by Eve Langlais
The impact jolted Ella, and she hit the seat in front of her. The seatbelt she insisted on wearing—to Zane’s amusement—kept her from soaring through the windshield like their driver.
Zane defied the laws of momentum, but only because he grabbed and tore loose the oh shit bar at the moment of impact.
The engine smoked—she could smell it—and she blinked her eyes, trying to adjust to the sudden dark. The attacking cars came in without lights and their own twin beacons extinguished. Her ghosts screamed around her—“Flee the infidels.” “The morality police are coming.” “Time to dance with the devil in the pale moonlight.” —and she only faintly heard Zane cursing as glass continued to break.
Why are they smashing now? We’re not moving.
“Stay in the car. Let me handle this,” Zane ordered.
Her dark knight thrust open his door, and she saw enough to perceive the hands reaching to grab him.
Bad idea. He lunged at their attackers with a snarl, and the door slammed shut, leaving her in false safety inside the truck.
As her eyes adjusted and her brain stopped wobbling inside her skull, she tried to make sense of things. The steam rising from the hood, the gray swirl of her friends manifesting in their panic, their voices shouting all at once.
“They’re coming.”
“The destroyer of nations is almost here.”
“I think I left the stove on.”
The recent ghosts always had a litany of things they thought they’d forgotten before they died.
Her door was wrenched open and someone reached for her. They didn’t get far given her seatbelt held her in. They yanked, but her butt didn’t move. She fought, slapping the hands.
“Personal space.”
“Don’t touch us.”
“Why are you letting the demons win? Control them.”
The words gave her pause. Control them? Could she do that?
Curious, she let the red-eyed fiend unbuckle and pull her from the car. That cardamom spice really worked when it came to identifying the demon possessed. A pity that was all it did. Still, this was her first up close look at a possessed person. She took a moment to study the face of her captor, the rictus on it cruel. The spark in the eyes inhuman. The oily smudge on the soul kind of like a ghost.
Ella controlled ghosts. Human spirits only, until now, but she was game to try something new.
She reached for the demon essence, not with her hands but her mind. Come here. You don’t belong in that body.
The smudge ignored her, and she frowned. Since it wouldn’t obey her command, she stretched for it, again not with real hands, but esoteric versions, imagining them grabbing the demon spirit. She yanked it free. The body collapsed with a gasp.
The other people with red sparks in their eyes standing behind their companion hesitated.
They watched to see what Ella did next. She could have used a clue because she wasn’t sure herself. Now that she held the demonic essence, what should she do with it?
She’d better decide quickly. It writhed in her grasp. It wriggled. Felt really wrong. She didn’t like its slimy sensation at all. But how to get rid of it and make sure it didn’t possess anyone else?
For once, her friends had nothing to say. They hung in a misty mass all around, watching and waiting.
A raspy, “Let it go,” drew her attention to the red-eyed fiend who spoke.
“I can’t.” If she let it go, it would find another body. That seemed like a bad idea. She looked at the soul she held. It didn’t belong here, and it offended her. Could she get rid of it? She twisted it, and compressed it between her hands, squishing it until it poofed, releasing magic that somehow bolstered her and filled the air around with sparkles of power.
“Pretty.”
“Do it again.”
She wiped her hands clean on her pants. Where was some hand sanitizer when you needed some? She could use a vat because she was about to get busy. She eyed the other possessed humans.
Smiled.
The red eyes recoiled.
“Who’s next?” She waggled her fingers.
The demon-possessed humans tried to scatter. She caught a few and took care of their problem. One by one, those she caught were saved and their fiend destroyed.
Only as the grabbed the last one did something feel different. The eyes blazed a brighter red. The lips parted, and it hissed, “Surrender or he dies.” The body exploded, and only the quick actions of her ghosts kept her from getting meat splattered.
As if she cared. The words froze her to the core. Where is Zane?
She glanced around and didn’t see him at all. The demons he fought with were gone.
And so was he.
Where is he? she shouted inside her head to her ghostly friends.
“Taken.”
“The devils have stolen him away.”
“He’s gone and good riddance.”
The realization the demons had him broke something inside her. She let out a scream. And then another. The power she’d just accumulated welled up within.
And burst.
She wasn’t too sure what happened after that.
Sixteen
“Ella, you need to stop.” Felicia pled with the woman floating a few inches off the ground, arms spread, eyes rolled back.
She’d heard the scream while driving and known it was Ella. Who else could cry loudly on a level no human could hear?
Since she knew everyone’s route, and she’d expected a move on the soul sorceress, she’d kept close, but not close enough to stop the attack. She slammed to a stop behind the crashed vehicle and jumped out, ignoring Jamaal to race toward the noise of chaos erupting. She found her friend, only Ella wasn’t home right now. Her ghosts were in control and having a gleefully destructive time.
Ella floated along, having turned back toward town, a tidal wave of chaos following her as awnings ripped free and undulated in the air amidst a whipping sandstorm.
It didn’t go unnoticed. Lights came on. She heard the commotion of people sticking their heads out for a peek. Now was not the time for humans to get involved in their affairs.
