“But we need the twins first?” Cooper asked.
She nodded. Her eyelids fluttered and closed.
My heart leapt into my throat. “Don’t go.”
She cracked the smallest of smiles and opened her eyes. Her gaze traveled around the group one witch at a time, like she wanted to memorize our faces before she passed. Tears fell from the corners of her eyes. Her lips trembled. I gripped her left hand in mine and squeezed her icy fingers. Finally, her eyes met mine, and I fell apart. This time I knew they were tears on my face. Her fingers twitched as she tried to squeeze back, but she had nothing left.
“I must. It’s my time. Goodbye, my family. I love you all so much. We will meet again, on the other side. I will be waiting for you.” Everyone choked on their whispered goodbyes and love. When I tried to say something, she shook her head. “Tennessee…look at me.”
I hadn’t even realized I’d turned away. I turned my head to her. I tried to find the right words, but they wouldn’t come.
“I had a vision once. I saw you, the night Kessler found you, near a riverbank.” She coughed and blood spilled onto her chin. “Your memories are not lost forever.”
“Thank you.” It was time to let her go. I had to. I just needed to say the words. She deserved to hear them. “Goodbye, my friend, my sister. I will never forget you.”
Her emerald eyes bored into mine. “Just remember, you are so strong, so brave. Hope is not lost.” She smiled at me and closed her eyes one last time.
Chapter Nine
Three hours later, I stood beside the ocean. The warm waves rolled over my bare feet. Sand rubbed between my toes with the pulling tide. Out in front of me, the Gulf of Mexico glistened like a crystal under the amber crescent moon. The water was flat and calm. The salty breeze blew my long hair into my face, and it broke off another little piece of my soul. Cassandra had been offering to trim it. She’d said I looked wild with it long and shaggy. She’d wanted to clean me up. Now she’d never get the chance. Something so insignificant shouldn’t hurt so much.
But it did. There were so many little things I’d miss about her. Over the next few months, I was bound to say something that’d remind me of her. I’d make our inside jokes only to belatedly realize the other half of the joke was no longer there. And I’d break a little more each time. I didn’t know how long it would take to heal, or if I ever would. How many family members could a person lose before they lost themselves?
Someone walked up beside me. Their shoulder brushed against mine. I recognized the scent of his Irish Spring soap. Cooper. The chaos roaring inside me calmed a little.
“You still have family,” he whispered over the lull of crashing waves. “You hear me?”
I swallowed a lump in my throat and tried to hold myself together. Cooper always had a knack for knowing what I was feeling. My adoptive brother didn’t express emotions often or easily, so hearing the words from him was almost too much to bear.
“Tennessee, you hear me?” he said with a little more strength. “You still have us.”
I nodded but didn’t trust myself to speak.
A warm, large arm wrapped around my back and squeezed my right shoulder. I didn’t need to look or ask. I knew who it was. This single, simple gesture had been his signature since the very moment we met. Not many things provided me with more comfort, even if I wasn’t great at expressing it to him. I closed my eyes and leaned into Kessler’s embrace, just like I had the day he found me. The day we became family.
Kessler cleared his throat. “We’re ready when you are, boys. No rush.”
I stared at the ocean a few moments longer. How was I going to get through this in one piece? I choked back tears and tried to swallow the ball in my throat.
“Let’s give her the farewell she deserves, my brother.”
I turned and found Cooper’s pale green eyes watching me. He smiled but it was full of sadness. I nodded. Eventually I’d have to speak. I just wasn’t ready now. I can do this. For her. When I turned, the sight took my breath away. I stopped in my tracks and looked at each of their faces.
Most of our kind chose to live in our sanctuary city of Eden, where they’d be safe from demons, sinister spirits, or any other kind of monster. It was the one piece of holy ground the Goddess provided for her people. There was a school where witches attended to learn normal Sapien things, all magical things, and for the worthy, a warrior training program. Once adults, those warriors would be sent out to guard and protect, much like the Sapien military. Florida had always been a hot spot for demon activity, even back before it had an actual name. As a result, a small community of witches built up in The Sunshine State. There weren’t quite as many of us after The Great Loss fifteen years back, but every single witch who survived it was staring back at me now.
