Chapter 26
(Alex)
Aislin was taking forever and I grew tired of waiting for her to return with the witch, Emma. I stuffed the flower into my pocket and started down the street. I wasn t planning on going very far, wanting to remain close to the house in case she returned. But at the corner of the street, I noticed something odd. The Vegas lights had shut down, and smothered the city in blackness. The lamp posts on the roads were still lit, so there was a little light, but not much.
I had this irking feeling that this might have something to do with my sister, so I hurried across the street, continuing toward the dead city. When I reached the outskirts of the main road, I knew something was going down. The mutters and chants streaming through the night had a deeper meaning than I could understand. I moved up to the side of a large steel building, pressing my back against the wall, and trying to decipher what was going on. The voices spoke Latin, murmuring words of change and entrapment. Dammit, Aislin. What did you do?
I popped my neck and cracked my knuckles, preparing myself for a fight. Then I steadily stepped out into the street. Through the throng, Aislin stood on top of a stairway that rose to a towering building. An illuminating light tied her wrists and her eyes were wide beneath the low emergency lights.
Okay, so this was a mess. I was guessing that the rope was some kind of entrapment spell. I did a quick assessment of the crowd and noticed the abundance of star and crescent moon marks. So they were witches. But what did Aislin do to piss them all off?
Then one particular witch emerged, walking up to the top of the stairs. It was a witch who thought I was dead and knew Aislin could remove the Mark of Malefiscus.
Amelia.
So she d tracked Aislin down on her own. But why the mobbing crowd?
Welcome witches.
She raised her hands in the air.
I ve gathered you here today because I ve discovered something I want to share with you all!
The crowd of witches clapped and shouted their hoorays and I rolled my eyes at the ridiculousness.
Thank you. Thank you.
Amelia bowed her head like she was the Queen of the Sin City or something. Then she turned to Aislin.
This one right here has the power to remove the mark that threatens us all, that forces us to kill, forces us to spread our magic in the foulest ways.
She gave a dramatic pause.
Yet, she does nothing to help us. She doesn t share her power or come to our aid.
I have other problems to deal with,
Aislin snapped, trying to free her hands.
But Amelia talked over her.
So let us strip her of her magic and forever brand her an enemy of the witch world.
Crap. It was time for a plan. With my head tucked down, I pushed through the crowd, moving slow to draw less attention. They all were chanting, low voices mixing in with the wind. I reached the front line as Amelia lifted her hand toward the dark sky. I took off up the stairs, startling her. Aislin grinned and jumped to the side, slamming Amelia to the ground.
The crowd charged up the stairs roaring.
What do I do?
I asked, reaching for the glowing rope, but then pausing.
How do I get it off?
Aislin shook her head.
Just run!
We sprinted up the stairs, toward the domed entrance of the building, a crowd of angry witches throwing magic at our heels. We ducked and weaved, trying to stay out of the way of flying flames, but one nicked Aislin in the hand. The light of rope burst into flames and she was freed. She touched my arm and suddenly we were back at Adessa s house, lying flat on our stomachs, on the icy floor.
So where d do you think they went?
She pushed to her feet, scratching at the back of her hand.
I removed the flower from my pocket.
I think she took them to our old hideout.
The one in the forest?
She pulled a face at the lifeless Death Walker.
I nodded and put the flower away.
So can you take us there?
She grinned, smoothing down her hair.
Of course.
Then she extended her hand, but quickly pulled back. Across the top of her hand was a giant red X.
Do I even want to know what that is?
I sighed. If it wasn t one thing, it was another.
She rubbed at the X.
I ve been branded. No other witch will ever work with me again.
She started to tear up.
Relax,
I said.
At least you can still do magic.
Yeah, but no witch will ever work with me.
She frowned.
Which means I can t perform the spell on Gemma.
And no witches will break this rule?
I asked.
I mean it s just a mark.
Just a mark,
she said and I got her point.
This spell forbids witch magic to mix with my own, so it s not because they don t want to help me. It s because they actually can t.
Why would they do that to you?
I asked, nudging the dead Death Walker away with my foot.
I mean, what was the point?
There was no point,
she said.
Those spells they were throwing were all random.
Alright, well I guess we ll have to figure it out another way,
I said.
Know any witches you really trust?
The only one I trust went into hiding,
she said.
And it s hard to find a witch that doesn t want to be found. Especially one as old as Adessa.
My mental stability was cracking. I tightened my hand, ready to punch a hole in the wall.
Alex. I can try it myself. You re not giving my witch power any credit.
I shook my head. My mom had been very specific with her instructions on removing the wings of a Black Angel. Two lines of Wicca blood.
We ll figure something out. But right now we need to get out of here. I need to know if she s okay.
Aislin nodded.
Let s go to them.
***
The look on her face, when I told her the heart-crushing news was enough to kill me.
So I m stuck like this?
She frowned, her violet eyes forcing back the tears as she hugged her legs.
I m stuck a Black Angel forever? What happens when I start changing? Am I actually going to turn into one of them?
We ll find a way,
I told her.
I m not going to let anything happen to you. I promise.
She nodded, tucking her wings in, one of them bent and crooked.
What happened?
I touched the wing and she flinched in pain.
The Death Walkers ice did it,
she said.
I arched my eyebrow.
So do you want to explain what happened with that? And why there s a dead Death Walker lying in Adessa s living room.
She sighed and told me a story with the most terrible ending I d ever heard & so far.
I can fix it. I can remove the Mark of Immortality.
Aislin announced, before anyone could utter a word.
And I can fix her wings. I just need some time.
We don t have time,
I said.
In fact, we ran out of time quite a while ago.
No, we haven t.
She sucked in a deep breath.
This is what we re going to do.