Illusion

by C. L. Roman

  "You would not."

  She didn't argue, just gripped his hand tighter. "Let it go, beloved. It is past and cannot be undone. And it was not without benefit."

  He turned her palm over and studied the new marks there. "Sabaoth's gift?"

  She nodded. "Weather, the ability to call and control it."

  "And what of your other scars?" He brushed a hand over her heart.

  "They are what they were, no more, no less. I am alive, beloved, and I am blessed to spend that life with you. I have no complaints."

  "I'm not sure the same can be said for Conroy and your friend, Delaney." Jotun's voice tightened and she glanced up at him.

  "You don't have to worry about Cole," she said, and new joy lit her features. "Freya was able to send him help. Jotun, you will never guess who she sent."

  A bemused smile touched his lips. "Who?"

  "Danae. Freya knows where and when they are."

  Surprise jolted through his chest and he pulled her into his arms. "We will go to them. Soon. Maybe Fomor will know where the rest have landed." He kissed her. "I'm still worried about Conroy though. Molek wants him dead and he has no way to defend himself or his family."

  A frown creased her forehead. "I may have a way to give him that. When I was...when I met him, Ahba said I would need to share my gift. He said I would do that "through blood and stone." It took me awhile, but I think I know what he meant." She opened a pouch at her waist and pulled out a ring. If I give him this, he will have the power to defend himself. Even from Molek."

  He stared at her. "You cannot mean to give a human power over the weather? He could tear the foundations of nature apart."

  "Well, no, not all of the weather. It was only one drop of blood after all. It doesn't carry that much power. But when Surt attacked me, I grabbed the security guard's Taser and used it on him. If I hadn’t, he would have killed us."

  Jotun frowned. "So this ring gives the wearer power over...?"

  "I focused very hard on lightening. One of the few natural forces strong enough to make a demon back down."

  "Does it work?"

  She shrugged. "I don't know for sure. There’s been no way to test it."

  Jotun thought it over for a few moments. "Why not just tell him to get a stun gun and arm his guards with them as well?"

  Her mouth set in a hard line. "It’s the difference between around 50,000 volts and upwards of a billion. A stunner might knock a demon down. Lightning will destroy him."

  Jotun’s eyes widened but he didn’t argue with her. "It should work. At the very least it would give him time to call for help."

  "The ring will work for that too. Any time he uses it, I'll know."

  Surprise lit his features. "And how did you find that out?"

  She grinned. "Loki's fault. I left it in my room and he tried to steal it." A bubble of laughter escaped her. "He was furious because it wouldn't work for him. Apparently you have to have human blood in your veins to use it."

  "Clever as well as brave," he said.

  "I do not feel brave. When we were in the Shift fighting Surt, I was terrified."

  He snuffed out a laugh. "Not that I noticed. Gwyneth, you have to promise me that you will never do that again."

  "Do what?" She turned guileless eyes upon him, but her fingers whitened around the ring.

  "Do not play the innocent. You know what I'm talking about. Did you think I couldn't not defend myself?"

  "I did not think at all." She pushed to her feet and paced away from him, the tall grass swishing with her passage. "I saw you in danger. I moved to stop it. Would you have done any different?"

  "Of course not, but that is not the same thing. I am —"

  "Male? What difference does that make? Can a woman not defend her beloved as well as a man?"

  "I was going to say a warrior, bred and trained. And an angel, do not forget. Look what he had already done to you? How could you think you would prevail?"

  Her voice was thick with repressed tears as she replied. "If he destroyed you, what difference would it make if I lost my life as well? I can survive without you if I must, though I do not call it living. But I could not stand aside and watch you die. You have no right to ask it of me."

  He swallowed hard and searched for an argument that would convince her, but found none. Finally, he nodded and put it away. "So, you included a tracker in the ring?"

  A choked laugh escaped her. "That part wasn't me. I think Sabaoth built that safeguard in. But, I knew right away who had it and where he was."

  "Do you mean it spoke to you, somehow?"

  "No," her brow crinkled. "Not like Sena does. I just...knew."

  "Like Sena does?" He leaned away from her. "Sena is here?" Jotun lurched to his feet, dragging Gwyneth with him. "How did you find her?"

  "Her heart is here. That's where I got the idea for the ring. I sealed the stone in this ring with a drop of my own blood and —"

  "I understand," he said impatiently. "Explain about Sena."

