Jacob's Ladder (String of Fate)

by Bianca D'Arc

  She only knew she couldn’t let either one of them die without finding the answer to her questions. Geir was still unharmed, but it felt like it was only a matter of time before he’d be out there, in the middle of everything. She didn’t know him well, but she knew he was a man of action. So was Tom. So was Beau, for that matter. None of them would want to be sidelined, but two of her three men were not in control of their fates at the moment. Geir was in danger as well and it hurt her heart to think of him going into battle without her or Beau or even Tom to back him up. He could be hurt! He could be killed.

  Jacki vowed with the very last of her strength, she would not let that happen. She brought her hands together, rubbing the palms in a circular motion she used to help draw her personal magic forth. Geir wasn’t going to like what she had planned, but she had set the spell in motion and it would be too late to stop her by the time he realized what she had done.

  Geir came into the circle of bushes for the second time, carrying an injured man. He put Beau down on the other side of her, already tearing at the cloth of his pants that covered the profusely bleeding leg wound. It was obvious Geir knew first aid. He would be there to help the other two when she completed her spell.

  “Where’s my gun?” Beau croaked out. He was still somewhat conscious though she doubted that would last long.

  Geir reached for something behind him and then dropped a huge sniper rifle near Beau’s hand. Beau took possession of the giant gun with clear relief.

  “Thanks.” Beau checked over the rifle while Geir saw to his wound. Neither of them paid any attention to Jacki as she began forming her spell. This would take whatever reserves she had left, but it would be worth it to keep them all safe.

  Finally, as the magic was set to release and a static charge built up inside the circle, Geir looked up from his work on Beau’s leg. Beau was looking at her too, and neither man looked happy.

  “What are you doing?” Geir demanded. He tried to stand but the electric tingle of magic wouldn’t let him move. Not until the spell had been cast. It was a powerful one and it held him in place.

  “I’m going to raise a shield. It’ll be a bubble of protection around this spot,” she told them.

  “You can’t,” Geir protested, as she expected. “My duty is out there. I need to protect the Nyx.”

  “No.” Jacki felt a tear trickle down her cheek, but ignored it. “I won’t let you get hurt too. You’re mine to protect tonight and I’m going to do it. I know you’re not happy, but I know this is the right thing to do.” She gathered her power for the final ramp up before releasing the spell. She had to make this good or Geir would break it. She couldn’t let that happen. She had to protect him. “Forgive me, Master Geir, and trust me that this is the right thing to do. I feel it in my bones. In my heart and in my soul.”

  Geir looked taken aback by her statement, but she didn’t stop to ponder his reaction. She let loose the spell and felt the power spin out from her in a vortex of protection. She let go of all the power she had been drawing to her. Power from the earth. Power from the nearby water. Power from within her very soul. All of it she dispersed into a dome shape, following the circle of the bushes and tree, using their living, green energy as well.

  She saw the flare of the dome for a moment or two before she felt the magic pour out of her into it. Powering it. Keeping it strong against the enemy and hidden from evil. The foot soldiers would pass right by it, never knowing it—or they—were hidden within. Only an enemy mage might be able to sense its presence, but by tying it to the earth, the water, and the growing things all around them, she had made it the next best thing to impenetrable.

  For now, it would do. And she had her aunt’s foretelling that she and the tigers would survive this. Jacki collapsed as the power drained out of her, only dimly aware of the arms that reached out to catch her and ease her trip to the earth. She looked up into icy blue eyes. Geir.

  “What have you done?” Geir asked, able to move now that the power had landed where it she had intended.

  She had very little strength left, but she had to try to make him understand.

  “I did what I was sent here to do—as have you. So my Tante Sophia said. She foresaw all of this.”

  “Did she see how it was going to end?” Beau asked.

  “No. But she did say that if I used all my skill and strength, myself and two tigers would survive to fight another day. Since you two are the only two tigers here…” She left off speaking, her energy failing rapidly. “Geir, look after Beau and my brother. I’ll be okay after I sleep. Don’t worry.”

  He held her close to his chest and the look in his baby blues nearly melted her heart. She read anger, as she had expected, but also concern, care and something that looked a lot like…love?

  That was the last thing she remembered for several hours, and it was a pleasant, if perplexing memory to take with her into unconsciousness.

  The Golden Jackal observed all on the field of battle. He had taken a sniper position up high in one of the many trees in this thick forest. It was one that afforded him a better view of the battlefield than perhaps, anyone else. He saw the selkie priestess—for surely with that kind of power, Jacki Kinkaid had to be a servant of the Lady—rid the waters of the evil spell that had turned simple water creatures into the stuff of nightmares. He had seen the tiger-shifter sniper fall from his perch and had obliged by taking out the enemy soldier who had shot Beau in the leg.

  Seth had provided cover fire, though nobody on the ground was truly aware of his position. But that was okay. The jackal preferred to work in the shadows. He didn’t need recognition or accolades. He had his reward in a job well done—and an enemy slaughtered.

  But there were too many of them. As soon as he and the other snipers shot one down, there were two more to take his place. Something was driving the foot soldiers. Something relentless. Something that didn’t care about sending its men to die. Something evil.

