Tala Prophecy: The Complete Series

by Tia Silverthorne Bach

  Zarya was taller than Ariana, almost as tall as Papa, and had olive skin, black hair, and golden eyes like nothing Reagan had ever seen before.

  “With our combined gifts, we have a chance, but we have much work to do,” Zarya said.

  “Shall we go then?” Winona asked.

  “Wait, I want to have a word with Lucent, if I may,” Reagan said.

  Everyone nodded.

  “Can you give us a minute?” she asked when nobody moved.

  “Only a minute,” Papa said. “We need to get going.”

  “I’ll stay with Reagan, and we’ll be right behind you,” Rowan said, and then turned to her. “Is that okay with you?”

  She nodded, bolstered by his support, and made eye contact with Lucent. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but I hope you’ll join us in three nights.”

  His eyes narrowed, as he seemed to consider her request. “I’ve already spoken with Jed about it and will continue to. We need to attack and catch Rafe off guard. I think the three ladies who came with me will be able to help you find him.”

  “Thank you.” She felt even more relief than she expected that he’d agreed to help.

  “No, it’s I who should thank you. You’ve brought something into my life that has long been missing.”

  Arching her eyebrow, she started to ask him to explain, but he spoke first.

  “Now, go. I’ll be in contact.”

  And he was gone.

  “Guess we should go then,” Reagan said. “Will we shift?” She couldn’t help but wonder how the witches would keep up with them.

  “Yes.”

  They caught up to Winona and Papa within minutes, but their new friends were nowhere to be found.

  “Where are Zarya, Ariana, and Nina?” Reagan asked Winona.

  “Look around. Do you not see them?”

  Concentrating on her surroundings, Reagan jolted at a coyote’s howl, saw a flash of fur leaping in and out of view, and heard the screech of a large bird.

  “Shape shifters?” Reagan asked, astonished she could still be surprised.

  She wished she could high-five Nana and Cecilia. So much of the team had been taken from them, but they still had a lot on their side.

  For the first time in many days, Reagan saw victory again.

  Once back home, Reagan and Winona introduced the ladies to Aunt Sarah, Mom, Jessica, and Madeleine.

  “I sense great power here,” Ariana said. “It will take all of us to defeat Otaktay. He must go down first, because Rafe will, no doubt, have him on the front line as a shield.”

  “I wish Father were here,” Winona said.

  “But don’t you know, he is. Just like Nana, Cecilia, and Sasha. I believe they’ll all be with us,” Mom said.

  “Our best bet is to locate Rafe so we can attack first,” Nina said.

  “A locator spell. That makes sense.” Aunt Sarah joined in, pacing the room. “But to do that we would need—”

  “His blood.” Jessica stepped forward. “Which you have.”

  Reagan wondered how Jessica knew the key to the spell.

  “And who are you?” Zarya asked.

  “I am Rafe’s daughter, but my mother was an amazing woman, with powers much like all of you.”

  “Your blood may benefit us in many ways,” Ariana suggested, but she offered no further details.

  “I’ll do whatever I have to in order to make sure he pays for everything he’s done.” Jessica stood tall, her chin jutting forward.

  “That’s good to hear,” Ariana said.

  “Tell us more about Otaktay. If I didn’t know better, I’d say Lucent was afraid of him,” Reagan said.

  “It would serve all of us to be afraid of him,” Nina said. “He’s been around at least five hundred years.”

  “Is he immortal?” Aunt Sarah asked.

  “No, he can be killed, but black magic prolongs his life. It has consumed his heart, making him stronger. We don’t doubt he also has a deal with the Devil that aids his longevity,” Ariana said.

  “Sounds like he and Rafe make a solid team,” Mom said.

  “Formidable, but not unstoppable,” Zarya added.

  “Nature is our greatest gift. We can use it to create a diversion. We don’t need to defeat all of Rafe’s army, only him.”

  Stunned by Ariana’s words, Reagan stood, mouth agape. She needed to pull it together, but it was as if the woman had read Reagan’s mind.

