Maxwell held him in a glare, while he drained the rest of his drink. “Impartial, Chester. I can send another ambassador to make the final negotiations, if you can’t remain impartial due to your species bias.”
“I have no bias.”
“Good. Report again in four days, with what I assume will be a final statement.” Maxwell stood, taking his notes and leaving the empty cup. “Dismissed. Don’t dally onsite. I want this resolved.”
After Maxwell left, Chester stood with his eyes closed a second. Several outcomes raced across his mind. He needed to get back to make sure the worst ones didn’t happen.
It might have been a mistake to let Alice go, but he didn’t think so. She was much more valuable in the cave than stuck in processing at the PPK. Besides that, she wasn’t a flight risk or a danger. She better not be. If he messed up so soon after his last write up, they would assign him the next hundred goblin complaints. No one liked those calls.
Before leaving, he stopped at his room to look over a few spells in his grimoire, in case things did go south with the light elf.
The elves, both light and dark, on staff at PPK were in positions he never crossed paths with, and he didn’t socialize with them. He heard they had formidable magic, but since this was a dark elf and witch issue, and he’d never been on a light elf call, he’d never read up on them and wasn’t sure what to expect aside from the legends, which were not always true.
A voice broke the silence. “You back already? Cards tonight?”
Chester looked up from his reading to see, Harvey, a morph who he considered a close friend, standing in the door. He offered a warm smile. “Nah, I’m ankle deep in elf drama. You still unassigned? How’d you get so far up in rank for this much time off?”
Harvey stretched the wings of the pixie form he was experimenting with. “As if. I was assigned something. I’m just more efficient than you. You need some pointers on how to close a deal? Takes finesse and charm. I’m not sure I can do much for a crass bastard like you, but I’m always up for a challenge.”
“Piss off with your charm. You save me a seat for next week. I’ve got to go before a magic battle breaks out and I miss all the fun.” Chester put his book back. He locked his room and walked with Harvey.
On the way to the departure zone, he listened to Harvey ramble on about his assignments, other ambassadors, and a new guy who Chester had yet to meet. This was where he belonged. Being at the coven made him nostalgic for witches, but witches never accepted him. These were his people. The motley crew. His blended family.
After Harvey turned off toward the common rooms, Chester walked in silence. If Alice did survive, would she find this home like he did, or a prison. Maybe she would become a friend, join the weekly card games, or have a drink with him and Harvey, while they talked about crazy assignments. That was unlikely. She would be in one of the staff wings. Were there any hybrid ambassadors? Not on Maxwell’s wing. Maybe on other wings with less strict overseers.
He made the last turn toward the exit, down another hall that looked the same as the last. The soft grays didn’t take away from the sterile feeling of the place. The beings who called it home did that.
His mind drifted back to Alice. Would she belong to Maxwell, if he brought her in? Would Maxwell want her in his wing, considering his distaste of hybrids?
“Why do you care?” he asked himself as he stepped into the scanner to make sure he wasn’t smuggling out any PPK property.
After the light flashed green, he walked through to the exit guard and handed him his ID and mission card.
The guard stepped away, typing something into his computer, and swiped Chester’s ID. After several minutes of the guard clattering on his keyboard, he returned to Chester. “You are clear, have a safe journey.”
DAVINA LOCKED THE attic door, strode to the center of the room, and sat down her bag. A stream of light from the one window held the dust in its path as if magically suspending it. The smell of burnt roots from her last casting hung welcoming in the air.
Boards creaked as she walked to her supplies and grabbed a cast iron plate, some roots, and a jar of powder. She sat the supplies in the center of the room.
A soft chant echoed while she enclosed herself in a circle. The circle wasn’t to keep in any malevolent forces so much as it was to act as a barrier to hold in her magic, and keep nosy witches from wondering what she was casting.
