Chapter 19
CHAPTER 19
“ B e safe, honey, and tell your friend…” my mother called out from the door, letting the latter draw out as she waited for a name so she could start her investigative process.
When I responded with a coy smile only, she returned it with a smirk of annoyance.
Zareb brushed against my leg, letting his presence be known. I opened the door and fumbled with placing my leftovers in the back seat to give him time to jump in.
Once we were at the end of the block, Zareb revealed himself, hopped into the back seat, and helped himself to my food.
“Rude! How did you know that was for you?”
Sharing the arrogance and air of self-entitlement of his owners, he looked me up and down, donned his cloak, and noisily returned to eating. Nothing could convince me it wasn’t a taunt.
A turbulent wind hit the SUV so hard, I struggled to keep it centered on the street. The car’s steer assist attempted to right the SUV, but it spun out of control and my only option was to bring the car to a stop in front of the nature preserve. Glowing eyes peered from the thicket of trees and advanced toward me. I expected animal, not Emory—the dhole, in human form—swiftly moving toward me with another person next to him.
He stepped in front of the car. “Hello, Luna.” He grinned. Technically we were on the same team, right? Everything about him and his disgruntled partner screamed danger. I wanted to be away from them. The option to force them out of my way was snatched from me when the car shut off.
His partner was a witch. A techno. They were quickly becoming my least favorite magic wielders. The world of technology gave them too much power. We were at the whims of their discretion. Inconspicuously, I slid my hand toward the cup holders where I’d placed the stun gun and pepper spray.
Another man appeared on the back seat, passenger side. Emory’s sharp gaze moved from me, and a half smile curled his lips as he pulled a stake from his back pocket. Darting to the right, he collided with a new arrival and with preternatural speed, plunged the stake into the vampire, holding him down until he vanished into dust, denying him the opportunity to feed to survive.
Before Emory could stand, a meaty fist slammed into the passenger window. When I turned my head to avoid the shards, he opened the door. I engaged the pepper spray. Zareb revealed himself and lunged at the person, sending him crashing to the ground and hammering into Zareb, trying to dislodge the grip he had on the man’s arm.
I attempted to start the car. Nothing.
Damn. Nothing. I hated techno witches with a passion.
More people revealed themselves. I tried to determine who was friend or foe. Fighting erupted and multiple people were trying to get to the car while others stopped them. I was sure all of them wanted me but for different reasons. The appearance of the royals and Anand was the one assurance that at least two people were on my side: Anand and Dominic.
Emory stopped his attack on what I believe was a witch. With magic at their disposal, witches tended to be lacking in combat skills. He craned his neck to look at the royals, relaxing when Areleus’s magic slammed into the witch and with one flash of movement, his claws were at the offending witch. Helena attacked with the same ferocity and indiscrimination, giving Dominic and Anand pause. They were clearly trying to disable only the Awakeners and not anyone from either Conventicle. Three shades swooped in from the sky. One grabbed Emory and soared to the sky with him. A small look of satisfaction moved over Helena’s face. Dominic sent a magical spear into the creature. It shuddered and bucked. Dominic struck him in the chest with fire, forcing the shade to drop Emory, who fell too fast. Quick, sharp movements of Dominic’s hand slowed his descent. Helena, meeting Emory on the landing, punched him twice, dazing him before her claws slashed over his neck. Dominic had very little time to react, directing his attention to Peter, who had appeared next to Areleus. The dark exchange of camaraderie that passed between Peter and his father brought a snarl to Dominic’s face. Darkness loomed, fire blazed in his eyes, magic stifled the air. He slung a rapid fire of rounded magical orbs at his father, who disabled them, with Peter’s assistance, while inching in my direction. I looked around. The fighting continued, bodies littered the street, blood stained the ground where someone had disappeared or was taken away. The crowd had thinned. I had no idea where the techno witch was.
I tried to turn on the car. Nothing. Was it disabled or was the witch still around? Surely they had better things to worry about than keeping me confined. A cloud loomed then engulfed Helena and she gasped for breath as it siphoned her oxygen. Peter took notice.
“Find them,” he ordered, and a swarm of shades appeared, viciously plowing through any obstacles to their targets with claws and magic, winnowing over the area. Within moments the cloud had receded. Doubled over, Helena hungrily took in breaths. Dominic risked a glimpse in her direction; an innate sibling need to make sure she was okay. It cost him. His father lobbed a fiery ball at him, but Dominic disabled it before it could reach him. The distraction was enough for Helena to get to Dominic. Shock and anger weathered his features as he looked at her claws that she’d shoved into his stomach. His blood spilling over her hand. Acceptance followed his initial shock at her betrayal. When she yanked her hand back, he grabbed the arm, and dropped to his knees, bringing her with him. His claws pierced her skin while his mouth moved slowly. The magic-inhibiting marks started winding over her arms as she fought frantically with her free hand to get away from him. Flailing and jerking, delivering hard blows to force him to release her.
I made another attempt to start the car and nearly wept with relief when it did. I barreled toward Areleus who was moving toward Dominic and Helena. Smashing into Areleus, I sent him back several feet. He might be injured but he wasn’t dead. With his extraordinary healing abilities, I had just a matter of minutes.
