“You don’t think doing nothing’s a bigger risk?” he said, wishing he’d get permission to kill her and knowing he wouldn’t.
“No. Leave the girl alone. If she is the only one who can read the book then we need her alive.” The voice was flat.
“I’ve done everything for the cause that needed to be done. No matter how unpleasant, I did it. I think you’re letting your feelings get in the way now, and keeping us from doing what we need to do. We should take a vote,” he pressed.
“We don’t need a vote. I’m in charge on this and I’m handling it. And don’t think I’m letting personal feelings get in the way. First chance you have you need to kill someone else, make it look like the ritual, but it won’t be. It’ll throw them off and make them question everything. And I know exactly who you need to kill.”
The voice was resolved; he knew that tone and lowered his head, waiting to hear the plan. There’d be no arguing with it, and he chaffed, knowing that whatever it was he would be expected to do it without complaint.
He was getting really tired of handling all the dirty work and taking all the risk, but being expected to take orders without ever having his own opinion listened to.
******************************
She read until her eyes crossed and her neck cramped, but once she began she felt a desperate urgency to finish that pushed her to keep going. By mid-afternoon she was so tired she couldn’t focus to remember what she was reading and a dull headache had started behind her eyes, but still she pushed on. Finally Bleidd appeared, ignoring the disapproving looks from the Guard–both strangers to Allie–and gently took the book out of her hands. She protested weakly, “Bleidd, I have to…”
“You need to eat and take a break before you collapse,” he said, setting the book down carefully on the couch next to her. She sighed, resigned, and allowed him to pull her to her feet and guide her back to the kitchen, with the two Guard following like shadows. Liz was at the counter fixing tea, and without thinking Allie said, “Hey Liz, can I have some too?”
As soon as she spoke and saw her cousin’s back stiffen she remembered their earlier fight. She stood awkwardly, feeling foolish, but Liz replied, “Sure Allie, hibiscus okay?”
“That’d be perfect, thanks,” Allie relaxed slightly. Bleidd was grabbing crackers and peanut butter out of the cabinet so Allie went to the refrigerator and pulled out a block of cheddar and some leftover ham, meeting him at the table. “Are you hungry Liz?”
Liz waivered, then shrugged, “I have to be at the theater early so I should probably eat something now.”
Allie pulled out a chair gesturing for Liz to sit as the other woman walked over with the tea. Bleidd had already poured himself a glass of milk and was slathering peanut butter on a cracker while pretending not to watch the two cousins. For a moment they all sat fixing little cracker sandwiches, eating, sipping drinks and not talking. Finally, feeling like she was doing an awful lot of apologizing and unsure if she should be, Allie said “I’m sorry we fought Liz, I don’t want us fighting, especially not now.”
“I just don’t understand why you’re so suddenly obsessed with this guy,” Liz muttered sipping her tea, “You’ve only know him a few days. It’s unnatural, like he put a spell on you or something.”
“No spells, Liz, really, I’d know, but yeah it is weird. I can’t explain it either.” Allie shrugged, biting into a ham and cheese cracker. She chewed thoughtfully for a moment, “It’s like he balances me somehow, like I–I don’t know–like I’m drawing on him to ground myself in all of this chaos. He makes me feel sane.”
Bleidd made a small noise and both women looked at him. His expression was distinctly unhappy. Allie felt uneasy, seeing it, “What? Why the weird look?”
He hesitated, and she pressed, “Come on Bleidd, you’re freaking me out.”
“It’s probably nothing, “he said forcing himself to drink something from his glass. “Just for a moment there it almost sounded like what you were describing was what elves call “soul friends”, it’s a bond that can form between two people who are very close for a long time; the two join on a psychic level that allows for an exchange of emotions, wordless communication, that sort of thing.”
Allie felt nonplussed, “I’ve only just met him, really, and we don’t know each other well at all in practical terms.”
