by Antara Mann
We stepped out of the elevator and Kagan marched down the corridor. I noticed there was less space here compared to the floor I worked on. Also, the walls were visibly thicker. Actually, there weren’t any doors around.
Kagan turned right down another corridor and then we saw two massive ogres guarding a door behind their large bodies, their tattooed biceps bulging like mountain hills. As we got closer, I noticed the tattoos changed their color and moved on their skin as if they were alive.
Brendan had once told me about the Council’s special tattoos. Some of the top-tier investigators had them as well. They were very effective protective charms against hostile powers. The tattoos recognized the type of a supernatural’s magic even before their bearer could do it by changing their coloring. They came to life through slight movements, thus sending signals to their bearer. In case of attack, they also protected their bearer through enhanced healing powers.
“Stop. Identify yourself,” the ogre on the left bellowed. On closer look, I noticed he had a thin beard, unlike the guard on the right, who was clean-shaven.
“My name is Kagan Griffith. Tomas Meyer is expecting me.” The fae took out his ID card. The ogre glanced at it and nodded.
“Please come inside, Mr. Griffith,” the ogre said and imperceptibly smiled. He barely looked my way, but nodded curtly nonetheless.
I instantly recognized the name Kagan had dropped. Tomas Meyer had been present during the meeting in the Veil and represented the Magic Council. Strange, I noted to myself. He wasn’t the official director — that was Mr. Harrington, whose portrait hung on all the walls in this building. Meyer, though, seemed either to be his right hand or the actual man in charge of the organization. I was sure Kagan could shed light on this puzzle but I’d never been interested enough to ask him — it always seemed to slip my mind. I’d ask him later; it’s always good to know whom you are working for.
The room we entered was both elegant and simple. It was spacious, but nothing like the size of a grand hall. The walls were painted in light pink, the furniture was a stylish mix of brown and gray colors, and the walls were artfully decorated with pictures, all depicting vases with flowers or trees in the countryside. Upon our entering, a tall man facing the large window turned to us.
“Happy to see you, Kagan. Miss Shaw.” He nodded at me.
A few steps into the room, I noticed both Kai and the Morrigan sitting in two black armchairs before the large cherry-wood desk. I hardly suppressed my recoil when Kai’s potent and dangerous magic crashed into my own, making me feel as a drowning woman in the middle of a Pacific storm. Seeing his arrogant smirk, I knew he’d unleashed his magic specifically on me, on purpose. Bastard, I cursed him mentally. Why does he do it?
He is a demon, the chief of them. It’s in his nature, my inner voice replied. Besides, he hates you.
But why?
For starters, we’re after the monster he himself created. Aside from that, in his eyes, you’re too powerful and a threat. No one, least of all demons of his rank, likes goddesses like you.
Half-goddess, I corrected the voice. I connected with the thread in my center and visualized the magic surging within me become a shield against Kai’s dark powers. The sense of balance and control returned as my power shut out Kai’s magic. The bastard chuckled.
“I’m happy to see our little half-goddess can at least withstand my magic.” Dark little flames gleamed in his eyes, boding ill.
I glared at him, ready to blast him with my “little power”.
Kagan forestalled my action by putting his arm around my shoulder. “Alex, don’t take the bait — he is just taunting you,” he reasoned with me mentally.
I didn’t give a shit about anything right now. We were in this great mess because of Kai’s fucked-up demons, inferni or whatever creatures he himself had created and was supposed to be in charge of. Perhaps they had a good reason to rebel against him. A sudden heat warmed my insides and face, and I was ready to bet my eyes gleamed now with that strange reddish glow.
“Ooooh, scary! What are you going to do? Blast me with one of your little toy fiery balls?” Kai sneered.
Before I could snap back, the Morrigan intervened, “Kai, can’t you be polite this once for a change?” Her voice boomed in the air, full of power. “Alex and Kagan are looking into a few mages’ disappearances, and everything points to the fact that one of your creatures is responsible for the big mess we are in again.”
Her face remained inscrutable as she scolded him, yet dangerous flames gleamed in her eyes. The air thickened with potent, ancient magic that gave me goosebumps and chilled my skin.
