by Tricia Barr
The prophecy.
But what could she do? She was no more prepared now than when she first learned of it. And then the murk in the water outside cleared, just for a moment, and Myreen caught a glimpse of Draven, confident in his new powers. It sickened her what he’d done...
And in that moment, she knew what she had to do.
Draven was far to powerful. It was time he met his match.
Myreen scanned the faces of the crowd, not resting until she found what she was looking for. Leif's pale skin and dark hair stood in stark contrast to the bustle of shifters scrambling to defend their home. But he was wearing a shifter army-issued uniform, and he was walking alongside the last person she ever expected: General Dracul.
Myreen pushed through the crowd until she reached her target. She laid a hand on Leif's arm, and he turned to look at her, concern in his blue eyes. She was struck by how unchanged he was, the photo of him in Kol’s history book, though aged, could’ve been taken yesterday.
“I need your help. Come with me.”
Leif's brows creased, but he nodded. He turned his head to address the general. “Eduard, I'll be back in a moment.”
Lord Dracul nodded, his lips pulled into a tight line.
Myreen found the first empty room she could and pulled Leif in. “I need you to change me.”
Confusion flitted across his face, slowly replaced by horror as he realized what she was asking. “No,” he said, shaking his head emphatically.
“Please. This is our only chance to defeat Draven.” There was the hint of a whine in her voice, but she needed him to change her. If he didn’t there was no one else who could.
“There's got to be another way,” Leif said, running a hand through his long, dark hair.
The Dome shook again, and a horrific creaking echoed throughout. Hissing followed, and the unmistakable patter of water on stone drove Myreen’s point home better than words ever could.
“Don't you see? There is no other way. I’m the only person capable of becoming a hybrid, but I can’t do it without you.”
“What if my bite kills you?” Leif asked, pacing the length of the room. “You can't do anything to help if you're dead.”
Myreen straightened her spine. “It will work. It has to.”
The prophecy she so dreaded now gave her strength. With every fiber of her being, she knew this was what was supposed to happen, what needed to happen if the shifters were going to survive and Draven was going to be defeated once and for all. Her stomach still churned at the thought of having to kill him, but this was so much bigger than her. Her friends were putting their lives on the line. This had to stop before she lost everything she loved.
She wouldn’t get another chance.
“I've never turned anyone before,” Leif said, his voice quiet and thick with emotion. “I never wanted to subject anyone else to this abhorrent life. Now you're asking me to throw all that aside on a gamble.”
Myreen bit her lip. She understood this was a gamble, but it was a gamble she had to take. “I was made for this. Draven thought he was creating the means to power, but he was creating his own undoing.”
“You should know that it took me three days from bite to fully formed vampire. We don’t know how long this will take. You could be incapacitated for hours or even days.”
Myreen shook her head, the movements becoming more vigorous the more Leif talked. “We can’t think like that. This has to be done. Please.”
Leif stared at her for a long moment, a pained look on his grave face.
There was another roar and a groaning creak, followed by an increase in the sound of leaking water, which bore the echo of many locations and the steady rush of a waterfall. Shrieks followed. Myreen gave Leif another pleading look.
Leif swallowed, then gave an almost imperceptible nod.
Myreen lifted the hair from her neck, focusing on the other wall, unable to face what was coming. The moments ticked by and she worried that Leif had changed his mind. But a moment later, cool hands gripped her arms.
“The most effective way to do this is to drain your whole body of blood. The venom will begin to take effect before that, and I’m not sure if the sedative venom will be enough to counter the effects of turning you. I’ll try to be as efficient and gentle as possible, but I can give you no guarantees.” He paused let out a long breath that tickled her neck. “Last chance to back out.”
“No. Do it.” Myreen had no idea what would happen, but she had faith this would all work out. She clung to that belief with every fiber of her being, silently praying that she wasn’t making the worst mistake of her life.
Pain lanced her neck, followed almost instantaneously by a sense of comfort and goodwill like she'd never experienced.
