Rivals

by Phil Stern

  Behind Tiffany, Keri came padding down the stairs. “Is everything all right here?” she tentatively asked, poking her head out into the living room.

  “It’s fine,” Barbara replied. “Go back upstairs. I’ll deal with you in a few menlars.”

  After Keri had retreated, Tiffany uncomfortably shifted about. “Look, maybe I’ve been unfair...”

  “Don’t patronize me.”

  “Barbara, I was only saying...”

  “You know what your problem is?” Leaning forward, she firmly nodded. “I mean your deeper problem, the one that fucks you up all the time?”

  “By the stone!” Flopping back against the cushions, Tiffany looked up at the ceiling. “Are we back to this again?

  “You can’t understand how everyone isn’t as capable as you are.” Pointing a finger at her, Barbara nodded. “Why the others aren’t as fast, or smart, or brave. So you get all full of yourself, then slink off and dabble in self-pity.”

  “What a relief!” Tiffany’s voice dripped with derision. “After all, just a few days ago you were saying how haughty and self-aggrandizing I was!”

  “Oh, you are, don’t worry about that! I’ve often seen your insufferable arrogance make other girls feel bad about themselves.”

  Cringing, Tiffany thought back to Marissa’s eerily similar comments in the Pyron village circle. “I’m not trying to make anyone...”

  “Some of the things you said the other night were absolutely unforgivable.” Barbara’s voice seemed to bore right through her younger Coven-mate. “You think I’m such a terrible leader? Guess again. I have no regrets about how I handled that werewolf incursion nine years ago! I’d do the same thing again today.”

  Letting her eyes drift closed, Tiffany said nothing.

  “In case you haven’t noticed, the universe can be a pretty shitty place! And snotty know-it-all’s sometimes lose their way.” Warming to her theme, Barbara slid forward. “That’s why I took you to Rasten! Grund had beaten you silly, ripped your clothes off, and was happily munching on that slim hip of yours! What would have happened to you without an immediate confidence boost? You tell me.”

  Tiffany feebly tried to rally. “But the Mepard...”

  “Who gives a shit about them? Hey, didn’t those fucking cats kill three unicorns a few weeks back? All it took was Claire knocking down a castle wall, and they went crazy!”

  “Trust me, I know.” Crossing her arms, Tiffany sat back. “To be honest, though, I still dream about that Mepard, and the way you were urging me to hurt him unnecessarily.”

  “What?” Eyes wide, the other witch was astounded. “I just brought you there, you idiot! You were the one beating the shit out of him!”

  “Well, yeah...”

  “You’re blaming me for your own rage?”

  “I’m not blaming.” Frowning, Tiffany tried to gather her thoughts. “It’s just that...

  “By the stone! You would have killed him if I didn’t have a unicorn finally stop you!”

  “But my anger...”

  “Is your strength! I keep trying to tell you that.” Ruefully, Barbara shook her head. “We all have inner demons, enraged little girls just waiting to smash the world. That’s who we are. That’s who we’ll always be. Sure, we’ve channeled our anger in positive ways. But at our core? Everyone who wears an earth stone is an abused, frightened child simply masquerading as an adult. You can’t blame yourself if that sticks out now and then.”

  Holding herself very still, Tiffany stared off into space.

  “But more to the point, you certainly shouldn’t blame me,” she gently continued. “I’m not your problem, Tiffany. Deal with it.”

  Squirming, the junior sorceress thought back to her own rage on Orly’s Bridge. “I’ll admit that power and emotion are intertwined...”

  “I don’t give a fuck what you admit.” Barbara’s balled fist now easily rested on the cushion beside her. “My title is Deputy Coven Leader, not psychologist. Which brings up my next point. You don’t like me personally? Fine. But you will respect my position, and my authority. Are we clear?”

  A long moment went by, Tiffany absently listening as a group of candidate sorceresses chatted happily outside. “We’re clear.”

  “Good.”

  “But there’s one more thing.”

  “What is it?”

  “Did you tell Eleanor about the letter Keri took to Zarth?” she asked. “And who told her to take it there?”

