Bittersweet (18 page)

 

 

For once, it wasn't raining. The weather was perfect for a night that was anything but. The potion was ready. The incantation memorized. All we needed now was Venus and a little luck. Make that a lot of luck. Something we hadn't had much of so far. I'd never pictured the senior class bonfire quite like this. Sixty or seventy bodies filled the clearing, surrounding the raging fire in the center. And not far from it, in an abandoned hunter's cabin was where our luck would finally change.

To keep things as normal as possible, we'd decided Abby would perform the spell, and Adrius would slip the potion into her drink. My job, to play the depressed ex-girlfriend role convincingly.

Our public arguments over Venus had been vocal and loud. I couldn't shake the sick feeling I had after we'd planted the seed of our breakup. It didn't feel fake. It felt real. And that scared me as much as what Venus could do. In that moment, it was as if she'd already won. I dropped onto the log, but Brianne tugged my arm and dragged me next to the fire. She marched me in front of everyone.

“Hey, senior class,” she shouted.

Voices dropped as they turned their attention to us.

“The amazing Lorelei is going to sing something for us.”

“Uh, no. She's not,” I said, backing up.

Bri held on to my arm. “Oh come on. This is our last shot to make this night memorable.” Everyone started to chant my name.

I shook my head, but the chanting caught on and grew louder.

Venus rolled her eyes.

“Fine,” I grumbled. I gave Brianne a scathing glare as she retreated to the circle that had formed around me.

I started to sing, not really deciding which song I'd perform. It turned out to be “My Immortal” by Evanescence. So fitting. The dark and mournful melody filled the forest. With each word my chest tightened, and I fought to keep the quiver from my voice. Tears stung the corners of my eyes.

I sang the last note. It rang out, echoing through the trees, even as my voice broke.

There was a lull of silence, then cheers and clapping, whistles and hollering.

I walked off swiping away the errant tears. Adrius watched me with his studious gaze. Something in his look echoed what I was feeling. Although this was no more than the performance of a lifetime, it felt like an ominous foreshadowing of what might come.

Venus was watching too. Her emerald eyes followed me everywhere.

I'd spent most of the night on a log next to the beer keg, wallowing in self-pity. Abby had given Adrius the potion, and now all we could do was wait.

I hated this plan.

Brianne sat down next to me and handed me a cup. I sniffed it and made a face. Not a big fan of beer.

She crossed her arms. “So that's it? You're just giving up?”

“What are you talking about?” I bristled.

“Don't you see, Lorelei? You're playing right into her hands. You need to give up Adrius now. She's got years of history, intimate history, that you will never have with him. Plus, she's gorgeous. And she's powerful. It's a losing battle, and unless you fight back you're going to be the one alone. Either give up before she destroys you, or fight back before it's too late. But
this
,” she gestured toward me, “isn't solving anything.”

I wanted to hug her and punch her at the same time. Instead I said, “Thanks.”

“Fight fire with fire. You have access to all of this crazy power too. Use it. If she can, you can. What's stopping you?”

I took another sip and swallowed with a grimace. What
was
stopping me? Fear that if I unleashed the powers inside of me I'd become what she was. A monster. Wreaking havoc and terror at every turn. Lusting for power and inflicting pain. It wasn't who I was. But I did have power. And maybe, there was a way to have both. Stay true to myself,
and
fight back. Through the bonfire blaze, I watched Venus pop a toasted marshmallow into Adrius' mouth, then chase it with a kiss. I shuddered. Bri was right. I couldn't sit here and do nothing. I'd turned to everyone else to solve my problem, except the one person who could. Me.

The empty hunter's cabin in the woods would serve as our headquarters. Earlier in the day Abby had delivered all the necessary ingredients, some of which I'd taken from Gran's poison garden. She'd been there since the party started. And now, seeing her wandering around the party, sipping on a drink, I knew it meant everything was in place. The spell Abby had concocted had been cast. Adrius gave Venus the drink, wrapped his arm around her waist.

I frowned.

He whispered something against her ear, and she laughed. Then they set off into the woods for the cabin.

I took another sip of my drink.

All there was left to do was wait. It wouldn't take long for the spell to take hold. But the suspense was killing me. I grabbed Abby. “Come on. I need to know what's happening.”

We stood outside the small shack, crouched behind an old pickup truck. Vines grew through the broken windows, choking the rusted frame. I watched them warily, to make sure they weren't moving.

“They're still in there.” Abby pointed to a broken window of the cabin.

Part of me was relieved they were still inside. It meant Adrius hadn't decided to cross the veil and deal with Venus on his own. She was dangerous. I wanted Zanthiel there with him for backup, just in case he wasn't able to do what needed to be done. And of course, I wanted them to take me with them.

