by L. J. Smith
Grandma Harman’s face suddenly looked very old and very tired. “Child, we can’t force you to do anything. But you have to realize that we’re not the only ones who want you. The other side knows about you, too. They won’t give up, and they will use force.”
“And they’ve got a lot of force.” Keller turned to the old woman. “I need to tell you about that. I didn’t want to say it on the phone, but they already tried to get Iliana once today. We had to fight them at the mall.” She took a deep breath. “And they had a dragon.”
Grandma Harman’s head jerked up. Those steely lavender-gray eyes fixed on Keller. “Tell me.”
Keller told everything. As she did, Grandma Harman’s face seemed to get older and older, sinking into haggard lines of worry and sadness. But all she said at the end was, “I see. We’ll have to try to find out how they got him, and what exactly his powers are. I don’t think there’s anybody alive today who’s an expert on—those creatures.”
“They called him Azhdeha.”
“Hmm—sounds Persian.”
“It is,” Galen said. “It’s one of the old names for the constellation Draco. It means ‘man-eating serpent.’”
Keller looked at him in surprise. He had been sitting quietly all this time, listening without interrupting. Now he was leaning forward, his gold-green eyes intense.
“The shapeshifters have some old scrolls about dragons. I think you should ask for them. They might give some idea about what powers they have and how to fight them. I saw the scrolls once, but I didn’t really study them; I don’t think anybody has.”
He’d seen the ancient scrolls? Then he was a shapeshifter, after all. But why hadn’t she been able to sense an animal form for him?
“Galen—” Keller began, but Grandma Harman was speaking.
“It’s a good idea. When I get them, I’ll send copies to you and Keller. He’s one of your people, after all, and you may be able to help figure out how to fight him.”
Keller wanted to say indignantly that he wasn’t any connection to her, but of course it wasn’t true. The dragons had ruled the shapeshifters, once. Their blood still ran in the First House, the Drache family that ruled the shapeshifters today. Whatever that monster was, he was one of her people.
“So it’s decided. Keller, you and your team will take Iliana home. I’ll go back to Circle Daybreak and try to find out more about dragons. Unless…” She looked at Iliana. “Unless this discussion has changed your mind.”
Iliana, unbelievably, was still prattling, having a conversation about presents with nobody in particular. It was clear that her mind hadn’t changed. What wasn’t clear to Keller was whether she had a mind.
But Keller had other things to worry about.
“I’m sorry—but you’re not serious, are you? About taking her home?”
“Perfectly serious,” Grandma Harman said.
“But we can’t.”
“We can, and we have to. You three girls will be her bodyguards—and her friends. I’m hoping that you can persuade her to accept her responsibility by Saturday night at midnight, when the shapeshifters and the witches convene. But if not…” Grandma Harman bowed her head slightly, leaning on her cane. She was looking at Iliana. “If not,” she said in a barely audible voice, “you’ll just have to protect her for as long as you can.”
Keller was choking. “I don’t see how we can protect her at all. With all respect, ma’am, it’s an insane idea. They have to know where her house is by now. Even if we stick beside her twenty-four hours a day—and I don’t see how we can even do that, with her family around—”
The white head came up, and there was even a faint curve to the old woman’s lips. “I’ll take care of that. I’ll have a talk with her mother—young Anna, Elspeth’s granddaughter. I’ll introduce myself and explain that her daughter’s long-lost cousins’ have come to visit for Christmas.”
And undoubtedly do something witchy to Anna’s mind, Keller thought. Yeah, after that they’d be accepted, although none of them looked a bit like Iliana’s cousins.
“And then I will put up wards around that house.” There was a flash like silver lightning in Grandma Harman’s eyes as she said it. “Wards that will hold against anything from the outside. As long as nobody inside disturbs them, you’ll be safe.” She cocked an eyebrow at Keller. “Satisfied?”
“I’m sorry—no. It’s still too dangerous.”
“Then what would you suggest we do?”
