Frozen Vengeance

by Evi Asher

  “Yeah, when he built the place, had he had a basement built into it, there would have been enough space.”

  “What did he say?” Somehow, Angelica already knew the answer.

  “He refused—he didn’t want the filthy miners in his home, so he made them go shelter in the mine.”

  Angelica gasped. She had an idea what must have happened next.

  “The people didn’t have much choice. Their homes wouldn’t have stood up to the strength of the blizzard.

  Angelica stopped, so involved in the story, she didn’t even hear the wolf howl closer. “What happened next?”

  Colt stopped and looked back with a lifted eyebrow. “Why aren’t you walking?”

  “Oh, sorry,” she mumbled, and started moving through the snow again.

  “What happened, Colt?”

  He smiled and turned, walking on. “The storm was brutal. It shook the whole area, howling like an insane demon.”

  Angelica held her breath.

  “No one knew where Radcliff was, but just before the storm broke, the entrance to the mine caved in.”

  “Oh, my gods.” Angelica gasped, lifting her hands to her mouth. “All those people?”

  “Buried alive, yes.” Colt broke through another snow bank and waited for Angelica to come through behind him.

  She must have been pale because he frowned. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, it’s just such a horrible story.”

  “Yeah, and it’s sad. Though no one can confirm it because every man woman and child in that mine died, but it’s said that the people of Radcliff put a curse on the man himself. As for Radcliff, they say he froze to death in the snow while trying to escape the town.”

  Angelica took it in and felt pain and pity for the people of the town—all dead because of one man’s greed and elitism. It was horrible to think about it, and she felt her heart ache for them.

  She took another step forward and her foot disappeared deeper into the snow, her ankle twisting in a hole that she hadn’t seen because it was covered.

  She cried out and went down, her arms pin wheeling as she tried to catch her balance. In the next instant, Angelica was face down in the snow.

  She felt a warm hand around her upper arm as Colt helped her up. It caused a tingle of pleasure, and she hid the shiver of need that raced through her body. Spluttering and disgusted, she sat in the snow and wiped it off her face.

  “You need to watch your footing.” He sounded angry.

  “Shut up. I just face planted in the snow, so I’m not in the mood for your grumpy ass.” She opened one eye and looked at him, expecting a glower, and was shocked when she saw his lips curled in a breath-taking smile.

  “Face planted? Exactly what were you watching when you watched this realm.”

  Angelica chose not to answer him and tried to stand, wincing a bit at the pain in her ankle.

  “Is it broken or sprained?” he asked as he lifted her up.

  “A little sprained, but nothing I can’t handle.” She lifted her chin and dusted snow off her robes.

  “You sure? We wouldn’t want you to face plant again, yeah?”

  He was laughing at her, the jerk. “I thought you were supposed to be breaking the trail.”

  “I was, and you wouldn’t have fallen if you’d stuck to it.”

  He was still smiling and she wanted to punch him in the face. Mortification made her feel hot all of a sudden.

  “Oh—just go stomp some snow down. I’m right behind you.”

  “You are entertaining when you’re all mad, like a wet, spitting kitten.”

  “Shut up, Colt.” She glared at him and he must have had enough of teasing her because he turned. It was obvious that he was still amused and started walking ahead of her again.

  They walked for a while longer, the outline of what was left of the mine growing larger as they went. Angelica didn’t know if it was because the story was still fresh in her mind, or if it was because she was being a big scaredy cat, but she swore they weren’t alone.

  They were still hearing the wolf howls, closer and closer, but Colt didn’t seem worried. It wasn’t the wolves howling that was freaking her out, though. Angelica felt something else, something like the feeling Michael had given her when he appeared to her in the house, but this was much worse. Intense and deep, the cold was more than the wind and snow. It was bone deep and chilling, and she felt her steps falter.

  Dizzy, Angelica put her hand to her head and told herself to suck it up. The sooner they were gone from the mine, the sooner she’d stop being scared of ghosts that weren’t there. It was a story and it couldn’t be true. Colt had been trying to scare her—that had to be it.

