Chapter 98
The tension in the pack was suffocating. Jake’s return had eased some of the panic, but unease still gripped everyone like a vice. Jacob was out there, planning his next move, and we had no leads. Selena and the twins were safe in their secret location, but their absence was a constant ache in my chest.
Jake was healing physically, but emotionally, I could feel the weight of failure crushing him. Andrew was dead, and with him went the easiest path to finding Jacob.
I stood in our room, arms crossed, watching Jake lace up his boots. He hadn’t stopped moving since we got back.
“You’re going to wear yourself out,” I said softly.
He glanced at me, his jaw tight. “I don’t have the luxury of rest, Priscilla. Not with Jacob still out there.”
I took a deep breath. This wasn’t the right moment, but there never would be. “I can help you, Jake. There’s something I can do.”
He froze, his sharp gaze locking onto mine. “What do you mean?”
I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. “Andrew’s body—it still holds residual energy. I can perform a spell, tap into his memories, and track Jacob that way.”
Jake stood abruptly, his presence filling the room. “Absolutely not.”
I frowned. “Jake—”
“No!” His voice was firm, cutting through the air like a blade. “I won’t let you risk yourself for something so dangerous.”
“Risk myself?” I scoffed, stepping closer. “I’ve risked myself countless times, Jake. This is no different.”
“It’s entirely different,” he snapped. “We’re dealing with Jacob—a man who’s clearly unhinged—and Andrew’s lingering energy might be corrupted. You could open a door we’re not ready to face.”
I squared my shoulders, refusing to back down. “And what’s your plan, then? Wait for Jacob to strike again? Let him get the upper hand while we sit around hoping for a miracle?”
Jake’s silence was deafening. I could see the conflict in his eyes—the need to protect me warring with the logic of my words.
Finally, he exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. “If I agree to this, I’m coming with you.”
I nodded, relief flooding through me. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
That night, we gathered near the edge of the woods where Andrew had been buried. The ground was cold, the air sharp with the scent of damp earth. Jake, Chris, and Fatima accompanied me, their expressions grim.
Chris carried the shovel, working quickly to uncover Andrew’s grave. The scrape of metal against soil was a harsh reminder of the grim task ahead.
Fatima stood beside me, fidgeting nervously. “Are you sure about this, Priscilla? This feels...wrong.”
I gave her a reassuring look, though my stomach churned with unease. “It’s not ideal, but it’s necessary. We have no other choice.”
When the coffin was finally unearthed, Jake helped lift the lid. The stench hit us immediately—a nauseating mix of decay and old blood. I fought the urge to gag as I knelt beside the body.
Andrew’s face was pale and sunken, his lips twisted into a faint sneer even in death. I pushed the image of him alive from my mind, focusing on the task at hand.
I spread a circle of black salt around the coffin, placing candles at each cardinal point. From my satchel, I retrieved the bloodstone and a sprig of sage, laying them carefully on Andrew’s chest.
Jake crouched beside me, his eyes dark with concern. “If this goes sideways, we pull you out immediately.”
I nodded, though I had no intention of stopping unless absolutely necessary.
Taking a deep breath, I began the incantation. My voice was low and steady, the ancient words rolling off my tongue like a melody.
The air grew colder, a biting chill that seeped into my bones. The candles flickered, their flames turning a deep blue.
Andrew’s body twitched.
Fatima gasped, taking a step back, but I kept chanting. The energy around us crackled, heavy and oppressive.
A faint image began to form above the corpse—disjointed at first, like a flickering hologram.
“Show me Jacob,” I murmured, focusing my intent. “Show me where he is.”
The image sharpened, revealing a cavernous room. Jacob—no, Jona—stood at the center, his figure illuminated by flickering torchlight. He was speaking to a group of shadowy figures, his voice low and commanding.
“This isn’t over,” he growled. “We regroup, rebuild, and strike again. The pack will fall, and Jake will suffer.”
I focused harder, straining to catch every detail. The jagged stone walls, the weapons scattered on the ground, the large map on the table—it all painted a picture of preparation and vengeance.
But then, the image wavered. A low, menacing laugh echoed through the clearing, sending a shiver down my spine.
Jake’s hand tightened on my shoulder. “What’s happening?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice trembling.
The energy around us shifted violently, the candles flaring brighter before extinguishing in a single gust of wind.
Suddenly, Andrew’s body jerked upright, his eyes snapping open. They were black—empty voids that seemed to suck in all the light around us.
“Fools,” a voice rasped, though it wasn’t Andrew’s. It was something darker, something ancient. “You dare disturb the balance?”
Chris drew his weapon, stepping in front of me protectively. “What the hell is that?”
“It’s not Andrew,” I whispered, my heart pounding.
The corpse grinned, a twisted, unnatural expression. “You seek Jacob, but he is already beyond your reach. His vengeance will rain down upon you, and you will know true suffering.”
Jake moved to strike, but the corpse collapsed before he could land a blow. The oppressive energy dissipated, leaving a suffocating silence in its wake.
I collapsed to my knees, gasping for air. Jake was at my side in an instant, pulling me into his arms.
“Are you okay?” he asked urgently.
I nodded weakly, though my entire body felt drained. “I’m fine. But...that wasn’t supposed to happen.”
Fatima knelt beside us, her face pale. “What the hell was that thing?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But it was powerful—and it knew Jacob.”
Jake’s expression was dark, his jaw tight. “Then we have to move fast. Whatever Jacob is planning, we need to stop it before it’s too late.”
I met his gaze, determination flaring in my chest despite the fear still lingering in the pit of my stomach. “We will.”
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