Chapter 18
Rachel
L uka and I headed into the villa’s training room around seven p.m., a wide-open building about the size of a small airplane hangar, set at the back of the property and away from the main house. Darius had outfitted the floors with top-of-the-line black foam mats. He built it to withstand everything from claws to knives to fire. Reinforced concrete walls enclosed the space, lined with metal shelves stacked with weapons and ingredients for potions.
The vampire mothers who used the stone to have children passed on their powers to them, allowing the dhampirs to wield both a vampire’s strength and a witch’s magic. That night at the academy, the coven hadn’t just battled a vampire-human hybrid—they had faced those who could harness elemental magic.
Like me.
But unlike me, the three dhampirs had been learning to control their powers since they could walk. Not only did they know exactly what they were capable of, they could control it with ease. I, on the other hand, wasn’t quite there yet.
Darius commissioned the training facility shortly after the Black Onyx placed Valentina in a deep sleep. Even though Darius said there would be no war with the witches anymore, he still wanted to protect his clan, so training took place once a week. Now that we were about to recruit clans in every corner of the world, he wanted us to train more often.
The two vampires, Alessandro and Tati, taught weaponry and combat during the evening hours. Magic was, of course, taught by my mother. She knew once my powers resurfaced, she’d have to start from scratch with me. I lived life like a vampire and a human, not a witch.
Today’s training combined martial arts with magic implements. They paired me again with Giovanni De Luca because he beat me in hand-to-hand combat a few days ago.
When I entered the training room, Valentina and Tati were speaking in the far left corner by the water fountain. They leaned in close, completely engrossed in conversation. She must have sensed me because her icy blue eyes found mine in a heartbeat. Though I was getting better at shielding her when she tried to enter my thoughts, it slipped this time. She wanted to tell me something later.
“She seems on edge,” Luka murmured as we unpacked the hand wraps. “Think she’s mad at you?”
“Probably. Valentina knows I took off the ring. She tried to confront me the other day after we got back from the garden, but I brushed her off. It’s going to be another argument,” I replied, wrapping dark-blue strips of fabric around my wrists and knuckles. “Not that I give a shit. Defending myself from compulsion takes priority. I’ll come up with a story after sparring.”
Luka just shrugged. We finished wrapping our hands and went to the mats with the other dhampirs, with Tati and Alessandro instructing us.
“Alright, guys,” Tati called out. “Today’s training is magic combat. The drills will be like last month’s exercises, except you’ll use offensive tactics and face off against your opponent from yesterday. We’ll start in five minutes. Please separate into your groups and get ready.”
“Gio isn’t winning this time,” I growled under my breath. Luka snickered, giving me a sympathetic look before heading off to the other side of the mat. Jealousy coated my tongue as I walked over. He was so good at what he did. Over the last four months, Valentina helped me with my Water element. I was getting better, but I still struggled to rein it back in when I commanded it. When I summoned water, it would come out as either a trickle or a fucking geyser. It didn’t come as naturally as it did for her and everyone else born with elemental powers.
In the church, when I screamed, the power blasted through my body like a tidal wave, unable to simmer down until the energy was exhausted. That was the kind of magic I wanted again, only without the lack of control.
Maybe I was overthinking it.
Cracking a few knuckles, I began my warm-up stretches. If we were using offensive magic, I would have to up my speed to evade Gio’s Earth spells. I’ve been on the receiving end of one too many of those attacks, and the concussions were not worth it. Not to mention, Gio’s proficient magic also enhanced his vampire strength, which was why the black eye took longer to fade.
Gio was a dhampir from Naples, born shortly after Luka as a result of the spell. His mother, Lyra, was an Earth witch from the Daughters of Dusk—the very one who summoned the Witch of One and stole the gem. His father, a native of Naples, passed down many traits common to the region, shaping both Gio’s appearance and character.
Though immortal, he looked like he was in his early twenties. He was massively tall and well-built, his medium-brown skin complementing his deep hazel eyes. His long black hair, often tied into a bun, made him look even more elegant. It was honestly intimidating most of the time. But despite his strong, muscular frame, Gio had one weakness—his love of sweets.
