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Chapter 20
Chapter 19 Make it up. Dante studied himself. In order to learn what happened he needed to See specific points in time, something he would have been able to do had he grown up in Glimmerbrook, but he hadn’t. Instead they lived in Brindleton Bay, somewhere with no magic at all. He’d never even know it existed. Then it changed his life for good. His father probably wouldn’t have even believed it was possible to have magic. If they’d learnt about Dante’s power… at least he’d have had his mother. She’d have accepted him for who she was, but his father… maybe he’d have opened his mind for his son.…
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Chapter 19
Chapter 18 After Anne’s visit everything became much more complicated. Loud arguments happened more often, Celeste’s parents unable to agree on what to do next, Titus an ongoing problem. He was working with dark magics, his soul scarred, and willing to use them on the Embers, his hatred burning deep. “Celeste, can we talk?” “You here to warn me about Titus?” “I’m certain you already know, and I have tried. He’s not willing to listen.” “Was he ever?” “No, he wasn’t, but this…” “Anne, don’t.” Their eyes met for a moment. “I remember the girl who was once my friend.” “Sometimes I don’t.” “How about you tell me what you…
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Chapter 18
Chapter 17 “Dante, we need to talk.” Cornelius’ voice was the last thing Dante wanted to hear, but it wasn’t a surprise. After how they left things it was an inevitability, because Titus would want Cornelius to fix things, knowing they couldn’t deal with Dante the easy way. “I don’t want to talk to you.” “Please. Five minutes.” “Do you really want to have this conversation in public? Isn’t that going to cause more problems?” “With how close the ritual is I doubt it.” Even if someone did find out it was unlikely they’d go against Titus. He probably wouldn’t be happy, but it was the only option. “Nothing you…
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Chapter 17
Chapter 16 Anne didn’t often visit the graveyard. She knelt in front of Reuben’s grave, thinking of the man who’d become her father, and tried to find a way for her to have normality. Even if he didn’t entirely believe Leonora there were signs he knew Titus was different, arguing often about the future. Sometimes it happened, and when it did they were simply another problem for Titus to deal with. Unlike her he didn’t connect with their new families. Reuben meant nothing to him, so it was easy for him to do what he believed needed to be done, choosing the same path once more. He never changed. Had…
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Chapter 16
Chapter 15 Footsteps came down the stairs. Anne wanting to have the conversation early, because she didn’t trust him. Titus kept his eyes on the books in front of him. Working out the right way to word everything wasn’t an easy task, to keep her where she was meant to be, by his side. If it wasn’t for Dante… “Are you ready to talk to me?” “When I said tomorrow I didn’t mean at dawn, little sister.” “This is important. Every day that passes is one closer to the ritual, and that…” She tapped her thumbs. “Putting it off complicates my decision.” “You’re truly going to stay, no matter what…
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Chapter 15
Chapter 14 Titus was on the other side of the door. Anne sat at the end of the bed, waiting for the moment when he finally knocked, because he would. He’d want to know where she was, what she was doing, who she was with – and there was no doubt he’d assume she was with Dante. Lives had passed before when they’d had issues, but they’d always worked through them. It would be the same this time, and yet, as Titus stood there, there was this niggling doubt. “Anne, can we talk?” “Now?” “I know I haven’t reacted well, and it’s important we deal with it now.” “Fine. If…
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Chapter 14
Chapter 13 The Gardens were normally empty late at night, and even the thought of returning home was too much. Dante was her future, if she had the courage to take a chance, but then there was Titus. Her past. Her present. Centuries of being siblings, following the same path, scarring their souls. It was impossible to imagine life without Titus. From her very first memories he’d been there, the brother who watched over her. A promise made, and one he believed he hadn’t kept, but why? There was no doubt he kept things from her. Questions he chose not to answer. Some lifetimes they’d been closer than others. The…
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Chapter 13
Chapter 12 “I shouldn’t have come, but…” Anne breathed in deeply. “You know Titus found out.” “Did you tell him?” “What I said didn’t matter. He doesn’t want to believe any of this is possible, because I’m his sister, and that’s more important than anything else. For me…” “You had doubts even before I stepped into your life.” “Immortality is still the most important gift Titus could ever give me.” “To him.” “Yes, and I’ve had lifetimes where staying with him wasn’t exactly a choice, but there’s never been anyone like you.” “Like me?” “I’ll admit you aren’t the first man I’ve ever fallen in love with.” “You’ve had too…
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Chapter 12
Chapter 11 “Explain to me why you never told me you knew Dante. When did you meet?” “From the first time you mentioned him it was obvious your plan was to use him in the ritual. How could I talk to you about any of this?” “Anne…” “I know what I feel doesn’t matter to you. It never has.” “Of course it matters.” “Don’t lie to me. I’m not a fool, Titus. You want me to keep my distance, because Dante is new magic. He’s not good enough for a Lockwood.” “No, he’s not, and I thought you’d make better choices. Seeing you with him…” “He’s my soulmate.” “Dante is…
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Chapter 11
Chapter 10 Dante’s house was close, and Anne stood on the path leading up to it, looking at the door. If she knocked she’d be making a choice, one Titus definitely wouldn’t agree with, and potentially leading to her brother either killing or cursing Dante. Or both. It depended on his mood. If she didn’t knock it wasn’t going to change the fact there was something between her and Dante. Other lives she’d have walked away, but as Anne stood there she knew she wasn’t the same person. At home the weight of the darkness dragged her down, and away from it… There was no changing the choices she’d made…