Saved by the Spell (Anna Wolfe Series, Book #2) (9 page)

“He has been known to be a somewhat of a self-serving individual,” Roman informs them, rubbing his broad chin.

Valen paces with worry. “If he doesn’t come, I’m going after Anna regardless of any danger.”

Roman
shakes his head. “Valen, your champion attitude is going to get you and Anna killed. We need a backup plan in case Landon isn’t interested in helping us save the world…”

“I couldn’t help but overhear my name,” a thick, unfamiliar British accent interrupts.

“Landon?” Kristy mumbles.

Silence.

“How beautiful.” The man whispers in her ear, tickling her blonde tresses. Kristy jumps in response, turning around, startled, only to see emptiness.

“It’s no use, he’s practically invisible at night,” Valen says with irritation.

“You are correct, my fine fellow.” A tall, muscularly sleek figure emerges from the cover of the shadows.

“I’m Landon and I’ve heard you’re hell-bent on finding me,” he states smugly.

Kristy takes a step forward, studying his unique features. His rich, chocolate hair reflects the moonlight like diamonds, draping perfectly over his forehead, outlining his narrow, caramel eyes. His strong features demand attention and Kristy is delighted to give it to him. He looks at her and beams, exposing two perfectly situated dimples and pearly white teeth. Kristy’s cheeks burn with embarrassment.

“Yes, we seek your help,” Roman responds, clearing his throat.

“Ah, Roman. It’s been a while, hasn’t it my friend?” Landon’s mocking tone is as subtle as a flying brick.

Roman snorts. “Not long enough.
I assume Luna called for you?”

“That she did. I wasn’t too far, vacationing in Prague,” he chuckles.

Janie’s jaw drops to her knees. “You were able to get here that quickly?”

“My means of travel is never protracted.”

Landon surveys the people before him. “You must be Valen,” he says, looking at him. “I’ve heard so much about you…” he trails off. Valen nods, acknowledging his correct theory. “And you?”

“My name is Brielle,” she answers, extending her hand. He takes it, shaking it firmly.

Landon looks past them at Janie, Kristy and Martello. “Who are the humans?”

“I’m Janie and this is Martello.” Janie points between the two of them. “And that’s Kristy.”

Landon’s buttery eyes land on Kristy, whom he studies with intrigue. Martello fans his face theatrically, showing his impatience. “Can we gets on with it?”

“Right. S
o Roman, what do you need this time?” Landon unwillingly rips his gaze away from Kristy.

Roman rolls his eyes, clearly aware of what
past favor he’s referencing. “Anna, who happens to be a Grand Witch, was kidnapped by Micah. We need to rescue her from Ignis before Micah finds The Scholars and
The
Book of Imperium
.”

“
The
Book of Imperium?
”

“Yes. Micah and Lucifer will stop at nothing to find it. Landon, if they get hold of this book, you very well know what will happen to humans and us alike.”

Landon places his chin in his fingers, stroking it with intrigue. “My, my… a Grand Witch and
The Book of Imperium
really do exist. I’ve heard creatures talk of both, but never thought they could be true.”

“It is and
your help is essential,” Valen interjects. “We need you to get into Ignis and get Anna out of there. None of us are able to. Micah will be expecting us to chase after her, but you…” he hesitates, “you can move through the city undetected.”

“Undetected?”
Landon laughs. “No one can travel through Ignis undetected, not even an experienced Shadowalker. If I were to help you, I would need to know her exact location in the city. I’m assuming she’s at one of Lucifer’s Dimensional estates, but I need an exact site so I can move in and out.”

Janie taps the tip of her nose with her finger. “How do we do that?”

“With magic, my dear. Magic,” Landon answers sarcastically.

Roman paces. “We have to wait until Micah forces her to use any form of magic. I’m willing to bet he blocked her from accessing her own, or else I would have seen an echo or
evanescent trail. It won’t be long until he begins searching for The Scholars, if he hasn’t already.”

“Wait? So’s we has
to wait around for our girl to be tortured?” Martello wags his index finger at him. “Oh hells, no!”

