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

by Jessica Prather

  “Okay.” I swallow. “Fine… but leave them alone.”

  He doesn’t acknowledge this, only raises a brow. “You have until morning light. I suggest you make the best of it.”

  39 I SLIP THROUGH THE DARKENED halls like a ghost, my heart breaks with every step I take.

  I hate to leave, to abandon them in this time of danger, but I know what I have to do.

  I wear nothing but the clothes on my back: layered shirts, a jacket, my boots, and mittens for warmth. All I need is magic.

  I pause outside my brother’s door, swallowing back the tears.

  I always vowed never to let my brother leave my side, and now, I’m the one leaving him.I hope he’ll forgive me one day.

  I kneel down and tuck the note underneath his door, batting angrily at a tear that cascades down my cheek. I take a shuddering breath to steady myself, and move on to Bryce’s room.

  The boy that was mine. He wasn’t just a leader, but someone who tried to see the good in everybody. He was the guy with the calloused fingers from constantly strumming his guitar, who had bright emerald eyes and the kindest smile I’ve ever seen.

  The boy that I think I love.

  So, like the coward I am, I shove the goodbye note through the crack underneath his door and walk away.

  I wind through the hall and make a final stop at Harlow’s door, clutching the paper tightly in my hand. This was the hardest goodbye note, the message I’d been putting off too long.

  Harlow,

  There’s not much for me to say. I hope that you know how sorry I am for the things that I’ve done. You especially didn’t deserve the things that happened to you. I don’t know that I’ll ever make it up to you, but I’ll sure as hell try.

  The truth is, I’ve known for a while that this might be the only option. I just never really wanted to face it. As soon as you get this, clear the people out of camp. Go someplace safe, so when Reed has me break down this barrier, there’s no one left to kill.

  I’m so sorry, Harlow. I hope you’ll understand.

  Sincerely,

  Kenadee

  (p.s., Do me a favor and watch after Eli, will you?)

  I push it through then climb to my feet. My palms are sweaty and my head pounds anxiously. This is really it. I’m leaving…

  I force myself to look away, sniffling as I refocus my thoughts on the task ahead. It’s the perfect time of morning to slip away—where everything is the strange dark gray from night, but the sun is beginning to peek from behind its shelter in the silhouettes of the mountains. It’ll give me ample daylight once I’m out of the camp, and I won’t have to worry about sneaking around in the dark in the woods. That brings on a whole new world of dangers that I don’t really care to face.

  Kai is on guard duty this morning. I can see his frame from my perch on the balcony as I stare from the large windows facing outwards. He’s slumped against a tree, carving something with what looks like a knife to keep himself busy.

  I go downstairs quickly and walk right through the front doors of the camp. Kai looks up in surprise as he hears my boots crunching in the snow. “What—what are you d—”

  “I’m so sorry!”

  He leaps to his feet, as agile as a cat, but he’s too late—I put him to sleep with the swipe of my hand. I look around for any sign of danger as he crumples to the ground, making sure that no other guards noticed. When I’m sure that no one else is around, I duck into the shadows.

  I run until I find the lightning-warped tree and the edge of the camp that I’ve grown so familiar with. My hands thump against the hard surface as I take a few breaths to calm my racing heart.

  This is it. All I have to do is get through these barrier walls.

  Power rises warm within me as I recite the spell. It breaks easily under my guidance, eager to obey. I clamp my fists tighter until the barrier shatters in mid-air.

  I let out the air I’d been holding with relief. Sirens begin to shriek at camp, a security alert that I take as my cue to go.

  Someone behind me clears their throat. “Where exactly do you think you’re going, new girl?”

  “Harlow!” I gasp, turning and clapping a hand to my chest, “You scared me! How’d you know I’d be here?”

  “What can I say? I have nightmares. But really, I’m more concerned about this.” She pulls the note from her pocket and dangles it in front of me.

  I sigh, “I have to, Harlow. He’s never going to stop unless I do.”

  “What’s he got over you?”

  I shake my head, “I can’t say. All I know is that you need to find that other spy, as soon as possible. Harlow, it can’t wait! Reed—”

  “Reed is a bully. He knows that he can scare you into submission—don’t let him, Kenadee.”