  Seth watched it all and did what he could to stem the tide. He helped his new allies on the ground where he could. He kept an eye on the rest of his small squad—Ben and the two Rojas brothers. They were all acting as snipers, since they had particular skill with long range weapons. And Ben was human. He might be a hell of a soldier, but he couldn’t shapeshift, which was a distinct disadvantage in this battle.

  Even as Seth thought this, he saw what remained of the fox Pack converge on several attackers, taking them down neat and clean. He hadn’t thought foxes could be quite so vicious, but they were protecting their home as well as the fabled pantera noir queen.

  She might not be the same species, but the Nyx held a special place among shifters of all kinds. Her sacrifice, it was said, allowed for a sacred communication with those on the other side of the veil. Her abilities were Goddess-blessed and Goddess-endowed. All those who followed the Mother of All were bound to help the Nyx as she helped them talk with those who had been taken to the other side too soon, or with words left unspoken.

  It was every good shifter’s honor to help protect the Nyx. Even Seth had to admit to a feeling of sentimentality when it came to Ria. It didn’t hurt that she looked like everyone’s little sister either. Her appearance inspired an impulse in most shifters who had any protective instincts at all, to help her, protect her, and keep her safe.

  That wasn’t a bad attribute for a monarch who had lived most of her life on the run. Perhaps it was something she cultivated, Seth mused, even as he picked off another enemy soldier. These woods would need one hell of a cleansing after this battle. All right under the humans’ noses. Thank goodness they were far enough out in the country—and up on the mountain ridge—that no nosy humans might get caught up in the middle of all of this. Seth suspected magic at work, to hide the sounds of battle, regardless.

  Seth could see part of the stone circle from his vantage point. He noted with approval the fact that the injured were being brought there—the most heavily defended point on the ridge. They would make their f
inal stand there, and while it might not be the safest place in the world, it was the safest place for anyone who had been fighting this battle. For without doubt, the enemy would murder everyone not on their side if they managed to win the day.

  Seth was dead set against that outcome. He might be a mercenary, but when it came to good versus evil, he was pretty firmly on the good side, though others might not always see it that way. Still, whatever Seth had done in the past, he had always worked on the side of Light—even if he was playing the long game and not interested in immediate outcomes. Some might say he was arguing semantics, but Seth had contemplated his positions each time he’d sold his skills to a high bidder. He had never accepted any job that would cross over his personal boundaries, and never would.

  It was high time the jackal threw in his lot officially with the good guys. Which was why he was here on this mountain ridge. He had declared himself on the right side of this battle—much to the surprise of many in the covert community. He’d lost a bit of his mystery, but that couldn’t be helped. No longer could he tread the fine line between good and evil. The day for reckoning was too close now. It was time to come out of the shadows…at least a little. Even if it went against his longstanding habits.

  Seth approved of the way the Royal Guard—some of the best fighters he’d ever seen, and that was saying a lot—formed a circle of protection within the standing stones, around their queen and the wounded. Ria stood ready, but seemed to be doing something near the altar stone, just out of Seth’s line of sight. He could feel magic gathering though—whether it was good or bad, he wasn’t quite sure, but it was massive, whatever it was.

  And then he saw the last of the outer perimeter positions get overrun. The enemy was within the outer defenses and everyone was regrouping. The selkie priestess had done something in the small thicket of bushes in which she and the two tigers hid. Seth couldn’t see them now, which meant the woman had raised some kind of protective shield. Smart move, since Beau wasn’t going anywhere and the priestess was probably running on her last dregs of energy if she had any left after that final protective spell. Master Geir would watch over both of them, Seth knew, though it was unexpected.

  Seth had thought nothing could tear the tiger away from defense of the Nyx, but then Seth had noticed the way Geir watched Jacki Kinkaid. It was subtle, but there was definitely something there. After witnessing that, it didn’t surprise Seth too much to see where Geir had decided to make his stand. The Nyx was precious, but so was the priestess. Both needed protection and Jacki had only a wounded man to look after her while Ria had every soldier on the mountain on their side and her elite Royal Guard watching her back, not to mention her mate. The seer.

  Powerful allies indeed. Seth couldn’t fault Master Geir for taking the initiative and watching over the selkie priestess. He might’ve done the same.

  The tide was turning and not in the defenders’ favor. Seth could do little more than pick off those he could see but there were too many for one man. Too many for the team of four that had distributed their skills around the stone circle. Seth was placed in the southeast sniper location. Ben had southwest, while Ari and Pax were northwest and northeast respectively. They had split up the perimeter of the stone circle to lie in wait.

  Of the four, Seth was seeing the most action, though all of them were kept busy picking off intruders. Still, Seth had the best vantage point since the main attack force seemed to be coming from his direction. Jacki Kinkaid and the tigers had hidden just a little south of his position and Seth assumed the Royal Guard would be manning the cardinal points of north, south, east and west from within the circle of stones.

