by Leela Ash
It was hungry… and it wanted them to bring it food.
“You see?”
Slowly, she nodded. Relief flowed through her as she realized her kidnapper wasn’t going to hurt her. His body, pressed against her, suddenly ceased to be a prison. It was a shield, her one lone defense against this monster. A foolish, irrational longing filled her, that he would sweep her into his arms and promise that it would all be alright, somehow.
“So let’s go back inside and you yell some more about what a selfish asshole I am, okay?”
He straightened, stealing her shield away. Leaving her alone with the knowledge that this was her battle. A war of magic and wits. If anyone was going to save the day, it would have to be her.
Beaten into the soil by generations of feet, a trail led into the jumble of boulders and cliffs that towered over Stillwater. Deep within them lay the Cauldron, a small reed-lined pool. In the desert, an oasis like that drew animals from miles around. But the creatures of the wild sensed this pond’s danger and kept far away. No frogs, no fish, no coyotes graced its shores.
No strong magical currents, either. Something seeped out here, spreading invisible tentacles throughout the land. An unnatural presence, like the grasping hand of a greedy monster. At a Wellspring, the rush of magic would sweep around her, filling the air with a crisp, delicious energy that set a person’s soul singing. This was nothing like that. Worse, images flickered at the edge of her vision. Shadows, dim shapes that vanished as soon as she turned to face them. The clearing seemed soaked in some dark, unclean energy.
Staring at the dull waters of the Cauldron, Maddie lied. “Well, this is a very strange site but I think it’s a severely damaged Wellspring. I can feel an extremely weak energy coming out of it. It needs tenders, however. A Pack of Wolves or such to feed it energy.”
Surely that offer would tempt Nemagorix?
Griffin, of course, spotted her ploy at once and played along. “No. You teach me what I need to do, and I’ll do it.”
Good. His paranoia made him a great partner in deception! Still, she did need to warn him about one thing. As she strolled around the pool, ‘checking it out’, Maddie retrieved her cell phone and quickly typed out an IM.
“Hey!” Griffin barked. He darted over and snatched the phone away. “There’s no cell phone coverage out here.”
“Then give my phone back! I was just checking something.”
He scowled at it – and saw the message she’d typed out.
If you keep refusing to get help, Nemagorix will try to kill you.
Griffin snorted and tucked the phone in his own pocket. “No tricks. Get back to work.”
Did that mean that he volunteered to play bait, to risk the demon’s attack? Her kidnapper might be rough and uncouth, but she couldn’t doubt his courage – or his devotion to the elderly people who lived here. He would buy her the time she needed.
Time to do what, though? How could she cut off the tendrils of this creature without letting it know what she was doing? Off the top of her head, she could think of a half dozen spells that would do the job. Blessed mirrors, spirit traps, herbal waters. Unfortunately spells like that took time and strange, exotic materials. Materials she didn’t have – and time Nemagorix wouldn’t give her.
Only one option was fast and simple.
And sloppy. And weak. The first drop of rain will destroy it completely.
Maddie tilted her head back. Late summer was the rainy season in Arizona (or as much of a rainy season as the state got). Yet the sun beat down fiercely, unsoftened by even the slightest trace of a cloud.
This might work.
Maybe. The thought of betting her life on such a flimsy shield made her sick. But the best plan was still the best, even if it sucked.
Alright then. She drew a shaky breath and prepared her spell.
Slowly she wandered around the Cauldron, pretending to study its quiet waters. In truth, it was the ground that worried her. Maddie studied it, memorizing every dip, every large stone that lined the edge of the pool. Smaller rocks and dried sticks she kicked aside. Leaving, as best she could, a clear path around the tiny pond.
Next up, materials.
With a long, dramatic sigh, she turned to face Griffin. “That Mrs. Grey is an herbalist, isn’t she? I need to go through her house. See if she has anything I can use.”
“Sure.” He hovered close as they headed down to the village, every inch the suspicious captor.
Or a sharp-eyed partner trying to figure out what game I’m playing.
