Page 20 of Voyage of Magic and Malice (The Vampires of Charleston #3)

TWENTY

sibling rivalry

The trip toward the wetlands is relatively quiet as Cam follows Nyssa’s directions through the empty terrain. The further we go, the stronger the energy becomes. I don’t see any physical changes in the environment, but I feel them. I don’t know if that’s the vampire in me or the witch.

“How close should we get?” Fran asks from the back seat.

“I think this is close enough,” Nyssa answers. “Cam, can you hide the car in there?” She points toward a grouping of overgrown bushes.

“Yeah, but it’s going to do a hell of a job on the paint.” The rest of us climb out before Cam speeds into the greenery. By the time he stops, only a small portion of the roof is visible. A few minutes later, he walks around the bushes with a few new scratches and his hair disheveled. “That should keep it hidden,” he says, running his fingers through his mop-top.

“We walk from here.” Nyssa takes over.

“How far is it?” Fran asks.

Nyssa sighs before answering. “Mileage-wise, I don’t know. Energy-wise, it is not far. There are protections in place not far from here.” She turns toward Brayden. “Can you camouflage us?”

The immortal child closes his eyes, takes a deep breath in, and slowly lets it out. “Done,” he says with a smile. “I made us look and feel like a flock of ducks.”

“That’s pretty smart, Brayden.” I pat his back with my words. “Remember, we have to stick together. No matter what, we cannot separate from each other.”

“We know,” the group says in unison.

“Elsie?” Nyssa calls from the front of our group. I move quickly to her side. “You need to know I performed a spell before we left.”

“What kind of spell?” I’m not sure whether I should be concerned or relieved.

“A tracking spell.” Her words are softer. “Specifically for Thorne.”

I stop walking. “And?”

She hands me a soft pink crystal with a faint glow. “The spell connected this stone to Thorne’s energy. The closer he is, the brighter the stone will glow.”

“It’s glowing now.”

“That’s why I’m giving it to you.” She smiles. “It wasn’t glowing until a few minutes ago. We’re going the right way, and he’s there.”

Clutching my fingers around the stone, I pull it to my heart. For now, it’s the only lifeline I have to Thorne.

The further we move, the stronger the energy becomes. I open my fingers to find the stone glowing brighter than before. “We’re close,” I whisper to Nyssa.

“It’s just around this bend,” she answers. “Squeeze closer together.” She motions toward the small group behind us. They follow orders, and in an instant, we’re huddled together.

“Testing, testing,” Alex says through my mind. “If you can hear me, nod your head.” To my surprise, everyone in our group nods.

“Can you hear me?” Everly echoes, mimicking Alex’s ability. Again, everyone nods.

“Can we hear each other?” I ask. Other than the immortal children, no one responds. “Well, that answers that question,” I say aloud.

“When we get there, Brayden, keep up the duck illusion. No matter what you hear or think you hear, keep the illusion in place. Do you understand me?” Nyssa orders. “Once she discovers we’re here, she’s going to throw every trick in her book at us.” Brayden nods. We start moving again, and the crystal glows even brighter. I focus on staying in the moment and not letting the excitement of finding Thorne overtake the mission.

“Nyssa says it’s just around the corner,” Alex translates. “She says to be ready for anything.”

Following the landscape, we circle around a heavy bend, surrounded by a thick marsh on either side. Nyssa stops walking as we reach what looks like a dead end. The crystal glows brighter as I stare into the empty space in front of us. I feel something but see nothing.

“This is it.” Alex wraps his fingers through mine, no doubt feeling my uneasiness. Brayden moves closer to Nyssa, and the two of them hold hands. “Nyssa and Brayden are doing a spell to make the house visible.”

Seconds later, the illusion shatters like glass, and the shimmering haze melts away to reveal the truth beneath. It’s almost as if the air is holding its breath before the antebellum home emerges in full view, standing like a ghost on the marshland. The stately home is weathered but regal, with towering white columns reaching up to a sagging roof draped in creeping ivy.

