Magically Betrayed

by Rachel Medhurst

  Grabbing my father, I hauled him to his feet. “You need to run. Get the other agents from inside. The medics will have to take care of the other witches, we need help.”

  Holding my hands in his, he smiled down at me. “Devon, you’ve connected to the ley line. You and your mother can defeat her together.”

  Nodding, I pushed him, willing him to leave the area so Vernon could no longer threaten him. His warlock magic was strong, but he hadn’t practiced in years.

  The ley line? How was that possible? I was only part witch, which meant I shouldn’t be able to access the pure magic direct from the lines that were protected by my mother’s ancestry. And, yet, the power that had come into me when I’d linked into earth had been much stronger than usual. It had to be true.

  As my father went, I turned to the scene in front of me. Gerard was still wrestling Vernon on the ground. My mother had her hand extended towards Helena. Our enemy was just as serious, staring back at her daughter.

  Justina and Kurt were trying to force their way past a barrier, if their weird back and forth had anything to do with it. Justina punched the air, her pale cheeks bright pink as she huffed.

  Our gaze met and she stopped. An understanding passed between us. This was a family matter, one that could only be solved by our blood line. Yes, Justina had wanted to capture the leader of the witch slave trade, but she knew she wasn’t powerful enough, no matter how much government backing she had. This was Essex witch business.

  “Devon’s got it,” I heard her tell Kurt.

  He stopped fighting the wall in front of him, looking at me as he swore. “How the fuck is she going to do it? She’s weak.”

  It was good to have Kurt there, even if he still didn’t believe in me. Ignoring his words, I went over to join my mother. The three of us were connected by blood, but two of us were ready to let go of the third.

  “You think you can defeat me?” Helena’s eyes were wide, almost popping out of her head. “You may have the ley lines on your side, but you don’t have the courage to kill me.”

  She was speaking to my mother. Their staring contest increased as they both whispered a spell. A thunder cloud rolled over as the darkness from Helena’s magic increased. My mother clasped her chest. Blood ran from her nose as she held her hand in the air. Whatever spell she was trying to cast, it wasn’t working.

  “Mum, let me help,” I said, taking her hand as she wobbled on her feet.

  Helena was trying to squeeze my mother’s heart. She gasped for breath, her cheeks turning deathly white. Glancing at me, she shook her head. “I can’t do it. She’s too strong.”

  “What are you trying to do?” I asked, catching her when she went to fall.

  “I’m trying to disarm her magic.”

  Helena had been right; my mother didn’t have it in her to kill the woman who’d given birth to her. It would have to be me.

  Helping her sit on the floor, I turned back to Helena. My grandmother stood with her hands on her hips, looking bored. The infuriating woman would get what was coming to her. I just had to calm my temper enough to channel the magic sizzling in my muscles.

  “This ends now,” I whispered as Helena tilted her head to look at me.

  A smirk came to her face as she waved her hand in dismissal and turned back towards the grimoire and leaf.

  Checking that Gerard was safe, which he was, although still struggling with the demon warlock, I focused all my attention on the balls of my feet. Dragging the magic into my body, I shook as it poured into every inch of me.

  “Be careful, Devon,” my grandmother sneered as she spun back towards me.

  Taking a step forward, I raised my hands in the air and cast a spell to stop her from moving. Her feet melted to the ground, her flimsy shoes sticking to the stone.

  Glaring at me, Helena laughed. “You think this will work for long?”

  Almost breaking her bones as she moved her arm, she managed to step out of her shoes. Her body should have stayed solidly frozen until the spell wore off. This was going to become a proper battle.

  “Incendia!”

  Fire singed the bottom of her skirt as it rose up around her. A cackle of laughter came when the clouds above us exploded with rain and put the fire out. We were going tit for tat. It was time to get serious.

  Running forward, I jumped high in the air and shot a stream of bright yellow warlock magic from my palm. Helena gasped when it hit her arm, grazing through the protection spell she’d put up. Maybe her magic was weakening.

  “Little bitch!” she screamed, rubbing her arm.

