Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

" W hat should we do now?" Eve asked.

I stared at Asham's crumpled body. "He wanted to do the ritual tonight. He seemed to know something we don't. Nishi, can you check his pockets? If he was in a rush, he may have the Reality Shard on him."

Nishi knelt beside Asham's lifeless body, her hands moving with practiced efficiency as she searched his pockets. She rifled through his suit jacket, finding nothing at first, until her fingers brushed against something solid. She pulled out a gold chain with a black crystal attached, its dark surface gleaming ominously in the dim light. Turning it over in her hand, she examined it closely before handing it to me.

"Is this it?" she asked, her voice steady.

"Yes." I took the pendant, feeling the weight of it, both physical and metaphorical. The crystal seemed to pulse with a dark energy, a stark reminder of the danger we still faced. I passed it to Faith, the decision already made. "Wear this for me. It's safest with someone who doesn't have magic, and I think we need to head over to the coven and use the Temporal Echo now."

Faith nodded, her expression serious as she slipped the pendant over her neck. The gold chain looked incongruous against her practical clothes, but there was no doubt in my mind that it was the right move. "I can put it in my vault when we stop by and grab the artifact," she said, her tone resolute.

As Faith secured the pendant, I felt a sense of urgency rising within me.

We piled into the jeep just as Drin and Dran arrived on the scene. Their identical, striking features were hard to miss, but I appreciated that Faith didn't stop to chat with the attractive doppelgangers. We had no time for distractions. The engine roared to life, and we sped away from Asham's final resting place.

The drive back to Black Bounty was tense, the darkened streets whipping by in a blur. The city was quieter at night, the occasional streetlight casting long shadows that flickered ominously across our path. The hum of the tires on the asphalt was a constant reminder of the urgency of our mission. I glanced at the others, each lost in their thoughts, their expressions grim and determined.

When we finally parked in front of the Black Bounty, Faith wasted no time. She ducked inside to grab the Temporal Echo from the safe, leaving us in the jeep. The wait felt like an eternity, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife. I kept my eyes on the building, willing her to hurry.

Faith emerged a few minutes later, the Temporal Echo in hand. She slid back into the driver's seat and passed the artifact to me. The weight of it was familiar, a heavy reminder of the stakes we were up against. With a quick glance at each of us, she pulled back into the street, the engine growling as we headed toward the coven-owned lands.

The streetlights flashed by before we entered the darkened tree-lined roads that led to the coven property.

Eve directed us to a secluded parking lot, her voice steady and sure. The trees closed in around us, their shadows creating an eerie canopy that blocked out the moonlight. The air was cooler here, the sounds of the city replaced by the rustling of leaves and the occasional call of a night bird. As we parked and stepped out of the jeep, I felt a chill run down my spine.

Eve pointed to a barely-there trail. "This leads to the rear of the property, where the ley line connection is the strongest. Lucinda typically holds her coven rituals there."

"Hopefully she doesn't have anything planned for this evening," Faith said as we followed Eve along the trail.

Faith and Nishi had their phones out with the flashlights activated, as Eve didn't want to do a light spell this close to the coven.

We navigated the thin trail through the trees, the night air brisk against our skin. The crickets chirped in an almost rhythmic cadence, as if they were an orchestra performing for an unseen audience. The path was narrow and winding, roots and rocks threatening to trip us with every step, but we pressed on, driven by the urgency of our mission.

The trail opened up into a small clearing, a hidden sanctuary in the heart of the woods. A circle of stones marked the ritual site, their surfaces slick with the dampness of the moss-covered ground. The moonlight filtered through the canopy above, casting a silvery glow over the clearing and making the stones seem to glimmer with a mystical light.

I moved to the center of the circle, the Temporal Echo clutched tightly in my hands. The others took their positions around the stones, their eyes trained on me, faces lit by the moonlight.

Standing in the center, I felt the weight of the moment press down on me. The stakes were high, and the air was thick with anticipation. The stones felt cold and ancient beneath my feet, grounding me as I prepared to activate the artifact. I took a deep breath, the cool air filling my lungs, and focused on the task at hand.

I raised the Temporal Echo, the artifact cool and solid in my hands. My heart raced as I set the timer for that fateful night, the night I was drugged. My fingers trembled slightly as I flipped the hourglass. The world around me blurred, the trees and the stone circle fading into a hazy mist.

When the mist cleared, I was back in my living room, the night with Spencer, Clark, and Kacey playing out before me like a vivid dream. The familiar scene unfolded: the wine on the table, the glasses half-filled, our laughter echoing in my ears. But this time, I was here for a purpose.

I cast a spell to locate the source of the drug. My fingers tingled as the magic flowed through me, searching, probing. I expected the spell to alert me if magic had been used to taint the wine, but instead, an image formed before me, hovering in the air like a ghostly projection.

A man's arm, tanned and athletic, with a distinctive birthmark, appeared. I watched as the hand reached out, placing a white powder into the wine before re-corking the bottle. The scene played out in eerie silence, the man's actions deliberate and methodical. My breath caught in my throat as I realized the implications. I wanted to see the man's face but my time in the past was already up.

