by Ally Shields
Several minutes passed before Ari started at a gentle touch on her shoulder. She hadn’t heard Moriana enter the garden.
“What troubles you, witchling? Your grief is palpable.”
“I’m sorry if I woke you. I’m working so hard to shield my thoughts from Andreas that I forgot my body gives off other vibes.”
“I would have been up soon. Tell me what’s happened.” Moriana sat beside her. “I am a very good listener.”
“It’s the O-Seven. Porbius. Volucris.” She flung up an impatient hand. “And maybe the rest of them for all I know.” Tears leaked down her face again, and she swiped them away with the back of her hand. “And it’s these freaking hormones.”
Moriana took her hand. “Take a deep breath and relax.”
“I can’t.” Ari tightened her fingers. “I should be in Riverdale. If they kill him, I’ll hunt them down and…and…”
“Why don’t you just give me the facts?”
“It’s hard to know where to begin.” But once she got started, she poured out the details and most of her worst fears. Moriana listened without interruption. By the end, Ari’s tears had dried. She’d held back only one thing, her greatest fear.
She swallowed hard and told her. “Andreas and I are only two witch sorcerers. No matter what we do, we’re not strong enough to defeat seven ancient vampires with all kinds of badass, super skills. They’re going to keep coming after us until they’ve whittled us down, piece by piece. This time it’s Porbius, and maybe Volucris, but who’s next? And who will it be after that? And when we’re gone, who will protect our child?”
Moriana drew her into her arms. Ari’s tears started again at the unexpected maternal gesture. “We must take one step at a time, witchling. It is much too early for such negative thoughts. This challenge has come to you. There is a way. The trick is finding it. But your current course is clear.”
Ari pulled away. “Not to me. What is it?”
“To become the strongest sorceress you can. Push your craft to its limits.” Moriana stood. “I can help you, but we must start today. I have a task to perform for a client, and you’re going to assist. Come, Arianna. We shall first prepare ourselves with a cleansing.”
Moriana led her inside, and they completed a ritual cleansing with sage and holy water. It settled Ari’s mood. She was back in control by the time the ritual was completed.
“Ready for a challenge?”
“Bring it on.”
Moriana’s lips curved into a half smile. “Now that sounds like my witchling.”
Half an hour later they arrived at a modern ranch-style home built in a wooded area that overlooked the Mississippi River. Moriana parked, and they took a path behind the house.
“I want you to assess the problem before we get started. I’ve sent the family away in case we run into difficulties.”
Difficulties? Ari widened her eyes. Was Moriana implying they might fail? That piqued her curiosity. Her mentor had never lacked for confidence, so this must be a really big deal. Ari peered ahead to catch a first glimpse.
The natural tree line sloped almost to the water’s edge. The ground under their feet wasn’t the rocky surface found around Riverdale, but a more earthy mixture of clay and silt. The trees had grown unimpeded for hundreds of years and protected the area from erosion.
They came out of the trees into a man-made clearing, and the problem was obvious immediately. The owners of the house had apparently not been aware of the trees’ natural function. The area below their home had been cleared to establish a fishing and boating area. Recent heavy rain and flooding had eaten into the bank, and the house was in danger of succumbing to a landslide.
“Don’t they need a construction company rather than a witch?” Ari asked.
“No access. No room for modern machinery without cutting down the rest of the trees. The contractor told them to demolish the house and start over.”
Ari frowned and studied the home’s precarious perch. “Drastic. But it sounds like good advice.”
“Fiddlesticks. We can take care of this. You and I…and a little earth magic. Well, a lot of magic,” Moriana corrected. “But it can be done.”
Ari listened in silence as Moriana explained the process. They would slowly pull the earth up from below to bolster the eroded area and use silt from the river bottom to fill in under that foundation. “We’re simply returning the earth where it belongs,” Moriana said.
