A Mistletoe Wish, page 12
“Because she said that wasn’t my heart’s desire. Isn’t that a crock of shit?” Nia snorted and reached for another sandwich from the tray Tess had just brought out.
“So, what was your heart’s desire?” Selena asked.
“They didn’t say. I didn’t have anywhere else to go, and since there aren’t any gardens in town, I applied to be Orin’s apprentice.”
“How long ago was this?”
Nia squinted into the distance. “I don’t know. Five or six years.”
“Does your family know what happened to you?”
“Yeah. They visit when they can.”
“Even though you were banished?”
“My father slips my mother away for little trips, and they come to Hope to visit. No one has caught them yet.”
Selena could only wonder if her parents and sister would risk everything to visit her if her curse couldn’t be broken.
Nia finished her sandwich and wiped her hands on her pants. "So what's your plan now? Are you going to keep trying to break your curse?"
"Of course I am. I can't live like this forever.”
Nia smirked. "Well, good luck with that. I hope it’s your heart’s desire.”
“What else could it be?”
“I’ve been asking myself the same question. I hope you get an answer because I never did. I'm content with my life here, though. Orin pays me well, and I get to work with leather every day. It's not so bad."
Selena looked at Nia, feeling a pang of envy. She wished she could be content with her life and not be so consumed by breaking her curse. But she couldn't help it. It was all she could think about. She needed to find a way to break the curse, no matter what it took.
“We love your scabbard,” she said, showing Nia that she wore it proudly.
“It’ll protect you.”
Selena blinked up at her. “What do you mean?”
“I put a repulsion spell on it. It’s not foolproof and doesn’t work every time, but some spells will bounce off and redirect if they’re cast at you.”
Selena slowly nodded. “I experienced that when the town was attacked. Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s what I do.” Nia rose from the seat. “Am I free to go?”
“You were never a prisoner,” Selena said.
“I am sorry I wasn’t here for the fight with the witches. I wouldn’t have minded beaning a few with my slingshot and iron pellets.”
“We might be able to use you tonight,” Selena said. “We’re going to go to Serenity and take the fight to them. From what our prisoners tell me, Izina Broome is fascinated by curses.”
“Would she know a cure?”
It was Selena’s turn to shrug. “I plan to ask her that.”
Nia nibbled on her lip. “How long are we going to be gone? Orin is already pissed I left him with a boatload of work.”
“We’re leaving at sunset, and we have to be back at sunrise.”
“That’s cutting it awfully close.”
“That’s why we could use all the help we get.”
Nia considered it and then nodded. “I’m in. Like I said, I’ve got a score to settle with witches.”
Chapter Fourteen
Ben
In the past, when Ben rose from his coffin on the eve of battle, he was filled with excitement and eagerness to begin. But tonight, his responsibilities bore a heavy weight on his heart.
“Rahl, you and Wyatt will remain here.”
He cut off their protests with a sharp slice of his hand. “Wyatt, I need you to take over Simon’s position as Chief of Police until we rescue him. We still have an entire town filled with scared tourists who are guaranteed to start trouble at the wishing well if we leave them to their own devices.”
“Got it,” Wyatt said grudgingly.
“Rahl, you need to be the acting mayor. With Gertrude still recovering and Sykes with me, you’re the only one who can keep this town running. Both of you will need to work it out so the gargoyles are doubled up on all shifts. I’m entrusting you to protect Hope while I’m gone.
“Very well.” Rahl executed a deep bow.
Sykes was busy loading his coffin into the souped-up hearse. It had a V-8 engine and all-terrain tires. Combined with bulletproof glass and paint, the car was the ultimate getaway vehicle. If Ben had to jump into his coffin to get out of the sun, Sykes knew how to drive the hearse hell-bent for leather to get him safely back home.