  “Yes, exactly what I’ve been thinking. We just need to clear a pathway to Rafe, so Winona and I can use the angel sword.”

  “First thing tomorrow morning, we should have a strategy session,” Madeleine said. “Until then, I suggest everyone get some sleep. I’ll make sure our guests find a place to rest.” She asked if they were hungry and, when they admitted they were, offered to take them by the kitchen on the way.

  When they left, Reagan couldn’t help herself but to share. “I hate to even say this out loud, but things are looking up. Not that I think this will be easy, by any means, but…”

  “I’m feeling the same way, although I keep telling myself not to. Maybe we can even locate Rafe before he can gather his army. The more we catch him unaware, the better our chances,” Jessica said.

  Considering her friend’s words, Reagan couldn’t help a feeling, something that kept nagging at her. “He always seems to be one step ahead of us. A part of me feels he’ll know about the three days, but I can’t figure out how. Ricardo is gone, so he doesn’t have someone on the inside.”

  “Or does he?” Aunt Sarah asked, fidgeting with her hands. “Just go with me on this. If we can use his blood to find him through Jessica, then could Otaktay be using the same method to keep track of us?”

  Jessica’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, God! I need to leave. I won’t be the reason we fail. I won’t lead him straight to us.”

  “Let me think,” Madeleine interjected, moving from one end of the small room to the other, her nervous energy taking over the room. “Wait. You said you used to shield you and Amélie. Could you put a shield around yourself until this is over?”

  All eyes turned to Jessica. “I’m not sure I could hold it for three days.”

  “With my help you could,” Aunt Sarah said. “But we’ll be weakened. Maybe this is our destiny, and we’re the ones meant to stay behind.”

  “But I can’t let you all go to battle and not be there. My father is the reason for all of this. He killed my mother and has hurt all of you, people I’ve come to love as family.”

  “Please, don’t take this the wrong way,” Madeleine said, walking over and putting a hand on Jessica’s shoulder. “But making sure Rafe, or Otaktay rather, can’t locate us will be crucial to us defeating him. We need your blood for that.”

  With her head hug low, Jessica nodded.

  “You and I will begin tonight. Then, in the morning, we’ll use your blood to find Rafe. I could kick myself that I hadn’t thought of that before. I wish I would’ve known these women back in the day. My power would be so much stronger if I would’ve grown up learning from more of our kind.”

  “I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Mom said. “I’d be a much better asset if I would’ve grown up with you and Mom and allowed my children to know you.”

  Disappointed with the change in mood, Reagan stood up. “Come on. We can all look back and wish things were different, but unless someone’s sending a genie to help us—not that I’d complain—we can only look forward.”

  “Can I interrupt?” Dad asked.

  “Of course.” She felt like she hadn’t seen him in days. They used to be so close, and she missed her daddy. Although she just lectured Jessica on the pitfalls of wishing, Reagan couldn’t help but hope she could mend her relationship with him after everything came to a conclusion.

  “I just wanted to check on all of you. Sounds like we have some new visitors and very little time to figure out our plans.”

  “That about sums it up,” Aunt Sarah said.

&
nbsp; Ever since Nana passed, Reagan saw her aunt grow in strength and confidence. She spoke up so much more, taking on a leadership role when possible. Nobody knew herbs and medicines like she did. And even with a victory, Reagan knew there would be injuries to heal.

  “Well, I don’t know a more capable group of women to face this,” he said.

  She beamed like she used to do when he’d high five her after a cheerleading event or when she brought home good grades.

  “But do you mind if I steal my wife? I want to make sure she gets some sleep tonight. The next few days are going to require all of us to be focused and ready.”

  “Sure. We really should all get some sleep,” Winona said.

  Since they’d all gathered in Reagan and Winona’s room, everyone stood and dispersed. Mom gave each girl a hug, as did Aunt Sarah, before leaving.

  Once everyone had gone, the room felt empty.

  “I don’t know about you, but I’m in desperate need of a very long, hot shower,” Winona said.

