“It was what I asked when you agreed to this compromise. Do you know enough about witches that you can tell me things the coven can’t? Or light elves? Have you dissected enough of them to know exactly how they tick?” Her tone filled with anger. Decker. The witches. Her parents. Everyone left her to the winds of fate, and those winds blew her into an evil dark elf.
“You are a spunky light elf. That must come from your witchy side.” He clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth. “Very well, I’ll bite. Dark elves can’t see in the light. Only gentle light, like on the stone I gave you is tolerable.”
“So, we could have kept on, perhaps safer, in the daylight.” Her finger mindlessly ran over the stone. “Thank you for this by the way.”
“It was from the oracle.” He cut his eyes at her. “Not that I believe you don’t know, but, in addition to being blinding, the sunlight would make me ill, weak, and vulnerable.”
“Do you think if I am a light elf, for real, that may be why the dark is so frightening? I mean it is odd for a witch, isn’t it? Can it hurt me, like the light does to you?” When she met his eyes, the hardness made her look away.
“You did tell me you knew both of your human witch parents.” He blinked slowly and chewed on a root. “That wasn’t entirely the truth, was it?”
“I’m sorry. I lied.” She leaned closer to him. A pungent aroma grew stronger as he chewed. “What is that? Food?”
“You’re sorry?” He laughed and rolled the root between his teeth, letting another bit of juice fill his mouth. “This renews my stamina and magic. You can’t eat it, it might make you ill. So, daddy was an unknown?”
“Yes, I thought I was getting answers, not you.” She sighed. An elf? Really? “Why would my mom not tell me? None of this makes sense.”
“Indeed, you are more of a puzzle than I like in my day. Curious and a curiosity.” He leaned back on the ground and laced his hands behind his head. “Nettle. Bizarre thing to seek out. Not very magical at all.”
“That’s what they told me. Do witches and elves… have there been others, like me?”
“No, not that I am aware of. Anything is possible with unsavory creatures such as light elves and witches. Witches have dark intentions, I would have thought a light elf… most puzzling.” His fingers drummed together. “You’ve never worked with bloody bits?”
She shook her head. “Light elves are good things? Witches, my mom, always kept us away from the coven. She said creatures like us were better on our own.” Alice leaned on her elbows. “Do witches work magic with all elf bits, dark and light?”
He laughed. “If they can get them. Though there would be easier ways than breeding their own. There will be a reason for you. Question is, was it a witch reason, or a light elf up to no good.”
“No good? That’s what I am, no good?” Her eyes closed. Was her isolated childhood to protect her from witches? Or elves? Where did light elves live? “If you hate witches so much, why do you live in the same woods? Aren’t there other woods?”
“They can leave. Though I don’t imagine they would. These swamps hold great power. The resources here go beyond water. There are magical plants. Even the soil holds power. Witches and elves both use them, for different things.” Decker cracked his fingers. “Well before my time in rule, treaties were made. Trust if it had been up to me, we would have fought to the death for the territory, and this uneasy sharing wouldn’t have occurred.”
“Treaty? So, dark elves and witches did come together in the past.” Alice rolled and propped up on her elbows.
“Come together? No. It would appear that no one respects the treaty. Not me. Not your coven.” He flicked his fingers and muttered something unintelligible.
The walls radiated light.
“Thank you.” A cold sensation raced up her back. Had her coven used her to bait Decker into breaking a treaty? Could this have been the plan all along? A sacrifice. She rubbed her temples with the butt of her hands. None of it made sense. If her mom could lie about her father, what was off limits? Why would aunt Davina and the coven… they sent her to the cave.
Alice looked over to see Decker watching her. Could he see her clearly in the darkness? Did he see how lost she was? Was the sadness reflected in her eyes? “You really think a witch and light elf were up to no good? Even witches hate me. I’m no good?”
“No good at all. Not for you, or me.”
