Chapter 22
Darkening Lights
Me? Why the hell does a witch that died over a century ago want me? That makes no sense.
Before I can question her bizarre request, the windows are shattering, the rain is breaking in, and a body is materializing in front of me, shielding me from whatever is about to come.
"Let Drackus in, Alyssa!" Gage yells with his back to me as he launches his multicolor orbs at Sylvia, shocking the hell out of me.
"Drackus can come in," I almost choke out, and then the dark power surrounds the house as my father appears, throwing forth a power so stout it brings the spirit to her knees.
Her hold on us falls flat with the new arrivals, and Kane catches me as I fall off the wall. I choke on the air scratching against my throat with its bountiful flow as relief floods me.
My moment of reprieve is short-lived though. Drackus is thrown backwards and then pinned to the ground as he starts clasping his throat. Gage is hurled upside down into the far wall, cracking it, and then he too struggles to move.
Kane rushes the spirit, avoiding her blasts until one finally connects with him and flings him through the window that hadn't been broken with Gage's entrance. I feel something inside me snapping, rattling free, and coming to an end with a war I've unwittingly been fighting.
I don't know how, but when her next strike comes my way, it bounces off me without so much as forcing a stumble in my stride. Her eyes widen, and my stalk continues.
"What does she want?" Gage strains out.
"Me," I murmur, feeling my anger only grow like an infectious disease inside me.
Sylvia's hands burn white, her orbs forming as she flings them at me, but I dodge them as my silver ones emerge from my hands. Drackus's labored breaths become easier as I distract her further, throwing my own attack forth.
She staggers backwards when one of my silver beauties strikes her in the waist, and the magic in me begs to break free even more. The toxic lust of power rises to the surface stronger than it ever has before, and I lunge at her.
"Alyssa, don't! She'll kill you with a touch if you're her target!" Gage yelps, struggling harder to free himself, but it's too late.
I land atop of her as we topple to the ground with a thud. She gives me a triumphant grin, prematurely celebrating her win. Her hand on my arm starts feeling like a skin-meltingly painful burn on my flesh, making me release a small cry of pain, but it quickly turns into a mild annoyance at best.
The look in her eyes is priceless when I rip free, and then I slam my fist that is laced with a silver orb into her face. Blood spews from her nose and mouth and then I feel a sharp pain as she delivers a painful jab of her own. As her white orb strikes my abdomen, I'm launched backwards, sailing over to Gage who finally breaks free from his hold.
I can tell she's focusing most of her strength on Drackus, and in her new body, she doesn't have all of her spirited strength. Gage starts launching several orbs, and he manages to connect enough to send her staggering.
His arm wraps around my waist, and I feel the air beneath me as he vaporizes us away from her next attack I never saw coming. The wall we were in front of smolders in ashes after her fiery attack, and I cringe as I feel Gage's hand on my wounded side.
She strikes again, but Gage can't vaporize us in time. At the last second, he throws his barely-there body in front of me and absorbs the impact meant for my death.
I scream out as he collapses to the floor with an unconscious thump, and then the house rattles as Drackus overpowers her hold and charges at her while throwing out a deadly blast of power that almost throws me to my knees just from the side effects.
She dodges it enough to send out a lash of white, and then Drackus is bound and out as he falls to the ground. I didn't know that sort of power still existed, and until now, I never thought it possible to take Drackus down.
I glance out the window to see Kane bleeding and unconscious as well, leaving me alone with the girl desperate to make me a victim. If she was able to take down Drackus, I don't stand a chance.
"They don't know the favor I'll be doing them," she says while wiping her mouth, spitting out the blood staining her teeth and lips. "You're the destroyer."
Destroyer? That body must be toxic, because even the spirit is talking crazy now.
"The only thing I plan to destroy is you before you unleash whatever hell on earth you plan to."
The power burns with the promise of darkness taking me, and I push forth one large ball of energy toward her, striking her in the gut before she can dodge it. The taste of total domination lingers on my greedy tongue, making me want more than just a taste as I throw another deadly assault toward her.
She cries out this time, more blood staining her exposed flesh. The tattered remnants of her clothes barely keep her covered as she stands to her feet much slower this time. She wobbles like dying prey, exciting the predator in me.
