Immortal Injustice

By N.M. Lambert

Sometimes secrets are better left undiscovered.

Following the murder of her immediate family, Rebekah Jensen flees to Athens, Greece, where there is rumored to be a secret group of Innocents. It is amongst her own kind that she feels she will finally be safe, since it is evident Marywood is no longer safe for her. The infamous immortal warlock, Henri Anderson, is still relentlessly hunting her, and he will stop at nothing until he has her. However, things soon take a turn for the worst when Rebekah meets a fellow Innocent, Takara Nakahara, who seems to know very little about herself, including the identity of her Other Part.

Cousins Holly White and Andre Robinson return to Ivanestible following the discovery of the murder of Rebekah’s family, and from there, Holly gets roped into joining the Royal Guard in order to account for the group’s diminishing numbers. Despite her protests, Holly is subjected to intense training and even accompanies the Royal Guard to Peshawar, Pakistan for an assignment. However, tragedy strikes that leaves Holly both physically and emotionally scarred, and nothing Andre seems to do helps heal her wounds.

Meanwhile, Henri embarks on the next stage of his plan by sealing off Marywood, Florida. Suddenly, the town becomes a post-apocalyptic nightmare where humans are reduced to animalistic behavior as they fight for survival—and Foreseer Amanda Palmer is caught in the middle of it all

• Language: English
• Publisher: N.M. Lambert
• Release date: Oct 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9798889558057

N.M. Lambert

I am the author of the Threatening Souls series, the Days of Darkness series, and the upcoming Beasts of Shadow trilogy. I am also a freelance editor, singer, gamer, and metalhead.

Book preview

IMMORTAL

INJUSTICE

BOOK FOUR

#1 Amazon Bestselling Author

N. M. Lambert

Green Tree Press Edition, 2023

IMMORTAL INJUSTICE

Text copyright © 2023 by Nicole Lambert

Cover and interior design © 2023 by Nicole Lambert

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Green Tree Press, LLC

522 N. Central Ave #831 SMB #11019

Phoenix, AZ 85004

www.greentreepublications.org

Published in the United States of America

ISBN: 979-8-88955-805-7

ASIN: B0BH7Q4JNX

BOOKS BY N. M. LAMBERT

THE THREATENING SOULS SERIES

THREATENING SOULS (BOOK ONE)

BLEEDING MISERY (BOOK TWO)

TWISTED IGNORANCE (BOOK THREE)

IMMORTAL INJUSTICE (BOOK FOUR)

THE DAYS OF DARKNESS SERIES

DAYS OF DARKNESS (BOOK ONE)

To my cat. Thank you for providing me with emotional support while I slave away with my writing, my employment, and my Master’s program.

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

Please note this book covers topics such as a brief mention of self-harm and attempted suicide, mention of pedophilia and rape of a minor, slavery and torture, anxiety and panic attacks, mention of human trafficking, and trauma exploration and healing. In particular to the last trigger, I would like to note that trauma affects people in different ways, and everyone’s healing journey is also different. What works for some may not work for others, and while the journeys portrayed in this book (Andre and Takara specifically) work for them, this is not representative of every single person’s journey. I have tried my best to approach these topics with sensitivity, but if you feel any of these topics may be triggering, please be aware.

Prologue

Rebekah: In a State of Unknown

S

omething wasn’t right.

The crunching of leaves sounded as Rebekah tore through the forest, the presence of an unseen enemy hot on her tail. A trail of clear mist scorched the earth mere seconds from where she ran, leaving behind a thicket of decay.

She didn’t know how she had gotten there. All she knew was she had fallen asleep in an unfamiliar bed next to a boy who seemed to know a lot more about her than she knew of him. And then, suddenly, she found herself here, being chased by something her human mind had a hard time comprehending.

Rebekah knew there was still so much she didn’t understand about the magic world. Witches and warlocks existed, yes. Ghosts and clawed vampires and whatever else went bump in the night. For all she knew, demons could also exist, hidden within a different plane of existence, and the invisible mist that burned everything it touched could be a product of demonkind.

