Chapter 17: The Counter Offer

"I said four," Cross said. I parted my lips.

My response wasn't an affirmative nor a negative answer. "I have a counter offer."

Cross halted mid-count. The corners of his red eyes pinched inward, and his smile melted away. "You are in no position to negotiate."

I took one step forward, placing my hip against the edge of the table. The grimoire rested between us, its leather binding burning hot against my fingers. "You want my magic for binding the council's leaders. Binding a demon is different from binding a demon lord. Your bloodline has the capability of the latter, but only when combined with the anchoring spell of the former."

"What anchor?" Cross asked.

I chose to lie again, and I did so with practiced ease. "The anchoring spell requires a portion of the target's soul. You don't have that. But I can provide it for you." I hesitated, allowing the statement to sink in. "From Raze."

There was silence. For a moment, Cross' crimson eyes roamed my face. Then he spoke. "How?"

"We will take the grimoire," I replied. "We will set up a trap and capture Raze using the anchoring spell. During the ritual, I will extract a fragment of his essence for you. And in exchange, I will give you my magic afterwards. Agreed?"

Mira slammed her palms down on the table. "She is lying!"

Her reaction didn't faze Cross. "Of course she is." His crimson gaze returned to mine, a spark of curiosity flickering within. "But I am interested to see where she pushes her limits."

Without hesitation, Cross pushed the grimoire forward until it hovered on the edge of the table. "You have three days until the blood moon rises. Bring me the essence of Raze, along with your magic, or I will come for you myself."

I snatched the grimoire from the table. It was heavier than it should've been.

Before I could react, Mira gripped the edge of the table. She seized the grimoire and ran toward the side door.

I didn't get the chance to call out.

Cross lunged from behind the table at record speed. In mere seconds, he grabbed Mira's neck and pinned her against the wall, her feet dangling six inches from the ground.

"Did you really think you could rob me?" His tone was calm, even gentle. His crimson eyes never blinked.

Mira choked as her nails scratched at his wrist, but he seemed to feel nothing. "I was trying to help the council."

Cross tightened his grip. "You are just a pawn, Mira."

His hand opened and she fell to the ground. She ended up kneeling on all fours as she coughed, trying to breathe.

Cross released his grip and walked over to Jenna. "Here, take it before I change my mind."

Jenna took the grimoire from his hand and placed it under her arm as she moved toward the stairs.

I stared at Mira who lay on the floor. Her face was red from being grabbed by Cross and she refused to meet my eyes.

"Let's go," Dorian said as he took my arm and dragged me toward the stairs.

The truck reeked of fear and stale cigarette smoke.

Jenna drove faster than ever, making the tires slip and spin across the snow until they finally caught. The engine strained at her actions as she accelerated. She drove down the middle of the road with Dorian sitting in the back of the truck. He had the grimoire in his lap with his fingertips tracing the symbols on its cover.

"He's going to kill us," he said, "after he gets what he wants."

My gaze dropped to my hands. The blisters that covered my palms had extended to my fingers. "Yeah, I know that. But now we have three days to find a way to bind Raze and use my magic."

Vance's laughter echoed from where he sat in the back seat with his hands tied behind his back and his head resting against the window. "There is no way. Binding him will need a sacrifice. Either you lose your magic or you live, and there is nothing else we can do."

Dorian swung back at him, connecting his fist with his shoulder blade. "Shut up."

Vance continued to grin. "It's just the truth, Dorian."

Jenna turned onto the highway, the headlights cutting through the thick layers of snow as she drove faster than before. We raced past skeletal looking trees on either side of the road, each shadowy form seeming to stretch towards us.

I was about to say something when I realized someone was talking to me.

This time, it was not allowed. This time, it was neither Jenna nor Dorian nor Vance talking. This time, it was my thoughts that made me scream inside.

"Clever girl."

With both my hands, I grabbed the dashboard of the truck. The blisters that grew in my palms hurt when I pressed them against the plastic material.

"Cross won't wait for three days. He's already traveling to the hostel, and he's waiting for Raze."

I knew whose voice it was. Raze.

"Arya?" Jenna asked me. "Are you okay?"

I could barely breathe because of pressure growing behind my eyes. "Raze. He's talking in my head, and he knows everything."

In my words, the truck swerved, and Jenna had to grab the wheel in order to straighten its course.

"Dorian," she screamed. "Do something."

With a firm hand, the man grabbed my shoulder. It was freezing cold. "Fight it," he urged.

I tried my best to press my burning palms against my eyes, and still, they couldn't erase the pictures.

"Too late, little witch," Raze said again. This time, it sounded almost like whispers. "I've been living in your head since the moment you used your magic in the basement. Every time you burn, I move closer."

Behind my eyelids, I saw another picture. Behind the truck, through the window. I saw the red candles in the walls of the room, I saw Zoe's lifeless body sitting in the armchair; her eyes were closed, but I heard her moans. I saw Cross who was standing near her. For the first time in his life, his red eyes showed fear.

"He's here. In the hostel. He's going to take me away, but I won't allow it."

Slowly, the vision disappeared, and I opened my eyes. There was the dashboard in front of me, there was the windshield, and there was only a snowstorm outside the car.

"Arya!" Jenna cried out desperately. "Stay awake, girl!"

Looking at my palms, I noticed that the blisters disappeared leaving no traces behind.

"He's there. In the hostel. Cross is there, and he's taking Raze."

As if seeing my face, Dorian's face turned completely white.

"Then we are too late."

"No," I said determinedly. "We turn back, and we do whatever is needed. We stop Cross and trap Raze tonight.”

Jenna shook her head. "You heard Vance. It needs a sacrifice, whether that be magic or life. Neither of those is prepared yet."

I glanced at the book on Dorian's lap. "Then we think of another way."

Vance chuckled from the back seat. "There is no other way."

I whirled around to look at him. His face was battered, and blood smeared under his nose. "Then I will sacrifice my magic."

Dorian grabbed my arm. "No."

"It's my decision."

"That's a dumb decision."

I jerked my arm out of his grasp. "What's your better idea, Dorian? Got one?"

He remained silent.

I looked at Jenna. "Go faster."

She slammed her foot down on the gas pedal, and the truck jolted forward.

The voice in my head was hushed, but I could sense him somewhere d

eep within my brain.

And somewhere in the basement of the hostel, Cross was falling right into the trap he did not know existed.