Tears burned at the corners of her eyes. Mom was loving. It couldn’t all be lies and illusion. She wiped her eyes. Pull it together. Crying won’t get you answers, and it won’t get you out of this cave alive. “Do you have thoughts about why they sent me? Why my mom and dad wouldn’t have told me what I was?” She swallowed hard. Decker, her ally, wanted to dissect her, in order to see what it all meant. If the coven and her parents all had dark uses for her, it was up to her to save herself. That meant earning Decker’s trust and respect.
“I might.” He laid on his back with his knees bent, one leg rocking. “Depends on which parent was up to no good. You should rest. The last leg is long, and I have no sustenance to offer you.”
Alice wanted to ask more questions, but she could tell Decker wouldn’t be any help. Not until things between them changed. That would rely on what happened with his water. He didn’t trust her. She couldn’t trust him. Not yet. “Sweet dreams.”
Decker’s only response was to pinch the bridge of his nose, while shaking his head.
In the silence, her mind drifted. Questions swirled. They must have sent her because they didn’t think she could undo their spell. Why send a witch at all? What did sending her benefit? What happened if she didn’t return? Did they expect Decker would have killed her? What would that help? Was she supposed to do something that would destroy Decker? They would have told her that. Unless it was some reaction from her strange breeding that would trigger something. It did pop when they got too close. Was she a dark elf bomb?
ALICE JUMPED AND rolled over. Magic blended with hers. That’s not Decker. Familiar. A witch. Her eyes flashed to Decker, who was sleeping. After a split second of hesitation, she reached out and touched him. A spark popped. “Wake up. A witch is here.”
The jolt of her agitated aura against his, woke Decker. He jumped to his feet. His eyes narrowed on her. “It’s daylight still.” He licked his lips, his nostrils flared and he sniffed. “There is a witch.”
“I know. That’s why I woke you.” She glanced toward the passage.
His head cocked, confusion clouded his eyes. “Quiet.”
A seed of trust had been planted between them, with her action, and his response. Neither knew how to nurture it, but they both left it with the chance to survive on its own.
She got to her feet, stone in hand, and edged closer to him.
“It’s not in the cave. It’s in the woods at the rock wall.” His voice whispered across her ear as he leaned into her.
A breath of relief came from Alice. “It can’t get in?”
He shook his head. “No, or it would have. That would have been bad. The barrier that kept the hag out, also keeps out the sunlight.”
“What do we do? Can I talk to them? Is there a way to let just me out?” One of her hands rested on his arm.
Decker shoved her away. “Not likely. I thought we established that I don’t trust you.”
“If I wanted to give you to them, why would I wake you up?” She rubbed her arm where he’d pushed her. “You are infuriating. I could have left you sleeping.”
His sneer vanished. “Only an elf can dispel the magic I used. As you found out in my cave, to put your own hand in the illusion, is painful, and ineffective.”
“But I’m an elf, right? I did make the cave glow.” Was that the reason they sent her? A witch that could cast against elves. Not the best plan, since they didn’t teach her anything. “I’m not… I wouldn’t.”
He sucked in a breath. A hand raised to his mouth, and he rubbed his face. “You really have no spells at your disposal?”<
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“Not beyond childhood games.” She searched his face. What did he want her to cast? “Can you do something from here, without opening the rock face?”
He narrowed his eyes, and raised his brows. “Perhaps. I need something from you. To work magic against a witch at this range, and through an illusion will not be easy.”
“What do you need?” The silence that hung between them grew thick.
“Blood or tears. Both are potent. I’m more practiced with blood.” He shrugged, his lips raising into something that was not quite a smirk.
“Fine.” She held out her hand. Might as well dive in the deep end of this alliance. Seal it with something the monster understands. Blood. “Do you have a knife?”
“Always. Let’s test how powerful your hybrid blood is.” He pulled a dagger and hesitated. “If your blood is toxic, score one for the witches.” His hand gripped the blade. “I’ll use my last seconds to take you with me.”
