Allie pulled her hand free of Bleidd’s and covered her mouth, trying to smother her own sobbing. It was one thing to know that Liz had done it but to hear her talk about it as if it were all some big mistake and not a cold blooded, premeditated act was something else. She shuddered, feeling a keening cry rising in her throat and Jess, his face a cold mask, reached for the phone. She jerked away, forcing down the tears. “Liz,” she said, her voice thick, “I just don’t understand why you’re doing this. All of this. You’re part of a group that’s killing people.”
“Allie….I know this is hard for you, especially now because they’ve got you brainwashed into thinking that their ways are better than human ways, but it’s wrong the way the world is. It’s not supposed to be this way,” Liz said. She sounded soft and persuasive, even over the bad phone line. Genuine. Allie shuddered again, and she felt Bleidd’s arms tighten around her in a reassuring hug.
“But this is how the world is,” Allie said. “This is our reality.”
“But don’t you see it doesn’t have to be,” Liz said eagerly. “Grandmother knew that, that’s why she helped the original coven. She lost her nerve, but she kept the book because it was our legacy. It told the story Allie, of what the original group stood for, and of their magic.”
“You’ve read it,” Allie said, genuinely shocked. She didn’t think anyone but herself had read the book before she’d burned it.
“I did,” Liz said. “A long time ago, before grandmother died. But then I couldn’t find it again and I don’t have your crazy memory for things. If I’d known she’d kept it in the house – but I thought she’d taken it out to the store or maybe somewhere else…”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were a witch?” Allie said dully, feeling as if her entire world was collapsing.
“I wanted to,” Liz said. “But…it was too dangerous for anyone to know. They monitor witches and mages, you know, and I had to be under the radar.”
“Who monitors them?” Allie asked, confused.
“The Fairy beings,” Liz said softly, her voice intense. “They keep track of human mages and witches and what we can do, to make sure we don’t get too strong.”
Jess was frowning and she could feel her confusion reflected back by both the elves. Jess shook his head slowly. Allie tried to sound reasonable, “Liz, I don’t think that’s true…”
“Oh it is, it is true,” Liz insisted. “They want to destroy us Allie. That’s why what we’re doing is so important. If we don’t stop them by separating the worlds again, by setting everything right, they’ll slowly enslave us all and destroy our way of life. They’ll make us just like them, debauched, perverse, and amoral. And humans will be a slave race...I know you don’t believe me but it’s true. We have to do whatever we can, whatever the cost, to fix the worlds. I know I can make you understand, if you’ll just listen to me.”
“I’m listening,” Allie said, knowing her voice sounded skeptical. “But killing innocent people?”
“They weren’t innocent,” Liz said confidently. “They were part of the problem. Their Fey blood corrupted them, but dying for the cause saved them, don’t you see?”
Allie gaped at the phone, unable to think of a single response. What Liz was saying was insane, no matter how logical she made it sound, and worse despite the way Liz seemed to exempt Allie from this bizarre world view she knew that what Liz was saying should apply to her as well. And that hurt, deeply. That her own cousin, her flesh and blood, could feel no remorse at being involved in the torture and death of young girls just like Allie, because one of their parents came from the wrong world…Allie closed her eyes again, the last shred of hope she had for her cousin dissolving.
“Where are you Liz?”
Silence. Then, “Are you going to be okay?”
You’re asking that now? Allie thought dully. Not the first thing out of your mouth, but as a distraction, ‘oh by the way are you still dying or is that better now?’ She felt raw anger joining the burning after effects of the iron poisoning in her gut. “Thanks to Jessilaen and Bleidd, and Brynneth for healing me, I’ll live.”
Liz cleared her throat loudly. “Well, that’s good, but what will you owe them for it?”
“Owe them? It isn’t like that,” Allie said, feeling her anger growing. Her cousin didn’t even seem that grateful, just worried about what Allie might have to do to pay back the elves who had helped her.
