The Council, A Witch's Memory

by J. C. Isabella

  “It’s over.” Henry crossed the room, placing himself between the hooded lunatic and me.

  Cal was watching the hole in the wall closely. I forced my eyes away from Henry to see what had his attention. Dmitri stood in the opening now, his lip curled above pearly white fangs.

  Cal took a step back when Quinn appeared next to Dmitri. He looked even more foreboding than usual, holding a crossbow. A wolfish growl escaped from his clenched teeth.

  I turned my attention back to Henry and Craven.

  “You underestimate my capabilities.” Craven said, sounding smug.

  “If you’re referring to your goons outside, they’re dead,” Quinn growled. “Tough luck.”

  “They were expendable.” Craven chuckled and snapped his fingers. “I allowed you to find me. I allowed you to break in here. I’d planned this all along.”

  More men came into the room from the far doorway, we were outnumbered.

  “We can end this now, without any blood spilled.” Henry said.

  “Hum, no. I don’t see three spoiled princes, my weakling daughter, and an unconscious human as much of a challenge. It is you, Your Highness’, who should surrender for your lives.” Craven laughed wickedly. “This was my plan, you see. Venna is the bait. Yes, I need her to heal me, but I also gain leverage over the Council by capturing their heirs.”

  Dmitri hissed. “You haven’t captured us yet.”

  “Yes, I have.” Craven said, and looked at me. “Venna, you may heal me whenever you’re ready.”

  I gasped, “Never.”

  “I would spare Henry, let him live if you healed me.”

  My throat went tight and I gazed up at Henry. I could save him by healing Craven. But then I looked at Pepper and Dmitri and Quinn. They wouldn’t be so lucky.

  “Like you spared my mother?” I asked.

  Craven snarled. “She chose her own fate. Who am I to deny her of it?”

  I’m not sure who threw the first punch, but suddenly, the men behind Cal launched themselves at Dmitri and Quinn.

  I struggled to my feet, thinking I’d run for the old table saw and try to cut the ropes off. But suddenly Dmitri was behind me and he tore them free.

  I nodded, “Thanks.”

  He was gone in a blink, and I forced myself to move. I caught Pepper under the arms, dragging her across the room to the massive table saw.

  Someone grabbed me from behind.

  I whirled and came face to face with a vampire. His fangs bared, he lunged for my throat. I screamed, pressing my hands to his face. The smell of smoke began to permeate the air and the monster fell to the ground writhing. His skin on fire.

  I grabbed Pepper again and managed to drag her the rest of the way, though not as gently as I’d like. I pulled her under the table with me and placed my hand over her forehead and healed her. Then I turned my attention back to the fight.

  Chapter 30

  Craven’s men gave everything they had, ruthlessly bating and shouting obscenities. Despite their efforts, they were losing. There were only a handful of traitors left, Cal, a vampire, and a few warlocks.

  Dmitri would rush the vampires from behind and behead them. Quinn took a more forward approach, charging them and snapping their necks with his hands. He used the crossbow on the ones across the room, first taking out her legs to slow them down, and then…well, I didn’t really want to see the rest, so I averted my gaze.

  Lightning shot out of Cal’s hands. The wall next to the table saw was charred and smoking. He aimed his hands at me this time. I grabbed Pepper, ready to drag her out of the way.

  Quinn shot Cal in the good leg with his crossbow, giving Dmitri the chance to wrestle him the floor.

  I looked away, not wanting to see what happened next.

  “Cowards.” I heard Quinn bark. I glanced back just in time to see the last of Craven’s men run out the hole in the wall. Dmitri raced after them, daggers and fangs ready.

  I looked past him at Henry. He was fighting a vampire. There was a gash in his arm, and blood ran down his fingertips. But that wasn’t all. The blade of the sword was red.

  The vampire lunged for Henry and the sword flew out of his hands and skittered across the floor, very close to the table saw. They fell back, hitting the ground, and rolling into a wall.

  Henry hit the vampire in the side of his head. He pulled back his bloodied fist again and the vampire caught his arm. He sank his teeth into Henry’s wrist.

