by Billi Jean
From the side, a bright light appeared suddenly where a dark wall of stone stood. Out of the shimmering glow a room became clear, then Circerran, Aubrey and Emerald. Jack towered behind his mate, appearing fierce and protective.
“You know I’m not exactly sure I want you mind-speaking me, Allie, but it seems like you’ve calmed things down a bit. Come on, let’s see what the Vampires are up to now.”
Joey covered a laugh with a cough, but Elsa didn’t. She tipped her head up and her mate kissed her on the lips.
‘They do not like…us?’
‘They are both new to being Vampires, and Jamie, Elsa’s mate, enjoys rubbing it in that she was a wolf first, then a Vampire.’
‘Ah… And where is Faolan?’
‘He hides until it is safe. Is that okay?’
‘Yes, of course.’ Bryson held her hand, brushing her fingers with his larger, stronger ones. ‘I would not want him here, but with this much power, he is protected.’
Emerald, the strawberry-blonde witch, hung back until Circerran called her name. “Emerald, I think these few are yours, are they not?”
Circerran had stopped by the kneeling and captive magic users. Emerald glanced at one upturned face then another. “This one and this one are Scarlet, but that does not make them mine.”
“Right,” Circerran muttered.
“They are the same ones we ran into before,” Jack said, glancing at Bryson, who nodded. “Maybe we’ve collected the last of them?”
“We can hope,” Bryson replied.
“So, soul removal.” Circerran came to stand by Aidan and Allie, staring from them to the still tension-filled Vampire. “It can be done. You know that, Allie.”
“Yes, but we need help doing it. One witch is not enough. Even Aidan would have to harm the body to release the hold Gideon has on him.”
“It is true. Gideon has forced Warren into a small, very small space in his own mind. He cannot answer my call, and Gideon is fighting me.”
Aubrey stepped closer but not within touching distance of them, Isobel noticed. “We need to ensure the host doesn’t suffer.”
“That is what we are worried over,” Allie explained.
“It’s more than that, though.” Circerran shared a look with Jack, who stiffened and moved closer to her. Without speaking, the couple appeared to form a solid front. “When we remove Gideon, Warren will be… Well, let’s just say it will be a shock. We don’t want him to lose his cool and strike out like you would if you were having a nightmare and someone woke you.”
“Ah,” Aidan said. “Respond with instinct?”
“Yes. He’s been a captive, too, right?” Circerran said when Aidan frowned.
“He has suffered but he will survive.” Aidan folded his arms. “Can this be done?”
Circerran and Aubrey both glanced at Emerald. The witch walked up and hesitantly touched the Vampire Warren on the forehead.
“Don’t move!” Aidan’s command slashed through the air like a whip.
Isobel jumped at the order, but Emerald didn’t even blink. “He is in there, still, the man, Warren, fighting Gideon. That will help…” She closed her eyes, tipping her head down slightly. “Gideon is strong. Where will you have him go, once he leaves this body?”
“We will create a casting,” Aubrey said, walking up closer to Emerald. She held up a small silver box lined with intricate carvings on all six sides. It was the size of her palm. “You pull him free, I will drive him in and Circerran will close him inside. Then it is up to you, Aidan, to do what you will with him.”
“This casting will hold him?” Aidan appeared doubtful.
“For as long as you wish, but I would not test that. I would ditch him as soon as possible.” As Circerran spoke, Gideon trembled harder. His eyes rounded, showing the whites even as his square jaw bulged and his head tipped back on his broad shoulders, as if he struggled to carry a heavy weight.
“We must proceed.” Emerald touched Gideon on the middle of his chest and whispered something musical. His tension dissipated. “If you wish him to pay for his crimes, it is now you should do so, for Warren has suffered enough. I will need to barricade him, or else I fear he will never recover.”
“Barricade him?” Aidan repeated.
“Yes, he has suffered much trauma. Imagine the things he has had to see and how his body was used to do them.”
Everyone near Warren stiffened, but Allie winced. “It would be terrible. He is young, too, Aidan. Let her help him. Emerald, you can do this, I know you can.”
“Yes.” Emerald waited, though watched Aidan for permission.
