Page 52 of Rogue Witch

Jonas backs away so that I stand between him and Stony, who is half snorting in what I think is laughter at the vampire’s expense. A great weight presses down upon me as if an anvil is balanced on my shoulders. I try to take a deep breath, but pain slices through my lungs. I breathe in short breaths like a woman giving birth, and the ground rumbles as the others are lifted up en masse.

The vampire growls, Stony stands her ground. Thank God for Stony. My legs shake under the weight of the spell. One of the female students screams and loses her balance. I gasp. Pain rips through me.

Jonas jumps to the edge of the crevasse and shouts, “Eagle.”

An eagle the size of an elephant appears and swoops into the crevasse. Jonas’ attention remains on the crevasse while I watch in horror as a Shadow slithers around my neck, then down my shirt an instant before the group of students rise out of the crevasse followed by a large eagle with a girl in its talons. Did the Shadow enter my chest?

The students are placed gently on the ground and I fall to my knees. The eagle sets the girl on the ground then, with a loud screech, flies away. I draw in gulps of breath and can’t halt the tears. A second Shadow has invaded my body. I taste bile. I’m going to go insane. I’ll hurt people. What am I going to do?

Ariel and Anthony whirl to face me.

“Get her,” Ariel snarls.

I can’t muster enough strength to care if they throw me into the crevasse. Does she know I’m infected? She might be right to throw me into the crevasse. Jonas looks from me to her. The other Shadow floats closer to Jonas. The things don’t have eyes, but I know it’s got the kid in its sights. Jonas is considering using magic to stop Ariel and Anthony.

Stony bellows and swipes at the vampire, who isn’t quick enough to miss the backhanded blow. He’s thrown back and Stony whirls as I push to my feet.

“Don’t do it, Jonas,” I order in a hoarse voice.

Stony bellows again and rushes Ariel and Anthony. Ariel and Anthony back away as the rest of the group scatters.

“You’re infected with Shadows,” I tell Ariel and Anthony. I don’t remind her that she instigated a hanging—and leave out the part about me being infected. “We have to work together to get out of here. Remember what they taught us at The Academy. Peace, harmony, and love.” Anger bubble in my chest. How can I possibly work with Ariel? “Listen, Ariel,” I say. “Hate me all you want, but think of the other students. We can get them out of here.”

She sneers and pain seers through me as my soul is ripped from my body.

Chapter Nineteen

BLADE

I sit on the couch in Raith’s office. Ethan sits on the opposite couch and, like me, he’s ignoring the conversation between Raith and the Kispu witch, Delta Winterling. Neither of us are fond of the Atlantean gods and we care even less about their problems. The Atlantean goddess paid us another visit this morning, demanding we immediately call a Kispu witch to help them. Olympia will do almost anything to avoid contact with the Kispu, so she assigned Raith the task of sending the witch to the gods.

My eyes are heavy with exhaustion and I contemplate my bed. Despite my fatigue, my head spins with unanswered questions, not the least of which is how can we convince Zedkeil to call forth Damien again so that we can attempt to kill him? I still can’t believe the angel called forth Damien. I close my eyes and, as has happened the last two days, Leilah’s face rises in memory. I am completely powerless to help her.

I snap my eyes open and straighten. “Wait a minute.”

Ethan frowns. “What?”

“Wait.” I nod toward the witch. Kispu witches are half witch half empaths who read a person’s energy and sometimes their thoughts.

“I can’t say when Eldione will arrive,” Raith tells Delta. “But it should be soon. The gods are worried.”

Delta gives a low laugh. “They should be, considering the way they treated us the last time we helped them.” She adds in a mutter, “Ungrateful bitch,” then stands. “I’m going to get a cup of your cafeteria coffee. It’s pretty good. Send the goddess to me when she arrives.”

Eldione won’t like having to search for Delta. Raith knows that, but nods. The witch leaves and I shove to my feet. “I think there’s a way we can help—”

Approaching bootfalls cause me to close my mouth. A Watchman enters. He glances from me and Ethan to Raith. “We’ve had a demon try to enter the grounds on the northwest wall.”

“What?” Ethan says in unison with my “Happens every time.”

Though frequency of occurrence doesn’t make the attempt any less unnerving. Which is why four parents took their children out of school and won’t allow them to return until the Reaping is over. More parents might have pulled their children, but most are out-of-state students.

“It wasn’t successful, I assume?” Raith says.

The Watchman shakes his head. “No. We’ve reinforced the wards. Anyone—or anything—that shouldn’t be here and tries to enter”—he shrugs—“are in for a big surprise.”

“Good. Keep patrols tight,” Raith says.

The Watchman leaves and I cross the room and close the door. “I think there’s a way we can help Leilah,” I say.