into the basin. Grabbing a fresh white towel, she soaked it in the solution and gently dabbed his face.
“Are you okay?” Rose asked.
With a ragged breath, he reached up and gently caressed her cheek. “Better now that I’m
home,” he said with a chuckle as Viola continued cleaning the blood from his flesh. “You didn’t give up on me.”
“Of course not,” she whispered. “We knew Obsidian would try to escape when you did.”
“You made it, son. You don’t know how happy that makes me.” Viola dipped the cloth into
water, wrung it out and dabbed his forehead again.
“Is everyone okay?” Storm sat up, despite Rose’s protests.
“You need to rest,” she commanded.”
“I’m okay, although not complete.”
Rose tilted her head at him. “What do you mean?”
“I’m powerless.”
Viola’s mouth popped open. “How can that be?”
He inhaled slowly and gazed steadily at them. “It’s because of my doubts of what and who I
am.” He turned to look at Rose. “Us. If I fail, I’ll have to return to the Netherworld.”
“No, that’s not an option. Who the hell says this?” Rose cursed.
“The Keeper of the Netherworld.”
“No, I want to speak with him,” Rose demanded. “Don’t tell me I’ll have to go down there
and—
“You can’t do that Rose,” Viola warned.
Storm grabbed her by the arms and gently shook her. “No, my sweet Rose. This is a battle I
alone must fight. It has nothing to do with you.”
“But Storm—?”
“Shh, Rose.” He pressed a finger against her lips.
She kissed his fingers. “I can’t lose you again. I won’t.”
His lips swept over hers and she felt his hot breath over her skin. Closing her eyes, she
fought the urge to scream at the top of her lungs in utter frustration. “Why?”
“Because, I must face my own demons,” he admitted solemnly. “I’ve doubted myself for so long. Perhaps, I’m not worthy of being a raven shifter.”
She cupped his face with her palms. “You are more than worthy.” She gritted her teeth in
anger.
Viola placed a hand on her shoulder. “Rose, you need to stay calm.”
Rose opened her mouth to reply when Jasmine burst through the door. “Rose. Viola. What’s
going on in here?” The young woman stopped in her tracks, her expression unraveling from a
mask of confusion to a pleasant smile. “Storm?”
“In the flesh,” Storm said with a laugh as the young woman rushed over to him and
embraced him in a large bear hug.
“You big raven! So, when were you guys going to tell us he was back?” Jasmine asked,
swiping a tear from her eye. She sniffled several times, then looked around. “Another demon
attacked? But how?”
“It’s a long story,” Viola muttered.
“Well, tell me something. The others are outside looking around on the grounds. We didn’t
know what had happened. Thought it was an earthquake or something.”
“We just had to send Obsidian back to the Netherworld,” Rose told her.
“Oooh. Was that the demon who tried stealing out power earlier?”
“Yeah, she was the one who got away.” Rose sighed. “But there’s so much more than that to
discuss. The blood moon ends tonight, thankfully.”
“And I need to get out of bed. If you ladies would excuse me?” Storm grinned.
“Oh,” Viola laughed and grabbed Jasmine by the hand. “C’mon, girl, I’ll tell you all about it.
Meet us downstairs in the parlor.” Viola closed the double doors.
When they left, Storm got up from the bed with Rose’s assistance. She watched in silence as
the man made his way to the bathroom.
“I desperately need a shower,” he said.
“What did they do to you down there?”
“It was hell trying to make my way back to you.” He walked over and blew out the candles.
“Thank you for these. They lit the way for me. When Obsidian saw I was escaping, she tried
hitching a ride.”
“Yeah. Well, the bitch got what she deserved.” Rose’s bottom lip trembled at the thought of
losing her love forever.
Storm turned and came back, grabbing her in his arms. “I love you Rose, please don’t
worry.”
“How can you tell me something like that? What if something happens?”
He pressed his lips against hers. “If there’s anything I’ve learned is not to doubt myself. In
doing so, I’ve doubted our love. We are who we are,” he assured her. “We can’t go through life
worrying about what lies around the next bend. It’s detrimental to everything we stand for.”
“I just need you to be okay.”
“I am. I’ll be even better if you let me hobble to the bathroom and shower,” he prompted
with a chuckle.
“Can I help?”
Storm grinned. “Oh, yeah.”
Together, they walked to the bathroom, but an alarm went off.
“That’s not good.” Rose whispered.
Storm picked up a pair of jeans draped over the cushioned velvet chair. Quickly, he slid into
them and slipped a t-shirt over his head. “That alarm only means one thing.”
“I know.” She gulped when he grimaced in pain. She wanted to tell him to stay in their
chambers, but knew better. “I’ll protect you. Should you need it,” she swore beneath her breath.
“And I you.” They walked as fast as they could downstairs into the main sitting room where
Viola rushed up to them.
“Viola. What’s going on?” Storm asked.
“Someone has broken into the crypts.”
“That’s impossible! Why would anyone want to break into the crypts?” Rose asked.
“Power.” Walter joined them and they all walked out the front, then down the winding
pathway of the manor toward the crypts.
