Guilt niggled its way into her. She was the threat. She created all this panic. No one knew of the magical restraint except Ronan, Puck, and herself. If Ronan wanted her to terrorize Avalon, he achieved his goal.
“Don’t feel bad, Cassandra. Remember. You acted no differently than Mab centuries ago. You and I know they were in no fatal danger, but they don’t. Use their fear to get your portal home. Now, hold your head up and show Mab the defiance you showed in the courtyard. You are a princess and a Dracul. Dragon’s blood runs in your veins,” Ronan reminded her.
Cassy made sure her back was ramrod straight. She lifted her blood-covered chin and held her head high. Focusing on the large oak doors ahead, she refused to shift her eyes from her prize, the entrance to Mab’s throne room. She thought of the way her father walked with a confident stride and did her best to mimic it. Anyone watching would have thought she were the conquering hero returning home.
“How will we know where she is? Everyone else is gone,” Cassy wondered aloud. She maintained her eye contact with the massive doors.
“In times of trouble, Mab uses her throne room as an evacuation point. The others will be somewhere in the living world by now. It should be just the three of us. She cannot leave Avalon, unless she goes through with me,” Ronan explained.
“Why not?” Cassy asked. She had gone through the portal without David. As she understood it, David was not allowed to travel to Avalon, as his mother was a witch and not a member of the fae.
“We are bonded mates. To separate us is to risk breaking the magical bonds. Avalon protects the bond from this side, but we cannot protect the bond if one of us is in the living world. The difference in the time passage does funny things to the magic,” Ronan replied.
A frightening thought occurred to Cassy. What if David’s enchantment was because of their separation? David could have been dying, and Avalon’s magic prevented her from knowing. A shiver ran up her spine.
“Have courage, Cassandra. Go in like the nightmare you are to her. Make her want to send you home,” Ronan coached. He reached out and pushed the oak doors open.
At the far end of the room, Mab sat on her throne. One hand rested on each of the widely-spaced chair arms. Her long hair coiled in the seat next to her like a snake. She watched Cassy match up the center of the hall, and she did not flinch at what she saw.
Cassy imagined she looked like a peacock-teal-blue mass murderer. The blood itched everywhere it soaked through the fabric of her clothes, leaving them a bit cold. The sticky fluid itched as it dried on her face and hands.
Mab rose to her full height. She seemed to be daring Cassy to attack her. She reached up and lifted her crown off of her head. Holding out one hand, she levitated the crown. It floated to a table off to one side and settled down into a cushioned box.
“You will not find me as easy a target as you did my subjects,” Queen Mab spat.
She stretched out her arms and flexed her fingers upward like claws. Wind began swirling around her. She moved her arms out in front of her. A blast of wind followed her movements.
Cassy braced for the impact and squeezed her eyes tight, but nothing came. She slowly opened one eye and found Ronan standing in front of her holding up one hand. The wind deflected around him and Cassy. She regained her former composure. With Ronan as her shield, Cassy would come to no harm.
“Leave her alone, Mab,” Ronan ordered. He looked like the wind did not faze him in the slightest.
“You would take her side against me? You, who favored keeping them in Avalon centuries ago, would defend this creature after what she has done? I can’t believe I ever loved you enough to bond with you,” Queen Mab said with venom. She stopped the wind but did not lower her arms.
“As I recall, you threw away the born vampire children out of fear of this very thing. I can’t believe you would bring them back to Avalon for any reason. You could have just as easily brought home all our wayward children and the half-bloods. Why did it need to be them? Why now after all these years?” Ronan did not allow her anger to break down his resolve. His tone was even and rational. He might as well have asked a child a simple question about the color of the sky or a favorite item.
“We have to survive the ages. Too many died during the early years of The Fall. Those numbers need replacing. Using humans takes too long. Born vampires started as elves tainted by dragon’s blood. The magic is already there, if only we can harness it,” she said.
“And you thought working with a rebellious made vampire was the way to achieve your goal?” A hint of danger colored his words.
