“Well, I tried,” Kate said, her hands landing on her hips. “It’s not like I spend my days dressing doggies for war.”
“I can tell,” Logan said. “You put this on upside down.”
She muttered something that sounded nasty and wandered off. I hid my smile by bending to pat Illy. He bared his teeth. Snatching my hand back, I asked, “What is your problem, dude?”
“He and Percy aren’t happy we’ll be facing a god.”
Oh. I remembered how their familiars had acted during the Case of the Cursing Corpsicle, (who was Dalsarin). I looked at Illy. “You know, it’s not my damn fault gods decide to turn evil and run around doing bad things to people.”
The husky grumbled. I didn’t understand what he said, only then realizing he didn’t actually speak Dog. Or not the version of Dog I’d inadvertently learned. Was there more than one version? “Fine, be mad. See if I care, or ever cook you steak again.”
Illy flattened his ears and skulked off. The call came to form up into lines. Kethyrdryll, dressed in silvery blue armor, joined us. “Hey, why aren’t you up there with your mom and brother?”
“I’ve been assigned to your guard.” He nodded at two more elves walking up to us. “As were they.”
“Oh. Thanks.” It sounded as though we wouldn’t be near any actual fighting. Maybe the Queen didn’t want to risk both her sons.
We began moving, the clanking of armor echoing as we marched down the hallway we’d gathered in. Nervousness fluttered in my stomach. I looked around at my companions, hoping we’d all go home in one piece.
“We’ll transport to the Pit in groups,” Kethyrdryll informed us. “There’s not a gate or door to step through.”
“Then how did that golem deliver the people to it?” Really, the Pit? Couldn’t elves come up with a better name for their high-security prison?
He shook his head. “I don’t know. There are layers of wards on the walls.”
“Well, if I were your mom, I’d be scheduling a good, hard inspection after this.” I thought about slipping the Queen Ronnie’s card. Which reminded me that I needed to call Ronnie. My new place needed warding.
Elves were disappearing ahead of us. Magical transport, my favorite. Wait, I supposedly counted as a magic user. A natural mage. It did have a certain ring to it. Nah, after years of being called a psychic, I was comfortable with that label.
Our turn came, and we walked forward, the hallway disappearing and a square room replacing it. The walls were pale gray stone, and there was a wide archway at the opposite end. I checked over my shoulder. The wall behind us was solid.
Beyond the archway was a stadium-sized room or cavern, with dark stone walls. I wasn’t sure how dark because the entire place was shrouded in heavy shadows. Nothing moved, and the only sounds I heard were the soft footfalls of elves as they formed a multilayered half-circle outside the archway. “This doesn’t look like a hotbed of prison escapees.”
Logan sniffed. “They’re hiding. I can smell...”
The half-circle of elves had been slowly moving forward as more arrived. Something rose from the puddle of shadows across the middle of the floor. No one screamed. Instead, a rain of arrows flew, and whatever the thing was, it went down a pincushion. “The lighting sucks. What was that?”
“A giant, I think.” Kate tilted her head. “Does anyone else hear wings?”
We all looked up, but the ceiling was completely blacked out. And that’s when the goblins decided to charge. I let loose with my pyrokinesis, creating a wall of fire to block them.
“Cernunnos bless us,” Kethyrdryll murmured as my fire lit the place up. There were cracks in every wall, and a lot of eyes reflecting flames. “They’ve been destroying the wards.”
“Maeve,” a voice roared at the far end, and a hulking, red beast strode out of a particularly large crack. “Face me, you elven bitch.”
The Queen strode forward, her glittering armor adding a light show of blue and orange sparks as it reflected the fire. “Miss Jones.”
“Yes, ma’am?”
She gestured at the fire with her sword. “If you’d be so kind?”
“Oh, sure.” I put the fire out, aware of the elves in the front lifting their weapons. Good thing they did, because a wave of dark figures came forward.
“Goblins!” someone yelled and within seconds, everything was chaos. I lost sight of Kate as something dropped onto her, but saw Dane kick and slash at whatever it was. Illy was barking. I couldn’t see Damian. The remaining elves poured from the archway, forcing us apart, and forward.
