Sweet Ruin

by Kresley Cole

  "And she loves a blunt tool," Rune added, his chest about to burst with pride.

  SIXTY-FOUR

  Her fury bubbling over, Jo traced to the cyclone, attacking the wraiths with her claws. Spectral matter sprayed! "I knew you could bleed!" She yelled with triumph, then called to Nix, "You won't come out?"--she slashed the enraged wraiths over and over--"Then I'm coming in!"

  The front door to Val Hall groaned open. Jo forced herself to let up, catching her breath as she floated back to wait. Your move, Valkyries. . . .

  Someone unseen tossed a small bundle onto the porch. Jo squinted. A lock of hair. A key. So the rumor was true.

  A wraith swooped in, snatching it up. The tempest parted like water around a rock.

  They were letting Jo in. She dropped the rest of the cars--upside down, because she was a bitch. Then she floated toward the belly of the beast. What wouldn't I do?

  "No, Josephine!"

  Rune? When she spied him out of the corner of her eye, she waved her hand to pin him back.

  "Gods damn it, don't go in there!"

  Before Jo could reach Val Hall, pressure collared her throat. How? She was ghosting! The wraiths were still.

  Comprehension. No one had intended to let her in; they'd used that key to let someone out.

  A figure emerged from Val Hall.

  Thad??

  He strode past the wraiths, but his boots weren't touching the ground. Shadowy circles radiated around his eyes. His dark hair whipped over his pale face. His outline was faint.

  Phantom faint. He looked as evil as they came. Dear God, he is like me. She reached for him. "Tha . . . Tha . . ."

  His power slammed her to her knees, choking her. Her hands flew to her neck. She couldn't get air!

  Rune bellowed, struggling against her telekinesis. He would hurt Thad to save his mate! She directed more force at Rune.

  "Harder, kid!" some woman called from Val Hall. "Pop her bobblehead off!"

  He was listening to her.

  "Take her down, Thad! Come on, like we taught you."

  The pressure increased, and Jo suddenly saw her future:

  Thaddie's going to kill me.

  As dizziness overtook her and black dots swirled her vision, memories of the past erupted in her mind. Thad's eyes were so like that woman's.

  Like their . . . mother's. Jo had been with her right before her death!

  Jo hadn't been her name then. She'd been . . . Kierra. A little girl. An eight-year-old halfling in Apparitia, the murky realm of the phantoms.

  "It's worldend!" Kierra screamed. The sky was falling. Failing. Wounded stars plummeted to their deaths, as bright as sparks from a flint.

  She clung to the edge of a vortex, her claws digging into the ground. All around her, more black holes hissed open, a wall of them, black upon black upon black.

  Like spiders' eyes.

  She had no idea where those sucking holes would lead--rifts had appeared in the ether as Apparitia had begun to die--but escaping through one was their only chance at survival. Mother had never teleported to another plane, couldn't evacuate them.

  "Mother, come with me!" Some relentless force was crushing their dimension. A million screams had sounded with the first fires. Then the plains had jutted up into mountains. The nearby sea had risen, a pillar straight up into the sky. Flames had taken its place, blazing red for blue.

  They'd heard rumors of a being who could crumble worlds using naught but his will.

  With a pale hand raised to the night, her mother was fighting back. Between gritted teeth, she said, "No, I can't falter! Or we'll all be crushed!" If she teleported to Kierra, the dome she'd created above them might disappear.

  She couldn't even crawl to her daughter. One of her hands emitted power; the other clung to her wailing newborn son. Her telekinesis was more powerful than most phantoms', but she was exhausted from delivering her baby just this morning.

  Kierra's telekinesis was weak and unpracticed, but she had to fight like her mother. "Let me help you!" If only she were older!

  "Nooo, Kierra! Save your power!"

  The black holes grew hungrier, sucking at Kierra's legs. Her instinct clamored for her to become intangible. But she wasn't old enough yet. "Just try to reach a portal!"

  Mother shook her head, her dark hair streaming all around her. "I need to keep yours open . . . as long as possible!" The sky plummeted lower, like the ceiling of a collapsing tunnel.

  Mother's raised arm whipped in the howling gusts. "I'm going to let him go into the winds!" Her newborn? She wouldn't dare! "I'll direct him to you."

