Then a root shot through the earth beneath Vail and entwined around her legs, pulling her to the ground. The veins crept back along her skin, but she was barely breathing. I shook her and screamed, “Vail, Vail, can you hear me?”
“Rosalia!” I heard Draven cry. Turning toward him, I witnessed as Vail’s shield vanished, exposing him to the merciless morning sun. As its fiery rays embraced him, Draven’s eyes met mine, momentarily radiating a haunting beauty. I had only dreamed of seeing him bathed in sunlight. His dark locks gleamed, and his once-pale eyes sparkled with vitality, captivating me.
He was so beautiful.
But then, flames engulfed him, and the scent of burning flesh mingled with his anguished cries. Draven collapsed to his knees, and I rushed to his side, enveloping him in a desperate embrace, as if my love could shield him from the relentless sun.
“Draven,” I sobbed, clinging to him with all my strength.
He reassured me with gentle words. “Do not worry, my heart.”
I pulled back to gaze into his face once more, only to watch in despair as the flames consumed him, his once-beautiful form now writhing in agony beneath the merciless rays of the sun.
I ripped off my cloak and covered Draven’s body. My heart, my soul, was broken. I cried out, a primal scream leaving my lungs.
Amidst my cries, a sinister laughter pierced the air, and I looked up to see Agnes standing outside the circle, a cruel smirk playing on her lips.
“Pretty thing,” she said, looking at me. “Why do you remain unharmed?”
I looked down at my body. I didn’t even notice, as I watched Draven burn before me, that the sun had not affected me. I couldn’t feel the burning of the rays against my flesh, only the gentle caress of the morning light. I saw Vail crawling slowly toward her grandmother.
“You,” Agnes said, turning to her. “Never come home.” And she walked away, leaving us in the circle. Vail raised her hand out, reaching toward her grandmother, but when she looked and saw Agnes walking away, Vail's hand fell limply to the ground. Her defeat was palpable, as she wiped away the salt circle that bound us.
When she turned to face me, her eyes held a fierce determination, silently conveying a message.
As a fiery rage consumed me, I ran through the broken witch’s circle, and I lunged at Agnes, pinning her arms to her sides. With a savage ferocity, I sank my teeth into her neck, the taste of her blood flooding my mouth. In that moment, her memories flooded my mind. Vail poring over Agnes’s spell books, searching for a spell to walk in the sun. Asking Agnes if such magic existed. Lying when Agnes demanded to know why. Agnes’s hand striking her across the face for the lie.She hadn’t betrayed Draven and me; she had only sought to aid us, but Agnes had stood in her way.
A powerful blow sent me crashing to the ground. I glanced back up at Agnes. She was holding her neck, blood seeping from the wound. Suddenly, another witch appeared at her side and grabbed her. In an instant, they vanished, leaving me alone.
Covered in blood, I staggered back to where Draven lay, shrouded by my cloak. Vail knelt beside him, her sorrow palpable. Without a word, I joined her, resting my head on her shoulder as tears streamed down my face.
FORTY-SEVEN
January 31, 2010
Connor turned off the engine of his van when we got in front of Vail’s house.
“Do you want to come in for a bit?” I asked him.
He nodded and opened the door. He was silent on the whole drive over, and I didn’t want to pry into what he was thinking because I knew he was processing everything that happened tonight. Thankfully, Vail did the dishes, and there were no bloody cups anywhere. If Connor didn’t go into the fridge, then it would be fine.
As I closed the door, Connor kicked off his shoes a little too aggressively and ripped off his coat, throwing it on the ground. He walked into the living room, putting his hands over his face, and let out a small growl.
“What’s wrong with you?” I asked him.
“What’s wrong with me?” He whirled around. I’d never seen him angry before. “I just found out that my cousin is not only a drug lord, but also apparently a witch, too? Which, by the way, we haven’t gotten enough evidence on that. Why am I so stupid for not noticing what was right in front of me? When did this happen? How could I let this happen?” Connor’s words came out in rapid-fire speed as he spoke. Hebarely looked at me as he paced around, then flopped down on the couch in defeat.
“Do you believe me now?” I asked, sitting next to him.
“I believe you. I’m sorry for thinking you were lying.”
“I would never lie to you about that.” I felt my chest tighten as I thought about the actual huge lie I’d been hiding from him.
Connor smiled at me, his dimples so deep. He pulled me into a hug and held me close, sniffing my hair. “I don’t deserve you,” he said under his breath. He pulled back and kissed my forehead. “I have something for you. I’ll be back.” He put his shoes back on and left. When he came back, he had his hands hiding behind his back. “Close your eyes,” he said.
I did as I was told, though I could already smell what he held. “Okay, open.” I opened my eyes, and he was holding out a terracotta pot with a small rosemary plant inside.
“I bought this for you the other day when I was at the store. I thought you would like a new garden to take care of.” I looked at him holding that tiny plant, and my chest tightened.
