Caleb ran a hand along her arm. “Linnea, I don't doubt the fact you are linked to Tremain. He was the last of my Warriors I ever expected to find love, and yet, here you are. I can't bring him to you because he has been banished, forever to roam the skies as a raven and never again to take human form. Maili summoned us and the queen. When we found her, you were passed out on the floor overcome with the poison of the Jenny Greenteeth bite, and Maili and Tremain were surrounded by them. The princess said Tremain was the one who had kidnapped her in the first place and using you."
"And you believed her? Tremain would never do such a thing!"
"How can you be so sure?'
"Do I have to spell it out to you? What kind of a leader are you if you don't believe your own men?” Linnea succeeded in sitting up this time. As she did, Caleb's eyes closed and he sighed.
"Maybe I've been at this too long. Tremain got your coven to summon me. I don't know how he did it, but he did. I went there and one of them happened to be the reincarnated soul of his wife. The one which he was accused of murdering and what got him sent to us. He even tried to tell me a different story at the theater. I should have listened to him. Why don't you tell me what you saw before you passed out?"
Linnea shrugged. “I found Maili in the underground room. I thought she would be tied up like I had seen in my visions, but she wasn't. She was kissing Jason, her boyfriend. It seemed like she was surprised to see me. I was happy to see her, but when I went to her, she opened her mouth and shrieked. That was the last thing I knew until I was with my grandmother and Azrael."
Caleb nodded as he took all of it in. He seemed surprised when she mentioned the angel of death. “You actually spoke with Death? What did he say?"
Linnea laughed. “He said love can overcome anything. It seemed like he had experience with it."
Caleb laughed. “I'll have to tell you a story I heard one day. Look, Tremain said that Maili was going to use you to get your power. That it was the only reason why she was ever friends with you. Do you believe that?"
Linnea was shocked to hear that. However, she had a strange suspicion there were sides to her best friend she didn't know. She didn't know she was a princess, and she was half banshee. There were lots of things she knew her friend was not telling her. “I believe that. I believe a lot of things lately. My life has been turned upside down. Do you know how long I have wanted to be a true witch? That I have longed for my power to awaken? Then they do and when I find an arrogant asshole who wants nothing to do with me until he realized we were cut from the same mold. Look, Caleb, there's nothing holding me here. Maili will pay for what she did."
"Linnea, I don't know if that is such a good idea. The princess. She is very much like her mother. I've been such a fool. Here, I know my own Warrior, and one who hardly knows him believes he is innocent when he truly is. I should have seen the truth. Can you forgive me?"
Linnea got up out of bed. She closed her eyes and realized she was naked. She blushed and watched as Caleb looked at the floor. She remembered what her grandmother said about embracing her power. She felt more powerful than she ever had. It seemed it hummed in her veins like the coming night. The power was at her fingertips. It sparked inside of her. With that thought, she snapped her fingers and was suddenly dressed. She looked down and was pleased she was in black jeans and a red T-shirt. They were a little snug, but she could deal with it.
"So can you take me to Maili or do I have to find her myself?"
Caleb held Linnea's hand as he folded the shadows around her. She felt the cold of the other realm pierce her soul, but realized it was not as cold as the kiss from the Angel of Death. She wondered if anything could be as cold as his parting gesture. It seemed even now she was tied to him and felt him off in the distance if she concentrated on their bond. That was a little scary, but she had hovered on the edge of death and had not died. That Azrael had not taken her soul. When the light reappeared, they were standing in the Banshee Hall where Linnea had first met Maili's mother. As she stood there, she felt the bubbling hatred for her best friend rise up in her. Never before had she felt like that. It seemed it overpowered her. Why would her friend use her the way she had? She should have seen it coming. However, she hadn't, and looking back now on all their late night talks over pizza and orange vodka, she was a fool to think Maili saw anything in her. She had to erase all those memories from her mind. The woman she was going to see now was her enemy. She had to remember that, and the flame she felt in her heart burned into a great bonfire.
