by Phil Stern
“What?” As if struck, Barbara physically shoved Tiffany back. “How dare you say such a thing!”
“You fucked up that night.” Unintimidated, Tiffany held her ground. “You sent April and myself right into the path of four sweeping wolves!”
“Really?” Once more, Barbara crossed her arms. “That’s what you think?”
“Oh, I do!” she readily acknowledged. “That’s their typical pattern. Wolves hit grouped, multiple targets from the flanks or rear. They only demonstrate and distract from the front. The safest place for your two teenagers would have been right in the middle of the line!”
Barbara laughed. “Are you serious?”
“Don’t fuck with me! You knew...”
“No, please! Let me get this straight.” Pointedly holding up a hand, Barbara gathered her thoughts. “You’ve been angry all these years because I’m somehow at fault for you beating up a Mepard...”
“You never should have put me in that position! And by the stone, you enjoyed...”
“And because I wasn’t able to predict exactly where those wolves would strike? As if I could read their fucking minds?”
“Did you give it any thought?” Tiffany shot back. “Or was just sending us wandering into town in a long, scattered line really the best move?”
“Those wolves were moving very fast! Delaying to regroup would have meant human deaths. Maybe a lot of them!”
“Oh please! People still died that night, including two children!” Defiantly, Tiffany shook her head. “And it’s not a matter of delays. You positioned us on the hilltop, initially, just the way you wanted us!”
“That’s outrageous!” Clearly, she’d hit a very live nerve. “Tiffany, you’re not...”
“You put yourself in the middle, let your flanks take the brunt of the attack, then just swept in at the end and played hero!”
Holding herself very still, Barbara’s eyes blazed pure green. “That’s not fair, and you know it.” The very air cracked with her power, the railing by their side beginning to blacken. “You miserable witch. I saved your life that night!”
“And for that, I’ll always thank you. From the bottom of my heart.” Tiffany’s steely gaze never left the enraged witch before her. “But one of our Coven-mates did perish! Three others were badly wounded. Your leadership was at least partly to blame.”
“How dare you!” Her magic visibly flaring, Barbara tried to control herself. “In any event, that’s not how the Coven Council saw things!”
“They weren’t there. I was.”
This, apparently, was the turning point. Barbara now balled a fist, leaning forward as if to actually strike her. Promptly taking a half-step backwards, Tiffany merely raised a hand to her earth stone, the younger woman’s confident gaze never wavering.
Catching herself at the last moment, Barbara now visibly trembled. Slowly lowering her arm, it took nearly a half-minute for her power to disburse. As the earth fire faded off into the night, she took several slow, deep breaths, deliberately leaning against the rail once more. With a deliberately casual air, Barbara then raised her own face to the cool ocean breezes.
In the sudden stillness, the chaotic sounds of night filled the air. Even from this distance they could hear the gentle waves lapping up on the beach across the channel and strip of land beyond. The calls of birds and insects merging into a gentle buzz. A Pyron/dolphin blew water high into the air in the lagoon below, the dispersed droplets cascading down on both water and shape shifter.
Off to one side a young sorceress suddenly called out in sexual rapture, her joyful cries carrying over the entire village. Shocking both in it’s suddenness and intensity, the raw human ecstasy seemed to saturate the entire area in deep, vibrant exaltation. Despite themselves, both women paused to listen.
“That must be Rachel,” Barbara mused, once again her old self. “Or maybe even Marissa. What do you think?”
“I’m not sure,” Tiffany replied, her voice low and even. “It could be Keyla.”
“Really? Well, I hope so.” Sadly, Barbara clicked her tongue. “You poor, delusional girl. Why not find yourself a Pyron or two and have yourself a party, like the other girls are?” Without warning, the older woman began strolling off. “That’s what I’m going to do.”
“Have fun,” Tiffany called after her. “Oh, and I’m glad we had this little chat!”
“I’m not. You’re a hopeless, delusional fool.” Now on the edge of the village circle, Barbara turned to look back at her. “Goodnight, my dear.” Whipping about, she then disappeared among the mass of circular huts.
