“Lovers’ quarrel?” Leath shrugged.
“Fuck you, Leath.”
“You missed your chance for that.” Leath advanced. “And now I’ll rob you of any future you had with the coven. You’re unfit to be a guardian of the Council, unfit and unworthy.”
That stung, but Evan used her anger to regroup, recharge.
“I don’t want any part of a Council you hold sway over.”
“Jacqueline was weak, emotional…your incompetence at the ceremony was a symptom of her sentimentality and an act of defiance.”
“It was an accident.” Evan spoke softly, almost to herself.
It was at that moment that Leath finally noticed Abby’s absence from where she’d been tethered to the stone. She’d turned to dismiss Evan, no doubt to return to her task, only to discover her sacrificial lamb was missing.
“That’s right,” Evan shouted. “She’s gone. It’s over, Leath. You’ve lost.”
That did it. The fuse was lit.
Leath’s eyes glowed red and her entire countenance went dark. Time to pull out the big guns. Evan braced her forearms together, and this time, dipped her head so that the Helm of Awe faced Leath. She threaded her fingers over the symbol, forearms together. When Leath hammered the charge at Evan, the blast was amplified. A deafening boom echoed off the cave walls, and the shock wave threw both of them to the ground.
***
Foster couldn’t fight the undercurrent any longer. Her limbs were heavy, sluggish; the cold water was seeping into her bones. The light from the surface dimmed as they sank. She’d failed. Foster held Abby close.
I’m so sorry, Abby. I never got the chance to say…I love you.
This was it. Death was coming, quietly, insistently. She’d always read that drowning was the most painless way to die. Was that really true? Was any death painless? The loss of the future, any future, the end of everything you might have been or imagined you could be. Forever nothing.
Then something began to happen.
The amulet around Abby’s neck began to glow, dimly at first, and then brightly. Abby opened her eyes and smiled at Foster. The darkness of their underwater tomb had been pushed back and away. Foster inhaled sharply. She could breathe; there was air. She took a few deep breaths. And they were floating, but on what, in what?
“How—”
“I love you too, Foster.”
Color was returning to Abby’s cheeks. She seemed so…happy. Abby practically glowed. No, wait, she was glowing.
“Thank you for saving me.” Abby kissed her lightly, sweetly.
“Abby, I’m never letting you go.”
“Then let’s finish this, shall we?”
Foster didn’t know what Abby meant by finish this, but she nodded anyway. At this point, she’d follow Abby to the absolute end of the earth. Whatever it took for them to be together, she was ready to give it all she had.
Abby placed her hands at Foster’s waist and looked upward. They were ascending together toward the surface. When they broke through, the light stayed with them. They floated just above the white caps, gliding toward the raised stone altar.
Abby gently set Foster down and turned toward Leath, who spun to face her. Off to the side of where Leath stood, ankle deep in seawater, Evan braced for another attack. Abby was unsure how much time had passed or exactly what had transpired while she was with Jacqueline and Mercy. In a way, they were still with her. She could sense their shared experiences like memories that were her own.
“You should leave now.” Abby was oddly no longer angry or afraid of Leath. All she felt was pity.
“I’m not leaving until I get what I came for.”
“Leath Dane, I cast you out.” Abby rose a few inches above the stone and glided across the space between them. She stopped several feet from Leath, hovering just above the water’s surface. She could feel Leath’s fear as if it were her own. “Your desolate soul is deadened with anger and hate. Let the dead dwell with the dead, let them dwell with you in the dust of your exile. I shut the door to thee. The sisterhood will weep, but you are lost to us.”
Leath’s expression changed, from fear to rage and then back to fear. She looked down at her hands, turning them over as if they were foreign to her, as if she could no longer feel them.
“Power corrupts the corruptible,” Abby continued. “No life is without its broken, empty spaces, but you have chosen to fill those spaces with hatred and greed for power that was never destined to be yours.” Abby paused for a moment. She raised her arms, palms up, in Leath’s direction. “Leath Dane, I cast you out. This is good-bye.”
