by Nikki Landis
Dressing a few minutes later, I began to pace. My body was too jittery. It was more than the runes and spells that kept supernatural creatures and immortals, magical abilities and incantations from use. I felt weakened at the same time, much like in the dungeon of the Rockcastle estate and the underground tunnels. My thoughts were easily scattered.
Biting my lip in agitation, I knew I was experiencing all of the signs and symptoms that Kayde had mentioned when I was still at Howe Manor. My soul was deteriorating here in Romania while my essence was fighting against its capture in the fade.
This was bad. Really bad.
It would get much worse soon. I could feel the undercurrent of sinister intent as my breaths increased in alarm. The longer I spent in this spelled location, the further I would decline.
Frustrated at Damian for leaving me here alone, I leaned against the front windows and gazed out into the yard. Moonlight filtered down in foggy beams of willowy white as a light mist graced the dewy grass. The night had turned cool as I shivered, placing my hand against the frosted windowpane.
A familiar sensation tingled my spine as a dark shadow hovered on the edge of the trees, hulking in the distance as it dwarfed the nearby bushes and trees. An agitated howl pierced the air as a large beast pounded down the pathway toward the house. I didn’t hesitate as I bolted forward, pulling the door open.
“Cassie!”
Running toward the sound of my wolf’s voice, I began to cry with relief. When he reached the doorway, my Lycan shifted quickly, scooping me up and into his wide muscular chest before I could say a word. The soothing scent of earth, wild animal musk, and spice filled my nostrils as he pressed his bulky body close and lowered his head. His nose skimmed the delicate length of my skin from shoulder to the base of my throat and then swept upward to my jawline where he placed a soft kiss. My wolf had to immerse himself in my scent to be sure I was unharmed. I knew the routine by now.
“Gabriel,” I breathed, happy he finally arrived.
“I’ve got you, my Cass. You’re safe.”
Chapter 5
Around 3 a.m. –
“Cassie!” Ryder’s frantic voice broke the brief moment of intimacy between me and Gabriel. I glanced up as my ghoul ran up the steps and yanked me from Gabriel’s arms as he roared his displeasure.
“I’m alright, I promise,” I soothed, enveloped into a three-way hug. “Who’s with you?”
“Almost everyone. Gwen and Willow stayed behind as an anchor in Mystic Hallows but the rest of us insisted on making the journey including Gypsy, Autumn, and Sebastian. There was no point in delaying any further and no one else wanted to stay behind.”
“Except for Kayde,” Ryder mumbled, frowning as I caught his direct and purposeful gaze.
“What do you mean?” Were they saying Kayde didn’t want to come?
A throat cleared behind me. As I turned, I caught the stoic expression of the witch hunter. Mr. Van Helsing lineage and Winchester anti-magic stood exactly as he did the first time we met. The dark floor length leather duster he wore framed his broad shoulders and muscular build perfectly. His hat was pulled low over his eyes and made it hard to read what lingered inside their dark depths. Well-armed with his gun belt slung low on his hips and several knives strapped to his upper thighs, Kayde exuded an air of authority and impatience.
“The clock is ticking.”
His body language was rigid, the opposite of what I would have thought. Nothing about his stance or tone indicated he was glad to see me. Confused, I tried to leave Gabe and Ryder’s arms, but I was thrown backward.
Damn it.
“Here, let me.” Ryder spoke low under his breath and touched the doorframe. It began to glow and then slowly faded back to normal. “There, that should do it. Damian told me what to say.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, kissing him quickly before turning back to Kayde. I left the porch to walk toward him when he backed up several paces. His hands hovered above his waist and weapons as if this was a duel at sunrise in the old west and he was prepared to engage in battle at any moment.
What the hell happened in my absence?
Gabe’s arm slid around my waist as he whispered in my ear, just loud enough that Kayde heard every word. “He’s been like this since the moment we realized you were gone.”
