The Dying Light (Bloodwitch #1)

They kept to the shadows. Not daring to stop running, either to catch their breath or check if they were being pursued, they followed Jasmine deep into the slums of Penumbra. Narrow, dilapidated buildings towered above them out of the darkness. They raced down blind alleys and vaulted over high brick walls into a maze of tiny courtyards and back-to-back outbuildings. The sharp pain lodged in Charlie’s chest and between his ribs was dizzying.

They crossed a patch of abandoned wasteland and entered the bowels of what at first glance appeared to be a bombed-out factory. Broken glass from the shattered windows littered the floor, crunching underfoot. The building looked as though it had been left to rot since the war. Somewhere close by, the drip of water echoed around them into the silence.

Gasping for breath, Charlie halted in his tracks. ‘I’m not – going with you,’ he said, as the others spun around to stare at him. ‘You all can – go on – without me.’

‘What are you talking about?’ Alya asked, her mouth twisting into an anxious frown.

‘Don’t you get it? They’re going to come after me,’ Charlie said, one hand pressed against his forehead, trying to ward off a splitting headache. ‘He’s not going to let me get away that easily. Before … when I was – he said something about …’ He pushed the memory away, furious at himself for allowing it in. ‘It doesn’t matter. You’re all in danger for as long as I stay with you.’

Jasmine strode towards him and shoved him hard, making Charlie stagger backwards. ‘Get over yourself. We were always in danger.’ As Alya stepped forward, one hand reaching out for Jasmine’s arm, Jasmine narrowed her eyes towards Charlie. ‘I’ve lived my whole life in fear of Nikolai the Merciless and his Witch Hunters. Face him alone and you’ll only get yourself killed. That’s all you’ll achieve with your childish attempts at heroism. So stop being a stubborn idiot and follow me.’

Alya cast Charlie a sympathetic look and followed Jasmine deeper into the rundown building. Vasco hung back, and Charlie saw that Vasco’s gaze had come to rest on the place where Jasmine had put her hands on him. They followed behind the girls, walking side by side.

Charlie spoke to his feet. ‘This is the part where you get to tell me you told me so.’

‘I …’ Vasco raised his eyes to Charlie’s. ‘I’m sorry he hurt you.’

‘I was wrong.’ The pain in his head worsening, Charlie braced both his hands against his temples and closed his eyes. ‘I was wrong about everything, wasn’t I? I’m such a –’

‘Hey.’ One of Vasco’s hands had come to rest between his shoulder blades. ‘Talk to me.’

‘My family are dead. My brother despises me. Seren is gone.’ Charlie shook his head, the reality of those words sinking in at last. ‘And it’s all because of me. It’s all my fault.’

‘It’s not.’ Vasco moved his hand in a gentle circle. ‘None of this is your fault.’

Charlie let out an involuntary, sceptical huff. ‘It sure feels a lot like it’s my fault …’

‘Charlie, come on …’

‘You …’ Straightening up, Charlie regarded Vasco carefully. ’You were one of them.’

The ghost of a mirthless smile flitted across Vasco’s face. ‘Don’t give me too much credit,’ he said, his hands burying themselves in his pockets. ‘I still am.’

’You would go back to him, after …’ Charlie’s stomach was a knotted mess. ‘After everything?’

Vasco shrugged, and scowled at the grimy floor. ‘Where else am I supposed to go?’

‘You could –’ Charlie began, without thinking, but he held himself back from going on.

‘The Great Protector …’ A muscle slid in Vasco’s jaw. ‘He said that you’re his –’

’Don’t!’ Charlie snarled, fury ripping through his body as he fought to keep his fists clenched by his side. ’Don’t ever let me hear you say that – that …’

With a huge effort, he cycled through a few deep breaths. When he spoke again, his voice was low and controlled.

‘You try to talk to me about this ever again, and it’ll be the last thing you ever do, you got it?’

Vasco had gone pale. ‘Understood,’ he said.

He had not dropped his gaze from Charlie’s face for a second, but it was only now that Charlie noticed his brow had furrowed. They had come to a halt in the middle of an empty, shadowy corridor.

‘It’s too quiet. Where are –?’

Charlie caught sight of movement in the corner of his eye right before he saw stars.

The next time he opened his eyes, he was lying on his side, his knees tucked up against his chest. His hands had been secured behind his back with cable ties. Vasco was lying beside him in the same condition, his gaze resting on Charlie. When he saw that Charlie had regained consciousness, Vasco gave a minute shake of his head, warning him that he should remain silent.

‘Stand further away from him.’

