Force of Fire

by Ali Vali

  “Rawney,” Kendal said, kissing the woman’s hand. “This is my wife, Piper.” Kendal took a step back so she could come closer. “Piper, this is Rawney Lumas, the Clan’s head Romani shaman.”

  “It’s a fancy way to say witch,” Rawney said, framing Piper’s face with her hands. “You’re as beautiful as Kendal said, and congratulations on the birth of your daughter.”

  “Thank you.” She didn’t move since the woman’s touch was strangely soothing.

  “Please sit,” Rolla said, and she and Kendal took the small sofa. “And please accept our congratulations on Hali’s birth. You certainly have bent some of our known reality since you arrived in Asra’s life. This is your first lifetime, Piper, but you will always walk in the light in full sight of the gods who bless you and those you love.”

  “Thank you, and I’m sure I wasn’t your choice to join your ranks, but I appreciate your acceptance. None of this was expected, but I’m happy, and when you see Hali you’ll see why.” She took Kendal’s hand and smiled. “She’s definitely ours, both Kendal’s and mine.”

  “We’ll head back with you, but that’s not why we asked you here first,” Rolla said as Rawney stood and started brewing tea. “Today you looked back and saw the lengths evil will go to in their effort to win. We may not understand their reasoning, but their drive to plunge the world into darkness is constant.”

  “I’m not gullible enough to turn away from Kendal and her job, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  “That’s the last thing we’re worried about.” Rolla leaned forward and rested his hands on his knees. “As I was saying, you looked back, but you need to consider another aspect.”

  “Rolla, I love you, but spit it out,” Kendal said, and Piper laughed.

  “Be nice, babe.”

  “Good luck trying to calm this one down, Piper.” Rolla shook his head but appeared to relax. “We also need to look forward, which is, for me, the scariest place. You have that gift, and your sight can be altered.”

  “It was key in defeating Julius before he gained the power of the serpent sword,” Kendal said.

  “The coming months will bring danger that will make Julius’s betrayal appear minor. The bond you and Piper share is essential to the same successful outcome.” Rolla appeared almost uncomfortable in getting to the point.

  “I already told you that I don’t blame anyone but Ora for my parents,” she said with conviction. “I sense that you don’t believe my commitment to Kendal and to you.”

  “Your parents have already been stolen from you, Piper,” Bruik said, patting Rolla on the back. “After staying with you and Kendal, I’ve started to see a new set of visions that at first made no sense. They didn’t because I didn’t have all the information.”

  “And do you now?” she asked.

  “If you accept what the Clan will ask of you, Kendal, Morgaine, and Lenore, you will lose your only living relatives, Mac and Molly.”

  “Then forget it,” Kendal said, but Piper squeezed her fingers.

  “We cannot ask you to make that sacrifice,” Rolla said as he moved to kneel before her. “I cannot ask that of you even if the others had disagreed with me.”

  “I appreciate you saying that, but I imagine you will ask us to go back into the devil’s teeth if you need us, no matter what the sacrifice is.”

  “I can if I can promise your grandparents’ safety.”

  “How?” She knew the question was unnecessary because the truth suddenly popped into her head.

  “Tonight as you allow us to celebrate the birth of Hali and Anastasia, we will mix the elixir of life, if Mac and Molly agree. You and Kendal are committed, but we all realize from now until always, your family will be the reason you both will be successful.” Rolla placed his hand on her knee before he stood back up.

  “What did you see?” Kendal asked Bruik.

  “I’m not trying to put either of you off, but please wait until we’re all together tonight.”

  “It has to be something for you to break the most sacred of rules,” Kendal said.

  “What rules?” Piper asked, still shocked at Rolla’s words.

  “No matter how much we love our families, we can’t mix the elixir to keep them with us. My father was killed, and Henri was the only family I had left, but had my father lived, I couldn’t have saved him. We must all, no matter our position, accept the natural order of things even though we are, in a way, an affront to nature.”

