Dark Resurrections (Book Three in the Brenna Strachan Series)

by Hadena James

  “Come on Prunella. We both know your House doesn’t stand a chance against us. Come out and we’ll spare the life of your granddaughter.”

  As she yelled the last, Fenrir came around the corner. He was on all fours. His fur was sleek and shiny. Simona Illayanevna shrank a little at the sight of him.

  “I suggest we join him,” Anubis said.

  Everyone followed me outside.

  Chapter Ten

  “Go away, Simona Illayanevna,” I walked out the front door, Eli and Daniel flanking me. Nick was a few feet behind with Samuel. As I stopped, the Overlords came out the door to stand at the bottom of the steps.

  “Brenna, what a surprise.”

  “I’ll tell you again, Simona Illayanevna. Take your coven and the griffins and slink back to wherever you came. If you don’t, you’ll find this house doesn’t stand alone or unprotected.”

  “You leave Brenna, don’t you have your own coven to protect?”

  “No, my coven is being protected. Good luck getting past Demonnation. Even Cerebus doesn’t have that kind of idiotic determination.”

  “You think we are worried about a few Demons? Not hardly.”

  One part of my brain was screaming at me to stop baiting the bad guys. It never ended well for me. The other half was screaming for me to stall for time. I wasn’t sure stalling would help. We weren’t waiting for back-up. But maybe we could so enrage the group that they would stop their stupid chanting and the griffins would flee the scene without injuring anyone.

  “To what end?” I asked.

  “What do you mean?” Simona Illayanevna asked, cocking her head to the side.

  “Exactly that, what is the purpose? Will you try to take down all the Great Houses? Will you try to take down the Elders? And why? What does bringing down the Great Houses mean? There have always been others to rise up and take their places. And Elders, well, they are breeding at astonishing rates. How will you cope with that? I see the ambition, but not what is driving the ambition. So I ask again, to what end?”

  “We can handle our own,” Simona Illayanevna sneered back.

  “That’s what Magnus thought,” I replied sadly, “he thought he could handle it as well. Look what happened to him.”

  “We are not as weak as Magnus.”

  “You both served the same master; you just didn’t have the same inner fires burning. Magnus hated that he was fated to be mated to an Elder. What do you hate?”

  “I serve no master.”

  “We all serve a master; your strings are being pulled by the same that pulled Magnus’s. Do you think I do not know about my sister and her hidden talents? Do you think I can’t tell that you use the same potion Magnus used in his attempts to grab Pandora’s Box? You serve my sister, not yourself.”

  “Then who is your master, Brenna Strachan?”

  “Lucifer, my Demon Overlord and Elise Strachan, my Matriarch. One could argue that I also serve the Overlords that are bound to me. And one could argue that they serve me as well. We are never our own masters, there are too many others involved in our lives. What would your Matriarch say about this?”

  “My Matriarch will be dead before long.”

  “You sent gremlins, we sent Hunters. Despite the collateral damage, I don’t imagine they did much to the Timov Great House. Mostly, they were just a nuisance.”

  “Don’t be absurd,” Simona Illayanevna looked around.

  “I’m not. I saw the gremlins on the news. Poor choice I think, unless you used them specifically to show some remorse for attacking your own family.”

  “My grandmother is just as bad as the rest of them. The Matriarchs that run the families have become out of touch, more in line with Humans and Elders than they are with Witches. And Elders are pacifists. So I’m afraid there is little that they can do.”

  Since I’d never met an Elder that was a pacifist, I raised an eyebrow at her and snuck a peek at Anubis. Of all the Elders I knew, he was the one most driven to war. Maybe it was part of his internal making, maybe it was part of his curse, either way, he didn’t have the qualms about killing that I did.

  “You are a fruit loop,” I told her.

  “You’ll never understand, too much Demon in your blood,” Simona Illayanevna spat the words at me.