Rebekah slammed the lid on her trailing thoughts, which seemed to grow more and more distressing the more she ran. Demons couldn’t exist. She would’ve known by now if they did. And clawed vampires weren’t true vampires at all but the product of a curse.

If Rebekah wasn’t currently being chased, she would’ve laughed at the absurdity of it all. She would’ve laughed at the irony that witches, warlocks, and spirits existed, but not other mythological beings. Either that, or humanity had gotten the concept of vampires way wrong.

The closest she had come to an actual vampire, minus the Bewitched, was Cody Robinson. And he was just a human whose ancestors curated an immortal gene and whom Rebekah murdered in cold blood.

She still remembered that day, still remembered watching the light leave his eyes as she stabbed him in self-defense. He hadn’t been a good person and would’ve relished in being the cause of her and her friends’ demise, and yet, the fact she killed him still ate at her.

She had killed a man, and at the time, she didn’t think twice about it. She now had blood on her hands, whether she liked it or not.

Rebekah wasn’t sure if she could still consider herself a good person. At fourteen, she had experienced much more than most people her age. She had to shed her innocence and grow up too quickly in order to survive the world she had been forced into. She may have been fourteen, but she wasn’t a child anymore, hardened by too much trauma and strife.

Hardened by too much death and destruction.

A swirling tornado of black smoke suddenly appeared in front of her, and Rebekah immediately skidded to a halt. With the invisible mist still inching ever so closely to her, she was now well and truly trapped.

Yet, when Melissa Young stepped out of the black mist, her yellow, immortal eyes didn’t land on Rebekah at all, like a predator accessing their prey. Instead, her eyes stared straight ahead, at the areas the mist touched, trailing down to where Rebekah presumed it ended.

The immortal witch let out a huff of air. And then, she chanted under her breath, unintelligible words that spread goosebumps over Rebekah’s skin.

And then, the mist stopped as if it were a puppet, and Melissa was its master.

Come, Melissa said. This was directed at Rebekah, who, until then, had been standing still as a statue, unsure of what to make of all this.

Rebekah didn’t move. What do you want? she demanded. At first, Rebekah thought she had to have been dreaming, but now, she wasn’t so sure.

Melissa rolled her eyes. "You do realize that if this touches you, you’ll burn, right?"

Rebekah took a singular step forward. I know that! she snapped. "What I don’t know is why you’re here, in my dream, helping me."

Sometimes, Rebekah would have foggy visions, the product of her being a diluted Foreseer, but this dream didn’t feel like one of her visions. It was too clear, all her senses too alert. And the last vision Rebekah had of Melissa Young, the immortal witch had killed her.

This wasn’t a vision, but it didn’t feel like a typical dream either.

Then, as if to answer her question, Melissa said, Your mind’s not warded anymore.

All at once, black dots swam in Rebekah’s vision, her breath catching in her throat. Andre had been the one to ward her mind the last time, and with the growing distance between them, that ward must’ve worn off.

And because Melissa knew her, the witch was able to visit her in her sleep, to create all of this.

I didn’t create the mist, Melissa said as if in answer to Rebekah’s unspoken question. At least, not intentionally. I don’t want to hurt you.

Then, why are you here? Rebekah said, daring to take another step forward. The last time she had seen Melissa, the immortal witch had been more than willing to let her and her friends rot in captivity for the rest of their lives.

My fight was never with you. You just got caught in the crosshairs, Melissa said. We have the same enemy, Rebekah, and for that, I think we could help each other.

Thoughts of Henri Anderson, the most infamous immortal warlock of their time, swirled around in Rebekah’s mind. He was the reason she had been brought into this world of magic and suffering, and it was true she and Melissa both shared him as an enemy. But that didn’t make them friends, or even allies, for that matter.

Rebekah’s eyes narrowed. We may have the same enemy, but our goals don’t align.

They may once I tell you that in exchange, I’ll leave you and your friends alone, Melissa said. Even Rosalie, traitor as she may be.

Rebekah shook her head, balling her hands into fists. I won’t help you enslave the human race. That was the one thing her visions always depicted. Humans were slaves in Melissa’s future.

