84. Danica

Danica

84

T he decision was unanimous—a hard pass on prematurely rolling out the welcome mat for good ol' Morty, inviting that shadow demon to the party? That's like throwing gasoline on a bonfire. Nope, we're hunkering down to ride out this ritual rodeo, sorting the sinister from the sorcery before he gets wind of the shenanigans brewing in our backyard.

Because let's face it, playing with dark magic is one thing; dealing with an ancient shadow-lover with a penchant for soul-snacking is on a whole other level of 'nope.' We've got our hands full untangling this witchy web, and the last thing we need is him crashing the soiree, turning our tactical retreat into a full-blown sprint for our lives. So it's locking shields and sharpening wits until I can check off my stone-grabbing to-do list—with or without the confetti.

After four days of hitting dead ends, we've scored a jackpot of intel. Thanks to Emily and Sable's sleuth skills, we've snagged a juicy snippet of the witchy world's best-kept secret—a location. And the kicker? Thesewitchesare shopping for none other than a vampire for their grand sacrificial shindig.

Oh, but the plot thickens—they're not on the prowl for your garden-variety nightwalker. Nope, these spellcasters want the crème de la crème—a vampire with a pedigree, someone dancing the eternal moonlit waltz for centuries, maybe even millennia—the kind of ancient blood that doesn't just whisper history; it roars it.

Well, game on. It's time to crash their party and rewrite the guest list.

Over the last few days,Rhylandand I have dissected and pondered pressing issues, including the mysterious Soul-Tie situation.Rhylandassures me that the mating bond we solidified is essentially the same—our souls are already knotted together. I figured it might be wiser to seek an expert on this matter. He's on board with the idea, so we tabled the discussion for another time.

LucianandEriktook a field trip to the Obsidian Enclave—the supernatural equivalent of an ancient library—snatching up textbooks onAquariaand the other realms. All in hopes that I'll have a solid reference to whip up a portal when the clock's ticking down to showtime. The elusive Book of Shadows was the only book they couldn't get their hands on.

I studied my ass off withRhylandand Sable. Thank the gods, they can both read Latin because Google Translate was not going to cut it for this one.

Aquariais a realm straight out of a supernatural Atlantis. Ruled by Queen Undine, this watery paradise is a mosaic of vibrant coral reefs, bioluminescent caves, and mystical creatures that would make Ariel's jaw drop. The Merfolk, Selkies, Pirates, Sirens, and Krakens call this place home, each adding their unique flavor to the magical melting pot.

We've made my place—or Emily's place now— our HQ. Emily's in the guest room to giveRhylandand me some couple's bubble space whileLucianandErikare bunking at the club. Our daily pow-wows have turned into a routine blood drive with me as the star donor forErikandLucian; it's second nature now that I have the proper equipment—ensuring they are well sunscreened.

"So, the ritual is being held at Thornwood Castle," Sable tells us over the kitchen island.

Despite the grave news, Sable's petite punk-rock vibe— her bubblegum pink hair, edgy nose ring, and vampy black nails and eyeliner—almost makes the apocalypse look fashionable. Her big brown eyes, delivering the end-of-days itinerary, seem too doe-like for their dark message.

"Where is that exactly?" I ask.

Emily slides me a steaming mug with caramel macchiato creamer—my personal brand of morning salvation. The sweet and rich scent blissfully assaults my senses. I take a generous sip, letting the liquid gold work its caffeinated magic.

Rhylandwraps his arms around my waist, nestling his chin on my shoulder as he joins the conversation.

"Lakewood, Washington. The castle is a historic English Tudor Gothic mansion, complete with a labyrinth of catacombs and an ancient chapel. It's been off the grid for ages. Word on the street is that it's thewitches' covert gathering spot for their most sacred rituals. There are even whispers about a hidden chamber where some dimensional rift was cracked open, leaving a permanent scar between realms. That could explain the heavy arcane vibes. Crazy stuff, right?"

As Sable's fingers dance across her laptop, she summons an image—a chilling view of Thornwood Castle. There it stands, a brooding titan on the edge of a silent, obsidian lake swathed in fog. The place is all menacing spires and shadow-laden archways, with wild ivy scaling its ancientstoneslike nature's siege. Built by some rich hermit with a passion for the Dark Ages, the castle's been left to ghosts; at least, that's what the town claims.

"Not creepy at all," I say, rolling my eyes. "Do they have a vampire yet? Or a date for this ritual?"

"Not that I've heard. Though whispers claim their big move will coincide with the full moon's rise this Saturday night. We're on a tight timeline—the stars and planets will be aligned perfectly for their purposes by the next lunar peak."

"Good," Emily chimes in, her smirk practically audible. The mischief in her eyes sparkles like a challenge. "Well, it sounds like it's high time we crashed this witchy kegger and played party crashers," she suggests, her gaze sliding slyly towardRhyland. Pose as tribute?"

"Not if my hunch is right—Azrael's smack in the middle of this circus. It'd blow our cover," I deadpan.

