Eden's Playground: Graystone Academy Book One BE Kelly (ebook reader library txt) 📖

“She told us that Simmons is the one who has been and will be killing witches. It’s not just Bianca and Geneva,” Eden said. “These woods are littered with dead witches and fae—he’s killed them all. We have to stop him. Maybe if we can stop him, Gen will be alive in our time.” She saw the hope in Anson’s eyes and Eden hoped that she didn’t just give him false hope for a future that might not happen.

Eden heard someone approaching them and they all turned to find Head Master Simmons. “What are you four doing here?” he asked, standing just past Bianca’s body.

“You killed Bianca,” Glory accused. She practically launched herself at Simmons, but Anson stopped her stepping between the two of them. Eden could feel the static in the air—it was usually the same when the guys shifted. It felt electric and that hummed through the forest right now.

“Get Glory out of here, Eden,” Duff growled. He stood next to Anson, blocking them from Simmons’s path.

“Come on, Glory,” she whispered. “We need to move.”

“They’re shifters, aren’t they?” she asked.

“Yes—move,” Eden shouted as Simmons shifted and launched at the group of them. He didn’t care if she and Glory got caught up in their fight, but Anson and Duff did. They waited as long as they could before shifting, giving her and Glory time to get clear of the pending fight. She grabbed Glory’s hand and pulled her to the edge of the forest.

“I can hear Anson,” Glory breathlessly called. “He’s telling me that we need to call the authorities.”

“But if they get here while they are fighting, the guys will be suspects in Bianca’s death. We can’t let them get caught up in all of this. You, well you in the future, told me that we can’t mess with the timelines too much. I’m betting that the twins being taken into custody for Bianca’s murder, might just mess with the timelines,” Eden said. She wasn’t sure what to do. If she left the guys and did as Anson asked, she could be putting them both in danger. Eden turned to look back to find Duff on the ground and Professor Simmons running toward her and Glory.

“Run,” Glory shouted.

“We can’t outrun a wolf shifter,” Eden whispered. She closed her eyes and tried to remember the spell that her grandmother spoke all those years ago when they were attacked. The same spell that she watched her Aunt Bianca use when her eyes glowed purple, just an hour earlier. She just needed to remember the words and she’d be able to help them—even Duff. Eden hoped that she wasn’t too late. She whispered, “On this day, I invoke the powers of fire to protect us from all who want to hurt us.” Glory grabbed her hand and chanted the words with her over and over again as Simmons continued to run toward them. Glory held their joined hands out and Eden felt like her arm was on fire. She opened her eyes and saw the purple bolt of electricity shoot from their joined hands and hit Professor Simmons directly in the chest. He flew through the air and to the ground. Anson’s wolf stopped short of trampling Simmons’s body.

“Killing me won’t stop what is happening here. I’m not the person in charge of all of this. You fools won’t stop them. They will all still die,” Simmons breathed. The smile on his face made Eden shiver as the life drained from his eyes and he took his last breath. Eden knew—she and Glory had killed him, just like Bianca tried to. They had stopped Simmons and now, he wouldn’t be able to hurt any more witches or fae.

“It’s over,” Glory breathed.

“What did he mean about everyone still dying?” Eden asked.

Anson shifted back to his human form and pulled on the sweatpants he was wearing earlier. “I don’t know but we can’t stick around to find out,” Anson said. “The cops are on campus. We have about two minutes before they find us here with Bianca and Simmons’s bodies. We need to get out of here.”

Duff’s wolf cried out and Anson ran down to his brother. “Can you shift back, Duff?” Anson asked. Duff’s wolf whimpered and he shifted back by the time Eden and Glory got down to him.

“Is he all right?” Eden asked. Anson looked his brother over, finding that his thigh had been gashed open and he was losing blood.

“He’ll heal but we need to go—now,” Anson said. “We’re running out of time.”

“I need to send you three back,” Glory said. “It’s the only way. I’ll tell the police what happened to Bianca. I’m a fae—they’ll believe that I have the capability to take out a shifter. If all else fails, I’ll persuade them to listen.” Eden knew how convincing Glory could be when she wanted to be. She also knew how powerful the fae was. Eden felt that power when they worked together to bring down Simmons.

Eden hugged her and stood by Anson. He had helped Duff up to his feet and he wrapped his other arm over Eden’s shoulder for support.

“We’ve got him,” Anson said. “Send us home, Glory, and thank you.”

“I’ll see you three soon,” Glory promised.

“Take care, Glory,” Eden whispered as the wind picked up around them. Glory was chanting the same spell she had taught Eden the day before, changing up a few of the words to reverse the time-traveling spell. She held tightly to Duff, trying to help steady him as the three of them traveled back through time. It was as if they had taken a quick trip in an elevator, at top speed, leaving her body tingling all over. It was so different this time. Before, they had fallen asleep in one time and woken up in another. This was like watching everything wiz past her at top speed while they stood still, holding onto each other. Eden closed her eyes and wished for