Legacy: The Aria Knight Chronicles, #3

1

ARIA

Aria held her hands in front of her, arms bent at her sides and palms facing down. The two hellhounds she summoned growled and snapped, fire glowing in their eyes. Instead of the caution and fear she had been taught to harbor in their presence, she actually felt the excitement rise within her. She had made the first step in controlling them, but for how long could she hold on to them before they turned on her?

They’re here, Aria said to her mother, Clare. Those who weren’t sin eaters couldn’t see the hounds, but they often felt them. Even non-wizards felt hellhounds.

Clare stared at the spot where the creatures stood. I can feel the heat coming off them. Are you sure this is safe?

A door slammed, snapping Aria’s attention from her control of the hounds. They jumped to their feet and charged her. Eyes wide, she dodged out of the way then held up her right hand, which had an S-shaped birthmark. It pulsated, and a bright flame emerged. The hellhounds snarled but at least stopped in their tracks. Their prey wasn’t a sin eater, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t take a bite out of one. She used her magical flame to cast a banishing spell. The last thing she needed tonight was to be their dinner.

Harry rushed toward her with an apologetic expression. I didn’t mean to distract you. Are you okay?

She extinguished her flame, and the warmth in her hand subsided. She dusted herself off with the palms of her hands and panted to catch her breath. Finally, she nodded and said, They were a bit snappish, but I was able to make them halt.

Until you lost concentration and they were almost on you. Clare frowned. Perhaps there’s a spell that I—

No, Mom. Aria shook her head. It has to be me. I have to learn to do this. Otherwise, we’re defenseless against Mira.

You’ll get there. You’ll master those hellhounds, no doubt. Harry gave her a dashing smile that caused her cheeks to warm. She was glad they were on a dark rooftop, or her cheeks would’ve given her reaction away.

Clare approached and cupped Aria’s chin, using her thumb to wipe off something she had on her lower jaw. It just takes a little more focus and a little more practice. Harry, do you have the item I asked for?

He nodded. That apothecary owner is creepy as hell, but I got it.

Clare thanked him as he handed her a brown paper bag. She reached inside and pulled out a thin gold bracelet. It shimmered with enchantment, and Aria could feel the buzz of magical energy emanating from it.

Is that the psychic bracelet? Aria eyed it with interest. Sometimes she envied witches and the creative ways in which they could use their powers.

Clare nodded. This will only work once, so we’ll try to get an idea of where your sister is and what she’s planning to do.

Okay. Aria waited for Clare to slip the bracelet on, then she joined hands with her.

She felt the warmth of magical energy travel up her arms and spread throughout her body. She concentrated on her sister—pale skin, dark hair, and powers which were the opposite of Arias.

Soul Eater…Aria said in her mind. That’s what her sister was. Instead of setting souls free, Mira devoured them. She was an abomination, and she had come to Los Angeles pissed and looking for revenge.

A circle of light formed in between Aria and Clare and a miniature image of Mira appeared. They had done it, they connected with the woman’s mind. Clare had already instructed Aria to speak with her sister as a distraction while she rummaged around her mind.

Mira’s nostrils flared, and for a moment, her little image which floated in mid-air flickered in and out of view. It became more solid again. She stared at Aria. What do you want?

Aria cleared her throat. I know the last time I saw you, things didn’t go well.

Mira raised an eyebrow. You think? You summoned a hellhound on me.

Well, you tried to suck out Mom’s soul and nearly killed my friends.

Mira’s image flickered again, and she looked around. It’s dark, where are you? Is Mother with you?

It would do no good to lie. Yes, but I’m the one talking to you.

What do you want?

Let us try and help you. Stop hurting innocent people.

A wave of anger and sadness flooded Aria. She knew it came from Mira. It was the first time she had ever sensed any emotion from her sister. She had always seemed cold, calculating, and soulless.

Tell Clare to get out of my head! Mira said.

Mira, you’re sick, you need— Aria tried to reply.

Do you think I wanted to be born this way? Do you know what it feels like, to hunger and thirst?

Yes.

Well, I feel it a hundred times stronger. I must take souls. People deserve it anyway, look at them. Look at the corruption and evil they unleash on the world.

