Elemental Flame

by Phaedra Weldon

  "Chérie," Bastien said. "You should see this."

  The barn doors rested on slides, so they didn't have to swing in or out. Bastien pushed the left door aside and I put my hands to my face when I recognized the dusty back end of a '64 Mustang Fastback.

  It was Crwys's missing car.

  "Kyle, come with me and I'll fill you in," Dharma said as she motioned for him to follow her, away from the barn.

  Bastien stood to the side and watched me as I stumbled to the Mustang. Here it was…the first real piece of evidence that Crwys was in trouble. He would never abandon his car. Never.

  I put a shaking hand on the passenger side of the car and felt the dust on the polished surface. The door was open and when I inhaled the interior, I smelled him. Crwys Holliard.

  Trying hard not to lose it in front of Bastien, I climbed inside and spotted something red in the back seat. Pushing myself up on the shoulders of the seats, I leaned between them and retrieved a long, gold box wrapped in a red ribbon. With shaking hands, I removed the ribbon and pulled off the lid to reveal a bouquet of roses. The petals were long gone, just husks, their bases bare on long stems.

  I wiped at my face when I couldn't see and brought the delicate bouquet to the front with me. A card fell out and landed outside on the floor of the barn. Bastien knelt down and retrieved it for me.

  His face was unreadable as I took it from his hand. My name was scrawled on the outside, in the man's less than legible handwriting.

  Samantha.

  I sniffed and wiped at my face again as I unfold the card and read the handwritten message inside.

  I hope today you will know the truth, and still accept me for who I am now, and not what I was, just as I accept you. I love you. Azazel Apollo.

  Azazel Apollo.

  "Samantha?"

  I blinked at my name. I hadn't heard Bastien use it that often. I wiped at my face again and nodded, but I didn't want him to see the tears. "Yeah…"

  "Look at me, chérie."

  With the box still tucked in my left arm and the card in my right hand, I turned to look at the stunning Lycan as he filled the space of the car door. "He told me his name. He really was going to tell me."

  "Oui. We will find him. We will bring him home."

  "Bastien, you don't have to go—"

  But he put his hand against my cheek and stroked it with his thumb. "It breaks my heart to see you in pain. And if bringing that bastard back to you will fill it with joy again," he smiled as a ray of light broke just over his shoulder. "Then I will fight to the death to bring him home."

  I was just about to lose it when I heard my name again. Kyle was calling for me.

  Bastien carefully took the gold box and the card as I climbed out of the Mustang. Kyle and Dharma approached and he looked genuinely confused when he saw the car, the box and the card. "Oh sweet Lord, Sam. I saw the car but I didn't realize it was Crwys's," he pointed to the dead roses in Bastien's hand. "Those were in there?"

  I forced a smile. "Yeah. He really didn't abandon me." And it felt good to say that, and know it was true.

  "Arden wants to talk to you."

  I nodded and called to Grey who bounded up to us. It was time to again face the woman who lured my man here and hid his car from me, and the world.

  NINETEEN

  The grand home felt empty. Cold. And it smelled of death. I held the staff in my hand as we followed Kyle up the grand staircase to Arden's bedroom.

  I'd only seen the room once. But that didn't take away from experiencing its majesty all over again. The room encompassed an entire wing of the home. Arden had removed all the walls and redecorated it to resemble what I thought of as a medieval throne room. There was a dais at the far end with a high backed chair. Wooden posts supported the ceiling where several local artists had recreated famous paintings by da Vinci.

  To the right was a set of mobile smoked glass dividers. As we approached, and Bastien and Dharma gaped at the audacity of the room, I realized Arden had her bed behind the glass.

  Coming around the side of one of the partitions, I was shocked at her condition. She'd deteriorated fast since I'd seen her the evening before. She no longer wore the cloak to hide herself. She lay fully exposed on the bed. I saw her from her feet to her forehead, every inch of her burning. Some patches were so black and charred I wasn't so sure any amount of magic could restore them.

  Two of her coven stood by her side, giving her straws filled with water as she lay propped up to see us at her feet.

