Chapter Thirty-Four #2
“Impossible,” Derek refuses.
Victor takes out his dagger and points it at Derek’s throat. “I beg to differ.”
Derek shifts his eyes between Victor, Victor’s mother, and the stream. “I don’t know where she is, and I’ve never met her in person. She gives my orders to my contact. Just like when she told me to take care of the witch that cursed your grandmother.”
Victor presses the point of his dagger slowly into Derek’s neck and draws a little blood. “What did you just say?”
“You heard me,” Derek snarls. “I knew the witch who cursed your grandmother, Marie Russo. She was the one who messed up when covering her tracks.”
“What was her name?” Victor demands.
“I don’t know,” Derek states.
“Yes, you do!” Victor pierces Derek’s neck, allowing more blood to protrude.
“Honestly, I don’t know. Florence just told me where to find her.” The bush doesn’t grow up Derek’s leg.
“YOU’RE LYING!” Victor shouts, causing a white glow to pulse off him, shaking the trees and disturbing the animals.
Derek’s eyes grow wide as he looks at the stream. The forest slowly fades into darkness.
Victor’s mother begins to worry as she looks around and slowly pulls back Victor’s hand. “My love, you need to go.”
“Not until I get him to tell me the truth,” Victor says aggressively. Loud moans come from behind him. Victor slowly turns and sees dead souls climbing out of the dark purple River Styx.
Derek starts to struggle. “Get me out of this!”
Victor turns to his mother, asking, “Mom, how do we get out of here?”
Victor’s mother shakes her head. “I’m not sure. You’ve been here for too long. Your friends are the only way you can get out of this.”
Victor, his mother, and Derek watch as the dead souls slowly walk toward them.
“Guys, blood is starting to come out of their noses.” Leo panics as he and Eddie rush over to Victor.
“Watch out with the circle!” Superior Charles commands.
Madame Jeanette opens her eyes. “O Bondye! Sa pa bon!” She rushes over and places her hand on Victor’s cheek. “They are in trouble. We need to act quickly.”
Leo drops beside Victor. “How do we get them back?”
Wren starts to assess the situation. “Give me a second. I’m trying to think.”
“Make it quick,” Superior Charles demands.
Wren paces side to side. She keeps looking down at Victor and Derek.
Eddie looks at Wren. “Hurry, the bleeding won’t stop.”
Wren stops and perks up. “I can do it.” Everyone looks at her. “I need to go get them.”
“No! I’m not letting someone else go to the astral plane. Especially if they are in danger,” Superior Charles protests.
Wren takes the jar of black sand and makes a circle above Victor. “If you recall, Charles, I am older than you and more experienced in necromancy.” She looks down at Madame Jeanette, “No offense.”
“None taken,” Madame Jeanette replies.
Superior Charles gives Wren an aggravated look. “You’re only two years older than me.”
Wren plops the empty jar in the box. “I just need two minutes.” She sits down in the circle and crisscrosses her legs. As she closes her eyes, she starts to whisper a chant.
Victor and his mother are as far back as they can go as the dead souls get closer.
“This is all your fault!” Derek shouts.
A flash of light appears out of nowhere. As Victor’s vision refocuses, he sees Wren making circles with her hands and arms. She creates a barrier, blocking the dead souls from approaching further.
Wren turns to everyone once she completes the barrier. “We need to get going.” She looks at Victor’s mother. “Are you Marie Russo?”
Victor’s mother shakes her head. “No, I’m his mother, Theresa Russo.”
Wren curtsies. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Russo.”
Victor rushes over to Wren, explaining, “We can’t leave yet. Derek is lying about something, but he won’t admit it.”
“I’M NOT LYING!” Derek shouts as he desperately struggles his way out of the bush.
“What are you lying about?” Wren asks Derek.
“Florence Maryweather,” Victor responds.
Wren gives Victor a confused glance. “That’s impossible. She’s dead.”
Derek becomes furious. “NO, SHE’S NOT! She ordered me to kill the witch who cursed his fucking grandmother! Now, she has me trying to kill him too!” Derek turns his anger on Victor. “But for whatever fucking reason, you just WON’T DIE!”
“He mentioned he gets his order from his contact,” Victor informs. “But he won’t give me a name.”
Wren holds Derek’s face in her hands. “What is the name of your contact?”
Derek tries to break free from her hold. “I already told you, I don’t know.”
Wren’s hands start to glow. “You do know. You just don’t remember. That memory was taken from you.”
“What are you doing?” Derek demands as he struggles in Wren’s grasp.
“I’m linking our abilities together,” Wren responds. She looks at Derek’s left hand and notices a tan line on his finger. “He’s missing his wedding ring.”
“So. Why does that matter?” Victor comments.
Wren lets go of Derek’s face. “The memory of his contact’s name is in his wedding ring. His ring is a focus.” The dead souls are pounding away at the barrier. The barrier’s glow starts to weaken.
Victor holds his dagger to Derek’s neck. “Where’s your wedding ring?”
“I don’t know,” Derek says before shouting in agony. The thorny bush is halfway up his thigh. “FINE! Fine.” Derek sighs deeply and places his hand in his left pant pocket. He pulls out his wedding band and places it back on his ring finger.
“The name,” Victor demands.
“Superior Morgana Crimson,” Derek responds.
As soon as Derek answers, the dead souls break the barrier. Victor’s mother jumps in front, and a flash of light emerges from her hands. “I can’t hold them for long. You need to get out of here.”
Victor looks worried at his mother. “Will you be okay?” She turns her head to look at Victor and gives him a wink. Victor holds up his hands and pauses. “Fuck! I forgot the words. We’ve been here too long.”
Wren holds up her hands and chants in Latin.
Victor and Derek simultaneously open their eyes, gasping for air, and start coughing as they regain consciousness. When Victor sits up, he opens his eyes again, and they are black. Quickly, he pounces on top of Derek and holds his dagger to Derek’s neck.
“VICTOR!” Leo shouts as he leaps over to try to get Victor off Derek.
Derek looks determined as he stares into Victor’s black eyes. “Do it. You know you want to.”
Victor doesn’t blink as he looks back into Derek’s eyes. He takes out a bracelet and slaps it onto Derek’s wrist. Victor stands up, hovering over Derek. Derek tries to kick Victor but hurts himself.
“That charm prevents you from hurting anyone,” Victor comments. “Any attack you try, the effects harm you instead. Also, if you try to run, I can pull you back with a snap.”
Leo looks at the bracelet. “Where did you get that?”
Victor blinks a few times, and his eyes go back to normal. “Wren. She placed it in my pocket while everyone was getting things ready.”
Superior Charles walks over and stops above Derek’s head. He looks down at Derek’s aggravated glare. “Derek Hernandez, you will be sent to trial with the council for the crimes you have committed.”
Derek looks at the bracelet and tries to pull it off. “Looks like I don’t have much of a choice.”
Victor steps away as Superior Charles and Eddie pick up Derek.
Eddie performs a binding spell on Derek.
Derek snarls at Victor but Victor remains focused in case he tries to do something to escape.
Eddie lets out a sharp whistle. Out of the darkness, the two muscular Aztec men appear to assist Eddie in taking Derek back to the mirror.
As the others watch Derek being taken away, Superior Charles looks at Victor and asks, “Did you get the information you needed out of him?”
Victor nods. “Derek said that Florence Maryweather is still alive.”
“That’s impossible,” Madame Jeanette proclaims. “She’s been dead for almost 30 years.”
“He claims she is still alive and hiding. He receives orders from her from his contact, Superior Morgana Crimson. If we find Morgana, we’ll find Florence.”