Saved by the Spell (Anna Wolfe Series, Book #2) (3 page)

Within a few minutes, Janie pries herse
lf from his tenacious embrace. “I have bad news,” she starts. Finding no way to lead into it, she decides she might as well just spit it out. “Anna was kidnapped by Micah.”

Kristy's eyes double in size as she smacks her mouth with the palm of her hand. Martello just stares at her in disbelief. Janie clears her throat uncomfortably.

“I know you’re worried...”

“
Worried? Girl, I gets worried when I loses twenty dollars. This is more like pissin’ your pants because it’s the end of the world type of shit!” Martello snaps. “Oh Lordy! My Anna! Please let her be okay, Lord Jesus.” He lowers himself onto his knees, clapping his palms together in prayer.

“
What? How did it happen?” Kristy asks, with fat tears filling her eyes.

Janie pushes past both of them, soundlessly encouraging them to follow her. Kristy pulls Martello up by the arm as they proceed behind her to the family room. She plops herself on the couch while Kristy and Martello sit on the loveseat opposite her, both deliberately keeping their distance as if Janie were the abductor. She leans over her legs, resting the palm of her hands against her forehead.

“We're not sure exactly how it happened, but Cara was in on it the entire time. We believe she lured Anna to an abandoned cabin by pretending Micah hurt her. Anna thought I was being held captive there so she ran off into the night, intending to save me. Once she was inside the cabin, it was too late...” Janie trails off. She inhales long and hard before continuing. “The cabin was saturated in magic. No one could get in, not even Roman. We were only able to get inside the place after Micah left with her,” Janie finishes in an unsteady voice.

Martello exhales loudly. “
I could kills that Micah. Who do he thinks he is, waltzin’ up into our lives an’ stealin’ our Anna?” he rumbles angrily.

Kr
isty places her hand over his. “I know this is hard, but we have to keep level heads and think of our next step. She doesn't have too much time before Micah forces her to do things or even hurts her.”

Martello slides his hand out from under hers, crossing his arm
s in front of him defensively. “I's gonna kills that Micah when I gets my hands on him.”

“
I agree, but right now we need to bury the anger and focus on the logical means of action,” Janie insists. “When I was imprisoned, I overheard a few things. I know for a fact he wants that book, and right now, that's his only ambition. His father will continue to support him as long as he believes it's for the both of them. Little does he know his own son has plans to overthrow him the first chance he gets.”

“Jesus,”
Martello says, exasperated. “This be some supernatural soap opera shit.”

“
So, Micah is going to use Anna to locate the book and The Scholars. Once that happens, it will be too late for all of us,” Kristy ponders out loud.

“
Exactly. We can't let that happen, no matter what. I know Anna... she'll fight him as long as she can, which I'm sure won't be as long as we need. Right now, Brielle and Valen are recruiting packs to support us, and Roman is in the Netherworld, communicating with Vlad.”

Kristy and Marte
llo stare at her in confusion. “Vlad?” Kristy asks.

Janie shrugs.
“I'm not sure, but by the sound of it, he’s pretty powerful. Roman needs his help in locating someone he thinks might be able to assist us.”

“
And do we has a name?” Martello inquires.

“His name is
Landon… he's a Shadowalker. Roman explained how Shadowalkers can travel undetected through the shadows in any of these things called Dimensions. I don’t know what he means by Dimensions, so we’ll have to ask him; but if Landon helps us, he might be able to retrieve Anna from Ignis.”

“
Ig-what?” Kristy asks.

“
Ignis… it stands for the City of Fire somewhere in the Netherworld. Since it's hidden mostly in shadows, Roman thinks Landon might be able to sneak in and out without a trace,” Janie finishes optimistically.

Kristy shakes her head. “
Who would have thought unimaginable supernatural people existed and that we'd be sitting here discussing them like they’re no more than players on a football team?”

“
I knows, girl. I still can't wraps my mind around this madness,” Martello adds.

Janie flops back on the couch,
exhausted. “All of this sounds crazy, but if this Landon will help us, I'm confident Anna can be found. None of us could step foot near that city without being captured or something.”

“
How do you find someone like him?” Kristy asks.

Janie sighs. “
That's the problem, you don’t. Roman said he's untraceable and he has no idea where he is.”

“
I knowed this was startin’ to sound too easy,” Martello whines.

