Chapter 23 #3
The creature scuttled up the ancient ash tree, leaving a trail of black sludge oozing down the bark.
Its claws dug deep into the timber, gouging through as it climbed, rain hissing against its form.
Bridget raised her sword and swung, but the weight of her soaked dress clung to her legs, restricting every movement.
They just had to attend that damned dinner.
The Wraith leapt again. Cassia moved this time, barely dodging as the clawed limb raked through the space where her head had been seconds before.
“You have magic!” Bridget snapped, eyes burning as she backed Nylah away from the tree. “Do something!”
The moment the harsh words escaped Bridget’s mouth, the glass doors leading out to the courtyard shattered.
Bridget twisted toward the sound. Quinn stood in the shattered doorway, untouched by the storm.
Her tattered dress clung to her like blood, the Bloodstone clutched in her palm glowing a deep, pulsing red.
A cruel, satisfied smile flickered on her face. “Found you.”
Bridget tightened her grip on her sword. “What do you want?” she snapped. “You can’t win here. No matter what you try, Cade is not ending up in Cavamyne.”
Dread curled like smoke in her gut. Where the hell was he?
Quinn didn’t answer. She stepped through the shattered doorway, the Bloodstone in her palm glowing like molten coal.
“Now’s not the time for reason, Bridget,” Cassia muttered, ducking as the Wraith slashed through the air again, inches from her head.
Bridget refused to back down. “Is Vega controlling you? Did she send you for the Tuathan artifacts?” The others had to be close. She refused to believe any other options. “Well, guess what. They’re not here. Looks like you wasted your time.”
Lie. There was one. Bridget pushed Nylah further behind her. Like hell was that crazy Witch getting anywhere near her sister. She desperately hoped Nylah had left the stone somewhere in her room.
A harsh laugh escaped Quinn’s throat. Blood streaked down her wrist. “Do you still think this is about the artifacts? Vega wants so much more.”
Quinn raised her palm. Magic pulsed from her hand, power crackling like the lightning surrounding them, ready to strike. But just as Bridget raised her sword, glass shards knocked Quinn to the ground.
Glowing with powers, Cade stepped through the far stone archway. He raised his hand again, sending more glass toward the Wraith circling Cassia, Stellan and Marin at his sides. Stellan’s tattoos blazed with magic, and Marin’s cloak whipped behind her in the wind, her eyes fixed on the Wraith.
The Wraith shrieked, piercing the roar of the storm. It lunged toward Nylah, claws slicing through the air. Bridget shoved Nylah behind her, shielding her with her body as the creature veered toward them. But Nylah stepped out from behind her, chin lifted.
“Nylah, don’t—” Bridget started.
Nylah pulled the small lighter from her pocket, her thumb sparking it to life with shaking hands, and then threw it. The lighter arced through the air and landed at the Wraith’s feet.
Fire burst upward.
A searing, unnatural scream tore from the creature as its legs caught flame.
The blaze clung to it, hissing and devouring the shadows snaking up its arms. The Wraith staggered forward, writhing in the storm, its hollow eyes locked on her sister.
Bridget swung at the beast, but it dodged her.
With a flick of its wrist, it knocked her to the ground.
Stone dug into her back and rain choked her as she gasped for breath.
“Cade, stop it!” Bridget begged, voice hoarse as she used all her strength to pull herself to her feet.
Instead, Marin surged forward without hesitation, throwing herself between Nylah and the Wraith. A blast of frost exploded from her palms, holding the creature off. But its claws whipped around, slashing deep across her back and shoulder.
She screamed, but stayed standing.
Bridget couldn’t breathe. It was exactly what she’d seen in Stellan’s head.
“Marin!” Stellan faltered, eyes going wide. His eyes lit up with blue fire, he caught Marin before she hit the ground. With a blast from his palm, he sent the Wraith hurtling back toward Cassia.
Suddenly, Quinn stepped toward the tree like death itself, Bloodstone glowing hot in her palm. Her eyes locked on Bridget.
And then she moved.
Bridget barely registered it before Quinn was in front of her, arm raised, power blazing.
But Bridget was faster. She lunged, sword clenched tight, and drove it up under Quinn’s ribs. Steel tore through flesh. Quinn gasped, face twisting in fury and pain. She dropped to her knees.
Stunned at what she’d done, Bridget dropped the sword and stumbled backward. She ran into Cade, who wrapped his arms around her waist before she fell. “It’s okay, I’ve got you,” he whispered.
The Wraith shrieked again, half-burning but still dangerous.
Cassia stood frozen, her hands trembling at her sides as it crawled toward her.
