This Magic Moment

by Susan Squires

  Thomas was confused. Roll the dice? Did that mean what he thought it might mean? But he couldn’t trust this man. And he dared not give up the element of surprise when he released the fire to do its work. “I see through the eyes of animals.”

  Jason processed that for only a second then exploded forward, his forearm across Thomas’s throat. Thomas was pushed up against the sharp metal corner of the shelving. He reached for air and nothing happened. Jason poked something sharp right under his ribs. “No way,” Jason hissed into Thomas’s face. “I didn’t spend all those months staking out the Tremaine estate for nothing. The Tremaine girl is the one who has a thing for animals and a power reflects who you are. Tell me your real power, or I’ll gut you like a trout.”

  “You’d spoil Morgan’s ceremony?” Thomas choked.

  “You’re already not a virgin.”

  “Ceremony could still work. Blood sacrifice.” Thomas said with the last air in his lungs.

  Abruptly, Jason stepped back. Thomas bent over, gasping. “That’s what I’m afraid of,” he said in that dead voice. “So what’s your power? You had a plan. You wouldn’t leave your mate without a very powerful reason.” He cocked his head. “You’re planning on protecting her and her family, aren’t you? You don’t have to answer that. You’d do anything to keep what you’ve found with her and a fucking monastery is a perfect place to learn self-sacrifice.” He chuffed a bitter laugh. “Morgan didn’t think about that, I bet. I just want to know if you’ve got a chance to take the queen bitch out, because Cloaking sure ain’t gonna do it.”

  Thomas looked up through watery eyes. He nodded, more to himself than to Jason. “You’re trapped, aren’t you?” he choked. “If a Clan member tries to leave, she hunts them down like she found me. That’s why she hates the Tremaines so, because the Parents left her before she was powerful enough to stop them. And now they have each other and their children, and their children’s mates, too. They can resist. But you have no one to stand with you against her. The others are too frightened to help you or too eager to curry favor with her. If you kill yourself, she’ll just bring you back to life. So, I guess I’m your only possible ally.”

  “Pretty much,” Jason said. His eyes were dull.

  Well, this man knew almost all Thomas’s secrets. If he wanted to tell Morgan, he would. But Thomas was betting he wouldn’t. Not after the way she’d treated him. With a father like Thomas had seen through the raven’s eyes, Jason had been a broken man when Morgan found him. She hadn’t tried to heal his wounded spirit. She only ground it further into dust. But against all odds, Jason might still have a soul.

  “Before I tell you, I want to know about her. Why does she not have a mate?” Thomas had been puzzling about Morgan all the way over to the Compound from The Breakers.

  Jason looked away. Did he understand that if he wanted a partnership with Thomas he’d have to give as well as take? Thomas remained silent.

  Jason took a deep breath. “Hardwick says she was orphaned in Whitechapel in the 1840’s. Orphans back then got by through stealing or prostitution or both. Hard life. A john raised her power. Sick bastard. Killed whores. Cut them up. Hardwick says the john was her Destiny. She followed him around and came across him with a victim one night. He was about to kill Morgan too, but she brought his victim back to life accidentally when she fell against the carcass. That meant he could drag out the joy of killing the same one again and again. So they teamed up. Hardwick and I think the jerk was Jack the Ripper. You heard of him?”

  Thomas shook his head.

  “Doesn’t matter. My personal theory is that’s why the Ripper killings seemed to stop. He didn’t stop killing, but she brought them back to life. The whores were so scared and used to being abused, they didn’t tell anyone what had happened to them. Who would believe it anyway? Thing is, he misjudged Morgan. Sure, they were Destined, but I don’t think she had any love left in her by that time, living as she did, used and mistreated by endless men, even used by him. She just didn’t want to be powerless any more. Or subject to anyone’s will. So she killed him. Sure there was pain, but she was used to pain. And feeling like nothing inside? Well, she’d felt like that for a long time.”

  “So now she wants power over everything.” Thomas felt an unaccountable sadness that cruelty had begot such misery for so many.

  “Yeah. And one other thing.”

