Storm Born ds-1

by Richelle Mead

  My mother looked hurt.

  “It’s not personal. It’s business.”

  She started to argue, then shook her head and stood up. “I’ll go get them.”

  While she was gone, I dared a hasty assessment of my appearance. I was still in my underwear and camisole. The top in particular was ripped and dirty. I pulled the covers up almost to my neck and ran a hand over my hair and face. I could feel more dirt on my skin plus a scab on my cheek, distantly reminding me of a shard of something flying out and cutting me. My hair stuck out everywhere. I attempted to smooth it down, but then my mom returned with Kiyo and a strange woman.

  “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me,” Mom said protectively. She pulled the door closed behind her, all but a crack.

  Kiyo’s face told me all I needed to know about the way I looked.

  “You should see the other guy,” I said.

  A small smile broke over his face. “I did. He’s in pieces in the other room.”

  “Oh.”

  He beckoned to the woman. “Eugenie, this is Maiwenn, queen of the Willow Land.”

  I started in surprise. She didn’t look like a Willow Queen. Of course, I’m not sure what exactly I expected-maybe something akin to Glinda the Good Witch. But this woman looked like Surfer Girl Barbie. Her skin glowed with a deep bronze tan. Platinum blond hair fell in supermodel waves to her waist. Her eyes were the color of the sea in the sun, blue-green with long lashes. She wore a simple blue dress, a bit old-fashioned but nothing that screamed, “I’m a fairy queen.” It was looser than the form-fitting gowns other gentry women seemed to favor but was still quite pretty. My feelings of inadequacy about my appearance increased tenfold.

  “Nice to meet you,” I said. I could hear the tentativeness in my voice. Kiyo might swear to her character, but I still carried a lot of apprehension around the gentry, monarch or no.

  “And you,” she said. Her voice was rich and sweet, her face serene. “I’m sorry I could not heal you too.”

  “‘Too’? Oh…was it you? Did you heal my mother? She doesn’t remember anything…”

  She nodded. “I didn’t have the power to heal you both. She was more severely injured, and with your age and stamina-and your blood-well, I thought you’d have an easier time recovering.”

  I thought about the aches and pains shooting through my body. Easier? That might be a subjective term.

  “You made the right choice. Thanks. I’ll be fine.”

  Kiyo stuffed his hands in his pockets and leaned against the wall. “Eugenie doesn’t like to admit weakness. It’s one of her more charming traits.”

  I shot him a glare, and Maiwenn offered a small, polite smile. “Nothing wrong with that.” She approached me and extended a hand toward my face. “I think I have enough strength for a small healing. May I?”

  I nodded, not entirely sure what I was agreeing to.

  Her fingertips grazed my cheek, icy cold but gentle. A tingle ran through me, and she drew back, suddenly looking pale and tired. Kiyo started to help her when she stumbled, but she waved him off. “There. No scarring this way.” My fingers examined the place she had touched. No more scab.

  “Thank you.” Silence fell, and I looked from face to face. With me in bed and them hanging around so casually, I didn’t really feel like I was having a meeting with a bona fide queen. It was all so informal. “What happened?”

  They exchanged uncertain glances. “We’re not really sure,” he said. “You and your mother were both unconscious. The elemental was dead, and your living room…it looks kind of bad.”

  “But…that was it?”

  His eyebrows rose. “What more could there be?”

  “There was no storm when you showed up?”

  They exchanged conspiratorial looks again, and something about their solidarity rankled me.

  “Tell us what you remember,” Maiwenn said.

  I did, starting with the spirit attack and ending with the vicious storm.

  Neither spoke when I finished. Kiyo sighed.

  “What?” I demanded. “What happened? You obviously know.”

  “It’s complicated.”

  “Everything’s complicated lately. Let me guess. It was the magic, wasn’t it? Storm King’s inherited power?”

  He didn’t answer. She did.

  “Yes. It seems it has been passed down after all.”

  “Can I stop it? Keep it locked up so it doesn’t come out again?”

  “Not likely. You might be able to bury it so it isn’t consciously used, but…if it’s there, it’s likely to burst out again when your emotions let loose. You’ll get the same kind of disastrous results if you don’t learn to manage it.”

