“Enchantresses,” I murmured as I moved closer to him. My fingertips crackled as our power flowed between us, and his sword glowed a light silver. “Best to never be caught unprepared with the likes of them.”
“Not to mention their nutjob of a father.” Bren shivered and stomped his feet as if to warm himself. I pointed to the dying fire, drew on our combined power, and it leapt into a full and proper blaze.
The singing was louder now, the music both eerie and menacing. Why hadn’t the harpy woken? Even the slithers and the elfling slept. Or did I see a twitch beneath the blankets? Ah, yes, my good and faithful servant was merely feigning his sleep, if only to surprise the enchantress if need be.
Bren shivered so much now that his hand tinted blue against the hilt of his sword, and I could tell he had a hard time maintaining his grip on his weapon. Why was he so cold? With his injured hand he rubbed behind one ear and winced from the pain it must have caused his hand.
The singing was so loud now that my ears ached with it. Even I was not entirely immune to the power of their song. I had to fight to maintain my senses.
Now the music was coming from every direction, surrounding us.
I sent Bren a burst of heat through our magic and he jumped. “Thanks.” He looked less chilled now as he held up his sword and slowly turned to look at the trees around our small clearing. I turned, too, my back to his, our magic flowing between us, ready the moment we needed it.
Ghostly forms appeared in the trees, wavering, as if made from moonlight. In the next moment, four—no, six—beautiful women melted from the covering. Their forms became stronger and clearer the closer they came to us. I sensed their hatred and their desire for our demise. Except one, the blonde one who gazed at Bren with a seductive look to her eyes. At once I knew she was the enchantress who had touched Bren’s essence, and I balled my fists to keep from zapping her and knocking her on her backside.
“Stay back,” Bren ordered the enchantresses, his sword flashing a sudden silver brilliance. The women hesitated and their singing faltered as they shielded their eyes and gave soft whimpers. “What do you want? Where’s your father, the Erlking?”
A redheaded enchantress took a brave step forward. Immediately I sensed she was the eldest of the sisters, their spokesperson. “Our most powerful and noble father sends you a message.”
“Noble, my ass,” Bren muttered, then louder he said, “What does the freak want?”
The redhead hissed, and her eyes glowed a vicious green. The other sisters moved closer, their eyes glowing, too, their nearly sheer robes billowing in a sudden breeze, and their ethereal forms becoming more solid the closer they came closer.
I grabbed Bren’s bandaged fingers and felt him flinch with pain. I flinched, too, but focused on our power as I held up my hand and shouted, “Cease!”
Nothing happened. The redhead merely laughed, showing delicately pointed incisors.
“It doesn’t work on them,” Bren grumbled. He raised his sword and brilliant silver light flooded our small clearing. The enchantresses whimpered and drew back, shielding their eyes. “But for some reason my sword does.”
The redheaded enchantress hissed again. “Our father sends word, whelp.”
“Get on with it.” Bren’s grip on his sword never wavered. “Deliver the message and get out of here.”
“If you do this unnatural thing, if you enter Talamadden to attempt to bring back the harpy young,” she said in a voice that slithered through the night like the deadliest serpent, “the Erlking will make you pay.”
“I’m so scared,” Bren muttered where only I could hear him. Louder, he said, “Whatever. Now go before I use you to send my own message.”
His sword throbbed with our joint powers, and the air around us lit up like high noon.
The enchantresses let out clamorous, furious wails. Clawing at the sky, they melted back into the forest, then vanished, like low-hanging fog in a wind.
***
Chapter Sixteen
We didn’t talk about Todd. We didn’t talk about L.O.S.T., or risks, or the Erlking’s daughters.
We just broke camp, mounted up, and flew, which was fine by me. I couldn’t believe how fast we were moving. The journey that had taken days before would be so much shorter this time. Good. I wanted this over as fast as possible.
Jazz seemed to understand how miserable I felt. Acaw, his crow-brother, and Garth didn’t ask any stupid questions, either.