"Then who can we use as a decoy?" she muses, tapping a finger against her lips. "We need someone who can sell it, strut in there, and fool these mystical Mofos long enough for us to get a leg up. Someone not afraid to dance with the devil—or, in this case, a coven full of them."

"Me." The voice cuts in from behind us: our heads whip around, andLuciansaunters in with a smirk plastered on his too-handsome face.

Rhylandstands tense behind me, his air charged with concern for his brother. "You think you've got the chops to pull this off, pretty boy?" he teases with forced levity.

"Already in the works, big guy,"Lucianannounces with a shit-eating grin that practically screams 'I'm the man.' "What, you think I've been twiddling my thumbs and braiding my ball hair? Hell no! I've been getting all up close and personal with one of these witchy bitches." He snatches my coffee, taking a swig before making a face like he just licked a hobo's armpit. "Gah! What is this, motor oil? Where was I? Oh yeah, the witch. She's putty in my hands, thanks to my mad mind-control skills. Just call me Jedi."

Luciandrops a bombshell. He's been using his supernatural charm to snake his way into the coven's confidence. Somehow, this sly vampire has managed to weave a compulsion spell without thewitchesbeing the wiser.

"How?" I blurt out, my voice dripping with enough skepticism to drown a small village. "How, when your mind tricks don't work on supernaturals?"

Ever the insufferable know-it-all,Lucianleans in like he's about to reveal the meaning of life. "Witchesget their power from rituals, spells, and incantations. You picking up what I'm putting down, or do I need to break out the sock puppets and crayons?"

I resist the urge to smack him upside the head, settling for a glare that could melt steel beams. "Yes,Lucian, I understand witchcraft. But that still doesn't explain how you compelled one of them. Last I checked, your vampire voodoo only works on mortals."

Emily folds her arms, a mix of impatience and anticipation written on her face.

Lucianlets out a long-suffering sigh. "Here's the thing.Witchesmight have fancy-schmancy powers, but at the end of the day, they're still human. Sure, they can shoot fireballs out of their asses and turn people into toads, but their brains? Totally susceptible to a little mental manipulation, if you know what I mean."

Sable rolls her eyes, andRhylandhums in agreement behind me.

I blink, struggling to process this new information. "So, you're telling me you can waltz up to any witch, do your 'these are not the droids you're looking for' shtick, and they'll just... obey?"

Luciangrins, his eyes glinting with mischief and unbridled glee. "Well, not exactly. It takes a bit more finesse than that. I had to dig and figure out which witch was the weak link in their little coven. Turns out, Little Miss Sabrina over there has a bit of a crush on yours truly. Can't say I blame her, really. I mean, look at me."

I roll my eyes so hard I'm sure I strain a muscle. "Yes,Lucian, you're a regular Adonis. Can we focus, please? So you compelled this witch... then what? What did you learn?"

"Everything about this coven and their weaknesses. I also compelled Sabrina to convince the coven not to allow Azrael at the ritual, as it would 'interfere with the magic.'"Lucianexplains, casually strolling over to my fridge and helping himself to my leftover Chinese food.

He takes a bite of my General Tso's chicken, talking with his mouth full. "And she's certain the coven will accept me as their offering after I filled them with the notion that I am the ancient of all vampires... Mwahaha!" He laughs like a discount Dracula, complete with a cheesy accent and dramatic cape flourish.

Emily bursts into laughter, nearly spilling her coffee. "You're a fucking riot," she gasps between fits of glee, shaking her head.

"At least she thinks I'm funny."Luciancontinues to eat my chicken.

I stare at him, torn between being impressed and wanting to smack the smugness off his face. "Okay, first of all, that's my food, you ass. Secondly, how did you convince them you're some ancient vampire? You're not exactly radiating wisdom and gravitas here."

Luciangrins, chicken stuck in his teeth. "Oh, ye of little faith. It's called acting. I just channeled my inner Bela Lugosi, threw in some 'thees' and 'thous,' and bam! Instant elder vampire cred. Thesewitchesmay be powerful, but they're not the sharpest stakes in the coffin."

I pinch the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on. "Okay, ignoring the fact that you just butchered that metaphor worse than a blind lumberjack, are you seriously telling me that your entire plan hinges on you playing dress-up and hoping the covens are too dumb to notice?"

He shrugs, licking his fingers. "Hey, don't knock it till you've tried it, Princess. Sometimes, the simplest plans are the best. Besides, it's not like we have a lot of options. It's either this, or we sit around while Azrael turns the world into his personal blood buffet."

I hate to admit it, but he's got a point. We're not exactly swimming in alternatives here. IfLucian's managed to infiltrate the coven, we might stand a chance of stopping Azrael before it's too late.

"Fine," I sigh, resigned to our fate resting in the hands of a vampire with the maturity level of a horny teenager. "But if this blows up in our faces, I'm kicking your ass. And you owe me new Chinese food."

Luciangrins. "Wouldn't have it any other way, sweet cheeks. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a ritual to crash and an evil vampire overlord to dethrone. Wish me luck!"