Ten - Shattered Illusions

Shattered Illusions

Carrie's pulse pounded in her ears as she slowly regained consciousness in the cold, sterile hospital room. The darkness of night wrapped the space in shadows, and the beeping of machines felt like distant, hollow sounds in her mind. She tried to sit up, but her body ached with the memory of what happened. Her fingers tightened on the blanket as the fear began to set in again. Kai, she thought. He tried to kill her.

The memory of the blade sinking into her side, the chill of his breath against her ear—it all came rushing back. She couldn't stop the panic from creeping in. Her breath hitched as she remembered why she was here, but she had to keep it together.

She had to tell someone. She had to make sure that they knew the truth, no matter what it cost her.

She reached out to grab the call button but froze when she heard a soft, tentative knock at the door. Before she could respond, the door creaked open, and a nurse stepped in. The woman had graying hair, a tired, almost resigned look in her eyes, and a nursing cap perched atop her head. She walked over, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"How are you feeling, dear?" she asked, her voice warm but laced with the exhaustion of someone who'd worked far too many hours. "You're awake. That's a good sign."

Carrie wanted to tell her everything, wanted to scream that she was in danger, but instead, she just managed a shaky, "Where am I?"

The nurse's eyes softened with sympathy. "You're in the hospital, sweetie. You were found unconscious on the street, bleeding pretty badly." She paused, scanning Carrie's face. "Do you know what happened?"

Carrie nodded slowly, her eyes narrowing as her heart thundered in her chest. She couldn't let this go. Not anymore.

Kai and Abbie had to be stopped.

A few hours later, Abbie and Kai sat together in their classroom, waiting for the lesson to begin. The teacher had stepped out unexpectedly, leaving the class in a limbo of quiet chatter and restless anticipation. Abbie leaned closer to Kai, breaking the silence. "Did you study for the test?" she asked, her tone light but curious.

Kai leaned back in his chair, smirking. "I've got better things to do."

She raised an eyebrow, amused. "And what are those 'better things'?"

Kai sighed, casting a glance toward the door as though willing the teacher to reappear and save him from the conversation. Almost as if on cue, the door swung open—but it wasn't just the teacher who entered. Two police officers followed closely behind, their expressions grim, their presence heavy.

Abbie stiffened, her stomach dropping. "What are they doing here?" she whispered to Kai, her voice tight with unease.

He shrugged, his casual demeanor betraying nothing. "Guess we're about to find out."

The teacher raised a hand, motioning for silence. "Settle down, please," she instructed, her voice strained.

The class quickly obeyed, their murmurs dissolving into a tense hush. All eyes locked on the officers as one of them stepped forward. His gaze swept the room before landing on Abbie and Kai.

"We're here for Abigail Warren and Malachai Parker," the officer announced. His voice was steady, yet it carried an edge that made Abbie's heart pound.

Her chest tightened as the weight of his words hit her. How did they know? The question looped frantically in her mind, but no answer came. Gasps rippled through the class, and every pair of eyes turned to them.

"Stand up, please," the officer instructed.

Abbie's legs felt like lead as she rose, and beside her, Kai moved with unnerving calm. They were swiftly cuffed, the cold metal biting into their wrists. Whispers erupted among their classmates, but Abbie barely heard them over the roar of her own thoughts.

The walk to the police car was a blur, her body moving mechanically as fear took over. The officers guided them into the back seat and shut the doors with a decisive click. One officer leaned in briefly to explain their destination—the police station—but Abbie barely registered his words. When he closed the door and stepped away, the silence in the car felt suffocating.

Abbie stared at her cuffed hands, her throat tightening. "Why aren't you scared?" she asked Kai, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kai turned to her, his expression calm, almost detached. "Do you trust me?" he asked, his voice low but firm.

She blinked, confused. "What does that mean?"

He leaned in slightly, repeating the question with a quiet intensity. "Do. You. Trust me?"

Her heart raced as she searched his eyes. There was something there—something unshakable. Despite everything, she nodded. "Of course."

Kai shifted, turning his body toward her. "Then don't freak out," he said, his voice carrying an edge of warning.

Before she could ask what he meant, he adjusted his hands and touched hers. The contact sent a sharp sting through her, the sensation unlike anything she'd felt before. She gasped, instinctively pulling back, but the cuffs held her in place. "What are you doing?" she hissed, panic creeping into her voice.