The enchantress’s words rang in my ears, louder and louder with each passing minute, each new hour. It was still fresh in my mind when we reached the summit, landed, and disembarked to stand before the gateway between worlds.
The land of the living…and the land of the dead.
All that about Todd. Was that a nightmare or a vision? If my little brother was in trouble, why didn’t I know? Were we that far apart now, that Jazz would get the vision and I’d get zilch?
It tore me in half to keep flying away from him when I wanted more than anything to turn around and lay tracks for home.
Brother, son, boyfriend, king—trying to sort everything out sucked big time. How could I do everything I needed to do? Be everywhere I needed to be, and be responsible for everything I needed to be responsible for? It didn’t seem possible.
Focus. One thing at a time. We had come to help the harpies. We had to finish that in a hurry, then get home and figure out what was going on.
And speaking of the harpies, what was the Erlking planning, anyway? Last time he tried to kill me with a push. This time, though, it just seemed weird we hadn’t seen him. I kept looking left and right, expecting to see something, or feel it, but I didn’t sense a thing. Finally, I centered myself and got back to business.
The slithers landed smoothly in the now dark clearing I remembered from my first journey, and sure enough, there was the gateway. Jazz and I bailed off and ran to it, both breathing hard, like we’d run all the way. Acaw and the harpy double-timed over, too.
For a long moment we all studied the black monolith, the doorway to a place the living should never be able to enter, and most of the dead couldn’t leave. We didn’t touch it, just stared at it. This time the sun wasn’t shining, wasn’t giving us at least some warmth from the snow beneath our feet. Moonlight lent an eerie glow to the doorway, and every noise made me want to jump. The hoot of an owl. The scurry of a mouse through the brush. And a sound like something slithering over branches. I didn’t even want to think what that might be.
The slithers snorted and stamped, and Garth gave an impatient growl. Close by us, Acaw and his crow-brother remained silent.
Todd. What’s going on? I sent the thought like my brother would actually hear me. I’m worried about you. Just hang on. I’m going to take care of this thing, then I’ll be right back to help you. Whatever you need, okay? I promise.
I couldn’t believe I was trying to talk to my brother in my head. Or trying to open the gateway to Talamadden to save a bunch of big, stinky harpies. And I still couldn’t believe I’d asked Jazz to marry me. But at least that felt good. It felt right.
Focus, focus, focus…
Jazz shivered beside me. When I put my arm around her and my remaining fingers gripped her shoulder, I realized my hand didn’t hurt much anymore. The magic and herbs the healers had used, and Jazz tending to my fingers with our magic each night, had made the skin heal over and the scabs were pretty much gone. I wondered if any of the pain I still felt in my hand was simply the pain of loss.
Yeah, maybe I didn’t have all my fingers anymore, but I still had my magic as long as I was with Jazz, still had my instinct for battle as long as I was paying attention, and I’d learned to keep a cool and calm head most of the time. I’d been a switch-hitter on my baseball team, I could learn to be a switch—er, swordsman.
Jazz’s trembling increased, and when I looked at her she was biting her lower lip. “Shadows,” she whispered, then shook her head. The fear in her expression turned to one of resolve. �
��No. I will not let my fear draw them to me. I will not fear them any longer.”
“Hey,” I caught her chin in my hand, forcing her to look at me. “You don’t have to cross over. You can stay here and wait. I’d be happier knowing you’re safe anyway.”
She frowned and elbowed me. “As if you could do it without me.”
I clasped my hands to my heart. “You wound me, Madame.”
Jazz rolled her eyes and shoved me away. “You’ve been watching too many old human movies. Or reading too many ancient scrolls.”
I winked, even though I was worried.
We both turned our attention back to the wall. Jazz audibly inhaled and I rested my hand on my sword hilt. It felt all wrong with the sheath being on the opposite side of my hips, but maybe one day I’d get used to it. Yeah, one day I would. I just hoped it was soon.
