by Nikki Landis
“I know, little witch. We can set them free only once the Thrall have been destroyed.”
“Will the taint be erased?”
“Yes, if the original demon is killed then the soul is washed clean.”
I didn’t ask how he knew this information. Kayde offered his hand and I let him pull me to my feet as a small smile hovered on his lips for a brief second and then vanished.
“We have work to do.”
We left the lanterns behind as Kayde held up a hand. “Shhh.”
Damian appeared by my side and leaned in close. ‘What were the lanterns? Souls?’
I nodded in confirmation. “Yes,” I whispered, “I guess the Thrall trap them.”
Damian slid an arm around my waist. ‘Oh, pet, they don’t trap the souls. Thrall consume them.’
‘Well, shit.’ Why were some of them in these lanterns? Snacks for later? I shuddered at the thought.
‘Yeah, shit. Don’t get too close. I bet you taste good.’
The double meaning wasn’t lost on me. ‘You missed your chance to find out.’
He turned to me suddenly, anger visible on his face. ‘He fed, this I know, but tell me Dmitri didn’t taste you intimately.’
‘He didn’t.’
Damian was still tense. ‘Did he fuck you?’
I sighed aloud. ‘No penetration. Happy?’
His embrace confirmed the answer to that question was yes. ‘Pet, you’re mine. He’s not allowed anywhere near you.’
‘When was this decided?’
‘The moment we met, and I claimed you in front of Howe Manor.’
“Damian,” I breathed as he leaned in and kissed me with a passionate but brief pressure. ‘Isn’t that possessive?’
‘Perhaps.’
The way we could communicate so effectively and yet without a word spoken aloud was both intoxicating and addictive.
‘I agree, precious.’
“Did you hear that?” Gabriel asked, his body crouched as he turned to the right.
A few seconds later the ground began to rumble and shake like a hundred horses were galloping forward at the same time.
The Thrall were here.
Gabriel roared aloud, his bones cracking and popping as he began to shift. His face distorted as his bones elongated. Large teeth poked through a long wide mouth as he snarled. Saliva pooled in his mouth and slithered down his chiseled body, each muscle defined. Wide-eyed, I couldn’t tear my gaze away. Claws developed on his hands and his legs lengthened, gaining him another two feet in height. Pulsing flesh rearranged on his body. Feet and legs continued to twist and contort as Gabe’s clothes ripped apart on his massive frame. The muscles of his body rippled with strength as his skin grew a light gray fur, short but still obviously not human.
The werewolf transformation was complete.
Damian quickly followed his lead and stood in his true form; his glamour dropped. Giant ebony wings spread behind his back while sharp talons poised ready to rip and tear the Thrall apart until nothing remained. His dark skin was smooth like volcanic rock, but the feathers of his wings appeared a texture like leather. Both men towered above me, easily over seven foot.
Ryder saved the best for last.
My handsome ghoul transformed into the bloodthirsty beast I remembered, from a living person in flesh and blood to some wild looking half dead creature that resembled a zombie. He wasn’t alone.
Ryder whooped in excitement just like he did before he feasted on the zombies from the cemetery back home but this time dozens of figures appeared – and they looked just like the demented horror standing in front of me. ghoul souls were here to aid in the fight against the Thrall. They weren’t in danger – these spirit soldiers didn’t possess physical mortal flesh like humans. They came in their true form. The same image I witnessed when Ryder and I bonded, and I touched his thread.
The ghouls were just as deadly as the demonic Thrall, immune to the demons’ touch.
Ryder’s brethren began to spread around us and holler, whooping and stirring up such a loud ruckus that if the Thrall weren’t sure we were here before, they knew now.
Damian and Gabriel laughed, joining in with their own growls, howls, and rumbles of pre-war courage and excitement. I wasn’t sure that any of this was funny, especially once the Thrall actually reached us, but for now I joined in and let out an echoing roar into the air.
“That was pathetic but cute.” Kayde stood next to me, his eyes watching the darkness as all of the noise, rumbling, and galloping seemed to silence in an instant. All was quiet so fast that I gulped loudly, the noise causing my skin to erupt in goosebumps.
