Hot Magic

by Holli Bertram

  He ran a tired hand through his hair and gave her a steady look. “You’re here,” he said simply.

  His words stopped whatever she’d been about to say. For a moment, she’d have sworn her heart stopped too. Then she ran to him, and his arms closed around her so tightly she couldn’t breathe. She didn’t care. She could die now, right here in his arms, and be happy.

  “I’ve been so scared.” The words poured out of her, tumbling over each other. “Everything is so confused. Abigor is my dad, Harry. I’m part demon. I’m like those things that slither up from the Hell Mouth on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Oh no! Will I go poof if someone puts a wooden stake in my heart?”

  “Slow down. I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said above her head. “No one is going to put a stake in your heart.”

  “Harry, did you hear me? I’m part demon.”

  “Bas told me before I came.”

  “Bas knew?” She would kill him. “Why didn’t he tell me?”

  “Something about the learning process being important.”

  She hated Bas. To withhold important information because he thought she should learn it on her own was arrogant and…arrogant.

  “I think he just found out recently,” Harry offered, his hand rubbing her back.

  “I don’t want to be a demon.” She whispered the words, trying to burrow into him and make this night go away.

  “Everything will be all right.”

  The standard comfort phrase socked her in the gut. She loved him for saying such a totally stupid, untrue thing. Tears pressed against her lids, and she sniffed. He held her, just rubbing her back.

  Then she remembered. He should be safe in the protective circle of the Council. She didn’t know how much time had passed, but surely not enough for the moon to have risen and set. She pulled against his arms. “Harry. You have to get in the circle before Marguerite succeeds with the second tie.”

  His gaze remained calm as he fished a handkerchief out of a pocket with one hand and wiped the tears dribbling down her cheeks. “Too late. She already has.”

  “What did you say?” Surely not what she thought he’d said.

  “Marguerite placed the second tie before I made it to the Council circle.” His eyes were carefully blank as he tucked the handkerchief back in his pocket.

  This was all her fault. He’d put himself at risk because of her. The idiot man. Julie looked hard at him, expecting to see a change somewhere. He looked the same—golden, hot and British, even in his current untidy state. “She’s in your head right now?”

  “Yes. She’s searching for something. Some kind of information she hasn’t found.”

  “She knows what you’re doing and saying?”

  “Yes.”

  “Does she know what I’m saying to you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Marguerite—you’re an ugly, nasty toad and nobody likes you.”

  His lips twitched. “I’ve always admired your maturity.”

  “Ha. She’s lucky I don’t steal her soul and lock it in some back room in Gehenna.” She frowned and then slowly mouthed the next words. “Can I do that?”

  “I don’t know,” he mouthed back. “If I know what you’re mouthing, so does she,” he continued in a normal tone of voice.

  “We can’t have secrets? Small, intimate moments between the two of us?”

  “Do you want small intimate moments between the two of us?” His voice deepened, and he regarded her with interest.

  “I want much more than that, Harry,” she finally admitted, probably letting the devil in her overcome her common sense. “So owhay oday eway etgay idray ofway Argueritemay.”

  “I have no idea what you just said.”

  “You don’t have Pig Latin in England?” No wonder they lost world dominance.

  He frowned. “It wasn’t taught at the boarding school.”

  She sighed. “Your education is lacking. So does this work both ways? Do you know what Marguerite is doing and saying?”

  “Yes.”

  “What’s she doing now?”

  “Looking up a Pig Latin translator on the Internet so she can figure out what you said.”

  “The itchbay.”

  He looked confused and then a smile broke on his face. “She found the translator.”

  “Okay. Enough fun and games. Let’s just ignore her like she deserves.” Julie stepped away from him so she could pace. “My father popped me in here so he could have a private discussion with my mother. If past history is anything to go by, I could be here for a very long time. How did you get here?”

  “The Triad. Your mother’s determination and your daughter’s kidnapping have united the community much more quickly than my speeches could have. Their combined power opened the gate enough for me to slip through. I stepped into the freezer, visualized you, and stepped out into this room.”

