A Witch's Love (21 page)

Ava met Lucas’s eyes, watching as he processed the same information. After receiving Lucas’s curt nod, she returned her attention to Flynn. “You are welcome to stay with us, until you get on your feet.”

Flynn peered over his shoulder and regarded them.

Dare she think that she saw hope in Flynn’s eyes as he faced them. “You all, would do that . . . for me?”

Ella moved to his side and took his hand firmly in hers. “We wouldn’t just leave a friend when he really needed us.”

Ava nodded. “That’s right. We protect our own. So what do you say . . . friend?”

The corners of Flynn’s lips slowly turned up into a smile. There was no doubt about it, they were leaving the hive with one extra.

Ave felt Lucas tense behind her. She turned just in time to see a swarm barreling through the door.

“Shit,” Flynn said, moving in front of the girls to stand with Lucas.

As the demons attacked, Ava took hold of her sisters’ hands and released her protective wall of water, stretching the mass of liquid forward to encase Lucas and Flynn.

The demons slammed into the wall, and the impact left her exhausted. The use of her powers all day had been draining on her, on all her sisters, and she felt weaker by the second. She tried searching for her sisters’ energy, needing the extra power for the next onslaught.

She took the brunt of the energy, knowing she was immortal. She tried to spare her sisters the pain that came with using them.

As the demons rammed the wall once more, Ava screamed, trying to hold the wall as long as she could. She summoned more power, but none came forth.

Lucas ran toward her, catching her as she fell to her knees. It wouldn’t be long before the demons broke through but there was nothing more she could do. She stared deep into Lucas’s eyes, hoping he would know how sorry she was for failing him and her sisters, when the world streaked in a flash of white, then went black.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the ultimate power and your groupies,” a deep voice sounded, rousing Ava from her sleep. The smell of rotting flesh surrounded her and strong arms held her roughly. Panic sliced through her, sending a rush of heat through her. A demon held her, but he wasn’t the speaker. She could hear Lucas struggling and her youngest sister, Cara, whimpering close by.

“I thought you stronger than this. Never would I think you would give up everything. For witches.” The deep voice continued as it moved closer to them. Ava couldn’t place the voice but knew it had to be someone in power if—

A Mack truck hit her in frontal lobe. The speaker had to be the king.

The one they had been prophesied to kill. The one responsible for all that had happened, was happening now, was before them. Ava opened her eyes, trying to calm her racing heart and think of a way out of this mess. She certainly wasn’t going to let this son of a bitch just kill them, at least not without a fight. If there was one thing she had learned along the way, no matter how dire a situation seemed there was always a way.

As he moved out of the shadows, her gaze fell on the king. He stood before them in a red velvet overcoat. He was bald, like the rest of his monsters, and had the same black, lifeless eyes. Except, unlike the rest of them, a thick ragged scar marred his face and she couldn’t help but wonder what had caused such a scar on an immortal?

Without warning, his black eyes locked on her.

“So happy you could join us, Miss Ava,” he said as he approached her.

“You have been quite the inconvenience to me,” he continued. “What, with all of you escaping my grasp and killing my demons, but I am so pleased you’re here now, with all your sisters. I sense your energy is different from theirs. You are immortal now,” he said, reaching for her.

The demons set her on her two feet but Ava began to struggle as her captor dragged her toward the king. “Don’t you dare touch me,” she spat.

“Feisty like the rest of your sisters, I see,” Zatar grated. “Well I hope you don’t lose any of your spunk. I want you to squirm while I suck the life from you,” he said as he circled her.

She took a deep breath, calming her temper. She wanted to lash out at him and run to Lucas, but that would be foolish.

“Oh, don’t worry. I will make your death as painless as can be,” Zatar said, as he closed in on the rest of her sisters.

“Stay the hell away from them,” Ava shouted, her rage increasing.

She looked to Lucas, who was chained around the throat, hands, and feet. Her heart broke to see him bound like an animal. He didn’t deserve any of this. It was all her fault.

The king approached Cara. “You won’t be turning any time soon, I’m afraid. But, no matter, I’m patient. I’ve waited for you girls for over a century, I can wait a few more years and once I have sucked the life from all of you, I will be the most powerful being this world has ever seen. Can you imagine what I can do with all that power? Hmm, can you?” He approached Ella and twirled her hair around his finger.

