chapter 96

Imogen’s POV

Waking up the next morning, I grabbed Thaddeus from his crib. Tobias was still snoring like a

chainsaw and was probably the reason Thaddeus had woken. I seriously don't understand how Theo

hasn't smothered him in his sleep. Most of the time I don't notice but now we have a kid his snoring

is annoying when it wakes the baby.

Grabbing my pillow, I lob it at him, and he darts upright. “What?” he says, looking around the

room.

“You woke him again, seriously Tobias you might need to sleep outside it is getting ridiculous” I

tell him

Doesn't affect my sleep,” he says yawning and stretching. The smell of bacon wafts through the

house and my belly instantly rumbles. Walking down the stairs, I hear the radio playing and can hear

Theo rummaging around the kitchen. As soon as I walk in, Theo greets us with a kiss as I sit down

on the stool with Thaddeus in my arms. Theo placing a steamy cup of liquid gold in front of me and

I almost orgasm from the sight of my oversized mug of coffee.

Tobias comes in and sits next to me and pinches Thaddeus's cheeks. Suddenly Theo turns the

radio up and the host is talking about weather change patterns and about a freak hurricane that

swept through the city. We all look at each before looking at Thaddeus, who still had his cheeks

pinched between Tobias's fingers. I kiss his nose.

“Well, didn't realise it reached the city.”

“Yeah, had some freak talking about conspiracy theories ring up the station earlier, claiming the

government is behind the severe weather patterns,” Theo said. I raised an eyebrow, obviously an

eccentric nutter.

Theo hands a coffee to Tobias before he pulls out a highchair from the pantry. “When did you

get that?” I ask as he takes Thaddeus from me.

“This morning. Got him this too,” he says holding up porridge packet. We all watch as Thaddeus

tries figuring out what to do with his tongue as Theo pops a teaspoon in his mouth. He spits it out.

Theo tries again, and this time most of it stays in his mouth as he swallows it down.

“Good bubba?” Theo asks. Thaddeus flashes a grin before opening his mouth, wanting more.

Theo feeds him his porridge while we help ourselves to the platter of food Theo made. Hearing tires

on the driveway, we wait before hearing the front door open.

Caroline and Josiah walk in and Caroline makes herself and Josiah some coffee before joining

us for breakfast, I grab them some plates before sitting back down. “You ready for today?” Josiah

asks while grabbing some bacon. I chew my food and swallow before answering.

“Yeah, just a little nervous about what happens after. Christopher is going to be pissed,” I tell

him.

“You don't need to worry about him, I can handle Christopher. You just worry about Bianca; you

have a son to come home too” He replies and I nod. Considering how much Josiah hated me when

we first meet, we have grown pretty close.

“And don't worry about Thaddeus he will be fine with me” Caroline adds. I know she won't let

anything happen to him. It was only yesterday she was threatening to eat an entire coven of witches

for him. I chuckle at the memory.

“Well, I better go shower and get dressed, don't think the council will approve of me walking in

wearing Winnie the Pooh, pyjamas I say looking down at my clothes. Getting up, Tobias and Theo

watch me leave and I can feel they're nervous for me. As I reach the stairs, I hear Caroline speaking

to them.

“Go on join your mate, she may say she is fine, but I can tell you both aren't” I hear their chairs

screech before I hear their feet on the floorboards. Walking into the bathroom, I strip off and a few

seconds later they walk in doing the same. I step under the stream of the water and start washing

myself.

“Quickie?” asks Theo a cheeky grin on his face as he tugs me to him.

“Um, no, your parents are downstairs” I tell him. He sulks and I turn my back on him as Tobias

steps in.

“You're nervous” He states.

“No, I am fine. You two are nervous, and I don't know why when I have one thing Bianca

doesn't. Magic,” I say, letting electricity zap between my fingers before zapping him softly.

“Hey electricity and water don't mix,” he shrieks.

“I have control, I learned a lot yesterday,” I tell them.

Theo pours shampoo on my head before rubbing it in. “That's what worries me. You used a lot

of magic yesterday, we can feel the darkness running through you, trying to find a way in,” Theo

says behind me. He was right. The darkness was stronger than it had ever been, moulding around

me, looking for a weakness. After yesterday though, I had something I didn't have before with my

magic and that was confidence. I knew I could control it now, knew my limits and knew how to use

it

When we finished our showers, I grabbed my towel before going to the walk in and grabbing

some jeans and a blouse. Putting on my lace bra and panties, I then chucked my jeans on and

blouse.