A chill was carried in on the breeze as I instinctively moved a step closer to Kayde and sensed each of my Cosan react immediately. We formed a circle – me in the middle with Kayde, Damian and Gabriel on opposite sides, and Ryder and his ghoul brothers completing the protective barrier.
A sudden screeching filled my ears as the Thrall attacked, surging forward in a wave of bony gray.
I shook my head in disappointment as I realized the Thrall who bit me wasn’t here. The demon must be staying away on purpose.
‘Don’t worry. We’ll find him, pet.’
‘I know.’
Thrall bodies slammed into the spirit soldiers as they were knocked about, some falling to the ground as others tried to penetrate the protective barrier. The first wave didn’t make it through my Cosan. Damian swiped at the creatures with his claws, sinking his fangs into their flesh and ripping it from the bones with brutal finesse. Gabriel’s teeth were shredding the Thrall and tearing them apart, yanking limbs from the bodies and leaving them writhing on the ground in bits and pieces, blood spurting from the wounds and dripping from his muzzle. His gray fur was mottled with crimson.
Ryder and his brethren were no less brutal.
I thought we were doing well until I felt the sudden presence of the demon I had been searching for since we arrived. The evil creature leaped across the backs of his fellow Thrall and jumped over my Cosan. Dropping to the ground only a few feet away, the demon snarled and snapped its massive jaw.
“Come on,” I taunted, “try to bite me again, you nasty vermin.”
It lunged forward with a screech and I spun, catching the knife Kayde tossed in my direction. Slicing outward, I caught the Thrall on its gangly arm and smiled in satisfaction when it howled in pain. Answering screeches could be heard as the other Thrall began to fling their bodies toward Gabriel, Ryder, Damian, and the other ghouls.
“Cass, be smart. This isn’t magic. Fight them ruthlessly but watch your back.”
I nodded to Kayde as we stood back to back, facing the Thrall as more pushed their way through. My shoulder and arm chose that moment to throb and ache, the pain so strong and overwhelming that I fought the urge to sink to my knees.
“Cassie, fight!” Damian spoke out loud when he realized I was in danger.
Kayde was wielding dual blades, slicing into any Thrall bodies foolish enough to venture closer. “You have to fight this, Cass. No one can do it but you.”
What did he mean?
My head began to spin as I felt the renewal of attacks on my shields. The rogue witch awaited the moment I was weakened to breach my barriers. Converting all my magic to my shields, I didn’t notice when the Thrall leaped again and landed feet first into my chest. The breath was knocked from my lungs as we hit the ground and the massive jaws of the Thrall snapped, biting down on my shoulder in the same spot as before.
Screaming in agony, I shoved and pushed but the demon wouldn’t release me.
“Cassie!”
“No!”
I felt the panic and terror of my Cosan flood into my brain as each fought with renewed strength to reach me.
“Banish it, Cass!”
Why didn’t I think of that before? Because magic didn’t work against these creatures!
Chanting and calling the ancestors, I spoke so quickly that I wasn’t sure what spells my frantic mi
nd cast or conjured. All I knew was that one minute I was beginning to fade, certain the end was near, and the next . . .
I was free of the Thrall.
Gazing up into the worried gaze of the witch hunter, I couldn’t form any words. The rogue witch was hammering against my shields relentlessly. My shoulder and arm throbbed as I moaned, my head pounding as my vision blurred.
A brief flash of fear filled Kayde’s eyes. The look tossed everything I thought I knew about him right out the window, metaphorically speaking. I could swear that I heard him say my name with such conviction, such longing and emotion, and a depth of sorrow that proved he cared way more than he ever let on.
Cradled against his chest as he scooped my limp body into his arms, I heard Kayde yell at the others. “Move out of my way!”
A few seconds later he pressed a kiss to my forehead and whispered, “I’m sorry, princess.”
Chapter 9
October 6th, 3 a.m. –
I floated in and out of consciousness . . .
