Rise and Fall

by A. L. Kessler

  “That’s right. Though why he wants a pain in the ass like you is beyond me. It’s not even guaranteed that your magic will still be there after you’re changed. Or that you’ll stay sane.”

  “So he sent you to get me?” I asked, holding my arms out. I had my gun still holstered and the blades I’d taken to the club. Magic wasn’t my only weapon tonight. No, tonight, I could shoot her ass. I glanced around. “And with no Mario? Not hiding behind your fledgling tonight?”

  She smiled and stepped away from the circle. “Just me tonight. I didn’t want your lover to see me hurt you again. He already mourned you when he saw you stop breathing. I didn’t want to let him know that you’re alive.”

  Holy shit. Mario thought I was dead. What a bitch. “Just another reason for him to hate you.”

  I stepped through the circle and smiled at her. My magic gathered around me, and I shoved it through the earth under me, breaking any rune that she might have hidden there.

  Merick stepped to my side. No magic yet, but he was a comfort, waiting to see what I could and couldn’t handle.

  “It’s time someone put you in your place, Hannah.” I called my red and purple whip to my hand and let the tail curl by my feet, crackling.

  She cackled. “And you’re going to do it? You’re nothing but a baby compared to me.” Her magic lashed out. I shoved my magic out and it bounced hers to the side.

  She looked a little surprised. “No circle?”

  “You taught me how to deflect with magic without a complete circle. Don’t you remember that lesson?” I snapped the whip at her stomach, just testing her for the moment.

  She jumped out of the way. “I hadn’t thought you mastered it.”

  “There are a lot of things I learned that you aren’t aware of.” I grinned and let fire wrap around the whip. “Come at me, Hannah.”

  A worried look briefly crossed her face, but she called a black ball of magic to her hand. “The difference between you and me, Abigail, is I’m willing to play with black magic, and you aren’t.”

  She threw the blast at me, and I jumped to the side. It bounced off my circle, and I felt it vibrate through me. I needed to move so that anything I dodged didn’t hit it and bring it down.

  I took a deep breath and used the transportation spell to appear behind her. She swung around faster than I expected, and I hadn’t quite recovered.

  Her next blast of magic hit my shoulder, driving me back into the dirt. My arm tingled, but I shook the pain off. She was still testing, teasing almost, like she was waiting for something.

  Backup, I bet. I threw a ball of fire at her. I wasn’t playing anymore.

  She put her arms up to block the fire, growling at me as it burned her sleeves. “Abigail, always depending on her magic, her element.” She disappeared and reappeared in front of me. Her magic weaved around me, freezing me in place.

  I watched her closely as she put her hand against my cheek. She wasn’t playing around anymore, either. I met her gaze as I gathered my magic to break through her hold. I just needed her distracted long enough to get through it.

  A second later, she jerked and cried out. I looked up to see Merick standing there. I smirked as Hannah turned around to keep him busy. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I focused on the feeling of her magic, wrapped mine around it, and shoved out. Her hold broke, and I opened my eyes to find her with her hand wrapped around Merick’s throat.

  “So you can break my hold now.” She glared at me over Merick’s head. “This one here is becoming a thorn in my side. You’ve made some powerful friends, Abigail. But we all must make sacrifices during war. So… shall I kill him?” Her hand tightened around his throat and Merick went extremely still.

  “Let him go, Hannah. This is between you and me.” I tried to stay calm. Merick’s face paled as he struggled to breathe.

  Hannah laughed. “I can kill him by breaking his neck. Or letting him suffocate.”

  I shook my head. “You won’t be killing him.” I snaked my magic out, but kept my eyes on Hannah. I had to do this right, or I was going to get Merick killed. “Let him go.”

  She smirked and raked her nails across Merick’s throat. He fell to the ground, and I had no idea if she’d killed him or not, but at that point, my anger exploded.

  I shot my hand out and wrapped her in a red circle. Two smaller circles wrapped around her feet, holding her in place. “Zayne, get Merick.”

  There was no protest. The vampire appeared and then disappeared. I stalked up to Hannah, my gaze never leaving her face. “You guys have fucked with the people I care about too many times.”

