Huntress, Black Dawn, Witchlight

by L. J. Smith

  CHAPTER 18

  Maggie stared at her wildly.

  “You…what?”

  “I should have told you earlier,” Aradia said. “But I didn’t realize he was your brother until my mind became clearer. You’re a lot alike, but I couldn’t think properly to put it together.” She added, quickly and with terrible gentleness, “But, Maggie, I don’t want to get your hopes up. I don’t think there’s much chance he’s all right.”

  Maggie went still. “Tell me.”

  “He actually saved me before you ever did. I was coming to this valley, but I wasn’t alone—there were several other witches with me. We didn’t know where the pass was exactly—we’d only managed to get incomplete information from our spies in Hunter Redfern’s household.”

  Maggie controlled her breathing and nodded.

  “It was Samhain evening—Halloween. We were wandering around in the general area of the pass, trying to find a spell that would reveal it. All we did was set off an avalanche.”

  Maggie stopped breathing entirely. “An avalanche?”

  “It didn’t hurt your brother. He was on the road, the place we should have been, if we’d only known. But it did kill the others in my party.”

  “Oh,” Maggie whispered. “Oh, I’m sorry…”

  “I wasn’t seriously hurt, but I was completely dazed. I could feel that the others were dead, but I wasn’t sure where I was anymore. And that was when I heard your brother shouting. He and Sylvia had heard the avalanche, of course, and they came to see if anyone was caught in it.”

  “Miles would always stop to help people,” Maggie said, still almost in a whisper. “Even if they only needed batteries or socks or things.”

  “I can’t tell you how grateful I was to hear him. He saved my life, I’m sure—I would have wandered around dazed until I froze. And I was so happy to recognize that the girl with him was a witch…” She grimaced.

  “Huh,” Jeanne said, but not unsympathetically. “I bet that didn’t last.”

  “She recognized me, too, immediately,” Aradia said. “She knew what she had. A hostage to bargain with all the other witches. And to buy credit with Hunter Redfern. And of course, she knew that she could stop me from seeing Delos.”

  “All she cares about is power,” Maggie said quietly. “I heard her talking—it’s all about her, and how the witches have given her a bad deal because she’s not a Harman or something.”

  Aradia smiled very faintly. “I’m not a Harman by name, either. But all true witches are daughters of Hellewise Hearth-Woman—if they would just realize it.” She shook her head slightly. “Sylvia was so excited about finding me that she couldn’t resist explaining it all to your brother. And he…wasn’t happy.”

  “No,” Maggie said, burning with such fierce pride that for a moment the cold cell seemed warm to her.

  “She’d only told him before that she was taking him to some secret place where legends were still alive. But now she told him the truth about the Dark Kingdom, and how she wanted him to be a part of it. She told him that it could be theirs—their own private haven—after Delos left with Hunter Redfern. He could become a vampire or shapeshifter, whichever he liked better. They would both be part of the Night World, and they could rule here without any interference.”

  Maggie lifted her hands helplessly, waving them in agitation because she couldn’t find words. How stupid could Sylvia be? Didn’t she know Miles at all?

  “Miles wouldn’t care about any of that,” she finally got out in a choked voice.

  “He didn’t. He told her so. And I knew right away that he was in trouble with her.” Aradia sighed. “But there was nothing I could do. Sylvia played it very cool until they got me down the mountain. She pretended all she cared about was getting me to a doctor and telling the rangers about my friends. But once we were in her apartment, everything changed.”

  “I remember her apartment,” Maggie said slowly. “The people there were weird.”

  “They were Night People,” Aradia said. “And Sylvia’s friends. As soon as we were inside she told them what to do. I was trying to explain to Miles, to see if we both could get away, but there were too many of them. He put himself in between me and them, Maggie. He said they’d have to kill him before getting to me.”

  Maggie’s chest felt not so much tight now as swollen, like a drum barrel full of water. She could feel her heart thudding slowly inside, and the way it echoed all through her.

