Chapter 39 River
River
EARLIER
“This card game isn’t really going to work since you talk about what you’re holding in your head,” I explained, placing my cards on the coffee table and getting up. Ike had been here for over four hours, and I liked the guy, but he really needed to learn how to lighten up.
“I thought we said no powers?” he scolded.
I shrugged, pulling my shirt up and inspecting my healed wound.
The scars were deep and raised but I couldn’t feel the pain as intensely as before.
Corrin’s healing powers were top notch and I’d told her so when I saw the wound start to heal itself right in front of my eyes.
“You agreed to that. I did not. Any news from your sister?”
Ike got his phone out, scanning the screen. “Nothing since she said they were on their way to that meeting.”
“Is there a reason you didn’t join Celica with her? As much as you both bicker, you also equally talk about how much you care, so…”
He leaned back on the couch, running a hand over his freshly shaved head.
“Not for me. Corrin is a fan of group projects and all that. I’m my sister’s keeper to an extent.
Also, she would annoy the shit out of me if I followed her to the coven.
She likes to have her own thing with her own group of friends and I’m the same way.
Besides, she likes to explore her magic and be all smart science girl.
I don’t really like to use my powers all that much. ”
“Except for when you are helping take down alpha werewolves?” I joked, watching him put the cards in a nice little pile.
“I do what I can. I’m a nice guy, sue me.”
I chuckled, turning up my powers and finding Chancellor Fowler.
I was careful when I moved through his head, but I didn’t need to work that hard since nothing was happening.
He hadn’t tried to have any mental communication with my dad and a small part of me was happy about that.
It was a little selfish that a piece of that happiness had to do with myself and not with Riley.
I was committed to this and whatever it would bring but I was also a little on edge with being so potentially close to my dad’s mind. I’d told Asher I would be fine—and I was— but that didn’t mean the man didn’t make me just a tiny bit nervous.
“Jade gave an update that Riley’s mom is okay.
She’s apparently asking a million and one questions about her daughter.
Putting Jade in charge of her was a bad idea.
It’s just a matter of time before she word vomits every single minute detail about Teresa’s death,” Ike said, scrolling through his texts.
“Riley already told her mom.”
“Yes, but did she give her mom all the gory details? Because Jade is known for leaving no detail unturned,” Ike explained, shivering as if he just remembered something he would rather forget. “I’m about to order food, do you want—”
I put my hand up to stop him, when I heard an unfamiliar voice speak to Chancellor Fowler.
She’s here with her friend. She looks fine, nervous but just fine. I thought I was done doing this?
Chancellor Fowler chuckled in his mind. You’re done when I say you’re done.
You should be happy, I don’t ask you to do more.
How about we let all your witch friends know you’re the reason why their minds felt violated some time ago.
You use that little memory magic of yours for good, but who says they wouldn’t believe that you use it for other things. Is that what you want?
No. Don’t. I don’t know what else you want me to do?
The chancellor was silent for a minute. Ike started to speak again but I waved him off, moving into the kitchen. The other voice spoke again.
Wait, something is happening. I think there might be a fight.
Between?
Your daughter and another witch. Should I try to stop it? The coven leader is a joke…
Chancellor Fowler hummed. No, just observe.
Riley just threw her against a tree and she’s not stopping. I really think I should.
The energy in Chancellor Fowler’s mind grew as if he was excited about whatever was happening.
I had to keep my focus, so I placed my hands on the counter and closed my eyes, keeping my mind steady.
I couldn’t cause too much commotion, or he would notice someone else was eavesdropping.
The key to good telepathy was being smooth about your infiltration, as if nothing was amiss.
No, don’t you dare try to stop her. Chancellor Fowler insisted.
What the fuck was going on? This Celica meeting was meant to be simple, but what was Riley doing? My mind nearly short circuited when they mentioned something about a fire. I needed to be there, but I knew there was only one way for me to do that.
Fine, I’ll do it. After this we are done. The other voice said and I realized I’d missed what Chancellor Fowler had asked. Fuck.
Loud barking started and the sound of Beau’s paws scrapping against the floor echoed in my ear. His barking pounded against my head and I looked off to the side to see him practically ramming his body into the front door.
“Hey, buddy, calm down. River, what the fuck is going on?” Ike asked, trying to handle Beau but the pitbull wiggled his way out and kept running around.
