Magnar beamed. “We'll kill them all together.”
I gaped at Callie and she shook her head, clearly as pissed off as I was.
“You aren't fighting,” I insisted. “This duel is not happening. We're not going to stand and watch while you offer us up to be some stupid prize!”
“Exactly and if there was a fight, I'd damn well be a part of it,” Callie snapped.
Magnar and Julius finally gave us their attention, not seeming particularly bothered by our reaction.
“We will win,” Julius said with conviction. “There's nothing to worry about.”
“Nothing to worry about?” I cried. “You're talking about killing the man I love!”
“Details.” Magnar shrugged and rage burned a hole right through me.
I drew Nightmare from my hip, pointing it at him. “It's not happening!”
Callie took my arm, slowly lowering it to my side. “Don't worry, Monty. They won't do it.”
“Psh.” Julius waved her off. “We'll do what we like.”
“You can do whatever you like with your meaty backside, Julius, but you don’t get to decide for me and my sister,” Callie said in a steady tone. “We're not going to be a prize in this game.”
“We should be working with the vampires to break the curse,” I implored. “This is madness.”
“Not going to happen,” Magnar said.
Julius sighed. “We can't expect them to agree to this, Brother.”
Magnar eyed him, nodding slowly. “It seems like a wasted opportunity to refuse, but it seems we must.”
Callie straightened her spine. “Maybe we should keep trying to figure out this prophecy...it could end all of this before anyone has to fight anyone.”
“Knock yourselves out. I'm going to check the wards,” Magnar said, striding off toward the exit. After a beat, Julius followed him, whistling softly to himself.
“They're lying,” Callie said, giving me an anxious look.
“I know,” I breathed. “What can we do?”
“Well we're not going to be sitting ducks here. If they think we're going to be the trophy in their fight, they're going to be sorely disappointed.”
“So what are we gonna do?” I hissed, gripping her arm.
Callie chewed her lower lip. “Well...if we figure out the prophecy before sunset, maybe we can stop this.”
“How are we going to do that?” I ran a hand into my hair, anxiety burrowing into my core.
Callie dropped down to the floor, patting the space beside her. I sat, folding my legs as I gazed at her.
“What do we know so far?” she asked.
I recited the prophecy slowly so Calle could absorb it. When I was done, I aired my thoughts about some of the lines. “Well...Julius and I think a warrior born but monster made might mean me turning into a vampire. And Andvari confirmed it.” I cleared my throat and Callie glared at me in horror.
“What?” she gasped. “That can’t happen. I won’t let it.”
“I know,” I said through my teeth. “It’s not like I want that, Callie. Let’s just focus on the next part.”
She looked ready to fight me, but gave in at my pleading expression. “Which changes fates of souls enslaved,” she murmured the next line. “So if you turn then that could set things in motion maybe? It changes the vampires' fates...for the better I guess.” Discomfort crossed her features at the mere idea of that happening.
I nodded, having nothing better to offer and wanting to move swiftly on from that part of the prophecy. “Then twins of sun and moon will rise...Nightmare whispered that to me the day we were made Countesses at the wedding. So I suppose that's what that means? We've risen?”
Callie nodded, delivering the next part. “When one has lived a thousand lives...that was when I took the vow. I have access to a thousand lives...a thousand memories as if I've lived them all.”
Excitement grew in me. That was over half the prophecy already. “Okay so...it's the rest we're unclear on. A circle of gold shall join two souls...and a debt paid right wrongs of old.”
Callie fiddled with Mom's ring hanging from her neck, her brow heavily furrowed. “Could it be this?” she asked, glancing away awkwardly. “I put it on last night and it seemed to break my bonds for a while. My link to Fabian and the power holding Magnar and I apart just disappeared.” Her cheeks flushed and I realised what she meant.
“Callie!” I laughed. “Does that mean you and Magnar..?”
“Yes.” She suppressed her giggles, placing a hand over her mouth.
“How was it?” I whispered, grinning at her.
“Good,” she breathed. “Better than good. Monty, he's everything. I can't get enough of him and now this ring gives me a way to be with him.” She took it from her neck and my heart swelled as I reached out to it.
As my fingers grazed the metal, my mind exploded with images.
I was trapped in a vision, torn from the room and propelled high into the sky above the statue. My stomach lurched and a silent scream got stuck in my throat as I flew over New York City at high speed. I felt Callie's presence right next to me and we seemed to merge into one being, watching the land sweep beneath us at a colossal pace. We sped across great forests and ruined towns until the landscape shifted into a dusty red desert. It grew wider and wider, all the way to the horizon until the only thing I could see was crimson sand.
The world whipped by in a blur and suddenly we were standing before a huge mountain, rising from the ground. It disappeared high up into the clouds like a looming beast. Something about it was unearthly, its aura powerful and forbidding.
A ring of gold joins two souls, a whisper filled my ears. Mount Alma awaits.
I was yanked back into the room and the ring fell between us, tinkling as it hit the floor.
“What the hell was that?” I gasped and Callie shook her head, tentatively picking up the ring again.
“I don't know,” she panted, resting a hand against her heart. “But did you hear that voice?”
