I froze for a moment before backing away to run to the Jeep. “Bomb! They were going to blow up the hotel.”
I hopped into the Wrangler again, and Hector drove into the field to avoid the backpack, giving it a wide berth.
“My guess is he’s running for home,” Hector said. “Once he heard the heavy gunfire from the fifty caliber, he must’ve realized their boat was in grave danger.”
“He has to know he’s screwed. If I were him, I’d run for the dinghy and row as far away as I could before my arms gave out. Then I’d scramble up the hillside into the forest and hide.”
“I agree,” the old man said. “It’s his best option. There are a few houses about ten miles north of us. I doubt he could reach them, but if so, he might be able to find a ride back to civilization.”
Hector continued driving north along the path until it turned east. As we rounded the curve, something moved to the left of the trail. A large dark shape.
“There he is!” I said.
Hector hit the gas until we reached the second sorcerer. He was hobbling toward the gap in the fence, favoring one foot.
Hector jumped out. Then he roared something in Greek and pointed his hand at the sorcerer. A fireball three feet across hit the sorcerer and consumed him in white-hot flames. He writhed a few times before collapsing to the green grass in the field.
I exited the Jeep and stood by Hector. We watched the fire burn the body until it was nothing but a pile of glowing ashes.
All four of the bastards were gone, but that wouldn’t bring back sweet, gracious Leo. Suddenly, all of my sorrow hit me at the same instant, and I collapsed to the ground and wailed. Hector sat next to me, put an arm around me, and held me.
When I got a hold of myself again, the old man drove us back to the hotel. Neither of us spoke. My body trembled with anger as I realized what this attack had to mean for the Greeks. Because of the half-million-dollar bounty on my head, these monsters had probably come for me. And the next time, the local warlock who sent them was sure to attack with a more powerful team.
-o-o-o-
Wednesday, March 17th
BY MORNING, I knew two things. First, I needed to get home and remove the incentive for the Greeks to be hit again. Second, before I left, I had to make sure the head warlock in Eureka paid for trying to destroy this wonderful community.
I arrived as usual for breakfast with the Papandreou family, and we were all quiet. Their faces white and drawn and their eyes bloodshot.
Olympia’s daughter motioned for me to come close, and she used glamor to fix the bald spot where the hair had burned on the left side of my head. Then she healed my hand that I’d used to tamp out the fire on my shoulder.
When she finished, I thanked her and sat next to Hector to tell him what I’d decided.
With a mirthless laugh, he said, “Get in line, Moira. I’m taking care of Chuck Anderson tomorrow. I’d do it today, but we’re going to have Leo’s funeral service this afternoon.”
“Can I help you deal with the warlock?” I asked.
He nodded. “Find out when you can get a flight from Eureka to Monterey. If possible, we’ll punish the sorcerer then you go home knowing justice has been served upon him.”
“Good plan.”
-o-o-o-
AFTER BREAKFAST, I check flight schedules. The only flight available left at 2:17 p.m. Hector and I made arrangements to leave early in the morning. That would give us plenty of time to deal with Anderson before I had to leave.
Although I didn’t have much energy, I hiked through the forest one last time and visited all twelve of the oldest trees. At each one, I shared its natural magic and said goodbye. They’d become friends, actually closer than most of my friends. I wasn’t sure what that said about how introverted I was, but I'm sure it wasn’t good.
-o-o-o-
WHILE I WAS communing with nature, the Greeks built a funeral pyre between the gazebo overlooking the ocean and the hotel. Leo, dressed in a long white flowing robe, rested on top of the pyre. He was at peace, but I was seething with anger.
Everyone in town gathered to say goodbye. Hector also wore a white robe, and he spoke first, in Greek.
I didn’t understand his words, but I could read his face and understand his tone of voice. He spoke of love and devotion and heartbreak. Several times his voice cracked, and once he had to stop to pull himself together enough to finish.
