Chapter 25 #2
“Tobi, my love,” Amara shouted, announcing her arrival and drawing Tobias back to the top of the staircase.
“You look wonderful, my dear,” he said, golden shield at the ready.
“Of course I do.” Amara shrugged playfully. “You look tired, Tobi. Not the sweet boyish fool I loved so.”
“Do narcissists understand love?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged again, running her fingers through the shadows. “I shall ask our son.”
“I admire your resolve, your commitment, and I will always find your particular madness charming,” Tobias said, making his way halfway down the stairs. “But I will not allow you to drag Tara into your madness.”
“You speak as if you have a choice.”
“If you want your pillar back, leave now.” Tobias gestured to the cocooned Lazarus.
“Quite a powerful binding.” Amara examined the threads of the cocoon. “But even the best magics fizzle out when the witch who cast them is drained or removed.”
“That’s why I paid for the enchantment, my dear.” Tobias pointed to the piece of paper at the center of Lazarus’ chest. “More refined than even what your enchantment prodigy can put together. Basically, if I die, it’ll hold strong for the better part of a century. Maybe longer.”
Amara giggled. “I’ve taken longer naps.”
In that instance, the crocodile sprang from the shadows, barreling toward Amara, jaws wide open.
Amara raised her hands in response, fingers extended. Her telekinesis barely stopped the beast. The crocodile froze midair, thrashing about in response.
“Titus, such a pity. I always enjoyed your company.” Amara frowned, then waved her arms in opposite directions.
The action ripped through the crocodile, snapping the animal’s neck and tearing its body apart into large chunks tossed across the mansion.
“Do not look at me like that,” Amara said to Tobias, not even facing his hateful stare. “You intended to let Titus kill me. Quite unkind.”
The sadness in Tobias’ heart sang so loudly, his emotions were crystal clear.
Despite the protective golden barrier he had up, he couldn’t cloak the deep sorrow that etched away his resolve.
Memories of a small boy crept to the surface of Tobias’ mind, revealing him more than fifty years ago, wandering in a swamp, alone and terrified.
His suit was ruined, his face frantic, but he kept searching until he reached a hidden lake where Titus rested.
Unlike most familiars, Titus had demanded his human partner seek him out. Tobias had always respected his familiar for that.
“So, this is her?” Tara asked, cautiously revealing herself at the railing upstairs. “This is The True Witch?”
“Go back to your room.”
“I can help.”
“Let her stay.” Amara smiled at Tara. “It is quite brave to step out here, an action of a goddess in the making.”
“You’re not ready for Amara.”
“You act as if I’ve come to fight Tara.” Amara shook her head. “She’s my daughter, my savior, my goddess.”
“Are you satisfied?” Tobias asked Tara. “She’s more psychotic than your brother.”
“I don’t think Theo is psychotic,” Amara mused. “I think he just has tantrums due to bad parenting. Not pointing any fingers.”
“Says the woman who abandoned us,” Tara said with a lump of fear and resentment stuck in her throat.
“I didn’t abandon you.” Amara tsked. “I prepared the world for your ascent. I ensured you would have the universe. I have paved the road to your eternal supremacy.”
“Funny, all I remember asking for was a mom who loved me.” Tara’s eyes watered.
“Oh, Tara, I do love you,” Amara said with feigned sweetness. “You’ll see that when I get you away from your father.”
“You’re not taking her.” Tobias’ golden shield flickered.
Amara nodded to the crocodile’s corpse. “You’re not the only one who brought in a ringer, love.”
Suddenly, a blue portal opened above Tara and her father. Theodore Whitlock descended, blades in hand, and a wicked smile on his face. Tobias’ golden shield fell away entirely, and as it disappeared, so did one of the enchantment tattoos on Amara’s chest.
“Hello, Father!” Theodore stabbed Tobias in the stomach with both blades and collapsed atop the man. “How long I’ve waited for this moment.”
Tara screamed, unleashing shadow tendrils and icicles at her brother.
“None of that, my sweet.” Amara waved a hand, summoning another blue portal beneath Tara’s feet.
Shocked, she fell halfway through before triggering her levitation. Good. Now she just needed to…
The portal moved upward at Amara’s discretion, sweeping Tara away.
No. No. NO!
“It is time to go, Theodore.” Amara walked up the stairs, taking her time while Theodore carved his blades across his father’s chest.
He dragged them slowly, meticulously, and used the weight of his body and telekinesis to keep the man pinned beneath him. When Tobias screamed, Theodore laughed. When Tobias cried out, Theodore laughed louder.
“Come, now.”
“No,” Theodore snapped. “I was promised—”
“Your father’s death, which you have obtained.” Amara flicked her wrist and snapped Tobias’ neck. “I don’t have time for your petty vengeances.”
“You bitch.” Theodore leapt up; bloody blades raised.
“We’ve discussed this language.” Amara flicked her wrist again, dropping Theodore to his knees, forcing his head to bow, and his hands to release the blades. “You will be an obedient boy, or you’ll go to your room until I say otherwise.”
“Have fun opening Hell without me.”
“Sweetie, I will break you long before I need you for that.”
“Promises, promises,” Theodore said through gritted teeth.
Amara opened a blue portal, ushering Theodore to go through it. This was it. This was the last I’d see of them. They’d grabbed Tara. They’d taken Caleb for some reason. They had a hold over Katherine somehow. I couldn’t let it end like this.
There was only one solution. I severed the link to my core self and rushed into Theodore’s mind.
“Well, well, well.” Theodore shivered as he stepped through the portal. “If it isn’t my favorite psychic, come to play.”