She followed my gaze and nodded. “I went through once, not realizing what it actually was. I hightailed it out of there so fast and almost shit myself. I haven’t been game to go in since.”
“I want to go in,” I said. “As soon as this bond between us is done, I’m going in to get her back.”
A warm smile spread across her face. “I don’t think any of us would expect anything less.”
“My brothers might try to stop me. They’re kinda over protective. Well, at least my older brother, Finn, is.”
“Are they all your brothers?”
“Biologically only Finn and Mason. But Kade is the brother from another mother so to speak.”
She laughed. “I never get tired of hearing that one. And Max?”
“Well, I don’t kiss my brothers on their lips.”
“Eww. Of course not. I was just asking how he fits into it. Did you know him before you found the Society?”
I shook my head. “Max was a hunter when I came in. He helped me discover I was a descendant.” I left out the part about our earlier issues. It was time I started forgetting the past.
“What about you?” I asked. “Any boyfriend—or girlfriend?”
“Unfortunately not. My last boyfriend didn’t fit into this world, didn’t understand the sacrifices I had to make. But it’s for the best. I want someone I can share every aspect of my life with. Someone who will get it.”
Max got me, and I understood how important it was.
“I’m guessing you know how to place a protection spell around you?”
“Of course.”
For the first time since learning how to do the spell, I focused on drawing the life from the earth and trees, not actually the earth itself. I knew there was another form I could draw on—death. But I wasn’t sure what or how I could use it to my advantage.
Satisfied I would remain undetected to any witch searching for me, I stepped over the threshold and into the woods, trying to ignore the ever-changing veil between our world and the demon’s.
Almira broke into a run, and I took off after her. She was as fast as I would expect a descendant to be, and the smile on her face made me realize just how at peace she was when her heart was pounding, feet thumping against the ground, propelling herself through the air like no human could. She was free—just like I was.
We were on our way home when my phone buzzed. I halted, my heart hammering, not from the run but with anticipation as I pulled my phone out of the hidden pocket in my shorts.
It was Ashley. Cast is coming off at 3:15 today. Will be finished by 4. Meet me then.
I showed the message to Almira. “This is it.”
She raised her gaze to meet mine. “We need to get back—fast.”
And fast we did. We took off, the trees a blur as we raced back to the village to alert the others.
We made it in a few minutes. It would’ve been quicker if we didn’t need to wind our way back up to the top of the gully. We could jump high, but apparently not that high.
Barely breaking a sweat, we threw the door open to the library, startling everyone inside. “Ash messaged me,” I said. “We need to be at the hospital by four.”
Everyone remained still for a moment, and then they jumped to their feet, discarding their books where they’d sat.
We found the others, then got prepared. The four of us descendants had to share the three vampires. So as to not kill any, I let the girls feed first. Then I took a bit from each of the three, their blood mixing together inside of me like a cocktail.
Next, we headed to the armory to load ourselves discreetly with weapons, packing a few extra just in case we didn’t have time to come back here before going after the demonic huntress.
Nessa gathered the ingredients we needed to make the trap, ready to add the final ingredient before we lay it into place.
I was just about to walk out the door when my father stood in the doorway, stopping me. “Dad,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.
29
He ran his hand over the salt-and-pepper stubble on his jaw. “Can I talk to you for a moment?”
“I don’t have time. We need to leave.” I waited for him to move, but he didn’t budge.
“It will only take a minute. I’m sure they can wait.”
I let out a harsh breath. “Fine. What is it?”
“I just wanted to tell you I’m sorry and I’m really trying this time around.”
I raised a brow. “As opposed to all the other times?”
“I know I deserve that,” he said.
I nodded. “Look, Dad. For your sake, I really hope you get yourself sorted out, but… I think too much has happened. And I need my head in the game, not thinking about…”
“Me?”
I looked at him for a moment, a pang of guilt hitting me. He had once been an amazing father, but things had changed when I needed him the most. It was almost as if we had lost both parents that day, and I had to grow up and look after Mason because Finn wasn’t around and my dad was too drunk to remember the simplest of things like making dinner or buying the groceries. Eventually, I said, “Yeah.”
He rubbed the stubble on his chin again. “I understand, and I hope one day you’ll forgive me.”
“I hope so, too, Dad.”
He moved out of the way, allowing me to pass. And just like I knew I would, I felt like absolute shit right when I needed to be on my game.
I wished I’d come across some mood-altering spell during our searches, but alas, I had not. I’d have to pull myself out of this funk on my own.
When I piled into the van and fell into my seat between Max and Finn, I knew it would be easier than I’d feared. Even though my brother annoyed the hell out of me at times, Max had a way of erasing almost all the crap that was going on in my life with nothing but his presence.
The other descendants stayed behind, readying themselves to go should the need arise. We figured it would’ve been silly to bring them all along. We needed to travel separately just in case someone from the Society spotted us talking with Ash.
By the time we arrived at the hospital, Ashley was already waiting for us—without a cast.
Finn opened the door, allowing her to climb in. The others shuffled around, leaving the seat opposite me free.