This time, it was Melissa’s turn to narrow her eyes. Then, I have no choice but to also declare you as an enemy, she said coldly. You’re making a mistake, Rebekah. Don’t get in my way, or you won’t like the consequences.

And then, the dream abruptly ended, and Rebekah spiraled back to the waking world.

Chapter

One

Rebekah: Athens, Greece

R

ebekah was in a daze when she finally woke, Melissa’s clear threat still lingering in her mind. Her heart burst against her rib cage in a pounding rhythm, the beginnings of another panic attack beginning to take hold.

Rebekah was no stranger to anxiety. In fact, she seemed to be consumed by it even more ever since she had killed Andre’s father. His face had plagued her nightmares for days, a cruel smile on his lips, as she stabbed him over and over again.

The nightmares always ended the same way, with her stabbing him to death as he smirked at her, as if he were daring her to do it again and again.

But last night wasn’t a nightmare. Last night wasn’t a dream at all, not really. Last night, Melissa Young, the catalyst to the trauma Rebekah and her friends had faced in Spain, had finally visited her. Melissa, whose future involved the enslavement of the human race.

Rebekah blinked, her breath catching in her throat as her eyes landed on someone leaning over her. Immediately, her mind went to Melissa again and how the immortal witch somehow found her and was there to enforce her threat.

But it wasn’t Melissa who leaned over her with blatant concern. It was Tyler.

The mysterious boy from the plane who seemed to have a warped view of who she was. Shortly after he had told her that he recognized her on the plane ride, he introduced himself as Tyler Westbrook. She herself gave him her full name with the hopes he would realize they had never met each other before, and therefore, he would lose interest in her. Yet, the exact opposite happened, and somehow, he was able to convince her to stay with him so he could take her to his group, his family.

But first, I’m going to have to locate where exactly they are, he had said to her nearly four days ago. It may take a while to do so, since they don’t exactly stay in the same place.

At first, Rebekah was hesitant to go anywhere with Tyler, but considering the fact it was better to explore a foreign country with someone than alone, she decided to follow him as he took her to a hotel and insisted he pay for everything. Rebekah was no stranger to foreigners being kidnapped by locals, but for some reason, she felt drawn to Tyler, and so far, he hadn’t done anything to harm her.

Plus, he was sixteen, or so he claimed. Only two years older than her.

You need to be quiet, he hissed. Do you have any idea what time it is?

Rebekah shook her head, still stunned. In that moment, Tyler leaped off her queen-sized bed and returned to his own.

It’s four in the morning, he clarified. People are still trying to sleep, and we don’t want anyone reporting a noise disturbance!

I’m sorry! Rebekah protested. When I’m dreaming, I can’t really control it!

Tyler’s facial expression instantly softened. So, you’re still having the nightmares?

Rebekah nodded but didn’t elaborate. After all, she never told Tyler what the nightmares were about, since he was a regular human and therefore knew nothing about the magic world. All she told him was that she had been having nightmares for a few days.

You know, Tyler began, I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what they’re about. Obviously, they’re pretty scary if they have you screaming during the night.

You don’t need to worry about me. I can take care of myself, Rebekah snapped.

Sure, I do. Tyler jumped off his bed and went to turn on the lamp on the nightstand that separated the two beds from each other. You decided to come to Athens all by yourself for no apparent reason, according to you, and I’m only assuming that you’ve never been here before. Why is that?

I said I was visiting someone, Rebekah mumbled, retelling the lie she had told him when they first met. And besides, I doubt you’ve ever been, either. His accent wasn’t Greek.

In fact, his accent was American, like hers, complete with a slight midwestern twang.

Tyler chuckled lightly. I live here, he said, hence why we’re trying to locate my family.

Really? You don’t sound Greek, Rebekah noted. "And besides, what were you doing in Marywood anyway if you live here?"

Same as you, said Tyler vaguely, smiling smugly at her. I was visiting someone.

At that moment, Rebekah resisted the urge to hit Tyler for using her own words against her.

And besides, there isn’t a law that says you have to sound Greek in order to live in Greece, Tyler continued. What do you think immigrants are? I mean, you surely have a bunch of those in the United States.

