by Bonnie Lamer
Her brows rise. “Afraid you wouldn’t stand up under competition?”
Perceptive. I chuckle again. “Perhaps. Suffice it to say, I am pleased not to face any.”
I can tell she does not want to change the subject, but she does. “Did you check on Mom and Grandma?”
I drop my hands and step back to give her some space. And to keep me from picking her up and carrying her to the bed where I want to continue kissing her until the rest of the world disappears. “Yes, while you were brushing your teeth. They seem to have things well in hand. Your grandfather is quite surprised by the amount of Witch’s bottles your mother has buried. He is having a difficult time avoiding them.”
“Is your circle still holding?”
She doubts me? It is her grandmother who deserves her doubt. “Yes. If you were not connected physically to your protection spell, you would not have felt any of the things you have this morning. How are you feeling?”
She shrugs. “I’m fine now. Nothing hurts, so I’m good.”
“I was not speaking only of the physical sense.” The emotional strain has to be hitting her hard.
She grimaces. “Give me time to answer that one. Things are flying at me so fast; I can’t keep up with my emotions.”
I cannot resist pulling her into my arms and holding her close to me. Resting my chin on her head, I say, “I am afraid I understand that much too well.”
“You’re doing that nice and sweet thing again.”
“My apologies, I will try to work more derogatory statements and sarcasm into our conversations.”
She laughs. “Thank you, I appreciate it.” Pulling out of my arms, she looks down at her outfit. “I need to get out of these clothes. They have blood all over them.”
I would love to help her with that. Which means I should probably leave the room before I offer. “I will check on your father while you do that. I am afraid he will get caught in magical cross-fire.”
I see the worry in her eyes. “Yeah, me too.”
Chapter 11
Her father is safe. He is smart enough to stay out of the way, but I can tell he is enjoying the show. What in the world is taking Xandra so long to get dressed? And then the thought hits me that something sinister could be going on.
Tapping on her bedroom door, I say, “Xandra, are you alright?”
“Yes,” she croaks. That was a no, then. Opening the door, I find her kneeling on the floor, out of breath. I am at her side in a flash. With my hands on her shoulders, I ask, “What happened?”
She is having a hard time catching her breath. What did they do to her this time? Every second that she struggles for the breath to speak, increases my anger tenfold. “I met,” she gasps. “Louhi.” Breath. “And Midar.”
I put my hands on her cheeks and raise her face so I can see her better. “Are you alright? Did they harm you?” My kill list is growing by the second.
She shakes her head and her breathing begins to calm. “No. But they scared the crap out of me. They’re horrible looking!”
I lean back into a sitting position, laughing. Only she would respond like this. “They are horrible looking? You fight two Pooka warriors without flinching, but you are frightened by two old men because you do not like how they look?”
Her bottom lips sticks out slightly into a cute little pout. “You didn’t see them. I’m going to have nightmares about them. Louhi especially.”
I am ready to roll on the floor laughing. Now, I want to see these guys just to know what one has to look like to rattle her so. She must be teased about this. “Then it is lucky for me that I did not see them. I would hate to have us both cowering in our sleep.”
She glares at me. “It’s not funny.”
It is getting funnier by the second. “I disagree. I am quite amused.”
In response, she uses the palms of her hands to push me backwards. I like this game. I grab her wrists and take her with me as I go back. Her luscious body is now sprawled on top of mine in a way that is clearing my mind of anything else. “Mm, much better,” I grin up at her glowering face.
“I take it you’ve used up your nice and sweet allotment for the day?”
God, I love teasing her. “I believe I may have even dipped into tomorrow’s share.”
“You’re a jerk.”
“You do like to point that out.” She lets out a small squeal as I roll us over. Now, I am the one on top. I cannot decide which I like better. They both feel so good. “Funny how you seem to like me anyway.”
“Isn’t it? I must have been dropped on my head when I was a baby.”
She can always make me laugh with her dry wit. Giving her a quick kiss before I give in to temptation, I roll off from her and stand up. Holding my hand out, she places hers in mine and I pull her to her feet. “Now, I believe you should tell me a little bit more about these scary fellows you met.”
She groans. “Grandpa told them that I’m connected to the protection spell and if they scry for me, I come. Like a dog.”
All thoughts of teasing her drain from my mind. “That is unfortunate. Have you tried simply not going to where the spell wants to take you?”
She rolls her eyes. “No, because I’m a complete moron.” I choose to ignore her sarcasm at the moment. “If I don’t go, then as long as they keep scrying for me, I feel like I’m being struck by lightning.”
“That does sound unpleasant.”
“No, really, it’s great. I’m actually starting to like it.”
I give her a hard look. “Being facetious is not helping.”
She sighs. “What can we do?”
“We need to figure out a way to counteract that effect. Or channel it somewhere else.”
Confusion washes over her face. “How would we do that?”
A thought strikes. Maybe she does not have to be the one who suffers the pain. That makes me smile. “Perhaps the rope of light you mentioned is for that purpose.”
“Huh?”
