Bloodstone by Rebecca Henry

Author:Rebecca Henry [Henry, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: YA LGBTQIA Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Totally Entwined Group
Published: 2022-11-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Opal tensed against my chest as I watched my mother. My eyes filled with tears, my heart with despair. She was creating a cursed circle right there in our living room, tainting the space with the darkest of magic. She was setting a trap, like a spider in a web. And I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was her prey. If she somehow managed to get me inside, I would be stuck like a fly.

My feet moved forward without my permission, as if someone was pulling on them like a puppet on a marionette string. Opal growled as she clawed out of my jacket and landed on the ground, biting and hissing at the vacant space before her. But the space itself was empty to the naked eye. I only saw my mother’s form reflected in the mirrors, and the chalk line forming at my feet.

Opal fought and clawed against a ghostly opponent, screeching as she attacked whatever was dragging my foot back through the front door. I gripped each side of the doorframe, bracing myself as I bit my bottom lip. She was cursing me. My mother was cursing me, and because the same blood flowed in each of our veins, my heart pulsed in answer, inviting her curse through sympathetic magic.

A sob rose in my throat. I struggled to master my emotions, for I knew it was my emotions—our connection—that allowed my mom’s curse to reach me, despite the bit of hanging rope I still had tied around my neck.

Gripping the door, I kicked back at the air, careful not to hit Opal. Panic would be the death of me. My mind raced with binding spells to repel curses. The grip tightened over my foot and gave a hard jerk. I fell backwards, knocking my head against the porch and the air from my chest. Something cold dug into my other foot, and its firm grip clenched my ankles like an icy vise as it gave a fierce tug, pulling my legs into the house.

My hands still held onto the doorframe, my knuckles white, but my fingers were weakening with each tug of the invisible force. The ethereal grip on my ankles tightened, causing burning pain as it jerked me forward. My breath came in pants as I strained to hold myself in the doorway. I wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer. Binding spells…come on, think, Zinnia, think! I scanned the dim house, looking for an answer, for any help at all. My gaze snagged on something dark and round in a beam of moonlight. A purple candle in the basket! If I could just get to it… That’s it! I can light that candle and dangle my obsidian in the flame, then I’ll be able to put Mom inside the circle instead of me.

I didn’t know if this was the smartest idea, but it was all I had, and my sweaty fingers were losing their grip on the doorway. I allowed myself three deep steadying breaths to prepare myself for what I was about to do.

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