Daniel lifted his hand, but dropped it just short of touching her shoulder. “Are you sure?”
“I am. You might want to step across the street, though. Overlapping power is dangerous, and I can’t promise there won’t be fallout. I don’t want you hurt.”
Daniel nodded once, stepping toward the street, but not crossing it, and Ophelia knew that was the best she was going to get. Taking a deep breath, she lifted her right hand again. Her fingertips brushed the field of power. She opened her left hand as she shut her eyes, and the colors rushed back, swiftly followed by the warring melodies. And the air around her exploded, wind whipping up to toss her hair around her body, flinging her magick around the darkness in a dizzying swirl of greens, blues, and purples. Thunderous guitar strings joined the percussion, adding bass at the end, heavy metal vibes rocking back the darkness. Another deep breath, a prayer, and Ophelia stepped through the barrier, dragging her magick with her.
The sleep spell dragged her mind forward, but Ophelia didn’t release her hold. Spears of green shot forth from her fingertips, stabbing into the heart of the inky gray mist. Blue tendrils wrapped around the soft music, smothering the notes in a cacophony of loudness. Purple wisps of light darted back and forth, eking through the darkness to filter under the gap at the bottom of the front door. As the wind whipped Ophelia’s wet hair into a frenzy, the curls twisting and tangling themselves into wild knots, her heart pounded with the rhythm of the drums.
A pink glow emanated from the palms of her hands, following the purple path, sneaking past the shadows to enter the house, seeking heartbeats and life. The air inside the house hummed, and Ophelia felt every pulse pumping in the bodies within. She smelled their sweat, their blood, and heard their heartbeats. The darkness didn’t stand a chance. Lips curving again, Ophelia rolled her hands back toward her body, the multi-colored glow of her magick receding with each turn, dragging the darkness with it. She pulled and pulled, combining the powers, tugging all of them back toward her soul. As the force grew closer, her breathing turned heavy, her movements sluggish. Her arms were lead, but she gritted her teeth and fought, not stopping until she felt the bodies inside twitch, their minds released from the sleep spell.
With one last jerk of her hands, Ophelia opened her mouth and swallowed the power in a huge, sour gulp. Her head spun, and unable to open her eyes, she felt her body swaying backward. Her last thought before she passed out, was that she sure hoped Daniel was close enough to catch her.
Time stopped as she fell, the sinking weight of her body expanding to her consciousness. More colors swirled, blending reds, blues, and greens in a twisted whirlwind across her vision. Figures coalesced, shapes forming, bleeding, morphing into one another, before shifting into human shapes. As each one appeared, names whispered across her subconscious in Jaqueline’s voice, “Jeremiah… Gavin… Liam… Melina… Serena… Annixia…”
The figured faded, and Jaqueline appeared before Ophelia, arms spread wide, worry glowing in her dark eyes. “I did not tell you this before, although I should have. I misjudged how deeply involved you were. He who has tainted you with his dark mark has lost track of Serena, and he believes Liam and Melina continue to work for the Vampire Council. He searches for Aden and Daniel, as well as a woman named Annixia – a woman closer to all of you than you know – and his power is invested in the brothers, Duncan and Declan, along with their sister, Teri, though I know not where they are, or why they’re so important.”
Jaqueline’s eyes sparkled as the colored mist engulfed the two of them, her voice softening as she continued, “Ophelia, you must tread carefully. Your power is greater than you believe, and you will be instrumental in many things. You, Daniel, and your combined magick can be the spark that begins to tumble the sorcerer’s tower – the spark that ignites the dragon’s flame. Hold your friends close, and give your heart to love. You are stronger together than you will ever be apart…”
Jaqueline’s voice faded, and the wind howled in Ophelia’s ears as time sped up, and blessed darkness engulfed her mind.
The air stilled in a flash, and Ophelia crumpled toward the ground. Daniel lunged forward, catching her just before she hit. His heart in his throat, he pressed his fingers to her neck, feeling for a pulse. His own heartbeat was too loud, pounding in his ears, for him to focus on hers. Daniel praised whatever God might be listening when he felt Ophelia’s pulse strong and steady beneath his fingertips.