A surge of power flowed from her fingers. Acting as a conduit for such voltage made the muscles of her arms and legs twitch and tingle. She felt lightheaded and had to blink and breathe deeply through the intoxicating waves that pulsed through her arms. She and Leath were enveloped now in light, blinding, explosive light. For a moment, an instant, time stopped. Recognition dawned on Leath’s face, and Abby sensed her acceptance. Leath looked at Abby as if she were seeing her for the first time, as if she were witnessing the birth of new life, the birth of a star, some celestial being.
The luminosity spiked for a split second and then was gone.
Abby remained in the darkness of the cave facing no one. The light had taken Leath with it to a place where the wounded stood outside time and space. Abby knew this because Jacqueline knew it, and Jacqueline knew it because others before her had known it, and so on and so on into infinity.
“Thank you.” Abby spoke to Evan for the first time. Evan looked as if she were in shock.
She turned back to Foster, who hugged herself, as she sat in a shivering heap in the center of the stone altar.
“Let’s get you somewhere warm.”
The surf swirled beneath her feet, and from it she sensed its collective life force, and the movement of the earth, and its place around the sun, and the wind. She closed her eyes and faced it—the winds of change.
Chapter Twenty-nine
Foster’s body began to warm the moment she took Abby’s hand. She was on one side and Evan was on the other. Abby closed her eyes, and they rose from the edge of the surf to the top of the cliff where they’d left the horses. Foster’s arm tingled, like when your foot goes to sleep, but she held on tightly.
When they crested the cliff, she could see that Boots and Brother were not alone. Callie, Sasha, and Journey had come. All five horses formed a semicircle facing the cliff, as if they were sentinels, standing guard. Abby gently lowered Foster and Evan to the ground and walked toward the horses. They closed around her, nuzzling her and making small sounds. If they’d been cats, Foster would have sworn they were purring. She watched the touching scene as Abby whispered and caressed each of them.
***
It was very late, the wee hours of the morning, when they returned to the estate. She figured Abby could have flown them back, but they rode the horses instead, and even that seemed to take half the time as before. Her clothes were dry by the time they’d risen from the water, no doubt thanks to Abby’s touch. Otherwise she’d have been freezing on the ride back. Even still, she was exhausted and emotionally raw.
Cora came rushing downstairs when she heard them, fussing over Evan’s cuts and bruises like a mother hen. Everyone assured Cora that what they each needed most was rest. Once Evan was settled into the spare room, everyone retreated to their own spaces.
Foster mutely followed Abby to her room. She hadn’t been invited to do so, but after what she’d just experienced, there was no way she was letting Abby out of her sight.
She closed the door behind her, and when she did, Abby turned and smiled as if she’d forgotten Foster was with her and was pleasantly surprised by the discovery. Abby stepped close and cradled Foster’s face. Abby kissed Foster tenderly, her lips were warm and soft.
“How do you feel?” Foster couldn’t put her finger on it exactly, but Abby seemed different. She had to be, right? Abby was different now, but w
hat did that mean?
“Alive.” Abby smiled broadly and her eyes sparkled.
“What were you before?”
“Asleep.” Abby kissed her again, this time more deeply.
Abby tugged at the buttons of Foster’s shirt and then pushed it off her shoulders. They undressed each other as they moved to the bed. Five minutes ago, she’d been too tired to stand but Abby’s touch was bringing her back to life. She wanted Abby in the worst way.
They tumbled into bed, and Abby pulled the comforter up. Foster slipped her leg between Abby’s and pulled her close. She needed to feel the warmth of Abby’s body, firm, real, unharmed. I was so scared. I thought I’d lost you. She pressed her lips to Abby’s forehead.
“You could never lose me,” Abby whispered.
Foster hovered above Abby, studying her face. She wanted to make love to Abby, but fatigue was seeping into every muscle.
“Rest and let me hold you.” Abby settled Foster’s head on her shoulder. “We have all the time in the world now.”
