by Nikki Landis
This didn’t make sense.
“Ancestors, please stand with me, extend your protection to the Bishop brothers – Kane and Karter. Hear my call.”
Opening my eyes, I peered down and saw both guys were still bleeding, their faces concerned. I reached into each mouth and pulled out several more razor blades. I was amazed their throats weren’t lacerated to pieces. I could see cuts, but they weren’t life-threatening. The roof of Kane’s mouth was nothing but ribbons of flesh. The last blade sliced across one of his tonsils and he was bleeding badly. Karter’s throat had so many tiny cuts that I couldn’t tell where each began or ended. While serious, a healing spell may help.
“Magic mend and injury end. Let no harm come to the brothers and both be healed completely, so mote it be.” I repeated the words three times and placed my hand on each of their throats. A slight tingle erupted along my fingertips and confirmed the spell was working.
Dark laughter echoed from deep inside the house as I pulled my hands away. I knew I was being toyed with and this was nothing more than a test. The rogue witch wanted to know what I could do and how far I’d go. This wouldn’t be the last attack. I could feel a sinister and evil intent brewing. The presence of the witch faded away but not before a voice whispered on the wind.
“Sebastian.”
A trap. I knew right away. I was being lured to his location, but I didn’t know if he was linked to this witch or not.
Kane and Karter sat up, testing their voices as they spoke.
“Thank you, Cassie.”
“You’re the best, Cas.”
A quick glance proved the injuries weren’t becoming worse. No new razor blades appeared.
“I think you’ll both heal now.”
“You saved them, Cas.” Aunt Gwen’s voice startled me. She stood in the doorway and smiled. “I’ve got something for the brothers.” She walked to us quickly and inspected each throat, agreeing with my observation that they would heal. “Take it easy the rest of the night.”
“And no more candy,” I added.
Kane was quick to agree. “Hell no.”
Karter shivered. “I’ll think twice that’s for sure.”
Aunt Gwen removed two onyx stones from her pockets and placed one in each hand of the Bishop brothers. “These have been blessed with extra protection from our ancestors. Keep them with you at all times until this situation is resolved. Warn the rest of your coven.”
Kane grasped her hand. “Thank you, Gwen.”
Karter leaned forward and hugged her, tight. “We owe your family a debt.”
“I’ll collect when we have need, not before.” She smiled and patted each guy on the cheek. “Return to your mother. Harmony is worried.”
Debts were taken seriously in our world and were never dismissed. If a witch offered a debt, it must be accepted. If a witch owed a debt, it must be paid.
“Let’s return home.” Aunt Gwen offered a hug and I squeezed her back.
Kane and Karter ran from the sorority house and I couldn’t blame them.
I followed my aunt outside and answered before she had a chance to ask. “It was the same witch. Dark, heavy, oppressive. The candy was cursed,” I divulged, “but I think only a witch of the original thirteen families was affected.”
“Were any others injured?”
“No, and plenty of people were eating that Halloween candy. Only Kane and Karter were cut by razor blades. It was sick and twisted. So much blood. I thought for a minute they might die,” I admitted.
She squeezed my hand. “They might have if you didn’t intervene. Your quick thinking helped save their lives. Well done.”
Scoffing, I shook my head. “This is becoming serious, Aunt Gwen. I’m concerned. I don’t think this witch is going to stop. If Gypsy was there, she would have been injured, too.”
Aunt Gwen slipped her arm around my shoulder. “It’s been a rough night. There’s no point in worrying about what could have been. Remember to focus on the present. Think and speak with intention. Don’t allow anything or anyone to distract you.”
These same words were spoken many times over the years. A reminder that nothing was certain. My aunt was an excellent teacher and guardian. My magic grew in strength consistently due to her advice and tutelage. “You’re right.”
“Oh, my dear, I’m always right,” she laughed and offered a wink. “Now, how about some cookies, soothing tea, and a little incense alone in your room? You need to rest.”
