Right at midnight the mirror clouded as Faerie mist spilled through it onto the grass of the Circle. The glass cleared and Tzariene appeared in all her alien beauty. Her silver hair cascaded over her shoulders. Two of her hunters stepped through, both of them adorned with horns much smaller than her own, and flanked Blackwood. He made a few attempts at saying something, but the hunters took him by the arms and led him through the mirror.
Then it was our turn. I took a deep breath before I stepped through, just behind Dharma, and reached behind me, my hand on the grip of my gun tucked into the back pocket of my jeans.
If a single Faerie, other than Tzariene, tried to touch me, I planned on stopping them.
My way.
The sooner we got this done, the sooner I could get back and spend time with Crwys. I didn't know what I was going to say to Tzariene, or what I could bargain for Bastien's life.
FIFTEEN
SAMANTHA
The room we entered reminded me of a medieval dining hall. Tapestries of gold and bright green looped along the ceiling and down the walls. Torches with flickering fires in colors of the rainbow cast a festive light over the room. All types of Faeries sat at tables and feasted in celebration. I recognized a few races here and there, the same as I'd seen in the Obsidian Palace before Cordy released Crwys. I guessed they were the same everywhere, but it was the most human looking Faeries that seemed to rule.
Tzariene's hunters led Blackwood through a door behind one of the tapestries as Emily introduced each of us. Apparently, Emily Pearson had been to Alfheim before, or maybe she just liked to be the boss.
Tzariene led us into a smaller room set with a table laden with food. I could smell the roasted chicken before I saw it. Buttered potatoes, carrots, green beans with almonds and crystal goblets of red wine.
"I've made sure the food in here is devoid of dust and I will guarantee it with my promise."
And a Faerie promise was law. But that didn't mean I trusted her. I wanted to, but something felt…weird. I shoved my hands into my pockets and toyed with the sachet Kyle had given me earlier.
As the others looked at the food and came to a decision to partake of Tzariene's hospitality rather than the snacks Arden made for us, I approached the Summer Queen. "M'lady," I said and gave her a slight bow.
"Oh, please, Samantha. You don't have to stand on court etiquette with me. I asked for your help and you gave it. You removed the Dragon. We owe you a debt."
"No. You don't, really. But I'm confused," I pointed at the door we'd stepped through. "What's the celebration for?"
"Does there have to be a reason to enjoy?" She smiled sweetly before she leaned in close and whispered. "There has been so much strife and war these past few months that my sisters and I thought it a good idea to have something to celebrate. Even if it is getting justice for the Boggarts."
"Seems a nice gesture." I watched the others for a few minutes. "Your Highness—"
"Tzariene. Please, Sam. We're on a first name basis. I trust your Green Witch is well? His eyes restored?"
By Green Witch, I could only assume she meant Ivan. "Yes. He's doing much better." Which of course brought back the comment Dharma had made about him being almost as good as new. "But what I'm more concerned with is Bastien—"
"Oh, yes. The Lycan." She wasn't looking at me, but watching the others as they ate. I got the feeling she was waiting for something. "What is it you are concerned about?"
"The deal he made with you, for the information on the Dragon's blood." I stared at her until she turned her gaze to me. "You took his wolf half."
The statement hung between us, and her face, though she kept all smiles, became little more than a facade in front of something else. I just couldn't see what that was. She looked past me again at the others and kept quiet.
It took my temper about two seconds to flare up and I felt my Salamander query whether or not I wanted him.
"Samantha," Tzariene said abruptly. "Please come with me and I'll tell you why I specifically asked you to bring Blackwood."
"I want to talk about Bastien."
"We will. But first," she made her way to the table and excused both of us before she led me through another door, down a hall, and through a gold-framed door. The first thing I noticed once I stepped inside was the simplicity of the room. A bed, rugs of soft fur from animals I couldn't identify, a wooden table—
A chair at the table was turned away, but it was obviously occupied. I saw a decorative wine decanter on the table and a goblet by the back of the chair.
