by M. R. Polish
I concentrated on the spirit energy, bringing it to the earthly surface, opening my eyes in time to see the spirits materialize out of the air.
Ian stopped in mid-stride near the bodies. “I can’t believe it, she did it.”
“You doubted her?” Bry defended me as he walked past Ian, looking his spirit double up and down, nodding. “Wow, that’s incredible.”
I smiled at his praise while I focused on the spirits, using a spell to make them to go outside and distract the vampires.
Jarak lowered his voice as we watched them walk outside. “Ready?”
I nodded. I wasn’t, but I wouldn’t say it aloud. I needed to be strong. Ailaina came over and took my hand. “We can get through this. I’ve seen this before, like déjà vu.”
I squeezed her hand. “You don’t have to go outside, you should stay here.”
“And what? Stay in here like a coward, I don’t think so. You’re stuck with me.”
I should have known that would be her response. I smiled at her for what it was worth. She was the closest thing I had to a sister. I couldn’t lose her, or worse, watch her turn into a vampire. Her life wasn’t something I was willing to take a chance on.
I scanned the room. Bry nodded as I looked his way as if he knew what I thought. I looked back at her. “I’m sorry, I love you.”
I raised my other hand, with my palm facing her, and put her into an unconscious sleep, like the one Victor did to me on the plane. Her eyes shut, and she slumped down. Bry caught her right before she hit the floor. She was going to yell, scream, and hate me when she woke from her coma state, but it would be worth saving her life. I couldn’t fight with her outside, knowing she could be in trouble.
Bry carried her upstairs to the bed so she’d be out of sight and came back down.
“You did a good thing, Princess,” Ian said as he rummaged around in his bag.
Loud screams and thuds filled the once peaceful mountain air. “I think it’s time.” My body went numb with apprehension.
“Alright, let’s do this.” Ian picked up his machete and stakes, marching outside first with his wolf, never looking back. He had a lot of brass, I’d give him that. He seemed fearless and brave, and something about that drew me to him. He made me feel like if I stayed with him, nothing would happen to me.
Bry followed him outside before me. Once I stepped down on the dirt, I looked around and was stunned. There were headless and bleeding bodies everywhere. Our spirit doppelgangers were attacking each vampire with vengeance. This made it easier to stake the vampires since they were distracted. I couldn’t believe how many there were. They were everywhere. There was obviously more than just the missing tourists. I tried to swallow, but my mouth was too dry. Nicholas was serious about killing me.
I searched around, but didn’t see Nicholas. My heart caught in my throat as I spotted Meadow walking toward me. An evil grin spread across her face.
Oh no. Please don’t make me be the one who kills her. Luna growled with a snarl, showing her fangs. Meadow did the same and lunged for us.
I could feel Luna brush past me with fiery strength. She and Meadow rolled on the ground together. Another blur sped past me, and Jarak dashed after it with Maztic. I stood alone, and watched the chaos unfold around me.
“Hello, Esmerelda.” I knew that voice. It made my blood freeze. I turned slowly.
Everyone else was busy with their own fight. This one was unfortunately mine.
“We’ve never been formally introduced. My name is Alex. I like to have my victims know my name before I kill them.”
I raised my eyes for a split second toward the sky. “Why me?”
It was the same man Nicholas always sent after me. The airport, in Spain… A wicked grin showed his crooked teeth. “Nicholas sent me to get you.”
“No.” I scooted back, and tried to place more distance between us. Focus, I need to focus.
“You would’ve been treated like a queen beside Nicholas.”
“Like my mom, Adonia? He took her away from my dad as a hostage. Twice.”
“He needed you. What was he supposed to do?” He sauntered toward me, down the hillside.
I looked over and saw Bry fall to the ground. My heart hurt for him. He was here fighting because of me. He came for me, and I didn’t have time make sure he was okay.
I glanced back at my attacker, not wanting my eyes to stray for too long. My throat constricted. The Tranquility Spell was gone, but I couldn’t waste my magic on myself, I needed it to defend those I loved.
