“Zarin, what do you think Cosima and Chaniya are? Are you moping around here mourning your girlfriend?”

  I gritted my teeth. Werewolves don’t mope. I’ve been doing just that, but I’d rather take an ice pick to my eye than admit it to him. Turning around, I glared at him. “You know that she died for us. My feelings on it are none of your concern.”

  “You love her. I can tell. You might want to tell her that when she comes.”

  “Are you raising her from the dead?”

  Liam smiled. “I’ve given you much to think about. Go see about Luc.”

  I slammed the door. I didn’t intend to close it as hard as I did but I couldn’t focus with the blood rushing through my head.

  When I stepped outside, Maximus and Claire were waiting for me at the back entrance. I never saw Liam pick up a phone to call them yet here they were.

  “The tracks are still fresh. If we hurry, we can catch them and be back here in an hour,” said Maximus.

  “Lead the way.”

  It wasn’t long before we reached the city of Alpharetta. This place used to be the premier place to live. That was back when humans thought they were the supreme being. It didn’t take long for vampires and humans to clash. Our greedy world leaders had to compete with vampires and tried to play god. What they created was much worse than the vampire. They created Mutagens. Mutagens were freaks of nature and a scientist’s dream of being a god. Defined by their abnormal genome mutagens were humans with unique special abilities created by greedy, fearful, power hungry, humans. Valcrum said it best. His people will always need his protection.

  I glanced around at the ruined city. One set of tracks led toward the mountains and the other set around the bend.

  “I think Luc would've followed these tracks so I’m going this way.”

  Claire nodded. “I agree. I think Chaniya headed toward that mountain. I’m going that way.”

  Maximus shook his head. “We aren’t splitting up. I smell the demons in the air. They normally aren’t out this late at night, but we can’t split up. We need to stay together. If a DAO is here, it will take all of us to get out of here alive.”

  Running I turned the corner and stopped. Luc was lying lifeless on the ground. Blood poured around his head. Bending I tapped him on the cheek. “Luc wake up.” He didn’t respond. I closed my eyes and listened. His heart was beating but very slowly. “I’ll carry him back. My men and I will come back here and search the mountain for Chaniya,” said Maximus.

  “You should just let me transport us there,” said Claire. She put her hand on her hips and tossed her hair over her shoulder.

  Maximus touched a flyaway strand, rubbing it between his thumb, and index finger. “If there are DAO and you deplete your powers what will happen?”

  I ignored the lover’s squabble. I was more concerned with what happened to Luc. He was an excellent tracker and he was never seen unless he wanted to be seen. What had attacked him? Where the heck was Chaniya? She would have never allowed anything to happen to him. She saved Luc from blowing up over herself. Something wasn’t right.

  Cosima

  I followed Zena. She left Valcrum’s side and walked toward the water. This wasn’t alarming until she walked on top of the water. I stopped at the edge of the water. I had never seen anyone walk on water, but I was sure I didn’t have the ability to do it. She was halfway across the ocean before she turned to me.

  “Are you giving up already?” She turned and jumped, with her right arm stretched to the sky. Like a shooting star she was gone.

  “No. Please.” I ran as fast as I could. It wasn’t until I had reached that same spot that she had stood that I realized that I walked on water. I jumped up.

  “I will never give up.”

  The sky opened, and she reached her hand down to me. There was at least two hundred feet between me and her. I didn’t ponder my decision. I jumped up; both of my arms were outstretched to her. She disappeared before my eyes, but some unforeseen forces grabbed me and pulled me through.

  I landed in another realm. The opening closed and I was now shrouded in darkness. The ground beneath my feet felt cold and wet as I walked through mud and grime that had scattered pieces of hard bone inside it. It seemed strange that I would be anywhere, let alone a dangerous situation without my bow.

  Shaking my head, I squashed that thought. I saved everyone without my bow. My powers are within me, and flow through me from Valcrum. Nothing and nobody can change that, except Valcrum. It was colder here, and the wind that whirled through the trees made an eerie whistling noise.

