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“YOU CAN’T GO ALONE,” Julie insisted. “You need immortal backup.”
“If he catches you with me, it’ll ruin everything,” I said.
“She’s right,” Grant said. “We’ve gotta trust her to do this.”
“But she can’t face Ethan alone,” Fred said.
“I can do it,” I said. “I’ve had a little archery practice. I mean, I’m no William Tell or anything, but I can shoot pretty well.”
Julie gripped my hand. “It’s too dangerous.”
“I love Jesse,” I said, my heart aching because I missed him so much. “I have to do this. If things were reversed, he’d take the risk for me.”
“I know.” She sighed and nodded, then looked over at Grant and back to me. “I get it.”
“Right now, I’m his only shot at survival...literally.”
“All right. Just hurry...and be careful. Shoot him before he sees you.”
I said goodbye to everyone and left.
***
THE BATTLE RAGED ON, and I took cover behind some jagged rocks, but before I could even pull the bow back, I was busted.
“Mariah!” Ethan said. “It is good to feel your presence, but why are you here, my love?”
“I cannot let you fight this battle by yourself,” I said. “I’ve come to help you.”
“I knew you couldn’t resist. You never could.”
“We must cut off the werewolves coming from the east.”
“Yes, I am well aware of that. My men have already gone that way.”
Now or never, I thought. I knew I needed to act fast, so without another thought, I drew the string back and shot the bow.
Ethan’s eyes widened in shock, but unfortunately, my arrow fell short.
I glanced at the crossbow and realized the string was catching on my shoulder. I shot another arrow but missed again.
In a rage, Ethan traced over and knocked the crossbow out of my hand, spilling the remaining three golden arrows to the ground. “Mariah!” he yelled. “How can you betray me?” He pinned me to the ground, far too powerful for me to break free. Then he cupped my face. “Please tell me it’s you, that the ceremony worked.”
“It did, Ethan.”
He frowned. “Liar! Mariah would’ve never shot me.”
An awkward silence ensued.
“I-I’m in here too,” I stuttered. “Taylor is struggling for the body, fighting me, but I’m here, luv. Please don’t kill this body. I need only a few hours to overtake Taylor completely, and then I shall be all yours.”
His face softened. “I’ll have to lock you up,” he said.
“Of course,” I said. “I understand.”
“Where was our first kiss?” he asked.
“I’m afraid my memories are hazy, all mixed up, and—”
“Deceiver!” His eyes were crazy as rage engulfed him. He reached for his knife and held it high over my chest.
My fingers frantically felt around me, and I wrapped them around one of the arrows. Just as his blade came down, I stabbed Jesse’s leg with the arrow, then rolled out from under him as he screamed. He dropped his knife as a violent seizure ran its course. I knew Jesse was fighting for his body. He took a deep breath, then passed out.
For several minutes, Ethan didn’t move. I had no idea if the arrow had even worked. I grasped at every glimmer of hope that Jesse had indeed won the battle.
“Jesse?” I asked, only to jump back when his blue eyes darted open. Please be Jesse, I silently prayed.
“T-Taylor?” he said.
“Where did we first kiss?” I asked.
“At the lake,” he whispered. “It was the best day of my life.”
“Jesse!” I said, overcome with joy.
Jesse looked up at me and smiled. “You’re such a beautiful sight for sore eyes.”
A tear fell from my eye, and I helped him up. He embraced me tightly, and more tears poured down my face.
When I let go, he didn’t understand why I was crying. He wiped my tears away. I was so elated and emotional that words wouldn’t even come out of my mouth.
Glancing around in confusion, he asked, “Why am I outside? Where’s my father? Aren’t we supposed to be leaving?”
“You don’t remember?”
“No,” he said, completely disoriented.
“I don’t know how to tell you this, but, uh...”
“Don’t sugarcoat it, babe. Just tell me.”
“Your father jumped into your body. When we got you back just now, I’m afraid we lost him.”
“He’s dead?”
“I’m so sorry.”
Jesse hugged me, and I embraced him tightly. For a moment, I forgot about the battle around us, all the shouting and the gargoyles circling ominously above us. I just focused on the love of my life and was glad he was back in my arms.
“Did my father hurt you?” he asked.
“We’ll talk about it later. Right now, we have to get outta here.”
“I’m so sorry I brought you here.”
“You didn’t know. You were only doing what you thought was best. I can’t fault you for trying to protect me.”
Jesse ducked as a group of screeching gargoyles flew right over us. He watched as they attacked a group of werewolves and vampires not far off.
“We’re in battle?” Jesse asked.
“Drake’s here to rescue us,” I said.
“Why?”
“Julie called him. Your mom and Tabby sent reinforcements too.”
I quickly explained and he was floored by the recent news.