Ben was surprised to see a few volunteers from the townspeople eager to join the raid on Izina’s asylum in Serenity. They had pinpointed an exact location from the social influencer who had complained about the sunset picture. Had it only been yesterday? He shook his head, clearing his thoughts, and addressed the volunteers. “Let me make this clear. This isn't a joy ride. This is a rescue mission. We’re not there to kill but to capture.”
The five volunteers nodded in agreement.
“Good. We’re going to be outnumbered, outgunned, and out-magic-ed. But we have a plan. The witches won't be expecting us, and we’ll catch them off guard. Are you ready?”
The volunteers nodded again.
“Then let's go.”
They all piled into their separate cars. There were off-road-style Jeeps and pickup trucks. Ben and Selena got into the back seat of the hearse. Sykes climbed into the driver’s seat, and they sped off towards Serenity.
Reaching over, Ben covered Selena’s hand with his own. She jumped in surprise.
“Sorry,” she said. “I was a million miles away. I have my watch set to remind us when we’re three hours from sunrise. We should get you back in the car for the drive home.”
Ben shook his head. “I’ll go up to the line.” Before she could interrupt him, he talked over her as she shook her head no. “As long as I’m back in the hearse in the coffin, it doesn’t matter what time we leave.”
“Unless, of course, we’re being chased by witches on broomsticks who want to crash our car so they can smash open your coffin. Look, you hired me as your bodyguard. Let me do my job.”
Ben bit back a sigh. “Fine. But our main objective is to free our people first. Once they’re no longer in Izina’s control, then we confront her.”
“I wish we had found her cousin.”
“Why?” Ben said. “It was a distraction at best. She wants control of Hope and was using it as an excuse.”
“Still, I want anyone who looks at this fight to know that we tried everything.”
“She attacked us. More than once,” Ben pointed out, trying not to get exasperated.
“And I’m not excusing that. But the best battle victory is when you avoid bloodshed. I have a feeling things are going to get ugly.”
“We’ll try our best not to go overboard, but Izina must be stopped.”
Selena nodded. “Just don’t kill her until we get a chance to question her about the curses.”
“It will not be my first choice, but I will protect what is mine.” Ben hoped Selena knew that he was referring to her as well as his people.
She nodded absently and resumed looking out the window. He could almost see the planning going on in her brain.
“I’m in good hands,” he said.
“Unless my curse acts up and your coffin has holes in it.”
Ben glanced back at the coffin in the rear warily. “Try not to give Fate any bright ideas.”
As they approached Serenity, the group grew quiet, preparing for the fight ahead. Ben felt the familiar adrenaline rush that came with battle, but this time he was hyper-focused on Selena.
"If things go bad," he began.
"Don't say things like that," she said harshly.
"I just want you to know that you always have a home in Hope. You can stay in the mayor's mansion as long as you like."
"We're going to be fine," she said, squeezing his hand.
They parked the cars a safe distance away.
"Sykes, stay with the hearse and get ready to leave at a moment’s notice."
"Yes, Master," he said and took out a large sniper rifle.
As he balanced it on the hearse's hood, the rest of the team gathered around. Ben could feel the anticipation of the group. He could see it in their eyes, sense it in their movements. They were all ready for the fight, ready to take down the witches who had caused so much chaos and pain.
"Jinx," Selena said, greeting the waitress from The Gingerbread House. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."
She and Nia stood side-by-side.
"I want to help."
"Glad to have you."
The group headed into the woods to sneak around the asylum's main gates. As they crept closer, Ben was aware of the forest shrinking back from them. No, not them.
From Nia.
Tugging on Serena's sleeve, he whispered, "I think something's off with her."
"She's cursed, too," Selena said. "She has a black thumb. A witch did it."
"Interesting," Ben said.
As the team approached the side of the asylum, the path was overrun by sharp, thorny plants that surrounded the area like a hedge.
“I got this,” Nia said, pushing to the front.
She touched the vines, and within a minute, they curled up brown and desiccated. The team pushed through the foliage slowly in a single file line. Up ahead, the crumbling walls of the old asylum loomed, backlit by the moon's pale glow.
