by Quinn Loftis
“There are no more witches left alive?” Volcan asked Lorelle for the third time.
Lorelle was beginning to think that being alone for the past several centuries hadn’t done anything to improve Volcan’s sanity.
“Desdemona was the last of her kind and Vasile, the Romanian Alpha, killed her just a few months ago,” she told him yet again.
She could feel disbelief and anger flowing around her and she was surprised by the amount of power his spirit seemed to wield. Not that she frequently came in contact with non-corporeal beings that were supposed to be dead, so how would she know how much power they should or should not have?
“Focus, Lorelle,” Volcan’s voice snapped her from her musing. “The situation is grimmer than I had originally thought. But no matter, that won’t change our plans.”
“Our plans?” Lorelle asked hesitantly not really wanting him to elaborate on it but understanding she needed to know just how deep she was in.
“You didn’t come here by chance, Lorelle,” Volcan’s voice took on a story teller like quality. “You were brought here by your subconscious, answering a call that I sent out. You see, I need a body to possess until I have the power to get my own back. There is only so much of my magic that I can use without a physical form. So I sent out a call and you, my dear, are what answered it.”
“I don’t remember hearing a call,” Lorelle said trying to keep the fact that he had just completely creeped her out, from her voice.
“Like calls to like, Lorelle, you know this. Your own black heart is drawn to the darkness in others and it heard the call even if you did not.”
“That really brings a whole new meaning to the term follow your heart,” Lorelle muttered under her breath.
“I see that you are blessed with the same foolhardy wit that your sister had. That’s too bad for you,” Volcan said dryly, obviously not impressed by her sarcasm.
“In case you have forgotten so soon after having been told, I am the one who killed my sister. I’m not exactly harmless,” she snapped.
“Then there is hope for you yet. I will need to possess your body to cast a seeking spell.”
“What are we seeking?”
“Gypsy healers,” he answered.
“We don’t have to seek for any, I already know of one. There were two, but one of them took her own life to save the lives of her pack mates,” Lorelle explained with no emotion in her voice.”
“You must not understand the value of a healer if you allowed one to die,” Volcan challenged.
“How valuable can they be if they aren’t willing to cooperate? It’s not in the nature of a healer to harm; how can you possibly use their magic if they won’t bend to your will?” She asked.
“Everyone has a weakness Lorelle, and if you can exploit that weakness you can get them to do just about anything.”
Lorelle crossed her arms in front of her chest and rested her hip against the wall. She looked around the foyer, trying to see if she could get a read on his magic. If she could pinpoint his spirit, she could locate him, but her mind was such a terrible mess that she couldn’t focus. She knew there was no way out of the castle now that Volcan wanted her here. She wouldn’t be allowed to leave until his will released her. Like it or not, she was stuck.
“I have been informed that there are several young gypsy healers out in the wide world as we speak. They are unaware of their heritage, and not under any protection. You are going to retrieve them for me.” Volcan’s voice had taken on a purring quality as he spoke of the healers.
“Informed by whom?” Lorelle asked.
“I have eyes and ears all over, Lorelle. You might want to remember that once I send you out to do my bidding. I may not have a physical form, but that does not mean I cannot wipe your pathetic life from existence.”
She fought the urge to do something totally childish and human like flip him the bird, and settled for a frown and sullen silence instead. Not as satisfying, but quite a bit safer she was sure.
“Now,” Volcan’s voice was close again, right next to her ear. “If you will just relax this will be painless, but if you fight me, then it will be quite the opposite.”
Lorelle braced herself for the invasion and tried not to think about consequences of letting another magical, powerful being have access to her own magic and power. She tried to seal off any parts of her mind that she didn’t want Volcan to have access to but as soon as she felt his power begin to push its way into her body, she knew it would be useless to resist him. He was incredibly strong. Her blood felt as though it were a wire pulsing with electricity through her veins. Her skin warmed and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end.
She expected to lose herself once he entered her mind, but she was still there, still able to move her arms on command and turn her head. At the same time, she was fully aware of him in her consciousness. He was right there, as if he were standing next to her, and when he commanded her brain to blink, she blinked.
“Why can I still control myself if you possess me?” Lorelle asked.
“It can be a battle of wills, or you can freely allow me to give your mind commands. If you do not readily submit then the stronger one of us will prevail,” he explained.
“Fine,” she huffed, “let’s just get this over with.” Lorelle didn’t want him to get to cozy inside of her body lest he decide to commandeer it for good. She heard Volcan’s voice again, only he was not addressing her, he was chanting.
“Ancient blood flows through their veins,
Healing magic in them reigns.
Gypsy born yet they live a lie,
For their location I now scry.”
Lorelle felt a sharp cut across her hand and gasped as she looked at the slice in her palm. Then she was holding stones in her bloody palm. She felt her hand shake and then she tossed the blood coated stones to the floor. Her body knelt down, seemingly of its own accord, but she knew that it was Volcan who was calling the shots. She looked at the stones now scattered on the floor and watched as Volcan discerned their meaning. She had never scried before, it was blood magic and fae did not practice blood magic unless it was absolutely necessary.
