Wicked Fate (The Wicked Trilogy)

by Tabatha Vargo

  I back away from Adam, a mischievous smile on my face. He watches as I cup my hands together and place them against my lips. Closing my eyes, I slowly blow warm air into the space between my hands. I imagine a big beautiful butterfly flying all around the garden. My lips tingle as I blow softly until I’m out of air. And then I feel it, little flutters against my palms.

  I look over at Adam, the light in his eyes beams brightly as I open my hands to release the big colorful butterfly that I hold. It’s a perfect moment in time. Even if I were living in the midst of some fairy tale, my existence couldn’t be more perfect than it is right now. Here I am, standing in a secret garden that’s been transformed by my feelings for Adam.

  The spell is broken when Sire growls ferociously. Our attention is shifted to the edge of the garden when we hear someone slowly applauding. My eyes connect with the evil red eyes of the woman that’s been in my nightmares. She leans her head back as she lets out the screeching cackle that’s haunted me in my sleep. Then she sobers and glares at me.

  “Impressive, but now that I’m here you’ll need more than pretty butterflies, little girl.”

  Chapter 13

  And So It Begins

  My blood turns to ice as I watch the evil lady from my nightmares approach. The breeze catches her long curly blonde hair and again I’m reminded of white ribbons. She’s smiling—an unfriendly smile. She’s here to harm me, I sense her menace.

  It was stupid of me to allow Adam to come along. I just need to fight her off long enough for him to get away. The trick is to stay calm…everything’s going to be okay.

  So many times in the last couple of weeks, I thought I was dying. Every time fire shoots through my body I think it’s the end of me. But now, looking at the woman who devilishly smiles back at me, I know I’m safe. My grandfather told me that as long as he’s here I’d be safe. Thankfully, he’s home warm in bed.

  “Who are you?” I ask.

  She tilts her head to the side like she’s inspecting me. She doesn’t pay any attention to Adam who’s squeezing my hand at my side. Sire’s crouched in front of me like a cat waiting to pounce.

  “You’re not what I expected. You’re pretty, but kind of small and fragile looking.”

  “Who are you?” I repeat loudly.

  “My name’s Eris and it’s nice to finally meet you, Mage. We’ve been looking for you for a long time.”

  “What do you want?”

  “Think about that for a minute. What do you have that I could possibly want? Do you have any idea how happy he’s going to be when I bring you back? He’ll worship me for finally succeeding in a task that no one else was able to do.”

  “What task? And who’s ‘he’?” I feel sweat trickle down my back.

  “The task of finding you, of course. That grandfather of yours had quite the block on you—not even Craven could penetrate it. Tell me—your grandfather—is he a magical man?”

  “No. Who’s Craven?”

  “Ah—so the block was your mother’s work? Very nice, indeed. She’s such a silly woman. She had to know it wouldn’t last forever. Come with me,” she waves her hand for me to follow her.

  “I’m not going anywhere with you,” I say defiantly.

  Sire growls like he understands the conversation. The look Eris gives him could kill. She looks back at me and smiles unpleasantly.

  “Either you come to him or he comes to you—either way you’re going. I was told you’d have no complaints about leaving.”

  Her attention is then drawn to Adam. Her red eyes take him in and she snarls. I squeeze his hand tighter. Hopefully, if things get bad he knows to run. She’s calm now, but soon that’ll change. I can see her doing horrible things and I feel her hate towards me.

  “So, this is your reason? He’s the reason you stay?” she nods at Adam. “I’ll make it quick and painless. It’s the least I can do.”

  She lifts her hands and points at him. Her long skinny fingers begin to violently shudder. Her big red eyes glow with dark fury and soon I see sparks of fire starting at her fingertips. I’ve felt what she’s feeling before. I know what she’s about to do.

  “No!!!” I scream out.

  Sire’s growl rings out as he jumps towards the she-devil. She directs her vision to Sire and waves her hand at him. He backs off and crouches while still growling. The last thing I want is for Adam or Sire to get hurt and this woman is a person who plays with lives.