“Easy will never be a
luxury for us.” Janie presses her thumbs into her temples, slowly massaging them. “We have to wait to hear from Roman. Hopefully, Vlad will be able to help us somehow.”

“Maybe Valen will have
rounded up some enlistees too,” Kristy offers hopefully.

Martello exhales, leaning the back of his head on the couch. His vacant gaze burns a hole in the ceiling. Janie glances at Martello, knowing how much he hates confronting real emotions. Anna’s abduction is going to be rough for him, but pity isn’t an option for anyone right now, except Anna. Anger fills Janie as she replays all of the lies Cara tied them in for years. Jesus, just how long was she involved?

“What’s wrong?” Kristy probes.

What’s wrong?
Janie laughs inwardly at her question. “I was just thinking about Cara and how badly she screwed us over.”

Kristy shakes her head. “I can’t believe she did something like that to her own family.”

“That bitch was never right,” Martello chimes in with his diva attitude. “She gonna gets an ass-whooping too.”

“The sheer fact of her involvement is hard to believe. What’s worse is questioning how long she was plotting against us.”

“Girl’s been for years,” Martello affirms. “At least, that’s how Mr. Warlock and Valen made it sound,” he shrugs.

“Cara is dead to me,” Janie divulges in a detached tone.

Kristy nods and Martello continues to stare at the ceiling as a deafening silence fills the room. Janie can’t stop her mind from dipping into the vast reservoirs of regret and guilt that are spreading in her heart. If she only acted differently, Anna might be safe. Janie shakes her head, scattering her thoughts like dry leaves. She needs to focus exclusively on how to get Anna back, rather than mourning over her disappearance.

Chapter 3

Anna

Micah squeezes my arm as he
shoves me forward. The pain has subsided, leaving exhaustion in its wake. I glance around at the barely lit tunnel that's beginning to evoke unwanted nightmares. This is the same tunnel I ran through numerous times before...
Before.
A small, solitary word that now signifies so many life-altering events.
Before
Janie was kidnapped
... before
I knew I was a Grand Witch...
before
the supernatural world invaded my normal life...
before
Micah was obsessed with me. I moan inwardly at the enormity of factors which this tiny word now encompasses.

“What are you thinking about?”
Micah asks pleasantly.

I cringe, knowing I have to answer him even though my pride is yelling at me fro
m the top of its lungs not to. “I'm wondering where we are going,” I reply in a flat tone.

Micah giggles.

The sound of it makes me want to throw up.

“
You're going to meet my father, Lucifer. He's been dying to see exactly what a real Grand Witch looks like.”

Great… as if one Micah isn't bad enough. I can't imagine what he'll make me do or how much more painful it will be when I refuse him. I'm fully aware of Micah’s intentions. He wants
The Book of Imperium
so he can take over his father's throne, and eventually, the two worlds. Maybe if I tell Lucifer that his son's loyalty is severely flawed, I might have a narrow window to escape. That thought, however, quickly fades. There's no chance Lucifer would believe his own son might be plotting against him.

“
Come on, this way, my love,” Micah says, pulling me to the left.

The previously dim
tunnel is now bathed in an assortment of burgundies and scarlets. As we venture further into the underground world, the cobblestones beneath our feet immediately transform into polished, black marble. I glance down, noticing my reflection gleaming back at me. The once beautiful champagne dress hangs on me, irregularly tattered and covered in grime. I quickly look away, not wanting to stare at my horrid reflection any longer. What I wouldn't do for a shower right now. Micah stops in front of a black wooden door, knocking twice. A few clicks echo in the hallway before the massive door slowly opens. A bright white light slices through the red, promising hope, as a shrunken, frail woman peeks through the opening uneasily.

“
Ah Micah, what a pleasure,” she says in a sarcastically strong voice.

“
Leave it alone, woman,” he responds with distaste. “This here,” he points at me, “is Anna. You need to make her look presentable to meet father.”

Her big, blue eyes rest on me. She studies me from head to toe before opening the door wider.
“Come in dear, I haven't got all day.”

I hesitantly walk through the threshold, unsure of what to expect.

“That will be all,” she says, slamming the door in Micah’s face. “Gosh, I hate that man,” she finishes out loud.

I turn around to address the old woman, shocked when my stunned eyes land on a youthful, dazzling blonde staring back at me. My jaw drops in disbelief as I watch her round,
navy eyes sparkling and her perfect nose crinkling at my astonished expression.

