Renounced: The Shelean Moon, Book Two

by J. Lilley

  “No can do, Leira.” He produced a bucket, and—she saw in horror—a bag of wet wipes. “You know why you’re here. We’re meant to be together. You’re mine now. You don’t want Donny, and you might not want me, but you need me—and I need you. Together we’ll conquer and rule.”

  “Move, asshole.” She grabbed the bucket from his hands and proceeded to throw up. “Wet wipes,” she gasped and gratefully took the packet from Struan. To his credit, he took one out of the packet and wiped her forehead as she worked on the rest of her face. Then he handed her a bottle of water.

  “You really do get sick?”

  She stared at him. “Nah, course not. I conjured up that lot—” She waved a hand at the bucket he was now washing out over the side. “Just to annoy you. You say you know me, and we’ve been at the same school since whenever. You should have known I don’t even do the school bus without wearing anti-sick bands around my wrist. You suck.”

  Leira glared at him and held out her hand with the yucky wet wipe. He was lucky that was all she gave him. “Here, get rid of that. Tell me what the hell is going on, and get me off this loch.”

  Ah, Donny, I so wish I could still project. I might want to renounce, but at the moment I don’t seem to be getting much me time. It’s still all Shalea.

  Don’t project to him, Leira. He can’t help you. He’s well taken care of. You have me now, just me.

  Butt out, snake-face. I wasn’t projecting. Gah, you’re so rude. Don’t you know that’s an invasion of privacy, reading my thoughts? You don’t know anything. You just have no class, and you’re an ass, and if you think I want anything to do with you, you’re an even bigger ass than I thought. Because I don’t. Suck it up and grow up.

  It’s accepted, so deal with it. You’re mine.

  Change the record, Struan. I’m mine—my own person, and I’ll never belong to anyone. If you’re deluding yourself, well, that’s up to you. But whatever you do, I’m not and never will be yours. Get it?

  Just to make sure he understood, she grabbed his arm and shook it. The boat lurched. With horror, she noticed the waves were getting higher, each crest tipped with white. She felt like retching again. “Now pass me the bucket.”

  Struan turned to her and held it out.

  She took the handle from him, got a good grip—and swung it.

  “Oh, my.” She forgot all about feeling sick as the bucket made contact with the most vulnerable place on his body she could think of.

  Struan doubled up, his hands over where the bucket landed. He gagged and groaned. “You little…” His face was murderous.

  Leira tried to shake her head and swallowed convulsively. His expression was not good. She gave the bucket a quick, extra shove into him. “First a school bag in the balls and now a bucket. You don’t have a lot of luck, do you? Are you beginning to think maybe someone, somewhere, thinks the last thing this earth needs are mini Struans running around and causing havoc?” She shot the words out, and he cringed.

  Leira laughed. It wasn’t a pleasant sound. “No more bucket in the balls. I need it back.”

  Struan looked alarmed. His face was white, and he was blue around the lips. “I feel sick.”

  “Serves you right.” She couldn’t care less if he thought he was dying. “I’ve felt like that ever since you lured me into this boat. I hope you drown.”

  He looked alarmed now. “I didn’t lure you. I saw you and took the opportunity. Aargh.” His head disappeared over the side of the boat.

  Shoot, I didn’t really mean it. I don’t want anyone’s death on my conscience, not even snake-face. Oh, please, someone. Damn, I can’t project. Hold on, Dad said…She thought hard.

  Dad? Help. I’m scared. There was no answer.

  Should she try again? The boat pitched in the still increasing swells. The horizon moved up and down, and Leira felt her stomach rebel again. Struan clutched the bucket and glared at her. She would cheerfully swing at him again except she daren’t let go of the side. She had a strong suspicion she might fall out if she did.

  Oh, our gods. Get me off this thing.

  Hold on, babe. Hold tight, we’re on our way.

  We? Who on earth is we? And how come Troy answered? Her head pounded. Leira felt too sick to argue, to do anything. The clouds rolled over the sky—fast, dark, and menacing. There was a rumble of thunder.

  No doubt the lightning will start any minute. So safe on water in the open—with a crackpot—in a lightning storm. Should’ve stayed in bed with a bar of chocolate and a good mag.

