“It’s a pocket. I can’t see any way out.” Loti scrambled to her feet, using Wolf’s shoulders for purchase and swayed for a second.
Christian spoke. “Tell me what you meant by it not being a spell, per se.”
“Yes, I don’t think it was a spell. I don’t understand it, but it was like we held opposing charges, so when we came into contact, we energetically fused. That’s why we couldn’t let go.”
“How can you see?” Christian sat on the floor with Heather in his lap, staring blankly around him.
“I can see prana—you know, the energy of things?
Christian nodded absently. “Right, I’d heard that.”
“From who?” Wolf jumped up, stalked towards Christian with menacing steps.
A blinding light stopped him in his tracks and Modore spoke from somewhere in the brilliance. “Why, from me, of course.”
“Modore.” Wolf balled his hands into fists. “Fuck.”
Heather gasped as she tried to stand, but Christian seized her around the waist. “Modore?” She smacked at Christian’s arms. “Let me go,” she snapped, but his arms were like a vice.
Their eyes adjusted to the amorphous light until they could see the dripping walls and Modore’s ecstatic grin.
“Patrick and I spent years altering your energy field, Christian.” Modore crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, not just yours, but we started with you.”
“When? I never knew.” Christian clung to the wiggling Heather, whispering through his teeth into her ear. “Knock it off. If you want to survive this, you have to trust me.”
Heather snorted, giving up on her hopeless struggle. “I have and look where it’s led.”
“Oh you can’t hold it against him, my dear.” Modore’s arms dropped to his side as he prowled towards them. Wolf flexed his jaw, studying the room and considering his options.
“He had no choice in most of this.” Modore offered his hand to Heather, but she glared at him. “Only in becoming my progeny.”
“You’re his maker.” Wolf ground his teeth, “Damn it.” He closed his eyes.
“Oh, there’s no way you could have known.” Modore reached down and clasped Heather’s hand. She cried out as he yanked her to her feet, Christian scrambling after her. “Even if our Light Walker had already awoken to that ability, she wouldn’t have seen him as my child. She would have seen him as a descendant of a deceased friend of mine.”
“What?” Loti took a step as if to pass Wolf, and he straight-armed her back.
“A topic for another time,” Modore held Heather’s hand with both of his and closed his eyes, his mouth going slack.
Wolf tensed but Christian cut him a warning look, subtly shaking his head “no”. Wolf narrowed his eyes, but even if he didn’t trust the blond vamp, he knew he was right. The situation was unpredictable, at best, and if he managed to subdue the older vampire, what were their options, then?
There’s an intersection of nadis in here.
Wolf closed his eyes and it popped into existence on the other side of the cave as he accessed Loti’s vision. He opened his eyes and took a step.
“Stay back, cora.” Modore snarled with closed eyes. “Don’t think that I haven’t warded myself.”
Wolf paused, his knuckles white. He wanted to kill Modore, end this once and for all, but it was more important to get the hell out of there alive.
“Heather.” Modore opened milky eyes with a pleased smile. “You are as powerful as Christian claimed.”
He kissed the back of her hand and she grimaced, tugging her hand. “I think he underestimated you, actually.” He released her hand, finally glancing over at Wolf, who appeared to be shut down, looking like a high-definition film on pause.
Christian wrapped an arm around Heather’s waist, eyeing his maker like a skittish cat. “Then I get to keep her?”
Heather’s face went slack for a second, and then she twisted out of his arm and slapped Christian’s face. The solid smack reverberated off the rock walls, but Christian didn’t so much as blink. He took her hand, lifting it to his lips and kissed her fingers. She jerked at her hand, but he held on, his eyes leveled at her.
“The alternative is to become one of his witch slaves.”
Heather’s eyes registered shock and her mouth fell open. “Slaves?” Christian held her gaze, giving her a curt nod. She blinked in rapid succession, but a tear slid down her cheek, anyway. “This is why you wanted to bond with me.”
“Christian did what I told him.” Modore turned his back to them as if the matter were settled and faced Loti and Wolf with a sigh.
