Australia dropped his knife. His face crinkled into a frown as blood seeped from his facial orifices. He doubled over in an ear-piercing scream.
I turned and the screams immediately stopped.
Think. Think. There had to be a way to get inside. The spell protected those who dwell within its walls.
Within its walls.
I was under the second floor balcony. I could stand on the porch inside the columns; I just couldn’t get through the door or walls. But if there weren’t any walls….
It was worth a shot. Redhead and Australia were stirring, but they weren’t on their feet yet. I couldn’t worry about them now. Peter and James needed me.
The two-story high columns encircled the house. It was a risky move. I could essentially bring the whole house down. But the clock was ticking.
I aimed. A bright green fireball shot out of my hand. It smashed against the column and chunks of concrete fell to the ground. I shot another fireball. And another. The column buckled.
“Vieomorphis!”
The wind catapulted the broken column into the wall beside the screen door. The roof buckled. Shingles cascaded to the ground. I extended my arms and shot them forward in a gigantic gesture. The column rammed the house. Small bits of wall crumbled. I rammed it again. And again.
Seven times.
Finally, the crumbling turned to a hole. I raced toward the opening. Australia was behind me. There was no time to waste. I twisted and shot a green fireball.
The ball of energy hit Australia square in the chest. The fireball blasted him fifteen feet in the air. He plummeted to the ground and his body went limp.
I was sure he was dead, but I didn’t stop to check. If I didn’t move quickly, Peter and James would be dead, too. The barbeque grill still penned Redhead to the grass, but she was stirring. I’d deal with her later.
I inched my hand through the hole in the wall, expecting the spell to repel me, but my fingers penetrated the plane. I wiggled them. It worked. The breakdown of the wall deactivated the spell. I climbed through the opening and stepped inside.
The kitchen was a disaster. Broken dishes littered the room. The table was upside down and the floor was charred from the fire.
I ran into the foyer. It looked like a war zone. Piles of overturned furniture covered the floor like an obstacle course. The giant chandelier was shattered and glass was everywhere.
A loud crash sounded from above. I raced up one side of the double staircase.
Ten seconds was all I needed to assess the situation. It was bad. Down the long hallway to the left, Vanessa levitated Peter in the air. Mo was beside her. Peter squirmed against the ceiling. The veins in his neck and forehead bulged in pain.
In a room to my right, Gabriel was closing in on James. Windows were broken and tiny pockets of fire singed the curtains. An overturned bed was the only thing between James and Gabriel.
I stood torn in the hallway. In my mind, Gabriel was the biggest threat, because of the revenge factor. But Peter was up against two people.
It didn’t matter.
James’ eyes shifted when he saw me. The gesture was enough to make Gabriel turn. A green fireball blasted out of my palm at lightning speed. Gabriel ducked and the fireball plowed into the wall behind him.
The noise was deafening. Movement registered in the corner of my eye. Mo was running full speed at me with his knife out.
“Alex is here!” Vanessa clenched her fist.
Peter grunted.
I launched a second fireball in Gabriel’s direction. Mo was a few feet away. I twisted and shoved the air in front of me. “Vieomorphis!”
The wind knocked Mo off his feet. He tumbled to the ground and rolled down the far staircase. I pointed to an antique corner hutch and then at Vanessa. The large hutch rammed her from behind. Vanessa fell to her knees.
Peter plunged to the floor.
“Peter!”
He rolled onto his side. “Nice job, Lex. Next time can you wait until I’m a little closer to the ground?”
“Sorry, I should’ve levitated you down.” I helped him to his feet.
The hutch on top of Vanessa rocketed into the air and crashed against the wall. Peter shifted in front of me.
I tugged his arm. “What are you doing?”
“Protecting you. What does it look like?”
I pointed at my chest. “Powerful witch, remember?” I swung him around, so he was safely behind me.
Vanessa brushed the dirt off her dress and then her hands moved in every direction. A wooden chair flew at my head, but I easily deflect it. A table. A mirror. Then a bed. Each object didn’t come within three feet of us. I simply swiped my hand and the object ricocheted in the opposite direction.