“Cassie, can you hear me?”
I blinked, moaning at the barrage of pain that flooded my veins. It pulsed and throbbed through every organ in my body.
“Cassandra.”
Candlelight flickered in the dark night, marking each of the five points that outlined my body. My arms and legs were stretched outward as I felt the power of the ancestors hovering above my prone form.
“Let us in, dearest.”
“Mom?”
“Drop your extra shields. It’s okay. Only those who love you are near.”
I sighed softly as my eyes fluttered and I felt my body release its desperate hold over my shields as if physical fingers had clenched the border tightly shut and now ached with overuse and fatigue. A whoosh of air rippled against my clothes as I gasped, the ancestors’ power filling me with healing. My shoulder and arm began to throb and ache as screams launched from my throat. I couldn’t stop my response even when I sensed the anxiety and concern of the others as they watched. It felt as if someone was ripping the muscles, tendons, and bones of my body apart with their bare hands.
I muttered under my breath, unsure if I added to the spells and incantations of the ancestors or if I simply babbled incoherently.
“Cassie, my sweet daughter, you can stop fighting. It’s okay.”
My mother’s voice sounded foreign, distorted and warbled.
“It’s the rogue witch. He has a hold on you.”
The moment she said the words, I knew they were true. The rogue witch was attacking relentlessly and hadn’t stopped. Sharp talons were locked on my shoulder as my head continued to pound. My mother and ancestors were battling the rogue witch, demons and Thrall, and pure evil for control over my soul.
I had to do something.
In a moment of clarity, I realized the rogue witch sent me to the Ether to ensure I was bitten by the Thrall. I was meant to be weakened, my magic vulnerable. The only way to penetrate my shields was to steal a portion of my soul. No amount of magic alone could do such a thing, but if combined with a Thrall bite the demonic creatures could siphon a portion of it while I lost control.
Now the rogue witch had exactly what he wanted. He owned a piece of my essence.
As soon as the knowledge entered my head, the pain began to fade away. A sinister chuckle echoed in my head and I yelled, calling out and threatening the witch, cursing him and swearing my revenge.
He wasn’t getting away with this.
I’d steal my essence back. No one would stop me.
The witch’s voice answered with sensual promise. “I truly hope so, my sweet Cassandra.”
Bolting upright in my backyard, I found the astonished stares of my ancestors, my Cosan, Gypsy, and my Aunt Gwen. With a flick of my wrist the candles burned higher and I sank to my knees, speaking to my mother with renewed strength and vigor.
“I’ll find this witch and end him, I swear. Bless me ancestors, I ask for your strength and extra power as I hunt him down and destroy this evil once and for all.”
My mother smiled, but the worry was apparent in her eyes. “You don’t need anything further from us. Your power already rivals the extent of the coven.”
Gypsy and Aunt Gwen issued audible sounds of surprise, but I simply nodded.
“Thank you, ancestors. I love you, mother. So mote it be.”
“As I love you, my daughter. So mote it be.”
The spirits of my ancestors faded as I stood and waved my hand in the air, extinguishing the candles before I spun on my heel and walked toward the manor with purpose. The voices of my Cosan faded into the background like white noise as I squared my shoulders. Now that I knew the plan of my enemy it was time to act. A plan formed in my head and I was certain the rogue witch would make an appearance tonight. I needed to be ready.
If war was what he wanted, so mote it be.
* * *
“What’s the issue with Kayde?” I stood in the kitchen with Aunt Gwen after a long nap, raiding the fridge and cabinet, followed by several warm Soul Cakes cooling from the oven.
It was Samhain, after all. I was supposed to indulge.
Aunt Gwen opened her mouth to answer when Gypsy glided into the kitchen and snatched a Soul Cake, flicking off the extra raisins. She always picked them off even though she insisted they be included during the baking process. I found it kind of cute and endearing.
“He’s a Van Helsing. They’re always grumpy.”
Frowning, I took a bite of my cookie and swallowed. “I thought his last name was Winchester.”
