The Awakening (Immortals)

by Joy Nash

  Oily smoke hissed through the demon portal, swirling about Tain’s legs. At Culsu’s nod, the Immortal disappeared into the void. The demon’s human body twisted and melted, reforming into something dark and hideous. She slipped through the passage, her laughter a grating scratch on Christine’s eardrums.

  “Did you truly believe you could defeat me, Kalen? That, my ancient friend, was your downfall.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  “Are you hurt?”

  Kalen strode toward Christine. Her safety was all he could think of, and he knew he didn’t have much time. He’d defied his Goddess Mother’s will. Uni’s temper was short. It would not be long before she sent him to his eternal punishment.

  “Are you?” he repeated, reaching her side. She seemed to be in shock. He ran his hands over her body, reassuring himself that she was well.

  Her gaze flicked to Dougal’s charred corpse, then to him. Tears shimmered in her beautiful blue eyes. “You…killed him.”

  “Good riddance,” he muttered.

  “No…you shouldn’t have killed him. You should have—”

  “Let him kill you?” Kalen said harshly. “I’d rather rot in hell.”

  Anger flashed through the tears in Christine’s eyes. “If you were so intent on sacrificing yourself, you should have done it while destroying Culsu, not Dougal! Culsu and Tain will be back stronger than ever. And you won’t be here to fight them.”

  Kalen’s lip twisted. “I’d prefer a simple thanks for your life.”

  Christine’s rage crumpled. “Of course,” she whispered, her expression stricken. “It’s just that—I can’t bear to think what will happen to you…because of me.”

  Kalen called his crystal spear to hand and ran his palm down its shaft. “Christine,” he said gently. “I was created to be a warrior. See this weapon? It’s mine to use for good, in defense of life. It matters not how many centuries have passed since I have acknowledged that duty. My people may be dead, but my vow to protect what they stood for—human civilization itself—remains. It was past time I returned to battle. I knew the price of saving your life, and I am not sorry to pay it. You mean everything to me.”

  Christine’s shoulders started to shake as tears squeezed out of her closed eyes. Kalen slid his arm around her shoulders and pressed her body to his. He was acutely aware it would be the last time he embraced her. “Shh, love.”

  Mac spiked his fingers through his wet hair. “It will be my greatest pleasure to fight that demon bitch again. Next time, I will kill her for you, Kalen.”

  “I thought Lir summoned you to Annwyn.”

  “Do you think I bloody care? I’m not going through those Gates. Niniane will just have to deal with it.” He looked at Christine. “I’m coming with you, love. To fight with your coven.”

  Christine nodded. “The Coven of Light will welcome—”

  Her words were cut off by a gust of wind sweeping through the trees. Kalen went rigid as power swirled into the stone circle. As dawn broke over the horizon, a woman’s clear voice drifted from the forest.

  “Kalen. You have taken a life.”

  With a sense of fatal inevitability, Kalen turned to face the woods. “I have.”

  Uni emerged from the shelter of the oaks, cloaked in light. She stood as tall and proud and fierce as he remembered. Her long, dark hair was braided and wrapped around her head, accentuating the severity of her features. Her torso was draped in a shining white tunic, her luminous gold mantle pinned with starlight at her shoulders. Jeweled sandals shod her feet.

  His mother was stunning and terrible. Light and fury melded. She advanced to the forest and raised a hand. Christine and Mac stood stunned as he went to her. Dropping to his knees on the muddy ground, he laid the crystal spear at her feet.

  “Mother.” He didn’t dare look at her. “I have disobeyed your orders. I have taken up your spear and used it in anger.”

  Uni laid a firm hand on his head. “I’ve missed you, my son.”

  “As I have missed you.” With a sense of wonder, he realized it was true. He’d felt the lack of Uni’s blessing for seven long centuries.

  “I’ve not been far. I’ve been watching you all these centuries.”

  His head came up. “You have?”

  “Yes. I’ve watched you struggle. Watched you swallow your pride. Seen you piece together a new way of living in which killing had no part. You sought to know the spark of life and creation. Your compassion grew and your rash anger became tempered with true wisdom.”

