Arundia Returns

by Aya Walksfar

  A fist to the side of my head caused black dots to swim across my vision. I barely ducked a follow-up swing. I had to finish this quickly, or I’d never last. The woman whirled and darted toward me. I waited until the last possible minute then spun in a roundhouse kick. The woman crashed backward and skidded across the floor. She leapt to her feet and charged before I could set up for a defensive move.

  Mouth wide, as if she had forgotten that she hadn’t Shifted forms, she leapt at me. I threw up an arm. Her teeth clamped around my forearm. I barely remained on my feet. Her jaws ground against my flesh as if she sought to chew to the bone.

  Pain roared in my ears. The edges of my vision darkened. Desperate, I hauled my fist back and slammed it into the side of her head. Her teeth clamped down harder. She shook my arm like a dog breaking a rat’s neck.

  Hot spears of agony lanced up my arm and into my shoulder. I clenched my teeth as warm blood dripped from my arm.

  I called to the fire inside. It flared hotter than the pain. Teeth gritted, I tamped it down then chanced a quick look at the palm of my hand. A tiny blue flame danced on my skin. Hoping I had dampened it enough, I slapped my hand and the blue flame against the side of the werepanther’s head.

  The woman’s mouth popped open as she screamed. She grabbed her head between her hands and fell to her knees. Blue flames licked around and between her fingers.

  Eyes locked on the panther, I hugged my injured arm across my stomach as I called my Magic. The blue flames flickering along the woman’s cheek winked out. The werepanther slumped, hands braced against the floor.

  Nostrils flaring, I tried to quiet my breathing as I observed the woman. “You’ll never be able to avenge Elder Coahoma if you charge into that invisible electrical dome. If you thought my little flame hurt, the bloodred lightning charging that dome will make you a crispy critter in one second flat.”

  Head raised slowly, the werepanther rose. Swaying on her feet, she hissed, “What dome? I see nothing, except my friend lying on that bloody bed.”

  “It’s a magical trap, that’s why you can’t see it. I threw the rocking chair into it.” I flapped my good hand toward the corner where the chair once sat. “You can see that the chair is gone. The dome destroyed it in seconds. That’s what it would do to a person, too; except that chair didn’t feel any pain.”

  Some of the insanity drained from her eyes. They turned from blazing yellow to quiet amber. Shoulders hunched, her gaze skittered away from mine. “We have to get the Elder’s body. Until we do every panther in her line will throw themselves against that invisible wall. It is in our nature to protect our Queen.”

  With a weary nod, I conceded the truth of that. “That’s why Ri didn’t tell anyone about this whole mess, yet. She’s going to find some panthers that have better control over their emotions and instincts to guard the door when she tells everyone about the magic encasing the Queen’s body. There’s no sense in helping our enemies destroy us.” Eyes narrowed, I asked, “How did you find out about Elder Coahoma?”

  She cocked her head as she considered the question. “Yolinda’s friend, Belle.”

  Chapter 12

  Serena Longer

  I didn’t turn from the window when Gregory walked in, though I felt him walk up behind me. When he didn’t reach out and touch me as he had always done, I hardened my heart against clamoring memories and glanced over my shoulder. “What is it that you want, Gregory?”

  His strong hands dangled at his sides. “Why do you not return Alexis’ phone calls? Why have you refused to speak with Queen Coahoma after you agreed to ally with the werepanthers?”

  How dare he question me! He acts above his station. I clenched my jaw as I swirled around. “I have my reasons, General Trueson; however, I do not feel a need to disclose them to you at this time.”

  His head drooped and he pinched the bridge of his nose before dropping his hand to his side again. “We need alliances with other Supernaturals, First Councilwoman.”

  Hips resting against the window sill, I cocked my head at the general. “Such decisions are not yours to make, General. Now, was there anything else you wished to speak of?”

  He drew himself up tall. Hands clasped behind his back, he stood at parade rest. “I need to know what plans we have to deal with our enemies.”

  I crossed my ankles and propped my hands on the sill behind me. “Ah, yes, strategy. It is good that you arrived when you did. I had planned to send for you.” His jaw clenched. Oh, how prideful is this man. Just like Arundia, Gregory obviously hates taking orders from a woman.