"You shouldn't be able to do this. You can't withstand my force. You're still just mortal. She swore this would work," she snarls out.
I tilt my head, curious about a new she. "Who said this would work?"
She growls deep in her throat and charges me with swirling white orbs crashing toward me by the dozens from her frenzied attack. I deflect them almost too easily before the fire in my touch connects with her throat.
She screams out, crying in pain, as I squeeze and force out the fire. I watch with heartless emotion as the flames cloak her, melting her skin in front of my eyes. I don't flinch from the horrid sight. Instead, I revel in my deadly assault.
"Alyssa," Gage gasps as he comes out of his accidental slumber.
His eyes grow wide as though I'm something completely different than the sleeping girl to which he spoke words of love. Kane is squatting by the doorway with his jaw clenched, eyes just as wide, and keeping his silence.
Drackus stirs, rising to see my merciless hold on the spirited witch. He says nothing and barely moves to be on one knee, almost as if he's scared to disturb me.
I turn my attention back to the screaming bitch clutched in my hand, and with barely a thought, I launch her through the gaping hole where a window once stood. She continues to cry out her agony, and I walk over to step through the debris and join her in the snow that is falling by the hunks.
Her body smolders as the flames extinguish against the snow, leaving her a nearly crumbling pile of ash.
I don't shiver from the cold as I did before. Unafraid and maliciously stalking toward her, I stare at her charred body, relishing the sight of the havoc I've wreaked on my unworthy adversary.
"Why did you want me?" I bark, my voice sounding so much darker than ever before.
She gasps for air, choking on each breath. Finally, she manages some semblance of words.
"Because... they killed me," she strains out, coughing directly after, blood spraying from her lips.
"How is that my fault? I wasn't even born."
She steadies her breath, barely staying alive as she continues, "They killed me because they thought I was you."
That sobering statement leaves me stupefied. I want to probe for more, but it's too late. Her last breath leaves her lips in a loud, gurgling exhale, and her body goes limp in the snow. I can almost smell her death right now.
The high is too surreal. I want to unchain the rest of me, release my power in ways that others only try to.
"Alyssa," Gage says from directly behind me. "We need to get you out of here."
I turn with a devilish smirk, but it's washed away when I see the fear in his eyes.
"You're afraid of me?"
"I'm not," Kane says, drawing my attention to him as his eyes glow blue.
I feel the dirty smile on my lips spreading as though I have no control. I gravitate toward him, feeling the air between us so easy to pass through. He pulls me at my waist, and one hand finds its way to my hair as he pulls the ends in front of my face.
The black hair he holds stuns me. His brow cocks up as he releases it, his eyes gauging my reaction.
"There's apparently more to you than you told me," he murmurs softly, stroking my cheek with the back of his hands.
"There's more to her than she knew to tell," Drackus interjects, studying the remains of the ashy body in the snow.
"Get your fucking hands off her," Gage growls just before ripping me out of Kane's grip.
They step toe to toe, ready to fight, but before a punch can be thrown, a barely visible force field barrier is separating them. Drackus shakes his head while walking over to take my side.
"You're getting stronger, Airis. You need to come home until you change. These boys aren't going to be too healthy for you, and someone strong is after you."
"I've done just fine taking care of her," Gage growls, acting overly possessive.
"After I specifically warned you not to be intimate with my girl, and the consequences that could ensue, you still went for her heart. You've not done the job you were asked to do."
I look at Gage, feeling a little betrayed. "You were on a job," I hiss.
His eyes shift, but before he can defend himself, Kane steps in. "I haven't been."
Drackus narrows his eyes, his arm slipping around my shoulders. "No, but we both know you belong with the lycan you refuse to accept. You'll break my girl's heart, and she's not capable of dealing with it right now... Not until her immortality strengthens her." Then he turns to me. "Let's go, Airis."
Even Drackus believes Kane is meant for Amy. I don't put much stock in my father as far as some things go, but as for magic... I trust him almost implicitly. He's been around a long time.
Kane snarls, and through gritted teeth, he announces his anger. "I'm not intended for Amy, damn it. If I belong with anyone, it's Alyssa."
"Like hell you belong with her," Gage scoffs. "You have no idea who she is or about who she's intended to be with."
