Two Spies
1800 Words
Joey’s POV
My eyes widened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about Bryce.”
“Yes you do,” He breathed. “It’s the only thing that makes sense for you.”
“You don’t know me, Bryce. You f****d me a few time, we didn’t have deep meaningful conversations.”
“I still know, Joey. You don’t have to be afraid to tell me. I know.”
Was this a trap? Did my dad put him up to this to see if I was here for the right reasons? Was he trying to catch me so that I would suffer serious consequences? Or maybe Count Killoran wanted to see if I was actually loyal to him so he was testing me.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about Bryce.” I repeated. “If you’ll excuse me-”
“I’m a spy for Magnus. That’s why I was at the school that night we hooked up. I’ve been on this whole time. He told me there was another one, but he didn't want to risk exposure so he wouldn’t tell me exactly who it was. It has to be you Joey.” Bryce explained, glancing around.
No one was really paying attention to us, but it was still good to be on alert.
I looked deep in Bryce’s eyes. I think I actually believed him. Was I willing to bet mine and Marsden’s life on that? I think I was.
“Fine, Bryce you’re ri-”
“Attention all!” Rainer announced. “Our leader has arrived. Bow to Count Killoran!”
The door opened and Count Killoran practically glided in the room. He looked quite handsome in his suit. His eyes swept around the room until they found me. He smiled before making his way over to me.
“Rise, Joey,” I did as he said. He gently grabbed my hand and kissed it. “Joey is who you shall all bow down to tonight. She is far more important than any of you realize.”
I forced a smile to my face. “Thank you, Count Killoran…um you may all rise now and continue enjoying the party.”
“Spoken like the queen you will be,” Count Killoran whispered.
He was not subtle at all! Everyone could see him practically leering at me and whispering in my ear. Then I realized something.
Count Killoran didn’t have to be subtle. Everyone was here to serve him. No one would question his actions or motives because no one dared to. Kind of badass if you really think about it.
“We should make some rounds Joey,” Count Killoran stated. “So everyone knows who you are…grab Marsden too of course.”
“Sure, Count Killoran,” I smiled. “Bryce I’ll talk to you later.”
Bryce nodded and plastered a smile on his face. “Of course Joey. Count Killoran, wonderful to be in your presence again.”
“And you Bryce,” Count Killoran gently pulled me away. “Is something going on there?”
“Oh no. Bryce and I had the tiniest of flings and we’re just friends now.” I assured him.
“Good. One man to compete with is more than enough.”
--
The rest of the party was lovely, but I didn’t get a chance to speak to Bryce again. I would have to see him in a few days. I also still had to ask Count Killoran if Simone and Keene could come stay with us.
“Was Count Killoran oddly…nice last night?” Marsden asked as we laid in bed.
“Yeah, I think so. He was probably just really impressed about your raid,” I stated. “When you do well, that reflects on me.”
“Then I’ll keep doing even better. I want us both to always be in his good graces.”
“I would also really like that.”
“Joey?! Joey are you there?!”
“Yes, Chloey, geez! Where’s the fire?”
“You have to know something. Marsden is in danger!”
Chloey’s POV
“No!” I exclaimed. “He can’t have Joey!”
“It’s what he does, Chlo. She’s going to be the one he falls in love with this time.” Rune said solemnly.
“But she’s already with Marsden. He knows that.”
“I hate to say it, but…Gwen had a lover too.”
“No, no. He can’t have my sister! What if he just doesn’t fall in love at all this time around?” I asked, almost hysterically.
“Isn’t he at the Thortons with her? You said he gave her a ceremony. And he told her his real name.” Rune pointed out. “I think it’s already started.”
“I have to talk to her now!”
--
“What do you mean Marsden is in danger?” Joey asked.
“I found Count Killoran’s journal. Every century he falls in love with a triplet witch. One of our ancestors. It’s always the wild, carefree one he falls for. He’ll stop at nothing to get her. Including killing her lover.” I explained.
