“Wait – you mean Morgana… but now? As in right now?” Aedan was having trouble forming the words. He tried to call up the fire within. Tried to set the chair on fire. Any distraction would do, but nothing happened.
Meanwhile, Serena pulled out a silver dagger that glinted beneath the lights, reflecting the undulating flow of the eerie blue water now returned to the pool. Without the slightest hesitation, she drew the blade across her palm, opening a three-inch gash that filled immediately with dark fluid. Aedan gagged a little.
“Terra could not join us yet; it is not time for the gathering. But she was kind enough to donate her portion.” Serena picked up the vial on the fourth chair and pulled out the stopper. Then she tipped it letting a few drops of thick liquid fall onto the cut. A sharp intake of breath through her nostrils and Serena smiled wide. She set the vial back on the chair.
Aedan looked to the others, sure someone would stop this madness. But Kari remained still and unyielding. Sergey seemed to genuinely be enjoying himself. He reached out his hand before Serena even turned his way and with one swift slice their palms were pressed together. They both uttered a small moan and Aedan turned away feeling he was watching something obscene.
Sergey reclaimed his seat, and Kari closed her eyes as Serena drew the blade across her palm. She stood very still as Serena pressed their wounds together, and hurried back to her seat where she cradled her hand.
Aedan shook his head as Serena stepped forward, reaching for his own. “No.”
But Serena just shushed him like a child and took firm hold of his wrist. The next second pain sliced through his hand and he winced trying to pull away. But Serena held his hand tight, pressing her own palm against his. And heat. He never felt so much heat from anything other than fire. He forgot about the pain for a minute. Forgot where he was. He was complete. And he let out a sigh.
But then Serena was gone, and the sensation was replaced with overwhelming sickness and shame. How could he have given in to this dark magic like that? Even for a minute.
Serena sunk to her knees, murmuring. The fire inside bucked at Aedan’s stomach, fueled by the power in the circle, but his body was still like a cement wall holding it all inside. His vision blurred for a moment, then refocused on Serena who held up a small jewel-encrusted box. On the top, an inlaid symbol glowed and pulsed. The four same symbols on Aedan’s ring. The ring that he only just realized was pulsing as well. Burning hot against the skin of his finger. He longed to stroke it for comfort but didn’t want to attract attention to it.
The box opened on its own. At least that’s what it looked like to Aedan’s addled brain. Light burst forth, the intensity of which forced Aedan and the others to squint or throw up an arm to shield themselves. Tendrils of mist rose from within, snaking out toward Serena’s dark eyes, which appeared now as pieces of glass, reflecting the light from the box. Or maybe absorbing it.
The mist flowed inside those reflective, unblinking eyes, and Serena’s face slackened. She stood teetering, letting the box and dagger both clatter to the ground at her feet. The mist continued to coil around her, lifting her into the air before him where she floated like an apparition as her eyes filled with swirling mist, just like what surrounded her. She hovered there, hair splayed around her head, defying gravity.
Then the mist retreated, unwinding its way from her body until it disappeared, leaving what Aedan felt was little more than an empty shell hovering.
She fell.
Aedan’s reflexes remained sluggish, or he might have done a better job. As it was, she collapsed on top of him. Blood smeared across his shirt from her open palm as his head hit painfully against the iron back of the chair.
“Serena?” Aedan asked. His skull pounded, but his thoughts seemed to have been knocked back into clarity. “Are you okay?” He pushed her off enough to get some leverage, and scooped her into his arms as he stood.
Her eyelids fluttered and opened, settling at once on his face. But something was wrong. Or different anyway. The energy behind those orbs was something sharp. It was like looking at the rigid edge of the glass instead of the surface. Aedan set her in the chair and stumbled backward a little.
“Aedan-” It was Maya’s voice calling to him from somewhere very far away. But he couldn’t tear his eyes from the woman in front of him. And on some level, it suddenly clicked.
“Morgana.” The name slid from his lips quietly and easily, but the air around the four of the circle sizzled.
