“I’m sorry, I can’t help you with information about one of the other victims unless you can provide me with enough information to confirm you know the person involved.”
A reasonable shut down, but she wasn’t done yet. “She was special somehow, Mr. McCallister. I just want to be sure she’s alive. Maybe reach out to her, offer assistance.”
“I’m going to need a little more information. Who are you?”
“Kindra Woeller. I’m a witch from Brightwater Bay.” She’d kept her husband’s name. Considering the doppelgangers and Kindra were the only ones who knew the truth, she had no choice but continue to live the lie.
“Right, and you were held for several weeks.”
“Two. The woman I’m referring to was there a couple of days. She was the only one kept away from the rest of us. I saw her when she was brought back from the cafeteria, covered in blood. If my friend hadn’t talked me out of approaching her and her werewolf mate, who was rather growly, I would have spoken to her.”
“If he’s a werewolf, it stands to reason she is too. And after such an ordeal, I imagine neither wanted to be away from each other. That is how mated pairs work.”
“Would you be willing to find her? Perhaps set up a way for me to connect with her? If there is anything I could do to ease her after everything, I would.”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Woeller, I really do need more information before I can assist you.”
She rubbed at her face and possibly whined, “Why can’t you tell me if the woman is all right?”
“First, I would have to find this woman. Second, she may not want to be found. She does have the same privacy rights you do.”
“That makes sense. I’m willing to cooperate to ensure the woman is safe after her ordeal.”
“Who was this woman?”
She blew out a breath and sniffled. “I never got her name. The things they did to her in those two days they held her…” She sobbed, hoping to pull on Robert’s heartstrings.
“What did she look like?” he asked.
“Blond. Her hair was short, framed her face. Big blue eyes. She looked so innocent, but I heard her screams when the vampires went to her. And she had blood on her.”
“Can you tell me anything else?”
“She was the only one locked away from everyone else. Just before you showed up, she was taken away.”
“I’ll see what I can find. Tell me how to contact you, and I’ll let you know if they are willing to talk to you.”
“They?” she asked.
“You said a man met her at the cafeteria? I would imagine they are a mated pair.”
“Of course, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. Still, I would appreciate meeting with them.”
“I’ll see what I can find out. There were many people who were taken. More than one werewolf.”
“Thank you. I’ll let you go.” She hung up, her hopes dashed. Why would she go to meet her husband? The one who tried to kill her. She needed another way to find Anders.
* * * *
Tremaine had encouraged Mark and Gina to move to the living room while he fixed tea. Mark sat in the corner of the couch, staring off into space. Gina traced the back of his hand. “You’re still stressing. What is it?”
He pulled her closer. “I never thought I’d have to worry about my past. Never thought it would matter where I came from, and now it might.” He ran a palm over his face. “Especially when I feel magic in a way I haven’t since before I was changed.”
“What do you mean?”
“I sense it. Not like a wolf does, but like a witch. It’s humming through me, though I can’t touch it. Like when I was little and couldn’t harness it.”
“You want to know a secret?” she asked softly.
“I always want to know everything about you I can.”
“My father was Fae. I don’t know that I ever used magic, but I know what it feels like. I’ve always felt it. But something ripped my magic away when I was just a child.”
Mark’s expression soured as he shook his head. “Why would they do that?”
She glanced away. “He did something unforgiveable, I guess. I don’t know what exactly.”
“How so?” Robert asked.
“I have no idea. I was just little. My father didn’t live long after that.”
Tremaine took a seat on the coffee table and looked her in the eye. “Might explain why Badb chose you. Might explain what the vampires wanted you for. And why Mark’s ex is now interested in finding you.”
“She’s interested in finding me, I’m sure,” Mark muttered.
“What do you mean?” Gina asked.
Robert ran a hand down his lapels. “I’m not sure her motive, but she just called and seemed insistent she talk to Gina, though she didn’t give me a name. She made it sound as if something terrible had happened to you before they tried to shove Crom Cruach into your body.”
“Why would she want to know about me?” Gina looked from one to the other.
“She described you and mentioned you had been kept separate from the rest of the werewolves. She then said she wanted to approach you, but your werewolf mate scared her away. She also claims the vampires did things to you.”
Closing her eyes, she tried to recall everything she could about the ordeal. “I was bitten by the woman who performed the ritual, but I didn’t see anyone else. That doesn’t necessarily mean much, but I don’t feel like I was drained of blood.”
“Why wouldn’t it mean much?” Mark demanded.
“I was out most of it, except when I managed to astrally project to you.”
Mark smiled.
“You didn’t mention that,” Robert stated.
Gina directed her attention to Robert. “That was before you found us. I was trying to reach him, see if someone could follow me back, but I never did get another chance to try again.”
“Can you tell me what happened before the ritual?” Robert asked.
She shrugged. “As far as I remember, nothing, but Badb visited me once, right after I went in search of Mark.”
“What happened in the ritual?” Tremaine asked, leaning closer.