  “Can they get us back out?”

  “Bas doesn’t think so. Apparently it’s easier to get into Gehenna than out of it. I think we’re on our own in finding our way back.”

  “Why did you come?”

  He spoke patiently, as if to a slow child. “I already told you.”

  “Harry, you’ve let Marguerite place the second tie. You’ve put your soul in mortal danger. You’ve probably broken a few Triad rules—travel to Gehenna can’t be allowed for the Balance. Why? Being with me doesn’t seem like enough of a reason.”

  “It’s enough of a reason.” He met her eyes.

  She would have done the same stupid thing. She would slay giants to get to him if she thought he needed her. At least she’d try to slay giants. She frowned. “I know I have the power to get us out of here and rescue Tash. I just don’t know how to access it.”

  With one swift movement, Harry shoved her against the wall. His body came against her, hot and hard. She felt the energy from the wall sizzle through her back and the energy from the powerful male sear her front. His head swooped and he found her lips, taking them without hesitation. Taking them as if he owned them.

  Sunbursts exploded behind her eyes. She felt as if her feet floated off the ground. She pushed into Harry, her mind firing at the feel and taste of him. Just when she thought she couldn’t take any more without going up in flames, he gentled the kiss. His hands softened and moved to frame her face. He lifted his mouth from hers and brushed them against her forehead.

  “The wall is gone,” he whispered.

  She blinked, and turned her neck, looking up and down the long, white corridor that flowed past where the wall had been. “Did I do that?”

  “Yes. You seem to have no trouble finding your power when we kiss.”

  “How weird is that? I might have to keep you around.”

  “Yes. You might.”

  She glanced at him, his serious voice pulling her from her study of the hallway. “You told me we can’t be together. What changed? Has someone added a Bill of Rights to your rule book?” Her heart beat faster than her flip tone indicated.

  He smiled. “No. The rule book hasn’t changed.” He abruptly switched the subject. “Do you know where Tasha is?”

  Julie closed her eyes to block out the distraction of his face. She felt the insistent tug of her daughter’s energy force. “Yes, I know where Tash is. Follow me.”

  Julie followed the thread of her daughter’s energy as easily as if she were following crumbs on a forest trail. There was a sameness about the white walls and endless halls that could be disorienting, and Julie knew if she hadn’t latched on to Tasha’s life force, she’d be wandering aimlessly in circles. Harry silently followed her, his gaze alert and constantly scanning. No one appeared, however—no demons, gargoyles or minions of Hell. The whole thing was really pretty bizarre. Julie came to an abrupt halt in front of a blank wall. She looked at Harry.

  “Tasha is in there.” She knew it with absolute certainty.

  Harry studied the wall and moved his hand in a quick, sharp motion. Nothing happened. “You’ll have
to get us in. Only the immortals can wield power inside Gehenna.”

  Julie sucked in air at the calm statement. “I may look young for my age,” at least she liked to think so, “but I’m not immortal.”

  Harry leaned a shoulder against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest. He looked very relaxed, considering they were in Gehenna in the midst of a rescue mission, and he had some psychotic Shadow Walker in his head. “You’ve got demon blood,” he reminded her.

  “I don’t have much of the stuff.” She rubbed her hands nervously up and down her thighs. She felt nowhere near as calm as he looked.

  “You’re half demon,” Harry pointed out with maddening accuracy.

  “I know.” Julie whispered the words. “I’m all for diversity, but I’m thinking this demon thing cannot be good.”

  “Every one of us has the capacity for evil.”

  “But we’re not all half demon. I have one heck of a dark side. If this were Star Wars, I’d be a female Anakin Skywalker.”

  To give him credit, Harry didn’t even attempt to tear his hair out at her movie analogy. “No. You’re a female Luke Skywalker, or his sister Leia, and you will not succumb to the evil lure of your father.”

  Julie looked at him, surprised. The man was a Star Wars fan. Hidden depths.

