Altered Souls (22 page)

We’ve got to release these souls

Yours forever,

Logan

My heart began beating so fast, my face turned flush with sorrow. He was writing me a goodbye note. Did he always know this was part of the plan? How could he do this to me — to us? I couldn’t stop the panic from spreading throughout me. My breathing was ragged with the anger that began filling me once more.

I couldn’t stick to the plan. Not now, not if it involves losing him. I folded the piece of paper as tiny as possible and stuck it under my
bra
strap as close to my heart as I could place it.

Knowing my father, he was going to make what was coming an example for his followers. Step out of line and you can expect to be punished. If my father’s ego could be counted on then there would be an audience for Logan’s arrival, and I’m certain my father would want me to be part of it.

I promised Logan I wouldn’t resort to black magic in order to stay protected from the spirits from the underworld, but I couldn’t stand by and watch him die.

“You’ll have to forgive me, baby,” I whispered for no one other than myself.

“Triss, stop,” Bakula whispered, scaring me to death.

“How’d you know I was in here?” I whispered.

“We were able to see the choice you were about to make,” Bakula said, fluttering to the front door. “It led us here.”

“Dace, have you unlocked it?” she asked impatient.

“Just about,” he replied.

“Logan, he’s in harms way.” My voice panicked.

“We can’t stop decisions that have already been made,” Dace whispered apologetically.

The door sprung open, and I ran outside toward the lake with Bakula and Dace flying away. We couldn’t afford to have them seen.

The property was deathly quiet, scaring me even more as I wondered where everyone was. By the time I got to the lake my heart was pounding.

I heard a group slowly edging up behind me. A murmur of excited voices met me next.

“Would you like to see a little better?” my father’s voice boomed.

He threw a flame and another, creating a bonfire, not unlike the one I saw the first night when Logan and I were on the lake. I turned my attention back out to the water, and my heart fractured as I realized Logan was out there
in a boat
, and he wasn’t alone. Trevor was with him.

“Don’t take one more step toward him,” my father ordered.

I heard whimpering in the direction of the boat and ignoring my father stepped forward to see Ellsy tied up in the bottom of the boat with her mouth taped shut. Her head was propped up on one of the wooden benches, as tears streamed down her face. My heartbeat quickened at the thought of what my father and Trevor planned to do to them. I forced my stare from Ellsy to her son.

“I love you,” Logan mouthed, his deep blue eyes calm.

Trevor’s blade was digging into Logan’s flesh, but Logan refused to wince. He stood strong, keeping his eyes on me, barely blinking. The boat bobbed only slightly in the mostly still lake, making the opportunity too perfect for me to miss.

“Do what he says,” Logan echoed.

“No. I’m not taking orders from anyone any longer,” I replied, shaking my head. “That includes you.”

My stomach constricted as I launched my verbal assault. I loved him too much to speak to him like that, but I had no choice.

Not backing down, I took a few steps closer to the water and heard the crowd of gasps behind me. Makes sense that my father would want an audience for something so atrocious.

Trevor’s eyes narrowed on me as he tightened his grip around Logan’s neck.

“Please let him go, Trevor,” I stated, feeling my weapon curl its way around my ankle. Apparently he was a better actor than I realized. The element of surprise had been meant for my father, but I wasn’t going to chance it. The new intended target was Trevor.

“I don’t think so.” Trevor’s laughter made the boat rock more than he expected causing him to stop abruptly.

The fury in Logan’s eyes couldn’t be hidden as he realized what I decided to do, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to let two people who I loved die in front of me.

“Don’t defy your father, Triss,” Logan grimaced as Trevor dug the blade against his neck.

Trevor smirked as he looked beyond me, over my shoulder. I wasn’t sure who in particular he was looking at until I heard his voice.

“Ooh, this should be fun,” my grandfather replied from the crowd. “Kind of ironic.”

“Isn’t it though,” I replied acidly, as my weapon slowly slid its way up my body and wrapped around each of my fingers. With the darkness of the night, they wouldn’t see it coming until it was too late. The adrenaline rushing through my blood was taking on a new form. I looked quickly behind me as the dislike for certain individuals turned to pure rage.

