The Witch's Dream - A Paranormal Romance (The Order of the Black Swan, BOOK TWO)

by Victoria Danann

  Just what he was hoping to hear. He moved faster than she could track, grabbed her up in his arms and swung her around like she was a featherweight child. She didn't want to enjoy basking in a father's adoration, but it's hard to be indifferent to someone who behaves like you're the best thing since breath moved upon the waters.

  A couple of minutes after he set her down, she recovered her footing and her equilibrium. When her brain began working again, she said, "But you didn't answer the question."

  "Hmmm?"

  "How do you know which ones you've been to and which ones you want to go to?"

  "Oh. Well, that's where your 'gift' for tracking comes in. Once you've been to a given world you can find your way back just by thinking about it. After you arrive, you can track the passes by instinct. Every world has them. At least all those I've visited or heard about. Use a pass to step into the aisle, form an image of the world you want, and presto, changeo, abracadabra, calamazam, there you are."

  Litha stared at him for a minute while she processed that.

  "How about calamari on Santorini?" he asked.

  "Mexican fusion and margaritas at Cabo San Lucas."

  "Done."

  The sun had shifted in the sky since they were seated. Litha finished her margarita and put on her sunglasses. "Back to what you were saying about the worlds I haven't been to..."

  "It's time to talk about the less hospitable worlds." He looked around. "Right after lunch."

  "I just had lunch." Litha found that she enjoyed teasing him.

  "Funny. I meant me and you know it. I'll meet you back here in an hour."

  Litha set her shopping bag down on a terrace table with a grand view of a Pacific sunset and ordered a second margarita. After a few minutes, a demon almost too beautiful to look at slid up next to her.

  "This seat taken?"

  "Yes it is. I'm meeting my father."

  "If you favor him, he must be very good lookin'." Deliverance sat down across from her looking “full” and satisfied. "Time to talk self-defense.

  "You come with some very fine tools at your disposal. Few creatures can withstand fire. Other fire demons, dragons, proto-salamanders, that's about it. Even if you were attacked by a horde of whatever, you could just call more fire.

  "Your body can be pierced by anything from an arrow to a nuclear missile. The first you would survive. The second you would not. Sometimes it’s best to run.

  "The sylphs can protect themselves with their breath. In fact the older ones could blow you off your feet. They also whip up storms when they’re aggravated. Or bored. On your world it gives meteorologists fits. ‘Where the fuck did that come from? I predicted blue sky all day.’” He laughed like it was a joke she could share. “The undines can call water the same way you call fire and, although a dump of water on your head won't usually hurt you, it isn't pleasant either. The purview of the trolls is mutable. They’re pretty much at the mercy of the other elementals which is probably why they’re so disagreeable. You could threaten to scorch the earth, but they’d just laugh at you and tell you to go ahead. Never ask one for help. They’re likely to do the opposite of what you need.

  "You have no natural enemies, but there are those who would destroy anything they don't understand without asking questions first. I can't teach you how to gather fire and navigate the passes without also giving you skills to defend yourself."

  Deliverance insisted that the demon version of martial arts be added to Litha's education along with familiarization with other creatures and worlds she might accidentally encounter if she traveled the passes without him and thus were spent their mornings thereafter. They continued to spend afternoons in the same way as before with Deliverance acting as multi-dimensional tour guide while Litha explored wonders other humans would never see or even know about.

  On one such occasion they visited a dimension where she could leap hundreds of feet into the air and land without harm exerting just the slightest pressure necessary for a small jump in the Loti Dimension. He laughed while she squealed like she was on an extreme roller coaster.

  Litha loved to swim. Perhaps that was strange for a girl who was half sexy fire demon, but Deliverance took her to enchanted worlds for her laps work out. She swam in flower filled lagoons with Undine Nymphs in a water dimension and put their beauty to shame by comparison. She swam in oceans that were bathtub clear and could be breathed in and out by humans. She swam in lava pools that sprouted flame like fountains on his home world of Ovelgoth Alla.

