“Hi,” she said, feeling cherished and dizzy.
He kissed her between the eyes. “You were worth coming back for,” he whispered.
Chapter Seventeen
Four Days to Midsummer
Ava went from deep sleep to wide awake in the space of a breath. What is it? What’s wrong? I can feel something, but what is it?
Then she could hear chanting—not in the room. It was far away. There was malice in the words. Hate. What are they saying? It’s right at the edge of understanding.
Then, all at once, Ava knew exactly what was happening. She gasped, “No!”
“Whazza matta?” Ron asked muzzily.
“They’re attacking Aunt Chessie!” Ava jumped out of bed. Chessie! she sent the thought out to her aunt. Get out of the house! Get out now! But she couldn’t tell if Chessie had received the message.
“Who? What?” Ron said, sitting up, wide awake.
“The Cult of Hela! They’re going to hurt Aunt Chessie. I have to get to her house!” Ava sent a mental message to Harper. Get up! Chessie’s in trouble. Meet us at her house!
Yes! she felt him reply.
Ron got out of bed and started putting on some clothes. Ava pulled on her discarded slacks and sweater, then ran down the stairs. He thundered down the steps, leading the way to the garage.
They hopped in his car and raced through the drizzle-filled night.
“Hurry!” Ava could feel the menace getting closer to Chessie. She tried calling her on her mobile, but the number went directly to voice mail. Just as they rounded the corner, flames erupted from a house down the lane. “Chessie!”
Ava contacted emergency services and told the sleepy-voiced attendant where the fire was.
“Are there injuries?”
“I don’t know! I think my aunt and her brother-in-law are in there,” Ava said.
“We’re dispatching help now, miss.”
As soon as Ron stopped the car, Ava jumped out, scanning the building with all her senses. “Chessie!”
“Here, dear!” Chessie waddled out of the shadows, still dressed in her robe, her silver hair in disarray.
Graham, dressed in a heavy coat he must have grabbed as he ran out, escorted her. “We’re safe!”
“Thank the Goddess!” Ava hugged them both as the discordant wail of sirens approached.
Ron brought out a couple of umbrellas and gave one to Graham. He held the other over Chessie.
Harper drove up in a fifties-vintage Mercedes sedan. He and Falke got out. “Is everyone all right?” he asked, running over. Falke stood in the middle of the road, staring at the burning house.
“We’re fine, sir,” Chessie said.
Harper hugged her and patted Graham on the shoulder. “Thank goodness for that!”
Ava walked over to Falke. “What is it?”
“They’re still here,” he whispered.
Ava could feel their near proximity, but not where they were, exactly. Pulling Falke to the side of the road as the fire trucks arrived, she asked, “Where are they?”
He pointed to the southwest. “They’re in a car, watching.” He paused. “They’re very…disappointed.”
“They thought I was in the house.” Ava shivered from cold and the hate she felt in the air. Her agoraphobia was winding up in the background, but she created an echo of the Goddess’ command (Come! Now!) that dispelled the attack yesterday, and it stayed back.
He tilted his head. “Yes, I think that’s so. But they wanted Mrs. Paterov to die, too. Wow, they are seriously creepy!”
Ava stood behind the boy and placed her hands on his damp shoulders. “Show me where they are.” She could feel Falke focus on the women. The image of an old black Ford sedan leapt into her mind. Four thin-faced women sat, hands joined, glaring out into the night. They perceived Ava, and each bared her teeth. A surge of hate was directed at her and Falke. The one at the wheel broke off from the others, threw the car into gear, and drove off.
“They’re getting away!” Falke shouted.
Ava didn’t want to go after them that moment. She needed to make a plan on what to do. “That’s all right, I—.”
Looking wild-eyed, Harper started running to his car. “I’ll get those bitches, and we’ll see who gets hurt.”
Ava grabbed him and nodded for Ron and Falke to hold him back.
“We all want to stop them, Harper. Let’s do this together,” Ava said.
“They killed Serena and my baby!” he gasped. Falke wrapped his father tightly in his arms. Harper seemed to come back from the dark place he’d been. He held his son. “I just…we have to stop them!”
