No Crone Unturned

by Amanda M. Lee

  “He’s hard to confuse with anyone else. I mean ... could you confuse Danny DeVito with someone else?”

  “If Danny DeVito was a normal person, yeah. He stands out in Hollywood for a reason.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I recognized him from the start. He said he was searching for magic that night.” My mind was busy as I drifted away from Gunner. “The master vampire is different from any other I’ve crossed paths with.”

  “How so?” Whistler asked. “By the way, you’ve got one over on us when it comes to any and all vampires. This is shifter territory. The vampires usually stay away. They don’t like the area, especially how cold it gets in the winter. This nest you’ve uncovered is a first for us.”

  “Vampires aren’t usually difficult to destroy,” I offered. “They’re susceptible to sun, fire, and beheadings.”

  “What about stakes to the heart?” Bonnie asked. “Do they die when you stake them in the heart like in the movies?”

  I had to smile. She almost seemed enthusiastic, which cracked me up. “They do die when you stake them in the heart,” I supplied. “They don’t turn to dust like that, but they do if you burn them. That’s my preferred method when it comes to vampires.”

  “Not all of us have elemental fire magic at our disposal,” Gunner reminded me. He looked much more relaxed than when I had first entered. “You’re unique.”

  “Wait ... can’t you just do that spell you let loose at the high school the other night?” Marissa looked hopeful. “That killed a few of them. Just do it over and over until they’re all gone.”

  My heart gave a little heave. I was expecting the question but didn’t have a ready answer. “Here’s the thing ... .” I licked my lips and searched for the right words. “That spell isn’t technically sanctioned.”

  “I don’t know what that means,” Gunner said.

  “It’s something I read about and adapted for my needs. It’s dangerous.”

  “How so?” Rooster pressed. “It might be dangerous but it’s also effective. We’re going to be outnumbered. We might need that spell.”

  “I can’t control who gets hurt with that spell,” I pointed out. “That spell ... can hurt humans and paranormals alike. I unleashed it the other night because I wasn’t thinking. What would’ve happened if teenagers were hiding in the woods making out? The spell doesn’t differentiate between who it burns.”

  Pale realization washed over Rooster’s features.

  “I could’ve killed innocent people.” And that reality made my stomach so upset I squirmed and moved away from Gunner when he reached for me. “I didn’t think. We lucked out that nobody was hurt, but the vampires have found a way to eliminate that spell from my repertoire.”

  “And how did they do that?” Marissa demanded. “Great job on ticking off the vampires so they cut off our best weapon, by the way.”

  “Leave her alone,” Gunner snapped, his eyes flashing. “I don’t see you sticking your neck out to fix this situation. She’s at least trying to come up with a solution.”

  “I am trying,” I agreed. “But if I use that spell I’ll be putting several people at risk, including Mable’s daughter.” Mindy was one of the faces I recognized the night before. I hadn’t yet mentioned it to anyone, but it was time. “Armand basically laid it out for me last night. He’s going to use those people as fodder and put them directly in front of me so I have no choice but to cut them down if I go after the vampires.”

  “And we obviously can’t risk that,” Rooster mused.

  “That’s not my first choice,” I agreed. “The thing is, we can’t allow them to get a bigger foothold. Then we’ll lose even more people.”

  “Are you suggesting we sacrifice the people he’s already enslaved?”

  “I’m suggesting that we come up with a plan that saves everybody. Barring that, we have to be willing to make hard choices.”

  Rooster’s expression was unreadable. “And do you think you can make that choice?”

  “I don’t see that I’ll have a choice. I still think we can come up with a plan that saves everybody.”

  “And how are you going to do that? I say ‘you’ because ultimately this falls on your shoulders.”

  “I have an idea.” I flashed a rueful smile. “But I need to visit Mama Moon. You guys need to stay here and brainstorm. If I can’t carry out what I have planned we’ll need another avenue of attack ... and we don’t have much time.”

  Rooster nodded. “Okay. Keep in touch.”

  I switched my attention to Gunner. “Before you even start, we’re fine. You can’t come with me, though. I need to try ... something ... and it’s best if I’m alone while doing it.”

  “You just said you were going to see Mama Moon. If you’re with her, obviously you won’t be alone.”

  “No,” I conceded, “but she’ll understand what I’m trying. I need you to stay here. It’s safer. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  He didn’t look happy with my decision, but he nodded. “If you’re not back in two hours I’m coming for you.”

  “Fair enough.”

  MAMA MOON SAT ON HER FRONT PORCH as I dismounted my bike and pulled off my helmet. She didn’t look surprised to see me. Of course, she rarely showed her cards when it came to unexpected visitors.

  “I figured you’d show up eventually.” She smiled. “You want to know how to get past the barrier. Well, I have a few ideas.”

  “I have an idea, too,” I admitted. “I want to slide between planes, like I did with George, and cross the barrier that way.”

  Her eyes widened. “I thought you were going to try to get me to help you break down the barrier.”

  “That would be great.” I kept my expression blank. “Can you do that?”

  “Given enough time.”

  “We don’t have time.” I decided to be blunt and laid everything out in precise detail. When I finished, she looked flummoxed.