Before I could step around to the left to see who the other guest was, someone grabbed me from behind. I hadn't been expecting it, and whoever it was knew exactly what do. They pinned my arms to my sides with one of their own and clamped their hand over my mouth.
My first thought was to summon my Elementals, but as quickly as the thought came to me, I felt it leave. I felt my strength draining as the world felt distanced from me. I was there in the room, but I wasn't a part of the room.
I'd felt this before. I'd experienced this…before…
That's when the person sitting in the chair stood and faced me. It was Blackwood. No longer chained. No longer gagged. No longer…a prisoner.
As he approached me with a smile I saw his long sharp teeth, and watched in horror as his eyes turned red. "Ah, my dear, dear Samantha."
I heard the duel-tones and realized Dionysus hadn't just appropriated Blackwood's body, he was in there with Blackwood.
"Now it's time for us to say goodbye. I'm tired of toying with you, playing around, and Tzariene was kind enough to accept my offer in exchange for you."
No!
"I would introduce you to my partner, Vasiariah. But I believe you two have already met, the afternoon you thwarted my attempt to get rid of that damn Cyber Witch."
Vasiariah twisted me around and let go of my mouth. He held me to him as I looked up into the face of the blond I'd seen in Ivan's apartment, the blond I'd seen in the Track.
Vasiariah. The name…
I knew that name! The blue sparkling power…the Arcane that wasn't Arcane. This was an Angel! Dionysus had partnered with a freak'n Angel!
"Now it's time to bid this life adieu, Samantha Hawthorne, and I will take the body I've cultivated for so, so long. Oh and don't worry about the little sachet in your pocket. Your little Hedge Witch spelled the protection specific to Faeries, not Angels. Vas—this one isn't for you to keep."
"But…" Vasiariah began in his deep voice. "Is she not for salvation?"
"No. She's damned. Tzariene, if you'll excuse us?"
"No, Dionysus. The deal was that I witness. Or have you forgotten?"
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Tzariene had conspired with Dionysus to kidnap me…and give me to him? And she wanted to watch?
I struggled against Vasiariah and he allowed me some leeway, though I could feel his power already leeching my mind away. I could see Tzariene by the door. She didn't look away from me. In fact, she locked eyes with me and actually smiled. I saw her pointed teeth and uttered a curse at her.
I thought of Crwys as I started falling and dreamed of spending a lifetime with him. Before it all faded away.
SIXTEEN
CRYWS
Crwys jolted awake from a dream. Given his recent run of sleep, he assumed it was a nightmare. Luckily, he couldn't remember it. He rubbed his eyes. The headache was still there, though it became a dull roar behind his eyes.
He reached out for Sam and found the sheets cold next to him. What time was it? Why wasn't she in the bed? Finding his phone proved to be an adventure until he stumbled out of bed in the dim light and dug it out of his jeans.
Five fifty-two in the morning.
He peered out the bedroom window. The sun was coming up, casting a purplish light over the approaching morning. A noise from the other room made him straighten up. He hoped that was Sam, and if it wasn't? They could eat lead.
He pulled on his jeans, grabbed his gun
off the nightstand, and eased the door open to look out into the main living area of Sam's apartment.
The room was ablaze with light because everyone one of them had been turned on, including the lights in the kitchen on the other end of the apartment. He stepped out of the bedroom as he heard that sound again and looked over the couch to see Sam, dressed in her usual uniform of jeans, boots and t-shirt, bent over her coffee table.
The coffee table was actually a trunk with a big piece of polished wood on top. The trunk was where she stored her more personal things. He knew they were there, but he never went into the trunk. He respected her privacy. So seeing her utterly destroy the interior of that box and toss things like candles, incense sticks, books and a few photo albums onto the floor was a little confusing.
"Babe?" He said as he slipped the gun into the back of his jeans.
Her reaction was odd as well as she turned and pointed her Smith & Wesson at him. He held up his hands and gave her a smile. "Whoa…what the hell's wrong? Put that thing away."
