Blood Spelled

by Gayle Parness

  “I guess that makes sense. It’s not permanent?”

  “Ah, well, that’s up to you.”

  “Oh?”

  “You see, some demons delight in it and never want to move forward. Those are the soldiers you saw when we last visited the DR. They can think of nothing they’d rather be doing than ripping their enemies apart and feeding on their flesh. They are filled with battle lust, but their magic is rarely focused. They kill without logic or forethought. However, Naberia’s training regimen is beginning to change all that. They’re not only stronger, but they’re smarter.”

  “That’s not good news.”

  “No, it isn’t. The warrior form soldiers are now able to strategize and work together.”

  I stared at my empty plate for a few heartbeats. “Okay, how do I get past demon puberty so I can do some good with this mixed up mess of magic?”

  He smiled. “First you stop fighting the process and let it happen. The exercises we’re doing now are all imaginary.”

  “It feels real.” I pointed at him. He had a few scratches on his face that he hadn’t healed. “And I hurt you?”

  “You were thrashing about with your claws. Nothing too serious.”

  “So I did change form?”

  “You didn’t grow in size, but you grew claws and fangs.”

  “Great.”

  “You’ll be able to get through this next stage quickly, if you trust me. We can move forward, now. During times of intense emotion, your magic will tell you that you want to kill and…do the other. Perhaps even that you must kill.” He didn’t want to bring up the eating thing again. Smart guy. “Tell me what you truly want to do with this more powerful magic?”

  “I want to protect my family and friends and fight beside them.” That was simple. “And I want to kill your mother.” Garrett chuckled. “I’m not kidding.”

  “So this is what you must do. When you are experiencing intense anger or sadness or frustration, you must find a way to get past what the demon wants and to focus on what you truly want, on who you truly are and what you believe is right. If you can find a way to do this, I can begin to teach you more advanced ways to use your magic.”

  “Like what Charlie can do?” He could change his form, disguise his aura and scent, and hide in shadows so he was practically invisible.

  “It may be possible.”

  I rubbed the spot over my heart. My skin was always cold there. “And Naberia’s spell?”

  “I cannot access it, but I believe you are strong enough now to resist when her trap finally does spring. But again, it’s up to you.”

  “Jackie is no good to you at all if she’s hungry and exhausted. You must give her access to the entire villa so she can feed when she needs to eat and rest more comfortably.”

  “Was I not clear about the intensity of her way-past-teenaged angst? Would you like to see what her room looked like before I put her to sleep and cleaned it up?”

  He flicked his hand and the room changed. The fireplace was back, only some of the bricks and stones were cracked and lying on the floor. The padding on two of the walls had been ripped to shreds. Spots of blood stood out in various places, most of it on the floor.

  “Some of this is my blood, in case you’re interested,” Isaiah grumbled.

  My world was dropping out from under me, leaving me dangling in limbo. My stomach was clenched up in disgust at what I’d done and the joy I’d felt as I’d done it, even it is was in my mind. “I’d like to take a shower.”

  Garrett turned to Isaiah, sending him a message mind to mind. Isaiah laughed and nodded. The room shifted as Garrett picked me up, one arm under my knees, the other around my waist.

  “I think a bath is in order.”

  “You can put me down. I’m not a child.” I pushed against his chest half-heartedly. To be honest, I loved being in his arms.

  “Believe me, my love, I know that very well.”

  As much as I adored him, I didn’t feel I could be intimate with him after all that had happened today. “Garrett… I love you, but—”

  “Just a bath and perhaps some blood to give you energy. Let me care for you, my love.” He nuzzled my neck. “Sleeping beside you makes me happier than any male has a right to be.”

  While we’d been talking, Isaiah had enlarged the entire bedroom, adding the fireplace once more and making the bed more inviting. The ugly padding disappeared from the walls, replaced by several colorful paintings. Our floor to ceiling windows gave us a perfect view of the moon, stars and ocean. Best of all, he’d added a very large bathtub and surrounded it with scented candles. To top it off, he’d even piped in some soft music.