At the sound of a rough voice, Charlie flinched. He glanced up to see a middle-aged man wearing silver glasses grip Alya’s shoulder.

Vasco forced himself to his feet. ‘You get your hands off her!’ he roared, before the man promptly smashed him in the face with his elbow and he sank to his knees. His nose bleeding freely, Vasco ground his teeth as the man in the glasses turned away from them with a mild expression on his face. ‘Untie me and try that again,’ Vasco said, his voice deadly soft.

‘Next time, I won’t hold back,’ the man said, and he left the room without another word.

‘You have to be more careful,’ Alya warned gently, helping Vasco to his feet.

‘I’m fine.’ He was scowling, but he allowed her to dab at his nose with her sleeve.

‘How does it feel to get a taste of your own medicine?’ Charlie asked, pushing himself up onto his knees before gingerly edging himself into a standing position. ‘Where are we, anyway?’

‘Stop talking.’ The sound of Jasmine’s sharp voice came from outside the room, just as Vasco opened his mouth to retaliate. ‘The Whisperer could be back at any moment.’

‘Jasmine, where are we?’ Alya demanded. ‘Why did you bring us here?’

‘You’ll find out soon enough,’ Jasmine answered, sliding the door open and entering the room with a knife.

She placed a hand on Charlie’s shoulder and twisted his body around, so that his back was facing her. Then she split the cable ties binding his wrists with one sweep of the blade.

‘Wait here,’ she said, before turning back to the door. ‘The High Witch will see you soon.’

‘Hey, witch, aren’t you forgetting something?’ Vasco turned, showing her his bound hands. ’You’re going to let him out of these things and not me?’

Jasmine regarded him with a sly smile. ‘That’s right,’ she answered with a shrug, and left.

‘Nine hells,’ Vasco sighed, craning his head up to stare at the crumbling ceiling. ‘How is this happening to me? Maybe I’ll wake up and find out this has all just been a bad dream.’

‘At least we’re all together,’ Alya said, managing a small smile. ‘Even if they’re planning to keep us imprisoned here, we’re all still alive.’

‘For now,’ Charlie muttered.

‘Exactly,’ Vasco said. ‘I get the feeling I’m not going to be too popular around here.’

‘And what would make you think that, my young Witchkiller?’ a delicate voice asked.

The voice belonged to a woman like none that Charlie had ever seen before. She entered the room carrying herself with a confidence that suggested years of authority, but she did not yet look as though she had reached middle age. Her face held an otherworldly kind of beauty, only somewhat hardened by a bitter edge around the corners of her mouth. Her ice-blue eyes were bright and piercing, and her golden hair shimmered almost like a mirror around her shoulders. Jasmine stood behind her, her eyes fixed on the others.

Vasco said nothing, his expression wary as his eyes travelled over the woman’s face. No one seemed to want to break the silence. As she observed the three of them steadily, the older woman’s full lips curled into what would have been a pleasant smile, were it not for the fact that its warmth did not even get close to reaching her steel-like eyes.

‘Show our guests in,’ she said, turning on her heel and leading the way out of the room.

Jasmine grasped Vasco roughly by the upper arm and dragged him out first. Alya followed meekly behind, her eyes darting across their surroundings with obvious anxiety. Charlie brought up the rear, relieved not to be the punching bag for once.

They were taken down another corridor, through a wooden door that led into a large room with walls of exposed brickwork. Wide, open windows were spaced around the walls, through which the first rays of sunrise were beginning to stream into the room. The morning sky was baby blue and cloudless.

‘Well, then,’ the older woman said, her hands behind her back as she surveyed them one by one. ‘Let’s see what we have here …’

Her blonde hair fell in loose, playful curls around her shoulders, and her face seemed to betray nothing, whether emotion or memory. Charlie flinched a little under her gaze, so controlled it was almost imperial. It was a feeling the likes of which he had never experienced before.

An entourage of young women had entered the room and amassed around her. They were all wearing the same uniform as Jasmine, and each of them carried a variety of different weapons. All of them had the same serious demeanour and stern expressions on their faces. None of them were wearing collars.

‘Welcome to our hideout,’ the woman said. ‘I hope you have settled in well.’ When no one answered, she held out her hand expectantly. ‘I suppose you will have some questions for me.’

‘Who are you?’ Alya asked at once. ‘What is this place?’

‘You have entered the Lilith coven,’ the woman answered. ‘My name is Eva Brightheart, and I am the High Witch of Matya.’

