The Unholy Trinity

The Good Spies

Chloey’s POV

“Explain it again,” Zoey shook her head. 

“Okay  so you know how the only way to defeat a vampire is to drive a stake through their heart?” Everyone nodded. “Well a normal stake won’t work. There’s a stake called the Ligneous Stake. When Count Killoran was created it was against an old birch tree. A piece of that tree broke off in the form of a stake. It was taken and hidden should he ever need to be defeated.”

“Okay…so where is it?” Tate asked .

I flipped through the book. “See at first I wasn’t sure. But I think I’ve figured it out. There are several pages that have this spell written on them. I think they’re supposed to be ripped out.”

As much as it hurt my soul to do it, I ripped the seven pages up and put them next to each other. I took a deep breath before saying the spell that had been on each page. 

“Iter sanguinis potator,” I whispered.

The pages flew around and folded into one another until a full picture was made. 

“It’s a map,” Rune breathed. “Is it going to lead to the Ligneous Stake?”

“I think so.” I said. “So this could kill him right? We can get rid of him forever.”

A strange smile came across Magnus’ face. “Yes, Chloey I do believe you’ve figured out the key to defeating Count Killoran.”

“I have to go now,” Tate declared. “The faster I kill him the faster this can all be over.”

“Now wait, Tate, this will not be an easy journey. I don’t think you’re ready.”

“Of course I am. I’m a Highmore, I was born ready. Now I get to do the thing that none of my ancestors have achieved. I get to put an end to all of this!”

“Yeah, but Tate, if you’re not ready and you go up against Count Killoran you could die. Everyone else has had the proper training.” Zoey pointed out. 

“And everyone else has failed! I’m going to be the one to actually do it, Zo. I have to. My parents are gone and I have to avenge them.”

“Tate, what you’re talking about is revenge,” I said quietly. “The fate of the Witching Domain is literally resting on this, you can't be impulsive about this.”

“I know what I’m doing Chloey. I’m going to find The Ligneous Stake and I’m going to kill Count Killoran.” Tate got up abruptly and stalked away. 

“I will talk to him,” Zoey assured us before going after him. 

I made sure they were gone before I turned to Magnus. “Can I tell Joey about this? Maybe she can see if any Dark Vampiric Warlocks know anything about it?”

“I think that would actually be a good idea. How is she?” Magnus asked. 

“She’s putting on a brave…voice for me, but I know it’s hard. No one suspects her though, so that’s good.” I informed him. 

“That’s good. You both are doing so well.” He smiled slightly. “You’ve done so well, Chloey. Keep reading.”

He got up and walked out. 

“How incredible was that?” Rune smiled. “Chloey you’re f*****g amazing.” 

“All I did was read,” I shrugged. 

“And discover a map. Don’t be so humble, Chlo. You’re incredible.” He kissed me. “And to think I was just running around like a dog while that was happening.”

“How was last night for you?”

“The forest was beautiful. I felt so free just running through it. I’ve never felt like that before. The world didn’t seem so scary at that moment.”

“You had a real moment of peace,” I smiled. “I would kill for that. My whole life just feels like a mess. You’re the only stability that I have Rune.”

“I feel the same way about you,” He kissed me. “Do you want to take a nap with me? We stayed up all night, you know? I’m sure you’re exhausted from trying to save the world.”

I laughed. “A nap sounds perfect.”

Zoey’s POV

When I entered the room, Tate was throwing his clothes into a bag.

“What are you doing?” I asked. 

“I’m getting ready to go.”

“But Magnus said-”

“I don’t care what he said, Zoey. I know what I’m meant to do. Just please support me in this.”

“Im trying, but if you’re not ready-”

“Why does no one think I’m capable of doing this? Huh? You all think I’m going to fail or something!” Tate yelled. “I thought you supported me Zoey!”

“I do, Tate, I really do. But I love you and I don’t want to lose you!” I cried. “Babe, you are not in the right headspace right now!”

“I’m fine Zoey!”

“No you’re not Tate! You have not been fine since graduation and you know it! You obsess over training, you don’t talk about anything, this relationship we have is purely s****l at this point. Do you even love me anymore?”

“Zoey don’t…don’t make this about you please, it’s not! I have a legacy to live up to!” Tate exclaimed. “No matter what anyone says, I’m going to do this, I have to! My father and mother-”

“Would want you to do this the right way. In a way that doesn’t put your life in danger. Like you said this is about the Witching Domain. You are making it about revenge for your parents and that’s dangerous!” I shouted. 

“You’re supposed to support me! You said you always would and now you’re completely going back on your word!” He stormed out of the room and I sighed heavily. 

