The Mind Eaters, page 6
“Exactly what is said when that’s not the case,” said Crowe, looking threateningly.
“What he means is that it’s not what it seems,” said Zarya. She was starting to see Pan back in a different perspective, and surprisingly the feelings toward him cooled a little when she didn’t think it possible, though she remembered she initially had managed to resist him. It all happened when he rescued her. The comfort and security he gave her flipped her heart, and she lost her head. Maybe I’m getting it back? Pan wasn’t at all a likely boyfriend for her, not at all the sort of man she’d consider dating. Yet, here she was, letting him in her room and wouldn’t have stopped with a kiss if they hadn’t been interrupted.
Crowe harrumphed in disgust. He raised a dark eyebrow questioningly. “Same sort of answer when, in fact, the opposite is happening. Good thing Avery told me to keep an eye on you two. Though I didn’t think you would be up to any hanky panky tonight so soon after vowing this is only a fling.”
“We’re not,” said Zarya quickly, hoping to get in before Pan said something that would really give them away and land them in a hell of a lot of trouble with the headmistress.
“No?” His form moved forward a little in an intimidating way.
“No, we’re not.” Zarya kept her voice firm and held the dark stare Crowe gave her.
“What do you think Avery is going to do when she finds out that you two are completely ignoring her about keeping apart?”
“Nothing, other than you’re not doing your job.”
“Yeah, right,” laughed Crowe. “More likely you’ll be chained up with Sakura down in the basement. She could do with some company, though that wouldn’t mean she’d like my visits any better.”
Zarya felt a tightness in her chest thinking about Crowe going down to the basement to torment Sakura, even though the witch, who had lost her magic from the Spell Thieves, had bullied her when she was at the Witches Academy. That aside, she didn’t like the idea that Sakura was being haunted by Crowe, even though she may well deserve it.
“Go tell Avery then,” Pan spoke up.
Zarya tried to keep her facial expression neutral. If only Pan would keep quiet. At this rate, they were both going to be in deep trouble, and all they’d managed to do was kiss. She felt her cheeks reddening and quickly put the thought of kissing and what it might lead to and how much she wanted that to happen on the back burner.
“Oh, I’ll be doing just that.”
“You’ll be wasting your time,” interrupted Zarya. “We’ve been discussing options for tomorrow and how best to go up against Abaddon.”
A frown crossed Crowe’s ghostly face. Zarya wasn’t sure what that was about.
“Abaddon?” he mumbled as if deep in thought.
“Avery did fill you in on the details, right?” asked Pan. “Or has our esteemed leader left you in the dark, not trusting you with the finer details?”
Zarya couldn’t believe what Pan was saying. It could well be true, but he was causing the situation to nudge toward getting out of control. They needed to keep Crowe calm to ensure they weren’t heading toward punishment that both of them could do without.
“I know them,” he said grumpily.
Zarya didn’t believe him but noted that he seemed to know the ghost’s name who was hunting her.
“Well, we’re hashing out a plan, so maybe you can go and tell Avery that, and at the same time ask her who Abaddon is.”
Crowe shot her a sharp glance that caused her blood to cool. Zarya wondered for a moment if she’d gone too far.
“If I see you two together, in here or anywhere else, even if nothing has supposedly happened between you two, I’ll make sure Avery hears that you were together doing more than talking.”
Zarya held her breath, not believing what she was hearing. She’d managed to convince Crowe to say nothing. It only confirmed to her that he did know about Abaddon. She dismissed it.
“We won’t be together,” said Pan. “We’ve got a plan or two up our sleeve, and after tomorrow night, it will all be over, and it will be The Guild we need to be more worried about.”
“Sure, you have. I suggest you get going back to your room. I’ll come and do a check,” said Crowe.
“Don’t worry, I won’t be here,” said Pan.
