“Cover your eyes!” Asher yelled. “Soleus!”
I barely squeezed mine shut as a piercing flash coated the entire room with the blazing light of the sun. Headmaster Wendell cried out, but in anger more than pain. This sort of sunlight wouldn’t kill him.
I heard an even more enraged hiss.
But it’d make him really, really mad.
I blinked away the spots from my vision and shoved Mia past Wendell as he stumbled. “Remember what to think!” I shouted at her.
“Wait, Skylar, I can’t leave you—”
I shoved her through the portal before she could protest and turned back to the others. Wendell had straightened up imposingly at the other end of the room. His face was pulled back in an angry sneer.
“I gave you hospitality and a chance to stay out of danger. This is how you thank me?”
“No offense, but your hospitality sucks,” I said.
Wendell vanished, replaced by a black blur that soared across the room and slammed into Colson, throwing him against a stack of parchment and scattering it everywhere. Colson managed to free his arm and swung, barely missing Wendell, who leapt off and returned to the other end of the room. He glared at us, as though we were unruly students he was considering how to reprimand. My fingers itched to cast a spell, but as much as he was trying to stop us, he was still a headmaster. He was still supposedly on our side.
“Get to the portal,” Asher whispered as he helped Colson up.
“And leave you here with him? Fat chance.”
“I’ll ask one more time to put your weapons down,” Wendell said. “I don’t know which of my students you bewitched to lead you here, but I assure you it won’t happen again. I’ll give you to the count of three. One…”
“We’ll be right behind you,” Asher muttered.
“We’re not the ones you should be fighting!” I shouted at Wendell. “The real enemy’s out there!”
“Two…”
I raised my hand. “Headmaster Wendell, please…”
“Three.”
“Defendi!”
I cast my spell a millisecond before Wendell launched himself across the room, but he tore through it like it wasn’t even there, his clawed hand reaching for my neck.
Colson was ready, already swinging his hammer in a wide arc that forced Wendell to pull back right before he hit me. He skittered back, eyes flashing.
“In you go!” Asher said, giving Colson a magic-enhanced shove through the portal. Colson’s rumbling protests were cut off as he vanished through it.
“No!”
I didn’t even have time to scream before Wendell’s hand was on my throat. His nails pricked my skin. I looked directly into those eyes and knew by the growing tint of red coloring his irises that we were losing him. He might be a headmaster, but he was still every bit a Vamp. “You’re going to warn the Society!” he snarled.
“We’re trying to stop them!” I choked out.
Wendell sneered. “You think I’m a fool? I was there when our Academy fell all those years ago! Back when the ones I thought were friends became wolves, when those I thought I could trust stabbed me in the back. I know the sharp sting of betrayal. I won’t let that happen again. I will retrieve your friends and then all of you will stay here—”
From behind him, Asher threw a punch. It was slow, way too slow, way slower than even he normally moved. But as Wendell easily ducked I realized Asher hadn’t been trying to hit him.
He was trying to distract him.
“Ohoras!”
The force of my pummeling spell slammed into Wendell’s gut, rocketing him back into his desk. The desk splintered in two. A glass paperweight shattered across the floor. Asher’s strong grip pulled me up.
“Now would be an excellent time to leave.”
“Seconded.”
Both of us scrambled toward the portal, nearly tripping over ourselves in our haste. I shoved Asher ahead of me and was relieved when he slipped through without issue. I gripped the edge of the portal. The magic curled around me as I leaned into it.
An immensely strong hand wrapped around my ankle.
“Bring them back.” Wendell’s voice was low and dangerous. “I’m ordering you to bring them back. You can’t stop the Society or the woman who leads them. You’ll only make it worse for all of us!”
I cried out as his grip tightened, but I was too far in to stop. My vision was already swirling. I could see the yawning crevasse of black beyond. If he didn’t let go then either we’d both be pulled through, or I’d be the rope in a game of inter-portal tug-of-war.
“Let…go…” I pleaded.
Wendell snarled again.
