by D. G. Swank
“I thought you considered me an enemy,” I said, taking a step back so I’d have more room to react if they charged.
“I confess that I was worried when I heard someone named Piper Lancaster was trying to track me down. And while a quick check on one of those online ancestry sites proved I had a cousin named Piper, that didn’t mean it was you. It’s the exact kind of trick the Guardians would pull.”
I cocked my head, still holding the sword in front of me. “I heard the Guardians screwed you over.”
She gave me a wry look. “To put it mildly.”
“I also hear you’re after the Great One.”
Her face hardened. “We tracked it down to the warehouse, and then that thing that knocked you out and carried you away disrupted everything. It was mass chaos and the demon fled. How did you get away from him?”
She was talking about Abel. Telling her what I knew about Abel felt like a betrayal of him, but I didn’t want to lie to her either. She’d figure it out eventually. I decided to be selective in what I told her but not to lie.
I stared down at the little men. “One of you was at his house last night.”
“It was us,” said one of the Native Americans behind Ellie. “You were consorting with the enemy. You weren’t in distress when he kissed you.”
Ellie didn’t look surprised, just waited for my explanation.
“Abel and I have a complicated arrangement.”
Her eyebrow winged up. “Arrangement?”
My back stiffened. “I’m not going to explain it to you. I don’t see you explaining them.” I made a slight gesture to the men next to her.
She released a chuckle. “There’s nothing to explain.” She gestured to the man on her right. “This is Collin Dailey, Manteo curse keeper, son of the land, destroyer of life.”
I quirked a brow at all the titles.
“Sorry,” she said. “Habit. Demons like to know the full name of things. Using them sometimes encourages the minor demons to back off.”
Collin gave me an effortlessly sexy smirk. “I have a few other titles, but they’re not exactly polite in mixed company, so I’ll wait a few hours before I share them.”
Ellie shot him a glare.
Something shifted on his face. I’d known them for all of a few minutes, but it was easy to see that he loved her, even if they weren’t together.
She motioned to the dark-haired man on her left. “This is David Preston, he who guides the curse keeper.”
His smile seemed more genuine than Collin’s. “I have no real power, but the spirit world bestowed a title on me anyway.”
I couldn’t contain my shock. He spoke in a cultured British accent.
Ellie laughed and grabbed his hand. “What David lacks in supernatural power, he makes up for in intelligence. It’s a superpower all its own.”
He squeezed her hand and gave her a warm smile. This man was also in love with Ellie, and the look on her face suggested it was reciprocated.
“The two men in front of me are Tsagasi and his brother, Tsawasi, Little People of the Cherokee, and the two warriors behind them are Nunnehi of the Cherokee as well, Gawonii and Ama.”
The other creatures studied me with no acknowledgment.
Releasing her hold on David, she turned to me, speaking formally. “I am Elinor Dare Lancaster, Dare curse keeper, daughter of the sea, destroyer of life, witness to creation, defier of the gods.” Then she took a step forward and held out a hand. “It’s nice to meet you, cousin.”
A lump formed in my throat as I stuffed my sword into its sheath and then took her hand. “It’s nice to know I’m not alone in this.”
Tsagasi peered up at me with a scowl. “You are not alone, Piper Lancaster, Kewasa, shepherd to lost spirits, witness to creation, slayer of demons and gods, creator of worlds.”
My breath caught in my throat. “Slayer of what?”
“Creator of what?” Collin demanded.
“Slayer of demons and gods,” Tsagasi repeated solemnly as he held my gaze. “And as for the last title, it is not time for Kewasa to reveal the meaning of it yet.”
I stared at him in horror. This seemed to confirm my theory that Abel was part god. Or was he referring to another god?
“Kewasa,” David said in his seductive accent. “I’ve read about a Kewasa. A deliverer. It was mentioned in a text about European demons in the Middle Ages. It was part of a prophesy, if I remember correctly.”
“A deliverer from what?” Ellie asked.