A sigh escaped her lips. This was a good feeling, one she never wanted to end. Her eyes became heavy, her body going limp as she sank into the bliss enveloping her. She could almost hear her mother’s voice calling to her, almost feel those soft arms encompassing her as her mind slid further and further away.
And then her body seized, snapping Myreen out of her happy memories. She cried out, and the pressure on her neck ceased, but the fire in her blood raged on. It felt almost like when the ursa in her had activated, but worse.
So. Much. Worse.
She barely felt the cold arms around her, keeping her from crashing to the floor. Her body convulsed, her teeth chattering so hard she thought she might chip a tooth. The burn flowing through her veins alternated between fire and ice, pricking and poking like thousands of tiny needles.
Myreen wanted to die, to end the pain once and for all. There was a rumble and a quake, and Myreen couldn’t tell if it came from her or the Dome.
She was falling apart.
She was ruined.
Despair blinked through the encroaching blackness, and Myreen reached for those edges, hoping to pull them close, to succumb to the nothingness that would end her suffering.
Just as suddenly as it had begun, it stopped. Myreen thought she must be dead. She swirled through the blissful blackness, quiet solitude blanketing her like an old friend.
But there was a creaking groan, and a fresh wave of screams.
Myreen willed her eyes to open, and they obeyed in a blink. The brightness of... well, everything, caused her to squint, but her eyes quickly adjusted. The world was in technicolor, clearer and more brilliant than she’d ever seen. Myreen bolted upright, and the arms holding her let go, Leif’s body stumbling backwards.
“Are you all right?” Myreen asked, speeding to Leif’s side as fast as she could think.
Leif reared away from her. “Whoa! You might need to slow down.”
Myreen shook her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize...”
She looked down at her hands, their porcelain features more perfect than she ever remembered. On a whim, she flicked a finger, and the long harpy talon emerged, making Leif flinch again.
“Sorry.” She retracted her talon, feeling for her ursa and mermaid as well. They were all still inside her.
Finally, she put a tentative hand to her mouth. Her teeth felt no different... until she willed them to come out, and her canines grew into wicked fangs.
“Are you all right?” Leif asked, scrutinizing her.
Myreen shook her head. “Yes? I think so.” Power surged through every muscle, her body zinging with energy. She could fly for days, climb peaks in mere minutes, destroy any obstacle in her path. Myreen looked at Leif with an awed smile. “It worked.”
Leif breathed a sigh of relief. “That looked painful.”
Myreen laughed. “It was worse. But it was worth it. I’m a hybrid now. I’m actually surprised it happened so quickly.”
Leif shrugged. “I’ve known Draven a long time, and he doesn’t do things in halves. I’m sure he did everything he could to make the hybrid process as quick and painless as possible.”
Myreen giggled. “Or maybe just quick. I can’t imagine anything could be worse than what I
just went through.”
The Dome rocked again, and Myreen threw out a hand to stabilize herself.
“We’re running out of time,” Leif said, meeting Myreen’s wide-eyed gaze. “It’s up to you now.”
Myreen took a steadying breath. “Thank you. For everything you’ve done for the shifters. For me.”
Leif nodded. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m sure others could use my help.”
“Of course.” Myreen swallowed as Leif left, then followed him into the chaos.
The kitsunes still held their positions on the edge, but the rising water inside the Dome made it difficult to send electricity anywhere without accidentally zapping anyone nearby.The mer outside were doing their best to dislodge the kraken, but the enormous tentacles were nearly immovable. Even as she watched, one arm swiped at a mer, pinning her to the Dome.
Myreen’s eyes widened, a gasp escaping her lips as she realized it was Trish pinned to the glass. Joanna and Alessandra rushed to her aid, but they weren’t enough. Trish’s eyes bulged, her face and body pressed awkwardly against the Dome.
Anger bubbled within Myreen, and she focused every ounce of it on the monster outside.
