“And there are other things to think about,” Rann glanced down at a slightly more active Jewel, and Seawitch, whose eyes were moving now. That was more life than he’d seen in her before. He was pleased Damnam had taken responsibility for her. He hadn’t liked the thought that he might have to kill her.
Jewel’s hand moved, and she braced herself on his thigh to push herself into a more upright position, flinching as she moved.
“Thank you.” She formed the words carefully. “I thought . . .” Her voice trailed off, her shakiness obviously due to more than the spell.
“Jewel . . .” Rann wanted to tell her how scared he’d been. He was a demigod who’d been afraid of nothing in all his long years. He wanted to tell her that he would never let her out of his sight again. He took a deep breath and knew it would have to wait until she was back to normal. By the look of her, he figured she should be completely recovered by the next morning, physically at least.
The door opened, and a maid sidled in.
“Shall I bring the food in here?” She looked about fifteen and wouldn’t meet anyone’s eye. “Or we could serve it in the dining room?” She glanced up at Lila then ducked her head again.
“Here’s fine.” Lila nodded at her.
“Wait.” Fergal’s command stopped the girl in her tracks. She inched round slowly to face him.
“Come here.” She shuffled towards him, gaze focussed on the carpet.
“What’s your name?”
“Rima.”
“And your skills?”
“Minor.” The girl risked a glance at him.
“Where are you from?” Fergal inspected her.
“West London coven.” The girl mumbled.
“Fostered?”
“Apprenticed.” She looked up again briefly.
“Right.” Fergal dismissed her. “You can go.” She hurried out of the room.
“What was all that about?” Maya watched the door close.
“I want to know the coven.” Fergal stared at Maya. “The members. Who’s a principal power and who’s just a hanger on.”
“Why?”
Fergal shrugged and turned away without answering. He and Maya were going to butt heads at some point.
Chapter 26
Jewel woke up. Her head felt as though it had been wrapped in cotton wool, but at least it didn’t ache any longer. Testing her ability to move, she stretched her legs and tensed the muscles in her arms, before blowing out a long breath of relief. Her whole body hurt, especially her back, but everything seemed to be in working order.
She lay still, eyes straining to see through the dim light.
Where am I? This isn’t my bed, and it isn’t Maya’s flat.
Her heart picked up speed as she remembered various scenes from the past day. The knife hovering above her, Alberic’s dark malevolent gaze, her mother’s manic laughter. She rolled onto her side and bumped into a warm body. A small squeak escaped her, and she jerked away.
“Jewel?” Rann whispered into the darkness. “How do you feel?”
Rann?
She went weak from relief.
Am I in his bed? How did I get here?
She pushed herself into a sitting position. Her arms trembled. “Where . . .?”
“The witches headquarters,” Rann answered the question she would have asked if she’d been able to string a sentence together. “One of the guest bedrooms.”
He reached across her and flicked on a switch, bathing them in a circle of soft lamplight.
Jewel rubbed her forehead. Her mind felt as wobbly as her arms. “I don’t remember.”
“Just as well.”
She strained to catch Rann’s words, took a deep breath, and asked the question. “Tell me. What happened? Why am I here?”
“What do you remember?”
“Kara. I made her some coffee.” Jewel screwed up her face in an effort to recollect the sequence of events. “There was Alberic. I was in a car. Then they put me in the cells. Seawitch as well, I think.”
“She—”
“She drugged me.” Jewel remembered the syringe. “Then Alberic came in.”
“So how do you feel now?” Rann sounded worried and placed one naked muscular arm round her shoulders. Even through her confusion, that registered with Jewel. She twitched nervously, torn between the urge to nestle into Rann’s side and the need to inch away.
“A bit shaky? My back hurts. And my throat.”
Jewel considered her body. The skin on her arms and legs tingled. She surmised that might have been due to her proximity to a large, possibly naked sea god. “And my memory’s patchy. It seems to be coming back, though.”
“Not necessarily a good thing.” Rann smoothed his hand over her shoulder then stroked her neck. “You’ve got some impressive bruises.”
“They were going to sacrifice me.” A shaft of reminiscent fear speared Jewel. “Alberic had a knife. A huge knife. My mother gave it to him.” Her voice ended with a tremble. Rann pulled her against him. His lips pressed her shoulder, and she took a shaky breath.
“My mother. She planned to kill me.” Jewel’s voice sounded cold even to herself. “What happened to her?”
“Fergal locked her in one of the cells.” Rann shifted sideways and waited until she looked up at him. “She’s completely insane.”
“I hope so.” Jewel didn’t want to contemplate the fact that her mother had coldly decided to kill her in order to power a spell. “But if so, she’s been insane for a long time.”
“I think—”
“Alberic?” Jewel jerked upright as terror shot through her body. “Where—”
“Dead.” Rann stroked her soothingly.
“How?” Jewel began to pull herself together, and she wanted to know what had happened.
