Zeke
Has anyone seen Callie or Max come out of the house yet?
No, Graydon and Lucian answer.
Where the hell are they? We could use their help. We didn’t know what to expect when we got here. Max did warn us that Circe has the talisman, but the amount of shifters here is absolutely crazy. At first, we thought Circe was here by herself with Max and Callie, but we soon learned that wasn’t true. Her followers were hiding, waiting to jump us the second we got out of the truck. What they didn’t count on was us bringing back-up. Everyone is here, fighting. There are even some humans here, the few who know about us.
I don’t know which side is winning. After I take out one opponent, another steps into his place. I need to keep my mind focused on the fight, but I need to see Callie. I need to see that she’s alright. I take out a coyote shifter, then a hyena. A jaguar shifter steps into my line of sight. We both crouch down, ready to pounce, when a squawk is heard, momentarily distracting us. I look up and see a beautiful, red phoenix flying overhead. Callie.
I glance over to the front of the house and see Max, as well as four others, shift into their animals. The jaguar takes that moment to strike. I feel his claws dig into my side. That will be the only blood it will spill from me tonight. The jag swipes out at me, but I dodge. It tries again, but I dodge its claws again. After I dodge its attack for the third time, I go on the offensive. I circle the jag and bite at its hind leg, drawing blood. While it turns toward the injury I just gave it, I do the same on the other leg. The jaguar hisses and growls at me, but I don’t care. I pounce on its back, wrapping my teeth around its neck, clamping down. It submits, but I can’t leave it alive.
I bite down hard and tear a bite out of its neck. The jag jerks a few times under me before all movement stops. I don’t like killing shifters, but it’s me or them, and I’m going to do whatever I have to, to get back to Callie. I don’t know how long I continue to fight like this, but I’m getting tired, and I don’t know how much longer I can keep going. I lost track of everyone. My breathing is coming out in pants. I just need a break, but there is another shifter coming my way.
There is loud whistle and the approaching wolf stops, turns, and runs away. I look around me, I notice the enemy retreating. I use this moment to shift back, giving myself a much-needed break. I also use this opportunity to make sure the rest of us are alright.
Graydon, Lucian, Max, Callie? Everyone alright? Where are you, and what’s going on?
We’re fine. We’re making our way to you now.
I have no clue what’s going on.
I just want to sit, but I need to see everyone, and luckily, I don’t have to wait too long. The second Callie is in front of me I pull her into a hug, squeezing her as tight as I dared. She pulls back, and I see that she is covered in blood. How much of that is hers verses whoever she was fighting, I couldn’t tell you. She looks as tired as I feel.
“Why have they retreated? Do you think we can leave?”
Lucian shakes his head. “No, this is just the beginning. I think Circe is just regrouping.”
“She killed Amos and has the talisman. I’m wondering when she’s going to use that.”
“Who were those guys that followed you out before you and Max joined the fight.”
Callie runs her hands through her hair, her fingers getting caught on knots. “One of them is claiming to be my biological father. I don’t know who the others are.”
“Wait. What? I thought your father died in a car accident?”
“That’s what I was told, but apparently he wasn’t. He said he would tell me everything once we won this fight. Which isn’t going to be until we kill Circe and get rid of that talisman once and for all.”
Alcina rushes over to us. “You guys are going to want to see this.”
We all run after her and stop dead. Circe is in the middle of the yard, with a white glow surrounding her. Her followers are lined up behind her. Cat and her mates run up to us.
“I wish I would have seen this coming,” Cat states.
“Amos is no longer in the picture, and the first vision you had of our death has changed,” Callie says dryly.
“What happened to Amos?”
“Circe killed him, and it looks like if I’m going to die, it’s going to be here in this random ass yard.” Callie turns and looks at Lucian. “Where the hell are we anyways?”
“An abandoned house on the outskirts of town.”
“How cliched,” Max snorts.
He’s got a point. A place out of the way, no nearby neighbors, vast wooded area in the back. It has all the makings for a bad guy lair.
“Not to break this party up, but what is Circe doing and how the hell are we going to defeat her?” Cat states.
