A light bulb popped on. “That’s why the others wanted to die. They thought they’d come back as ghosts.”
Carina grimaced, replacing the blade. “Yeah. But ghosts are energy.”
“And that’s what the Eversors feed on,” Hilda finished.
“Exactly.”
“Then why do they give us bodies? Aren’t they just delaying the inevitable?”
“No. It makes us an eternal food source.”
Hilda lay back against the rug. She refused to panic. All it did was kill hope, and hope was all she had left. “So how have you managed to keep the faith?” She rolled onto her side, watching the other witch. There was something familiar about her, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
Sinking down beside her, Carina sighed. “I don’t have a choice. I made some bad choices and died before I could fix them. But if I can get back with this body intact, I can change things.”
She was right. In a sense they had been given a second chance. But only if they figured out how to use it. “So how did you get all this stuff?” she asked.
Carina smiled. “This place has its perks. Your powers are stronger here, and you can manipulate energy and matter to create things. Problem is you can’t stay in one place for long or you’ll be found. And if they catch you, they won’t let you go until they’ve sucked you dry, but you’ll heal. We always do.”
“And they’ll come back.” It was something out of a horror movie, a never-ending one. “Does it ever end?”
“No.” Carina gazed into the fire, her fingers tapping a rhythm against the canvas floor. “Not until you end it.”
Chapter Four
Several hours had passed and Hilda was still lying on the floor of the tent. It was strangely soothing, but she gave herself a much-needed kick in the rear and jumped to her feet. The warm loaf of bread on the table beside her was irresistible, and it tasted as good as it looked. She grabbed another chunk and shoved it in her pocket. There was no telling when she’d eat next.
“Really?” Carina cocked an eyebrow. “Wrap some food up in a sheet or something. It’s not like you’re never coming back.”
Hilda grabbed the rest of the loaf and threw it into the makeshift backpack she had rigged from a bed sheet. She’d been afraid to use her magic to create something. All too aware that for now, she was hidden, masked by Carina’s presence. Using her powers would be the equivalent of waving a white flag. It wasn’t worth the risk.
Carina gave her a wry smile as she made her way across the room to stand beside her. “The caves are less than a mile, but the entrance is hidden. You’ll have to squeeze through two narrow boulders to get inside.” She grabbed Hilda’s hand, pressing a silver amulet in her palm. “Take this. It will help cloak your presence. It’s not much, but every little thing counts.”
“Thanks.” Hilda clasped the chain around her neck. “So if the caves are safer, why live out in the open?”
Carina sighed and let her arms fall to her sides. “I refuse to be ruled by fear. This may not be much of a life, but it’s a hell of a lot better than huddling in some cave waiting to be attacked. Besides they’d eventually come after me in the caves. They’re a nuisance to the Eversors, not a barrier.”
“I understand,” Hilda replied. And she did. Years ago she’d learned that same lesson. “Hopefully the caves will keep the Eversors from detecting my spell. It’s a long shot, but if I can contact Brenna, she’ll pull us out of here. She’s a Shadow Bearer. They can reach through the planes.”
“Good luck. Just remember, the more power you use, the more likely you’ll be found.”
“You could come with me. Help me.”
“No. I’m too weak. If you’re still here in a few days, I’ll be stronger. We’ll try again then.”
“Agreed.” Hilda glanced at the opening of the tent. The sooner she got started, the sooner it would be over. “If I succeed, I’ll come back for you. I promise.”
Carina gave her a sad smile. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” She gave her a gentle push. “Get out of here.”
Hilda cursed under her breath as she stepped onto the dirt. The cold on this plane felt unnatural. And the darkness was so dense she couldn’t even make out her hand in front of her face. She’d been here less than a day and she hated it with a passion. It was like a landscape from one of the night terrors she’d had growing up. The sooner she got out, the better.
It sucked to leave the tent, but what choice did she have? She couldn’t sit around and wait for someone to save her. Nothing good came from that. She’d find a cave, cast her spell, and pray it worked. If it didn’t, at least she could say she’d tried.
If it wasn’t for Carina, she’d be sunk. The other woman’s directions had been so detailed and on point that Hilda was able to move through the night with a confidence she hadn’t felt before.
As she plowed through the darkness, Cade permeated her thoughts. Seeing him had driven home how badly she’d missed him. Memories were dangerous things, and they flooded her as she walked. The feel of his arms wrapped around her as they slept. His hard body against hers as she tasted his lips. How he’d wrapped her in his arms, holding her tight as she’d grieved her father’s death. He had been her hero, her knight in shining armor.
She swiped at her cheek, wiping away a stray tear. Cade would always be a part of her. He had her heart—always would. But that didn’t change their circumstances, or guarantee they’d get anything close to a happy ending. She’d learned a long time ago you couldn’t force something that wasn’t meant to be.
A few minutes more and she’d be at the caves. She could see them in the distance, hidden by the jagged hillside. But as she moved closer, her skin began to tingle, then burn, as if a thousand wasps were stinging her flesh. The Eversors were close. She’d felt a similar sensation earlier. It hurt like the devil, but she pushed on. Then an ear-piercing scream sliced through the darkness.
