18. ~Alena~

18

~Alena~

Flames.

They raged all around me.

Four walls surrounding me on all sides.

Each time I’d tried to call my power, they’d closed in and licked my skin, refusing to retreat again until I stopped and submitted.

I’d been burned and healed over and over again too many times to count.

I was trapped, a cage of fire determined to keep me here.

Buried in my own mind.

Every now and then blackness would invade the space, swirling around me, and I’d briefly be pulled back into the real world, but only able to experience fragments of it, before I was dragged right back here to this cage.

Those fragments of awareness had shown me that Constantine Vale was the cause.

I’d seen some of the things he’d been making me do.

With him—things that had my skin crawling.

For him—things that were jeopardizing the supernatural world.

To those I loved—things that were hurting them in ways I couldn’t stand.

And through all of it, I couldn’t do a thing.

I couldn’t stop it.

I couldn’t break free.

All these years I’d spent worrying so much about magical corruption, and here I was being proven right. I’d succumbed to it. It had taken hold in me.

And now it was causing everyone to suffer.

“Argh!” I yelled, bolting toward the flames and calling my power, rage at my helplessness taking me over, the extreme frustration of it getting to me more and more with each passing moment I remained trapped here.

The fires raged, closing in again.

The blistering heat threatened to melt my skin from my bones.

But I didn’t back down this time.

I fought against the rapidly worsening agony, my hands shaking with it until I was able to call a spark of my golden power on each of my palms.

Hope bloomed as it started to make a small gap through the wall right in front of me.

I ground my jaw, fighting like hell to keep going, to push it further, despite the smell of burning flesh. Not clothing, though. No, somehow the crimson robe, which was all that I was wearing, remained intact, yet the fire burned beneath it into my flesh.

Fucking Constantine. It was a robe that his acolytes would wear. Of course he’d want to keep some sort of mark of possession on me. As if the rest wasn’t already horrific enough.

I could no longer stifle my screams, and then I was shrieking out into the space, my cries echoing hauntingly all around me.

I had to stop… I had to… I could barely hold it. And even if I did, I’d be a charred mess before I even managed to part the flames enough to get through.

“Argh!” I cried, releasing my power and staggering back.

The walls stopped closing in and gave me enough space to sink to my knees as I waited for my body to heal again.

Moments passed as I felt my healing kicking in well and taking away the pain and damage quickly, and then I heard footsteps.

I jolted.

No one came here. Not even Constantine.

It had always just been me and the fiery walls.

I rose to my feet, trying and failing to peer through the flames.

I couldn’t see a thing.

“Hello?” I called out. “Who’s there? Constantine, if that’s you, I swear to fuck you won’t like the consequences. I will melt you!”

In the next second, I got a huge shock as the opposite of that madman appeared, and there my men were stepping through the flames.

Orpheus was in the middle holding Xavier’s hand to his right, and Talon’s to his left, and he was muttering a rapid-fire incantation under his breath as his vibrant-purple eyes shone with his power. A cobalt-blue glow was emanating from Xavier too.

“Oh my God,” I breathed. “I can’t… I can’t believe it.”

Talon grinned at me. “Always love that particular threat of yours, firecracker.”

He and Xavier ran to me and wrapped me up in their arms, while Orpheus turned toward the flames and closed his fists, and I watched them abruptly extinguish.

“How the hell?” I exclaimed, looking out at him around Talon and Xavier. “I’ve been trying for ages to accomplish that.”

“We’re an outside force,” was all he said, before he swept his purple power all around us until it was swirling wildly.

I watched, enraptured at the sheer force of it, the incredible power he had at his disposal, and the masterful motions and strokes he was enacting too.

It began dissipating after a few moments and then different surroundings materialized, coming into being bit by bit, until we were standing in a replica of our little secret spot in the woods on the Electi Academy campus.

One of his impressive illusions.

“We’re still back in your subconscious,” he told me, as he pulled his magic back and walked to us, decked out in his chic purple blazer with the black studs all over it, a black tee beneath that brushed his silver leather pants.

