Chapter 16
16
Ceridwen’s Home, Tír na nóg
Ceridwen’s fingernails clicked on the arm of her chair as she stared through the window to the tunnel leading away from her underground home. The pale green glow of the lichen covering the long-ago chiseled stone wall almost soothed her growing anxiety, but it was a fading sensation. The longer it took for Cernunnos to return with news, the more agitated she became.
A glance to the far side of the room gave her pause. Her favorite gargoyle, Tragar, perched on his corner shelf near the ceiling. Another favorite gargoyle, Rizza, also had returned from Morrigan’s and was seated beside him. Her gaze narrowed on the two, noticing how close they were to each other, their shoulders touching, and his wing protectively wrapped around her silver-blue body.
Twisting her lips to one side, she waited for them to realize she was watching them, but neither glanced her way. She cleared her throat but they still ignored her. She cleared her throat again, a little louder, until Tragar’s silver gaze finally met hers, his wing slowly easing from around Rizzo.
“Do you need to tell me something?” she asked, forcing her tone to be as soft and sweet as she could, which wasn’t very. “I mean, if something has happened or say…you’re mated…I should know something that important. Shouldn’t I?”
Tragar’s red gaze glanced at Rizza, who nodded and scooted back a little on the shelf. “We were going to tell you, my lady, but you seemed preoccupied. I have known Rizza was my mate for some time, but I could not claim her until she reached adulthood in gargoyle years.”
Ceri nodded, directing her gaze toward Rizza. The gargoyle was small, with a silver-blue body and pink eyes. Her lineage stemmed from the protective demon branch, and she was incredibly sweet and caring.
Rising to her feet, she crossed the room and paused in front of their perch, tilting her head back to see the smaller gargoyle. “Rizza, is this what you want as well? While I love Tragar, I want you to be safe and happy—your life should be happy.”
Rizza smiled, her pointy white teeth peeking through her dark gray lips. “My lady, Tragar is my everything. And if by happy, you mean my heart fills to the point of pain when I look at him, then yes, he makes me happy.”
Ceri returned the gargoyle’s smile. “I envy you then and welcome you as the leader’s claimed mate.” She turned her gaze to Tragar. “Promise me you will protect her as you protect me and will love her for eternity.”
Tragar nodded. “Ours is an eternal mating, so that is an easy promise. I will not fail you or her, my lady.”
Rizza’s wings opened, and she flew down to hover in front of Ceri’s face, her pink eyes darkening. “My lady, please do not give up. Your mate will realize the depth of love you share and soon will claim you. I returned from the palace to let you know there has been a development in the Demon Realm. Someone once thought long dead, summoned and destroyed, has returned. While many of us revere him, especially on our level of the demon hierarchy, more wish to kill him. You know of his brother, Zhivko?—”
“Wait,” Ceridwen interrupted. “Dago is back? You are talking about Dago, right? Where was he? Why was he gone for so long?”
“The Goddess of war told me she found him in a dungeon and recruited him to go into the Unseelie Court to work his way into Fer-Diorich’s inner circle. He succeeded and was returning to give Morrigan his report when he was trapped, tortured, and his body destroyed. Thankfully, his soul survived and returned to Dark World. The evil Fae has made more progress than we knew and plans on returning to the Human realm before the Veil opens to destroy Morrigan’s descendants and unite the two courts.”
Ceri scrubbed her face in frustration. “This is so much worse than I thought. Call me naive, but I didn’t know the Veil could be breached early.”
“It has never been done before, my lady. In theory, it is possible, but the amount of power needed is unfathomable,” Tragar explained.
Ceridwen exhaled and paced back and forth in front of her large fireplace, once more wondering why Cern was taking forever to return. He told her two days ago that he would return in twenty-four hours to let her know where Bres was. He never left her hanging like this. He was also supposed to be resupplying her with blood, which she had very little of. With only a few bags left, she was running out of time before her hunger would overpower her and the vampire thrall would take over. Heaven help anyone in her path.
Rizza nervously fluttered in the air, a worried expression on her cute face. “My lady?”
Ceri stopped and held out her bent arm, letting the young gargoyle perch on her forearm like a bird of prey. “What is it, little one?”
“Morrigan also told me to tell you to expect a visitor soon. Someone who could possibly help you with your…sickness.”
Ceri frowned. “Why—how did she… Wait—did Cernunnos say something to her?” She scowled at the young gargoyle, who scooted over, making room for Tragar, who landed on her forearm. “No one was supposed to say anything!”