  I screamed and crawled out from under the table, grabbing the sword off the floor. It was heavy. I lugged it across the room with me. The vampire was digging his teeth into Henry’s flesh. Henry beat the side of the monsters head with his good hand.

  I didn’t think twice and lifted the sword.

  It sailed through the air and sliced into the vampire’s side. The monster hunched over. Henry kicked him off and rolled to his feet.

  “Venna, are you all right?” he held his wrist in this good hand to stop the bleeding.

  “Me?” I shouted. “You’re the one being sucked dry.”

  I pulled his good hand away from his wrist and pressed my fingers to the oozing wound. It healed in a matter of seconds.

  “Thank you,” he gripped the sword, pulling it out of the vampire, and nodded towards the table saw. “Go back to Pepper, please.”

  I ran back, and crawled under the table. When I urged Pepper to wake up, she didn’t move. I felt for her pulse. It was too faint.

  I could heal the wounded, but what if she was dying?

  “Help,” I called for someone, anyone. “I need help!”

  “Hang on,” Quinn yelled from across the room. He shot a vampire with his crossbow and ran. He was the only one able to get to me. Henry was fighting, and Dmitri wasn’t in the mill anymore.

  I bit my lip. “She’s not waking up.”

  Quinn crouched in front of the table saw. “Why?”

  “I don’t know. She’s human, it could work differently…” Pepper moaned, her eyelids fluttering, but she didn’t wake up. I pressed my hand to her forehead again. “Please wake up.”

  Her eyes flew open.

  “Pepper!” I cried.

  “I’m so tired,” she sighed. “Where the hell am I?”

  “In the mill.”

  She blinked. “Are you stupid? This place is condemned!”

  I put my hand over her mouth and shook my head. “Just chill, okay? We’re in a little trouble…so do everything I say and try not to freak out.”

  “Too late,” she glanced around us at the bodies littering the floor. “I’m way past freaked out. I’m hallucinating.”

  Quinn grunted. “Should have left her unconscious.”

  I noticed a cut on his arm and lifted my hand. It wasn’t deep, but it looked painful. “You want me to heal that?”

  “Nah, it’s already started. I’m almost as fast at that as you.”

  I nodded, and shifted to see around Quinn. Henry was circling Craven, and then he sent him sailing into a pillar in the middle of the room.

  “Are you going to fight me, Craven ?” Henry just wanted to finish the fight. Why Craven was stalling was beyond me.

  “This will not end until I am back in power!” he shouted.

  “The last of your men have deserted you, or are dead.” Henry’s voice boomed. “Come quietly and I will consider giving you a trial.”

  Craven struggled to his feet. I wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep this up. His legs were shaking, and his voice was strained, as if he didn’t have much fight left in him. “You will give me nothing. You turned my daughter against me! I should kill her after she heals me for such betrayal.”

  “You will not touch her.” The walls shook again as fury surged inside of Henry. I’d never felt anything like that before, so terrifying, and I knew the second he had the chance he’d kill Craven.

  “Venna is the traitor.” Craven ’s voice filled with the kind of anger that made me quake inside. “The reason for—”

  “N
o.” Henry cut him off, sending him soaring into a large crate when he lunged at him. “She stays out of this!”

  Craven didn’t move. He was so still part of me wondered if he was dead. I crawled out from under the table. Quinn gave me a nod and slid under to sit with Pepper. I inched slowly toward Henry. His eyes were locked on Craven’s limp body.

  When I reached his side he grabbed my arm.

  “No further.”

  I didn’t want to get any closer to the crazy warlock. “Is he…”

  Henry shook his head. “Not quite.”

  “I don’t want you to have to kill him.”

  “I know, but I don’t have a choice.”

  I laced my fingers with Henry’s free hand and rested my cheek against his arm. Why didn’t he just tie Craven up before he regained consciousness?

  I swallowed, squeezing his hand tighter for support. There were questions I wanted answered, and I knew this was my chance. So I took it. “Why are you doing this?”

  Craven didn’t move.

  Feeling bold, I squared my shoulders and tried another approach.

