Outcast (Moonlight Wolves Book 4) by Jasmine B. Waters (25)

Book 4: The Betrayal

Prologue

Elizabeth—Present Day

I couldn’t sleep.

I lay there in bed, listening to the rhythmic sounds of Steven’s snores, and wondered what I was doing wrong.

For so many years, I’d tried to act like I’d been okay.

But I didn’t think I would be able to keep up that pretense any longer.

“Steven?” I prodded Steven in the shoulder. “Are you awake?”

Steven grunted, then rolled back over.

I rolled onto my side, tucked a pillow over my face, pulling the covers up to my neck, and closed my eyes. Yeah, I thought. I’ll be able to sleep—just a little bit. That’s better than nothing.

The night was eerily quiet. It was cold for spring—almost too cold to be outdoors—but we had our bedroom window cracked open, chilled air filtering in and freezing my nose and fingertips.

My mind raced with thoughts. I’d always been like this—intense, as my mother to call it—but in the past week or so, everything had gotten worse. I could barely be alone with Steven without wanting to tear my hair out. Since the party, things had cooled between us. I wondered if I was just getting cold feet—maybe that was normal. After all, I had no idea what it was like to be married. None of my friends were married… not that I had many friends besides Steven and Karen nowadays.

Not to mention that I couldn’t stop thinking about David.

I lay there for probably two hours, tossing and turning and thrashing around. I hate to admit it because I know how bitchy it sounds, but part of me almost hoped that Steven would wake. Since the party, there had been a thick tension between us that I was loath to confront… but even I realized that at some point, soon, things would explode.

By the time the sky was streaked pink and orange with the coming of dawn, I knew that sleep would elude me for the rest of the night. I wistfully thought back to the months before, where I could just lie in bed all day, close my eyes, and pretend like I was falling asleep. But I hadn’t felt a calm like that in a very, very long time.

Sighing, I crawled out of bed, trying not to wake Steven. He made a murmuring sound, then flopped over and rolled into the space formerly occupied by my body. I frowned as I reached for my robe from the floor and wrapped it around my body. The fabric was cold, and I shivered, almost tempted to climb back into bed. Then Steven started to snore and I rolled my eyes, turning on my heel and padding out of our room.

The old wooden floor creaked under my feet as I crept down the hall. Passing Karen’s room, I heard the light sound of her snores. I walked down the hall and stopped at the end, kneeling in front of a closet and turning on the harsh, yellow light.

I groaned. This closet was filled with everything from my Mom’s house, everything I’d taken when I’d moved out after college. Grimy cardboard boxes were covered with a layer of dust as thick as my hand. Covering my mouth and nose with a flap of my robe, I coughed until pain spread through my chest and my eyes were damp.

“Christ,” I muttered under my breath as I reached into the closet and pulled the boxes out into the hall. Soon, I was surrounded by towers and stacks of cardboard. It was ridiculous—there seemed to be twice as many boxes as I remembered.

It took a long time for me to find the boxes with my high school stuff. As I rifled through old papers and things my mom had saved for God knows what reason, a powerful wave of nostalgia passed over me. It didn’t seem like very much time had passed—but digging through my memories, I realized that seven years was a surprisingly long time.

Finally, I found the box I was looking for. My heartbeat slowed to a dull thud in my chest and my stomach twisted nervously as I removed the lid and picked my way through the contents. I swallowed a newly formed lump in my throat as I dug through the books.

When my fingers brushed against the ancient leather cover, a shiver ran down my spine. As quickly as I could, I crawled to my feet and tucked the book under my arm. I walked into the laundry room and pulled on a pair of jeans under my robe, knotting my hair at the nape of my neck.

No matter how many times I tried to call the past to mind, it wouldn’t come. Whenever I tried to think about that time of my life, seven years ago, it was like my brain disappeared into a sea of mist. I could barely even make out the features of Monica’s face. Before she’d finally disappeared for good, we’d spent almost every day together.

Now it was like we’d barely known each other at all. I struggled with the most trivial information—her last name, the house where she’d lived with her weirdo hippie parents—anything that had once been as clear as day in my mind was now gone.

As I walked out into the chilly dawn air, I clutched the book in my hand. It was early in the spring, but I knew I could still probably find what I was looking for. The neighbor had an herb garden, and while I didn’t normally borrow from it, I figured he wouldn’t even notice.

Squatting down, I scooped up a few dying sprigs of lavender and sage, tucking them into the pocket of my robe. The ground had begun to thaw and my feet slipped messily over the wet surface until I very nearly lost my balance. But by the time I walked into the woods, I’d regained my balance.

Being out in the air was soothing—almost as much as hiding in bed, pretending to be asleep. And now that I was away from Steven, I felt infinitely less annoyed with him. Maybe it really is just cold feet, I thought, glancing down at the huge ring on my finger. Maybe everything is going to be fine. Still, a part of me didn’t feel like going back, not just yet.

The sight of new, green buds on the tree branches made me smile as I pushed my way through the dense mass of trees. Finally, after about fifteen minutes of walking, I stumbled into a small clearing. The last time I’d been here, it had been the middle of summer. The ground had been covered with a lush, emerald carpet of grass and the sun had been shining down through the trees.

But now, everything looked cold and dead. I dropped to my knees and pulled a lighter from my pocket, scooping together small twigs and dead leaves until I had a nice little blaze going. With my knife, I cut the herbs into bits and sprinkled them over the flames. Soon, the air was filled with a herbaceous, aromatic scent that somehow made me think of David.

My eyes watered with smoke but I forced myself to keep them open as I sat down, crossed my legs, and opened the thick book on my lap. Immediately, I found the page I sought. The drawing of Monica, looking blonde and serene, surrounded by her coven.

A chill ran down my spine. A sharp memory of being with David, looking for Monica, blasted into my head and I cried out. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a small knife that I’d borrowed from the kitchen. I gritted my teeth and sliced my palm open, squeezing the folds of the cut together with my other hand until blood dripped onto the fire.

Suddenly, everything went black and I felt myself slipping away from consciousness.

When I woke, I slowly rubbed my eyes. Around me, everything had turned a brilliant shade of green. Lush trees blew back and forth in the breeze. Looking down, I saw that my palm was still bleeding.

Henrik, Ligeia, and the rest of the coven stood all around me. Ligeia’s hands covered her mouth, but her blue eyes didn’t hide the intense shock on her wrinkled face. Henrik slowly shook his head.

“Elizabeth,” Henrik spoke after a long moment. “We… we weren’t expecting you.”

“I know.” Getting to my feet, I brushed my muddy, bleeding hands off on my robe.

“Tis Beltane soon,” Henrik said. “Were you thinking to join us for the festivities?”

“Um, I don’t know,” I said. “I hadn’t thought about it.”

Nearby, the leather-bound book lay in the wet grass.

“How may I help you?” Ligeia stepped forward and pulled me into a brief hug. I wrapped my arms around her shriveled form, holding her close.

“I think you know why I’m here,” I said uncertainly. The pages of the book flapped open in the wind, settling on the image of Monica and the coven.

Henrik and Ligeia exchanged a long look.

“Child, don’t make me attempt to read your mind,” Henrik said.

“I need to know what happened to Monica,” I said finally.

The silence following my request was deafening. The wind slowed—even the birds in the trees ceased chirping and singing.

“Child…”

“Tell me,” I said. Tears welled up in my eyes and I balled my hands into impatient fists. “I need to know,” I added hotly. “Things are falling apart and I can’t stand it anymore.”

Henrik and Ligeia stared at each other.

“Come on,” I groaned. “Don’t do this to me. Don’t make me beg,” I added sharply. “I helped you! I risked my life for you! And you won’t even tell me what happened to my best friend?”

“It isn’t so simple as that, child,” Henrik said slowly.

“And stop calling me a child!” I yelled. I knew that I was losing my temper—never acceptable behavior in front of my superiors—but I couldn’t help it. “I’m not a child! I’m twenty-two fucking years old!”

“Child…” Ligeia came forward and offered me a mug of something hot and steaming. “Drink this. Calm down, then we’ll talk about Monica.”

I stared at her with a mixture of contempt and disbelief.

“What’s going on here?” I asked quietly. “What’s the big fucking secret, huh?”

Ligeia cringed.

“I’d do anything to have Monica back,” I begged, dissolving into tears. I dropped Ligeia’s earthenware mug onto the ground and it shattered, spilling hot mead over my bare feet. I didn’t care—the pain only seemed to dull the emotional agony in my heart. “Please,” I added. “I need her. Everything is falling apart, and I can’t deal with it on my own.”

Ligeia stared at me, her blue eyes flashing. “Anything?” she asked solemnly. “Because if that is your wish, there is no going back.”

Suddenly, I felt nervous. Nervous and scared in a way that I hadn’t really felt since the town of Jaffrey had turned into hunting grounds for witches. Anxiety ran through my veins, chilling me to the bone.

“Tell me, Elizabeth,” Ligeia said softly. “Would you truly do anything for your best friend?”

I shivered and nodded. “Yes,” I said after a long pause. “I swear. I would. I will,” I added quickly.

Ligeia waved her arm and one of the witches walked over to her, dipping into a low bow.

“Build a fire, child,” Ligeia said. She stared at me. “We’ve got a long matter to discuss.”