Great. So now Kayde was unsure about me and the Cosan? Was he using this as an excuse to pull away from me again? What bullshit!
Kayde’s drama was the last thing I was prepared to deal with in that moment. My heart couldn’t handle any more surprises. Tears filled my eyes as he stared, and a small tick pulsed in his jaw.
How could he do this to me right now?
I needed all of my Cosan and I already lost one of my protectors beyond my control.
My knees buckled as a small sob escaped my throat and strong arms caught me before I could fall. Gabriel’s piercing blue eyes were full of concern as he shook his head, rumbling deep in his chest with disapproval. Ryder was giving Kayde the evil eye and I was certain they’d already spoken about this before their arrival which was why they traveled together ahead of the others.
“I haven’t left you and neither has Ryder. You aren’t alone, Cass.”
“We’re here, angel, I promise.”
I couldn’t reply since my emotions seemed to have a stranglehold over my ability to speak.
“Cassie!”
Gypsy’s cry of relief grounded me. I wasn’t about to turn into a sobbing, crying mess for the rest of the day. We had a mission to accomplish. If I wanted to defeat Roman and help Damian, then I needed to retrieve my essence and focus on the task at hand. Even if a certain witch hunter was being a stubborn ass and the vampire left me to seek his untimely revenge.
Brushing Gabe and Ryder’s hands away, I left their hold and stumbled toward Gypsy. We met in the middle of the yard that was slick with mud from the recent rain as she grabbed and pulled my body close. Her hug nearly toppled us to the ground, but we managed to stay upright. I could sense Kayde close behind me but didn’t acknowledge his presence.
Seconds later Kane and Karter, Autumn, and Sebastian Wildes stood on the edge of the property. All four smiled as the twins barreled forward and crashed into me and Gypsy. It was a tangle of limbs as we slipped in the mud and eased some of the tension with our laughter.
A loud caw echoed in the air as the plump little raven I knew to be my father’s spirit – and also my new familiar – plopped down on the ground a short distance away. Its beady eyes were focused on me as the wings flapped furiously. A few more clicks and rattling croaks could be heard. Was I being reprimanded by a little black bird?
How amusing!
Since I believed this raven to be a manifestation of my father’s spirit, it made sense he’d be angry with my recent choices. Of course, being kidnapped wasn’t exactly my fault. I partially blamed my sexy vampire and his need for vengeance. Dmitri was a big problem though, as much as Roman, and I was torn with the desire to seek out Damian and Vincent and join the fight.
As if to prove how foolish this idea was, my ears began to ring, and my head started pounding with consistent hammers against my skull. No, it wasn’t my shields. This was different.
My vision faded in and out, retreating into a vague blur that let me see distorted shapes, but I couldn’t distinguish between the other figures. At least I knew everyone standing there but the moment we left this place and headed into the fade, I’d be unable to decipher friend from foe. All I could hope was that my vision would clear soon. If not, I’d be useless.
My friends and Cosan must have noticed the change because everyone started talking at once. Voices mingled and overlapped as my hands rose to cover my ears. It was too much! Panicking, I spun around and began to run, smacking into a hard body. Whoever caught me sucked in a breath of surprise.
“Cassandra, calm yourself. Tell me what’s happening.”
Kayde. The last person I wanted to bump into right now.
“I
can’t see very well. Everything is a blur and it’s so loud. All the voices overwhelm me.”
“It’s begun then,” he replied curtly, pushing me gently away. “We don’t have much time.”
“Even less than you think,” I announced, hurt by his cold demeanor, “since Roman only gave me until midnight.”
“Twenty-four hours? That’s it?” The catch in Gypsy’s voice made my chest tighten.
“His attempt to ensure my failure,” I answered with a sigh.
“We can do this, Cass.” Kane and Karter spoke in unison and I almost smiled at their firm resolve.
