Dead Magic: The Sanctuary Chronicles Read online

  Approaching, he could distinguish her wonderful curly hair knotted and matted with blood in the fading light. Her body was barely covered with shreds of what had been her clothes.

  She stood immobile, her beautiful eyes lost in the vastness before her. Where was all the fire that had attracted his soulless heart like a moth to a flame?

  Finn slowed as he approached, now unsure. Something felt amiss, but he couldn’t pinpoint it. With her toes but an inch from a deadly fall, he had more pressing matters to deal with.

  He wanted to rush and grab her, but even with his formidable speed, he may not be quick enough. He had to get as close as possible or convince her to step back.

  “Violet?”

  The woman blinked but didn’t look at him, so he risked another step.

  “Please, look at me. It’s me, Finn.”

  One more blink followed by a tear. That single tear tore a bloody path inside him, like a blade slicing through flesh. He attempted to move closer, but Violet swayed dangerously forward.

  “Don’t. Don’t come closer. Don’t touch me.”

  “Why? Come to me, please.”

  Another tear. “Did you deliver my message to Valeria and Sera?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “Then, there is nothing more to be said.”

  “This isn’t like you, Violet. You don’t want to kill yourself. You’re a fighter. Whatever happened, you can overcome it.”

  “I’m cursed!” Her sudden scream echoed against the stone walls of the quarry. “I’m powerless. My magic is gone. There is nothing else left of me. I feel nothing except darkness and death, and there is nothing for me here.”

  When she stepped an inch toward her demise, Finn knew he had to act.

  “If you jump, I’m following you.”

  Instead of heading in her direction, he planted his feet firmly on the edge. As he took his stance, Finn knew it was a gamble. He probably wouldn’t die if he jumped though it would hurt like hell, and his body would be mangled, that was certain. He could get lucky and have enough open wounds that would end his days, but that thought faded quickly. He cared for the witch, against all good sense and the rules of the High Council. He’d agreed to feed on her. There wasn’t any other option.

  “You can’t.”

  Were there the remnants of embers in her eyes? Could he hope again?

  “I drank your blood. It’s my duty to follow you as you saved my life. Twice. You thanked me for remaining with you when you expected to die. I’m a man of my word. After you, witch.”

  He could read the confusion on her beautiful face. “That’s nonsense.”

  It was, but if he could plant a seed of doubt in her head, he could save her.

  He pushed a few pieces of rubble with the tip of his toe. “After you.”

  Another hesitation. “I won’t… I don’t want you to jump.”

  Did she step back, or had he imagined things?

  “Don’t jump. Whatever curse you think you’re under, whatever you’ve lost or suffered, let me help. Give your friends one last chance. If, after that, you still want to end your life, I won’t stop you or follow you.”

  Tears filled her eyes, and when he tested the waters and stepped in her direction, she didn’t move. Even better, she took a step back, first one and then two.

  However, when Finn reached for her, Violet avoided his touch.

  Before he could react, running footsteps sounded, announcing Hunter’s arrival.

  The worst had been averted, but Finn couldn’t relax. Violet may be alive, but she was far from well. And many questions remained unanswered. How had Violet escaped and, even worse, who had wanted to torture her like that? Danger lurked, and even if he shouldn’t stay, it was impossible for him to leave now. Not with a threat in the shadows. Not with the shell of this witch pulling at his heart. For now, he would stay.

  Chapter 5

  Coldness was her world now. A hole of emptiness and ice carved inside her, taking all the space in her chest. Consequently, her skin was clammy and frigid, even after a blistering shower warmth evaded her.

  From the moment Finn had convinced her to step back and not jump, Violet found herself unable to utter a word and couldn’t bear anyone touching her.

  She saw the pain and worry in her friends’ eyes but couldn’t help it. Hunter and Finn hadn’t spoken when they’d walked her back to the cemetery or when they’d called to ask Sera to conjure a portal back to Sanctuary.

