The Queen of Witches

by Brandi Elledge

  I helped Tandi stand to her feet. She dusted herself off as her nose wrinkled in disgust at the numerous demon bodies piled all around us. “It looks like the soothsayer was wrong. I survived this.” Her shoulders lifted up in a small shrug.

  Wes sauntered over to us. “We’re not out of the clear yet. There is still an expiration date above your head, Tandi. Just be cautious.”

  The hair on the back of my neck stood up at his ominous words. Tandi wrapped her arms around her middle and her chin dropped to her chest. She started to move away from me, but I grabbed her arm and gave it a squeeze.

  “You’re going to be fine.”

  She gave me a little nod. Her eyes shone with unshed tears. “Sure.”

  Stephan gave a loud yawn as his eyes scanned the massive destruction that was once known as our beloved house. Killing a horde of demons must have bored him. “I think I’ll go kill the ghouls circling the house. It’s been at least a couple of weeks since I’ve seen their ugly faces.”

  Wes walked toward the front door. “Oh, they aren’t going to be pretty, pretty boy. I’ll help with the ghouls.”

  “There are only six of them,” Stephan said.

  Wes opened the door for the vampire. “Can’t let you have all the fun, now can I?”

  Sammy shook his head as he followed my brother and the vampire out the door. I knew that he wasn’t going with them to help or even supervise, but more so he could make jokes at their expense. My familiar had a very dry sense of humor.

  Jamison shook his head as he came over to me. He enfolded me in his arms, and I leaned into him. He felt like home. Warm and inviting. Tandi mumbled something under her breath as I heard her shuffling her feet away from us. He lowered his head and kissed each one of my eyelids before his lips touched mine. Yearning slammed through me. A burning urgent need that I’ve never felt or known before settles low in my abdomen. He pulls back with my name on his lips. His blue eyes show so much emotion that my knees almost buckle. Jamison stroked my back, and my mark tingled pleasantly under his hand. I was about to ask him to kiss me like that again when I heard a scream. We almost tripped over one another as we ran into the kitchen where François had Tandi entrapped in his arms five feet from us.

  His beady eyes glared at me. “Leave with me now, and I will spare your friend. You will be a Demon Prince’s queen and rule by his side. Never wanting for anything.”

  My powers were utterly drained. I tried to take a step towards my friend and François, but Jamison’s arms tightened around me. “You know he has no intention of letting her go.”

  “You will be a queen! As we speak, he is preparing for your new home.”

  “I’m already a Queen. I don’t need your Demon Prince. Let my friend go, and I promise I won’t kill you for this.”

  François leered at me as he dragged Tandi towards the front door. “When grief overwhelms you, remember you could have saved her.”

  “Wait!” I screamed, but it was too late. François pushed Tandi out the front door. Jamison lunged for him, and they both disappeared around the corner of the house. A moment later, I heard the demon scream like a frightened little girl. It wasn’t the demon’s head rolling across my sneaker that made me feel faint. No, it was an entirely different image in front of me causing bile to rise in the back of my throat. There stood Tandi in between two ghouls, screaming, while they bit her. They were like piranhas. Her arms and face had scratches, but it was her neck that made me scream. A chunk of her flesh was missing. There was no doubt in my mind that a major artery had been pierced.

  “Tandi!”

  I was almost to her when Jamison caught me from behind. “It’s too late, Charlie, the poison is already inside of her.”

  Sammy appeared in front of me, his little body doing its best to block me. Didn’t he know that it was not me who needed protection? A piece of my heart was being torn apart by ghouls this very instant.

  My knees hit the ground, and I started wailing. My heart felt like it was about to crumble as Jamison pulled an arrow from his quiver and let fly from his bow over and over again. Four ghouls had dropped to the ground where Wes and Stephan killed them the second they landed. The poison from the ghouls must not fatally harm vampires or the Undertaker because they weren’t careful about dodging it.

  The ghouls holding Tandi were trying to claw their way through her when Stephan tackled one of them to the ground. Rolling off the creature in one fluid motion, he hovered over the ghoul as he punched his hand through the hideous creature, ripping its heart out.

