Chapter 24
Tia followed the scent of death out of the building and toward the access door to the underground tunnel. She paused at the entrance, muttering the words to an ancient spell. For decades she’d been training for the day when she would confront one of the leeches. It never entered her mind that it would be Batu, but now that she had the chance to confront him, it made all those years of hard work worth every secon d of sacrifice.
The words tapped into the magic that flowed through her veins, altering the power until it was no longer simmering in anticipation. It’d hardened into a solid weapon, ready to strike with le thal precision.
Holding the spell in a tight grip, Tia entered the tunnel and made her way through the darkness. There was no use trying to creep through the shadows. Nothing could sneak up on a vampire. Even if they were suppo sed to be dead.
Nearing a large junction, Tia wrinkled her nose at the scent of sulfur. The last time she’d caught a whiff of that nasty odor she’d been in the afterlife. Which meant Batu h ad to be close.
On cue, a raspy voice echoed through the tunnel. “Yes. Come to me,” the voice hissed.
Refusing to acknowledge the stab of fear, Tia squared her shoulders and stepped into the juncture. She spared a quick glance toward the vampire, on his hands and knees, and surrounded by a sickly green glow, before focusing her attention on the gaunt form shrouded in a heavy robe. Batu? Shock jolted through her. She’d expected him to be changed, but this...it was horrifying. “It’s you,” Batu spit out in disappointment. “Where’s Maya?”
Tia forced herself to step forward, her skin crawling as she studied the skeletal features of his face and the sunken eyes that glowed with the same eerie magic that pulsed from the medallion ar ound his neck.
“Gone,” sh e informed him.
Batu jerked in sh ock. “You lie.”
“Quite often, but not on this occasion,” Tia drawled, taking pride in the fact that her voice didn’t quiver.
“Whe re did she go?”
“Somewhere you’ll never get your hands on her.”
“There’s nowhere she can hide.” Batu’s fangs extended, appearing weirdly long without his lips. The sight sent a shiver through Tia. “She belongs to me.”
“Not acco rding to Maya.”
“Then h er lover dies.”
“Why?” Tia took another quick step forward, angling toward the silent Ravyr. “I’m here. I’m a mage. I can do anything Maya can do. And do it better.”
“Ah.” Batu’s wariness visibly eased. “Still jealous, are you, Tia?”
Tia shrugged. There might have been times in the past when she’d envied Maya her raw power. Everything had come so easy for the younger woman. But she’d long ago recognized that she possessed other, more important talents. And that she was quite honestly superior to any mage out there.
“Not jealous, simply tired of her being treated like she’s something special when my magic is stronger, trained to perfection, and available,” she retorted. “For the right pri ce, of course.”
“There’s the Tia that I knew and loved.” Batu released a creepy chuckle. “I’ ve missed you.”
Tia leaned forward, stretching out her arm as she allowed the magic to pulse through her. She assumed that Batu hadn’t attacked because he was hoping she could lure Maya out of hiding. “Le t me help you.”
“The only help you can offer is to bring Maya to me.” Batu confirmed her suspicion.
“I’ve told you, she’s not here. She left the area, I swear.” Tia continued to hold out her hand. “But I ca n replace her.”
“Never,” Batu snapped, as if abruptly accepting that Tia wasn’t going to be able to give him what he so desperately needed. “Besides, this is your fault in the first place. If you hadn’t forced your way into my private temple, I would never have been in this position.”
She had only seconds before he struck out. “What did you expect? If you hadn’t made the hidden chamber off limits, I would never have been curious about what you were hiding.” She inched sideways, trying to put herself as close to Ravyr as possible. She wasn’t arrogant enough to think she could kill the male, even if he was damaged. But with Ravyr’s help they might be able to overwhelm the bastard. First, however, she had to disrupt the medallion’s magic. Something that she feared was easier said than done. “Really when you think about it, you have no one to blame but yourself. Let’s kis s and make up.”