For a few beats, her expression looked…odd. Like she was trying to place who he was. Then she smiled and lowered her shoulders before she set the gun on the floor beside her. "Crwys. You scared me. Sorry about that."
"No, it's okay. But uh…" He moved around the couch and sat down on the end of it. "Why are you up so early?" Crwys looked at her again. "Are you still wearing what you left in?"
"Yeah. I slept in this."
"What time did you get home?"
"Just after midnight."
"And you slept beside me still dressed?" He couldn't remember her getting into bed at all. "What's wrong? Are you cold? Did something bad happen at the Blackwood exchange?"
"No. I'm—I'm fine. You just go back to sleep. I'm still dressed like this because I just got home."
"I thought you said you got home after midnight. Which is it? You got home and crawled in bed with me after midnight, or you just got home?"
She narrowed her eyes at him. It was a look he associated with anger. Especially on Sam's face. Then she sighed. "I'm sorry. I got home just after midnight and crawled in bed with you. But I couldn't sleep, so what I should have said was I just woke up."
He watched her for a few more minutes as she dug around in the chest. Usually he knew when Sam came to bed or got out of it. He couldn't remember her presence near him at all. This wasn't good news. If he was sleeping that deeply, then it was just another bit of proof that something was alarmingly wrong. "What are you doing? Are you looking for something?"
"Things."
"Okay. So, how did the prisoner transfer go?"
Sam continued tossing stuff out of the trunk until she was half inside of it with her ass in the air. And it was a nice ass. "Dammit," she said under her breath as she sat back. "It's not here."
He skipped the fact she didn't answer him. "What's not there?"
"That damn athame." She sat back on her heels and looked around at the mess. "It's got to be around here somewhere."
When she stood he got a good look at her front and saw her t-shirt was ripped away from the scar on her chest. "Whoa…hold on a sec," he said as he got up and moved to stand in front of her. She stepped back as he advanced and he held out his hand. "What happened last night? Did something go wrong?"
"Of course not."
"Then why are you acting so weird?"
She narrowed her eyes at him and he felt…something. A pressure or an itch. A slight touch maybe, as if she had just tried to use magic. Only he hadn't seen anything and none of her Elementals appeared. She blinked and smiled, and the smile looked…fake. "I'm not acting weird. They said you'd been sick. That's weird for a Dragon, isn't it?"
He stared at her. "Sam…are you all right? Maybe you should get some sleep?"
"Maybe."
He waited but she didn't say anything else. She just stood in front of him and looked around the room as if looking for her next place to decimate. So he put his hands on her upper arms.
She stiffened.
Sam had never stiffened at his touch. He let her go. "Sam… are you mad at me? Is that why you're acting weird?"
Sam focused on him and her expression broke just a bit. "Yes. I'm mad. So can we drop it?"
Crwys took a few steps back, and he noticed something else. "Sam…where's Grey?"
She moved away from him to the shelves beside the kitchen table and started pulling boxes down. "I don't know."
"I thought she went with you?"
"She didn't go into Faerie, if that's what you mean. Maybe she went home with Kyle."
Okay, now he was getting worried. Sam would never completely ignore where her mother was. No…something else was up. "Sam…come to bed."
"I will in a minute. I just have to find the athame." She turned and looked at him. "Are you sleeping here?"
He blinked. "Yeah?"
"Can't you go back to your apartment?"
Now he was really freaked out. "Sam…you know why I can't go back to my apartment."
"Yes, I do."
"Then tell me." He made a few steps across the room and put his hand on her arm. She flinched, but not as badly as before. "Why can't I go back to my apartment?"
She gave him a slight smile, but he didn't see it reach her eyes. "Because you love staying with me."
That wasn't the reason. Yeah, he loved living with her. Wanted to buy her a house and give her everything she wanted. But something was really, really wrong.