Then, seven other people took turns speaking. Teddy was the only one who spoke in English but he talked so quietly, I could hardly hear him. But his last words carried much better. “He was my inspiration for understanding how to love my family. He’d left but returned to be with us. We meant more than the world to him.”
That was so poignant my breath caught in my chest again. It was going to take years for me to deal with this loss, despite having known Leo for only a short time.
When everyone had said their piece, Hector ignited the kindling at the bottom of the pyre. A stiff breeze off the water blew most of the smoke away from us, but it occasionally swirled around, stinging my eyes. The flames quickly built into an inferno that warmed my face and my bare arms.
I turned around to see whether there were any ships or boats that might be passing by. We were probably violating a half-dozen California and Federal air pollution laws, but this wasn’t called the Lost Coast for nothing. We were completely alone in our grief and fury.
All of us stood silent as the fire roared before us. I thought back to the hours he’d spent with me trying to pass on a little of his remarkable fighting ability. Neither one of us had known at the time that I’d be the last person he helped. His generosity inspired me to do the same for Ian’s other disciples when I returned to Monterey. But between now and then, I needed to pay back the bastard warlock who’d arranged to slaughter these wonderful people.
Chapter 18
Thursday, March 18th
THE NEXT MORNING, Teddy piloted the family’s boat to take his great-grandfather and me north to Eureka. It rained off and on during our ride, and the dreary weather fit my black mood.
When we reached the harbor, one of the local witches picked us up in her SUV. The gray-haired, petite woman named Donna shook our hands then said to Hector, “Sid and I’ve been watching Chuck Anderson’s house since you called yesterday morning. He’s definitely in there.”
“Perfect,” Hector said. “You and Sid may want to go someplace public after you drop Moira and me off. There’s likely to be an official investigation when someone realizes he’s missing, and it might help if you had an alibi.”
She shook her head. “We loved Leo dearly. If you don’t mind, we’ll stick around to help you destroy the monster who killed our dear friend.”
Hector smiled for the first time since Leo died. “Excellent. Teddy can stay with you and Sid while Moira and I do the nasty work.”
Donna handed him a manila folder that contained a couple of photograph. The first one showed a large old two-story house set back from a residential street on a heavily wooded lot. The second picture was a candid shot of our target, a tall, silver-haired sorcerer. I examined both pictures closely.
“Anderson’s home,” Donna said. “sits on a two-acre lot about fifteen minutes north of here. The front yard is open, but the back is surrounded by an eight-foot-tall privacy fence.”
Hector looked at me. “You’re young and spry. You can scramble over the fence and watch his rear door. He might try to run. Don’t challenge him. He’s powerful. Just slow him without getting hurt. I’ll be close on his heels.”
I wasn’t quite sure how I could get over the fence until Teddy said, “I’ll give you a boost then return to the car.”
Then I glanced at Hector to make sure he approved, and he nodded.
“Perfect,” I said. “The sooner we can get this show on the road, the better.”
Donna drove us to Anderson’s neighborhood and stopped behind the sedan about a block
away from the sorcerer’s house. All the homes nearby were surrounded by thick stands of redwoods. It began to rain again, making it even harder to look through the trees.
A man in his sixties walked back to our SUV from the sedan. When Donna opened her window, he waved at Hector and me.
“The son of a bitch is still in there. I walked by once and spotted two guards sitting on the front porch. Because of the trees, you won’t be able to see them until you reach Anderson’s driveway.”
Hector explained his plan, and Sid nodded. “Moira and Teddy should probably get out here and sneak through the woods to reach the fence. The men in front can’t see you unless they happen to walk around to this side of the house.”
It occurred to me that another guard or a dog might be waiting in back, but I didn’t say anything. I’d just have to deal with the situation, whatever it turned out to be. Hector had his hands full approaching from the front.
My stomach churned as we went over last-minute details. Then Teddy and I hopped out of the SUV. I made sure my shrunken staff was still in my back pocket.
