I couldn’t speak. Hell, I couldn’t blink either. I was back in Alice’s hole, and the rabbit continued to thump a monotonous rhythm with his giant foot crammed inside my head.
Gaia chuckled. “Magic. My dress stays up with magic. It’s about time we met, don’t you think?”
I couldn’t help but notice the hard glare she sent my mother, but it disappeared when her gaze refocused on me. “I’m sorry I’m not there with you, dear, but I don’t want to put either you or Sabine in danger. The one thing Max can do well is trace magic. I’m in this form because illusion is untraceable magic.”
I must have looked confused, for she chuckled and answered my question before I could ask it. “No residue. When someone performs magic, there is always a residual trail. Rather like the clear and very repulsive trail left by a slug. All he has to do is follow the trail backward to whoever originally performed the magic.”
The light bulb turned on in my head. “What if we’re doing magic here? Won’t he find it?”
“No. As long as you stay inside the crypt, you are within my protection spell. You couldn’t be more safe.” She turned to my dad. “Gerard, you are out of time. Max’s demons are gathered, and he has begun tracing you and Niki.”
My dad shot a worried frown toward the zombie.
“Before you work yourself into a tizzy, he doesn’t know whose trail he’s tracing—only the magic. It’s thrown him for a loop, and he’s not happy. The stupid idiot is killing off his own army.” Gaia pointed a perfectly manicured, pearly pink fingernail at my dad’s face. “He will find you, this has been foretold.”
Mom leaned closer to my ear. “The Fates. They know things—future, past, present—etcetera, etcetera. In other words, they stick their noses in everyone’s business.”
“Great. Gladys Kravitz times three. Where’s Samantha when you need her?”
“Sweetie, you are Sam.” My grandmother purred, like a very self-satisfied cat. “Although I’ve tried to make her behave differently, your mother plays a great Endora.”
Mom scowled. “Thanks, Mother. I love you too.” She turned and faced me, a worried look on her face. “I hope you don’t think . . .”
I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze as my grandmother interrupted.
“We will agree to disagree. When you are my age and have as many responsibilities as I do, maybe you will begin to understand why I embrace my youth. That’s neither here nor there. This is not an episode of Bewitched, and we need to get back on track. As I was saying, Max grows closer. Do you have a plan?” Gaia expectantly stared at my dad.
“It’s why we’re meeting now.”
“You mean to tell me you don’t have a plan?” Each word rose in pitch. Even though she wasn’t there in body, the crystal around the room quivered.
Man, oh, man do I never want to piss off Grandma.
I halfway listened to their bickering as Gaia and my dad threw sarcastic barbs at each other, my mind going over what I’d learned so far. Some of what I’d found out was kind of cool, especially having Mom alive again. I could do without my grandfather wanting to kill me. It sucked. I thought back to what Dad and Grandma said and realized I knew what to do. I stepped between the two adults who, in my opinion, were acting more like kids as the argument continued.
“Hey, I know what to do,” I yelled. Of course, they ignored me as their debate raged on. Clenching my fists in frustration, I concentrated on the metal they each wore around their necks and heard the faint, pure bell-like tones singing to me. Behind me, Mom gasped, but I kept my grip as the two adults struggled to breathe against the shortening chains.
“Are you two ready to stop yelling at each other and listen to my plan?” I couldn’t stop the slight upturn of my lips as they nodded. After their coughing and hacking stopped, I glanced at Gaia, catching the wide-eyed look Dad gave Mom, who only shrugged.
“Grandma Gaia, I realize I’m young and don’t have much experience with fighting. Would you be willing to keep an open mind and listen to what I have to say?”
Her laugh sounded a tad wheezy. “After your impressive little display, do I have a choice? One day, you’re going to explain to me how you managed to affect an astral projection.”
I smiled. “When I understand it myself, I’d be happy to explain.” I stepped back so I could look at everyone, even Niki. Something in my gut told me he still had an important role to play in all this; I just didn’t know what. “I think I have an idea where Max will look first. The most obvious place is our house back in Virginia. We’re going to set a trap with me as bait.” I waited for their rejections, but to my surprise, everyone slowly nodded in agreement.