  Landing beside her, I went to tackle her to the ground. Stomping her foot, she made the earth shake beneath our feet. My knees gave out as the force took me down. Thrusting up, I went for her again, but she disappeared.

  “I can’t physically fight you, there’s no dignity in that.”

  Appearing in front of the fountain, she scowled at me. Her gaze flicked to the grimoire. Yes, if I destroyed the leaf, she wouldn’t have the chance to use the spell on the warlocks.

  “You’re being too easy on her,” Kurt shouted. “Just kill her.”

  He was right, I was being easy on her. There was no joy at the thought of ending her life. She had given me so much, and yet, as I stood there, staring her down, I knew that I had no choice. She would never give up. Ever since she’d tasted magic, she’d been an addict. One who had turned into a serial kidnapper.

  My feet were moving before anyone noticed. Wet stone slowed me slightly, but I reached the fountain. About to reach out for the grimoire, I lost my footing as a blast of energy knocked me back, sending me crashing to the ground.

  My mother rushed to my side as my chest rose and fell, the pain from landing restricting the air from flowing into my lungs.

  “Let’s do this together,” she whispered.

  Dragging me up, she held my hand. Our magic laced together, filtering into each other. Mother earth was allowing us full access to the ley lines. My body was vibrating with a power so strong, it made me sweat.

  “My spawn are ganging up on me. How sweet.”

  Helena’s eyes flared red as Gerard grunted. My attention turned to him as Vernon managed to get free from his grip.

  My mother drew me away from the fountain as Helena gestured for Vernon to join her. Gerard launched onto his back, dragging him away as Helena screamed in frustration.

  “That’s it, I’m done with you!”

  Swinging her arm, she sent a huge blast of magnetic energy out from her fingertips. Gerard and Vernon were scattered away, onto the grass below the fountain. My feet were firm as it reached us. I wasn’t strong enough to withstand the force. Both my mother and I flew backwards. Letting go of her hand, I rolled when I landed, somehow managing to jump up into a crouch.

  Glancing over at my mum, I froze. She was slumped on the steps that led up to the house. Blood was trickling from her ear where she’d obviously hit her head. I was about to go to her, but Kurt was there, tending to her wound. Justina waved her arm to get my attention. Looking at her, I frowned. Should I see if my mother was okay?

  “Get her,” she mouthed, pointing at Helena.

  My grandmother was headed straight for the grimoire. Picking up the leaf, she threw her head back and laughed to herself. She hadn’t even stopped to check whether I was down. Which would work in my favour.

  Keeping my footsteps soft, I ran at her. Grunting as I leapt from the ground, I extended my leg and used her back to propel from, plucking the leaf out of her hand as I went over her.

  Helena fell to the ground, an angry shout emanating from her chest. My momentum gave out as pain zapped through me, and I crashed into the pool at the bottom of the fountain. My body jerked as raw energy filled it. It was as if every pore in me was absorbing the warlock magic from the leaf.

  I wasn’t used to so much energy at once. Tears dropped from my eyes as I thrashed in the water, my muscles clenching in pain. My stomach churned as I tried to breathe. So much dark war
lock magic, so much pure witch power. What was happening?

  “Devon!” Gerard’s shout was fraught with worry but also something else.

  Forcing my head to stay above the small pool of water, I wrenched open my eyes as the cramps that ran over me started to ease.

  “No,” I whispered, spitting out water as it splashed into my mouth.

  Gerard had obviously gone for Helena. She was shaking as she held her hand in the air. Careless Mac-hottie was hovering in front of her, his face quickly turning red from lack of oxygen. What a time for me to think of another nickname for him. When inside, my heart was playing squash against my ribcage.

  Shaky and wet, I crawled to my feet. I would not let her harm him. She had already hurt my mother, it was time to end this once and for all.

  “See, Devon?” she crowed. “You’re too weak to save your boyfriend. At least he’s a witch, I suppose. Now, give me back that leaf, or I’ll break his neck.”