She grinned and his knees shook in response. “Hello, Aedan. Tell me, have you had enough time to think things through?”
Her voice was the same, yet different. Lower maybe. Or raspier. Or maybe voices depended on the personality of the person speaking. Aedan swallowed, sneaking a glance at Maya, who was now sitting at the edge of the chaise like she might spring into action at any moment. He couldn’t let her do it. It wasn’t safe. He wasn’t safe. Not only was he unsure if the injection Kari had given him was still in effect, he didn’t trust that Morgana didn’t already have some magical hold over him or his powers.
He shook his head at her, eyes wide. He was helpless.
“Perhaps a bit more time then. I believe Maya and I have some unfinished business. Serena was loyal. But she was also a bit on the weak side. Kari, if you will escort Aedan back to his room?”
Kari’s mouth snapped closed. Her face reflected Aedan’s thoughts exactly. She was gone. Just like that Serena gave up her body and her life so this… woman could come back.
“Now, please,” Morgana said. “You will find I lack Serena’s patience as well.”
Aedan shot Maya one last helpless look before letting Kari guide him back in the house.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Maya
Maya nearly choked trying to hold in the tears watching Aedan led away by Kari. Had she lost him? Had he pledged himself to them? Was that why he seemed so complacent? No. She wouldn’t believe it. Not when he’d looked at her like that, with those sad ochre eyes. And it hurt so bad feeling so helpless to do anything. Why had she done it? Why had she gotten to know him? She wanted to scream.
It wouldn’t matter for long. What was done was done, and the woman slinking toward her wasn’t Serena. It was the darkest sorceress that ever walked the earth, and her very presence elicited shivers worse than any ice Sergey could conjure up.
“I would not have been as sparing as Serena,” Morgana said, settling into a chair that Sergey set down behind her as though she’d commanded it. “Still, I will honor her wishes, since it was her innovative thinking that finally released me from that horrible prison. I should have picked something more conducive to interaction like Merlin did. The one decision I grant he made better than myself.”
Maya had no clue what she was going on about, so she continued to stare as hard as she could. She didn’t even flinch as Sergey sat beside her, his breath moving the fine hairs around her ear. If she had a weapon she could kill him and it wouldn’t matter that Morgana was back. But as deadly as her bare hands were, they’d take too long to do the job with Morgana watching. She had to bide her time. The opportunity was sure to present itself.
“You may have a place in my court. At Aedan’s side if that is what you wish. All you have to do is renounce the Circle and pledge yourself to me. Of course, the pledge itself may well kill you since you are not an Elemental. Still, it’s a better alternative than certain death, no?”
“What could you possibly want from me?” Maya asked.
“No mincing words, I like that. I admit it would be nice to rub your allegiance in the face of my enemy. But I really do wish to honor Serena’s wishes. Her essence is a part of me now. She defers to me, but she is here, at least for now.”
Kari slipped into position behind Morgana’s shoulder, silent and deadly as a shadow. Maya kept her eyes on Morgana. Her hand twitched at her side, itching to strike out and fight.
“Before you decide, there is a bit more you should know,” Morgana said, leaning
in until she was a breath away. Maya found herself holding her own breath. She was no sorcerer, but even she could feel the magic. It raised the tiny hairs on her arms like static electricity.
“Serena wasn’t lying you know. I believe at some level you do know that. But she hasn’t shared everything with you either. And in the interest of putting it all on the table, I will.” Morgana stretched her arms over her head and tossed her head back as though reveling in the feel of her new body.
“And what makes you think I’d believe anything you tell me?” Maya said.
Morgana stopped in mid-stretch and smiled. “Because you know part of the story already, don’t you? The Circle and the Scimitar both have become corrupted over time. Both are mere shadows of what they once were. Your own brother felt differently though. At least I assume he was your brother.”
Maya’s eyes opened. Her head spun as she bolted upright in the chair. Sergey grabbed her arms hard. “What about my brother?”
“He tried to change things. He knew it was necessary to fulfill our destinies. He awakened this in Serena. He set us all free. He was a hero.”