  Finn had told her to fight, but there was no fight left inside her. It was as if her soul had split, before and after her kidnapping. When she tried to remember what happened, her body shut down, and she shivered with the memory of the pain.

  She should rest, but the thought of doing so sent chills down her spine, as did closing her eyes.

  Someone was pacing the hall, stopped in front of her door, hesitating a moment before walking away.

  Instinctively, she tried to reach out with her magic to detect who was there, but instead of the familiar warmth, nausea seized her stomach, darkness surrounded the edge of her vision.

  With dots dancing in front of her eyes, Violet barely made it to the bathroom before she dry-heaved. Lucky for her she hadn’t been able to eat a bite since she’d arrived back at Sanctuary.

  After a few splashes of cold water on her face, she returned to the room.

  Sanctuary always felt homey to her, but it wasn’t her home, and it weighed on her. Her home was the house her parents had lived in before their death, a small cottage in the valley between the woods and farmland. She needed openness, to see more of the horizon.

  A shiver coursed through her again when she opened the door and stepped into the hall. The action felt good. Her old brain told her she needed to move and act, to discover what happened to her, but something blocked her for now. It was obvious her body and mind had to recoup.

  She went through the house, tempted to make a run for it and explain her escape to her friends later. She ignored the urge, not wanting to hurt them further. They had worried about her and still did.

  It was no surprise to find them all gathered in the kitchen. They hadn’t noticed her, deep in half-whispered conversation. Her gaze flowed over them until it stopped on Finn O’Malley. The centuries-old vampire looked tired. Vampires never looked tired, so her impression was bizarre.

  Flashes of what had happened when she’d first seen him. The pure hatred she’d felt now blended with everything they’d shared since.

  It was his actions that allowed her to trust him and decide to make an exception. She’d even offered him blood. And now, even knowing the connection it created between them, Violet didn’t regret her decision.

  Since Valeria had saved him, Finn had been an ally, one who’d risked his own undead life, time and time again for the Sanctuary and her friends.

  That blood connection was what prevented her from ending her own life when every cell in her body screamed at her to jump. That, and the fact he would’ve followed her over the edge. Somehow, knowing Finn would disappear from this world was unacceptable. Not that she would ever admit it, but the vampire had snuck under her skin. She cared now whether she wanted to or not.

  Before she could react, Finn lifted his eyes and locked gazes with her like he’d heard her thoughts. His eyes darkened, but he didn’t say anything or move. His intensity reminded her of how she’d felt when he’d first taken her blood. Pain had exploded on her neck, followed by searing pleasure. In less than a second, her blood boiled with lust, and if they hadn’t been surrounded by so many Sanctuary residents, Violet would’ve torn her clothes from her back, along with his, and had her way with him. After that, she’d tried to put more distance between them, but she was never alone. An invisible link had formed, one that was nothing like her friendship with Valeria and Sera or her affection for Asher and Ian.

  It was a storm of hate and attraction, respect and incomprehension.

  At Finn’s extended silence, the conversation around the tab
le faded and everyone turned in the direction of his gaze. One step after the other, Violet forced herself to move forward. She could see Valeria and Sera holding themselves back from going to her, and it pained her. However, she couldn’t bear physical contact. Not in her current state, not until she understood the darkness swirling inside her.

  “How are you feeling?” She could see Asher assessing her, her well-being a priority for him.

  “I don’t know.”

  “You should sleep, rest.” Sera’s voice trembled a little, making it even more difficult for Violet to answer.

  “I… I can’t. I can’t lie down.”

  Valeria turned to face her. “You haven’t eaten yet, and you look pale as a ghost.”

  The idea of food felt odd to her, and she pushed that thought away. “No food. I can’t.”

  Again, awkward silence descended. Violet eyed the door but forced herself not to move. Her friends were worried, and the faster she could set their minds at ease, the faster she’d be able to return home.