  Pausing under a tall tree I bowed my head and prayed to Valcrum. I was determined never to let him down again. The black crows circled high above me. One crow was on the ground feasting off the flesh of a nearby pile of dead bones. Saliva pooled in my mouth and I gulped it down so I wouldn’t vomit.

  Breathing deep, I walked to a building that resembled a place of worship. I stepped inside, and the scent of rosemary water and oil assaulted my senses. The floors were covered with plush carpets and long red velvet runners. The place was empty, so I walked down the aisle. My family didn’t have much money, so we were never allowed to go to fancy places to praise Valcrum. I might never get the chance again. I twirled around closing my eyes, inhaling and committing every image to memory. Traversing to the front of the stage, I sank to my knees with my head bowed on the carpet.

  “Valcrum I give you my life, my soul and my spirit. Please use me however you see fit. This is my offering to you. I will always place your wishes above all else.” I rose and grasped the offering dagger that laid on the side of the stage. I dipped it into the rosemary holy water and ran the blade across my wrist, allowing my blood to spill in the offering container.

  A flash of sharp pain ran along my arm where the blade danced across my flesh. The jagged rips in my smooth skin looked different from my other scars. This mark was a work of art. Breathing deep, I walked out the doors. Zena was nowhere in sight but this was somehow a test. A test that Valcrum wanted me to pass. I felt calmer now that I had shed my blood. The pain was a pleasant dull ache reminding me that I was alive up here, which meant I could also die again.

  Oddly enough, I don’t fear death. I know that Valcrum is with me no matter what, and I am with him. The atmosphere suddenly changed. A thick fog covered the world like a fluffy white blanket. The chill from earlier had gone and there was some humidity in the air. It was almost pleasant. Nora jumped from a tree and threw a spear directly at me. I jumped right trying to dodge the spear, but it was impaled in my chest.

  I fell to my knees coughing up blood. The warm crimson liquid soaked through my shirt and my heart felt like it was being electrocuted.

  Nora stood over me laughing. “Where is your precious sister when you need her now. I will kill her just as easily as I killed your father and you.”

  Blood pounded in my ears. It was hard to focus as my vision blurred. I ripped the spear out. I jabbed it in Nora’s heart as my body turned cold. My muscles began to shake, and I went into shock. I smiled as I heard Nora’s gurgling sounds as darkness closed in.

  I opened my eyes. My shirt wasn’t covered in blood anymore. I staggered to my feet feeling dizzy and queasy. This wasn’t where Nora had attacked me. There were two suns high in the sky. There were palm trees everywhere and pineapples growing on the pineapple trees. A scent of tropical coconut and mangos permeated my nose. The sand was white and hot and very thick. Every time I stepped my feet sank down but I never touched the actual ground.

  Beautiful crystal-clear light blue water was all around. This place looked like Valcrum threw up all the watercolors into the sky and painted with his fingertips. If I could have imagined it, this was what paradise would have looked like. The McCall birds sang beautiful notes to their lifelong mates and butterflies flew on the gentle breeze.

  Had I failed the test? If I died, then why am I here? This must be part of it. I walked along the shore. Nora had sprung up on me. She might do it again. I listened to the waves crashing against the rocks, the McCall birds, and then nothing. Turning around I looked behind me. There wasn’t a sign that anybody was following me. There were no footsteps besides my own.

  My stomach growled. I was famished, so I walked over to the nearby tree and plucked a pineapple. Chanting a quick spell, I conjured up a machete, my bow and arrows, and a pocket knife. Cutting the pineapple open with a machete, I sliced it. After consuming a good portion of it. I slurped the pineapple juice next.

  I stood, and bent to grab my bow, when something flew past my face. Rolling and ducking under a bush, I spotted Trevor and Nora. My heart leapt in my chest. Focusing, I waved my hands and focused on moving the palm tree nearest them. The tree roots lifted from the ground and I sent the tree flying toward them. The tree trapped Nora but Trevor rolled out the way. Grabbing my arrows, I sent four of them aimed at Nora’s head. Trevor sent a green orb and it hit me straight in the chest. The energy felt like acid had infiltrated my bloodstream and my body trembled. Blood squirted from my ears, nose and mouth. My body fell to the ground with a sickening thud.