As expected, she didn’t find any rare herbs. All of the old woman’s potions used local plants, not the strange materials a professional Witch required. But Maddie did find her true goal.
A ten pound sack of salt.
Scooping it up, she hesitated. Mrs. Grey lay nearby, still and unmoving. Could Nemagorix truly hear through the people he controlled? Griffin had to play a part in her plan, and he didn’t know what to do. How could she tell him when anyone could be an unwitting spy for their enemies?
Maybe she didn’t need to, though. A faint smile lit her captor’s face as she grabbed the salt and he nodded. “Time’s up. Let’s go.”
So he knew what salt was good for. A bit of lore passed down from one of his Hare relatives?
Or maybe he just watches tv. You can’t make it through an episode of Supernatural without learning that salt keeps demons at bay.
Silently they trudged back through the high stones that cast their shadows over the Cauldron. Once more she puttered about the edge of the pool, pretending to be lost in thought. Griffin hovered near her, never more than a couple feet away.
Good. Here’s hoping we’re on the same page.
Showtime. Maddie straightened and held the salt bag tight against her chest, like a security blanket. “I give up.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Eyes narrowed, Griffin stepped to a menacing closeness.
“It means I can’t do this alone. I need my Warren!”
“How many times do I have to tell you?” he snarled. “No one else comes here!”
“Screw you!” she shrieked back. “Do it yourself, then.”
Rage twisted his handsome features into a vicious mask. “Last chance. Do not cross me!”
Heavens, he was terrifying! This had to be the most amazing acting job she’d ever seen.
I hope…
“Or else what? What are you going to do?”
“Get another Witch. Which means I don’t need you.”
And suddenly there was a knife in his hand, a long, wicked dagger that appeared out of some hidden sheathe. Maddie yelped and flinched as his hand lashed out. The blade missed her wrist by only an inch, ripping a long gash in the sack she held.
Through which a thick stream of salt fell.
Run! her Hare shrieked. Run!
For once, she listened to it.
Dragons flew like the wind and in a marathon no Shifter could outlast a Wolf. But for sprints, nothing beat a Hare. Maddie tore around the Cauldron. Griffin charged after her, cursing and swearing as she darted ahead. (And careful, she noted, not to step on the white line she left behind her.)
Down the shore, around the edge of the pond. She leaped over a stone outcrop and bounded away, staying ahead of him. Until the light suddenly dimmed.
The air itself seemed to thicken. It caught in her throat, choking her, and sat like oil in her lungs. Overhead, the sun faded to a pale orange globe.
Behind her, Griffin gasped. She risked a glance back and saw him collapse to the ground, his tanned face suddenly pale.
Maddie froze, torn between the need to finish the magic circle – and a desperate desire to save the strange man.
Nemagorix will kill him! I have to… have to…
Their eyes met. Furious indignation lit his face when he saw that she had stopped. Despite the pain, despite the demon’s attack, he lurched to his feet and staggered towards her.
Run! Run all the way!
Her Hare was right. Speed was their only chance.
Maddie dashed along the shore, long legs pumping, driving. Cold, thick air clawed at her lungs, threatening to steal her strength away. Still she ran, a Hare, true to her Kind. Not stopping even when Griffin collapsed behind her with a strangled choke.
Past the boulder. Leap the log. Almost there…
Only at the last moment did the Darkborn recognize her trap. Then the full force of Nemagorix’s power slammed into her. Bands of iron closed around her chest, squeezing, cutting off her breath. Agony blossomed behind her eyes, tiny daggers of pain that shredded all thought. Whispers slithered across her skin, a thousand invisible mouths that sucked greedily at her life force. The world faded away until nothing existed. Nothing except pain.
Pain… and will.
Will was a Witch’s strength. The ‘sword’ she wielded, the power that fueled her spells. Even as her Hare collapsed, Maddie forced herself to totter forward.
I am a Witch. Magic is my battlefield and my enemy will not defeat me!
Three steps, four. Then she dropped to her knees, toppling forward.
