Dark Secret Read online

  “Where would you have started?” she asks as we dig both our hands into our pockets in search of spare change.

  I shrug, finding a few silver coins. I grasp them tightly in my palms and pull them free. “Evernight is a good place to start. It’ll close soon, and drunks will be stumbling home.”

  She nods and pulls free her own bundle of coins. “That would make sense. They’re easy targets.”

  “Exactly,” I say. “But since we’re already here, we might as well do a quick loop.”

  She meets my gaze and smiles. Together, we toss our coin offerings to the side of the drive and take our first step past the threshold and into the resting place of the dead. It’s customary that we offer something when visiting cemeteries—whether it be baked goods, herb bundles, fresh flowers, or even coins.

  The night air is chilly, and Liv shivers beside me. I reach for my cross necklace and run my fingertips over the metal. Already, I am stronger. I glance at Liv, and her neck is bare. I consider loaning her my necklace or maybe my baggie of protection herbs. She needs something to boost her courage.

  “Do you have a stake?” I ask.

  She shakes her head.

  “Maybe you should take mine.”

  “Keep it. I have fire magic.”

  I exhale slowly. “Here. Take this.” I offer her the horehound and mugwort.

  She grabs the baggie and crinkles her nose as she takes a big whiff. “Yuck. I hate the smell of mugwort.”

  “So do vampires,” I lie.

  She arches a brow. “Really?”

  I nod. “It’ll help keep you safe.” I don’t bother telling her the truth—that the protection spell might fail against the undead. I brought it on the off chance it would actually work.

  She considers my words before responding. “Then maybe you should keep it.”

  I grumble under my breath, hoping the entire night won’t go like this. “I have a stake and a cross around my neck. You have a fairly useless kitchen utensil and baby magic.”

  She scoffs. “I do not have baby magic!”

  I grin. I coined the term “baby magic” to refer to any witch inexperienced in the craft of war. Sure, she has control over fire, but without the ability to wield it, she’s a mere baby.

  We’re silent the rest of the way as Liv pretends to be annoyed with me. I run my hands over headstones as we walk and scan our surroundings. I try to think of small talk, but it’s no use. I’m too on edge—and so is Liv.

  The moon is big and bright above us, hanging in the sky like a welcome beacon. Soon, my coven will perform our monthly full moon ritual. This time, Mamá says I’ll lead. As successor, I need to learn to harness my power in front of an audience.

  “What are you thinking about?” Liv whispers.

  But I don’t answer her because I’m overwhelmed by dread. Something within me sparks, and the fear and agony that’ve been nestled in the pit of my gut rise within me until I’m consumed by it.

  My pulse races, my palms sweat, and my knees weaken. Thoughts race through my mind as I stare at the cemetery in disbelief.

  She was right.

  I yank Liv to the ground, and we lunge for a nearby headstone.

  My breath comes in shallow bursts, keeping me alive but unable to satisfy my desire to stay conscious.

  Liv jams her elbow into my side to get my attention. Her lips move, but I don’t hear her words. The world around me is darkening as it closes in on me.

  All at once, my magic sparks to life, warning me of incoming danger.

  Vampires.

  Chapter Two

  My hands shake as I grip the handle of the butcher knife. Liv dropped it in our scuffle to hide, and I grabbed it before the moonlight could glisten from the blade, betraying our presence. The vampires will know we’re here when I want them to—and not a moment sooner.

  I keep my eyes focused for them, watching for the slightest movement. We are close enough to lose our lives, but I am confident. I have yet to lose a fight.

  Liv peeks over the top of the tombstone we’re hiding behind before jumping back and falling on her behind. I place a finger firmly to my lips to hush her as she squirms back to her place beside me.

  I’m sure I can hear her heartbeat in the air, and if I can hear it, the vampires can as well. I don’t have much time before they pick up our scent or hear the soft noises of our inner-workings, like our lungs expanding to breathe or our hearts pumping blood to various parts of our bodies. Every time I encounter a vampire, I become envious of their still-beating heart. They have all the perks and so few weaknesses. It just isn’t fair.

