The Illuminated Witch

by Imogene Nix

He sighed, perhaps there was something she could do, for an hour or two? Then he could send her to bed. He cast around thinking of anything. “Fine. Man the phones, noting location times and details.” She hurried to the small alcove where the house switch was located. Once he was satisfied he headed for his office.

  With care, he lowered himself into the chair and turned to his computer. Several minutes later Daniel entered. “Since you are awake we can go through these reports and projections.” It really wasn’t what he wanted to be doing. He’d rather be out there, searching for the lost nestling. He chafed again but the nest had to grow and provide for itself.

  So he and Daniel settled in while waiting for news, spreading the files over the table. At some point, Kharisma entered.

  “I’m sending Celina to bed. She’s asleep in the chair.” He started, but she waved him away with an “I’ll see to it.”

  The hours ticked by. From time to time, the phone rang and was answered. Information was ferried to him and orders given. Finally, as the sun reached its zenith, Daniel left him. Fatigue pulled at his mind and he made his way to the secured suites, letting himself into his own room. Celina laid face down on the bed. He stripped and climbed up beside her. Satisfied he’d done all he could for now he allowed himself to drift away, wrapped around her.

  * * * *

  The layers of sleep parted and he came to awareness. His sleep had been dreamless, but he didn’t feel rested. Agitation coursed through him. Bertha was still absent, the vampires had worked themselves to exhaustion. His nestlings were out, prowling the city.

  Javed rubbed the grit from his eyes and yawned, looking at the empty spot beside him. He rose and headed in the direction of Celina’s voice in the room beyond. A tray with two goblets had been delivered and Celina seemed shocked to see him. “I thought you were still asleep.”

  With a smile, Javed accepted the proffered goblet, knowing that Celina was sipping at hers. “It’s getting better?” He indicated to her blood wine and she gave a nod, the deep gold starting to lessen as the green of her eyes peeked through.

  “Yeah.” She swirled the drink, her gaze on the movements of the liquid. “I’m really scared, Javed. What if she isn’t found? Or it’s too late?” He heard the anxiety in her voice. He took the drink from her wobbling hand. “What good is it to be a vampire if I can’t help my first friend in this world?”

  Her words cut through him. He couldn’t promise her a miracle because he wasn’t sure there would be one. Instead, he held her close, running his hands slowly over her back. Finally, the rapid beat of her heart slowed.

  “We will do everything we can. Everyone is searching. News will come soon, and we will follow it.”

  Javed smiled. “But first, we should dress.” She giggled, the sound thin, but he pulled her toward the bedroom with him.

  Since her change, he had contemplated asking her to join him as his life partner, the one who would remain by his side for the millennia of his life. The thought caused his stomach to curl as it had every time in the last few days when he had allowed the thought to rise.

  Would she be like Anisa? Stay with him until something she couldn’t deal with happened? He doubted it. But the niggle of uncertainty nipped at him.

  He should wait until after they found Bertha. He was evading commitment. He knew that.

  He scanned the Western clothing he usually wore, stopped, then pushed it aside. Tonight he would wear his traditional garb. It seemed somehow appropriate to return to his roots now as master of his own nest. His basic sirwaal and thawb would suit his needs. He dressed with an economy of motion and donned his gutrah and agal.

  A knock came at the door and he glanced at Celina. She stood dressed in black—leather pants, long-sleeved jacket and thigh-high boots. She nodded as if asking him to argue the point.

  Before him stood not a fragile witch-woman, but a warrior and the thought elicited a broad grin. Even her red hair had been tamed into submission, tied back into a tight bun at the top of her head.

  “Javed? We’ve found her, we think,” Kharisma called from the other side of the door.

  He looked in its direction and strode to the door, before wrenching it open. Her eyes glittered a deep icy blue, her hair coiled away from her face. She was ready to fight. Whoever had taken Bertha would rue the day.

  “Where?”

  “In the same section we found Celina. It is well guarded, though. I have already called on Cressida and Xavier. They will come to our aid.”