He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. You’ll never find Adonia.”
“You're wrong. And when I do, we’ll resurrect the five witches.” Even though he wasn’t a vampire, I reached around to the stake I had tucked in my pocket and grasped it tightly, but made sure to keep my hand hidden as we walked around in a wide circle, never turning my back to him.
His face blanched, but I didn’t waste time goading. I released the energy that built up inside of me. Lightning cracked across the sky, causing ear-deafening booms.
“That’s it? I thought you’d have more. Everyone thinks you’re so extraordinary. Prove it. Because even I can do better than that.”
I could feel the energy around me get heavy and thick with electricity. I tested the waters, needing to see what elements he could and couldn’t control. It didn’t matter to me because I had all five on my side, and I could feel them all alive inside of me, itching to be released.
I stood still. He knew what I was capable of. I could see it in his eyes. “What’s the matter? Scared?”
He grinned. “No. I just think it’s funny that you think you can kill me.”
“Oh, I will. And then Nicholas will have to fight me himself because all his precious creations will no longer be alive.”
I threw the stake in my hand straight at him. He moved to block it but wasn’t fast enough. It speared him in his side. He oozed with blood, but it wasn’t good enough. I knew he’d heal quickly, just as I had.
I didn’t pay enough attention because a wall of fire surrounded me. I wanted to laugh at the feeble attempt to stop me. Fire was one my greater strengths, but instead of using it, I summoned the water from the creek behind us and flooded the ground.
I needed to get closer to him, or I’d never get him down. It was now or never. Running straight at him, I talked him, sending both of us to mud. Each time I pushed out with my power, he withdrew. I reached for another stake behind my back and pressed it hard into his neck. That was for the poor girl who died on the cabin floor and all innocent people who turned into vampires. He pulled it out as if it was just an annoying splinter. A boisterous rumble of thunder filled the air with each new breath I took. The angrier I got, the louder the roaring explosions in the sky became. The voltage that filled the air came from a separate element, one I haven’t identified yet; it was more of a mixture of all of the five elements, wrapped into one.
He rolled me onto my back and I threw him off, using his own magic against him, restraining him against a tree. I was stronger than he was. I just needed to dig deep enough to find it. The energy around me sizzled with electricity, and the thunder crackled continuously.
Walking closer, I reached out again, almost grasping him, but he grabbed my arms, causing me to lose focus and threw me backwards. I landed on my back, and the wind was knocked from my chest. I laid there trying to catch my breath. The sky echoed my rhythm and lightning danced in zipping patterns to the ground.
He loomed over me. “You’re not good enough.”
That’s what he thought. Reaching up, I pushed him away, placing a protective shield around myself. In that same second, I knew something was different. I could feel it. Luna.
My breathing became rapid as I sensed a shift in myself. My whole body tingled, and I reached for my magic, throwing Alex against another tree.
I cried out as a shudder ran through me, followed by sharp stinging. I bent over trying to catch my breath. I. Can’t. Let. Alex. G
o. My mind yelled with each short gasp of air.
“You can’t hold on. You’re too weak,” he growled.
I jerked my head up, staring into his eyes. “I am not weak!”
“Luna, are you okay?” I reached out to her in my mind, scared for her well-being.
“Meadow bit me, but I’ll be okay.”
That must be what I felt, the venom in Luna’s body after Meadow bit her. I blocked it out, knowing I couldn’t focus with that much pain, and trusting Luna that she’d be okay. I kept my hand held out, my palm facing my attacker.
He tried worming his way out of my magical hold, but it was no use. His face turned ashen as I whispered, out of breath, “Into the light, nothing can hide, mori, mori, mortem ad te aeternum.” Die, die, death to you forever. It was a spell only a witch could use who controlled all five elements.
He disintegrated into a flash of light. Sparkles of blues and greens floated to the ground. I fell down on all fours. Jarak rushed up behind me at that same moment.
“Es!” His hand rested on the small of my back.
