Blood Magic (Blood Books Book 2) Page 5

  “What—” he began before he was engulfed in flames.

  His screams were piercing, invading all my senses. I sprang into action. I called upon air, quickly extinguishing the fire. Jasik fell to his knees, ripping into his wrist and mixing his blood into Jeremiah’s wounds, expediting the healing process. The witches, members from my former coven, stepped from behind the thick pine trees, exposing themselves to us with an arrogant confidence. My cousins, Nina and Everly, stood with them. Everly threw her arms out before her, calling up fire again, and aimed it at me. Shocked, I stood motionless. She was trying to kill me. Her own flesh and blood cousin.

  In an instant, Sebastian was beside me. He threw out his arm and called upon his affinities. His power drenched Everly and the surrounding witches in a tidal wave of water just before he knocked them off their feet with a blast of air. They were shivering in the brisk January air, stumbling to their feet. Sebastian’s shield encompassed us. Tearing his angry gaze from the witches before us, he met my eyes.

  “Did you expect a welcoming return?” he spat. He was still angry—angry that he had to work with them, angry that I didn’t believe him, angry that I’d turned him away.

  “Well I certainly didn’t expect to be fried by my own cousin!” I shouted, knowing they could hear me. I stalked toward Jeremiah, who was now standing with help from Jasik. His physical wounds were gone, but I was sure his pride was slightly tarnished.

  “You good?” I asked, sincere.

  “Yeah, I’m good. Gonna take a lot more than that,” he said, staring at the witches.

  “Good. Now,” I said, returning to the edge of Sebastian’s shield, “what’s this I hear about a scam involving The Power?”

  One by one, jaws of elder witches fell open. My cousins glanced around, confused.

  “I’ve got all night. Do you?” I asked, confidently.

  “Well, technically, we have until dawn,” Malik whispered.

  Sebastian gave me a curious eye. No, I didn’t tell him. Keep your mouth shut.

  “Or, you know, I could just blab my mouth around. I’m sure there are plenty of soon-to-be chosen ones out there who’d find the information I now have interesting.”

  “You need to leave,” a voice called from behind. A haze surrounded her. She was a fire user attempting to keep warm.

  “Did you really think I’d never discover the truth?” I asked, annoyed. “I have an eternity now!”

  “Leave now or—”

  “Or what? You’ll attempt another pathetic attack? You’re outnumbered and out-strengthed. Give it up. We’re not here to hurt you, but we will protect ourselves,” I threatened.

  My cousins gasped. Seriously? You just tried to kill me. Did you not expect retaliation? Idiots.

  “Get my mother,” I ordered.

  “She’s not in charge anymore.” My mother’s earlier words echoed in my mind. I had begged for help when the Rogues were coming, and she had refused me. I was hurt more than anything, but she had warned me about others who were newly in charge of the coven since my transformation. I had brushed her words away as nothing but excuses.

  “Get my mother, or you’re next,” I said slowly, confidently. My fangs lengthened, and I released a low growl. I was sure my violet irises were burning against the blackness of the night. I hoped I was intimidating.

  The woman laughed. “You don’t remember me, do you, Avah Taylor?”

  I held my stance. She was right. I didn’t know who she was, but more importantly, I didn’t care. She would help us.

  “You were such a powerful girl, even as a child. We had high hopes for you.”

  We? Who was this woman?

  “Though, now that I think of it, it doesn’t surprise me that your memory has failed you. It’s been quite a long time, hasn’t it?”

  “Who are you?” I shuffled through my memory, trying to place her. She did look familiar, but nothing came to mind.

  “Oh, silly me. I shall remind you. My name is Eloise Taylor.”

  Breath escaped me. “Grandma?” I said, my voice shaking. I hadn’t seen my grandmother since my father had been murdered. It had been over twenty years.

  “Yes, dear, and I’ve come to clean up your mother’s mess.”

  I only remembered three things about my grandmother: she was a terrifying woman, she constantly took mysterious business trips, and she was one hell of a witch. She hated my mother, hated that my father married such a free-spirited woman. Growing up, I was sure she hated me, too. I never heard from her, and on the rare occasions she visited, she spoke only to my father. I learned to keep my eyes down and lips sealed when she was in the house.

