I raised my tied arms, touching a finger to my neck, and then winced.
What happened?
he said, urgent and eager, just the same as when he left.
I didn t want to tell him. I knew if I did he might not think rationally and end up doing something that couldn t be erased. What Laylen did it wasn t his fault. He was under the control of another.
I can t remember.
I played dumb.
He cut the ropes that bound my wrists and freed me. I rubbed them, trying not to think about how the ropes got there in the first place.
Gemma,
he began, trying to keep control.
Just tell me what happened.
I thought about lying again, but realized I was probably in danger and needed to get out of the house. I jumped to my feet, surprising him and my head, the room spinning with bright colors and blurry shapes.
Easy.
He wrapped his arm around my back, crossing a deadly line as he steadied me.
Did Laylen do this to you?
he asked, like he already knew the answer.
I blinked the dizziness away.
He couldn t help it & it was the mark.
The Mark of Malefiscus.
He ran a hand through his messy dark hair, letting out a long breath.
How did he get it
Then his knuckles tightened as he raised his knife, ready to stab whoever walked through the door.
Is he still here? And where s Aislin and Aleesa?
I frowned, not wanting to be the one to break it to him.
They & umm & they all have the mark.
He was already shaking his head.
How did that happen? I thought Stephan had to put the mark on them directly. And if he was here, I m sure you wouldn t be.
I shrugged.
I have no clue. I mean, one minute the house is quiet and the next,
I gestured at my neck, feeling a lump rise in my throat.
Laylen freaked out and bit me.
His jaw went taut.
Where is he are they still here?
I shrugged again.
I don t know. They tied me up and the house has been quiet ever since.
A boom from downstairs sent me leaping toward him like a skittish cat.
Someone s here.
He took my hand, holding the knife out as he guided me to the stairs. We peered down, but there was only darkness.
Stay here,
he whispered, but I was already scooting past him.
No way,
I whispered.
You don t just get to show up and take over. I m going down with you.
Then I headed down the stairs, moving quietly through the dark, cupping my hand over my bleeding neck as my heart drummed in my chest.
But he beat me to the bottom, squeezing by at the very last step, giving my skin a good zap. Another bang and we tiptoed for the living room. I found myself wishing we hadn t put praesidium all around the house. Sure, it kept the Foreseers out, but it also kept this Foreseer in.
We were greeted by a woman in the living room doorway. Not just a woman, but a witch, dressed in black and hair to match. I moved to kick her and take her down, but Alex stuck his arm out, holding me back.
Easy Tiger.
He was trying not to smile.
This is Amelia.
My eyebrows knitted together.
You brought a witch into the house?
She s helping me with & something,
he said.
Is she the witch?
Amelia stared hypnotically at my eyes.
I shook my head, rolling my eyes.
Just because I have violet eyes doesn t mean I m a witch.
Her eyes lit up with hunger.
But you have so much power flowing off you. Both of you do.
That s because we stuck our finger in a socket,
Alex replied expressionlessly.
Don t be cute with me little boy.
Amelia narrowed her eyes, jabbing a finger at his chest.
Where s the witch? You promised me the witch that could remove the mark of evil?
You did what?
My jaw nearly hit the floor.
Why would you do that?
Alex waved me off.
She just needs Aislin s help taking the mark off her daughter. That s all.
Amelia laughed harshly.
That s all. Do I need to remind you again what s at stake here?
I crossed my arms and waited for Alex to explain. But, like always, he didn t.
Look,
he said to Amelia.
Aislin s gone over to the Malefiscus side. She s no longer going to be able to help you.
Her eyes burnt with rage and she lifted her hands above her head, wiggling her fingers until they glistened.
Well then, I guess it s time for you to die.
My head almost snapped off as I did a double-take at Amelia.
What? You can t kill him just for that.
We can try and find her.
The nervousness in Alex s voice made my heart skip a beat.
Maybe you could use a Tracker Spell on her or something.
But Amelia only shook her head.
If that were possible, I d have done it already. But she s off the map no one can find her.
Then without another warning, the sparks sizzled.
I let out a breath, reaching for her hands, but Alex collapsed to the floor, hitting it like a bag of bricks.
You killed him!
I screamed, eyes wide as I stared at Alex.