“Stop,” she commanded, the mellifluous tones of her voice rising above the din. The panic in the Dome ceased, but it was the kraken outside that caught her attention. The arms were disconnecting from the Dome, and they appeared to be shrinking. “You will no longer attack this place or these people,” she sang further, unwilling for any misunderstanding to hinder the kraken’s retreat.
A smile formed on Myreen’s lips. She was winning.
A cheer went up from the crowd, but it was another noise that caught her attention. The kraken reacted to the noise, slamming tentacles back to the glass, though it hesitated, turning its head as if looking for assurances as to what to do.
Confused, Myreen commanded the kraken again, and he began to relent. But the opposing sound came once more, the tug-of-war of wills evident in the jerking motions of the fluid creature.
This time she recognized the voice, despite the melodious chords that bolstered it. Chills erupted on her arms and went zinging down her spine.
It was a sound so much like her own voice.
It was a chilling song that bore no melody.
It was the voice of her father.
Draven had inherited her siren powers.
Chapter 51: Kenzie
Her magical call to Oberon over, Kenzie’s panic rose fast. Water seeped through the streets of Chicago as if someone was running a hose through a slip-and-slide, except there was no quick ride to the other end.
“Where is it coming from?” Kenzie asked Wes.
“Looks to me like the lake is emptying out.” He stood a short ways in front of her, squinting over the expanse of water.
“Into Chicago?” Kenzie asked in utter disbelief. How could this happen? Was the kraken displacing that much water? Sure, it was huge, but not quite huge enough for this. Right?
“That’s not natural. Look.” Wes pointed at the shore—or at least, where it had been just minutes before. Water lapped over the edge, looking like fingers raking at the land.
“Holy crap! How in the world—?”
“Mermaids can manipulate water like that, but I’ve never heard of it happening on such a large scale like this.”
Kenzie wrinkled her nose. “Do you think the kraken is doing it?”
Wes shrugged. “All I know is if this keeps up, Chicago will be underwater in no time.”
It was true. Already the water had risen from her ankles to her knees. Debris began to sweep by in the current, the contents of the lake bed mixing with the trash of the city.
Kenzie slung her bag off her back, careful to keep it above water and said, “Nochtann a coinnasha.” She opened the instantly heavier bag and took out the now revealed book, saying the MacLugh name and opening it. There were tons of spells in there, and some were even for use with water, but nothing was quite what she needed—something that would stop the flow and keep all of Chicago safe. She knew without looking, but hope drove her forward, praying that she’d missed something, that she’d overlooked something—anything—helpful.
As the water reached her waist, Kenzie slammed the book shut and dropped it in her bag. The sun had sunk below the horizon, the twilight hues turning the dusky rose of sunset to blues and grays.
A noise caught Kenzie’s ears, a sloshing in the water. Most of the people had fled, seeking shelter from the unnatural flood, though a few stood around staring, while even fewer seemed to be trying to go about their lives as normal—one such man was hitting the hood of his car, cursing it and bemoaning the fact that he was going to be late to a meeting.
The sloshing noise didn’t come from any of them. Kenzie peered into the growing dim, her heart beating in her throat. What new hell awaited them?
As the first pale face zipped past, Kenzie screamed. Her panic was taken up by the humans still around, and Wes was by her side a moment later, his wet arms encircling her.
Another vampire ran past, and then another and another. None of them seemed to notice her and Wes, huddled in the middle of the street. They obviously had other goals.
Kenzie had to do something before all of Chicago was underwater, but the vampires were headed for the school. She wanted to warn someone, but she didn’t think she had time. A muffled roar rose from the waters, and then there was a sound, so similar to the siren voice Myreen had used, yet distinctly male.
“No,” Kenzie whispered, despair taking hold. “No, no, no.” She shook her head, her teeth beginning to chatter as the water and the wind and the cold winter day finally began to take its toll. “Cheás,” she said, directing the warmth at both her and Wes. That siren sound couldn’t be Draven. But even as she denied it, she knew it must be the truth. He’d used Myreen’s blood, and had inherited her powers. Would anyone ever be able to stop him?
But the water was nearly covering her stomach. She couldn’t think about what might be; she had to do something. Now!