“The stones say to go West. The healers reside in a land barely in its infancy—a young land where technology and industry rule instead of magic.”
“America,” Lorelle muttered.
Volcan stood back up and closed her eyes and she felt his power beginning to swell inside of her.
“The fae have always been the Great Luna’s tool in protecting the healers. I call on the blood of this High Fae, Lorelle and command your obedience.”
Lorelle’s heart began to pound like a two ton boulder against her chest as Volcan’s words took power and wrapped themselves around her blood. He was using her own magic against her and there was nothing she could do to stop him. She felt violated as he took control of something as sacred as her magic. He had sliced her hand and had her blood to do with it as he pleased. Stupid Lorelle, she thought to herself.
“Find the healers in this young land,
Make their blood a beacon in the night,
Draw them out, place them in her hand,
Wrap them up so she holds them tight.”
Lorelle felt him leave her body and didn’t try to stop the sigh of relief that fled her lungs. She squeezed her eyes closed and concentrated on expelling the last bit of his magic that lingered. Then suddenly she felt a pull inside of her and she knew immediately that Volcan’s spell was working. The healer’s blood was crying out to her, calling her to them.
“You will follow the pull and, one by one, you will bring me those healers,” Volcan commanded.
Lorelle gave a curt nod instead of answering because she knew if she opened her mouth whatever came out was just going to get her killed, sooner rather than later.
“Go,” Volcan’s voice growled at her.
She flashed from his castle to the edge of the dark forest and felt instantly lighter once she wasn’t in the presence of the evil
that was Volcan. Lorelle took several deep breaths and closed her eyes. She focused on the magic that was flowing in her veins, foreign to her body because it wasn’t her own. In order to do what Volcan had commanded, she was going to have to listen to it and follow its lead. The sooner she got those healers to Volcan, the sooner she could be devising an escape plan to get away from the fae who had taken evil to a whole new level.
∞
Peri watched as Rachel, the Romanian Pack gypsy healer, pulled an old and rather worn book from the shelf behind her desk. Rachel set the book down and a layer of dust puffed out from between the pages.
“I take it this isn’t one that you refer to very often?” Peri asked.
Rachel smiled her sweet smile and replied in her soft spoken manner, “It isn’t very often that I have to use my magic in a non-healing manner.”
“Pssht,” Peri scoffed, “Now you’re just telling lies. Ever since you and your mate came out of hiding you’ve been using your magic for all sorts of things besides healing.”
“Guided by you,” Rachel countered. “You are asking me to do something without your assistance that isn’t healing. That’s going to take a little research.”
“Well, by all means, please consult the big, old, dusty book.” Peri hopped up onto one of the long counters, pushing beakers and plants out of the way. She crossed her legs and prepared to wait while Rachel attempted to figure out a way to seek out their quarry with the use of her magic. Peri’s mind drifted after several minutes to the conversation she’d had with Sally, the Serbian Pack healer, earlier that morning.
“I wish I could help you Peri but I just can’t leave right now,” Sally had told her in her sweet southern voice.
“You aren’t even staying with your pack, what does it matter if you leave the continent for a few days?” She’d asked, even though she had known what the healer would say.
“Jacque is pregnant; you know that if there is a healer with her the chances of a successful birth are much greater. If you are taking Rachel, then I need to stay.”
Peri knew she was right. Jacque needed a healer with her, especially when she went into labor. Jen hadn’t had one with her when her child was born and it was a miracle that she lived. Of course, Peri was convinced if the little girl was anything like her mother then she was just too ornery to die. Truth be told, Peri was being selfish because she figured if she had two healers then they would find the five girls more quickly and then she could get back to taking care of her sister. That’s what it all came back to—Lorelle. But then, what did she expect when her own sibling tried to end her? Those with immortality tend to be quite stingy with their life, and usually get pretty freaking ticked off when someone tries to take them out. Peri was beyond ticked, she was hurt and confused and that just made her all the angrier.
“I think I might have found something that will work,” Rachel’s soft voice broke through Peri’s thoughts.
Peri pushed herself off of the counter and walked back over to Rachel’s desk. “Let’s hear it.”
“It’s an ancient finding spell used by the gypsies when the clans suspected that there was a healer among them that hadn’t been revealed,” Rachel explained as her eyes continued to scan over the yellowed pages. Her eyes narrowed and then her lips tightened. “Sally isn’t going to like this.”
Peri cocked a hip out to the side as she crossed her arms in front of her. “Why? Do you have to sacrifice a puppy?”
Rachel’s furrowed brow deepened. “Well no,” she said quickly.
“Castrate an elephant?”
“No.”
“Hold Jen’s baby on a cliff overlooking the animal kingdom and sing Circle of Life?”
Rachel let out an exasperated breath. “Are you done?”
Peri shrugged. “After the things I just said, I’m betting it doesn’t seem so bad now.”
“We both have to give up one of our ovaries,” Rachel blurted out.
“I stand corrected. Sally is going to hate that and all my ideas were way better,” Peri conceded.
Suddenly, Rachel started laughing. “I was joking, Perizada; we don’t have to give up one of our ovaries.”
