A Curse in Darkness by Sherilee Gray

Chapter 22

Willow

Come to me.

The mother’s voice echoed through my mind. “I need pants.” I ran across the room and yanked my drawers open, then pulled on underwear and a fresh pair of jeans.

“Where the fuck are you going?” Warrick said, stepping in front of me.

“I need to go to Oldwood Forest. The mother, she’s summoning me.”

“Why?”

Because she’s about to strip us of our powers.“I’ll find out when I get there,” I said instead. I didn’t know if the mother was open to making a deal or some other bargain, but I was willing to offer her my soul, if she was interested, to make sure my family didn’t suffer this.

Rose…she wouldn’t survive being stripped of what power she had.

“Is this what usually happens?”

My mind spun, and my stomach churned. “I don’t know.”

He gripped my upper arms. “Don’t go.”

I wish. But if I didn’t go, the punishment would no doubt be worse. “I have to.”

I pulled from his hold, shoved my feet in my boots, picked up my blade from the floor where it’d fallen, and jogged down the stairs.

“I’m coming with you,” he said, pounding down after me.

I’d say no, but I had a feeling I’d need help getting home once the mother was finished with me. “Fine, but you have to promise you’ll stay back.”

He grunted.

“I mean it. No matter what happens, you stay the hell back.”

“Is that you, Wills?” Mom called from the living room.

What the hell was I going to tell them? You won’t need to tell them anything, they’ll feel the mother stripping their power along with yours. I was going to throw up. “Yeah, I have to go out. Be back soon.”

“Is Warrick with you?”

“Yes!”

“Oh good, have a nice time.”

I rushed outside, climbed into the Morris, and fired her to life.

Warrick got in beside me. “I don’t like this. What the fuck happens now? What will she do to you? Every time you see that bitch, she pumps you full of fucking venom. Not fired up to watch her take a bite out of you, dove.”

However badly she’d hurt me in the past was going to be nothing compared to what was about to happen. “I don’t know what happens now.” I licked my lower lip and was hit with another taste of him. God, I wanted him to haul me into his arms at that moment, to tell me that everything would be okay, so badly I ached. But it wasn’t okay. It was the complete fucking opposite of okay. The mother was about to strip my entire family of everything.

“We better get going. The mother doesn’t like to be left waiting.” Shifting the Morris into gear, I roared down the driveway.

Warrick remained quiet after that, a large silent dark cloud beside me, and since my head was all over the place, wondering what I was walking into, I was okay with that.

Oldwood Forest was about twenty minutes from home. The Roxburgh State Forest split into two and joined with Wolf Hill Woods a hell of a long way from here, and both were currently full of monsters. Good times.

I parked the Morris, climbed out, and headed into the forest. Warrick was right behind me.

There was no moon tonight; it was concealed by dark clouds. The wind was gusty and icy, and it whistled through the trees, making branches creak and dead leaves fly around us before hitting the forest floor.

The animals had obviously found places to hide for the night, and I hoped that included the two-legged creatures that lived here as well. I was tired, worried…scared for my family and what this would mean for us, for our entire coven.

I hadn’t just failed Mom and Else, and my sisters. I’d failed my entire coven. Would they kick us out after this?

We made it to the clearing without too much trouble. A demon ran at us about ten minutes after we arrived, and Warrick beheaded it with his bare hands.

The next one, I got with my blade, taking it down, and again, Warrick tore his head off. He certainly was consistent. And I was much obliged. I wasn’t sure I had a decapitation in me right then, not when my stomach sank more and more with every step closer to the clearing that we got.

“Wait here,” I said to Warrick when we finally reached our destination.

He didn’t look happy about it.

“Remember, no matter what you see, you don’t leave this spot.”

He grunted.

“I mean it. If you walk out there, the mother will be pissed, and she’ll take it out on me and my family.”

“Not gonna fuck this up for you, dove,” he said.

“Thank you.” I walked to the center of the clearing.

It was so dark tonight, I had trouble seeing a foot in front of me. When I reached the center, I whispered a spell, lighting a fire in the ring of stones that was already there and quickly took off my clothes, tossing them aside. Then, taking my blade, I sliced the side of my calf and watched as the blood ran down my leg, over my foot, to soak into the dirt.

Dropping my knife, I closed my eyes and lifted my hands. “Mother, please grant me an audience. You requested my presence and I have obeyed.”

I didn’t know the words for this kind of thing, there was nothing written for it in all our texts.

The wind picked up speed, and a moment later, that familiar rattle reached me.

The serpent was approaching.

I had visions of Warrick exploding from the trees and tearing the snake to shreds. That’s exactly the kind of thing he’d do. I almost smiled at the thought. The nerves were obviously getting to me.

Daughter.

I opened my eyes and the huge snake raised up in front of me. Maybe she’d brought me here to kill me? Maybe I’d sucked so bad at being a Keeper that she was going to get rid of me instead. If I could convince her…beg her, to pass the position on to another branch of the family within our coven, they might come out of this unscathed.

You passed your task.

Her voice echoed through my mind.

I froze. “What? I passed? But I…I thought I failed…I thought…”

You passed, she said again.

