Read The Mark (Interracial Paranormal Romance) (Toil and Trouble) Online
Authors: Charisma Cole
I let out a sigh, pushing aside the possibilities. All that was left for me was a Trial by supernaturals who notoriously frowned upon humans being a part of their world in the front place. My possibilities were death by the blade, or death by fire.
“Necro,” a voice whispered.
I glanced up at Sia. “I’m not in the mood for the name calling right now, Sia.”
She perched a pierced eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
I swallowed. “You just said something.”
She shook her head slowly, looking at me like she thought I was losing my marbles.
“Necro.”
“There it was again!” I gasped, slamming my hand on the table. But I was looking right at Sia, at all of them. No one had even opened their mouth.
And then I saw her.
Weaving in and out of the lunchtime hustle, she moved like an apparition. She was decked in flowing black robes that trailed the ground like a gothic wedding dress. Her face was covered by a hood, masking all and promising everything.
Mom caught the look in my eyes and turned to see what had garnered such a reaction. “What are you looking at, Jade?”
“That woman,” I said quietly. “In the cloak.” I followed her movements as she pushed back her hood, revealing long, ebony hair as dark as the night. Her features were fair and youthful, except for her eyes. They were wrinkled and brittle, a white glaze covering her cornea.
“What woman in a cloak?” Mom asked, confused.
Naomi’s face fell. “It’s the Messenger. She’s come to compel Jade to court this eve.”
Mom glanced over again, her eyes wild. “But I don’t see anyone.”
“You wouldn’t,” Sia said, polishing off her chocolate milk. “The Messenger is only seen by the Accused.”
I reared back as the Messenger stopped at our table. Her milky eyes bore into mine. I wanted to look away…everything screamed for me to not look into her depths, but I had no control. I was powerless.
“Jade Catherine Murray?” Her voice was like ice water, frigid and startling.
“That’s me,” I said hoarsely.
“I am here on behalf of The Watchers. You are to report to Gaia’s Gardens at the witching hour to stand Trial for the crime of Exposure of the Supernatural World and Using Magic to Harm Mortals.”
She scanned my face. “Do you understand the charges that have been brought against you?”
“I understand,” I said hollowly.
“And you understand that failure to appear will render an automatic verdict of Guilty?”
“Y-yes.”
Mom reached over and clutched my hand for support.
The Messenger bowed, her midnight hair sinking its fingers into the pavement. “My work is done.”
She snapped her fingers and disappeared in an instant.
I let go of the breath I had been holding.
“What did she say?” Mom asked, noting the scared shitless look on my face.
“The Trial is tonight. At midnight.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Welcome to the Great House
“May filiolus servo vos,” Mom murmured for the twentieth time. “May filiolus servo vos.” She hung her hand a few inches from my heart, the other on the steering wheel.
I’d given up telling her that her chant of blessing just made me more anxious. I knew that it helped her in some way, brought her some measure of peace. When it came down to it, my mother, as powerful a witch as she was, was powerless to save me.
We turned onto the quiet street and I peered out into the dark night. When I looked with my mortal eyes, the street looked sleepy and vacant. But with my ability to see the supernatural, I could see the creatures moving in and out of the shadows.
There was a vampire couple, each impossibly beautiful. Their pale skin glistened like stars. What better first date than watching a witch get her comeuppance in the Great Hall? To the right of the car, hobbling in the bike lane was a troll. He moved laboriously, his frazzled hair sticking out in every direction. He was probably trying to get a good seat. There was a huddle of fairies, rocking their true wings proudly, laughing as they strode toward my doom. I could feel the car shake a bit as a Cyclops stomped past, leaving a giant crater in the cement.
“I’m glad that my demise will bring someone some entertainment,” I said sarcastically.
Mom flashed a sad smile. “You know how these supernaturals are. They love destruction and bloodsport.”
I crossed my arms tight over my bodice. “Everyone is betting on a guilty verdict, Mom. And I have no defense.” I let out a groan of frustration. “Why am I even bothering? I could have spent my last night in bed.”
“With Jack?” Mom said with a wink.
“I think Jack would rather meet the sun than sleep with me right now,” I said, feeling the tears build in my eyes. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t cry, but the closer we got to Gaia, the more I realized that vow was impossible.
I had so few people in my corner. 99% of the people in attendance hoped I’d lose my head or worst. The monsters that flocked to the Trial reminded me of viewers crouched around the TV, riveted while watching their reality TV show, hoping the contestants would eat each other alive.
Mom turned her station wagon into the side lot, parking beside a minivan. I peered out at the family behind the wheel. They looked normal enough—a beady eyed middle aged man unbuckled a child from a car seat. But when he turned and his face was illuminated by the streetlight, I saw the otherworldly glow in the man’s eyes. They were midnight black with golden flecks that shone like glitter. A werewolf.
I pushed out of the car, trying not to make eye contact. I really couldn’t handle looking at his excited expression for Baby’s First Execution.
The father started toward the wood gate, making jokes about how the best witches were extra crispy ones. The mother hung back, flashing my mother and me a smile.