  Never let it be said that Isaiah didn’t have a romantic side.

  The bath was heaven. Garrett cared for me as he always did, massaging my aching muscles, shampooing my hair, then drying me off, taking extra care with the worst of my bruises and cuts. He shared his blood and we both agreed that restraint on this particular night was in my best interest, even though our bodies were protesting the decision. Wrapped in each other’s arms we watched the shooting stars and listened to the hypnotic sound of the waves. Finally, I couldn’t keep my eyes open a moment longer.

  “I meant to speak to you about Isaiah,” I whispered before I got all the way under the covers.

  “Have you decided on his fate? I’m sure I could manage a surprise attack,” Garrett teased.

  “He says he’ll need a blood donor while he’s here.”

  “Does he now?”

  “Apparently, he’ll be giving me quite a bit of his blood to work the spells to help with my training.”

  “I suppose I could find someone.”

  “He said a female vampire from Francois’ line would be fine.”

  Garrett laughed. “Is he serious? He expects me to fly someone in from Paris?”

  “You could ask Yvette.” Yvette had also been a vampire in Eleanor’s nest, along with Garrett. She’d decided to join Francois’ nest after Eleanor’s death.

  “She would come here out of loyalty, but is that fair? He shouldn’t be so particular.”

  “He’s working very hard. I’ll let him explain it to you, if you like.”

  “Never mind. I’ll put in the call tomorrow.”

  “I don’t deserve you,” I whispered, snuggling closer and resting my head on his chest.

  “I disagree. I think you have earned me, faults and all,” he teased.

  “I suppose I have. Have you earned me?” I smiled and kissed his shoulder.

  “I’m still working toward that end.”

  “You definitely get five stars for tonight.” I yawned.

  “This is excellent news.”

  The bed was comfy, and the evening with Garrett had brightened my mood and warmed my heart. But who knew what tomorrow would bring?

  Garrett felt my body tense. “Sleep, my love.” I nestled into his comforting presence as he hummed a sweet song, lulling me into a dreamless sleep.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “Why are you still here?” Isaiah grumbled. “It’s the morning, in case you haven’t noticed.”

  “I’m staying for Jackie. She needs me.” Garrett’s tone was adamant.

  “I’ve explained the situation.”

  “I think I can help.”

  “Oh really? How?”

  “You say she might go off the deep end and hurt her family. Use me to test your theory. I’m tough—hard to kill.” Garrett grinned at Isaiah, only he wasn’t grinning back.

  “It’s your neck.” Isaiah dragged out the words with a sardonic tone.

  “Exactly.”

  I was sitting at the small table. Isaiah and Garrett joined me. “What’s the plan for today?” I asked, not really wanting to hear about how I was going to tested again. And again. And again.

  “The cleansing ritual worked, so over the next few days we’re going to rankle your demon so she tries to take charge again. When you can calm her down to the point where her lust fo
r blood doesn’t control your actions, we’ll be set to start in with the more advanced training.”

  “Sounds awesome,” I droned, “but can’t I crawl back into bed instead?”

  “Nope. Naptime is later.”

  Isaiah had returned the room to its simple state, leaving it larger since Garrett insisted on hanging around. I already missed the window. “Concentrate on calming your instinct to slaughter and focus on using that same energy to take yourself to the garden.” He gave me a wry smile. “It’s a short and simple trip.”

  “What if I can’t control where I go? What if I end up in the DR or Crescent City?”

  “I’ve placed a high level obstruction around the perimeter of the property. You won’t get past it, no matter what you try.”

  “Okay. I’ll do my best.” Garrett squeezed my hand.

  “I’m taking heart blood this time.” Isaiah tossed that out like it was no biggie.

  “You’re what?” Garrett snapped. Heart blood sounded dangerous.

  Isaiah pointed at Garrett’s chest, his irritation darkening his normally bright aura. “You are here for Jackie’s sake on my indulgence, but you have no say whatsoever in how I choose to conduct this process. Do you understand?”