  I look to the place where the barrier once was, then back to the camp, mind racing. I can’t just defy him. He’ll kill them…

  Harlow takes a step closer, forcing me to meet her gaze. “I hated you for what you did, you know. But… I know why you did it. And if you ever repeat this, I’ll deny it, but I guess you’ve grown on me and I don’t want Reed to hurt you.”

  I give her a mischievous grin, “You know there’s a word for that, right?”

  She rolls her eyes, but doesn’t try to hide her lopsided grin, “Say it and I’ll punch you.”

  I’m honored, really. The great Harlow Creston considers me a friend. And she only looked mildly sick while saying it. “What’s wrong?”

  Harlow’s brows furrow as she stares in the direction of the camp where the alarm still blares. “The alarms have been going off for several minutes now and no one’s reset them.”

  “That’s because they’re taking a few visitors right now,” says a familiar voice. My mother emerges from the shadows. “And the President doesn’t like rude hosts.”

  40 “OH, COME ON,” HARLOW GROANS at the sight of my mother, “It’s not even five A.M. and this is already a terrible day. Can’t I have my coffee first?”

  “Would you shut up?” I hiss at Harlow.

  “No, it’s alright,” my mother says, taking a step closer. “I’m quite used to Ms. Creston and her bad attitude. Maybe she just needs a small lesson in respect.”

  “No!” I scream as flames emit from her hands, racing toward Harlow with a fiery rage.

  My shouts are short-lived, however, as Harlow raises a bored hand and the flames ricochet, spiraling towards my mother’s head. My mom redirects them just in time.

  Harlow frowns, head cocked, “Damn. I missed.”

  I make the next move, using both hands to summon my magic, pinning her against the tree. She looks up in surprise, then her face twists into something else. Something full of rage and horror.

  “Why are you here, mom? You and Reed just called me from D.C.!”

  “Wait, what?” Harlow scoffs beside me, “Is that why you were leaving? To go play house with the president?”

  My mother ignores her, eyes only for me. “We saw Ms. Creston come and we knew you wouldn’t go through with it. We decided to take the situation into our own hands.”

  “So… where is everyone?” I breathe, air fogging in the navy night, looking around. No soldiers.

  My mother grins wickedly. “They’re in the camp, of course. You took down the entire city border, after all. Even our other little rat couldn’t do that.”

  “Who is the rat?” I spit, twisting my hand as she gasps in pain.

  “You know,” she wheezes as I grip tighter, “Magic is so fun. I never knew what I was missing all these years by not practicing. Now, I can do things like this.”

  She throws both arms to her knees and Harlow and I are thrown backwards into the snow. My mother’s feet crunch towards us. “Dark magic…It feels so wonderful, doesn’t it, to just let go?”

  Harlow strikes, but my mother is too fast. It’s her turn to pin the blonde against the tree. “I don’t see why everyone is so afraid of you. You’re so… broken, aren’t you?”

  “Let h
er go!” I hit my mom in the stomach with my magic and she doubles over, but doesn’t loosen her grip. Nostrils flaring, she sweeps me off my feet too, shoving me into the tree.

  “Kenadee, we have to thank you again for that wonderful grimoire. The information was just fabulous. I learned something new that I could try out tonight.”

  Realization dawns on me as my mother turns to Harlow.

  “As it turns out, Death Timers make for the best kind of servants. It’s the only way I could control someone with power like yours. You’re going to be my weapon.”

  Before I scream, my mother drops Harlow, hand flying to the shoulder that sports the tattoo. There’s a glowing from her hands, a sickly blue, and Harlow’s cries. I try and squirm, kicking and struggling against the spell holding me back.

  It’s too late.

  My mom lets go of me and Harlow falls to the ground as she takes a proud step back.

  “Harlow?” I cry.

  She’s on her knees gasping. I barely catch the words as she chokes them out, “Kenadee, run.”

  “No, I—”

  “Run!”

