The Champion

by H. P. Mallory

  “Will you leave now, then?” Audrey asked as she faced me.

  I was already gone.

  No need this time to buy an ugly Jeep. Not even a Porsche was required. Unencumbered as I was by fellow travellers, I was able to transport myself to Guarda’s loathsome shanty by way of several successive materializations. I dare say my rage made me all the swifter.

  The witch would pay.

  I concealed myself in the trees at first, a tactic which also afforded protection from the relentless drizzle. From that location, I scanned the area. I saw no sign of anything untoward. All seemed unchanged from our last visit. It was time to approach the house, if such it could be termed. It was beyond me how anyone could bear to live in such filth and degradation.

  All was quiet, save for the distant roar of the Old Pearl River and the clanging of the spirit bottles from the skeletal tree, which was strange, as there was barely a gust of wind. I did not trouble to knock this time, instead materializing right inside the entrance room where we had all gathered several days earlier.

  Guarda was there, hunched over one of her bizarre altars, muttering incomprehensible words. I could sense she was aware of my presence immediately, but I was on her before she had a chance to react.

  I got the repellent creature by the throat and held her up against the wall.

  “Where is she?” I demanded through gritted teeth. “What have you done with her?”

  Guarda clawed at my hands with her own, her evil-looking eyes fairly popping out of her head. She indicated that she wanted to speak, so I loosened my grip somewhat, at which point she grinned repulsively.

  “You will never find her, vampire.”

  I tightened my grip again and began to squeeze. It would be so incredibly satisfying to extinguish her hideous life force.

  “If you kill me,” she somehow managed to hiss, “You will never see your love again.”

  This did indeed stop me in my tracks. I released the wretched creature entirely. There was a fleeting moment of triumph on her countenance, after which the old woman disappeared. My head could scarce keep up with what was happening as her clothes fell to a heap on the floor, and a snake slithered out from the mound of fabric and disappeared through a hole in the floorboards.

  Damn! The witch had tricked me good and proper, evading capture by way of shape-shifting. I cursed myself for my stupidity. I would not be able to catch her in her serpent form.

  I stepped outside the shanty into the driving rain and transported myself back to the Pontchartrain.

  Bryn

  I felt Sinjin’s presence before I saw him.

  My heart dropped to know he was here, with the awful Guarda.

  I watched him move stealthily towards the shack, steely determination written across his handsome face. I called out to him, to no avail. I had no voice, of course. So I tried to reach him through my thoughts instead. But for whatever reason, I had never been able to communicate with Sinjin in this way.

  Dureau! Sinjin’s here!

  Dureau had been in a kind of drowsy stupor for a while. I’d noticed that he hadn’t been conversing as much, and when we did contact one another through our mind connection, his words were short and hurried. It was as if he’d simply given up. But giving up wasn’t like him, and I worried for my friend.

  Dureau!

  Hmm? He sounded groggy.

  Wake up! It’s Sinjin.

  What? Here?

  Yes.

  I don’t see him.

  He’s gone into the house.

  Merde! he swore. If he kills her, we might be stuck in these bottles forever.

  What?

  After a couple of minutes, Sinjin came out of the shack alone, his face a mask of despair, and he promptly dematerialized.

  What happened? Dureau asked, and I had to wonder why he was asking me this question. Couldn’t he see for himself?

  I don’t know .

  Before long, we saw Guarda enter the house, which was odd, as I’d never seen her leave.

  At least she’s still alive, I said.

  It was cold comfort.

  After Sinjin left and Guarda reappeared, I lapsed into a heavy depression. The elation at seeing Sinjin was matched only by the grief of seeing him leave and the realization that he had no idea what had happened to Dureau and me, or that we were suspended in the bottles. It was so frustrating!

  I’d tried to telepathically connect with Jolie so many times. Nothing. I wondered if she was simply too far away. Or was it because I was stuck in this bottle?

