"Everywhere. Most of my Other World information comes from the Akashic Records." I pointed at myself. "That's legal for me. I'm an Elemental Witch."
"Yes, yes. You're right. Which means the information you had on this creature is no longer available in the Akashic Records."
We all looked at each other. Any Witch, or practitioner of magic on some level, knew about the Records. They were the repositories for everything. Not just this world but all worlds. Every creature that ever lived had a record, a file, like in the FBI. But this wasn't a thing that judged people; it was just a sort of library that kept up with creation itself. Accessing it required a specific magic skill set, which I came by naturally, being born an Elemental Witch. Though looking into the Records was something Ina, or Dionysus, had always discouraged.
Why? Had there been something there he didn't want me to see? And if I had already accessed it, was it possible he had deleted it?
"No," Cromwell said after I asked him this question for everyone's benefit. "Only natural order has the ability to add and subtract from the Records. Something as base and low as a Demon could never get near them. Whatever happened to the information on this creature happened by natural order."
Jack frowned. "So…this thing doesn't exist in the Records, but it does exist here?"
"It's not that simple," Cromwell said. I wasn't happy about the tone he took with Jack sometimes. Technically, Jack was a Cowen, even though he was a wolf. But he wasn't a born wolf, so Cromwell the snob probably put the guy in one of those little places in his mind that said "Not one of us."
Screw him.
"Jack," I said. "Cataclysmic events can altar those records. The realm of Alfheim is a good example."
"Sam…" Cromwell's tone held warning in it.
It was Arden who answered and shocked the hell out of me. "Oh fuck off, Crom. He needs to know. We all do." She looked at Jack. "Alfheim exists in the realm known as the Peripheral. Or 'Pheral as some call it. A long time ago, there was a cataclysmic disaster that destroyed that realm, significantly sealing it off from the Akashic Records. So for a long time, things like Faeries and Djinns and Boggarts didn't exist, except in our imaginations because of trace memory from the Records. But if you looked up Faerie in the Records, I'm pretty sure you'd come up with a 'File Not Found,' even if a Faerie lived next door."
"This is making more sense," Kyle said as he looked at me. "So when the realm came back on the radar—regardless of how that happened—the Akashic Records saw them again and you've been able to access those profiles."
"Yes." I gave Arden a lingering look. I wasn't forgiving her, but I liked her answer. "So whatever this thing is, its origins, race, or place of birth is no longer accessible by the Records."
"That really doesn't help much." Jack scratched his head. "I mean, so that says it's not Faerie. And it's not Demon. So what is it?"
"We're going to have to look into realm disasters, or even just race disasters," Arden said. "It could be his race was wiped out by a bigger enemy."
"A race that can suck souls?" I snorted. "I'm pretty sure this thing's left a lot of enemies in its wake. But now it's partnered with Dionysus, giving him an inexhaustible supply of bodies to ride like a Loa."
"Don't insult the Loa," Arden said. "They're closer than you think."
I decided to take that piece of information under advisement. We were in New Orleans, after all.
Cromwell said, "So we have a place to start. I'll get some of my people looking up these kinds of disasters."
"I'll help with that. I can supply you with bodies," she smiled. "Living bodies. I have a few information dealers in my coven."
"Good. As for Detective Holliard," Cromwell looked at me. "Is he sick?"
"I'm not sure. He's tired. And it might still be the effects from the Arrow's wound."
All eyes turned on Arden, and she bore the silent accusations well. "I can…send over my best healer if you'd like."
"Not if they're with Bastien," I said. "Dionysus is still out there, and him attacking us at the cabin is proof that Cromwell was right. He's attacking those closest to me. Bastien is weak and vulnerable, and now so is Crwys. So," I put my hands together. "I'd like to remain by Crwys's side until I can master Spirit and take that son of a bitch out."
"I'm afraid that's not possible. Not yet." Cromwell moved to the head of the table and gestured for everyone to sit.
I didn't move as others took up seats. "I'm sorry? I can't stay with Crwys while I train?"
