Laylen’s lips creep into a smile. “Your mind is truly amazing.”

I cup his chin with my hand and cut his skin with my thumbnail. “You better not screw with me this time. If you try anything with my sisters, I’ll kill you. It’s because of you that I am stuck in that wretched place. Your betrayal caused my mother to sentence me to The Afterlife. She thought I was weak.”

“I’m sorry, my love.” He flinches and wipes the blood from his chin. “I had needs, though. And my family had expectations.”

“Well, your bloodline is almost dead.” I gesture at the door. “Except for those two out there and that’s an easy fix.” I back away, slipping the Cornu Lepore around my neck. “The more power I have, the better… I wonder if my Lost Souls have found their bodies yet. It’s important they find good ones—ones that have high reign in the world.”

“If they don’t pick the right ones, we’re screwed. And Luna’s out now, so that’s a problem.”

“Luna doesn’t scare me.” I slink out the door. Alex and Aislin are snoring softly from the beds. We sneak out the door and to the parking lot. I feel guilty for leaving them, but only momentarily. I turn off my emotions, just like I used to. A new me settles in. I scratch a cut across the star on my wrist, whispering good-bye forever.

I take Laylen’s hand and seal my eyes shut. “Let’s go rain some hell down on the world.” I blink us away, out of the night, knowing no one can stop me.

Chapter 31

“Wow, that’s truly amazing,” Laylen observes when I land us in the City of Crystal. We are standing in front of a set of tall, silver doors, with curved handles shaped like a Foreseer mark. I dither my next step. Barge in? Sneak? I’m way to powerful for that. I rip open the door and toss my head back with exhilaration.

Shiny cutouts of silver and blue porcelain create a path through the green gemstones, mimicking blades of grass. The blue sky diamonds above and clouds image across it. I advance down the path like I own the place, looking straight ahead at the silver throne perched on the sapphire dais.

“Dyvinius. Dyvinius. Come out. Come out. Wherever you are,” I singsong, reaching the brim of the dais.

“He’s not going to come out,” Laylen says over my shoulder. “He’s not that stupid…” He trails off as Dyvinius emerges. “Okay, I guess I have to retract my statement. He is that stupid.”

The tall, old man walks out, his hair and eyes matching his sliver, floor-length robe. “Gemma, what are you doing here?” he asks unhappily. “And how did you even get here? You don’t have your power anymore.”

I pace the floor in front of the dais. “You know, the last time I saw you, you were just an ordinary Foreseer with no authority.” I cast a glace around. “And now look at you, reigning over the Foreseers. Impressive. Of course, I know how you got the position. It’s not based on your power, but more on your sick ability to cheat your way to the top.”

He stumbles over his robe and his silver eyes amplify. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t cheat. I earned this.”

I hold up my hands. “Hey, no judgment here. I can respect a man who can lock away another man, just to get what he wants.”

He falters to his throne. “Who are you?”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.” I wave my finger at him. “I’ll be the one asking the questions.”

He shivers. “I’m not sure what you want, but I can tell you right now, I won’t give it to you.”

I step on the dais, place my hands on the armrests of the throne, and dip my head close. “You’ll give me whatever I want. Because death always wins.”

Realization strikes him like a lightning bolt to the chest. “I don’t… how did you… Helena?”

A smile teases my lips. “I’m glad to see you haven’t forgotten me. Although, I am very memorable.”

“Yes, you are,” Laylen muses from behind me.

My grin broadens. “Now, we can do this the easy way, or the hard way.”

“W-what do you want?” he stammers, hovering back.

I lean away slightly. “Well, to start with, I want the Serpent mark.”

He shakes his head swiftly. “I’ll never give it to you.”

“So the hard way, then.” I sigh, inspecting my chipped fingernails. “I was actually hoping for the easy way. Normally I don’t mind a challenge, but being human is rather tiring—all this emotion bustling through me. I’m having a hard time dealing with it.”

“Helena,” Dyvinius pleads, eyes squinting, wrinkles creasing his pale skin. “I know what you’re up to and I beg you not to do it. Changing visions doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get exactly what you want.”

I unhinge my jaw and spit a Black Widow on his lap. He screams and tries to jump up, but I whip my hand out and hold him down as the spider climbs up his arm and sinks its venomous fangs into its neck. His body slumps to the side, arms draped lifeless over the armrests.

“Silly Dyvinius,” I say. “I always get what I want.”

Laylen steps up beside me and runs his fingers through his hair. “You didn’t kill him, did you? Because he’s useless to us if he’s dead.”

I pat him on the head and let my finger trace a line down his pale cheek to the neckline of his black shirt. I grip the fabric and tug him closer.

“Of course he’s not dead,” I breathe. “Don’t ever second guess me.”