Talon had gone the leather pants route too, his black that blended with his tight black tank that had the orange flames on it that matched his hair color.

And Xavier was in his classic attire, in a pair of ripped jeans, a white tee with a denim jacket with sleeves rolled up.

Just as they resided in my memory whenever I thought of them.

It was a shame it couldn’t be the same for them with me in this awful crimson robe.

“This is just a much more comfortable creation for you to reside in until we can get you out of here,” Orpheus went on.

“Thank you,” I said, reaching out and pulling him to me, so we were all immersed in a loving group embrace.

We just held one another for several moments, reveling in the closeness after too long apart.

In the comfort of it.

In the closeness.

The love.

“We missed you,” Xavier told me. “We missed you so much, beautiful.”

Tears welled in my eyes. “I missed you all too.” I eased back from them and wrapped my arms around myself as I spoke words that shamed me, “I’m sorry. I’m really fucking sorry I got so lost. That I still am, that it’s come to this, to me allowing myself to be magically corrupted. I’ve seen glimpses of some of the things he’s made me do and I know it’s hurting people, that it’s hurting you.”

“It’s not your fault,” Talon told me vehemently. “It’s not your fucking fault at all, Alena. It’s all on that monster.”

“He manipulated you because of me,” Xavier said. “If I hadn’t—”

I took his hands. “No,” I told him quickly, not wanting him to blame himself and put responsibility where it didn’t belong. “I made the choice that I did. No one else. And I wouldn’t change it.” I looked him over, frowning as I held his hands. “I can’t feel your magic. I mean, I see the blue, but it’s—"

“No. It’s not there. It’s coming from Ore’s blood.”

“He promised me.” I thought for a moment. “Wait. He said I have to prove my loyalty first.”

“How?” Talon asked.

“I’m not sure.”

Orpheus had remained quiet since he’d explained the illusion situation.

I looked out to see him studying me, looking me up and down and grimacing.

“It’s the robe, isn’t it? It’s what I found myself in when I woke up here. Well, not really “woke up”, but when I was shoved down here.”

“His mark of possession,” he growled.

“Ore—” Talon started, trying to get him to tone it down.

“No,” he rebutted. “I can’t allow this to stand. We can’t,” he said, stalking up to me with a dangerous look in his eyes.

That absolutely thrilling dangerous look of his that did all sorts of crazy intense things to me.

In the next second, he was grasping my arms, then shoving me against a tree just behind me.

His mouth crashed down on mine almost violently.

It was so intense and all-consuming that I could barely breathe with it as he took my mouth, claiming that part of me all over again.

I sank into it, letting it overwhelm me, needing to lose myself to it.

“That’s right, little angel, let go,” he uttered, pulling his mouth from mine, only to slick his tongue over my throat, then kiss along the path he’d made.

He lifted his head then grasped either side of mine.

And then he hesitated.

“It’s okay, Ore,” Xavier said, coming over to us.

“You’ve got this,” Talon told him as he joined us too so he and Xavier were either side of him facing me.

“Got what?” I asked.

Orpheus stroked the pads of his thumbs over my cheeks, warming me, soothing me. “I needed you in this relaxing-into-me state before I could attempt it.”

“Attempt what?”

“Shh,” he said, when he noticed my worry. “You’re infected with a mass amount of black magic by Constantine. My father spelled you, but it’s not taking root because he was too weak when he performed it. So I’m here to give it a jolt. Tal and X are here too so we can also re-establish our bond with you, to pull you to us, and away from him.”

“Do it,” I said.

He frowned. “Just like that?”

“I want him gone. I need out of here. Whatever it takes, even if it’s absolute agony, and the fight of my life, I don’t care.”

“It won’t be agony, I’ll make sure of it.”

“Ore, if you’re talking no pain at all, you could hurt yourself. The amount of black magic you’ll have to employ in the outside world to do this will be more than we planned, more than you’re used to,” Xavier warned him.

He looked out at him and Talon. “I don’t and she’ll never leave here.”

“Orpheus,” I spoke. “I don’t want you hurting yourself to save me. We can’t make choices like that between each other.”

