The Last Witch: Volume One

The man’s hand that grips my upper arm gets tighter the further we walk into the thick heavy forest. There are no pathways or distinguishable landmarks, but the ponytailed man seems to know exactly where we’re going. I stumble over jagged rocks, fallen logs and deep snow struggling to keep up.

Three men have guns pointing at me, their fingers resting on the triggers. More men join us in stages as we walk, appearing from the shadows and positioning themselves around me with weapons. What do they think I’m going to do with my hands tied behind my back and the binding spell on my wrist?

Finally, after maybe half an hour of stumbling and being manhandled by the brute that has my arm, I start to see more than the dark silhouettes of trees and hear more than our footsteps and breathing. Ahead of us is the border of a camp filled with tents. There are small fires, lanterns and torches. People are talking amongst themselves in hushed, nervous tones about the witches. There must be a hundred men and women here at least. The men walking around me close in and another takes my second arm. The trees begin to clear, and soon the people in the camp see us. They fall silent as they watch me being led in and step back like I could explode at any second. The way they look at me, like I’m the most disgusting, vile thing they’ve ever seen, not only pisses me off but makes me laugh a little. They can think what they want. They don’t know me. And if they’ve hurt Gabriel, they really won’t want to know me either.

The ponytailed man glances back at me. Seeing that I’m still here and satisfied that I’m well contained, he carries on walking ahead.

So, this is Theo’s camp and his band of followers. Surrounding us are dozens of tents all different shapes and sizes. Large campfires are being used to cook what smells like chicken soup, and lines hang from tree to tree suspending clothes in the air just like the maids at my uncle’s house used to do when drying sheets. It’s obvious they all live here.

‘We’re always on the move,’ the ponytailed man tells me. ‘We never stay in one place for long. We have your friends back at The Orchard to thank for that.’

‘Yeah well, I’m sure that if you didn’t attack us or you know, kidnap us, they wouldn’t be so hell-bent on trying to find and stop you,’ I snipe back.

He gives a small laugh.

‘Something funny?’

‘No.’ he looks back at me. ‘You just remind me of someone I used to know. She had your defiant spirit too.’

The air begins to hum. It gets stronger and stronger the further into the camp we go. There’s magic here. Gabriel, but also Theo. I feel them both. When the ponytailed man goes into the largest of the tents, it’s not Gabriel who walks back out with him.

It’s Theo.

He smiles at me with a nasty sneer looking cocky and smug as I stand here surrounded by his men, utterly defenceless. I’m every bit the rat in a trap.

Slowly and purposefully, he walks towards me. I want to stand tall and be unafraid, but he scares me so much I can’t help but retreat back. The hands on me tighten as I slowly back up. There’s nowhere to go. I’m completely surrounded.

Stopping close in front of me, Theo gives a small laugh before sighing in contentment.   ‘Lovely to see you again, Lilly.’

‘I wish I could say the same.’ My mouth is drier than a desert, and I feel myself trembling. But I try my best to be brave. Or at least look it.

‘I have to admit, it’s a weight off my mind seeing you in restraints safely under my control.’

‘It looks more like smugness than relief, Theo.’

‘Perhaps. It has been difficult getting to you. Well done for getting away from The Orchard and Grayson. Adam told Jensen that you caused a lot of havoc. I’m thrilled.’

‘Jensen?’

Theo steps aside so I can get a good look at the man standing behind him. The ponytailed man that led me here. His green eyes look tired. His grey hair is thick and smooth. He has an attractive, mature face but looks entirely battered by life.

‘Lilly Hooper, meet Jensen Hartley. My right-hand man.’

I look him up and down with as much disgust as I can.

‘Pleasure.’ I look at Theo. ‘He murdered an innocent man tonight. Adam did everything he was ordered to do, and he killed him anyway.’

‘Adam wasn’t innocent. He was a Nomad,’ Jensen says.

‘You don’t get to talk to me. You’ve played your part. The relevant people are talking now.’

Theo laughs.

‘Where’s Adam’s wife?’ I demand.

‘Dead,’ Theo tells me, not caring one bit what he’s done.

‘Where’s Gabriel?’

‘He’s here. But first, me and you are going to have a chat-’

‘I’m not listening to a word you have to say until I see Gabriel with my own eyes.’ The man holding me starts to walk forwards, but I dig my heels into the dirt so he can’t take me with him. ‘I said I’m not going anywhere till you show me Gabriel!’

Theo gives a small scoff at my stubbornness. He slides his hands in his pocket with his chest puffed out slightly and that nasty, condescending grin on his face.

‘If I show him to you, will you behave?

‘Yes,’ I say begrudgingly.

He nods and gestures to the tent he emerged from a few moments ago.

‘Take her in to see him. Hope you’re not squeamish about blood.’

I’m led to a khaki green tent that looks more like a house. It has a slanted roof and probably covers eighty square feet. It must be military. It certainly looks it. The other tents, although none could be called small, look tiny in comparison.

Jensen holds open the flap of material that acts as a door, and I’m led inside by the two men still holding onto me.

Inside are crates of food, pots and pans, shelving units stacked with books and a large table in the centre with a few chairs around it. It looks like some kind of office or storage space. Above our heads are three lanterns hanging from the ceiling. There’s more than enough room to stand up in here. You could probably fit forty single beds inside and make it a dorm of some kind. There are two large wooden poles buried deep into the ground, reaching high into the canvass roof acting as support for the shelter. And right in the centre, on his knees with his head bowed and hands tied behind his back around one of the poles, is Gabriel. His hair hangs over his face and there’s blood splatter on the floor around him.

‘What have you done to him?’ I say in quiet horror.

I take a few hurried steps closer, but the men holding me won’t let go. I pull against their grip, but it just makes them tighten it.

‘Gabriel?’ I call out nervously, terrified that this is all a cruel joke and he’s dead. He stirs but doesn’t look up. I fill with relief. He’s alive. ‘GABRIEL!’ I bellow. His head shoots up, and he sees me. Horrified surprise etches across his battered face. He’s badly bruised with a large cut above his left eye. A mix of fresh and dried blood covers his face, and there’s a steady drip of red falling from his nose. ‘Jesus, Gabriel.’

He shakes his head. ‘No. Lilly…what are you doing here?’ He looks at the men surrounding me. ‘Let her go. GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER!’

‘There. You’ve seen him. Out.’ Theo opens the door and gestures to the men holding me to take me back outside. I struggle against their grip, desperate to get to Gabriel, but they won’t let me go.

‘GET OFF ME!’ I scream. ‘GET THE HELL OFF ME!’ I thrash against them.

‘Take her to my tent,’ Theo orders. Despite all his injuries and how much pain he must be in, Gabriel tries desperately to get free of his restraints and yells for them to get off me.

‘YOU LAY ONE FINGER ON HER, THEO, I’LL RIP YOU APART!’ he bellows as I’m dragged out of the tent. ‘DO YOU HEAR ME?!’

I dig my feet into the ground, so they lift me off the floor and carry me to another tent a few feet away.

Once inside, I’m lowered back to the floor. I don’t give up trying to get back to him. I pull and kick. I yell and threaten. Theo stands in front of me and with a mighty blow, backhands me right across the face. White spots blight my sight and the metallic taste of blood seeps into my mouth.

‘You said you would behave, so stop fighting us,’ he says. ‘Things will go better for you both if you do.’ He leans in closer, his eyes staring straight into mine. ‘Unless you want me to go back and resume my one on one time with your boyfriend?’ He waits patiently as I rein in my emotions.

I’m sat on a chair and held there by my shoulders as Theo walks around, picks up a stool from beside a small fold-out table, and sits opposite me.

I shrug off the hands that hold me in place.

‘Get your grubby mitts off me. I’ll stay put.’

When they let me go, I turn to Theo, hating him more than I’ve ever hated anyone. He’s killed innocent people. Hurt Gabriel. Turned Grayson against me and there he sits looking happier than ever. He tells the men to leave, except Jensen who remains by the door. I sit on the stool, hands still tied behind my back and the binding spell still firmly in place waiting to see what he wants from me. Surely, it’s not to kill me. I would be dead already.

‘Talk then. Say what it is you want to say and let us go.’

‘You’re treating me like the enemy,’ Theo says, crossing his legs and picking off a piece of lint from his knee. ‘I’m not the bad guy here Lilly. The bad guys are the ones you’ve been playing house with for the last few weeks.’

I can’t help but laugh which makes him frown.

‘Care to share the joke?’

‘Well, for a start, the men I’ve been playing house with… haven’t kidnapped me or tied me up. They haven’t taken someone I care about hostage and threatened to kill them unless I did what they wanted. They haven’t attacked me, and they never attacked my mum when I was little starting a chain reaction that destroyed my entire life.’ I sit back and glare at him. ‘You brought me here to talk, so talk. But I have very little interest in anything you have to say to me.’

He laughs and looks at Jensen.

‘I like her. She’s got balls.’ He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. ‘Listen, Lilly. The only reason I’m giving you a chance to listen to what I have to say and not just taking what I want from you is that I promised someone that I’d at least try to get through to you. To get you to see reason. Show me some courtesy and-’

‘Who?’ I ask. ‘Who did you promise?’

Another smug laugh as he shakes his head.

‘No one you know. We’re getting side tracked. Let me just start. What do you know about the veil?’

‘Nothing. Never heard of it.’ The venom in my voice is palatable.

Theo sighs. ‘Do you know what you are?’

‘I’m told I’m a pain in the ass.’

His sigh goes to a grunt.

‘That I can believe. Do you know why Grayson and Gabriel are so keen to have you in the house with them? You ever wondered why they’ve tried to keep you hidden?’

