The First Spell

by Rachel Carrington

  “You’re liars! You’re all liars!”

  Charlie realized in that instant they would never break through Galen’s wall of paranoia. She touched Jensen’s arm to get his attention then shook her head. He responded with a nod.

  “I will kill all of you,” Galen continued to rant.

  Jensen’s gaze locked with Falcon’s, and Charlie wondered what they were thinking. Though neither spoke, they communicated, and from the tension in their stances, she knew most of their concern centered around the missing fire dagger. Galen was powerless against the Assembly without that. With it, he was virtually indestructible.

  Galen’s eyes popped open, and in that second, Charlie realized her mistake. He hadn’t known of the protection power of the fire dagger. His lips parted in a grin, and she only managed to scream Jensen’s name before her uncle held his hand up toward the ceiling and cried out in a language she didn’t understand.

  The guttural noises poured from his throat, and flashes of brilliant lightning illuminated the ground at his feet. His back bowed, and his feet came off the ground several inches while his eyes rolled back in his head.

  Jensen gave Charlie a shove backwards, and in an instant, Galen was surrounded by more wizards than she could count. Falcon ordered them all to stay back with just an uplifted hand.

  Her vision clouded, and red, vibrant images swarmed in front of her eyes. Not events from the past or the future but instructions. A gnarled hand pointed toward the air just a few inches away from Galen’s body, and the impact of her slamming into him, though imaginary, still stole her breath.

  When she could see again, Charlie righted herself and lunged upwards, meeting Galen in the air. Following the visual map, she spun away from him to gain momentum, and while Jensen shouted from below, she sped forward and rammed into her uncle. The force jerked him from his stupor, silencing him at the same time.

  Above their head, an inky black portal began to close. Galen jerked and tumbled through the air, his hand extended. It disappeared into the vortex, and he screamed. “The dagger! I can see it!” The rest of his arm sank into the darkness.

  As much as a part of her wanted to let him go, to allow the suction of the portal to pull him through to the other side, wherever that might be, she couldn’t. Only Galen knew where her father was, and without him, they might never find him. For her father’s sake, she had to save his brother.

  Charlie tried to pull him back out, but he kicked at her.

  “I have the dagger.” Galen’s face glowed with animosity when he looked down at her. “I’ll kill all of you!”

  Jensen and Falcon had joined her in the air, and over the rush of wind, ordered her to move away. But she ignored them, grasping hold of Galen’s legs even as the hole tried to suck him in.

  “Charlemaine, get away from him!” Jensen shouted, shooting a long stream of fire toward the gap in an effort to close it.

  “He knows how to find my father!” Charlie yelled back over the din.

  “You cannot save him.” Jensen forgot about the portal and caught her around the waist, leaving Falcon to seal the opening.

  She looked up in time to see the entire top half of Galen’s body disappear. No! “Falcon, you have to help him!”

  Already lowering her to the ground, Jensen soothed her with quiet words. He kept his arms around her as the final rush of wind sucked her uncle up and out into another realm. She stared at the ceiling with its intricate design and carved moldings, and her heart began to bleed.

  “I had a vision. It showed me what to do. A hand. It pointed toward Galen. Why would anything, anyone tell me to do that, knowing it would kill him?”

  Jensen squeezed her tighter. “Because the greater good is more important than one or two lives.”

  Her breath hitched in her throat. “The greater good? How is my father’s death part of the greater good?”

  “We do not know that he is dead.” Falcon’s feet touched the floor. “Our seer will continue to search for him.”

  Suddenly weak, Charlie leaned against Jensen’s shoulder. “I need to go home. My mother knows nothing of this. I’ll have to tell her.”

  “I will take you as soon as you get some rest,” Jensen offered, already guiding her down the corridor.

  “Do you really think there’s a chance he could be alive?” Charlie asked even though Jensen had no way of knowing. She didn’t seek a promise, just the promise of hope.

  “There is always a chance.”

