Raven placed a hand on her back. “What’s wrong? You looked like you just saw a ghost.”
It wasn’t the right time, but it was the only time she had. If she didn’t kiss her now, there might never be another opportunity. She put her hands on Raven’s face and pulled her in. Raven seemed surprised at first but quickly gave into the kiss. Raven seemed to need this moment as much as her. Their mouths were hungry and the connection passionate. Hazel wasn’t sure how she’d ever be able to give Raven up, to know she’d never feel like this about anyone ever again. It was so final, and the rest of her life stretched out in front of her. She realized, then, her fate would be the same as Sarah’s. She’d never have the person her heart belonged to. She, too, would never get her happy ending. Raven wrapped her arms tighter around her, and Hazel wondered if she’d sent her thoughts into Raven’s mind on accident. Tears welled in her eyes, and she gently pushed Raven away.
“I want you to know, it doesn’t matter what you decide, I’ll always be yours.”
Raven kissed her forehead and then looked into her eyes. She seemed as if she was going to say something, but Lucien’s voice cut through their poignant moment.
“If this was all I had to do to get you all in one place, I would’ve done it weeks ago.” His hand was around Ayotunde’s arm, squeezing with so much force, his fingertips were turning white.
Morgan stepped in front of them. “Why don’t you just hand her over. I’ll give you back your evil spawn here, and then the adults can talk.”
Lucien shook his head. “It’s not going to be that easy.”
Morgan sighed heavily. “Listen, Lucy—”
“It’s Lucien.” He glared and jerked Ayotunde closer.
Morgan waved her hand, and then patted Tammi on the back. “Sure it is. Listen, give us back Ayotunde, and I will let you and Tammi here keep your powers.”
Lucien continued to look down the street, clearly waiting for something.
Hazel’s hands started to tingle as her heartrate picked up. “Something’s not right.”
Morgan closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them, they were a color green Hazel had never seen before. It was almost as if there were rays of light shining from behind them.
“Blaise,” Morgan said, her eyes fixated on the park.
Raven brandished her blade and closed the distance between herself and Lucien. “Let her go, or this is it for you.”
Lucien shrugged and released Ayotunde. “It’s too late now anyway. None of you are getting out of here alive.”
Morgan clutched the binding on Ayotunde’s wrist, and it fell to the ground. Lucien grabbed Tammi and disappeared only to reappear about a hundred feet away, in the crowd.
“They can teleport?” Hazel hadn’t realized she said it aloud until Morgan answered.
“No, they can’t. They aren’t powerful enough, but Blaise is.” Morgan’s voice no longer sounded like her own. Where there once was always a twinge of superiority and amusement, there was anger and vengeance.
Hazel wasn’t completely sure what was happening. Lucien had handed over Ayotunde with no hesitation. She’d thought there would be an epic battle now, but all the commotion triangulated in the park.
Chants of hatred and vitriol thundered through the air. Hatred had a pulse, and it was beating alive and well in Salem tonight.
Ayotunde cried into Sarah’s shoulder. “Everyone in the crowd thinks I put the bullet in Dirk. They callin’ for my head.”
Raven put her hand on Ayotunde’s back as she addressed Morgan. “We can’t do this without her, but we can’t get her any closer, or the mob will see her and tear her apart.”
Hazel’s heart felt as if it was pounding in her stomach. “Can’t you give her a different face, like you did in Boston?”
Morgan shook her head. “It won’t matter. Blaise and I will simply go back and forth, marking her and unmasking her. Besides, his power is growing by the second, and I need to preserve my energy.”
Sarah stepped forward. “Send Ayotunde and me back now. We’ll get rid of the Cranwells. It will be like they never came.”
“The time continuum doesn’t work like that.” Morgan paced, uncharacteristically on edge. “Blaise has already used them to tap into his ultimate source of power, fear and hatred. I’m afraid I’ve underestimated how powerful he’s become.”
Hazel stepped forward, defiant. “No. We aren’t just going to stand by and watch this happen. Sarah and Ayotunde, get Tammi Lee and Lucien back through the portal. Raven, Morgan, and I will handle Blaise.”