“She wanted the born vampires out of the living world. I needed them here. The trade was equitable,” the queen replied. She shifted nervously from one foot to the other.
“Josephine Cornivus has never been more than a bloodlusting killer. She helped Gregory Dubrovsky destroy an entire clan of born vampires. She was the brain trust behind Durovsky’s plan that brought about The Fall. Now, you play into her hands to eliminate the born vampires who hold her in check,” Ronan said. The hint of danger grew into red-faced anger.
“What do I care of her plans? Once the elves are recalled and the portals closed, we will once again be a world unto ourselves,” Mab retorted. Her shoulders squared and spine stiffened.
“A person of elf and witch parentage combined with a vampire bite of any kind results in a vampire with born characteristics. David was a rare creature but not unique. Our youngest son fell in love with a witch from Atlanta, did he not?” Ronan left the question hanging in the air.
Mab’s amethyst eyes widened. “Gavin and Leah!”
Chapter 17
Cassy’s shock caused her threat to falter. Her fangs retracted painfully fast, and a hand flew involuntarily to her mouth. She gasped and moved one hand to her still-burning throat, the other to her chest.
“The Council of Crones’ missing Mother is Leah!” Cassy blurted out the exclamation without thought. Her stomach gave a terrible heave, and she was nearly sick. Cassy knew Josephine’s plan needed all born vampires out of the way to succeed. Anyone or anything with the misfortune of getting in the way was at risk.
Queen Mab lowered her arms. “Mother, did you say?” A look of panic crossed her face. Her eyes said she did not know of Leah’s witch title. Or perhaps the title had changed without Mab’s knowledge.
Ronan scowled at Mab. Dark storms rumbled behind his eyes. The weather turned dark and dangerous looking. It matched his shifting mood.
Mab held her hands over her head as if offering something to the ceiling. An orb formed between them. She brought the orb down to waist level and let it go.
The orb floated in midair and shimmered with an undulating, pearlized, white mist. When she and Ronan touched the surface together, images flickered to life. Most were random, but one reoccurred more often that the others.
A young man similar in height, build, and coloring to Ronan lay on his side. His long, blood-matted hair clung to his face. Streaks of dried blood ran down his neck. No wounds or bruises showed, but it was possible he had had time to heal. He tried to lift his head to look up, as if he knew someone watched.
“Help…us,” he whispered weakly and drew in a ragged breath. He collapsed his head back onto the filthy dirt floor.
The orb’s light gave out, and the entire structure dissolved. The queen stared at the place where the images had been in disbelief.
Ronan stood glaring at Mab. “This is what meddling in the affairs of others has wrought. When we make our choices, we have to live with the consequences. You exiled the born vampires ages ago rather than integrating them into our society in a controlled way. They evolved into their own society. Now your meddling is bringing about its collapse. With its downfall comes chaos and destruction. It is no longer safe for elves to be in the living world. Vlad will no longer be able to protect us, as he has in the past.”
Queen Mab’s chin quivered. Her bright-amethyst eyes darkened to a deep purple, and tears silently rolle
d down the fine features of her face. Her beauty made the sadness seem elegant.
Cassy wanted to cry with her but forced back the tears. The warm hum sank as if it knew sadness.
“Your rejection of Gavin’s love for a witch has brought him to harm by the very instrument you attempted to use for personal gain. Josephine and her accomplices shall pay for her insult to our son and his wife,” Ronan promised.
“What would you have me do?” the queen managed to whisper. Her shoulders slumped with defeat. Her pride drained away. Underneath all the pomp and guff was a flesh-and-blood woman, a bonded wife, and a mother.
“Recall the fae of Avalon. Open the portals. Make it clear. Those who stay in the living world do so without knowing when the portals will be reopened,” he replied.
Mab nodded her head. She flung her arms out by her sides. Streams of light flowed from her fingertips, collecting at points along the long room’s walls.
The view out of the windows disappeared. In the place of the outside scenery, portals took their place. The rolling mist floating above the lake became smells and sounds from different places all over the world.