“You did what he told you to do.” Heather’s voice was flat.
“Heather.” Wolf’s gentle tone was a sharp contrast to the sudden aching despondency in his chest. “He had to.”
Wolf’s gaze darted to Christian and whatever else Wolf may have thought of the fledgling, he felt a kinship with him right then, like only shared experience could create.
Heather’s eyes stared with dull resignation as Christian’s eyes pled with her, but her chin trembled. “You said—”
“I meant it. I meant all of it.” Christian rushed his words, reaching out to touch her, but she came to life and smacked his hands away. His arms fell to his side.
“He had no choice. No vampire can defy a direct order from his maker.” Wolf took up Christian’s cause, because something in him needed to. “It’s undeniable. We have to obey.”
Loti pressed her hands to the pain in her chest: Wolf’s pain. She was consumed by a gnawing, helpless regret and a sadness so raw and sore she almost sobbed. Wolf’s shields were completely gone and she let hers melt away. They were one being in heart and mind, no psychic shield between them. Modore’s indulgent smile brought on an urge to break his jaw, and both Wolf and Loti trembled, she clenching her hands into small fists against the blitzkrieg of his emotions.
He didn’t even need to think the thoughts for her to understand what he was doing and why. They needed every bit of their wits to stay alive and no misunderstandings. The risk was whether she could handle his emotions and stay clear headed enough to know his intentions. Adrenalin slammed through her and her heart sped up.
“Don’t bother with whatever nonsense you’re contemplating,” Modore said. “There’s no going anywhere until I have what I want.”
“Loti?” Christian asked.
“Oh, no, not just Loti.” Modore called out as if summoning a waiter. “Akal!”
A purple light flashed, engulfing the entire chamber and Wolf grabbed Loti.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Loti cried out as she and Wolf slammed into another rock floor, Wolf rolling at the last minute to cushion her blow.
“Damn it,” she mumbled as she scrambled off of him. “You okay?”
“Yeah.”
He scanned their new location, pushing himself up on one arm. It was another cave, but this one had a glowing orb in the center. Two robed figures stood on opposite sides of the sphere. They remained impassive, murmuring an incantation under their breath as if no one had just fallen into their dank world. Wolf noted an archway that led into blackness and a single doorway on the opposite side.
Wolf jumped to his feet and grabbed Loti’s hand so she could see the stairs for herself. Just as she could share her vision with him, he could let her see through his vampire eyes. It was a unique manifestation of their special bond. She closed her eyes and nodded.
“Heather, my dear. Please join me.”
Loti and Wolf whipped around at the same time in the direction of Modore’s voice. Heather and Christian were helping each other up off the floor as Modore offered a hand to them. Christian pushed Heather behind him and growled at his maker.
“Come now, Christian.” Modore scowled. “Have you lost the faith? Is a whore more important to you than our mission?”
Christian’s face hardened. “I don’t know what our mission is, anymore. You’ve changed it to—I don’t know what.” He st
raightened to his full height as he faced off with his maker.
“What do you want from her?” He flung a hand in Loti and Wolf’s direction. “You have the Light Walker, so what do you need with Heather, now?”
Modore hissed. “Don’t question me, fledgling.” He brushed past Christian, knocking him out of the way and grabbed Heather by the hair. She screamed, fighting, trying to free herself. Christian sprawled across the cave floor.
“Let go of her,” Christian demanded and was on his feet. He launched himself at Modore.
“Enough. Cease this nonsense.” Modore raised his free hand in a bored way and Christian faltered to a stop.
Terror filled his eyes as he watched, helpless as Modore dragged Heather by her red locks, kicking and screaming, in front of the orb. The robed figures moved as he approached to form a triangle with him around the orb. Modore began chanting and the puppet-like witches droned with him.
Dhyaayammo Dhavalaavagunthana vateem
Teomeyeem Naishtikeem
Snigdhapaang vilokineem bhagaveteem
“They’re calling on the holder of radiant light.” Loti said outloud.
I can see the nadis. She wrapped her fingers eagerly around his. The intersecting glowing tunnels immediately appeared to him. I can get us out of here.
