The Awakening (Immortals)

by Joy Nash

  But she didn’t. She steadied her breathing and sent a tentative spiral of light into his darkness. Tain reacted with confusion, then a suspicious anger. Oh, Goddess. But she couldn’t pull away, not now. Not when Mac was about to strike.

  Don’t think of that. Focus. Tain hadn’t turned completely evil—she could sense a thin thread of goodness, a tiny trickle amidst a torrent of death magic. Could she strengthen it? Calling her deepest power, she sent a river of living magic flowing through her hand and into the Immortal.

  Tain’s eyes widened. Some deeply buried emotion flickered in his soul.

  “I…I think I feel her.” His tone was one of awe and reverence. And…hope.

  In that instant, Mac attacked, elfshot erupting from his hands. The first bolt hit Culsu between the shoulder blades.

  The demon let out a roar. Mac launched himself at the entity. Tain’s head snapped around. Christine clung to the Immortal, summoning every drop of magic she possessed and pouring it into him. She had to keep him from entering the fight.

  She succeeded for scant seconds, before Tain’s features twisted horribly. His eyes went red; an inhuman growl sounded in his throat. Death magic zinged through his body, surged through his point of contact with Christine. A jolt like a lightning strike shook her body. She flew backward. The painful impact of her body on hard ground raised stars in her vision.

  “Mac! Behind you!” she managed to gasp out.

  Mac spun around too late to avoid Tain’s enraged stampede. Tain slammed into the Sidhe; Mac collided with Culsu. The three fell in a grappling heap on the ground, elfshot and demonfire zinging. Christine dodged the bolts, launching herself at Leanna.

  She crashed into the Sidhe, knocking her away from Kalen. They hit the ground together. Kalen twisted, straining in his shackles. The metal cracked, but held. He let out a foul stream of curses.

  Christine rolled atop Leanna, pinning her arms above her head and pressing her knee into the Sidhe’s chest. Leanna’s ribs were already restricted by the tight corset; the added pressure had her gasping for air. Christine pushed harder. “If you have any blood power at all over Culsu, use it. Get rid of her.”

  “You…make me…laugh.”

  “I’ll make you do more than that,” Christine muttered. She tightened her grip on Leanna’s wrists as she gathered her magic. She sent a stream of blue energy flooding into the Sidhe’s body. But something went wrong. The power recoiled, shooting back up Christine’s arms. The jolt of the blast flung her backward.

  Leanna jumped up. “That’s a taste of your own medicine, witch.”

  Christine stared up at her. “What…what happened?”

  “That oath of no harm? I modified it, right at the end. Added a recoil spell, on your side only. Anything you do to me reacts on you. But not the other way round.” She gave an ugly smile. “You’re useless here now. Crawl home before I decide to kill you.”

  “Bloody hell.” Mac’s curse was followed by a choking sound. Christine’s eyes flew toward him. Tain had Mac in his grasp, his fingers bent like prongs of steel. Mac clawed at Tain’s hand, gasping.

  Culsu brushed a speck of dirt from her velvet dress.

  “Oh, Culsu,” Leanna called. The demon’s brow rose. “I have your little human witch here.”

  “No.” Kalen strained against his shackles. “Leanna, let Christine go.”

  “I was going to, Kalen, really I was, but she just wouldn’t run. She loves you too much. Isn’t that sweet? Now I have to give her to Culsu.”

  Leanna shoved Christine toward the demon. The odor of decay that clung to the elegant body turned Christine’s stomach. Kalen gave a low curse; Mac gagged as Tain’s fingers tightened.

  Christine gathered every last scrap of courage she possessed and looked up into Culsu’s red eyes. “I know you want my magic. You can have it. I’ll give it to you freely. But first let Kalen and Mac go.” With shaking fingers, she began unfastening the buttons of her blouse.

  Culsu scoffed. “All three of you are mine. Why should I release the two demigods?”

  “Because if you do, I won’t fight.” A willing victim was much sweeter to a demon than one taken by force. The last button slipped from its hole. Christine let the edges of the blouse part, revealing her naked breasts. “I’ll come freely. I’ll do…whatever you want. I know your kind prefers an eager…” She nearly choked on the word. “…lover. And I’m a muse, like Leanna. I’ll give you my power freely. But only if you release them.”

  Kalen swore. “Pay her no mind. It’s me you want, Culsu. This human witch’s power is nothing.”