The issue with Beau had me rubbing my temples and trying to maintain my powers.
I searched for a moment and finally found Riley’s mind.
The minute I was in, I pressed my fingertips into the counter because fuck, was it painful in there.
I wasn’t an empath, but that level of mind fuck hurt even me.
I saw the memories fly by and her internal thoughts of begging it to stop.
The heat that she could create was increasing with every passing memory and I knew she wasn’t doing this to herself.
Someone else was in here and I would bet all the money I had that it was the same person who’d gotten into my own head. They must be a hybrid magic wielder just like Riley. I pushed my way through the madness and spoke to her.
Riley, what the fuck is going on? Answer me, please!
I knew she was trying and then there was a shift in her mind, like whatever was there was gone. They must have gone back to talk to Chancellor Fowler. If Riley needed me, she could call out for me, but if they’d left her mind, maybe this entire mess would settle down.
I raced my powers back to Chancellor Fowler and I landed in the middle of whatever they were talking about. I saw Ike out of the corner of my eye struggling with Beau and I would help him in a minute, but I just needed to…
I know it was him. I’ve been in his head before, I’m sure of it.
Chancellor Fowler lulled his mind a bit. She will be quite upset with me for this, but I did warn her. Let him know what to do and shield your mind, since we have a little watcher.
I can do it. I did fine last…
I could practically hear the chancellor tsk. No you said you were done and I respect that. Just do what I say and let the man have his fun.
I pushed myself out the minute I felt him look at me, even though he couldn’t actually see me.
I pressed my hand to my chest, feeling my heart beating rapidly.
I looked over to Beau and Ike, noticing the familiar had settled down, but his body was still shaking.
Ike had his arms wrapped around him while he sat on the floor.
“River, what the fuck?”
“It’s Riley…I don’t know. Something happened at the coven meeting.”
Ike’s eyes widened and he fumbled for his phone, likely to check if Corrin had written anything.
I’d left my phone on the kitchen counter earlier in the day and saw it buzzing.
A phone call from Asher was coming through.
I went to pick it up when an intense grating sound hit my head.
It sounded like nails on a chalkboard, but then it felt like my brain was getting pulverized with a mallet.
I gripped the side of my head, trying to build up the walls around my mind.
Inch by inch a shield was created but it stopped.
I couldn’t keep going or maybe I wasn’t strong enough to keep pushing back.
The shield reverberated as if something was barreling through. It pulsed and I felt my knees hit the floor of the kitchen. The wall I’d tried to build exploded around me and I quickly tried to create another, but each time was weaker and easily destroyed.
Oh, River. You’ve learned so much, but it will never be enough to keep me out.
“No, no, no,” I whispered to myself, continuing to try and fail at helping myself, helping my mind.
Disobedience breeds consequences, son. It won’t hurt too badly.
I slammed my fist against the floor and the feeling I dreaded started to claim my body, my mind…
everything. He was starting to take over and I wanted to push back, but he was already in.
That familial tie was strong even if I had every reason to want to shred it to pieces.
I gritted my teeth, nearly biting my own tongue from the sheer will to not obey him.
I regretted not pushing myself more to be able to take him on. Despite being shielded by Asher, I should have done my due diligence. I knew that.
Ike ran over to me and an anxiety-ridden Beau licked at my face, whining. “River, talk to me. What can I do?” He sounded desperate and I wanted to tell him there was nothing he could do.
I heard what my father wanted and my own will kept attempting to intrude on his control. He was stronger and he always had been. I got up from the floor, feeling myself move like a robot.
“Where are you going? What did you hear?” Ike pushed, grabbing my forearm.
I whirled around and slammed him into the kitchen wall, his eyes grew with shock.
His expression quickly morphed into panic when he looked into my eyes.
If he realized something, I wasn’t aware because I didn’t feel anything.
I pulled away heading towards the entryway table, grabbing my motorcycle keys.
Beau bit at my heels but I ignored him, like I ignored my own pleas to stop myself.
I left my helmet behind as I slammed the door behind me and got onto my bike. I heard the engine revving and all I could think was he was going to make this hurt. This would hurt everyone.
I backed out of the driveway and headed down the street, not really knowing where I was going but the fact that I needed to keep driving was my only thought. He was leading my directions but never showed me the destination, even though all that came to mind was one word: pain.