Maya’s mouth was dry. Her chest hurt. “What do you know?” she asked. “Did you kill him? I mean did Serena kill him?”
“She wasn’t much older than you were at the time. No. I’m afraid it wasn’t her that dealt the final blow. He managed to take out every adult in the house though. He looked remarkably like you. The memory is so clear. I see the same fire behind your eyes.”
“I don’t understand,” Maya said. She wrestled out of Sergey’s grip and put a hand to her pounding head trying to clear it. “He’s dead. Corey is dead. He has to be or he would have come back-”
“He is I’m afraid. I am very sorry for your loss. But you should be proud of him, Maya. Corey would have wanted that.”
Maya stared at the woman before her. Rage and sorrow tore through her, and she lashed out. But Sergey held her back, dragged her out of range, kicking and screaming. Morgana rose from her seat and stepped as close as she dared. She shook her head and pointed, and Maya found her voice was gone.
“I need you to think this through carefully, Maya. It means the difference between your life and death.” Sergey clamped down on Maya’s body, holding her steady. “Aedan has no such choice. His nature binds him to me no matter what his feelings. Either you will join us too, or you will die, it’s as simple as that.”
Maya’s voice released, and she let out one choked sob. She hated showing weakness, but in this case, it was sort of poetic, a lament for Aedan. He had to have a choice. He was a person, and he would never choose evil. She knew it.
“In the interest of fairness, however,” Morgana said, cocking her head to the side and letting her long raven hair cascade over her shoulder. “You should know that Aedan is the one who killed your brother.”
Chapter Forty-Eight
Aedan
He had to figure this out. There had to be a way to get out of it because if he hung around anymore, he was pretty sure he’d end up doing things he’d regret. Assuming he’d even be able to regret them afterward.
“Hope you’re comfortable,” Kari said before turning to leave.
“You aren’t going to chain me up like an animal?” Aedan asked from his seat on the floor near the mangled wall.
“You can’t possibly go anywhere. Besides if Sergey can get out of those things, I doubt it would be much of a problem for you.”
“I didn’t realize you thought that highly of me,” Aedan said with a half-hearted grin.
“Well, you did have a really good trainer.” Kari blew him a kiss and sashayed out of the room. The lock clicked into place behind her.
At least he was alone. He may not have much time, but he intended to use what he had. With fumbling fingers, Aedan reached into his back pocket and pulled out Merlin’s ring. The warm bronze eased his beating heart as he slid it on. Right now, this tiny artifact was his best chance at fighting the magic of Morgana.
“What should I do?” he asked aloud.
Maya was in even greater danger than ever, and Sam was still in the bushes. How the hell was he supposed to get them safely out of there?
I can’t do this alone.
The ring burned against his flesh as though to tell him he wasn’t alone. Or maybe he was just becoming as mad as Sergey looked. He had no one he could go to for help.
Then Aedan had a crazy thought. Toby. Toby still lay injured in a sleazy motel room with his damn cat. But maybe Maya had healed him enough to get him up and around. Surely he’d know what to do.
“How the hell am I supposed to even get out of here? And even if I could, how can I leave Maya?” Aedan found speaking out loud calmed his nerves even more. And the ring throbbed again with heat, seemingly in reaction to his voice.
She wouldn’t hurt Maya. She couldn’t. Not while she still seemed to need him to pledge himself to her. Though why the hell that was necessary he had no clue.
Aedan rubbed his hands together and laid his palms on the mutilated wall in front of him. He pushed aside whatever was left of the injection they’d given him and called up the fire within. Any bit of resistance his body still clung to disintegrated as he pictured Maya’s frightened face. With a loud pop, a section disintegrated into ash, leaving a web of black marks lacing the edges of the wall and mingling with the brownish red of the dried blood.
Outside the night was dark, and the bushes were hard to make out. But Aedan held up a small flame that threw dancing bits of light on the ground before him, and the tangle of brush was revealed. He found Sam almost immediately and sprang into action despite the thick ice encasing him. Aedan didn’t stop until he’d pried Sam loose and dragged him back toward the front of the house.
