15. CHAPTER 15
Hekate didn’t waste time and chained me up the moment we arrived in the basement of the old and rotted house in a rather nice-looking middle-class urbanization. I don’t need to be a genius to know that she’s used a soundproofing spell around the property to make sure no one would hear me screaming.
My own sister chains me up to the ceiling, locking my wrists and pulling me on a leash short enough that I have to strain my toes to touch the floor, otherwise, my entire weight would be on my shoulders.
It hasn’t even been an hour, and I’m already aching all over. My muscles are screaming in pain. The worst part is that the torture hasn’t even yet begun. The true agony is yet to follow.
Hekate disappears upstairs for a minute, then returns down with a chair. She sets it in front of me and sits down.
“We’re all alone here,” she tells me and crosses her legs. “I’ll make sure that while your cleansing will be well known, it won’t be witnessed by anyone but me. There’s no need for the other witches to see this shameful embarrassment.”
The paralyzing spell is wearing off because I can move my lips. My throat is still locked up because no sound comes out of my mouth no matter how hard I try.
“I urge you to embrace the pain,” Hekate continues, sounding like a maniac. I never realized just how insane my sister was. “It will be your salvation.”
I try to speak again, and this time, I manage to whisper but it’s too low for her to hear. Hekate notices and raises her brows in question. Curiosity must get the better of her because she gets up and walks up to me, putting an ear near my lips.
“What will you do to me?” I repeat, channeling all my strength to this attempt to speak.
Hekate pulls away and grins. “We’ll start with the burning. Fire’s the purest form of cleansing.”
My eyes widen in horror. My vision blurs as the silent tears fall down my cheeks. Surely, this isn’t what our parents would want for us. There must be another way. A better one.
Hekate looks at her watch and frowns. “We’ll have to postpone this for a couple of hours. I have to attend the Ultra Coven meeting now, but I promise that I’ll be all yours later.”
Without another word or a glance my way, she walks up the stairs, leaving me strung up like an animal with no food or water. The spell is still too strong for me to try to call after her. I can’t even ask her for mercy.
When she closes the door behind her, darkness settles in the windowless and damp basement. Along with despair and hopelessness, it’s my only other companion.
The minutes seem to drag on, flowing into the longest hours of my life. My body feels numb, my mouth is dry, and my heart is broken.
All I ever wanted was for everyone to live peacefully. Meaningless inter-species killings should’ve died with our ancestors. The hateful flame should’ve burned out a long time ago.
I’m struggling to find a light in this darkness. There is no excuse for treating me like this, for having me strung up like an animal. Fuck that. Even animals shouldn’t be treated this way.
With another hour gone, my thoughts turn darker, soaking in the deep shades of my pitch-black surroundings. Maybe I deserve to be here, but not for the so-called betrayal that I’m being accused of. No, I deserve to be here because I didn’t do more to stop my sister. I didn’t do more to advocate for peace.
The worst thing good people can do is to stand by with their arms crossed as evil takes over.
That’s what I did. I’m guilty of that.
I deserve to be punished for it.
The blood of countless wolves, witches, and humans is indirectly on my hands. No amount of water will be able to wash it off. But maybe there’s another way...I must believe that.
I shut my eyes, trying very hard to conjure an image of hope, something that will get me through the torment and suffering that Hekate will release upon me. My throat swells up with emotion, and I nearly cry out in surprise when his handsome face comes into view.
An image of Grayden appears, his lips curled up into a playful smile. Though his dark eyes shine with mischief, they’re also full of love. His dark curls are brushed back, and held together with hair gel, leaving a clear view of his faded sides. His stubble is groomed, its length short enough that it resembled more a five o’clock shadow than a beard.
He’s wearing his usual tailored black suit, but this time, his tie is loose around his neck. He crosses his arms, his bulky biceps threatening to pop out the stitches. His white shirt fits his body perfectly, highlighting his toned abdomen.
My dry mouth waters at the memory of his touch. My neck tingles with the phantom sensation of his kisses. My heart aches with the idea of the possibility that he’ll never be mine again.
