MAKING MAGICKAL ALLIANCES: A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Novel

by Leigh Raventhorne

“If they are not found soon, they will die.”

  Rand, Sam, and I whirled at the king’s voice. He had boarded in complete silence. Arella didn’t look alarmed at his appearance, but she still sucked in a harsh breath at his words.

  “Any sedative given them will wreak havoc on their underdeveloped systems, Madame Witch. Dorn said they were being kept in cages. If those cages are iron, it will weaken them, make them sick. And if their captors do not know they must allow their bodies access to water several times a day, this, too, will be deadly to them.” His words were delivered matter-of-factly, but I could see the pain in his eyes in the light cast from the cockpit and the softer deck lighting.

  Swallowing hard, I nodded. “I understand this.” Well, not about the iron, but the rest I had figured from earlier. Quickly, I told him about everything else we’d found out so far. When I finished, his face became more grim, if that was even possible. Arella looked ready to go to war and the hand gripping her trident was white-knuckled. Trying not to sound desperate, I called out, “Jeremy? Where are we at with that location?”

  He poked his head out of the doorway. “Jeremy t’inks we gots it, Ms. Roxanne. Dat signal stop a few miles off de coast o’ Lake Borgne. Dats where we heads.”

  I wasn’t very familiar with any of the lakes in the area except for Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain—and that was only from driving past them on the highway and Jeremy’s place. I had no idea how far away it was or how long it would take us to get there by boat.

  “That lagoon leads to the gulf. There are many treacherous areas, as well as small islands further out. We are familiar with all of it and we will keep pace with you. We will warn you of any areas to avoid.”

  Before I had time to respond, both he and Arella were already over the side of the boat, their bodies gracefully arching into the water.

  “Well, let’s go find those children,” I said as the engine purred to life again.

  Chapter 13

  Launching the rescue team

  & naming the fae Object

  It took nearly half an hour traveling at the top speed allowed on the lake to get to the canal leading to Lake Borgne, and it would probably take us close to an hour to get through the canal and make it to the spot where the signal had left off. Though I was tempted to stay up on the deck to watch the well-lit homes we passed, Sam, Rand, and I joined the others below deck to explain what we might be dealing with.

  “Danai, do you think that you and Tess will be able to help the children in case they’re too sick from the sedatives or the iron?”

  In answer, Danai pulled out the large medical bag she’d brought with her. Chewing her lip, she glanced at Rasta. “Your highness,” she said, addressing her as the newly appointed queen she was. “I am not familiar with fae nervous systems. Would you mind looking over the ingredients I brought and tell me if any are known to be harmful to faekind? I’m not sure if anything I have will help with iron poisoning.”

  Rasta flew over and she, Tess, and Danai started going through Danai’s healing supplies.

  Turning to the five witches watching my every move, I said, “We don’t know what we’ll be walking into out there. These people could be armed with weapons, magick, or both. Getting these children back unharmed is our priority, but I don’t want any of you putting yourselves directly in the line of fire. Leave that to . . .” I looked around the room. “Well, to me, I guess.”

  Pixies and witches alike began protesting. Loudly.

  Rasta looked up from the other end of the table, frowned, then whistled. Everyone quieted instantly.

  “Thanks. I’m just saying that if they have guns or worse, I should be able to shield us.”

  Rayna raised her hand. This wasn’t exactly grade school, but I nodded to her anyway. Anything would be better than everyone trying to talk over each other at once.

  “Should we test these, while we have a chance?” She picked up the crystal amulet hanging from her neck. They all looked at me expectantly.

  “Why not?” It would be a good time to see if the idea of the group shielding Sam would work, too. “Let’s go back up on the deck. Would any of you pixies like to join us? We’ll need someone to test the shield strength.” They all took to the air and raced past us to the deck. Tess looked torn until Danai waved her away.

  As we headed up, Rand leaned close, keeping his voice low. “Are you sure this is a good idea? The canal is narrow enough in areas that people might see.”

