by Bethany Shaw
Cadence was strong — stronger than even she realized. Did her coven know what she could do? They had to. Why else would they block her magic?
Serena’s words played through his mind. There was darkness around Cadence. If it wasn’t him... then it was the coven. What were they up to?
***
“What did you do, raid a bar and drink the entire liquor supply?” Cadence teased as she let Zak lead her to the field where they’d been practicing her magic the past few days. If Harrison and Melanie weren’t here, she’d think he’d done just that.
Her eyes darted to the crate filled to the brim with empty bottles, then back to Zak. He answered her with a smirk.
“What’s the point? I thought you couldn’t get drunk?” Cadence inquired.
“It’s nice to get a buzz sometimes,” Zak retorted, leaning against the stack and looking at her.
“I’ll never understand how humans can drink that vile stuff,” Melanie said as she held up an empty bottle. “It’s bitter and makes me gag.” She shuddered, depositing the bottle back into the crate.
The stuff in this period was stronger than Cadence was used to, but give her a fruity drink and she’d down it any day of the week. She could use a stiff drink every now and then.
“I doubt drinking will go anywhere,” Harrison said as he lifted a bottle up and twirled it in his hands.
“There was a prohibition movement,” Cadence spoke up, sharing a bit of history that she did remember.
“It didn’t stop people from selling or drinking alcohol,” Zak said, turning to his brother. “Which is why it didn’t last long.”
“Too bad,” Melanie muttered.
“What are we doing with all these bottles?” Cadence asked.
“Training practice,” Zak told her. “We toss them in the air and you blow them up.”
“You want me to blow them up?” Cadence asked.
“There’s a reason we didn’t use anything with wood,” Zak said as he glanced to Harrison and Melanie. “You can't hurt us. Not permanently, anyway.”
Glass would hurt if she hit them with a shard or a bottle, but he was right. It wouldn’t kill them, and they healed rapidly.
“Okay,” she said slowly.
“We’ll start with one of us throwing the bottle, then we’ll all do it as you get better,” Zak explained.
“And I’m supposed to just...” She trailed off, motioning her arms wildly.
“Zak told me a little about your powers,” Harrison said as he took a step toward her. “I think you can control the elements, which means you can control the components of the bottle. You could cause it to burst into a powdery dust if you control your magic. Focus on the bottle as it’s in the air, and imagine it fracturing into tiny pieces.”
“The elements?” Cadence asked with a frown. “What does that mean?”
“Essentially earth, air, water, and fire,” Harrison explained. “It’s a little more complex than that, but that gives you the basic idea.”
“I’m willing to try anything,” Cadence admitted. She didn’t want to hurt anyone again. Her eyes darted around the field. There were no trees or brush, only endless lush, green grass. The city was miles away. If she lost control, she wouldn’t harm anyone.
She needed to practice so she didn’t lose control. One person had already lost their life because of her. It wouldn’t happen again.
“Scoot back about a hundred paces,” Harrison instructed.
Cadence turned on her heel and counted her steps before turning back to the trio of vampires.
“Ready?” Zak called as he juggled a bottle.
“Okay,” she said, wiggling her fingers. Ready or not, this was happening. She could do this.
Zak whirled the bottle into the air, sending it spiraling upwards. She watched it and thrust her hand out as if she would bat it away. Nothing. Cadence narrowed her eyes and punched the air again. Still nothing. The bottle hurtled to the ground, landing with a thump before it shattered into pieces.
“Try again,” Zak encouraged. Without another word, he launched another bottle into the air.
Cadence opened her palm and shoved it forward. Nothing. She covered her eyes as the bottle smacked against the ground.
“When do your powers usually manifest?” Harrison called out to her.
“When I’m scared or in danger,” she answered with a sigh. It might terrify others to be around three vampires, but the trio wasn’t scary at all to her.
“Next time, I want you to picture the bottle as an enemy. Who scares you?” Harrison asked.
