The Dark

by Cheyenne McCray

  He made a low growling sound in his throat. “Your mother and probably every other one of the Light Elves do feel that way.”

  “I—I don’t know what to say.” Cassia turned away from him and started walking again through the forest. At once he moved into step beside her. “But Mother did tell me we will have a discussion once we meet up with her again.”

  Not mentioning the options the Guardian planned to give Jake.

  He said with a hard edge to his voice, “I don’t like these riddles and games.”

  Cassia could have jumped in to defend the Great Guardian again, but she didn’t have the heart for it. “I don’t want to talk about that anymore.”

  She stared straight ahead. Now water dripped from tree branches, along with the rain that had already soaked her T-shirt and jeans. Even her socks and shoes were growing wet.

  “I’ve shared a lot about me,” Cassia added. “Very intimate things. But we hardly talk about you.”

  Jake still looked mad, with his face twisted into a scowl, but his features finally relaxed. “We already had the discussion about my childhood.” His expression tensed again. “And my mistake in Afghanistan.”

  “Let’s talk about other things. Like what did you do before you started working with witches and fighting demons?” She blinked water from her eyes, and shivered from the slight chill of the water drenching her. “Hobbies or something. You can’t just eat, breathe, and survive on being a cop.”

  “Why not?” He gave her a teasing look before he went on. “You could say that before all this sh—crap happened with the demons, goddess, and Darkwolf, that I lived, breathed, and survived on being a diehard San Francisco Giants fan.”

  “I always liked the Boston Red Sox,” Cassia said, with a grin when he gave her a look like she was some kind of traitor. “Hey, I lived in Salem, Massachusetts, for a good portion of my life.”

  He winked at her. “Guess I’ll have to give you that.”

  “What else do you like to do?” she asked.

  “Go hiking with a couple of my buddies who live out of state.” Water splattered both of them when Jake pushed a branch aside and it swung back.

  He went on, “We’ve traveled around. Hiked in the Sierras, the Appalachian Trail, and other spots in the Smokies. Done a little rock climbing, too. Last time I went was to Beck’s Tower at Castle Crags State Park—a couple of months before the demons showed up.”

  She managed a smile as she looked up at him. “Are you as noisy in your parks as you are now?”

  His boyish grin made her belly flutter. “Compared to here, I don’t sound like an elephant walking on eggshells. So no, I manage to be quieter in my world.”

  “Rock climbing is something I’ve never done.” She imagined herself rappelling down the surface of a sheer rock wall. “I think I would like to try that.”

  Jake raised his eyebrows. “I never pegged you as the danger-seeking type.”

  “Ah, but you didn’t peg me as old as I am, either.”

  His lips twisted into a wry smile. “Got me there.”

  “I think hang gliding and bungee jumping would be interesting, too.” She nodded with resolution. “Parachuting always intrigued me, but ensconced in the life of a D’Anu witch and an Elvin Princess, I never thought to actually try it.”

  Jake laughed. Warm, genuine laughter. “A thrill seeker. I know I’m in love even more than I was before.”

  Cassia shot him a look, but all she felt was warmth and hope. Maybe they could work this out?

  The Great Guardian had said “I will allow the human to take you through the transition if he chooses one of two options.”

  Should she dare to hope?

  She was so blessed confused.

  Cassia mentally shook her head. Right now she was not going to think of what her preplanned future was supposed to be, or whether or not things might work out with her and Jake.

  Instead she was going to enjoy the moments for what they were.

  They swung their clasped hands as they walked in the rain, Cassia grilling him on the types of rock climbing he did, what they’d have to do to get her started, how much fun she’d have “thrill seeking.”

  “Oh, and a helicopter. Never been in one of those.” Cassia pictured herself in one of those military Blackhawks.

  “Have you flown at all?” Jake asked. “Other than on a broomstick?”

  “Witches do not fly on broomsticks.” Cassia slugged his shoulder. “We take flights on airplanes, like any human does.”