  “Me, too, but why don’t you go first?” Reagan suggested. She really wanted to spend a few minutes with Rowan, but with everything that’d happened with Winona and Ricardo, Reagan didn’t want to be obvious about needing some time with her boyfriend.

  Wasting no time, she left the room within minutes of Winona and speed-walked the hall to get to Rowan. Reagan breathed a sigh of relief when she reached his room, without running into anyone, and found him there.

  “Hi,” he said as she slipped in and closed the door behind her.

  “Hi.” In three quick steps, she wrapped her arms around him and rested her ear on his chest, finding comfort in his heartbeat.

  “Is everything okay?” he asked, his breath touching the top of her head.

  She inhaled his scent. “I think it just might be. But am I a fool to think it?”

  “My Tala, how you’ve matured. You no longer sound like a scared teenager trying to sound grown,” he said.

  She tried to push away from him, but he kept his arms around her, holding her close. Beating playfully on his chest, she said, “I’m never been a scared teenager trying to sound grown. I’ll have you know that my friends Aspen and Serena would’ve made you lose your mind. Quite the ditzy teenagers. They would’ve screamed and fainted at the first sight of anything… well, not real, if you will.

  “I’ve never asked you. Have you ever had a serious girlfriend?” As soon as the question escaped her mouth, Reagan chastised herself and mentally shook her head. What an idiot. First, she didn’t know if she wanted to know, especially right then. Second, it didn’t matter. Should Dex matter to Rowan? After all, the stupid jock meant nothing. A meaningless mistake a lifetime, or what felt like it, ago.

  “No. I’ve never allowed myself to care about anyone like I care about you. I won’t stand here and tell you I’ve never been with a woman, but I’ve never told another woman, other than my mother, that I love her.”

  During his entire answer, Reagan kept her eyes locked on his. When he finished, she jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his back. She wanted to tell him how much his answer meant to her, but she couldn’t find the words. Instead, she’d show him.

  She started kissing his neck, moving up behind his ear and around to his lips, nipping at them with her teeth. With his hands cupped under her butt, he backed up to lower himself onto his bed with her in his lap. She continued to kiss him as she ran her fingers through his hair and pushed her body tightly against his.

  And at the worst possible moment, Winona’s face came into Reagan’s mind. She leaned her head back. “Argh.”

  “Not quite the sound I wanted to hear,” he said.

  Reconnecting their eyes, she touched her lips gently to his. “I’m sorry,” she said, pulling away again and maneuvering back to standing. “I really need to be with Winona. Plus, we don’t have the time I want.”

  Before she could go far, he caught her hand. “I don’t want to rush anything with you. I know you said it wasn’t what you thought it would be your first time. From now until forever, I promise you, it will be.”

  God, she wanted to stay, to lose herself in him, to not care about the world or Rafe or demons.

  “I love you, too, and I can promise you I’ve never said that to another guy.” Another quick kiss, and then she made a beeline for her room.

  She noticed the bathroom door was still closed when she passed it, so she gathered her things back in the room and waited for Winona to arrive. Not two minutes later, she did.

  “Your turn,” she said.

  Grateful for a few minutes to recover, Reagan stood in the spray of the hot shower until her skin became red. She washed her hair and scrubbed her body, knowing she might not get another chance. Even in the cave, she kept the sword with her at all times. During the maybe fifteen-minute long shower, she scooted the shower door open several times to check on the weapon.

  Nobody asked her about it or offered to watch it anymore. They knew the answer and accepted it. In three days, after she and Winona plunged it into Rafe, Reagan would find a safe place to keep it. Until then, the only safe place was with her.

  She stepped out of the shower and used a towel to wipe the steam off the mirror. Wolf genes had been good for her. Gone were the days of acne and splotchy skin. And all she’d used was whatever soap she could find over the last several months. Not the best skin care regiment.

  Glad to be in clean clothes, and smelling of soap and coconut thanks to someone’s shampoo choice, she went back to her room.

  Winona had curled up in bed, but the lamp was still on. “I’m both eager to see this done and grateful for the days we have to prepare,” she said.