Then do it.
Not without Heather and Christian.
Forget Christian. He’s Modore’s.
No.
Loti, no matter what we do, he is Modore’s puppet. Taking him with us will only put everyone in danger. Even he knows that.
She didn’t respond, instead examining the high ceiling. She guesstimated the distance from the door to the archway to be about twenty feet. She inhaled through her nose and the prana in the room dominated her vision. When she exhaled, it brightened.
Studying the flow of energy through the rock and around the orb, she noticed Heather’s aura and the way her heart chakra stretched out and into Christian. She’d come to understand that this happened in all bonded pairs, and she could tell by the structure and depth how long a pair had been together.
Christian and Heather’s bond was like a fine film of cobwebs, tenuous and delicate. Christian was also connected to Modore, but they were bound through all their chakras in thick, ropey lines. When Christian stepped closer to Modore, a cloud of prana rippled around sir and offspring, the more delicate one pulsated between Heather and Christian. Loti did a mental-double take as the lines of energy sorted themselves out in her mind and she saw what was happening.
Wolf, look at this.
He closed his eyes.
Yes, that makes sense. When a vampire makes another, he gives his blood, and his prana, I suppose. In essence, he gives his life force to keep the other on the brink of death.
But look at Heather. Do you see it?
Wolf furrowed his brow, but when he stopped trying to see what she was talking about, it popped out at him.
Good lord!
What they saw was Heather’s aura beginning to merge with Modore’s, through Christian’s.
How’s he doing that? IS he doing that?
Wolf squeezed her hand. I don’t know. It may be that when a vampire bonds with a human, that human becomes bound to his maker, as well.
The chanting grew louder and Loti’s head throbbed.
Mandasmita shree mukheem
Vatsalyaamrita varshineem su madhuram
She covered her ears, but it didn’t stop the pain. Whatever magic they were conjuring hurt. Green and blue light swirled through the orb, faster and faster. Gold and silver flecks burst on the surface and faded away just as quick.
Heather’s mouth hung slack and her eyes were vacant pools of reflected light. First her mouth twitched, then her lips moved sluggishly around the words and indistinct sounds squeaked out. As she picked up the chant, Modore stopped. His eyes glowed a dark red as he bent over Heather.
Sam Keertanaalaapineem
Shyaamaangeem madhu sikta soo kteem
“Yes, my darling girl. Use all your power to call her.” He stroked her head like one might encourage a child.
What the hell is he doing? Loti leaned a hand on Wolf’s arm.
I’m not sure.
Last time he tried to separate us. Why isn’t he doing that now?
Maybe because our bond is too strong for that or he doesn’t have a witch strong enough to do it.
Modore lifted Heather’s red mane and draped it over a shoulder, exposing one side of her slender neck. Her pulse thudded under pale skin. As the woman chanted, Wolf steeled himself against the ancient instinct to feed.
The orb blasted open and his eyes snapped to it. Through the swirling haze he recognized one of the long nadi corridors and inhaled sharply at the figure floating towards them: Aeval. Modore stepped up to the orb and offered a hand to the faery queen. She gazed down at him, her face drawn in sadness.
“My dear Modore, what have you done this time?”
She took his hand and stepped from the orb like the royalty she was. Modore held both of her hands and for a moment Wolf and Loti saw a different person. For that brief moment, Modore looked sane, happy. The madness dropped like a veil and pure joy surged through him.
Transfixed in wonder, Loti grabbed Wolf’s hand. Something deep inside them both stirred, something old, something neither fully understood. They stared at the pair. The fae queen and ancient vampire. Aeval touched Modore’s cheek and his smile broadened.
Wolf had to look away because what he was seeing didn’t make sense. Modore was . . . beautiful. But what he was feeling did. Wolf hated him. With every bit of his soul. Loti trembled. No! Wolf! Wolf roared as leaped through the air, both feet connecting with Modore’s head.
Modore and Wolf crashed into the floor with a loud crunch and Aeval screamed. Wolf stumbled. In a blur Modore was on his feet, slamming Wolf into the wall. Wolf’s head cracked against the limestone. The rock split—a shower of debris rained down as he landed on his feet.