  Her last words were spat from her mouth, spittle following them. She would do it in an instant. I didn’t have time to fight her. The power in my body was humming, but it made me weak as I tried to assimilate it.

  Putting my hand into my jacket pocket, I wrapped my fingers around the dagger. “Okay, I’ll give it back, just let him go.”

  She turned away from me slightly as she looked at him. It gave me the second I needed. Propelling forward, I jumped onto the ledge of the fountain and pushed myself towards her. She turned, her eyes widening as she saw my dagger aimed straight at her. Bright yellow streams extended from it, bigger and longer than I’d ever been able to create before. They smacked into her body, freezing her as I fell forward, plunging the blade into her chest.

  “No!” she muttered as we slammed into the stone ground.

  She had turned as the dagger pierced her skin. Instead of going straight into her heart, it was lodged into her lung.

  Breathing hard, I backed away from her, leaving her on the ground. I couldn’t bring myself to finish her off, not when her eyes cleared and pleaded with me.

  “The Essex dagger is the only thing that can kill an Essex witch,” she whispered.

  Gerard’s arms were around me as I tried to go forward. She was my grandmother, a witch, an evil woman. And, right at that moment, I didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t a killer, she was. I wasn’t her.

  As her breath stopped moving her chest, Helena’s eyes went blank.

  Sobs left me as Gerard rocked me on the ground, comforting me. All my life, I’d believed that I was a certain person, but now I didn’t know. After everything that had happened, the fight was over.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “You did it,” Justina said solemnly as I snuggled Kingsley against my neck.

  His little squeaks of excitement hadn’t died down yet. I would never get tired of him, he was my little saviour. The one who would always comfort me after a day full of shit. No questions asked.

  “We did it,” I said, giggling when Kingsley’s whiskers tickled my chin. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  Well, I was the one to shove the dagger into her, but still, if they hadn’t have been there, I wouldn’t have had the courage to do it.

  Gerard stood against the wall of the library, his expression blank. He wasn’t one for high praise, and I shouldn’t be either. Not only that, there were words that needed to be said between us.

  “Why did you run back to her?” my mother asked from the chair next to me.

  She cradled her head where it obviously still hurt. Kurt had applied his healing potion, but she still felt the effects of her wound. It had been a relief to see her standing when I’d finally walked away from the body of my grandmother.

  The sun highlighted them all as it shone through the agency window. Justina had the blinds up for once, allowing us a view of the crystal waters of the Thames. Why had I ever thought that they didn’t want me?

  They were watching me, waiting for a reply. Even Kurt, who leant against Justina’s desk, stayed quiet. A knowing look was in his eye. He’d shared so much of himself with me, he obviously trusted me more than he realised. Why hadn’t I seen it before?

  “I was afraid.” My words were simple, but what else could I say?

  My insecurities had driven me away from those who were there for me. Instead of facing myself, I’d run from those who would force me to see who I was. I wanted someone who would validate me and all my shit. And, that hadn’t worked. It never did.

  “I’m sorry for leaving. It was a stupid thing to do, especially after the help you’ve given me. This job, it’s my life. It’s given me purpose and growth. Feeling so weak after the trauma, I didn’t know what to do.”

  “So,” Kurt said, crossing his legs at the ankle. “You acted like a child and ran away.”

  “Kurt! Don’t speak to my daughter that way.” My mother scolded the man who had saved her life.

  Instead of getting angry like I thought he might, Kurt just grinned to himself. He was apparently not going to go against an Essex witch.

  Justina was sitting in the chair opposite me, my father was standing by my mother. He was distant, his thoughts elsewhere as usual. I’d felt a gap between us since we’d found each other again. Maybe that was something I could work on.

  “How are the witches?” I tried to change the subject. All the staring was making me feel like I should’ve put some makeup on.

  Justina crossed her legs as she threaded her fingers together. “They’re at the hospital. Medics reported that they started to wake up around the same time as you killed Helena.”

  There was something wrong with Justina. Her aura was filled with a heaviness that hadn’t been there before. Was she disappointed that she hadn’t been the one to end the case?

