The Traitor's Crux (The Dark Powers Book 1)

by Jessica Prather

  “Screw you! I want no part in this.” The Harlow I know rises in her. She spits at him, making him flinch back. His happy facade vanishes immediately, his glower growing deeper as he stares her in the eyes.

  “Ah, you are a spirited young thing, aren’t you? What you don’t realize is that as of your arrest, you are ours. You have no choice in the matter. We can make it easy, or we can make it difficult. Which would you prefer, young lady?” Despite his angry words, the president looks shaken. It’s like he’s frightened of her, defenseless in her presence. He should. If she wasn’t chained down, she could easily destroy him.

  “I said—”

  Reed interrupts her, clearly knowing what obscenities are about to be thrown his way. “Gentlemen, let’s lock her up for a bit. No food, no water. Whatever beatings are necessary. Maybe she’ll think twice about the things she’s about to say.”

  The men behind Reed nod obediently, holding her head down as one of them injects medicine into a long syringe, its needle glinting off the lights above.

  Harlow screams, but they’re too strong. She can’t win this, and she knows it.

  The memories betray her panic as the cold needle meets her skin and slowly, her world goes black.

  I’m ripped from Harlow’s head, gasping as I’m thrown back into my chair by magic’s fading hands. Slowly, the real world comes back around. We sit in the training room, chairs in the same exact places. Harlow watches me, panting. There’s something different in her face, that same haunted look in her eyes that I saw during the bonfire. It’s gone in an instant as the usual sneer takes its place.

  “And to think: I used to be a cuddly little kitten just like you.”

  21 “THAT WAS PRESIDENT REED,” I stutter stupidly, scanning Harlow’s face for an explanation.

  She rolls her eyes, lounging back in her chair, “Wow, nothing gets past you.”

  Her memories race through my mind. Malen and Reed had her and wanted to use her for something. But… what?

  “Harlow, what was he talking about when he said he needed your help?”

  “Reed and Malen had special plans for me because, what can I say? I’m just a lucky girl.” I can still see the desperation in her eyes, like a person whose memories burden her day and night. Her hands shake, even though she tries to hide them. She’s scared. “There are different types of magic, I guess you could say. Some are more powerful than others, and some are… purer. Do you remember how I told you about dark magic?”

  I nod and she continues, “I’m one of those witches. So are you—though, I think Reed’s let that one slip, hasn’t he?”

  Let her think that you’re on her side. “Yeah, he did…” I admit.

  “I figured as much. Practically any witch that he recruits has it. And it’s the obvious choice—our magic is darker than the rest. More powerful and deadly. It’s also influenced by intentions: the more we do dark magic, the more it affects our soul. Malen had the same types of powers—he let it turn him evil.”

  “It could shut off our humanity? That… actually explains a lot in Malen’s case.”

  She nods, “He figured it all out too. Hit the soul-sucker jack-pot, if you will. He knew if he could find enough people like us, he’d have an entire, easily-influenced army at his disposal. In all reality, Reed is just following along in his footsteps.”

  Goosebumps cover my arms. “But surely he couldn’t do that. People don’t just listen—”

  She raises a brow, “Oh yeah? Explain the war then. Explain how he got so many on his side. It’s easier than you think. People are dumbasses. It wouldn’t be hard for him at all to influence the darker side of our powers. You know how they operate. Torture, threats, blackmail—they play dirty to get their way. That’s what Reed did with you, isn’t it?”

  “Harlow…” I whisper, thinking of the past few weeks. All the magic, the lies, the betrayal. She has to believe I’m on her side. “Reed… he told me that he picked me because of my powers.”

  To my surprise, Harlow only smirks. “Of course, he has. Your powers are extraordinary. I can see why he wanted you.”

  Harlow frowns, rubbing the tattoo on the back of her hand absentmindedly. After a moment, she jumps to her feet, a thought bright in her eyes.

  “What are you doing?” I follow her, watching in confusion as she lets out a sharp breath, running a hand through her hair as she pauses, eyes distant.

  “Of course,” she whispers, but I’m not sure if it’s to me, or herself. “It all make sense.”