  Feeling like the entire world was caving in on me, I was suddenly reminded of a lullaby Jolie would sing to Emma before her bedtime. It was a song about rainbows and bluebirds and lemon drops. I started to sing the song in my head, focusing on the words in an effort to pull myself away from my reality.

  Halfway through the song, the oddest sensation washed over me. I literally felt my sister moving through my being, almost as though we shared a body.

  Bryn? she asked, her voice sounding in my mind.

  Jolie!

  Where are you? Our connection feels … strange.

  Oh, thank God. Jolie, you need to listen! I need you to find help!

  Help? Where are you?

  You need to tell Sinjin that Dureau and I are trapped in the spirit bottles in the tree outside Guarda’s house!

  You’re what ? The pitch of her voice rose with her concern. Who is Guarda?

  Jolie, I don’t have time to explain, I said, still so happy I was even able to make contact with her in the first place. Call Sinjin! And tell Mercedes and Mathilda!

  You’re trapped in the spirit bottles? Outside the home of Guarda? Jolie repeated.

  Yes, and we need help.

  And just like that, my mind went blank.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Sinjin

  I hated telling the others I had failed. Not just because I loathed to fail, but because of the looks of disappointment on their faces—the way Audrey rose expectantly from her place of vigil by the bed, and her look of despair as she crumpled back down again when I told her my mission had been unsuccessful.

  Bryn still lay as beautiful and peaceful as ever, with the fop breathing evenly beside her. I took my place at the edge of the bed and considered my options. My thoughts were rudely interrupted by the sound of the Clash singing “London Calling.”

  “What the bloody hell?” I started, and it took me several seconds to realize it was my new ring tone.

  I fished around in my trouser pocket until I located my phone and realized it was Jolie. Immediately, my heart sank. No one had informed the queen about her sister’s… situation. I supposed it was time to change that, though I hated the thought.

  “My queen,” I started.

  “Sinjin!” she interrupted. “What the hell is going on?!”

  “Um …” I said with a frown as Audrey faced me and walked closer.

  “I’ve just been contacted by Bryn,” Jolie said, and my spirits suddenly soared.

  “You did?”

  “Yes! She told me she and Dureau are in serious trouble! Why wasn’t I informed of this before now? Why did I have to hear it from her?”

  “Did she say where they were?” I asked as a smile broke out across Audrey’s face. After another moment, Damek stood up and joined her. They both stared at me as I listened to Jolie.

  “She said they were trapped in spirit bottles on the tree outside Guarda’s house.” She paused. “Of course, that didn’t make any sense to me at all! Who is Guarda?”

  “I apologize, my queen, but I do not have time to explain,” I said as I faced the others. “Guarda trapped them in the spirit bottles.”

  “Oh my God!” Audrey exclaimed.

  “Sinjin?” Jolie called out on the phone.

  “I am going after your sister,” I responded. “I cannot explain anything more. Please call Audrey and she will give you the details.”

  I did not wait for the queen to comment. Though it was q
uite rude, I simply hung up. Then I turned to face the others. “Damek, you come with me. Audrey, you stay here and answer the queen’s call,” I started but was unable to finish as Audrey’s mobile phone began instantly chirping.

  She reached for it, but before she answered, she faced us both. “Good luck,” she said as I nodded and the two of us started for the door.

  I hired a Harley Davidson. Damek sat on the back, hardly able to contain his excitement. For myself, I was far too concerned about the fate of my dear Bryn to find enjoyment in the vehicle.

  To have been forced inside one of those odious bottles—the thought was enough to cause an irate rage to seize me.

  Guarda would pay.

  “Hold on tight, Damek.”

  I weaved recklessly through the rush hour traffic, ignoring the multiple car horns that were aimed at me. What did I care for humans and their rules? My hellion was in danger. And the frog, of course, but that was beside the point.

  When I estimated that we were a five-minute walk from Guarda’s shanty, I brought the Harley to a stop and dismounted, parking it behind an outcropping of skeletal trees.