  “The other nests?”

  She screwed up her face. “Some will give their people the choice. Others have stated she is only a witch. They will not order their people to help.”

  Savage fury lashed at him. Damn the politics of the nests! After this is done, I will raise it with Cressida and the Council! Perhaps even Caridad, if she will allow me an audience.

  “Have the guards assembled?” Kharisma fell in beside him as he marched to the door of the secured section. He knew that Celina was behind him, could hear her footfalls. He made a mental note to find somewhere safe for her. Her magic had strengthened as he’d seen at Cressida’s, but he wouldn’t risk her.

  His people waited for him in the foyer, a sea of black, their eyes glinting with gold fire. Instead of watching them gather and being one of the many, here he stood, master.

  He waited for the hubbub to settle down.

  He noted how the human nestlings had taken to the stairs and banisters to observe the massing of the warriors. “You would fight to save a missing nestling?” his voice rang out. For a moment not a sound could be heard bar the echo of his demand.

  Then a wild cry broke out.

  He silenced them. “We will find the missing of our house. We will bring her home. Tonight is ours!” The wild huzzahs and chants grew louder while their feet stomped the floors. He raised his hands, calming those who waited before him. “Tonight will not be easy. We may see things that will test our resolve, make us wonder at our own humanity. But no one…” He paused, all eyes on his face. “No one takes one of ours.”

  He gave a short and curt nod. It was done. Time to go find Bertha.

  * * * *

  Creedar stared out of the box on wheels. That it moved so quickly amazed him. Just like the stories his mother had told him. They flew through the night, flashes of illumination on long poles amazing him. “Where will we be going?”

  “To the place where I keep your sustenance, master. I have the woman chained and many more for you to feed from.”

  His fangs ached, hunger nipped at his innards. He growled.

  With difficulty, he turned his attention to his dilemma. Jelani had become brave or was it just that his servant had become cocky? Either way, his usefulness had nearly reached its limit. He was hiding something he’d done, Creedar was sure.

  No one hid things from Creedar. He was a God! Just as his mother before him.

  “Tell me more about this age.” He waved to the world beyond the glass and Jelani talked of travel, communications and time-saving devices. He listened dimly while taking in the sights before him. The buildings lit up like sparkling obelisks and the sky was a black matte, not a star to be seen. Had they winked out during his long hibernation? “There are no stars.”

  Jelani stopped his monologue. “I’m sorry, master?”

  “Why are there no stars?” The fact worried him. The stars had been his guide since his first days of life. His mother had taught him about constellations and her travels, of the ways she’d used the lights to guide her path to this place. Have they disappeared? Winked out while I slept?

  “It’s all the lights, master. They obscure the stars. If we were somewhere without as much light, you’d see them.”

  A simple explanation. It calmed the nerves for now. “Continue telling me about the age.”

  Jelani nodded but eyed him with suspicion.

  Something about tonight was wrong. His instincts warned him of danger, but he brushed them aside. He is invincible!

/>   The vehicle slowed and came to a stop outside a drab gray building, little more than an oversized box. “What is this?”

  “Master?” Jelani bowed deeply and indicated he should precede him. Within the ugly building, two or three dozen vampires had gathered. His followers, Jelani told him. They parted like the ancient seas for him to process within and bowed to him as he passed.

  Doors stood ajar and the scent of fear on the air reminded him once again of his hunger.

  “You have done well.” He strode forward, heading in the direction of the nearest entrance.

  Chapter Fifteen

  They climbed into the cars, Kharisma in the front of Javed’s personal vehicle. Celina sat next to Javed in the back. He held her hand tightly.

  “Promise me you’ll stay safe.”

  She glanced in his direction. “I will do my best, but I won’t be kept wrapped in cotton wool, Javed.”

  Javed frowned.

  She sighed. “My magic is stronger, I can tell. I can use it to help.” She leaned in, cupping his cheek with her hand. “I do understand your fears. But now I have something to offer.”

