by G. Bailey
“Humans are posting online about groups of demons walking around. They are always in groups of ten. Some are recognising them as the missing people that are in Paris. The government is struggling to keep this a secret.”
“Most of the humans just think they are strange people wearing odd makeup, but I looked at the videos on YouTube. They are demons, and the groups are everywhere. Not attacking, just walking from town to town. They don’t respond when people talk to them, they just keep walking–” Alex says.
“He’s sending out patrols to find us,” I cut her off. It’s smart.
“Why? Winter said he has been at this castle. He killed Elissa here, so he knows where we are,” Alex says, reminding me of Winter’s dream.
“Maybe it’s hidden from him, I’m not sure,” I say.
“We need to be sure. We have so many young here,” Alex says.
I nod at her. “I am well aware of our issues, but don’t tell Winter about this. Not until she wins these fights. She doesn’t need any more worry,” I say, and they both nod in agreement. “Go and have the day off. I will train the men and women today,” I say.
They both look happy at the idea. Drake picks Alex up and throws her over his shoulder as she squeals. “Thank you, prince,” Drake chuckles when Alex tries to wriggle free.
I want that peace with Winter one day. Hopefully, one day soon.
Chapter 23
Winter
"Wow," Atti says, and then clears his throat as he looks at me. I should be the one saying ‘wow’ when Atti is dressed like a hot pirate. He has a loose, white shirt on that dips to show off his impressive chest. He has a white cloak on, stretched around his large shoulders and tight, black trousers. Honestly, I expect him to throw me over his shoulder and take me to his ship.
"This looks okay?" I ask, glancing down at the white, lacy dress I'm wearing. Tonight is the summer solstice, and witches all go to the trees to dance and celebrate. Atti wants to take me; Leigha is watching the house, and Dabriel had to visit the pack to heal a few people after a fight broke out. The wolves and vampires are still having trouble mixing. I was left to Alex and her fashion do over.
"You look amazing, no hot, no wait I can think of a good word," he mumbles out, making me chuckle.
"So, what happens tonight?" I ask him.
"A big party and . . . ,” Atti stops and shakes his head. He takes my hand and pulls me close, "I'd rather just show you," he says, and we float away with his power.
When we reappear, we are in the middle of a crowd. A few people stare at us and bow their heads. Other witches look on in worry or just walk away from us. It takes me a second to recognise them as witches because they all have their hoods down. Most of them have black or dark-blonde hair like Atti. There are a few with silver hair, which makes me wonder which side they are from. They have a mix of skin tones as well, but most have a gold complexion like Atti’s. Sun-kissed skin. I glance up at the stars in the sky; they are so bright here.
There's a long table full of different food spread down the middle of the trees. Children and parents spin in circles as music plays fast, merry tunes.
The trees have yellow bunting hanging between them, and I can hear the trees singing to the music. They’re happy.
I smile up at Atti who takes my hand and leads me through the crowds to the dancers. He spins us around, and we hold hands as we dance around in circles like the others. I laugh as he pulls me close and spins me out. We dance close, my big smile matching his; our hips sway to the music, and my head is tucked into his chest.
The song ends, and I clap with everyone else to the small band–just a few witches playing a variety of different instruments with one singer. People are still staring, but it isn't too bad. I kind of got used to it at the vampire castle.
"Will you dance with me?" A little girl asks Atti. She looks around five with her white hair in two plaits, and a little, yellow dress. It reminds me of the yellow dress I saw myself wearing as a toddler with my mother. It’s hard not to feel the pain with the memory–the tears running down my mother’s face.
Her mother, I guess, comes running over and lowers into a bow.
"I am so sorry for my daughter, she doesn't realise who you are," the blonde woman says. She stands up; she has on a simple, white corset dress that falls to the ground.
"I'm just a witch like her. I would love to have this dance with you, my lady," Atti says and does a bow at the girl, who giggles.
Atti holds a hand out, and she takes it. I move back next to the woman and watch as Atti picks the girl up and dances around with her.