Once they were in the throne room, Caleb got to one knee and bowed before Betha and Maili, who sat on the throne next to her. As Linnea looked at her, she saw the fakest smile on her face as if she were trying to stay interested in what her mother was saying. Eerie music surrounded the two of them. Black candle flames flickered in gargoyle sconces that Linnea realized were real gargoyles.
"Caleb, to what do we owe the honor of your company and Linnea's?"
"Mistress, I—may we speak in private?"
Betha laughed. Maili never took her gaze from Linnea, who hardened her stare at her one-time friend. “Caleb, we can speak freely here. Please."
"Mistress, please?"
"I think what Caleb is trying to say, Your Highness, is that I want to have a word with Maili. I want to make sure she is all right after her ordeal.” Linnea bowed.
"Of course. You two have been friends for such a long time. I always wondered why you and she had stuck together. Now I understand why you were very loyal to her. Thank you for helping us find her. It is an asset to have such a powerful witch looking after my daughter."
Betha clapped her hands and the ghouls were gone from the throne room. They were alone. Maili got up from the chair and smiled at Linnea. She tried to think about all the other times they had fun together hanging out, dishing about boyfriends, but then her heart came into the mix and she remembered Tremain. Her heart screamed at the thought of him being a raven forever. She wanted to hold him and smell him, to hear his heart beating in her ear. But now that would never be all because this bitch had stolen him from her. The princess's arms were outstretched, but Linnea felt her fingers form into a fist, and all reason left her. She did the unthinkable, something she never would have had the courage to do before. Her hand came up, and she hit Maili square across the mouth. Her friend's beautiful face was marred by a string of blood trickling down her lip. There was a fire in her eyes that ignited. Betha uttered a shriek, and suddenly Linnea was surrounded by shadows, the same ones who had tried to kill her.
"You bitch. You set him up!” Linnea spat. The fire she felt in her heart burned through her hands. She reacted and sent a ball of energy at the shadows. They shrieked and then caught fire.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Lin. Tremain used you just as he used my mother."
"You lie!” More shadows had surrounded her, but Linnea felt the fire still inside of her, and with a sweep of her hands, all of them were engulfed in flames.
"Both of you, enough!” Betha yelled.
Linnea and Maili both stopped and stared at the queen. She had lost her human beauty and was a mixture of human and ghoul. Caleb stared at all of them unsure of how to act. The witch was breathing easy. She was surprised she was able to summon the fire. Her grandmother was right. All she had to do was call upon her power and want it. Now she could summon whatever she wished. Her abilities were growing inside of her. She could feel it. She understood why her grandmother had always told her it was at her fingertips and that when it awoke inside of her—when it was her time—she would be unstoppable. Now she knew that was true.
"Linnea, you have been a friend to my daughter for years. Many have referred to you as her pet human because she was with you so much, but I understand now you are so much more. With respect for that, I will let this incident pass. Now, leave us tonight."
Linnea ignored the comment and took another step forward. She narrowed her eyes as she glared at Maili. “Did it feel good when you killed Jason? Did y
ou know when you were fucking him that you were going to kill him? Tell me, Maili. Do you still want my power? Come and take it."
Maili laughed as if she couldn't contain it any longer. “Linnea, do you really think I would want your power? You're nothing but a lowly witch. I have the power of the other realm at my fingertips. After all these years, I'd be the one to say you were hanging on to me hoping a little bit of something would rub off on you. I'm going places in the theater. Did you really think it was my last stop? Why don't you take your bird and find a nice little nest together."
Linnea felt the fire in her still flaming bright. Her friend had never spoken to her like this. In the past, the witch would have bit her lip and taken every minute of the abuse. This was not the past anymore. She was a different person. She had embraced her destiny and knew there were strange things that went bump in the night now. She was not blind like a regular human. “Maili, how could you! You were my best friend. I thought you were my sister."
She made the other woman think she was hurt by what had been said.
"Linnea, this isn't high school. Get a life. Go be a kitchen witch or something before someone decides to drop a house on you. And if it happens, please be sure not to haunt me."
