Kingdom of the Wicked (Kingdom of the Wicked, #1)(87)

The final demon in the room was the traitor prince himself, Envy.

“Where’s Alexei?” I asked, not wanting any other surprises.

“He’s back in the kingdom, watching over House Envy until I return.” Envy lounged on Nonna’s rocking chair, his boots kicked up onto our island. Dirt splattered the stone top. The very place where my sister used to labor over potions and drinks. Something dark and vicious ignited inside me at the sight. Envy didn’t appear concerned. “Unless you have the other amulet, pet, this visit is most unwelcome.”

Maybe it was the simmering rage I’d tried smothering after my encounter with Wrath, or the sight of my loved ones huddled on the floor in our own home, or pure recklessness, but I’d had it. I marched over and smacked Envy’s boots off our island. “Show a little respect, your highness. This might be how you treat things in your hellhole, but this is our home.”

Envy’s blade was at my throat before I had time to blink. “You asked Wrath about the soul, didn’t you? I imagine you didn’t like what he had to say.” He pressed the dagger a little harder. I felt a slight prick as it pierced my skin. I held still, not daring to breathe. “Do not take your own wrath out on me, or I will turn this blade loose on your grandmother. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as watching a witch bleed. Especially one who—”

“Silentium.”

The spell rang through the room as if Envy’s words had been cut off with the swish of a knife. Nonna rose up from the ground, a faint purple glow surrounding her. I couldn’t believe it. She’d forced the demon prince into silence. She clutched her cornicello and began chanting a spell I’d never heard. I stared, unblinking, as her voice grew stronger. I didn’t know she’d healed. The demons didn’t seem to realize it, either, an error they were about to pay for. Nonna drew an image in the space before her, and a glowing, unearthly cimaruta charm appeared there.

I was so stunned by her show of power, I didn’t notice the glittering black portal forming behind Envy. My mouth opened in shock. Holy goddess above . . .

The purple light surrounding Nonna ended in tips of silver now. Envy, for the first time, looked worried. He took a small step backward, eyes flashing toward his demons, but Nonna yanked a handful of dried fennel from her skirt pocket and whispered an enchantment that locked his feet in place.

A flick of her wrist and black thread spooled into the air before the prince of Hell, then slithered toward his feet like serpents. The other two demons moved toward Envy, only to be driven back by black shadows spun from the spell. I could barely hear over the pounding of my heart when I saw what my grandmother had done. She’d magically sewn his feet to the floor. Now he couldn’t speak, or move. His eyes widened enough to show the whites.

Nonna returned to her spell. “A key to lock, a moon to guide.”

My attention flew back to the magical image of a rue branch as each of the five stalks began shifting and stretching into different shapes. A key and a full moon formed at the end of two branches. I suddenly knew exactly what Nonna was doing. She caught my eye.

“Now, Emilia!”

I held on to Vittoria’s cornicello and focused on the glowing cimaruta, feeding Nonna’s spell with my own power. “A dagger to kill, a snake to die.”

Two more images appeared on the glowing charm.

Nonna nodded in approval, and we said the final part of the spell together, our voices ringing as a swirling vortex of wind howled inside the portal.

“Blessed owl go forth and fly.”

The final image burst at the end of the cimaruta. Now all five charms pulsed with purple light. Nonna walked over to where Envy stood frozen, leaned in, and whispered something that made his eyes widen even more.

Then she planted both hands on his chest and sent him straight to Hell. The two remaining demons dove through the portal after him. Nonna dropped her amulet and slumped against the island. The cimaruta faded away. A breath later, the portal closed. Silence blanketed the room. I kind of felt like falling to my knees, or throwing up.

My attention shifted to my parents who were still in that foggy, near-unconscious state. Claudia was also slumped over, her eyes shut as if in sleep. Whatever magic Envy had used on them must need time to wear off. Nonna crossed the tiny kitchen and plopped into her rocking chair. “Grab the wine from the ice box and take a seat, bambina. We have much to discuss and not much time. That spell won’t last for long. I have a feeling he’ll be back.”

I stared at my grandmother. She just drew a glowing cimaruta and banished a prince of Hell to the underworld. And instead of looking drained, her eyes were alight. In fact, if I looked closely, I swore little twinkling stars shined in her irises. “What kind of magic was that?”

“The kind that will demand payment. Now get me the wine.” I poured two glasses and handed one to Nonna. She took a deep pull and exhaled. While she sipped from her glass again, I set mine down and pulled my hair back. The spell we used had made me break a sweat. Nonna’s attention snapped to my neck, her color draining. “You’ve been Marked.”

“By Envy’s blade?” I rubbed at the place on my neck where he’d pressed his dagger. “I didn’t think he’d cut me that deeply.”

“No, bambina. You’ve been Marked by a prince of the underworld in a different way. It’s supposedly a high honor among their ruling Houses. Very few are given them.”