Page 17 of Relic

SEVENTEEN

As the four of us march through the Quarter, dodging tourists, I swing my eyes around me as if I could somehow recognize an IDV coming at me. I grip Horatio’s arm and stay close to him. I haven’t even begun to process everything I’ve learned. Vampires and witches are real and now I’ve got magic inside me. Mind. Blown.

“You’re safe, my sweet,” Horatio says softly before kissing the top of my head. The gesture does a lot to calm me.

“How do you seem to know what I’m feeling?”

He smiles. “Your blood is inside me.”

Shivering, I nod. That’s pretty neat.

We must be an interesting sight even in this city. Horatio, tall and imposing and dressed like a CEO, Mattheus, also tall but with long white hair and crystal blue eyes, wearing a black trench coat and combat boots and then Samson, average height, lean build with thick blond-brown hair and large brown eyes, but dressed like he’s the latest member of Fleetwood Mac. Then there’s me. A regular mortal in jeans and a t-shirt. Then again, based on the people around us, maybe we don’t stand out at all.

We arrive at the witch shop, stepping inside as a group. Ares is sitting at a table wiping down instruments of some kind. When he looks up and sees us, his eyes go wide. He jumps up from his seat, pressing himself against the back wall.

“What did I do?” he asks, his voice panicked.

Horatio lifts a hand. “Nothing. Yet. We’re here for information.”

Ares looks at me and nods. “I should have anticipated this.”

“You are a psychic after all,” Samson says dryly.

Ares clears his throat. “What can I do for you fine gentleman?”

“You can start by telling us why you advised Emery to keep this crystal that’s laden with black magic,” Horatio says, managing a tight smile while still glaring.

“Yes, well…” Ares sits back at his table, bending over and digging through something under the tablecloth. He pops up seconds later with a box of similar looking crystals. “Please have a seat. There is a lot to tell.”

Horatio and Mattheus glance at each other, seemingly speaking without words. “Samson and Emery will sit,” Horatio says. “We’ll stand.”

I take one of the chairs as Samson takes the one beside me.

“When Emery came to see me before, I felt a strong pull toward him.” Ares grimaces. “Too intense to ignore. I couldn’t let him leave without giving him the message.”

Horatio, standing to my side, nods. “Go on.”

“The messengers told me that Emery must keep the crystal. That losing sight of it would cause great harm to the city around us. I tried to ask why, but messengers are not always open.”

“True,” Samson says. “Is there more?”

“These,” Ares says. “These are the others I was able to locate in shops all over the quarter. Every time I found one, there was one of those terrible vampires close by.”

“An IDV close by,” Horatio repeats. “How did you find the crystals?”

“Through my messengers. I was led to the right shops.” His brow furrows. “There’s a man whose name starts with an O. He is dark energy. He dabbles in black magic for his own gain and he becomes more powerful with each passing day. He needs something he hasn’t been able to find before. Unfortunately, he believes Emery holds the key.”

Horatio’s expression hardens. “Have you seen the man?”

“In visions. He’s tall with long white hair, brown skin, silver eyes.”

“Orson,” Horatio and Mattheus say at the same time.

“That description matches the man who told me to buy the crystal,” I say.

Horatio rubs his temples. “He witnessed the magic call out to Emery. That’s why he’s targeting him. Is there anything we can do, Ares?”

“Give me a moment to connect. Please be silent.”

He closes his eyes, rocking slowly back and forth as one hand traces unseen drawings on the wood table. We all watch, and I don’t know if anyone else can feel it, but the air around us is definitely getting colder.

Ares snaps his eyes open, visibly shivering. “Okay.” He lifts a glass and takes a sip of water. “That was intense. I was given a vision of what would happen to the city if Orson is successful. It’s absolute destruction. Only vampires loyal to him are free. Everyone else will be contained by a dark force over the city.”

Horatio’s eyes glow red as his jaw tenses. “What is his goal? Only power or something else?”

“He’s tired of his existence. Bored, if you will. He simply wishes to amuse himself.”

“By killing innocents?” Horatio paces. “What part does Emery play?”

“Emery is a neutral source of magic. He’s untethered, unexplored, unclaimed.”

“I have claimed him.”