She was right again. I felt exhausted after casting that spell, but it was more than that. My shields were constantly up and often tested and rammed against by this rogue witch. The effort was weakening my body and spirit, causing extra stress. I was sure that was intended on purpose, a deliberate and continual weakening.
Passing Gabriel who was pacing in the living room, I ran up the stairs and straight to my room. This wasn’t the time for chats from either of the three men who were my constant shadows. Damian’s presence was close, probably at the gate but I didn’t look. Although I was unsure where Ryder was located, I knew he was also nearby. Strange, but I could always feel their immortal auras. Much stronger than I could ever feel any other immortal. In fact, the connection seemed to become stronger the more I came in contact with any of the three, especially if we were within a few feet of one another.
Maybe I would have asked more questions, but I was too tired to worry about it.
Promising myself I would only take a thirty-minute nap, I fell asleep the second my head touched my pillow. Maybe it was the tea Aunt Gwen left in my room. I drank it right after I changed my clothes as soon as I entered my bedroom. My eyelids grew heavy as I succumbed to the tug that forced me under.
Maybe it was only my desire to escape the chaos, but I didn’t care.
Chapter 7
October 3rd –
It was nearly three a.m. when I woke up, groggy and restless. The house was quiet except for the low, consistent ticking of the grandfather clock in the main hall. I knew Uncle Tom and Aunt Gwen were fast asleep. Gypsy should be, but I’d double check before I left.
As I tiptoed down the hall, I was soothed by the calm balance that resided in my home. Gypsy may be frustrated with me, but we loved each other. We were close, especially the three of us women. Aunt Gwen was a mother and a guardian from the beginning and my Uncle Tom was like a second father. Without their influence, I would have been lost. I was lucky to be a part of the Howe family and legacy.
I hadn’t forgotten or lost my place. Our purpose as witches of Mystic Hallows was one reason I’d never leave here. Salem taught our ancestors much, even the pain and anguish served to make us stronger. Our line was as crucial to the thirteen and the protection of the veil as the others. I remained as determined as always. I’d prove that to Gypsy.
A quick peek in her room proved she was sound asleep. Gabriel was in a chair next to her bed, slumped backward, his strong jaw covered in stubble as he lightly snored. He was watching over her, just as he promised. The thought made me smile. Maybe I could be a little less bitchy toward him. He had to earn my trust though, I wasn’t giving it away. Covering him lightly with a blanket, I smiled when he made a small noise like a bark and I resisted a giggle.
I entered the hall after closing the door quietly and left the safe haven of home.
Sneaking out of my house was odd at nearly twenty-one. I was an adult. Aunt Gwen gave me complete freedom but it sort of felt like I was seventeen and breaking out to meet my friends for a night of partying. I held back a snicker as I exited the front gates and gazed up at the moon. She was becoming fuller the closer All Hallows Eve approached. A hint of amber glossed across the pitted surface and lent a defiant vibe to her glow.
The moon goddess had always been a favorite of mine.
In the witching hours of night and into early morn, the streets held a light mist and an eerie quiet that bespoke of haunting secrets. Not a soul ventured outdoors but slumbered blissfully unaware in their bed. The monsters that lingered in darkne
ss didn’t always make contact. Some lingered in the night but left before the dawn, never to return.
Cool air and crisp wind tickled my nose. Autumn had fallen on Mystic Hallows. Leaves crunched beneath my boots as I inhaled the fresh air. Sometimes I walked in the wee hours and enjoyed the silent darkness that enveloped my heart and soul. But I wasn’t out for a pleasure walk tonight.
There was only one reason I ventured into the ebony unknown.
Sebastian Wildes.
Seb and his sister Simone lived about two blocks away in an old plantation house. Their mother Sylvia was a kind older woman, but she was also a spitfire and a talented witch. The Wildes family specialized inonieromancy – the use of magic in conjunction to sleep and dreams. Sylvia was gifted in dream walking. I had my suspicions that Seb and Simone also had these abilities, but I couldn’t be certain. Seb never spoke of it while we briefly dated.