  He made to speak but she laid one of her fingers against the soft pads of his lips. “My friend is there. I need to help her. Please, let me.”

  His eyes clouded. She understood his fear. She felt it for him. For so long she’d been alone, the thought of losing him gutted her, but she wouldn’t ask him not to fight. That would be cruel. Just like the long-gone wife he’d told her about. Anisa had wanted a tame warrior, but the man beside her wasn’t that. He’d never be able to step back. It wasn’t in his makeup.

  They traveled quickly and the vehicle halted in an alley, near the gallery. “Here?”

  He nodded and she gulped. This place carried only bad memories for her.

  The leather of her pants creaked slightly as she alighted from the car. Javed followed her out, laying a soft hand on her shoulder. The car drove off, no doubt to some well hidden location. The warriors waited uncertainly.

  Stay close. If you get in trouble, call. If I can’t come, I’ll send someone.

  She indicated that she understood and sucked in a deep and unsteady breath. He handed her a gun. “Point and shoot. Just make sure it’s one of them first, if you can.” He dropped a quick hard kiss on her lips, pushing away a stray red curl before straightening.

  Now here’s my warrior!

  His eyes took on a deeper hue, seeming to be flat and emotionally detached. Javed’s face seemed like granite. She shivered, gripping the butt of the ultraviolet gun in her hand. In silence, using only hand motions and the occasional whispered word, his men and women positioned themselves in readiness for the attack. The sound of an engine filled the air and they melted against the walls, as a car pulled up to the building.

  Out climbed the creature Celina had seen before. It had a dog-like body. This time it was joined by a man. He was lean and copper-colored, wearing a loincloth and collar that reminded her of the ancient Egyptians. He might have been spare framed, but he carried an air about him of danger and anger. He stretched and glanced around him, rather like an emperor surveying his kingdom. It stole the oxygen from her lungs.

  An aura of hate filled the air. His eyes glowed. He glanced around as if he could sense them.

  Fear curled for an instant before she thrust it aside. She was no longer a frail human. Vampire blood pulsed in her veins.

  Javed curled his hand over her shoulder. Wait and watch. We’ll see what he does first. A door opened, a crack of light escaping, but the sound of moans and wails split the night. When it closed with a clanging rattle she knew they had to enter.

  We are going in there, aren’t we? She turned to see Javed’s face. It was grimmer than before.

  Yes. With a single fluid movement he pulled away from the wall and time slowed to a crawl. He gave a single urgent but silent command and they formed around the building. She scurried in behind Javed and they surged forward.

  Several vampires, large men with battle-scarred faces, battered at the doors, pushing and thudding until they gave beneath the onslaught. The vampires flowed forward and Celina followed.

  “In there!” The vampires fanned out.

  She hurried, stopping as she felt the touch of a hand at her shoulder. She turned.

  In front of her was a creature of nightmares. Teeth bared and eyes red with hunger.

  She shoved the open mouth of the weapon into its belly and pressed the trigger.

  Its eyes blanked. Then it slumped to the floor while the stench of burning flesh filled her nostrils.

  She hurried, her feet slipping a little, but she didn’t glance down. She didn’t dare as she made her way farther within the building.

  The scent of copper rose, thick and pungent. Hunger raged but she fought it off. In the middle of the melee, Celina kept her gaze on Javed’s back.

  Sounds battered at her as individuals fought. Some cried and others screamed. She peered through one doorway, then another. A voice called to her and she turned. She knew that voice.

  She widened her eyes in shock as she peered within a large room.

  The dog-man held Bertha.

  Her face was pale and strained. She stopped. Javed was across the room. Stay where you are. Do not engage this one. The other, in loincloth and collar, stood beside Bertha.

  The man’s gaze had zeroed in on her. The knife he held under Bertha’s chin wobbled slightly before a manic smile cracked his face.

  “So finally.” There was a wealth of satisfaction in his tones.

  With one fluid motion, he slid the blade along Bertha’s throat, cutting deep. Blood spurted.