“Rowan?” Aidan turned to her mentor.
“I agree this must be done, but perhaps we might outline his crimes?” Rowan gestured to the people present. “These people should at least hear. They are enough to decide his fate.”
Aidan seemed to consider Rowan’s words good counsel for he nodded. “Yes. From this point on, let no one think that justice has not been served. If Agatha’s death and torture were not enough.” He gestured to where someone had covered Agatha’s body with a white linen cloth. “Then what was done centuries before, to an entire village, as well as Isobel’s brother, Jorge, should suffice. Jorge and his bride were tortured, their souls left to wander. Tonight we will repair that wrong, as well as sentence this man, Gideon, to eternal imprisonment. All those who wish to speak for him, may.”
No one, not even the few magic users that remained in custody, offered a word in his defense. Gideon, in Warren’s body, couldn’t move, but hatred shone in his eyes, hatred and malice. If he could break free, he would have smote them all. Isobel’s worry for the man, Warren, increased.
Aidan bowed his head regally. “Then so be it. Circerran, this man has been found guilty of crimes against his people, as well as others. I, his king and rightful ruler, sentence him to eternal imprisonment or until such a time as I deem his soul has suffered enough and set it to the four winds to never again take shape.”
Images of Tessa and her babe filled Isobel’s mind. Their deaths had been brutal, their suffering horrible, and yet, even with this sentence, she felt Gideon had not eased the ache for revenge.
‘Nothing will, my love. Only living a long, happy life will ease this pain. Jorge will be free soon, as well.’
‘Do you think so?’
‘I know he will.’
“Circerran, be prepared. He is strong. Aubrey,” Emerald said quietly, “he will fight you and he is ready.”
“Aye, I know,” Aubrey whispered in her soft brogue. “You see to Warren. His mind willnae be able to withstand the loss after fighting him so long.”
“I will take care of Warren,” Emerald said quietly.
Isobel drew a nervous breath. So much had gone wrong. This was too close to being over for her to trust that it would be easy. The witches gathered round Warren and, as one, linked hands. From palm to palm light spilled, green, blue and red, then grew too bright to behold. They began to chant in lilting, sweet voices that grew as they continued.
From Aubrey came swirls of blue circles seeping from her exposed hands and temples and out from her body to mist around Warren. Circerran’s magic was brighter, sharper like a jewel as it hung green and dark over his body. Emerald’s was a hazy red smoke that billowed up and circled him like a snake, growing denser as it reached his head. Their chants crested on a shout, which they repeated louder and louder until, with the third call, Warren fell to his knees. Circerran and Aubrey linked hands while Emerald cupped Warren’s skull between her hands, her head bowed, almost touching his as she continued to chant.
“What the hell…?” Jaxon muttered.
“What is she doing?” Jamie asked quietly.
“Emerald is binding Warren so he can recover,” Allie said. “It is almost over. Circerran has Gideon now. He is fighting still, but Aubrey is stronger.”
“They are all wicked cool,” Joey whispered, winking at her. “Almost as cool as we are.”
“Not
even close.” Jaxon grunted when Joey jabbed him with an elbow. “But they can hold their own.”
Circerran gasped and stumbled back. Jack caught her and bent his head to speak to her. She shook her head and answered. Aubrey sighed heavily and brushed her hand over the silver box. Green eyes flashing, Circerran seemed to lose focus, then with another shake of her head she closed her eyes. “He’s in there.”
Aubrey nodded and appeared exhausted. Emerald sank to the steps, eyes wide as she nodded to something Aubrey had said. Warren had fallen against the witch, but Emerald held his head to her knees, brushing his light blond hair from his forehead. There was such tenderness there, in her gesture, Isobel wondered at it.
‘I know only a little of her. She was at one time a Scarlet witch, like the ones we have here, but Cir has been aiding her in some way or another for years. She is young.’
‘Where is her family?’
‘She escaped them.’
‘Escaped?’
‘Aye, not all of her story is clear to me, only bits and pieces from what has happened recently. I know that she, too, will face charges by the Coven Congress. She should suffer no punishment, though, since she has long been out of the Scarlet’s reach.’