And that was a fact Rebekah couldn’t refute. After all, since there were a lot of Cuban residents in Marywood, which bordered the Atlantic Ocean near Miami, she heard Spanish frequently, which was one of the reasons why she chose to learn that language as opposed to French, like Holly and Mandy.

My ethnicity claims I’m British, Tyler said.

So, you’re from Britain? questioned Rebekah, instantly wishing she could take her words back. If she had to guess, Tyler’s home country was also the United States.

"No, my ethnicity claims I’m British. I didn’t actually say I’m from Britain, Tyler explained. There’s a difference."

All Rebekah felt towards Tyler was annoyance. She wasn’t in the mood for games, least of all ones that came from an evident smart mouth.

What ethnicity are you, Rebekah? Tyler questioned lazily with that same stupid grin.

Rebekah balled her hands into fists. Suddenly, Tyler’s face looked that much more punch-able. German, she clipped. At least, that just what my parents said.

German, huh? Tyler smiled briefly. Does that mean you’re from Germany?

Shut up! Rebekah bellowed before realizing it was still early in the morning, and there were still people in the hotel that were trying to sleep.

Say something in German, Rebekah, Tyler prompted.

Rebekah’s face turned red. I don’t know German.

Of course you do, continued Tyler. After all, according to your logic, everyone who is of German descent has to know German.

Well, I don’t! Rebekah snapped before noticing the amused look on Tyler’s face. She knew he was playing with her and that he wasn’t being serious, but he also was trying to prove a point. I’m sorry I assumed, she said.

But Tyler’s amused smile didn’t vanish. Bummer. I wish you knew German so I could hear it. I love languages.

Rebekah shot him a dirty look. Are you stupid?

Nah. Just bored, Tyler said before wiping the grin off his face. After all, this is the fourth night in a row that you woke me up due to your screaming. Can you at least tell me if the nightmare is the same each and every night?

It is, Rebekah admitted softly so Tyler could barely hear her.

You know, that’s even more reason to tell me what it’s about, Tyler prompted.

I don’t want to talk about it. And she didn’t. There were few people in this world she could talk about her traumas with, and an entire ocean separated her from them.

Whatever. Tyler collapsed onto his bed. If you don’t wish to talk, then go back to sleep. After all, I have a surprise for you later today.

Rebekah began to wonder what kind of surprise Tyler could possibly have for her, considering they had only known each other for four days.

She wasn’t particularly sure when she had fallen asleep next, but before she knew it, the sun was already high in the sky, and the one TV that hung on the wall in the small hotel room was turned on at a low volume to some sort of news network. Greek spilled from the TV as the news anchor pointed behind her to some sort of car crash.

Rebekah rolled onto her side and checked the time on the digital clock next to the lamp, which read nine in the morning. Then, her eyes landed on the empty queen-sized bed that was supposed to be Tyler’s.

Yet, Tyler wasn’t there. Tyler was always there when she woke up, and Rebekah hated to admit how much his constant presence calmed her.

Tyler? Rebekah called loudly.

I’m in here, Tyler said, which seemed to come from the bathroom. And then, Rebekah suddenly heard the sound of rushing water as Tyler presumably turned on the sink. Soon after, he emerged from the bathroom, his brown hair neatly brushed with his bangs to the side of his head. Then, he returned to his bed and added, The bathroom’s yours.

Umm, thanks, Rebekah said hesitantly as she groggily left her bed and lackadaisically moved towards the bathroom. After closing the door behind her, she glanced at herself in the mirror, knowing she had seen better days. Her hair was disheveled from having been presumably tossing and turning due to her continuous nightmares. Light bags rested underneath her eyes, of which she guessed were because she wasn’t sleeping as well as she could. Even though she made sure to shower every single day since she had been there, her skin still felt oily, and her clothes, which she had not properly changed since the morning of the third infiltration of Dolor, were damp with sweat and were therefore clinging to her body, which made it nearly impossible to undress. And that particular outfit was the only outfit she had. Everything else had been burned when Henri Anderson destroyed her apartment complex.