  “I don’t want it.” I shuddered, recalling that horrible blackness and deadly lightning. Uneasily, I remembered what Volusian had told me, that embracing my magic could protect me and those I loved. I looked at Maiwenn nervously, hating what I was about to ask. “But I don’t want to hurt anyone either. Can you teach me to use it? Or at least control it?”

  Kiyo’s eyes widened. “Eugenie, no-”

  “What do you expect me to do?” I demanded. The expression on his face mirrored what I felt inside. “It’s not like I want to do this. But you saw what happened. I destroyed my house, and worse, I nearly killed my mother. And myself.”

  He sighed but didn’t argue. Maiwenn regarded him calmly.

  “She’s right.”

  “I know. But I don’t have to like it.”

  “I don’t know if I can teach you or not,” she murmured, turning back to me. “Your magic-storm magic-is a very physical, outward sort of power. Healing is more internal. Less aggressive. Some of the basics will be the same, but we’ll probably have to find you a teacher with similar powers.”

  Like someone who can call up pieces of the earth and rip castles apart, I thought. I didn’t give voice to that. Kiyo and I might be “friends,” but I immediately knew he wouldn’t like me getting close to Dorian.

  “Kiyo says you’re against the invasion thing, that you weren’t a supporter of Storm King.”

  “Yes. That was part of the reason I wanted to meet you. I’m happy you survived today, Eugenie Markham, but…this possibility of the prophecy coming true alarms me. I’ve spent years believing Storm King had no children. Your existence causes all sorts of complications.”

  It occurred to me then that Maiwenn might have slept easier if I’d been killed today.

  “So is it true?” she asked. “You have no intention of fulfilling the prophecy?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Turning one’s back on such power can’t be easy. Even now, you’re considering his magic.”

  “That’s a necessity. I don’t want it. Besides, none of this is about power. It’s about keeping my world safe. You forget that until a few weeks ago, I had no clue about any of this. In most ways-me whipping up a storm aside-I still consider myself human. I’m not going to let some army subjugate or destroy my race.”

  “You see?” Kiyo said to her. “I told you.”

  I could still see the doubt on her face.

  “I’m serious. I don’t want to usher in some terrible era of gentry domination. I sure as hell don’t want to be a plaything for every gentry guy. And even if the worst happens”-I shuddered, remembering the elemental’s proximity-“well, there are ways of making sure I don’t actually get or stay pregnant.” I didn’t feel like getting into logistics with her. “Hopefully, I can just keep up the avoidance, though. I’m not jumping into anyone’s bed soon.”

  Sympathy replaced Maiwenn’s doubt. “Yes. I’m truly sorry for what you’ve endured. It sickens me. I honestly can’t imagine it. You’ve surpassed your fearless reputation. I couldn’t have coped so bravely.”

  I thought again about the terror that had filled me when the elemental had me trapped. The tears. The desperation. I didn’t know how brave I’d really been.

  Kiyo’s eyes met mine then, and while Maiwenn looked distracte
d with thought, I think he might have glimpsed a little of my emotion. Affection for me burned on his face, and I fell into it. The moment shattered when a loud voice sounded outside my room.

  “What the fuck happened in here? No way am I cleaning this up!”

  Kiyo straightened up, alarmed, but I waved away his concern. “Don’t worry. It’s just my housemate.”

  Sure enough, Tim burst in, outrage written all over him. He wore buckskin pants and a matching vest over his bare chest. Feathers decorated his black hair. Beads ringed his neck. His face fell as soon as he saw me.

  “Oh God, Eug. Are you all right?”

  I started to give him the “other guy” line, then opted for simplicity. “Fine.”

  He jerked his thumb behind him. “That room’s in pieces.”

  “I know. Don’t worry. I’ll clean it up.”

  “What happened?”

  “You’re better off not knowing. Tim, this is Kiyo and Maiwenn.”

  Remembering himself, Tim raised his right hand in a sort of “How, white man” kind of way. “I am Timothy Red Horse. May the Great Spirit smile down upon you.” This latter part seemed to be for Maiwenn in particular. She smiled formally. Kiyo appeared to oscillate between hilarity and disgust.

