Stakes
STAKES
Amara
And so the rest of autumn passes, like a peaceful dream. With Tudor off teaching at Elmwood Academy and Oana deep in hiding at the hotel, it’s easy to pretend that my bartender facade is my real life. I work my shifts diligently and then join Celine afterwards, enjoying long evenings listening to her play piano, drinking wine and ordering room service, dancing at the club, and turning into a prune in the hot tub. Every once in a while I catch Xia staring at me with an anxious expression, but she never mentions my true identity, thank Hecate. Nova also thinks I’m crazy for dating a vampire, but for all the normal reasons.
As I walk back to my apartment one early morning in December, Merlin tailing close behind me, I realize that I am starting to miss feeling the sun on my skin, and the bright expanse of sky available to me on my broomstick. It’s been so long since I last flew on a broomstick. I hope I don’t lose the ability.
I decide to perform a little offering when I get home. I want to keep the connection to my deity alive, and my magic strong.
I hum a song to the moon, as I unlock my apartment and kick off my shoes. Shoes are one thing I have not been enjoying about this lifestyle. Especially now that the warmer weather requires thicker boots and socks. I wonder if we’re going to get any snow soon…
Then I spot something out of the corner of my eye, and my thoughts stop. There’s a shadowy figure in my apartment. They wear a long, hooded robe that obscures their face.
“Stop! Who are you?” I shout, raising my hands. Yellow light pools around my fingertips.
The figure lowers the hood of her robe, her dark red hair spilling out over her shoulders. “Amara, it’s only me!”
I exhale, lowering my hands and flicking on the light switch.
“Calli! Thank Goddess, you scared me.”
“Sorry Amara. I had to be careful. I didn’t want to be spotted by anyone and ruin your cover.”
My best friend wraps her arms around me and enfolds me in a tight hug, which I eagerly return. It’s so nice to see her. I haven’t seen any other Hecate witches in months . Hugging her fills me with tender homesickness.
“Oh, I’ve missed you so much!” says Callista. “The bakery’s not the same without you.”
“I’ve missed you too, but what are you doing here? It’s dangerous for you to come visit, Calli.”
“I had to speak with you in person,” she says, nervously. I frown at her. Callista is not the serious type, or someone to be easily concerned.
“Let me make you some tea,” I tell her, moving to the area of my studio apartment that attempts to pass as a kitchen.
“Thank you,” she says, taking a seat at the rickety kitchen table. I’m glad I bought the second chair. I never expected to have any visitors. Nobody else has been in this apartment, other than Merlin, who doesn’t really count.
“Sorry about the tea…and the chair.” I wave my hand to boil the water on the stove. “I don’t spend too much time here, really. I’m mostly at the hotel.”
Callista nods. “We’re so grateful for what you’re doing, Amara. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been. I know how much you love Hemlock Haven…”
I prepare the tea and join her at the table. “Actually, it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. The club is sort of fun. There’s a bear shifter, and that other witch who works there.”
Callista wrinkles her nose. “The wicked witch?”
“She’s not an evil witch any more, she’s independent now.”
I shouldn’t tell Callista that Xia figured out my true identity. Probably better not to worry her unnecessarily. I don’t think Xia will give me up, but good witches rarely trust evil ones, and Callista would make a big deal about it.
“Still,” Callista shakes her head. “I can’t believe I was romanticizing it before. I’ve been so worried about you. Ever since the situation with Oana, all of the Hecate witches have been preparing for another conflict.”
“Do you think that’s really necessary?” I ask, tentatively. “I mean, I know that Tudor and Lavinia are suspicious of each other, but aren’t they always? After all, Tudor has been teaching at Elmwood Academy with the other witches, bridging the divide between the vampires and witches. Surely, that’s a sign that he can be trusted?”
But as I say the words, I know in my heart they’re not true. And the answer is written on Callista’s face. She puts her mug down on the table, deep sadness in her green eyes.
“Amara, you can’t be serious. You know how vampires are. They want total control, absolute power. They’re jealous of what we witches have. They want to take it for themselves and they don’t care who they hurt to get it!”
“But they’re not all like that, Callista. Maybe Tudor is more…old-fashioned…but the other vampires, they’re different! Like Amrita! She started Elmwood Academy to bring the vampires and witches together. And Renata and Lexi, they seem more occupied with running the hotel than anything that the witches are doing. And Celine…”
“You might be right about the other vampires, but it doesn’t matter. Tudor is the one with the power, and his progeny will follow him, especially his eldest. Vampire progeny always follow their Creators, Amara, you know that.”
I sigh, but don’t argue with her. She’s not wrong. Cedric made quite a stir when he betrayed Tudor and joined Lazarus Gray. But even he traded one Creator to follow another. Celine is powerful, but not as powerful as Tudor or Lazarus.
Still…I have to believe that she would make the right decision if she needed to.
How do I explain that to my best friend, though? Her face, usually so bright and cheerful, is drawn and somber. I know what preparing for battle is like. Neither of us ever wanted to do it again. It must be heartbreaking for her to have to teach the young witches at Hemlock Haven how to defend themselves against vampires and shifters, knowing that not all of them will make it.
“I understand, Calli,” I tell her. “And I’ll do everything I can to avoid another conflict.”
“Good,” Callista says. “I have something to give you before I leave.”
She reaches into her embroidered witch robe and pulls out a long, thin instrument. For a moment, I think it’s a wand. Then I see its sharpened end.
My heart sinks in my chest. “Callista, no. I can’t take that.”
“Amara, I wish I didn’t have to give it to you. I know how much you hate killing. But things aren’t looking good. There have been vampire sightings around Hemlock Haven. They’re planning an attack, we know that for sure. If Tudor and Oana attack Hemlock Haven, you need to take out his progeny. Try to get as many as possible, but prioritize the eldest. They’re all too powerful. If they get to us first, they could kill dozens of witches. You have to take them out first.
“It’s the only way.”
With a heavy, sinking feeling, I take the smooth stake from her trembling hand.
I pray to Hecate that I’ll never have to use it.