Legends of Havenwood Falls 2 Page 9

  Please eat and come downstairs when you are finished. We need to discuss a plan for the two of you to be safe. Calla Lily will be arriving with the Court of the Sun and the Moon in an hour. I hope you enjoy the meal. I added two slices of chocolate cake for you.

  See you soon,

  Madame Luiza

  Nathan folded the letter and set it down before turning to Amani. “We have an hour before they want to meet with us.”

  Chapter 14

  Nathan and Amani made their way downstairs and came face to face with the Petran family, along with Calla Lily and nine other people. Amani tensed, and Nathan gave her hand a little squeeze. They were both caught off guard, but this was something they were going to have to do no matter what.

  “Amani, Nathan, I’d like to introduce you to members of the Court of the Sun and the Moon. They are the governing body here in Havenwood Falls,” Calla Lily said with a smile. “If you could please join us, we think we have a few ideas as to how to move forward.”

  Everyone made the proper introductions and sat at one of the larger tables in the dining room. The tension ebbed as Amani met each one of the Court members. She’d never met any other supernatural beings, and yet here before her were so many variations, all emitting an enormous amount of power as they sat in front of her and Nathan.

  “What is your intention in being here?” the dark-haired mage asked with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

  Calla Lily gave him a look. “Roman, we’ve already been over this. Amani didn’t ask to be here. Neither did Nathan.”

  “Yet they’re here and have brought their problems with them, which we now have to try to contain.”

  “I don’t intend to be a problem. I plan on leaving. I do not wish to put Nathan and Calla Lily or anyone here in Havenwood Falls at risk,” Amani interjected.

  “But leaving with Khalida and Khaldun so close is not an option either,” Nathan insisted. “That’ll be two against one.”

  “We’re not implying Amani should leave or face these two djinn alone, but we do have to decide how we are going to handle the safety of the town,” Mihail replied.

  “We received word before coming here that a woman was spotted in the woods just beyond Cooley Creek. Our belief is that this is your sister,” Roman said, relaxing his posture only slightly.

  “She was injured,” Calla Lily added.

  Amani looked at Calla Lily for a brief second before turning her attention to Roman and his visible disdain for her and Nathan.

  “It’s Khalida,” she said coolly, “and I plan on taking care of it.”

  “What is your plan then?” Roman asked.

  “I will handle my sister. Khaldun is not here at the moment. I cannot sense him.”

  “And what if he shows up?” Roman scowled.

  “Then we will be there to intercede,” Mihail countered. “I think all of us but you, Roman, are interested in the safety and survival of Nathan and Amani.”

  “Thank you,” Nathan remarked, picking up on the hostility between the two men.

  “That is all well and fine, but we need a plan to cover all contingencies,” Roman said as he glared at Amani.

  “What is your problem?” Nathan blurted.

  Amani reached for Nathan’s hand, turned away from Roman, and addressed the rest of the group. “I am going to go to my sister, and then we’ll be leaving to meet the goddesses face to face.”

  “What about Nathan?” Calla Lily questioned.

  Tears welled in Amani’s eyes. “He understands that I have to do this to save everyone. I cannot trust Khalida, and if Khaldun does show up, kill him, because if you don’t, he will kill you all.”

  A few at the table mumbled, while Roman huffed.

  “We’ll keep Nathan safe, Amani,” Calla Lily said with tears in her own eyes. “I’m so sorry it is coming to this.”

  “Thank you,” Amani replied. “For the small amount of time I’ve spent here, you mean a lot to me, and I’m grateful for all your help. I’ve never had a friend, but I consider you one. I will never forget you, Calla Lily.”

  “Oh, honey,” she said as she moved to hug her.

  As she did, Amani flinched and gasped in pain.

  “What’s wrong?” Calla Lily exclaimed.

  Nathan didn’t need to reach for her. He could see the agony in her eyes. It had to be Khalida. “What’s wrong?”

  “She’s here!”

  The Court members all rose at once.

  “Everyone, do what needs to be done to protect the town. Saundra, alert the coven to strengthen our wards,” Roman announced.