Cradling her in his arms, he looked up to see Liam, Serena, and Melina running out of Aden’s house. Liam reached him first, his eyes dark with concern, his cheeks flushed with fury. His gaze bounce between Daniel, the house, and Ophelia.
“Ok,” Liam said slowly, “this was obviously magick, but what the hell happened?”
Daniel’s eyes scanned the street. His teeth worried his bottom lip as he searched for anything suspicious, anything at all out of the ordinary. Nothing was visible, but his gut wouldn’t settle.
“It’s not safe to talk here,” Daniel told them, turning first to his brother, “Liam, you come with me. Serena and Melina, y’all gather some clothes and necessities, please. We need to get to Carissa’s. I think the pack’s estate is the only place in this damn town that’s safe right now.”
As the women walked away, Daniel picked Ophelia up and carried her back to her driveway, heading toward her truck. Liam fell into step beside him.
“Her keys are in her purse just inside the door. Grab it, the cooler of blood on the porch, and her cell phone from the floor in the hallway – I’ll explain when we’re safe – and hurry back.” Daniel said without looking up from the woman in his arms.
Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Liam nod and run inside. He came back out with the requested items a couple of minutes later. Liam unlocked the truck, and then the two men situated Ophelia in the passenger seat. The skin on the back of Daniel’s neck tingled. The air was still, the night quiet and that in itself was unsettling.
His sense of urgency close to overwhelming, Daniel helped Serena and Melina load the suitcases they’d grabbed into the back of the pickup, and then he ushered them inside. Daniel climbed into the driver’s seat, and without fastening his seatbelt, peeled out of the driveway, leaving tire tracks on the pavement. It wasn’t until they entered the woods that anyone spoke.
“Something’s bothering me.” Liam piped up, leaning forward from his spot in the middle of the backseat.
“What is it?” Melina asked him, while Daniel listened with half an ear. He kept his eyes trained on the unpaved road before him. The woods were too quiet.
“Jaune is full of werewolves, right? I find it hard to believe that there wasn’t a single one out to hear or see anything tonight. That doesn’t sit right with me. I also want to know why Aden didn’t sense the spell and go back to tell you immediately. We were in his house, after all.”
“We’ll ask Aden when we get inside.” Daniel responded, steering the truck into the pack estate’s driveway.
As the headlights hit the front of the house, people flooded the porch, coming from both inside, and from around the outside of the house. Daniel parked and turned his gaze to Liam.
“I think that answers your question,” he said, smirking.
Aden reached the truck mere steps ahead of Carissa, but Daniel waved them aside as he gathered Ophelia from the passenger seat. “Let’s hold off on the hows and the whys. I want to get Phia inside,” he told them.
Aden nodded, and gestured toward the still-growing crowd. The werewolves parted to let the party inside. Daniel deposited Ophelia on the couch, turning to face the group, his expression as dark as the clouds in his mind.
His gaze encompassed all seven of them, but his words were for his great-great grandson. “Why didn’t you stop by your house when you left Ophelia's?”
Aden frowned. “Carissa sent me a text and asked that I come back immediately. Why?”
“Because the reason that only you could have helped Phia was because everyone else wa
s asleep. After finding her the way I did, I didn’t even think to say something to you.” He told them about the spell, and what Ophelia had to do to neutralize it. “So, you can see why she’s unconscious,” he concluded with a wave of his arm, “She took the power into herself, and it did to her what it did to everyone in your house. I don’t think it’s permanent, but I’m afraid only time will tell.”
Stopping again, Daniel took a deep breath and scanned the room. He looked through the windows at the members of the Crimson Bayou Pack. Someone was missing. “Where’s Garrett?”
Carissa shrugged. “That’s why I texted Aden. Dad skipped out after y’all buried Rafe. He left a note in his room asking for us not to go looking for him, and he officially appointed Aden as the new Pack Master. I figure he’ll come home if or when he wants.”