Relief hit so hard, I had to choke back a sob of relief and my knees almost buckled. How? How was this possible? I hadn’t sent the souls back. I didn’t understand. None of this made sense.

I should keep my mouth shut, but I couldn’t stop myself. I had to know. “May I ask what my task was, Mother?”

To keep our world a secret, no matter the cost to you or others.

I blinked into her vibrant green eyes.

Rebecca.

I’d almost told her the truth of our world time and again. She was my task? What the fuck was going on? If the malevolent souls weren’t my task, then who’d sent them?

“Mother, there are spirits loose in the city. They’re the reason I was forced to keep our world a secret. Humans have been killed because of them.”

The opportunity arose, a way to present you with your task, how it came about is of no consequence to me.

“You didn’t send them, the souls?”

No.

The mother’s voice rose, her anger lashing out like a whip. The serpent hissed and jerked toward me. I locked my knees when every instinct told me to run.

You dare question me? Her voice roared through my mind.

“Apologies, Mother,” I said quickly. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

She hissed again, but the snake seemed to calm. I stayed quiet and waited for her to tell me why she’d summoned me.

That wasn’t the final task for coven Thornheart, Keeper.

What? I’d done two, there were always two. “But I’ve done both—”

Silence.

I shut my mouth.

A Keeper’s power comes from not one but many. Your ancestors proved their worth time and again. Your coven thrived and grew in power because of those who came before you. That line was severed when Joshua Thornheart died. This is a new line, untested. You are but one of worth, daughter, and there must be many for a new line to secure their position.

My heart pounded hard in my chest because I knew what she was going to say next.

Each of your sisters must pass one task and one trial to retain your gifts and your Keeper status.

No. “Mother,” I rasped. “One of my sisters is unwell and another is only eighteen years old—”

She hissed, and I pressed my lips together.

If they are weak, they will fail. That is the purpose of the trials. As for your youngest sister, she will be given the time she needs.

“When?” I dared to ask.

The next in line will be given time to prepare before she is summoned.

Iris.

“Months?”

Perhaps. Are you ready to receive your gifts?

My heart was pounding, and my head was spinning. I wanted to argue, but angering her would be a terrible mistake. “Yes, Mother.”

Remember, you must also win your trial to keep the gifts I bestow upon you today.

This I knew. If I lost my trial, the mother took the gifts back that she’d given to us, and all the past gifts my ancestors had received as well.

The serpent rose up. She didn’t strike this time, something flashed in her eyes, then she spun and slithered into the woods without another word. I stood there, naked, shivering, mind racing. God, Mags had foreseen this, hadn’t she? After the last time I was here, and she’d been mostly right. Except it wasn’t me the mother had plans for, it was them. I shook my head in denial. This wasn’t meant to happen. I was supposed to keep them safe. The thought of any of my sisters coming here, enduring this, the dangers they would face…

Rose…oh god, she wouldn’t survive it—

I cried out as pain sliced down my spine. I fell to my knees, my legs knocked out from under me and my mouth opened on a silent scream. Power swelled inside me, then again, the next surging even higher.

The gifts the mother had promised for passing my task were solidifying, strengthening.

It was ours.

My sisters, my mom, Else. Our entire coven. And it would stay ours as long as I passed the combat trial ahead.

“Willow?” Warrick called and dropped down in front of me. “Dove, what’s happening?”

I couldn’t talk, my back bowing as another surge pulsed through me. I blinked up at him as the pain throbbed and grew.

I screamed, positive I couldn’t take another moment—

Then it crashed like a furious wave smashing into rocks before washing the pain away, leaving only the power that drove it.

I gasped as the final wave flowed through me. “It’s okay, I’m okay…I passed. Somehow, I passed.” I pushed myself up into a sitting position and shoved my fingers in my hair. “I just have to win my trial, then my part in this is over.” I’d won the last fairly easily. Yes, I trusted in my abilities, but my next opponent may not go down so easily. There’d already been a couple of deaths, witches who were strong, skilled.

My sisters were untested.

“That’s good.”

He gave me room as I stood, watching me as I quickly dressed.

“But something’s wrong, why aren’t you happy? Talk to me.”

I yanked my shirt on. “The souls weren’t part of my task, Warrick. I don’t know who sent them or why. And now my sisters have to go through this as well.”

He planted his hands on his hips, his brows dropping, his golden gaze raking over me. “We’ll figure it out,” he finally said.

I nodded, because I had to believe that as well. “I need to get home to my family.”

My sisters would have felt it, the increase in power, and I needed to check on Roe. Had it worked? We’d all been counting on it. More power to go around meant more for Roe. If we were right, then when Iris passed her trial, Rose would get another boost.

Maybe it would be enough.

It had to be.

“You’re bleeding.”

“It’s fine, I’m used to it.” I stepped back, and he grabbed my arm.

He shook his head. “The smell of your blood fucks with me. I don’t like knowing you’re hurt, dove.”

“You better be careful, alpha, you’ll have me believing you actually care,” I said, the words coming out more than a little bitter, my emotions far too close to the surface to temper.

