“Ivy, it’s you, right? You’re back?”
Elijah nudged her forward. “It’s us. I take it you’ve spent a vigilant watch for the past almost hundred years?”
Turning, she watched Patrick shrug. “It was admittedly a burden to bear. You never said what year everything fell apart for Supernaturals, only the year you came from. So, I marked the date down. Year after year, calendar after calendar I’d circle this date until we finally arrived in 2019. I had to assume this was the year everything feel apart based on our conversations.”
Patrick looked the same, barely showing any signs of age, but his voice was sadder. His black hair was cut short, exactly how she remembered it five years ago. The bags under his eyes were new, but she suspected it had a lot to do with waiting up with worry.
“There are two wolves at the council space. Waiting for you I dare say. Thankfully for that poor lot, it’s only been a week.”
Ivy breathed a sigh of relief. There was still a council. “So not much has changed?”
Patrick’s laugh held none of the fun-loving Irishman she dated for a century. It was bitter and dark. “Everything has changed. Mrs. Perrow sold this shop to me. Said she couldn’t bear knowing it was your trip through time that cost her the life of her oldest child. My memory spell wasn’t strong enough to cover such a loss. Jared’s death, it must not have been out of time. He created a time loop he was always meant to create. All of this was meant to happen, which means all of this might not be fixable, but we have to try. We have to break this loop and save our present. Save our future.”
Her nose stung as tears pricked the back of her eyes at the mention of her friend. It made sense Mrs. Perrow remembered everything, she harped on Lita, but loved her daughter more than anything. “We’ll get her back. Every single one of them. Even Jared.”
“There’s still a council, let’s get there.” Elijah slipped back into the role of impassive leader.
Ivy couldn’t blame him, but seeing more of the emotion she’d learned lurked within would have made this easier to bear.
“One transport, coming right up.” Patrick dipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out what must have been a transport potion. “Hold on everyone.”
She knew Patrick took her hand, but scarcely felt Elijah as he held onto her elbow, versus entwining his fingers with hers. Patrick’s green smoke filled her vision.
A small wave of queasiness passed over her, and the smoke cleared. "We still meet in the courthouse."
“We do.” Patrick nodded. “Take your seats. Things are a bit different than you’ll remember, based on your tellings of how this worked at least.”
Ivy stepped inside the courtroom, shocked to see the circular shape she grew used to organized into a typical courtroom design. Patrick walked to the front, opened the door to the judge’s box, and took a seat.
“Well, it seems knowing what was to come played out well for your ex,” Elijah retorted. “One familiar face in the crowd.” He nodded toward Angela. “We’re going to need you, so you know.”
Angela said nothing, merely nodded and took her seat next a dark-skinned man who could represent the humans or the vampires.
"Sit where ever you wish," Patrick called out from the stand. "Things are mostly the same. One of each faction is present, and only, we were able to convince the demons and angels to stand with us one meeting every six months." He pointed to the seats on either side of him. "Today is not that meeting."
Ivy sat, trying to hold her tongue rather than bark out demands on the missing members.
"I represent not only the warlocks, but the American council in whole," Patrick spoke without glee. "Angela represents the Djinn. Mayor Carmichael heads up the human factions, you both still represent your respective people, and my lovely wife, Loretta leads the vampires."
Elijah let out a low whisper. “Interspecies wasn’t really a thing when we left.”
"Yes, a certain mark loosened minds in many communities, for which I'm grateful." He looked lovingly at his wife, and Ivy felt a pang of guilt knowing all of this would end, and hopefully soon. "As I've told you for years, Ivy and Elijah became travelers in time. Now that they have returned, they can sort through details."
"Patrick, you were there, for nearly all of it. Why did you not start the motions on your own?" Elijah sounded skeptical, and Ivy couldn't blame him.
Patrick had a wife and power. It stood to reason he was High Priest of the New Orleans coven. Turning back time to undo everything didn’t show much benefit to her old friend. Stop that. You don’t know everything yet.