“You going to wear that to a fight to the death?” Theo says shaking his head.

“Want heels too?" he asks.

“Yeah, but the black ones, the white ones make my feet ache,” I tell him, and he looks at me like

I am insane.

“Or I could grab them myself,” I tell him, walking past him and grabbing them.

“You sure you wouldn't be more comfortable in joggers and track pants?” asks Tobias. I shake

my head before walking past them and heading downstairs.

Theo and Tobias came down a few minutes later, Tobias dressed in a suit while Theo dressed in

casual jean and a black shirt. Josiah comes into the lounge-room keys in hand. “Ready?” he asks,

and I take a breath.

“Yep, just let me say goodbye to Thaddeus.”

I quickly kiss his little face, and Theo and Tobias do the same. Caroline comes over and hugs me

tightly before letting go.

“Put that wench in her place,” she whispers.

Driving to the council took a few hours. When we pulled up at the abandoned school, I didn't

even hesitate walking straight through the gates to be greeted by Percy.

“Imogen,” he says coming up to wrap me in a hug. He came up to my waist, so it was a little

strange when he hugged my leg. I patted him on the back and Theo stepped through the portal

and chuckled when he saw Percy hanging off me.

“Percy, get your hands of my woman,” he jokes, tossing him his bag of candy. Walking into the

entrance, I notice the court is empty. No stalls, all the shops shut and no people lurking in the

streets. I see Bianca wearing running clothes that fit her figure perfectly. She looked like a barbie

doll with her pink outfit and blonde hair. Josiah pulled me towards the court. She didn't even look in

our direction instead, I watch her dart over to Percy and bend down to whisper something in his ear

too low for me to hear. I see shock go across his face before he nods his head. Turning around, I

follow Josiah who takes me into the council

Tarina greets us before telling us the challenge will happen in the quad outside, which explains

why everything was shut down. Tarina then hands Tobias and Theo some papers with a pen that

sparkles. I can feel its magic as they sign the documents, their writing glowing before settling.

“What's that?” I ask Josiah.

“It's a treaty agreement. If you die, it will bind Theo and Tobias not to retaliate. If they do, they

will be sentenced to death,” he explains. My stomach drops at the thought. Walking out toward the

quad, I find there have been seats placed on the side and Christopher and the rest of the council

have taken their seats. When we walk out Tarina follows handing the documents to Christopher who

glances at it before a smile appears on his face. He claps his hands loudly and Theo squeezes my

hand before kissing my temple.

Tobias comes over to me and rubs my arms. “You got this,” he says looking me in the eye

before kissing my forehead

Bianca comes out and stands just at the doors. Tarina walks to the centre before motioning for

me and Bianca to step forward. We have to shake hands and I feel Bianca grip my hand tightly,

trying to hurt me. I squeeze back and she rips her hand from my grip. Tarina then takes a seat and

Bianca and I step back from each other. Bianca smiles cockily, and I return her smile before letting

my eyes flash gold. Her smile instantly falling when she realises, I have my magic again. She steps

back, frightened

“What are you waiting for start” Christopher yells to her. Bianca shakes herself out before

lunging forward. I decide to play with her for a bit. Sidestepping at the last minute, she spins on her

heels before trying to punch me. One thing I was good at with Theo and Tobias was predicting their

moves, Bianca was no different. Snapping my head back, her hand hitting air as I bring my foot up

and kick her in the stomach. Bianca goes flying backwards and I stalk towards her. She gets up and

runs at me before she can touch me though. I lift my hand, palm up before slamming my palm

down. Bianca lifts off the ground before hitting the ground face first with a loud thud.

I hear Christopher gasp when he realises I have my magic back. The distraction costing me, as

Bianca's fist connects with the side of my face. My head whipping to the side before she kicks me in

the stomach. Sending me hurtling into the brick wall of the foyer. The impact knocking the air out of

my lungs and I grunt before pulling myself onto my hands and knees. I don't even have time to get

up when I see her running at me. I feel my magic surge through my palms, sickly sweet, I draw on

the darkness, taking a little of it before hitting the ground with my palms. The ground lifting in a

wave, making her lose her footing.