  Lei? Lei are you okay?

  Donny, at last.

  Er no, not really…but aaahhhh.

  Damned static again. Donny was sure he’d heard Leira’s voice. However, whatever she said was swallowed up by a blast of white noise. He looked at the girl in front of him…Ali.

  “If you have anything to do with Leira not projecting to me—so help me—I won’t be responsible for what I do. Right now I’d like to shake you until you realize you’re nothing to me. You were a friend. I don’t think you’re even that now. Grow up.”

  Her face went white, and she seemed to crumple. She stared at him, her eyes large as what he said finally sunk in.

  “You mean that, don’t you?” Her voice wasn’t much above a whisper. “There really is no hope. Not even when I tried to bend your will.”

  He nodded. “Truthfully, I do. Now, what have you done to Leira? How have you done it? Or maybe I should just say, Ali—what are you?”

  “Me? Oh, I’m a witch.” Her tone was casual. Like she had told him that she had brown hair or a splinter in her thumb.

  “What? Since when?”

  “Well, since ever of course. I didn’t go to the pound shop or online and buy a package. Anyway, while we’re on the subject—what are you? And what’s all this projecting stuff? I thought you two weren’t an item. That’s why I knew I wasn’t going against my creed. Harm none.” She sounded triumphant again. Talk about changing her attitude so fast. Donny’s head began to spin again. He fought to keep his senses alert, and his thoughts rational.

  “Wrong, you’re harming me,” he said. “I don’t feel anything for you. If you try to change that, Ali, you’re going against all you believe in. You don’t want that.” She seemed to listen to him, and her look of distraught comprehension was enough to fill him with pity. He guessed she really hadn’t thought through her actions. He watched as she rubbed her eyes and nodded.

  “Oh, by the Rede. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize, Donny. I so like you, and you never looked my way. Then Struan said…” Her eyes widened. “The shit—the absolute shit. I should’ve known better. Please, please believe me when I say—” She broke off. “Hold on.” She grabbed his arm. “What’s going on with Struan and Leira? And what’s Shalea? I only know what my grannie told me. It really does exist? I was never sure if she was just spinning me a bedtime story. She knew I loved tales about shifters and stuff. Now though? What is it to all of you? To Struan?”

  Donny stared at her. “What do you mean? Leira and Struan? Quick, Ali, what do you know? No—” He stopped her as she opened her mouth to speak. “Hold on a sec. Something is going down.” He knew she was watching him intently, and he saw her eyes widen when his own went dark and cloudy. If she really was a witch, he bet she knew more than she was letting on.

  Donny, it’s Troy. Hey, is that Ali with you?

  Er, yeah. What? Hold on…Who are you? You rescued us, disappeared without so much as an introduction, and now casually say, “Hi, it’s Troy.”

  Yeah? And…

  And, you need to trust me—trust in Shalea. I am one of you, of Shalea, and we need her.

  How d’you mean we? Donny knew his tone was cautious.

  I mean Shalea and witches both. Ali can help us to beat Struan. She has powers too, you know. Get her to fly.

  Er, well…okay, He could be as open-minded as the next person. Where to?

  Keltin bothy on little loch, by the Armin Stone.

  That�
�s Melinde’s place. The bothy, not the stone. The Armin Stone was sacred to Shaleans. Donny swore under his breath. He might have known Melinde was involved somehow.

  Mine now. I was pulled away. Told Brios was in danger. He wasn’t—Leira was. Hell, Leira is. Hurry, both of you. I’ll need you both. The stone is singing, and we need to stop it.

  Could it get any worse? Donny realized Ali stood patiently waiting for him to speak. He made his mind up and had to put his trust in Troy. There was no one else.

  “Right, Ali, I damn well hope you mean what you said. Evidently, it’s time for my first flying lesson with no plane or parachute. We need to get to the Armin Stone by the Keltin bothy—like now.”

  Her eyes widened. “Oh, right. Do I get to know why? Why we need to go and why you’re all—oh, so accepting of my skills all of a sudden?”

  He didn’t answer, just frowned at her.

