Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

DONOVAN

PRESENT DAY

“ W hat the fuck just happened?” I growl to Arrow, as we catch Wells before he hits the cold stone floor. “Did Silver seriously just disappear into some portal after giving up her fucking soul?” I roar, and Arrow glances back to where we just watched our girl pop out of thin air.

Wellson gasps, and I bring my attention back to my brother, who is dying before me. Arrow is muttering spells under his breath, trying to heal him, but nothing is working.

“He needs water,” I grumble, then do a small incantation, bringing water to my palms. I cup my hands and pour it into his mouth. It trickles out, and I grip his throat.

“Wells, you have to drink,” I plead.

“Snow, save Snow,” he mumbles before his cinnamon eyes roll back into his head as his body goes limp.

“Wells, wake up. Fuck,” I shout, trying to shake him awake.

“Don, stop. We need to get him to Clara, now,” Arrow yells, then mutters a transportation incantation. I grip his arm and wait for the spell to work, but something is blocking it.

“Luke, he must have warded the place.”

“We don’t have time for this,” I say, picking up my brother and tossing him over my shoulder, then rushing out of the dungeon and up the stairs, until we reach outside.

The cold air is like a slap to the face, allowing me to take my first deep breath.

“Call Clara,” I tell Arrow as he runs beside me. If anyone can heal Wells, she can.

She’s more than just a clairvoyant music teacher. She was once the best healer our coven had. Her herbs and potions rival even Alara.

Which ended up pissing off the Headmistress, so when my father became coven leader, she took over and Clara was booted to become a music teacher.

One more example of how fucked up our coven has become under their rule.

“She's not answering. I'll try Jade.”

We continue to run through campus toward Clara's room. She used to live in the teachers building, but was demoted to keep an eye on the female students in the dorm.

Which sucks, but works for us, since it's closer.

“What the fuck are we going to do? Silver just left us. Walked into that portal without a second thought,” I growl, huffing as we reach the Academy.

Arrow freezes in place, but I don’t have time to see what’s wrong. I have to save Wells.

“Arrow! Fuck, I can’t deal with this right now,” I grumble as he falls to the ground.

“Go, get him to Clara,” he croaks and I nod, continuing on. I can see the lights are on inside.

Casting a spell under my breath, the front doors fling open for me. A few students jump, but move out of the way.

I can hear them gasping and gossiping about Wells.

“Donovan, is everything okay? What the hell happened? Is that Wellson?” Hazel asks, running over to me from the couch.

She was sitting in front of the fire reading a book. Probably about curses. I know she's plotting her revenge on Silver.

“Yeah. Long fucking story. Need Clara,” I pant, trying to catch my breath.

I need to stop eating so many damn muffins…

Well, I guess now that won't be an issue, since the love of my life just left me.

Jade is talking, but I'm lost in my thoughts and misery. I'm angry, but I can't prevent my heart from hurting.

“Donovan!” Hazel shouts, then slaps me across the face, pulling me back into this moment.

Rolling her eyes, she stomps up the stairs to Clara's room as I follow.

Wellson needs me right now. Silver will have to wait, and where the fuck is Arrow?

ARROW

A vision hits me so hard, I fall to my knees with a gasp. Don runs ahead with Wellson, and I fight the full body shivers as images flash through my mind: Silver on a throne covered in bloody skulls, Wellson in a bed surrounded by his family, Donovan missing, a young child.

They keep flashing like a movie trailer, and I can’t slow them down. Nothing is making any sense.

I knew our powers were amplified since Silver’s ascension, but this is far more than I expected. I feel powerful, but weak at the same time.

I don’t know what any of these premonitions mean, but by the way I’m lying on the ground in the fetal position when they start to fade away proves that it’s not a good omen.

“Arrow! Fuck, I can’t deal with this right now,” Don shouts as I start to come back to the present.

“Go, get him to Clara,” I croak, and he grumbles but takes off. I roll onto my back and try to take some breaths. That was intense. Closing my eyes, I try to get the vision back. I don’t understand.

