Embracing Magick: an Urban Fantasy Novel (The Witch Blood Chronicles Book 3)

by Debbie Cassidy

  “But you knew, and you didn’t kill me.”

  Her gaze softened. “I couldn’t give up my daughter. Velomina means more to me than anyone, even Garnet. I lied to the coven again. I told them she’d lain with a human. Such liaisons were forbidden at the time. The law was abolished immediately after her hearing and the horrific events of that night.”

  “What happened to her?”

  “The covens had ruled to take the baby from her. A supernatural abortion. She was taken to the judging chamber, the same one where your power was cut off.”

  There was something too familiar about this tale.

  “And then they cast the spell to take her child from her womb. To unmake it. Velomina didn’t know I’d cast a counter spell to save the child. I hadn’t told her because I’d needed her fear to be real in order to convince the others that judgment had been carried out, but I’d underestimated her. In her grief and anger, she summoned the void to aid her and was lost to it.”

  “I remember this story. Malina told me about it, but it was about a woman called Velocity. It was through her that Malina accessed the void and destroyed it.”

  The High Witch watched me steadily, as if waiting for me to go on. No. Not go on, but to make the connection and then I did. “Velocity is Velomina...” Wait, there was more. The woman who’d saved me from the Daayan attack in my flat, she’d seemed really familiar and now I knew why. The familiarity had come from the painting in the Mayfair Mansion and from our meeting five years ago, except back then she’d been a scraggy mess, her face obscured by a nest of hair. “Velocity is my mother?”

  “Yes, Carmella.”

  “She saved my life.”

  “I know. Once the void was gone, she was free and she came back to me, but the others wouldn’t accept her. She was broken, and to help her heal I told her about you, but we agreed that she would keep a distance. Allow you to live your life and hopefully keep you off the cosmic god’s radar in the event he was observing. She was obviously keeping tabs on you.”

  “It was you. You bound my power to protect me.”

  Her shoulders sagged. “Yes. I bound your power, and I gave you to Caroline, the woman who raised you. She’d given birth the same night that Velocity was judged, except her baby died that same night. Caroline never knew. We substituted you for her daughter.”

  I was the cuckoo in the nest. “She found out when I was thirteen.”

  “Yes, and I told her the truth under witches’ oath.”

  “She hated me after that.”

  “No. Not hate. Fear. She feared you. You were something else. Something she couldn’t understand. A ticking time bomb living in her home.”

  My eyes pricked. “No wonder she didn’t want me.”

  “I’m sorry, Carmella. I wish I’d taken you in, found a way to raise you myself. But it was too risky.”

  “I know.” I got it now. All this time she’d been protecting me, hiding me from Malachi. “If he finds out who I am, will he be able to take me?” I hated the quiver in my voice.

  “No. Not without your consent. He is still bound by our deal.”

  “Are you sure? He took Banner’s body easily enough.”

  “Banner must have given his consent.”

  It wasn’t too far a leap for a man who would kill hundreds just to live. Banner must have been dying when Malachi made the offer, which meant that Henna’s death by the dagger or the orb exploding had nothing to do with the cosmic god getting free.

  “How do we stop him?”

  “We need to bind him. And to do that we need to draw everything we can from the skein.”

  “So, what are we waiting for? You know what’s been going on, so why haven’t you started working on the spell?”

  “I assume Varuna told you about our recent Daayan problem?”

  “Yes. He helped you find them all.”

  “Yes, but we didn’t send them back.”

  “What? Why?”

  “When the cosmic god anchored itself to Banner, it disconnected with the skein and disrupted our bridge to it.”

  “The cosmic god was your bridge to the skein?”

  “When your race is reliant on something for its continued existence you make a point of learning everything there is to know about its function, and we learned a long time ago that the skein was created by the cosmic god. It’s through him we had access to it. When he claimed thirteen souls as payment and burned through their memories, he infected them with a tiny speck of his cosmic essence. We tried to use that combined essence to preserve our link to the skein.”