‘Probably because there’s a lunatic on the loose that wants to beat them half to death and try to kidnap me in a…what did you say when you grabbed me at the tree lot? A bloody broken mess?’

‘Okay. Theo…this is getting us nowhere,’ Jensen says calmly from behind me. ‘Can we just tell her about the vision?’

‘Fine,’ Theo grunts, getting to his feet to stand over me. ‘You want to see what the people you call friends want for us all? You want to see where helping them will lead?’

He reaches out, his hands going for my head. I flinch, but he’s quick. He places his hands over each of my temples, the same as Gabriel did when he looked into my memories. The sensation of electricity shooting through my mind stuns me as my brain is bombarded with images. Images of death, destruction and a world on fire. People are screaming, and children are dying. In the roads are blackened and charred bones.

It’s the end of the world.

Theo lets go, and we’re back in his tent.

‘What was that?’ I whisper, utterly horrified. He doesn’t answer but gives me a moment to let what I just saw sink in. ‘WHAT WAS THAT, THEO? WHAT KIND OF MAGIC WAS THAT?!’ I’m yelling as I approach hysteria. I could be sick at what he’s just shown me.

‘That got your attention then. That is the future.’

‘The future? You can’t see the future.’

Can he?

‘No. I can’t, but I know someone that did, and he showed me that vision. Once shared, a vision can be passed on. Now, you can show someone too. If you like. We have to stop that vision from ever coming true. That’s where you come in.’

‘Me?’ I still can’t get over the horror he just showed me. I’m no stranger to death, but that was something else.

‘Yes. You. Grayson, Gabriel and Collins want to bring down the veil. If it comes down, that will be the result.’

‘How on earth could that be the result of bringing back magic? How can I trust that was even a real vision?’ Nothing about him screams trustworthy, but I also hear the desperate denial in my voice. ‘The people I know would never let that happen.’

Sighing impatiently Theo explains. ‘I’m sure you’re aware of the war that took place five centuries ago?’

‘I’m familiar. Humans attacked us.’ My words come out slow and uncertain. ‘They wanted to wipe out the Witches.’

‘That’s right. Humanity wanted to use us for our magic. They couldn’t persuade us to help them willingly, so instead, all across the world, the human leaders gathered. Kings, queens, emperors… they all decided that we were the enemy. That we were the ones that posed a risk to them instead of each other for a change. Their hatred unified them for the first time in history. Do you know why?’

‘The same reason people always turn on each other, I imagine. Fear and jealousy.’ I give the tent a quick look to see if there’s any other way out of here. But there’s just the one, and that’s guarded. I’m keen to keep him talking, at least while he’s in here, he’s not out there hurting Gabriel.

‘Spot on,’ he says with the same enthusiasm Mr Simmons would have when I answered his questions correctly. ‘Humans created Hunters. Humans children raised to fight us. They were then unleashed onto the world all at once in one giant synchronised attack across the whole world. An average witch settlement consisted of between fifty to three hundred witches at that time, and of course, the odd ones were living amongst humans. Some married outside a coven and had families with non-magic folk or hid the fact that they were magical completely so we can never know for sure how many witches there were. But, in England, there were four of these magical safe havens. I lived in Tintagel with my family when the attack happened. We were the Elders. The most powerful family so, therefore, we were the ones in charge. My wife and three children.’ His eyes glaze over as he disappears into himself for a second. Soon, his eyes return to me, and he carries on, ignoring whatever memory he was just lost in. ‘Four thousand soldiers turned up at Tintagel in the dead of night. Soldiers that had been trained to kill us for twenty years. I woke up to the sounds of screams and the smell of fire. Four thousand soldiers against three hundred and twenty witches who had never killed a single person in their whole lives. Never seen war. Most of them had never even left Tintagel. It was chaos. Seventy of my people were younger than eighteen. Thirty-three of them hadn’t even reached the age of manifestation, and twenty-eight of them were elderly. That left less than two hundred able bodied men and woman to protect the children and the elderly while trying to fight them off. Needless to say, it was a bloodbath. For them and for us.’

This is difficult to hear. He shakes off the memory and takes a deep breath.

‘The survivors fled. From my home, there were a total of fifteen survivors. My children and I included. My wife didn’t make it. We found other survivors from other settlements, and together we hid. We spent years looking for any other witches and helped them all hide too. But it wasn’t enough. Hunters were killing everyone. Witches, outcasts, people that got in their way. Three years after the initial attack, we were in the middle of what the world called…the scourge. Every human was on the hunt for witches in exchange for money. Even those who had once been friends. I watched them publicly torture and execute anyone convicted of aiding us. They showed no mercy. Not to women, not to children. No one.’ With a deep breath, he carries on. ‘I was leading a new Coven with the help of a man named Arthur. Arthur Collin. His son, you’ve met. When Rebecca Hooper, your ancestor, came along, she performed an immortality spell on a selected few in the hope that we would survive long enough to save the people whose lives had become dependent on us. Sadly, Arthur wouldn’t do the spell. He said he was too old to live forever, so his son volunteered instead. While we protected them, Rebecca started to create the veil.’ He pauses for a second and looks at me expectantly. I just wait for him to continue.

‘She sealed off witches from their magic. We would all be effectively human and no longer be traceable. Hunters can track us down. They’re marked-’

‘With a tattoo, I know. It burns hot when they’re close to magic.’

‘We sacrificed our way of life and our magic to save our lives. They couldn’t tell who was a witch and who wasn’t. The immortality spell we did before the veil going up keeps us alive and makes us almost impossible to kill. It also kept our connection to the Arcane Realm open. Everyone else lost their magic after the veil was created. We didn’t. We began to integrate the recently human witches back into the human world. Arthur and I spent years travelling all over the country helping them start over. Right up until he died. It was a long time until I realised the truth about Grayson and Gabriel.’

‘What truth?’ I’m almost too afraid to ask.

‘Turns out they weren’t too keen on living the human life. They wanted revenge against the Hunters, and it soon became evident that their need for retribution and power was far more important to them than survival.’

‘What did they do?’

‘They started breeding the survivors,’ he says.

‘Breeding?’

‘Yes. Breeding. They wanted to ensure that as many children as possible were being created. You see, Descendants having children with other Descendants is the most absolute way to ensure the birth of a witch, so that’s what they did. They found the men and women that Arthur and I had hidden, and told them that if they didn’t procreate, they would lose our protection. But if they did, if they swore loyalty to them, that they would be rewarded with wealth, power and ultimately…their magic. Of course, we’re talking about people who had watched their families die and their people tortured. A lot of them were angry enough to agree. Soon enough, they’d rebuilt the coven. We’d lived in peace for decades without magic, so when I found out the truth, I demanded to know why they were doing this.’ His eyes narrow on me with a nasty look. I’m not going to like what he has to say, but I bite anyway.

‘Why were they doing it?’ I ask.

‘Grayson and Gabriel were breeding them to create an army. They’re doing exactly what the humans did with Hunters. They’re training them to fight. I tried to stop them so they shunned me, took control over the majority of the Descendants and vowed that they would bring down the veil. Those that stood with me, who wanted to live the human life and stop Grayson and his plan, became what they call Traitors. Those who follow Grayson, who want their magic back to destroy their enemies, became Nomads.’

Jensen stands beside me looking down as I sit here with a clear look of shock on my face. Amara said it. The women are either fighters, wives or breeders. She told me that the Descendants were obsessed with bloodlines.

‘But there aren’t enough Nomads to create the kind of destruction you showed me,’ I tell him.

‘Have you ever been to one of the Nomad camps?’ Jensen asks. ‘You have no idea how far his network reaches, Lilly. The camp your friend Amara is from is just one of thirty-eight in England alone. He has groups all over the world. Thousands of them! When the veil falls, every single one of his Nomads will get their magic in one fell swoop. A hundred thousand, ten hundred thousand…who knows how many brand new witches will suddenly be in the world. We’re talking five hundred years of focused breeding. And all of them will turn the rage and the anger Grayson has brainwashed them with, towards the humans.’

‘Humans they want to destroy,’ Theo says in a morbid conclusion. ‘The vision that I showed you is the result.’

There are so many questions rushing through my head. So many, none of them come out of my open mouth.

Theo looks frustrated at my speechlessness and snaps, ‘Your ancestor Rebecca died putting up the veil and now it’s all going to be undone because of you. The Nomads aren’t just helpless people who are missing a piece of themselves. Grayson has no intention of leading them off to a cosy island to live out their days in peace. They are a cult brought up from childhood to hate humanity. They train every day for a war that hasn’t happened yet, based on hate and enticed with promises of greatness for their loyalty and service. They’re led by two of the most evil and malicious men I’ve ever known. And they’re intent on starting a war, destroying humanity in its entirety and creating a new world of magic with Grayson as it’s leader. That’s why they’ve taken you in and protected you. Because you are the only one who can take down the veil. I know you aren’t a fool. I know you know that you are the Arcane Witch and that Grayson has asked you to help him bring down the veil. I also know that you’ve agreed, but you can’t. I can’t let you.’

‘They wouldn’t.’ I shake my head violently repeating the word no.

‘Five hundred years ago humans fought with a blade. But now they have guns, bombs and nuclear weapons. Magic and today’s modern warfare?’ Now he shakes his head. ‘It will destroy everything. You’re the Arcane Witch. Lilly. You cannot let this happen!’

Theo’s watching me intently. Jensen’s looking at me the same way. Waiting for my reaction. But there’s something here that doesn’t make sense.

‘If I’m needed to break down the veil, why not just kill me? Why try to reason with me?’ I lean forwards. ‘You need me for something. What?’

‘There’s a way that we can stop it for good,’ Theo says. ‘A way that we can ensure that humanity and Descendants can both survive.’

