by Kari Thomas
Or die trying.
Turning her back on her uncle, she reached out and pinched the bear’s ear teasingly, showing none of her past fear, and gently murmured to her friend. “I won’t let you die, Riana. I promise.”
When she turned back around, her face was set. Her determination, that he fulfill his previous agreement, colored her voice. “Prepare your alter for the ritual oath. And know I will be watching you closely. I don’t trust you.” She ground her teeth when he had the nerve to smirk.
“I said I would take the oath, and I will. I’m playing by your rules, as agreed. For now.”
She followed him behind a screen set in the corner of the lab and watched him carefully. She listened closely as well, assuring he didn’t try and sneak something in that would allow him to wriggle free later.
Her uncle picked up his ceremonial knife, its sharp edges glistening in the light, and sliced the blade across his left palm. His blood fell in a steady rivulet, coating a ceremonial bowl. She held her breath, not moving, her eyes never leaving the back of his head as he fulfilled the oath. His life-blood bound the words into an unbreakable promise:
Black Powers that be, hear me
White Powers that be, know me
Your humble servant makes this vow
No death shall come to Riana by my hand
Hold my words. Let my promise stand
Revenge on her family done not by me
Powers witness my blood; seal my decree
This is my will, so mote it be.
Warren dabbed antiseptic on his cut hand while Kira thought over his brief blood oath. Though sparsely worded, it should be enough to hold him to the Powers That Be. She’d done what she could to protect Riana and her family. If only there were a way to warn them, and Lena, before it was too late…
“Now it’s your turn, Kira, to uphold your end of our bargain.” Warren turned to face her, his expression cold and set. “Make. The. Exchange. Do. It. Now.”
Taking one healthy, fortifying breath to calm her racing heart she walked back and opened the cage. She wasn’t frightened, now, of what Riana would do, even if she was a bear…for the moment.
Coaxing Riana from her crouched position, she cooed promises she had every intention of keeping. “Come on out, Riana. I swear I will keep you safe and Warren won’t ever touch you again. Not ever again.” It touched Kira to the depths of her soul when Riana ambled out of the cage, her brown eyes trusting, accepting. Kira knelt down and gently caressed the bear’s furry face. “It’ll be over soon, sweetie, and then you can go home. But first, do I have your permission to heal you?”
After Riana nodded her bear head, Kira gave a small sigh, knowing there was no turning back. She clutched her garnet power stone in one hand, and placed her other hand on the right side of Riana’s broad face. She closed her eyes and centered her thoughts, feeling her new-found power rippling up from the depths of her being. It expanded, flowing through her, over her, around her. Infused with remembered warmth and strength, Kira smiled into Riana’s face, reassuring her about what was to come.
Kira kept constant eye-contact with a quivering Riana as a swirl of clean, lavender-scented air permeated the room. The pulsing lavender aura misted around them, enveloping them in a protective cocoon. Kira could faintly hear Warren chanting the promised protection spell, the one to help save Riana’s life, and prayed all went as planned. Drawing in a deep breath and releasing it in a ‘whoosh’, she projected her inner spirit into Riana.
The pain was excruciating.
The Evil Warren had inserted into Riana immediately sensed an intruder, moved toward her threateningly. It oozed through the amber aura, thick and menacing. For one brief moment she faltered. It seemed to have grown stronger since their last encounter, brave enough to stretch out spectral fingers reeking of death and destruction. Kira had never felt such vicious intent, it was overwhelming. In the back of her mind flittered the question of how Warren had become strong enough to create such an entity so powerful.
Dangerous. Deadly.
As her mind touched the malignancy, Its truth was revealed, a truth so horrific she nearly lost all hope. The ‘magic’ scroll that Warren thought offered eternal riches and rewards was nothing more than a vessel of deliverance. It had contained an ancient Evil that did nothing more that wait for its next gullible victim, patiently biding Its time until someone sought that which they should not. Someone greedy and dissatisfied enough to allow It the freedom to twist and manipulate at will, to tempt and control the unwary.
