by D. R. Rosier
“How did you get here so fast?”
Anise grinned and said, “You have an oak tree.”
I nodded wisely and said, “That explains everything,” in mock sincerity.
She laughed, “Witch travel. You know Willa, this is Leanne.”
“This is Sara, she didn’t want to go and her contract is up. Revenant you say?”
She shrugged, “Fancy talk for Zombie without a master. Contract?”
I briefly explained how I did things, Anise’s smile grew bigger.
Leanne walked around in front and toward Amy, she smiled and said questioningly, “Grams?”
Amy looked unsure but took a few steps toward Leanne. After a brief pause they both wound up in a hug with tears in their eyes.
I looked back to Anise and Willa who had picked up one of the amulets and were studying it.
Willa scowled, “This work is Krista’s. Her coven has nine, the smallest one in Chicago. I forbade them to interfere in this. Silas did not mention anything in council, this was done on the sly.”
She looked up at me and said, “He knows Brandt and I would have said no. Brandt likes you by the way, though he would never say that out loud, alpha thing. Silas needs a quorum to take action like this and knows he didn’t have it despite his two votes.”
I asked, “Quorum?”
She nodded. “Some things require a majority. Since the head of the council has two votes, if it was a majority vote he could have done it. But to attack an independent in the city requires a quorum, which basically means three of the four councilors would have to vote yes on it.”
She shook her head, “I don’t know what we can do. Getting you a seat is a good idea, then he would be forced to deal with you honorably. None of the other council members would put up with it then. But it’s impossible, adding a councilor takes a quorum vote as well, James and Silas would never go for it. I think he’s just terrified of you, add Amy to the mix and he is panicking about it.”
I sighed, “I just want to be left alone, well, that’s not entirely true. I would hope to find welcome in the community at one point, if it’s possible.”
She smiled at me, “Well, one coven is ready to do that. Speaking of which,” she turned to Amy, “Would you like to join our coven? We have no issue with your choice of boyfriend,” she winked at Amy.
Amy nodded with a smile on her face.
I said bemusedly, “Wow, can you come over more, I think she’s actually speechless.”
Amy glared, “Asshole,” her lips twitched at the corners of her mouth as she fought a smile.
We headed into the house and I offered everyone a drink. I introduced Hardin when he brought in a tray covered in drinks.
Leanne asked, “Is he your only ensouled Zombie?”
I nodded, “I try to keep the count of zombies down, didn’t want to alarm anyone. Plus most ghosts don’t like to inhabit flesh, Hardin on the other hand jumped at the chance. He’s a wizard at the stock market, I owe a lot of my success in business to Hardin.”
Willa expressed amazement that I cared what my ghosts thought, I was a little uncomfortable with the praise and approval.
I asked, “So if I can’t get on the council, what can I do? I don’t want to act outside the rules, but I can’t ignore it when Silas so clearly is ignoring the rules. He’ll just see me as weak and continue to do whatever he wants. I think he must see me as young and weak, and he’s coming after me now, before I really am a threat. People like that can’t believe that others don’t crave the power he has.”
Anise looked reluctant, but said, “I can challenge James, that can give us the quorum we need to get you in. That probably won’t be enough to get Silas to back down though, but one step at a time.”
Willa looked troubled, “Won’t be enough why?”
Anise shrugged, “Back a rat into a corner and he’ll fight for his life. Never mind the fact he’d be fine if he would just step back. The next step would be to replace him as head, but I fear the only way to end the threat is for him to be gone. Either out of the city, or…”
Amy asked, “Do you think it will come to that?”
Anise nodded soberly, “He tried to either control you, or kill you if that failed. He interfered with the witches, going behind Willa, which is a major transgression. He tried to kill a proven peaceful independent in Vince, and he has James in his back pocket, either through fear, blackmail or bribery. He clearly only uses the rules if they aid him and ignores them if it doesn’t. He only cares about keeping the power he has and gaining more. If anything taking part of his power will make him more desperate and dangerous.
