Closing her eyes, she busied herself untangling the threads, weaving them back and forth. Fiona’s emerald Legacy glowed on the other side of her imaginary view of the knot, smoothing out more tangles. The ring grew warm in her palm as they worked, the metal heating from more than just their body heat.

  “Good,” Samantha said. “You’re almost there.”

  “Untangle,” Holly whispered, her brow creasing as she reached the dense centre of the spell. She couldn’t help thinking of Jin in that moment—how the ring had bound Hazel’s mind-control and taken his freedom. She’d enslaved him, taking everything from him—his free will, his allegiances, his love. “Set him free.” The hushed words escaped her lips as her Legacy fought against the spell. “Set him free, set him free…”

  The knot flared, then the image in her mind’s eye disappeared.

  “Done.” Fiona lifted her hand from Holly’s, revealing the remains of the ring. A blackened circle sat against her pale flesh, dark and dead.

  “Look,” the witch whispered, poking at it.

  The moment the tip of her finger came into contact with the ring, it crumbled.

  “It’s ash,” Holly whispered, her eyebrows rising.

  “More like a fine powder, but that’s neither here nor there.”

  “I don’t feel any magic now,” Holly said. “Is it safe?”

  Samantha nodded. “It’s harmless.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Cool.” She blew through her lips and the ash spiralled into the air, disappearing into the night. “Good riddance.”

  CHAPTER 11

  Hazel’s eyes flew open as a ripple broke the surface of the anomaly.

  The body she occupied was sluggish, its Legacy cold and slimy. She loathed being inside it, even though it served her purposes. Jin’s body had been powerful, but this man’s…? She detested it.

  Her eyes narrowed as she focused on her soul’s connection to the anomaly. Magic she’d manifested had been disturbed… Wait. Not disturbed, broken.

  Reaching out to Jin, she gasped when she felt her connection with him waver. The ring. She clutched her heart and tried again, relieved when she found her control still intact.

  “Jin,” she whispered, guiding the anomaly towards the vampire. “Where are you, my love? What have they done to you?” She felt him respond, his head lifting.

  “They took it,” he whispered.

  “I know, but they haven’t won yet.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  She smirked, making her intention clear. “Do whatever you have to, my love.”

  Severing the connection, Hazel opened her eyes. The ring was gone, but it wasn’t over yet. She still had access to Jin’s mind, and he would do whatever she willed. Their love was stronger than any spell could ever be.

  She let out a cry of rage, the masculine voice of her possessed body tearing at her last nerve. Her preparations were ruined, and now they would see what she was capable of.

  Hazel stood, her will calling out to the spirits caught in the vortex of her death.

  “Gather, spirits,” she cried to the night sky. “Gather!”

  Shadows rushed out of the surrounding bushland and began to swirl around her. A handful at first, but then more burst out of the diggings, some from deep within collapsed mines where they’d lingered in death. They gathered, writhing in a thick mass of black smoke.

  “Go forth and consume the living,” she rasped, Brian’s Legacy burning with the fire of ancient magic. “Kill the witch, bring me my body, return my love to me…and kill anyone who gets in your way.”

  The spirits howled at the prospect of freedom, swirling into the sky like a swarm of locusts. They blotted out the stars as they writhed towards the lights of Dunloe, their mission clear.

  Kill the witch.

  Holly stared at the night sky where the stars shone clear and bright.

  A frost would settle over Dunloe tonight, and come morning, the world would be covered in a magical layer of ice crystals.

  “We should try freeing Jin now,” she said, returning her gaze to the gaol grounds, where Samantha and Fiona stood beside her.

  Patrick appeared at the door to the cell block. “He’s restrained. If you want to go in now, he’s ready.”

  Holly grimaced, knowing the next part wouldn’t be as easy as destroying the ring.

  “Let’s see what he has to say first,” Samantha said, moving towards the gaol. “He might reveal something we don’t know yet.”

