by Holly Evans
"Where do we start?" Matyas asked.
"You're with me, we're going to clear out Smíchov. Viktor and Dimitri, you start with Malá Strana and work your way to Vinohrady."
"That's a big area," Viktor said gruffly.
I smiled sweetly and said, “Best get moving then, hadn't you?"
Matyas and I set off at a light jog to the closest tram stop. We were going to destroy every witch-born creature, apparition, and shadow-thing that we could find. The witch had said that would remove some of their power; hopefully it'd hold back the hound's plans and give us a chance.
The tram was almost empty. People were still cowering in their homes, and I couldn't blame them. I glanced at Matyas and realised that I missed Lysander's presence. The bond must have been settling and edging past my misgiving of his species. I wondered if Elise could fix that for me. We jumped off the tram at Bertramka, which stood in contrast to the previous stop of Anděl. The old buildings looked well-worn and ready to eject their occupants. Faded mustard-yellow paint covered the patchy plasterwork of the upper half of one building; the deep-red window frame surrounded a grimy cracked window. The classic lines that filled the city were etched into the buildings, although far simpler in their designs. The road away from the main was steep, with the pavement cracking in places. A potraviny peeked out from under ornate faux stonework and brightly coloured plaster. The further we walked from the main road, the further into disrepair the buildings fell. The colours of the plaster became more muted as they hid beneath thicker layers of dirt and pollution. Exposed brickwork sat next to pock-marked and crumbling facades, all surrounding cracked and peeling window frames. The area was a world apart from Vinohrady where I called home; it wasn't somewhere many people felt comfortable after dark. We paused at the crossroads and quickly came face to face with our first foe.
A wraith glided along the cracked tarmac and ushered the dense shadows buried under the windows of the blue-grey building forwards, towards us. Matyas pulled out a golden orb. I looked around us trying to pinpoint the rest of the group; it wasn't likely that the wraith was alone. Its fellows soon appeared from behind a dark-red car on the opposite side of the building. The chill in the air sent shivers down my spine; I wasn't going to deal with that again. Matyas threw the orb directly at the wraith. It went through the shadowy mass, but left a gaping hole that weak sunlight filtered through. I threw a large grey orb at the three wraiths that approached us from the other side of the road. The golden orb hissed and rattled before a great burst of blinding light burst from it. I covered my eyes, fearing long-term damage. The wraiths screamed, but not for long.
I opened my eyes to find the street clear. The shadows were gone. Matyas flashed me a grin; I gave him a stern nod and walked down the road deeper into Smíchov. We had a lot of work left to do.
The hounds had been more difficult to defeat than the shadows; Matyas walked with a slight limp as we returned to Anděl. We'd made good progress, though; the orbs were incredibly useful and had saved us more than once. I put some aside to give to Kadrix in the hopes that he'd be able to replicate them for us. As much as I didn't like magic, I had to admit that it had some uses. Quin's smug face swam into my mind; I smiled to myself and glanced up at the sky. Sunset was coming, and I still hadn't heard from him. I reminded myself that he was helping Elise and the others.
The mall stood proud with its modern architecture and collection of shops within. It was a stark contrast to the poorer parts of Smíchov. Unfortunately, it was also something of a hub for shadows and their ilk. They slithered along the floor, the hounds emerging from behind small bushes and parked cars as wraiths slid down the walls of buildings. A group larger than anything we'd faced before formed all around us. Matyas put his shoulders back; I pulled my blades. Losing was not an option.
We stood close on back to back. Each of us threw an orb into the writhing black mass of varying shapes and forms around us. An explosion of white light came from behind me; a soft pink cloud engulfed a good portion of the black in front of me. Screams and snarls cut through the air. A hound flew from the smoke, its front paws extended, ready to maul me. I thrust my blade into its chest; it dropped near my feet and landed hard on its side. The distraction almost worked; another hound's teeth snapped at my ribs while I stamped down on the first hound's skull. More darkness and shadows filled the gaps that the orbs had created. It closed in on us at an almost leisurely pace. It was teasing and taunting us; we had nowhere to go.