“Wonderful question. You’ll be happy to know that in your absence, we figured out the missing piece of the spell. The one that allows us to pinpoint any day in history. The part that will help take Jared down.”
Angela spoke. "Wish magic. Djinn blood can fulfill many wishes, but after much trial and error we learned if the Djinn casts a wish before spilling their blood, everything from location and date can are controllable."
“I’m going to ask this one last time,” Elijah growled beside her. “Why did you wait for us? You have what you need.”
Patrick shook his head. "First, this is your mission. You started this, and I know Ivy, I would not take this from her and screw up the only people who have true memories of the timelines before Jared's actions ruined them. Second, we did not know what would occur if someone besides yourself stopped Jared. We've lived through an entirely different life than the one you left behind last week."
“What do you mean?” Ivy finally found her voice.
“Jared’s acts were infamous. The Council of Supernaturals formed less than a year later in early 1926. Humans were, of course, excluded. We stood strong together and made a safer future. Many of us know that when we do this spell, when you stop everything, this future vanishes and only those who travel will know of it. You can imagine our hesitancy.”
“But you will help?” Elijah rose, glancing from member to member.
Loretta spoke, tucking a blonde strand of hair behind her ear. “We will help. I ask that you find a way to guide my Patrick to me when time is corrected, but we will help.”
“We will help now.” The mayor spoke. “This mantle I wore never felt correct, and once I learned why, I wanted nothing more than rid myself of it.”
Ivy sucked in a deep breath. “Who is making this journey?”
“You, myself, and Angela. A witch, a warlock, and a djinn. We’ve tracked down items made in the proper time period. We’re all set.”
"Dare to leave with my mate, and I promise you you'll all learn what crossing a mated shifter means."
“I presumed you say that,” Patrick looked from Elijah to Ivy. “You nearly died once before. You murdered a pack member. Are you certain you are the best person to come on this mission?”
Elijah’s growl sent a shiver through Ivy. His need to protect her stirred a desire she didn’t know she harbored.
“I’m ending this,” Ivy raised her hand and let the purple glow of fire serve as a warning. “Elijah was my partner. I don’t understand how we’ve lost Renard and Candice, but they are not the only ones who deserve their lives back the way it was intended to be. Elijah is coming, and we’re starting right now.” I owe it to so many people.
She waited, expecting someone to fight back, but the fight didn't come. Instead, Angela stepped forward, coming out from the seats to stand before the judge’s box where a lawyer typically gave their remarks.
“I have no wish to make this journey, but I understand wish magic might be the only way to prevent the work of a madman.” She pulled a knife from her pocket and slid it over her palm. “If you’ll bring your cufflinks, Patrick.” Angela squeezed her hand shut, stopping the blood from dripping.
Visibly miffed, Patrick jumped down from the space. “If you two wouldn’t mind?” He beckoned them.
Elijah took her hand before letting her stand and walk.
“Whatever happens, we do this together.”
/> “Right after I unhex Tonna and Jospeh standing over there in the corner.” She said with a smile.
* * *
“Was there this much dust last time?” Elijah coughed as a mule-drawn buggy passed by and kicked up dirt.
Ivy rolled her eyes at him. “That is the first thing you’re going to say?”
He nodded. “I sat quietly and watched as Angela wished us to this place before dripping her blood. I was respectful as I’ve been the last three times as you and Patrick cast. The first time I’m allowed to say something, a fucking carriage blows dust.”
"We need to move," Angela urged, starting to walk away from the courthouse.
Elijah was grateful for the help, but first Patrick experimented with time travel, and now a djinn ordered him around. Shit wasn’t going to well because he still hadn’t had a fucking free minute to talk to Ivy about what was going on with them.
"There's no need to remind us," Ivy said calmly. "We were here. We saw the blood running down the street, and I hexed over fifty people to keep things calm." She turned her gaze on the djinn. "Don't lecture us again or I'll find another to help us and send you home."