The slithers raised their heads and snorted again, louder this time. Garth flapped his wings and gave a startled cry. Acaw’s crow-brother squawked, but the elfling simply stated in his matter-of-fact voice, “Twilight grows in the land of the dead while midnight approaches on this side of the passage, as do many dangers. If you do not find a way to cross over now, I fear we may not have the opportunity to do so again.”
Jazz and I looked at each other, and that’s when the singing began.
“The weird sisters,” I muttered.
The singing was louder this time, more intense. I forced myself to concentrate and tried to block the sounds from my mind like I’d learned to do with the klatchKeepers. But it was so much harder. My head swam and my body chilled until my teeth chattered. Jazz sent me a stream of warming energy, and I straightened my stance, waiting for the freaky combo to come creeping up in their eerie way.
That was just about the second when everything went nuts.
Shadowy forms flew at us from every direction, so fast I barely had time to raise my sword and send a burst of power through it. Shrieks rent the air and I saw the enchantresses in the sword’s silver glow. This time they barely flinched from the light. Instead it seemed to attract them, bringing them straight at us.
And this time the women were wielding daggers.
Sparks sizzled at Jazz’s fingertips and I felt her draw on our mutual power as she shot a bolt of pure energy at an enchantress bearing down on her. The enchantress squealed, fell on her side, and rolled down the snowy incline.
At the same time, the redhead came at me, tiny fangs glistening in the moonlight, her hair flaming in the silvery light of my sword. Jeez, I didn’t want to hurt a woman, but she was out to kill me.
Instead of slicing her head off with my weapon, I gripped the hilt and slammed the blade broadside against her shoulder. The impact jolted my teeth. The sword slipped in my off-hand, almost tumbling into the dirt.
The redhead cried out, dropped to her knees, and leaped to her feet again in a flash. I could barely bring the sword around in time to drive her back a step. Each thrust, each parry, I was sure I was going to drop the blade and get my head bitten off. Literally.
While keeping my attention on fang-woman, I was aware of Jazz, fingers blazing, battling an enchantress or two, while the slithers and the harpy were also under attack. Acaw and his crow-brother were doing their Kung-Fu thing, keeping more of the enchantresses away from me and Jazz.
There were so many! Or was it just that they moved so fast they seemed everywhere at once? How could I fight them off? The sword felt like it was ripping my wrist off.
The redhead dove for me again, her face twisted with rage, her teeth and dagger coming straight at my neck. This time when I tried to block her with my sword, she dodged it and flung herself against my chest like a lioness. Woman or not, I fisted my hand and punched at her jaw.
Before I ever landed a blow, something ripped her off me like she didn’t weigh a thing.
“Get away from him!” Jazz had the redhead by the hair. Golden eyes blazing with fury, Jazz landed a swift kick to the enchantress’s belly, then flung a fireball at her red curls.
That’s my girl!
The redhead screamed and rolled in the snow, trying to put the fire out at the same time the other enchantresses continued their attack. The air smelled of burnt hair, blood, and battle. I could taste it on my tongue—could hear it roaring m my ears.
The slithers flapped their massive wings, knocking at least two enchantresses down the hill and almost sending Acaw after them. The elfling barely ducked in time, while driving away another one of the vicious women.
Garth was screeching, clawing at the enchantress who had given me that burst of healing and energy after I’d fought the Erlking. For one second I felt sorry for her. After all, she had healed me and gave me something extra. But when I saw her slice her dagger across the harpy’s hand, my hair prickled on my scalp. I was seriously pissed. The bastard might have taken my fingers, but he’d done it for his children, and he’d become one of us on this long journey.
Sword in hand, I ran toward him and stumbled over a fallen enchantress. When I reached Garth, I braced myself and sent out a firmly planted side kick to the one who’d sliced the harpy. She went tumbling into a snowy bank, but she still got up. After she slowly pushed herself to her feet, her icy glare froze me down to my gut.
“You will regret that,” the blonde said, just before she faded and vanished into the tree line.
I braced myself for another attack, but when I looked around, not an enchantress was to be seen. Only a piece of glimmering ripped cloth here, glistening strands of hair there, and blood glowing silvery black in the snow beneath the moon’s light. I couldn’t tell if the blood was theirs or ours, or both.