She swallowed as Malcolm’s face popped into her mind.
“Got it?” Harrison asked. He handed a bottle to Zak.
Cadence nodded and flexed her fingers at her sides. I can do this.
Zak flung the bottle into the air. Cadence watched as it tumbled in the wind like a football. She pictured the elder vampire's face and shot her hands up. The bottle exploded, specks of glass fluttering to the Earth. She let out a breath followed by a giggle.
“Good! Again,” Zak called, flinging another bottle into the air.
Cadence zapped that bottle too and giggled. She could do this. She could harness her magic and control it.
***
Jamie flicked her gaze from Eli to Oliver then back again. The gray walls of the vampires’ mansion closed in on her, and the soft chair she sat in wasn’t so plush anymore. She shifted in her seat and licked her lips as her mind processed everything they’d divulged. Her stomach twisted, and bile crept up her throat. How could this be happening?
Eli broke the silence. “You must have questions.”
“Why are you telling me this?” she asked. They'd told her a huge secret. One that could hurt them and Liana.
“We thought it best to tell you the truth up front,” Eli said.
“Why? So you can kill my best friend?” Jamie growled as she fisted her hands at her side. Her magic bubbled beneath the surface, ready to boil over.
“Jamie, darling, I’m sorry for what must happen to your friend Maddie, but it is necessary,” Oliver began.
Jamie glared at him and shook her head. There had to be another way. Maddie could run. Run where? Liana and the vampires would hunt her down. She’d never have peace, just constantly be looking over her shoulder. That was no way to live.
“We were hoping that you could talk to your friend,” Eli said.
“Yeah, sure. I’ll tell her she has the option of death by sacrifice or death by vampire,” she said with a snort. Some choice.
“We can offer her immortality,” Eli replied.
“Turn her into a vampire?” Jamie asked. Was it better than death to live life as an immortal vampire, craving the blood of those you loved? It had nearly destroyed Trent. Her childhood friend had almost killed Cadence due to his blood lust. Trent had stalked off to God knows where, living the past few weeks in solitude. Maddie would suffer the same fate.
“It would be her choice, of course,” Oliver explained.
“Yes, that makes it much better,” she scoffed as she rolled her eyes. Her stomach heaved, and she leaned forward. There had to be another option.
“I know that this is an impossible situation, Jamie. I apologize for putting you in it,” Eli told her.
Jamie scrunched up her face at his words. Was that some lame attempt at an apology?
“It’s unfortunate that your young friend is caught in the middle of all of this. We can offer her something Liana cannot... a quick death and a chance to rise again. The sacrifice will be painful and excruciating,” Eli said.
“Dark magic always is,” she murmured. She’d never practiced black magic, but she’d read about it.
“Take the time to speak with your friend,” Eli said. “It should be her choice, after all.”
“Of course. I’ll bring it up over dinner tonight,” she said with a roll of her eyes. The thing was that she would have to tell Maddie, and soon. But how?
“We wish to continue our
working relationship, Jamie. The coven has turned their back on Maddie and Cadence. Where will they stop?” Eli asked, driving his point home.
Jamie swallowed and blinked back tears. He made a solid argument. What would stop the coven? If they eliminated vampires, they wouldn’t just disrupt the balance of nature. They’d also tilt it in favor of witches. She shuddered at the thought of Katherine and Liana having full control. What would they do to the few witches brave enough to stand up to them? It wouldn’t be pretty.
“I... I need some time to think,” she stuttered, her voice thick with emotion.
“That’s understandable,” Eli told her as he stood. “We’re happy to answer any questions you might have.” He held out his hand to her like they were conducting a business transaction.
Jamie eyed it for a moment before standing and brushing past him. She said nothing as she stomped out of the office and into the foyer, then into the icy spring breeze. A shiver zipped down her spine, causing her to tug her sweater tighter against her.