Closing the circle of salt that ringed the Cauldron.
Somewhere, a guttural voice howled in rage. The terrible power that held her vanished and she was falling, spiraling down into darkness.
Chapter 5.
A wonderful scent drew Maddie back from the darkness. Oil and hot bread. Opening her eyes, she found herself lying in one of the stone cottages. The mattress beneath her was hard and lumpy. Yet hand-woven blankets were tucked neatly under her chin and a pillow filled with soft down cradled her head.
An elderly woman hovered over the nearby wood stove. Several large pieces of fry bread lay on a plate beside her. Another bubbled merrily in a pan of oil, carefully watched.
As Maddie stirred, the woman chuckled. “Ah, I knew fry bread would call your spirit back!”
Despite the bandage that now covered her burn, the smile that split her weathered face was contagious and Maddie grinned back. “Thank you. I’m Maddie Hunter by the way.”
“Mrs. Grey.” She dribbled honey over the hot bread and brought it over. At the first bite, so hot, so sweet, the Hare did revive. “What happened?”
“Let me get Griffin. He knows more than I do.”
She trotted off (though not before fishing the last piece of bread out and pushing the pan of oil off the heat). A few minutes later, Maddie’s kidnapper – strangely subdued – stepped into the dim hut.
“How are you feeling?”
“Probably a lot like you. Exhausted and a little beat up – but nothing I won’t survive.”
“Yeah, same here.” When he smiled, it softened all the hard edges of his face and filled it with a gentle light. “Looks like your spell worked.”
“For now. The first rain shower will dissolve that barrier, though,” she warned him.
“I know. But we can worry about that tomorrow. Mrs. Grey says there won’t be any rain tonight.”
“I’d rather do it now.” They had a lot of important issues to hash out. Like Nemagorix… and the fact that she was still Griffin’s prisoner.
“Not tonight. There are a lot of sick people who need help.”
Stillwater’s inhabitants. Many of whom were elderly, he said. “How are they?”
“Exhausted. I’ve got a big pot of chili going right now. Between that and Mrs. Grey’s fry bread, I think everyone will be fine.”
Chili and fry bread tasted great… but they didn’t do much for actual trauma. “Let me give you a hand. First Aid classes didn’t make me a Doctor but I do have some skills.”
People came first, always. Griffin was right. They could thrash out their problems in the morning, once everyone was safe.
Old Man Yazzie was her last patient and by the time she tucked him into bed, Maddie could barely keep her eyes open. Sleep took her as soon as she lay down on Mrs. Grey’s spare bed.
She awoke to madness. A scene of heart-breaking beauty… which made absolutely no sense at all.
Naked, she sat in an enormous marble tub. Rose petals floated on its still waters, filling the air with their sweet, dusky scent. Some of them clung to her bare skin, as if to shield her body from prying eyes. Her long red haired was braided and piled high on her head, to protect it from the water.
Around her spread an elegant patio offering panoramic views of some sea with waters of the purest azure blue. The Mediterranean, perhaps? She’d never been there. In the distance, hills curved along the shore, towering over white sand beaches. A gentle breeze, perfumed with a touch of rosemary, tickled the back of her neck. Other than the tub, the patio had few furnishings. Sliding glass doors leading inside. A table with two chairs and a bottle of champagne cooling on ice. And a bed, draped in the finest gold satin. Gauzy curtains shielded it from the sun and stirred in the wind.
Baffled, Maddie sat up. Was this a dream?
It had to be – she couldn’t disappear from Arizona and suddenly appear on the French Riviera. Yet the depth, the vibrancy of the vision was too great. She could feel the droplets of water trickling across her skin. Smell the rich aroma of the roses. No mere dream could be this intense!
As she struggled to make sense of the scene, the door to the apartment opened.
Clad only in a towel draped around his waist, Griffin Davis stepped onto the patio. Looking every bit as confused as she felt.
