Gula: The Oswald Witches

by Mathew Ortiz

  “Donovan—”

  “Go, Mother. I want you safe.” Donovan embraced his mother quickly and gently shoved her toward the door. She exited, and he sagged as she disappeared from view. Oliver came up behind him and drew him close, molding his body to Donovan’s back.

  “Oh, Wolfie. I’m so sorry.”

  Donovan turned in the embrace and took Oliver’s face in his hands. “You’re my east, my west. My morning and night. My place is with you.” He kissed his witch hard, love and passion and promise all in the singular touch. He let Oliver’s lips go and muttered. “I’m a rogue now. I have no pack.”

  A hand touched his shoulder, and he saw Margaret Oswald’s manicured hand resting there. “You have us now, Donovan. I think I can speak for all of us when I say welcome to the family.” All around him heads bobbed in affirmation, and Donovan’s emotions threatened to overwhelm him.

  “Thank you all,” he said roughly, and Oliver hugged him harder.

  “Not that I’m not happy for you two, but we still have a problem.” Rush broke into the conversation. “Where are Karina and Tjeed?”

  “Crap!” Ming exclaimed. “I don’t know!”

  “I think they were heading to the basement. I—” Saul started to say when a female scream rent the air, making them all jump. Saul’s face went white. “Karina!”

  Jaime grabbed his arm to prevent him from running to the basement stairs. William acted instantly.

  “Aunt Reeka, you and Jaime take the staff outside and protect them. No, Jaime, no arguments. The rest of you, follow me.” William’s tone brooked no argument. Donovan noted Jaime glared at her brother but did as she was told. “Single file down the stairs and spread out in twos once down there.”

  The staff evacuated with Reeka, and Jaime and the others made their way to the door to the basement. The moment William opened the door, Donovan jerked back at the stench. He wasn’t the only one.

  “Hecate! What is that smell?” Duncan pinched his nose closed.

  Margaret’s face hardened as she hissed, “Ghouls!”

  “Are you sure?” Oliver asked, and she nodded grimly.

  “Yes, positive.” Margaret surprise them all and shuddered. “Be careful, all of you. Ghouls eat people, and they attack en masse with no fear. Give them no quarter. Kill on sight because they will kill you in an instant.”

  The grim assessment made faces pale in fear. Pride swelled within Donovan. Despite their fear, his new family trooped through the doors and into the basement. They stank of fear, but none turned and ran. Oliver was in front of him, and he had to rein in his desire to protect his mate. Oliver could handle himself, and Donovan had to remind his inner wolf of that. Donovan understood, but his wolf was not at all happy that his mate was walking into danger.

  Chapter 14

  Oliver called forth his telekinesis and flexed his other powers in preparation for the battle. As soon as the little group descended into the basement, the smell intensified. Oliver sensed Donovan shift behind him. His brother Duncan gasped, and Oliver saw why. Donovan was full-on wereling. Seven feet tall and furred and fanged out, Donovan was a terrifying animalistic sight. His bondmate surged forward, passing the startled members of the group. He held his arm out to stop them from moving and sniffed loudly. Donovan shook his muzzle and sneezed. His face swung to the left, and he growled.

  “Karina and Tjeed are here, and I smell blood.” Donovan stalked forward and crouched. “Twenty feet in front of us and I smell…things.”

  “We have to—” William began when a pack of ghouls exploded around the corner. Naked, filthy, and feral, the sallow, boney creatures tore at them, their bare feet slapping the floors loudly. At least twenty charged at them, and the Oswalds charged back. Heat exploded near Oliver, and Duncan shot a jet of fire at the group. Screams filled the air as the flames found flesh. It didn’t stop the onslaught, however. Some stopped to feed on their fallen, still burning comrades. The others raced at them.

  Four were on William and Rush before either could shout, and William’s jade lightning flashed bright. Two arches of electricity sprang from his hands and hit three of the ghouls. Their bodies spasmed and burned in a macabre dance, adding to the miasma of burning flesh. The last ghoul skulked around its compatriots and tackled William, grabbing his arm and sinking its teeth into William’s skin. Screaming in pain, William raised his free hand to protect his face when the head of the ghoul exploded in an ear-shattering gunshot. Rush yanked the body off his bondmate, the smoking gun still in his free hand.