I love her eloquence at times. “Perhaps you are meant to channel your pain through that rope of light. It’s not meant to draw you out, but to punish whoever is trying to call you.”
She frowns. “So I have to intentionally torture these people?”
After all they have done to her, she is still leery to cause harm. I want to shake her, make her understand. But, on the other hand, I would not have her any other way. Her heart beats purer than mine, I believe. She has an inner goodness that I hope to aspire to someday. That does not change reality, though. “Did you think that you would be able to get through this without intentionally hurting anyone?”
I can tell what she wants to say, but instead, she says, “No, I guess not.”
“And are they not intentionally causing you harm?”
“I guess.” Not that long ago, blood was spurting from her mouth like a volcano erupting and her response is ‘I guess?’ Okay, I am over the whole more innocent than me thing.
Before I have a chance to convey my feelings, she falls to her knees. Dammit. Kneeling in front of her, I say, “Xandra, focus. Pull on your magic and use it to force the pain outward through the light. But you need to keep your mind here.”
She is still doubtful as she closes her eyes to better concentrate. I can tell the second her consciousness is elsewhere. Her body slumps ever so slightly. I sigh. I hope she at least takes the first half of my advice and channels the pain.
Just as I could tell when she left, I can tell when she returns several minutes later. Relief washes through me as I put my hands on her shoulders. “Xandra, are you alright?”
She opens her eyes and smiles. I can tell right away that she did take my advice. “Yes.”
“Was it the same two men?”
She nods. “Yeah, Louhi and Midar. And yes, they’re still just as horrible looking.”
I laugh. Still more worried about their looks than their power. “I assume you were successful in channeling the pain?”
“Yup, and they didn’t like it
at all. Midar was scared, but I think I just made Louhi really mad. He said they have protection against ‘my kind of magic.’ Whatever that means.”
“I am sure he meant Fairy magic.”
She looks thoughtful for a moment. “Could they really have things that would make them immune to Fairy magic?”
“No. They may have talismans or amulets that will temporarily fend off Fairy magic, but nothing that would protect them indefinitely.” She looks relieved.
Standing up, I hold my hand out to her. “Come.”
“You know I hate it when you treat me like a dog.”
I have no idea what she is talking about now. Which earns me an eye roll. “When you tell me to come. You’re as bad as those guys.”
She did not just compare me to those Witches. It is amazing how she can flip a conversation around and change my mood from happy to angry in a heartbeat. “Am I supposed to beg you on humbled knee? Perhaps I should prostrate myself in front of you? Would that be better?” She has a retort on her lips, but I do not want to hear it. “We should find the others and tell them what you have been able to do.” I turn and walk out the door.
Chapter 12
Her mother and grandmother have returned from their fight and her mother does not look happy. I lean against the counter and cross my arms over my chest. I am sure my face does not look any happier than theirs.
Xandra has followed me out and her mother turns to her when she comes in. “Xandra, there you are. I was just discussing with your father and grandmother how changed your grandfather is. It’s as if he’s not even the same man he was when I was growing up.” She shakes her head. “I don’t know who this man is. He’s become a monster.” Turning to the Angel, she says, “You tried to tell me, but I didn’t believe you.”
“He has slowly morphed into this shell of a man. It’s been a long time since I could stand to be in his presence.”
“Is he under a spell?” Xandra asks. Even irritated with her, I am impressed at her desire to find a less painful answer than accepting the fact that her grandfather is a homicidal maniac.
The Angel looks startled. “Sveargith is too strong to be influenced in such a way.”
Xandra shrugs. “Unless his defenses were down. Maybe losing both you and Mom was enough for someone to sneak in and put him under a spell. It could happen, couldn’t it?” She has inspired hope in their eyes.
Her mother turns to her grandmother. “Yes, if he was depressed enough, that may have given someone an in. Don’t you think, Mother?”
“Why would someone do that?” the Angel asks.
“Power, love, money. Aren’t those the usual things people are after when they do things like that?” Xandra asks. No sign of her naivety at the moment.
Her father jumps in the conversation. “But why not just take over. Why keep him in place at all?”
“Perhaps whoever is exerting control over him is not powerful enough to hold the throne on their own,” I say.
“And needs my father’s strength in order to rule over the realm.”
“So, Grandpa’s like a puppet, then?” Xandra asks.
I sigh and nod. I hate admitting that he might be under a spell, but now that she has brought the subject up, it could explain a lot. “It is a distinct possibility if the changes in him have been as dramatic as your mother and grandmother claim.”
Xandra looks thoughtful again. “Is it just as likely that he’s become a bitter old man because both his daughter and his wife left him?” Okay, which side of this coin is she on?
Her grandmother responds this time. “It could be. But being under a spell would better account for his radical behavior changes over the years. I guess I have been too close to the situation. I’ve wondered if the Witan had too much power over the years, but it didn’t dawn on me that they might actually be controlling Sveargith.”
In a quiet voice, Xandra asks, “They could do that?”
I do not want her to feel worse, even if I am still annoyed with her, but I have to be honest. “Yes, even the most powerful Witch can be spelled if his or her psychic defenses are low enough.”
