“If I’m so wrong, then why is this bothering you? I can see it in your eyes.” Damn if she didn’t need Sola the walking lie detector right now, but she could see it in Edwin’s eyes how guilty he felt about the Campbell boy, and that he knew blood was on his hands as well as the vampires’.

  He turned and headed for the door. He exited without a retort or

  final

  word

  .

  17

  Jacob

  “W akey, wakey,” a deep

  voice

  said

  .

  Jacob pulled his eyes open, finding a pseudo-blond with a military cut and sharp cheekbones standing in front of him. He recognized him as the creepy man from Harry’s surveillance video outside the pub that night. Throbbing pulsated through his head. He groaned, fighting off a wave of nausea. A distinct bitter taste of iron and sulfur clung to his mouth.

  Wizards. What

  the

  hell

  ?

  “There, that’s better.” Blondie swatted Jacob’s cheeks twice.

  Jacob tried to move, but his hands were tied behind him. They had also strapped his legs to the base of the chair as well. He looked over to his left and saw Harry, still passed out and also tied to a chair. To his far right, two men—one on each side of the door—stood guard. Jacob returned his attention to the man standing in front of him. “Who

  are

  you

  ?”

  Blondie smiled, sending an icy chill through Jacob’s spine. “Introductions will have to wait, I’m afraid.”

  A rhythmic knock from the other side of the door echoed through the room. From the look of the interior, and the labeled crates stacked up against the wall, Jacob realized that they were in the Astaroth Industries complex, probably the warehouse, which was more secluded and close to the waterfront.

  The blond man nodded toward the door. Jacob looked in the direction the nod was given. The guard closest to the handle opened the door to admit Cedric Astaroth into the room. Jacob had seen the billionaire at a few events, usually the ones that involved money and prestige. His light brown hair, blue eyes, average height and unassuming demeanor made him look like any other guy. It seemed Cedric had gotten used to posing as many things.

  “Good morning, Mr. Wolfe.” Another man, with a British accent and smug expression, followed Cedric in. He must’ve been Dominic Belagio. Jacob grunted as he struggled against his bonds.

  The door squeaked closed, followed by a click that made the silence in the room thick. Jacob narrowed his gaze on Cedric, hoping that he could distract him with enough talk in order to loosen his bonds. “You’re killing people on both sides in order to spark a war. You’re disgusting.”

  Jacob vowed that as soon as he freed himself, he’d blast Cedric away first. At least he could accomplish that before those hired goons and Belagio

  killed

  him

  .

  Cedric slowly clapped his hands. “Look who’s catching on!” He pointed at Blondie and then gestured toward the door. “Get Erickson

  in

  here

  .”

  The creepy blond guy inclined his head in a slight bow. “Of course.”

  Jacob kept working at his bindings.

  Resolvo

  me

  …

  He formed the command in his mind. His fingers felt slightly numb at first, but then a surge of energy ran through his hands. He continued baiting the vampire. “Why? How does all this fighting and death

  benefit

  you

  ?”

  “As more blood is shed, more people will choose sides. We can’t rebuild without first tearing down what’s in place.”

  Belagio approached Jacob with a smile, displaying pointed canines.

  Christ, two vampires. Jacob’s skin crawled in response to Belagio closing in on him, and he inched himself into the back of his chair a

  little

  more

  .

  Belagio knelt in front of him, relishing his discomfort. “Jacob, Jacob, Jacob . . . when will you realize that the world is in desperate need of change? It is time that we—our kind, stop living with normal humans. We are above them. We shouldn’t be forced to register our names and abilities, or jump when they give the command. They are the inferior ones and should serve us like the slaves

  they

  are

  .”

  “You’re insane,” Jacob said, leveling his gaze on the man, running through his mind for a spell that would blast Belagio to the Seventh circle of Hell. The rope that bound his hands and feet finally loosened, and now he focused on his next

  spell

  :

  fire

  .

  Belagio and Cedric exchanged knowing looks, then Belagio said, “Perhaps, to a degree. But I’m right. And you

  know

  it

  .”

  Veni incendium…He said the spell in his mind as if lifting up a prayer.

  “You won’t win,” Jacob said. “The Watchers will see to it. Do you honestly think they’ll accept working with a vampire? And they will find out what you are, and you won’t be able to hide under another identity.”

  “We already won,” Cedric said. “I have the Watchers right where I want them. They’ll be the first

  to

  go

  .”

  Jacob saw his chance to act. Sparks flickered and emerged in mid-air, turning into flames. They came crashing down on the two wizard guardsmen, Cedric and Belagio, and, unfortunately, an unconscious Harry Storm.

  Son of a bitch! Jacob quickly lifted his hands, forcing his fingers to meet in a gesture resembling a triangle. A strong wind came out of nowhere and swept through the room, knocking over the vampires and sending the guards crashing against the wall. Cedric and Belagio dropped to their knees, their eyes bulging to an unnatural size as they uttered counter-spells to quench the flames that

  assaulted

  them

  .

