Dream Magic

by Michelle Mankin

  I lunged for the breach thinking to escape in the confusion but the ram horned gargoyle caught me. My upper arm back in his uncomfortable grasp, I took in his grim features and decided maybe the gargoyles were smarter than they looked. I twisted and pulled against his rough hold but it didn’t loosen.

  As the dust settled, I got a clearer glimpse of what had caused all of the turmoil. Not a what, but a who. A hybrid. Both man and beast. The Light Immortal’s version of a shape shifter.

  Eyes wide, I watched his form shimmer and change from a larger than life lion to a regal normal sized man. His appearance recalled a medieval knight. Thick tawny shoulder length hair spilled across broad shoulders and rippled muscles bulged within the sleeveless leather jerkin and matching pants he wore. His skin was tanned as if he spent a lot of time in the sun and it gleamed with vitality that marked him as other than human even if his transformation had not.

  One of his hands hovered over the pommel of the sword strapped to his narrow waist. I held my breath hoping he would draw it. If he struck Apollyon down then maybe I wouldn’t need to escape. Maybe this being would take care of Apollyon for me. The threat of violence hung thicker in the air than the mortar had the moment before.

  “Leonardo Avignon.” Apollyon drawled lazily from his sprawled position seemingly nonplussed by the intruder. “To what do I owe the pleasure of an unsolicited visit from Phoebus’ favorite kitty…I mean advisor?”

  I narrowed my eyes studying the man more carefully. Phoebus was the son of Zeus. Twin of Hemera. The god of the sun. A Favored Progeny. The ruler of the Court of Light Immortals.

  Leonardo didn’t speak. He growled, a low rumble of warning to the gargoyles who had moved closer, likely in response to a nonverbal command by the demon, Apollyon. The growl sounded more feral than human. A chill of unease slid down my spine.

  “Call off your lapdog.” Leonardo withdrew his sword. The gargoyles froze. The shiny obsidian blade sparkled menacingly in the hybrid’s grip as he adapted an anticipatory stance.

  “Stand down, Avignon,” the demon warned giving his gargoyles a dismissive wave. Muscles bunched with tension, Leonardo stood his ground glaring back and forth between the gargoyles and Apollyon. His knuckles sharpened as his fingers tightened around the handle of his sword. “I insist.” Despite the soft volume, the ‘or else’ in Apollyon’s words were palpable. “Sheath that infernal blade.” He exhaled, visibly exasperated. “How dare you come into my presence armed and uninvited?”

  The lion hybrid shook out his lengthy mane uncoiling his muscles as if needing an outlet for all his banked energy. “How dare you delay fulfilling your agreement with Phoebus?” he returned. “My master grows impatient. It has been a year with one treacherous excuse after another.”

  I shifted slightly. Leonardo’s gaze flicked my way. His eyes were the color of a new copper penny with vertical pupils. They swept over me quickly before he returned his attention to Apollyon. But in that brief scan it seemed as though there had been pity in those cat eyes.

  I glanced down at myself wondering what he had seen that had made him feel sorry for me. Smudges of dirt. Splatters of blood everywhere. My legs and arms covered with cuts. My skin bruised. A large rip in my blouse across my breasts that revealed an embarrassing amount of cleavage. No wonder. I was a wreck. I had been too worried about Millie to notice. I was still worried about her. But seeing the toll the past night had taken made everything start hurting at the same time. I grimaced. Being almost fully immortal, I usually healed faster. What was interfering with that?

  When I returned my gaze back to Apollyon and Leonardo they were still squaring off, predator to predator, eyes hard, lips curled to reveal teeth. There was no trace of softness anymore in the lion hybrid’s visage. Maybe I had imagined it. The warrior in front of me didn’t seem like the type to be moved by emotion, unless it was indignation toward those who didn’t show him the proper respect.

  “I grow impatient, as well. Phoebus has promised me many things. When he gives me what I desire, I will consider returning the favor.”

  “I would be careful about reneging on a bargain made with Zeus’ favorite legitimate son,” Leonardo cautioned his gaze dipping pointedly to the center of Apollyon’s chest where an unusual claw shaped pendant rested. “It would be very unfortunate if certain secret things about that particular bauble were made known.”

