The Witch's Chalice

by Melania Tolan

  “Satra will see you tomorrow night. You must come alone, without the elf or the undead boyfriend.” He turned to leave, but then stopped and glanced over his shoulder. “Be there right after sunset.”

  “I will.”

  I picked up a subtle change in Padrick’s scent and glanced at the elf, then back at the half-naked man. I could tell they were exchanging an inaudible communication.

  The guy turned to leave.

  “Wait.”

  The man shot me a glance over his shoulder, his now green eyes with silver specks boring into mine.

  “What is your name?”

  “Ari.”

  Then he disappeared as quickly as he had arrived.

  When I peered over the side of the cliff, I just caught a glimpse of silver leaping down the mountain away from us.

  “Oh my gosh, I just thought of something.” I covered my mouth with both hands. “Is he a werewolf?”

  “No, he's a shapeshifter, a vârcolac. There are no werewolves,” Padrick said.

  “I like him.” I watched the wolf disappear over the ridge across the valley.

  “Come on, we should probably get you home before your undead boyfriend comes looking for you.”

  Padrick’s words repeated in my head. Undead. It wasn’t the word itself, but the disgust in his voice when he said it that didn’t sit well with me.

  “Hey, you know when you say stuff like that, you are also talking about me. I don’t care what history you and Traian have, but I’m like him now.”

  Padrick whirled around to face me. “You are nothing like him or any of them.”

  “You say that because you knew me as a human.” I frowned.

  “I knew Traian as a human, too.”

  “Really?”

  I knew they had a long, tumultuous past and that both had lived through several millennia, but I never thought of where it all began. I only knew that Evelina had started the process.

  A girl. Two guys… Why didn’t I realize this before?

  “You both loved Evelina.”

  Padrick’s nostrils flared. His hands balled into fists. “She was the last love of my life.”

  “And she chose Traian over you.”

  The corner of his left eye twitched.

  “Breathe.” I placed a hand on his chest, over where his elven heart pounded at an unprecedented rate. “When you’re ready to talk about what happened, I will listen. It’s obvious you’re still hurting.”

  His warm hand covered mine. “Thank you,” he whispered. “You must hear the story at some point, as it concerns you.”

  Me? Then why won’t he or Traian tell me anything?

  Was it so painful that they didn’t want to share? Or were the events of the past so laden with expectations of what I must do, that they didn’t want to overburden me? Regardless, I needed to know. How was I supposed to change the future if I didn’t know what had already happened?

  Padrick led me down the mountain, through the valley, and up over the ridge to the other side, where the entrance to the Carpatian coven’s cave lay hidden in the drifts of snow.

  When we arrived at the gate, Traian was waiting for us. Padrick said goodbye without a hug or a kiss, and just left. The drooping of his shoulders made me feel guilty for bringing up Evelina. Eventually, the story would need to be discussed.

  Traian took my hand. “Do you need to change your clothes before you go to Satra’s?”

  “I’m not going tonight.” I gave a slight shake of my head.

  “Good.” He pulled me in for a long, lingering kiss.

  My hands zinged and crackled. What is it about the chemistry between us that ignites my powers? I remembered the hematite bracelet and imagined an invisible barrier surrounding my hands, diffusing the energy. The pulsing flow of electricity softened its force, and a glimmer of hope sparked in my heart.

  Just maybe…

  Traian broke away after a few moments and led me into the cave. Back in our quarters, I showed him some of the crystals that Padrick had given me. He said nothing, but his face got serious—well, more serious than usual.

  “What’s wrong?” I placed the crystals inside my coffin.

  “Evelina worked with crystals. So did Eva.”

  “Oh yeah?” I gathered my things for a bath. “So do humans. My friend Mindy always wears them and keeps a little pouch of stones in her pocket.”

  A pang of sadness again rolled through my body at the thought of Mindy. It had been almost three weeks since I’d seen her. What was she doing right this second? I remembered the sweet poem she’d read at my funeral. She’d always been there for me, but who was going to be there for her as she mourned my loss?

