Chapter 33 Elodie
ELODIE
Staring at my reflection, I feel strange, and it’s not the foreign bathroom I find myself in, hidden away in some magical vortex in San Francisco of all places. No. It’s nothing to do with that at all.
Once upon a time, I never bothered to look at myself, hating the life that engulfed me, yet here I am, taking in every inch of myself like it’s a personal challenge.
The weirdest part is the damn smile on my face.
My cheeks rise, the corner of my mouth twitching, despite my best efforts to keep it still.
My world threatens to crumble when we leave here, but still, in this moment, I’m happy.
Happy.
Joyous.
Content.
Those are three words I never expected to say about myself, yet here I am, looking at my reflection, and that’s all I can see.
Because of them.
But even more so, it’s because of me.
Old me would have run from every single one of them, my walls firmly intact as I hid behind the mockery of life that I was living, hellbent on staying at Walker’s side.
One butterfly effect and I’m on a completely different course of life.
It makes my cheeks ache and I have to look away. Instead, I snag the hair tie from the stand on the vanity and run my fingers through my hair, dragging it back off my face into a high ponytail before securing it in place.
It makes my smile look bigger now that it’s not hiding behind my hair.
A knock sounds from the bathroom door, which quickly opens just enough to reveal Rion’s face.
“We’re being summoned, Petal. Ready to be all kickass, crazy, and shit?” he asks, wiggling his eyebrows like it might not be the end of our world, and I shake my head at him, grin firmly still in place.
“I’m good to go,” I breathe, hating that this moment is over. But I take a deep breath, encapsulating it.
Besides, I ache in all of the right places, and that’s going to stay with me far longer than stepping out of this room, that’s for sure.
I move toward him and he drapes an arm around my shoulder.
Stepping back into the bedroom, I realize it’s just the two of us, but before I can ask, Rion offers an explanation.
“Your mom let us know. They’ve gone with her to see what information they’re sharing.”
“So they’re in charge now?” I ask, and he frowns.
“What do you mean?”
“Just that they seem to have some kind of plan now, are we supposed to trust in it?” I clarify, and his lips pinch as he thinks for a moment.
“I think it’s good guidance at this stage, but if we ever feel like it’s not our path, we can switch it up real fast.”
I nod, the knot forming in my gut settling at his words as we head out into the hallway, following the noise coming from down the small flight of stairs. Light beams from the open door, and when we reach the opening, I get a full view of everyone waiting inside.
My eyes widen as I step inside, taking everybody in.
Kael’s parents stand against the far left wall, deep in conversation with my parents, along with Rikard and Rory.
Ocean, Thorne, and Kael are hovering by the arsenal set up along the far right wall, while the rest of the space is filled with every single person I only know from crossing paths with them in Jude’s room of captives.
“What is this?” I blurt, earning everyone’s attention.
A flash of recognition washes over many faces in the center of the room, earning me a mixture of apprehensive looks and small smiles. Regardless, I suddenly feel the weight of what we’re doing, and I need more information before I even dare to move.
“Elodie, you look rested,” my father says, a gentle smile on his lips, and his ease makes me a little more comfortable. “Come, we’re about to go over it all,” he adds, and I move toward him, Rion remaining at my side with his arm tossed around my shoulders.
Thorne, Kael, and Ocean join us as Kael’s mother clears her throat, drawing everyone’s attention to her.
“Thank you for gathering here. I never imagined it would be under these circumstances, or at this time, but when an opportunity presents itself, it’s important for us to take it,” she starts, earning a few nods from the gathered crowd.
“We never imagined this venture would excel based on our children,” she continues, waving her hand in our direction, and the smile on her face is warm.
“But here we are. We’ve been waiting, biding our time, and now here it is.
The strongest people are in this room, and I believe we have the strength to face not only my son, Jude, but The Sanctum.
Actually, I believe facing the latter will draw out Jude, creating one final war before we face retribution, and hopes of a future that looks nothing like the one we’re currently lost in. ”
“And what does that look like to you?” Kael asks, his eyes boring into his mother’s, who smiles under the intense stare.
“The plan is for us to go to The Vale. We'll catch The Sanctum off guard, and we'll bring them down once and for all.”
“Jude too?” he pushes. “When do we take him down for certain?”