  “How many people are we talking about?”

  “My guess is they have more than they showed, so more than twenty.”

  “And you think the vampires will sacrifice them to prove a point.”

  “The vampires realize that we stand in the way of what they want. If we’re gone, they’ll have an open playing field. I think they’re going to try to double-cross me.”

  “Just like you’re going to double-cross them. How will they work it?”

  “I don’t know. I need to get into that house before dark. I need to get on the other side of that barrier so I can walk all of those people out before burning it to the ground.”

  “Is that your plan? You’re going to burn the house down?”

  “Do you have a better plan?”

  “I ... guess not. What made you think of slipping between planes?”

  “No matter how much energy I throw at that barrier it’s always going to ricochet back. I guess there’s a possibility that we could come up with a potion to weaken it, but we don’t have time. I need to get across it in the next few hours.”

  “Fair enough.” She drew in a deep breath. “When you did it before, I helped. Someone will have to stay on the other side of the barrier to serve as an anchor. That means you’ll be going in alone. Can you handle that?”

  I nodded without hesitation. “Yeah, because the other Spells Angels will be there to serve as backup. All I have to do is find Armand ... and end him. He’s the one providing the magic.”

  “How can you be sure?”

  “It’s the only thing that makes sense. Bixby said that they were waiting for me because they were looking for magic. I think that Armand has been fortifying his power base through his victims for years.”

  “How?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe there’s something about the blood.”

  “If there is, I’ve never heard about it. What if you’re wrong and Armand isn’t supplying the power?”

  “I’ll have to deal with that if it comes to pass. Right now I need you to give me a refresher cours
e on walking through planes. I wasn’t really in control of what happened last time. That can’t be the case this time.”

  She was contemplative for a moment. “Okay. I don’t know that I agree this is a smart move, but we don’t have many options.”

  “You need to show me, stick with me until I get it right, and then we’ll collect the others. Gunner will put up a fight when he finds out what I have planned. I don’t see a way around that.”

  “I agree. Come on. We’ll go to the field to practice. That way you won’t accidentally trap yourself in a wall or anything.”

  I balked. “Is that possible?”

  “Anything is possible, my dear. You need to practice.”

  AT THE END OF TWO SOLID HOURS of practice I was able to successfully travel between planes. It wasn’t the smoothest of rides, but I was comfortable enough with what I had to do that I was reasonably assured of a successful outcome.

  Now I just needed to convince the others.

  “Let me do the talking,” I insisted as Mama Moon followed me to the door. “They’re going to argue, and Gunner might actually stomp his feet, but in the end this is our best option. We need to get someone on the other side of that barrier and I’m the only option.”

  “I could do it,” she pointed out as she followed me. “Maybe I should be the one to cross over.”

  “And then what?” I stilled and fixed her with a pointed look. “Can you call elemental fire energy and burn the house to the ground?”

  “I ... no.”

  “Then I think it has to be me. I’ll need you on the other side to help the half-vampires when things start falling apart. That’s going to be your job.”

  “Fair enough.” She held up her hands in a placating manner and followed me through the door. “You’re a bossy little thing when you want to be, aren’t you?”

  “I am definitely bossy,” I agreed, pulling up short when I got a gander at the bar. It was utter chaos. The chairs were overturned. The bottles behind the bar had been smashed. There was blood smeared on the countertop.

  And there wasn’t a person in sight.

  “What the ... ?” My heart hammered so hard I thought I might pass out.

  “What happened here?” Mama Moon looked bewildered. “Was there a fight?”

  My gaze slid to the counter, to the stool Gunner had been resting on when I’d left. It had been overturned ... and the blood was close to it.

  “They sent the half-vampires to take them,” I replied grimly. It was the only thing that made sense. “They took them by force.”

  “That means they’re in the house.” Mama Moon’s tone was grave. “You were right about them double-crossing you. They think they have the leverage to control you now. You know what that means.”

  “Yeah. I’m going to burn that house to the ground and enjoy doing it.”

  “No.” She shook her head, firm. “It means that they have specific plans for you. I don’t know if this Armand is really an energy-sucking vampire, but he’s going to try to take what you have.”

  “He’s already taken the most important piece,” I muttered. Gunner. “We have to get them back.”

  “And you still want to go after them yourself?”

  “We don’t have a choice.”

  “Then let’s go.”

  “We have one stop to make first.”

  Twenty-Seven

  Bixby was still tied to his chair when I stormed into the cabin. If the half-vampires had tried to cross the wards and take him they weren’t successful. At least I’d done one thing right, even though it felt like a hollow victory given everything that had happened.

  “Get up,” I ordered as I stomped to a standstill in front of him. “Get up right now, you little maggot.”

  Behind me, Mama Moon cleared her throat.

  “What?” I exploded. I was in no mood to be lectured.

  “He’s tied to a chair, dear,” she said pragmatically. “He can’t get up.”

  “Oh, right.” I waved my hand to release the bindings.

  Bixby let out a relieved breath as he started rubbing his wrists. His eyes, however, never left my face. “What’s wrong with you?” He looked a little too gleeful, tipping his hand that he knew exactly what had happened earlier. “Nothing gone wrong, I hope?”