“Kidnap her,” Keller said instantly. She could hear Iliana stop babbling in the background; she wasn’t gaining any Brownie points there. She bulldozed on grimly. “Look, I’m just a grunt; I obey orders. But I think that she’s too important for us to just let her run around loose where they might get hold of her. I think we should take her to a Circle Daybreak enclave like the ones where the other Wild Powers are. Where we can protect her from the enemy.”
Grandma Harman looked her in the eye. “If we do that,” she said mildly, “then we are the enemy.”
There was a pause. Keller said, “With all respect, ma’am—”
“I don’t want your respect. I want your obedience. The leaders of Circle Daybreak made a firm decision when this whole thing started. If we can’t convince a Wild Power by reasoning, we will not resort to force. So your orders are to take your team and stay with this child and protect her as long as you can.”
“Excuse me.” It was Galen. The others had been sitting and watching silently. Nissa and Winnie were too smart to get involved in an exchange like this, but Keller could see that they were both unhappy.
“What is it?” Grandma Harman asked.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to go with them. I could be another ‘cousin.’ It would make four of us to watch over her—better odds.”
Keller thought she might have an apoplexy.
She was so mad, she couldn’t even get words out. While she was choking uselessly, Galen was going on. His face still looked pale and strained, like a young soldier coming back from battle, but his dark gold hair was shining, and his eyes were steady. His whole attitude was one of earnest pleading.
“I’m not a fighter, but maybe I can learn. After all, that’s what we’re asking Iliana to do, isn’t it? Can we ask anything of her that we’re not ready to do ourselves?”
Grandma Harman, who had been frowning, now looked him up and down appraisingly. “You have a fine young mind,” she said. “Like your father’s. He and your mother were both strong warriors, as well.”
Galen’s eyes darkened. “I’d hoped I wouldn’t have to be one. But it looks like we can’t always choose.”
Keller didn’t know what they were talking about or why the Crone of all the Witches knew the parents of this guy she’d met in a mall. But she’d finally gotten the obstruction out of her throat.
“No way!” she said explosively. She was on her feet now, too, black hair flying as she looked from Grandma Harman to Galen. “I mean it. There is no way I am taking this boy back with us. And you may be the leader of the witches, ma’am, but, no offense intended, I don’t think you have the authority to make me. I’d have to hear it from the leaders of Circle Daybreak themselves, from Thierry Descouedres or Lady Hannah. Or from the First House of the shapeshifters.”
Grandma Harman gave an odd snort. Keller ignored it. “It’s not just that he’s not a fighter. He’s not involved in this. He doesn’t have any part in it.”
Grandma Harman looked at Galen, not entirely approvingly. “It seems you’ve been keeping secrets. Are you going to tell her, or shall I?”
“I—” Galen turned from her to Keller. “Listen. I’m sorry—I should have mentioned it before.” His eyes were embarrassed and apologetic. “It just—there just didn’t seem to be a right time.” He winced. “I wasn’t in that mall today accidentally. I came by to look for Iliana. I wanted to see her, maybe get to know her a little.”
Keller stared at him, not breathing. “Why?”
“Because…�
� He winced again. “I’m Galen Drache…of the First House of the shapeshifters.”
Keller blinked while the room revolved briefly.
I should have known. I should have realized. That’s why he seemed like a shapeshifter, but I couldn’t get any animal sense from him.
Children of the First House weren’t born connected to any particular animal. They had power over all animals, and they were allowed to choose when they became adults which one they would shift into.
It also explained how he’d known which pressure points to use to get her off the dragon. And his telepathy—children of the First House could connect to any animal mind.
When the room settled back into place, Keller realized that she was still standing there, and Galen was still looking at her. His eyes were almost beseeching.
“I should have explained,” he said.
“Well, of course, it was your choice,” Keller said stiffly. There was an unusual amount of blood in her cheeks; she could feel it burning. She went on, “And, naturally, I’m sorry if anything I’ve said has given offense.”
