Claimed By Magic

by Claire Marta

  Jasmine slid him a sideways glance. “Either that or we’re dealing with a cross dresser. Haven’t you noticed he’s rather big and broad for a woman?”

  “Fuck, it’s a dude in drag and you thought she was hot, Ben.” Dane sniggered.

  “Shut up,” Benedict growled back.

  “You told me you thought the whole not seeing her was a turn on, and you were going to bend her over and bang her from behind,” Dane continued with a snicker this time. “Guess that’s no longer on your bucket list.”

  The bard gave his cousin the middle finger with a stony expression.

  “I knew there was something odd about them,” Ella muttered, tugging nervously on the coloured beads around her neck. “They never spoke. Never interacted with the rest of us.”

  “Melinda is also up to her eyeballs in this. She’s working with Teasag.” Jasmine informed them, before taking a sip of her drink. Sweet, with a hint of honey, it revived a little of her energy.

  “Why am I not surprised?” Dane rubbed at his temples with one hand. “She’s always stirring up trouble.”

  “Dane, I think she’s having second thoughts, but after what Teasag just did to her, she might be too frightened to go against him,” Jasmine told him, sinking back down onto the side of the bed.

  The wizard had become deathly still. “What did he do?”

  Slowly, Jasmine recounted what she had witnessed. Hands shaking around the mug she was holding, with a wealth of emotion she tried to keep her voice neutral. Watching the assault had been harrowing enough, and she was surprised she hadn’t had flashbacks to her own sexual assault so many years before.

  Ella had a hand over her mouth, eyes wide with pity and pain. Dane and Ben listened in silence, their expression becoming darker and darker.

  “I have to get back into the city,” Jasmine told them once she was done.

  A nerve was jumping in Dane’s jaw as he spoke in a quietly controlled voice. “It’s not easy...but it’s possible, and we can show you the way.”

  “Are you sure?” She could see that what she had told them had effected them greatly. Jasmine had a feeling they were looking for payback.

  He nodded slowly. “This is our home, our people, no matter how twisted up it can be sometimes, and if there is a way to stop Teasag, we’re in.”

  “Plus he deserves payback for what he did to Melinda and her mother.” Benedict’s voice sounded gruff and dangerous. The easy going smile was nowhere in sight.

  “Looks like you’re stuck with us,” Ella chipped in as she planted her hands on her hips.

  Jasmine took in their determined faces. She was not about to say no. They knew Avalon, and she was going to need their help.

  “Ok,” she agreed, placing the mug on the bedside table and getting to her feet. “Is there somewhere I can have a shower first and change my clothes?”

  Benedict’s lips curled up in a grin. “Oh babe, you don’t have to worry about that where we are going. I wouldn’t bother putting something new on just yet.”

  Jasmine narrowed her eyes at his words. “What do you mean?”

  Jasmine was trying hard to breathe through her mouth. Every so often she would forget. When this happened she had to stop and try not to gag. One of her hands was wrapped in the material of her skirt holding it up so it wouldn’t get wet.

  The knee high water they were wading through, if that’s really what it could be called, reeked to high heaven. This was, by far, worse than the rotten fishy stink that covered her dress. That was, in fact, a lot more pleasant than this liquid.

  She couldn’t see her feet. A murky, putrid green nothing could be seen within. Again, it made her question what the fuck it really was. Strangely, it was dense to move through. In the end did she really want to know? No.

  The only light was coming from Benedict and Dane’s open palms. Flares of their magic kept bursting into life. This illuminated the curved brick walls of the sewer in a myriad of colours. The surfaces were damp and slick. Every so often Jasmine would catch sight of something scuttling away. She was trying her best not to freak out. Rationally she knew they probably weren’t spiders, but it didn’t stop her mind from going into over drive with panic. Jasmine couldn’t stand the eight legged things. It was a phobia. Even seeing a small one broke her out in cold sweats.

  “What is this stuff we’re trawling through?” she asked, reaching up to caress Excalibur’s hilt reassuringly. The sword was once more across her back. Magic pulsed through it in answer to her touch.

  “Don’t ask,” Ella grumbled. A wad of orange skirts was wrapped in her hand held high up around her thighs.