  I can sense that she thoroughly enjoys playing with people’s emotions. She loves making people miserable. She’s a monster with the face of a beautiful woman. She looks innocent but I sense her sinister soul.

  Since last night, my instincts are fine tuned. I can feel what she feels and this is a game to her—her preference of sport. It’s obvious since she laughs after every wicked remark she makes.

  Again she directs her attention to Adam. My pulse is racing since I know this time I’ll have to interfere. Her hand shoots back out as she points towards him. Her eyes sparkle and glow as she smirks. I see the sparks forming at her fingertips again and soon a red stream of fire shoots from her fingers going straight for Adam.

  I lunge in front of him and hold up my hands to block it. It burns when her fire connects with my palms. My fire’s hotter when it shoots down my arms and out of my palms pushing her red blaze back.

  It’s different this time. It isn’t a slow agonizing burn as my fire makes its way to my hands. This time, it’s quick as lightning and because it’s so fast, I don’t feel it. Either that or I’m just so afraid that my other senses are numb.

  My blue fire pushes the red further and further away from Adam and me. I feel her pushing against me harder and harder. It feels like she might push me down.

  I stand strong, focusing on not dropping my hands. There’s a big purple ball of flames where our two fires connect. Soon, after pushing for what feels like forever, I’ve pushed the purple ball close to her. I’m winning.

  She’s struggling harder than me. She takes a deep breath to prepare herself, and then she drops her hands. Her red fire instantly disappears and my blue stream slams hard against her. Her feet fly over her head and she slams into the iron fence behind her.

  She lets out an ear bleeding screech before jumping up. Quickly she knocks dirt and debris from her long robe. She laughs hard, and then abruptly stops. The ice cold rage upon her face could freeze water.

  I don’t know how I just did what I did, but I don’t care. All I care about is being able to do it again. I immediately take a defensive stance as I wait for her to try again. Sire’s perched next to me, ready to attack as well.

  “I’ve made it here too late. If I had found you yesterday the outcome of that would have been much different I assure you.”

  She’s calm, even after being abruptly knocked down. Her confidence in overcoming me is frightening. She smiles wickedly as she taps her chin in thought. I remain in my defensive stance.

  “Just leave us alone—please!” I yell.

  “I can’t do that,” she points at Adam. “If he’s the reason you won’t go with me, then he has to go away. But how do I get rid of him?” she contemplates and then smiles. “I’ve got it.”

  She glares past me at Adam. The garden grows still as she imprints him with her eyes. Expressionless, she looks like a beautifully blank canvas. She’s not doing anything—just staring towards Adam. I turn to look at him.

  Adam’s bent over, his hands on the sides of his head. His fingers tug at his dark hair as a hissing noise escapes his lips. He looks up at me in desperation, his eyes wild. She’s doing something, but what? How am I supposed to help him if I don’t know what she’s doing?

  “Stop it! Leave him alone!” I scream.

  I lift my hand, blue flames shoot from my fingertips knocking her onto her back once more. Her ear piercing laugh cuts through my ear drum like lightning.

  Adam drops to his knees beside me and starts to hyperventilate. I lean down to help him up, but he holds his hands
out in a defensive manner like he’s afraid of me.

  “Do you agree?” she asks Adam.

  He looks up at me, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. The pain on his face breaks my heart. He’s hurting so bad and I don’t even know why.

  “Adam, are you okay?” I whisper.

  “I asked you a question, boy! Do you agree?” she yells at him. “Speak now or I’ll do it!”

  Adam looks at me one last time before directing his attention towards Eris. I’d rather die a million deaths than to see him in so much pain.

  “Adam, what’s happening?” I ask.

  “I agree,” he swallows, as if he’s choking on his words.

  Eris smiles sweetly and then turns to walk away.

  “Wait, what’s happening?” I call out to her.

  She laughs.

