Daniela appeared at Nicholas’s side. She quickly looked him over.
“Are you okay?” she was gasping for breath.
He pulled her to him, embracing her tightly. “We are too late. I will have only one chance at attempting to reverse the spell.”
A cry echoed across the room. “No! Get up!”
Their attention snapped to the Raba witch who was racing toward her sister. Her twin remained on the ground near the pile of rubble that had once been the altar. Around her, the circle of the host glowed brightly.
A second later, her body jerked into an arch and her eyes flew open. Her mouth opened, and with her scream a ray of light was emitted. Simultaneously, Andrew’s cry echoed again and his soul slipped from his lifeless body.
The Raba witch gripped her sister’s body and dragged her from the circle. She cradled her in her arms and sobbed.
Magdelene inched around Gabriel’s statue. “Quick, girl, retrieve the Book of Spirits!”
Simion, who’d come to stand near Nicholas, reached down and picked up the book. He sent Magdelene a challenging look. If she wanted the book, she’d have to come and retrieve it herself.
Magdelene paused in her advance and behind her, a narrow gateway opened. Casting Simion a venomous look, she stepped into it and disappeared.
“Mother!” the remaining Raba witch cried out just as the portal snapped shut.
Stefan moved to apprehend her, but Simion placed a hand on his arm. “Leave her be. She has suffered enough.”
They turned and watched as the two new souls joined the others in the statue of Gabriel. The trembling of the room ceased and silence ensued. Nicholas set Daniela aside and his grip flexed on the dagger. Simion and Stefan had come to stand at his side and together they waited.
The awakening began with the subtle sound of stone cracking. It started at the base of the statue and snaked its way up along the thick legs, moving higher still. Stone began to break away and flesh formed beneath the outer layer.
Gabriel was the same in face and form, but he wasn’t as Nicholas remembered him. His eyes shifted with apparent madness and his body flinched. It seemed that the souls within him were engaged in a battle for supremacy. And when he cried out, it was with the voices of many. He tossed his head and leapt into the air.
Nicholas pursued. This abomination couldn’t be allowed out into the world. Gabriel spun about with a speed that was even unnatural for the greatest of gargoyle warriors. Nicholas deduced that more than just the souls of the Raba warlocks had been forced into the host, their abilities had melded, as well.
Gabriel slipped through the hole in the cave roof and out into the night. Nicholas quickly exited the cave and watched as the large form began to make its way across the lake. He knew that he would never catch him. Thinking fast, he aimed the dagger and propelled it toward his target.
Gabriel cried out as the blade penetrated the flesh of his back. Immediately the dagger incinerated in a burst of light. It had done nothing. The powerful beating of Gabriel’s wings filled the quiet of the night as he continued making his way across the expanse of water.
Nicholas released a shuddering breath and his head fell. It had been too much to hope that Adela’s spell would’ve been effective against such a large entity. His fear was great for now the world would have to stand against the terrible beast.
He dragged his attention back to the figure of his uncle. Oddly, Gabriel had paused above the center of the lake. His body jerked and it seemed he suffered great agony. Before Nicholas could guess what was afoot, Gabriel’s movements froze and even from that distance, he could make out the cold stone that quickly consumed him.
The spell had worked.
Gabriel’s final cry died on the wind as his body, now stone, toppled from the air and landed in the water with a colossal splash.
* * *
Nicholas looked out over the river. The morning fog hung low, but was not enough to obscure the many boats and divers that littered the water.
After the reverse spell had taken effect, they’d all returned to the estate to inform his parents of what had taken place. Lord Victor had been devastated to learn that Andrew, his trusted friend and cousin, had turned out to be the traitor and had faced his death as a result. It had destroyed him even more to hear of Gabriel’s unfortunate end.
Even now, as Lord Victor stood in silence, his face was ashen. The situation had intensified even more, now that after three hours of combing the lake, the statue or even remnants of it had yet to be found.
Nicholas sighed and headed back to the car. It wasn’t determined if they had cause to be concerned or not, for the lake was as wide as it was deep. A statue, even of that magnitude, could’ve been carted away on a strong current as it sunk to the bottom.
Daniela stood against the car. She was wrapped in a wool blanket and she looked exhausted. She smiled wanly as he approached. He’d insisted that she remain at the estate with Elaina, but she’d been unwilling to leave his side; at least not until all matters had been resolved. His mother had been surprised to learn Daniela’s true identity, but he’d not been abashed in telling her that he’d found the woman he wanted to be with.
“They haven’t found the statue yet?” she asked.
He shook his head and pulled her into his arms. Carefully, he studied her face. In just a short time, she’d come to mean so much to him. She’d placed her life on the line and braved unimaginable adversities to assure his safety. He wanted her in his life. He needed her, but she couldn’t go on living the way she had been.
“What will you do when you return to New York?” he asked quietly.
She looked away and sighed. He understood that she’d continued stealing because it was the only way she knew how to provide for herself and her sister. Inside, she was an honest and caring woman whose only crime had been being born into a less than fortunate situation. And he wanted to help her.
“If you are willing to give up stealing—” he took hold of her chin and forced her to meet his eyes “—I may have need for someone with your expertise in handling and caring for antiques.”
A slow smile curved her lips and her eyes began to shimmer. “Why would you do that for me, Nicholas? After all the trouble I’ve caused you and your family?”
A serious look crossed his face as his head dipped and their lips brushed. “Because I love you,” he breathed.
Her gasp was drowned as his mouth claimed her for a fierce kiss.
* * * * *
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ISBN: 9781459230644
Copyright © 2012 by Zandria Munson
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The Enemy's Kiss Page 19