by Gina Kincade
"Are you hungry?" she asked, trying to refocus him from his short, spasm-like convulsions.
"I don't want food. I want this hellion out of me. The more you move around, stir up the residual energy in this place, the more I see and think about you, the more pissed off this thing becomes. It's getting erratic, crazed. I don't know how much longer it will be before I beast out. Maybe permanently. Just try something, Allanah. Just mess with your magick. Work a protection spell against demons or something. Maybe it will shove the thing out of here," he urged with a gasp.
"And what happens to you then?" she argued.
"I don't fucking care. This is no life. I'm trapped in hell on earth with this monster inside of me. I'm not going to live in a cage forever while you look for a cure to my disease here."
"It's only been a few hours. Eat something," she said, grabbing the box of crackers, walking toward the cage.
His eyes changed to crimson again, as they had been off and on, but rather than the flicker back to blue, they stayed. A growl emanated up from deep in his chest as he clawed his way back further until he pushed his back firmly against the back wall of the cage.
"Don't get any closer," he warned through another growl, one of a wounded animal. "Just try something; the last spell that mentioned demon. Just do it. I will try to force the demon to help by redirecting its power, trick it, maybe. If it's possible."
The change had started, cut off his words. She scrambled back to the table, grabbed one of the many books left open to protection spells, and began to scurry around, grab what supplies she needed. Trying to read labels on bottles through tears, she cursed.
Once she had sage burning, and had created a wash with a base of holy water mixed with various oils for protection, purification, and banishing, she sucked in a deep breath. Taking the bowl of water and oil to the cage, she dipped her fingers in, swirled them around, then moved her hand to splash the water toward Ciaran. She said her makeshift spell, incorporating his demon's name into it.
"Ariazural, demon, spawn of hell, I do not stand here alone. I call upon the Goddesses to banish you back to your burning home. I stand here as protector, reversing the roles, making myself your bane. You will go back from whence you came."
As she repeated the spell, continued to splash water into the cage, Ciaran, changing, crawled toward her. She wouldn't back down, not to his beast, not this time. She stood firm. Continued even as he turned completely, his large furry hands clawing at the dirt floor. The growls grew in intensity, and she could feel Ciaran's power, the demon's magick, moving with hers, pull back, come again like a hot wave, nearly knocking her over. Still, she continued, her spell, her splashing.
The hole it seemed to be digging grew deeper. At times the beast convulsed. It fell as many times as it threw itself against the metal rods, trying to get at her, she guessed, before throwing itself back into the growing hole. She knew Ciaran fought. She could feel him. Yet, when his energy started to fade, so did her resolve. The evil increased, the growls fierce enough to hurt her eardrums until she threw the bowl from her hands to cover her ears. The cage rattled, and she could feel Ciaran dying along with the demon. They were one, and she was killing them both.
"No!" she screamed, the pitch of her voice rivaling the demon's wailing at this point.
She grabbed for the cage, for him, for the man she loved, somewhere, she knew, within the fur, the claws, the glowing red eyes. "No. Leave him be. Ciaran, my love. Come back to me!"
She wept, then, as a clawed hand came to hers, then changed into a man's hand right in front of her eyes before it slipped to the floor. He laid there, a man now, naked, half shaking, half convulsing, looking up at her with a longing in his eyes she'd never seen before. This man. He'd wanted for nothing his whole life, until her.
"Why did you stop," he wheezed out the words.
"I was killing you."
"You were killing it, more importantly."
"I won't sacrifice you."
"It would sacrifice me. Promise me, Allanah... Promise me..." his voice, hoarse, tired, she waited for him to continue on. "Promise me that if in all of this it takes me over, for good, you will kill it. It won't be me anymore."
"I couldn't know if it was a permanent switch. I couldn't risk it."
"If I am the beast for more than twenty-four hours, I'm never coming back. So, promise me," he begged.
"Have you ever begged for anything in your life," she said, not smart, but with sorrow in her voice.
"Yes. Once. I begged my father to let you stay, or to let me go, whatever it took to be with you."
"I didn't know. What did he say?"
"He said nothing. I was a grown man then so he didn't have to; he had his son beaten by his coven. At that point, I swore to never ask again. If he would do that to me, I couldn't imagine what he would do to you if I dared ask again. He'd already threatened to take everything away from you if I did. I couldn't. I couldn't risk you, so you can't either. The beast, it is twisting my love for you. If I turn for good, it will be obsessed with your destruction. So, promise me, Allanah."
"I pro—"
Her words were broken off as the door in to the cave opened with a loud bang of wood against brick. Turning, she saw a man about her age, with her eyes and the family's long, narrow nose with thin lips.
"Who the hell are you? And how did you get in here?" he asked, his voice booming at first, until he looked past her, to Ciaran. "What the hell are you doing?"
"I'm Allanah, Allanah Adams. Eilean is my mother."
"Eilean. I haven't heard that name in a long time. Eimile is my mother. Guess that makes us cousins. Welcome," he said, his entire demeanor changed in an instant. "But, how did you get here, and what are you doing to that man. He looks sick. Honestly, he looks like he's dying."