Connor cut down something with wings and a human face that flew at us with its clawed chicken feet outstretched. One of the two elves went down as four twisted, smoky figures leaped onto him.
I hit a looming figure with a blast of TK, knocking it away from Kethyrdryll, who was busy slicing away at a blobby creature with long arms. Logan snarled, fencing with a being made of shiny, silver light.
“I’m way out of,” I sent a lance of fire toward what I thought might be a troll. “My depth.”
Connor laughed. “Me too. Fun, huh?”
“Yeah, ahh.” A concussion rocked the area, knocking us down. My stomach lurched. “What was that?”
“Ah, big and fiery. Going to say...”
Kethyrdryll finished Connor’s sentence. “Fire elemental.”
“Hey.” I’d gotten to my feet. “Let me at it.”
“Go for the heart,” Logan called, already slashing away at nasties again.
“Heart. Got it.” I focused on the tall, vaguely human-shaped figure. The elemental was shedding flames that became little firenados. “So, heart would be about...there.”
I concentrated, channeling my cryokinesis, and the fire elemental stopped. A dark splotch slowly appeared on its chest. “Yeah, buddy. Chill with me for a while.”
“Cordi!” Someone shoved me. I flailed sideways, managed to keep my balance, and turned in time to see an axe whistling through the air...and tearing through Connor’s throat. Blood spurted as his headless body toppled forward. Blood hit me in the face, blinding me. My stomach heaved, rebelling against the taste of hot, salty copper that had splashed into my mouth.
“Cordi.” Logan’s voice was followed by a loud clang overhead as I ducked, frantically wiping my face. The first thing I saw after clearing blood from my eyes was Connor’s head. His eyes and mouth were wide open, surprise etched deep by death. A massive cramp twisted my stomach, bending me double. I retched, and panicked as something came up, only to get stuck in my throat.
Logan grabbed my arm. I heaved again, whatever it was moving. It began to slide out of my gaping mouth: A long, thick ropy tube of white and green. I couldn’t breathe, clawing one-handed at Logan. He dropped his sword, grabbed hold of the thing, and pulled. “Kethyrdryll!”
The elf’s sword flashed, blocking a strike from a black sword that would’ve split Logan’s skull. He yelled in Elvish, and we were quickly surrounded by Unseelie. Tears poured from my eyes. My lungs were burning. Logan hauled on the tube thing, doing his best to pull it out of me.
It was dissolving into a puddle at our feet. A puddle I was about to pass out into.
The last bit slipped free. Logan dropped it to catch me as I pitched forward. My throat was raw and my tongue felt burned. He dragged me away from the puddle, which had begun glowing. Elves scattered when the puddle exploded upward. Logan covered me, ducking his head. Everything paused for a few seconds.
Still busy sucking in air, I looked when Logan moved, to see Sal and Cernunnos standing there. They both looked at us then strode off toward Morpheus.
I didn’t see much of what happened, too busy slapping away anything that didn’t look like an elf with my TK. Logan recovered his sword, and Kethyrdryll came back to help us.
But I could see the blue lightning, as well as the globes of green and slashes of red. Look at me, kind of witnessing a battle between gods.
And then Morpheus screamed.
Every
thing just stopped, the abrupt silence causing my ears to pop.
TWENTY-NINE
The sound of Morpheus’s scream ended the battle. Everyone seemed to want to witness the collapse of a god. He fell to his knees, his eyes wide, and held out one hand each to Sal and Cernunnos. “My brothers.”
“You made the wrong the choices,” my fairy godfather said. “This is the only way it could’ve ended.”
“I’ve no stomach for taunting the defeated.” Cernunnos put his hand on Sal’s shoulder. “We finish this now.”
“Of course.” They walked toward Morpheus, who shook his head.
“No. Spare me.”
“Too late.” Sal shoved his hand into the fallen god’s chest. Golden light burst from all three, growing brighter and brighter, until I had to close my watering eyes and turn my head. I could see the light even then.