  “No,” Barbara admitted. “Frankly, our relationship is so strained right now that I’m not sure Eleanor would even believe me. I was going to find out more first, maybe get some proof before speaking to her.”

  “Things are pretty bad, aren’t they?” A glass of water magically formed in Tiffany’s hand. “Withdrawing from Earth will only make them worse.”

  “I agree.”

  “What if I told you that I had a plan to fix it all?” Taking a delicate sip, Tiffany carefully eyed her companion. “It would knock Claire back on her heels, give us the initiative again, and provide the proof we need to expose the plot within the Coven.”

  Clearly, Barbara was intrigued. “All right, but what about Valensa? Or are you forgetting that little bombshell?”

  “Actually, she’s the key to what I have in mind.”

  “Tell me.”

  So Tiffany did, crisply outlining a just-formed plan of action and the other sorceresses they’d need. “It would be quick and easy,” she finally concluded. “And I would be taking the biggest risk.”

  “But not the only risk.” Still, Barbara’s mind was obviously racing. “And you really think you can trust Valensa? Even if this conversion of yours actually works?”

  “Honestly, I’m not sure.” The sleek brunette gave a noncommital shrug. “But I hope so.”

  “Well, at least you’re finally being realistic,” Barbara said. “In any event, you would have to go immediately.”

  “That’s right.”

  “But you’re under arrest.”

  “You really think I can’t slip out of Haven?”

  Barbara turned away, sighing. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.”

  “Come on,” Tiffany urged. “It’s the only way.”

  “Maybe. I’m not sure.”

  “You know that if anybody can do this, it’s me.”

  Barbara raised an eyebrow. “What did I just tell you about all that arrogance?”

  “And if I do fail?” Tiffany persisted, making a brushing motion with both hands. “There’s no blowback on anybody else. The status quo remains. I’ll just be in far more trouble than I already am.”

  “Or dead,” Barbara added. “Have you thought of that?”

  “It’s a chance I’m willing to take. For me, for Blake, the Coven...everybody.”

  “Well, it could work.” Drumming her fingers on the top of the sofa, Barbara considered. “Fine, I’ll be there. Along with a few of our friends.”

  Relieved, Tiffany sat back. “Thank you.”

  “Go now, before I change my mind.” Leaping up, Barbara then walked past Tiffany’s chair, heading toward the flight of stairs up to Keri’s room. “If anybody asks, this conversation never happened.”

  “Hey, by the way.” Turning around to look at her, Tiffany suddenly seemed very uncertain. “Why is Eleanor almost anxious to see Valensa dead?”

  “Oh, so we’re back to that?” Her hand on the banister, Barbara’s expression noticeably hardened. “I could tell you, but maybe that’s something you need to figure out for yourself.”

  The Deputy Coven Leader then promptly pounded up the stairs, leaving Tiffany all alone on the ground floor.

  CHAPTER TEN

  FORTY MINUTES LATER Tiffany was once again tramping through the Pennsylvania woods, heading for the inn where Blake and Valensa were hiding out.

  It had been 24 hours since her last visit, probably not long enough for Tiffany’s half-sister to fully master her new powers. Still, it was what it was. T
ime had run out, and no matter what shape she was now in, Valensa would simply have to rise to the occasion. Tiffany fervently hoped the wild, abandoned child from Dytha had it in her.

  And if the Zarth coven had stumbled across them in the meantime? She didn’t even want to think about that.

  But even within such desperate circumstances, Tiffany was having trouble focusing on the task at hand. For despite herself, Barbara’s words were resonating very strongly. Enraged little girls masquerading as adults, she’d said. It was a stunning type of understanding that one could almost revel in, a searing new perspective soothing Tiffany’s very soul.

  Pausing to reorient herself, Tiffany leaned back against a tree, eyes drifting closed. She’d always thought of that early mission in Peth as having defined her adulthood. A baptism of fire and pain, catapulting her into a life of mission and purpose.

  Yet in truth, she’d never forgiven the innocent teenager who’d so carelessly tumbled into a barbarous dimension with her Coven-mates nine years before. That Tiffany Smith had been slow and indecisive from the start, making every mistake in the book. In the end she’d wound up face down within a deep pool of blood, a werewolf’s mark permanently embedded in her skin.