I’d never seen a funeral put together quite so fast, and it almost warmed the ice in my heart to see the effort they made for her. Cassandra had always said when she passed, she wanted to sail away on the ocean at midnight, in a bed of flowers and crystals with the moonlight to guide her home. I hoped she somehow knew.
They stood in a semicircle, dressed in a witch’s ceremonial white. Those who weren’t holding babies held their neighbor’s hands. All of their gazes focused on the sand in front of them…where Cassandra lay in a wooden raft. She’d had specific instructions for when she passed, and I was relieved to see everyone had held up their end of the deal. Willow, our gifted conjurer, had summoned a wooden raft that looked a lot like a canoe for Cassandra to take her last ride in. Inside, her body was buried beneath countless flower petals of various colors and shapes. On top of those were precious crystals I knew without asking had been handpicked just for her.
Kessler had his arms wrapped around our shoulders. Which was good since I wasn’t sure I’d still be standing without him.
He cleared his throat, and the crowd’s attention turned to him. “It’s time we say goodbye to our Lady George.”
Lady George. It was an inside joke and a beloved nickname.
My fellow Cards, who weren’t currently holding me upright, stepped forward and formed a tight circle around her raft. They placed their left hands palm-up in their neighbor’s right hand. After a second, each open palm held a small flame. Henley whispered a few words, and Cassandra’s raft lifted into the air. The circle’s magic carried her down the beach, with the crowd right behind them holding candle-less flames of their own.
I stood there numb to my core…just watching. The Mark on her left forearm had faded from black to a soft purple. The lines of prophecy written below had disappeared altogether. I pushed the image out of my mind and let those thoughts drift away. A part of me wanted to join the circle and walk her raft into the ocean. The bigger part of me knew I didn’t have the strength. I took solace in knowing Cooper and Kessler stayed beside me, like they, too, couldn’t handle it.
Once the circle had walked completely into the ocean, they stepped back and gently lowered her onto the water. The rest of our community put their feet in the waves and sent their flames to the surface. Within seconds, Cassandra’s raft floated out to sea surrounded by a circle of loving flames to guide her soul to the other side. We watched in silence until a white glow lit up the sky and pulled her in.
The Goddess had taken her home.
My breath hitched, and I choked on a sob. She was gone. And it’s all my fault. For years, she’d encouraged me to take the lead, to assume the Emperor’s role. She’d said it would be natural for me. She’d said I’d excel and carry the Coven to greatness. I never wanted to. I insisted I wasn’t fit for the job. No one believed me then. Maybe they’d believe me now? I’d done it. I’d taken control of the quest and became the leader they wanted me to be. Look where it landed us. I sniffed through the burning in my nose. I should’ve known better. I should’ve checked to make sure the cemetery was clear. It was my fault. I wondered if everyone would hate me for it.
I didn’t know how long I stood there, staring at the sea witho
ut moving or speaking. When I finally broke free of my own torment, I noticed it was only those closest to her left.
“She knew she wasn’t going to make it to the end,” I heard myself say.
“If so, then she was prepared,” Kessler said softly and squeezed my shoulder. “Seek peace in that, if you can.”
I nodded. At some point, I knew it would comfort me, but in the moment, it only stung more. I wished she’d told me. I wished I could’ve prepared myself. I wished… I stopped that train of thought. It wouldn’t do me any good. I had a job to do. Now more than ever, I had to follow through.
I cleared my throat. “I leave for Eden in the morning.”
Chapter Ten
The door to the private jet opened, revealing a narrow set of steps that dropped down to the tarmac. I sighed and slid my sunglasses into place. My eyes were bloodshot and tired; I didn’t need anyone to see that. This quest was more important than anything I’d ever done before. I needed to look confident and strong, even if I was a tangled ball of knots inside.