I waited anxiously as the young witch built a fire. She trembled in fear—I wondered how long she’d been with the coven—but in a matter of moments, a strong fire blazed. Ligeia walked around it, murmuring under her breath.

An apparition of a girl—Andrea D’Amico—flickered above the fire. Andrea stared at her, the flames blazing behind her eyes. It looked so eerily, so uncannily like her that I shuddered with fear.

“What’s going on?” My mouth went dry as Andrea’s form taunted and swayed. “She died, years ago!”

Henrik threw his head back and laughed. The harsh, rough sound caught me off guard and I stared at him, blinking in confusion.

“What the hell?” I demanded angrily. “What have you done?”

“You’ll never be as smart as you should be,” Henrik said angrily. He laughed again, but this time it was quite obvious that the sound was as bitter as wormwood.

I narrowed my eyes. “And what does my intelligence have anything to do with this? Tell me,” I demanded angrily.

Above the fire, Andrea’s form flickered and hovered. She yawned, keeping her eyes locked on me the whole time.

“Andrea didn’t die, you little fool,” Henrik said sharply. “Monica imprisoned Andrea’s soul, as a means of keeping her under control.”

My heart skipped a beat, thudding against the walls of my chest. I felt like someone had punched me in the gut.

“You’re kidding,” I said softly.

Henrik narrowed his eyes. “No,” he replied calmly. “The only way Monica could accomplish this task was to seal herself away from the rest of the world. Elizabeth, your friend made a choice.”

“For me.”

“Yes. For you. Because she was, ultimately, not a selfish person.”

Tears came to my eyes and I tilted my head towards the sky, blinking them away. It seemed absurd to me that the day could be so beautiful when I hurt so deeply inside. Even though I knew it was all magicked together by Henrik and Ligeia, it seemed especially cruel to perpetuate such beauty when I felt so low.

“I want her back,” I said softly. “Why would she have done something like that?”

Ligeia raised a wizened eyebrow. “Child, you cannot be serious,” she said. “You must know.”

I didn’t reply.

Henrik sighed harshly. “She did it for you, Elizabeth. She did it so you could have a chance of happiness.”

“With Steven?” A tear rolled down my cheek.

“Yes, child.”

“Please let me go back home,” I whispered, burying my face in my hands. The other witches stared at me, their expressions murky and difficult to read.

“Coward.”

Henrik’s insult stung, but it wasn’t necessarily unexpected. I glanced up, my face dripping with tears.

“You don’t even want to stay?” Ligeia glared at me critically. “You said you’d do anything, remember?”

“There are some things I have to do,” I said softly. “I can’t stay here, not now.”

“I’ve heard that before.”

“Not from me,” I said sharply. “I swear, I’ll return to the coven… and I’ll complete… I don’t know, whatever it is that you want me to do! But right now, I can’t. I have to go home. I have to make things right first.”

“If you want to make things right, you’ll stay here,” Henrik thundered angrily. “You can’t run away because we didn’t give you the answer you wanted to hear!”

I glared at him. “I don’t care,” I said. I got to my feet and wiped my palms on my robe. The hem of my jeans was soaked with wet, cold mud and I felt nauseous. All I wanted was to be back home, in my own bed.

“You’re still a child,” Henrik snapped. “You really think everything is about you, don’t you?”

“No, I—”

“I don’t care,” Henrik said angrily. “Go. See if I ever try to bring you back!”

Turning on my heel, I fled into the woods. As soon as I was away from Henrik and Ligeia’s magicked clearing, the woods were sparce and dead once again. A few buds on trees shook and wavered in the breeze, but I stumbled along the brown landscape in a fit of tears.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Monica. Now that I’d finally learned the truth, memories from high school flooded my brain, almost like standing under a waterfall of emotion. I didn’t even have to close my eyes—Monica’s face, Andrea’s face—practically everyone I’d known back then flashed before me.

“No,” I mumbled under my breath as I ran faster and faster. My sides ached and for a moment, I had the absurd urge to laugh. I’m so out of shape. I nearly stumbled over some dead leaves and branches. I can’t even run away from myself!

When I got to the edge of the woods, I stood there, panting and heaving. I leaned over and rested my hands on my thighs, shuddering and shivering. My body was soaked with sweat, and the cold air made me feel wretched and nauseous. The sun had completely risen by now—I wondered how much time had actually passed since I’d left, and I swallowed. There was a sinking feeling in my stomach. I knew that when I got home, Steven would be angry.

And the strange thing was, I didn’t care. I felt oddly numb and detached from the whole situation, almost like an outsider looking in. Almost like Karen—an innocent by-standing roommate, someone who wasn’t really involved.

Sniffling, I took a deep, shuddering breath and started the slow walk up to the house. My feet squelched in the mud. Looking down, I saw that my legs were covered in muck and filth, almost to my knees. The cuffs of my jeans were sodden and clinging to my ankles.

Suddenly, a loud sound pierced the air. It was like nothing I’d ever heard before, a sonic boom of anger that stunned me. A ripple of fear soared through my body and I wrapped my arms around my torso and hugged tightly.

Boom!

The sound flashed through the air once more and I swallowed, turning on my heel and looking at the woods. Sunlight sparkled and flashed over the ground. Licking my steps, I moved closer. There was something shiny on the ground, something that kept catching the light of the sun.

When I realized that it was the athame—Monica’s athame—I collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness.

“Elizabeth!”

The voice calling my name was urgent and stern. I groaned and rolled over, covering my eyes with both hands. My bed was warm and comfortable, and I pulled the blanket over my shoulder and snuggled back down into the pillows.

“Elizabeth, get up.”

I groaned. “What?” I moaned. “What’s going on?”

I opened my eyes. Steven sat on the bed, fully dressed and glaring at me.

“What the fuck?” I said. “Why did you wake me? What’s going on?”

Steven raised an eyebrow and pointed to the bed. I groaned when I saw the white sheets and duvet were filthy with mud and dead leaves.

“What happened?” Steven asked tersely. “Why the fuck would you come to bed without washing?”

I blinked and rubbed my eyes with both fists. There were crescent moons of dirt under my fingernails and I examined my hands carefully, looking at the scratches and scrapes.

“I don’t know,” I said. I frowned. “It was an accident. Maybe I was sleepwalking.”

Steven rolled his eyes. “Oh, sure, that’s a good one,” he snapped sarcastically. “I bet you sleepwalk all the time, don’t you?”

“Hey,” I said sharply. “Don’t talk to me like that. I said I was sorry. I’ll wash everything today; it’ll be fine with bleach.”

Steven rolled his eyes and threw his arms in the air. “You know what?” he growled. “I don’t give a fuck. I’ll be downstairs.”

Anger stirred inside me, hot and frantic as fire. I leapt to my feet, barely noticing the mud-smeared sheets.

“What?” Steven asked sarcastically. “Lemme guess—somehow, this is my fault. Right?”

I glared at him. “You’re treating me like a little kid,” I complained. “I told you, it was an accident. I wouldn’t do this on purpose.”

“You’re a kid,” Steven said. He snorted. “You’re twenty-two.”

I narrowed my eyes into angry slits. “And you, with all of your infinite twenty-three-year-old wisdom, somehow know better?”

“Yeah,” Steven barked. “I do. Excuse me,” he said. He pushed past me—more roughly than necessary—and stomped down the hall. When I heard the soles of his feet slapping against the stairs, I groaned and sank back down into the mattress.

“Elizabeth!” Steven yelled. “Come down here.”

I hate you, I thought suddenly. You’ve never respected me. We’re supposed to be enjoying the happiest time of our lives right now, and you can’t even take me seriously.

“Elizabeth!” Steven screamed. “I’m fucking serious!”

My face was flushed and hot with anger as I yanked off my pants and pulled on a clean pair of shorts from the dresser. My feet were still caked with mud and grime, but I didn’t care. I would give him a piece of my mind.

When I got downstairs, I saw Steven standing in front of the boxes I’d pulled from the closet the night before. His face was a contorted mask of rage.

“What the fuck is this?” Steven asked, gesturing to the papers and pictures. “Why the hell did you make a huge mess in the middle of the night and not even bother to clean it?” Before I could answer, he continued, “You’re so fucking selfish, Elizabeth. You don’t even care that other people live here, too. You ever thought of that?”

I glared. I wasn’t sure what was wrong with me. It was completely uncharacteristic of Steven to be this rude… or was it? Was I finally starting to notice what other people had said all along?

I shivered.

“Hey,” Steven barked. He snapped his fingers. “Don’t get all weepy on me,” he warned. “You’re not getting out of this.”

His comments both stung me and confused me. Staring at him, I licked my lips.

“I don’t know why you’re being like this,” I said. My voice was shaky and unsteady, like that of a child. “It’s like you’re trying to look for a reason to be a complete asshole.”

Steven rolled his eyes. “You know what?” he snapped. “Forget it, Elizabeth. I’m fucking done.” He grabbed a cup of coffee from the counter and knocked it down his throat, swallowing hastily. I cringed—even from a few feet away, I could tell that it was scorching hot.

Just as I was about to say something else, Karen walked in. She yawned, rubbing both of her eyes with her fists. Resentment bubbled inside of me like I was one of Ligeia’s kettles.

“Hi,” Karen said sleepily. She yawned again, this time not bothering to cover her mouth.