Ronan held his hands above his head as Mab had. The orb he produced grew to be five times larger than the one she made. When he touched the shimmering surface, it broke up into thousands of tiny lights and flew through the windows.
Moments later, elves flooded through the open portals. Some looked genuinely frightened. Other seemed confused. A few grumbled at the lack of notice. No one questioned the recall or asked when they might return. Without stopping, the returning elves walked out of the throne room en masse.
As the flood stemmed to a trickle, Ronan lifted one hand to the ceiling. Lightning shot out of his palm. Spectral horses and hounds took form around him. Ghostly soldiers from a variety of ages filled in the spaces between the horses and hounds called for war. The phantasms took to their mounts and stilled, waiting for orders. Five horses remained without apparition riders.
Puck scampered forward carrying a large chest. He sat it at Ronan’s feet, bowed to his master, and skipped merrily back the way he came. As he passed Cassy, he brushed her hand with his and giggled. The door slammed noisily behind him.
Ronan open the chest. From it, he pulled out a quiver of arrows and a bow. He handed them to Mab, who slung them over her head and one shoulder in a much-practiced motion. Next, he drew out a scabbard and sword with a ruby in the hilt. These he belted around himself and reached into the chest for a bandolier holding several silver knives. It was a perfect fit for his chest.
Two phantom horses approached Ronan and Mab. Cassy saw the elves moving to mount the steeds through the horses’ transparent bodies. She half expected them the fall as they took to the saddles, but the horses seemed solid under their riders.
A third horse nuzzled Cassy’s shoulder from behind, startling her. The cool breath blew down the back of her neck. Her fangs shot out to their full extension. She spun on the spot to face the creature.
“Fear not, Cassandra,” Ronan said firmly. “He is yours to ride.”
“Mine? Ride where?” Cassy felt confusion mixing in with the curiosity and awe of the events unfolding before her.
Queen Mab spoke. “I will not have so destructive a creature as you in my realm. You are far too dangerous, and I obviously cannot trust the magic of Avalon to keep your thirst under control. You will travel with us to the living world.”
Cassy reached out and touched the horse. Its skin was like ice but firm under her hand. She left a bloody print on its flesh when she let her hand drop. If it meant getting back home and in the arms of her husband, Cassy would have ridden one of Mab’s dragons.
“If you please, you may join us on our hunt. Josephine gave you as much just cause as she did us,” Ronan offered. He held out a hand to the chest. A steel sword and several wooden stakes on a belt lifted themselves and floated to Cassy.
She took them and mounted her horse. Ghostly muscles rippled under her thighs as he moved to join the others. The riderless horses stamped impatiently.
“Who are the other two for?” Cassy wondered aloud.
“The offense was great. Not every party is here in Avalon, but here the wild hunt must start,” Ronan replied.
“My Queen, if you will do the honors,” Ronan prompted Mab.
Mab raised her arms and cried out a strange collection of sounds. The wall facing the lake dissolved. She kicked her horse into motion and rode headlong for the water’s edge. Ronan, the spectral soldiers, and the two extra horses followed.
Cassy kicked her horse into a full run to catch up. She made it in time see Mab’s horse gallop onto the surface of the mist. Everyone else’s horse ran across the swirling, white vapor. Cassy closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and ventured out along the cloudlike surface.
It held. She might as well have been riding on solid ground. The mist curled up around her, enveloping both her and the horse in a dense fog. She trained her keen hearing on the thundering of the other hooves to know where she needed to go.
In front of her she heard Mab use another guttural spell. Cassy saw a streak of lightning shoot out ahead of the group. It punched a hole in the air.
Around the hole a barren-looking, dark, rocky outcrop of land stretched in either direction. Where the hole interrupted the landscape, a large full moon rising over a familiar tree line came into view. The energy-charged edges widened as the group approached, allowing them all to ride through together into a meadow.
Behind them was the warmth and golden-pink sky of Avalon. In front was the midnight-black sky and brisk air of the North Carolina mountains. The scent of dried leaves and fresh-mown hay hit her. Cassy came home to the smell of fall. She did not give the out of place scents a moment’s thought. Getting back to David was her only concern.