“
Yes, I know,” she says, waving her hand dismissively. “You can't believe how pretty and young I am... blah, blah, blah...” she finishes with a grin.

I smile nervously.
“I... I just wasn't expecting it.”

“
Whenever Micah comes around, it's better for me to appear as an old woman. He seems to be a little nicer when I remind him of an elderly being. It's the power of persuasion my dear,” she pauses. “He's a prick, no matter how you cut it, but he's my stepson nonetheless.”

Confusion
begins to smother any rational notions of her being an ally. “Micah's your stepson? You mean, you're married to Lucifer?”

She holds her hand up.
“Was! I
was
married to him. Yikes, I've made some mistakes in my life, but that was the absolute worst.”

There are so many questions catapulting from my mind, I can't latch onto one.

The gorgeous blonde extends her hand. “I'm Cassie.”

I return the favor, placing my hand in hers and shaking it firmly.
“I'm Anna.”

She giggles.
“Oh, I know who you are. You've been the talk of the Netherworld for quite some time now. Well, the talk of Micah anyway. He swore up and down you existed... a Grand Witch that is... but no one believed him; and yet, here you are,” she says pointing at me. “There, have a seat my dear,” she offers, gesturing to her couch.

I hesitate, unsure if I should sit on a stranger's couch while dressed in such vulgar clothes.

“Oh, sit down. I don't care if you're dirty.”

She grabs my wrist and drags me over to it, gently tugging on my arm until I'm sitting on the cool, black leather sofa. Cassie steps to the side, lowering herself into a matching oversized chair.

“Are you a witch?” I ask in a tiny voice.

“
Honey, I wish. If I was a witch, I probably could have used magic to get myself out of this hellhole years ago... no pun intended,” she grins. “I'm a fairy, hence my ability to change my physical appearance.”

A fairy? I'm mesmerized at the thought of meeting a pleasant person down here, let alone a fairy. I return her smile, delighting in her company. She doesn't seem too bad... yet. After all, she is Micah's stepmom and a fairy. I remember the advice Valen gave me once—never seek or ask for their help. He definitely got the smoke and mirrors part right.

“I've been held captive down here for years. I lost track after twenty,” she continues.

“
Twenty years!?”

Cassie shakes her head yes.
“When Lucifer and I parted ways, he wouldn't let me go home to my people. He threatened to kill my entire village, so I complied with his wishes. He has severe control issues, which I'm sure you must have sensed in Micah. He needs to know I'm here and can call me on me whenever he wants to,” she sighs. “Of course, he never does. The last time I saw his face was when he shut that door some twenty years ago,” she explains, pointing to the same door I entered.

“
Did you ever try to escape?”

Cassie snorts.
“Of course I did, but it didn't matter. I couldn't get far in this labyrinth. Every turn and twist I made always led me right back here. Eventually, Micah spelled the door, which prevents me from leaving,” she responds dismally.

My heart sinks at hearing her failed attempts at freedom. The idea of never leaving this place isn't an option for me. One way or another, I
will
get out of here. Cassie's eyes land on me, understanding my unspoken thoughts.

“
Don't get any foolish ideas, Anna. You'll never be able to leave. Micah is too passionate about you and the powers he believes you possess. Once Lucifer sees this, he too will sooner kill you than allow you to escape.”

“
Cassie, I won't stay here like a caged animal,” I counter, becoming aggravated.

She throws her head back, bellowing loudly.
“I applaud your fight, but lady, when I tell you your life is over... it's over!”

I drop my gaze to the floor, suddenly no longer in the mood for the company of a negative fairy. I glance back up, not failing to catch her solemn expression.

“I'm sorry, Anna,” she says, composing herself. “I don't mean to come off so rudely, but you're never leaving here.” Her electric blue eyes twinkle despite the smirk plastered to her face.

“
We'll see,” is all I can muster. I'm already exhausted and have yet to meet the infamous Lucifer. I have no idea how long we’ve been chatting, so I can see how Cassie loses track of time. Living in the shadows with the absence of windows can do that.

“
Listen,” she says placing her delicate hand over mine. “Let's get you cleaned up. What do you say?”