Steven smiled at her. I felt my hurt and confusion spin into a hot blend of anger. How the fuck can he be acting so normal, I thought. Two seconds ago, he was screaming at me.

“Rough night?” Karen glanced down at my muddy feet and ankles, wrinkling her nose. “God, Elizabeth, you could’ve at least washed,” she added. “That’s so gross.”

“Sorry,” I muttered. “I was sleepwalking. I couldn’t help it.”

Karen raised her eyebrows. “Oh,” she said.

I could tell she didn’t believe me.

“Anyway, I was just leaving,” Steven said. He smiled again, then grabbed his wallet and tucked it into his back pocket. He left the room without even looking at me.

As soon as he was gone, Karen frowned. “What’s wrong with you guys?” she asked, sidling closer.

I rolled my eyes. “Nothing.”

“Come on, I can totally tell he’s pissed at you.”

“I don’t know, Karen,” I said. I couldn’t keep irritation from seeping into my voice. “Just forget about it, okay?”

“You can talk to me,” Karen said sweetly. She sidled up to me. “We’re friends, aren’t we?”

“Just stay out of it,” I snapped. Turning around, I stalked out of the kitchen, down the hall, and onto the front porch. Steven stood in the yard, spinning his keys around on one finger.

When he saw me, he glared.

“I need some alone time,” Steven said. He shook his head in disgust. “You wouldn’t know the meaning of that, though.”

“Just tell me one thing,” I said sharply, walking closer. “Do you miss her?”

“What?” Steven narrowed his eyes. “Look, Elizabeth, whatever you’re playing at—I don’t have time for—”

“Do you miss her?” I repeated, raising my voice. At my sides, my hands balled into fists.

“You’re acting psycho,” Steven said. “Who are you even talking about?”

My gut twisted. “You know,” I said. “Andrea.”

“Who?”

“Don’t do this,” I warned, holding one fist in the air. All too late, I realized that I probably looked like I wanted to hit Steven. He realized it, too—his face went white and his shock of dirty-blonde hair flopped into his eyes.

“Elizabeth, just calm down,” Steven said. He darted to the side and put both hands on my shoulders.

Reluctantly, I lowered my fist.

“Just tell me,” I said hoarsely. The tears came rushing back and I bit my lip. “Just tell me, do you think about her? Do you miss her?”

“Elizabeth,” Steven said gently. “I really don’t know who you’re talking about.” He narrowed his eyes and reached up to put a hand on my forehead.

My heart twisted. “Your sister,” I said slowly. “Andrea. Remember?” I swallowed. “She… disappeared, back when we were still in high school.”

Steven narrowed his eyes. “Wow,” he said. He shook his head slowly, tossing his blonde hair like a dog shaking free of water. “I knew things were bad, but I had no idea they were this bad.”

“What does that even mean?” My heart slowly thudded in my chest. I licked my lips, suddenly dreading Steven’s answer.

“Elizabeth…I…” Steven trailed off. “You’re kidding, right? I mean, you can’t be serious right now.” He stepped closer, shielding his eyes with his hand. I could tell by the way the color had returned to his face that he was no longer angry with me, but I felt more confused than ever.

“I’m serious,” I said in a shaky voice. “I’ve been thinking about her lately. And I wondered if you missed her.” Because you always seemed to prefer her to me, I added in my head.

A wave of shame and guilt washed over me. Steven didn’t answer, he just shook his head. His mouth hung open—he looked completely devoid of words, unlike I’d ever seen him before.

“Elizabeth,” Steven said in a hushed voice. “I’m really worried about you.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why?”

“Because you’re obviously… dealing with something right now,” Steven said. “I mean, you don’t even want to talk about it.”

“I’m trying to talk to you,” I said, glaring. “But you’re acting like I’m crazy. Look,” I added quickly. “I can show you! I have pictures,” I said, thinking of the boxes with all of my high school memorabilia.

Steven gave me a strange look. “I’m really starting to have my doubts about you.”

My jaw dropped. “What?”

“You heard me,” Steven said. “Maybe we should, I don’t know. Put a pause on wedding planning right now.”

“What?”

Steven sighed. “I’m not going to stand here repeating myself to a crazy woman,” he muttered, more to himself than to me. “Elizabeth, this has to stop. You’ve got to cut this shit out.”

“Just tell me,” I said sharply. “Do you miss her?”

Steven came closer and put his hands on my shoulders. I shuddered as he leaned in close, staring into my eyes.

“Elizabeth,” Steven said evenly. “I never had a sister. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Did you… I don’t know, fall and hit your goddamned head last night?”

A numb feeling spread through my limbs. What’s going on here. I know I’m not going crazy. Why is he playing dumb? Does he feel guilty about what happened so long ago?

Does he feel like he could’ve saved her?

“I’m calling a doctor,” Steven said. “I want you to go to the hospital, Elizabeth. I’m serious about this.”

My heart jackhammered in my chest and suddenly, a burst of anger exploded inside me. Crying out, I pushed Steven away from me, using both hands to shove him in the chest. Normally, I wouldn’t have had the strength but I must’ve caught Steven off guard. He went stumbling backwards, tripping over his own feet and landing with a wet squelch! in the muddy yard.

Steven shook his head as he scrambled to his feet, wiping his palms on his dirtied jeans.

“That’s it,” he snapped. “I’m done. Fuck this,” he added bitterly.

With a fiery snap of rage, I pulled the ring off my finger and threw it at Steven’s face. He cried out in surprise as the huge, tacky diamond bounced off his cheek and fell to the ground, landing in the muck.

“I’m done, too,” I said. I sniffled. My heart pounded—what the fuck was I doing? Why was I antagonizing Steven like this—the only man who had ever loved me?

“I can see that,” Steven snapped curtly. He grabbed the muddy ring and shoved it into his pocket before rolling his eyes. I watched, silent, as he walked over to his car and climbed in behind the wheel.

“Bye, Elizabeth,” Steven said bitterly. “It’s been real.”

I couldn’t move. I couldn’t even breathe—I had to remind myself to keep inhaling and exhaling the fresh spring air. The engine in Steven’s car roared to life, then he spun out of the driveway, splashing muck into the air with the tires.

“Elizabeth?”

I turned and saw Karen standing there, looking dumb as a post.

“What?” I asked dully.

“You wanna talk about it?” Karen asked sweetly. “I can make some hot cocoa.” She walked over to me and put her hand on my shoulder, giving me a sympathetic glance.

“No,” I said coldly. “Leave me alone.”

“What happened?”

“Fuck off,” I snarled. I stalked back inside, slamming the door behind me and leaving a bewildered Karen in the yard.

Once I was back in the safety of my bedroom, I yanked off my pants and crawled in bed. The sheets were muddy and damp, but I didn’t care. I pulled the blankets over my head and reached for the nightstand, where my phone lay in a pile of keys and change.

My palms began to sweat as I dialed the number, then held the phone to my ear and pulled a pillow over my head.

He answered on the first ring.

“Hello?”

“Hi, David,” I said nervously. “It’s me.”

Chapter One

Elizabeth—Seven Years Ago

I woke and lay there for a few seconds before opening my eyes. The air was filled with the fresh scents of spring and I felt my lips curving into a lazy smile.

“Child, you must rise now.”

My eyes flew open. An ancient-looking woman with piercing blue eyes and white hair trailing down her back stood right beside where I lay, staring at me.

“Oh, my God,” I said. I sat up quickly and wrapped my arms around myself. A rough texture rubbed against my skin and I looked down to see that I was wearing some kind of homespun robe. My mouth went dry and my heart skipped a beat.

The woman laughed. “I’m not your god,” she said.

I started to tremble and shake.

“Where am I? How… how did I get here?” I glanced around in shock. I was in some kind of hut, with no door. Outside, the trees were lush and verdant. It looked like the middle of summer.

I shivered.

The woman didn’t answer. She stepped closer and cocked her head to the side. “Yes… yes, you’ll do,” she said. “I admit I had my doubts, but yes, this should work.”

“What are you talking about?” I shook with fear as I spoke. I reached for the rough blanket over me and wrapped it snugly around my body.

“Child, you couldn’t possibly have caught a chill,” the woman said. She shook her head. “Tis eternal summer.”

I blinked at her. What the heck is going on. I bit my lip, sneaking furtive glances around. The last thing I remember… fuck! What happened?

“Your friend has delivered you to the coven,” the woman said. “I’m Ligeia—I’m the High Priestess.”

I shivered, but my fear slowly ebbed.

“I know,” I said. I hadn’t known—at least, not until she’d told me. But somehow, deep down, I’d known, like an instinct.

“Come, child,” Ligeia said. “There is much to do.”

When I crawled out of bed, I realized my joints were stiff and ached.

“Where’s Monica?”

Ligeia didn’t reply. She put her wizened hands on my shoulders and guided me to the stone hearth. A small black cauldron boiled, and the air closer to the fire smelled bitter, spicy, and herbaceous.

“Give me your hand, child,” Ligeia said. Without waiting for my consent, she took my hand and turned it palm up, studying the fine lines and wrinkles.

When she didn’t speak for a few seconds, I felt nervous.

“What are you looking for?” I asked, feeling dumb.

Ligeia tossed her white hair over one bony shoulder. “I cannot say.”