  Spitting out the blood I rolled over on my back. Trevor stood above me.

  “Give up. You are no match for me. Valcrum doesn’t care about you. You’re going to die alone and powerless.”

  I smiled. I might die, but I was never powerless. Closing my eyes, I focused on Trevor’s heartbeat. I imagined the blood pumping in the upper and lower chambers, and then I imagined my hand squeezing his heart stopping the blood flow. A strangled sound caused the McCall birds to take flight. Trevor had fallen to his knees.

  He was summoning the black power in his veins, as he tried to regain his feet. I reached my hand out toward his legs and focused on his femoral artery. The femoral artery burst out from his skin and I wound it around his neck sending him flying into the nearest palm tree. I hung him there like a decorative ornament.

  My eyes closed as I felt my heart slow to five beats a minute, and my vision went black.

  I woke up feeling like I had slept for twenty years. My body was very relaxed and my energy levels were higher than they had ever been. I wasn’t surprised to see that I wasn’t in paradise anymore. I giggled. Paradise would be anywhere that didn’t have Nora and Trevor living there.

  This was Earth. I was back in Georgia. My heart sped up.

  Would I get the chance to see Chaniya again?

  I immediately dropped to my knees. Just that quick, I had thought only of my selfish wishes. I am here for Valcrum’s needs. Chaniya must take care of herself. I know that she can do that. She has always saved me in the past. Bowing my head, I asked Valcrum for forgiveness.

  Standing up, I walked toward the academy. I recognized the area, and I figured this was just another test. Somehow my mind said this test would be different. I don’t know why I felt more comfortable in a new setting, but I did.

  After I said a quick prayer, I headed for the gates of Eastwick Academy. I rushed toward the school. These tests or whatever they were, were mentally draining. I saw the back stone retaining wall, and I turned around. Nora liked to sneak attack but she wasn’t the only one who liked that tactic. Glancing around I climbed the retaining wall and jumped to the nearest tree. Once I had reached a high branch that could hold my weight, I perched up there waiting for them to show up. Suddenly, something hit me hard in the chest, and I fell off the branch. I landed hard in the dirt but rolled to my side next to the tree. Pain shot up my side and blood started to soak my shirt.

  The doors flew open and Zarin, Chaniya, Cade and Luc ran out. Maximus jumped from a window from the second floor. He transformed into a werewolf in mid-air. Peeping from behind the tree I spotted Trevor. There were no signs of Nora, and I hoped that she was dead this time. Stepping away from the tree I waved my hands in a circular motion and sent a tree at Trevor.

  His laughter rang out which caused the crows to abandon the tree and fly away. He dodged the tree and sent an amber orb my way. Focusing on the center of it, I managed to make the orb switch directions and sent it back at Trevor. My bow and arrow suddenly appeared at my feet, but I jumped over it.

  There were demons everywhere. I saw Maximus and Zarin engaged in a fierce battle. Turning away from them, I saw the red orb heading toward me. I channeled my link to Valcrum and sent the red orb back at Trevor.

  Trevor fell to his knees and spat blood. I ran to him and waved my hands, lifting his body off the ground and sent him to me. Grabbing him by the throat, I focused on his jugular veins. I crushed them with my bare hands and when his body went limp, I summoned Zarin’s knife from its sheath. I lifted the blade about to sever Trevor’s head, when Nora’s voice rang out.

  “Stop. If you let him go, I won’t shoot these rockets at the school. If I do, then Chaniya is dead.” She smiled. She and another demon had two rocket launchers with rockets locked and loaded. Nora had her rocket pointed at Chaniya.

  Chaniya’s eyes were wide as she looked at me.

  I closed my eyes and severed Trevor’s head. The blast of the rockets made my ears bleed, and I fell to my knees next to his head. Tears blinded my vision, but I closed my eyes and lifted my hands to the sky.

