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Chapter 13
Chapter 12 “Where have you been?” At any other time it might have seemed like interest, but with things as they were it came across accusatory. “Out.” “I know you didn’t break your promise.” “You have some intelligence still.” “Protecting you is the most important thing, Anne.” “This is an argument we’ve already had, Titus.” “I didn’t mean to start another. How about we begin again?” Anne studied Titus. Memories swirled, and she didn’t know how many of them were from the past. “We can start again, but it’s not going to change what’s already happened.” “Can we talk? Somewhere away from here.” “Why would I want to talk to…
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Chapter 12
Chapter 11 “Anne’s already been by this morning.” Marion looked at Issac. “I didn’t know where she was going when she left. Titus was waiting in the kitchen, and watching for her.” “You never mentioned his… interest.” “For a long time I didn’t want to think anything of it, Issac.” “Other Lockwood siblings have been the same.” Marion closed her eyes. “You think…” “Anne’s having memories. Titus… we both know what the last Titus Lockwood was capable of Marion, even if there are those who have forgotten.” “Thaddeus asked. It was to make our son strong.” “There’s strong, and then there’s Titus Lockwood.” “Do you honestly believe my son could…
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Chapter 11
Chapter 10 Issac looked at the flower pots, and Anne watched him, noting the similarities between them. He was obviously Marion’s brother, the hair the biggest tell, because that was a Tyrell thing. Titus once hated it, probably due to how much he wanted to be a true Lockwood. There was no easy solution to Thaddeus’ plan to complete the ritual Gregor wrote all those years earlier. From what he said elements of it came from mages of the past who’d also written in the journal. Had Issac been more capable of lying he might even have seen it. Movement caught his attention, and he looked over to see a…
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Chapter 10
Chapter 9 “I talked to Titus, and there’s no chance of him changing his mind when it comes to this ritual.” “Do you know why?” “He dislikes the Fitzgeralds.” Anne wasn’t going to bring up his insistence he was doing it for her. “He lied about their power, saying they stole it.” “Stole it?” “From others. I can’t see it.” “There are those who have, in the past, but they were old magic, Anne. Like us.” “All Titus wanted was a reason to keep me away from them until the ritual.” “Keeping them from learning the truth before.” “I had to promise.” “We can work around it easily enough.” “Mama,…
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Chapter 9
Chapter 8 “Mama told me there’s a ritual you’re planning with Father.” Anne studied Titus, who looked straight back, his eyes staring deep into her. “Are you playing with dark magics?” “Does it matter if we are?” “Yes, Titus, it does, especially in this house. One mistake…” “Do you really believe for a moment I haven’t thought of that?” “What I worry about more is whether or not you care.” “I care about you.” “That’s not what I mean.” “No one else matters, Anne.” “Yes, they do. Mama matters. Zachary matters. Even Papa.” “Maybe to you.” Even with his honesty there was no sign of Anne’s memories. Titus knew it…
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Chapter 8
Chapter 7 The book was the same, passed from one generation to the next, but the people were different. After the last mistake… Titus crossed his arms. It wasn’t worth thinking about. Nothing would be the same again. He’d made certain of it. All he needed was his sister by his side. Anne didn’t remember, and that was for the best. With Dante… maybe it was inevitable, the three of them alive at the same time again, considering everything that came before. Finally it was time to bring an end to him, for good, to keep them from going in the same circles. Soon it would be the two of…
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Chapter 7
Chapter 6 It had to be a dream, nothing more. Why else would Zachary Lockwood be standing there waving? He must know he wasn’t welcome, especially as there was no doubt he knew what Thaddeus was planning. Dante looked down at the ground for a moment, hoping to wake up, but maybe it was real. Zachary was there for a reason, and Dante breathed in deeply. “Why are you here?” “I was hoping we could talk.” “Thaddeus sent you, right? He thought you were the one who could talk me into coming to the ritual.” “You were already coming. I don’t need to say anything.” “I was, was I?” “Dante,…
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Chapter 6
Chapter 5 For a few seconds Marion stood outside the door, arms wrapped around herself, but she knew she had to talk to her daughter. She tapped the door gently. “Anne, can I come in?” “Of course, Mama.” Stepping through the door, closing it softly behind her, she looked at Anne. Marion was silent, Anne watching her mother in the mirror. Had it been Thaddeus she’d have stood, but with it being Marion it didn’t matter as much, and in some ways it was easier, reading the worry in Marion’s eyes. “Mama, what’s wrong?” Of course Anne read the emotions Marion couldn’t hide. “I need to talk to you about…
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Chapter 5
Chapter 4 If Issac was right, and there was no reason to think he wasn’t, there’d be no talking Thaddeus out of his plan. Little by little he’d changed, becoming more like her father than before. Once he’d been someone she liked, although she’d never say love, their marriage comfortable. Three children later his focus was on power, and immortality. Marion breathed in deeply. He believed it was for the family, the same way her father had, but those words were lies they told themselves. In reality they cared most about what they could get out of the ritual. For one to become immortal a sacrifice was required. At least…
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Chapter 4
Chapter 3 Talking Victor out of going to the ritual wouldn’t be easy, but it had to be done. Dante watched as his father walked toward him. Before the move things were so simple. One decision, the belief he needed to learn from someone else, and life became more difficult. “Father.” “Dante.” Neither said anything more for a few seconds, Victor staring into the distance. “I know we aren’t going to see this the same way.” “Thaddeus is dangerous.” “How?” “If we go to the ritual we’re all going to die.” Or worse, but that was harder to talk about. “You say this, but you have no evidence.” “I need…