  Ali must have realized he was waiting for her to carry on. “That’s on the little loch, in Grey territory.”

  “Grey territory?” That was something new to him.

  She shook her head impatiently. “Grey territory, where all those who intend evil can meet. Not somewhere I really like going, but if we must?”

  He nodded. “We must.”

  “You’ll have to overcome your no-likey-Ali stuff then because you need to hold on to me tightly.”

  Donny smiled, hoping to soften his response.

  “Yeah, really not a probl—wait. What do you know about this Grey territory?”

  She shrugged. “Not a lot yet. I’m still growing into my skills and my knowledge. They’re bad, the people who populate it. Turned witches, demons, Rogue Shaleans—hell, there’s that word again—you name it. They bond big time and have territory around there. So if Leira is in their hands? Yeah, we go, like now, and you can spill the beans about everything else later.” She turned towards him and laughed. “Ah, well—I’m going to get my hands on you once anyway.” He saw by the look on her face she was joking. “Do you want to say the magic words?”

  “Huh?”

  “C’mon, Donny. Think. You know who we are, where we live.”

  The light dawned. In spite of his worry for Leira, he laughed.

  “Beam me up, Scotty.”

  “Yippee, another Scottish Star Trek fan.” Her eyes twinkled.

  20

  “If I go, you go too.” Struan grabbed hold of Leira’s leg and began to pull. Then, a large wave rocked the boat and proved to be his undoing. He began to slide. Leira watched in horror as he started to tip over the side. It was almost as if he was being pushed—and some unseen hand took over, even though Struan still had ahold of her. She was a very good swimmer, but this was a loch in Scotland. No way would she voluntarily go in there without a wet suit. She started to struggle, and he held on tight.

  “I told you, Leira—you’re mine,” he snarled. “Now and forever—in life and death. Let go. Give in. Come with me.”

  It seemed like she wasn’t going to get a say in the matter. There was another crack of thunder, and the boat tipped even more. With nothing other than the sides to grab onto, and Struan pulling her in his direction, Leira reckoned she was about to get wet—or wetter rather.

  Struan screamed. It sounded almost inhuman, and she felt his hold on her leg loosen, and then she was free. Unfortunately, not in time to avoid a dunk. The sleeting rain made it almost impossible to stop her slippery slide. Her hair was plastered to her face. Wet tendrils slapped across her eyes and slid into her mouth. She tried to spit hair out and shake her head so she could see without losing her grip. It was no use, and Leira resigned herself to getting cold as well as wet.

  I will succeed. Revenge will be mine, and you will all suffer.

  She took a deep breath and closed her eyes…and felt herself lifted high out of the boat, above the waves, away from Struan’s screams and oaths. She watched with horror as his head went below the surface, and—as far as she could see—it didn’t come up again. She might not like him, but she wouldn’t wish a horrible death like that on anyone. There was a jolt, and she saw the waves rapidly disappear beneath her.

  “Ah?” What next?

  Hold on, babe—flying tonight.

  What? Yikes.

  There was nothing under her feet, and she was held tight against someone.

  It’s me, babe—sorry—Leira. She could hear the laughter in his projecting. Open your eyes and enjoy the view. Or are you acrophobic as well?

  What phobic? That was a new one.

  Scared of heights, you didn’t seem to be last time. So, if you’re not, look around—it’s beautiful. If you are, hold on. We’ll be down in a minute.

  She’d never been afraid of heights before, and if there was only a minute left on this ride, she was definitely going to see where she was. Leira opened her eyes.

  “Oh, wow.” And it wasn’t the chest she was held close to that she was talking about. It was the colors stretched out all around her, a full rainbow above with the blues and whites of clouds surrounding it like soft blankets. Below them were layer upon layer of wispy clouds, like a safety net that shielded them from the wind and rain she could see whipping the waves upon the loch far below.

  Troy looked at her with a beam on his face. Atta girl, beautiful isn’t it? Hold on tight. We’re going down. She felt him turn and swoop as they began their headlong descent. It was like being on a roller coaster, or the pirate ship at the fair. They hit a gust of wind. Leira held her breath, but strangely she didn’t feel motion sick. She wondered where she was, how Troy was involved, and then—suddenly and achingly—where Donny was.