Selena shivered, stepping closer to Ben. "This place gives me the creeps," she whispered.
Ben nodded, his eyes scanning the dilapidated buildings. Shattered windows yawned like mouths, the glass teeth jagged and sharp. Ivy crawled up the weathered brick walls, which were stained with mildew and neglect. The very air was heavier here, weighed down by the asylum's history of pain and madness.
"We have to be careful," Ben murmured back. "No telling what nasty surprises Izina has waiting for us."
"At least she can't ambush us if we're expecting it," Selena said.
Ben managed a weak smile. "Let's hope so."
Drawing her blade, Selena led the way between two crumbling pillars that marked the entrance to this side of the compound. Jinx followed close behind, magic crackling at her fingertips. Ben hadn’t known she was a witch. He tried to ignore the goosebumps prickling his skin as they passed beneath the ominous archway, moving deeper into the shadowy ruins. Somewhere within this haunted place, Izina was waiting for them. Ben only hoped that they'd find her before she found them.
They crept through a courtyard overgrown with weeds that wilted under Nia’s feet—the gravel path now merely a suggestion beneath the underbrush. Selena's eyes darted to each sagging door and boarded-up window, alert for any sign of movement. But the asylum was eerily still, not even the wind daring to stir.
Ben paused, raising a hand to halt their progress. He tilted his head as if listening. Then his eyes widened.
"Down!" he shouted.
Selena dropped into a crouch without hesitation. An instant later, a bolt of crimson magic sizzled through the space where her head had been. It splintered against the brick wall in a shower of sparks.
"Wards," Ben growled, pulling Selena behind the crumbling remains of a fountain. More spells ricocheted through the courtyard, forcing their group to take cover.
"Izina's traps. They know we’re here now.”
Ben risked a glance over the fountain's rim. A shimmering barrier now encircled the main building, glowing malevolently. "Can you break through?" he asked Jinx.
Jinx’s jaw tightened. "Not without getting fried. We'll have to find another way."
His gaze landed on a cellar door half-buried in ivy. "There. Come on!"
Staying low, they scrambled for the entrance. Ben wrenched the rusted door open, and they plunged into the musty darkness below. The energy barrage sizzled harmlessly above them as the door slammed shut.
Now, in the asylum's underbelly, they found themselves in a crumbling brick tunnel. Jinx conjured a light, revealing dirt floors and exposed pipes. The air was dank and heavy with the scent of mold.
Ben's flashlight beam danced over the grime-slicked walls as they crept forward. The old bricks were stained with dark splatters that looked disturbingly like blood.
Selena's jaw clenched, and she looked grim.
A heavy iron door blocked their path. Exchanging a nod with Selena, Ben carefully turned the handle. The hinges screeched in protest as the door swung inward. Beyond lay what appeared to be an old medical ward.
Moonlight filtered through barred windows near the ceiling, casting the room in an eerie glow. Rows of metal-framed beds lined the walls, still dressed in filthy sheets yellowed with age. Strange figures lay motionless beneath the moth-eaten blankets.
Selena tensed, ready to charge in with her sword. Jinx lifted her palms, ready to summon her magic. Whatever lay in those beds, dead or alive, was unlikely to be friendly. Nia and the others caught up with them in the large room.
Sensing something familiar, Ben stepped closer. His breath caught. The figures weren't human but wolves—huge, shaggy beasts with fur matted and dull. Heavy chains bound their necks and paws to the beds. Their sides barely stirred with the slow rhythm of drugged sleep.
"We found them," Selena whispered.
Ben's expression darkened. "It seems too easy."
Selena nodded.
"I can try to call them out of the trance. Be ready. They may attack us if I can’t break Izina’s control over them."
“Watch the doors,” Selena ordered the other members of the group, pointing to the three exits from this room.