  “I’m alright,” William gasped and suddenly threw emerald lightning ball over Rush’s shoulder. Rush’s hair stuck up as energy passed perilously close to his face and blew the head off the ghoul about to grab him.

  Oliver watched his Aunt Mags stride purposely into the oncoming throng. She raised her hands outward, and power sang from her. She opened her hands and then clenched her fists, and a dozen ghouls were crushed by her telekinetic power. Blood, flesh, and bone littered the cold stone floors, staining it dark red.

  “Where are they?” Mags shouted as she smashed three more ghouls against the stone walls of the basement.

  “In front of us!” Donovan snarled. A trio of ghouls jumped him, teeth gnashing as they bit and ripped and tore at his fur and flesh. Oliver reached out his power to help his bondmate when a howl shook the air. Claws flashed, and ghouls screamed. Donovan’s jaws clamped around a ghoul’s throat, and even over the din Oliver heard the crush of bones and cartilage as Donovan tore the creature’s throat out. A flash of his black claws and a second ghoul clutched its stomach, entrails spilling onto the floor. Donovan turned to Oliver, and the gleam of his eyes and blood on his snow-white fangs rattled him.

  He’s fighting for your family. Don’t judge him, Oliver berated himself and saw his bondmate dive into an oncoming pack of ghouls, claws flaying and fangs bared.

  “Oliver!” Mags shrieked. “Make us a hole!” She pointed to a hall to their left that led to the cold stores and sundries rooms at the far area of the basement. Oliver reached deep within his body and called up a wind. Spreading his arms, a micro tornado formed around his arms, and he pushed it at the throng of horrors coming at them. The air screamed, and bodies flew. Wind howled and tore flesh from bone and slammed the creatures to the walls, ceilings, and floor. His family held fast to each other as the tornado threatened to scoop them up. Mags shielded the family best as she could.

  Oliver silenced his power, and the air stilled. Before he could say anything, Duncan, Rush, and Mags pushed past him down the hall. Following them, he left Donovan and William to finish off any stragglers. He skidded to a halt when he found what was around the corner. At the far end of the hall, just past the storage rooms, a wall had been breached. Stones littered the floor, and ghouls poured from the opening in growing numbers. Mags cursed and strode forward, hands flat in the air. A wall of magic shimmered and stopped the throng from getting closer. Oliver gaped when his aunt cried out in pain.

  “Find Karina and Tjeed!” Sweat glistened on her face. “I can’t hold them for long.” Her feet slid backward from the force pushing on her shield. Rush, gun pointed down, stormed the storage room with Oliver hot on his trail. Oliver saw Duncan rush over to his aunt, talking animatedly.

  “Rush!” Karina screamed as Oliver burst into the room. Tjeed lay bleeding from multiple bites. Karina stood over his body, swinging a broom at the four ghouls dancing around them.

  The ghouls must have scented him, as two turned on him. Without slowing his stride, Rush fired two rounds, and the ghouls fell with clean shots to their heads. A third scrabbled at Rush, and he roundhouse kicked the ghoul with his prosthesis. The ghoul’s head sailed into the air as the sharpened blade beheaded it. Oliver reached over and crushed the remaining ghouls to a pulp.

  “Karina!” Oliver scrambled over to the sobbing girl. Her broom clattered to the floor and she ran into Oliver’s arms.

  “They came through the wall!” she wailed. “We hid in the stor
e room, but they broke in and--and Tjeed fought them off, but there were too many. I grabbed the broom and beat them off of him and then most of them left—”

  “They must have smelled or heard us coming down the stairs,” Rush grimly assessed as he helped a moaning Tjeed to his feet.

  Oliver spread out his mental powers. Clairvoyance and Divination swirled around his head, and an image of life snapped into his skull. “William and Donovan have killed the remaining stragglers. All that’s left are the ones Aunt Mags is holding back. But there’s more.”

  “More!” Karina’s hysterical cry split the air.

  “I’m sensing more behind Mags’ shield. Hundreds more.” Rush paled, and Karina cried out again as Oliver sent the information to his family. He connected them all.

  I can’t hold them much longer. We need a plan. His aunt sounded desperate, and the strain of holding the horde back was communicated to all of them.

  We need to get Karina and Tjeed out of here, Rush’s added.