I nodded. “Where’s Luna? She’s been bitten.”
He helped me to stand up. “I haven’t seen her. Can you feel her?”
I reached out with my mind, but her presence was gone. “No.”
“Maztic!” Jarak called out.
Maztic materialized in front of us.
“Have you seen Luna? I can’t feel her.” I wanted to cry, what if something were truly wrong and I blocked her out?
Ian came running up the hill. “You need to come here, fast!” He ran back down toward the house.
We followed. Luna lay on the front porch, blood seeping from many bite marks on her body. Her once clean white and grey fur was red, matted with thick blood and pussy venom seeped from each bite. It bubbled, dripping onto the wooden deck, fizzing like acid and staining the porch with black evil corroded spots.
My eyes blurred, and I couldn’t see anything through my tear streaked vision. I dropped next to her. “Luna.” I reached my hand out to touch her but stopped short, afraid I would hurt her more. My breath became in short gasps as the tears fell. Rain broke free from the sky, Mother Nature mimicking my pain.
I looked up at Jarak. “What do I do? Tell me how to fix her!”
He shook his head. “I don’t know.”
Ian jumped up on the porch along with his wolf. He hovered a hand over the full length of Luna, then ran inside and within seconds came back out carrying a knife and a bowl.
“Oh no, you are not cutting my wolf!” I started after him, but Jarak caught my arms and held me back.
“Give him a chance, Es, we don’t have any other options.”
Ian narrowed his eyes at me. “I’ve gotta get the venom out. It’s like a rattlesnake bite, cut, suck and spit. They can’t turn into a vampire wolf, but too much venom can kill them.”
I lowered my face down to Luna’s and ran my hand over her head. “It’ll be okay.”
A small whimper came from her, but I still couldn’t hear her in my mind. It was like she cut off our bond to save me from the pain.
Ian’s wolf came and nudged my arm. I leaned onto him and reached out, grasping his black fur.
Ian took the knife and held it out. “Could you do the honors? I have no magic.”
I stared at the knife in his hands with wide eyes. “Do what?”
“I need you to spell the knife to extract the poison as I cut. It’ll make it easier to get it out.”
Nodding, I stretched my shaking hand over the blade. “Blessing be on the blade this day, that it takes the venom all away, healing energy I give to thee and keep it near, heal the one who I hold dear.” A tear slipped down my face, and I wiped it away with the back of my hand. I kept an eye on the blade, watching as it began to glow red as if it lay in a fire.
Ian moved Luna’s fur finding the first bite. He took the knife and sliced her skin. She didn’t even flinch. It worried me. Black venom boiled to the surface and expelled from her body. He did the same thing to all the bite marks then leaned in and sucked the horrid venom from her body, spitting it out as he went along each one. He might be a jerk, but in that moment, I held more respect for him than almost anyone in the world.
He sat back, wiping his mouth on his shirttail. “Your spell was strong enough that I didn’t have to suck much of it out. She should be better in a day or two.” He spit again. “Vampire venom is nasty stuff.”
I leaned over and touched his arm, letting my hand linger there as if it belonged. “Thank you.”
Jarak moved beside me, eying me and Ian before picking Luna up carefully. “We should get her inside.” I nodded and got up to follow.
“You did good.”
“Thank you,” I replied, not thinking about who said it.
“I’m pretty sure Dregan was talking to me.” Ian stood up straight, his wolf at his side.
“But I heard…” I looked over at Maztic. “Wasn’t it you?”
“No, it wasn’t,” Maztic admitted.
“Then who? I can’t hear Luna right now…” I swallowed hard. The only other wolf was Ian’s.
“What’s going on?” I asked Ian as Jarak came back outside.
Jarak looked at both of us. “Yeah, what is going on?”
Ian gave a half-smile. “Don’t worry brother, I guess it just means she’s fair game.”
Ugh! “I am not a game, or a prize for that matter!”
“Well, you can hear Maztic and Dregan, so I would say that means either of us could be with you.” Ian’s smug look made me want to hit him.