"He will make a good father, my lady," the woman says, and I nod watching him. I can’t imagine a life where I would feel safe enough to have a baby. The world we live in isn’t safe and yet, I could see a little girl with my hair and maybe Atti’s eyes. I could imagine having a child with any of my guys.
"Agreed. I'm Winter," I hold out my hand to her, and she accepts it.
"I sincerely hope you win the last fight. I have always believed in the goddess," she tells me. Her light-grey eyes are large on her bold-looking face. There’s a slight scar by her eye that stands out in her perfect face.
"Thank you," I nod, and she smiles.
"I’m going to try the food; could you tell Atti where I am?" I ask.
"Of course, my lady," she bows again, and I move away towards the food.
"This is a message from the queen," a woman I recognise steps in front of me. The woman is one of the two I usually see with the queen. She is the pretty one, with the long, blonde hair, and is a light witch. I wonder why she is on Taliana’s side and not Atti’s.
"What is it?" I ask, and she smirks before answering.
"The next fight is the last, and you are allowed two women to fight with you. This fight will be the end, the queen is done with the games as we have a war to fight," she says, her voice echoing, and everyone stops to stare at us. The music cuts off a second before I feel Atti appear next to me and slip his hand around my waist.
"Fine," I reply. The woman disappears. The witches all go back to whatever they were doing, but a lot of them are still watching us.
"Who are you choosing?" Atti immediately asks me.
"Leigha and Alex. I don't know any others to help me," I say.
"Two vampires are not a good idea. Leigha, yes, but Alex is still so untrained," he says. I guess he is right; Alex wouldn’t be a good choice. Also, I would be way too distracted trying to protect her.
"Who would you suggest?" I ask.
"Katy or maybe Lucinda," he tells me. I didn’t realise he knew her.
"Why?"
“They are both strong, and Jaxson has made Katy a guard. Lucinda is an alpha of strong blood. I believe one of them would be the ideal person to have at your side."
"I will ask Jaxson. She’s only sixteen, and Lucinda has a lot of responsibilities," I say.
"And, you are only twenty. Age is just a number for us, we don’t have the pleasure of being innocent for so long. Our children don’t know a time without death and war," Atti says, his eyes watching the dancers.
"Twenty-one in two months," I say, and Atti smiles.
"We will have to celebrate," he winks.
"Only if the whole world isn't destroyed, you mean," I joke a little too loudly. Several people look my way. Okay, maybe a bad joke.
"I'm going to feed you, so you stop talking. I have better ways to keep you quiet, but we can't do those in public," Atti winks at me, and I laugh with warm cheeks. He walks us closer to the table of food, his arm tight around my waist.
"Oh, chocolate cake!" I point at a large chocolate cake, and he walks us over. He cuts me a big piece and then gets me a fork.
"I would try the whole romantic, feeding you thing, but I'm honestly scared you would try to eat me and not in the good way," he laughs.
“What’s the good way?” I innocently ask him, and he smirks.
“The same good way I would enjoy eating you,” he winks,
and I blush, my mouth closed around a piece of chocolate cake.
“And baby,” Atti says as he moves his head close to my ear, "I can be as slow or fast as you like," he whispers, I nearly choke on my chocolate cake at his seductive words. I was wrong; fucking hell, Atti can flirt like the best of them. I miss this side to Atti, the less serious side.
“What was it like growing up around here?” I ask him as we eat.
“I didn’t get out much. My mother was protective to say the least; she couldn’t cope with me being far from her until I was stronger and able to protect myself,” he says.
“So, you were lonely?” I ask.
“No, just bored. You forget I used to sneak out and see the others. When I first started seeing Wyatt, he was an angry kid. It was fun to wind him up. We both came up with this great idea to see the other princes. Jax was cool, but Dabriel tried to kill us. He was a serious one with a stick up his butt,” Atti says, and I laugh at his choice of words.
“Anyway, my mother finally caught on about my disappearing acts. Witches usually can’t use the power to move until they hit sixteen, so she didn’t know I could do it. She showed me the castle and told me it was safe to play there.” His words are hinted in sadness.
“The rest of my childhood was council meetings, fighting in the arena, and learning everything I could about ruling,” he tells me.
