Sorcerer: Betrayal: Power of Air (Book 4)

by D. L. Harrison

  They didn’t talk, but then they couldn’t.

  My voice sounded empty, was I in shock?

  “So many things have run through my mind to say to you. Angry words, lecturing words. But as I bare your lives Charis and Alexios, I see those words would be wasted. It never would have occurred to you to ally to a stronger power, and even now you won’t get it.”

  I shook my head, I was just babbling, trying to make sense of the senseless. They were evil, an uncaring evil. Something about being turned to vampire leached their emotions after so many years. Ceara while cold at times, still had the ability to feel at nineteen hundred years old. Charis and Alexios were empty inside.

  At first I considered that it might be the element of air doing it, that air was intellectual, the power of the mind and not emotions. But I realized that wasn’t right, Aitheria was a pure elemental of air, and she was caring, loving, and a being of deep emotion. No, it had to be something else, something that breaks with the making of a vampire.

  Something unnatural, I would never be like them.

  I looked at them, studied them, and Ceara with all my power, and I couldn’t determine the cause. It was time to end it anyway. With a small burst of power, I incinerated both of them within their shields, there was nothing but a pile of dust swirling to the ground. There was no satisfaction, no feeling of… anything. Diana was still dead, gone. Forever.

  I took a seat at the table and stared at Ceara and said three words.

  “You voted no,” and I released my power.

  Well, the power holding her. I wasn’t stupid, I kept my triple shielding up.

  Ceara sat across from me warily, “What now?”

  I took a deep breath, “You tell me. We can live in peace. You voted no, and that’s partially why I’m not going to kill you. I want to, because Diana was yours, and you went along with the others and ordered her to do what she did. For that alone I want to kill you, but I also recognize you had no choice.

  “More than that, if at least one of the council lives, maybe the vampire nation won’t go crazy. I don’t want to be responsible for all the vampires that would go rogue without someone there to put the fear of death in them to keep them in line.

  “Lastly, I’ll let you live simply because Diana loved you like a daughter loves her mother, and would have wished it.”

  I shook my head, “I’ll stop by tomorrow, and you can let me know.”

  I just couldn’t talk to her anymore right now. I was too angry, and at the same time numb and empty. I felt helpless, because there was nothing I could do to undo what happened in that elevator. It was absolutely stifling. I didn’t think Ceara was doing that much better to be honest, we both needed time to come to terms.

  I wrapped myself in the power of air, and bade it take me home…

  Chapter 9

  Thursday, June 9th, 2016, 2:16 PM

  “Why are we here Ben?” Aitheria asked softly.

  Her hand caressed my cheek gently as she stood on my shoulder. It felt like a warm caring breeze.

  “Ria. I killed her. I’ve killed before, self-defense, protecting others. But this… I don’t know what to do with this. I should have…”

  Aitheria sent, “It isn’t your fault. It wasn’t her fault either. The guilty parties are already dead, by your will and magic. Why are we here?”

  I sighed, and looked around my apartment. It already looked dusty. I’d meant to go back to the pack house, but a part of me didn’t. So I ended up here.

  “Do you suppose she is with him now… her mate that died so long ago?”

  Aitheria didn’t have an answer, though I really didn’t expect one.

  I finally answered her question, “The pack is throwing a barbeque, remember? I just didn’t want to ruin things and bring everyone down. The truth is I’m not entirely sure why. We’ll go soon.”

  Aitheria was silent, but she was still a comfort. I hadn’t lost anyone I really cared about since my mother. I considered using my fire magic to suppress my emotions, but knew that would be a bad idea and cause more harm in the long run. Finally, I said out loud what I was thinking.

  “She knew Ria. She knew me, and she knew what I would do. She didn’t ignore my warning not to touch, she counted on it. She… it was her choice. It was the only way she could follow the council’s orders, and save me at the same time. Why didn’t I see that before, why didn’t I look?”

