“Sir?” one of them asked, waiting for orders.
“How do we know that you're really you?” Masarelli asked.
“It's her,” Aidan said, finally letting go of Graive. She hit the floor hard. It took both Amalie and Oberon to pick her up. Aidan had nearly strangled her to death. He was not controlling his emotions well at all. I was practically choking on the anger that he was projecting.
“What makes you so sure? You said that you saw her vanish with the demon. How do we know that it didn't kill her and then change into her form?” Masarelli asked in rapid-fire fashion.
“I know that's the same suit that you were wearing the last time I saw you, right down to the mustard stain on your collar. Don't they encourage good personal hygiene at SPTF anymore?” I asked, trying to get under his skin.
“Screw you, Kincaide. I've been working nonstop since you left me to clean up your mess at the station,” Masarelli snapped, clearly irritated.
“My mess? There wouldn't have been a mess if you hadn’t been so hell bent on cuffing me and stuffing me in a cell. I tried to tell you not to do so, but you had to try to prove that you were better than me once again,” I retorted.
“It's her, all right. Lower your weapons. Even a demon couldn't be this obnoxious,” Masarelli replied.
I gave him the finger. Aidan had regained enough of his cool vampire composure to come over to me.
“Don't ever do that again,” he said, grabbing me by the shoulders.
“What? Get banished with a demon? Trust me, I don't plan on it,” I told him.
He slipped one hand behind my head and one around my waist, pulling me to him. His breath was cool on my neck, giving me goose bumps. His fangs brushed against my skin and my body tingled in anticipation as if I were hooked up to jumper cables.
“As much as I enjoy your sarcastic sense of humor, it won't save you from my wrath if you ever do that to me again,” he said softly. Only a vampire could make a threat sound like sweet nothings.
I knew that he was serious; he had told me that vampires were protective, but there was something strangely exciting about the threat that he had just whispered in my ear. He let me go and I felt a little weak in the knees. Everyone else would think it was exhaustion, but Aidan knew the effect that he had on me.
I stepped around Aidan so that I could see everyone in the warehouse, but more specifically Mahalia. I wanted to look my betrayer straight in the eye. She had lied to me about so many things.
Mahalia met my gaze and said, “You never cease to amaze me, Maurin. When we realized that the Afrit was trying to take you with him, it was too late to stop the banishing spell. I have to admit that even I was worried that our magic wouldn't be enough to bring you back, but you made it on your own. Not only did you kill the demon, but you managed to find your way out of the between. I'm so relieved. I should have known that you wouldn't need our help.” She exuded her usual confident demeanor as she finished her monologue of bullshit.
There was something in her eyes that belied her relief to see my safe return. Mahalia knew that Agrona would ensure that she lost her seat on the Council for her deceit. She meant to trap me in the between with the demon. She obviously didn't think that I would be able to kill it in its own domain. She thought that it would drain me dry and leave me for dead with no way to escape, but she forgot about Arawn. It never occurred to her that he would be able to sense me in the between. What about Aidan? He would still tell Agrona the truth. He was there when Mahalia had confessed what she had done. He would make sure that she forfeited her seat to the Fey. That's where Masarelli had fit into her plan. She knew that Aidan would blame Graive; she knew that the vampires were looking for an excuse to get rid of the necro. Masarelli would be clueless about what was really going on. She was counting on him to try to stop Aidan. When Aidan turned to defend himself from the onslaught of bullets, Graive would be freed from his grasp. She would use her necromancy to control Aidan and SPTF would have finished him off. Oh my god, that fucking bitch!
I wanted her to pay and I had a plan. The rational part of my brain said that it was a bad idea, but my temper was getting the best of me. I knew that there would be consequences for my revenge. I was digging myself in deeper with Arawn, but I didn’t care. I grabbed Aidan's hand and pressed forward.
Mahalia knew that I had figured out what she had tried to do. She backed up, but I was faster than she was. I caught her by the wrist and started breaking down the reality just as Arawn had shown me. I managed to deconstruct the warehouse more quickly than before. I guess it was because I knew exactly where I was going. I felt Aidan try to pull away, but I held on tighter. I could barely hear Masarelli’s panicked shouts as we vanished into thin air. I was going to have a hell of a time explaining my disappearing act this time.