“We’ll address them in a bit. First, let’s get Chessie and Graham back to Drunemeton House where they’ll be safe. All right?” Ava asked.
The firemen knocked back the flames quickly. Constable Wicket insisted on interviewing the Paterovs about what they knew. He eyed Ron suspiciously. “Funny that you seem to be around when strange things happen in Glastonbury, m’lord,” he said.
Harper diverted the constable’s attention by asking after his aging mother.
Finally, they were released from the scene and drove back to Drunemeton. Harper insisted Chessie and Graham take the best guestrooms as their new quarters and pressed them to take a mild sleeping drug.
When Harper led Ron, Falke, and Ava into the kitchen to make some tea, the big clock on the wall showed 4 a.m. Ava was amazed she wasn’t exhausted or starting a panic attack. She felt pretty much in control and remarkably refreshed
Falke yawned as she started up the kettle. “Tired?” she asked
“I wasn’t asleep when Dad got up,” he said.
“Oh, that’s why you were so on the spot,” Harper said, getting out the tea things. “You all right?”
Falke shrugged. “Yesterday was a pretty exciting day. My head was just really full of stuff. And then I got to reading the Merlin and Arthur book, and well, here we are.”
Ron gave him a side-hug. “Kind of overly exciting for all of us, really.”
Harper and Ava got the tea steeping and found some biscuits. She took the tray over to the plain oak table, and they all settled in.
Harper laced his fingers together and took a deep breath. “I think I’ve been more than patient. What are you planning to do about these witches?” His voice seemed made of ice.
“We’re going to go and put a stop to them,” Ava said cautiously. She could feel how unsettled his emotions were.
“When?” Harper demanded.
Ava heard in her mind, Be careful.
“Soon.” Ava poured out the tea. She hadn’t needed the Goddess to tell her things could go badly in that moment. But Her warning somehow strengthened Ava. She focused on Her voice as it resonated inside her. It steadied Ava.
“Let’s go now!” he said, smacking the table so hard the cups danced and spilt.
“Easy, Harper,” Ron said. “Let’s hear Ava’s thoughts first.”
Falke got up, took a rag out of a drawer, and started mopping up.
“Thank you, Falke,” Ava said. She poured more tea into the depleted cups. “Harper, we can’t fight on empty stomachs, tired out. I know none of us will be able to sleep, but a bit of breakfast and calm will help us face what’s next.”
“And what is next, oh Queen?” Harper demanded again.
He’s goading me, she thought as she sat back and sipped her tea, watching him over the rim. This moment has to be managed carefully.
“Harper, they killed my family and Ava’s, too. We all want to get them,” Ron said. “I admit I’ve a mind to introduce them to Excalibur.”
Harper eyed Ron with a kind of wild fierceness, as if he was about to run down and get the sword.
Maybe if I project a bit of calm at him.
He whirled on Ava. “STOP IT! Don’t you dare use a spell on me!”
“Dad!” Falke said.
“Steady, Harper!” Ron exclaimed.
“I’m merely trying to help you recl
aim your center.” Ava put down her cup. This can’t be managed with psychic adjustments. He’s too well trained. I’ll have to use both persuasion and a touch of intimidation. She drew herself up and took on a little of her priestess glamour: She knew they were seeing her take on a golden glow, and she had become slightly larger. “I pledged to be your friend and ally for the rest of time. I do not make such promises lightly.”
Ron’s brow quirked up at her priestess persona. But she imagined he was also wondering when and under what circumstances Ava made that promise.
Harper looked like he was chewing on his rage, but turned his gaze to the table top. “I…I’m sorry. But now that I know who did this, I want them dead!”
“We all do,” Ava said just above a whisper, returning to her everyday self. “But that would defeat our purpose.”
“And what is our purpose?” Harper said, gray eyes blazing.