I shot a fireball out of my palm.
Vanessa shifted her stance. The green ball of energy whizzed by her head.
“Very impressive,” she said. “Is that a pure blood trick?”
I shot another fireball. “Nope. Even half breeds like you can do it, but maybe you’re not strong enough.”
She ducked.
A loud boom echoed down the hall.
James slid across the floor. Behind him were Gabriel, Mo and Redhead. Blood dripped from his nose. He looked like he’d just taken a thrashing from a two hundred and fifty pound man and two of his buddies.
Gabriel snatched a handful of his hair and dragged him to his knees. Meaty hands twisted James’ head to a frightening angle.
“Snap his neck,” Vanessa said.
CHAPTER 27
“No, no, no,” I screamed.
“Wait a second, Gabriel.” Vanessa patted her hair into place. “Let me hear what she has to say.”
Gabriel sneered at Vanessa. “Mine.”
It was the first time I’d heard Gabriel speak. Spit dripped from his lips like a wild dog.
“Please don’t hurt him,” I said. “Stop him, Vanessa. You don’t want this on your hands. We’re family for God’s sake.”
Vanessa made a face. “God has no place in this.”
“Please. Let him go. We’ll leave.”
“And then what? We’ll all live happy ever after? I don’t think so,” Vanessa said. “No, I think we’ve all already crossed that line. There’s no going back.”
The house groaned as it shifted on its foundation.
“Step away from Peter,” Vanessa said. “Now. Or your little hunter will be headless.”
I glanced at Peter. No heroes. Not when we were outnumbered and not while James’ life hung in the balance. I slowly backed away from Peter with my hands in the air.
“Peter, on your knees. Hands behind your head.”
Peter gave Vanessa a murderous look, but he lowered himself to the floor. He interlaced his fingers and placed them behind his head. “Lex, maybe your aunt’s angry because she’s the only ugly one in the family.”
Vanessa’s eyes narrowed. “Let’s see what Alex looks like once I’m done with her and then you can determine who the ugly one in the family is. Mo, the blonde one needs a restraint.”
Redhead handed Mo her whip. He approached Peter and wrapped it around his neck. The thick leather dug into his skin.
“Please don’t hurt them,” I begged Vanessa. “It’s me you’re angry with. This has nothing to do with them.”
“I should let them go?”
“Please.”
“And they’ll leave you here for me to kill? What do you take me for? A moron?” Vanessa turned to Mo and Gabriel. “Take them outside before we fall through the floor.”
Gabriel swung his bicep around James’ throat and lifted him. His feet dangled dangerously in the air.
“Don’t kill him yet!” Vanessa yelled. “Outside! Now!”
Gabriel released James. He fell to the floor in a violent coughing fit. Gabriel snatched his arm and yanked him to his feet. He twisted James’ arm behind his back and shoved him forward.
Mo tightened the whip around Peter’s neck and pushed him downstairs.
r /> “Try anything funny and they’re dead.” Vanessa grabbed a fistful of my hair. “Do you understand?”
I nodded, but my head was yanked so far back that the movement was inconsequential. The lights in the hallway flickered. Glass vibrated on the floor.
“You better get it under control, Alex,” Vanessa said. “Or you’ll be short two boyfriends.”
I wanted to rip out her throat. But I couldn’t do anything. Not until Peter and James were a safe enough distance away from the other hunters.
Redhead handed Vanessa a small black velvet bag. Vanessa shoved me forward and we descended the stairs. She pushed me through the front door and out onto the patio. For a moment, my heart lifted because the chauffeur’s car was parked in the driveway. But as we walked around the side of the house, I saw the poor man face down in the grass near the front tire.
I swallowed a sob.
Vanessa and Redhead marched me to the backyard.
Peter and James were on their knees with Mo and Gabriel behind them. Their hands and feet were tied behind their backs. Bandanas gagged their mouths.
Vanessa shoved me to the grass. “It’s dark out, don’t you think?”