Batu frowned as she leaned forward close enough to feel the heat from the glo wing medallion.
“Stay back.”
“Don’t worry, I just want to help.”
“You? How could you possibly help?”
“Like this.” Releasing the spell that was thundering through her, Tia watched in satisfaction as Batu stumbled back, his face twisting with pain as shimmering shards of magic stabbed deep into his frail body. At the same time, she leaped to stand directly in front of Ravyr, her momentary delight shattering as she absorbed the punishing power. The piercing agony was crippling, threatening to crush her bones to dust. If it didn’t stop her heart first. No wonder it’d sent Ravyr to his knees. “Shit.”
“As reckless as ever, Tia,” Batu growled in a harsh voice, unable to disguise his own pain as her spell continued to batter him. “This time there’s no Maya to rescue you. This time you die.”
* * * *
Maya sensed Joe fade into the background, as if he was deliberately avoiding the confrontation. And maybe he was. He said he was a Watcher, not a Doer, so she assumed he wasn’t supposed to directly interfere in what was happening.
Or maybe he was using her as some sort of bait to lure Batu into a trap. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d deliberately put her in danger.
Either way, Maya wasn’t going to wait and hope he decided to step up. Not when Ravyr was being tortured. Walking forward, Maya clenched her hands and tilted her head to a proud angle. Inside she was a seething mass of terror, but by damned she wasn’t going to give Batu the satisfaction of s eeing her fear.
Approaching the dark shadow that she assumed was Batu’s spirit, she watched as it abruptly jerked in her direction. Had she managed to startl e the creature?
Maya. The voice echoed in her mind, sending chills of unease down her spine. What a nice surprise. I’ve been l ooking for you.
She halted a few feet from the shadow, trying not to notice how it flickered in and out of focus, as if he was an illusion, not a real form. The only thing solid was the crimson strand of power that was running from the middle of the darkness to connect directly over her heart.
Maya shivered, battling back a surge of panic. She wasn’t going to let herself think about the fact that the creepy strand had been connected to her for over forty years. That was a night mare for later.
“So I heard,” she forced hers elf to respond.
How did you enter this dimension?
Maya shrugged, barely resisting the urge to glance over her shoulder and see if Joe was lurking nearby. “D oes it matter?”
Not really. The scent of sulfur thickened. Once you’re dead I can return to the existence you so rude ly interrupted.
“Or...hear me out.” She lifted her hand, her stomach churning as the form continued to flicker in and out of focus. The thing was making her nauseous. “I can finish what I started all those years ago and kill you. Onc e and for all.”
A hollow chuckle echoed through her brain. Y ou can’t do it.
Couldn’t she? Honestly, Maya had no idea. The only thing she knew for certain was that it wasn’t going to be for lack of trying. Pretending to sniff the air, she forced a smile to her stiff lips. “Then why do I sm ell your fear?”
It’s not fear. It’s regret. His voice abruptly lowered to a creepy purr, as if he hoped he could distract her with his dubious charm. I never wanted to hurt you, Maya. We should have been partner s, not enemies.
Maya snorted, her fear momentarily overshadowed by her surge of fury. “You can’t be serious. You bought me like I was a piece of property and then proceeded to hold me hostage for years. Oh, and don’t get me started on the pleasure you took in tormenting me.”
Don’t be so dramatic, he chastised. You were my guest.
“Guest? I wasn’t allowed to le ave your lair.”
That was for your own protection. The world is a dangerous p lace for mages.
Maya made a sound of disgust. “The only danger was you. Not only did you drain my magic against my will to fuel your perverted death spell, you punished me whenever you felt the urge to cause me pain.” She flicked her hand in a gesture of blatant disdain. “Not to mention your tedious habit of threatening to murder my family if I tr ied to escape.”
The darkness shuddered, as if reacting to her anger, but the cajoling voice continued to whisper through her mind. Admit it, Maya, you would never have become the mage you are to day without me.