  Amani’s skin began to change, and previously unseen markings shimmered to life as they rose to the surface. She looked over at Nathan and mouthed “I’m sorry” just before she turned into a wisp of sand and disappeared.

  Chapter 15

  All at once, the park in town square was filled with everyone who was just sitting at the table, with one addition—Khalida. Amani stood in front, with the Court members, Nathan, and Calla Lily taking up positions behind her. Thankfully, there were not a lot of other people wandering about, but with the energy surging, Amani assumed it was the Court’s doing—their way of protecting the town’s people. However, Amani could not concern herself with anyone other than Khalida at the moment.

  “Sister,” Khalida cooed, “it is so good to see you. I thought I lost you. I came as soon as I was able to sense you.”

  “Yes, I am certain that was your intent. Why do you look as though you’ve been in a quarrel?” Amani questioned.

  “Why do you look like one of them?” Khalida hissed.

  “Kindness was shown to me. My clothing wasn’t suitable for this time, and I was offered something new. I see you are wearing the garments of our enemies. Where have you been while I was locked away?”

  “I was being held prisoner. The day we took the picture in Egypt, I lost everything—you, my freedom, everything,” Khalida said as she moved a step closer.

  “No, it was I who lost everything while you were indulging in the pleasures of life. Prisoner or participant?”

  “I couldn’t stop his desire for me.”

  “Your lies end here, dear sister.”

  “What?” Khalida feigned shock even as her hair changed from black to white—her djinn side beginning to emerge. “Why would you say that? I have suffered.”

  “You never were good at hiding your emotions, Khalida. Besides, I already know the truth, and the only thing I’m interested in is for you to admit it, so we can go together to face Hathor and Ma’at,” Amani said, remaining calm and unchanged.

  Khalida laughed. “And what is it you think you know?”

  “That the only person you care about is yourself.”

  “Actually, I care about quite a lot, and it all revolves around my freedom. I’m not going anywhere, but you are,” she said as a watcher’s vessel materialized in her hand.

  Now it was Amani who laughed. “I was fooled by you eighteen years ago. I won’t be fooled again, and I am certainly not going to let you trap me so you may live on.”

  “Then I guess we are at an impasse,” Khalida said before she threw the first attack.

  Ironically, it was Roman who executed the counterattack, deflecting a bolt of energy away from Amani. She wasn’t sure if he doubted her ability to protect herself or if he genuinely wanted to thwart Khalida. Regardless, it was then that all hell broke loose.

  Several Court members were casting blows and counterblows to what Khalida was throwing at them. Amani had never seen her sister like this. The only thing she recognized in her twin was her white hair and light eyes. Everything else was a magnified version of the night their parents died and the goddesses arrived. When one of Khalida’s attacks hit Nathan in the leg, Amani reacted with an attack of her own, catching Khalida off guard.

  “You care for someone,” she taunted when Amani rushed to Nathan’s side. “Well, well.”

  “These innocents have nothing to do with ou
r conflict. Leave them be,” Amani ordered.

  “Then come willingly, and I will leave,” Khalida countered.

  “I know you too well, and if I agreed to those terms, you’d still kill them to save your lies from reaching the goddesses.”

  Khalida barked out a laugh. “You’re probably right. Humans are of no value to me,” she said as she eyed Roman, “not even magical ones.”

  Roman was none too pleased with her insult and began to conjure a spell. Energy radiated around him, and the ground beneath Khalida shook. Amani didn’t waste any time. Instead she helped Nathan to his feet, and they made their way over to a lamppost. “I’m so sorry. I should have stayed in the camera.”

  “Don’t say that.” He winced as the cut in his leg gushed blood.

  Calla Lily and Madame Luiza ran to them in a rush.

  “He’s hurt,” Amani cried.

  “We’ve got him. Go help Roman. I’m not sure how much longer he can hold her with the way she is shimmering,” Madame Luiza said as Calla Lily knelt beside Nathan.

  Tears were streaming down Amani’s face, but she did as Madame Luiza asked and moved opposite Roman.