  “Okay, so you’re using the Daayan in the pearls to what? Power up your connection?”

  “Yes. And it was working, until a couple of days ago.”

  The look on her face said it all. “You lost the connection.”

  “We lost the pearls. They were stolen. But I know who took them and I need you to get them back.”

  Without the pearls we had no skein and without the skein we had no magick to create the binding spell. “Who has them?”

  “Garnet. And he’s not going to give them up without a fight.”

  “I don’t understand why he’d want the pearls.”

  “Because he hates the skein and everything it stands for. He believes it to be unnatural. As a mage, he always wished he could be part of the collective that was the coven, to experience the wonder of the skein, but then he discovered the truth, and, shortly afterward, he almost died and was turned into a blood drinking monster. He believes we’d be better off without the skein. That it brings only pain.”

  “But how do you know he has the pearls? How do you know for sure?”

  She reached into the pocket of her trousers and pulled out a silver ring. “He left this on my pillow. It was my engagement ring. We were due to be married. We picked it out together, but before we could make things official...well, you know the story. He never had the chance to give it to me.”

  “And now he has.”

  “Yes. The pearls are missing. The ring is here. I know he has them.”

  “Do you know what I’ll be walking into?”

  Her gaze clouded. “No. I’ve tried to keep tabs on him, but about eighteen months ago I lost track of him for a while, and then he resurfaced. Rumors about the Underground operation began to spread. Vamps began gravitating to the spots and a disorganized blood trade became organized. Garnet was at the helm. I like to believe he was attempting to save lives by implementing some order. But maybe that’s just me trying to convince myself he’s still the man I loved. I don’t know him anymore, but I refuse to believe that he’d hurt anyone while in control of his hunger. He’s angry and living his life the best way he can without losing himself completely. I’d go with you, but I’m needed here. The skein is unraveling and, as we speak, elder and High Witches are taking it in turns to chant with intent. We are holding on to our magick by the skin of our teeth. If the pearls aren’t returned to us soon, then I am afraid the skein will be lost to us, and with it any hope of defeating the cosmic god.”

  “I’ll get them back.” I stood and strode to the door. “Just make sure you’re ready to begin casting the binding spell for Malachi.”

  “I know I don’t need to impress the fact that this is a time sensitive issue?”

  “No. You don’t.”

  “Do what you must. Use whatever information you must. I doubt he’s aware of the threat we face, or that it is the same threat that made him what he is today. If he’d known...”

  “I’ll get them back.” I opened the door and paused as a thought occurred to me. “What would you have done if I hadn’t come to you?”

  “Then I would have been forced to find you.” She slipped off her chair and turned to face me. “The time for secrets and standing on ceremony has passed. If we are to prevail against this threat, then all barriers must be lowered and we must work together as equals.”

  She was stepping off her pedestal and damn that was almost as scary as Malachi.
/>   ◆◆◆

  I exited the aerial tram and made my way back to my flat. I needed Mira, Honey, Victor and Urvashi. I needed my gang. This wasn’t an IEPEU mission. If Elora had wanted them involved, she would have said so. She wanted this done discretely and quickly. She knew Garnet had met me, and he’d know she’d sent me. The association was there. But no matter how confidant the High Witch was that Garnet wouldn’t hurt me, I wasn’t dumb enough to walk into the Underground filled with hungry vamps on my own. I needed back up. A rakshasa, a yaksha, an apsara and a hinn were a pretty good team. My asura power would do the rest if we got into a pickle.

  My dragon opened one eye and snorted as if to say, damn straight. Vritra came to mind, but I discarded the thought almost immediately. He’d made his position clear when it came to the messy pull and push between us. He was out. It wasn’t fair to pull him back in just because I needed...no, it wasn’t need. I didn’t need him. Never needed him, but most of the time I just wanted him. Like right now. Just his solid reassuring presence and his, Miss Hunter, you punch like a girl, line, Or something. Gah.