Black vines growing from the earth underneath the stone ground, wrapping like tentacles

around her. She struggles against the vines trapping her and holding her in place. She screams

loudly as the thorns pierce her skin, long and sharp, moving over her body like a snake.

“She can't use magic,” Christopher screamed angrily when he realised Bianca was losing. I

ignore him walking toward her. When he gets to his feet protesting again. Mara stands, blocking

him from the fight.

“No one said there were any rules, Christopher, now sit down, you don't want to anger me,” she

warns, flashing her fangs. He sits back down when he realises the entire council was eyeing him

angrily. Mara nods toward me to continue.

Bianca squirms in the vine's grip. Trying to break free from their restraints. I casually stroll over

to her, stopping a few metres off. Now that she was restrained, I felt bad. I hated her, but was I any

better than her, if I kill her. Killing her won't bring my mother back or my life back. Not that I wanted

it back now, anyway. The only thing separating me from her was that I wasn't a murderer.

“Finish it" Screams Christopher angrily. I shake my thoughts away. Deciding to let the darkness

take over. I feel my magic zap and crackle between my fingers. Electricity sparks and I roll my arms,

creating an enormous ball of electricity. Bianca watches, horrified, and 1 look to Theo and Tobias.

Both of them turn their heads and I could feel that they didn’t want to watch me kill my sister, kill

their ex-wife. They didn't enjoy seeing me like this, yet if I didn't do it, I know I forfeit the challenge.

Josiah nodded to me and I turn back to Bianca. Her blue eyes the same as mine looking back at me

pleading.

I raise my hands, planning to incinerate her when she screams.

“It was his idea. I didn't want any part of it. I just wanted my father back.” I falter hearing her

pleading.

“Who's idea?” Josiah and Mara say at the same time getting up from their seats. Electricity

zapping loudly as I feel my magic building still, while I hold it between my hands.

“Christopher's, please Imogen, you don't want to kill me. I know you don't,” she pleads looking

at me with tears in her eyes. I snap my head toward Christopher's direction, but he is suddenly

gone.

“Where did he go?” I ask and everyone looks to Christopher's seat which is now empty.

“Speak?” Mara demands placing her hands on her hips and glaring at Bianca. Theo places his

hand on my shoulder before jumping back having been electrocuted by my magic running over my

skin. 1 let the magic go, let it fizzles out while we figure out what is going on.

“Christopher didn't want Josiah getting a seat at the table. We made a deal; he would tell me

where my father was if I got him to take his seat back at the table. He refused, Christopher said he

wouldn't come back because of your mother and that if I got rid of her, he would come back. So, I

killed her. I am sorry, Imogen. I can't blame him entirely. I did it and I will admit I enjoyed watching

you suffer from it. I was jealous of what you had with Tobias and Theo. Jealous that our father

dumped my mother for yours.” I feel my anger rise hearing her confess.

“When my father came back, he refused the position, and I gave it to Alaric which angered

Christopher so he told me to kill dad and he would take care of Alaric and I could take the position.”

“Guards find Christopher,” Mara yelled. Suddenly men come running out of the empty shops

and took off through the streets.

“Christopher told Alaric information about your wife, that he received from me. I was spying on

you when you both left. I followed you, then Josiah killed Alaric for Christopher. He knew you would

fly off the deep end and kill him and he could also get revenge on you for what Theo did to his son,

by you getting punished,” she tells Josiah.

“I can't believe you killed your own father for a place on the council” Mara boomed before

stepping forward and slapping her across the face. Bianca spat out blood and coughed from the

impact, huge claw marks scratched her face from the blow.

“Find Christopher” Mara said talking to the rest of the council members they nodded but

stopped when an unfamiliar voice echoed through the quad. One I hadn't heard before. Spinning

around, I heard Tobias growl along with Theo and Josiah. I looked in the direction they were

looking.

“I have him here,” said the stranger's voice only when I laid eyes on him. He wasn't no stranger.

Percy walked in with another man who had Christopher by the back of his suit. He lay unconscious

while Percy and the man got closer, dragging Christopher with them. He stopped in front of me,

and I looked at him in shock.

“Hey Immy,” he said, and I could see the emotion he was trying to hide behind his eyes.

“Dad?"00000000