Offering It an opening into the physical world, an opportunity to be.
Bombarded by the appalling knowledge, Kira realized that Warren Douglas, fool that he was, didn’t fully comprehend the truth behind this precarious ‘alliance’. He had no idea what he would be manifesting. This Evil was the ‘beguiling force’ guiding him. It would continue tempting with promises of limitless power, promises of immortality, until It had what It wanted.
Warren was only the instrument It had chosen to access Riana’s life force, her essence. Warren’s body would simply be the vessel for Its next existence.
It would be an unstoppable force, an entity of great power.
Immortal. Indestructible.
It was little consolation to Kira to know that her uncle had been cruelly duped. Now, they were all in danger because he had decided the easiest path to fulfilling his desires was the best. She knew she had to complete the transfer but, once she expelled the evil cancer from Riana, she planned do everything in her power to contain it within herself and…hopefully…destroy it. It would mean her death...but she could see no other recourse.
It was the only way.
She couldn’t let this power reign free.
She called forth her white power, the strength and wisdom of her heritage, and gathered it into a cleansing ball of brilliant gold. She forced it towards the black force until she struck It, hurt It, wrapped It in pure light.
An explosion of multicolored lights nearly blinded her mind’s eye as she dislodged the Evil from Riana’s soul. She pulled the light-web tighter, drawing it close.
A scream of outraged fury…or was it victorious triumph…screeched as the black entity was yanked from Riana’s soul and straight into hers. It struck her with a blow so excruciating she thought she was going to die. Gasping for breath, and trying to stay conscious, Kira reached for every ounce of stored resolve and precious strength, knowing that timing would be the crucial factor.
She accepted the Evil invasion at the same time she felt Riana slump to the floor in an unconscious heap. Better this way…Riana wouldn’t want to be awake for what’s coming next. Riana’s shape-shifting abilities were going to be lost to her forever, but she would still be alive.
Kira started chanting, drawing Riana’s life force into her body, and the sensations were indescribable. Emotions buffeted her like a wild, uncontrollable storm, from joy to grief, rage to laughter. The sheer beauty and power flowing from Riana into her was overwhelming. She had never felt so alive. Wind seemingly blew in her face, she stretched the strength of her immense form, luxuriated in her animalistic sense of oneness with nature.
It was heady. Incredible. Exhilarating.
Stunning in its intensity.
But the feeling didn’t last. The Evil that had attached itself throughout Riana’s life force, whispered in her mind, pushed for dominance, tempted with dark dreams. It hated happiness, despised joy, reveled in death, gloried in destruction. It desired to explore the new host, mold this human for Its use. It was powerful, too strong to survive in this fragile human body without substantial energy reinforcement. It required a melding of Riana’s powerful essence with Kira’s strength of spirit. Only then could It manifest in the current plane of existence.
Kira fought the battle of her life as It tried to control her. It desired the complete submergence of her will. If she didn’t expel It there were none who could stop It.
Unless…she…died.
Her
mind raced, exploring the quickest avenues towards death, when she was struck by a pain so agonizing she thought she would be ill. It was not going to let anything happen. She couldn’t kill herself. It wouldn’t allow such ruin of a perfect host. Fighting for her life, Kira finally broke free from Its diabolic hold. Hoping to distract It, she desperately centered her thoughts. She searched the room for any solution.
She absently looked down and watched Riana, once again in human form, sit up, moaning and holding her head. She almost laughed out loud when Riana took stock of her immediate surroundings then gasped, suddenly noticing she was naked and sitting on a cold basement floor. Her modesty is the least of our problems right now.
Assured that Riana was fine, seeming to be suffering from nothing more than a headache and a cold butt, she turned her head to see Warren watching from the sidelines. She was disgusted by his delight at the realization that the first part of his Spell had worked. She wondered when he would demand the ‘exchange’ and hoped he would think she needed some time to recuperate from the first ‘merging’.
She could feel It was not ready to go.
