I snorted and swatted his arm. “And there it is. We better go back up before your head gets too big to fit through the door.”
He laughed out loud—deep and full, then pulled me toward the stairs. My heart was full to the brim with love for him. He looked so happy. So content. I couldn’t bear to think about what was waiting for us on land. Something inside told me that it was fleeting. That it was only the calm before the storm.
With Luna and Basil bound and hidden within the cargo, Chaos, Diego, and I crossed the Shadowlines into New York. We were headed back to Sophia’s shop to wait for the others. It was the only safe haven from Echo and her army. Since the last time we were here, her Rougarou soldiers had been posting up around the city. This time, I didn’t want to announce our presence. We needed to move discreetly until we were ready to strike.
I motioned for Chaos to walk ahead as I hung back with Diego. “So…what is the deal with the witches and the Lupi? What’s the connection?” I still wasn’t clear on why Diego was raised on our stories. Our history. He knew about the Aether legend and how Echo had a Rougarou army.
Diego dug his hands into his pockets. “I don’t know. Some of the witches can control us with magic. We call them wolf-charmers. There was only one Lupi alpha who was able to break free from one. Lycos. He linked his blood to a dhampir by the name of Valentina and the spell was broken. But no one else has been able to do it.”
My mind raced. “That doesn’t make sense. Someone must know how it started. You couldn’t have just been created this way.”
“Some say we were cursed. Others call the magic, Vulkodlak. It’s some sort of prophecy. It doesn’t matter, mi amica. The wolves…we are no different than the humans in ways. Both at the mercy of magic that we cannot ever control or possess.”
My heart sank. I grabbed his hand. “I’m sorry.”
Diego shook his head. “Don’t be. I was born a Lupi wolf. It’s all I’ve ever known. The Rougarou…they were human once. Most of them didn’t ask for this life. Be sorry for them.” His jaw clenched as he gently pulled away from me.
We walked in silence the rest of the way to Sophia’s shop. As we dipped into the alley with the graffiti-splashed walls, a shadow darted past us, followed by a low growl.
All the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. A young man, not much older than myself, crouched on all fours in front of us, blocking our way to the shop. With fangs for teeth, he snarled and snapped his gums like a rabid dog. His eyes glowed like torchlight, devoid of any reason or sanity.
Diego leapt in between us, growling back. Brown fur sprouted from his flesh as he lurched over, his hands slapping the pavement. Claws splintered out from his fingertips. He threw his head back and howled as his flesh disappeared behind more fur. And in place of my friend was now a wild animal.
Chaos yanked me backward, whispering, “Get behind me and don’t move a muscle.”
I held my breath as my heart caught in my throat. “We should do something.”
Chaos shook his head. “No. We stay out of it. This is Diego’s fight. We’ll only get in the way.”
Adrenaline coursed through my veins, moving alongside my magic. I wanted to unleash, but what if I hurt Diego by accident?
Diego in wolf form crept around the Rougarou man with the grace of a lion, sizing up his prey as if he had done this a thousand times before. The Rougarou lurched forward, frustrated, his eyes darting around. His hands sprang forward, but he remained in human form. It was like he was stuck, unable to shapeshift.
Diego took advantage and inched closer, growling as he bared his fangs. The Rougarou cowered, lowering his head. Diego’s saliva dripped onto him as he got within inches of the Rougarou’s face. Diego snapped his jaw at him and the less experienced wolf took off running. Diego made a move to go after him.
“Diego, stop!” Panic rose in my chest. Would he even recognize my voice in this form?
“Arya, get behind me.” Chaos shot a protective arm out in front of me as Diego froze in his tracks and slowly turned around to face us.
I knelt down, cautious, careful, with my palms out. “Diego…it’s me…Arya. Can you hear me?”
He shook his head back and forth and stretched out on the ground. Within seconds, his fur retracted, revealing his smooth golden skin, glistening with sweat. I let out a sigh of relief as he stood up, back in human form.
He raised an eyebrow. “Arya, I’m not a dumb animal. It is still me when I change. I wasn’t going to hurt you.”
