Seduced by Magic

by Cheyenne McCray

  Edana and Faolan looked too shocked to speak.

  Airell turned to Tiernan and gave a deep curtsy, spreading her sapphire skirts before standing straight again. “I owe you much, Tiernan.” Her gaze turned to Urien’s. “We owe you much.”

  Urien reached out and grasped Tiernan’s hand. “Thank you, brother. If there is any way I can repay you, I will do so gladly.”

  “Your happiness will be my reward,” Tiernan said with a small bow to Urien and Airell.

  To Faolan and Edana, Tiernan gave another bow. When he straightened he said, “Urien will make a good match and a good son-in-law. They will bear many children and carry forth the name of both your houses.”

  Tiernan folded his copy of the document and then slid it into his black trench coat. He gave the stunned sum-keeper, Urien, Airell, and her parents each one last nod and strode out the door.

  Now that he had forsaken all that he had ever known, he would return to Copper and tell her of his love.

  Twenty-one

  After realizing she’d fallen in love with Tiernan, Copper needed to get away for a while. Not to mention she had to have time to focus. To figure out where the door was and to come up with a spell she could use against the opening of it. The time was nearly at hand. She knew what had to be done.

  She had jogged from the Haight-Ashbury district to the opposite end of the three-mile-long Golden Gate Park. Jogging cleared her mind and got her blood pumping and her thoughts churning. She’d gone all the way to Ocean Beach, where she’d sat on the sand for a bit to catch her breath. She stared at the water for a while, contemplating spells that could work to keep the door to Underworld closed.

  When Copper felt she had worked out a strong enough spell, she brushed the sand off her butt and made the jog back.

  If her dreams were true at all, then that door was going to be opened tonight, and somehow she was going to be there to see it happen. It would be up to her to either make sure it stayed closed, or to close it if it was opened. It made her feel a little better to have a plan and a spell readied before she arrived at that door. She just hoped it wouldn’t be too late by the time she got there.

  Too late for what? she asked herself. What if you’re wrong about this door? What if you can’t find it?

  What she had been experiencing were dream-visions, and whether Balor was influencing them or not, she was destined to face whatever was coming next.

  She had no doubt now that this was the answer to her question of why she’d been stranded in that small part of Otherworld. She’d had firsthand experience with the Drow, had been inside their realm, and had even seen the massive tunnel the giant had come up through.

  That was the key to it all. She had to return to Other-world, and one way or another get through that tunnel and to the door. There was no doubt in her mind that the Dark Elves had been working side by side with Darkwolf to find the door, and that was her ticket to stopping whatever was going to happen.

  Except, unlike in her dream-visions, she wouldn’t be alone. She’d damn sure take reinforcements.

  She’d had time to think about a lot of things during her mind-clearing six-mile jog, and plenty of time to plan what she would do next. The fact that her sister was missing, and that she’d been unable to help Silver, was like molten lead in Copper’s belly. Somehow, someway, she had to get to Silver. It didn’t matter that all the divination readings had said otherwise, she couldn’t just wait.

  She refused to let her thoughts stray to Tiernan. She kept him pushed well to the back of her mind.

  Copper’s whole body and mind ached by the time she made her way up the stairs to Silver’s apartment. Fortunately the key was still in the pocket of the black jeans she’d been wearing since yesterday. She felt sweaty, sticky, and grimy after her long jog and her time on the beach.

  She let herself into the quiet apartment and choked back the knot of emotion in her throat. Goddess, she felt alone. Silver wasn’t there. Her absence could be felt in every way. Polaris was curled up in a chair beside the door, as if waiting for Silver to walk through it. Copper went to him and stroked his head. “I’m sorry, big guy. If I could carry a big ole python like you, I’d take you with me to find her.”

  When she turned away from Polaris, Zephyr zipped up to her with an angry sound. She’d left him in Silver’s apartment last night, and he obviously wasn’t happy at her for spending most of the day away without him.

  “Give me some time to get myself together,” she said, and the familiar buzzed in her face. She felt his anger die and his sorrow for her flooded her being before he flew up to rest on the curtain rod.

