by Jen McConnel
“What’s happening?” Joan’s voice was far ahead of me, and I strained to see in the darkness.
“I don’t know; we need to go back.” Sandra’s carefree tone had changed to one of fear, and the light began bobbing back toward me.
“Hurry. Seriously, I don’t know what’s happening, but this isn’t good.” I turned around to go back out of the tunnel. The ground moved again, and this time, there was a loud cracking noise. I whirled around in time to see a huge chunk of the vault ceiling crash to the ground, blocking the tunnel with the girls behind it. I was plunged into darkness as the flashlight disappeared.
Joan screamed briefly, and then went silent.
I reached out a hand and felt the wall. Cautiously, I took a step forward. “Joan?”
There was no answer. I felt something move in the dark beside me, and I yelped in surprise.
“Sandra?”
The only sound I heard was the faint trickle of water from somewhere far ahead.
I took a couple of steps back and raised my hands defensively. The presence I had sensed as soon as we entered the vaults seemed stronger, more pervasive. It felt like I was surrounded by thick, sticky air. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, but my nostrils filled with the smell of sulfur and I choked.
I conjured a small sphere of light, but my attention was too distracted to hold the spell. Before I was plunged into darkness again, I saw Sandra and Joan. What I saw terrified me.
The girls were lying, face down and motionless, a few yards in front of me. They were pinned to the ground beneath the massive boulder; it looked like it had landed directly on them. Were they still alive? My stomach churned and I took a step forward, unsure of what to do.
I was forcibly reminded of the bodies inside the green car that I’d flipped; even though Hecate had said that I’d actually averted death, those two people were the first Nons I’d ever killed. Was I responsible for two more deaths? What if Hecate had caused the cave-in, trying to get to me? A shadowy presence brushed by my ear, and the sound of harsh laughter echoed in the cave. Recoiling in fear, I felt Red magic surge through me, and a blast of light filled the tunnel. Panicked, I turned and ran.
I emerged into a cold drizzle, gasping for breath. A few people glanced at me curiously, but I hurried across the street. I had just reached the other side of High Street when a sound like fireworks filled the air. Smoke poured out of the doorway to the vaults, and the bridge shook violently. Without looking back, I took off in the opposite direction, not caring if I drew attention to myself. What the hell had I just done?
A few blocks away, I stopped to catch my breath. I could still hear the muffled sounds of panic from the bridge. A high-pitched siren filled the air, followed by another. Doubling over, I felt sick to my stomach, and it wasn’t just because of the image of Sandra and Joan’s mangled bodies. I hadn’t used that much Red magic since I faced Rochelle, and I wasn’t prepared for the aftereffects.
“Easy there.” A warm hand gripped my arm, steadying me.
I looked up at the tall man who had stopped to help, and I yelped in pain at the electrical charge that hit me. Energy coursed through my body unbidden.
Startled, he stepped back, dropping his hand. “What was that?” His voice was deep and sexy, and it had a slight Scottish lilt, but his tone was wary.
I closed my eyes for a minute, still tingling from the electricity that was sparking in the air. “Magic.” The word was out of my mouth before I could think, and I wanted to curse myself for being so foolish. There was no chance this guy was anything but a Non, and it was unthinkable to get Nons mixed up in magic. It was too dangerous.
He raised a ginger eyebrow at me, but the rest of his face was an expressionless mask beneath his orange hair. “I think we need to talk. Over here.” He gestured to a small pub sandwiched between a hotel and a bakery.
I glanced back in the direction of the vaults. It was probably better for me to be off the street in case anyone was looking for me. Warily, I followed him inside the low doorway. He sat down at a table in the back corner, under a dirty wall mirror. I slid into the chair across from him, tensed and ready to bolt if needed. My skin tingled with energy, and I made a conscious effort to hold a little Red magic, in case I needed to defend myself.
“No need for that.”
Surprised, I looked at him, studying the sharp lines of his face. He tipped his head at my feet, pointing toward the exit. “You don’t need to run.”
I smiled at him, trying to cast a glamour. “Why would you think I wanted to run?” I asked sweetly.
He leaned back and crossed his arms, his mossy green eyes annoyed. “You’ll have to try better than that. My little sister has a stronger glamour when she wants something!”
I almost fell out of my chair. “What are you talking about?”
His smile was blinding, but there was no humor in it. Instead, it was like looking at a hyena. Again, I felt the electric tingles I’d experienced in the street. His eyes widened a fraction before returning to normal. “You’re a Witch.” It wasn’t a question.
I glanced around, checking to see if anyone was listening. No one seemed to be paying attention to us, so I leaned forward. “And how would you know that?”
“So am I.”
I leaned back again, studying his hard face. His green eyes were intelligent, and he almost looked friendly, but a jagged white scar running down his left cheek made him look dangerous. This wasn’t a guy I wanted to cross, but he was a Witch. Maybe he could help me find the other Red.
What the hell? “I’m Darlena.” I stuck out my hand, but he kept his arms across his chest. After an awkward moment, I pulled my hand back and wiped it on my thigh. What an ass! He watched me carefully.
“What are you doing in Scotland?”