In theory, maybe. Ari looked at the washed-out bank doubtfully. It would take tons of fill. She’d used magic to create small mounds while working with her witchcraft, but nothing of this magnitude. She was better at blasting things with witch fire than building with the earth.
“Are you willing to try?” A dare sparkled from Moriana’s eyes. “It’s a simple spell. The rest is just a matter of degree.”
“Yeah, and control.” Ari cocked her head. “But sure, I’ll try. Do the clients understand their house might fall?”
“That’s why I had them leave.” Moriana laughed. “If it falls, we will have saved them the demolition costs.”
They worked out the necessary wording for the spells. Then Moriana descended to the water’s edge. Ari’s job was to pull the earth up; Moriana would fill the empty space underneath.
“Ready?” Moriana waved at her.
Ari signaled back. “Starting now.”
She focused on the ground at the base of the erosion, calling upon Mother Earth to assist her efforts. She closed her eyes and looked below the surface, using her inner eye to peer into depths the natural eye couldn’t see. She heard the muddy waters churning as Moriana began to work her magic. Ari shut out the sound and concentrated on her own task. When she was deep enough, she mumbled the words of enchantment and used her hands to gently urge the soil upward.
It began to loosen and break into clumps. The ground under her feet trembled, and she stilled her hands. The trembling quieted, and she pulled again. Nice and easy, more slowly than before. This time she felt a slight shifting and shut the rest of the world out as she became one with the earth.
An hour later, exhausted, sweaty, and layered with dirt, Ari and Moriana admired their handiwork. Once the earth had been restored, they’d added a few trees from the forest above, spread seeds for shrubs and wild flowers, watered them with a sprinkle or two, and given the area a dose of magic to stimulate growth. Green had already appeared across the newly rebuilt bank.
“A fine job.” Moriana beamed at the house that now sat on a solid foundation. “They should be good for another fifty years. Maybe more, if they take care of the trees and foliage that will cover this area in the next few weeks.”
“And I have a new skill.” Ari swiped at her damp forehead, smearing the grime, and grinned at her mentor. “If the elders show up to harass us, I can always throw dirt clods at them.”
* * *
Andreas spent the next few days fortifying his defenses throughout Olde Town, going over the preparations he’d reviewed before. He resumed his witchcraft lessons under the tutelage of Zylla. If he stopped to think about it, the idea of fighting the O-Seven seemed ludicrous, and he tried not to dwell on it. But Arianna’s question kept ringing in his head—what choice did they have? Somehow the impossible had to be made to work.
On Friday evening when he arrived at Zylla’s cavern chambers, she and Mangi were waiting. The vampiress waved him toward the door. “We’re working in the Chamber of Ages tonight. You’ll need more room for what I have in mind.”
The Chamber of Ages was the largest of the interconnected Vampire Caverns under the cliffs of Olde Town. As long and wide as a football field, the chamber was notable for its hundreds of limestone formations in all kinds of odd shapes variously described as ancient soldiers, dancers, or mythological creatures. The center of the room was relatively open, simply because the ceiling was so high that the stalactites had not yet reached the bottom, and the floor had been kept relatively clear by frequent usage.
Zylla s
at on a low formation that Mangi covered with a flannel blanket, and she spread her long skirt around her. “Now that you’ve gained more control, I want to try something new. It occurred to me we should experiment with the things Arianna cannot do.”
He lifted a brow. “Such as…?”
“Casting dark magic spells. Her white magic automatically rejects any attempt to do so. I believe that aversion initially prevented you and Ari from blending your witchcraft together.”
“We overcame those early failures.” He frowned. “And my bloodline is also based in white magic.”
“But your vampiric nature is dark. Yes, Ari’s magic adapted to you, but that was unique, based on a long-term affinity. Just as your magic has adapted to your darker side. That adaptation should allow you to initiate certain dark spells.”
“I don’t have any desire to practice black magic. And if I did, Arianna would be outraged.”