“I broke his neck.” Rann’s voice resonated with satisfaction. “And he was sucked into a hellgate. He must have made some promise to some underworld demon. His body and soul were taken. Although . . .” His voice trailed off.
Jewel shuddered, glad she hadn’t seen that bit. She couldn’t bring herself to regret Alberic’s end.
“So why are we here? And why are you in my bed?”
“There’s space for us all here. And I was worried about you. I didn’t want to leave you alone.”
Jewel thought about that for a second. Perhaps it’s nice to be protected occasionally. “Who’s all?”
“Me, you, Lykos, Lila, Maya, Fergal, Damnam, Seawitch, Micael—”
“Damnam? Micael? My ex? That Micael?”
What on earth is he doing here?
“Damnam turned up looking for his seawitch. And Kara’s in the cells. Fergal suggested calling the coven to meet here. After all—”
Jewel circled back. “Micael?” she asked again.
“Mmm.” Rann leaned back against the headboard. “Fergal found him in one of the cells. You don’t have to worry about him, though. He’s in the same state as Seawitch. Maybe worse.”
“Her name’s Meryll.” Jewel stared into space. The thought of Micael had brought back more unpleasant memories. “I don’t want to see him.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Anyway, what do you mean? The same state as Seawitch?”
“Definitely worse.” Rann nudged her with his shoulder. “He looks as though he’s been starved for months. Like a three-day-old corpse.”
Jewel tried to put the image out of her mind. “Maybe—”
“Damnam’s going to take him.” Rann shifted. “Or I can kill him if you want me to?”
Jewel assumed he meant Micael. “No.”
She shrugged Rann’s arm from her shoulders and scrambled to the side of the bed, lowering her trembling legs to
the carpet. Her feet touched the floor, and she straightened her knees. A grunt of pain escaped her lips. Her body felt as though she’d run a marathon or been subjected to an assault with a baseball bat. She rubbed her arms. They were naked, like the rest of her, and the image of Alberic’s large knife cutting her clothes away returned.
She glanced at Rann through her eyelashes. “I’m going to have a shower.” Wrapping her arms round herself, she edged away.
“Through there.” Rann pointed to one of the doors, and Jewel pushed it open.
The sound of raised voices penetrated the closed door of the sitting room. Jewel paused, and Rann draped his arm over her shoulders. The gesture of possession should have irritated her, but instead, it warmed her.
I might never have seen him again.
She pushed the door open and walked into a crowded scene.
The three large sofas were occupied by opposing factions. A complete stranger sat in the centre of the middle one, with Seawitch huddled against his side.
Damnam? It has to be.
He dominated the room, elegant in his designer business wear. He glanced up as Rann and Jewel entered, eyes flashing blue fire, before he returned his attention to Seawitch. As Jewel watched, she shifted slightly. Alberic’s death must have broken the spell that held her in a catatonic state. On Damnam’s other side, an emaciated figure slumped against the arm of the sofa. His long stringy hair was almost white, and a mottled scalp showed through the sparse strands. He looked familiar.
She stared harder. Micael?
Her hand flew to her mouth. Last time she saw him, he was a young man, with a wealth of androgynous good looks. She’d been in love with all that male beauty. Now the only word that came to her mind was withered. He didn’t move, and his eyes stared at something only he could see. Three-day-old corpse was a kind description.
Rann’s hand curled round her shoulder and squeezed.
“He looks dead.” She took a step forward, hand covering her mouth.
Damnam’s blue gaze focussed on her. “The witch did that. The spell will wear off once she’s had her magic removed.” His eyes swirled with colour. “Or her life. Who are you?”
“Jewel.” She felt a weird tug of attraction. “Kara’s my mother.”
“The mad witch?” Damnam’s mouth curled in distaste. “What about you? Are you insane as well?”
Jewel hadn’t even considered that as a possibility. Genetic insanity. She wasn’t going to think about it now either, so she wrenched her attention from Damnam’s mesmeric presence and back to Micael. Despite what he’d done to her, she didn’t want to see him like that. “What’s going to happen to him?”
“I’ll take him back with me.” Damnam spoke carelessly. “He used to be one of my servants.”
“But—”
“He might recover. With help. I have a good employee benefits plan.” Damnam examined the motionless figure. He shrugged. “Maybe he won’t.” He sounded unconcerned.
Jewel covered her mouth with one hand, feeling sick. Poor Micael. Surely he didn’t deserve this?
“When are you returning to your island?” Lykos didn’t sound particularly friendly. A small breeze wafted through the room. “Soon would be best.”
Damnam’s sapphire eyes sparkled. “After the witch has been dealt with.”
“What does that matter to you?” The wind picked up.
“My servant.”
“Micael? We should just kill him.”
“Lykos.” Lila reproved him.
“He’s a criminal. A rogue. He tried to sell you to Damnam. He kidnapped your sister.” The wind died down, but he glowered at Damnam whose smile spread across his face. “Anyway, look at the state of him. It would be doing him a favour.”