First things first, she needed to verify what the vampires had told her before she offered her friend up. Second, she needed to find a way to contact Cadence.
Mr. Hopewell probably wouldn’t agree. He was anti-anything involving witchcraft, which left the options slim. Trent might work, but there was no way to be sure. She’d have to find a way to contact him first.
There was a lot to be done, and only a few weeks until the full moon. She prayed there was enough time to find a way to save both of her friends.
Chapter Eight
“I don’t suppose you’re going to tell me what we are doing?” Cadence asked as Zak led her down a darkened alley. If she were with anyone else she might be afraid of the dark, drab street, but with Zak she feared nothing.
“And spoil the surprise?” he teased. “I think not.”
Cadence giggled. It was nice seeing Zak like this. He was so laid back and relaxed. They were a normal couple out for a night on the town.
“I thought we should have some fun to celebrate your accomplishments today,” Zak said as they came out of the alley into the fire lit street. He pointed above him. “What do you think?” He walked behind her, wrapping his arms around her middle.
Cadence’s mouth popped open, and she blinked up at the large structure that ran through the center of the town. “Wow.” It was impressive and intricately built, like everything else in this city.
“It’s an aqueduct. It was constructed years ago to carry water to the city. In our time, it’s still here. It’s been preserved and looks very similar to the way it does now. But that’s not the reason I brought you here,” he admitted as his breath ghosted over her skin.
I hope she likes my surprise, his voice whispered in her head.
She shuddered at the warmth of his breath on her skin and leaned further into him, wondering if she should tell him she could hear his thoughts. It was happening frequently now. Would it cause him to be more guarded? She hoped not. This was nice. “Why did you bring me here?” she asked, turning her head toward his face. It looked like she wasn’t coming clean about her mind-reading just yet.
“There’s a tavern.” He pointed to a one-story building. Light flickered in the porch light and laughter filled the air. “They sell fresh seafood and a chocolate pudding of sorts.”
“Chocolate?” Cadence perked up as she grinned. He remembered I love chocolate!
Zak placed a kiss to her cheek. “What do you say we check it out?”
“That sounds fantastic,” she said, her stomach gurgling with approval.
Zak slipped his hand into hers, and they made their way over the cobblestone and into the tavern. Cadence inhaled the smell of frying fish and closed her eyes. They ate well considering the time they were in, but this seemed like a treat. Most of the time, they had dinner in. There weren’t many restaurants, not like there were in the present.
“I hope you enjoy...” He trailed off as they entered. His spine stiffened and his eyes narrowed.
“Zak?” she asked, following his gaze around the room.
What are they doing here? a male voice growled in her mind.
A group of six stood in front of their table. All were burly men. Their eyes glowed an unnatural yellow and she sighed, recognizing the gleam. Werewolves.
The group stalked toward them, and the tavern quieted to a whisper. A man behind the bar said something she couldn’t understand, to which Zak replied something that sounded like an apology. It would be nice to know Italian right about now.
“We’ll come here another time,” he said, pushing her toward the door.
“Yeah, of course,” she said, bummed that she wasn’t going to get her chocolate — because that was clearly important. She rolled her eyes at her thoughts. They needed to get out of here without a scuffle.
Zak followed her out, placing his hand on the small of her back while leading her back toward the alley. He cast his head over his shoulder and growled.
“Are they following us?” she asked, peering behind her.
“Yes.”
She picked up her pace. “Should we run?”
“No.”
“No?”
“Werewolves are predators and territorially,” he explained. “If we run, they’ll track us down. They already have our scent. We’ll lead them right back to our house.”
“So... we... fight?” she stuttered.
Her powers might have been working earlier, but what if they failed her again? While Zak was a skilled fighter, they were outnumbered. He was fast, but was he fast enough to take on all of them? Werewolves had supernatural strength and speed too. She’d never seen him in a fight with multiple opponents before, although she had heard stories. Would they be okay?
