Sam’s stomach flipped over as Angela skidded to a halt. Except when Angela reached for the door handle, Sam managed to find her voice. “Stay here.”

Angela looked at Sam as if she’d grown a second head. “There’s an army of witches coming here and you want me to stay in the car? You know how useful I can be.”

“I do. But Claire is defenseless right now. You need to take her somewhere safe. I’ve already put her in too much danger. Claudia can take care of herself.” She wished she believed that, but all she could see were the waves and waves of people Abigail had sent.... They’d all been heading right in this direction before Angela had passed them all.

Sam had plenty of time to replay what had happened in her mind. Abigail was sending everything she had to Claudia while not leaving the safety of her tower. She was going to try to kill Claudia while not putting herself in danger at all. Because she didn’t care about her minions. They weren’t real people to her. They were all expendable.

Claudia was strong, but Sam knew there had been well over a hundred witches at the party Abigail had taken over. That had been days ago. Who knew how many people she could’ve gotten to between then and now?

“Keep Claire safe. I’ll take care of this.”

“You’re not thinking straight,” said Angela.

“You’re right. I haven’t been thinking straight this entire time. But you, Dante, Claire... I’m not having anyone else get hurt because I can’t fucking think.”

“But you’re allowed to get hurt.”

“This is my family. My mess. Get out of here, Angela. I appreciate everything you’ve done, but your job is over.” Sam didn’t wait for a response or look back as she stepped out of the car and slammed the door. A few seconds later, she heard the tires screech as Angela pulled away and let out a little sigh. It wasn’t relief or resignation. It was something in between.

She knew an army of evil witches were headed to her right now and would be there in just minutes, but it was hard to be afraid. If she somehow pulled a plan out of her ass and fought them off, then she’d live to fight another day. If they won, she’d be reunited with Derek. Strangely enough, death felt like it would be more of a victory at the moment.

She kept those thoughts from her mind as she turned the knob on the heavy wooden door and stepped inside her mother’s home.

It was eerily quiet as she stepped inside. There were no footsteps or voices. She hadn’t seen Garrett since Abigail had infected him. Was he on his way to kill Claudia? Maybe he’d gotten away. Maybe he was dead already....

“Hello!” called Sam as she stepped deeper inside. She heard someone running on marble and all of a sudden Bastian came into view. She’d never seen him run before, and that was a bad sign during an already bad day.

“You shouldn’t be here.” He gave her a disapproving look.

She was too tired to be offended. “There’s an army of witches sent by Abigail to kill us all on their way. You shouldn’t be here either.”

He stared at her for a moment before he turned and strode away, his angry footfalls echoing through the empty house. Sam followed him up the stairs and down the hall leading to the east wing, but when he reached one of the doors, he went in and slammed it in her face.

Sam rolled her eyes but didn’t try to get into the room. If they wanted to be all secretive even when they were all about to die, let them. She went across the hall to another bedroom and looked out the window. Lights approaching signaled that they were out of time. Abigail’s army had arrived.

She tightened her lips and took a deep breath. Her heart didn’t speed up. Her hair didn’t stand on end. She was supposed to have Derek back by now. She’d done everything she could think of and it wasn’t enough.

Let the army come. Let them take her. She wouldn’t fight.

She pushed away from the window and resolved herself to tell her grandmother that it was over. She was done. But when the door to the bedroom she was hiding out in opened, she didn’t see the Claudia she knew.

“Grandma,” she breathed as she saw the great and powerful Claudia leaning on Bastian for support as he led her into the room, kicking the door shut with his foot. Sam ran to her side and put her shoulder under her grandmother’s other arm, giving another point of support. “What happened?”

“Go,” said Bastian, notably not answering the question. “I’ll hold them off.”

“Hold them off?” Her annoyance finally sparked something inside her and rage bubbled up. “It’s an army. When I say that, I’m not exaggerating. I saw dozens of witches, all hooked on dark magic, coming here. And who knows how many I didn’t see? Now I don’t know what the hell you are, but you can’t take them out all on your own.”

“I don’t need to take them out,” said Bastian between clenched teeth. “I need to distract them. Now go!” Bastian pushed Claudia and her away in one quick motion.

Claudia, who seemed barely conscious, let out a moan of pain. “Don’t leave,” she managed to get out.

A look of frustration combined with agony crossed Bastian’s face. “No. Don’t make me stay here.”

“It’s an order,” she said, even through clenched teeth managing to sound authoritative. “You’re needed here.”

“I’m not going to leave you!” screamed Bastian, and suddenly Sam felt as if she’d intruded on something much too personal.

“Thank you,” said Claudia, more softly.

Just then a loud pounding started, as if the witches were physically banging on the door. But soon enough the pounding was replaced with the sounds of exploding wood. These weren’t mindless zombies. The witches had found a way inside.

