by Antara Mann
“But will my death qualify? As you said, I am only a half-goddess.”
“It’s the blood that flows in your veins that’s important, and since you have your mother’s blood you’re perfect for our purpose.” He cackled and added, “I am sorry you won’t see our glorious ritual, but know that thanks to your heart, the gates of Inferno will open and all the noble, powerful inferni Kai has kept locked for over a millennium will be free.” He beamed with delight. “The magic apocalypse is coming and no one, not even your boyfriend, is able to stop it.”
Now! the voice said. Blast him and this damn chamber with wood, just like Kagan showed you. You won’t feel any pain, but in order to make it out alive, you’ll have to teleport yourself, the voice said. And just in time: Garrett snickered and drew a silver knife from a nook in the wall. The blade glistened ominously in the dim light as he raised it to slash me like a sacrificial lamb.
I summoned all the magic I’d been building up and blasted the entire space with wood. The room shattered, filling the air all around with bricks, smoke, and debris. The explosion threw Garrett to the floor, just a few yards away from me.
“Not this time, asshole!” I shouted and saw the dizzy and confused look on his face. Just then a concrete brick hit his head and he slumped to the floor. The arcane chanting figures in the corner also collapsed. The explosion caused the cuffs binding me to crack open, and my hands were free again. I hastily teleported myself to the Steaming Cauldron before any of the crumbling iron-clad walls had a chance to fall on me as well.
Chapter 19
When I arrived in our shop, it was pitch dark inside — the only light came from the full moon shining through the windowpanes. I smiled ruefully: That was why Garrett had tried to slaughter me now, during the moon’s zenith in alliance with the ancient Egyptian dark rituals. I was about to connect with Kagan mentally when a slight noise caught my attention, coming from the back of the shop. I strained my hearing, but the midnight silence was broken only by the rhythmic ticking of the wall clock near the front door. I reached inside me for my magic when I heard quick footsteps rustling behind my back, but before I could turn around, someone had struck me hard on the head. All the tension, tiredness, and fear of the last twenty-four hours took their toll on me: I crumpled to the floor, only to see Naomi’s face above me. The last thing I remembered seeing before the darkness closed in was the guilty expression on my best friend’s face.
When I came to, I was in my own room, in bed with my clothes still on. I began gingerly testing my limbs, but the movement sent a dull piercing pain throbbing through my head.
“Ouch,” I grumbled.
Naomi rushed over to me. “Alex, I am so sorry! I thought you were one of those nasty vampires that attacked me earlier, or a thief. I feel terrible for hitting you. How are you?”
I touched my head and felt the lump that had formed there. “Well, I’ve had better days. But never mind, the full moon is at its zenith now, so I’ll heal in a few minutes or so.” I had barely finished saying it when I felt tiny energy vibrations on the lump. The energy intensified, swirling like a vortex around my head, followed by an unusual sense of light-headiness. It lasted only a few moments; when I placed my hand on the injured spot, my head was normal once again, and I felt completely healthy. I grinned at Naomi and asked, “How long was I unconscious?”
“Just a few minutes. It’s very handy, you having your super healing power.” Relief was written across her face. “How did you get away from that guy and the vampires? We’ve been worried sick about you.”
“Ugh. I’ve had a hell of an adventure in Garrett’s dark chamber.”
“Garrett?” Naomi asked, puzzled. “Who is that?”
“Do you remember the lecture about Isis and Egyptian mythology and religion, back at Desmond’s shop last week? It was just before my consultant gig with the Magic Council started. Garrett was the presenter.”
“That guy?” she shrieked in disbelief. “He was behind all this? And what about Desmond — was he also involved? You were probably right to be suspicious about him but I didn’t listen to you.”
I waved my hand dismissively. “No, relax. He isn’t involved. Garrett said he’d just used Desmond for his evil plans. However, Garrett has a powerful ally in Inferno, one of the inferni, but I have no idea who that might be.”
