Anna pulled in the corner of her mouth. ‘I want to help.’
‘And you will,’ I said. ‘But it would be safest if you go and hide in Ezra’s boat and wait for us there. Maybe you could take Pearl and Boy with you so we don’t have to come back for them here. Think you can do that…unseen?’
Anna swallowed. ‘The town is in a complete frenzy. Most people are already down in the town square, waiting for the trial.’
‘Waiting for the execution,’ I said, my stomach churning.
Anna nodded. ‘No one is going to notice me. And anyway, I’ll be careful, more careful, I promise.’
‘Boy will take care of you.’ Jet checked his watch. ‘Eva, we need to make a move.’
‘You sure about this?’ I asked.
‘I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life. Let’s go!’
I smiled at my friend who had remained loyal and true, unlike her twin brother.
I took Anna’s hand and together we walked back through the woods towards the town of Melas, where our fate waited for us.
Chapter Fourteen
The golden light around Jet and me was flaring; the brightest of light before the descent into darkness. The river we stood beside was calm, and up high an eagle soared. I remembered standing in the same spot beside the river at sunrise with Elijah, only moments before I shared my magic with him for the first time. I placed my hand over my aching heart.
Not far from where we stood was the clearing where I’d embraced my powers, where I’d become a white witch. Minutes from now, the sun would set and the pure crystal would be turned to darkness and me along with it. And then Jet and I would be on our way to meet Ezra to try and rescue my family. My insides fluttered like the wings of baby birds taking their first flight.
Jet reached out and held my hand. I turned to him as all of my hopes and fears bubbled to the surface. He pulled me into his strong arms and held me close.
‘It’s going to be okay,’ he whispered.
‘Is it?’ I responded, my fears of losing my family, living in eternal darkness – of becoming the Fire Queen – finding their way into my words.
‘I know it is, because no matter how dark things get, I know your heart is good. So as long as you listen to what’s in there, you will be okay.’
Heat from Jet’s body washed over me, calmed me. I pulled back and met his eyes. ‘I don’t know how to thank you, Jet – for putting up with me, for helping me, for being there for me as a friend…when I had nothing.’
Jet smiled and tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. ‘Right back at you.’
‘No matter what happens to me, you need to promise me that you will take care of yourself, okay?’ I said, resisting the urge to place my hand on the side of Jet’s face.
Jet blinked quickly. ‘Nothing is going to happen to you.’
‘We both know there are no guarantees – any minute I’m going to turn into a demon, capable of just about anything. And tonight, well, who knows what Orpheus has in store for us. So please promise me you will look after yourself.’
Jet rolled his eyes. ‘I promise…not to let anything happen to you.’
I gently hit his arm. ‘You’re impossible, you know.’
He laughed. ‘Says you.’
I chuckled before hugging him again.
Then he whispered, ‘It’s time.’
I stepped away from Jet, his warmth and reassurance deserting my body. The crisp evening air arrived, holding us in its icy grip. With a shaking hand I reached into my coat and pulled out the crystal wand, whose power surged through my hand, calming me.
I gazed at the sun, which was sinking slowly into the horizon. As the sun sank further, the crystal turned colder until it was icy cold. My body tremored as I held the crystal high and the sun slid under the horizon, the clear-coloured wand turning the colour of ink.
My body convulsed as a darkness unlike anything I’d ever known consumed me.
‘Eva,’ said Jet, reaching for me.
I lurched away from him and crouched down, my body, my heart, my soul descending into a place that I could only describe as hell. I heard a scream – was it my own? My name was being called, over and over, but I was unreachable.
A hand touched me, burned me.
‘DON’T TOUCH ME!’
I collapsed onto the ground, clutching the crystal like a feral animal, while a malevolent energy consumed, ravaged me. The world around me became silent and still. There was nothing. I was nothing.
‘EVA!’
Something ignited inside me. A small flame. Warmth. A fire. Heat. A smouldering slow burn. I opened my eyes. Jet stood over me, his eyes wide.
‘Eva?’ he said, holding out his hand.
‘Don’t,’ I said, my voice no longer my own.
I jumped up to stand; I was no longer weak or cold, but I burned with power that wanted to destroy.
‘Let’s go get my family,’ I said, slipping the crystal wand inside my jacket.
‘Are you…okay?’ he asked, stepping closer.
I stepped back, an invisible, impenetrable force field around me.
‘Come on,’ I said, striding away from the riverbed and heading towards the place we would meet Ezra. Sizzling energy consumed me, and Jet struggled to keep pace.
‘Slow down,’ he said finally. ‘We need to be careful.’
I stopped and turned to him. ‘We don’t need to take care – Orpheus and those beasts guarding my parents, they need to take care. Keep up!’
I turned from Jet’s wide eyes and continued my march through the woods. There was no moon in the sky, and the world around us was soon drenched in the colour of midnight. Even so, my eyes made out every shape, every bush, every turn
