by N M Thorn
“Come on, Magnus,” whispered Damian, dropping back on the chair powerlessly, the room around him swimming and flowing in a continuous nauseating motion. “I know you’re ready to make a few new belts out of my hide, but—"
“Right you are, Dmitri!” Magnus’ voice sounded above him. Damian got up, swaying on his feet, and met the blazing gaze of his superior without blinking. Magnus frowned and continued, “What the hell is wrong with you, Commander! You exposed the World of Magic to anyone who cared to see!”
The Head of the Destiny Council waved his hand and stepped aside, showing him the screen of a large TV. A cheerful lady from the local News Channel happily delivered breaking news about the unusual seismic activity with the epicenter in Blue Creek, Arizona. Magnus snapped his fingers, switching the TV to a YouTube video of Damian standing next to a giant hole in the ground where a house used to be, his entire body glowing with bright, orange light.
“Ah...” Damian moaned, running his hand over his face, just now realizing that his skin was covered in dirt, blood and sweat. “I hate modern tech... How do they have all that just a few minutes later?” Meeting Magnus’ infuriated gaze, he shrugged, spreading his arms, a guilty smile tugging at his lips. “I had to. This was the only way I could kill fifteen wurdulaks. Or did you want me to leave them running around Blue Creek, sir?”
“The proper salutation is ‘my lord’, Dmitri!” barked Magnus, throwing his hands up. “What the hell were you thinking, Commander? Why did you have to drop the entire building six fit under? Couldn’t you just lock the wurdulaks in that house with your spell and set it on fire? No one would have questioned it twice!”
“I’m not a friggin’ Phoenix or a Fire Salamander,” shouted Damian, slamming his hand on the table. “I can’t control fire! The wind would spread it around before I could snap my fingers. Burning them inside a pit was the safest way to kill them all!”
“You damn right, you’re not a Fire Salamander,” Magnus shouted back. “That boy is only thirty, and he’s a hundred times better than you with his power! I would never have had this kind of problem on my hands if he was in your place. Why can’t—”
“Why can’t I be more like him?” asked Damian snidely, folding his arms as his frustration started to dwindle. “Aw, Magnus, my lord.” He cocked his head a little, all but pouting. “And here I thought Daddy loved all his Children of Elements equally. But you do have favorites. I’m wounded.”
“You... what... what the...” Magnus stuttered but then threw his hands up, shaking his head. “I already forgot what kind of shenanigans I could expect from you, Dmitri.” He waved his head, his anger visibly dissipating.
“Admit it, you miss my shenanigans.” Damian chuckled, lowering on the chair.
“Not in the slightest,” huffed Magnus, his silvery eyes laughing. “Well, maybe just a little. Between you and your Cossack, you used to drive me crazy.” He waved his hand dismissively. “Anyway, why did you summon me besides covering your PR disaster?”
Damian sighed, sobering up. “Mostly, I needed you to cover the exposure,” he said quietly. “But also, I wanted to give you the report on the situation with the necromancer.” As briefly as he could, he told the Head of the Destiny Council everything he found out so far and his plan.
Magnus stilled, and his eyes lit up a bright white. A few seconds later, he let out a soft breath, and the light in his eyes dwindled. “I don’t know any Dark Wizards residing in Encino. That’s strange, but I’ll check my books again after we’re done,” he said quietly. “If you find the necromancer, summon Cossack. I’ll have him on standby in case you need him. I think you’ll need all the help you can get, and your brother can’t help you in this case.”
“Yes, my lord,” replied Damian, slightly inclining his head.
“And I do hope”—he stressed the word ‘do’—"that after you’re done in California, Arizona is not going to become a coastal state, Dmitri,” grumbled the Head of the Destiny Council, placing his hands on his hips.
Damian snorted. “I’ll do my best,” he said. “But you know, it could improve the value of Real Estate in Arizona.”
“I’m going to flog you next time you show your face in the Destiny Council realm,” murmured Magnus, resigned. “On a serious note, Commander, be careful and report to me as soon as you’re back.” The Head of the Destiny Council waved his hand and closed the communication window.
