by John Conroe
“Oh God,” Tanya said. I could feel her thinking of our babies despite the hundreds of miles separating us.
“I strongly suggest evacuation to an undisclosed location outside of major urban areas.”
“On it,” Lydia said over the connection. “Evac in fifteen.”
“Make it ten. Omega?” Tanya asked.
“An Obliterator is landing on the Tower roof now. Bring only essentials.”
I could hear both vampires moving at very fast speeds as they gathered the most important stuff.
“Aunt Ash says to come here. The property is heavily warded and I have both Draco and Robbie guarding the grounds. There is another Earth elemental nearby and I’ll ask it to beef up Robbie’s protections.”
“Declan, we’re talking about atomic yields here,” Tanya said. The lack of movement noise told me that both my wife and Lydia had stopped to listen.
“Yeah, I know. But only in the one to two-kiloton range,” the witch answered.
The speakers went silent for a moment before Stacia spoke up. “You do all realize just how much power is released by a hurricane, volcano, or earthquake, right? He handles atomic level events pretty much weekly.”
“I just have to guide the power or, better yet, guide the elemental. I don’t run that kind of energy through myself.”
“You’re saying you could shield us from a backpack nuke?” Lydia asked.
“Elementals can shield us. I just have to help them understand the setup.”
“Think of Declan as an engineer directing the build of a bridge or skyscraper,” Stacia said. “He doesn’t have to actually build it, just design it.”
“And I’ve already spent years building those kinds of protections around Rowan West. Just have to have elementals powering them up. Robbie by himself is a pretty good start.”
“What about Demidova Tower?” Tanya asked.
“What about it?” Declan replied. “I’ve done a lot to it, beefed it up pretty good, but why take any chances?”
“Oh, we’re not taking a single chance,” Tanya said. “In fact, we’re getting into the Obliterator now. But I was wondering about the people left back here at the Tower.”
“Oh. Well, it’s pretty solid from anything with the exception of the bomb being smuggled right into the building or under it. Neither is likely to happen with Omega on guard,” Declan said.
“Correct. All of my drones have radiation sensors.”
“Once I’ve bolstered the protections up here around the restaurant, I’m going to activate the elemental network to see what we can find,” Declan said.
“How?” Nika asked.
“Air elementals cover enormous amounts of territory on a regular basis. I just need to teach them what to look for.”
“And what exactly do you look for?” Lydia asked.
“Not sure. Omega?” Declan asked.
“I will transport you to the Kings Bay Submarine Base in Georgia. You can view several types of weapons. If you get a feel for them, magically speaking, perhaps you can convey that to the elementals?”
“Perfect,” Declan said.
“We’re turning for Vermont,” I said as we came to Route 4, turning east rather than west.
Chapter 17
We made it to Castlebury in an hour and a half. Tanya, Lydia, Wulf, and Cora were already there, the kids sitting on the floor as Ashling told them a story, using her powerful Air magic to conjure illusions and scenes. They were completely enthralled. It was amazing, better than any video, movie, or even Omega’s holographs. If she chose to, she could tank Hollywood and Disney overnight.
“They used to do that with me too,” Declan said when he saw my mate’s frown. “Mom and Aunt Ash. It’s a tool for teaching young witches. They hear the words, see the illusions, and feel the Craft.”
“And she’s using it with the twins?” Tanya asked.
“Aunt Ash knows way more than I do about teaching Craft. I’ve told her all the things I’ve done to help them learn to control their powers, so she must think this is a good idea.”
“Sounds like we hired the wrong teacher,” Lydia said casually.
“Right?” he agreed. She flashed a suspicious look his way. “No, really. You have to know how good she is at this. The witches at Arcane love her classes. Plus having multiple teachers is a good thing for anyone.”
“We didn’t want them to travel away from us, and your aunt has this business to run,” I said, trying to explain.
“Exactly what I thought. But perhaps Omega’s holographic technology would work for her to teach them long distance,” Declan suggested.
I palmed my face.
