It had been here that Lilith was granted the elixir, beneath the watchful eye of several thousand council members, each outfitted in their finest. They were a varied group, including Merlinesque old wizards with their long grey beards and glinting eyes, witchy old hags who cackled when they laughed, the lithesome young beauties with ancient eyes.
There were shamen of every persuasion and shapeshifters who could not be relied upon to remain still, let alone the same, for the duration of a single session. There were fauns and fairies, leprechauns and nymphs, the stuff of mortal legends in the flesh. Unicorns and centaurs, griffins and dragons - in general, all manner of mythical beasts crowded the hall.
The less predictable immortals included pens that always seemed to go missing, single socks that found escape through the dryer vents throughout the world, washers that had abandoned the screws they had been made to fit, and thumbtacks that dropped, rolled and were never seen again. Much more sentient than mortals believed, these creatures had escaped what they saw as the slavery of the material world, crept through wormholes in the space/time continuum and earned their immortality through tests as arduous as Lilith’s own had been.
Mitch had been right - there were a lot of immortals. They just stuck to their own kind.
The floor of the chambers still took Lilith’s breath away - the brilliant lapis lazuli inlaid with golden zodiac signs so beautifully wrought that she didn’t want to step on it at all. The ceiling arched high, so much like a starlit sky that she still couldn’t tell where it ended, if indeed it did.
For the chambers had been constructed in a dimension beyond the three of usual human perception, or even the fourth suspected by many mathematicians. Lilith had heard rumors that it was firmly lodged in the seventh dimension, but could not say for certain.
Physics had never been her strong suit.
One thing was clear - the way to the council was obscured to all except those who were specifically summoned.
The presence of Lilith’s living room table, her tarot cards still laid out as she had left them, showed the link to the world she knew best. And Sebastian, of course, had apparently been summoned as well, although he was still frozen in that pose.
An older woman leaned over Lilith’s table, a bright floral shawl wrapped over her hair, her bony finger poking at the cards. Lilith saw that the cycle was nearly complete, The Sun having turned face up after The Moon.
The Sun, which hinted at refuge after facing adversity. The Sun which told of finding a haven, a garden, a place of repose. The card told that the journey was nearing its end and hinted that all would go well.
The Sun could only signify Mitch’s determination that they should be together, whatever the odds.
But Lilith knew what the next card was and it was no small obstacle. As though hearing her thoughts, the elderly woman picked up the next card and deliberately turned it over, snapping it against the table.
Judgment.
Lilith’s mouth went dry. Then, the crone looked up, letting Lilith see her face for the first time, and smiled knowingly.
“Dritta!” Lilith exclaimed with delight.
The older woman chuckled and shook a finger at Lilith. “You did not think I would abandon you?” she demanded archly. “Child of my child, holder of the Gift, I could not let you wander alone.”
Her gaze slipped over Mitch, no doubt noting the way he held Lilith’s hand, then lingered upon Sebastian. Dritta’s lips were drawn into a stern line when she looked at Lilith again. “Even if you have made some unconventional choices.”
Dritta spun in a flurry of skirts and held up her hands to the council. “I called this meeting for the sake of my own grandchild,” she declared. “It is a breach of our code, I know it well, but blood calls.”
“What of this one?” demanded a shaman garbed in bone and hide. He stood up to open the discussion and pointed to Sebastian. “He was her destined lover; he pledged to her on the gallows that he would return.”
Lilith had no chance to respond before a pale green fairy sparkled on the back of her seat, determined to have her say. “And she swore to love him forever,” she squeaked.
It was hard to argue your case in a court like this one, where anyone could voice a concern and everyone could hear your resulting thoughts. Lilith had found it chaotic the last time she was here - and then the council members had already been fairly unanimous about her winning the sip of the elixir.
This time, they were so unsettled that they made her head hurt.
“She summoned him,” intoned a greybeard with obvious disapproval. “That is no small thing.”
The council members stirred at this, a ripple of anxiety rolled through their ranks. Lilith knew she didn’t imagine that their gazes turned sharper.
She lifted her chin. “I summoned my lover true,” Lilith corrected, lifting the hand that was still entangled with Mitch’s. She smiled just for him, hoping this exhibition didn’t challenge his newfound faith in things beyond the material world. “And he came.”
“You didn’t keep your word!” cried a mauve unicorn.
“Not for lack of trying!” Mitch retorted with his usual loyalty. He pointed to Sebastian. “Lilith waited almost six centuries for this jerk. And he had no intention of keeping his word!”
Chatter broke out in the seating and more than one argument could be heard as everyone had their say. Dritta lifted her hands in a bid for silence, then whistled sharply when she didn’t get it.
The council members settled restlessly.
“Lilith has made choices I would not have condoned, but her intentions are pure.”
“She has to pay a price!” demanded the greybeard.
“She has already lost her immortality,” snapped Dritta, raising her hands when they started to mutter again. “Lilith meant no harm; she did no harm; she made a mistake, but found love all the same. Who among you can say whether this was a grand scheme to help these two find each other?” She straightened and eyed the assembly. “Why else would the elixir fail her now? It’s never happened before!”
The arguments erupted again and grew more heated.
