by Isa Fae
“Milady, please take me with you!”
She turned to Ronan. His brown eyes were big, pleading. As much as she wanted to protect him, she also knew he had Fae magic, regardless whether he was a child or not. “You can go. But you stay behind me, do you understand? And if something happens to me, run like hell.”
“Yes, Milady.” He shook his head. “Yes.”
“Go grab a coat and a pair of boots and meet me downstairs.”
Ronan rushed from the room and Miranda trailed out after him, sighing. She still couldn’t believe Kally had sent Eric out there alone. She was well aware everyone was looking out for her and wanted to keep her safe, but Miranda didn’t need to be babysat. She was an adult and capable of making her own choices. And right now, her choice was to get out there and help Eric take the Division down, whether he liked it or not.
She hurried down the main stairs and leaned her back against the door, her fingers strumming over the wood impatiently. If Kally hadn’t insist her change her clothes and if she didn’t promise Ronan he could tag along, she’d been out the door already and heading into the forest. But she knew she needed all the magical help she could get, and she sure as heck couldn’t risk freezing to death in the cold.
“Here.” Kally moved urgently toward her, balancing a stack of clothes in one arm and holding a pair of boots in her other hand. “Put these on.” She shoved the clothes into Miranda’s arms and dropped the boots to the floor.
Quickly dressing into the knit pants and long sleeved shirt Kally had brought her, she waited for Ronan as she slipped on the boots. As soon as they were snugly on her feet, Ronan rounded the corner wearing a parka and a pair of black leather boots.
“I’m ready, Milady!” Excitement danced in his eyes. If Miranda’s mind wasn’t so jumbled with thoughts she would have laughed. Instead, she opened the door.
“Take one of the snowmobiles. You’ll get there faster! I’ll go to the village and gather the faction for a meeting. Let them know the Lord is gone and they are free from his wrath,” Kally yelled from behind her.
Miranda continued out into the cold, Ronan not far behind her, making her way to the storage building. She slid a few times on the fresh layer of snow as she ran through the open door she figured Eric had left ajar in his rush to get to the cabin.
She swung her leg over the black seat of a yellow snowmobile, fumbling with the keys and trying to turn it on. The truth was, Miranda was confused. She’d never operated one of these before.
“Scoot back, Milady.” Ronan tossed her a smile. “I’ve driven these plenty of times. I can get us to the cabin. Just tell me which way to go.”
Miranda shifted back in the seat, allowing Ronan to get in front of her. In no time at all they were flying toward the line of trees, snow pelting them in their faces and the wind burning their skin. She flipped his hood up to try to protect Ronan from the elements, and then she tightened her grip around his waist and pressed her face against the back of his coat, praying to the goddess they weren’t too late.
53
Eric
“One more chance, Eric.” Matryx crouched in front of him, her lips puckered and her brown eyes locked onto his. The woman just wouldn’t give up.
“Matryx,” a male voice came from behind Eric, causing the Fae to snap her head up and glare at whoever was behind him. “Sorry to interrupt, but there’s word the Lord has been assassinated. The entire faction is in chaos. Should we redirect the Division to the village to regain control of the situation?”
“No, Brett. If the Lord is no longer alive, I’m in charge now. And I say we stay here and carry out the mission.”
“But, the village—”
“Enough,” she snapped at him. “Return to your post immediately.”
The man must have listened to her because Matryx’s eyes came back down to Eric, and a smile lifted the edges of her lips. Her eyes darkened, and then her smile faded. “You made this too easy for me, Eric. Now, join me.” Her words were more of a command instead of her asking him. “Together we can rule the faction. We will no longer be controlled. We’ll be the ones controlling them. We could rid the faction of witches. Find a new way to renew our magic. I need your strength and your determination, Eric. Do this with me.”
“I think you’re even sicker than what the Lord was, Matryx,” he growled as he glared at her. He couldn’t believe he had worked with this woman all these years and not a hint of her craziness emerged. But again, he’d rarely paid attention to her. And she wasn’t out to destroy everything important to him back then either. “What do you plan to do with the witches? And as in renewing the Fae’s magic without them, it’s impossible.”
