“You must hurry,” the old man warned us. “They are returning and I see too many visions on what can happen, not all of them good.”
I took that as the warning it was and listened for Peter. His heartbeat was different, like mine it beat slower and I heard him clearly. I let out a relieved breath as I heard it coming closer.
“I need to come with you,” the old man said, already joining the witches and gesturing for me and Felix to follow him outside.
Looking behind me, I saw Peter and the other witches coming up from the basement, Peter holding a man, he was sleeping like Astrea was, but that was not what had me worried. No, what had my entire body locking up, was Peter’s expression. I had seen that look on him too many times over the centuries. It was the look he had after he killed Astrid. When Frederik told him he wanted to die. When he lost loved ones to old age.
Whoever the man was, Peter was somehow grieving for him.
We met up with the other witches outside and hurried back to our cars, just when six cars appeared in the distance.
The old man spoke up, causing every hair on my body to stand. “There will be blood.”
Then a flaming crystal flew through the air, whooshing past me so fast my hair blew away from the impact, a scream behind me told me it had hit one of the witches. More screams followed, and all I could focus on was keeping Felix and Astrea safe.
Running as fast as I could, I placed Astrea in my car, then ran back and grabbed Felix. He was my priority. If I could just get them outof the way, then I would be able to fight properly. With them safe I could protect the others.
Peter placed the sleeping young man he carried into the car with Felix and Astrea, then joined my side, his gaze tracking the incoming witches.
The old man stood amongst our witches, clearly picking his side as he faced his coven. They sneered and continued to throw their explosive crystals, each getting thwarted by Dina’s coven. The old man took out a dark blue crystal, making his previous coven freeze their attack, one woman yelled, “Brent! NO!” Then he threw it, his aim perfect for such an old man. It hit the ground in front of the yelling woman, breaking on impact, blue smoke erupting from it, seeping out and making every witch fall to the ground like domino pieces. One after the other, they all fell.
“We only have ten minutes before they wake up,” the old man—Brent—said calmly, wiping his hands on his jeans. “Is there room for me in one of the vehicles? I can’t drive myself any longer, the vision not what it once was.”
Dina blinked, then smiled at the old man. “Of course. Let’s move out of here.”
And so, we did. The wounded witches were placed carefully inside the backseats while the others jumped in next to them, prepared to heal them while they drove towards our castle.
I sat in the driver seat again, Felix next to me, Astrea, Peter, and the sleeping man behind us. Dina drove with the others, taking Brent with her so they could talk.
I had to believe the old man was truly on our side, and Peter had trusted him enough to wait for my guidance, which told me his aura was good enough for us to let him come with us.
Looking at the GPS, I let out a relieved breath. We were far enough away from the compound now, that I could finally breathe.
Smiling, I turned to look at Felix, but my smile died. He was looking at his wrist, where a crystal was embedded, blinking like a ticking bomb as it sat on his skin, his face turned to mine, his eyes wide and fearful. Then the crystal stopped blinking.
Chapter 17
Felix
Pain.
The worst pain I’d ever felt rushed through my body, tightening my nerves together and making them burn like they’d been filled with acid.
I couldn’t scream.
Couldn’t move.
All I could do was feel.
Pain.
Pain.
Pain.
Chapter 18
Severin