I narrowed my eyes. Before I could reply, Ligeia pulled a knife from the folds of her robes. I gasped—it was identical to the knife that Monica and I’d found in the woods by her house, months ago. The morning after that disastrous party. I shivered. That seems like such a long time ago.

Ligeia sliced the air with the knife, closing her eyes dramatically and inhaling the steam from the cauldron. Then she gripped my hand tighter than before. She sliced my palm with the knife, then squeezed the ripped flesh and flipped my hand upside down over the fire. I gasped in pain as blood dripped from my palm. When it landed against the hot fireplace, it sizzled. The air was filled with the smell of iron and meat and I coughed, closing my eyes. Still, Ligeia kept a firm grip on my hand.

“The pain will pass, child,” Ligeia said. She finally released me and I snapped my arm back, cradling it against my chest.

“Ouch,” I mumbled. “What the heck was that for?”

Ligeia didn’t answer—I got the feeling that she only spoke when it amused her to do so. She rose from her kneeling position, then walked over to a small table and smashed something green with a mortar and pestle. For a few moments, the hut was filled with the sound of Ligeia scraping the herbs to a fine pulp. When she was finished, she poured the herbs into her hand and walked over to me.

“Give me your hand,” Ligeia said. Again, she took my wrist before I was ready to consent. As she rubbed the herbal mixture into the cut on my palm, I squirmed and twisted.

“It doesn’t hurt,” Ligeia said, obviously annoyed. “Come, child. Tell me—are you really in pain?”

I looked down at my oozing wound, ready to say yes. But then I realized she was absolutely right—somehow, the pain had completely vanished. I couldn’t believe my eyes—my skin had sealed itself back together in a matter of seconds.

“What… how… what happened?” I gasped, clutching my hand. “How did you do that?”

Ligeia’s lips curled into a faint smile.

“Come,” she said. “As I said, there is much to do.”

Ligeia led me out of the small hut and into a clearing filled with lush, soft grass. She pointed at the ground.

“Sit,” Ligeia said. “The others will arrive shortly.”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to relax. The ordeal in the hut hadn’t been that bad—but what if that was just the beginning? I shivered as I realized that I’d never once asked Monica exactly what kind of things would happen if the coven decided to initiate me.

I’m sure she wouldn’t have brought me anywhere dangerous. I glanced around, trying to see my best friend. I mean, she wouldn’t have done that. Right?

Still, I didn’t feel much calmer. Ligeia and I sat together in silence. She crossed her legs under her robes and cocked her head to the side.

“Tell me, child, how many years are you?”

“Fifteen,” I said nervously. “Same as Monica.”

Ligeia nodded slowly. “She is elder,” she said.

“Not by much,” I said quickly. “Just a couple of months.”

“I don’t mean in age,” Ligeia replied. “Monica is a serious soul.”

“I know.”

It felt strange to be discussing my best friend with someone I’d never met. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy—did Ligeia know Monica better than I? Did Monica prefer being with the coven to being at home? Before all of this crazy stuff had started happening, I would’ve thought Monica was one of the most well-adjusted people I’d ever met.

But now I seriously wondered.

“The others are arriving,” Ligeia said in a low voice.

I glanced around, twisting and craning my neck. “I don’t see anyone.”

“Hush,” Ligeia said sternly. “Close your eyes. Open your mind. Listen.”

Frowning, I closed my eyes and tried to listen. I felt like an idiot sitting there, rolling my head on my neck. But then, I heard the faint but unmistakable sound of footsteps crunching through the woods. My heart skipped a beat and I shivered.

The low sound of chanting filled my ears and goose flesh broke out all over my body. Soon, I could feel the air swishing from the motions of the others.

“Now, child, open your eyes,” Ligeia said. “But don’t move until I instruct you.”

I opened my eyes and gasped. An old man—he looked ancient, at least as old as Ligeia—with wrinkled skin and dark eyes stood directly in front of me. Ligeia stood and the man kneeled at the ground, kissing her through her robes right where her pelvis would be.

“Priestess,” the man whispered. Ligeia closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and placed her hand on the top of his white head. They stood like that together, frozen in time and space, for such a long time that I started to wonder whether or not they were actually breathing. Then the moment broke. Ligeia pulled her hand back to her side and the man climbed to his feet.

I’d been so busy staring at the weird little display that I hadn’t noticed multiple other people filter into the clearing. They were all clad in black robes, with hoods covering their heads. They formed a loose circle around me. I tried to look for Monica, but she was nowhere in sight.

Ligeia beckoned to me. “Come, child,” she said.

I stood and walked over to her on two unsteady legs. Ligeia pulled at the rough homespun material of my robe, pulling it over my head and tossing it to the ground. I cried out, covering my body with both hands in an attempt to shield my breasts and pubic triangle.

“Like this,” Ligeia said. She took my hands and pressed them down at my sides. My face burned with shame and embarrassment. I couldn’t see the faces of the robed people, but being naked while everyone else was still clothed made me deeply uncomfortable. I groaned under my breath.

“Come, Henrik,” Ligeia said to the old man. He stepped forward and I gasped when I saw that he carried a wooden bowl full of thick, red liquid.

Ligeia dipped the point of her knife into the liquid, then pressed it lightly to my skin. I cried out, thinking that she meant to cut. But the blade of the knife almost tickled as she dragged it in light lines over my naked, quivering belly. I shook with fear as she traced a symbol in red on my pale skin.

“The pentagram represents us, child,” Ligeia said calmly. “The elements of the earth—that is from where we draw our strength. We must never harm the earth, we must never anger the Goddess.”

I glanced down. There was a five-pointed star painted in dripping paint on my belly. When I breathed, the points of the star quivered and shook.

Ligeia touched one of my shoulders with the blade of her knife, lying it against my skin. I squirmed—the sharp edge of the blade was now dangerously close to my neck—but Ligeia pressed the flat blade firmly into my skin.

“You must swear your loyalty,” Ligeia said. “You must swear to obey the coven, to obey the earth.”

I nodded.

“Say it, child.”

“I’ll obey,” I said in a shaky voice. “I’ll be forever loyal to the coven.”

This time, my answer seemed to satisfy Ligeia. She tucked the knife away. It still felt strange to be standing there naked, but oddly I felt myself relaxing—almost as if I’d taken some kind of a powerful drug.

Henrik, the old man, waved his hand through the air. As if on perfect cue, the robed people began to chant and sway. They moved in a slow circle around me, joining hands and moving rhythmically back and forth as they sang in a low, dull tone that filled me with dread.

My mind slipped away and soon, it was a struggle to stay standing with my eyes open. Ligeia’s blue eyes flashed and she stepped forward, handing me an earthenware mug filled with a potent-smelling brew.

“Drink, child. Drink until the mug is emptied.”

I swallowed nervously as Ligeia held the cup to my lips. At first, I couldn’t taste anything. Then a bitter, unpleasant shock exploded in my mouth and I shuddered. I choked on the liquid but Ligeia pinched my nose with two fingers and tilted my head back, forcing the liquid into my mouth and down my throat. When it was done, I felt like my whole digestive system was on fire. Tears filled my eyes and I coughed, choking hard when Ligeia took the mug away.

“Sleep, now,” Ligeia said. She waved her hand over my face. Like magic, I dropped to the ground and curled up in the soft grass. My vision grew hazy and it was a struggle to keep my eyes open. The robed people still chanted and sung, and it seemed like the sounds blurred together as I curled my arms around my legs.

That was the last thing I remember before I fell asleep.

---

When I woke, my head ached and my limbs felt swollen and sore. Everything hurt. My nose, my cheeks, my lips—even my eyelashes seemed to ache with every throb of my heartbeat. I lay in bed, in the hut, but this time it was dark. The hut was filled with a warm, smoky, almost sweet smell.

“Child, you’ve awakened,” Ligeia said.

I stared at her. “I feel awful,” I mumbled. “God, I think I’m gonna throw up.”

Ligeia nodded. “It’s a side effect,” she said.

“Of what?” Trying to think back was like wading through a fog. “What did… was that drink drugged?”

Ligeia smiled faintly, but she didn’t reply.

“What the hell?” I said.

“You did promise your loyalty.”

Fuck.

I nodded. “Right,” I said. “Look, is Monica here? I want to talk to her.”

Ligeia didn’t reply. “How are you feeling?”

“I told you, I feel fucking terrible,” I said in exasperation. “What’s going on? What did you do to me?”

“We initiated you,” Ligeia said. She raised an eyebrow and for a second, I had the oddest feeling that she was judging me.

“Obviously,” I snapped.

“Soon you’ll return to your world; you’ve been gone a long time,” Ligeia said.

“And then what?” I narrowed my eyes. “Look… I wanted to join because I thought I could help, you know, with Jaffrey,” I said. “How am I supposed to do anything if I’m not even here?”

“We’ll summon you when you’re needed,” Ligeia said.

“But I won’t be able to come back on my own?”

Ligeia shook her head. “No,” she said. “You’ll only be able to find the coven on your own after you become much more powerful.”

“But how am I supposed to become more powerful if you send me away?”

Ligeia gave me an odd look. “What is it with you children now?” she said. “So argumentative. Are you no longer instructed to obey your elders?”

I blushed.

“Just trust me, child,” Ligeia said. “Henrik and I are much older, and much wiser. We know that what we’re doing is for the best of everyone involved.”