My eyes landed on my mom, whose eyes were now filled with tears. She could no longer stand up and was leaning against the Adirondack chair that held my father. Was she any closer to becoming herself?

The coldness of the arrowhead pendant against my chest reminded me that time was not on my side.

I raised my arms up quickly, allowing the snake to turn to the bow before anyone realized what was happening. Taking aim at Trevor’s chest, I released the string; satisfied it would reach its intended target.

“
Fragor Sagitta
,”
I uttered, watching the sharp point turn to flames as it
burrowed
its way into Trevor’s body.

Rather than release Logan when Trevor collapsed, the tip of the knife went into Logan’s flesh as they both fell into the lake.

Ellsy shot out a mumbled scream as I stood there numb. What had I done? The crowd surrounding my father went still and then erupted with joy. I turned to face them all, letting my bow fall to the ground before turning toward the lake.

“Triss,” my mother sobbed. She knew my father was going to end me, and so did I.

My father’s laughter rattled through the air as I dove into the dark waters searching for Logan. The water stung my fresh scrapes with every stroke, while old downed trees and aquatic life harassed me. I couldn’t find him.

Coming back up for air quickly, I swam back under the area of the small boat searching as fast as I could. He had to be around here. My heart shattered bit by bit with every second that I was unable to locate him. The slipperiness of the lake grass teased my senses with every grasp. Thinking I landed on Logan’s wrist time and time again, only to be let down by the swaying of the underwater weeds ushering me to another place in the darkened waters.

Shooting my head up for air, the crowd had now converged closer to the lake. Thoughts of Ellsy flickered into my mind, but thoughts of Logan drowning forced her out. Diving back under, I kicked to a new unexplored area when a hand grabbed my arm, tugging me farther under the surface.

Chapter 23

I woke up to my body being dragged along the bank, but it was so dark I couldn’t tell by who.

“Logan?” I whispered.

“It’s not Logan,” a female whispered.

“Jenny?” I asked startled. “What’s going on?”

“I’m getting you to safety.”

“No. Stop right now. I’ve got to get Logan.”

She stopped moving me, and I stood up freezing, wet, and muddy. But I didn’t care.

“Where is he?”

I heard rustling behind her and my body stiffened.

“Who’s behind you?”

“Everyone’s here and ready. He still wants us to follow the plan.”

“Where is he? Is he okay?” I was completely agitated.

“He’ll be fine.”

“He’ll
be
fine or he
is
fine?”

Jenny ignored my question and refused to look at me. She turned around and walked to the wooded area, and I followed behind.

“What about Ellsy?”

“Logan flipped the boat and got her to safety while you were underwater.”

“Where is he?”

Silence.

“Well?”

“He went back.”

“What?” I screamed as quietly as possible.

I reached up to my pendant and felt its warmth but heard silence.

We were still on my father’s property and there was no doubt he knew we were here — that many us were here. We had peppered our presence on the outskirts of the property, each group containing about thirty members, and I needed to ensure everyone still mobilized on our signal. What was he doing?

“Do you have a lantern?” I asked.

Jenny began cranking the one tied onto her belt until a dim light displayed the many faces staring back at me. I didn’t see Logan’s mom.

“Where’s Ellsy?” I asked.

“I had to sedate her,” My aunt’s voice came from behind.

My heart began beating so rapidly I became lightheaded. I glanced at Jenny who didn’t seem concerned and neither did anyone else.

“What are you doing here?” I snapped.

Aunt Vieta’s expression was solemn as she reached out for my hand, but I wouldn’t extend mine.

She pressed her lips together and looked to the ground.

“I don’t have time for this. I’ve gotta check on the antidote, and then I’m going in after Logan and my mother.”

“Triss, I came here for your mother’s sake. I wanted to keep after her as best I could. I tried to leave you clues.”

“Save it.” I said, knowing nothing was going to get figured out in this moment.