  “I am not so wise, Mother. I’ve made many mistakes.”

  “Even the gods make mistakes, my son. Rise, Kalen.”

  He did so, slowly. When he stood fully erect, he was surprised to find the shaft of his spear held firmly in his right hand. He met Uni’s gaze, a question in his eyes.

  She inclined her head with regal grace. “Seven hundred years ago, you were arrogant and prideful. You fought fiercely, yes, but you did not understand what you protected. When faced with defeat, you manipulated the person you loved best, and in so doing, destroyed him.”

  Kalen bowed his head. “All you say is true.”

  “It was clear to me that you needed guidance. You needed to learn humility, and the true meaning of love and sacrifice.” She pivoted slowly, her gaze coming to rest on Christine. “And now I see that you have.”

  Kalen looked up. “What do you mean?”

  “This human woman. You were willing to exchange your life for hers.”

  “Yes.”

  “That, my son, is the lesson you needed to learn. I will not require more of you.”

  A violent hope unfurled in his chest. “You have not come to take me out of the world?”

  “No, I have not. I have come to return you to it.” She nodded to the weapon clutched in his hand. “Yes, Kalen, my crystal spear is once again yours to wield as you see fit. From this day on, guard the human race with wisdom. Respect all life, even that of your enemies. But do not yield before true evil. Those who love death must be destroyed.”

  It took several moments before he could recover his voice. When he did, his words wavered with heartfelt emotion. “I thank you, Mother. I will do as you say. I will protect humanity from all that is evil.”

  “One thing more,” Uni added.

  Kalen inclined his head. “Anything, Lady.”

  A smile touched her lips. “Guard your human witch well. She is a true treasure. Her love for you, and yours for her, is your true salvation.”

  “I…I will.”

  The goddess nodded once and vanished.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  “Hey! You there! Quit your pushing. Show a bit of respect.”

  Mac shook his head in disgust as his charges mostly ignored his shouts as they jostled their way through the shimmering silver gates to Annwyn. Fifty thousand or so through, fifty thousand or so left to go. The way the refugees were fighting to cross the glittering threshold, you’d think the bloody Gates were going to disappear. Which they were. But not for a few hours. And magic was involved here. There was plenty of time to get everyone to the Otherworld before the Gates faded. Sighing, he looked across the water to the castle just visible in the mist. Kalen would have been a big help with the herding, but he’d taken Christine straight to the castle. He’d said she needed rest.

  Mac grinned. Rest. Right. And afterward, maybe a little horizontal exercise. He’d never seen Kalen so hot for a woman. The Immortal had found love, and Mac was glad to see it. The question was, would Mac ever discover the emotion himself?

  “Out of my way!”

  Mac’s thoughts were lost as a disgruntled Sidhe male—not one of Mac’s own clan, he was happy to note—shoved through the midst of a halfling family, nearly trampling one of the smaller children. The little lad’s mother launched an impassioned tirade at the ill-mannered bloke’s back. Behind her, brownies, imps, and sprites grappled shamelessly, the larger ones yanking the smaller ones by the hair and depositing them farther back in t
he queue. Even the faeries and nymphs, usually the most polite of all the Celtic creatures, were landing well-placed elbows in their neighbors’ ribs. As for the humans—well, frankly, Mac didn’t even want to think about how badly the humans were behaving. Road rage, the Americans called it. It was not a pretty sight.

  He’d had quite enough, thank you. He hated to do this, but…

  “Cut. It. Out!”

  He punctuated the command with a blast of elfshot aimed low over the refugees’ heads. Then, just for good measure, he sent a lower, relatively mild bolt into a group of rowdy halfling teenagers, knocking them on their hairy asses.

  “Take that, Frodo,” he muttered.

  Mac’s tantrum gained an instant response. Silence. Blessed silence. Fifty thousand pairs of startled eyes turned toward him.

  Now, that was more like it.

  He nodded graciously. “Two at a time through the Gates, if you please.”

