The woman from the club—the one who said she created the wards—is standing near Vanessa, with a furious look of concentration on her face as her lips move silently with a rushed fervor.
I stalk forward, not in the least worried about Gunnar or the others behind me. I have one objective in mind—her.
She doesn’t even seem to notice me when I step right in front of her. Her eyes are open, but unseeing, as she continues to chant. I pull back my fist and put all my effort into punching her square in the nose. Her eyes widen as her head jerks back. Her hands fly up to cover her face just before a river of blood starts pouring over her lips. That felt fucking good.
I reach back again, but she ducks her head and cowers with her hands raised above her head. One punch—that’s way too easy. I wanted to enjoy this more. “Tell me about the Charmed ones,” I grate, pissed that she’s giving up so easily.
“I… we…” She stammers, peeking up at me to see if I’m still going to hit her. “Antonio taught us the magic,” she blurts, and looks over my shoulder.
I jerk my eyes in the same direction and see the back of Vanessa’s head as she and a few others disappear deeper into the house. “Hey!” I shout, and all three of the guys’ heads turn in my direction. Gunnar is holding yet another man by his shoulders, apparently shaking the life out of him, if the way the man’s head is lolling around is any indication. Calix’s fist is pulled back much like mine was moments ago, poised to strike, while Grim is just standing a few feet away from me with a circle of bodies all around his feet. Not a hair is ruffled on his head. I grin up at him, wishing I would walk over and kiss the hell out of him.
I look away, but my voice comes out a little husky as I say, “Vanessa is leaving.” Who knew I liked carnage so much?
Gunnar drops the lifeless man in his arms, and steps over another near his feet, charging after the witch. Grim is quick to follow.
I put my attention back on the squealing rat in front of me. I sense Calix as he steps up to my back. “So, you were telling me about Antonio?” I question her, knowing Gunnar and Grim can handle Vanessa without a problem.
The woman looks around the room at what I’m assuming might be her friends—or at least her associates—littered on the floor or trying to sneak away unnoticed. “He taught us how to siphon the powers and not take the kickback, how to disperse it through the seekers,” she confirms, solidifying what we’d already suspected.
I reach for her and she flinches, turning her face away from me as I lock my fingers around her throat. “Where is Aeson?” My voice is nothing but a growl. Calix lays a hand on my shoulder when the witch’s eyes begin to bulge.
I release the tips of my fingers, just slightly, and shake her in my hand. “The Brownie!” I demand.
“I…” She coughs violently. “I think she was next.” She wheezes in another breath, tears filling her eyes. “Please, don’t hurt me,” she begs, and I tighten my hand again. She claws at my fingers and opens her mouth like a fish. “I’ll take you to her,” she croaks, beseeching.
I release her, and she falls to the floor. I crouch with her as she holds her neck, swallowing. “If she’s hurt, I will scoop your eyes out with jagged spoons and cauterize the wounds. Then I will peel each piece of your flesh off and feed it to Theius.” As I stand, I deliver a kick to her stomach that sends her sliding a few feet across the marble floor. I’m disgusted by her. Calix pulls me back, as if he knows I’m tempted to kick her again.
A scream from farther in the house has me looking in the direction that the others went. “Get up,” I snarl at the woman. With jerky movements, she rises to her knees, using the wall for support.
“You don’t have to do this,” she offers.
I get right back in her face. “How many times have you heard that? How many times have you ignored it just to get a magic you have no right to?” The woman’s face blanches, and she averts her gaze from me. She knows there will be no mercy for her. “The only thing you can hope for is a quick death,” I snarl, and shove her forward.
She stumbles in front of us as we make our way to where I heard the screams. We have to step over bodies along the way. The hall leads to a solid wooden door. It looks expensive, but the way it’s hanging half off the hinges shows me she should have chosen something stronger.
Grim is standing off to the side, his eyes already inspecting me as we walk into the room. Gunnar is facing off with Vanessa, her chin is tipped up in the air with a defiant set to her jaw.
“You should have just told me, Vanessa.” Gunnar sounds disappointed in her.
“You would have killed me either way, but now he knows you’re coming, and he’ll be ready.” Her eyes darken and thick, black veins start spilling over her skin, rushing up to her face. A sinister smile splits her lips and black goo drips from her mouth like sludge. A mirthless laugh bubbles up and her hand opens, dropping a small stone to the ground.
“I would never let you kill me,” Vanessa sneers at Gunnar. “You don’t deserve my life, or any other. We made you!” she screams, dropping to one knee, her eyes still locked on Gunnar, but then she turns her focus to me. “He’s coming for you,” she whispers, before crumpling face first onto the gleaming wooden floor.
Her stench of death and rot permeate the room far quicker than what should be possible. The last witch standing’s shoulders are trembling as she heaves sobs into her hands. “How did you see this playing out?” I question the woman who promised to take me to Aeson. “Did you think you would just get away with killing people?”
“He said he’d been doing it forever,” she snivels, as if it’s an excuse.
“I can’t even look at her.” I turn around and storm out of the room. Grim is close on my heels. I trust Gunnar and Calix to bring the witch. I have every intention of finding Aeson tonight, but I need to get the hell out of this house.
* * *
“Areyou sure we should trust her alone in there? Couldn’t she cast some sort of spell or some shit?” I glare through the car window at the witch locked inside. There was no way I was letting her contaminated ass in Betty. Calix left his bike at the Lakeview house and drove here with the witch in one of the cars that were at Vanessa’s. It’s not like she needs it now.
“That woman couldn’t do a spell right now if her life depended on it.” Gunnar balls up his fists. “As soon as I know she isn’t lying about this being the location of the rituals, she’ll be dead anyway,” he adds.
“Just dying might be too easy for her. You wait until I find Aeson before you do anything,” I demand, looking around at the empty alleyway.
We’re at a crossroads, in the center of four dilapidated warehouses. All the buildings are tall and look abandoned for the most part. A few have overflowing dumpsters next to them, but I don’t see any cars or activity to indicate anyone is using this place.
