by Linsey Hall
Her shoulders sagged and a shining tear rolled down her cheek. “I know. There’s no hope for us. For me.”
For her? Of course there was. Did she think she would die in this battle? The hell she would. He’d protect her with everything he had. “Of course there’s hope. I’ll help you with your battle. You’ll win this.”
She nodded. The pain in her eyes made his heart feel like it was tearing itself out of his chest. He had to get out of here. This was too hard.
He squeezed her shoulders. “I’ll meet you in Bruxa’s Eye. I—I need to go now.” He spun on his heel and strode into the hall, then down the stairs and all the way into his aether room.
When he reached the cool, dark room, he bent over and propped his hands on his knees, heaving. His whole body was rejecting the idea of pushing Sofia away. Gods, he felt ill.
But it had to be done. This had been wrong. He was a warlock. Love and life weren’t in his future. He was destruction and he always had been. Great power at great cost, and he was paying it.
But Sofia shouldn’t have to.
Malcolm sucked in a hard breath and straightened. He had to help her. To at least make up for part of this. Sofia would go meet her council in Bruxa’s Eye. He’d follow, but first, he needed to fuel up on as much power as his soul and body could hold. A battle was coming.
He turned to the center of the room, taking in the space that was the epicenter of his power. This room’s worth was immeasurable. Its enchantments made it strong enough to contain the portal to the aether that gave him unlimited access to power. He could fill up with almost as much raw magical energy as a god.
But without this room to contain the aether, he’d lose control. It’d go wild, an impossible flame that would devour everything in a forty foot radius. More, even.
This type of room was everything to a warlock.
And he hated it.
Didn’t bloody well matter though, did it? He’d thrown away the one person worth anything, so now the least he could do was see to it that he protected her.
He focused on the air around him, and more importantly, on the aether. He reached out toward it, focused it on the center of the room and multiplied the aether he felt in the air around him, using it to tear a hole in space until he accessed the core of the aether. Like the darkness of outer space, but when accessed by a warlock, compressed into the brilliant white light of magical energy. He had to squint against it.
His skin prickled and his mind and muscles strained to contain it. Even with the room’s protections, it took strength to keep it from bursting outward. He extended his hands, drawing energy from the aether, filling himself up with it until his muscles vibrated and his skin tingled. The power of the aether burned into him like the heat of the sun, and he embraced the flames because the pain that touched him now replaced that in his heart.
When he felt full to bursting, he cut it off, closing the aether until the room was dark.
He panted, his chest heaving. He could blow up a city right now, he had so much magical energy vibrating within him.
After his breath calmed, he checked his watch. More than an hour had passed. Sofia would be in her village, meeting with her council.
He aetherwalked there, sucking in the warm jungle air and realizing that the wild smell reminded him of Sofia. The screeching cacophony of tropical animals filled the air.
It was two hours earlier here than it was in Scotland and the early morning sun was just starting to peek over the top of the canopy. The buildings were quiet and the street was dead.
He made his way down the quiet street toward the bar where they’d first met the council and slipped in the door. He kept to the shadows, finding a spot near the door to watch.
The same half dozen council members were seated in the dim room. Sofia, cloaked in her Crone form, stood at the front with Aleia, who he’d figured out was her informal second in command. Inara stood with them as well.
Sofia glanced over at him, then quickly turned back to the burly Were who was giving his report on how many outsiders from different packs would join the fight.
It sounded dire. Though nearly all citizens were willing to stay and fight regardless of whether or not their ancestors had been cursed, the Were was reporting that less than a dozen Weres from outside the village were willing to fight to their potential death.
Not surprising really. Weres were loyal only to their packs, so getting others to help them was unlikely.
“Thank you, Alistair,” Sofia said. She reached down to rest a hand on Kitty’s back, who stood on the stool next to her. She glanced at the small female vampire who’d spoken at the last meeting. “Cora?”
The vampire rose and bowed low. “I have had better luck, Honored One. We have two dozen vampires willing to come to our aid, as well as all who live in Bruxa’s Eye. Though they expect to be able to drink those they slay.”
“Fair.” Sofia nodded.
“They’ve agreed to arrive tonight to prepare for the High Witches’ arrival tomorrow.”
“Excellent.” Sofia turned her gaze to the group. “In addition to our own citizens, it seems that we have approximately forty outsiders willing to come to our aid and most will arrive in two days. That’s good. We may stand a chance. I don’t know what’s coming, but the High Witches will use dark magic and we need to be prepared for anything. Continue to seek out assistance from your kind and we will meet again this evening. We’ll devise a plan for the battle tomorrow.”
Everyone rose and bowed low, then began to leave. Malcolm slipped out the door before them. He couldn’t speak to Sofia, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t be here to keep an eye on her and fight in the final battle.
The moment he stepped into the sticky jungle air, he knew something was wrong. The air vibrated with a dark, unnatural power. It was too quiet, the jungle animals silent. It made goose bumps rise on his skin and his hands tingle to unleash destructive magic.
The council members who filed out behind him stopped short.
“What’s wrong?” Cora, the vampire woman asked.
“The air’s not right.” The Were’s burly voice was worried.