We look to Alcina; she is a witch, and if anyone is going to know what she is doing, it’s going to be her.
“From what I can tell, it looks like she is drawing on the power that the talisman holds. If we give her a chance to use it, we’re all dead.”
“So, we need a plan and fast.”
Great how the hell are we going to stop her?
Callyn
“Does anyone have a plan?” Cat asks. At this point, I’ll take anyone who any idea.
“I have one,” a masculine voice says behind me. We all turn to see those who have survived the fight and the four men Max and I saved. One of them claiming to be my father, my real father.
“What is your idea?” Lucian asks.
“Circe is currently distracted. There is enough of us to face what’s left of her army. We put witch against witch. One of your mates, preferably the big one…” Graydon snorts, “stays by your side. This is the part I know your mates aren’t going to like, but I don’t see another way. Callie, you have to sneak up to Circe and try to steal the necklace from her. Once you do, smash it.” All of my mates growl. “I told you, you weren’t going to like it, but unless you have another plan it’s the best we got, and we need to hurry, because that glow around Circe is starting to fade.”
“Real quick,” Max interrupts. “Anyone else curious about why her follows have not attacked anyone since we’ve been standing here? I mean they haven’t moved a muscle. No one finds that weird?”
“It seems as if they are under a spell,” Alcina states.
“The time to attack is now,” my so-called father says. I have to agree.
“Everyone listen up,” I yell. “Circe is trying to take on a lot of power. Her follows seem to be in a trance. Do not attack unless they attack you. Everyone pick a follower and wait in front of them. At some point Circe will snap out of what she is doing and so will they. I’m going to try to stop her from doing any more damage. Let’s go and finish this.” No sooner after I say the last word a laugh can be heard from behind me.
“Well shit,” Max says. My thoughts exactly. We took too damn long. I turn and stare at Circe.
“Do you think you can beat me?” Her laugh is maniacal. “I have so much power coursing through my veins I could kill you all with a snap of my fingers.”
“Why don’t you?”
“Because I want to have some fun with you first. I want to torture you, and I think I’ll start by killing one of your mates, but which one,” she says as she runs her eyes over each of them.
I squawk. “Yeah, you can hurt them over my dead body.”
“Oh, I plan on killing anyone who gets in my way.”
“Why are you doing this? What do you hope to gain from trying to control shifters? What did you promise them?”
“Because, you stupid little girl, I was, I am the most powerful witch, then and now. Did I get any recognition? No. The person that I worked for took advantage of me and my power. I think it’s about time to get what is owed to me.”
Graydon
“I want to know what fucking circus you live in,” Max says.
This chick is seriously whacked, thinking people owe her. No one owes you anything. You work for everything you get and have. The way you live your life and how determined you are defines your successes and failures. I’m over all of this. I’m ready to fight. We’re wasting time here talking. I need to do something.
Keep her talking, I project. I have an idea.
Callie and Max keep her occupied while I slip away. I search through the crowd until I spot my dad. I make sure to keep my voice down. “As quietly as you can, take as many people as you can and surround them. Push them toward us. That should take care of any of her followers. The only thing is trying to get Callie close enough to grab that damn talisman.”
“Everyone remembers the plan?” Graydon questions. Everyone nods. “Good, get into position and whistle when you’re set. Be careful.”
I make my way over to Alcina and tell her the plan. “Did you think you can hold her off long enough for us to do what we have to?”
“I’ll try.” I can’t ask for more. I slowly make my way back to Callie, standing right behind her.
I project to all of them. When you hear a whistle, it’s go time. Alcina is going to force Circe into a witch on witch battle. My dad and some of the others are going to surround Circe and her followers, pushing them toward us. While Alcina is doing what she’s doing, Callie and I are going to try to circle and come at Circe from behind. I hope it works long enough to get that damn necklace.
A round of okays go through my head. Now let's just hope this plays out in our favor. Of course, it doesn’t. The second Circe hears the whistle she knows something it is going on.
“You dare try to trick me?” she says as she lobs a fireball in our direction. I grab Callie and hit the dirt, covering her body with mine.