Bastian looked as though he wanted to say more, but instead he just bent in and kissed Claudia. Sam’s eyes widened and she leaned away from the utterly mismatched couple. Claudia had to be at least three times older than him, but Sam knew better than most that witches’ ages were tricky. If they had a thing, that was between them. Though, at the moment, she was literally in the middle.

The second they pulled apart, Sam started to pull Claudia down the hall. She didn’t want to stop true love or anything, but she could hear steps on the stairs and knew they didn’t have much time.

She’d like to get out and to a car, but that time had passed. Right now, she had to worry about getting to a place to hide. There was only one room that came to mind. She half encouraged, half dragged Claudia toward the little research room, but when she turned down the hall to the east wing, a group of six witches was walking right toward them. Sam let out a curse before she sent a wave of energy down the hall, enough to send all the witches flying into the far wall behind them and crumpling into a dazed heap.

It probably wouldn’t kill them, but it would give her the time she needed to get to Abigail’s library. She entered in the key code and sent up a silent thanks to the heavens when it opened.

She was just starting to help Claudia in when she heard more footsteps behind her. Sam managed to pull Claudia out of the way as another witch send a fireball right where her grandmother had just been standing.

Hiding wouldn’t do them any good if the house burned down around them. With a wave of her hand, Sam sent the grandfather clock against the wall careening toward the new witch, but right behind her, Sam saw a bunch more coming. More than she could count. The house was utterly overrun.

She pulled Claudia inside and slammed the door shut right as she heard bodies slamming against the steel protection. She fell back a few steps and stared at the sound. The steel wouldn’t hold them forever. There were high-powered spells protecting this room. It would hold up against a dozen—maybe two—witches working together.

Not a horde.

“Any ideas?” she asked.

Claudia fell into the room, leaning heavily against the bookshelves as she went farther from the door. “I can’t take us away. I’m too weak.”

Sam had a sinking feeling she was going to say that but still hoped Claudia could find something else in her bag of tricks.

But once again, her grandmother was letting her down when she needed her the most.

“You took him.”

Claudia was quiet, but Sam couldn’t help turning all of her accusing glare to her grandmother. Even though they’d almost died, it was only now that the full extent of her anger came out. “You took his body from me.”

“Samantha—”

“No!” she screamed. “You’re supposed to love me and watch out for me and when I needed you the most, you stole him! Why? Did you want to celebrate his death? Did you want to make sure there was no chance I could bring him back? Tell me why.”

“I....” Claudia’s breath came in deep gasps. “I tried to be the grandmother you deserve. I tried to do things better, but....” She took in deep breaths of air. The bangs on the door increased and vibrated against the entire room, the protection spells working their hardest to keep the oppressive force out. “I can’t be the good guy and beat the darkness. I just can’t.”

It felt as though Claudia were asking for some sort of forgiveness, but Sam didn’t have any absolution to give her right now. And she never answered her question. “Why. Derek.” The bang on the door was hard enough that one of the ancient spell books tumbled off the bookshelf, but Sam knew that wasn’t why she was shaking.

Claudia shook her head and turned to face the shelves, not answering Sam’s simple fucking question. Sam was torn between just sitting back and waiting for the army to get in or yelling at Claudia more. But her grandmother seemed so... defeated. Sam just shook her head and leaned back against the nearest bookshelf. She’d have to die never knowing the truth. Just like Claudia probably wanted.

Except when Claudia turned around holding the ancient-looking dagger in her hand, Sam pushed back up. “What the hell are you doing?” she asked as she came around.

“They’re not going to stop.” She aimed the tip of the dagger at her heart.

What the— “Claudia!” screamed Sam as she bolted across the room and pulled the knife from her grandmother’s hands. “You’re not going to do this!”

“I know.” Claudia leaned forward and tried to take the knife back, but Sam wasn’t letting it go so easily. “You’re going to.”

Sam’s stomach flipped over at the words. She started to step away when Claudia fisted her fingers in Sam’s shirt and held her close with surprising strength. “They’re going to kill me and the darkness is going to take over. I’ve already laid the groundwork for you to win, Sam. You’re never going to forgive me for what I’ve done, but I did what I needed for you to beat this. But if I’m not going to be here to fight the war, I need you to take my power and finish this.” She started to cough and fell toward Sam. Whatever magic she’d been working when Sam had come over, it had taken everything from her.

“Grandma, I can’t—”

Claudia wrapped the fingers of her free hand around Sam’s wrist and brought the dagger up to her chest. “I’m not going to survive them,” she warned. “And you will die defending me, no matter how angry you are. I can see how much more powerful you are now, but it’s not enough. This way, you will survive. And that will be one good thing I’ve done.”