  Oh, yeah? Explain Michael, then?

  She had to admit it was a valid argument. If Michael was around and he was a ghost, then there had to be more ghosts.

  She saw something flicker in her peripheral vision. Her head snapped in that direction, but there was nothing.

  Angelica frowned and took another step. Something flickered again, this time on both sides. She couldn’t move fast enough to see both.

  A wolf howled right in the tree line nearest them.

  “Colt…”

  Chapter Seven

  Colt tensed a moment before Geli spoke his name. Something was wrong. There was something that felt colder than the ambient temperature of the air around them, even with the wind blowing, an unnamed presence.

  He felt the hair on the back of his neck rise and turned around taking a large step toward Angelica.

  She screamed, her whole body going stiff as if electrocuted. The snow around her went up in a fountain spray and the wolves charged out of the tree line. Colt had to make a split second decision.

  He lunged, grabbed Angelica, pulling her toward and behind his back. She fell limp to the ground and then he turned and faced the pack of wolves.

  There were six of them, haggard looking, wild, and underfed. He wondered about that as he let his bear surge forward, and explode a roar from his throat.

  Colt’s claws burst from his fingertips and he felt his body enlarge, his shoulders bunching up and surging. He was tempted to complete the transformation, but if he did, he wouldn’t be able to protect Angelica from the other threat that presented itself.

  Colt held the polar bear back, giving it enough room to make its presence known, but not letting it take over.

  The wolves faltered and stopped, whining.

  One wolf separated from the pack, stepping forward with his shoulders hunched and a feral growl, teeth exposed, challenging Colt.

  Colt roared again and faked a lunge in the direction of the wolf. The creature yelped and turned running back toward, then past the others. They followed him and Colt sighed, one threat down, one more to go.

  He turned and bent down and pulled Geli into his arms. Her exposed skin was colder than the surrounding snow.

  He picked her up and straightened to his full height.

  Something unseen had attacked her, sucking the heat out of her body.

  Colt felt confused and scanned the area around him. His eyes locked on the bulge of the mine under the snow and his blood chilled.

  It has to be the ghosts from the mine.

  He spoke to the air around him, scanning for the telltale flicker of a presence. “You can’t have this one.”

  The wind wailed in response.

  “She is mine! You will let us pass!”

  “Sssss-tay,” the wind answered in a whisper.

  “No, Colt barked, pulling Angelica tighter into his chest. She was still unconscious, and he was worried. He needed to warm her up, but first, he needed to get her away from the mine and the spirit presence that had locked onto the phoenix.

  “You know who I am. I have come here from childhood, and I have no fight with you, but if you push this issue, I will push back.”

  The wind picked up, sounding like a whine.

  “I’m going to walk away now, and you will let me.”
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  Colt turned and, still keeping Angelica close to his chest, started to trudge through the deep snow. He could feel the presence all around him, but it didn’t touch him or try to stop him even though the wind howled in a mournful sounding echo.

  Colt wondered why the ghosts wanted the phoenix, and then realized it. Her power was heat. If you were an ice-cold ghost, you would want the energy she produced with her heat. That was why the ghosts had attacked her. They were trying to get warm. They were attracted to her life, and her power.

  He needed to get her as far away from the mine as fast as possible. Colt picked up his pace, jogging through the deep snow. It was difficult, but the need to protect her motivated him. He didn’t examine the feeling too closely, since he had other problems right now. He could worry about wanting to protect the woman he’s sworn to kill at another time.

  * * * *

  Athera of the Phoenix sat on the stool in front of her vanity and brushed out her hip-length, mink-colored hair. She could hear Dub-step blaring down the hall, so she knew that Archer and Scarlet were up.

  Kel would still be asleep. She could sleep through at least ten natural disasters before she became aware that something might not be right.

  Danni was helping Dimi with some admin, and annoying the hell out of poor Zane.

