My gaze traced the legs, torsos and arms that were hanging from the ceiling. Several witches were chained to the stone above their heads, their eyes closed. Something was attached to them, a line of plastic that was slowly draining their blood, and probably their magic.
“How can you do this? It’s horrendous!”
What the hell was I doing here? In my madness, I had forgotten how insane my grandmother really was. She was a psychopath. And, I had wanted her acceptance? What was wrong with me?
“You need to understand that many people are here for a reason. Life happens for a reason. You think that these people didn’t agree to this before they were reincarnated here?”
What? “Wait. Hold on. Are you justifying your disgusting behaviour by believing that these people chose to have this happen to them? What’s your fucking problem?”
My legs moved before my brain engaged. My arms almost reached her before she threw her hand into the air. Flying back, I smashed into the wall. A loud crack in my spine made me scream in agony as I thumped to the ground. Tingling washed over my back as the bottom half of my body went numb. Fear rushed through me as my heart pounded in my head. I couldn’t move.
“You paralysed me,” I sobbed, tears soaking my hair as pain vibrated through the rest of my body. “You fucking broke my back!” My scream echoed around the huge cavern.
“I’m so sorry.” She was beside me, touching me.
“Get the fuck off me, you sick bitch!” I couldn’t move, I was useless. It served me right. I should’ve never left the ones who truly cared about me.
Putting her hands on my back, Helena whispered a spell. Over and over, she chanted as a warm heat started to spread over me. I cried, unable to think, unable to breathe.
“John!” Helena screeched.
Clicking her fingers, she scowled as footsteps sounded nearby.
“What happened?” The horrid man sounded horrified. As if he could dare to be worried about me when there were people… witches… hanging from their wrists around us. What had I done?
“Take Devon to her room. Be careful, she’s healing.”
My arms flapped around when John picked me up. Helena had performed a healing spell. Would there be enough power in the world to mend a broken back? A severed spinal cord? Only time would tell.
An image of Kurt came into my mind, and for the first time ever, I missed him. He would’ve healed me. Maybe he wouldn’t have had the magic to fix me completely, but his offer to take away my memories was looking pretty good right about now.
John was slow as he took me back upstairs. My whole body was numb now, probably from a spell created to take away the pain. Helena was strong. Way too strong. No witch should ever have that amount of power, not even when they were connected to the ley lines.
“Devon,” Helena said once John had put me in bed. “I’m so sorry. I thought we could become close again. Dreamed that we could be grandmother and granddaughter. I see that can’t be possible.”
Shaking my head, the only part of my body I could move, I bit my lip to stop myself from crying. Not because I was sad that we would never be how we were, but because I was stupid enough to even want it.
“I made you a promise. And, now… I fear that I cannot stick to it. You see, you’ll always try to stop me. I was going to give up everything for you, but you’ll never accept me, my love.”
“No, I won’t.” My mouth was dry as I spoke, but I forced the words out. “I’m not related to someone who can do what you do to other creatures, no matter who they are.”
Her gaze dropped, her eyes closing. She was sad. The woman had no right to be upset. She deserved to go to hell.
“I’ve healed your back. You’ll be up and about by tomorrow.”
Pushing up from the side of the bed, she reached over and cupped my cheek. Dodging away from her touch, I grimaced. “You’re not going to let me go, are you?”
Tucking her dark hair behind her ear, she looked down at her red dress. Brushing at the blood from the dead vampire, she seemed to not hear what I’d said.
A small sound came from her throat when she finally looked at me. “No, my dear. You’ll be my prisoner. But, there’s no need to worry, they’ll be no torture this time. I’ll make you love me again, you’ll see.”
Chapter Thirteen
The glass wouldn’t break. My fist slammed against it for the sixth time. My knuckles bled, but I wouldn’t give up. She could not keep me here.
Although she treated me like a guest, bringing me food, new clothes and films to watch, I was still trapped.
The energy drained out of me as I leant my head against the window. I couldn’t use my magic in the room. She must have put a spell over it to stop me. I had to get out. I had to save those trapped in the cavern below the house.
“Please, mother earth, help me find a way out.”
The night sky was lit with stars, the moon nestled between them. For so long, I had wanted a family. People who loved me enough to want me. And, yet, when I found them, I had run away. It was strange how I thought that they were rejecting me when they wanted me off the case, but in reality, they were protecting me. They cared enough about my wellbeing to put me before work. And, I had thrown it all in their face.
However, I was here. I was in the lair of the beast, which meant I could get close to her. It had been five nights since I’d been paralysed, and yet, she saw straight through me when I pretended to want to be her friend.
“Will anyone rescue me?” I whispered, staring at the steam that formed on the glass.
Maybe I could create an SOS somehow. Standing back, I tried to think of something I could use. Something magical would be ideal, even if it wasn’t mine. Wait.
Looking over my shoulder, I studied the painting on the wall. I’d been staring at it for three days straight. There was something odd about it. There was a family of four, playing in the snow. Two dogs were either side of them, staring out of the painting.
When I had been at Harry’s house, the wolf guardian painting had resonated with me. My grandmother must have been the one to create the spell, which was why the wolf hadn’t attacked me.