Mom pulled me to her in a shaky hug. “I can’t deny your plan terrifies me, but I am so proud of you.”
“I have to admit, it makes perfect sense,” Dad agreed.
It wasn’t my ‘atta-girl, Johnna’ moment, but I’d accept it. I didn’t have to look for Niki to know his thoughts. I felt them. Definitely disturbing, as well as calming, which didn’t make any sense. I focused instead on the strong push of pride he sent me. I caught a glimpse of another hint of emotion riding along. I wasn’t able to separate the two, and the tiny glimpse disappeared before I could analyze it.
Grandma Gaia’s voice broke into my reverie. “I will place protection spells inside the Virginia home as well.” Her gaze bore into mine. “Johnna, you must remember Max won’t be able to sense my magic inside the house. Outside, however, you will be unprotected.”
I pursed my lips. “I won’t forget.”
Gaia glanced lovingly at my mother and even smiled at my father before her illusion faded into a cascade of rainbow-colored sparkles.
I clapped my hands once then placed them on my hips. “All right, people. Let’s do this.”
Mom laughed. “Excited, sweetie?”
I thought a moment before answering. Was this excitement or simply nervous adrenalin? “I’ll tell you after we stop my psychotic grandfather.”
“Good answer, little imp. You learn fast.” Niki's praise surprised me. I kept my mouth shut—at least until my dad said something about my proposal not being an actual plan.
“Way to burst my bubble, Dad. Thank you so very much.” I stared at him with a straight face. When his lips pinched together, I knew I’d scored. If I hadn’t been watching him closely, I would’ve missed the look of worry racing across his face.
Niki stepped into the circle and leaned against a wicked-looking sword. The handle was burnished bronze with a scrolling inlay of gold. On the pommel and cross guard, dark blue sapphires winked in the overhead chandelier’s soft light. I hadn’t seen this magnificent weapon before. Where had he kept such a beauty hidden?
“Would you like to hear my part of the plan now or continue looking at my sword?”
I saw the laughter in his eyes. “Oh, shut up.”
“Johnna, please,” my dad said. “Go ahead, Niki. What’s your idea?”
“Imp’s right. Max believes Johnna is the key to the diary, so she makes the perfect bait. However, he doesn’t know about Sabine or me, so we will be the surprises.”
“And my magic?” I interjected, feeling left out, although I wasn’t sure it was such a bad thing. Since when did I want to put my life in danger? I also wasn’t sure about my new nickname, but I would let it slide for now.
“Definitely a bonus.” Niki glanced at my parents. “You two still have a mental link?” They both nodded. “Good. Johnna will be inside doing whatever’s normal for her, so he doesn’t become suspicious. Gerard, you will stay in the library. He won’t make a play for her if you’re too close. The moment he arrives, send for Sabine. I’ll already be there.”
“Well, sounds good if we were playing dolls,” I said. “We know where we’re supposed to be, but what makes you think he’ll come after me? Al
so, what am I supposed to do once he gets there?” A tingle of apprehension crawled up my neck.
“If there’s one thing I know, it’s my father-in-law.” A touch of sorrow sounded in Mom’s sigh. “His persistence is what finally caught me.”
Dad tucked her into the curve of his body. My heart ached at the sight of them in each other’s arms. It took me back to a time in my life when I still believed in unicorns and fairies. My life had taken a decidedly darker tone as of late.
“Once my father arrives,” Dad began, “we will finish his little war. The demon king’s patience is wearing thin, especially now since more than just his realm is involved. Without going into too much detail, the intel Lucien’s gathered proves Max has taken control of certain hordes—the criminals of demon society.”
My gut tightened at the dark look in my father’s eyes. That particular look never meant anything good.
“They are the last beings the king wants outside the security of his realm. They are living nightmares,” Dad continued. “He’s left the mortals alone for now, but it’s only a matter of time before he takes control of them too.”