‘Killing me would do that, wouldn’t it? You need an Arcane Witch to bring down the veil. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to die. But why wouldn’t you just kill me? You had the chance at the tree lot.’

‘Perhaps killing you would stop it all. Or maybe killing you will bring down the veil. Your family’s blood created it. If you died…truth is none of us have any idea what killing you would lead to. And Arcane Witches always find a way to survive. Look at you! Popping into existence five hundred years after the veils creation. So yes, I could kill you and prolong this never-ending war between Grayson and me, let him have another five hundred years to build on his already unbeatable army until another Arcane Witch pops up. Or you could help me end this now.’

I have no idea how on earth I could ever help him. I’m still struggling to believe anything he’s saying.

‘What would I need to do?’ I ask. ‘For argument’s sake?’

‘It’s drastic,’ he warns. ‘But there’s a way to taint the magic in the Arcane realm so if the veil’s destroyed and magic returns, Grayson’s army will perish instead of becoming Witches again.’

‘It would kill them?’ I ask stunned. ‘I don’t understand. It would just kill his army?’

‘It would kill any and all Descendants.’

‘But, that would kill you, your men. You said that you can save the Descendants and the humans.’

‘I can protect those who deserve to be protected. I promised my men that their loyalty will ensure that protection. The men and woman outside that Grayson calls Traitors will be safe. They will survive. Swear your loyalty to me, promise to help me stop them, and I will give you the same guarantee.’

‘Wait. What you’re saying is all the Descendants will die unless you specifically save them?’ Images of Amara and Collins laughing in each other’s arms break my heart. Gabriel along with thousands of people I haven’t even met. Is he serious? ‘Why the hell would Rebecca create a spell that can kill all the descendants anyway?’

‘Because she knew that this was a possibility. She knew that Witches may start a new war. And if they did, they had to be stopped. So, will you help us?’ he asks.

I burst out laughing. I don’t find anything about this situation funny in the slightest, but the fact he is actually asking me to help him murder thousands of people, to help him after everything he’s done to me and is still doing, is just unbelievable!

‘No!’ I laugh. ‘Absolutely not! You’re fucking insane. I won’t be responsible for killing god knows how many people.’

‘I’m the only one left speaking any sense. Even your father agrees with me!’

‘My father?’ My laughter stops as quickly as it started.

‘Yes. He’s one of my men. Who do you think wanted me to try and reason with you? Join me, I’ll reunite you!’

I don’t believe him. Not one bit. ‘No thanks,’ I tell him plainly.

‘I’m not lying. He’s here-’

‘He could be the king of England, and I honestly wouldn’t care. I don’t know him. And he doesn’t know me.’

‘Grayson cannot be allowed to succeed. That vision-’

‘That vision could be the outcome of anything,’ I insist. ‘I’ve read up on the theory of Sight back at The Orchard. That could be the result of your poison spell or just humans being humans and killing each other. Hell, I don’t even know if that vision is true at all! For all I know, you’re doing this because Grayson took your place as leader of the Coven. Is that what this is all about? Payback?’

He gets to his feet so fast his chair slides out behind him, and he’s trembling with anger.

‘You think this is about petty payback?’ he says with a fierce indignity.

‘Well, all I’m saying is while you all live out here in the woods, shitting in a hole in the ground, Grayson has two swimming pools and running water. I wouldn’t blame you for being a bit…jealous. I don’t believe you. Or that vision. They told me their plan. When we’re strong enough to protect ourselves against Hunters, we’ll get our freedom. Peacefully. If not, then we’ll take it. That’s our right. It’s everybody’s right to be free.’

‘You have no idea what they are capable of. How could you? You’re just a child. Let me tell you what will happen if that veil comes down. That dreadful vampire Hendrix? He’ll be able to turn as many humans as he wants. All the Descendants in the world will suddenly have immense power. Most of whom are Nomads and will follow Grayson in his war against the humans. There won’t be any winners. We’ll all just kill each other.’

‘I know a girl from one of those camps. She would have told me if they were an army. I think…if that vision is true, that it’s more than likely the humans that cause it. Not us. Not me. I spent my life at the mercy of a very nasty group of humans. They’re more than capable of destroying the world all by themselves!’

‘What do you mean?’ Jensen asks. ‘Living at the mercy of nasty humans? You were with your uncle…weren’t you?’

‘My uncle was evil. You know what? If my father is here like you said, you should get him in here. I would love to show my gratitude.’

‘Gratitude?’

‘Oh yeah. Leaving me alone with my uncle? He has some serious explaining to do. Harry starved, beat and tormented me for almost two decades. My entire body is a map of his cruelty. The only people that have shown me any kindness or compassion are the people that you want me to kill.’

‘You have people you want to protect? That Amara girl, right? I’ll protect her too,’ Theo offers.

‘Tempting,’ I sneer. ‘But I still won’t be responsible for genocide. I’ll talk to Gabriel and decide for myself if you’re telling the truth. If I think for a second that he’s lying, then I’ll refuse to do his spell. But there’s no way in hell I will ever do yours. That, I can guarantee.’

Theo lowers himself down to my eye level. His dark brown eyes swirl with anger.

‘You think you’re in love with him, don’t you? That maybe he loves you too?’

‘Ha. No. I really don’t think that. He’s a prick.’

‘Well, let me tell you something about your precious Gabriel.’

‘I know everything I need to know about Gabriel. Believe me. The good and bad.’

Theo has something nasty up his sleeve, and in my current situation, there’s fuck all I can do but listen.

‘Something you don’t know about Rebecca Hooper was that a few months before she completed the veil, she gave birth to a daughter. When the spell was done, and she had passed on, her husband and daughter disappeared. He wanted nothing more to do with any of us. But he left something behind. Rebecca’s journal. Inside she wrote down all her own spells. Hundreds of them, all of her own creation. The journal contains every spell that could be used with the veil, plus who knows what else. Rebecca was unlike anything I’d ever seen. She could do magic that no one else could do, and she wrote all of it down. Clear instructions for becoming the most powerful creature on earth. Problem was…no one could read the bloody thing.’ He starts to pace slowly up and down in front of me. ‘I had it for years and couldn’t translate it. No one could. Not until I met a man by the name of Quinn. He was an Irish fella. A Descendant and extremely clever. I showed him the Journal, and he said it was written in a language that only the Arcane Witch can decipher. A language that no one even realised existed. Arcanian.’ He stops pacing and points to me. ‘So only you can read it.

‘Oh.’

‘When Grayson heard about the journal and what it contained, he was thrilled. Not only did it hold the answer to bringing down the veil, but it had spells within it that he had only ever dreamt of! Of course, spells can only be performed by a Sensitive. But he still wanted it. When he also learnt that it couldn’t be read by anyone other than an Arcane Witch, he went looking for the next best thing. Rebecca’s daughter. Rose Hooper.’

My stomach hits the floor. All the blood drains from my face. Rose! The name Toby hurled at Gabriel. The name that filled him with so much shame and regret, he couldn’t talk to me about it. She was my ancestor.

‘But…you said no one had magic. Did she have magic? Could Rose read it?’

‘She couldn’t. She wasn’t an Arcane. Her father was human, so she was born human. But that didn’t stop Grayson. They found her when she was twenty and they tortured her for years. Tore her apart from the inside out. When I found Rose, she was empty. Her eyes glazed over like a zombie. And I knew Gabriel was in her head. He had hollowed her out. Tormented her and twisted her thoughts so she would bend to his will completely. She couldn’t read the book, but she knew what her father had told her. That only a Hooper Arcane Witch with magic could ever manipulate the veil.’

Jensen kneels beside me and looks at me comfortingly. Theo’s playing the bad cop. Jensen’s trying to be the good one.

‘Do you know how you were born with magic, Lilly?’ Jensen asks gently. I shake my head. ‘It’s really very simple,’ he says. ‘When a Hooper falls for a person of magic descent, a Descendant, and if they have a baby, that baby will be born an Arcane. Put simply, your mum…a Hooper, fell in love with a Descendant and he, in turn, loved her. Together they had you. She was the first Hooper to have a child with a Descendant since the veil went up. Before that, Hoopers only ever married humans which is why there hasn’t been another witch born. Hooper’s were against Grayson and his plans. They did everything they could to make sure that an Arcane Witch was never created. Rebecca made it so that love on both sides would create an Arcane, so that child would be loved and protected and hopefully, guided into making the right decision for our kind.’

‘Well, that didn’t happen. At all. My dad abandoned me. My mum died. And my uncle kept me locked in his house my whole damn life so he could use me as his personal punching bag.’

Theo pulls his stool closer so he can sit directly opposite me.

Wearing the smuggest grin yet, Theo says, ‘Rose told Gabriel what they had to do. They were left with a problem. They needed an Arcane Witch with magic so they could read the Journal, and then use that witch to break down the Veil. The problem was, the only way to make an Arcane Witch with magic was to get a Hooper to fall in love with a Descendant. So, Gabriel got in Rose’ head. Twisted her thoughts and memories. He aimed to get her to fall in love with Grayson. She was locked in a dungeon, her hands chained together and tethered to a wall, three months pregnant with Grayson’s second child when I found her. She was adamant that she loved him. It’s all that she would say. I managed to fight through Gabriel’s compulsion and when I did, all that was left was a young woman who had been held against her will and forced to produce children in the hope that one will be an Arcane. You can make people do pretty much anything. But falling in love is something no one can control. But that didn’t stop Gabriel from trying. He made her compliant. Messed her head up hoping to trick her into loving his brother and stood by as Grayson forced her to have his children.’

My stomach turns before I gag.

‘Yeah…made me sick too,’ Theo says. ‘But love…you can’t fake it. You can’t force it. His plan was never going to work. Grayson’s children would be the same as any other Descendant. Magic free. So, I did what anyone would do. I put Rose out of her misery.’

