21. Chapter 21

21

Chapter 21

Rowan

I stare in disbelief at the man framed in the doorway. It can't be. It just can't! He flicks a wave of dark hair from his forehead, violet-blue eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiles at me – as if he's not a monster.

"Hello, Rowan," says Heath.

I shake my head as if the gesture would clear my mind and replace the sight of him with something else.

"Heath?" I blink in confusion. "What are you doing here? Have you come to rescue me?" I ask the question but I know it's not true.

I curl my hands into fists, feeling the familiar tingle of magic trying to spark to life. But it's useless here; whatever's suppressing my powers is too strong. I glare at Heath, searching his face for any sign of the kind mentor I thought I knew.

He starts to chuckle. "Rescue you?"

God, I want to hit him!

"What the hell is going on, Heath? Why are you here?" I spit out.

Heath leans against the doorframe, looking maddeningly relaxed. His lips curl into a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "Now, now, Rowan. Is that any way to greet an old friend?"

"Friend?" I scoff. "Friends don't typically show up when you're being held captive. Unless…" I narrow my eyes on him. "You're part of this. You twisted bastard."

He claps slowly, the sound echoing off the damp stone walls. "Very good, Rowan. I always said you were clever."

I shake my head again, trying to make sense of it all. "But why? You're one of us. A witch. How could you betray your own kind?"

Heath's expression hardens, all pretense of friendliness vanishing. "Betray? Oh, Rowan. You have no idea what's really going on here. The bigger picture."

"Then enlighten me," I challenge, struggling to keep my voice steady.

He takes a step closer, and I instinctively back away, my legs still unsteady. God, I wish I could shake this lethargy.

"All in good time, Ro. For now, just know that everything that's happening is necessary. For the greater good."

"The greater good?" I laugh bitterly. "That's what all the bad guys say."

I stare at Heath, trying to come to terms with this. This can't be happening. The man I've known for years, the one I spent countless girlish hours longing for, now stands before me as my captor.

"Why?" I croak, my voice hoarse. "Why are you doing this?"

Heath's eyes soften for a moment, a flicker of the boy I once knew. "Rowan, there's so much you don't understand. So much that's been hidden from you."

"Then tell me," I demand, finding my voice. "What could possibly justify this?"

He takes a deep breath, pausing as if considering his answer before he goes on, "It goes back generations, Rowan. The Moonshadows, the Blackwoods – our families are bound by something greater than you can imagine."

I frown, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"There's a prophecy," Heath says, his voice low and intense. "Ancient, older than the feud between witches and vampires. It speaks of a union that will change everything."

My heart races. A prophecy? About our families?

I try to process this information. "But what does that have to do with kidnapping me? With Mia's disappearance? Is she connected to all of this?"

Heath's expression darkens. "Mia is none of your concern. This obsession of yours has become…an unfortunate complication."

"Complication?" I stare at him as if he's lost his mind – which he clearly has. "It's not an obsession. She's my sister!"

"I know," Heath says, holding up his hands. "And I promise you, she's safe. But Rowan, you have to understand. The stakes here are higher than just one person. This is about the future of our entire kind."

I open my mouth and then close it, words failing me. This can't be the same person who taught me magic, who encouraged me when I felt like a failure. But as I look into his eyes, I see a stranger.

"I don't believe you," I say, my voice shaking. "The Heath I know would never do this."

As I speak, memories flood my mind. I see Heath in Gran's garden, patiently showing me how to coax a wilted flower back to life. His encouraging smile as I finally managed to make a petal unfurl.

"You've been helping me, Heath," I say, searching his face for any trace of that kind teacher. "You've been teaching me how to use my magic; you were in my dreams, for God's sake! Was that all a lie?"

Heath's expression shifts for a moment, and I catch a glimpse of the person I thought I knew. "Those weren't lies, Rowan. But sometimes, to create something new, old things must be torn down."