The patio was a mess from my fight with Redhead and Australia. Vanessa twirled and the Tiki Torches stirred. They rose in the air and planted in the ground around us. A small flame sprouted from each one.
“You killed Clyde.” Vanessa motioned to Australia’s sprawled body. “Oh well. One less hunter I’ll have to pay.”
A perfectly circular hole was burned in the center of Australia’s chest. That was two people now. Donovan Vega and Australia. Both killed in self defense, but both dead by my hands.
“Let’s see who’s the stronger witch,” Vanessa said.
“What?”
“You’ve come to take my heart, right? See if you can.” Vanessa’s hands were behind her back. “Come on, Alex. Show me what the Ross pure blood can do. I’m anxious to see.”
I didn’t understand what was going on.
“Don’t worry. Your boy toys are safe for now. I want to see if you can take me. One on one. A fight to the death.”
Gabriel shifted uncomfortably behind James and Peter.
Peter nodded at me.
Vanessa wanted to fight me? Magic versus magic? One on one? I could barely contain my excitement.
“If I win, you die,” Vanessa said.
“And if I win, you perform the spell reversal.”
“Deal.”
I was about to shoot a fireball, but Vanessa swung her arms forward. She jabbed her right hand into her left and a searing pain exploded in my shoulder. I staggered back.
Peter thrashed wildly against his bonds, but Mo squeezed the whip against his neck. He shoved Peter back to his knees.
Vanessa held up a doll. It was made of cloth and had dark black hair. Bright green eyes were painted on the face and a silver string was tied around the neck. The doll had on white shorts and a light pink tank top - a replica of last night’s outfit. In Vanessa’s other hand was a knife with a four inch blade. She pounded the knife into the Voodoo doll’s thigh.
A crippling pain erupted in my right leg. I fell to one knee.
“As you know, I’m no pure blood.” Vanessa dug the knife into the doll. “But who needs to be one if you can get a little help? Voodoo is very powerful, as you can see firsthand. All I needed was a strand of your hair.” She yanked the knife out.
The pain vanished.
Vanessa must’ve grabbed a few strands of my hair without me knowing it last night.
“Hold them down,” Vanessa said to Mo and Gabriel. “This is going to get a little messy.” She stabbed the knife into the doll’s stomach.
I doubled over.
Vanessa handed the doll - with the knife intact - to Redhead.
I was face down in the grass. The sharp smell of fertilizer invaded my nostrils. My organs felt like they were being ripped from my stomach. Apparently, Voodoo dolls didn’t classify as spells, because I had on my ‘R’ necklace charm and I was still in a ridiculous amount of pain. Hopefully, Vanessa didn’t have little Peter and James dolls, too.
“Look at me,” Vanessa said.
Vomit rose in my throat. Searing white-hot pain engulfed my stomach.
“Look at me or Gabriel will start snapping necks. Peter first. And then James.”
I lifted my head despite the excruciating pain.
“See that wasn’t so hard.” Vanessa stood over me.
The stars twinkled behind her and, for a split second, it was a beautiful scene. I’d never seen so many stars in my life. Until she kicked me in the face.
My head snapped back. Warm blood gushed from my mouth, but I barely noticed. The pain in my stomach was so severe that my newly split lip hardly registered. I pushed myself onto my hands and knees.
Vanessa ran forward again. This time she kicked me in the gut.
I collapsed onto the grass.
“Can I play with your whip?” Vanessa asked.
Redhead walked over to Peter. Mo held him down by the shoulders as Redhead caressed his cheek.
I spit out a mouthful of blood. “Don’t touch him, you dirty little -”
Vanessa kicked me in the ribs.
Redhead kissed Peter on the forehead. “Such a pretty man.”
Peter screamed from behind his gag. Redhead loosened the whip from his neck and tossed it to Vanessa. She rolled the whip around in her hand.
My breathing was labored, but I tried to steady it. I couldn’t think about the pain in my stomach. I focused all of my energy on my aunt. I thought only of Ethan. Nothing else. My body trembled and my eyes lids fluttered.
