Shadowshifter
Page 9
"I don't care if you're the frickin' King of the Universe. I'm the one who was scratched and I…" a dizzy spell stole my words and I cried out as a stabbing sensation throbbed at the base of my skull. "Oh, my God!" I felt Quillan's arms around me as he eased me back onto the seat. Closing my eyes against the pain, I sucked in a ragged breath through my teeth and dug my nails into the palms of my hands.
I felt the car move and flinched, my eyes opening to see Quillan leaning over the length of me, his weight supported on his arms. A loud banging from the trunk reminded me of Elliot's presence.
"Elli…" A flash of movement caught me off guard as Quillan ripped through my sweater and the right shoulder of my t-shirt. Before I could call out again, four sharp teeth grazed my neck. I shivered for some insane reason and had a crazy moment of the tickling sensation of teeth and then he tore into my shoulder in one rough jerk.
Something liquid warmed my neck and flowed through my body. It felt as though I were easing into a hot bubble bath and let my mind fell away. I was floating. I was going away somewhere. And…hey! The fuzziness was all melting away. A weight lifted from me and the pain came rushing back. The sound of metal tearing and glass shattering startled me and my eyes focused just in time to see Quillan being ripped out of the backseat by Elliot.
Elliot punched Quillan and spun himself around, using his momentum to throw the werewolf somewhere in the distance. It was so bizarre it looked almost fake like I was watching a movie or something. It grew dark in front of my eyes and I knew that I was fainting. Yep, I was definitely fainting, in the middle of the night, in the middle of Chicago, in the middle of a series of bloody encounters. I had one lucid moment where it occurred to me that my life really sucked and then I drifted away.
Chapter Thirty Two
GEMMA
I first noticed that I was being followed about a four blocks from my house. The car trailed me at a close distance, brazen, like whoever was driving it knew I could see that it was after me and didn’t care. My arms began to twitch as the panther fought to take control of my body.
Fight or flee. It told me. Fight or flee.
It decided to turn tail and run and so did I, through two stop signs. It was dark and I could tell no one was coming because the creep behind me now had his brights on like he was trying to blind me.
Flipping my rearview mirror up so his lights would blind him too, I saw something that made me stop breathing. Red and blue lights twirled silently on top of his car.
A cop.
“Shit-aki mushrooms,” I said. Pulling over to the side of the road, I turned down the radio and pushed the power button to let the window down. He took his time getting out of the car, all the better to freak me out, I guess.
“License and registration,” he said. I bobbed my head up and down, too scared to respond. I handed him my license and opened the glove compartment to get the registration my mom had shown me. “Do you know why I pulled you over?” He asked.
“Uh, I’m sorry I ran the stoplights, but I’m just in such a hurry, my little sister…” My voice trailed off. What the heck was I going to say?
“Stay put. I’ll be right back,” he said, taking my paperwork with him. My right hand convulsed and began to shift, the pain of it brief but intense as a long, clawed paw took the place of my hand, popping the rings off my fingers.
Oh, shit. Oh, shit. The cop was coming back, now.
“Everything checks out, but I’m gonna give you a ticket for failing to stop at the proper signs.” He handed me the ticket. “Now, young lady, I really don’t think it’s safe for you to be out alone at this hour. There are a lot of weirdos out there.” His voice droned on in a lecture as my canines grew longer, my teeth sharpening.
“My little thister jusst got her firsst period.” My words slurred as my fangs caught against my tongue. “She’s at a friend’s house and is totally freaking out, and I didn’t want to wake up my mom ‘cause she geths up really early.” The officer blinked at me, his face growing white.
“Right, then. You go ahead, miss,” he said. I turned the key in the ignition and headed back towards my house, my new ticket worth a month’s grounding on the seat next to me. I had worse things to worry about, though. Like making it back to my house before fully shifting. There was no way I could get to Chicago and no one I could call for help. I didn’t think the Bruers would get involved with the werewolves and even if they did, they’d try talking to their inner wolf-cub instead of kicking butt. Ascher was on her own.
PART SEVEN
SUCKS TO BE ME
Chapter Thirty Three
ASCHER
Though my dreams fought to keep me prisoner, I was waking up. My hearing went in and out, but I heard bits and pieces of a conversation between a man with an Australian accent and a woman. I was aware that I lay on a soft surface, snuggled in layers of cloth.
"…now that we have this to sort out…"
"…and it seems she was bitten by the eldest son of Roberto Wolcott…
"…the servant says he was bringing her to Savian…"
"…unreliable account given the fact that he obviously…
"…it's apparent that the servant is in love with the girl…
"…then the rumor that he helped her escape…"
"…tried to take her away from here after her sister shifted…"
"…should really check on her again…"
"…lost a significant amount of blood…"
I strained to open my left eye, fearful that whoever was talking would see I was awake, increasing the danger I was sure I was already in. Whoever had me knew about what happened with Quillan and suspected that Elliot had been helping me. From what they'd said, they also suspected that Elliot was in love with me and I felt butterflies mixing with the fear-related nausea.