I could see the beginning of light, swirling like glimmering particles of dust. Between Abby's grimoire and Gran's dark spells, we might have something that could stop Venus. Or at least slow her down. If the spell suppressed her magic, the way it was supposed to, then Adrius would be free from her enchanted bonds long enough to return her to Mythlandria. And if he wasn't able to get rid of her permanently, Zanthiel would. I shuddered. Adrius would have her locked in the Shaqua band, and imprisoned in the dungeon for eternity. Zanthiel, however, would be far less lenient. The particles of magic blended seamlessly into the dust floating in from the fraction of light streaming in-between the broken boards of the otherwise sealed window.

“This is taking too long,” I whispered and stepped out from behind the pickup truck. “I need to speed things up.” I didn't want her in Adrius' arms a second longer.

“Don't do it. Anything that accelerates also weakens,” Abby said.

The door swung open and Venus stepped out. Her green eyes locked on me and narrowed. “Spying on us?”

Adrius came out of the shed and looked at me, his expression unreadable.

A wave of jealous anger took over. I focused on the trails of magic reaching for Venus and spoke to them. “
Vindicai
,” I whispered.

Swirls of liquid sunlight encircled her.

Venus screamed as the blinding blur of light closed in tighter, trapping her in place.

We had her. It worked. She was contained within the circle of light along with her magic.

Venus snarled at us, but her powers were useless.

Abby and I exchanged a look of relief and I nodded, giving her the signal to call for Zanthiel.

We finally had her and she was going back where she came from. Powerless and defeated. This ended tonight. My whole body warmed at the thought. Then I remembered the Book of Shadows. “Adrius. The grimoire. I left it at the bonfire.”

He hesitated, glancing from me to me. “Are you sure I should leave you?”

I followed his gaze back to Venus, still bound by threads of light. “We're good. As long as nothing breaks the circle she's trapped. And we can't go back to Mythlandria without it. Hawthrin will need it if he's going figure out who enacted Gran's spell on the veil.”

Adrius took off in blur, heading back to the bonfire.

Branches snapped and cracked. I turned to see Davin stumble from the trees. He surveyed the scene and wrongly interpreted it. “Oh
man
.
Venus
.”

It only took me a second to figure out what he was going to do.

“Davin, no!” I ran toward him.

I was too late. He lunged at Venus, crossing into the seal, breaking the circle of light. And the spell holding her.

She raised her hand, her eyes narrow and cold. A ripple of heat slammed into Davin. He flew backwards landing hard on the bed of the truck.

With deadly precision, her gaze shifted to the billowing smoke. “Fire burn.” She waved her hand and the flames from the bonfire leapt high above the trees. People screamed. The flames darted and danced at first, then became a claw, reaching for its victims. One by one the fiery hand grabbed a body, and pulled them screaming into its inferno.

I stared in wide-eyed horror as innocent people burned, their cries filling the night.

“Venus, stop this,” I hollered. The force that swelled inside me blew past her, straight to the blaze. Ice rained down over the flames. A symphony of sizzling sparks rocketed into the night before the fire went out. A mushroom cloud of billowing grey smoke reached toward the stars.

I doubled over, the exertion of the blast left me off balance. As quickly as the bonfire had been controlled, several more fires sprang to life. They burned uncontrollably, creating a fiery divider between us and them.

Bewildered, I looked around. Davin was nowhere to be found. Neither was Venus.

The engine of the pickup truck revved to life. The taillights flashed a sickly glow. It reversed, gathering speed, until it spun around and slammed into the side of a tree.

Twisted metal wrapped around the trunk. Flames sprang up around me but through the fire I saw Davin's body slumped over the steering wheel.

“Davin.” I raced toward it, yanked open the door and then dragged him out by the collar of his letterman jacket. I pressed my ear to his chest listening for a pulse, careful not to touch his chest. His heartbeat was faint, erratic. Mine pounded fast enough for two people. Frantic, I searched for my cell. Dead battery.
Crap
.

Venus appeared in the haze of black smoke, surveyed the wreck with a small smile. When she saw I'd rescued Davin, she grimaced. Without a word, a spark of fire ignited on the tip of her finger, and with a wave of her hand she flicked it into the pooling liquid beneath the truck. It ignited with a royal blue flash, spreading flames that engulfed the remains of the vehicle in a fraction of time.

We were several feet from the wreckage, closer to the road at the edge of the forest. But not far enough if it exploded. Which it would. I dragged him further, his limp body like cement as I tugged him through the tall grass. His collar slipped from my hands, and I fell backwards as his head hit the ground with a thud. Scrambling back I grabbed hold again.
Just a few more feet.

I stole a glance over my shoulder just as the truck exploded in a towering inferno.

 

 

The blast slammed into us and we landed on the ground several few away. Stars shone behind my eyelids and for a moment I couldn't catch my breath. It took a few beats to come to, and process what had happened. I stood, but my ankle gave way under me.

