Rory sighed and knelt by the fireplace to help Kaia.
“Rory,” Brennan said.
“Brennan,” Rory said.
There was no love lost between the two of them. Rory never kowtowed to anyone, a fact that didn’t sit well with Her Highness.
Brennan sat back down and waited for Kaia to face her. When Kaia finally turned around, her aunt said, “There’s news I must tell you immediately.”
Alarm crossed Kaia’s face. “Evan?”
Last the girls had heard, Evan had been in Rome.
“As far as I know, Evan’s okay. No, it’s about Glory. Her people have been trying to reach you because Glory’s been kidnapped and they need your help.”
A shuddering chill blew through Rory and she scooted closer to the fire.
“Who kidnapped her?” Kaia asked.
“The demons Nyx and Jesse. All anyone knew of your whereabouts was that you two were on a road trip. Your cell phones seem to be out of order. No one at Haven has heard from you. Nor, of course, have we.”
Rory knew the edge in Brennan’s voice went beyond frustration at the current circumstances. The leader of the Moonstone coven had never hidden her displeasure about Kaia’s decision to move to Atlanta. It always confused Rory because Brennan had been so adamant about the arranged marriage between Kaia and Evan in the first place. Her motive in pressuring Kaia into the marriage had been to unite the Moonstone and Starlight covens. Had the woman expected that the couple would marry but never live together?
Kaia said, “The witch hunters who kidnapped us destroyed our phones, and we haven’t had time to replace them yet.”
“Witch hunters? However did you escape them?”
“It’s a long story, Aunt Brennan. Actually, the more interesting story is about a run-in we had a few hours ago with the Flanagans. You know the Flanagans? I understand they’re my mother’s people? It would have been nice if someone had given me a heads-up at some point in my life that half my bloodline was into the evil.”
Brennan paled. “I’ve spent my life trying to protect you from them. Not just by bringing you here when you were a child, but by magically shielding you from their knowledge. What changed to allow them to find you?”
Kaia didn’t answer, so Rory did.
“I’d guess Micah’s possession put Kaia on the Flanagan’s radar. It seems they now consider her primed and ready to go darkside. I think y’all did a piss-poor job at running interference.”
Brennan’s face went from white to red in a flash. She jumped to her feet and stormed to where Rory sat, then did her obvious best to lord her six-foot stature over the tiny girl. “You’ll show me respect or I’ll banish you.”
Rory’s mind picked up on Brennan’s unspoken words, from my kingdom, and burst out laughing. The woman always had an inflated sense of self.
“Banish away, sweetie. Right now, I’m tired and about to fall asleep. Kaia’s in worse shape than me, thanks to the Flanagans. Oh, and did I sense fae energy in their posse? They were rocking the Pictish thing, but I’d bet there’s changeling blood there too.”
Brennan’s eyes grew wide. “Don’t speak such things aloud.”
Rory kicked off her boots, crawled onto a big pillow by the fireplace, pulled the hood of her sweatshirt over her head, and hunkered down as close to the flames as she could. “Kaia, don’t let Her Majesty bully you. Get some shuteye. We’ll deal with Glory tomorrow. And we’ll deal with the Flanagans when we have to.”
Ignoring the sounds of Brennan’s outrage and Kaia’s amusement, Rory felt someone cover her with a blanket and then she lost herself in welcome darkness.
)o( )o( )o(
The next morning, Rory and Kaia managed to sneak away from Moonstone without any further confrontations with Brennan. They drove straight through to Denver, stopping only for a hot meal and new cell phones before driving northeast to Glory’s farm in Union.
The moment they stepped out of the BMW at the farm, Hallelujah rushed to greet them. She practically knocked Kaia over and welcomed her with a frantic tale of woe. At least that’s how Kaia translated Hallelujah’s nonstop whines and whimpers as she knelt in the snow and comforted the trembling dog.
Hallelujah wasn’t the only one beside herself with worry. When the girls entered Glory’s house, the doom cloud was suffocating. Rory had to throw up protective shields just so she could breathe.