  "Noooo, I might miss him! Please . . . chance any portal!"

  "Catch him, Kierra! I know you can do it. And then don't ever let him go!"

  With a cry, Mother released her precious baby to the winds. Just before he reached Kierra, huge spikes of crystal shot from the ground, sending him adrift by inches.

  Kierra tensed her every muscle, readying to snare him. He was rising, heading for another vortex!

  "Don't let him go!" Mother screamed.

  "No, no!" Kierra stretched, her fingers splayed. An inch of space separated them. . . .

  She managed a spurt of telekinesis . . . she snagged his swaddling! "Got him!" She cradled him with one arm. He was so tiny, his screams so loud. He didn't even have a name yet.

  More explosions. Fire surged from the valley, racing toward them. Still holding up the sky, Mother went intangible. "You have to escape, dear one. You have to go." Lava seeped from the ground all around her.

  "Come now!" Kierra screamed, tears streaming down her face. But she knew her mother would remain to defend this vortex entrance as long as possible.

  "Keep him close. Protect him. I love you both so much." Flames towered around her ghostly form, about to swallow her. She mouthed, Dear one, please go.

  Kierra mouthed back, We love you. Past the flames, they met eyes. I'll protect him.

  Mother nodded and forced a watery smile. Just before she was engulfed, she saw Kierra release her hold and the vortex suck her children in--

  Flying. Spinning. Weightless.

  Kierra clutched the baby close as she zoomed down a tunnel of black, twirling over and over.

  Vortex chutes crisscrossed. Waves of lava flooded in from other openings, speeding toward her and the baby. "Ah, gods, no!" She used her telekinesis to attempt a bubble around them. She hunched over her brother as lava coated the shield, heat and pressure grinding down on it.

  Please hold, please hold, please hold.

  That crushing force beat against her telekinesis. She clenched her eyes shut and prayed over and over. . . .

  The heat gradually faded. She dared to glance up, blinking in confusion. Crystal? Her power had met lava under pressure, creating a transparent shell. It wrapped around her and the baby. A cocoon.

  Time passed. Their momentum slowed. When the baby quieted, the total silence hit Kierra, and she sobbed for her mother. For her friends. For her world. She tucked her brother into the folds of her cloak, determined to protect him.

  Eons eked by as they floated in their crystal cocoon, but they didn't age. Though she never felt hunger, she would cut her wrist and feed the baby.

  Onward they floated.

  Just when she'd decided they would be trapped in this existence forever, Kierra gazed up. Through the crystal, she witnessed . . . stars being born. She watched one planet learn how to spin. She could perceive the rotation of others. As if they danced for her.

  Heaven.

  She wept from the unutterable beauty. There's a curtain over the universe, but I'm seeing behind it. Yet she wasn't to know these secrets. They weren't hers. No one child could bear that weight.

  Splendor broke her mind.

  Her body was robbed of power, her abilities stunted. Her memories withered.

  She and the baby continued on, floating as worlds bloomed and waned. Before her lids finally slid shut, she saw the universe reflected in an infant's half-closed eyes. . . .


  Awakening. Can't feel my limbs!

  After unending silence, she screamed, thrashing her legs. She jerked upright, banging her head against something. Crystal shattered all around her. Foreign sounds pained her sensitive ears. She hissed at the bright yellow light above.

  Where am I? How have I come to be here? Ah, gods, who am I?

  Movement in her arms. What was it? She opened her cloak to reveal a little infant just waking, blinking at her with hazel eyes, and all she knew was . . .

  Love.

  Her mother had given Thad to her! He and Jo had crossed the entire universe together. It couldn't end like this! She gasped out, "Thaddie." She reached for him, grasping, grasping--as she had fourteen years ago.

  He stalked closer.

  She couldn't maintain her telekinesis against Rune for much longer. He was fighting so hard! "Thaddie . . ."

  "Us. Thad-de-us. That's my name."

  Air. Need air. Rune was breaking free. "Thad . . . pack."

  Thad's brows drew together, his outline flickering. "What did you say?" The chokehold eased.

  "Brother! Here . . . to save you."

  He released her with a yell. "Are you . . . Jo?" He traced to her, catching her just as her vision went dim.

