Bruja (26 page)

My pocket.

I dropped the athame and upended my pocket. The burn disappeared as the crystal fell to the ground, glowing blindingly bright.

What on earth…

I carefully picked it up, but it didn’t burn me. Not anymore.

I didn’t have the words for a spell. Didn’t have the rhymes. I couldn’t think. But I needed to break that circle. And it had to be done before the demon rose.

“Break the circle.”
I paused, and held the crystal above my head. The wolves started running at the circle, each one flew back with a whimper.
“Break the circle.”
I pictured the circle breaking apart, but nothing happened. The priests didn’t move. The wolves weren’t giving up. Some were swatting at it with their sharp claws. Some running against it. Their golden auras clashed against the dark, shimmering barrier, but it wouldn’t budge.
“Break! Break! Break!”

My voice burned from screaming. My chest heaved as I pushed magic and will toward the circle, but nothing was working. I was failing.

Lucas nudged my side. “What do I do? This isn’t working,” I said as I rand my fingers through his hair.

His muzzle nudged me.
Run. Break. Now.

I looked down at his dark face. Apparently his wolf didn’t speak in full sentences. “You ran at it and nothing happened except getting knocked on your behind.” I waved my hand at the wolves. “Look at them. They’re all trying.”

He nudged me forward.

“Fine.” It was better than nothing.

I took a step toward the
brujos
and the crystal grew brighter. Another step. Brighter. Another. Same thing.

Okay. Lucas knew something I didn’t.

I started running. Full out. When I hit circle, I passed right through it, and stopped in the center. I’d gotten through, but they still held their circle.

Lucas’ panic hit me, but I blocked it out. The wolves howled and started rushing the barrier, but none got through.

It was just me stuck in here. Surrounded by the
brujos
and whatever they were trying to conjure.

I blinked as I tried to catch up with what was going on. I wanted to run back outside, but if I didn’t stop the
brujos
, then who would?

Their magic passed over me in a wave of energy that sent me reeling. I knocked into something on my way to the ground.

The men stood around me. Their arms stretched above their heads, hands touching as they chanted. Their eyes glowing red as they stared down at me, half-tranced.

Something bristly scratched my side and I screamed.

I wasn’t alone in the center anymore. I was too late. They’d raised a demon.

I crab-crawled back until I hit the legs of one of the mages. I didn’t dare look at the thing. Its energy alone made my skin crawl and the thick scent of sulfur made bile rise in my throat.

Something bright and glowing caught my eye. The crystal. I’d dropped it when I fell, but it was here, inside the circle, with me. It lay on the ground inches away from where the demon was crawling out of the underworld.

I didn’t want to get any closer to it, but I had to. I needed that crystal. It was the only weapon I had here.

Shaking, I got up on my knees and took a breath. My heart pounded in my ears as I flung myself toward the crystal.

As soon as I had it, I gripped it tight and stabbed it into the demon’s hand.
“Back to hell where you belong.
”

An explosion broke the night as soon as the crystal touched flesh.

I flew back, knocking into the
brujos,
finally breaking their circle. A cry rang out, raising all the hair on my arms. The portal slammed shut, cutting the demon’s arm off at the joint. Blackish green goo oozed from it, and even though I was trying not to look, I could still see it twitching and moving on its own.

Everything was quiet for a second before spells started flying. The wolves tore into the
brujos.
Snarls and cries of pain bombarded me.

I crawled away from the demon’s arm and then stood up slowly, taking in the surroundings. As I turned, I came face to face with Matt.

How did he get away from that wolf?

He raised his fist and I jumped back. I moved my fingers quickly through the air. The spell ignited and Matt stumbled back a few steps.

A wave of pain came through the bond as a spell hit Lucas. He wasn’t paying attention to the
brujo
in front of him as he tried to get to me.

Be careful!
I shouted at him through the bond.
I can take care of myself.

Lucas fought two more
brujos
, still trying to get to me, but Matt was coming at me again.

Where’s the athame?
I’d dropped it over to the right. I searched the ground, trying to spot the metal.

A spell rolled by overhead, lighting the night, and I saw it.

Matt’s fingers flicked, and a burst of flame flew at me. I threw myself to the ground. Just a few feet away.