“Kill them all, of course.” She quirked an eyebrow and bit the inside of her cheek. “The Eric I once knew would’ve loved that idea. Especially, after what the vile creatures did to his parents.” She shifted her weight to her other foot and placed a hand on the ground to steady herself. “I know. I know. That Eric no longer exists. You’ve told me that line before.” She snorted a quick laugh.
Eric’s attention quickly diverted to the dark plume of smoke coming from the chimney and the front door of the cabin. He struggled against the invisible hold on him, but he still couldn’t budge. Anger soared inside of him, consuming everything in his path as the screaming from the inside of the burning building became louder.
“I think they’re getting ready to come out, Matryx,” one of the hunter’s shouted.
“Line the men up!” She answered, not taking her eyes away from Eric. “As soon as they exit the building, paralyze them with the guns!” Matryx stood up, looming over Eric, and looked down at him. “Last chance, Winters. Are you joining me or not?”
“Seriously, you fucking tried to kill the woman I love more than once, and now you threaten to darken our faction even more, turning it into a war zone instead of bringing the Fae and witches together. I don’t fucking think so, Matryx. I wouldn’t join you if you were the last person in the faction.”
A woman running out of the door of the cabin, smoke rolling out behind her, caught Eric’s attention. As soon as she cleared the steps, a hunter picked up a weapon and aimed. The woman cried out and then fell to the ground, unmoving. Eric grit his teeth, and his nostrils flared as he inhaled. He strained against the force holding him down. But as before, he was unable to move. “I will fucking kill you!”
“I didn’t think you would join me, Eric.” She ignored his response to the scene behind her. “But I knew it wouldn’t hurt to ask.” She finally twisted her body around, and then turned back to him. “One down.” She grinned. “I wonder how many are left? It’s like a guessing game to me.” She laughed.
“You’re a bitch!” He seethed as an ache settled in his gut with the fact all he could do was sit there and watch as the Division took all of them down.
“You haven’t seen anything yet. In fact, you’re going to watch as we drain their magic from them one by one. Then we’re going to find your little witch and let you watch as we do the same to her.”
Another person came out the door. This time it was a boy a little older than Ronan. He stumbled out, holding his hand over his mouth while hacking uncontrollably. His body dropped right next to the woman.
“Ooh, this is getting good!” The excitement in her voice sickened him even more. He had no idea how this woman could be so cruel. Even before he met Miranda, Eric would have never tortured anyone this way.
He bowed his head, staring down at the snow, unable to watch the scene unfolding in front of him anymore.
“I don’t think so, Winters.” Her voice came from behind him now. She grabbed a handful of his hair and jerked his head back, forcing him to watch as another woman ran out of the cabin. This time it was Tessa. “All of this is your doing. Your actions caused all of this, and you will watch until the very end.”
Eric’s left arm shifted just a bit as Tessa dropped to her knees beside the others. The fire burning inside of him grew intense, and
he strained harder against the magic holding him down.
“Brett, drain them of their magic. Start with the last one first.”
The hunter stepped up to Tessa and leaned down, grasping her by the neck with his hand and lifting her in the air. As he placed his mouth to the witch’s, Eric gained the ability to ball his hand into a fist. All he needed was a little more time to break through the barrier. But would it be in enough time to save Tessa?
54
Miranda
Miranda jumped off the back of the snowmobile as Ronan stopped beside a blue one Eric must have driven. She raced through the forest, her fear of what could be happening to Eric and the others pushing her legs to move faster and faster through the maze of trees.
The air around her became hazy, the scent of smoke making it into her senses. Burning. Something in the forest was burning. No, please not the cabin! Her worst fear came to life as the orange glow extended above the trees, the haziness now becoming darker and darker as she moved closer to the cabin.