When I tried to stretch my legs, I found that they were somehow enclosed. Being careful to move slowly, I glanced down and saw that the lower half of my body was covered by a smooth, shiny surface that looked a heck of a lot like the bottom half of a… coffin! I was already screaming by the time it took me to realize that it'd be a bad idea to do so.
"Bloody hell, girly. You'll wake the dead if you keep carrying on like that," a familiar looking man said. Clive. That was his name. Though we'd never met, I knew what he looked like because of Daray. When Daray, Fawne and I went to rescue Gemma, Daray's cousin P.J., had used her glamour magic to make Daray look like the famous companion of Dionysia. Dionysia, who was also standing in the room and regarding me with amusement.
"Clive, sweetie. Do be a dear and go wait outside while Miss Rafferty and I have a little chat," she said. I was glad she had suggested it. Though I didn't exactly look forward to being alone in a room with her, I had to admit that one vampire was easier to escape from than a pair. Clive blew a kiss, I'm not sure at who, and then glided out of the room while I used my arms to lift myself up from the coffin, kicking away the down comforter that I had been wrapped in.
When I was successfully standing without passing out, I raised my hands to my shoulder which had been dressed with gauze and medical tape and, strangely enough, only hurt a little. I stared at the black-clad figure of Dionysia. She looked about twenty-five, though I knew she was far older than that. She had large, brown eyes with dark eyelashes and skin so light you could see the lines of green-blue veins through her arms. She wore a short black, sleeveless dress, an old-fashioned hat with black lace coming off of the front of it and a huge silver cross held tight to a black, beaded chain.
"You have a very unusual aura," Dionysia said. I blinked at her like, well like she'd just told me I had a very unusual aura. "You can just make out the witch and warlock in it, though it appears to be mostly human. Your Grandmother must be a very powerful witch to perform such an involved power-stripping spell that it affects even that. Of course, our auras are also created by our self-perception, and, until last month, we thought we were human. Didn't we, Miss Rafferty?"
"Yes. We did," I repli
ed. Dionysia's eyebrows drew together as if she were aware I was making fun of her.
"Savian tells me you had quite a time of it. What with being bitten by Petrel, meeting the Bruer witches, and the whole situation with Daray. Tell me, Ascher. You don't mind if I call you Ascher, do you?" I shook my head.
"What do we think of our young Prince Valerian?" Dionysia asked.
"Honestly, he gives me the creeps," I said. Dionysia laughed, a deep throaty sound and pointed a black-gloved finger at me.
"You're really quite charming for a witch," she said. "I suppose that werewolf Quillan is more to your liking, then?"
"Uh, no. Not really."
"But you did kiss the boy, did you not? Hence the female werewolf scratching you, and the need for Quillan's bite." Okay. So, Vampira had her facts straight.
"I didn't, uh. I mean…"
"You're going to need to be more careful whose flames of passion you ignite. Supernatural creatures are drawn to power and you, my dear, have quite a lot of power."
"I start fires," I said, feeling stupid.
"No. You are a Fireshifter, a shifter of the very element of fire. You move fire. You conjure fire. You create fire. You do not start fires.”
"Okay."
"You're probably wondering what it is I want with you. You have been causing an awful lot of trouble, my dear." The thought of Petrel falling on me flashed through my mind.
"I didn't kill Petrel," I said. "I was just walking and he fell on me. He was already dead."
"I know you didn't kill him," Dionysia said. "I did. He made a bad impression on you of my brethren. An impression I am hoping, of course, to change."
So, to change a bad impression I had of vamps as scary killers, you killed one and air-delivered him to me?
"Savian's known that you were involved with the servant, Elliot, for some time now. When I arrived he told me of his concerns so we set up a test to see who you would reach out for when you were scared. You answered our questions and the servant will be dealt with for betraying his master.
"What are you going to do with Elliot?"
"Well, that depends on several factors, namely your decision,"
"He didn't do anything. I want you to let him go," I said. Dionysia laughed.
"No, Ascher. Not your yes or no decision based on personal opinion. Another decision, one that will change your life.”
"What's that?"
"You were bitten by a werewolf tonight and there are eight days until the next full moon. You can take your leave of me and of the other vampires, go home and wait to see if you change into a wolf with the Full Moon. Of course, you'd be essentially sending Elliot to his death for endangering you as he did and getting you further involved with the werewolves.
"Or?"
"Or you can choose to take my blood and become my servant, possibly sparing yourself from becoming a werewolf and most definitely saving Elliot from death."
"You want me to become your servant like Elliot is for Savian?"
"Not exactly. You would stay with your family, go to school. You could even continue your magical training with the Bruer Coven, but you would serve as my representative in Chicago and you would owe your alliance to me in any situations that may arise. I'll give you a few minutes to think it over, but then I need your answer. Savian and the others are looking forward to dealing with Elliot. For the sake of your beloved servant, I suggest you think quickly." I nodded, barely able to grasp what it was that she was implying.