"Please sit down."
I grabbed the coffee mug Kyle placed back on the kitchen counter and took up the chair on the opposite end of the table. I had Kyle to my left. Cromwell had Arden to his right. Jack sat between the two of them.
Cromwell pulled a small, round mirror from his suit jacket pocket and placed it on the table in front of him. He waved his hand over it and an image of Tzariene appeared. From the direction she was facing, I realized this was like a recorded image.
"Greetings good fellows of the Witch's Parliament. I am Tzariene, Summer Queen of the Faerie Kingdoms. We have come to an agreement, my sisters and I, on the punishment we wish in regards to Edmund Blackwood." She looked around but not quite at us. "He is to be delivered to us at midnight on the day of this message. Because of our recent…because of the Obsidian Queen's encroachment into our lands and her subsequent downfall, it is our request that Blackwood be escorted to us in the company of your finest Clerics. We feel much safer knowing you would do this for us. And I would like to specifically request the presence of Samantha Hawthorne, Elemental Witch. I have much to say to her, as well as bestow my thanks, and would like very much to do this in person. We shall await your arrival at midnight." The little figure bowed and vanished.
"So you see," Cromwell sat down and clasped his hands on the table. "You have a mission tonight, to join a Hive to deliver Blackwood to the Summer Queen. Once you've met with Tzariene, then I believe it is possible for you to remain with the detective while we work on your training."
"I don't want to go." And that was the truth. Before Crwys started showing signs of being sick, I had wanted to confront Tzariene alone about what she took from Bastien, and I'd planned on making a deal with her to get it back, even though I had no idea what I had to trade her.
"You have to go. You have been requested."
"I'm not going."
"But you are. You signed the contract for a year of service, Samantha. You don't have a choice."
I stood up. "We always have choices. And I choose not to go."
Cromwell stood up as well. "Then you will be in breach of your contract and held as a prisoner until you do as you're told!" He was loud. So loud that Grey stood up and growled at him, her ears back and flat.
Kyle stood with me and so did Jack. Jack joined in with his own growl and finally Arden was up, her hands out.
"Stop. Please. There is a better way to do this. Cromwell, putting people in prison just because your don't get you way—we talked about that."
"She has to go! That is the term of the sentencing."
Arden pointed at him. "You agreed to this without even consulting her. What about your agreement to her? Protecting her as a member of your Cleric Hive? Looking after her well being more so than your own? You want that bastard out of your jail, so you literally just made all the decisions yourself. If you try to condemn Sam for not wanting to go into a realm that has twice been hostile to her and tortured those closest to her—I'm afraid you'll have more voices against you than just those in this room."
I didn't want to like her. Period. But damn…she had him nailed to the wall on this. And from the look on his face, he knew it. He turned and strode through the door into my shop. I listened for a minute and decided if he broke anything in the retail area, I was going to kill him myself. With or without Arcane!
"Sam…a word?" She stepped away and walked to my office. "You too, Kyle."
Looking at each other, we followed her. She didn't sit at my desk b
ut instead took one of the seats in front of it. I took my chair and Kyle sat next to his aunt. I didn't care what she wanted to say. I wasn't leaving Crwys.
"Sam…" she began and clasped her hands in her lap. Her swollen lip, bruised cheek and eye just added to the look of someone in need of help. Curse her! It wasn't fair she was that composed and deceivingly innocent while looking beat to hell. "I know you're aware that we're not all in agreement about sending Blackwood into Alfheim. Especially me. Cromwell's changed his tune but I haven't. I think it's a horrible idea. But Bastien's dying, and I believe the only way to save him is for you to meet with Tzariene and beg her to give him back what she took."
FOURTEEN
SAMANTHA
I grabbed the armrests and nearly came out of the chair. "You know what she did to him? Wait…what do you mean he's dying?"