The seed of trust in the rocky soil between them sprouted despite his suspicions.
“If it is toxic, it will be a surprise to us both.” She flipped her arm, exposing her wrist. “For the record. I hope it’s not.”
Chapter Five
ALICE WINCED, HER teeth grinding as Decker’s grip pinched her skin.
The blade of his knife flashed in the darkness.
Her breath caught. Should she ask him to be quick, gentle, or say that she changed her mind?
Cold metal pressed against her wrist. A sting. Too late. The bite of his blade vanished, replaced by a tingle, and then numbness. It was done.
Alice let out her breath.
Decker angled her arm so the blood dripped down into Alice’s cupped hand. “That you agreed is startling, but not as much as your follow through.” He slipped his knife back into his waistband and held her arm with both hands. “This doesn’t change things.”
“It should.” Alice averted her eyes. “At least it didn’t instantly kill you or me.” The blood running down her arm tickled. A knot formed in her stomach as a wave of heat raced over her. She reached her free hand to her mouth. “I may be sick.”
“A queasy witch? You are the most bizarre thing.” Decker kept a grip on her arm. When a small pool of blood gathered, he turned her hand, and let it fill his.
Alice focused on him, rather than the blood.
His tongue played with the corner of his mouth and he closed his eyes.
Was it making him sick? “What? Will my blood work? Is there something wrong with it?” Please don’t let it kill him. “Are you okay?”
“Not wrong. Different than I expected.” His jaw twitched, eyes opened, and he turned toward the wall. “I want to explore this later.”
Now wasn’t the time to argue with him. First, they needed to find out why a witch was stalking them. “I’m not agreeing to anything later. Not with my blood. Not with you. Not yet.”
A puff of air escaped his closed lips. “Later. Hold your arm up.”
Alice raised her arm. A little stream of blood trickled toward her elbow. She swayed as another flood of warmth caused a thin layer of sweat to form on her face. “What are you doing?”
“I’m preparing to make a link with the witch. You might not want to watch this, sweet one.” He rubbed his hands together, covering them in blood. With the care of a child finger-painting, he smeared a layer on his face. “Keep your arm up. The bleeding will stop on its own.”
At being told not to watch, she opened her eyes. Alice backed away from the grisly sight. The contrast of her blood on his pale skin, seared itself into her mind. Shudders raced across her.
Decker’s glare locked on her. “Get a hold of yourself. This will connect me with you too. What I have to do in their mind might startle you. I have to chase them away. The alternative is we wait until nightfall, and I go out there, chop them up, and you help cart the good bits to the source and back.”
“No chopping anyone up.” Alice closed her eyes and took a centering breath. Would she see what he did via their connection? Is that what he was warning. That would be better than him mutilating witches. “Do what you have to. I already gave you my blood.”
Decker chanted harsh words that resembled animal growls.
Alice glanced at her wrist. The cut was bleeding, but it thickened and wasn’t a steady flow anymore.
DECKER CLOSED HIS eyes and trained every thought on the witch beyond the cave. The aura moved out of his reach. He rolled his neck, relaxing deeper. What was blocking him? Alice.
Her fear and dizziness pressed into his consciousness. No time for tenderness. He gave her a concentrated shove, shouting, “out!”
Alice stumbled back, and hit the wall.
He kept his concentration on the witch outside. The loosening of his bond with Alice allowed him to grab onto the other witch. The connection was strong. Could she have been a direct relative to Alice? Or also part elf? Irrelevant.
Decker dropped to his knees. What was happening? The daylight. How could it reach him inside the cave? The connection.
He abandoned his search for information, and pressed the most haunting images and sounds of insanity he could into the hag’s mind.
A scream filled his head as the witch fought the assault.
The likeness of a melting hag filled his own mind. It was a powerful foe. Maybe even a priestess.
He snarled and pushed more, imagining himself dissecting and eating the hag. His intentions were so focused, he could taste the witch flesh and feel the meat grinding between his teeth.