  The rest of the evacuation proceeded at a much calmer rate. A few hours later, Mac watched the last group, a pair of ill-tempered phookas, fly low through the archway. The uppermost section of the enchantment was already starting to fade. A few moments more and the portal would be gone. Mac paused, watching the swish of the phookas’ white tails as the magical equines disappeared down the golden path. Trees arched over their heads, their silver branches scattered with leaves of crystal. Annwyn. The place was so beautiful, it hurt his eyes.

  Which was probably why he hated it so much. When you came right down to it, perfection bloody sucked. The human world, with its craziness and its frantic vitality, was so much more interesting.

  The portal was now little more than a network of glowing lines. Soon it would close, not to reopen unless Culsu and her minions were defeated. If they weren’t, and the life magic of the human world was utterly destroyed…well, in that case, Mac wouldn’t be around to worry about the Gates opening, would he?

  He raised a hand, prepared to speak the final Words to seal the portal. The words died on his lips as an all-too-familiar figure appeared on the threshold.

  “Mackie! What’s the meaning of this?”

  He shook his head, hoping the apparition would disappear. But no. Like a bad dream that wouldn’t quit, Niniane remained standing before him, arms akimbo, looking more like Leanna than Mac cared to contemplate. The lines of her gauzy grass-green gown were exquisite, the points of the leaf-petal hem falling to midthigh. Her brilliant blond hair—the exact shade of Mac’s own—was swept atop her head in an intricate braided arrangement.

  And, man, was she pissed!

  “Why haven’t you been answering your cell?” Niniane demanded.

  “Lost it,” he replied. Permanently.

  His mother pressed her ruby lips into a thin line of aggravation. “I could not believe my ears when Niall and Ronan told me you were planning to stay in this dung heap you call a world.”

  “Mum—”

  “Are you insane, Mackie? How could you even think of doing something like this?”

  “I—”

  “Do you know, I haven’t slept a wink in decades, worrying about you out here in this savage place. I absolutely forbid you to stay. I—”

  Mac abruptly found his voice. “Forget it, Mother.”

  “Forget it? Oh no, not on your life. Don’t you talk back to me, young man! No son of mine is going to throw away his life on a bunch of worthless humans. Get through this Gate this instant!”

  With an effort, Mac squelched the volcano that was threatening to erupt inside his skull. “Sorry, Mum. No can do. I’m staying here on the outside. Culsu’s a threat that has to be eliminated.”

  “Culsu? The Etruscan demon? The one with the eternal bad hair day? Mackie, that bitch is ancient! An Old One! She’s nothing to fool around with. She’ll eat you alive, suck out your soul, and save your bones to make soup! And then where will I be? Show a bit of sense for once. You’re my only son, you belong in Annwyn, with me. Leave Culsu to the humans and come home.”

  “I can’t do that, Mum.” He paused. “She took Leanna.”

  “What?”

  “Leanna didn’t know what she was getting into. She thought she could control Culsu, but of course, she couldn’t.” He met his mother’s gaze squarely. “She’s in hell now.”

  Niniane blinked. “I can’t imagine why you think I need to know this. That girl was nothing to me.”

  Mac sighed. “I know.”

  “Well, what I know is that you need to come home. For good. Settle down with one of your own kind. I have several girls in mind—”

  “Whoa. Wait just a bloody minute. I’m only seven hundred and twelve! Way too young to be talking marriage.”

  “That’s ridiculous. Why, I was barely four-fifty when I—”

  “Mum. Give it up. I’m not coming home.”

  “Haven’t you heard anything I’ve said? It’s dangerous out there.”

  “Then may I suggest you take a giant step backward? Because I’m closing the Gates. Now.” He lifted his hand and muttered the Words. The shimmering lines of the Gate faded into a spray of sparks.

  Niniane’s expression turned frantic. “But…what if all the life magic out there is destroyed? What if death wins?”

  “Then I’ll die,” Mac said succinctly. “Any more questions?”

  “You can’t do this, Mackie! I’ll tell your father!”