“Oh…I—I didn’t know. Sorry.” I felt horrible for being afraid of him for even a second.
“Well it’s a good thing Sophia owns a clothing shop. I, for one, do not want to look at you naked anymore,” Chaos quipped.
Diego’s eyes opened wide, flashing between confusion, shock, and embarrassment as he clutched the space between his legs. “I forgot. Sorry. One of the downsides to an unplanned shift.”
I couldn’t help but giggle as he waddled nervously through the doorway, one hand in front and one in back, frantically trying to cover himself.
Sophia ushered him into a dressing room, shaking her head in annoyance. “Those damn Rougarou have been sniffing around here for weeks. I was wondering when the lot of you were going to turn up.”
“We’re meeting the others here. Seven said we’d be safe at your place. Now I’m not so sure,” I said. Every cell in my body was on high alert.
“You will be just fine, ma petite,” Sophia replied. “They won’t dare step foot inside. It’s out there you need to worry.”
Chaos helped himself to a drink, a glass decanter filled with a bubbly pink liquid. “There are far more dangerous things out there than scared little Rougarou boys.”
Sophia eyed his glass, her eyebrows raising as he continued to fill it to the brim. “Like what, for example?”
He unfolded his wings before taking a generous sip. “Like an angry god who is growing tired of everyone attacking his girlfriend.”
The corners of her mouth turned up into a half-smirk as she feigned a curtsy. “Touché.”
The term girlfriend was so mundane, but I couldn’t keep from grinning at hearing him refer to me as such.
Diego stomped out of the dressing room, dressed in all black. “That Rougarou…there was something wrong with him. He couldn’t shift.”
I nodded. “Echo must be using dark magic on them too. That’s how she’s controlling them.” I shivered at the thought.
Diego’s eyes darkened. “They can’t defend themselves if they can’t shift. We need to help them.”
Chaos downed the rest of his drink, trailing his tongue around the rim of the glass hungrily. “We have to get rid of that gravedigger first. That’s the source of her dark magic.”
As we settled in for the night, I found a comfy velvet chair to slump into. Traveling across the sea was exhausting. The ship, even with all its magic and fast travel, did nothing for a good night’s sleep. In fact, I hadn’t had a decent night of sleep since Sanctum. Before the white crows and the harpies. I wasn’t sure how long I drifted off for, but it was enough to pull me into a dream.
The images jumbled in my head—fragments and flashes of ash-covered beaches, flames all around me, smoke…so much smoke. Something kept me from screaming, from running away. What was I trying to run away from? I was empty, hollow, alone. But I wasn’t alone. My magic was dulled, stifled. I couldn’t feel my wings. A hand shot out from the darkness and wrapped around my mouth, cutting off the air to my lungs. I couldn’t fight it, but I tried, flailing my hands as the shadow pulled me under.
The door flew open and in walked Seven, Sapphire, and Shade, jolting me awake. I shuddered and pushed away the images. I never wanted to feel that helpless again.
I let out a sigh of relief at the sight of my friends in one piece, unscathed. “Is it done?”
Shade flashed me an evil grin. “Only one more soulless gravedigger to go.”
“We have Fox tied up on the ship,” Seven added.
The six of us stepped out into the alley, our weapons drawn. The shadows flickered and scattered as we moved through the dark city streets. And not a single Rougarou stood in our way. Out of the corner of my eye, I glimpsed something hovering overhead. I spun around and looked up to see rainbow colored hair. She kept her word. An army of harpies floated above us as we marched through the Shadowlines toward Echo’s front door.
Twenty-Four
The streets surrounding Echo’s compound were dark and desolate. Window shutters flapped furiously in the wind. Paper cups and newspaper clippings fluttered past me. There wasn’t a single soul in sight. It was as if everything and everyone in the universe knew a storm was coming. And they didn’t want to be anywhere near it.
A cold chill crept into my bones as I looked up at the Sylph cathedral, its stone walls bleeding with condensation. It was hard to believe I was born within those walls. I had no memory of it. To me, it was just a house of horrors, filled with an evil darkness that needed to be put down.