Matt closed the distance between us. “The
brujos
have taught me a lot.”

If I did a spell now, he’d just counter it. I needed a weapon. He wouldn’t expect me to use anything other than magic to fight him.

I scooted back a few inches as he stepped toward me. “I don’t need their help to drain you. Not anymore,” he said.

If I had more time, I’d ask what was going on with his coven that was making him resort to this, but it didn’t matter. Not anymore. It needed to end. Now.

I scooted back a little more, reaching my hand back as I watched Matt’s mouth move. He wasn’t saying the words aloud, but he didn’t need to. He just had to believe that they’d work and back it with enough magic.

I kept scooting back until my fingers brushed something metal.

Finally.

I had one shot at this. Any second he could end the spell, and I might not be fast enough to dodge it.

A wolf howled, and I felt Lucas’ anger. He’d spotted us. I could feel him through our bond but he wasn’t going to get here in time. The
brujos
had separated us, focusing on Lucas, for just this reason. They wanted my power. Like everyone else.

In one move I grasped the athame’s handle, sat up, and slashed its tip across Matt’s leg.

He kicked my ribs and I heard a crunch before the sickening wave of pain registered. I couldn’t breathe, but if I didn’t move, I’d be as good as dead.

I kicked his leg, and he fell on top of me. I tried to roll him off, but he weighed too much.

His eyes were red, like the other
brujos
were. Almost like he was in a trance, his lips kept moving. He was going to finish the spell.

I had the knife in my hand. All I had to do was stab him, and it would be over. I raised it up, and closed my eyes.

God, forgive me
.

Before I moved the knife down, the weight on me was gone. Matt screamed.

I opened my eyes to see Lucas snarling at Matt. He had Matt pinned, claws out and digging into Matt’s chest.

I sat up, feeling the ache in my chest. If I wanted to say anything to Matt, now was the time. But there wasn’t anything to really say.

For a second, I almost asked Lucas not to kill him. To give him another chance. But Matt’s eyes flashed red again as his lips moved. In my heart, I knew he wouldn’t give up. Not ever. He’d follow me every day of my life, sinking deeper and deeper into evil. Putting my friends and family in danger. I’d let evil hold sway over me for too long already. “Do it.”

Death wasn’t a pretty thing.

I wanted to say that I stood there with Lucas, and I did, but I looked away. I hadn’t been in a fight until recently, and I hoped that after all of this was over—after Luciana was defeated or dead—I wouldn’t have another one ever again.

I took in the surrounding carnage. Three wolves were on the ground. I wasn’t sure if they were dead, but they weren’t moving. There were two
brujos
down, too. The rest had fled. The sounds of the fight grew further away as the wolves gave chase.

Then I heard it. A familiar noise that was so out of place it took a second for it to register.

Raphael’s ring tone.

I had reception? How did I have reception out here?

Stop questioning it and move, Claudia.
If Adrian was calling, it wasn’t good.

I raced to where I’d dropped my things. The ringing stopped just as I reached the phone.

No!

It started ringing again. I flipped the phone open. “Adrian.”

“Thank God. I’ve been calling you for hours. Haven’t been able to get through.”

“Sorry. I’m in the mountains. Cell coverage is bad. How is he?” I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping that the worst hadn’t happened. Not yet. I needed just a little more time.

“It’s bad. You need to get here. Like now. We had to tie him to the bed, because he kept trying to attack us. The drugs aren’t working on him at all. And…he…he smells like he’s rotting. He’s got hours at best.”

I swallowed. “I’ll be there.” I closed the phone. This didn’t feel real. None of this felt real. I was dreaming. Some awful nightmare. It couldn’t be—

Two arms wrapped around me and I leaned into the warmth. “What am I going to do?”

“I have an idea.” Lucas’ voice rumbled against my back.

So did I. Oh my God. So did I.

I shoved the athame in my purse, and cradled it to my chest. One glance at Lucas told me he was back in his running pants, minus the shirt and shoes. Good enough.

“Gobble!” I stood up and turned in a circle as I yelled. “Gobble! Come here now. I’m ready to make a deal.”

He flashed in front of me in his tiny form. “Yes, tasty. You ready now?”

