Magic of Flesh and Bone, page 10
“How disgustingly touching.” Rita laughed. She walked over to a dresser and grabbed her infamous cigarette case. She placed a cigarette to her lips, snapped her finger, and lit it with the yellow flame that danced around her fingertip. “You chose a man over the life of your own kin,” she said, blowing white smoke from her mouth. “I’d never pictured you as being that cold, Kit-Kat.”
I let my shadows spill down around my arms like living snakes, waiting. “You don’t know me.”
“Hmmm.” The demoness eyed me from across the room. She took another long pull off her cigarette. “How did you find me?” asked Rita, looking mildly surprised. “Only a few close friends know about this apartment. Most of them are dead. And the others, well, they’re cursed not to reveal it. And you’re not one of them.”
“Thank the gods. Let’s just say I’m good at my job. Tracking down deranged bimbos is all in a day’s work for me.”
Realization crossed her features. “Oh. You’re here because you think you can kill me?” She tossed back her head and laughed. “Kit-Kat. The only one who’s going to die tonight is you.”
I clenched my jaw, hatred pouring into me and mixing with my blood. “I don’t think so.” Nothing was holding me back. Nothing. I never thought of myself as a killer. And this would be a premeditated killing. But in Rita’s case, it would be worth it.
She stood there for a second and then muttered something as she waved her free hand over her chest. Dark blood, almost black, had dripped down from her chest, where my blades had cut her, to her waist.
A sudden rush of energy filled the room, and miraculously, the deep gouges in the surface began to mend themselves as if an invisible surgeon was stitching the skin back together.
The demoness laughed. It was cold. Evil. Just like her. “See?” Rita blew out shoots of smoke from her nostrils. “You can’t defeat me. I’m a demon… you’re nothing but a witch with a bag of tricks.”
I cocked a brow. “If that was meant to impress me… It didn’t.”
A snarl formed on Rita’s plump red lips. “You’re starting to get on my nerves.”
With a casual flick of her wrist, she tossed the smoldering cigarette onto the plush carpet of her bedroom. The ash and embers scattered, leaving behind a faint burnt scent.
Next, she snapped her fingers, and thick, black tendrils of demonic energy swirled to life around her hands, crackling with an otherworldly power that hummed in the air like an electric current. The force seemed to take on a life of its own as it twisted and writhed, responding to her every command. I was sure she had mastered that dangerous and alluring dance long ago. Hell, Rita could be thousands of years old. I had no idea.
But I wasn’t scared of her. Maybe I should have been, but I wasn’t. Not after everything she’d done. And now, I braced myself for what was coming.
With a flick of her wrist, she sent a volley of that demonic energy at me.
As the dark tendrils whipped through the air, I could feel the malevolent energy coursing through them, a palpable threat.
But I wasn’t just an ordinary witch with a bag of tricks, as Rita had so hastily dismissed me. No, I was far more than that.
I reached into the depths of my umbra magic, feeling it pulse with its shadowy power and darkness. With a sense of urgency, I pressed my hands together, swiftly molded a shadow shield from the raw energy, and slipped my arm through its strap.
And just in time.
I raised my shield as a tendril of demonic energy hit. A flash of light accompanied a hum in the air that echoed like a low, discordant symphony. I shook under the weight and power, which brought me to my knees. The demonic stems recoiled and then dissipated.
Okay, so the bitch was strong. But so was I.
I stood up, lowering my shield. “You throw like a girl,” I taunted, my voice steady despite the fierce energy swirling around us.
Yes, Rita was a force to be reckoned with, but she was not invincible. No one was. Not even demons.
With a cry, Rita sent another attack. Twin shoots of black energy came at my head.
I held up my end of the magical duel with a smirk, watching as the demoness unleashed another wave of darkness. Her powers were impressive, but I had faced worse. And survived.
I leaped to the side, climbed over the bed—as well as a surprised Dash—and jumped to the other side as I heard something pop and sizzle. With the scent of something burning, I ducked because I knew what was coming.
