Chapter 23

I trained with Alizya for weeks longer than I thought was necessary after that case and the freedom of a night with Leo as well as the heartbreak of knowing that my brother wanted nothing to do with me anymore. Once I had control over the magic, I thought I would be free to leave but that wasn’t what Alizya had in mind. She had me doing spellwork and other witchcraft, teaching me about coven laws and practices. I was fairly sure that she was grooming me to join the London witches despite what Kris wanted of me and the fact that I would probably be killed on sight by the witches.

After losing several arguments with Alizya, Kris was only coming by once a week, then once every other week. He told me that he only needed to check up on me because he knew that Alizya was keeping me safe. Apparently, keeping me in shape and ready for a fight was no longer a priority. His absence coupled with the longing to see Leo, made me feel trapped like a monster in a cage. I knew that they could see my frustration building, but Alizya kept her iron grip on me despite their rather loud argument with Kris at week seven.

My temper got shorter as weeks nine and ten passed. I attacked Kris when he came with fire and fury; magic and muscle. He thought it was a clever use of my strengths and left me again after less than an hour.

Alizya thought that the blood I was allowed to have when Kris came, made me more violent. So the next week there was no more blood, and the next week after that for a month until I was ready to kill for it.

My heart pounded in my chest as I ground my teeth together in frustration with her. She kept pressing me to do useless spells to defend myself and all I wanted to do was run. I failed to hold her spell three times before I gave up, stood tossing aside the coffee table that sat between us, and left.

I wasn’t planning to go very far but my feet carried me further on until I finally felt like I wasn’t going to tear someone apart.

I found a snack attacking a man in an alley next to some kind of sports bar where the patrons were too busy cheering about the game to look down the alley. I felt better after but I didn’t want to go back to Alizya and I figured that Kris would not be happy with me for leaving the safe house so I couldn’t go that direction either.
So I took a stroll down the streets watching humans do their normal routines and go about their business until I made it to Trafalgar Square where I was swallowed up into a throng of tourists trying to rush into a museum and out of the persistent rain. People had given me a wide berth up until this point but the amount of people made it impossible to stay away from someone. Instead of fighting the crowd, I took a place, leaning against the monolith and resumed my people watching. It was a long while before I noticed Leo practically running toward me from the corner of my eye.

“What are you doing out here?” Leo gasped.

“I needed some fresh air and a drink. Alizya was pushing me over the edge,” I grumbled as I straightened myself out.

“She called Kris when you left. We’ve been looking for you for hours.”

I sighed. “You could have called me.”

I demonstrated my phone that had been in my pocket the whole time.

“We didn’t think you would answer. Alizya said you were angry.”

“Yeah, and missing my freedom, but I would have answered my phone if you had called and asked me where I was. All I would have said would have been ‘don’t make me go back there.’ I can’t take it anymore.”

Leo sighed and offered me his hand to get down off of my perch. “Let’s get you cleaned up at my place, you look like you took a swim in the river.”

“I look like I’ve been in the rain and it’s not like it’s going to kill me,” I retorted as he pulled me along against the flow of tourist traffic toward a side street where I assumed he had parked.

Once we were both safely inside his car and out of the rain, he threw a towel at me from behind his seat somewhere and pulled out his phone from his pants pocket. He hit call on a contact name and a moment later, Kris’ voice was filling the car.

“Where are you Leo? I’ve checked the clubs and haven’t found her yet.”

“I have her in my car now. She’s fine. I just wanted to let you know that we’re heading to my place.”

“I’ll meet you there,” Kris growled so I knew that I was in trouble and sank into the seat.

Why did my every move have to be so complicated?

Leo hit end on the call and looked at me.

“I’m not going to apologize if that’s what you’re making that face for. All you had to do was call me.”

“That’s not what this is about, Raven,” he sighed. “We were worried about you. There have been a lot of things going on while you were training with Alizya.”

“How am I supposed to know that when Kris barely comes anymore and your text messages are one word answers? I just wanted some air.”

“Sweetheart, we’re trying to keep you safe. We need you to stay with one of us so that you’re safe,” he explained as he started the car and sent us down the street.
“If you don’t tell me what’s going on, how am I supposed to know how to stay out of your way? I was perfectly safe the whole time I was out, so I don’t know why you’re so worried and on top of that, aren’t I supposed to be some kind of badass soldier? How can I do that if you won’t let me out of my stupid cage?” I grumbled.