“Oh!” It was all Naomi could say.
I felt suddenly exhausted. Even though I had healed myself and was perfectly healthy physically, I couldn’t wash off the sick energy I’d had to endure in Garrett’s lair, not to mention the fact that the purpose of his magical ritual was to use my own heart. I shivered and cleared my throat. “Naomi, I witnessed a sacrificial ritual and I’m still shaken up. Can you fetch me one of your invigorating potions, please?”
“Oh, for magic’s sake, Alex, you should have told me sooner, honey.” She rushed out of the room and returned in a few minutes with a cup of hot tea.
“I put a revitalizing potion in ginger tea, with some soothing herbs also. This should wash off all the dark magic influences.” She smiled and handed me the cup. I drank it thirstily — it tasted delicious. Soon enough, I did feel better and stood up.
“That guy Garrett’s been spying on me, Noe. Coming here, the murders — everything was part of his wicked plan.”
“Poor thing — what you’ve been through! Did he torture you?”
“Worse. He told me about my mother.” I swallowed and felt a thick lump at the back of my throat. Before I could control myself, hot tears poured down my cheeks. “He killed her. She was a warrior goddess, Noe, and I myself am a half-goddess,” I sobbed.
So much for keeping secrets! I didn’t think it would be a problem that I’d told Naomi about it. Awen, on the other hand, had always known who I was, but had never told me. Why?
Naomi gawked at me, then she hugged me impulsively. “It’s okay, Alex, you’re home. Everything’s going to be all right,” she said comfortingly.
Through sobs I asked, “And what happened with Kagan and the shifters? Where are they?”
“They fought off the rest of the vampires and killed them. Then they went to search for your trail and Kagan had a meeting with the Magic Council regarding the case and your disappearance. Alex,” she added a little cautiously, “you shouldn’t believe everything Garrett told you — maybe he was playing mind games with you.”
I shook my head vehemently. “He is totally nuts, that’s for sure, but all the things he said… I don’t know, but I didn’t feel like he was lying. But then, I don’t know what he was really doing. Anyway, I have to call Kagan and tell him about Garrett. Noe, he wants to start a magic revolution, to perform some crazy Egyptian ritual and release the inferni from Inferno.”
Naomi stroked my hair and stood up from the couch. “I’d better leave you alone then. If you need me, don’t hesitate to come get me.” She exited my room smiling compassionately. I was grateful for her empathy and support. It’s always good to know there’s someone on your side who understands and support you.
Once I was alone, I connected mentally with the fae. Thank magic, he wasn’t asleep yet. He said he was looking for clues as to where I might be, and sounded deeply concerned about my safety and well-being. How strange, I thought. He said he would let a goddess die to catch the culprit.
Don’t forget it was him who taught you how to get past iron and summon wood, my inner voice intervened.
I reassured Kagan and told him about my experience in Garrett’s dark chamber.
“I thought we’d lost you,” he admitted frankly once I finished with my story. “The shifters and I tried to track you down, but someone had blocked your magic. Then the Council called me to NY unexpectedly to brief them on the new developments, and Brendan and Carlos kept searching for you.”
“That was kind of them. Where are they?”
“I think in your hometown. Alex, do you know the place where Garrett held you captive?”
“I’m not sure, but I think it�
��s in his coven’s building, or in close proximity. Also, remember when you showed me how to summon wood to defeat iron? Well, I did that but the whole building had iron so I turned it all to wood, not just the basement. So whatever house I was in, it must be utterly destroyed.”
“Perhaps the shifters are already there,” Kagan said. He hesitated for a moment, then said, “Alex, do you want me to drop by and see you? Personally, I mean. Of course, I will report to the Council what you just told me about Garrett’s plan of a magical revolution, the inferni, and the revolt against Kai. But I’d like to talk to you face to face. Are you okay with that?”
I laughed. “Sure thing, Kagan. Come on over. We are partners and it’d be better to tell you everything from beginning to end, face to face. I may have forgotten a detail or two. I’m not used to mental communications. This is Brendan’s thing.”