“Don’t be naïve,” Liz said briskly. “Nothing’s ever free with them. What will you have to pay them?”
Allie’s eyes met Jess’s. She didn’t need her empathy to know how furious he was. His voice in her head was icy, causing a physical shiver as his emotions rippled through her. “Nothing. You owe us nothing. As a member of the Guard you are entitled to healing, and as well Brynneth agreed to heal you.”
Bleidd’s voice was calmer but just as adamant. “You owe me nothing Allie. If anything I owe you.”
She had no time to contemplate what he meant as she had to push both their voices aside in order to keep the flow of the conversation with Liz. “I don’t owe them anything Liz. Really. I’m sure.”
“You’re so young Allie. You don’t seem it and I know you’re my age but you really are,” Liz said, sounding tired. “You don’t understand how the world – worlds – work. But I do. And you need to trust me that I’m doing what’s best for us. For you.”
“Liz…”
“No Allie, just listen,” Liz said, her voice suddenly intense. “Someday you’ll understand. I’m doing this to make the world right again, for both of us. I know you don’t believe me right now, because he’s got you convinced, he’s seduced you, made you think that their ways are better. But once everything is fixed you’ll understand why I did this.”
Allie swallowed hard, wondering if she’d ever really known her cousin at all. “Liz, you’re talking about half my heritage.”
“No,” Liz said. “You’re heritage is my heritage. You read the book. Grandmother’s book. You know what she and the original group believed and did. That’s your heritage. Not this, this elven nonsense.”
“Where are you Liz?” Allie asked again.
“I love you Allie,” Liz said. “Stay safe.”
And then the line went dead.
****************************
Ferinyth walked down the sidewalk of the dull human Bordertown, keeping his head down. Salarius had told him about the girl being rushed to the hospital and after spending a night in near panic at the idea of her death – and his ultimate failure – he had decided to take the great risk of going to see for himself.
Luckily what passed for a medical facility here was small and understaffed with negligible security. When he reached the clinic he slipped in a side door, moving easily through a deserted hallway. He grabbed the first person he found, a human male in drab matching linens who smelled of antiseptic, and wrapped the man’s mind in glamour. He grinned savagely as he watched the human’s eyes dilate, his breath speeding eagerly. As if I would ever have any real interest in this boring creature, Ferinyth thought knowing that his magic would ensure the man would do anything he asked. “There is a girl here, a half-elven girl. She was brought in by ambulance. I must know where she is.”
The human pressed up against him, thoroughly caught in the thrall of the elf’s glamour. “I…I don’t know. I’m not sure who you’re looking for.” The man grimaced, his face writhing between confusion and lust. “I shouldn’t tell you anything. I’m not allowed to…and I don’t understand why I’m…what’s going on? I don’t…”
Ferinyth enjoyed the man’s fear and confusion. It was tempting to let him feel it, but he didn’t have the time to waste. He strengthened his magic, coiling the energy around the man’s will like a snake getting ready to constrict its prey. The human’s eyes went blank, emptying of everything but the desire to please the elf who was enchanting him. “I know she’s here. There is probably at least one Elven Guard with her. You must tell me where sh
e is.”
The man nodded slowly. “Elven Guard. Yes. On the third floor. Room 313. I don’t know…who is there. But no one can go in without clearance. And there is a Guard at the door. Everyone’s been talking about it.”
Ferinyth felt a thrill of triumph. “And what sorts of patients are normally kept on the third floor?”
The man gasped slightly, blinking sluggishly. “The third floor…recovery.”
So the girl still lived. That was excellent. All the better for him if she was injured or ill, she’d put up less resistance. Of course there was still the problem of getting to her through the thrice-damned Guard, but Ferinyth would find a way. Perhaps Salarius could finally be of some real use. The human man tensed slightly as the elf’s distraction allowed the magic to slip a little bit. Ferinyth watched the revulsion slide across his face as he tried to understand what was going on and why he was acting against his own inclinations. The Dark elf smiled again, relaxing and reveling in the knowledge that he could make this human do whatever he wanted, no matter how much the man didn’t want to. The Bright court were all fools to worry about kindness towards these human cattle who could be controlled with simple glamour.