Ava didn’t want to imagine such a world but knew no living creature would stand a chance against him. The cold hard truth slammed into her with such force she took a step backward. The situation was so much bigger than Lucas and her sisters. As much as she loved them, there was a whole world of people at risk if the king became as powerful as the prophecy said he would. She had to do whatever she could to stop the king from gaining their energy, even if it meant sacrificing her own life. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing Lucas or her sisters.

She faced her sisters, who were being held by demons around her. The king stood in the middle of them. Their positions reminded her of the night she evoked her powers in the crystal cage.

Yes. That was it. The crystal cage. If she and her sisters could act as the crystals and contain the king, then maybe they stood a chance. Once he was trapped, she would have to call upon Mother Earth for help.

Mother Earth, after all, was all around them, seeping with energy; maybe even with enough energy to weaken or destroy the king. Her mind raced. She wasn’t sure her plan would work, but she had to try. It was the only way to save them. She met Lucas’s gaze, trying to will him her thoughts. She may not survive, maybe none of them would, but she couldn’t let this monster destroy the earth.

Her vision clouded with tears as she gazed at the man she loved more than her own life. She prayed he survived this and was able to go on with his life. She felt the tears slip down her face—

As if Lucas suddenly realized what she intended, he began to struggle against the chains. “Ava, no!”

“Take them to their cells, but remember to lock them up separately. We don’t want to risk them escaping again. And bring me Traxen. I have something I want to give him,” Zatar said with a smile.

If she was going to do something, now was the time, before the king left the center of the circle. She concentrated on the power within her, bringing whatever little remained to the surface and began to chant.

Chapter 19

“I call upon Mother Earth,” Ava whispered, as the king swung around.

“What did you say?” he demanded.

She met his gaze as she continued to chant. “To evoke my newfound power, come to me. I call you near.”

“STOP THAT RIGHT NOW!” he roared as he took another step toward her.

“Water, Fire, Earth, and Air, come to me, my power to bear,” she said, her voice growing stronger.

She broke free of her demon captor and held out her arms. As Ava started the chant again, her sisters joined her.

The king lunged for her, then stopped, mouth open, staring at the scene before him.

A bolt of electricity shot through the demons holding her sisters. Their screams of pain became drowned out by the howling wind now surrounding them. Free of the restraining demons, her sisters started to move toward her, but she shook her head. “Join hands.”

As her sisters linked hands, they continued reciting the spell.

Ava felt energy pulse through her, making her strong.

Her sisters surrounded the king and no matter where he tried to break through, he was thrown back.

“Water, Fire, Earth, and Air, come to me, my power to bear.”

A white light appeared before them and began to grow, joining them in their crusade to rid the earth of this monster.

“No, this can’t be happening. Demons protect your king,” he screamed, but his minions where no match for the power that now surrounded them. One by one, the demons fell as they tried to grab her sisters. Ava felt a surge of relief at the King’s current turmoil. He had finally met his match.

Heart pounding in impotent fury, Lucas observed the scene before him. Ava would do anything to save her sisters but this was suicide. The energy in the tunnel continued to build by the second. Power like that could only be contained for so long before it went haywire.

As the demons rushed around him trying to save their king, Lucas released the beast. He broke free of the chains and started in on the closet one. He was relieved to see Flynn had joined them and was doing the same.

He had to get to Ava, to stop her before it was too late. The light surrounding them grew brighter, making him blind to the events before him. He threw demon after demon to the side. Mass chaos had erupted and the swarms where everywhere. The more demons he shoved through, the more there seemed to be. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Flynn, appearing and disappearing, killing every minion he could get his hands on. He was happy to have Flynn on their side but he didn’t know if it would be enough. “Flynn, can you get to the girls?”

Flynn heard Lucas and knew instantly what the lycan wanted him to do. Lucas and the sisters had offered him a home. They were the kindest people he had ever known, and he wasn’t going to fail them now. He looked to where the light was forming and tried to see where the women were but there were too many demons. He had to get closer. He blinked to the light source.

As he appeared, he squinted through the blinding glow, trying to see. He could feel the energy coming from the sisters. It was a force he had never felt before. A power unlike any other.

The demons ran into the light blindly, only to be turned to ash. He was trying to figure out how to reach the girls when Lucas appeared at his side.

“Ava, stop, you’ll die,” Lucas yelled.

Flynn tried to find Ella, her strawberry blond hair the only sign she was in there. Without warning, the swarm started to retreat.