“You do pretty well,” he admitted. “You never cease to amaze me.” I sensed hesitation in his voice.
“Yeah, that’s the other thing I’d like to discuss with you.” I hadn’t still told him what the sorcerer had claimed about my lineage. Naomi’s reaction was that he’d lied to me. Maybe he had, or maybe he’d told me the truth. In my gut I believed he had told me the truth; he was certain that I was going to die, so there was no point in lying to me. And me being a half-goddess would explain my peculiar magic, especially around the full moon.
“Okay, I’ll teleport in just a minute,” he said. “I’ll connect with Brendan and Carlos first and tell them you’re safe and sound at your place, so they needn’t worry about you.”
About an hour later, a sizzling white-yellow radiance appeared in my room for a split second. In the next moment, Kagan stood before me, his tight shirt highlighting his biceps, his jeans molded to his legs. I felt a thrill of excitement at the sight of him.
“Kagan,” I said, and came over to him. I had mixed feelings about him and in that moment I didn’t really know what I felt.
“I just talked to Carlos and Brendan.” He spoke hurriedly and looked agitated. “They’re at the ruins of a building not so far away from your shop. They found four human bodies in what was the basement, and half a dozen or so are in the remains of the occult shop they went to a few days ago. Everyone’s dead.”
“Magica World?” I gasped — had Garrett intended to slaughter me in the shop’s basement? Right below customers’ feet? I shivered. But it had been pretty late in the evening, so at least there had been no customers in the shop.
“I guess. Anyway, the shifters said they couldn’t find the sorcerer’s body, or any supernaturals. All the victims are human.”
“This’s impossible!” I cried. Had Garrett really managed to escape somehow? But, for magic’s sake, how?
“It’s quite possible,” Kagan said. “Given the fact that he’s into the dark arts and a sorcerer, not to mention teamed up with an inferni…” He hesitated, then asked, “He didn’t mention his inferni mentor’s name, did he?”
I shook my head. “No, not a word. It really bothers me that he got away. Can I look at the ruins?”
“Sure. I was just about to offer to transport the two of us over there. Carlos and Brendan are still there, gathering evidence and searching for clues. There are a few people standing around and the police also showed up, but the shifters are doing fine. Thank goodness it’s night; otherwise the whole town would be there. I bet this is the most interesting thing that’s happened in your town for a while.”
“Don’t be too sure about that; there are many interesting things going on in Ivy Hills,’’ I said.
“Well, are you ready?”
I nodded, and Kagan connected with his magic, summoning it. The familiar yellow light sparkled in the air around us, and the magic portal appeared and grabbed us. I was already used to the ritual. When we stepped out of the magic portal, we found ourselves in a dark, ruined place, debris and dust all around us. It didn’t look like the basement I’d been locked up in not so long ago. Two police officers were roaming around the remains using flashlights, and paramedics tended to the dead bodies, which were being put in body bags. Brendan noticed me and waved his hand.
“Alex, are you all right?” He rushed over, genuine concern evident on his face.
“Yes, I’m fine, thanks for asking.”
“I was pretty worried about you. Kagan told us what happened and… well, I just wanted to say, you were very brave, and handled it well.” Brendan never liked expressing his feelings, but now I sensed a lot of emotions bubbling behind his otherwise iron façade. Well, this was unusual for him.
“I’m fine. What worries me, though, is that the sick bastard got away and is on the loose.” I raised my voice.
“I wouldn’t be worried if I were you,” Carlos chimed in. “Kai is notorious for his hatred of traitors: Once he catches wind of Garrett — was that his name? — and his betrayal, he’ll no doubt not only kill him, but torture him as well.”
“That may be true in theory, but the fact that this guy is cooperating with an inferni is a big red flag. Besides, this inferni is most likely to be part of Kai’s inner circle. Kai probably doesn’t even suspect that one of his trusted servants is plotting against him,” Kagan noted.