  Ath—the nickname her friends gave her—had made plans for a shopping trip with Trinity, the Outsider’s favorite witch, so she was getting ready.

  The mirror that she was looking into started to mist over and her hand stopped mid stroke through her hair. Someone was trying to contact her from the phoenix plane.

  “Des?” Her voice wavered. Athera missed her older sister. Desembara had helped the four phoenix women escape from the Phoenix plane. They’d had to leave Angelica behind as well, something that Athera was never going to forgive herself for because she knew Angelica had been sent to the breeding center.

  The image cleared up and Athera smiled as her sister’s face became visible.

  “I have missed you, sister mine.”

  “I have missed you also, little sister, but I must be short, and my time with the mirror is stolen.”

  Athera felt her body tense. “Is something amiss?”

  “Angelica is gone. They are saying she escaped from the breeding center.”

  “They are saying?”

  “I do not believe it to be the case. I think the male she was meant to breed with has stolen her.”

  Athera gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. “Where to?”

  “From what I can gather, he has taken her to Earth plane.”

  Athera knew that Desembara was the best tracker the Phoenix had. She was unsurpassed in her skills, and if Des thought that’s where the male had taken Angelica, then that was where they were.

  “That’s not all.” Des glanced over her shoulder, probably watching out for anyone else, then looked back at Ath. “Malta has vanished, too.”

  “Who is Malta?”

  Desembara pinched the bridge of her nose. “The worst of us.”

  “Des, you aren’t making sense.”

  “It is too long to explain, save for the fact that she is evil—the phoenix in charge of the breeding center. I have never liked her. I think she has followed Angelica.”

  “Okay…”

  “She is dangerous, and if you are going to hunt for Angelica, and I know you will, be advised that Malta is to be feared.”

  “Of course I’m going to look for Angelica, but I don’t think this Malta…Desembara glanced over her shoulder again, tensing. “I must go. Be careful, little sister. This is no easy thing you have to do.”

  Athera opened her mouth to speak, but Des held up a hand.

  “Malta’s shifter father was half warlock. She has power. Good luck on this, sister.”

  The mirror went blank, and Athera was left staring at her own shocked expression.

  There was a knock at the door, then the door pushed open. “Are you ready,

  BBF—?” Trinity walked into the room and over to the vanity.

  “BBF?”

  “Yes…Best-Friend-Forever.” Trinity then stared at Athera and sensed something amiss. “What’s wrong?”

  Athera was still in a state of shock. “Angelica…”

  “No, Trinity, your best friend, remember?”

  Athera turned her face and looked at Trinity. “No, you dufus. Angelica is somewhere here on earth plane.”

  “What?” Trinity plopped down on the foot of the bed.

  “We have to find her.”

  “Earth is a big place, sweet-cakes. You will have to be a bit more specific than earth plane.”

  “How do we find her, Trin?”

  Trinity chewed on the edge of her nail, her face scrunched up in thought. “I think I might have an idea.”

  “I forbid it.” Archer crossed his arms, widening his stance, and glaring down at his she as if he could make her listen to him.

  Ath’s brow shot toward her hairline as she watched the scene. They were all in the living room of Outsiders Inc—the bounty-hunting firm they worked for and their home on the earth plane.

  Scarlet—a pyro who had become a phoenix—and the reason why Ath, Kel and Danni now lived on Earth plane, squared off with her mate. None of the males had liked the idea Trinity had come up with, but Archer’s reaction was the worst.

  “I owe Angelica my life, and you owe her for the fact that you have your she.”

  “Yes, baby girl, I know that.” He raked a hand through his hair in frustration. “But I’m not prepared to lose you so we can go save her from God knows where? You are supposed to stay hidden from the Necromancers, not hunt one down.”

  “No hunting involved. I know exactly where he is,” Trinity chimed in.

  “Shut it, Trin, you’ve done enough damage this evening.” He shot a glare at her, who shrugged and leaned back further in the couch she was sitting in.