  Holly hurried after her. “But—”

  “I know you want to free him, but this is bigger than all of us.”

  Samantha had a point—and probably had experience to back it up—so she pushed away her misgivings and turned to Fiona.

  The witch shook her head. “I reckon I’m fine. It was bad enough being on the other side.” She nodded towards the door. “I don’t need to be seeing that.”

  “Okay. If you’re sure you’ll be all right.”

  “Yeah, all good,” she replied with an unconvincing smile. “I’ll keep watch.”

  Holly didn’t want to leave Fiona up here all on her own, but she didn’t want to leave Jin unsupervised with Samantha, either.

  “Go,” Fiona said. “It’s fine. I promise.”

  Holly nodded, then hurried inside and down the stairs, joining the others in the basement cell block.

  “Wait.” Patrick stepped in front of Holly, blocking the door to Jin’s cell.

  “What are you doing?” she demanded.

  “Are you sure you want to go in there?”

  “Yes!”

  “Then I have to warn you…” He grimaced. “Jin’s not himself.”

  “I know,” Holly hissed. “I spoke to him an hour ago. He attacked me at the cottage. I get it.”

  “Holly, this is different… The moment you destroyed that ring, he woke up.” He glanced over his shoulder. “And he was angry. He’ll say or do whatever it takes to break free.”

  “If he does, then he’ll take you and kill the rest of us,” Samantha told her. “This isn’t a time for hesitation. If you can’t stomach it, then I suggest you wait outside with Fiona.”

  Holly scowled and turned to the witch. “I can handle it. I have to get him back.”

  Samantha regarded her for a moment, then acquiesced. “Then let’s go. We don’t have much time.”

  “Time?”

  “Destroying the ring triggered something,” Patrick replied. “Hazel probably already knows we’re up to something.”

  Holly’s heart skipped. “And she’ll retaliate.”

  Patrick opened the door. “We’ll find out soon enough.”

  Samantha went in first, then Holly. When she entered the metallic cell, her gaze fell to Jin and she hesitated—the exact thing she had just promised not to do. She understood what they had to do, but seeing it was a different kind of reality.

  Patrick had lashed Jin to the metal chair with the iron chains—around his forearms, shins, and even around his waist—but all Holly saw were the wisps of white smoke trailing into the air as the sulphuric acid ate into his flesh.

  His eyes were open and alert, though he made no sound or tried to move. He just sat there, the light from the single bulb above his head shadowing his face, giving him a menacing look. The Jin who sat before her was a monster and not the man she’d come to know.

  She edged backwards, unable to look away, even though she desperately wanted to.

  “Betrayed again, Holly,” Jin murmured. “You cast me aside for that pathetic excuse for a vampire, again.”

  “Don’t listen to him,” Samantha told her. “He’s trying to get under your skin.”

  “And you…” His head snapped towards the older witch. “Murderer. You’ll gut Holly the first chance you get because all you Trine bitches want the same thing. It’s a shame I didn’t kill you, but I did get everyone else around you. Your ex-husband tasted like trash, but he served a purpose. And then there was your daughter—”

  “Oh, shut up,” Samantha said with a roll of her eyes.

  “I dumped her body in the deepest, darkest hole I could find.”

  “I bet you did,” she drawled. “But as much as I would love to torture you for the next thirty years, we have other plans for you.”

  “The best thing you can do is let Hazel win,” Jin said. “At least then some of you will get to live.”

  Samantha snorted. “Speaking of the evil bitch, who’s she possessing?”

  Jin smirked and said nothing.

  “It’s only a matter of time before we find out,” Patrick added. “You could meet us in the middle and save yourself some pain…or we can do it the hard way.”

  The vampire scoffed, his grin widening. “Do you really think you did me a favour by dumping me in the Union Reef Mine? I desiccated for one hundred and seventy years inside the anomaly, pinned underneath a vortex teaming with corrupted spirits. Who do you think comforted me in the darkness, because it sure as hell wasn’t you, Patrick.” His gaze moved to Holly and froze on her. “It wasn’t you, either. It will never be you.”