‘You killed her? When she was pregnant?’ My stomach turns again. ‘What about her first child?’

‘Grayson tried to get his son’s magic to manifest. But it didn’t. It never would. Rose didn’t love Grayson. The boy died in the effort.’

Oh my god. Oh my god.

I can’t breathe. I can’t take this. He has to be lying. He has to be!

Theo continues, ‘What none of us knew, was that Rose had a daughter with her human husband before Grayson and Gabriel got their hands on her. We never saw another Hooper again. Well, not until your Uncle and his parents moved into that house on the Moors. Turns out, they had spent the last few hundred years hiding from us. Making sure that if any Hooper had a child, it would be with a human only. Until your mother. Tell me, Lilly, has Grayson shown a romantic interest in you?’ he laughs ‘Of course he has. The idea that his children could be Arcanes would be too hard to pass up. What was his reaction when you started falling for his infertile brother instead?’ He continues to laugh as tears prick my eyes. This isn’t funny. All of this is hell.

‘Will you help us?’ Jensen asks as Theo continues to laugh.

‘No,’ I say firmly as the tears spill over and slide down my cheeks. ‘I will not help you.’

That shuts Theo up.

‘I just told you that Grayson abused-’

‘I know what you just told me!’ More tears slide down my face. He’s told me that Gabriel’s a cruel, manipulative, evil man and my heart which is already in pieces, shatters even more. And Grayson is even more evil than I ever thought possible. ‘I’m not going to help you murder thousands of people. I won’t read your journal, Theo. I won’t tell you what it says. I won’t kill anyone and that’s the end of it!’ I tell him hatefully.

He looks at Jensen, and they share a disappointed look. Theo returns his attention to me.

‘Fine. Have it your way. We’ll keep this simple. I’ll ask you some questions which you will answer. Question one. Where’s the journal?’ he asks tiredly.

He doesn’t know Toby has the Journal.

‘I don’t know.’ One thing’s certain. If that journal contains as much information as he says, there’s no way in hell I want it near him.

‘Gabriel said it was stolen. Who stole it?’

‘Like I said. I don’t know.’

‘How many of the seven realms of power do you have?’

I shrug, not looking away as his eyes read mine.

‘Your uncle had a son. Where is he?’

‘You hoping that he’ll help you?’ I shrug. ‘Sorry, no idea.’

‘Look, Lilly. I’m doing the best I can with what I have. Inside that Journal could be a million ways to return magic to the world. For all I know you might not even be needed. We’re all going on the word of a young woman who was tortured and had her brain addled with. So, having you and finding that book is the only guarantee I have to stop this. I can’t let you die. I can’t let you go, and I need answers to these questions so I can save the world. Tell me, where is the Journal?’

I lean forward so I’m sitting on the very edge of my chair. He leans in too, hoping that I’m about to share a delicious secret.

‘That’s it. Tell me what you know,’ he says with a forced smile. ‘You can tell me.’

‘Screw you, Theo.’ Not quite what he was hoping for. ‘Seriously. Go fuck yourself. You won’t kill my friends. I won’t let you.’

Jensen and Theo stand over me.

‘Take her into the main tent. I’m going to get my answers one way or another.’

∞∞∞

I’m taken back to the sizeable military-style tent, shoved to my knees and Jensen ties my hands to the second post opposite Gabriel. Gabriel’s watching me intently, but I can’t even look in his direction. I’m too afraid to look into those blue eyes that have always been of such comfort to me. Now if I look into them, I think I’ll be sick or want to tear them out. He’s not the man I thought he was. He’s not a man at all. He’s a monster. Him and his brother.

Theo kneels in front of me. ‘I’m going to get the answers I want. One way or another.’

‘Bring it on.’

I watch him as he stands. He opens his mouth to say something, but his name is called from outside. With a final sneer, he leaves. Jensen’s still fiddling with the ropes around my wrist, making them unbearably tight.

‘Lilly…’ Gabriel says slowly. ‘Are you alright?’

‘Don’t talk to me.’ Repulsion is evident not only in my words but my face.

‘Have they hurt you?’ he asks.

‘I said don’t talk to me, Gabriel.’ I keep my eyes down hoping not to see him at all. Hoping to get my head together and organise my thoughts, but all I can see is the darkness of the cellar I was in the last time I was tied up. Then I can’t stop thinking about Rose and what they did to her. What Gabriel and Grayson put her through. I know what it is to be abused. To be touched by a man that you can’t stand. How could he do that to someone? I really don’t know him at all.

Jensen finishes tying me up and kneels in front of me with an expression similar to that of an annoyed parent.

‘Is there a reason why you’re looking at me like that, Jensen?’ I ask hatefully.

‘You should consider being more co-operative,’ he says. ‘Things will go much better for both of you if you are.’

‘And I suggest you get your patronising face out of mine. Things will go much better for you when I get rid of this binding spell if you do.’

He gets to his feet with a sigh and looks at Gabriel.

‘Talk some sense into her, will you? I know you don’t want to see her get hurt.’

‘You touch her I swear-’

I start to laugh. I can’t help it. They both fall silent.

‘You think he cares about me? You think he cares about anyone other than himself and his stupid brother?’ I glare at them both. ‘All Gabriel cares about is what’s between his legs and making Grayson happy. Coming here to help him was the biggest mistake of my life. And that’s saying something.’

‘Oh dear,’ Jensen says sarcastically. ‘Take it things aren’t too good between you two then?’

‘You could say that.’

Jensen walks over to Gabriel and kneels down. I watch despite myself. Jensen doesn’t hurt him, but simply pulls out the necklace from around Gabriel’s neck that was tucked under his shirt. He lets it hang there. It’s the necklace I got him for Christmas. He’s still wearing it. Why? Gabriel’s looking at the floor as I look between him and the necklace.

‘I think there are significant feelings between the two of you. I know you made this for him. Gabriel? Please try and get her to see sense. Or things will get very unpleasant very quickly. I can give you a couple of minutes, but Theo will be back.’ He turns and leaves us alone.

The tent rustles in the wind, and the distant mumbling of the people outside are the only things that distract me from the unbearable silence between us.

‘Why are you still wearing that?’ I ask. He shakes his head. What the hell does that mean? ‘Why are you wearing that, Gabriel? Look at me.’

He lifts his head. His eyes look so angry which takes me by surprise.

‘Why the hell did you come here?’ he hisses. ‘What the bloody hell were you thinking? You’re the Arcane. Do you have any idea how stupid you coming here is? Do you know how important you are?’

‘Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare tell me how important I am.’ I bite my lip, seal my mouth shut and rein in my temper. Arguing now is pointless. Absolutely pointless. ‘I can’t believe I trusted you. Can’t you get us out of here? Use your compulsion and get someone to untie us or are you completely useless?’

‘I’m bound. Same as you. There’s a cloth tied around my wrist so yeah…I’m pretty fucking useless.’ He glares at me. ‘What did Theo tell you?’

I look at him and can’t hide the disgust on my face.

‘What did he tell you?’ he asks again.

‘Don’t talk to me, Gabriel. Don’t fucking look at me.’

‘They’re going to come in here any second and start asking questions, Lilly. Now isn’t the time to bicker.’

‘Bicker?!’

‘They want the journal.’ He ignores my indignant reply. ‘And whatever they want it for won’t be good.’

‘There’s a spell in the journal that will kill every single Descendant on the planet,’ I bite back. ‘So yeah, Gabriel…not good. He wants to use me to kill you all while saving his Traitors.’ Again, the tent falls silent. I’m almost vibrating with anger.

‘Are you sure?’ he asks quietly.

‘Of course I’m fucking sure. If he finds that Journal, we’re all screwed. He’ll kill us all, so when he comes in and starts asking questions, just keep your mouth shut. Okay?’

‘He’s going to use torture.’

‘I’m sure you’ll survive.’

‘For fuck’s sake!’ he barks. ‘Will you take this seriously?’ He tries to get free of his ropes. I know better than to try. My ropes are so tight I can barely wriggle my fingers. When he fails to get free, he looks at me. ‘If he starts on you, I’m telling him.’

‘No, you bloody won’t! If I do the spell, it will kill every single Descendant and Witch except the select few he chooses to save. If you make me responsible for genocide, I will never forgive you. Mainly because we’ll more than likely be dead!’

He stares at me defiantly, and I look back at him in equal measure.

‘You need to stop glaring at me.’

‘I won’t sit here and-’

‘I have this stupid watch on. It won’t be long till help gets here so whatever Theo does to us, we’ll just have to deal with it because he can’t know who has the journal. Your twisted psycho of a brother will come soon and get us out of here, then you can go back to screwing whoever you want. And I can tell you both to shove your spell, and your Coven, up your ass. You’re a couple of absolute nut jobs and the further away I am from you, the better. I’m so done with you and Grayson.’

‘I won’t let you get hurt-’

‘End of discussion.’

‘No, it’s really not-’

‘I SAID END OF!’

Theo’s voice is just outside. Gabriel’s angry eyes glance to the door before settling back on me.

‘I will not sit here and watch him carve you up.’

‘Well, that’s exactly what I’m going to do for you,’ I spit back equally as hatefully. ‘Let me be clear, Gabriel. I don’t want your help or your protection. I don’t even want to share the same air as you. You’re the worst person I possibly could have got involved with so take your own advice. One night together doesn’t make us a couple. It doesn’t mean anything so drop the act. You just keep your mouth shut and for once, do the right thing. Grayson will be here soon. Can you do that? Hmm? Put the rest of the magical world ahead of your own needs for just a little while?’

We carry on glaring at each other, but just before the door to the tent opens he gives the slightest, most reluctant nod.