Charlie glanced at Vasco and Alya, looking to see if his confusion was mirrored in their own faces. However, he had the distinct impression that he was alone in his ignorance about this group of witches. Alya’s breath had caught in her chest at the High Witch’s words, and, from beside him, Charlie heard Vasco make a noise of clear distaste in his throat.

‘The Witch Queen,’ he snarled, his hands curling into fists. ‘So, this is your lair?’

‘You flatter me, Witchkiller, but my people recognise no kings or queens,’ the High Witch said, before turning her cool gaze on Alya. ‘I can see we each have some questions for the other,’ she continued. ‘It may save us some time, Miss Ignatieva, if you ask yours first.’

‘What do you want with us?’ Alya asked, without a moment’s hesitation. ‘Are we to be your prisoners?’

Eva Brightheart blinked, then let out a sweet laugh. ‘Certainly not,’ she replied. ‘Do you consider yourselves prisoners? No, indeed, you are our guests.’

‘You have an interesting approach to treating your guests,’ Vasco said darkly.

The High Witch looked at him directly for the first time, and Charlie noticed with increased respect that Vasco did not quail for a moment under her icy stare. If anything, he seemed to become even more resolved, and glared back at her without breaking eye contact. Eva Brightheart took a couple of steps towards him, her cold gaze flickering across his face.

‘You know, you remind me of him,’ she murmured, her eyes boring into his. ‘I think you could almost be handsome, but you carry the stain of violence with you, young Witchkiller. Ah, yes …’ She nodded as Vasco’s eyes fell to the floor. ‘I see I am right.’ She turned her head back slightly, addressing Jasmine. ‘He is the one?’

‘Vasco Kovalev,’ Jasmine answered at once. ‘Elysian Lieutenant. Witchkiller. His name regularly comes up in our reports from the survivors. He is close to Nikolai Ignatiev.’

’This is him?’ Eva Brightheart returned her gaze to Vasco, a quizzical look on her face.

‘That’s right,’ he growled back, straining against the ties that bound his hands.

‘Really? Hm.’ Without another word, Eva Brightheart turned away from him. ‘As to what we want with you, let me explain a little about our humble organisation. We are the Lilith coven, and for years, our sole aim has been to overthrow the tyrannical rule of the so-called Great Protector, First Hunter General Nikolai Ignatiev. He may be your father, Miss Ignatieva, but you and your friends are under our jurisdiction now.’

Vasco let out a cold laugh. ‘I’ve heard of these witches.’ His eyes flashed with rage as Eva Brightheart turned to look at him, a mildly curious expression on her face. ‘They’re terrorists, guerrillas mired in the slums, clamouring for an armed rebellion with no strength or support from any of the other covens or clans. You can’t seriously believe that you have any chance of challenging the Great Protector?’

Jasmine approached Vasco without hesitation and, in a single vicious movement, backhanded him across the face with such force that Charlie flinched. ‘You need to learn when to be silent,’ she said, her voice flat. ‘Speak out of turn again and you’ll regret it, Witchkiller.’

‘We must remember to treat our guests gently, Jasmine,’ Eva Brightheart said evenly, the merest hint of a smile playing around her mouth. ‘However, you would be wise to take her warning seriously, Witchkiller,’ she added, as Vasco glowered back at her. ‘We have more friends in this city than you do. You will find the people of Penumbra more than willing to turn a blind eye to the disappearance of a worthless war criminal such as yourself, should we deem it necessary.’

Vasco’s fury burned in his eyes. ‘Your threats don’t scare me,’ he said quietly.

‘I never make threats,’ Eva Brightheart said, her voice level. ‘Only promises.’

Alya cleared her throat. ‘Excuse me, ma’am, but I would like to suggest something.’

Eva Brightheart cast her a leisurely glance. ‘Do you plan on keeping up this pretence,’ she said, her eyes fixed on Alya with a curious hunger, ‘or will you speak honestly, daughter?’

‘Alexandra, what is she talking about?’ Vasco demanded, looking warily between them.

‘We have good reason to help each other,’ Alya protested. ‘That’s not a lie.’

‘But not yet the whole truth.’ Eva Brightheart had been watching her closely, and her lips had grown thinner at Alya’s words. ‘We know you escaped Elysia with a certain weapon,’ she continued. Her eyes travelled from Alya to Charlie, who frowned back at her, nonplussed. ‘I believe you know what I am talking about, child of the Darkwood clan.’

’What?’ Jasmine’s head snapped towards Charlie, whose eyes had darted to his feet.

‘We recognised you at once from our source’s intelligence reports,’ Eva Brightheart said. ‘She provided us with regular updates from deep inside the heart of Elysia. Yes,’ she added, nodding at the look of understanding on their faces that none of them could hide. ‘We have known about the horrors that have been inflicted on our people at the Volya Research Facility for many months now.’

