by Cate Farren
"I better get back," said Clover, eager to get away from Loki's gaze. It made her feel like she was being examined under a microscope. "Saskia can get impatient."
He smiled and walked away. Clover shivered again and made her way back to the house.
SASKIA STEPPED BACK from the window, her suspicions more or less confirmed. Loki was in love with Clover. It was so obvious she was surprised they didn't fuck each right there and then.
She wasn't sure what to feel about it. She was jealous, certainly. But of which one? Was she jealous because Loki was stealing her friend, or because her friend was stealing her lover and the father of her baby? Either way she was pissed. Everyone she cared about used her and betrayed her.
"Got it," Clover declared, charging into the room. "There isn't much magic left, but it'll help."
Saskia nodded icily. "Good. Go and find Jessica. This won't take long."
"You...you look angry."
"I'm not."
Clover hesitantly left again, leaving the magic crystal on the bed. Saskia picked it up. There were faint traces of magic left, barely enough to create a simple spell on its own, but it would help her with the portal. They only needed to keep it open long enough to go through, and then they'd be away from Loki forever.
She paused a second, unsure. She might never see Loki again. The thought of it actually scared her.
Loki is my captor.
He is the father of my child.
He loves Clover.
She angrily clutched the crystal in her grip, reciting the portal spell. The sooner they were out of here the better. This place was Hell.
The portal shimmered open just as Clover and Jessica came back.
"You did it!" Clover cried.
Saskia said, "You thought I'd fail?"
"No," said Clover defensively. "I always had faith in you."
She wants Loki too. She wants you away from him.
"Do you love Loki?" Saskia demanded.
Clover almost gagged. "What? No! What makes you ask that?"
"I watched the way you acted with him. You loved it when he put his hand on your shoulder."
"We should go through the portal now..."
Saskia had had enough. This was the last straw. There was a reason she and Clover kept falling out. Her friend was selfish, taking everything for herself, never thinking about the people she hurt along the way. The fact she murdered her own mother was proof of that. The fact she strung her brother Frankie along and got him killed was proof of that too. Why did she ever think she could be friends with this bitch ever again? They were doomed.
"You selfish bitch," Saskia spat. "You think you can just waltz through life, ruining people, and expect to get away with it because you're pretty and you have mental health problems? Fuck you! Fuck you, Clover. I'm sick of it. You wanted Adrian and you took him and you knew I loved him. You got my brother killed. And now you want the father of my baby. Not any more."
Clover looked confused. "Baby?"
"Now I'm going to prove to everyone what a selfish, self absorbed bitch you really are."
Saskia grinned, feeling like she was taking control for the first time in her life. She performed another spell while simultaneously keeping the portal open. Jessica screamed in agony and her form started to pulsate like her skin was hot lava.
Clover gritted her teeth. "Stop that now or I'll hurt you."
"You've done nothing but hurt me!" Saskia screamed, watching as Jessica's form started to expand like a balloon. "What makes now any different?"
"I do not love Loki and I..."
Saskia laughed as Jessica turned into a rhino. Her form was so large it crashed through the door frame. Bits of ceiling collapsed onto her thick hide. The confused shapeshifter stared at her in horror, unsure what to do. She was terrified.
“She doesn’t know how to change back,” Saskia stated.
Clover shook her head. “I never taught her how to change her form...”
“She’s not going to fit through the portal now.”
CLOVER TRIED TO TOUCH the rhino's thick skin, to reassure Jessica, but she reared back crashing into the wall. Clover ducked as debris fell around them and the huge animal smashed into another room, charging around in a panic as if she didn’t know what to do. She was so scared.
“Turn her back!” Clover demanded, turning on her friend with fury.
“I can’t,” Saskia stated. “If only you’d taught her properly. You’re pretty useless, huh? You get everyone you love killed.”
“I’m going to smash those buck teeth of yours into your skull.”
Clover screamed and ran at Saskia. She punched her friend in the face, knocking the magic crystal from her hand. It landed on the floor and rolled under the bed. The portal flickered, and Clover suddenly realized her only way of escape was about to disappear forever.
Saskia punched her back, ineffectually, but enough to make Clover stagger. Blood dripped from her nose.
“If you stay here Loki will kill you,” Saskia stated.
“I won’t leave without Jessica,” said Clover.
“It’s your choice. You can either warn the world about Loki’s attack or...”
Saskia left the sentence hanging, leaving Clover with an impossible choice. Her former friend was right. Loki’s attack was going to start a war that would kill billions. She had to warn Dracula before it was too late. But what about Jessica? Could she leave her daughter behind to fend for herself? Could she abandon Jessica to Saskia and Loki?
I can always come back for her. Dracula has to know powerful witches that can come back here.
Clover was connected to Loki now. She was sure a powerful enough witch could locate this dimension using Clover’s mind. They could rescue Jessica at a later date.
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.
She turned to give Jessica one last devastating look before she ran and leapt through the portal.
SASKIA GRINNED AS SHE snapped the portal shut. Her impromptu plan had worked perfectly. And she'd been able to perform two powerful spells at the same time! Her grandmother had been right. She did have power. Maybe she would enact the dead woman's plan and attack the Catholic church like she envisioned. It might be fine to let loose.