  The remaining ghoul let out a shriek that would give me nightmares for the rest of my days. The creature threw what looked like a wooden spear at Tandi. I screamed as it went right through her stomach. She gripped the handle sticking out of her torso with a shocked expression on her face. Her chest heaved a couple of times, then she became very still, her eyes going blank.

  My friend was dead.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Pulling on my hair, I screamed. How could this have happened? Jamison promised me that my friend would be okay. Somewhere through the fog, I saw Jamison killing the remaining ghoul by snapping its neck, but I took no satisfaction in that. I heard a sizzling sound from where his bare hands must have touched its poisonous skin. Wes came over to me, wrapping me in a tight hug. One that I didn’t reciprocate or need. Stephan kneeled beside Tandi and rested his forehead in his hand, as if he was grieving, when it was my best friend lying there!

  “We knew it might come to this,” Stephan said.

  Jamison cast me a glance before going to kneel on the other side of Tandi. “She knew it, too. What was the verdict?”

  “She agreed wholeheartedly. I told her it was more of a curse than a blessing, and that most of my life, I wish I would have chosen death,” Stephan said. “I’ve never really met anyone like her. She just patted my hand and said, ‘Anything as hot as you shouldn’t have worms crawling through empty eye sockets. And, to be honest, I’m kind of a big deal, too, you know?’ But I really don’t like the thought of having this beautiful creature end up with the same fate as me.”

  What the hell were they rambling about?

  Wes cradled me in his arms. “I don’t feel her soul, so you must have begun the transition last night. What are the final steps?”

  That made me snap out of my grief. “What? What are you talking about? She’s not dead?”

  Jamison came to me. Squatting in front of me, he gently wiped away my tears. “It’s almost impossible to cheat death once someone has been marked, so we called Ariana last night. She said this was Tandi’s fate. That’s where Stephan comes in. She said he was to give her some of his blood.”

  “So giving her Stephan’s blood does what? Is she dead or is she not dead? And why did you not tell me this last night?”

  “Ariana said if we told you, you would intervene. This is her fate.”

  I shrugged him off of me. “Of course, I would have intervened. Screw fate! My friend is dead.”

  “Ish,” Stephan said. “Dead-ish.”

  Jamison started to reach for my hand again, but something in my face must have told him to stay back. I was ready to snap. How could he have known about this and not told me? “Stephan’s blood buys us time. She had his blood in her when she died. If we act quickly, he can turn her.”

  My eyes widened with shock. “Turn her? Like into a vampire?”

  “Your friend was going to die, Charlie. If you intervened, she would have still died, just in a different way.” Jamison dropped his head. “I knew there would be a possibility you would hate me for this—”

  “I don’t hate any of you. Disappointed and pissed? Yes to both. Telling me this is the way it was supposed to be and I should throw all of my trust and faith into a soothsayer I have never met is beyond ludicrous. But as long as my best friend comes back, I’ll take her any way I can get her.”

  Stephan cleared his throat. “There is more to it than her just becoming a vampire.” Gently cradling Tand
i’s head in his lap, he said, “If she is not trained and closely watched for her first part of transitioning, she will have no control.”

  “What do you mean by control?” I asked.

  Wes stood up, walking over to where Tandi lay. “He means that she might become like Jack the Ripper. Vampires have an unstoppable lust for blood. If they don’t learn how to control it when first rising back up—”

  “Then your friend will no longer be who you knew her to be,” Jamison finished.

  With a frustrated sigh, Stephan said, “I will have to train her if I sire her.”

  “But you don’t want to sire her, do you?” I asked.

  “No, not really,” Stephan said, “but I can’t let her die, either.”

  Blood poured out of the wound on Tandi’s neck and stomach. Tears trailed down my face at the image that would be forever ingrained in my brain. “You will forever have my gratitude, Stephan, if you can bring her back to us.”

  “Funny that you should look at it like that. Hopefully, you will always remember this day, in case you realize that it is truly a curse I bestowed upon your loved one,” Stephan said.

