Chapter 48

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

FRANKIE

**HI about that TW** So if you skipped chapter 47 let me recap what ol' Zazzy is up to…Azazel kidnapped the human Morgan in book one, used his angel magic to make her think she's in love with him but NOW he's made her think she's in love with a guy named Liam. Oh, and there's a part about her and Liam arriving at a house full of all of Azazel's former conquests who are pregnant - the last page of ch 47 is safe if you wanted to read that. Hope this helps!

I knocked on the door and braced myself.

When it opened, I was not expecting to find Malachi on the other side. He gave me a small smile and stepped aside so I could enter. Inside the healing room were Thorne, Sage, Esther's parents, and Granny Irit. Standing around the bed were Mona, Katherine, Myrtle, and Riah.

Esther was on her stomach with gnarly, raw wounds on her back.

I shuddered and looked away. "How is she?"

Malachi sighed. "Stable. Unseelie wounds are a bitch. But she should make a full recovery in due time."

"Thanks." I wanted to trust his word but the looks on their faces were too tense. Too silent. It felt like a lie, like they just didn't want me to know the truth. I looked over to her parents and my eyes burned. "I'm so sorry?—"

"Don't be. This was out of your control." Leah gave me a hug, then ushered me back out the door. "Go. The Coven has important things to do right now. She'd want you out there doing them, not sitting by her bed. Promise."

I groaned and nodded. "Okay. If anything changes, please text me. And if she wakes-—"

"I'll tell her you were here." She winked and stepped back inside. "Thank you, Frankie."

The door clicked shut. Something was not right in there. They weren't telling me stuff.

I wanted to scream.

Instead, I turned and walked back up the stairs to the living room where my Coven-mates were already gathered for a Coven meeting. We had to discuss the new lines of our prophecy. This whole thing was a crash course on being a part of this group. I nodded to Tenn as I walked over and sat in the chair by the front window near the fireplace. Everyone looked drained and exhausted. I knew it was sometime in the afternoon, but after our late night, I wasn't surprised.

" BABE, " Tegan called into our minds.

Tenn gasped and turned to the stairs. "Tegan?" And then he was racing up and out of sight.

"You know, we should build him like a chute or something." Bettina gestured to the ceiling. "That way he can just fly straight up into their penthouse without rounding the stairs."

Lennox perked up. "I can do that."

Everyone looked to her.

She frowned. "Maybe I'll talk to Landreia first so I don't bring the whole house down."

Everyone nodded.

I chuckled.

Tenn came down carrying Tegan in his arms. Deacon held his hand out. Thiago, Warner, and Jackson cursed and put money in his hand. Everyone else rolled their eyes.

"That was dirty play," Royce said with a smirk. "They weren't here last time."

Deacon looked him in the eye. "I'm the Devil, Royce. Why are you always surprised by this?"

Tenn sighed but the smile on his face couldn't be hidden. "Where would you like me to sit you, babe?"

She leaned her head against his chest, the long white strands sliding over his arm. "Closest to the food."

Warner groaned. "Dammit."

"You've got to be bloody killing me." Jackson threw a wad of cash at Deacon. "This is bollocks."

Thiago shook his head. "We fell for his tricks."

Deacon threw his head back and laughed.

Tegan grinned. "Where's Dad?"

"I'm here," Hunter said from the door to downstairs. He looked at Tegan in Tenn's arms and shook his head. "Again?"

"Here, take my spot. I'm gonna get her some food." Emersyn jumped off the couch, then rushed to the kitchen.

Hunter walked over and sat in the spot his daughter had just vacated, but he'd left the spot on the end open enough for his other daughter. He patted the seat. "Put her here, Tenn."

Tenn carefully sat her next to her father, whom she immediately leaned into with a smile. His golden magic wrapped around her like a blanket. When Tenn tried to walk away, Tegan's leg shot out and hooked around his knee. She frowned at him. He hung his head and smiled, then sat on the coffee table in front of her.

Everyone stared at her, waiting.

She closed her eyes and seemed like she was falling back asleep against her dad's arm but then she whispered, " How's Esther? "

"Katherine called in reinforcements. Thorne, Sage, Riah, and Malachi are all downstairs with her. Oh, and Myrtle." I looked to the stairs and my heart hurt. "They're confident she'll heal, but I just do not like the expressions on their faces."