He knew where the girl was and that she was injured but lived. He had time to find the best way to move against her, so all was not yet lost. Perhaps Salarius was right in that he rushed too much instead of waiting for the best moment. This time he would be certain to move only when the time was ideal.
Hoping that whatever the circumstances were the girl was suffering, he wrapped his magic even more tightly around the man’s mind.
Chapter 9 – Monday
Ciaran was waiting on the front lawn, sitting in the grass in his dog form, when Allie arrived home Monday morning. She still felt tired and ill but it was so much better compared to the day before that she didn’t want to complain. She had continued to draw on both Jess and Bleidd to help heal herself and there was no denying how much it helped; even Brynneth had told her that she could do more for herself now than he could do for her, not that he didn’t also try.
She climbed out of the car with effort, but refused to let anyone help her. That earned an annoyed look from Jess and a long suffering one from Bleidd, both of which she ignored. She had learned over the past two days that the biggest downside to having both of them spellbonded to her was that she was outnumbered in most arguments and they almost always agreed on subjects relating to her independence or self-sufficiency. It was beyond annoying.
“Hi Ciaran,” Allie greeted her friend, doing her best to ignore the residual burning in her gut that was aggravated by the movement out of the car. “Do you have a minute?”
The kelpie cocked his head to the side, “Certainly.”
“Come on in for a bit then, I’d like to talk to everyone at once.”
She could feel the curiosity her comment aroused, but they’d all just have to wait. She didn’t want to have to repeat herself. Ciaran shifted to his human form, his dark eyes reminding her of the water of his pond. “If you wish. I wanted to tell you and the Elven Guard that twice there have been disturbances in the woods. Once when the ambulance was here, and I am sorry but I was distracted and by the time I turned to see what was going on whoever was testing the borders had fled. The second time was last night, when everyone was gone. The house was empty so I was resting and again by the time I arrived here whatever was pressing against the wards had left.”
“I am glad you are here to watch the boundaries,” Jess said gravely. “Especially during such troubled times.”
Ciaran inclined his head in a shrug, but she could feel his surprise and pleasure at the praise. Before they could move two more cars pulled up: a Guard vehicle and an unmarked police car. Ciaran tensed and a moment later his form shifted again, back to the large dark dog. Allie feared he’d bolt as the Guard and police got out but he held his ground. Allie nodded at the two detectives, police mage, and the Guard mages, realizing she should probably say something formal and polite and just too tired to care. Instead she led the way into the house, Ciaran close at her side.
Jason and Shawn were both waiting in the living room, each projecting anxiety. Allie managed to get to the couch and sat down, wishing she didn’t have to deal with any of this. Ciaran lurked by the door; the police of both species found seats on the assorted chairs and couches around the room. Jess and Bleidd sat down next to Allie on the couch, one on either side, while her roommates stood by the fireplace. Allie was grateful for her new shields as the emotions of the people crowded into the room pressed against her. “I asked if everyone could meet here today because it seemed easier to get this all over with at once.”
“How are you feeling?” Smythe asked.
Allie hadn’t expected the personal question. Without thinking she reached out and grabbed a hand on each side, letting herself draw on both of the elves she was increasingly starting to think of as hers, which was dangerous territory. “Better. Slowly better, but better.”
“I’m glad,” Riordan said quietly. “I hope once this is over with you can be…safe.”
“Yeah,” Allie said sincerely. “Me too.”
She glanced over at Zarethyn and Mariniessa; the elven captain nodded slightly. They had made no progress finding Liz and it was clear they needed the extra resources the police department could provide. And since Allie had already spoken to Liz she had released Jess from his promise to bring her cousin to her, agreeing that all that mattered now was finding her. Taking a deep breath she cut to the chase. “So, the thing is, the person who did it, who poisoned me, was my cousin.”
