Unchosen

by Vail, Michele

~Her Holiness Isis, High Priestess of the Anubis Temple in Reno, Nevada

  Chapter 13

  I BLOCKED THE uppercut aimed at my chin and landed a solid punch on the girl’s abdomen. She “oofed” and danced backward, her eyes narrowing as she tried to spot a weakness. I kept my gloved hands up, and studied her stance, trying to ferret out the same information about her.

  Her name was Elisa. She was good.

  I was better.

  I had already won two other matches. If I won this one, I was a guaranteed contender for the Kebechet challenge.

  Elisa had decided strike. Unfortunately for her, she swung wide and left her rib cage exposed. I knocked away her arm with my left hand and hit her hard with the right. She staggered sideways, and I executed a quick kick that drove her down to her knees.

  We were both panting hard. Sweat drenched my hair and rolled down my face. Elisa was trying to get her breath back. The color had leached from her face, but she still looked determined to get up. I kicked again, landing a second blow her ribs. She groaned, and fell to the mat. If this was real combat, then I would do everything possible knockout my enemy, or kill him. But since this was only a competition, once our opponent was on the floor we were not allowed to inflict any further damage. I moved back, and waited. Elisa rolled to her hands and knees and tried to get to her feet. But her knees buckled and she fell forward, releasing a screech of pain.

  There was no crying in reaper school.

  The referee knelt next to Elisa, and counted to 10. He rose to his feet, and pointed at me. “Molly is the winner,” he declared.

  A medical technician rushed across the mat and began checking on Elisa. “Her ribs are bruised,” he said. “Let’s get her transported.” He waved toward another uniformed med tech rolled an ambulance cot toward them.

  “Is she going to be okay?” I asked.

  “She’ll live,” he said. Then he turned his full attention to securing Elisa.

  I turned away, and used my teeth to pick at the knot on my laces.

  “Don’t do it like that.”

  Startled at the nearness of the male voice, I looked up and saw Rath standing in front of me. He produced a towel and wiped off my face. Something about the gesture struck me as intimate—and I stepped back. Hurt still burned liked an ember in my chest.

  “What are you doing here?”

  He ignored my tone. “Watching you. You did great.”

  “Thanks … only someone else had to get hurt for me to win.”

  “You’ll have to get over that, Molly. When it comes to real fighting, your opponent will be trying to kill you.”

  “No mercy,” I uttered. “Right.” Irina/Anput’s oft-repeated advice clung to me like a bad smell: Be merciless. Got it. Leave emotions out of fighting. Empathy will cause hesitation, and hesitation is a weakness easily exploited.

  Rath loosened the knots on the laces and then helped me remove the boxing gloves. “You’re in,” he said. “All you have to do is win the official title of Kebechet.”

  “Yeah. No problem.” Naturally, Clarissa had won the other two matches, which meant we were the two top picks for the final challenges. But I’d always known that was what would happen, right?

  I took the gloves from Rath. “Thanks.”

  I wasn’t sure where I stood with Rath anymore. After our mind-blowing make-out session last night, he’d gone cold on me, and yet here he stood, like nothing had happened. I was tired, hot, grumpy, and starving. I certainly didn’t want to deal with a moody reaper—no matter how cute he was in those black jeans.

  I wanted to go take a quick shower in the girl’s facilities, and then go home. Not only was I supposed to return to school tomorrow, but also my grandparents had enrolled Ally into Nekyia, too. I refused to take that as a sign that they believed my dad would be sick for a long time—or not around at all to take care of my little sister. In any case, what did my family have in Vegas now? The house had been trashed, the Zomporium was burned to the ground, and they were in danger until … well, until whenever.

  “You sure about tonight?” Rath asked.

  I dismissed my thoughts and glanced at Rath. Barbie had texted all of us that she knew how to break Aunt Lelia’s binding spell, and we should be prepared to perform the ritual. We decided that meeting at my grandparent’s house probably wasn’t a good idea if we were going to deal with sheuts. So, we decided to take a trip into the woods near Nekyia, where Barbie knew of a clearing deep enough in the forest to keep us from alerting anyone at the school about our dangerous endeavor.