‘What are you talking about?’ Vasco asked, fuming. ‘How could you know anything about that? In the condition they’re kept, there’s no way any of the prisoners could have –’

‘We knew a daughter of the Casimir coven of Kalnelys had escaped.’ The High Witch looked directly at Charlie. ‘We have been on the lookout for anything suspicious taking place in the Volya Facility ever since. We knew it would only be a matter of time before we had you in our grasp.’

‘If that’s so,’ Alya began hesitantly, ‘then why didn’t you –’

Vasco overrode her. ‘Who was your spy?’ he demanded. ‘Who betrayed us?’

‘Who was our source?’ Eva Brightheart’s voice was pleasant. ‘Can you not guess?’

Charlie shook his head. ‘There’s no one who could have told you about me, except …’

‘Alexandra Ignatieva Brightheart,’ the High Witch said. ‘With her burgeoning Gift, she reached out to me, and I learnt that my daughter was still alive – and much more, besides.’

’These are your friends in Penumbra?’ Vasco said softly, staring at Alya in horror.

Alya’s eyes widened. ‘You mean you knew that I’m your – that you’re my … my mother?’

Vasco was staring at Alya in shock. His mouth was open, but no words came out.

’What about him?’ Jasmine asked in a strangled voice, her eyes still fixed on Charlie.

‘Ah, yes, I almost forgot,’ Eva Brightheart said, ‘that we have another honoured guest present amongst us. Charlie Carroway, the son of Erin Darkwood – your mother’s youngest sister, Jasmine.’

‘Charlie’s mother is a witch?’ Alya asked, gazing at him, stunned. ‘Charlie, why didn’t you tell me?’

‘Erin Darkwood was a rare talent,’ the High Witch continued. ‘She was also unusual for a witch in that when she gave birth, it was to a son. Male births are all but unheard of amongst our kind, you see. For years, there have been many who have searched for him,’ she added delicately, looking directly at Charlie again, ‘but most assumed him long dead, along with his mother.’

‘Then she …’ Alya’s face fell, and she lowered her head. ‘Charlie, I’m so sorry …’

His gaze still averted, Charlie could sense everyone’s eyes on him. He shivered, a nauseous feeling creeping up his throat from the pit of his stomach. He did not want their pity.

‘How do you know this for sure?’ Vasco said sharply. ‘If Charlie’s mother –’

‘There is no doubt,’ Eva Brightheart answered immediately. ‘I could smell Erin Darkwood in his blood the moment he entered the room. Along with another familiar scent …’

Charlie glanced up, his heart racing horribly. It was under his skin. Somehow, he had known it all along. The truth of his own nature was inescapable. He revolted himself.

‘Please,’ Alya said quickly. ‘Please help us save Seren and the other prisoners.’

‘He has saved plenty of us before now,’ Jasmine said. ‘We should help him in turn.’

Eva Brightheart was looking from Alya, to Charlie, to Jasmine, with growing interest. ‘We believe that Seren Casimir is being held in Elysia with an unconfirmed number of other prisoners of our kind,’ she said. ‘We have also had reports suggesting that large numbers of our people have been brought into Matya in regular shipments from smaller covens around the Elysian mountains. It appears they are to take part in some sort of ritual sacrifice.’

’What?’ Charlie breathed. His head was spinning and pounding furiously.

‘Why have they treated so many people this way?’ Alya asked, shaking her head. ‘What was the point to all this suffering? I can’t think of any reason that could justify this …’

‘And I suppose your little gang is planning to do something about it?’ Vasco sneered.

‘We plan to free our people and overthrow Nikolai Ignatiev’s rule,’ the High Witch said, her eyes hardening. ‘He has caused the witches of this land untold suffering.’

‘By what right?’ Vasco demanded, his voice dripping with venom now. ‘Do you expect me to believe that the High Throne holds no appeal for you? We cannot be led by demons.’

‘I do not deny that I also have a personal reason for wanting to liberate Matya,’ Eva Brightheart said carefully. ‘Nikolai Ignatiev has kept my daughter from me for many long years.’ She turned to Alya. ‘My little daughter, Alexandra … my only child. I don’t know what your father might have told you about me, but –’

‘He didn’t like to talk about you,’ Alya said, her voice strangely flat. ‘When I was younger I would try to ask him about you, but eventually I … I learnt not to.’

‘I see,’ Eva Brightheart said, her voice taut, before she took a deep breath. ‘Well, that’s all in the past now, my darling. With the two of us together again, we can make a fresh start.’