“Do you think the Goddess wants to restore King Arthur and Merlin on a mere whim?” Ava made her words steel-edged. “The world is filled with people bent on their own revenge for one reason or another. Killing is a global sport now—Bob kills Abdul for the bombing of his village, Mohammed’s country sends a drone after Bob’s tribe for Abdul’s death, and on and on. You are Merlin!” Ava tapped the table hard with her finger, emphasizing each word. “Who taught King Arthur that Might wasn’t Right? You—Merlin, did. Who taught the Knights of the Round Table that there’s no justice in revenge? You did. Don’t give in to hate and fear now, just before your return!”
“I’M TALON!” he shouted and threw his tea cup across the room. It smashed into a cabinet and shattered to dust. “Fuck your bloody destiny! I’m who I am right now! I don’t care about some damned deity and what She does and doesn’t want. What about what I want? What about my wife and baby?”
Acid filled her stomach. I’m losing him, and I’m not sure how to salvage this. A little trickle of sweat started down her back.
Falcon’s eyes grew huge and slowly filled with tears. “Dad,” he whispered.
“What?!” Harper exploded.
Falke let the tears slide down his cheeks. “I lost my mom and little sister in that crash. But until this moment, I didn’t understand I lost my dad, too.”
Harper looked as if he’d been punched in the gut. “What are you saying?” he whispered.
“You taught me there’s never an excuse to hit people. That only the weak-minded and bullies use violence to resolve things.” Falke wiped his eyes with his sleeve. “Were you lying? Were those just words? Something you say to little kids, like, there’s a Father Christmas or something?”
Harper visibly struggled to deal with his emotions. “Those bitches killed them, Falke,” he said, tears leaking down his own face. “Freya was just a baby. And Serena…” He sniffed hard and pulled himself together. “Am I supposed to do nothing?” he asked in a stronger voice.
“No,” Ron said, placing his hand on Harper’s arm. “You can’t forget. How could you? We have to do something. And that thing must be about justice, or there’s no reason for you and I to be alive.”
“King Arthur commands Merlin, does he?” Harper asked, looking away.
“Ron begs it of his best friend, Talon,” Ron said softly.
Harper turned to him, looking torn.
Ava saw an opening. “If you do this―if you kill the Hela women―Morgaine wins.”
Harper turned and gave her the most intense look. She saw the spark of Merlin in his gray eyes. “Morgaine will win?” he said.
“Morgaine poisoned King Uther, stopped Guinevere from bearing an heir, and bore a son by King Arthur to destroy his kingdom―all under Merlin’s nose. Then Merlin let Morgaine talk him into sacrificing himself so that Anya and Falcon wouldn’t be killed. She won every battle with Merlin.” Ava paused. “Will you let her destroy everything now?”
Harper gripped his head. “I’m Talon! This is my life now! I’m not a 1,500-year-old wizard!” This time, it wasn’t rage in his voice, but pain and confusion.
“You’re Merlin-Harper just as I’m Arthur-Ron,” Ron said. “I understand what you’re saying. I’m finding it difficult to cope with, too. But I also feel this... destiny. This need to complete what was begun. Don’t let Morgaine destroy that.”
Ava knew she hadn’t won yet. She could still feel his titanic rage. She got up and took out another cup, filled it, and placed it in front of Harper. “Drink your tea, please. Find a calm point in your mind.”
No one said anything as Harper drank and stared into space. After a long time, he said in a too reasonable tone of voice, “What will you do, Anya-Ava, if I decide to go after those women?”
Crap. I really thought I could get him to see reason. “Leave. Go back to Viborg.”
“Now wait a minute,” Ron objected, alarmed.
Ava looked down at her hands, feeling defeated. “There won’t be any point in staying. It’ll be the end of the Goddess’ plan. There’s no way the Goddess will allow you to ascend to power after murdering a bunch of women—even if it was justified. Without Merlin, there can be no King Arthur. Britain will devolve into a wasteland of poverty and disease.” If he goes forward and attacks the Hela women, I’ll take the Oathstone back to the Motherhouse. That has to be put away someplace safe where it can never be used.
“You’d…walk out on me?” Ron asked. He looked crushed.