Rebekah turned the shower on, waiting for it to heat up before she stepped in. The hot water rolled over her skin, releasing the tension in her muscles as it descended. Rebekah let out a soft moan, just enjoying the way the water felt, before lathering up her hair with some of Tyler’s shampoo and scrubbing her skin raw.

She tried not to think about how Henri had made her homeless and an orphan. She tried not to think about how much the immortal warlock continued to take from her, even when it seemed like she had nothing left to lose. But he was the reason she was there, in a foreign country with a language she didn’t speak a wick of, trying to find a hidden group of Innocents. He was the reason Melissa did what she did, which ended in Rebekah taking the life of a man.

After her shower, Rebekah dried off and slipped her one outfit back on. She still didn’t feel as clean as she should feel. The bags remained under her eyes, and the clothes still felt wet and sticky.

She exited the bathroom, and Tyler looked up at her from his bed. You took your time, he teased, pushing himself into a sitting position. "Then again, you seem to always take your time."

Tyler! Rebekah snapped, but even she couldn’t help but smile at his comment. When are we going?

Are you eager? Tyler said. For your surprise?

Rebekah pursed her lips together, refusing to acknowledge that was exactly what she wanted.

Well, we can’t. At least not yet. Tyler leaped out of bed and moved towards the front door. We have to eat breakfast first.

Rebekah sighed heavily. The hotel provided a complimentary breakfast each morning until eleven, but for once, Rebekah wished they could skip it. She wasn’t hungry, especially after the night she had.

In silence, she followed him to the basement of the hotel, and the two of them quickly grabbed a table. As far as Rebekah could see, only one other couple was down there, and they were muttering in a language Rebekah didn’t recognize.

Arabic, Tyler said as if he sensed Rebekah’s curiosity. They’re speaking Arabic.

Rebekah nodded before staring at the table.

Shall we load our plates? Tyler questioned, amused, which earned him another smile from Rebekah. Then, he left the table in order to do just that, and she quietly followed him.

Rebekah knew she had to eat, despite her stomach’s protests. All she took from the small buffet was a plain bagel with cream cheese smeared on and a small glass of orange juice. Tyler, however, was true to his word, and he took way more than he should have, most of which consisted of carbohydrates.

By the time he finally sat down at their table, Rebekah was already there, and her mouth dropped open. Tyler, she said politely, I think you’re taking way too much.

It’s not my fault you wish to remain a twig for the rest of your life, Tyler retorted before taking a huge bite out of a blueberry muffin. I mean, seriously. With how much you’ve been eating, I’m surprised you’re still alive.

Rebekah shot him a glare before returning to her bagel. Even though they had only known each other for four days, he was acting like a brother to her. His personality and comments made her think about her two older brothers who had been roughly around the same age as each other, for they would constantly pick on her and playfully degrade her. Despite having not enjoyed their constant belittling because she was the youngest in the family, Rebekah’s eyes instantly welled with tears upon realizing that she missed them. Henri and Rebecca had taken them from her as well as her parents, who meant well, even if they had become a little overprotective of her after she had returned from Munich.

Whether he knew it or not, Tyler assumed the role of her brother without intending to, since he would constantly playfully tease her. The only difference was that she actually enjoyed his teasing, for the most part.

Rebekah had finished her bagel and orange juice before Tyler had even gotten halfway through his plate, and she patiently sat there, waiting for him to finish as well. At one point, she was sure he had purposely slowed down his eating, knowing she was waiting for him to finish, in order to make her wait a little longer.

Tyler! Rebekah snapped when she realized what he was trying to do.

In response, he swallowed his current bite and smiled at her mischievously. Yes? he said innocently as if he did nothing.

You’re despicable! Rebekah playfully snarled at him.

In response, Tyler said, I try, before taking another big bite.

By the time they had finally finished breakfast and left the hotel, it was nearly eleven. Without a clue as to where they were heading, Rebekah blindly followed Tyler further into the city of Athens. Where are we going? she questioned after ten minutes of just walking.

Yet, Tyler didn’t answer her. In fact, he completely ignored her as he continued to trudge ahead. This made Rebekah feel even more uneasy, and she had a feeling that Tyler was smiling cockily because of her.