  “There is absolutely no way I will allow—”

  “Do. Not. Test. Me.” Isaiah’s eyes glowed a deep orange, his power thickening the air in the room and surprisingly, Garrett backed off. He’d lived as long as he had because he was smart enough to know when he was magically outclassed. And none of us doubted the magic of the four thousand-year-old heir to Naberia’s throne would trump a two hundred fifty-year-old vampire, ancient bloodline or no ancient bloodline.

  Garrett flattened his mouth, and swallowed his pride, all for my sake. “I apologize and I acknowledge your authority in this matter.” Garrett’s eyes had gone silver, but he wasn’t going to take the chance of being sent back and leaving me here alone with Isaiah.

  “I still think you rock,” I teased him, trying to lighten the moment. These males could get so hopped up.

  “If you want me to kill him, my offer still stands.” I was sure if he’d spoken that sentence out loud, it would have sounded like a growl.

  “I don’t think it’ll be necessary, but thanks.” I hugged him affectionately.

  Isaiah glanced at me, frowning. “Sit,” he snapped. Great, now I had two grumps to deal with. I sat as he glared at Garrett. “You both must remain silent while I work.” Garrett arched an expressive eyebrow, nodded and settled against the wall to wait.

  Isaiah took his shirt off a few seconds later, pulled out his dagger and began to chant in what seemed to be the more archaic form of Rux. He dimmed the lights, starting up the fireplace instead. More herbs were thrown into the fire, causing the room to acquire a not-so-pleasant moldy, musky scent. I covered my nose. Not quite like the aromatic candles he’d placed around the bathtub.

  When his dagger pierced his own chest, I was shocked. But when he used his ancient blade to cut a circle in the flesh around his heart, deep enough to lift away from his body and exposing his beating heart, I almost had to heave again. He nicked the organ and covered his dagger with the blood, replacing the chunk of skin and muscle as if he were about to sew a patch on a pair of ripped jeans. He placed his hand on the wound and chanted, closing his glowing orange eyes for several seconds. When he opened them again his critical chest wound was completely healed.

  “Now you.”

  I was ready to tell him no freakin’ way, when he took my hand and sliced my wrist, the two bloods melding again. My knees buckled from the pain, but Garrett supported me. The blade lit up as it had the last time, only in this instance the runes glowed a healthy golden orange.

  “This color is a good sign—a sign of potency.” I lifted my head to meet his gaze, but faster than I could track, that potently bloody blade was lodged in my gut. I screamed as fragments of diamond-sharp magic pricked against my raw nerves, torturing me with a molten burn. Garrett began to move, but Isaiah held him off with an icy stare.

  I spread my stance on another field with another group of fae in the distance, only this time I recognized two of them: Brina and Kaera. The third was a stranger and was dressed in a similar manner. As with the others who’d come before, three blades had been drawn but I was stronger, larger. I was the demon who would end them.

  I stepped forward, my strides eating up the distance, but something urged me to slow my pace before I’d gone very far. Brina and Kaera. How was it possible I knew their names? I studied Brina more closely, picturing her at a table with a mug of hot milk flavored with chocolate. Kaera sipped at coffee, black and sweet. We laughed.

  No, this was wrong. I bent and clutched at my thighs, allowing my claws to dig deeply into my own muscles. I had no friends—only ally and enemy. I spat on the ground and growled out my anger. The female warriors drew closer, but they did not imagine friendship when they looked at me. No, my death glittered in the heat of their golden eyes. They would do all they could to end my life.

  I would taste their blood, taste their flesh, taste their agony, and it would be ambrosia.

  Something else drew my eye behind them. A garden? Why would a garden distract me from my purpose? The fae warriors were fifty short strides away and I was hungry for their souls. This was my purpose. This was why I was born demon and not some other sniveling species.

  Roses.

  My nostrils filled with the scent of roses—roses, lilac and lily. How did I know those scents? I glanced once more toward the garden and stepped back in surprise. Tiny fae creatures were flying amongst the reds, pinks, purples and whites of the garden flowers. They were also my enemies, but they tended the flowers. They did not ride toward me with sword in hand. Curious, I moved toward the sound of their beating wings and the scent of life energy carried to me by the salty tang of a sea breeze.