  I take a shuddering breath, throwing a final look toward my mother, and race into the trees. I have to kill her, but… now she has Harlow. If she dies while controlling Harlow, what does that mean?

  The camp is just in view. My heart stops as I see smoke billowing from its insides, orange flames licking at the walls. I’m too late.

  Something grabs my feet from under me and tosses me into the air like a ragdoll. I slam into the ground, feeling all the air leave my chest as I stare at the starry canvas of sky above. Light footsteps approach, and Harlow kneels beside me. Only… it’s not Harlow.

  Her eyes are hard and empty, staring at me with unflinching raw hatred. Her signature crooked grin looks even more evil as it tugs up on her lips. “I’m not allowed to kill you, but I’m still allowed to have my fun.” She hits me with a spell that feels like a knife to the gut. I scream, trying to crawl away. She only follows, prowling around me with that dark expression. “After everything that you’ve put me through, this is the least I can do to thank you.”

  “Harlow—” I sputter, hot liquid training down my nose and my ears. I wipe at it and find blood on my fingertips. “This isn’t you. Fight back!”

  She twists her hand and the blood pools faster. I taste it in my mouth, choke on it, as her hand cues a high-pitched scream. My head feels like it’s about to burst. I press my hands against it, blinded with pain. I climb painfully to my knees and throw up all over the forest floor as the noise stops and Harlow’s laughter replaces it.

  “To be fair,” says my mom’s voice, light as she appears. “She warned you to run. Isn’t this so fun, Kenadee? She’s like a puppet held up on strings.”

  “Let her go,” I choke. In the distance, screams fill the camp.

  My mother taps her chin, as if considering. “No, I don’t think I will.”

  “Then I’ll make you!” I growl, leaping toward her. My mother gasps as water glistens in my hands. I turn it over, letting it grow and—

  “Harlow!” my mother screams.

  The blonde is on me in an instant, slamming my head back into a tree. My back scrapes against the hard bark, but I see my next move. I send my powers right into Harlow’s bad leg. She cries out, leg buckling underneath her as I catch her momentarily off guard. Spinning around on my mother, I let the wave reform in my hands. It crashes in my palms, the tides tickling my skin. I throw it her way and she’s swept underneath.

  “Kenadee?” Harlow clutches a tree for support, looking around in horror. All signs of control are gone, her eyes are clear as she looks at me. “What…” she trails off, body doubling.

  “No, Harlow!” I cry, “Don’t let her in!”

  “Get out of here.” She chokes, flinching away as I reach out to help.

  “I’m not leaving.”

  Troubled eyes flicker up, “I can’t fight it. You have to go now before I—” She doesn’t finish the sentence as, like a sigh of relief, she straightens up, body relaxing. The control sets back in, glazing over her pale blue eyes.

  I begin to backtrack, feeling my heart trying to rip itself from my chest. “Harlow, stop. Don’t let her do this to you—fight back!”

  She laughs coolly.

  I hear my mother in the distance and both of our heads turn, momentarily caught off-guard. My mother drags Jay beside her with a cruel smile. A huge bloody gash sits fresh above his eye. “Look who I found? He was looking for you, so I thought he could join in on the fun. Harlow, would you please do the honor?”

  I charge forward, but my mother is the one to push me back. I watch, paralyzed in place, wanting to scream to Jay, to warn him. In an instant, Harlow’s palms turn up to the sky. Jay gags, blood spewing from his lips. He chokes, wide-eyes set on Harlow, who stares expressionlessly back.

  My throat is raw with the scream I can’t let loose. Jay’s eyes slide to mine as at last, he sags to the ground.

  My mother’s eyes are bright, “Who knew the things I could do with this girl? Now all I need is for you to have a death timer too. Imagine that power. Think of the possibility.”

  I can’t respond, so I just stare back at her, hoping that she knows I’m glaring. She chuckles, throwing her hands in the air. “At this rate, there’s no saving your friends. That poor little town. Your tiny home... you really thought it’d last?”

  Paralyzed or not, I feel my powers hot, radiating through me. If I could just do something with them. Smoke billows in the distance, reaching my nostrils. Just out of the corner of my eye, I can see the dancing orange of the flames in the trees. Someone’s setting fire to the town.