  “Oh, my love.” Traian took me into his arms just as the sobs came pouring out.

  I didn’t want him to see me like this. I wanted to run and hide at the bottom of the lake again—go where nobody could see or hear me, but Traian formed a protective cocoon.

  “Don’t run away. Let me be here for you,” he whispered into my ear between sobs.

  That’s all it took. I clung to his body and unleashed the floodgates. The ground beneath us shook, but I didn’t completely lose control and the cave didn’t collapse around me. He just held me as I let the waves of emotion roll over me like a wild tempest.

  When I eventually calmed down, he carried me into the bathroom and set me on the granite countertop while he filled the bath with steaming water. I turned to the mirror behind me and gasped at my reflection. I looked like an actor from some horror flick, with streaks of crimson running from my eyes down my neck. I glanced at Traian. The front of his leather jacket was covered with my bloody tears.

  “I’m so sorry,” I whimpered. “I didn’t realize...”

  “Shh.” Traian was in front of me, his finger over my lips. “Never apologize for showing emotion. It’s the one thing that makes you human. Hold onto that as long as you can, because eventually, it will fade.”

  He bent his head down and kissed my bloodstained cheek. A low growl vibrated in his throat. “You taste so good.” The next moment, he was by the door. “I’m sorry, that was inappropriate. Please accept my apologies.”

  “What was inappropriate?” My mind whirled at his odd behavior. “You can have me. Please.”

  “Don’t.” He held up a hand. “Don’t ask me, another strigoi, to take your blood. Once I do, you and I will be bonded for the rest of our lives. When two strigoi share each other’s blood, the bond deepens. You will feel everything I feel. Don’t make that commitment unless you are one hundred percent sure.”

  “I am one hundred percent sure.” I jumped off the counter and stepped forward.

  “Stop.” He backed out the door. “Please don’t do this.”

  “Why don’t you want me?” I demanded. “Why do you keep pushing me away? Are you not one hundred percent sure about me?”

  Traian closed his eyes and groaned as he rocked his head in different directions. “I do. I am. You are all I want.”

  “Okay, then that settles it. Let’s do it.”

  Traian’s eyes flashed open. He had me against the back wall of the bathroom, his body pinning me against the hard surface. “It’s not that simple. Before you make these kinds of decisions, you must make sure you are willing to live with the consequences.”

  “I am.” I breathed in deeply, taking in his scent. Oh yes.

  There it was. He wanted me just as badly as I wanted him. Even through the layers of leather he wore, I could feel certain parts of his body reacting to the proximity of mine. I arched my pelvis into him.

  But he pulled away.

  I couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t go for it, if he wanted me. Am I not good enough for him?

  We stood like this, motionless, for what felt like an eternity before he stepped away. He walked out of the room without saying a thing and closed the door.

  Eventually I peeled myself from the wall and undressed before slipping into the bath and completely submerged my entire bod
y.

  The water turned pink as new tears flowed from my eyes.

  Chapter 15

  I awakened the following evening alone. Usually, Traian stood over me to welcome me to a new night, but I could feel him far on the other side of the cave complex, in his office. Even Storm wasn’t anywhere nearby. When I climbed out of my coffin, I found, on a chair next to my wardrobe, that Traian had laid out the clothes I should wear to Satra's training. This included a long, black skirt, a corseted top, and a leather jacket. A pair of heavy leather boots stood at attention on the floor.

  Someone with a racing heartbeat approached my room through the tunnel. It was the human servant girl I’d seen before. She held out a cup of steaming blood.

  “The master asked me to give this to you,” she said in broken English.

  “Thank you.” I took the cup from her. “Remind me of your name.”

  “Verona. At your service, mistress.”

  “Thank you, Verona. Have you seen my cat?”

  “She’s keeping the master company in his office.”

  “Is she now…” I sipped the blood, hoping it would help me swallow some of the annoyance I felt.