  Jake though, was a wild card. He’d been traipsing up and down the mountain, helping here and there, going between groups, spreading news and helping where he could. Seth hadn’t seen the sense in it. What could a lone human do ferrying information between groups of shapeshifters? Seth hadn’t expected much, but he’d been surprised by the effect the seer’s words had on the groups he spoke to throughout the running battle.

  Jake had shown courage and stamina as well as skill Seth hadn’t expected. The human had taken down opponents without hesitation and helped get the injured to safety within the stone circle. But he didn’t stay there. Surprisingly, rather than stay with his mate, Jake kept making forays out from the circle. It was as if he was looking for something, Seth realized.

  And then Seth watched, helpless, and with a sinking feeling in his gut, as something found Jake instead.

  Chapter Twelve

  Jake knew the moment he pushed his luck just a little too far. Or maybe just far enough. He felt the cold barrel of a gun against his neck as a harsh voice ordered him to put his hands up. Jake complied, knowing with a little sinking feeling in his stomach that at least one of the really bad things he’d foreseen was about to come true.

  He didn’t struggle as the enemy soldiers pushed him around. He didn’t fight back. He knew if he did, he would die. Simple as that. The vision had shown him the consequences of fighting—and what might happen if he chose to control his instincts and not fight back…yet. Jake had decided to go with the latter option. There was still a slim chance of pulling this out and he had to take it.

  “What the hell is a human doing up here among the animals?” Jake’s captor sneered.

  Jake didn’t reply. He had to keep his cool or this could turn out very badly. It bothered him to stay silent, but he knew in this instance it was very necessary to his possible survival.

  “Cat got yer tongue?” the man asked while securing Jake’s hands behind his back with zip ties. He then prodded Jake once more with the gun, now bumping hard into his kidney. The man laughed when Jake continued to ignore his taunts. “It’s your lucky day, buddy. The big kahuna wanted any human we found on this mountain alive for some reason. Let’s go. He has to see you before he decides if I get to kill you or not.”

  Another hard poke to the kidney got Jake moving. It pained him to realize they were moving up the mountain, toward the stone circle. Could the enemy have gotten so far in such a short time? It was possible. One of the scenarios he’d foreseen had him meeting the face of evil inside the stone circle. If this was that particular possible future, Jake had a good idea what to do. He set to work, thinking about how to best utilize the tools he had pre-positioned based on the multiple scenarios he had foreseen.

  When evil walked into the circle of standing stones, Ria felt it immediately. The portal had opened moments before, swirling in a light show she had seldom seen before, a viscous green circle positioned in thin air, right above the altar stone. Ria knew the energy of the standing stones was amplifying the power of the amulet. It was a phenomenon she had only seen a couple of times before.

  Ria was not in control of this manifestation. The energies of the amulet and the stones had called to each other and the portal had opened. Ria could hear the wailing on the other side as the terminating point of the portal was pulled and stretched from the next realm toward something…else.

  Evil was inside the circle and trying to influence where the portal led. Ria did what little she could to block it. Her personal energy was great, but she wasn’t sure it would be enough to stop the depth of depravity she now felt inside the sacred place.

  And then she felt the help pouring through from the other side. All those who had gone before were there, at the terminus, using all their energy to keep the portal in their realm. There were some amazing beings in that other realm, but they too, it seemed, were under attack somehow. She didn’t know how it all worked on the other side. There were many, many things she was not allowed to know—or even to ask. What came after death in the mortal realm was supposed to be a mystery and there were rules each Nyx had followed, handed down by the Goddess Herself, it was said.

  But Ria could hear the skirmishing in the background, beyond the veil, as if from a distant room. She also heard the voices of those who were defending the portal on the far side, offering advice that only
she could hear. Ria followed the words of those she knew and trusted, holding strong against the invading power. Among them were priestesses and mages of antiquity who had come to share their wisdom and knowledge with Ria. They told her things she had never even guessed at before, teaching her ways to defend the portal from magical attacks.

  She could do this all day, she thought, having absorbed the secret knowledge from those who had passed. She took a moment to look around the stone circle. Her Royal Guard blocked most of her view, having formed a circle of protection around her, the injured, and the altar, but she could see a bit as they moved and fought. Even the injured who could still hold a gun were helping defend the portal.

  Ria’s gaze went from face to face among the enemy, looking for the one that was trying to commandeer the portal for his own use. She could sense it was male energy, but that didn’t help much. It looked like there were a vast majority of males arrayed against her people. That might mean something, but Ria had no idea what. If they survived this, it was something she’d have to look into, but for now, it was important that they hold strong against the enemy, even though the situation looked grave.

  Her advisors on the other side of the portal cheered her on, giving her hope. They stood firm with her, helping her in whatever way they could, even as it seemed they fought on their side of the veil as well. They didn’t seem as overwhelmed over there as they were here, but she couldn’t be truly sure of anything just now.

  And then Jake stumbled into the stone circle and Ria’s heart stopped. At first, she didn’t know what she was seeing. Jake was in the center of a group of enemy fighters and they were walking toward the eastern side of the circle. Was he with them willingly?

  Her heart skipped a beat, then resumed as she noted the way his hands were pulled back and tied together behind him. His head was down, but she knew he wasn’t there of his own volition. He had been captured.