“He failed.” Lila touched her husband’s hand with one finger. “Let’s move on.”
Lykos grunted and folded his arms. “When do you want to leave?”
“After the circle has dealt with Kara.”
Lykos frowned. “Why do you have to stay?”
“My duty.” Lila returned his frown.
Jewel realised that she would still be expected to form the circle and deal with her mother. At least Lila plans to stay.
“You mean to lead the circle?” Fergal spoke from the sofa where he’d been involved in a low conversation with Maya. Judging from the expression on her face, it hadn’t been an amicable discussion.
“The coven told me it was my role.” Jewel shrugged.
“That’s right.” Fergal got to his feet. “It should be a relative. Are you the only one?”
“I think so.”
“I’m sorry. It must be painful for you.”
Jewel’s face must have shown her confusion.
“She is your mother, and to see her like that. It must have been a shock.”
“I hate her. I wish she was dead.” The words flew from her lips, and she clamped a hand over her mouth. When no one said anything, she dropped her hand and bit her lip. “She always hated me. Ever since I was a child. She wanted me dead even then. She tried to kill me.” To her own dismay, Jewel burst into a storm of tears.
Maya jumped up from her slumped position on the sofa and headed towards her. Lila left Lykos and wrapped her arms round Jewel, using her empath’s talent to send out tendrils of comfort.
Jewel sniffed. “I’m sorry.”
Her head ached, and she just wanted to get away.
“It’s okay.” Rann pulled Jewel back against him. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I do.” She stamped her foot, in an imitation of her teenage tantrums.
“Not until tomorrow.” Fergal leaned against the arm of the sofa. “Why don’t you rest until then?”
“I don’t want to rest.” Jewel was horrified to realize she was pouting.
She stole another glance at Micael and felt sick. She clutched Rann’s arm. “I want to get out of here. I hate the place. It makes me feel ill.”
Damnam inspected her carefully. “You can come back with me. To the Channel Islands. I can always find a use for a witch.” His voice soothed and seduced at the same time.
Jewel wanted to please that voice more than anything. She rubbed her stinging eyes. Maybe if I let him take me back to his island everything will be all right.
She pulled against Rann’s arm and towards Damnam.
“Leave her alone.” Lila’s interjection pulled her out of a trance-like state.
Damnam shrugged gracefully. “I’d be good to her.”
The seawitch stirred against him, and he rubbed her shoulder, quieting the restless movement.
“Damnam.” Rann’s voice sank, the tone signalling danger, and a roll of thunder echoed round the room.
“Yours, is she?” Damnam didn’t appear to be impressed. His interest sharpened as he studied Jewel again. She huddled closer to Rann, fighting the tug of Damnam’s attraction.
“Why don’t we go back to my flat?” Maya hovered in a very un-Maya like way. “We can always come back here later.”
“I’ll stay.” Fergal looked round at the others. “Make sure everything’s under control.”
“I’ll stay here until after the banishing.” Damnam stroked the patchy head of his seawitch. “With my servants.”
His blue gaze washed over the room. His attention had drifted away from Jewel, and she let out a deep sigh of relief.
“And us.” Lila glanced at Fergal. “If that’s okay? We could always go back to the hotel?”
Fergal nodded. It appeared that he intended to take control.
Lykos clenched his teeth, shot a warning glare at Damnam, but didn’t argue.
“Come on.” Rann tugged on Jewel’s hand and, followed by Maya, they left the room. The rumble of discussio
n faded as Maya slammed the door behind her.
“Who does he think he is?” Maya had walked back to the flat in silence, but now she paced the sitting room and irritation erupted from her.
“Who?” Jewel sank onto the sofa. Her legs still felt shaky. Rann sat next to her, the heat from his body warming her.
“Fergal. That’s who.” Maya paused and folded her arms, glaring down at them. “Taking charge. Trying to tell me what to do.”
“He does have a stake in this,” Jewel suggested. “Look what she did to him?”
“I think he’s going to take control of the coven.”
“Well someone has to.” Jewel didn’t want to discuss it, but Maya looked really angry. “You don’t want to do it, do you?”
“Well . . .”
“Maya. You’re twenty-seven. The elders find you threatening. There’d be a split in the coven.” Jewel sympathised, but Maya was far too young to run a major coven.
Maya breathed between clenched teeth, making a sound like an angry cat. She ran her hands through her fiery hair. “I suppose so. But I don’t like being told what to do.” She swung round and stalked over to the window.
Rann draped his arm over Jewel’s shoulder and pulled her against him. She didn’t even try to fight. Her attention focussed on Maya.
“I guess no one’s had control for the last year. Kara’s been out of touch. And even before that, she was distant. I suppose for the last few years I’ve made decisions, and now . . .” Maya’s voice trailed away. “I might move on.”
Children of Poseidon: Rann Page 28