"What about all that talk about using power responsibly?" I demand. "You told me that we had a responsibility to use our gifts wisely."

"And I meant every word," Heath insists. "But sometimes we have to make a judgment call."

"I trusted you," I choke out. "We all did. How could you betray us like this?"

He waves a hand dismissively. "We've discussed this long enough. We're wasting time."

"Time for what?" I press, anxiety building as I wonder what they have planned for me.

"You'll find out soon enough." He steps into the cell, moving closer.

I grit my teeth, focusing all my energy on summoning even a spark of magic, hoping to fend him off. Nothing. The emptiness where my power should be feels like a gaping wound.

Heath notices my struggle and smirks. "Don't waste your energy, Rowan. Your magic won't work here."

To demonstrate his point, he raises his hand. A shimmering orb of light appears above his palm, illuminating the dank cell. My jaw drops. How can he use magic when mine is suppressed?

"How?" I whisper, unable to hide my dismay.

"There's so much you don't know about true power," Heath says, his voice tinged with pity.

Anger bubbles up inside me. "What I know is that you've betrayed everything we stand for. Everything you taught me!"

Heath's eyes flash. "And what exactly do we stand for, Rowan? A centuries-old feud based on lies and misunderstandings?"

"We stand for protecting our own," I shoot back. "For using our gifts responsibly, not…whatever this is."

He laughs, a hollow sound that echoes off the walls. "Protecting our own? Is that what you call hiding in the shadows, living in fear of vampires?"

I open my mouth to argue, but he cuts me off.

"Think about it, Rowan. We have these incredible powers, and what do we do with them? Perform party tricks and hide from an enemy that preys on us. Is that really what you want?"

His words hit a nerve. How many times have I felt frustrated by the limitations placed on us?

"That doesn't justify kidnapping and…whatever else you're planning," I say, but my voice lacks conviction. "You're working with them, Heath!" I wave an arm around, gesturing to the cell I'm locked in. "How does any of this connect to all your big talk about getting witches out of the shadows?"

Heath steps closer, his eyes intense. "What if I told you there was a way to end the conflict? To create a world where witches don't have to hide?"

I shake my head. "None of this makes sense. You've lost your mind."

His expression darkens, something ugly flickering in his eyes. "You'll change your tune when all the chips fall into place," he says, advancing on me.

I glare at Heath, my mind racing. "What do you mean, ‘when all the chips fall into place'? What else are you planning?"

He smirks, clearly enjoying his position of power. "Let's just say you're not the only one we're interested in. Your sister, for instance…"

My heart leaps into my throat. "Mia? She's here?"

Heath's expression gives nothing away. "Perhaps. But she's not the only piece in this game. Your connection to that vampire, Darick – now that's something special."

I fight back tears of frustration. "Leave Darick out of this. Whatever sick game you're playing, I want no part of it."

"Oh, but you're already a part of it, Rowan," Heath says, his voice eerily calm. "You have been since the moment you were born."

I shake my head, refusing to let his words get to me. "I don't care what you think you know or what you're planning. I won't help you, Heath. Not now, not ever."

Something in my tone must have gotten through to him because his expression changes yet again. "Rowan, please. Try to understand. We were friends once. Don't you remember all the good times we shared?"

"Good times? You've got to be joking!" I want to laugh out loud. For most of my life, I was invisible to Heath Moonshadow. And then I got a glimmer of power, and he sat up and took notice. Now I know why.

"Our families have been connected forever, Rowan – your grandmother and my mother. We practically grew up together."

It's an exaggeration, but for a moment, I see a flicker of the old Heath in his eyes. But then I remember where I am, what he's done. "Friends don't kidnap each other, Heath. They don't betray their entire community."

As Heath opens his mouth to respond, I feel a sudden warmth in my mind. Something…familiar. It's faint, but it gives me strength. I stand up straighter, meeting Heath's gaze with renewed defiance.

"Whatever you're planning, it won't work," I say, my voice steady. "You can't force me to cooperate."