Damian sighed in relief and took the water bottle, taking a few gulps. Then he folded his arms on the table and lowered his head on top of his arms. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, feeling as if he were on a boat, the floor wobbly and shaky under his feet. He didn’t fall asleep, but his mind kept drifting on and off, lingering on the border with unconsciousness.
A soft knock on the door was too loud to his overly stretched senses, and he jolted to his feet, staring in the direction of the sound with wide-open eyes. Luc de la Crosse walked inside, holding his hands up. Dressed in black attire with a clerical collar, he looked just like a regular young priest, but Damian knew better—he was looking at an ancient warrior, forged in the many battles he had survived through the centuries.
“Commander Blake,” Luc greeted him, giving him a quick once-over. “Aaron informed me that you needed my assistance.”
Damian released a ragged breath and inclined his head. “Brother de la Crosse, thank you for coming.”
Luc’s lips twitched in a tiny smile as he pulled a chair out and sat down across from Damian. “Since I’ve become a Master Warden, no one calls me ‘Brother’ anymore.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—,” started Damian, lowering on his chair, but Luc waved his hand dismissively.
“Actually, it’s nice. Brings back some good memories.” His gaze fogged, his mind traveling down memory lane. He sighed and focused his bright, hazel eyes on Damian. “What can I do for you, Commander?”
“I need a potion that can open a portal to a location of my choice,” replied Damian.
“Oh?” Luc’s eyebrows shot up. “That is an unusual request for a Destiny Enforcer. I believe you all can teleport, so if you know the exact location, you don’t need a portal. If I’m not mistaken, you can also open portals by using runes. Besides, as a Commander, you have wings.” He leaned back in his chair and tilted his head a little, humorous sparkles dancing in his attentive eyes. “Please, Commander Blake, indulge my curiosity. With all the powers you harbor in this massive body of yours, why would you need a potion to open a portal?”
Damian stifled a sigh. As nice and friendly as Luc was, he was a typical representative of his Order—there was absolutely nothing that Wardens would do until they had all the information and understood everything to the tiniest detail.
“It’s not for me, Master Warden,” he said softly. “It’s for my brother and River Evans. I’m going to leave Blue Creek as soon as I get some rest, and I have no idea how long I’ll be away. With the werewolves on the war path, I need them to have a way to leave Paradise Manor without attracting any unwanted attention.”
“As ancient and unique as your brother is, he’s still just a vampire. He has no magic. He can’t cast a spell to sustain a portal, even if he has a potion. And River is human,” objected Luc de la Crosse, his youthful features becoming harder. “If you don’t believe they are safe in Paradise Manor, would you like me to take Cole to one of the Destiny Council’s holding facilities? If he’s out of Paradise Manor, River will be safe in her home. Besides, you can’t take a chance of the wards in the left wing failing, and you know it.”
Feeling the blood draining from his face, Damian swallowed. “Perun almighty. No, Luc, please don’t do it,” he replied. “I would never do something like that to my brother.”
Luc smirked with a half-shrug. “He’s not going to enjoy the stay, but he’ll be absolutely safe there, and the safety of the dangerous magical artifact will be guaranteed.”
“I just need the potion, Master Warden. It’s a precaution,” repli
ed Damian, rubbing his sore shoulder, feeling the exhaustion settling in his very bones. “I have a Junior Enforcer guarding Cole twenty-four-seven and a young wizard. I’m sure one of them can sustain a portal open for a short time.”
Luc de la Crosse got up and waved his hand, opening a portal. “Give me a moment, mon ami. Don’t go anywhere.”
He walked through the rotating and shimmering cerulean mass and disappeared on the other side. He came back just a few minutes later, holding a small vial with a semi-transparent liquid inside.
“Here is the potion you need, Commander,” he said, placing the vial on the table in front of Damian. “I trust you know how to complete it to make sure it’ll open in the right destination.”
“Yes, sir,” replied Damian, placing the vial in the pocket of his jacket. Then he pressed his fist to his chest over his heart and slightly inclined his head. “Thank you. I owe you one.”