“I’ve never been a big fan of these things,” the woman admitted, pausing at the rear of her van. “But my husband has to make our pup into an Alpha.” She shook her head, pulling her black shawl tight around her shoulders. “I eat live animals for sport, but I just don’t have the stomach for the pomp and circumstance.”
I tucked a curly strand behind my ear. “Why?”
“Well it’s almost cruel what they’re doing to that girl,” she answered. “Everyone knows that they’re going to find her guilty, no matter what.”
I swallowed, my face going pale. “I-” I leaned up against the car, feeling dizzy. “I don’t-”
Mom was at my side, steadying me with a firm hand.
“Good eve,” she said clippedly to the were, giving her a “Go Away.” look.
The were obliged, scooting after her family.
I peered at the wooden gates, the fenced in area dark and foreboding. I didn’t want to go any further.
“It’ll be okay honey,” she whispered, stroking my hair. “Everything will be okay.” She started towards the gate before noticing that I was still firmly planted beside the car. “We have to go in, Jade.”
I shook my head. “I can’t. I can’t do it Mom.”
Her face softened as she strode back to me. “Gods curse whoever put you in this bind.”
“Amen,” I seconded, picking at an invisible bit of lint on my dress.
She turned back, smoothing the front of her black shift.
“When was the first Trial?” she asked.
I cocked an eyebrow. “What?”
“When was the first Trial?” she repeated.
“Before time was time,” I answered, staring at her strangely. “The creatures bathed the world in darkness and despair. To prevent the annihilation of the creature and human race, a coalition was made.”
“The Watchers,” Mom nodded. “Go on.”
“The coalition was made up of a representative from each creature race. They, along with their consorts, slaves, and the convicted, live in the Great House. It’s a magical mobile-ish castle that appears in the Accused area for trial. And lucky for us, it’s taking residence at Gaia Gardens.”
“And what is their swear?” Mom asked, ignoring my crack.
“’To live we must abide’,” I said with a small smile. She pulled me in for a hug, and I let myself relax in her arms. “Is it going to be okay, Mom?”
She planted a kiss on my forehead. “Absolutely.”
I turned back toward the gates, watching as a steady stream of dark things fluttered inside, all talking giddily. It was the event in the supernatural community. Come one, come all.
“Okay,” I said, steeling myself. “I’m ready.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
A Surprise
I tried to look past the elf hawking t-shirts. One side read, “Burn baby burn!” and the other, “Off with her head!”
A wave of nausea hit me when a girl who looked no older than seven pulled hers over her ballgown. She flashed Mom and me a fangy grin before skipping off to grab a bloodsicle or something similarly horrible.
It went with the rest of the scene. Gaia Gardens, on its own, was a lush, exotic garden with ankle high soft green grass. The property was lined with strong oak trees that stood like centuries. If I wasn’t a part of the supernatural world, the modest greenery and an old shed would have been all I saw. The enchantments were especially strong, shielding the true nature of the property from prying eyes.
“Wow,” Mom and I said in unison.
It was like we had been transported back to medieval Europe. Fields of green surrounded us, lined with makeshift stands. Entrepreneuring creatures hawked their wares, their distorted voices joining the symphony of sounds and smells. The line stretched from where we stood near the gate to over the drawstring bridge and moat, with all types of unsavory water creatures splashing about, hoping they’d get a piece of the action as well.
Even though we were near the back of the line and I’d come to the Great House to register to work with NACA years ago, the structure still took my breath away.
Harsh stone walls stretched to the sky, like graves reaching for redemption. I could see torches burning bright in hundreds of windows, lighting the place up like the world’s most depressing birthday cake.
There were two older goblins in front of us, sharing stories about their first trials at the Great House. The first pulled at her long stringy white hair.
“Remember when we saw that fanger staked for Lytus’s birth date?”
“Mmhm,” the second cooed, scratching her pointy chin with razor-like talons. “We had the Executioner take pictures of all of us beside the corpse.”
“Aye,” the first chuckled, her jowls vibrating like Jello. “It took me four washes to get that blood out of my dress.”
“It was such an ugly dress,” the second joked.
They playfully shoved each other back and forth as we moved to the edge of the bridge. I’d always heard that goblins were strange creatures, showing their affection by beating each other to a bloody pulp, but it was a whole other thing seeing it with my own eyes.
The first punched the second with her elbow, sending a stream of green goblin blood soaring to a rose bush, instantly incinerating it. The second head butted the first, knocking both of them into a cyclops standing in front of them. He didn’t even flinch…no one did really. Everyone was caught up in the excitement of the trial.
I leaned over to Mom’s ear. “Should we do something?”
She gave me a look I hadn’t seen since I tried to clean her house. “Don’t get involved in goblin business.”
“But-” My words caught in my throat as the second woman got too close to the edge of the bridge and fell backward…tumbling into the frothy water.
Both I and her companion lurched forward, but before the goblin even touched the water, a water creature with the head of a serpent and the body of an octopus wrapped its tentacle around her, snatching her up midair. It crushed her into nothing before she could even scream.