  “Yeah.” I made sure the pipeline to his mind was completely shut off. It was probably too late to matter, but I wasn’t giving Armand leverage of any sort. “Your little buddies took my friends.”

  “Oh. Imagine that.” He feigned sadness. “I wonder why they would make that move.”

  “The same reason I’m about to make a move of my own. Come on.” I grabbed him by the ear and dragged him through the kitchen as he fruitlessly swatted at me.

  “Where are we going?” he whined. “You’re supposed to wait here for my master.”

  “Haven’t you heard?” I knew my smile was biting, but I didn’t care. “Things have changed. You’re going home now.”

  “I ... but ... .” He narrowed his eyes. “What are you doing?”

  “What I should’ve done days ago. We’re going for another ride on my motorcycle.”

  THE HOUSE ON THE BLUFF LOOKED SILENT from a distance when I parked on the other side of the trees. They would expect me in the spot from which I’d previously approached. This visit would be a little different.

  “Are you sure about this?” Mama Moon had mostly been silent. Despite my threats regarding the motorcycle, she took Bixby in her truck for the drive — I froze him again just to be on the safe side — and now he was trussed and spitting at our feet. “You can still change your mind. You have people you can call for backup. Maybe you should do that.”

  “No.” I was firm as I checked the sheath on my calf. My favorite dagger was there — sterling silver, eight-inch blade, lethal — but I would need it only if everything else I had planned failed. “They won’t get here in time. If I don’t agree to the treaty tonight he’ll kill someone as a message.” What I didn’t add was that I had no doubt that Gunner was the one he would kill. That was the one thing that would hurt me most. Of course, that would turn me into a bloody and merciless revenge machine. “It has to be now.”

  Mama Moon’s mood was pensive, but she nodded. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Kill him if the half-vampires come out.”

  “That’s it?”

  “There’s nothing else you can do.”

  Bixby made a muffled protest at my feet. It took everything I had not to kick him. My rage was in high gear. Still, he was prone and defenseless. He might’ve been on my list, but that didn’t mean I was a monster.

  “Well, I guess this is it then.” She rested her hands on my shoulders and leaned forward to press her lips to my forehead, a muttered spell on her breath. I couldn’t make out the words, but a warm feeling cascaded over me. “The Goddess will watch over you.”

  “I hope so.” I exhaled heavily and then turned toward the trees. “I’ll send them out if I can. Try to watch for them, protect their flanks. There’s more than one vampire in there.”

  “Yes, but if you find the right one the others will likely flee.”

  “They can’t flee into the day.”

  “I ... very good point.”

  “Once I get all the humans out I’ll torch the place. Try to keep the fire department away.”

  “What if you don’t come out?”

  I’d already asked myself that very question. “Let it burn. Our goal is to save as many people as possible. That doesn’t necessarily include me.”

  She hesitated. “Scout ... .”

  “No.” I was firm when I grabbed her hands and squeezed. “This is the way it has to be. I’ll do my best to get out, but ... .” I didn’t finish. It wasn’t necessary.

  She nodded. “Okay. Good luck.”

  “Fortune favors the brave, right?” I took a moment to stare down at Bixby. There was murder in his eyes. I didn’t remove the magical gag as I hunkered over and met his gaze.
“I brought you so you could watch it all burn. I hope you enjoy the show.”

  He made muffled sounds behind his sealed lips.

  “I’ll see you soon ... hopefully.”

  I MADE MYSELF INVISIBLE AS I PASSED through the trees. It was something I’d been able to do since I was a small child. It was one of the first bits of magic I’d mastered. While locked in rooms with adults I now know were trying to help me (but at the time terrified me), I often wished I could disappear. One day that became a reality — and it had been a useful trick ever since.

  Unfortunately, it was also draining. That’s why I hurried to make it to the magical barrier. Once there, I glanced around to make sure I was really alone — as far as I could tell there was nobody hanging about, but that didn’t mean there weren’t eager eyes watching from above — and then closed my eyes.

  Slipping between planes wasn’t easy. With a little more practice, I knew I would become adept at it. I didn’t have time for that practice, so my attempt was clumsy. I just needed to be able to cross the border.

  I only went one plane over. That was more than enough to trick the barrier. When I opened my eyes again, I found I was in a shadow world. Nothing had a fully formed shape. I didn’t think too much about it as I crossed the line.

  There was no warning burst of magic or alarm. Absolutely nothing changed. That’s how I knew I’d been successful.

  I stayed in the shadow world until I reached the back of the house and then phased back. I had to blink several times as my eyes adjusted to the bright sunshine, but once I’d acclimated I headed for the back door. My fingers were extended and I had every intention of storming inside when I thought better of it and moved to the window at the end of the porch. I squatted down, peered inside, and used my magic to lift the glass panel. No one raced to intercept me, and I poked my head through the opening.

  The house was as rundown on the inside as it looked from the outside. Apparently the vampires didn’t care about keeping the humans in their employ comfortable. I was about to burn it all down anyway, so it hardly mattered. Still, I made a face when the musty odor of neglect assailed my olfactory senses as I climbed through the window.