He scowled fiercely. “I don’t like seeing you hurt.”

Awesome. He didn’t like to see me bleed. Not exactly a heartfelt declaration. Best not to get all excited that Warrick suddenly had a functioning heart.

Then he lowered to the ground, carefully lifted the leg of my jeans, and leaned in, giving it the hellhound healing treatment, licking the slice along my calf until it began to seal itself. Then he dragged my jeans leg back down just as carefully and stood. “Now we can go.”

I fought back a shiver, turned, and ran for my truck and home.

* * *

The Morris skidded to a stop outside the house, and I jumped out and ran inside. Mom was in the kitchen, making a cup of tea, when I rushed in. “Did you feel it?”

She turned, and a gentle smile curled her lips and nodded.

“And Rose?”

She put down the cup in her hand. Her hands were shaking. “No change.”

I grabbed for the back of a kitchen chair. No. I fought the tears that instantly sprang to my eyes. “Where is she?”

“Resting,” Mom said. “This has…it’s hit her hard.” Her lips quivered. “This was keeping her going, Wills. Hope was keeping her going. I’m afraid that now she’ll just…give up.”

I walked to Mom and pulled her into my arms, hugging her tight. “We’ll find a cure for her. We will.”

She gripped my arms and looked up at me. “How? When we don’t even know what’s wrong with her?”

Heavy boots hit the floor behind me, and I knew Warrick had just walked in.

“Dove?”

“I’m okay, I just…I need a minute,” I said without turning around. If I looked at him, I’d be tempted to run to him, to beg him to hold me, to comfort me. And I couldn’t let myself rely on him for that.

I heard him retreat, and Mom cupped my face. “He’s a good male.”

I looked into my mother’s soft brown eyes filled with hope that her daughter had found someone, the kind of male that she’d never managed to find for herself. “He doesn’t love me.”

She brushed her fingers over my cheek, and sadness filled her eyes. “I’ve had men tell me they love me, then hurt me with their very next breath. Love isn’t what someone says, it’s what they do. Warrick is protective and attentive. When he makes a promise, he keeps it, there’s no BS with him. There will never be that gray area, the shadow of doubt, hovering over you. I’d take that over someone’s declaration of love any day, Wills.”

She was right, of course, but in my heart I knew I couldn’t accept less from him than everything. I wanted it all. I wanted the big love. I wanted to be loved as fiercely as I would love right back.

Warrick couldn’t give me that.

From my experience, not many could, which was why I’d chosen to avoid serious romantic relationships and would continue to do so. I kissed her cheek. “I’m going to check on Roe.”

She nodded, and the sadness in her eyes deepened. “I’m sorry, Willow.”

I paused. “Mom…”

“No, this needs to be said, and I should have said it a long time ago. Because of me, the men I brought into this house, you felt unsafe. You watched out for your sisters when it should have been me. Instead, I put myself ahead of you girls, and I’ll never forgive myself for that.” She closed the space between us and cupped my face. “You’re much smarter than me, my beautiful girl, you don’t need to lock your heart away.”

My throat felt tight, her words hitting me hard. “Mom, I don’t blame you, not for anything.”

She smiled a sad smile. “You are the bravest, strongest woman I know, Willow Thornheart, and the kindest.”

“Mom…”

“Go check on Roe, honey.”

This conversation was hard on her, so I said no more. Instead, I kissed her cheek, and as I turned to leave, Arthur walked in, the concern in his eyes telling me he’d felt my mom’s pain and was coming to take care of her. That was love. What Arthur felt for my mother was the purest, deepest kind of love there was. And not just as a friend, or a familiar. Art was in love with her, and guilt from her past mistakes had Mom paralyzed, afraid to take another chance on love.

I walked out as Art pulled her into a hug, then I headed upstairs. Rose’s room was dark when I walked in. I didn’t want to wake her by turning on the light, but I had to see her for myself that she was okay. So I drew the curtain back a little instead, letting the moonlight in.

She was curled on her side, her hands twisted in the covers, clutching them to her chest. Her wrists and fingers were so thin, so damn frail. Her breathing was erratic, and she shifted restlessly under the covers, like she was in pain.

No, our new gifts hadn’t helped her. If anything, she looked worse than before.

We needed help.

We couldn’t wait for a miracle anymore. None was coming.

I’d put every resource I had into finding a cure, into figuring this out. Our last hope had been the trials. The boost in power. It hadn’t worked. Now we had nothing, and we were running out of time.

There was someone who could help, though, someone who had the money to spread a wider net, someone who had overseas connections, who was literally in the business of witchcraft relics, spelling ingredients, and research. Clayton. He and his mother may have lost some friends here in Roxburgh, but the Whitlocks’ business was global and highly successful.

He could help. He was our last…our only chance at saving Rose.

And if I was going to be with someone who didn’t love me, at least this way, there was no chance of me getting my heart broken.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I quickly sent Clayton a text asking if he was free to meet the next day, before I lost my nerve.

Any sacrifice was worth it to save Rose. I’d do anything to save her.

Anything.

I slid Roe’s covers higher.

I would not lose my sister.