“Cassia!” Stellan shouted, still holding Marin. “Now! You’re the only one that can.”
A determination Bridget had never seen suddenly consumed Cassia’s rain-streaked face. The air seemed to vibrate around her as her blue eyes began to fill with something cold and bright. When the Wraith lunged again, Cassia reached for it.
The moment her palms touched the creature’s wrists, a horrible squeal pierced Bridget’s ear. Jaw dropping, she watched as Cassia sucked life and magic straight from the Wraith. It buckled, howling, its form unraveling as if pulled apart from within.
Seconds later, it stilled, then collapsed into dust in between Cassia’s fingertips.
Cassia lowered her hands slowly, chest heaving and white as snow.
Silence followed, broken only by thunder in the distance.
Bridget turned her head, scanning until she found Nylah, who stood wide-eyed beneath the scorched ash tree.
Relief pierced through her haze. But only for a second.
Twisting out of Cade’s arms, Bridget dropped to her knees beside Quinn’s shaking body.
The Bloodstone pulsed weakly in the witch’s trembling hand, and without hesitation, Bridget tore it free.
The stone burned in her grip, slick with blood and humming with residual power.
Wordlessly, she pressed it into Cade’s waiting palm.
Their fingers brushed, but she couldn’t feel anything past the cold in her bones.
Quinn convulsed the moment the Bloodstone left her palm. Crimson gurgled up from her throat, staining her lips. Her breath rattled. Her body shook.
Bridget grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. “What were you after?” Her voice cracked. Adrenaline buzzed through her veins as the sight of Quinn’s broken body churned her stomach. “Were you here for Cade? Or something more?”
She didn’t care that Quinn’s skin had turned waxen. She didn’t care that every part of her wanted to run. She needed an answer. Especially when the Wraith’s disappearance hadn’t ceased the darkness still swirling above their heads.
Quinn coughed. She took one last gasping breath. “I’m sorry,” she croaked.
Seconds later, her body stilled. Hazy dark eyes froze, forever staring into the distance.
Bridget sat back, numb. She barely noticed Cade kneel beside her, his hand landing gently on her shoulder.
His voice was there, soft and steady, but it couldn’t hear it.
The only thing she could hear was her own heartbeat, a furious drumbeat behind her ribs.
“Bridget…”
It was Nylah’s voice that pierced through, fragile and trembling. She turned her head slowly. Nylah stood staring toward the far corner of the courtyard, where Stellan knelt in the mud, cradling Marin in his arms. Marin’s eyes were barely staying open. Her head lolled against his shoulder
Bridget rose stiffly. As lightning lit the sky again, the glint of her old amethyst necklace on Quinn’s neck caught her eye.
Without thinking, she ripped it from the witch’s neck and shoved it into her pocket.
Then Cade helped her to her feet. She took Nylah’s hand, holding it tighter than necessary, and crossed the courtyard in aching steps.
As they passed the ashen tree, Cade caught Cassia gently by the elbow. “Cass…”
She yanked away like he’d slapped her. “Don’t touch me,” she whispered, eyes wild. “I don’t know how to control it. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Cass,” Cade said quietly, brow furrowed, “you saved us.”
But his voice didn’t reach her. She turned and bolted from the courtyard, disappearing into the castle's dark halls without a glance back.
Bridget barely had time to process it before Marin let out a ragged, shuddering breath.
The black veins spreading from the slash down her back were climbing higher and already creeping toward her neck.
“No,” Stellan whispered, shaking his head, rocking slightly. “Stay with me.”
“You know what to do next,” Marin murmured, her voice a thread. “You have to find the crown. She won’t stop until she gets what she wants.”
Her hand, weak but deliberate, reached up and touched Stellan’s cheek. A moment passed. Finally, she said, “Be happy.”
“You have to be here for that to happen,” he choked. His voice broke on the last word. “Please, Marin…”
She gave the faintest smile. “No, I don’t.”
Her eyes slipped closed. Her hand slid from his face, landing soundlessly on the stone.
Stellan bowed over her. A broken sob escaped his chest, full of raw pain.
Bridget wrapped an arm around Nylah, pulling her close as her own eyes blurred.
Marin had jumped in front of Nylah. She’d saved her.
A heavy wave of guilt and sorrow washed over her.
Her eyes darted to Stellan, whose face was pale and twisted with grief so deep it seemed to shatter the silence.
Then she looked to Cade, whose clenched jaw and haunted eyes spoke of his own quiet torment.
Above them, the storm finally broke. One ray of sunlight pierced through the dark clouds to rest on Marin’s still form.