She turned her attention to Jessica, who was desperately trying to change back into her original form. It wasn't going well. The poor shapeshifter was like a baby bird who'd been flung off the edge of her cliff by her eager mother.
"Stop panicking," Saskia advised her, not wanting to be gored by a rhino horn. "Stay calm."
The rhino charged. Saskia didn't have a chance to react and leapt out of the way. The creature collided with the wall and went straight through it, flinging herself onto the ground in the front of the house. Saskia looked out, watching with baited breath as Jessica charged at Loki himself.
Oh fuck...
Loki brought his hands out. "Jessica!"
Jessica came to a stop.
LOKI LOOKED UP AT THE half demolished house and the frightened shapeshifter in front of him. He had no idea what was going on but his fury knew no bounds. Heads would roll for this.
"Jessica, calm down," he said. He reached out his mind for her but he was blocked. "Let me in. I can help you."
The rhino's mournful eyes stared at him with increasing terror. The poor girl had no idea what she was doing. How could he have allowed Clover to not teach her about her powers? It was a serious oversight on his part and he was ashamed.
"Close your eyes," he commanded. "Close your eyes and think about your true form."
She did as she was told. After a few seconds the rhino began to shrink and pulse until she was Jessica again. She was crying.
"I didn't mean to do it," she cried. "Saskia..."
Loki pulled Jessica into a hug, allowing her to weep. He patted her shaking shoulders, trying to calm her down.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Saskia put a spell on me," said Jessica. "I couldn't control myself. I was so frig
htened."
"I'll put things right. I'll teach you."
Jessica shook her head and pulled away from him. "No. I want my mother."
"Your mother is gone."
Jessica screamed and ran, pushing past Saskia. He glared at his lover and the mother of his child with disappointment and a little hate. She had no right to do that to one of his children. No right.
"Clover is gone!" Saskia cried.
Loki waited until she was close before contemplating hitting her. She deserved it for what she'd put Jessica through. A simple punch wouldn't hurt her much or the child within her. But he couldn't bring himself to do it. Even he drew the line at hitting a woman out of anger, even if she deserved it.
"You helped her escape," Loki stated.
Saskia shook her head. "No. I would never..."
He held her chin in his minds, his smile chilling. "You've been sneaking around trying to create a stable portal for weeks. Did you think I was dumb? Did you think I wouldn't know? What kind of idiot do you take me for?"
"I wanted to escape, but that was before..."
He let her go. He couldn't touch her without wanting to break her neck. Her betrayal hurt, but he'd planned on it. It was always wise to bet on betrayal. Humans, especially witches, lived and breathed treachery like their lives depended on it. Besides, she seemed repentant now.
"You...you wanted Clover to escape?" Saskia asked. Her voice was regaining confidence, which Loki liked. He hated it when she was needy and pathetic. "Why?"
"How else would Dracula find out I planned to attack Whitby?" he said. "Besides, I was growing weary of her. She wasn't going to see my side of my things, no matter what."
"I don't see your side of things."
He smiled and stroked her cheek. "You're carrying my child. Everything I do now is for you."
Saskia grinned. "You're going to destroy the world for me and my child. That's..."
Loki pulled her in for a kiss, cutting off her words. Nothing else needed to be said. For now, Clover had her part to play in his little drama. All she had to do was tell the truth.
CLOVER FOUND HERSELF crashing into a garbage can. Stale rubbish and out of date food exploded all over her, covering her in mess. She pulled herself to her feet, turning back, but the portal was already gone.
"Jessica..."
She had to find a way back. She had to rescue her daughter and stop Loki. But she couldn't do it on her own. She needed help.
A gun was pressed against the side of her head.
"I saw you come out of that portal," a voice whispered behind her. "Where is Loki?"
Clover tensed. "I have to see Dracula right now. It's important."
She heard the trigger and had a second to react. She ducked, grabbing the wrist of her attacker. She swung them over her head against the wall. They fell, their weapon clattering to the floor. She grabbed it and pointed it towards them.
It can't be...
Clover almost dropped the gun. "Jared?"
Chapter 36
He looked so real, but it couldn't be. Jared was dead.
She shook her head, angry. "How dare you imitate him! You..."
She fired the gun. The bullet hit the impersonator in the right shoulder. He didn't react, just stared at her. She fired again, missing his neck by mere inches.
"Clover," he pleaded. "I really am Jared."
She shot at him again, threw the gun at his face, and made a run for it. She had no idea where in the world she was but she'd find out and she'd get back home. A shapeshifter was impersonating Jared and Loki was about to attack Whitby.
A white bat fluttered around her and morphed into Jared before her eyes. She tensed and punched him in the face. He grabbed her wrist.
"I'm Dracula's grandson," he told her. "I can come back to life!"
"You really expect me to believe that?" she cried. She kicked him in the groin and punched him in the neck, causing him maximum pain. "I should kill you."
Despite the pain he said, "I love you, Clover. I missed you so much."