Going over to the painting, I watched the dogs closely. Yes, their eyes were moving, watching me. The painting was spelled. Which meant that Helena was probably watching me through it. Shuddering at the thought, I hoped she hadn’t seen me dance around naked when I was bored. Getting out of the shower, I had decided to dry off with a boogie. There had been nothing wrong with that. Until now.
What if John…? Ewwww.
“Okay, you son of a bitch,” I whispered to myself as I went to my bed.
The angle of the picture made it so that the dogs couldn’t see me. Maybe Helena had decided to give me a little bit of privacy, the crazy old witch.
Closing my eyes, I thought about how I could entice the dogs without being seen. If I could get them out of the painting, I could use them to attack the woman who came in to clean. She never spoke to me, didn’t even look in my direction. Which would be a good thing. However, could I set them loose on an innocent slave? No, I couldn’t.
Going back over to the picture, I reached out and traced one of the dogs with my fingers. He moved slightly, his head sticking out and butting my finger. Good, he was a friendly guy. That made it easier.
Not speaking, I backed up and turned, whistling as I did. A thump behind me made me jump. When I heard the panting, I moved around slowly. That was almost too easy.
Reversing to my bed, I held my hand out. The husky type dog was similar to the wolf in the other picture. He sniffed the air before he took three strides towards me. Ducking his head against my fingers, he insisted I scratch his ears. Smiling to myself, I forced the lump that came to my throat to go away.
“Well, you’re no Kingsley,” I muttered. “But, you’re adorable anyway.”
A tiny banging sound made us both look up. The dog’s lip lifted above his teeth, his hackles raising. Was there someone on the roof? When the b
anging crossed above my head, I got up from the bed.
“Go back in the painting,” I told the dog absentmindedly.
How could I hear someone on the roof? It was a mansion, a very well built one. And, yet, there it was again. It was as if someone was walking across the roof towards the edge of the house.
A nudge from the dog brought my attention back to him. Tip toeing to a window, I looked out. It was still dark, although the moon illuminated the grounds.
The sound was just above my-
“Shit!” I screamed when a face suddenly appeared in the window outside. What the fuck?
Falling backwards as my heart almost burst out of my chest, I grabbed the dog when he went to jump. He started to bark at the figure lurking outside the window. My hair flicked into my face as I tried to grab the fur around his neck. He would get Helena’s attention, which meant the painting would be taken away.
“Devon!” The shout came from outside the window.
The tightness in my throat eased as I frowned. Tugging on the dog, I hissed into his ear. “Get back in the painting, now!”
It finally did as it was told, snarling as it jumped through and rested where it originally had been sitting by the family.
Going over to the window, I threw my middle finger up at Gerard. He was hanging from the roof, his handsome face smiling. He found it amusing that he’d scared the shit out of me.
“Are you going to let me in?” His deep voice sent a small shiver down my nerves.
As much as I wanted to hate him, I couldn’t, not even a little bit. “I can’t, they don’t open.”
“Okay, move out of the way, I’ll do it from this side.”
Looking over my shoulder, I looked at the painting. Helena was going to come charging into my room at any moment. Going over to the bed, I grabbed the cover and threw it over the picture. Maybe it would buy some time, although I very much doubted it. How the hell had Gerard managed to find me?
Rushing to the door, I moved a nearby cabinet in front of it. There was no way it would stop Helena, but it was worth a shot.
Looking back at Gerard, I stood, waiting. His hands were on the window, his fingertips growing red. How was someone not coming to find out who was sneaking around? Surely, Helena would’ve heard something? She was the almighty witch that contained all the other witches magic.
Gerard needed to hurry up. I was getting antsy, which kind of made me need to pee. But, it wasn’t the time. He was breaking into our enemy’s mansion. I needed to pay attention.
The tiny sound of something breaking made me step back as the window pane moved. Gerard swung inside, almost going straight back out. Running to him, I caught hold of the harness that held his waist, taking the glass off him as he settled.
The bloody thing was almost bigger than me. Struggling, I rested it against the wall, staying silent as he unclipped himself.
Facing him, I swallowed, unable to think of what to say. Would he hate me?
“I’m so glad you’re okay.” His arms came around me before I could react.
Tears stung my eyes as he held me against him, his head bent low to bury into my neck. Why was he not shouting at me? I would totally be swearing at me by now.
“How are you here?” I whispered in a very small voice.
He turned his head so his mouth was right next to my ear. “I will always find you, no matter how hard you try to run.” Moving back to look into my eyes, he smiled. “Unless you really don’t want anything to do with me. Then, I’ll respect you and leave you alone. I’m not a stalker or anything.”
The grin that split my lips held more than amusement. Was he being romantic? How had Hard Mac-grumpy turned into Soft Mac-romantic?
“Helena is going to come through that door and kill you. Very soon.” Okay, it was a bit of a mood killer, but it was the truth.
“About that,” he said, letting me go and straightening to his full height. He was so going to get a sore back dating me. And, not because I would wear him out, but because he had to bend so low. Poor man.
“What’s going on?” Every nerve in my body tingled.