I moved through the between easier than I had expected, despite the weight of the two extra beings that I had with me. I thought about where I wanted to be and who I wanted to find when I got there. The "landing" was a little rough, but I managed to move all three of us through the between and into Gallows Hill Park. Everyone seemed to be intact. For the moment.
“How the hell did you do that? What the hell is going on?” Aidan asked in disbelief.
“I'll explain later,” I promised, brushing him off.
“Maurin,” he said, demanding an explanation using only my name.
“Not now Aidan! You'll see soon enough. Just trust me,” I pleaded.
Mahalia looked like she was about to take off. She was frantically trying to work a spell. She knew what was going to happen. Arawn was taking too long! She was going to get away! ‘Damn it, Arawn, where are you?’ I cursed to myself. Something made a huffing sound and Mahalia came to a dead stop. Perhaps old age or karma had finally caught up to her, because once again she was too slow. I felt a cold, wet nose against the palm of my hand. I didn’t even look down to see what it was. I knew it was the Cwn Annwfn. Arawn had waited until the last second to reveal himself. He had a real flare for dramatic entrances.
“Hello, witch. I told Maurin that I wanted to speak with you. Wasn't it thoughtful of her to bring you to me? I, for one, am touched by my daughter’s desire to please me,” he said proudly.
Aidan’s eyebrows lifted almost to his hairline when Arawn called me his daughter. I didn’t have to touch him to know what he was thinking. I shook my head no in silent answer to the question that was racing through his mind.
“Do not deny it, my dear. We are among friends, are we not?” Arawn said innocently.
Did he know the depths of Mahalia’s deception, of her plan to kill me? Of course he did. He was baiting her - hoping that she would try to lie to him. She never said a word.
“You left this behind daughter. In the future, be more careful where you leave your things. It would be a terrible shame to lose the Retaliator in the between,” Arawn gently scolded.
I took the sword and slowly turned around to face Mahalia. It was a familiar scene. One that I wouldn’t have imagined Mahalia playing a role in. She stood in practically the same spot as Morrigan, with the Cwn Annwfn at her feet. I looked at Aidan as I swung the sword above my head. He needed to see what I really was. He needed to know what I had become.
“Wait!” Arawn shouted.
I lowered my sword and turned to face Arawn. I didn’t bother to hide my disappointment.
“Stop looking at me like a petulant child would, Maurin. I know why you brought her to me. I would like nothing more than to see her meet the end that she had so cruelly planned for you. Her deceit about your true lineage would be enough for me to send my dogs on the hunt for her,” he said.
“So why are you stopping me? She banished me with the demon. She tried to kill me! She deserves to meet the end of my sword!” I shrieked. Aidan lunged for Mahalia as my words registered. He moved faster than my eyes could. In less than a second, he was behind her. He wrapped an arm around her waist and another around her head. His fingers dug in beneath her chin as he pul
led her head back, exposing her neck.
“Do not kill her, vampire!” Arawn’s voice bellowed.
Aidan retracted his fangs, but he didn’t let Mahalia go.
“So she’s just going to get away with it?” I asked in disbelief.
“No. She will be punished,” Arawn replied coldly.
“How? You won’t let me do it. You won’t let Aidan do it. You’re obviously not going to do it!” I said venomously.
“Is it your intent to leave this life behind? Are you ready to walk away from everything and join me on the hunt?” Arawn asked.
“What? What the hell does that have to do with anything? She tried to kill me! I brought her to you! I thought I’d actually get a little justice!” I screamed, frustrated.
“You didn’t bring her to me for justice. You brought her here for revenge,” he said.
“What’s the difference when her crime is attempted murder?” I asked.
“I’ll ask you again. Are you willing to leave this life behind? Because if you kill her, that is what you will have to do,” Arawn said.
This was not the price that I expected to pay for coming here. I thought I’d have to agree to some father daughter time, not leave everything behind to join him on the hunt.
“You didn’t ask me to walk away from everything after I killed Morrigan. So why now?” I was totally confused and terrified of what he might say.
