Now or Never: Wizards of Nevermore

by Michele Bardsley

  Damn it all.

  Mordi wasn’t a full-on magical. She had a communion with the dead because that was her job, her calling. But the Goddess fountain affected everyone, or so it seemed. Or maybe it was just the Goddess sending on a message. Who knew? All the same, Mordi had a vivid dream one night and when she awoke, she knew what was to come, and what she was meant to do.

  Trent must survive. He has a great task ahead of him. I know what I know so that I can help him achieve that. I don’t mind, Ant. I’m glad for it. I love him. And I do this for love, and with love.

  Mordi’s words echoed in his head like a eulogy.

  He stared out the window.

  And like a fool, he waited.

  Trent tried to protect Elizabeth as much as possible. She stayed behind him for the most part, but he was terrified for her. Still, he stayed focused, using his necromancy to strike at the Ravens who were flinging their magic at them as hard and fast as they could.

  They got separated from the others, but it was obvious that the Ravens were weakening. Nevermore’s witches and wizards were too powerful for the bad guys, and that was the truth of it. But he knew more would come, and more would try.

  “Get to the office,” said Trent. “Go!”

  “No,” said Elizabeth, somehow managing to stay calm among the sizzling magic battle. Then she yelled, “Trent!” And she shoved him out of the way.

  He stumbled hard, falling to his knees as a black lightning bolt slammed into Elizabeth.

  “No!” he screamed. “No!”

  She fell backward, sprawling in the brick street like a broken doll. Trent slid toward her, throwing out magic at any Raven stupid enough to get close.

  He put a protection bubble around them both, a bubble he knew would last only seconds in the magical onslaught. He slid his arms under her. “Elizabeth,” he whispered. “Sweetheart.”

  Tears fell down his cheeks at the sight of her. He was a necro. He knew death, just as she did. She was fading fast, her soul clinging like so much smoke.

  The bubble popped, and he didn’t care. He didn’t fucking care. Let the Ravens take them both.

  “Trent.” Somehow, some way, Ant was there, beside him, trying to take Elizabeth. “C’mon, man. We have to go.”

  “Doesn’t matter,” said Trent dully. “Nothing matters without her.”

  “You may be right about that,” said Ant. “But let’s go anyway.”

  With Gray and Ember keeping the other Ravens at bay, a pathway was made to get Mordi, Ant, and Trent off Main Street.

  Trent insisted on carrying her, and when they got to the portal, he stepped through with her dying in his arms.

  Norie and Taylor found themselves stumbling onto a narrow dirt path. Taylor didn’t know where the hell the portal had tossed them, until he saw the trees.

  Shit.

  They were in his forest, close to the nemeton.

  He grabbed Norie’s arm and started hauling ass away from the—

  “Thank you, Sheriff,” said Leopold Deshane as he stepped onto the path in front of them. More Ravens glided onto the path, effectively surrounding them.

  “We won’t need the sheriff,” said Leopold as he yanked his daughter out of Taylor’s embrace. “Come along, Norie. Your destiny awaits.”

  Taylor punched the first Raven so hard, the man crumpled. These mages were made of glass, too reliant on their magic to build up some muscles. Then three Ravens grabbed at him, and the fourth came at him with a surge of black oily energy.

  All Taylor felt was sudden, searing pain.

  Then nothing.

  “What the hell is going on?” asked Trent, his voice dull with grief. “What does Tree have to do with saving Elizabeth?”

  “She can’t be saved,” said Ant kindly, “and you know it.”

  “I’ll put her soul back in,” he said, “like I did for Happy.”

  “That won’t work,” said Elandra. “Necromancy cannot undo when a person’s time is come. You know that.”

  “I don’t care!”

  “We have to do what she wanted,” said Ant. “She wanted to save you, and she wanted to save Tree. With her life force—her soul—she’ll be here forever, Trent. She’ll always be a part of Nevermore.”

  Trent sobbed, but he let Ant extract Elizabeth from his arms. He sank to his knees, grief a vise around his heart. Elandra helped him lay her down on a blanket. She put Elizabeth’s hand against Tree’s trunk, and then Ant did the same with her other hand.

