Page 65 of Sinister Hearts
I stood from the oversized brown leather sofa, still covered in my mother’s blood and dirt. “He’s right, Jax, this has to end,” I said.
“I will not put you in a path of danger, Faye!” Jax gritted his teeth, not even wanting to entertain my words.
“It is not your decision!” My voice took on a morbid tone, overpowering him and slicing him wide open, knowing he felt the vexation behind my words. He knew damn well he was going to lose this battle.
“Dammit!” Jax stood from the Reapers table.
I stood before him, claiming my voice. My vengeance. “I am not afraid anymore.” I grabbed his hand, letting him feel the power surge through my fingertips.
“If anything happens to you, I will kill Hades himself,” Jax said, bringing my hand to his lips.
“What are we planning, prima?” Rocky said, walking in with a presence of doom following her. “Birdie is bathed and fast asleep in her bed. It’s time to whoop some ass. Listen, I’m aRobles, too, nobody messes withmi gente. So, what’s the move?” Rocky asked, grabbing herself a Dr. Pepper from the fridge.
“Yes, Birdie is safe for now, but Faye and her bloodline are not. I’ve done my research on these fucks. They will do anything for wealth and to get back to their realm permanently. They’re not going to stop until a sacrifice has been made,” Ryker commented from the round table.
I realized then that my life was in the hands of an abusive cultist. I nearly broke away from a dark fate. Now his doomed fate wasmine. All of this led to one doomed human—Vadon. He took and took from me until I was nothing. Weak and rigid. He was a thief of my peace, my life, and my mother. He would fucking die.
“I’m too old to fight this fight with you boys, but it doesn’t mean I can’t help you get prepared,” Bjorn expressed, coming in from the back porch and grabbing a set of vintage looking keys. “Follow me to the winery.” Bjorn led us down a tunnel into a hidden basement underneath the winery. It was the same tunnel Ma had connected to her house.
“These tunnels… are they all connected?” I asked as he led us down further into the abyss.
“Yes, we are the guards of the last book of incantations. It was a pact made hundreds of years ago, between Grimstone’s founding families, to protect the book and the land.”
Jax and Bjorn looked at each other, troubled.
“Oh my gods, what? Just fucking tell me!” I sighed, while Rocky snickered behind me.
“In order for you to get your full inheritance of gifts, a sacrifice must be made, prima. It doesn’t just happen overnight,” she replied, shaking her head.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Miss Occult Encyclopedia!” I mocked and rolled my eyes at her.
“¡No mames! (don’t start)” Rocky matched my energy, sticking her pierced tongue out at me.
We began bickering in the catacomb while walking deeper into the earth than I would like to be.
“Look, I was to be sacrificed. Why would I do that to someone? I definitely don’t want it done to me.”
“Are you scared, prima?” Rocky asked, sucking her teeth at me.
“Wait, so you’ve done this?” I asked her, covering my nose from the stench of death wallowing in the deep cave that swallowed us alive.
“We all have to do it, it’s tradition,” she replied and switched her lighter on, the flicker of flame barely a source of light in the vast, cold darkness.
“You would kill someone?” I chuckled, entertained by this thought.
Raquel smirked menacingly. “Maybe.”
I gulped at her wicked smirk.
“It’s a blood sacrifice, not a death sacrifice, unless of course you want it to be. Either one gets the job done,” Rocky scoffed as we continued to follow the Grimwood’s.
“Gods, I feel like I’m learning so much, thank you.” I rolled my eyes at her.
“You’re welcome,” Raquel snickered.
“What is your problem, Raquel, are you here to help or not?” I asked, pushed to my limits.
“Are you willing to become the baddest bruja that’s ever walked this earth? Are you willing to take your initiation?” she asked, pointing the knife at me.