I felt the heat graze the top of my head and looked over the bed to see a red-faced Rita. “Is that the best you’ve got?” I knew I had to play my cards right; one wrong move and this night could very well end in my death.
Rita’s eyes flashed with anger. She was clearly accustomed to intimidating others with her power. Tough shit.
Movement caught my attention. Dash’s right arm moved slightly. The metal chain that held the constraint to his wrist had broken. More like melted since where it had severed was still smoking with Rita’s magic.
“You surprise me, Kit-Kat,” mocked Rita, and I pulled my eyes away from the half-demon. “I thought you loved your aunt. I guess you don’t care that the old crone dies. You do realize that by coming here you just signed her death warrant.”
I straightened, keeping my shield close as I looked from Dash's concerned gaze to the crazed Rita. “I care deeply about my aunt. She’s the most precious thing to me.”
Rita laughed, and another lit cigarette appeared on her lips. “But you just killed her.”
I shook my head. “I didn’t. Nice touch, though, by the way. That extra shitty spell you put on her. You know, the one where her essence started to diminish the more she did magic. Yeah. That one. Wasn’t expecting that.”
At that, Dash pulled on the restraint from his left wrist, and even in the semi-darkness, I could see steam coil from where the metal touched his skin. It was burning him.
He narrowed his eyes, staring at his ex-wife like he wanted to rip off her head. “You did what?”
Rita waved a dismissive hand his way. “What? Why so angry? You know me. I like to add a little extra in my spells. It’s kind of my thing. The witch is as old as dirt, anyway. I did her a favor.”
“Right. You’re a sick bitch,” I said. “Cowards fight dirty. And that was a gutless move.”
Rita rolled her eyes like what I was saying was old news. “We had a deal, Kit-Kat.” She took a drag of her cigarette. “Your aunt’s life in exchange for my husband.”
“Ex-husband,” growled Dash.
“Deal’s off,” I spat. “And it wasn’t much of a deal. More like blackmail.”
“Potato, potahto.” Rita laughed. Her eyes widened as she inspected me and my shield. “That magic… where does it come from?”
I wish I knew, but she didn’t have to know I was clueless about that. “Like I would tell you.”
She cocked her head to the side, examining me like I was some expensive work of art she was planning on buying. “Darkness and shadow. Now, why does that sound familiar to me?”
“I don’t care.” No. But what I did care about was why she didn’t look weakened by the hit from my shadow blades.
Rita surveyed me and tapped a red-manicured finger to her lip. “If my memory serves me right, only a few beings hold that kind of power to manipulate shadows and darkness. I wonder what connection you share.”
“I really don’t give a shit what you think,” I said, moving closer to her. Now that she didn’t have a hold on my aunt, nothing was stopping me. “I came for Dash. Let him go.”
“Or else what?” The demoness laughed as she eyed me carefully, her dark irises gleaming maliciously. “So, you killed your aunt to have sex with Dash? Wow. Even I’m not that cold—wait.” She giggled. “I am.”
I flashed her my teeth. “I’m nothing like you. But just so you know, your spell, the one you put on my aunt Luna, well, we destroyed it.”
Rita went very still. “Impossible.”
“Nope. Very possible. I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
“Luna is okay?” asked Dash, color returning to his beautiful face. I just wanted to grab it and kiss it. Now wasn’t the time. I’d have plenty of chances later.
“Right as rain, my aunt,” I replied, my eyes back on Rita. “You’re not as powerful as you think.”
The demoness’s lips pressed into a hard line that matched the hardness in her eyes. “You’re lying.”
“Am I?”
“Nothing could have removed my spell,” she said, though her voice lacked a little conviction. “You’re lying. Your aunt is dead, and you came here thinking you could take my husband with you. Well, let me tell you. You can’t.”
I reached into my bag and tossed her a glass vial. “I did.”
Rita caught the vial like a seasoned baseball player. “What is this?”
