I passed Zola the shard. “Capture the tokoloshe. You need the other three pieces to re-imprison it. I must trust you to do that.”
“Yes, mistress,” she said and bowed.
“What happened?” Killian demanded, stumbling out of the cage.
“There’s no time to talk. I must head back to the power plant. You take care of things here, and I’m going after Tauris.”
“Like hell you’re going alone,” Killian rebutted.
“You can’t expect to do it alone,” Claudine said.
“I don’t. Whoever wants to, can come with me, but Tauris is mine.”
“Then travel the way the Order does.” Killian removed a stone from his pocket, the travel rune, like Alistair often used. “Clasp hands.”
The five—Killian, Claudine, Rose, and Drac, and I— all did as we were told, and in the blink of an eye, we materialized at the rusted plant’s gates, hearing Alistair’s tortured screams.
Chapter 24
Leslie
Right as I sought to kick in the gate, Drac stopped me.
“Leslie, keep your bearings around you. Let me take a look so I can see what we are up against.”
He had more experience in all of this than I did. The more information we had, the more it increased our chance of being able to walk out of this mess alive.
Although lore said he could shapeshift, I found it interesting that he closed his eyes. “What is he doing?” I asked for clarity.
“Drac can’t shapeshift, but he can see through the eyes of any susceptible animals around.”
Hmph. I learned something new every day. The lore was wrong.
“Lore is something I can always control, sort of like the tabloids. But I have answers. I fear that these people are in harm’s way, but they know it not. There are a few shifters mixed in between, but most are humans.”
It was one thing to battle supernaturals and another to battle humans.
Every creature smelled a certain way, cast a certain aura; sort of like the way you could tell if someone ate too much garlic the night before.
“Don’t rush in.” Killian interjected. “It could be a trap that will make things worse. Calm down, take a deep breath and follow through with your training. You are stronger than you know, braver than you’ve ever been.”
“We go in to save Alistair, but we have to let the humans live,” Rose warned. “If something happens to the humans, there will be more than trouble coming our way.”
The fear of being outed was always there.
“Rose, can you conjure something up?”
She nodded and went over to the moist dirt, dug through it some, and came back with a large black spider. It crawled over her hand. “Will this do?”
I wondered what she’d do with that, when I saw her reach into her coat pocket, pull out a vial of white powder and sprinkle it on the Arachne.
“Howling winds, bring dust, and might create the hydra for man to fight.” She then placed the spider in a plastic bottle to keep it safe, and so it would land where she wanted, and tossed it over the gate. Then the bottle broke.
It didn’t take long before the illusion started, and a large spider scampered forward, leading the charge.
We waited until we heard the humans hooting, hollering, shouting, and scuttling away. It was the easiest way to clear out at least some of the humans there.
“Your task, Leslie, is to get to Alistair, got it?” Rose deadpanned.
All eyes fell on me.
All I could think about was that I was the quarterback, and they the linemen to make sure I made it to the end zone. “They are preparing him now. Hurry.”
As one unit we moved forward, with Drac and Killian to the left and right, Rose in the front middle, and Claudine bringing up the rear.
However, once Rose kicked in the door, we broke off and I, on vampire speed, headed down to Alistair.
It was worse than I thought. Hanging upside down, like at a butcher shop, wrapped in chains and green tarragon, Alistair squirmed.
How was that possible? What could hold back a dragon?
“Leslie,” he called. “Watch out.”
I barely ducked when a baseball bat was swung at my head.
The baseball bat banged against the wall, and the bat’s wielder was as expected, Delphine.
“You didn’t think about taking away our salvation, did you?” she asked. Unlike previously when we’d talked, she’d been sane. I guessed hanging out with insane people loosened mental nuts and bolts.
“You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“Of course I do. He stands in the way of our freedom; us being out, proud and free.” She still advanced on me. “Do you know how hard it is to sit back and watch us lose more and more territory and ground to humans? They are the plague of the earth, but if we could get rid of them, we could save all of the other species. But we need to be out to get them in line. They need to fear us and the power we wield.”
“The magic is only possible because of the humans. It’s an ecosystem of energy, prayer, and the universe’s luck that can create magic. It’s when philosophy and science meet to create alchemy. You’d doom everything by revealing us.”
“You bought into their lies, Leslie. I thought you were smarter than that. Don’t you see? Nothing can stop us. Not even you.”
I turned to see Dolph with a go-pro camera on his head, recording everything.
“Now it’s time for action,” Dolph ordered.
And like that, Delphine leaped over me. Finding the soft spot on Alistair’s neck, , she sliced, and his blood sprayed out.
Alistair's chains shook and rattled. How were they keeping him in his manly form?
Dragonwort, Alistair mentally said. Remove it from me and I can change.
