Mythical (The Mystical Series Book 2) (24 page)

Chapter 29

Tracing its pure stem, I become attuned to distant sounds around me, from the vibrations on the walls from the booming music in the entrance all the way to an exhausted huff from a human behind me. I turn around to see the same unique jawline of the witch that is out to kill me.

“Roses are so beautiful, but underneath the mask, they are silent killers.” I chuckle, tucking my hair behind my right ear.

“My Rose that I know isn’t a killer.”

“I don’t know this Rose you speak of.”

“She’s a stubborn, idiotic rookie. She wants to prove her worth to others who didn’t believe in her. The silly outcast who praises the term ‘dork’ and doesn’t care what people think of her. That’s a rare kind of rose to find.” Donovan steps forth. “Rose, I know you’re in there. Are you really ready to risk everything?”

“It’s E-lee-suh, and if you step forward again, I won’t hesitate to crack your neck.”

Christian rushes inside the king’s room. He grabs the witch’s neck, forcing him to back up. The witch tries to reach for his broomstick in his pocket that beams silver light across the dark room. I hold on tight to my rose and smile as I watch the fight happen. I peel one petal off from the golden rose. A strange feeling has stabbed the insides of my stomach. It feels great.

“My Queen, snap the rose.”

Christian is handling the witch fairly well and keeping his composure while he chokes him. I grip the pure charm to this kingdom in my hand. I wait before I snap its neck. The same sweet smell from my projection while saving Dawn overwhelms me.

Vines with thorns wrap around me and shove me against the wall behind me. The rose drops to the ground, and Warren floats into the room.

“Eliza Rose,” he says. “You dare place your filthy hands on my charm?” Warren shouts across the room.

“You reek of corruption.” I cough, trying to breathe. “Why try to hide it?”

Warren clenches his fingers together, and his vines and roots constrict me.

“Fairies are my favorite.” I struggle to smile.

I calm myself and I let my tattoos burn against the vines, eventually allowing me to rip them apart. I am then flung onto the ground from a root that comes out of the wall. Warren flies to the right of me, spreading his fingers apart. I shut my eyes to protect them from the bunch of wood that crashes down toward me. Sensing the impact, I roll to my side and chuckle. “Let’s make this a bit more fun, shall we?”

I tumble to my left and reach for the rose on the floor. Warren flies down to me and lifts me up toward the caved-in ceiling. He plans to drop me, but I don’t let go of him. I wrap my arms around his neck and place my middle finger on his lip, which turns dark green. I stare at him, as his wings slow their fluttering pace.

“That’s right…”

“Poison…I-” he chokes.

“I want to make sure it gets down inside of you.”

I press my lips against the fairy king’s and blow air inside of him. His veins outline against his jawline and travel up to his eyes. His eyes fade into white, and then the pulse of his heart abruptly stops. The taste of him is as sweet as candy. I let go of him as he dissolves into a rainbow mist. I close my eyes as I fall down, landing on my knee on the dirt. I force my head back, looking up at the ceiling. I stand up straight, wiping his glitter off of me.

Christian holds down the witch that’s here to kill me.

“Take him out. Hold him hostage.”

Christian takes out a dagger from his boot and holds it up against his neck. He reaches for the broomstick, takes it out of his pocket, and places it in his own.

He didn’t get burned…

I furrow my eyebrows at this. I walk toward the gold rose on the ground. A brown book is on top of the rose. I reach to pick up the book to move it aside, and my tattoos light up. I feel like I can’t breathe. The book glows silver, and I lose all of the energy inside of me and collapse on the ground.

***

I search the ground, finding a rock. My hair falls in front of my face, and I run my fingers through it. It is not blonde. It is back to its auburn color. I smell something burning in the air.

I must have projected as soon as I touched the book…great.

I hold the rock in my hand toward my chest; my heart is beating slowly.

That’s odd. How is it beating?

I stand up. The sky is brownish red, and the leaves on trees are on fire. I walk down the street, glancing up at the street sign.

‘Main Street’?
This is my old neighborhood.

I glance at the houses on each side of the street. They’re all broken down, and I am walking on piles of gravel and broken wood. I hear nothing but flames crackling. I feel my pockets to see if I have my broomstick, because Mom always told me to keep it on me. It’s not here.

I run to my old house and reach for the doorknob, only to get burnt by its metal. I bang on the door in hopes that someone will answer.

“Jare! Let me in! Someone, please I need help!” I cry out, coughing.

Tears running down my cheeks, I bang on the door continuously. I’m inhaling too much smoke and I’m struggling to breathe.

“Please!”

I sense someone is behind me.

“My Queen, why are you crying?”

It’s Christian in his old green Ellevil elf outfit.

“Because I’m scared.”

“Scared of what?”

I look around at my destroyed neighborhood. A kid is crying, a little girl in a yellow dress that looks burnt up. She trips over a pile of rocks.

“Christian, go help her! She must be hurt.”