Shawn looked truly shocked, and turned to Jason, who was standing there dumbfounded. The human police looked grim. Sam, predictably, was undaunted. “So your family is much like mine. Although mine would have gone with a bit of arsenic or belladonna in the tea rather than iron in the coffee.”
Jess hissed in anger but Allie couldn’t hold back a laugh, surprising everyone. “I wish it had been arsenic or belladonna, that probably wouldn’t have done very much. Maybe a stomach ache. But the important thing is that Liz is who we need to find and she’s part of the conspiracy group, the new coven.”
“You’re sure?” Jason asked, his voice weak. He’d always liked Liz.
“Yeah, I’m sorry Jason,” she said. Bleidd squeezed her hand, his fingers tangling with hers, even as she could feel Jess’s rage burning on the other side. Bleidd believed, like Allie did, that Liz hadn’t intended to really hurt her but Jess had reached his limit with the things the group had been doing with Liz’s help to harass and hurt her. There was neither forgiveness nor understanding in his heart for her cousin. Allie worried that he was building like a volcano and that when he finally truly lost his temper he would not be satisfied until someone died. She could feel his rage simmering beneath the surface even when he seemed distracted by other things and she worried about the bloody turn his thoughts had taken. She was afraid that this was exactly why the elves discouraged strong emotions, because his anger had become a force on its own that wanted death and blood as much as he wanted her safe. She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away. “She called me in the hospital, to apologize, sort of. More to try to explain why she’d done it so I wouldn’t be mad at her.”
“So why’d she do it?” Riordan said, frowning.
“She, and I guess the whole group, believe that Fairy is corrupting earth, that there’s some plot by the Fey to take over and enslave humanity,” Allie said, trying to keep her face neutral. “They think the only way to stop it is by separating the worlds with this ritual.”
“You said the ritual wouldn’t work,” Riordan reminded her.
“I know, and it won’t. The magical theory just isn’t sound. You can’t force two types of energy into separating by weakening the layer between them.”
Sam was nodding now. “No that would – should – have the opposite effect. It should pull things closer.”
“Or create an instability into a third r
eality,” Zarethyn suggested, making Sam wince.
“As if we don’t have enough to deal with, with two worlds. I can’t imagine the chaos of three overlapping.”
“Exactly,” Allie said. “But they’re fanatical about it. Liz hid that she was a witch for decades because she believed that all human magic users were monitored and controlled by the elves. That’s how strongly they believe what they believe. I don’t think anything will convince them that this ritual won’t work.”
“Even if they complete it and it fails?” Smythe asked.
“Honestly I think if they manage to get the next three done, when the worlds don’t separate they’ll convince themselves it’s because the elves found a way to ruin it, or because multiple people were involved in the ritual casting…I don’t know, but they’ll explain the failure away.”
“Allie,” Jason said, breaking his silence suddenly. “Why…why you and Liz? I mean why does it all seem to hinge on you two?”
“Synchronicity,” Zarethyn answered calmly, his eyes shifting to Riordan who looked down, making Allie wonder what exactly they’d been arguing about when the task force had first re-formed.
“But what does that really mean?” Jason asked, still looking upset.
“From the beginning,” Zarethyn said carefully, “many things have centered on Aliaine, her store, her home, and her cousin, although we did not see all they layers and connections. Synchronicity is a force that moves in all things, that holds reality together by joining things on a metaphysical level. Allie’s grandmother first helped, then thwarted the original coven – so too one grandchild aids the new coven and the other seeks to stop them. I believe that just as Allie has found herself in pivotal places, able to influence the outcomes of our investigation, so too her cousin has been in equally pivotal places able to help the new coven. It preserves a certain balance.”
Into the Twilight: a Between the Worlds Novel Page 25