  By way of comparison, April had efficiently dispatched the wolf in her sector without receiving so much as a scratch. The contrast had been stark, to say the least. And while everyone had effusively complimented Tiffany on first killing one beast and then surviving a second, ferocious assault, the shame had burned deep.

  Yet Barbara had understood. Instantly yanked off to Rasten by her early mentor, the belligerent Mepard had indeed borne the brunt of her rage.

  Only now did Tiffany see that Barbara’s satisfaction didn’t well from the spectacle itself. It was the purging of Tiffany’s own malevolent emotion that gave the senior sorceress such evident pleasure. Thus cleansed, the young witch would be free to productively focus her fury outward, on the universe-at-large. At least, that was the plan.

  No, it was Tiffany herself who’d perverted it all. With surging, poignant clarity, she now saw how everything had been misdirected inward, creating a murky, anguished mist obscuring an even deeper pain.

  True, wolves are expected to act like wolves, perpetuating all kinds of horrors on the innocent. But her own father? He’d secretly been a similar type of predator, imposing his debased, perverted needs on everyone around him. Daddy had taken advantage of her innocence and inexperience to hurt her. To mark her even, just like Grund. But why? It still didn’t make sense.

  Had she really been defending that brutal mutt to Barbara? Almost laughing, Tiffany let out a deep sigh. No, in retrospect the older, hardened witch was absolutely right. The werewolf deserved to be tracked down and killed.

  Which brought up another crucial juxtaposition within her own mind. Without question, Tiffany’s mother had failed in her duty to protect her young daughter. But was Barbara guilty of the same crime?

  The answer, of course, was no. Unlike a parent, a senior sorceress didn’t exist to coddle or provide unconditional love. Barbara’s job nine years ago was to provide strong leadership, which she did rather admirably. And when Tiffany had fallen into truly desperate straits, Barbara was right there to provide needed support. To demand more was unfair.

  With a tremendous swell of relief, a tear now rolled down Tiffany’s cheek. This new, sudden perspective was almost overwhelming. The fact was she’d been blaming herself for too long, about almost everything. Yet in retrospect, that inexperienced 18-year-old girl had done a fine job repelling an all-out werewolf attack. Better than many of her sisters, in fact. Perhaps it wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough.

  But even so, nothing could erase her catastrophic early years. We all mature, but never really grow up. Underneath she’d always be that scared child, fearing her mother’s insanity, recoiling at her father’s touch...

  It was then that Tiffany felt the first tenuous brush of ruby magic against her raw, exposed skin.

  *****

  At almost the same instant Adrina rocked to a halt, holding up her hand. The two other Leven operatives behind her paused as well, scanning the surrounding forest. Soon all three had picked up the emanations of an earth stone, obviously coming from a sorceress half-a-mile off.

  “Tiffany Smith,” Adrina breathed, almost sensuously stretching out the fingers of her right hand. “As I live and breathe.”

  “We should take her out,” Colleen said. “Immediately.”

  Indeed, Adrina thought. Actually, this was turning into a golden opportunity to bag both Smith sisters. For if Tiffany was here, then Valensa couldn’t be far off. As it was, they’d narrowed the search for their former ruby comrade to this thirty square mile stretch of woods. Now the Zarth assassin realized they must be very, very close to Valensa’s hideout.

  “Colleen and I will track and eliminate Tiffany,” she ordered. “Bly will sweep in that direction and find Valensa Smith.” Pointing behind and then around them, Adrina let out a satisfied sigh. “I’ll bet you’ll find our primary target there.”

  Nodding, Bly turned and strode off by herself. Spreading out to a thirty foot distance, Adrina and Colleen went off in search of the lone Haven witch.

  *****

  By the stone, how had she been so stupid! Firmly clamping down on all magical emissions, Tiffany ducked behind a larger stand of trees, holding her breath.

  But it was too late. Indulging in deeper, vivid emotions, she’d inadvertently projected a blatant magical signature far and wide. Two, maybe even three ruby witches were now confidently approaching, hoping to pinch her between them.