  Together, they spoke the words, words so ancient, so magical, they permeated the air with life, with all that could be.

  Trent watched as Elizabeth’s soul loosened from her body, and with what he could only describe as love, sank into the stalwart trunk of Nevermore’s true guardian.

  The Ravens who had not been injured or dispatched fell back from the onslaught rendered by Ember, Gray, Lucinda, Leticia, and Roan. Rilton had relented in his insistence to stay with Ember only because Happy needed to be escorted to the café. “We must get to the café!” yelled Ember.

  As the Ravens fell back and stopped trying to annihilate them, they all ran toward the café.

  “Why did they stop?” asked Lucy as they all stood in the lobby, catching their breath.

  “Why dey need to worry ’bout us?” asked Ember sadly. “Dey got da girl.”

  Cullen fell onto the dirt path, landing knees first. The jolt of the impact shimmed up his spine. Damn it. He just couldn’t get the hang of traveling through the portals. He stood up and looked around. It took a moment to adjust his vision to the dark. And that was when he noticed the crumpled form just ahead.

  Not. Good.

  He hurried to the prone figure and realized right away it was Taylor. He smelled weird, as though he’d been barbecued. “Don’t be dead,” he whispered. Then he put his fingers against Taylor’s neck. There was still a faint beat there, a pulse. Relief flooded him.

  Then the world tilted.

  The magic that had felt so locked within him, like a monster that slithered inside, waiting, burst forth.

  It flooded over Taylor in sparkling white effervescence.

  The sheriff sat straight up, sucked in a huge breath, looked at Cullen, and said, “Norie.”

  It killed Cullen to move slowly and be quiet as they trod through the forest. He wanted to rush in, to save the day—to save his sister. He remembered now what it had felt like to take care of her, to feel protective of her. Though born only minutes before her, he was still the older one. He couldn’t believe that Norie was supposed to be a virgin sacrifice to the demon lord Kahl. Ravens and demons working together—that was fucked up. He wanted to hurry to his sister’s rescue. She was the only family he had left, especially given that their biological father was a royal asshole.

  He sensed the nemeton before he laid eyes on it. It was magnificent. Huge and ancient and…sorrowful. Magic was imbued in those stones, and the Ravens were trying to taint what the Goddess had wrought. Taylor signaled him to stop and stay low. They scurried toward the stone entrance and peered around its edges.

  “What are these?” Cullen pointed down to a couple of misshapen clay bodies.

  “Those are vigils,” said Taylor. “I guess the Ravens destroyed them before they could send out warnings.”

  “And they didn’t post any guards?” Cullen looked around.

  “Arrogant bastards,” said Taylor. “Or maybe there’re not as many of them as we think.”

  They returned their gazes to the nemeton.

  Seven black-robed figures surrounded the stone altar.

  Norie was chained to it, naked, and she struggled against her bonds as they cut into her.

  Beyond the altar, a portal—a huge dark oval—had opened, and the face peering out of it so eagerly was monstrous.

  “Kahl,” said Taylor, horrified.

  “I say we go in and fuck up their shit,” said Cullen.

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  They charged forward.

/>   Chapter 16

  Cullen went around one side of the altar and just plowed into the Ravens. Taylor did the same to the ones on the other side.

  They went down like bowling pins.

  And then one popped up, tossed off the cowl of her black robe, and gazed at them with red eyes.

  “Kerren,” said Taylor. The horror in the sheriff’s voice didn’t bode well. Cullen eyed the half-demon magical. So this was the woman who’d sold her husband’s soul for money and immortality.

  What a bitch.

  “So rude!” She aimed a hand at Cullen and issued a fireball.

  Cullen dodged it, though how he didn’t know. He drew her off, and she followed him, marching toward him and tossing all kinds of magic crap.

  Taylor headed to the altar and grabbed at the chains that bound Norie. Shit. His hands tingled, but he couldn’t get the magic to work. He didn’t know how to be a magical. He just wanted to save Norie.

