Viktoria's Shadow: Jael

by Ysobella Black

  Asim crouched at the side of the third man to settle the spider under his touch. “Have you found my witch?”

  “No, Mage Asim. No one has seen it since Allister left here with it five days ago.”

  “Where is Allister?”

  “Also gone.”

  “And Dmitri?”

  “Disappeared the same night as Allister. We’re monitoring the hotel room Dmitri was using. The witch’s house is empty.”

  Five days.

  Asim held out his arm. A fat, black spider lifted its head, detaching two fangs from a witch’s throat, and scuttled to the mage. A hot rush warmed his body as magic took the edge off his need.

  “Kneel, Thomax. There will be a great hunt tonight.”

  Thomax shuddered, pulled his shirt over his head, and held still. He winced as the spider moved under his skin and bit back a scream as two of the spider’s legs ripped out of his arm, their claws digging in for leverage as the second pair of legs tore free of his other arm. The spider’s head lifted from the back of Thomax’s neck. Four claw-tipped legs braced, the spider’s body surged up his back, and its face loomed in Thomax’s peripheral vision. A drop of venom glistened on one fang.

  “I am sorry to cause you such pain.” Asim rose and approached Thomax, one hand held out in a placating gesture. “It will not be for much longer, my little one.” He stroked his hand over the spider’s head and fed some power into the creature to renew the connection.

  Asim focused his gaze on Thomax. “You have a plan for the Scourge’s witch?”

  Thomax nodded. “I went back to the gallery and left a letter explaining I want to commission a painting. I intended to build up trust with it over a series of meetings and see if anything came to light about the gold witch. But we could monitor the new one instead. The Scourge has gone to its house two nights in a row. If he returns, we can follow him when he leaves, find out where he goes.”

  Asim backed up and resumed his crouch near a witch. He tapped his fingers on its bare thigh, summoning the spider feeding there. “No. I have been waiting a long time to find that vampire. Bring me his witch and he will follow.”

  Thomax groaned as the spider attached to him resettled itself under his skin, fangs poised to bite at the back of his neck, legs returning to their places along his arms. He nodded at the Spider Mage.

  “Once I’ve dealt with the Scourge, we will resume the search for my witch. I can no longer feel the young ones I sent with it. I need to know if the Wolf-Mage found the witch. Its poisoned magic would have killed a mage, but none has risen. The web was woven. I want to know why we did not catch our prey.”

  “I’ve been looking for Dmitri. He was supposed to be able to track it, but no one’s seen him or Allister, the Wolf Mage’s son, in a week.”

  “Dmitri and Allister are not important for now. Bring me the Scourge’s witch. You may use the house where we prepared the gold witch.”

  Thomax’s cell phone buzzed. He pulled it out of his pocket and checked the screen. “This might be the witch from the gallery.” At Asim’s nod, Thomax hopped to his feet, leaving the cavern for better reception.

  The Spider Mage waved the other three acolytes to their feet. “Bring me new witches tonight. As many as you can find, in any condition. If you do well, you may have your choice of them before I take their magic.”

  With a chorus of thank yous, they filed out.

  He had to prepare.

  CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

  VIKTORIA

  “TODAY IS THE worst day ever.” Dream groaned as she came to a stop and lay on her back. “I’m just going to keep my eyes closed and pretend I’m dead.”

  “I’ve tried that before.” Viktoria stared at the ceiling from her back, making a note to remove the cobweb in the corner. That would definitely have to go now.

  She didn’t clean her workout room as vigorously as she should, apparently. At least she’d ordered the thick mats, so with rough landings the bruising was minimal. “She doesn’t care if we’re dead. We’re easier to hit if we don’t move.”

  Memory had done slightly better. She hopped on one foot while she rubbed her other shin.

  “Up!” the Amazon bellowed, aiming a kick at Viktoria’s ribs.

  Viktoria rolled out of the way and sprang to her feet. All the lights were on, which left few shadows for her to work with — the Amazon’s way of forcing Viktoria to physically fight rather than use her magic.