Morgan shook her head. “You and I cannot defeat Blaise. We need the full coven, and even then, I’m not sure we can do it.”
Hazel put her hands on Morgan’s shoulders. “I’m a direct descendant of you, and so is Sarah. I know you haven’t been challenged in like a million years, but I refuse to believe that you, the most powerful witch who’s ever lived, can’t defeat Blaise with our help. I don’t care if he has a million people down there. We can do this together.”
Morgan put her hand on Hazel’s face. Her eyes were sincere and worried. “If I let the full force of my power flow through you, it may kill you. Or…”
“Or what?” Hazel asked impatiently.
“A fate worse than death,” Morgan said gravely. “You may become immortal.”
Hazel looked over at Raven. Her eyes held more fear and trepidation than anything Hazel had ever seen in another person. She forced herself to look away, not wanting the burden of Raven’s thoughts on her decision.
“It doesn’t matter. Blaise can’t control the realms; humanity will never stand a chance.” Hazel wanted to say more but there was nothing else to say. The finality of her statement was just that, a finality.
Morgan nodded. “Okay. As long as you understand the potential consequences, and you’ve made your choice.”
“I have,” Hazel said.
Sarah swept Hazel up in a hug. “My heart doth overflow with pride. I know you are most capable, my fair niece.”
Hazel fought back the emotion rising from her aching heart. She was saying good-bye to her aunt, and although she wanted more time, there wasn’t any left. “Take care of yourself, my dear aunt.” She kissed her cheek. “I’m so sorry it has to be like this.”
Sarah smiled at her, love filling her eyes. “Be not sorry for things out of your control. This be a duty to God, and I’m happy to play my part. I shall find strength in the knowledge that humanity will make such progress in the new world and that my family line will extend to someone as brave and honorable as you.” She looked over at Ayotunde and reached for her hand. “My dearest Ayotunde, our story has only yet begun.”
Raven said good-bye to Sarah and Ayotunde as Morgan focused on getting the portal open. The air shook, and light seemed to get sucked into a small hole and then expand into a glowing orb that floated two feet from the ground. It would have been beautiful if it didn’t mean her aunt’s departure.
Ayotunde was by her side a moment later. She lifted her hands in the air and closed her eyes. Hazel watched as Tammi Lee and Lucien pivoted in their direction.
Ayotunde smiled. “I rather enjoy the role of puppet master.”
Blaise was still nowhere in sight as his minions walked closer. They were shrieking and shouting their disapproval, trying to resist the invisible force drawing them to the portal. Tears streamed down Tammi’s cheeks, and Lucien’s face had a sweaty gleam from the effort to rail against the unseen force.
Ayotunde compelled them to kneel in front of the portal. Their bodies were shaking in protest, trying to break free. When Lucien tried to call out, his mouth opened and closed like a netted fish gulping the air.
Morgan placed a hand on Lucien and instructed Hazel to put hers on Tammi. Then she joined her hand with Hazel’s and chanted some words under her breath. A jolt of electricity tinged with pain and anger raced through Hazel’s body. She coughed, and her head started to throb.
Morgan knelt in front of them. �
��You two brought this on yourselves.” She put a hand under each of their chins, forcing them to look at her. “Hazel and I have stripped you of your powers. You will return to 1692 with no memory of what you’ve seen or experienced here. Your desire for evil will be replaced with an unquenchable thirst for charity. You will spend the remainder of your days making restitution for the pain you’ve caused by caring for the sickly and the downtrodden in your humble village.” She snapped her fingers, and Tammi and Lucien collapsed in a heap on the ground.
“Alas. We must carry them, too?” Sarah put her hands on her hips and shook her head.
Raven rolled Lucien and Tammi forward, and they disappeared into the glowing orb. “I hope they land in someone’s farm on an upturned pitchfork.”
Sarah and Ayotunde turned to Hazel. She wanted to say more, to take her time saying good-bye, but a loud burst from somewhere behind them shook the ground.