No matter how much Hekate tries to cleanse me, how hot of a fire she burns through my veins, how cold of water she uses to wash away my sins, there is one thing that it’s too late for her to change. My heart doesn’t care about us being different species or about the centuries-old hate. My soul recognizes his as good, claiming it as my own. I am his by choice, by want, and by desire. There’s nothing more powerful than that.
The door to the basement opens again, the ray of light from upstairs finding its way down, piercing the darkness. I close my eyes, blinded by the sudden change, giving them time to adjust. A low click, followed by a stronger beam teasing me through my shut eyelids.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” Hekate apologizes, talking casually like we’re meeting for coffee or something. “We’ve got official confirmation of the Linda sisters being murdered by the wolves, along with part of Jasmine’s coven that was sent to help them bring their prisoners.”
I keep my mouth shut as I connect this new information with what Grayden gave me. These must be the ones that captured his brother and his mate.
“Speaking of Jasmine,” Hekate continues, and though her tone is cold and emotionless, I can tell she’s trying too hard. My aching muscles tense as I brace myself for what I’m sure will be heartbreaking. “She died in the attack. She was killed fighting your precious wolves. I saw it with my own eyes.”
Silent tears fall down my cheeks. Grief so strong and overwhelming that it knocks the breath out of me, hitting me harder than a physical punch ever could.
“I tried to warn you,” I force out, tasting salt on my tongue. “You should’ve gotten them out.”
I slowly open my eyes to see Hekate’s hateful gaze on me. While we were never as close as twins usually were, at least, we never hated each other. Until now.
“It’s time for your cleansing,” Hekate tells me, her tone one of pure ice.
“Do what you have to,” I challenge, then shake my head and chuckle softly in disbelief. “The funny thing is that out of the two of us, I always believed you to be the better one. It’s a shame that it took me twenty-seven years to realize what a disappointment you truly are.”
Hekate’s eyes blaze with green flame, her face contorted with undiluted hatred. She extends her arm toward me, her fingertips nearly touching my heart. I hold her gaze until the very last moment, wanting her to see the defiance in me. During her preparation, I don’t flinch, wanting to show her how unafraid I am. Despite my current bravado, I urge myself not to feel any shame for crying out, maybe even begging for the pain to stop. The archaic spell she’s wordlessly weaving is unnatural, inhumane, and forbidden.
The agony hits me when she finishes whatever incantation she said in her head and leans forward just enough to close the distance between her fingertips and the spot in my chest where my beating heart lays.
The blinding, burning sensation is aimed at my heart. It’s rapidly increasing beating pumps it through my veins along with my blood.
If my body was numb before, now it’s screaming, every muscle demanding to be heard. It feels as if ripping myself apart is the only way to bring me some relief, but chains prohibit me from even scratching the fire out.
The scream is quiet, the agony too great.
As suddenly as it started, the pain stopped. The phantom burns are too severe for me not to feel its lingering pain, but at least there’s a sliver of relief no matter how short-lived. The migraine hits me like a freight train, making me yearn for that pitch-black darkness.
With her thumb, Hekate forcefully lifts my eyelid. First one, and then the other. She makes a tsking sound.
“You’ve popped several blood vessels in both eyes,” she comments, and mercifully, she lets go of my eyelids, allowing me to keep them shut. Her loud voice adds to the drumming in my head. “You’re weaker than I expected. We should take a break, or I might accidentally kill you.”
I must’ve blacked out because I don’t remember her leaving. The pain is still heavily present in every part of my body. The darkness and a quick involuntary nap seem to have soothed my migraine a bit, but not enough for me to be able to think too clearly.
I taste salt where my tears have dried on my lips.
Desperation and hopelessness have taken root in me, growing stronger than ever. The agonizing pain combined with the never-relenting burning sensation is proving to be an effective fertilizer.
My head hangs limply with my chest awkwardly pressed against my neck. I wouldn’t be surprised if I’ve dislocated my shoulders. The weight of my body is too much for my weak arms to support for hours on end.
A low, startled sound escapes my throat. My sixth sense feels a presence that my eyes can’t detect. Not until the impossible happens and the darkness becomes even darker, forming the shape of...a wolf as big as a horse.
The animal tilts his head back and releases a low guttural howl. While my ears don’t recognize the sound, my soul recognizes the animal. My heart skips a beat, and my eyes tear up again, blurring the magnificent beast.