Kai didn't answer immediately, his focus entirely on what he was doing. Her skin tingled as if energy was being pulled from her, leaving a faint ache in its wake. When he finally looked up, his eyes carried a glint of something both familiar and entirely foreign.

"What are you?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Kai's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "The guy who's about to get us out of this mess."

Before Abbie could respond, one of the officers glanced back at them through the rearview mirror, his sharp eyes narrowing. "Quiet back there," he barked, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The police car rumbled along the road, every bump jostling Abbie's nerves further. She sat rigid, her thoughts spiraling as she replayed every moment that led up to this. Meanwhile, Kai leaned back against the seat, his composure as unshaken as ever. It was maddening how calm he looked, as though this was just another routine inconvenience.

"What now?" Abbie whispered, her voice trembling. She glanced toward the officers in the front seat, careful to keep her voice low.

Kai tilted his head toward her, his lips barely moving as he spoke. "I told you—don't freak out."

Abbie bit her lip, forcing herself to keep still even as the panic swelled in her chest. "What are you going to do?"

Kai gave her a sidelong glance, his expression unreadable. "Something they won't even know happened," he murmured, his voice laced with quiet confidence.

He closed his eyes for a moment, drawing in a slow, deliberate breath. Abbie felt it before she saw it—an almost imperceptible shift in the air, like the static before a storm. Kai began to chant softly, his voice barely audible over the hum of the car's engine.

"Memoria falsa, veritas evanescat... Accusa mendax, alibi stabilis sit."

The Latin rolled off his tongue effortlessly, the words weaving together like threads in an intricate tapestry. Abbie felt a strange pulse emanating from him, a ripple of energy that seemed to press outward and settle over the car. She stared at him, her heart pounding, but he didn't acknowledge her gaze. His focus was entirely on the spell.

The officers in the front seat shifted slightly, their postures relaxing as though a sudden calm had washed over them. One of them rubbed his temples, muttering something under his breath, while the other frowned, his brow furrowing in thought.

As the car pulled into the parking lot of the police station, the officer in the passenger seat turned to his partner. "You know," he began, his tone hesitant, "something doesn't add up here."

The driver nodded slowly, his expression clouded. "Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing. The evidence... it's shaky at best. And that witness? Carrie—her story's full of holes."

Abbie's breath hitched as she listened, her eyes darting to Kai. He kept his gaze forward, his face a mask of calm indifference, but she could see the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Honestly, it doesn't make sense to hold these two," the first officer continued, his voice growing more resolute. "We've got nothing solid. No proof. We're wasting our time."

The driver sighed, his shoulders slumping. "You're right. Let's cut them loose."

Abbie's heart leaped into her throat, disbelief washing over her. She looked at Kai, her mind racing with questions, but his focus remained steady.

The car pulled into the police station, the low rumble of the engine cutting off as the officers stepped out. With deliberate movements, they opened the back doors, their previously stern expressions now tinged with an odd mix of discomfort and regret. "Sorry for the inconvenience," the first officer said gruffly, his tone unusually apologetic. "You're free to go. Just... stay out of trouble."

Abbie stared at them, stunned into silence as they unlocked her cuffs. She stumbled slightly as she stepped out, her mind struggling to process what had just happened.

Kai followed, rolling his shoulders as though the entire ordeal had been a minor inconvenience. "Thanks, officers," he said with a casual nod, his voice laced with subtle sarcasm that only Abbie seemed to catch.

As they walked away from the station, Abbie barely managed to keep pace, her thoughts racing. She finally snapped, her voice low but sharp. "What the hell just happened back there?"

Kai glanced at her, his smirk widening into a self-satisfied grin. "Magic," he said, as if that single word explained everything.

Abbie froze in her tracks, staring at him in disbelief. "Magic?" she repeated, her tone incredulous. "All this time, you've been a witch, and you didn't think to mention it? And you just—what—poofed your way out of being arrested?"

Kai turned, his hands in his pockets and his expression maddeningly calm. "Not poofed—planted. Memories, to be specific." He tilted his head, his voice dripping with mock patience. "They think Carrie made it all up, and there's no evidence to tie us to anything. Which, to be fair, is true. But now they're absolutely convinced of it."

Abbie stared at him, her head spinning. "Carrie?" she asked, her voice rising. "Brian's sister? What does she have to do with any of this?"