  Greetings done, Tim walked over to me, shaking his head ruefully. “You’re into some crazy shit.”

  “You might want to find another place to stay,” I said seriously. “I don’t think it’ll be safe around here.”

  “Are you kidding? I’m never going to find this good a deal. What’s a little death and destruction?”

  “Tim-”

  His face sobered. “Don’t worry, Eug. I know what you do. If things heat up, I’ll get out.”

  “Did you see the living room? That’s pretty hot.”

  “Yeah, but so long as the house is standing…”

  “You’re more difficult than I am.” I remembered I was supposed to find a witch to boost the wards around my house. I’d forgotten. Instead, I had created some wards of my own, but they weren’t very strong, as evidenced by the recent invasion. A witch couldn’t keep everything out but would do a better job than me.

  Tim grinned. “Well, let’s not get carried away. Anyway. You look like you’re in the middle of something. You want anything? Chicken soup? Foot massage?”

  “You can get me a Milky Way. And see if my Def Leppard CD survived the war zone.”

  “Don’t get your hopes up on that last one.” He said goodbye to the others and left.

  “An odd man,” mused Maiwenn.

  “You have no idea.”

  Yet, while Tim and I had bantered, I’d noticed Maiwenn and Kiyo speaking quietly to each other in the corner. She had rested a hand on his arm as they talked, and there had been something almost…intimate in the way they stood together. Like they were comfortable being in each other’s personal space. Very comfortable. I remembered Kiyo’s resolute support of her, his claim that he worked with her because he believed in her cause. But was that truly it? Or was there more? She was a “good friend.” They stood apart now, but a jealous, ugly feeling kindled in my chest.

  She finally turned away from him and gave me a small, tight smile. “I don’t mean to be rude, but…I’m not feeling well and must return home.”

  “It’s no problem. Thanks for coming, and…thank you for healing my mother.”

  Maiwenn nodded, and I could tell she really was sick. Weariness ringed those lovely eyes. “I’m happy to. And I’m glad we were able to talk. You have no idea how relieved I am to see where you stand. I’ll do what I can to keep others from trying to…take liberties with you.”

  Kiyo’s fingertips brushed her arm to stop her, and I watched that contact with a critical eye. “Wait for me outside.”

  She nodded and then swept out of the room in all her golden beauty. Kiyo walked over to my bed and sat down, running a hand along my cheek.

  “I’m glad you’re okay. When I walked in…I thought you were dead.”

  “I’m hard to kill,” I said lightly.

  He smiled, shaking his head with exasperation. “I can believe that.”

  Reaching down, he picked up my hand and brought it to his lips, eyes on mine. He lingered a moment, and my skin burned where he kissed me. Then carefully, gently, he laid my hand back down, lacing his fingers with mine.

  “I’m going to make sure she crosses over okay, and then I’ll be back to stay with you.”

  “You gonna take care of me? Massage my feet and feed me chicken soup?”

  “Anything you want,” he promised. “That’s what friends do.” He kissed my hand again and then stood up. “Be back in a few minutes.”

  I could still feel where he’d kissed me, but for once, my infatuation with him went on hold. I was thinking about the conversation I’d just had. It still bothered me, but I’d meant what I said. Learning gentry magic was about the scariest thing-other than rape by a mud elemental-that I could imagine right now. Yet, I wanted no more storms in my living room, no storms anywhere that I was incapable of controlling.

  And for what it was worth, that meant getting a grip on my power. I knew whom I had to go to for that control, and it held its own set of terrors. Necessary evils, though. I had no choice.

  So while I waited for Kiyo’s return, I began a mental to-do list. Summon Volusian. Plot strategy. Buy high-heeled shoes…

  Chapter Sixteen

  I slept the rest of the day and most of the following one as well. Only the essentials got me out of bed-food, the bathroom, one phone call, and a meeting with Volusian after Kiyo had to leave for Phoenix.

  I was dozing around dinnertime that second day when Tim’s angry voice in the living room woke me up.