It didn’t occur to me until now, but no one asked about Damian. They must already know his decision. That made sense since Damian told Ryder how to free me from the house. The vampire must have contacted the Cosan the second he left and made sure they would come find me. Why my brain was having problems reconciling this information, I wasn’t sure.
“What time is it?” I asked, breaking the sudden awkward silence.
“After three thirty,” Gypsy answered. “Do you feel the ancestors?”
I shook my head. “No, nothing.”
She sighed softly. “Me either. Not since I arrived. This is bad.”
The witching hour was here and neither me or Gypsy were showing any increase in power or ability. In fact, I was nearly stripped of my magic and I sensed she was also weakened. How would we enter the fade and retrieve my essence if Roman blocked us or the ancestors were unable to connect?
“Your aunt mentioned this could happen.” Gabe’s voice was close to my right. “She said they will continue their rituals and beseech the ancestors to lend extra strength.”
That was fine in theory, except we weren’t noticing any help. Worse, if this was the most power the ancestors, my aunt, and Willow could offer – we were screwed.
* * *
“We need another anchor,” Gypsy announced. “How about the house, Cass?”
“Nope. It’s spelled, remember? No magic inside of any kind.”
“Shit,” she cursed.
Autumn’s voice was close to Gypsy and matched the blur with red hair. “Agreed. We need a plan.”
“Anyone have an idea? Because I’m kind of flying blind here.” Okay, bad joke.
Gabe snorted next to me as I sensed his wolf ready to pounce with anxiety. “Not funny, little Raven. You’re becoming worse by the minute.”
I didn’t think that was an accurate statement. By the minute was a little extreme. Maybe by the hour?
The silence in my head punctuated Damian’s departure. I missed his snark and sarcastic comments. His constant voice in my mind had become second nature. The loss of it left a void that couldn’t be filled.
A hand reached for mine and squeezed. “You’ll be fine, Cassie. I can spirit walk with you once we’re in the fade. This vision problem won’t matter.”
Well, that was a relief.
I sort of forgot how different the fade was in comparison to reality.
“What of the Demented?” Autumn asked.
“They aren’t the only problem,” Kane added.
Karter chimed in. “Soul Eaters are as much of a threat if not more.”
“We’ll deal with each threat as it comes. No point in worrying about it until then.”
I shot Sebastian a grateful look in the direction I heard his voice. He must be standing close to Gypsy.
“We still need another anchor, preferably one close to this location since we have to return after. Gwen and Willow and the ancestors are powerful, but the distance is a problem. Since we’re here in Romania it makes sense that we have another human anchor with magic experience. Any volunteers?”
Kane and Karter both shouted enthusiastically.
“I’ll stay,” Kayde offered as my heart sank. “It’s probably best.”
Best? For who?
Gabriel’s loud growl echoed across the yard before I heard a loud thud.
“What’s happening?” I asked, practically screeching the words.
“Gabe tackled Kayde and they’re wrestling on the ground. I think the wolf can take him,” Sebastian remarked with a laugh. “Then again, Kayde is pretty decent at using anti-magic to force his opponent away.”
Another thud landed close to my feet and I jumped as something brushed against my leg. “It’s only me, sweetheart.” Gabriel let out a groan as I felt him rise and an arm circle my waist, tugging me close against his side. “You’re being an ass, Kayde. Knock off the bullshit. We discussed this before we left.”
“I’m not in your little Cosan, so fuck off, Gabriel.”
What? Since when?
“Excuse me?” I asked, my voice more emotional than I intended. “You’re not with us anymore?”
Not with me?
“I agreed to come to ensure Cassandra regains the lost portion of her soul. The longer we linger, the more impossible that task will be.” Cassandra, not Cassie.
He completely ignored my question. Pissed, I reacted with magic.
“Silencia ingento imprisonte!”
Sometimes the best spells were spoken in the ancient language of my ancestors.
Kayde roared his displeasure as I stood my ground, facing him in fury as I felt him kneel at my feet. The spell automatically drew the intended subjects together and separated everyone else. “Release me from this spell before I accidentally hurt you, princess,” he replied, his own anger evident.