“You will make a good king,” I say.
He looks down at me. “With you at my side, I will,” he whispers and kisses me. “You had a little chocolate on your lips,” he smirks.
“You don’t need an excuse to kiss me, Atti,” I grin.
“I know,” he smiles and wraps an arm around me. We both watch the dancers for a while, lost in our thoughts.
"Here, my lady, I brought you a drink. They’re made from the grapes I grew in my garden,” a woman says with long, black hair as she stops in front of us; a dark witch. She hands Atti and me two glasses.
"Thank you," I say, and drink some as she moves into the crowd. The grape juice is soft and sweet. It's really nice.
I eat a few more bites of cake before I start feeling hot.
"Winter," I hear, and I try to respond, but nothing comes out.
Chapter 24
Atticus
“Dabriel,” I shout as I hold Winter to my chest, while I pull on my magic to find him. I reappear just inches away from him.
“What happened?” Dabriel instantly asks as he takes Winter from me. She isn’t awake, and she’s barely breathing. I don’t feel myself move as I watch Dabriel glow white all over, to the point that I can’t see Winter anymore. I don’t look at anything other than the light. I feel Jaxson move next to me and put his hand on my shoulder, but I don’t respond. What feels like years later, but is probably only moments, Dabriel dials down the glowing, so I can see Winter. She looks pale and is still sleeping, but Dabriel nods. That nod is all I need, and I rest my hands on my knees as I take a deep breath. Jaxson goes over and strokes Winter’s hair away from her eyes.
“What the fucking hell happened to her, and why isn’t she awake?” Jaxson snaps as he faces me.
“A witch gave her a drink, it was poisoned,” I say as I straighten up. I thought I’d fucking lost her; I can’t lose her. Winter means everything to me.
“D, why isn’t she awake?” I ask, but the door slamming open again behind makes me turn to look. I notice for the first time that we are in the castle, in the kitchens. Dabriel was cooking when I came here, I realize as I spot the stuff on the sides. Wyatt, with Milo on his shoulder, storms into the room.
“Oreos?” Milo asks as he flies towards the cupboards. Wyatt storms over to us, his eyes completely silver in anger and leans over Winter when Jaxson moves out the way.
“Why is she sleeping?” he asks.
“She is–” Dabriel starts, but Milo interrupts as he chews on an Oreo.
“Dream-calling,” he muffles out.
“Again?” Wyatt asks sharply, none of us reply.
“I’ll take Winter back to her room, we will wait for her to wake up,” Dabriel suggests. We nod, and he walks out with her. I clench my fists, cracking my knuckles as I look at my friends.
“We have a witch to find, and I know exactly where to find her,” I say. Words are not needed as Wyatt and Jax put their hands on my shoulders. I move us to my city, straight into the castle. The guards rush forward, and I raise my arm, using my air power to swipe them across the hallway, and they slam into the wall.
“No fun,” Wyatt smirks. I walk forward and slam the door to my mother’s old room open. I don’t expect it to be empty and completely ruined. Someone has set the place on fire; the windows are smashed and there’s nothing left. I can only hope her familiar was buried. Familiars die with us, their lives linked to ours. I have to ignore the painful lump in my throat as I look at the room my mother loved. It increases my anger as I walk out of the room and down the corridor. The next two guards we come across rush at us when they should be running away. Two female, dark witches call on fire and try to throw it at us. I blow it away with my air and hold the two witches in the air. Their hoods fall back as they try to escape.
“Where the fuck is Taliana?” I shout. Neither answers, loyal to their fake queen. I’m about to try different, harsher actions to get an answer when the bitch in question walks in.
“If you wanted time alone with me, you only had to ask, Atticus,” she purrs out.
“Not even in your dreams, Taliana,” I sneer and drop the witches. I stalk over to her and stand inches away as I speak.
“Where is the witch who poisoned Winter tonight?” I shout.
“I do not know who you are talking of. I swore not to hurt her,” she smiles, a seductive tone in her voice as she moves closer. The scent of whatever perfume she’s wearing hits me and makes me feel sick. She makes me feel sick.