  “You won’t kill me with magic, Abigail.” She sounded so confident, and in that moment, she was right. I wouldn’t kill her… with magic.

  The spell shattered and my magic shot back into me. Hannah darted toward me, and I barely had a moment to think. I pulled the first knife from my side and stabbed her in the chest. Allowing her momentum to drive the blade through her ribs and up into her heart. “You’re right. I won’t kill you with magic,” I hissed in her ear and turned the blade. “Also, I never fucked Mario. Your jealousy was all for nothing.”

  I twisted the blade again, and she stumbled backwards. Her eyes widened before she collapsed to the ground, completely and totally lifeless.

  “I leave you for two minutes and you kill someone.” Zayne’s voice brought me out of whatever headspace I was still in.

  Hannah’s body was still laying where it fell, though part of me was expecting for her to jump up again. I glanced at him. “Merick?” My throat tightened as I asked.

  “Simon’s tending to him now. He’ll live.”

  Relief flooded through me. “I wasn’t sure how deep the wounds were.”

  “Not as deep as they could have been.” Zayne put a hand on my shoulder. “Are you okay?”

  I took inventory of my physical damage and found very little. Magically, I was tired, but I’d been more worn out before. At least I wasn’t cold. “I’m shaken a little, but I’ll be okay.”

  He studied me for a moment. “One down.”

  I nodded. “One down.” We walked back to the house.

  “We need someone from the council to get Mario. I don’t know if he’s in good enough shape to leave Hannah’s territory on his own.”

  Zayne nodded. “Once we get inside, I’ll call Catalina and let her know what’s going on.”

  “Good.” I opened the door. “We need to make sure he’s tended to as well. I think Levi normally arranges that for him.”

  “We’ll make sure it happens.” We walked in and I found Merick and Simon siting at the dining room table.

  Merick gave me a small wave. His throat had a bandage on it, taped on either side, but there was at least color on his face. “Thanks for the distraction.”

  He nodded and then winced. “She’s a lot faster than I realized.”

  “Was,” I stated. “She’s gone now.”

  Merick smirked. “Magic?”

  “No, I shoved a knife into her heart.” I shrugged. “I could have killed her with magic. I was so angry when I thought she killed you, but I wasn’t past the point of logic and morals. Not yet.”

  Merick nodded. “Go clean your blade off. We’ll take care of Hannah’s body.” He motioned to him and Simon.

  “I’m going to go take a hot shower, too. I have blood on me.” I let out an ‘ick’ noise and headed upstairs.

  If anyone said anything to me as I walked away, I didn’t hear it. I was focusing on getting cleaned up and cleaning off my blade. I pulled out what I needed and zoned out while I went through the cleaning.

  Hannah was gone. Mario was safe. But Samuel was still out there, and I knew he was going to be furious that I killed Hannah. I essentially took out one of his lieutenants. I wasn’t stupid enough to think Hannah was the only vampire by his side, but she was a large part of his plan.

  I held the blade up to the light to make sure I removed all the blood before putting it back i
nto its sheath. I removed my gun and other blade and put them in the safe.

  What I needed was a hot shower and a few moments to become calm again. Merick was okay. Simon wasn’t near the danger. And Zayne had everything else taken care of. I could afford twenty minutes to myself.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  I came back downstairs to find Catalina sitting on my couch, talking to Merick and Simon.

  “Oh, sorry, had I known you were coming, I wouldn’t have gotten into PJs,” I muttered and sat down by Simon.

  Catalina shook her head. “I’m not staying long. I just wanted to help get rid of Hannah’s corpse and make sure she they properly dismembered her.”

  I wrinkled my nose at that. She meant that someone chopped Hannah’s head off. I’d done the job of destroying the heart. “Yeah, she’s well and truly dead now.”

  “She is. And I see everyone survived the encounter.”

  I nodded. “Luckily. It got a little dicey when she had her hand around Merick’s throat. But look, really, I just want you guys to get Mario and I want to curl up with Simon for the rest of the night. Is that too much to ask?”