Hopping out of the car with the stun gun in one hand and pepper spray in another, I blasted Helena. She shrieked at the stun gun touching her skin, her eyes blinking erratically trying to clear them of the pepper spray.
Dominic held on to her, trying to complete the spell. When I knelt next to him, he released her and the markings disappeared from her arm. He took hold of my hand and we stood. He said Anand’s name and a word I couldn’t make out. A code word, perhaps. I didn’t see him anywhere but knew he’d hear it. Dominic pulled me into his arms, and moments later my head was spinning and we were outside the underworld’s estate.
He scanned the area, and when Anand emerged from the left, they looked at each other. I tried reading the nonverbal communication. Anand approached. More looks were exchanged. Dominic’s brows furrowed together, hesitating before he spoke.
“Things are about to change—probably terrible before better. I won’t?—”
Anand held up a hand and gave him a withering half smile. “I’ll save you the trouble. I’m with you. I always knew there would be eventual fallout. If I’m drawn into it, so be it. I’ve chosen a side. It’s yours.”
“I need you to stay away for a few days. I’ll find you.”
Anand grinned. “No you won’t. I’ll be found when I want to be.”
I don’t think there were any truer words stated.
Dominic nodded and they exchanged another look.
“You two can hug,” I suggested, prompting identical looks of disapproval. “Fine.” I wrapped Anand in a hug. He stiffened, gave me two obligatory pats on the back, and quickly pulled away and was gone.
“Where did he go?”
“He has a safe house. I always thought it was best no one knew of it. I can contact him when he’s needed.”
“You two just plan for the worst in all cases.”
“We plan for the worst because the worst is often inevitable.” He drew me to him, cupped the back of my head, pressed a kiss to me, and I was plunged into darkness.
When the dimness cleared, Dominic held me to him while my vision cleared and head settled.
“I’m fine,” I croaked. I was far from fine, and I was sure he was, too. There was no fine or okay after witnessing Helena and Areleus betray Dominic. Even if Dominic thought the worst of his father, it was doubtful he considered he was capable of this.
Dominic released me and I stood. We were surrounded by verdant trees so vivid they seemed digitally enhanced. Floral scent inundated the air, and I relaxed into feeling safe. There was something welcoming about it.
Dominic looked down at his wet shirt. The injury had likely healed, but an expression passed over his face showing a wound of betrayal that undoubtedly wouldn’t heal.
“I hate that I have irreparably changed your life,” I whispered.
He shook his head. “Now it’s time to irreparably change theirs.”
He stepped forward and pressed his palm to the air, sparking to life a silver undulation. It pulsed back with force. A growl reverberated in his chest. Pushing harder into it, the muscles of his neck distended as the barrier in front of us ripped away to reveal a mirror image of the space we’d left. Flowering trees intermingled with brightly colored poplar trees. Several dirt trails led deeper into the forest. Dominic took my hand and we passed through the entrance. With a few movements of his hand he produced flashes of light that wove together the shimmering barrier.
“Where are we?” I whispered.
“Vita. It’s an extension of my home.”
“They don’t seem to want guests,” I pointed out, acknowledging the effort it took to get through the ward.
“It’s better that there’s some resistance. Gives the visitor time to rethink their decision.”
“You have that information and you still decided to enter!” I understood why he sent Anand away, but I was having a hard time figuring out why we were traipsing in places that clearly didn’t want guests.
“He did,” said a sibilant voice from the trees. A long, jagged tail darted out. Dominic grabbed it before the point of it punctured his face. Using his grip he jerked it, bringing a man into view before Dominic used the tail to swing him and slam him into a tree. The man recovered, turning to display fangs and slitted eyes. He charged at Dominic with black nails sharpened to dagger points and putrid green tips. Dominic moved back, avoiding and blocking the creature, human, or whatever the hell the aggressive man was. His face had a rounded docile appearance with full lips, pudge nose, and wide eyes that became slitted on demand. Dominic’s objective seemed to be avoiding being sliced by the man’s nails.
“Dominicus, just a little touch,” the man taunted.
“I don’t have time for your games. Stop it,” Dominic demanded, holding the arms and smashing his head until the man-creature’s nose bled, then pushing him away. Dominic jumped back in time to miss the man-creature’s tail whipping at him. Dominic grabbed it and gave it a jerk, collapsing the man to the ground, then he was on the creature, his claws at its throat.
“Boys, that’s enough,” a melodic voice commanded, immediately bringing them to their feet.
Her dewy copper skin complemented her jade-color dress with a crisscross neckline. The fit hit the pronounced curves of her body. Thick dark hair was pulled back at the nape of her neck in an elegant low bun. Sharply defined cheeks and jawline made her strikingly beautiful. Her amiable smile reached her erudite amber eyes and should have been comforting, but pleasing looks, gentle smiles, and seemingly affable ways had proven lately to be camouflage for cruel and violent people.
Stopping in front of Dominic, she kissed him lightly on the cheek.
“Hello, son. What has Areleus done to bring you to me?”