There were supposed to be fairies mingled with each group of witches, but I didn’t see any. They were the ones who were supposed to have the antidote we needed to administer.

I reached up to my pendant, hoping to hear the voices of the fairies, and excused myself to a less inhabited part of the woods.

“Dace, Bakula,” I whispered, holding onto the arrowhead.

Silence.

Something was wrong.

I ran over to Jenny.

“Do you know what’s going on with the antidote?” I asked.

“There was a hiccup, but they are going to be ready with it as soon as we launch the boats,” Jenny replied.

“And Logan went in without everything in place? Did he stick to the original plan?”

She nodded.

“Alright, I’m going in. When you see the fires, bring the boats. We’ll hope that the antidote arrives in time.”

“Triss, Logan told me to keep you away,” she whispered.

My mind flashed to the letter he wrote, and I refused to choose that as my destiny. I refused to live with a ghost of a person. I needed the real thing.

“If he told you to stick to the original plan, I’m part of it,” I said, shaking her hand off mine.

“Wait for the signal. There’s going to be a lot of souls that need saving tonight.”

Turning around, I walked back to the water where boats of all kinds were bobbing, waiting for their purpose. I chose the smallest one and hopped in without even thinking.

The anger inside me was threatening my ability to see clearly. What was this martyr thing Logan had going on? He couldn’t do this alone. His mother was safe. Mine wasn’t. It wasn’t his job to save her.

I grabbed the oars and began rowing. The breeze off the water combined with my wet clothes was downright icy.
T
hat would give me something other than Logan’s actions to worry about.

“Triss,” a male’s voice whispered.

The chill of my skin quickly turned to a raw heat of fear. That was not Logan’s whisper.

I looked behind me, and I was only about twenty feet from the shore. I didn’t see anyone except Jenny.

“Over here,” he whispered again, this time rattling the tall grass as he spoke.

My mouth became dry as I saw the eyes looking at me. It was Trevor, but that was impossible.

“Please, I can help,” Trevor continued.

I stopped rowing and sat in the boat unable to do anything but stare at him.

I shot him. I saw the arrow go into his chest. This was a trick. I had to get to the compound. I turned my attention back to the oars and began rowing again.

“You know how your grandfather was in two places at once?” he was on the verge of yelling.

I began trembling, but I didn’t know if it was because of the chill from being drenched or my complete inability to understand what was occurring.

“This was part of Logan’s plan,” he continued. “The one he shielded you from.”

Why would Logan trust Trevor? Why would I trust Trevor? My mind was spinning with possibilities all of which seemed infeasible.

“Prove it to me,” I replied, staring at his shadow.

“You share a
nectunt
together.” He replied, his voice shaking. “You are forever linked as one. I accept it and respect it.”

“That’s not proof.”

“He told me to tell you that he would have chosen daisies, whatever that means.” The sorrow in his voice bounced off the lake waters right into my heart. Every word he said killed him.

I rowed quickly to the lake’s edge. I didn’t understand what was going on, but I didn’t have any more time to waste.

Trevor smiled as I neared and bent over to reach for the boat. It wasn’t a sneer or a smirk that was plastered on his face. No show of victory. I made the right decision.

“I’ll row,” he whispered, climbing into the boat. “We don’t have much time.”

“Why did Logan change the plan?” I asked, shivering as the speed of his rowing swept us through the lake.

“He was worried you’d become an Altered Soul. He didn’t want to give you all the details in case your father was able to—”

“How long have you been involved with his plan?” I interrupted, as we glided into the last stretch of water.

“Only since you arrived,” he began. “Something clicked when we were discussing the dark arts and Logan’s reason for leaving your father’s teachings. The last several days, before you arrived, I saw your father use his powers of manipulation to distort people’s realities…witches and otherwise. I watched him deplete others of their history and in turn he altered their futures. As you and I were talking, I realized he had been doing the same thing to me, and I hadn’t even realized it. And I was attempting to do it to you.”

I remembered that both Trevor and my mother planted that same idea about Logan. That’s how my father does it. He starts planting small seeds of doubt, twisting memories of past occurrence until the actual events can’t be identified any longer, and then he creates new ones.