Bleidd grimaced, “I know that. It’s impossible anyway–it takes years to form such a bond and it’s exceedingly rare. And no offense to you Allie, because you know your background doesn’t matter to me, but I think such a bond is only possible between full elves.”
“No offense taken,” Allie said, still feeling unnerved.
Liz looked perplexed. “But couldn’t that be why she’s so head-over-common-sense for this guy?”
“I doubt it, it was just a random thought when she was describing how she felt with him,” Bleidd shook his head. “Just forget I mentioned it.”
“There are no random words, it’s all synchronicity–isn’t that what the elves believe?” she had meant it to be teasing, but he looked taken aback at her words.
“I do not understand how this could be important for you to know, “he said slowly. “It occurs only between full elves–not even between other Fey–and only very rarely. It takes years, sometimes decades to form. How could this be?”
Allie shook her head, “Don’t look at me, this is the first I’m hearing of it, and I was just teasing about the synchronicity.”
“Synchronicity moves in all things,” one of the other Guards, a darker blond who looked strange standing in the kitchen in full armor, said solemnly, “It is the pattern behind all expressed reality.”
Liz shifted slightly, “So this soul friend thing, is it always between couples or what?”
“No,” Bleidd said. “The only ones I have ever known who had such a bond were sisters.”
The Guard who had spoken before nodded slightly. “I knew two close friends who formed such a bond, and I had heard of a married couple as well, but I did not know them myself.”
Allie shook her head, “I think we’re all getting sidetracked looking for an explanation that isn’t there. I love you Liz and I don’t want to fight with you, but I didn’t hook up with him because of some mystic whatever. Blame it on hormones, or pheromones, or wanting to feel alive after almost dying or whatever else, but it wasn’t a magic spell or some sort of freaky soul bond making me do it.”
Liz looked down at the table’s worn surface, her fingers tracing the wood grain, “I guess I’m just not used to you acting like…”
“Syndra?” Allie suggested, and they both giggled. The tension was still there, beneath the surface and Allie knew that a lot of things were being left unsaid, but at least some effort to mend things was being made.
“So you found the book?” Liz asked as Allie went back to eating. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until Bleidd had dragged her in here, but now she was ravenous. She nodded, chewing as she made another cracker.
Liz kept tracing the table’s surface, “I still can’t believe that Grandmother even had that kind of book. She wouldn’t ever talk about dark magic at all. The idea that this whole time she had an entire grimoire of it right here in the house is unnerving.”
“Be glad you can’t read it,” Allie said, shaking her head, “It’s macabre stuff, even early on.”
Liz gave her a strange look, and started to say something, then stopped.
“Anything helpful so far?” Bleidd queried.
“Not directly relating to the case yet, but I’m getting a crash course in some hardcore witchcraft. I’d never suspected my grandmother of even knowing about this stuff, never mind doing it,” Allie bit her lip, frowning at her tea. “But I’ll push through if the answers we need are in there.”
“Just don’t push too hard, Allie. You have your limits,” Bleidd said, softly. She met his eyes and the honest emotion there and looked away.
“I better hit the bathroom and then ge
t back to reading” she said evasively, sliding out of her chair. “Thanks for the tea Liz–and making me stop and eat Bleidd. I needed that.”
**********************************
She retrieved the book from the couch and retreated to her room, sitting on the bed with the grimoire spread open on the blanket in front of her. She read with a renewed sense of purpose as the afternoon shadows lengthened and darkness fell. The Guard had stayed out in the hallway, giving her the illusion of privacy and she was grateful for it, because she was often unable to hide her reactions to what she was reading. At some point, as she sat reading in the dark room the door opened. She spoke without looking up,
“Jess, this stuff is horrific.”
He sat next to her, reaching out to rub her shoulders, “You are pushing yourself too hard. You need to rest.”
She shook her head, “No, I’m just getting to the part where she’s talking about the ritual being developed.”
“What ritual?” He sounded resigned.