Zarya noted Crowe looked preoccupied as if he wanted to get out of here because of something pressing he had to do. It had to do with Abaddon’s name and not being told. Maybe he was going to talk to Avery about being kept in the dark. The two of them had a volatile rapport with each other.
“Don’t you have any spells or something to send that asshole to hell where he belongs?” asked Pan once the apparition had dissipated.
“Shh, he probably can still hear you,” whispered Zarya.
“Still,” Pan lowered his voice to barely audible. “Couldn’t you just blast him into the spirit world where he belongs? He’s such a pain.”
Pan’s words caused Zarya to smile, even though they weren’t really funny.
“Glad I’m causing you to laugh.” He slid off the table and moved to sit on the bed next to her.
Zarya quickly got up. She wasn’t about to risk being close to Pan, not when they’d essentially been caught by Crowe and got away with it, for now. Crowe might’ve been in a hurry to go elsewhere, but she’d bet he’d be back as soon as he could to ensure Pan wasn’t lingering in her room.
Pan grabbed her hand and stopped her from moving away. As much as she wanted to go back on the bed with him, it was best for both of them if she didn’t.
“Hey.” The single word caused her resolve to waver. She wanted to let him tug her back to him. Instead, she twisted her hand out of his grip.
“I… I want to,” she admitted softly, looking slyly at Pan, twisting her fingers together as she talked. “It’s just, well, I don’t want to end up in the basement enduring punishment because we were caught again. And I need to make sure I’m ready for tomorrow night. Who knows what I’m going to face at Jennifer’s place. Maybe it won’t even be a ghost or anything do to with Abaddon.” Her gut churned. She didn’t believe what she was saying for a moment.
“I’ll have you’re back, and you’re more ready than you realize.”
Zarya could feel the sincerity behind his words. It helped to alleviate the worry about what she might be up against. She stepped forward, put her hands on his shoulders, leaned forward, and kissed him softly. His soft, contented noises made it hard to break the kiss.
Pan’s hands ran along the sides of her legs, resting on her hips. His touch made her feel more alive than ever before.
This, whatever it was developing between them, was going to have to wait. It felt good to have the doubt rising about Pan moments ago disappear now that she was in his arms. But that was as far as it was able to go now.
Zarya broke away. “Now, get out of here.” She took her hands in his, pushed them off her hips, then stepped away before he could protest.
“You’re making this hard.” He stood, glanced at her, then quickly planted another kiss on her lips. “I’ll go only because I know that I will get to see more of you when Abaddon is gone, so rest up because I plan to keep you busy.”
“Good.” She turned him around to face the door, then playfully pushed him. “Go. Because none of this matters if we end up caught again.”
“Fine.” He chuckled, taking the few steps toward the door.
Emotions bubbled within Zarya looking at his broad shoulders and strong body. She didn’t really want him to leave. Her mind scrambled for some reason to keep him a little longer. She did feel safer when he was here with her, though it was dangerous if he stayed at the moment because of what it might lead to.
“Pan.”
He stopped by the doorway, hand on the handle, and turned to face her. Hope in his eyes.
Zarya rolled her eyes. “You don’t give up.”
“Not when a beautiful woman is involved.”
Her smile deepened. “For the record, sending Crowe’s ass out of this world would be easy.”
“Good to know, and I’m sure for someone as talented as you, it would be. So how about we get him?”
“Tempting, but it will affect Avery somehow. They’re joined.” She rolled her lips, thinking. “Something to do with The Guild, so for now, they’re stuck with each other. And I’ve got a feeling we might need Avery around, at least for a bit longer.”
“Well, let me know when you’re ready to give it to him, and I’ll help you out.”
“I will.”
He smiled and winked at her, and then he was gone. It took all her self-control not to call him back or go after him.
CROWE
Crowe slid away from the dormitory room, knowing full well he’d interrupted Zarya and Pan doing more than simply talking to each other. He should go straight to inform Avery. Instead, he went down to the eighth floor, slipping easily between the wooden beams and floorboards, taking the quickest route that would get him to the back corner to the secret room. He needed to be sure the name was the same that Zarya had mentioned and on the book.