You stupid witch.
She d already moved over to the coffee table, a black candle lit, an amethyst clutched in her hand. I stormed toward her, fury sweltering like a wildfire. She must have seen it in my eyes too, because she freaked out, chanting magic words under her breath. Then she plunged the amethyst into the flame, right as I snatched hold of her sleeve. But her magic was too strong and I had to let go or be tugged away with her.
Bumping my knee on the corner of the table, I scurried back to Alex.
Please, don t be dead. Please don t be dead
But he wasn t breathing and the electricity was as lifeless as the house. I sucked back the tears, touching my hand to his chest, feeling for a heartbeat.
You can t be dead.
Tears started to slip from my eyes.
Nicholas said you couldn t & not without me.
But only the sound of my own tears.
Chapter 10
(Alex)
I could hear her flipping out as she searched for my pulse. Sharp breathes. Humming skin. Part of me wished I was dead and this was all over. She could go on living her life, happy and free. But then, so could my father.
I forced my eyes open, meeting hers, beautiful and wildly insane. The first thing that came to my mind was to pull her down and kiss her. Which was stupid. But that was what she did to me. She made me crazy and out of control. But after a life controlled by my father, feeling insane and out-of-control was kind of a good thing.
But now wasn t the time.
Am I dead?
I joked because it was obvious I wasn t.
Her face was pale.
No, you re not dead. You can t be dead without me.
I sat up, rubbing my head, and it felt like it d been squeezed by vise grips.
You think that s how we re supposed to go? Together?
She nodded.
But not because of the vision. Nicholas told me something about us.
I pulled a face at the mention of the stupid faerie. I hated Nicholas. Not just because he was obnoxious or a pain in the ass, but because of how he looked at Gemma, like he would rip her clothes off at the first chance he got. Too bad for him he was dead.
Wait a minute!
I said.
I thought he was dead?
He is.
She sighed, raising her hand, showing me the ring her father gave her.
I can see ghosts now. Well, just two ghost Nicholas and my mother.
I gave her a funny look.
You re mother & but that would mean &
She died,
she breathed it softly and put on a brave face I could easily see through.
I tightened my hands to fists.
My father killed her.
She shook her head, her dark hair falling in her face.
No, she did it to herself. To protect me.
I reached for her, wanting to comforter her, but she leaned back.
Is that why you came back here?
she asked.
To find Aislin?
I eyed her over and she squirmed.
Yeah, I needed a witch to travel so I made a bargain. I said I d get Aislin to help her if she took me where I needed to go.
A bargain where you had to die?
She met my eyes.
Well, that was stupid.
Yeah, pretty stupid.
My eyebrows dipped down.
But apparently I can t die? At least according to the faerie.
He said we re a packaged deal.
She pressed her lips together.
If one goes, than the other goes too.
I opened my mouth to speak, but something crashed into the front door, making the whole house rock. I was on my feet in a matter of seconds, pulling her up like she was air.
We need to go, before the wrong person shows up.
What about Laylen?
She tugged back.
And Aislin and Aleesa.
They re on their own now.
I started for the back door, but she didn t move. She was stronger than she used to be I could feel it through her grip. And I d be lying if I said it didn t turn me on a little.
But they could do things harm others.
I know,
I said.
But what can we do? The only person I know who can remove the mark is Aislin. And if she s one of them, I don t think she s going to be very into taking off the mark.
She bit at her bottom lip and frowned.
I guess & but my mom and Nicholas are going to be looking for me here.
Gemma,
I said, her refusal to move frustrating me.
They ll have to find us. I mean if we stay here, my father will show up. You know he will, if he s got to Aislin or Laylen.
She finally nodded.
But we have to find a way to save them, before they end up doing something they ll regret.
They probably already had, but I wasn t going to share that with her. Then she d want to go on a saving crusade. So we disappeared into the pitch black night, fires burning in the streets, the moon a large orb that reflected against her pale skin.
Is this far enough away?
I asked as we approached the end of the snowy driveway.
I think so,
she said and then shut her eyes.
Where should I take us?
A safe place.
Then, even though I knew I shouldn t, I wrapped one arm around her waist pulling her close to me. Her smile murmured through me, but she pressed it back, trying to appear cool.