  “Why do vampires have to be so tragic?” Samantha rolled her eyes with an exasperated sigh.

  Jin started speaking in Chinese, his eyes widening. It was like he’d been possessed by a demon—which didn’t seem far from the truth, considering the way he was acting.

  “Don’t pay any attention to him,” Patrick told her. “He’s just trying to unnerve you. It’s all part of his plan.”

  Holly pursed her lips. She knew Hazel was corrupted, but to have her perception of love twisted so absolutely was shocking. What she was doing to Jin was awful.

  “The ring hasn’t changed anything,” Holly said. “He’s still under her control.”

  “Yes,” Samantha said, “but her control isn’t absolute anymore.” She turned to face the vampire and placed her hands on his head.

  “What are you doing?” Holly glanced at Patrick, but he was too busy watching Jin.

  Samantha closed her eyes. “Seeing what I can find.”

  She was delving into his mind, Holly realised. He wasn’t going to talk willingly, so he needed a little push with magic.

  “Who is Hazel possessing?” the older witch asked. “Show her to me.”

  Jin’s expression twisted into a silent grimace of agony and a trickle of blood began to trail out of his nose.

  Holly shuffled towards them. “Samantha…”

  “Who is Hazel possessing?” she demanded as her voice rose. “Tell me!”

  Jin’s eyes bulged and blood pooled in his eyes, the veins darkening until the whites exploded with crimson. When red tears started to stream down his face, Holly knew Samantha was trying to force her way in.

  “Samantha, stop!”

  Jin gasped for air as his hands began to wither and turn grey.

  “Samantha!” Holly pushed the witch with both hands, forcing her hands away from Jin’s head and breaking her connection.

  “You stupid girl!” Samantha shouted, whirling around.

  “You promised!” Holly cried, pointing at Jin, whose head had lulled forwards. “You were killing him!”

  “I was doing what I had to!”

  Holly gasped. “No, you—”

  Patrick eased them apart with a hand. “I think we ought to take a break.”

  “But he’s… Will he…?” Holly turned towards Jin, her breath catching at the sight of all the blood. He was a mess, but at least the colour was returning to his hands.

  “Heal?” Patrick finished. “Yes.”

  Samantha reached for her. “Holly—”

  “Don’t you say a word to me,” she snapped. “And you better stay away from him.”

  She took a deep breath and looked at Jin again, but this time, she took it all in—the blood, the chains, the acid eating into his body. He must be in so much pain, but he didn’t show it at all.

  “Holly,” Patrick said.

  “I’m going to free him,” she declared. “Me.”

  “There she goes again…” Samantha muttered. “thinking she knows everything about witchcraft after five minutes.”

  “Shut up,” Holly snapped. “No one needs your negative bullshit, Samantha.” She scowled and shook her head. “I need to think. I….”

  “C’mon,” Patrick murmured, holding out his hand. “Take a moment to gather yourself, then we can try again.”

  Jin raised his head ever so slightly, the movement catching Holly’s gaze. When he saw Patrick’s hand, he sneered but said nothing—he didn’t have to.

  Holly squared her shoulders, moved past the vampire, and stepped into the hall where the air was clear. The next part she had to do all on her own.

  She just had to formulate a plan and gather some courage.

  Patrick stood between Holly and Samantha, his brow creased. There was only one way into Jin’s mind, and brute force wasn’t going to help.

  “Give us a minute,” he said, nodding at Samantha.

  The witch’s scowl intensified, but she walked away, leaving him alone with Holly.

  “Working together is fun, right?”

  Holly sighed. “If only we could stop fighting amongst ourselves.”

  “Change rarely happens all at once.”

  The door boomed at the far end of the hall as Samantha stalked outside. Patrick made sure Jin’s cell was secure before guiding Holly into an empty room.