Dominic and Sasha welcomed them with clingy hugs, and then Sasha introduced them to Lailah.
Rory had met a number of angels in her day, but none who radiated as much power as Lailah. “I’ve read about you in ancient Hebrew texts,” Rory said to her. “You’re the polar opposite of the demoness Lilith.”
Lailah cocked her head. “You are a smart young thing.”
“Yes, I am. So I gotta ask, if you’re that damn special why can’t you find Glory?” Rory ignored Lailah’s startled expression and Sasha’s shocked little gasp. “Ah, don’t get your feathers all ruffled, girls. It’s a straight-up question.”
Kaia and Dominic both tried to hide their amusement, and Raven offered her a surreptitious thumbs-up.
“Witches never fail to impress me,” Lailah said.
“Great, we’ll hug it out later,” Rory said. “In the meantime, sweetie, answer my question.”
“It is unanswerable. It is a mystery.”
“That’s why we reached out to you two,” Sasha said. “You’re the most powerful psychics we know. We’re hoping you can psychically connect with Glory, find out where she’s at, and help us rescue her.”
Rory looked at Raven. “What gifts do you bring to the party?”
“I’m a witch made, not born. But Lailah tells me my DNA is changing from human to witch. The powers that are opening up for me basically relate to energy: I can form energy balls, see auras, and manipulate energy fields.”
Rory asked Dominic, “You got any angel mojo left?”
He shook his head. “I asked for human, and that’s what I got.”
Rory closed her eyes and struggled to see the whole picture clearly. “Anyone contact the Caretakers?”
“For some reason, they can’t locate Glory either,” Dominic said.
“Where could Nyx and Jesse have possibly taken her that the friggin’ Caretakers of the friggin’ world can’t track?” Rory asked, her frustration growing.
“Somewhere outside the world?” Raven suggested.
Rory’s eyes flew open and landed on Raven. “Of course.” She thought about Nyx’s little demonstration of multiple intersecting dimensions. “They’ve taken her to Hell.”
Dominic slowly sank onto the ottoman. “Hell? Oh, my God.”
“You two do know about Spooky Baby and how she’s like the Holy Grail of humanity’s survival, right?” Raven asked.
Kaia shook her head. “We know Zane is Genesis’ father and that she’s got a significant destiny, but I guess someone better read us in on the details.”
Sasha related the facts about Genesis’s conception on a different level of that cosmic chessboard Nyx had shown Rory. Then she explained that the baby’s DNA would prevent global genocide. Rory thought about her mother’s warning that Mother Earth Herself was dying and realized that the NWO’s holocaust had impacted Earth’s lifeforce. She could see it clearly now.
Urgency flooded. Rory had to devise a plan to duel Sith Lords, rescue Princess Leia from the Death Star, and save this corner of the universe. All she had to work with was Kaia, who was teetering on the edge of a dark and mysterious precipice; impotent angels and Caretakers; a freaked-out dog; a newbie witch in transition; and a frazzled human who at this moment sat on the ottoman across from her, nervously fondling a baseball bat.
Where was Obi-Wan Kenobi when you really needed him?
* * *
Jesse left a vase of fresh flowers on the piano. He didn’t say they were for me, but they were. The vibrant, fragrant arrangement was a piece of the outdoors that I missed so much.
Nyx and I stood side-
by-side staring at them.
She made a sound of disgust. “He’s not the demon I gave birth to. Try to feed and raise them right and this is what they do? Flowers? Really?”
Her woebegone expression made me laugh. “The horror of it all.”
“You did this to him.”
“I’m shameless.”
She shook her head. “I never thought you’d give yourself to him.”
“I didn’t either.”
She studied me. “The big surprise is that you’re sincere.”
“I am.”
“Just tell me why.”
I thought about how to explain. “He needs me.”
“But it’s not what you wanted.”
“Life isn’t all about me.” The pandemic had taught me that.
“There’s no room in Hell for saints.”
I chuckled. “I’m so not a saint.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“He’s a good kisser. I mean really good.” My belly burned thinking about it.