We threaded our way through the trees. Each step forward brought a curtain of raindrops onto us as we jostled the branches and needles. My hands were cold and wet, making it hard to grip much. Couldn’t be helped.
When we reached the tall cedar fence, I checked the gate. It was locked from the inside. That would’ve been so much easier.
Then I peeked between the wooden slats at various spots to find a decent landing spot on the other side. Someone had piled junk against the fence along most of its length. The only good landing spot I could find was onto a woodpile. Not ideal, but better than dropping onto twisted pieces of metal.
Teddy wove his fingers together to create a stirrup with his hands. I put my shoe in it and grabbed the top of the fence. Fortunately, he was a strong guy, and he heaved me up at the same time as I pulled.
I sailed over the fence, which was great, and landed on the woodpile, which wasn’t. My left knee dug into a chunk of wood, and a shooting pain raced up my leg. I ignored it. If that was the worst that happened during this attack, it would be a miracle.
Several pieces of wood clattered to the ground, and I froze for a moment to see whether the noise would catch the attention of any guard. Luckily, it didn’t.
“You okay?” Teddy whispered through the fence.
I took my weapon out of my pocket and enlarged it. “Just a scratch. I’m fine. Get back to the others, and thanks for your help.”
When I heard him pushing his way through the thick branches again, I gingerly climbed down from the woodpile. My knee stung like crazy, but I could still walk on it.
I had to get into position near the back door. Hector would be showing up in front at any minute. Before he arrived, I needed to be in position in back to attack Anderson if I got the chance. My anger boiled hotter as I approached our target.
The back yard contained dozens of evergreens, but they’d been limbed up so the bare trunks didn’t provide much cover. I crept forward staying as hidden as possible until I spotted a man sitting in a lounge chair on a covered back deck. He was talking on a phone and looking off to his right, while I was on his left.
The side of the wooden deck closest to me contained a massive grill. While the guard was looking away, I dashed next to the grill so it hid me from his view. By kneeling behind it, I could stay close to the back door without being seen. If Anderson came barreling out, I could stand and blast away, mostly protected by the grill.
A couple of booms and shouts rang out from in front of the house. Hector had obviously made his move. Until that instant, I hadn’t considered the possibility that he might fail. If he did, I’d be in a hell of a jam. I’d just have to fight my way back out. My anger was overwhelming, making it almost impossible to form a ward, but a slight barrier formed.
The guard on the deck dropped his phone and ran inside the house. I soon heard yelling there. No time to improve my ward. I tensed, ready to attack, my earlier nervousness had vanished.
Someone opened the back door, and a man yelled, “Hold him off!”
I stood and recognized Anderson wearing casual clothes. No jacket, but he carried a small suitcase in his left hand and a staff in his right. The bastard must’ve been ready for a quick departure. He knew justice was coming.
Fury erupted within me. Hector had told me to slow him down, but that wasn’t enough. I stood, which caused another stabbing pain in my aching knee, pointed my staff at the sorcerer over the grill and pumped as much magic out as I could through it without hurting my magical core. “Holarthon, elbo frappe!”
A white lightning ball the size of a cantaloupe ricocheted off a ward surrounding him, knocking him backwards against the screen door. The burning ball splattered against wooden clapboards covered with varnish and set them ablaze.
He pointed his staff at me. Blue lightning erupted, but his aim was poor. He blasted his grill, and the lightning barely grazed my left shoulder and arm, paralyzing me on that side.
Thank the gods, my right arm was fine. I pointed my staff and shot another ball.
This one got through his protection, hitting him in the face. He collapsed to the deck and didn’t move as the fireball seared its way deep into his skull. Anderson was done, unless he could somehow manage without any brains.
The flames from my first fireball continued to spread along the wall, fueled by the varnish, and reached the inside of the roof over the deck.
Wondering what had happened to Hector, I ran into inside and almost plowed into him.