My breathing came hard and fast as I assessed the damage to our little troupe. Acaw and his crow-brother were already attending to the slithers, calming them, and placing balm on their wings. I swear the elfling had everything in his knapsack, including a whole magical first-aid kit. I smelled marigold and comfrey, and the sinus-clearing scent of tea tree oil that he was using to treat the slithers’ wounds.
I turned my head and had the ridiculous urge to laugh, and at the same time felt a swell of pride when I saw Jazz. Her knees were bent in a battle stance, a dagger in each hand, obviously taken from an enchantress or two. Jazz’s long black hair was wild around her face, her golden eyes blazing. Daggers at the ready, she looked like a warrior priestess who could kick some serious enchantress ass—which was exactly what she’d just done.
A soft cry jolted me from my thoughts and I turned to see Garth holding his human-like hand to his feathered chest. It was bleeding like crazy, and pain and misery twisted his ugly features—and something else. Gratefulness, I thought. He was grateful to me.
“Jazz,” I called out, needing her healing energy to join with mine so that we could help the giant harpy.
The wild-haired woman with the flashing golden eyes dropped to her knees and let the daggers fall to her sides. She softened at once. “He’s hurt.”
“I need your help,” I said, and as one we reached for Garth’s hand. He mewled and cradled it closer to his chest.
“We’re going to help you, heal you.” Jazz’s voice became soft, reassuring. “Let me see it.”
Garth’s hand trembled as he held it out and I felt lightheaded at the sight of all that blood. Just like me, the harpy had lost fingers in an attack, only he’d had three whacked off with the dagger, where I’d lost only two.
“Only two,” I muttered.
While we used our magic to seal the wounds and stop the flow of blood, I was intensely aware of all that was going on around us, and ready for any attack that might come out of nowhere. Acaw’s crow-brother kept on constant lookout, while Acaw finished administering to the wounded slithers.
Apparently we’d won this round, but I wasn’t waiting around for them to show up again, or their no doubt very pissed-off father. When the Erlking saw his hair-snatched, cut, beaten up, burned, and bruised daughters, there was going to be hell to pay.
When we’d do
ne the best we could to ensure everyone was taken care of, Jazz and I once more stood before the monolith. Cold air found its way through every opening of my clothing, and Jazz shivered beside me. “Let’s do it,” she said.
We quickly took candles from out of one of the slither’s saddlebags—big ones this time. We placed them farther from the black door so that Garth would also be encompassed by the circle. The slithers, Acaw, and his crow-brother were staying behind. Showing their displeasure at being abandoned, the slithers snorted and stamped. They melted the snow with a blast of flame, and almost singed my butt in the process.
Jazz took Acaw’s staff and dug the circle in the trampled snow, large enough to surround us all. She chanted aloud,
Close this circle, to the Goddess we pray.
Bind us in safety and show us the way.
Bless our task and guide our hands.
Help us to cross between the lands.
I mentally crossed my fingers. We had come here to do a good thing. A right and true thing. Surely the universe would shine on us for a second, give us a little help.
Jazz pointed her finger at each candle and the wicks burst into flame. When she finished, she came to me and gripped my good hand. Raising our arms together, we tilted our faces to the moon and Jazz chanted,
Bless us with mercy, help us to cross.
Help right this wrong, reverse this loss.
Help us bring balance, give life its due.
Open this gate and lead us through.
Warmth flowed through me and I felt it like I had been plunged into the strongest current in the ocean, as if it would suck us under, or through that black door. Our magic swirled between us, silver and gold glowing like a glittering aura. The moon blazed above us, bright white, brighter than the sun.
Was the Goddess listening?
Something was.
More light. More power. Rising. Rising like waves, like tides, like a force we couldn’t resist.
We drew down the power of the Goddess, and I felt it in my body stronger than when I’d drawn down the sun. More tangible, like I could grab onto it and draw the moon right to me—or run to it and wrap my arms around its warmth.
L.O.S.T. Trilogy Box Set Page 43