I wasn't going to go down without a good fight. I strode forwards and launched a full-fledged attack, slashing and hacking at everything within reach. I threw orbs into the darkness at every possible interval, ignoring the pain that seared my skin and threatened to slow my moves. The blades sliced through the darkness, slowly forming gaps and drawing screams of agony. The shadows moved as one large unit, despite the mix of shapes and creatures within it. A hound came at my side, drawing my eyes for a wraith to go for my throat. I ducked under the dark arm and lashed out at its hand with my left hand while slicing upwards with my right into the wraith.
Matyas let out a war cry. I didn't dare look to see what was happening. Sweat dripped down my brow when I was down to two wraiths. They slipped away from my increasingly slow attacks. I refused to back away, but they circled around me, trying to get behind me. Little did they know that I was drawing them in. The slightly larger of the pair lunged at me, its mouth wide open and aiming for my neck. I slashed across its face, stopping it dead in its tracks. My other blade was already buried in its stomach. The final wraith tried to run; I ran after it and pounced on it, digging my blades into its back before I landed on the road with a grunt.
There were no trams, no cars. No one to witness our bravery. I pushed myself up to my feet and looked around for Matyas. He stood bent over double panting, blood trickling over his cheek.
He looked over and grinned at me. "We did it."
Thirty-Nine
I opened the door to the flat to see a pale-blue hilted dagger hanging from the small hook at the end of the wooden dresser. A small smile formed on my lips, pale blue meant that Quin would be home at a reasonable hour and would make a nice meal. It was a way of apologising for being sharp or pissy with the other, and a promise of good food. I kicked off my boots and flopped down on the sofa; it had been a long day, but satisfying. I felt like I'd really made a difference for the first time in months. The sun hadn't long set, and I hadn't bothered to switch on the light. It was my home; we had three locks on the front door. With a heavy sigh, I stretched out on the sofa and allowed my eyes to close. I deserved a nap while I waited for Quin's return.
The niggling sensation that I missed Lysander's presence ate at the back of my mind. I consoled myself by saying that I'd miss a pet dog in the same way, and that was all he was, really. A large, sexy guard dog. The last thought that filled my conscious mind was the image of his delightfully infuriating smirk and stunning blue eyes.
My chest tightened. My lungs couldn't expand. The darkness was growing deeper. My fingers dug down into something firm, warm. It wasn't right. Why couldn't I breathe? I struggled against invisible bindings, trying to force my mind to wakefulness. My limbs were growing heavy. I fought harder, thrashing around, trying to open my eyes. A noise edged into the silence that thundered in my ears. My heartbeat. It was racing. There was something else. Something more important. A voice. I latched onto it like a lifesaver.
The noises became growls and grunts. My eyes finally opened, air flooded my aching lungs. I coughed and gasped, gulping down the cool air. The darkness only partially lifted; I was home. I wasn't alone. Lysander snapped at a dark figure's throat, his hands firmly wrapped around slender dark-clad arms. A flash of umber caught my eye. A flame-coloured silk mask covered the dark person's face. Lysander threw the person at the wall. The intruder grunted and slid down the wall; he lifted them up by the throat and pinned them against it. Their feet dangled. My limbs wouldn't listen to my commands; I was frozen and lost in my
own body. Panic crashed against my mind, threatening to drown me.
"Release her," Lysander snarled.
The intruder yelped when he slammed it against the wall.
"Release her," he snarled once more.
Suddenly, I had complete control again. An invisible weight had been lifted; I kicked my legs and threw myself off the sofa.
Lysander smashed the head of the intruder against the wall, a sickening crunch resulted. The intruder went limp in his hands. He dropped it with distaste, a crimson smear marked the pale wall. The hound rushed to me, his strong arms wrapping around me, his warm face nuzzling against my neck. I slipped into the embrace, allowing it to drive back the panic and returned me to my senses. His fingers slipped through my hair.
"I was so worried,” he whispered.