She could barely make out the figures in front of her, but one was kneeling on the ground and the other standing behind that one, holding their head back. As she neared, they became clearer. Eric. Matryx. And just past them, in front of the burning cabin, a man holding a female witch in the air. Tessa.
Flashbacks of Sarah—the Lord holding her fragile body in the air and draining her of her energy—invaded her mind. Fear and anger and rage swept through her, all of it locking onto the individual with his mouth to Tessa's. “Shield me!” She yelled back at Ronan, who was still a short distance behind her. He’d done it before with his Fae magic, and she was positive he could do it again.
“Milady, I’m not sure—”
“Just do it!” She screamed at him this time as she focused on the man, her boots pounding through the snow.
Her hand came up as she felt his magic circle around her and press against her own. In her peripheral vision, Matryx reached out to her, but Eric spun around, catching the back of her ankle with his hand and knocking her to the ground.
“Shoot her!” Matryx’s voice was distant, muffled in her ears as she zoned in on the man holding Tessa.
Tessa’s body became limp, just as Sarah’s had, and the man let her go, her body dropping to the snow and landing in an unnatural way. Her arms and legs bent out and her chest still. The fury squeezed Miranda’s insides, creating a dull ache in her stomach as tears threatened the corners of her eyes. “No!” Her scream was shrill, piercing, and she didn’t even stop as the man turned toward her, his eyes wide in terror as the blue and green stream of energy emerged from the palm of her hand.
The magic wrapped around him, squeezing the life out of him and reducing him to ash before he could even scream. Miranda dropped to her knees next to Tessa, desperate to save her from the same fate as her sister. But just like with Sarah, Miranda was too late.
She’d felt the painful blows to her back, and she went down on her stomach in the snow. She stuck her hand out toward the cabin as her arms locked up on her, flicking her finger and reducing the glowing flames to a black plume of smoke.
Someone hovered over her and reached down, flipping her body over in the snow. A hunter looked down on her, his upper lip curled with disdain. “Worthless and disgusting witch! You will pay for killing my brother!”
“Fuck you!” She spat at the man. “He deserved everything I gave him for what he did to Tessa!”
“You have a very foul mouth for a woman,” he snarled. “I’ll enjoy putting an end to you.”
The man reached down toward her, and Miranda attempted to move, but her body wouldn’t cooperate with her. She was frozen to the ground. As he placed his hand around her neck, Eric appeared behind him, clipping the man in the side of the face with his fist before he could pick her up. The man fell sideways to the ground, leaving only Eric above her.
“I told them to keep you in the mansion.” He reached down and slipped his arm under her armpit, hoisting her up and leaning her against his chest.
“Since when do I ever listen to anyone?”
“Never.” He smirked, and then leaned in, placing his lips to her forehead. “Can you move, love?”
Miranda tried to move her arm, but her muscles were too stiff. She couldn’t even manage to bend her elbow. “No, what’s going on?”
“Matryx and the Lord came up with some kind of weapon that paralyzes our bodies and our powers. It took me a while, but I managed to break through it.”
Eric’s body jumped. His muscles tensed. And before Miranda knew what was happening, they were both falling to the snow.
“You two are seriously becoming a pain.” The sound of Matryx’s voice approached them. Then her face appeared above Miranda’s. “Especially, you. You took Eric and the Lord away from me. And now you’re threatening to take the faction away as well. It’s not going to happen, witch. I’ve worked too damn hard to get to where I am.”
“Seems like we did all the work for you.” Miranda couldn’t help her snarky attitude from slipping through her lips. But it was the truth. Eric had rid the Lord from the faction, not this Fae looming over top of her.
Matryx’s face twisted in anger, and she kicked Miranda in her head, causing her to moan as the pain radiated through her skull.
“Enough, Matryx!” Eric shouted next to her. “Miranda didn’t take anything away from you. It was never yours to begin with, including me!”
“Oh, Eric, but she did.” Matryx cackled as if she’d been driven over the edge of sanity. “And I was going to save you for last, but I want her to feel all the pain and anguish I’ve had to deal with since you returned from your little hunting trip. I lost everything. Everything! And I blame her. Bring me the boy!” Her wild eyes came back to Miranda.