Tegan cringed. "I owe her one."

Everyone nodded, their faces grim.

Tenn reached out and squeezed her knee. "Babe, I think everyone is wondering how you're full white witch but awake?—"

" Valathame, " she said with a sigh, like it took all her strength to say it. Her eyes were only open a crack, but they were that white and gold combo I remembered from the first time I woke up. She stared at him for a long moment, then closed her eyes. " Takes too much energy to talk out loud. "

" We can hear you, " Tenn whispered back. " Are you about to go down for days again? "

" Valathame taught me trick ." Even her mental voice was weakening.

Hunter groaned.

The stair door opened, and Riah rushed out. He frowned and looked over the room until he got to Tegan. His face fell. "She said to ease into that trick, Tegan, not dive into the deep end."

Tegan smirked but didn't open her eyes.

Riah rolled his eyes and made his way over to her. He pressed his palm to her forehead and silver magic coiled around her body. She sucked in a deep breath, then exhaled. She opened her eyes. They weren't green yet, but they were fully open. Her skin had a little more color to it.

"Thanks, Riah," she said with a voice that was a little stronger.

"That's all you're getting for now." He pulled his hand back and shook his head. Then he pointed at her and she looked up at him. "No magic?—"

"Well—"

"Fine, Bentley. But one." Riah arched his eyebrow to our psychic. "We need her for emergencies."

He nodded his head once.

Then Riah turned and went back down the stairs.

" I got in trouble ," Tegan whispered with a little snicker.

Bettina walked over and handed her a steaming cup of what looked like hot chocolate. "You are Trouble, bestie."

"What about you two angel freaks—I mean, children?" Easton gestured between Tenn and Bettina. "That was intense last night. You okay?"

"Well, I have no recollection of getting home or getting in my bed, so . . ."

"I carried you, Son." Kessler laughed. "You're a lot harder to carry than you used to be. Long ass legs now."

Bettina climbed into Jackson's lap and curled her legs up. "I don't think I've ever slept that hard."

"There was drool." Jackson grinned.

Easton frowned. "None of that answered my question. Where's Savannah, our new soul checker?"

"Downstairs with Devon," Hunter said softly.

Emersyn strolled out of the kitchen with a plate of fried chicken. "You, eat. Y'all, the non-humans look and feel fine. I don't think we'll know what side effects come with what Trouble did until Trouble is back on her feet more."

"So, Benny, did we get another prophecy?"

I gasped and sat up straight. "Fuck, where's the book? Where's the key?"

Bentley held his hands up. "In a safe place, a secure place that will prevent magic from getting out and ambushing us with another attack."

I groaned. "I'm sorry, guys. I should have stopped Esther from turning the key?—"

"Don't." Tenn shook his head, but he didn't look at me. "We don't do that here. None of us are perfect. We're going to make mistakes. We all trust each other, so we cannot start with blame, or it will tear us all apart."

"How did you know there was Holy Ground there?" Cooper asked softly from the stone ledge by the fireplace.

Everest told me . . . in my mind. My cheeks warmed. I should have told them the truth, one of them might've been able to help me figure things out. But I couldn't get myself to say the words, so I just held my wrist up. "I asked the stones."

Everyone nodded like the answer was sufficient.

" Liar, " Tegan whispered in my mind.

I looked up to her and found her smirking with her eyes closed. My cheeks were on fire now, so I looked down and ran my fingers over the stones.

" Everest told you, didn't he? " Tegan asked in my mind.

I nodded slightly.

" The plot thickens. " She even chuckled in my mind.

Cooper cleared his throat and leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "Tenn?"

Tenn flinched and looked up, but his eyes seemed a little dazed and unfocused. He cursed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Uncle Tim, can you . . . just for right now?—"

"I've got you, Nephew." Tim walked over and squeezed Tenn's shoulder. "Let's keep moving. Bentley, please read us the next prophecy."

Bentley nodded and slid his shirt up. There were only six lines on his arm this time and that felt like a relief. He cleared his throat. " This is where thy path gets tricky, Before you go we must be picky. By cloud of storm and winds divine, Seek the friend to trade in swine. In his wake you will be tested, Who sees the magic uncontested."