  Some twisted part of her logic on that, was correct. I was Elder and Witch and the Witch part of me was also Human. My lineage spanned all three of the major top beings on the planet. I couldn’t agree with anyone who thought that we couldn’t get along and survive together. Or that one of us should rule over all the others.

  I shook my head at her, unable to think of anything else to say on the matter. She was obviously delusional. And you just couldn’t argue with people who thought they were on the path of righteousness. They were always right, regardless of any evidence to the contrary.

  Simona Illayanevna resumed her chanting. The griffins had stopped moving, but they still seemed to be in a trance. Eli tugged at the hem of my shirt sleeve.

  I turned to look at him. He pointed towards the end of the street. There were more Witches there. There were also gremlins.

  Gremlins are basically wrecking machines with brains and feet and clawed fingers. They were mostly blind, relying on a keen sense of hearing and the ability to see heat. They are hairless, orange skinned and short, only about a foot tall. Their faces are distorted by sharp teeth that didn’t quite fit into their mouths, large round eyes that seemed too big and pointy ears. I had never dealt with one up close, but I was betting they could do some damage with their teeth and claws. However, killing people wasn’t really in their description. They were far more likely to eat through the timbers of a house and accidentally drop it on a person.

  They were also fragile by all accounts. Stepping on them was enough, they squashed like large bugs. Since that thought seemed pretty horrid, I pushed it away.

  “Huff and puff all you want, Simona Illayanevna, you will not bring down this Great House,” I told her.

  Chapter Eleven

  The other thing about gremlins is that they are cowards. A little show of magic and they tend to scatter. I looked at Daniel and pointed up the road.

  The sky darkened. Daniel began to glow. Fire began to rain down on the Witches and gremlins up the street. The Witches threw up protection barriers. The gremlins shrieked and chattered at one another. They broke into small groups, scattering away from the fire. While this was temporarily helpful, it also meant that they were running amok in the city of Berlin. I hoped Humans with flamethrowers would start patrolling the streets for them.

  “Overlords, take the griffins, we’ll take the Witches,” I shouted, moving down the steps.

  “Even your magic can’t penetrate this spell,” Simona Illayanevna cackled at me.

  “Agreed,” I reached her. My magic may not go through her shields, but I was betting my fist would.

  I drew back and punched her in the face. She fell to the ground, eyes closed, blood pouring from her nose. There was an odd gurgling noise. I tipped her on her side. Several teeth fell out onto the concrete and a stream of blood ran down from the corner of her mouth.

  Instantly, I could see the Witches trying to regroup. They would need a much better protection spell to physically keep me out. I was betting they didn’t have enough magic.

  I felt Eli burst into their protection bubble. They were working together to create it. But we were already inside. They would have to force us out.

  The magic shivered. I felt it. Another of my lot had entered. Only Pendragon seemed powerful enough to create both a magical and a physical barrier at the same time. A Witch could throw up a protection spell that kept out tree branches and magic, but a physical entity of conscious thought seemed to be much harder. I had only done it once and I had been in a state of extreme distress.

  Nick had joined us. His magic swirled around the ground, looking for others. It touched a Witch near me. She let out a scream of panic and terror.

  I let my magic joi
n his. Together, they slithered snakelike along the concrete, absorbing bits of magic as they went. Eli’s mixed and the magic got stronger, it began to pulsate.

  I walked up to another Witch. Sensing that I was about to do the same to him as I had done to Simona Illayanevna, he tried to hurl a spell at me. It took his magic from the protection spell. Both spells fizzled out. The circle ruptured and spilled magic into the street. It ran like Daniel’s fire across the concrete, moving in all directions. I punched him anyway. His eyes wide and staring as my fist connected with his face. He also crumbled to the ground.

  Simona Illayanevna was right, I was a Demon too. As such, my fist could inflict more damage than their feeble little Witch hands. My brothers were joining me now. Not fighting magic with magic, but with brute physical strength.

  As another Witch from this group fell, the others began to surge towards us. I wasn’t sure what their plan was. Daniel came to me. He grabbed hold of my hand. He grabbed Samuel with his other one.