Kai paused mid-step, his smirk softening into something more thoughtful. He turned to face Abbie, hands still casually tucked into his pockets, but his demeanor had shifted—calmer, more serious.

"Alright," he said, his voice dropping to a quieter tone. "You want the truth? Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you. It's messy, and it's not the kind of story you can unhear."

Abbie crossed her arms, glaring at him. "Try me."

Kai took a breath, his gaze flickering to the empty street ahead. "Alright, brace yourself," he began, "You remember those books you 'lost' and I just happened to find? Yeah, well, Carrie got her hands on them." He tilted his head slightly, his expression thoughtful. "Don't ask me how. My guess? She overheard something. Got curious. And, of course, she figured out what you are, what we did." He paused, his lips curling into a smirk. "So, I did what any reasonable person would do. I stabbed her. Took the books back. Thought that'd be the end of it. But... surprise, surprise—she survived."

Abbie stood frozen in the middle of the street, her mind racing, her emotions flipping from one extreme to the next. She could feel the anger bubbling up, her fists clenched at her sides. She wasn't even sure where to start—everything was falling apart around her, and it was all because of him.

"You stabbed her?" Abbie's voice was sharp, her tone cold and cutting as she glared at Kai. "You stabbed Carrie? You—"

Kai's expression didn't change. He was still too damn calm, too detached, like none of this was a big deal. "Yeah, I did," he said, his voice nonchalant. "She had to be stopped. She knew too much, and I couldn't let her use that against us. It's nothing personal, just business."

Abbie felt the blood drain from her face. "Nothing personal?" she repeated, her voice trembling with fury. "You think stabbing someone is nothing? You could've—"

She was cut off as the anger took over, her chest tightening. The weight of everything was crashing down on her. She had just been dragged to a police station, handcuffed, terrified for her life—and now this. "And you didn't even think to tell me about it? You just—" She gestured wildly, the words spilling out in a rush. "And you kept acting like everything was fine, like it didn't matter!"

Kai looked at her, his smirk never faltering. "It didn't matter," he said, his tone smooth and casual, almost too much so. "The important part was keeping the secret of what you did safe."

Abbie's blood boiled, her chest tightening. "You're not serious?" she snapped, disbelief lacing her words. "You lied to me, Kai. You lied about everything!" Her head spun. The betrayal burned through her like wildfire. "I thought you were just... some messed-up guy with a messed-up past. But now you're telling me you've been—" Her throat closed up as the weight of it hit her. "What are you, Kai?"

He exhaled slowly, his cool gaze never leaving her. "What I said," he replied, voice dropping lower. "I siphon," he said, almost too casually. "I take magic from others. That's how I work. I wasn't born with magic, so I take it. Simple as that."

Abbie's mind was still reeling from the stabbing, but this new revelation hit her like a punch to the gut. She took a step back, her body trembling, her hands shaking as she tried to process it. "You've just been taking magic from people? From me?"

Kai's expression softened for a fraction of a second, but his calm demeanor still didn't reassure her. "Not from you," he said quietly, though his words held little conviction.

Abbie's heart raced, the betrayal deeper than anything she'd ever felt. "So what, I'm just supposed to believe this? That you've been siphoning magic all this time, and you forgot to mention it?" Her voice cracked, the frustration tearing through her like a knife.

Kai sighed, his gaze flicking away briefly before settling back on her. "I didn't forget," he said quietly. "I didn't tell you because you wouldn't have understood. I've got enough problems as it is, Abbie. You didn't need to be dragged into this."

Abbie blinked, fighting back the surge of anger that now felt darker, sharper. "So what now?" she demanded, her voice tight and edged with frustration. "I just have to accept that you're a liar? That you've been playing me this whole time?"

Kai shifted slightly, avoiding her gaze for a moment. When he met her eyes again, his face was harder, more guarded. "It's not like that," he said, his tone quieter. "I didn't lie to hurt you, Abbie. I lied because it was easier. Because you wouldn't get it."

Abbie's laugh was bitter, laced with disbelief. "You think I wouldn't get it?" she repeated, the incredulity in her voice sharp as a knife. "You think I wouldn't understand what it means to be someone who can't control their own power? I turn into a goddamn wolf every full moon, Kai! My bones break, I tear through my own skin—and you think I wouldn't understand?"

Kai's expression faltered for just a moment, like he was seeing her for the first time. But the walls quickly went back up, his gaze unreadable. "It's not the same."

