Page 24 of The Aether

“Let go, my love,” Damian encouraged.

She did just that. She simply inhaled deeply and mentally stepped away from herself. It seemed to do the trick, and as her spirit watched from a safe place in the corner, the bonds dropped and her body surged to its feet with Damian at the helm.

With no warning, the entire house went dark, and lightning continually crackled in the room, giving it an eerie blue cast.

Morgan’s thin-set, small eyes grew three times their size, practically bugging out of his skull-like head as Damian gathered the molecules from the air. He wasn’t fast enough to escape the wrath of the Aether, and a bolt hit him center mass before he could get away.

Like Vivian a minute earlier, Morgan’s body convulsed as it absorbed the impact. The smell of burning flesh drifted to the others. Taryn’s and Soleil’s skin turned a sickly shade since they were unable to cover their noses and mouths to avoid the ghastly smell.

“Now, Alastair!” Damian shouted through her.

From nowhere, Alastair Thorne appeared and clapped manacles around Morgan’s wrists.

Josie dashed to Taryn and untied her bonds, then did the same for Soleil. Grasping their hands, she jerked them up and ran for the exit.

“No!” Soleil pulled back. “We can’t leave Viv.”

“That’s not Viv,” Josie replied in a low voice. “She’s exchanged places with Damian.”

“What the fuck—”

Slapping her hand over Taryn’s mouth, Josie scowled. “Shhh! Let’s get to safety, and I’ll explain everything.”

“Not that, Josie,” Soleil whispered.“That!”

Vivian spun back to see the chains drop from Morgan’s hands.

“That shouldn’t be possible.” Josie wasted no time and ran forward to stand beside Damian and Alastair. “How did he do that?”

“He’s stronger than I expected,” Damian replied grimly. “Al, get the women to safety.”

“They can do that on their own, Dethridge. I’m not leaving you.”

“Go, you stubborn bastard. I can’t remain in Vivian’s body for long.” He shot Alastair a grim look. “That means you and Nate are Beastie’s protectors.”

“I don’t understand,” Josie said frantically.

Not bothering to spare her a look, Alastair said, “He’ll be left weak, but he’ll return to save your sister. With Morgan’s heightened powers, he might be able to defeat Damian and Vivian.”

From her corner, Vivian hugged herself. No way was she allowing this to happen. Thinking about Sabrina, she allowed her spirit to find her daughter.

CHAPTER9

From where she sat on the floor and played with her dolls, Sabrina glanced up the moment Vivian’s spirit arrived.

“Can you see me, baby?”

Her daughter nodded.

“You have to help your father. I don’t think he’s strong enough inside my body. My magic is considerably less than his.”

“What can I do, Mama?”

Vivian squatted and lifted her hand, intending to stroke her daughter’s cheek, but in her celestial state, she had no form. Frustrated, she sighed.

“You’re the Oracle. Can you not see what’s going to happen?”

Sabrina’s dark eyes looked haunted as she gazed back at her. “Morcant is a bad man.”

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