  She pursed her lips. “Although I do miss horses. I always loved them. Kael enjoyed our runs, too.” She smiled when she thought of her wolf familiar. “I think not having the chance to flat out run regularly is one of the reasons Kael isn’t crazy about staying in the city. He prefers the forests of Otherworld.”

  “I have a friend who owns a ranch.” Jake squeezed her hand. “When this mess is over, we can head out there and he’ll let you ride all the horses you want. Kael can run like crazy there.”

  Cassia almost jumped up and down in delight. “I would so love to do that. It’s been at least fifty years since I’ve ridden one.”

  Jake chuckled. “Being with you will be one adventure after another.”

  Cassia sobered. Not going to think about destiny. Preordained futures. Not going to, not going to.

  While she pretended she could have a future with Jake, she smiled and enjoyed the heavy rain soaking them both to the skin.

  The closer they got to the place where they were to meet the Great Guardian, the harder Jake’s gut clenched.

  He and Cassia were sopping wet when they stepped out of the forest, and into the sunshine.

  Of course the Great Guardian was waiting for them.

  Cassia immediately bowed and set the Mystwalker collar in front of her. Jake went down on one knee as she jerked him with her. He removed his Glock and placed it on the ground.

  This time the old witch didn’t tell them to stand right away.

  She made them wait.

  Cassia kept his hand pressed with hers to the grass. But that didn’t stop him from raising his head and looking the Guardian straight in her eyes.

  An exasperated grumble came from Cassia, but Jake refused to break eye contact with her mother.

  The Great Guardian let them stay kneeling a moment longer before she finally said, “Rise.”

  About damned time.

  The Great Guardian turned her gaze on Cassia as she picked up her collar and rose with Jake. He holstered his Glock.

  “You have greatly disappointed me, daughter,” the Guardian said in a voice as cold and brittle as icicles along the eaves of a porch after a snowfall.

  Cassia didn’t lower her head, but met her mother’s gaze head-on.

  That’s my girl, Jake thought.

  “Before we address other concerns,” Cassia said with her chin high, “I must ask an important question. Will you allow the Light Elves to join the Alliance in the San Francisco Otherworld, to aid in their battles against the duo-god warlock, Darkwolf?”

  The Great Guardian considered Cassia for a long moment. “This is for the Elvin Elders to decide. I will not sway their opinion.”

  Jake’s throat ached as he held back a shout. The Guardian could damned well influence the Elders but she was choosing to sit back and watch the show.

  Cassia gave a bow from her shoulders. “Thank you for taking this matter to the Elders,” she said in a tight voice.

  “Now we have other pressing matters to discuss,” the Guardian said with ice in her voice. “Explain why you disobeyed me.”

  “I did not know what we did would trigger my transition.” Cassia’s voice sounded formal, but she clenched her fists at her sides, the only outward sign she was distressed. “I chose to be with Jake. And it is Jake who I want to take me through my transition.”

  The Guardian shook her head almost imperceptibly. “You have no idea, youngling, what you are facing.”

  Cassia’s lips parted. �
��What do you mean?”

  “You have only sparked your transition,” the Guardian said. “That was naught but a small measure of what will happen when a male enters your body.”

  Cassia’s cheeks flushed deep red as the Guardian looked at Jake and met his eyes. “No mere human can endure what will occur when you go through your full change, Cassiandra.”

  Anger flared up in Jake, and he imagined it melting the ice between him and the Guardian. “Teach me. I’m willing to take the chance.”

  “Are you?” The Guardian’s features became placid as she focused on Cassia in turn. “And you. Are you willing to risk your human dying?”

  “No,” Cassia said, and Jake started to speak, but she continued. “I will not take that chance. But there must be a way Jake can take me through it without hurting him.”

  “I will allow you one of two options.” The Guardian gave a regal tilt to her head. “Even then there will be choices and consequences.”

  “What?” Cassia sounded breathless, as if she couldn’t wait to hear how they could get through this crazy mess. “What can we do?”