“The ritual, the one the killer is basing his stuff on. Oh, right you don’t know.” She looked up “My grandmother was in the coven that created the actual ritual being used by the killer here, although he’s modified some things. Is this more synchronicity then? My grandmother’s book has the exact ritual in it?”
Jess was looking at her, open mouthed. She cocked her head to one side, “What?”
“This book has the exact ritual in it? Not just the general theories being used or similar ideas?”
“No, it looks like the base ritual being used is in here, although the part I’m at right now they–my grandmother’s coven–is just beginning to frame the idea. I can see where it’s going, though…What?”
“I must tell Zarethyn this immediately,” Jess said, obviously agitated.
“Alright. You do that, I’ll keep reading,” She turned back to the book, yawning widely.
He hesitated or a moment, torn between telling her to rest and doing what he knew was his duty. Finally he stood up. “I will return as quickly as possible.”
She nodded distractedly not looking up as he left the room.
He tried and failed to reach the Guard Captain on the phone and finally saw no choice but to drive to the Outpost. He traveled as swiftly as he could and returned within the hour with Zarethyn; they entered Allie’s room to find her lying across the book sound asleep. Jessilaen took a deep breath, “I will wake her.”
“No,” the Elven Captain said, “Let her rest. If Brynneth is correct we have several weeks before the next girl will be killed, and with Aeyliss dead, Aliaine is the next logical target for the killer to eliminate to protect himself. It will serve no purpose to keep pushing her into exhausting herself.”
“You still believe she is pivotal to finding this killer? Her role in this is not finished now that the book is found?” Jessilaen asked quietly.
“I may have thought so, but knowing that the exact ritual is in this book,” he shook his head, contemplating the sleeping young woman. “No, her part in this is not ended yet.”
“May I remain with her tonight?” Jessilaen asked.
Zarethyn turned his contemplation to his second in command. “Are you so certain already that your heart is lost to her?”
“It is what it is,” Jess replied cryptically.
Zarethyn nodded, “Remain with her then, and see that she rests. I will stay here tonight as well. We will meet in the morning and see what she can tell us about what the book has revealed.”
Chapter 8 - Tuesday
Allie woke up in the morning, in bed but fully dressed, with Jessilaen’s sleeping form, also fully dressed, pressed against her back. For an instant she lay there trying to figure out why she was under the covers fully dressed, then she realized that she must have fallen asleep reading and Jess had put her to bed. It was an oddly comforting feeling, knowing that he was watching out for her. She sat up, trying not to wake him, but as soon as she moved he moved with her, making her wonder how long he’d been lying there awake.
She sat at the edge of the bed and felt her head dropping, as the strain of the past week hit her. He sat behind her, one leg to each side, and began rubbing her shoulders, “You’re pushing yourself too hard.”
“Why does everyone keep telling me that?” she sighed, relaxing as his fingers worked out the knots in her muscles.
“Probably because it’s true,” he answered gently.
“Hmmmm. Well, true or not I need to get dressed, get breakfast, and make my own report,” she said, wishing she could just stay there and relax instead.
“Zarethyn is expecting everyone to meet at 9 this morning.” Jess offered. She automatically glanced at the clock: 7:30 am. Plenty of time to eat.
“Okay, well, as much as I’d rather let you keep doing that for the next 90 minutes, better to get moving,” she said. He leaned in and kissed her neck, making her breath catch. “That isn’t helpful.”
He laughed and pushed her up gently from behind, “Is that better?”
“More helpful yes, but I think I prefer the kissing.” And they both laughed. Feeling more rested than she had in the past few days she took the time to find one of her better pairs of jeans and a nice charcoal grey sweater, not that she thought looking nice would make what she had to say later any easier. The approving look Jess gave her did satisfy her though. Wow, Syndra would never believe I’m standing here caring what any guy thinks about how I look, Allie thought ruefully.