“Ivy,” Elijah warned. He liked this side of her, but pissing off allies was his territory.
Patrick sighed. “Get back here. Hold hands, we all know the damn drill.”
As soon as Patrick’s hand touched Ivy’s the smoke from the transport portion clouded his vision. When it cleared, the Hotel Monteleone stood against the evening sky. He didn’t know why they didn’t just start there, but went with it.
“Angela, can you cast your wish the vampires as they come through?”
“Absolutely. One at a time will take a bit more effort, but I need to see them to do it. Doing it as they arrive inside will help to stop Jared from knowing our plans.”
Elijah looked over his shoulder. “Good, because we’re about to be swimming in them.” He stepped to the side, respecting Ivy as she chose to walk inside.
Eleven vampires streaked through the shadows. He took his attention from them and saw Jared and his merry band waltzing up, all talking of their achievement.
Stay still. Elijah spoke to his wolf. If he attacked Jared now, Lita and his pack mates might be lost forever. Don’t make a move. Easier said than done. The need to attack rode him strong, but thankfully, Ivy and Angela returned quickly.
“Is it done?”
Ivy nodded. “She wished they would only answer to her. It’s possible he can find new vampires, but she spread the message through his nest. He won’t have enough time.”
“Good,” Patrick nodded. “Are we ready for trip two?”
* * *
Elijah’s skin prickled with goosebumps. For him, less than a week passed since he murdered a pack mate. Now, he had the chance to protect him once and for all.
“Are you okay?” Ivy’s hand settled on his bicep. “I mean actually okay, not alpha speak for I’m dealing with it.”
He swallowed. Ivy saw right through him. Elijah blamed the mark, but she'd seem him that night, Ivy knew what he went through.
“This might change us.” The words tumbled out. “If I never kill, we might not find comfort together. I might never give in or get you to give in.”
She sighed. "I thought about that but didn't want to worry you. We're here now. We've been through timeline after timeline. I'm going to hope that's enough to keep what we went through intact."
Elijah didn't have a chance to argue. He saw the wolves coming out of the pack meeting—a meeting he'd forgotten even happened. Likely how the other witch gained control over your wolves. All four were men who didn't deserve what was coming, which was precisely why they would stop it.
“Ready?”
Ivy nodded, the hex already swirling a midnight-hued purple in her hands. Her eyes narrowed as she waited for the witch to come and take over the minds of his men. If hesitation over her using the death hex again existed, she didn't show them.
Elijah slipped his hand onto her lower back and whispered in her ear. “There is no other way.”
All at once, Ivy opened her hands and let the eerie fog float toward the witch traveling alone to steal his men. Ivy turned, but Elijah didn’t. He watched second by second as the smoke curled around her. Every scream was music to his ears. When he saw the younger version of himself step from the cabin, he grabbed Ivy by the arm. “Come on, time to meet Patrick and Angela to stop Jared from getting to his wife.”
Tears glimmered in Ivy's eyes, but she said nothing as she smashed yet another transport potion at their feet.
* * *
“Jared,” Elijah snarled the warlock’s name as he stepped out to intercept him from knocking on the small cottage he shared with his wife.
“Ap–”
“Ah, ah.” Angela wagged her finger. “I wish you can no longer cast any magic.”
“Págoma,” Ivy whispered in Greek, too quiet for any other ears to hear her lock Jared in place.
Jared fell silent, his eyes narrowing as his brow knit closer together. “You can’t stop me.”
"We already have. At the hotel. At the church. All that's left was to stop your wife from accepting your story as truth." Patrick drew his wand as he walked closer to the other warlock.
Elijah couldn’t shift quickly enough to help, but if Jared made a move, Elijah would personally rip his head from his body.
“My wife carries my child. She will come.”
“Not if she’s already dead.” Elijah let the threat hang in the air.