Witches sounded the alarm and threw up protective barriers. The shields were useless against the horses. The group rode up the side path toward the main house.
The gatekeeper appeared on the top step by the front door. She held up one hand. Instead of casting a spell, she laid her hand over her heart and bowed her head.
Ronan and Mab stopped the group at the foot of the steps. They did not bother to dismount. Each one made the same gesture as the gatekeeper and stilled their restless horses. The spectral soldiers followed the pair’s lead.
“Greetings, King Oberon and Queen Titania, Rulers of the Seelie Court. Lady Helena and Lady Ursula request the honor of your presence in the foyer but ask that the Wild Hunt pause and remain outside,” the gatekeeper said diplomatically.
“Greetings, Maiden, it has been a long time since we saw you last. We will honor your request,” Ronan replied.
The gatekeeper smiled serenely and nodded. The doors behind her opened wide. She faded into nothingness.
Cassy could hardly contain herself. She wanted to see David. She dismounted in a hurry and did not bother removing the sword and stakes as she ran into the house ahead of Ronan and Mab.
Zipping past the witches without as much as a hello, Cassy streaked up the spiral staircase, down the hall, and into her bedroom. It was empty. David was not there.
“No,” Cassy moaned. She shook her head. The vision showed the witches placing him in an enchanted sleep. Her father had been here as well. Now, no one was here.
The furniture sat covered in large white sheets. No clothes hung inside the closet. The bathroom door was left ajar. All the trappings of daily life were gone. Even the fireplace was empty. No fire burst into life as she entered the room.
She walked over to the tall dressing mirror and yanked off the sheet. The woman reflected back looked frightening and miserable all at the same time. Her chocolate-brown hair tangled into a disheveled mess. The front of her peacock-teal tunic and one of her pants legs were soaked in blood. Dark-red, crusty streaks adorned her pale-white chin and throat. Her fangs showed below her upper lip. The silver-gray eyes watered with pink-tinged tears.
She blinked the tear
s out onto her cheek and closed her eyes to listen to the beating of her heart. Lub-Dub. Lub-Dub. She knew, wherever he was, his heart beat in perfect time with hers.
“Cassy?”
Cassy turned with a snarl to face whoever had been unfortunate enough to intrude. She took an offensive stance and crouched, preparing to spring. Her pain at not finding David fueled her instant rage.
“Whoa! Whoa! It’s me!” Mills said, backing away with his hands up in front of him.
Cassy stood up straight and covered her mouth. Dropping to her knees, she wept. A jumble of emotions took their toll. She was not sure whether to be happy to see Mills, angry at him for David not being in their room, or sad to see him in the doorway alone.
He crossed the room and knelt down beside her. He laid one hand on her shoulder and wrapped his other arm around her, gripping her upper arm. He pulled her in for a side hug and kissed the top of her head.
“Shhh, it’s okay,” he whispered. “It’s okay. Everything will be all right. You’re home now.” He rubbed her upper arm hard and gave her another side-hug squeeze.
“Where…where is David?” Cassy snubbed through the tears.
“He’s here with the others. They were moved downstairs to a windowless part of the house for better protection,” Mills said.
A fire lit in the center of her chest. David was safe and sound and here. Right here. Cassy’s tears stopped flowing immediately. She grabbed two fistfuls of Mills’ shirt and pulled him to face her.
“You have to show me right now! I need to see him now!” She nearly shouted her demand.
“Okay! Okay! Just let go! This is my best work shirt,” he said, smoothing out the wrinkles she left behind.
He led her to the servants’ staircase and down to the kitchens. They passed by pots and pans cleaning themselves, food chopping and peeling on its own, and steaming kettles pouring hot water into larger pitchers for the evening tea. A centurion-style guard stood in front of a heavy oak door with a long spear in her hand and short sword by her side. She nodded to Mills and stepped aside.
Scion's Avalon [House of Dracul 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 14