The Morrigan turned to me and said in a lower tone, “Don’t listen to him, love. He is always this nasty. To everyone.”
“Especially to gods and goddesses,” Kagan whispered next to me.
I took a deep breath, relaxing a bit, and sat on a nearby chair Kagan pointed with his glance to me. He and I were facing the Morrigan and Kai. Тhе mysterious Tomas Meyer had come out from behind his cherry-wood desk and was now leaning on it. I had never faced Kai that close, but was glad I could muster the strength and withstand his presence. By the look on his face, he was a bit surprised, too, that I could tolerate his magic.
“So, can someone enlighten me, why have we gathered here?” Kai broke the momentary silence.
“Kagan called for an immediate meeting due to the new findings in the missing mages’ cases. As we all know, Aldwyn Saal, Kevin Rydell and Samuel Hendricks vanished without a trace,” Meyer said loudly and then adjusted his tie and tapped quickly on the floor with his right foot.
“Yes, yes, we know about the mages’ disappearances,” Kai cut in rudely. His eyes flared dark red, annoyance emanating from his aura.
“And do you also happen to know that the last missing mage, Samuel Hendricks, is the son of none other than Fearghus Netter, the arch blood mage?” Kagan suddenly cut in.
His voice rose in the room like a soaring hawk, strong and powerful and devoid of any emotion. I smiled internally. Now, this was how you spoke to Kai.
Meyer fidgeted nervously, glancing first at the Morrigan then at Kai, but kept his cool. I guessed he was anxious because of my boyfriend’s tone. Meyer cleared his throat and spoke, “And together with Rydell and Saal — accomplished time and healing mages who won the second and third places of Magica of the Year — they make the most formidable team. This signals to us that Garrett and his inferni ally can do anything.” He paused and added in a lower tone of voice, “Including opening the gates of Inferno.”
“No! No!” Kai bellowed and stomped his foot on the floor. His human appearance was quickly falling apart; a small set of pointy horns were beginning to show through his hair, his face had become visibly redder and darker, and his eyes glowed like laser beams. “No one can break my protective charms and spells! No way! Only I have the knowledge to deactivate them. No one else.”
Kagan tried to argue, but Kai cut him off. “I don’t care if Garrett and his inferni even abducted a god — they won’t break into Inferno. You have my word.”
“Kai, sit down, please, and listen for a moment,” the Morrigan suggested and nodded to Meyer.
He reached out to his desk, took a glass and filled it with whiskey, then handed it to Kai. For once, the chief demon accepted the drink without complaints or objections and drank it in one gulp. Steadily, his demonic appearance vanished until he was back to his former, human-like form.
“The situation is dire. We are enjoying the current peace because of Fearghus Netter’s blood enchantment, and if it is applied again, everything could change. For the worse,” the Morrigan said slowly and gravely.
“You forget, no one can use his or any of his children’s powers without my and the Morrigan’s consent,” Kai said, visibly more laid-back than minutes ago when his anger had flared like a storm.
The Morrigan turned to him, “Yes, it is so, but with the three mages’ powers under their control, if they discover and perform so
me arcane ritual, the rebels can alter destiny and use poor Samuel’s blood magic for their nefarious goals. It is a massive security breach. Surely, you realize that.”
“It pains me to admit it but it does make sense,” Meyer added.
I glanced at Kai — he’d furrowed his brows. “No, no, it shouldn’t be possible.”
“But what if it is?” the Morrigan raised her voice, and it startled me. I glanced at the others and saw they were a bit startled, too. “You claimed the first time around that no one was foul-playing, but time and again we see someone very close to you is involved in this magical apocalypse scenario. You are just too blind to see it.”
“That’s enough.” Kai had gotten up, one hand in his silk pants, the other hanging loosely. “I am the chief of demons, and I’ll take care of my court. No one else.”
“I have met that inferni,” I suddenly chimed in. I had to tell them what I’d seen. I couldn’t shake the feeling it was important.