‘Good.’

We both turn to look at Jensen who’s followed closely by Theo. Theo claps his hands together enthusiastically and grins.

‘Right then. Let’s get started, shall we?’

∞∞∞

Gabriel’s eyes never look away from me even though I know Theo’s making his way slowly towards us. The plastic groundsheet rustles with his every step. The wind outside starts to pick up and batters the sides of the tent, but inside Gabriel and I are sharing an odd calm before the storm. I know that whatever’s coming next will hurt. And so does he. But it will be temporary. Grayson, although a monster, will be here soon.

Theo fetches a stool from the edge of the tent, places it between us and sits facing me.

‘Are you ready to start co-operating?’ he asks.

‘I’ve already told you. I don’t know where the journal is,’ I reply.

‘I thought after having some time to think it over with the man responsible for the torture of Rose Hooper sitting opposite you, you would change your mind. Guess I was wrong.’

Gabriel’s eyes widen as he looks at me. Yeah, I know all about Rose and what he did.

‘Guess so.’ I shrug. I’m covering my fear and hiding the fact that I think Gabriel and his brother are nothing less than ruthless savages better than I thought I would.

‘Hmm.’ Theo looks at Gabriel over his shoulder. ‘She’s a feisty little thing, isn’t she?’

‘You have no idea,’ Gabriel replies. ‘Listen to me, Theo. I know you want the journal, but we don’t know where it is. Lilly doesn’t know-’

‘You expect me to believe that?’

‘I’ve told you a hundred times. It was stolen. I don’t know who by or where it is now. If I did, we would have it!’

Theo gets to his feet and puts the stool to one side.

‘Well, we’ll soon find out who knows what.’ He walks towards Gabriel. ‘I think it’s safe to say there are definitely feelings between you two. Any idiot can see that.’ Theo looks back at me over his shoulder. ‘But she didn’t know all the facts before, did she? She didn’t know about Rose. I know because I watched her gag when I told her. So, tell me, Lilly-?’

‘You’re a real piece of work,’ Gabriel spits. ‘Telling her your version of everything. Turning her against me. You didn’t tell her your role in all of that though, did you?’

His version? How could there possibly be a different version of what happened?

‘Just tell me where the journal is and save yourselves the pain.’

‘We’ve told you-’

‘I know the lies you’ve told me, Gabriel,’ Theo interrupts. ‘And I was speaking to her. I will ask one more time. Lilly Hooper, where is the journal?’

He looks at me over his shoulder once more and waits. When I remain silent, Theo turns suddenly and punches Gabriel hard in the face. Blood splatters on the tarp floor and I can’t help but gasp.

‘Where’s the journal?’

‘Like the lady said,’ Gabriel replies before spitting blood at Theo’s feet. ‘We don’t know.’ He returns his eyes to mine.

Theo lands Gabriel with another punch to the face.

‘Sure about that?’ Theo asks, anger seeping through his calm exterior.

‘Positive,’ I tell him. ‘Hey, maybe Ava knows. You should bring her in here instead of me.’ I look at Gabriel. ‘I bet she’d tell them anything they wanted to know to keep your face pretty.’

There’s blood between his teeth and a fresh flow falling from his nose. Another punch. I jump but keep my poker face. This is hard to watch. Harder than I thought.

‘Tell me where the journal is, Lilly. Or things will get much worse.’

‘She doesn’t know anything,’ Gabriel answers for me. There’s a look of comfort in his eyes. He’s telling me it’s okay with nothing but a look.

‘I think I need Lilly to tell me that.’

Theo grabs Gabriel’s hair and lifts his head, making him look at me with blood pouring from his nose and mouth. I tell myself to stay firm. Be strong. Gabriel’s laughing, spitting blood on the floor and making Theo angrier.

‘You came all this way to save him, Lilly. And now you’re going to let him suffer like this? All you have to do is tell me where the journal is.’ He slams Gabriel’s head hard into the wooden post. I wince at the thud. He does it again and again. ‘Where-’ thud, ‘Is-’ thud, ‘The-’ thud, ‘Journal?’ Thud.

He lets him go. Gabriel shakes his head clear and blinks a few times before I seem to come back into focus.

I’m completely in Theo’s sights as he grimaces at me and says, ‘All you have to do is tell me where the journal is and I’ll stop.’

‘I don’t know anything.’

Theo walks to me, crouches down with his elbows on his knees and looks me in the eye. ‘If you tell me what I want to know now, I’ll make sure that your friends will be kept safe when the spell is done. How’s that?’

‘Oh, well, in that case…I’ll tell you. It’s up Jensen’s arse. You should go look for it.’

Theo looks at Gabriel and me before glancing at Jensen briefly over my shoulder.

‘I think perhaps we need to change tactic. Jensen my friend, would you like to stay or leave for this bit?’

The next bit? Why would he want Jensen to leave? What’s he planning?

‘I think maybe Gabriel’s the weaker link here. Do you agree?’

I look behind me to see Jensen standing by the door with his arms folded and a deep furrow on his brow.

‘I agree,’ he replies. ‘Do what you need to do.’ He stands firm.

I think it’s my turn.

Theo gets to his feet and stands by my side facing Gabriel. Slowly he starts stroking my head. The sensation of his hand on me is unbearable.

‘Tell me, Gabriel. Where is the journal?’ Theo continues running his fingers through my hair as Gabriel watches. The blood drains from my face. In fact, I think it’s drained from my entire body. I repeat to myself don’t pass out. Stay strong. Hold your ground. ‘Telling me what I want to know will save you…and her, a lot of suffering.’

Gabriel twitches at his words. The slow and gentle stroking continues. He’s showing Gabriel exactly how easy it is for him to touch me. And how there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

‘You don’t like me touching her, do you?’ Theo says smugly. No, he doesn’t. Gabriel’s eyes flash dark as they leave mine and look at him. ‘I’m not hurting her. But I could be.’

Gabriel’s breathing gets heavier. Each breath is deeper than the last, but he says nothing.

‘Where is the-’

‘We don’t know, you psychotic shit,’ I hiss. Theo wraps his fingers in my hair and pulls. I give the slightest yelp as he pulls a fist full of my hair higher lifting my backside off the floor.

‘I’m not talking to you anymore, Lilly,’ Theo says with a nasty grin. His eyes are firmly on Gabriel. ‘I’m asking him. Tell me, or I hurt her.’

Every muscle in Gabriel’s jaw is rigid. He’s shaking with anger.

‘Doesn’t care about you, huh?’ Theo laughs.

I do my best to hide my pain as Gabriel watches every single one of his actions and my reactions. Those blue eyes don’t look anywhere else.

‘We told you. We don’t know.’ Every word that just came out of Gabriel’s mouth was filled with utter contempt. It sent a shiver down even my spine. Thankfully, Theo lets me go. He kneels next to me and makes sure he’s facing Gabriel. Softly, he runs his finger down my cheek. I flinch away, making him laugh. His hand goes lower. When he slides it under my T-shirt, I freeze. What the hell is he doing? He looks at me with smugness and then to Gabriel.

‘Tell me,’ he says.

‘I don’t know,’ Gabriel replies.

Pressing his palm into my stomach, Theo creates his green lightning. It shoots into my skin from his fingertips in an agonisingly hot surge. I can’t help but scream. The high-pitched shriek is uncontrollable. Much like my body’s reaction. There’s too much pain, my body doesn’t know what to do so it thrashes about violently until he lets me go. My muscles are still screaming from the shock and where his hand was feels red raw.

‘Gabriel? Feel chatty yet?’

‘Touch her like that again-’

Gabriel doesn’t get to finish his threat. Theo’s hand is on my stomach once more as he sends his lightning across my skin. He continues on and on despite my desperate screaming. He stops for a few seconds, long enough to ask his question. When the same answer is given his lightning returns. This pattern goes on for so long I’m almost hoarse when he loses his cocky composure and yells in my face.

‘JUST FUCKING TELL ME!’

My quickened breath turns into mockery. Laughing at Theo and his attempts to get us to talk. Yes, I’m in pain. Yes, I’m afraid. But compared to what I’ve been through in my life…this is easy.

‘You think this is funny?’ Theo grabs the back of my neck and ensures all I can see is his face. ‘This isn’t a game! Can’t you see I’m the one in the right here?! I’m trying to save the world!’

I look up at him while wearing that nasty grin I remember Toby used to wear so well. Even now after everything I look at him and his lessons for a way to cope with pain.

‘I had a home. A family that loved me and I lost it all because of you. You made my mother seek shelter with a man that tortured me my whole life. You want me to murder the only people who have ever shown me any kindness on the say so of your shady vision. You’ve kidnapped Gabriel and me and are currently torturing us, so tell me again how you’re the one in the right! Because you destroyed my world. Destroyed it!’

‘I don’t find pleasure in this,’ he says. ‘But I won’t stop until I get the information I need, so do yourself a favour and just give it up. You will eventually. Everyone does.’

‘You think so? Well, why don’t you let me tell you a story? I had this boyfriend. He would make me practice my magic for hours and hours till my head was pounding and my nose was bleeding. He thought pain and anger fuelled my strength and believe me when I tell you he wanted me strong. So that’s what he did. For hours. For days. For years. He’d push me to every conceivable limit. Snap my bones. Burn my skin. Break my spirit. Meanwhile, my uncle and his wife would beat me and starve me for kicks, so trust me when I tell you, Theo. Your pathetic attempts to hurt me is nothing, nothing, compared to what I’ve been through in my life. I’ve been submerged in pain for as long as I can remember. It’s as common to me as sleeping. So, do your worst. You can’t do anything to me that hasn’t already been done, and Gabriel? You can do what you want to him. I couldn’t care less. Keep asking us a question that we simply don’t know the answer to. Keep drawing blood because that’s all you’ll get from us. Blood. We don’t know where the journal is.’