I nodded, my breathing finally steadying out. “Do you think that mountain we saw was the holy mountain the prophecy mentions?”
She nodded quickly. “It has to be.” She sprang to her feet, ushering me up. “Come on, we have to tell the others!”
We jogged towards the exit and Montana reached out to grasp the door handle. I caught her arm as the sound of Julius and Magnar’s voices reached me from outside.
“Hang on,” I whispered as I tilted my head to listen in.
Montana’s eyes widened as she realised what I was doing and she pressed her ear to the wooden door to try and hear them too.
“-shouldn’t have to let this opportunity pass us by,” Julius said irritably.
“I know we shouldn’t,” Magnar replied. “But it’s not exactly our place to make that deal. The girls will feel like we are bargaining with their lives, it makes it seem as though we think we own them.”
“Better to be owned by us than the Belvederes,” Julius replied dismissively and Magnar snorted a laugh.
“I’d wager being owned by a worm would be preferable to that.”
“And anyway, just because we agree to such a thing, it wouldn’t tie the girls to anything. Like you say, we don’t own them so any deal we made would be irrelevant. I could just as easily promise them the sky if they beat us. It doesn’t make it mine to give.”
“You have a point,” Magnar said and I could hear that he was tempted to give in.
I almost pushed the door open so that I could reiterate my opinion on being used as a bargaining chip but if they hadn’t heard me the first time then I doubted they’d listen now. And if I interrupted them they’d only be more careful not to be overheard again. It wouldn’t stop them having this conversation.
“But on the off chance they won, I’d be placing Callie in danger…”
“Pfft,” Julius scoffed. “Two Belvederes beating us? They spent ten years running and hiding from us because they knew our strength was superior
. We’re more than a match for them.”
“And it’s unlikely we will ever be given an opportunity like this again where we will only be asked to face two of them. Once they’re dead, Miles and Clarice will be easy prey,” Magnar said, a hint of excitement in his tone.
“So we’re agreed?” Julius asked.
“What are they saying?” Montana hissed and I flinched at the loudness of her voice as my heightened hearing adjusted.
“They’re going to take Erik up on his offer,” I said, biting my lip. I wasn’t sure what we could possibly do to convince them not to fight but before I could ask Montana if she had any ideas, she pushed the door wide and stormed out.
Julius and Magnar stood on the far side of the statue and they looked up at us guilty as we moved towards them.
“So our opinions just mean nothing to you then?” Montana growled as she closed in on them and I hurried to match her pace.
“We were only talking over our options,” Julius replied defensively. “No need to throw a tantrum!”
“Don’t talk to her like that,” I said angrily, glaring at him. “She’s not a child so don’t patronise her. This whole issue is about us so you have no right to choose for us.”
“It’s not about you,” Magnar replied, folding his arms. “Not for us anyway. We’ve spent our whole lives waiting for a chance to take these parasites down and now they’re offering us the perfect opportunity.”
“Maybe that’s why Idun bound you to Fabian,” Julius piped up before I could respond. “If those marks on your hands make them stupid enough to risk their lives for you then why shouldn’t we take advantage of it?
“And have you really thought about that?” Montana asked. “Have you considered how difficult it will be for us to see them hurt? Callie begged you to spare Fabian’s life because of what she feared would happen to her if he died. Or don’t you care about that anymore?”
Magnar shifted uncomfortably, his gaze sweeping over me before he answered. “Of course I care about that. But after last night I believe that tie isn’t as strong as we’d feared. Closing yourself off from it didn’t hurt you; it freed you. And I think killing him will make that freedom permanent.”
“You can’t know that!” Montana protested. She turned to me for backup as my mind swam over what he was saying and I wondered if it could be true. “You said you thought you’d die if Fabian died, surely you still feel that?”
“I… I don’t know,” I admitted. A deep pain sliced into my heart as I considered the idea of the world without Fabian in it and I was struck with the urge to drop to my knees and beg Magnar not to hurt him. But as I remembered how I’d felt in the slayer’s arms last night I hesitated. I couldn’t trust myself when this bond to my enemy was intact but when I’d been free of it I’d finally felt like myself again.
I raised a hand to the ring, wishing I could put it on now but I’d promised Magnar I’d use it as sparingly as possible. He was sure the gods would be searching for such a powerful item and if they realised I had it it could put us all in danger.
“You see,” Julius said triumphantly to Montana. “Even she knows it. And I get that you’re all obsessed with Erik of your own free will but you can hardly expect us to forget what he is. To forget what he’s done to our family, just because you think he’s dreamy.”
My sister looked at me like I’d just stabbed her in the back and I dropped my eyes guiltily.
“Of course I don’t expect you to forget what happened to your father,” she said. “And you know I understand that pain too. But what if there’s a better way. The prophecy-”
“The prophecy is nothing more than a riddle designed to drive us all insane,” Magnar growled.
“It’s not! Callie, tell them what we saw when we touched the ring.” She looked at me pleadingly and I nodded. I may have been unsure about the best way to deal with my bond to Fabian but I knew how much it would hurt Montana if anything happened to Erik. I owed it to her to try and convince the slayers to look more closely at the prophecy.