Chapter Thirty
Foster poured herself a second cup of coffee. She could write about everything she’d seen, heard, and witnessed. Anyone who read it would assume it was pure fiction. Only the entire crazy tale would be true. She’d lived it and she almost didn’t believe it herself. She’d been weak and utterly exhausted when Abby had taken her to bed the previous night. They’d slept curled against each other in the sweetest embrace. This morning she felt renewed.
Evan reached around her for a mug and poured herself a cup also. Foster stepped aside. She leaned against the counter’s edge and took a few sips.
“I’m thinking of writing a new story.”
“You don’t say.” Evan gave Foster a sideways glance as she stirred her coffee.
There were bruises on Evan’s arms and a nasty cut on her cheek held together with several butterfly bandages. Foster was still getting used to Evan’s shaved head. With the tattoo on her scalp, she did a good imitation of a Viking warrior. As if suddenly self-conscious about it, Evan tugged her well-worn baseball cap from her back pocket and pulled it on.
“Yeah, it’s about a jock groundskeeper who starts out being an asshole and ends up being a hero.” Foster sipped her coffee loudly for effect. “I think it’s gonna be a best seller.”
Evan turned toward Foster, smiling broadly.
“I’m pretty sure I’m not the hero of this story.”
Evan winked at Foster just as Abby entered the kitchen.
“What are you two conspiring about?” Abby leaned into Foster and kissed her on the cheek.
“Hero worship.” Foster pressed her lips to Abby’s.
“Hmm, I’m on board with that.” Abby nuzzled Foster’s neck.
“And that’s my cue to drive into town and check on Jai and Dena.” Evan downed her coffee and made tracks for the door.
“Tell them we said hello,” Abby called after Evan. “And tell them to come to the house for dinner tonight. Cora’s cooking her famous lasagna.”
Evan acknowledged the invite with a wave and she grabbed her jacket. The door closed and Abby returned her attention to Foster. Everything was different now. There was a lightness around Abby, and it was infectious.
“Hey, give me a minute.” Abby kissed her lightly. “There’s something I need to tell Evan.”
Foster watched Abby leave with curiosity. What did she need to tell Evan that she couldn’t say in front of Foster? She rotated toward the window and watched Abby cross the lawn toward Evan’s truck while she sipped her coffee.
***
Abby saw Evan shifting some things in the back of her truck. The marine layer was thick this morning. She pulled the front of her shawl-neck cardigan together and hugged herself.
“Did you need something?” Evan looked up and stopped what she was doing.
“There was something I didn’t get to tell you last night.”
Evan walked around the truck within a few feet of Abby.
“Last night, before everything happened, Jacqueline was there.”
“What do you mean?” Evan looked as if she’d just seen a ghost.
“Truthfully, I don’t know exactly how to explain it, but Jacqueline was there and so was Mercy. They gave me their power. That’s how I was able to so easily defeat Leath.”
Evan looked stunned. And then she looked away, as if she were trying not to cry. Abby stepped closer and placed her hand on Evan’s arm.
“Hey, it wasn’t your fault.”
“What?” Evan’s voice was full of emotion.
“Jacqueline staged the collapse. She made it happen to keep Leath from receiving her power. Jacqueline planned and executed the collapse without telling you.”
“She…why?”
“She knew you were honor bound, bound by oath to the Council, and she didn’t want you to be put in a position to break that oath because of her. I also think she wanted to keep you safe.” She caressed Evan’s arm. “She loves you, Evan.”
Evan couldn’t stop the tears now. She covered her face and sobbed silently.
“Let it go.” Abby wrapped her arms around Evan. Holding her.
“Is everything okay out here?” Foster was standing a few feet away, hands in her pockets.
“Yes, everything is okay.” Abby smiled as she turned in Foster’s direction. She still held Evan in a partial embrace.
Evan swiped at tears with her hand. Then she smiled too. She extended an arm in Foster’s direction.
“Bring it in, Nerd.” Evan motioned for Foster to come closer.