Kristy reaches for his arm, firmly gripping it. “Martello, you have to relax. I know this sucks, but it might be the only way.”

He rolls his eyes and juts his hips into a diva stance, complete with one hand on his hip. “I’s not supportin’ this, just so y’all knows.”

Roman looks at Landon. “So, are you with us?”

Landon deliberates for a few minutes before speaking. “What choice do I have?” he shrugs. “Either way, the world is going to end for us one way or another. Why not go out with a bang?”

Chapter 7

Anna

My eyelids are heav
ier than boulders and my body feels like dead weight. Even the hairs on my arms feel like miniature sinkers, holding them down and pressing them deeper into the chair. After struggling for ten minutes, one eye opens just enough to catch a tiny chunk of the room. My mind is muddled with confusion as it tries to catch up to reality. What the hell happened? A few moments pass, my body slowly regaining strength with every second. I blink both my eyes open, wishing I were blind. I’m still stuck in this hellhole. My entire body is alternating between sharp stabs of pain and dull throbbing.

Shit, this hurts.

Micah looks up from one of the oversized maps lying on the table. “Ah! My love, you’re awake!”

Groggy, I choose not to respond. I’m not in the mood for a verbal tennis match. I sigh heavily, displaying my annoyance without words.

“Almost ready to try again?” he asks, both of us knowing I don’t have a choice. “You’re doing so well, already narrowing it down to five continents.”

Shit. I scrunch my eyebrows, unable to remember what I did. I think back to the portal and how I spelled myself while he was touching me, but I can’t remember what happened next.

“I see you’re trying to make sense of all this. Let me enlighten you,” he offers, walking towards me. His emerald green eyes sparkle mischievously under the luminous lighting. “You fancied a cute little protection spell on yourself, thinking I wouldn’t feel it all over you,” he smirks. “Anna, you’re a Grand Witch. Did you really think I wouldn’t be prepared for your remarkable and untapped abilities?” he questions in a low, authoritative tone. “That would be foolish of me, wouldn’t it? Especially after what happened earlier between us.” He wiggles his eyebrows.

Bile rises in my throat.

“So you see, I have to be extra careful with you, love. The next time you decide to harness my magic, I will inflict excruciating physical pain on you.” A vacant gaze cuts right through me, chilling me to the bone. “It will hurt so badly, you’ll be begging for me to kill you.”

I glare at him, my
jaw clenched. My hands ball into fists, ready to pummel him if given the chance. So much for harnessing his magical echo. Hopelessness burrows inside my chest as I realize I’m running out of options fast. He’s fully aware of anything I might attempt, so he won’t allow me to touch him from now on. “It was worth a shot,” I spit.

“Shot well taken.” He turns away, walking back over to
a large map. He lets out a deep snicker, apparently amused by my hostility
.
“That is one of the things I love about you Anna—your tenacity.” He flings his arm, and the map levitates above the table it was lying on. He tosses his arm and the map glides its way over to me, stopping inches from my face. The entire world is outlined on its thick canvas, and filled with the scribbles of Micah’s theories and questions.

“Now love, do me a favor and tell me where to find them.”

I shake my head no. “I won’t help you.”

“You have two options. One, you can tell me; or two, I can pull it out of you.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway! You won’t find what you’re looking for. I don’t even know where they’re hiding!” I yell.

Micah’s face contorts in anger. “Anna, you are testing my patience. Tell me where they are.”

“I don’t know!”

Micah sneers patronizingly. “I guess you prefer the hard way... again.”

He strides over to me, grasping my arm firmly. I try to jiggle him off without luck. He chants a spell I’ve never heard, numbing my entire body. A stream of his dominant magic pours into me, drowning mine. My brain is engulfed in it, in him. I can feel him weaving inside and out, searching for my knowledge. A searing pain radiates in my brain, before slithering down my body like tentacles. I groan in anguish. Sweat drips from my forehead and water collects in the corners of my eyes. The throbbing agony soon grows into a sharp pain, slashing through my body. My skin feels like it’s being stabbed by thousands of tiny needles. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. My eyes flutter and my body throbs in response to his invasion.