"Bastien's a born Lycan. You know that. My healer figured it out. Conferred with the pack's healer. The absence of his wolf half is killing him. He's losing strength every day he can't shift. The Aces are ready to go to war with the Faeries, if they only knew how to activate that Cairn. They see what Tzariene did as an act against them. Realistically, she took their Alpha. It's an insult. If you can get in there to see her, to speak with her, and tell what's happening on this side—let her know she's creating an enemy—"
"I don't know that she cares," I interrupted. "I mean I can try. But I don't want to leave Crwys either."
"What's wrong with him? And don't tell me he's got the flu. Dragons don't get sick."
"Oh, so you're a Dragon expert now?" I narrowed my eyes at her.
"I've done my due diligence, Samantha. You should do yours. Something is wrong with Crwys Holliard." She leaned forward. "Regardless, the two people most capable of protecting you and kicking Dionysus's ass are now out of commission. This should raise all kinds of alarm bells for you. You've been attacked by whatever that man is helping the Leviathan. That says he's watching you. And he's waiting."
"And you all think he's that intent on getting my body?"
"It's the perfect tool."
"Except I don't have access to Arcane anymore."
She put her hands on my desk, which was interesting since there was a lot of crap on my desk. I really needed to clean it off. "I think the fact that you don't have Arcane should remain a secret. Your Arcane was a huge weapon when it came to defending yourself and others. If Dionysus learns you've lost it, it might speed up whatever timetable he has to come after you. You've got to take this seriously, Sam."
Kyle held out his hands. "Wait…just stop. Look, getting to the bottom of Crwys's illness is something we have to address. You," he pointed at his aunt. "Say you've been doing your due diligence. Then keep doing it. Find out why he's ill. See if what you did by sticking that Arrow into him made him weak."
"I have said this from the beginning—" she stood. "I didn't shoot the Arrow into that bastard."
"That bastard," I said as I stood up and put my hands on the edge of my desk. "Is my lover, my mate. You might not have actually fired it into him, but you put that Arrow in that bitch's hand. That makes you accountable."
"Stop it," Kyle finally stood up and put his hand on his aunt's shoulder. "Both of you just stop it. Arden, you worry about the Dragon and the Werewolf. Send me into Faerie with Sam and I'll look after her."
"You're not a Cleric."
"No. But I'm a Hedge Witch. And in Faerie, herbs do what?"
Arden and I remembered our basic herbal magic lore at the same time. "Triple their potency," she said.
"I can make a sachet of protection herbs so that we can make it back safely, and hopefully Sam can talk to Tzariene about Bastien."
"Cromwell won't like it."
"Make it a requisite. Who is he going to send in with Sam?"
"Emily."
I snorted. "I'd rather take you than her," I directed this at Arden.
"Just do it, Aunt Arden." He looked at her and smiled. "For once, let me take a risk and prove to you, and to Sam, that I'm worth more than just the proprietor of a store."
We both stared at him. Me more so as I realized the slight dig he'd just taken at me. Did he really, honestly believe I thought of him as nothing more than a partner for the store? But when I thought back over the past few months, at the times I'd risked my life, Crwys's and Ivan's…Kyle had been safely here. At home. Or in the store.
I got what he was hinting at and looked at Arden. "Bringing Kyle is my stipulation. Tell that old bastard if he wants me to escort Blackwood, I take Kyle with me."
As we thought he would, Cromwell said no at first, but Arden wore him down. We made plans to meet at the cabin at Gypsy Gardens so we could use the controlled Cairn there.
I showered, listening to Grey go over all I'd ever learned about Spirit and how it worked. She thought it was a good idea to start studying as soon as possible. The quicker we kill that bastard, the better off we'll all be.
I dressed in my usual uniform. Jeans, boots, black tank and cotton over shirt. The tank revealed the scar more than I liked, pretty much broadcasting to those who'd known about the Arcane that it wasn't there anymore. So I changed into a more conventional t-shirt with a higher neckline.
Once I had my weapon in my bag, I grabbed a few more things and headed down to the waiting van. Blackwood was inside, chained tightly in one corner, a hood over his head and a large, silver medallion around his neck.