While she might have shoved him out earlier for daring to spy, Felicia found herself wishing for Tariq’s aid in extricating themselves before things got stickier.
She shouted at him with her mind. Danger.
Only moments after that, Tariq came to a screeching halt.
“Felicia, are you all right?” he asked, jumping from the driver’s seat, ready to fight on her behalf. If the situation wasn’t so dire, his response might have been cute.
She turned her dark gaze on him and said, “Ella and Zane were attacked.”
“And?”
“They took Zane.”
“Still don’t see the problem. You seem to be unharmed.”
“I am fine. As is your brother. It’s Ella. She’s lost control of her ghosts.” She pointed to the swath of destruction and the distant sound of wood cracking and screams.
“You mean to say you only called me because your witch is having a fit over her husband being kidnapped?”
“Yes.”
He glared. “I thought you were in real danger.”
She smiled. “It is cute you came running.”
“Not funny.” He stomped off in the direction of the screams and the crashing of masonry. “You’ll owe me for this.”
“I pay my debts,” she retorted at his heels.
He cast a glance over his shoulder. “Azzam, watch Jamaal.”
“What?” his brother yelled. “You can’t be serious. I am not being babysat by an old has-been.”
“Old? I can still beat you in most things.”
They left the two djinn bickering and headed into the bazaar, where the stalls appeared as if a whirlwind had gone through. Curious faces peeked out from behind curtains and doors, but none dared step outside. Superstition and a healthy fear kept them in hiding.
Impressive, really. “Does Ella do this often?
” he asked, taking in the destruction.
“First time that I know of. Last time, she was this pissed she took out a sorcerer trying to steal her power. He, too, made the mistake of touching Zane.”
“How emasculating for him.”
“Nothing wrong with a woman standing up for her husband,” she huffed.
“Call me old-fashioned, but I think it should be the other way.”
“Neanderthal.”
“Some would call it being a gentleman.”
“There’s a name for guys with a hero complex who think women can’t help themselves.”
“Awesome.”
She snickered. “That was you in bed. As a person, you’re…”
“Badass. Charming. Elegant.”
“Freakish. Goofy.”
When he glared, she smiled. “Just keeping the alphabet theme going along. I see her.” She pointed to the figure floating down the middle of the path, hair lifting and rippling in a wind that only she could feel.
Tariq strode toward her. “Ella, rein in your spirits.”
That only had the effect of causing said spirits to rush the tall djinn and bear him aloft far enough and hard enough to slam him into a stall. The awning collapsed on top of him.
Felicia knew better than to try and get too close. “Ella!” she yelled. “Stop screwing around. We need to go get Zane.”
The word Zane caused Ella to freeze, and she hovered midair.
“Really, I can’t believe you’re having a temper tantrum when Zane needs rescuing. Or do you want me to go save your husband all by myself?”
Ella pivoted, her face a blank mask, her eyes swirling pits. “We’re going to save him?” Her voice emerged soft and hesitant.
“Of course we are. As if we’d let those nasty demons have him.” After all, they took him on purpose. Not because they wanted Zane. It didn’t take centuries of unliving to realize they were after Ella, and what better bait to dangle than the husband she adored?
“I want him back,” Ella stated.
“Then let’s go get him. Come on.” She held out a hand, and Ella drifted to the ground, took a step. Halted. Then took another and another. Her eyes returned to normal, and she grasped Felicia’s fingers in a tight clasp.
“You’ll help me find him.” Her voice sounded so small and lost. “I need him.”
“I know you do. We’ll get him back. Tariq, are you coming? We don’t have time to shop.”
He stood, the scarves he’d landed in tangled around his limbs. She grinned as he tossed her an annoyed glare.
In short order, they’d collected Azzam and Jamaal. She didn’t argue when Tariq announced, “You and I are traveling together from now on.”
Felicia also insisted they take Ella while Jamaal and Azzam took the second vehicle. The drivers were ditched.
They didn’t run into any troubles the rest of their journey that night. It could have been Ella had scared the demons off, but Felicia wondered if it was more because the demons had already gotten what they wanted.
Now if only they understood why the demons wanted Ella so much.
Did this have something to do with the prophecy Zane discovered about her? Ella didn’t know Zane had paid a visit to Ella’s mother, only to discover the woman was no blood relation. Apparently, Ella’s parents woke one day to find a basket with a baby nestled within. Whoever had left her also provided documents attesting they were the parents, plus a sum of money. But the strangest thing was the cryptic note. “Guard her well, for the fate of humanity may rest on her.”
Was this the moment the note spoke of? Would Ella save the world?
Only one way to find out. Packed with gas cans, a few supplies, and not much else, the pair of Land Rovers left the city and its suburbs. Tariq took the lead. Jamaal and Azzam followed, their bouncing beams illuminating the darkness outside.
Felicia sat in the passenger seat beside Tariq. Ella had the back, where she conversed with ghosts rather than the living. She sat in the backseat, nodding her head and occasionally staring off into the distance.
Tariq flicked his glance to the rearview mirror a few times before he mentioned it to Felicia. “I don’t know if it’s a good thing she’s talking to ghosts.”
“They can be a great source of information.”
“If she stays in control.”