  I shook my head. “No. It will never be a curse to us. Even if it does alter her personality. You’ve given her a second chance; one that she even asked for, correct?”

  Stephan nodded. “Yes. But still—”

  “But nothing. Do what it takes to bring her back to us,” I said.

  Stephan met my eyes. After a few seconds of hesitation, he bit into the flesh on his wrist. He was still gently cradling Tandi’s head as he lowered his wrist to her mouth. I watched as blood dribbled down her chin and into the gaping hole in her chest. Nothing happened. Stephan must heal extremely quickly because he had to keep biting into his flesh. Finally on the third attempt, Tandi’s eyes popped open. She grabbed Stephan’s wrist, pulling it hard against her lips.

  In a calming voice, he whispered, “Easy, gorgeous.” Minutes went by before her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she passed out.

  “Now what?” I asked Stephan.

  He stood, lifting a sleeping Tandi in his arms and took her into the house. The rest of us followed. “Now, we wait. Soon, she will rise, and we will see how she handles the transition. I must warn you: some go crazy with the blood lust upon awakening and cannot control themselves. Some even decide they no longer want to go on as the undead and walk out into the sunlight to end their misery.”

  “No, not Tandi. She’s made of tougher stuff than that.”

  “Let’s hope so.” Stopping at the guest bedroom, Stephan turned back to us. “I will take her in here to rest. When she wakes, I will come for you. You can say goodbye, and then we will leave.”

  Tears were streaking down my face. Since I was five years old I haven’t been separated from my best friend.

  Sammy, who had stood by silently the whole time, piped up, “I have a weird feeling about all of this. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I have a deep fear for your friend, and it has nothing to do with Tandi coming back as a vampire. Mind if I have a looksee at your mother’s book?”

  I nodded as I watched Stephan take Tandi into the bedroom and shut the door with his heel. I stared at the closed door, wondering if I would ever have my friend back, or just a fragment of the person I used to know. My heart was broken, but I refused to grieve for my friend when there was still hope. Hope that she would be the same girl that I had loved since kindergarten.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  I sat on the couch, facing Jamison. My anger started to dwindle down from being convinced that everyone I trusted kept me out of the loop on purpose, to maybe I should try to understand their reasoning. “You believe that not telling me about Tandi was in her best interest?”

  “Yes.”

  Truth.

  “Do you believe she will still be the same? Or do you think that I have lost my friend forever?”

  He took his time answering, carefully weighing his words. “I believe that the bond between you both is too strong for her to not overcome whatever hurdles that might separate you both in the future.”

  Again, my gut told me that he believed his words.

  “Waiting for her to wake up is like waiting for water to boil. Distract me?”

  He grabbed my legs and gave them a tug, causing my whole body to slide closer to him. I raised one eyebrow.

  “Not the kind of distraction you’re looking for, huh?”

  I studied him. His blond hair was messy from the recent events, giving him a tousled look. His blue eyes twinkled with mischief, and I felt my heart flutter in my chest. At some point, I had fallen head over heels for this guy. What would I do when he decided to go home?

  The back of his hand skimmed my cheek. “Hey, are you okay?”

  I nodded, even though I wasn’t entirely sure I was in fact okay. “Tell me something about your life.”

  His brow was furrowed like he knew something was off with me. Good luck trying to figure it out. I was just as confused.

  “Your brother reminds me of my brother years ago. When I was little, my brother became my guardian just like your brother has become yours. Except he was a lot younger, and there was always some Degenerate trying to come after us or some exiled wolf who thought they could challenge us both to take our family’s throne.”

  “Figuratively speaking or do you actually have a throne?”

  For the first time, Jamison actually looked a little bashful. “Yeah, there’s a throne and a crown that my brother never wears.”

  “You’re embarrassed that you’re a prince?” At his scowl, I laughed. “I find that unbelievable charming.” He gently rubbed my feet, and my mark began to warm. “Hey, Jamison, this mark… Why does it always tingle?”