Sadness creeps into the depths of her eyes as she sighs.
“We're hoping the fall of The Sanctum will bring him out of his little den. He will be dealt with too. There are many people in this room that deserve vengeance, and I have to accept that. He’s out of control and has gone too far. I’m also aware that we want to be rid of The Sanctum, a group of people hellbent on controlling us all, but Jude wants that control for himself.
That scenario sounds even worse,” she admits, and I can’t find any connection with how that must feel, and I wouldn’t want to.
There's no remorse in Kael’s eyes, though. It’s time.
Kael’s father clears his throat. “We're going to coordinate this well, use a portal to take us straight to The Vale, and take them down quickly.”
“Now, if we're all ready, let's make use of this portal, shall we?” Rikard asks, earning a cheer as anticipation fills my lungs.
It’s all going to end now, I can feel it in my bones.
I step through the portal without care, focused on ending this madness that wreaks havoc on my life, only to falter when I appear on the other side. I’m ninety-nine percent certain I’m standing in the exact spot where I first arrived for the first time with Kael.
My throat dries, despite my efforts, as I recall the fear and treachery I felt in those first moments. It isn't so vibrant anymore, but it seems to be staring back at me tenfold with the crowd of people gathered, awaiting our arrival.
So much for catching them off guard.
I feel the presence grow behind me as more people step through the portal, offering me the pleasure of enjoying the shock that transforms across the faces of Anya and Saken.
The body of students behind them is just as stunned, and it’s no surprise to see Willow right beside her mother as she speaks.
“Elodie Blackwood, you are hereby sentenced to death for the death of Cordelia Wickerman.”
“My daughter is what now?” my mother blurts, slipping through the crowd to come to a stop at my side, and Anya gapes in horror, the two staring off at one another as the rest of the people continue to filter through the portal, revealing just how not alone I am.
All while I sink my teeth into my bottom lip, holding back the desire to correct them on my name.
Saken snarls when he locks eyes with Rikard, and I can’t deny how much pleasure I take from the encounter. If nothing else, it’s been worth the looks on their faces.
“Do you dare bring a war to The Vale?” Saken snarls, and a whoosh of laughter comes from behind.
“No, we’re bringing an end to The Vale,” Kael’s mother insists, disdain falling heavily through the air as Anya snaps her teeth.
“How dare you show up here? You are hereby all sentenced to death,” Anya insists, Willow nodding eagerly at her mother’s side, and I try not to roll my eyes.
“Anya, darling, I’ll have you know, you hijacked us with your desire for power, and now you must pay the consequences,” my mother promises, and I proudly stand at her side.
“I would offer to handle this like civilized beings, but we both know you don’t know how to conduct yourself like one of those,” she adds, her voice soft despite the venom coursing through each word.
The adrenaline in my veins almost has me vibrating.
Anya’s cackle cuts through the air. “Nobody wants to take advice from a power leeching parasite of a mage.”
I gape in disbelief at the slurs ripping from her tongue, each one aimed at my mother.
“You've always been one to fight with your words,” Kael’s mother bites, standing at my mother’s side. “Let’s cut to the chase and see how far your skills don’t actually get you.”
It’s like a gun goes off, everyone scrambling at once, students included, and instead of setting me into motion, it floods me with a wave of guilt. They don’t know what they’re fighting for, and they’re going to pay the ultimate price.
But it seems they haven’t considered that fact because they charge regardless.
“Elodie?” Ocean breathes, rushing to my side, and it tugs me from my mind as a battle cry rings through the air.
“We move as one,” Kael grunts, and I nod, my hands fisting at my sides.
“Protect each other,” Rion adds, a snarl parting his lips a moment later when he shifts into his wolf form, and I glance over my shoulder in search of Thorne too, only to find him standing side by side with my father. Black smoke billows from their palms, drenching the ground in their magic.
Some heed the warning, refusing to come any closer, while others race into it, unfazed, suffering the consequence of their foolishness as they fall to the ground, writhing in pain.
Refusing to cower under their protection, I head toward the chaos, Ocean and Kael at my side as Rion darts at a wolf a few steps behind the smoke.
My nostrils flare as I focus, connecting with the magic inside of me as I turn my attention to the first person in my way.
Of all the redheads in the world.
It’s that one.