Chapter 24
Mosier Home, Enfield, New York, Monday, January 7, 2013
Ash cupped her hands, allowing the magic to flow through her and coalesce into a ball of light in her palms. After a few days of training with Eiko, Ash’s abilities had rapidly progressed. As if a floodgate had been opened within her, the level of magic she could wield continued to rise. They sat at the picnic table in the Mosiers’ backyard.
Brian and Melinda had accepted their extra house guests with grace and kindness, grateful for anyone who worked so diligently to protect their family. While Ash learned from the witch, Dani was inside, shamelessly flirting with Uuka, who returned her amorous intent. Brian and Melinda had taken Bishara with them to the grocery store since feeding this many people required constant restocking. Harley sprawled in a patch of sunlight in the grass at Ash’s feet and the other panthers were on patrol.
“The ability to use magic is passed down through the bloodline,” Eiko stated. The older witch gestured at the ball of light. “There’s no doubt in my mind. There’s a witch in your family tree. The connection is weak, but it is growing each day. It’s up to you to make it strong through practice.”
Ash nodded and made the ball disappear. She formed another in its place and changed the color.
“I want to learn something other than parlor tricks, but it’s hard to learn those in a place you don’t want to damage. We need somewhere secluded,” Ash grumbled.
Eiko shook her head. “No. We need to be where we are, doing what we’re doing. Have patience, young one. We are trying to trigger your visions again. Even simple magic should help you build up enough skills to access them. Becoming a vampire didn’t sever the connection, but it diluted it.”
Ash sighed. “I know, but patience is not my strong suit. I’m working on it.” She tossed the pale pink ball of light into the air to float nearby and conjured another. After an hour, the backyard was a wonderland of fairy lights. She was conjuring another ball when it and all the others winked out and her vision faded to black without warning.
Out of the darkness, images formed and sharpened. She saw Luca as if she were floating overhead, similar to the viewing spell Eiko had used for the coronation, though the image was grainy like static on a television.
Luca was in a stone room with several other Therians. They were standing around an enormous table strewn with plans and maps. From the solemn looks on their faces, it was a war council. She could only catch snippets of their conversation as the vision faded in and out.
“…possible they’re still…”
“…all dead. There’s no point…”
“Niletean and Ivanna…”
“…if they were taken…”
What the hell had been happening in the Therian world while she was in America? She’d fought alongside Ivanna and Niletean, and both were formidable warriors. It sounded like they’d been taken or even killed. Ash poured her concentration into the vision, focusing on Luca, desperate to make it clearer.
She felt resistance in her mind and pushed harder. Without warning, the mental barrier gave way with a pop, and she made the connection. Ash could feel him. His glorious warmth washed over her, and when it felt like he could sense her, too, his love drew her deeper into the mental link.
It almost felt like their mating bond. Ash was awash in Luca’s emotions and surrounded by his essence. The sensation was so welcome after struggling with the distance between them and the unpredictable bond that she threw her consciousness at his.
The longer she held the link, the deeper she sank into it. She’d gone beyond seeing what Luca was doing and fallen into him. Pressure and pain started in Ash’s head and grew until she felt like her head would explode.
“Ash!” Eiko shouted. “Come back to me, child. Follow my voice.”
Blinded by pain, Ash did as she was told and followed Eiko’s soothing, familiar voice. When she finally opened her eyes, Ash was lying on the ground with a crowd of concerned Therian panthers standing around her. Dani was holding her hand, and Eiko had Ash’s head in her lap and was brushing the sweat-soaked hair off her forehead.
She slowly sat up. “What thehell was that, Eiko?”
The Japanese witch sighed in relief. “Before I can answer that, you have to tell me what happened. All the lights you made went out at once, and you went rigid. You smiled like you were happy, but a few moments later, you clutched your head and screamed. When you collapsed, I tried to bring you back.”
Ash explained what she’d seen in the vision and her fear that Ivanna and Niletean had been captured.
“We need to locate the captured dragons. I think we can do it together if you’re up for helping me. I can guide the magic. You just need to lend your power,” Eiko offered.
Ash nodded. “They are my friends and most of the family my mate has left. Of course, I’m up for it. What do I do?”
Eiko explained how they would search for the dragons using their magic. Their combined power would be far greater than either witch could produce alone, and knowing both of the people they were searching for was a tremendous help.
They held hands and sent their minds out to locate Niletean and Ivanna. For a long while, it seemed like they were trying to meditate. Ash trailed Eiko, feeling lost. After several minutes, Ash felt a tingle and identified Ivanna’s familiar energy. She showed Eiko, who led them toward the dragon and forged a connection with her mind. The link Ash experienced was much weaker than the one she’d made with Luca, but it didn’t cause any pain. Her awareness faded as she sank into a vision.
Ivanna, Niletean, and two men she didn’t know were chained in a dungeon. They were naked, bloody, and bruised. All wore thick metal cuffs that Ash didn’t recognize, though Eiko later told her they prevented Therians from shifting.
As the connection slid into place, Ivanna looked up, sensing another person through magic. Ash remembered that her telepathic abilities had been greatly enhanced by one of Nadya’s failed experiments.
Ivanna! Can you hear me?
You must…show Luca, Ivanna responded. Then Ash’s mind was bombarded with a barrage of images.
Ash learned what had happened through the series of visions, and when they ended, she followed Eiko back into her own mind.
”Holy shit!” Ash gasped. “I need a phone now.”
Dani placed one in her hand. Ash dialed Luca’s number and anxiously waited for him to answer.
“Ash? Is everything okay? I had the weirdest sensation a few minutes ago?—”
“No!” she interrupted him. “Ivanna, Niletean, and two Therians I didn’t recognize were captured, and they are in terrible danger. The small town they were investigating is where they’re being held. They were ambushed. The town had magical defenses, and they couldn’t sense them.”
“How could you possibly know that?” he asked, confused.
Ash growled in frustration. The situation was urgent. “Visions! It’s a long story, but Eiko is teaching me magic. The details don’t matter right now. They are alive, but they won’t be for long if you don’t stop wasting time and get your dragon ass over there to rain hellfire on those slaver bastards!”
“That’s enough for me. I’ll go get Viktorija now. How many are there?”
“Hundreds. You better go in there prepared for whatever devious fuckery Jules offers. I swear to God, if you die today, I will learn necromancy so I can bring you back and yell at you.”
“I love you too, Ash. I’ll be careful. Are you okay?” She heard him start running.
“I’ll be okay when you’re all safe. Call me the moment you get back.”