Page 55 of Elemental Hope
Symeon dipped a finger into the goblet then withdrew it, coated in glistening red. He put it to his lips, tasting the blood with relish. He frowned, taking another lick, before his features tightened with anger.
“Agrimony! You poisoned him with agrimony.” He cast the goblet aside, spilling the precious contents onto the ground. Imelda screamed and jumped forward, grasping desperately at the cup as it rolled away from her.
“It’s useless, you stupid bitch,” Symeon snapped. “I don’t know how they did it but his blood is tainted. This is your fault. If you’d left it to me this would never have happened.”
Imelda got to her feet. “If I’d left it to you, Symeon, Evrain and Dominic would both be dead and we would have nothing. As it is, it seems that we havebothbeen outwitted.” She gave Gregory a wry nod. “I don’t suppose you’d care to tell me how you did it?”
“No.” Gregory didn’t smile. “But be assured that Evrain’s blood will never be of any use to you.”
Imelda turned to the women now gathered behind her. “Sisters, resolving our differences is not something that should be done in the company of warlocks. Octis should conduct its business in private. I apologize for wasting your time, but we will reconvene at the usual place at dawn.”
Symeon didn’t seem bothered as the women melted one by one into the darkness, taking their fallen colleague with them. He waited as car engines started up and the vehicles moved away. Imelda remained where she was.
Gregory glared at Symeon. “You never give up, do you? Even you can’t be so stupid as to think you stand a chance against three of us. You are no longer of use to the Coven, power struggle or not. Without their potions you are impotent.”
Dominic was sure the choice of descriptor was deliberate.
“Well, that just depends now, doesn’t it?” Symeon grabbed Imelda and pulled her against his chest. From beneath his long, black coat he pulled a gun. “For once I agree with you. I’m not stupid. But this gives me an advantage, don’t you think?” He pressed the barrel of the gun to the side of Imelda’s neck.
“What makes you think I give a damn about what happens to her?” Gregory asked.
“Oh, I’m sure you don’t really care. However, your ridiculous sense of morality will not allow you to see a woman harmed, however much of a bitch she is, if you can prevent it.”
“And can I prevent it?”
“Of course. I’m not fond of littering the landscape with corpses.”
Nathaniel shunted Dominic backward. He tugged Damon along too.
“Symeon must know we’re here, Nathaniel, but not Damon,” Dominic whispered.
Nathaniel gave him a sharp look. “What are you saying?”
“Damon should hide. He may be able to help.”
“I don’t want him putting himself in danger. He’s not wearing that stab vest this evening.”
“You have to let me do it, Sir.” Damon was already moving deeper into the trees. “We need any advantage we can get.”
Dominic understood why Nathaniel was so torn, but eventually the warlock nodded and Damon slipped away. Dominic turned his attention back to the clearing.
“Bring the rest of your friends over here, Gregory. They must be feeling left out.”
Even though he could hear Symeon’s command, Nathaniel waited until he got a signal from Gregory before moving. Dominic and Coryn walked behind him until they were next to Gregory and Evrain.
“Well, isn’t this nice? All four warlocks together in one place. Much as I’m enjoying the company, you, Gregory, are going to leave. You’ll take Nathaniel and Coryn with you. Dominic, get on your knees beside Evrain.”
“No!” Evrain shouted.
Symeon fired the gun into the ground in front of Evrain. “How many deaths do you want on your conscience, Evrain?”
Dominic dropped to his knees. He grabbed Evrain’s hand.
“Oh, how sweet.” Symeon moved the gun back to Imelda’s temple. “Now, I want you, Coryn and Nathaniel to make your way over to your car, get in it then drive away. I can see the lights from here. Once you are a suitable distance away I will let this silly bitch go.” He pulled back the hammer on the gun with an audible click. “Do as I say or I pull the trigger and believe me, I won’t hesitate.”
Evrain cast a panicked look at Gregory. “I won’t sacrifice Dominic for this woman after what she’s done to us. No moral code is worth this. Let him shoot her. He won’t have time to get to the rest of us and I’ll fry him where he stands.”
“No you won’t, you little upstart. I’m not quite as powerless as you all seem to think.” Symeon twitched the fingers of his free hand. Blue flames writhed around his fingers.