Dragonwort or tarragon was his one weakness.
However, this weakness I did not have. With magic around me, I could siphon it, to wield it.
Drac was there, and he could produce fire. A fire would make some badass explosions and get these two wolves away.
I focused on the heat, the rage, the darkness of what it meant to be me. There in the back of my mind was a box beckoning me to open it and let it loose.
Mentally reaching into this toolbox, shuffling around, I found an arsenal of things, and landed on that of fire.
“Drac, fire please,” I whispered, and watched as my arms and hands lit up, my skin bubbled and cracked. I had enough to light up the tarragon, and hopefully Alistair had enough energy to break through those chains.
Sending a burst of fire at him, I heard him scream and continued with all that I could until I heard chains rattle, and out of those flames, a large black dragon took shape. Its large wings flapped, and its hungry mouth snapped at the two wolves.
The red light on Dolph’s camera was still lit up, and thus being broadcast to all who wished to see it online.
Shit on a stick! I’d deal with that later. I instead turned to the two wolves responsible for all of this betrayal. “Why did you do this?”
“We have a right to live free,” Delphine started, but Alistair didn’t let her finish. With one large burst of flames, he burnt them both to a crisp.
It wasn’t enough to be rid of them, though. Where was Tauris?
The overhead white movie screen turned on, and Tauris’ voice filled the room. “Dearest Order, you have done nothing but provide me with the tools to defeat you. How long will it take before the Order crumbles?”
The video scratched, skipped, and then ended.
“Dammit to hell, Tauris was never here?” Claudine asked.
“But even from a distance, he was close enough to do this damage.”
“So it was Dolph at the clearing wearing Tauris’s identity? But why, why go through all of this trouble to pretend to be him?”
“Because it changed the propaganda narrative. Now the Order looks incompetent, all on video.” Killian grabbed the camera off the floor and held it up. The light was still red, recording
everything we’d said and done.
The Order was in for a beating!
Chapter 25
Alistair
Now, aching, Alistair was ready to call it a night, even if it meant back at the compound in the horny frat house.
Cradling his cellphone, Alistair listened to Killian’s final update.
“Zola captured the tokoloshe, and he is now in our custody,” Killian said with a yawn. “Excuse me.”
“No apologies necessary. It has been quite a rigorous night.”
“Yes, after checking the grounds, and calling in for Beau’s wolves. It took most of the night to clean the plant out. The mummies located are still alive, including Brock.”
Alistair released the pent up sigh he didn’t know he’d been holding. He cared about all in his care, and hated that the rogues were growing.
“Sethos said we arrived in time, just barely, but rescue still came.”
With proper medical assistance, maybe the road to recovery wouldn’t be too arduous.
“Brock and the others have been transferred to Sethos’ care. He will have a report as to their recovery tomorrow after a full examination.”
“And the women behind all of this? We’ve settled the present threat. but those connected to the rogues must be dealt with too.” As surely as he knew this was just one skirmish of many forthcoming, he also was aware that there must be a rogue network within. Someone inside was using the Order and its subjects, finding weaknesses to exploit.
“Brock mentioned three women, but they weren’t recovered at the scene.”
Like a guillotine’s blade waiting, they too were out there.
“Whoa, cowboy, we need to talk,” Leslie said, pulling on him.
He could feel the adrenaline still pumping through her system, see the slight shake of her body.
“Yes, we do. You did a great job coming to my rescue.”
He took Leslie's dirty hand and intertwined his fingers with hers.
“No, I fear I made some horrible mistakes along the way that almost cost us everything.”
“We have all night to talk about these things.” What might happen if she didn’t know how he felt since he’d never acted on it? “But this cannot wait. Please forgive me,” he said and pulled Leslie into his embrace and kissed her.
She pulled away, eyes round in shock, only to slowly lean forward. Her hand cupped his cheek, her lips, soft, barely grazed his.
Tentative, burdened, she placed her head on his chest. He felt her tears through his shirt and bundled her in his arms. Her shoulders shook, and silently she sobbed.
He waited for her to step back.
“That was not the reaction I’d hoped for,” Alistair stumbled. “One too many movies on my part.”
“I almost lost you today. “She shook her head. “I wish you could kiss me and wash away the night’s events, but tonight was almost deadly. I should never have tried. I made things worse, and now the Order could collapse because of my mistakes.”
“Leslie, stop it. You saved me. No matter how you put it, how you want to twist the story, you saved me. Sure, you have to learn what it means to embrace your powers. I can’t do that for you, nor can I show you the intricate ways to connect with that, but I can give you the tools and skill set. I can’t save you from yourself.”
“From myself? Is that who I need saving from?”
“It is like you have a bullseye on your back. Wherever you go, trouble follows.”