The image faded, and I was abruptly pulled back to the present, standing once more in the circle at the coven property. The Temporal Echo was still in my hands, the hourglass empty. My friends stood around me, their faces filled with concern and expectation.

"It wasn't magic," I said, my voice shaky but determined. "Someone drugged the wine with a powder. A man with a birthmark on his arm."

Faith's eyes narrowed, and Eve's expression turned grim. Nishi's jaw clenched, her warrior instincts kicking in. We had a new lead, a new direction to pursue, and the stakes had just gotten higher. "Did anyone notice if Asham had a birthmark on his arm?"

Nishi and Eve shook their heads, so Faith texted into her phone. The flashlight was still on, and it cast an almost ethereal glow on the ground.

I put the Temporal Echo in my pocket, though it still stuck out some. "I think the perpetrator was at Marco's house, but I can't be sure. It all happened so quickly."

"But you didn't see his face?" Eve asked.

"No. My power doesn't work like yours. I am working through the artifact, not casting spells like a regular witch."

Eve nodded as a branch broke behind us and we all turned.

From the shadows of the trees, Lucinda stepped into view, her presence as unwelcome as a storm on a clear day. She wore a ridiculous fur coat, the kind that screamed opulence and vanity, and high-end boots that allowed her heels to sink into the soft, damp ground. Her sneer was a mask of disdain as she took in the sight of us.

"You are trespassing, and I have the right to punish you," she declared, her voice dripping with malicious glee. Her magic flared out. A whip of lightning crackled through the air and caught us all off guard. Instinct took over, and we dove away from the blast of white energy.

I landed hard, the impact jarring through my bones and scraping my skin against the unforgiving earth. Gritting my teeth, I rolled over, pain flaring up my side. Nishi's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and filled with alarm.

"Eve!"

My heart clenched as I saw Eve lying on the ground, her chest smoking, a black smudge marking where Lucinda's magic had struck. "No," I whispered, the word barely audible through the lump in my throat.

I scrambled to my feet, my body protesting every movement. Faith and Nishi were already at Eve's side, their faces pale with shock and fear. Lucinda's laughter echoed through the clearing, a chilling sound that made my blood boil.

"That will sting, but it won't kill her," Lucinda said.

Ignoring her, I knelt beside Eve, my hands trembling as I reached out to check for a pulse. She was still breathing, but barely, her chest rising and falling with labored effort.

"Faith, we need to get her out of here," I said, my voice firm despite the fear gnawing at my insides.

Faith nodded, her expression grim. Nishi's jaw was set in a hard line, her eyes blazing with a mixture of fury and determination. We couldn't let Lucinda win. Not now, not ever.

Together, we lifted Eve, careful to avoid her injury. Lucinda's presence loomed over us, but I forced myself to focus. We had a mission, and we couldn't afford to fail.

Faith shot a glance at Lucinda. "If she dies, it's war. The pack will annihilate you."

Lucinda stared at Eve's chest in shock. "No. I didn't hit her with a lethal blast."

Nishi shot Lucinda a deadly look. "You just attacked the mate of the pack Alpha and the mother of Caton's daughter. Even if she lives, the pack will never allow you on their land."

As we moved, I cast one last glance at Lucinda. The fear etched on her face was clear. She had never displayed that kind of power in the past, and I believed her when she said the blast was meant to hurt, not kill. But the damage was done and Salima was the only one who could help us avert a war.

We carried Eve back to the Jeep, her weight a painful reminder of how precarious her condition was. Each step felt heavier than the last, the urgency in our movements palpable. Once we secured her in the back seat, Nishi climbed in beside her, her face set in a mask of grim determination.

Faith wasted no time. She pulled out her cell phone, her fingers flying over the screen. As she hit the healer's contact. Salima picked up on the first ring.

"Hello?" Salima said.

"Salima, Eve was badly injured. We're bringing her to you. Meet us at Black Bounty," Faith said, her voice sharp with tension. She hung up and kicked up gravel as we pulled out from the parking lot at the coven.

"Where is Salima?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.

"At home, I assume, but she'll be at my office by the time we get there," Faith replied, her voice steady despite the fear I knew she was feeling.

The trees blurred past us as Faith sped down the narrow, winding road, the engine revving and the tires screeching as we turned onto the paved street. The sound of the tires on the asphalt was a harsh counterpoint to the rapid beating of my heart.

I glanced back at Eve, her face pale and still, Nishi holding her hand tightly. The air in the Jeep was thick with worry and the metallic scent of fear. Every second felt like an eternity, as we sped toward Faith's office.

Faith's knuckles were white on the steering wheel, her focus unyielding. The world outside the Jeep was a blur of shadows and moonlight, the occasional streetlamp casting fleeting glows that did nothing to dispel the darkness within.

"Hold on, Eve," I whispered, my voice barely audible, over the roar of the engine. "We're almost there."