Regret shone in his eyes. “Sometimes there’s no other way, Alena.”

He blew right through any further discussion then, as he suddenly invoked his power, warmth permeating my head at the point of contact.

It quickly morphed into a pins and needles sensation and I looked to see him grimacing, his hands shaking.

“Orpheus—”

“I’ve got it. Just hold on.”

It wasn’t me who needed to hold on.

He was clearly in pain and causing himself distress in the outside world that I couldn’t fully see here stuck in my subconscious.

And then I watched his stunning purple eyes fill with flecks of black.

“No. Stop, you’re taking in too much.”

“Ore,” Talon protested, coming to him and moving to pull at his arm.

But then Xavier was there with a burst of speed, pressing a hand to his chest. “Let him see this through. Have faith in him. Just like he had faith in us to bring us here. He didn’t go it alone this time, he made a point to work alongside us, to do this together as a unit. It means something. It means a fuck of a lot actually for him.”

His words managed to placate Talon—well, only just. He still looked incredibly on edge, worried, and freaked out.

And he wasn’t alone.

But this was Orpheus Hart.

Initially, I’d identified it as stubbornness. It wasn’t. Nor was it ego or anything like that. He hid it well, especially from anyone beyond his closeknit circle, but when he pulled things like this it was his determination to protect those he loved, to protect everyone he possibly could.

He cared and he had a really good heart.

He just didn’t like people to recognize that, because he clearly thought it could be seen as a point of vulnerability and used against him and also mess with his hardass facade.

An ice-cold sensation shooting through my head jarred me. It had me grunting as it spread throughout my whole body and I shuddered.

“There,” Orpheus said, releasing me and taking a step back. “It’s done.” He blinked several times and then I saw that the black flecks were gone.

“Are you all right?” I asked, reaching out and grasping his arm.

He smiled out at me. “I’ll be fine. I promise. My father’s spell will start working now, weakening the hold of Constantine’s black magic, enough for you to break through.” He stepped into me and delved his hand into my hair, gazing at me adoringly. “You’re stronger than you know. You can absolutely do this, Alena. And, motherfuck, the three of us need you to.”

“It’s shit without you,” Talon said in that usual blunt way of his.

“It’s definitely lacking,” Xavier added in.

“We fucking miss you, little angel,” Orpheus burst out with, surprising us all at the vehemence of it, him effectively putting it all out there and showing his utter need for me, for the four of us to be reunited.

“I’ll do everything in my power to fight this.” I smiled out at them. “I wouldn’t do anything less for you.” I winked at them in a bid to lighten the mood. “Sweet things.”

They all chuckled at that and it was the best sound I’d heard in so long.

I sat down on the grass and patted the area around me, beckoning them to me.

We all settled, entangled in one another, Orpheus spooning me on my left side, Xavier on my right and resting his head on my breasts, and Talon with his head on Orpheus’ lap who stroked him with his free hand while Talon laid my legs over himself and rubbed them soothingly.

I played with Xavier’s thick hair and he tipped his head toward me, smiling peacefully. It was a far cry from what I’d seen of him last time. “You ran into the sun,” I found myself uttering, unable to keep it in check any longer.

I’d been so taken with them appearing here, and then the spell, that it had gotten lost in all the rest.

But it couldn’t. I couldn’t let it, and I wouldn’t. It was too important. To fucking worrying beyond belief.

“I’m sorry and even sorrier that you witnessed that.”

“You seem like your old self now, but is it real? You’re not putting on a brave front for me, are you? Because I’m trapped in here and infected with black magic?”

“I swear it, beautiful,” he said, taking my hand and giving it a squeeze. “Orpheus helped me and it shifted things in that respect. I’ll be okay.”

“He’s going to therapy really soon too,” Talon informed me.

“You are?”

“I am.”

“Good,” I breathed, nuzzling against him. “Really good. Thank fuck.”

“He’ll be okay,” Orpheus breathed at my ear. “You have my word.”

“Thank you, little prince,” I said, nuzzling my cheek against his.

