“Why do you want the spirits of Hell on Earth? How will that help you?” I took a deep breath after hearing my shaky voice.
The others in my team would have no idea where I was. If I wanted to outwit Xvair, I would have to remain calm. If I could somehow get the binds off my feet at least, I would be able to harness the magic in the cave. Xvair was able to stay alive because he lived in the spot where the ley line crossed under the Earth. No wonder the ancestors had told me that he had to die. He was still draining the planet of magic, causing the imbalance.
“The PFF think it's high time the humans stood to heel. Demons of Hell will most certainly help us to overpower them, which will make it impossible for them to defeat us.” Xvair watched as Brianna came over with the stamp.
Holding it out, she offered it to the ancient witch, raising one eyebrow when he took it from her. Not one utterance of pain came from his lips as he turned and sank to his knees in front of Florian. The red hot metal must have burnt his frail skin, but he obviously couldn’t feel anymore.
Florian stared at his father, his eyes flicking to me as Xvair lurched forward, pushing the stamp onto Florian's wrist. In an attempt to pull away, Florian pushed at his father's arm, trying to disconnect him.
“Leave him alone!” I shouted, throwing my body towards Xvair.
Managing to knock him over, I laughed as Brianna and her male friend grabbed me, pinning me to the ground. I tried to buck them off, but their vampire strength was too much for my magic-less body.
“My ancestors wrote a spell that swapped bloodline relatives.” Xvair righted himself. “For instance, my great, great, great, great, great uncle Charlie didn't want to protect the ley line, so he cast a spell to convert the forge to my grandfather. Of course, we know that our privilege was taken away, but it's time to restore it.”
“I don't want any part of this,” Florian snapped, his young eyes blinking.
“I originally thought that I would have to force you to marry one another but it seems I don't! Isn't that a bonus?” Xvair laughed as he handed the stamp back to Brianna.
The male vampire held me tightly, pulling me to my feet.
Brianna rushed over to the flame, heating it again.
Cringing as Xvair placed his hand over Florian's wrist, right where the new burnt brand glowed red, I listened to the Latin words that formed the spell that prepared us for the ritual.
Thrusting my head back forcefully, I ignored the pain as my skull cracked against the vampire's nose. He sucked in a breath, but his grip stayed firm. If only I could access the magic that was screaming to enter me.
“Play nice now, Gemma Abbott,” Xvair muttered. “Once the ritual is done, you'll be free.”
“Free?” I went still, watching as Brianna made her way back over to us. “How can I be free? You're going to force your son to rape me.”
Laughing, Xvair came closer, his hand extending to my old best friend. “Well, that was the original plan, but since I found out about this spell... and your death... I realised that I could just live the way you do.”
Dropping the stamp into Xvair's palm, Brianna came back to me. I growled at her, the sound literally bubbling up my chest. Grabbing hold of my arm, she held tightly, looking at the ground as Xvair reached forward.
“No!”
My fight was pointless. I was held firm by two vampires, tied by magic-limiting ropes. I had no chance of escaping the brand that came towards me. My teeth gritted together as the heated metal made contact with the inside of my lower arm. My sucked in breath released as the pain ran through my body, my singed skin letting off a hideous smell.
“Once my son has taken the line from you, I will no longer need children. He'll just forge his blood with me and we'll share the line together. I've seen that Mother Earth allows you to live, even though you're dead.”
Letting the metal stamp drop to the ground, Xvair placed his pale wrinkly hand over the rune mark and recited the same spell.
I fought the tears that came to my eyes but hopelessness squeezed my chest. My power was gone, I could no longer fight.
“How will I be free?” I said quietly.
Moving away, the evil man looked over his shoulder at me. “As you detach from the ley line you're so fond of protecting, your body will start to die. To prevent anyone from resurrecting you, my son will use our Essex dagger, plunging it into your heart.” A smirk came to his lips as his chin wobbled. “You, Gemma Abbott, will be the last Abbott witch of your line. I will destroy all that you have, all that you are, and all that you will be.”
Chapter 11
“Do you really think you can get away with this?” I spat to Brianna as she dragged me across the car park.
A run down church, the spire completely decimated, stood above us, the dark night throwing the shadow of the building across the graveyard. The night air was cool against my skin as I stumbled, my boots scuffing against the gravel. There was no one around, not even an animal.
Xvair followed us slowly, his cane the only other sound in the area.
“You can't do this!” I heard Florian say behind me.
Brianna's male companion dragged the poor man behind us. Ever since his father had made the revelation that he wanted him to kill me, he had stayed pretty silent. I had no idea who the man was and what he was capable of, but I did wonder whether he would
