I moved far away. I got a job and enrolled in college.
I chose mechanical engineering.
Not because I had some childhood dream of building machines or working in factories. I chose it because I could combine engineering with magic when necessary.
Even though I live in another city, the Gemini coven follows my every move, but without interfering in any way with my life.
I still have a connection to the discs I created, and because of that, I know they've never changed their minds about imprisoning me in the prison world.
That's good. I want to be imprisoned, because that way I can take advantage of the infinite resources in the prison world and become stronger. Plus, I'll be immortal there.
But I want to escape from there before the sixth season.
1994
The invitation arrived on a Tuesday. Thick paper, the Gemini Coven seal, written in Joshua's formal handwriting. There was no room for refusal. Just the date, time, and location.
"Your presence is mandatory. The Fusion will take place."
I folded the paper and tucked it into my pocket. I didn't need the listening discs to know what that meant. I'd overheard enough conversations over the years to understand the plan. But even if I hadn't, the signs were everywhere.
[...]
The Parker estate looked different.
There were more witches and more containment runes drawn. They weren't hiding anything. Or maybe they were.
Josette was waiting for me in one of the gardens.
She was sitting in a wooden chair, her hands clenched around her knees, her eyes fixed on the ground. When she saw me, she lifted her head, and her expression changed, along with the aura she gave off. There was happiness on her face.
Happiness at seeing me, at sharing this moment with me. Something she'd never done before.
Happiness? That's a new one… I thought, raising an eyebrow. She'd never felt happy around me, except when she bullied me along with the other kids. She'd always treated me like a weak worm.
I felt anger burning inside me, fury taking over my heart. I felt the snack I'd eaten before leaving home rise up with bile into my throat when I saw that fake smile on my sister's face.
"Kai," she said, smiling. "It's so good to see you."
I kept my composure. Over the years, I'd learned to control my emotions and not act impulsively.
"Josette," I replied in the same cold tone of voice I always used when speaking to everyone. I acted as if nothing was wrong.
Joshua approached us along with the other wizards.
"Where's Joey?" I asked. I'd noticed his absence.
Liv and Luke were there, as were my other two sisters, Joana and Megan. But not Joey.
"He's sick; he couldn't make it," Joshua replied, his tone curt.
"The Fusion is far too important an event for a simple cold to keep a coven member from attending," I retorted. "Answer me—what did you do to him?"
Joshua clenched his jaw. "He. Is. Sick," he said slowly, his tone threatening to rise.
They silenced him, I thought. Sons of bitches.
Josette and I stood face to face and joined hands.
The eclipse shone in the dark sky.
"Sanguinem Desemulés, Sanguinem Generes Featos…" we both repeated in unison. I couldn't feel anything—not even a fraction of Josette's magic.
That was to be expected.
She suddenly let go of my hands and stepped back, a cruel smile on her face.
"Goodbye, freak," she said, venom in her voice.
Joshua pulled the Ascendant from his pocket; the metal object, about the size of a DVD, was stained with blood—Bennett blood.
One of the wizards present cast an aneurysm spell on me, causing me to drop to my knees on the floor while screaming in pain.
"ARGHH!!" I screamed in pain and agony. It was the worst pain I had ever felt in my entire life.
Joshua began to say:
"Sanguinem filio, sanguinem effurgarex perpetuum. Sanguinem filio, sanguinem effurgarex perpetuum. Phasmatos filio, Phasmatos effurgarex perpetuum!"
Even with the pain I was feeling, I couldn't help but smile as the light filled my vision.
"You'll pay for this, you bastards!" I muttered, blood streaming from my nose. And then the light grew much brighter, forcing me to close my eyes.
When I opened them again, the pain was gone, and it was daytime.