  “I order you to answer me.”

  He groaned, and let his head drop to the side. “You dare?”

  “Yes.”

  “You have no right. I am your father.” He said, sitting up slowly.

  “Wrong, I am Henry’s mate, his equal and your superior. You will answer me.” Out of the corner of my eye I saw the side of Henry’s mouth kick up in a grin. “Now, tell me why you’re doing this.”

  Craven sighed. “We are the stronger species and we cower. The humans should be hiding from us. Can you not see how much better we are?”

  “We’re not hiding,” I argued. “And we are not better, just different.”

  “So wrong is your belief.” He hissed, struggling to stand up.

  Henry shifted beside me, angling his body to block mine.

  Craven pressed his fingers together, muttering to himself. “Maybe Zane will see my view. A father and son share a special bond.”

  “No, ” Henry said confidently.

  “Ah, so you’ve not only influenced my daughter, you’ve forced your views on my son as well.” He laughed hollowly. “This does not surprise me.”

  “My mother…why did she have to die?” I forced the words out, hoping that my voice stayed even.

  For the first time, he wasn’t a monster. His shoulders fell and shook, voice rough with emotion. “It was an accident. I never wanted to hurt Charlotte. That day on the beach, when the dock collapsed…she did so much damage to me I couldn’t save her. I was too weak, and she was never a good swimmer.”

  As he struggled to keep his balance the hood of his cloak slipped, revealing his face. I recognized him—barely. His face was horribly scarred. Pink gashes running diagonally over the whole surface. The skin had not fully healed, and looked irritated and puckered. His nose was destroyed, nothing but a swollen lump with two tiny holes where his nostrils should have been. His shiny black eyes were slits, lids missing lashes.

  My stomach churned, no wonder my mother told me to close my eyes when she attacked him.

  “You could stop,” I pleaded. “Call off your men, show me you have good left in you. Do it for my mother.”

  “You want me to just give up?”

  I nodded. “I will heal you then. I promise.”

  “Fine,” he said. “Heal me right now, and I will concede.”

  I stared at him, “I will heal you after you are in Council custody.”

  For a minute I thought I’d won, that maybe he would listen and back down.

  “No.” Craven pointed a boney finger at the sword Henry held. “His father used that same blade to mutilate my face, and your mother brought the disgusting disfigurement back.”

  I glared at him. “My mother protected her children. She did what she had to.”

  “No!” He howled.

  Henry stepped in front of me and turned his head slightly to whisper, “I have to end this, Venna. I need you to understand.”

  “I won’t hold anything against you, Henry.”

  “Aw, how sweet,” Craven sang evilly. “You want to finish me off, Henry?”

  Henry didn’t answer and let go of the sword. It floated in the air in front of us. He took a step forward, following Craven with his eyes.

  “Have you ever killed a man before?” Craven grinned, wide and wild, “I’m guessing you haven’t. No matter how powerful you are, for such a young warlock it will weigh on you forever. You don’t know what it’s like to taste another’s blood.”

  “I kill monsters, not men.” Henry said. “You are not a man.”

  “You’re right. I am a God.” Craven straightened. “And I’m not going alone.”

  Faster than I’d seen him move all night, Craven picked up a wooden beam lying on the floor and hurled it at us.

  Henry spun, hooking his arm around my waist, and yanked me to the ground. The beam missed us. But we watched in horror as it hit the pillar holding up the roof. Chunks of the ceiling tumbled down and the walls collapsed.

  I wrapped my arms around Henry’s head and buried my face against his neck.

  We were together, no matter what.

  Chapter 31

  My ears hurt from the crashes and deafening rumbles as the roof fell in. We lay helpless on the ground. I kept waiting for us to be crushed, to hear Henry roar in pain as something hit him. Nothing happened.

  There was a flash of brilliant green light and a cool breeze.

  I lifted my head to glance around and found that we were sprawled on springy grass a good distance from the mill. I watched the building settle into itself, creaking and moaning. Everything, including us, covered in a thick layer of dust.