  “Valcrum I tried.” The explosion was massive. Heat swarmed me and my flesh melted from my bones. I screamed as my body was engulfed in ash and flames. Blessed darkness descended, ending my suffering once and for all.

  Chaniya

  I paced back and forth inside the cave. If Nora followed us, I was ready to end it now. Closing my eyes, I shook my head. I needed to make sure Zena knew that Cosima should be part of her tribe then I would Nora. One way or another it would end soon. Waving my hands two lanterns appeared and I walked deep inside the cave.

  Where was Aero? He was wounded. I should’ve followed him out there. He’s not in any shape to fight anyone.

  Small pebbles crushed a short distance behind me. Turning around I saw Aero. “Was he the demons that were following us?”

  “It wasn’t Trevor or the witches. It was some guy. I got rid of him. Let’s get this over with. I don’t like leaving Corinna alone and bound. She will be scared when she wakes up,” said Aero.

  Handing him a lantern I proceeded down the cave. I held up my end of the bargain, running all over the city hunting Corinna down, and now it was his turn.

  I half expected a mountain lion or something to lunge at me. These caves were cold and creepy. Waving the light next to the cave, I saw the most intricate carvings that I had ever seen. The images were amazing. Most of the images shown were people who took shape into other animals.

  Looking at Aero, I saw that he was glancing back toward the mouth of the cave. “What do you know about Zena and her tribe?”

  Aero shrugged. “I know that Zena is a spiritual being that chose the people for her tribe. It’s not something that you would audition for or try out. She chooses her people.”

  Turning away from the wall, I rushed further into the cave. The deeper I walked inside the more the atmosphere started to change. I looked at Aero, but he was still glancing toward the mouth of the cave, like he thought Corinna might gain wings and take flight. It was clear to me that the boy was head over heels for her. The chick’s head wasn’t in the right place right now and him willing her to live probably wasn’t helping her. The poor girl needed time.

  “I’m fine, if you want to go back out there and keep Corinna company.”

  “I will keep an eye out, and if we get company, I’ll let you know. I doubt even the demons would come here. Everyone knows you risk Zena’s wrath by coming here uninvited.”

  A shiver ran down my spine as I watched him walk away. Shaking my shoulders, I kept walking deeper into the cave.

  “You dare to come here weakling.”

  I turned around but there was nobody there. The deep female voice didn’t sound friendly, and goosebumps appeared on my arms.

  “I had no choice. My sister was taken from me, too soon. She would be an asset to you.”

  A boulder came towards me, but I put up my hand and sent it flying back in the direction it came from. “I didn’t come here to fight. I just want justice. My sister lived to serve Valcrum and she would be an asset.”

  “I decide who deserves to be in my tribe and who is an asset. You presume too much little girl.”

  My hands were forced apart and my body was thrust up against the wall, and my hands sealed inside the rocks on either side of my head.

  “I noticed you didn’t ask to be in my tribe. Even if I take your sister into my tribe, that does not excuse the fact that you came here. The price for repentance is blood.”

  A boulder flew from the wall and crushed my chest. Blood spilled from my mouth as the pressure intensified until my lungs collapsed. My vision blurred and I knew then Zena meant to kill me.

  “It’s a shame you didn’t ask to be in my tribe. Why?”

  The boulder eased up a smidgen and I licked my bloody lips trying to find my voice. “I was never worthy. My sister was always the special one, and she would make the sacrifices you needed her to make. I’m tainted, an unworthy witch who delved into black magic for my own reasons. My intentions are good but I can’t seem to follow through.”

  The most beautiful spirit appeared before me, or maybe there were two. I was seeing double everything. The pressure from the boulder increased but my body was numb. I no longer felt anything.

  Her fingers wrapped around my neck, jerking my face toward her. “Are you willing to die for your sister, knowing that I might not accept her into my tribe?”

  “Yes.”

  Her fingers fell away from my face. “So be it then.”

  My eyes closed and darkness closed in.

 

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