The Unholy Trinity

The Ex Talk

Zoey’s POV

Tate and I hung upside down for some time.

We both tried our best to get down, but none of our magic was working. I couldn’t even conjure up the blue energy to help us out. It was so frustrating! Tate rubbing it in only made matters worse.

“I’m just saying I knew this was a tr-”

“Shut up Tate!” I snapped. “I already have a headache and you are making it much worse!”

“Sorry, I’m just saying, this was a bad idea!”

“I know, I am aware! We are hanging upside down in a strange place and I understand that this was not a good idea, but I was curious and I wanted to know what Zander would say! Now can we please just hang in silence?”

“Fine,” He muttered. 

We heard footsteps. Another person!

“Help!” I called. “Can someone please help us?!”

I watched as we were surrounded by multicolored people, all glaring at us. I think they were Blight Elves.

“Hello,” I smiled. “Um…how are you?”

“What are you doing here?” A red Elf asked. 

“Um, I'm here to meet a friend? Zander Craft, do you know him?”

Zander’s name rippled through the Elves. In an instant we were right side up and on the ground once more. My legs felt wobbly. 

“I am Elios,” The red Elf shook my hand. “We apologize deeply for that. It's an enchantment to keep us safe. Dark Vampiric Warlocks can be  very dangerous.”

“Believe me, we know,” I laughed. “So, Zander is here?”

“He is, please follow us.”

I was glad to be able to move my legs and look around. It was just so beautiful and peaceful here! I don’t think I’d ever want to leave if this was where I lived.

The prettiest and most colorful flowers I’d ever seen blossomed everywhere. Beautiful vines hung and twisted around tree trunks. How was there such a peaceful place here when the world was going to hell under Count Killoran?

“Zoey!” I smiled seeing Zander.

He looked even more handsome than ever. His dark skin seemed to sparkle with the energy of this forest. His smile was brighter than I remembered and his dark brown eyes lit up. He ran over and hugged me tightly.

It felt incredible to feel someone else’s touch. To hug someone else that knows me and to feel content for just one moment. 

“I missed you,” He smiled happily. 

“I missed you too. You look great!” I laughed. “Is Charleen here?”

“Nah, we kinda broke up actually.”

“Why?” Tate asked. 

“A lot of s**t happened at graduation and I think Char really needed to distance herself from everything that reminded her of that day…including me. That’s kind of why I’m on this journey of self discovery.” Zander explained. 

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I frowned. “But I imagine the self discovery is going well, even in times like this?”

“Definitely. Just making sure to be careful and all of that. Um, how’s your family, Zo?”

“They’re good I think. Haven’t seen them since Tate and I left.”

“I hear Joey is doing okay.” He offered.

“How do you know that?” Tate practically demanded. 

“Oh I still kind of talk to Keene.”

“You still talk to a Dark Vampiric Warlock?”

“Look, it’s not what it seems okay? Keene didn’t have a choice. Anyways he’s staying with Joey and Marsden right now. Your brother and father are there too.”

“What a happy little family they must be,” I sneered. “Dad finally got another perfect child in his eyes and of course Joey is marrying the mini version of him.”

“I shouldn’t have brought it up.” Zander sighed. “Anyways, that’s not even what I wanted to talk to you about. Follow me.”

“I told you this wasn’t a trap,” I taunted Tate.

“Yeah, whatever.”

We followed Zander deeper into the forest, not saying much. He led us to a large trunk.

“Um…okay, what do we do with that?” I asked. 

“Look at the names on it,” Zander motioned. 

I bent down and saw several names etched on the trunk. 

Rose

Rosand

Roser

Rosare

Rosalia

Rosaria

“That’s my last name,” I whispered. 

“Yep. And I think whatever is in that trunk might belong to you.”

Chloey’s POV

After my conversation with Raina, we went back to the dining room. 

Rune was still under the forcefield. He looked utterly bored and bitter.

“Chlo, can you take me out of this now, please?” He asked. 

“Are you going to behave?” 

Rune sighed. “Yes,”

I waved my hand and the forcefield disappeared. 

“Don’t make me do that again, please.” I stated.

“I won’t. But Raina…really? You’re pregnant?”

“Yes, Rune. I didn’t plan on this, but I need you now more than ever. I don’t want to do this alone."

“You won’t,” He assured her before looking over at me. 