  Aitheria sent in a whisper, “Because you’d have never done what the council did. Using a woman to kill the man she loves, because she is oath bound. It never would’ve even entered your mind to use someone in such a foul way, not even as a jest.”

  I stayed in the apartment for an hour, and let my grief run, and took comfort from my oldest companion Ria. It was hardly enough, and it would be a while before I was back to being myself, but eventually I had to pull myself together, and get home. I knew the pack had worked a half day today after laying a foundation. Most of the pack would be there already, including Sierra.

  I pulled the power from the air around me and had it take me home, this time to my new home where I belonged.

  It seemed as if I couldn’t do anything right today.

  As soon as I appeared in the yard, I was swarmed by the pack who gave me supporting and comforting looks, touches, and hugs. Even Carrie who was still wary of men outside of her mate gave me a tight hug. It hadn’t even occurred to me until now that the pack would feel my emotional state over the bond. I should have blocked it, or at least, muted it.

  No one asked me what happened, but I could see the question in all of their eyes as I looked around. Then my thoughts stuttered as I saw Aiya there as well, looking at me worriedly while holding Todd’s hand. I almost smiled, guess it was getting serious. How the hell could I tell them now, with a human here? On the other hand, I considered bitterly, who gives a shit? It wasn’t like the council was going to stop me now.

  “Diana, Alexios, and Charis are dead. I won’t know more about how it will all shake out until I speak to Ceara again tomorrow.”

  There were several pairs of wide eyes, and a few worried looks exchanged. I expanded on that, probably a little numb sounding, with just the facts of what happened. I didn’t mention supernatural races, or the council, because everyone already knew all that except Aiya.

  When I finished, Sierra took me over to the table and sat on my lap while the rest of the pack followed us. Only Derik and Gerald left the group to check on the food. It almost made me smile, even if it was the world ending, which it wasn’t, the werewolves wouldn’t let good food burn.

  Sierra asked, “Are you alright?”

  After some thought I answered, “I will be. I’m sorry if I worried everyone, I should have come straight back.”

  And I would be, okay I mean. If the horrific loss of my past taught me anything it was that life had to go on. It wouldn’t be today, or anytime soon, but it would happen. Slowly, the pack broke up in twos and threes, though Sierra, Suzy, Todd, and Aiya stayed at the table. There were a million questions in Aiya’s eyes.

  Aiya asked, “Who are Charis and Alexios, and is that the same Diana that…” she trailed off.

  I was about to offer her the same deal I made with Mike, but screw it. I trusted her, I’ve always trusted Aiya and knew she wouldn’t betray me. The only thing that had held me back at all was the council, and again, not anymore.

  “Charis and Alexios were vampires over two thousand years old, they ruled Chicago’s supernatural world to a limited extent, and were two of the three rulers over the entire vampire race. Yes, the same Diana we saved when we first met, at the bar. She was a vampire too.”

  Todd ogled at me like I’d broken the law or something, Sierra just looked resigned. I heard a laugh from across the yard and to be honest it was a relief. I wasn’t ready to join in on any fun, but I didn’t want to drag the pack party down into some kind of group mourning exercise. Sierra looked torn, I knew she didn’t care for Diana at all, but at the same time sh
e was trying to be sensitive about it.

  Aiya laughed nervously, “Vampires?” she asked half in disbelief.

  I nodded, “But you know. Real ones, not Hollywood. They have heartbeats, they’re alive, and they can walk in the sun. They eat, drink, and all that. The only thing Hollywood got right was they drink blood on occasion, and are faster, stronger, and more resilient.”

  Aiya asked, “And you’re telling me this now because?”

  I shrugged, “Because I killed the ones that set the rules, and I trust you. I don’t have to worry about them hurting you anymore.”

  Aiya turned to Todd, “So, what are you guys then?”

  Todd looked flustered, and a bit scared. I bit down a hysterical laugh. I half expected Aiya already knew what they were since she was here, the pack would be shifting after eating for a run, so how had Todd been planning to deal with that? Maybe I had thrown a wrench into his plan.