  Once she was out of the shower, she jerked on her bra and thong, a pair of well-worn jeans, a soft sweater, and comfortable jogging shoes. After she dried and then braided her hair, she stuffed her wand in her back pocket, grabbed her jacket, and got the hell out of there. She had things to do. For now she had to push aside all the pains in her heart and concentrate on Silver.

  Zephyr zipped to his normal place on her ear. When she entered the shop, smells of sandalwood, berries, and patchouli wafted over her from the displays of incense beside the front door. Scents of cinnamon, vanilla, blueberry, pine, and apple met her nose next as she passed the candle display. Enchantments was arranged differently, yet the shop was much the same as Moon Song.

  Enchantments was perhaps even more homey and comforting. It was filled with colorful robes, a huge variety of wands, chalices, cauldrons, books, wind chimes, charms, pentagrams, and other types of jewelry, and much more. It was a place where one could get lost in enjoyment for hours. One customer wandered around stands of bookmarks, shelves of pretty boxes, and displays of handmade shawls, and another was perusing the Faerie figurine section. Alyssa manned the register and Mackenzie was in the café.

  Copper made her way into the cozy kitchen and barely acknowledged Hannah and Rhiannon, who were in a heated discussion about who the hell knew what. The moment they saw Copper, though, Rhiannon went to her.

  “The time is now. Darkwolf has taken Silver to the door,” Rhiannon said, her eyes wide. “The one on the parchment.”

  “You don’t know that.” Hannah scowled. The brunette brushed the single chunk of blond hair from her eyes and it fell to the side of her face to frame her features. Even when she scowled she looked beautiful.

  Rhiannon stared at her. “You just scried it with your mirror and salt crystals!”

  “Balor could be influencing all of our divinations.” Hannah placed her hands on her hips. Her taupe slacks fell in straight lines to her taupe-colored heels. Her creamy blouse was unwrinkled, sleek, and as sophisticated as the rest of her. Copper wondered why she wasn’t at the software company where she was director of development. “We don’t know what to believe now.”

  “Just as I finished telling you, this time I was prepared.” Rhiannon’s cheeks had gone pink, her chin-length auburn hair a little wild. “The goddess blocked out all outside influences when I had my vision. Silver is there, or will soon be. We must go after her.”

  “Wait!” Copper shouted, and both women looked to her. “You saw Silver at the door?”

  “I saw Darkwolf carry her to the center of the circle surrounded by those evil runes.” Rhiannon swallowed, fear evident in her features. “She was unconscious and bleeding.”

  Copper thought her legs would give out from under her. She grasped the back of a chair beside the kitchen table to steady herself. Zeph gave a distressed buzz.

  “Like I said, she may not be there yet.” Rhiannon took Copper’s free hand. “This could have been a future vision.”

  “Either way, we have to go after her.” Copper took her hand from Rhiannon’s and pressed her fingertips to her forehead. “I’m certain I know how to get there. Through the Drow tunnels.”

  “Now how are we going to get past a bunch of Dark Elves?” Hannah’s chocolate-brown eyes snapped along with her voice.

  “I have a lot of Fae friends there now,” Copper said, then
furrowed her brow. “At least I hope so. Anyway, Garran won’t hurt me, I’m certain of it. At worst he’ll take me there as a prisoner, and then I’ll have a chance.”

  Rhiannon raised a brow. “And what about us?”

  “You’ll go, too.” Copper began to pace the kitchen. Zeph climbed her ear to the top curve. “My dream-visions may or may not have been influenced by Balor. But your vision—if the goddess blocked out all outside influences, then we know it’s true!”

  “It is true,” came Cassia’s soft voice from behind them. She was pulling a large tray of sugar cookies out of the oven. The air smelled of the warm cookies, and the heat of the oven whooshed over Copper before Cassia shut the oven door.

  “But I can’t allow you to go.” Cassia’s turquoise gaze met Copper’s. “You must be protected at all costs.”

  “I will be going.” Copper gritted her teeth. “I won’t go alone, but I have to get to the Drow king. I have to get Garran to stop this madness and to help me find Silver before it’s too late.”