Modore’s face was a crushed, gory mess as he grabbed Heather by the back of the neck and sank his fangs into her. One eyeball dangled by the waxy optic nerve, the eye socket itself smashed beyond recognition. Her piercing shriek brought Loti out of her shock just as Christian dove for Modore.
Without a glance in his direction Modore swung his arm out. Christian sailed across the cave and slammed into the wall, landing in a squat. He looked over at Wolf. With a curt nod, they both jumped at the same time.
“Christian. Stop.” Modore yanked his fangs from Heather’s neck and blood spurted from her in quick pulses.
Modore stared from his one good eye, his face rebuilding itself from the inside out. Christian skidded to a stop beside Modore just as Aeval jumped between him and Wolf. Wolf slammed into Aeval, but the fae was stronger than she looked, and she held Wolf’s charge, if just barely.
She yelled a regal command, “Stop!”
Wolf hissed and tried to shove Aeval out of the way. She shoved him back, baring her teeth. A fae in fight mode was fierce and savage. Her voice rang like a chorus of discordant bells as it echoed off the walls. “Stop! Enough!”
Modore’s broken face twisted into a sick grin as he dropped a wilted, bleeding Heather to the ground. The beautiful man was gone. Had it been glamour? A trick of the mind?
“Aeval,” Modore snarled and pulled her to him, his mouth stretching preternaturally wide before he clamped down on her neck. Wolf streaked to Loti’s side, snatching her to him with one arm.
“Let me go!” Loti yelled, but Wolf tossed her over his shoulder.
There were bottomless holes where Wolf’s eyes should have been, his face a chiseled piece of granite.
“He’ll drain her. I know he will. He’s confused. He’s lost his mind. He thinks he’s saving her.”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t know what he did. You were already—” Loti cried out as Aeval coughed up blood. “Save yourself! Why don’t you save yourself?”
Wolf
’s eyes cleared. He blinked. gazing around the room, assessing the situation. Christian dropped to the floor and cradled Heather’s head in his lap. He bit his wrist. Her eyes were empty, glazed orbs as he pressed a hand to her throat to stem the bleeding.
Loti whispered into Wolf’s ear. “Let me go to them, please.” Her voice broke, tears slid down her cheeks.
“Modore,” Aeval whispered.
Modore popped off her neck with a blood-drunk softness to his completely healed face. Aeval cupped his cheek with a hand and pulled his bloody lips to hers. The two exchanged a deep, passionate kiss, until Aeval broke away and turned a sweet smile on Loti.
It’s going to be alright, darling. Do you remember, yet?
I remember that I loved you.
Aeval held out her hand. “The blood binds us all.”
“What are you saying to her?” Modore’s eyes popped open.
“I’m reminding her. She doesn’t remember you.”
His face contorted. “Of course she remembers me,” he snapped. “She’s just punishing us.”
Aeval eyes lit up and her mouth hardened. “I will fix it.”
Modore’s mad eyes stared at Loti, his face smeared in Heather’s and Aeval’s blood. “I want it to be as it was before. Make it right, Aeval.”
“As it was.” She agreed adamantly as he set her on her feet.
Wolf jumped with Loti still on his shoulder and landed between the orb and Christian. He was patting Heather’s cheek, whispering in an urgent rush. “Heather, wake up.” Her eyes fluttered closed, but she was breathing, as far as Wolf could tell.
Modore dove at Wolf. “She was mine. Mine first.”
Aeval gathered herself like a bird preparing to fly. A ball of white light launched from her fingers, slamming into Loti. Exploding into rainbow beams, it turned her world into a dazzling white. When she could see again, the cave was gone. In its place a field of mountain flowers bobbed on the summer wind.
Trees taller than any she had ever seen rustled in the wind. Two people lounged on a pile of blankets and pillows not far from her. The night breeze ruffled her hair. Glancing up at the starry sky, her mouth loosened at the spectacular sight. The Milky Way stretched across her vision, each star twinkling and bright.
Shattered Page 26
