Shirley paced around her living room, running her hands and tugging her hair as she tried to block out Caleb's groaning and moaning. Spellbooks were scattered all over the place, some of them were open and most of the opened ones showed pictures of the marks and stamps on Caleb's body."What have I gotten myself into." She mumbled, walking to and fro. "You were marked from hell. There is another demon, another ritual, another big sacrifice on the chosen one's head." She lamented."Why is he not in pain?" Caleb croaked."Your soul has been marked from hell." Shirley hissed. "And shut up. I'm trying to think, we're in deep shit."From his point on the floor, Caleb croaked."The advisors have come to a decision. Dominic just mind-linked me. Tonight's panel will discuss Mendez's fate and it will be executed tomorrow. Andrew, his warriors, and the moon witch are supposed to attend."Shirley groaned, tugging her hair harder."I'll attend as the Moon witch, you'll have to think of a reasona
Vanessa tentatively approached Shirley and held her hands."Stop looking at me like that. There's nothing dark about teleportation. You just have to be strong-willed. It's like stepping through time." Shirley hissed.Vanessa gulped,"Now close your eyes and imagine the exact spot you want to be at, then project your spirit there first and then your body."Vanessa nodded."Whisper this spell after me." Shirley.Vanessa's hands trembled as she whispered Shirley's spell the exact way she said it. Before she could realize what was happening, she'd landed at the particular spot in the forest she wanted to go to.Immediately Vanessa disappeared, Caleb growled. He was drenched in sweat as he writhed in pain.Shirley palmed her hair and frustratedly tried to straighten the split ends, then collapsed beside Caleb. A tight frown marred her lips as she looked at him. She regretted getting entangled with him or Brighton.Fuck. She cursed internally. The High priestess had warned her at the begin
When Caleb came to consciousness, he found himself sprawled on an unfamiliar couch, in an unfamiliar house outside Brighton's territory.Shirley and a woman he didn't recognize were arguing."You trust him? He's like you. He's using you the way you're using him. I'm sure he's planning to double-cross you. Let me make this known to you here and now, whatever deals you're making with demons is going to backfire. They have already tricked you once and are going to do it again. Because, though he who dines with the devil should use a long spoon, the devil might have an even longer spoon and may just scoop him up. You're going to bring mayhem to our clan, Shirley."Shirley chuckled,"I see that the effect of that slam has worn off. Need I remind you that your words are reducing your daughter's chances of survival? Stop yapping your mouth and pray that I don't change my mind concerning that brat of yours. You're lucky I'm presently occupied. Besides I'm not dumb like those mangy werewolves
Mendez sat on the floor of his cell, drawing lines with his fingers and muttering to himself.Dominic watched him for some time before signaling to the guard on duty to unlock the cell door. As the guard opened the locks, he wondered if he was making a big mistake. He'd observed Mendez for more than an hour and the more he watched him, the more he doubted his instincts. Mendez was acting crazy, talking to himself and playing with inanimate objects. It seemed like a waste of time, yet his instincts pushed on."He's been talking crazy." The guard said as he stepped in, then fastened the locks immediately."The evil that men do… He's obviously gone rogue. If it were up to me, I would've killed him a long time ago. Anyways Alpha Andrew is a cool guy. He believes in fairness that's why he's giving him one last chance to talk trash. Be careful he's a trickster."Dominic didn't agree with him, he'd been a guard all his life and knew when to trust his primal instincts. And now they told him t
Two days. It had been two whole days since Emily had set eyes on Andrew. At first, she'd told herself that it wasn't a big deal and that he probably had a ton of things to deal with. After all, a lot had happened since he left his pack in search of her. Plus she knew that he had to deal with Karen Elrold, who looked like she might go on a killing spree if allowed to stay in Brighton for another second. When he hadn't shown up the next morning after their return, a little doubt began to trickle in and she shoved it aside and busied herself with speaking to Jacqueline and filling herself with everything that had happened. When that was over she stared listlessly at her father's spell book before an idea lit up in her head.After several tries, she was able to create a bond that allowed her to be in superposition at the Scarlet coven. It was like a pathway or portal that led her back to them.Emily had promised them earlier on that she would visit regularly and since she was far away i
"Seize him!"Dominic briskly dove off the platform into the crowd of stunned werewolves that stood before it. "Fuck fuck fuck." He cursed as he wove through the crowd. Claws dug in and tore his flesh as some members tried to grab him, but he shook them off easily. The ordinary pack members didn't have as much strength in their grips as the warriors and scouts. His goal was to get as far away from the warriors or guards as possible and then disappear into the forest as Mendez had advised.After their long discussion, he and Mendez were still surprised that he was still alive until the time of his execution. They even made subtle jokes about it. "Why did Caleb make you be the one to ensure that nothing happens to me?" Mendez asked just before the guards came to lead them out.Dominic shrugged,"I spoke up at the panel? I'm the chief guard?""Before last night's panel did you question or challenge him?" Mendez probed."Nope, I think his witch noticed my suspicion. He was acting very ou
"Are they all like this? Demons are grotesque then." The high priestess commented, "Ugh, I'm disappointed. I'd always imagined them to be like the undead. Like vampires, they're just too beautiful, you know?"Shirley ground her teeth in unbridled anger. She'd once again fallen into the High priestess's trap. She should have known. She thought bitterly. She should have known that the odds of the most powerful witch in the outlands of Brighton sitting alone and unprotected in her living room were zero."Lift her up." The high priestess said sharply. Shirley was immediately raised and was suspended in the air. The room was filled with witches who flickered in the air.Shirley couldn't believe that she'd fallen for one of her own tricks. She was supposed to be the master of illusion.The high priestess gave her a knowing smirk.Shirley immediately caught what she was insinuating. She heard it loud and clear.'I know what you're doing in Brighton.' she seemed to say.Shirley's head fell i
Emily took a long breath, allowing the surreal calmness and scent of the trees around her to swarm her senses. The silence, the damp scent of decaying leaves on the brown earth, the sweet scent of fruits, and the occasional rustling of leaves were the perfect tool to clear her mind from all the unwanted thoughts that had been bothering her.It was peaceful in the forest. It was so peaceful and beautiful that she realized that she'd missed the solitude and tranquility she had enjoyed when she was with the coven. It was glaringly different from the crazy, busy New York, which was without peace or quiet. She loved it too, the sirens, loud voices, occasional gunshots, and the mesmerizing scents from the food carts. It struck her that she could love two opposites when she had always believed that she hated everything about the small villages and close-knit towns. But as unbelievable as it was, she'd missed home. Memories of her taking walks with her father alongside the scent of her mothe