Celeste

by Dale Mayer

  “Now, if only they’d truly disappear,” Celeste said in wry tones. “I suspect they’ll be around to badger me for a long time to come.”

  With a pat on her shoulder, he walked away, leaving her with one parting shot. “You’re up to the task, my dear. No worries there.”

  She watched in bemusement as the group slowly shuffled away.

  “Seems like the weather in town has shifted for the better,” Genesis said from her side. “There is definitely a change in attitude.”

  “True. Some of it is envy, though.”

  “From the men at our side, the dresses everyone is dying to get their hands on, or the massive inheritance we now stand to gain?” Tori asked with a laugh. “Speaking of dresses, anyone else been asked where we got them from?”

  Celeste shook her head. “No, I haven’t.”

  “Well, I have,” Genesis said. “I told the truth. That they were gifts from our granny.”

  “I did, too.” Tori admitted. “Most of the women were shocked. And very jealous.”

  “Not my problem,” Celeste said. “I’m just so grateful she knew to leave them to us.”

  “Hear, hear.”

  The lights dimmed just then, and music, a slow pulsating beat that lit her blood and made it shimmer with heat, thudded through the big hall.

  Matt’s voice rang over the top of the audience.

  “I thought a little dancing might be a great way to spend a couple of hours. Or maybe it’s just I want an excuse to hold my beloved in my arms for a little while.”

  And he hopped down, the crowd surging back, leaving him standing alone in the middle of the dance floor.

  “Oh, no, he didn’t,” she muttered. “Like I know how to dance.”

  Matt grinned, holding out his hand to her.

  Shit.

  “Go,” Tori urged. “Remember. We have power shoes.”

  Celeste blinked in remembrance then smiled a slow, sexy smile that stopped Matt in place. She handed over her glass to her sister, then stepped on to dance floor, swaying her hips to the heavy beat of the music as she walked toward him. Matt reached up to loosen his tie and she shook her head, her hand closing over his and wrapping his arm around her waist.

  “You asked for this,” she whispered, knowing the audience was watching them intently, “and now you’re going to pay for it.”

  He threw his head back and laughed in delight. “Bring it on, sweetheart. There is nothing you have that I can’t handle.”

  And the music jolted into a hot and heavy beat, as he swung her around in a circle on the floor. She matched him step for step. On one turn she caught sight of her sisters and their men dancing alongside them.

  This was going to be a night to remember.

  By the time the evening wore down, Celeste was tucked up against Matt’s side at the front door, and saying goodbye to the first wave of guests. Before too long, most of the partiers had left, but there were still a dozen or so still hanging about.

  “Did we learn anything?” she asked in a low voice, as they walked slowly back to the buffet table, where she picked up several canapés and put them on a small plate.

  “Mopsy had no triggers. Neither did anyone else yet, including Scott.”

  “Damn.”

  “No. But I suspect we have more trouble still to come tonight. The enemy may not have necessarily wanted to cause a widespread panic here, but now that the numbers have dwindled…”

  “Hmmm.” She wasn’t so sure. If it had been her, she’d have used the spirit animals to find out what she needed to know and then plan an attack later.

  Something tugged at the back of her brain, but she couldn’t place it.

  She pondered what was escaping her thoughts for a long moment while she ate. Then slowly put her plate down and reached for Matt’s hand. When he turned to face her, a questioning look in his eyes, she said, “Did you consider that spirit animals might be left behind? Not ours, but someone else’s, in an attempt to gain access later tonight?”

  He frowned, his gaze searching. “I hadn’t considered that. Can you tell if there are other spirit animals here?”

  She nodded. “There are, of course, as many people brought their pets tonight on the assumption that they wouldn’t disturb anyone.”

  “And did they take those same animals away again?” he asked intently.

  She frowned, sensing something, a strange energy here, but it was hard to tell, as the place was overrun with foreign energy. It was a perfect foil. “I’m not sure they did.”

  “And just how much damage could a spirit pet do?”

  “Remember the gorilla that hurt Remi and Darbo?”

  His frown deepened and he spun around, as if looking for that monster. “Are you saying that there could be some aggressive animals here now?”

  “We were so busy that I never thought of it,” she admitted. “And I’ve been trying to contact Silky and Minkel for the last few moments and not getting through.”

  In fact…she could feel a deep dark surge of power inside the hall. She spun around. It was coming from the downstairs. “There is someone, something, here. It’s in the research labs. Where we found my sisters.”

  He grabbed her arm and jumped from his seat. “Stay here.”

  She shook her head and rose to meet him. “No, this is spirit animals. This is too big for you alone. I have to be there.”

  Celeste could tell that indecision held him back. But he looked to be on the verge of bolting anyway. “Fine, but you have to stay safe,” he said, in frustration. “I can’t do all this,” he waved his arm around, “and end up with you getting hurt anyway.”

  “No time,” she snapped and raced toward the elevator. Behind her, she heard Genesis and Tori call out, but she knew they’d follow, regardless. They waited briefly at the elevator doors, but the transporter was taking too long, so they headed to the stairwell She raced down the stairs wishing she had her runners on, then squeaked in surprise when her stilettos changed to sneakers before she’d jumped down to the step below. With Matt right behind her, she raced to the research lab, and wasn’t surprised to find the security off and the door wide open.