‘What do you mean by that?’ Vasco asked, his voice soft, but Alya waved him away.

‘What are you planning to do next?’ she asked. ‘How can we help you?’

Eva Brightheart smiled, and strode towards the windows. ‘For some time now, we have been planning to launch an attack on Elysia. And now, thanks to your support, we will be able to make our move sooner than I had anticipated.’

She regarded Charlie with a grim expression on her face, the sunlight reflecting off her hair. ‘We have also received intelligence that an Elysian Witch Hunter, a lieutenant called Arron Dragomir, has been assigned to handle your friend’s time in captivity. I imagine you are familiar with this name too, Witchkiller?’

Charlie’s legs had almost given way beneath him at the thought of Seren in a cell with Dragomir. His whole body was shaking now, his chest uncomfortably tight.

‘We have to go back,’ he said at once, holding a fist in front of his mouth to smother a sudden cough. ‘We have to save her.’

‘I’m with you, Charlie,’ Alya said. ‘She’ll be all right. We’ll save her.’

‘I’ll come too,’ Jasmine added. ‘Don’t worry, cousin. With the Lilith coven’s support, we’ll definitely be able to get them all out of there. We still have time. We’ll save everyone.’

Vasco shook his head. ’Think for one second – all of you,’ he urged. ‘How are you planning to save them when you’ve seen for yourselves what they can make her do?’

‘We’ll find a way,’ Charlie said. ‘This is all my fault. If it weren’t for me, Seren –’

‘Dragomir is trying to lure you back to Elysia,’ Vasco said furiously. ’You, Charlie! Listen to me. Don’t be stupid. Don’t fall for it. Trust me – if you do this, you’re all going to be in danger!’

‘Why should I trust anything you say?’ Charlie murmured. ‘You’re still one of them.’

Charlie’s words wiped Vasco’s face free of any expression. His dark eyes shuttered.

‘I think we should go,’ Alya said. ‘If my mother believes that the time is right, then –’

’Alexandra, why are you so determined to trust her?’ Vasco asked, rounding on her instead. ‘You hardly know her. She walked out on you when you were just a child!’

‘I wonder if I might ask you some questions now, Lieutenant Kovalev?’ Eva Brightheart said, her voice still pleasant, but softer now. ‘Why are you so interested in my daughter?’ She prowled forwards, her hands behind her back. ‘What exactly is the nature of your relationship with her father? Why do you have such a strong conviction that the story your master has told you about me is the truth?’

’You don’t have the right to question me when you’re the one who abandoned her!’ Vasco retorted, his voice harsh. ‘No one in this room cares about Alexandra more than I do.’

Eva Brightheart regarded him with cold fury in her eyes. ‘Vasco Kovalev, I name you as Witchkiller, a murderer, and place you under arrest, by the order of the Lilith coven.’ A savage smile spread across her face as the man in glasses entered the room at her words. ‘Take him to the cells and put him in chains,’ she added, and the man strode forward at once to carry out her orders. ‘This young man has a great deal to pay for. See to it that he does so in full.’

As he was forced from the room, Vasco turned back to Alya, appealing to her with his eyes. ‘Alexandra, why are you just standing there?’ he asked desperately. ‘Aren’t you going to stop her? It’s – it’s me.’

Alya bit her lip, her gaze falling to the floor. ‘If my mother thinks that this is what is right …’

‘Alexandra, don’t do this! Don’t trust her!’

With an intense effort, the spectacled man wrenched Vasco out of the room. Charlie could hear him struggling to break free as he was dragged down the corridor and out of sight.

‘Well, then,’ Eva Brightheart said, breathing a deep sigh and smiling, ‘now all that unpleasantness is over and done with, I think you all deserve some rest. You must be tired.’

Charlie’s eyes lingered on the empty doorway as he schooled his features into a neutral expression. He held himself still, forcing himself to remain calm. His heart was hammering in his chest. He was certain he had not imagined the look of satisfaction on Eva Brightheart’s face when she had ordered Vasco to be punished. By now, he was all too familiar with that look.

They had taken Vasco. Charlie felt his absence keenly, like a wound. He did not understand why, but somehow, the matter of who Vasco had allied himself with no longer seemed as important to him anymore. All Charlie wanted was to have Vasco back by his side.

Nevertheless, he refused to allow any sign of his emotions to show on his face. He knew he would do Vasco no favours by charging through the Lilith coven hideout to save him right there and then. Vasco was more than capable of handling himself for now. Charlie would find him in the cells later.

It was a date.