by R. L. Perez
“Magic above, hear my call,
Stop this demon from changing form.”
Something shifted in the air, and I stared at her, momentarily frozen.
Then, I realized what was different—the spell was in Spanish.
Blue magic poured from her fingertips and wrapped around me, suffocating me with the nauseating scent of jasmine and vanilla. It stung my nostrils, and I coughed. The shadows around me swirled angrily, but then the blue enchantment engulfed me. My shadows diminished, receding as if retreating from an enemy.
Coward, I told my magic. I tried shifting, but nothing happened.
Seething, I glanced at Brielle, who wore a triumphant smirk on her face.
My blood roared. My fangs emerged, and I hissed at her.
Brief alarm registered on her face, but when I lunged, she tumbled backward instinctively. I grabbed for her again, but she dodged. I summoned my shadows without thinking, and nothing happened. Then, I remembered my predicament, and fury filled me again.
We were both on our feet. Brielle sidestepped my movements easily, and the arrogance in her expression was so familiar to me.
It mirrored my own.
She had goaded me. I had fallen right into her trap. The smugness in her face was like a slap. It jolted me. Awakened me to how juvenile I was behaving.
I hadn’t realized I was hunched over until a solid realization hit me. I gradually relaxed my posture and withdrew my fangs. Clearing my throat, I smoothed my ruffled hair.
But Brielle was unconvinced. She crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows. “Not fun being ‘bested,’ is it?”
A low growl rumbled in my throat, and I drew closer to her. “You forget yourself, Little Nightmare. You don’t want to make an enemy of me.”
Brielle scoffed. “We were enemies the instant you attacked me in the armory.”
Well, that was true.
Familiar scents wafted behind me. I didn’t need to turn to know Guadalupe and Miguel were close by, ready to assist their leader. I lifted a hand to hold them off. I didn’t need help.
What kind of leader would I be if I couldn’t handle this petite girl with no magic?
I grinned at her. “You’re a worthy foe, Little Nightmare.”
Her blood pounded in response to the irritating nickname, and I laughed at the indignation in her expression.
She attacked again, swiping her blade so it nicked the skin of my neck. I hissed, jumping backward in alarm.
Trust your instincts, I told myself. I couldn’t shift, but I was still a fighter.
Brielle swung her fists. I ducked, then jumped. I tackled her from below her waist, and we collapsed to the ground. Her arms flailed, but I pinned them down, pressing my hips against hers to hold her in place.
“Get off me!” she grunted, still thrashing against my grip.
“Not until you yield.”
“Never. You’ll have to suck me dry.”
I chuckled. “Don’t tempt me, Little Nightmare.”
“Go ahead!” she spat, glancing behind me. “Go ahead and drain an unwilling victim in front of your coven.”
I stilled. Something in my chest rang from her words.
She leaned her face closer to mine. “Do it,” she hissed.
I stared at her. Her labored breaths tickled my face, and her scent overwhelmed me. She smelled like the sea after a storm. Her panting made my stomach clench. She caught her lower lip between her teeth, and the beast within me rumbled. I was suddenly aware of the contours of her soft body pressed against mine. I felt the rapid beating of her heart, the heat rising in her cheeks at our proximity.
I leaned closer. And she did too.
Then, a burst of magic tickled the air. I stiffened, raising my head. A sudden fierce wind stirred the leaves in the trees, hissing against the forest. The wind intensified, spinning like a cyclone and tousling my hair. Shouts of alarm echoed behind me.
I jumped to my feet and helped Brielle up, our quarrel forgotten. The wind surged, stinging my eyes and pushing against me. I staggered, clinging to Brielle’s hand as we struggled to return to the shelter of the caves.
Then, lightning crackled in the sky. A burst of white light consumed the forest. I cried out, shielding my face from the burn of the light.
Three figures materialized in front of us. The storm subsided, and the lightning died. Gradually, my vision returned, and I squinted at the visitors. A blond man stood next to a woman with dark, curly hair streaked with gray. A girl stood beside them, about Brielle’s age, with black hair and bronze skin.