She pulled out two fine, blonde hairs from her bag. After a search of Gretchen’s room didn’t turn up her necklace, she decided it made the most sense it was Alice, not another sister witch who stole it. A preemptive strike was in order. The hairs would be enough to bind Alice.
While a curse was tempting and would happen when time allowed, Davina wanted to ensure the little traitor didn’t cast against her, or undo anything her and Kheelan did before the elves died. A simple disconnect of Alice from her power would accomplish that.
With the plate sat in front of her, Davina closed her eyes, rolling the roots between her fingers until there was a bitter smelling juice seeping out. After the juice coated her fingertips, she picked up the hairs, twirling them across the sticky substance, while softly chanting.
After she completed the chant, she opened her eyes, and sat the hairs on the plate. Her fingers wrapped the jar of powder, unscrewing the lid. As she sprinkled the powder on the hair, Davina envisioned Alice. Using her maternal bond, she aligned vibrations with her daughter’s soul. Her focus narrowed on the power that lay within. Power she inherited from her. Once she had that vibration with Alice’s personal buzz, Davina pressed out the intention of a parting.
When she started imagining Alice and her power disconnect, a black light flashed on the plate. Dark sparks shot out. Davina flinched. That wasn’t right. A flame should have erupted, separating Alice and her power, and burning long enough for Davina to bind those powers.
She sat down fully, staring at the flameless plate, and the unburned hairs mocking her. Alice didn’t have training. Even with her necklace, she couldn’t have worked an effective ward that quickly.
“Damn dirty elves!” Davina smacked the plate, knocking it over. How had Alice managed to convince them to use their supplies and help her with a spell?
She drew in a deep breath, glad she gave in to Kheelan now. The two extra days and dead elves suited her fine. Dead? Could Alice be dead already? Maybe that was why the binding didn’t work. Wouldn’t a mother witch sense when her daughter returned power to the line?
Davina stood, broke the circle, and retrieved her scrying mirror. She flipped the plate over and found the hairs on the floorboard.
After spreading the hair across the mirror, she stared at it until the blackness gave way to an image.
Alice sat on the floor at the feet of an angry elf. Her eyes held a true terror that brought a smile to Davina’s face. She stifled the celebration for when she saw Alice’s corpse.
Davina concentrated, bringing the vision into a clearer frame. On Alice’s neck dangled her necklace.
“A ward?” How could she be so cold to use a treasured family heirloom as a ward?
Kheelan was right, there was no place for a creature like her. Alice had no respect for witches and she didn’t even know she was light elf as far as Davina knew. Rage threatened to engulf her the more she thought about her mother’s necklace being used against her.
The picture wavered. A strong sensation of fear rushed from the mirror. Davina relaxed. Kheelan was correct about something else. Now that the water was worse, Alice would be the first to die.
“Good.” She sat the mirror down, plucked off the hairs and walked to her altar. “I hope the elves eat you alive, little girl.”
At the altar Davina put the hair in a small box. If Alice managed to survive the elves, she would find a way around the ward. If the elves helped her make it, Kheelan would know the method and possibly how to undo it as well.
Before she had the chance to do anything else, the sensation of Chester’s ar
rival drew her attention. After she cleared the room of her magic, and returned her supplies to her bag, she started down the stairs.
“What are you doing here?” She greeted him at the door. “It hasn’t been two days.”
“No, I’m afraid you get me a day early.” His smile died before it fully formed and his tone hardened. “It wouldn’t have been wise to extend my stay. There is work to be done here.”
“Yes, well, in your absence I’ve found the evidence you need to link Gretchen to this whole disaster.” Davina’s nose crinkled. “Since my word counts for very little.”
“It’s not like that.” Chester followed her toward the stairs. “What did you find?”
Davina walked to her room and retrieved the journal. She nodded toward a chair. “Have a seat. I found her journal.”
Chester sat in the chair and took the book that she had opened to the appropriate page. He read in silence.
Davina watched, not showing any indication that she was nervous he might feel the magic used to insert the pages.