The words hit her like a brick, but before she could respond, a new question slipped out, the curiosity still battling with her anger. "Is Jo... is she a witch too?"

Kai met her gaze, his face betraying nothing. "Yeah," he said, a flicker of something almost unreadable in his eyes. "My whole family is. We're part of the Gemini Coven."

Abbie's breath hitched. "The Gemini Coven?" she repeated, her voice low. "Your family... they're all witches?"

"Yeah," he said again, his tone flat. "They're all real witches. I am the only one that siphons."

Abbie swallowed hard, the pieces falling into place, but it still didn't make sense. "So you're telling me, your whole family is witches, and you've been keeping that from me too?"

Kai paused before answering, his gaze growing distant. When he finally spoke, his voice was softer, laced with something that almost sounded like resignation. "It's complicated," he said quietly. "My family is very protective of their privacy. They don't want others knowing. It's... easier this way."

The words hit Abbie, but the anger inside her had shifted. Now it was replaced by a deep, aching disappointment. She could feel the cold fury starting to melt away, replaced by something much quieter. Her heart still ached, but the shock was beginning to wear off. She exhaled slowly, taking a step back.

Abbie stood there for a long moment, her arms crossed tightly as she processed everything Kai had said. Her heart was still racing, the emotional whirlwind leaving her breathless. She wanted to scream, to lash out at him for all the lies and secrets, but somehow, the anger was starting to ebb away. The betrayal still stung, but there was something about his calm, collected presence that kept her from completely losing it.

Kai's eyes softened for a moment, a rare flicker of vulnerability passing through his guarded expression. Abbie shook her head, her breath steadying as the tension in her chest slowly faded.

"You know," she started, her voice light with a hint of playful mockery, "I never asked you, but is Malachai your full name, or is that just what your mother calls you when you're in trouble?"

The words slipped out before she could stop them, and she caught the slight twitch of Kai's lips as he rolled his eyes.

"Malachai?" he drawled, raising an eyebrow. "Is that how you're going to play this? You just discovered my real name, and now you're gonna start calling me that, huh?"

Abbie grinned, leaning in slightly. "Well, I never knew your name was so... dramatic. Malachai. It sounds like you're one step away from summoning demons or something."

Kai smirked, his eyes glinting with that usual mix of charm and annoyance. "You've been calling me Kai this whole time. Didn't know you were such a fan of formalities" He shrugged, shifting his posture nonchalantly. "But fine, call me whatever you want. Not like it matters."

Abbie chuckled, her anger fading completely now, replaced by a sense of ease in their banter. "I'll stick with Kai for now," she teased, her eyes sparkling. "But don't get too comfortable. Malachai has a nice ring to it. Maybe I'll pull it out when I need to remind you of all your secrets."

Kai shot her a sidelong glance, his expression wry. "You do that. And maybe I'll start calling you Abigail. You know, to keep you on your toes."

She laughed again, shaking her head. "Fair enough, Malachai. Fair enough."

The air between them lightened, and for a brief moment, it felt like things were almost normal again. But the thought of Carrie—and what she might do next—crept back into Abbie's mind, sobering her up.

"So, what now?" she asked, her voice turning serious again. "What are we going to do about Carrie? She knows too much."

Kai exhaled sharply, his eyes narrowing as his expression shifted back to the familiar mask of calculation. "She'll probably seek revenge. I wouldn't be surprised if she tries to use what she knows against us." His tone was dark, but his confidence remained unwavering. "But don't worry. I'll think of a plan . She won't get the chance to ruin things."

Abbie gave him a pointed look, still unsure. "You always have a plan, huh? I guess I'll just have to trust you... again."

Kai's lips curved into a smirk. "Yeah, you will. Just don't start expecting me to explain everything. I don't have the time for endless explanations."

Abbie rolled her eyes, though there was a hint of amusement in her voice. "Yeah, sure. You're real good at keeping secrets, Malachai."

Kai's grin widened, but there was a flicker of something deeper in his eyes. "It's what I do best."

The conversation drifted into silence as they began walking. Abbie could feel the weight of the events of the day pressing on her, but she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of calm in the way things were ending.

When they reached the point where they had to part ways, Kai paused, glancing at her with a look that was almost too serious. "Hey, Abbie," he said, his voice quieter now. "I'm sorry about the way things went down today. It wasn't supposed to happen like this. I should've told you everything sooner."