"That's there to keep him in a sort of happy state," Cromwell said once Kyle arrived, parked his Prius and got in. Grey sat on the floor beside my feet.
"You're not afraid of him getting free?"
"No," Cromwell said. "He's just a Magician, Sam. He'll be fine."
That didn't make me feel any better.
It was after nine o'clock before we reached the woods with the cabin. Grey and I jumped out and headed into the cabin. I expected to see Bastien there, but the bed was empty. Just his smell and the impression he'd been there in the bed.
"I had the girls move him for tonight," Arden said as she stepped in and set a bag on the bed. "Here is your robe. I figured you'd leave it at your place, and you did, didn't you?"
I cringed. Yeah. I had. "So…this is the same one?" I opened the bag and pulled out the heavy garment.
"No. It's my old one. Don't worry. It doesn't have cooties, shugah."
Emily Pearson came in just before Kyle did. Emily practically lived in her robe so she was all ready to go. She took one look at Kyle and laughed. "What're you doing here, Hedge Witch?"
Kyle opened his mouth to answer, but Arden did it for him. "I asked him to be here. He's going with you."
"He's not a Cleric!"
"So?" I said as I pulled the robe on over my clothing. It wasn't meant to be worn by itself because it didn't really have a closure. What it did do was make us all look like spooky monks when we pulled the cowls up to hide our faces.
Before all this started, before I was warlocked, I was afraid of Clerics. I feared them because Ina had been one. But lately…after getting to know Dharma, Emily and Cromwell…I wasn't afraid anymore.
And since I wasn't really a Cleric in my head, I didn't feel the same reverence. Period.
"So? He can't do this. A Hive is made up of the four Elements. What exactly is he going to represent?"
"Air," Cromwell said as he stepped through the cabin door. "Mr. Kendrick is obviously Air, my dear Emily. Just as you are Earth. Sam will be Fire—and I think we can all agree that her Salamander has proven to be quite powerful."
"Who will be Water?" I asked.
"Me," said a new voice.
Dharma Parande stepped into the cabin at that moment, fully dressed in her robe and sigil. Her blue, pink and black hair shined under the lights of the cabin. I held out my arms because I was so happy to see her. We gave each other a tight hug before I pulled back and said in a pretty rude voice. "Where the hell is Ivan?"
But Dharma only smiled and squeezed my arms. "He's fine. He's doing well, recuperating as f
ast as he can. And as soon as he…" she stopped talking when she saw my face. Then her eyes widened. "Oh shit. You don't know." She moved away from me and faced Arden. "You haven't told her?"
"Told me what?" I joined her and we both stared at Arden.
"Not now. Later."
She smiled and moved to the side as Cromwell approached and clapped his hands. "Everyone, I need to have your attention."
At that point he went over the ritual, what Arden's coven would do with the Circle, and how they would Cut. Then Tzariene would open the Cairn on her end, since we would be traveling to the Summer Palace. A place I'd never been before.
"There will be representatives there from the other kingdoms, except Winter. I'm afraid the Obsidian court is still in turmoil, so for now, they're not to be a part of this ceremony." He looked at each of us. "Tzariene has a feast ready even though she knows none of you can eat the food. And I must advise you, don't eat it. There is always the danger of Faerie dust getting in the food and once you ingest it, well, you'll belong to the Faerie who put it in. So again, a warning. Arden has bags of snacks you can take with you in case Tzariene insists you eat."
Arden took that moment to hand out plastic baggies full of things like fruits, nuts, berries, all dried. Except my bag. My bag had popcorn, candy and Pixy Stix. Do I usually eat that much sugar?
She winked at me as she handed it off and then stepped away. I guess I do.
Sometime before midnight Cromwell led us from the cabin to the Circle, just a few yards from the house.
Arden's coven lined the Circle's edges as we stood by the balefire. The large oval mirror was in place and Blackwood stood nearby, still bound but no longer hooded. But he was gagged and not looking particularly happy.
Elemental Soul (The Eldritch Files Book 5) Page 10
