Craving-Torment (Book #2)

by Claudy Conn

  I STOOD BESIDE JEREMY, WHO sat at the round table in the library. I didn’t say a word as he carefully turned the pages of an archaic manuscript lying flat and wide open. Its pages were yellowed and its brown leather casing was worn with time, and I could see he was excited.

  The dust from the manuscript made me sneeze.

  “Careful!” he said.

  “You mean, bless you, don’t you?” I corrected him with an arched look.

  He laughed. “Yes, now quiet…let me find it again…ah, here it is!”

  I looked down at the words in ancient Gaelic and allowed my Shama to translate for me.

  Immortals are all magical. It is the nature of the beast. Each has a power or powers peculiar to themselves. Some may open great portals, others are healers…many can do both.

  Portals are wondrous things and at one time were used to create prisons for the worst of their kind. A portal may be opened by an immortal for this purpose and then easily locked.

  To release the prisoner, one must be able to open the portal and cross over, where they must then reverse the process.

  I stared at Jeremy. “Reverse the process? How? What does that mean?”

  “If you read on, you won’t find an answer to that, but it does say only the immortal who cast the spell, or someone in the direct bloodline of that immortal, can release the prisoner.

  “And this helps us, how?” I was frustrated.

  “Well, we know now that you can free him if you reverse the spell.”

  “I need to know the spell in order to reverse it,” I said a little loudly.

  “Yes, there is that,” he said as he sat back and put a finger to his lower lip. “However, you did find a spell, only one, that opened the portal, didn’t you? Why don’t you start there?”

  Now I was excited.

  “Yes,” I said. “Yes…but how do I reverse it?”

  “That will take some thinking,” Jeremy said.

  “Right…and first, I need to get someone off my back for a couple of days.” I had to call Beyland to meet me in the driveway.

  “What? What are you saying?”

  “She means to call Beyland to coom and get the first of m’notebooks on day-walking,” Devin said.

  “Yes, it will show good faith and keep him from getting too restless,” I said.

  “Right then, have at it,” Devin said.

  “Wait! Are you sure you will be safe?” Jeremy stuck in.

  I laughed. “Sure, staying on our side of the Blood Ward in the driveway and I’ll toss him the notebook.”

  I ran upstairs, retrieved the notes, and met Jeremy at the front door. “Are you ready?” I asked.

  “The question is, are you?”

  “Yeah, as ready as I ever will be,” I answered, and called out with my mind. Beyland, Beyland…ha…llooo, Beyland.

  Have you something for me, Lisa’s grandchild? Beyland’s voice was in my head.

  I do. I just got my hands on one of them notebooks, and I am sure there are more. I will keep looking, so meet me in the driveway.

  I am pleased and shall be there in a moment.

  I started outside.

  “What happened, lass? Did ye get through to him? What did he say?” Devin asked, and his voice sounded anxious.

  “He said he is pleased,” I answered.

  Jeremy snorted and Devin said, “Is he now? Well, well, perhaps ye may have an ally in him, but dinnae trust him, Bobbie lass.”

  I could just make out his tall masculine form, his cloak blowing backwards in the wind, at the Blood Ward line in the driveway.

  He gave me a smile as we approached and ignored Jeremy. I said, “Hi, Bey, how are you?”

  He laughed. “I will be better when you put that in my hands.”

  “Well, I’ll toss it, you catch it.”

  “You don’t trust me?” he asked, one fine brow up.

  I gave him a rueful look. “Should I?”

  Now he laughed. “No, not ever. Throw.”

  I said, “Okay, I will whether you answer my question or not, but if you would answer, I would so appreciate it.”

  “What question, Bobbie Skye?” he asked curiously.

  “If one needs to reverse a portal spell…how exactly does that work?” I asked.

  “Ah, your grandmother would have returned to undo her spell. Is that it?”

  “Yes, so now it is up to me,” I answered, and met his gaze. Even in the dark, his gaze was penetrating.