I kicked out with my free foot and felt it connect with something solid—probably his face. The nails biting into my skin relinquished their grip. I caught one last look at Wendell’s expression—enraged, but also tinged with immense sadness—before the Farcast portal pulled me the rest of the way through.
I hit the ground so hard on the other side that I tumbled over like a gymnast completing a tuck and roll. I dug my feet in, feeling the ankle Wendell had grabbed twinge, and faced the portal. Asher was already beside me, mirroring my movement. We focused our magic and brought our hands together with a loud clap!
The portal snapped shut. There was only silence.
“Now we’ve really done it,” Mia said.
The good news: All of us had made it through to, I hoped, the Black Forest.
The bad news: we had no idea where to go next. And we’d severely pissed off a super-paranoid Vamp who also happened to head one of the magical Academies of Europe.
We weren’t off to the greatest start.
We moved as fast as we could away from where the portal had spit us out. Even though Wendell, if he’d wanted to, could technically summon it anywhere, I had a feeling that would take too much magic he didn’t want to waste right now. Plus I was hoping (really hoping) he didn’t know where we’d ended up.
“We could try now?” Mia said when we stopped in a clearing to catch our breath. “I don’t think anyone’s around.”
“We said no,” Colson said gruffly. “There’s no way to get a message all the way to Lucien.” His eyes narrowed on the surrounding trees. “And no way to know who else could be listening.”
On we walked.
The spruce and beech trees were barren of leaves, kissed with touches of snow. In some places they grew so thick they blurred into nothing but a black backdrop offset against the horizon. Parts of the forest seemed to swallow the light. At times it almost seemed like it could swallow us as well. This wasn’t a place to travel carelessly. This was a place of old things.
“No trails, that’s good,” I said after another hour of walking.
“Good how?” Asher said. He was sweating, even in the cold, part of his golden hair drooping into his face. He looked about as exhausted and wrung out as I felt. “We have no idea where we’re going.”
“At least nobody else does, either,” I said. “And if there’s nobody nearby that might mean we’re near where the Fae might be.”
“You seriously think that the portal just happened to drop us right where a Fae is?”
“Yeah, I do,” I shot back, my annoyance growing at how abrasive he was being.
“Farcast portals are finicky on a good day. If it were that easy to find this Fae, don’t you think somebody would have done it already?”
“Only if they knew to look! And I didn’t hear you having any better ideas back there while we were escaping.”
Asher and I glared at each other. I waited, hoping he’d extend an olive branch like he usually did during these spats. He didn’t.
I brushed past him with a huff. “We need to keep moving.”
“What we need to do is get out of this forest and find someone to help us.”
“Oh, you mean like an academy of magic? I wonder where we’d find that? Oh wait, it’s what we’re running from.”
“Guys…” Mia said, trying to break us up before Asher and I really got going. Which was an admirable attempt on her part, but doomed to fail. Right now I was tired, I was annoyed, I was stressed, and yeah, I was scared. I didn’t need Asher and his negativity crowding me.
“Penny could be wrong,” Asher said. “A Fae hiding here? Seriously?”
“I believe her! She’s, like, hundreds of years old. She knows more than us.”
“Guys…” Mia was whispering now.
“It’s not that I don’t trust her, it’s that she could be wrong,” Asher said. “Hundreds of years is a long time to mis-remember.”
“Even if she’s wrong, we can’t go back. And the longer we stay in one place the better chance Wendell has of finding us,” I said.
“He’s got more important things to worry about, and so do we—”
“Be quiet.” Colson’s deep voice cut through our argument. It was only then I noticed how still everything was. Mia and Colson were staring into a darker part of the forest we’d been bordering.
Now that full night had set in, I could hear things moving from within that put me on edge. Every snap of a twig or branch that was brushed aside by something I couldn’t see sounded like Headmaster Wendell and his students closing in. That, or the Society.
We waited, my next breath frozen in my chest. There came another rustle as something continued moving past. My skin prickled with apprehension. I was aware of every breath from the others, every slight tremor I made that could draw the attention of whatever was out there.
