Page 73 of Aleko
“And I wish,” Lia raised the wand and slashed it through the air like she was cracking a whip, “that you would show everyone who you really are.”
Luca took an angry step forward but it was as if his skinbegan to flake and slough away. He looked down at himself as all pretense of natural color disappeared leaving him ashen gray with jagged dark scars across his skin. His eyes were dark hollows and they burned with hatred. Only his hair maintained any color, but the pleasant brown washed away leaving a dark, nearly auburn red.
Yazmin gave a faint gasp as if she were trying to contain her shock, but couldn’t quite smother it.
“Hello, Seth,” said Lia.
A smile twisted across his lips.
“Was it worth it?” asked Lia. “You betrayed your friends, murdered them, and a thousand others, and for what? Power? Power that you didn’t even get, did you?”
“That was Sofia’s fault. No one needed to get hurt. If they had just given me the jar like I told them to, the deaths could have been prevented. I want what is rightfully mine by birth. I am Adda’s heir. The warlocks were misusing what is mine and if they would have let me have the jar, I could have gained my birthright. Don’t tell me that it doesn’t burn you up—these shifters with magic at their fingertips and we get nothing? I am a direct descendent of Adda. That power should be mine. Howell and the others were standing in my way.”
“Because they knew that you don’t want the power to shift. You want the power of the ancients,” said Lia.
“And I would have had it,” said Seth, “If Sofia hadn’t triggered the bomb. I could be a god. Instead, I’m stuck here in this body that it took me so long to put back together.” He took a deep breath and looked around the beach. “Do you know, I had just about given up hope when I met Alex. So determined to prove his brother’s innocence. Such delusions of honor and chivalry. Just like his brother.” He snorted in derision. “Like those words mean anything. But now thanks to both of you, I have a new chance. Anuket will provide me with what I need.”
“No,” said Lia shaking her head.
“No? You can’t stop me. I will summon Anuket. I will bind her and I will take what is mine. If you behave and go sit down, like good little girls, I won’t even have to kill you.”
Lia sighed. She had never been good, even when she had been a little girl.
“You act like this is my fault. But it’s not like Iwantto kill people.”
“You just don’t give a shit,” snapped Yazmin, shivering. “Getting the picture.”
Seth shrugged.
“What does he say, translator?” whispered a soft voice, in Latin.
“He claims he is Adda’s descendent and that he wishes to steal your magic,” replied Lia.
Anuket drifted into being like smoke from a firepit and Yazmin made a very excited noise.
“IamAdda’s descendent,” said Seth, angrily. Apparently, he understood more Latin than he spoke.
Anuket had acquired a dress. It was a simple caftan of natural cotton and Lia found herself wondering how she had managed to make it smoke and then solid. Lia also realized that probably this wasn’t the time to be worrying about such things.
“Yes,” said Anuket with a shrug. “You are both his descendants.”
Yazmin made another excited noise and Anuket frowned at her.
“What do you mean?” demanded Seth.
“You are my both my children,” said Anuket, gesturing between Lia and Seth. “I can tell. My own magic calls me to you—just as you are called to me. That is why you are both in this place, at this time.”
Seth looked horrified. Anuket looked like she gave zero fucksabout either of them. Lia began to laugh—giggling helplessly.
“No… No. Not her. Me. I’m Adda’s heir.” Seth looked like they had stolen his Christmas candy. He was an angry, spoiled child, finally realizing that he was the same amount of special as everyone else.
“Heirs are usually selected to inherit by the deceased,” said Yazmin, with a brutally matter-of-fact tone. “You can’t declare yourself an heir.”
Seth flicked a hand and Yazmin was flung across the sand as if she had been swept away by a tidal wave. Then took a step after her, hand raised, an angry scowl on his face. Lia stepped in front of him, wand raised.
“You may be Adda’s heir,” said Lia. “But that does not make you any more or less than what you are—a murderer.”
“Well, little sister, then why would I stop with you?”
