Scornful Sadie (Dark Sorceress Trilogy Book 1) (2 page)

She nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah!”

Taking her shoulders in my hands, I shot a small surge of energy into her body. “Anna, you’re going to forget everything from the moment you were taken until now.” I felt the spell wrap around her as it took hold.

She stood looking dazed, so I turned her in the direction of the doors and ushered her forward. “Go.” I waited until she was safely inside before I directed myself back to the scene of Eric’s demise.

This was my life now, protecting innocents from deranged beings, and hopefully saving their lives. Evil was in all corners of the world, and in the past five years, I’d done my share of traveling.

When I was barely sixteen years old, my family and I defeated an evil sorcerer named Devlin Hart who had cursed our family. My oldest brother, Scott, fell in love with his heart mate before her eighteenth birthday and she was destined to die because of that curse. Olivia was pretty cool, and I grew attached to her as the months passed, so we all ended up fighting the ancient sorcerer.

There were casualties. One of my other brothers, Sebastian, had been working with Devlin and lost his life in the battle. Olivia’s dad also met his ending. The day we fought was the first day I took a magical life. It was hard, but I knew deep down it was right.

The sorcery council, the Harmonious Gathering, met with us soon after. Olivia was an unbound being, meaning her parents were different kinds of supernatural beings, and she wasn’t meant to have any powers or abilities. She was the first of her kind, sending a ripple through the community and creating a whole slew of unbound individuals that needed our help. Her older brother Kyle, who took after their vampire mother, was also sought out by the council. We met with them that day and my whole life changed.

My beloved grandmother became the head of the council, throwing out its corrupt leaders and setting it back to the way it was supposed to be. Before she was appointed, however, the previous council chief sent our friend Aiden away, wiping his memory of all of us.

My skills had developed exponentially since then, and I was one of a kind. Some called me the most powerful sorceress in the world, a title once reserved for my grandma, Anna.

Was I the most powerful? Perhaps, but that wasn’t why I did this. It wasn’t for the power or the glory. I did it to help people, to get the bad beings out of the way. If someone had been vigilant before, Harlow may not have been the head of the council.

Aiden might not have been sent away.

My grandmother might not have had to step in and been taken from me.

What if’s were just wishful thinking, though. And I didn’t have time for that.

When I reached the spot where Eric’s ashes lay, I surveyed the area to ensure I was alone and got to work. Using a charm I’d brewed, I sprinkled droplets around his ashes and across the alley. Then I scooped a handful up, placed them into a jar, and slid it into my bag. I’d need them to track where he’d been and possibly find out who he was working with. Waving my hand, I used my power to get rid of the rest of him and his clothing.

The charm was glowing at this point, so with it trailing around me, I raised my hands above my head and began to chant. It would completely erase his scent from the area. Anyone he was working with would be at a loss, unable to communicate with him, and start asking around.

I’d caught many accomplices this way.

The light grew dim, and I lowered my hands. Walking the length of the alley, I double checked for anything I’d left behind. A final glance to make sure no one was around, and I closed my eyes and transported my body back to my apartment.

My feet planted on the plush carpet of the living room.  I threw my arms out to keep my balance as my body adjusted to standing again. Transporting from one location to another was mind-whirling. The initial shift was quick, my body moving faster than my mind, and my spirit struggled to catch up.  The same for arriving, my body was first, then my spirit reconnected. A few seconds of dizziness accompanied me before I felt whole again.

Kicking my boots into the corner, I shrugged my leather jacket off and tossed it to the couch. One of my roommates, Melody, came barreling through the hall, stopping short when she saw me.

“You ok?” she asked. Her large green eyes searched my body for any physical harm.

“Eric Adams is taken care of,” I called as I headed to the kitchen. Taking the jar of ash from my sack, I tossed it over my shoulder to her. “Hand that off to Tessi, will ya? I’ll be there in a minute.”

“You got it, Boss,” she said as I heard her catch it. Her footsteps echoed to the workroom while I bounded into the kitchen.

Taking the stake from my pocket, I laid it in the sink while I got the cleaning supplies out. Washing it was crucial, because one tiny drop of another’s blood could counteract the herbs and silver. It would be a matter of life and death.

With dish soap on a soap pad, I scrubbed the length of it on all sides. Once it was sufficiently golden again, I cleaned myself up to my elbows, and dried myself and the weapon off. Tossing it from hand to hand, I walked around the large island in the middle of the kitchen and back into the adjoining living room.

The apartment was huge. It held four bedrooms, but one was used as a workroom. The cream colored walls were mostly bare, except for a few maps we used to track beings. A couch and loveseat turned toward a large TV, and that was the extent of our furniture. I moved around a lot, and since meeting Melody and Tessi last winter, we’d moved in together. I never had this much in a place, usually only purchasing a bed and enough dishes to survive.

I had been tracking a rogue sorcerer in Orlando when I ran into Melody. She was also a sorceress, but a special one that could control the elements, mainly water. She could create a rainstorm on cue, focusing it on any area, or person, she wished. She came upon me stripping the sorcerer of his powers and immediately asked tons of questions.