“It is,” Gypsy shrugged. “You can ask mom about that.”
I turned to Aunt Gwen expectantly.
“The Van Helsing line is an old one. A powerful hunter lineage that combined with an equally potent line of witch hunters with unique traits. The Winchester clan are gifted in their ability to locate and hunt immortals, specifically those with magical qualities.”
“You mean witches,” I pointed out. “Why is he here?”
“Because I’m the only one who can save your ass from that rogue witch and his demented group of damned followers.” Kayde’s deep voice surprised me and I nearly jumped as he sauntered into the room, laying a crossbow down on the counter as he picked up several cookies. “And I mean damned as in demonic, little witch.”
“I suppose you think you’re some expert,” I retorted. “If that’s true, then why haven’t you figured out who he is?”
“Cassie,” Aunt Gwen warned, but I ignored her.
Kayde and I seemed to be right back where we were before. He was irritating and entirely too smug. It grated on my nerves and I retaliated with sarcasm. My defense mechanism which assuredly irritated him in return. How was this supposed to work again?
“There’s not a lot of options, hot stuff, so we narrow it down. There’s only so many of you Salem bloodlines.” He leaned back against the counter and gave me a once over as he bit into a cookie. “I’d say your enemy is probably one of the Salem lineages not included in the original thirteen.”
Aunt Gwen straightened with a gasp. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
“Why didn’t the Third Eye reveal it?” Gyps asked as she munched on the rest of her cookie and took a sip of tea. “The leaves were quiet last night.”
“If they’re using blood magic – voodoo – it’s possible you’re being blocked.” Kayde picked up his crossbow and headed toward the backyard. “You coming, princess?”
I sighed and followed him out the door, leaving Gypsy and my aunt to discuss these new details in depth. “What do you want, Kayde?”
“You need to practice. A strong witch doesn’t rely on magic alone. There are times when you’re vulnerable and will need to fall back on your training to survive.” He spun on his left heel and faced me. Thick corded muscles bulged from his arms, held out as his sides like we were ready to duel pistols at sunrise. The brown leather of his trench coat brushed the top of his boots as I caught a glimpse of knives strapped to his powerful
upper thighs. “Today would be great. You can check me out later, little witch.”
I wasn’t sure which was more annoying – the constant snide remark about being little or the sarcastic princess. “I’d prefer if it you called me Cassie. Nothing else.”
He smirked and I knew I just gave him reason to annoy me further. “Time to train. Show me what you got, princess.”
Oh yeah, he was going to deliberately call me anything but Cassie now. Feeling aggravated, I called to the elements and rained down lightning and hail directly on top of his head, soaking him instantly as little jolts zapped his leather coat in dozens of spots.
I was caught off guard when he countered easily and hit me square in the chest, knocking my unprepared ass right on the ground. Stunned, I didn’t jump up for about ten seconds.
“Learn to block me or suffer the consequences,” he uttered without a hint of remorse.
I gave him everything I had for the next ten minutes – spells, incantations, conjuring the elements – until I landed on the ground, again and again, flat on my back.
Slapping the ground in frustration, I jumped up once more. “Let’s go.”
He shook his head, somewhat humored. “Why bother? I’m worried you can’t handle yourself very well in a real fight. You’re constantly injured, overwhelmed, and easily defeated.”
Fuck!
Was it necessary to point that out?
Ten more minutes saw the same results.
“Ahhh!” I yelled in frustration, gasping for breath. I’d have a lot of bruises later.
“Magic won’t always work, little witch. You’ve proven this in the Ether when you went up against the serpent. Learn something for once and stop repeating the same irritating mistakes.”
He was right. Kayde wasn’t fighting me with spells or magic. He was blocking all of my attacks easily. In fact, he seemed to be expelling nearly zero effort as I dripped sweat from all my exertion.
Nodding, I got to my feet. “One more time.”
Kayde shrugged and then fired his crossbow. I caught the arrow with magic but grabbed it with my hand and snapped it in half before dropping the pieces to the ground and stomping them into the grass.