He glanced over at me, “Have you eaten yet?”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t want to argue anymore.

“Kris said he’s been arguing with Alizya about whether or not you should have blood.”

I still didn’t answer. I simply stared at the dashboard and ignored Leo.

“Babe, look, I’m sorry that I snapped. I was worried about you. This stuff going on has me running around a lot and I get a little cranky. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

“You could ask me for help,” I spat, still not looking at him.

“I wish I could but Kris doesn’t want you involved.”

“Can you at least tell me why I have to stay locked away like a prisoner?”

He sighed. “His brother is dangerous, Raven. That’s all I can tell you.”

I crossed my arm across my chest. “If he’s dangerous, shouldn’t I be helping you catch him so that he’s not out there hurting people?”

“We’re handling it and things will go back to normal soon but you have to trust us and stay with Alizya until it’s safe.”

“Couldn’t I stay at your place?” I whined. “I’d be safe there and at least I’d get to see you.”

He pulled into the parking spot for his apartment, put the car in park, then looked over at me. I did my best to look pitiful with what I hoped were puppy-dog eyes but it didn’t work.

“Who would be with you while I’m out?”

“Why do I need a babysitter? I can take care of myself.”

“Not a babysitter, Raven, a body guard. Someone who can protect you from Kris’s brother if it comes to that.”

I sent him a look of discontent over my shoulder then got out of the car and followed him into his apartment. I didn’t try to push any further because it was clear that I wasn’t going to win this argument. I simply went through the apartment, shedding wet clothes as I headed to the bathroom.

I took my time in the shower, warming up and letting the water take my stress. I wished that Leo would come in and hold me but all he did was bring in a pile of clothes and tell me that Kris was waiting for me. With a sigh, I left the shower, dressed and went to meet my punishment while I towel-dried my hair.

“Tell us what happened, Raven,” Kris spoke calmly as I paused in the living room.

The fact that he wasn’t yelling at me caught me off guard. “Umm… what?”

“Tell us what happened to make you leave. Is she hurting you?” he continued.

“Not in a way that would make sense. She’s pushing me to do really hard magic and I’m starving all the time. I don’t understand why she wants me to give up blood.”
“Have you eaten since you left?” he pressed.

“A little. I took some from a guy who had a human behind a pub. He never saw me and he passed out on top of the dead human. I couldn’t hold him up so I left him there. I promise no one saw me.”

I sounded like a small child and I felt just as small.

“You’re not in trouble, we were just worried about you. I brought you some blood but you have to go back to Alizya after you drink it. She’s going to keep you safe.”
“From what?” I blurted though I knew I would get the same answer as the one Leo gave me. “Why is your brother so dangerous to me but not you guys?”

Kris opened a briefcase on the coffee table before he stood. “He’s dangerous to us too but we know how he works so he can’t trick us. If we’re lucky we’ll catch him soon and you’ll be able to come back to us. Until then, you’re safest with Alizya and I need you to try to keep yourself together.”

“I’ll stop by with extra blood when I can,” Leo added.

Kris shot him a look then sighed. “He can leave it outside your window so that Alizya doesn’t get angry with us. Now, drink up so Leo can drop you off and get back to work.”

I watched as both men headed toward the door, having a whispered conversation before Kris left and Leo closed the door behind him. I looked at the briefcase and wanted a drink but it felt like I was giving up fighting to not go back to Alizya.

"What's that face for, baby girl?" Leo asked as he looked back at me.

"I feel like this is wrong. Like I should be fighting you both harder. I don't want to go back to Alizya. I know you want me to but I don't want to because it feels wrong in the pit of my stomach."

"Nothing is going to happen, Raven.That's the point of making you stay with Alizya. You're safe with her even if she's a bit frustrating. You can handle this."
"I just don't like it but I'm done arguing. I’ll eat and leave you alone.”

“I don’t want you to go, Raven. I just want you safe,” Leo tried as I flopped onto the couch where Kris had been before he left.

I grabbed a packet from the briefcase and bit it instead of pressing him further. At least now I wouldn’t have to starve while Alizya put me through her gauntlet of magic training.

After 3 packets, I decided to be done.

“I’ll call Alizya and she’ll bring me back so you don’t have to take me anywhere.”

Leo gave me a sad look. “It’s just for a little longer. I’ll come find you the instant we have him captured.”

I stood to dispose of the packets, “I know you will,” I spoke but with a blink I wasn’t in Leo’s apartment anymore.