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Wrath

EMILIA

A fter my freaky dream about Natalia, I didn’t sleep a wink. I rose hours before the sun, making my way down the library, accompanied by dancing shadows and a racing mind.

I set my candle down on my regular table and then set off to find some books on vampires. I tried to stay hyper-focused on this task, trying not to let thoughts of Nyx storm my mind. She crept in, despite my efforts. Today was her birthday—a day that had always been sort of bleak. Most people, especially children, enjoyed their birthday but not my sister. Most likely because my mother had never done anything to celebrate it.

“Focus,” I hissed at myself. Thinking about Nyx would send me over the deep end. We were going to attempt to find her later—I just needed to get through the next few hours.

After sifting through the endless aisles for nearly an hour, I returned to my spot and dumped the pile of heavy leather-bound books on the table. Taking my seat, the first one I reached for looked hundreds of years old.

Underworlders: The Dark History

I flicked through the pages, which were thin and decrepit and just begging to be put out of their misery. The book smelled of mothballs. I made a face and leaned away from it a little, but I was determined to study it.

A crash to the floor on the other side of the library made me stiffen.

I sat rigid and silent, listening. I heard nothing else.

“Hello?” I called. My voice echoed through the empty darkness.

Chills erupted down my spine. Great. Just freaking great.

I sat motionless, barely breathing, for several more minutes. When I didn’t hear anything else, I thought a book had probably just fallen loose from the shelf. I’d grabbed dozens of them and put them back. One of them must have not been sitting right.

I sighed, deciding everything was fine, and went back to my reading.

A shadow darted past my peripheral vision.

I gasped, whirling in the direction of it. I found nothing but empty isles of books.

But the hairs rising on the back of my neck and the harsh knocking of my heart told me I wasn’t alone.

“Who’s there?” I demanded, trying to sound indifferent.

For a beat, nothing happened.

Then, from somewhere deep in the library, another book crashed to the floor.

My heart thumped as I rose from my chair. Instinctively, I glanced at the exit. I could run out of here and alert the Luminary.

A scoff escaped my lips at the thought. Luna Academy was draped in impenetrable wards. Whoever was in the library right now was one of us. Someone was fucking with me.

Game on, then.

I steeled my spine and summoned my magic. I held my hand out, watching as the ice emerged over my palm and formed itself into a weapon. Pure, euphoric relief lifted from my chest like a thousand-pound weight when I let some magic free. I hadn’t realized how cooped up it was inside me.

“Oh my Goddess,” I muttered, gawking at what I had just conjured.

A dagger made of glimmering ice. The slightly curved blade glittered in the candlelight, and when I ran my finger along the edge of it, it drew blood. Holy sharp! I sucked the drop of blood off the tip of my finger as I angled the weapon around, beyond impressed with myself. I hadn’t meant to create something so pristinely deadly—I hadn’t even known I could .

Was my magic eager to incite violence?

Another crash from deep in the library snared my attention. My heart thumped, adrenaline roaring through me as I dared to go investigate.

My mind raced, wondering what was about to happen. Obviously, I wasn’t going to stab a Luna girl to death. But I’d enjoy the look on her face when she fucked around and found out.

I stalked through the aisles, listening. Footsteps scurried somewhere to my left so I followed the sound of them. Every time I rounded a corner, the shadow of the person darted around the next one. I was close.

“Show yourself,” I taunted. “Come on. Are you afraid?”

My heart was pounding furiously against my ribs. But with anticipation, not fear. I felt powerful. One hand held the dagger, and the other was splayed in front of me, ready to cast a blast of power.

The tedious game of cat and mouse went on for too long. The sun would rise soon.

I was panting, missing the person every time I jumped into a new aisle. All I saw was their shadow.

“Okay,” I called. “I’m over this. If you want to face me, come out. If not, I’m going to study!”

When I returned to my table, it was destroyed.

The candle had been knocked over, leaking wax all over the surface. The books had been tossed carelessly to the floor, lying in open heaps, their pages and spines sitting at awful angles.

I gasped, lunging to the floor to pick them up. Who would do this?! Some of these books were ruined!

I collected them all and placed them back on the table. That was when I noticed.