  "Lady Darksome…" I said as I put my hand over my chest. "Arden I—"

  "There is no need to feel bad, Samantha. Miss Vervain brought this on herself."

  We turned to see Cromwell Dryden step from behind another line of smoked glass partitions on our left. He wasn't wearing his usual robes, but a suit and tie. I almost didn't recognize him, but it was hard for me to forget the voice of the bastard who warlocked me. It didn't look as if he'd brought the Hive.

  "What the hell are you doing here?" The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.

  Dharma moved from my side to stand in front of Cromwell and gave him a short bow. "I'm very happy you answered my request, sir."

  I took a step forward. "Your request? What the hell, Dharma? Did you lie to me?"

  She turned so fast to face me that I thought for sure she was going to break something. But I also caught the warning in her eyes. I had jumped to a conclusion. "No. I never lied. But what I witnessed last night—the slaughter of all those Boggarts. Even you can't deny what Blackwood did was unforgivable."

  She had me there. And I should have known she wasn't going to let that event go unreported.

  "Dharma did as she was supposed to do, Miss Hawthorne. In the past three days, Edmund Blackwood has destroyed six known Cairns in Louisiana and Mississippi. This goes against every treaty and agreement we have with the Faerie courts."

  I frowned and glanced at Kyle. He looked…confused. "Sir…there are agreements with the Faerie courts?"

  "How long has this been going on?" I asked.

  Cromwell shrugged. "Always. Sam, there are far too few of us to patrol and shut down every Cairn some crazy Faerie makes. They far outnumber us; the protocols prevent them from launching a full on invasion."

  "I don't think the Angels or the Demons would allow that either," Dharma said.

  "True," he nodded. "But our alliances with them are more confusing. But that's neither here nor there," he clasped his hands. "Edmund Blackwood has been a thorn in our side for as long as we've negotiated with the Magicians in our part of the world. Up until now, though, he's been rational and calculating, and preferred not to become a bigger problem."

  "Why is that?" Kyle asked. "Why up until now? What changed?"

  "We're not sure. Ever since Yule he's been more vocal in meetings, and he's had a particularly odd vendetta against you, Samantha. I suppose you wouldn't happen to know why?"

  "Me? No, I wouldn't. And if you recall, I spent months warlocked during that time, so what kind of insult could I have paid him that he'd pick on me?"

  "That's a good question. And I will be honest that I hadn't paid much attention to him, until it came to my attention that the police received an anonymous report that Miss Devonshire had been missing. I didn't know that and I have worked with Inamorata for years. She was a Cleric, you know."

  Yes, I remembered that.

  "So upon hearing they received another anonymous tip that her body was buried in her own garden, I started getting a bit suspicious and used my own resources, not Parliament's, to track down where this tip came from. Should I even say who?"

  "Blackwood."

  "Yes. He's targeting you, Samantha," Cromwell turned toward Arden and put his hand on her charred, crisp one. "I'm not a man who believes in conspiracies, but I am a man who can put a chain of events together to form logical conclusions."

  I looked behind me at Bastien. He had his golden gaze fixed on Cromwell. "Sir?"

  "Ky
le has shared with me the truth of Inamorata, Sam. You shouldn't have kept this secret from us. But this is not something you should blame yourself for. I worked with her for years and never saw the Leviathan lurking inside."

  Now I glared at Kyle. Though I knew he'd never betray me, it smarted that he'd blabbed my shame to the Grand High Master.

  "He told me she tried to kill you, and it was your familiar and Detective Holliard who stopped her. Holliard became someone special to you, didn't he? Might I remind you of the dangers of getting involved with Revenants?"

  I blinked. Cromwell believed Crwys was a Revenant? Yeah, it was obvious Levi was, but maybe…maybe since he couldn't figure Crwys out otherwise, that's what Cromwell went with. I was pretty sure the grand poobah of Witches has spells like my dex. Wonder if he got an unknown message like mine.

  I didn't trust myself to lie so I just nodded to him. That acknowledgement seemed to satisfy him.