“They’re afraid,’ Flynn shouted to Lucas, who was now looking for a way into the circle.

Flynn watched as he climbed a water pipe on the side wall. He was just about to jump, when Flynn blinked to him.

He tackled Lucas to the ground, pinning him with his weight. “No, you will be vaporized,” Flynn said, as he struggled with Lucas.

Pain and worry etched Lucas face. “I have to get to her.”

A high-pitched noise cut the air, grabbing their attention. They were running out of time. “This is it! Get down! Flynn said, trying to reason with Lucas, but it was obvious nothing would sway him.

Flynn tackled him to the ground as a blast rang out. Hot air washed over them as debris scattered around them. As the dust began to settle Flynn strained to see the scene before him.

Ava and the King still stood facing each other.

“Ella,” he whispered, blinking the rest of the way to the scene. She lay unconscious on the ground with Thea and Cara next to her. Mortal, they were unable to withstand the blast. He knelt by Ella’s side, lifted her head, then placed her cheek gently on his lap. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lucas moving into position behind the king, waiting to attack.

The king had been severely wounded. Black blood dripped from his red coat. Even he appeared surprised the blast hadn’t taken them all out.

“Thought you won, didn’t you, you little bitch. Well, I don’t die that easily. See this scar?” Zatar said, pointing to his face. “I received this in my last battle with an immortal. They thought they would weaken me, but they were wrong just as you were wrong to think your fireworks would stop me.”

The king reached into his pocket. “You know my patience has run thin with you. I think I will have you for my fucking dinner. Tonight,” he said as he removed a vial from his coat.

Flynn’s heart stopped.

Zatar held a vial of The Red Death. The potion was known to kill immortals slowly but it would no doubt kill a mortal instantly.

“Oh, and I have changed my mind. I don’t need your sisters. All. I. Need. Is. You!”

Zatar turned with speed, sending the vial flying through the air toward the sisters, toward Ella. Flynn reacted fast and without thinking. He blinked from his position near Ella, instantly appearing in the path of the vial. Everything that happened next seemed to be in slow motion. He saw the vial turning in the air.

He had two choices; he could take the brunt force of the vial and die a slow death, or he could fight back.

Reaching out as if Zatar had handed him the vial, he caught The Red Death. He gazed at the unbroken vial in his hand.

“Impossible!” Zatar shouted.

Flynn looked up to meet the king’s shocked gaze. “Anything is possible,” Flynn said as he clutched the vial.

“You wouldn’t kill your own father, now, would you?” Zatar said as he moved closer.

Flynn’s heart dove into his gut. The King was his father? He lowered his hand containing the vial.

Zatar formed a weak smile. “Just picture it, you could learn how to use my powers someday. You could be . . . just like me.”

Memories of torture, killing, and pain flooded to him. Memories of his mother being murdered flashed before his eyes. Flynn’s blood boiled at the thought. “I’m nothing like you, and never will be,” he cried as he sent the vial hurtling back.

“Nooooo,” Zatar screamed, as he released an energy ball, sending it flying toward the vial.

Flynn blinked to the sisters, covering them with his body as the vial turned in the air. When the energy ball connected with The Red Death, the glass vial burst, sending the poisonous liquid spraying across the room. Zatar shrieked in agony as the potion worked its way through his veins.

Ava quickly found her footing, moving with speed over to her sisters.

Lucas followed close behind, shielding her from any further attacks. Flynn stood next to them holding his left arm.

“Finish him, Ava, you can do it,” Flynn said, as he swayed then dropped to his knees.

“Flynn, oh god, are you. . .?”

Flynn met Lucas’s gaze. “Quickly now, before the rest of the hive shows up.” Black blood dripped on the floor next to him as pain seared his flesh. His time was running out. He had been sprayed with the red poison.

Turning, Lucas faced Ava. “Shit, he’s right. You have to finish this. You and your sisters. It’s your destiny.”

She tried to rouse her sisters the best she could. After a few minutes, they sat, appearing a bit bewildered and groggy, but awake nonetheless. “Join hands,” she directed, eyeing the target in front of her.

Taking her sisters’ hands, Flynn could tell she was drawing on their power to form a water sphere. She was weak, but she strained forward, extending her hand, sending the sphere toward her target.