  Cassia held her hands at her sides, her features still composed. More than ever she had the Elvin look about her. “I was sent to protect the bloodline—yours, Moondust’s, and Silver’s. I have failed them. You are the last and I cannot permit you to go.”

  Copper just blinked at her. “You were sent to protect our bloodline?”

  Cassia gave the faintest and slowest of nods. “It is my duty.”

  “Screw your duty.” Copper felt blood rush to her face. “My duty is to my sister, and I will go after her.”

  She turned back to Rhiannon, her face heated and her body tense. “Who will go with me?”

  “You can damn sure count on me.” Rhiannon gestured to the doorway leading to the shop. “I’d bet that most would join us.”

  “If you insist.” Cassia came up to Copper and held her gaze. “If there is nothing I can do to persuade you otherwise, then I’ll be going, as well.”

  “You all need to change.” Copper looked them over. “Jeans, sweaters, good walking shoes, and jackets. I think it might get chilly down there.”

  Copper went to Sydney—who for some reason was also home from her job—Alyssa, and Mackenzie, and they all automatically said they would go. After Enchantments’ patrons were encouraged to leave the shop because it was closing early, all the witches hurried off to their apartments to change, and Copper went back into the kitchen.

  Cassia had taken off her oven mitts, removed her apron, and had started making sandwiches. “I know you’re hungry—I doubt you’ve eaten anything all day. You need to in order to maintain your strength.”

  Copper hadn’t imagined she could eat anything today with all that was tearing her apart, but her stomach rumbled at the thought of the food. “You’re right,” Copper said as Cassia handed her an egg-salad sandwich. “Thanks.”

  With Copper’s help, the Elvin witch made enough sandwiches for each witch and bundled them in paper towels. They retrieved seven oranges, seven packages of raisins, and seven plastic bottles of water. Cassia also bagged up a dozen and a half warm sugar cookies in a brown paper bag.

  Cassia grabbed Copper’s earth-brown backpack off one of the hooks on the wall. She stuffed her pack with her share of the food along with the whole bag of cookies. Copper helped Cassia pack each witch’s belongings so that they were all ready by the time the women returned. Cassia went off to change while Copper and her friends made plans.

  “Should we take any of the D’Danann with us?” Alyssa asked.

  “None are here.” Rhiannon shook her head. “They’re all out patrolling the skies for signs of Silver. I have no idea when they’ll be back.”

  “We can’t wait for them to get around to coming with us,” Copper said, slinging her backpack over her shoulders. Zephyr moved down to her earlobe, close to the swinging pentagram earrings.

  “What about the PSF?” Sydney’s gaze met Copper’s. “Jake will be pissed if we don’t include him.”

  “Can’t,” Rhiannon said. “They’re all human and can’t pass through the veils like Fae, Elves, and witches, except when escorted by one of the full-blooded Elves.”

  When Cassia was back, dressed in jeans, too—which looked really strange to Copper since she’d only seen Cassia in skirts—they left. Without waiting or saying anything to the witches, Cassia led the way through the swinging door of the kitchen, out into the shop. The other witches were talking in excited and nervous voices. Copper just stuffed her hands farther into the pockets of her bomber jacket and stared at Cassia’s back. She was in no mood for any kind of chitchat.

  As they headed through the front door, the warding bells gave a merry tinkle that annoyed Copper. Why should anything be merry when so many horrors had happened and were happening? After Cassia locked the door behind them, they hurried up the street.

  Tendrils of Copper’s hair not held back by her braid ruffled in the breeze that met them head-on as they walked along the sidewalk. The light wind cooled Copper’s cheeks. She snuggled into her jacket as she followed Cassia who was setting out uphill.

  “So you can get us exactly where we need to go?” Copper asked.

  “I can take you to the location where we’ll need to cross,” Cassia said softly as Copper caught up to her. “Because you’re part Elvin, you’ll be able to travel to Other-world without my assistance. Most of the others I will have to escort.”

  All of Copper’s emotions had settled in her belly and she couldn’t think of anything to say as Cassia took them to Golden Gate Park, right back to where Copper had been all day. She couldn’t stop thinking about her mother, her sister, and Tiernan.

