I would be lying to myself to pretend I wasn’t a little jealous that Romy had her mother back from the dead, and mine was firmly six feet under in the ground. But in the same breath, it gave me a lick of comfort that one of us had a happy ending secured.
I’d learned that sometimes a family found is just as powerful as a family lost.
A ragged cough sounded from beyond the cabin. It was rough and harsh, like lungs full of cement. I could only imagine that Tomin was returning, and from the sharp look Verena gave the door, she confirmed it.
“Time to say goodbye,” I said to Verena before turning my attention to Emon. “Be kind to her. Get her back to the coven. You have my unwavering support when it comes to making sure every single one of them gets out of this hellhole. Do what you need to do to help Kai, because no doubt he will have some trouble along the way.”
Emon nodded, I thought. Did snakes nod? Either way, his agreement thundered down our tether, like a taut string on aninstrument plucked, the note beautiful and strong.“Survive, witchling. Who else am I going to taunt when this is all said and done?”
“God, I couldn’t possibly miss out on that, could I?”
Another throaty cough came from outside the cabin, followed by the tinkling of keys.
“Go,” I commanded, breathlessly. “Now.”
Emon sprung at Verena, the shadows gathering around the demon and spreading out like the cloak. It engulfed them both, stealing away my company and leaving me alone.
Before the final wisp of darkness dissipated, the door was kicked open, likely because Tomin had heard me speaking. It cracked into the wall with a thud. Rain burst into the cabin, splattering the side of my face as Tomin just stood on the precipice, wild eyes looking around for who I had just shouted at.
“Where isshe?”
My back straightened against the wall, my sore head leaning harder into the wood. If anything the pain would keep me alert whilst I waited for Bahmet to act.
“Who?” I said, nonchalantly.
Tomin growled, stormed over to me and stood just shy of his boots kicking into my leg. “Don’t play dumb with me, boy. Verena. What have you done?”
“Aw. Boy? That’s nice and extremely flattering. Do you want my ID to check my age? I mean I know I still get ID for energy drinks, but surely my complexion isn’tthatgood?”
Tomin’s hand lifted suddenly, ready to strike the sarcasm off my mouth. I noticed his fingers were black and blue, but not as bent and ruined as I had hoped. I supposed his little curse was to thank for his unnatural ability to heal.
“Answer. Me.”
“Nah. Now, Tomin, do you really want to hit me?” I asked, refusing to look away. “Because, just a little lesson on dealing with your allies, if you do that it would be incredibly difficult when it comes to working together. After all… I’m all you have left.”
His hand, still lifted above my head, didn’t come cracking down. It didn’t take a genius to see that Tomin had just worked it out.
“You’ve traded places,” he sneered. “How gallant of you.”
“Thanks, pops,” I replied. “Look at us, turning corners and giving each other compliments. Maybe this is going to work out after all. Considering we’re both besties now, are you going to loosen these chains, or are the rumours true?”
His brow creased at that, and I grinned like a cat to cream. It felt really fucking good getting a rise out of a man who was facing his failure.
Before Tomin could utter a word, somewhere far out across the distance, a deep bell tolled. It was incredibly unnatural of course, because I didn’t remember seeing any bells around this stretch of cliff, field and sea. But the noise was clear, the signal obvious.
It was Bahmet warning of the final trial. The same sound that called back to my time during the first Witch Trials.
Tomin heard it, turning his head slightly to follow. His lip curled into a snarl. Perhaps he realised just how out of control he was in that moment. I hoped so.
“I’m going to take great pleasure in killing you, Hector Briar. Just like, if not more so, watching my son take the life of your parents. I think murdering you is going to bring me even more joy.”
My smile faltered into a grimace. “That’s awkward then, isn’t it?”
The darkness outside the cabin swelled. Bahmet’s power was gathering, racing towards us, getting ready to swallow us and take us to the final trial.
Time truly was running out, but for who was yet to be determined.
“Verena knows what is required of her. She will soon aid me, and my need for you is pointless.”