“Let’s go and discuss this privately. I can make you much happier than the human ever will,” she suggests and goes to place her hand on my chest.
“Do you think I would ever look twice at you? You killed my mother, and I am in love with a woman who is a million times fucking better than you. Find the witch who attacked her, or I swear I will kill you and anyone that gets in my way. I am not playing fucking games anymore,” I say, and I grab her hand to push her away.
“Fine, the witch is dead. I didn’t kill her, but someone else did. They used demon powers, destroying her home. I believe she was killed moments after she returned home,” Taliana says.
“I want to see,” I demand.
“I will take you,” she holds out a hand.
“No, just the address. I know my city like the back of my hand,” I say, and her face tightens in anger. I’m glad I’m finally pissing her off.
“Fine, but you will be mine, Atticus,” she says and tells me the address. I walk back to Jaxson and Wyatt who nod, clearly hearing all of the conversation. My brothers always have my back.
“How did you kill my mother? Dabriel couldn’t heal her,” I say and look back to meet her cold eyes.
“Demon-touched weapons can’t be healed, and I will kill Winter with one as well,” she says and Jaxson’s growl fills the room. Dabriel starts glowing brightly, and I debate whether it’s worth killing her.
“I will enjoy watching my queen kill you,” I say, and call on my power to get us out of here.
I move us to the street that Taliana said. It’s close to my own home, and we walk down the quiet street until we find the home we need. A few witches in light hoods bow as we walk past. When we get to number seven, the house where the witch lived, it’s easy to see the evil that’s happened here. I wonder what Dabriel would see when he looks at a demon and reads their aura.
I walk in, as the door is open, and the wards are down. The living room is destroyed, blood covering the walls and floors. Crystal powder is all over the floor, what a waste.
“I smell demon,” Jaxson says.
“Why would a demon do this?” Wyatt asks as
he looks around the room in disgust.
“How did they get in the city is another important question,” I say.
“The witch is dead; she would have had an easier death if we found her first. She clearly suffered,” Jaxson gestures around the room. I take one more look at the room before we leave, Jaxson is right; there is nothing we can do here anymore.
I’ll wait until Winter wakes up, and then we will plan a way to make the city safe.
Chapter 25
Winter
"Have you come to make a promise?" a sweet voice asks. The voice is familiar, and I struggle to open my eyes. My body feels tired, and I’m not sure why. When I see the purple trees, and look down at my feet in the yellow grass, I know why I’m tired.
Shoot, I’ve dream-called the fairy again. I turn slightly to see her standing at the line of trees a few feet away.
Lily stands looking over at me, in a black dress with a cut-out in the middle. She isn’t wearing a cloak today, so I can see how she has a perfect body to go with her beauty. All supernaturals have this perfect-looking thing sorted.
Her long, strawberry-blonde hair flutters in the warm breeze. The air even smells nice here; it tastes like sweets as I breathe it in.
"For your help?" I ask turning to fully face her, I go to take a step forward, but I can’t move. I brush my hands down the white dress I’m wearing and look at her.
"The demon king will demand the world, and only I can help you. What I ask for in return isn't terrible," she says with a slight giggle.
"So, explain exactly what the offer is," I say. I can't say we don’t need the help. I saw first-hand how weapons are useless, and it took two wolves to take down one of them. The witches’ powers aren’t going to be useful against demons unless they have weapons that work. The vampires could team up, but we don’t have the numbers anymore. There just aren’t enough of us if he has turned even a quarter of Paris. That doesn’t even include the vampires and humans that were in the castle. The angels won't help, not unless they’re sure they’ll win. Well, that’s what Dabriel thinks. The dark angel’s power to cause pain when they touch someone won’t help kill the demons when they look like emotionless zombies. We don't have a big enough army with the low birth rate and deaths that have happened because of the wars between the supernatural people. The witches and angels fought for years and killed each other. Then, the werewolves and vampires declared war, and did the same. This is the most vulnerable time for them, for us all and we now have the biggest threat on our doorstep. The demons can’t be killed by silver, but we can.