Crowe went into the room he’d made Daire promise to keep a secret from Zarya if he didn’t tell Avery. So far, he hadn’t. Though it appeared Avery wasn’t telling him some things too. It annoyed the hell out of him that she’d keep secrets from him. He could feel his temper rising at the vibration of his ghostly molecules. All she’d mentioned was that they were going out to banish a ghost to help improve Zarya’s confidence. Clearly, there was so much more happening, and it was complicated, and he really should’ve been informed.
Crowe went through the door into the room that was briefly his prison, and once was someone else’s prison, their bones still on the bed, their faded blood on the wall.
Is that who you are, Abaddon? he asked the skeleton. He swore he heard a whisper of yes.
Crowe swooped down and picked up the book.
How to Cheat Death
A Witch’s Guide to Bringing the Dead Back to Life
Written by Abaddon
Crowe ran his ghostly fingers over the title on the spine, wishing he could feel it fully in the flesh, not with his molecules gaining only a faded imprint, at best, of the power contained in this book.
The few hours, which seemed like days, he’d been contained in here by Daire, had been incredibly productive. While the others worked out how to deal with the Spell Thieves, and thankfully Kaia applied that to him as a ghost, he had lost himself in this book. He had gone on an inner journey, one where he had finally found the information he had been hoping to discover and knew the library had within its secret pages if only he looked long enough. He had meant to have been looking in the library for ways witches could lose their magic as instructed by Avery. Instead, he’d come searching with his own agenda, found the room and this book—both containing valuable information—which he wanted to use to advance his goals.
While he wanted the connection The Guild had created between him and Avery to be severed, it was like they were joined by a linked chain of steel, except one made ethereal, one of magic by the powerful witches who made up the elite of The Guild. They could move away from each other, but not too far or for too long, where the need to search out the other overpowered them so the distance between them would be reduced. It would be good to be free of the witch.
Crowe opened the book to the dog-eared page about three-quarters into the book. There was the spell he wanted to create, the one which was going to change his life. And once he had pulled off the spell, he could work toward finding his love and helping her to return to him. Then, once more, they could be together, not in the spirit world, but in the physical world. They could live their lives out, marry, have children, and be happy. He started reading the spell, the words all but learned already.
Reversion to Flesh
If you were taken before your time or want to assist another back into the flesh, this is the only way it can be done. The Guild will tell you this spell will not work. It will. I know it does. I have tested it and brought the others to their knees in fear. Then they killed what I had given life. No matter. This is my revenge for writing the spell here for others to use. They cannot keep this power of magic away from those who can wield it and want it. It belongs to us all. This spell comes with a warning, though I know whoever you are reading these words, you will not care. This spell might go wrong, the cost to attempt it is high. It is not for the faint-hearted. Good luck, my friend, in your endeavor. You will need it.
Crowe shivered, both with excitement and fear, as he read the spell’s introductory paragraph once more. It felt as if Abaddon had written this especially for him, even though he hadn’t even been born. Now they were both ghosts. He glanced through the spell, a sinking feeling weighed him down. He was going to need a body. One that was recently vacated. It was a messy business. It was the only part of the spell he wasn’t feeling comfortable with. He had murdered in his past, but was he ready to do it again? How was he going to manage to find a suitable body?
Crowe re-read the spell. To make it more complicated, he needed to get a human body, and that would run the risk of The Guild coming after him if he killed a human. It was against the rules and regulations, more so for a ghost. Vampires had a few clauses, and so did werewolves. He was already on the radar for The Guild since he was attached to Avery, and he didn’t want further complications. Nor did he want to be the one who brought them straight to the door of the library.