Another five minutes of walking came and went, and soon, Tyler stopped in front of a clothing store. And…voila! he said gleefully before turning towards her. What do you think?

It’s…a clothing store, Rebekah said bitterly, and Tyler’s smile instantly turned into a frown when he realized she didn’t understand why he had brought her here.

I thought you would be more excited than this, Tyler said. What’s the one thing you’re lacking the most?

A lot of things, Tyler, Rebekah spat before suddenly realizing what Tyler was getting at. Oh. Clothing. In that moment, she felt rather stupid for not realizing his intentions earlier.

Bingo, said Tyler, his amused smile returning. After all, don’t you only have, like, one outfit?

I didn’t want to be bogged down with a bunch of luggage, Rebekah said, which was a lie. She had nothing left except for the clothes on her back and her cellphone, which had been dead for days.

If she hadn’t run into Tyler on the plane, she didn’t know how she would have gotten by.

"Now, I am running low on euros," Tyler said, which earned him a worried look from Rebekah.

I’m not going to start stealing, Rebekah instantly said. After all, I had already done enough of that when I was with Andre. In Barcelona, Andre used a combination of magic and her Royal Guard credit card to get what they needed but also making them harder to track.

Tyler laughed. I’m not asking you to. I just don’t want you to go all hog-wild on me. He sighed. I need to have enough to continue paying for our hotel room while I look for my family. Sooner or later, though, I’m going to have to teach you how to steal.

Can’t wait, Rebekah said bitterly as Tyler led her into the small store.

And upon entrance into the store, Rebekah could clearly see why Tyler had chosen this one. Every single item the store chose to sell was inexpensive, and all of the clothes appeared to be very loose-fitting.

When you are forced to live on the street, you tend to want more comfortable clothing, Tyler told her.

Wait, you live on the street? Rebekah questioned. If that’s the case, how are you able to afford a hotel room? In that instant, she answered her own question. Tyler must’ve stolen that money.

In a matter of speaking, yes, Tyler said. When Rebekah gave him a horrified expression, he kindly added, You think I stole the money I have.

Well, did you? Rebekah persisted quietly so that the store clerk wouldn’t be able to hear their conversation.

Let me put it to you this way, Tyler said, which wasn’t the answer Rebekah was hoping for. When you are forced to live on the street, you do anything you can in order to survive.

"So, you did steal the money you have," Rebekah prompted.

A good majority of it, yes. Tyler paused. Quit looking at me like that, Rebekah. Everyone in my family steals. It’s how we survive. What else can we do?

I don’t know, Rebekah said sarcastically. Get a job? Earn the money yourself?

Tyler suddenly burst into laughter, which made Rebekah rather confused. My family can’t exactly do that, he said.

Sure, they can.

No, they can’t. Tyler took a deep breath before exhaling. And there’s a legitimate reason why they can’t.

Why? Does everyone in your family have a felony? Rebekah questioned, but considering the fact they steal to survive, she wouldn’t doubt it.

This time, Tyler looked horrified. No, of course not! he said. Soon, I will tell you the real reason why, but I prefer not to get into such a discussion here.

Rebekah sighed in frustration but let the subject drop. In that moment, Tyler let her pick out whatever she wanted as long as she didn’t pick out too many items. When she was done, Tyler purchased the items, and the total turned out to be around one hundred euros.

As they exited the store with Rebekah carrying her bags, Tyler turned to her and playfully said, You owe me one hundred euros.

I don’t have that kind of money, Rebekah said back in the same lighthearted tone. In fact, she didn’t have any kind of money.

That’s a bummer. Tyler kept the same amount of jocularity in his tone. I guess you’ll have to resort to thievery in order to pay me back.

Never, Rebekah breathed, and after she said that, Tyler let the joke drop.

The two of them returned to their hotel room fifteen minutes later, and Tyler continued to try to track down his family with his phone. For the rest of the day, the two of them fell into a deep silence, and Rebekah left him alone so he could concentrate on whatever he was doing.

And even though she couldn’t understand a word they were saying, Rebekah watched the news on the TV.

