Kingdom of Darkness (Kingdom Journals Book 2) Read online

  “I love you.” I gripped his hands.

  “Don’t get caught.” He released me, turned, and jogged away. I watched his back as his form retreated, somehow with no sound of his feet on the rock.

  Looking back into the amphitheater, I studied the backs of the witches gathered there. Miguel and Maria sat in the front row. Beside them, the man I saw made my heart freeze.

  Jude. Jude. Come back. I pushed the message to him.

  “What is it?” he whispered as he reached me.

  “Look.” I pointed to his father.

  Beside me, I felt his arm go rigid. “Well, I just have one person to free now.”

  “I’m sorry.” I clutched Jude’s arm.

  “He made his choice.” He spun and dashed away.

  Sonia seemed to be chanting something. I couldn’t hear the words and didn’t want to use my magic for fear of detection. Stepping to the table, Theron ran the sword across his forearm, creating a cut inches long. Thanatos held a bowl under the wound, catching the blood as it dropped. After a minute or so, the flow slowed, and I noticed the injury had already started healing. Sonia lifted the bowl over her head, continuing her incantation. Then she brought the vessel to her lips and titled it up, drinking the contents. Handing the dish to Thanatos, she stepped forward, ascending what I guessed to be stairs, hidden from my view.

  She sat and then lay down on the table. Lifting the sword from his side, above his head, Theron joined in the chant Sonia started, his lips repeating the same phrase. Theron moved to Sonia’s side, also taking up the words. Then the congregation began reciting the lines, and the message became clear.

  Michael, we call on thee to sustain our line. Make your servant, Sonia, as timeless as you are.

  Timeless, my mind reeled. They sought to make her an angel? No, immortal! What if they all could became immortal? Michael’s coven would be unstoppable.

  The glint of the sword brought my attention back to Theron. Quicker than lightning, the sword shot down towards Sonia, piercing the center of her chest. The witches continued their chant, the volume increasing with each repetition. I expected to see Michael himself appear from the heavens, but a light rose from the spot the blade had entered Sonia’s body. It floated up above her body rising above Theron and Thanatos. Theron withdrew the sword from Sonia’s chest, and the incantation changed.

  Ancestors, we call on you to deliver Sonia’s spirit to her body.

  Seemingly from nowhere, a host of glowing spots appeared. They encircled Sonia’s light, swirling around it, creating a whirlpool. Caught up in the flow of the swirling souls, Sonia’s light, what I assumed to be her soul, descended down the spiral and flowed back into her body. I saw her chest rise, and the host of lights disappeared.

  The room grew quiet. Sonia’s eyelids fluttered, and she laid her hands on her chest. The wound closed as she did. Thanatos helped her to her feet. She stood atop the table, and the sound of whispers from the crowd drew my attention to Miguel. My mind raced wondering why they needed me when they could make themselves immortal. I remembered the sword, and my eyes found it in Theron’s hand, still covered with Sonia’s blood. The sight of the holy blade tarnished with the evil witch’s fluids created a ball of rage in my chest.

  “Do you wish to join us, dear? Is this what you seek?” The words sounded as if the speaker stood right beside me. My eyes cut to Sonia whose gaze was fixed on me. She lifted her crown off her head and held it out towards me. Looking left then right, I realized I’d moved from my hiding place and stood in at the front of the opening, in view of all.

  “Or perhaps it is the blade.” Sonia motioned to the dagger in Theron’s grasp.

  Stupid! My brain yelled. As fast as I could, I swirled and ran through the narrow tunnels. I had no idea how to get out or if there was an exit that might lead me to Jude or safety. Thinking about the courtyard, I turned in the direction of what I thought to be the center of the building. If I could make it outside, perhaps I could transport myself beyond the compound’s gates.

  Finding a main hall, and seeing an elevator on one end, I jogged the opposite way. I heard multiple footsteps and cloaked myself to aid my escape. Speeding towards the center of the castle, guards trailed me. Then, another set appeared in front of me. Calling on the air to lift me up, I floated above the crowd coming at me. They stopped when they reached the oncoming group.

  “Fools!” Sonia yelled. She marched through the guards towards me, and I glued myself to the ceiling, praying my cloaking spell held. Stopping directly below me, she turned her face upward. “Come child, we have much to discuss.” Her hand reached up and gripped mine. A frigid shock shot through my arm to my heart. “You belong to me now.”

  THE END

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