  She steadied her voice and said, “Did they kill him?”

  “No. Not then. And maybe not ever—but that’s the part that I don’t know. All I know is that they knocked him out, and then the two slave traders arrived. Bern and Gavin. Sylvia had sent for them.”

  And they must have come fresh from kidnapping P.J., Maggie thought. What wonderful guys.

  “They knocked me out. And then Sylvia bound me with spells and practiced with her truth potions on me. She didn’t get much information, because I didn’t have much information. There was no army of witches coming to invade the Dark Kingdom—right now, I wish there were. And she already knew that I was coming to see Delos.”

  Aradia sighed again and finished quickly. “The truth potion poisoned me, so that for days afterward I was delirious. I couldn’t really understand what was going on around me—I just faded in and out. I knew that I was being kept in a warehouse until the weather cleared enough to take me to the valley. And I knew that Miles had already been disposed of—Sylvia mentioned that before she left me in the warehouse. But I didn’t know what she had done with him—and I still don’t.”

  Maggie swallowed. Her heart was still thumping in that slow, heavy way. “What I don’t understand is why she had to set up a whole scenario to explain where he went. She let some rangers find her on the mountain, and she said that he fell down a crevasse. But if he was dead, why not just let him disappear?”

  “I think I know the answer to that, at least,” Aradia said. “When Miles was fighting them off he said that his roommates knew he’d gone climbing with her. He said that if he didn’t come back, they’d remember that.”

  Yes. It made sense. Everything made sense—except that Maggie still didn’t know what had become of him.

  There was a long silence.

  “Well, he was brave,” Jeanne said finally, and with unexpected seriousness. “If he did die, he went out the right way. We just ought to hope we can do the same.”

  Maggie glanced at her, trying to read the angular features in the darkness. There was no trace of mockery or sarcasm that she could see.

  Well, Cady’s changed into Aradia, Maiden of all the witches, and I’ve changed into the Deliverer—not that I’ve been much good at it, she thought. But I think maybe you’ve changed the most after all, Jeanne—

  “You know, I don’t even know your last name,” she said to Jeanne, so abruptly and so much off the subject that Jeanne reared back a little.

  “Uh—McCartney. It was—it is—McCartney.” She added, “I was fourteen when they got me. I was at the mall playing Fist of Death at the arcade. And I went to go to the bathroom, and it was down this long empty corridor, and the next thing I knew I was waking up in a slave trader’s cart. And now you know everything,” she said.

  Maggie put out a hand in the dimness, “Hi, Jeanne McCartney.” She felt the cold grip of slender, callused fingers, and she shook Jeanne’s hand. And then she just held on to it, and to Aradia’s soft warm fingers on the other side. The three of them sat together in the dark cell, slave, human, and witch Maiden—except that we’re really all just girls, Maggie thought.

  “You didn’t tell me one thing,” Maggie said suddenly. “What’d they call you when you started working here? What was your job?”

  Jeanne snorted. “Second Assistant Stable Sweeper. And now you know everything.”

  Maggie didn’t think she could possibly sleep in a place like this, but after the three of them had sat quietly for a long time she found herself dozing. And when the rattle of
the dungeon door startled her, she realized that she’d been asleep.

  She had no idea what time it was—the flare was burning low. She could feel Aradia and Jeanne come awake beside her.

  “Dinner?” Jeanne muttered.

  “I just hope it’s not P.J.—” Maggie began, and then broke off as firm, determined steps sounded on the stone floor of the corridor.

  She recognized the stride and she stood up to meet Delos.

  He stood outside the cell, the dying torchlight flickering on his dark hair, catching occasional sparks off his golden eyes. He was alone.

  And he didn’t waste time getting to the point.

  “I came to see if you’ve decided to be reasonable,” he said.