We all laid there basking in each other, falling into a comfortable and contemplative silence.

And then I felt Orpheus shuddering against me.

I sat up, breaking our entanglement, to see him grimacing and in clear pain, struggling.

“You’ve stayed too long, haven’t you?”

“Maybe a little,” he admitted.

Talon shot to his feet. “We need to go. Now. You’re hurting and you fucking promised me, Ore.”

With a groan, Orpheus pushed back to his feet. “I know I did and I aim to keep that promise.”

“Really? No arguing or pushing it further?”

He shook his head. Then he looked out at me forlornly. “Besides, Alena has work to do now.”

“To come back to us,” Xavier said.

“I’ll be back with you before you know it,” I reassured them.

Orpheus fell to his knees and started coughing up blood, some trickling from his nose too.

“Ore!” Talon cried, him and Xavier there and hauling him up, supporting his weight.

Before I could do another thing, the three of them faded in and out.

Orpheus held out his hand to me. “You’re stronger than you know. Remember that.”

His last words whispered on the wind, and then they were gone, out of my subconscious.

Emotion clogged my throat at being separated from them again.

But before it threatened to take me over, I got a hold of myself and focused on the cause of all of it.

Constantine.

His black magic infecting me.

At my indignation and increased resistance, I felt that cooling sensation permeating me again. I moved away from the tree, grateful that I had the illusion now and not the walls of fire, and I walked to a clearing and held out my palms, forcing my magic forth.

My golden power flamed this time and I was able to pull on it further without any ramifications.

It would be just the beginning.

If it took hours, if it took days, I wouldn’t stop.

Not now that I had hope—and a helping hand from the Dark Fae King that I could feel working through my system, allowing me to use my power here finally, giving me the impetus and means to begin breaking free of this fucking cage.

My eyes snapped open.

I awoke to darkness.

In a foreign space.

In an unknown bed!

I looked around, quickly trying to assess my surroundings.

I was tucked into a four-poster bed with crimson sheets and drapes. The rest of the large space, like that of a suite, I supposed, was unfurnished and unfinished. A new place then. Or a ripped apart abandoned one.

I shoved the covers off myself only to find that I was naked underneath.

Great.

Not just that, but there were red-raw scratch marks and bite marks all over me.

They were in the process of healing, which meant they’d been inflicted very recently.

Black veins covered most of my body but there was that cooling sensation rolling through me too that I remembered from… from… from my subconscious. Yes, that was it!

The guys had been there with me. They’d helped me. And so had Saryan Hart. His spell was working within me now. As I peered closer, I actually saw some of the veins dissipating. Very slowly, however. No matter, the rest would be up to me.

I remembered fighting to get out of my cage and I obviously had managed it, given that I’d woken up in reality and I was almost cognizant.

So much was fuzzy.

Things that had happened here were fuzzy.

I concentrated, trying to put everything together, to merge my time with the guys in my subconscious with what had happened out here. I should have access to both, but I just needed to take a moment to put the pieces in place.

And then I could figure out where I was at, what the hell was currently going on, and most importantly, how to escape wherever and whatever this place was.

It started happening, memories resurfacing, playing on my mind.

Like a fucking horror movie that had me shaking as every new one hit.

Constantine bringing me here.

Him manipulating me, making me his doll.

Oh my God… making me his whore. Bile rose in my throat as I recalled it. What he’d done to me, to my body.

As if that wouldn’t have been bad enough, he’d also warped my mind.

He’d also basically drugged me with black magic—a shit-ton of it.

Saryan… he’d been there. He’d tried to help me. He’d tried to stop Constantine. And… he’d seen everything.

And then… I’d been in the Dark Fae Realm. Constantine had called me there and I… oh no… I’d hurt Orpheus. I’d hurt him badly. Tortured him!

I slapped my hand to my mouth.

I felt sick.

Disgusted.

So fucking ashamed.

At my sudden movement, something jostled around my neck and I reached up and found a collar there.

What the hell?