  I’m twisting the blade in my hand as I consider my next move. Liv eyes me curiously, her gaze wide with wonder and fear. It’s kind of beautiful. Did I look that way on my first hunt?

  Sometimes, I wish I was never born a witch. It comes with too much burden and expectation and no real freedom. I wish to be human, to go to a real school and spend the afternoons skipping class to get lattes with friends. I want to crush on my teachers and be asked to a dance by a boy I like. I want to sneak out at night to visit that boy, not to hunt monsters.

  With each passing second, I become angrier and more envious of the life I’ll never have. And I use that. I use those emotions to catapult me from fearing for my life to telepathically shouting at the vampires that they need to fear for theirs.

  “What are we going to do?” Liv whispers.

  “We’re going to kill them all,” I say plainly.

  In an instant, I pounce to my feet and charge at the vampires. I don’t listen for Liv or wonder if she’ll follow my lead. I don’t care that I’m reckless and that it could cost me my life. All I can think about is the possibility of a world without vampires. There would be magic and love and freedom and nothing else. I want that world. And to get it, I need to kill them all.

  The vampires hear my approach and watch as I run toward them with butcher knife in hand. I’m sure I look comical, and I bet they won’t take me seriously. That gives me an advantage over them. Already, they’re being dealt the losing hand.

  “Well, well, what have we here?” one says after I’ve skidded to a stop. Liv is beside me, her cheeks flushed from running or from the fire building within her.

  I hope my pulse doesn’t betray my forced confidence. I need them to fear me—or to at least wonder if they should fear me. It’s not commonplace for a witch to confront a vampire, especially outnumbered. I’m sure they can sense Liv’s inadequacy and my concern for her safety.

  A vampire steps forward, putting himself between the others and me. Normally, it is more difficult to determine the leader—the one who poses the greatest threat—but he makes it quite simple. He is taller than the others. His tousled brown hair sits messily atop his head, a just-out-of-bed style I am sure he works hard for. He stares as if he can read straight into one’s soul. He has stubble on his jaw, as if he hasn’t shaved in days. I find myself wondering how long they have been hunting in my village.

  He raises his arm as the woman behind him steps forward baring bright-white fangs and dirt-caked fingers. It’s almost as though he predicted her temper. I meet her gaze and hold it, challenging her.

  The wind picks up, blowing her blond pixie locks from her eyes. Like all vampires, her irises are red, cold, void of life. She stares with the intensity of a killer, and I promise myself I’ll end her.

  She stands beside her leader, a good half-foot shorter than me. Her thin form shows no muscular build. I am sure I can take her easily. She gives me a knowing smile and licks her lips. Her fangs lengthen as her lip curls upward, and I swallow down the nausea that’s quickly building within me.

  Hoping to take my enemies by surprise, I slash the butcher knife forward, ripping through skin, before quickly pulling it back. Stumbling backward, the vampire looks down at the long slash across his chest and then growls as we lock eyes. His icy crimson irises burn into me.

  My hesitation is all he needs, and with a few long strides, he i
s standing before me. His hand clasps mine and squeezes. I drop the knife as he yanks my arms back and spins me around. My back to his chest, he pulls me up against him, lifting my body until his mouth reaches my throat. He digs his fingers into my skin. I wince as his short nails draw blood, and I throw my head back. He drops me as my skull smashes into his nose, and I somersault to safety.

  My heart thuds against my chest, but I hear it in my head. Solid, steady beats that make focusing on the task at hand nearly impossible. My breath comes in quick bursts, even though I know I’m fine. I’ve trained daily for this very moment. I can do this. I will win.

  My gaze darts between the vampires and the ground between us. The butcher knife protrudes from the earth, where I dropped it mere moments ago. The blonde offers a wicked grin. She plans to use Liv’s weapon against us. It might not be an effective vampire-killing tool, but I certainly don’t want them to have it.