Since he'd come to her, shaken her hand, then knelt down beside her to look at Ciaran with concern on his face, she answered, "I teleported us. We were in a very dire situation, and my mind trying to come up with a place to hide us, thought of this place my mother had told me of so many times growing up. I knew the city from her stories and maps. I visualized the pictures she'd shown me, and here we are."
"So, he's in there why? Good guy or bad guy?"
"Both," Ciaran answered him, the weak sound of his voice frightening her, making her heart beat even harder in her chest than it already was.
"I don't understand," the cousin answered.
"I'm sorry we are here when we shouldn't be. I really didn't know where else to go. I really hoped that it would be unused now. A place we could hide until we figured things out. I know our mothers have issues. I don't know where that leaves us," she got out as fast as she could manage.
"It leaves us family. Theirs was a feud of another generation. It doesn't concern us. My name is Aedan, and, this place is as much yours as it is mine as far as I'm concerned. Please, tell me the situation and how I can help. Does your mother know you are here?"
"Thank you, Aedan," Ciaran managed, still prone on the floor as if he had no bones, couldn't move. His continued path toward lifelessness knotted her stomach more with each glance.
"Yes, thank you. It's a long story, which I will tell you, and no, my mother doesn't know we are here. She would panic. What if your mother found out?"
"She won't. She passed away a few years ago. I believe at the end, though, she forgave yours. She never talked about it, what happened, other than to call it a magickal accident that should have never happened. As much as she blamed your mother for causing this unfortunate incident, she missed her. I know that for a fact. But, she knew there were others who would retaliate if your mother returned, so she mourned the loss of her sister. She never spoke of the details."
"I'm so sorry. My mother has told me as much, only from her side of it, of her guilt, of the loss of her family. It was something she never wished to really speak of either. I've no idea what happened."
"Ancient history. What can I do in the here and now to help you?"
She let out a long sigh, one of relief, one tinged with hope as this savior had appeared and didn't want to kill them.
"This is Ciaran Byrne," she said, gesturing toward him.
"Of the whiskey Byrne?"
"Yes," Ciaran offered.
"So, is he cursed then?"
"He is. You know?"
"Only the rumors. Tell me."
She did. She told her cousin everything, pouring it all out, her heart, hoping he might have the answers she needed.
"I'm sorry, I can't help, as in, I can't give you a spell. This is a spell very specific to the coven. It's called a geis, a gift or a curse, depending upon your perspective. It places both the demon and human under an obligation to each other. Like a legal agreement of sorts, that if not followed by both sides promises pain, permanent damage, even death. What I do know, if I am recalling it right, is that only the recipient should know his demon's name. And, with this name, the recipient can subvert the obligation of its use."
"You mean, like me knowing the other demons names, the ones in my brothers, in the men of my coven, gives me power over them?" Ciaran asked.
"Yes, actually. From what I understand, with this name, you can gain some control over it for yourself."
"Problem is," Allanah added, "the demon hates me, and is killing him because of it. So, you are saying it's because Ciaran isn't holding up his end of the demonic bargain."
"Not loving you. No. Sorry. I can see it in the man's eyes. He loves you."
"I do," Ciaran grunted. "But, I can't be with her like this. I want it gone."
"I'm not sure that is possible without the original spell. What I can do, though, is help you search, maybe, find some band-aid spell for now to at least get the little imp under control. Then, that buys you time to search the Byrne family lore for the original spell. And, I can also feed you, clothe you, and call your mother, Allanah. She must be sick with worry."
"Not sure what she knows, but yes, maybe. I, we, would appreciate anything you can do to help us. Thank you. I don't know how to say thank you enough. I honestly expected to be kicked out."
"You're family. If my mother taught me anything, it was that family comes first. She wanted my life to be better than hers, to learn from the mistakes of hers."
Chapter Nine
"Mom," Allanah said into the phone as she looked around the office her cousin had taken her to so she could use his phone in private.
"Allanah. Where are you? I texted you yesterday, then called, and no response back. Your doorman told me you left with a man you didn't seem happy to see. From his description, I figured it was Ciaran. You had me worried half mad here."
"I'm sorry. Listen, I'm fine but Ciaran isn't. I can't go into all the details."
"You don't have to. I heard them in the office this morning, only adding to my concern."
"He wants out, mom, and I don't know how to help him."
"He should get out. Like I said, I heard them this morning, in the office, his brothers and the rest of the coven, plotting against him. Seriously, they want some serious revenge. Are blinded by it. They foolishly think, just because they want it so badly, they may have devised a way to overtake Ciaran's demon, kill him basically, and then take over the company themselves. They are so blinded by greed that they couldn't care less if they kill Ciaran in the process, or run the company into the ground, which they will, not that it matters. They are crazy. I fear their demons are taking them over, the arrogant nonsense they are yelling at each other."
"Mom, I mean he wants the demon out of him. He doesn't care about the company."
"Oh," she said, followed by a long pause.