That made Nyx smile. “Yes, he is. There’s something terribly sexy about a man who can kiss like that.”
We both got lost in private thoughts for a few minutes. Mine drifted to the erotic, and I struggled to rein them in.
Finally, my attention returned to the flowers. “Why are you so upset about him doing something nice?”
“He’s not turning as many souls.”
I was glad to hear that.
“And I still feel that you two aren’t going to end well.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” I tried not to look too far ahead, but how could this ever end well?
I had tried talking to Jesse about the possibility of his soul’s redemption and us returning to the world together with Genesis. The rage that concept evoked was something I never wanted to see again.
I patted Gen. She was restless. “I need to sit. Work on my sparring technique.”
Nyx gave me a curious look.
“Never know what the future’s going to hold. I want to be ready for whatever may come.”
“Good luck with that.”
I sat down in my chair, closed my eyes, and decided to pray. I hadn’t prayed since that night Jesse and Nyx took me.
I doubt if anyone is listening, or even cares, but I’m lost in Hell and could use some help here. I know my faith leaves a lot to be desired, I’m having way too many X-rated fantasies, and I am beginning to see the perks of going darkside, so will understand if you aren’t eager to help me. But please think of Genesis and the world she was put inside me to save. Oh, and Jesse needs help too, even if he won’t admit it. Thank you and here’s hoping.
I rubbed my belly. Gen, let me bottom-line the situation for you—we are totally screwed. But if they take you from me, know I love you and will never stop trying to save you. No sacrifice will be too big, even my own soul. I’ll do whatever it takes—
Suddenly, I heard a voice in my head.
Glory?
I recognized that distinctive southern accent. Rory?
Gods, but your head is a tough nut. Kaia and I have been working our asses off to get through, and it just now finally cracked open.
I was praying.
Well, that’ll do it. Where are you?
In a section of Hell located in a penthouse in Denver. Very tall building. That’s all I know.
Good info. With that, we can scry and find you.
It’s warded against angels.
That explains a lot. Who else is there?
Jesse and Nyx.
We’ll make a plan and get back to you.
Wait. I can’t leave here.
Why? she asked
I made promises to Jesse.
Ah crap, sweetie. Have you gone all Stockholm syndrome on us?
No. At least I don’t think so. Had I? It’s complicated. I gave my word.
Uh, huh. Are these promises more important than getting your baby out of there?
Genesis or Jesse, the world or my word? Of course I had to get out. What was I thinking? What was this place doing to me? I steadied myself. You need to know that Nyx plans to take Genesis away as soon as she’s born, and if that happens I won’t leave. I’ll have to stay on the inside to get her back.
How close is she to coming down the chute?
With Gen, nothing’s been predictable. I think she might be poised and ready, but I’ve thought that for a while.
We’ll hurry.
They can read my emotions, Rory. Now that this has happened, how do I hide them?
Drown the ones you don’t want them to feel with stronger ones.
How do I do that?
Figure it out.
Rory never coddled.
Stand by, Rory said. I’ll get back to you. Stay strong. No guts, no glory.
Guts. Glory. Got it. Hey, Rory?
Yeah?
If I don’t make it out of here, tell Zane and Nicky that I’m sorry.
Sorry for what?
Did they really need to know what I’d done? Actually, just tell them that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions, okay?
You’re not going to die in there.
It wasn’t dying here that I was worried about. Like I said, if I don’t make it out...
We’ll get you out. Keep the faith.
Then Rory was gone.
I took a shaky breath, emerged from my secret place, and looked around. Nyx sat on the couch, watching a movie. She didn’t appear to have noticed Rory’s visitation.
I sensed the scent and feel of Jesse’s approach, and my stomach caught the approaching fire.
The instant he manifested, his eyes captured mine, and his smile set me aflame.
“You okay?” he asked.
I nodded. “You?”
“Am now.”
“Me too.”
“Wow,” Nyx said, with a shake of her head. “You two are sweet madness pie topped with a huge cherry of crazy.”