I blinked. “Things are so… bad at home,” I said softly. “I can’t go back there. What if something happens to me and I can’t get back? Or what if something happens to Monica?”

“Trust me, child,” Ligeia said. “I won’t allow anything to go wrong.”

But things are already going wrong. I thought back to the terror that had suddenly become my hometown. Things are much worse than I ever could have imagined.

“I know, you don’t believe me,” Ligeia said.

“Stop reading my mind,” I snapped.

Ligeia tutted. Just as I was about to say something else, she clapped her hands three times. The room was filled with an inky, dark smoke that filled my senses and made me cough.

“Ligeia,” I cried loudly. “I can’t breathe! Help!”

The smoke only grew more intense and soon, all I could see were swirls of black in front of my eyes. I felt strange, like my stomach was about to drop out of my body, and when I reached out to steady myself, my hands only groped air.

The smoke faded but the weird sensation in my belly grew stronger and stronger. I cried out for help, desperately trying to anchor myself to the ground but then I realized I was falling.

When the smoke finally cleared, I landed hard on something soft and firm.

I gasped.

I was no longer in the woods.

I was in my bed.

Chapter Two

It took me a moment to realize that Ligeia had somehow transported me instantly from the coven to my bedroom. How had she done that? And furthermore, why the heck hadn’t Monica told me that things would be so… weird?

I wasn’t sure what I’d been expecting, honestly. My knowledge of witches and witchcraft was pretty limited. Mom and Dad didn’t like me watching scary movies—I’d loved them when I was a kid, but after I started having nightmares, Mom said no more. It felt a little ridiculous… after all, I wasn’t a kid anymore.

But I couldn’t lie—the whole initiation process had spooked the hell out of me.

I hadn’t been in my room for more than five seconds when the door opened. Mom stepped inside, glancing around.

“Oh, you’re back,” she said.

I frowned. “Uh…”

Mom shook her head. “Don’t worry about making excuses,” she said in a strangely toneless voice. “I don’t need to know, Elizabeth.”

“I’m sorry, I was—”

Mom held up her hand. I noticed that her eyes looked strangely glassy.

“Really, Elizabeth, it’s fine. Just don’t fall behind in school.” Mom yawned. “You feel like having dinner with us downstairs?”

My stomach was still weak and aching from whatever poison Ligeia had fed me, but I didn’t want to make any waves. I couldn’t believe my mom was acting so casually—normally she was the type to freak if I was gone for more than a few hours.

“Um, Mom,” I said, sliding off my bed and stretching. “How long was I gone?”

My mom turned to me and cocked her head to the side. “I… I don’t know,” she said. “A few weeks?” She shrugged. “I figured you and Monica were off, doing something fun. Anything would be better than hanging around here,” she added. “So, it’s not really like I can be mad, huh?”

I stared. Am I dreaming, I wondered as I looked around my room. But the clock on the wall seemed to be correct, and my computer screen looked normal. Appliances don’t work in dreams. So this must be real. But why is she acting so strangely?

“Are you okay, honey?”

“Yeah,” I said quickly. “I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

Mom nodded. “Okay, honey,” she said. “You look a little pale.”

You think, I thought sarcastically. I’ve been stranded in the woods for weeks with a bunch of weirdo witches who literally poisoned me.

Mom gave me a tentative smile, then walked out of my room, leaving the door open. As soon as she was down the hall, I quickly shut my door and lifted my shirt.

There was no trace of Ligeia’s pentagram, or the red paint.

Weird.

I went down to dinner, half-expecting it to be a set-up where my mom unleashed anger at me for being gone so long. But if anything, it was one of the most normal dinners we’d ever had. Dad had his nose stuck in a paper, and my younger brother, Aidan, spent the whole time complaining.

When Mom mentioned something about a militia, the hair on the back of my neck stood up.

“What’s going on?” I tried to keep my voice as casual as possible. “Did something else happen?”

Mom sighed. “Oh, honey—jeez, I’m glad you were gone for so long. You weren’t around to see all of this.”

I narrowed my eyes. “All of… what?”

Mom bit her lip. “The neighbors went missing,” she said. “At least… that’s what your father and I thought.”

I stared at her. There were so many inconsistencies that I had no idea where I should even begin. For one thing, why did my mom care more about the neighbors vanishing than her own daughter? And had it occurred to her that they could have kidnapped me? Something very unusual is going on. I bit my lip, squirming in my seat.

“Did they come home?” I asked quietly.

Mom shook her head. “Linda died,” she said.

“What?” My jaw dropped. “She was so young! They’d only been married for what, like five years?”

Mom nodded. “Yes,” she said. “There was a coroner’s hearse at the house with a plain coffin. No funeral.” She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “It wasn’t allowed,” she added.

A chill ran down my spine. “What?”

“Yes,” Mom said hesitantly. She glanced at Aidan, but he was too concerned poking his food. “She… well, honey, she was accused of witchcraft. Her body was burned.”

I swallowed. The food in my mouth turned to ash as I stared at my mother in disbelief.

“You’re kidding,” I said softly.

“No,” Mom said. She sighed. “It was terrible.”

I licked my lips and forced myself to swallow. “I should really start to get caught up on homework,” I said. “I probably missed a lot.”

Mom nodded. She still had that faraway, dreamy look in her eyes. “Yes,” she said. “That’s a good idea.”

I shivered as I climbed the stairs and locked myself in my room. I had no intention of doing my homework. Instead, I grabbed my phone and dialed Monica.

Come on, I prayed as the phone rang and rang. Come on, pick up! I need to talk to you!

Monica’s voicemail came on and I sighed in disgust, hanging up before the chance to leave a message. Just as I was about to pull on my jacket and start the walk over to her house, my phone buzzed.

“Hello?”

“It’s me,” Monica said quickly. “What’s up?”

“Are you home right now?”

“Not exactly.”

“Are you with David?”

“Elizabeth, what’s up?” Monica said. She sounded weary. “Did you just get back?”

“Yeah,” I said. “Look, I really need to talk to you. What the fuck is going on with my parents?”

Monica sighed. “I’m sorry, Elizabeth. I can’t meet up right now. I’m working.”

“On what?”

There was a pause and I swallowed hard.

“Oh,” I said quietly.

“Yeah,” Monica said. “I’m sorry—I’m working with Henrik right now, and I can’t really take time off. We have to figure things out.”

“I see. How did you know I called then? You can’t possibly have a phone in the co—the you know,” I said quickly.

“I sensed it.”

I raised my eyebrows. “You must be getting stronger.”

“Yes.”

I sighed. “Okay. I’m sorry… I just… it feels really weird to be back here. My parents are acting like zombies and I have no idea what I’m supposed to do in order to help them.”

“It’s because of Henrik,” Monica said quietly. “It’s… something he does. Remember when you went to see Jamie and Brian last fall?”

“Oh.” I felt like an idiot. Why didn’t I realize they were being manipulated, I thought angrily.

“Yeah. Look, Elizabeth—I’ve got to go. I’ll see you soon, okay?”

“Okay.” A lump formed in my throat. I’d so been looking forward to seeing my best friend again that I felt a sudden wave of intense sadness.

“Bye.”

“Bye,” I echoed.

Monica hung up and I flopped down on my bed, closing my eyes. This is so fucked up. I can’t even talk to the only other person in town who knows what’s going on… and it’s Henrik’s fault. Damn that old man, I added silently, snuggling into the blankets and resting my head on the pillows.

Damn him.

---

The next morning, I got dressed and decided that I’d set out in search of the coven. Ligeia had told me that I wouldn’t be able to find it on my own, but I wondered if she’d been lying.

But hours later, after walking in literal circles, I felt discouraged. The sun sunk low in the sky by the time I got back home. Just as I was about to cross my yard and go into the garage, I heard a car pull up behind me. Great. This is seriously just what I need. I held my hands in the air, prepared to be dragged to jail once again.

“Elizabeth?”

That didn’t sound like a cop.

Turning around, I saw Steven standing there with a big, goofy grin on his face. “I thought that was you,” he added. “How are you?”

“I’m fine,” I lied. “How are you?”

Steven stepped closer. His eyes sparkled with something… strange, something I’d only seen once before. A chill ran down my spine when I recognized the intense look—Steven had looked the exact same way, right before we’d had sex for the first (and only) time.

“I’m great now that you’re here,” Steven said. He grinned. “I missed you. Where did you go, anyway?”

“I stayed with a cousin,” I lied. “My, uh, my mom thought it would be good for me to get out town for a few days.”

Steven laughed. “More like a few weeks,” he said. He stepped closer and reached for my hand. When our fingers touched, a shock crossed from his touch to mine. “You really know how to drive a guy wild,” he added. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

I blushed. This is new. Why is being like this? He’s normally so… standoffish!

“Come on,” Steven said. He glanced mournfully into my eyes. “Don’t tell me—you didn’t miss me, too?”

I bit my lip. “Of course I did,” I said quietly. “I really missed being home.”

Steven fell silent for a minute. When he leaned in to kiss me, I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around his neck. His nose was cold against my cheek, but his lips were warm and dry and safe somehow, almost like I’d found a refuge from the storm raging in my mind.

“Mn,” Steven purred into my mouth. He put his hands on my waist and pulled me closer. Just as I started to relax, the sound of a police siren made me leap backwards. Steven groaned as we both put our hands into the air.