Rolling her eyes, Tiffany once again stared out into the Peth night, feeling more alone than ever.
CHAPTER EIGHT
WEARILY EXITING YET another Boundary portal, Tiffany Smith reflexively took cover behind a large tree. Yet the Pennsylvania woods were quiet, save for the soft rustle of stately pine, oak, and maple branches. Sensing no other witches nearby, she quickly struck off for the abandoned inn. With any luck Blake was there even now, helping rid Valensa of her ruby addiction.
Just hours before the seven-sorceress contingent had returned to Haven from Peth, with very little to show for their efforts. They brought no shape-shifting warriors with them, or even any firm assurance that the Pyrons would actively oppose the Zarth coven within their home dimension. In effect, Barbara had done nothing more than affirm the existing status quo regarding pure human tolerance and werewolf opposition.
“So this was all a big waste of time, wasn’t it?” Riding beside Tiffany across the Haven plains, Marissa idly glanced up at a trio of escorting battle hawks. “I hope Eleanor isn’t too disappointed.”
“Well, that all depends on what happened with the other Elders,” Tiffany replied, guiding her horse around a large tree before closing her friend’s flank again. “Maybe they had more luck than we did in securing alliances.”
“Let’s hope.” Pulling up at the base of a slight rise, Marissa indicated they should wait for the others to catch up. “Otherwise, Eleanor’s going to have a pretty weak hand when she meets with Claire tonight on Earth.”
Watching the rest of their party canter past, Tiffany made a point of studying Keri. Perhaps she was imagining things, but it seemed the younger witch had been avoiding eye contact since she’d stumbled upon her clandestine meeting with Barbara the night before. Once again urging their horses into motion, the two brunettes had then brought up the rear entering Haven village.
Tiffany had been called into Eleanor’s rustic Haven office right after Barbara left. Moodily staring out at a patch of tall sunflowers behind the building, the Coven Leader was clearly disturbed.
“You will cross back to Earth immediately,” the senior sorceress peremptorily ordered. “Wait at your apartment. We’ll swing by and pick you up on the way to meet with Claire.”
“Pick me up?” she’d stupidly repeated. “You mean, I’m to be part of your escort?”
“Actually, you will be at my side during the negotiations.” Glancing over to briefly study Tiffany, Eleanor then settled down behind a quaint, old-style desk. “You know Claire better than anybody else I have. Also, with your record in the field against them, it will be a show of strength to have you there.”
“Sure.” Not having been invited to sit, Tiffany remained standing in the middle of the room. “Did you, uh, want me to report...”
“Later!” Eleanor nearly snapped. “Frankly, my dear, I couldn’t bear to hear any more excuses right now! My esteemed Deputy has just given me enough for a lifetime as it is.”
Clearly, the meeting between the two Elders hadn’t gone very well. Though curious what Barbara had to say about herself, Tiffany knew it wasn’t the time to ask. “I understand.”
“By the way, I’ve issued standing orders to our people on Earth about Valensa.” This was obviously a distasteful subject for the Coven Leader. “If anyone finds your wayward sister, she’s to be brought back to Haven immediately. In chains, if necessary.”
“You think my half-sister is that dangerous?” Tiffany carefully asked.
“Don’t you?” Eleanor nearly fired back. “Obviously, she’s violent and unstable. The last thing we need is her disrupting our peace talks this evening.”
“Of course.” With a pleasant smile, the younger woman turned to leave.
“Speaking of which, I want you to go straight to your Earth apartment right away and stay there,” Eleanor pointedly added. “Avoid all contact with ruby witches, no matter how friendly they might seem. In fact, don’t even answer the door until I call for you to come down. I can’t afford any incidents or delays right now.”
Mutely nodding, Tiffany had left the office and ridden straight back out to the nearest Boundary portal.
But she’d promptly disobeyed this last instruction, heading instead for Blake’s impromptu safe house just south of the New York state line. This is where her love would be, with her sister, if indeed Valensa had made contact during Tiffany’s own absence. Nearly jogging through the thick forest, the young sorceress fervently hoped she’d find them both there safe and sound.