“Esmerelda!” A woman cried out.
I spun around. Who could possibly need me now? A couple hiked up the mountain, a large white wolf with them.
I pushed the energy out and placed a barrier between them and us. A wall of flames shot up and stopped them from progressing any further.
“Wait…” I turned around at hearing Bry’s voice.
He leaned against one of the wooden braces to the house, grasping his left side with his arm, grimacing in pain. “Wait,” he said again.
I rushed over to him. “Dad… Are you okay?”
Jarak was right beside me and helped to get him to the chairs on the porch.
“It’s your mom…” He winced again as he sat down.
I shook my head. “What?”
“Adonia, it’s her.” He used his head to nod in the direction of the couple walking up the mountain.
I looked back down and saw the couple walking through a break in the fire. Relinquishing all of the flames, I let down the protection spell.
I could see them clearer and my hand flew to my mouth. I looked just like her. Long red hair flowed down her back. It was my dream from when I was little. I saw this so many times in my dreams. How did I not recognize it?
“Es, wait, it could be another trap.” Jarak grabbed my arm, stopping me.
I squirmed out of it, breaking free of his hold. Ian grasped Jarak’s arm. “Let her go.”
Dashing off the porch, I ran to meet them.
Adonia held her arms out and ran, catching me in her embrace. “Esmerelda, my sweet Esmerelda!” Tears streamed down her face. I held on to her tight, not wanting to let go.
Torres enveloped both of us in his arms, hugging tightly. We stood there for what seemed like hours. I pushed back first. She brought her hand to my face and held it there. “I can’t believe we found you. This last month we were able to feel you close by. It was the first time since Meadow took you away from us. We went everywhere we felt the pull, including Spain, but everywhere we went the feeling was cold. We pressed on, knowing we couldn’t give up. Then Luna was the first to break through the wall we had up and talked to Hela. We came as quickly as we could.”
I bit my bottom lip. I wasn’t sure what I should say. It felt so right, so natural, yet so strange. I’d dreamed of them so many nights of my life that I knew them in my heart. But, it was weird to think they were my parents.
Oh,
no, Bry…
I turned and spotted him doubled over on the porch, falling out of the chair. “Jarak! My dad!” I ran.
Jarak caught him before he hit the ground and laid him on his back. His shirt became soaked in blood, even more than when he first came up on the porch. I went to my knees and held his hand. Adonia and Torres were right behind me.
“Esmerelda, I’m sorry… for everything.” He gasped for more air. “Torres, Adonia, I’m sorry I couldn’t bring her home… but I kept her safe.” His eyes shut.
“No!” I placed my hand on his side where the blood seeped through. The heat from my magic radiated into him. Please work, please work. I didn’t want him to die. I leaned in closer, but a sick feeling overtook me, and I needed to back away.
A hand on my shoulder caused me to turn and look. Adonia’s lips tightened before speaking. “It’s poison. It will only hurt you to try.”
I snapped my head back to Bry. A gurgle sounded in his throat. I wanted to help him. Then the world around me stopped and stood still as I noticed his chest stopped rising. I pushed my energy harder. Jarak leaned over with me and started CPR. Nothing. I never moved my hand, until the spirit energy pushed back at me, letting me know it no longer flowed into him.
Tears streamed down my face, and I didn’t want to breathe anymore.
Adonia shook her head. “I’m sorry, Esmerelda.”
I slumped and let the grief overtake me. I stared at his limp body. With every start there is a finish, and with every death a new beginning. I found my blood parents, only to lose the one parent I loved.
Silently, I rose and walked to the house. I needed to see Luna. I could hear footsteps follow behind me, murmuring, but I paid no attention. Ian sat with Luna on the couch, Dregan dutifully beside him. He looked up at me as I drifted toward them.
I vaguely shook my head, mumbling. “He didn’t make it.”
He lowered his gaze. “I’m sorry.”
I knelt beside Luna, and she quivered. Her eyes were open. “Esmerelda…”