In the endless moments where her mother made her deep thinking noises, exaggerated sighs verses sharp inhales, Allanah attempted to find two shreds of patience to rub together. She banked on the fact her mother came up with her best ideas after such moments, though the waiting grew agonizing, burning her frantic lungs, tightening her worn out muscles.
She observed her surroundings. The office had remained as it had been created decades ago, merely maintained while leaving all the old world charm. Behind a dark wooden desk, small yet detailed, stood basic bookcases that took over the entire wall, floor to ceiling. On one of the remaining walls wood paneling gave way to some outdated, deep green wallpaper with a diamond design. She couldn't stop a grimace infused smile, looking over the cherry leather couch in front of a marbled fireplace topped with a gold-framed mirror. Outlandish and elegant, her regard for her cousin's need to maintain what had aged well, regardless of style, put him a rank above.
"Well, that I can help with," her mother finally stated, her voice frightfully calm despite the obvious reluctance, maybe fear.
"You can?" Allanah shrieked so high her throat burnt from the rush of air through her tired lungs.
"Yes. I guess I can, although I'm a little more than surprised Ciaran doesn't know how to help himself. He has all of the components in his possession. I guess I'm confused. It's all too easy, I think, which makes me fearful I don't know everything I should."
"Mom, please, if he knew a way he would have used it long ago. I'm not sure how you know, but that's a story for another time. Please. Quickly. Tell me what you know."
"Okay. Well, there is a failsafe for the spell his family used. Ciaran has it, though I'm guessing he doesn't know he does."
"How do you know this? How come you never told anyone?" The questions fell from her mouth before she could stop them, regardless of what she'd just said about urgency. Things were not adding up for her either.
"I didn't know the boy wanted out. He didn't confide in me. Hell, he could barely look at me, though he kept me on here. I figured I reminded him of you, so we interacted as we had to and that was it. Anyway, not the matter. His father, the arrogant bastard that saved me, he gave me access to everything. He thought I wasn't clever enough, maybe, or trusted me enough, whatever, but I've seen the spell to send those demons, all of them, back to hell. I can get it without anyone knowing. It's in a private room where old papers are kept. All it requires is the bottle of whiskey, one of the original ones made by the company, and the amulet his father used to always wear. I know he gave both to Ciaran when he died. If he can tell me where to get them, I can bring them to you, too. You know I can—"
"Pop in and out of places undetected. Teleport," Allanah answered for her. "Even though you have always claimed it dangerous, I know you do it, Mom. Wow. Just wow. We had no idea this spell existed. Ciaran is going to be shocked, but so thrilled beyond anything I can say. Ciaran, he's here, and I think he's dying...so I'll ask him where the whiskey and amulet are. You grab the spell in the meantime. Then, once you have it all, you can teleport. Get here fast."
"Just tell me where you are," her mother said, the words followed by an exasperated sigh.
"Oh...sure. So, Mom, don't freak out. I wish I had a better way to tell you, but we're in Ireland, in the place you were trained to use your magic. I'm sorry to tell you like this, so quickly and over the phone, but, Mom, your sister is gone. She passed away last year. Her son says you are welcome to come. I believe him. It's safe. He said your sister forgave you. But, anyway, please, can we talk of that later. Let me go ask Ciaran where the stuff is. In the meantime, get the spell, and wait for me to call you back."
She hung up before the back and forth of all that had been revealed could go on any longer, waste precious time Ciaran might not have. A pang of guilt threatened to hasten her stride, but she moved past it, prayed her mother would move quickly, too, despite all the bombshells she'd just dropped on the woman. She knew her mother to be the strongest woman she'd ever known, so, she hung on to that belief as she ran down all the stairs, thorough the tunnels, to get back to the secret room where her cousin sat with Ciaran.
"How is he?" she asked as she flew in as fast as her trembling legs could carry her.
"Getting worse," Ciaran answered for himself, his voice faint, pained. "Just let me go, Allanah. I lo
ve you, but I won't have you dealing with this beast. He's going to win here soon. I'm too weak to hold him off much longer. Remember your promise."
"No need. And no time to explain in detail. My mother has the spell to banish all of the demons. All she needs is the original bottle of whiskey your father gave to you along with his amulet."
"What?"
"I will explain after you tell me where they are so she can get here, save you."
"Ah, okay... They are together, in my safe, in my room. I can give her the combination, but she will have to get past my staff."
"Not if she teleports. She can get the spell, what she needs from the safe, and then get here, in minutes really. I just have to call her. Give me the combination, and I will run up and call her back."
Allanah exhausted her already weary body taking care of all of the details to get her mother there with the right supplies. The nervous energy mixed with hope, true, real hope, had her shaking, her energy falsely soaring, until she couldn't sit still.
"Stop pacing, my love. Save your strength. You have to be weary, worn out yourself," Ciaran said.
"Yes, stop," Aedan added. "Here, drink more of this juice. Get your energy really built back up. You may need it depending on how this spell works."
"I just can't believe," Ciaran continued on, his voice weaker than ever, "that what I needed was right under my nose all this time. I don't know whether to be excited or pissed, as in resentful, but of what I don't know. Life, for screwing me again, for taking away years I could have spent with you?"