  “I don’t feel well. I took a shower, examined myself, and didn’t see any marks on my skin, but my mind….” she closed her eyes, gathering her strength. “There’s a shadow in my mind, blocking my memories…haunting me, for lack of a better word. I’ve tried to remember what happened…. It’s blurry, and honestly, I don’t feel strong enough to push through. Not yet.”

  “It’s the trauma of it, Vi. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Hunter took pictures of the place where they kept you. The symbols are unique, nothing we’ve seen before. Hunter is securing the site with a few of our Sentinels, and Sera will go check it out tomorrow.”

  Tension mounted inside Violet as Valeria spoke. Her fingertips started to itch, and the sensation traveled along her arms. Her face grew numb, and as panic rose, she wondered if she was about to fall back into a nightmare or if her body was detaching itself from her mind. Phantom pain reverberated through her; her brain afraid to go beyond the curtain of pain and remember what happened.

  “Enough.”

  Beyond the order, it was the energy coming from Finn that pulled her out of her stupor and steadied her heart.

  At last, she could form words again. “I need a little time, okay?”

  Asher nodded. “You can stay here for as long as you need, Violet. Sanctuary is secure. You’re protected for as long as you like.”

  “Thank you, but I want to go home.”

  Refusals and opposition sounded through the kitchen. The only one who wasn’t taking part in it was Finn. His attention was all on her, and she sensed he was the only one willing to hear her out.

  Words sounded all around, but it was the two of them who remained silent, who spoke volumes. It took a few seconds, but Finn nodded, and she knew she had an ally.

  “I’ll accompany her home and stay close to Violet until she feels better.”

  That wasn’t what Violet wanted to hear, and her first reaction was to turn him down. She stopped herself as her friends didn’t protest, on the contrary, they were considering it. Asher looked intently at the vampire before answering.

  “Okay. If it’s what Violet needs, let’s do it. But I’m assigning Sentinels to guard the perimeter until we’re certain Violet is safe. The protection will remain as invisible as possible, but it’s non-negotiable.”

  Asher spoke, but it was obvious Sera and Violet didn’t agree with her leaving. Silently, Ian nodded and stood. As second-in-command, he oversaw the Sentinels and was probably going to set everything up.

  When Violet moved to the door, Finn followed but remained at a safe distance. With a sigh, she turned to her friends, but couldn’t find the words. Emptiness and cold still seizing her heart, she left.

  Tiredness pulled at her like shackles, but Violet ignored it when she finally saw her little cottage. It was still dark, not even the hint of dawn coloring the horizon, but her home shone like a beacon to her.

  Finn parked, and they both exited the car. Again, she tried to scan the area, making sure nobody was inside, but her powers stayed silent, filling her with dread. What if whoever had kidnapped her lurked inside?

  “I don’t feel anybody inside, but let’s go in and make sure.”

  Again, Finn had answered her question before she could form it.

  It vaguely irritated her that the vampire stepped forward and entered first to check the house, but Violet was too numb and drained to act on it.

  As Finn examined the house, Violet took a step inside and inhaled deeply. The familiar scent didn’t have the same effect as it normally did, but she was grateful her body settled, if only an inch.

  It wasn’t very warm, as she kept the thermostat low when she wasn’t home but having shelter from the biting spring wind was a bonus. In addition, she doubted the cold that had invaded her would ever go away now.

  When Finn returned, it was clear he was satisfied with his search. “I checked everything, there’s no intruder. And nobody has tried to break in. Your windows are still locked.”

  Violet nodded. She should have felt reassured, but still, nothing. Her feelings and emotions had dampened to the point where she knew they were there, but she didn’t feel them. She’d heard about trauma and PTSD. Was that what had happened to her? Could the memories still hidden inside her mind reveal the worst atrocities and explain her current reaction?

  “Violet?” Once more, the vampire brought her back to the present and her surroundings. “You’re swaying on your feet. Maybe it would be a good idea for you to lie down. Go to bed. I’m gonna check with the Sentinels, make sure everything is under control. Ian told me they’ll be here any minute.”