Davin
. I searched for him and finally spotted him. He'd been thrown further from me. I limped to his body, motionless on the ground in a broken pile. I opened my mouth to scream, dropping to my knees. If any sound came out, it was camouflaged by the snapping and crackling of flames. There was a small gash across his forehead and a trickle of blood dripped down the side of his face. It could have been so much worse. Still, I didn't dare touch it. Not after what happened to my mom and the others.

Venus stalked toward us, her head tilted to the side with a look of fake compassion as she approached. Her green eyes brushed over him, and she clucked her teeth. “Your basketballer doesn't look so good. Wonder if he'll make it to the playoffs.”

Blood trickled down Davin's face and she leaned in to wipe it away. Examining her blood-stained finger, she glanced up at me with a quick smirk before she licked it clean.

My world swayed.

“Hmmm. He's still breathing. A fighter ‘til the end,” she cooed.

She reached out her hand to touch him again, but this time, as my rage boiled over a surge of heat rushed to my hands. With a force I didn't anticipate, I shoved her away from Davin, striking her with everything inside me. Her body literally blew across the ravine, and landed on the graveled edge of the road. For a moment she didn't move, but I knew she wasn't dead. It was never that easy to destroy evil. After a moment, she rose. Her smile was gone and her green eyes were full of malice and hatred.

“Stay away from him, you evil witch.” My hands were raised, ready to slam into her again.

Venus gave a disturbed frown, and flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Rude,” she said, “Haven't you heard? It takes an evil witch to know an evil witch.” Then she laughed. “If I wanted Pretty Boy dead, he'd be dead. Count yourself lucky he's not. Yet.”

Smoke billowed like a black tornado reaching for the sky and spilling out in all directions. I dropped back to the ground next to Davin to examine his head wound. He'd lost a lot of blood and he was unconscious but breathing.
How do I get him out of here before she finishes him off?

“I'm going to be there to see the look on your face as everything and everyone you love is ripped from your arms. And I will be there to watch you suffer and squirm, right before I peel the flesh from your bones.” Venus brushed her crimson curls off her shoulder. “Now, unless you want this to be the moment you watch your childhood pal take his last breath, give me the grimoire.”

In the distance sirens wailed. The fire trucks would be here soon to extinguish the blaze.

Davin was barely breathing. His face pale and bloody. He'd been a part of my life forever. The one friend I could turn to when my gifts got me into trouble, as they often did. I couldn't let him die.

“As soon as Adrius gets back, it's yours. Just take it and leave.”

She came toward us and stood over Davin's body. “I want more than your book. We both know Adrius will never be free to love me until he's free of you.”

“Come at me then, not Davin. I'm the one you want dead.” I stood up and braced myself, willing the magic recessed within me to surface. I could feel it just agonizingly out of reach.

Davin stirred. He pushed himself onto his feet, leaning into the tree for support.

His lips moved, but more breath than voice came out. “What's going on?” He staggered forward and Venus caught him.

Confused blue eyes shifted back and forth between us. “Everything all right?” He touched his forehead and winced.

I wanted to run to him and drag him away from this unending nightmare. I stayed where I was because I knew it would only make things worse.

“Never better,” Venus purred, stroking his chest, then she pushed his head back against the tree. “You should stay still, you've had a terrible accident.”

A surge of wind blew through the trees. A flock of black crows took flight from the branches, squawking into the night as the winds howled. Dust and leaves swirled around us, filling the air with debris.

“Venus, stop,” I shouted. “We'll give you what you want.” But the winds were too loud.

She straddled Davin's legs. Then she pressed her mouth to his and pinned him in place with an R-rated kiss.

I forced myself not to gag. We'd been so close to ending this.

A twig snapped behind me. My pulse quickened, but it was a soothing reminder that Adrius and Zanthiel were near.

Venus turned her head, keeping a hand pressed against Davin's chest. Her dangerous glare said she'd heard them too.

Davin's eyes were open but his body was unnaturally still. Blood from his head had thickened and was caked from his hair to the side of his neck.

“You're just in time,” Venus shouted.

She spoke into the darkness. The words brushed against my ears with a sting.

Then she kissed him again. But not a normal kiss. This was something else. Something lethal.

Davin's body began to thrash wildly.

A scream tore from my throat. “No!” I lunged at her.

A strong arm looped around my waist preventing me from going any further.

“Wait here,” Adrius said sharply, as he brushed past me.

“Venus.” His voice bellowed into the storm. “Stop this. I'm here.”

Peeling her mouth from Davin's, she turned with a scowl. Her glowing green eyes lit up at Adrius. Immediately she waved her hand, and the winds stopped. The howling ended, filling my ears with a vacuum of silence. Then she pulled back away from Davin. And his body slid, cold and lifeless to the ground.