"Enough!" Drackus blares. "Neither of you will be around my daughter. You, night stalker, can fight your destiny with your lycan all you want, but I'll be damned if I let you do it with my daughter. I may have not finished the job with your sire yet, but I'm perfectly capable, and I will do it. That means you'd barely be an issue for me to squash." Then Drackus turns to Gage. "And you... You'd better stay away. I've warned you before. This time it's a threat."
Gage glares at him, making no attempt to lash out or move forward. Drackus tugs at me, and my heart sinks in my chest as I walk away from both of them. Kane is destined for another, and Gage has been lying to me since all of this began.
As my head whirls around for one last glance over my shoulder, I see the blond has returned and reclaimed my light. I sigh out in relief, though the dark hair still worries me. It's never done that before.
The two men stare at me as Drackus pulls me away. How is it possible I chose two men who could break my heart? If anyone will understand the terrible decisions with love that I've made, it'll be my mother. I'm sick of this. I have to see her.
I will see her.
I willingly climb into the car with Drackus - my Jag he gave me. I relinquish the driver's seat as I take the passenger side. Drackus cranks the car and squeals out of my driveway. I watch as he pieces the house back together with a wave of his hand.
"The spirit took you down, but I killed her. How is that possible, and what did she mean about them killing her because they thought she was me?"
He frowns as he barrels down the road, making my stomach tense upon every curve.
"It's a long story, Airis. One I'm afraid I can't tell you right this second. I'll explain everything soon. Will you stay at home with me?"
I shake my head, not sure I trust Drackus enough to go play the good daughter in my old house.
"No, but I'll take a hotel."
He huffs out a breath, but cedes to my request. "Then I'll send Dice to meet you wherever you choose to stay. I don't want you around either of those boys again."
I want to scream at him for being so demanding when he doesn't have a right, but I refrain. Right now, I'm a bag of jostled emotions. I started my life without my mother because I wanted a magic-free existence until I was immortal.
Since I moved out, I've used more magic than I ever have in my life. The irony is almost comical in a morbidly tragic way.
"When will you explain?" I ask while staring at the town blurring by.
"Soon. We need to find out who is after you. I don't like knowing that spirit was tied to someone else."
Neither do I, but I'm too exhausted to think of who it might be. I never knew I had so many enemies. I dread turning immortal if I've made this many enemies while still a mortal.
"How did you know I was in trouble?" I ask curiously. "And how did the spirit and the blond bitch break through my barrier?"
"I was on my way to meet up with Dray, and then Gage called to tell me he couldn't reach you on your cell. He was going straight to your house, and I told him I'd meet him there. We arrived at the same time, conveniently enough. As for the breaking of your barrier, the spirit was tied to you, granting it access. Had I known we were dealing with Sylvia, I would have cast the protection spell over your house. I'm so sorry I didn't figure it out before-"
"She hurt you. I didn't think you could be hurt."
He laughs as though I'm some naive fool. "My dear girl, I'm not indestructible. I'm just a little tougher than the average magical being. She threw out a binding lash. I haven't dealt with such power since the medieval times. I won't be caught off guard again. In my arrogance, I underestimated the girl."
"How did you know about Gage and me, and why are you so opposed to us?" I blurt out, shifting the conversation dramatically.
Not that it matters now. I don't want to be with a liar who mixed work with pleasure.
He breathes out heavily, not feeling comfortable, and I study his young face as he stares straight ahead. He purses his lips before running a hand through his dark hair.
"It was obvious at the engagement party. I told him to stay away from you completely, simply because I knew he'd fall for you. I saw the two of you when you were dancing. You held a lover's touch. It was all I could do not to rip him to shreds then. Your lie about finding a spell to hide your aura was cute, but I wasn't born yesterday. I was glad you were free from your bond to the night stalker, but I knew there was only one person who would have freed you. Defiant as he is, I suspected he would do something like this the second I told him to stay away."
Great. Gage just found me a convenient way to be rebellious. I suppose I should start looking at him as a stepbrother. It will make it easier to get over him... maybe.
I stare at the ends of my very light blond hair, worried it'll turn back dark if I don't keep a watchful eye. I wish there was an escape for the broken.