  “Scarlet doesn’t have to go with Archer. Trinity and I will go.”

  Athera tried for reasonableness, but the plan failed when Scarlet spluttered and said, “No, you are so not benching me.”

  “Trinity, go over it again, while Archer and Scarlet cool their tempers.”

  There were several snorts when Dimi spoke. The irony of a chaos demon with a legendary temper lecturing the others was too much.

  “Okay.” Trinity smiled with an air of indulgence and sat forward in the couch. “The best way I can think of to find Angelica is by setting a blood hound on her, and the only Eternals I know who actively tracked Phoenix back in the days of the Mesolithic period is the Necromancers.”

  She paused for a bright smile, and Athera rolled her eyes. She loved her best friend, but when Trinity got a chance, she was a drama queen and an attention whore.

  “I happen to know a handy Necromancer who isn’t totally evil, but might know how to track and find Angelica. Problem solved.”

  “No, problem not solved,” Archer interjected. “You want to take my mate—a phoenix—to a necromancer, the same breed that would enslave her and suck her dry of all her powers if given half a chance.

  “Hey, she’s not the only phoenix going,” Athera pointed out.

  Archer’s dark look told her that Scarlet was the phoenix that mattered most.

  She raised her hands in surrender. There was no fighting a male in protective mode.

  “Go with them,” Zane said from the door, as he sipped from a black mug.

  Athera didn’t want to think about what was in the mug. Zane was a vampire that drank only animal blood.

  Poor bunny.

  “What?” Archer turned to the blond vampire.

  “If you are so worried about the Necromancer, go with them. You’ll be there to provide security, and take Poe with you, or even better, take me.”

  “I need you at reception, Zane,” Dimi said.

  Zane shrugged. “Danni can handle reception.”

  Athera looked over at Danni and had to agree she was a bit of an a
irhead, and keeping her out of the line of fire was best for them all.

  “Done,” she said.

  Archer raised a hand. “Not so fast.”

  Scarlet stopped him. “No—enough. I’m going. You can come with us to see the necromancer, or you can stay here, wolf, but I’m going. So make up your mind.”

  Athera saw the moment that Archer decided the fight had been lost. He looked down at his little mate with love in his eyes, sighed and said, “Fine.”

  They had driven an hour to get to the town where the Necromancer lived and Athera was more than happy to get out of the cramped car and the dark atmosphere when they stopped in front of a large house.

  Security had stopped them at the gate and Trinity had flashed a toothy smile and told the guard that she was expected.

  He’d given them a look, Archer, and Zane’s large bodies taking up all the spare room in the car, and had frowned, but he’d gone into the gatehouse, and a moment later, the gate had opened.

  Athera opened the door and got out. Cramped did not adequately explain the five of them stuffed into a Mini Cooper, and when they started climbing out of it, it looked like a clown car expelling its contents.

  Zane stretched, and glared at Trinity. “I’m never driving in that tiny little car again, Trin. I don’t care how many of your toys you throw out your crib.”

  She waltzed up to him and pinched his cheek. “But, baby cakes, the Mini was the best way to keep you close to me.”

  The vampire blushed and Trinity laughed. “Come now, everyone. It is time to meet the big bad necromancer.”

  The front of the house was a gothic construction replete with gargoyles and stone latticework. Athera gave the place a weary look, but followed Trinity up the stairs. She was right behind the witch when Trinity pulled back the knocker—in a gargoyles mouth—and let it fall. The sound was louder than Athera expected and she jumped a little, then lectured herself on keeping her nerves settled and her wits on the task.

  Her thoughts scattered when the door opened and a man appeared. He was tall—

  past six foot—with dark, shaggy cut hair. His face was clean-shaven and he looked young, but the power of his body belied that. Cord after cord of ripped muscles was visible on his bare torso and Athera couldn’t help but let her eyes travel the length of his body. Tattered jeans hung low on lean hips, a PlayStation game controller grasped loosely in his right hand, and his feet were bare.