  “No! I don’t care. She needs to sleep, okay? I’ll give her the message, but stop calling.”

  I’d heard Tim use that tone only on a few people, so I had a good idea whom he spoke to. For whatever reason, despite having never met, he and Lara hated each other. Throwing on my robe, I shuffled out to the living room and saw him talking on my cell phone. The only progress we’d made in cleanup thus far was to sort of clear a walking path through the debris. He pulled the receiver from his face.

  “It’s that bitch secretary of yours. I wouldn’t have answered except that she keeps calling and calling. I told her you can’t take-”

  I reached for the phone. “It’s fine. I need to talk to her.”

  Glaring, he handed it over.

  “Did your asshole roommate just call me a bitch?” demanded Lara. “He has no right-”

  “Let it go,” I ordered. “Tell me what’s up.”

  “Well, I got your message. Did the shoes show up?”

  “Yeah, they’re great. What about the witch?”

  “I set it up. He’s going to come ward the place tonight. He’ll need you to let him in.”

  “No prob. I won’t be here, but Tim will.”

  “Okay, and about the other thing…”

  “Yeah?”

  A long pause. “Well, I don’t think I heard that part of the message right. It sounded like you said you needed a dress too.”

  “I do need a dress.”

  Silence.

  “What’s the matter? Didn’t I leave you my size?”

  “Yeah, you did, it’s just that…a dress? I mean, you’ve asked me to get you some pretty crazy stuff before-and I’m still kind of uneasy about that one time with the nitroglycerin-but this is really out there, even for you.”

  “Oh, stop it. Just take care of this.”

  I wasn’t keen on the dress either, but Volusian had insisted during our earlier bedside strategy session. If things fell into place with Dorian, I’d be attending an Otherworldly party on Beltane rather than waiting for an attack back here. Volusian had insisted I start making arrangements. What an age we lived in when spirit minions advised on fashion.

  “Any special requirements?”

  I considered. “Nothing bridesmaid or prom-ish. Think cocktail p
arty. Simple. But elegant.”

  “Sexy?”

  “Moderately.”

  “Color?”

  “As long as it looks good.”

  “All right. Got it. I’ll have it by next week. Oh, yeah, Wil Delaney called again.”

  “You don’t have to let me know anymore. I sort of take it as a given by now.”

  “So you don’t want to return it?”

  “No.”

  We disconnected, and I hit the shower. Beltane eve, the big night, was fast approaching. Tonight was the warm-up. The night I made my deal with the devil.

  After digging out my dusty blow-dryer, I dried and brushed my hair until it gleamed. I didn’t usually go for makeup-not having the patience-but a little foundation went a long way to hide the small bruises on my face from yesterday’s blowout. I considered mascara superfluous with already dark eyelashes, but when combined with some smoky eye shadow, it did make my eyes look bigger. More lipstick, and I barely recognized myself. I didn’t look slutty or anything, but it had certainly been a long time since I’d looked so polished.

  I considered a skirt but couldn’t go that far. Instead, I opted for tight jeans and the new half-heeled sandals. The tank top I selected was olive green, the same color as my moleskin coat, with thin straps meant to rest slightly off the shoulder. Each strap had a tiny ruffle along its edge, as did the low, cleavage-showing scoop neckline.

  Examining my reflection, I couldn’t help a wistful sigh. I looked better tonight than I had when I met Kiyo. If only he could see me now.

  I spritzed on some Violetta di Parma, grabbed my coat and weapons, and headed for the door. Tim nearly fell out of his chair when he saw me.

  “What are you doing? Are you going out? You can’t do that! Not after what happened yesterday.”

  “I’m feeling better,” I lied. Actually, it was only partially a lie. Did I feel good? No. Did I feel better than yesterday? Yes.

  “You’re crazy.”

  “Sorry. Got business that can’t wait.”

  “Dressed like that?” he asked skeptically.

  Ignoring him, I drove out to the gateway in the desert. The transition to the Otherworld was a little rough in light of my weakened physical state, but I managed. Volusian and Nandi waited for me at the crossroads when I arrived. Finn hadn’t felt like showing. It was one of the downsides of not having him bound to me. We set out along the road.