“Not if you choose wisely. Exclude those spells that require a live sacrifice or are solely used for death and torture. Teleportation would be an excellent choice. Arianna used the spell when you escaped the elders, but she was forced to channel it through the black magic coven. Wouldn’t it be helpful if you could do it yourself?”
Andreas nodded thoughtfully. Without the spell, they might still be stuck inside Castle Doom. “What do I need to do?”
Zylla pulled a roll of papers out of her sleeve. “Before the demon book Maleficus was returned to Europe last winter, I took the liberty of making a few notations.” She grinned at him, revealing the worn teeth of the old woman she’d been and the fangs of the vampire she’d become. “I copied three spells that might be useful. Telekinesis, teleportation, and levitation. They each drain an enormous amount of power, so we cannot try them all tonight. Where would you like to start?”
“Telekinesis sounds like it would be the easiest. Perhaps I should start small and work up. Once I’ve mastered it, then levitation and finally teleportation.”
“So be it. Mangi, set this candle over there.” She pointed to a rocky protrusion about fifteen feet away. As soon as that was done, she handed one of her papers to Andreas. “Here is the spell. See what you can do.”
Andreas’s gaze flitted to the page, but he already knew what to do. Ari had taught him an Acquire spell that would work just as well. He recited it silently.
Thought to deed, heart’s desire; with this thought, I shall acquire.
As expected, the candle appeared in his hand.
“No, no, no!” Zylla stomped her foot on the stone floor. “Not a child’s rhyme. Acquire spells are easy. I want you to move the candle somewhere else.” She gave him a piercing look. “If you’re going to disobey me and take shortcuts, I have better things to do.”
Andreas stiffened. He might have reprimanded another vampire addressing their prince in this manner, but Zylla was a law unto herself. He reacted like a schoolboy caught in a prank. “Yes, ma’am.” He gave her a disarming grin.
“Then we shall try again.” Her voice was unyielding, but he saw her lips twitch. He’d been a favorite with her for years. Apparently, one misstep hadn’t changed that.
He looked at the paper this time and read the spell aloud.
“Blood of life; strength of bone; resist me, and you shall atone.
Bend your inert will to mine; where I mark you shall align.”
He stopped and frowned at Zylla. “Since when do we threatened the Goddess?”
“You are not speaking to the Goddess.”
“Who then?”
“One of the demon lords. A very minor lord,” she hastened to add, “since he does not require a sacrifice.”
“I do not traffic with demons,” he protested.
“There are no demons listening.” Zylla seemed impatient. “Do you think they sit around all day waiting for someone to contact them for a spell? The granting is automatic. The wording merely reflects the personality of the creature who created the spell. Now, try again. Concentrate and say the words like you mean them. Repeat three times and do not forget to show the candle where you want it to go.”
Andreas’s frown deepened. But he tried again, although it seemed rather absurd to talk so sternly to a candle, and he stumbled over the third verse. On the next attempt, he followed Zylla’s instructions to the letter and pointed to a discolored area on the floor. The candle disappeared to quickly reappear at the chosen spot.
“Very good.” Zylla clasped her hands in her lap. “You must get over this aversion to the darker arts, Andreas. Larger objects require greater concentration, and the other two spells will tax the limits of your power. What if your life—or Arianna’s life—depended on such a spell? Would you have such nice scruples then?”
Andreas’s gaze flashed to the old woman’s placid face. Not if Arianna was at risk. He would do anything…whatever it took to save her. Zylla had made her point. He would work harder in the future.
* * *
By the time he left the caverns it was close to midnight. His phone began buzzing as soon as he reached the surface within range of a cell tower. Lt. Foster. At this time of night?
“Lieutenant, is there a problem?’
“Nothing new that I know of, but I have a meeting with the chief in the morning, and he’s going to ask how long we need to maintain the current alert. Our emergency services are feeling the strain. Now that businesses have reopened… I don’t know what to tell him.”