  “No, it’s not. Good job with Hannah. I’m sure Mario will want to see you when he’s ready.”

  I nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

  Simon wrapped his arm around me, and I wasn’t sure if it was because we were talking about Mario or if it was because he could sense my stress.

  Catalina stood. “I’ll see you later.” She disappeared, and I leaned my head on Simon’s shoulder.

  He didn’t say anything as he played with the tips of my hair and held me. Merick picked up his book, but then paused.

  “Abby, you need to eat something.”

  I sighed and nodded. “I’ll figure it out in a few minutes. I’m too tired to move right now.”

  Simon snorted. “Here, I’ll go warm up some leftovers for you.” He moved and covered me with a blanket before going to the kitchen.

  Merick watched me for a moment. “Thank you for sending Zayne to my side.”

  “Thank you for the much-needed distraction.” I smiled. “I thought she had you. I swore your wounds were deep, and I was going to have to tell your sister I got you killed.” My voice hitched a little.

  He shook his head. “I’ll be fine. I’m glad you escaped her grasp and now she’s dead.”

  “And Mario is safe. And she’s one less crazy vampire I have to worry about.”

  Merick nodded and went to his book. Simon came in with a plate of leftovers and handed it to me.

  I sat up to eat and was about halfway through with it when my phone rang. I let out a long sigh and answered it.

  “Yeah?”

  “Abigail, can Merick get you to Levi’s?” Zayne’s voice came across the receiver.

  “Yeah, everything okay?” I stood and motioned to Merick that we needed to go.

  Zayne hesitated. “Not really. I can’t get Mario to feed.”

  My heart pounded at that. “What?”

  “He’s refusing blood. Please get here.”

  I put my phone in my pocket. “Merick, we need to get to Levi’s now. Simon, you can come, or you can stay.”

  The look on his face said he clearly heard the conversation. “I’m not letting you go there alone. Are you nuts? If he’s not feeding, he’s blood-starved.”

  “He won’t attack me.” I hoped. “He thinks I’m dead. He’ll probably think I’m a ghost.”

  Simon paled a bit. “Abby…”

  I held my hand out to him. “Come on.”

  He wrapped his fingers around mine, and Merick put a hand on Simon’s shoulder. A moment later, we were standing in Levi’s foyer. I kicked my shoes off and Zayne came down the hall. “Come on. See if you can talk some sense into him.”

  I followed Zayne down the hallway. Merick and Simon were at my back. I stopped outside the room I’d only been in once and it was because I was sneaking around.

  Now the board I’d seen tracking my mom’s murder was gone. Mario was laying in the bed, a woman next to him, with blood dotting her wrist. She held it up to his lips. “You need to feed.” Panic punctuated her words.

  I couldn’t see his face and his voice was barely a whisper. “No.”

  “Mario, you need to feed.” I stepped up. When he heard my voice, he tried to shoot out of the bed. Nearly falling to the floor.

  “Abigail,” he gasped.

  His face looked sunken and gray, almost like his skin would split if he didn’t feed. His eyes were red, his fangs damn near protruding from his mouth. “You’re dead.”

  I shook my head. “That bitch couldn’t kill me, and you know it. Hannah is dead. You can feel it.”

  He met my gaze and nodded. I took a step closer. “Sit down and feed. Your donor is worried about you. I’m worried about you.”

  His eyes seemed to go unfocused for a moment. “You’re bleeding.”

  Fuck, my shoulder. “Just a wound. Nothing bad. Your donor is right there. Take her wrist.”

  The woman put her wrist back near his mouth, but his eyes locked on me. It happened too fast for me to see. Mario had me pinned against the wall. His hand tore my sleeve and bandage off, and he licked the blood from my shoulder.

  Merick and Simon moved, but Zayne held his arm out. “No.”

  I gave a small nod to let the two know I was okay. The feeling of Mario’s tongue moving over the rune was weird and unfamiliar, but it wasn’t painful. Despite being blood-starved, he was gentle.

