The Tome of Bill (Book 8): The Last Coven

by Rick Gualtieri

  “Meg,” Veronica replied. “We don’t know.”

  “What happened?” Christy asked.

  Kelly threw her hands up in frustration. “You know Meg. She just couldn’t zip it. Needless to say, Kala wasn’t too pleased.”

  “Did she ... hurt her?” I asked.

  “Like I said, we don’t know. Kala had her taken away. Said she needed to be taught the meaning of respect.”

  “Respect?”

  “Yep. Said she was unworthy of her power and needed to be taught to respect her mother or some crap like that.”

  “Shit!”

  “What is it?” Christy asked me.

  “Calibra gave us a bit of a history lesson when we got here. Long story short, she seemed hung up on the whole motherhood thing, especially when it came to some of her kiddies.”

  “Goddamn it!” Sally said. “The Source. She’s going to turn Meg into a Jahabich.”

  Kelly stood up. “We need to get moving, then.”

  I stepped in front of her and held up a hand. “Not so fast.”

  “What do you mean? Get out of the...”

  “What I mean is that we’re fucked if we go marching out that door all half-assed. I probably don’t need to remind anyone that Calibra is pretty much all powerful down here. Not to mention she has an army of both Jahabich and Magi.”

  Veronica stepped up. “We’re not alone, though. We can...”

  “I am afraid I must concur with the Freewill on this.”

  I turned to find James and Gan heading our way, while the other vamps continued to work at the far end of the cave.

  It embarrasses me to say this,” James continued, “but Calibra ... Ib...” There was a note of disgust in his voice as he said her chosen name. “Her powers of compulsion are like nothing I have ever seen before.” He hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “As formidable a force as these fine fellows might be, they ... we would be helpless before her. You, too, my dear Sally. Only the Freewill has the power to resist her call.”

  “That is not entirely true, Wanderer,” Gan replied.

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah,” I added. “Gan’s immune now. She helped us get down here.”

  “Really?” James raised an eyebrow. “I had assumed the Freewill had simply awoken you a few moments before me. But how...” He paused for a moment, then turned and looked at me. “Your friend?”

  “Yeah, the not-so-pure one.”

  “Intriguing. It seems there was a reason she wanted him after all. Tell me, does Lord Alexander know of this?”

  “I should say he does not,” Gan replied. Though James was a member of the First Coven, the ruling body of the vampires, and the guys you absolutely did not fuck with unless you wanted to end up as dust, Gan talked to him as if he should’ve been filling her wine glass.

  I had to admit, I wasn’t quite sure where to place my money if things got ugly between them.

  However, James was not your typical vamp. “All things considered, perhaps that is for the best. I do not suppose you are able to share this new ... gift?”

  Gan averted her eyes and gave her head a single shake, looking almost embarrassed.

  “So far, Ed’s the only infectious carrier,” I explained.

  “I see.” James narrowed his eyes at me and turned serious. “This is news that should not leave this room if you wish for your friend to continue breathing. Fortunately for us all, there seems to be some residual effect of Ib’s compulsion on my short term memory.”

  His meaning was clear – he was willing to forget we’d ever mentioned it. As I said, he was a good egg among bad guys.

  Awesome as that was, Sally decided to drag us all back to reality. “That’s great and all, but it still doesn’t change the fact that we’re fucked the second that bitch decides we are.”

  “Maybe not,” Christy said.

  “What?”

  “Before all of this, when I was still trying to get your memory back, I started working on a spell.”

  “Hold on,” I interrupted. “You’re in no condition to...”

  “Please continue, Christine,” James said, the authority in his voice making it clear I should ixnay my outhmay.

  “I hope your short term memory loss counts for this, too,” she replied with a grin. “When I was in Sally’s head, I was also studying what Alexander had done to her. Powerful stuff, not easy to undo, but I learned a lot about how compulsion works. Bill was telling me all about them, how there are two kinds – focused and wide.”