Malcolm walked farther down the street, dread coiling in his belly. He was being pulled toward the Amazon River that adjoined the north side of the village. When the street opened up to reveal the small wharf and the river, he pulled up short.
The waters were receding. The river was over a hundred yards wide here, a huge expanse of murky water that was now slowly drawing away.
Fear, an emotion he hadn’t felt in centuries, skittered over his skin.
The High Witches were here. Or close.
Damn it, they should have had another day.
Footsteps sounded behind him then halted.
“Shit,” a feminine voice breathed.
The bank was slowly being revealed, muddy and wet, as the waters disappeared. Boats of all sizes sank slowly and came to rest on the slimy surface. He’d been at the site of a tsunami once. It had looked exactly like this before the flood waters had begun to rise.
“The battle is starting,” Sofia’s commanding voice rang out behind him. “Early. Council members, wake the village. Gather whatever outsiders you can who will fight.”
“That’ll be hard,” Cora said.
“I know,” Sofia said. “Do what you can. Get a message out and see if anyone will come. But we’re going to be fighting today. Soon.”
Two of the council members raced down the boardwalk, shouting the alarm. The rest aetherwalked away.
Malcolm understood why she was the leader. Not just the Protector of Bruxa’s Eye, but its commander. Pride welled in him.
Gods, how he wished that she were his.
Sofia’s sharp gaze met his. “Get Aurora to rally the help she promised. We need them. Now.”
He nodded sharply, and though he hated to leave her, he aetherwalked away.
Fear suffused the pain Sofia felt at watching Malcolm disappear. Kitty pressed up against
her leg, but it gave her no comfort. Seeing him but knowing they couldn’t be together felt like a burning knife in her chest. And it didn’t even matter if he could stop being a warlock, because she was fated to die.
In the battle that was about to start. The High Witches hadn’t given them until the end of the deadline. They were attacking now.
The air was deadly silent and now held an unnatural chill. The waters of the river were nearly half gone, receding in both directions.
“Why?” Aleia asked from her side. “Why the river?”
Sofia glanced at her friend. “I don’t know.” But it scared the crap out of her.
“It will come back,” Inara said. “Stronger. More. It will flood.”
Sofia whipped around to look at her. Inara’s face was white, her fists clenched. “What?”
“I’ve seen this before. It will flood. And it will bring more than water.”
“More?”
“Evil. But I don’t know what kind.” Inara was stepping slowly backward.
Sofia turned back to the river. The morning was bright, normal, except for the river and the unnatural chill of dark magic in the air.
The sounds of townspeople spilling out of their houses sounded behind her, breaking through the eerie silence. But her gaze was riveted to the far side of the river, over a hundred yards away. Morning mist still clung to the ground on that side, which was more shaded from the harsh rays of the sun.
From the ghostly mist, figures began to appear, walking from the jungle toward the bank. Their cloaks flapped around their feet.
Thirteen.
The High Witches. They would wage their battle from that side. The thirteen figures came to a stop at the bank, so far away that they appeared small and slight.
A lie.
A snarling wolf loped up to her side. Alistair, leader of the werewolves. Other wolves, all smaller but no less deadly, appeared next to him. Vampires armed with swords and speed came to a stop behind them.
On her other side, next to Aleia, a group of fae arrived, clutching bows and arrows. Their wings trembled in anticipation, their eyes gleamed with a feral hunger. Fae loved to fight, but Sofia was worried that they were biting off more than they could chew here.
Not that they had much choice. They were here to fight for their lives.
Sofia reached for Aleia’s hand and squeezed it. She wanted to scream at the High Witches, curse them to hell, but they wouldn’t hear her at this distance.
Her skin heated as the energy in the air shifted. Her gaze darted over the water, at the boats that rocked.
The water rose.
Slowly, but it rose. With it would come evil.
Her heart pounded. They couldn’t wait here for it, not for whatever dark magic the High Witches would raise against them. But they would have to. Even now, she could see the shimmer in the air that denoted a magical barrier surrounding the High Witches. If they tried to aetherwalk, to attack directly, they would be blocked.
Cowards. They possessed immense power, but they were cowards.
“Bruxa’s Eye,” she called, her voice strong despite her fear. “The High Witches fight from afar for their own safety—to wield their magic to destroy our greater numbers. Our home. They are cowards. Whatever they bring us, we will destroy.”
A cheer rose, vibrating through the village. The courage and willingness of her friends and neighbors emboldened her. She might be fated to die here today, but they would win. They had to.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Be ready,” Sofia called. The water was nearer. Ever rising.
Four Mytheans appeared on the big dock that made up the main part of the wharf. Two figures she didn’t recognize, but also a small blond woman and a tall red-haired man that made hope surge in Sofia’s chest.
Ana and Cam, two Celtic gods who she had once helped and who Aurora had promised to find for her. In addition to being a Celtic god of war, Cam had been a riverboat captain on the Amazon for years, regularly pulling into Bruxa’s Eye. Sofia was grateful they’d come to help and that they’d brought reinforcements.
Ana and Cam glanced around at the water, then raced toward them, their comrades at their sides. Bows and quivers were strapped to their backs.