“He even likes to micromanage, controlling everyone in the community. It is not normal to need an eight hour session every day. Most councils meet once or twice a week, for a few hours. Ninety percent or more of the issues I’ve heard should be handled by the head of each race, not by the council head. I am not sure how normal that is in other places right now, but in Seattle it wasn’t that way. At first when I saw it I thought maybe Silas wasn’t so bad because he still helped the community, but the truth is he likes the fact the community comes to him and that they are under his power.”
She shook her head, “I really hate politics,” she looked my way, “I’ll only do it if you will, so tell me if you don’t intend to join the council and I won’t either. Otherwise I will challenge James tomorrow morning, and you can request to be recognized as the councilor for Necromancers in the afternoon, representing ghosts, zombies, revenants and liches in the city. That last part is important as it puts Amy under your umbrella officially so he can’t meddle, or at least, isn’t supposed to meddle.”
She smiled, “You and Willa will have to share.”
I looked to Amy and she nodded subtly at me.
“Okay, I’ll do it, I don’t want to, but if it’s the only way to keep my people and my family safe, I don’t really have a choice.”
They stayed the rest of the afternoon and we chatted about the city, Willa’s coven, and of course, about how I ran things. Although I was pretty sure Amy and a ten year old girl ran things…
I wanted to ask Anise if she could help me with my demon powers and find out some more about what I could do with them, but it was quite clear to me she hadn’t told Willa or Leanne she was a Nephilim, so asking in front of them would lead to questions. I couldn’t blame her really, I didn’t want them to know I was part demon either. I’d have to wait until I was able to talk to her in privacy, or at least with only Amy there since Amy knew about us both already.
I invited them to stay for dinner, but they declined, one of Willa’s coven members was already cooking dinner for them. She did invite us over though for tomorrow night, assuming everything went well tomorrow, to plan and discuss the next steps. I accepted.
When they left Amy faked a yawn and said, “I’m beat, we should get to bed.”
I stretched then checked the time, “I’m beat too, we’ve been up for a whole five hours.”
She giggled and waggled her brows before racing for the bedroom, I chased her…
Chapter 8 – Anise
When we got back to the house, Lisa almost had the BBQ ribs done and the smell of the food was divine.
Leanne said, “Damn, necromancers are supposed to be creepy. Even his voice was yummy, can we keep him?”
I looked over with an amused look on my face and raised an eyebrow.
She stuck her tongue out and said, “Don’t give me that look, don’t think I didn’t notice you staring at him with a stupid grin on your face, totally mesmerized as he talked. Do you even know what he said to you?”
I blushed scarlet not sure what to say, I had a small idea of course, something about how he dealt with his powers and his people. I kind of had gotten a little lost in his eyes and the tone of his voice, not that I’d admit it.
I finally replied with a scoffing noise then said haughtily, “Like I’d pay attention to an evil necromancer.”
Leanne snickered and Willa loo
ked amused.
Lisa looked up from the BBQ and said, “What’d I miss?”
Leanne threw me under the bus while her eyes sparkled, “Our Anise here falling all over the hot necromancer.”
I really wanted to protest, after all she herself had said she wanted to keep him, but I knew I wouldn’t win this one, it would just make the teasing worse. So I picked another direction.
“Don’t worry Leanne, I’ll share,” I said before laughing.
I shook my head, he was hot, but also very clearly taken. I could see he thought I was attractive when he looked at me, and talked to me. Even interested. But it was a pale shadow in his eyes compared to how he looked at Amy. I am not quite so bad as to come between my granddaughter and her mate.
Then again, Leanne and I like to share, maybe it runs in the family… I sighed and tried to change tracks. My ploy worked and after a few more rounds of teasing, this time Leanne, we ate dinner together by the grove. I was still not sure I was doing the right thing by challenging James, but it seemed the only way to help my family, my new friends and lovers, and the necromancer. I wasn’t exactly sure what category he would end up in yet.