  James glanced my way, a bemused smirk upon his face. “Why do I not find that surprising?” Oh yeah, I was definitely gonna be on the receiving end of a lecture for this one.

  “What I was working on might not be so hot for the focused ones,” Christy continued, “but I think I came up with a way to insulate ... that’s the word you guys use, right? Anyway, I came up with a spell, combining what I learned with my knowledge of mind magic, that could insulate other Magi from a wide compulsion, no matter who might throw it out.”

  “And?”

  “And, I have no idea how well or how long it would work, but I think it could be effective in shielding vampires, too.”

  “You think it could be effective?” James asked, his face unreadable.

  “It isn’t much to go on, I know.”

  “It is much more than we had before,” he said. “If it fails, we shall be no worse off. If it succeeds, however...”

  “We can give that bitch a bloody nose she won’t forget,” Sally finished.

  “It would give us a chance to escape,” he clarified. “I am sorry to say, but I have no confidence in our ability to defeat Calibra with our current resources.”

  “I must disagree, Wanderer,” Gan said. “My beloved is here. If I am to assume correctly, then that means the Shining One is, too.” She looked at me expectantly, a knowing smile on her face that I so wanted to erase with my fist.

  Instead, I replied, “Yeah, she’s here, too. Somewhere outside. But she’s...”

  “Do you not see?” Gan asked James. “The prophecy is nigh. These are the end times that were spoken of. The Shining One will lay low the Magi while my beloved destroys Ib. Then he will strike her down, paving the way for our future.”

  “Um, not to nitpick,” Kelly said, “but as one of the Magi in question, I kinda take issue with some of that.”

  “Destiny cannot be denied,” Gan replied, as if discussing the weather. “I would suggest you prepare yourself in whatever manner you find most dignified.”

  I stepped between them before things could further devolve. “Okay, enough of this bullshit. Let’s get something straight. Sheila isn’t going to destroy the mages and I’m not fighting her. The only one I’m here to end is Calibra.”

  “So you say now, my love.”

  “Will you please shut the fuck up? Did you ever think that maybe your precious fucking prophecy has been interpreted wrong?”

  She, James, and the rest all stared at me expectantly.

  “Um, for starters,” I began, not entirely sure where I was taking this, “maybe it’s not an Icon I’m supposed to face. Calibra seems to think she’s walking around in a perpetual white wedding. Well, couldn’t those blind assholes have seen her in her stupid dress and misinterpreted it?” I was grasping at straws, nothing more, but it kinda made sense.

  “Go on,” James prodded.

  “And she’s a mage, too, their so-called White Mother. If Sheila were to, for instance, shove her sword up that bitch’s ass, wouldn’t she be sort of killing the mages’ belief system, their way of life?”

  “And the part about the final battle?” Sally asked with a smirk. She seemed to be enjoying the grave I was digging myself.

  But, with a flash of insight, I realized I was ready for her this time. “That makes sense, too. If I win, things go on as they have. We remain creatures of darkness, so our world just continues as it is and we rule it from the shadows, not much different than we do now. If Calibra wins, however, sh
e fucks with Ed and makes an army of sunlight-loving vampires. They stride out into the light and conquer the world. See? It’s all open to interpretation.”

  James, for his part, seemed amused at my trying to rewrite a prophecy that had probably been studied for thousands of years. Oh well, fuck it. They could’ve all been wrong.

  “I still believe our best plan of action is escape,” he said at last. “However, if fate is indeed nigh, then it may not be possible, regardless of whatever interpretation we give it.” He turned to Christy. “How long would it take you to put your spell into effect?”

  Shit! My whole point in speaking out was to keep that from happening, yet as usual, I got fucking sidetracked. “Christy is in no shape to do card tricks, much less muck around with every head in the building.”

  “I understand your concerns for your friend, Dr. Death,” James replied. “However, I believe our options in this are limited.”

  “Then we’ll find another...”