“Gorgeous flowers,” I told Jesse, ignoring Nyx’s snort.
“Glad you like them.” He came up behind my chair and kissed the back of my neck.
I melted. After I had stopped resisting him, there was a wicked sensuality about his touch I found devastating. One part of me believed the intensity of it arose from his demonic nature. Another part didn’t care why it was happening and just wanted to relax and enjoy. The part of me which needed to block my true emotions realized that allowing myself to get lost in those seductive feelings might be a perfect way to hide. I tried not to think about how dangerous that particular hiding place might be.
)o( )o( )o(
Rory, Kaia, and Raven worked together to magically scry for Glory’s exact location in space and time. They each took a turn with the pendulum and the map of downtown Denver, and each zeroed in on the same location.
“Should we scout the place before we go in?” Raven asked.
Rory shook her head. “We recon, we risk tipping our hand.”
Kaia grew pensive. “Barry’s a world-renowned architect and incredibly well-connected. Perhaps he can get us some schematics of the building?”
“Inspired,” Rory said. “I’ll call.”
Rory’s adoptive father said he would send the documents in short order. While talking to him, Rory thought maybe she should say some sort of last words in case she didn’t survive the raid on Hell, but wasn’t sure it would matter to him one way or another. Barry had never been anything but kind to her, but, well, that was the problem. A sense of duty to a fallen comrade, a need for a powerful psychic in the Starlight coven, fighting together in the trenches—not the same as love. “Thanks, Father. Just send them to my new phone. It’s a burner; can’t be traced.”
“Smart girl,” Barry said. “Get the job done.”
Rory’s thoughts turned to Zane, and she wondered how the cure was going. It took way too much self-control for her not to call White Bear. She struggled with the desire to psychically tune in on Zane and get a read, but decided to respect the boundaries
he’d asked for. Strange how discovering him to be family changed everything—it created in her a vulnerability she’d never before experienced. Until now, Rory hadn’t understood how deeply she wanted to love and be loved.
Glory’s circle of friends gathered in her living room to discuss strategy.
“The angels can’t go, but you can take me,” Dominic said.
Kaia shook her head. “You may be humanized, but you still have that angelic echo. They might sense you. Their wards could set off supernatural alarms. You can’t come.”
He appeared unconvinced.
“It’s true, D,” Raven said. “It’s all about energy. You still have a strong spiritual connection to Heaven and that power totally radiates from you. You even smell awesome, like the most amazing incense. You are Captain Obvious.”
“So what, just you three witches are going in for her?” Dominic asked.
Rory shook her head. “I’m thinking of calling the Goth Girls. See if they’ll help.”
“That’s an idea,” Kaia said.
Raven narrowed her eyes and studied Kaia. “Ever since you arrived, your energy field has been wonky. Like there’s a hole in it. I know you’re a demon hunter and all, but I’m thinking skill alone isn’t enough to pull off the vanquish.”
Rory had sensed something wrong with her, too. She figured that more happened during the Flanagan encounter than Kaia had revealed.
Kaia turned to the angels. “Dominic healed me after the car accident last summer. Micah healed us from our witch hunter wounds. Can’t you fix this?”
“If your wounds were physical, yes, but not those related to your magical powers,” Lailah said.
Rory thought about it. “I can channel energy from Mother Earth. I could feed Kaia magical energy to do her thing. We’ll team up on the vanquish.”
Bridget had told Rory her dance with Nyx wasn’t over yet. Of course, she had also predicted Rory’s imminent death.
Rory was three years old when she witnessed her mother being burned alive by Nyx’s sneak attack at Haven. Bridget’s shrieks still haunted Rory’s nightmares. The smell of her mother’s roasting flesh was the real reason Rory had become vegetarian, and not—as everyone believed—because of a desire to emulate Kaia. However, the greatest impact that trauma had on Rory’s life was to make her tough. Rory was not fearless, but she had spent a lifetime forging effective armor and never backed down from a fight. Even if the enemy faced was the most terrifying monster of them all.
Genesis (The Legend of Glory Book 3) Page 17