  Someone had gained access in such a way that had made it look like child’s play. The energy locks had been blown apart by something powerful from within.

  She heard Matt’s angry spluttering behind her, but she was skidding to a full-on stop, before she hit something way bigger than she could handle.

  Holy shit.

  The others poured in behind her. She held out her arms to stop their full onslaught.

  “What the hell is that?” Matt said on her left.

  “It’s a snake,” Connor said in shock. “But I have no idea what kind. Since when did they come this big?”

  “Since it’s been fed dark energy to make it grow.” Celeste answered in a soft, pained voice. This was no normal snake, regardless of its size.

  “Is that Twitch in front of it?” Devon cried out in anger, stepping forward.

  Celeste held him back. “It is, and Darbo, Silky, Remi, and Jessie.” She frowned at the almost nonexistent energy field over their believed spirit pets. “In fact, he has almost everyone that is here at the Center full-time.”

  “And what is he going to do with them?” Matt asked in a low voice, anger pulsing in his tone.

  The massive snake opened its mouth and hissed at them. Then, unhinging its jaw, it lowered its head, as if to eat the long line of unconscious spirit pets.

  “No,” she shouted, stepping forward. “Stop.”

  The snake stared at her, its eyes glowing balefully at her. She stared at it, hoping to see the energy center from whence this animal came. She determined it was a he, and he’d been good at one time.

  “You cannot hurt those animals.”

  It wasn’t speaking like a normal spirit pet, but inside her mind, she could see his thoughts. His anger. The absolute hatred he held for anything and anyone.

  “I don’t know why you are so fu
ll of hate,” she said in a calmer voice, sending out waves of healing, loving energy. “But you will not hurt those animals.”

  He rose up high, until he towered above her. She refused to be cowed.

  “Ah, Celeste…” Matt said, his voice full of warning.

  “No,” she said. “He’s been poisoned by the black rocks, somehow. Whether accidentally, or deliberately, he is now infected…by the same darkness.”

  “Can you help him?” Genesis asked.

  “Help him?” Connor cried. “I think you mean, can you kill him?”

  “No,” Tori said, in a sad voice. “Killing him only perpetrates the same negative evil. It’s what we’ve been fighting all the time.” She reached out and grabbed Celeste’s arm. “Easy, Celeste. The person that did this did so deliberately. The snake is angry. But more than that, he is—”

  “Hurting.” Celeste nodded. “And healing him is going to be a much bigger issue.”

  “How about instead you find out who did this to him, and let us go pick them up,” Matt growled. “They can stop this asshole.”

  “I’m not sure if that person can even control him now,” Celeste said absentmindedly, her gaze on the huge snake that had the ability to wipe out all their spirit pets with one wrong, nasty swallow.

  “What?”

  She nodded. “It’s already too big and too swollen with black energy to control. The owner would have to be deadly strong.”

  “Can you help?” Devon asked. “Storm is looking to take matters into his own hands. And I highly suspect that although he might have the heart of a warrior, this is too much for even him.”

  “He can’t do this alone,” she said. “Call him back. I’ll try first, and if that doesn’t work…”

  “Yeah, then what?” Matt said sharply. “What if he goes after you?”

  “My sisters are here,” she said. “They will help.”

  *

  “Help? There is no helping this,” he growled, anger, and yes, fear, tinging his voice. Not for him, but for Celeste, who appeared to be ready to walk where only angels would go. He shifted to his side and using as much of his own energy he tried to build a protective wall between Celeste and the monstrosity of a snake.

  Until Celeste reached over and placed her hand on his. “We cannot fight this with fear or more negativity. We can only offer love and healing.”

  “Like hell,” he muttered, determined to do whatever was required to keep her safe.

  “You’ll see,” she murmured. “He’ll only absorb the negative energy, and it will make him stronger. More powerful. That is going to take longer to heal, then. Much longer to help him.”

  “Only you would talk about trying to help him.”

  “She’s right,” Tori added. “But I can help her. He is of the woods, too. One of nature’s creatures, and that is my domain.”

  “He’s part of all our domains,” said Genesis. “I’m a healer first and foremost, and this creature needs healing.”

  “Shit,” Connor whispered. “And what are we supposed to do? Stand here and watch, while you knock yourselves out trying to do this?”

  “You can help,” Tori said, her answer surprising him. “In fact, we’re going to need your help.”

  “How?” Devon cried. “What can we do?”

  “Let go of the anger. Realize this animal didn’t ask to be like this. Send your energy to us, we’ll use it to help him.” Genesis stepped up beside Celeste, Tori matching her on the other side.

  Devon said, “Um, hang on here a moment…”

  But the women all raised their hands, shutting up the men. Only, Matt wasn’t going to listen. He walked forward until he stood beside the women. “I presume you know what to do, so let’s get on it. Let’s save our pets.”

  “Oh, it’s well past the pets now,” Celeste whispered.