  “I’m leaving you now, but I’ll see you again soon.” She winks at me then turns to walk into the thick trees beside the garden. Within seconds she’s gone.

  I go to Adam and he looks away from me. He’s acting so strange.

  “What was that about?” I ask.

  I reach out to him, but he waves my hand away.

  Suddenly, a new thought develops in my mind. If my grandfather is supposed to be this great blocker, how the hell did she find me? There could only be one answer to that question.

  “Adam, I have to go check on my grandfather. I think he might be hurt. Stay here, okay? I’ll be right back. Don’t move from this spot!”

  “Mage, I need to go,” he replies hoarsely.

  “No! Just stay here or come with me. Don’t leave yet, I want to make sure you’re safe in case she comes back.”

  “She’s not coming back,” he says.

  He won’t even look at me.

  “Just don’t move a muscle—I’ll be right back, okay?”

  He doesn’t respond and I begin to panic.

  I have to trust Adam to stay put because right now I have to check on my grandfather. He’s the only family I have left. I turn and run towards the house. Sire’s right behind me. I can hear his large paws tearing through the grass and dirt. I run faster than I’ve ever ran in my life. My heart’s racing.

  I barrel through the front door and immediately call for my grandfather—there’s no answer. Taking the stairs two at a time I crash into his room without knocking—he’s not there. I search every room upstairs, and then check every room downstairs. He’s not in the house anywhere.

  The panic is controlling my every move. I run back outside through the front door yelling for him. Jumping down from the front porch, I land at a run. Sire’s on my heels.

  I finally find him in one of the newer gardens—his favorite. He’s perched on an old iron bench with a happy smile on his face. Beside him my grandmother’s smiling as well. Relief runs through me and then suddenly I notice the difference. My grandmother and grandfather are holding hands. His ice blue eyes are now gray.

  I fall to my knees as I cover my face with my hands. The scent of rain assaults my nose and I feel the rain against my arms as it starts to fall. My tears begin to flow unheeded. Thunder rings out when I cry harder.

  I can’t lose him; he’s the only family I have left. But he’s gone—died alone without me by his side. I didn’t know he was that sick! I didn’t see this coming! What kind of person doesn’t notice a man dying in the room down the hall?

  “No! Pop, No! You can’t be dead!” I hear myself cry. “Please, tell me this isn’t real! Oh God, this isn’t real!” I sob.

  My grandfather’s dead. A fact that’s confirmed the minute I see his lifeless body on the ground. My grandparents smile sadly, and then disappear.

  “Please, don’t leave me,” I cry into my hands.

  Chapter 14

  All Good Things End

  The walk back to the garden takes longer than usual. The weather that was so sunny and bright has now developed into a horrible thunderstorm. The harder I cry for my grandfather, the harder it thunders and rains. The tears continue to stream down my face as I walk through the pouring rain soaked to the bone.

  I don’t care. I need to get to Adam. I need him to hold me and tell me that everything’s going to be okay. He and Bernie are my last human connections and I need some kind of connection to hold me to the earth because I feel like I’m going to disappear.

  I see him through the rain standing against part of the iron fence that had recently been transformed. I try to smile through my tears as I walk up to him. When I get close enough I throw my arms around him—I feel safe again. I lean against him, breathing in all that he is and letting his scent calm me from my craziness.

  The rain hides my tears and I can’t bring myself to tell him that my grandfather’s dead. I’d explain everything later, but right now I just need him to be there.

  “I’m so glad you’re here. I need you,” I say against his chest in a moment of weakness.

  I’d never be so open with my feelings any other time, but the idea that everyone around me might be taken away at the drop of a hat makes it easier. Plus, things are different now. Adam and I are close enough that I don’t feel like he’ll run at the first signs of emotional attachment.

  His body tenses instantly and his breathing seems to stop. I look up into his face, something’s different, something’s wrong.

  “What is it?” I ask.