I hadn’t wanted a partner, especially two, but once I saw what an asset she and Tessi were, I allowed them in on my pursuits. Tessi was a potions master, able to concoct anything we needed. She also was great at tracking from a distance, while I was better on foot. My strengths were spread out, but I enjoyed the hunt. Saving innocent people from monsters was rewarding.

Making my way to the workroom, I turned the knob and walked in to find Tessi bent over a map with the pile of ash in the middle. She was stirring something in the pot next to her while studying the paper. Melody was by the far left wall, writing Eric’s name, location, and what he was under the list of accomplishments.

It was a long list.

“Got anything?” I asked, laying the stake on the table as I glided in.

Tessi looked up, piercing me with her blue eyes, and shook her head. “Not yet. Did he give you a fight?”

“Not too bad,” I said. I leaned beside her, resting my elbows on the table, and watched. “He had a victim with him.”

Melody turned. “Did you save them?”

I nodded. “And did that spell to shift her memory.”

She relaxed. She was the worrywart of the group, scared humans would find out about us, and constantly reminding me to be careful.  While I appreciated her consistency, it annoyed me at times. Turning back, she continued scribbling about Eric.

“Where was he?” Tessi asked.

“Fifth and Oak. In that alleyway about halfway down,” I replied.

She moved some of the ash to that spot on the map, then stuck her fingers in the pot. Sprinkling the mixture across the spot, she murmured her spell and we waited.

Seconds later the ash began to glow a translucent orange. Tessi glanced up, her dark blonde hair swaying with the movement, and grinned excitedly. Every time we did this it worked, and every time she glowed like it was her first time succeeding with a spell.

It was hilarious.

We watched as the ash took on a firm, solid form as it connected and created a line that moved from the alley across the map. Up and down roads it went, showing a path for us to take. Finally, it stopped on the edge of Seabrook Island, another beach in Charleston.

Tessi straightened her back and stretched. “He has help. This wouldn’t have showed us a path if not.”

Melody gathered her supplies, a dagger and stake, and gazed at me impatiently. “Get ready.”

“I’m going alone,” I said. Placing the stake back in my pocket, I took a dagger off the shelf and slid it into the top of my sock. “You stay here.”

“No,” she said, hands on hips.

Rolling my eyes, I glared at her. “Why do you do this every time?”

“Because you always go off and fight without us, but when I know you’re leaving, I want to be a part of it. Besides, I can control the ocean and considering it’s right there,” she said, beating her finger on the spot on the map. “I can help you. Now stop being stubborn and get your jacket.”

“Mel,” I started. “It’s not safe. I can’t worry about keeping you safe and fighting this…being. We don’t even know what it is.”

“Exactly!” she yelled, throwing her hands up in the air. “You have no idea what you’re walking into and
you
could get hurt. Now, stop arguing. I’m not backing down. Go!” she demanding, pointing to the living room.

Narrowing my eyes, I flipped her off and sauntered out. Melody Lynn was as stubborn as they come and it frustrated me. I was used to being the one in charge, telling others where to go and what to do. I was a natural born leader, and years of training and learning with Grandma only solidified that.

I’d met my match in Melody. She was more like me than I cared to admit.

Jerking my jacket from where it lay, I stuffed my arms in and buttoned it half way. Boots came next, and then I tightened my ponytail and double checked my weapons. I slung my bag over my body and began counting.

At ten, I determined that was enough time, and quietly turned the knob. I was preparing to slip out when I heard Mel call to me.

“Yeah, I see you. We’re coming,” she chuckled. “Nice try, though.”

“We?” I questioned, turning and seeing Tessi. “No.” I shook my head.

They both nodded, answering, “Yes,” at the same time. It was eerie how similar they looked. Blonde, petite, and curvy. The most significant difference was Mel’s hair was pale blonde and curly while Tessi’s was darker and straight. They could be sisters.

Tessi held up her bag of potions and grinned. “I’m ready.”

Mel slid her jacket on, a blue leather number that zipped, and dropped her phone and keys into her jeans pockets. “Ready!”

Groaning, I held the door and waved them out. “After you.”

Ditching them seemed unlikely, so I was stuck. I followed them down the steps of our porch, climbed in the driver’s seat of my Honda,
and turned the ignition. Once everyone was settled, I turned to look at them both. “Listen, you two can’t be careless. I can’t concentrate on this being while worried about whether you two are going to die.”

Mel clicked her seatbelt. “Oh, shut up, Sadie! We aren’t children. Now go.”

Pursing my lips, I reversed the car and peeled the tires on my way down the drive. Our duplex apartment promptly faded from view as I sped down the street.

“You gonna kill us before we get there so you don’t have to worry about it?” Mel asked with a click of her tongue. “Such a temper.”

“Shut up, Mel,” Tessi warned from the backseat.

The rest of the drive was much of the same, and by the time we reached Seabrook Island, I was ready to magically lock them both in the car and glue their lips together. This was why I preferred to work alone. Parking my car on the side of the road, I hopped out and scoped the area.