  “He already knows,” Mac muttered as the Gate gave its final shimmer and winked out of existence.

  He stayed on the shore for a long time after, watching the pounding of the sea on the rocks.

  Kalen sat with Christine on the couch in his bedchamber, rubbing her back. She buried her face in his chest and groaned. He just sighed. His little witch was never going to have the stomach for portal travel. Scooping her up in his arms, he carried her to the bed. It was a testament to how sick she was that she didn’t utter even a murmur of a protest.

  The castle was strangely quiet with Pearl and the brownies gone. For the moment, until Mac returned from ushering the refugees through the Gates, Christine and Kalen were alone.

  Which was a very pleasing thought.

  He left her sleeping while he went about preparing a bath. Without the brownies, he had to translocate both the tub and the water himself. He lit the fire and set the kettles on the grate to boil. As they heated, he added the contents of each one to the cold water in the tub.

  Behind him, Christine stirred. He turned and noted with satisfaction that her color had improved. She opened one eye and watched his progress with a bemused expression.

  “You could have heated that water magically,” she said finally.

  “I know. But I like doing it this way.”

  She laughed. “You’re such a throwback.”

  He grinned. “Retro is in.”

  “Yeah. So I’ve heard.”

  He went to her and slipped her torn blouse from her shoulders. As he lowered her into the water, she cupped the side of his face. He turned his lips into her palm and kissed it.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  He frowned. “For what?”

  “You would have given yourself to Culsu to save me.”

  “And I would do it again. And again. Any number of times, for as long as I draw breath.” He climbed into the tub behind her and settled her against his chest. Water sloshed over the sides of the tub and onto his parquet floor.

  She gave a shaky laugh. “There’s not going to be any water left.”

  He grinned. “Who cares? I’m getting used to tandem bathing.” He stroked a hand down her back, his tone sobering. “I love you, Christine. You. Not your magic. If I never created another work of art, I would not regret it.”

  She turned and touched her finger to his lips. “I know,” she said, smiling.

  He washed and rinsed her hair, smiling as he tucked the long blue lock behind her ear. He lathered a bar of soap and massaged her shoulders, her back, her breasts. Her tense muscles relaxed under his fingers. When he’d finishe
d, she turned and offered the same services to him.

  She settled back into his arms with a sigh. “Water. It makes me feel…new. Alive. Like I’ve just awakened, ready for a new day.”

  “You make me feel that way,” Kalen murmured. His hand slid over her breasts, her belly, dipped between her thighs. His phallus was hard. Lifting her hips, he eased her down on his erection. She grabbed the rim of the tub as she regained her seated position—but this time, with him inside her body.

  It felt like home.

  He wrapped his arms around her. She sighed. He held himself still, savoring the feeling of being within her. He kissed her shoulder, her neck. When he could stand his inaction no longer, he rocked, surging inside her. He smiled against her neck as a sexy moan dragged from her throat.

  “I existed in a dream before you came to me,” he told her seriously. “I lived my life in a fog, searching. But I didn’t know what I was looking for.”

  She gasped as he stroked upward inside her. “It was…the same for me. I’d grown so used to holding myself apart—from people, from magic. From myself.”

  His fingers delved in the curls between her legs, seeking the pearl hooded by her sweet feminine flesh. “I wanted you from the first moment I saw you,” he murmured. “When you put yourself into my arms with your scrying.”

  She blushed. “I told you. That was an accident.”

  “No. No accident. It was Uni’s doing.”

  She twisted to look at him. “You think your mother sent me to you?”

  “I’m sure of it. She’s the only one who could have penetrated the magical defenses set on my castle.” He smiled. “She must have recognized your potential as a daughter-in-law.”

  “Daughter-in—oh!” she moaned as he seated himself more deeply inside her.

  “Be my wife, Christine,” Kalen whispered fervently. “My mate. Bear my children. Accept Lir’s gift of immortality. Once Culsu is defeated, we can be together always. We can live in Annwyn or here, in the human world. Wherever you wish.”