“Which one was opened? Who did it?”
At that moment, Shawn and Wes caught up with them all, Wes looked as if he’d been
running a marathon. “Hey, there’s an intruder on the grounds. I saw someone running through the woods.”
“Did you get a good look at them?” Walter asked.
“No, I tried to catch them, but they ran off towards the waterfall,” Wes explained.
“It’s okay, Dad,” Rose assured him. “C’mon, we need to find them.” She reached for her
father’s hand.
“I’ll come along,” Storm offered.
“You stay with the others. I’m capable of handling a simple intruder,” she assured him.
He shook his head and she knew he wouldn’t listen.
“Where’s Corey?” Walter asked.
“He’s with Leslie and Luke down at the police station,” Dehlia assured him. “Some of the
citizens had so many questions and concerns that it couldn’t be put off any longer.
When they went deeper into the woods. A strange feeling bubbled over in Roses’ chest as
they walked past the crypts of Clara Rose and the rest of the McQueen witches.
“Rose, do you feel that?” Dehlia asked.
Rose could have sworn she heard Dehlia’s teeth chatter when she spoke. “Yes. I was afraid
of this.” Several of the crypts of the Tainted had been opened. “Something doesn’t feel right.”
“This is a trap.” Storm’s voice was firm. “There’s one more creature we need to trap and
contain.”
“The Heightening is close. Rose, you must come with me. At least until we can find this
creature,” Wes suggested.
“Your father’s right,” Shawn agreed.
“No, I refuse to sit back and hide while everyone else opens themselves up to danger.”
“Rose, you’re vulnerable. At least until The Heightening has commenced,” Storm added.
“He’s right,” Wes pushed.
“Come on, dad. At least this gives us a chance to talk. Keep your cell phones handy,” Rose
told everyone. “We’ll meet back here in about forty minutes or so.”
Storm walked over to her and planted a kiss on her lips. “Stay safe, my sweet Rose.”
“I’m just as safe with my father as I am with you.”
“Okay, you two lovebirds, break it up.” Wes kissed Shawn and took Rose’s hand.
As they walked toward the falls, Rose couldn’t ignore the sinking feeling in her gut that
something just wasn’t right.
“Rose, how do you propose to subdue the intruder?” Wes asked before raking his fingers
through his hair.
“Father, why do you doubt McQueen magic so much?”
“It isn’t the magic I doubt. It’s the people wielding the magic.”
“That’s just rude.” She said with a chuckle.
“I’m not talking about you or Shawn. I’m speaking of the others. They’re always adhering to
the rules established by a couple who existed years ago. Everything is based upon tradition,
family values—and always carved in stone.”
“You’re a part of the family. How can you say something like that?”
“Listen, Rose. I know I’m just your stepfather, but I’ve loved you like my own daughter.
You and Shawn are my heart,” he confessed. “Sometimes, I wish we all could move out of
Raven’s Falls and leave all this magical bullshit behind.”
Rose laughed. “Why do I feel like there’s a but hanging off the end?” She looked around the
woods when she heard a twig snap, turning her back to Wes. “Did you hear that?”
“Please forgive me for what I’m about to do.”
She chuckled. “For what?” Before she could turn around, she felt a sharp pain in the back of
her head and everything went black.
* * *
Storm and Jesse walked through the crypts, ensuring the bodies remained. “Although the
seals have been broken, the bodies are still here,” Jesse observed. “Why would someone go
through all this trouble?”
“Diversion,” Storm muttered beneath his breath as a shiny object caught his attention.
“What’d you say?” Jesse asked.
Ignoring him, Storm walked past Marcella McQueen’s resting place and bent down. “I said,
someone created a diversion to keep us all busy.” He picked up the watch and looked it over.
“This belongs to Wes.”
Jesse strode over to him. “That sure as hell does. Turn it over.”
“Wes and Shawn forever,” Storm mouthed the words before angrily clenching the watch in
his grasp. “That son-of-a-bitch.”
“Look at that.” Jesse pointed to symbols drawn on the earthen floor.
“And we’ve found the one responsible for creating a pact with the darkness,” Storm insisted.
“And my Rose is with him.” Quickly, he pulled out his cell and called Viola. “To the falls now.
Wes is the one who made a pact with the darkness. He’s got Rose. The last demon is inside of
him.”
They rushed out of the crypts where they met up with the others.
Shawn rushed up to him and grabbed him by the forearm. “Tell me it’s not true,” she
demanded.
“I wish I could. Wes has put us all in danger.”
“No. This can’t be happening.”
“Rose!” Viola shouted, as they all kept calling out for Wes and Rose.
“Have you tried her cell?” Walter asked.
“It went straight to voicemail,” Storm said angrily. “He is planning to channel power of The
Tainted and the pure McQueen magic. With all that combined power, we’ll never defeat them and
Raven’s Falls will be forever lost.”
“How do you know all that?” Walter asked.
“My journey to The Netherworld. That’s what the Keeper of Darkness was trying to tell me.
Dammit, Rose. Where are you?”