  “Can’t say you’ve aged well,” I spat. If my insult affected her, she didn’t show it.

  “Back to those ridiculous orders. Your mother is no longer in charge, and you would do well to keep whatever information you think you’ve become entitled to hushed. Word of mouth is fast growing, Avah, and I know where you reside. Leave now.”

  Sebastian barked out a hard laugh. The Hunters and I glanced cautiously at him. Was he at the brink? Had I pushed him too far by bringing him here? Had he finally lost his mind?

  “Oh, bugger off! Lady,” he said, stepping forward. “You may be one strong bitch, but I have power you’ve never dreamed of. It’s taking everything within me to not pop your cherry all over these pathetically spelled woods in an effort to simply remove an increasingly annoying factor from my life. Instead, I’m going to ask you one time and one time only: will you please retrieve Avah’s mother? And you can be damned sure the next time we speak about this, I will have lost all my manners.”

  He was fuming. I was sure the air actually sizzled as it touched his skin.

  “Dude, did you really just talk about popping her cherry?” Jeremiah whispered as he shuddered.

  Lillie took a sharp jab at his side with an elbow, and he winced, still weak from his near-death experience.

  My grandmother didn’t move, didn’t speak. Her lips were in a hard line, and the v shape between her brows deepened. I was sure she was assessing her options. Take on four Hunters and two hybrids and risk wiping out her coven? Or bring my mom here? The choice seemed obvious.

  “Step forward,” she said.

  Suddenly, my mother emerged from just past the trees, and my heart sank in response. Her eyes were swollen, her nose puffy. Her usually tanned skin was pink, raw. Her frame was frail, weak. The woman before me was nothing like the strong witch I’d grown up idolizing. No, this was the face of a battered woman, one who was struggling to survive.

  “Hello, Avah,” she said, her voice hoarse. A small smile slowly began to form across her lips, and my grandmother slapped her across the face. My mother’s frail frame collapsed to the ground, and I jumped to her side, leaving the protection of the shield. I pulled her into my arms, resting her head against me as it lolled over. She was out cold. Jeez. Just how weak was she? I glanced up at the witches who towered over me and my mother as we slumped to the ground.

  “What have you done to her?” I snarled.

  “I haven’t even begun to reprimand her for her actions, Ms. Taylor,” my grandmother responded. “She has broken more laws than I can count!”

  “I guess that doesn’t speak highly of your counting skills now does it, lady?” Lillie interjected.

  I was shocked she defended my mother, and in a moment of weakness, I turned to glance at her. My moment’s distraction was all my grandmother needed. She pounced forward, with unusual grace for a woman of her age, and wrapped her fingers around my neck, calling upon fire.

  I SCREAMED AS my blood began to boil. My skin, unable to contain the liquid heat, bubbled until it pockets burst. The needle-prick flames danced across every inch of my frame in constant, nagging thrusts. Images flashed before my eyes. Sebastian was before me, ripping my grandmother’s hand from my neck. I collapsed onto someone from behind; arms enveloped me in a soothing embrace. When I broke free of her deadly, burning touch, the pain began to
subside. I leaned against my protector, dazed. My blood quickly healed my fried brain. Jasik sat behind me, lifting me as I rested against his body. He offered his dripping wrist to me, and though I too was a healer and didn’t need his offering, I craved it. I swallowed him down, the last bit of magic needed to heal me, and I licked my lips as I sat up, my mother still unconscious next to me. My hands instinctively brushed against my throat. Smooth skin greeted me.

  With my strength rejuvenated, I was able to take in my surroundings. The witches around me were screaming; most had already fallen to my grandmother’s side. And that’s when I saw it. Her neck had been snapped, her body lay contorted, her head angled awkwardly. I tensed at the sight. Her legs were sprawled about. Two perfect puncture marks branded her neck, and her mouth was blotted in quickly drying blood.

  I looked to Sebastian, the obvious culprit, who was licking his lips in disgust.