  He shook his head, as if he realized what he’d said. “You make your own choices.” Harry looked up and down the empty hall and then back at Julie’s face. He seemed to come to a decision. “Your daughter isn’t going anywhere. We have a minute. Do you know the story of how the demons were created?”

  “There’s a story?”

  “There was great war among the angels in Heaven. The losers were cast down to Gehenna. Demons are angels who revolted against God, but they were created as angels—glorious, powerful beings. They chose the dark path. You can choose light.”

  So she had the same make-up as the angels? Maybe he was just giving her a positive spin on a bad situation, but she’d take it for the moment.

  A fine tension built in her to get Tasha out now. “Angel or demon, we know I can wield magic here. Let’s see if I can do it without the kiss.” She looked at his beautiful face. “Not that I’d normally want to skip that, but I’m not into threesomes.” The fact that Marguerite had shared in their previous kiss gave her the willies.

  He merely nodded and stepped back, giving her room.

  Julie looked at him for a second longer and then turned to face the wall. She cracked her knuckles and stood with her feet apart. Taking a deep breath, she put both hands flat against the smooth surface.

  “I don’t think you can push it down,” Harrison commented after a few moments of silence.

  “I know that.” She tried to look confident. “I’m taking a moment to gather my power.” So, exactly how did she do that and get rid of the wall?

  “Mom?” Faintly, she heard the whisper of Tasha’s desperate voice.

  Tasha needed her. Just like that, the wall was gone.

  “Mom! I knew I heard you!”

  Tasha stood directly across from her, her orange T-shirt rumpled and her cheeks red. She looked like a warm flame against the unrelenting white. Behind her stood the Shadow Walker, a look of surprise on his face.

  Julie was still frozen with the shock that she’d gotten rid of the wall when Tasha catapulted into her arms, pushing her back into Harry. He steadied both of them.

  Julie hugged her daughter close, savoring the familiar scent and feel of her. Then she pushed her back a step so she could look her over. “Are you all right?”

  Tasha nodded. “We’ve been stuck in that room ever since the Skaven brought us here.”

  “Skaven?” Harry had mentioned them earlier.

  “Rat creatures, controlled by the demons.” Luc explained.

  Wonderful, but unfortunately they weren’t the worst of her concerns. “Have you seen…anyone while you’ve been here?” she asked carefully.

  “No, just Luc. Do you know how to get out of here?” Tasha jumped as they all heard a sound, and she gave Julie a frightened look. “Someone’s coming! We have to run.”

  Julie winced at the sound of approaching voices. Loud, arguing voices. Actually, only one voice was loud and arguing. Her mother’s. The other was a faint, conciliatory murmur.

  “Tash, I need to tell you something.” She put a hand on her daughter’s arm to stop her mad dash in the opposite direction from the voices. No time to soften the blow. “Your grandfather is here.”

  Tasha stopped tugging on her arm. “Grandpa’s here? In Hell? My sweet Grandpa Abe?” Tasha stared at her mother, slowly shaking her head. “No!”

  “Grandpa may not be quite as sweet as we thought. In fact, he might be one of the most powerful demons in Gehenna.” She ignored the soft snort from Harry. There might have been a more tactful way to tell Tasha, but Julie’s mind wasn’t firing on all cylinders at the moment.

  Tash vehemently shook her head, her red hair slapping her cheeks at the force of her denial. She took a step away from Julie and reached for Luc’s hand. Julie felt a brief pang in the region of her heart.

  “I don’t believe you,” Tasha said calmly.

  “I don’t want to believe it either.” Julie wished she could make it all go away, make her daughter’s world normal and sane.

  The voices grew louder. Her mother’s voice drifted to them. “All those times you told me you were traveling on business, just what were you up to, you conniving devil?”

  Tasha’s face tightened, but she stubbornly ignored what she heard, her eyes defiant. Tasha’s whole body began trembling like a slender tree in the midst of a huge windstorm. Luc put an arm around her shoulders and tugged her close.