Once white paint has faded to a cracked and peeling haunting gray color. Arched windows seem to watch as we move closer, their glass glowing with an eerie light. Moss and vines crawl up the sides, wrapping the house in its protection, while the high steps leading to the front door appear as if time had forgotten what they’re used for.

The marshland around us buzzes with an unnatural stillness—no wind, no bird calls, only the soft lapping of water against the muddy banks. Yet the air feels heavy, almost as if the house itself pulses with life, daring anyone to enter.

“That’s terrifying,” Alex whispers through my mind.

“Aye, it is.”

His fingers grip mine slightly tighter as he stares at the door of the home, watching it creak open and two lycan step out. Dressed in their usual uniform of worn jeans and button-down shirts, they look every bit the part of stoic guards.

The door swings open again, and this time, a woman emerges—her presence striking, as though she’d walked off the pages of a fashion magazine. The energy rolling off her is unmistakably vampire. It pulses toward me like a warning. She halts mid-step. Her head lifts as she sniffs the air around her. Shit. Does she sense us?

Nyssa turns toward Brayden, who nods at a silent question passed between them. She moves closer to the house, dangerously close to the lycan who are walking the perimeter. Our group follows close behind.

“Do you feel something strange?” the vampire asks the two men.

“Nothing but you, bloodsucker.”

The woman scoffs, moving away from the lycan. “She senses us.” I move protectively in front of Alex, who’s still holding onto my hand.

“We’re still an illusion,” Brayden answers telepathically. “She may sense us, but she doesn’t understand what she’s feeling.”

“Let’s hope you’re right.”

The two lycan pass us, completely unaware. Slowly, our group moves toward the oversized front entrance, stopping at the bottom of the stairs. The front door opens, and my heart leaps into my throat. Framed in the doorway is the man I’ve loved for three centuries—Captain Hawthorne Rex.

“Don’t react,” Alex warns. “He can’t see us.”

“He’s stronger than you think,” I remind him.

“She’s right,” Thorne’s deep voice resonates through my mind. “I am stronger than you think, and I see you…all of you.” He looks around our small group, making eye contact with each member. “Why are you here?”

“To save you,” Everly’s soft voice answers.

“I don’t need saving.”

“Serafina bound you to her,” I answer. “You’re not yourself.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Elsbeth. I’ve never been more—myself.”

“Her spell has a hold on you.” I turn toward Brayden. “Let me out of the illusion.”

“Elsie, no! You’ll be visible to everyone, not just Thorne,” he argues.

“I know.” I pause, staring into the large eyes of the immortal child. “It’s okay,” I whisper. Energy sweeps over me, and the illusion leaves.

“I could see you before,” Thorne’s deep voice echoes. “The theatrics weren’t necessary.”

“I’m here,” I answer, stepping closer. “You’re not yourself. The Thorne I know would never have left of his own free will.”

“Maybe you don’t know me as well as you thought you did,” he retorts.

“The Thorne I know is strong, brilliant, and willing to sacrifice his life for others. You stalked a vampire and convinced him to turn you into the very thing you despised just to find me. You did that selflessly.”

Thorne laughs. “There was nothing selfless about that. I left my wife and son to become a monster.”

The female vampire from before moves to Thorne’s side. “I knew I smelled something.” She turns, rubbing her hands along his chest. “Want me to kill her?”

“No,” he answers quickly. “Leave us.”

The woman steps back. “I don’t remember you being in charge.”

Thorne turns. “I am now. Leave, or I’ll make you leave.”

The woman glances between the two of us before sniffing the air. “She’s not alone.” She turns, moving back inside the ancient home.

“Thorne, you need to come with us,” I continue.

“I don’t need to do anything. I’m here because this is where I want to be. Serafina is my future.”

“Your future? Are you…Are you sleeping with her?”

He scrunches his face. “No, she’s my sister.”

“Don’t you see? She has her magic weaved so intricately around you that you believe you’re here of your own free will.”