  “I considered ripping her heart out but thought this would be much more satisfying. She’ll awaken as the one being she can’t stand to be near: a vampire. And then she’ll be left to choose: to break her morals and take her own life or live her life as a creature she despises. Choices. Choices. It’s almost too good to be true.” Sebastian smirked.

  My heart leapt. He saved me. Again. I felt nothing for the loss of the woman before me. She didn’t deserve such respect.

  Sebastian raised his fingers in a tsk tsk motion as my cousin began to call upon her element.

  “No, no, no. No ending it for her. She needs to make the decision.” I was surprised Everly was brave enough to burn her body. She had definitely gained more courage since I’d left. I glanced back down at my mom’s frail frame.

  “Mom?” I said, rubbing her hair from her eyes. I looked up at Jasik, and he gave me a small smile. The remaining Hunters watched the witches closely. Sebastian’s shield had been lowered, and we were all exposed. I thanked the heavens that Malik, Lillie, and Jeremiah had the sense to keep watch, because I sure didn’t.

  “Okay,” Sebastian said, clapping his hands together and rubbing them quickly. “Who do I have to eat around here to get a decent locater spell concocted?”

  I rolled my eyes. Seriously?

  “Relax,” I said, as the witches began to slowly back away, finally choosing their own lives over the dead woman at their feet. “I meant what I said. We aren’t—well, we weren’t—going to hurt you. Sebastian’s right. We just need a quick locater spell done, and we’ll be on our way, leaving you to, you know, clean up all this.” I looked at my dead grandmother lying at my feet.

  “Everyone calm down,” a voice said, and I faced my aunt. “We’ll do the spell, but then you need to leave.” I supposed she would be in charge now that my mom and grandmother were indisposed.

  “Great,” I said, standing. I pulled my mom into my arms. “Let’s get you ready.” I spoke softly as I teetered back so my mom’s head rested against my shoulder.

  The witches opened like the Red Sea as I walked past them. They watched me with wide eyes. Surely, it was odd for them to see a creature like me show an emotion they thought we couldn’t feel. I still cared for my mother—even though she was part of the reason I was in this mess. I buried the thought for another time and entered my former home. Taking my mother into our ritual preparation room, I set her down gently on the floor. I filled the tub with hot water and turned to face the Hunters, who had followed me into the house.

  “We can’t separate, Avah.” Jasik’s voice was stern. I knew there was no room to argue.

  “Wait outside the door,” I said.

  The Hunters did as they were told, but Jasik lingered.

  “Jasik, I need to bathe her, get her cleaned up. You need to go. I’ll be fine.”

  “I know. It’s just—I’m sorry. I’m sorry this has happened to her.” His face seemed sunken as if he were flashing to an unwelcome memory from his own past.

  I smiled to reassure him, and he left us in peace.

  With the door closed, I faced the tub again and spelled the water. It would remain warm for her. I added tea leaves and lavender to help speed her healing process, assuming she wouldn’t take my blood if I offered it to her. With her bath set, I disrobed her and carefully lowered her into the tub. I rested her head against the back of the tub and scooped water into a nearby cup, slowly running it through her hair. Water splashed on the floor, but I didn’t care. Cleaning the ritual spaces were no longer my concern.

  “Mother, what have you done? How’d we get into this mess?” I asked as I began massaging shampoo into her dingy hair. I let the soap lather and bubble under my hands as I focused on her low, shallow breaths. As much as I hated what she had done to me, she was still my mother. I couldn’t bear seeing her this way.

  “What did they do to you?” I whispered, tears threatening to spill. It never occurred to me that my mom would be punished for my choices. I exhaled quickly, once again pushing my emotions down.

  I rinsed her hair and squeezed conditioner into the palm of my hand. As I worked her hair clean and soft, I talked to her. I explained my new life and how it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. I told her about Jasik and my feelings for him. I noted that I wasn’t so sure about Sebastian, but I wanted to know him, to trust him.

  “Sebastian can really help me, Mom. He knows so much about this world. I thought I did, too, but then I realized I don’t really know anything except the lies you told me.”