  "I still don't understand all the intricacies that piled on one another to convince you to think it was necessary to make deals with Faeries. But obviously they were important and they have led us to this point. The Faeries have taken the detective."

  I nodded.

  "That, in itself, is interesting, but since Revenants and Faeries have a long history of hatred, it's not surprising. I suspect the detective was taken in order to harm you." Cromwell folded his left arm over his chest, then rested his right elbow on top of it and pulled at his slight goatee with his right hand. He looked pretty impressive like that, especially since I thought of him as the magical Grand Moff Tarkin. "I came here intending to ask the Aces Alpha if I might interview his pack, or at least those who saw Blackwood's actions last night. But I am now led to believe the Faeries have one of your own coven?"

  I felt Bastien's hand on my shoulder again, and this time I reached up and put my hand on his. His skin was warm and calloused. "Yes. It's my belief that Ivan Westerfield was thrust through the Cairn at the moment Blackwood destroyed it."

  "You are responsible for those you lead."

  "Yes, sir."

  "It is up to you to negotiate his release."

  I hesitated. "Yes, sir. But, I want to bring Holliard back as well."

  "That's not something I can help you with. In fact, I can't help you with the Faerie kingdoms at all. What I can do, at the bequest of our High Witch," he turned and gestured to the suffering Arden with a nod of his head. "Is deal with these Cowen charges against you. Dharma and I will do what we can on this end."

  "But I want to go with Sam!"

  He turned the immensity of his gaze on her. "You are a Cleric, Miss Parande. Your involvement in this affair comes to an end, now. You were right in contacting me about the Cairn incident, but I am disturbed you did not inform me of the detective's kidnapping immediately," he tilted his head to his shoulder. "Unless you have some personal or emotional attachment to this event?"

  I watched Dharma back pedal, though she did a smooth job of it. Cromwell's assessment of her position in this rang true. If there are political shenanigans in place, a Cleric placing herself in the middle of what could be an extraction will reflect back on Parliament.

  I felt my Undine stir and welcomed her. She came forward and immediately went to Dharma and touched her hand. She sensed Dharma's drowning loss just as I did. And now to be told her help would not be permitted—I'd kill someone if they told me I couldn't go after Crwys.

  Dharma looked down at her and then smiled. "I apologize, sir," she looked at Cromwell. "I was remiss in informing you of Holliard's disappearance. I will not let that happen again."

  When my Undine returned to me I looked back to Cromwell. "So, you approve of us going in and getting our people back?"

  "Not officially. That would be career suicide. We have treaties in place. Accords and agreements. Going into Alfheim is strictly forbidden, which is why we often discredit its existence."

  Now that made sense. It also explained why Cromwell had been so slow to believe I had a Faerie head in my basement. He wasn't supposed to believe me. The fewer Witches who knew the realm existed, the fewer would try to enter it.

  "So you're here…because of Blackwood."

  "Officially. Unofficially, I'm here because I need Arden." He'd already surprised me by putting his hand on hers, now he really rocked my clock by moving the back of his hand against her cheek, like one lover would do to another.

  I held up my hand and was about to ask when he looked at me and shook his head. I didn't ask.

  "I'm here to support you getting that bastard back here so he can forgive Arden and remove the curse. But we're running out of time."

  I looked at Arden. She was the one running out of time. I don't think she was even awake.

  "Cure her, Samantha, and I will help you with the Leviathan."

  I wished I had a recorder or something. I mean, the fact he said that in front of witnesses, one of them a Lycan (and they never forget!) was enough that the universe would hold him to that vow.

  We left the bedroom and reassembled at the front door. Dharma retrieved my backpack from her car. "I'm heading into town. But I won't be gone long."

  "Cromwell's got an assignment for you?"

  "Yeah. I know what he's doing and the Hive will help," she smiled. "Off the books. Funny thing is…he wouldn't have even asked us a month ago."

  I unzipped my backpack to make sure the book was still there. I saw my pistols and my ammo, as well as the book. "What does that mean?"

  "Well you remember Fred? That obnoxious Fire Cleric?"