He goes after the girl, lifting her up to bring her to where I stand.

“Dear, are you okay? Stay with us. We’ll keep you safe.”

Christian bends down, digging his fingers dig into his boots, then brings out a dagger. “You want to be saved, little girl?”

“Christian, why do you have that dagger in your hand? Isn’t she already in enough shock?”

“Yes she is, so let’s help her with that.”

The little girl sniffles, wipes her tears from her face. Christian places his dagger on her cheek to wipe her tears. He then takes the dagger and stabs the little girl in the gut.

“Christian! What are you doing?” I scream.

He tosses the little girl to the ground as her yellow dress turns into a deep brown red. I run to the girl to help her up, my tears falling down my face onto her dress.

“Curing her misery.”

He killed an innocent child without hesitation. My heart is beating fast in shock.

“What are you? Why did you kill her?”

I reach to choke him, but he vanishes.

The door to my house opens. Christian is standing inside the doorway, only this time dressed in all black with a hoodie on. His markings glow.

“I’m following your orders, my Queen.”

“Why are you calling me your queen! I would never order someone to kill an innocent person.”

“You have no idea what you are capable of.”

Christian then chuckles as wind from the house sucks me up. The house is trying to suck me inside. Christian’s laugh grows louder. I lose my concentration and am sucked inside the house.

Everything becomes black.

***

My heart begins to beat once more. I gasp for air as I wake up. Christian holds the rose in his hands. Two fairies are holding the unconscious witch up.

“You were out cold,” Christian says. “I figured I’d find the rose myself.”

“Is Donovan alive?”

“Oh, so you remember his name now?”

“It came over me…”

I have to get that rose, to keep it safe. The projection I had from touching that book made me realize what may happen if all the kingdoms become corrupt. Become corrupt because of
me
. My grandmother and even Donovan tried to warn me. I wasn’t controlling my body; my thoughts weren’t mine. I feel my heart beating normally now, and I don’t feel trapped as I was before. Something odd is going on. I’m so confused. I didn’t know who Donovan was; I didn’t even know my brother.

I have to get that rose…

“Christian, maybe you should let me snap the rose? I want to do the honors.”

“Welcome back, Rose.”

He knows I’m back to my old self.

“Somehow you fought against Eliza. It’s intriguing.”

I guess that is what my myth was telling people to call her, instead of by Donovan’s nickname.

I suck in the air around me and blink, rubbing my forehead. I have to get myself together and remember who I am. I’m afraid that if I don’t keep control, I’m going to lose myself forever to corruption. I don’t know why I felt trapped; I could see everything I was doing.

I was trapped inside of my own body and thoughts.

“It’s Eliza. Now give me the rose or I’ll snap your neck!”

“That tone does not fool me, Rose. I’m smarter than that.”

“Christian, don’t do this!”

He bends the rose’s neck until it snaps.

***

A pinch crawls up my forearms and along my tattoos. The kingdom grows silent. My pulse quickens, and immense pain spreads throughout my body. The silver tattoos I once had were now all green.

I twirl my index finger at the dirt beneath us, and a tornado of dirt circulates around me. In my right hand a large staff forms with a green emerald stuck at its tip. I walk toward Christian, then stop and stare at him for a moment. Brushing past him, I walk out of the room.

“Welcome back, my Queen.”

I stride down the dark tunnel, ending at the entrance of Faevil. The once fun and exuberant fairies are now all floating in the air. Their brightly colored wings are now a bloody red color. They all are wearing ripped dark green outfits. Black eyes follow me as I step over to a throne of wood and rocks. Every fairy drops down to the ground, bowing down to me while I make my way through them. Christian and his two fairies follow behind. When I step up to the throne, thousands of fairies bow. Heads touch the ground, and not a single flutter from a wing is made.

“I am your queen. My name is Eliza, and together we are corrupt.”

“Together we are corrupt!” the creatures roar in unison, finally looking up.

I sit down, crossing my legs. I glance at Christian and then at Donovan.

“Don’t touch the witch,” I instruct. The fairies turn to look at him. “We need him alive.”

Chapter 30

I make myself comfortable in my new grassy throne, rubbing the emerald on my staff. The music fades back on, and I feel the bass bump against my lungs as I breathe in the sweet scent of Faevil.

My fairies dance.

The style of dancing changed from rave to bump and grind. I guess you can say I am one of them now too. In the distance there are two girls strutting through the crowd. Cloe and Shanel are with me.

“Hey, ladies…”

“Your Majesty,” they say, synchronized.

“The portal turned dark green, so we’re here,” Cloe says.

They stand by my side watching the crowd. I notice Christian by the bar sipping on a glowing drink. He locks his gaze on to me; I don’t look away. I know that he wants me, and I want him. I want to know why he wasn’t burned by the broomstick he’s holding in his hand now.

I trace my collarbone with my index finger as I flicker my eyes at him.