Isobel was amazed. There was so much she didn’t know and understand, but one thing she did know was that the woman holding the man’s head on her lap wasn’t evil. She was filled with sadness, that was clear, but she was not evil. Nor was she guilty of any crimes that would taint her soul.
“Circerran, are you all right?” Joey asked, breaking Isobel from her thoughts.
Circerran waved her hand, dismissing the concern, but the witch’s pallid complexion spoke of exhaustion.
‘We owe them much.’
‘Aye, we do.’
“She’s exhausted, but Gideon is bound. The casting is holding,” Jack explained. “We need to leave, this was draining—”
“I’m okay, just a little dizzy, but man, am I done here, people. If it’s not ancient, disgusting, evil Vampires, its changelings running amuck, or Lucifer fucking with us. I need a vacation.”
“I second that,” Jack said, smiling when Circerran laughed.
Everyone except Aidan and Rowan joined her. Even Bryson chuckled.
Aidan stepped forward. “Circerran, you have our—”
“Allie, how do you stand him always being so stoic? Really, seriously, Aidan,” Circerran said, handing him the silver box. “Would it kill you to smile? You just defeated a gruesome creature, with our help, and made things right, almost, with one of yours. I’d say it’s Miller time.”
“Almost?” Jack muttered, anchoring his arm over her shoulders.
Aidan laughed, but it was a short one. “I am not stoic, merely serious when the occasion warrants.”
“You are stoic when surrounded by your people, but we are grateful, Cir, we all are,” Allie said with a glance to Isobel.
“Well, we still need to free Jorge, but I think we need a little rascal to aid us with that, right? Faolan! Come on, hasn’t anyone told you hiding is for girls?” Circerran called.
Elsa sucked in a scandalized breath and muttered about whipping some witch butt if Cir didn’t stop.
Jamie laughed but shouted, “Faolan, we need you here now—”
“And don’t listen to her, she’s nuts.” Elsa laughed when Faolan appeared in front of her. She brushed his long hair back from his eyes with a fond smile. “She’s so wrong. Hiding is difficult and someone famous once said, only fools rush in.”
Circerran snorted. Jack laughed.
This time, Aidan did as well, and his grin remained. “Faolan, listen to Elsa, it is more difficult to hang back and watch than it is to go in guns blazing.”
“True,” Allie said, smiling up at Aidan.
Aidan returned the look, and for a brief moment, Isobel saw the man, not the king she’d feared would hate her.
‘Their bond is strong.’
‘Yes, Allie makes him a better man.’
“I do not own a gun.” Faolan grinned, showing his bright smile, minus one tooth in front. It made him even more enchanting. It also gave his words a slight lisp. “Jamie says they are dangerous.”
“Really? Did he say that?” Circerran asked, licking her thumb and brushing it along his forehead, where there had been a long, brown streak. “You’re covered in dirt from hiding.”
Elsa pulled him away from Circerran. “Ew! Don’t do that!” She rubbed his head with her sweater sleeve. “Your mouth is not sanitary.”
“I assure you, it’s better than whatever he’s been rolling around in.” Circerran sniffed. “And I smell like cinnamon, he cannot claim the same.”
Faolan’s smile grew and he laughed merrily. “Claim the same… That rhymes. But I bathed this morning, Circerran. I am clean.”
“Oy, I do not know about that, pup.”
“Cir—”
“She is teasing me, Elsa,” Faolan explained. “Or perhaps you,” he added with a frown.
“Are they always like this?” Aidan asked.
“Yes.” Jamie grinned.
“Everyone loves the boy,” Allie supplied. “Including you.”
“He is one of ours. He holds the soul of your nephew, Isobel,” Rowan explained. “Along with a great deal of wisdom for one so young.”
At his words, Faolan stared up at him, then her. She smiled at the worry in his eyes. “He is much more than the soul of my nephew. He is Faolan, which means little wolf. But to me, this also means friend.” For some reason, her throat burned as she spoke, so the words came out roughly. She had to blink, unsure why the room had grown quiet or why her vision was blurred.
‘Isobel, are you all right?’
At Bryson’s worry, she sniffed back the emotions threatening to spill over. ’Yes. I think so.’