“With everything that’s happened lately, I hope you’re right. How are y’all holding up?”
Carissa smiled grimly. “Better than Phia, and more than ready to fight.” She shook her head. “Do we have any more information on the sorcerer that’s behind this? I can’t wrap my head around this all happening on the whim of just one man.”
“You’re right. It’s not just Myrick. It’s him, and Jeremiah, and whatever other cronies he has at his disposal. It’s the Vampire Council members and the Supreme Pack Master—it’s all of them, I’m sure of it. And there’s more—”
Daniel broke off and crouched down when Ophelia began to stir. He helped her into a sitting position as she raised a hand to the side of her head.
“Damn it. The room is not supposed to be spinning,” she muttered, closing her eyes briefly, then swore as she opened them again. “Man, that was one fucked up spell!”
A lump growing in his throat, Daniel gathered her into his arms and rocked, not caring that others were watching. He felt her reluctance as she put her arms around him and held on, but he didn’t let it bother him. She was there, and she was awake and alive.
That would be enough for now.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The next afternoon, alone with her thoughts, Ophelia reflected on the spell that she’d ingested. Daniel told the rest of the group everything he knew, but she hadn’t chimed in. There was more. Much more, and she wasn’t sure they were ready to hear it. Shaking her head, Ophelia settled onto her couch and picked up her current read, Secrets by E.H. Demeter. It was fascinating how the author had her characters overcome obstacle after obstacle without losing their feelings for each other. Sure, they were scared, more than once, but when things got tough, they were there for one another—just like she wanted to be with Daniel.
With a sigh, Ophelia closed the book after reading the same paragraph four times, and placed it next to her on the couch. How can I read about happily-ever-afters when I’m sure that won’t happen for me? On top of that, they still had no leads on her aunt—something she’d tried so hard not to dwell on. The hole her absence made in Ophelia’s heart hurt too much.
With a long sigh, she raised her eyes to look at the clock over her TV. The appliance said it was seven, which meant the sun would disappear at any moment. An idea struck, and Ophelia jumped up from her seat, running to her bedroom to change clothes. Off came the sundress, and on went a pair of sturdy jeans and a simple black t-shirt. Flipping her red hair over her shoulder, she finessed it into a long braid. She pulled on a pair of low-heeled leather boots, and sauntered into her living room to grab her truck keys.
Screw waiting. It was time to get some answers.
She stalked out to her truck, her thoughts whirring into overdrive. Her biological mother was dead, killed by Ophelia’s own power. If it weren’t for Aunt Janice, she wouldn't even consider continuing to work for Jeremiah, but the truth of it was that he had the information she needed. If anyone knew where her aunt was, it would be him. He also knew more about the sorcerer behind it all...even more than she did. Ophelia squeezed her eyes shut briefly as she turned the ignition. No one knew the depth of the deplorable things she’d done, or how close she’d really been to the sorcerer's power. She’d never seen him face-to-face, even though she knew she’d been watched on several occasions.
Even someone as self-assured as Myrick wouldn't let one of his assassins go about their business unattended. Ophelia cursed under her breath as the Hemi engine roared. Image upon image—too many to count—layered over and over in her mind. Blood. There was always so much blood. Myrick demanded it. He liked to be certain his victims were dead. She shuddered as she guided her truck onto Main Street. At least all the victims were elderly, already at the end of their lives. That was her only consolation. Even when she thought her mother was being held captive, she couldn't have killed anyone with a long life left to live—no one good, anyway.
And then there was the other thing...the thing she’d promised to do for the sorcerer that had nothing to do with spilling blood. It looked like that was a promise she’d be breaking. Jeremiah hadn’t kept his end of the deal, and if one side was incomplete, so too would the other be. She wouldn't be giving the sorcerer what he wanted. Not in this lifetime or the next, but she wouldn't be telling Jeremiah that. Not yet. First, she needed to find out where they had her aunt. She wasn't delusional enough to believe they’d keep her alive for long, so the sooner she knew, the better.
The charade of being his pawn would have to last a little longer.