I scowled. That meant nothing to me. But as I looked around the room, I saw more than a few smirks and chuckles, so some of them knew something about those lines.

Timothy shook his head. "I don't know about all of those lines, but it sounds like we're going to pay Leyka a visit."

"Sounds like Leyka is going to tell us who all is going on the next step of this quest." Royce closed his eyes and shook his head. "Why do I feel like this guy is always bad news for us?"

"Maybe he's the angel of omens?" Cooper shrugged like he wasn't joking.

I looked around but everyone was deep in thought. "Who are we talking about? Who is Leyka?"

"My brother." We all jumped at the sound of Myrtle's voice. She stood just outside the door on the stairs wearing a ceremonial white sheath dress and her long black hair in pigtail braids. " By cloud of storm and winds divine. He is the Angel of Storms."

"Your brother's a—you know what? Nah. I'm putting myself on a need-to-know basis." I shook my head. "Do y'all know where and how to find this angel Leyka?"

Emersyn pursed her lips and stared at Myrtle. "Is he on his beach?"

Myrtle laughed and walked toward Tenn, but then she crouched down beside Tegan and put her fingers to her forehead. "I think given the word swine 's inclusion in the spell, it's a likelihood. He has a strange sense of humor, and Valathame enables him."

"So how can we get there without Tegan?" Willow asked softly.

"You don't." Myrtle lifted her silver diadem off her head and slid it onto Tegan's.

Tegan gasped and sat up straight, her eyes going wide. She held her hands up and looked at them like they weren't hers. "Whoa. Wicked."

"Portal everyone down to Leyka, then return that to me." Myrtle stood up straight.

Tenn hung his head. "Does she have to go?"

"Yes. We all have to go." Bentley held his hands up to stop questions. "Except for Devon, Henley, and Constance."

Tim nodded. "Myrtle, if you're going down, can you send Savannah up?"

Myrtle squeezed Tegan and Tenn's shoulders, then turned back for the stairs. "She'll be up momentarily."

"Right. Everyone else, let's get moving. We can't afford to lose any more daylight." Tim gestured for the front door. "You've got five minutes. Be dressed, armed, and ready for anything at that door in five. Our lovely pets, sorry, but you'll need to stay here. We already have one down. We don't need more."

I remembered Archie telling me that Tim had been Coven Leader for over a decade until Tenn was given the job. It was funny to think back to those conversations now knowing Tenn was talking about himself. If I hadn't gotten to know him as Archie, I may not have entirely believed that he didn't want to be the Leader because it was such a natural position for him to be in. Though I could see how Tim was good at it too. It was obvious he'd slipped back into the roll at his nephew's request.

Everyone else hurried up the stairs and out of sight, leaving me, Cooper, Tenn, and Tegan sitting there with Timothy. But after a moment, Tim strolled over and leaned against the front door.

Cooper reached out and touched my arm. "You okay?"

I nodded. "That feels like a loaded question."

He smirked. "Welcome to Coven life. But do you need to get ready?"

"After last night? I slept in my clothes." I gestured to my outfit which consisted of my Vans sneakers, jeans, and white sweater. Granted, white wasn't the best battle option, but apparently I didn't own dark colors. My rune stones were still in bracelet form. My phone still had my sticker with my bat-dagger. I reached down to the ground and lifted up my sais for him to see. "Though if someone has a magical trick for me to carry these around?—"

"I got you, girl." Lennox pulled her wand out. "Thigh strap okay?"

"Badass, yeah."

She flicked her wand a few times, then sparkly magic scooped my weapons out of my hands. By the time I looked down at my legs, I had one sai strapped to the outside of each thigh. My eyes widened. She giggled and winked at me, then went down the stairs.

"Well, I guess I am ready. You?"

"Ready."

I glanced up and found Tegan leaning against Tenn's chest with her eyes closed. They were still sitting. It actually reminded me of toddlers who played until they passed out. I leaned closer to Cooper. " Is Tenn okay ?" I whispered.