  “Follow my lead, and do not do anything stupid unless I sanction it first,” I said as I faced the boy and inhaled deeply.

  “Gotcha.”

  “May your mother forgive me for involving you in such affairs.”

  We moved stealthily in the direction of the shanty, startling woodland creatures as we went. It was only when the hut came into view that it occurred to me that I had no plan other than to force Guarda to release my love and the fop, which had not exactly gone well last time. I had half a notion to smash all the spirit bottles on the tree, but what if that killed them?

  Perhaps I had been too hasty in my actions. It may have been wiser to gather a little more information before rushing out on this rescue mission. On the other hand, I was a great believer in the tenet that fortune favored the brave. And I would not risk Guarda harming Bryn whilst I tarried.

  I wondered if Guarda had returned to her human form yet, or if she still slithered in the undergrowth outside her property. I warned young Damek to be on the alert. He kept watch while I drew cautiously ever closer to the house.

  My question was answered when the front door opened and the hunched figure of the old woman emerged, hobbling gracelessly to the chicken coup. I watched her fish around in the hay and come up with a couple of eggs. My view was not the best, but the eggs appeared to be a rather deep shade of brown—appearing as if they were already rotten.

  I was surprised to find Guarda going about her business, acting as though nothing were amiss. As though she had not stolen the souls of two people and shoved them into glass bottles. She must have suspected I would be back for her.

  Perhaps she did not fear me. Well, she was about to find out that when one underestimated Sinjin Sinclair, one did so at one’s absolute peril.

  “Madame,” I approached her nonchalantly, my hands behind my back.

  She turned at my approach, looking unsurprised to see me and alarmingly unconcerned.

  “You don’t know when to quit, do you, vampire?”

  I continued to walk slowly towards her. “Not only do I not know when to quit, I do not know the meaning of the word.”

  “It’s what smart folk do when they’re in over their heads.”

  I did not fully comprehend her meaning, but it worried me not. “Where I am from, one protects and defends one’s friends.”

  “Get off my property.”

  “I will gladly remove myself from your… humble abode, as soon as you restore Lady Bryn and Dureau Chevalier to themselves.”

  She laughed. “You can forget about your lady love. You won’t be seeing her again.”

  Mistake.

  Big mistake.

  The statement lit me up with rage.

  But before I could react, there was a blinding flash of light, and a searing pain ripped through me. I was flung to the ground, where I lay blinking and uncomprehending for several seconds. And in those seconds, Guarda disappeared. Again.

  As soon as I was capable, I sprang to my feet and looked about for the old witch. The woman was nowhere to be seen, but at the sound of rustling, I turned, just in time to see a large snake disappearing into the undergrowth. I dived after her, only to miss her tail by inches. And that was when I saw Damek up ahead, a wood axe raised above his head.

  “No!” I roared.

  But it was too late. Damek brought the axe down with all his might and delivered a fatal blow to his target. The snake was cleaved entirely in two, at which point she began to sizzle loudly and smoke profusely, until there was nothing left of her but a charred-looking skin.

  “Yes!” Damek punched the air. “Did you see that, Sinjin? I killed her.”

  I nodded mutely, wondering if, in doing so, he had also killed Bryn.

  Bryn

  It was pretty startling, this abrupt return to my body. I didn’t realize what had happened at first. One second I was watching the altercation between Sinjin and Guarda, then she threw one of those eggs at him and all hell broke loose.

  Next, Sinjin was shouting, Damek had an axe. Then …

  My eyelids felt heavy, as if they hadn’t been opened in a long time and the room seemed to be unnaturally bright, even though, as I realized later, all the curtains were drawn. Audrey was asleep, sitting up, her head propped up on her hand. I could feel Dureau stirring beside me. I tried to say his name, but it came out as a croak. I cleared my throat.

  “Dureau.”

  But there was no response.

  I turned my head to look at him. His eyes were still closed.