Sarah embraced Hazel one last time and kissed her cheek. “Remember who you are and the lineage from where you come.”
Hazel nodded and watched as Sarah and Ayotunde walked into the light together, holding hands.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Raven watched the crowd of protestors, their chants for justice becoming more feverish with each passing second. She searched the faces, looking for the cloaked figure responsible for siphoning their energy. She turned her attention to Morgan and Hazel whose faces were fixed on the same location.
Morgan raised her hand and pointed. “Blaise.”
Raven didn’t recognize the entity she was pointing to, but there was no mistaking his presence. He’d abandoned his dark cloak and sadistic form. He now stood at well over six feet with broad shoulders, blond hair, and the physique of an ancient Greek warrior.
“He’s at his full power now,” Morgan said so quietly that Raven wasn’t sure if she meant for anyone to hear.
Hazel wrapped her fingers around Raven’s forearm but spoke to Morgan. “You and Blaise look as if you could be siblings.”
“I guess we are in a way,” Morgan said. “We’re made of the same forces. The same white light that drives my life force exists in him in equal measure. The only difference is his is dark magic.” She looked over at Raven and Hazel. “I’m afraid this won’t end as easily as we’d hoped. I was arrogant not to take him seriously when he first returned. I’ve gotten complacent, lazy over the years. You two are in far more danger than I’d originally thought, the entire world is.”
Raven had never seen Morgan without her normal bravado; it was unnerving. “We’re in this together.”
Morgan gave her a weak smile. “I’d ask you to go, but I’m sure you wouldn’t listen.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Raven touched Morgan’s arm, and for the first time in their relationship, Morgan flinched.
Hazel must have sensed the same insecurity. She gripped Morgan’s shoulders and forced her to look at her. “You are Morgan le Fay, Queen of the Witches and the protector of this realm. There is no one more powerful than you. You’ve proven yourself over the centuries as he lurked in the shadowy underworld. You’ve kept the balance of the realms and have done your best to secure a bright future for humanity. Don’t you dare falter now; it’s not who you are.”
Morgan raised her chin and gave Hazel a curt nod. “If my life force is extinguished today, my mantle will fall to you. Are you prepared to take on that role if necessary?”
Hazel glanced at Raven but only for a moment. “That won’t happen, but yes, yes I am.”
Raven knew then beyond any doubt that she loved Hazel. Not because of the power she could eventually possess, not because of her beauty or even the way Hazel made her feel when she was near. No. She loved Hazel because she was selfless, brave, and unwavering. Hazel’s power came not just from her inherent powers but from her firm belief that evil must be pushed back into the darkness where it belonged.
Raven drew both her blades and looked at Blaise. There was little she’d be able to do that the two powerful witches could not, but she was determined to go down fighting. She rolled her shoulders and took a deep breath.
Raven looked over at Hazel one last time. “I love you,” she said, then took off in Blaise’s direction.
* * *
Hazel watched as Raven moved around the side of the crowd, clearly planning on approaching Blaise from behind. If Blaise saw her, he paid no attention, focused as he was on Morgan. As he walked toward them, the mob parted. They’d been rendered into a trancelike state. They gaped at him, awaiting further instruction from their trusted leader. Hazel felt crackling in her fingertips, her body reacting to what was coming.
Hazel and Morgan took several steps forward until they were face-to-face with Blaise. Hazel’s body was humming as the power surged through her, a lightning rod ready to strike. Had she experienced this several weeks ago, she would have passed out from the overwhelming sensation. Now, she reveled in it, knowing the force building inside her was aching to defeat the monster who threatened the people she loved and the innocents she’d never met. Hazel had heard Raven’s words before she took off toward the crowd. They’d been echoing in her ears for the last few minutes. They didn’t frighten her as she thought they might have. They seemed rather to give her more purpose and more power. For all her apprehension and misgivings, Raven was hers.