I was going to puke. “I get it. They have nothing to lose by fighting for your father and are dispensable if they fail.”
“Bravo, darling. You’re getting quite good at all this cloak-and-dagger stuff.” Mom praised.
“You’re doing well for a beginner, but don’t get the big head, imp. Going up against demons isn’t a cakewalk. It’s going to take all four of us, five if Gaia joins in, to defeat him,” Niki warned.
“Since when did you become so chatty? I’m not stupid, Cheesehead. As long as I stay focused, I’ll be fine.” I hope. “You would be amazed at my ingenuity when I’m scared spitless and facing death.” I tried to keep a straight face but couldn’t. The smile I gave him could only be labeled as cheeky, despite the jittery dance going on in my stomach.
His brow rose and, more like the zombie I knew, he didn’t offer a response.
“We need to worry about an influx of demons arriving with your father.” Mom made more of a statement than a question. “I can call Mother if we need her, not that she won’t already be watching.”
Dad stared off somewhere behind me, slowly nodding. “It’s all we can do until he gets here. We can plan until goblins bathe, but it won’t do us any good. Hope, pray, and fight our asses off when he finds us.”
Swords appeared in our hands and Niki pressed the tip of his blade in the center of the circle. Dad placed his against Niki’s, and Mom’s moved next, so I laid mine on top. Niki's voice flowed through me, low and sexy. “An army of five, family of four. On our honor, faith, and life we pledge. The fight will be won, good over evil, or our deaths.”
A silvery glow emanated from all four blades, glowing bright then fading to normal. I wasn’t sure what had just happened, but I’d connected to the three people standing close to me. I had never felt so alive and a part of something. The experience was amazing.
The pull toward Niki was a whole different matter, clawing at my insides like an itch needing to be scratched. And what was up with his voice? Sexy? I thought his voice was sexy?
Oh my gods, a sexy zombie?
Instead of worrying about my grandfather’s imminent attack, I was beginning to believe I needed to worry more about my own sanity.
Or, better yet, my choice in men.
Chapter 5
Virginia, the Mortal Realm
Johnna
I walked around the fire-lit room, nervously picking up childhood treasures and setting them back down, paying little attention to what I was doing. Restless energy churned inside me, clawing at my nerves and pounding through my veins as time crept along. I stood before the darkened picture window at the front of the house, not seeing anything beyond the inky curtain of night. I loved my home, but the usual peace I’d always found within these four walls was gone. All I felt now was apprehension and fear.
I hated not knowing what to expect. Would he show up alone? With one demon or a hundred? Was he as evil as they said? He had to be. He’d killed my mother for power. What kind of person did that? I decided, then and there, he should suffer.
The peace I’d been searching for stole through me, clearing away my doubts. The churning fear disappeared, replaced with an assurance I knew wasn’t wholly mine. Staring out into the darkness, broken only by the distant blinking of streetlights, I whispered, “Thank you, Niki.” I hoped he heard me. A feather-light sensation trailed down my nose and flicked the end. I smiled. He’d heard.
Pacing the room again, I figured I must be desperate, or belonged in a loony hospital. When had I begun thinking of Niki as something other than an icky zombie? It was just wrong on so many levels.
The hair on the back of my neck and arms rose, and my skin crawled as if a hundred ants trailed over my body. I was no longer alone. Grasping my metal rod tightly in my fist, I spun around, peering closer into the dark corners and crevices. The room seemed empty, but a presence hovered somewhere nearby. A wisp of air signaled whatever or whoever had moved closer.
When I opened my senses, my ears rang from the metal singing around the room, the notes varied in tones and volumes. The energizing symphony rejoiced through my veins. I knew where each note came from, the type of metal singing it, and their happiness at having someone hear them again.