Even in the darkness and its shadowy form, I can tell that its fur is dark, nearly black. I would recognize that look anywhere. Its wolfish features can’t fool me. The imprint he left on me is too strong, too deep.
“Grayden,” I breathe, the word loaded with emotion.
The wolf tilts its head to the side, its dark eyes studying me. The animal takes a step forward, his nose nuzzling my face, breathing in my scent. A heart-breaking whimper comes out of him when recognition hits him.
Helia,he says, his words echoing in my mind like a loving caress.
“Grayden,” I repeat, tears falling freely down my cheeks. If this is the end, at least I got to see him one last time.
How is this possible?he asks, looking down at his shadowy wolf form.
“You’re a figment of my imagination,” I say. My weak voice is barely a whisper, but his wolfish ears seem to catch it all. “I must be dying.”
No, my love,Grayden says in my head, the eyes of a wolf looking at me with a mix of desperation and tenderness in them. This is real.
“Then how is it possible?” I ask, repeating his earlier question.
That’s not important right now,he says, his voice taking on a hint of urgency. I need you to tell me where you are.
“I don’t know,” I reply weakly and shake my head, the chains rattling as I move. “I’m tired, Grayden.”
Helia, I need you to listen to me,he urges. I’m coming, okay? You need to hold on.
“I can’t.”
I’ll find you,he promises. I won’t stop until I find you.
“I’m so happy to see you,” I tell him, wanting to get the words out before the end comes. “I never thought I’d feel this way much less find someone who makes me feel like I belong. We might be different, Grayden, but our souls are the same. My heart, my soul, my mind, and my body are yours. I love you with all my being.”
Don’t say that,Grayden pleads, his voice breaking. Don’t say it like that.
“You make me feel alive,” I continue, needing to get it out, needing him to know. “I just wish we would have more time. I wish we could see what living actually is.”
And we will,he promises, but it sounds hollow like he’s grasping for straws. Stay strong, my love. Please, keep fighting. I’m coming.
“Thank you for being here,” I say with a sad smile. “Even if only as a part of my imagination.”
This is real,he insists. Helia, open your eyes. Look at me. I need you to—
The creaky door to the basement opens. The sudden beam of light pierces through the darkness, through the wolf I manifested. Hekate’s steps echo through the air as she descends down the wooden, creaking stairs.
“Oh, good, you’re awake,” she says, sounding delighted at the prospect of continuing our torture session. “Before we move onto phase two, I’d like to confirm that phase one has really seared in and did its job. I’d hate to put you through this whole ordeal twice just because I was too eager to get through it.”
If I wasn’t so weak, I might’ve laughed. But since I’m too exhausted to the point of being destroyed, it’s a miracle I’m able to tilt my head to the side enough to look at her from underneath my eyelashes.
Hekate comes up to me and puts her hand on my cheek in a surprisingly gentle if not even tender gesture. The coolness of her skin feels good against my cheek, and I find myself leaning into her touch.
Hekate gives me an emotionless smile, the corners of her mouth turning up into a practiced position. Her darker green eyes are void of all sympathy, lacking any hints of love that the witches claimed made us better than the wolves.
For the first time ever, I see my sister for who she is. Between these four walls where there’s no one else but the two of us, she lets the mask of a charismatic and charming leader drop. In front of me is now standing a ruthless and powerful witch who will stop at nothing until she achieves her goals. The potential for brutality in her heart scares me more than any of the wolves ever could.
“When did you become like this?” I ask, the words coming out as a hoarse whisper.
“This is who I’ve always been,” she replies. “It’s you who needs to be reminded of our ways and our beliefs. It’s time you accept who you are, embrace your position by my side, and stand with your chin up as we fight to set the wrongs right again.”
Hekate’s ruthlessness and brutality are a direct inheritance from our oldest ancestors. Her cruelty shouldn’t surprise me. I should’ve seen it before. Seen her before.
When our parents took her to the events but left me home, I had plenty of time to read through all the books in our vast library. But even that couldn’t prepare me to accept my sister’s true nature.
I force myself to raise my chin and look straight into her eyes in one last act of defiance. Putting as much strength into my words as I can muster, I challenge her, “Do your worst.”