Julie hurried over and looked suspiciously at Jesse. “Is it really you?”
“It’s him,” I said.
Julie jumped into his arms and squealed in delight, and he spun her around. “I thought you were dead,” she said.
“Not a chance!”
She looked at me. “Yep, it’s him. He has that same familiar spark back in his eyes.”
Fred clapped his shoulder. “Good to see you made it back, man.”
“Thanks,” Jesse said.
“Taylor never gave up hope.”
“That means everything to me.”
Jesse peered at Julie. “You called Drake?”
“I had too.”
I glanced over the rocks. We were completely surrounded. We had Jesse back, but I had no idea how we’d escape.
Cynthia hurried over from her vantage point. “Can you make up with this Drake?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Will he help us?”
“He will,” Julie said. “There are...ways.”
“No!” I said, swallowing hard. “We don’t need his help. It always comes at a high price.”
“But we called him.”
“No,” I said, “you called him.”
Grant came from around the corner, his face grim. “This doesn’t look good, not good at all.”
Before we could even answer Fred, Grant shouted, “Jesse’s down!”
I rushed over and put my hand on his neck. I was relieved to feel a strong pulse, but his body was lethargic. “This has all been too much for him,” I said, looking up at Cynthia. “Is there a secret way out or anything?”
“No, but...”
I swallowed hard. “What?”
Her gaze narrowed. “I could activate your powers.”
“So do it!”
“If I do, it will put me in a twelve-hour coma,” she said, shaking her head. “I can’t risk that. To make a proper escape, to survive, I need my wits about me...and you all need me too, it seems. Or how else will you get off the mountain?”
“Just do it,” I repeated. “I’ll create a distraction, and you guys can run. Fred can carry you to safety, and Grant can carry Jesse. We know there’s a road that goes down this mountain. Jesse told us about it. We’ll just have to find it. Maybe we can even find a vehicle.”
“But what about you, Taylor?” Julie asked. “We won’t leave you behind.”
“If I activate her powers, I assure you that your friend will not require any help,” Cynthia said.
“Then what are we waiting for? C’mon!” I said. “Please hurry. It’s the only way out of this mess.”
“We’ll stand guard,” Grant said. “Just hurry.”
Cynthia quickly gave me some instructions on how to shoot fireballs, electricity, and lightning volts. It was all about concentrating and focusing, and tapping into the right energy source when I needed it.
“Do you think you can handle it?” she asked.
“I’ll try my best,” I said. “And thanks for this crash course in Magic 101.”
Cynthia placed her hands on my shoulders and started chanting. After a few minutes, I could feel energy overcoming my body at an alarming rate. I was surrounded by bright yellow light. I had never felt so hot; it was as if I’d broken out in a 110-degree fever, yet no sweat poured from my skin. I gasped as something knocked the wind out of me. My feet left the ground, and I hovered three feet from the ground.
“What’s happening?” I asked.
“Your powers are taking control. You will be all right in a few minutes. Do not worry. Your body accepted the energy, and it’s beyond powerful. You only have access to 10 percent of it, but you still harbor all the witches’ powers. That is quite remarkable.”
I couldn’t believe I was hovering over the winter fields, suspended in mid-air. It scared me to death!
Julie, Grant, and Fred just stared at me in stunned disbelief.
“Are you okay?” Julie asked.
“It almost feels like I’m touching a cord with electricity streaming through it. But it doesn’t hurt.”
Sizzling and popping sounds caught my attention. I glanced down. The energy was so powerful that it singed the grass as tiny pebbles exploded. Even the nearby tree trunks were singed with long black streaks. More energy surged, burning the grass below me.
“Taylor!” a familiar voice called out from behind me.
I turned to face one of Jesse’s childhood friends.
“You cannot leave this mountain without me!”
“Are you trying to stop us, Lex?”
“Of course not! I’m here to help.”
“You’re helping us?” I asked cautiously.
“Yes. I heard about what Ethan did to Jesse. I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”
“We got Jesse back, but he passed out.”
“If Jesse were awake, he would tell you to trust me. Let me help you off this mountain.”
I said nothing and just looked at him hard, wondering if he was telling the truth. But if he wasn’t on our side, he would’ve already alerted the knights to our whereabouts.
“I know all the tricks and shortcuts to get you out of here. Lyon and I can even fly your friends down. We love Jesse, and we want to help him escape. If he stays here, the queen will kill him.”
I looked at the others. “What do you think?”
“We need him,” Julie said. She then turned to Lex. “We accept your offer...and thank you.”
“Please get my friends out of here,” I said. “I’ll create a distraction, and then I’ll catch up.”
“No!” Julie suddenly shouted. “I won’t leave you behind. Just kill the power and come with us. I’m sure there are plenty of seats left on Gargoyle Airlines.”
