“Says the woman who abandoned us,” Tara said with a lump of fear and resentment stuck in her throat.
“I didn’t abandon you.” Amara tsked. “I prepared the world for your ascent. I ensured you would have the universe. I have paved the road to your eternal supremacy.”
“Funny, all I remember asking for was a mom who loved me.” Tara’s eyes watered.
“Oh, Tara, I do love you,” Amara said with feigned sweetness. “You’ll see that when I get you away from your father.”
“You’re not taking her.” Tobias’ golden shield flickered.
Amara nodded to the crocodile’s corpse. “You’re not the only one who brought in a ringer, love.”
Suddenly, a blue portal opened above Tara and her father. Theodore Whitlock descended, blades in hand, and a wicked smile on his face. Tobias’ golden shield fell away entirely, and as it disappeared, so did one of the enchantment tattoos on Amara’s chest.
“Hello, Father!” Theodore stabbed Tobias in the stomach with both blades and collapsed atop the man. “How long I’ve waited for this moment.”
Tara screamed, unleashing shadow tendrils and icicles at her brother.
“None of that, my sweet.” Amara waved a hand, summoning another blue portal beneath Tara’s feet.
Shocked, she fell halfway through before triggering her levitation. Good. Now she just needed to…
The portal moved upward at Amara’s discretion, sweeping Tara away.
No. No. NO!
“It is time to go, Theodore.” Amara walked up the stairs, taking her time while Theodore carved his blades across his father’s chest.
He dragged them slowly, meticulously, and used the weight of his body and telekinesis to keep the man pinned beneath him. When Tobias screamed, Theodore laughed. When Tobias cried out, Theodore laughed louder.
“Come, now.”
“No,” Theodore snapped. “I was promised—”
“Your father’s death, which you have obtained.” Amara flicked her wrist and snapped Tobias’ neck. “I don’t have time for your petty vengeances.”
“You bitch.” Theodore leapt up; bloody blades raised.
“We’ve discussed this language.” Amara flicked her wrist again, dropping Theodore to his knees, forcing his head to bow, and his hands to release the blades. “You will be an obedient boy, or you’ll go to your room until I say otherwise.”
“Have fun opening Hell without me.”
“Sweetie, I will break you long before I need you for that.”
“Promises, promises,” Theodore said through gritted teeth.
Amara opened a blue portal, ushering Theodore to go through it. This was it. This was the last I’d see of them. They’d grabbed Tara. They’d taken Caleb for some reason. They had a hold over Katherine somehow. I couldn’t let it end like this.
There was only one solution. I severed the link to my core self and rushed into Theodore’s mind.
“Well, well, well.” Theodore shivered as he stepped through the portal. “If it isn’t my favorite psychic, come to play.”
Amarabreezed through the portal into a dark chamber with an ancient presence. The magic of this place radiated raw energy. Pillars adorned this room with crude pictographs of demons in odd stories of old, forgotten artwork. The floor was made of dirt and stone. The walls were rough and rigid like a cave, yet the ceiling was polished porcelain marble. Glowing sigils were carved across the ceiling, forming strange spells.
“Where are we?” I whispered in Theodore’s head, hoping the question alone would spark an involuntary answer from him.
Unfortunately, Theodore’s mind was far too trained, too controlled, to share revelations unintentionally.
He tilted his head, following Amara obediently. “You could learn all about this place if you delve a bit deeper into my thoughts.”