  “I’m very sure,” I said with a confidence I didn’t feel. “But it’s okay if you don’t want to show.”

  He grimaced, and I swear hurt flashed in his eyes before he looked away. “I’ll be there,” he said.

  “Cool. See you later.” I walked past Rath, trying very hard not to think about the way he had kissed me last night, about the way he made me feel. The confusion he caused made me feel uneasy. Anger surged, and erased the stomach-squeezing butterflies Rath’s presence always produced.

  Damn it. I wasn’t some yo-yo that he could yank around until he got bored and walked away.

  “Molly?”

  I paused, schooled my features, and looked over my shoulder. I tried for nonchalance. “Yeah?’

  He opened his mouth, took a look at my expression, and then shook his head. “Never mind.”

  Men! I didn’t bother saying good-bye again. I took off, practically into a run. I needed a hot shower and cold beverage—and a distraction from thinking about Rath.

  It turned out that the distraction was none other than Clarissa, who had won her matches earlier in the day. I’d expected she would. Although she sucked as a person, she was an excellent fighter and necromancer. Not that I would ever admit that to her.

  The gym facilities for the members of the Necros Society AKA the Chosen, were far superior to that of Nekyia Academy. We’re talking marble floors, glossy black athletic lockers, steam showers, saunas … you get the idea.

  Clarissa leaned against the locker next to mine. When she saw me striding toward her, she straightened.

  “What do you want?” I asked.

  “Hello to you, too,” she said.

  I twirled the combination on the lock and snapped it open. Clarissa put her hand against the locker before I could open it.

  “We need to talk,” she said.

  “About what?”

  “I didn’t put the soul box in your room, okay?”

  “Oh, really? You’re the only one who could’ve done it. You were in the alleyway. You saw me take the soul from the old lady.”

  She blanched. “Yeah, okay. I saw what you did. But I didn’t know about the soul box. Not until you accused my dad of trying to hurt you.” She returned to leaning against the locker and crossed her arms.“I’ve worked really hard to be chosen as the Kebechet. I wouldn’t jeopardize that by trying to cheat.”

  “Taking me out the competition would almost guarantee you were named the champion.”

  “If I can’t win on my own, then I don’t deserve the title.” She pushed away from the lockers and faced me. “Look, I told my dad about you taking the soul. I didn’t know about the box. Apparently, he did some digging of his own and reported you to the school. I didn’t know he had tried to get you expelled.”

  “Huh. It seems your daddy doesn’t think you can win on your own. How many other people has he sabotaged?”

  “None,” she said through gritted teeth. “He’s been a little on edge since you came to Nekyia.”

  “Why? I don’t even know your family.”

  “Yeah, well, he knew yours. Your mother doesn’t have the greatest rep around here.”

  “So what? At least she’s not sneaking around and finding ways to ice my competition.”

  Clarissa narrowed her eyes. “I don’t need anybody’s help. I just wanted to square things. When I beat you in the Kebechet challenge, it’ll be because I’m better than you are.”

 
; “And if I win?”

  Clarissa snorted. “As if.” Then she whirled around, her blonde ponytail bouncing, and strode away, fists clenched.

  Well, I’m glad we got that out of the way.

  I shouldn’t be surprised that Mr. Jacobs knew my family. I mean, that would make sense, if he was a Legacy at the same time my mom and aunt went to the academy. What did he know about them? And why did I make him nervous about his daughter becoming champion?

  Unless he knew … whoa.

  Did Mr. Jacobs know that I was the real daughter of Anubis? If he did, that would explain why he wanted to keep me out of the competition. Honestly? Clarissa was probably more prepared to be Kebechet than I was. She’d been training since forever, devoting her life to one clear objective: become the champion of Anubis. Obviously, her father had his own agenda and whatever his beef with my family, it seemed to me he was more interested in winning than in doing what was best—and right—for the Chosen. Maybe I hadn’t been training since kindergarten to kick butt like Clarissa, but I did have the blood of Anubis. And I had drive, willpower, and pure stubbornness to push me through whatever obstacles lay ahead.