I guess that was the perks of being immortal; we could eat whatever we wanted and not have to worry about our insides falling apart.
“Morning, Rachel,” Gio greeted me, a wide grin painting his handsome, very young-looking face. His heavily accented English was flawless, and we often joked with each other. He was immediately welcoming when Darius first introduced me to him and Ava.
“Buonasera,” I replied. “Are you ready for round two?”
“Yeah, I’m ready to … how do the Americans say ‘kick ass and take names,’” he replied, followed by a playful smile.
I threw back my head and laughed. “You’re absolutely correct on the term, dude,” I said while I finished stretching. “Just leave my face alone today.”
Gio’s warm hazel eyes glittered with excitement. “Let’s have fun, and may the best dhampir win.”
“Alright, Hardmann and De Luca, you’re on the mat. Remember, keep your powers contained to your surroundings. If there is any power overflow, you’re DQ’ed. Okay?” Tati shouted, taking her position at the edge.
We both nodded and faced each other. From my peripheral, Valentina joined Alessandro and Ava in watching our match. She looked frustrated yet again.
Join the club. It’s not like I haven’t been trying to master my power.
I rolled my neck. Black Onyx extensively trained me to evade magic and use hand-to-hand combat for nearly two hundred years. I took a deep breath and reached within my vampiric nature. There, my beast was waiting, fangs ready. My human heart kept a firm hold on her but let the reins loosen just enough to tap into my speed and strength. My beast growled, wanting more freedom, but I soothed her fury.
Not now.
I opened my eyes, vampire power now at my command. Ava let out a quiet gasped, and I knew it was because my eyes had shifted to a black-blue color. My eyes had never turned to crimson like my mother’s and other vampires’; this was uniquely mine.
“Are you both ready?” Tati asked. Gio and I nodded. “Bow.”
In unison, we dipped forward in respect.
“Begin!”
Gio immediately launched the offense, coming at me with a flurry of punches glowing with a golden light. I deflected each one before ducking a haymaker. Using the muscles in my right leg, I slid my left back at an angle I knew would find a mark. Pushing off, I kicked out, slashing the air at blinding speed. My shin connected with Gio’s exposed ribs, and there was a meaty thud. Gio grinned at me before grabbing my leg. He flung my body across the mat, and it took a few twists mid-air to land within the ring. I landed with one knee bent, one outstretched, and my left hand digging into the foam.
“Nice try, Gio.” I hissed out a laugh.
“Good kick. That fucking hurt like hell.” Gio rubbed his side, wincing slightly.
I smirked before lunging. We became a blur of fists and kicks. Gio’s magic made him damn near invulnerable, and I knew it would be only a matter of time before one of those landed and fucking hurt . I tried to focus on drawing my magic to the surface, but I was met with silence.
I dodged another kick to my head, executing a backflip away from the blow. Glancing down at my hands, anger boiled in my gut. Despite everything I’d done for the last four months, I still had only felt traces of my magic. Gritting my teeth, I looked up too late to see Gio’s magic coming at me.
“Shi—!” I yelped as conjured stones whizzed past my head, one the size of a softball striking me square in the cheek. My head snapped back, and I dropped to a knee.
While blood trickled from the gash, the familiar itch told me it was already knitting closed. Luka, as he always did, shouted a string of encouragement, but my mother, on the other hand, glared right at me, searing into my damn soul. Heat flared beneath my skin, anger rising like a tide. With a snarl, I drove my fist into the ground, the crack of splintering cement echoing through the air.
“Halt! Thirty-second pause. Goddamn, Rachel, rein it in,” Tati scolded. I nodded sheepishly.
“Sorry,” I called as I rose to my feet and took a couple of deep breaths.
Maybe now’s the time to test out my idea.