Ava’s heart felt as if someone had just squeezed it. She put her hand on his. “I didn’t say that. You’re welcome to come with me to Denmark. Falke, too.” The boy’s eyes widened. “Britain will be finished. It may be that we can start a new plan, with the Goddess’ help. But I have other responsibilities, as I’ve stated. If I no longer can serve the Goddess by being here, I must return to the Motherhouse.”
Harper slowly spun his tea cup without touching it. “Maybe one of your titles can be Queen of Passive-Aggression,” he snarled. Like Morgaine before him, he seemed determined to go down a path of hate, fear, and anger.
“I’ve merely stated my next steps when you asked me what I’d do.” Yes, I’ll take Ron and Falke back to the Motherhouse. From there, we can work to create something new—and maybe it won’t take another 1,500 years. “I cannot control you, Harper. Once you kill those women, they’ll be dead and you’ll have nothing: not Serena or Freya back, not your integrity, not your heritage, not your country. But if you decide blood must be paid for blood, then you will do that, and damn the price.”
The tea cup settled back into the saucer. Ava felt his emotions break. Harper buried his head in hands and started to sob. Ron looked concerned, but Falke’s face showed a kind of sick fear.
Go to him, give him your love. Reclaim your father from the edge of madness, Ava thought at the boy.
Falke got up and hugged his father. “Don’t do this,” he whispered, tears sliding down his cheeks. They held each other for a long time. Slowly, Harper quieted.
Ava realized Harper had never let himself grieve after he lost Serena and the baby. That kind of pain unexpressed festered and burned holes in the soul.
Priestess, heal thyself.
No one noticed Ava’s eyes go wide at the Goddess’ words. No. I never did take time to grieve after Helmut died. I tried to soldier on. I am the High Priestess. Everyone depends on me to do my job. I couldn’t go collapse in a corner. But now you’re saying I should have?
The Goddess said nothing.
And now isn’t a good time to deal with this.
Harper kissed his son on the forehead and nodded. “What... what must we do―instead of killing them?” he whispered.
Firmly, Ava pushed away the tumult of emotions the Goddess had let lose in her. “After we’ve quite calmed down and had something to eat, then I’ll need your help, Harper.”
Chapter Eighteen
Later that morning, they drove out to Bridgewater. Falke had a clear sense of the Helaites’ location and knew they were in that town. It wasn’t easy getting down the road, as many cars were simply
abandoned when the computer chips in them were fried by the nuclear pulse. It took them a lot longer than the usual twenty-minute trip Harper had assumed.
Ava took the time to dive into deep meditation. She cracked open her emotions and really looked at all the pain surrounding Helmut’s terrible death: her feelings of guilt, the awful brutality of watching someone realize he was doomed, her lack of true feelings for him, seeing Helmut’s broken body below her for hours. It was so horrible and terrifying. She had never been able to speak about it—not to anyone. No matter what Hébé or the others tried, they couldn’t reach her pain.
Because I wouldn’t let them.
Frightened of what would happen, she embraced it—all of it. Outwardly, her body showed no emotions. But inside, she wailed and keened.
And knowing the terrible pain was caused by Morgaine, mentally, Ava howled at her: You bitch! You sadistic, hate-filled harridan!
After a while, Ava felt the nearness of the Helaites and allowed her consciousness to rise back up, just as the car entered an industrial area. The abandoned warehouses and shuttered factories looked forlorn in the heavy downpour.
I don’t feel better, she told the Goddess. Just sort of hollow and shaky. Is that supposed to have helped?
The Goddess said nothing.
Falke sat beside Ava in the back of Harper’s car. Ava could feel his mind, questing after the psychic trace of the Hela Cult. Abruptly, he called out, “Up ahead to the right!”
Ava saw it via the sight immediately. “The building with the broken blue door.” Psychically, the place looked like a terrible dark castle, bristling with black spikes of hate and anger.
“There!” Ron said, pointing it out to Harper.
They parked in front of it. Ava got out, scanning the building. She could feel the Helaites up on the third floor. It wasn’t easy to see the top of the building. Sheets of water were falling off the roof toward the car. She heard a noise that sounded like thunder. “Get back!”
Kee-rack!
All the windows on the third floor burst outward. Glass showered down, just missing them.
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