  I froze in the middle of zipping up the backpack. Hold it together, woman. Fred had been the one that hated me, the one that broke into my bathroom the one that…was gone. "Uh, yeah. Yeah. Bad temper?"

  "Yeah, that one. After he resigned and disappeared, Cromwell's been a bit easier to work with. I mean he's still pretty strict with the rules when we're on the job, but this?" she reached out and took my hand. "Bring him home to me? Please?"

  I set the backpack on the porch and took her into my arms. "I'll bring both of them home."

  She gave Kyle a hug, and even Bastien, before she left.

  Bastien had the staff in his hand and pointed at the bag. "You have everything we need?"

  "Bastien—"

  "I will not hear it."

  "This isn't your fight. You know how I feel about him—"

  He reached down and touched my chin. "Sa fait pas rien, chérie. This affects you. I told you. I will bring that bastard back just to see the smile on your face and I will know," he grinned and his canines still looked a bit long. "That I was the one who returned it."

  I wasn't going to admit I really wanted him with me. I felt safer with Bastien beside me. It was like having my own private Wookie. Only…he was nicer to look at.

  Kyle stepped forward and put his arms around me. "You be careful."

  I pushed him back. "You're coming with me."

  "I can't leave Arden. Sam, she's the only family I have left. And if she passes before you get back—that leaves me standing between Blackwood and his bid to take this land."

  "Take this land?" I narrowed my eyes at him. "He mentioned taking Arden's land and her holdings. What the hell kind of deal did Arden make with him?"

  Kyle waved his hand. "Long story. I'll be right here, minding the fort, and making sure Cromwell does what he said he'd do. And someone has to keep the shop going."

  "I don't plan on being gone that long."

  "Just in case." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. It looked like a plain silver band. "This is an alloy, but it's mostly made up of iron," he dropped it into my hand and then gave one to Bastien. "Arden had them made for her people when they first started dealing with Faeries."

  Bastien slipped it over his ring finger. "Is it magic?"

  "Its properties are poison to Faeries. You grab one of them with that hand and that ring will start a nasty reaction."

  I tried the ring on as well. The only finger it fit was my left-h
and ring finger. I looked at my ring and then at Bastien's. He wiggled his eyebrows up and down. I pointed at him. "Don't even."

  He held up his left hand and moved the finger, but said nothing.

  "Crap, maybe I should go with you."

  I put my hand on Kyle's arm. "No…I think you're right about staying. And the fewer that go in, the easier it's going to be to do what we have to do and get out."

  "You got a plan?"

  I gave him a withering look. "What do you think?"

  "Good Goddess, have mercy." He followed Bastien and I to the barn where a space had been cleared. Crwys's Mustang sat silently on the other side and I thought of Levi. "Sweet Lord and Lady. I need to call Levi and tell him."

  "No," Kyle said. "The less he knows the better. He's dealing with Prescott right now."

  "Oh…so," I looked around. "Where's Grey?"

  Mom?

  I'm not going, baby.

  What? Why not? You've been there before. I could use your help.

  She didn't answer me for a few minutes but when she did, her tone was sad and I thought I caught a hint of fear. I spent eighteen years of my life in the service of Medbh, baby. Thinking of you. Missing you. Cursing Dionysus and everything he did to me. Now that I'm here and I'm free of Alfheim…I just can't.

  I felt a little betrayed, but I could understand. I didn't want to go back either. That one experience of being a fountain statue was enough to put the fear of Faerie in me. But I was stronger now, and I wasn't going to let anything stop me from bringing Crwys home. I love you, Mom.

  I love you. Come home safe.

  "Sam?"

  "Grey's staying here. Watch her, Kyle." I checked the backpack on my back, grabbed a few water bottles from a case on the nearby shelf, took the staff from Bastien and held his hand. "Here goes nothing." I raised the staff and slammed it into the dirt the same way I'd done in the woods with Ben.

  Everything happened the same, even down to the sparkling ring of purple lights, just visible in the dim light of the open barn. I looked at Bastien. "Ready?"