  “You have a way of eliciting emotion from me. I do not like it. However, your question is not unreasonable because you have been prompt and cooperative. Your grandmother was not the sort to forever imprison the day-walker. It is said he does not drink human blood, therefore, I shall consider your request.”

  “Does that mean you know the answer?” I asked, more excited about this than I have been about almost anything else.

  “Yes, Bobbie Skye, I know the answer.”

  “You won’t tell me the answer now?” I pleaded.

  “I will upon receiving all the formula notes. I will tell you then, though it was not part of our original agreement. As I said, in your regard, I seem to have a…more amenable position.” He eyed me challengingly. “Now throw the notebook to me.”

  I did as he asked. He had the answer. He knew how to free Devin. He knew about Devin. Of course, he knew. Beyland seemed to know everything.

  He held the notebook tightly to his broad chest and inclined his blond head of hair. “Hurry, Bobbie Skye. Get me what I want and I will give you what you need.”

  So saying, he flicked a finger and entered that dark hole portal he had taken me through, no doubt to examine and then store the notes where no one other than himself could find them.

  Devin had kept quiet during this exchange, and I know it was so Jeremy and I would not be drawn in to respond to him and make the Dark Warlock curious. But did he know Devin was watching? He seemed to look towards the invisible wall, more than once.

  I wouldn’t be surprised if Beyland could see through Jeremy’s cloaking. Beyland was ancient and knew things we couldn’t even contemplate.

  ~ Fifteen ~

  “NOW WHAT?” I ASKED AS I turned to face both Jeremy and Devin, both standing very silent, and that was unlike either of them.

  That question was suddenly answered!

  The wolf was back. Hawkeye stood on the other side of the Blood Ward and we all stared at him. I cleared my throat and said, “Hello, Wolfie. It is what? Twoish in the morning? What are you doing out and about?”

  I was making my rounds before turning in. I was talking with a wolf again. He in my head, me out loud this time.

  And this time, he spoke in my head, only to me. Jeremy hadn’t been included.

  As to Devin, he remained silent, as he was not visible to the wolf because of Jeremy’s cloaking spell.

  “What did he say to you?” Jeremy demanded.

  “Do your rounds include MacLeod Castle?” I ignored Jeremy and concentrated on the huge wolf’s body movements. He didn’t appear threatening for the moment.

  Yes, now they do, he answered, still in my head.

  “Why?” I asked, still talking out loud. I could, evidently in wolf form he couldn’t.

  My question, Bobbie Skye, is why…why are you helping a Dark Warlock who is a friend to the ancient, Ramon, my mortal enemy?

  His voice was filled with anger, and I winced at the harsh pain that shot through my brain. I eyed him and said softly, “We are not helping Ramon. Beyland is NOT Ramon’s friend.” I saw his eyes flicker and arched a brow at him. “Oh-ho, you didn’t know that, did you? Well, as it happens, Ramon betrayed his Dark Warlock and caused him to lose the only woman he had ever truly loved—my grandmother.”

  Why should I believe you? he asked.

  His mistrust was understandable. “Not asking you to. That is something you have to decide for yourself, so look into it. Find out what happened to my immortal grandmother, Lisa MacForly, and see for yourself whose
side we are on.”

  He made a chortling sound deep in his throat, threw up his head and howled to his pack. They responded in a sequence of howls that came from every direction.

  He briefly eyed me over his shoulder and in a different tone this time, I heard him almost gently in my head, in a voice that was filled with…almost unwilling friendship say, Later, Red.

  We watched him lope out of sight and I looked at Jeremy and shook my head. “Okay, enough drama for one day and night. I am going to sleep before anyone else decides to drop by.”

  Both Devin and Jeremy followed me back into the house, firing questions at me all the way up to my room. I put up my hands and said, “The wolf hates Ramon and means to do him harm. He wanted to know why we were helping Beyland, who he thinks of as Ramon’s buddy. You heard my answers. Figure it all out. I am going to sleep.”

  Jeremy grumbled and said, “Right then, I am as well. I have a few appointments in the morning, but I should be back in the late afternoon.”

  “Okie-doke and good night,” I said, and went into my room.