“I’m trying to find somebody.”
His eyes bored into me. “Who?”
“Another Witch.”
“You’ve found me.”
I shook my head, trying to figure out how to get away from him. “I’m looking for a certain type of Witch. You never told me your name.”
My abrupt change of topic didn’t seem to throw him. “What kind of Witch?”
I hesitated. Hecate’s spies could be anywhere. On the other hand, he was the first person I’d met who might know anything about the Red Witch I was so sure lived in Scotland. I didn’t want to come right out and spill everything, so I hedged. “What types of magic are taught here in Scotland?”
He leaned back, appraising me. “Green. And White and Black.”
“Any others?” I couldn’t hide the disappointment in my voice.
“Of course. My sister’s a Blue.”
That surprised me. “I’ve never heard of Blue.”
“Are the other three the only kinds of magic you know about?”
I stared hard at him, but his eyes gave nothing away. With a silent prayer for safety, I answered him. “I know about Red magic.”
His eyes glowed brighter, but nothing in his expression or demeanor changed.
I leaned forward, wondering if this was such a good idea. “Have you heard of Red magic?” I asked quietly.
He nodded once, curtly.
“Maybe you can help me,” I asked.
His hand darted across the table and grasped my wrist, sending another electric shock through me. “Maybe you can tell me what game you’re playing.”
“What do you mean?” I twisted my wrist, trying to pull it from his grasp, but his fingers were locked around me. Electricity shot through my arm, and I almost felt the way I did when I used Red magic. Almost, but this feeling was painful.
“Did you think I wouldn’t notice that little stunt you pulled in the vaults?”
I stared at him, too surprised to say anything. His eyes flashed dangerously, and I cursed myself for making the mistake of talking to this guy.
“You don’t use Red magic in my domain, girl. Not if you’re smart.” Searing pain shot up my arm from his grip, and
I tried to shake him off. He didn’t let go.
Slowly, my mind untangled his words. I gaped at him. “Do you mean you’re a Red, too?”
His fingers tightened, and I squeaked. “You shouldn’t be anywhere near me.” His words were clipped.
“But you’re the one I’m looking for!” The pain in my arm diminished somewhat, and I felt a thrill of excitement. I’d found the other Red!
He glared at me. “Do you really think I’ll fall for something like that? Why would another Red seek me out?”
“I need help.”
“Clearly. You trespassed in my realm. You used Red magic to do harm in my land. You need a lot of help, Darlena.” He spat my name, digging his nails into my wrist. I finally twisted free, but there were bloody gashes where he’d raked me. A dull throb remained in my arm, reminding me of the strange electric current that had singed me. I didn’t look at my wrist, but the scent of my own blood made me dizzy.
“I do need help. And you’re the only one who can help me.”
He snorted.
“Hecate wants me dead.”
His eyes didn’t flicker. “Why should that matter to me?”
“She wants me dead because I don’t cause enough chaos.”
“You’ve done plenty here already.”
I raised my voice and narrowed my eyes. “But that was an accident! There was something in the vault with us, and it killed those two girls.” He flapped his arms at me, and I lowered my voice. “It was coming after me. I didn’t mean to do anything, but my reflexes kicked in. It felt like Hecate.”
“Why would I believe a Red? You’re just here to make trouble.”
I pursed my lips. “Last fall, I went to the Underworld in Greece. I lived among the dead. All because Persephone thought it would protect me from Hecate.”
“And why would a Red Witch need protection from her?” he sneered.
I exploded. “Because I don’t like the way she wants me to use my magic!”
The silence in the pub following my outburst was deafening, and the Witch across from me stood up quickly, a terrifying expression on his face.
“Move. Now. Outside.”
I followed him, trying not to make eye contact with anyone in the pub. Once we were outside in the street, I opened my mouth to explain.
He shook his head. “Not here. Whatever it is you want to say, it’s too dangerous to be said without wards. Follow me.”
I crossed my arms and stood my ground. “Why should I trust you now?”
“You’re the one who said you were looking for me!” He pulled his hand through his flaming hair, but the magical energy coursing through him had the effect of static electricity. He looked a lot less threatening with his hair standing on end. In fact, he almost looked hot.
I tried to hide my smile. “Maybe I was wrong.”
The Witch snorted. “You’ve said too much to decide you’re wrong now.”
We stood motionless for a moment, glaring at each other. Finally, I turned my palms up.
“I’ll follow you. If you promise that you won’t do anything to me.”
His eyes bored into mine, and again I felt electricity course down my back. I’d never had a similar reaction from being around any other Witch, and I wasn’t sure I liked it. After a moment, he sighed. “You’ll come to no harm in my dwelling place, Witch. But I won’t have this conversation on the street.”
I hesitated, but my need for information trumped my fear. Drawing a deep breath, I nodded. “Good enough.”
His apartment was above a pharmacy a few blocks away. I followed the Witch up the stairs, but I paused when he opened the door.
“I said I wouldn’t hurt you.” His voice sounded exasperated.
“I know. But this is weird.”
“Meeting a Witch on holiday, or going to my flat?”
“Both. Except, this isn’t a vacation.”