Theo isn’t impressed with what I’ve said. Especially when he looks into my eyes and knows I mean what I say. Slowly he gets to his feet, not once looking away from me until he turns and stalks to the edge of the tent towards one of the tables. After a few minutes of rummaging, he finds what he’s looking for and turns back to us.

‘I see the problem. You’re not afraid of pain because you know it won’t last. You also know I won’t kill you, so let’s try something else.’ Theo holds out a pair of small iron bolt cutters and points them straight at me. ‘Gabriel can heal. That’s true. But you can’t. Not until your Physical magic comes in and I know that hasn’t happened by how pathetic your attempts have been to get free. You want to know what I think?’ He walks back to my side and kneels. The cold steel of the cutters rests on the base of my little finger on my right hand. I struggle to swallow the nervous whimper that wants to come out. ‘I think that you’re tough. That you’ll put up with most of what I could do to you out of spite alone. But Gabriel won’t be able to stand by as I chop off little pieces of you. I think that he’ll talk.’

‘You’re wrong,’ I insist. My words aren’t directed to Theo. I’m making sure Gabriel knows I still mean what I said. No matter what, Theo can’t know who has the journal. ‘We can’t tell you what we don’t know.’

‘Physical magic lets you heal,’ Theo growls in my ear. ‘Get shot, get stabbed, break a bone, and in a day or two no one would ever know. But losing a finger, a hand, an arm… the bleeding will stop. But that part of you will never grow back. Physical magic or no Physical magic.’ He clamps the cutters down a little, drawing blood and making me fight a yell against the slow torturous cut. I keep my eyes on Gabriel. His eyes are wide and afraid as he starts to struggle against his restraints. He watches Theo. And Theo watches him.

‘Tell me, Gabriel. If you care about young Miss Hooper’s wellbeing, you will tell me what I want to know.’

That’s eerie. Those are the exact words Grayson told my uncle before having Collins chop off Christa’s fingers.

‘Tell me, Gabriel!’ Theo says. ‘TELL ME!’

Gabriel seals his lips together, his body rigid and his eyes start to brim with tears. Are they sad or frightened tears? Maybe it’s both. I know that the tears that are trying to spill out of my eyes are.

‘No?’ Theo leans into my ear. ‘Tell me and I’ll stop.’ He clamps down the cutters a little further, but I refuse to let the yell out. My lips remain shut even if my tears have spilt out. I struggle to swallow against the urge to throw up.

With a deep breath, I sit straighter and defiantly tell Theo. ‘Go screw yourself.’

Theo growls, and as he does, he clamps the bolt cutters closed.

Snip.

The sound of the metal blades meeting and the small thump as something lands on the floor is swiftly followed by a blood-curdling scream.

My scream.

Gabriel’s yelling, threatening him with every form of violence possible and pulling against his restraints.

I can’t stop the screams. They just keep coming. I have to mentally slap myself to get them to stop. It takes a few moments to get myself back under any form of control. The hot, sharp pain settles and turns into a deep, agonising throbbing. My head slumps forwards as I focus on getting my breathing back under control. When I lift my head and return my attention back to Gabriel, he looks in shock. He’s whiter than white and shaking.

Theo stands and purposefully walks towards him and drops a small pink and bloody digit by his feet. My little finger.

‘How about now?’ Theo asks smugly. ‘You going to tell me who has the journal or shall I continue?’

Gabriel looks at my severed finger and slowly lifts his gaze to the man standing in front of him.

‘You’re a dead man.’

‘No. I’m very much alive, and I’m going to chop her up, and put her in front of you piece by piece.’ He returns back to me, grabbing the back of my neck roughly and unleashing another series of lightning shocks. This time it travels down my spine. My legs kick out as I struggle to control myself against the pain he’s inflicting. He’s yelling at Gabriel, demanding answers to his questions. Gabriel’s furiously yelling back, telling him to stop. Telling him over and over that he doesn’t know and all I can do is scream against a pain that’s spreading through my whole body.

I don’t know how much more I can take.

‘PLEASE! DAMN IT, THEO, STOP!’ Gabriel yells desperately. Theo lets me go with a shove. I blink through the tears to get Gabriel into focus. I’m crying despite myself.

‘TELL ME!’ Theo yells.

I hang my head and can’t help the weak laughter that comes from me.

‘What could possibly be funny?’ Theo demands.

What’s funny is this whole situation. I lift my head and look at Gabriel who’s agonising over watching me suffer.

‘This is what Grayson did to my aunt and uncle when he met me,’ I tell him with a laugh. ‘I was in your position. Talk about Karma.’

‘Stay with me, Beautiful,’ he soothes, thinking I’ve gone mad from the pain. But I haven’t.

‘Oh, bite me, Gabriel,’ I snap back. I look up at Theo, and although I have tears streaming down my face and I’m in so much pain I could pass out…I smile. ‘Is that all you got?’

He takes a deep angry breath and gives me a powerful backhand. The hard sting stuns me. I taste blood in my mouth. He’s split my lip. I lick it clean and turn back to Gabriel. He mouths the word “please” to me. I give the slightest shake of my head. He returns his attention to Theo.

‘Theo…she’s been through so much already. You have no idea. Please-’

‘Shut your fucking mouth, Gabriel. Hearing your voice is worse than this nut job hacking off my finger,’ I tell him angrily.

Theo laughs.

‘The only words I want to hear from either of you are… “Theo, the journal is…” So, until that sentence comes out of one of your mouths and is completed, we’ll carry on.’ He lowers himself once more to his knees beside me, picks up the bloody bolt cutters and rests it on my ring finger next to the stub where my little finger once was.

I wince as the blade sinks into my skin.

‘Theo. Maybe this isn’t the way,’ Jensen says from somewhere behind me.

‘Violence is all these people will respond to. I tried it your way, Jensen. I tried to reason with her, but she can’t be reasoned with. This is the only way to save the world.’ The tent falls silent and the pitter patter of rain starts. I take some very difficult breaths, preparing myself for what’s coming. I’m determined not to scream anymore.

‘Please. Please, Theo. Stop,’ Gabriel says desperately.

‘Tell me what I want to know. And I will.’ He closes the cutters a fraction, and I can’t help it. I give a small whimper and look up at the ceiling desperate to keep my composure.

‘Theo just stop!’

‘TELL ME!’

He closes it more and I scream out.

Gabriel looks at Theo pleadingly. ‘Dad, please. Don’t do this. Stop.’

Only now do I break my intense lock with the ceiling to look between the two with wide eyes.

‘Did you just call him dad?’ Neither of them looks at me. Neither of them answers me and Theo keeps the cutters exactly where they are.

‘You think calling me “Dad” will evoke some kind of sympathy? That it will make me feel sorry for you?’ There’s nothing but hatred in Theo’s voice. ‘You and your brothers should have been drowned at birth. The only thing that will make this stop is you telling me who stole the journal. She has nine fingers left …son.’ Theo clamps down the cutters even further. ‘Want to make it eight?’

I feel the blood seeping across my hand as I whimper against the pain.

‘Tell me who has the journal and I’ll stop. I swear. Look at her, Gabriel. Help her.’

Gabriel looks painfully at me. He’s losing his willpower. I look at Theo whose face is close to mine.

‘Fuck. You.’

I scream as he slams the blade closed and severs a second finger. Theo throws the cutters to the floor and grabs my mutilated hand. His green lightning erupts over it. I can’t hear what he’s yelling over at Gabriel because my screaming is deafening. Ignoring my pleas for him to stop, he makes the pain worse. I think I’m going to die. He goes on and on until my voice is barely there anymore. I don’t know how long it goes on for until finally, my body stops thrashing.

The last thing I see before I black out is Gabriel trying desperately to get free and help me.

The sheets cover us completely as we lay on our sides facing each other.

The bed smells of him. His scent. Vanilla and sandalwood.

‘Aren’t you tired?’ I ask.

Gabriel shakes his head. ‘Why would I want to sleep when I can lay here and watch you?’

‘Let’s stay here,’ I sigh, brushing the hair from his face. ‘Let’s not go back to The Orchard.’

‘What, live here in this room?’ he asks with a soft laugh.

‘Yeah,’ I reply. ‘We can stay under these sheets and forget the outside world completely.’

He pulls me closer and lays on his back so I can rest my head on his bare chest. I listen to his heartbeat. The slow and steady thump, thump, thump is comforting.

It’s been such a long night. An emotional and physically draining night.

Running through the woods after Toby. Gabriel and me finally giving into how we truly feel. I still can’t believe I’m here with him. His arms wrapped around my body and his legs entwined with mine. It’s all I’ve wanted since I first laid eyes on him.

Lilly and her Gabriel.

Finally.

‘Lilly? Are you still awake?’ he asks.

His fingers are running through my hair. I’m on the verge of sleep.

‘Lilly?’ He leans into my ear and whispers. ‘I’ve fallen in love with you.’

I jump at the loud clap of thunder. Slowly, my consciousness returns. My brain awakens and starts registering everything. Where I am. Who I’m with. What I’m feeling. And what’s happened.

I twitch my hand. Holy hell, it’s painful. Very painful. I shift my legs. They’re filled with pins and needles. As I move, the blood rushes through them and starts waking them up. Everything sounds like it’s a million miles away. The rain. The tent. Gabriel’s voice. I groan and slowly lift my head to blink him into focus. We’re still in the tent. Still tied to the posts. There’s a storm going on. Thunder shakes the ground and lightning flashes from outside. I see Gabriel’s mouth moving. His concern filled face. But I can’t get a grip on what he’s saying. It takes a few moments to wake up properly, and finally, I hear him clearly.