Tsagasi turned his gaze to mine. “That is Kewasa’s journey and hers alone. For now, she must keep that to herself as well.”
“So she’s keeping secrets from us already,” Collin said in a snide tone.
Tsagasi gave him a sharp look. “Are you not keeping secrets of your own, curse keeper?”
His anger faded into an irritated scowl, but his irritation was aimed at Tsagasi.
Ellie gave Collin an annoyed look of her own before turning her attention back to me. “We think we’ve tracked down the Great One, but we need all the help we can get to destroy it. You were there for it last night too, weren’t you?”
“If the Great One’s the one kidnapping and killing students, yes. But there’s another demon to worry about. Caelius, lord of Eros.”
David’s eyes flew wide. “Who?”
“He’s a demon who gains power from sex—both from absorbing energy from people having it and having it himself. The two demons are working together. He told me the Great One had promised him the daughter of the sea. The Great One wanted the son of the land.”
Collin shot a worried glance to Ellie, who didn’t look as concerned.
“How do you know this?” she asked.
“Caelius told me himself. But when he realized he couldn’t control me with his power, he decided he wants me instead.” I shrugged as though it was no big deal. “Or maybe he wants both of us. He sacrificed two people last night.”
“How do you know Caelius committed the murders?” David asked.
“Abel said those murders fit Caelius’s style, not the Great One’s.”
“What is Abel?” Collin asked. “And why do you trust him?”
“I don’t know what Abel is. And I could ask you why you trust Tsagasi or any of the supernatural creatures with you now.”
He lifted his chin and said with a cocky attitude, “They’ve proven themselves trustworthy and have taken a vow to fight with us.”
“And Abel has proven himself trustworthy and has taken a vow to protect me.”
Collin’s eyes squinted. “Why would he vow to protect you?”
I straightened my back and lifted my chin in defiance. “Why did Tsagasi and the others vow to fight with you?”
“To save the world from becoming enslaved by Okeus. Now why did a creature as powerful as Abel make a vow to protect you?”
Enslave the world? Was that why Abel was so worried about Okeus?
“The reasons don’t concern you, curse keeper,” I said. “I hear you betrayed the Dare curse keeper, so why should I trust you?”
Tsagasi chuckled. “I like her.”
Ellie rolled her eyes. “Enough. Piper will share what she feels comfortable sharing, and hopefully she’ll share more when she gets to know us better. It’s her decision, though, and we’ll take her word that she can trust Abel.” Her tone was soft but firm, and it was obvious she was in charge. “For now, we need to figure out how to deal with the news of a second powerful demon.” She turned her attention to me. “You said they’re working together?”
“They are laying a trap for you now,” Abel said from behind them.
The group turned, weapons at the ready.
“Stop. He’s with me,” I said, annoyed from the relief I felt that Abel had shown up.
He walked around them, wearing what he’d had on earlier, with one addition—he’d added a sword to his belt.
“I take it you didn’t find the Great One at Black Mountain?” I asked as he reached me.
“No. It was nowhere to be found. I suspect it was trying to lure me away from Asheville. Away from you.” His eyes narrowed. “Where have you been?”
“You were looking for me?”
“Rupert and Davis are scouring the city. You completely disappeared. I couldn’t even feel you through our connection. Where were you?” His jaw tightened, and he shot a dark look toward Collin. “Don’t answer that question now.”
Collin glowered at him. It was obvious he had taken an instant dislike to Abel, while David was openly curious, but Ellie’s reaction was the only one I was interested in.
“So you do care about her well-being,” she said dryly.
He stood slightly in front of me. “I will protect her at all costs, before all others. If she fights, I stand with her.”
“What are you?” Collin asked.
Abel’s body tensed. “I am Kieran Abel, antiquities dealer.”
After all the titles being thrown around the room, his was the least impressive, yet he was by far the most powerful.
Tsagasi released a burst of laughter.
“What is he, Tsagasi?” Ellie asked.
