First Magic by Raven Steele (ebook reader screen txt) 📖

to face him. The moment I was born, my life had been set on this path. It didn’t matter if I was ready or not, it would all be over soon. My only goal was to help May escape it alive.

I began the long walk down the slanted decline to the stage. I was surprisingly calm. I didn’t even try to be quiet when I walked up the steps to May. There was no point.

May’s head was slumped forward, but not in an unnatural way like Tracey’s had been. I breathed a sigh of relief when her chest rose and fell.

I stepped to untie her when all of a sudden the spinning in my head reached a whole new level, and I stumbled. It was like I’d been hit with a poisonous dart, but it was a familiar poison. I tried to remember Christian’s training with the heart monitor.

“You are a vision,” I heard a familiar, smooth accent say.

I fell to my knees. Relax! I inhaled deeply.

Behind me, Mr. Steele laughed. “It’s remarkable the effect I have on you. It’s as strong as it was when you were a child. I had to be so careful around you, withholding my full power. Your mother was the same.”

My mother. I had to clear my mind. All this time, I’d mistaken my extreme, almost dream-like, attraction toward him for silly puppy love when in actuality he was a Vyken in disguise. How many more mistakes would I make?

Mr. Steele moved in front of me blocking May. Dressed in an old-fashioned tuxedo, his normally slick black hair was messy and lay partly in his eyes. He would’ve looked perfect, except part of his right sleeve had been burned. My eyes moved to May.

“Of all the Auras I’ve hunted and killed,” he began. “You’ve been the most fun. Your lack of training has made you reckless and unpredictable. I’ve found it so refreshing.”

Struggling to stand, I concentrated on getting rid of the nauseating effect he had on me.

“It was wonderful playing games with you—the shoe, the nightly visits, the feel of your skin.” He paused and licked his lips. “Actually, I rather enjoyed killing the mother of the boy who painted you. He tarnished what’s mine to destroy, so I tainted his heart.”

He walked behind May and stroked her hair. “But you had your own surprises, didn’t you? What a rare treat it was to find your best friend is an undiscovered Fury.”

I stood up, legs finally straight. Behind my back, I concentrated on creating the tightest ball of light I could, each the size of a bullet. With each one, I focused on a memory of my mother. It helped the process, and I made as many as my hands could hold while he continued to talk.

“I remember the first time I saw you so innocent and full of life as most children are. You were with your mother when I discovered you. It was merely by accident. Ella had no idea you two were being watched.”

At the sound of my mother’s name I froze.

“She was taking you for a walk through the Redwoods, and I remember thinking how strange it was that a mother would be with a child all alone in the dark woods. But then she did something remarkable. Would you like to know what she did?”

I searched for my voice but had none.

“She became transparent, invisible. I watched as you walked right through her. I knew then how extraordinary my find was. Only a powerful Aura would be able to do something like that.”

Invisible? Was that even possible?

He sauntered across the stage, arms behind his back as if he were strolling through Central Park. “It didn’t take much to maneuver my way into her life. She was so naïve and trusting, making for an easy kill.” He turned to me. “I could’ve done the same to you—become your best friend. Imagine all the fun we could’ve had: sleepovers, sharing secrets, silly boy talk. And just when you’re feeling warm and fuzzy, wham!” He smacked his hands together, making me jump. “I rip your head off. But my desires were overruled, hence all the scare tactics. I had to force your Light to develop early.”

I hadn’t heard most of what he’d said. I was still stuck on the part about my mother. Anger raged through me, burned through my veins. It was the spark that lit my Light. It surged through me, overwhelming all my senses.

Finally, I could think past his influence.

“You killed my parents,” I said. My voice didn’t waver.

He tsked me. “Control your temper, Little One. I only did what comes natural to me. If drinking milk was forbidden, would you be angry at a babe sucking at its mother’s tit? And as for killing your parents? I only killed your mother. I did taste your father, but I did not kill him.”

“If not you, then who?” I demanded.

He stared at me thoughtfully, then said, “The shadow that always watches but can never be seen. He saved me the night your father caught up to me. You should’ve seen Mark’s face when he thought he was finally going to avenge your mother’s death and save the future life of his precious Llona. But Mark failed to see the shadow from behind until it was too late. The shadow snapped his neck as easily as one snaps their fingers.” Mr. Steele snapped his fingers. The sound echoed in the large auditorium.

“Show me your true self,” I demanded, wanting desperately for him to shut up.

He tilted his head. “And why would you want that?”

“So I can see the true face of the demon I’m going to kill.”