Bitten (The Wiccan Way Book 7)

by Nicole Coverdale

“I know you won’t.”

  Jax nodded turning and disappearing from the underworld.

  So, I guess this is where she puts everything Talia taught her to good use, right? Jasmine wondered, walking forward, the ground underneath her switching, and she turned, staring across the campus at Jax.

  “I can’t believe I’m here!” Jax cried, gripping the books in her hands and racing up the steps. “I can’t wait to get to class. To learn all about science. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted. I want to be a scientist!”

  Jasmine smiled. “Oh, she’s so smart! I would have loved hanging out with her!”

  “Whoa there!”

  Jax bumped into a blonde-haired man, yelping, as she stumbled back.

  “Oh my goodness! I am so sorry!”

  Jasmine smiled, watching him, as he caught her before she fell. “Oh, it’s Matthew! He’s so charming… and cute!”

  “No. I’m the one who’s sorry,” Jax said, kneeling to pick up her books. “It’s my first day, and I’m a little scattered.”

  “Do you need help getting to your class?”

  Jax shook her head. “No. I got it. Thank you…” She paused, glancing over her shoulder at him.

  “Matthew.” He held out a hand.

  “Matthew.” She smiled, placing her hand in his. “I’m Jax.”

  “A lovely name,” Matthew said, helping her to her feet. “You know what, I’ve got a few minutes. Why don’t you and I go and get something to eat. You can tell me everything about you.”

  “I’d like that.”

  Jasmine smiled, following them as they walked down the halls, talking about stuff that didn’t even matter. Watching, as Matthew bought her a sandwich, continuing through their first date, and the proposal. She really did fall for him, didn’t she?

  “Jax, you disappoint me,” Talia said, shaking her head, as she glanced over her shoulder at Jax. “You were supposed to go to college. Find nice, little girls to bring to me, for the sacrifices. Now, you’re getting married? It’s crazy!” She shook her head. “I guess there’s only one thing left to do. Vampires!”

  Vampires walked into the room, grabbing Jax by the arms.

  “Tie her down!”

  “What? No! Mom!”

  “You disappointed me for the last time, Jax,” Talia said, turning away. “ Now, you will have no choice but to obey me, when I take your humanity from you.”

  The vampires threw her down on the metal bed, tying her arms down.

  “Now feast!”

  The vampires lunged forward, their fangs seeping into her skin.

  “No!”

  Jasmine cringed, turning away, then her eyes widened, when she saw the werewolf walk into the room. “What…”

  “Want a piece of her?” Talia asked. “A bite from a werewolf and a bite from a vampire will be enough to take her humanity from her, and it will be the ultimate piece of the puzzle to break our curse. That is, once I get all the other ingredients I need.”

  “It would be my pleasure,” the werewolf said, lunging forward. He knocked the vampires to the ground, turning, and sinking his teeth into Jax’s body. “Oh, the power!”

  “Mom! Please! Help me!”

  Talia didn’t even give Jax a look, instead turned, and disappeared out the door.

  “Oh, you little…” Jasmine pressed her lips together to keep silent, turning and disappearing through another door. This time, appearing in a church.

  “Where is she?” Matthew asked, glancing down at his watch, adjusting his tie. “She should be here by now.”

  “Maybe she’s having issues with her gown.”

  “Or her vows?”

  “I’m sure she’ll be here.”

  “Oh. It’s her wedding!” Jasmine cried, staring at Matthew. Oh, he’s so handsome! She smiled, staring at him as he stood at the altar, the groomsmen trying their best to calm him, then she froze.

  Wait. Hadn’t Sky said to find Jax when she was the most vulnerable? When she was the most reachable? Was this it?

  It had to be!

  She turned, hurrying down the aisle, and disappearing into the room on her left. She paused in front of the bridal room, lifting her hand and knocking on the door.

  “Who is it?”

  She shoved the door open, peeking inside and staring at Jax. Her breath caught, as she stared at her sister, dressed in a white, lacey dress as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. “Oh, Jax, you look stunning.”