“Someone looks interested,” Cloe chuckles.

“Bad bitches don’t talk to basics,” Shanel chimes.

I look away from Christian’s smirk to rub my markings. “Ladies, he’s not basic. He’s royalty,” I say.

“Who’s really royalty here? You’re the only one. Look at these fairies—you’re their new queen,” Cloe says. “Do you know how dangerous fairies are?”

“The only dangerous mystic I’m aware of is—”

“Elves,” Shanel answers for me.

I glance at my bare feet and the markings along my calf, crack my neck, and lift myself up to go get a drink at the bar. I walk down the steps, and immediately all the fairies move aside for me to pass.

“I’ve never seen a myth before,” a mystic whispers.

“Shut up before she slits your throat.”

I roll my eyes and stand against the bar’s counter. Christian comes from behind me and places his hand on my waist, and with his other he tickles the sides of my throat.

Why is he touching me like this?

Because he’s your man, that’s why.

She can hear me?

Well this is new. The pure, infamous, ignorant Rose has found a way to voice her thoughts. I think harder to keep her trapped inside my mind.

“Eliza, my Queen, are you okay?”

No, you’re not…Christian is evil.

No he’s not, he’s helping us. Now shut up and stay in your place wherever you are.

I’m surprised he hasn’t killed you yet. ‘Your Majesty,’ I’m going to get the mood ring and seal your ass forever.

Rose fades away into the mist of my mind. Peace and quiet, finally. Christian’s staring at me. My eyes flicker to the bartender.

“Can I have something hot and intense?” I ask.

“Hot and intense?” Christian murmurs.

“Is that something you can offer?”

“I can offer you even more than that,” he says.

I knew Christian was special when I first laid eyes on him.

Bitch, you didn’t lay eyes on him…I did.

Ignoring the voice, I move my hair out of the way for Christian to mark me.

“Babe?” I whisper. Christian makes a sound of response. “Where can I find that witch? I need to talk with him. There’s a reason why I want him alive.”

Christian stops kissing on my neck for a moment and turns me around. “Why do you want to talk to him?”

“Are you questioning your queen?”

We have a stare down for a minute or two.

“He’s in the cage.”

I walk away toward the tunnel.

I swear if you hurt Donovan!

And what are you going to do? I’m taking over now. You can sit back and relax, baby-girl.

***

As soon as I disappear inside the tunnel, the music picks up louder once more. If Christian knew I was back here to free the witch he’d go insane. Although, I’m kind of insane already, and I love it. I notice one of Christian’s guards blocking the room; I slow my pace.

“My Queen.” He bows.

“Look up.”

As soon as the fairy looks up obediently, I swiftly place my foot across his neck. I can hear the gargling from him choking, his black eyes reflecting my image, and his skin is starting to glimmer. I shove my foot against his Adam’s apple harder until he stops moving and drops to the ground unconscious. I know he’s not dead; I haven’t stabbed his two hearts yet. I don’t know how Warren died without me puncturing his two hearts either.

“Pathetic…” I say out loud.

“Rose? Is that you?” Donovan whispers.

“Donovan! Are you in there?! I’m coming right now. Don’t worry.”

I open the door, my eyes wide in shock, my lips drooped in mock worry. The witch is trapped inside a vine and leafy cage. Watching my every move, he looks happy and excited to see me.

“Rose?”

I stop my act and laugh. Strutting by the cage, I wave out my hands. The leaves and vines swirl around on the metal poles.

“Wrong, she’s not here. But I am.” I smile. “Aren’t you happy to see me?”

He turns around silently.

“I should’ve never come. They told me to try and at least get to you.”

“We can be boyfriend and girlfriend. I don’t mind.” I wave my index finger in the air while the vines snake around him.

“Why don’t you kill me already? Eliza, I think you’re holding back. Why did you tell them to keep me safe?”

I’m shocked that he would talk to me this way. I look around the room as it grows darker. I drop my fingers and the vines return themselves around the cage.

“You’re going to talk to me like that? Your queen?”

“You aren’t my queen. You’re a rookie.”

“I’m what?”

“You’re a witch.”

He turns around right when he says the word ‘witch,’ silently staring me down. Our markings glow in the room, silver and green. He has his hands in the pockets of his jeans. I move my fingers, allowing the vines to wrap around him.

“You scared now?”

“Not one bit,” he says.

The cage breaks from the raging vines, roots and leaves. Donovan falls down to the ground. I release my vines to kick him over with my foot.

“That’s one thing witches are known for. They come prepared.”

He drop kicks me to the ground, but I land in push-up position as he smashes down on me. I am too slow to roll away; I chuckle from the amount of fun we’re about to have. I brace myself and dodge his punch that slashes through the air toward me. I take his arm to crack his wrist, and he wraps his other arm around my neck.

“Feisty. I like.”

“You’re gonna like this part too.”

He’s holding a silver dagger in his hand. I scream ferociously before he slits
my throat.