“No, let me go!”
Fear stabbed Miranda’s insides as a hunter shoved Ronan into view. He struggled against the man’s hold, but Ronan was much too weak to break free. No. Not Ronan. He’s just a child. Just like Sarah was. Hot tears burned her eyes as Matryx took the young Fae by his neck, pushing him back against the body of the hunter to get a better grip.
She could hear Eric and Matryx arguing, but their voices grew distant even though the one was next to her and the other in front of her. The magic inside of her came forward. Fae magic. Witch magic. The magic that was used to heal her, bring her back from the darkness on many occasions. Eric. Kally. Ronan. Their energy was all inside of her now, and her own energy was seeking them out. Wanting to come together, to unite, as one.
Miranda’s surroundings flashed in and out. Eric, Matryx, Ronan, and the forest. Then a bright light. A sphere so bright it warmed her entire being. Back and forth. Back and forth. Her body began to tremble, the hold of Matryx’s secret weapon growing weaker and weaker as the Fae magic rushed through her. Then her body jerked as the two energies collided, the power was so intense she gasped for breath. Gasping and gasping. All of it rose to the surface, demanding to be released, but it just wasn’t there… yet. Yes, Miranda had somehow gained more magic, a different magic, but it wasn’t enough to get her out of the tunnel and back to the surface.
Her arm slowly drifted over, seeking her other half. The half that would complete her and bring her back to the surface. As soon as she touched him, his Fae magic came into her and her eyes flashed open.
She slowly rose to her feet, pulling Eric up with her as tingles danced over the surface of her body. Matryx’s hand was still over Ronan’s throat, his lips turning blue as he struggled in the hunter’s arms.
The hunter saw them first. His eyes widened as he released the boy, who was now dangling from Matryx’s hand. And he turned and ran.
Eric flicked his finger, sending him to the ground as Miranda pushed Matryx to the side, making her release Ronan. Before the boy could hit the snow, she caught him in her arms.
Matryx spun around, stumbling backward to gain her footing. “You stupid witch!” She came at Miranda while she was still holding an unconscious Ron
an in her arms.
Eric lunged in front of her, striking Matryx in her jaw. Her head snapped to the side from the impact and she lurched again. But then she flew into Eric with a rage. Clawing and punching and kicking. None of it getting her anywhere. Not only was he bigger than her, but he was also stronger and more experienced as well. She jumped on him, and he threw her off, her body hitting the ground with a thud.
Miranda held Ronan tightly, and terror numbed her insides as Eric’s body began convulsing. She couldn’t figure out why as he kept faltering, each step slipping backward. “Eric, no!” She screamed out. Her eyes darted around. There it was. The source causing Eric all this pain. The remaining hunters let loose on the experimental guns, all of them firing at Eric at the same time. And none of them letting up.
Miranda clenched her teeth and gently set Ronan in the snow. Then she walked forward. Slowly. The magic inside of her becoming dangerously hot this time. But she didn’t care. All she cared about was Eric, Ronan, and the others. The fate of the faction. All of these things were the most important to her, and if she had to die to protect them, so let it be.
With Eric and Ronan now behind her, she focused on the energy inside of her and the multiple targets in front of her. She pressed her arms against her sides and faced her palms toward the hunters. They turned their guns on her. She could feel a slight pressure of them hitting her, but nothing like before.
Matryx scrambled to her feet and dashed over to one of the men, swiping his gun and taking her own shots at Miranda. Nothing. She continued to slowly walk forward, locks of her blonde hair whipping across her face.
As she moved, the wind picked up, causing the snow to swirl around in front of her. The intensity of it grew. The hunters kept firing as they attempted to cover their faces.
Then she stopped. The wind died down and everything went silent. She narrowed her eyes at the hunters and Matryx, a smile lifting the corners of her lips. Then she unleashed everything she had.