“That’s as good as a signed confession.” Chester looked up from the journal. “This will go a long way to making peace easier to establish.”
“Were there any issues with your reporting that I need made aware of?” Davina circled him, pacing while he sat still reading.
He looked up from his reading. “Alice was a sticking point. The PPK doesn’t tolerate hybrids. I did make sure they know you were unaware of her existence before she arrived.”
Anger flashed across her mind. “I would exterminate her for them, if you hadn’t let her get away. Did you inform them you had a hand in that?”
“I did.” He closed the book. “Can we meet the elf a day early? They did let me know time is of the essence.”
“No. He was clear about when. What’s one more day?” Can’t have the PPK rushing in to save my treacherous daughter. Davina pushed down her happiness as images of Alice being chewed on by the elves danced across her thoughts.
Chapter Eighteen
“JUDGING FROM SOME of his symptoms, he’s been exposed to the same things you were, but to a lesser degree.” The healer talked with Decker outside the doorway.
“It doesn’t look less. He’s unconscious.” Decker tapped his boot, impatience showing on his face. “Perhaps I am not making myself clear. I need him well enough to talk, now.”
“Sir, in addition to that, he’s also suffered a lot of time in the sun. I’ve given him what was left of the witch’s blood, but exposure sickness takes time to ebb.” The healer looked at Alice, who was trying to peer in the door and see Jasper. “No telling what else she did to him. We both witnessed her curse him once before. Took his breath without trying.”
“Me? That was, never mind. Will more blood help him?” Alice turned her attention back to the two elves.
Decker closed his eyes for a long blink. “You offering, sweet?”
“I am. He’s ill, and we need him to fix the water.” Alice stood as tall as she dared. Wanting to inspire confidence, but not to come off as challenging Decker in front of the healer. “I’m here to help you, sir.”
“It can’t hurt.” The healer spoke in the gentlest tone he’d used directed at Alice. “If her blood removes the burden on his body from the toxins, his immune system will be freed up to fight the effects of his prolonged exposure.”
“Sir?” There was amusement in Decker’s tone. His glare raked over Alice, before turning back to the healer. He clicked his tongue. “And the exposure? When will he be talking?”
“I can give him a few things to speed it along. There could be enough relief for him to communicate meaningfully in a few hours.” The healer stepped back as Decker growled. “Or sooner.”
“Sooner is better. For me and more so for you.” Decker wrapped the fingers of his right hand around Alice’s upper arm and walked with her into the room. “Give me something for her blood.”
“I offered,” she reminded him, hoping that would loosen his grip. The sneer on his face gave her a shiver as memories of him sick in this room, attacking and biting her, came back.
He chuckled. “Glad we are clear.”
When the healer handed Decker a glass, Decker dropped his grip on her and pulled out his knife.
“May I?” Alice’s voice didn’t reflect the tremble that raced across her. “Please.”
Decker arched a brow and handed her the knife. “Mind the blade, it’s sharp.”
Alice took his knife, trying not to think about the last time she saw it, in the cave. She whimpered as the edge sliced her wrist. Blood quickly filled the small gash and trickled away from the cut.
Decker took his knife and held the jar under her cut. After a small amount dripped in and pooled in the bottom, he sat it down and lifted her arm, holding her wrist tight. “Do let us know if he needs more.”
Behind them, Jasper stirred and mumbled.
“He’s waking. Can I go to him?” Alice looked toward the bed, not wanting to make a move or do anything to trigger Decker.
Before Decker responded, Jasper stilled, his eyes closed, and his breathing leveled out.
“No, we have work to do.” Decker nudged her toward the door. “We will be in the oracle’s workroom. Alert me as soon as he is able to converse.”
In the hall, Alice waited until they were far enough away not to be heard. “What is wrong with you? I need to talk to him too.”
“About?” Decker kept walking, his boots echoing in the corridor.