  They had walked on fire together. She had played hide and go seek with baby dragons while Deliverance petted their mother into a loud, rumbling purr that made the earth beneath vibrate with her pleasure. The dragon was terrifying and beautiful at the same time. She had amber eyes and shiny red scales with hints of green underneath. When they first came upon her den, she brought her great head up and looked down at them with eyes narrowed in warning while she huffed warm breath, growled low in her throat and spread her great wings. Litha was ready to run, but the demon told her to be still. He said something in a language Litha didn’t understand and sent a stream of fire out from his hand like a twirling ribbon in the air. The dragon sniffed at it, then relaxed and shook her head like a horse. Now she stood docile, rubbing her graceful neck against the demon’s torso while he talked to her in low, soothing tones, but she kept an eye on what Litha was doing with the babies the whole time.

  Of course it wouldn’t have been possible for Litha to play with hatchlings if she was susceptible to fire since they wouldn't develop control for centuries.

  "In terms of Loti Dimension, we are very old creatures, Litha. We are mentioned prominently in your most ancient records."

  She considered that for a minute then her eyes flew open wide and she whispered her question as if she’d be struck down for blasphemy if she was wrong. "The Lords of the Flame?"

  "Yes." He smiled proudly. "You are descended from an ancient and proud race. Not so long ago, Terrans were fascinated by us and afraid of us. They knew of our existence, but didn’t know what to make of the fact that we ignored them while others were so busy manipulating them and vying for their worship."

  After a tour of the strange volcanic beauty of Ovelgoth Alla, Litha met her grandmother, who was an angel in the sense most people think of one.

  If she had thought it strange to have a father who looked thirty, it was even stranger to have a grandmother who looked twenty-five. Ariel was joy personified to have her son returned to her as his typically happy self. She alternately hugged him and cried, then wept more when she realized he'd brought her a granddaughter.

  Ariel lived in what could only be described as a cave. It had some comfortable furnishings, but was blackened from smoke like most things on Ovelgoth Alla. She supposed from constant exposure to both fire and smoke. It was odd that Ariel wore white that couldn't be brighter, cleaner, or more pristine. Litha spent an afternoon listening to her grandmother recite the oral history of her race and promised to return for a visit.

  Deliverance had never in his long life felt so satisfied as he did observing his mother's ecstatic reaction to Litha. Of course Ariel would embrace her. She was the essence of goodness. He, on the other hand, was a hard sell. But, Litha had risen to every challenge and mastered every task with astounding acumen almost as if she had the natural talents and abilities of a full-blooded demon. In his eyes she was perfection.

  They were saying their goodbyes when they saw Ariel's attention diverted to something behind them. They turned to see three of Deliverance's distant cousins on his father's side. The demon's first thought was that such a visit could never be a good thing.

  The cousins bore no resemblance to Deliverance other than his coloring. They were much rougher in appearance with facial hair that Litha would have called unkempt. They wore clothes in shades of black, brown, and blood red that looked like a combination of leather and large animal scales. Maybe they were clean, but somehow those leathers looked like they could sta
nd up by themselves. Thankfully, she wasn't close enough to tell whether they smelled okay and she hoped she never would be. She would bet it was a look that would be all the rage on some world, somewhere, sometime, but her overall impression of her relatives was that she would be declining invitations to family reunions.

  "If it isn't the incubus. How about a chorus of 'What The World Needs Now Is Love, Sweet Love'?"

  "Sure. Would you care to accompany me, Rysagoth?"

  He laughed. "You haven't been seen here, in your own home world, for a time."

  "How would you know?"

  "Smoke urchins. Been busy?"

  "If it's any of your business, yes, I have. Now, if you'll excuse us, we’re just leaving."

  "Hold! What's this you brought with you?"

  Deliverance didn't like the way his fifth cousin was looking at Litha. "This is my guest."

  Rysagoth turned to Litha. "Is this true, demoness? You're a guest of his?"

  Litha wasn't sure whether she should answer, but taking her cue from her father's somewhat hostile response, she gave the interviewer a level look allowing the demon to respond for her.