Stripped of his grubby jeans and t-shirt, he took her breath away. His shaggy blonde hair and hard-cut features had always hinted that her kidnapper was a damned fine-looking man. Now, when his body was before her in all of its delicious maleness, Maddie couldn’t stop herself from stealing a peek. Broad shoulders, rounded with muscles. Arms tanned a deep bronze from the desert’s fierce light. Wisps of golden hair covered his broad chest, a fuzz that – like the shadow of a beard that darkened his chin – emphasized his masculine glory and gave him a rakish allure.
There was probably something delectable under that damned towel, too, but it was hidden from her. Maddie found herself staring, as if thought alone would make it disappear.
She realized, suddenly, that she was devouring the sight of him with an obvious, impolite hunger. And that only those delicate rose petals, floating on the water, hid her body.
Embarrassed, Maddie eased herself lower until the waters lapped against her chin. “What’s going on?”
At the sound of her voice he startled, his hand dropping to his side as if it sought a gun.
Remember that, she reminded herself. This isn’t a safe man. He kidnapped you.
“Where are we?” His eyes, she noticed, lingered on the flower-strewn waters – as if he, too, was eager to discover the hidden delights of this place.
“No idea. I woke up in this tub.”
“Did you? Wake up, I mean. This has to be a dream.”
“Except it’s too vivid. And we’re both in it. People don’t share dreams.”
Unless…
There was one time when Fate drew two souls together this way. At least in the fairy tales. Maddie dismissed that idea as soon as it popped into her head.
From the shock on his face, she knew that the same thought had come to Griffin. Yet, unlike her, he didn’t dismiss it. “Could this be the Rite of Claiming?” he whispered.
His eyes widened, a strangely vulnerable expression that thrilled her and summoned a foolish urge to comfort him. He shivered as intense, unreadable emotions warred in his face.
Best to squelch that excitement right now. “We’re Hares,” she reminded him. “We have no Rite of Claiming.” Theirs was the only Shifter Kind that didn’t take Mates. No dream ever summoned a pair of bunnies to a mystical, eternal union.
Still uneasy, he glanced away. “I have a confession to make. I’m not a Hare.”
That made some sense. Hares, even the male ones, tended to be thin and delicate. Something Griffin Davis was definitely not.
But I saw him Shift into a Hare! Nothing else can do that.
>
Suddenly unsure, she bit her lip. “What are you then?”
As he hesitated, another voice spoke. A rich, deep bass full of honeyed strength, like the voice of the sun itself. “Drawn by the love of a woman, do you choose to step out of the shadows?”
The blood drained from Griffin’s face. “It’s true. It’s real. This is the Rite of Claiming.”
No, it couldn’t be! Maddie scanned the patio, searching for any sign of that invisible speaker. The Rite of Claiming was the heritage of Dragons alone – and its form well known. There would be a cup and a dagger, symbols of the union. A ghostly Dragon that warned there was “No Claim without Truth.”
None of that appeared in this dream.
“Do you?” the voice prompted her kidnapper again.
Shaken to his core, Griffin spoke in a whisper she struggled to hear. “I do so choose.”
“Then walk into the light.” Approval warmed those words.
The man didn’t move a step. Yet the air beside him shimmered. Slowly, a glowing vision faded into view.
It was a lion, with a coat of purest gold. A red-gold mane framed its regal face and proud amber eyes. From its back, wings sprouted. Each feather glittered in the sun like beaten metal. Maddie gasped. It was as elegant, as awe-inspiring as any Dragon.
“What are you?” she breathed.
“I’m a Chimera.”
She knew the word. Chimeras were monsters out of Greek myth, three-headed fiends that preyed upon the week. This creature, this glorious being, was nothing like that. “Is that some type of Shifter?”
“Yes.”
One she’d never heard of. Rare Kinds existed. Every now and then someone ran across a unique Shifter. Or said they did. Most of those tales turned out to be lies and mistakes.
But this… there was no doubting this.
“It’s beautiful.” The word emerged with a sigh of delight before she could stop it.
Once more the invisible voice spoke. “You have looked upon this man’s soul. Does it call to you? Will you consent to be a Chimera’s Mate?”