  Jacob offered a silent apology to Harry when he had to pull the unconscious man backward, making them both fall in their chairs. One of the guardsmen had launched a poisonous spell that had missed Harry’s face by a few inches. Jacob fought through the searing pain in his back and legs, and quickly rolled to the side and rose to

  his

  feet

  .

  One of the guardsmen must’ve been badly injured by the fire, because he had unlocked the door, flung it open, and ran out screeching. The stench of burnt flesh filled the room. The other guardsman ignited a dark mist from his hands, and came charging at Jacob. He knew nothing good would come from the dark mist touching his skin, so he dipped low and shifted to the side, evading the guard’s hand when he tried to punch him with a fist filled with a hungry mist that seemed to want to jump into his skin and

  devour

  him

  .

  “Stop, fool!” Cedric commanded the guard. He had finally beaten back the fire spell, though half his face was raw. He stepped forward and swung his arm down at a forty-five degree angle. The guard stumbled backward and collapsed to the ground. Jacob couldn’t tell if he was still alive

  or

  not

  .

  “Fight me, right here and right now. I’m not going to be your next body in the waterfront.” Jacob kept his gaze on Cedric, though he also made sure to keep track of Belagio from the corner of

  his

  eye

  .

  When Belagio lunged toward him, he threw up his arms in a protective position, but he knew it left him open to Cedric. Belagio delivered a jab to his midsection that forced the air from Jacob’s stomach and made him double over in pain. Belagio grabbed Jacob by the throat with a single hand and gave a tight squeeze. Jacob felt a numbing sensation from head to toe, and his mind grew foggy. Belagio shoved him to the floor.

  The door opened again, and Detective Mitch Erickson stepped into the room along with Blondie, who had gone to fetch him.. Erickson stroked his yellow mustache with one hand, and had his sidearm drawn with the other. Nearly out of breath, and watching the detective intently, Jacob fell back to using his words. A pinch formed between his eyebrows. “Erickson. I didn’t think you were a Watcher sympathizer. How did you get mixed up with

  two

  va

  —

  ”

  He suddenly felt like he was choking on something. His throat constricted and he tried gasping for air. Belagio smirked.

  “Well, Erickson, are you done with him? Is there anything I can use?” Cedric asked.

  Erickson stared at Jacob with a mix of fascination and fear. He then approached Cedric. “He won’t tell me anything. What do you want me to do with Detective Rosito?”

  “Kill him.” Cedric’s voice was flat, icy, and final.

  Erickson ran a hand through his hair and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Sir, is there any way you’d allow me to have him join our cause. I’ve been his partner for twenty years. He’s never known of my involvement with the Watchers. He could prove

  useful

  .

  He’s

  —

  -”

  “I said,

  kill

  him

  .”

  Erickson mumbled a weak ‘yes, sir,’ before leaving the room. The blonde guy stayed, his cold gaze reserved for Jacob and Harry.

  Belagio approached Jacob and stood behind him, almost bouncing with excitement. Jacob tried to steady the tremor in his voice. “Do you plan to kill me and

  Harry

  too

  ?”

  Cedric cocked his head and said, “Harry? Yes, he’s unnecessary. You? Why would I throw away all your potential? You are a brother wizard. That makes you family, and I just can’t see myself killing family.”

  Unless it suits you, Jacob thought.

  Cedric edged closer to Jacob. “My plans for you are simple. I’m going to turn you. Then, you will kill Harry. And then you can help us bring about the change we need in Miracle Falls.”

  Cedric leaned in. His mouth opened, fangs elongating, nearing

  Jacob’s

  neck

  .

  No, no, no . . . Jacob thought. His eyes closed and he clenched his fists.

  A deep growl fill Jacob’s ears, and it rose into a visceral roar. He peeled his eyes open and saw Harry Storm awake with a wild look in his eyes. Harry broke free of his binding and crossed his arms over his chest. A blast of lightning hit Belagio, sending him flying backward and knocking him into the stack of crates. Cedric backed away and tried to conjure a spell, but it was too late. Harry had already unleashed another attack; this time, an invisible force slashed into Cedric’s chest, causing him to shriek. Blood sprayed the walls and floor. Cedric pressed a hand to his chest wound as he sped out of

  the

  room

  .

  This must be Vlad. Jacob didn’t know whether to be happy about it or fearful. He wasn’t shedding tears over his enemies, but he was also aware Harry-Vlad was uncontrollable.

  Jacob dove to the side when Harry pushed past him with a snarl. Harry grabbed Blondie and body-slammed him. He jammed his fingers straight into the man’s chest and ripped out his heart. Jacob let out a cry of disgust, just when Belagio was back on his feet and staring at Harry intently with glowing eyes; he was trying to enact mind control on Harry.

  It didn’t work, and Harry swooped in, grabbed one of the wooden chair legs, and drove it straight into Belagio’s heart, pinning the vampire to the wall. But Harry didn’t stop there: he grabbed more wooden pieces, driving each into Belagio’s body. The vampire’s clothing hung in tattered strips, and his intestines began spilling from the massive gash in his torso. The horror and surprise on his face sent a chill through Jacob’s body, and he swallowed back the bile that rose in his throat.