  She closed her eyes and did something that tugged at Matt. He could feel his energy being pulled into a torrent created by Celeste. Like a small hurricane, she was creating a funnel of energy that he presumed would be blasted at the snake. Only, when she released it, the actions it took surprised him. The energy wafted toward the snake with a gentle, loving motion, before it settled over the top of him like a blanket cuddling a child ready for a nap.

  As if.

  He wasn’t a great believer in a light touch, but the snake appeared to be confused by it. Maybe that was good. Maybe…Matt narrowed his gaze, and wondered if there was something more he could do to help. He brought out his probe and sent it gently toward the mix-up happening in front of him. Maybe he could find out who had done this to the poor snake. At his thought, he froze. Was he thinking that the animal had been treated harshly by someone else? As if that justified what the snake had become? No, but it did ease back his hatred—his fear—of the abomination in front of him. It was still huge and deadly, but he did understand it a little better.

  He could sense a pat of approval from Celeste. Was the healing energy directed at the snake having an effect on him as well?

  Damn.

  Who would have thought?

  Chapter 29

  Celeste continued to swaddle the huge snake with warm, cosseting energy as she approached, her body movements calm and gentle. She needed to keep him distracted while the other spirit animals collected their injured friends. Storm had already retrieved Twitch and moved him back to the far side of the room. He was back again trying to save another one. Mopsy showed up behind him. Smurg perched on the far side. He wasn’t big enough to collect any others beside Darbo and Silky, but if he could remove them from harm, that would help Storm.

  She couldn’t let herself be distracted by the others.

  The snake rose higher in a weird, shaking movement that was dropping the healing energy off him faster than she could pour it over him. She frowned, unable to see that her efforts had any reasonable effect on it.

  But as he rose, she could see the glowing heart of him. Instantly, she narrowed her stream of energy and focused on that spot, pouring as much of the energy that she could into that entrance. Filling him with as much of that goodness in her world, that light of love and peace, as she could. She wasn’t sure he had ever experienced such a thing. Not all spirit animals were blessed with great beginnings.

  The glow widened as she poured more energy into it.

  “It’s working,” Tori whispered. “More, let’s pour in more.”

  In a concerted effort, the women shoved in more energy, as they tried to shift the energy into a positive balance.

  Slowly, the energy of the snake was approaching the middle of the scales of balance. But the snake was fighting it. He had lived with so much negativity for so long, that it was normal for him. Uncomfortable in these uncertain circumstances, he was searching for a way back to what he knew. To the comfort and security he was used to.

  They were approaching the most dangerous part. He’d lash out now, in one last attempt to return to what he knew. As soon as the thought arrived, the snake coiled tighter and tighter.

  “More,” Genesis shouted. “We need more.”

  And the snake lunged.

  Hitting a wall.

  Celeste shook her head. “If you’d drop that wall, then we could pour more energy faster.”

  “And you’d have been attacked right now,” Matt snapped beside her.

  “The animals are almost safe,” Tori whispered.

  Taking a quick glance, she realized that all the spirit animals, with the exception of Darbo, had been collected. But he lay there still, unconscious. The pet she’d loved and lost and then refound. Then he was the closest to the danger and therefore the hardest to rescue.

  “Damn it.” Matt snapped. “Let me rescue him.”

  “Not necessary,” Celeste said, and upped the wattage of the power stream heading toward the snake.

  “What happens if this doesn’t work?” Matt muttered.

  “The snake dies,” she answered calmly, registering Matt’s shock at her words. “It’s energy. It ca
n’t be destroyed, but the fight is no good for it, either. Only one side can dominate at a time. One must give way to the other.”

  “And if that doesn’t happen easily?”

  “That fight can consume the soul of the person or animal involved. The result is madness, psychological breakdown, and eventually, sometimes immediately—death.”

  “Good. Can we get to that point now, please?”

  “Only, if we fail to turn him.”

  Inside, she was tiring. The snake was damn strong. “It’s so damn powerful.”

  “Or we’re damn weak,” Genesis said with a tired groan.

  “Or the opposite,” Tori snapped. “Someone is helping the snake.”

  Celeste gasped. “Yes, that’s it. Well, almost…”

  She shifted slightly, so she could see what was going on behind the snake. She’d wondered why the snake had been capable of absorbing so much good energy. There had to be someone else, who was feeding in more negative energy and siphoning off the positive energy. It was the only way the snake could maintain this fight.

  Therefore, she had to plug that drain, in order to save the snake. And somehow, she had to track that energy back to the source, if she could. And then there was the wall Matt had built. She should be able to go into it and out the other side.

  She took a step toward the energy storm in front of her. She could hear the others protesting, but she needed to do this.

  Needed them to let her do this. Needed them to know she was okay.

  And she stepped into the storm.

  The energy buffeted all around her. Her hair flew out wildly behind her, as the energy wrapped her up into the vortex.

  She tilted her head back and smiled up at the ceiling and the sky beyond, before taking another step into the eye of the storm. It was calmer here. Not peaceful, though, as if there was a huge expectation of something to come. Taking a deep breath, she took another step, feeling her soul resist leaving the Center and moving back into the havoc. With her soul in a position of love, she took the step anyway.