  “Me, too. Are you scared?” Again, Reagan mentally kicked herself. Where are all these stupid questions coming from? She didn’t have time for them.

  “Yes. I think everybody is. But I’m more terrified of what could happen if we don’t kill him, if we take too much longer.”

  Reagan nodded, having nothing more to add. When Winona turned off the light, Reagan whispered a goodnight and closed her eyes. But it was a good hour or two before sleep claimed her.

  Too many thoughts exploded in her head. Not the least of which was facing the Devil in less than seventy-two hours.

  Mom’s face tore Reagan from her sleep, but when she woke, the room was quiet. Beside her, Reagan could see her sister’s soft breathing and felt grateful for her slumber. Throwing off the covers, Reagan went to find her mom.

  As soon as she entered her mom and dad’s room, she saw her father sitting in a chair next to their bed.

  “I’m so glad you’re here. She’s tossed and turned, calling out name after name, some I recognized and some I didn’t, most of the night. Maybe you can calm her. She’s asked me not to wake her in case she’s having an important vision, but I worry.”

  “Of course,” Reagan said. “I’m here, so why don’t you go get something to eat or see if Papa needs anything. He’s always up early.”

  “Okay, if you’re sure.”

  “I am.”

  He left the room, and Reagan sat on the bed next to her mother, laying a hand on her head. It was moist with sweat. Reagan pushed calming energy through her fingertips, hoping to offer her mom some ease. She seemed to settle slightly; her body stopped thrashing, and her moans decreased to a near whisper.

  Hoping she wouldn’t mind, Reagan closed her eyes and placed her hands on her mother’s chest, near her heart. Images assaulted Reagan’s mind, and she had to focus her breathing. In a small circle, she saw Winona with someone who appeared to be Cheveyo. Finally, Reagan saw herself wrapped in Nana’s arms. Zarya, Ariana, and Nina completed the circle. Inside, Madeleine stood. Massive wings stretched forward and a bright light burst forth, causing Reagan to sit back and disconnect from her mother. It was too bright, too intense.

  As she blinked to try and focus on the room, Mom sat up.

  “Reagan, I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “I swear I h
eard you call to me in my sleep, so I came by to check on you. Dad said you’d had a rough night—he looked like he had, too—and I wanted to calm you. But then I was seeing your vision, and…”

  “How much did you see?”

  “What I saw doesn’t make sense,” Reagan said. How could Cheveyo and Nana be there? And why the bright light?

  “You might have missed some things. What did you see?”

  Reagan recounted the vision.

  “Okay, you missed so much. Mom came to me. She told me my strength would come from being with Jessica, so I realized I should stay with her and Aunt Sarah and make sure the force field holds. Then, she said both the angels of love and majesty will join you to defeat Rafe. The last of our angels.”

  Breathing a sigh of relief that her mom would be safe, Reagan encouraged her mom to go on.

  “Then, she said you, Madeleine, and Winona would each have a supporter, while Cecilia would come in when needed.”

  “Anything about Otaktay?” Reagan couldn’t help but ask, even with all the other encouraging news.

  “Not specifically. But I didn’t see him. And I did see Rafe. So maybe that’s good news,” Mom said.

  “Maybe. I wish… Wait, no more of that. We’ve talked about this. There are no genies in our future. I’m grateful for any information. Guess it wouldn’t require faith if we were given the exact plan and proof we’d win.”

  “You know what scares me most?” Mom asked. Reagan shook her head. “In all reality, we’re going to lose someone. What are the odds we come out of this without any casualties? Even in victory.”

  Reagan appreciated the honesty, and it wasn’t as if she hadn’t considered it, but the thought sent a shiver down her spine. Faces floated through her mind, none of which she wanted to fathom disappearing from her life.

  “We can’t think about that.” As easy as it was to say the words, Reagan knew how impossible the reality was.

  “You’re right,” Mom said. “Let’s go get something to eat. It’s time to get everything ready to face Rafe. I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of waiting around for him to strike.”