“We don’t have much choice,” he told her as he guided her back into the alley. The moonlight disappeared and she squinted, trying to see in the darkness. They got halfway through the alley before they turned around.
Zak took a step forward, putting himself in front of her. Six men stalked forward, their eyes flickering as the beasts within them stirred.
The wind kicked up, blowing wisps of hair into her face. She shoved them out of the way and tucked them behind her ears. Her eyes narrowed as she focused on their movements, drawing on the energy that swirled inside her in case she needed to use it.
One of the men charged forward. Zak lunged, catching the man about the waist. The two moved in a blur as they zipped around the alley. Snarls and growls ricocheted off the walls, and Cadence shuddered. Thumps sounded as the men’s bodies collided with the walls. A crack ripped through the air and she cringed, hoping it wasn’t human bones snapping. The two men moved too fast for her human eyes.
Her gaze darted to the five other men. Two inched forward, their attention on her. The wind howled, causing her cloak to flutter around her. One of the men darted forward. Her hand shot up as energy burst from her palm.
One of the guys stumbled backwards, landing on his butt. The other sprinted forward, grasping her arm and shoving her into the wall. Cadence gasped for breath as the air whooshed out of her lungs. Icy fingers laced around her throat. The man squeezed, making her sputter.
Die, die, die, a voice chanted in her head.
She writhed against his hold, but he was stronger. Her air supply dwindled. Energy charged through her body, sending a current of power through her arm and out of her fingertips. Her attacker flew backwards. Fire ignited over his torso. Her eyes widened as the flames engulfed the man’s upper half.
He screamed while flailing about the alley. The fire swallowed him whole as he collapsed to the ground, shrieking. He rolled violently, thrashing until his movements ceased and he lay unmoving in a fiery inferno.
The fighting stopped as the remaining wolves backed away from her. They hollered something she couldn’t understand and darted away from her and Zak.
Cadence covered her mouth as her stomach heaved. The scent of singed hair and charred skin wafted in the air and she
leaned forward, emptying the contents of her stomach onto the ground. She gagged again as she tried to breathe through her mouth.
She closed her eyes then opened them, looking up at Zak. He was wiping a smear of blood from his lip. He held up his hands and slowly approached. Her name was on his lips, but it echoed in her mind as if he was miles from her instead of feet.
She swallowed and looked down at her hand. A ball of fire still swirled in her one palm. She squeezed her hand shut and pressed it into her other hand.
Tears pricked her eyes as they honed in on the smoking, black remains. I did that.
“Hey,” Zak said as his arms encircled her. “It’s okay.”
“I... I...” she stuttered even though no words would come out.
“Shhh,” he soothed, running his fingers through her hair.
“Zak... I...”
A sob got stuck in her throat. Zak swept her up and whisked her away. She buried her head in his chest, letting his leathery scent calm her frazzled nerves. She’d killed someone — again.
***
Zak opened the door to their temporary home and carried Cadence up the steps to their room. She clutched his shirt tightly, like a lifeline. He smoothed the hair from her face as he set her on the bed.
She hadn’t said anything since the incident. Her eyes were glazed over, transfixed on some foreign object only she could see.
“Sweetheart?”
“I... I don’t think we should practice with Harrison and Melanie anymore. I’d lose my mind if I... if I...” Her hoarse voice trailed off.
He let out a breath. Enough fire could kill Harrison or Melanie. Not that he imagined Cadence was possible of harming them. Her powers were protective, the more dangerous ones only manifesting when she was in danger. He thought about arguing with her, but thought better of it. It had been a bad night for her as it was.
Zak pulled back, stroking her cheek with his thumb. Dried tears stained her cheeks. Her normally-bright eyes were dim and didn’t quite meet his.
“You have nothing to feel guilt over,” he told her, grasping her chin and forcing her to meet his eyes. “That man would not have hesitated to kill you. He tried to.” His hand dropped from her chin and grazed over a red mark that lingered on her pale skin.