  My phone rang, and as if my prayers had been answered Vritra’s name appeared on the caller ID.

  I answered quickly. “Hello?”

  “Good. You’re alive.” His tone was brusque.

  “Yes.”

  “I’ve requested a meeting with Varuna and the heads of IEPEU. There’s something big going on and it’s about time the asura got involved.”

  There was no arguing with that. Malina said we needed a plan B. Maybe the Asura could be a part of that.

  “That’s a good idea.” I wanted him to say more. To tell me he’d made a mistake and that he wasn’t walking away from me. I wanted to tell him that I got it now, that the tug I felt for him had always been more than physical, more than the dragon inside. But I didn’t deserve him.

  He was silent for a long beat. “Be safe, Miss Hunter. Let us know if there’s any way we can assist you.”

  He hung up.

  He’d said let us know, not let me know. Why did that hurt?

  Sod it. I had a vampire mage to see about a bunch of pearls.

  24

  “I can’t believe you would have gone without me?” Urvashi said for the third time as we took the dead escalators down into the belly of the Underground and Garnet’s domain. The stench of piss and other unsavory things tickled my nostrils, forcing me to breathe through my mouth to avoid the yuck.

  I rolled my eyes. “You weren’t answering your phone.”

  “I answered as soon as I was able to.” There was a definite pout to her tone.

  I squeezed her hand. “I’m not mad at you, babe. You are allowed to have a life, you know.”

  “But I almost missed a ruckus just for a shag.”

  Honey snorted. “You seriously need to get your priorities straight.”

  But for someone who probably had sex on tap, it wasn’t such a big deal. The opportunity to get down and kick some arse was another ball game entirely.

  If I hadn’t gotten to your flat on time...” Urvashi trailed off, blowing out a breath as if dispensing of the argument all together.

  We hit the bottom of the escalator, our boots clicking against the tiles as we strode toward the tunnel. This was where Aaron and I had first set eyes on Garnet, and where the mage-vampire had killed four of his own minions for taking advantage of a desperate human family. Urvashi faltered in the mouth of the tunnel and looked longingly back the way we’d come. The lights flickered eerily. The whole scene was straight out of a bad horror flick.

  “Maybe we should try Victor again?” Urvashi suggested.

  “He’s not in town,” Honey said. “Trust me. He’s not back till next week.”

  “And he didn’t tell you where he was going?”

  “I told you. He texted me to say he was going to be out of town. That’s it.”

  Mira was AWOL, too, and she hadn’t answered the phone I’d bought her. Worry was a worm wriggling in the pit of my stomach. Had she changed her mind and gone back to the djinn realm after all? Could I blame her for wanting her old life back? Damn it, I hated that the thought opened up an empty pit inside me.

  Now would be the perfect time to give the girls an out. To tell them they didn’t need to come with me. But it would be a waste of time, because they’d know it was a lie—if I hadn’t needed them, I wouldn’t have called them.

  Honey led the way. “Come on. Let’s get this over with. The sooner we get these pearls, the sooner we can get rid of the fucker trying to remake our world.”

  Our footfalls reverberated inside the tiled tunnel as we strode deeper into the Underground. The tunnel spat us out onto a network of platforms shrouded in darkness.

  “Where to now?” Urvashi asked.

  I walked over to a nearby bench and sat down. “It doesn’t matter. They’ll find us.”

  “The vamps?” Urvashi shuddered and parked her butt next to me.

  “Yep. Garnet’s minions.”

  Honey remained standing, scanning the darkness with her preternatural senses. We didn’t have to wait long. The bloodsucker sniffed us out pretty quick and didn’t even try to sneak up on us. They arrived with whoops and hollers.

  I stood and faced them as they leapt up out of the tracks to land before us, blood shot eyes and smudged pale faces in the gloom.