  “What makes sense?”

  She turns on me, excitement in her eyes. It’s a new look for her. “I thought you did it on purpose that night, but you didn’t, did you?”

  “What?” I scoff. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Did I mess up your brain after all?”

  She twists her hands in a spell similar to the one done in Reed’s office, where they’d shown me firsthand the torture my brother was going through. She doesn’t look at me as she explains. “I’ve been tracking you since you came here. That night it was you that set off those fireworks.”

  “Okay, I think you need to lie down.”

  Harlow shakes her head, “You had your guard down. Reed stepped in with one of his own and took control of you. You didn’t even know it was happening.”

  “That’s not possible. I was with Tess and Delia all night. Except…” I pause, the realization dawning over me. I was with them most of the night, but they left to go see the fireworks. “No… there’s no way! I remember just sitting there…”

  That night comes to life in the tiny training room, everyone seated just as they had been around the bonfire. The fireworks begin to pop in the distance. Tess and Delia stand and leave and I remain, scribbling in my notebook. I gesture towards the scene, “See? I was right there!”

  “Look!” she points, just as I stand, almost robotically, and tuck away the notebook I’d been writing in. The orange flames dance towards the sky, and I’m nothing but a silhouetted shadow. My hands dance with the makings of a spell, a stream of bronze sparks fly from my fingertips. In the distance, the fireworks begin to mold. Shivers tingle up my spine as moments later, the screams begin.

  Harlow waves the spell off and turns towards me, watching in her wolf-like manner. “The weird thing is... at that time you were brand new, unskilled and untrained. There was no way you were capable unless someone was taking advantage of those powers. They were controlling you, Kenadee.”

  “But-but how come I don’t remember any of it?” My hand clutches the wall, desperate for something to hold on to as my head spins.

  “Brainwashing spells are easier than you think. He probably just wiped your memory after, or turned it to what he wanted you to see. I don’t know why I didn’t put two and two together. I was trying to figure out how you did, but it wasn’t you at all…”

  Chills run up my spine, my heart beating too fast for my chest. I can’t seem to catch my breath. I did this to them. It’s my fault. What else could Reed have done with me without my knowledge?

  “Look,” Harlow leans forward, an unusual kindness in her deep blue eyes, “We’ll find out how he did this, but know that it wasn’t your doing.”

  “Harlow…” my mind races, I don’t know what I’m doing. Suddenly, I’m not pretending anymore. I draw in a ragged breath and say, “He has my brother and my mom. Harlow, he’ll kill them.”

  “Trust me, I know how Reed works. You’ve got to buck up, because you and I—we’re the ones with the magic to stop him. Now, we both know deep down that he’s not going to give your family up. He’ll throw you away, too, right after you’re done with us. But here, at this camp, innocent people are in danger. Are you really going to kill everyone over a man we both know is a monster?” Her voice is low, but gives me chills on my arms.

  “But how? He has eyes all around the camp. He told me. And if he has people working for him that can—that can do that...” I shiver at the thought of them possessing me. They were inside me
and I didn’t even know…

  “Easy. We keep practicing your magic, building it up. You’re getting stronger every day. We’ll teach you how to not be vulnerable, how to keep them from influencing you. And we’ll fight—if he wants war, we’ll give him a hell of a war. I’ve got some beef with him anyways.”

  “What if he catches us?” My voice is soft, nearly a whimper. “He made me watch a video of him torturing my brother. Harlow, I can’t let it happen again.”

  Harlow shrugs on her sweatshirt and sticks one hand on the door handle, “I won’t lie to you. It’s definitely not rainbows and unicorns. I’ve seen what that man can do and I still have nightmares from it. But it’s worth the fight if we get to destroy him. I think I’m willing to risk myself for the cause. I really don’t like the idea of him having power over the world. He’s a bad dude. Do you really want all our deaths on your hands?”

  She gives me a faint smile before she’s out the door.

  ***

  I JUMP AS A FAMILIAR voice calls my name, too lost in thought to notice Tess running to catch up behind me. “Hey!” I say, surprised.

  “Just got done with training, I see,” Tess observes as she catches sight of my sweat-stained clothes and messy hair. “How’s that going?”