“No, my lady. As far as I know, no one has mentioned anything, but those who care about you sense the difference. Morrigan and her sister Macha have felt the difference and are concerned.” Rizza clasped Tragar’s hand. “My lady, we are all concerned for you. No goddess has ever been infected with vampire blood. Morrigan wants to make sure there are no hidden ailments. That is all.”
A light knock sounded on the front door. The two gargoyles spread their wings, hovering momentarily before returning to their ceiling perch. Turning, Ceridwen forced her body toward the entrance and swung open the door. On her threshold stood a very familiar Norse goddess.
Surprised, Ceri smiled. “Idunn!” She leaned forward and embraced her friend. “What are you doing here?”
Idunn returned her affection and stepped back, keeping her hands on Ceri’s forearms as she studied her face. “I see what Morrigan is worried about. You are suffering, my friend. Life is draining from you as I stand here.” Dropping her arms, she glanced inside, her blue gaze meeting the gargoyles’.
Ceri stepped back, motioning for the Norse goddess to enter, and closed the door behind her. Turning, she studied her long-time friend, noticing how elegantly slim she was in the dark blue, medieval-style gown. Tiny braids with small pearls were woven through the heavy swirl of hair on top of her friend’s head, and long curled strands at each temple framed her beautiful face. “Do you ever look bad, Idunn? You make me feel so frumpy.”
Idunn’s laughter tinkled through the room, lightening the heaviness in the air since her vampire attack. “You are gorgeous in a dark, mysterious way. Something I could never pull off.”
She waved her hand, and a woven picnic basket appeared on the small table beside the sofa. Flipping open the lid, Idunn pulled out a pewter goblet and a crystal decanter filled with a red liquid. She poured the liquid into the goblet and held it out to Ceri. “For your health and happiness, my friend.”
Ceridwen frowned and leaned forward, sniffing at the drink, which smelled like a mixture of wine and blood. Her stomach cramped and let out a loud growl. “What is it?”
Idunn smiled. “It will restore you to your previous state. You may have some residual effects from the vampire blood, but those should also disappear over time. My friend, you need to return to your rightful place in the Celtic pantheon. Now, drink.”
Pushing back her heavy blond hair, Ceri’s frown deepened, but she took the goblet and stared into the ruby liquid inside. “What exactly is this? The initial influx of vampire blood stung like a thousand bees while my body burned in the hottest bowels of Hell.”
Without lifting her head, she glanced up at the Norse goddess. “Will I have to go through that again… I don’t think I could bear it,” she whispered. “It hurt so much.”
Idunn smiled. “No, my dear, this will not hurt one bit. It will taste fruity and light and fill you with a momentary euphoria, fading to a pleasant tingling deep inside. I would never give you or anyone else, for that matter, something that would cause pain.” Placing one finger under the bottom of the goblet, she gently raised it to Ceri’s mouth. “Drink,” she whispered. “Rejoin the living.”
Before she could talk herself out of it, Ceri placed her bottom lip against the cool metal rim and drank. Holding out the empty goblet to Idunn, she moved to her favorite chair and dropped into it as the room whirled around her. “Oh, I’m dizzy.”
She placed one hand over her forehead as Tragar and Rizza dropped from the ceiling to perch on the armrest, their stony faces pinched with worry.
Breathing slowly, the strange feeling passed and was replaced with such contentedness, she couldn’t decide whether to smile or cry. “I’m all out of sorts.”
“That’s to be expected, my dear,” Idunn said, kneeling beside the chair. With the back of one hand, she felt Ceri’s forehead and smiled. “No fever. Do you have any other side effects?”
Ceri shook her head, and Idunn turned her gaze to the two gargoyles. “You two make such fine Watchers. I need to put in a good word for you to the Watcher King and let him know he has subjects all over who are doing a great job. Now, please watch her and let me know if something changes in the next hour or so. Can you do that?”
Tragar bowed to the goddess. “Yes, my lady. My mate and I will immediately contact you.”
Idunn rose and leaned in, kissing Ceri’s cheek. “Rest, my friend. The world is preparing to explode, and we will need you at full strength. Now, I must return to Raisa and the werewolves, who are unhappy about their placement with the draugar. Good thing I bake.” She laughed and apparated, probably back to Asgard, but Ceri forgot to ask.
She glanced at Tragar and Rizza. “I’m sorry, my friends, but I can’t seem to focus on any one thought. While I like feeling like I’ve drunk too much wine, I’m worried about Cernunnos. He should have been back by now.”
“Why don’t you sleep for a bit? You haven’t closed your eyes in days. Cernunnos will return, my lady, as soon as he can,” Tragar added. “He will always return to you.”