King of the Unsightly (Tempting Trickery #1)

Red Moon

I clenched my hands into fists, attempting to clear my chaotic mind but to no avail. I took another deep breath and released all the pressure in my body.

A spark ignited within me as I willed it to move through my arms and to my fingertips.

A violet light shot out of my hands and settled back down as it hissed like a flame underneath the red moonlight.

The pulsing magic on my pointer finger looked like fire, but the blazing inferno didn’t consume me. Instead, a warmth blanketed me.

I actually did it! But what did Gren say I had to do again? I pointed my finger at the rusted black car in front of our motel room with a can of soda on its hood and imagined myself propelling the can forward, but only a small spark flickered at my fingertip and vanished.

I pointed my finger again for shits and giggles after thousands of failed attempts, but it was more like a flick of the wrist.

A violent lightning bolt shot out of my hand and collided with the car.

A rumbling clamor enveloped the whole parking lot as I stumbled to the ground and landed ass first.

The blaring noise set all the car alarms off, and they hollered in unison as steam rose from where I struck the car.

I shuffled to my feet, scurried back into the motel room, and slammed the door behind me.

I sighed and shook out the last remaining spark on my pointer finger.

The violet energy swirled in the air, disappearing into the dark.

Honestly, why couldn’t my magic be the color of the sky or swamp green or— anything other than purple?

I hated how it reminded me of Kaschel’s hypnotic gaze. It’s like every time I used it thoughts of him plagued my mind.

I slapped my cheeks and pushed all the useless thoughts of him away.

Now was not the time to think about that man.

I popped open a blind and a swarm of people filtered into the parking lot—glancing around—confused as to why someone’s car got struck by lightning when the night sky glowed with all the constellations, not a cloud in sight.

Thankfully, no one witnessed me cast magic.

I really didn’t have the time to bring any unwanted attention to myself. But I also didn’t think I could create much damage. I thought I would barely move the can, let alone flatten half the car.

My fingers tapped nervously on the table, and I groaned as I watched all the people curiously talking among each other, asking if anyone saw what happened.

I peeked at the alarm clock next to the nightstand, and it read 11:30, so close to midnight.

I rubbed the nape of my neck, trying to relieve the pressure. All the stress finally caught up to me and ate away at my body with each passing second.

The red moon ominously shined down on me with peeks of crimson light filtering through the dusty room.

My anxiety skyrocketed, and I tapped the heels of my boots on the floor.

What was taking Gren so long? I had been waiting for him all day. I didn’t want the ice cream anymore. I needed a drink or five.

The door handle jiggled before Gren cracked the door open and slid inside.

He lowered his brow with a slight smirk. “Did you have a vendetta against someone? Their poor car was demolished.” He popped open a blind, whistled, and looked back at me. “That hard-working civilian probably lost everything.”

I rolled my eyes. When did Gren ever joke around?

“I’m sure the only important thing they lost was some spare change and fast-food wrappers.” I straightened my posture. “It’s almost time.”

Gren nodded his head, mechanically. “I know.”

I frowned. I wanted to believe this would be the hardest part, but life loved to throw curveballs excessively at my face, so I highly doubted it.

“Okay,” I said weakly.

“If anything feels off, I will stall them long enough for you and Lucien to run away.”

I raised my head; the confusion furrowed into my brows as a hint of anger swirled in my irises. “No. I would never leave you.”

“Are you worried about me?”

“Of course!”

Gren snatched the two keys from my palm and leaned so close I could see the swarm of emotions flicker like stars in his eye. “You really shouldn’t.”

Gren’s reply stunned me.

What did he mean? I thought we were in this together!

I placed my hand on his firm shoulder. “Why?”

Gren’s expression turned sour as he looked away. “I have half your soul. That’s more than I deserve. So please, don’t sacrifice for someone else’s sake again.” He smiled brightly, and if I was an outsider looking from afar at our conversation, I would have thought his expression was from pure joy.

But I knew that wasn’t the case. If he thought his hollow look would calm my nerves ... He was dead wrong.

I squeezed Gren’s shoulder.

I couldn’t always be the one losing someone, but for now I indulged Gren and told him what he wanted to hear. “All right, I promise.”

My face tightened with the same smile he gave me. A smile layered with a multitude of emotions where if he wanted to reveal the truth hidden behind it, he needed to peel the deceptive layers away, one by one.

“Good. Now, are you ready?”

I laughed, and it was dry and bitter against my tongue. “As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”

The mirror was placed in my pocket when I pulled it out and traced the silver thorns wrapped around the skull, and gently moved my fingertips against the three golden vipers spilling out of its mouth and eyes.

I squeezed the mirror in my palm and expelled all the air filling my lungs.

The vipers came alive and wrapped around my arms, and before I reacted, they sank their fangs into my flesh. The room spun around me as Gren snatched my hand before I fell backward.

“You have the keys, right?”

Gren patted his pockets anxiously and searched.

His face twisted with worry, and his lips moved, but I couldn’t hear a sound as darkness shot out of my fingertips and surrounded every inch of the room until it devoured us.