Chapter 36
I whirl around, coming face-to-face with a third masked figure.
There’s a shout as Orion dives for me, knocking the other person off their feet.
Joelle gasps and I reach for her, clutching her to my side as we watch Orion and the masked figure roll around on the ground, throwing punches and sending up a thick cloud of dirt.
“Stop it!” I scream, throwing up my palms to strike a magical blow, but they’re rolling around so much that I might hit Orion if I try to help. Still, I’ve got to do something.
The masked figure rears back and hits Orion across the face.
It sends a spear of white-hot anger straight through my middle.
A scream tears through me as a bolt of electricity flies from my fingertips, striking the ground near them.
It startles the masked figure enough that Orion is able to get the upper hand.
As he throttles the figure’s throat, his mask falls off and reveals Tyler’s smug face.
Of course he’s involved. Looks like summoning demons is Britney’s idea of romance.
I step forward to help my brother when a blast of energy sends me skidding across the ground, slamming into a tree trunk. When my vision settles, Britney’s got a knife to Joelle’s throat and Tyler is dragging Orion to his feet, restraining his arms behind his back.
“Give it up,” Britney sneers. “It’s over.”
She’s right. I can’t see any other way out of this, not without backup, and I have no idea whether that’s coming at all. It would be one thing if I was dealing with three mortals, but they’ve got stolen power thrumming beneath their skin. I can’t take them on alone.
“There’s so much more to life than titles,” I say, staggering to my feet. “And it says a lot about you that you don’t believe your dad can win this election on his own merit. You’re doing the same thing you claim I did: cheat.”
“Consider it leveling the playing field,” Britney says, her venomous words carrying across the clearing.
“You can’t fight anyone else’s battles,” I say, overly aware of the blade hovering dangerously close to Joelle’s neck.
“My grandfather and your dad are going to have to win or lose this election themselves. But if you think I didn’t earn that title, then okay.
Whatever will help you sleep at night. But let Joelle go.
I know there’s too much history between our families to ignore, but she’s innocent in all this. ”
Joelle’s eyes are wide as saucers. Her gaze hasn’t drifted from me once. The point of the knife is so close to her neck; her throat bobs as she swallows, and the blade nicks her skin. A thin line of blood flows from the tip.
Britney’s smile grows wider as she tightens her grip on Joelle.
“Oh no. I’ve been watching you, Mikaela.
I know how much she means to you.” Britney uses her free hand to stroke Joelle’s cheek.
Her fingernails are blackened and cracked.
“If you don’t get in the fucking summoning circle, I’m going to rip her throat open and soak the ground in her blood. The ball’s in your court.”
I’ve hit the end of the line. Either I watch Joelle die a grisly death or I allow the demon to use my body to destroy the world.
I tilt my head back, staring up at the tiny patch of sky visible through the trees. The full moon shines bright and whole. A shudder runs through me as I’m thrust into a familiar vision: a copse of trees, the gleam of a blade, Joelle’s magnificent brown eyes.
Gran’s voice returns to me, ringing clear in my ears. Death can be its own sort of transformation.
“All right,” I say, snapping back to the present. “Draw the circle. I’ll do it.”
“No!” Orion and Joelle both scream at the same time.
Britney slaps a hand over Joelle’s mouth as she gestures to Christine. “You heard her. Let’s give the demon what it wants.”
Christine draws a large ring of salt as Orion tries to get my attention.
“Mikaela, what are you doing?” he shouts. “You’ll be trapped. We’ll all die!”
I stare at my brother head-on and tighten my fists. I step into his mind with ease. “The vision can’t be prevented. It’s all going to come true.” His brow knits together in confusion, but I rush to continue, “Remember Sabine’s gift and thank her for me after I’m gone.”
“Mikaela,” he says aloud, but Christine is beckoning me forward. The circle is complete.
She uses a pocketknife to slice her palm open, dripping black-tinged blood into the circle. I remember Aria’s instructions: The demon can either be called forth by name or with something that belongs to it. These psychos have given themselves over to it completely.
Christine snatches her hand away as a flash of light blinds us.
When darkness falls over the clearing once more, I open my eyes to find Gazannol in all its inky blackness.
Its eyes betray the insatiable hunger within.
The demon steeples its fingers, nearly vibrating with anticipation and glee.
It stalks the edge of the summoning circle, absorbing the sight of us.
“Come here, girl.” Its voice grates on my nerves like nails running down a chalkboard. “Let me taste you.”
As soon as I breach the circle, it’ll take over.
My body will no longer be my own. Gazannol will be able to do whatever it pleases, and it’ll have full access to the depths of its power.
Not to mention it’ll use my power as well.
Through me, it will be able to reach the celestial plane where the ancestors reside.
Gazannol will be truly unstoppable.
Death was once something I feared. When I pulled Joelle’s card, I couldn’t fathom the thought of leaving Gramps and Orion behind. But they’ll be okay. Together, they’ll find a new Witch Queen to lead the coven, and I can only hope they’ll lean on each other after losing me.
I catch Orion’s eye. He’s fallen to his knees. Tyler grips the back of his shirt, but Orion’s no longer fighting back.
“Don’t do this,” he begs through our tether. “I won’t be able to bring you back.”
“I know.” I push all the love in my body into our bond. We entered this world together, he and I. And now I have to leave him to it. The loss won’t break him. Everything we’ve been through has only strengthened us. “I love you, Ri. Goodbye.”
I shatter the bond, and Orion screams at the sudden emptiness inside his head. Christine sneers and waves me over. Every step feels like an eternity until my toes rest at the edge of the circle. Gazannol towers over me, and the smell of sulfur fills my nostrils.
“Are you ready to invite me in, witch?”
Behind me, Orion and Joelle are both screaming at me to stop. They know as well as I do that there’s no other way out of this. At least they’ll live. My fate is sealed, but their stories are still being written.
“I’ll allow you to possess my body for as long as I live, demon.” I face Gazannol when I speak, but my next words are meant for me. “I’ll be the leader that my coven deserves.” With a single breath, I step over the salt and into Gazannol’s embrace.