“Where’s the son of a bitch?” he asked.
“Burning in hell,” I said. “When I attacked him, I accidentally set the back of the house on fire. We’ve got to get out of here.”
He took a quick glance out the door through the billowing smoke to make sure Anderson was done then grabbed my hand. “Moira, fantastic! Let’s go.”
We hurried through the inside of the richly furnished home to the front, but with each step I took, my knee complained more. Hector grabbed the guard I’d seen on the deck. He was staggering around dazed. When we reached the porch, the two guards were beginning to come around. Hector slung the third guard at them. “Your boss is gone,” he yelled, “and the house is burning. Get away while you can.”
They didn’t have to be told twice. The three of them helped each other down the front steps and ran up the driveway. At the street, they turned left.
Hector put an arm around me to help me keep my weight off my bad leg. When we reached the street, we turned right.
Sid was waiting back in his sedan, and he zoomed up. “You okay?” he asked me.
I nodded. “Just a little beat up.”
But now that the immediate danger had passed, I began to tremble. I wouldn’t have made it far from the house without Hector’s help.
Donna pulled up in her SUV, and Hector and I jumped in. Then Sid roared off, and his wife followed him. As soon as we left the neighborhood, though, they both slowed down. No need to draw any attention to ourselves.
Once we got away, it hit me. I’d killed again. Anderson had definitely deserved it, but my heart ached anyway. Whoever said it gets easier was full of it. It took all of my effort to keep from throwing up. I wasn’t in this to kill anyone, just get my family back.
Hector took my hand. “Hang in there. Of course, it weighs on you, but you did what needed to be done.”
I hoped he was right, then thought through my options with regard to both of the sorcerers I’d destroyed, looked at each fight a half-dozen different ways, but always ended at the same place—some sorcerers deserved death. It was as simple as that, and Anderson was definitely one of them.
-o-o-o-
SID DROVE TO a town park then joined us in the SUV. I explained to everyone what had happened in Anderson’s back yard.
After a pause, Donna said, “Thank you for saving us from that monster. He’s done terrible things, but kil
ling Leo was by far the worst. May he rot in hell.”
That helped me feel better. At least Hector and I weren’t the only ones who thought the sorcerer deserved the ultimate punishment.
The others talked over what a bastard he was, and I mostly listened. Although I’d fought more battles than most witches, I’d rarely faced true evil. Overwhelming weariness settled into me.
When the conversation wound down, Hector checked his watch. “We need to get Moira to the airport. Her flight leaves in a little over two hours.”
Plenty of time. The airport was only twenty minutes away, and it only served a few flights a day. We arrived early, and the terminal was almost empty.
After I said my goodbyes to the others, including warm hugs for Hector and Teddy, I hobbled my way through the single security line. Then I sat by myself and remembered all my wonderful moments with Leo. That led to another round of tears for him.
When I got a hold of myself, I tried to think about the positive again. Most of my experiences at Elysium had been wonderful, and I didn’t want to lose those memories or diminish what I’d learned. Now was the time to focus on moving forward with new strength to find Cara and Mom.
-o-o-o-
BUT I COULDN’T banish the horror so quickly. During the flight, I sat dazed as we flew through the dense clouds covering the coast. In Monterey, Ian, Philippe, and Dana met me at the airport. None of them smiled. Apparently, Olympia or Hector had sent down word about what had happened. I hugged everyone and reassured them that my leg wasn’t as bad as it looked. They helped me to reach Ian’s sedan. While we drove to the inn, Dana made arrangements for Raphael to meet us in the lobby, and he made my leg as good as new.
Dinner was an unusually quiet affair. Nobody asked me about my trip. Unfortunately, Gill and Katie had returned home, but I was still surrounded by so many who loved me. How had I survived without this kind of support for six years? It seems impossible.
When I finished picking at my food, Ian said, “Not to pry, but am I right in guessing that Olympia and Leo did you a world of good?”
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