Zatar must have sensed the sphere, for at the last second, a howling scream of denial filled the air. The water ball stuck him dead on, breaking his body into tiny portions. Lucas covered Ava and her sisters, trying to protect them from the pieces of the king falling all around them. Several minutes passed as the grisly sound of Zatar’s body parts falling to the floor filled the air.

“Is it over?” Cara got to her feet, then brushed the dirt from her clothes.

Lucas helped Ava and Thea up, just as Ava’s legs buckled under her weight. He caught her before she hit the floor. Taking her in his arms, he faced the sisters. “We have to get the hell out of here. Flynn, do you know the way?”

When he didn’t respond, Lucas sank to his knees, Ava cradled in his arms. “Flynn, I can’t thank—”

“Lycan, please, don’t bore me with your pleasantries,” Flynn whispered as he broke out in a cough. “You need to follow the tunnel north, then take your first right. It will lead you to the manhole we came through. Now hurry, all of you, before the swarms show up.”

“Thank you, Flynn, for everything,” Ava said, placing her hand on top of his. “I will never forget you.”

“Yes, thank you, Flynn,” Cara said.

“Thanks for helping us,” Thea said, before taking Cara’s hand and leading her down the tunnel.

Lucas nodded to Flynn, then stood to join the sisters. The look Ella gave him told him she wanted a minute alone with him.

“Flynn, please don’t do this, you have to come with us,” Ella said.

She was so beautiful, even now, covered in dirt and his blood. He wanted to reach for her but was unsure if she would accept his touch.

“It can’t end this way, not now, when you were going to get a second chance at life.”

“You were my second chance. Live the life I know you are meant for.”

He could feel The Red Death working its way deeper into his body. He didn’t have long.

“Go with your sisters, Ella,” he said, trying to hold himself together. The lump in his throat made it hard for him to speak. He turned his head away, not wanting her to see his pain when he felt her hand glide over his jaw, turning his face back to her. She leaned in, pressing her lips to his. As she eased back, he stared into her green eyes. He could die happy. The warmth only she could make him feel had settled in his chest once more.

Suddenly, Lucas was upon them. “They’re coming, we have to go,” he said, grabbing Ella’s arm. She gasped as he dragged her to her feet.

Her gaze fixed on him. “Flynn!” she screamed as they disappeared around the bend.

He felt hollow and alone without her. He wanted to roar at the top of his lungs for the injustice of it all, when the light caught his eye.

A small ball of white light lay in the middle of the tunnel.

Zatar’s life energy.

Flynn could feel the ground shaking with the footsteps of the oncoming swarm. They wouldn’t think twice before draining him of the last bit of energy he had left. It wouldn’t matter to them he was the king’s son, the next heir to the throne, unless . . . he had the king’s powers.

He was too weak to use his own powers, and wasn’t even sure if the energy lying before him would be enough to save him from the effects of The Red Death.

Must try.

If anything, he had to try to keep the swarm at bay until they were able to escape. Crawling toward the life energy, he could feel his blood seeping out of him. His body was becoming weaker by the second. He could hear them now, grunting as they ran through the tunnel. He had to move faster.

Using his good arm, he began to crawl toward the white light, becoming closer with every breath he took. Just as the swarm rounded the corner, he connected with the energy. Warm heat flooded his body, and as the white light consumed him, his thoughts traveled to his green-eyed beauty.
Ella.

Lucas rubbed his eyes, letting his thoughts return to the past three days. Things had been so crazy, he hadn’t even had time to process what had happened now that they were back in Lake Placid. They had defeated the king and escaped the hive, yet not without a cost.

After finding their way out of the hive, he had returned to the hotel with the girls when he realized how depleted Ava was. He had rushed to return to his home with the sisters, when Ava fell into a coma.

She had been severely weakened from the overuse of her powers, and he was starting to get concerned. He moved to sit on the edge of her bed, needing to be closer to her, then took her hand. As he gazed at her beautiful face, he hoped beyond hope, she would awaken. He had never heard of an immortal falling into a coma and wasn’t sure what to do. He was starting to feel helpless. At first he had hoped a bath would return her to him, but the water hadn’t worked. All he could do was wait.

“Take all the time you need, baby, I’ll be here when you awake,” he said as he tucked her hair behind her ear. Her sisters visited daily but it was hard to watch. Thea and Cara would always cry and Ella was always so stone-faced.

The stress was starting to wear on him. He thought of calling his brother Aiden, to fill him in on everything that had happened, but he didn’t feel much like lectures.