“What?” Kai and the Morrigan asked simultaneously turning their heads to me. Kai drew nearer, dangerous flames sparkling in his eyes. “Who is the bastard?” His powerful, dark bass voice sounded like fierce thunder.
“You’ve met him? Why didn’t you confide in me?” the Morrigan said. I saw disappointment on her flawless young and pretty face.
“And that’s one of the reasons I brought you all together,” Kagan cut in. “I am sure Alex must have met this inferni over the meeting at the Veil a month ago. Since the Council records all high-profile meetings, I decided to give it a try and have her read all the demons’ names. However, I need your permission, Tomas.”
“But of course.” He fidgeted in his seat and took out his cell phone. Intently, he dialed a number and ordered — presumably his secretary — to fetch him the files.
“Did you see the bastard’s face?” Kai asked, his tone cutting and sharp, like ice.
“You have to tell us everything you saw,” the Morrigan added, her voice urgent.
“I didn’t see his face. I felt his magic. I know I’ve met him before.”
“Well, now we will learn if she met the inferni at the Veil, and by magic’s grace, who it was,” Tomas said.
In that moment a slender young woman came into the room, a folder in her hands. Tomas took it from her, thanked her, and she left the room as quiet as a mouse.
Meyer came over to me and handed me the folder. I felt all eyes on me and trembled from the inside. The folder was open at a particular page. I scanned the names: all except mine, Brendan’s and Carlos’ were unfamiliar. Ah, and Tomas Meyer’s. I looked at Kagan; his stare was intense, his brows knitted, and his eyes were watching every movement of mine.
I have to try it, I thought.
“Easy, Alex. It’s not the end of the world if you see nothing,” he spoke inside my own mind. His magic washed over my stiffness and tension, giving me the reassurance of comfort and understanding.
I let my hand go over the names. I called my inner goddess, begging it to pick the inferni out of the list.
Please, help me, girl. You must be able to.
I can’t; too similar energies, too concealed. Kai is also afraid of the truth. He is blocking me, too, my inner voice goddess responded to my plea.
I took a deep breath and turned to Kai. “Why are you sabotaging me? Are you really that terrified of the truth?”
His eyes gleamed crimson, his nostrils flaring out a puff of dark steam.
Oh-oh, a mistake, Alex, my inner voice cried in my mind. He’s not doing it consciously. He simply trusts that inferni. Even if he weren’t blocking my magic, I doubt I could tell you who the inferni is.
“Watch it, Miss Shaw.” Kai’s tone was low, his words distinct, promising terror and punishment. Then and there, his eyes burned hot red, reminding me of two small pieces of charcoal. In that second he strikingly resembled Garrett, and I shivered. The association gave me goosebumps.
“Now, now,” Meyer intervened. “Let us all calm down.” He glanced at the Morrigan — she nodded at him.
Kai clenched his fist and small circles of smoke appeared around his nostrils. “I will find him and I will punish him, whoever he is. He shall regret the day I created him.”
“I believe you,” the Morrigan said, “but I want you to check all your inferni. Especially the ones you brought to the meeting.” Her eyes shone in a deep bluish color, cold and piercing as ice glaciers. Her power rose like the wild frenzy of massive ocean waves and clashed with our powers. “If the doors of Inferno break open, I’ll held you personally responsible, Kai, and that will bear its consequences.” She practically spat the last word, her voice stinging like the crack of a whip.
Chapter 17
When the meeting was finally over, Kagan and I walked out of the Council’s building. We both needed a breath of fresh air from the highly charged magical atmosphere in Meyer’s room.
It was well past 10 p.m. when Meyer saw us to the door and asked us if we needed backup from the Council to catch the suspect. Kagan refused, saying he had enough assistants for this purpose. Immediately my mind conjured up an army of tattooed ogres, and maybe even mages — Kagan could afford the best security.
Now, a few minutes later, walking down the street, he stopped in a quiet corner and called his assistants, the ogres. I overheard him arrange a watch over our only suspect’s house.
“You ready?” I asked him when he finished with the conversation.