“I
knew
the truth. I knew why Logan left and no one could have told me otherwise.” I replied, thinking of him.

He nodded. “I know. I saw that truth reflected in your eyes as I spoke to you in your bedroom. You were quiet. You didn’t feel the need to argue with me. That response started changing things for me. I saw how your mom was responding to you during dinner. It was as if she had an altered version of her reality toward you. You guys had been so close, and she acted like you were a plaything.” He paused. “I also realized you weren’t ever mine.”

I shoved
away the anger
as the reality of his statement hit me, but rather than concentrate on my mom I spoke to the other half of his words. “I was never an object to be claimed.”

“I know that now.” He maneuvered the boat onto the mud, and I jumped out. My feet splashed in the water. It didn’t matter. I was already soaked.

“When I sent word to Logan that I’d help him get his mother released that’s when the plan changed to what you saw.”

“When was that?” I asked.

“The first night you were here, after dinner, I contacted him.”

So that was the surprise Logan told me about.

“Thank you, Trevor,” I replied.

He hauled the boat out of the water as I felt for my pendant once more.

Still nothing.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

“Is there such a thing?”

“Logan’s on the other side of the property, readying the signals.”

“So he’s still sticking to that part of the plan?”

He nodded. “The plan from this point forward is how it was, but he’s not going to be thrilled to see you.”

I scowled at him not understanding why.

“He has some unfinished business with your father, and he didn’t want you to witness it.”

“Well, so do I,” I replied, taking off in the direction of Logan.

We crept along the property’s edge, but I could see that the main home was bustling with activity. All the lights were on. I wondered what my mother might be doing. My father’s followers were scattering like ants, preparing for us.

“At least my father thinks you’re dead,” I whispered, trying to lighten the mood. I must have learned it from Logan. “That’s gotta count for something.”

“The element of surprise.”

“Let’s hope,” I replied.

A branch fell in front of me, and my pulse quickened. I stopped and looked up
into
the tree it fell from. There in the shadows was a familiar gray figure.

“Trevor,” I hissed. “Run!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Get to Logan. Tell him the Golems are back.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“I’m not helpless. I’ve handled them before. Get out of here.” I yelled.

Trevor took off running, and I began slowly backing away from the tree that housed the creature.

Was I still protected like Logan presumed? I did try to kill Trevor. But it wasn’t
really
Trevor so maybe it wouldn’t count. Whatever the case, I couldn’t depend on being untouchable.

My stomach clenched at the sight before me. I was surrounded. The Golems crawled in every direction, up the trees, on the limbs, on the ground before me. The darkness couldn’t even diminish their grotesque appearance. They were most definitely Golems, but there was something slightly different than the ones I
’d
encountered in Illinois. These creatures contained marginally more human qualities, but I couldn’t put my finger on how.

Barely covered with stretched, grey skin the stringy muscles of the beasts contracted with anticipation. They were waiting for a command, my father’s command.

Every direction I looked, the limbs were coming to life as the trees around me housed these creatures. I felt trapped between the tall pine and spruce trees watching as they transformed before me.

“U
nguibus pugionibus
,
” I whispered. Sharpness began replacing the flesh of my fingertips.

I was electrified with a mixture of fear and anticipation. What were these beings sent to do?

Walking through the woods, I let my claws scratch the bark of the trees, as I waited and wondered, but never letting my gaze fall from the Golems as they stalked me. Their silence became a weapon, and it was unnerving. The beings had been sent for me. They didn’t follow after Trevor and that was something I needed to know. Now I had to wait.

Reaching up to my pendant, hoping for something other than quiet, I heard them — the voices of the fairies.

“Bacula,” I whispered. “Are we ready?”

“Yes, all the fairies are in their places and the antidote is ready to be administered. We’re waiting for the flames.”

“Thank you. Something’s come up. I might be a little delayed, but we’ll get the crowds moving.”

“I know, dear,” she replied. “You’re stronger than all of them combined if you choose to understand their existence.”