Alarm raced through me, but I heard Brielle suck in a sharp gasp, staggering backward in shock. Her wide eyes drifted over the three visitors, her face slack with disbelief.
“Who are you?” I demanded loudly. I had the sudden urge to draw Brielle close to me, but I ignored it.
Brielle answered my question. Her voice was a hushed whisper. “They . . . they’re my family.”
36
Brielle
I FELT LIKE I WAS DREAMING—BECAUSE that was the only time I saw my family. When I wasn’t cursed with nightmares of fire and devastation, my parents’ and sister’s faces often swam in my head, taunting me. Reminding me I would never see them again.
Yet here they were.
They wore traveling cloaks and leather trousers like they belonged in this time period. Their faces were worn and haggard, and Dad had a strange burn on one side of his face that had scabbed over.
They glanced at each of the vampires who had gathered at the cave entrance to investigate the disturbance. Mom’s face was pale as her eyes quickly flitted from each face until they finally settled on mine. Our gazes locked, and my heart lurched in my chest as if finally realizing this was real. This wasn’t a dream.
“Mom,” I said, my voice breaking.
“Brie!” She surged forward, and several vampires lunged, including Leo. Mom threw her arms out, and two vampires soared backward from her Telekinetic magic.
“Take her!” Leo roared.
“No, wait!” I shouted, raising my hands.
Dad summoned a ball of fire in his palm, his expression fierce. Angel drew two blades from her belt, her jaw rigid and her teeth clenched. I almost staggered back a step in shock. I’d never seen her fight in my entire life. But here she was, standing battle-ready with a fierceness in her face that made her unrecognizable.
Shadows swirled around me. The vampires growled and hissed as they moved toward my family.
I had to do something.
I yanked my arm free of Leo’s grip and lifted my hands before uttering a spell.
“Magic above and powers that be,
Freeze the vampires next to me!”
Blue magic poured from my fingertips and engulfed the coven surrounding me. Several pairs of dark eyes fixed on me with shock and anger. But I ignored them and weaved through the array of frozen bodies before rushing toward my family.
Mom opened her arms, her face streaming with tears. I fell into her embrace, and something within me shattered. Like the tiny bit of resolve I’d had left was finally gone. Seeing them here had broken me, destroying the thick, defensive wall I’d built in my heart. My face crumpled as Mom’s familiar sweet scent filled my nose. Tears stung my eyes, and I pressed my face into her shoulder. Her arms circled around me in a warm embrace.
“Oh, Brie,” she sobbed, stroking my hair. She drew back to look me over, her eyes rimmed with red. “You . . . you’ve lost so much weight.” Concern filled her eyes as she cupped my face in her hands. Her brows knitted together. She scrutinized me, no doubt seeing darkness in my face that hadn’t been there before. “What happened to you?”
“What happened to you?” I shouted, glancing at Dad and Angel behind her. Angel’s eyes were filled with tears. Dad looked at me briefly before returning his gaze to the coven behind us.
“Careful!” Dad said sharply.
An agonized shout echoed from behind me. I recognized it immediately. Leo.
&nb
sp; I whirled as Leo broke free of my enchantment and shifted into bat form, flitting straight for us. I faced him head-on, blocking his path to my family.
“Leo, stop!” I shouted, lifting a hand. “Don’t make me cast another spell. You know I will.”
The bat hovered in front of me for a moment, and I could almost feel the anger radiating from him. Then, he shifted again, his silver eyes gleaming. He crossed his arms, his gaze roving over Mom, Dad, and Angel. “Who are they?” he demanded.
“My family,” I said again slowly.
Leo glared at me. “Yes, but I don’t know who your family is. I don’t even know you, Brielle. What are they doing here?” He glanced behind them. “Were they followed? Did the Count send them?”
“No one sent us,” Dad growled, stepping toward Leo. A ball of fire still swirled in Dad’s hand. “We came looking for our daughter. She was thrown into a magical portal months ago, and we haven’t heard from her since. Now we know why.” His eyes blazed as he stared at Leo, nostrils flaring.