  Benedict sniggered. Arm whipping out, Ella punched him on the bicep with her free hand. Hard.

  “Ouch.” With a pained expression he rubbed the area.

  Something dragged against Jasmine’s ankles; curling loosely around them before drifting on past. For a moment she forgot to breathe. Whatever it had been it had suspiciously felt like fingers.

  “So, what else is on this bucket list of yours Benedict?” Jasmine asked nervously, trying to get her mind off what could be in the water with them.

  Dane groaned. “Why? Why did you have to ask him?”

  “He has over two thousand items on it,” Ella informed her with a long, suffering, drawn out sigh. “Trust me, you will go insane before he even finishes.”

  “I can give you my top three if you like. I’m not sure you’re prepared for all of it yet, Red.” Ben glanced at her over his shoulder.

  “Number one,” he continued before anyone could reply. “I want to fuck twins, but they gotta be sirens and it has to be done in the ocean. I think that shit would be hot. All that water and sexed up mermaids.”

  Jasmine shot the back of his head a disbelieving look. “Seriously?”

  “What did you expect to be on his list?” Ella shook her head in disgust beside her.

  “Number two,” the bard carried on, ignoring them both. “I want to skydive off at least five of those wonders of the world you have. I’m thinking the tallest ones. I’ll have longer to enjoy it.”

  “Well that will get you arrested,” Jasmine said, rolling her eyes. Then another thought hit her. “Hang on, how do you know about all that if you’ve never left Avalon?”

  Dane grunted with amusement. “We get radio and television signals from your plane. It’s the first thing our people did the moment they were invented. Our generation were the ones to latch onto the internet and make it available here.”

  “I love that fucking show with the cute animals doing funny shit.” Benedict jumped in as they slowly made their way around a bend in the tunnel.

  “I really didn’t see you as an animal man,” Jasmine told him as she dragged her skirts up a little higher. The dress was already ruined but she still didn’t want to get any of the sewer gunk on it. One bad smell was more than enough. She just hoped it would come off her if she scrubbed hard enough.

  “I’m a complicated guy. What can I say?” The bard replied as another burst of magic ignited in the centre of his metallic hand. “Number three. I want to get bitten by a vamp. Feel the whole orgasmic bite thing.”

  Jasmine forgot to breathe at his words. That was something that had gotten her in so much fucking trouble. With everything going on she had forgotten about it. The thought of the pain she had experienced on the beach made her swallow hard. She was not looking forward to suffering it again.

  “I wouldn’t if I were you,” she told him bitterly.

  Stopping, Ben turned to face her. His strange, hazel silver eyes searched her expression with concern. “Why? They have STD’s or something? Rabies?”

  Wrinkling her nose, Jasmine shook her head. She wasn’t ready to tell anyone about her problem. It was a secret for now. One she wanted to keep between her and Twitch.

  “No…never mind.”

  Dane also halted. Head tipped back, he was looking at something. Jasmine followed his gaze. A thin strip of light was filtering in through a la
rge metal grate half way up the sewer wall. As she drew closer, Jasmine could see it was rusted in places.

  Closing his fingers around the ball of energy in his hand, Dane snuffed it out. Without a word he turned to Ella. Taking her by the waist, he lifted her up with effortless ease. Bracing her hands on his strapping shoulders she eased onto a ledge.

  Ella seemed to know exactly what to do. Sliding her fingers through the grill she pushed against it. The harsh sound of metal grating against concrete filled the silence. She continued to shove it until the grate swung open. With a triumphant hum she crawled out.

  Dane turned to look at Jasmine. “You’re turn.”

  Gently, his big hands spanned her hips. Biting nervously on her lower lip, Jasmine was lifted like a child. She had to let go of her skirt and plant her hands on his wide shoulders to steady herself. Grabbing hold of the hard ledge, she hoisted herself upwards. The rough concrete dragged against her knees and palms. Pain stung from all her wounds. Jasmine was so used to them now she barely felt it.