  "On our way out of Niflheim, Loki stole a necklace, only he couldn’t carry it, so he tossed it to me." She filled him in on the rest, ending with, "So now I have Sena's amulet, only Loki calls it Brisinger. Jotun, he doesn't know Sena is inside. He just knows that Lucky wants the necklace back and he thinks if he has it, it will give him some leverage."

  "Where is the pendant now?" Jotun was marching toward Freya's home, moving so fast that Gwyneth was hard pressed to keep up, despite his fingers clamped around her wrist.

  "She is in my room. Loki has been trying to steal it back ever since you left. Since he is so good at picking pockets, I thought she would be safer there. Jotun, what's wrong?"

  They were running as they passed through the palace doors and in few turns they were standing outside her apartment.

  "After I let him go, Loki was headed toward the guest rooms," Jotun said. "I thought he was going to nurse his wounded pride in private, but..." he trailed off as he tested the door.

  Gwyneth gave a sigh of relief. "See," she said. "It's still locked. Everything is fine."

  "Show me." Jotun's lips were a thin, bloodless line as he watched her unlock the door and close it behind them. She pushed a chest away from the end of the bed and pulled up a section of carpet, then a wood lathe, from the floor. Underneath was a small chest.

  "You put her in there?" Jotun protested.

  "She said it was the best way. She isn't really aware of time passing when she isn't being worn. And she finds it tiring, after a while, to interact with..." She searched for the right word. "Us, people with bodies." Gwyneth pulled the chest out and set it on the bed. Taking a small, brass key from the pouch at her waist, she inserted it in the lock and flipped the lid open.

  The key fell from nerveless fingers, hitting the floor with a faint ping. The velvet lined casket was empty

  DEDICATION

  Every year over 34,000 people commit suicide and millions more suffer under the burden of mental illness. This is a public health cataclysm that our culture chooses, in large part, to ignore. This “invisible” ailment does untold harm to individuals and the families that love them. Because of the stigma and fear often associated with mental and emotional illness, it takes great courage for those impacted not only to acknowledge the issue, but to seek treatment.

  And yet, in their search for wellness, millions do.

  If you are one of them, this book is dedicated to you.

  You are a true hero

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Writing is an art. Art does not happen in a vacuum, nor is any work completed, regardless of the solitude of the artist, alone. A large part of the credit for this book belongs to the helping hands of Tracy Roberts, my editor. If it wasn’t for you, none of my work would ever have seen print. Thank you.

  Illusion would never have made it into the light without the love and encouragement of my husband and family. Thank you for the doors that stayed closed, the cup that stayed full, the chocolate that miraculously appear
ed. Thank you for the smiles and the reading and the love. Thank you for the gift of you.

  NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:

  I hope you enjoyed reading Illusion. Creating these characters and learning their stories is an ongoing, great adventure. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

  If you liked reading Illusion as much as I did writing it, may I make a small request? Please take a moment to visit the platform of your choice and leave a review. Your honest opinion goes a long way toward letting other readers know about the best a book has to offer.

  For more on how the Nephilim came into being, check out Descent (now free on all platforms) and Sacrifice.

  I also invite you to visit me at The Brass Rag.

  Meanwhile, may health and happiness follow you always.

  Best,

  C.L. Roman

  Other books by C.L. Roman

  Descent:

  When Captain Fomor leads six angelic warriors to Earth in an attempt to escape the war in Heaven, not only do they unwittingly set into motion the age of legends, but they must face an inescapable evil that threatens to destroy them, the humans they fall in love with and the Earth itself.

  Sacrifice:

  With her marriage shattered and countless lives hanging in the balance, Shahara must make a devastating choice. Can she survive her decision, or will victory require the ultimate sacrifice?

  Earth & Fire:

  In this collection of short stories, the characters ignore the truth at their peril. Physical bodies and eternal destinies are altered. Vengeance is plotted and love is found. Whether they are witches, pixies, bards or con-men, everyone bends to the law of unintended consequences

  First Candidate:

  Julian “Juju” Ramirez has one goal, take care of his little brother, Terry. And he thinks he has the perfect means to that end. But at Forsythe High nothing is what it seems. Can Julian unravel the secrets before it’s too late? This paranormal young adult adventure treads the desperate, dangerous line between doing what we must and doing what is right.

  About the Author

  Cheri Roman is a writer in several genres. She loves writing and thrives on the constant pursuit of chocolate. Cheri lives happily with her husband and Jack E. Boy, the super-Chihuahua, in the not-so-wilds of North Florida.