Did Tsagasi have the power to determine creatures’ powers? He knew I was Kewasa. He also seemed to know I could create worlds, yet he hadn’t explained what it meant to his friends.
Tsagasi turned his intent gaze on Abel. “I do not know.”
“But he’s supernatural?” David asked, sounding worried.
“Most assuredly,” Tsagasi said, still holding Abel’s gaze. The two of them were now locked in a standoff. “He is devoted to the slayer. He will risk all to keep her safe. I say we bring him to face the demons.”
“Okay,” Ellie said with her hands on her hips. “We think we’ve tracked the Great One to another warehouse here in Asheville on the French Broad River.” She turned her attention to Abel. “You said they were laying a trap. Do you think they are together?”
“I can’t determine that. I’ve already scoped out the warehouse, and there is a great amount of power in it, but one demon could be magnifying its power to make it look like both are there. If there was more time, we could stake it out and get a better feel. But we don’t have time.” His expression softened as he searched my face. “Piper doesn’t have time.”
“Why don’t I have time?” I asked in a tight voice.
“Check your phone, Waboose,” he whispered.
“Why?” But even as I asked the question, I was pulling my phone out of my jeans pocket. I had multiple messages from Hudson.
Oh my God. Where was Hudson?
At six o’clock, he’d sent: Piper, where are you?
At eight, he’d sent: I can’t get hold of Rhys and now I can’t get a hold of you. You’re scaring me, Pippy. CALL ME!
I checked the time at the top of my screen, then looked up at Abel in horror. “I was gone seven hours.”
He cradled my arm. “We’ll discuss that later. Not in front of them.”
“Gone where?” Collin asked suspiciously.
“That is none of your concern, curse keeper,” Abel sneered.
I was already calling Hudson, but his phone went straight to voicemail and so did Rhys’s when I called her. I tried Jack next, panicking when he didn’t answer.
“Abel, where are they?”
“I think they are at the warehouse.”
“Why?” But I knew. It didn’t take a genius to figure it out. “The seer said I was part of the plan to get Ellie. And the Great One is using my friends to get to me.”
“It could also be Caelius,” Abel said, holding my gaze. “Now that he knows about your power, he covets it.”
I nodded, trying to keep from freaking out. “So what do we do?”
He turned to face Ellie. “We know that Caelius and the Great One have a symbiotic relationship. Caelius hosts the parties and uses his powers to gain energy through sex, and the Great One has its pick of victims, both for hosts and for food. They will likely work together on this—the Great One gets the curse keepers, and Caelius gets you and forfeits his claim to the daughter of the sea.”
“Why would the Great One let Caelius have me? Isn’t the Great One still working with the Guardians?”
“I don’t know, Kewasa.” He looked more frustrated than I’d ever seen him. “I’m not sure what their ultimate scheme is and that has me worried.”
“Wait a minute,” Collin said, lifting a hand in protest. “Are you implying Piper’s more powerful than Ellie?”
Abel shot him a look that suggested he thought Collin was an idiot. “That’s exactly what I’m implying.”
Collin started to protest, but Tsagasi shouted, “Enough!” He held Abel’s gaze. “The unknown entity speaks the truth.”
“She’s not a direct descendant,” Collin said, flinging a hand toward me. “How can she have more power?”
“Collin,” Ellie said softly. “I don’t need the most power. I just need enough for you and me to kill this son of a bitch. So let’s stop all this posturing and go deal with it. Okay?”
“Fine,” he said, though he didn’t look happy about it.
“We’ll all go together, and if the demons split up, Piper and Abel will take Caelius, and Collin and I will take the Great One.” She waited for a second, then lifted her brow. “Do you agree to this, unknown entity?”
“You’re asking the wrong person,” Abel said. “This is Piper’s fight.”
“Yes,” I said. “Yes, it’s my fight. Now let’s go.”
If anything happened to my friends, I’d never forgive myself.