  “If anyone’s going to reach Jin, it’s you,” he told her. “But you have to believe in yourself.”

  “I’m not even sure what that means at this point,” she muttered.

  He studied her for a moment, wondering how she couldn’t see what he could. Even after all she’d done—especially for him—she still doubted her abilities. “You seem so unsure of yourself, but you come through every time. I know you’re afraid, but we all are. Knowing the things we’re going to have to do is hard, but we have to swallow our fear and use it to our advantage.”

  Holly looked up at him, her eyes filled with anxiety. “Is it that obvious I’m shitting my pants?”

  Patrick chuckled and shook his head. “What are you afraid of? Dying? Hurting Jin? Failing?”

  “All of the above?”

  “We all know the risks, Holly, and we all chose to be here. If you truly wanted to fail, then you’d let your fear win, but you haven’t done that.” He glanced down the hall. “I will tell you one thing…doing nothing is worse than giving into fear.”

  “I’m afraid of hurting him,” she murmured. “That we might accidentally kill him, or he won’t…”

  Patrick gathered she was about to say the words ‘forgive me’ and shrugged. “Well, if we weren’t afraid of the concept of torturing a friend to save their life, then that would make us just as bad as Hazel, wouldn’t it?”

  Holly sighed.

  “What?”

  “I can’t help but wonder what she was like before the anomaly corrupted her,” she replied. “We’re treating her like the enemy, but she was one of us once. We don’t even know what drove her to access it in the first place.”

  “Only she can answer that, I suppose,” Patrick said. “As for the woman Hazel was before, I think she deserves to cross over to a place of peace. Defeating her here and now is freeing her spirit from life, from her past, and from the corruption that took her. Despite what she’s done, it’s the right thing to do.”

  “I guess…”

  “It’s what separates good from evil.”

  Holly stared up at him and finally, she smiled.

  Patrick frowned. “What?”

  “John would be proud of you,” she murmured.

  “Ah,” he rolled his eyes, “don’t say that.”

  “Why not? It’s true. Right now, I see more of the man I saw in your memories than the vampire I met a couple of months ago. I see the ambitious guy who rebelled against the status quo to fight for workers’ rights on a street corner.”

  Patrick felt himself flush, which was quite a feat for a vampire who constantly ran cold.

  “Whatever’s holding you back, let it go,” he murmured, wondering if he’d ever take his own advice. “Everything you did for me, you can do for Jin. You’re the one he trusted over everyone else. He needs you, Holly. Only you.”

  Holly’s eyes filled with tears, and he knew she was beginning to realise just how much she’d changed since arriving in Dunloe. And it had nothing to do with magic, nothing at all.

  “Do you understand?” he asked, grasping her shoulders.

  She nodded.

  “When you’re ready, we’ll go back in.”

  “We?”

  “He’s unstable, Holly,” he said. “If he tries to escape, I want to make sure I’m there to stop him.” He pressed another tranquilliser into her hand.

  She nodded and worried her bottom lip. “Okay. I’m—”

  “Guys?” Fiona’s panicked voice boomed down the hall. “I think we’ve got a problem up here!”

  CHAPTER 12

  “Stay here,” Patrick said, moving Holly towards the back of the cell.

  “No way. You just talked me up and told me I was more than capable. You’re not locking me away now.” She pushed past him and hurried down the hall, through the door, and up the stairs.

  Fiona was standing in the yard, looking upwards. Holly couldn’t hear anything or see anyone trying to break into the gaol, but it did seem colder…but it could just be the incoming frost beginning to settle—water vapour was already misting around the external security lights stationed around the grassy void.

  Rubbing her hands up and down her arms, Holly asked, “What is it?”

  Fiona pointed at the sky, her face pale.

  She looked up and her mouth fell open as she saw a swarming mass of darkness blotting out the stars. A shiver ran down her spine as she stared at the soundless cloud.