  He looked at Cullen and watched in amazement as he got close enough to Kerren to coldcock her. Whether the recipient was immortal or not, a hard punch to the jaw had the same effect: She went down like a sack of rocks, sprawling onto the grass.

  Cullen grinned, dusting off his hands. Then he was running toward the altar.

  Taylor turned and saw Leopold, his lip bloody from his fall to the ground, his eyes insane. Leopold screamed in frustration. “No! Kahl must be brought forward. The Ravens must take their rightful place in this world!” He raised a gleaming silver dagger and plunged it downward, toward Norie’s heart.

  Taylor knocked his hand away, but the Raven was strong, and he came back, trying again. He nicked the side of Norie’s throat, and blood flowed onto the stone.

  “No!” Taylor punched Leopold, and the man fell back, stumbling while trying to catch his balance.

  The portal was already opening. Darkness leaked out, snaking toward Norie.

  Taylor felt his heart claw up into his throat. No, damn it. No!

  Cullen reached them, and he and Taylor both grabbed at Norie.

  The moment they touched, the magic within all of them unlocked. It flowed like a river, and then the Goddess spoke:

  Raven born, you are my Chosen. Brother and sister and key, work together to unlock that which belongs to Nevermore. Drive back the evil. And prepare for what must come next.

  Cullen aimed his palm at his father, and white magic shot out, knocking the man backward. The dagger flew out of his grip, and he was sent crashing against the large blue stone.

  They heard the crack of his skull as he collapsed onto the ground, staring at the night sky with sightless eyes.

  “Damn it!” Kerren stalked toward them, murder in her eyes. “Don’t bother, you irritating little humans!” She raised her hands, magic licking at her palms.

  Kahl entered the doorway. He was big, powerful, built like a minotaur. He even had hooves, and his legs were as thick and strong as a bull’s. He had to be nearly nine feet tall. His demon form was fearsome to behold.

  One thick, black leathery leg slipped onto the earthly plane.

  The nemeton shuddered.

  Cullen aimed their power at Kerren.

  Her eyes narrowed and then went wide. Her body stilled. Flames exploded around her feet, then wound around her legs like hungry snakes.

  Her unearthly screeches echoed around the nemeton…and still the fire consumed her.

  Then she exploded.

  Ash that was once Kerren floated onto the ground like sullen snowflakes.

  Kahl was nearly through the doorway, though it was obvious he was struggling. Something was keeping him from completely crossing into the human world.

  Cullen directed their magic, the gift of the Goddess, into the portal.

  It covered Kahl with gold light, and he screamed in agony.

  Just as his wife had been annihilated by the magic created by love, by goodness, he was consumed by flames.

  He fell back, his furious screams swallowed by the sound of flames, of vengeance.

  Then his massive body imploded.

  Hell’s doorway disappeared.

  The other Ravens had risen from being knocked down, and now they were scrambling to get away, but Cullen trapped them easily with the magic that still pulsed from his palms. They went catatonic in the grass.

  Well done, Chosen.

  Cullen looked at Taylor and nodded. They released Norie, and the magic receded, but it was no longer locked inside the star twins. It was there, an ocean of power, of Light, and of good.

  * * *

  “You okay?”

  Norie looked up from the bed, finding herself once again tucked in between its cozy covers. The magic had overwhelmed her, but not Cullen. He’d always been the stronger one, and she didn’t mind. But she would learn to use her new powers, and they would make sure that nothing else threatened Nevermore.

  “C’mere,” she said, and patted the edge of the bed.

  Taylor crossed the room. He was wearing a T-shirt and jeans, but no socks. He looked vulnerable without his uniform on—like a different person, and maybe one not so weighed down by duty.

  “What can I get for you?” he asked.

  “I want just one thing,” she said.

  “Whatever you want.”

  “You.”

  His eyes widened. “I dreamed about you.” He leaned over and stroked a finger down the side of her cheek. “I didn’t think you…that we’d be here right now. I want this. I want you.” He looked down at his tattooed hands. He sighed. “I’m a damned key.”