  SIXTY-FIVE

  Freed from Josephine's telekinesis, Rune traced to Thaddeus. "Hand her over to me." He was all but begging with his bow shouldered and his palms up.

  Thad ghosted with his unconscious sister in his arms, making her intangible as well. Rune couldn't snatch her away. He'd never wanted to fight so badly. Never had so many reasons why he couldn't.

  The boy's eyes darted. "Who the hell are you?" As soon as Thad had figured out Josephine's identity, he'd gone from attacking to protecting her.

  "I'm her mate," Rune rasped. "Give her to me."

  When the other Morior flanked Rune--in battle positions--Thad hissed.

  Valkyries screamed from inside: "Bring her back to us!" "You won!" "You took that bitch down!"

  Baring his fangs, Thad pulled Josephine closer to him.

  Sounding as calm and reasonable as ever, Blace said, "We won't hurt you, boy. We mean no harm to you or your sister."

  Allixta said telepathically, --Speak for yourself. He bares his fangs at Morior?-- An iridescent green light filled her palms.

  --Can you hold him?-- Rune asked her. --Without hurting him? Please, witch! He could trace her anywhere in the universe.--

  She raised her hands, and slender tendrils of green slithered around Thad, through him, but he didn't seem to feel them, just gazed on warily.

  --Amazing,-- Allixta said. --Even one of my power can't touch a shapeshifter like him.--

  The boy's mouth dropped open when Curses joined them. The creature wound between the Morior, its movements predatory.

  --Control your beast, Allixta!-- Rune eased closer to Thad. "Brother, I need you to . . . just give her to me."

  "Not a chance, mister. It looked like she was using telekinesis to keep you away."

  "I need to explain some things to her. And she's injured. She must feed from me."

  Thad was on the verge of tracing.

  "Wait! Please! If you go, take this." Rune drew out his talisman. "Give it to her. I want her to have it."

  Sian muttered aloud, "Hells."

  The others understood the significance of the talisman. It had always reminded Rune to look toward the future; Josephine is my future. "She'll know what it means." He tossed it to Thad.

  The boy caught it telekinetically, pulling it to his hand. Then he traced his sister away.

  "Gods damn it!" Rune yelled. "I have no idea where he will take her." He leveled his gaze on Val Hall, on the wraiths that had resumed their guard. --Nix will know.-- He unstrapped his bow, nocking the phoenix arrow.

  --There are more than just Valkyries inside,-- Sian said. --Orion hasn't officially declared war on any of these factions yet.--

  --Neutralize the wraiths, and then we'll reevaluate.-- Welcome counsel from Blace. --After all, the arrow might not work.--

  --Use the arrow to reach your target, then destroy her,-- Allixta said. --As you told Orion you would do weeks ago. Have you forgotten your mission?--

  Rune drew the bowstring past his chin. No shot was more important than this one. He was as nervous as he'd been when first going to battle with a bow.

  A flash memory of Orion: "Make your first shot count, archer. You'll remember it for the rest of your immortal life."

  Rune had; Rune did.

  --Let your arrow fly,-- Blace murmured.

  Rune relaxed his string fingers to loose the most perfect arrow he'd ever fired. On any other occasion, his heart would've soared at the precision of its flight.

  Now he only wanted destruction. He got it.

  The shockwave slammed into him, nearly laying him out. Sian shielded Allixta; Blace traced past the blast. Darach growled at it. Curses dug its claws into the ground.

  The wraiths were scattered through the air! They lay dazed, hovering in different positions like a floating battlefield of dead. Val Hall's front door was wide open.

  Nix called in a cheery voice, "I'll be right with you, Morior! Have to take my curlers out!"

  Through the doorway, Rune could see legs jutting from under a couch. A woman wriggled out and popped to her feet.

  Nix?

  Her hair looked as if she'd dust-mopped with her head, and her eyes were hazy. She told unseen beings, "I'll just be a moment. I'd like to talk with them privately. Enjoy the hors d'oeuvres that don't exist because Valkyries don't eat."

  As she emerged from the hall, lightning shot toward her, bolts jagging down, seeming to plant inside her body. They projected all around her like the heads of a hydra. She wore a black leather skirt and boots--with a breastplate.

  The design was olden, the metal heavily engraved. Lightning reflected in the glimmering surface. An anatomical heart had been etched into the center. Among the many shapes, he spied . . . a feather.