  A stern look hardened the angles of my face and I did not try to hide my determination. “We will return to Phoenix Estates.” When his mouth gaped open, as if he intended to protest, I held up one hand. “This is not open to discussion.” I pushed away from the window and stalked across the room to where he stood. “You are to recall Alexis from the werepanther village. I want her to research defensive magic for the perimeter of the estate.”

  Concern drew his features tight. “Why, First Councilwoman? This island is easier to defend. Besides, parts of the estate were destroyed by fire. We haven’t even had time to clean up the debris.”

  Rage flared and I knew my eyes gleamed emerald. “I refuse to continue to hide like some scared child on an island which is not even mine. We will return to the estate.”

  A knock sounded on the door. A question crinkled the skin between my eyes. “Come in.”

  Alexis strode in and swept the room with her eyes. A flash of something crossed her face when she spotted Gregory. She hid it away before I could decide what it meant. “I must speak with both of you.”

  Fatigue dragged at her footsteps. Dread flooded me. Before I could stop myself, I took a step toward her then forced myself to halt. My heart twisted inside of me, aching with the need to take her in my arms. “Please, sit.” I motioned toward the couch across the room. “Gregory, will bring all of us coffee, and food for you as well.”

  She paced restlessly while Gregory fixed food and coffee and brought it from the kitchen. As soon as he set it on the coffee table and slumped into one corner of the couch, Alexis swung around. “I have bad news.”

  I made my way to the chair across the table from the couch. “Eat first. Whatever it is, it is hours old already. A few minutes to take nourishment won’t make any difference, will it?”

  She stalked over and sank on the edge of the couch cushion. “You’re right. I haven’t eaten today.” She snatched the roast beef sandwich Gregory had made and stuffed a third of it into her mouth then washed it down with a gulp of coffee.

  When she crammed the last of the sandwich in her mouth and washed it down with more coffee, she blurted, “The werepanther village was attacked early this morning. Queen Coahoma was murdered.”

  Shocked, I inclined my head. Idiot! You nearly let her fool you yet again. Have you not learned how devious are these two? Obviously, Coahoma had refused to be party to the plots they hatched and so they murdered her. Murdered Belora’s friend. Now, nothing stands in their way to placing Ri on the werepanther throne. Rage clawed through me, shredding the feelings that had crept up and ambushed me upon seeing Alexis. “Continue, Alexis.”

  After delivering a succinct report, she downed the rest of her undoubtedly cold coffee.

  Gregory asked, “How many hearts were harvested and from which panthers?”

  She leaned forward and refilled her cup from the carafe on the coffee table. “Hearts were harvested from Lieutenant Herald, all five of the perimeter guards and the young panther that went after the man who kidnapped Amanda Silvers.”

  Face a blank mask, he gave a brusque nod. “All exceedingly loyal; all fierce fighters. Theirs would be strong hearts for Pale Blood Magic.”

  So, my enemies would strengthen themselves with magic. “Ri wasn’t injured?” I made sure that my voice concealed my suspicions.

  “No,” Alexis shifted on her chair. “She really stepped up and proved herself today.”<
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  “What happened with the traitor, Fire?” Gregory asked.

  “Ri questioned the woman and afterwards, she had the guards haul her outside. She let her People tear the woman apart.”

  There had been a time when Alexis would have been distressed by such torture. I smelled no distress from her now. When had she changed so?

  Gregory gave a nod. “It’s the way of werepanther justice.”

  She glanced at me then turned her gaze to her cup. “Yeah, I know. Still...”

  Does she look to see if I have accepted her fabrications? Though the words soured in my mouth, I had to play my part. “We would all wish for mercy, even for our enemies. Sometimes, that isn’t possible.” She needed to be reminded of with whom she toyed. Firmly, I added, “Vampires, werepanthers, witches...we aren’t human, Alexis. Our cultures are, at times, brutal.”

  “Yeah, I know.” She raised her eyes. “You don’t have to be Supernatural to stake a claim on brutality, though. Humans torture and murder for a lot less reason. I would worry, however, if those kinds of things stopped bothering me.”