“Never thought of that,” Tanya said. “Do you think she would agree?”
He snorted. “Look at her.” His aunt was deeply involved with the twins, smiling and laughing with them as she told them some crazy story about an Irish witch and a leprechaun. She was clearly taken with our babies.
The door to the O’Carroll family residence opened and Stacia came in wearing running gear. “Hey, you made it,” she said to me and Nika.
“We were already pretty close by,” Nika reminded her.
“Yeah, about that… Does anyone else wonder if Morrigan’s message was meant to make us all run to cover?” she asked.
“Yes,” Tanya said. “I said the same thing to Lydia on the flight up. We’re still reacting, not acting, and…”
“Action always beats reaction,” I said. It was one of Tanya’s favorite pieces of fighting advice.
“No shit,” Stacia said.
“Yeah, about that,” Declan said, eyes on his aunt and the twins. “I’m leaving in about fifteen minutes via Omega Airways to visit a naval base in Georgia and look at nuclear bombs. I’m going to invite in a bunch of Air Elementals and then let them do what they do best, which is fly around. They’ll be looking for any errant nukes. When that’s underway, I wondered if we shouldn’t pop over to Fairie and maybe have a chat with Morrigan?”
He threw it out there like it was nothing. Just a hop, skip, and a jump to another world to check in with a sociopathic fairy queen who was as powerful as a goddess in her own terrain. Nobody said anything for a bit.
“What were you thinking, Dec?” Stacia asked in a fairly even tone. Which was interesting because I would have bet money that she would be instantly against it for protective reasons.
“We go into Idiria, let people see us, and go from there,” he said, all casual like. It was a pretty solid showing of indifference, but I could smell the hint of anger and anxiety coming off him.
“What’s the end goal?” Tanya asked.
“Information,” he said instantly. It was one of her standard questions, particularly with business or combat, and he was clearly prepared. “Two-fold,” he went on. “More info on just who is running these nukes, because that speaks to a human organization, and any information on the Vorsook, who have to be the ones behind it.”
“They don’t have to be,” Lydia said. “They’re the most likely candidates, but it could be the Queen or her sister themselves.”
“Nah,” he said, shaking his head. “Even the worst elf would never condone nukes. They’re all about the natural world, if perhaps the most violent parts of it, and radiation is anathema to the natural world.”
“He’s right,” Stacia said. “They’re vicious bitches, but there are some lines I don’t think even they would cross.”
Across the room, Ashling was waving her hands, her brogue deeper than normal as she entranced my children.
“I still wonder if we shouldn’t be here?” Tanya said. “If we were fucking herded here,” she hissed, displaying what she thought of being herded.
“Aunt Ash is absolutely convinced that the danger is real and that we all should be right here. I’ve learned not to second-guess her instincts.”
Nika snorted, earning herself all our attention. “What? I’ve known a ton of witches; vetted them for Senka and the other Elders. Ashling O’Carro
ll is legendary for her abilities. If she thinks this is solid, I can’t foreswear her.”
“So who were you thinking for on this proposed journey?” Lydia asked.
“Stacia, Chris, Nika, and myself,” Declan said.
“An angel, a witch, a werewolf, and a vampire all walked into a Fairie bar…” Lydia said. “Sounds like the start of a great joke.”
“And you’ll all go to Idiria?” Tanya asked, ignoring Lydia’s quip.
“I think we’ll go to the island I told you about, the one that Nira and her dragon friend Storm live on,” Declan said. “Remember them? The ones we brought over for a couple of weeks? Anyway, from there, we’ll go to Idiria.”
“What’s the purpose of that?” Tanya asked.
“The dragon, Storm, or actually Storxyan, is the youngest child of Gargax. She was missing for several years and so he’s taken to hanging around the island. Ashley may be there too. She may have some information on what Queen Morrigan is up to before we go haring off for the Winter Realm.”
“Solid idea,” my wife agreed.