She narrowed her eyes. “For once, you’re right,” she admitted. “It was because of your ruthless torture that I forced myself to hone my magic into a weapon I could use t o destroy you.”
And yet you fail ed, he taunted.
“Once.” Maya was acutely aware of the passing time. And that each second she wasted was another second that Ravyr was in agony. Or worse. She had to do something, but she honestly had no idea how a spell would work in this place. She could feel the magic flowing through her veins, but it was sluggish. Like molasses rather than bubbling champagne. On the other hand, it seemed equally doubtful that her potions would work here. Not only was the atmosphere different, but Batu wasn’t solid e nough to hurt.
Solid...
Her gaze lowered to the strand shimmerin g between them.
Batu might be a spirit, but she was very real.
Reaching into her satchel, she searched for the vial that was warm to the touch. Once she located it, she clenched it in her fingers, leaving her hand hidden in the satchel as she breathed the words of a familiar spell. She would have one desperate shot at this. She needed to make sure that Batu was distracted.
With an unnecessary flourish, Maya tilted back her head as she shouted the last words of the spell and released a bolt of magic. As she’d hoped, it hung in the thick air with a visible lack of enthusiasm, simply floating between her and the glob of Batu’s spirit. Like a petulant cloud.
Ha, Batu crowed in delight. Yo u failed again.
“Well, you know what they say.”
What do they say? he mocked.
“If at first you do n’t succeed...”
You will never... The words trailed away as Maya pulled the vial from her satchel and shook it to ignite the combustible potion inside. The liquid bubbled inside the glass container, the smell of acrid smoke competing with the stench of sulfur. What are you doing? A hint of worry threaded through the voice in her head. Good. Even as a spirit, the creature was worried about fire. That can’t hu rt me. Not now.
“No?” Her smile widene d. “Let’s see.”
The darkness pulsed, growing larger as if it was preparing to attack. Maya clenched her teeth. This was it. Now or never. She didn’t bother tossing the potion in Batu’s direction. She accepted that she couldn’t hurt his spirit. Instead, she shattered the vial in her hand, allowing the potion to spill over the cente r of her chest.
Searing heat spread over her, eating through her clothing and into her flesh. Like acid. But with grim determination she ignored the excruciating pain, concentrating on the potion that had reached the strand that bound her to Batu. With a desperate urgency, she used the magic she’d released earlier to squeeze the potion forward, forcing it to crawl along the crimson threads. The pain pounding into her intensified to an excruciating level, but the sudden burst of fear she could sense from the spirit kept her tenacious courage f rom shattering.
No, it hiss ed in her mind.
“Yes.”
The potion neared the darkness, suddenly flaring with a blinding glow of heat. Stop!
“Never.” Maya lifted her hand to protect her face as the heat burst into flames, consuming the spirit. “Not unti l you’re dead.”
Bitch!
The word echoed through her mind in a shrill screech, the darkness collapsing beneath the weight of the fire. Maya watched as the spirit withered and at last faded into the sand. She didn’t know if it was dead forever, or if it could be resurrected, but she was certain that the connection between them had been well an d truly broken.
Lifting a hand to cover the raw wound that seeped an alarming amount of blood, Maya fell to her knees. She’d managed to destroy Batu, but she didn’t have the strength left to try to escape the afterlife. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the bond that remained locked in side her heart.
The one that hel d her to Ravyr.
Someday they would be reunited. She clung to that belief as consciousnes s drifted away.
* * * *
Ravyr felt the grinding pain ease as Tia leaped in front of him. Using the brief respite, Ravyr forced himself to his feet. He’d be damned if he died on his knees. Unfortunately, once he was standing, he realized that the mage was already on the point of collapse. Within minutes the magic would destroy her and he would be bac k on his knees.
“Tia, get out,” he commanded.
“No.” She bleakly held her ground. “I promised Maya I would save yo ur frosty ass.”