Faolan hugged her tightly and smiled up at her after a moment of that.
“I knew you would like Elsa. Jamie is fun too. Even Bryson likes him even though he pretends he does not,” he whispered so loudly that even Jaxon, over by the hearth, chuckled.
“I like her very much. I am sure Bryson will try harder not to pretend, if you wish it.”
“Nah, it’s okay. It’s a man thing, Jamie says.”
Jamie coughed into his fist and Elsa grinned and dabbed at her eyes with her sweater sleeve.
“I am going to free my mother and father, aren’t I?” Faolan peered up at her with such trust and something like hope in his eyes she couldn’t respond at first.
“Do you recall them?” she asked.
He scrunched his nose and mouth up with an adorable frown of concentration. “I remember sensations. Warmth and love,” he said quietly. “It was like a warm blanket. It covered me.” Brown eyes bright, he caught and held her gaze. “I remember you, or your voice, your happiness, then your sorrow and pain. Then your fear before you disappeared.” His expression grew solemn. “Then you were back and you were you. I was with Faolan and we were hiding, too. Like you.” He finished with a bright smile, as if that answered everything. In a way it did.
“So you knew, always knew you were more?” Elsa asked from his left.
He shook his head. “Not more. I am still Faolan. I am me, but this…” He touched his head then his heart. “This is also there. A part of me. He keeps me safe, Elsa. When they hurt me.” He added in a whisper, “He kept me safe.”
Jamie reached out and pulled the boy into his arms. Elsa hugged him, too, so the three were a unit, a small family of three. “Then we will aid him, won’t we? In freeing his father and mother.”
“My father and mother, too. Just like you are.”
The wolf’s eyes shimmered. “I can be your father, Faolan, even if that means sharing you with this…with Isobel’s brother.” Elsa gazed at him as if he’d just said the most amazing thing. Isobel had to agree. Faolan hugged the man harder for it. “I will give it a try, at least,” he muttered, seeming embarrassed by the attention.
Elsa wiped at her eyes and
laughed. “You always do. Now,” she said, clearly trying to keep from crying. “How do we help?”
Everyone seemed to shake off the experience slowly. Isobel waited but when no one answered Elsa, she stepped forward, Bryson by her side. “Agatha has passed on, but her soul lingers. We must burn her body and release her to the wind. I believe this will be enough.”
“I thought we needed Gideon dead, as well. All the members of the council,” Bryson stressed.
“What? What do you mean?” Aidan asked.
“The council has to be destroyed to take off the curse they placed on Jorge,” Isobel clarified.
Aidan shook his head. “Gideon was not on the council. There were only five. Not six. It was the king’s choice. My father thought it would be more secret with five.” He smiled and shrugged. “The council is gone as soon as Agatha is burned. Then your brother will come here, not where he was murdered?”
“He will come to the place where the last body leaves this plane,” Aubrey answered. “If this was a curse put down by witches.”
“I believe it was,” Isobel said. “It was a witch that aided them in capturing me then entombing me.”
“The same with me, my dear,” Rowan offered. “We can only find out if we try this, am I right? Agatha is gone. Her spirit is too damaged.”
“I agree. After what she endured, this last escape will be a relief.” Aidan walked over. Fire bloomed on his palm, white, powerful and strong. He tossed his hand down and the flames erupted along Agatha’s body. Within minutes, it was done. He flung the ashes to the winds, whispering the required words to send her soul outward.
Everyone, including Bryson, waited, breath held. Within seconds a cold breeze scented with the sea, blew along Isobel’s face. Tears rushed her eyes. The shadowy form of her brother appeared. His tall warrior body was ghost like and without substance but more dear to her than life. His eyes, though, his eyes were as bright and dark as she remembered. On his left his bride, her hair flowing down her back, a smile on her lips, stepped from the gloom. They took one another’s hands and walked forward, growing more solid as they did.
“Sister. I knew you would not fail us.” Jorge’s dear voice sounded far away, but, like him, brought her such joy that tears fell from her eyes unheeded. “And this, you bring us this.” His gaze fastened on Faolan. Tessa clung to Jorge’s arm, her own tears falling free as she beheld her son.