  “Enough, sister,” Amani yelled over the din in the square.

  Khalida released Roman from her attack and turned to face Amani. “Poor you, always on the other side of things. Do these humans know who you really are?”

  Amani saw the members of the Court battered, but still alive. This was all her doing. She’d brought Khalida here, even if it was inadvertently. It was time to end this. She reached for the feather around her neck and pulled it to her lips.

  “No,” Khalida screamed and flung her hand toward Amani. The chain holding the feather began to dig into the back of Amani’s neck before snapping and flying into the air. With a flick of her wrist, Amani diverted it from reaching her sister, thankful when Mihail snatched it out of midair and vanished. Khalida raged at her missed prize, and Amani was grateful her sister didn’t have the necklace. Unfortunately, it was her only means to call the goddesses—now she’d have to fight.

  Amani shouted for Calla Lily and Madame Luiza to take Nathan and leave, but before they could move, Khalida shoved the women aside and grabbed Nathan. He choked and spat as her fingers wrapped around his trachea.

  “Leave. Him. Alone.”

  Khalida leaned in to Nathan. “Let me guess, she told you she was the innocent one, and I was the one to be feared?”

  Nathan couldn’t speak, so he only shook his head.

  “Oh, you don’t believe me. Have you seen what she is? What she can do? I had to trap her. She’s a danger to everyone.”

  More gasps came from Nathan, and Amani started to lose control. Her skin changed from warm caramel to steely gray as the hieroglyphs underneath turned a vibrant gold.

  “Let him go or I will kill us both, Khalida,” Amani seethed.

  “Did you hear that? She’ll kill you both,” Khalida taunted Nathan before she smashed her lips against his and turned to face Amani. “Show us all who you really are, sister. Let the world see why you should be contained.”

  Amani’s blond hair began to blow wildly around her head by a violent wind erupting from the ground beneath her feet.

  “There we go,” Khalida goaded. “Show them all just how evil I am”.

  Amani wasn’t sure what was going to happen next. She’d never fully embraced her powers or even knew what she was capable of––she never had an occasion to, until now, but as Khalida continued to taunt her, the thoughts in her head were becoming a reality. The ground started to shake, and the sand quivered as it hovered over the grass.

  “I won’t ask again,” Amani ordered as she struggled to control her djinn side.

  Khalida laughed. “You don’t even know how to be a true djinn.”

  Amani’s resolve ended, and she let the other side of her take over. Her hair was now alight and her hieroglyphs ablaze as she sent a blast of energy at Khalida, jarring her enough that she released Nathan.

  “Don’t, Amani,” Nathan croaked. “You’ll die, too.”

  Khalida snarled at him, realizing he knew the truth, and moved to strike, but Amani was quicker. Unfortunately, that was when Khaldun materialized near the fountain, making it two against one.

  “Time for you to come home,” Khaldun snarled as his cobalt markings began to glow. Khalida and Khaldun split up, obviously hoping to strike Amani from her flank, or so she thought. Khaldun came for her, while Khalida turned back to Nathan. Mihail and Irina tried to stop Khalida, but were tossed into Madame Luiza and Calla Lily, knocking them all to the ground. Roman raged and cast a spell to protect the other Court members. It was becoming abundantly clear that all they could do was save their own, because the battle brewing between these three djinn would not end well.

  Amani used the connection between her and Nathan to send him a message. I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you.

  Nathan didn’t have a chance to respond before Khaldun tossed the watcher’s vessel in front of Amani. He began to speak in a language only a djinn would recognize, an ancient tongue that sounded frightening as it was spoken. Amani turned to face him, and as the final words came out of his mouth, she seized her opportunity. Turning herself into specks of sand, she vanished. Khalida suddenly remained the only viable djinn to be trapped within the bottle. When Amani re-emerged, she remained shapeless and used this to her advantage, attacking Khaldun. He swiped at her as she swirled around him in a tornado of fiery sand. When Amani finally appeared before him, her hair was still ablaze and the gold symbols on her skin glowed as bright as the flames.