  “He also said to please get dressed and come to the office when you are ready. The master will escort you to the Romani Clan.”

  “Thank you for the information. You can let him know I will be going alone.” I downed the rest of the liquid and handed her the cup. “Also, can you make sure Storm is fed, please?”

  “Yes, mistress.” Verona bowed deeply and disappeared from the room.

  I opened my closet and pulled out a pair of blue jeans, a white t-shirt, and a brown leather jacket, but I did put on the brown leather boots Traian had left out for me. I ran a brush through my hair and tied the red locks into a ponytail. One quick check to make sure I looked presentable, and then I headed for the exit.

  Traian blocked my way when I got to the tunnel heading out of the cave. “You are not going alone.”

  “Satra asked me to.”

  “You cannot travel alone outside of this cave. It’s too dangerous.”

  At this point, arguing with him was as pointless as trying to empty the ocean using a spoon. I grabbed his arm and pulled him along through the tunnels to the exit. We passed a couple of the guards as they opened the thick concrete and steel door. Once outside, I faced Traian.

  “Use your senses. Are there any creatures out there that could harm me?”

  His nostrils flared, and he closed his eyes for a second. When they opened again, his irises glowed red. “A vârcolac.”

  “The wolf?”

  He gave a slight nod.

  “That’s Ari. He’s here to make sure I come alone.”

  “I don’t like this.”

  I stepped back. “You don’t have to. You can wait for me here if you like. I’m only going to be gone for a few hours.” I turned and leapt off the side of the cliff, plunging into the snow drifts below without giving the man I loved any sign of affection.

  I was done playing this game with him. If he isn’t ready to commit and doesn’t want to take me seriously, there will be no more kisses or touchy-touchy nonsense.

  Even though I thought this, my heart ached to feel his hands on my skin and his lips on my mouth. I pushed all these distracting feelings aside and focused on the pull of magic drawing me toward the Romani camp on the other side of the mountains.

  Ari stood in wolf form on the ridge where I was headed. I passed him at a distance, and he followed me, maintaining the space between us. Of all the gypsy clan people I’d met thus far, I liked him the most. Something about him made him approachable. Even in his animal form, he had a gentleness about his spirit, despite the ferocious appearance of his teeth and paws the size of dinner plates. I also felt a strong connection to him.

  We passed through the clan boundary, and I stopped and knelt on the icy ground. The wolf halted two hundred feet from me and turned his silvery green eyes on me.

  I lowered my head until the back of my neck was exposed.

  Ari let out a low growl, which I interpreted as ‘What the hell are you doing?’

  I said nothing and just stayed there, waiting. I didn’t know why I felt the need to do this or what it meant, but inside my heart, I felt that this display of vulnerability was the key to establishing trust.

  Or this could be the stupidest thing I’d ever do, and it would be the end of me.

  Either way, it needed to be done.

  Someone watched us. They were too far away for me to determine who, but I hoped that they would witness a powerful exchange that would seal an alliance between me and the clan. I wondered why I had chosen Ari instead of Leo. My heart gave me the answer instantly.

  I feel more comfortable with Ari. I’m not so sure Leo wouldn’t take the kill.

  The wolf approached slowly, stalking me like I was his prey.

  I hoped this worked. And I hoped that whoever was watching wasn’t Traian, because the last thing I needed was for him to try to rescue me.

  I felt Ari’s nose sniff my head, and then he laid down next to me, resting the side of his furry head next to mine.

  Out of the brush came a thunderous roar. A heavy beast landed on top of me. Ari whimpered and cowered back but never left my side. A large paw rolled me onto my back, and I came face to face with a massive lion with glowing green eyes.

  Leo.

  He blasted my face with hot air and growled, inches away. “What do you think you are doing?”

  I blinked. It took me a second to realize he was talking to me.

  “I didn’t know you could communicate in animal—”

  My words were cut off as his mouth closed around my throat. I gulped, feeling his sharp teeth pressing against my flesh.