When it finally faded, I expected them to be gone. Blinking tears from my eyes, I looked and they were still there. Morpheus lay still, his chest split wide open, charred and smoking. Sal held a small, glowing golden orb in his bloody hand. He turned, his wrinkled face set in grim lines, and spoke in a booming voice. “Witness the end of our brother, Morpheus. Behold the death of a god.”
All who weren’t already down dropped, even Queen Maeve. I was the only one who didn’t bow my head, too curious to see what happened next.
Sal noticed. “Thanks for the ride, kiddo. We would’ve had a much harder time getting here without you.”
“Yeah, you’re welcome, and don’t ever do it again.” I saw Maeve’s head turn, and ignored her wide eyes in favor of glaring at the two gods. “I feel like someone took me apart and put me back together wrong.”
Sal laughed. “You’ll be fine in a day or two.”
“What is that?”
He looked at the glowing orb, and held it up. “This is the distillation of a godhood.”
“Nifty. So he’s really dead, no coming back?” I had enough dreaming issues. Didn’t need a vengeful god of dreams showing up to further complicate them.
“Yes, he’s truly dead.” Sal handed the orb to Cernunnos. “Take it to be cleansed.”
The Lord of the Hunt nodded before he disappeared.
“Maeve, stand before me.”
The Unseelie Queen slowly rose to her feet. I saw her chest rise as she took a deep breath before walking across the smooth, black floor. She halted in front of Sal, taller by a good foot even with her head bowed.
“Your people are a powerful race, and you, their Queen, are the most powerful of them all. But you overstepped, Maeve, trapping and trying to hold a god. What were you thinking?”
“He tormented thousands.”
“And he would’ve destroyed millions,” Sal snapped. Lightning flashed around the cavern, and booms of thunder shook the ground. Maeve wasn’t the only one cringing. “He was angry, not insane. Not until you buried him here. Because of your arrogance, he came close to unleashing all you were charged to collect and hold upon the world.”
She slowly sank to her knees and offered up her sword. “I submit to your judgment, my lord.”
“Oh, believe me, it would be immensely satisfying to separate your prideful head from your body.” Sal sighed. “Yet your people are accustomed to your leadership, and your realm is now one with the others. They will need you to guide them.”
“You are merciful, my lord.”
“It’s a terrible habit. We’ll be watching you, Maeve. Don’t screw up again.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Sal grunted and glanced at me. With a shake of his head, he left her kneeling and walked over to look at Connor’s body. “What a mess. Were you fond of him?”
“He was my friend.” Beyond that, returning his body to the Pride would probably end our alliance. Might even start a war, for all I knew. “I had a vision about him. He shouldn’t have died here.”
“I do owe you a favor for the ride.” Sal bent down to pick Connor’s head up by the hair. I gulped, my stomach juddering. He put it in place at the neck and paused. “Is this the favor you’d have of me?”
“Bringing him back? Yes, please.”
“Now you’re polite. Very well.” Sal waved his hand, a flash of greenish white briefly hiding Connor’s body from sight. The lion coughed up a wad of blood and gunk. Sal was gone.
Connor grimaced, dragging his hand across his mouth. “What happened?”
“Found them,” Dane yelled from deep within the crack Morpheus had appeared from.
“Are they okay? Is anyone hurt?” I heard him asking, but didn’t hear any responses.
Not before he said, “Everything’s going to be okay. I’ll get everyone untied.”
Rico and Becky were the first to come stumbling out of the gloom, squinting against the light. I smiled. “This way. Boy, Rico, your mom is going to be so happy to see you.”
“My mom?” He shook his head. “Who are you people? Where am I?”
Alleryn took charge of them. I guided the other captives to where he’d set up a triage area. Kate and Damian were assisting him. I’d been thrilled neither had been hurt.
Logan and Connor were off somewhere, helping the Unseelie to corral prisoners. I helped Dane with the last captive, and paused to look around. Morpheus’s death had taken the wind out of the nasties’ sails, but a few were resisting. The pockets of fighting were dwindling even as I watched.
Hearing a noise, I turned around and saw a slender, dark-haired woman creeping out of the crack. Crap, Dane had missed someone. “Everything’s okay now. Are you hurt?”