“Poor Kai,” I said sarcastically. The memory of his magic came back to me like a flood, and I shuddered at the memory of it. He was a powerful, wicked creature, but at least he played by the rules and wouldn’t stir up a magical revolution. That was a small comfort.
“Kai will undoubtedly investigate his minions, even if only because the traitor tried to start a war between the two Courts and kill one of the Council’s investigators,” Brendan said.
“Independent consultant,” I corrected him.
“Whatever. It’s outrageous. I reported our latest findings to the Council and they said it’s time for a meeting between the two Courts and us.” Kagan’s voice was stern and unusually cold.
“I am very much looking forward it,” I said mockingly. I wasn’t in high spirits tonight, not after my face-to-face encounter with Garrett.
The shifters glanced at me, and I turned to the fae, pulling him aside.
“Um, I wanted to talk to you in private.”
He looked surprised, but agreed. “Okay, but where? It’s approaching midnight and I don’t want you to come across any more monsters tonight.” He forced a smile.
“That won’t happen — not tonight, anyway.”
“How do you know that?” he teased, but I was in no mood for that.
“Let’s walk together for a while. You can see me to my house.” I tugged at his muscular arm, and the action set off butterflies in my stomach. The fae nodded and turned to the shifters.
“Okay, guys, let’s call it a day — or should I say, a night. As soon as the Magic Council confirms with me for our next meeting, I’ll let you know.”
We parted ways with Brendan and Carlos and strolled along the street. The cool fall air cleared my thoughts and soothed my temper. A late night stroll always helped me balance my emotions or mental state. The full moon shone above us and illuminated the space all around, so we didn’t have to use any magic. We walked in silence for the first few minutes, aware of each other’s presence, until I broke the silence.
“Garrett said he knew my mother.”
“Did he?” Kagan didn’t stop walking, nor did he look at me.
“Yes. He said she was a goddess, and that he killed her himself. He also said that I was a half-goddess.” I stopped and turned to face the fae. “So, it turns out, I was that ‘silly little goddess’ he wanted to kill.” Contempt was evident in my voice and I could feel my eyes gleaming in the dark night. Kagan took a step toward me, but I raised my hand. “You don’t need to apologize to me, Kagan. I understand where you come from and your values. Let me finish my story before you say anything.”
He nodded and I went on. “Garrett also said he’d been searching for me ever since he killed my mother. That’s why he connected with Desmond and lent him the m
oney to open his occult shop: in order to spy on me, and recruit minions. Garrett claimed my mother’s name was Andred and that she was a warrior goddess.”
Kagan stared at me for a long moment, then he closed his eyes.
I lost my patience and bellowed, “Oh, come on! Won’t you tell me anything? Naomi thinks he may have lied to me.” I hesitated for a second, then asked in a lower voice, “He didn’t, did he?”
Kagan opened his eyes and sighed. “I think he told you the truth, Alex.” He watched my reaction very carefully. “This doesn’t come as a big surprise to me, truth be told. I never really believed you were merely an elemental mage.” A faint smile flickered across his face.
“I never was,” I replied, and smiled against my will. “And what about the Magic Council and the two Courts — did they know I was a half-goddess, too, Andred’s daughter?”
“Not really. Though the Morrigan figured out the nature of your magic pretty quickly. Right after the vampire ambush when I spoke with her about the case, she asked about the goddess in the investigation — about you. And that’s why I made the remark later about a ‘silly little goddess’ — the comment you hated so much and can’t forgive me for. I just wanted to see your reaction and test you if you really were a goddess.”
“You bastard!” I cried out and hit him in the chest. “What a terrible way to expose me! You’re shameless. Did the Morrigan say anything about my mother?”
He shook his head. “No, not a word. Anyway, I am happy that you’re safe and sound after this weird, wicked case. And I’m especially glad you used the trick I showed you with the wood element.”