  “No,” Christy said from behind me. I turned to find her back on her feet. “We’re going to do this.”

  “You’re in no condition,” I said.

  “Can’t believe I’m saying this,” Sally added, “but Bill’s right.”

  “I appreciate the concern.” She smiled at both of us. “I really do. But this is my choice.” Before either of us could protest, her voice hardened. “Everything I ever believed in is a lie ... everything. Not only that, but Kala tried to kill my baby. There is nothing I will not do to repay that bitch threefold.”

  Whoa. Even the other witches backed up as Christy stepped forward and came face to face with James.

  “I don’t know whose interpretation of this prophecy I agree with anymore, but I stand with those who say its time is now. I’ll perform this ritual, this spell, but not for those who choose to run. This ends here and now. If you stand with us, I will do everything I can to help you. But I swear before all the gods, I will have no mercy on any who stand between me and Kala’s end.”

  James and she locked eyes for several seconds. If he took this the wrong way, as the other Dracs certainly would, it could end very badly for her. After a few moments, though, he grinned. “Well said, Christine Fenton. You shame me with your words, but perhaps I needed to be reminded of my station. I have lived a long fulfilling life, with few regrets. If I am destined to die, it could not be with better company.”

  “Awesome,” Sally said with a shrug. “Now if we’re done with the feel goods, let’s get a move on. I, for one, am tired of people fucking with my brain.”

  “There’s just one small problem,” I said.

  “Just one?” James asked.

  “No, but it’s a big one. All of this talk about stopping Calibra and the Jahabich ... how are we going to do that?”

  Christy looked at me knowingly. “We’ve already discussed this.”

  “I’m well aware, but...” I tried to be mindful of present company. James was a good guy and I had no doubt he was on our side, but he was still one of the Draculas. It was probably best to keep our plans for Alex out of this discussion. “I hate to tell you this, but Harry is dead.”

  “I...”

  “I mean, really dead this time.”

  Christy looked down at the floor for a few moments, then let out a deep breath. “He chose his path. It doesn’t change anything.”

  “But the spell...”

  “Spell?” James asked.

  “Err...”

  “To stop the Jahabich,” Sally said, bailing me out. Her ability to massage the truth with a straight face outclassed mine several times over. “Last time we were here, we discovered a spell. We think it can be used to lock the Jahabich away for good. Maybe Calibra, too. Christy’s been working on it.”

  “That is excellent news,” James replied.

  “With some uncooperative company,” I added.

  “I have what I need,” Christy said. “The plan hasn’t changed.”

  “But I thought you said he was...”

  “I also once told you I was good with mind magic.” Again, her voice turned to steel. “I got what I needed from him.”

  Her meaning was clear. She’d forced his secrets from him at some point. Goddamn, this chick was hardcore when she wanted to be.

  “Preparing both spells is going to take some time,” Christy added, breaking the uncomfortable silence. “And I’m going to need my sisters’ help.”

  “What about Meg?” Kelly asked. “We can’t just leave her...”

  “I’ll go.”

  Sally turned to me. “You’re kidding, right? No, of course you’re not. This is both stupid and suicidal, two of your fortes.”

  “You know me so well.” I reached out and pinched her cheek. “It’s kinda cute.”

  She slapped my hand away. “I’m pretty sure the welcome wagon has been recalled in favor of the war party by now.”

  “No doubt, but we still have friends out there and at least I can’t be compelled.” I turned to Christy. “Just don’t take all day.”

  “I will go too,” Gan offered. “My beloved and I stand as equals in this regard.”

  “Awww, and you didn’t even get her flowers for your date.”

  I shot Sally a withering glance. Sadly, Gan was right. If there was one vampire who was ideal to join me in this, it was her. Oh, well, maybe it was for the best. With her by my side, constantly reminding me of our future together, I would almost certainly not fear death.

  “Just one problem, genius.” Sally hooked a thumb back toward where the vamps were still building a giant barrier of dead Jahabich. “Even if we open the front door again, you’re going to have a hell of a time fighting your way out of this place.”