I breathed in his familiar scent, taking comfort in it.
"It's harder than that to kill me," I whispered back.
He squeezed me tight and carefully set me on the sofa.
"I'll dispose of this." He gestured at the limp body.
I frowned, my thoughts slow.
"A witch assassin?" I asked.
He nodded. "I'll only be a moment. Quin will be here soon."
The situation replayed in my mind. The realisation and understanding wrapped itself around my thoughts. I'd have been killed had it not been for the hound. He'd saved my life. I watched him carry the body of the assassin out of my home. I tucked my knees up to my chest; it didn't feel quite so homey in the empty darkness.
I jumped when Quin came into the flat with Lysander right behind him. The colour had drained from Quin's face. I scolded myself for the foolishness. I was an experienced hunter. He found me pacing around the living room. It shouldn't have happened. I shouldn't have needed the hound.
Quin pulled me into a light hug. "I'm so glad you're ok, Evie."
I took a deep breath and calmed myself.
Looking at Lysander, I said, "How did it get in? How did this happen?"
He approached slowly, keeping his hands in view and his shoulders slightly hunched. "I do not understand their magic. I can't answer that. I'm sorry."
I squeezed my eyes tight and reached out to him, he smiled and brushed his cheek against my palm.
"Thank you, Lysander," I said softly.
The urge to call him hound had slipped away at the last second; whether I liked it or not he was becoming something more than an infuriating beast. Quin pulled Lysander into a hug, complete with a manly pat on the back.
"Thanks, Lys, for looking after Evie."
I gave his back a dark look for the phrase ‘looking after’, as though I were a neophyte. Quin gave me a big grin and set about turning on every light. I blinked and allowed my eyes to adjust before Quin began making a feast.
Lysander slipped his arm around my shoulders and guided me back to the sofa. "How was your day, Evelyn?"
His eyes lingered on mine for a moment too long. His concern wrapped around me like a familiar embrace; I sat and allowed him to keep his arm loosely around me. Truth be told, I was still shaken, and the contact gave me a feeling of security that I needed. I put on a brave face and told him about my adventures; the pride I'd felt early returned with relative ease.
Quin's eyes lit up at the mention of the orbs. "Kadrix will be over the moon at such a find!"
I laughed quietly; it was an odd pairing, but his eyes shone at the mention of Kadrix.
Lysander brought me back to the moment, to him. "You weakened the witches, with your actions today?"
I shrugged. "Supposedly; I can't say for sure. Maybe Kadrix or Elise can tell us. How did that go?"
Quin laughed. "He bit Haeyl."
Lysander growled to him and withdrew his arm. "He insisted on continuing to poke me. He needed putting in his place. I do not like Sidhe."
"Me, either," I said.
"Haeyl screamed like a child and ran a full lap around Elise's living room," Quin said gleefully.
Lysander grinned. "Well, he was on fire."
I laughed at the image of the arrogant Sidhe on fire and running, complete with flailing arms. My guys looked after me. I was lucky to have them.
Forty
The Sidhe weren't welcome back in Elise's home. She declared that they had shamed themselves. I was a little disappointed that I'd missed out on that spectacle. Lysander remained at my side, his muscles tensed, ready to leap to my defence. I gave him a dark look and a good poke in the ribs; just because he was a guard dog didn't mean he got to make me feel weak and pathetic. Elise had arranged for us to meet in a quaint little walled garden café near Malostranské Náměstí. The smooth white walls surrounded the open garden area, with neat little squares of beautifully manicured greenery. The modern café sprawled at the back of the garden, a stone's throw away from the metro station. We took a seat around one of the dark wooden tables with the simple white chairs, next to Elise. Her lips were pursed, stress lines creased around her eyes.
Her foot tapped below the table while she spread the map of the city out over the table.
"They're late,” she growled.
Lysander's eyes widened; he looked to me for comfort. I shook my head a little and put my arm around her shoulders with a smile.
"Have you made progress?"