  Neither of us said anything, we just lay together, breathing. I let my head drop back to rest on his shoulder. The sting of hot tears filled my eyes and I let them fall. There was no stopping them. They just kept coming. Henry held me close, pulled me up to kiss away the streaks of tears. I kissed him back, clinging to him.

  He helped me stand, keeping one of his arms wrapped around me. The sword flew out of the rubble and he caught it with his free hand.

  The blade was red.

  I forced myself not to look at it. With a mighty thrust he buried the blade deep in the dirt at our feet, and then pulled it out. It was clean. It was done.

  A few more tears escaped for my mother, and for my father. I’d never really known her, thanks to Craven. But that was the past. I had my brother and Henry, and I could not hold on to anger. It wouldn’t do me any good.

  I walked with Henry, focused on my surroundings. The mill was gone. Drops of cool rain hit my head, lightning flashed, illuminating the rubble. Heaps of rotted wood and twisted metal piled high in front of us. It was quiet enough that I could hear our breathing. Henry nudged me forward and we edged closer to the mill.

  My throat went dry. Our surroundings were unrecognizable.

  We were just feet away from the massive pile of rubble. It was eerily quiet, and as I got my bearings, I realized three very important people were missing. “Pepper and Quinn were in the building, and I don’t know where Dmitri went.”

  “Hey!” I turned to see Dmitri climbing over to us. “I thought you were flattened.”

  “No, but I’m worried about Quinn and Pepper.” Henry took a deep breath. “Can you smell anyone?”

  “Barely, but I know that mangy mutt is around here somewhere.” Dmitri walked around for a minute, stopped, and picked up a giant plank of wood as if it were a mere stick and tossed it away. “Found them.”

  Henry and I moved as fast as we could, scrambling to where Dmitri started digging. I pulled and pushed at boards, Henry sent the debris flying even faster with magic. I wasn’t feeling up to trying my new powers at the moment.

  The wood beneath my feet began to shake. I jumped back as a bloody hand emerged next to my foot.

  “A little help would be nice.” Quinn’s muffled voice floated up from b
eneath me.

  He was really banged up, superficial scratches and cuts, nothing life threatening. He didn’t pull himself completely out, and bent down to grab what was left of the table saw. He heaved it out of the way. Pepper was curled in a ball at his feet.

  “Hey, it’s over.” Quinn said.

  Pepper blinked up at us, she was scratched up and bleeding, too, but alive and safe. Quinn picked her up and sprang out of the rubble that was well above his head, as if he were jumping up to the curb at the side of a road.

  I regained my wits and grabbed onto Pepper as Quinn set her down.

  “Oh, Venna,” Pepper cried, she squeezed me tight. “I had the weirdest dream. There were vampires and…and Henry sent a man flying across the room!”

  I cried too. “It wasn’t a dream, it’s all real.”

  “Great, tell the human our secret.” Quinn griped, hovering over us like a big bad storm cloud.

  “We’ll fix it later,” I heard Henry say.

  “There will be no memory wiping of any kind,” my friend knew the truth and it was going to stay that way. “Henry, I suggest you leave Pepper’s memories alone.”

  “Fine. We can work something out.”

  I smiled up at him. “Thank you.”

  Pepper gasped, looking down at where the scratches and cuts once adorned her arms. “How did you do that?”

  I laughed with relief, “I have a long story to tell you.”

  ****

  Sitting against the base of a massive tree next to Pepper, I watched as Henry, Quinn, and Dmitri sifted through the rubble of the mill. They needed proof that Craven was dead or escaped. I hoped it wasn’t the latter. They hadn’t been digging for very long when they found Cal and a few other men. No Craven though.

  Pepper smirked, gesturing to Quinn. “He’s like a super bloodhound.”

  “I heard that,” Quinn snapped.

  I laughed. “Yeah.”

  I’d explained everything to Pepper, and I mean everything. She took it all surprisingly well, much to my relief. I could tell my best friend about anything, just like before I found out I was a witch.

  “I knew you and Henry would end up together.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “You seemed pretty excited earlier when you told me you were bound to him. What all does that entail?”