My fingers slipped into my pocket, and I found the item I had retrieved from my dresser. I felt the jagged edges of the amethyst press against my palm as I pulled it free. The gemstone was one of the four remaining elemental magic stones Lily Winchester had given me back in New Orleans. I had used the jade stone to fight against Wendy, and it gave me the power of Earth. Amethyst represented the element Water; this should be a damn cakewalk since I was technically of the Water elemental bloodline. The magic in the stone could help me channel this better.
I closed my eyes and concentrated on the cooling power of the stone. Like last time, I made up an incantation to awaken the water’s energy.
“Water to blood, I beseech thee. Let the life of all awaken within me. Waters of the sky, Earth, and sea, awaken and let your rushing power flow free.”
There was a cracking sound in my head, and a cooling rush of water filled my veins, mixing with my vampire power. The beast within me roared at this new power. Unlike Earth magic, which only coated my skin, my body eagerly devoured this energy, taking it all within myself, like it was meant to be a part of me. My hands tingled with power. There was strain, however, and the mixed energies were fighting to overtake my mind. I redoubled my mental control.
“Rachel, Gio. Resume!”
I charged with my right fist cocked back. I let the magic trickle through my knuckles, coating my hand in glowing purple mist. There was a collective gasp from them, including Valentina, as they saw the mists manifest around me. Gio grinned wildly at this turn of events, conjuring a stone shield in front of his body. My power slammed into his with a flash of light and water spray. I spun around, using force to strike a knife-like blow against the shield. There was another crack as my blow left a clean gash in the rock. Gio grunted before kicking out, forcing me to retreat. The shield began to mold and reshape into a long club. He twirled it deftly in his right hand, and I flashed him a feral grin.
Even though I’d borrowed it, this magic felt natural, albeit strenuous. But if this were the way to wield my potential abilities, I would gladly take the burden for however long the amethyst lasted. Gio swung his stone club at me, and we fell into a rhythm of fighting that was a flurry of punches, kicks, and blocks between us, magic energies flashing and dancing around each other.
As we fought, my smile broadened. The exhilaration of magic and combat was making me feel punch-drunk. I wanted more magic; I wanted to see what I could do. Flipping away from another kick to my ribs, I raised a hand over my head and began concentrating. Wendy had manipulated her magic into weapons. Maybe I could, too.
I began channeling more magic into the mists, expanding and molding it into the weapon I pictured in my mind’s eye. The purple fog twisted and writhed beneath my fingers, elongating into a halberd.
Fuck, yeah!
Then I made a mistake.
I added more magic, so much more that my vampiric power leeched in. My fangs pressed against my lips, and the crackle of energy only added to the burden.
The strain was unbearable.
“Rachel, stop!” Valentina shouted over the roar in my ears. “Stifle the power. It’s too much!”
I didn’t know how. The chaotic energy of the mists in my hand was beyond my control. I fell to my knees and cried out as magic and vampiric energies fragmented and exploded. A pulse of purple mists and dark-blue vampire power surged, forcing Luka and Valentina to throw shields around those in the room. The ceiling cracked, and drywall dust rained down. The blast threw Gio onto his back, and he coughed.
“Fuck! Are you alright?” I asked frantically, scrambling to my feet before running over to him. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
Gio slowly rose, his eyes glinting with untamed glee. He threw back his head and let out a deep, hearty laugh that shook his entire body.
“Rachel, that was the most fun I’ve had since the academy. I’ve never seen vampire power and witch magic come together like that. No one here can do what you just did, not even me. We’ve always kept our powers separate, so what you pulled off was incredible. I owe you pastries tomorrow.”
I sank back on my heels, running a trembling hand through my hair, and scanned the training room. Luka, Alessandro, and Ava stared at me in awe and, from what I could sense, a kind of reverence. Tati had a stern look, though, and I could see why. Large chunks of concrete and rebar steel had fallen from the cracked walls. Well, shit. Some lights, broken and loose, dangled from their wires. But it was Valentina’s look of distaste that made me freeze. I had cheated to access magic, and it had backfired.