  "She is not your concern. If you have business, state it now. To me and me only. If not, get out of the way."

  Rysagoth eyes slid back to Deliverance and narrowed. "Have you served the blood debt on your father's murderer?"

  He hesitated. "Yes. In my way. I chose a suitable alternative, one that serves me at the same time, in keeping with the spirit of Abraxas custom. I kidnapped his mate."

  All traces of amusement were erased from Rysagoth’s face. It was not a good look for him. "You kidnapped the killer's mate and call that service of a blood debt?"

  "Yes."

  "Who are you deceiving? You didn't think Obizoth's kin would let that pass."

  "It's not up to you or these..." He nodded toward the two sidekicks. "...others. When it's your father you can handle it as you see fit, Rysagoth, and I swear to you now I will not interfere with your judgment on the matter."

  "If it was my father, I would handle it like Abraxas."

  "Well, I'm sure you'll get your chance any day now because, like you, your father likes to push and one of these days, he's going to shove the wrong Akacus the wrong way."

  "Are you insulting my father, Deliverance?"

  Deliverance laughed. "You take offense that I accuse you of pointless aggression? Why might that seem insincere?"

  Litha looked at her father with a burgeoning respect.

  Rysagoth's mouth tightened. "This is the killer's mate?" He nodded toward Litha.

  Deliverance looked at her like he was checking to see. "No."

  Rysagoth took a step toward Litha. "I'll repeat my question and be cordial about it, but only one more time. Who are you?"

  "I'm the daughter of this demon, granddaughter of that one." She nodded toward her grandmother. "And presumably also granddaughter of Obizoth whose death seems to be of great concern to you. I wonder if your interest in him was so keen when he was alive."

  The three trespassers looked at each other. Incubus demons didn't often have daughters. It was practically unheard of.

  Rysagoth turned his attention toward Ariel. "Consort of Obizoth, does she speak the truth?"

  Ariel seemed bright and cheerful in a way that was completely out of place with the scenario playing out before her. "Why, yes, Rysagoth. Would you like some tea?"

  Rysagoth ignored her. "What we would like is satisfaction. The female will pay the blood debt."

  Litha turned her back on the unwanted company and spoke to Deliverance in a low voice. "That doesn't even make sense. Are they playing with the full deck?"

  "Full deck?"

  "You know. Are they mentally deficient."

  "No. At least I don't think so."

  "Okay, well, regardless. Are you ready to get out of here?"

  "Yes, love. I'm… formulating a plan."

  "Hmmm. What about you, grandmother? Do you want to stay here or go with us?"

  Ariel looked completely disoriented by the question. "Go? I stay here, of course. I'm serving tea." She brightened suddenly. “Would you like some?”

  Litha cocked her head as she tried to suppress an image of the Mad Hatter tea party. The monks had read the colorful, illustrated version of Alice in Wonderland to her when she was a child.

  Deliverance leaned close to his daughter and spoke in a tone only she could hear. "She doesn't leave here, Litha, but you don't need to worry about her. She won't be hurt. She's the light." Under his breath he added, "I just wish I could say the same for us."

  "What do you...?" She stopped, looked at her grandmother, and shook her head. "Okay. Later. Um, good to know though." To Deliverance she said, "Get ready. We're leaving."

  "What do you...? Litha, I don't know what you're thinking, but don't be afraid. I won't let them take you even if I have to threaten to seduce every demoness in this world."

  "I know you don't want them to, but.... Really? That would work?"

  Deliverance crossed his arms over his chest in a gesture that seemed too relaxed for the current predicament. "Well, yeah. Sure. It would be a little time consuming, but it makes a great deterrent. Demons don’t like you to fuck their females."

  "Oh? And who does?" Deliverance opened his mouth, but she interrupted before he had a chance to answer. "Rhetorical! How far is the closest pass?"

  "Over there. Three sectares."