Then the forest let out what I could only describe as a sigh. A bitter burst of wind whipped out from the dark trees, causing the ice-coated branches to clack together, dropping snow onto the ground.
When the trees settled again, whatever we’d heard was gone. The normal noises of nature had returned. The forest was just a forest once again.
“I think we should keep moving,” I whispered.
Nobody argued this time.
“There’s something up ahead.”
I stopped at Mia’s outstretched hand. She was squinting into the darkness of the valley we were walking through, eyes focused on something I couldn’t make out.
“Is it what we saw earlier?” Asher said.
“I’m not sure,” Mia said. “You guys stay here, I’ll go check it out.”
“Absolutely not,” Colson said immediately.
Mia gave him a look, and dang if that girl hadn’t been practicing. It was one that said, “I see you condescending me. Cut it out”.
“It’s not even a hundred yards away. And no offense, guys, but I’m quieter than all of you.”
“But—”
“Be right back.” Mia took off without another word.
Asher let out a cough that sounded more like a poorly disguised laugh. “I’m glad you two have this whole partner dynamic figured out.”
“Shut up,” Colson said.
We waited for a couple minutes in quiet anticipation. Then I heard Mia walking through the brush, not trying to be quiet anymore.
“Does that mean we’re clear?” I said.
She was frowning. She looked a little scared. “I’m not sure. Come take a look.”
We followed her back to a small clearing, cleared of rocks and branches, and enclosed on all sides by thick trees. The perfect site to set up camp. Apparently, someone else had thought so, too. A whole group of someone elses.
“I didn’t think we were that close to any other people,” Mia said, brushing aside the ashy remains of a fire with her shoe.
“We aren’t,” Asher said. He’d crouched next to a flattened space that looked as though at least a dozen people had slept tightly packed together. “Not unless they decided to hike out as far as we have.”
I spotted something else on the ground. My stomach twisted in uncomfortable knots. I picked it up and held it up to the others. “And brought weapons.”
The others stared at the dagger. Half the blade had been chipped off, but it still sent as much fear into me as it would have if it’d been whole.
Colson swore. “How’d they find us?”
“I don’t think they did,” Mia said, though she wasn’t very convincing with the way she kept darting nervous looks into the trees. “This must have been one of their groups trying to find the Cursed One.”
The thought didn’t reassure me. Where there was a Society search party, there also might be a chance that Kasia was with them.
Asher whispered a quick spell into his closed hand and then uncurled his fingers. The small rabbit—a scanning spell—darted off into the trees, leaving a trail of cool blue magic in its wake.
“We can stop here for the night,” Colson said.
“Colson, buddy, stopping where the Society has been? Probably not such a great idea,” Asher said.
“I agree with Colson,” I said. “The Society won’t be back here. And we need to rest. No use stumbling around searching in the dark.”
Asher pursed his lips, like he wanted to say something more about how useless it was that we were here at all. At last he sighed. “Sure. Fine. But let’s wait until…”
The rabbit bounded back to him. It was still the same cool blue, not an angry red like it would be if it’d found any danger nearby.
“That settles it,” I said. I placed a couple of the logs the Society had left behind into the fire pit and set them ablaze. Soon, the snow around it had melted and all of us were able to rest our weary feet. My exhaustion seemed to pull my muscles to the ground and hold them there. I could already feel my eyes drooping, even though part of my mind screamed that I needed to remain alert.
“I’ll keep watch,” Colson said, as though reading my mind.
“You don’t have to, I can take the f-f-f-irst…” Mia’s argument was undermined by a massive yawn. Colson smiled. He bunched a pile of pine needles together in his massive hands to make a pillow for her.
“Thanks,” Mia mumbled, already lying down.
Asher indicated to a spot beside him. “Could you make one for me next?”
“Hold on,” Colson said. “Let me find some rocks.”