They stopped before Sofia.
“I take it this is where the battle is going down?” the petite blond goddess asked.
“Yes. Thank you for coming.”
Ana nodded. “You helped us when we were in trouble. We owe you.”
“We’ve brought help,” Cam said. He nodded at the strapping, dark-haired man next to him who clutched a sword in his big fist. “This is Cadan. A Mythean Guardian from the university.” He nodded toward the red-haired woman. “And his mate, Diana, the reincarnate of Boudica.”
Sofia’s brow’s rose. Boudica might be an ancient British warrior queen, but she’d been powerful enough that even Sofia knew of her. “Thank you for coming. The water is rising and bringing—”
The dark surface of the river began to bubble and clouds formed overhead, dark and ominous. The four additions to their army turned to face the water.
The roiling surface rose past the normal water line, drowning the docks. Horrifying figures began to rise from the water, bedraggled skeletons dripping with decayed flesh and river weeds. Some were more decayed than others. All were awful.
“Zombies?” Ana asked.
“The reanimated dead,” Sofia whispered. The river had receded, picking up all those who had drowned and bringing them here. Breathing new life into them.
Ana and Cam drew their bows at the same time Sofia drew her wand. They fired arrows and she fired flame. The three monsters that they hit burst into a shower of water.
Hope welled in Sofia’s chest. They could beat them.
A second later, others formed in their place. The same? Different? They lurched across the surface of the water, headed toward them. Others crawled out at the shore, some with gaping holes in their skulls searching sightlessly for targets. Others had decayed eyes that looked as if they no longer worked.
Would they come indefinitely or could they be defeated?
There was nothing to do but fight. As the clouds above cracked with thunder and rain began to fall, Sofia raised her wand and yelled, “Now!”
She charged toward the river, toward the enemy and certain death, Kitty at her side. Her comrades roared and followed. Sofia shot flames from her wand as fae arrows flew and wolves lunged at the corpses, tearing out throats and shattering those that were more bone than decayed flesh. They all splashed to the ground as water.
Horrified, Sofia watched the water flow back into the river and reform as a new corpse that climbed forth. Through it all, the water continued to rise, nearing the first row of buildings. Her boots sloshed in the water and rain soaked her cloak.
Sodden, she tore it off and flung it to the ground, revealing the black pants and shirt she wore underneath. Although she still looked like an old Crone, her strength remained normal.
A scream sounded to the right. Blood spurted from the shoulder of a tall male vampire. A bedraggled skeleton threw the vampire’s arm to the side and fell upon him again.
They were strong. Desperately so, if they could tear the arm off a full-grown vampire.
And the water was rising.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Ana and Cam, their bows now strapped to their backs and their hands outstretched toward the river. Light gleamed from their palms, spreading out to form a force field. The water receded from in front of them, extending out a hundred feet on either side.
It was working!
But not enough.
Where was Malcolm? Felix and Aurora? They needed more than field warriors, they needed big magic to help Ana and Cam. All around her, the battle was raging, her friends falling to the dirt beneath the hands of the wickedly strong, enchanted skeletons.
Something grabbed her from behind and Sofia whirled, breaking free of the grasp. A skeletal form lunged f
or her. Kitty leapt upon its chest and tore at its throat with her small fangs. Though unassuming in normal life, she was vicious in battle.
The skeleton collapsed as water.
“Sofia!”
Malcolm’s voice. As soon as she heard it, she felt him. The connection Corrier had established. Thank fates.
She spun to see him racing toward her, Felix and Aurora behind him, the Norse gods Sylvi and Logan at their side, along with Vivienne, the Sila Jinn she’d met at Aurora’s flat.
“Help Ana and Cam lower the river!” she yelled at them. It was lapping at the buildings now. The higher it got, the more corpses surged from it, lunging toward her comrades. Ana and Cam kept it back, but not everywhere.
“I can try,” Logan shouted. He spun and sprinted to a spot farther away from Ana and Cam. Sylvi separated from him, her blue cloak swirling around her as she moved impossibly fast through the crowd, her wooden staff whirling around her, destroying opponents faster than they could reform. It was insane the way she moved. Sofia had never seen anything like it.
Felix and Aurora clashed with the nearest combatants. Felix tore the head off a corpse with his bare hands as a great silver wolf burst from his chest and lunged for a another one. Like Malcolm’s. Sofia didn’t know how she did it, but every time Aurora touched a dripping skeleton, it burst into ashes rather than melting into water.
Malcolm appeared in front of her and demanded, “Are you all right?”
Magical energy flowed into her, warm and powerful. Malcolm was transferring some of his strength to her, aiding her magic with his own. Thank fates, because she needed it.
“I’m fine,” she said. “Help Logan and the rest with the river!” She pointed down to the east end of town where the river was still rising. The others were managing to hold the rest of the river back, though barely, and the buildings on the east side were swamped.
“If you come fight near me,” he demanded.
“No!” She wanted to stay in the middle of it all.
He grabbed her arm, his gaze fierce. His face was wet, his hair plastered to his head. “Come. With. Me.”