Sam shook her head, trying to reconcile the rage she still felt for her grandmother and the nonsense she was spewing. “You’ve done hundreds of good things. You were one of the best leaders we ever had.”

“And in a few minutes I’m going to be dead.” She didn’t sound angry or bitter. Just as though she was stating a fact. “You’re strong, Samantha. I’ve always sensed it. Stronger than your mother. Stronger than your sister. You’re finally taking control of your power. But if you want to survive the darkness, you need more.”

While Sam was trying to make sense of what she was saying, Claudia pushed forward with the dagger and Sam could feel the pressure give as it broke the skin. “Wait! There has to be some way....”

“No. I’m not waiting any longer. I’ve given you everything you need. Now you need to put the pieces together. This is my last gift to you. Your last gift to me.” And then Claudia used strength Sam didn’t realize she was still capable of, and the dagger slid through the ribs, right into her grandmother’s heart.

Sam stood there in stunned silence as Claudia went limp in her arms and then fell to the ground. Sam was still frozen in shock when the door flung open and the horde started to stream inside. Was she supposed to fight? She didn’t even know whether she could remember how to breathe. How was she supposed to defend herself?

But that turned out to be a moot point because the mob stopped short when they saw Claudia’s dead body. One by one, after each had visual confirmation, they turned and walked away, like zombies suddenly denied brains.

Sam belatedly realized her hand was still on the knife and she dropped it as though it had burned her. She pushed away from Claudia but couldn’t take her eyes off her. Her grandmother, the strong, dignified woman, looked powerful even in death. Her eyes were open, as though staring determinedly off into the distance.

Suddenly Sam was overcome by the need to get out of this small, claustrophobic room, but the door was surrounded by the horde. Sam didn’t care anymore. She pushed herself up and ran for the door, physically pushing people aside as she tried to get past the witches. She hit one and suddenly she felt Derek at her side. No, it wasn’t Derek. But it was as if he were right there, holding her. She closed her eyes and she was back in the pitch-black urban garden and Derek was taking her weight as he led her back to the car.

She blinked and stumbled into another witch. This one, even in his trance, was angrier, and he grabbed her throat and slammed her into the wall. When she opened her eyes, it wasn’t the nameless witch holding her. It was Derek, in the strobing lights of the solstice party, his fingers wrapped around her throat as she broke through the full moon potion to get to him.

Except when the fingers tightened on her throat, it became very apparent that this wasn’t Derek holding her. She opened her eyes and stared at the man who squeezed her throat. He looked familiar but she couldn’t place him. There was no time anyway. She put her hand on his chest and called her power to knock him away, but before she had a chance, something solid slammed into the witch.

Sam just stood there and stared for a moment as the two men rolled together on the floor. She had to be imagining things. Because right now, it looked as though Derek was about to kill the witch.

Just then, Bastian ran down the hall, weaving through the last of the horde, and pulled Derek off the other witch, who started to scramble away.

Derek. Sam blinked a few times, trying to verify that she wasn’t imagining this. Derek was there and Bastian was holding him back....

But Derek didn’t look right. For one, he was shirtless and in his chest, there was an ornate symbol carved. It almost looked like a flower, but it was hard to tell because he was moving so much.

Sam moved to stand in front of him, still convinced her eyes were playing tricks on her. Derek was dead. There was no coming back from the dead.

But if Claudia had brought him back, why wouldn’t she say anything? She had apologized, as if she’d done something wrong.

“Derek,” she said, finally finding her voice. He was still pulling against Bastian’s grip as though he were an animal, solely focused on killing the witch who was now long gone. It was only then that she managed to get a good look at Derek’s eyes. They were pitch-black, not a hint of white showing. “What happened to you?” she breathed.

“He’s not your Derek,” said Bastian, sympathy evident in his voice. “This was Claudia’s last act. He’s our weapon now.”

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Angela drummed her fingers on the steering wheel and looked out over the empty field in front of her. She wanted to know what was happening. She wanted to know where Sam was. She wanted to know how long it would take Claire to wake up. “This is such bullshit,” she muttered before she pushed open the car door and stepped out into the cool morning air. They were miles away from where they’d dropped off Sam. Well away from where the fighting would be, and considering they were in the middle of nowhere, no one could guess their hiding spot.

Well, unless they used magic. Because who knew what the rules were when magic was involved?

“Get back in the car,” said Dante from behind her.

She rolled her eyes. “Why?” She turned to face him and motioned to the empty field surrounding them. “There’s no one here. We’re in the middle of nowhere. Hiding. I promised I was going to help Pierce and here I am hiding.”

“You were trying to help him,” pointed out Dante.