The plantation was gorgeously gothic while bathed in moonlight. Large oaks draped by Spanish moss lined the driveway that led up to the front porch. The “Big House” included huge pillars, a balcony that ran along the whole outside edge of the house to offer shade and a sitting area, evenly spaced large windows, and big center entrances at the front and rear of the house that added to the box like style of the mansion. Inside, the decadent design boasted an enormous foyer, a sweeping open stairway with a double balustrade, a giant ballroom, grand dining room, and intricate design work on the wood and furniture.
I’d loved this house since I was a child. My mother was a close friend to Sylvia.
The house was dark as I approached except for candles that were lit in each of the windows. The festival of Samhain dictated the lack of electricity, but the Wildes Plantation always kept candles in the windows. The staff had served the family for generations and were extremely loyal. Old money. Mystic Hallows was full of it, and that was no exception here.
Maybe that was why Seb and I couldn’t work. The money, that is. I wasn’t spoiled, not in that sense. He was. We were two different people with completely different childhoods. The only thing we had in common was our lineage. Being Salem witches united a lot of bloodlines that may seem incompatible.
I was all set to sneak inside when the sound of voices and low moaning caught my attention. Naturally, I investigated. Wish I would have walked away. Some things couldn’t be unseen.
There was Seb, pants down around his ankles, lodged inside none other than Jadis Pudeator. Another of the thirteen. The same Jadis that left Mystic Hallows three years prior and the same girl who swore her hatred of the Wildes family.
No way was this a coincidence.
My audible gasp was heard by both. Seb paused in his frantic thrusts and seemed surprised. Jadis tilted her head back and laughed – a deep, loud, self-satisfied and sadistic chuckle that sent a shiver down my spine.
“Shit! Cassie, I –”
“Shut up, you fool!” Jadis scolded, her eyes locked on me. “Perfect timing, Cassie dear.”
There was something wicked about her demeanor and decidedly sinister. An uneasy silence followed her words. I looked to Sebastian who seemed confused as he zipped up his pants. His expression was odd.
That was when I saw it. The one thing I didn’t notice earlier because it was too dark at the sorority house during our altercation. The moon was brighter now, and I could see what I was too angry to discern before.
Sebastian’s eyes.
A weird glow encompassed his irises and there was an odd sheen, too glassy and unfocused as he stared ahead. I knew without a doubt the man before me was altered. This wasn’t Seb. Not really. His physical body, yes. But someone was controlling and manipulating his thoughts and actions. Strong magic was involved.
“Ah, I see you’re figuring it out.” Jadis pushed Sebastian aside and stalked forward. “But you won’t live long enough to tell anyone else.”
A loud screeching sound exploded in the air, pulsing into the night with so much power that I was thrown backward. My eardrums ached and my head throbbed as I suddenly felt weightless. I didn’t realize what was happening at first. Pain gripped my entire body from head to toe. I was no longer standing. My body was suspended in the air by Jadis who grinned wickedly.
“I’ve been waiting a long time for this.”
I had no idea what she was talking about. “What?” All my efforts to break free from her hold failed. My shields trembled underneath the onslaught. She was battering against them with sharp blasts of magic that weakened my body with every hit.
“Bye, Cassie.”
Before I could protect myself, I was thrown across the perfectly manicured yard and into one of the towering oaks that lined the drive. The impact was brutal. My lungs felt crushed as I struggled to breathe. Confusion muddled my thoughts. How did she possess such magic? Jadis was never exceptionally gifted.
When I caught a glimpse of something small in her hand, it dawned on me. So simple. I should have figured it out sooner. The hex bag. The harmful spells. The attacks.
She held a Voodoo doll. Every injury she intended to inflict upon me, she’d use this piece of Voodoo magic to torture my body as long as she desired. Jadis meant to kill me slowly, savoring the pain and agony that I’d be forced to endure.
The heavy, evil presence from the earlier attacks was back, swarming my shields and pounding them relentlessly. The sinister aura was cold and cruel. I felt beaten down and struggled to keep myself protected. I didn’t know how much longer I could endure this. Jadis was stronger than any normal witch could ever be alone. I knew what she did the moment our eyes met, and she sneered with hatred.
