The neighborhood where Ayesha's motorbike led them to was a deserted place south of the cathedral, closer to the East river than ever before. Maddie glanced around. They had drawn up in front of a large factory, which looked as if it had been destroyed by a terrible fire. The hollow brick and plaster walls still stood, but metal rods poked through them, crooked and scarred with burns. In the distance Maddie could see the skyscrapers of Manhattan and the black figure of the Statue of Liberty, farther out to sea.They got down from the motorbike and Ayesha whistled. The whistle sounded loud in the chilly night air, metallic with the smell of rain and thunder. A dog barked in the distance. Jason rolled from behind a couple of trashcans, followed by Cassie, both of whom were also dressed in fighting gear. "What took you guys so long?" Jason asked, barely out of breath as he cartwheeled to a stop before them."Sleeping Beauty here," Ayesha nodded towards Maddie "was enjoying her nightmare
Olive would never wear such an ugly dress was the first thought that came to Maddie's head. The dress was a plain, ankle-length white, with thin sleeves. The Olive she knew was nothing if not fashion-savvy. It couldn't be Olive, no it couldn't be. Olive would never pack her hair up in a bun, nor would she wear a circlet of bones on her head. And Aosoth had called her a strange name: Aragon. But then the stranger had Olive's white-blonde hair, her delicate tallness, her dimpled cheeks, her regal nose. The stranger in Olive's body was staring but not seeing, at Maddie, the ghost of a smile etched on her face."Hello, Maddie" Olive—Or Aragon—saidMaddie turned to Aosoth "What did you do to her?" she screamed "What did you do to my friend? “How could you? She was just a—she is just a girl, just an ordinary human—”“She isn’t human,” said Aosoth, in her silky voice. “She is as much a demon as I am. You just couldn’t see it, Madeleine, because it wore the face of a friend.”“She isn’t a mo
It was late June and the last day of school before summer break. Madeleine Shay was standing on the level stone roof of her apartment building, flecked with air conditioning units and satellite dishes, and watching a group of middle-school teenagers walk past the building, chattering about mundane things. It seemed so ironic that things as normal as school and exams and summer break was still going on, what with Aosoth still at large. Her dad had needed to make up a couple of reasons for her absence from school for the past two weeks, lying to the school management that she was suffering from a severe case of myalgia. She'd shrieked with laughter after her dad had dropped the phone and he'd stood there with a resigned shrug, the light from the window illuminating his rectangular glasses. He was such a terrible liar.Afterwards he'd sat her down and explained the reason for his hiding her from the Hunter world and keeping the truth about Aosoth from her."I never thought I’d see your
It was late June and the last day of school before summer break. Madeleine Shay was standing on the level stone roof of her apartment building, flecked with air conditioning units and satellite dishes, and watching a group of middle-school teenagers walk past the building, chattering about mundane things. It seemed so ironic that things as normal as school and exams and summer break was still going on, what with Aosoth still at large. Her dad had needed to make up a couple of reasons for her absence from school for the past two weeks, lying to the school management that she was suffering from a severe case of myalgia. She'd shrieked with laughter after her dad had dropped the phone and he'd stood there with a resigned shrug, the light from the window illuminating his rectangular glasses. He was such a terrible liar.Afterwards he'd sat her down and explained the reason for his hiding her from the Hunter world and keeping the truth about Aosoth from her."I never thought I’d see your
𝘚𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘢𝘺Ayesha groaned impatiently as Maddie threw yet another piece of clothing on the ground."Will you just pick something to wear already?" She asked. She was sitting on Maddie's bed, her booted feet propped up on a couple of pillows."I don't have party-worthy clothes." Maddie protested as she eyed a sweatshirt in the back of her closet.Ayesha reached out from the bed and picked up a sequined, royal blue dress from the pile of the floor. She shook it in front of the other girl's face. "This" she said pointedly "is party-worthy."Maddie looked at the dress with a grimace. "Hard pass, please." She picked up the sweatshirt she had been eyeing and threw it over her jeans, then pulled Ayesha from the bed. "Let's go."They walked out of the room and clambered down the staircase to the kitchen, where Paul was enjoying a lone coffee and toast.He raised his eyebrows as Maddie stopped before him, giving her a quick once-over. "Well, that isn't party material.""I don't care, as
Maddie felt like she was stepping out into a calm, chilly spring night. More glowing moon-like orbs lazily floated around. The whole room was dark and breezy, and despite her thick hoodie, Maddie shivered slightly. The lazy chatter and clinking of glasses made her feel extremely at ease."I've never seen anything like it. It's beautiful, Cassie." She murmured in awe."Magical," Ayesha added."Thank you," Cassie beamed and gave a mock bow."Oh look, there's Jason." Ethan pointed out, steering them towards a corner of the room.Jason was standing among a bunch of young men his age, all of whom were dressed very fancy. Jason, on the other hand, looked like he'd rather be anywhere but there. He'd still managed to look formidable even in a three-piece suit, and was twirling a small Celestial Blade in his hands.Their eyes locked from across the circle of teenagers, and Maddie felt a small jolt in her stomach. She reluctantly broke eye contact with him after a few awkward seconds. She still