  Julie looked frantically over her shoulder at Harry, who still stood at her back. Her daughter’s reaction worried her. Tasha didn’t like change, to the point where she even had trouble getting rid of old furniture and chipped dishes. She’d recently found out she wasn’t human, she’d been kidnapped by rat people and brought to Hell, and now her mother was telling her that her beloved grandfather was a demon. Apparently acknowledging that Abe was Abigor was one change too many.

  Harry leaned down and whispered in her ear. “She’s your daughter. She’s strong.”

  Julie nodded, needing to hear the words, but also knowing that no one, including herself, could deal with the shift in reality they’d experienced without some repercussions. She touched his arm in thanks and immediately felt the tension. Every muscle in his body stretched tight, as if it took all his control to maintain his physical integrity in the face of Marguerite’s invasion. She met his eyes in mute apology.

  “Balance!” Luc’s voice brought them both around to face him. Tasha was bent over, breathing quickly, her whole body shaking. Panic attack.

  Julie stepped to her side. “Deep breaths, baby,” she commanded.

  “Get her out of here, now,” Harry commanded.

  Julie saw her mother step around a corner in the white hallway. She had to act fast. She had to find a way to get Tasha out of Gehenna, away from the unacceptable reality that was about to be shoved irrefutably in her face. Before she even had time to formulate an escape plan, a rush of power flushed through her.

  “Ouch.” Julie landed on her bottom, which cushioned her fall more than she would have liked. Tasha tumbled onto the carpet beside her, dragging Luc along with her. Julie raised herself up on her elbows and looked around. She was in her living room. Back on terra firma. Somehow, she’d done it. She’d pulled them out of Gehenna. Maybe having great power wasn’t so bad after all.

  Suddenly, her budding euphoria vanished. She counted heads again. Then she stood and searched behind the furniture. Harry was nowhere to be seen. She hadn’t quite pulled them all out.

  “We’re home!” Tasha stayed on the floor, gulping in huge mouthfuls of air.

  “You can’t leave Gehenna without going through a Gate! Not even Abigor can do that.” Luc sat up, his expression dazed.

  “
Harry?” Julie raised her voice. Maybe he’d landed in another room. She dashed quickly through all the rooms. Nothing. “Crap. We left Harry behind.”

  “Who are you?” Luc was on his feet, a hand pushing through his silver hair.

  “How could we have left Harry?” Julie glanced impatiently at Luc. “What’s wrong with you? Why are you looking at me like that?”

  His expression bordered on awe.

  Julie narrowed her eyes at him. “Don’t get crazy on me. We need to find Harry.”

  “He’s probably where we left him,” Tasha offered, sitting up. “Don’t even think about going back, Mom.”

  Julie couldn’t believe her ears. Tasha, of all people, knew what if felt like to be left in Gehenna. Harry had sacrificed his sanity to help them. And Julie had just popped out, leaving him. She felt sick to her stomach. “No man left behind. That’s my motto.”

  “Mom, you’re not a Navy Seal. You’re a researcher. And I didn’t mean we should just leave him there. Let’s go talk to Bas, he’ll know what to do.”

  Finding Bas would take too much time. Besides, they didn’t need him. “I know what to do. I know how to get back the way we came.”

  “You do?” Tasha looked surprised.

  “I do have a reasonable brain. And the more that I use my power, the more I’m able to recognize flow and direction. I think I can get back along the same path we came on.” Except she felt like she was running on an empty tank. Maybe food would help.

  “You need to wait until the sun rises to gain enough power for something such as this,” Luc said, and all three looked at the clock on the living room wall. Five o’clock. Judging from the darkness pushing against the windows, that would be in the morning, not the afternoon. The sun wouldn’t rise for a couple of hours, at least. She couldn’t wait that long. She didn’t need to wait that long.

  “I’m not just a Dancer. I tap sun power, possibly earth power and definitely whatever power source the demons have.” Julie paused and looked at Luc. “Just what power source do the demons have?”

  He shrugged in the way only the French can. “I’ve never met one before,” he said. “I always believed they had access to the power matrices of the universe.” He looked apologetic. “But I don’t know that for sure.”