  Maybe this wasn’t the best idea after all.

  “Either you are an idiot, or you are trying to trick us.” His breath was hot against my skin.

  “There is no trick here, Leo.”

  I kept my voice calm, as if being held down by a lion was as common as getting dressed in the morning. I also wanted to keep my body from sending out any signals of distress to Traian. He didn’t need to know about this.

  The vârcolac breathed deeply, but kept his mouth clamped down on my neck.

  “I could kill you right now,” he rumbled against my throat.

  “Why don’t you?” I whispered.

  His jaw tightened, pressing his razor fangs deeper into my skin, but not enough to bring up blood.

  “Leo. What are you doing, my son?”

  I couldn’t turn my head because of the lion’s mouth, but I recognized the voice.

  Satra. How did she get here so quickly?

  Leo released my neck and turned toward the crone’s voice as she continued to speak.

  “Can’t you see? She’s not our enemy. No fiend has ever demonstrated the ritual of submission to our clan before. She is our hope. Look past the racism that controls your heart, my son, and see the truth. Her soul is pure.” Satra’s tone seemed ethereal.

  I turned in her direction and sucked in my breath. It wasn’t Satra standing there, but a dreamy, translucent form of her. She looked like a goddess, her gray hair flowing behind her head and white gown glowing in the darkness.

  “Now come, child. I am in need of your blood.” Her image disappeared.

  “No!” Leo leapt into the space where she had been. He turned to me with angry green eyes. “I forbid you to poison her with your filth.”

  I lay there speechless. Was she asking me to donate my blood to her? I’d never given my blood to anyone before she and I had worked on the potion two nights prior. Traian had refused it, stating that it could create some eternal bond I wasn’t ready for. So if I gave my blood to Satra, did that mean she was bound to me? There were so many rules and laws within the magical world that I knew nothing of.

  A bear appeared to our left. A silent exchange of information took place before the bear disappeared into the woods again. Leo let out
a ferocious roar and then transformed into the towering human I was used to seeing. The entire time, Ari had lain next to me, motionless.

  Leo turned his gaze to me. “If she dies, I’m killing you. Let’s go.”

  I didn’t move at first. Ari lifted his head and licked the side of my face. Right then, I knew that, no matter what happened tonight, I had made an ally for life. Maybe that was my purpose—to unite the various creatures. History had shown that no one could stand against Octavian alone, but together, we might have a chance.

  Ari backed away. In a bright, shimmering light, he transformed into his human form and extended a hand. I took it, and he pulled me to my feet with little effort.

  “Thank you.” I bowed my head.

  He squeezed my hand and let go. Together, we followed Leo through the woods at a quick pace. The route we took was different than on my previous visits. We didn’t even go anywhere near the camp. The bear was waiting outside Satra’s tent when we arrived. Leo and I went inside, but Ari stayed outside with the bear.

  A woman hovered over Satra’s collapsed body, which lay on the ground near the fire. Leo rushed to kneel at the crone’s other side. The woman spoke with Leo in hushed tones in a language I didn’t understand. He growled in response and the woman shook her finger at him and pointed at me. Both turned their attention to me.

  “This is madness,” Leo muttered and stood.

  “You must give her your blood, or she’ll die—along with all the knowledge of her gifts. If she dies, our clan will too. The protections will fade, and we’ll be exposed to the real evil.” The woman spoke perfect English.

  I took a step forward. “She is my only hope in learning who I truly am. Please, let me save her,” I pleaded, focusing my gaze on Leo. “What must I do to prove to you I’m not your enemy?”

  He held my gaze for a long time before sighing. His shoulders lowered slightly. “Do what you must.” He stepped aside.

  And that was the problem. I didn’t know what to do. Was I just supposed to bite my wrist and drop some blood into her mouth, like I’d seen in movies? How much did I need to give her? Would it work? The woman and Satra seemed to think so.