  “How dare you threaten me?” Apollyon rose slowly, a viper ready to strike his eyes black like the pits of hell.

  “Laveau.” Leonardo straightened appearing even taller than the demon. “The seer. Phoebus insists.” His voice resonated with a hint of persuasion. “Why not appease the Sun God rather than antagonize him?” I had never heard of a hybrid having that talent before. “Otherwise I am instructed to inform you that all previous agreements are to be taken off the table.”

  The demon moved so fast he created a ripple of wind that blew Leonardo’s tawny hair back from his face. “Do not ever think to admonish me, minion,” Apollyon emphasized his words with the point of his scythe pressed under Leonardo’s chin. The hybrid was forced to tip up his head or be impaled. “You forget your place.” Apollyon’s lips curved into a wicked grin. He obviously enjoyed having a strong immortal like Leonardo under his control. “I’ve no real quarrel with Phoebus. We have a mutually beneficial arrangement. I give him slaves, whole families so that he can manipulate and control without fear of reprisal from their kin. And he gives me what I… require. I have a whole slew of fresh pets ready for transfer.” Dark flames of glee brightened his eyes as he dug his weapon in deeper. A drop of crimson blood slid down the strong column of his opponent’s throat. Leonardo’s gaze turned molten copper with anger. The demon licked his thick lips as if tasting it in the air.

  “He cannot have Laveau,” he stated emphatically removing the scythe, taking a step backward and spreading out his arms to indicate that the discussion was over. With a flick of his wrist the scythe transformed into a staff that he leaned upon. “But I could be persuaded to be parted from my newest consolation.” His dark gaze moved to me and his lips curved. “Cecilia is the daughter of the Ancient but recently departed Raphael. She is young, but she too is a seer, and she is infinitely more… trainable than Laveau.”

  Hijo de la gran puta. Murderous sadistic son of Hades. My fingers tightened into fists and beneath my ribs my heart ached to hear how callously he mentioned my father’s recent demise.

  Leonardo twisted regarding me with renewed interest. I straightened my spine, lifted my chin and glared at him first and then Apollyon. “No one is going to train me.”

  “Such spirit.” Apollyon nodded as if he approved, then continued on with his conversation as if I had never spoken. “But she has only recently been taken captive. Both her parents are in fact on their way to the ferryman’s dock.” His words pierced my heart. The thought of a yawning empty future without them made my knees weaken. “She has an injured sister, too, and they seem to be a package deal. On the positive side, she has no other entanglements or previous allegiances and her hatred of me is something I’m sure Phoebus will relish.”

  Leonardo continued to hold my gaze taking my measure. I took his right back. Some might decide that his strong features were handsome and that his feline grace was alluring but I was not in a position to notice those types of frivolities anymore. What I saw was a man with a hardened gaze who seemed to have seen so much wrong that it didn’t affect him anymore. Deep downward grooves around his eyes spoke of heavy burdens and finer matching ones around his flattened lips seemed to say that he was resigned to carrying that load indefinitely.

  “I will advise Phoebus of your offer of a substitute. I’ll let you know his answer at sunset after we finish loading the boat.” Leonardo turned away moving toward the door with long legged strides but stopping at the last moment to cast me a backwards glance over his shoulder that seemed to contain a warning.

  Of what?

  And why?

  Captive of Apolly
on or slave to Phoebus.

  Did it really matter?

  I drew my knees tightly to my chest in a vain effort to ward off the damp cold the cinderblock walls retained. The temperature and the darkness within the cell made it impossible for me to get comfortable as I waited, waited and waited some more.

  I had to keep reminding myself not to panic. Millie had to be close because I could feel her presence. But the invisible cord that had connected us since birth was stretched taut, uncomfortably so, almost as badly as the time Mamá had taken Millie into Old San Juan thirty-three kilometers away without me. Only eighteen months old at the time, we had both cried the entire time unable to verbalize how traumatized we had been. It was as though I had been ripped in two. I never wanted to feel that way again.