“Don’t presume to threaten me, Kayde. You can use all the anti-magic you want but it will take a considerable amount of time, effort, and strength. Until I am satisfied with your response, I will keep you imprisoned within this sphere.”
I’d used an old but powerful spell that forced me and Kayde into a bubble of protection that didn’t allow sound, magic, thoughts, or anything else to pass in or out of its barrier. Everyone could see us, but they couldn’t hear us or intervene. We’d have a small amount of privacy.
“Tell me why you’re behaving like this.”
He kept silent.
“Now!” I yelled, my voice booming so loud it rippled across the thin filmy exterior of the sphere.
“I won’t do this!” he shouted, his voice betraying a hint of agony.
“Do what?”
“Watch you suffer and die. I can't. I won’t, Cassandra.”
Didn’t we cover all of this before? “You have so little faith in me.” I sighed, hating that he had closed himself off from me so quickly and didn’t think I was strong enough to handle the threats against the Salem bloodlines. As much as that hurt I didn’t want someone in my circle who didn’t believe in me. I’d rather he walked away. “If you want to be released, then go. I won’t stop you, Kayde. We’ve discussed this on multiple occasions. You’re either in or out.”
I sensed his hesitancy and it bothered me far worse than I let on.
“I’ll stay here and help,” he answered quietly, “but when your essence is safe and you’re no longer in danger –”
“You’re leaving,” I whispered, cutting him off.
“Yes. It’s for the best.”
That was the second time he said that.
The words were total bullshit, but I refused to beg or reduce myself to a weak and pathetic mess.
“Done.”
My hand cut a slice through the air as the barrier evaporated and I turned to the others, lifting my chin.
“What’s going on?” Gypsy asked as I heard the worry in her tone.
“Kayde will stay behind as our anchor in Romania. We travel to the fade as soon as everyone is ready.”
No one said a word, but the tension was so thick I swear I could see it with blind eyes.
Chapter 6
“Anyone else who is having second thoughts, I need to know now.”
No one answered.
“Good, then I think we should all be ready to leave.”
“Not quite, babe.” Gypsy’s voice was low but held a note of amusement. “I brought the necessities. We need about
five minutes.”
“Necessities?” I asked as she approached.
“War paint, cousin. We need to camouflage a little for the fade.”
“How much did you bring?” Gypsy had enough makeup to paint every face in Mystic Hallows at least a dozen times. If she brought it all . . . we’d be here for hours.
“You have to plan for these things. I’m always prepared.”
Autumn laughed lightly. “Cassie, she literally has all of the Day of the Dead makeup from home. Every Samhain kit we could find before we left.”
Shaking my head, I couldn’t help but be amused. “Alright, hurry up. I can feel my restless soul begging me to join her in the fade. Seriously, I’m only giving you ten minutes.”
The laughter faded as Gypsy and my friends plastered one another in black and white colors matching the traditional Samhain costumes. I didn’t need to see to know what they were doing. It had been the same every night since October first when the celebration began. Gypsy chanted a few words and I felt the fabric of my clothes change as new, clean, and dry material graced my frame.
“Thanks, Gyps.”
“We’re ready for war now,” Gypsy observed, squeezing my shoulder. “Let’s go kick some ass. Everyone ready?”
A chorus of confirmation reached my ears.
“Cassie, I have something for you.”
She placed a cool metal object in the palm of my hand, her hand resting over mine. “It’s an enchanted pocket watch that will help us keep track of time in the fade. It’s spelled for our use.”
“Awesome!”
“Just don’t lose it. Mom said it was the only way in and out of the fade.”
I nodded, gripping it tighter with my fingers as she pressed it into my hand and released.
“She also gave us a spell to pass through the fade’s thin veil and one to use when you find your soul.” Gypsy handed me a piece of paper and read the contents aloud as I memorized the few words that I needed.