  “Ye ken yer ready to face a mage?” The Amazon punched.

  Viktoria blocked with her forearm, knocking the fist to one side. “From what we’ve heard, mages are about magic. He won’t fight like this.” She shifted her weight and lashed out with a roundhouse kick, going with the motion when the Amazon brushed the leg aside.

  “Aye. And the numptys who work for him?”

  “Will not have thousands of years of experience beating people up!” Viktoria leapt over a leg sweep.

  The Amazon spun to block Memory’s attack. “Nae, but they’ll nae be keeping to any rules, nor pull any punches. I should be going with ye.”

  “You look too much like a fighter. We need them to think we’re helpless, like everyone usually does. You’ll put them on guard.”

  “What yer talking about doing is no lark on a day off from yer mother’s care. If ye ken they want to winch ye, yer bum’s oot the windae.”

  “What?” Memory asked.

  “If you think they want to kiss us, your butt’s out the window. You’re crazy,” Viktoria explained.

  “They’ll be wanting to hurt ye, so ye must be ready for anything. None of ye are ready to kill and that’s what it may come tae. I won’t let ye out of this room until ye stop pulling yer punches.”

  “ICE CREAM.” DREAM LIMPED to the stainless-steel freezer in Viktoria’s black and grey tiled kitchen.

  Viktoria settled gingerly into a dining room chair. Maybe she needed a new dining room set. One that included chairs with thick padding. “How can you think about eating after you took that kick to your stomach?”

  “Who wants to eat it?” Dream pulled out a pint of cookie dough ice cream and held it to her cheek.

  “We’re still on for tomorrow though.” Memory squinted at the screen of her new phone, closing one eye, opening it, then closing the other. “We showed we can fight.”

  “I don’t know about we.” Viktoria shifted, trying to find a place not bruised. “Can you tear yourself away from your new phone long enough to do something else?”

  Memory sniffed. “I’m checking online for symptoms of concussion.”

  “Yer a wee bit peely-wally, but ye dinnae have a concussion.” The Amazon dismissed Memory’s concern and held up her own phone. “Who wants pizza?” She didn’t wait for their replies as she ordered enough pizzas for a frat party.

  “Scran’s in forty-five minutes.” The Amazon slid her phone into her pocket. “There’s time for showers, then goonies and baffies if ye don’t whinge too much.”

  “That woman isn’t human,” Dream complained. “What are goonies and baffies? Do they hurt, too?”

  “Pajamas and slippers,” Viktoria translated.

  “Och, haud yer wheesht, ye bampot.” The Amazon smirked. “Ye are nae human, either.”

  “Shut up, you —”

  “I got that one, thanks Shadow.”

  VIKTORIA FINISHED HER third slice of pizza and sat back. The shower and some food had helped. “Well, now that we’ve been approved for our plan, I’ll call Thomax.” Using anger as courage, she dialed the number before she changed her mind. Part of her was still tempted to run from the drama, but she couldn’t leave sisters at risk.

  “Hello?” Thomax’s flat voice tried to sound interested, but didn’t quite hit the mark.

  “Hello, Thomax. This is Viktoria. We met last night.”

  “Yes, I remember. I’m glad you called.”

  That sounded true. Why? Did he think her a witch? Was that why he’d marked her with that spider? That spider hadn’t done any
thing. Not even tried to enter her property. It just sat on the wall. Or maybe he still hoped for information about Musette.

  “What can I do for you?”

  “I have a project I’ve been thinking about for a while, but with art, there has to be a connection, don’t you agree? I feel you’re the right person for the job. If you take private commissions, that is.”

  She agreed she was the right person, but they were thinking of different things. “I do. You’re correct. The right person for the job is important. What sort of commission do you have in mind?”

  “A portrait. I know it’s different than the landscapes I saw last night.”

  “I paint portraits as well as landscapes. Do you have time to meet tomorrow? Late morning or early afternoon, maybe? You can tell me about who you’d like me to paint and show me where you’d like the background so I can see the light.”