  “Thank you,” Jax said, glancing over her shoulder, surprise washing over her face. “Wait. Who are you? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

  “You’re right, you haven’t,” Jasmine said, as she closed the door behind her. “But we will, in the future when you try to kill me and my sisters.”

  “I would never…”

  “But you do,” Jasmine told her. “Because of Talia.” She crossed to the room, standing just behind Jax. “Jax, you don’t know this, and you might not believe it, but I’m your sister, Jasmine, and you have four other sisters too. Josslyn, Jade, Julie, and Jorja. We were separated when you were just a baby. My Mom, she thought she miscarried, but when you were sent up to heavens they rejected you and instead, you were brought up within the underworld.” She reached for the veil sitting on the chair behind her. “Talia taught you that we were evil. That we needed to be punished. We’re not evil, Jax. We’re your family, and we will always stand by you no matter what.” She walked forward, fitting the veil over Jax’s head. “Your life was taken from you, before it was even started, Jax, and that’s not your fault. It’s because of a God. Of Talia. They took the decision out of your hands, and instead, you grew up thinking the demons were your family when you could have grown up with your sisters.”

  “You make it sound as if you wouldn’t have been a part of that.”

  Jasmine smiled tightly. “That’s a story for another time. Right now, you have a man out there who’s waiting for you. A wonderful man who loves you, who cares for you, and who is ready to give you a great future. Don’t let that pass you up. No matter what Talia says.”

  “But how can I build a future based on lies?” Jax whispered. “He doesn’t know who I really am, Jasmine. He doesn’t know where I come from. What I’ve done, and I always feel so empty.” She pointed to herself. “Why can’t I feel anything?”

  “Because you don’t have your soul. Talia took it from you, but we can get it back for you, Jax,” Jasmine whispered, taking Jax’s hands in hers and squeezing. “You just need to trust me. To trust us. Come back to us, Jax. Come back to our family.”

  She dropped her hands from Jax, smiling as she stared at her sister. “But you need to want it as much as we do, Jax. You need, to be willing to let yourself live. To let yourself love. To open yourself to us. Only then can we save you.”

  She blinked, disappearing from sight.

  ***

  “Jasmine? Jasmine, can you hear me?”

  “Yeah. I can hear you,” Jasmine muttered, opening her eyes and staring into Sky’s familiar, handsome face. “It was me,” she whispered, as he helped her sit up. “I was chosen to go into the shadow world. I got to talk to Jax.”

  “What was she like?” Jade asked, leaning forward, her eyes bright with interest.

  “Oh, she’s so smart! And brave!” Jasmine cried. “But she’s so uncertain, it breaks my heart. Talia. She never treated her right. She never treated her like a daughter. She was just another lackey to her. A slave. A means to an end. And Liam…”

  “What about Liam?”

  “He’s the reason for all of this!” Jasmine cried, her eyes flashing with anger. “He’s the one who rejected her in the heavens!”

  “You know, somehow, that does not surprise me,” Jorja said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “I hate that damned God.”

  “Something we can all agree on,” Sky said, squeezing Jasmine’s hand. “Jasmine, what did you say to her? Did you get through to her?”

  “I hope so,” Jasmine whisp
ered. “I talked to her on her wedding day.”

  “Ooh! That had to have been something special!” Stella cried, clapping her hands together. “I love weddings! Maybe one of these days…”

  A rush of wind whipped through the room, interrupting her. A moment later, a bottle dropped down in front of Jasmine. “Wait. Is that…”

  “It’s her soul,” Sky said, grinning as he pulled her close, brushing a kiss across her lips. “You did it, Babe! You convinced her to come home. Now, there’s just one last thing left to do.”

  “Kill the queen,” Jorja and Jade said in unison.

  “And get to Josslyn, before it’s too late,” Sky added. He glanced over his shoulder at Stella. “I’ll see you soon.”

  A moment later they were gone.

  “What a world,” Stella whispered, as she blew out the candles, shaking her head. “But it is all is pretty damned cool!”

  Chapter 34

  “I forgot how freaky this place is,” Caleb said, turning and staring off across the underworld, scowling at the lava rolling underneath him. “Where are we going?”

  “To the great hall,” Elijah said, leading them down the pathway, and up the stairs.