“Dad, no,” I said quickly. “It wasn’t Leo’s fault. It—Lilith, it’s a long story.” I glanced at Leo. “Is there somewhere I can speak with them privately—to explain everything?”
Leo’s jaw tightened, his face a mask of fury. I knew what his answer would be.
“Please,” I begged, my voice cracking. “We’ll go deep into the forest, away from your coven if that’s what you’re worried about.” I stepped closer to him. “They’re my family, Leo.” I widened my eyes at him, knowing how close he’d been with his brother and sister. What if they’d shown up here out of the blue?
He seemed to read the implication in my eyes, and something stirred in his gaze. His face softened but then quickly wiped clean, as if he hadn’t meant to reveal that tenderness. Waving a hand, he muttered, “Very well. Half a mile east. When you’re finished, Brielle, you return alone. I’ll send my men to ensure they aren’t a threat.”
Relief filled me, followed instantly by indignation. “You didn’t seem all that threatened when I showed up here.”
Leo’s gaze fixed on me, and that infuriating smirk spread across his lips. “You were no threat, Little Nightmare.”
I clenched my fingers into fists. A soft chuckle sounded behind me. I glanced over my shoulder and found Angel fighting a smile. Rolling my eyes, I relaxed my hands, my anger vanishing instantly.
I exhaled. “Thank you, Leo.”
His eyes glinted as if he’d known how irritating he was being. He waved a hand at the vampires behind him, and they followed him back inside the cave. All except Jorge, who remained a moment longer to stare at me, his expression full of suspicion. His dark eyes speared through me, conveying a solid threat.
I stared him down, unflinching. He could glare at me all he liked. I wasn’t backing down.
Slowly, he turned and disappeared into the cave. I released a breath, my body sagging slightly and my eyes stinging with exhaustion. I turned and caught a glimpse of my dad’s brown shirt and gold hair before he enveloped me in a tight embrace. Angel wrapped her arms around my other side, half laughing and half sobbing. I felt Mom’s fingers on my shoulders as she joined in too. For a long moment, the four of us clutched each other desperately, clinging to the sweetness of our reunion.
WE WALKED THROUGH THE forest hand-in-hand, our steps slow and precise. We weren’t in any rush. I felt safe with them next to me, and it was nice to enjoy the quiet solitude of the forest together. It was like we were taking a family hike.
After half an hour of walking, I said, “Here is fine.” I collapsed, propping my back against an oak tree and resting my head against the trunk. My eyes closed for a moment. I smelled Angel’s raspberry scent as she sat next to me. Something different mingled with her smell—like roasted peanuts. And charcoal.
I opened one eye and found my parents sitting cross-legged in front of us. My eyes rested on Dad’s new scar.
“What happened to you all?” I asked, leaning forward slightly. “How did you get here?”
“Your mother feared the worst when we never heard from you,” Dad said gravely. “We tried your cell, but it was dead. We reached out to every contact we had at the Council. No one could provide us with any information.”
I waited for more, but Dad fell silent. Something dark stirred in his eyes, and he exchanged a meaningful glance with Mom.
I straightened. “What is it? Just tell me.”
Dad’s face went rigid, and Mom jumped in instead. “You have to understand how desperate we were, Brie. It had been six months. We hadn’t heard from you. For all we knew, Solano had sent someone to have you killed. We would’ve done anything—and I mean anything—to get you back.”
The way Mom’s voice emphasized “anything” made my heart twist with apprehension. What did they do? Though fear raced through my heart, I wasn’t afraid of what they’d done; I was afraid of what they’d left behind. Had they ruined their lives in Miami just to find me here?
I shook my head. “Whatever it is, you can tell me. I’ve—I’ve been through a lot here, too. I’ve done terrible things.” I thought of the nightmares that plagued my dreams, the screams that sounded so real. Each time I woke with that strange euphoria it felt like I had actually killed people—and that I’d enjoyed it.
“We crossed a lot of lines, Brie,” Mom said quietly. “Your dad had to use some . . . creative methods to get his coworkers to talk.”
Creative methods. I thought of my own methods of getting Leo to talk in the castle courtyard. Swallowing, I nodded. “I understand.”