Aedan fell to his knees by his father, placing a hand gently on his forehead. The ice burned his palm in an unpleasant way, and he automatically heated up in response. Melt, he thought. Melt and leave me, Sam.
The water ran off into the ground so fast that Aedan’s hand sunk two inches in a matter of seconds, coming to rest on Sam’s cool, soft skin. But he remained still, staring up at Aedan with unblinking eyes. No.
“Sam,” Aedan hissed. He shook him, and his head flopped around a bit. “Shit. What do I do? Um, CPR.” Aedan’s hands traced over to Sam’s heart, and he began. But precious minutes later, it was clear it wasn’t working.
“Sam, please!” Aedan wasn’t even trying to stay quiet now. He had no magic. Just fire. Fire destroyed, it didn’t breathe life.
Then in his greatest moment of panic, Aedan remembered something. He remembered Sam’s own words. Yes, it’s dangerous if it gets out of control, but it can also be an incredibly useful tool. It can keep us safe, protected, and it’s beautiful.
Aedan slowed his compressions. A tear slipped from his lash sizzling into nonexistence on his cheek. His fingers dug into the shirt and soft flesh above his father’s heart. It couldn’t hurt. Not now. And what was electricity but fire?
The jolt formed somewhere around Aedan’s ribcage and sizzled right through his arm into his fingers. Sam’s body jerked when it hit, and the giant hamburger on his chest hissed and smoked a bit.
Aedan held his breath. And then Sam drew his own. His eyes blinked rapidly, and he sucked in air, shivering.
Aedan threw himself over the only father he’d ever known and sobbed, letting his body warm Sam’s chilled flesh until the tremors ceased.
“Aedan? Son?”
Aedan raised himself up and helped Sam to his feet. “Shh, Dad you have to stay quiet. We have to get to the car as quickly as possible. Okay?” Sam nodded his ascent with wide eyes. Aedan propped one shoulder beneath Sam’s ketchup arm and led him toward Maya’s convertible. Less noticeable than Aedan’s own truck, which would be missed much sooner.
“So are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Sam asked the minute Aedan slipped in the driver’s seat.
“Goddamnit! The keys have to be here somewhere!” Aedan flicked the visor down
three times before resting his head on the steering wheel in defeat.
“Son, if you’re looking for the keys they’re in the ignition.”
Aedan raised his head. He blinked. Sure enough, Maya had left them there for a quick getaway.
“Now, while you drive us to safety you can explain why I was kidnapped and what exactly you’ve gotten yourself into.” Aedan opened his mouth to retort, but Sam put up a hand. “I know it can’t be good. You called me Dad.”
Aedan stared at the bright yellow line on the street before him. “I’m in deep shit, Sam. I never wanted to drag you and Edy into this. Believe me.”
“I can imagine,” Sam said and coughed a little. “Where are we going? Last I remember home was in the other direction.”
“Look, Sam, there’s too much to go into right now. Edy’s worried sick, so if you want to go home I understand, but Maya’s life is at stake and the longer I take the less likely she is to survive.” The words were hard to say, but Aedan forced his way through it all without taking his eyes off the road.
“Edy will understand. She’s stronger than you think,” Sam said. “But if I’m going with you, I’m going to need you to fill in the missing details.”
Aedan swallowed. And he’d thought telling his parents about burning the bed was hard. Still, Sam had to know now. It was important someone did in case it all went wrong.
“Okay, Sam. Here goes nothing.”
Chapter Forty-Nine
Maya
She refused to believe it. Morgana was saying it to hurt her. To try and drive a wedge between her and Aedan. Okay so that didn’t make sense, but who the fuck cared? She was doing it because she was just plain evil and that’s what evil people did. But whatever the reason, it wasn’t because it was true. It couldn’t be.
“It wasn’t really his fault of course,” Morgana concluded. “He was two. His father was really the one. It’s like they say, you can’t blame the gun, it’s the person that fired it.”
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