Chapter

Two

Holly: Andotin, Ivanestible

H

olly stood at the edge of the rocky part of the northern shore of Ivanestible, staring blankly ahead at the southern border of Spain. Even though this beach wasn’t the closest one to the castle, where she was currently staying with Andre, an arrangement Jason didn’t know about just yet, she still chose to go there instead. Seeing the country that housed the most amount of Spies in the world rest just out of swimming distance from the country that housed the most amount of mortal magic users made her feel uneasy, especially since Spain brought back painful memories of her locked behind bars in Cody’s prison. And she couldn’t help but feel slightly on edge that Cody or some other Spy would come after her.

Yet, Cody Robinson was dead. In her mind, Holly knew that to be true, for she had seen Rebekah kill him, but her heart said otherwise. Her heart feared he wasn’t truly dead and that her mind had played a cruel trick on her. But if Cody Robinson wasn’t truly dead, neither she nor Andre would be in Ivanestible. And Andre would be dead or changed.

She sighed heavily as her hand reached towards her neck and brushed across her latest scar, where her cousin drank from her. She knew Andre hadn’t been herself, and yet, the memory still tore at her as she contemplated how her own cousin could do that to her. But Andre had been warring with her half-immortal side her entire life, and in retrospect, Holly shouldn’t be surprised the immortality temporarily won out. Still, she had been wary of her cousin ever since, as if at any moment, Andre would give into her immortal temptations again and hurt Holly far worse than she had in the prison.

But now, Andre was glued to the couch in her apartment, still recovering from whatever her father had injected into her veins. Her mortal side was in control again, though she was still very weak and couldn’t move around much. Countless times, Holly had inquired about the substances Cody injected into Andre’s veins, but each time the topic was brought up, her cousin instantly shot it down.

Even now, Andre still had trouble opening up, and Holly felt a little bad leaving her alone in her new apartment. Jason had recently given it to her as a gift, and for the past few days, Holly had helped her move.

In fact, it was Holly who had summoned all the furniture and other necessities, since Andre couldn’t do much but supervise. Holly didn’t mind though. It was the least she could do, since her cousin came for her despite the danger and past traumas. It had been easy as well, especially since Jason had lifted the lockdown a few days after the Royal Guard had struck down the mortal rebel group. It meant she didn’t have to work around his wards.

Suddenly, Holly could hear someone calling her name. Must be a figment of my imagination, she thought, turning her attention to the waves that crashed over the rocky shore. Yet, the voice grew louder and louder until Holly could no longer deny someone was there with her.

And surprisingly, Holly knew the voice. It was one she hadn’t heard since last July.

Holly held her breath and quickly spun around, her eyes meeting the gaze of a familiar face. Cleo Makris, her best friend and roommate at Witchcraft Academy since they had started going there when she was five years old, was only a few paces away, concern written on her face. With her wavy blonde hair flying behind her, Cleo ran towards Holly as fast as she could. Tears pricked Holly’s eyes as she watched her friend, the barest hint of a smile appearing on her lips. Usually, she didn’t see Cleo at all during the months between July and June, but since she lived in Ivanestible now, she hoped she would be seeing a lot more of Cleo.

Cleo! Holly called back, and soon, she began to sprint towards her friend. The two of them met halfway and fell into a quick, tight embrace.

What are you doing here? Cleo questioned. I thought you would be in Marywood at this time of year. It was still February, and during this time, Holly usually was in Marywood.

I don’t live there anymore, Holly explained. Long story.

Is that because your parents are…dead? Cleo inquired, a shameful blush coating her cheeks.

Holly felt like something heavy slammed into her chest, her smile vanishing. Both of her parents had been kidnapped and eventually killed by Henri Anderson, who then sent their corpses to Holly as some sort of warning. The entire memory still haunted Holly, and a part of her wondered if she hadn’t been in Ivanestible when they were taken, they would still be alive.

Or she would’ve been taken as well, and they would all be dead.

Partially, she said, and for a moment, it surprised Holly how easy it was to talk about. Considering what she had just been through in Spain, the ICW seemed like a lifetime ago. How do you know about that?

All of Ivanestible knows, Cleo explained. For a while, the ICW was all the news networks here talked about, since Jason had chosen to be its host.

