“Nasty.” She looked up at him, eyes shining like obsidian behind her glasses.
“What can you tell?” Maya put her hand on Liv’s other arm.
“Let’s sit down.” She nodded at Seawitch. “I think she can probably tell what’s going on round her. To a certain extent, anyway. Let’s go back to the other room.”
Rann brought her some tea and a couple of biscuits from the kitchen, and she sank onto one of the sofas, letting out a soft breath. Annis sat beside her, with Maya and Jewel opposite.
Jewel sensed the impatience radiating from Maya, but she did a good job of hiding it. It was likely no one else noticed. Rann handed the mug of tea to Liv then squeezed between Maya and Jewel. Liv sipped the drink, put it down, and then nibbled on a biscuit. Her skin still had a grayish tinge to it, and Jewel wondered what made her do this sort of thing for strangers. There had to be easier ways of earning a living.
“All right.” She picked her tea cup up, rotated it between her hands, put it down again, and pushed her glasses back from where they’d slipped to the tip of her nose. “She’s drenched in death magic.”
“Yes.” Rann leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. “When my mother found her, she was poisoning the sea dwellers near her.”
“It should have leaked away by now.” Liv pushed her glasses up again. “The fact that it hasn’t means there’s some powerful stuff holding it in place.” She waited, but no one said anything, so she carried on. “I don’t know anyone who could do that nowadays. I don’t like to think about the sort of practitioner who would do it.”
“You don’t recognise the signature then?” Annis interrupted.
“No.” Liv shook her head. “If it’s what I think it is, then any original signature will be overwritten by now. Undetectable. There’s a faint whiff of more than one practitioner as well. The poor creature’s been badly abused.”
“So what do you think it is?” The calm in Rann’s voice couldn’t hide the impatience radiating from him. Where his body touched Jewel’s, it was rigid with tension.
“I hope I’m wrong.” She lifted the tea to her mouth again but put it down untasted. “I think you have a dark master.”
“A what?” Rann’s puzzled tone matched Jewel’s confusion.
Maya’s brow creased. “What on earth’s a dark master?”
Annis’s face had gone pale. “You must be wrong.”
“I hope so, but I don’t think so.” Liv sighed. “There’s a streak in the magic. Unclean. Very deep. I’ve never encountered one before, but I learned the signature when I chose this path.”
“But what is one?” Jewel glanced at Rann, who lifted one shoulder in a shrug.
“A dark master is a first-level mage who has gone rogue, and practised death, blood, dark ritual.” Liv shuddered. “And tapped the earth’s magic to up his own power.”
“Like Alberic?”
“Alberic?”
“A rogue mage who is living with my mother.”
“I don’t think so.” Liv shook her head. “A dark master would have gathered a group of adherents round him. They amplify his power and help him with rituals and sacrifices. I think you’d have noticed if that sort of magic was being practiced here. Rather like someone using a nuclear bomb.”
“So that’s bad?”
“I’m beginning to sympathise with Lykos,” Rann muttered. “About witches.”
“It’s very bad.” Liv ignored Rann and spoke to Annis. “You’ve obviously heard something.”
“A dark master uses death and blood to pull magic from the earth.” Annis’s face was still pale. “They tap into the source directly and use their circle to store and channel the power. It’s twisted, though, by the pain and fear that drags it out. Most of the dark circle burn out very quickly, and the masters find it difficult to replace them.”
“They tend to use prisoners and involuntary recruits for storage.” Liv rubbed her nose, knocking her glasses sideways. She pushed them back. “I think that’s what’s happened to your seawitch. She’s been used as a repository and spelled so she can’t escape.”
“So what was she doing in the middle of the Indian Ocean?” Rann’s face set like stone. “Could that be where this dirty magician is practicing his tricks? In my kingdom?”
Liv shrugged. “I don’t know that. I’d guess someone took her there and left her. Why? I haven’t a clue.”
“So this person is dangerous?” Maya shuffled forward to perch on the edge of the sofa.
“Very.” Annis shuddered. “The art of dark mastery was practised centuries ago in some covens, but it died out. Probably because few practitioners were prepared to make the personal sacrifices needed to reach that level. Then it became forbidden. Even the texts describing it were destroyed.”
“But the seawitch?” Rann persisted. “Can we reverse what was done to her?”
Annis looked at Liv, who shook her head thoughtfully. “I don’t know. There’s probably a way. We need to know which spell was used to bind her, and we need to be able to disperse the death magic safely.” She pushed her glasses into position. “But that’s your problem. I think I need to spread the word to the covens that we have a dark master on the rise.” She pushed herself to her feet, and Maya rose with her. “I’m sorry if I can’t be more helpful. I’ll send the bill to Annis.”
“Wait.” Jewel had another question.
Liv tilted her head in inquiry.
“Is that why she’s catatonic?”
“I don’t think so. That’s the fainter signature. Someone else did that to her. I’ll see what I can find out.” She bit her lip. “It’s the least of your problems, though. Just a nuisance for her.”
She hurried from the room, followed by Maya.