Mom and Dad shared another look. “I don’t think you do, Brie,” Dad said slowly. “I broke laws. I tortured high-ranking members of the Council. Including Solano.”
Solano. The man who had taken me away. Who had delivered me to a Jumper and sent me through a portal with no way back.
I actually didn’t feel all that bad about Solano being tortured.
I exhaled and leaned forward. “Whatever you guys did to get here—even if you killed people—I don’t care. I just need to know you have a way to get back. Please tell me you can go back.”
Mom’s eyes went wide, her brows knitting together in confusion. “Brie, what . . .? Do you want us to leave?”
“She wants to go back home, obviously,” Dad said, but his eyes were uncertain.
“Well, yes,” I said. “But that isn’t all. You—you all can’t stay here. What about Angel and her medication?”
“I haven’t had a single seizure in the months we’ve been here,” Angel said in a soft voice.
I stilled. “What? How?”
“I’ve run a few tests on her aura,” Mom said. “I suspect her condition has improved because there is less magic clouding the air. Less magic to interfere with her visions.”
“Do you think that was what caused her problem?” I asked.
Mom shrugged. “It’s just a guess. It could also have to do with the lack of technology, cell towers . . . or a smaller population . . . less pollution. But whatever it is, this time period seems to have cured her.”
Relief spread through me, but it was tainted by the dread in my heart from knowing my family was here. That they would witness the devastation at my hand. That they might die because of me.
“That isn’t all,” Angel said, reading the conflict on my face. She touched my shoulder. “Brie, what is it? Tell us.”
My throat felt tight, but I took a deep breath and told them everything. The portal that took me through time. The other casters in the castle who had problems like me. The Count and his secrets. The demons he had imprisoned. When I told them how the Count threw me in the dungeon, Dad’s face contorted with rage, his eyes filling with a darkness that chilled me to my bones. I quickly dropped my gaze, afraid if I watched their reactions then I wouldn’t have the strength to finish my story.
I finally ended by detailing my escape to Leo’s coven and our agreement to work together to cure me.
Silence filled the space between us, bro
ken only by the birds and insects lurking in the forest. I still couldn’t look at my family, but I felt the shock and horror emanating from them like radio waves.
“So you’re . . . you’re Lilith’s cursed witch,” Angel breathed in a tight voice. “It really is true?”
I nodded grimly.
“But this Leo guy says he can cure you,” Mom said quickly. “You can find a way to fight this. If anyone can fight this, it’s you, Brie.”
I shook my head. “I can’t. She already took over. The—the fire. So much fire.” I closed my eyes to ward off the incoming tears. “She’s too strong.” But remembering my conversation with Leo, I had no idea if it was Lilith who was too strong . . . or the creature within me.
I couldn’t reconcile the idea that the creature lurking inside me was innocent and deserved to take over me. No matter what Lucia believed, I couldn’t possibly accept that.
I looked at Dad and found his face sickly, his green eyes wide with realization. He shared a horrified look with my mom.
“What?” I asked, straightening. “What is it?”
“You said . . . fire?” Dad asked slowly.
“Yeah.” I glanced from Mom to Dad and then to Angel.
“It can’t be,” Mom whispered to Dad.
“Tell me!” I shouted, my heart racing frantically.
Mom blinked and looked at me. “I cast a time travel spell to get here, Brie.”
I frowned at her and shook my head. What?
“I’ve cast it before. You and I, we possess a sort of . . . genetic mark. Something that allows us to travel through time. Something that makes us Timecasters.”
“Timecasters,” I repeated numbly.
Mom nodded. “Your dad and Angel possess a similar mark, but it’s different. They can travel, too, but they’re more like Timewalkers than Timecasters.”
I shook my head, irritation prickling through me. “What the hell are you talking about, Mom?”
“Watch it,” Dad growled.
Mom leaned forward, her eyes intent. “Listen to me, Brie. I cast my first time travel spell long before you were born. I got into a whole lot of trouble for it, and I was almost imprisoned for unsanctioned time travel. I vowed never to cast it again or risk disrupting the timeline. We tore the page from the Grimoire so you two wouldn’t get any ideas.