“Have faith. Ella’s stronger than you think.”
“She laid waste to a marketplace because she was upset.”
“Could have been worse. Given they took Zane, she could have decimated the city.”
“She’s dangerous.” He said it knowing full well Ella could hear him.
Felicia frowned. “No worse than you or me.”
“She’s not doing it for her own self-preservation.”
“You mean you’ve never done something for someone else?”
“Have you?” he countered.
“Yes. Not often. And maybe not so dramatically, but then again, I’ve never been that much in love.”
“Ever?” For some reason, he sounded angry.
Even odder, she felt his anger…and hurt.
Why hurt?
She glanced at him. “Love is a weakness. Love makes you lose control.” She cast a glance back at Ella, who no longer appeared to be communing with anyone and stared blankly out the window at the dark shapes flashing by.
“Love is supposed to be the most powerful thing of all.”
“Maybe it is.” For some reason, she couldn’t help but glance at his side profile, the hawkish nose, the firm line of his jaw covered with a soft burr. “Have you ever been in love?”
“No. Yes. Maybe.”
“That’s not a clear answer.”
“Because love is complicated.”
On that they could both agree.
But it didn’t help the strange stilted chasm between them, one comprised of things unsaid. How did someone say, thanks for last night, can we do it again?
Could their relationship go anywhere? A djinn and a vampire. It sounded impossible.
Not impossible.
She cast him a sharp glance, only to find him staring straight ahead.
Rather than pummel him for possibly listening in and replying, she placed a hand on his thigh. Nothing more.
Just a hand.
He placed his atop it.
And thus did they travel. The chasm between them partially breached. The words unspoken, but an understanding beginning to form.
When the first purple edges of dawn crested, she didn’t argue when he declared they’d stop for a rest. She felt the fatigue pulling at him.
Ella didn’t. She sat up and grumbled, “Why are we stopping?”
“We need to take a break.”
“No, we need to catch up to Zane.”
“It won’t be long,” Felicia reassured, yanking on her gear. Goggles, hood, gloves. The latest in vampire daytime wear. “He just needs to fuel up and stuff. You should get out and stretch your legs.”
Instead, Ella paced.
Tariq filled the gas tanks, and Felicia stuck close to him. “She’s a mess. I’m worried about her when we do reach the rift.”
“Will she turn against us to save her mate?”
“Yes.” She didn’t hesitate to reply. “Zane is everything to her.”
“We cannot afford for sentimentality to get in the way.” Tariq’s statement emerged flat.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying we need be careful lest our strongest ally be turned against us.”
The worst thing was, Felicia didn’t disagree. The life of one wasn’t worth the fate of the world. But Ella would never see it that way.
As Tariq emptied the can and then checked the oil and other things on the truck, Felicia sat in the shade, weary and worried.
She’d known Zane a long time. Could she sacrifice him if events demanded it?
She closed her eyes. I don’t want to find out.
Seventeen
“She’s gone
,” he heard Felicia exclaim, followed by cursing.
Then his brother grumbling. “Why are you kicking me?”
“You were sleeping.” Felicia’s terse remark had Tariq blinking the sleep from his eyes. He rubbed his face, fighting the lethargy.
When had he fallen asleep? He didn’t remember them planning for that. Last he recalled, he gassed the truck. A truck he currently slept under. He rolled out and popped to his feet in time to hear his brother ask, “I don’t remember us stopping to camp.”
“Because we didn’t,” Tariq claimed. “Our sleep wasn’t a natural one.” He’d never even seen the spell cast on them. Which made him wonder how the soul sorceress even did magic. Did she not require words or gestures, or could she do things merely by thinking it?
Whatever the case, the ghosts did her bidding. While his magic weakened the further they drove, Ella had only gotten stronger as more and more ghosts flocked to her.
“Dammit, Ella. Why did you have to go and do that?” His queen sounded exasperated.
Despite having stopped early in the day, twilight now prevailed, the sky still pink and orange in the distance. Soon they’d see the moon. Would it be red again?
“Where did she go?” he asked.
“To find Zane, of course,” Felicia retorted.
“Wasn’t that exactly what we were doing?” He scrubbed a hand through his hair.
“I guess she overheard our conversation and took offense. She also took the other truck.”
As if being put to sleep wasn’t bad enough, she’d stolen from right under their noses. How embarrassing.
“How long has she been gone?” he asked. The lingering slumber evaporated as the problem unfolded.
“Hours,” Felicia spat. “I doubt it took her long to dump our asses out. She gave herself a huge head start.”
“That was foolish.” He checked on the truck as Azzam stuck his head out of the window and peered around with one eye.
“I should have seen it coming,” she grumbled.
Jamaal wandered off and frowned at Tariq. “Why are you doing things the hard way?” The hard way being Tariq using his hands to lift the hood and check the fluids. “Don’t tell me you can’t feel it.” Feel the lack of magic in the area. While Tariq’s magic had mostly recovered, he had none to spare, and there was none to be found. For some reason, the farther they traveled, and the closer they got to their destination, the less magic there was available for him to feed on. As if something had sucked it dry. What he did manage to find felt weaker.