  The look on his face is unreadable. I’ve never seen so many facial expressions on one person at once. I see hate, pain, sorrow, and grief. A flicker of some foreign emotion flashes in his eyes and for a brief moment he looks like a man who’s miserably in love. But as quickly as it comes, it’s gone and his mask of indifference returns. It’s as if a big, black door is slammed in my face and all that’s left is the enigma that he used to be. I can’t explain it, but in my soul I know things are about to get a lot worse.

  “I can’t do this anymore, Mage,” he narrows his eyes and looks away.

  He doesn’t need to say anything else. Part of me understands. His life’s been full of chaos since the day he met me. The burden that he carries for me is too much, and I can’t expect him to carry it forever.

  The other part of me doesn’t want to be understanding; the other part is slowly dying inside. I curse myself for allowing myself to get this close to another human being. How could I have been so naïve? I curse myself for falling in love with him since I now know that that’s what’s happened. Even against my better judgment, I’ve allowed myself to fall hard for the untouchable.

  My chest constricts with hard emotions as I stand there staring back at him.

  “Why?” I ask.

  Why bother to ask? I already know why. I make his life a living hell! These stupid powers make me different. These stupid things I can do make it impossible for me to be loved. I’m just fun to watch. It’s fascinating for him to watch me do bizarre things. But now that it’s getting dangerous he’s going to walk away and once he walks away I’ll be all alone in the world.

  “Stay away from me,” he says.

  He doesn’t flinch and it lets me know that all the times we’d spent together meant nothing to him. I mean nothing to him.

  “What?”

  “If I don’t stay away from you, they’ll kill you,” his wall breaks for a second and I see raw pain in his eyes.

  This isn’t what I expected. He’s leaving me alone to keep me safe? How sick is that?

  “Who? What are you talking about?”

  “She showed me, if I don’t leave you alone she showed me all the horrible things they’re going to do to you. I can’t let that happen. I won’t!”

  His eyes fill with tears and he angrily wipes at his face with the back of his arm. I step towards him to comfort him. He steps back quickly and holds his arm out to block me.

  “No! Don’t touch me! Just stay away.”

  “Who are they, Adam? Tell me who they are?”

  “I don’t know!” he growls loudly. “That woman and two men—The Lords of the Night or something like
that!”

  “What do you mean she showed you? When?”

  “I don’t know!” he yells at me and I flinch. “She put it in my head! I don’t know how she did it, but I have to leave you alone or they’ll kill you. I agreed to stay away from you, Mage, and it’s what I’m going to do. I could never forgive myself if something happened to you.”

  “Adam, please stop this! We just have to figure out what to do. As long as I can keep you safe it doesn’t matter. I can take care of myself. You just saw with your own two eyes what I can do. My fire’s better than hers, it’s more powerful. I don’t know how, but if we could just dig through the library a bit we could get the answers. Please…I need you.”

  “No,” he says with finality.

  He looks away like he can’t stand to look at my face anymore.

  My heart’s hammering wildly and my choked sobs are beginning to smother me. I reach up, grabbing his face forcing him to look at me.

  “But, I thought...” I can’t even say the words.

  He eyes are hard, green jewels of hatred. “You thought what? That I cared about you? You thought because I bought you a necklace and we spent time together, that this was forever?” his deep sarcastic chuckle cuts my heart.

  He won’t look me in the eye, I’m not even worthy of eye contact anymore.

  “I thought we were in this together,” my voice breaks through my dry sadness.

  “No, you’re in this. I’m just a guy…a normal guy. I can’t defend you against these people. Do you know what that feels like?” his voice cracks. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to not be able to protect a person you care about? I’m useless to you!” he growls.

  I think I’m going to be sick. My stomach is churning and I feel hot all over. Adam’s telling me that he “cares” about me and that he never wants to see me again in the same sentence. This is really happening, I’m about to lose everyone that I love in the matter of a day.

  I close my eyes and try to shield myself from the extreme wave of dizziness that’s consuming me. I need to hear him say it! My heart is begging to hear him say it!