  She pushed to her feet, like a woman too weary to move. “I'm exhausted. I'm going to the Warriors’ apartment and hit the sack after I make a quick call to Ri. I told her I’d check in. Maybe tomorrow we can figure out what we’re going to do.”

  After she stumbled from the room, I turned my gaze to Gregory. It was time to let my general know that I was not so easily taken in. “What do you make of this development? The enemy obviously breached the village’s defenses and murdered their queen. Why didn’t they simply kill Alexis and Ri at the same time? Why leave Coahoma in that electrical dome?”

  Gregory leaned back and crossed his legs. In his eyes I could see him trying to assess the level of my knowledge, my suspicions. A grim satisfaction filled me. Let him wonder. Let all of my enemies wonder.

  “Leaving Queen Coahoma in the dome was good strategy. Any loyal panthers who didn’t die during the invasion, would be driven to throw themselves against the dome in attempts to get to their queen. It keeps Ri’s People in turmoil. As for them not killing Ri and Alexis when they had the chance, that’s a bit more puzzling.”

  He drained his cup, set it on the table then stood. “I'm going to walk the perimeter.” At the door, he turned and said, “I'm always here if you need someone to listen, Serena. I smelled her, too.” Quietly, he closed the door.

  For a long time after Gregory left, I sat there. The voice in my mind lay quiescent as unbidden tears ran silently down my cheeks. I didn’t know which hurt more--that Alexis could have been killed; or that Alexis had made love to another woman. The woman’s scent had swirled around her, a cloud of nauseating perfume.

  Chapter 13

  Alexis Night Runner

  Before the sun rose the next morning, I slipped out of the Warrior’s quarters and made my way to the woods. A few yards into the trees, the clash of weapons rang clearly. Twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week, the Warriors either trained or patrolled under the demanding eyes of Gregory’s Guardians. As they danced in and out, slashing and hacking, I could see a small decrease in their speed since they now drank Guardian blood every month instead of Matriarch’s offering. With a mental shrug, I grudgingly accepted that inevitable limitation. Perhaps, the increased training would make up for some of the loss of strength and speed.

  Gregory stepped out of the shadows of a thick-trunked maple. “Have you come to practice?”

  With a jerk of my head back toward the house, I said, “I need to talk to you--away from everyone.” At a nod from him, I led the way toward the entrance of the caves. Right before we would have stepped into the stygian darkness, I hung a sharp left and followed the granite rock wall to where the island dropped vertically into the Sound.

  Seated on the lip of the cliff, I cleared my throat several times before I could speak. “I can’t stay here, Gregory.”

  He remained vampire still, waiting.

  I stared out over the Sound. “I love her too much to stay here, even though she insists that I need to be here and research magical defenses for the estate.” I swallowed back the tears that threatened.

  Gregory looped an arm around my shoulders and tugged me close against his side. “I hate to watch the two of you hurting. And, she is hurting, Alexis.”

  “Is she, Gregory? Sometimes, I feel as if...as if she hates me. I know I screwed up that last day I was here, but...” I pulled away from him. “Damn it, Gregory, all the time I was gone she never returned a single one of my calls.”

  He sighed. “I know. I don’t understand what is happening with her.” He ran a hand through his hair and stared out across the water. “There are times it feels as if a stranger stares out at me through Serena’s eyes.”

  I massaged the back of my neck with one hand, trying to loosen the knots of tension. “These relationship issues will have to take a back seat to this war. Now more than ever, we need boots on the ground in the werepanthers’ village. I think some of the panthers are beginning to get used to me. Besides, I need to work on freeing Elder Coahoma’s body.” Climbing to my feet, I brushed off the back of my jeans. “Tell Serena that Ri has a computer she’ll let me use for research. If I find anything, I’ll let you know.”

  Gregory flowed to his feet. “Are you sure this is what you want to do, Alexis?”

  I slanted a glance at him then shifted my gaze to the far horizon. “Want? No. But, at least for now, it’s better if Serena and I have some distance between us.”