Jewel and Rann looked at each other then at Annis.
“Let’s hope Damnam has some idea what to do.” Rann rubbed his forehead. “If he can’t help, I’m going to have to kill her.”
Chapter 18
The door slammed in the hallway, and Maya strode back into the room.
“Well.” She looked round brightly. “That was a bit disturbing.”
Jewel glanced sideways at Rann. He stared ahead, lost in thought.
“You’ve no idea.” The colour still hadn’t returned to Annis’s face. “The dark masters in the past have been stronger than any of the first level mages and witches. And once they’ve channelled earth magic? They’ve got no limits to what they are willing to do. Not like coven members who are oath bound. And they almost always go mad.”
“Poor thing.” Jewel rubbed her face. “If she really does know what’s happening to her. We’ve got to do something.”
“How do you know so much about them?” Maya addressed Annis. “There was no mention of this sort of magic in the teachings we young witches received.”
“I make a point of finding out things.” Annis looked down. “I’m a finder. I specialise in information. It’s my job.”
“What do you think the covens will do?” The thought of this malevolence being out in the world made Jewel’s stomach churn.
“Nothing.” Maya snorted. “At least if they’re anything like ours.”
“I think there’ll be some action taken,” Annis said. “I think this is something the covens will take very seriously. It’s a stain that can spread.” She rose to her feet. “I should go. I’ll send word round the covens. Add my voice to Liv’s.” Maya followed her out of the room.
Jewel watched them leave before turning to Rann. “Did you understand any of that?”
He shook his head. “It doesn’t get us any closer to fixing her. And I don’t like the fact that she was found in my waters.”
“What will you do?”
“I don’t know.” Rann closed his eyes and rested his
head against the back of the sofa. “I hope I haven’t got some powerful, insane, and uncontrollable mage rampaging about in my ocean.” He rubbed his forehead again.
Jewel looked at him more closely. His normally relaxed face showed signs of tension. Faint lines had formed between his brows, and his sensual mouth made a straight line.
“I really hope I’m not going to have to kill her.” He took a deep breath. “It would be such a waste after all this effort.”
Maya came back into the room and flopped down onto the opposite sofa. “What would be a waste?”
Jewel shrugged.
“Killing Seawitch.” Rann’s tone was sharper than Jewel had ever heard it. “Without finding out who used her and why and how and where . . .” His voice trailed off.
Maya grimaced. “I’ll call Lila.” She pulled her cell phone from her pocket. “She’ll want to know about this.”
Jewel closed her eyes and listened to Maya’s end of the short conversation. It was terse and uninformative, but eventually Maya finished the call. “She’s coming round.”
“Now?” Jewel was surprised. After all, Lila wasn’t really involved in all this. Jewel had assumed she and Lykos had come from Scotland to find out more about Fergal.
“She’ll be here in half an hour.”
“Lykos too?” Jewel asked.
“No.” Maya gestured at Rann. “He suggested you meet him at the hotel. He said something about witches and trouble and not wanting to lose his temper.” She scowled. “I hope he’s not planning to stick his nose into coven business.”
Rann raised his eyebrows but uncoiled his body from the sofa. “See you later.” He headed for the door and looked back at Jewel. “Don’t do anything rash.”
Maya waited until he left. “I think Lila wants to talk about the rituals,” she said. “She’s interested in what Liv had to say, of course, but really she wants to talk about your problem with Kara and Alberic. How you’ll go about forming a circle.”
The doorbell chimed.
“I’ll get it.” Maya leapt to her feet. “Lila must have sprinted all the way.”
Jewel rose and stretched her arms above her head. She heard Maya’s voice in the hallway and stiffened as a familiar female voice answered her. Her stomach clenched. Why’s my mother here? She stepped towards the door, hesitating mid-stride, as a male voice joined the conversation.
Maya’s normally mobile features held no expression as she led the visitors into the sitting room.
Kara wore yet another one of her perfectly tailored business suits. Jewel’s eyes flew to her waistline, which looked a little thicker than usual, but if Jewel hadn’t known about the baby, she would have assumed it was normal aging. Alberic loomed behind her, a lean, menacing figure in a long wool overcoat.
“We have visitors.” Maya pulled a discrete face at Jewel. “Kara and Albert.”
“Alberic.” The mage glowered at her.
“Oh right.” Maya smirked. “I keep forgetting.”
Jewel shot a warning glance at her.
“Jewel.” Kara nodded at her daughter, making no attempt to hide the disdain on her face.
“Mother.” Jewel looked up from her mother’s midriff. “What are you doing here?” As far as she knew, Kara had never been to the flat before. Even in her younger days, she had expected people to come to her rather than the other way round.
Kara didn’t reply. She focussed on Maya. “I believe you called on me yesterday. I was otherwise engaged. I heard you were quite keen to talk to me.” Her mouth smiled, but her eyes were icy.
“That’s right.” Maya nodded. “Albert said you were busy with teaching duties.”
“I was.”
Where Kara’s eyes were arctic, Maya’s reminded Jewel of gold fire.