A ghost. That's it. A smile curled on her lips. She noticed Caleb had backed away from her. She felt the place where Azrael had kissed her. He had said he would be there if he needed her. The silver power flared inside of her. Betha might be queen of the banshees, but even in this realm, Linnea was sure there was a way they could die for good. Betha smiled and rose from her throne. Linnea saw her nod to the corners, and two guards came out of the wall. They were holding large axes. Her time was running out.
"Highness. I'm sorry if you don't believe me, but why don't we hear it from the mouth of one of Maili's victims."
"Impossible.” Betha answered. “Only the Lord of the Dead can bring the dead back. Besides, why would you want to resurrect a soul when it has found peace already? It would be blasphemy."
"Is it not blasphemy to condemn a man without giving him a fair trial or without listening to his side of the story?” All heads turned to Caleb in the corner as he rested against the mirrored wall. Linnea smiled at him and nodded. He didn't return the gesture, just stared at the queen.
"I can't believe you're sticking up for Tremain? He's been nothing but a thorn in your feathers since the beginning."
"No matter, Highness. He, too, deserves his fair share. What kind of a leader would I be if I did not give my men the benefit of the doubt? It seems I had forgotten that. I did not even bring him before the Council. You called down his curse before the Council could rule."
"It was my right. My daughter—"
"Is a liar! And will again plan a coup on your throne, Your Majesty. Please believe me when I say that. Why would I lie to you about this? You saw inside my mind. You've watched me for years with Maili. You know how much she meant to me."
Linnea looked between Maili and Betha. For the first time, she saw doubt in the queen's eyes. The queen brought her hands up to her face and screamed. The sound pierced the witch's brain, but it did not knock her out. She heard a large crack as all of the mirrors on the wall split in half. Caleb jumped away from the glass. Maili looked among the three of them and tried to sneak away. However, Caleb was there holding his sword on the princess.
"I think we must hear from the mouth of your beloved scarecrow. Linnea, will you do the honors, please."
The witch looked between him and the queen. She felt a pang of sorrow wrap around her heart, for she knew this was hard enough for the queen because she loved her daughter so much. Maili didn't see that. All she saw was the throne and the true heritage she was being denied. Linnea wished for one ounce of that love. She had lost it when her parents were taken from her in the car wreck. Her grandmother was wonderful, but now she was all alone. And if she couldn't find a way to get Tremain back into his human form, then he would be lost to her as well.
"Call the Lord of the Dead, Linnea. I want to hear the truth,” Betha commanded.
The witch nodded. Taking in a deep breath, she felt the silver power in her where Azrael had kissed her. He must have known this was the way things were going to go down. Then again, he was an angel and probably knew the secret inner workings of the universe. Her eyes flickered to Caleb, and she wondered what stories the Warrior had heard about the Lord of the Dead. She would definitely have to ask him some time.
"Angel of Death, Azrael, you said if I needed you, you would be there. Well, I need you now."
A cold shiver went through her. She turned around as she saw a line, a rift appear in the middle of the room. It yawned open. In the distance, beyond the tear, she saw blackness and the small gems of stars winking at her. Suddenly, two skeletal hands gripped the sides of the rift and spread it wider. Linnea felt the cold creep over her entire body as a bald, bone head came out. The witch looked around the room and saw Betha's guards had retreated back into the shadows. The queen was looking a little paler than usual, and Maili was sitting on the edge of her seat. Caleb had moved around so he could get a better view of the angel. Dark and tattered robes rustled against the floor as Death appeared from his place in the universe. His skeletal exterior looked as real as his handsome one she had seen when she had been floating between life and death. He looked at her and smiled. The hollow sockets of his eyes faded some, and she saw the stars in them. He turned from her and bowed before the queen.
"Betha, it has been along time."
"Indeed it has, Azrael. I hope things are faring well for you these days."
"They are doing very well. Now I understand there is a matter to settle.” Azrael turned to Linnea and winked at her. The witch wondered why he was helping her out and had such an interest in her.
"I have my reasons. Let's just say one day soon you'll be helping out someone close to me."
Linnea wondered exactly what that was going to consist of, but held her tongue. “Thank you for coming. I was wondering if you could bring a ghost back to recount his death for us and a little bit more."