  “Perfect. Tomorrow at eleven am? Can I text you at this number? I’ll send you the address that way.”

  “That’s all fine. I’ll see you then.” Viktoria disconnected the call.

  Dream shuddered. “His dreams are disgusting.”

  “Ye dinnae ken anything about mages, dae ye?”

  “Not much. Just what we learned today. But I won’t be facing them unarmed. I have my shadows, and...” Viktoria rose from the table and opened a cupboard in the kitchen island. She pushed aside bottles of human beverages and removed a flask from the back. Returning to the others, she set it on the table. “I have this.”

  Memory and Dream gaped.

  “Is that...” Dream scooted her chair back from the table.

  “Did you get that from grandmother?” Memory whispered. “She’s never let that out of Pohjola. I would remember.”

  Viktoria nodded. “Beer of Oblivion. She gave it to me as a good luck present when I first made the deal with Mother. I’ve used it a few times to make people forgetful.”

  Memory picked up the flask, twisted open the lid, and sniffed. “Which recipe is it?”

  “Grandmother made this batch from frog spawn, young poisonous snakes, lizards, adders, and worms.”

  “That’s one of her old recipes.”

  “That’s gross.” Dream wrinkled her nose and held up her glass of red wine “This is so much nicer. But don’t ever tell Grandmother I said that.”

  Viktoria’s wards tingled, and the swan honked, alerting her to an intruder. She sighed. “I’ll be right back.”

  “What’s wrong?” The Amazon put her pizza down and reached for her sword.

  “Lurky is here.”

  Memory sat up, and her phone clattered to the table. “You have to go talk to him.”

  “I do?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Haven’t you been saying all this time to avoid him?”

  “Don’t you owe him a chance to talk?”

  “I don’t owe him anything!”

  “Just go.”

  “What’s going to happen when I go out there, Memory?”

  She shrugged. “How should I know? My name isn’t She Who Sees the Future, is it?”

  The Amazon choked on her breadstick, and Dream giggled.

  “You know how I am. I won’t forgive you if you don’t. More importantly, you’ll never forgive yourself. If you don’t take this chance, I will tell you I told you so for the rest of your life.”

  “Fine. I’ll go talk to him. But you are explaining yourself when I get back.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

  JAEL

  JAEL PARKED IN FRONT of the empty space Viktoria’s house occupied. Her wards made him feel unwelcome even from inside the car, and he fought the urge to drive away. They felt stronger. Had she added more to keep him out? Or maybe it was vampires in general she was trying to keep away, now that she knew there was a houseful of them in the city.

  If Viktoria knew enough to not let him bite her, she knew better than to run or try to hide. Vampires loved to chase. He hadn’t mentioned his job as an assassin, but that was another reason not to bother running. Jael always caught his target. It was just a matter of what kind of trap to set.

  He pressed a hand to the side of his head, where an annoying, persistent buzzing had plagued him ever since Memory touched him after the fight with the spiders. What had she done to him? Tried to make him forget about Viktoria?

  That would never happen.

  Getting out of the SUV, he carried the blanket under his arm and Ciaran’s largest picnic basket in one hand. Jael unsheathed a sword to ease the effect of her spells. A few wisps of the magic he’d cut out of the mage’s glyphs that morning swirled around the medallions, following him as he walked along the boundary. “You can stay if you want to, but you’re free now. You can go anywhere you like.”

  The magic stayed with him as he walked until he sensed a thinning. The wards weren’t weaker, but this felt more like he was in front of a gate instead of a wall. He extended the blade to touch the barrier, but the sword swerved.

  “Of course you’re taking her side,” Jael muttered to the unruly blade. “I’m not trying to break the ward, just see if I can push through without dying.” He flinched when the hilt burned his hand. “You’re supposed to be on my side. I thought we were a team.”

  Jael lowered his sword, but kept it in hand as he pushed against the wards with his body. He didn’t feel pain, just a more intense feeling he didn’t want to be here. “Viktoria! I brought you dinner! Will you let me in?”