‘Look at me,’ he says. ‘Are you with me?’

‘Yeah,’ I groan. ‘I’m here.’

I’m sweating. My hair is plastered to my face, and the pain in my hand’s unreal. I look at Gabriel as I slump against the post with my hands still tied behind my back. In front of him are two of my fingers laying in a small puddle of blood on the floor left there to mock him.

‘He cut my fingers off,’ I say in utter disbelief. As I look at the two digits, it really hits me. ‘He cut off my fucking fingers!’ I look at Gabriel. ‘Your dad cut off two of my goddamn fingers!’ I look around the tent, ready to hurl every insult and threat I have at Theo. Which to be fair won’t do much. But swearing and shouting will definitely make me feel better.

‘I know it’s a stupid question, but how are you feeling?’ Gabriel asks me.

‘Like I’ve had two of my fingers cut off! How do you bloody think?! What a stupid fucking question, you utter prat.’

As soon as I see the look of misery on his face my anger eases. I sigh heavily and slump back against the post.

‘I’m thirsty,’ I tell him in a much calmer manner. ‘And I have one hell of a headache. That lightning is bloody agony!’

‘You’re telling me,’ he mutters in agreement. ‘And…your hand?’ he asks.

I wiggle the remaining digits. ‘Sore. Really sore. Now I get why my aunt was screaming so much. What happened? Where are they?’

‘You passed out. Theo was about to cut off another finger when Jensen threw him off you. He said he was going to come back when you woke up. Finish what he’d started. Unless…’

‘Unless what?’ I see the look on his face. Regret.

‘I’m sorry. I couldn’t let you go through anymore.’

He looks so ashamed of himself. I’m ashamed for him.

‘You told him, didn’t you? Who has the journal?’ He nods and looks at the two fingers on the floor in front of him. My anger’s back. ‘You bloody idiot! All we had to do was wait it out. You knew help was coming!’ I can’t even look at him. I’m so angry. ‘So, what now?’ I demand. ‘There’s no reason for him to keep you alive is there! He’s going to kill you. Keep me here. Find that book and make me commit mass murder. Your dad!’ I scoff. ‘Nice bloody family you have. Two raging psychos for brothers and a lunatic for a dad. And then there’s you. I don’t even have the words to describe you.’

‘I panicked. You have no idea what it’s like to watch someone you care about suffer!’ He sounds angry now.

‘Someone you care about? Don’t make me laugh.’

‘I do care about you.’

‘I must have missed that while you were lying to me about who Toby was, screwing Ava and telling me I’m one of life’s permanent victims. That I deserve everything that’s happened to me. What about this, huh? Do I deserve to be missing two fucking fingers?!’

He goes quiet as I brim with anger. Anger at him, at Theo, at this whole situation and how helpless and useless I am.

‘I don’t deserve this. You deserve it. You and Grayson. You deserve death for what you’ve done.’

‘Theo won’t kill me. He can’t,’ he says after a few moments.

Again, I scoff. ‘I don’t think he feels very paternal towards you. And you’re not immortal. You can die, Gabriel!’

‘Yes, but he won’t kill me. The spell that we did, the one that keeps us all young… it’s linked us.’ He can’t stop looking at the fingers.

‘Will you stop looking at those and focus on the current situation, please? What do you mean it’s linked you?’

He tears his eyes away from the fingers and looks at me instead.

‘Basically, if one of us dies, we all die. Theo won’t kill us because he doesn’t want to die. Grayson, me, Collins, Theo and Toby are all linked to the same spell,’ he sighs and leans his head back as I take in what he’s saying. ‘No one else in the world knows that. It’s one of our most guarded secrets.’

‘Oh well, I’m honoured,’ I sneer as I pull at the rope around my wrists, but all that does is anger the wound on my fingers. I can feel something wrapped around my palm. I move, looking over my shoulder as much as possible and see a blood-soaked bandage covering the stumps. I suppose they wouldn’t want me to lose too much blood. They need me alive after all. I really can’t believe I’ve lost two fingers.

‘How long was I out?’

‘I’m not sure. An hour, maybe a little more.’

‘The cuff went on about an hour and a half before that,’ I tell him. He nods understanding what I’m saying. Grayson will be here soon. I long to feel my magic. To get free of these restraints. To get somewhere safe. To leave them all behind. Grayson wouldn’t give me access. Why would he? He has no idea what’s happening. As far as he’s aware, I’ve just done a runner.

‘I’m sorry,’ he says again.

‘It’s done. We just need to get out of here and find the journal before Theo does.’

‘Not that. Us. I’m sorry about what happened. What I said-’

‘I really couldn’t care less what you think of me because, to be honest, my opinion of you is in the toilet. Everything that comes out of your mouth is a lie,’ I tell him. ‘Theo told me about Rose. About what you did to her. No wonder you wouldn’t tell me. I would never have slept with you if I knew. I would never have stayed in that house if I knew what you had done.’

His eyes fill with shame. He swallows painfully and starts chewing on his lower lip.

‘What exactly did he say?’ he asks.

‘That you and Grayson tortured her. That you got in her head trying to make her fall in love with Grayson and that he got her pregnant twice as a result.’ He doesn’t say a word. ‘I was chained to a wall for two years, Gabriel. Alone. In the dark. What you did to her…’ I shake my head, fighting the bile in my throat as I think of it. ‘That and the fact that you’re trying to start a war with humanity-’

‘A war?’ He looks at me like I’m insane. ‘We’re not trying to start a war!’

‘No?’ I voice drips with sarcasm.

‘No!’ he repeats flatly. ‘We train the Nomads. Sure. We teach them how to defend themselves because no one else will. When the veil comes down, Hunters will come looking for a fight. And yeah, we’ll fight back. But we won’t go looking for trouble. I don’t want to live through another war. I don’t want to kill humans. I don’t want to kill anyone! But I will if they come after me. Or the people I care about.’

‘And Grayson? What does he want?’

‘He wants power. He wants to the be the strongest. Being the leader of a new generation of Witches is all he’s wanted since the Veil was put up. We have the islands ready, Lilly. We have our future homes waiting for us. If he starts planning a war before magic returns, I’ll stop him. We all will, I assure you. No one wants a fight. Not me, not Collins, not the Nomads… no one.’

I’m not sure if I believe him, but I see nothing but honesty and genuine truth on his face.

‘I swear to you. All we want is to be free. If humans leave us alone, we will leave them alone.’

‘Do you trust Grayson?’

‘With the Veil? With succeeding in returning magic? Yes. I trust him. We must be free. The alternative is death. Grayson will get us there, that I’m sure of. The veil must come down. Do you know what will happen to us all if we don’t? This will seem like a holiday compared to what Hunters will do to us.’

‘Did you do those things to Rose?’ I ask quickly before I change my mind.

I was hoping for denial. But instead, he lowers his head and gives a small nod. Everything inside me feels like it’s slowly turning to ash and crumbling. These people are not what I thought. Grayson and Gabriel are wicked men. Is there anyone good on this planet?

‘I hate you more than anyone else on this planet.’

‘Yeah well, I hate me too,’ he mumbles.

There are voices outside the tent. They’re getting closer. It’s two men, and it sounds like they’re arguing. Gabriel looks past me to the door. I look over my shoulder towards the sound of their voices. I can’t see anyone but I know that whoever it is, they’re not happy and they’re coming this way.

‘What now,’ I groan.

‘Sorry, gents,’ says a third voice from outside. ‘No one’s allowed in. Orders direct from Theodore and Jensen.’

‘I only need a few minutes,’ says one of the men that were arguing. ‘No one needs to know.’

‘Sorry, Jay. Answer’s no.’

‘I just want to look him in the eye. Do you know who that is in there? What he’s done?’

‘I’m well aware, but this is bigger than your own personal vendetta. Take your brother, turn around, and leave. No good will come of seeing him.’

There’s a scuffle before someone gets punched hard. I hear them hit the floor.

‘Gabriel?’ I whisper, my body twisted so I can see the door. ‘What’s happening?’

‘I don’t know, but whatever it is, keep quiet,’ he says sternly. ‘Don’t say a word. Let me deal with it.’

The flap that acts like the door is pulled open. A man with short ginger hair walks in followed swiftly by another man. He too has ginger hair, but his is a little longer. These must be the brothers that just knocked out our guard. The one with short hair looks straight at Gabriel like he wants to kill him.

‘Well, this can’t be good,’ Gabriel says when I turn to look at him.

‘Jay, please,’ the one with longer hair says, pulling on his brother’s arm. ‘We shouldn’t be in here. Jensen will have our heads-’

‘I’m not going anywhere,’ Jay replies. He doesn’t blink as he stares daggers at Gabriel. ‘Do you remember me?’

Gabriel looks him up and down then shrugs. ‘Should I?’

Jay charges forwards, his fists balled up and shaking he’s so filled with anger and hatred. His brother runs after him, grabs his arm and holds him back.

‘Get off me, Tom!’ Jay hisses, trying to pull his arm free.

‘This won’t achieve anything!’ Tom says desperately as he’s dragged forwards by a determined Jay. They stop between us facing Gabriel. All I can see are their backs. Jay’s panting. His shoulders are rising and falling quickly as he looks down at Gabriel. I peer around them to get a more unobstructed view of and see Gabriel looks as confused as me.

‘What did you do?’ I ask him. ‘Sleep with his wife? Let your brother keep his sister in your basement?’

‘You’re not helping, Lilly.’

‘I wasn’t trying to.’

With a groan, Gabriel looks up at the two of them. ‘Do I know you?’

Jay looks between us with utter disdain. Like we’re the filthiest vermin ever to exist. But he settles his attention on Gabriel.