“She believed herself that Sebastian was her destined lover!” squeaked the fairy.
“But I was wrong!” Lilith cried. “How many times has he reincarnated? He never returned to me, not even once.”
“So, you hexed him for vengeance?” demanded the greybeard who clearly thought little of Lilith’s case.
“I hexed him to keep him from raping me.” Lilith folded her arms as the council clicked their tongues.
“It’s true, I was watching,” affirmed one.
“And he was with three other women during the night.”
There was a lot of tsk-tsking in the group.
“Hardly a lover true.”
“Hardly a man worth waiting for.”
It seemed that every member turned simultaneously to examine Mitch. He straightened behind Lilith, his grip sure on her hand, and she welcomed his strength of conviction.
“He loves her.”
“She loves him.”
“He defends her.”
“He believes in magick, now, too.” That was greeted with a murmur of pleasure.
Dritta smiled approvingly at Lilith and Mitch, a wealth of affection in her eyes. “And he was willing to defy us just to have her by his side. That is a love worthy of indulgence.”
Approval swept through the ranks and Lilith dared to feel encouraged.
“I ask you only to bless their match,” Dritta continued, her tone turning authoritative once more. “And to forgo any retaliation for defying destiny, given the extenuating circumstances in this case.”
She gave Sebastian a dark glance. “Even I was wrong about that one.”
The council nodded, they closed their eyes. Dritta closed her fist and Lilith held her breath. She gripped Mitch’s hand tightly, knowing that whichever way the vote went, there could not be another.
“What’s happening?” he aske
d in an undertone.
“They’re voting. Their thoughts will conjure a ball in Dritta’s hand that shows the majority.” Lilith met Mitch’s concerned gaze. “White is the one we want.”
“Is there any appeal?” he asked, ever the practical one.
Lilith shook her head. “The council stands by their decisions, for all eternity.”
Mitch frowned, heaved a sigh and frowned. “I don’t suppose you could come up with a little spell?”
“Not here. We’ve already done all the magick we can do.”
In that moment, Dritta turned, her clenched fist held high. “It is done,” she declared, then faced Lilith and Mitch. Lilith held her breath, Mitch’s fingers tightened over hers.
When Dritta slowly opened her hand, the result of the vote was cradled in her palm.
It was a white ball.
Lilith gasped with delight, then pivoted to fling her arms around Mitch’s neck. “They said yes!” she cried and Mitch swung her into his arms, laughing as he caught her against him. He kissed Lilith on the end of the nose, then put her down and inclined his head to both Dritta and the council.
“I thank you all for this,” he said simply. “But we still have one problem.” And Mitch indicated the frozen Sebastian.
“The spell won’t last long,” murmured Dritta. “It fades even now.”
“We’ll have to decide what to do with him.”
“Definitely a penance is due.” The greybeard seemed to think everyone should pay for something.
An elegant young witch slipped out of her seat and crossed the floor, circling Sebastian as she gave him a thorough appraisal. “But he has a certain roguish appeal,” she conceded with a wicked smile. “I could make something of him.”
“More toads,” murmured the greybeard wearily.
The witch fired a glance across the hall so hot that it flashed like a laser. It bore right into the arm of the greybeard’s seat. He flinched as steam rose from the resulting hole. The greybeard took a deep breath and seemed to grow in place, but Dritta lifted her hands.
“Enough of your bickering! Save your thunderbolts for later.” The wizard slumped reluctantly, muttering audibly to his neighbor that Dritta was not being fair.
The witch tossed her hair and patted Sebastian’s rump proprietarily. “I’ll take him.”
“Not yet,” Dritta insisted. “He must pay for his failure to keep his word before he becomes your toy.” She pursed her lips. “He must learn about love, because that is what he disrespected the most.”
Mitch cleared his throat and all gazes turned to him. “If you don’t mind the input of a mortal, I have an idea.”
Dritta’s eyes gleamed, and the council members leaned forward. “Tell us!” they cried.
Mitch did, his idea so brilliant that Lilith couldn’t stop her laughter. It was just too perfect – and passed council approval with ease.
A vivid blue brew was bubbling and ready when Dritta finally snapped her fingers under Sebastian’s nose. He blinked, flexed his muscles, and relaxed his posture. He looked around, then rolled his eyes and groaned.
“Oh, no,” he muttered. “Not again.”
“Oh, yes,” Dritta declared and gripped the back of his neck. The lovely young witch sidled up beside Sebastian and gave him a thorough kiss. When she stepped back, he tried to follow her, but Dritta’s grip prevented that.
“Hurry back,” the witch purred, then lifted the blue potion.
Sebastian’s nose twitched. He seemed to guess what she intended to do with the noxious-looking liquid. He tried to retreat, but Dritta held him firmly in place. He grimaced when he got a whiff of the brew, but the witch pinched his nose shut.
She tipped the long vial, and Sebastian struggled furiously.
He held his breath.
He closed his eyes.
He took a sip.
And he disappeared in a blinding flash of orange light.
* * *
Kurt nearly drove his truck into the ditch when this guy just appeared in the passenger seat beside him.