“You know that’ll never work,” I said.
“No one can see me with you,” Lex said, “or I will be charged with treason and executed in the arena. We need that distraction.”
“I can help!” Julie said, looking at Cynthia. “Activate me too.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because you are wolfen. And that complicates things.”
“What!? That’s not fair.”
“Fair or not, there is nothing I can do,” Cynthia said.
I looked down at Grant. “Get Julie out of here!”
“Not without you! We leave no man behind...and no woman either!”
Cynthia grabbed onto Fred as she fought to catch her balance.
“Everything is spinning,” she said.
Fred helped her lay down on a patch of snowy grass. She mumbled a few more words, then closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
“I’ll take good care of you,” Fred said, kissing her forehead.
“Go!” I demanded. “All of you need to leave now.”
Lex looked at Grant. “Do as Taylor commands.”
His face went blank. “Of course.”
Lex then looked at the others. “Obey her and go.”
“But she wants us to leave her,” Julie said.
“Then do as you’re told.”
Without another word of argument, she turned and started walking away.
Grant lifted Jesse and threw him over his shoulder, then hurried after Julie. Fred gently scooped up Cynthia and said goodbye. I knew they didn’t want to leave me, but there was really nothing they could do to help. Somewhat sadly, I watched my friends disappear into the night.
“Didn’t put up much of a fight, did they?” I said to Lex. “Did you have something to do with that?”
“I can compel any supernatural creature,” he answered.
“Can you all do that?”
“Only those from a certain clan, a select few. It is a rare gift, something like having petal blood.”
“I guess we’re a rare breed. I’ll see you around, Lex...and thank you. They mean everything to me.”
He smiled, then bolted after the others.
After a few minutes, my feet touched the ground. I had never felt so much power, but it almost felt natural to me, like part of my destiny, something innate and inherent. I could feel the extraordinary power and energy spilling out of me. I pointed to the ground and concentrated on a pile of rocks. Just like that, they burst into a tiny explosion. “One distraction, comin’ right up,” I said with a satisfied smile.
I climbed to a high rock and raised my hands like Moses in that old Ten Commandments movie. There was no Red Sea for me to part, but energy poured out, and everything around me lit up. Somehow, I became a beacon in the darkness. I couldn’t explain it, but I sensed all eyes on me. I smiled, then threw volts of yellow electricity on the ground as I shouted at the top of my voice, “Witches, vampires, and gargoyles, hear me!”
There was a pause, and silence ensued.
“From now on, nobody controls my life, I will make my own path and create my own destiny,” I shouted.
I seemed to have their complete and undivided attention.
“It seems you wish to play the game of battle!” I said. “So let us play!”
A dozen gargoyles bomb-dived me, swooping in like kamikazes. My breathing hitched.
I bit my lip hard as I met their glowing eyes and hideous faces. Their wings flapped violently as they flew toward me. I threw my hands in the air, and yellow streams of electricity engulfed them. They screeched in horror as they tumbled, out of control, and smacked against the cliffs.
Next, a huge army of werewolves ran toward me at record speed, while another army of witches came from the other direction. Green volts of energy sprung from my hands. I threw them at all who dared to come too close. They retaliated. Bullets flew all around me, but none hit me. I felt like Iron Man, or at least Titanium Girl, as if I was protected by some impenetrable force field or protective bubble. I held up my hands, and countless volts of electricity broke across the sky. Thunder roared, and the ground started to shake. Shudders rocked my body, and I began to lose control of the powers swarming through me. Concentrate, I thought, and it was then that I heard the screams and shouts with my supernatural hearing.
“She’ll destroy Northwood Fortress!” one said.
“We never should’ve let her in,” another shouted.
“Ethan knew the dangerous power she held. How could he endanger us like this?”
“Who activated her powers?”
“I’m sure it was him, the selfish vampire!”
“Mariah wants to destroy us all so he can rule.”
I breathed in deeply. I didn’t really want to destroy anyone, but I was losing control of my powers fast. I felt like a ticking time bomb.
A gargoyle and a rider flew toward me. Something shimmered in the man’s hands. He held an ancient sword, ready to slay me. “What are you?” he spat.
“I don’t know,” I said, “but I do know I’m gonna kick your winged butt back to hell!”
I focused and channels all my magical energy.
I threw some volts of electricity, but they didn’t faze the fiendish demon. I could only assume it was protected by some sort of ancient relic or spell. His sword pierced my protective shield, and the tip of it grazed my skin.
Just then, another creature swooped in and picked me up in its sharp claws. I was confused at first, wondering why it wasn’t trying to kill me, but then it dawned on me: It is trying to save me, to salvage my body for Mariah! She was still barely alive, and they wanted to finish what Ethan had started. I had to admire their love and adoration for their princess, but they had no right to snatch my body away from me and send my soul into oblivion.