  “Dureau?” I whispered.

  His eyes popped open, and I gave him a few seconds to get his bearings.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  He turned to face me and just nodded. “What happened?”

  His voice woke Audrey.

  “Dureau?” she said as her eyes flew open, and she jumped up, running to the bed. She threw her arms around her brother and cried as she spoke to him in French.

  “And Bryn,” Audrey said as she gave me a hug, too. Then she helped us both to sit up. I felt stiff and weak.

  “What happened?” she asked. “How did you wake up?”

  “Do you know?” Dureau asked me.

  I nodded. “It must have been Sinjin and Damek. They killed Guarda, and doing so must have broken the spell.”

  “They killed Guarda?” Audrey asked, appearing doubtful. “How?”

  “She was in the shape of a snake, and Damek cut her in half with an axe,” I answered as I shook my head. I wasn’t sure why, but there was a part of me that doubted whether the old woman really was dead.

  “That didn’t kill Guarda. There is no way to kill Guarda,” Audrey said as she faced her brother again and a new set of tears bled from her eyes. Dureau reached out and cradled her in his arms.

  I realized, with a pang, how much I wanted to be held.

  “I should call Sinjin,” I said as I searched for my phone.

  “Use mine,” Audrey said as she handed her phone to me. I accepted it and dialed his number. No reply.

  “Maybe they’re on their way back,” she said with a shrug. “Or maybe Sinjin believes it’s just me calling for an update.”

  Sinjin

  I took the stairs three at a time, not possessing the patience to wait for the elevator. I had not even turned off the Harley, just skidded to a halt in front of the hotel and left the machine for Damek to deal with.

  I had to ensure that Bryn was still alive.

  The door to Chevalier’s bed chamber was locked. I lifted my leg and kicked it in, with no other thought than to reach Bryn, to see for myself if she still lived.

  “What?” someone burst out.

  “Sinjin?” Bryn said as she turned to face me, the shock of the exploding door suddenly forgotten.

  The sight of her sitting up in bed, smiling and flushed, may well have been the highlight of my e
xistence thus far. I flung myself at her, thereby startling the dear girl—not to mention, I have no doubt, the Chevaliers.

  “You are alive,” I said, my voice sounding haunted.

  I took the steps that separated us and gathered her into my arms, vowing then and there that I would never let her go again.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Bryn

  It was beyond good to be back at Kinloch Kirk, although the rain lost its appeal after a couple of days.

  We were greeted like heroes by some of our people. Others were harder to impress. Their reaction didn’t bother me much, though. As far as I was concerned, our mission had been a success. Both Dureau and I felt that we’d successfully invaded the dreams of Luce’s tribe to the best of our ability. We wouldn’t be given another opportunity, so we could only hope the seeds we’d planted were strong enough to grow.

  No one was more pleased to see me than Jolie, except maybe Emma, who gurgled with pleasure when placed in my arms. Maybe it was my imagination, but I could have sworn she was even more enthusiastic about her Auntie Bryn since I’d become pregnant. As she gurgled away, I told myself she was talking to the baby and that she already knew something the rest of us didn’t—maybe whether the baby was a girl or boy.

  In honor of our return, Jolie planned a spectacular feast. We washed down the ridiculous amount of food with copious amounts of alcohol—well, everyone else did. Damek wasn’t allowed any, and after his last experience with alcohol, didn’t want it anyway. And Sinjin didn’t eat, of course. He whispered to me that he would taste it all when he drank from me later. So I ate for three: me, Sinjin and the baby.

  I have a surprise for you , Jolie told me telepathically as the evening began to wrap up.

  What is it?

  If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.

  “Ugh, can you not discuss things in the open like ordinary people?” complained Sinjin.

  “How did you know …?” I started.

  He frowned at me before facing Rand. “It is quite obvious, is it not, Randall?”

  “Yes,” Jolie’s husband agreed. “Quite obvious.”