“Fuck.”
“You can say that again.”
“What do we do now?” Max questions as he crouches down beside us.
“The plan doesn’t change,” I yell. “You guys use your elemental gifts and try to help Alcina hold off Circe. Callie and I are going to try to get that talisman and destroy it.”
I help Callie up, placing my body in the line fire. We stay low, trying to blend in. We use the cover of fellow shifters to get us where we need to go. Only a few feet separate us when a ghost from our past steps in our way, ex-elder Greaves.
Callyn
We just can’t win. We were so close to Circe and then the jackass who had me kidnapped and almost killed me shows up. I knew we hadn’t seen the last of him, but I didn’t think that he would be here, with Circe. Though, I’m not really surprised. He probably stopped following Amos the minute Circe showed she was the one in control and had the power. But we honestly don’t have time for him. We have a short window to get that talisman, and he’s taking up precious time we don’t have.
We need to make quick work of him. We don’t have time for this. We don’t know how long Alcina and the others can hold Circe off.
I’ll distract him, and you go.
“Greaves,” Graydon growls. “I’m surprised you’d show your face around here.”
“Oh, I came to watch the show, to watch you,” he glares at me before looking back to Graydon, “and your mates die.”
“You know you can’t win against her.”
“Who said I’m going to try to fight her? Even I’m not that stupid.”
“Then why else are you here? It can’t be just to watch us die.”
“It’s not. I plan on working for Circe once she succeeds.”
Graydon laughs, giving me a chance to slowly start walking away. I take a few steps, then stop, take a few more, then stop.
“Oh man. You’re useless to her. You have nothing of value to give to her. Besides, who said I was going to let you walk away from here.”
Graydon makes the first move, throwing a punch at Greaves. I don’t see what happens next because I use that opportunity to run, continuing the path I was on before making my way to Circe. I look across and see that Alcina and the guys have done a pretty good job of keeping her at bay, but I see that they’re injured from here.
I don’t how to do this? What’s the best way to get that necklace? I project to all of them.
Yank it off.
Tackle her.
MAX!
What? I really want to see you take her out and maybe punch her in the face a few times. Better yet peck her eyes out. Yeah, that one.
Screw it. I’ll tackle her and yank the necklace off at the same time. I might as well try and incapacitate her since she won’t see me coming. You got this Callie. Everyone is counting on you. I take a deep breath and make a run for it. Okay, so I don’t actually tackle her. I end up tripping and falling into her, taking her down that way. Plus side, I landed on top of her.
She starts trying to smack me. I need to get the necklace. The best that I can, I block her blows with one arm, ducking my head, I reach up with my other hand and grab the talisman. The second that my hand touches the stone, a sense of rightness hits me. Like it was calling me home. I yank as hard as I can, breaking the chain.
“NO!” Circe screams. I’m so entranced with the necklace that I stop trying to defend myself and I don’t see her conjure a white ball and hit me with it. I go flying back from the force, landing a few feet from where I was. I groan, struggling to get up. “You bitch. You think you can take that necklace from me?” She starts to recite a spell but gets interrupted by Alcina throwing her own white ball.
“Destroy the necklace,” Alcina yells.
The only problem is I don’t know where the necklace is. It fell out of my hand when I got tossed by Circe’s spell.
I don’t know where it is.
What do you mean you don’t know where it is? I hear the growl in Graydon’s voice.
I dropped it when I got hit by her spell.
Fuck.
Just try and find it.
Great. This should be easy. I roll my eyes. I get down on the ground and start crawling in the direction I got flung from, sweeping my eyes in a wide arc.
“Callyn, watch out,” but the warning comes too late. I get hit with something that makes it feel like my flesh is being ripped from side, like million cuts all happening at once. It takes my breath away.
Hold on, angel, we’re coming.
I get hit with it again, and I scream. Through watering eyes, I see Circe walking toward me. I should have known this was her doing.
“Did you really think you could win against me?” She stands over me. “I can only image the pain you’re in. I’m going to have so much fun watching the life leave your eyes, to hear your mates cry out in agony over your dead body.”