Abbie stopped in her tracks, surprised by the sincerity in his voice, even though it was laced with that familiar snark. She met his gaze, her expression softening, despite the lingering frustration.

"Yeah, you should've," she replied, her tone quieter than before. "But... I guess I'll forgive you. For now."

Kai gave her a small nod, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then he smirked again, the familiar cockiness returning. "I'll take it."

Abbie couldn't help but chuckle as she turned to leave. "Just don't expect me to go easy on you next time, Malachai."

"Deal," Kai called after her, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'll be ready for whatever you throw at me."

Once Kai got home and stepped through the door, Jo was already waiting. The news of their arrest had spread like wildfire through the school. By the time the final bell had rung, Jo had heard enough whispers to piece together what had happened. Her brother, Kai, the person she had been watching closely for weeks, was involved. And something inside her, something dark and instinctive, told her that this time, things were different.

She didn't waste a moment. Her voice was sharp, her gaze piercing. "You did it, didn't you? You killed Brian Cooper."

Kai's lips curled into a sly grin as he leaned against the doorframe, the casual amusement in his eyes almost mocking. "Murder's a bit strong, don't you think? But yeah, I guess you could say that," he replied, his tone almost too light, as if the death of another person was nothing more than an inconvenient detail.

Jo's stomach tightened, the pieces of the puzzle clicking into place. She had known something wasn't right—her brother's strange behavior, the way he had been slipping further into shadows. But this? This was more than she had ever expected.

"Did you siphon magic?" she demanded, her voice sharp and demanding now. She wasn't interested in games.

Kai barely lifted his gaze, his smirk still present, though now laced with an undercurrent of arrogance. "Maybe. Could've been. Who's keeping track?"

Jo's heart skipped a beat. "How else would they have let you go as innocent?"

A beat passed, tension thick in the air. Then, the realization hit her like a hammer. Her breath caught in her throat. She took a step back, her voice barely a whisper, "From Abbie? She's a witch?"

Kai raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her assumption. "Nope. Not a witch."

Jo froze, the words tumbling through her mind as she processed the new, unsettling information. "Then what the hell is she?" she asked, more to herself than to him. It didn't take long for the truth to surface, dark and undeniable. Her voice faltered as she asked, "A werewolf?"

Kai's grin spread, darker now, his voice thick with something dangerous. "Bingo. And, yeah, she killed Brian."

Jo's legs nearly buckled beneath her as the world seemed to tilt. Abbie, the girl she had started to trust—someone she had thought might become a friend—was a murderer. The weight of that revelation crashed down on her with the force of a wrecking ball. Her stomach churned, and for a moment, she could barely breathe.

"Oh, precious Abbie, not so innocent after all," Kai teased, his voice smooth and satisfied, like he was savoring every bit of her discomfort.

Jo clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. The reality of it was too much to bear. How could she have been so blind? How could she have let herself trust someone so dangerous? Her thoughts spiraled, but her voice remained steady, despite the rage and disbelief boiling inside her. "You're siphoning her magic?"

Kai didn't even hesitate, that same smug grin never faltering. "Sometimes. If I need to."

Jo recoiled, her head swimming. This was bigger than anything she had imagined. It wasn't just her brother. It was a conspiracy, a betrayal, a web of lies and power. She couldn't just stand by and do nothing. She had to report it. She had to make sure this madness stopped.

But before she could speak, Kai's voice sliced through the tension, cold and final. "I know what you're thinking, Jo," he said, his tone sending a chill down her spine. "And you're not going to tell anyone."

Jo straightened, locking eyes with him, her jaw set with defiance. "And what's going to stop me?" she shot back, her voice unwavering. Despite the fear creeping up her spine, despite the power she knew he wielded, she refused to be intimidated.

Kai's eyes darkened, his smile slipping into something far more menacing. "I think you know," he said, his voice low, the weight of the threat hanging in the air like smoke.

Jo's heart pounded in her chest. She knew. She knew exactly what he was capable of. The power, the manipulation, the control. It wasn't just physical strength—Kai had a way of breaking people, of bending them to his will.

A sigh left her lips, heavy with the burden of what needed to be done. There was no choice, not really. Not when faced with him. "Fine," she muttered, barely audible, her voice a whisper of resignation. "I won't tell."