“It’s barely dark,” I grumbled under my breath. “When is this stupid curfew going to end?”

The air was filled with blueberry and cherry lights, flashing on and off in a frantic pattern that made me want to vomit. As the car slowed to a stop, a portly cop got out and cocked his head to the side.

“Elizabeth Hartsell?”

“Yeah,” I said miserably. “I know. I broke curfew.”

“Don’t you live right there?”

I frowned. “Yeah,” I said. “Do you want me to get my mom?”

“No. That’s fine, you go on inside.”

I snuck a glance at Steven. His jaw hung open—he was clearly as surprised as I felt.

“What about Steven?”

“You leave Mr. D’Amico to me,” the cop said, speaking harshly to him for the first time.

“He was just leaving,” I said quickly. “We weren’t doing anything wrong.”

“Elizabeth, I told you to go in the house,” the cop said.

I blinked. He’s not even looking at me. What the hell is going on?

“Elizabeth, go,” Steven said in a low voice. He didn’t tear his eyes away from the uniformed officer. “I’ll deal with this, okay? Just go inside.”

Reluctantly, I wrapped my arms around my torso and walked quickly into my house. The downstairs was dark and silent, and I snuck into the living room and peeped out the front blinds, waiting to see what would happen.

I couldn’t hear the cop’s voice—or Steven’s—but judging from their body language, I knew something bad was about to happen. Sure enough, after a minute or two of arguing back and forth, the cop tied Steven’s hands with zip ties and herded him into the back of his car. As they pulled away, the sounds of the siren made me shiver.

“Elizabeth?”

I jumped a foot into the air, gasping and clutching my chest.

“Oh, honey, I didn’t mean to startle you,” Mom said. She was frowning. “What are you doing all by yourself in the dark?”

I bit my lip. Then I remembered what Monica had told me. Might as well tell her the truth. It’s not like she’s going to be mad.

“I was out walking and I ran into Steven,” I said slowly. “A cop pulled up but he just told me to go inside, even though I broke curfew. But he took Steven,” I added. “His car is still out there.”

Mom frowned. “Maybe the officer figured you’d learned your lesson?”

I narrowed my eyes. “I guess,” I mumbled. “I’m gonna go to bed.”

“Okay, honey,” Mom chirped. I wondered if she knew it was only seven-thirty. “Sleep well. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.”

I nodded and climbed the stairs. I didn’t think I’d be able to sleep, but I wanted to be away from everything that was going on. My life was turning into some kind of weird fantasy movie, and I couldn’t wait for the credits to start rolling.

The next morning, I was shocked when Steven’s name flashed across my cell phone.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Elizabeth,” Steven said. He sounded warm and happy. “You want to take a walk?”

I frowned. “What happened last night?”

“Oh, yeah, that wasn’t so bad…” Steven trailed off. “I wasn’t held for very long. Andrea came downtown and they let me go.”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course she did.” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I regretted them—Steven would probably snap at me and tell me I didn’t know what I was talking about.

“Yeah,” Steven agreed. “She can be a little much sometimes.”

My jaw dropped in shock.

“So, Elizabeth, can I see you? I really miss you,” Steven added.

“Okay. Um, do you want to meet at my house?”

“Sure. I’ll walk over and just take my car home with me.”

When we hung up the phone, I raced into the bathroom and tried to make my hair look presentable. After a light coat of mascara and a swipe of neutral lipstick, I didn’t think I looked too bad. I can’t believe he’s so excited to see me. To be honest, I wasn’t as happy about Steven’s attention as I knew I should be. If anything, it just felt weird. Maybe I should go away more often.

But thinking about going away just reminded me of the coven, and of Monica. I missed her so badly that it hurt.

By the time Steven knocked on my front door, I was deeply in thought about my friend. Thinking about the details of the coven was hard—everything was a blur in my mind—but I felt more frustrated than ever. I didn’t understand why Henrik and Ligeia had agreed to initiate me if they wouldn’t even need my help.

It just didn’t make sense.

“Hey, earth to Elizabeth,” Steven said. He snapped his fingers in front of my face. “You okay? You’re really spacing out.”

“Yeah, sorry,” I said. “I was just… thinking about my cousin, that’s all.”

“I hope you didn’t meet any guys while you were gone,” Steven said.

I stared at him. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Of course I’m not kidding,” Steven said. “I really like you, Elizabeth,” he said. He grabbed my hand and I blinked as his eyes filled with passion.

“I like you, too,” I said quietly. I still did—but somehow, this change in Steven was alarming… even more alarming than the other stuff going on in my life. What the hell did he want from me, exactly?

“This is nice,” Steven replied. He guided me into the woods, along a shady path. The day was mild for winter—some of the snow and ice was finally starting to melt—but I couldn’t help remembering the vivid green grass of the coven. It hadn’t occurred to me at the time, but suddenly I knew that everything had been magicked together. I shivered. And the initiation, I thought nervously. Was that magick, too?

“Elizabeth, hey,” Steven said. He glared at me. “What’s with you? Your mind is all over the place today. I’ve been talking to you for like, five minutes and you’ve barely even nodded.”

I frowned. “Sorry,” I said. “I guess I’m feeling a little distracted.”

“No shit,” Steven muttered under his breath. He led me into a dark grove of trees and pulled me close, kissing me deeply. I kissed him back, but all the while my mind kept wandering. Henrik. Ligeia. The Coven. Monica. The other witches. Andrea.

What did it all mean?

When cold air hit my bare stomach, I yelped and opened my eyes. Steven had lifted my shirt and he stroked my belly, right where Ligeia had painted the pentagram.

“You’re so hot,” Steven growled. He tried fumbling with the snap of my jeans but I pushed his hand away.

“I don’t think we should,” I said, glancing around. The truth was, I’d never felt less turned on in my whole life.

“Why not?” Steven grinned. He took my hands and held them over my head, pressing me against a tree and kissing me deeply. After a few seconds, he pulled away and narrowed his eyes. “What’s your problem?” Steven asked. “What’s wrong?”

I shrugged, feeling helpless. “I don’t know,” I said. “Look, I’m sorry—I just don’t feel like doing this right now.”

Desperate lust flickered in Steven’s eyes. “Elizabeth, I need you,” he growled. “Come on, it’s been weeks!”

I stared at him and yanked my hands free, putting them on my hips and tugging down my shirt.

“It’s not my responsibility to get you off,” I said, narrowing my eyes. “You’re not being very respectful.”

“I love you, Elizabeth,” Steven said urgently. “I need you. Right now, come on. No one will know, if that’s what you’re worried about. I’ll make sure you don’t get in trouble. I’ll tell Andrea to help you, so don’t worry.”

My jaw dropped. He’s seriously going to fuck me and then have his sister try to save me? When she’s clearly obsessed with him?

“Elizabeth, I’m serious,” Steven said. He leaned in to kiss me again but I darted to the side and he wound up with a mouthful of my hair. “What’s your fucking problem?” Steven snapped.

I pushed him away with more force than necessary. Steven staggered backwards and looked up at me with wide eyes. For a moment, I felt bad—he looked like a lost little puppy. But then he glared and the tiny amount of sympathy in my heart vanished.

“You’re a tease,” Steven said coldly. “If you loved me, you’d sleep with me.”

I shook my head. “Steven, I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “But right now, I don’t know what I want.”

Turning on my heel, I broke into a run and started out of the forest. Behind me, I could hear Steven wailing and ranting in frustration, but I never turned around.

Not once.

Something really weird is going on. I stumbled through the woods in a blind panic. I didn’t know what was happening… but I feared the worst. Obviously, something had taken hold of Steven while I was away. The tables had finally turned—now he was the one desperately pursuing me. And even though I know I should’ve been happy, all I felt was fright.

Chapter Three

Monica

I was spending so much time with Henrik that I hadn’t been to school in over three weeks.

Not that it really mattered—Andrea’s crazy witch hunt had effectively shut Jaffrey down. The only kids who even went to school anymore were the small ones, in elementary school. And because Andrea was such a master fucking manipulator, no one even thought of it.

If we get out of this, I’m going to have to repeat the tenth grade, I thought angrily. What a crock of shit.

Henrik had left me with a grave warning. “Time is running out,” he’d said. “And you must act quickly if you want to win.”

“You keep saying that,” I’d replied, obviously annoyed. “Come on, how much worse can things get?”

Henrik’s next words chilled me to the bone. “You must follow her,” he’d said. “You must begin to make a plan to end her life.”

So now, I was reduced to following Andrea D’Amico around like some kind of third-rate private investigator. It galled me—I didn’t even have a car, how the hell was I supposed to stalk someone successfully? Why couldn’t this have happened after I got my license, I lamented as I left Jamie and Brian’s house, just before sunrise. It would have been a lot more comfortable, at least.

I’d barely had any time to myself in weeks. I hadn’t talked to David in days, and I felt guilty about ignoring Elizabeth… but it wasn’t like I could call her and talk magick. Everyone knew that the phone lines around town were still bugged, and I wasn’t about to risk ruining anything further, just for the sake of a friendship.

Just then, I remembered something Ligeia had told me once. “Magick is cold,” she’d said. “Don’t expect it to keep you warm.”

I shivered.

