My hand had barely touched the doorframe when I crashed to the ground, the pain cutting through my brain so intense that all I could see was a blinding white light behind my eyes.
The muscles of my back clenched, arching me up to an unnatural curve on the floor. Vaguely, I felt Schwint’s hand slip under the back of my head in an attempt to protect me from bashing it on the ground. He was screaming something, but I couldn’t make it out.
The pain continued, spiking, then fading just enough so it could skyrocket once more. It was like it had been at home, the pain that had brought me here in the first place.
On the verge of passing out, the agony left abruptly, and I crumpled in a heap.
He’s already where he belongs. I did your job for you. Pathetic. You can’t even follow through when I set it up for you. If it helps, he didn’t even make it to a back room. Wasn’t even good enough for that.
Tears fell over my cheeks. I wasn’t sure if they were due to the pain, for the lost boy, or because I’d failed him due to my hesitation.
Schwint helped me sit up, keeping his arm around my shoulders. “What was that?”
“That boy—” I noticed the smile that was plastered over Hazel’s face as she watched from behind Schwint. She knew. Somehow she knew. “I’ll tell you later.”
Sensing my tone, Schwint didn’t question any further and helped me stand once I caught my breath. I forced my eyes to meet Hazel’s cloudy, blue gaze. “You’ve been avoiding me, warlock. I didn’t think you’d be so easy to scare off.”
When I didn’t answer, her eyes darted to Schwint. “And you. I’ve seen you with him many times, some even before your consummating began. What fear have I put in you?”
“My lovely Hazel.” Schwint’s voice dripped sarcasm but somehow retained enough sweetness to pass as flirtatious. “You know my entire universe revolves around you. Please forgive me for my lack of attention.”
She lifted her hand to caress Schwint’s cheek before giving it a sharp smack. “Too charming for your own good. I would have thought you would have heeded my warnings by now.”
“Oh, I have, Hazel. I have. I’m only charming one boy at the moment.” He gave her a conspiratorial wink. “It’s taking all my charm to hold on to this one.”
I was struggling, trying to put the boy out of my mind. I couldn’t do anything for him now. As much as I wanted to turn and run, I couldn’t. I had to see this through. The longer I waited, the more of myself I’d lose.
Hazel’s syrupy sweet smile turned to me. “You’re closer to the reason you came to me before, aren’t you?” She leaned closer, to the point it felt like she was staring up my nose. “Or maybe you’re there right now. You are, aren’t you?”
I tried to step back, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t sure if she had a hold of me or if she’d done some sort of spell. “I still don’t know what you’re talking about, Hazel. I came for help last time, and all you gave me were riddles that made no sense.”
Her gravelly voice broke into a garbled laugh. “Oh, yes, that’s right! You came here searching for a vampire! Hoping to avenge your lover of the moment, isn’t that right? A demon, if I recall, which I do, of course.” Her gaze flicked to Schwint. “A very handsome lover.”
Surprisingly, he didn’t rise to the bait.
Hazel shrugged and turned back to me. “How’d that work out for you, deary? Kill the vampire? Save the boy? Live happily ever after?”
Shame flooded through me. As much as I didn’t care what this witch thought of me, I couldn’t help but see myself through her eyes. A love-struck boy who should have been old enough to know better, giving his heart away to the first handsome demon that came along without a second thought. To top it off, she’d just seen me fail to save some poor kid. I forced myself to meet her gaze. “I’ve learned my lesson.”
“Maybe so, maybe so.” She jerked her head toward Schwint. “From demon to fairy. Quite the trade.” Another laugh broke her words, the revolting sound of phlegm in her throat. “Most would say you settled. I know better. In some ways this one’s as much of a challenge as the demon, isn’t he?”
My heart clenched at the words. Despite how much my dislike of her was turning into hate, she seemed to know things. Did she know we were doomed?
She patted my cheek again. Almost sweetly this time. “Oh, breathe, little warlock. Breathe. I’m not soothsaying at the moment. Just observations of an old woman.”
I eyed her gray hair. “You’re not that old.” I looked down her body, once more taking in her stereotypical witch garb, letting my disdain show, letting my anger do some actual good. I’d had enough of her claiming the upper hand. “And,Hazel, really? Wasn’t that the witch’s name in the Donald Duck cartoons? Couldn’t you have at least shot for a little more originality, or at least more class? Hecate, maybe?”
“Watch your tongue, boy. I don’t care if you’re special. As I said before, I know you won’t use your power to do me harm, not that you’ve even tried to tap into it.” Her lips curved into an ugly sneer. “Which is worse? A witch who dresses a fool but holds true power, or one that thinks he’s superior but is too timid to grasp what is within him?”
I didn’t know the meaning of her words, but they once again elicited shame. “Save your threats, Hazel. I already know I can’t be hurt here. You said as much the last time I was here.”
“True.” Her look told me she’d love to disagree with me and to prove otherwise. “But just because I can’t make you bleed again, doesn’t mean I have to help you either.”
At the mention of bleeding, the image of her wiping my blood on the inside of her collar flashed through my mind. I’d cut myself on one of the morning star weapons, and she’d wiped away my blood. What seemed strange at the time suddenly proved sinister. “My blood! That’s part of what’s going on right now, isn’t it? You did something! Gave it to—”
The door chime interrupted, and the three of us looked over. A large woman, tall and muscular, clothed in a simple brown sheath, stepped into the store. I couldn’t make out the color of her hair under her hood, but her skin tone, nose, and cheekbones gave away her Middle Eastern ethnicity.
Hazel’s eyes grew wide, and she looked back at me, muttering quickly while picking the fake wart off the side of her nose and shoving it into a fold of her skirts. “Give us time. There are those even more important than you, if you dare to believe it.”