Luc smiled, offering him his hand. “I’ve met quite a few of your kind in my line of business,” he said as Damian shook his hand. “Rigid bunch of self-centered arseholes, forgive my French... Especially Moore.” Luc visibly shuddered, his French accent heavier than ever. “But you don’t seem to be like the rest. Peculiar.” He scratched the back of his head and then readjusted his low ponytail, but since Damian remained silent, he smiled and added, “Godspeed, Commander.” He made a sign of the cross, blessing him. “May the Lord be with you.”
An uneven smirk curved Damian’s lips before he could stop it, but he managed to refrain from saying anything that could potentially insult the Master Warden and inclined his head in a light bow.
“Thank you for your help, Master Warden.” He snapped his fingers and vanished from the bookshop.
He materialized next to the entrance into Paradise Manor. His phone buzzed in his pocket, vibrating vigorously, and he lowered himself on the cold steps, pulling out the device to answer the call.
“Damian?” a deep, raspy voice said on the other side of the line. “This is Hawk. Can you talk?”
“Hey, Hawk... Yeah, perfect timing.” He frowned, an expectation of trouble coiling in the pit of his stomach. “As a matter of fact, I was going to call you myself. What’s going on?”
“You were?” A vibe of unease was almost palpable in the old Alpha’s voice. “You go first then.”
“Hawk, does your offer still stand?” asked Damian, pressing the phone closer to his ear. “In case of emergency, can Cole seek your protection?”
“Of course.” The answer came immediately, without a shadow of hesitation. “You and your brother have my word and the protection of my pack. What’s going on?”
“I have no idea,” replied Damian with a sigh. “Just a few hours ago, I was attacked by fifteen wurdulaks in the middle of a residential neighborhood.” He fell silent, raking his hand through his hair. “It’s getting worse, Hawk, and the only thing I know is that I must stop this necromancer now, before the situation escalates into a major disaster. I have only one lead, so I have no choice but to follow it. So, tomorrow, I’m leaving for California early in the morning, and I want to make sure that if push comes to shove, Cole can count on you.”
“Yes, he can. You and your brother are always welcome here,” replied Hawk. “Actually, this is the reason I called you, Lord Enforcer. In case you didn’t know, I wanted to tell you that an entire family of werewolves has been slaughtered by something with fangs just a few hours ago.” He stopped talking and a heavy silence invaded the phone line. “Five people, Damian... three of them were just kids...” He let out a shuddering breath. “They were Simon’s wolves. I’m afraid there is nothing I can do to stop them from retaliating with full force. They’re coming for your brother and his vamps.”
“Perun almighty,” exhaled Damian, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Why now?” He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. “I have a potion that can open a portal straight to your gates. If Simon’s pack attacks Paradise Manor, Cole will use it. He may have River Evans and a young woman with him. She is a Destiny Enforcer in training charged to shadow him. Is that okay with you?”
“In training?” Hawk chuckled mirthlessly. “Are you playing a schoolteacher now, Commander?”
“You have no idea,” muttered Damian, rising. “Thank you for your help, Hawk.”
“Don’t mention it,” grumbled the old Alpha. “I mean it—don’t mention it to anyone. If anyone finds out that I gave the protection of my pack to a vamp...” A soft growl sounded in the phone, followed by a deep sigh. “Good luck, Commander. The sooner you sort this mess out, the better it is for us all.”
“Thanks... I was going to get some rest and leave in the morning, but after talking to you, I think I’ll leave tonight. I’ll call you as soon as I’m back in Blue Creek.”
Damian hung up the phone and moved toward the entrance, his feet seeming too heavy to take another step. He knew no one was going to be asleep, waiting for his return, so he headed straight to the living room. He halted in the doorway, leaning heavily against the doorframe. Cole got up but didn’t come closer, taking in Damian’s appearance.
“When?” he asked quietly, understanding darkening his features.
“Right away,” replied Damian, pushing off the doorframe. “Mercedes?”
“It’s yours,” replied Cole with a half-shrug.
Damian approached his brother, and for a heartbeat, they stood silently, their eyes locked. Then Damian reached in his pocket and produced the small vial. Channeling his magic, he touched it, drawing a shining rune on its side. Once the rune dissipated, he took Cole’s hand and placed the vial in his palm.