Shift, baby.
I try but I can’t.
I can’t.
“Oh, I should warn you that the spell I just cast, the one making you feel all that pain, is blocking you from being able to shift. I knew I couldn’t let you, even I’m not dumb enough to try and take on a phoenix.”
The pain is almost unbearable, then I feel a jolt of energy, my necklace warming against my skin. It’s healing me. I forgot all about it. I’m the fucking Alpha Queen, and it’s time to start acting like it. I slowly rise, squaring my shoulders, meeting Circe’s eyes. I may not be a witch, and I may not have magical powers, but I’m going to find a way to kick her ass. I wait until she gets close enough and do the only thing I can, I punch her in the face.
All those days training with Catori and the guys kicks in. I can’t give her an opportunity to use her magic on me again. I hit her with a jab, then an uppercut. Her head snaps back causing her to stumble a few steps.
“Did you seriously just punch me in the face?”
I shrug my shoulders, getting into my fight stance. “I will do what I have to in order to beat you. Besides you’re using magic against me when I don’t have any. This wasn’t a fair fight from the beginning. But now that you don’t have the talisman anymore, you can’t draw on its power. “
“I’m still powerful in my own right. I don’t need the necklace to beat you.”
She hits me with a spell trying to prove her point and it hurts. I’m so over those spells. I take a few steps toward her trying to close the space between us. The closer I move toward her, the more Circe moves back. I hate this cat and mouse game. I wonder if I drop down if my legs are long enough to kick or trip her up? One way to find out. I drop down to the ground and sweep my leg out, just barely getting Circe, bringing her down.
I crawl over to her, but she’s waiting for me. The second I reach over her, she plants her foot on my stomach, using my momentum against me, flipping me over her. I should have seen that one coming. Cat did that to me numerous times.
You got this angel. Get up and show her exactly what an Alpha Queen can do.
I can do this.
Hell yeah you can.
I groan rolling over to my side. There’s a shine, a couple of feet in front of me. I squint my eyes trying to see what it is. It’s the talisman. I look back to see where Circe is, she’s getting to her feet. I make a split-second decision, jumping to my feet and racing over to the necklace. I skid on my knees when I’m close enough, picking it up in the process. I frantically look around, spotting a nice size rock nearby. I quickly pick it up, raising my arm over my head.
“NO! Don’t!” Circe screams.
I bring down my arm, hitting the talisman over and over, shattering it into a million pieces. A big, pulsing wave of energy flows out. The force knocking everyone down. I struggle to my feet, feeling disoriented for a second.
“What have you done?”
“Something that should have been done a long time ago. This talisman should have never been made. No one is supposed to have power like that. It’s because of you and everyone who has held that talisman that shifters and magic was dying. It’s because of selfish, greedy people, like you that half of the shifters here wouldn’t have found their mates. You would have had no one to rule twenty or so years from now. Shifters would be gone, wiped out. What would you have done then?” I stalk closer to Circe. “I’m so sick of people like you.” I cock my arm back and hit her square in the jaw. I heard the crack of bone. Circe falls to the ground.
“Ooo, you just got knocked out.” I roll my eyes. Really, Max.
Circe doesn’t get up. She’s not even moving. I lean down to check on her, to see if I killed her. That’s when I notice something wrong with her face. It’s sunken, and she’s aging.
“What the hell?” I look over my shoulder, seeing the guys stand behind me.
“What is it?” Zeke questions.
“Take a look for yourself.” I stand up, moving to the side so they can get a view.
“Geez.”
“Man, that’s gross.”
We all look to Lucian, like he would have the answer. Honestly, I’m not surprised when he gives a reasonable one.
“It looks like the talisman was helping her stay alive, along with the blood magic she was using. Since you broke the necklace, effectively stopping the spell, she is finally dying. No one is meant to live as long as she has.”
“Well damn, that’s anti-climactic,” Max grumbles. “I was hoping to see you peak her eyes out.”
I shake my head. I’m fine with that. Maybe now, we can move on and make a better life for shifters.