I concentrated on an off-balanced, heavy chord several feet in front of me. The ugly sound was harsh as it edged closer. I homed in on the dark metal, evil and tainted. Was it possible for me to change the tune’s properties, converting it back to its pure state? I focused, sending energy as fast as I could, knowing the presence was almost on top of me. I moved a step backward and another until my back rested against the cool glass of the picture window.
The heavy metal discordance lightened and mellowed, now almost in tune with the other metals in the room. A few more seconds and . . . I got it. Raising my rod, I swished it through the air in front of me. It sliced without hitting anything. I frowned. The presence was there, a darkness crawling over my skin. I tried again, thinking I hadn’t been close enough. The metal rod again cut cleanly through the space in front and to the side of me.
Seeds of panic bloomed deep in my gut. I hadn’t planned on facing an invisible entity. I forced my agitation down and concentrated. Immediately, my locket warmed, filling me with a much-needed belief I could really pull this off.
I walked toward my favorite chair and fell onto the cushy seat, burrowing until I found my just-right position. I waited, knowing he would eventually show up. He had to because I wanted this to be over. I wanted to return to a normal life.
I tried out the word 'grandfather,' letting it roll off my tongue to see how it sounded. It fell flat. Until I met the man and got a sense of who he was, he would remain Max. In my opinion, grandfather was a name of honor, something this man didn’t deserve.
He’s here. The deep, soft words floated in my mind, and I jumped a foot off the chair. The words themselves were enough to scare me to death, but Niki’s ability to speak in my mind became a whole new level of freaky weird. Sure, he’d done it a couple of times before; I just wasn’t ever going to get used to it. I groaned and made a mental post-it note to ask my mother how to block people from traipsing through my head. There wasn’t enough room in there for me, let alone anyone else.
In the far corner, a whirlwind of evil gathered. I shivered and rubbed my arms. The presence felt oily, the sensation vile as it slid over me, seeping into my pores and covering me inside and out. I held still, hoping my lack of movement would give me an advantage. As a dark gray silhouette formed, solidifying before my eyes, I jumped up, perched on the heavy chaise, and planted my feet on the inside of the curved arms for leverage.
We stared at each other from across the room. This person was my grandfather?
No w
ay. I’d expected a tall, menacing man reminiscent of a mob boss from one of the godfather movies. Instead, I got the preacher from the eighties horror flick, Poltergeist. Eewww. Maybe he’d stolen Dad as a baby? There was no way I was related to this skeletal bag of bones.
“You will come,” he commanded.
Amazed at his temerity, I sat on the back of the chair, clenching my jaw, reveling in the achy pressure as I stamped out the instant flare of anger his command had ignited. “No.”
I swallowed my chuckle as his sunken eyes widened, almost filling out his prominent eye sockets. Guess he hadn’t seen that coming. Yay me.
“You are insolent, girl. Your father’s shortcomings show in your lack of respect. You will learn to mind your elders.”
“I thought you were going to kill me.”
“Why would I do such a stupid thing? I’m sure my son told you what I want—now I’m here to collect. The knowledge is inside you somewhere.” The pale, cadaverous man held out a small purple book. A brass lock covered most of the cover, securing the book’s cincture.
My fingers itched, wanting . . . no, needing to touch the lock. The clearest, purest tone came from the mechanism’s core, swirling amongst the other sounds circulating around the room.
Then two huge arms appeared from out of nowhere and wrapped around me, jerking me back against an incredibly hot chest. Not hot as in sexy, but hot as in scorching. A layer of steam rose from the ruddy skin of his arms.
The thing holding me so determinedly felt very naked. Well, almost naked. I had the sinking feeling those arms belonged to a demon. My panic meter rose. I didn’t want to be anywhere near a demon, much less in one’s arms.
I called to the metal, detecting it around his wrists and waist. If he worked for Max, he was one mixed-up dude. The tones emanating from him sounded like a duel between deep Jamaican drums and higher-pitched snare drums. The small rivets running down the skin-tight pants, now pressed against my own jean-clad legs, sounded more like chimes.
In Mage We Trust (Of Mystics and Mayhem Book 1) Page 7