One thing he was sure about—he wasn’t going to let it put him off. He’d find a way. He mused at what sort of body he might like. Good-looking was a must, the rest didn’t matter so much as he could magic any changes if he wanted to. He had a feeling he wasn’t going to be able to be as particular as he’d like. A body was a body, and if it meant he could be back in fleshy form, he was going to do it. The thing was, he was going to need help, and that was going to add to the complication. It wasn’t like he could go and ask Avery to help him. If he changed into human form, he’d be more of a threat to her. He’d been spending more time putting the students offside rather than trying to be friendly, and so he couldn’t ask any one of them. Maybe he could try to deepen the bargain made with Daire. Crowe wouldn’t tell Avery about the room if Daire didn’t tell Zarya. Going to Daire was possibly the only option he had. Crowe could tell him he’d tell Avery if he didn’t help him get a body. Crowe wasn’t so sure that would work. Daire was crafty.
Crowe looked at the book he was holding. It was a huge feat for him to pick up a book and manage to turn the pages. He was glad he’d taken the time to hone his skill of picking up objects in this form and being able to manipulate them. It was going to be an entirely new level to take a human’s life. As much as he wanted to rush into this, it would pay to spend a little time thinking it through properly. He pushed the thought to the side for now.
Crowe read the book, his mind beginning to think about Abaddon and how he fits in with the library and the books. Did Abaddon want this book? Crowe didn’t think so. One who was so powerful to create these types of spells in this book wouldn’t forget them.
How did he get out of this room? It had to have happened when he and Avery first opened the lost library, though neither of them knew it. Had they simply disturbed some of the spells? He didn’t want to share this with Avery because he planned something else. He could only get out of this room because Daire’s energy manipulation had worn out quickly as expected when a vampire attempted something outside his natural skill set. Though it had irked him that the vampire managed to lock him in here, even though he could sense the lock on the door opening, he had stayed here longer, reading and planning.
The potential of what he could do with this book’s knowledge put his mind into a spin. He could see why The Guild told witches the library had burned down, hiding away such books in here. What he wasn’t sure of was why a book like this survived. Abaddon must have done something horrible for him to have been locked in here as punishment, to the point where he died, and his spirit was then locked in this room. Regardless of what had happened, it was lucky for him that the book wasn’t burned, and he had found it.
He wondered if the library meant for him to have this powerful book or not. Crowe only had it in his possession because Daire had kicked it into the room to shut the door and lock him in. Crowe shrugged. The library hadn’t stopped him from coming back here and getting the book. Crowe only left it here because he figured this was the safest place. No one else knew it existed, except Abaddon, and he couldn’t get into the library without being discovered with the fortifications The Guild had made with magic, and now the additional ones Avery had put into place.
Crowe smiled to himself as an idea came to mind. His plan was strengthening. Perhaps he could weaken some of the spells so that Abaddon could come here. Crowe could be the one in charge of the library. He couldn’t see Abaddon wanting to stay in the place that was his prison for decades. Crowe could challenge Avery for the position. He knew he was more powerful than her and would win in any magical duel. He smiled as he started reading the spell, the words embedding deeper in his mind. It was a high-level and complicated spell, and not something he could rush into. He needed to make a plan and ensure that when he did get the chance to conduct the spell, it would work, and he’d be transformed.
His form increased in vibration with the potential chance of finally getting back to human form and to be in the flesh once more. He assumed that if this spell worked, it would naturally cut the chain that connected him with Avery, freeing himself from the witch who had equaled his poor behavior of stopping at nothing to get what he wanted.
The pieces of recent events were beginning to make more sense to him. It appeared that everyone here at the Academy came with their own set of secrets and even gained more when they were here. They weren’t going to stand in good stead against The Guild if they weren’t able to work together. He supposed that maybe the ghost banishment tomorrow night would be a good test to see if those present could work as a team. The problem was he didn’t want Abaddon to be sent hurling toward the spirit world. And he needed to figure out quickly how the hell to put a stop to this without drawing unwanted attention to himself.