Ares shakes his head. “His magic. Inside him, a powerful force grows, unlocked by his presence here with us. Orson needs a witch to make his desires reality. Known witches have clear alliances. The voodoo practitioners refuse to dally in black magic concerning vampires. Orson needs someone he can manipulate. He hopes that someone is Emery. He hasn’t made a move yet because of you, Horatio.”

“How do we stop him?” Mattheus asks while Horatio stews.

“Two things. First, he needs the magic stripped of him. Only a neutral force can do that. Then, he needs to die. Only a vampire can do that.”

As everything sinks in, weighing me down, a question bubbles up. “Why do I have to keep the crystal if it’s bad?”

“It’s attached its energy to you. If you were to lose it or worse, give it to Orson or someone else with bad intent, it could still be used to manipulate you.”

“Fuck,” Horatio mutters.

“How does Emery claim a side?” Samson asks. “Is it the same process I did when I stepped into my power?”

Ares nods. “There are a few options. He can partake in a ceremony performed by a coven, such as yourself. He can invoke a spell that will shine his purest intentions outward. Or…” Ares shifts in his seat, his face scrunched like he’s smelling something bad.

“Or?” Horatio presses.

“Or he can become something far more powerful.”

I tilt my head. “What are you saying?”

“Please remember I’m only the messenger.”

“Spit it out, psychic,” Horatio growls.

Ares exhales. “It’s a well kept secret. A neutral witch combined with the blood magic of a vampire is the only thing that can truly eradicate evil from this city. Orson will not be the last to seek ultimate power.”

What he said doesn’t make sense to me, but it must to Horatio as he gazes at me with deeply red eyes. “Are you saying, for Emery to step into his full power, he would need to turn?”

“For the best outcome, yes.”

“Turn what?” I ask. All four men gaze at me, their expressions varying from sympathy to concern to lust from one in particular. “I don’t get it.”

“Turn, Emery,” Mattheus says. “Into a vampire.”

I gasp, looking at Ares in shock. “What? I thought you said I had to claim my power as a witch and then…” I shake my head as all the information becomes a jumbled mess in my head.

“Emery,” Ares says softly. “You’re not a witch yet. Magic was planted inside of you many moons ago, simply waiting to be released. That magic is pure, untouched by evil or goodness. It’s neutral.”

“Okay. I get that.”

“As far as the vampire portion, when a person turns, their blood is infused with magic. That is how they remain immortal, how they dissipate and reappear, how they use their abilities. It’s in their blood.”

“I’m with you.”

“If you were to turn, the magic waiting inside of you would fuse to the blood magic, making you powerful enough to eradicate all negative energy in the city.”

“Why? How?”

“Negative energy doesn’t like resistance. Evil doesn’t like good. Your energy would be strong enough to create enough resistance to push it back until it chose to look elsewhere. It’s hardly known because someone like you is rare with untapped magic. Orson, unfortunately, knows this. He must have been stalking the city looking for someone exactly like you. His goal would be to turn you before Horatio can in order to force your allegiance.”

“Oh.” That’s all I can say as it sinks in. “So until I turn, I’m a target?”

“Yes. These…infected vampires around the city are likely being controlled somehow by Orson. They’ll pursue you and bring you to him.”

Horatio paces the small space. “I knew you were special,” he says softly, turning to face me. “I just didn’t know how much. The entire fate of New Orleans is in your hands, Emery.”

My eyes flood with tears. “Why me? I’m a regular guy trying to make art. I don’t want power or to eradicate anything. Why me?”

Samson puts his hand over mine, drawing my eyes to his. “Emery, our gifts and curses are chosen by fate. Whoever put this magic in you, through your aunt, knew you would be a wise choice. They knew you would do good with it. They trusted you with it. It’s a gift.”

I nod, trying to see his point, but I’m scared. “What if I mess up?” I lift my head to Horatio. “What if I disappoint you?”

“That’s impossible.”

“But will you turn?” Mattheus asks. “Will you embrace your power and save us all or run away and forget we exist?”

His words feel like a knife to the chest.

“I don’t want to add more stress to the situation,” Ares says. “But running wouldn’t be wise. You’ll be chased.”

As reality settles over me, I sink in my seat, shaking. Become a vampire? I exhale slowly, blinking to focus as Horatio kneels beside me. He’s talking but his voice sounds like we’re underwater, distant and muffled. My ears ring, blocking out remaining noise, and then the world around me goes black.