What should have morphed into his declaration of love erupted into a fight. “Listen to me, woman. I’m trying to save the woman I love by giving her the tools to survive. I can’t always be there, so I need you to know how to fight back, and sometimes save me, too.”
She stopped yelling. “Did you say, love? You don’t even know me, Alistair.”
“And that is what relationships are all about. I want to spend time with you and find those things out, wake up with you, and discover what it means to be Leslie Love, outside of your fictional account of me.”
He watched her face redden. “You’ve been reading my books?”
“I’m your number one fan.”
Epilogue
Leslie
“I can’t believe you went to take care of the bad guy without me,” Gran said, tossing all of her clothes into an attaché case.
“I can’t believe I did it, either.” Saga danced between my feet, and I reached down to stroke my familiar.
“And how is Alistair dealing with the social media and yellow press?”
“It’s been pretty simple since Beau and the Order have so many connections, but it’s caused rumbles within the community from all that I’ve overheard.
“I don’t think the video evidence was for the general public, but for those in the supernatural community, to convince them of Alistair’s and the queen’s inability to lead. It’s another way to attack them. But also, to break unsolid alliances.”
“You’re talking about Rose now?” Gran asked.
I didn’t want to say anymore. So far, Rose had been informed by the Queen that Alistair’s alliance with the Fae was nulled, as he couldn’t make such an alliance because he wasn’t in charge. The alliance would, therefore, need to be with the queen directly.
“How did Rose take it?” Gran continued to prod.
“Ask her. She seems to be friendly and helpful enough. The Order is open to all of the supernatural persuasion who wish to be under its flag. I don’t ever want to push someone out. This is her place and we’d be a lot weaker without her.”
“You like her?”
“She’s my friend, and I like and trust her, yes,” I said.
I hoped it wouldn’t be something I’d regret saying, as trust was something earned, but whenever I needed Rose, she showed up and gave her all to make things right. We’d come a long way since our first meeting, for sure.
“Well, if you’re finished here, we need to catch that cab to the airport. For the life of me, I don’t understand why you didn’t leave with Alistair and his traveling runes.”
“And not make this into a girl’s trip? What fun would that be?”
That was when Imogen, Claudine, and Rose entered the room carrying suitcases, too.
“Come on, ladies, we can’t be late.”
“Is Drac going to be okay with your leaving for so long?” Imogen asked.
“Girl, Drac is already talking about me calling him and his appearing. I don’t think my vampire is going anywhere.”
No matter what tomorrow may bring, I had two things I was leaving New York with that I didn’t have before: love in my heart and a sisterhood of kickass women.
Watch out world, the girls of the Order were coming to play, and this time, we weren’t taking prisoners.
Taurus
In his underground headquarters built in an industrial building, Tauris stood at attention before the large looking glass mirror, while Opal and her two sisters awaited his next orders from the sofa. The two wolf pups had delivered as promised, may they rest in pieces.
“You are right, Tauris. This leadership is inept. Why did you not just walk in and take over?” Ásgeirr sat trapped on the other side. “It would behoove you to make plans, and this time better ones. Good leadership is hard to find, but you, too, are replaceable, dear boy.”
“I will not let you down.”
She clicked her tongue. “We want the crown, and that means getting her out of her realm, away from the safety net of the Order, and then this world and more will be mine to rule, and you shall sit at my right hand.”
“As you will, my Queen.”
“Next time, you shall not fail me, or it will be your last time.”
“We shall not fail, as they have a betrayer in their midst and know nothing of it.”
“Very well, dear child, very well.”
* * *
***THIS IS NOT THE END***
Leslie must find her courage, her voice, her fire to survive a dance with the devil.
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Acknowledgments
A Personal Note from Tina
I was a preemie, born two months early and weighing less than a bag of flour.
Doctors didn't think I would make it.
My mom went into shock from blood loss and had to have a transfusion, and life became one big battle.
While having coffee this morning, I realized how everything life had thrown my way over the years has compounded to allow me to tell stories, to weave together brokenness and shards into tantalizing tales.
All of the seeds of hope sprinkled throughout the years have created a beautiful field of wildflowers that bloom. How is it possible that all of those moments have created a daisy chain, a crown which I wear on my head to make the fantastical?
Be it my connection to the Brothers Grimm -- I studied at the university they taught at in Germany, to the fairy tale highway, to that of German and the Norse/Germanic gods, to Latin and Hebrew.
To combine my training and education and travels (my struggles and triumphs -- be it learning Hebrew, traveling in underground tunnels in Israel, dipping my toes in the Mediterranean). To all now culminate in fashioning tales that combine all of my life's experiences--these seeds-- to be beautiful.
Three Little Words Page 13