He grimaced and leaned close enough that our heads were nearly touching. " When she goes down, it's hard for him to concentrate. The soulmate connection is too intense. "

The door opened under the stairs and Savannah stepped out. Her blue eyes landed on me and Cooper huddled close together so fast that I didn't have a chance of moving away. She swallowed roughly and marched over to the front door, careful not to look in our direction at all. My heart sank. I was hurting her, and I couldn't do anything about it. I stole a glance up at Cooper but found him staring at the ground with flushed cheeks. I was hurting him too.

I rubbed my hands over my chest, over the mark that claimed us as soulmates. I kept trying to ignore it, to not think about it so it wouldn't hurt me so much. But that was silly. It wasn't going anywhere. Cooper was my soulmate. We just had to find our way to being in love like all the other soulmates we knew. As I looked up and watched Tenn and Tegan, I wondered what that had to feel like, to feel so consumed by your love for someone and to know they felt every ounce of that back.

But hell, I would've settled for being more in love with Cooper than him with me if it meant my heart didn't keep throwing Everest at me. It was so stupid. It was hopeless, and yet every time I let my mind wander, it went right to him.

Hunter, Bentley, and Emersyn were the first to come down the stairs and join Savannah at the door. Granted, their eyes were all locked on Tegan in the living room. Deacon, Kessler, Easton, and Lily came down together and while they were normally the jovial type, their expressions were grim and tense. Royce and Thiago were holding on to each other as they got in line at the door. Willow was pulling Chutney down the stairs, who was yelling up to Warner about the dogs. I couldn't remember who had warned me that my dogs would abandon me for her, but they'd been right. Sure, the boys slept in my bed with me, but as soon as I was up, they wanted Chutney.

Jackson and Bettina were the last to join us. When they did, Cooper and I went over and got in line. But Bettina was staring at her brother and best friend. After a moment, she walked over and tapped their arms. Both of them jumped like they'd fallen asleep.

Tenn scooped her up and walked over to us at the door. "Okay, babe, I'm going to picture Leyka's island. Bring us there."

Tegan took a deep breath, then snapped her fingers. "Go."

Tim spun and opened the door. Just like before, the white portal box was right there waiting for us to step through. No one seemed worried about this trip. They were just overall nervous. Though the line itself said, seek the friend, so that probably put everyone at ease.

Cooper reached down and squeezed my hand. "Leyka's a goof, but he's with us. We trust him."

I smiled and nodded. I was nervous, though I wasn't sure why. Perhaps it was the unknown. Perhaps it was the weird verbiage of this prophecy. Or perhaps it was knowing one of my best friends had nearly died because I acted too impulsively. Cooper's hand was the only thing keeping me anchored to my sanity. The warmth in his skin felt like lying on the beach. His hand was tight in my grip when we stepped into the portal.

White light washed over me.

When it faded, I was standing at the front of the Great Hall in Edenburg. I scowled and reached for Cooper, but my hand found only empty, cold air. My eyes widened and my pulse quickened. Cooper wasn't next to me. I spun in a circle. None of them were. Not a single Coven-mate stood by me. Where the hell did they go? Why am I here? Was there a glitch in Tegan's magic?

My stomach tightened into knots. I gnawed on my bottom lip and looked around. The Great Hall was full of students eating their lunches like a normal day at school. Except it was way past lunchtime. Wait a second. Is that Mei-Ling? It was Mei-Ling. That was my best friend sitting next to Birdie and Ava. I started toward them and spotted Tai sitting next to Tomás. What are they doing here? They're not supposed to be out of Headquarters.

Seamus lifted his arms, and I spotted big glass vials in his hands. One was full of a foamy green substance while the other was pink and swirling with bubbles. I hurried closer just as he started to pour both into a third, empty mason jar. My heart skipped. That wasn't right. He had to stop before he hurt himself and our friends. I didn't know how I knew this, but I knew it like I knew my own name. I ran over but when I opened my mouth to yell out for them, I spotted a reflection in the windows I hadn't expected to see.

I spun around to face her.

Vanessa.

The random friend of my aunt and uncles who'd rented us that house in Tampa. She stood there in black jeans and a black tank top just watching students do potions in front of her. This is wrong. This is very wrong. Why is she here? Sure, I knew Tampa had been evacuated to Eden, but none of the adults were attending school here. And Vanessa hadn't been a teacher.

