Page 65 of A Soul's Curse
“He’s … not here. It’s fine. We don’t need him.” The lie shouldn’t have stung as much as it did. I had said I didn’t want a knight in shining armor, and I didn’t, but that was because I didn’t see him as my savior. He wasn’t even a shield. He had become my anchor, keeping me grounded during this whole mess.
Caspian’s hand settled on my shoulder. “I’m sure he has his reasons. If he didn’t think you could do this, I have no doubt he’d have found Sam Bellamy and given him permission to possess your body so you wouldn’t leave his house.”
I snorted. It actually seemed like something Ren would try to do.
“So here’s the plan. Ladies …” Caspian dug his hands into his hips and skimmed Stella and Ivy up and down. Stella was wearing a pair of ripped skinny jeans with an oversized pink shirt that hung off one shoulder. Ivy was wearing leggings with a bright red tunic top that hit her thighs. “We’re going to aclub. Why are you both dressed like you’re heading to a PTA meeting?”
Stella let out a soft sigh, and with a graceful flick of her wrist, red flower petals danced around her, transforming her outfit into a pair of form-fitting black leather pants and a silky, high collared tank top. Beside her, Ivy yelped as she magically transformed alongside her. She clasped a hand to her chest, trying to hide her cleavage on display from the sleek, satin camisole.
“I’m not wearing heels,” Stella scoffed as she examined her freshly painted purple nails. “Or a dress. If I’m expected to fight, I am not giving them a view while I do it.”
“W-what about me?” Ivy asked, her arms crossed over her chest. “Could you please give me something a little less … revealing? Or at least a jacket?”
A disappointed expression flickered across Stella’s face. With another snap of her fingers, black petals circled around Ivy’s arms, the magic knitting itself together to give her a leather jacket.
“Much better.” Caspian gave them a greedy smile. Stella responded with a warning growl. “You two will keep watch. Leon isn’t going to conduct a deal in front of a crowd of people. He’ll likely take us to a private room. You will keep an eye out for anything suspicious and alert us if you see anything.”
Stella and Ivy both nodded.
“Theo and I will wait for Leon. Remember,” he turned to me, “you need to convince him you truly want to become a part of the Syndicate. Are you sure you can do that?”
“Yes.” Although I really wasn’t. I needed to channel my anger, act like Ren had done me wrong and I had seen the error of my ways, but I was utterly depressed, scared shitless, and I wanted nothing more than to run to Ren, not push him away.
“Good.” Caspian shifted, digging his hands into the pockets of his jacket to pull out a set of keys. “Once Leon agrees to Theo’s terms, Markus will likely place some kind of binding rune on you. When it’s official, we spring into action. You have to give me the command before you dissolve that rune, or the oath isn’t satisfied.”
“Got it.”
“What do I do?” The pixie shot out of my hair, zipping around Caspian. Her glittery magic trailed behind her.
“You can be our communication,” I suggested. “If you feel anything off with either me or Ivy, warn the other person.”
“Rodger that!” She saluted me. “I won’t let anything happen to my two favorite people!”
I breathed in, slowly letting it out. I could do this. Caspian was adamant about killing Leon. It was the only way to ensure he’d never come after us again. However, I argued the Syndicate was a large organization. It wouldn’t stop with Leon, and others would certainly follow in his wake even if we did end his life. The phantom reluctantly agreed, suggesting that he could instead speak to Leon’s magic, manipulating it to turn against him for all the abuse he’s put it through. Sure, Leon’s magic might refuse, and even if it agreed, Leon might die anyway, but at least it would have resulted from his own actions and not because we plunged the knife ourselves.
Caspian and I left the house, slipping into his car to drive off to the club. To avoid tipping off anyone who might be watching, Ivy and Stella would head over separately with the help of Jacob.
Night had fallen upon Salem, and there was a tinge of crispness in the cool air—the kind that hinted at the coming winter but hadn’t quite let go of autumn’s breath.
“Is this really going to work?” I asked Caspian. Although we had been silent most of the drive, the quiet felt deafening.
“Do you believe it will?” Caspian answered. “Do you believe in yourself to save your friends? Leon is just one person, one member of the Syndicate. You said yourself that more will come, and not just after you. Do you think a ragtag team of mediocre magic users can actually stop an entire evil organization that has been around for centuries?”
“Wow. You’re such a dick,” I grumbled as I sunk into the seat. “You’re supposed to give me one of those morale-boosting pep talks about how awesome I am, how this whole thing will end in our victory, and how we’ll go on with our merry lives living all happy and peaceful.”
“Is that what you believe will happen?” he asked again.
I sighed. “No. Not even close. The fact is, the damage has already been done. People at the shelter are losing trust in me thanks to Leon’s dirty tricks. It’s only a matter of time before my sad little side business fails, too. And I have no idea what to do next. I don’t want to spend my life hiding in the shadows, constantly looking over my shoulder in case that’s the moment the Syndicate strikes. And I don’t want my friends and family to constantly be in danger. But …” I swallowed a dry lump in my throat. “I can’t just walk away from this either, even if there’s only a slim chance of putting an end to the Syndicate for good. Ren may have started this mission to save his brother, but I feel like I need to end it by saving the world.”
“I didn’t think you’d walk away so easily.” Caspian smiled, pulling the car into an empty parking spot on a side street near the club. He turned off the engine and stared at me. “You are one of a kind, Theo. You might not think it now, but you’re strong. People look up to you. People like Ren, Ivy, and Stella. Even Nick, the New Jersey Devil himself. You can’t do this alone, but you won’t have to. Be their beacon of hope. Be the leader to those who don’t have one to follow. It won’t be easy, but trust me, it’ll be worth it.”
A smile twitched at my lips. It was almost ironic that Leon had made a similar speech when he tried to convince me to join the Syndicate, but the way Caspian said it had a whole new meaning. I wasn’t following someone else’s plan; I was leading my own. “There’s the inspirational pep talk I was waiting for. Okay. Let’s do this. I’m officially feeling emotionally stable enough to become the Syndicate’s worst nightmare.”
27
TheFridaynightclubscene was electric. Music pulsed through the walls like a heartbeat, lights flickered in dizzying patterns, and the air buzzed with a heady mix of perfume, sweat, and anticipation. Bodies moved in sync with the beat, laughter spilled from the bar, and somewhere in the chaos, secrets waited to be traded in the dark.
“What now?” I shouted at Caspian, barely able to hear my own voice over the music. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Stella, her hips swaying to the beat and shoulders rolling in time with the rhythm as she danced around and surveyed her surroundings at the same time. Her partner in crime, Ivy, stood off to the side with a drink in hand, stirring it constantly but never taking a sip. Colorful lights flickered off the sequins of her shirt. I ignored them, trying not to draw attention to their presence, and shoved my way through the busy dance floor.