Vanessa cracked the whip in the air. “This is going to be -”
Her face contorted in pain. She opened her mouth and released an ear piercing scream. Blood poured from her nose and ears.
Redhead glanced from Vanessa to me. She pulled the knife from the Voodoo doll’s stomach and plunged it into the doll’s neck.
I screamed.
Redhead jabbed the knife over and over again in the doll’s body. Arms. Legs. Head. Everywhere.
“Don’t kill her yet,” Vanessa said, breathing heavily. She wiped her arm across her nose, smearing the blood all over her face.
Redhead stuck the knife into the doll’s stomach. I clutched my belly. I pressed my forehead into the grass, trying to will the pain away.
The tip of the whip slashed my back. “That one is for my mother.”
Vanessa snapped the whip again. The leather slashed my cheek. I didn’t scream. I don’t know if I was in shock at actually being whipped or if the pain was too much for my body to handle.
Peter and James shouted from behind their gags. Mo and Gabriel held them down.
“This one is for being born.”
She whipped every inch of my exposed body. It was a bad day to wear a backless dress. I cowered in the fetal position and covered my face. After awhile, I couldn’t tell where she was whipping me.
My wet sticky cheek pressed against the grass. I opened one eye. Everything was out of focus. Vanessa stood over me, but I saw two of her. The polka dots on her dress slid onto her skin.
Darkness seeped into the edge of my sight. I glanced at Peter and James. Peter’s face was wet with tears. The lash of the whip snapped against my legs. My body jerked in reaction to the whip, but went limp again.
“Is she breathing?”
“Barely,” Redhead said.
“Good. I don’t want her dead yet. I want her to watch what I’m about to do to her boyfriends,” Vanessa said.
I stirred.
“That got a reaction out of her.”
I pushed myself onto my forearms. Something on the swamp moved. I blinked, trying to bring my eyesight into focus.
“Alex, you look a mess,” Vanessa said. “But what was I supposed to do? Unspell your father, so he could track me down and kill me? Or give you my heart? No way. I die in either scenario.”
A figure walked off the bright green water and onto the grass.
“If I kill you and your boyfriends, then what happens? Nothing. Who’s going to come after me? Ethan will still be in a coma. Emma’s useless. That old bat Nancy can hardly walk. There’s no one left. I’m simply tying up loose ends.”
Blood dripped into my eyes. My body was numb. Maybe I was going into shock from the blood loss?
“Which one do you want to see die first? I’ll make it quick. Well, I’ll make Peter’s death quick. I can’t guarantee James will go that easy. I promised Gabriel he could have him.”
I spit out a mouthful of blood. “I’m going to rip your heart out.”
“What was that?”
“I said…I’m going to rip your fucking heart out.”
“Such language! I’m sorry, but there’ll be no heart ripping tonight. Unless, of course, I decide to rip yours out.”
“Oh no.” Redhead stumbled backward onto the ground.
“What are you doing?” Vanessa glanced at the fallen hunter. “What’s the matter with you?”
Redhead pointed.
The leather whip slipped from Vanessa’s hand.
“Hello, niece.”
The sound of his voice made the hair on the back of my neck rise. Goosebumps rippled over my shredded body. I glanced behind Vanessa. It wasn’t a delusion.
Vanessa ran. So did the others. Mo. Gabriel. Redhead. I lifted my head, but the gesture was too much. My head flopped onto the grass.
Liam’s hands violently gestured like he was conducting a murderous symphony.
Peter and James were still bound and gagged. Their attention was focused on what was happening to the others. Vanessa, Redhead and Mo were on the ground. Liam, in a dark pinstripe suit, stood over them. Gabriel was gone.
Liam steepled his hands together and brought them to his face. “Please, someone enlighten me. What’s going on here?”
“Nothing.” Vanessa’s face was white.
“Nothing?” Liam raised his hand.
Vanessa’s body convulsed. A horrible scream escaped her lips.
He dropped his hand.
I brought my knees to my chest. The pain in my stomach was excruciating.
Liam glanced at Peter and James.