  I run for the knife, skidding against the ground in an attempt to outmaneuver the incoming vampire. In the time it took me to decide if I should risk my life for what is probably a useless weapon, the female vampire has already made her decision. She dashes from behind her leader, grabs the knife just as I sink to my knees, and brings it down on me.

  Time slows as the blade turns on me. The pointed edge is above me now and rushing closer to my chest as I withdraw the only weapon I have—my stake.

  Turning it on its side, I hold it out just before the knife makes impact. Her wrist twists, and the blade scrapes against my silver stake. The clink of metal on metal radiates through my arms and down my spine. The vampire pushes her weapon against mine, and I sink down, my bottom firmly planted against my heels. Sweat dribbles down my forehead; I keep my eyes locked on hers. Briefly, I think about the other vampires and Liv. If I die tonight, I’m condemning her too.

  I release a loud groan as the vampire takes a step forward and puts her entire upper body strength against our blades. Under her strength, the butcher knife snaps, falling to the ground in pieces. Her reaction time is faster than mine. While I’m still dragging my gaze back to hers, she’s already reaching for my neck.

  The tips of her dirt-caked fingernails tease the throbbing vein in my neck. She smiles, and I call upon spirit.

  My element surges through me, and as it sparks from my fingertips, I say, “Incendia.” The word escapes my lips in a whisper, but it’s enough to call upon fire magic. The vampire screams, falling backward as she is engulfed in flames.

  Spirit witches have a small affinity for each element. It’s enough to distract a vampire, but not enough to inflict real harm. I have only seconds to make a choice.

  In my fear, I dropped my stake. I dig my nails into the dirt as I grab it now. Quickly, I bring it down, planting it firmly in her chest. Her eyes nearly bulge from their sockets. Each ridge of her rib cage gives way to the magic encased in the stake until the solid silver point penetrates her heart.

  Anything pointy could kill a vampire. After all, very few creatures can survive a direct assault to the heart. But a vampire’s rib cage is a problem. Their bones are as strong as granite, so it takes a special weapon—like a stake surging with magic and protected by runes—to crush them.

  She gasps as her body begins to turn to ash. In these moments, I never know what a vampire feels. Does it hurt to die? Or do they feel relief? Living an immortal life as an undead being isn’t for everyone. The price for immortality is watching your loved ones age and die. I’d never want that curse. But I’m not even sure a vampire can feel emotions.

  In my distraction, her leader flashes before my eyes in a blur, slamming into me. We fall to the ground, but I tighten my grip on my stake. If I am going to die tonight, I am taking him with me. He’s the reason they’re even here, hunting in this cemetery. I’m sure of it.

  I bring my arm back, slamming my elbow into the earth beneath me, and sink my stake into his gut. I wish I could reach his heart from this angle, but I can’t. His fangs grow longer as he growls. In a daring move, he releases my arm to grab on to the stake protruding from his body. I wiggle over, bringing my knee up in a sharp jab to his family jewels. While he falters, I escape with my weapon and jump to my feet.

  I glance from vampire to vampire. The leader is just beginning to stand, and I need to kill him quickly. He is the strongest and biggest threat. But the third vampire, the one I haven’t paid any attention to, has Liv cornered. It takes little effort to make my decision.

  Liv’s back is to me, giving me a clear shot at the vampire’s heart.

  I call upon spirit once more and invoke the air element. Suddenly, the winds rush around me, and I focus them as I throw my stake. The element aids my endeavor, strengthening the force behind my weapon. It spins end over end, slicing through the air just before sinking into the vampire’s chest. His eyes widen in surprise.

  Liv screams as the vampire tumbles over. She reaches for the stake, grunts while pushing it in until the smooth end is parallel with his flesh, and then yanks it free. The vampire turns to dust before he even hits the ground.

  The final vampire bares fangs and lunges forward. I jump to the side, and he grazes past me. In a move too fast for my human eyes, he spins around, grabs the loose strands from my bun, and yanks my head backward. I cry out.