After we ate we just relaxed, I could feel the calm energy slowly swirling among the groves and witches. I did feel welcomed by it, but I couldn’t effect it any. Willa had a far away troubled look on her face and I wondered what happened. She had left us for a few minutes to call Krista, the other coven’s head witch, and find out what was going on.
I moved and sat behind her, caressing her arms and neck. She leaned back into me and relaxed a little.
I asked, “What happened?”
She tensed, but relaxed again after a few seconds, “Krista was very smug. She didn’t come right out and say it, but it seems she thinks to take my place soon. She foolishly betrayed her own and worked with Silas to gain power. I don’t know what the plan is, maybe there isn’t one, maybe Silas is just stringing her along, but I doubt it.”
“I’m sorry sweetie, what’s to be done about it?”
She shook her head, “Nothing for now. Silas is the real danger, once he is dealt with one way or another I can take care of Krista, hopefully she will run for it when her support is gone.”
She added reluctantly, “I did find out one more thing, she knew you are staying here, and that we have grown close in the short time you’ve been here.”
I asked gently, “What is it?”
She said, “I’m so sorry, maybe you should have avoided me. Silas is determined now to make you move on, to cut any support I have. All the fake glowing references he was supposed to be supplying for your hospital job search… well, let’s just say you’ll never get any call backs in this town.”
“Huh, I was wondering about that.” It hurt, healing was something I loved. Ironically it was also something I would have given up soon anyway, I was determined to make a lifetime here. I can still do it, I’ll just have to be very sneaky about it.
But it sure as hell wasn’t Willa’s fault. Something I have learned over the years though, is she would never believe it, even if I said it. So I took another tack hoping to cheer her up.
I kissed the side of her neck and whispered, “You’ll have to make it up to me.”
She said, “How can I do that.”
I whispered in her ear, “It’s a game, I’m going to torture you right here in front of Lisa and Leanne, and you have to stay quiet and not give it away.”
She said nervously, “What are you going to do?”
I said sultrily in here ear while releasing my magic, “This,” and she locked up in my arms.
I used air and spirit, guided it down her body from her neck. Everywhere it touched would cause sensuous sensations on her skin. I sucked her earlobe in my mouth and bit down as my magic reached her nipples. Her breath was fast, and shallow, and I could tell she was fighting down a gasp.
My magic continued down her torso, stimulating and pleasuring her nerve endings, when it reached over her abdomen then down between her legs she bit her lip and made a very light but intense whimpering sound that made me wet. She was completely mine in this moment, mine to pleasure, tease and yes, it really must have been torture to hold back her voice. Her body trembled against mine as I continued to innocently massage her shoulders with my hands, and pleasure her beyond reason with my magic.
Even her subdued reactions would have been obvious if Lisa and Leanne hadn’t been talking to each other nonstop during all this. I slid the magic inside her now, leaving a swirl of energy to circle and tease her clit. My mouth started watering and I wondered exactly who I was torturing as I felt her body wrack with pleasure as my magic took her to bliss for the first time. I kissed her neck again and looked up, she had tears in the corners of her eyes at the intensity of what I was doing to her.
This was so erotic for me too, with the spirit mixed in the air I could feel it all, like I had a million tiny little hands brushing against her silky smooth skin, manipulating her warm wet sex, her hardened nipples, her clit, all over her body really, all at the same time.
I grinned against her neck as I let the energy split and teased her puckered star open, she gasped at the feeling of stimulation in both places. I think the jig was up, because the two girls looked at us when I sent her into a second overwhelming orgasm. I held her and continued caressing her neck and shoulders with my fingertips, and her inner thigh with my magic as I brought her down gently from her height.
She looked at me with tears in her eyes then whispered. “I guess that means you forgive me?”