The book on Underworlders—it was gone .

“What the actual—”

Warm fingers snaked around my wrist and a scream sailed from my throat as I whirled around and instinctively pressed my ice blade to—

—Venus St. Claire’s throat.

Her eyes bulged, blaring at me with shock. Our noses were mere inches apart, our bodies flushed together. The aroma of cherry incense wafted at me, nearly destabilizing me.

My lips tore back into a snarl as my gaze roved over her. “This was you ! What is your problem!”

“What in Goddess’s name is your problem!” she shrieked back, her hands flying up in surrender.

I pressed my blade harder into her skin. “What game are you playing, Venus?”

“I came to get you! I got here two seconds ago. Seriously, what’s going on, Emilia?”

My chest heaved as I searched her eyes, finding no traces of deception in them. But I knew she was a talented actress. “You were making noises. Luring me away and then running from me. You destroyed my table! What did you do with the book, huh? Why are you intercepting my studies? What’s your agenda!”

“You’re insane! I told you, I just got here!”

“So, it’s your henchwomen then? You made them fuck with me?”

“Goddess—did you hit your head or something?”

I breathed hard, trapped in her gaze. Seconds ticked by and my fury waned like ice melting over a hot stone.

I released her and took a step back.

She gasped wildly, her hand flying to her throat to massage it. She stared at me with an expression that made me feel entirely mad.

It was the first time I’d seen her wear something other than red. She was clad in all black; leather pants and a cropped hoodie.

Her attention flicked behind me, to the table covered in candle wax. “What happened, Emilia?”

I glared at her. “It really wasn’t you?”

“What wasn’t me?”

I glanced at the dark, empty library. I had been chasing someone. Hadn’t I?

“There was someone in here messing with me. They destroyed my table and stole the book I was reading.”

Venus regarded me in silence. Then, “There was no one in the hallways. That would mean they’re still in here.”

My heart tumbled, but I kept my expression neutral.

“Whatever. The sun will be up soon. We have to get ready for Intentions.”

Venus stepped closer to me. “We’re not going to Intentions today.”

The giant, iron gates of Luna Academy opened for us with a groan just as the first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon.

I’d let Venus talk me into going to Malibu alone with her. She’d played right into my fears, reminding me of the High Lord’s warning. Involving my friends could mean a death sentence for them. I knew she was manipulating me, but she also wasn’t wrong. The ball of guilt in my chest for abandoning them now would be nothing compared to how I’d feel if I got them killed.

I glanced back at the academy just once, praying they would forgive me.

Venus led the way. She began strutting down the street as if she planned to walk to Malibu. I expected her to pull out a means to portal, but she didn’t.

“Uh…” I muttered after several minutes. “What’s the plan here? Walking will take days.”

She scoffed. “We’re obviously not going to walk.”

“Well, cast the portal, then.”

“We’re not portalling, either. Portal magic can leave traces to be tracked.”

“So what the hell are we doing!”

“Goddess, you are impatient.”

My mouth opened to rally back but I was interrupted when a black Jeep came whirring around the bend, and Venus’s lips spread into a Cheshire grin. “Showtime.”

“What?”

She stepped out into the middle of the street, forcing the Jeep to come to a stop. The man honked the horn, sticking his head out the window. “What the hell are you doing? Get out of the way!”

“I need your help,” Venus said, her voice high-pitched and ultra-feminine. I watched the man’s face instantly soften. The male species could never pass up the opportunity to help a damsel in distress.

Venus rounded the Jeep to stand outside the driver’s side. “Me and my friend here really need a ride.”

The man stared at her, his brows pulled together in confusion. He started to speak but then his face went slack. Completely blank. Venus started muttering, quietly now, too quietly for me to hear. But I knew by the vacant look in his eyes that she was Compelling him.

He got out of the Jeep, moving robotically.

“Good boy,” she preened. “ Now walk home and forget this ever happened. ”

The man walked away, heading aimlessly down the road.

Venus beamed, hopping into the driver’s seat without a second thought. “Get in, Little Morningstar.”