  Still, I couldn’t help but wonder: Would Clarissa be the better Kebechet?

  Why would Clarissa want me to know she had nada to do with trying to oust me out of the Kebechet running? Was she really worried about her honor? I didn’t like to associate my enemy with anything noble or positive--because then it was difficult to hate someone who wasn’t all bad.

  Sheesh.

  “DO YOU KNOW where you’re going?” I asked.

  Rath, Ally, and I were following Barbie through the dark woods. We all had flashlights, but Barbie’s bright beam was the one bouncing along the trees as we descended to the clearing.

  “Is this a sacred space?” asked Ally.

  “No,” said Barbie. “A few years back, students smoking Wizard burned down this area. The school had the stumps removed and never replanted trees.”

  “What’s Wizard?”

  “Nothing you need to know about, Ally,” I said, sending Barbie a watch-your-mouth look. Ally didn’t need to the details about the necro version of marijuana (weed laced with magic).

  “I’m not a baby,” argued Ally. “I prefer to be informed, no matter the topic.”

  “Cool it, you two,” said Barbie. She offered Rath some candles. “Let’s get everything set up.”

  It took about fifteen minutes for us to get everything ready. We’d created a large circle with evenly spaced lit black candles, which were then ringed by a thick line of rock salt. Rock salt had a negative effect on supernatural elements and would keep the sheut bound within our circle.

  Or so Barbie said. Rath seemed to concur—at least about the salt thing.

  Without the flashlights on, the only light came from the tiny flames of the candles, and the nearly full moon above us. It was a crisply cold night and the wind blew just enough to flicker the candlelight, but not enough to be a threat to our proceedings.

  “Okay. Now what?” I asked.

  “You and I stand in the middle of the circle. I’ll use my blood to enact the calling-forth spell. We won’t have much time. Once your aunt arrives, we have to work quickly to break the bond. I’ll need your blood—twice—to release her from Set.”

  Rath and Ally stationed themselves outside of the circle. I felt their eyes zeroed in on me, especially the dark, worried gaze of Rath. You sure about tonight? His question echoed in my mind. I wasn’t sure. But one of the things I’d learned on this whole reaper journey was that action required faith. So, I stood where Barbie told me, focused on my breathing, and trusted that we were doing the right thing.

  I stood still, waiting for directions. Barbie lifted her arms, closed her eyes, and started chanting. I didn’t understand the words, but the rhythm was ancient, primal.

  Barbie started to sway.

  Glittery black magic unfurled from her uplifted palms, and she opened her eyes.Barbie’s eyeballs were completely black, except for irises of glowing purple. My heart skipped a beat. I was afraid to move, afraid to say anything, lest I distract Barbie. Still, in the moonlit clearing, with a gaze born of the Underworld, my friend looked menacing and dangerous.

  She withdrew a small silver blade from the satchel hanging from her side. She carved a thin line across her forearm, and I watched her blood well out of the wound and fall to the ground.

  “I call forth Lelia Briarstock,” she said in what sounded like an ethereal blend of female voices. Her command echoed into the dark sky above us, and I swore that the moon trembled. Her tone held a hypnotic power—one that I could feel vibrating in my bones, and worming through me, like disease … like death. I had no idea that Barbie was such a powerful necromancer.

  The gentle wind that had seemed calming seconds before now whipped into a frenzy. It turned so cold that I could see my breath puff into the frigid air.

  An inky cloud of mist formed between us. Barbie turned her otherworldly gaze toward the wavering form. She lowered her arms shoulder-level, and held her palms toward the sheut.

  “I give you sanctuary, Lelia Briarstock,” she intoned. “I offer thanks for your service to this world, and your soul peace in the afterlife.”

  My aunt’s sheut solidified. She turned to me, her gaze full of sorrow.

  “Oh, Molly,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “What have you done?”

  “Gods do not experience death, and so they often lack compassion for those who must die. It is not that the gods are without hearts, for they have love for the earth and its inhabitants. No. It is that the gods do not have souls. Without souls, they cannot experience life and therefore, cannot know compassion.”