  “I’ve always despised you, Amani. I’m going to enjoy making you suffer.”

  “It will not be I who suffers this day,” she replied.

  Khaldun laughed and lunged for her, but Amani struck with unimaginable force. Khaldun stared at her blankly, the truth of what she’d done sinking in. Amani held his beating heart in her hand, watching it as it pulsed, absent of its owner. As Khaldun dropped to his knees, Amani crushed it beneath her fingers. She knew that wouldn’t be enough to finish him, so she cast her eyes in his direction, setting him ablaze. Khaldun screamed as her djinn-enhanced flames engulfed him. In a matter of seconds, he was nothing more than ash. Amani dropped his stilled heart on top of the ashes and closed her eyes, trying to quench the rage.

  She heard a voice calling out to her to come back, even as her body fell limp. “It’s okay. Amani, please. I’m here for you,” Nathan declared. “You did it. You saved us.”

  She took a deep breath in and composed herself, bringing her djinn side under control. When she opened her eyes, Nathan was there before her.

  “There’s my girl.” He smiled.

  “You’re okay?”

  “I am.”

  “And Calla Lily?”

  “She’s fine. We’re all fine.”

  “You saved us all, Amani,” Calla Lily replied with a faint smile.

  “And Khalida?”

  “She’s in here,” Roman said, holding the vessel in the air.

  “I need that,” Amani declared.

  “Why would I give this to you?” Roman goaded.

  Amani glared at him, the golden hieroglyphs on her skin beginning to surface again in a fluid rush. “Because my kind—and my sister—are not for you to possess. Khalida belongs to the goddesses,” she said coolly as she extended her hand toward him.

  Roman shoved the jar into her palm. “We’ll see what is mine to possess or not.”

  “I don’t want any trouble, Roman, but if you try to thwart what is right for the sake of your desires, I will take action.”

  “Is that a threat?”

  “No,” Amani said flatly. “But understand, I would destroy this vessel before you or anyone else could possess it.”

  Roman continued to glare at her, clenching his jaw, as Nathan and Calla Lily stepped up next to Amani.

  “Are you okay?” Calla Lily asked, casting a look at Roman.

  Amani shifted her f
ocus to Calla Lily and whispered, “Yes, but I’ve never fully embraced what I am before, and it frightens me a bit.”

  “What happens next?” Nathan asked as he held Amani’s hand.

  “I face the goddesses and tell them the truth of what has happened.”

  “But how?” Irina questioned.

  Amani turned to Mihail, who’d returned to the square. “Do you have the necklace?”

  “I do,” he said, pulling it out of his pocket and handing it to her.

  “I’m very sorry this all had to take place here in Havenwood Falls. Is the town okay?” Amani asked.

  Roman relented. “The fountain may need to be replaced, but other than that, the damage is nothing a little magic can’t fix.”

  The energy died down, and the other Court members began to make their way to where the rest of them stood.

  “Now what?” Irina inquired.

  “Now I ask for a favor so that I may leave your town for good.”

  “And what is that?” Calla Lily asked.

  “When the goddesses have been called before, magic was used or a sacrifice made. I don’t really have a sacrifice, so I was hoping you could help me call for them.”

  “You want them to come here?” Roman balked.

  “Do you want us out of here or not?” Amani shot back, finding her voice.

  “Fine, what do you need, then?” Roman snapped.

  “This,” she held up the necklace, “a copper dagger, a dove’s feather, and a pile of burning embers.”

  Calla Lily and Nathan grinned, but Roman glared at her.

  “It was what her mother used to call Hathor,” Calla Lily affirmed.

  “So you want us to give you these items so you can call an Egyptian goddess to the town square?”

  “No, I want you to give me those items to call two Egyptian goddesses to the town square.”

  Roman’s lip curled. “I’m in no mood for games.”

  “This is not a game. I will say my goodbyes, and then I will face my judgment,” Amani said as she lifted the ewer in her hand. “We’ll be leaving together.”

  “I’ll be back in five minutes with the items you’ve requested,” Roman said as he reluctantly turned to leave.