  Leira, can you project? Are you all right? The one voice she was really pleased to hear.

  Donny? Are you getting this? I’m fine—I think. I’m flying.

  Yeah? She could hear the smile in his voice. So am I.

  Tell him we’ll see him by the Armin Stone, Troy butted in.

  Oh, shit. No, not there. Leira shuddered. Ever since she was tiny, she’d hated the stone. It didn’t matter how many times she was told it was sacred, she’d never felt comfortable anywhere near it.

  Damn, must we? I’d rather go to the dentist for a filling than that.

  Got to, we need to use its strength. It’s been singing. Now we need to channel that energy. You’ll be fine. Your dad will meet us.

  And Melinde? She wondered what made her ask that.

  Ah, well, there’s the rub. That’s something we need to see about. Right—almost there. You gonna pass the info on?

  She sighed before grabbing his shoulder tighter as he changed direction to skirt around a clump of pine trees. Their prickles reached towards them.

  Will do.

  Donny? Can you go to the Armin Stone? Dad will be there as well as us.

  Us? Donny queried

  Tell you la…er…shoot, this is fast.

  The ground seemed to rush towards them. Surely they hadn’t been moving this fast the whole time? They couldn’t have. The clouds were racing, and she thought she could even see the wind showing shades of pink and cream as they rushed through it.

  They were pushed sideways, heading for the rock face above the loch. Her legs seemed to want to go off by themselves, and she could feel herself pulled away from Troy.

  Bastards. Oops, sorry. Hold tight, nearly there. I’m not going to let you go, promise. Right, it’s gonna get bumpy. He gripped her so tightly, she bet she’d have bruises later. However, if it meant she’d get to land safely, never mind the bruises.

  Ooh, sh— Leira knew she’d missed the gorse bush by inches as another strong pull had her legs zooming off at right angles to her waist again. Then, it seemed eerily quiet, and they were floating gently—almost as if they were lowered inch by inch—until first Troy, then she, touched the ground.

  “Ouch, shoot, a thistle.” Somewhere in all the drama, she’d lost her shoes, and the prickles were jagged.

  Troy gently rubbed her arms and looked down at her feet.

  “O
h, nasty one. I’d offer to carry you, but there’s someone over there who would probably rip my arms off if I did.” He nodded across the glen where Donny was landing with…

  “Ali? Ali flew him. Holy sh…Does that mean she’s a…”

  “Witch? Guess it does. Took me a while to work it out though. I had so much else on my mind. Okay, ba…er…Lei, let’s get this show on the road.”

  Leira watched as Donny and Ali approached. Donny’s eyes showed concern. Ali’s were cautious.

  “Our gods and us.” The greeting came out automatically. Leira winced. Maybe she shouldn’t be saying that anymore. But it had been her greeting and farewell for as long as she could speak. It was going to be hard to stop it now. However, Donny just smiled.

  “And to you. Are you really okay?”

  “Yeah, now I am, though it was a bit…er…fraught at times. What about you. You enjoy your flight?”

  Donny laughed. “It was different. So what’s going on?”

  “Wish I knew.” Leira looked towards the still choppy waters. “I was on that boat—Oh our gods…Struan. He went over the side and tried to take me with him. He was drowning. Can we check?”

  Troy shook his head. “In that?” He indicated the waves, hardly visible through the lashing rain. “No chance. It seems all the lochs in the area have been affected, and we’re a few miles away now as well.” He turned to Donny and held out his hand. “A bit late, considering. But hi, here’s the introduction bit. I’m Troy.”

  Donny laughed and shook the proffered hand. “Yeah, I’d guessed. Thanks for well, you know.”

  Shoot, of course, they don’t know each other.

  Troy nodded. “De nada, mate.” He turned back to Leira.

  “We need to wait for your dad. Move towards the stone, it’s dry there.” Leira could see that the rain stopped abruptly just before she noticed the flowers and tiny sparkling rocks circling the stone.

  She shivered. “I think I’ll stay in the rain, thanks. That rock and me? Well, let’s just say, I don’t go there.”