  I took Daniel’s lead, grabbing Eli. When Eli brought Samuel and Nick together, I felt the circle close. This was what a true coven did. Theirs had been weakened by the lack of physical connection. Ours was increased by that and our bloodline.

  Daniel began to chant a spell. My brothers joined in. I closed my eyes to the spell and began to push magic into them. I could chant the spell all I wanted and it would probably backfire. But to give them magic, magic they could use to increase their own powers, that was my true gift. I shoved magic into the circle. My mind showed me as they drew it into themselves.

  My brothers began to repeat the words faster. I continued to pour magic into the circle for them to us. The others were around us; I could feel their magic at my back. They were casting their own spells. Individual spells.

  Daniel suddenly pushed the spell out. My mind watched the magic drain from all my brothers. It poured out of them, filling the air. It had no definite form, just an incantation to help shape it. Witches began screaming.

  Whatever the spell was, it was causing each Witch to see something. Something that terrified them. They broke ranks, began running from whatever nightmare Daniel had formed for them. It was effective. The screaming stopped. I opened my eyes. There wasn’t a Witch to be seen except my brothers.

  “What was it?”

  “A nightmare spell,” Daniel confirmed.

  “Good job,” I told our youngest brother.

  “We did do a good job, you helped a lot. All that magic, it was a nice touch.”

  “Think we did it?” Samuel asked tentatively.

  “No, I think they will regroup and attack again. I think this is their prize,” Eli told him.

  “I agree. They aren’t done. They will simply need to find a new way to attack,” I took out my phone. It was dead. I swore, not thinking about the energy being pulled from it by whatever stunt had just been done.

  “The griffins left though,” Anubis joined us, staying just outside the circle. Our hands were still linked. I wasn’t sure he could even enter.

  “We’ll count that as a small victory,” I let go of Daniel.

  “This isn’t like a coven,” Gabriel joined us.

  “Not a normal one anyway,” I agreed. “This is like a hydra, many heads. To coordinate attacks all over the world would require several leaders. I imagine that if they are really going to try to bring down this Great House, they are going to regroup and come back.”

  “They carried off the injured,” Daniel told me.

  “That is surprising.”

  “No they didn’t. You guys healed them and they went screaming off with the others,” Ba’al told us.

  “Well, damn, this magic thing is a double-edged sword some days,” Eli sighed, it sounded as frustrated as I felt.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Come inside, we’ll have some tea and sandwiches,” Prunella came outdoors. She took hold of me and practically dragged me into the house. I stumbled trying to follow her and we both went down into a heap.

  “Are you alright?” I asked her as she groaned. Luckily, none of her body had fallen under me. Chances were good we hadn’t broken anything.

  “Fine, just need a moment, I didn’t think about you tripping on the stairs.”

  “I’m fairly clumsy,” I admitted.

  “Let me help,” Anubis and Ba’al began untangling us. Anubis carried Prunella into the house. I got up and sulked in behind them.

  “That was impressive,” Prunella sat down in a chair. ”I’ve sent for food and drinks.”

  “Actually, it was impressive I didn’t crush you,” I told her.

  “Not that, dear,” she scoffed at me, “the magic that you worked together. I didn’t realize that Brenna was just a conduit.”

  “Always has been. She can do magic, don’t get the impression she can’t, but she is better at just feeding the rest of us magic. It seems to be her place,” Eli told Prunella.

  “Always the bridesmaid, never the bride,” Prunella gave me a sympathetic smile.

  “It’s fine. The spells I can do, work; the rest of the time, I’m still helping,” I smiled back at her.

  “Well, it seems to work for you. Most Witches seem to put more merit into what they can cast than what they can do. Are you good with potions?”

  “Yes and raw magic. It’s the forming it into spells that I have a problem with and that seems to be centered around spells that do harm to others.”

  “The Demon in you?” Prunella asked as a young man brought in a tray of sandwiches and iced teas.