  “You sure know your way around this place,” Matthew muttered.

  “He should,” Ashwin muttered underneath his breath. “He, after all, is the leader of the underworld.”

  “Was almost the leader of the underworld,” Elijah corrected him. “I was never officially coordinated, remember? I’ve only told you this a million times!”

  “Shh!”

  Caleb grabbed Elijah by the arm, pulling him back. “Look. Vampires!”

  “They’re just as scary, as the ones in the house,” Jami said, shivering. “How did I talk you guys into letting me come down here. The last time I was down here, I nearly died!”

  “Yeah. I know. I’m sorry,” Elijah said, glancing over at Jami. “I really am.”

  “Wait.” Caleb glanced from Elijah to Jami. “You nearly killed her?”

  “Yup,” Jami said. “Nearly sacrificed me and Jessi, just to become the leader of the underworld.” She narrowed her eyes on him. “Some Dad you are.”

  “Whoa. You’re her father!” Caleb’s eyes widened. “With who?”

  “Josslyn.”

  Caleb’s eyes widened. “Whoa. That is seriously messed up!”

  “You have no idea,” Ashwin said, his lip curling. “Since he’s now married to Julie.”

  “What!”

  Matthew laughed. “I’m glad I’m not the only one freaking out about that.”

  “How about we keep on task,” Ashwin said. “Come on. It looks like it’s clear.” He gestured them forward. “Let’s go!”

  “Hey! Did you hear what’s happening?” one of the vampires asked, from above them. They paused, glancing above them.

  “They got a witch.”

  “Not just any witch! Jax’s twin! The curse is going to be broken. Just as soon as the full moon rises, and the blood is drained from Josslyn.”

  “Oh no.”

  “We have to go!”

  Caleb motioned them forward, and they all raced forward, hunkering behind the rocks. Watching as the vampire and werewolf sucked the blood from Josslyn.

  “We need a distraction!” Ashwin whispered, glancing at Elijah. “Think you can summon enough firepower.”

  “I can sure as hell try,” Elijah whispered back, closing his eyes. He closed his eyes, holding his hands just inches apart, a large fireball appearing in his hands. He flung it forward.

  “Fire! Fire!”

  The vampires came to attention, and Matthew struck his hand out. A staff appeared in his hand, and he lunged forward, racing toward the vampires. “Hiya!” He jabbed the stick forward, knocking one of the vampires back. He spun on his heel, raising the staff, and jabbing the wood end of the stick forward. It sliced through the chest of the vampire, his body disappearing in a cloud of dust.

  “Ashwin, come on!”

  Elijah jumped to his feet, rushing forward. He slung his hand forward, fireballs flying through the air.

  “You really think I’m going to sit this one out?” Ashwin asked, racing after his brother. He raced around the room at lightning-fast speed, racing around two vampires, grabbing them by the hair, and slamming their head together.

  “Alana! We have to go!” Talia shouted, grabbing Alana by the arm. “They’ll kill us!”

  “But the curse!”

  “Screw the curse! I can’t be exiled again, or worse! Come on!”

  They disappeared around the corner.

  “Jami, come on!” Caleb grabbed Jami by the arm, his eyes flashing a bright yellow. He raised his head, staring at the night sky through the opening above him, watching as the moon rose high in the sky. “It’s showtime.” He glanced at Jami. “I’m going to transform, Jami, but just so you know, I am in total control.”

  He dropped his hand from her arm, dropping to the ground. His body shook, the shirt ripping from his body, and a moment later a large, black wolf was standing in front of her.

  “Whoa. That’s so cool!” Jami cried as she raced toward the table. She slid to a stop, as the werewolf swung toward her. “Ah. Caleb?”

  “Grr!”

  Caleb turned, racing forward and lunging forward. His large body pouncing on the werewolf and knocking him to the ground.

  “You traitor!” the werewolf shouted, his large paws wrapping around Caleb and shoving him away. “I’ll tear you to shreds for what you’ve done to my family!”

  The two wolves circled one another, and they lunged. Jami winced, watching as they yipped at one another. Caleb went in for a bite, but the werewolf quickly dodged it, instead sending a vicious bite toward Caleb.