Jadis had torn open the veil.
Shit.
* * *
“Cassie!”
My ears were ringing, all sounds echoing in consecutive bursts of sharp noises that faded in and out. Blinking rapidly, I tried to focus on the frantic voice that called my name.
“Cassie, can you hear me?”
I lifted my hands to my ears and felt the warm trickle of blood on my skin. My thoughts were muddy, but I remembered Jadis tried to kill me. She used a spell to knock me out and attempted to burst my eardrums before throwing my body into an oak tree. The loud noise would have ruptured my membranes and traumatized the tissue in my brain while the brunt impact was certain to break every bone in my body. It was a deliberate attack to harm and inflict permanent injury.
Bitch.
Without the power and blessing of my ancestors, I would have died. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind.
“Cassie, answer me!”
It was the damn vampire.
Damian was always so demanding. I opened my mouth to answer when I realized something wasn’t right. I was injured more than I realized. My sight began to fade, narrowing into tunnel vision. There was an echo in my ears that frightened me and refused to recede.
Each beat of my heart seemed to struggle against some unknown force. I gasped; my lungs desperate for more oxygen but I couldn’t seem to make them cooperate. Sweat broke out on my skin as I realized my own frailty. Shock rendered me entirely speechless. My organs were shutting down. Mortally wounded, I knew I wouldn’t make it back to the manor.
I’d die here within minutes.
“Cassie, take my blood. It’s the only way.” Damian’s voice brought me back from the edge.
Our eyes met. He was so handsome, so heartbroken, that I couldn’t respond.
“Take my blood!” Damian yelled, his voice pleading. “Take it, or I’ll force it between your lips. You’re not dying on me, my fierce little pet. Not tonight.”
“No,” I finally moaned, my body racked with pain. I was completely serious. I didn’t care if it would heal me. The ancestors would allow me to die or help me survive. I didn’t need Damian’s help.
Apparently, he didn’t get the memo.
“Fine! I’ll make you.”
He wasn’t joking around either. I fought him with the miniscule amount of energy I had left. Despite putting up a good resistance, I di
dn’t win.
Damian sliced along his wrist with a sharp fang and held it over my mouth, forcing my jaw open with his other hand. Furious, I stared into his eyes, but he wasn’t sorry, and he wouldn’t stop. His piercing gaze held mine in triumph.
The warm, thick fluid of his immortal blood trickled down my throat as I gagged, but Damian didn’t pull away until he was sure I’d had enough. Sputtering and coughing, I nearly retched but he kept me upright and I didn’t vomit all over the lawn like I thought I would.
The pain in my body was quickly replaced by fatigue so intense I fought to keep my eyes open. My body became limp, my muscles and organs relaxing unnaturally. This was wrong. His blood was messing with my cardiovascular system. My heart skipped several beats and I inhaled a shaky breath.
Despite the alarm flashing in my brain, I closed my eyes and started to drift away.
“Cas, my fierce little Raven,” Damian pleaded. “Please. You have to wake up.”
I moaned with the intense pain that still gripped my body from head to toe. I was barely able to hold onto consciousness. “Damian,” I croaked.
“Cas, let me into your home.”
My head lolled to the side as I stared into his mesmerizing green eyes. Tears glistened on his cheeks, but they weren’t clear. Or even red.
Shouldn’t a vampire have clear or red tears? Is that too human?
“I need your invitation, pet. You have to allow me to enter,” he pleaded, lowering his forehead to mine. “Please let me enter so I can protect you.”
My vision tunneled further, and I felt the last grip on coherent thought slip away.
“Cassie. Please!” Damian yelled. More of those tears dripped down his cheeks and I saw in the moonlight they were a wicked black.
With the last ounce of my strength, I let him in. “You’re welcome to enter,” I whispered, my hand resting against his smooth, cool cheek for only a few seconds before falling to his chest. “Damian.”
My entire body lost all function and I closed my eyes. I was done.
“Cassie! No!”