Of course, thought Holly. It made perfect sense. Ivanestible would’ve had to know about the ICW, since their royal family had been smack in the middle of it. So, why are you here?

I come here a lot by myself. I don’t know why, but hearing the water calms me, Cleo explained. And I can see the coast of Spain from here, which I’ll never be able to visit. Roslyn won’t let me.

You don’t want to visit that country, Holly scoffed.

Because the majority of the Spies in the world live there? Yeah, I know that. Cleo sighed. I’d be careful, though. I wouldn’t let them get me.

At this, Holly laughed. There’s nothing particularly special about that country. I was just there. In Barcelona.

Upon hearing this, Cleo’s complexion paled. Are you…serious? she questioned. What were you doing there?

Holly took a deep breath as she recanted her story. Andre’s father—Cody—somehow decided to form an alliance with the immortal rebels, which I’m sure you’ve heard about. When she saw Cleo nod, she continued, "Anyway, they made a deal with him that if he loaned them some of his technology so they could destroy Henri Anderson, they would give his daughter to him. I was just a pawn in their game, the bait they kidnapped in order to lure Andre to Barcelona so Cody could finally kill her. Or at least, that’s what I thought his intentions were at first."

Until now, Holly didn’t realize how good it felt to tell her story, how liberating it was to talk about what happened to her. Unlike Andre, she had always been somewhat of an open book.

You thought? persisted Cleo. "What do you mean you thought?"

You see these? Holly showed Cleo her neck. Cody had decided to use me as his own personal blood source while I was there. She paused. In the end, Andre finally came, but somehow, he changed his mind and instead tried to change her. He subjected her to various substances—which her body blatantly rejected—and he also forced her to drink from me.

You mean…he was trying to…make her into a Spy? Holly could tell Cleo was shocked.

Holly nodded. He was trying to craft her into his image in which her Spy gene was dominant. Obviously, his efforts didn’t work, but Andre’s in pretty bad shape because of it. I don’t think the substances have completely left her system yet.

But he’s dead, right? asked Cleo. Andre managed to kill him like she said she would?

"He is dead, but Andre wasn’t the one who had killed him, Holly explained. One of my human friends, the one who had moved to Roseway but then moved back to Marywood, Rebekah—she managed to kill him."

Cleo was silent for a moment. You know, Roslyn doesn’t know I’m here, she said slowly.

And? Holly prompted, anticipating what Cleo was going to suggest.

We could always…go back to your place, said Cleo. I mean, you left Andre alone when she’s sick.

Holly laughed. I suppose we could, she said, but you once told me she scares you.

She does, said Cleo, "but I think I can handle being around her now."

Okay, Holly agreed as she took Cleo’s hand in hers and teleported the two of them to the front of the Ivanestible castle.

Instantly, the two of them sprinted towards the castle, and once they were inside, Holly led Cleo to Andre’s apartment.

Once they approached the door to the apartment, Holly stopped suddenly and said to Cleo, Also, please don’t mention I’m living here. I’m technically not supposed to, since Andre isn’t eighteen yet, and Jason doesn’t know.

Cleo gave a curt nod, understanding dawning on her face. Because of what had recently happened, Andre didn’t feel comfortable leaving her alone in Marywood anymore, so they came here. That way, if Andre had to leave for a Royal Guard meeting, Holly would still be protected.

Holly opened the door, which was unlocked, and led Cleo into the apartment. And here we are.

Cleo took one look around the place, which consisted of a living room with a couple of doors in the back that presumably led to the bedroom and bathroom. In one of the corners of the room rested a kitchen Holly knew was mostly empty except for some potion ingredients.

Holly walked further into the room and made her way towards the couch, where Andre laid with her eyes closed and her hands resting on her stomach. Befuddled, she turned towards Cleo and said, She must be sleeping.

As soon as she had said that, she heard the sound of Andre’s voice, causing her to jump.

I’m not sleeping, Andre said. Just resting.

Holly could tell Cleo was also a little startled, but she couldn’t tell if that was because of what had just happened or because Cleo felt intimidated by Andre.

Then,