‘You really don’t remember me?’ Jay squats down making them eye level while wearing a cruel sneer. ‘Nothing about me looks familiar?’

Gabriel looks. He really looks but shakes his head. ‘Sorry mate. No idea.’

‘Six months ago,’ Jay starts as Tom lingers by my feet watching the door nervously. ‘You and a group of your Nomad scum raided one of our camps.’

‘Did we?’

‘You did,’ Jay spits back. ‘I was there. So were my two brothers.’ He gestures to Tom. ‘We got out. But our oldest brother didn’t. Nick. You killed him.’

He holds eye contact with him but keeps quiet.

‘Are you going to deny it?’

‘I’m sorry if-’

‘There’s no if, Witch scum. You came into our home and killed my brother.’ Jay’s face gets redder as anger takes control. He pulls out a knife from his jacket pocket and gets to his feet. I stare at the blade, but Gabriel keeps his eyes on Jay.

‘You killed my big brother. You’re an abomination that should have died centuries ago but yet here you are. Contaminating the world with your poisonous words and you,’ he looks down at me. ‘You’re worse than all of them.’

‘Me?’ What did I do? I have no idea what you’re on about!’

‘You have the chance to end all this. To destroy their species and yet you refuse. You make me sick.’

‘They’re your species too,’ I remind him. ‘You’re a Descendant.’

‘Stop talking, Witch bitch.’ He takes a step towards me with that knife in clear view. ‘I heard Theo cut off two of those fingers of yours. Maybe I should make it three!’

The mere threat makes me feel faint. I’ve only just woken up from my last torture session. I can’t face any more. Not yet.

‘Actually…’ Gabriel says arrogantly with a cocky grin. ‘I think I do remember your brother. Long ginger hair, tied back in a ponytail…right?’ Jay stops walking towards me.              ‘Yeah. Yeah, I do remember.’ Gabriel starts to laugh as if remembering something funny. ‘Yeah. He was the guy that pissed himself as he opened fire on his own men.

‘Shut up!’ Jay snaps.

‘A full-grown man pissing himself,’ Gabriel laughs. ‘That was worth the visit to your camp alone.’

Jay turns his back on me and faces Gabriel instead.

‘I heard he cried for his mummy.’ Gabriel keeps on goading. Insulting him, his brother and the camp in general. Calling them pathetic, weak little children until finally, Jay can’t take anymore. He yells and charges forwards, the knife pointing straight at Gabriel ready to go into his neck.

‘NO!’ I scream. Gabriel’s tied up. What the hell can he do against an armed madman?

As soon as Jay’s in reach, Gabriel kicks out his leg in a large swiping motion knocking the irrational Jay to the floor. As he lays on his back dazed and winded from the hard fall, Gabriel lifts his foot and slams his boot down on Jay’s face, knocking him out cold leaving the knife to lay in his limp hand. Tom runs forwards to help his brother, but Gabriel puts his heavy boot on Jay’s throat and presses down.

‘One more step, Tom, and I’ll snap his neck.’ He’s suddenly extremely serious. All the mockery that was just there has gone. This was his plan all along.

Tom freezes and I’m watching everything with bated breath. Gabriel nods to the knife by Jay’s hand.

‘I want you to pick up that knife, and cut through her ropes.’ He presses down a little harder with his foot. ‘If you try anything, Tom, I will kill your brother. Do you understand me?’

Tom nods looking petrified and slowly makes his way over to the knife, keen to stay as far away from Gabriel as possible. He scoops it up and walks back to me, not taking his eyes off Gabriel and his brother.

As Tom starts cutting my ropes, Gabriel says, ‘For the record. I didn’t kill your brother. My men and I did go to your camp. And only because you had taken two of our people hostage. Two young girls that you tortured for three days might I add. I set up a perimeter of your men and ordered them to open fire on anyone who attempted to follow us after we left. Your brother was one of those men. I remember him. If your brother died, it was from your own people trying to get past him. Not us. I also have no idea if he pissed himself.’ Tom doesn’t say anything as he cuts. And neither do I. Because that seems remarkably fair if that’s what happened. Free, I toss the rope as far away from me as possible before taking off the binding spell watch. My magic comes back in the most welcome rush.

‘Give her the knife,’ Gabriel instructs.

Tom does as he’s told and I get to my feet, knife in hand. I sway a little, but I’m so full of determination and adrenaline I push past my wooziness. With all the strength I have left, with all the anger and hatred that’s currently coursing through me, I pull back my fist and slam it hard into Tom’s face. He spins before he falls and lands face down. He doesn’t get up.

I turn my attention to Gabriel. The knife still in my hand. Slowly he moves his foot away from Jay’s neck as he looks up at me. I don’t rush to him. I don’t ask if he’s okay. I just look down at him.

‘Are you going to help me get free?’ he asks.

‘Did you free Rose?’ I ask back.

He shakes his head and lowers his gaze.

‘No. you didn’t.’ I take a step back. ‘You don’t deserve to be saved. You don’t deserve freedom or peace.’

‘You’re probably right.’

‘Goodbye, Gabriel.’

‘Bye, Beautiful.’

I turn and start to walk away.

When I reach the tent door, he hasn’t said a word. No pleading for me to free him. No attempts to explain anything. Nothing. I can’t help but look back.

There he sits. Tied to the post, still bleeding and still silent, but watching me. I know what he’s done. To me. To Rose. And there’s probably a million other things that would turn my stomach. I know he’s far from a good man and yet… I can’t walk away. The truth is, I love a man that doesn’t exist. I love a lie. But still, I love. I know I have to leave. I have to walk away for my own safety. But I can’t. The idea of never seeing the version of him I knew up until the night we came back from his hotel room hurts more than Theo’s lightning. More than losing a finger. More than my uncle’s cane. My insides are being torn to pieces at the mere idea of never seeing my Gabriel again. Not the man I’ve come to know in the last few days, but my Gabriel. The man who held me so I could fall asleep. The man who read to me. The man who defended me. Who made me laugh. Who looked at me like I was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

But they are one and the same.

All I can do is stand by the door and let those silent tears slide down my cheeks as I struggle to decide what to do.

‘It’s okay,’ he says. ‘I understand. Go. Run.’ He nods to the door. ‘Get as far away from here as you can. Don’t stop. Never stop running. From Theo, from Grayson, from Toby. Find somewhere and disappear.’ Tears tumble down his cheeks. They land on his lips which smile sweetly and blend with the blood. My feet shuffle back, but still, I don’t leave.

I could turn and run. Disappear. My binding spell is in my pocket. All I need to do is destroy it and Grayson would never find me. The Bloodstone would be pointless. I could cut my hair. Colour it. Make myself a new person. I’m a survivor. I could do it. Leave the world of witches behind. Leave The Orchard. Leave them to their violence and battles. I could finally be free. As I turn and reach out to pull open the door I freeze. If I leave, they will never be free.

‘Lilly, go,’ he says firmly despite a quaking voice. ‘Go before Grayson gets here. Before Theo knows you’re free.’ When I don’t move, he shouts. ‘FUCKING GO!’

‘The night we spent together. At the hotel,’ I turn and look him in the eye. ‘Did you tell me you loved me?’

He just keeps watching me as another tear tumbles down his cheek.

‘Did you?’

‘Please…just go.’

I turn and walk back to him, kneeling by his side and shake my head.

‘No,’ I say simply. I wipe my tears away with my sleeve and shake my head. ‘Not until I understand.’ I rest my hands on his head. ‘Let me in. Show me’

‘Show you what?’ he asks.

‘Who you really are. You said Theo told me his version. Turned me against you. You treated me like trash, but you clearly care about me. I don’t want to hear more lies. I want to see the truth.’ I hold his head firmly, one hand each side of his face, and look into his eyes which are staring straight back at me.

‘Just leave,’ he says. ‘Save yourself.’

‘I can’t,’ I admit, trying hard not to just burst into tears. ‘I can’t walk away from you. Not yet.’

‘Why?!’ he asks desperately as his tears spill over my thumb. ‘Everything I’ve said, all the things I’ve done-’

‘They don’t make sense! I need to see for myself who you are.’

‘I’m a wicked man.’ He looks me straight in the eye. ‘I’m evil. I manipulate and lie to get what I want. You were no different. I wanted to fuck you. I did. Now I want you to go.’

His words are cruel, but they’re lies. I can see it in his eyes. Like when he was goading Jay to try and protect me.

‘No,’ I insist. ‘You keep pushing me away, and I don’t understand so please…please. If you have ever cared about me, let me in.’

‘I never cared about you.’ He pulls his face away from my hands. ‘Just go!’

‘I can’t!’

‘WHY?!’

‘Because I love you!’ I sob. His eyes flick up to mine in shock as I say those words.

‘What…what did you just say to me?’

‘I told you that I’m in love with you, Gabriel. I do. I love you completely. And I know you told me you love me too. At the hotel. I remember it. You told me, then you broke my heart. You did something unspeakable to Rose, but I see how much pain it causes you. I need to know that a good man can care about me. Not just cruel, evil men that hurt me, so please…’ I cry desperately, begging for him to help me. Holding his face in my hands and resting my nose against his, I say, ‘Please let me see why you’ve done the things you’ve done. Please let me see that the man I love is a good man.’

‘I’m not a good man,’ he whispers. ‘Looking into my memories will not bring you comfort.’

‘I’m not seeking comfort. I’m seeking the truth. Show me, or you will never, ever see me again. And I will never forgive you. Not for what you did with Ava or to Rose. But for turning your back on me when I love you and need you as much as I do right now.’ I tighten my hold on his head and channel my magic into his mind. ‘Let me in. Show me Rose. Show me us. Show me the truth.’