  There was still time to escape. If she ran now, Tiffany could reach a nearby Boundary portal before they could intercept. Slipping back into Haven like a good little girl, she could just tell Barbara they had to call it off, and then act as if nothing had happened.

  Of course, realizing the import of her own presence, the ruby hit squad would then certainly find Valensa and Blake. They’d both be dead before Tiffany even exited the Boundary again.

  The only other alternative was to try to fight these girls by herself. Yet the odds of successfully defeating two or three enemy sorceresses of Adrina’s strength and skill were razor thin. By comparison, diving off of Orly’s Bridge had been easy!

  A mild panic now beginning to set in, Tiffany remembered her rage. She’d inadvertently run with it during the crone attack in Peth, welding magic and emotion together into a tangible, aggressive force. Yet with this stunning new perspective, Tiffany felt in greater control of her own inner turmoil than ever before. Perhaps even more was possible.

  Could she willfully, and perhaps even cogently, access the darker portion of her own soul? It was a dangerous proposition. For if those inner scabs were ripped away entirely, letting the ugly, damaged young Tiffany Smith run freely, who knew what chaos might result? This pure blending of magic and emotion could send even the strongest sorceress careening down a dangerous path.

  Yet under the circumstances, she had no choice.

  Completely clearing her mind, Tiffany deliberately tapped into the bitter, infuriated child within. A searing storm of fierce emotion detonated somewhere deep inside, welling outward with almost insidious force. Instantly the sorceress was saturated with earth fire, her raw, visceral power roiling throughout the forest. A myriad of small forest creatures bolted for safety, while a dozen birds burst from the treetops in a panic.

  Hmmm, Tiffany thought, looking down at herself in bemusement. Actually, this felt kind of good. If someone was to start beating up a Mepard right now, she might even enjoy the spectacle.

  Almost laughing, she felt her burgeoning might coalescing into a palpable force. Tiffany then calmly focused her blazing green eyes deep into the woods, where two ruby targets were even now sauntering into view. Idly pulling out her Coven Stick, the brooding, enraged little girl from Dytha firmly imagined the shape she wished it to assume.

  *****

  Frowning, the two r
uby assassins watched a slew of small animals rush past them. Moments later a blaring wave of green energy swept over the area, blowing back their long hair.

  “How many are there?” Irritably erecting a light shield, Colleen glanced to her right. “There was only one before.”

  “There still is.” Re-scanning the entire area, Adrina shook her head. “It’s Tiffany, no doubt of it. She’s just trying to scare us.”

  “She might be succeeding,” Colleen replied. “Maybe we should sweep...”

  Calmly striding into view from around a tree, Tiffany confidently positioned herself before and between the two ruby witches. Gaze still afire, her earth stone nearly shrieked with pounding, pulsing magic. Despite themselves, both Adrina and Colleen took a hesitant step back.

  “We will not be giving up Earth,” Tiffany announced, glancing from one to the other. “You must leave immediately.”

  Quickly recovering, Adrina clenched both fists. Impressive, but this was obviously just some parlor trick. Tiffany was outnumbered and outstoned, so was seeing if bullshit and a light show could bluff her way out of it.

  Still, if Colleen was getting freaked out, she needed to reestablish control right away. “I’m not impressed,” Adrina blandly replied. “However, if you surrender now, maybe we can...”

  A tremendous roar shattered the tense standoff, as a Larian snow cat came bounding out of the woods on Colleen’s flank. Slamming into the ruby sorceress before she could even move, both Coven Stick and Zarth witch careened into a nearby trunk. Accompanied by a loud burst of both ruby and earth fire, the tree promptly crashed down between Tiffany and Adrina.

  Yet Leven operatives were trained to react with aggression, even in the face of such situations. Instantly leaping on top of the still shuddering trunk, Adrina flung herself down onto Tiffany’s head.

  *****

  Driven from her latest, fitful nap by Tiffany’s fast-dissipating wave of green energy, Valensa bolted upright in the first floor inn bed. Nearly gasping, she felt the passing magic stimulate her new earth stone. Tightly grasped within her right hand, the stone finally punched through a final mental barrier, fully surging into Valensa’s mind.