When she felt herself teeter she stiffened her resolve, and straightened her back, not daring to allow herself to show any weakness to the Evil. Her body shook as her inner energy fluctuated between debilitating weakness and swirling strength, and she prayed to the Goddess for aid. There was a sharp prickle in her hand and she looked down to see her power stone clenched in a death grip. She could feel the Evil seeking a secure hold on her will and she used a minute portion of her Power to evade It.
From the corner of her eye she spied a table containing medical instruments and, with a sharp spurt of power, she levitated a knife from the tray across the room and pulled it into her hand. She leaned down and grabbed Riana’s hand, slapping the sharp instrument into her palm. She closed her fingers tightly around Riana’s as her friend turned her head, seeming to still be in a fog.
“Riana! Listen to me. You have to kill me. Now! Plunge that knife into my heart.” Riana face was shocked and Kira, not having time for niceties, forcibly shook her shoulders. “Riana, did you hear me? Do it, now!”
“NO!” Warren lunged toward the two women. “I won’t let you do it, you deceitful bitch!” He grabbed the knife from Riana’s limp hand, moving the sharp blade to her neck. “I’ll kill her, Kira. I swear it! Transfer that power to me. Do it now. Know I’ll kill you both before you even think about fighting back.”
“No you won’t,” A voice, deadly calm, menacingly dark, rolled through the basement lab. “I’ll kill you first.” They spun around to see Aiden and Gavin in the doorway.
Warren muttered unintelligently something about animals and their keepers while Kira wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or heartsick. Their heroes had arrived…but were they too late?
Warren shoved Riana back down on the floor when she tried to rise, and reached out and grasped Kira by the front of her blouse. Twisting her body, he locked his free arm around her neck, effectively choking her every time she wiggled. He held her in front of him as a shield and backed towards the alter alcove. “Don’t be a fool, Aiden,” he warned. “You have no say in this.” Warren’s speech accelerated with his obvious agitation. “If Kira balks…doesn’t make the transfer…within the next few minutes… it will be hers. Not mine. That can’t happen. It is mine. I won’t let her! She will die!”
“Don’t let him do this,” Kira beseeched the silent males. “Kill me. Destroy both of us. Do it now, Aiden. Do what you have to. Please! I’m not afraid. I have the power to bind him for a moment, and he won’t stand a chance against you both.” She felt scalding tears flow down her cheeks and knew she had to make them understand. Gavin looked concerned and she tried to reassure him with her eyes. Aiden’s eyes, however, showed no little spark of feeling, reflecting nothing but cold fury. “Please, Aiden. Kill us now.”
Before she could say anything more, explain the severity of their situation, a battering pain paralyzed her throat, her body, her soul. The Evil was resolute about remaining where it was. There was no care that by staying in a form that could not contain It, without excruciating damage, It would destroy her body, and soul.
Kira did not want to become what It would eventually shape her.
She screamed out in agony, staggering as if drunk. Warren yanked her across the room but her knees gave out and she knelt where she dropped on the floor. Gasping for breath, she turned her gaze back to Aiden’s. “I don’t have the power to defeat them both. You must kill me. Now. I can’t do it!”
“Yes, you can, Kira. With my help.” Lena reassured her in a quiet, calm voice, as she stood staunchly beside Gavin just inside the basement.
Kira didn’t know how Lena, Gavin, and Aiden had found them but she was thankful they had. All hope rested on their shoulders now. Maybe Lena could talk some sense into her father since Kira didn’t believe that, even with their combined powers, they would be able to battle both dark powers. As the thought tickled her mind, a gust of chilly air blew into the room and a familiar, but wavering, voice hissed, “Yesss. Combine powers. Fight them. Defeat them. Stop them.”
“Sonia,” Kira gasped. Another wave of intense pain rolled through her. “I can’t!” She moaned. “I don’t have that strength, that ability.”
“Remember, Kira. I warned you to remember,” Sonia’s ghost gently, but firmly, admonished, becoming more solid as she pushed herself into their realm.