“Cole, I had a call from Hawk,” he said softly. “He can no longer hold the werewolves back. They will be coming for you, and it’s not going to take them long to find you here.” He observed River, Ace and Jamie who were staring at him in shock.
“The house is warded,” said Ace, her face ashen. “The wards were placed by the Guardians. They will hold.”
“Only the left wing of the house is warded, and any wards can be broken, given enough hard work and perseverance,” replied Damian, speaking through gritted teeth. “I can’t count on that, and I can’t jeopardize the integrity of the Guardians’ magic.”
“I don’t understand.” River threw her hands up. “These wards were enough to hold gods. Why are you worried about a few angry lycanthropes?”
Damian sighed, rubbing his forehead.
“Mara is still in the wind, River. I can’t find her, and I don’t know if she’s somehow involved in all this.” He waved his hand around. “If Simon’s attacks weaken the protective magic just a little, Mara may step in, and who knows if the combined force of werewolves and an ancient dark deity will do the job. I can’t take this chance, sorry. The magical lake under Paradise Manor must be protected at all costs. So, if Simon and his pack attacks, we must take the fight away from Paradise Manor.”
“I understand.” River dropped her head, unease lingering over her.
Damian jerked his thumb at the potion Cole held in his hands. “This potion will take you to the gates into Hawk’s property. His wards have been placed by a Celtic god and the Fire Elemental and reinforced by elven magic. Besides, Hawk offered the protection of his pack. If the werewolves attack Paradise Manor, don’t wait here to see if the wards will hold—”
“But Damian, I don’t—,” Ace started with unconcealed defiance in her words, but fell silent as Damian sent a frosty gaze her way.
“Ace, you will use your magic to open the portal,” he said quietly, iron tones in his voice. “I trust you know how to keep the portal open long enough for everyone to go through?”
“Yes, Commander Blake,” she replied, throwing a quick glance at Cole.
Damian switched his attention to River, icy dread coiling in the pit of his stomach like a poisonous serpent. He stepped closer to her and took her hand into his.
“River, I know you have your duty and work obligations. I can’t order you to
do what I say, but I’m begging you to listen,” he said, gazing down at her. “Stay home. Don’t go to work, and no matter what you do, do not leave Paradise Manor. If the werewolves attack, I want you to leave with Cole and Ace.” He stopped talking, searching her face. “Please... Do it for me.”
She met his eyes, and her lips tightened into a straight line, the bitter wrinkles he hadn’t seen for a while materializing around her mouth.
“Dima, you can’t leave like this.” Her fingers clenched his, her thumb caressing his knuckles. “You look like you’re at the end of your rope. You can’t drive that far in this condition and in the middle of the night. If you fall asleep behind the wheel—”
“This is why I’m not going to drive,” he cut her off. Pulling his hand out of hers gently, he switched his attention to Jamie and gave him a short nod. “Jamie, you’re coming with me. I need you to drive, so I can get a few minutes shuteye.”
“Yes, Lord Commander,” replied Jamie, his former training taking over.
“Get ready.” Damian glanced at his watch. “We’re leaving right away.”
He headed toward the door but halted in front of his brother. His hand moved up, but he changed his mind and dropped it.
“Cole...”
“I know. I’ll watch my back,” Cole replied. “You too.”
Damian nodded and pulled his brother into a quick embrace, giving him a light tap on his back. “Take care of River and Ace, little brother,” he whispered so softly that only Cole could hear him. “And for once, do as I say.”
As Cole’s lips quirked up at the corners, Damian threw a reproachful glance at him and walked out the living room.
Chapter 20
~ Damian Blake ~
It was late evening when Jamie drove the Mercedes G-Class SUV out of Blue Creek, taking the ramp onto the I-10 West, heading toward Los Angeles. The freeway was mostly empty, so Damian lowered the back of his seat and relaxed, folding his hands on his stomach. Despite his dislike of confined places, and cars in particular, the exhaustion took its toll, and he fell asleep almost immediately.