The magic buzz retreated. The screams should have faded, but did not. Decker reached out again, while rubbing the blood on his face into his skin.
The witch was gone. Her shrieking mind pulled so far away, it only registered as an impression. It shouldn’t have done that much with the distance he felt between them.
Shrieks continued.
He said a few words to sever any residual connection, and opened his eyes. It was Alice who was still screaming. Had he damaged her mind too?
“EASY, SWEET.” THE tone Decker used was intended to be comforting, but came out a low growl.
When he stepped closer to her, Alice struck him, and kicked his shin. “Don’t touch me. You monster.”
“Listen, that didn’t happen. Not really. Look at me.” He held her face with both hands. The blood on his fingers painted her skin. “I know I look scary. I know you saw some frightening things. Try to remember what we talked about before this.”
“No!” Alice drew up magic. A soft glow encased her.
Decker pulled his hands back when the static popped him. A small red spot appeared on the tips of his fingers where he’d touched her. “It wasn’t real. Try to remember.”
“You, you were eating…” Her voice and her body shook as her gaze drifted down to her leg.
He had been chewing on her calf and laughing, with flesh stuck in his teeth. She saw the flesh, her flesh, hanging from his mouth. The crazed laughter that came between bites played in a loop in her mind.
She studied her jeans. No sign of blood. Only a few stains from the falls she took in his cave. No rips. The blood on his face and hands was hers. Her magic energy faded as things came back to her.
“You ate…” Alice recalled waking him, being afraid, and seeking his help.
“No. Remember the witch. That was an illusion to send her away. You and I, we did that. Considering how it affected you, I’d say that other witch is cowering and babbling somewhere far away. She may never be able to look at an elf again.” He stepped closer, but didn’t reach for her. “We did good. Together.”
Alice reached down. No pain. No wound. No bite marks. “I felt it. You, it didn’t look like you, but I know it was you.”
“You shouldn’t have seen me, not like that.” He used his shirt to wipe her blood from his hands. “Look at that, I didn’t even taste it. I didn’t do it to hurt you.”
“Clean your face. It’s awful.” Alice swallowed down a rising lump of bil
e, and tried to push away the sights and sounds. She remembered the knife and freely giving him blood. “My blood. You used it to do that? To make that awful memory I saw?”
“I did. The witch is gone. She won’t trouble us again tonight. Probably won’t step in my territory again.” His mouth twitched up, almost smiling. “Your blood is special. I’d like…”
A soft groan escaped. “Not now. I don’t want to talk about my blood. Did you hurt the witch? Was it one from my coven? Will she be all right?”
He snorted and shook his head. “I thought you didn’t want to talk about it?”
“I don’t want to talk about what you want with my blood. I want to know what we did, and if you hurt one of my coven.” Her lips pressed tight.
“Yes, I hurt them. Your blood did that. I assume she was from your coven to be in this area. Witches don’t work with other covens.” He studied her as he spoke. “She will never be the same, but should be able to function again, in time.”
Hurting a witch meant death by fire. If anyone in the coven found out she’d given Decker her blood to cast against a sister witch, she would be executed. Doubts rushed in as she struggled again with things that didn’t make sense. They sent her to Decker to die. Someone followed them for most of their trek, and lingered outside while they slept. “Can we go now?”
“Not yet. Get some rest, if you can. We have several hours.” Decker spun on his heels, and vanished in the direction of the camp.
Alice gave the entrance one last glance, considering the witch on the other side, before she followed him.
In the chamber, she found him relaxing with his eyes closed. He didn’t greet her, and she let the silence remain.
The must from the blanket whooshed up as she sat down. She held the glowing stone in her hands, trying to reassure herself she was doing what was needed. Even if Decker were the enemy, the witches must have intended her to be there with him. Otherwise, why would they have sent her?
Tainted Waters: A Dark Paranormal Fantasy Novel (Paranormal Peacekeepers Book 1) Page 5