  Derik said just loud enough to be heard by everyone, “Burgers and Bratwurst are ready.”

  I joked, “Saved by the dinner bell,” and Todd glared at me.

  I shrugged, “I won’t tell if you will, I assume you had a plan for later on?”

  Todd nodded and we dropped it.

  Aiya looked a bit curiously at me, as Todd, Sierra, and Suzy went to load up on food.

  I blurted, “There are witches too. If you want me to shut up, just tell me. I think today’s events has ripped my filters off, mostly the give a crap filter.”

  Aiya narrowed her eyes, “It wasn’t your fault. They tried to kill you. What I’m having a hard time accepting is that you can kill two-thousand-year-old vampires. Umm, wiccan creed witches, or wicked witch of the west witches.”

  “Both. Although none of the latter live here in Chicago. We call them light and dark, though the light ones aren’t quite as nice as Glenda.”

  My last thought as I slipped into another damned vision was what the hell now. I also tried to keep my fire elemental ability out of it, but failed miserably.

  I am Zale. All eyes of the court were on me as I entered and moved up in front of my lord. I ignored them, as they were beneath me, all except the highest guardians. Yet, I was wise enough to contain my energy fully here in this place, it wouldn’t be the course of wisdom to chance offending my master.

  He looked down on me. His power was on display, and I could feel it pressing against my energy, a warning to keep my place, and a demonstration of his power that I’m sure the whole court would feel.

  “What have you learned?”

  I pulled my energy together even tighter, “Nothing I can verify, but there are rumors of an exceptionally powerful but inexperienced sorcerer of both fire and air in Chicago making quite a name for himself. The fact that I can’t pull the knowledge of this, be it to verify it correct or incorrect, lends some credence that it could be our enemy.”

  My lord stormed, “If so he is a fool. Go there, find the truth with your own eyes if the ether will not bend to your will.”

  I felt a moment of doubt, surely my lord was powerful enough to pierce the veil over this knowledge, “Can you not simply check?”

  I knew it was a stupid mistake as soon as the words left my mouth.

  My lord sent out an angry vortex that caused me to cry out in pain, it was ripping my body apart. A moment before I would have expired, the storm settled and I pulled together the tattered edges of my spirit.

  “Fool, yes I could, but that might tip off Liantherius that we are close. Do not question me again,” another blast of elemental air kicked me out of the court, and through several dimensions.

  If I’d had a head, I would have shaken it. As it was, my entire being shook with fear, I got my bearings and headed for the mortal world, and Chicago…

  Judging by Aiya’s face, I’d been out of it for less than a second. It took me a minute to remember her other question.

  I frowned, not sure how to answer it, and then I felt Sierra’s hand on my shoulder.

  “He’s too humble to answer that question. Sorcerers are the apex supernatural race. Us lesser races tell our kids the sorcerers will get them if they’re bad. That’s why the council tried to kill him, they never bothered looking past what he was, to who he was.”

  I snorted and leaned my head back to look up at her, and she surprised me with a soft kiss.

  Aiya nodded in understanding, “He talks softly but carries a big stick, that explains a lot.”

  Sierra grinned, “Almost. We carry big sticks. He carries a thermonuclear device.”

  Aiya snorted and got up, “Us humans need food too, be right back.”

  I turned my head as Sierra sat in my lap, and when I went to talk she fed me a piece of bratwurst with an impudent grin. I returned her smile as love filled my heart, I couldn’t help it, and felt a surge of guilt for doing so. Diana was dead not more than two hours.

  As I chewed dutifully, I sent, “Ria, I had a vision. Not about a human, it was an air elemental named Zale. He is coming here to look for me physically, since he’s too weak to pierce your protections.”

  Aitheria sent, “Show me.”

  At first I wasn’t sure how, but I knew we were bound together in some way, and when I reached for her it was almost too easy, and it felt comfortable as I entered her mind. I couldn’t read everything, just the surface thoughts, but I was welcomed there with a mental embrace. After that, it was easy, I just replayed the memory.