  Has all this been planned? He nocked his last black arrow--one-and-done.

  Nix nodded at Rune, stopping a few dozen feet away. That bat of hers glided between lightning bolts to land on her shoulder. When a drift of dust settled on its fur, it sneezed.

  Allixta arched a brow. --This is the primordial Valkyrie?--

  "Greetings, Bringers of Doom. I'm Phenix, soon to be the goddess of Accessions. I just have one little task left to kill."

  --Phenix?-- Blace said. --Is that her full name? And you had that feather?--

  Sian bared his fangs. --We are not to be toyed with.--

  Allixta's magick deepened, steeping the air. --Take her out, baneblood.--

  --I need information first.-- And he doubted his arrow could breach the lightning.

  --You were serious about that?-- Allixta demanded. --You have the shot; Orion ordered you to assassinate her.--

  Blace shook his head. --We need to find Rune's mate. Nix will know.-- The vampire was siding with him on this?

  Though Darach revered matehood, he said, --Shoot. Find mate later.--

  --Find? So easily, then?-- Blace scowled. --Says the male who's never lost anything.--

  --Life.--

  --Yes. You did lose your life, I suppose.--

  --Sian, back me up!-- Allixta turned to the demon. --Do we now complete only the convenient missions? Obey only the dictates with which we agree?--

  --We will find your mate eventually, Rune,-- Sian said. --But you'll never get a shot like this again.--

  --Her lightning will burn my arrow. The bonedeath is my only option.--

  --Then use it.-- Allixta said.

  The Morior had always been a unified front. Now they were at cross-purposes. And as they argued, other immortals filed out of Val Hall behind Nix.

  Two dozen Valkyries: one glowing, one carrying an extraordinary-looking bow, others with swords. A Fury among them had wings of fire.

  When a contingent of fey archers followed, Rune said, --Draiksulian
s.-- From the source dimension of all fey, the root of their slaving empire.

  Ten Lykae emerged next, each one on the verge of turning. Their eyes were ice blue with aggression.

  Darach said only, --Descendants.-- He was half-turned himself, his body nine feet tall, his own eyes blue. His burgeoning muscles ripped his tunic in several places; he clawed it away.

  Those Gaia Lykae scented the air, growling. Did they not recognize Darach Lyka, the alpha of their entire species?

  Blace nodded at several vampires who'd suddenly appeared, joining the ranks. --Forbearers, and a red-eyed natural-born. I recognize him. Lothaire. Powerful. Basically the primordial here. The female with him is vampire as well.--

  The clear-eyed vampires kept Lothaire in their lowering sights, muttering something about the "Gravewalker."

  Nix's Vertas alliance already had deep fractures within it.

  Sian brandished his war ax when demons appeared, their horns sharp with hostility. The muscular males bared their fangs. --Rage demons stand against us? Do they not comprehend what they guard in Rothkalina? And for whom?--

  Allixta's palms grew hotter when females exited the manor with their own hands alight. --None of these witches have paid their taxes. None have permits. Yet they threaten hexes against their Overlady?-- Curses hissed, prowling back and forth.

  --So we're to draw battle lines?-- Blace slipped his sword free. --This early?--

  Sian twirled his ax. --What will it take to actually encounter a challenge?--

  --They're not without their strengths,-- Allixta said. --The witch with mirrors for eyes killed a Wiccae deity. I sense those divine magicks from here. She'll never be able to afford them.--

  --We don't have time for this.-- Rune switched one-and-done for a bonedeath arrow, aiming at the ground near Val Hall.

  Nix canted her head, revealing her feylike ear. "Where are my manners? Can I offer you something to eat or drink? We have many nonexistent hors d'oeuvres."

  "I want Josephine," Rune told the Valkyrie. "I know you see her even now."

  "You know know? Ah, another psychic! Why should I tell you? She didn't even thank me before leaving. Rude phanpire."

  "Thank you? For the punishment you meted out to her?"

  The Valkyrie's eyes blazed silver. "I taught her."

  "Don't play games with me, Nix."

  "Hmm? Something to drink or eat?"

  "Tell me where Thaddeus took my mate."

  "To a place you will never find," she said. "The District of the Gold, Purple, and Green Gardens."