“That,” I said, coming around the bed, so now I was at the foot of it. “Is a demonic counter-curse I got from my friendly neighborhood buddies, the Gray Council.” I moved closer. “See, they have these magical spells and super dangerous curses locked in this high-security vault. It so happens that they had the cure for the spell you put on Luna. And you’re holding it.”
Rita dropped the vial as though the glass had burned her, and it shattered when it made contact with the wood floor. “This is a trick,” she hissed. “You’re lying. No one can break my spells. Especially not a group of uptight witches.”
I kept my umbra magic close as I took another step. “I’m not lying. And I can see it in your eyes. You know I’m telling you the truth. You can never hurt my aunt again. Ever. Because, according to whatever was in that vial, it’ll protect her forever from any demonic spell or curse. She’s safe from you.” I wasn’t sure if that was true, but I was going with it. I narrowed my eyes. “But you’re not safe from me.”
I saw a flicker of fear in Rita’s eyes before it was replaced by anger. She flicked her wrist and hurled another shot of her demonic magic.
I raised my shield as the tendrils hit and then disappeared. She was no match for me. Not when it was dark. Not when my shadows reigned supreme.
And I’d had enough.
I tossed my shield and pulled on all the shadows, all the darkness I could reach. I added all the hatred, the stress, the fear of losing my aunt, the loss of Dash, everything into it.
Energy thrummed. I slowly advanced towards her, feeling the power of my umbra magic surging through me, ready to unleash its fury. My intent was clear: I would make her pay for what she had done to my aunt, to me, and to Dash. I hated her.
I wanted her to die.
Rita backed away, her eyes widening in terror as she stumbled over the shards of glass. She looked around frantically for an escape route, her face now twisted with fear and desperation. The cigarette had disappeared from her lips.
“This isn’t you, Kit-Kat,” she said, her voice filled with uncertainty and fear, which I’d never heard before. “You’re not a killer. You save people. Pathetic. But it’s who you are.”
“You don’t know me.” I spread out my hands and let my shadows free.
The darkness surged into the room, wrapping around Rita like a suffocating embrace. She screamed, her voice echoing off the walls as the shadows enveloped her completely. I watched, my heart pounding with a mix of anger and satisfaction, as the once-confident demon now became a terrified creature trapped in my shadows.
Rita’s eyes widened in terror as the darkness enveloped her, and she began to tremble uncontrollably. My umbra magic was potent, and it carried a powerful message: You’ve messed with the wrong witch.
I could feel the thick air around her, charged with the anger of my long-awaited retribution. This was more than just a magical showdown. This was a vendetta.
A strangled cry came out of her throat as she fought back with her own magic, the demonic tendrils trying to push my shadows away.
It wasn’t working.
“Kat, stop,” soothed a voice in my ear.
I flinched and turned to see Dash standing next to me. The shackles were still wrapped around his wrists and ankles, but the chains were broken.
He placed a hand over my arm. “Don’t do this. She’s not worth it. Let her go. It won’t make you feel better. I promise it won’t.”
It was hard to resist those dark, smoldering eyes, and the way he was looking at me—all loving and caring—hell, it was a stronger pull than if he’d forced my hand.
He was right, of course. Killing another being in cold blood like this might make me feel good for a few moments. But then my conscience would kick me in the butt, and I’d feel lousy and sick with myself. I didn’t want Rita’s death to hang over me like that.
With a breath, I let go of my shadows. The darkness dissipated, leaving Rita on the floor, disheveled and vulnerable. It was a good look on her.
“If I see you again near my family, near Dash, or any of my friends,” I warned, stepping closer. “I will kill you.”
And that was a promise.
13
The drive back to Moonfell started out in silence. I was still fuming from my encounter with Rita. My adrenaline was still fresh, which explained why the hands that were wrapped around the steering wheel of my Jeep were trembling.
And Dash, well, the half-demon was sullen and quiet. I didn’t know what to say to him. I wasn’t sure what Rita had done to him, but I could guess. I was cursed with a vivid imagination.