Heath's features harden again. "We'll see about that," he says, turning to leave.

As the cell door closes behind him, I feel the warmth in my mind growing stronger. And then, faintly, as if from a great distance, I hear a voice.

"Rowan," Darick's voice whispers in my mind. My senses tingle. Every nerve ending within me feels like it just lit up.

"Darick!" I whisper aloud, then snap my mouth shut, glancing at the cameras trained on the room.

I close my eyes, focusing on that presence in my mind. It's like a homing signal in the darkness, guiding me back to something familiar, something to run to.

"Darick?" I think, projecting the thought as strongly as I can.

His voice comes through clearer now. "Rowan! Thank God. Are…alright? Where…?"

His words are disjointed, but it's him. Relief washes over me, so intense it almost brings tears to my eyes. "I'm okay, but I don't know where I am. Some kind of cell. Darick, it's Heath. He's involved in this somehow."

The connection flickers, like a bad phone signal. I strain to hear Darick's response, catching only portions. "…with…grandmother…find you…"

"What? Darick, I can barely hear you," I think frantically. I want to cling to his presence like a life raft.

His voice comes through stronger for a moment. "I'm coming for you, Rowan. I promise."

The intensity of his words, the emotion behind them, hits me like a physical force. For a moment, I forget about Heath's betrayal, about the cell, about everything except this connection between Darick and me.

"Darick, I—" I start to think, but the connection wavers again.

I try to tell him more about Heath, about the prophecy he mentioned, but I'm not sure how much is getting through. The wards around this place seem to be interfering with our bond.

"…losing you…" Darick's voice fades in and out. "Stay strong…find…"

And then, like a candle being snuffed out, the connection is gone. I'm left alone in the darkness of my cell, but the warmth of Darick's presence lingers in my mind.

It's never occurred to me until now how accustomed to his presence I've become. Even when I've blocked him out, I've felt him there like a constant companion. And now that's been snatched away, I…miss him. It's like a part of me has been lost.

Stop moping, Rowan! This is a good sign.

I open my eyes, a new determination flooding through me. They're looking for me. Darick and Gran are working together to find me. I'm not alone in this.

I take a deep breath, steadying myself, then survey my cell, searching for anything I might have missed before. The damp stone walls seem to mock me, but I refuse to let despair take hold again.

There has to be something here…

I start looking around for some clue that could help me – or help Darick find me.

Moving surreptitiously, I run my hands along the rough surface, feeling for any irregularities. As I'm searching, I hear that strange mechanical sound yet again. Except this time, I pay more attention.

My heart races as suddenly something falls into place. I know that sound. I've heard it before…recently. I strain to listen, growing more certain by the second.

"Hey," I whisper hoarsely, hoping to catch the attention of my cellmate. "Are you awake?"

"For what it's worth, yes," she grumbles back.

"That noise," I ask. "Do you hear it often?"

"Pretty regularly," she concedes.

"And you've never found out what it is?" I ask, still half-convinced that it's some sort of torture chamber.

"Nope," she says. "Just hear that clattering a couple of times an hour."

And it dawns on me, my suspicions confirmed as the sound continues, then fades off into the distance.

"It's a freaking train!" I burst out. And I know exactly where I might hear a sound like that. There's a station barely a few blocks from the Moonshadow family home.

Heath, you fucking idiot!

I almost laugh aloud. He's keeping us locked up in some sort of hidey-hole near the subway close to his own damned home. Talk about keeping things convenient. And it's exposed him.

A plan begins to form in my mind. I may not have my magic, but I have knowledge. And now, I have hope. Whatever Heath and his allies are planning, they've made one crucial mistake: they've underestimated me.

I settle back against the wall. For the first time since I woke up in this cell, I allow myself a small smile. Let them think I'm defeated. I'll be ready when the time comes. And as I think these thoughts, that voice floats through my head yet again.

"Hold on, Rowan. I'm coming."