By the time I got to the D’Amicos’ house, the sun was almost up. I snuck into the bushes and sat down with my knees to my chest and my arms wrapped around them. This is ridiculous. I can’t believe I’m staking her out like a freaking sniper.

I didn’t have to wait long. After I’d been hiding for about twenty minutes, the front door opened. Andrea skipped out, looking happy and summery. There was a wide smile fixed on her face that made me shiver. Before all of this shit had started happening, Andrea had only smiled like that when she talked about church.

And she’d never smiled like that at me.

“Mother,” Andrea called.

I ducked further down into the bush, covering my face with leaves.

“Yes, darling?” Mrs. D’Amico came out of the house, her eyes glazed and shiny. “What can I do for you?”

“Mother, I feel like going to the police station,” Andrea said. “Will you drive me downtown?”

I shivered as Andrea’s grin grew a shade wider.

“Anything you’d like,” Mrs. D’Amico said in a mechanical voice. “Anything for you, darling.”

“Good,” Andrea said. Her smile was momentarily replaced by the biggest smirk I’d ever seen. “I want to have everyone start praying and repenting in jail. They won’t be allowed to go anymore, at least, not until they’ve properly shown forgiveness. Did you know that four more teenagers were apprehended last night?”

“No, darling, I had no idea.” As she approached the driveway, Mrs. D’Amico’s eyes grew even glassier. “What a wonderful idea.”

“I know,” Andrea said in a sing-song voice.

As the two passed by the bushes, I shuddered. This is getting worse, I realized when Andrea and her mother climbed into a car and drove away. Henrik was right.

Once the car had left, I darted into the woods and made straight for the coven. Henrik and Ligeia told me that I’d been getting much stronger lately. While I didn’t necessarily believe them, I did have a much easier time finding their secret magick place. This time, it only took me fifteen minutes.

Henrik didn’t look surprised to see me. “Child,” he said. “You have news.”

I told him what I’d heard and he sighed heavily, resting his chin on his fist. I wasn’t sure how old Henrik was—ancient, probably—but he did look as though he’d aged ten years in the past week or so. I knew this put an intense strain on him… and I almost felt guilty about it.

“She’s controlling everyone,” I said, shaking my head and flopping down in the grass. “She’s nuts.”

“Yes, child,” Henrik said. “And you know the solution, don’t you?”

My stomach rumbled. “We have to kill her.”

“Not just kill her, per se,” Henrik said slowly. “You must cut out her heart, and then the coven must burn it. That is the only way the spirit of Prudence will finally pass on. We must destroy her heart.”

I shivered. “How am I supposed to do that?”

Henrik shrugged. “You’re a smart child,” he said. “You’ll figure it out. Trust me.”

I shrugged. “I don’t feel very smart right now,” I said. I shuddered again. The air of the magicked clearing was warm, but a chill passed through my body at the thought of committing such a terrible, violent act.

“You’ll know when the time has come,” Henrik said. He sighed.

“I don’t know that I can do this,” I said quickly. “Can’t anyone else? What if I pointed you right to her and then someone else from the coven took care of it?”

Henrik shook his head. “It has to be you. She is your sworn enemy, and you’re the only one strong enough to resist her control.”

I narrowed my eyes.

Monica, you must not lose confidence in yourself,” Henrik continued. “I know that it sounds brutal—and believe me, it is. But this is no longer your choice. It’s your fate.”

I sighed heavily, my shoulders sagging with the effort. “I know,” I said. “I just hate the idea of killing.”

“You’ll feel differently once the task at hand has been completed,” Henrik said. “I promise, Monica.”

“You’d better be right,” I mumbled. I got to my feet and brushed my hands off on my thighs, preparing to go back to Jaffrey.

“And Monica?”

“Yeah?” I turned around. “What?”

“David can take care of himself.”

“What?” I narrowed my eyes. “What does that even mean?”

Henrik’s expression grew solemn. “He was arrested, just now,” he said. “For attempting to sneak into Jaffrey and contact you.”

My heart sank and my stomach twisted into knots. All thoughts of apprehension vanished and I balled my hands into angry fists.

“That bitch,” I spat through clenched teeth.

“Yes,” Henrik said. He nodded. For the first time, he gave me an approving glance. “You know what you must do.”

I’m coming for you, Prudence, I thought, picturing Andrea’s sickly sweet smile. And this time, you won’t be able to escape.

---

As soon as I got back to Jaffrey, I knew that I had to work fast. I waited all day, hiding in a crouched position outside of the D’Amicos, for Andrea to return. Knowing that she was forcing David to beg forgiveness angered me more than almost anything that had happened so far. She’s a little self-righteous bitch, I thought from my hiding place. And I’m going to make sure that this stops.

Soon.

I waited for hours, pinching myself to stay awake. Finally, Andrea appeared in the driveway. Thankfully, she was alone. She skipped and sang under her breath—some kind of ancient-sounding nursery rhyme that sent me into a cold panic. Suddenly, I wondered if I’d be able to do it. When the time came, would I actually be able to take a life?

Andrea skipped up the drive and onto the porch. I waited for a few seconds as I listened to the sound of her fumbling with her own keys to let herself inside. As soon as I heard the swing of the door, I leapt up and ran onto the porch.

Andrea turned and gasped when she saw me. Her smile faded and she pressed her lips into an angry, thin line.

“What are you doing here?” Andrea growled.

I swallowed hard. Her voice sounded at least twice as deep as normal, and it was uncanny to hear such a low sound coming from such a petite body.

“You know,” I said. I stepped forward and reached into my bag. As soon as my fingers closed around my athame, I dropped the bag and brandished the blade.

“You think you’re going to kill me?” Andrea laughed. “Nice try. You can’t.”

“I can,” I growled, advancing and holding my blade high. “And I will.”

Monica’s eyes flashed with an ancient fire. “You won’t,” she said. “You won’t get away with this.”

Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I moved forward for the attack. As soon as I leapt into the air and tried to plunge the knife towards Andrea, she grabbed my wrists with surprising strength. We landed on the floor together in a heap of tangled limbs, and I could barely breathe before Andrea swung a hard punch at my jaw.

Andrea’s fist connected with the side of my face and I cried out in pain. My heart thumped and for the first time in what felt like weeks, I felt very real fear stinging me. This could be it. This could be the end.

“You… can’t… kill… me,” Andrea growled. She made a mad swipe for my throat and I knocked her away, sending her frail body crashing to the floor. But before I could get up, Andrea pounced on me again and pinned me down. She glared at me with triumph as she reached for my athame and held it in one hand.

“You think you’re so fast,” Andrea said, her eyes glittering. “But you don’t know anything, Monica. You don’t know anything about how strong I really am.”

I reached for my knife but Andrea put her hand around my throat and squeezed. Spots of black and yellow flashed in front of my vision and I cried out as she tightened her grip, trying to squeeze the air out of my body.

“Gah,” I gurgled, frantically swinging my arms and trying to attack. I could barely form words, and I felt lightheaded. This is the end, I realized with a frantic kind of clarity. This is it. I’m going to die. I can’t take her over—I’m not strong enough.

Andrea leaned over me and glared, narrowing her eyes. Her childlike face suddenly took on sinister shadowing, and she curled her lips into a demonic smile. Just as I felt the last breath leave my body, Andrea released her grip and leapt to her feet.

“I’ll let you live,” she sneered. “This time.”

Coughing and hacking, I rolled onto my side and covered my mouth with my hands. My face burned bright red and I was still weak, but I got to my feet and made a grab for the athame. Andrea kicked it out of the way and my heart sank as I saw it sliding under her living room couch.

“No more knife for you,” Andrea said. She snickered. “You weren’t even strong enough to use it, Monica. You’re pathetic,” she sneered.

I scrambled to my feet.

“Go on,” Andrea said. “You can leave.” She smiled smugly and I felt a surge of hatred stronger than anything else I’d ever felt. “Just know that next time, you won’t be so lucky.”

“There won’t be a next time,” I growled under my breath as I walked to the front door. Because the next time, you’ll be dead, I added in my head.

Andrea burst out laughing. Her shrill cackles made my eardrums ache. Even after I’d left her house and started running to Elizabeth’s, I could still hear her voice in my ears.

“Monica…”

A ghastly voice surrounded me and I stopped, gazing in every direction.

“Monica… Monica… You must act quickly…”

“Henrik?” I called loudly, feeling like a complete idiot for speaking to thin air. “Is that you?”

“Monica… she will triumph…”

I shuddered and broke into an achingly fast run, all the way to Elizabeth’s. When I got there, I burst inside without even knocking.

Elizabeth was sitting on the couch. She gave me a startled look before leaping up and pulling me into a tight hug.

“What the hell?” Elizabeth demanded as she hugged me tightly. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I grabbed Elizabeth’s hand and pulled her up the stairs. As soon as we were in her room, with the door locked safely behind us, I turned to her and burst into tears.

Elizabeth gazed at me with alarm. “Oh, my God,” she said. She handed me a box of tissues. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you cry before. What happened? Something with David?”

“Are your parents home?”

“No, not for hours,” Elizabeth said. “Neither is Aidan.”

In fits and starts and gasps, I told her the whole story. Henrik, the humiliating way Andrea had defeated me so easily… even Mrs. D’Amico and her creepy, glassy eyes.

“She’s manipulating everyone,” I said. “And it must be bad, because Henrik broke the veil to tell me. He’s never done that before—it’s too risky.”