  “I’ve always wanted to feed from you,” Mario muttered. “But Levi forbids his people from feeding on witches.” Another lap of his tongue. “Levi’s not here. You are.”

  There was something in his voice, some deeper meaning. I swallowed. “That’s enough, Mario. As Princess, I demand you use your donor.”

  He paused for a moment and stepped back. “Abigail.” He sounded so confused and lost.

  “Use your donor, please. Let her help you. We can talk after you’re well-fed.” My heart pounded in my chest.

  “Hannah…”

  “She’s dead Mario. She can’t hurt you anymore.”

  But we both know she’d still haunt him, and I could see that in his eyes.

  He turned and slowly sat back on the bed. Holding his hand out, he looked at his donor. “Please, it would be an honor to feed from you.”

  I turned around before I could see him feed from the woman.

  Simon came up to me. “He’s not himself.”

  “No, of course not. Hannah starved him and who knows what wounds he’s actually carrying.” I thought about how unfocused his eyes were. “He wasn’t really seeing me.” I took a deep breath. “The council will make sure he heals.”

  Zayne nodded. “Of course. Thank you for your aid. I’m going to go supervise him.”

  I walked to the kitchen with Simon by my side. Merick was already in there. I wasn’t sure when he left the room after Mario pinned me to the wall. But he was looking through the cupboards.

  “Everything is still empty then?” I asked and sat down at the breakfast bar.

  He nodded. “Yeah, but now there’s more activity. Mario, the donor, Zayne…”

  “No Catalina or any actual council members,” I muttered and rubbed my eyes. “We’ve got what? A handful of hours before dawn?”

  “About five, maybe six.” Merick nodded. “Let’s head back home, and get that,” he motioned to my arm. “Covered back up.”

  “Then relax the rest of the night.” Simon pulled me close. “And sleep.”

  Sleep sounded wonderful right now. “Deal.”

  Merick was reaching out to me when Mario came stumbling into the kitchen. His face looked a little better, more living human than corpse colored. His eyes were wide, but no longer red.

  “You need to be resting.” I stared at him, staying still because I wasn’t sure what if he was still unaware of the world around him.

  “You’re alive.” He slowly limped toward me, supporting himself on counters,
walls, chairs, whatever he could use to get to me.

  I stayed very still when he put both his hands on my cheeks. His cold fingertips brushed over my skin and his face crumpled.

  “I thought she had killed you.”

  “No, she tried. She failed. And now she’s dead.”

  He stared at me, studying me as if I was going to disappear before his eyes. “I swore your ghost visited me while I was there. Telling me to just give up. Give into her and die.”

  “Since when was I one to tell someone to give up?” I asked, keeping my voice light. “I’m right here. And I’m alive.”

  “And not a vampire?”

  I laughed. “And not a vampire.” I slowly removed his hands from my face. “Go start your recovery. I’m going to go home and get some rest.”

  He nodded and limped his way out of the kitchen. Simon raised a brow. “I thought he wanted you to become a vampire.”

  “He does, but not at Hannah’s hand.” I shook my head. “Okay, come on, let’s go before someone else decides that they need to talk to me.”

  Merick chuckled and put a hand on my shoulder. Once again, the world disappeared, and we reappeared at the house.

  I collapsed on the couch with a sigh. Simon shook his head. “Come on, upstairs, into bed.”

  I glanced up at him. “Okay, okay.” He helped me off the couch. Merick was far ahead of us and already upstairs.

  Simon got a new bandage on my arm before pulling me into the bed. I grabbed the blanket to cover us. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me gently. I let myself sink into his warmth and his comfort because that’s what I needed right now.

  “It’s been a long day,” I muttered.

  “And a long night. Go to sleep, Abby, give in,” he whispered. “You can’t protect anyone if you’re exhausted.”

  My eyes fluttered shut, although I didn’t want them to. Simon was right. I needed sleep, but I really just wanted to lie there and enjoy him for a bit.

  When my eyes opened, the warmth of Simon had gone, and I was back in Ira’s castle, sitting in the throne he made for me. I wasn’t tied to it this time, and Ira was nowhere to be found.