“Thanks,” Declan said. “See, I think either Morrigan or her sister might know something about this particular Vorsook we’re currently squared off with. And more about the nukes. If we can learn enough to find the nukes and get some kind of name or connection to that Vorsook, we can take the fight to it.”
“Ambitious,” Lydia said. “Dangerous, but ambitious.”
“Got to risk it to get the biscuit,” Declan said.
“What even is that?” Lydia asked, disgust written clear on her face.
“You have to take big chances to realize big gains,” Nika explained.
“I got that,” Lydia said. “It just sounds stupid is my point.”
“This Vorsook is a hunter, and a good hunter would want to check its trap,” Tanya said. “It’s not likely a million light-years away, but much closer.”
The residence door opened and Darci walked in, wearing jeans and a pullover sweater, her gaze finding all of us quickly and ending up for a second on Declan before she turned and shut the door.
“I’m going to grab some snacks; be right back,” Declan said, almost scrambling to leave the room as he headed toward the restaurant kitchen.
I exchanged a glance with Tanya before we both looked at Stacia. She sighed, wearing an unhappy look, then turned and followed her witch. I turned to Nika, only to find her looking at Darci.
“I’d beat the guilt out of him if I thought I could,” the rugged deputy said with a frown.
“Guilt is part of it,” Nika said. “But absolute terror is the biggest part.”
“Terror?” Darci asked.
“For you,” Nika said. “For Ashling. Yes, he blames himself for attracting attention to you, but he’s really scared of what might have happened if he couldn’t have gotten there.”
“Nothing was going to happen until he got there. That thing made that very clear. Personally, I was the one terrified right up until that point,” Darci said. “This tiny old lady that I could have bench-pressed grabs me with a literal grip of steel. So much stronger than I was. She had my throat, and I could feel her fingers pinching my trachea. Halfway to pissing myself and then she threatens me with Don’t move till the boy gets here or I’ll tear your throat out and drink your blood.”
“They’re terrifying. I know firsthand,” Tanya said.
“That’s the thing,” Darci said. “I was terrified, right up until it said to wait for the boy. The boy. Can you imagine? Calling Declan just a boy?”
Lydia opened her mouth and Nika stepped on her foot.
“Suddenly I knew—knew that this thing, this unholy creature that stunk of brimstone and rotting flesh, had no idea what it was waiting for. Calmed me right down. It even commented. Why is your heartbeat slowing? Before I could think of an answer, my radio comes to life. The sheriff is there, calling me, and the demon tells me what to say in reply. Then the radio comes on again and this time it’s Omega, telling me that Declan is almost there. It’s only been like fifteen minutes and he’s already almost there.”
“That must have made you feel better,” Lydia said.
“I think I laughed a little. Confused the demon all to Hell because it gave me the strangest look. Then the house came apart. I laughed again, because in the horror movies, the demon is the one to tear things up and here this thing is facing off with my nephew and the whole house just explodes in slow motion. It had no concept of what he could do… what he is. I could almost feel sorry for it. Almost. And then I felt an invisible force slide between the thing’s fingers and my throat and its hand suddenly explodes, and it’s just yanked away like a toy. I didn’t even get blood on me. I don’t remember Stacia grabbing me. Just that I’m suddenly out of the rubble and standing with everyone else.”
“Yeah, we saw,” I said.
“Oh yeah—you did. It was a little blurry for a bit. Shock, I guess,” she said, looking up at the ceiling as she remembered. Then she brought her eyes down to mine. “Thank you for sending it back. Before it could say any more, offer any more.”
“You understand that we were expecting Hell to make him an offer?” I said.
“Yes, but I don’t like it and I don’t want to hear it.”
“It’s not like he’s going to take it,” Lydia said.
“Of course he is,” Darci said. “Do you know him? He’ll do anything to protect his loved ones. Anything. They just have to leverage it right. Maybe hold Ashling or Stacia over his head. Toni or one of your twins.”
“We’re not going to let that happen,” Tanya said.