  Ella was just outside the exit. Clasping her helping hand, Jasmine crawled out. She was momentarily blinded by the brightness of the sun. Blinking, it took a moment to adjust. She continued to move forward until she was a good distance away before sitting back on her heels. Reaching behind her, Jasmine adjusted the sword on her back. She was getting used to its weight now. Sometimes she forgot it was there.

  They were in a narrow courtyard. The buildings around them were in a state of disrepair and decay. A jumble of over grown flora surrounded them, abandoned and left to grow wild. Behind her, she could hear Dane and Benedict heaving their bulky frames out of the sewer.

  “What’s the plan?” Dane asked, plopping himself down beside her. Ella joined him.

  “You guys know the city better than me,” Jasmine told them, rearranging the bust line of her drooping dress. “Do you think you can round up anyone who hasn’t been captured and bring them to Carbrey’s place without being seen?”

  He nodded, making his dreadlocks and cables sway and click. “Yeah, we can do that.” The sound of the grate being slid back into place could be heard. Then Ben was crouching beside her.

  “Ok. I should be able to find my way there at least. I’ll go see if I can find him,” Jasmine continued with resolve. “I heard Teasag say he hadn’t been taken yet.”

  “You can’t go off on your own,” Benedict argued gruffly. “At least let me come with you. I know all the best places we can hide.” His expression turned flirtatious. “I promise I won’t kiss and tell.”

  Jasmine rolled her eyes. “No thanks. I think I can manage this alone.”

  Eric was yet to learn of Teasag’s nefarious plans for Twitch. This was most frustrating. The witch was far too cautious and sly. From what he had gathered, she needed his innocence taken. A ceremony was to be held tonight. Yet what it entailed was still unclear.

  He had mere hours to discover Teasag’s intentions, and so far it did not bode well for anyone. Eric’s thoughts kept wandering back to Jasmine, which was also a distraction. Was she safe? Was she out of harm’s way? He could only hope that she was keeping out of trouble. With her track record though, he knew there was little chance of that.

  Eric sighed. He had no idea where she was on the island and had no way to protect her. Remaining diligent was his only course of action. At least he still retained his freedom to move around as a Jinn.

  Teasag had them crawling all over the city searching for Carbrey. So far the old man had eluded them. Eric suspected the old fox was watching from the safety of a hiding place. No doubt he had many concealed about.

  The sweetest smell Eric had ever scented filled his nostrils. Sunshine and flowers. His eyes widened slightly beneath his beastly mask. Jasmine was close.

  The streets were eerily empty. Now that the fog was gone, Jasmine could see everything much more clearly. Fine cobwebs billowed in the breeze. Woven so thick they obscured the sunlight struggling to get between them. Those rays that did make it past illuminated the matted ghostly strands. Where they had come from she did not know. The fact that they dulled the rainbow hue of the place made her building sense of dread grow.

  Shops lay abandoned. Silence stretched, making Jasmine more and more jumpy. It was like she had stepped into some creepy horror movie. Again. The elegant medieval buildings were dark and empty, yet it felt as if the place was waiting for something. It was a feeling she could not shake.

  Every so often she could hear the echo of the Jinn’s high-pitched, jackal-like laugh. One would start then after a moment more would follow. So far, she hadn’t spotted any of them and she was hoping it would stay that way. Jasmine had no wish to run into them. If they caught her it would be game over.

  Excalibur was still belted securely to her back. Even with the mystical sword at her disposal, she was not sure she would be a match for creatures made purely of magic. Under Teasag’s control, she doubted they would stop to ask questions.

  Biting on her lip, Jasmine turned her head to survey the way she had ventured. Maybe she should have taken Benedict up on his offer. Wandering around alone now seemed like a stupid idea. What the hell had she been thinking?

  She was pretty certain he would have continued to make passes at her. In the end he would have been a distraction. Jasmine scrunched up her nose. He was a good looking guy, but she didn’t want to get involved with anyone. Not now. The fact that the bard irritated the hell out of her was also not in his favour. She still could not believe what he had gotten away with in that bed. It made her want to punch him all over again.

  Something delicate brushing against her face was all the warning she had. Jasmine shrieked. Just because she hadn’t seen the spiders thatleft the webs did not mean they weren’t somewhere, lurking. Silky thread met her fingers. They were enough to cause Jasmine’s heart to beat faster. With desperate, jerky movements she wiped them away. Sticky, they clung to her face.