“Morrigan wasn’t just a threat to you. She wouldn’t have stopped until she had destroyed everything and everyone. There was no other end for her but true death. You cannot go around killing everyone who wishes you harm, Maurin,” Arawn replied.
“Not everyone who wishes me harm, just the ones who try to harm me,” I corrected, but my words had lost their sting.
“If you sentence her to death for her crimes, then I will stand behind you, but you cannot stay here. Do you think the coven will simply accept your form of justice? Do you think the Council will allow an Executioner to walk among them when you can just snatch them out of their existence? Can you walk away from it all?” he asked again.
I looked around, at the clear winter sky filled with stars, at the vampire keep – I looked everywhere but directly at Arawn. My eyes finally fell on Mahalia. Her smug look of defiance was almost enough to make me say yes, but Aidan was right behind her. I took a deep breath. The cold air stung as it filled my lungs, but not as much as the bitter realization that my father was right.
“No I can't. I won't trade my life in order to take hers,” I conceded.
Arawn tried to hide his disappointment. Despite his lecture, he had hoped that I would choose revenge and, by proxy, him. He hasn't tried to force me – yet - but I knew that he wanted me with him on the hunt.
“It has been decided then. Mahalia, High Priestess of the Salem Coven, Advisor to the Council, you have been accused of attempted murder and treason against the Council. I find you guilty of these crimes. Are you ready for sentencing?” he asked.
Mahalia stepped out of Aidan's grip and stood before Arawn with an incomprehensible arrogance. It was becoming clear to me that she really didn't think that she had done something wrong. She believed that she had done what she had to in order to ensure the survival of the coven. Too bad it would be their undoing.
I felt the world shift before I saw the reality breakdown. Arawn was powerful enough to move all of us through the between without a physical connection. Damn, he was fast! So that was what it was like to move through the between when you actually knew what you were doing. If I hadn't done this a couple of times already, I wouldn’t have known what had happened. I was awkward and choppy when I moved through the between. This was the first time that I had traveled with him when he wasn’t trying to teach me how to do it. I was a little awestruck. He moved the four of us, plus two Cwn Annwfn, and I barely noticed.
Aidan looked a little green, but was handling the situation with a cool composure that would make any vampire proud. Mahalia gasped when her new surroundings came into focus.
I think until that moment she thought that Arawn was just going to kill her. The weight of her crimes came crashing down on her as she stood before the Council. She stumbled back and spun around to look at Arawn - with fear in her eyes for the first time - before collapsing on the floor at Agrona's feet.
The vampire queen crossed her Jimmy Choos without even acknowledging the coven leader.
“Arawn, so good to see you again. And so soon. I hope that your daughter has inherited your love of the hunt,” Agrona said by way of greeting.
“Only time will tell. As promised, I have delivered the traitor,” Arawn said.
I stole a look at the man who claimed to be my father, hoping to catch a glimpse of what he was thinking. He had already been here and made some kind of agreement with the Council. That was totally unexpected. I had no idea where this was going and Arawn wasn't giving anything away. He stepped back and gave a soft whistle. The two giant white dogs curled up at his feet. He had fulfilled his part of whatever deal he'd struck with the Council and was happy to watch the rest unfold as a bystander.
“Mahalia has already been found guilty of treason and attempted murder. She has been brought before the Council for sentencing,” Agrona said to the room. Until now, I hadn’t noticed that it was full of people.
Vampires casually filled the hall as if they had been invited to a cocktail party instead of a hearing. There were several wolves from Roul’s pack and one who wasn't. Cash gave me a little salute, but I didn’t wave back. I was completely caught off guard by what was happening. My brain was scrambling to catch up. Arawn had come here after he had left me in the warehouse. He knew what Mahalia had done the minute that he found me in the between. He knew she wouldn't fear death and he would not have her made a martyr, so he came here to put in motion the one thing that Mahalia feared above all else.
A door in the back of the room flew open. Oberon, Graive, and Amalie were shackled together. Two of the most beautiful men that I had ever seen shoved the three of them through the doorway with an ease that shouldn't have been possible for their wiry frames. The men were fair-haired and skinned. Were they twins perhaps? One of them kicked Oberon hard behind the knee. He went down and took Amalie and Graive with him. They landed in a pile at Mahalia's feet, but she refused to acknowledge their presence. She didn't even glance in their direction as they struggled with the shackles and chains to untangle themselves.