I knew dating the savior of the Witching Domain would be tough.

--

Tate doesn’t talk to me for the rest of the day. He once again throws himself into his training while I spend the day trying to figure out how to convince him to calm down. I could think of only one person who could help me.

“I’m sorry, Zoey, I don’t think I can help you,” Rune admitted. “Tate has always been determined and stubborn. He’s basically been prepping to take down Count Killoran all of his life. This is what his Dad trained him for.”

“But he’s going about it the wrong way,” I sighed. 

“There’s no right way to grieve. He’s lost both of his parents in under a year. That would mess anyone up. And having so much pressure on him on top of that is driving him absolutely crazy. He’s out for blood.”

“He’s going to put himself in danger, Rune.”

“I know. And I’m scared for him too Zoey, but I don’t know how to get through to him. I think you’re the only who can, honestly.”

“Why does everything have to be so damn complicated?” I whispered. 

“I wish I knew. But we’re all gonna get through this together.” Rune said firmly. “Just…try talking to him one more time, okay?”

I nodded. “I’ll try.”

--

“Are you still mad at me?” I asked.

Tate sighed. “I was never mad at you. I just…no one seems to understand how important killing Count Killoran is to me.”

“We do understand, we just want to keep you safe Tate. We care about you. How can we have a life together if you’re dead?”

“I guess we can’t exactly.”

“See? I just want you to be one hundred percent when you take him on. I will be right there supporting you. I’ll be the Joey to your Marsden.”

“You said her name,” Tate whispered. 

“Yeah, I guess I did.” I mumbled. 

“Do you want to talk about her?”

“No, do you?”

“Maybe she’s not so bad, Zoey.”

“She’s a Dark Vampiric Warlock, Tate. She’s definitely bad.”

Joey’s POV

I was not ready for this. 

Sure I had already seen my dad for a brief moment, but to live with him and my brother once again? I was not equipped to handle that. 

“You’ll be okay, babe,” Marsden assured me. “You don’t have to talk to them or anything.”

“I kind of do. They’ll be right in front of my face, Mars.” I whined. 

“Then you’ll handle it like you handle everything else. Last I checked, I’m marrying the bravest woman I know. The bravest woman I know can tackle this.”

I smiled up at him. I loved him so much. How could I do any of this without him? I kissed Marsden deeply. 

“You’re gonna be a great father, you know that?”

“Sooner or later?” He questioned. 

“When it happens,” I giggled. 

“Jo, want something to eat?” Brielle called up.

“Sure!”

“Why didn’t she ask me if I wanted something to eat?” Marsden asked. 

“Because she likes me better.” I kissed his nose before heading downstairs. 

I stopped upon seeing two men in the living room. 

Dad and Brody.

“Joey,” Brody whispered. “You’re actually here.”

I nodded stiffly. “I am.”

“I’ve missed you.” He wrapped his arms around me and I hated how good it felt.

I hadn’t hugged my brother in years. I forgot how much I used to look up to him and that besides my sisters he felt like the safest place in the world.

“Do you have a hug for me too?” Dad asked. 

I realized I couldn’t be too cold with him. It wouldn’t make sense to hate him for becoming a Dark Vampiric Warlock while being one. I had to play this insanely smart if I was going to continue to be a good spy.

I opened my arms and wrapped them around his large frame. He kissed the top of my head like he always had and rubbed my back. After all these years and my hatred for him growing inside of me, he still felt like home. 

“Are you going to introduce me to your boyfriend?” Brody asked. 

“Fiance actually,” I corrected him. “Marsden, this is my brother and as you know my father.”

Marsden put on his most polite smile and shook their hands. 

“I hear you’re even more dedicated to the cause than your father,” Brody commented. “I’m impressed. Glad Joey has found a strong man to be with. I always knew she was the smart one.”

“Chloey is the smart one,” I spoke up. “She always has been.”

“Not anymore.”

I had to keep myself together. Being a good spy was so f*****g hard. 

“Marsden and I have something to attend to.” I stated, pulling his arm.

“You handled that shockingly well,” Marsden muttered.

“I’m just doing what I have to.” I responded. 

“You’re doing much better than I would. I would hate to live with my father again.” 

“You know he’s not going to be in prison much longer, Marsden. He’s going to come home at some point.”

“I know…I’m just fully dreading it. I feel like even if all these other DarkVampiric Warlocks can’t see through me, he will.”

“Marsden, Joey!” Sabrine hissed, hurrying over to us. 

“What’s wrong mom?” Marsden asked. 

“Count Killoran wants an audience…with both of you.”