Blaise was now only a few feet away. He smiled broadly, showing his transformed teeth, no longer dingy and discolored. His eyes glowed the same magnetic opaque white as Morgan’s, a compelling transformation. Power and arrogance seeped out of him, nearly intoxicating Hazel by mere proximity. Hazel shook her head as if it would release whatever hold might have been spreading toward or over her.
“The day has finally come, Morgan.” Blaise smiled and raked his eyes up and down Morgan’s body. “I’m rather disappointed in you for assuming you’d seen the last of me. You’re getting sloppy in your old age.”
With hands on hips, Morgan took a half step closer, sporting a defiant grin. “I took pity on you last time we met. You have to admit, it wasn’t your finest hour.”
Blaise lifted his hand and caressed the side of Morgan’s face. “You were always so beautiful, so radiant. We could have accomplished wonderful things together.” He glanced at Hazel. “Hmm. She possesses more power than one would imagine from the look of her.”
“She has my blood running through her veins,” Morgan said. “You can’t possibly think you’ll be able to overpower us both.”
Blaise stopped stroking Morgan’s neck and glided his fingers around her throat. Morgan choked out a gurgling sound as he lifted her off the ground.
“You’ve underestimated their hatred,” he growled into Morgan’s face. “Weak people want to hate. They need to hate to survive the miserable lives they’ve been sentenced to endure as a result of their incompetence.” He drew her closer still. “That’s always been your problem, underestimating how tenuous the good really is in people. It’s a mansion built on sand.”
Hazel could tolerate Blaise’s taunts no more. Impelled by instinct, she rammed her hands into his chest. Electricity erupted against his skin, and small funnels of smoke wafted out of his body from where her fingerprints remained. He released Morgan and stumbled several steps back to focus on Hazel. The magnificent blue now flashed with the flaming red she’d associated with him before. So intense, she was convinced it was the actual fire of Hell.
He squeezed his fingers into a ball. An invisible force gripped Hazel and lifted her off the ground. She thrashed against it, but her arms felt cemented to her sides, keeping her from using her hands.
As he thrust her higher, Raven ran in his direction. She had one shimmering blade raised and the other by her side. Hazel wanted to call out and tell her to stop, that he was too powerful, but her voice was trapped in her constricted throat.
Raven jumped through the air and plunged her blade into Blaise’s neck. Hazel fell but hurried to her feet. Raven rolled away after she hit the ground and stood next t
o Morgan.
Blaise dislodged the blade from his neck and scrutinized. “Angel steel,” he said in a strained voice. He crushed it between his hands, and it crumbled to dust.
He touched the wound in this neck and glanced at the black liquid coating his fingers. Rage again flared in his eyes, and he bolted in Raven’s direction. Morgan stepped in front of Raven and crossed her forearms like a shield in front of her. When the two collided, their contact sparked an explosion of blinding blue light. Blaise tumbled back several feet but was grinning when he regained his footing.
He brought his hands above him. Hazel couldn’t pull her eyes away from the tangles of electricity that crackled over his body, a sign he was siphoning energy from his followers. His chest heaved, and his body started to glow with a red aura.
Morgan lurched toward him, encircled with her own aura of luminous ice blue, but Blaise pitched to the left. Electricity flared through Hazel again as she hurried to Morgan’s side where their powers blended with exponential force. She felt as if her body might explode as the intensity of their commingled power coursed through her. When Morgan and Hazel joined hands, they created a massive ball of quivering light. Morgan hurled it in Blaise’s direction, but he vanquished their attack with red glowing hands.
He guffawed. “Face it, Morgan. I’m the superior entity, and this will not end well for you and your gaggle of witch wannabes.” He brought his hands together, and a red ball of fire formed between his palms.
Hazel prepared to deflect the attack, but he wheeled around and heaved the flaming weapon at Raven. She used her remaining blade to shield herself, and when it hit, the ball evaporated into the metal.
“Bet you didn’t know I carry demon steel, too,” she said as she charged again.
Hazel rushed to assist with the next blow, willing all her power to rocket him backward as Raven sliced into his side. He stumbled. Morgan seized the opportunity to hit him again with more bolts of white light, knocking him onto his back.
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