  Deep down, anxiety and fear stirred at the thought of Finn leaving, but the feelings didn’t blossom enough for her to act on them. What he’d said was logical, and like an automated doll, she nodded and shuffled toward her room.

  Removing her shoes, she opened her drawer and took out her old flannel pajamas. She should take another shower, try to warm herself, but her body didn’t comply, and going to the bathroom seemed like an impossible task.

  Instead, she turned on the heater and slid between the cold sheets. Huddled in a tight ball, trying to draw heat into herself, she ordered her eyes to close. Maybe if she could sleep, she wouldn’t feel so uncomfortable anymore.

  Praying for a sense of peace, Violet closed her eyes and willed herself to sleep.

  Chapter 6

  Finn examined the land surrounding Violet’s small house, memorizing the layout, checking for anomalies, making sure the Sentinels were in place, but his gaze constantly turned back to the little cottage.

  From the moment he’d found Violet, something had churned deep inside him, telling him to remain on alert. But why? Where did the danger he sensed come from?

  The night was calm, and reassured the surroundings were quiet and the protection in place, he made his way inside.

  Silence welcomed him, but he could feel Violet’s presence deeper in the house. Seeing perfectly in the dark, he spotted a small fireplace in the living room and decided to put it to good use. He’d noticed how Violet shivered constantly, and the dry heat would be helpful. Worrying about Violet was constant, now. She wasn’t well, physically or mentally, but it was no surprise. He’d felt her pain through their connection, the torture she had suffered, but she’d said she sported no wounds or cuts. How could that be possible?

  Inside the crypt, he’d detected her scent even while noticing someone had used blood to draw symbols on the walls. How was that possible? The scents were too strong and blended into each other to know if it was the witch’s or not.

  The blaze was picking up and Finn switched on a few lights. In the soft glow, the little house looked cozy and inviting. There was a simplicity and warmth about it. Everything was simple and comfortable. Worn, as if endless families had lived there since it’s construction. It made him think about those houses in Ireland he’d seen over the last century, nestled in valleys. Made of wood, they appeared fragile but withstood the h
arshest winds and rainfall, keeping their residents warm and safe.

  He wandered around, checking the paintings hanging on the walls, the throw on the old sofa, and the knickknacks dotted around. Everything seemed old, dated. And then he remembered what Violet had said about her parents, and that vampires had killed them when she was a little girl. This was her parents’ house, and no doubt she’d kept it the same as it was when her parents lived there all those years ago.

  Down the hallway, the master bedroom was empty and untouched. The only closed door was Violet’s childhood bedroom.

  Finn finally understood the depth of the wound that tragedy had carved into the witch’s soul. Underneath all that sass and spice was a little girl who still cried over her loss. No wonder she’d hated him from the moment he’d entered her life.

  Many hated vampires simply for who they were, or in reaction to the aura of legend that surrounded them. Her reasons were more painful and real. The fact she hadn’t severed his head from his shoulders on sight was a feat. She tolerated him, probably because he’d formed a sort of bond with Valeria. How could she have offered him blood twice? Violet knew enough to know it would create an enduring link between them. Was it to better find him and kill him later?

  Finn shook his head at how much she’d suffered both in the past and in the present, and yet she still had a remnant of courage to enable her to reach for his help and not jump over that cliff. What happened in that beautiful red head of hers? What happened to her in that crypt?

  His head filled with questions, he was about to return to the living room when he heard rustling, followed by a moan from Violet’s room.

  Remaining still, Finn waited, but the silence didn’t return. Instead, the moans turned to low, guttural screams and something metallic rattled from behind the door.

  There was no time for hesitation, and he opened the door. Relieved that nobody else was inside the room, his attention went to Violet. The covers were on the floor, and she was trashing on the bed, her eyes still closed.