I tried to fight, but my body became limp, as if the tip of the sword had been drugged. The wind whipped across my face. I was so high in the air that the city below me looked like a miniature village, like something that should have been nestled inside a Christmas snow globe, except for the blazing fires that I’d created.
The gargoyle’s flapping slowed, and we descended. It let go of me a few feet above ground, and I fell, slamming my face into the dirt.
“Nice landing,” I said, spitting out pebbles and blades of grass.
The gargoyle hovered just above me, its wings slowly flapping. I had no idea why it’d dropped me off in the middle of nowhere. I’d assumed it would’ve taken me to the castle and dropped me off into the arms of danger. In a flash of light, the monster turned into a woman with long, dirty blonde hair, dressed in a long, flowing cloak.
“Rosa?” I said, recognizing her instantly. “But how—”
She put her hood down. “We are not all monsters,” she said, blinking. “You’re just lucky I got you out of there before that blade did any real damage. It was laced with Bongour poision and would’ve killed you instantly if it had fully penetrated your body. Luckily, you just got nipped. You could suffer a side effect or two, but at least you won’t be dead.”
“Thank you,” I said. “But won’t they know you helped me?”
“No. I used an invisibility cloak I took from the room of relics. Only you could see me. They’ll just think you used your magic to get away.”
“I owe you so much.”
“Just take good care of Jesse.”
“I will. I promise.”
“He’s like a son to me and I’ll do whatever I can do to help you escape my queen’s wrath.”
“Thank you.”
She handed me a backpack. “Take this. It has Jesse’s rock collection and other mementos from his childhood.”
I slung the sack over my shoulder. “Thank you. Jesse will be so touched.”
“The queen will dispose of these items now that Ethan is gone. So I wanted Jesse to have them. I also put some things in there for Sam and Kierra as well.”
“Thanks again. I’ll make sure they get them.”
“Thank you so much. My heart also goes out to Cynthia too. She is a friend. If anything good comes out of this, it will be her salvation. She did not deserve to be executed, to be forced to fight in that cruel coliseum.”
“No, she didn’t. She didn’t love the prince,” I said. “But now she’ll be free to love whoever she chooses.”
“Get Cynthia and Jesse out of here. That’s all I ask in exchange.”
I gripped her hands. “I will.”
She looked at me long and hard. “I am sorry about Jesse. I never thought Ethan would try to take his son’s body. Ethan used to be a good man, a gentle soul housed within a strong warrior, but his fear of death and of losing Mariah got the best of him. Now they are both gone, along with Rachel, and the gargoyles will seek revenge. Stay alert and always be careful.”
“I’ll figure it out. I always do.”
“Good luck, my friend.”
“Thank you, Rosa.”
Then, in a flash of light, our housekeeper-turned-heroine turned back into a gargoyle and flew into the sky, disappearing into the darkness.
“Taylor!” Julie shouted in the distance.
I waved and she ran over.
“I got dropped off,” I said.
She pulled me into a hug.
Fred and Grant rushed over, still carrying Jesse and Cynthia.
I gave them each a hug and kissed Jesse’s cheek. “Together again!” I said happily.
“We wouldn’t have it any other way,” Julie said.
We quickly made our way through the forest, careful to dodge any immortals they managed to sniff out.
“They’re gonna put that tracker spell back on us again,” Fred said.
I sighed, crunching through the snow. “Just give me a minute to think.”
“You know, we now we have another set of angry enemies on our butts,” Grant said. “We stole a gargoyle princess who was up for execution.”
“And they didn’t get their precious Mariah or Rachel back,” I added. “Not only that, but we killed Ethan. They’re gonna be pretty pissed when they figure it all out.”
“Well, Ethan was practically on his deathbed already,” Grant added.
“I don’t think that’s gonna matter one single bit.”
“We don’t need more enemies on our butts,” Julie said.
“I know,” I breathed out, “but I have my powers now. Maybe that will help.”
“Yeah, if you don’t cause a massive earthquake,” Grant said.
“I think I’ll be fine once I get a hold of how to use them properly,” I said, though I wasn’t so sure myself.
Julie touched my shoulder. “Didn’t Cynthia say you were only supposed to have access to one-tenth of the pie? That was quite a little fireworks show you put on back there.”
“Oh, I know. Just imagine the power that resides in us. If that’s one-tenth...”
“Yeah, it’s amazing. I might not have magic like you, but I do have my superhuman nose,” Julie said, “and I smell trouble.”
“I do too,” Grant said.
“How did they get this close to us without us noticing,” Julie asked.
Almost before I could get the words out, that trouble stepped directly in my path.