“Keller, please don’t be formal.”
“Let’s see, I haven’t greeted you properly, or given you my obedience.” Keller took his hand, which was well made, long-fingered, and cold. She brought it to her forehead. “Welcome, Drache, son of the First House of the shapeshifters. I’m yours to command, naturally.”
There was a silence. Keller dropped Galen’s hand. Galen looked miserable.
“You’re really mad now, aren’t you?” he observed.
“I wish you every happiness with your new bride,” Keller said through her teeth.
She couldn’t figure out exactly why she was so mad. Sure, she’d been made a fool of, and now she was going to have to take responsibility for an untrained boy who couldn’t even shapeshift into a mouse. But it was more than that.
He’s going to marry that whiny little flower in the corner, a voice in Keller’s head whispered. He has to marry her, or at least go through a promise ceremony that’s just as binding as marriage. If he doesn’t, the shapeshifters will never join with the witches. They’ve said so, and they’ll never back down. And if they don’t join with the witches…everything you’ve ever worked for is finished.
And your job is to persuade the flower to do her duty, the voice continued brightly. That means you’ve got to convince her to marry him. Instead of eating her.
Keller’s temper flared. I don’t want to eat her, she snapped back at the voice. And I don’t care who this idiot marries. It’s none of my business.
She realized that the room was still silent, and everyone was watching Iliana and Galen. Iliana had stopped prattling. She was looking at Galen with huge violet eyes. He was looking back, strained and serious.
Then he turned to Keller again. “I’d still like to help, if you’ll let me come.”
“I told you, I’m yours to command,” Keller said shortly. “It’s your decision. I’d like to mention that it just makes things a little harder on my team. Now we’re going to have to look out for you as well as her. Because, you see, you’re not expendable after all.”
“I don’t want you to look out for me,” he said soberly. “I’m not important.”
Keller wanted to say, Don’t be an idiot. No you, no promise ceremony, no treaty. It’s as simple as that. We’ve got to protect you. But she’d already said more than enough.
Toby was retrieving the tape from the VCR. Grandma Harman was making getting-ready-to-rise motions with her cane. “I think we’ve stayed here long enough,” she said to Keller.
Keller nodded stiffly. “Would you like to come in the limo? Or would you rather follow us to her house?”
Grandma Harman opened her mouth to answer, but she never got the chance. Keller’s ears caught the sound of movement outside just before the living room window shattered.
CHAPTER 6
It was a full-force invasion. Even before the echoes of breaking glass had died, figures in black uniforms were swarming through the window.
Dark ninjas, Keller thought. An elite group made up of vampires and shapeshifters, the Night World experts at sneaking and killing.
Keller’s mind, which had been roiling in clouds of stifled anger, was suddenly crystal clear.
“Nissa, take her!” she shouted. It was all she needed to say. Nissa grabbed Iliana. It didn’t matter that Iliana was screaming breathlessly and too shocked to want to go anywhere. Nissa was a vampire and stronger than a human Olympic weight lifter. She simply picked Iliana up and ran with her toward the back door.
Without being told, Winfrith followed close behind, orange energy already sizzling between her palms. Keller knew she would provide good cover—Winnie was a fighting witch. She made full use of the new powers that all the Night People were developing as the millennium got closer. As one of the ninjas lunged after them, she let loose with a blast of poppy-colored energy that knocked him sideways.
“Now you!” Keller shouted to Galen, trying to hustle him into the hallway without turning from the ninjas. She hadn’t changed and didn’t want to if she could avoid it. Changing took time, left you vulnerable for the few seconds that you were between forms. Right now seconds counted.
Galen got a few steps down the hall, then stopped. “Grandma Harman!”
I knew it, Keller thought. He’s a liability.
The old woman was still in the living room, standing with her feet braced apart, cane ready. Her apprentice, Toby, was in front of her, working up some witch incantation and tossing energy. They were right in the flow of the ninjas.