Elizabeth nodded slowly. She made a sour face. “We have to cut her heart out?”

“Yeah.” I wrinkled my nose. “I know, it sounds hateful. Henrik says it’s the only way.”

“Henrik’s creepy.”

I laughed. “You… you get used to him after a while.”

“And Ligeia is so intense. She doesn’t answer any questions,” Elizabeth added, shrugging dramatically. “She just acts the way she thinks is best.”

I sighed. “I know.” I bit my lip. “Elizabeth… how the hell are we supposed to do this?”

Elizabeth sighed. She furrowed her brow and ran her hands through her long hair, pulling it into a messy bun at the side of her head.

“I don’t know,” she said quietly. “But Steven’s been acting so weird lately, ever since I got back. He’s like, totally obsessed with me.”

“I thought that was what you wanted?”

Elizabeth frowned. “I thought I did,” she said slowly. “But now… I don’t know. It feels so weird. I can’t think about him. Not with all of this shit going on. It’s too much, Monica.”

“Yeah,” I said softly. “I know.”

“Maybe we could like, trap her,” Elizabeth suggested. “And bring her to the coven. And Henrik and Ligeia could take care of this, like we wouldn’t have to actually kill anyone.”

“I had the same thought, but I don’t think it will work.” My stomach twisted with anxiety. “I think we have to do it ourselves.”

Elizabeth frowned.

“It’s not actually like, taking a life, though,” I said. “I mean, think of it like this—Andrea is basically possessed.”

“But we’re still killing her body,” Elizabeth said quietly. “Andrea wouldn’t have wanted this.”

I shrugged. I didn’t really care, but I wasn’t about to say that.

“I don’t know,” I said. “You just have to think of her as embodied by this evil spirit. I mean, Elizabeth, the spirit of Prudence has tortured people for centuries. And we’d be stopping that. Wouldn’t that be a good thing?”

“Why us?” Elizabeth said softly. “Why do we have to do it?”

I sighed. “Because you said you wanted to help,” I said. “You told me you didn’t want me to do this alone, remember?”

“I don’t,” Elizabeth said. “But I don’t get why we have to do it at all. Wouldn’t it make more sense to, oh, I don’t know—leave it to the professionals?”

I laughed humorlessly. “There are no professionals when it comes to magick,” I said quietly. “Except maybe Ligeia.”

“She should do it. It’s her sister.”

“She can’t,” I explained. “The bond between them is too strong. She could only accomplish the task if she sacrificed herself.”

“Well, maybe that would be better than having us do it,” Elizabeth grumbled.

“Hey…” I bit my lip. “You said Steven is really into you right now, yeah?”

“Yeah.” Elizabeth wrinkled her nose. “He was so weird the other day. He practically tried to pull my pants down in the middle of the woods.”

“Well… what if we manipulated him somehow?”

“To kill his sister?!” Elizabeth looked horrified. “Monica, we can’t do that! We can’t make Steven do that!”

“No, no, not like that,” I said. “Like… I don’t know, we all get together and maybe you seduce him or whatever… and then I can attack his sister if she’s upset about it.”

Elizabeth stared at me and shook her head. “No,” she said. “It won’t work.”

“Yes, it will,” I said. A loathsome plan formed in my mind and I hated the sound of it, but instinctively I knew—it had a much better chance of working.

“Look, I know Andrea is creepy around her brother, but—”

“It’s not just her,” I said quickly. “Look at how much attention Steven used to give her. But something changed, right? Now he’s really into you, right?”

Elizabeth nodded slowly. “Yeah.”

“And how do you think that makes Andrea feel?”

Elizabeth shrugged and wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know,” she said. “Thinking about that creeps me out.”

“Well, think about it,” I said sharply. “Seriously—do you think it makes her jealous?”

“I think it makes her feel… powerless,” Elizabeth said softly.

“Yeah,” I said quickly. “So, here’s what we’ll do. Call up Steven and tell him you want to hook up, but it has to be at his house. But also say that you feel really guilty about how you and Andrea have fought.”

“I could apologize for you, too,” Elizabeth said slowly. “I could say that I feel really bad for what you did, and that I’m not your friend anymore.”

I smiled. “Bingo,” I said. “Do you think you can lie?”

Elizabeth nodded quickly. “I think so.”

“You better try really hard,” I said sharply. “Because you’re not always good at it.”

Elizabeth flushed.

“Anyway, yeah, so you call Steven and tell him you want to hang out with him and Andrea… but make it sound like you really just want to sleep with him. Then, you go over and seduce him in front of her. It shouldn’t be hard. I’ll be waiting outside, like, by a window. And then I’ll break in and kill her.”

“This all sounds terrible,” Elizabeth said. She looked pale and green. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

I shook my head. “I know, but it has to work,” I said. “She’s going to be much less powerful if her attention is all focused on you and Steven; she’ll angry and it’ll be easier to take her down.”

Elizabeth bit her lip. There was a deep crease of concern and worry in her forehead.

“I hate this,” she muttered. “This is so fucked up. I can’t believe we’re plotting to kill our friend.”

“Andrea hasn’t been our friend for a long time,” I said quickly. “Don’t forget how crazy she is. Don’t forget how you felt when you were alone, in jail, all night.”

Elizabeth shuddered and rubbed her wrists. “Yeah,” she said slowly. “I guess.”

“Keep thinking about how angry and helpless you felt,” I said. “And channel all of that into… you know. This.”

“I think I’m gonna be sick,” Elizabeth said softly. “I don’t think I can do this.”

“You have to,” I begged. “You have to help me, Liz. This is the only way we can do it. This is the only way we can win. Remember, you promised you’d do anything to help!”

I locked eyes with Elizabeth and stared hard. I know you hate this. But it’ll be worth it. I swear.

Elizabeth looked at me with sadness in her eyes. “Okay,” she said softly. “I’m in. When do you want to do it?”

I shuddered, remembering Henrik’s ghostly warning I’d received just an hour ago.

“Tomorrow,” I said finally.

“So soon?” Elizabeth’s jaw dropped and she gasped. “Monica… that’s so cruel!”

“We have to,” I said bitterly. “If we don’t strike now, we might not win.”

Elizabeth sighed, closing her eyes. “I wish I was dead,” she said. “I’d rather be dead than deal with all of this.”

Reaching out, I squeezed her shoulder with my right hand. “I know,” I said softly. “Trust me. I know.”

Chapter Four

Elizabeth

That night, I couldn’t sleep. I tossed and turned all night in a bed of sweaty, uncomfortable sheets. By morning, my throat was raw from crying and my eyes were red and swollen. I kept pinching myself, hoping to wake from this dreadful nightmare.

But this was real.

I stared at myself in the mirror. I looked terrible—my skin was even paler than usual, and I had big, dark circles under my eyes. So sexy. I stared at my reflection in disgust. I bet Steven can’t wait to get a piece of me. I shuddered. I had no idea how I would accomplish the task at hand—with murder on my mind, the last thing I wanted to do was have sex… especially with the brother of the girl that Monica and I had to kill.

“Elizabeth, sweetie, are you still in there?” My mom rapped on the bathroom door. “Someone else would like to use the shower, please!”

“Coming!” I called hoarsely. “I’ll be out in a second!”

Flushing the toilet for effect, I washed my hands and wet my hair, pushing it back from my forehead. My skin felt hot and scratchy, like a paper towel. Taking a deep breath, I yanked the door open and walked into the hall.

When Mom saw me, she frowned.

“Oh, honey,” Mom said. “You look like you’re coming down with something. Are you okay?”

I forced myself to smile and nod. “Yeah,” I said. “I’m fine. I just didn’t sleep well, that was all. My room felt so hot.”

Mom rolled her eyes. “You know your father and the thermostat,” she said. “I promise—I’ll get him to turn it down tonight.” She stared at me and I suddenly had the feeling that there was more clarity in her mind than there had been in weeks. “Are you sure you’re okay, sweetie? You really look upset.”

“I’m fine,” I lied. “Just, um, you know. Missing school. I don’t want to repeat this year,” I added, echoing a sentiment that Monica had expressed last night. And, you know, I don’t want to kill one of my oldest friends, even if she did turn into a real bitch.

Mom nodded. “I understand.” Then she smiled widely and her eyes turned glassy once more. “I made waffles,” she said. “Would you like some breakfast?”

My stomach gurgled. “Sure,” I said in a hollow voice. “Sounds great.”

Downstairs, I pushed my waffle around in a puddle of syrup. Aidan sat next to me, inhaling his food so quickly that I felt nauseous just listening to him. As soon as he was done, I stood and reached for the phone. As I dialed the D’Amicos’ number, my hands were shaky and cold. I had a sudden flashback—I felt nervous now, just like I’d been when I’d first called Steven.

God, if only I was just nervous because I thought he didn’t like me, I thought bitterly as I held the phone to my ear. I’d given anything for that innocent time again.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Steven?” My heart was in my throat as I waited for his reply. When he spoke, I could practically hear the smile in his voice.

“Oh, hey Elizabeth! God, I’m glad to hear from you. I miss you, you know,” Steven said.

I sighed. “Yeah, I know,” I said. “Look, I’ve been thinking—I feel really bad about Andrea. What if I came over today and the three of us hung out?”