  “Good, it’s getting better,” I say a little too quickly. “Anyway, I was just headed back to my place. See you later?”

  Tess grabs my arm, pulling me to a stop. “Um, actually, I was just wondering if you wanted to take a walk with me for a second?”

  I look towards the direction of my house, considering this. Even though a walk is the last thing on earth I want to do right now, something in Tess’ expression compels me to agree. “Sure, a quick one, okay? I have to get ready to babysit tonight.”

  “Great, thanks. I just—I don’t know. I feel a bit weird today and need someone to talk to…” She drifts off, looking around anxiously.

  “No worries. I’m here.” I watch the redhead anxiously. Something is definitely bothering her. Her usual cheer is gone, replaced by nail-biting and beads of sweat dusting her forehead.

  We walk through the busy downtown as people brush by. There are lots of people are out, walking around, talking loudly, and enjoying the short span of time before fall ends. It won’t be long. This week already, we’ve had a few snowfalls. Luckily, it hasn’t stuck. Yet.

  “So, what’s up?” I ask, nudging her with my shoulder. “You’re worrying me.”

  “I don’t know. I just have this really weird feeling that I can’t shake today. It’s stupid. I just can’t quite get over the feeling that something bad is about to happen.”

  Her words chill me to the core, I look around to make sure there’s no one listening and pull her gently to the edge of the sidewalk, dropping my voice. “What do you mean? Like… death?”

  Just like Harlow and I talked about. Are they about to do something again?

  “Like I said, it’s stupid. Just ignore me, I’m being a total buzzkill today.” She shakes her head, brushing it off completely. But just as she says it, yelling comes from behind us. We both turn just in time to see people scatter, a large crowd disrupted as they stumble over themselves.

  A girl stands in the middle, young with her long ponytail reaching to her lower back. Tears run down her face as she gasps, weeping, “I’m sorry, I can’t con—”

  As if something snaps, the girl’s tears immediately stop, her expression growing glassy. One of the boys shakily steps forward as her hands lower from their defensive position. “Alex?” he asks timidly.

  The girl erupts into manic laughter, her eyes far off, glassy and strange, “You’re dead and you’re dead and so are you.”

  All she needs is a water bottle and, lifting her hand, she summons the liquid. It spirals around her, a shimmering arc, then hardens, crystallized, becomes ice.

  In a second, chunks of ice fly in every direction. Someone to my left screams in pain as it lands its target. I duck just in time as a particularly sharp icicle sinks into the tree behind my head.

  I look around in a rush of adrenaline. Do I dare try the mind spell? End this now? But I just learned it and what if—

  We hear a yell as everyone on the court momentarily freezes with hope. Benson, the grumpy boy from the first day, comes around the corner, Bryce in tow.

  They hold up their hands in the air as a sign of surrender. She sends a flurry of knife-like icicles in their direction, landing one in Bryce’s arm. He clutches it, falling back with surprise.

  “Don’t you come any closer!” she warns in a mocking sing-song tone. Her eyes look so hard all of a sudden, so…. demented. “Or one of these will end up in your heart.”

  “Don’t worry, we’re going to stand right here, Alex. But you need to listen very carefully. This isn’t you,” Bryce says, his voice calm and careful, even as he rips the bloody shard of ice from his arm with a wince.

  Alex lets out a horrible, wicked laugh. “You’re right, it isn’t. She’s gone. And so are you and you and you. Dead, dead, dead!”

  Bryce opens his mouth to speak again, this time the horror visible in his eyes. “Al—”

  He doesn’t finish his sentence before the girl shudders and the Alex from before comes back to herself. Almost robotically, a piece of ice raises in her hands. Alex whimpers, unable to stop herself. “I’m sorry,” she sobs as she drives it into her chest.

  I’m vaguely aware of the screams that fill the air as the girl spews blood, crumpling to her knees.

  Reed. He knows. He knows and he did this.

  I stumble backwards, taken over by fear. I ignore the ugly tears that stream off my nose and onto my neck, a horrible wail emerging from my throat.