“And I failed. We all failed.” Saying it out loud just brought all the pain back. She’d never joined the military but had always felt a bit like a soldier since she joined the force. A feeling brought home when she’d gotten shot. But she’d never truly felt like she was losing the war until right now. “Pierce is gone. Claire is laying half dead in the backseat, and for what? Abigail is going to kill her. It’s only a matter of time. We’re not strong enough.”

“You can’t just give up,” said Dante.

“I’m not giving up!” Her shout seemed to echo off the trees in the silent morning, silencing even the birds. “I’m being a realist. What chance do we really have? We’re running from ass-kicking to ass-kicking and I’m really not seeing the point anymore. And you’re here for no reason at all.”

“I’m here for Claire,” he said through clenched teeth.

Angela let out a snort and immediately regretted it.

“What?” said Dante.

“Nothing.”

“No. Tell me,” he said. “Tell me how stupid I am for doing this.”

“I—” She didn’t want to say the truth, but right now she was suffering through a serious lack of filters. “Claire has bigger things than you on her mind. And you don’t know the first thing about relationships and you’re just pretending you know what you’re doing. And both of you are unhappy but too afraid to admit it because you don’t want to make the other person unhappy, but you’re both failing because you’re already unhappy. It’s stupid.”

Dante took a step closer, suddenly reminding Angela that she was standing alone with a witch who wasn’t only taller and stronger than her, but had the ability to make her do anything he wanted. She was pretty sure she could kick his ass no matter his physical strength, but the mind control thing was a bit of a curveball. She pretended the magic didn’t exist and tilted her chin to look up at him.

“Are you calling me stupid?” he asked carefully.

She wanted to shake the guy. She really wasn’t qualified to be giving anyone relationship advice. But he didn’t need to compel her to tell him the truth this time. She leaned in even closer and said the next few words carefully. “I think she deserves better than you. And I think you deserve better than her.”

The sun rose high enough to shine on Dante’s face. His green eyes stared down at hers and she had to suck in a breath. She couldn’t believe she’d just said that to him, and the shock of pain in those eyes made her feel damn guilty. It might’ve been true, but she should’ve found a nicer way to say it. “Dante—” She reached out and set a hand on his arm. He didn’t move closer or farther away. He also didn’t say anything.

And she didn’t say anything either. She didn’t want to hurt him anymore, but she meant everything she said. So all she did was remain there, giving him the small touch for comfort. And maybe touching him was comforting her too. She hated his powers, but it was damn convenient to have around.

The sound of a car door had her and Dante jumping apart. They both turned to see Claire stepping out of the backseat on shaky legs. Half a second later, Dante ran to her side. “Hey, I’m here.”

Angela thought Claire would ask logical questions, like “Where the hell am I?” and “How long was I dead?”

But the girl instead looked right at Angela and in a calm voice said, “I need to talk to Sam.”

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Sam ran her hand over Derek’s forehead, but he didn’t seem to be warming up. She took a deep breath, but nothing was really helping her to calm down. He was alive and sleeping for the moment. She should feel nothing but relief, but her gratefulness to have him back warred with the knowledge that people didn’t just come back from the dead.

Derek winced and crouched over as though in pain. Sam jumped up as though there was something she could do to help, but he still seemed to be sleeping. A bad dream maybe? She had no idea what he’d been through during his time out....

The door cracked open and Sam turned to see Claire there. Sam held a hand to her lips, signaling Claire to be quiet as she made her way out of the room and pushed the door shut.

“Hey,” she said in a hushed voice as she pulled Claire in for a tight hug. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you.”

Claire was stiff in her arms, letting Sam know that something was off. Nothing could really go right at the moment. “How’s Derek?”

Sam let Claire go and twisted her fingers together. That was a loaded question. “He was tired,” she answered honestly. “But he knows who I am, so that’s a plus,” she said with a smile that she knew didn’t reach her eyes. It was a sad state of affairs when someone not having amnesia was one of the best parts of her day.

Claire’s eyes were sympathetic as she took it in. “I’m sorry about your grandmother.”

God, Sam was trying really hard not to think about Claudia. Especially the part she played in her grandmother’s death. “Thanks,” she said weakly.

“I saw her.”

That shocked Sam out of her grief. “What?”

“When I was out. Claudia came to me. It’s how I knew she was gone.”

Sam’s mouth fell open, but no words came out.

“She told me what we need to do. How to beat the darkness.” Holding her breath, Sam waited for Claire to finish. Claire closed her eyes as though working up the courage. “She said we need to bring him back.”

“Derek? He’s already back.”

“Not Derek. He was only phase one. Jackson. We need to bring Jackson back from the dead.”

~~~THE END~~~

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The conclusion of The Bewitching Hour series, RAISE HELL, is coming September 2017!

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