Chapter Nine
Rose opened her eyes only to discover she was lying on a large boulder next to the
waterfall with her wrists tied together. The gag was tight, preventing her from speaking.
Frustrated, she rolled her head to the side and grunted.
“My darling, I see you’re awake.” Wes stood next to her, holding a dagger in his hand.
“Please forgive me for doing this to you. I couldn’t very well allow you to chant your way out of this one, now could I?”
She narrowed her eyes and tried wiggling free. If she hadn’t utilized her powers to banish
Obsidian, she’d be able to defend herself against Wes.
“Guess you’re wondering what I’m doing?” he snickered. “Taking you out tonight ensures
I’ll receive not only your powers, but Viola’s as well as the others, and all the dead McQueen
magic I’ll need to free my minions from the Netherworld.”
“Mumpf.” She narrowed her eyes, wishing she could strike him down where he stood.
However, she realized it wasn’t all Wes’s doing.
“Rose!”
Upon hearing Storm calling her name, she grunted and struggled against her binds. When he
and the others came into view, she felt a sigh of relief, but her heart quickly sank as she tried to determine the outcome.
“Oh, don’t worry about them. The circle surrounding us is impenetrable.” Wes tightened his
hands around the hilt of the dagger and grinned.
“What the hell are you doing, Wes?” Shawn darted forward, but immediately, was thrown to
the ground when she tried reaching them.
“We can’t get in!” Jasmine, held her hands up, touching the circle, but was thrown clear as
well.
Jesse rushed to help the women up and he glared at Wes. “Man, have you lost your mind?
What the hell are you thinking?”
“Jesse, that’s not Wes,” Storm interjected.
“Give the raven a prize,” Wes taunted with a laugh, his voice deepening. “Oh, that’s right.
You’re no longer a raven.”
Storm’s eyes narrowed. “Let her go, now.”
Wes snickered before raking his fingers through his hair. “If I do that, I’ll never gain enough power to overthrow the McQueen clan.”
Rose watched as her stepfather’s appearance changed to a man with long brown hair and
clothes dating back to the nineteenth century.
“Who the hell are you?” Dehlia gasped.
The man smiled and nodded at Viola. “She knows.”
All eyes swiveled over to Viola. “Cyrus McKay.”
“Who the hell is that?” Jasmine asked.
“I’ve been inhabiting Wes long enough to discover the McQueen family’s dark secrets.
Pillow talk, you see.” He glanced over at Shawn and winked. “Thank you so much, my beloved
wife.”
“What the hell have you done with Wes?” Shawn demanded.
“Ah, he’s safe. His soul was the easiest to overpower because he’s so damned weak-willed,
but he was a great cover. You all suspected someone within Raven’s Falls made a pact with
darkness, thinking it was a family member, but never recouping proof. Obsidian couldn’t hold her power over Jesse because he’s a witch. Storm, you picked up on that so well.”
Storm glared at him.
Cyrus paced the earth, his han
ds laced behind his back with a grin on his face. “It’s been
months since I’ve been living amongst you, learning your secrets, your weaknesses. The Blood
Moon was the perfect time for me to strike. In the meantime, we fueled the rage and desires of the wolves to wreak havoc on the townspeople of Raven’s Falls. I want this damned place
destroyed,” he sneered.
“Why don’t you step outside of that circle and talk to us, son.” Walter stepped forward.
Jesse and Storm held him back. “What do you want?” Storm demanded.
“Unlimited power and revenge. Once I’ve consumed McQueen power, I’ll be a flesh and
blood man again.” Cyrus glanced over at Viola. “Do you remember what your family did to
mine? What Celeilia did to me!” His voice boomed throughout the woods. “Do you have any idea
how it feels to be powerless and without family?”
“What you did to Celeilia and Clara was unforgiveable,” Viola retorted. “Cyrus, you’re a
sick individual.”
“Enough talk.” Cyrus flipped the dagger, turned and brought it down into Rose’s solar
plexus.
The dagger pierced her, while her breath hitched and pain flooded her body. Tears flowed
from her eyes upon seeing her family not giving into despair. Instead, they hurled charms and
chants at Cyrus in vain. She felt her life force ebbing from her body and she laid her eyes on
Storm.
Instead of sobbing like the others, he fell down to his knees, outstretching his arms to the
heavens.
When she closed her eyes, she felt her spirit rise. The stars seemed closer and the gentle
wind caressed her skin. She chuckled inwardly, wondering how it could be that she could still
feel. A comforting feeling enveloped her and suddenly, she was able to walk upright. Out of the distance, beyond the sky full of stars and clouds, a dark form came into sight. “Storm.”
The figure came into view and at last, she was face to face with her Intended. “Storm?” she
whispered.
“Shh, we haven’t much time.”
The pain in her chest finally ebbed, but she could no longer feel her arms or her legs. An
unbearable call beckoned to her, one she couldn’t simply resist. “You’ve come to take me to The Higher Realm?” she asked with tears in her eyes, suddenly realizing she may never see him
again.
“No, my love. You’re not going anywhere near there for a long time to come. I know what I
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