“Oh wow,”
I was confused. Why wasn’t she freaking out about this? Joey had gone to serious lengths before to protect Marsden, so she should be losing her mind right now. So why was she so calm? Unless…
“He’s already come on to you, hasn’t he?” I whispered. “He’s already told you that you’re going to be his wife and bear his son?”
“Y-yes he has.” Joey said shakily. “I’ve known for two weeks.”
“You have to get out of there!” I exclaimed. “Come to the safe house, Magnus can find another spy.”
“He kind of already has,”
“Meaning?”
“Bryce. He told me he’s a spy.” Joey informed me.
“Are you sure it’s not a trap?”
“No, I’m not. But I think I trust him.”
“Well then he can be the spy.”
“He won’t get the same information that I will if I stay. Emile will tell me anything if he thinks I love him.”
“Joey, you cannot be serious! You need to leave.”
“No, I need to save the Witching Domain and Marsden. And I’ll do whatever it takes in order to do that even if that means pretending to be in love with Count Killoran.”
“That’s dangerous!” I stated.
“This whole thing is dangerous, Chloey. But if I can gain even an ounce of control over this situation I will.” Joey said firmly. “I can handle myself.”
“You’re in way over your head.”
“You think I’m stupid just like Zoey does, don’t you?” Joey whispered. “You don’t think I’m capable of doing anything right.”
“That’s not true Joey, I’m just scared!” I cried. “I’m so scared for you. I don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t. Let me handle this. I’ll talk to you later.”
The connection cut immediately.
“What happened?” Rune asked.
“She already knows.” I breathed.
“So what is she going to do?”
“Make Count Killoran think she’s in love with him.”
Zoey’s POV
I was in shock.
I always knew it was a possibility and that my father could possibly have a hand in Wade Highmore’s death, but to actually have been the one to kill him? I could have never actually thought that was the case.
“I-I didn’t know!” I choked out. “Tate, you know I didn’t know!”
“O-of course I did,” Tate said numbly. “But…I thought Regan Thorton…”
“He took the fall for a crime he didn't commit,” Mr. Highmore stated. “And now his son pays the price for no reason.”
So Joey had been right. How annoying was that?
“Marsden Thorton is not a good person,” I declared. “He brainwashed my sister completely!”
Mrs. Highmore shook her head. “There is so much that the living do not know or understand. So sad.”
“Since the son is paying for the sins of the father unfairly, it’s time for the daughter to pay for the sins of the father.” Mr. Highmore proclaimed.
“No!” Tate yelled. “Zoey didn’t do anything wrong. She’s nothing like her father! What if someone wanted me to pay for something that you did? You would be furious, right?”
Neither of them answered.
“I already have the key,” I showed them. “Elowen gave it to me. That means I am not evil or here with bad intentions. I want to stop Count Killoran too.”
A shiver seemed to run through the ghosts.
“Elowen herself bestowed you with the key?” Mr. Highmore asked.
“Yes, in the field.”
“Then we cannot bring you any harm. You are destined to have that key in your possession,” Mrs. Highmore said.
“Maybe you are different,” Mr. Highmore stared at me. “And yet I see so much of him in you. Especially in your eyes. They are just like his.”
“I know and I’m sorry for the pain he’s cause you. But I promise you, I am nothing like him and I never will be.”
“We’ll see about that. You two may go.”
The ghosts separated, giving us a path out of here.
Tate took my hand. “I love you Mom and Dad. I’m going to make you proud.”
“I hope so,” Mrs. Highmore smiled sadly. “Be careful dear.”
“We will be.”
We walked the path the ghosts had made for us. Eventually things became lighter and then we could finally see the sun again.
“Well, that was intense,” I commented.
“Yeah, it was…I can’t believe it wasn’t Thorton. I was so sure.”
“Everyone was Tate…except for Joey of course.”
“What do you mean?” He asked.
“Joey was always so sure it wasn’t him. She just kind of knew it was our dad.”
“She can be really smart sometimes.”
“And a complete i***t at others.”
“What do you think my parents meant about Marsden?” Tate questioned. “You think maybe there's good in him?”
“I don’t know, honestly. But I hope there is. And I hope there’s still good in Joey too.”
- Writer