Kenzie closed her eyes, thinking back on all the spells she knew. Barriers and warmth and moving things came to mind. None of the spells were perfect, but if she could just bring their essence into something cohesive...
“Kenzie, we have to get out of here,” Wes said by her side, but she shushed him.
An idea was forming, something terrifying: an experiment in magic. She knew what it did to her father, but if she didn’t try something, the damage would be too great. She sent a quick prayer that her efforts wouldn’t cause more harm than good.
First she’d go simple. Maybe if she could put on the water, like she did the seal skin, she’d have a shot at bending it to her will. It was stupid, but easier and less dangerous than trying to make up her own spell.
“Aon,” Kenzie commanded her magic, focusing on the water. But her body refused to take the mantle. Just as well. She had no idea what would happen if she turned herself into water.
“Fiáscha na... Fiáscha na ulsché,” Kenzie said, trying to bolster her confidence. Her father’s story played in her mind over and over. She didn’t want to kill herself with a stupid spell—or Wes, for that matter. Kenzie swallowed, and repeated the beginning of her cobbled spell. “Fiáscha na ulsché. Aonrúgh, cheás— Ow!” Heat lanced her temples, her fingers seemingly on fire. Behind her, Wes roared, his fingers clawing into her arms. “Scrioságham” she cried. The burning sensation stopped, and Wes’s grip eased.
“What the—? Kenzie, you can’t—”
“I have to!”
“Let’s get to higher ground first.”
“We don’t have time.” Already the water was up to her chin, and Wes had to hold onto her to keep them from being pushed through the streets. Kenzie turned to face Wes. “I love you,” she said, then pressed her lips to his, the desperate need for him to know the depth of her feeling driving her momentary indulgence. Just in case...
But Kenzie couldn’t think of that. She pulled away from W
es, though he still held onto her, then turned her head to the sky and hoped she had enough breath to finish the spell. “Fiáscha na ulsché, thobh thriarah de’thaobha. Aonrúgh, cheás, camdach e diúltidhá!” Kenzie focused all her magic, willing every ounce into the water—which was slowly beginning to pull them into its sweeping current—into protecting her and Wes and all of Chicago. Just as the water began to crest her upturned chin, it fell away. Both Kenzie and Wes stumbled, though Wes was able to keep them from falling. Kenzie opened her eyes to see what had happened. A bubble surrounded her and Wes, warm enough that they wouldn’t freeze from the damp and wind. The water flowed around the bubble, leaving the protected area dry.
She’d done it.
But it needed to be bigger. So much bigger.
Kenzie let go of Wes and turned her hands toward the lake. “Wes, cover me.”
There was no way the incoming vampires would ignore her now, though she hadn’t seen any recently. Maybe they were all past? Maybe Draven didn’t have so large an army as they’d feared. Maybe—
A splash behind her made Kenzie turn around. Adam leapt through the bubble she’d created, landing in a crouch before Wes. Kenzie lost her breath, her every ability to move. No.
“Kenzie! Do your thing. I’ve got you,” Wes said, throwing a protective arm in front of her while not taking his eyes off Adam.
Kenzie took a stuttering breath, tears forming in her eyes as she focused once more on the lake. “Fiáscha na ulsché thobh thriarah de’thaobha. Fiáscha na ulsché thobh thriarah de’thaobha.” Kenzie intoned the first half of the spell over and over, focusing on enlarging the bubble around her and Wes—and now Adam.
A fierce growl sounded behind her, and then a pained screech. Kenzie felt as if she’d been punched in the gut.
“You sure know how to pick ‘em, Kenzie,” Adam said.
Kenzie squeezed her eyes shut and focused on her magic. She couldn’t stop now or the bubble protecting them might shrink—or worse, collapse. With fresh moisture on her cheeks and a tremble to her voice, she continued the spell. It was working. She’d seen the bubble expanding, and could feel it even now as she continued her chant, but it still wasn’t large enough, and it wasn’t growing as fast as she needed it to.