  Devin hovered at our barrier and asked, “What did he say to ye just before he left, Bobbie? He may have been in wolf form, but something about the way he looked at ye makes me wonder.”

  “What? Oh, he said, ‘Later, Red’,” I told him, and stripped off my top, fully aware that he was watching and meaning to tease him just a little, and hopefully improve his sudden sullenness.

  “I dinnae like it,” Devin said.

  I snorted. “Not much you like on this side while you are on your side. I get it. But what exactly don’t you like now?”

  “He means to see ye again. He said, ‘Later, Red’, which means he will visit ye again, and he has an affectionate term for ye. Nae, I dinnae like it.”

  I laughed. “Go to sleep, vamp…go to sleep.”

  “Nae. With something unexpected happening at every turn, I think I’ll just watch over ye for a bit longer,” he said, and settled in at a worn spot in the grass. “Sleep well, my bonnie lass, sleep well.”

  That was the last thing I heard after I pulled off the rest of my clothes and boots and dove under the covers. I was beat, and when my head hit the pillow…blackout!

  * * * * *

  Mrs. Tunny and Davis left early this morning, as she needed to replenish the pantry. With the four of us eating (especially with Jeremy’s and my appetite) most meals at home, we had depleted most of the fresh foods.

  “Should I go with them?” I asked Jeremy as I watched them walk to their vehicles.

  “I’m off for town, so I will follow them in. I think they’ll be fine,” Jeremy said. “It’s early and they should be back by lunch.”

  “Yeah, but what about demons?” I worried.

  “I think the demons answer to your Dark Warlock, not to Allora or Ramon,” he said.

  “No…remember the one that tried to kill me?”

  “Yeah, but he is dead, and I think the others working for Allora through Ramon are under Beyland’s control. He doesn’t seem to want you harmed yet, so…I think they will be fine. It is the vamps at night we have to keep them safe from.” He hurried outside and waved. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  I watched them all go and turned to look for Devin. He was nowhere about. I had thought about spending a little time with him and returning with another notebook for Beyland. I went up to the barrier and called, “Devin? Devin?”

  He came trudging through the high grass and his face was drawn in a grim expression. “What is it, Dev? What has happened?”

  “We have a problem,” he said.

  “Of course we do, nothing new,” I said, and laughed.

  “Och aye, but more than the usual, lass. It’s Loli. She went to her father with what she called ‘damning information’. He then called a meeting of the council.”

  “What has that to do with…”

  He put up his hand. “Listen to me, lass, ‘t’isn’t a simple thing. Loli is jealous. She saw yer glow and knew at once ye are a witch.”

  “And that is a problem…why?”

  “Witches here in Trinity have one of the three main counties. The witches keep to themselves and are nae a large band, but a powerful one. Their county is called The Land of Draoidheil. The Elfin…which is Loli’s county, are suspicious of the Draoidheil Witches. They have never liked one another. They have a Treaty, but ‘tis forever being shaken by some incident or other. The Elfin fortify their borders, but are forever concerned the witches will attack. That is because there are two major parties in Elfin. One wants war with the Draoidheil and the other doesna. Thus, the Treaty, which declares none of them may enter Elfin territory, is now, because of ye, in jeopardy.”

  “But…I’m not Draoidheil. I’m not from Trinity,” I said, really flabbergasted.

  “Aye, but there is the rub. How do we prove it, especially with Loli claiming that ye are Draoidheil?”

  “What did you tell them?”

  “That ye coom from m’own world, that ye are m’mate, but Loli says she saw the sparkle around ye and that ye are Draoidheil.”

  “The sparkle?” I asked. “What does that mean?”

  “She ‘t’isn’t lying about that. Ye have something very different. Love, ye do have a glow, but ‘tis something of a soft white light, very different than the silver sparkle of the witches of Draoidheil.”

  “Are you in trouble, Devin?” I was seriously worried now.

  “Nae…we have been friends…her family and I are friends. Tomin, her father, rules the council and is a fair and just Elfin. Loli means mischief, but I’ll sort it out once I prove ye dinnae coom from Trinity, but for now…I have to keep ye safe and ye best not visit me here.”

