Page 4 of Chosen, Eternally
“Cate!” I hear James call over the ringing in my ears. “I’m gonna fuckingkillyou, you fuckers.”
Oh, no.
Deer-legged, I struggle to get to my feet and stop James before he does something stupid, like try to save me. If I weren’t so bruised and terrified, I’d almost find it adorable.
“James, no. I have this!”
But it’s too late. His body is already mid-flight as he throws himself at Vamp Number Two, who easily wraps two arms around his waist and tackles him to the ground.
“No!” I scream. My lungs burn as I push myself to run to his aid. Simultaneously, I begin to cast an Explosive charm to throw at the fucking vampire who dared touch the man I love.
But just when I’m about to release it, just when I’m a few feet away from my love, a blow to the head knocks me unconscious, robbing me of the greatest happiness I could’ve ever imagined for myself.
ONE YEAR LATER…
With the precision of a surgeon, I manage to pick a lock with two bobby pins, eyes closed, hands restrained behind my back. When I hear the door click open, a smirk spreads across my face.
Easy peasy.
“No one likes a sore winner, Hecate,” Ian—my Handler—grumbles.
I open my eyes and use my magic to release my hands from the restraints. Ian balks, because they weresupposedto be magically restrained. However, I think it’s time he accepted the fact that his powers are nothing against mine. I mean, it’s been nearly a year since the Chosen Protector ceremony gave me a boost in powers. Powers that probably could’ve saved?—
I squeeze my eyes shut, not wanting to think about it now. I’ll save it for later tonight, for when I visit him in my dreams.
“I’m not a sore winner; I’m aboredwinner. When are you going to give me something harder to work on?” It’s been a year of training, and while I definitely didn’t want the job when it was offered to me, I quickly changed my mind when thosethree vampires killed the love of my life. To say heartbreak, grief, devastation, and revenge were great motivators would be an understatement. After the funeral (closed casket, of course, because I can’t even begin to imagine what those disgusting vamps did to James), I didn’t hesitate in assuming the role. I never questioned my destiny again. I was going to defend this town and the world from every single vampire, take them to extinction, dedicate my entire life to it, even if it would never make up for the failure that was losing the world’s most precious person.
“Ihavebeen giving you difficult things. At least according to the curriculum.”
“Thecurriculumis ancient.”
Ian rolls his eyes at me, the thick lenses of his glasses make it even more comedic, almost cartoonish.
“The curriculum was developed in conjunction with some of the most powerful witches of our coven who gave their lives to protect our kind. The Four surrendered their lives, their powers, and their entire future for every single member of our community. Were it not for them, the humans would have exterminated us back during the Trials.”
Now it’smyturn to roll my eyes at him. “I wasn’t saying anything bad about the Four. You always take things so personally. All I meant is that the world is a completely different place than it was in the seventeenth century, for crying out loud.”
“Obviously.”
“So can we just find a way to update the curriculum? Focus more on developing strength and technique over dumb stuff like picking locks? I mean, vampires don’t even live in places with locks. They live in nests near graveyards. Abandoned warehouses. They don’t bother with that kind of security. I need more.”
Ian sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose as he squeezes his eyes shut in that frustrated way he always does when he knows I’m making sense but won’t admit it.
Men.
“Your powers are strong enough,” he grumbles, probably jealous.
I scoff.
“Hecate—”
“Cate.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “He-ca-te,” he says, enunciating every syllable. “I’m not going to call you by the bastardization of the name of one of the most powerful witches of all time. You were honored with that name. Accept it. Carry it with pride.”
“Jesus,” I sigh, running my fingers through my hair.
“Hecate,” he starts again. “You know that the current political climate in Salem is more unstable than it’s ever been. At least since the Trials. Our treaty is up for reevaluation and renewal in January, and with this upcoming mayoral election next month, we may lose everything. Noah Cooke is likely to win, and he isnota fan of witches and witchcraft. After William Thacker screwed the pooch with that whole prostitution scandal, he isn’t getting reelected. And Cooke has made it clear that, despite the fact that Salem’s economy depends largely on tourism in the fall months, he wants the town to stop focusing so heavily on what he calls ‘witch culture.’ How do you think he’s going to react when he’s elected into office and the current mayor catches him up on our confidential treaty during the transition period? When he tells him that witches actuallydoexist? What do you think will happen if we step a toe out of line? If he so much as thinks we’re a threat, it will be like the Salem Witch Trials Part II. Except this time, the humans haverealweapons on their sides. It won’t matter that we’ve been keeping the town safe from the vampires all these years.”