I kissed her in answer, it was such a silly question, it wasn’t her fault.
Leanne asked, eyes narrowed, “What did you do to her?”
Lisa added with a smile, “And can you do it to us too?”
I laughed faux wickedly and sent my magic at both of them while Willa pushed me onto my back, looking determined to torture me right back, I heard both of them gasp loudly as Willa started to have her way with my quite ready and willing body…
A few hours later I was lying in bed amidst three other warm bodies. I was sore, in a good way, and I felt like a total two faced bitch. I was growing to really care about these ladies, and they did not know the truth about me. Even worse, I had not even told Amy the half truth I had told Leanne, about us being related.
It was so much easier keeping my secret from casual friends, but family and lovers were different and the guilt dug in. I felt like telling them the whole truth would be a mistake, but I wondered how much of that was cowardice.
Fear that Willa, Lisa and Leanne would reject me.
Fear that Amy would hate me, the grandmother that didn’t even know she was brutally enslaved for almost two hundred years.
I felt sick, my stomach was roiling more and more as I thought about it, and I could feel the silent tears running down my cheeks, I knew I had to tell them. Besides knowing I would get caught in my half truths, especially when Amy and Vince showed up tomorrow, I felt guilty about the angel thing. It was bound to come out that Amy and I were related, Leanne had no reason not to say anything, had no idea I had kept it to myself in fear Amy would recognize me.
I had to tell them, and now would be best. Tomorrow would be dangerous enough with our enemies running around, if it came out then, from someone else, there would be a blow up.
I tried to say it strongly, but it came out like a squeak, “There is something I need to tell you all, something I’ve been… hiding about myself. People… don’t always react well, so I’ve grown accustomed to keeping it to myself, but I care about you all too much to continue hiding it. And after I tell you I need to go tell Amy.”
Lisa faux gasped, “You used to be a man?!”
I snorted with laughter. Here I was coming clean, and she was trying to make me feel better.
“No, I’m older than I look, much, much older.”
Leanne kissed my cheek and said, “Stop procrastinating, it can’t be that bad.”
“I’m Nephili
m. I am ancient, immortal. Leanne, I let you come to the conclusion and believe that I had come from a branch family, the truth is I am your great times ten grandmother, Amy is my granddaughter.”
Willa whispered, “How old?”
I sighed, “Before Christ, before Rome, before the great flood. So old I keep track by millennia, not century.”
I finally looked away from the ceiling, they were all staring at me as if unsure they should believe me, or think that I was pulling their chain. I got out of bed, stood and revealed my power. White glowing wings, my powerful ancient aura filled the room and I saw fear on their faces. I expected it, but their fear still felt like a betrayal. They knew me, I was their friend, I loved them already.
I whispered, my voice broken, “I’m sorry,” before I called on my power and transported to my apartment.
I couldn’t blame them, I still had hope they would accept me, be okay with it. My aura for the most part scared the crap out of everyone when I let it all out. I took a quick shower and dressed quickly in a pair of jeans and a doctor who t-shirt and let my power bear me away. I appeared in front of Vince’s door and knocked.
When Hardin answered the door I asked for Amy, she came out a few moments later, a look of confusion on her face.
Here we go again.
“I have something to tell you, something I should have said sooner, but I was too afraid, and too ashamed.”
She asked, “Ashamed?”
I nodded and looked down, “I should have been there for you, should have saved you, and I am sorry. I was off living another life, I had no idea what happened to you and your mother all those years ago.”
She asked, “Who are you, I thought you seemed familiar but…”
I glowed briefly, undoing the minute changes that were enough to fool the human mind, I also changed my appearance to reflect an aged body. Whenever I live out a full life I usually age with my family, it prevents some issues. Some would think a man would love to have a young wife with a perfect body even as they age, the truth is it simply doesn’t work that way.
But twenty five is my body’s natural state, so I always revert when a husband passes and it is time for me to move on.