Venus drove like a madwoman. We were pulled over twice and she had to Compel the cops away both times. She seemed to freaking enjoy it, getting giddy when the red and blue lights lit up behind us. I didn’t bother protesting because it was my own fault for obliging her twisted little game of grand theft auto. I held onto the handle on the roof the whole time, wondering if a Celestial could die in a car accident.

I had no idea how long it took to finally get to Malibu finally. Probably not as long as it felt.

As we pulled up to the house—the normal-looking house, surrounded by neighbors, right on the beach, I thought we must have gotten it wrong when we did the location spell. Out of everywhere in the world, why would Nyx be here ? Venus didn’t seem to share my skepticism, though. She drove past the house, affirming the address. Then she parked the Jeep down the road and we got out.

“I didn’t detect any wards,” she mused. She glanced at her backpack sitting by my feet. “I guess I won’t need my crystals. That’s a bit odd.”

“All of this is beyond odd,” I grumbled.

The sun beat down, hot on our heads. There were dark clouds over the city as we’d driven through, which had been lingering for some time now. But Malibu was crystal clear.

“So, what? We’re just gonna walk up to the front door and knock?” I cocked a brow at her.

She shrugged. “Why not?”

My face crumpled.

“I’m kidding. We’ll go sniff around. Peek through some windows like a couple of Peeping Tom’s. See what we see, then decide from there.”

“And if Solaris really is in there? If he sees us? Then what?”

All humor and light drained from her face at the mention of him. “You leave him to me. Got it?”

I didn’t like that but nodded in agreement anyway.

We sneaked up to the house like a duo of burglars, even though it was broad daylight. In retrospect, we should have come at night, but knowing Nyx—she’d be sleeping. She always had been a nocturnal creature. Perhaps morning was the perfect time to sneak up on them.

Looking through the front windows, we didn’t see anything.

“Let’s go around back,” Venus whispered.

I followed her. People bustled around the beach, but I noticed none of them came directly in front of this house. As if there were invisible perimeters in place keeping people away. I didn’t doubt it, and it made my heart race. Gave me hope that she truly was here.

On the back deck, we found the sliding glass door smashed to smithereens.

We shared an ominous glance.

My racing heart slowed to a hard, dull throb.

Venus grabbed my hand, forcing me to look at her. She mouthed the words, “Try not to step on the glass.”

It seemed impossible, but we tip-toed forward, finding any little clear spot on the floor.

The smashed door wasn’t the only mess we found inside. There was shit everywhere in the kitchen. I studied the mess, concluding that someone had tossed all the contents on the kitchen island to the floor. I moved closer to it, my hand flying over my mouth to stifle a gasp.

Blood.

There wasn’t a lot of it. Only a few thick drops. Still, it wasn’t a good sign.

I swallowed the wave of nausea rising in my throat.

Venus noted the blood as well. She moved deeper into the house, each of her steps calculated. I stayed next to the kitchen island, listening. Feeling. It didn’t take long for me to conclude that no one was here. If Nyx was in this house, I would feel her. I knew it. Instead, I felt nothing. This disappointed me, but at the same time, I felt undeniable relief. I wasn’t ready to come face-to-face with Solaris. As chicken shit as that made me, it was true.

“Emilia,” Venus called from down the hall. Judging by the volume of her voice, she’d come to the same conclusion that we were alone. “Come here.”

I did.

She was standing in what had to be the master bedroom. The king-sized bed was messy and unmade. She was holding a long piece of thick, dark fabric. A cloak or a cape or something. She held it out to me, and upon closer inspection, I saw it was covered in blood. My stomach plummeted.

Venus dropped the fabric. She pulled the blankets away from the bed and then paused at what she found.

The sheets were burned.

In two different spots, the sheets had been singed black.

“Goddess…” Venus muttered.

I grimaced. I did not want to think too hard about what that meant.

“Smell that?” she said, moving to the door which I guessed led to an attached bathroom. “Smells like water and soap. Like someone recently showered.”

We both went into the bathroom, and she was right. There were still water droplets on the shower curtain and walls. Remnants of steam on the edges of the mirror.

And the bathroom counter…

An all too familiar mess. Makeup and skin care products strewn aimlessly about. A brush, which I picked up right away and inspected. My lips popped open when I found the bristles full of silver hair.