She was about to hit him again when she saw Adrian running up to them. Behind him she could see a huge building, outlined in the moonlight. She'd only ever seen pictures, but she was pretty sure it was Whitby Abbey.
I'm in Whitby!
"Clover!" Adrian shouted, coming to a stop. He grinned. "What happened to you?"
"Never mind that," she said. "This shapeshifter..."
"Let me deal with that," Adrian offered. He grinned and fired his gun into the fake Jared's head. He exploded into blood and offal, showering them with mess. "Good."
Clover wiped the blood from her nose. "He really was a shapeshifter."
"You can sense them, right?" Adrian asked, pulling her into a hug.
She tried to reply when she noticed someone coming up behind them. It was another shapeshifter impersonating Jared. She gritted her death, ready to dole out death.
"Clover!" the other Jared cried. "You escaped!"
She pushed Adrian aside, so pissed off she could scorch the world. "Fucking shapeshifter. I should..."
Adrian shook his head. "No. This really is Jared."
She stared at the approaching figure. She tried connecting with him, to root out the shapeshifter inside, but there was nothing there. It was really ^Jared.
It can't be...
"I should give you two some time alone," said Adrian. He grinned and kissed Clover on the forehead. She barely felt it. "I'll talk to you later. I have so many things to tell you."
Adrian left, leaving Clover and Jared alone in the night. The sounds of waves crashing and the energy of a party on the beach was all she could hear. Jared smiled shyly, almost afraid.
"This is me going insane again," she stated bitterly. "It has to be."
"You're not insane," he said.
"I suppose that's not the PC word, is it? I really was gone, Jared. I..."
He smiled and took her face in his hands. His touch was gentle and it made her skin prickle. She sensed no shapeshifter in him, none at all. It really was him.
"How is this possible?" she asked.
"It's possibly the longest story in the world," he said.
"I have a lot to tell you too. But first...shit, I need to see Dracula. Right now."
They stared into each other's eyes for what felt like an eternity. He seemed the same, but different. He seemed, felt, older, even though his physical appearance was the Jared she remembered. He'd changed.
We've both changed.
"Follow me," said Jared, grabbing her hand. "I can take you right to him.
"Good," she said.
"But first..."
He kissed her like it was the first time. She felt her whole body light up. Her lips tingled and she closed her eyes and her hands pressed against his chest, feeling him, making sure he was real and she wasn't just having another breakdown. He was real. He was flesh and blood and beautiful and warm and everything that she'd missed. He was Jared.
DRACULA NODDED, TAKING in Clover's words. He was sitting on a red silk chair by his bed in his private chambers. The room reminded her of a brothel in a seventies sexploitation film. She liked it, though. It was stylish. Dracula was stylish.
"How many?" Dracula asked.
"Thousands," Clover explained. "He's sent thousands here."
He nodded. "Thank you for telling me the moment you got back."
She waited for him to say something but he ignored her. Clover shrugged and Jared led her away, closing the door to Dracula's chambers behind them.
"I've never seen him so shocked before," Jared admitted. "Scared even."
"Can we fight this?" Clover asked.
"There's a vampire summit here in two days. All the world's remaining powerful vampires are going to be here. If Loki attacks now..."
Clover felt her stomach clench. She didn't know about the vampire summit. The shapeshifters could wipe them all out in one blow. The vampires would put up a fight, but what could they do against such an overwhel
ming force?
"Forget about all this for now." Jared took her hand, holding it against his chest. The lack of his beating heart still shocked her, even after all this time. "I want to be with you."
"How can you think about sex at a time like this?" she demanded playfully, teasing him. The truth was she could think of nothing else right now too. She wanted to literally rip his clothes off. "You're so naughty."
"I've missed you so much. It feels like forever."
He took her hand and pulled her along the corridor, rushing. She kept up with him, almost tripping a few times, until they got to a door. Jared kissed her again before pulling out an electronic card and using it to open the door. He pulled her inside.
“Wow,” she said, admiring all the weird and wonderful artefacts in the room. She picked up a carved ivory elephant. “This looks hundreds of years old.”
He grabbed the elephant from her and tossed it over his shoulder.
“Are you interested in all my stuff, or would you rather fuck?” he asked.
She slid her hands up his shirt. His abs and chest were as delicious and smooth as they used to be, maybe more so now. He used to have a muscular, supple swimmer’s body, but now he had rock hard pecs like Adrian. It was a real turn on, even though she’d liked the way he was before.
“Make me explode,” she begged him. “Make me forget we were ever apart.”
Jared took her face in his hands, stroking her chin, caressing her neck. She stared into his eyes.
“Are you nervous?” Clover asked with a smile, teeth biting into her plump bottom lip. “Are you scared it isn’t going to feel like it used to?”
“It’s been so long,” he admitted.
“Then we’ll just have to remind each other how incredible it was.”
Jared grunted and grabbed Clover by her waist, pulling the girl close to him, a gasp leaving her mouth when their chests collided. His hands were quick to duck down, picking her up and pressing her to the wall, fingers digging into the soft skin of her ass. As she whimpered against him he groaned in response, taking in her sweet smell, his already hard cock pressing up against her.