  Before I can call upon my element, before Liv can protect me with her fire, the vampire sinks his fangs into my neck. He viciously tears through skin, and my screams echo in the night. I blink away the tears that blur my vision as my life force is drained through a tiny vein in my neck.

  Liv is screaming something. Her lips move, but her shouts fall mute upon my ears. All I can hear is the blood rushing to my head, and all I can feel is my stake burning against the palm of my weakening hand. It radiates as if the magic inside knows I’m in trouble, and it’s begging to be tapped into.

  Caeli.

  I mouth the word to call upon the air element and use its strength to jab my elbow backward. The vampire is jolted from me. He stumbles backward, and I tumble to the side, trying to regain my balance. I’m weakened from the blood loss, and I have mere seconds to regain my composure.

  By the time I face him, he’s already charging me, my blood dripping from his chin and splattering against the ground. Even now, it slides down the curve of my neck. It’s a slow, steady stream that will lead me to my death.

  He reaches me in the short amount of time it takes me to blink, but I’m already expecting his blood lust to overpower his common sense. I take a strong hold on my stake and angle it so it’s perfectly aligned with his heart—he may practically stake himself. I only have one chance to get this right.

  Mere steps before he reaches me, he is engulfed in flames. Long, flowing streams of fire cascade all around him. I watch in awe as Liv slowly walks toward us, her arms outstretched, waves of fire shooting from her palms. He is enveloped in her magic, and a vampire is no match against a witch’s more powerful weapon.

  Liv falls to the ground beside me, the fire from her hands extinguished. She’s breathing heavily and looking every bit utterly exhausted. This was likely the first time she’s ever called upon fire so ferociously.

  I cover my neck wound with my hand. Blood gushes from the wound with each breath I take. The steady beats of my heart are sending me spiraling down to a certain death.

  My throat is coarse. It hurts to speak, to move. Somewhere in the fight, ribs were broken, and with each inhalation, the pain stabs at my side.

  “Oh my Goddess!” Liv shrieks when she reaches my side. “Your neck, Ava… It’s really bad!”

  “Your…fire,” I whimper.

  Understanding my request, she yanks my hand away from my wound and uses her magic to cauterize the flesh. This is a temporary solution to what will become a permanent problem if I don’t get an actual healing elixir into me soon. With each second that passes, the healing potion Mamá prepares becomes more ineffective. Witches aren’t miracle workers, and we need time on our side.

  “We need to get yo
u to Tatiana,” Liv says. Mamá has always been known to the magical community in Darkhaven as an experienced healer. In fact, witches from all over come to buy her elixirs. If anyone can heal me, it’s Mamá.

  But first, she needs to know I’m not really in my room, that I’ve disobeyed her, and that I endangered not only my life but also the life of a witch from another coven. I’m so going to be spelled to my room until I’m thirty.

  I nod as I try to sit up, and the blood rushes to my head, making me want to keel over and vomit. My stomach aches, the nausea overturning my control.

  “I don’t feel well,” I say.

  “Are you kidding? You almost died! Of course you don’t feel well,” Liv says.

  I wobble on my feet as we stand, and she wraps my arm around her neck, balancing my weight against her own.

  “If only I were an air witch, we could fly home,” Liv jokes.

  “If you were an air witch, we’d both be dead.”

  We take a couple of steps forward, and I nearly fall over as I dry heave. I choke in a breath.

  “Something’s wrong.”

  “Let’s just get you home,” Liv says. “You’re going to be okay.”

  “Liv… This feeling isn’t from blood loss,” I whisper as I scan our surroundings.

  She sucks in a sharp breath. “Please don’t say what I think you’re going to say.”

  “There are more…”

  Somewhere, probably in this cemetery, probably watching us even now, there are more vampires. Spirit is warning me of the danger that lurks within the shadows, and it knows Liv and I are far too weak to fight.

  Slowly, we put distance between us and the fight scene. Each step we haven’t encountered yet another vampire means we’re safer than we were even seconds earlier. Praying we can make it the couple thousand or so it takes to reach home, I count each step we take.

  Unfortunately, I only make it to ten.