“Yup. Five more security guards are going to keep watch over Derek’s apartment.” Then he said in a low voice, “We should train tomorrow, preferably early in the morning.” He leaned over and whispered in my ear, his breath sending a delicious tickle over my skin, “Let’s go to my castle and spend the night there, huh?”
I pulled myself from his embrace, smiling. “Did you forget what time is it? I’m famished. Can we get some pizza on the way?” The last time I’d eaten was hours ago, in Temptation, and my stomach was already making low rumbling noises.
Kagan caressed my neck and planted a kiss just below my ear. This instantly sent shivers down my spine, as well as magical vibrations, warm and arousing, one hundred times better than any magical smoothie you could order.
“Don’t worry. I got you covered. My cook will prepare you the most delicious pizza you can ever gorge yourself on.”
“O-okay, playboy,” I agreed. Had his touch hypnotized me or something? Who cared? Before he could reach for his fairy magic and teleport us, I forestalled him, “Wait. I want to try and teleport us to your castle in Ireland. Without using Noe’s magic.”
I needed to practice. Strangely enough, even though the moon was new, my powers felt different than before. Was it because of the voice’s strange comment, or was something really about to happen? Whichever way, the thread inside my center, where I connected with my magic, did feel different — taut and vibrant, as if it were about to shoot up and out of me. I recalled the ease with which I’d fought off Kai’s magic, and his surprise at my ability mere minutes ago.
Kagan beamed. “I like your initiative. Sure you can try. If the miscreants we’re after had caught you, you’d have to rely on your magic alone. Good call. To practice, I mean.”
I smiled and took a deep breath. I reached for the magic in my core just like I’d done during the meeting. This time, though, my power came easier. Magic manipulation was like riding a bicycle, it seemed — the more you used it, the easier it was to manage and control. My power came to the tips of my fingers, pulsating in my veins and blood. I liked the feeling of lightheadedness it gave me — I felt a bit dizzy, but fully invigorated and alert.
“You’re getting better at it,” Kagan noted just before the wind appeared. It swirled around us and then the all too familiar silver cloud shimmered. He put his hand on the small of my back and guided me into the void that pulled us through the ether.
***
The portal delivered us in front of Kagan’s centuries-old five-story castle on the outskirts of Dublin, Ireland.
Tiny lights illuminated the castle in the night, making it look magnificent and alive with their flickers. I breathed the fresh, cold November air, and strangely enough, happy bubbles fluttered in my stomach. I noted it was colder here than in NYC. Maybe it is due to the pollution in the big city, I thought.
Today had been a hell of a crazy day, not even mentioning how it’d started, with the fight at the witch coven.
“I just love being here!” I heard myself say, and then chuckled.
“I know, sweetheart. Me too.” Kagan glanced at me from the corner of his eye and a smile danced on his face. “My family put a lot of our fae energy into this place.”
Each object, each person and place, more so the home of one of the most powerful magical dynasties in the world, had its own magical signature. That’s what we called a supernatural’s particular energy. In the case of the fae’s castle, his family’s mark was palpable in the air. I had already felt it the first time I was here, and ever since we’d been practicing in the premises’ grounds, I’d become used to it. Just as I got used to Awen’s particular magic flavor, or Naomi’s. Only the fae’s was stronger, and it lingered like a craving inside me. It reminded me of drugs. Highly addictive and powerful drugs, with a touch of danger.
“When will the pizza be ready?” I asked, seeing him head to the stairs. “If I don’t eat soon, I feel I might collapse and die of sheer malnutrition.”
He chuckled and turned to me. “I’ve already put the order through. Pierre should have the pizzas ready for us by now.”
With these words he climbed the dozen steps to the huge oak door that stood ajar. That was surprising. Then I noticed his butler peeking from inside the door, holding it open for us to pass. I walked in behind the fae and glanced at the two stone lions placed on both sides of the entrance. They were enchanted, just like the huge stone dragon I’d fought off a few days ago. I’d once asked Kagan about them, and he said they were a personal gift from the Morrigan. He further specified they were two enchanted war gods ready to protect the Griffiths should the need arise. Their names were Segomo and Neit, and they were Celtic gods of war.
