Harley Merlin and the Cult of Eris (Harley Merlin, #6)

“You couldn’t do it even if you wanted to,” I replied, though I had to give her props for her approach. It’d come out of left field, and man, it was tempting.

If she could really do that… would it be worth switching sides for? Adley was the only person who’d ever cared about me. If I could just hold her in my arms again… Weren’t you supposed to do everything for love, no matter what the cost?

“I could, and I can. I brought your great-grandfather back, didn’t I? Yes, it got messed up, but I won’t let that happen to Adley. Call it my way of making amends. But, in return, you have to come back to the fold. You and Adley both.” She paused. “Look, I know you’re annoyed with me about all of these murders and attempted murders, but the truth is, I wasn’t comfortable with having you killed in the first place. Try and see things from my point of view—I didn’t have a choice. You were a security threat, and I had to do whatever I thought was best. I didn’t actually want you dead. Do you really think I’m that heartless?”

I was about to spit the answer in her face, but the old witch kept talking.

“And, before you answer with a snarky ‘yes,’ you should know that you were all I ever wanted. You were my prodigy and my legacy, and I loved you more than anything. I still do, in fact, which is why I’m willing to offer you Adley in return for your continued presence at my side. That’s why you’re still sitting here. I sent someone to kill you because I was a coward, and I couldn’t do it myself. I wouldn’t have been able to. But I only did that because you tried to betray me first. You were preparing to give up secrets. With so much at stake, tell me what else I could have done?” She looked at me with mournful eyes. All fake, of course. She didn’t know what it meant to be mournful. She’d never shed a tear for anyone in her whole life.

“Not kill Adley. Not kill me. Leave me to rot in Purgatory. That’s what you were going to do anyway, right? I didn’t see any wrecking balls bringing down the walls of my cell.”

“I regret doing it, if it makes you feel any better.”

I gave her a deadpan look.

Katherine sighed. “Here’s the heart of the matter: you made the first move, and I was forced to retaliate. I didn’t want to, but you made me. If you’d kept your mouth shut, I would’ve come for you when all of this was over and put you back at my side. In fact, that’s what I want to do now, since Harley sprang you out of Purgatory for me.” She leaned over the desk, and I instinctively leaned farther back in the chair. “You know me, Finch. You know that I’ll get Hester’s spirit and consume it, and you know I’ll complete the other trials, too. I’m always one step ahead. It took me, what, half an hour to sever your escape plans? And I’ll keep doing it, until these rituals are complete. I won’t be stopped. But that doesn’t mean you have to lose. You can win, too. Just swap sides again. You can have everything you’ve ever wanted. Adley’s right there for the taking, but you have to be bold enough to make the move.”

I hesitated. I actually hesitated. She was offering up so much, and she was right—all I had to do was say the word.

But what about Harley? She wouldn’t have understood. She still had her Wonderboy, alive and kicking. She was loved. She had friends. What did I have? Suspicion and doubt around every corner, from everyone I met. Adley would fix that. Adley would look at me again, with those eyes, and make everything better.

“Just say the word…” Katherine smiled, toying with the fountain pen on the desk. Was that what she’d make me use to sign this contract? Or would she ask for it in blood?

“You really think you’ve found a Necromancer who’s powerful enough?” I hated myself for asking, but the thought of Adley, dead and alone in a tomb for all eternity, was worse.

“I have.” Her eyes were bright. She knew she had me on some impossible ropes.

Have you completely lost it? The logical side of my mind was warring with the emotional side. If I did this, if I agreed to Katherine’s terms, there’d be no going back. Harley would never forgive me. She’d never look at me the same way again. She’d hate me. They all would. Worse still, they’d all have been right about me.

“I’d rather see her die a thousand times than let you have what you want,” I said, tears in my eyes. I tried to lurch forward in my chair, but she pushed me right back with a wave of Telekinesis. Behind the aquarium panels, the creatures were going crazy, drawn by Katherine’s power.

Her body was almost crackling with the conviction of her words. Her promise that she could bring Adley back. She was manifesting it into the truth. And, the scary thing was, I believed her. She had such certainty in her voice that it was impossible not to.

But that didn’t mean I was ready to turn tail, in spite of what she was offering. Harley had opened my eyes. She’d made me see that Katherine was vulnerable. And maybe, just maybe, that meant she wouldn’t win—even if it meant losing my chance of getting Adley back. I didn’t know if even I could be that selfish.

“Kenneth, can you bring the prisoner in?” Katherine called out.

I turned around in surprise, half expecting to see Harley in chains. Instead, I got the shock of my life: Wade Crowley. Kenneth was dragging Wade Crowley along in Atomic Cuffs. And, by the looks of it, Kenneth had gotten in a couple of good punches first. Although, knowing Kenneth, he’d done that after Wade had been clapped in irons.

“That’s not possible.” I almost choked on the words.

Katherine smiled. “You should never underestimate my determination, Finch. I’ve always got backup plans. Even my backup plans have backup plans. See, I always win, one way or another.”

Harley wouldn’t do a thing while Wade was here as Katherine’s prisoner. My mother had gone straight for the jugular on this one. And I was utterly speechless. Harley didn’t have my merciless streak. Even if it meant the world collapsed, Harley wouldn’t leave here without Wade.

So, what are you going to do? I had two options: surrender, or do something insane. Right now, the pendulum was swinging to either side. How could I argue with Katherine’s logic? She kept getting what she wanted. The evidence was irrefutable.

As I was about to make my decision, the door burst open and Naima rushed in. She was breathless, which was no mean feat for a supercharged Purge beast. “She has escaped, Eris. Harley has gone. We cannot find her.”

I turned around in time to see Katherine’s expression shift into one of shock as she got to her feet in a rush. “How could this happen? The spirits… they were loose! They should have restrained her by now!”

I grinned in spite of myself. And you shouldn’t underestimate the determination of Harley freaking Merlin!

Naima bowed her head in shame. “Something occurred within the tunnels, Eris. The spirits were all hiding, and they were scared. They were cowering in the crevices.”

“What’s the matter, Katherine? Don’t you have a backup for that?” I jeered.

Her face was a picture of fury. But then, just as swiftly, it morphed into something else. A smug grin that I wanted to swipe off. “It isn’t over yet, Finch. Not by a long shot.” She looked toward Kenneth as she hurried for the door. “Kenneth, cuff Finch and watch over him and Wade until I return. I’ve got something I need to take care of.” Despite her urgency, she paused. “Oh, and Naima, I suggest you find a way to make up for this colossal screw-up. Otherwise, blood, guts, nasty spells, etcetera, etcetera.”

Naima bowed even lower. “Yes, Eris. I will.”

“You see, Finch? Your sister left you here. She got what she wanted, and she left you here. If anyone is using people, it’s Harley Merlin. You and Wade were just the stooges.” She sneered at me.

I smirked. “Go screw yourself, Mother. I’d rather die a stooge than be a vessel for your selfishness. I will never forgive you for what you did. Any of it.”