Maddie felt like she was stepping out into a calm, chilly spring night. More glowing moon-like orbs lazily floated around. The whole room was dark and breezy, and despite her thick hoodie, Maddie shivered slightly. The lazy chatter and clinking of glasses made her feel extremely at ease."I've never seen anything like it. It's beautiful, Cassie." She murmured in awe."Magical," Ayesha added."Thank you," Cassie beamed and gave a mock bow."Oh look, there's Jason." Ethan pointed out, steering them towards a corner of the room.Jason was standing among a bunch of young men his age, all of whom were dressed very fancy. Jason, on the other hand, looked like he'd rather be anywhere but there. He'd still managed to look formidable even in a three-piece suit, and was twirling a small Celestial Blade in his hands.Their eyes locked from across the circle of teenagers, and Maddie felt a small jolt in her stomach. She reluctantly broke eye contact with him after a few awkward seconds. She still
Maddie let Ethan lead her out of the basement, away from the screams of fallen Hunters and the howling of the demons. The trapped glow worms still floated lazily along the corridor, like a relic from a better time.Ethan pulled Maddie to the dark kitchen, where Jason and Ayesha were wating for them. Cassie was nowhere to be found."Where's Cassie?" Maddie asked immediately she saw the both of them. "Where the heck is Cassie?!""We...don't know. The last time we saw her, she was fending off one of those demons." Ayesha replied."And you left her down there, all by herself?" Maddie yelled at her, then turned to Jason. "That's your twin we're talking about!" Jason didn't even flinch at her harsh voice. He frowned as he regarded her with piercing green eyes that seemed to shine even in the near-darkness of the kitchen. "She's in here." He tapped at his temple. "I can hear her thoughts. She's fine." His face was cast in shadows, his white-blonde hair made darker by the dimness of the room
Jason didn't follow her out the door, Maddie noticed. It was almost as though he was relieved to see her go. She felt a dull ache in her chest as she walked out; his words had hurt more than she was willing to admit.She quickly crossed to the corridor beyond the drawing room, feeling her tears rise to the surface. She'd never truly fallen for any boy the way she had fallen for Jason. It was as if her former teenage crushes paled in comparison to the Ravenwood boy.She was almost certain he liked her too, though she could never be sure with Jason. He had always been elusive.If he did like her back, why did he have to act this way around her? Why did they all have to? These days, Jason and Cassie seemed to tiptoe anytime she was around them, sharing as little information as possible when she was within hearing range, as though she was a time bomb waiting to go off.Finally, as the dull pain threatened to overtake her senses, Maddie stopped walking and leaned against the wall, taking s
"Wait!" Jason spoke up immediately. "Does my parents know about this?""Yes they do, Jason Ravenwood." One of the Sword Sisters replied. "They did not, however, give Morgana Hawke the permission to train Madeleine Shay in this manor."Maddie pulled her eyes from her trainer's steely blue gaze and turned to the Sword Sisters. "Where will I train, then?""We have made a reservation with Ayesha Hadid's father." One of the Sword Sisters informed them. "Get yourself prepared, Madeleine Shay. You start your training tomorrow.""That's fine." Ayesha noted, then reached for Maddie's hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. "It'll be better in my house, Maddie."Maddie nodded and tried to put on a brave smile. However, deep down she was terrified shitless. Having to stay in the hostile Ravenwood Manor was one thing, but having to change locations so quickly was another. The prospect was daunting."We will now take our leave." The Sword Sisters announced together, their eerie, joint voices raisin
"Why?" Jason groaned as they both walked towards the door. Cassie vaguely registered Ayesha giving a response, but she couldn't make out what the girl had said. Her mind was elsewhere, with her grandmother and the elderly Ravenwoods. Her mind had taken her minutes behind, before the warm fireplace and Jason's oddly warmer arms."The Sword Sisters could have picked any other time in the world to show up," Jason continued, face twisted in a frown. "And they chose now.""Why?" Ayesha asked. Then her eyes darted to Maddie and back. "What were you guys doing there anyway?""Nothing." Maddie snapped and pushed forward, leaving them behind. For some odd reason, Ayesha's question had pissed her off. What she didn't want to admit was that deep down, she had no idea what she was doing with Jason either.Obviously they had kissed right before Ayesha had walked in, but was she really certain about her feelings for the Ravenwood boy? She wasn't one to push aside premonitions and warnings, and Cass