“Porbius is still out there somewhere. Personally, I think he is a little crazy, which makes him even less predictable. Look what he did in Toronto last year—kidnapped an entire Magic Council.” Andreas shook his head even though Ryan couldn’t see him. “I know what your chief and the mayor want to hear, but I cannot advise you.”
“I was afraid you’d say that. Is Ari doing OK?”
Andreas smiled. “She is fine, a bit uncomfortable and impatient as the child grows. Waiting is not her strength.”
Ryan chuckled. “Never has been. I don’t mind telling you, I’ll be glad when she’s back. Tom’s a good guy and all, but she makes this Otherworld stuff make sense.”
“So call her. She’ll be glad to hear from you.”
“I thought you were worried about calls being traced. Claris would love to talk with her.”
“Go ahead. We talk every night. Perhaps the disposable phone made the difference or the crows found her at the Montreys’ by some other method.” He frowned and returned to the question of lifting the community alert. “Whatever decision the police administration makes, you and Claris should continue to take special precautions.”
“I’m keeping an eye on her. Claris stays at my brother’s every night. Her shop is open during the day, but I drop her off in the morning and pick her up every afternoon.”
Andreas quirked a brow at the phone. Perhaps Arianna was right in thinking there was something developing between those two. “She is a lovely young woman, is she not?”
“Yeah, sure.” A short delay…then, “Your point?”
His lips curved. “None, beyond the obvious.” Arianna was definitely right. Since the cop didn’t volunteer anything, Andreas didn’t pursue it.
He disconnected and stood lost in thought, wondering if the community would ever get back to normal. He scanned the streets ahead and began walking toward the club, his lips set in a grim line. Arianna had always been the impatient one, but waiting for Porbius’s next move was casting a long shadow over his mood.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Ari watched Moriana out of the corner of her eye as they rode the elevator to the tenth floor of the Civil County Building. Didn’t the woman ever get tired? Ari’s feet hurt. The upward motion came to a halt, and she followed Moriana into the Probate Department. They were about to begin a little legal snooping, the last of five stops in a typical day for a private, practicing witch.
The last week had been a refreshing change of pace from Ari’s job as a guardian. No frantic running for their lives, no hellhounds, no crows, and
not a single assassin. Not that St. Louis didn’t have its Otherworld problems, but they were someone else’s responsibility. The atmosphere around Moriana was relaxed yet filled with interesting, sometimes amusing puzzles to solve: spells that had backfired, wart curses, and patients suffering from a variety of real and imagined ailments that defied other healers. They’d even exorcised a ghost.
Now they were on the trail of a missing diamond necklace. In her duly written and validated will, the deceased widow of a prominent St. Louis businessman had left an impoverished nephew a priceless necklace that had been in their family for two hundred years. The estate administrator had been unable to locate the heirloom, and turned to the Otherworld for help. Two witches had already been consulted without success, and the administrator had reported his failure to the court. The probate judge had appealed to Moriana.
The nephew, a mid-thirties man with an earnest look, and the elderly administrator were waiting in the judge’s chambers.
Once everyone was introduced, Moriana questioned the parties at length, concentrating on the nephew. He couldn’t remember seeing the necklace, but he hadn’t visited the aunt’s home since he was a child of seven.
As the conversation droned on, Ari lost interest. It would be nice to help this young man. Finding his inheritance would improve his lifestyle, but it wouldn’t change the world…or keep someone alive. She preferred catching bad guys. Ari smiled at the thought. She was such a cop at heart.
When Ari tuned back into the discussion, Moriana was asking the nephew about safety deposit boxes and old trunks. He could think of none.
“What about hidden compartments?” Ari asked. “In a fireplace or an old piece of furniture?” She looked at Moriana and shrugged. “We recently found some important papers in one.”
“Maybe.” The nephew shook his head. “I can’t remember. It was twenty-eight years ago.”