Chaos placed a hand on my shoulder. “Are you ready?”
I chewed on my lip. “Not really, but there’s no turning back now. Besides, the Keeper might still be alive. We have to get him out of there.”
Seven stood next to me, his hair tied back in a knot. “I will get him to safety if he still lives. Then I’ll meet you at the gates of Purgatory. Arya…I have faith in you. You are so much stronger than you think. Trust yourself.”
I forced a smile, an attempt at bravery that I didn’t actually believe myself. “Watch your back in there. The gravedigger will be glued to Echo’s side. Shade and I will do our best to keep them away from everyone else. Sapphire will guard the portal in the basement with Chaos.”
“I should be with you, not guarding a portal,” Chaos pleaded. “I can protect you.”
I cupped his face in my hands. “I can protect myself now. You know this. And we can’t risk anyone coming through that portal… I love you.”
He pressed his forehead to mine and clasped my hands to his cheeks. “Be careful, my love. I couldn’t bear to go on without you.”
A new set of footsteps clicked behind us. I spun around, clutching my sword. Diego pushed past me; his fists clenched. “What are you doing here?”
Lorenzo stuck out his chin. “The pirate asked me to come. He told me what’s been happening to the Rougarou. It must be stopped. I’m not here for you.” A hint of sadness flickered in his eyes.
Diego gritted his teeth. “You never were.” He spun on his heel in disgust. Lorenzo hissed, muttering under his breath.
I grabbed Diego’s hand. “Hey, I can tell he still cares about you. Don’t let his words fool you. He’s here. That matters.”
He shrugged me off. “You don’t know him, Arya. He cares more about the pack than me.”
Sapphire tapped her nails on the hilt of her sword. “Enough chit-chat. Let’s get what we came here for.”
I jerked my head toward the foyer, motioning for Shade. “Follow my lead.”
The door creaked open without difficulty. It wasn’t spelled or blocked. Thanks to her Rougarou spies, Echo knew we were coming, and she was inviting us in. That she even had the audacity to think she was going to win this fight made my skin crawl.
We spilled into the empty foyer, searching the dark for any movement. The stillness unnerved me. What was she planning? The floors groaned underneath our feet as we crept around, watching every doorway.
I motioned to Sapphire and Chaos. Nodding in unison, they took off toward the basement. Seven touched my arm. “See you on the other side.” I managed a half-smile before he disappeared down a corridor in search of the Keeper. Diego and Lorenzo took off together down an opposite hallway too look for more Rougarou, scowling at each other the whole way.
The back of my neck prickled. A loud humming noise buzzed from behind a set of double doors. Smoke billowed out between the cracks. Shade threw me a sideways glance. “Do we have to go through those doors?”
Everything in my body told me I should run away. That nothing good was waiting on the other side of those doors. But I had to keep going. I crept toward the humming as it got louder, pulsating through my ears.
I reached out, wrapping my hand around the doorknob and began to turn. My heart thumped in my chest. Shade gave me a nod of encouragement. I took a deep breath and pushed the door open. It was worse than I thought.
I drew in a sharp breath as I met the eyes of a dozen Sylph witches, their faces full of contempt and anger. Disgust. I was an intruder in their home and no matter what I said, they would not surrender. I didn’t want to hurt my own coven, but I would if I had to. Someday I would help them understand.
The harpies flew into formation behind me, their bodies hovering just a few feet off the ground. Shade cursed under his breath. “I figured they would have abandoned her by now. What with all the other coven leaders being captured.”
I planted my feet and scanned the room. “I had hoped they might, but apparently they are with Echo to the bitter end.”
The witches hissed and spat as they slithered around the room. A breeze rustled between them, rumbling the air between us. They were drawing on their magic as a group. My stomach turned. I flapped my wings and sent out a tiny pulse of energy toward them as a warning. The harpies grew restless behind me.
Shade, following my lead, held out his hands to reveal tiny flickers of flames licking the inside of his palms. They danced around his fingertips, sparking with each flutter of the wind.