Footsteps sound close, and I’m about to scream at Don again when I realize it’s not him.

“Arrow? What are you doing on the ground?” Jade asks as she bends down to help me sit up. “Do you need a doctor? I can go get Clara.”

I shake my head and sigh. Looking around at the empty grounds, she frowns.

“What time is it?” I ask her. It’s still dark out, but that can mean anything at this point. The glamor is officially gone over the Academy. Now that Silver knows about magic, the pretending can all stop.

Not that it matters much, since she went to Hell with Luke. Still don't understand that either.

Is he the Devil, a loyal servant? Once Wells is better, Don and I will have to break into his dad's office. Get some fucking truths.

“It's early. I couldn’t sleep after the ascension. Alara has requested we all attend a meeting at sunrise. She’s pissed about being knocked out cold. I was on my way to the cottage to check on Silver, I can't imagine how she's handling all of this, but I heard groaning and decided to investigate.”

Placing one hand onto the cool ground, I push myself up to my feet. I’m lightheaded, but I need to press on and get to Don and Wells.

At least I’m conscious now. I have never had a premonition put me on my ass like that before.

Jade is still talking next to me, but I’m not listening.

I have so much shit running through my mind, but when she asks about that traitorous bitch again, I can’t hold it in.

“Silver is gone,” I snap, turning to look at her. She winces. Her eyes widen and she looks like she may start to cry.

Her bottom lip wobbles and she bites it.

“She hates me now, doesn’t she? I lied to her, and I’ve lost my best friend,” she whimpers, and I sigh, rubbing my hand down my face. I am not in the mood for this.

“She went to Hell with Luke. I need to go, Jade. I’ll see you later, okay.” I gently squeeze her arm, then take off back to the school.

“What do you mean she's in Hell? Arrow, stop!”

Jade catches up to me, grabbing my arm.

“Why would she go to Hell with Professor Luke? That doesn't make any sense. She just ascended. She should be in bed, resting. What did you do?” she accuses, and I'm about to snap.

Shaking my head, I laugh, but it's menacing. Jade releases me and takes a step away.

“I didn’t do shit, except fall in love with someone I knew would be a traitor.”

My phone buzzes and I sigh, ignoring it. Jade is full on crying now, and I feel like a complete dick.

She doesn't deserve my wrath. No, that belongs to a silver-eyed demoness.

“Look, Jade, it's late… err I mean early. I need to find Donovan and Wellson.”

I turn to leave, but she stops me again.

“They aren't at the academy anymore. Clara's at your cottage.”

My phone buzzes again, and I know it’s Don, but I don’t bother answering. I’m almost home.

“Thanks,” I grunt then head that way.

My heart is in my throat, and I need just these few minutes to decompress. I knew Silver was going to be all of our downfall. I knew it.

So why didn’t I work harder to protect my family?

WELLSON

Things are hazy. I can hear people speaking, but their words are muffled, as if I’m underwater or something. Fuck, I would kill someone for some water. I am officially dried out, and I can’t even feel a flicker of my magic.

Luke’s a major fucking prick, and I can’t wait to tear him a new asshole. How dare he take my Snow from us. If only I could open my eyes.

Then I could start getting my revenge. After I chug a bathtub full of water first that is.

I try to mumble, but it’s like forcing myself through a pool of jello. Damn, I’m fucking hungry too. I would die for some of my girl's muffins. Or a grilled cheese.

“Don’t you dare give up on us, Wells. I will portal to the underworld and steal your soul just to grind it to dust if you do.” Don is growling at me, and I’d laugh if I had the energy.

Fuck, dude, I’m trying here.

Warm hands touch my body, and I know it’s Clara. She has always been the one to heal us. “It’s not working. Something is blocking him,” she says with a sigh. I know she’s right.

My body has quit on me, but my mind is still racing. This fucking sucks! I try to focus on Don and push my thoughts into his head, but it’s not working. I’m trapped.