Chapter 24
I feel like a new person. I’m still Gemma, but with power and a need for control. My heart is bruised with a love I never felt. I want revenge—I want the world in the palm of my hand.
Laylen and I leave the club. I’m the driver to our next destination, because I know where we’re going. My hands grip the steering wheel as my possessed mind leads us to our next objective.
“Did you fix the Crystal of Limitation?” I make a sharp turn and veer off the highway. I don’t bother to slow down and the car fishtails from the alteration of asphalt to dirt.
Laylen kicks his boots up on the dashboard. “Yeah, I did. Emmelus wasn’t very cooperative.” He cracks his knuckles and smiles to himself. “But I made it work.”
“So where is it?” I throttle the gas pedal, accelerating quickly up a steep hill.
“Somewhere safe.” He playfully pinches my thigh. “Don’t worry Gemma. We’ll pull this off.”
“Pull what off, though.” I mull. “I feel like everything’s important—my power, freeing my dad, doing what Helena wants. But I still don’t get it completely. I mean, why you? Why not possess Alex?”
He shifts his arm onto the console. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
Right then, we arrive at the field where Alex and I practice fighting. I slam on the brakes, grinding to a jolting stop. Laylen drops his legs from the dash and hops out of the car. He whistles happily as we walk to the middle of the field, where the dry grass is compressed and the flowers slowly crumble to death. It’s troubling how happy he is. But the sick twisted part of me likes it.
“So are you ready?” He nibbles at his bottom lip, devouring me with his eyes. “Because this is all for you.”
“For me?” I doubt. “Or for Helena?”
He doesn’t respond and gazes up at the dark grey sky. Clouds have swept in and thunder crashes. Blue and silver flickers of lightening touch down. The ground beneath us matches the rhythm. I close my eyes as the dirt hollows open. I feel the transfer in the air, the darkness, the imminent power. When I open my eyes, the willow tree has risen like a vampire out its coffin.
Same scenery. Different Characters. But this is what the dream was telling me.
Red and white rose petals funnel around us. Annabella emerges from under the tree, her red lips sealed with a secret. She wears a white flowing dress that flaps in the wind as she ambles toward us. Lightening highlights her silver eyes, which change as she gets closer. Gradually, she transforms into Helena. Her legs elongate, her eyes void into her head, and her honey hair shimmers like gold.
“Helena,” I curtsy like a puppet.
Helena sticks out her hand and Laylen kisses it. “You made it up here,” he says to her.
“For a moment.” She purses her lips, taking in the world. “I won’t be able to stay long. I can already feel it taking a toll on me—my body’s withering.” Her skin crinkles like a wilting rose petal.
I snatch a petal between my fingers. “Why were you disguised as Annabella? And how did you possess me?”
She’s stunned by my reaction. “Apparently you’re not fully possessed yet.” She gapes her mouth open, like she’s going to eat me.
Laylen barricades his body between us. “Don’t be too hard on her. She’s here isn’t she?”
The Queen’s eyes shoot daggers. “The thing with mortals is that they can’t understand immortal power. Take for instance, creating new breeds.” She waves her hand and a mob of Lost Souls swish out from beneath the canopy of the branches. They’re the strange looking ones, desiccated and wispy. “You find a way, Gemma.” She paces in front of us, her hands overlain behind her. “Sure I had to correlate with Lucinda.” Her murderous gaze narrows at Laylen. “She would give anything to have Alexander back, something I used to my advantage. I convinced her to create Lost Soul hybrids and create a loophole for your immunity against a Lost Soul possession. We did a little test run on you while you were down in The Underworld, but it still didn’t work completely. You’re too powerful, which is why I like you.”
That explains the weird connection I feel with The Underworld. “But I’m immune against death possession. And your death.”
“Not with Annabella inside me.” She smirks proudly. “Essence is life in a sense, therefore, my last and final loophole.”
“Why me, though?” I wave my hand at Laylen. “And why him?”
“Because your soul is the only one powerful enough to make this happen. You know, I’ve never lost a soul before, until you.” She eyes Laylen. “And I chose him due to his insignificance. I need someone for Alexander—for my Lost Soul that I can’t entirely control. Alexander still shares some love for my sisters, but he will be mine. And I don’t want to rule the world alone. If I’d have chosen Alex, your bond would have gotten in the way. You two would have probably ended up possessing the world on your own.” She shakes her head and chuckles at the idea. “But now I have you and Alex is a human—he’s vulnerable by his love.” She inches her face closer to mine, petals encrusting her hair. “You can control him, which is just what I need.”
I hate her plan and I hate that I have to go along with it. I could run, free myself from her. But I’m her puppet now, bound by invisible strings only she can control.
“You’ll have fun with this,” she promises with a wicked glint in her hollow eyes. “Think about it. For your entire life you’ve been joined to another by blood. But now you’re free. You can have anyone you want.”
My gaze flits to Laylen, who watches me with passion. It makes me uneasy, yet alive at the same time. He’s Aislin’s. No, he’s yours. I think about touching him, running my fingers down his lean arms. But I won’t give in.
“Fight it all you want,” she says and I want to claw her eyes out for doing this to me. “You’ll give in eventually, which is just what I want.” She turns her back on us sidling for the willow tree. “Men are toys, Gemma. Nothing more. The sooner you learn that, the easier things will be.”
Once she’s secured under the shelter of the branches, she gives one last satisfied smile and then the tree excavates into the ground. She leaves the hybrid Lost Souls behind, who wait for instructions. Helena didn’t leave any, but my mind’s connected to hers now, and I know what I’m supposed to do.
“Go on,” I tell them. “Go find yourself some bodies to possess.” They soar to the air, happy and eager to ruin many lives. “And good ones too—ones that will help us.”
Laylen threads his fingers through my hand. “What now beautiful?”
I hike for the car, steering him with me. “Now we get my Foreseer power back.”
He weaves around a large bush, never letting go of my hand. “What for?”
I sigh, hating the plan, but also loving it. “So I can free my father.” I pause and he looks at me enquiringly. “Because without him, I won’t be able to alter Helena’s vision—the one that will free her from The Afterlife and give her Alexander.”