Carina.
Damn it. She had to go back. But pain drove her to her knees. It hurt so badly, she couldn’t move, much less play hero. Alien magic embraced her, its intensity stealing her breath. The caves were so close. She had to find a way to get there. It was their only chance. If she could get to Brenna, she could get them out of here.
She tried to stand, but ended up on her ass in the sand. Stunned, she took a deep breath. If she had to, she’d crawl there. And she did. One hand, then the other, one leg, then the other, she could do this. When she came upon the cave, she’d never been so glad to see a formation of stones in her life. Her hands were trembling as she gripped the slick surface. She pulled herself up as she tried to shake off the residual aches and pains.
The stinging was gone, as was the screaming, but it had left her weak. Her muscles felt like jelly, her skin like it was covered with burns. Legs shaking, she pushed through the pain and plunged through the entrance.
Ironically, it was like stepping from a cave into the sunlight. Not that she was surprised. This world was all kinds of messed up. It figured the only sunlight would be inside a cave. This whole world was on crack.
She struggled through the winding tunnels, body pressed against the damp walls to stay upright. The narrow passage felt like it went on forever. It was all she could do to push forward. She’d about had it when the tunnels spilled into an enormous cavern.
The space was unnerving. It was like stepping into an outdoor sauna covered with vines on all sides. Every breath was a struggle against the humidity. By the time she had settled crossed-legged in the center of the room, sweat was dripping from her forehead in a steady stream. It was no wonder the Eversors stayed clear of these caves. It was easily a hundred degrees, and there was light. It was probably their version of hell.
Even so it never hurt to take precautions. Murmuring an incantation beneath her breath, she let her magic flow from her fingertips. It searched the caves like a
watchdog, only quicker and more effective. When it found nothing, it came back to her eager as a lost puppy. She took it back in, but kept it ready for the spell to come.
There was no need to delay the inevitable. Either the spell would work or it wouldn’t. She’d never know if she didn’t get to it. She used her finger to trace a circle in the dirt around her, readjusting herself so she sat directly in the center. The magic swelled through her as she closed the circle, a warm heat that settled deep in her belly. It had been so long, too long, since she’d used the craft. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed it.
But the magic she wove now wasn’t the same as when she’d been alive. It swelled with power molded by the touch of death and rebirth, a vortex of untapped force. It was freakin’ awesome.
An image of Brenna in her mind, she took control of her power and pushed it through the spell and into the layers of darkness that lay between her and the Earthly plane. Soon the shadows parted, revealing Brenna and Gray beside an altar. A bloody athame lay on the wooden floor at their feet, a castoff of the spell they had conjured.
Hilda called to them, willing them to turn. But they couldn’t hear her. She pushed harder into the spell, but there was a film surrounding her she couldn’t break through. It had to be the wards. Her magic shoved against them, again and again, without success.
Drained, she fell back in the dirt, tears streaming down her burning cheeks. She couldn’t do it. Couldn’t save herself. All she could do was wait and pray Cade came through.
Cade didn’t know what was worse. Losing a lover through death or finding out said lover had become a ghost and tossed you away like trash. He ran his hand across the sun-bleached tombstone, so carefully placed all those years ago.
Hilda had always wanted to visit Taos, to feel the energy vortex. He’d never been able to bring her in life, so he’d buried her here instead. There was no rule someone else couldn’t mark things off your bucket list after you were dead, so he’d done that for her. One final present to the woman he had loved to distraction. And he had missed her every day since.
Most people would have moved on, found someone else. But he wasn’t built that way. He’d never been taught how to process death. His people never died—they merely changed form. A mortal injury sent them spinning through the Veil, to return with their memories intact and a different body. Add that to the fact his people mated for eternity, and he’d had no clue how to deal with losing Hilda. It had broken him.
But he’d survived, filling his days training human mages and fighting deviants so he wouldn’t have to deal. The walls he’d built around his heart were high and made of granite, impossible to crack.
It’d been a mistake to go see Hilda without a plan, but he hadn’t been able to resist. Finding out she had been here all this time, while he’d suffered, had broken something inside him. He’d had to see her, to verify Seraph’s words, and stop her from doing something stupid.
He knew her too well. She’d always been a loose cannon, acting without thought to the consequences. Doing that in the Void was a recipe for disaster, but that wouldn’t stop her. She’d do whatever she could to escape her fate. He’d hoped seeing her, letting her know he was working on an exit plan, would stop her, or at least slow her down.
“Ready?”
Cade pushed himself off the ground, wiping his hands on his jeans. He’d been so distracted he hadn’t heard Seraph’s approach. “Not yet. I need to pack my stuff. It won’t take me long.” He gave Hilda’s headstone one final glance. Now was the time to say goodbye to his version of the past and deal with the truth. “Are we going to teleport or drive?” he called over his shoulder as he made his way to his tent, Seraph trailing behind.
“No time to drive. The longer we wait, the harder it’ll be to pull Hilda out.” Seraph sped up, meeting Cade’s stride so they were walking side by side. “And now that you’ve seen her, I thought you’d want to hurry.”
Cade stopped. “What do you mean?”