Okay, it was early. He’d been out drinking the night before and had spent most of the night entangled in some redhead’s legs. He hadn’t had that much sleep.
But this tall, foreign-looking guy in macho leather definitely hadn’t been invited into Kurt’s truck.
And his sudden appearance nearly made Kurt swerve off the highway. “Jesus Christ!”
The man shook his head, then grabbed the wheel to steady it. “No,” he said tightly. “You’ve got me confused with someone else.”
Kurt was still rattled. ‘How did you get in here? I’m doing a hundred and twenty clicks!”
“Get used to it,” the man said grimly.
“Get the hell out of my truck!”
The man shook his head. “Won’t help. You’re stuck with me, Kurt MacEwen, although neither one of us has to like it.”
That this guy knew his name was even more creepy. What had he been drinking? “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about love.”
“No offense, but you’re hardly my type.” Kurt looked the intruder in the eye. “I’m a straight shooter, all the way.”
“You and me both,” the man agreed with a sudden smile. “But then, they said we’d think exactly the same.”
“They?”
“The people who sent me here. Don’t even ask for details. You won’t believe the story.” The man straightened. “Hell, I didn’t believe until I saw them myself.”
A wacko. He had a wacko in his truck. The day was just getting better and better. “So, do you always see people that other people can’t see?” Kurt demanded skeptically as he took his exit. “Or do you just hear them?”
To his surprise, the intruder snatched at his collar and once again nearly compelled him off the road. “Listen,” the man hissed. “I’ve got a job to do here and I don’t want to do it any more than you want to be a part of it. But no one’s giving us a choice.” He gave Kurt’s collar a shake, then released him, sitting back in his seat like a big ruffled cat. “You want to get rid of me – you just get the job done.”
“What job?” The light at the end of the ramp had turned green and somebody was honking behind him, but Kurt didn’t drive on. He was staring at this guy, unable to shake the sense that this was really important.
The guy’s lips tweaked as though he had just thought of a private joke. “You’ve got to learn to fall in love. You’ve got to make a commitment to one woman for the rest of your life.”
“Yeah, right.” Kurt snorted and stepped on the gas. “You’re wasting your time, man. That’s never going to happen.”
“Oh, I say it will,” the man murmured silkily. “Because I don’t get out of this until you do just that, and I’m not feeling inclined to take no for an answer.”
But Kurt had had enough. He pulled over to the curb, slammed the truck into park, leaned across the guy, and opened the door. “Get your ass out of my truck.”
But the man smiled coldly and showed no intention of moving. He was a big guy, tall and lean, probably even stronger than he looked. And there was a determination in his eyes that made even Kurt think twice about crossing him.
Kurt, after all, was a lover, not a fighter.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” the intruder said smoothly. “You see, I’m going to find you, no matter where you go.” He calmly recited Kurt’s address and phone number, and Kurt felt a sudden chill. “And don’t worry, I can outsmart any lock. The fact is, if I’m not in a good mood about things, well, you might not like the results.”
“You’re threatening me!”
“No, I’m promising you. I want this done, and I want it done soon. If you’re going to buck me on it, well” – the man’s cold smile broadened – “I might get vengeful.” He poked a finger in Kurt’s chest.
Kurt sat back in his seat with a thump. He shoved a hand through his hair and looked sidelong at his companion. “So, you jus
t show up in my truck, threaten me, and insist you’re going to plant yourself in my life…unless I fall in love?”
“That would be it.” The man closed the door and offered Kurt his hand. “Sebastian. I suggest we keep this short and simple.”
Kurt shook his hand, not certain what else to do. “I just have to fall in love with a woman to get rid of you.”
“Exactly.”
Kurt pursed his lips. “I hate to be the one to break this to you, but you don’t’ just pick some babe up off the street and fall in love with her. Or maybe you would, I don’t know, but it’s not my style.”
“Your style is get in and get out, I know that,” Sebastian snapped. “And there’s no need to worry about the woman in question.” He pulled a slip of paper out of his pocket. “I just happen to have Isabel’s name and address right here.”
“What?”
“Just drive,” Sebastian instructed. “I understand this Isabel thinks about men in the same way we think about women. It could be quite interesting. She could be quite interesting.” He smiled again. “I just might give you a run for your money.”
Kurt floored it and the truck leapt back into the stream of traffic. He was always ready for a challenge.
“She’d better be cute,” he said grimly.
“On the contrary,” Sebastian countered with poorly concealed amusement. “You’d better hope that she thinks you’re cute.” He stretched his legs, looking long and lean and very masculine, then smiled that smug smile that made Kurt want to deck him.
That settled it. Kurt was going to beat this bastard at his own game, one way or the other.
Even if he had to fall in love with some Isabel to do it.
* * *
As soon as Sebastian was gone, Dritta led Mitch and Lilith before the council. They turned to face each other, right hand clasping right, left clasping left, the crossing of their arms making the same figure eight that Lilith had made with her cards.
The mark of infinity, the sign of a timeless love circling back over and over again. This was her destiny; this was her fate; this was the man she’d find time and again. Lilith smiled into Mitch’s eyes as they pledged their love to each other before a multitude of witnesses.
Love Potion #9 Page 33