She sighed heavily. "Some. Lysander was a great help. Oh, Evie, you did such good work yesterday! I felt the shift in the magic through the city. The witches were greatly weakened by your actions."
She hugged me tight and started to relax. Quin took up the seat on the other side of her. Lysander tensed again. I looked around and spotted the Sidhe sauntering down the paved path. Haeyl eyed Lysander with suspicion, but sat next to him regardless. I looked between everyone waiting for proceedings to begin; surely we had places to be, witches to kill.
Azfin held his hand a few inches over the map, the air below his palm rippled and took on a faint blue hue. His eyes never left Elise who glared at him, her mouth fixed in a tight line. Emerald green points formed on the map. He pulled his hand back with a smug smile. Elise rolled her eyes.
She looked to me and said, "With Lysander's help, we have narrowed down the likely points for the next rituals. Unfortunately, one occurred last night."
"And no one informed me?" I said.
Azfin gave me a sweet smile. "You were... busy."
I glared at him, as did Quin.
Elise simply said, "It was done with, there was nothing you could do, Evie. Now, these emerald marks show the likely locations for the next rituals."
She pointed a large red mark in the castle complex. "This is where the hellmouth will be formed."
At least the buildings would contain anything that came through and give us a fighting chance, should the worst happen.
Lysander leaned over me and jabbed at an emerald mark near Jindřišská. "That will be where the next ritual will be easiest to conduct. The energies are right there."
The growl in his voice sent a shiver down my spine.
I looked around the group. "Then what are we waiting for?"
Azfin's tongue slipped over his lips, showing the tips of his sharp teeth. "The ritual can't occur during the daylight."
"So we're supposed to sit on our asses all day?" I demanded.
He shrugged. "I see that the city has returned to normal today. You did quite well, for a closed-minded little human."
I leaned across the table and reached out to grab his hair, my intentions being to smash his nose into the table. Lysander held me back.
"Evelyn, we must prepare an ambush,” he said calmly.
I sat back down in my seat and composed myself; I knew that he was right, but that wasn't going to stop me from wiping the smug little smile off the Sidhe's face. It was just a matter of time.
Quin said a little too brightly, "We'll head over to Kadrix, he's been playing with those orbs you gave me this morning. I'm sure he'll have something interesting to tell us, and some useful toys to help us stop the ritual tonight."
>
Azfin sniffed daintily, "It's such a shame to have an elf playing with... alchemy, when they have such natural inborn talent for real magic."
Lysander wasn't quick enough that time. I drove the arrogant little prick's face down into the table. Blood trickled from his nose, his eyes turned a golden-amber. I grinned.
Elise snapped, "Stop. Both of you."
"Sorry," I mumbled.
Azfin brushed himself off; Haeyl handed him a lace-edged handkerchief that he dabbed at his nose with.
Elise said, "Evie, do as Quin suggested and go to Kadrix to prepare. I will speak to my lady, and you," she snarled at the Sidhe, "will behave yourselves or I will castrate you myself."
Azfin sat a little taller, Haeyl pouted, but neither said anything.
Elise sighed heavily, "I am tired of witches screwing over my city. Evie, give me a hug, then go and prepare. I'll see you just before sunset."
I hugged her tight and left with Quin; Kadrix was only ten minutes’ walk away. It irked me to depend on him for tricks, but having seen how useful the orbs and the golden powder were only the day before, I had no choice but to explore my options. Magic wasn't quite as black and evil as I had liked to think. I needed to start fighting magic with magic, whether I liked it or not.
Forty-One
The workshop was oddly quiet. The usual sounds of bubbling and scribbling were missing. Quin pushed ahead and practically ran into the work area. I couldn't help myself, I laughed loudly when I saw the state of the elf. His pale blond hair was sticking up at all sorts of creative angles, and streaked with varying shades of pink. Said pink also coated his face, apart from his eyes, which were surrounded by lurid green circles. Kadrix was giving a small collection of orbs that sat on the wooden bench before him a look that promised to kill. His eyes lifted to shift that look to me. I laughed louder.