After he’d searched her apartment, lights on this time, and found the keys to the magical cuffs, he twisted in the key, and the heavy shackles fell with a loud thump on the bedroom floor. Then we’d left.
But not before I stole a glance at Rita’s bedroom door. She was still in there. Good. Because if she’d come out, even with her demonic magic blaring, this time, not even Dash could keep me from killing her.
It took me another forty-five minutes just to get out of Manhattan to the I-95 Northbound. And still, Dash had remained quiet the entire time.
It was making me nervous. What if Rita had messed up his mind? What if she’d cursed him or something? I hadn’t thought of asking while I was there. I was too busy trying to kill that psychotic demoness.
I glanced at Dash, his profile sharp against the backdrop of night. A new hardness shone in his eyes, a steely resolve that had my stomach in knots. Whatever had transpired in Rita’s apartment had changed him, and I wasn’t sure if it was for better or for worse.
From the tightness of his jaw and that haunted look in his eyes, it was clear something had happened to him. And nothing good.
The road stretched out before us. The only sound was the hum of the engine and the occasional flicker of passing streetlights.
And when I couldn’t stand the silence any longer, I blurted, “You look better. Not that you never looked better. I mean, you have some color on you now.” Wow, I sounded like a nervous teenager. But the skin on his face was that lovely tan color, healthier, and the dark circles around his eyes were gone. It was as though those damn demonic shackles had been draining him. Kind of how The Forsaken were draining him of his magic. Looked like Rita was doing the same to him. I should have finished her.
“Luna is safe? You’re sure?” Dash asked, looking straight ahead at the dark highway.
“I am. She’s fine.” Though as soon as the words left my mouth I was filled with doubt. What if I’d been wrong? What if that vial was only a temporary fix? What if my coming here had inadvertently killed my aunt?
No. I couldn’t let myself get carried away. I’d seen with my own eyes what that demonic curse cure had done. Luna was safe. And I’d get confirmation in about an hour.
Dash turned to look at me. “You’re sure?” The concern etched in the lines of his face mirrored my own internal turmoil. Luna’s safety was paramount and always had been.
“Yes. I promise,” I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “The potion in that vial removed Rita’s curse. All of it.” But a nagging doubt lingered in the back of my mind, a haunting fear that Rita’s twisted machinations could somehow reach even beyond the physical restraints she had placed on her victims.
As we drove further away from the city lights, the darkness outside seemed to seep into the Jeep, enveloping us in its inky embrace. The only illumination came from the dashboard lights, casting eerie shadows across Dash’s chiseled features. Very pretty features.
“How did you get it?” Dash’s voice filled the Jeep. “You said it was in a locked vault. How did you get past the Gray Council security?”
“I didn’t,” I told him, giving him a quick glance before returning my attention to the road in front of me. “I got caught.”
“I get the feeling I’m missing a chunk of that story,” he said.
“Well, it all began with Orik,” I told him. I filled him in about the fae boss’s favor I owed and how I ended up breaking into the Gray Council vault for the vial he wanted and took the other vial for Luna—well, because it was right there. I explained about Luther and his offer in exchange for my freedom, which I took, thank you very much.
“That vial for Orik was for his daughter. Wasn’t it?” said Dash, surprising me.
“You knew she was sick?”
“I’d heard about it. Yeah.”
I sighed. “Well, that magical antidote cured whatever ailment she had. Cute kid. Kinda looks like him.” She did. Orik was extremely fortunate to have such a lovely family. I envied him. I envied him a lot.
“I’m glad you finally got rid of the rusane’s hold on you,” said Dash. “Too bad you have to keep it on, though.”
“Have to keep up appearances.” I gripped the steering wheel. “Can’t really perform my new duties with it in full power mode.”
“These duties include your new deal with this guy Luther?”
“Yes,” I answered, checking my rearview mirror and seeing a long line of cars behind us. “He also promised to drop all charges against you.”
“If you find the proof,” said Dash, taking the words right out of my mouth. “What kind of proof does he think you can get? There won’t be a paper trail. They’re too smart for that.”