  Thomas raised his brows in question.

  “Immortality. She saw death close up. Not the pretty, peaceful kind. Sort of engenders a desire not to experience that. And she can’t have kids. Her insides were screwed up, either by a client or by Jack. You can’t exactly ask. That’s why she wanted Brina Tremaine, to see if she could be healed. But no dice and she’s never found another healer. So no immorality through her offspring.”

  “And the ceremony at the moment the Pentacle forms will give her immortality?”

  Jason’s expression darkened. “It’ll open the door for someone who can.”

  Thomas didn’t like the sound of that.

  “Twenty questions time is over. So give. What’s your power?”

  “I’m a Firestarter,” Thomas said. He was taking a chance. But Jason had told him things Morgan would likely kill the man for divulging. That meant he might just chance helping Thomas too.

  “That fire in the conference center basement…. Rhiannon couldn’t put it out, no matter how much rain…” Memories flickered through Jason’s pale eyes.

  Thomas nodded. “I’d just seen Tammy in the parking lot.”

  Jason lifted his brows in surprise. Guess it was unusual to get that much power before you had sex with your Destiny. “And the fire in the hangar when you escaped.” Speculation raced across his expression. “Fire might do it. Might not.”

  “I’ve got to stay alive long enough to make the flames grow. I must wait to act until just before the Pentacle forms, so the ceremony can’t be completed and the moment passes.”

  “Could be a problem.”

  “I know. Do you think she’ll want to prolong her pleasure in my death?”

  Jason nodded. “I know she wants to fuck you as you’re dying. Yeah, she’ll draw out your death.” His gaze flicked up to Thomas’s eyes. “It won’t be pretty.”

  “But this is good.” Thomas sucked in a breath. “I only need to last long enough to fan my flames.”

  “And she has to burn.” Jason’s look was more implacable than Thomas had ever seen.

  This was the bargain he was making, in return for Jason’s help. He was agreeing to kill. But he knew that. Jeremy Bentham had written, “It is the greatest good to the greatest number of people which is the measure of right and wrong.” Utilitarianism was a slippery slope, of course. But in this case, the greatest number of people included Tammy and her family.

  He nodded.

  “Okay. Now,” Jason said brusquely. “You have to seem physically interested in her or you won’t last five minutes.”

  That might be a problem. Could he think of Tammy, even through pain or failing life?

  Jason smiled. It wasn’t a pretty smile like Tammy’s and it didn’t reach his eyes. “No worries. I’ve got orders to get you a little something to help you along because she doesn’t think you can get a boner while you’re being tortured. Just don’t look revolted when she touches you. Now get back to your room. She’s up in the hangar getting ready for the ceremony and trying to save her lust for the right time. That stiffie of yours got her all hot and bothered.”

  “I hope it did,” Thomas said. “Then she will be distracted.”

  “Be ready. It’s almost time.”

  *

  Unfortunately, there were still remnants of the L.A. commuter traffic clogging the freeways out to the desert when the Tremaines left in their caravan of vehicles. Tammy rode in the first SUV with Daddy and Mom, Kemble and Jane and Maggie, her nerves jittery with fear and hope. Kemble was driving the lead car because he said he was the only one calm enough to obey speed limits. Not that speed
was a problem as long as they were crawling through the Riverside exits. The sun was setting as they started across the windy part of the 60 Freeway toward Beaumont. They’d turn south on the 79, headed out into the area of pretty much nothing where the San Jacinto mountains played out into the open desert in a series of canyons. It was definitely going to take the four-wheel drive on the big SUVs.

  Tammy looked up into the darkening sky for the dreaded comet. It was almost straight overhead, so she had to crane her neck at the window to see it. Even though the sky hadn’t gotten entirely black, the comet blazed through. It had passed through the bowl of the dipper and was so close to the place where it would make a perfect pentagram with the other stars she could hardly see the difference. She tried to keep her fear knotted into relentless resolve. She was going to get Thomas out of Morgan’s clutches or die trying. A very likely prospect since Drew had seen them both bleeding. And yeah, she hoped Morgan failed and got killed and the world was spared her domination, but she only had room for Thomas. And she would play a crucial role. Michael was locked out of Finding the compound unless they worked together, and there would be no time or concentration for that, but she’d be able to feel Thomas and that would guide them.