  Hmm. He had a point. “We’ll risk it. I’ll try to be careful.” I hadn’t tried any spells involving glamours since Sam and Tess had first arrived. I’d managed a minor mani-pedi glamour and that was it. Since then, it seemed like everything had been nearly non-stop and Zara and I hadn’t gone back to that part of my training. Could I manage it now? More to the point, could I glamour a boat this size while it was moving? I had a much better handle on my magick and I was a lot stronger since those days, but still . . . I glanced down at my Power ring. Glamours didn’t take much magick from what I remembered reading, so there were no worries there. I felt a distinct feeling of amusement coming from somewhere—I was pretty sure it was my bracelet.

  On the deck, I studied the scenery on either side. While it was dark, there were several large homes lit up along the banks of the canal. Most were set back a decent way from the banks, since this area tended to be so swampy. I was surprised that a boat this size could navigate some areas, but Cappy didn’t seem to be having any problems. As everyone stood waiting—for me—I thought about what I would have to do.

  “Cappy?” I called out, just loud enough to be heard over the engine.

  “Aye, lass?” He handed the wheel to Jeremy and stepped out of the cockpit.

  “Can we dim these lights at all?”

  Scratching his head, he thought about it. “We have ta have certain lights on ta be legal at night, but we could dim some of the deck lighting.”

  That would have to do. We were nearly out of the canal anyway. Once we got to Lake Borgne, we could pick up speed, especially with the water fae guiding us around any tricky areas. Once the lights were dimmed, I pictured everyone on the deck sitting on the bench style seats around the deck, laughing and talking. Well, everyone human-sized, that is. I closed my eyes and reached for my magick, weaving and painting the picture I held in my mind around the outside of the boat. Then I tied it down, picturing the way the boat had been tied to the dock. If it worked, anyone who happened to look our way would only see nine women and one man sitting around and talking quietly during a leisurely boat ride. I left Jeremy and Cappy in the cockpit, as that wouldn’t be viewed as anything out of the ordinary. When I opened my eyes, I could see the magick surrounding the boat. And, more importantly, moving with it.

  Tess straightened and looked around. “Did you just do what I think you did?” Ruthann wrinkled her nose in confusion and looked around, squinting. Rayna and the others followed suit, more or less.

  “If I did it right, I think so. Nobody outside the boat should be able to see what we’re about to do.”

  Sam and Rand both looked downright impressed. Rand looked around at the edge of the spell. Could he see it?

  He should be able to, yes. My back straightened as the soft voice, barely louder than a whisper, spoke into my mind.

  So many questions surged to the forefront. Did you help me with the glamour around the boat?

  No. You did not need my help.

  How is it that—

  “So where do you want us, Rox?” I wasn’t sure if Tess’s interruption was a relief or not.

  Pulling my attention back to the task at hand, I had four of the women stand on one side and three on the other. Rand stood by my side, watching.

  “We’ll try this individually first. Go ahead and invoke the crystals to raise your shields.”

  Tess reached for her pendant, but stopped when she saw that Sam was the only other one who had. The rest of the women shifted uncomfortably.

  Frowning, I asked,
“What?”

  It was Rayna who answered. “You didn’t give us the spell.”

  I opened my mouth, then snapped it shut again. I’d forgotten about that, since I didn’t need the words of a spell to focus my magick. Did they actually need them, or was it just so ingrained in their minds it had never occurred to them to do it any other way? Scrambling, I remembered the sing-songy book of simple spells from my aunt’s workshop. Would any rhyming words work? Guess we’d find out. Crap, what rhymed with shield?

  “Oops. Sorry. Lucky for you, it’s short and easy.” In that sing-song cadence Zara had once made me spend an afternoon attempting, I said, “Shield, shield, crystal magick I wield, let nothing pass through, unless I yield. When you use it as a group, just substitute we for I.”

  Nodding, they whispered the words under their breath and I could feel them pulling on the magick of the crystal pendants. Sam looked a little unsure of herself, but I saw her reach for the pendant again and mouth the words with the others.