I nodded as I linked my fingers with Lucas’. “I need to go to San Jose. Hotel Jesus de la Luz.”

Gobble whistled. “That’s a far trip. It will cost you.”

“What are your terms?”

“I will need a favor from you one day soon.” His pale blue eyes glinted. “That’s when you will have to pay.”

I wanted to say yes right then, but had Cosette warned me. That was too vague. I had to be more specific. “I won’t do anything bad or evil. I won’t kill or hurt anyone. You can’t hurt or kill me. Or anyone that I love. You cannot steal my magic or bind me to anyone.”

Lucas cleared his throat.

“And where I go, Lucas goes. Whatever you ask me to do can’t go against the pact you have with the wolves.” Not that I knew what the pact entailed, but I was pretty sure it would cover the worst Gobble could think of. I took a breath.
Anything else?
I asked Lucas through our bond.

No. That’s about all we have time for.

“Do we have a deal?” I asked Gobble. I held my breath.

Gobble disappeared and I nearly cried out. But then I heard his voice behind my ear. “You’ve got a deal.” It was his deeper voice. He was full-sized again. “Close your eyes, tasty and her wolf.”

I did what I was told. A loud pop sounded in my ears, and then the quiet forest was replaced by the sounds and smells of the city.

I blinked open my eyes, and looked up at the sign on the building.

In big red letters. Hotel Jesus de la Luz.

We were here. If I didn’t know better, I would’ve thanked Gobble. I would’ve offered him anything he wanted. Because I was here.

I just hoped I was in time.

Chapter Twenty-Four

“Let’s go.” I raced inside the hotel. Adrian’s text said they were in room 304. I wasn’t paying attention to the gaudy gold, hot pink, and black decor. I didn’t answer the lady at the front desk as she called out to me. All I wanted was my brother.

I saw a sign that pointed to the stairs and started running. Lucas kept pace beside me as I took the steps two at a time.

When we hit the third landing, I raced into the hallway.

Lucas grabbed my arm. “This way.”

We sprinted down the hall in the other direction.

I pounded on the door with a gold plate that read 304.

Adrian gaped. “How in the hell did you get here so fast?”

I pushed past him, not answering. There were four doors. It was a suite. “Which way? Where is he?”

“Here.” Adrian led the way, hurrying through the room.

I froze in the doorway.

What was on the bed wasn’t my brother.

His rattling breath had gotten much louder. And the smell. I covered my nose. “Raphael?”

He cackled. “Hey little sis. Come on over here. Give your big brother a kiss.”

My stomach rolled. His voice… What he said… That wasn’t him. That wasn’t my brother.

A tear rolled down my cheek, and I swept it away. I couldn’t let myself think that I was too late, but the closer I got, the worse the smell was.

“We’ve tried everything,” Shane said. I turned to see him standing in the corner across the room. He crossed his tattooed arms as he looked away from Raphael. “The healing chant helped for a little bit, but…”

“I knew it wouldn’t last forever.” I walked to the bed. Adrian hadn’t been lying. Raphael’s skin was gray, and a few patches looked gangrenous. What caught me off guard were his eyes. They were solid black. Not even a speck of white was visible.

But he was still breathing. Which meant I wasn’t too late. I had to hang on to that, because looking at my twin right now made me want to sob.

I reached into my purse, for what felt like the millionth time in the last few hours, and placed everything on the bedside table.

“What do you have?” Beth said, as she came up behind me.

I blew out a breath. “I have the hair and hand of a sainted mage. I also have his ring and an athame. And a small, white-magic infused crystal—but it’s burnt out.” There wasn’t even a tiny glow from it anymore. It looked gray instead of white. “What to do with it all… I don’t have the time—not to mention the supplies—to do any real potions with the hair. But…” I untangled the tiny braids, and pulled one free. “I guess I’m going to wing it.”

I turned to Raphael. His arms and legs were tied down, so he couldn’t do anything to me, but he started hissing and cussing as I came at him with the braid. I wrapped it around his wrist four times before I tied it off. As I wound it, I said the Lord’s prayer. The white aura cut through the muddy color of my brother’s aura, revealing a little sliver of his normal bright blue and purple.