Ophelia arrived at Jeremiah’s warehouse as the sun sank behind the trees. The vampire would just be waking up, giving her time to get inside and check in with one of the cronies before Jeremiah met her in the conference room. She crossed the parking lot quickly, eyes scanning the trees surrounding the building. She carried her knife in her boot, but no other weapons. She wouldn’t be allowed to keep them. There was a brief flash of green as she stretched her senses. There were no wards to prevent her magick, so she wasn’t helpless. If she’d found out otherwise, there would be no meeting.
Throwing open the door, Ophelia crossed the bright white hallway to the receptionist’s desk. The woman behind the counter tapped away at an old-school Mac, the large, boxy monitor taking up most of the surface. Her gum popped when she smacked it, blowing bubbles as she ignored Ophelia. That wouldn’t work at all. Another flash of green light sparked as Ophelia slammed the palm of her right hand onto the desk. The receptionist’s blue eyes widened, and out spit her gum to stick to the computer screen.
“What the hell, Ophelia?”
“What? You ignore me every time I come in. You should have known it would get annoying sooner or later.”
“I’m just following orders!”
“Which is why I didn’t actually hurt you. I need to see Jeremiah. Now.”
“He’s busy.”
Ophelia leaned closer, eyes bright, illuminating the startled receptionist in a light green glow. “Do I need to repeat myself?”
“N-no. I’ll tell him you’re here. Room three.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Ophelia entered the conference room, and took a seat at the head of the table, her eyes focused on the door. Craven entered a few minutes later.
“Jeremiah will be here in ten minutes,” he said loudly as the door swung shut. Ophelia raised an eyebrow as he crossed the room toward her. He leaned close when he sat down. “Daniel knows you’re here, and he’s not happy.”
“Well, someone had to get some answers.”
“And you couldn’t let someone a little less valuable do it for you?”
“Who? You? You never even showed up for guard duty, which is something I’m guessing Jeremiah doesn’t know.”
“Are you going to tell him?”
“Are you going to keep snitching on me to Daniel?”
Craven shook his head on a laugh. “He told me you were stubborn.”
Ophelia sat back, crossing her arms over her chest as she smirked. “You have no idea.”
“So, what are you doing here, anyway?”
“Trying to find my Aunt Ja
nice.”
“You do realize she’s probab—”
“Yes. I know. I don’t care. I will find her, and if Jeremiah had anything to do with it, he’ll regret it.”
“In that case, I’ve got your back. If I didn’t, Daniel would have my balls.”
“If anything happens while I’m here, you won’t have to worry about Daniel.”
The door slammed open, and Jeremiah sauntered in, barely restrained fury etched on his face.
“Explain yourself, sorceress!”
“You first. Where’s my aunt?”
“Oh, do you mean your substitute mother?”
Ophelia leveled her gaze at Jeremiah, holding her eyes steady as the green glow grew. “You know very well who I mean. Where is she, Jeremiah?”
The vampire smiled, leaning forward to place his hands on the tabletop. “What are you willing to do for that information?”
“I’m willing to let you live. I’m tired of your shit, and I’ve been playing this game for you long enough. Either you give me what I’m asking for, right now, or you can consider this alliance over. Take that back to your sorcerer.”
Jeremiah raised an eyebrow, steepling his fingers under his chin as he stared at her, the minutes ticking by as he considered her words.
“Fine,” he muttered at last, “I’ll work with you, but only if you do something for me.”
“What?”
“Daniel. I want that vampire.”
“Tell me why. If you want my compliance, tell me why you want him, and not that bullshit you tried to pull about Ryker.”
“He has certain skills. Skills that Myrick wants in his arsenal, and since Daniel used to work with Jasmine, we know he has a dark side. Bring him to me, and I’ll tell you where we’re holding Janice.”
“And if I don’t?”
“I will kill her, personally, and you still won’t know where she is.”
Ophelia gained her feet, and walked toward him, her hand outstretched. “Agreed,” she said as he took it.
Savage Bayou (Things that go Bump in the Bayou Book 2) Page 24