  Chapter Nine

  “Any word from the seer?” Jensen had left Charlemaine sleeping, but he did not want to be away from her for too long. Almost losing her had created a powerful hunger to keep her close.

  Remy shook his head, a lock of hair drooping over one eye. “None, and the sentries have returned without report. If Charlemaine’s father is still alive, he is not in this realm.”

  Definitely not what Jensen had wanted to hear. He turned back toward the bedchamber, but his brother called to him. “Yes?”

  “Now that the situation has been resolved, she will need to be returned to her people.”

  Throat constricting, Jensen pivoted slowly. “What makes this matter your concern, Brother?”

  “Am I not of this guild? Do I not have the right to be concerned about its members?”

  “How is Charlemaine’s presence here a harm to anyone?”

  Shoulders straightening, Remy came forward, stopping when he was nose to nose with Jensen. “That is not the point. She does not belong here, and we do not harbor wizards from other guilds.”

  His temper simmering, Jensen stared back at his brother. “Wizards can remain inside these walls if here by invitation. Charlemaine is welcome to stay as long as she wants.”

  Remy glared back with equal amounts of venom. “Please tell me you are not thinking what I believe you are.” When Jensen didn’t respond, he pushed on. “You intend to ask for her hand, do you not?”

  “That is none of your concern.” Jensen turned away, pausing to add, “Stay away from Charlemaine if you cannot be civil.”

  “So you are issuing threats now?”

  Jensen leveled him with a heated look. “Do not push me. I will protect her no matter the cost.”

  Charlie awoke in the darkness, Jensen’s even breaths offering reassurance that he hadn’t left her side. But something had disturbed her sleep. She slid out of the bed and walked to the door of the bedchamber. For a moment she simply listened, trying to make out any sounds she might recognize, but all was silent.

  Uncertainty clutching her stomach, she took hold of the handle and immediately let it go with a gasp. The heated steel singed her palm.

  “What is it?” Jensen was already at her side, capturing her wrist to inspect her hand. “What happened?”

  “I tried to open the door, but the handle is hot, like there’s a fire outside.”

  “It is impossible for the fortress to be afire.” He took hold of the handle and immediately let go. After studying the door for several long seconds, he waved a hand over the steel. “That should do it.”

  “I could have done that,” Charlie muttered, feeling a little foolish that she hadn’t thought of using magic to cool the handle.

  “Something is amiss.” Jensen shooed her back. “Stay here.”

  “Not on your life. Whatever’s going on might be related to my father.” She did step back but only long enough to ignite the candles in the room by circling her finger in the air. If something was coming, she wanted to be able to see it.

  “What makes you think this has anything to do with him?” Irritation claimed Jensen’s voice.

  “Do you really think the evil ended with Galen? He made a pact with something or someone to get the dagger. Just because he didn’t keep up his end of the bargain doesn’t mean they don’t want what was promised them.”

  “Which is a very good reason why you should stay back.”

  “I realize much of the time you’ve known me, I’ve been physically incapable of
protecting myself, but that’s over now. I’m just as much of a wizard as you are.” She held up one finger. “And don’t even say anything about the difference between your guild and mine. Our abilities might be different, but my magic is just as powerful as yours.”

  “I do not doubt your ability to take care of yourself, Charlemaine, but you cannot fault me for being concerned.”

  Her insides melted a little at the warm look in his eyes. “No, that I can’t do.” She pushed his back. “Now let’s find out what’s out there.”

  “Stand back.” Jensen pushed her backwards without giving her a chance to follow his order. He stood a good distance away himself before using both hands to sweep open the door.

  Charlie swallowed a scream when vicious flames leapt through the opening, so hot she could feel her skin melting. Shoving the panic aside, she linked her magic with Jensen’s to guide the flames, but when they didn’t cooperate, her knees weakened a little.