  “No!” She loosed a howl of fury, raising her arms, channeling her power as Javed pounced, catching Bertha inches from the floor. He tugged Bertha along the floor, but Celina already knew that her friend was dead.

  As the creature turned to Javed, she called on the well of anger, planning only to create a barrier between them and the animal that scared the bejeezus out of her. Instead, he was too close, but on the other side. It was a small mercy. Something about him read as evil incarnate and she’d already seen that he was willing to kill indiscriminately.

  The air around her sparked and arced wildly, blue-green fire flashing from her hands. “You will not touch us.” She projected everything into the words, which boomed outwards.

  He gaped, before laughing. Her body strained as she fought to push more power into the ward that glowed between Javed and Celina, and the others.

  The animal with razor sharp teeth advanced on Javed and they grappled on the floor. Sweat trickled down her face as his gaze locked with hers. The other man, with red eyes, searched her face. She gritted her teeth. She didn’t know if she could hold two off.

  “You cannot defeat Creedar!” He lunged in her direction, lurching against the wall of her magic, and she shoved back.

  He gave a cry of pain and she pushed further. Creedar, as he seemed to call himself, scowled and fought against her power. She felt him hunting for a chink so he could negate her ward. He shoved back with his own, and she lost ground.

  “You can do this, Celina,” she muttered as she thrust forward again. This time Creedar was thrown back. He frowned and an expression of fear descended as she advanced once more. This time he howled in pain, jerking backwards away from the magical flames that rose and licked at him.

  Her strength was failing but she wouldn’t let him see. She closed her eyes and forced him back using the last vestiges of her power.

  The sound of feet echoed but she concentrated on her opponent.

  It hit her from the back, her hands dropping as she hit the floor with a heavy thud.

  Javed waited as Celina’s hands rose, the ward that she had wielded springing to life between him and the large man that attempted to advance toward her. The heavy weight of Bertha in his arms told him she was dead already. The ribbon of red at her neck was slowing to a dribble as her life blood seeped away.

  The o
ther creature stared, its hungry eyes locked on Celina. Then it glanced at him, pounced. They fought for several moments until the animal pushed him to the floor, winded.

  The battle raged around them, both in this room and the ones nearby. He could hear it, until now.

  With a start, Javed turned back to see Celina close her eyes. She was low on power now, he realized. Creedar gave a roar and lumbered away shoving through the half open door and out into the night. Javed rose. Even as he made his way toward Celina, the dog-man jumped her.

  She gave a cry, falling to the ground.

  Javed roared, lifting his scimitar high while he loosed his inner predator. It pounced on his unsuspecting quarry.

  He had a fistful of fur in his hand and he hauled back. At the last second, it turned his head toward Javed, and clamped onto his wrist with its powerful vampiric jaws. His prey now assumed the shape of a dog.

  Javed howled and shook the hybrid off, his fangs descending in a rush. The need to destroy and defeat rode him like an avenging angel. He tore the thing from his arm, uncaring of the damage to his own flesh.

  “No one harms her.” His voice was guttural. Javed’s nails grew long and he used them, sinking them deep into the flesh of her assailant.

  The scent of blood filled his nostrils and he welcomed it. One quick savage flick saw the animal fly through the air, where it collided with a wall. It lay slumped but Javed stalked toward it. He would end this now.

  He raised his arm at the dog once more. It pounced and Javed feinted, avoiding the raking claws and razor sharp teeth. His vision had narrowed to a pinprick as he followed the trajectory. Exhaust it. Let it wear itself out. The teachings of his past slid into his mind and he straightened, his mind now calm.

  “You will not stop Jelani and Creedar.” It had assumed the half human, half dog shape again. Javed filed the knowledge of the shape-changing creature away to consider later.

  He turned in circles, watching as his competitor made a swipe at him, the whole time aware of where Celina lay, observing him in silence.

  Each pounce of the one called Jelani was weaker than the last—noticeably so. He caught the hybrid under a rib, slicing through fur and skin, a splash of scarlet spattering on the stained concrete floor.