My pulse thundered and my hand trembled as I set the brush back down. I picked up a tube of blood-red lipstick, and before I even read the label at the bottom, I knew what it would say.

Wrath .

I swallowed hard. “She was here.”

“Yeah, I figured.” Venus’s tone was dark. I turned to look at her face, which was a mask of disdain. “Looks like she’s shacking up with Solaris, after all.”

“What?” I hissed, instantly offended.

“I’m sorry, Emilia, but don’t be daft. The freaky burn marks in the bed ? The used shower? Evidence of her doing her hair and makeup? Doesn’t seem like she’s being held against her will to me.”

“But the blood,” I professed, my voice too fast and breathy. “The shattered glass.”

Venus shook her head. “I don’t know.”

We left the bathroom. Went back to the great room. For what felt like eons, neither of us spoke.

A light bulb went off in my brain. “Jedidiah!”

Venus turned to me, her expression wry. “What?”

“Jedidiah. That’s who she was here with. Not Solaris.” I pointed to the shattered glass—the proof of struggle. “ This was Solaris. The blood… There had to have been a struggle. Between the three of them.”

Venus regarded me for a long moment. “Jedidiah Stone is dead.”

“No, he’s not. That’s just more fake news.”

She looked like she was about to argue but thought better of it. “You’re sure?”

I nodded firmly. “I’m sure. I was with him at the end of the Clash of Spirits. He’s the one who brought me back to Luna Academy.”

“Was that the last time you saw him?”

“Yeah.”

Venus took another long look around the house, then her gaze settled back on me. “Well, you’re her sister. If that’s what you think is happening, then I’m sure you’re right. The question is: where is she now?”

“Should we do another location spell?”

She bit her lip and thought about it. “Not yet. It feels like she just left this place recently, which makes me think she’s still on the move. Let’s give it a day or two. Either she’ll come back here or she’ll settle somewhere else.”

“So this was a bust then.” My shoulders rose and fell, frost growing over my fingers. I tried to swallow the stone lodged in my throat but it wouldn’t go down.

A warm hand rested on my shoulder. A bolt of electricity shot through me under her touch. When she spoke, her voice was soft. “Hey. No, it wasn’t. We now have evidence that she’s close by, and by the looks of things, she’s doing okay.”

My eyes flashed to the blood on the kitchen island.

“We don’t know if that’s hers,” Venus murmured. “And even if it is, it’s dried. The bathroom was still foggy. If she was hurt, she’s recovered now.”

My eyes stung. “I just want her back.”

Venus squeezed my shoulder gently. “I know.”

The walls started to sway. My lungs constricted, and I knew a panic attack was coming. I fought it, trying to focus, trying to breathe. The ceiling was too close, the floor too close. A storm of ice raged in my chest, blocking my airways.

We were too late. Goddess, we were too fucking late. Now what? Now where was my sister going? I failed her. I—

Voices from outside tore me from my descent into hysteria.

Venus and I stiffened, sharing a startled glance. Without even a second of hesitation, she grabbed me with one hand, pulling me with her to flatten against the wall. Our bodies were crushed together, her heart raging against my arm. Before I could mutter a question or protest, she waved her selenite wand around us in a long, vigorous sweep. “ Occultare! ”

I didn’t understand.

“We’re invisible,” she whispered, so low I barely caught the words. “Don’t make a sound.”

A handful of heartbeats later, two people stepped through the shattered glass door, shards crunching under their boots. A freaky woman with long dark hair accompanied by an even freakier man. His hair was white with a single streak of black in the front. They were both dressed in all-black leather, their pale fingers adorned with several chunky rings with gaudy gemstones. They scanned the house, their mannerisms unnervingly animalistic.

I sensed right away that they weren’t mortal, but they didn’t strike me as Celestials either…

The male flared his nostrils, breathing deeply. “They’re not here.”

The woman nodded, scanning the mess just like I had done minutes ago. She swiped her finger through the dried blood on the kitchen island. Brought her finger to her lips and tasted the blood.

Her eyes fluttered shut and she released a euphoric sigh.

The revelation hit me like a punch to the head.

Vampires.