  Guys. William’s arm is bleeding like crazy. He needs healing. Donovan’s mind entered the fray, and Oliver felt Rush’s panic at his bondmate’s pain.

  We have to—

  I have a plan. Oliver, get over here with Aunt Mags and me, Duncan mentally snapped. He projected his plan only to Oliver and Mags, and they agreed. Mills!

  The air twisted, and Mills Kenttingham popped into existence. His mind joined the chorus.

  Damn that was fucking hard! I almost didn’t reform.

  It’s the wards around the house. They’re impeding teleportation, William replied weakly, and Rush’s fear communicated to all of them.

  Mills, get William, Donovan, Karina, Tjeed, and Rush topside. Aunt Mags, Duncan, and I are going to finish this, Oliver ordered. Donovan sought his mind, but Oliver held him off.

  I don’t know if I can port that many through the interference. I might not be able to come back to you, Mills telegraphed.

  Just do it! Mags shrieked along the bond. Mills nodded, and he, Karina, and Rush helped Tjeed evacuated down the hall to Donovan and William.

  Ollie! Ollie, stop ignoring me. What are you going to do? Donovan demanded to know. I want to stay with you.

  Oliver raced down the hall and saw the small group surrounding Mills. Donovan strode forward and swept him into his arms.

  “I’m staying.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  “Damn it, Ollie!” Donovan shouted. “I’m not leaving you!”

  Oliver kissed his shifter hard and sent Mills a private thought. Go!

  Mills nodded, and the air bent as he began teleporting. Oliver let his Donovan go and placed his hand on Donovan’s chest. Shoving Donovan with his telekinetic power, Oliver sent him sailing at Rush, who caught the startled wolf shifter. The disbelief and anger in Donovan’s face would haunt Oliver’s dreams.

  The air popped as the group teleported away, and Oliver spun and raced back to his aunt and brother.

  Okay, I’m back. Ready, Aunt Mags?

  Yes, Hecate, yes! She psychically shrieked.

  Make a hole, and I’ll stabilize it. A hole one foot in diameter formed dead center of the telekinetic shield, but only the three of them could see it. Linked mentally, they saw the shimmering silvery shield open in the center. Oliver reached out and strengthened the hole and forced a tube to form, tunneling past the ghouls into the darkness of the catacombs. He pushed until his power lost cohesion. He shot Duncan one last thought.

  Light her up!

  Duncan flung his hands outward past them, and fire, bright and terrible, roared from his fingers into the hole and lit the darkness of the catacombs. Oliver almost screamed at the sight of all the gaunt faces surrounding the opening. So many!

  “Wait!” Mag’s voice cut through the roar of the flame. “I smell methane!”

  The world expanded and turned white.

  Donovan!

  ***

  Reality slammed back into existence, and Donovan fell to his knees. Soft, damp grass deadened his fall. His stomach rolled, and bile burned the back of his throat. He shook his head, clearing his brain.

  “Where--where the fuck are we?” He bellowed, but all he heard was moans. Looking around him, he spied Rush, unconscious on his back, lying next to an equally unconscious William. Karina lay sobbing on her knees, cradling Tjeed’s head in her lap. Mills staggered, trying to keep vertical but losing fast. Then he saw his brother, mother, Nakajima, Jaime, Aunt Bea, and Reeka descending on them.

  Bea found Tjeed and placed her hands on him. A warm golden glow enveloped his body, and his breathing steadied. Likewise, Reeka grabbed William’s arm, and he emanated the same glow. Jaime steadied Mills. Dathan grabbed Donovan and held him up. Joy grabbed her son’s face and cried out, “What?”

  “Mills,” Donovan croaked. “Mills, take me back. Now!” He shook off his mother, brother, and Nakajima and stomped over to Mills. Grabbing the young witch’s arm, he snarled. “Take me back to my mate.”

  “I can’t,” Mills grimaced, and Donovan eased his grip. “I don’t have the strength. Porting all of you through the wards and out to the front lawn took all I had. I’m not--I can’t—”

  “I’m not asking!” The growl reverberated in the air, and Jaime’s fingers curled around Donovan’s arm.

  “He can’t,” she pleaded with him. “If he tries now, you might not reform. You’d be lost in the nether.”

  Donovan glared at her, and he saw truth in her aquamarine eyes.