I headed for her with a frown. "Vanessa!"

Silence.

I was only about five feet away now. "Vanessa!"

More silence.

What is happening? I reached out and touched her arm and white light flashed all around her. I gasped and jumped back just as her hair turned snow-white and her skin paled. Her green eyes turned white and gold. The all-black jeans and tank top outfit changed into this ethereal white gown that sparkled.

"Who-who are you?"

"I am Valathame."

"What happened to Vanessa? What did you do?—"

"I am Vanessa." She looked down at me with those creepy white and gold eyes and grinned. "I knew you'd do well in this."

I flinched. "What?"

Vanessa, or Valathame, tapped under my chin with her finger. "Remember, if it feels too easy, it is. But that doesn't always mean you've made a mistake."

"What's happening here? Where is everyone else?" I shook my head. "That is gibberish."

She shrugged one shoulder. "To you, perhaps."

"Wait, Valathame? Isn't that our Goddess?"

"Yes, I am ." She chuckled. "It's nice to officially meet you. Brace yourself."

I opened my mouth to speak when light flashed all around me. One second I was in the Great Hall of Edenburg, the next I stood on a beach with the sun shining down on me. A man was reclining in a hammock, wearing a pink pair of swim trunks and drinking from a fancy coconut that even had an umbrella. His curly blond hair was wildly disheveled. I wanted to push his black sunglasses up so I could see his face, but I didn't.

He looked up at me with a wide grin and a laugh. "I knew you'd be second."

I flinched. "What? You did? Wait, second?"

That was when I spotted Savannah hiding behind a palm tree. She wasn't looking at me, but I knew she saw me. I wanted to go up to her and tell her I had no say in this. That I didn't want to be the cause of her pain, but I knew it was probably no use. She knew that already.

One by one, all of my Coven-mates appeared on the beach with me. Everyone wore matching scowls as they looked around. The guy in the hammock laughed harder, then tipped his head back to tap more juice out of the coconut. Everyone had appeared except Tegan and Tenn. They were nowhere in sight.

The man held his hand up and a box hovered next to him. But then I saw Tegan and Tenn in the box, just lying in a field of flowers.

Tenn looked up and sighed. "Can we come out now?"

He laughed and snapped his fingers. Tegan and Tenn appeared, standing in the sand with Tegan leaning her weight into him.

The guy sat up to get a better look at Tegan. Then he tapped on his forehead. "Borrowing from my sister?"

I gasped. " You're Leyka?"

He grinned and looked right at me. "And you're Francelina Proctor. Look at us! We're so good at this game."

"How do you know who I am?"

He shrugged. "How could I not?"

I scrubbed my face with my hands. "I am so confused. What just happened?"

" In his wake you will be tested, Who sees the magic uncontested." He grinned and pulled the orange slice off the side of his coconut and ate it. "You were all tested. Congrats."

"So, we all passed the test?" Bettina narrowed her eyes on him. "What was that?"

Leyka pursed his lips. "I have no idea—at least not specifically. Each of you saw something different, something catered to you. It wasn't so much a test you could pass or fail, more of a who gets to participate ."

" Before you go we must be picky," Tenn said with a curse. "Why weren't Tegan and I tested?"

Leyka snapped his fingers. "Bentley, if you'd be so kind as to hold your arm up."

We all groaned.

"Read it aloud for us, dearie," Leyka purred as he licked orange juice off his tanned fingers.

Bentley glared at the angel and shook his head. But then he held his arm up and read the words, " The book holds words vast unknown, Seek the tool to read the stone. Those claimed by his chosen token, Your fate lies on the broken. Between the shadows, whispers call, You know the drill, you've seen the fall. Mind the trail to danger's end, Within their tricks the cipher blends. "

I just stared at Bentley as the words echoed in my head. They were bad. They made my stomach turn just hearing them, and I didn't even know what they meant. But I knew it was bad. Especially as everyone else's faces fell and their eyes glazed over. Their skin all looked paler than a moment ago.

They knew something I didn't.

"Okay, speak up. Share with the class, please?" I looked around but no one would meet my stare. "What the hell is going on?"

" You know the drill, you've seen the fall, " Easton whispered. His face was scrunched up like it hurt him.

Lily closed her eyes and leaned into him.