  “I’ve been reasonable from the beginning,” Maggie said quietly and completely seriously. She was searching his face and the slight link she felt between their minds at this distance, hoping to find some change in him. But although she felt turmoil that was almost anguish, she also felt the steel of his resolve.

  I won’t let you be killed. Nothing else matters.

  Maggie felt her shoulders sag.

  She turned slightly. Aradia and Jeanne were still sitting on the bench, Aradia motionless, Jeanne coiled and wary. But she could tell that they both felt this was her fight.

  And they’re right. If I can’t do it, nobody can…But how?

  “They’re people,” she said, gesturing toward the other girls, but watching Delos’s face. “I don’t know how to get you to see that. They matter, too.”

  He hardly glanced back at them. “In the time of darkness that is coming,” he said, as carefully as if reciting a lesson, “only the Night People will survive. The ancient forces of magic are rising. They’ve been asleep for ten thousand years, but they’re waking up again.”

  A low voice, not belligerent, but not afraid either, came from the back of the cell. “Some of us believe that humans can learn to live with magic.”

  “Some of you are idiots and fools and are going to die,” Delos said, without even looking.

  He stared at Maggie. She stared back at him. They were willing each other as hard as possible to understand.

  And I think he’s got a stronger will, Maggie thought, as she broke the locked gaze and looked away, thumping the heel of a clenched fist against her forehead.

  No. That’s not right. I’m Steely Neely and I never give up.

  If I tell him that some things are worth dying for…

  But I don’t think he’s afraid to die. He’s just afraid for me. And he just won’t listen if I say that I’d rather die than see some things happen. But that’s the truth. There are some things that you just can’t allow to happen, whatever the cost. There are some things that have just got to be stopped.

  She froze, and the cell seemed to disappear around her.

  She was seeing, in her mind’s eye, an equally dark and uncomfortable little cart. And her own voice was saying, Jeanne. It’s got to stop.

  Feeling very light-headed, she turned toward the bench. “Jeanne? Come over here.”

  Jeanne straightened and walked up doubtfully. She looked into Maggie’s face.

  Maggie looked at her and then at Delos.

  “Now you show him,” she said in a voice that was like her own voice, but older and much grimmer, “what his Night People do to slaves who try to escape. Like you showed me.”

  Jeanne’s expression was inscrutable. She went on staring at Maggie for a moment, then she raised her eyebrows and turned around.

  She was wearing the same slave tunic she had been wearing for the last four days. She lifted it up in the same way and showed Delos her back.

  He took one look and reeled back as if she’d hit him.

  Maggie was braced, but even so the backlash of his shock and horror nearly swamped her. She grabbed on to the iron bars of the cell and waited it out, teeth gritted while her vision went from black to red to something like a normal gray.

  “Who did this?” Delos managed finally, in a voice like ground glass. He was dead white, except for his eyes, which looked black in contrast. “Who?”

  Jeanne dropped her tunic. “I thought you didn’t care about vermin.” And she walked away without answering him, leaving him speechless.

  Maggie watched her sit down, then turned back.

  “Some things have got to be stopped,” she said to Delos. “Do you see what I mean? Some things you just can’t let go on.”

  And then she waited.

  I knew he didn’t know that kind of thing was happening, she thought, feeling vaguely glad in a very tired, sad, and distant way. But it’s good to see it proved.

  The silence stretched endlessly.

  Delos was still staring at Jeanne. He had run a hand through his hair at some point; it was disheveled and falling over his forehead. The skin of his face seemed to be stretched very tight and his eyes were burning gold.

  He looked as if he’d completely lost his bearings, and he didn’t know what to trust anymore.

  And then he looked at Maggie.

  She was still standing there, waiting and watching. Their eyes met and she realized suddenly that she’d never seen him so vulnerable—or so open.

  But if there was one thing Prince Delos had, it was resolution. After another moment of helplessness, she saw him straighten his shoulders and draw himself up.

  And, as usual, he got directly to the point.