  How could he stand to leave things like this between them and not see her again? How could he find out if he could become the man she dreamed about if she didn’t let him near her? But if she didn’t want his protection, what could he do?

  Tendrils of her magic slid under his shirt and into his pants to caress his skin. He stifled an unmanly yelp, trying to escape from his throat.

  “I’m getting some mixed signals, here.” Why could Dragăs never make things easy? “There’s got to be something between you wanting me to get away from you, and you wanting to get in my pants.”

  A tendril smacked his ass.

  Hard enough, he had to stifle another very un-assassin-like yelp.

  Well. Nothing ambiguous about that.

  The smack propelled him a step forward and completely into shadow. He stood still. No way to tell which way to go in complete darkness. For all he knew, she’d turned him around and if he took a step, would end up back outside the wards. He wouldn’t put that trick past his devious Viktoria.

  The scent of vanilla betrayed his Dragă’s presence just before her warm breath blew across his ear. A shadowy hand landed on his knee, patted its way up his inner thigh, and slid slowly over his burgeoning erection at the front of his jeans.

  His Dragă wanted to play games, did she? Jael chuckled. “Do you think I don’t know you know exactly where I am?”

  He received another stinging slap on the ass for that.

  His swords sang a lilting melody as the hilt in his hand heated again. “And you. Now you want to laugh at me and attack something? You better not be considering anything in my pants in either case.”

  The grip on his waistband tugged him forward. He didn’t resist, even though he should probably complain about being led around by his dick. The fingers vanished as he stepped onto a path in the forest around Viktoria’s house.

  Well, she’d let him in. That was a big step. Where should he go? Tiny feet pitter-pattered alongside him as he walked through the woods. What lived in the forest? His swords didn’t sense a threat, but they preferred to feed on mage magic, and took great amusement in Viktoria’s shenanigans.

  The traitors.

  Rather than take a chance he might wander where he wasn’t welcome, Jael spread the blanket where she’d left him and took a seat, settling his back against a tree trunk. He could wait all night for her to come to him. Longer if he stayed out of the sun. If there was any trait an assassin learned early on, it was patience — whether he wanted to learn it or not.

  While he wai
ted, he set out plates, jugs, and thermoses, because Ciaran suggested drinks as well.

  He debated for a long moment, then shrugged out of the harness containing his swords and laid it on the blanket next to him. Hopefully she would see that as the gesture it was — he was trusting her with their safety, and for her not to try to kill him, and she could touch him.

  Little voices murmured around him, quite a few of them, arguing, like they couldn’t decide what to make of him. Tiny firefly-like lights blinked on and off. Jael had come prepared for them, too. Little feet in a forest and blinking lights probably meant some sort of fairies. He didn’t know exactly what type of fairy they might be, but that didn’t matter overly much. They all liked presents and sweets as far as he knew.

  Reaching into his pocket, he extracted the wrapped hard candies he’d brought and scattered them across the blanket. The chatter ceased and the blinking lights froze on and in midair.

  “It’s okay. I brought them as gifts. They’re all full of sugar. There are honey, cherry, apple, and grape. I’ll close my eyes for three seconds.” He did as he said.

  Excited, high-pitched voices uttered words he didn’t understand, and a rush of little wings and tiny footsteps rushed past him.

  “One.” The scent of vanilla carried to him. “Two.” His heart beat — a solid thumping in his chest. “Three.” Jael opened his eyes to see the treats all gone, and his Dragă in front of him. Her blonde hair and pale, glowing skin were beacons in the darkness.

  Viktoria wore shiny black pajamas, missing a hundred little star shapes, naturally, and fuzzy slippers on her feet. The firefly-like lights buzzed around her head and the little feet sounded close to hers. “Bribing the keiju and menninkainen? They said your gift is acceptable. That’s as close to a thank you as you’ll get.”

  He made a point of keeping his eyes on her face rather than on the ground, where the footsteps scurried away. “This is their home. It would have been rude not to bring them a gift.”