“Well, that was fucking wild,” Luka said, finally breaking the silence. His hand gripped my arm and Gio’s hand, pulling us to our feet. “I say we call it a night until we can fix this room.”
Heat burned my cheeks. Shit. I hadn’t realized how bad it was until I did a complete three-sixty.
If the ground wouldn’t mind swallowing me whole right now, that’d be great.
Luka slung his arm over my shoulder. “If you think you’re the first of us to damage this room, I have news for you. I do it all the time.” He flashed me a smile. “This was probably the fiftieth time in the last two hundred years. Even the one at the academy had a few repairs from shit like this. Don’t stress over it.”
I nodded and headed toward the exit, my head hanging.
I didn’t get far before I saw Valentina in my peripheral storming toward me, her shoes falling in my line of sight as I strode through the garden toward the house.
“Rachel? Why did you use an elemental stone?” Valentina asked in her harsh, judgmental tone.
I snapped my head up to glare at her. “Why not?” I hissed, tears burning the corners of my eyes. “Every dhampir in that goddamn room is stronger than me. Even Alessandro and Tati. They don’t even have magic! I know you wanna send me out there to help recruit clans and start a war, but how can I do it when I can barely defend myself?” I waved my ring-bearing hand in the air. “Just because I have this doesn’t mean I’m safe. For fuck’s sake. You’ve been harassing me for months about this. I wanted to see if the amethyst would help me control it better. Make it stronger.”
“And you think cheating and destroying the training room is the right way to do it?” she chided. Valentina moved in front of me, forcing me to stop. “You have to allow magic to flow naturally, or it will backfire just like that. Not only did that magic turn on you, but your vampire powers were also uncontrolled. Who knows what could have happened if we didn’t shield everyone?” She stepped closer to me, invading my space. “You could have killed them.” Her accusation caused me to tighten my fists. “I didn’t risk everything using that stone to create a child like me just to be disappointed. You have a purpose—a purpose I gave you. I meant for you to be like me … powerful … ready to destroy anyone in our way. Not with some damn pebble. It’s time to act like a Vasile!”
Frustration, anger, sadness, and self-loathing were burning in my lungs. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think behind the dark energy roiling inside of me. The edges of my vision went dark, and my breathing grew raspy.
“Rachel?”
I tried to contain it, balling my hands into fists, the muscles in my hands straining under the force. Everything came crashing down on me at that moment. Breathe. Breathe.
And then I screamed. I screamed from deep inside my chest, the same surge I felt that night in the church. A concussive sound wave burst from my throat, and violet mists shot out of my body, slamming into the surrounding trees and brick walls around the garden. Everything exploded into pieces, wood and torn leaves raining down around us.
Valentina used her vampiric speed to move closer, attempting to shield me from the debris, but I still felt the force of branches and rocks hitting my head and back.
Once everything settled, I looked around. Only a few flowering shrubs and trees remained standing. Everything else was a crater. My eyes widened. Despite the destruction, I didn’t feel bad about any of it. Letting all of that out felt fucking amazing.
Yes, it was the same power I used when Andrei and Jase were about to kill my mother, only this time, it wasn’t fear and desperation that triggered it. My gaze fell on Valentina, who surveyed the damage around us. Our eyes met, and she huffed out an impressive laugh. “Well, that’s twice now that you’ve used that scream.”
I pulled my brows together, confused. “I don’t understand. How am I doing this?” I asked, no longer giving a shit that she had just reminded me I was some progeny project to carry on her legacy.
Seeing how upset I looked, Valentina squeezed my hand gently.
I honestly thought she’d be more pissed than this, like she was in the training room.
Valentina pulled a twig out of my hair before saying, “You did that without a damn stone. We can work with this development, and I think we can foster it because now we know what fuels your powers.”
I blinked. “Frustration and anger?”
She nodded. “At least it’s something you feel a lot.”
Despite the agitation still in my mind, I grinned in relief.
“However, we need to talk to Darius about the fact that you destroyed his property. And I don’t think he’ll be as lenient as I was with you.”
Fuck.