  “Caleb!”

  “Well, hello there, sweet thing,” the vampire said, lifting his head, from where he was feeding off of Josslyn. “Hmm. You might be tasty.” He pushed away from the table, stalking toward her. “Come here, pretty, little girl.”

  “Jami, get away from him!”

  A flash of electricity it up the room, and Jami blinked, staring at Jade as she appeared before her. “Jade!”

  “Get away from here, you freak!” Jade shouted, tossing a ball of electricity toward the vampire, warding him off. “Julie, think you got control of your hormones?”

  “Absolutely!” Julie cried, holding her hand out, and blowing her breath across her palm. Flames danced across her hand, flying through the air, and singing the vampire to dust.

  “Jami! Go!”

  Jami nodded, turning and racing around the table. She rolled up her sleeves, staring down at Josslyn, and blew out a long breath. “Okay, Jami. You got this. You can do this.” She lifted her hands, laying them over Josslyn, a yellow light illuminating from her hands.

  “Ah, guys, it’s not working!”

  “What?”

  “I… I’ve lost too much blood, Jami,” Josslyn whispered, as she gasped for breath. “You can’t save me.”

  “Like hell, we can’t!” Jade cried. She tossed the vampire to the ground, racing toward the table. She wrapped her hand around the knife laying on the table behind her, slicing it down her arm.

  “Jade! No!”

  “I have to,” Jade said, her eyes connecting with Ashwin’s across the room. “She’s my sister. I have to do everything I can to save her.” She leaned forward. “Now Josslyn, I need you to listen to me. You have to drink, okay? It’s the only thing that’s going to save you. Now drink!

  Josslyn nodded. She lifted her head, biting Jade’s arm, and suckling.

  “Jami, you have to do it now,” Jade whispered, clenching her hands around the table, as Josslyn sucked the blood from her. “Before…”

  “I know.” Jami lifted her hands once more, yellow light illuminating from her hands and spreading over Josslyn’s body, her wounds healing almost immediately.

  “Joss…” Jade gasped, her legs shaking, and she tumbled back.

  “Jade!”

 
; Ashwin rushed forward, wrapping his arms around her before she fell. “I got you,” he whispered, brushing her hair away from her face. “How are you feeling?”

  “A little woozy,” Jade whispered, lifting her head, and staring at Josslyn. “But so worth it.”

  “Are you bloody stupid?” Josslyn asked as Jami removed the ropes tying her down, and sitting up on the table. “You could have died… or worse! Do you know how bad it would have been if they had turned me into a vampire? Or a werewolf. You would be one too!”

  “They fed on you, Joss. You didn’t feed on them. Remember, it’s a whole sucking fest to becoming a vampire. A werewolf… well, that’s a whole other story. Trust me, we will be keeping an eye on you.” She laughed. “But you are lucky that I’m the only universal donor in our family. Just say thank you.”

  “Thank you, Jade,” Josslyn said, turning her head. “Elijah, watch out!” She flung her hands, icicles zinging from her hands, and slicing through the necks of the two vampires closing in on Elijah.

  “Gee. Thanks, Joss!” Elijah shouted. “You only saved my head… again!”

  “And I’m going to start keeping count,” Josslyn said, jumping off the table. “Now, where are those bitches?”

  “Which ones?”

  “All of them!”

  Josslyn strode across the room, hunkering down in front of Caleb, as he stood over the dead werewolf, cupping his big head in her hands. “Well, you said we’d meet again,” she whispered. “And I should have known you’d be a handsome wolf.” She leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his nose. “Thank you for coming to my rescue.”

  “How could I do anything else?” Caleb asked as he returned to his human form. “You’re the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on, and I would love nothing more than to take you out on a date.”

  “How about we talk about that after we take care of Talia,” Josslyn said. “Julie. Elijah. Can you please take care of that damned potion!”

  “Absolutely.”

  Julie and Elijah linked hands, turning toward the cauldron. They struck their hands forward, a large flame spreading from their palms and striking the cauldron.

  “Potion be gone,” Josslyn said, nodding. “Did you guys do what you needed to do?” she asked, glancing over at Jade.