Sonia had been offered one chance, an opportunity to rectify past mistakes both as a sister, and witch. “You have suffered with guilt, have thought you failed us. You tried to save me from my own destruction. You did your best in the swamp, but you were overwhelmed. Mother and Father sent you their remaining power at that exact same moment you threw out your spell of protection, washing your mind clean of the horror. Realize you didn’t fail, dear sister. Not ever. With our parents’ energy added to yours, you’re stronger than any of us could ever have dreamed of becoming.
“You saved one who should have dealt better with her own life. I was never your responsibility. I needed to take responsibility for myself. I found my true love, bore his special child. My own weaknesses destroyed me, helped speed mine and Kyle’s deaths. Blame for all that occurred rests on mine, and Warren’s shoulders. Our uncle was greedy, and craves power. But it will never be enough. And his greed will drive him. He must be stopped.
“Reach down and free the Power hidden within you. Our parents gave you theirs to protect yourself, and others. Eliminate the seductive Evil before it is too late!” Warren’s mutterings over how Sonia’s insanity had obviously carried over into death actually brought a small smile to Kira’s lips for the first time that day.
She bowed her head and searched for the truth. She had been blaming herself so long it took an eternity for her to finally realize Sonia’s words were true. In a quiet corner of her being, rested the ‘power’ her parents had given her with their last breaths, waiting for the perfect time to introduce itself. Her soul’s energy roared to power, to life and the loving spark shimmered as she stoked it to fullness, to completion.
She bit back a sob caused by soul-searing pain as the Evil fought violently against the union of her power with that of her parents’. Catching her breath, her gaze flew immediately to Aiden, a silent plea in her teary eyes.
His glowering expression, the tell-tale tick of jaw muscles, made her heartbeat speed up and she prayed he wouldn’t do anything rash. She watched, in complete air-stealing astonishment, as he walked casually toward Riana, smoothly morphing into his cougar form along the way. Pain rippled through her body in devastating waves the same time she felt Warren tense behind her, pulling to her feet by her long locks. No longer distracted by Sonia’s ghostly appearance, he had become aware that Aiden was no longer standing beside Lena and Gavin.
And Aiden in cougar form was a far deadlier adversary.
Warren spat out a foul word, tightened his hold around her neck, and then lifted the hand ho
lding the sharp blade. Kira felt his chest muscles tense and knew he would try and spell the cougar.
Warren has enough power at that short distance to kill Aiden with almost any kind of spell! Oh, Goddess, no!
“No!” With an enormous strength of will she didn’t realize she possessed, she pulled forth her Power and broke free from Warren’s death grip. She dashed across the room to the center of the floor and spun around to face him, prepared to do what she could to protect those she loved. Lena rushed to her side and Sonia’s spirit swirled close around them, as though offering what strength she could spare. Lena held her weary body upright while Kira revved their combined powers together with enough energy to have thrown her off her feet, if not for her cousin’s tight clasp.
The strength of the building force was precariously destructive and Kira knew she had to stop the Evil from reaching their combined cores. She threw out a portion of their joined energy, instantly, irrevocably, trapping the Evil. Without a moment to lose, she forcibly locked It behind a bright light, cleaner than the brightest white, purer than the most innocent.
Potent lavender scent flooded the entire room as magical forces swirled.
Kira, voice hoarse with the strength of energy she was using, gasped out an expulsion spell, praying it would not only drive the Evil completely from her, but also destroy It. The needed words flowed from her mouth.
Strong. Sure. Powerful.
Her White Power found its mark...deadly accurate...right into the center of the imprisoned Evil’s weakness...Its black soul. A long, screeching wail shattered the windows of the basement, nearly deafening the group as the Evil was cast from Kira. It swirled fanatically around the room, Its blacker-than-black aura pulsing with pure malevolence.
As the witches’ voices rose in unison, the chanting grew stronger, louder, until they were screaming out the words that would banish the Evil back into Its eternal prison. A bright ball of purest light hit It one more time and, with one last, long and angry thwarted wail reverberating through the room, It disappeared in one contained implosion…