"You wouldn't allow it," Jared spoke to Ivy. "Neither would the djinn." Only then did he try to move and let out a hiss.
“What is this?”
“This is the end. This is for every person you destroyed in a timeline you don’t know about because we’ve stopped it from happening.” Ivy stepped forward, weaving a golden light into a figure eight with the wand she’d grabbed from her mother moments before. “This is for Elijah’s wolves. For the djinn who died alone for wishing for what you wished for. This is for Lita.” Ivy screamed as she flicked her wrists and the magical locks slipped over Jared’s wrists. Locks that only worked because the current Council had time to learn about them and teach Ivy very quickly after she’d unhexed his men.
Jared snarled, but he couldn’t move. “You won’t do anything to me.”
Elijah stepped in front of Ivy, wanting to shield her from his violence. He pulled back and let his arm fly into Jared’s face, knocking a tooth out and sending blood in the air. “She might not, but the council will and I promise you, the council we are returning you back to is the one we left. They know everything you wanted to do. They sent us to find you. We failed once, but that mistake was a one-time thing.” Elijah bent over and wrapped his hands around Jared’s knees, lifting the warlock over his shoulder before finally turning. “Okay, one last time travel spell if you don’t mind. This fucker is heavier than he looks and I’m ready for this to finally be done.”
23
Elijah gave up keeping count on how many times he’d watched the haze of time travel wear off. He tightened his grip on Jared’s forearms, shoving him to the floor.
“There is your traitor.” He growled, keeping his eyes cast on Jared. He didn’t trust the warlock not to fight, but he didn’t know what awaited him if he looked up.
“Well done, the pair of you succeeded where we failed.” Renard’s familiar voice called out. “Though, I must admit great confusion as to why Angela and another warlock appeared with you.”
Elijah chuckled and glanced to Patrick. “That man is the new Warlock Elect. There will be no vote.”
“Preposterous!” the mayor’s familiar–and female–voice shouted.
“Hear us out,” Ivy stepped up beside Elijah and lifted her wrist for the council to see.
He’d never admit it, but his heart swelled that she was willing to show off the mark.
“When we left, I did not bear this mark, correct?”
Renard nodded but said
nothing.
"We have traveled through time. We have seen and lost more lives than you could imagine. We failed to stop Jared three times. We did not fail a fourth. In our absence and failure and the entire century lived out, utterly different from our own." She stepped beside Patrick. "This man bore the burden of knowledge. He found us, century after century to help us defeat Jared. He risked losing the family he'd created in light of the changes to fix time. He is the new Warlock Elect or Elijah and I will resign and order our people not to dare step into the role."
Silence filled the large chamber. Elijah let out a low whistle and started clapping. “When the lady is right,” he called out, stepping to stand beside the pair, “she is very right.” His arms crossed over his chest. “Jared has been subdued with Angela’s wish. I suggest you deal with him before her magic wears off or I get to him first for what he took from me.”
The room was silent. Elijah felt the eyes on him, but he didn't care. Wolves dealt justice differently than other Supernaturals, and at the moment, Jared broke the law.
“Take him to the spelled prison. If, after they tell us this tall tale we deem it necessary, we can vote on the warlock’s fate.” Renard glanced to Ivy. “Ivy, this meeting would be your rotation to lead. I’m ready to be an opinionated mother fucker.” Renard smirked and flashed fang.
She nodded. “Take your seats. This emergency session will begin.” She turned to Patrick. “Welcome to the council, our next order of business will be reuniting you with Loretta.” Ivy started to walk toward her seat as Council leader.
Elijah captured her wrist, tugging her to face him. Her eyes widened in shock as Elijah pulled Ivy against him.
"We have one more order of business far more important than this council." Around him, the guards by him to take Jared away, but Elijah's attention was laser-focused on Ivy. He held up his wrist. "We both have these. They remained despite everything."
She looked at him, her lips parted as if she wanted to speak, but said nothing.
Shadows and Sorcery: A Collection of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels Page 235