  "Um. Could you convert that to metric? Or Anglish measurement?" Deliverance responded with a blank look. “Forget it,” Litha turned around to face the problem head on, frustration and all. "Okay boys. It's been real, but we're done here. Say goodbye. We gotta go."

  Rysagoth had one of those laughs that held no genuine humor. He elbowed his companions. "When we leave, you’ll be leaving with us, young one.”

  “You're really going to make me say that’s not happening?” They just looked at her as if she was a curiosity. “Okay. That’s not happening. Now. Get. Out. Of. The. Way.”

  “Is this a challenge, daughter of Deliverance? I am Rysagoth Ry Feverloch, Rubicon Tier of Abraxas, from the Second House of Eltii. And the blood of Creation runs in me. What have you on your side?"

  She didn't know exactly how to answer that and wondered why she was bothering. "Um. I can count to three in five languages and the Force is with me." They stared at her as if they were waiting for the rest. "Let's make this easy. First choice, you turn around and leave now. No harm. No foul." They looked at each other like this was not going as expected and it was evident they didn't know how to improvise a Plan B on the fly. "Second choice. You get put in the penalty box for awhile to think about how bad you've been."

  Deliverance looked at her as if he was seeing her demeanor for the first time. She had taken charge of the situation and was stunning. Catching a small movement out of the corner of his eye, he glanced down. She was drawing a little clockwise circle in the air with her forefinger right in front of her navel as she murmured something he couldn't quite hear. The ruffians started toward her.

  "Not leaving?" she asked. "I'll take that as Choice Number Two then."

  They continued to advance. She suddenly clapped her hands together loudly, saying, "Adstring ensphaerus." Quickly she drew three larger clockwise circles in the air then extended her arm in their direction and pointed. "Specul thither."

  The result was three demons standing in her grandmother’s “yard”, if it could be called that, looking around as if they were locked in a room without seeing a way to get out. They couldn't see anyone but each other and had no idea where they were.

  "Come on." Litha motioned to Deliverance to hurry. "Where's the pass?"

  As they ran, he said, "That was astounding. What did you do and how did you do it?"

  She spoke in little short sentences because she was practically sprinting and didn't have much air for talking. "I bound them inside a bubble lined with a reflective surface like an old-fashioned coffee can so that everywhere th
ey turn they have to face themselves. It's sort of a forced spiritual retreat for purposes of self-reflection."

  "Here." Deliverance ran through the pass. She followed him along the ride and in five minutes they were safe inside his semi-secret lair. He caught his breath quicker than she did and stood waiting patiently with a huge smile on his face.

  "All this time that I've been trying to give you tools for self-defense and worrying about what would happen if you tried to ride without me... Why didn't you tell me you have etherin level magicks?"

  "You knew I'm a witch. The only thing that's changed since I've met you is that now I have an explanation for it. It turns out that I'm an hereditary with an extensive and probably powerful legacy. If that wasn’t impressive enough for you, it so happens I'm half demon. Why wouldn't you presuppose that I have an advanced command of magicks?"

  "Why indeed?" Deliverance grabbed her up in a bear hug twirled her around and then dropped her to her feet.

  "Hey. Still trying to get my breath here."

  He grinned. "The Latin was a little cheesy."

  "Yeah? Well, everybody's a critic. Worked though. Didn't it?" She grinned back at him.

  Deliverance saw this incident as confirmation of what he had already suspected; that the potent combination of hereditary witch and demon had made his daughter more powerful than either one. The whole was very likely greater than the sum of the parts. Only time would tell the full extent of her unique abilities.

  Litha had to admit that the days had passed quickly. Occasionally she thought about Storm and wondered what he had thought and done when she vanished right out of his arms. Of course she knew he must have been surprised, but had that been actual desire she'd seen in his eyes before he accidentally pressed her into a pass? It was hard to look at Deliverance without being reminded of Storm because his black-as-midnight eyes were so very much like those of her father... the demon. She tried to avoid examining that too closely.

  An errant question about Storm’s own lineage danced across her brain, but she batted it away as fanciful. Certainly he could be her own personal incubus in the sense of being irresistible.