Chapter 27
We took two separate cars—Ellie, Collin, and David in their car, and Abel and me in the SUV he was now driving. The supernatural creatures with the curse keepers had announced they’d meet us at the warehouse and then simply disappeared.
We hadn’t even pulled out of the driveway before Abel lit into me. “You were in a pocket dimension this afternoon.”
“Is that a question?” I asked wryly.
“Why are you treating this so lightly, Piper?”
“Why are you acting like it’s so weird? You’re some sort of immortal demi-human!”
“Because it is weird!” he shouted. “In hundreds of years, I’ve only heard whispers about people with your ability. Even then, none of them could full-on enter the spirits’ world and leave ours. They could superimpose the two worlds, but that took years of practice and honing. You’ve gone from hearing whispers from ghosts to walking into their world in two weeks.” He gripped the steering wheel so tightly I thought it would bend.
“Why are you so angry?” I demanded. “You knew I could do this. We talked about it this afternoon!”
“That was before I suspected the demons were laying an elaborate trap for you. I have no idea what they’ll do once you get there.”
“We’ll deal with them,” I said, sounding more certain than I felt.
“Where were you this afternoon?” he asked again. He wasn’t shouting, but the tight hitch in his voice let me know he was still furious.
“You already guessed.”
“You need to be more specific. Where were you?”
I trusted Abel with my life, but could I trust him with this? There was no doubt he’d protect me, but his priorities came before my own. Still, I figured on the off chance the demons knew, Abel should know too.
“My attic.”
“My men searched your attic. You weren’t there.”
“I was in my attic…circa 1950 or so.”
“Why?”
“The why doesn’t matter, Abel.”
“You have a ghost in your attic. Is it one of your parents?”
“What I have in my attic is none of your business.”
“I need to know what you can do, Kewasa,” he said in a softer tone. “Did you enter your mother’s world?”
I shot him a look, assessing the situation. For better or worse, I needed to trust him. Besides, even if he decided to try to enter To
mmy’s world, I doubted he could manage it without me. “No. I brought a ghost home with me.”
“Excuse me?”
“One of my clients had a five-year-old boy who was hit by a car in 1954.” I gave him a brief rundown of our first visit. “So I convinced her to let him stay while Jack and I tried to find a solution.”
“Obviously you didn’t find one if he’s in your attic.”
“The frost demon I killed was the one that had latched itself on to Tommy. He was terrified, so I brought him home. I needed somewhere safe for him to stay, and somehow I made the attic into the playroom my mother, her mother, and her grandfather played in when they were kids.”
“The playroom doesn’t really exist now?”
“No. It’s an office now. My nana cleaned it out when my mother was a teenager. I created the room from the photos I’d seen.”
After a moment of heavy silence, he turned slightly to look at me. “You created another plane of existence from a few photos? This wasn’t a recreation of a playroom in the boy’s house? From his memories or his reality?”
“No. It was my mother’s playroom, only better.”
“You created a world out of nothing,” he said, and he didn’t sound happy about it. “That little person was right when he called you creator of worlds, but how did he know?”
“How long were you standing in the shadows?”
“Long enough. How did that creature know?” He was getting more agitated, and it was making me anxious.
“I don’t know, Abel. You would likely know better than me. Why are the creatures with the curse keepers Native American?”
“I suspect it has to do with the curse. The very purpose of the curse was to bind the Roanoke gods and demons, but it caught all supernatural creatures in its net. You’ve encountered multiple demons that weren’t Native American in origin. The fire and frost demons. Caelius is from ancient Rome.” He turned to me after a long pause. “How are you protecting the boy ghost from the demons?”
“I got a ward from the New Age store. Plus, I figured he was safe in his pocket world. Only now I’m not so sure…”
“Why?”
“Because when I went up there this afternoon, he said the bad things were watching me, and then he pointed out the window.” I shifted in my seat to face him. “Abel, there were mountains in the distance and my house was in a valley. There was a giant, swirling storm over the mountains, but the lightning looked like flashes of fire.”