  “The government have been informed. I’ll spend the day writing up our reports.” Sitting forward, she got ready to dismiss us. “Everyone did great. Devon, Julia…” She looked between my mum and I. “…I’d like you to have therapy. What happened today was traumatic. Helena may have been the leader of the witch slave trade, but she was also your relative.”

  We both nodded without hesitation. My insides were still shaking. Although, that could be the effects of the extra magic.

  “I’ve spoken to Paranormal MI5 about the agent who was protecting Julia at the park when there was a shooting. All Essex witches are on the radar of Paranormal MI5. Apparently, they have to protect you. Especially now you’ve come out of hiding, Julia.”

  My mother inclined her head. She had kept pretty quiet about that incident, but it made sense. She was a protector of the ley lines. And, apparently, so was I.

  “Devon’s connected to the ley lines now. She’ll have to take the vows of an Essex witch.” My mother was looking at Justina when she spoke.

  Why wasn’t she talking to me? I was the one who got to decide what I did and didn’t do, not my boss.

  Tipping her head in acknowledgement, Justina got up from her chair. “I understand. Take all the time you need.”

  Confusion wrapped itself around my tired little brain. Why would I need time? What sort of vows? Oh, man, if I had to be tied to something the way I was with the warlock leadership, I was going to have to rebel.

  “What do I have to do?” I asked my mother.

  The others started to move around. Justina went to her desk to start to write up the reports. Kurt went over to speak to Gerard.

  My mother ducked her head as she wiped a tear from her eye. “I never thought you’d be able to connect to the lines.”

  Looking up at me, she smiled through her tears. “I’m so proud of you, my darling. Please, always know that we love you. And, somehow, mother earth has allowed your Essex blood to connect to the lines, regardless of your warlock magic.”

  Clearing his throat, my father caught our attention. His expression wasn’t as happy as my mother’s. In fact, the furrow in his eyebrow made my tummy roll. There was something wrong.

  “I’m afraid for you,” he s
aid. “If your warlock magic somehow connects with the ley line, it might tinge the pure magic with the darkness that automatically comes with it.”

  I hadn’t even thought about that. In fact, I’d not had time to think at all. My energy was buzzing, my mood lifting by the moment. I had my witch power back… and wow, it felt so good.

  “I’ll speak to my friend. She’s a seer, she’ll know what to do. Maybe I can keep my warlock magic in the dagger like I did before. That way, the magic will stay separate until I know more.”

  The heaviness in my father’s eyes lifted. A small smile came to his face. “Yes, that sounds perfect.”

  Moving to them, I bent down to hug my mother. She had sobered now, but an infectious smile lit her lips. I was an Essex witch. A real Essex witch. Which was great, except for all the responsibilities.

  “We’ll talk more about the vows soon,” she said, patting my arm. “It’s not too dramatic, you’ve just got to promise to guard the ley line and not abuse your power.”

  Ah, great, just what I needed. More restrictions. I laughed at myself as my father kissed my cheek.

  Everyone needed to rest, including Kingsley, who was fast asleep on my shoulder.

  As my mother and father left, I hung back. I wanted to check in with Justina. My boss waved Gerard and Kurt out when she saw that I was waiting.

  When the door had shut behind them, I turned to her. “I’m sorry.”

  She gestured for me to sit in the chair on the other side of the desk. “I must admit, when Gerard told me that you’d left, I thought about leaving you to your fate. My agents are loyal to me, Devon.”

  I understood. If it had been the other way around, I would have kicked me out on my arse almost instantly.

  “I am loyal to you and the agency. My… No, I have no excuse except for childish insecurities. I hold my hands up to my stupidity and bow down to your superiority. I don’t mean that in a patronising way, I’m being genuine. I shouldn’t have rebelled.”

  My heart sank as she blinked several times. I’d probably pushed it too far. Would she let me stay? Nausea surged at the thought of having to leave. There was nowhere else I wanted to be. My little staycation away had given me tons of clarity.