  The Great Guardian focused on Jake. “Your first choice, human, is that you may accept a gift of magic from me. You will no longer be fully human, yet you will not be Elvin. You will have magic, which will perhaps be enough to survive mating with my daughter.”

  Her words hit him like stones in a windstorm. Magic?

  “The other option,” she continued without pause, “is to have Daire present when you and this human go through the transition.”

  “Hell, no.” Jake ground his teeth and fisted his hands. “No other man is going to be with Cassia and me. Ever.”

  “Then you accept the gift of magic?” the Guardian asked.

  “No.” Jake ignored the crestfallen look on Cassia’s face. “I have no desire to have magic. I am who I am. You’ll just have to give us another option.”

  The Guardian simply looked at him, expressionless. “You have made your choice.”

  And then the bitch vanished.

  24

  The air is thick and stale in the storage room I have slipped into so that I can “call” Darkwolf. The deep closet, crowded with mops and cleaning supplies, reeks of disinfectant and Pine-Sol.

  Each time I talk to Darkwolf, I’ve tried to use different methods of communication. We’ve even used cell phones in the past, but now that’s too dangerous. The Alliance has ways of tracking all types of phone calls to and from the Alliance headquarters.

  Most of the time, the magic Darkwolf endowed me with allows me to see him clearly in a water-filled cauldron, or I can see him in a three-dimensional image above it. Like Silver does, only I can’t vision like she can. This is more or less a magical telephone call.

  Once again I have taken Silver’s pewter cauldron from its storage place. For these few minutes she won’t miss it, and I’ll return the cauldron as soon as Darkwolf and I finish our discussion.

  For some reason Darkwolf likes it when I use Silver’s cauldron. When I do, his image is always stronger. I wonder if he’s still infatuated with her. My skin crawls and heat burns up my neck to my scalp.

  I go as deep as I can into the storage room and set the cauldron on a box of Styrofoam cups. “Darkwolf,” I say as I close my eyes for a moment, pushing my thoughts out and searching for him.

  It takes only a few moments and I sense his presence.

  I open my eyes and smile at the three-dimensional image of Darkwolf rising above the cauldron. His image is perhaps three feet high, but his presence is as powerful as if I were standing next to the seven-foot-tall warlock-god.

  “You rang?” he says with an amused smile. I like it when I catch him in a good mood.

  “I have news, my lord.” My own smile falters. “Through Rhiannon’s vision just a little while ago, we know the Mystwalkers of Otherworld have joined the Alliance. Worse yet, the Mystwalkers have created a weapon that can kill Stormcutters before they even materialize.”

  Darkwolf scowls so harshly that for a moment I recoil, but then his expression relaxes. “Not a problem. I have created thousands of Stormcutters, and will continue to do so until our forces are tens of thousands strong.”

  A breath of relief eases through me. I don’t like delivering bad news to him. He’s taking this very well.

  I rub my sweaty palms on my jeans. “The Mystwalkers will still be an asset to the Alliance. With their ability to turn into mist—”

  A loud gasp behind me.

  I whirl and catch my breath when I see Mackenzie standing just inside the doorway. One of the self-righteous D’Anu bitches.

  How could I have forgotten to lock the door?

  No matter. I know what I have to do.

  “You?” she whispers, and puts her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with shock.

  Fury flushes my body with heat and power. The dark, dark power Darkwolf has given me.

  Mackenzie starts to take a step back, but I whip out a strong rope of my enhanced magic, wrapping it around the doorknob and jerking the door shut. I seal it with a shield so she can’t get out. The shield is strong enough to keep anyone from hearing what will happen.

  “Dear Anu—” Mackenzie starts to throw a shield up between us, but I’m too fast.

  My skin prickles with dark sorcery and I feel invincible as I fling another rope using my other hand.

  I wrap the magic rope around her neck.

  Mackenzie tries to scream, but I’m taking away her ability to even breathe.

  “Bitch,” I growl as my gaze never leaves hers. “You’ve always thought yourself better than me. Or anyone else for that matter.” Heat and power flush through me, along with triumph as she instinctively claws at the rope of magic.