I snorted. I was already drifting off. But sleep wouldn’t come easy. We’d lost a potentially valuable ally. And now here we were, out in the wilderness, unsure of where to go next.
All while wolves of a different sort were prowling.
When I awakened, I had no clue where I was.
“Asher?” I rubbed my eyes as I sat up. The fire was nothing but dying embers. Colson and Mia’s lumpy forms were across from me.
Asher was gone.
“Asher!” I hissed, standing.
I heard a branch snap. I spun, senses on full alert. If it was possible, the forest had grown darker. Staring into it I could only make out oily black shapes. I thought I saw movement, but I couldn’t be sure. My heart sped up.
I moved toward the others, never taking my eyes off where the sound had come from. I reached down to shake them awake. “Colson! Mia! Asher is—”
Pain raced up my arm as my hand passed through air and jarred against the ground. Where Colson and Mia should have been was nothing but depressed leaves and pine needles.
I gaped at it, horrified. More noises, louder, sounded from the woods. I understood at once what must have happened: the Society had returned sometime during the night. They’d taken my friends and left me here. Because…because…
Because Kasia had plans for me. The Society was undoubtedly under orders to leave me for her.
Valkyrie blazed to furious life in my hand a moment before I went charging into the trees, slicing branches and brambles out of my way as I plunged toward where I’d heard movement. “I know you’re there!” I yelled. “Give them back! Give them back right now!”
It seemed the forest was trying to ensnare me, a spider’s web entangling me with every step. My legs were lead weights, arms sluggish. But still I plunged on, desperation clawing at my insides.
“When I find you…” I cleaved a branch in half as an example of what I’d do when I got my hands on one of the Society acolytes. “Hand them over right no—”
I stumbled into a clearing and froze. Kasia stood there, framed against the luminous circle of light my sword cast. What bravado I’d felt just moments before shriveled into a small ball deep in my gut.
“Skylar Rivest, as headstrong as always,” Kasia said. “Haven’t you learned by now not to go rushing into things you aren’t prepared for?”
Something glinted in her hand; a knife. She moved to sheath it and I saw part of the blade was covered in something darkly crimson…
“What did you do?”
I forgot about her power. Forgot about how much danger I was in or what would happen if the Prince used my rage to break free while I was out of control. I was already swinging Valkyrie, but Kasia easily sidestepped. She casually swept her arm out and the shadows lunged like dogs and pinned me down. Where they touched I could see my skin sizzle, but strangely didn’t feel any pain.
“Idiot girl,” Kasia said. “I don’t have your friends. Why would I waste time with them?”
With my barely free hand I managed to slice a clean arc across the shadows holding me and they retreated, snarling. I rolled up, never taking my eyes off her. Valkyrie’s light still illuminated most of the space around us, and now that I took a good look around I saw there was no one else. Not the Society, not my friends. It was just the two of us. Alone.
“Where are they?” I demanded. “You ‘wasted your time’ with us back in New York. Why not here?”
Kasia’s face twisted into a crooked, leering sneer. The scar cocking up one side of her mouth made her permanent half grin appear even more maniacal. Her blond hair created a sort of heavy iron curtain over her right eye. The black background contrasted harshly against the paleness of her skin and white jacket.
“You’re the only one I have any interest in, Skylar,” Kasia said. “Do you remember what I told you before we parted ways in New York?”
How could I forget her words, her assurance that I would need her someday to truly quell the Dark Prince? It wasn’t as though that was a hard prediction to make. She was the one who’d put Evil McEvil inside me in the first place. Of course she’d claim she was the only one who could help me control him.
“Hate to disappoint you, but I’m never going to ask for your help.”
“Never is such a strong word. I find most words like it are flexible, liable to bend at the moment most convenient.”
I’d calmed my breathing. I focused only on us, right here in the moment. The night sounds of the forest faded. Wherever Asher and the others were, I’m sure they were close by. They wouldn’t just leave me.
“I’m not your enemy, Skylar,” Kasia said, and I was surprised to hear that she sounded almost normal. Her usual, partly insane tone was gone, replaced by one that was cooing; almost motherly.