After breakfast she gathered everyone, including all of her roommates and the four elves from what she had begun to think of as “her” squad into the living room. She had asked that the detectives be present too, but they were notably absent; the new squad member had said he was unable to get in contact with them, and Allie didn’t doubt his word but was sure the human police wouldn’t appreciate being left out. Jess had finally introduced her to the new member, Natarien, who Allie had to admit was both kind and friendly. Jason, Liz, Syndra, and Bleidd found places to sit around the room, while the elves all stood at near-attention in their armor. Allie went over to the room’s fireplace and started a fire while everyone got settled. For early spring the morning had a decided chill to the air, and Allie wondered if it might even snow later.
Finally she couldn’t stall any longer, and she turned to face the room.
“You have to keep a couple things in mind, okay? This was all about 80 years ago, within 20 years of the Sundering. Some of the wars were still going on and the body count was huge.”
“This was before the Great Truce?” Syndra asked. The humans were frowning trying to put what Allie was saying in context. The elves had all lived through it and remembered it well enough without the refresher.
“Yeah, about five years before that. This was actually the worst part of the wars, I think, when the human lands were sending iron wielding armies into the Fairy Holdings and the fairies were responding with magical assaults that wiped out whole human cities.”
Everyone nodded, and Allie continued. “My grandmother was born in the year after the Sundering. At some point in her late teens she joined a small coven led by a high priest who was very interested in dark magic. Even early in the book he was teaching her some hard core blood magic.”
Liz interrupted, her voice tight “I just can’t believe our grandmother was into dark magic.”
“That’s why we need the perspective,” Allie said, and Liz gave her a long look. “No, really, Liz. It was in the middle of a massive war, two decades after the world basically fractured in a way that people thought was some sort of sign from the Gods, end of all things, omen. The way she writes about it in the book, dark magic, blood magic, was what a lot of people were turning to either for answers or to protect themselves.”
Liz still looked unconvinced, but Syndra was nodding, “Yeah, I can see that.”
“Right, well,” Allie said going on. “A couple years into her training, when my grandmother was around 19 I think, the group’s high priest went c
razy, and I mean literally. Apparently he came from somewhere called “Texas” which almost entirely shifted to Fairy in the Sundering–it became the Great Southern Holding…“
“That is King Trassien’s realm,” Zarethyn said.
“Yes, that’s the one. Well, after the Sundering his whole family, except for one son who was with him here at the time, were living in a Borderland town at the edge of that realm, and during the wars, in retaliation for a human raid, the elves destroyed the town and killed everyone in it. When he found out that his whole family had been killed he went nuts, locked himself in a room for weeks, and when he came back out he had come up with this idea for a way to repair the worlds.”
“What?” Several people spoke at once, and Allie held her hands up.
“He was crazy. He came up with this series of rituals, based on the idea of using opposite energies; inverse fertility, death instead of life… all warped riffs on sex and death magic. He believed that a full series of these rituals, over the course of a year, would separate the worlds. But after the first three my grandmother lost her nerve. She couldn’t bear seeing the girl’s suffering and dying.”
“I should fucking hope not!” Syndra burst out, while Liz looked down.
“Just keep in mind–and I’m not defending any of this–but it was the middle of a war. They convinced each other that a dozen deaths for the cause were better than the hundreds of thousands dying every day in the fighting over territory.” Allie swallowed hard. “Anyway, my grandmother turned them in to the police–the human police of course, since there was no Truce there was no treaty and no Guard here, so I don’t think the elves ever knew about any of this. The police tried to raid the high priest’s home during a ritual and it ended really badly; the guy died as did several other coven members and he destroyed his own book rather than have it confiscated. The surviving coven members were never charged with anything, I think because they cooperated with police, and all the blame was placed on the ones who had died. From what my grandmother wrote in her grimoire all the books were destroyed and she told the authorities that hers was burned. I still don’t know why she didn’t, but that’s why she hid it.”
Murder Between the Worlds: A Between the Worlds Novel Page 16