  I can’t move when I hear the shout, then suddenly, I’m falling to the ground. I gasp, testing that the spell is broken as I wiggle my fingers and Delia races to my side.

  “Delia! Watch out!” Harlow’s hand moves the trees, letting them wrap against Delia’s body. She’s swept away, gasping for air as the vines and the leaves crawl upward.

  I strike again at Harlow’s bad leg, this time whispering, “confractus femoris.”

  It snaps loudly like a twig being stepped on. I leap to my feet and free Delia as Harlow tries, and fails, to stand.

  My mother appears in front of us. I reach for Delia’s hand, trying to shove her behind me, but Emily Coria already has a hold on her mind. She smiles, not sweetly, at the healer. “We can’t mend Harlow’s injury over there, even with our elite power. Would you be so kind?”

  “Yes,” Delia replies robotically.

  She’s placing her hands on Harlow’s leg as my mom wheels on me. “When are you going to give up? Hmm? Can’t you see that you’re outmatched?”

  Delia finishes and without looking, my mother drops her to the ground. “Don’t worry, she’s alive for now.”

  I close my eyes, trying to find my power. It’s weakened, taking longer now to build back up. My breath comes in pants as I spin on my heel and run smack dab into someone’s chest.

  “Benson!” I cry with relief, “You have to help!”

  Something in his expression stops me. He watches me with calm dark eyes. He says softly, “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

  Suddenly, I’m lifted into the air. I cry out as the branches of a tree wrap themselves around me, twisting around my arms and my ankles so that I can’t move.

  Benson stands over me, a sneer on his lips.

  “It’s been you all along!” I manage to hiss.

  Benson raises a brow, “I’ve lived here for years and no one has suspected me. Then you came along and started spouting off about spies.”

  “How could you?” I growl, struggling against my binds. The smoke is thick on my lungs, making it hard to breathe. “I will kill you, Benson! I swear it, I will!”

  He throws his head back and laughs. “You? You’re nothing! Talk all you want, you won’t win this.”

  It’s the only challenge I need. I call all my remaining power forward, fee
ling it pooling in my palms. With one final burst, I let them explode.

  41 EACH OF US FLY IN a separate direction. The tree releases its hold as I land neatly on my feet. Now I’m the one in control.

  “Told you I would kill you,” I sneer, stepping over Benson’s crumpled form. He looks at me, but it’s not the usual cockiness—it’s fear, written into every line of his face.

  His body tenses as my magic seizes control. I crush the air from his lungs, squeezing it slowly, painfully. To my right, my mother moves. She’s waking up, and Harlow’s already pushing herself into a sitting position.

  I refocus my attention to Benson’s pale face. The life is draining from him. I smile, feeling as wicked as Reed.

  My mother sits up, eyes widening as she sees what’s happening. “Don’t you move!” I command.

  She does as I ask, smiling sweetly. Her feet stay firmly planted, but her voice is loud, breaking the silence. “Harlow, be a dear and rip out your throat.”

  “No!” I shriek, watching in horror as the blonde’s hands work like claws on her neck. Blood drips down her front as she wheezes.

  My mother raises a hand, stopping her. Harlow’s fingers freeze in mid-air, paralyzed in place.

  “Let go of him,” orders my mother. I do and she helps him to his feet. “I don’t have to control your mind in order to get what I want. You try to run free, to disobey, but one tiny threat against your friend’s lives and here you are. You’re weak, protecting them over yourself.”

  “I’ll do as you ask, just let her go. Please. Let Harlow go…” I beg, positioning my hands in a surrender position.

  “Harlow’s fate depends on your behavior.”

  I gulp back the fear. “Okay.”

  My mother presses the magic-proof cuffs against my wrists as Harlow waits on the side and Benson goes to fetch Delia. I’m shoved forward, headed back to town. I look at the place we once called home and let out a strangled sob. Bodies are everywhere. The buildings are nothing but a charred skeleton, mere bones of the home we all loved. A thin layer of smoke still curls from its remains, snaking through the air with a delicate, deadly grace.