“We had a vision,” I said. “Of the holy mountain. Mount Alma-”
“That means soul,” Magnar replied and I was glad that they were listening at least.
“Callie and I were bound together as one soul when we saw it,” Montana said eagerly. “And that line in the prophecy talks about a circle of gold joining two souls!”
The brothers glanced at each other and I could tell they were unnerved by that statement.
“Nightmare said it was time for us to rise when we were made into Countesses. When Callie took the vow she said she was given the memories of a thousand slayers. We’re the twins of sun and moon. We know about the holy mountain. So if the monster made part is about me becoming a vampire then we only have to figure out what the debt to be paid is and-”
“And what?” Magnar asked and I could see anger simmering in his gaze. “You want to become one of them? You’re willing to risk your soul and undergo that unholy transformation? All because you hope you’ve figured this out?”
“I don’t know,” she breathed, fear lacing her voice.
“You can’t,” I said quickly. “You can’t do that Monty, promise me you’ll never become one of them!”
“But if it’s the only way to break the curse,” she whispered. “Then-”
“I don’t care,” I growled. “I’m not losing you just so that you can help the bloodsuckers.”
“But it wouldn’t just help the vampires,” she protested. “It would help the humans too. They could be free-”
“Only if you’re right and it works,” Julius said. “In which case great; you’ll be human again, you can come to your senses about that parasite and dump him for me. But if you’re wrong-”
“If you’re wrong, your sister’s vow will demand she kills you as it demands we destroy them,” Magnar growled.
My mouth fell open and I stared at him in horror for even suggesting such a thing. “I’d never do that!”
“Well it’s a good thing you won’t be faced with that choice,” he said. “Because there’s no way I’ll let it happen. Our people spent centuries trying to solve that prophecy to no avail.” He turned his gaze on Montana. “I won’t allow you to damn yourself based on some guesswork which you have no way of proving is true.”
Montana seemed unsure for a moment then nodded. “It’s not like I want to be one of them,” she said. “I only want to figure this out.”
“We can keep trying,” I said. “So long as we have time to do it.” I raised an eyebrow at Magnar and he sighed in defeat.
“Fine. Tell the parasite we won’t take his deal.”
Julius opened his mouth to object then closed it again slowly. He shrugged one huge shoulder and pulled the cellphone from his pocket.
He hit a few buttons and a ringing filled the air.
“Have you made up your mind?” Erik’s voice came through the speaker.
“The girls say no and it’s up to them; we don’t own them. They don’t want the two of you anywhere near them,” Julius replied dismissively.
Fabian’s voice sounded in response and my heart leapt with excitement. “I want my wife back you fucking-”
“I’m dealing with this,” Erik snapped. “Are you too afraid to face us?” he asked, addressing the slayers again.
Magnar released a noise which sounded like the growl of a wild beast.
“Leave the girls out of it and I’ll gladly come for your head,” he snarled.
“No deal,” Erik replied icily. “They belong with us and we won’t stop hunting you until we get them back. The tables have turned; look who’s hiding in the shadows now.”
“The day I hide from a parasite like you will be a cold day in hell,” Julius growled and I could feel the tension rising around me like a physical force as the vampires continued to goad the slayers.
“So tell us where you are if you’re not afraid,” Fabian hissed and I had to fight against the thrill of excitement I felt at hearing h
is voice. I longed to rip the phone from Julius’s hand and just sit and listen to him talking for hours and hours… I shook my head aggressively to force the ridiculous idea back out of it.
“No,” I bit out before the slayers could do anything stupid.
“Callie?” Fabian breathed. “Are you alright? Have you been able to find enough food? Are you keeping warm en-”
“Don’t speak to her,” Magnar snarled, stepping towards the phone as if he wanted to punch Fabian through it. Julius swung it out of his reach, waving him back.
“If you’ve laid a hand on my wife,” Fabian snarled. “I swear on all the gods that I will carve every organ from your body and-”
“He’s laid more than a hand on her,” Julius sniggered and I glared at him in outrage. We hardly needed to make the vampires any angrier! What the hell was he playing at?
Fabian roared so loudly that I flinched in shock, “I’M GOING TO FUCKING KILL-”
“Calm down Brother, they’re trying to antagonise you,” Erik snapped and Fabian fell silent.
Julius started laughing and Magnar joined in. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to punch them or laugh too and Montana was staring at them like they’d gone insane.
“If you won’t fight us like men then why not let the girls come to us?” Erik asked icily. “We can figure out the prophecy and the curse will end. Surely that would suit you too?”
“If you think we’d just give them over to you then you really must be deranged,” Julius replied.
“I thought you said you don’t own them?” Erik reminded him. “Let them decide if that’s true.”
Montana looked at me hopefully but there was no way in hell I was going anywhere near Fabian again. The damn mark on my hand was tingling with excitement at the mere thought of it; if I actually got close to him I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to keep fighting it and if I ever gave in to his desires I’d never be able to forgive myself.
“I would sooner die than spend one more minute in your company,” I spat and Magnar smirked at me.
Montana sighed and I looked away from her as I realised I’d let her down. I hated being so divided with her over this but I just couldn’t see the vampires as she could.
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