Sure enough, she began sensing the somewhat chaotic emanations of an earth stone half-a-mile off. With tremendous relief, Tiffany failed to detect any ruby magic. Wow, Blake had actually done it! Relief coursing through her being, Tiffany picked up the final trail leading to the rear of the inn, soon spying the structure itself.
However, the sorceress’ joy was cut short upon seeing Blake himself standing outside the back door. Drawn and very haggard, Tiffany’s love miserably looked up at the sky, fretfully pulling a hand over his unshaven stubble. Obviously, he was just about at the end of his rope.
“Blake!” Bursting from the wood line, she was soon upon her man, throwing grateful arms around his strong shoulders. “I’ve missed you so much!”
“Tiffany.” Stumbling backwards a few steps, he put a tentative hand around her waist. “So you’re finally here.”
“Yup.” Standing back, Tiffany firmly took his hand. “So you did it! My sister is inside.”
“Indeed she is,” he glumly replied. “But Valensa’s in bad shape, Tiff. I think this all might have been a horrible mistake.”
Frowning, she concentrated anew on the magical signals coming from within the building. Already her sibling had partially adapted to the earth stone, its energy fitfully flowing into her body. Obviously the connection was still very raw, but was coming along.
“Oh, I don’t know.” Shrugging, Tiffany girlishly swung Blake’s arm back and forth. “It seems to be going okay. In fact, you’ve done a wonderful job...”
“Enough, damn it!” Deliberately pulling back, he let her arm drop. “You haven’t been here! While you were off who knows where, I’ve was left here to abduct and torture your sister!”
“What?” Slowly, Tiffany shook her head. “We’re not torturing her! It’s really just the opposite...”
“Yeah? Well, you haven’t been here! The screaming, the crying. My lord, Tiff! I mean, she’s almost broken bones fighting so hard!”
“My love!” Rushing up, she put a concerned hand to his cheek. “This has been awful, I know. But I’m here now...”
“Finally!” Walking away, he put some distance between the two of them. “Or are you forgetting I had no idea when you’d return? Or even if you’d return!”
“Of course I’d return! How can you even say...”
“Oh, how can I say?” he derisively repeated. “Like I have any idea what’s really going on here! Or any say in the matter if I did!”
Taking a deep breath, Tiffany just crossed her arms.
“Do you have any idea what that’s been like?” he continued. Deliberately avoiding Tiffany’s eye, Blake swatted an angry hand at the inn itself. “Listening to her agony, wondering what I’d do if she died? Or hell! How I’d escape if her friends showed up!”
“Hey! All right, I get it,” she soothed, holding up her hands as if in surrender. “Blake, you’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty, no question. But you have no idea how valuable...”
“Listen, I don’t know anything anymore.” Rocking back on his heels, Blake put both hands over his face. “Honestly, I think this may be the worst thing I’ve ever done.”
Rolling her eyes, Tiffany glanced at the back door. Almost on cue, Valensa let out a frustrated yell from inside. Visibly cringing, Blake turned away.
“Look, just take it easy,” she sighed, noting that her boyfriend’s frame definitely looked a few pounds lighter. “Let me go see how she’s doing.”
“By all means,” he mumbled, ambling off towards the edge of the cleared property. Staring at his nearly trembling back for a moment, the enchantress then briskly pulled open the back door and entered the inn itself.
It wasn’t hard to figure out which room Valensa was in off the short hallway leading down from the kitchen. Hesitating at the closed door, Tiffany was suddenly uncertain whether to knock or not. Shrugging, she then just gave the knob a harsh twist, striding in without asking permission.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Valensa was staring out the lone, reinforced window, breathing heavily. The earth stone lay in the far corner, where she’d obviously thrown it. Now dressed in a somewhat tattered nightgown, Valensa’s hair was a tangled mess.
Tiredly turning her head at the sound of the opening door, Valensa’s eyes went wide at the sight of her visitor. Screaming, the distraught girl launched herself from the bed, hands held up like claws, to rip her sister apart.
