The Opal Witch: Prophecy (Book Two)

Chapter Six

Kitty

Kitty hated the cold. Hated it almost as much as she hated the girl sitting on the porch swing, her beautiful face glowing in the twinkling light cast by Christmas decorations. But she didn't hate Lux or the cold as much as she hated herself.

Beside her, Ashley as she preferred to be called these days, hunkered into her coat until only the glitter of green eyes could be seen above the collar. A simple spell would've eased their discomfort, but spells were not simple for Bloodborn. Every cast had a cost, and the magic in their remaining channeling stones was dwindling. As much as they needed power, she was not willing to kill again. Not so soon.

"What are we doing out here?"

"I told you once already."

"So, tell me again," the former cheerleader snipped.

Theirs was not a relationship built on mutual affection and trust. When Kitty was forced to rely on the dark side of magic, she'd gone looking for allies knowing full well anyone who agreed to help her would be of the unsavory variety. Ashley, with her vanity and thirst for power, was the perfect accomplice, and because Kitty felt nothing for her, she would be easily discarded when this was over.

Her chest clenched tightly at the thought of reaching the end. She hoped there was something inside of her worth redeeming. A single, hot tear leaked from her right eye. Surely, she would be given some grace. After all, she'd only done what she'd done to save the world.

Lux drew her knees up to her chest and tugged on the blanket draped around her shoulders. Ever since the Guardian had shown up three days ago, Kitty's old friend had spent a lot of time alone. Always pensive. Calm and quiet.

In the years since their friendship dissolved, Lux's girlish beauty had matured into something breathtaking. The soft roundness of her features sharpened, and her curves had grown more lush. But it was the serenity she wore like a second skin that made people take a second look. She'd stepped into her powers and status like a duck to water, and if Kitty hadn't seen the future, she would've believed the right woman was in charge of the Circles. It made Kitty miss her with a ferocity she thought she'd abandoned long ago.

But Kitty had seen the future. Everything and everyone they loved would be destroyed by Lux. Even now, after all these years, the visions Daphne showed her woke her from her sleep. The world burning. Nightmarish creatures breaking through the earth as the Gateways failed. Morgan le Fae breaking the cauldron, destroying humanity. All with Lux at her side.

Shaking, she touched her bracelet. The earrings she wore allowed her to access magic while her powers were bound, but she missed the gentle warmth of her own magic. Its purity. All the things she'd had to abandon in order to be the hero. If only the others could see the truth, but now that Daphne was gone, Kitty didn't know how to show them. To make them believe.

"Any word on Declan?" Ashley asked, straightening so that her neck was visible. A ruby glinted at her throat. The girl was an idiot, showing off the stone that way.

"He's in Camelot. Where he's going to stay." He had to. Together, he and Lux were nearly impossible to stop.

"Morgan will be pleased."

A sour taste filled Kitty's mouth. She didn't care about pleasing the Fae Queen. It made her sick just knowing the woman believed her to be on her side. The First Circle thought Kitty was a traitor- and she was. Just not to them. She had to play Morgan's game in order to gain access to the one thing that could defeat Lux.

Alina stepped onto the porch and called Lux inside. The girls embraced in the doorway, sharing a long look before disappearing into the house. This was the second time in three days that the entire Circle had gathered at the Godelieve home. Plus a young witch from up north. It made Kitty nervous, and it was why she'd dragged Ashley into the freezing night.

"What's up with that? Have you told the queen about the alliance the Circle has with that woman?"

"No, but we should tell her soon. You know Morgan has a particular distaste for the Guardians. She won't be pleased to find out her enemies are working together. Though, the Guardians and the witches have always been allies."

"Yeah, but something is fishy about that girl. Didn't you say she showed up with The Grail, and you know Morgan is looking for it. I don't understand why we haven't told her yet. It would put an end to all of this."

No, Kitty thought, it would be the beginning of all her worst fears. Morgan couldn't find The Grail, but she didn't know how much longer she could keep Ashley quiet. The girl questioned everything, and she was running out of valid excuses.

Perhaps, Ashley's usefulness was over. It pained Kitty to kill anyone, but one life for millions was a worthwhile sacrifice. But, it would give her access to Ashley's stone. It was a shame the girl had no power of her own- she truly was a Bloodborn, not a witch turned desperate like Kitty.

"Ashley, enough-"

Kitty began then stopped when a strange sensation shot through her brain. She stumbled, clutching her head, and when she hit the ground, Ashley fell beside her.

"What's happening?" Ashley said through gritted teeth.

"I-I don't know," she admitted, her chest heaving as the tingle grew stronger. It swarmed through her skull like bees. Buzzing relentlessly.

Then, Alina's face welled up before her. It was from the day they met her in Jackson while visiting Charmed. Then it faded, and she reappeared on the Godelieve Estate. Every memory Kitty had of the Guardian bloomed and dissipated, leaving her feeling as if she was missing something. Finally, she saw an image of the woman hugging Lux, She gasped and clutched at the vision, as if holding onto it would stop it from disappearing. She knew when it was gone, she would have no memory of the woman.

But like the others, it wavered before her, growing paler and paler until it expired into the midnight mist. Blinking, Kitty put her hands on her thighs and caught her breath. She struggled to recall why she was on the ground. What had driven her and Ashley to their knees?

"You okay?" she asked.

Ashley groaned and rolled to her side. There was a strange vacancy in her gaze. "I think so. What are we doing out here?"

Kitty frowned. What had drawn her to visit Lux? A gathering during the holidays wasn't unusual. Something. No- someone? Her thoughts fell away from her like water through fingers.

"I don't know. We should go. Before we're seen."

They rose to their feet and hurried down the lane. Kitty closed her eyes, recalling the many other trips she'd taken down this road, her blonde hair trailing behind her on her bike as Lux laughed carefree in the summer sun. It was comforting to know that while she was certain something had happened to some of her memories, not all of them were gone.

Lux's face swam into focus again. Her thunderstorm eyes bright and cheerful. Her grin wide. Kitty grimaced. What she wouldn't give to forget those moments.