  The magick practically leapt out from the five witches from the firm, forming solid looking shields around each of them. Tess was pulling on the magick from her crystal, but what formed in front of her looked weak. Sam stood there holding her pendant and chewing her lip. There wasn’t so much as a shimmer around her.

  Do you want that one to be able to use magick?

  What? Crap. If this bracelet was going to be this chatty all the time, maybe I really did need to name it. The voice was feminine, at least in my mind.

  Aware that everyone was staring at me, I put a finger up. “Give me a sec. Um, practice raising and lowering the shields a couple of times, then try it with the person next to you.”

  Before I did this, I needed Zara. Could I reach her from all the way out here? Zara?

  I’ve told you, distance is not an issue. To answer your question, yes, you need to name it.

  You aren’t upset?

  No. It is powerful enough to keep you alive. That is what matters.

  Reassured, I started going through names in my head, and came up with nothing. What did one name a fae Object? I tried to remember books I’d read growing up. Nancy, as in Nancy Drew? No, that didn’t sound right. Judging by the distinct lack of approval coming from the bracelet, that wasn’t it. I’d read tons of books about horses when I was a teenager, trying to talk my parents into letting me take riding lessons. A horse’s name didn’t sound right, though. Piers Anthony? There were a lot of interesting names in his books. Wasn’t there a horse named Blue in there? Or was that the name of one of the books? The Blue Adept, that was it. I looked down at my wrist. Sapphires were blue, maybe that would work. Kind of like Old Yeller or something. If it was possible to feel a frown, that’s what was coming from the bracelet now. Okay, not Blue. Wracking my brain, I remembered a series I’d read well into the eighties. I’d loved all the Trixie Belden books. What about Trixie? I felt a spark of interest.

  Does Trixie work for you?

  Yes, I believe it will . . .

  The voice sounded thoughtful, but stronger. I hoped I had done the right thing.

  You have. I like the name. If I am stronger, then so will you be. Now, about the one without any magick. Do you wish her to be able to use magick?

  I didn’t know how to answer that. And was it really my decision to make? I motioned Sam over. “I don’t know exactly how this would work, or even if it’s something you would want, but . . . how would you feel about having your own magick?” I kept my voice low enough that the others wouldn’t overhear. Rand had stepped over toward the cockpit to give us a bit of privacy and the pixies were sitting along the roofline of the cockpit, their wings held tight to their backs in the wind. I looked ahead and noticed we were out of the canal and we’d picked up speed. We were hopefully only fifteen or twenty minutes tops from Harris’s location now.

  She gave me a curious look. “Is that even possible?”

  “Maybe. I think so. Trixie here,” I covered the bracelet with my hand, “just offered.”

  “Trixie? You gave your bracelet a stripper name?” She gave my wrist a dubious look.

  “Trixie as in Trixie Belden. Didn’t you ever read those books as a kid?”

  “Hmm. Actually, I think I did. Wasn’t Trixie’s best friend’s name Honey?”

  “Yes. So?”

  “So, I thought it was a cool name.”

  “I meant so, as in do you want to be able to use magick?”

  “Would it be temporary or permanent? And would there be any strings attached? Any changes or restrictions I’d need to be aware of?”

  I laughed. She’d asked all the questions I should have. Well, Trix?

  It can be either temporary or permanent, the choice is hers. No strings, no restrictions. The only physical changes would be those needed to allow her to channel magick and those would be internal only.

  I repeated this to Sam.

  “Let’s make it temporary for now. Maybe just for tonight and tomorrow. At least I’d be helpful that way, instead of needing to be protected. What do I need to do? Will it hurt?” The look she leveled at my wrist wasn’t exactly full of confidence. She was probably remembering what had happened to Rand.

  There may be some minor discomfort, but I believe I can make it painless for her. When you are both ready, simply reach out and touch her.

  I relayed this and gave her the chance to back out. “It—she believes? As in, she’s not really sure?”

  Tell her I am ninety-five percent sure. I do not know what her tolerances are, or I could estimate more accurately.

  I blinked in surprise, but passed the information on.