The twins moved around the heap of bodies in front of them and went to stand beside Roul. The one who had kicked Oberon looked at me with soul-piercing sapphire blue eyes. It wasn't hard to figure out what they were. Fey. Blue Eyes gave me a wicked grin that sent shivers down my spine and I forced myself to look away for fear of being glamoured.
“Mahalia is hereby stripped of her position as advisor. The coven's seat on the Council will be given to the Fey and the witches will be barred from petitioning for seat or position in the Council for a century. Lastly, Mahalia will step down as High Priestess of the Salem coven,” Agrona said, to the delight of the twins.
Amalie pleaded with her to deny the charges. When Mahalia made no effort to defend herself, Amalie resorted to begging for leniency from the Council.
“The mere fact that she still lives is an act of mercy,” Roul told her.
“You can't do that. The Council doesn't have that kind of authority over the coven.” Oberon started to stand so that he could properly object, but Cash forced him back down on his knees.
“Move again. I dare you. I've been dying to kick your ass,” Cash growled.
“What do you care? What's she to you, wolf?” Oberon asked, and I realized that he was referring to me.
Cash pulled back and let a looping right-handed fist fly. He connected with the side of Oberon's face hard enough to send blood flying across the stone floor.
Roul let out a roar that rattled the walls. “Agrona hasn't finished!”
“Thank you, Roul. The Council must approve the new priest or
priestess,” Agrona said. She directed the full weight of her words at Oberon.
“The coven will decide who leads them. It will not be put to vote before a vampire, wolf, and fairy.” Oberon said the last word as if it were a derogatory name as he spit blood on the floor.
“Yes. Well, the Council tried that approach before and it was unsuccessful. The leader that you chose conspired against us, tried to murder one ally and alienated another,” Blue Eyes replied. His twin remained silent, but it was clear that they were in agreement.
“Screw you, elf. Does Keebler even know that you left the tree? Last time I checked, the Fey weren't in a position to judge anyone,” Graive snapped back in defense of her second family.
“I wouldn’t draw too much attention to myself if I were you. Too late,” Blue Eyes said, paying more attention to his fingernails than to the pissed off vampire next to him.
“You dare to speak that way to a member of the Council? You are an abomination tolerated only at the bequest of the now condemned!” Kedehern shouted as he moved towards her.
Graive's magic wasn’t affected by the shackles like Oberon’s and Amalie's. She tapped into her power without thinking and froze Kedehern right where he stood. She opened her mouth to apologize, but there was no way to take back what she had just done. Amalie's whimpering was barely audible over the rattling shackles as Graive tried to get away. Unfortunately, there was nowhere for her to go.
Aidan moved forward. Graive let go of Kedehern and focused on the immediate threat headed for her, but he was immune to her magic. It was the reason that the vampires had made him their executioner and the reason that Agrona and Kedehern had sent for him in the first place. Aidan pulled her up by her hair and forced her head back. He plunged his fangs into her neck. I saw her strength leaving as her blood filled his mouth. This was the same vampire who drank from me more than once, but Graive’s experience was very different from mine. I had known nothing but pleasure both times that Aidan had pierced my skin, but he did not offer to cloud her mind with euphoria. Instead, she felt every pull on her veins, every drop of blood that left her body. His eyes were locked on mine, daring me to look away. I didn't flinch. I watched him as I had expected him to watch me earlier. I understood the need to have someone see you at your worst - at your most vulnerable - and find acceptance in their eyes. I held his gaze while Graive's skin paled and his own blushed, while her limbs went limp and her pulse slowed, until Kedehern ordered him to stop. Graive crumpled to the floor as he released her. Oberon pushed Amalie out of the way and scrambled over to check on her. Aidan drew the back of his hand across his mouth to wipe away her blood before breaking eye contact with me.
Witch Hunt, A Paranormal/Urban Fantasy (The Maurin Kincaide Series) Page 22