She fell into the chair and waved her arm, which was a little skinnier than the other one. Plus, it was donning some seriously dark hairs. “Got it off.”
“That’s awesome,” I said then grinned. “Now all you need is a wax.”
She laughed. “Got a spell for that?”
I shook my head. “Just a wax strip with your name on it.”
“Okay, girls,” Nessa said. “I think we have more pressing things to discuss than the unpleasant side effects of Ashley’s cast.”
“Right,” Ash said, pulling her bag onto her lap. “I spoke with Lana, who was able to find you a few items from Kyla that will help you seal the circle and perform the exorcism.”
“Who’s Kyla?” I asked.
“That’s the huntress Lana shot that night and had to try to justify her actions as a mishap.”
“Right. The demon bitch has a name.”
Ash smiled. “So, Lana was able to get a few things from Kyla’s time at the nuthouse, but you might need to clean them before you can use them.”
“How so?” Nessa asked.
Ash pulled out a ziplock bag containing bloody bandages that were covered in dirt and who knew what else. “Lana had to go through the bin for these, and she didn’t look too happy about it.”
Finn chuckled. “I bet she didn’t. That girl is a clean freak.”
Ash screwed up her face. “And she drinks this pee-looking drink with floating bits in it.”
I looked up at Max and smiled, remembering how he’d downed a whole bottle of Kombucha for me.
“It’s really not that bad,” Max said. “Depending on what tea she uses.”
Ash’s nose creased, not buying a word Max said. “
Anyway, Lana said that these should help you find her.”
“They will,” Nessa said. “Providing she doesn’t have a blocking spell on her.”
“Oh yeah,” Ash said, her eyes lighting up. “Lana told me to tell you that she swapped something out so that shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Does the demon’s magic work differently to ours, Nessa?” I asked.
She nodded. “They are not from this world, so they can’t control it the way we can. They would need something to amplify their magic—even for a descendant. Whereas we can call on the earth—or I should say, elements—to give us power. Still, there are some spells that we need other ingredients for. More so for us than the descendants.”
Ashley’s forehead creased. “That went way over my head.”
Nessa smiled. “You don’t need to worry about magic. And we thank you for your help. We really do appreciate everything you’ve done for us.”
Ash shrugged. “She’s my sister. I would do anything for her.”
My heart warmed at her words. “Right back at ya.”
Saying goodbye to her was pretty damn hard. She hugged me tightly and refused to tell me the words that were most definitely in her head. She was afraid this would be the very last time she saw me. Anything could go wrong, and she didn’t want to say goodbye.
How did I know this? Because it was the exact thing going through my mind.
“Love you,” I said. “Now go, before anyone sees us.”
“Love you, too.” She jumped out of the car and looked over her shoulder at us as she entered the mall.
A huge lump had formed in my throat, rendering me silent as we made our way home. I leaned against Max’s arm, thinking about all that could go wrong and the weight that was on our shoulders.
No matter what, I was bringing my mother home, and I was going to put that damn barrier up between our worlds so this would never happen again.
When we arrived back at the village, Liam, Parker, and a few of the witches from the other sectors were already preparing the spell needed to find Kyla and were waiting on the final ingredient.
With a sharp knife, Nessa held Kyla’s used bandage and scraped off small chunks of blood and maybe some flesh into the bowl already filled with the remainder of the ingredients.
She dipped a crystal into the liquid, and it almost seemed to absorb the concoction. Then she dropped the crystal onto the corner of a map of the world. The liquid snaked its way out of the crystal and across the map, leaving a river of Kyla’s blood mixed with who knew what in its trail.
With baited breaths, we waited for it to pinpoint Kyla’s location, hoping it wouldn’t be far from home. A sigh escaped almost everyone in the room when it stopped in Sydney.
She was still here.
As great as this was, it also sent a spike of fear through me, wondering why she was still here and what she’d been doing while we’d attacked the Society. I hated thinking about it, but I was still worried Lana was leading us into a trap. Maybe Orphelia had allowed us to escape, giving us what we thought we wanted, all the while playing right into her hands.
I thought I could trust Lana, and maybe I could, but until this was all over, I had to remain on guard.
Next, they dipped the stone into the mixture then placed it on a more detailed map of the city and the outskirts. The murky liquid once again began to move, snaking its way across the map, landing on a building near the old docks of Sydney.
“What the hell is she doing there?”
“No idea,” Nessa said. “But we better get moving.”
The other descendants and I had another quick feed before hitting the road. The other elementals had to remain out of sight, which meant traveling in a different vehicle. Finn and Nessa would need to go ahead.
Which left me alone in the car with Max and Kade.
Max’s gaze kept flicking to mine as I sat in the front passenger seat next to him.
“What?” I finally asked, sick of waiting for him to say whatever was on his mind.
“You look nervous,” he eventually said. “It’s okay to be afraid.”
Kade poked his head between our seats. “You should’ve seen me the first time I went on a hunt. I almost shit my pants. But you’ve done this before, so what is it?”