Now, she looks scared. That was not my intent. I push off from the counter and walk to where she is standing near the table and grasp her hand in mine. Giving it a little squeeze, I say, “If your grandfather is under a spell, it was probably years in the making. The influence so subtle, he would not even know it is there.”
I do not believe she finds comfort in my words. “Which means he’s not struggling against it. He just accepts it as the person he’s become? He doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with him.”
There is no way to twist this conversation in a way that is going to make her feel better. So, I stick with honesty. “From what your grandmother says, these Witches are very good at planting emotions and controlling others. It is not a stretch to guess that they can be subtle when the situation requires it.”
“Indeed,” the Angel says. “I should have paid better attention to the changes Sveargith underwent. I was so focused on his part in chasing my daughter away, I lost sight of everything else around me.”
“Where is Grandpa now?” I find it interesting she can call him that after all he has done to her. I can think of some much better names.
“He left. But, I’m sure he’ll be back soon.”
Chapter 13
The next three hours are tedious. Xandra’s mother and grandmother have been mixing potions and making amulets at a furious pace. They are going so fast, I think there are several that were not properly spelled. But, I’m smart enough to keep my mouth shut. I am doubtful that Xandra is even going to need all the things they are making her wear.
As much as I had hoped to find some alone time with Xandra before the battle, I am currently keeping my distance from her. A little bit ago, her mother added a necklace to the several others around her neck that smells like an angry skunk who had eaten bat poop. I really hope the aroma is not permanent. Love may be blind, but it still has a functioning nose. Xandra keeps holding it away from her, so I think she is worried about its permanence as well.
Her father and I are taking turns being on the lookout for the Witan. I do not really have to be outside walking around to do this. It just gives me a chance to stretch my legs and get away from the magical duo every half hour or so. Every time I go out, Xandra’s eyes follow me longingly. I would like to think it is my body she is longing for, but I am sure most of it is her desire to run away from the craziness as well.
Xandra is in her own little world when I walk over and place my hand on her shoulder. She almost leaps from her chair and the amount of magic she has pulled is astounding. I take several steps back and put my palms out in a sign of peace. Embarrassed by her overreaction to being startled, she closes her eyes and concentrates on letting the magic go.
When it is gone, her mother reaches across the table and places her ghostly hand on Xandra’s. “You’ll be fine. Your grandmother and Kallen and I won’t let anything happen to you.” My relationship with her has come a long way in the last two days, obviously. I am hoping that means when this is over, I will be allowed to stay.
The phone rings and Xandra jumps again. I am starting to get worried about how on edge she is. Her magic is too dangerous to keep pulling it at the slightest touch or noise.
Everyone stares at the phone as it continues to ring; no one particularly willing to answer it. The most impatient person in the room finally does. “Hello,” Xandra says.
“Xandra, is your mom or dad around?” It is her aunt.
“We’re here, Barb. What’s going on?”
“I just got the strangest phone call. A Dr. Louis just called. He said he was an old friend of yours from medical school and he was hoping to drop by while he was in Denver.”
The spirits are scared into shock for a moment. Finally, Xandra’s mother says in a shaky voice, “Barb, you need to take Zac and get out of there as soon as possible. Get in your car and drive. Right now.”
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br /> “Julienne, what’s wrong? What’s going on?”
“How did they know?” Xandra asks her mother who is walking a fine line at the moment between sanity and ‘I am going to kill them slowly and painfully, then hold their spirits here and torture them for eternity.’ It is not a good time to ask her questions. Xandra finally picks up on that. “Um, Aunt Barb, you should do what Mom’s asking. We can explain later. Just go.”
Her aunt is beginning to pick up on the danger of the situation. “Okay. Should I pack anything?”
“NO! Just go!” the Witch spirit screams. I believe she is only holding on to her sanity by a microscopic piece of string now.
“Alright, we’re on our way out now. Zac, get your shoes and your coat, we have to go.” The boy argues at first, but he eventually sees the light when his aunt says, “Zac, shoes, now!”
And then there is quiet on the other end of the line. Whispering, the woman says, “Jim, there’s someone at the door. What do I do?”
We all say simultaneously, “Don’t answer it!”
“Barb, can you go out the fire escape?” her brother asks with panic in his voice.
“I don’t know. Zac,” she whispers, “we need to try to go out the fire escape.”
“Cool!” Leave it to a child to find the fun in a situation like this. He makes me smile.
“Okay, I’m trying to get the window open now. It’s stuck. Zac, come here and help me.” We hear them struggling to get the window open and a little pop tells us when they’re successful.
“Barb, look below, is there anyone there?” her brother asks.
After a second, she gasps. “There’s a rather large man staring up here.”
I was afraid of this. “They’re trapped.”
Whispering frantically into the phone, the woman says, “Oh god, Jim, someone just opened the door. Zac, get in the closet. Hurry!”
I close my eyes. It is just a matter of moments before they are taken. The only thing I can try to reassure Xandra with is that they will probably bring them here as bait to get her to break the protection spell.