  ~Secret History of Reapers, Author Unknown

  “And the Kebechet said unto Anubis, ‘Who am I? What is my purpose?’ And the great god of the Underworld replied, ‘You are the seventh warrior, the daughter of my heart and of my seed. You will save the world.’”

  ~Anubis and The Seventh Warrior, author unknown

  Chapter 14

  “WE’RE BREAKING YOU free from Set,” I said. “You won’t be in pain or have to worry about me anymore.”

  “No,” said Aunt Lelia. “Don’t do this!”

  “Set’s coming for me, no matter what I do,” I said. I was tired of feeling afraid, tired of wondering if I could handle my so-called destiny, and really damned tired of feeling like I was a failure. “We’re setting you free, Aunt Lelia.”

  “You are strong, Molly. But so is your mother. She’s been watching you. Waiting. You’re not safe anymore.” Tears slipped down her pale cheeks.

  “My mother?” I asked.

  “You were the sacrifice,” she whispered. “The heart of a god beats within you, Molly. You are the key to releasing Set.”

  “Me?” I asked, stunned. “I release him?”

  “When you were ten, Al found out the truth, and he forced your mother away. You’ve been protected ever since … until now.”

  “I’m supposed to save the world,” I whispered.

  “You can also damn it,” said Aunt Lelia. “I’m sorry, Molly. I’m so sorry.”

  “We can’t wait any longer,” hissed Barbie. Her purple gaze was wavering. “Give me your arm.”

  I lifted my left arm and Barbie drew her sharp blade across my skin.

  “Blood of the binder,” said Barbie.

  Blood seeped from the thin stinging wound and I watched blood drop to the ground where Lelia’s sheut wavered. Her gaze was on mine. Her sorrow was palpable.

  “Blood of the releaser,” said Barbie.

  I lifted my right arm. Once again, the knife pierced me. This time the sting was more pronounced, and the wound deeper. Blood splattered the ground, mingling earth and sheut.

  “With the blessing of Anubis, the compassion of Maat, and the love of Isis, I free thy soul’s shadow, Lelia Briarstock. Unite with your soul once more and find peace everlasting.”

  Aunt Lelia wept as she faded
away, slipping into shadow, and then into nothingness.

  Barbie released a huge sigh, and sank to her knees, dropping the knife.

  I bent down and grasped her shoulders. “Are you all right?”

  “Yeah,” said Barbie. “I’m just tired.” She glanced at my arms. “You need bandages, here.” She handed me two large bandages and helped me put them on my wounds. Then I helped her.

  “That was wild,” I said.

  “What your aunt said … I used to think my gift sucked,” said Barbie. “But you have it a hundred times worse.”

  “Molly!”

  The fear in Ally’s voice had me getting to my feet and twisting my ring, mentally calling for my scythe.

  It was too late.

  My mother stood between Rath and Ally. Rath hovered about a foot above the ground, his eyes bulging and breathing labored as he tried to fight my mother’s magic.

  She had Ally by the hair.

  My mother was much as I remembered her, except her eyes and smile were hard, and her blonde hair cut very short. She wore the hooded leather jacket, and I recognized it instantly.

  She seemed to interpret my expression. “Yes, I followed you into your precious temple. I never expected Mac Jacobs to send me away. He’s not exactly a fan of our family.”

  “Mom, let them go.”

  “I don’t think I will. But, hey, thanks for getting rid of my big sis,” she said. “She was really making it difficult to get to you. Oh, and your so-called father. After you left, all those protection spells of his were weakened … and then there was that awful fire. How is dear Al, by the way?”

  I wanted to hurt her.

  I wanted to hurt my own mother.

  “What do you want?” I asked.

  Mom shook her head. “Weren’t you listening to Lelia’s confession? I want you.” She pulled Ally’s hair so hard my sister screamed. “Get out of the circle.”

  “Stop! She’s your daughter, too,” I said.

  “She’s a mistake,” said my mother. “And if you don’t think I can’t hurt your reaper boyfriend … think again.”