The witches didn’t flinch. In fact, they dug their heels in deeper. With nostrils flared, the front line raised their hands over their heads and thrust them forward, sending a small hurricane barreling toward us. I shifted backward on my heels and caught myself at the last second. The wind plowed through my body, whipping my hair around my face.
The harpies shrieked and clawed forward. I held out my hands to keep them back, whispering, “Not yet.”
Shade grunted and raised his palms. He lunged forward, his hands outstretched, and flicked his wrists. Tiny balls of blue and red flames shot out from his fingers. The witches screamed as they ducked and dived, scattering to all four corners of the room, their line of defense broken.
Echo was still nowhere to be seen. She was lurking upstairs, hiding behind her gravedigger, no doubt. I flapped my wings and sent another burst of air hurling toward the witches A few faltered and fell back while most of them held their ground. The harpy leader tugged at my sleeve, nodding for me to leave.
Shade started back toward the door. “Let’s go, Arya. They can handle it from here.”
I hesitated, tossing the harpy a worried glance. “Are you sure?”
Her voice was soft. “This is just a distraction. Stop Echo and this will all be over.”
A sinking sensation burned in my stomach. She was right. The Sylph witches were only trying to keep us busy while Echo was doing Apollo knew what. I nodded and gave her hand a light squeeze. “Thank you. I won’t forget this.”
Shade and I bolted out the double doors and flew up the stairs to the second level of the compound. As we sprinted away, the room we had just left erupted with shrieks and cries. I froze. Shade dragged me down the hall. “We have to keep going.”
I forced my feet to move, ignoring the panic in my chest. We tore down the first hallway with no resistance. The house was still and eerily quiet on this level. My heart raced as we turned down another corridor. It was dark and musty, reeking of oleander and dried blood. I shivered. I didn’t want to imagine the horrors that had taken place within these walls.
The tiny hairs in my ears rustled. My head spun. “She’s close.”
“I feel it too,” Shade said.
At the end of the hallway, a light caught my eye. A glow seeping out from under a doorway. It drew me in. A soft humming followed. I drifted toward the door. My vision blurred as if in a dream. “Keep your wits abo
ut you,” Shade whispered.
I swallowed and my mouth felt like sandpaper. “I’m okay. I can resist.” The gravedigger was trying to get in our heads. Her dark magic clawed at my insides, burning my skin. I took a deep breath and summoned water. It swirled inside me, cooling me down.
As we approached the door, my stomach twisted. “This is it.”
Shade drew in a sharp breath. “Remember who you are in there. You are more powerful than she is and she knows it. Don’t let her distract you.”
I nodded and pushed the door open, squinting as the light flooded my eyes. Blinking a few times to adjust, I took in the expanse of the room. Torches lit a path to what appeared to be some sort of altar.
I let out a gasp. The ground was covered in bones—human and witch. The stench of blood mixed with bile, and rotting flesh filled the air. I covered my face with my sleeve, trying not to gag as the contents of my stomach threatened to rise up in my throat. Shade cursed under his breath as he covered his mouth and nose.
We crept toward the altar, careful to avoid stepping on any of the bones. “If the creepy blood sacrifice scene is an effort to distract, it’s working.”
Shade pulled up his collar, half-covering his mouth with it. “I’ve seen some things in my time, but this…this is monstrous.”
Just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, I spotted something hanging above the altar. My blood went cold. “Is—is that what I think it is?” Every nerve in my body was on edge.
Shade tensed, nodding as he clenched his jaw. Suspended in mid-air, a man—half human, half Rougarou, like the one we saw in the alley—hung from his wrists, his body contorted and disfigured. It was as if he was frozen in place mid shape shift. A hint of fur poked out of his flesh. His mouth twisted in horror, revealing the tips of his fangs. He wasn’t alive, but he wasn’t exactly dead. Below the faint sound of breath was an echoing whimper, haunting and chilling as it faded in and out.
“He’s suffering.” The anger rose in my chest as I watched this man caught in between his human death and his supernatural birth, bound in limbo by dark magic. His very own purgatory.
Smoke and Ritual (Beautiful Dark Beasts Book 1) Page 21