As if I have a choice.
I smile weakly, gradually standing on my unsteady legs. She escorts me into an oversized bathroom drenched in gold. The pedestal sink stands proudly, offering me clean towels, which are stacked neatly on its edge. The walk-in shower has three enormous shower heads, each twelve inches in diameter, and can easily fit a dozen people comfortably inside it. Who, in their right mind, decided that private showers should accommodate large crowds? I shake my head at the decadence emulating from every nook and cranny I notice in this room.

“
I know, it's so tacky,” Cassie says cheerfully before closing the door behind her.

A small click bounces off the gold-speckled marble floor, informing me that I'm locked in. I walk over to the shower, slowly reaching my hand inside the glass doors. Wrapping my fingers around the nozzle, I turn it gently. A spray of water falls from the middle shower head like soft rain. Steam slowly grows from the tile floor, emphasizing the rising temperature. I undress, excited to wash off the layer of filth from my skin. I slide under the water, allowing it to pour all over me. I drench myself in its purity, making sure to wash everything from my head down multiple times.
My mind is disoriented, preventing random thoughts from sticking around long enough to seize my attention.

A half an hour later, I turn off the water. Even though I physically feel refreshed, my emotional turmoil still lingers. I dress in the clothes provided, if you could even call them that. I look at myself in the full-length mirror and cower. The cotton, black dress Micah picked out is skin-tight, aggressively warning me
to avoid any food consumption. I don’t see overindulging as problematic, considering I haven’t been offered anything since I’ve been here. The hem gently grazes the bottom of the floor, while two deep slits rise up my thighs, stopping inappropriately in the middle of them. If someone so much as sneezes in my direction, I might be intimately exposed to the world. I slip into the crimson leather jacket hanging off the towel rack, grateful for some coverage. Grabbing the black knee-high boots I spot by the door, I sit on the edge of the ostentatiously enormous Jacuzzi tub. I slide my feet into them, slowly zipping the soft leather up my calves. Standing, I walk cautiously back to the mirror and stare at my reflection, thoroughly disappointed in Micah’s trashy idea of fashion. A gentle knock on the bathroom door catches my attention.

“Anna? Are you finished in there?” Cassie's barely audible voice inquires.

Suddenly apprehensive, my eyes dart around the room in search of a window or exit. Nothing. Ugh! Not even a stupid air vent exists in this place! I snicker. Of course there isn’t an air vent! I’m in hell for fucks sake!

I clear my throat. “Just give me a minute,” I reply, hoping my voice sounds as steady as I wish it to be.

I frantically survey the room for anything resembling a weapon. A small glimmer of light bounces off one lonely bobby pin tucked away in the corner near the door. I hustle over to it, quickly snatching it off the floor with eager apprehension. If nothing else, it might come in handy. I slide it over the top of my boot, smiling. Sometimes, little things can offer so much hope.

“I’m ready,” I yell.

The sound of the door unlocking filters in the room, and Cassie opens the door hesitantly. “Oh dear, we must do something about that hair,” she announces.

My fingers find their way to my damp hair, combing through several strands. I shrug. I’m being held against my will so the last thing that concerns me is my appearance. Cassie reaches for my arm, gently wrapping her finger around my wrist and pulling. My personal space has been repeatedly violated since my arrival here and I’m beginning to lose patience.

“Come on, let’s fix you up.”

I follow her somberly to the vanity behind us, slowly lowering myself onto the plush velvet stool. I stare at my reflection, privately seeking a place to disappear within my mind, but to no avail. Thoughts and memories of Valen and my family, minus Cara, keep popping up. I toss them to the side, hating the feeling of hopelessness that accompanies them. Cara… I haven’t seen her since I was taken. I’m not complaining, trust me, but I find it rather odd she hasn’t
visited me to gloat. I focus my eyes on Cassie, now busily pulling, flopping and straightening my unruly, thick locks. With a quick snap, a pile of fairy dust appears in her palm. She delicately blows the tiny mound of glitter in my direction and I watch in awe as they shimmer towards me. Flecks of pinks and gold cover me before abruptly disappearing. I look at her in amusement and she smiles pleasantly.

“There,” she says as she slides her hands down my straight hair. “You look
stunning.”

I lift my head, observing myself in the mirror. I can only gasp at my reflection, noting my perfectly bronzed cheeks and sparkling green eyes popping through the smoky, black eyeshadow. I’ve never looked this amazing… ever. My thick, black hair hangs from my head pin-straight without the slightest trace of frizz.