  They’d meet Tris and Luc Marrec at the little dot on the map called Anza, whenever they got there. All Tammy knew was that this was taking way too long.

  Kemble had rigged the two SUVs with an open line on a closed circuit so they could complete their plans.

  “No, I have to go to the front door,” he was saying patiently. “That’s the most likely place for their security. If I can disable it, our door is open.”

  Tammy watched Jane bite her lip. Her husband was going to be in the thick of things.

  “We can assume the front door faces the desert in the canyon mouth, but how will we find the back door with the whole place cloaked?” That was Michael in the other car.

  “It’s up on the ridge,” Tammy said. “It…it opens onto the north side I think.” She’d seen that through the cat’s eyes. The hatch was up a stairwell from a big place, dark with looming shapes. They’d decided that was the best bet for a ceremony. And it was at the top of the compound. The cat’s perspective wasn’t good enough for Kee to map the way there, though.

  “We’re not prepared,” Michael said grimly, through the speaker. “We don’t know enough about their powers. We don’t have detailed plans.”

  “But there’s no more time,” Tammy said quietly.

  “So we go with what we have.” Daddy’s voice had a firmness she hadn’t felt in a while.

  Kemble took a big breath. “If I disable their security, it should pop the locks. Maybe you’ll be able to hear the lock on the top hatchway opening and locate it that way.”

  Tammy listened to the plans with half an ear. She had what she needed to know. The frontal assault was a distraction. She’d be going in with their main force through the top hatch. She’d then locate the ceremony because, dollars to doughnuts, that’s where Thomas would be.

  “Just remember,” Mom interrupted, “when you all get through the front door, go to the ceremony. We need everybody together.”

  “There’s one thing we haven’t considered,” Daddy said.

  “Only one?” Michael muttered through the phone link.

  Daddy wasn’t disconcerted by the pessimism. Maybe he’d gotten his old, can-do attitude back, the one that had always given Tammy so much confidence when he had the powers of an Adapter to back it up. Now he might have the attitude without the reason for his optimism. “The Pentacle is going to unleash a lot of power.” He let that hang there while they considered it. They didn’t know exactly what would happen during the ceremony. Daddy had obviously been thinking, though. “The Talismans will attract the Pentacle’s power, I think. They’re one of a set. Their symbols describe the nature of the world and predict its course as Merlin saw it.”

  “The Talismans have power of their own, too,” Jane said. “The Sword shoots power, and so does the Wand.”

  “And the Cup does…something, but we don’t know what,” Kee said, from the other car.

  “Morgan will try to channel the power generated by the Pentacle using Thomas’s blood,” her father said. “Sorry, honey,” he added when he saw Tammy’s face.

  “It’s okay, Daddy. That’s what she wants to do, but I’m not going to let her.”

  “And see, honey, that’s the problem. If we stop the ceremony, where will the power from the Talismans and go? What will it do?”

  There was silence in both cars.

  “Good thing she’s holding the ceremony out in the middle of nowhere,” Dev said, finally.

  “A star event?” Greta murmured, almost to herself. “That might be a hell of a lot of power. How far away is L.A.?”

  “Ninety miles as the crow flies,” Michael said. “San Diego? Maybe a hundred. Riverside and Beaumont, Palm Springs, forty? Fifty-ish?”

  “And Orange County,” Lan added.

  “And all the beach towns between L.A. and San Diego,” Dev said. In happier times, he’d surfed them all.

  “The swallows might not be coming home to Capistrano,” Michael said grimly.

  Would they be releasing forces they didn’t understand and couldn’t contain? Their efforts to stop the ceremony might be as dangerous to the world as Morgan was.

  “Either way, the answer is the Cup.” Mom’s voice broke the appalled silence.

  “What do you mean, Brina?” Daddy asked. He always valued her opinion, no matter how out of left field it sounded.