An exasperated sounding sigh escaped before Alice reined it in. “Are we really going to have to argue about everything? The spells. He wrote them. I…”
“He is ill, resting. When he is able, you may talk to him.” Decker put his hand up, in her face. “Did you practice the spells with him?”
“Yes.” Alice started to say more, but again he interrupted her.
“And are you confident you can cast the spells he wrote?” His voice boomed in the narrow passageway.
“Yes, but…” When his hand raised again, she balled her hands to avoid swatting it down.
“I’m a competent elf mage. Whatever you planned on him doing, you may explain to me. We need to leave at nightfall.” He stopped at Jasper’s room and dropped the barrier, waving for Alice to go inside. “Why was this room locked off?”
Alice’s mouth opened, but no words came out for a long moment. “Because those spells are life and death, we can’t risk anything happening to them. I can’t teach you his part. I’m still learning mine. Hell, I’m still learning the finer points of casting.”
He walked in, erected a new shield and waved her to show him where the spells were. “You don’t need to teach me how to cast. Just what to cast, sweet.”
“Look, now that we are alone, can we please talk about what’s changed since the swamp? I’m sorry the water reacted to me, and made you sick, but I gave you a cure. I gave you life and I am giving you hope to survive now. If Jasper and I hadn’t done what we did, what made him sick, your elves would be pinned in here forever. Dead.” Her voice grew bolder with each word.
“You want what? A medal? Pat on the back? Nothing has changed.” He circled around the table where she stood. “You have not done what you promised, when you and I first came to an arrangement. You said you would fix my water. I said I would let you live. My water still isn’t fixed. It is worse in fact, and yet you live. One of us isn’t following through. Who is that?”
Alice turned to him, inching into his face. “I have done everything to reach that goal. Not stopping when you sent awful images into my mind and permanently damaged my aunt. Who, by the way, I stole from to help you.” She kept talking, staying in his face. “Not stopping after you bit me. You, who I was trying to help. Now, here I am not stopping after you carry on threatening me. So, no I don’t want a pat on the back, but damn it I want you to tone down the ugly.”
Decker threw back his head and laughed heartily. The sound of his laughter was not menacing as it usually was.
“Brave, sweet, Alice. You haven’t seen my ugly. Let us do this working together thing, before time runs out for us both. Show me the spells.”
“This one…” She handed him a loose page, letting the rest of the conversation drop. “Is for after I pull out my blood, or rather the toxic element it added. Jasper isn’t sure that I’m ready to disperse the magic I will call out. He made a spell for him to help with that. You will need to wrap the toxic fumes, or whatever form it takes, in a dark protective shell is how he explained it to me.”
“Seems a lot of uncertainty, considering how hard you say you two have been working at this.” Decker scanned the words. “Is this what you used for holding back the entrance water?”
“No, we used a modified barrier illusion.” Alice put aside the spell she would use to pull out her blood, and ran her hands over their notes. “We were thinking the thing in the water that seared me while you and I were there, needs removed before the next step will be possible. This spell is to heal me after I do that.”
“Again with the guesswork.” Decker took the page, skimming the words. “This will connect you and I in a way we can share strength, among other things. It’s a strong way to heal, but a bit much I should think, and needs a reversal spell to accompany it.”
Alice cut her eyes at him. “I’m not fond of being connected to you either. If I’m not that hurt, are there other spells you know? He seemed to think since this happened from just a second, it would be bad.” She held out her hand, letting Decker see her palm.
He didn’t appear impressed by the symbol. “It’s healed on its own. Did it pain you badly?”
“I almost drowned. The magic in the water has a thoughtful aspect, like the air that gathered at your entrance. Something tried to tangle me and that thing protected itself from my grasp. There is no telling what I will face or how much help I will need from you.” Alice saw no change in the confident poise he held. “I’m on my own in the water, I know that, but I could need you when I get out.”
Tainted Waters: A Dark Paranormal Fantasy Novel (Paranormal Peacekeepers Book 1) Page 18