It was like he was begging me to let her stay. 

“I’ve already said she can stay here,” I laughed.

“Chloey,” He kissed me. “You’re such a good f*****g person.”

“Someone has to be.”

“Is it safe to come out now?” Cade called. 

“No, stay there,” I declared. “I’m gonna go talk to him.”

I stomped out into the hall. “You need to be a better person Cade!”

“What did I do?” He asked. 

“You’re breaking Raina’s heart by pining over me! You have a literal baby on the way, you need to forget about me.”

“I can’t! I told you I had never loved someone the way I loved you! You were the best thing that ever happened to me! Why wouldn’t I want that back?”

“I get that, Cade, but this wasn’t like we had an argument and we broke up. You lied to me! About something big, that you knew I cared about. The worst part is you didn’t have to lie! If you had told me the truth, we would be together right now.”

“Why do you always pretend the lie is the only reason you broke up with me?” Cade asked. “Why do you seem to forget that Rune Crimson was also a factor in our break up huh? Is it to make yourself feel less guilty?”

“Excuse me?”

“You were already in love with the guy! You had been from the moment you stepped foot in Stormine. I was nothing but a placeholder for him. I knew that, and I accepted that because that meant I still got to have you! That’s why it’s so hard to let this go! I know if Rune hadn’t been in the picture, you and I would be together and happy. But no matter what, if he was around, you were never going to love me the way you should have.”

I stared at Cade in shock.

Was he right?

A lot of our relationship, I did think about Rune. I of course tried to put my all into mine and Cade’s relationship, but Rune was always in the back of my mind.  So were Cade and I doomed from the start?

“You should still be nicer to Raina,” I whispered, not wanting to acknowledge what he had said. 

“I know, I will.”

“She’s staying here with us.”

Cade nodded. “Then I guess I am too.”

Joey’s POV

The dream was still haunting me.

Though was dream the right word for it? I think it might have been a memory of Gwen’s trapped inside the amulet. It was almost like it was warning me about what would happen now that Count Killoran was in love with me. That Marsden was in serious danger, and I had to save him.

But what was the right way to save him? Was I supposed to seemingly give into Count Killoran? I wondered if I could convince him to leave Marsden alive. Or maybe it wouldn't even get that far?

I wish I knew how close Zoey and Tate were to taking Count Killoran down. 

“What are you thinking about?” Marsden whispered.

I looked up at him and tightened my arms around him. Sometimes when we laid in bed like this, I could pretend we were back in school, when somehow things were less scary than they were now. 

“Everything,”

“How long do you think things will be like this?” 

“I don’t know, but hopefully not long.”

“Is there something you’re not telling me Joey?”

“What do you mean?” I asked. 

“There’s a wall up, I can’t seem to figure out what it is or why it’s there. I mean everything seems fine. You tell me you love me and we have s*x all the time. You’re attentive and affectionate…but something still feels like it’s not being said.” Marsden explained. 

I couldn’t tell him.

I couldn’t risk his life. He would not be the next Geoffrey. But I still had to give him something.

“It’s Bryce,” I stated. 

I could feel him tense up. 

“What about him?”

“He’s a spy too.” I breathed. 

Marsden looked down at me. “No way,”

“Yep. He was a spy long before I was too. When the whole team basically had to turn, he went to Magnus.”

“I never saw that coming. Well, while it’s a shock, it’s also a relief. I thought it was something worse than that.” 

“There’s nothing you need to worry about except enjoying your raids and being the best damn Dark Vampiric Warlock you can be.” I stated. “I’m serious, Marsden.”

“I know, and I’m doing a good job right?”

“Count Killoran thinks so and that’s all that matters.”

“What do you two talk about so much?”

“He um…he’s curious about the blue energy. He wants to see how it works, but I’m not very good at producing it on my own. He’s helping me with that.” 

“He’s like an evil Magnus.” Marsden sighed. “You being alone with him scares me. I’m always afraid he’ll hurt you.”

“He’s fond of me, he won’t hurt me,” I assured Marsden.”Especially as long as you keep up this beautiful charade you’ve started.”

Marsden leaned down and kissed me. “I can’t wait until this is over. We won’t put our family through anything like this. History will never repeat itself, right?”

I nodded, hoping that was true.

Marsden couldn’t end up like Geoffrey.