With a mere magical flick, Tiffany sent her crashing back into the wall over the bed. Crunching back down onto the ripped, ruined mattress, Valensa was clearly stunned.
“Enough,” Tiffany grimly announced, pointedly slamming the door closed once again. “You and I have a lot to talk about.”
“Fuck you!” Valensa screeched, furious tears cascading down reddened cheeks. “I hate you!”
Well, if Blake had been exaggerating, it wasn’t by much. It did indeed appear as if a finger or two might be broken, with scrapes and bruises all over Valensa’s arms and legs. A deep cut marred one ear, while her left foot was painfully twisted back at an odd angle. Visually assessing the other girl’s physical condition some moments, Tiffany then thoroughly appraised her sister’s magical state. Outward appearances aside, things were actually progressing quite well.
“Let me go. Please?” One cheek twitching almost uncontrollably, Valensa tiredly pounded the wall. “I can’t take anymore!”
“Calm down.” Lightly touching her own stone, Tiffany conjured a heavy wooden chair. Appearing within a large, slow burn of brilliant earth fire, the sorceress then sedately sat down on her creation. “You know what we’re doing here, and why.”
Conjuring an object that large was an impressive magical feat, something Valensa surely couldn’t have done in her previous, increasingly frantic ruby state. Frowning down at the chair, Valensa then met Tiffany’s confident gaze. “There’s no need to show off for me, dear sister. No one’s ever doubted your ability.”
“I don’t have much time, so you have to listen.” Pausing, Tiffany glanced over at the earth stone in the corner. “That’s your natural power source. It matches the same forces that created you in the first place. It’s already merging with your mind and body...”
“Make it stop!”
“I’m sorry it’s been so rough, but we’re doing everything at once here. I realize that breaking your addiction to ruby magic isn’t pleasant. But the good news is that you’re through the worst of it already.”
“I hate you!” Drawing back against the wall, Valensa tried to curl up into a ball. “Go away!”
Tiredly rubbing her own temple, Tiffany listened to the light wind hitting the outside of the building. It wouldn’t be long before winter settled over this entire area, covering the ground with a blanket of pure, unbroken snow. Somehow that was an appealing image, the cold, smooth winter landscape stretching out in every direction.
“Tha
t ruby stone was driving you crazy,” Tiffany slowly explained. “You couldn’t survive much longer, even if your own coven wasn’t hunting you like some animal. My own Coven is on the lookout for you as well. I suspect Eleanor wants to interrogate you, then just dump you back on Dytha. Or maybe even ship you straight back to Zarth. We both know how that would turn out.”
“I can take care of myself!” Though still angry, Valensa had regained some of her composure. “You have no right to take my power.”
“Are you really that stupid?” Almost laughing, Tiffany stared at her in wonder. “I’m giving you back your power! Your real power. Once this transition is complete, you may be one of the strongest witches in either coven.”
Wincing, Valensa closed her eyes. “I’m not following.”
“This chair I’m sitting on is nothing compared to what you’ll be able to create.” Tiffany shook her head. “Yes, I am a very powerful sorceress. For whatever reason, I inherited an immense amount of natural magical ability from our father. No doubt you did as well. Up until now, though, you’ve been hobbled by a conflicting form of magic.”
Saying nothing, Valensa studied her with renewed interest.
“But once you’re fully acclimated to that earth stone?” Smiling, Tiffany ruefully shook her head. “Then you’ll have all the magical muscles you’ve developed harnessing a ruby stone, blended with your natural, stronger power source. Valensa, that’s a very unique, and very potent, combination.”
Racked by another intense stab of pain, Valensa helplessly balled both of her fists, shaking almost uncontrollably. Grinding her own back teeth together, Tiffany could do nothing more than look on.
“You told me how much you resented my life, all the advantages you think I’ve enjoyed over you,” Tiffany softly continued. “And yes, you’ve had it pretty rough. But up until nearly three weeks ago, I never even knew you existed! You have to believe that. All I can do now is try to make things right. Or at least, as right as possible.”
“I tried to take your power.” The agony finally receding, still half-slumped back against the wall, Valensa peered out at her sister. “I gave you to Claire.”