  An occasional cyclist whizzed by, a couple holding hands, and a panting jogger or two, but those were the only humans Copper saw. The air smelled of cypress and freshly mowed grass.

  It seemed to take forever, and Copper’s body was already sore thanks to jogging from one end of the park to the other that same morning, not to mention all she’d been through the past couple of days. Her foot still hurt a little from the Fomorii bite.

  Finally Cassia took them over a rise into the trees where they could no longer be seen from the road. They went over another rise, and Cassia led them to a small bridge that spanned a little stream Copper had never seen before. That in itself wasn’t surprising—the park was somewhere around a thousand acres and had over a million trees, nine lakes, and a lot of ponds.

  But she had a feeling this was a magical place. She was certain the footbridge was no ordinary bridge despite the fact that it was weathered, its green paint curling, peeling, and chipped away. At the base of the bridge large boots had sunk into the muck. Dried mud from the boots was tracked up on the bridge, then disappeared from sight at the midpoint.

  “Someone else was taken across earlier,” Copper said as she looked to Cassia. The witch nodded but didn’t offer any explanation.

  Copper hitched her pack up higher on one shoulder and Zephyr settled on the curve of her ear again.

  Cassia looked at her solemnly, her Elvin features ethereal in the waning light. “This is a door to Otherworld. At the midpoint of the bridge you will feel a barrier. Picture the exact location you wish to arrive at, and when you cross that barrier you will be there.”

  “That’s it?” Copper gestured to the bridge. “I just walk across and that’s all there is to it?”

  The witch nodded. “If you didn’t have Elvin blood, I would need to escort you across. But you’ll be able to travel alone with the faith that you will end up where you need to be.”

  Cassia took two steps back. “Remember. Focus on the exact location you wish all of us to arrive at. We will be able to follow your energy.”

  It felt as though Pixies were creating havoc in Copper’s belly as she looked away from Cassia and her friends, and gripped the backpack on her shoulder with one hand while grasping the roughened bridge rail with her other. She started forward, one foot in front of the other. The dried mud from the large boot prints crunched beneath her jogg
ing shoes.

  The moment she reached the center of the bridge, everything around her was silent. It felt like she had earplugs stuffed in her ears, and her skin went numb. She couldn’t feel anything, hear anything, and her mouth was completely dry.

  Her heart raced faster as the air in front of her wavered like the shimmering surface of a pool of water. She stepped through it, still feeling muffled and numb—

  And found herself in bright sunshine, Zephyr riding on her ear. Copper blinked as her eyes adjusted to the sunlight. She was in the middle of a meadow.

  Her meadow.

  Her chest seized. Not again! She couldn’t be trapped again! She’d wanted to be just outside the meadow, not in the freaking middle of it—just in case.

  She turned to run back across the footbridge . . .

  And found herself face-to-face with the rock outcropping. No bridge, just rock. She had walked through the massive stones!

  She backpedaled, knowing that she needed to get away from the rock wall to let the others through, so that they wouldn’t bump into her.

  Copper waited.

  Nothing. Not a blur, not a whisper of movement. Nothing.

  She waited some more.

  A little longer.

  And longer yet.

  She walked back to the rock and placed her palm against it. Solid. As if she’d never walked through it.

  “Crap.” She bit her lower lip before saying aloud, “Where is everyone?” Her stomach clenched, she bit her lip again, and gripped the strap of her backpack tightly.

  Zeph answered her with an unhappy buzz.

  Slowly she turned in a slow circle. It was warm, and felt and smelled like spring. Her body was no longer numb and she could hear the happy chirp of birds and the gruuup, gruuup of the ferret-toad things, who were apparently mating again. They were sure horny things.

  Apple-tree leaves, grass, and dandelions ruffled in a gentle breeze and a huge forest lay beyond, a forest she hadn’t been able to see too well when she lived here, because of the barrier. Her shoes sank into the soft earth as her gaze and senses explored the meadow. Last night it must have rained because the air had a rain-washed scent. She caught other familiar scents, too, including apples and wet earth.