  Culsu didn’t answer him. Eyes glinting, she reached out and drew a line from Christine’s throat to her navel with one long red fingernail. The stroke was like fire, pure and painful, but with an underlying current of dark sensuality that caused Christine to close her eyes and let out a low moan.

  “That’s just a hint of what awaits you in hell, my dear.”

  Christine didn’t resist. She felt Culsu grasp hold of her life magic, absorbing it into her soulless body. A measure of Christine’s pure, shining power morphed into something dark and evil.

  “So sweet,” Culsu murmured. She glanced at Kalen, then at Mac, who was still struggling in Tain’s grip. “I find I’m feeling unusually generous. Perhaps I’ll let Mac Lir go.” Her oily fingers snaked around Christine’s wrist. “He was never part of my plan, and I don’t need his parents’ interference. But the Immortal…I’m sorry, my dear, but I just cannot accommodate you.”

  “That’s not the bargain I offered you. Kalen must go free.”

  Culsu yanked on Christine’s wrist. Christine pitched forward, her body coming flush against the demon’s fetid, velvet-clad body. Culsu’s arms tightened on Christine’s ribs. “You think you can bargain with me? You little fool.”

  The rotting, putrid essence of Culsu’s soul seeped into Christine’s body. She choked, her mind reeling.

  “Kalen,” Culsu hissed, “will die. His life, and his brothers’ lives, will end. The human world will be free.”

  “Free, free, free,” parroted Tain. He rocked slowly forward and back, never loosening his viselike hold on Mac’s neck.

  “Feel me, my sweet,” Culsu murmured. She stroked Christine’s back, and smiled when her captive couldn’t repress a cry. “Feel who I am. Feel my power, as ancient as the earth. And tremble.”

  There was a prickling like a million tiny needles on Christine’s skin. The darts heated, burning through her flesh and into her soul. Christine gasped with horror when she understood—each tiny prick of pain was the essence of a human victim Culsu had fed on during the long millennia of her existence. The emotions of those doomed souls streamed into Christine’s psyche. Despair. Impotence. Rage. Shame. The primitive anguish of a million souls, crushed and shaped and molded into one fathomless void of misery. Christine would be just one more anguished soul in Culsu’s obscene collection. Unless she found a way to fight. Not from the outside, but perhaps from within…

  She swallowed her panic and plunged her mind into the soulless void that was Culsu’s essence. In the midst of darkness and hopeless evil, Christine found what she was looking for.

  Light.

  The life magic of Culsu’s victims—it hadn’t been completely obliterated. Christine caught flickers of light, so faint as to be almost invisible in the overwhelming darkness. But it was there, just out of reach.

  If only she had water. Just a handful would be enough. With water, she could reach out with her magic, touch the souls of those long-dead victims. With water, she could command that power to…

  A drop struck her nose.

  She looked up. A cloud hovered overhead, low and angry. Christine had never seen such a beautiful sight. Her gaze snapped to Mac, still imprisoned by Tain. His eyes telegraphed a clear message: whatever you’ve got up your sleeve, pull it out now.

  A second splash followed the first, striking her cheek. A spatter of big heavy drops laid a pockmarked pattern in the dir
t. The storm intensified, bathing her face, neck, and arms. Christine closed her eyes, drawing power from the magic of the water on her skin. Searching Culsu’s essence, she located the slumbering magic of damned souls. And awakened it.

  Culsu gulped as the light grew within her. Her grip on Christine’s wrist tightened. Her other hand found Christine’s neck. “Stop it,” she growled. “Stop it now.”

  Christine struggled for air. Her vision started to fade. Mac spat out a word, a spell of strengthening. The rain became a steady shower, then, suddenly, a torrential downpour.

  And still Culsu’s fingers tightened. Christine started to black out; dimly, she recognized a burst of elfshot from Mac’s direction. Heard Kalen’s angry roar and the sound of metal cracking. Leanna’s cry was faint, a high, thin tone at the edge of her consciousness.

  And then everything went black.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Rain poured from the sky, a sudden wind whipping through the glen, driving the pulsing torrents almost completely horizontal. Kalen, buoyed by the surge of energy Mac had sent in his direction, shattered the last of his restraints and sprang to his feet just as Christine collapsed. At the same moment, Tain gave an inhuman roar as a blast of Mac’s elfshot engulfed both their bodies in green fire. The Immortal drew his sword and swung it blindly; Mac ducked and sprang free.