“What…we have to group hug now?” Foster joked as she stepped closer.
“Yeah, we’re gonna group hug and you’re gonna like it.” Evan drew Foster close.
With one arm around Abby and one around Foster, they all held each other. Two were stronger than one, three were stronger than two.
Abby couldn’t stop smiling. She snuggled against her guardian and her lover, her keeper, the keeper of her soul.
Epilogue
It was late when they finally got to the house. Weather delays in Atlanta had stalled their departure from San Francisco. Foster unlocked the door and ushered Abby past the laundry area and into the living room. Her house seemed quaint and small compared to the Spencer estate. She wondered what Abby would think of her life in Atlanta. She wondered if Abby had imagined a writer’s life to be more glamorous than a sagging hand-me-down sofa and a twenty-pound cat.
William Faulkner screamed at her the minute she crossed the threshold. She was convinced if he could figure out the electric can opener he’d lock her out of the house for good. But as things stood, with no opposable thumbs, he still needed her.
“Don’t mind William Faulkner. That’s his ‘I’m hungry’ scream, even though I’m sure Gloria was just here last night. If he goes six hours without hearing the whine of the can opener he loses his feline mind.” Foster dropped her shoulder bag at the end of the sofa in search of cat food.
“Don’t feel bad if he ignores you,” Foster yelled from the kitchen. After a minute, she headed back toward the living room. “He hates everyone, including me.”
Foster stopped dead in her tracks, the open can of tuna and whitefish dinner in her hand. Abby had taken a seat in the leather armchair by the fireplace, and William Faulkner was curled up in her lap, rubbing his orange striped head under her chin as if she was cat nip incarnate, purring like a buzz saw.
Abby looked up at her and smiled. Abby did have a special way about her, and Foster didn’t blame William Faulkner one bit. In fact, he was right where she wanted to be.
She fed William Faulkner, gave Abby a tour of the place, which took all of five minutes, then got fresh towels for Abby. Foster took a few minutes to spruce up the linens on the bed while Abby took a quick shower. By the time Foster showered, Abby was snuggled under the covers waiting for her.
Foster felt a little jolt from her heart to her stomach at the sight of Abby in her bed. She’d pulled on a clean T-sh
irt and boxers. With only ambient light seeping in from the bathroom, it wasn’t until she was under the covers that she realized Abby wasn’t wearing anything to bed.
Foster smiled and sat up to shrug out of her T-shirt, knocking her glasses askew in the process. She set them on the nightstand and tossed her T-shirt onto a chair across the room. She sank back to the pillow and Abby nestled into the hollow space of her shoulder. They entwined their fingers on top of the covers. Damn, this felt good.
“Can I ask you something?” Foster kissed the back of Abby’s fingers.
Foster was still trying to figure everything out, and she wasn’t sure why she hadn’t asked before. In truth, the week since the event, as they’d begun to call it, had been a blur of activity. Abby’s transmutation set many things in motion. The recognition of her ascension as elder supreme, which meant she held sway over all the covens on this continent, would be ratified by joint councils when they flew to Boston in a few days. Dena would be there along with Evan and Jai.
Abby would be required to travel more, so she’d made arrangements with Iain for the horses’ care, and Cora would manage the household while she was away. Gertie had taken the news in stride, snapping into action to assure Abby’s assets were separate and protected, whatever that meant. It seemed setting up an ironclad trust was Gertie’s superpower. Hell, even Foster’s mortgage had been paid off. She owned the house now free and clear, Abby had insisted.
“What do you want to ask me?” Abby asked sweetly.
The thought of falling to sleep and Abby being the last thing she heard made her smile.
“Why are you smiling?”
“No reason.” But she couldn’t stop. She kissed Abby’s hair.
“So, what was your question?”
“It’s about dark matter. I mean, I get that certain people have a gift for controlling it…that it’s a thing that no one can see…that it holds everything together and keeps the universe from spinning apart…but what is it, exactly?”
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