  “Fuck. Fuck. FUCK,” she chanted as she batted at them.

  A stinging sensation tingled against her eyelids, and it morphed into a burning heat. Dropping to her knees, Jasmine tried not to panic. Standing, she was more likely to fall or walk into something. With the ground beneath her she felt safer. More solid.

  Whimpering, she used the heels of her palms to rub frantically at the area. With a little pressure the painful threads came away. Trying to calm herself, she worked until she was certain every last one was off. Jasmine took a deep breath, eyes still closed. She knew if she saw a spider now she was going to freak.

  Releasing it, she reluctantly raised her eyelids. The panic which had subsided washed back in full force. Darkness was all that she could see. Eyes wide and unblinking, she tried desperately to make anything out. Blackness remained. She was suspended in darkness not even blinking dispelled.

  This could not be fucking happening. Not now. Urgently, she groped across the ground. She couldn’t stay on the street. She was easy prey for the Jinn and Teasag’s minions if they found her.

  Her hand found the cold, smooth brick of a wall. Using it as a guide she rose to her feet. Pressing herself against it, she willed her legs to keep her upright. Falling face first on the concrete floor was looking more and more appealing. She just wanted to collapse. The burning sensation was spreading. Jasmine could feel it across her cheeks, travelling towards her neck.

  Whatever had been on the cobwebs was only getting worse. The sensation of eyes on her glided along her body. Jasmine froze. Deprived of sight, her other senses were heightened.

  “Who’s there?”

  The soft tread of footsteps teased her ears. Then the quiet rustle of clothing. A stab of adrenaline shot through her as she clumsily raised her hand to the hilt of the sword on her back. Excalibur answered the touch with a vibration of power. Breathing rapidly, she strained to hear anything more.

  Fingertips touched her cheek. Flinching away, she grabbed blindly at the hand. Large and strong, it was gloved. The soft, supple leather was smooth against
her fingers. Confusion swamped Jasmine when a frisson of desire curled through her.

  Following the arm upwards, she encountered a shoulder. Then further up, she found a face. Feeling her way, she discovered hard tusks then plains and ridges of a mask. Magic wrapped itself around her. Like tendrils of smoke she felt it trail over her skin. It was familiar. Something she had felt before.

  “Kaysin, is that you?” she asked, unable to keep the relief out of her voice.

  She felt him nod. A gloved hand gently encircled her wrist and lowered her hand.

  Jasmine had the urge to hug him. For some reason this male made her feel safe. “I can’t see. Something’s happened to my eyes…there were cobwebs that burned, and the feeling is getting worse,” she told him, instead remaining where she was.

  The soft brush of fingertips gently caressed her closed eyelids. Jasmine stood very still and allowed him to examine them. His hand moved up to stroke her cheek. Tender was the gesture. And strangely familiar. The heat of his covered hand was enough to hold her in place. Jasmine leaned into the touch. Comforting, it put her at ease.

  “Please tell me this isn’t permanent?” she murmured before pressing her lips to the covered palm. It was soft. The smell of leather filled her senses, relaxing her.

  Silence followed. Fuck. She had forgotten that he couldn’t answer verbally. They were going to have to think of a way to communicate.

  With a sigh, Jasmine raised her head as his hand fell away. Sightlessly staring ahead she hoped she was at least pointed in the direction of his face. “How about you tap my hand once for yes two for no?”

  One tap gently landed on her knuckles. Had that been yes to her question or yes to the way to communicate?

  She frowned, confused. “So my vision will return?”

  One tap followed. Yes. Jasmine bowed her head in relief. How he had found her so quickly she did not know. But she was happy that Kaysin was here.

  Leather clad fingers laced with hers. She let her own lock around them. The pain was still growing throughout her face and radiating down her neck. An odd expanding sensation was going on in her head. Jasmine’s breathing turned shallow. She had the awareness of falling. Just before she passed out, she felt Kaysin catch her. The last thing she was conscious of, was how he clutched her to him with shaking arms.