He grinned and held the door open. “After you, m’lady.”
I hung back. “At least tell me your name. You’ve got the advantage: you already know mine.”
He studied me and must have realized that I wasn’t going any further until I had more information.
“Marcus. Marcus Welty.”
I eyed him suspiciously. “What, like an old Roman?”
He shrugged. “My parents liked the classics.”
I realized I had run out of reasons to stall. He looked at me, his eyes sharp.
“Okay. I trust you. For now.” I brushed past him across the threshold, trying to summon up more confidence than I felt. As I came close to him, another zap of energy danced across my skin, and I heard him inhale sharply. I struggled not to react, but the electric transfer thing or whatever it was getting weird.
I looked around the tiny apartment. From where I stood just inside the door, I could see everything. Well, almost everything. “Where’s your bathroom?”
“Why, do you need it?”
I glared at him. “I was just wondering. Everything else is out in the open.”
He tilted his head toward a door beside the sink. “Through there.”
I watched him lock the door and trace a star in the air. “May I?”
He stepped aside with a mocking bow, and I added a ward of my own. When I turned, he was watching me intently, and I suddenly felt self-conscious about the red sparks dancing on my arms. When he’d cast the ward, I hadn’t seen any outward sign of Red magic.
I crossed my arms, trying to hide the fading sparks. “What?”
“You do that differently. What was the symbol you used?”
I shrugged, not wanting to reveal anything to him. I’d have to be more careful the next time I cast in front of him. I wasn’t sure if he might be a potential threat, and I didn’t want him learning any of my methods in case I ever needed to defend myself.
“Why did you bring me here?”
He crossed the room to a small fridge. “Want something to drink?”
“No.”
He pulled out a beer and leaned against the counter. I realized that he wasn’t as old as I’d originally thought. He couldn’t be out of his twenties, but he carried himself as if he were much older. I was right, too; he was really good-looking, in a dangerous kind of way. Keeping the door at my back, I moved across the room and perched on a chair facing him.
We stared at each other for a minute before he took a swig of beer. The room crackled with electricity.
“Who are you?” His question surprised me.
“I told you my name.”
He shook his head. “I don’t mean that. Maybe I should have said, what are you?”
I bristled. “A Red Witch. Like you, I think.”
“Maybe, maybe not. What else?”
“What d’ya mean, what else?”
He kept his eyes locked on my face. “Who do you belong to?”
“You mean my patron?”
His nod was brief.
“I don’t have one.”
The green eyes watching me narrowed. “I don’t believe you.”
“Well, it’s true! I had Aphrodite for a little while, but then—” I stopped abruptly, feeling my cheeks heat up.
Marcus eyed me suspiciously. “But then what?”
I sighed, deciding that the only way to get anywhere with him was to trust him. “I ate a pomegranate seed. Persephone had given them to me.”
I couldn’t read his motionless face, so I pressed on. “After that, things changed. I was no longer bound to Aphrodite; I act for myself.”
“And you said earlier that you need help with—the Queen.”
The pause was barely audible, but I understood his hesitation. It wouldn’t be wise to draw Hecate’s attention by saying her name again. I shivered and nodded.
“When I first became a Red, she thought I’d cause a lot of destruction. But then I stopped a car accident, and I realized that if I could control my magic, I could maybe cause less destruction instead of more.”
“An interesting idea.”
/> I nodded, encouraged. “But then she decided I was too much of a liability. She tried to kill me.”
“The gods can’t kill mortals.”
“I know that.” Frustrated, I worked to keep my voice calm. “But she used another Witch.” My voice broke, and I took a deep breath.
He eyed me warily. “And you defended yourself.”
I nodded, not trusting my voice. I hadn’t talked about what happened to Rochelle with anyone yet, and my chest felt tight. A cloud of guilt descended on me, and for a minute, I thought I would lose it in front of the irritating stranger. It took some effort, but I pulled myself together and tried to prepare for his next question.
Marcus took another swallow of beer. “So why Scotland?”
That wasn’t what I’d been expecting, and I exhaled gratefully. “I had a dream. I wanted to find the other Red Witches. I’m not sure why, but I have this feeling that we’re kept apart not because of our danger to humanity but because of the danger we pose to her.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “And then you blew up the vault.”
I stood up. “That was not my fault!” The sight of the girls’ bodies flashed through my mind, and I shut my eyes quickly. I would not cry in front of him.
“Are you saying you didn’t unleash Red magic today?”
I crossed my arms and compressed my lips.
Marcus smiled. He looked like a defense attorney going in for the kill. “So you did use Red magic. Here in my domain. Did you ever think that might cause problems?”
Mutely, I shook my head.
He pressed himself off the counter and took a step toward me. “I have a feeling you will cause a lot of problems for me.”
“But will you help me?”
“Help you do what?”
“I need to find a way to stand against Hecate.”
He made a quick banishing gesture at the sound of her name. “And what am I supposed to do?”
“Work with me! Help me try to balance chaos. You control a third of the world. Do you like being responsible for death and destruction?”
Marcus stood like a statue for a moment, not even breathing. I could see a faint red flush creeping up his neck.