  Aitheria sent, “I’ll be on the lookout for him.”

  I swallowed and sent, “Ria, how do I have elemental enemies when I’m human, and what is an elemental court?”

  I was a bit frustrated already, because I knew she wouldn’t answer. I felt her silent apology, and I retreated from her mind. I actually felt guilty for asking, I knew she cared about me but still couldn’t answer. I tried to reach for that answer, but nothing came to me. Maybe I was powerful enough to see Zale, but the information about the court was protected by the lord? Who knew, it was just a guess but probably right.

  Another question I had, who the hell was Liantherius, and was he in my side? Was he maybe Aitheria’s lord, the one that sent her to protect me? I wasn’t sure, but again it made sense. Zale, and it seemed even Zale’s lord, feared and hated Liantherius. I could feel it when the name was spoken.

  My last worry was I was getting too visible now. The unnamed elemental lord of air said I was stupid for standing out. But really I didn’t know what else I could have done besides flee the city, and while I needed to keep a low profile that would have put my friends and family in danger. One more thing to lay at the council’s feet. I would take responsibility for my choice, but they were the ones that forced me to take action.

  Too many things were happening at once, and I was having a hard time keeping two conversations straight while only being half here anyway due to what happened earlier. I decided I could talk to Aitheria more later, though I wasn’t sure if there was a point.

  Sierra and I were feeding each other from the same plate when the rest of them got back to the table. The conversation moved to more day to day things, and I slowly relaxed. I was still hurting, but the pack, my mate, and the pack ally bond all soothed me to a certain extent. Of course, Aitheria was part of that too, and her comforting presence didn’t leave my side.

  When we finished eating, Todd turned to Aiya a little nervously.

  “I thought the best way to tell you was to show you.”

  I could see the confusion on Aiya’s face when they all got up and walked into the yard, leaving the two of us alone. I almost laughed at the shocked confusion, when they all started to strip. Apparently she wasn’t as shy as I was, because she didn’t look away, and when they changed her eyes grew wide, and her voice squeaked. Then the pack raced out of the back yard and into the woods.

  “Are you okay?”

  Slowly, she turned to me, “Umm, werewolves?”

  I nodded, “Yes. Born only, can shift anytime.”

  “Born only?”

/>   I shrugged, “Unlike the movies, you can’t catch it from a bite, it’s not a disease. They’re a supernatural race, with magic to change their shape.”

  She asked sounding a little lost, “Why am I here, why me? He’s…”

  I shook my head, that wasn’t my business to tell, “You should ask him that, but I imagine for the same reason I’m here, and with Sierra.”

  She nodded, “Alright, witches, sorcerers, vampires, werewolves, what else?”

  “That’s all I know about. There might be more, but if so they hide even from us.”

  I knew that was only a half truth, but I was leery in telling her about the non-mortal races, such as the ones created from pure magic and spirit, the elementals.

  She took a deep breath and stood up, “I need a beer, want one?”

  I nodded, a beer sounded like a really good idea…

  Chapter 10

  Friday, June 10th, 2016, 7:16 AM

  I woke to Sierra’s soft loving touch for a morning reprise of last night’s passion. Somehow the grief and loss magnified the love and made things more intense. It was quite a while before we made our way to the shower and then down for breakfast.

  I spied Aiya already at the table, on Todd’s lap, and thought it safe to assume their conversation went well last night. It also occurred to me as we moved into the kitchen to grab coffee, that she’d taken all the revelations well last night. Maybe because she’d known the supernatural was out there for most of the last year, and it had mitigated some of the shock.

  Or maybe Aiya was just that open minded, and awesome. After all, knowing about it, and seeing it, are two entirely different things.

  There was still an ache in my chest, but I wasn’t quite as numb as I was yesterday. I wasn’t foolish enough to think I’d moved on that fast, I was sure it would hit me again, hard. It was more than just grief for the loss, it was all the guilt for my involvement, and my stupidity.

  We took a seat at the table and dug in, and I looked up as I sensed Aiya’s eyes on me.