  “The Cup will hold the power. That has to be its purpose.”

  “Morgan is no fool,” Kemble muttered. “She must know the Pentacle will release incredible energy. She’ll have a plan to channel it—or contain it.”

  “So what do we know about the Cup?” Lan asked.

  “In the world of the Tarot,” Brina said, “the Cup represents the Soul, generally. It gains specificity only when you fill it. You can fill it with any human emotion: hatred, jealousy, greed, pity…but the strongest, most transformative thing to fill it is love.”

  Tammy didn’t get it. By their silence, she didn’t think the others did either.

  “Well, don’t you see? When it’s filled with the power of the Pentacle, Morgan will try to use the Cup to capture and absorb the power for herself in some way.” Mom was leaning forward now, her voice intense. “But along with the power, she’ll be filling the Cup with hate or greed. That’s just who she is. And hate and greed aren’t the strongest emotions.”

  “Could she weaken the Cup’s ability to contain the power?” Kemble asked, alarmed.

  “That’s why we have to fill it with love,” Brina said simply. “All of us. I’ve been trying to figure this out. The answer has to be that we fill it with love so it can hold all the power.”

  “Uh, I’m not going to feel a bunch of love while fighting off Clan members trying to dismember me.” That was Michael of course. Practical.

  “But you love Drew,” Brina said. “And you love us, I know you do, Michael Redmond. It’s why you’re here right now and why you’ll be fighting. You concentrate on remembering that, no matter what you’re doing.” She looked around at those of the family who were surrounding her in the dark. “I love all of you more than I can say. Not only Brian, and my children—I love Thomas, who is meant for Tammy, and Greta, who brought Lan back to us, and Jane, who was like a daughter all along, and Devon, who was my son before he was my son-in-law and Maggie, who made Tristram whole. I love my grandchildren and my grandchildren yet to be. I love who you are and who you are becoming.” She sat up, her back ramrod straight. “That love will strengthen the Cup, I know it will.”

  Tammy looked first at Jane and then at Maggie. She saw tears glistening in the dim light to match her own filling eyes. “Not much of a weapon,” she said, hoping the smile in her voice came through. “But it’s what we have.”

  “Agreed,” said Brian.

  “Agreed,
” was murmured in their car and the other car.

  Mom had always known best, except for a stretch there where she was mourning what had been, before the attack on Daddy. But she was back to being the matriarch they had all known and trusted on some elemental level that hardly registered. There were just things in the universe that were, and Mom was one of them. Funny. Tammy’s world had been so out of kilter for the last two years, but things were coming round to something she recognized. Ironic that she felt the family becoming whole, right as it was about to be torn apart.

  No one said what they were all thinking; that if they couldn’t protect each other, there might be too few of them left alive to fill the Cup with love. And how could they protect each other from powers they didn’t know about? The Clan had grown, and their powers had grown with the acquisition of the Talismans. Now…

  But if she didn’t get Thomas back, nothing would ever be right again. For a split second, Tammy longed to be the baby of the family again, one who was coddled and taken care of. She wouldn’t have to be here. So much wouldn’t depend on her. She took a breath and let it go. But she wasn’t that child anymore. And Thomas needed her. She might lose her own life, but she might be able to save his.

  That was all that was important.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  ‡

  The sky was entirely dark by the time they got to Anza. The tiny town consisted of little more than a few houses and trailers, a diner, a gas station, a DQ, a health center and a hardware store/laundromat. The SUVs pulled in to the far, unlit edge of the diner parking lot.

  “Where are you?” Kemble barked to Tris on his phone. “Okay. Meet us at the diner.”

  The gravel parking lot of the diner was huge—as if they expected a hundred cars instead of the three clustered by the entrance. Kemble pulled up at the very edge, outside the range of the weak light poles near the windowless beige building. The sign wasn’t lighted. They could barely see that it advertised breakfast, lunch and dinner. They got out and stretched their legs, several glancing surreptitiously up toward the comet. The world turned inexorably toward the Talisman moment. Tammy shuddered.