  Millie is still alive, I told myself again. She is near.

  Please, please, please let her be alright, I begged the Creator, my prayer a soft echo that seemed to bounce off the ceiling of my lonely room as I rocked back and forth on the gritty floor.

  Wetness coated my cheeks. I didn’t bother wiping it away. Without anyone to witness me, I had no reason to pretend to be brave. So I let my sorrow and my tears flow.

  Mamá. Dear, sweet, Mamá. How am I going to survive in a world without your love and support?

  Papá. A sob lodged in my throat choking me. You were right. So many times you warned me but I didn’t listen. My rebellion cost you and Mamá your lives and Millie and me our freedom.

  I heard footsteps outside my door. I sat up straight, using the backs of my grimy hands to remove the evidence of my weakness from my face. The door creaked open and a swath of light entered the room silhouetting a woman whose heels clacked against the stone floor.

  As my eyes adjusted I noticed that she was Creole and clad in a brightly colored African headdress and immaculate clothing that made me feel even dirtier than I was. Alongside her, the gargoyle Bast with his single horn and saggy eyes once again cradled my sister in his arms. Only this time she was awake. Creator be praised!

  “Millie.” I pushed to my feet holding onto the wall as a wave of dizziness swept over me. When I recovered my equilibrium and refocused on my sister my heart sunk. She was awake but something wasn’t right. Her expression was vacant, her gaze blank. “Millie,” I cried ignoring the watchful stare of the woman I knew to be Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen. Hands trembling, I reached for my sister and to my surprise the gargoyle surrendered her to my care.

  She wobbled as she was placed on her feet. I steadied her by the shoulders then gently lifted her chin. Fresh tears burned my eyes as she looked right through me. I pressed my lips together to hold back a throat tightening sob.

  “What’s wrong with her?” I whispered pulling her into me and gazing over her head at Laveau. “What did you do to her?” My eyes were hot with accusation.

  “Child, I am not responsible for her condition. I did all that I could once she was brought to me.” Laveau’s expression was professional, her tone matter of fact. “She has suffered a severe concussion. I’m sure you realize that, but…” She trailed off studying me for a long moment as if assessing whether or not I could handle what she was about to say. I could tell that all the talk I had heard about her was true. She was an intelligent and powerful woman. Obviously it was more than just her dark talents that made her useful to Apollyon.

  “You’ve had a difficult night,” she concluded after her quick and efficient head to toe scan. “I offer you my condolences over the death of your parents.”

  My stomach lurched. Luckily it was empty. I dipped my chin. I wanted to claw her eyes out even if she really meant it. All the sincerity in the world wouldn’t bring my parents back nor could it absolve her of the responsibility she bore for their deaths at the hands of her current master.

  “Taken captive,” she continued speaking as I curled my fingers deeper into Millie’s shoulders. “Used as barter between two factions. Your twin injured.” Her gaze dipped to Millie then lifted to clash with mine. She shook her head sadly. “I bear you no ill will, young one, though I understand your anger toward me. Once I was just like you. I had another life away from this world. I was a daughter and then a mother. But even then though I did not acknowledge it, I was just as enslaved as you are only not by a master but by the prejudices and social mores of that time.” She smoothed hands down her skirt and cocked her head to the side reflectively. “Cecilia, I cannot offer you freedom, only wisdom. You would be wise to mark my words. Your life is no longer your own to live. The sooner you accept that reality and move on to take charge of your destiny the better. Keep your emotions buried deep. Be like glass tempered to withstand great heat without shattering. Strike first or be stricken down. And above all, keep any love you have secret.” She glanced at my sister. “Or be prepared to have that love used against you.” She let out a long sigh when I didn’t speak and turned away but I knew without her saying so that her advice came from experience.

  “Let us go, please,” I said to her back. She stopped but didn’t turn around. “Let Millie go at least. It’s me they are interested in.” Thankfully they didn’t know about how Millie and I worked together. “Take her to a hospital. A specialist. Surely…”

  “A hospital will do her little good.” She turned to face me her expression grave as she waved a dismissive hand through the air. “She has withdrawn into her mind. I attempted to reach her using the skills I have but she has set up a barrier that only she can cross.”