“Almost there, love,” he whispers in my ear. “I will yank out every last bit of information even if it kills you.”

His magic continues its course through me, draining all of mine. I need to resist... to fight him. I have to do something before he has the chance to completely snuff me out or find The Scholars. My jaw clenches and my hands roll into tight balls. My shoulders tense, preparing myself for the upcoming battle. I focus all of my energy into stopping him. Bit by bit, my magic shoves its way past his like a bully on a schoolyard. His grip stiffens. A trickle of blood glides down the side of my forearm from his piercing fingernails.

“Go ahead, Anna, fight me. I guarantee it will only hurt you more.”

I throw every memory and emotion Micah has created or tarnished, tossing them into the raging furnace of hate burning inside of me. I slam my eyelids shut and Valen’s face pops inside my head. I need to get back to him. I squeeze my eyes tightly, channeling all the vigor I have, hoping to push Micah out. A fissure breaks right down the middle of his magic, allowing mine to explode to the surface. I feel his power retreat as mine conquers his. I flip my eyes open, stealing a glimpse of his face.

H
is eyes squint in anger. “How long would you like to play, Anna?” A menacing snarl slides across his face.

“
As long as I need to.” My anger flies off my tongue. I slide my eyelids together, continuing to concentrate on my power. Micah's magic is stronger than I thought, but I'm giving him a run for his money. In one potent, swift burst, I forcefully push his magic outside of me, once and for all. I open my eyes slowly, completely drained. Micah looks maddened, bordering on irate. Without a word, he turns away and strides out of the room, slamming the door. A loud bang follows, the culmination of his adult temper tantrum. I exhale a sigh of relief... for now. I lean my head back on the chair, exhausted. I miss everyone—my sister, friends, but especially Valen. I wonder what he's doing right now or if he’s worried about me. Hopefully, they’re devising a plan to get me the hell out of here.

Minutes later, t
he door swings open, slamming into the wall behind it. Micah strides back in with vengeance. Clumps of tangled hair twist around his fingers from the woman he’s dragging in by the back of her head. He stops, shoving Cara out in front of him. A small squeal escapes her tight lips. I stare at her, spotting a difference in our eyes. Cara's are filled with worry, mine with animosity.

“
Well my love, it looks like we're in a bit of a predicament here,” he sneers, seething with anger.

I
glare at Cara with indifference. If he intends to torture her in front of me in the hopes of me caving, good luck. A small smirk tugs at the corner of my mouth, eager for this to begin.

“
Anna, would you like to spare your sister’s life in exchange for those of The Scholars?”

I shake my head no.

Micah narrows his eyes, clearly unhappy with my response. “Well, then. Let’s get started, shall we? If you won't willingly help me, maybe Cara’s suffering can change your mind.”

He wraps his fingers around her petite shoulders and easily tosses her into one of the large bookcases
ten feet away. I watch as the back of her head cracks into a shelf of books, making an audibly hollow sound. Her earsplitting cry of pain makes me cringe. She slides to the floor, doubling over in agony. Watching Cara being tortured is going to be harder than I thought. I glance at Micah, whose face fails to hide his pleasure. He walks over to Cara, snatches her arm and pulls her off the floor. He looks at me before turning back to her. He restrains her wrists with his fingers, slamming her into his brawny chest. He flips her around to face him. A crinkled sneer darkens his features.

“
Why... why are you doing… doing this?” Cara stammers in a quivering voice. “Please don't hurt me.”

Micah ignores her plea
. Instead, his eyes are an unhinged shade of red. In one swift movement, he launches Cara clear across the room. She slams into the wall with a loud thud. Spider cracks spread from beneath her body as the wall strains from the surprise assault. Micah turns to me, his eyes blazing red.

“Want more, Anna?”

I swallow hard. I have a budding hatred for Cara, but that doesn't mean I want to watch her suffer. My magic is useless, so protecting her with it isn’t an option. I refuse to answer him, because when it comes down to it, I choose The Scholars’ safety over Cara's. Micah frowns at me, expecting to hear me beg for her well-being. He strides angrily to Cara, peeling her off the concrete wall like a sticker. My eyes widen, amazed to see her chest rising and falling.