Maya. Ravyr touched the mark on his hand, frowning when he realized that the sense of her was muted. As if she was a long distance away.
“Where is she?”
Tia swayed, her face hard as she battled against the magic. “You don’t want to know.”
“Dammit.” Ravyr ground his fangs. “She promised not to do an ything stupid.”
“And you believed her?” Tia released a sharp laugh. “You don’t know anything about Maya Rosen, leech.”
He stepped forward, prepared to shove her out of the path of the magic. “I know we’re both going to die if you don’t get out of here and get help.”
She turned her head, as if she intended to chastise him. But even as her gaze narrowed, she vis ibly stiffened.
“Do you feel tha t?” she rasped.
Ravyr’s brows snapped together. Had the pain tipped the mage over the edge? He didn’t feel...
Wait. He did feel something. The green glow continued to surround Tia, but it was fraying along the edge of Batu’s medallion, as if it was runnin g out of power.
“Ye s,” he hissed.
“Get ready.”
“For what?”
“That.” There was a final pulse before the magic was shattered and the glow disappeared . “Now, leech!”
Ravyr didn’t need Tia’s command to rush forward, grasping the still-warm medallion in his hand and twisting it until the chain tightened around Batu’s scrawny neck. The vampire screamed in fury, but there was an unmistakable resignation in the sunken eyes as Ravyr continued to twist the chain, not halting until the links had cut through the fragile neck and Batu’s head bounced acr oss the cement.
“Is he dead?” Tia demanded, h er voice shaky.
Ravyr watched as the medallion he held in his palm darkened, a curl of smoke crawling over the carved symbols before the thing crumbled to dust. At the same time, Batu’s decimated body exploded in a puff of ash.
Distant wails of loss echoed through the opening overhead, revealing that Batu’s disciples had fe lt his passing.
“He’s dead,” Ravyr assured her, caught off guard when she abruptly turned around and headed back down the tunnel. “Where are you going?”
“Alison is going to try to make a run for it. I intend to make sure she do esn’t succeed.”
“Maya.” Her name came out as a croak.
Tia turned, her expression wry despite the lingering pain etched on her pale face. “She’ll come for you. She’s nothing if not loyal. Even to those of us who don’ t deserve her.”
The sheer certainty in her words eased Ravyr’s flare of panic. “True.”
Lifting her arm, Tia pointed a finger in his direction. “Listen, leech, if you hurt her—”
Ravyr interrupted the ridiculous warning. “It’s not possible. I would die before I allowed anything or anyone to cause her pain. Inc luding myself.”
“Yes, you would die. Tha t’s a promise.”
With a toss of her head, Tia disappeared into the tunnel, and Ravyr leaned heavily against the cement wall. He had to gather his strength before he started his s earch for Maya.
As if the mere thought of her had stirred the tracking spell she’d placed on him, Ravyr felt a tingle race up his arm. It was as if Maya’s magic was tugging at the mark. Was she trying to lead him toward her? Did she need his help?
Shoving away from the wall, Ravyr was attempting to locate a direction when a sharp odor of sulfur tainted the air and a sudden hole split open. A second later, Ma ya spilled out.
“Maya.”
Leaping forward, Ravyr managed to catch her before she hit the ground. Cradling her against his chest, Ravyr ran a desperate gaze over her limp body, his heart clenching as he caught sight of the wounds on her chest even as relief blasted through him at the steady beat of her heart. She was injured, but s he would live.
With careful movements, Ravyr lifted his hand to press his thumb against the tip of his fang, breaking through the skin. Then, holding his thumb directly above her chest, he allowed his blood to drip into the wound. Instantly the flesh began to mend, the skin healing over with remarkable speed. There would probably be a scar, but nothing mattered beyond the fact that she was alive a nd in his arms.
Perhaps sensing his tidal wave of relief, Maya’s eyes fluttered open, a smile cu rving her lips.
“It’s done.”