  “No. I don’t accept that.”

  “Accept or do not. It is what it is. The emotional trauma has broken her. I’ve seen it happen before…to the weaker ones.”

  “She’s not weak,” I gritted out the denial through clenched teeth and I felt my eyes began to glow.

  “Perhaps,” she allowed after a pause during which the only sound in the cell was the three of us breathing, Millie’s slow and rhythmic as if she were sleeping with her eyes wide open. The gargoyle I offhandedly noticed didn’t breathe at all. Being a creature of stone he apparently did not need oxygen. Whether that was a strength or a weakness of his kind, I wasn’t quite certain, but I filed the thought away absently.

  “Only time will tell if I am right about your sibling,” Laveau concluded and tugged on the hem of her suit jacket with manicured hands. “Your time here grows short, Cecilia Ramirez y Aguilera. I cannot tell you that I am unhappy to see you go. As you have probably deduced, I am the one who sensed your power and pointed Apollyon in your direction.”

  “You!” My eyes blazed bright. I set Millie gently to the side and came at her but the gargoyle stepped between us and pinned my thrashing arms to my sides. “You’re the one responsible. You killed my parents.” I kicked at the gargoyle but only ended up smashing my toes. “Why?” Pain, frustration and anger made my accusation a barely audible rasp. “What did they ever do to you?”

  “I did not make the weapons that killed them. I did not give the order to release the arrows. You may blame me if you wish. The reality is that our lives are all interwoven threads that form a great tapestry.” Something indefinable brightened the Voodoo Queen’s dark eyes. “I do as I am bidden. I owe you no explanation, child.”

  “Dearest,” Apollyon prompted from the doorway, his dark form a blight within the frame.

  Her head snapped around and I dropped my gaze, but not before I caught a glimpse of something in hers I didn’t think she meant for me to see.

  Distaste with a flicker of rebellion.

  “Yes, my love.” She pasted on a bright smile. Apollyon might be her master but she was not his slave. Not completely.

  “It is time for the twins’ transfer. Paris is a long way by ship with only a top speed of ten knots. Besides, you are needed elsewhere.”

  She nodded in acknowledgement and moved to take the arm he offered her while stepping aside to allow two additional gargoyles to enter. My blood turned to ice and I went limp within Bast’s grip when I saw the burden they bore.

  Obsidian collars
, manacles and leg shackles.

  I tried to keep my abhorrence from showing and made a silent promise to the spirits of my parents, to Millie, to myself…

  They could bind me in chains but I would never let them break me.

  Gargoyles had claws.

  Honed and polished to razor sharp points.

  I bore the evidence all over my body.

  The collar and cuffs of solid obsidian had felt like molten metal against my skin. I wished I could say that I had been stoic when they had shackled me.

  Instead, I had screamed.

  My eyes had glowed with the full force of my fury.

  I had fought them until they had overpowered me.

  Then they had done the same unnecessarily to poor helpless Millie while she whimpered softly in pain.

  I had gone insane.

  That was when I had gotten the worst of my injuries.

  “Hasten, seer. They are not patient.” My twins’ chains clanked nearly as loudly as my own as Bast carried her up the steep incline to the open deck of the tanker vessel ahead of me. He sounded irritated. Good. I might not have been able to take a chink out of his marble hide for hurting me and my sister but maybe someone else would if I continued to slow him down.

  “You’re late, gargoyle.” Hands on her zebra hide covered hips, an irritated looking blonde giant of a woman stood next to a similarly attired and equally tall brunette at the top of the ramp. Amazonians. Deeply tanned from hours of hunting under the tropical sun. Sculpted like body builders. Fierce masculine visages framed by pretty hair.

  Bast hooked a grey thumb over his shoulder toward me. “That one is troublesome.”

  Two sets of eyes both a silty brown like the Amazon River where they made their home gave me a look that promised immediate retribution should I choose to challenge them.

  The blonde who seemed to outrank the brunette pointed her chin at Millie. “What’s the deal with that one?”

  “Her head is damaged,” Bast explained.