  My heart sank. “Oh…I see. Apparently Loli has found a way to keep us apart.” I was jealous. Damned green-eyed jealous and frustrated by this new development.

  “Aye, just until I can make them see she is in the wrong of it,” he said.

  “How long will that take?”

  “I am nae sure. Bobbie, they are suspicious of ye, as they are of all witches. All I can do is tell them ye mean to find a spell to take me to our own realm.”

  “That doesn’t offer proof,” I said, more to myself.

  “Nae, but I spoke the truth and I believe Tomin believed me. He knows I was working on finding a way home. The problem will be with the faction that hates the Draoidheil Witches.” Devin sighed heavily. “Tomin says, though he believes me, ye may not enter Trinity ‘til he gets it settled with the council.”

  “Then I better hurry and find a way to free you,” I said softly.

  “Aye, ye better do that and soon, m’bonnie, bonnie lass, or I shall go mad,” he answered with feeling. “Look, I have an idea and am meeting with Loli’s brother, father, and the lad who wishes to court her. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

  “Right, okay,” I said, suddenly feeling like I was carrying the weight of the world. I watched him walk away. He turned and threw me a kiss and my heart ached. I had, in fact, intended to go to him late in the day and spend the evening. That hope was dashed.

  I realized, in that moment, that he was the one bright, shiny thing in my life. My failure to free him loomed ominous over my head. At least, when I went to Trinity, we were able to be together…now, we didn’t even have that.

  Well, I was going to have to work harder to free him, but how? And then like a bolt of lightning shooting threw me, I knew.

  All I had to do was get all the notebooks to Beyland. That was all I had to do!

  ~ Sixteen ~

  I WAITED FOR THE COVER of darkness before I walked up to the barrier that kept me from Devin. I knew what I had to do. Beyland would show me how to release Devin when I got him the rest of the notebooks. What was the point in stalling him? None that I could see. I knew we had agreed to feed him the notebooks in small dosages, but my gut told me to get those notebooks to him immediately. I had to free Devin!

  Something was off.

  I felt i
t as soon as I stood in front of the invisible divide and gazed through the dark into the jungle on the other side.

  I had not seen Devin in a few hours, and I couldn’t shake the ‘feeling’ that something was wrong. I wasn’t sure what, but my instincts were on high alert. I had to be ready for almost anything, as when I get to feeling like this, it usually spells trouble.

  With scarcely a thought, the narrow silver portal opened. I hesitated. Something told me not to go through.

  However, I had no choice. I needed to get to the cottage and get a hold of the remaining day-walker notebooks.

  I licked my lips, chewed my bottom lip, and stepped through the portal onto the other side.

  My magic traveling smoke takes me short distances. Could I travel the mile or so to his cabin? Should I?

  I poofed in a cloud of purple past the jungle and the open fields to the forest where I emerged, and hesitantly looked around.

  Oh yeah, something was off. I could feel tension in the air. My magic has been growing inside of me—no, wait, that isn’t it. I think I have always had the ability to harness the power of my Shama and have learned now to just let go and accept my birthright.

  A voice—yes, my voice, told me go back. Should I go to his cottage unannounced? That wasn’t my style, but this was important and Devin and I were well past the initial amenities. That thought made me smile to myself.

  So, of course, I walked the short distance through the woods to Devin’s cottage.

  I stopped at the stone walkway and looked up past the lighted porch to the large window.

  He doesn’t have curtains or shades on his windows, and although there was only a dim light inside, I could see him standing there, and he wasn’t alone.

  I saw movement back ‘n forth, like pacing, and I heard the sound of men’s voices raised in anger.

  What the hell was going on?

  I got my answer soon enough because at my back I heard a familiar voice, Loli’s voice, say in a tone both triumphant and childish, “Well…here she is! His miss special mate. His witch!”

  Something in the way she said ‘witch’ worried me as I spun around to meet her dark-eyed gaze and noted she had two khaki-uniformed guards at her side, and wondered at it.