She rubbed at her chest. “I just remember lying on something flat, surrounded by darkness that seemed to weave and waver around me. Then she stabbed me.”
“She what?” Mark growled.
She turned, capturing his face in her hands. “She’s dead, remember? And I’m perfectly fine.”
“Still want to slaughter her for taking you from me.”
She kissed him softly before turning back to Robert. “What do you think it means?”
Tremaine cleared his throat. “That you’re special. That would explain what Brent said about a pocket in your soul. And how Badb took residence, without possession. Brent’s convinced you aren’t possessed in the traditional sense. Just that Badb has made herself at home in an empty part of your soul.”
She frowned. “Maybe that’s why I don’t sense her.”
“And whoever took your magic opened that space in your soul,” Tremaine explained. “Making you unique.” He continued, “That also means my theory is most likely correct, but I want to wait to discuss that until I have more information from Brent, and a few other sources. I’ll share everything I learn, as soon as I do.”
“Will it affect what Kindra and my coven want with us?” Mark asked.
“We don’t know for sure what Kindra wants,” Robert answered.
Tremaine interrupted, “The doppelgangers will need new faces, which means they are going to need to find a new place to reside. As they fade back into their true form, the land around them dies. People get sick. If they leave, they’ll live. Otherwise, they may all die.”
“So we need to find them in order to save these witches. And we need to figure out which of the people are doppelgangers. Maybe if we take them somewhere far enough away, either to a rift, or another realm, like Faery, when they f
ade away, they will break the connection to the land?” Robert offered, hope in his voice.
“I don’t know of an instance where that was the case, but I can see if anyone I know has any more answers. This isn’t a well-documented species, nor are the various phenomena surrounding them.”
“We can worry about that later. Right now, I need to know what you told her, Robert,” Mark prodded.
“That I would have to find her and discuss whether or not you wanted to meet. It’s not something I will force, and it gave me time to discuss this with you. Either way, I need to figure out the best way for us to meet with her so we can find out what her agenda is and how to free who we can,” Robert explained.
There was a knock on the door. Mark winced.
“What is it?” Gina asked.
“Druciela doesn’t understand why I became a werewolf, instead of finding a way to save myself and keep my magic.”
“She wants to help,” Robert said.
“Yeah.”
Robert answered the door. “Hello, Druciela, come in.”
“Thank you.” She stepped in and stopped when her eyes landed on Mark. “I see.”
“You see what?” Robert asked.
Mark dropped his gaze.
Gina took his hand but watched Druciela with interest.
“The doppelgangers are back. I thought they were dead,” she answered.
“Apparently not,” Mark said. “Look, I know you don’t agree with my choices.”
She smiled sadly. “Still remember that, don’t you? I was harsh then. I didn’t understand. But you’ve proven able to adapt. I don’t know what you were like as a witch, but you do make a good werewolf. I’m sorry.”
Gina rubbed his back. “You knew Mark when he first came?”
She nodded. “Slater called me in. Had me talk to him. At the time, I couldn’t fathom any reason anyone would give up their magic.”
“I didn’t have enough magic left. The only solution would have been to drain magic from other casters. I was unwilling to attempt that. And I thought magic was all the doppelgangers wanted,” Mark explained. “Didn’t matter, I just wanted to start over with no reminder of what I’d been or where I’d come from.”
“Still, I should have been more supportive. You were so upset and broken I figured you hadn’t considered your options.”
Tremaine held up a hand. “He had no good option. Becoming the dark version of a witch would guarantee his death. Staying and keeping quiet meant his death. Becoming a werewolf was his best choice. He didn’t want to drain anything from anyone to survive. Becoming a werewolf saved his life, and potentially others.”
“Can we move on?” Mark prompted.
She nodded.
Tremaine did too.
Gina squeezed Mark’s hand in support.
He turned to Druciela. “I was married. I guess I still am technically.” Mark closed his eyes a second, then blew out a breath. “Doesn’t matter, she tried to kill me, and I tried to kill her. Now she’s looking for Gina. What we need to know is if the doppelgangers are still there.”
Druciela nodded. “Okay, and how do I find them, if you hadn’t figured it out until it was too late?”
Tremaine cleared his throat. “Especially considering it’s been fifty years, which is reaching the end of their guise. There were five Mark knew of. We have no clue if there are more. But they may be hunting for a new face.”
“And how do I ensure they cannot do anything against me?”
Robert walked over and handed her a medallion. “Break this and enter the portal that opens. You’ll wind up here, and someone will be here.”
Druciela looked the piece of jewelry over, one brow lifting. “You made this?”
“I have made them for certain occasions such as this, for those who can’t translocate.”
“Thank you for trusting me,” she said.
“Of course. Thank you for coming out,” Robert answered. “This isn’t exactly Silver Council business, yet. Though it may quickly become so. But you may have noticed we’re seeking Others to help in cases where another person may have better expertise or abilities.”