What was he up to? This building was a fortress, hidden from the world by a very powerful spell. The witches in the basement were a grid of magic, more powerful than even my mother, who had a direct connection to the ley line.
“Gerard,” a voice hissed from somewhere in his jacket. “…we’ve searched the lower floor, no luck.”
“Justina’s here? How?”
Getting the walkie out, Gerard was about to speak into it. Grabbing it before he could reply, I squeezed his arm. “You need to tell me what’s going on, right now.”
Holding his hands up in surrender, he took a step back. “The team are here, searching for the witches.”
But how? My mind wanted to scream, but it wasn’t important. That information could wait.
“Helena?” There was no point in elaborating.
The witch was extreme, so someone must be-
“Your mother and father have confronted her. We need to go and back them up. They’re just talking at the moment, trying to reason with her.”
Going straight over to the window, I searched the dark gardens. No, I couldn’t see them. Were they crazy? If Justina and Kurt were inside, looking for the witches, my parents would be alone out there.
“Don’t worry, the whole agency is here. But, we do need to go.”
Taking my hand, Gerard tugged me towards the door. Stalling, I tried to get my thoughts under control. It had been over a week since I’d been in agent mode, and even then, my agent mode had been set to crazy.
“Devon.” Putting his hands on either side of my face, Gerard gazed at me intensely, his green eyes piercing me. “I gave you the wrong impression before, but I… I have feelings for you. When you ran away from me, something inside me cracked. I’d been holding back, not allowing myself to get close to you.”
“You don’t have to say this,” I muttered, trying to pull away.
Holding me firmly, he refused to let me run. Licking his lips, he stroked my cheek with his thumb. “The very first time I saw you, you were in a fight with a bunch of warlocks. You whispered a spell right before throwing warlock magic. My heart pounded in my chest as your sexy body, and cheeky mind, blew me away. Your power, Devon, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Trying to drop my head and look away, I frowned. He wasn’t giving up though, the bad arse sexy agent was turning me to goo. Why couldn’t I open up to him?
“That’s not all. I was attracted to you from the word go, but… being around you made my attraction grow into something more. You’re snarky and annoying, yet, you make me laugh. You’re vulnerable and so powerful, all wrapped up into one. You’re insane-”
“Okay, that’ll do, Charmer Mac-win-me-over, I’m sold. You like me, big deal.” The massive smile that was probably making me look like a dingbat was hurting my cheeks.
Bending down, he kissed me lightly before staring into my eyes, breathing slowly. “You’re insane,” he whispered. “But, hopefully you’ll be my insane.”
I was in an actual romantic film. I had to have been. No one spoke like this in real life, certainly not to me.
“And, you’ll be my…” I looked at the ceiling as I tried to come up with something. “Nope, I can’t think of anything. You’ve got all the romantic talent.”
Laughing, he kissed me again before letting me go. “Ready to snap out of it? I need you to be snarky agent Devon.”
Sobering, I was brought back to reality. Yes. We weren’t here to confess our love for each other and make love on every surface of the room and bathroom. No, that hadn’t been going through my mind at all.
“I was born ready,” I quipped, holding out my hand.
He went to take it, but I raised my eyebrows. “Give me a gun.”
Oh, the anguish on his face. It looked like he was torn between pleasing me and telling me to piss right off. It was going to be an interesting few months as our dat
ing got underway. I’d win over the big pussycat.
“Wouldn’t you prefer your dagger?” Getting it out of his jacket, he handed me the blade, a smirk on his face.
Ah, okay, he may have had the upper hand in this particular situation, but it wouldn’t last.
As my fingers wrapped around the weapon, I heaved a sigh of relief. The blade fit perfectly in my palm, as if it was made for me. The Essex witch heirloom had a secret I was desperate to find out.
“Okay, let’s go help your parents.”
Following him towards the door, I almost paused. “We have to go help the witches first. If they’re not disconnected, Helena will have a hell of a lot more power than them. The others will never find them.”
When Justina’s voice came through the walkie talkie again, I jumped. I’d forgotten it was in my hand.
“Gerard, update, now.”
Pressing the button, I held it near my mouth. “Justina, it’s me.”
“Devon?” Her slight intake of breath made me smile. “It’s good to hear your voice.”
“And, yours. I’ll apologise later, but in the meantime, you need to go and support my parents. I know where the witches are and how to break down the magic grid without killing them.”
The other end was silent. Gerard watched me, a serious expression on his face. “It’s good to see you back.”
Warmth blossomed in my chest as I felt all the emotions. It was good to be back. The frightened Devon, she’d gone in my fury. Ever since seeing what my grandmother was doing to those witches, I’d been ready to step into my power again. It was a harsh reminder, a jolt back to reality. It was the reason I had become an agent to begin with.
“Roger that,” Kurt came on the line. “Go and rescue those poor bastards.”
Chapter Fourteen
My boots were fast on the stone floor as I almost flew across the kitchen. My freedom had been given to me all over again. And, yet, I couldn’t leave until those poor witches were safe.
“Devon!”
Arms wrapped around me before I even realised what was going on. Justina clung to me, her boobs pressed against my chin. As much as I liked my boss, this wasn’t quite the welcome I’d expected.
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