Either I tie myself to her as her servant and save Elliot or I become a werewolf and Elliot dies. The butterflies in my stomach from earlier were now completely gone, obliterated by nausea. I closed my eyes and felt a sweet feeling come to my mouth. I was going to be sick.
Geez! Not in front of this psycho vamp when I was so vulnerable.
What I needed to do was talk with Elliot. I needed a mirror. I pressed my hand against my mouth as if struggling to keep from getting sick.
"I need to use the bathroom."
Chapter Thirty Four
GEMMA
After fighting for control of my body, the panther finally let me shift back into human form. I found a spell in one of the magic books that allows magic to be passed between family members in times of great need. Standing in front of Ascher’s bed, in the re-assembled circle, I began the chant.
“All my magic, I lend she.
Who is a very part of me.
May it be used in pure intent.
For that is how this pow’r is sent.”
A wave of cool air washed over me and I felt very sleepy suddenly. Yawning, I sat on the edge of Ascher’s bed.
“All my magic, I lend she.
Who is a very part of me.
May it be used in pure intent.
For that is how this pow’r is…is… sent.”
I collapsed onto the bed, both my body and mind exhausted.
Chapter Thirty Five
ASCHER
I'd been whispering Elliot's name for what seemed like five minutes when I saw the bathroom mirror ripple.
"Elliot?" I reached forward, dipping my fingertips into the liquid-like surface to test if the portal, or whatever it was that opened the mirrors to Elliot, was now open to me. When I was armpit deep in the mirror, something seized me by the wrist and one hard yank later, I was sitting on my butt in the middle of a sea of swirling smoke. Gray vapors licked along the dark shadows of Elliot's land, making me feel cold even though the temperature hadn't changed. "Elliot?"
I had never been in this place without Elliot by my side so I had never truly seen how creepy it was.
Ascher. Ascher. I rose to my feet and glanced around me. To my left, the hazy form of Elliot floated through the fog.
"Oh my God! You're not…dead?" I asked.
"This is merely an astral projection. I've allowed my spirit to leave my body to give you this message. You must not become Dionysia's servant…you must…home…use the mirrors…" Elliot's smoky image began to flicker and then he was gone, leaving me alone again in the wasteland of time.
"Elliot, how? How do I use the mirrors?" I called, but no answer came.
***
I wasn't sure how long I'd been sitting in the shadows, but it seemed like hours. Having sent frustrated surges of fire through the swirling smoke for the past few minutes, there was at least enough light to see things better. Not that there was much to see. Just a lot of fog and hazy clouds and…rippling air.
"Ripples!" I jumped to my feet, clapping my hands like a madwoman on a winning streak on a game show. When I came to the first place where there was a water-like quality to the air, I found I could see into a bathroom at my school. There was a mural of the Lake Parrish Pirahnas on the far right wall and a janitor swabbing the floors with a worn looking mop.
Moving on to the next spot, I could see into my bedroom where Gemma was fast asleep on my bed. Her cat, Angel, was kneading her leg with frantic paws. I was half-way through the mirror when I heard Dionysia calling my name.
"Oh, shi…damn it!" I said. Elliot was still in trouble and no matter how warm and safe my bedroom looked, I just couldn't forget that.
"Ascher, are you quite finished?" Dionysia's voice floated towards me followed by a banging sound.
"Just a second. I was…I'm sort of…sick." Dionysia harrumphed, but I heard her heels clacking away. I had no time to decide, so I chucked a stuffed animal at my sister's sleeping form. She didn't budge so I threw an Encyclopedia of Mythical Creatures at her.
"Oww!" She groaned. "What the…Ascher? Where are you?"
"In the wonderful land of Oz. I'm in the mirror, Gem. And I need a stake. Now." Gemma pulled a stake out from under the pillows and brought it over to me.
"This is…too weird, Ascher." I gave her a wry smile and blew a curl away from my forehead.
"What is? Me hanging out of a mirror, or my need for a wooden stake?"
"All of the above. I'm coming with you." She reached forward as if to grab me.
Dionysia regarded me with wide eyes, her porcelain skin smudged with soot. She raised an eyebrow at me in question.
"Oops."
Chapter Thirty Six
GEMMA
I was so pissed at Ascher, I just didn’t know what to do; I started by chucking a pillow at the mirror. Luckily, for me, the pillow went through.
“It’s still opened,” I said, smiling at my path to save my sister. Not wanting to lose track of her, I stepped through the mirror and began to jog through these weird, gray smoke clouds. Within minutes I didn’t know which end was up and I felt a lot like Alice falling down the rabbit’s hole.
I’m lost. I’m lost in this freaky, cloudy haze and I don’t know how to get out of here. As soon as I had the thought, I knew I was in trouble.
“Oh, frick!” I said and then my body jerked forward and I began to shapeshift.
Chapter Thirty Seven
ASCHER
“I want to see Elliot or I’m not going through with this,” I said. Dionysia grinned at me, her canines looking like two deadly exclamation points.