"I cannot believe you're gonna say this to us right now." Savannah put her hands on her hips. "Ma'am, we basically didn't survive last time, and you wanna send us again? You out ya' dam'mind."

"What is it? Where are we going?"

"The Land of the fucking Lore." Savannah cursed. "Ain't it? Ain't it, Leyka? "

He chuckled and shrugged one shoulder. "It's the Unseelie. You shouldn't be surprised you have to go back?—"

Everyone groaned and started pacing around like the panic meant they couldn't stand still. I didn't understand. I had no idea what they were talking about. But I felt what they were feeling, and I didn't like it. I felt like I was caught in a riptide and was drowning in the panic rolling off my friends.

" Mind the trail to danger's end, Within their tricks the cipher blends." Savannah kicked sand. "We almost all died, ma'am. What in the?—"

"I know, and that is why Heaven has taken certain . . . liberties to try and see you through your next trip there. Valathame is back on Earth now, and she's ready to play dirty. There's a reason the Aether Witch's magic mirrors her own. She's the OG Queen of Darkness." Leyka sat his coconut down and stretched his arms, that shit-eating grin plastered on his face. "The Land of the Lore is a product of Unseelie. It is their magic. Some of you have felt that firsthand. We could not help you last time without betraying Thorne and Sage's cover. This time, we're pushing the boundaries. Well, perhaps not we ."

"Leyka . . ." Bettina growled.

"What does that even mean? Must you speak in riddles?"

"I could speak in riddles. That would be fun for me. But you've already got a riddle you're working on, so I won't." He wagged his eyebrows. "Now, look, Lucifer has decided to help you?—"

We all gasped.

The Lucifer?

"The one and only Lucifer, yes." Leyka grinned at me. Then he snapped his fingers and eight gold medallions appeared out of nowhere. They just dangled in the air as if they were on hooks. "Here's the deal: eight of you will take one medallion each. Think of this as your express pass. The idea is to get you in and out. A token, so to speak."

Hunter bent over and rested his hands on his knees. "Who . . . who must return?—"

"I am so glad you asked, Hunter." Leyka cleared his throat. "Let me start by informing you that Tennessee and Tegan are NOT allowed to go back in there?—"

"WHAT?"

"HE'S HOW WE GOT OUT!"

"HOW DO WE FIGHT THEM WITHOUT HIM?"

"So, no one objects to Tegan being benched here?" Leyka smirked.

Everyone shook their heads.

"Feels kinda like mutiny, but okay," Tegan said softly with a laugh.

"The eight venturing through the Land of the Lore to find your next tool are . . ." Leyka rubbed his hands together, then used his fingers to count each person off. "Frankie, Lily, Easton, Chutney, Kessler, Willow, Royce, and Thiago."

There was a lot of panicking and groaning.

I pressed my hands to my stomach. "How do these medallions work? Why do we have them?"

"Lucifer's magic cannot just be handed out to anybody. You have to earn that honor. The eight of you passed the test. You were able to connect enough with Lucifer's magic to withstand his tricks." Leyka shrugged. "Or should I say, you were able to see through his tricks."

Cooper huffed. "I'm going."

"Starboy," Leyka frowned, "you didn't get a medallion?—"

"I don't care. She's not going in there without me."

Leyka looked around. "I'm sure your soulmate is capable of taking care of herself. I do believe she's proven that to be true by now."

Cooper put his hands on his hips. "I'm going."

Leyka scoffed. "Look, the medallions can get multiple people in but only get one out. So, while we all admire your effort, Mr. Bishop, you cannot go unless you plan to stay there."

"I don't like it?—"

"Well, la de fucking da, my dude. Since when is that new for us?" Leyka laughed a deep belly laugh. Then he gestured to the gold medallions just floating there. "Look, we're even on the white lies, right? I didn't tell y'all about the time travel and y'all didn't tell me I wound up an angel. Tit for that and all that jazz. Keltie is my soulmate. You know where my allegiance lies. We're bending Heaven's rules to help you, so grab your medallions before Lucifer changes his mind. You'll want to catch the Unseelie with the element of surprise, so you have to hurry."

All at once the eight of us reached forward and grabbed one of the medallions.

And everything went dark.