  “Maybe,” I took a sandwich, but ignored the glass of tea.

  “Take a glass of tea dear, you must be parched.”

  “Thanks, I don’t drink tea or coffee. Too bitter.” I told her.

  “Oh, sensitive to tastes.”

  “Only bitter. Prunella, they weren’t very well prepared.”

  “I don’t think they were expecting to face you.”

  “Even if they weren’t, they would have been facing you and your coven.”

  “My coven isn’t much anymore. It took so long for an heir to be born that aside from my immediate family, we don’t have a coven. Most of the older generation has died off, leaving my two nephews and my two sons. Only one is married to a witch. So, the coven is pretty small. If you hadn’t shown up, we probably wouldn’t have stood much of a chance.”

  “Does Rachel know?”

  “Rachel has been busy since becoming the Premier. We were waiting to tell her.”

  “I see,” I frowned and ate the sandwich.

  Anubis’s cell phone rang. He answered it.

  “It’s Morgana, for you,” Anubis handed me the phone.

  “Well?” I asked, ignoring any social niceties.

  “They’re gone. All the women were slaughtered and the few males left are beyond anything we can do. We are taking them to St. Petersburg, per Rachel’s instructions, but even she isn’t sure it will help.”

  “Thanks Morgana,” I hung up on her and handed the phone back.

  “Well?” Prunella asked, her voice breaking slightly.

  “It’s confirmed, the Great House in Dublin fell. So far, it seems to be the only one that has fallen. I imagine there were contributing factors.”

  “Like Magnus going off the deep-end,” Eli sighed.

  “Yes, they hadn’t recovered from the loss of half their coven yet.” I echoed his sigh, “they probably didn’t stand much of a chance.”

  “Maybe you should have gone there,” Prunella also sighed.

  “No, we’re best here.” I told her firmly, “while I’m sad to see the Dublin House fall, if we had gone there instead, we probably would have lost both houses. We wouldn’t have arrived in Dublin in time.”

  “It took longer to fly here,” Prunella said.

  “For us, yes, but for the Fey? No. They were on the scene long before we touched down at Tegel,” I told her.

  “Ah, yes, I forgot you don’t fly,” Prunella gave me a wink. It was good to see
she hadn’t lost her sense of humor.

  “Were there any survivors?” Eli asked.

  “A few men, but Morgana says she doesn’t think they will make it to St. Petersburg.”

  “A house divided, falls,” Ba’al hung his head and said a small prayer.

  “My guess, they were counting on it. Just as they were counting on this house to fall. Might explain the strange animals being used. Harpies, sirens, fireworms and gremlins against the strong houses, skinwalkers and griffins against the weaker ones.”

  “What do you think that means for mom and Rachel?” Daniel asked.

  “If they’re smart, pixies,” I smiled at him. Pixies were nasty buggers, much like gremlins, they were mostly teeth and claws. And like gremlins they were very fragile creatures. However, sending anything dangerous, would just piss off Demonnation and my father.

  “We’re going to need more food than can be provided here,” Samuel said. I looked at him, his color was slightly drained.

  “We can’t risk sending anyone out.”

  “We have delivery services,” Prunella smiled.

  “Great. Ani?”

  “I’m on it,” Anubis still had his cell phone in hand.

  Prunella handed him what appeared to be a menu. He dialed the number from the top of it. His German was fluent and rapid. The words coming out faster than I could separate them.

  “Food will arrive in 45 minutes or so,” Anubis hung up the phone.

  “Good, I think I’ll nap until then,” I curled up into his lap, placing my head on his chest. My eyelids drooped almost instantly. I knew I had eaten on the plane, but like Samuel, I was feeling very drained. It could have been from forcing my way into their protection spell.

  Anubis woke me sometime later. He moved my weight, shifted out from under me. Someone else held a pizza box under my nose. The smell of hot cheese and mushrooms greeted me.

  I took the box from Ba’al’s outstretched hand. The others were waking up my brothers. We had all taken a nap where we sat it seemed.