“
Surprised, love?” Micah pivots, questioning me in an agitated tone. His caramel hair falls wildly from his head, barely covering his feral eyes.

Crazy doesn't look good on him.

“Don't worry, Anna. She isn’t going to die… yet. I plan on torturing her over and over again. Unless of course, you have something to say?”

Cara looks at me expectantly. I glance away, not wanting to indulge in her pity. Why should I help her? She ripped the thread of our family apart without so much as a second thought. I won’t allow her absolution at the expense of thousands of people who actually deserve to live. Besides, if I help her, it’s only a matter of time before she screws us over again. That’s not a chance I’m willing to take a second time around.

Micah slowly raises his arm. Cara’s body begins to lift on its own, dragging her upward until she’s floating in midair. Her legs and arms thrash fearfully, straining for balance. Her eyes register panic, knowing something bad is soon to follow. He flings his arm upward, and Cara flies towards the twenty-foot ceiling face-first, stopping just before smashing into it. Her high-pitched shriek rends through the room, echoing off the curved corners. It’s nearly unbearable. She claws at the ceiling, as if attempting to carve placeholders in the marble. Micah turns to me, trying to gauge my emotions. Unsatisfied, he drops his arm.

Cara plummets rapidly.

Reality steps out, switching over to autopilot. Slow motion. Everything is happening in slow motion. I remember watching movies, where the scene slowed down and the main character watches the chaos unfold sluggishly. I never understood why until now. My brain can only process so many traumas in a forty-eight-hour window. A calm eeriness blankets the room in stillness. No screaming. No emotions. She knows she’s going to die. I guess staring death in the face does that to a person. I feel helpless and broken, knowing there’s nothing I can do. Chills explode over my skin as time begins to catch up to itself. Nothing prepares me for the sound a human body makes when it hits the ground. Her bones snap like glass as pools of dark, scarlet blood spill all over the otherwise pristine, white tile. Cara's unresponsive body lies before me. I study her, eager to see her chest rise again, but her body remains motionless. She’s gone. A solitary tear slides down my cheek unexpectedly.

“
Now that's out of the way.” Micah inspects his nails. “She was a bother anyway. Too much of a whiner.” He looks at me proudly and snaps his fingers twice. Two burly Nephilim stagger in on cue, doubling over to get through the door. They're at least ten feet tall and as wide as a school bus. I've never seen an actual Nephilim outside of my
Book of Worlds
. I analyze them, thankful they are easier on the eyes than most demons. Being half-human, fallen angels could play a small role in that. They look human, but there is an obvious thread of immortality woven throughout them.

“
Get rid of this mess,” Micah instructs, pointing to Cara's lifeless body.

The giants march over, bending over their dense
thighs to scoop her up. Cara is easily lifted, dangling like limp spaghetti. I lower my gaze. The unnatural posture of her body makes my skin crawl. The few good memories we shared flood my mind, but tears remain absent. My utter lack of sorrow surprises even me; but when I’m screwed over on a grand scale, I have a tendency to harden my heart towards the wrongdoer, family or not.

“
Cara’s death won't elicit a response, but I know whose will,” he beams. He turns to the Seekers, snapping his fingers. “Find me Valen,” he demands with a snake-like hiss.

Heat flows under my skin like lava, boiling in my chest. I shift in the prison chair, hoping to displace my sudden fury. Micah turns back to me, smiling like a child.

“Ah, Valen,” he smiles coyly, “your Achilles heel.”

Hearing Valen’s name passing through his
repulsive lips angers me more. “I'm going to kill you,” I promise him.

Micah strides over to me, bending down until he's right next to my ear.
“I'm going to find him Anna... then I'm going to torture him over and over again while you watch,” he whispers softly, lightly grazing my earlobe with his lip. “I'm going to kill him right in front of you and once I’m finished with him, I am going to kill all of your family and friends—one by one, until you have no one left but me,” he finishes. “You are mine Anna, and nothing you can do will ever change that.”