  “You’re right,” he said simply. “And I was wrong. There are some things that have got to be stopped.”

  Maggie leaned against the bars and smiled.

  “I’ll get the key,” he said, and then went on, briskly planning. “I want the three of you out of the castle, at least, before I confront Hunter.”

  “You can’t do it alone,” Maggie began. She should have known he’d immediately start arranging everybody’s life again. “Especially not with your power blocked—”

  “There’s no reason for you to be in any more danger than you have to be,” he said. “I’ll send you off with some of my people who can be trusted—”

  “I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” a voice said from the corridor.

  It gave Maggie a horrible jolt. They were all tired, and all caught up in the moment, and none of them had seen the figure until it was almost behind Delos.

  Hunter Redfern was standing there smiling. Sylvia was behind him. And behind them, crowded together, were armed guards.

  “We’ve had to dispose of the few idiots who insisted on remaining loyal to you,” Hunter said amiably. His eyes were shining like the purest gold. “The castle is now under our control. But do go on with your plans, it’s very sweet to hear you trying to save each other.”

  “And it’s no use trying to pretend,” Sylvia added spitefully. “We heard everything. We knew you couldn’t be trusted, so we let you come down here on purpose, to see what you’d say.”

  For someone who’d known Delos a while, she didn’t understand him very well, Maggie thought. Maggie could have told her that pretending was the last thing that would occur to Delos. Instead he did what Maggie knew he would; he launched himself at Hunter Redfern’s throat.

  Delos was young and strong and very angry—but it was no contest. After Sylvia had squeaked and withdrawn, the guards all came to help Hunter. After that it was over quickly.

  “Put him in with his friends,” Hunter said, brushing off his sleeves. “It’s a real pity to see my only surviving heir come to this,” he added, once Delos had been kicked and thrown into the cell. For a moment there was that note of genuine feeling in his voice that Maggie had heard before. Then the golden eyes went cold and more bitter than ever. “I think tomorrow morning we’ll have a very special hunt,” he said. “And then there will be only three Wild Powers to worry about.”

  This time, when the guards left, they took all the flares with them.

  “I’m sorry,” Maggie whispered, trying to inspect Delos’s bruises by touch alone. “Delos, I’m sorry…I didn�
��t know…”

  “It doesn’t matter,” he said, holding her hands. “It would have happened eventually anyway.”

  “For a vampire, you didn’t put up much of a fight,” Jeanne’s voice came from the back of the cell.

  Maggie frowned, but Delos turned toward her and spoke without defensiveness. “That witch bound more than just the blue fire when she put this spell on my arm,” he said. “She took all my vampire powers. I’m essentially a human until she removes it.”

  “Aradia?” Maggie said. “Can you do anything? I mean, I know only Sylvia is supposed to be able to take the spell off, but…”

  Aradia knelt beside them, graceful in the darkness. She touched Delos’s arm gently, then sighed.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “Even if I were at full power, there’s nothing I could do.”

  Maggie let out her breath.

  “That’s the only thing I regret,” Delos said. “That I can’t save you.”

  “You have to stop thinking about that,” Maggie whispered.

  She was filled with a strange resignation. It wasn’t that she was giving up. But she was very tired, physically and emotionally, and there was nothing she could do right now….

  And maybe nothing ever, she thought dimly. She felt something steadying her and realized it was Delos’s arm. She leaned against him, glad of his warmth and solidity in the darkness. There was a tremendous comfort in just being held by him.

  Sometimes just having fought is important, she thought. Even if you don’t win.

  Her eyelids were terribly heavy. It felt absolutely wonderful to close them, just for a moment…

  She only woke up once during the night, and that was because of Delos. She could sense something in him—something in his mind. He seemed to be asleep, but very far away, and very agitated.

  Was he calling my name? she wondered. I thought I heard that…

  He was thrashing and muttering, now. Maggie leaned close and caught a few words.

  “I love you…I did love you…always remember that…”