“I totally knew that,” Peri said dryly. Rachel continued to laugh and when Peri cocked a single brow at the healer she finally pulled it together. “Now really, what is it that Sally isn’t going to like and why is she going to be involved anyway?”
“Her magic is getting stronger every day and will only continue to do so the more she uses it. It will help if there are two of us casting the spell,” Rachel told her, then let out a deep breath. “The spell will open up a mental bond with the healers. That is how we will be able to find them.”
“You’re wrong then. It isn’t Sally that won’t like it. It’s her bartending, possessive mate that isn’t going to like sharing her mind with others.”
Rachel nodded. “I agree, but the reason I said that Sally wouldn’t like it is because she is going to be the one who has to deal with her possessive mate complaining about her mind being shared with others.”
“Too true,” Peri chuckled. “They do tend to get annoying when they start complaining about something that isn’t in their power to control.”
“Speaking from experience now, Peri?” Rachel asked with a sly smile.
“Oh no, healer, we aren’t having a counseling session on mating 101.Vasile and Alina have already given me their little tidbits. Damn Alphas always meddling,” she muttered.
Rachel stood up as she nodded her head. “Yes, they tend to do that. But it’s only because they care so much.”
“I could totally stand a little less caring, wouldn’t hurt my feelings at all.”
Rachel laughed and shook her head. “Perizada, you may not see it now, but you are exactly where you need to be, and with whom you need to be as well.”
“Was that an attempt at being profound, gypsy? Because I’m going to have to go with a big fat fail on that,” Peri teased.
“Make yourself useful and get Sally while I get the things we need to do this spell,” Rachel told her as she made a shooing motion with her hand.
“Mated to a werewolf and suddenly all my respect goes out the flipping window,” Peri grumbled as she flashed from the room.
“Sally, you’re being summoned by Rachel,” Peri said as she flashed into the library where the healer sat with her mate and Jacque.
“I thought we already talked about this, Peri,” Sally said without standing up.
“Don’t get your herbs in a boiling beaker, gypsy lady. She just needs your help casting the spell, that’s all.” Peri said as she pointedly looked at her finger nails, inspecting them closely.
“Why do I feel like there is more to it than that?” Costin asked.
“Look,” Peri said shortly. “What I can guarantee is that you don’t have to sacrifice a puppy, you don’t have castrate an elephant and you don’t have to reenact the Lion King with Jen’s baby held up in the air over a ledge with a bunch of hungry beasts hoping you will drop it, while singing a song about the circle of life. Oh, and you don’t have to give up either of your ovaries. So how much more to it can there really be? Now, Costin, you aren’t needed so you can stay here.” She grabbed Sally’s arm and flashed them back to the healer’s room before Costin could react to her statement.
“You really shouldn’t have done that,” Sally said as she stepped away from Peri and further into the room that had become a second home to her. “He’s going to be…,”
“Perizada!” Costin’s deep growl rolled through the door way just before he came into view.
Peri glanced at the door and flicked her wrist towards Costin. His body rammed into an invisible wall, keeping him from entering the room.
“This is a peaceful healing room, Costin,”Peri taunted him. “We don’t need your negative energy in here.”
“Let me in, Peri,” he snarled.
“Oh give it a rest,” Peri snapped. “Your mate is right there,” she pointed at
a very worried looking Sally. “She’s not in any danger, and she sure as hell doesn’t need your paws distracting her while they cast this spell. So pipe down and I might not turn you into a fantastic coat the next time you phase.”
“Peri, is that really necessary?” Sally asked.
“What? The coat? Well I really could use a new fur coat.”
“No,” Sally huffed interrupting her, “keeping him locked out.”
“Oh, it will be.”
“Why?” Sally said with warning in her tone.
“Well, because most males don’t like to share the mental bond they have with their females.”
“I’m going to be sharing my mental bond with someone?” Sally’s voice grew a little high with each word while Costin let out an ear ripping growl.
“No, no,” Peri attempted to sound reassuring but it was ruined with she finished with, “You’re going to be sharing your mental bond with five someones.”
Chapter 5
“I’ve had the responsibility of so many lives in my hands for so long. Now I will be adding five more innocents. I will be taking them from their safe homes and bringing them into a world where, more often than not, bloodshed is the norm and darkness lives inside the very mate they will each one day take. How am I to justify that? How am I to tell them that I can offer them nothing other than the promise of the love of a Creator and the wolf she made for them? Is that enough? Or is it too much to ask?” ~Perizada
“Can you please tell me why the young wolf is cursing you so profusely and give me a very good reason not to cause him harm for disrespecting my mate?” Lucian’s voice rumbled through Peri’s mind as she stood staring indifferently at a snarling Costin. She caught a glimpse of Lucian’s form in the shadows beyond Costin and her heart leapt at the thought of seeing him.
“I stole his mate,” Peri admitted.
She heard Lucian clear his throat and saw a slight twitch of his lips. “Why exactly did you steal his mate, love?”
“Because we need her for the finding spell and when Costin realizes what the consequences’ of said spell are, he is going to be quite unhappy, well unhappier.”
