Chapter 20 Veronica
VERONICA
“Good evening, ladies.”
Wendy and I jerked and rolled over as quickly as we could. The two of us had huddled together in one bed to nap once we’d calmed down after the earpiece died. Two reedy male witches, both wearing scowls that looked perpetual, flanked the man who was behind this.
“Virgil,” I hissed, my anger flaring so hot I couldn’t control myself.
I jumped off the bed and rushed toward him. He grinned at me, and one of his men threw out a hand, sending up a magical barrier. I ran smack into it, falling backward onto my ass.
“Now, now, no need for violence,” Virgil said, his grin turning darker and more menacing.
“You bastard!”
“Leave us,” Virgil said, waving to the men.
They didn’t even try to argue. The two simply bowed their heads and stepped outside, closing the door. The magic barrier fell away.
“Veronica,” Virgil said, all pretense of being nice vanished.
“My dumbass classmate. Wonderful to have you back. You really fucked up my plan. You chose that moment, right when I needed you where you were, to actually not be an idiot with magic? Really? I’ve seen you struggle with a fucking levitation spell, and you somehow create a portal to escape?
” He shook his head in disgust and started pacing the room, his hands clasped behind his back.
“Do you have any idea how difficult it is to get away with murder without a good fall guy? Someone who can take the blame and punishment? It’s very fucking difficult,” he spat, leaning in close to me.
“You killed Uncle Balthazar!” Wendy screamed, her voice echoing around the room like a banshee’s. She rushed Virgil, small fists held up high, ready to strike him.
Virgil sneered at her and kicked out, catching her in the stomach. Wendy gagged and clutched her stomach as she fell to the floor.
“Wendy,” I cried, crawling to her and cradling her in my lap. I glared at Virgil. “You are such a piece of shit, Virgil.”
“She’s not even worth the mental efforts of magic,” he said, giving Wendy a haughty look. “A foot in the gut is all she deserves. Always trying to make me look dumb in school? That’s payback for that.”
“I’ll kill you for this,” I said through gritted teeth.
Virgil’s eyes flashed dangerously, and he lunged for us.
“No one threatens me. You know what?” Snarling, he grabbed us both, wrapping an arm around each of our necks, squeezing tight enough to make breathing difficult.
“I’ve got something to show you. I think it’ll douse that fire you’ve both got burning inside. It should make you nice and docile.”
Still holding us tight, he snapped his fingers. The stone ring on his hand glowed bright.
“I wanted to relive my greatest moment,” Virgil explained. “So, I decided to hide a small recording stone in Freedman’s office. It got a great view.”
In the air above the ring, a three-dimensional, full-color video began to play.
“Virgil?” Balthazar said and stood, looking confused. “Why aren’t you in your room? It’s past curfew.”
Virgil appeared on the video, looking sheepish. “I’m so sorry professor,” he whimpered. “I just don’t know who to go to. I’m having an issue, and I need advice.”
Balthazar’s whole demeanor changed. His shoulders relaxed, and his face shifted from confusion and suspicion, to worry and concern. “Virgil, my boy, what’s the matter? Come, come, tell me.”
Balthazar pulled Virgil into a half-hug.
As soon as he did that, Virgil’s face morphed into a mask of determined madness, teeth bared, eyes narrowed, and brow furrowed.
His hand flashed out of his school robes, brandishing a blade.
With a single savage grunt of strength, he slammed it hilt-deep into Balthazar’s chest.
Balthazar gasped, tilting backward. He lifted a hand toward Virgil, who flinched back, but in his state, Balthazar couldn’t cast a spell. He fell backward, falling against his desk. Virgil lunged again, pulled the knife free, then stabbed Blathazar again and again.
Virgil huffed and puffed as he stood and inspected his robes and shoes, obviously looking for blood spatter or smears. Happy with his clothing, he walked over to the recording stone. He reached up, grinning from ear to ear.
Virgil was chuckling as the last image played out, but Wendy had become a twisting, growling monster.
The harder she fought, the tighter Virgil held.
I tried to fight as well, but my strength was nowhere near where it should have been.
I felt like a child in his arms, and I wondered if the collars sapped more than just our magic.
Wendy sank her teeth into Virgil’s arm, so hard that blood burst from between her lips.
Virgil screamed and backhanded her. “You little bitch!”
Wendy fell backward. Her lip was split, and blood dripped from it. Sobbing, she clutched her face.
With a roar, I leapt at him, swinging a fist at his face. The blow glanced off his cheek, knocking his glasses off, but it barely rattled him. Without access to my wolf, my strength was depleted.
As I was winding up for a second strike, he swung his hand at me. His palm cracked against my cheek, sending a flash of white light across my vision.
He grabbed my throat, squeezing tight right above the collar. I coughed and gagged, trying to catch my breath. I beat at his arm, but in my weakened state, it felt like I was hammering my fists against steel.
“You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into,” he said, adjusting his glasses. “A talentless cunt like you? You should know how to act around your betters. Once I’ve completed the—agh, fuck!”
Wendy had jumped onto his back and sunk her teeth into the side of his neck like a little vampire. I tried to scramble to my feet and help, but I was dizzy, and I fell sideways, hitting the carpeted floor with a grunt.
Virgil grabbed Wendy by the hair and yanked hard until she loosened her teeth. In one quick movement, he twisted and slammed her against the wall. Her head bounced off the wall, and she crumpled to the floor, unconscious.
I cried out and crawled over to her.
“I’m gonna bleed her out,” Virgil said, backing away and rubbing at the teeth marks on his neck. “Take what should have been mine, and I’m gonna enjoy it.”
He opened the door and turned back one last time to spit on the floor at our feet. “Enjoy what time you have left with that little bitch,” he muttered, then slammed the door.
Pulling Wendy back into my lap, I rocked her, stroking her head.
I prayed she didn’t have some sort of brain damage.
I recalled the song that had played from her clock in her room.
It seemed like that had been years ago, but I remembered the melody clearly.
Taking a shaky breath, I began to hum it to her, hoping she could somehow hear it even though she was unconscious.
“Please, Declan,” I whispered to the quiet room. “Please hurry.”