  At once I see the realization that she can’t remove my rope. Hope ebbs in her now bulging eyes as she makes a weak attempt to use her magic against me.

  The small spellfire ball she releases lands short, dropping into a mop bucket, where it fizzles.

  Mackenzie mouths, “Please,” as she begs for her life.

  She is an interesting shade of purple now. Her back hits the door as she crumples. The shield I cast behind her muffles the sound of her body striking the wood.

  She puts up a good fight and doesn’t die as fast as I expected her to. She thrashes on the floor.

  I tighten my rope of dark sorcery.

  The crack of bone echoes in the confined space.

  Silence.

  Mackenzie’s entire body goes slack, her head twisted to the side at an odd angle.

  When I turn back to the cauldron, to my surprise, Darkwolf hasn’t left. He’s been watching.

  He nods and his smile broadens. “I didn’t know you had it in you. I’d say you’ve more than proved yourself.”

  “I never really liked her, anyway.” I look at Mackenzie’s body at the same time I draw back my magic, although I keep the door shut tight and my shield up. The moment I drop my shield the other witches will sense Mackenzie’s murder.

  It already smells of death in the storeroom, and I wrinkle my nose before looking back at Darkwolf.

  “Go on before you get caught.” His form starts to waver and I miss him already. “I look forward to your next report,” he adds before his image disappears.

  “Yes, my lord.” My voice trails as I scowl at Mackenzie’s body. A total nuisance since I’ll have to get out of here as fast as I can without being discovered. I glance at Silver’s cauldron and consider it. I’ll just leave it where it’s at.

  A plan begins to form in my mind and a pleasant shiver skims over my body.

  For all anyone will know, Mackenzie could have been murdered by Darkwolf when she was in contact with him. With the power of two gods and his own dark sorcery, he could do it easily. Somehow I’ll make sure everyone thinks Mackenzie was the traitor.

  With a feeling of satisfaction warm in my belly, I use a quick spell to wipe any fingerprints or traces of my magic from the cauldron. I even cause the wat
er to disappear to make sure none of Darkwolf’s essence is detected—nothing they might use to discover me.

  The moment I’m finished, I step over Mackenzie’s slack body, ignoring her wide, terrified, bulging eyes. I wait before I drop my shield and use my enhanced senses to determine if anyone is close.

  A D’Danann warrior walks by, followed by two PSF officers.

  I hold my breath.

  Finally the corridor is empty. The moment I release my shield, I pull a glamour and practically bolt from the storage room after I quietly shut the door.

  I hear Silver’s anguished scream from across the warehouse.

  Closer, Rhiannon shouts, “No!”

  I curse under my breath as I rush from the hallway to my bedroom.

  For just a moment, as I drop my glamour, I lean my back against the door and catch my breath.

  Then I scream, too.

  25

  Cassia stared at where her mother had been standing, a hopeless feeling washing over her. The Great Guardian wasn’t going to help them beyond what she had offered.

  And what she had offered wasn’t acceptable.

  Slowly Cassia turned her gaze from the now empty spot on the grass and met Jake’s eyes. He had refused the Guardian’s two choices—

  Magic or Daire.

  For a moment she didn’t know what to do. What to think.

  “I’m sorry, honey.” Jake shook his head. “I can’t do it that way. I won’t have another man with us, and I’m not about to change who I am to suit your mother.”

  “I wouldn’t want you to change.” Cassia tried to smile but just couldn’t do it. “And Daire—it was wrong of the Guardian to ask that of either one of us.”

  Jake looked at the place the Guardian had been standing. “That b—your mother—” He met Cassia’s eyes again, his gaze hard. “I’m just not going to accept that there isn’t another way to make things work with us.”

  Cassia clenched her teeth as tightly as she was clenching the Mystwalker collar in her fist. Even though she knew she should keep her distance, Cassia started to move toward Jake, needing to be closer to his warmth.

  A vision hit her so hard she stumbled backward.