  “Fine.” Sam steeled herself, closing her eyes tightly, and holding out her hand. “Do it.”

  Crap, now I was worried, too. Maybe this was too much. We should be able to protect her just fine.

  She wants this, that much I can tell. The yearnings of mortals are visible in their auras. You will need to decide now. We do not have much time before we reach the bird-man’s destination.

  Bird-man? I almost snorted when I realized she meant Jeremy. Taking a deep breath and hoping I wouldn’t regret this, I grasped Sam’s hand.

  Trixie began glowing, becoming brighter than I’d seen since Rand’s transformation. Sam gasped and I would have dropped her hand, but she gripped it so tightly, I began to worry about my circulation. The glow enveloped Sam’s arm and moved up and over the rest of her. The soft chanting around us had stopped as everyone stared at us. There was a sudden flare of blue light and then Trixie dimmed to a soft glow again.

  It is done. She should have enough magick to fuel the amulet she wears. It is temporary, as she requested, but how long it will last I cannot say, as it will depend on how quickly she expends what I have given her.

  I extricated my hand as gently as possible and waited for Sam to say something. When I met her eyes, my mouth went dry. They were glowing a soft blue. She smiled and looked around us.

  Before I could ask if she was okay, she said, “I can see your magick, Roxie. I can see it in you and all around us. It’s . . . beautiful.” She took a couple steps away, reached up and grasped the crystal necklace. A shield shimmering with a faint blue light appeared in front of her and her smile spread to an ecstatic grin. “This is beyond cool.” She dropped the shield. “I don’t want to waste the magick.”

  I tried not to gape. She was given a temporary magickal bus pass and she could call magick up and drop it that easily? Supposedly, I had a buttload of magick and it had taken me months and a pixie-and-blood-magick-infused sapphire bracelet to be able to tap into it without major effort.

  Did you help her with that, Trixie?

  No. I only shared some of my own magick with her. The rest is all her.

  Wait, you gave her your own magick? What does that do to you? Are you okay?

  She brightened slightly and I could feel she was pleased with my concern. I have more than enough magick, even after giving you your knight and the small amount I shared tonig
ht, for you to call on me if needed.

  My knight? You mean Rand?

  Before she could answer me, Jeremy called out. “Dat signal gettin’ stronger. We find dem childrens soon.”

  “How long?” Rand called back up to him.

  “Maybe ten minutes.”

  Crap. We hadn’t tested the shields yet, because my attention had gone totally sideways. “Pixies, are you ready?” They dove off the roof, drawing their swords as their wings caught the air. “Shields up, ladies.” I pointed at the hovering pixies. “If any of you lose yourselves and draw blood, I’ll put you in timeout for the rest of the night. No rescue, no battle, are we clear?” The horror on their faces was enough to assure me they knew I was serious. “This is just a light test to see what those crystals can withstand.”

  Tess waved at me. “Can I get some of whatever that was that Sam got? I don’t think my shield is going to hold up.”

  We didn’t have time. “Selma, grab Tess’s hand and use the tandem version of the spell.” Selma held the potted plant in one arm. I gave her a moment to pull the shield over herself and Tess. “Pixies, go get ‘em.”

  With battle cries that sounded far too much like they meant them, the pixies surged forward, swords slashing at the shields. Every blow was not only stopped, but repelled, throwing the pixies back. They bounced back and went in again, only to be repelled once more.

  “Fall back, guys. That was perfect.” The pixies flew back to the cockpit roof, not as bothered by the wind created by the speed of the boat as I would have thought. The witches—and Sam—dropped their shields.

  “Well, at least we know these work,” Tess said. “I still wouldn’t mind a little . . .” She motioned at my wrist, her face hopeful.

  “Tess, you’re going to come into your own magick soon enough. But,” I looked up at the row of pixies. “Griff, would you mind if we used you to test something?”

  The buck zipped over faster than I could blink.

  “Would you sit on Tess’s shoulder while she puts up her shield, please?”

  “No problem.” He flew over and perched on her shoulder, looking like a rakish, male version of Tinkerbell.