Darci laughed. It wasn’t a happy laugh. “Listen. You are all immensely powerful, ultracapable people, but if I’ve learned anything in nineteen years of law enforcement, it’s that security is an illusion.”
“That’s oddly negative,” Nika said, head tilted as she studied the deputy.
Darci shrugged. “I’m not saying you can’t defeat them or foil plots or what have you, but your opponents are not slouches. You can’t defend the whole world indefinitely. Eventually they’ll give him an unwinnable choice. Then what?”
Nobody had a quick answer, or even a slow answer, as we stood silent. Darci nodded. “Thank you for not trying to feed me some crap. You all already know the danger of this plan. You need to gut punch theses bastards first, second, and last!”
“Yeah, we do,” I said. “We’re working on getting enough intel to do just that.”
“Work harder,” she said, all gruff before her demeanor softened. “Please.”
“We’re on it,” I said, the three vampires just nodding.
“Alright then. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to straighten that boy out,” she said, moving toward the restaurant.
“She called him a boy,” Lydia pointed out in a peevish tone.
“Parental prerogative,” Nika said. “Pseudo parental.”
“Enough of all that,” Tanya said, moving for the big family dining table. “Let’s plan for this outing to Fairie. If I’m staying here, I want all your bases covered. And bath time is coming up soon.”
The door to the restaurant opened and a slightly startled-looking Stacia came through carrying a platter of cheese and crackers in one hand and a six pack of imported sparkling water in the other. She spotted us and headed for the table. “Family squabble. Not my bag,” she said as she set the food down in front of us. “What’s this? Planning session? Excellent. What did I miss?”
We all exchanged a silent glance. “Nothing. Just getting started,” Tanya said.
Chapter 18
“Welcome to Lileire,” Declan said as I stepped out of the mirrored hole he had torn in the cosmos. Nika was already through and Stacia came last.
We were in a field blanketed with a short ground cover that was almost lime green, bordered by thick forests of deciduous trees on two sides and views of an ocean on the other two.
The air was cool and moist, smelling of salt and fish, and the setting sun was
very red in color. Big gray-feathered birds, like seagulls on steroids, wheeled high in the sky over us with more birds floating on thermals out over the water.
“Reminds me a bit of Ireland,” Nika said, staring transfixed at the sunset. She wore a daypack containing a change of clothing and blood rations. In fact, all four of us carried small packs, although Declan also had his messenger bag of magic tricks. All of our packs had extra blood rations for Nika and a few clothes and emergency supplies. Declan had his 10mm in a cross-chest holster and his combat tomahawk on his right hip. Stacia had a very compact shotgun that sported a pistol grip and pistol arm brace slung on a single point sling. I hadn’t recognized the make or model, which prompted her to explain that it was a Remington 12-gauge Tac-13 semiauto firearm. Nika had her Omega blaster in a hip holster, and me, well, I had a pocket full of quarters. A pair of orange-sized orbs floated in the air on either side of our little group.
“The village is that way, but Nira lives over in that direction,” Declan said, pointing in two different directions.
“Girl with the baby dragon?” I asked. A shadow crossed the field, the outline unmistakable and bigger than a trolley car. Air gusseted us as a very large set of wings braced to slow the dragon’s descent.
“Yes, but I wouldn’t say Storm is a baby dragon,” Stacia said to me, not even looking around at the bronze-colored beast that was extending its nose to snuffle Declan. It was almost as long as a school bus, with a broad, muscular back that seemed plenty big enough for the girl who hopped down from it.
“Nira, this is Chris and Nika.” Stacia made the introductions. The girl was young, still a teen, with auburn hair, hazel eyes, and freckles, and wore a warm-looking pair of leather pants and a belted leather flying jacket. She seemed extremely excited.
“Oh, it’s so very grand to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you both,” Nira said.
“I’m guessing Storm spotted us arriving?” Declan asked.
“She saw your looking glass forming on Mr. Witterstock’s field. We were on our last pass over the island before nightfall. Oh, this is so exciting. Papa will be thrilled. And I can make a fine dinner.”