Zanthiel emerged from the trees with Abby, both of them covered in soot and ash. Abby stopped short when she saw Davin. Her hand clapped over her mouth.

Venus turned her cold gaze on Abby. “Your turn,” she said.

“Abby, run!” I shouted.

She did, and I lunged at Venus. Adrius tried to stop me, but it was too late.

Venus raised her hands and whispered something under her breath.

My body froze. Unable to move any closer to her. I tried to move back, but I was trapped in an invisible cage.

Both Adrius and Zanthiel lunged at her. Branches snaked out in every direction from the tree behind her. One wrapped around Adrius. He slashed it with his sword, but another coiled around the blade, and ripped it from his grip as he tried to strike.

The same happened to Zanthiel, but the branches were coated in iron. Lethal to the fey. She bound them both to the base of the tree, then turned her attention to me.

Venus curled her fingers around my throat, and smiled. “I've been waiting for this moment for such a long time,” she cooed.

“Give this up, Venus. Let her go,” Adrius spoke with stone cold calm. Only the fire lighting his golden eyes from within betrayed his true emotions. “You haven't killed her yet, for a reason. Because you know it won't get you what you want. Why ruin it all now?”

Her hand grasped my hair; she yanked my head back tearing a few strands from my scalp. I winced and bit back a whimper.

Adrius stiffened.

Venus released her grip and sauntered toward Adrius and Zanthiel, bound and chained to the tree.

“I have a better idea,” Venus said. “I'll drain you both of your life force, like you tried to do to me, and leave you with just enough to watch as I kill her.” She pointed at me and smiled sweetly. “Consider it a gift. Repayment for all you've given me.” Then she tossed her head back and laughed. “I mean, I can't think of any other way to repay you for the kindness you've both shown. Taking my perfect life and then bringing me back to live one of pure misery. How else can I thank you but by offering you a fraction of the pain you've caused me?”

Zanthiel shifted his weight. I knew he'd almost broken free of his bonds.

Her green eyes shot to him and she smiled consolingly. In this light she almost looked like a little girl, with thick red curls tumbling over her narrow shoulders. Only the wicked gleam in her emerald eyes gave away how dangerous she truly was. “Now, don't try anything heroic, Zan. You know I will end her before you make it across the gap.”

Zanthiel gave her a deadly glare, but remained where he was.

“Venus,” Adrius spoke up, carefully keeping his tone even. “Killing her isn't going to get you what you want.”

“On the contrary, honey. Killing her is what I want.”

“Your mother tried. It didn't end well for her. It will end even worse for you.”

“Why?” she snapped in a tone dripping with acid. “You think she's a threat to me because she murdered my mother and then stole her powers? Well, where are they? I have yet to see her wield any of the magic she claims to possess.” Venus leaned in closer to me. “In fact, I'd say her only worthwhile gift is to stop a human heart from beating, and since she's too pathetic to use that to her advantage…”

She pressed her nails into my throat, tightening her hold. I gasped from the sting. Adrius flinched. His jaw tightened. A flash of anger rippled inside me. She was hurting him. Hurting them both. And I hated her for that. I'd gladly use my anti-healing powers to stop her heart, except I couldn't… I glanced from Adrius to Zanthiel. This wasn't the first time she'd tried to tear them apart. The two of them, as different as fire and ice, united in their mutual hatred of Venus and their love for me. I could never do anything to hurt either one of them. Even if it meant setting them free in order to keep them safe.

“I've got the grimoire, Venus. If you hurt them I swear I'll destroy it.” My words were choked off and strained. “You don't have to hurt anyone else. Let them go.”

She held on a moment longer, then released me. Then with a wave of her hand the branches fell to the ground like kindling, freeing them both.

I picked up the book and handed it to her with trembling hands.

Zanthiel stepped away from the tree. He paced like a caged tiger. Then became deadly still the way wild cats did, before the kill.

Adrius eyed her cautiously and stepped forward, his rage barely contained behind his stoic expression. “You win, Venus. Neither of us will allow you to hurt her. And you know that in doing so, you will never have me. So let's just end this.”

“Oh, Adrius. You're so cute. That is exactly why we're all here today. To end this. You don't think I bought your little breakup act.” Her smile sparkled with amusement. “The veil is closing. And I have no desire to spend a single moment more in this place. But I am not leaving without you. Which means if you want her to live, then we leave…” she looked over at Zanthiel and smirked. “All three of us. She lives and you're back where you're supposed to be. In love with me. It's a fair offer. I'll give you time to think it over, and leave you with this one final gift.”

Black and purple smoke spiraled around her and then flowed from her toward Adrius, entering his mouth and filling him. He gagged, choking and coughing as it penetrated his body.

I shouted his name, but my voice dissipated in the haze. When the smoke finally cleared the last swirls exited his body. The spirals morphed into a massive bird, burst into flames, and then fell to the ground in a rain of ash.