Seraph snorted, but kept walking. “Lying to me isn’t going to win you any favors. I felt you tugging at the Veil. It’s hard to miss that type of magic.”
Irritated, Cade caught up to him. “I wanted to see her. What of it?”
“Nothing. I’d have done the same thing. Tried to, but I couldn’t find her. That’s why we needed you.” Seraph stopped outside the tent, motioning for Cade to enter first. When Cade was inside, he followed. “Look. I know you two have history. But keep your head clear. It’s going to take a hell of a lot of power to pull her through the wards. If you’re not focused, we could fail.”
“Agreed.” Cade grabbed his duffel bag from the bed and unzipped it. He leaned down and pulled a metal crate from beneath the bed, dumped the contents inside the bag then zipped it closed. He couldn’t do jack until they got to Denver, and there was no time like the present. Shoving the container back under the bed, he stood. “I’m ready. Send me the image so I know where I’m going.”
“Keep your pants on. One thing at a time,” Seraph said. He’d moved to the side of the tent and was leaning against one of the metal support beams. “I have to take care of some things here, so I’m not coming with you. Brenna and Gray know I pulled you in because of Hilda. But I may have exaggerated the closeness of our relationship, so they’d trust you.”
“We have a relationship?”
“Friends. Not close friends, but we knew each other way back. You’re an Adurro, so I figured they’d buy it. You may be Hilda’s former fiancé, but they’re not real big on trust. And I don’t want to make this more stressful than it has to be.”
“I see,” Cade said. And he did. Seraph loved these hunters. They weren’t just Seraph’s team. They were his family. Once upon a time, Hilda’s coven had been that for him. But he’d left them after her death, unable to bear the constant reminder of what should have been. That hole in his heart had yet to be filled. He moved toward Seraph, all the while searching the tent for any items he couldn’t live without.
“Some of the team can be hard to take, especially Keegan. But they’re loyal. They’ll have your back. You couldn’t do better.”
“Understood.” Cade felt the tickle on his psyche, so he closed his eyes and let Seraph in. The image he painted inside his mind was like something out of a post-apocalyptic story book. A large rambling house, tilted to one side and draped in vines. It had seen better days. But it was the front door that captured his attention. Purple, yellow and orange, it was awkward and out of place on the decaying manor. And it was exactly the focal point he needed.
His mind fixed on the front door of the manor, he gathered his magic around him like a cloak. It flowed through his body, a wave of heat that soothed as it passed through. When he opened his eyes, he was standing on a wooden porch. The door swung open before he had the chance to knock.
The man on the threshold was a head taller than Cade’s six-and-a-half feet and built like an ox. His black hair had been shorn close to the scalp, setting off a set of chiseled features and fierce yellow eyes.
Cade met his gaze unflinching. “I’m Cade. You’re expecting me.”
The other man grinned. He stepped back and waved Cade inside. “I’m Keegan. Welcome to the family.”
“Don’t scare him off.” A small woman pushed past Keegan, shoving him out of the way. “Brenna,” she said, hand outstretched. “Don’t mind our dragon. He’s not housebroken.”
Cade took her hand, letting her magic wrap around him and feel him out. She was beautiful, with big amber eyes and long copper hair. But it was an appearance made of glamour to disguise her true form. It would be impossible for a Shadow Bearer to fit in on the Earthly plane without it.
Keegan hissed at Brenna, smoke trickling from his flared nostrils. “Thin ice. Know what that is?”
“Something I don’t have to worry about.” Grinning, she jumped up and kissed his cheek. “I could kick you
r ass with one hand tied behind my back.”
The dragon snorted. “Sure. Delude yourself. I’ll be in the kitchen. I’ve got a date with a container of ice cream I snatched from the black market.” He smacked his lips. “Yell if anything interesting happens.”
Cade turned back to Brenna. “Nice roommate.”
“You’ll get use to him.” She motioned him to the couch on the far side of the room. “So is Seraph right? Can you find Hilda?”
“You can’t?”
She shook her head. “I’ve been trying for weeks, even enlisted the help of some ghosts, but no dice.”
“It’s because she’s in the Void. I already made contact with her, but I can’t pull her out on my own.” He shoved a hand in his pocket and pulled out the folded picture Seraph had given him. “Hilda was my fiancée,” he said as he handed it to her. “I loved her deeply. That’s why I can find her.”
Brenna stared at the picture, a bemused smile on her lips. “If that’s true, why haven’t I heard about you until now?”
“I didn’t know. I thought she was dead. Gone.” The wound was still fresh, and hashing out his feelings with a stranger wasn’t high on his list of favorite things.
“She didn’t tell you she was a ghost,” Brenna said. “But you’re not human. You would have been able to see her.”
“Only if she let me.” He paused. “And she didn’t.”
Brenna nodded, handing the picture back. “Not my business. That’s between you and Hilda. All I want is to get her back.”
Chapter Five
Hilda grimaced as she pushed herself to her feet. Her legs would barely hold her, and her body ached from head to toe. It was time to stop feeling sorry for herself. There was nothing more dangerous than wallowing in self-pity. And she needed to get back to Carina, to make sure she was okay.
Piercing the Darkness Page 3