  Harry turned and faced him. Jacob didn’t recognize the surly man who had met him at the bar last night. Harry Storm was gone, and some madman had taken his place.

  Harry grinned at him. “You can thank me later.”

  Harry—or rather, Vlad—dashed from the room, probably not wanting to take the chance that Jacob really could lift the Imperare curse. Jacob’s body ached, and he felt like a truck had hit him, but he knew he couldn’t stop just yet. He needed to make sure Aria was still alive, and to either help Harry regain control, or

  kill

  him

  .

  18

  Aria

  Aflux of feelings riddled Aria’s body. Each time gunfire echoed outside her locked room, she flinched and ducked down. Were the Watchers shooting at her friends? Did the opposing group of Watchers finally show up and declare all-out war? Her knees were sore, and probably bruised, and the migraine that throbbed through her head left her sight blurry on the edges and her stomach tied in knots. But that pain was welcomed over the hurt her heart held. She thought she had been lost, but no, Edwin was worse off, and he didn’t even

  see

  it

  .

  She stood and approached the door. She tried the handle; it was still locked. She had been around the room so many times looking for a way out. There was none. The door was bolted from the outside, and the one dingy window present was too high for her to scale the wall and get to. She wasn’t sure it would open without being broken anyway. Then it wasn’t even a guarantee that she would be at a safe distance to fall to the ground.

  Screams and growls erupted, sounding a short

  distance

  away

  .

  I’m going to

  die

  here

  .

  Then what would happen to her soul? No one had ever told her what sin eaters did for each other when one of their own died. She remembered when she was twelve, Edwin had taken her to the home of a sin eater who had passed away, but all they did was eat and drink in a dining room and attend a traditional style funeral wake. Perhaps they all believed that sin eaters got an automatic pass to paradise in exchange for everything they had to put

  up

  with

  .

  Doesn’t matter. Not anymore.

  Restless, she continued to pace the room, ducking when gunshots fired, screams echoed, or when her knees decided to give out from under her. Aria’s nerves were shot, and she was too exhausted to continue trying to find an escape. She slid to the floor, unwilling to sit or lay on the soiled cot next

  to

  her

  .

  She heard the door lock click, and turned just in time to see the handle turn. She froze, fearing it was Belagio or Cedric ready to come in and feed on her. Or, maybe they had arranged for her to be captured by the Watchers. The swung open, revealing Benjamin Volgens. His eyes focused on Aria’s like a concerned father taking in his sick child.

  “Aria, are you okay?” A crease formed in his brow and he took a careful step forward.

  Aria shook her head. “What are you doing here, Benjamin? How did you

  find

  me

  ?”

  He approached her and offered her his arm, helping her to her feet. He steadied her as her knees tried to give out again. “Long story short? Ellie. Well, Zarek played a huge

  part

  too

  .”

  “Wait. What?” Aria pulled from Benjamin then straightened her clothing, stained from the dirt and dust that coated the floors. She winced brushing off her knees and her head hurt worse when she

  bent

  over

  .

  Benjamin framed her face with his hands. Warmth tingled through her joints, followed by sharp pains, and then relief. The pain melted away. “When you didn’t show to pick up the kids, and didn’t answer or return any of my calls, I took them to Kyra’s office. Believe me, getting there was crazy enough. Police and Watchers are everywhere, protesters on the streets, and even vigilantes on both sides patrolling. When Ellie kept insisting that you were in danger, I had Zarek do a tracking spell.”

  “How?” Aria asked.

  Benjamin gave her a quizzical look. “What do you mean? I thought you knew this stuff?”

  “You needed something that belonged to me. How did you find something of mine?” Aria was impressed with Zarek. His abilities were becoming more enhanced and sharpened. The boy could very well become a Loremaster who could also cast spells.

  Benjamin shrugged. “We used the toothbrush you left at our house. That led me here. I called the police just before arriving, so they should be here soon, that is, if they’re not all tied up with the insanity going on in the streets

  right

  now

  .”

  Edwin, you got your war. But at what cost? It hurt her heart to know her Shrivener had helped bring this about, but she had also seen a glimpse of regret, a sliver of doubt on

  his

  face

  .

  Aria followed Benjamin toward the door. She poked her head out then went to the left, which appeared would take her deeper into the warehouse.

  “Aria, the exit is this way,”

  Benjamin

  said

  .

  She turned, finding him standing sideways in the hall, waiting for her to follow him. She shook her head. “I have to find Harry, Jacob, and Detective Rosito.”

  “The same detective that arrested you?” he asked, shifting to face her directly.

  “Yes. He’s not the asshole we thought he was. Just, please. I can’t leave them behind.” She would never forgive herself if something happened to them. She needed to help Jacob put his wife’s soul to rest and find some way to help Harry out of his curse.

  He nodded. “Harry and

  Jacob

  ,

  huh

  ?”

  “Please, come with me and help. This way.” Aria turned then started down the hall. Benjamin followed. He muttered something under his breath. From the inflection and tone in his voice, she could tell it was an incantation.