  Still, she refused to show what she felt. Hadn’t she just given Jensen the speech about being able to take care of herself and her magic being just as powerful as his? Swallowing a dose of fear, she stepped forward, calling upon every ounce of magic she possessed to beat back the hungry heat.

  “They are illusions!” Jensen shouted above the roar of the fire.

  “What?” She could barely hear him.

  “The flames.” He reached across to lower her hands. “They do not exist.”

  “So we’re hallucinating?” That wouldn’t surprise her.

  Jensen walked toward the opening. “No. We see what we are supposed to see.” When he took a step into the fire, Charlie screamed out his name, but he returned to her side quickly, unharmed. “The fire does not burn, Charlemaine.” He held out his arms for inspection before taking hold of her hand. “Come.”

  She didn’t budge. “You want me to walk through that?”

  “We shall walk through together.”

  “I’ve heard of better ideas. Why don’t you call your nosy brother? I’m sure he’ll be too happy to help.” The sarcasm wasn’t lost on Jensen.

  “We must see if the flames are only here. Involving anyone else might risk harming them.”

  “We’re wizards, Jensen! I think, by now, we’ve all learned how to sufficiently take care of ourselves.”

  “That does not mean we cannot be harmed.”

  The point had her frowning. She didn’t like the idea of marching through a fire like some sort of sacrifice. “What happens if we get halfway through it, and the fire becomes real?”

  “We will know long before then, and we will transport out.”

  “Wait.” Charlie dug her nails into his arm. “Why don’t we transport out now and come at the fire from the opposite side?”

  “Because we do not know where the fire ends.”

  “Jensen, this is crazy.”

  Charlemaine.

  Her name echoed through the fire, either a cry for help or a damnation. She couldn’t tell, but the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.

  “At least now we know why the fire is here.” Jensen walked closer again. “Who are you?”

  Help me.

  The familiar voice had her running to join Jensen at the door. “Papa?” She touched her hand to the orange and red field. “Is that you?” Without waiting for Jensen, she stepped into the swirling mass of flames.

  Images of her father’s face swirled in the midst, and she followed them without hesitation. Somehow, he had managed to get a message to her.

  Jensen’s hand slipped into hers. “What happened to this being crazy?”

  Everything had grown quiet, the sounds of the fire dying to a low murmur. Nothing existed outside the tunnel of illusion. When Charlie replied, she whispered, “I heard my father.”

  “It could be a trap.” The tension on his voice didn’t alarm her.

  “No. I’d recognize that voice anywhere. My father figured out a way to get a message to me.”

  “Through our shields?”

  She ignored the doubt. “Maybe this is my illusion. My father is one of our strongest telepaths. If Galen could reach me, I don’t doubt Papa could.”

  The ferocious flames gave way to a neon green glow that was as tall as it was wide. A silhouette framed the doorway, its height much too massive to be her father’s. She hesitated, but the shadow beckoned her forward.

  Fingers linked tightly with Jensen’s, she continued walking. Much calmer now. Serene even. She reached out to touch the hand in front of her when the light gave way to a swirling mass of energy, pulling her forward.

  She screamed and dug her fingers into Jensen’s hand, but he let go, releasing her into the yawning abyss without even trying to save her.

  Thrust through the portal, she screamed until she had no voice.

  Chapter Ten

  “Charlemaine, wake up!” Jensen shook her, his heart racing. The panic on her face coupled with the scream magnified his own fear, and when she began to thrash atop the bed, her legs kicking against an imaginary foe, he pulled her up into his arms. His back against the headboard, he held her tightly in his arms while calling her name.

  Slowly, her body relaxed, her hands climbing up the wall of his chest to reach his face. Fingertips touching his jaw, she whispered his name.

  “I am here. You are safe.” He kissed the top of her head. Closing his eyes, he forced himself to relax so Charlemaine would not feel his uneasiness. But he had to know if what she had endured had been a nightmare or another vision.

  “Tell me what happened.”

  Her head lifted, her eyes fixing on his face. “You don’t think it was a nightmare?”