  Norie covered his hands. “You amplify the magic of others,” she said. “That’s a rare gift.”

  “Maybe,” he said. He looked at her and offered a smile. “If it protects you, and Nevermore, then that’s all right by me.”

  They looked at each other, their hearts open, their future still yet to be written. Taylor pulled back. “Guess I’d better let you rest,” he said. “We’ll talk more in the morning.”

  “Stay with me,” said Norie. “Please.”

  “There’s a time and place for us to be together,” said Taylor. “Mostly I’m thinking after vows have been spoken.”

  Norie grinned. Oh, this man. This wonderful, honorable man.

  “Just hold me, Taylor. Tonight, that’s enough.”

  “Oh.” He offered a sheepish grin. Then crawling in next to her, he lay against her, wrapped his arms around her, and snuggled close.

  Perfect, thought Norie.

  She was finally home.

  The funeral for Elizabeth Jones was held two days later. Cleanup still remained to be done, along with Ravens to arrest, suicides to investigate, and new residents to welcome to Nevermore.

  But now it was time to say good-bye to the mortal remains of a beloved friend. Trent saw to the arrangements himself, refusing help from any of his friends. The funeral was short, and good-byes were spoken.

  Then the coffin was lowered into the grave, and everyone helped to cover it with earth.

  Mordi wasn’t in the ground—no soul went to the grave with its body—but she lived on in Tree. This had been confirmed by Ant and Elandra, but Trent had known the moment he put his hand on the trunk that his love lived on within its essence.

  It was small comfort.

  Elizabeth had given Trent charge of Elysian Fields, and it seemed a more fitting vocation for a necromancer than garbage collector or paperboy.

  But those concerns were for other days.

  Taylor refused to let Norie out of bed. She was feeling better, but she liked all his fussing, so she let him feed her chicken soup and bring her cold washcloths for her forehead. Her brother knew her game and gave her some grief for it, but with a grin that warmed her heart.

  They had decided to stay in Nevermore. She wanted a life with Taylor. And she and Cullen wanted to find their roots, their real family. Their mother had sacrificed her life for theirs, and they would find some way to honor that.

  “No leads about Betty Mae?” asked Gray.


  They stood in the break room of the sheriff’s office while Taylor tried to get the infernal espresso machine to work. “None. My brother’s outta his mind with grief. He’s moving back in with me. He can’t stand to step a foot into that place right now.”

  “At least the gun is secure.” Gray paused. “You need any help with that?”

  “No,” said Taylor. “I’ll figure out this thing if it’s the last damned thing I do.” He turned a knob, and the machine hissed. “I hear tell your mother’s staying on.”

  Gray groaned. “Don’t remind me. She wants to help protect the Goddess fountain and figure out what’s going on around here.”

  “Well, I want to know that, too. Leticia’s smart, Gray. And she’s no slouch in the magic department, either.”

  “I know. But she’s not exactly making things easy on Lucy.”

  “Lucinda can hold her own. Just give it some time. It’ll work out.” He cursed as the machine groaned but produced no coffee.

  “And what about the suicides? About Betty Mae?”

  “I’ll keep digging,” said Taylor. “I won’t let it loose until I know what happened.”

  “And how do you feel about Cullen’s staying around?”

  “He’s good for Norie. Though I heard him talking about some absinthe lounge, whatever the hell that is. I don’t guess he plans on reopening the sewing shop.”

  “He’s asked for a visitor’s pass for a friend of his—name of Laurent. Looks as though we’ll have some new faces around here.”

  “Just as long as they don’t cause trouble. The Ravens are doing plenty of that for us.”

  “Well, they’re not seceding from the Grand Court.” Gray frowned. “At least…not yet.”

  “That whole mess! At least your mom came in handy for that.”

  “Thanks to the memory wipes she did on the Ravens, nobody will know what happened in the nemeton,” said Gray. “And no one will miss Leopold Deshane.”

  “As long as we get some normal around here for a while, I’m okay with it.”

  “Good.” Gray walked around, twisted a knob, pushed a button, and flicked a switch. Pure black nirvana poured into the coffee mug.