  “Donovan, calm down,” Reeka assured him. “I’m sure—”

  The deafening boom of expanding air made them all turn and watch in horror as the west side of the house erupted outward and upward in a fiery shower of brimstone and debris. A series of explosions behind the house made them jump, and more fire danced into the air. They screamed and scattered as large chunks of stone rained upon them. Reeka pushed back and an umbrella of magic deflected the falling remnants of their home. Gray smoke billowed into the late evening air, and they stood in shock as the house burned. No one could speak…save one.

  “No!” Donovan screamed, and Dathan and Nakajima physically prevented him from racing back into the burning carnage. Donovan snarled, snapped, and struggled against his pack members. “Ollie! Let me go!”

  “No, you’ll die if you go in there!” Dathan shouted, and Donovan stopped fighting them, collapsing to his knees.

  Tears fell from Donovan’s eyes as he sobbed. “Without him, I don’t want to live.” Flinging his head back, Donovan howled his pain to the night.

  ***

  “Wolfie!” Oliver pleaded over and over. Donovan was staring into space, not registering his presence. “Donovan!”

  Oliver coughed once more and gazed over at his aunt and Duncan. The moments before were a blur, but he could piece together what happened. In the instant that Duncan pushed his flame too high, his aunt had said she smelled methane. They didn’t realize it, but the catacombs were overflowing with methane gas. Duncan was the match to thousands of cubic feet of it, and the world exploded around them. The last thing he thought of was Donovan. The world twisted, and the next thing he knew the three of them were lying on the grass, just feet from his bondmate. Donovan’s anguished howls tore at his heart, and half falling, half running, Oliver slid along the grass until he was in front of Donovan.

  Taking his bondmate’s face in his hands, Oliver desperately tried to make him aware that he was there. His mind sought Donovan’s and found emptiness, chilling Oliver to the bone. Oliver hugged the stone-stiff man and buried his face in Donovan’s neck. Please hold me, Donovan. Come back to me! He felt a sniffing, and Donovan snapped out of his fugue.

  “Mate… Ollie…” A whisper of disbelief, and finally Donovan registered him being there. Donovan pounced on him, knocking him to the ground, covering his body with his own. Donovan snuffled and sniffed Oliver’s prone body, kissing and kissing him, his dreads falling all over Oliver’s face.

  “Donovan, it’s me,” Oliver soothed. “I
’m all right.” The splash of hot tears on his face startled him, and he gazed up into his shifter’s anguished face awash in tears. “Don’t cry.”

  “I--I thought I lost you!” Donovan bawled. “I’m so stupid. I should have told you I loved you so long ago. I love you, Oliver Blackthorne. I love you more than my pack and my life. Life without you would have been an unending death. I’d rather be--be dea—”

  “Sssh,” Oliver stroked Donovan’s face. “I love you, too, Donovan.” Oliver wound a finger around one of Donovan’s dreads and pulled him into a frantic, consuming kiss. He let Donovan’s lips go and murmured against them, “I’m so sorry I scared you.”

  Donovan gathered his mate up into his arms and sat back in the grass. “Never, ever do that to me again. When the time comes, we go together.”

  “Always touching,” Oliver fingers splayed over Donovan’s face. “Even when not touching.”

  “’Til the Deep Green calls,” Donovan crooned and rubbed his face against Oliver.

  ***

  Dathan stared at his brother and Oliver as they clung to each other. He had never had that, the consuming need to touch another person, nor had he ever had a person desire him so. When the wing of the house exploded, his brother had gone crazy. He tried to run back into the house, and it had taken all of his and Nakajima’s strength to stop him. Donovan had gone limp and howled his pain to the sky. The sound had echoed into the night and made Dathan wince at the sheer agony in it. When Oliver and the others appeared from thin air, his brother took no notice. So wrapped up in his pain, Donovan’s grip on reality was tenuous until Oliver touched his brother and Donovan’s brain registered he was there.

  “True love,” his mother spoke from his right. “A true mating and bonding, cemented by the bloom of love. I envy them.”

  Dathan swallowed hard. “Why?”

  “While I was your father’s mate, he did not love me like that.” Joy gave her son a sad smile. “To be the object of a person’s all-consuming desire. I truly envy that emotion.”