Which was as it ought to be. Keller’s mind had clicked through the possibilities right at the beginning and had come to the only reasonable conclusion.
“We have to leave her!”
Galen turned to her, his face lit by the multicolored energy that was flying around them. “What?”
“She’s too slow! We have to protect you and Iliana. Get moving!”
His features were etched in shock. “You’re joking. Just wait here—I’ll bring her.”
“No! Galen—”
He was already running back.
Keller cursed.
“Go on!” she yelled to Nissa and Winnie, who were at the entrance to the kitchen, where the back door was. “Take the limo if you can get to it. Don’t wait for us!”
Then she turned and plunged into the living room.
Galen was trying to shield Grandma Harman from the worst of the energy being exchanged. Keller gritted her teeth. This group of ninjas was only the first wave. They were here to breach the wards and make an opening for whatever was going to follow.
Which could be a dragon.
The ninjas hadn’t finished their job, though. Most of the wards were holding, and the one that had fallen was on a small window. The dark figures could only squirm in one at a time. The house shook as whoever was outside slammed power at it, trying to break a bigger entrance.
Faintly, Keller heard an engine rev up outside. She hoped it was the limo.
Galen was pulling at Grandma Harman. Toby was grappling hand-to-hand with a ninja.
Keller batted a couple of the sneaks out of her way. She wasn’t trying to kill them, just put them out of commission. She had almost reached Galen.
And then she heard the rumbling.
Only her panther ears could have picked it up. Just as the first time when she’d heard it, it was so deep that it seemed both soft and frighteningly loud. It shook her to her bones.
In a flash, she knew what was coming.
And there was no time to think about what to do.
Galen seemed to have sensed it, too. Keller saw him looking at the roof just above the door. Then he turned toward Grandma Harman, shouting.
After that, everything happened at once. Galen knocked the old woman down and fell on top of her. At the same time, Keller sprang and landed on top of both of them.
She was changing even as she did it. Changing and spreading herself
out, trying to make herself as wide and flat as possible. A panther rug to cover them.
The brick wall exploded just as the window had, only louder.
Shattered with Power, Keller thought. The dragon had recovered…fast.
And then it was raining bricks. One hit Keller in the leg, and she lashed her tail in fury. Another struck her back, and she felt a deep pain. Then one got her in the head, and she saw white light. She could hear Galen shouting under her. It seemed to be her name.
Then nothing.
Something wet touched her face. Keller hissed automatically, pawing at it in annoyance.
“Lemme ’lone.”
“Boss, wake up. Come on, it’s morning already.”
Keller opened heavy eyes.
She was dreaming. She had to be. Either that, or the afterlife was full of teenage girls. Winnie was bending over her with a dripping washcloth, and Nissa was peering critically over her shoulder. Behind Nissa was Iliana’s anxious little heart-shaped face, her hair falling like two shimmering curtains of silvery-starlight gold on either side.
Keller blinked. “I was sure I was dead.”
“Well, you got close,” Winnie said cheerfully. “Me and Toby and Grandma Harman have been working on you most of the night. You’re going to be kind of stiff, but I guess your skull was too thick to crack.”
Keller sat up and was rewarded with a stabbing pain in her temples. “What happened? Where’s Galen?”
“Well, golly gee, Boss, I didn’t know you cared—”
“Stop fooling around, Winnie! Where’s the guy who’s got to be alive if the shapeshifters are going to join Circle Daybreak?”
Winnie sobered. Nissa said calmly, “He’s fine, Keller. This is Iliana’s house. Everybody’s okay. We got you guys out—”
Keller frowned, struck by a new worry. “You did? Why? I told you to take the girl and go.”
Nissa raised an eyebrow wryly. “Yes, well, but the girl didn’t want to go. She made us stop and turn back for you.”
“For Galen,” Keller said. She looked at Iliana, who was wearing a pink nightgown with puffy sleeves and looked about seven. She tried to make her voice patient. “It was good to think of him, but you should have followed the plan.”