“Good luck, Tennessee.”
I paused on the top step and glanced over my shoulder at Walter, the pilot and owner of the plane. “Thanks, Walt.”
“I’ll be hanging around until you’re ready to go home.” He smiled and I tried to absorb some of his happy energy. “I know you’ll make Cassandra proud.”
Damn it. My stomach turned. I forced a smile and nodded. Talk about pressure. Kessler had suggested I wait until the last minute to head up here, to give myself time to recoup, but truth was I didn’t have the time. We didn’t have time. The Gathering was only a matter of hours away, and I still had a lengthy drive through the Smoky Mountains to get there. Besides, this wasn’t a loss I would recover from quickly.
One step at a time. I took a deep breath and descended the stairs. I had no idea what kind of greeting I’d find when I arrived, but I certainly hadn’t expected to be met by the Coven leaders themselves. At least not on the landing strip. Seeing them waiting there for me felt like I was about to be executed.
The entire witch race was led by the Coven of Cards, twenty-two of the most worthy, hand selected by the Goddess. Of the Cards, two were chosen to be our leaders: one male and one female. They were our rulers, our King and Queen so to speak. Timothy Roth and Constance Bell sat in those thrones for the last fifteen years. I’d only seen them a few times in my entire life, and yet there they were.
I stepped up in front of them and paused. What was protocol for greeting them? Did I bow? Shake their hands? I silently chastised myself for not asking Kessler these questions before I left.
“Welcome back to Eden, Tennessee,” Constance, the Justice Card, said with a warm smile. She held her left hand out. Shaking with your Marked arm was standard for Cards, so I took it. “I’m Constance.”
“Thank you, and yes, I remember you.” I smiled, relieved by the casual nature of the greeting. I looked to her left at the big burly man with a thick salt-and-pepper beard and flannel shirt. He didn’t look pleased to see me at all, but I held my left hand out for him anyway. “Timothy Roth, right?”
Timothy Roth, the Judgement Card, shook my hand but didn’t crack the slightest of smiles. He stood slightly taller than my six foot two, but his shoulders were the same size as mine. I took an odd comfort in this until I met his stare. His eyes were a dark brown and looking at me like I might stab him in the back the second he turned around. Then again, I was the Emperor…the Card who almost always sat in a throne. I supposed he had a reason to worry, regardless of how much I didn’t want his seat of power.
“Tennessee Wildes, it’s been a while,” he said.
“Thank you for seeing to me on such short notice.”
“By what Kessler said, we don’t have much time to get you up on that mountain,” Timothy grumbled. He didn’t sound happy to be helping me at all. “Though he didn’t explain why you had to be at the Gathering this year. We usually don’t allow Cards to attend. It can be too dangerous for everyone.”
Well, at least that explained some of his resentment. I held my hands behind my back to try and appear calm and confident. “I apologize for the lack of communication on our end. The last few days have been a whirlwind. We didn’t know I’d be here today until last night. Otherwise we would’ve made appropriate arrangements ahead of time.”
Timothy smirked. “Well mannered, I see.”
I smiled and nodded. “Kessler raised me well.”
“I will applaud him for it when I get the chance. For now, perhaps you could fill us in?”
I took a deep breath and caught them up to speed on the quest at hand, giving only the necessary details. The pendulum warmed in my front pocket, like it knew I was talking about it, but I didn’t offer it up for show-and-tell. Why? I hadn’t the slightest clue.
“I had hoped Cassandra would accompany me at least this far, to fill you in on the details I don’t yet understand, but…”
Constance reached forward and squeezed my arm. “We are all deeply sorrowed by her passing. I know she was like family to you, and I know firsthand what it’s like losing that. We are all in this together, and we will help you in every way we can.”
“So, this task can only be completed by you?” Timothy asked, ignoring the chance to show some compassion. “Do you know why?”
I sighed and shook my head. “I wish I did, trust me. I have no interest in facing this alone.”
