51. Cori
Cori
T he connection between them broke, and Cori found herself on her knees, tears falling down her cheeks. It was typical to recover from the exhaustion of a vision and feel emotional, but after reliving the horrors that Fin had gone through, she felt physically sick.
Spellbound. Compulsion. Tied and chained by his own magic.
Fin’s eyes were closed as he held his head in his hands. A dry, magical heat that stung her eyes radiated from him.
“You met my family,” she whispered.
He nodded, gripping her hand as he slipped an ancient-looking skeleton key into her palm.
She felt cooler hands gripping her arms. Pru and Adrian hoisted her up to her feet on shaky legs. Chloe’s voice echoed through the room.
“The LARC continues to operate out of the Sampson homestead just on the outskirts of town. We believe they plan to capture Cordelia today. Fern has been feeding them false information for the past week, and they currently believe that Cordelia is staying in the Whitemarsh Inn. Of course, we have rented a room there to prepare for this and checked in under her name this morning. Enzo was spotted there shortly thereafter.”
Zion spoke, concern etched on his face as he watched Cori from the corner of his eye. “The Sampson house is built on one of the most ancient ritual grounds in the country. Before the witch trials, the Sampson family routinely practiced dark magic in the woods next to the creek where they lived. There is a clearing about two hundred yards from the base of the tree line where it is reported that thousands of human and animal sacrifices have been made over the years.”
Fin had stood up and started to pace. “That’s where I was held captive?”
“Don’t let the floral wallpaper fool you,” Fern said darkly as she helped herself to a plateful of food, “That house has seen some fucked-up shit.”
Zion nodded in agreement. “The Sampson family were dark witches. During the witch trials, they accused members of their own coven and many innocent humans to divert attention away from their own family. One night a group of witches came to the house and hung all of them to death by the trees in the woods, even their two small children. As a Gray witch, it’s difficult to even walk near the clearing in the woods. The dark energy there is overwhelming. We think that’s the spot where they plan to kill you, Cori.”
“Cal loves tradition,” Fern muttered under her breath.
“The death of the Sampson family is considered to be the inciting incident that led to the formation of the Covenant,” Zion continued.
A chill crept up Cori’s spine as she heard Prudence continue to speak. “The moment of the solstice and stars joining will occur just before midnight tomorrow. If Cori allows herself to be captured today, that should give her enough time to free Astrid so we can get her to safety.”
Cori swallowed thickly against the lump developing in her chest. “Why couldn’t my mother escape with Fin?”
Prudence shook her head. “We couldn’t risk it. Calvin would have suspected Enzo had freed both of them. Thanks to Fern’s spying, we have confirmed that the LARC intends for Enzo to kill you. They believe that if you’re killed in a blood bond ritual, not only will the prophecy be erased, but it can also never come to be in the future.” She turned to the group. “Cori’s magic, including the magic of the prophecy, will return to the Other forever. No future witch can bring about the change that Cori foretold.”
She heard murmurs vibrate around the room as they reviewed the plan. Adrian’s shoulders tensed, and Cori knew why. There was no possibility that he could enter the house with her.
This was something only she could do. Alone . She gripped the key in her hand, still hot from the Fire Elemental’s pocket.
Alfie turned on a projector machine attached to his laptop, focusing the image of a map on the wall. “The LARC believes Cori is traveling alone. We will position ourselves here”—he pointed to a house at the end of a peripheral street in town—“in the home of a local Gray family that lives close to the Sampson house.” The map showed a clearing in the woods. “Just before sunset, we will position ourselves between the creek and the clearing near this woodpile. We have set up a concealment charm just outside the property line that should keep us well hidden. When Enzo cannot fulfill his duty, we will rise from the shadows and take Cori to safety, allowing enough time to pass so that the prophecy is fulfilled.”
Seth spoke up, his hands on his temples. “Hold on—” his voice broke through the chatter. “We’re letting this entire plan hang on the knowledge that Enzo can’t kill Cori?—”
“Thanks to your father, Cori. He can’t,” Pru said softly.
“So, what if he doesn’t, but someone else steps up in his place?” Seth asked. He shared an uneasy look with Adrian, who had clearly been thinking the same thing.
Cori spoke this time, her voice raspy and dry. “The conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter begins at 11:55 on December 21. If we make it to midnight, the solstice will have passed, and the prophecy will come to be. Solstice only lasts a moment in time, when the Earth is at the maximum tilt on its axis. The exact time of the solstice this year is 11:53.” The pull of the Earth, reeling back to the deepest seat of her axis, tugged on her bones. “I’m sure Calvin has studied this and wants to be exact. They will want my blood to be on the Earth, mixing with Enzo’s between 11:53 and 11:55 to assure the prophecy dies with me.” Cori swallowed thickly. “My guess is they plan to kill me swiftly so that the timing works perfectly.”
“That explains why they’ve been sharpening the swords,” Fern said darkly as she picked the tomatoes out of her salad nonchalantly. Cori gaped at her. No wonder she had been such a successful double agent.
“That means they have two minutes to kill you,” Seth continued, exchanging a sympathetic look with Adrian. “By the time they realize Enzo can’t be the one to do it, they will have wasted enough time.”
Prudence walked to her side. “Cori, are you ready?”
She nodded again as she stood, this time on steady legs. “This feels right,” she said with conviction. “The only way I can assure that the prophecy comes to be—and save my family—is by being present for the most critical moment. I’ve been hiding for nearly a decade, pretending to be someone that I’m not, just for the sake of this prophecy. Too much is at stake to mess it up now, and I can’t hide from it anymore.”
She locked eyes with Adrian. Despite the fear and trepidation she sensed from him, she sensed something entirely new—a heavy dose of pride.