  “There is something I’ve been meaning to tell you. I just didn’t know how to begin—”

  Stephan coughed from somewhere behind us, and Jamison’s words were all but forgotten as Tandi came around the corner. My jaw hit the ground.

  “Tandi?” I screeched, as I ran to her. She embraced me in a tight hug. “Is it really you?”

  She giggled. “Yes, just a better version.”

  I scanned my friend from head to toe. She was completely healed. Her hair was the same color and length but now held more shine and luster. Her complexion was flawless, and her cat-like green eyes were a lighter shade. And her bod… wow.

  “How are you feeling? Are you having second thoughts of, you know, becoming a vampire?”

  Tandi, after pretending to think about it, finally said, “Yeah, no. I’m still alive. Well, not technically, but I’ve never really cared about technicalities. And did you check me out? I went from a size twelve to a four! I have collarbones. Jenny Craig couldn’t touch this, baby.” She pointed to her breasts. “And I get to keep the girls. I’m freakishly hot now, too, and I’m vain enough to say I prefer that over a beating heart.”

  “But the best part is you’re completely healed.”

  “Yep, another plus.” She tilted her head at Stephan. “Thanks to him.”

  I gave her another hug. “Well, I’m just glad to have my friend back.”

  Tandi gazed down at her feet. “About that… I have to go with Stephan to his retreat in the mountains. He says that if I don’t go, there’s a possibility I could go all psycho and start killing random people, and even though I’m like totally smokin’ hot, I don’t think I could live with myself if I started eating people like popcorn out of a Cracker Jack box. That’s just gross on so many levels.”

  I glanced over at Stephan, who was waiting patiently at the door. “You’re taking her now?”

  Solemnly, he said, “I’m afraid so. We must begin her training immediately.”

  “Well, when do I get to see her again?”

  “As soon as she is in control over her blood lust,” Stephan said.

  “How long does that usually take?”

  When the vamp didn’t answer, Tandi grabbed hold of my hands in a show of unity. “Stephan,
surely I’ll get to see Charlie soon?”

  When the room was deathly quiet, we both had our answer. I let out a quiet sob as tears rushed down her face. She gave me a wobbly smile. “Your brother hates goodbyes. I’m sure he is hiding upstairs.” At my half shrug, she said, “Tell him goodbye for me and that I’ll see him again soon.”

  Jamison stood up from the couch. He wrapped both of his arms around me—becoming my anchor. He gently kissed the top of my head before whispering, “Tandi has your number. She can call you anytime she wants or vice versa. And when he feels like she’s not a danger—”

  “She would never be a danger to me.” I looked over at my best friend. “Right, Tandi?”

  She currently had her eyes tightly squeezed shut, hunching over like she was in pain. Before I could ask what was wrong, Jamison put himself between me and Tandi, and Stephan grabbed Tandi by the elbow, leading her to the door.

  I heard her whisper, “I can hear my best friend’s blood pounding, and I wanted... I wanted to...”

  “Shh, little one, I know. It’s my fault. You should have woken up for the first time at my place. I knew better than to stay here,” Stephan murmured against her hair. “We have to leave. All I can do is promise you that you will see your friend again when you have complete control.”

  Quietly, I said, “I love you, Tandi.”

  At the door, she hesitated. She turned toward me with tears in her eyes. “I love you, too. Forgive me?”

  My smile wobbled. “For what? Alcoholics like alcohol. Witches like spells. Apparently, vampires like blood. I would be offended if my blood was a turnoff for you.”

  She gave a small laugh. “See you soon, friend.”

  I nodded, not trusting my voice to say goodbye.

  Another pain must have hit her as she doubled over. Stephan whispered, “Sleep,” in her ear, and Tandi went limp in his arms as he scooped her up and carried her out the door. As soon as I could no longer see them, I threw myself at Jamison. He clutched me to him as I soaked the front of his shirt with my tears. The day’s events were catching up with me, and I was so unbelievably tired. I cried until there was nothing left of me. When I felt my body go slack with exhaustion, Jamison wrapped his strong arms around me. My head rested in the crook of his neck.