Embrace, Entice, Emblaze (40 page)

out in a semi circle around us. They created a wall between us and everyone else. Some were dressed in casual jeans and T- shirts, others in sleek suits, some in old- fashioned clothes that looked like tacky costume wear. I presumed a few had stalled in previous eras.

Good to know there were all types of fashion victims in the world.

Not one of them looked older than mid- twenties, and a few were no older than me. However, they had a few things in common: not one was human and they were all in their prime, ready to pounce.

I gave myself an internal pep talk.

This
is
your
job
now, what you’ve been given the power to deal with
.

It didn’t work. I tried again.

For
Christ’s sake, Vi, you’re stuck like this now, so you better figure out
how to beat these psycho angels or you’re going to die
…
very, very badly!

It was better.

Onyx looked at me and smiled. “All alone?”

“No, there are plenty of us around. We saw no point in leaving

the dance floor just for you,” I said, heavy on the smart- ass to avoid showing fear. Onyx’s smile broadened. I snuck a look over his

shoulder. Phoenix had to be back any moment.

“Are you sure?” he teased. He looked at me in that I- know-

something- you- don’t- know way, and a wave of doubt washed

through me. He laughed, pleased with my reaction.

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“Is it the angel or the Grigori on his way to save you?”

“I don’t need anyone to save me.”

He straightened a little, still amused. “I admit, you do emit

a unique aura. But I can see you have no comprehension of the

power you carry. My exiles have been sensing your power all over town. You seem to leave a rather large footprint. It’s fascinating.

You’ve become somewhat of a talking point.” He looked to the

exile beside him. “Has she not, Joel?”

Joel stepped forward. He was in a tailored black suit with a dark shirt that had a short collar, not unlike a priest’s clerical collar.

Strangely, he reminded me of Nox rather than Uri.

“Do you know your maker?” he asked. I felt an immediate

compulsion to answer him, so forceful I would have stepped back had I not been compelled to remain where I was.

“No, I have no idea,” I said in a trance. Something was very

wrong.

Joel’s lips twitched. “Are you of light or dark?”

I couldn’t help myself. “I don’t know,” I answered honestly.

“What did you see on your trials?”

I took a step toward him, wanting to please him. “A desert,

my guides, sandstorm, lion, water, death, dagger.” I tried to stop myself, but the words just tumbled from my mouth.

Onyx and Joel looked at each other. Phoenix had once explained

that some exiles retained the ability to speak telepathically after taking human form. I was guessing these were two that could.

While they were silently conversing, I searched within myself

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and found my power. The first thing it told me was that Lincoln was near. I started to put the walls up, trying to protect myself before they tried to mind- rape me again. I needed to be stronger.

They turned back to me, watching in curiosity.

Onyx laughed. Surprise, surprise.

“You should conserve your strength.”

I saw Lincoln from the corner of my eye, circling wide, trying to reach me undetected. Then, finally, I saw Phoenix in the shadows.

He put his finger to his lips and I looked away, but not before I saw the golden threads encircling him. Why couldn’t I sense him if he was that close?

Joel pulled out his sword, the same one that he had been holding in my dream. “Tell your Grigori friend there is no point circling wolves. He may join you unharmed, for now, if that is where he

wishes to stand.”

I looked over to Lincoln and shook my head, telling him not

to come forward. He ignored me, marching right through the wall of exiles to stand by my side. He took my hand briefly and power swirled between us. Then he turned to Onyx.

“Why are you here, Onyx?” He didn’t sound in the least fright-

ened, despite the fact that last time they had met, Onyx had almost killed him.

“Lincoln, my friend, you look well…considering.” He surveyed

Lincoln in surprise, then turned to me. “Your handiwork?”

“It’s none of your business.” I didn’t want to answer any more

questions.

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He smiled. “That’s where you’re wrong, Violet.”

“What are you doing here?” Lincoln asked again, ignoring Onyx

and gesturing at the club. “Even for you, this is a little public.”

“Perhaps, but we grow in strength and number. We can create a

glamour when we need one,” Onyx said.

“It won’t be long before we do not need to hide at all,” Joel

added and then pointed at me. “She is the first step to us claiming our rightful power over humans.”

Things just kept getting better.

“What are you talking about?” I demanded.

“You have been created as a weapon for your kind. Destroying

you will be a blow to your people and a message to your maker.

Your creator sits safely in his realm, leaving you to do his dirty work. It must end…and soon it will. Soon we will know the identity of every Grigori now and in the future.”

“That’s impossible,” Lincoln said, almost laughing.

“Let us see how impossible it is once we have the list.”

Dread sounded in my voice. “What list?”

Onyx chuckled. “It’s a scripture really. Soon we will have the

name and maker of every Grigori, even those who have not yet

embraced. It is almost boring to think how easy it will be.” He looked off, daydreaming.

I had found my reason to embrace. Saving Lincoln’s life had

been my choice. Even though I couldn’t seem to help the hatred

that welled up in me when I thought of him and all that had

happened between us, I now knew my choice had been the right

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one. I’d had a reason to become Grigori. Now Onyx had just given me a reason to
be
one.