I hastily dressed myself in a simple pair of wide leg jeans and a black tank, then climbed out of bed and went to the window. It was dark outside, so I could see my reflection, and that was when I saw the collar there. Several studs were set into it and they were glowing red, the precise shade of Constantine’s magic. Obviously another method he was using to control me.

Or he had been until I’d just broken through the worst of it.

I called my power and grasped the awful thing, managing to disintegrate it in seconds.

Another weight lifted off me as soon as it was gone.

I sucked in a breath, trying to keep it together, even as the disturbing and depraved memories of what the monster had done to me ran through my mind fiercely.

Footsteps sounded and I spun toward the door just as it burst open and somebody strode on in.

Not who I’d expected at all.

“Professor Cornwell?” I uttered, taking him in, his long silver hair wild about his face and his suit rumpled.

“Nephilim. We meet again.”

“Are you part of the rescue party? Did my mother send you? Orpheus and my men?”

He sneered. “There will be no rescue.”

A chill rolled down my spine, adrenaline spiking. “What? What are you doing here then?”

“I’ve found a like-minded comrade in Constantine Vale.”

“No. Tell me you didn’t defect.”

“Why would you expect anything different after what you and Orpheus did to me?”

“Did to you ? You were taking advantage of him!”

“It was supposed to be him and me! Do you know what it took to even make a dent in that caustic exterior of his? All those walls he has up? But I did! Then you came along and reaped the benefits!”

“You’re rewriting things to your liking. There was nothing meaningful to your relationship with Orpheus. He made that clear to you.”

“I waited for him!”

“So you couldn’t get what you wanted and you do this? Turn against us all, against what you believe in? You assisted with Obsidian to prevent Constantine’s hell on earth, another Cataclysm.”

He thrust his fist into the wall. “I didn’t care about any of that! It was about getting close to the Dark Prince, you foolish girl!”

This screwed up conversation was eating into my time to get the hell out, likely something he intended.

“We’re done here. Step aside,” I said, gesturing as he blocked my way to the door.

“Constantine has asked me to watch over his property while he’s out wreaking much-needed havoc. You need to remain here.”

I scoffed. “Step aside now, or you’ll seriously regret it.”

“You’re a baby angel. You’re still under the influence of black magic, of him. You don’t really want to leave, you’re just a little conflicted.”

“Save the basic psychobabble. I’ve broken his hold on me.”

His eyes widened as the realization obviously set in for him.

But he still didn’t move out of my path.

In fact, he did a lot worse—worse for him—and called his power.

Before he could do a thing with it, I fired a bolt of my golden fire.

It blew him back into the wall, taking a chunk out of it in the process.

I stormed to him, fisted my hand in his tie, then thrust my palm into his chest.

A dark part of me pushed it further and instead of just stunning him enough so I could get away, I burned him.

He started cursing and flailing as my magic melted through his shirt and into his flesh below.

“I told you I’d melt you,” I found myself seething.

I was reveling in the damage.

In the power I was lauding over him.

In his fucking pain. My enemy’s pain.

But it wasn’t that simple.

Pull it back.

Get control.

It was the black magic trying to rule my thoughts and actions alike.

I gritted my teeth, fighting to get a hold of the real me and discard this abomination it was trying to make me into.

“Stop! Stop, please!” he screamed.

“Argh!” I cried, blowing back from him and pulling my power back, managing it, but only just.

I focused myself on what mattered. I’d done enough damage to incapacitate him for a good long while so he wasn’t a threat or an obstacle to me escaping this nightmare place.

“I did warn you.”

He whimpered like the little bitch that he really was as he sank down the wall onto his ass.

“You’re lucky it wasn’t your dick.”

With that, I kicked him in the face to end his awful screams, then I strode on out of the room.

I didn’t make it more than two steps before a rush of air whipped around me, and then a hefty weight slammed into me, knocking me back against the wall.

A hand wrapped around my throat, making me choke.

And then I was looking up into creepy white eyes.

“Constantine,” I rasped.

He glared down at me, tightening his grip around my throat until I saw stars dancing in my vision. “You’re not going anywhere, darling princess.”