Maddie walked out of the drawing room silently, as the rest of the Caucus filed out. Her first instinct was to turn right and walk straight to the front door, open it and walk out as though nothing had happened. She wanted to leave her father behind and walk the streets of New York as though everything was fine with her world.She wasn't sure if what she felt was rage or sadness, or both. Everyone reminded her how powerful and special and unusual she was, and yet in situations like this, she felt ordinary. Usable.The Sword Sisters had decided her fate without even giving her a chance to decide it herself.She turned left morosely and continued walking down the halls of the manor, with no destination in mind. She hadn't wanted the Ravenwoods to kick her out of their house, and she'd gotten what she wanted. And yet, the look in Robert's eyes when he'd tolr her to stay away from his children was nothing short of murderous. He wanted her out of his house, and every minute she spent here m
The hallways of the Ravenwood manor echoed loudly as Maddie walked towards the drawing room. The curtains had been drawn, and the lamps dimmed, casting oblong shadows on the wall. Maddie shuddered slightly as she crossed the corridor and reached the drawing room.The door was locked, but she could hear hushed whispers coming from behind it. She stood with her ear to the door, trying to decipher their words. Were they talking about herself and her father? Had Celia Ravenwood grown tired of Maddie endangering her children and finally called the Caucus to intervene?Suddenly the hushed whispers stopped. Maddie held her breath, eyes bulging slightly. "It seems," a dreamy voice murmured inside the room. "Madeleine Shay has arrived."Maddie straightened, then wrapped her fingers around the doorknob. She turned it and opened the door slowly, then stepped inside the room.The drawing room was as large as Maddie imagined. Several plush leather chairs were arranged in a circle in its middle. A
"What the hell did they mean by that? My father cannot heal himself. He's going to die!" Maddie sobbed."I believe...the Sword Sisters know best." Jason said tentatively, then reached forward to pull Maddie closer. A soft gasp escaped her lips as her chest hit Jason's. The pull was unintentional, Maddie knew, but she felt a small satisfaction at seeing his eyes darken behind his dark lashes, at knowing that he'd felt what she'd felt."Pity I can't read your mind, but I can see enough from your eyes," Jason murmured, his breath warming her face."What can you see?" Maddie asked, her heart thundering with an emotion she couldn't name.He opened his mouth to say something, then seemed to caution himself. "Best leave your father to rest." He mumbled, but didn't move. His hand was splayed against her back, and she could feel the warmth of his skin through the fighting gear."Yes. We should...go—" Maddie whispered, eyelids fluttering as his scent hit her nostrils. Incense, she thought, the p
Maddie woke to a black swirling against her closed eyelids—the after effects of the poison that had been coursing through her veins hours ago. Slowly it dissipated as she became more aware of her surroundings, and she opened her eyes.She'd expected to wake up somewhere entirely foreign, but instead she was lying on a handful of pillows and patchwork quilts on the ground. To her right was the wall of fire she'd seen before: a fireplace. She looked up and above the fireplace were several framed pictures, the light of the fire illuminating the framed faces.Celia, Robert, Cassiopeia, Jason and Ethan Ravenwood. She was in the Ravenwood mansion.The soft crackle of the fire and the glowing light made her feel drowsy and she was about to return to sleep, but then she heard a familiar voice at her feet and raised her head again. "Don't go to sleep, or you'll never wake up again." Jason said in a low murmur.Lauren sat up, leaning against the nearby couch. "You're joking, right?"He was sit
Maddie slipped in and out of darkness as she was pulled up the stairs by frantic hands. She couldn't feel both legs anymore, and her breathing was growing slower by the second. She could feel her grip on consciousness slipping.She was going to die."Fucking fetch the Sword Sisters!" She heard a voice yell. It sounded like Jason, though she couldn't tell who was who anymore. She struggled to keep her eyes open. She knew if she finally closed it, there was no coming back. She would go forever, amd no Sword Sister would be able to bring her back.Behind her blurry vision, the starry night sky changed from bluish black to a pulsating, bright orange-red that reminded her of the fireplace in the Ravenwood's manor.She giggled like a deranged woman. "I'm in hell."There was more whispering, more indistinct voices, and then she was thrown rather unceremoniously on something soft and fluffy. Maddie giggled again and tried to turn to her side, but strong hands held her down."Are there clouds
Maddie was frozen to the spot in fear for a while, and then she turned back to her father."Dad!" She yelled and shook him frantically, but he didn't move. "Dad! Wake the fuck up!" Then Maddie stopped the shaking as an idea came alive in her head. An idea that she should have thought about first before anything.She was a Hunter, was she not? She could easily fend off these demons with her weapon. She dug her hand into the pocket of her Jeans—And came up empty. Nothing was in there except a bundle of bills.Realization slowly dawned on her. She hadn't taken her Celestial Blade along: it was still stuck in the wall of her kitchen.Maddie let out a gasping breath as the thought of how much danger she was in sank in. These demons could plant their tentacles on herself and her father and suck out their souls before she could even raise a hand to fend them off. They were that much more powerful: the sting on Maddie's cheek where the previous Octopid had merely scratched her was a good-en