Confronting Venus might not have been the smartest plan, but I was on a quest for truth. Once you get a taste of it, it becomes destructively addicting. After some convincing, Adrius promised to explain the circumstances surrounding Isobel/Venus’ death at a later time. He wasn’t thrilled that I’d discussed it with Zanthiel, but I was even less thrilled by the shroud of secrecy surrounding it. I mean, how bad could it have been?
Of course convincing him to meet with Venus at the park was another story. There was more to her visit than revenge and reclaiming lost love. Why else would she be toying with us? She had access to magic; she could use it to end me, and terminate any reason for Adrius to stay here. Not that she’d risk harming me directly. Adrius might have been able to get past what she’d done to everyone else, but even with forever on her side, he would never forgive her if she killed me.
When I’d badgered Adrius long enough to get him to agree to meet with her, I took full advantage of the situation. He was suffering more and more each day that he stayed in my world. He needed to return to Mythlandria to get a new potion from Hawthrin. They kept him alive, protecting him from our toxic human air. But with Venus watching, it made escaping a lot harder. Plus, I know he wasn’t thrilled at the idea of leaving me here, especially with Zanthiel.
My phone buzzed as we crossed the basketball court heading toward the playground. Another text from Abby, insisting I come over.
“Abby has something urgent to show me,” I whispered. Her place would be my next stop. But not until we’d finished with Venus.
We treaded across the soggy playground, Adrius close on my heels. Disembodied swings swayed in the cool night breeze and the teeter-totter groaned and creaked, moving without passengers.
Nothing creepier than a vacant playground at night. The merry-go-round came to life as we walked by and I jumped. Adrius put his hand protectively on the small of my back.
We stopped in the center of the playground and looked around. Nothing but darkness in the horror-flick setting. I rubbed my arms vigorously. “Do you think she’s here?” I asked him. My breath left a trail of white mist in the air.
“Oh, she’s here,” he said darkly.
A gust of wind whipped by us as Venus hopped down from the monkey bars, landing in front of us as we stopped.
“How cute, Adrius. You still sense my presence.”
“The way a hunter senses its prey.”
Her smile dimmed. “I’m cold, so let’s get to it, shall we? There is something else that I want.”
She wasn’t wasting any time.
“The grimoire.”
“My family’s grimoire? What could you possibly want with it? It has no power here. Plus it can only be used by members of my family.”
She scowled in my direction. “You may not be able to use it, but that doesn’t mean someone with actual skill can’t.”
I folded my arms. “Tell me what you want with it.”
“No. I don’t think I will.” Her gazed roamed over Adrius appreciatively. “You’re looking all teenage dream hot. Funny how things change,” she said, sucking in her lower lip.
“Truth is Venus, some things never change. You’re the same evil, lying, manipulative witch you always were. You had people fooled into believing you weren’t like this before. But I know the truth. Darkness has always been a part of you. That’s what drew more of it into your life.”
Venus threw her head back and laughed. “It drew you into my life too, darling. Guess we both lust after the dark side.”
“Biggest mistake of my existence,” he said, then he leaned toward her, his expression hardening. “One I will never make again.”
“Ouch. I’m hurt, Adrius.” She pouted. “What kind of a thing is that to say to the first girl to love you? Who still loves you.”
“Problem is, Venus, I still hate you. What you’re doing is wrong. Torturing innocent people. The girl I knew would have seen things differently.”
“She might have done things differently, but there is no other way of seeing things. You and I, we belong together, Adrius. And I’m going to do whatever it takes for you to remember that.”
“Let it go, Venus. It will never happen.”
“Hmmm. We’ll see. I still have a few surprises up my sleeve.” Her attention shifted to me as if she suddenly remembered I was still standing next to them.
My hands clenched at my sides. “Enslaving someone you love isn't love at all. It’s fear. Because you know that love isn't mutual, and never will be.
Venus smiled. “A love like ours doesn’t cease to exist because a little time has passed. It’s a force of nature, it reaches beyond what you think you feel.”
“He doesn’t love you, Venus. There aren't enough enchanted chains in all of Faery to change that.”
Her smile twisted into a snarl. “I don't need all the enchanted chains of Faery. I only need the one I already possess. It holds him to me, the way your sun holds your world in place. Without that bond, you hurtle toward swift and certain death.”
I stepped toward her, but Adrius pulled me back.
“If you think you’re strong enough to defy my magic, I invite you to try.” She shrugged. “The blood staining your hands won’t remain skin-deep. It will blacken your soul and you will never be free of it. Think carefully before you declare war against someone you can’t possibly defeat.”
I wanted to lash out. To hit her. Hurt her in some small way, the way she’d hurt so many others. It wasn’t going to happen with Adrius’ grip on my arm.
“You will give me what I want, Lorelei. You’ll bring me the book. Or this entire town will rain with the blood from victims you won’t be able to heal. We clear?”
Fury balled up inside of me. “I won’t let you hurt anyone else, Venus.”
She pushed off from the pole and repainted a plastic smile on her face.
Then she turned and walked away.
Adrius put his arm around me. “It’ll be all right.”
The aftermath of Venus was always an energy drain. My shoulders sagged as we walked back to the car. “I don’t know. It doesn’t feel like things are ever going to go back to normal.”
“Is that what you want, Lorelei? Normal?”
I choked on a laugh. “I’m the daughter of a Shadow fey and a witch. My boyfriend is an Elven prince. And the daughter of the evil witch I killed wants revenge by removing everyone I love from my life. I think the normal ship left port a while ago.” I leaned my weight against him, letting him support me in the best way he could.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“No. Don’t apologize. You’re not to blame in all of this. It’s just the way things are. It is what it is.” I jammed my hands in my pockets. “But for once since all of this started, I want to wake up in the morning and know the people I love are safe. And if that looks like normal, then I’ll take it. I know I used to complain loudly about how dull normal life was, but it took nearly losing everything to see what I really had.”
I leaned away from his chest to look up into his eyes, which were full of sadness and pain.
“I would never trade you for normal, Adrius. I want both. Is that so wrong?”
He gave a soft chuckle. “Not from where I stand. You deserve to have everything you want. I only wish I could give you both.”
I exhaled a long breath. “Things are never going to be the same again, are they?”
“Anything I used to feel for Venus has long since turned to hate.”
He meant it. I knew that he did. Problem was, the line dividing love and hate was as thin as the one separating his world from mine. So fine one can barely separate the two.