching up into the midnight blue sky are the neighborhood trees standing still like sentries. The first thought that runs through my mind is visiting my old condo. At least it would feel like home or something to make me feel like I’m meant to be somewhere. When you have mystical corrupt creatures who are desperate for your heart every day, and a maniac elf who wants nothing but to breed with you, it gets mentally and physically exhausting. Sometimes I feel like I’m losing myself from experiencing everything that has happened to me. Nothing feels real anymore.
Magical (Mystical Series Book 3) Page 18