  Culsu fell back, arms raised for a duel. With a nod, she called Leanna and Tain to her side. Kalen willed his crystal spear to hand. It appeared the next instant, the white tip flaring dangerously. And yet, he dared not move. Christine lay unconscious at Culsu’s feet.

  “Leanna,” Mac called. “You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to help Culsu.”

  “Ah, but she does,” Culsu murmured. “Demonwhores have no choices.”

  Mac’s eyes remained fixed on his sister. “Your soul is Sidhe. We are creatures of life. We can’t be enslaved by death.”

  Leanna lifted her chin. “You’ve done nothing for me. Nothing. Why should I help you now?”

  “We’re kin.”

  Leanna’s mouth twisted. “No. We’re nothing. Nothing, do you hear me?”

  Pain flickered in Mac’s eyes, but he gave a grim nod. “As you wish, then.”

  Culsu smiled. She turned toward Tain; some unspoken understanding passed between them. Casually, Tain angled the tip of his sword toward Christine’s heart.

  “And so it comes to this,” Culsu said. Her outline wavered in the dark rain pouring over her. “Once again, Kalen, one of your own has betrayed you. Once again, someone you once loved will destroy the person you’ve pinned your future upon. Does it not grow tiresome?”

  “You won’t win this time, Culsu. I swear it.”

  “I will. And you, my old friend, will lose. Tain—kill the witch.”

  Tain’s sword began a downward arc. Kalen sprang forward, deflecting the blow scant inches from Christine’s chest. Mac’s elfshot blistered the air, striking Tain in the back.

  “No!” Tain spun and recovered, his sword now trained on Kalen.

  Culsu summoned a ball of demonfire. Kalen blocked it with his shoulder. Pain smashed through him; he smelled burning flesh, saw blood running down his arm. The sight infuriated him.

  Bloodlust exploded in his brain. His vision went red. Pain vanished as adrenaline pumped into his veins. A steely-minded sense of determination took hold. He would protect his own. And he would not fail.

  “Kalen.” Mac’s warning note pierced the blood rushing in his ears. “Protect Christine. Let me fight.”

  “No,” he snarled, raising his spear. White energy crackled like lightning from the crystal tip. Culsu launched a barrage of demonfire. Kalen caught one missile after another, flinging them aside as he pressed his advance. Culsu faltered. For the first time, fear flickered in her eyes. Her hair whipped in frenzy.

  “You wouldn’t dare kill me.”

  “No? Watch me.”

  He leapt with a roar, knocking the demon to the ground. He pressed the crystal tip of his spear against her throat. Ice met heat with a hiss of steam. “The world will be a much better place without you.”

  “No!” Tain’s anguished cry came from behind. “Don’t hurt her! Kalen, you can’t. Don’t you see? She wants to help me. Help you.”

  “How? By killing us?”

  “By setting us free.”

  “You’ll be free,” Kalen told Tain, “when I kill her.”

  Christine came awake to the electric sound of elfshot whizzing over her head. Rainwater streamed in cold rivulets, bathing her in mud. She gasped, inhaled a mouthful of water, and sputtered. Leanna and Mac were dueling over her prone body. Leanna’s eyes glowed red; her elfshot was interspersed with red balls of demonfire. Mac’s features were frozen into a mask of lethal intent. Digging her elbows into the mud, Christine dragged herself out of the line of fire. Her head was pounding, her stomach still weak. The misery of the souls lost to Culsu’s evil still echoed in her heart.

  “You’ll be free when I kill her.” Kalen’s voice was low and deadly.

  “No!” Tain sobbed. “You can’t—”

  “No,” Christine cried.

  Kalen’s eyes flicked to hers and held her gaze. “Christine…”

  Culsu took advantage of Kalen’s hesitation. Demonfire blasted from her hands; at the same time Tain, howling, lunged for Kalen. Kalen fell back, spear raised. His brother lifted his sword and roared.

  “You traitor!” Tain sobbed. “You were going to kill her! I’ll hack you to pieces! It will take months for your body to reform. By that time it won’t matter. Life magic will be gone. We’ll be free!”