“Both of you have been sitting there thinking I’m chicken shit,” I said, twisting around so I could look them in the eyes. “I’m not afraid of her. I’m afraid of failing all of you. So much is riding on this, and I’m scared Lana has been playing us and I’m about to walk right into her trap.”
Kade shrugged. “You could be right. But you could be wrong. Whatever it is, we will be there with you.”
“I don’t think she’s screwing us,” Max said, slipping his hand over mine and giving it a squeeze. “They’ve had too many chances to take you down, and they haven’t. But Kade is right. We are here for you, and if something doesn’t feel right, then you need to get the hell out of there.”
I tilted my head back and sighed. “I wish I knew more about my element. I mean, what the hell does a spirit elemental do besides take from life and death?”
“I don’t know. But it must be just as important as the other elements,” Max said.
“Maybe even more,” Kade added. “And who knows what you’ll be able to do once you five complete the bonding ceremony?”
All too soon, we pulled up to the curb about half a mile away from Kyla’s location. I undid my seatbelt then looked at the two men before me, hoping this wasn’t going to be the last time I would see them. “I’ll see you both soon.” I gave Kade a kiss on his cheek then leaned over to Max and kissed him briefly before pulling away.
He squeezed my hand again. “Be careful, and don’t do anything stupid.”
I choked on a laugh. “You do know me, right?”
“Well, don’t do anything more stupid than normal.”
“That I can promise.” My heart ached as I got out of the car and watched them drive away.
30
Taking a pill out of the secret pocket in my pants, I popped it into my mouth and bit down, savoring the concentrated blood as it spilled out. I’d already had a feed before I left, but a little extra couldn’t do me any harm. I needed all the help I could get if we were going to pull this off like we’d planned.
I jumped onto the roof of the nearest apartment complex and scoped out the area, waiting for the stench of vampires to hit me. “Come on,” I said, getting a little impatient.
My eyes went wide as the faint smell of vampires wafted through the air, calling me. While we’d been getting ready, Finn and Liam had gone out on a little hunt of their own and had just completed the first part of our plan.
I took off toward the vampires, their scent guiding me to their location just down the road from where Kyla was supposed to be. I leaped from rooftop to rooftop, then dropped onto the street a few yards away from a group of four vampires, all bearing wounds and one hell of a monstrous appetite for the likes of me.
They whipped their heads around, their ravenous eyes landing on me, mouths twisting into hisses as they bared their fangs, ready to tear me apart.
“Hello, boys,” I said, removing a small dagger from my waistband. Not taking my eyes off them, I ran the tip of the blade down my arm, blood spilling from the wound, further igniting their desire for me.
All at once, they lunged at me, getting in each other’s way.
I sheathed the small knife, then ripped my babies off my back just as the first vampire reached me. Bringing him down, I sliced through his neck, taking his head clean off. Blood sprayed over me, sending a wave of ecstasy through me as droplets fell into my open mouth.
Barely having time to savor the taste, I let go of the hilt, changing my hold on a dagger before plunging it into the stanky vampire coming at me from the right, while at the same time slamming my foot into the vampire on my left, sending him flying into the brick wall behind him, leaving one last, very enraged vampire in my scope.
&nb
sp; Just like the animals they were, there was no tactic to their movements or their attacks. They were too driven by the blood to use their brains and come at me from all directions.
I spun to the side and plunged a dagger deep into the vampire’s heart, watching with morbid curiosity as his life simply extinguished, leaving me with yet another bountiful feast—if I had time.
The vampire who’d hit the wall slowly came to, shaking his head as he tried to focus on me. I’d obviously knocked him down hard.
Before he had time to attack, I slipped one of my babies into the sheath on my back then withdrew a throwing knife from my waist and threw it at him, hitting him in the shoulder, knocking him against the bricks, the blade too short to pin him to the wall.
Mouth opening wider than a normal human could, he let out a ferocious scream, calling for his kind to help, which was exactly what I wanted.
Pacing backward and forward, he snarled, staring at me with cold, calculating eyes. This one was not like the others I’d just killed. This one had more brains. Still, I would kill him when the time came, not a second before.
I flung another knife at him, but he dodged to the side, missing it by millimeters.
A little faster than the others, too.
Screeches echoed through the air, answering this one’s call.
“Time for you to die,” I said.
I withdrew my second dagger and jumped through the air, bringing the blades down on top of him. At the last second, he twisted to the side, just as I thought he would. I flipped the blade up, and pierced him through the chest as he tried to go in for the kill, not expecting me to be able to anticipate his next move so easily.
With my feet firmly planted on the ground, I ripped the blade through his torso then kicked him, removing him from my dagger as he fell into a puff of black smoke, the body smacking against the ground.
My eyes widened as I realized that particular vampire had a higher level demon residing inside of him, which meant all the demons knew my position.
I stilled, listening to the sounds of the city, trying to determine how many were coming and if I needed to retreat because I couldn’t risk everything by being stupid. We’d need to regroup, rethink our strategy, and maybe try to find another air.
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