  She had a wee bit of a point there. I glanced at the ceiling. No, probably not. There was no way of knowing how deep beneath the other cave we were. Besides, I didn’t favor playing undead gopher.

  “We can send you with our magic,” Christy offered.

  “Hold on, I thought this whole cavern was warded against people zapping in unannounced. That’s why we had to go to all that trouble finding a tunnel leading in.”

  “The entrances, maybe, but not once you’re inside. I can feel it,” she said. “Too many Magi here anyway. Even with Kala spoon-feeding them her dogma, they’d get antsy if they were too restricted.”

  Veronica leaned in. “Also, a lot of mages really don’t like to walk if they don’t have to.”

  “That is potentially disturbing to hear,” James said. “It begs the question of why Ib has not opted to simply appear here in this place and retake control.”

  “Holy shit, you’re right. She could...”

  “She won’t,” Sally said.

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “Because of you, stupid. Think about it. She purposely told us she plans to eliminate Freewills from the equation. That might have just been idle speculation on her part, but then you had to go and prove you were actually dangerous by popping her one in the face.”

  “Is this true?” James asked.

  “Hell yeah. Bill buffed out and sent her through a wall.”

  He turned to me. “So you have finally mastered your powers?”

  I shrugged. “Mastered is such a strong word.”

  “Anyway,” Sally continued, “she’s not an idiot. She has to know by now, especially since our corpses weren’t dragged back up, that we’ve managed to free her VIP prisoners. Zapping in here would be dangerous for her. There are two vampires she can’t control, one of whom is physically a threat.” She looked at me, then sighed. “In theory, anyway. Not only that, but we have witches with us. She’d probably still kick all of our asses, but I’m willing to bet there’s just enough doubt there for her to rethink how best to handle things.”

  “Good enough for me, but how does that help once Gan and I are gone?”

  “We’ll take care of that,” Christy said. “This place isn’t warded right now, but it will be the second we finish sending you.” />
  “Will that keep her out?”

  “Not forever, but we don’t need it to. Just long enough for the insulation to take hold.”

  “Good enough,” I said, even though I wasn’t certain of it. “Let’s do this. Send us to Meg.”

  The three witches looked uncomfortably at each other for a moment.

  “What? Did I say the magic word or something?”

  “It’s not that simple, Bill,” Christy said at last. “There’s too many Magi up above, not to mention The Source. It would be like trying to scry a needle in a haystack.”

  “I’m gonna assume that means it’s difficult.”

  “Quite a bit.”

  “Shit. Sheila’s a fucking magical dead spot. So that’s no good.” At least I hoped she was. There was no way of knowing if ... no! I couldn’t allow myself to think that way. She was fine. She had to be. Regardless, sticking around here wouldn’t do dick to help her. Difficult as it was, I forced myself to focus on the task at hand. “Ed maybe?”

  “I wouldn’t even know how to look for him now,” Christy admitted. “Unless you maybe plucked a hair from his head or something.”

  “Wasn’t the first thing on my mind, sorry.”

  “Wait,” Sally said. “Dead spot. That might be it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She ignored me and turned to Christy. “If this place is filled to the brim with magical static or whatever it is, could you maybe find her by trying to filter in reverse?”

  I clapped her on the shoulder. “Good idea. If you can find a hole in the magic, that’s gotta be her.”

  “It’s a burden to be so brilliant, but I somehow live with it.”

  Christy appeared to mull it over for a moment, then nodded. “That actually might work.”

  It was probably the best we could do with what we had, and time was running short for new options.

  “Let’s do this, then.”

  SCARY MONSTER ALL-OUT ATTACK

  Kelly and Veronica managed to locate a very small magical dead zone somewhere above us. Crossing my fingers that was Sheila, Gan and I stepped into a hastily drawn circle in the dirt and they zapped us out of there.