“You have done well in that area,” Druciela admitted.
Mark offered a smile. “I’m glad you came, Druciela. I’m worried about what they’ll do if they come here.”
“Me too, Mark. I appreciate the call and I’ll do what I can to ensure we stop them, though I have a few of my own tricks they won’t know.”
“I’ll tell you everything I know about the coven and how they work,” Mark promised.
“That will come in handy.”
Chapter 8
While Tremaine, Mark, and Druciela discussed what they knew of the coven and doppelgangers, Robert motioned for Gina to follow. She patted Mark’s thigh before moving to the kitchen with the mage.
Robert motioned to the table. Once she took a seat, he joined her. “We need to discuss you meeting Kindra, without Mark. We’ll be able to get more information out of her if he’s not there.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Considering what she did, why can’t you just arrest her and be done?”
“Because there were five doppelgangers in their community. They all did similar to what Gerard did to Anders in order to become him. Only the other witches didn’t survive. And the night we went to get Mark, every other witch was gone. By the time we stepped inside, Gerard and Kindra had disappeared, most likely through a portal we had no way to access. That’s why we need to watch and figure out who they took over, and if we can get to them. We need to stop the ones who know and ensure the ones who don’t have a chance to save their town or move them somewhere they can start fresh.”
“Are you sure these witches don’t know what’s going on?” she asked.
“I had spoken to the high priest of the coven shortly after Mark contacted me. He assured me that no one believed him there were several others who were being drained. The problem was, it was too late for them. When we got there, we found four people who had shriveled up to look like what Mark described Gerard as the first time he laid eyes on him.”
“So you couldn’t identify them?”
He shook his head. “No. DNA had been damaged too badly. Becoming a werewolf must have helped Mark bounce back. I also believe he was stronger than most witches. I can think of no other reason he managed to survive as long as he had.”
“That’s good then, right?”
He nodded. “Hopefully. Look, I don’t have all the answers, but we need to know what Kindra knows. And I plan to cheat. Remember how I tried to step into your head to figure out what you knew?”
She nodded slowly.
Robert continued, “I plan to be in that room to moderate. I plan to get into her head, without asking. I don’t do it often, but this is a case where waiting too long to uncover their secrets could be detrimental.”
“You’ll have no complaint from me. But if she really did try to kill Mark, do you really think I’m going to be able to control myself?” she asked coldly. The thought of tearing the woman open appealed to her.
Robert ran his hands down his lapels. “I trust you understand the situation. For now, the woman may be the only clue we have to find them if they try to disappear again. However, I promise that if you manage to keep your claws to yourself, you will have your revenge.”
She blinked as she watched Robert, the one she never imagined would have a violent streak. “You’ll ensure that?”
He nodded. “I guarantee it. I understand wanting to protect what’s yours. I do.”
“Then why wasn’t Mark allowed to come for me?”
“Because I don’t see you as the type who will slaughter every witch in the coven. Mark would not have discriminated against any of the vampires, and if we do this in an isolated place from the other witches, you’re not going to target the innocent.”
She nodded slowly. “Fair enough.” She glanced over her shoulder to find
Mark still talking to Tremaine and Druciela.
Robert rubbed at his face. “Hang on a moment. I’ll be back in a second.” He pulled his phone out as he walked away.
Gina turned to watch Mark, who was more animated than usual. He described what the witches who were taken over looked like.
* * * *
Kindra’s phone rang and she hurried outside to take the call. Gerard was still coughing and withering before her eyes. She had always thought he would go back to his original form, and then be able to find a new face. Only now, she knew he would have to find Anders and take his place all over again.
Unless she could find a way to break the cycle and her tie to Gerard. Would she be able to do the same for her son? She knew he had the taint of little people. She sensed it on him.
“Hello, this is Kindra Woeller.”
“I believe I have found the woman you are searching for. However, I will be bringing her to a safe house on the coast. I’ll need you to meet me there, alone.”
“And her mate?”
“He is currently busy, but I will be there to ensure both of you are safe. Don’t bring anyone else.”
She nodded, then shook her head. “Of course. Tell me where and I’ll be there at whatever time you want.”
“Sooner the better. I’ll be there momentarily. In the meantime, I’ll text you the address.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Torn, she wondered what she should do. She loved Gerard, but it wasn’t the same way she had loved Anders. And now, Anders was alive and a werewolf. Could she watch him fade away all over again? Or was there a way to save herself and her son from becoming one of the little people?
* * * *
Robert called Preston as soon as he ended the call to Kindra. Preston answered immediately. “Hey, what’s going on?”
“Need your help. Now. Where are you, and I’ll explain when Gina and I get there.”
“The office. In fact, I’m surprised you’re not here yet.”
“I’ll tell you all about it in a moment.” He hung up, came downstairs, and glanced in the living room. They were still busy discussing. He knew this was going to piss off Mark, but he didn’t know what to expect from the wolf where his wife was concerned.
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