“Funny, kidnapping one of my friends and trying to kill the others says different.”
“One day you’ll see that they don’t matter. Nothing matters except this,” she pointed to her chest and tapped it with one long fingernail. “Your power. Your strength. Without strength, what good is having anything or anyone? You can’t protect what you love. You won’t even be able to obtain it without the power to do so.”
This time it was my turn to sneer. “Sorry if I’m not falling over to thank you. Something about getting a curse stuffed inside me like a turducken will kind of do that.”
I leveled Valkyrie at her, still keeping my distance. I knew better than most how fast Kasia could turn from seemingly defenseless to an unstoppable force. Even now, if she decided to take me down, I wasn’t sure I could stop her. The thought made holding my sword more difficult. “The Dark Prince woke up when we first met. But that wasn’t when you cursed me with him. How long had he been there?”
“Long enough,” Kasia said vaguely. “The amount of time doesn’t matter. What matters is how you use him in the present. And I have to say, I’m impressed.” Her dark eyes glittered. “He’s strong, perhaps one of the strongest I’ve ever dealt with. I expected him to overwhelm you by now. And yet…here we are.”
As though sensing we were talking about him, I felt the stirrings of the Prince rise up inside me. I summoned the mental wall I’d grown accustomed to throwing up whenever I could concentrate hard enough to keep his voice out of my head. “You wanted to get back at my mom so you went after me. That’s completely sick. I never did anything to you!”
For a moment, Kasia’s face flickered with anger. I took an involuntary step back, temporarily stunned by the rage I saw there, as though she had a curse of her own that had briefly taken over. The light danced crazily in the clearing as I drew my sword back, prepared to swing at the first sign she was going to make a move toward me.
Then the expression passed and Kasia was her normal, completely psychotic self once again.
“You must believe your mother is a saint.”
“Not at all. But she’s not the evil person you think she is. She’s tried to do nothing but good in her life for all Supes.”
I expected Kasia to laugh. Instead she looked up into the sky. I noticed that, despite how far away we were from any other lights, there were no stars. “I can hear it in your voice. You still revere her. That’s good, isn’t it, for a child to want to be like their parents? Yet it’s so much like a child to see their parents as flawless. You have yet to grow up and see them for what they truly are, see the thinly veiled veneer hiding the ugly truth beneath. She hasn’t told you much about her past, has she?”
I nearly retorted that yeah, she totally had, but hesitated. Kasia didn’t miss it.
“I thought not. What’s she hiding, I wonder, Skylar? Did you ever think of that? Did you ever ask?”
“She’ll tell me when she’s ready. It’s not my business to pry into hers.”
Kasia tapped her chest again, and the meaning was clear. “It’s become your business, hasn’t it? But I’m not here to talk about her. I’m here to talk about you. About us. Your mother will join us in time. After I find the Cursed One and bring her to her knees.”
I went cold. I’d known she was seeking it, known it from the very beginning. But hearing her say it out loud made it all the more real. “We’ll find it before you. We’re going to stop it before you can get it.”
“I assume you know what you must do to stop it?”
I bit my tongue. Kasia’s smile grew wider. “And do you think you have the will to carry it out?”
I didn’t. But I had to. If it meant stopping Kasia we had to find a way.
“Whatever it takes,” I said. “We’ll do whatever it takes to keep you away from it.”
She turned away from me, casting half her body in darkness. “Is that so?”
I didn’t see the glint of her unsheathing the knife until it was too late.
Kasia moved in a blur, the point of her knife cresting in an arc too fast for me to follow. I gasped as the tip plunged into my chest, followed by the sharp sensation of a blade tearing through my flesh.
My legs gave out and I collapsed, Kasia falling with me, sinking the knife deeper. She drew it out and the blade was covered in blood again. My blood. Her face was sprayed with it, her perfectly white teeth splattered as she smiled.
“In that case, we’ll see each other soon.”