Sister— Aria tried to reach her sister.

A flash of light nearly blinded them, and Aria felt like an invisible force had punched her in the gut. Her hands slipped from Clare’s, and she noted that her mother felt the same sensation. Mira’s image was gone, and the connection lost.

Clare sucked in a quick breath. She’s here, in the city, and her first target is the sin eaters—you and your kind, Aria.

Harry crossed his arms. And we can’t find them. How are we supposed to warn them?

Aria and I will work on that. Meanwhile, you need to go see your brother, Harry. We need that last ingredient for the Undoing ritual, Clare said.

Right, Harry said. I’ll walk right up to my brother and ask him for some vampire blood. Easy-peasy.

Clare narrowed her eyes at him. Call him and arrange a meeting, wise guy.

On it. He turned and left through the roof access door.

Clare shook her head and walked over to the ledge, watching the city lights and traffic below. Aria joined her and asked, What’s going through your mind right now?

"That this is my fault. I couldn’t destroy Mira when she was a child and ate your father’s soul. I kept telling myself she was ill and needed help, but the only thing I could do was lock Mira away because I was afraid the sin eaters would put her to death. I tried convincing myself I was not only protecting Mira but also the world from her but what I was really doing was protecting myself. I didn’t want to make a hard choice and live with the consequence. Now, look where we are." Clare said.

Aria placed her arm around her mother and gave her a squeeze. When I was speaking with her during the connection, I felt a lot of anger and resentment. But you know what? I also felt her sadness. I think part of her hates what she’s become. She doesn’t like it, but she’s never known anything else, and she believes this is her fate.

Clare faced her. Do you think we can show her a different way? She didn’t even want to speak with us.

We can at least try, but we also have to be prepared to cast the Undoing.

The spell was the only one they knew of which would unravel Mira’s soul-eating powers, but it would also drain her of her life energy and kill her. Aria had never killed anyone, and it made her sick to her stomach to think she’d have to end her own sister’s life. But Mira had decided that she hated them and hated the world and that she was fated to be the Soul Eater, taking each and every life she came across without discrimination.

And it came at the worst time when humans had been growing distrustful and fearful of wizards. She had already seen clashes and riots back in Miracle Falls, what would people do when they discovered someone like her sister?

Mira was a dangerous threat, and if she refused to surrender or turn away from the path she was going down—well, Aria would have the Undoing to back her up, along with the hellhounds and hellfire.

2

JACOB

Jacob could taste the magic in the air.

The wizards outside might as well have made a huge F-You! sign for him. Hmph. Looked like one actually had. He was glad that the police had at least paved a guarded pathway for him to head through the front door. Now, the trick was getting there without being hit with objects or spells.

A brash, ungodly mix of alchemical potions and hexes awaited. As a reflex, Jacob readied his own magic, feeling the vibration of his powers as they coursed through his body and sharpened his mind. As his driver pulled up to City Hall and parked at the curb, he eyed the crowd on the right. The wizards, who were ready to fling spells—and then the crowd on the left, non-magic folk who, for whatever reason, had been told to come out and protest the fact that the city of Miracle Falls dared make a magic-wielding man its mayor.

But of course, he didn’t choose the position. It was thrust upon him.

Thanks, Andy. He slipped the driver an extra sixty dollars.

Andy flashed a nervous smile as he pocketed the money. It’s all right, Mr. Wolfe. My dad was a regular guy, my mom a hedge witch. Been married thirty years. Not everyone is like those assholes out there.

You’re a good man. Jacob gave him a grateful nod. He hoped Andy decided to stick around. The last two drivers quit, and a third mysteriously went missing. These were dangerous times, and Jacob Wolfe was tasked with bringing order and unity. Too bad he didn’t have a ready-made spell for that.

Jacob sucked in a sharp breath as he stepped out of the sleek black sedan. As soon as he closed the door, Andy hit the gas pedal and left him to his fate—otherwise known as another day at the office.

As soon as both crowds saw him, the invectives came flying. You’re tearing this city apart! Take our names off the Wizard Registry. This is America, you Nazi!

And of course, his morning walk up the steps wouldn’t be complete without the douche reporter running up to him with a camera and mic: "Mayor Wolfe, how are