  The light dwindles in Alex’s eyes as the sacrifice surrenders herself to the arsonist’s sparks.

  22 I SIT CROSS-LEGGED ON Mia’s—one of Nadine and Jay’s daughters—bed, reading her a bedtime story in a ridiculously high-pitched voice that makes her giggle. Unfortunately, I can’t pretend to be as happy—thoughts of Alex keep drifting into my mind. Right in broad daylight with people everywhere. The attacker was clearly not worried about being caught.

  “Please? Read it again!” Mia says, ripping me from my thoughts as I finish the story and fold the book closed. She wrinkles her button-like nose in the cutest of fashions as I shake my head. “I’ve read it three times. And it’s past your bedtime.”

  “But—”

  “No buts! Your mom and dad will be back when you wake up. Plus, you have to be up bright and early for school tomorrow. Good night!”

  I close the door, ignoring her protests, and wait for a moment to make sure that she’s not climbing out of bed. When she doesn’t emerge, I tiptoe upstairs to clean the kitchen—ravaged by uneaten pizza crusts, spilled sauce, and crumbs like dust on the seats. My eyes ache, swollen from crying, my mind still completely numb from today’s events.

  Alex… I’d never met her, but always saw her around the camp. She was sweet and kind, if not a bit shy. She was the type of person that everyone loves automatically, someone genuine. And now she’s dead because of me.

  I look up as the door opens and Nadine appears, husband right behind her.

  “Kenadee, I’m so sorry we’re late. That meeting took a little longer considering, well… you know.” She clears her throat, then in a swift change of subject says, “This is my husband Jay. Have you two met?”

  “No, we haven’t met! I’d shake your hand, but uh—” I hold mine up to show him the remainders of our pizza night.

  He laughs, a deep, booming laugh, “Ah yes, cleaning up is always an adventure. Were they good at least?”

  Just as he asks, a little voice appears. Mia runs to mom and nestles her head in her neck, “I can’t sleep.”

  Nadine throws me an apologetic smile, “Thank you Kenadee! Jay, pay the poor girl please. I’m off to tuck in this little one.” Mia’s giggles echo as they disappear down the stairs.

  Jay reaches for his wallet, plopping into a chai
r. He’s a middle-aged man with laugh lines and graying hair. He seems the type of person that always wears a grin. He hands me a large bill. “Here’s a little extra, considering you stayed late. So sorry again.”

  “Did you find anything out about the attack?” I pry, watching him as I stuff the money into my pocket.

  He shakes his head sadly, “Nadine and I might be needing you here a lot, if you’re interested. I have to train my entire security team on some new defense spells—there’s been talk of the raid again and I want to make sure that they’re prepared to try and take on Reed’s soldiers.”

  “Wait… raid?” I swallow, remembering Reed telling me that they were planning something. I thought it was all a lie…

  “Oh, that’s right, I forget you’re new to this camp,” Jay sighs, “Before the real danger started with Reed and all his enlisted all his magic soldiers, we’d raid his prisons. Get out who we could, you know? Harlow’s been somehow watching everything that he’s doing and found out that he’s getting most of his magic soldiers from the prisons. So, if we raid, and take away the opportunity, he’ll lack the army he needs to attack.”

  My mind instantly goes to Eli and my mother. They’re going to be saved! I won’t have to worry about Reed anymore, I can just have them back.

  I smile stupidly to myself. “That’s—that’s wonderful!” Then a terrible thought comes. There’s another spy who will surely tell Reed everything. His army will know, they’ll fight. I push my bangs back with my hand and look at Jay. “But how do we keep it from Reed? All these attacks are by someone that reports to him.”

  “Well, we’d have to provide some sort of distraction. Unfortunately, that’s the part we’d have to figure out.” His mouth straightens into a line, “Who knows that it’ll even happen? It all really depends on our people. They’re not too intent on leaving the safety of these walls or putting our camp at risk. Who knows if we’ll even find the numbers to go through with it, you know?”

  “Yeah,” I reply, thinking for a long moment. This is the most excited I’ve felt since I’ve arrived. The idea of getting them free, of separating ourselves from Reed once and for all. I could live a happy life here with my family.