Faith's foot pressed harder on the accelerator, the Jeep hurtling through the night with a single-minded purpose. The tires squealed as we rounded a corner, the force throwing us sideways.

As we sped toward Black Bounty, the urgency of our mission pulsed through every fiber of my being. Eve's shallow breaths were a reminder of how close we were to losing her. I had to believe that we would make it in time, that Salima would be able to save her.

The lights of the city gave way to the familiar streets near Faith's office. Faith didn't slow down, her focus unyielding as we neared our destination.

Faith swerved into the parking space, the Jeep skidding to a halt in front of Black Bounty. Salima was already waiting, her pale face illuminated by the headlights. We scrambled out of the Jeep, rushing to get Eve the help she desperately needed.

We carried her inside the main area and placed her on the couch. I glanced at the Buddha. Praying to a foreign god for help seemed unlikely to work, but I would have done anything in that moment to aid our friend.

Salima wasted no time. She knelt beside the couch, her pale skin contrasting sharply with the charred remnants of Eve's chest. With a deep breath, she placed her hand over the burn, her power flaring out like a brilliant, invisible sun. It felt as if she were drawing energy from everything around her, and I could feel the tug at my own strength.

I swayed slightly, glancing at Faith and Nishi to see if they were experiencing the same pull. Salima's face tightened with concentration, her brow furrowing as she poured her essence into Eve. The burned tissue beneath her hand began to meld together, the charred black giving way to fresh, healthy skin.

It took less than a minute, but it felt like an eternity. Finally, Eve's chest rose and fell with steady, even breaths. The tension that had gripped me released in a rush, leaving me weak-kneed with relief. Salima slumped to the ground, leaning against the couch, her exhaustion evident in the deep lines etched into her face.

Eve's eyes fluttered open, their usual spark dimmed but present. "What happened?" she croaked, her voice hoarse but alive.

Faith knelt beside her, an unshed tear glistening in her eye. "Lucinda happened," she said, her voice thick with anger and relief.

Eve tried to sit up, but Nishi gently pushed her back down. "Rest," she said softly. "You need to recover."

Salima managed a tired smile. "She's right. You need to take it easy for a while. That kind of injury... it takes a toll."

I nodded, feeling the weight of the night pressing down on me. "Thank you, Salima. We owe you."

Salima shook her head, her eyes heavy with fatigue but shining with determination. "How did Lucinda do that? That was almost as deadly as hellfire. I have never seen an energy blast do that kind of damage."

"Lucinda said it wasn't a lethal blast and honestly, I believed she was shocked by the intensity. Is there any chance my use of the artifact supercharged the ley lines? Maybe we inadvertently boosted Lucinda's power."

Eve sat up and rubbed her forehead. "It's possible, but intent isn't going to mean anything to Hunter. That was a mortal blow without Salima, and I don't think I should lie to him about the severity of this."

Faith crossed her arms. "There is no way Hunter won't find out about this. Lucinda will pay for this. You almost died. If you had, I would have killed her myself and not even Carnell could have stopped me."

Nishi shook her head. "Hunter would have slowed you down and done it himself. The blowback on this is going to be brutal. It could start a faction war."

Faith glanced at Nishi. "The warlocks will side with Lucinda. Or most of them, Greyson, will side with us, but I see the problem. Innocents are going to get pulled into this, whether they like it or not."

"Caton is anything but innocent," Salima said while staring at the ground.

My eyes narrowed on Salima. "What are you talking about?" I asked.

"There is another reason Lucinda may have had a burst of energy. Why, she may have seemed more powerful than normal."

Faith moved toward Salima and knelt down so she could look her in the eye. "Lucinda doesn't have Eve's power. Obviously, she has some or she wouldn't be the head witch, but she has always seemed lower level in comparison to Eve."

Salima huffed. "I need to tell you the truth."

"About what?" Faith asked.

She met Faith's gaze. "The reason Caton and Lucinda hate me. It has nothing to do with me being a necro."

"What is it?" Nishi asked.

Salima cleared her throat before turning to Eve. "Do you remember the last time you visited the Salem council with Caton?"

Eve nodded. "Yes, but I never met you."

Salima played with a strand of carpet from the throw rug. "I know, but I saw you and Caton before the council. I was in the next room healing a council member who had slipped on an icy step. You had this strange cord wrapped around you. It wasn't something anyone else could see. It took me a minute to attune my necro abilities to view it properly. It was like a living magical leech that sucked your power and deposited it in Caton's chest."

Eve frowned. "I wasn't sure how it worked. Mina broke a bowl and Caton was furious. I assumed he used it in his draining ritual. It was a few days after that trip. But Caton left me not long after that and took up with Lucinda."

Salima was quiet for a moment. "I have no idea what the bowl was, but it had nothing to do with breaking the power leech. All I can say is that a spell of that magnitude can only be created on a couple's wedding day. Or if one of them agrees to it. I know you didn't."

Eve blinked, and the room went eerily quiet. "How did you know I didn't agree to that power leech?"

Salima met her wary eyes. "Because I'm the one who broke the spell."

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