Jinx lifted her hands, prepared to cast a counter-spell. With a deep breath, Ben placed his palms on Simon’s temples. He was grateful that his police chief had been captured instead of killed. He met a fierce resistance coating Simon’s mind. Gritting his teeth, Ben pushed back. The wolf twitched, a low whine escaping its throat.
"That's it," Ben coaxed. "Come back to us."
The mental barrier flared, then shattered. Simon’s eyes cleared, focusing on Ben with sudden, startled awareness. He began to growl, straining against the chains.
“Simon, it’s us,” Selena said.
Confusion crossed his features.
“Keep talking to him,” Ben said.
He quickly went between the chained werewolves, repeating the process. It was easier to break them free this time. The wolves stirred, confusion turning to anger as they realized their imprisonment.
"Be still. We're here to help you," Nia said.
One large gray wolf, Parker, snapped at her outstretched hand before recognition dawned in its eyes.
"You broke her spell," Parker rasped in a guttural voice.
Ben nodded. "Izina won't hold you any longer."
The wolf tested its chains again before bowing its head. "Thank you, Master. I’m sorry we failed you."
“You didn’t fail me. Why are you chained down here instead of patrolling the grounds? I would have thought she would try to use you against us.”
“She’s saving us for something big. What, I don’t know.”
Ben's sharp senses detected a change in the air instantly. It was a subtle shift, but he heard the faint sound of running feet.
"They’re coming," he said tersely. "We have to move."
“Nia, get the wolves back to the cars,” Selena said.
“We want to fight,” Parker said.
“Not when you’re still weakened. She could control you again. I don’t want to have to fight through you.”
Parker grudgingly nodded.
Ben looked around. “Where’s Jinx?”
Chapter Fifteen
Selena
“Who?” Nia asked.
Selena whirled around. “What do you mean, who? Jinx from The Gingerbread House. You rode in together. She’s a witch.”
Nia made a face. “I hate witches. I wouldn’t ride in the car with them.”
“You remember where the cars are, right?” Ben cut in quickly.
“Of course,” Nia scoffed.
“Take the wolves with you. And be careful.”
Nia nodded, and the wolves loped after her as she dashed back outside.
“You all remember Jinx, right?” Selena asked.
The other three members of their group looked at her blankly. Selena didn’t like this at all. “Did she cast a spell?” she wondered aloud.
“I think she went through the far door,” Artegenos said. “I didn’t see her leave, but there are traces of her aura in that area.”
Selena repeated what Artegenos said.
“Let’s follow,” Ben said and hurried through that door.
“Let me go first,” she gritted out.
Sticking close, their group crept deeper into the asylum, wary of attack. One of their party’s shields deflected the first volley of spells, giving them all just enough time to dive behind a crumbling wall. Selena peered around the edge, counting a dozen guards approaching fast.
“Kill them,” the guard in the lead ordered.
"Ben and I will take the six on the left. The rest of you get the ones on the right," Selena murmured. At her nod, they broke cover, unleashing their powers and charging in with their weapons in a coordinated assault.
Ben moved in a blur, his claws striking true again and again. Selena sliced through the guards, dropping them before they could retaliate. In moments, the threat was neutralized. So much for keeping them alive. But they had murder on their minds, and Selena wasn’t going to take any chances with Ben’s life.
"Let's keep moving," Ben said. His eyes gleamed with predatory focus. Selena was grateful for his steadfast presence at her side.
Izina herself met them at the next juncture. Magic crackled at her fingertips. Her pale face was twisted in a scowl, crimson eyes flashing with rage.
"You dare invade my sanctuary?" she hissed, gesturing sharply. A dozen wraiths materialized, shrieking as they swirled around her.
“How do you like it?” Selena asked.
"I’m going to enjoy making you my minion," she sneered.
Ben stepped forward. “This doesn’t have to end in bloodshed. Agree to pay recompense for your destruction of property and to the werewolves, and we will leave in peace.”
