Bewitching Jolene (Book 3) Jacobs Broken Mercenaries

chapter 26

Jolene

“You're lucky I don’t burn you into a pile of ash at my feet. Its more than you deserve... I know all your little secrets Mathilda and your lies won't work on me anymore.”

I recall my conversation with my father and I'm astounded he left me those memories. He told me he had to take them back. He had to be the villain. So, what changed? Could it be he couldn’t stand to leave me in the dark or did something go wrong? I have to know for sure which means I have to get rid of Mathilda quickly. There will be no time for revenge just yet. I loosen my hold and her lips start forming lies.

“I have no idea what you're talking about.”

Maybe I can spare a little time.

“Oh really? So, my mother didn’t conspire with the real lucifer and condemn my father who was only a phoenix at the time into a trap, resulting in a lifetime of pain and suffering?” her silence is as good as a confession to me. Her guilt is so easy to spot. I don’t know how I didn’t see it before. She's coated with deception, it’s flowing from her.

“Who told you that?”

Her eyes narrow accusingly at me. Mathilda's hatred for me is palpable.

“But your sister was as dumb as she was evil and she got gutted for that same stupidity.”

Mathilda raises her hand; I wait for the slap I'm about to receive and smile. I know my words sting worse than anything she could do to me, and I revel in her anger. The slap doesn’t come. Elliot appears behind Mathilda, his hand wrapped around her wrist. I can see the fear on her face.

“My mother never loved me. I was just another tool in her arsenal. She was going to use me until I no longer benefited her, then she would discard me the same way you did. You 're cut from the same cloth, you never loved me.”

She smiles back, making me hesitate.

“Your right, how could we love something so weak and pathetic. You’re a nobody, Jolene, and now that sloth has lost and your father is finally dead you are useless. You were so desperate for love. Hanging on to every little scrap I threw your way you, couldn’t see your whole life was a series of steps. If it wasn’t for your lowly demon lover and your sobbing father, sloth would be ruling the world and witches would rule with him. At least then your body would be useful, now you 're just like the rest of the sheep. It's because of you witches will never be seen as the powerful being they truly are... You should do the world a favor and kill yourself.”

Elliot crushes her wrist, and I hear multiple pops, along with a wail from Mathilda that makes me cringe. He pushes her so hard she smacks against the floor.

“Leave now! Before I change my mind and kill you where you lay.”

Mathilda vanishes. I'm still in shock and not about her confession. That I expected.

“Is it true? is my- lucifer... Is he dead?”

Elliot's face falls, and I can tell it's not good news. I can't bare to hear it. After all this time. I don’t care about his reputation; in my heart I know he was good.

“Theres something you don’t know, Jolene. Lucifer isn't the only one that died... he took Jace with him.”

I shake my head in denial.

“No, he wouldn’t... he’s a good man. It must have been an accident. He wouldn’t kill someone on purpose.”

Elliot doesn’t seem so sure. I plop down on the bed, feeling heartbroken. My face is hot and wet with tears.

“People change Jolene. I'm not saying he was never good, but he hasn’t exactly lived the life of a saint... I think he sacrificed himself for you and for that I'm thankful.”

I wish he hadn't. I'm happy to be alive and free of sloth but at the same time I lost the only parent I had left. The only one that actually cared, and I never even got to know him.

“How did you know all of that? When did you have time to talk to Lucifer?”

Elliot sits next to me and hands me a Kleenex.

“I didn’t. While you all were chanting, we had some kind of weird telepathic conversation.”

Something I say has Elliot getting up with a start.

“Of course... the ring. Your father was a phoenix your-”

“A phoenix.” I finish for him. Elliot laughs, nodding his head.

“Your father was wearing that ring when he died...”

I look at Elliot and shrug, confused as to why that’s important.

“One of the abilities of a phoenix is telepathic communication with each other. The moment Jace slipped that ring on, Lucifer was able to draw from it. Jolene, lucifer isn't dead. If there's one thing a phoenix is famous for is rising from their ashes.” 

Two weeks later...

The heavens have in fact verified my father's survival, but he hasn’t shown himself... Yet. I stopped looking so hard after Jace's funeral. It occurred to me my desperation to belong and be loved was clouding my judgment. I don’t really know my father and I'm beginning to realize he’s not the perfect person I imagined him to be. Elliot, on the other hand, is my light in life. I love him more than words can say and I feel blessed to have him. If he’s all I'm given, it’s more than enough.

After Jacob verified, Celest was a victim in the ordeal that night. I got in contact with the coven Celest belongs to and told her about my mother and Mathilda. I was right in my suspicion that Mathilda didn’t belong to a coven at all. Once her crimes were brought to light, she was stripped of her powers and banished from witchery of all kinds. Last I heard she went nuts and was admitted to an institution somewhere in San Francisco. Although it's only been a couple of weeks that my body has been mine alone, I'm really starting to find myself and a place on Jacobs team of misfits.

“There you are. I should have known I'd find you here.” Elliot's voice drifts in from the doorway, causing my stomach to flutter.

“Where have you been?” I pout and begin to unbutton my top. Elliot groans, placing his hands on my chest and stopping my progress.

“I never thought I'd say this, but we don’t have time. Someone is here to see you.”

What? My first thought is Lucifer is finally here, but to my surprise, Celest walks through the door.