He nods and I release him, exhaling loudly. “I need a place… somewhere that he can’t use his Foreseer power.” I stare at the stubborn old man. “I have a feeling it’s going to take some torture to get what I want and I can’t have him going off and disappearing with the blink of an eye.”

Laylen nods agreeably. “We could go to the castle. The place is covered with praesidium.”

I pat his head. “Good boy. And as long as Luna’s not there—”

He cuts me off. “I’m sure she won’t be. She’s got her own things to worry about, like getting her power back.”

“Well, she better not succeed,” I say. “Otherwise, it’s going to be tricky getting what I want. Not impossible, but tricky.” I sigh and grab one of Dyvinius’ comatose hands. “Alright, let’s go to the castle.”

“The outskirts though. If you try to get inside, it’s going to hurt.”

I shut my eyes, picturing the lake and take the three of us away.

***

“You know, it'd be much easier if you’d just tell me.” I pace the floor of the library, my hands covered in blood, my body aching. The more I exert myself, the more the good side of me slips through. I hate it and it makes me feel weak.

Dyvinius is bound to a leather sofa, covered in cuts and bruises that I’ve inflicted on him. “I won’t do it. Hurt me all you want, but I won’t.”

Laylen sits in the opposing sofa, boots kicked up on the table, and the Foreseer book opened in his lap. “Did you know that the Foreseers are one of the oldest breeds around? You’d think they’d be more powerful.”

“Stop telling me useless things,” I bark, frustration bursting through me. Things aren’t going my way and I don’t like it. “I want to know something helpful, like a trick that will help me get what I want from this man.” My eyes dart to Dyvinius and he sweats bullets.

Laylen turns the page. “Hmmm… here’s something.” His finger skims the page. “Did you know that some Foreseers can take other Foreseer’s power away?”

“Of course I knew that,” I enrage. “Why do you think I had to work so hard to get it back?”

Laylen thrums his fingers on the page. “But maybe you can do it.”

I watch Dyvinius’ reaction. “What do you think? Do I have it in me?” His trembling body answers.

“Place your hands on his head and test it,” Laylen instructs, reading the page. “Eventually you don’t have to make a direct connection, but in the beginning it’s much easier.”

I crunch my knuckles and loosen my shoulders. My fingers move eagerly for Dyvinius’ head.

“If you take it away, then I can’t help you!” he shouts out, jerking his arms, trying to break the ropes. “My power will be gone!”

I shrug half-heartedly. “I guess I’ll have to find another Foreseer then. No biggie.”

My fingertips brush his temples. His skin is loose under my touch. “I wonder if it’ll hurt. It hurt when it happened to me.”

“Wait!” he cries, tears slipping from his eyes. “I’ll give you the mark. I’ll give you whatever you want. Please don’t take my power away!”

I pull back, smiling like a spoiled brat. “It sucks, doesn’t it—the thought of losing your power. Now give me the Serpent mark.”

His shoulders shudder as he nods. “Animum liberos. Quid tibi vis,” he mumbles with regret.

A tingling sensation snakes up my spine, inking my skin and forever branding me with the power to invade minds. I’m invigorated by the energy surging through my blood and I let out a pleased chuckle, stretching my arms in front of me.

Laylen snaps the book shut. “Well, there’s one thing we can…” His eyebrows knit together as his gaze travels to the doorway. “Who the hell are you?”

I turn around. A lanky guy, probably about my age, leans against the doorway, arms crossed, eyes a deep blue. He is dressed in black, a chain dangling from his pocket. His arms are tracked with tattoos and leather bands. His hair is like a shadow, flowing down and slightly curling up below his ears.

“Gemma Lucas,” he muses thoughtfully. “I never thought I’d see you again.”

My eyes never waver from him, but confusion hordes my head. “And you are…”

He moves from the doorway, his long legs striding toward me. “Nalina sent me here. You have a lot of people worried about you. They think you’re possessed by some evil witch.”

“I’m not a witch,” I seethe, offended. “I’m a queen. And that still doesn’t explain who you are.”

He gives me a small smile and sighs sadly. “Let’s just say I’m an old friend.” His arm zips forward and his hand strangles my neck.

“Let me go!” I screech.

His grip only tightens, his strength pounding through his fingertips. “Sorry sweetheart, but I can’t do that.” His eyes blaze.

My body inflames. Laylen shouts something and charges. The stranger holds up his free hand in Laylen’s direction and I hear a loud thump. His glowing eyes pierce into me until I can’t breathe. My vision spots, my boiling blood suffocates me.

I black out.

Chapter 32

I wake up in my bedroom at the castle. My arms and legs are strapped to the bars on the head and footboard. Both the Cornu Lepore and my locket are missing from my neck. The room is silent, but voices stream from somewhere inside the house. The curtain obstructs the sunlight.