  But this was a trick devised by the females who rode to attack me and I was angered by their use of dark spells. I extended my claws and fangs, anxious to meet them in battle. I would leave only pieces—mere scraps, because the only scent I truly craved was blood.

  Yet as each breeze stirred the long grass beneath my feet, my desire to walk along pathways that wove within such beauty, strengthened with every step. How could I not choose to journey to this place, so unlike any I had known before?

  And yet it was not completely unfamiliar and that thought filled me with emotion. With hope. I would go and return again. I shuddered and shrank as soon as the sea air touched my skin. Here I could hear the call of birds, the constant crashing of waves, and the sound of my lover’s voice.

  “Jackie. Jacqueline. Are you all right?”

  “Did I get myself here?” I was on my hands and knees on the stone path beside the roses.

  “You did.” Isaiah helped me stand.

  “And I didn’t kill anyone?” I glanced around, looking for telltale drops of blood.

  “You didn’t harm one hair on anyone’s head. Not even the fae stranger.”

  Garrett and Isaiah were grinning like chimps. Apparently, I’d passed today’s test. Big whoop.

  “You did well, my love. I’ll return in a moment.”

  I nodded, lowered myself to the bench and covered my face with my hands. “It’s so hard. So hard to make her turn away from the battle. I almost couldn’t do it.”

  Isaiah sat beside me on the bench, looking slightly paler than normal. “But you did. Good work, little demon.” He touched his chest where he’d cut himself. “We’ll eat lunch, you’ll rest for an hour, then the work begins again.”

  “Again? The same thing?”

  “Yes, only you will insist she goes to the driveway this time. It is not as appealing and she will not be as motivated to leave the battle, but you must be able to force your demon to obey your true wishes no matter what they are.”

  I winced. “I can’t force her. I have to make her think it’s her idea, at least that’s true for my warrior.”

  “So
on, she’ll be taking your orders. You must try to separate yourself from her. That will help. When you’re a cheetah, aren’t you also yourself?”

  “Both parts are me.”

  “But does she ever want to hunt when you want to go home again?”

  “I give her the freedom to hunt as she likes, but yes. I’m always in charge.” I looked down at my hands, which were nervously fidgeting. “I should say the old me was in charge.”

  “You will learn to love this new you.”

  “Not likely.”

  “Your warrior is our first obstacle. We can’t have you going all jolly green on everyone whenever you get angry.” Isaiah sighed and winced, rubbing his chest where he’d cut himself. He noticed my concerned expression. “It’s healing. Don’t worry.”

  I touched his shoulder. “You don’t look well. Maybe we should put it off until tomorrow.”

  “I’m stronger than you might imagine.”

  “It’s already after noon? It took that long?”

  “Yes.” He wiped his brow with his shirtsleeve. “But there is still time to do this again.”

  “Isaiah, do you remember Yvette?” Garrett asked, sauntering into the garden with a companion I recognized.

  A lovely female vampire had arrived via the ley lines in the arms of Francois, Garrett’s grandsire. According to Garrett, Francois had not wanted to interrupt me and had simply dropped Yvette off and left. Yvette was a mahogany skinned, dark eyed, full-lipped beauty and Isaiah, dumbfounded at first, stood and bowed. He recovered his confidence quickly, strolling over in his sexy way and kissing the lovely vampire’s hand.

  “Bonjour, Isaiah.” Her smile was anything but platonic. “I have been told you need a donor, and for Garrett’s sake I will do whatever is required.” She struck a pose that could only mean she’d be available for more than simply what was necessary.

  “Bonjour, Yvette. I thank you for your service and it will not be forgotten. If I may offer payment of some kind, you only need to ask.”

  “We can perhaps discuss that later?” Her flirty expression spoke volumes.

  Isaiah cleared his throat. “Certainly. Jackie and I were about to eat and Garrett was going to open one of his better Cabernets. Would you like to join us?”