  “I only know you were terrified, and when I reached for you, your skin was cold to the touch.”

  Charlemaine leaned in closer to him, and he tightened his embrace to offer additional warmth. “I’m not sure what it was.” The words tumbled out of her as she laid in his arms, shaking so much he wanted to tear apart whatever had caused her this much fear. “A part of me knew it couldn’t be real because you would never want me to walk into flames even if you thought they were an illusion.”

  Jensen stroked her hair then kissed the top of her head. “You know that much about me, do you?”

  She smiled, but he still read the uneasiness in her eyes, felt the ongoing tremors of her body. “If you will go up against your own flesh and blood for me, it’s only reasonable to believe you wouldn’t want me to put myself at risk.”

  “Ah. You must have heard my conversation with Remy.”

  “Is that what you call it? A conversation?”

  “You were supposed to have been asleep.” His reprimand didn’t carry much weight considering the lightness of his tone.

  She slid one leg over his, obviously wanting to get closer, to anchor herself to him. “Do you think it was a vision or just a nightmare?”

  He closed his eyes and rested his chin atop her head. “I do not know, but tomorrow, I will talk to the seer. For now, try to get some sleep. I am here, and I will not leave you.”

  Her hand caressed his chest. “But you’re not going back to sleep, are you?”

  “I do not require as much rest as you do. Now, be quiet and go to sleep.” In truth, he couldn’t imagine sleeping after what she’d told him. Her words had compounded his worst fears, taking him into a dark, dangerous place he’d only heard about as a child.

  But he couldn’t tell her any of it. The fear still ran within her too strongly. At first light, he would meet with Falcon and the seer, but until then, all he could do was hold her and try to keep the terrors away.

  Charlie didn’t even try to sleep, but she kept quiet for what seemed like forever until she couldn’t take the silence any longer. “We haven’t talked about what happens tomorrow.”

  Jensen slid his head back on the pillow so he could see her face. “Tomorrow? You mean when I talk to the seer?”

  “No. After that. Going home.” She didn’t want to leave him. Even the thought of i
t made her insides curl into a knot. He would go with her, but even he had to realize he couldn’t stay. Though they were both wizards, their worlds were light years apart.

  “I know you will want to stay.” His muscles tensed.

  “I don’t want to leave you.” She stressed the pronoun.

  His fingers threaded through her hair, sifting the strands as though they were the finest silk. “When we find your father, you can return. Until then, I will stay with you.”

  She sat up to stare down at him. “What? You can’t stay with me. What if your family needs you?”

  “You think they do not know how to contact me?” One eyebrow lifted.

  Twisting the blanket between her fingers, she shook her head. “No. You can’t. You know how my guild feels about yours. Now that I’ve been here and gotten to know you, I can’t understand why there is such animosity. Well, maybe with Remy. And Falcon.” She grinned. “He’s a bit pompous.”

  Jensen laughed, the sound as warm as his arms had been. “When you are as old as he is, I imagine you, too, will have a bit of pomposity.”

  Taking his hands in hers, she brought them into her lap. “I can’t let you stay at Nocturne. You haven’t heard the way they talk about The Assembly.”

  “Are you afraid I will get my feelings hurt?” The amusement hadn’t left his voice.

  “No, I’m afraid someone will say the wrong thing, and lightning bolts will start flying.”

  “I think I can restrain myself.”

  She sighed and dropped back down to lay her head on his chest. “And what if we never find my father? If he never returns? You can’t stay there forever.”

  “Then you could marry me.”

  Charlie froze, her body refusing to obey her commands. She wanted to look at him, but fear kept her still. His offer of marriage could have come from some sense of duty because he saved her life. Or maybe he simply thought they’d make a good match. Either way, marriage was an impossibility between them.

  “When a man asks a woman to marry him, a long, drawn-out silence usually makes him nervous.” Jensen shifted, forcing her head away from his chest.