  Dreading the contempt I would see, I reluctantly turned my gaze up to meet his eyes. “Nikki told me what happened the night I left for the panther village. My selfishness could have cost someone their life. I'm not prepared to carry that kind of guilt for the rest of my days.”

  He shook his head. “I think you and Serena are both making a grievous error...” When I would have interrupted he held up a hand. “It is yours to make, or not make. I'm here if you need to talk.”

  Catching my lower lip between my teeth, I nodded and moved away. I twisted and looked back over my shoulder. “Take care of her, Gregory. I know you love her as much as I do. I’ll leave in the morning.”

  ****

  Exhausted from a day of hard training with Gregory and getting ready to leave again, I fell into bed. Sleep claimed me before I had time to engage in worrying, a preoccupation that robbed me of rest far too often.

  I flopped over on my side then crawled to my knees and pushed up from the hard packed ground at the Crossroads. Forest stretched out on all sides, blocking my ability to see farther than a few yards in any direction.

  A tall, slender woman in the leather battle gear of ancient times stepped from between two Grandmother Cedars. Long, raven hair swung below her hips. “Ah, you have returned to the Land of the Misty Between, Alexis Night Runner. Come.” She turned and headed, not along one of the paths, but straight into the forest.

  I scrambled to catch up. Stumbling behind her, from the corner of my eye, I spot a panther keeping pace.

  Without turning, the Lady spoke over her shoulder. “She will not harm you, unless you mean to harm one of My Own.”

  “Lady, how can I say if I mean to harm one whose identity I don’t know?”

  She glanced over Her shoulder. “All warriors harm people whose identities they may never know. Such is the cost of war. We kill without knowing whom we murder.”

  No reply came to mind for The Lady spoke Truth. After what seemed a long time, we arrived at a clearing in the woods. A log cabin stood in the middle of the clearing. Its entrance faced east while a window looked to the west. The boards of the shallow porch creaked as I stepped on them, though they had made no sound beneath The Lady’s tread. She swung open the heavy oak door and waved me in ahead of Her.

  As I stepped in on the packed dirt floor, I glanced around. In the middle of the single room sat a rough plank table with two benches facing each other across the table. On the table sat an exquisite crystal bowl. As we approac
hed, I could see a shimmer inside the bowl. The bowl was filled with clear water.

  A shudder ran through me as I recalled my last visit to The Lady and this cabin. After all these months, had The Lady come to collect the debt that I owed?

  For a wild moment, I considered falling to my knees and begging that my life to be spared until after the war, until Serena no longer needed me. With an internal shake of my head, I dislodged such dishonorable thoughts. When The Lady had seen fit to spare my Warriors and Ariel those moons ago, I had promised my life in payment for theirs.

  “Sit, Alexis.” The Lady swept Her hand toward the bench on the south side of the table.

  Heart pounding, I slid onto the half-log bench, hands twisted together and hidden below the table. I stared straight ahead, terrified that my eyes might accidentally glance into the bowl.

  “Do you not want to see?” Her voice stroked my skin. Against my will, my eyes rose to meet Hers.

  “I...” Words clogged my throat. I stopped and cleared it. “I fear what I may see, Lady.”

  “What is it you fear, Alexis? The past, the present, or the future?”

  I tried to untangle the skein of emotions that wrapped me in their sticky threads. Finally, I heaved a breath and said, “I fear the past, the present, and the future, Lady. I fear what I don’t understand about the past that may taint my decisions in the present; I fear for the lives of those I love; and, I fear what unknown fate awaits all of us.” Head dropped in shame, I mumbled, “Truly, I am a coward, Lady, and deserve whatever Fate awaits me.”

  “Look at me,” The Lady commanded and I could not disobey. “Courage, Alexis, is not the absence of fear; it is the going forward in the face of our greatest fears. Look!” A stern finger pointed toward the crystal bowl.

  Unwillingly, I shifted my gaze and stared into the bottomless water. Tiny ripples lapped like waves at the sides of the bowl. A whirlpool began spinning in the middle. It spun faster and faster. I felt the pull of its power and panic shot through me. I tried to jerk my eyes away, but I couldn’t fight free.