She smiled, and threw out her hand. A strong blast of wind knocked me over, and I hit the ground hard. She kept throwing her hands up as she stalked past, and I could hear shouting. Rolling over, I saw that she was throwing people every which way as she went.
I struggled to my feet as she broke into a run. She reached Maeve first, and lifted the Unseelie Queen high into the air. Call me slow, but that was when I realized the woman was like me. She was a psychic.
Maeve screamed as her armor began crunching. The woman was using telekinesis to slowly crush the Queen. Arrows flew, but she waved her other hand. The arrows burst into flame, burning to ash before reaching her.
She was laughing.
Blood trickled from Maeve’s nose and mouth.
I took a deep breath, and opened the room in my mental maze where I’d stored my newest ability: Electrokinesis.
The hum of electricity filled my mind. I pointed at the woman to direct it, and blue lightning shot out in a torrent. It struck the woman, lifting her to her toes and arching her back.
Maeve fell to the ground. The smell of cooking meat reached me, and the woman’s dark hair caught fire. I was glad I couldn’t see her face, especially when two loud pops sounded. She jerked, her skin blackening, and then fell.
I lowered my hand, and carefully closed off that mental room again.
“Her name was Rhaetha.” Queen Maeve grimaced as her armor straps were cut. “She was the most powerful natural mage of her time.”
“Why was she here?”
“You saw her. She was insane. A threat to all she encountered.” Maeve allowed Alleryn to wipe blood from her face. “The stories I could tell of her.”
“Don’t.” I didn’t need to hear them. I’d seen enough in just those few minutes. But I did want to know one thing. “What made her go crazy?”
“Morpheus. It amused him to torment her with nightmares. She began to claim to see things even when awake.” The Queen touched her ribs. Her fingers were trembling. “She grew unable to discern between what was, and wasn’t, real. Due to that, she believed everyone was a threat, and murdered countless innocents.”
“Oh.”
Maeve waved everyone away. She studied me for a long, silent moment. “You saved my life, Miss Jones.”
And had killed another psychic to do it. One she knew was a favorite target of Morpheus, and yet she’d thrown them into the same prison.
“I
will not forget it.”
I wanted to. I wanted to go home and forget all of this had ever happened.
“You’re young, and I would warn you. Be careful whom you trust. People will want to use you, and they’ll do whatever they must to bend you to their will.”
Glancing at Rhaetha’s corpse, I nodded. “Even gods.”
“Yes, even gods.”
As we walked out from under the stone arch into Thorandryll’s sidhe, I grabbed Logan’s arm. “I know.”
“You know what?”
“I know what we should ask Thorandryll for.”
“And what is it?”
“I have land, but it won’t actually need much.”
He nodded. “Okay. What needs some?”
“A pocket realm. A territory for the clan.”
Logan blinked. “That’s...a fantastic idea.”
THIRTY
Solstice night was clear and cold. I had quite a lot to feel grateful for as I stood with Terra and Logan, between the crowd and the new, red stone arch set in the evergreens lining the front of my property. Everyone I cared about was safe. All the missing had been returned home.
And I hadn’t seen Ginger since she’d led us through the maze challenge.
We’d decided to put the arch at the opposite end from my driveway, to preserve a semblance of privacy. A broad, Kelly green ribbon stretched across the arch, which was tall and wide enough to drive a small moving van through.
Tonight was the first time I’d seen Logan in four days. He’d been busy with Thorandryll’s team of pocket realm experts, planning the clan’s new home.
Tigers weren’t the only ones present. The coven had been invited, and were attending with their familiars. Mr. Whitehaven and Tabitha had come, as had Kethyrdryll and Alleryn. Even my parents, Tonya, Betty, and my little brothers were there. And my three big dogs.
“I think Cordi should cut it.” Terra tried to hand me the over-sized scissors.
“Nope, Logan should.”
“It was your doing, and your idea,” he said.
“Don’t care. You did all the hard work to make it happen.” No way working with seven snooty elves hadn’t been hard.
Frost & Bothered (Discord Jones Book 4) Page 23