I stared at Onyx and Joel with disgust. “You will never get that list. I promise you.” As I spoke, I knew I would do whatever it took to stop them from preying on innocents, on defenseless Grigori

who didn’t even know what they were. It had been hard enough

finding out the way I had; the idea of exiles knowing who they were before they did…No.

Joel spoke. “I can see that you believe that. I even admire your conviction, but I’m afraid you won’t be around to prevent it.”

Lincoln moved his shoulder slightly in front of me, assuming

a protective stance. I held back the urge to push him away. Even now, I could feel the anger toward him.

“You came here for her?” Lincoln asked.

“Yes,” Joel said simply. The same energy I had felt in the alley when the cleanup crew arrived thrummed through my core. I

grabbed Lincoln’s hand and spoke quickly, as low as I could.

“Griffin and Magda are here. They’ve brought help.”

“You can tell that?” he whispered, surprised. I gave a small nod.

I could feel them on the other side of the circle of exiles.

Lincoln stood tall. “You won’t touch her,” he growled.

Onyx sighed dramatically. “I could almost believe you, but

half the work is already done. She is tainted,” he said, as if I had some disease.

“What the hell are you talking about?” I asked.

He smiled. “Allow me to give a demonstration.” He opened

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both his arms in a grand sweeping gesture and the room slid into a deep red glow.

Shadows emerged from the walls and ceiling and danced toward

me. My breathing quickened and I felt my throat tighten in fear.

The dozens of elaborate chandeliers hanging from the ceiling

looked like they were melting, dripping fire and liquid glass onto the dancing crowd. The crimson curtains draped around the edges of the room rippled maniacally, like a raging sea, devouring everything within their reach. The dark floorboards splintered and flew upward like sharp wooden swords rising from the floor.

People started screaming as they were impaled on the wooden

spikes and dripping lava- like glass burned holes in them. I tried to step forward, to run to Steph’s side, but I was paralyzed. The faces of the exiles surrounding me had morphed into creatures— animals, gargoyles, ravens, and snakes. Some looked like they had fangs

coming from their mouths and began biting into the necks of defenseless humans. Others turned into bright illuminations that burned my eyes. I started screaming, and even though I knew they were

tricking me, using my imagination, fear and panic overwhelmed me.

I was aware of Lincoln grabbing my shoulders, trying to shake

me out of it. But it was no use. I tried to draw on my power, to build my walls. But Onyx and Joel, working together, bulldozed

through it.

A gust of wind pushed at my back as a hand went to the base of

my neck. Sparks of energy, little electric shocks, flickered down my spine. In my ear, Phoenix whispered, “Try again.”

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I reached within, while exiles tore Steph from the floor where

she was cowering and dragged her toward me, laughing and

ripping at her clothes. I focused all my strength and pulled it into a ball. I wanted to build it, to grow it within me, control it. I concentrated a little of the energy on my body, willing it to move.

Twinges of pins and needles pricked my legs and I knew I was

breaking their hold.

I took a step toward Onyx and Joel and launched my ball of

power, letting it sail over them to the other exiles and beyond to the illusions that lay before my eyes. A cloud of my amethyst mist settled over the room like a blanket, evaporating the horrific illusion and bringing me back to myself.

Fully clothed and intact, Steph was still dancing with Marcus,

oblivious to everything that was going on.

“He’s broken it!” Joel screamed in fury, looking around. I

didn’t know what he meant, but I remembered Phoenix standing

behind me.

“Phoenix!” Onyx yelled through the club. “Phoenix!” he yelled

again.

Lincoln turned to me. “What’s going on?”

I didn’t respond, but I had an all bad feeling.

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chapter
thirty- four

“…and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:32

Phoenix stepped into the circle. My bad feeling heightened when I saw his face, shadowed and rigid.

“You released her, you imbecile! Why? You had the perfect hold.

She didn’t even know!” Joel yelled. His insanity was in full swing.

“What hold?” I asked, looking at Phoenix.

“I didn’t realize it was going to happen. I swear, Violet.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, saying each word slowly, deliberately.

Onyx seemed to fi nd a new reason to smile. He moved toward

Phoenix, separating from Joel. My eyes darted to Lincoln, who

took a few small steps in Joel’s direction. Th e last thing we needed was Joel trying something like Malachi had done when Onyx had

gone on one of his rants.

“He has tampered with you, weakened you! And given his

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heritage, I’d stake that before you embraced, you gave yourself to him in the…physical sense.”

I shifted uncomfortably. Did everyone have to know this one

detail about me? I tried to keep my cool, but it was flimsy at best.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Let me guess: you two shared a night of indescribable seduction.” He waved a hand through the air. “The world
moved
around you, and ever since, you haven’t been able to tell when he has been tinkering with your emotions— unless, of course, he wanted you to know.”

My mind raced back over all the moments I’d been with Phoenix

since that night. Apart from the heavy dose of desire he had inten-tionally poured into me earlier, I couldn’t remember being aware of him affecting me, bleeding his emotions into me, the way I had been before. I looked at Phoenix. He wouldn’t meet my gaze.

“The kink in my power?”