He watched her face and glanced down at the scar on her chest, which just didn't seem to be healing. She'd covered it with a bandage. Crwys reached out to touch it, but Sam slapped his hand away. "Don't touch that!" she hissed.
"Sam, did something happen to the scar? Did the Arcane come back?"
Now he had her full attention. He felt it directed at him. "What do you mean, come back?"
"I mean exactly what it sounds like. Did it return or do you still have that scar? You've put a bandage over it."
She touched her chest, looked down at it, and then looked away. "It's really gone. It's not just me being unable to access to it."
Crwys sighed. "I'm going to shower, and I suggest you get some sleep." He wanted to kiss her, to pull her into his arms and mend any bridges he might have destroyed.
But the only thing he sensed from her was hostility. So with a nod, he headed into the bathroom and into the shower as he made a mental note to call Kyle and find out first, what happened, and second, where was Grey?
* * *
"You look a little better," Levi said after he fastened his seatbelt. "Except for that really weird look on your face."
The temperature was already into the high eighties by eight o'clock in the morning. Crwys had the air conditioning on full blast for his partner. He preferred the heat and didn't break a sweat, even though he wore jeans, a black shirt and a jean jacket. "Weird look?"
"Yeah," Levi said as he adjusted the air vents. "It's that same look you have when you do crossword puzzles."
He hated those things, but they were informative. "It's been a weird morning."
"You and Sam fight?"
"No." He started to pull away from Levi's house, then put the car back in park and looked at his partner. "What happened last night?"
"You mean with Sam and the group?"
"Yeah."
"I don't know. I was upstairs with you when they left and I'd already headed home before they got back."
"What time was that?"
"Must've been around two or so."
Crwys pursed his lips. "And they weren't back?"
"No. I sat in Sam's living room and watched some TV. Dozed. Bro, I can sense other living creatures and the only thing living in the building was you when I left. Sam's Jeep wasn't back."
But Sam said she gotten back just after midnight and she'd crawled in the bed with me. Did she lie? Why would she lie?
"Hey…you're spacing."
He relayed the events of the morning to him, down to how odd he thought
her actions were.
Levi shrugged after Crwys finished. "I don't know what to tell you. That's not like Sam, but then hello—Witch. And who knows what all happened in Faerie. Maybe they had a late night orgy."
Crwys made a face at Levi, turned back in his seat, threw the Mustang into drive, and pulled away.
The drive to the station wasn't a long one, but it could get a bit hairy in places and there were areas where the traffic came to a complete stop. Crwys leaned back when they came to one of those standstills and waited. After a few seconds, he closed his eyes.
"Forget…"
"Hey!" Levi punched him on the shoulder. "Wake up!"
Crwys blinked a few times as he refocused to the sounds of horns honking. He looked ahead of him and realized the standstill was long gone and others were pulling around him in his lane. "Oh crap…" He looked to his right and Levi wasn't there. He was outside the Mustang on the driver's side, reaching in with his hand on Crwys's shoulder.
"Pull over. Now." Levi sounded irritated as he let go and marched back around to the passenger side.
After his partner was back in the car, Crwys inched the Mustang out of the road and pulled into a Starbucks parking lot. Once he parked, Levi opened his door. "Get out. I'm driving."
"You're not driving my car."
"Neither are you. Crwys, you were gone. Literally unconscious for nearly eight minutes. You slept through three lights."
He stared at Levi as he unbuckled. "I…I did?"
"Sweet Athena," Levi said as he got out again and walked around the front of the car.
Crwys got out and they traded places. He hadn't been in the passenger side of his car often. It felt wrong, but… "I was asleep?"
"You were gone," Levi said as he expertly pulled the Mustang back into traffic. They didn't say anything else for a few minutes, then, "Crwys, is there nothing out there we can consult on what's happening with you?"
"I don't…I just don't know. I've never had this problem before."
"What I just saw…" Levi shook his head. "I'm driving from now on. We can take my car if you don't want me driving the Mustang."
Elemental Soul (The Eldritch Files Book 5) Page 11