“There were a few things I needed to ask you, but I think we should wait until Lila arrives. She was with me yesterday.”
“Lila?” Kara glanced at Alberic.
Jewel watched Maya’s fists clench.
Alberic shrugged. “I forgot she was there as well.”
“Lila.” Maya spoke through her teeth. “She has an interest in this conversation.”
Kara raised her eyebrows in a familiar expression of dismissal. “You don’t need to consider her interests. Her powers are nothing.” She sounded mildly amused as she pointed her index finger at Jewel. “Puny. Like hers.”
Jewel inhaled sharply.
“Your daughter.” Alberic’s smooth voice reminded Jewel of his presence. “We discussed her.”
For a second she’d forgotten about him, and from Maya’s startled glance, so had she.
“We look after her interests.” He smiled at Jewel, and she took a step backwards. “Remember?”
He made her stomach churn.
“Of course.” Kara’s eyes melted as she gazed at her lover. “I’m sorry.” She spoke to Alberic, something that gave Jewel serious doubts about her sincerity. “I only meant that Maya has talent and she should align herself with the powerful.”
“I have no—”
Alberic spoke before Maya finished the sentence. “Maya will do as she must. I’m sure she has a strong sense of blood loyalty.” His dark eyes moved from Maya to Jewel and back to Kara. “As do we.”
Maya opened her mouth again but closed it as the doorbell rang. She ran one hand through her hair, her face creasing in exasperation.
Jewel edged out of the room. “I’ll get it.” She wanted a moment away from her mother and the creepy mage. She opened the door to Lila, who raised an eyebrow as she shrugged out of her coat.
“What’s up?”
“Kara’s here. With the mage. Albert.”
“What’s she want?” Lila’s forehead wrinkled. “Not that it’s not convenient. It’ll save us from having to see her again.”
“I don’t know.” Jewel bit her lip. “She said she was returning Maya’s visit. I don’t believe it, though. She wants something.”
“Mmm.” Lila took Jewel’s arm. “Let’s go and find out then.”
Jewel trailed behind her, back into the sitting room, where Kara perched on the edge of the sofa with Alberic looming behind her. Maya stood opposite them, arms folded and a scowl on her face. Lila stalked in and sat down on the sofa. She grabbed Maya’s arm and pulled her down next to her. Jewel rested one hip on the sofa arm and concentrated on making herself unobtrusive.
“Kara.” Lila focussed on the other woman, face and voice serious. “This is convenient. We wanted to talk to you.”
Kara’s eyes flickered uncertainly. “I don’t have to explain myself to you, Lila Redcar. You’re not even a member of the coven any longer.”
Maya opened her mouth, but Lila elbowed her. “I’m not here on coven business.” She sat up straight. “This is about family.”
“Family’s important.” Alberic smiled beatifically from where he leaned on the back of the sofa.
Jewel jerked in surprise. Why do I keep forgetting he’s here? She shook her head to clear it.
“Blood is important. We all understand that.” His tone oozed false sincerity.
“So what did you do to our father?” Maya finally managed to say something. She squirmed next to Lila, and Jewel recognized the anger hidden in her voice.
“Your father?” Kara’s eyebrows arched. “Why should I have done anything with him?”
“You told Jewel you got rid of him.” Maya twitched with suppressed rage.
“Jewel?” Kara’s eyes moved over her without pausing. “I don’t know what she told you, but it was probably lies. Or fantasies.”
“You told her Fergal was her father.” Lila spoke through gritted teeth. “Fergal? My father? Remember?”
“Oh.”
“Is that true?”
; “How does it concern you?” Kara’s voice was haughty.
“It makes Jewel my half-sister. My family. My business. Blood’s important.” Lila repeated Alberic’s words. “And if you made my father disappear, then it’s certainly my concern.”
“A night’s pleasure.” Kara’s eyes gleamed, and Jewel wondered if she’d ever done anything for mere pleasure. “That’s all. I never saw him after that. But it resulted in her.” She waved one hand at Jewel as she spoke. Alberic stroked her hair from his position behind her, and she glanced over her shoulder, scowling. “My daughter.”
“So it’s true.” Maya pushed herself up off the sofa and took a step towards Kara. “What you did to him?”
Jewel lowered herself onto the sofa next to Lila, who chewed her thumbnail, distressed.
Kara’s bland features twisted into an ugly sneer. “I thought he would be potent. He was the strongest spellcaster in London. And what did he make?” She shook her head and nodded in the direction of Jewel and Lila. “Those two poor excuses for witches.”
Jewel caught Maya’s eye and shook her head slightly.
Maya ignored her. Her eyes glowed with temper. “What gives you the right to make those judgements? Lila’s an empath. She—”
“Maya.” Lila’s voice stopped her. “I don’t care what she thinks.”
Maya tossed her head. “And Jewel is—”
“And you.” Kara bared her teeth at Maya. “You should have been my daughter. Fergal saved all his power to give to you.”
Children of Poseidon: Rann Page 20