  I shook my head as anger worked its way back into my mind. I rinsed her hair free of conditioner and wrapped it in a thick towel so she wouldn’t get the chills. I couldn’t find body soap, so I lathered her skin with shampoo.

  “You know what’s crazy? I almost died today. Grandma almost killed me. Everly threatened to kill me, and my own aunt told me to never return…” I exhaled deeply, wincing as my fingers passed over a rib that protruded after healing awkwardly. “Just another day, I guess. How messed up is my life? Seriously.” I shook my head. “Doesn’t even faze me.” I splashed the water around to rinse her soapy skin.

  “I wish I could talk to you, Mom,” I said as I grabbed her bony hand. I placed a soft kiss to each thin finger. “Please tell me you didn’t know about this. Please tell me you didn’t do this to me.” I whispered as I spoke, but not because lingering vampires could eavesdrop. I whispered because I was growing tired. I was tired of believing in the witches. Tired of protecting and defending their honor. Tired of the stories. I just wanted peace.

  I was sure I’d sooner get an eternity of violence before a lifetime of happiness.

  Slowly, her eyes began to flutter.

  “Mom? It’s Avah. Can you hear me?” My voice squeaked, and I cleared my throat.

  “Avah,” she whispered.

  “Yes, Mom. It’s me. Can you open your eyes?”

  Her eyes fluttered again. She was weak, too weak.

  Reluctantly, I bit into the palm of my hand and squeezed it shut before quickly pressing it against her lips. She drank. Before my eyes, she began to heal. Her sunken face fattened, her thin frame expanded until I could no longer see her bones. Her eyes shot open, and she pushed my hand away, spitting out the blood that coated her tongue. She hacked as she grasped the tub’s edge. In dry heaves, she attempted to spill the contents of her stomach onto the floor, but it was no use. My blood had already worked its magic. It was part of her now, and she’d have to live with that betrayal until she stepped at death’s door. Internally, I smiled.

  “How could you?” she yelled, wiping crimson streaks from her mouth. She cupped bathwater between her hands and splashed her face, eliminating any trace of my gift to her.

  “You were going to die, Mom,” I said matter-of-factly. How could she be upset with me? They were torturing her!

  “I was fine! I didn’t need your help.” She was lying. We both knew that. But she was too proud to admit it.

  “Maybe you should direct your anger at the root of the problem instead of taking it out on me,” I said as I stood from where I
crouched beside her. I tossed the towel on the floor beside the tub. “Get out. We have work to do.”

  I turned so she could change in privacy. I crossed my arms and tapped my foot angrily as I stared out the small window that overlooked the backyard and ritual circle space. The small clearing of our yard was surrounded by the woods. Only weeks ago, I stood there, offering myself to the gods as a vessel used to harness The Power. I heard her approach me, but I refused to turn back. She had gone too far this time.

  “Don’t,” I said as the wind shifted around me. In the window’s reflection, I watched her hand still in the air, hovering just above my shoulder. “I don’t need your anger or your pity.” I was sure she had thought the same thing.

  “Avah, I’m sorry. But please, don’t do that again.”

  “So I should just let you die?”

  Her teeth scraped together as she clenched her jaw, the noise deafening.

  I turned to face her. “How could you?” I spoke barely above a whisper, and I wondered if she could even hear me.

  “I had no choice, Avah. You were the only one fit to join the elite.” She gave me the tone she used when she was issuing commands as a high priestess. I was raised to never question her orders when she gave this tone, but I didn’t care anymore. I’d force her to explain herself even if it was the last thing she did.

  “The elite? You mean the other chosen ones?” I hoped my dramatic emphasis stung. She winced, and I was pleased.

  “Yes.”

  “Well, I hate to break it to you, but they’re dead. But then again, you should know that.”

  “They’re not all dead, Avah. Well, not yet—”

  “Seriously?” I gawked. “Did you really just use that as a defense?” Had she gone insane since I left, too?

  “Avah, I did what needed to be done as the high priestess of this coven. I didn’t tell you, because as a mere coven member, you weren’t privy to that information.” She used her no-nonsense mom voice this time. She probably thought I’d back down, because in the past, I had done just that.