The angel smiled. Linea saw his longer than normal canines. She wondered what other secrets Death was hiding behind his bone mask. “I'm Death. I can do anything I wish."
Azrael reached into his robe and withdrew a silver orb. It almost looked like Silly Putty the way it squished between his fingers as he held it. He threw it up in the air a couple of times and caught it, then threw it up once more. It didn't land, but hovered in front of Maili and took the form of the now dead Jason. Linnea saw the hate in the ghost's eyes.
"Jason, tell us how you died, please."
The ghost didn't take his eyes off of the princess. He extended his accusing finger and pointed it at her. “She killed me. Maili opened her mouth and her voice liquefied my brain."
"I'm sure she did it because she was frightened with Tremain coming after her."
"She did it because she's a backstabbing bitch. She promised she would share the throne with me. I was to rule at her side. You said you loved me! You bitch!"
Maili only smiled wickedly, and Linnea watched as some of her flesh bleached out to gray as if her banshee nature was taking over. “I'm an actress and a pretty damn good one if I can fool all of you.” She turned toward her mother. “Yes, Mother dearest. I killed the asshole. You were nothing but a nuisance, Jason. Just because you knew a little bit of the dark arts, doesn't mean you knew what the hell you were doing. Is that what you wanted to know, Mother?"
Linnea saw the hurt and loss flow over Betha's face. Her appearance returned to human as she sunk into her chair. Tears were in her eyes. “You were my heart. I loved you the best I could. Why Maili? Why orchestrate the whole thing?"
Maili threw herself off her seat and onto her mother. The throne toppled over. No one in the Great Hall moved as the shock wore off. Caleb was the first one to react. He scrambled to the fallen women. Linnea jumped over the throne and saw Betha kneeling beside her daughter. There was no mark
on her save the blue of her lips. Her gaze darted between Linnea and her mother. Her hand reached out to Betha's. The witch saw the tears flowing freely down the human cheeks of the banshee queen.
"I-love y-you,” Maili wheezed.
"Shh. I know, sweetie. Hush. It's time to rest."
Linnea knelt down and was surprised to feel the same wetness on her face as well. “Why, Ali?"
"Sorry. Lin. You were—” The last words never escaped her lips as she wheezed her last breath and her dead eyes were left staring at the ceiling. Azrael came and stood at her head. He put a hand on Betha's shoulder.
"I can take her human side. You can still have your daughter by your side."
Betha looked up at him and smiled. The hurt on her face was so pure it was heartbreaking. “No. Take all of her. I should never have mixed with a human. The combination was too volatile."
"As you wish. I am truly sorry, my friend.” Azrael reached into Mail's chest and pulled out the same silver orb she had seen as Jason's soul. Fine silk threads came out with it and broke away from her body like spider webs snapping free of a tree limb. However, there was also something else. A large shriek echoed from the orb like a banshee howl, but was then gone as it disappeared into Azrael's robes. With her soul harvested, Maili's body lost its otherworldly sheen, and she just appeared human. Linnea wiped her tears away, kissed her forehead, and closed her old friend's eyes.
"Highness, come please. I will take care of her body.” Caleb knelt down and helped the queen up. She took one last look at her daughter and then nodded, leaving Linnea with the Angel of Death.
"I don't understand. She doesn't have a wound so how did she die?"
"Banshees are harbingers of death. With one kiss, they can kill instantly. It's a power they rarely use. Once the queen touched Maili's lips, she knew everything about her."
"Poor Betha. Maili was my best friend. I never thought...” She let her voice trail off.
Azrael's boney exterior vanished. Linnea got a chance to look at the angel up close. His skin was so pale, she saw the rivers of veins underneath his flesh. Dark hair surrounded his face in a halo. His lips were the color of bleached rose petals, but it was his eyes that held her. She studied him, felt her power ignite and move over him, and sensed he was something other than an angel. But then he erected a wall between them and put a finger to her lips. His nails were long and sharp. “Shh. Can't let you have all my secrets now can I?"
A Conspiracy of Ravens: A Raven Saga Book 1 Page 19