  “Fresh. Too fresh for a trade.” The tallest one in the group of five said. His long black trench was too small, leaving his bony wrists bare.

  “Did you actually come to use the train?” the vamp to his left asked us.

  I stepped forward. “We came to see Garnet.”

  The tall vamp’s brows shot up. He looked to his companions as if to check if they’d heard the incredulous thing the crazy female had just asked. Then they all burst out laughing.

  This was way too much like a cheesy scene from a movie, and there was no time for it.

  My dragon surged out of her box, and I sent a blast of power outward, knocking them off their feet and back onto the tracks.

  Laughter turned into yells and exclamations.

  “Fucking broke my arm, bitch!” The tall guy crawled back onto the platform, his arm dangling at an odd angle. “You’re gonna pay with your blood to heal this now.” He lunged at me and Honey batted him away. The motion appeared easy and relaxed, but the impact sent the vamp flying across the platform. He hit the ground and skidded for a few feet before coming to a halt.

  I crossed my arms under my breasts. “We can do this all day, or you can save us all some time and take me to Garnet. Now.”

  The other vamps exchanged glances, looked toward the unconscious form of what I assumed was their leader, then back to us.

  The blond one nodded and something sly and calculating slid across his face. It was gone too quick, leaving me wondering if I’d imagined it.

  “Sure,” he said. “Follow us.” He jerked his head toward his leader’s body, and one of the other vamps ran over and hauled the dead weight over his shoulder. Then we were off—down the tracks and into the pitch black tunnels. Were it not for slightly better than normal sight and Urvashi and Honey to watch out for me, I would have probably fallen on my face. The vamps moved with ease, even carrying their knocked-out comrade. Up onto a ledge and through a metal door we went, and then down a crimson lit corridor. They said the Underground was a place filled with hidden tunnels and spaces, but this was the first time I’d experienced it firsthand as we slipped through an arch, and into what I can only describe as an underground city—an honest to God, tall buildings, and inky night, city. There was even a fresh breeze touching my face and people going about their business.

  I grabbed the nearest vamp’s arm. “What the heck is this place?”

  He grinned, showcasing yellowing teeth and receding gums. “This is Sanguina, and down here we’re the ones with the power.” His fist flew at me and my dragon was awake and punching him back. My power collided with his hand and we both stumbled back, eyes wid
e with shock.

  Damn he was strong.

  “Wow,” he said. “Let’s try that again, shall we?”

  The tall guy was awake, his eyes glowing with vengeance. “You fucking bitch.”

  Oh, dear.

  They attacked in force and we countered. Honey’s snarl of rage ripped through the air and then we were fighting, claw to fang, fist to fist. Urvashi was a whirlwind to my right, slipping and sliding over the vamp she was taking on until she was on his back with him in a headlock. The tall guy was all mine though, or maybe it was the other way round? The look in his eye was far from intimate though. It was all about the hurting for him, and, man, when had he grown all the extra muscle? The coat was uber tight on him now, looking more like a leather shirt than a coat.

  I punched him in the gut, and then swiped at his head with my talons. He leapt back so my claws missed him by a hairbreadth. The dragon growled, wanting to come out and play, but we were supposed to be here to peacefully retrieve the pearls, not throw down with the locals.

  I ducked and jabbed him in the crotch. The fucker didn’t even flinch. Dead penis no doubt.

  “Stop!”

  A man was striding toward us. His long silver hair flowing behind him. Not human, not vamp my dragon supplied. He was slender and delicate, but his eyes flashed like tempered steel.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” he snapped.

  The tall guy opened and closed his mouth a couple of times.

  “Well? Have you lost the power of speech?”

  “We were fighting,” Honey said calmly. She placed a hand on her hip. “These dickheads have a problem with us speaking to Garnet.”

  He looked us over. “I’m Elorian. We do not tolerate violence in our city. And it seems that your presence brings violence. Maybe you should leave.”