  Culsu appeared at her lover’s side, a ball of demonfire rolling from her fingertips. Kalen reared up with a roar, catching it on his spear and flinging it away. Tain advanced and slashed, his blade hitting Kalen’s spear shaft. Mac, still peppering Leanna with elfshot and ducking her heated return, tried to get off a shot at Culsu. The bolt went wide.

  The battle continued, a standoff that slowly seemed to be turning for the worse. Culsu, Tain, and Leanna were herding Kalen and Mac slowly backward, toward the cairn, where the demon portal pulsed.

  It was up to Christine to turn the tide. Fighting a spinning wave of vertigo, she struggled to her feet, bracing her spine against a standing stone. Spreading her arms, she took in as much of the rain as possible.

  She gathered her magic. Focused on one simple thought. She brought it to form, tracing a rune in the air.

  Eihwaz. Faith.

  Like a dream, a blue mist descended, interweaving with the rain. Life magic. Water magic. It filled the circle, enveloping Mac and Kalen in a gentle blue glow. The same glow settled over Christine. Leanna’s elfshot couldn’t penetrate the shield. A ball of Culsu’s demonfire struck the barrier and fizzled. Even Tain’s sword recoiled with a dull clang.

  But Mac and Kalen’s missiles had no problem piercing the shield. Culsu dodged one blast, her lips twisting in a foul curse. She lunged toward the cairn, yanking Leanna behind her. Tain shadowed them closely.

  “Don’t let them reach the portal!” Mac cried.

  Kalen cursed. He flung his spear at Culsu. Tain deflected it with a stroke of his sword. Red fire spewed from the portal to hell, forming a nimbus around the demon and her lackeys. Mac drew up short before the barrier, cursing. Kalen called his spear to hand and slammed it into the fire. The crystal tip couldn’t pierce it.

  Culsu jerked her head at the fiery void. “Go,” she commanded Leanna.

  Leanna’s face turned deadly white. “No! I called you with my blood! You have to fulfill your end of the bargain. I want to be immortal.…”

  “And so you shall be, my sweet. In hell.”

  Culsu raised a hand. A dark mist passed over Leanna. Green sparks flew as the glamour on her features fell away. Her youthful form aged twenty years and beyond. Lines appeared on her face, her breasts sagged, her waist thickened. Leanna looked down at her body and let out a cry. “No!”

  “Go,” Culsu sa
id. “Do not try my patience.”

  Leanna tried to resist; she could not. Her feet carried her inexorably toward the portal. At the threshold, she turned and gave a low moan. “Mac…please…help me.”

  Mac’s features were hard, though his green eyes were fierce with emotion. Black smoke and fire swirled about Leanna’s legs. Her sobs turned beseeching as Culsu grabbed her and thrust her toward the portal.

  “Mac,” Leanna sobbed. “Bràthair! Don’t let her take me! Ma’s e do thoil e—”

  Flames shot from the shrinking passageway swallowing Leanna’s body. Her cries faded to nothingness.

  Mac stood motionless, staring at the void, his body rigid. Culsu’s satisfied gaze flicked to Kalen.

  “Now, Immortal,” she said softly. “I will take what is most dear to you.” Her gaze flicked to a point behind Christine.

  A blur of movement snagged the corner of Christine’s vision. In the next instant, Dougal’s leering visage appeared before her. Before Christine could react, the half-breed lunged toward her circle of protection, his lead-gauntleted arms outstretched. A blast of demonfire exploded from Culsu’s fingers, striking Christine’s shield at the same time Dougal smashed into it.

  It was too much. Christine scrambled to compensate for the double attack, but the burn of the toxic metal combined with the assault of the demonfire caused a fissure in her protective spell. Dougal fell on her, his thick fingers closing on her throat. His lead gauntlets seared her shoulders as his heavy body slammed her to the ground.

  “Kill her,” Culsu cried. “Now!”

  “My pleasure,” Dougal spat.

  His fingers tightened on her throat. Suffocating blackness consumed her vision. Dimly, she heard Kalen’s shout of fury.

  A blast of white fire exploded behind Dougal. The half-breed went rigid, his head jerking back as pale lightning crackled around his body. With a guttural cry, he slumped forward onto Christine’s body. Before she could react, someone was shoving the weight away.

  Mac. Spitting curses, he hauled the body to one side. Christine sucked in a breath, her horrified gaze flying from Dougal’s charred corpse to Kalen. The air rang with Culsu’s manic laughter.