“Timothy, Tennessee will need a car and supplies to get up the mountain…” Constance arched her eyebrow.
He nodded. “Already ready for him. I’ll go get it and meet y’all around front.” Without another word, he turned and walked off in the opposite direction.
“I’m sorry about him.” Constance sighed and shook her head. “You make him nervous.”
I frowned. “He has no reason to be concerned,” I said, praying she understood my meaning. How many times could one guy say he didn’t want to lead? Apparently not enough.
“Perhaps.” She cocked her head to the side and smiled. “Walk with me. I have some things you’ll need.”
I followed her in silence across the tarmac toward a sprawling brick building. Once we got closer, I realized it wasn’t an airport but the school. Edenburg Est. 1693 was carved into the worn-out brick above the double doors. I had always dreamed of what life could’ve been like if I’d attended school in Edenburg like most other witches. It seemed a cruel form of torture to have to walk through the halls now.
Up ahead, teenagers crowded the hallway. I had no idea what time of day it was, or what the school schedule was at Edenburg, but it must’ve been lunch or between classes. Students leaned against lockers and goofed off with their friends just like they did in my school. Dozens of voices at full volume crammed into a tight space made it sound like a pack of hungry lions.
I wasn’t sure what made them look my way. Maybe it was the heavy echo of my combat boots or the anxiety rolling off of me in waves, but as we walked, every student stopped at stared. Their jaws dropped and eyes widened. Noise cut off completely, like someone hit the mute button on a remote. The path in front of us parted faster and wider than the Red Sea as students leapt out of our way. I frowned and glanced down at my body to make sure I hadn’t accidentally palmed my sword or dagger. It had been known to happen to me when I was anxious. But no, my dagger was tucked safely into my left boot and my sword hung from a holster on my right hip. Maybe they didn’t see weapons like mine inside the sanctuary city?
I glanced left and right while we passed down the hall. The students whispered to each other behind hands and books. I missed most of what they said, except for one word—Emperor. My Card title echoed louder than the thud of my boots on tile. Most of the guys looked at me with unabashed terror. Girls, on the other hand, blushed various shades of pink and giggled.
I must’ve been scowling pretty hard because Constance smacked my arm lightly and whispered, “Don’t terrify them.” She chuckled and shook her head.
“Why
do I terrify them?”
“Because you’re the Emperor,” she said matter-of-factly, like it cleared up any and all confusion.
I wanted to say it didn’t, and that it made no sense at all, except I couldn’t. I had the most power, even more than the High Priestess or Empress, and I was made for war. My friends had told me for years that my aura radiated around me like a force field at all times. It simply hadn’t been so blatantly obvious back home around other Cards. There was a part of me that relished my power and ranking, and it seemed to be growing stronger. Cassandra had spent years insisting I embraced my role… Maybe it was time I started listening.
When we turned left at the end of the hallway, I glanced over my shoulder and found several dozen students standing frozen and watching. I meant to smile or wave, or something to acknowledge their presence, but I was too blown away by their reaction to me.
“Like I said…perhaps.” Constance laughed and pulled open a door on my right.
I followed her through a few sets of doors until we reached a lavish office built out of rich mahogany. Constance walked around the back side of a long desk covered in papers and various random objects. She pushed her shirt sleeves up to her elbows and dug through a stack of papers.
My gaze moved to her right arm. Every inch of her skin, from her fingertips all the way up under her sleeve, was covered in an intricate vine tattoo with bright pink roses. Beneath the vine almost looked like lace, or like she had on a mesh shirt. The black ink morphed into a deep red. I gasped and leaned in to get a closer look. It wasn’t a tattoo at all; it was a glyph…and not just any glyph. I’d never seen someone with it in real life. All witches knew of it, secretly hoped for it to happen to them.
“You have a Soul Mate,” I said.
Constance’s head snapped up. Her sky blue eyes met mine and she smiled. A small blush covered her cheeks. “Yes, I do. His name is Daniel. He’s the headmaster here at Edenburg.”
The Chosen Witch Page 9