“Dammit, Elsie. I am here of my own free will. Not everything revolves around you! I know that concept may be difficult for you to perceive, but wake the hell up.” His words hurt more than I let on, and I fight the tears threatening to fall.

The energy shifts, and Brayden moves to my side. “What did you do?”

The immortal child ignores my question, turning toward Thorne. “Serafina is manipulating you.”

“Nothing personal, kid, but you were human a few months ago. How old are you? Seven…eight?”

“My age doesn’t matter. We share the same gifts, you and I.”

“And me.” The energy shifts once more, and Nyssa moves next to Brayden. “We share a common bond through our blood.”

“My father got around, didn’t he?”

Nyssa ignores his jab. “You hold druid blood in you, a small amount, but enough to give you power. It was passed down through your mother’s side. It explains your abilities…” Nyssa grunts loudly, stopping her words mid-sentence. She stands firm and glares at Thorne while holding her side in pain.

“Is this the ability you’re speaking of?”

“You’re not stronger than me,” she retorts.

“I have your blood in me. Did you forget your little ritual?” He raises his hand toward Nyssa.

“Stop!” I shout. “Thorne, this isn’t you. Brayden’s right. Serafina is manipulating you to think this is the real you. It’s not.”

“You knew me for a month, Elsie. One month of me being your captain. I took pity on a starving young girl and fed her. It was nothing more than pity and lust.”

“Thorne, you don’t mean that.”

“See, that’s the thing. I do.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “I was nothing more than a horny young man looking for his next conquest.” Thorne’s words cut deep. Out of the two of us, I’m the one with hurtful words. Thorne is calm, levelheaded, and kind.

“Now, Brayden,” Nyssa whispers toward the immortal child.

“By root and stone, by blood and breath, awake the truth that sleeps in death. Let shadows break, let falsehoods flee, druid heart, now rise to see!” Brayden steps backward a few steps after his words.

“What the hell was that?” I ask, not sure what just happened. Turning toward Thorne, I see it. His face has gone from angry and firm to the Thorne I’m used to seeing. Softness has returned to his features. “Thorne?” I whisper.

He blinks a few times, seemingly clearing the haze from his eyes. Hardness returns to his face as he looks at the druids in front of him. “What did you do to me?”

“It was a spell to awaken your druid blood. What we did before wasn’t as strong,” Nyssa answers, stepping in front of Brayden.

“It worked,” Alex says, moving to my side. “Look at him.”

“Nothing worked. I was kind enough to let you and this ragtag group of misfits stay on this land. That time is over. If you’re not gone in ten seconds, I will kill you.” He looks me in the eyes. “ All of you.”

“No,” I retort. “We’re not leaving until Serafina is dead and you’re home.” I just revealed the entirety of our plan in one sentence.

Thorne’s laugh echoes off the water. “You don’t stand a chance against her.”

Leaving the presumed safety of our group, I move up the ancient steps until I’m inches away from Thorne. “You’re in there. The man I fell in love with at nineteen years old—he’s in there. I feel him.”

“Go…” he starts.

“Do you remember the night he took me?” I ask, interrupting his dismissal. “The night Kragen boarded your ship, killing Charles before taking me?” Thorne’s expression remains stoic. I look him in the eyes. “You were willing to sacrifice yourself to save me, but I wouldn’t allow it. I chose to go with him to save you and everyone aboard that ship, including my family. That Thorne is still in there. The man who was willing to lay down his life to save the starving farm girl.” The last part is no louder than a whisper.

Thorne’s pupils dilate as he looks at me. “Elsie?”

I place my hand on his cheek. “Aye, my love. It’s me.”

The front door opens, revealing the woman we’re here to kill. Serafina stands in the doorframe, wearing a long black dress and an iconic witch’s hat. “Well, look who the cat dragged in.” She snaps her fingers. “Hawthorne.” At the sound of his name, his pupils return to their normal size, and he moves to his binder’s side. “Kill them, dear brother.”