  “I understand what you’re saying, but we must always put the greater good before rules and everything else. This isn’t simply about trying to make up for what Piper has lost. Mac and Molly are a part of what’s coming.” Rolla accepted the cup from Rawney and stood waiting for everyone to take one. “We will all respect their wishes, though, because we can’t force this on anyone.”

  “But how are the other elders, like the ones who were more than happy to allow Travis to rise after his betrayal, going to handle this? If the Marmandes accept, I don’t want to have to battle the old and unbending guards in our ranks,” Kendal said, then took a sip of the tea after sniffing the contents.

  “You have nothing to worry about. Once you understand the stakes, you might usurp me.” Rolla sounded totally serious. “I would gladly hand over my title.”

  “Keep your crown, old friend. My coming days will be filled with enjoying the child and woman of my dreams.”

  “If any of us deserved to have the ability to have brought children into the world, it is you, Asra. I’m happy for you both.” Rolla smiled, and it was the happiest Piper had ever seen him.

  They left knowing Rolla and the others wouldn’t be far behind. Piper got in after Kendal opened her car door and stayed quiet until Kendal was next to her. “What the hell was that?”

  “If Satan exists, we’re getting ready to meet him. It’s the only explanation for the old man to agree to this.” Kendal finally drove out, but not before she reached over her. “Rolla is a lot of things, but he doesn’t have a rebellious bone in his body.”

  “Interesting, but let’s get home. I have to feed Hali and give Pops and Gran the news of the most interesting gift they’re ever going to get.” She kissed Kendal’s palm and laughed. “And if we really get to meet Satan, he’s going to regret ever inventing hormones in recently pregnant women.”

  * * *

  Oakgrove was lit up when Kendal and Piper returned as the staff prepared for the dinner guests they were expecting. One of the men took the car after Kendal had helped Piper out, and no one else bothered them as they headed up for the master suite and Hali.

  Kendal opened the door and found Molly inside, walking around with the baby and trying to calm Hali’s crying while Mac sat nearby smiling, even though his great-granddaughter seemed none too happy. “Sorry we took so long,” Kendal said as Piper relieved Molly so she could feed the baby. “Has she been crying long?”

  “Only a little bit, but who could blame her? She was hungry,” Mac said, ready to leave when Piper started unbuttoning her shirt after she’d sat in the rocker Kendal had bought for her.

  “You don’t have to go, Pops,” she said, and a second later the room grew quiet as Hali got what she wanted. “We actually have something to talk to you about.” She glanced at Kendal, who nodded and waved her on. “I think you should start, love.”

  “Is everything okay?” Molly asked as she moved next to Piper and took her hand.

  “Everything’s fine, but we have a few things to discuss with you, and you should both understand you’re under no obligation to do anything you don’t want to.” Kendal shrugged when Piper laughed at her rambling. “I’m doing my best, but the rest might be a little bizarre.”

  “You’re over three thousand years old, you got my granddaughter pregnant with the help of the goddess of love, and you’ve made Piper immortal. What, pray tell, can be more bizarre than that?” Mac asked as Molly joined Piper in laughing. “I’m also going to forget for now that you got Piper pregnant with
out any kind of ring or wedding, so let’s hear it.”

  “All of it?” Kendal asked Piper.

  “They deserve to know. The more I think about it, the better I feel about the situation.” She caressed Hali’s cheek and didn’t try to think about her father holding her like this, if he ever did. Was the spell or curse they’d been subjected to been stronger than the love he’d felt for her? “None of us are to blame, so it made me think differently about the whole thing.”

  Kendal sat and started talking about what had happened to their only son and the woman he’d loved. “If you can’t forgive me, I’ll understand, but you have to know I would’ve sacrificed myself to give you all back what you lost. Ora cared nothing about the pain she inflicted, but I would’ve changed the outcome had I known.”

  “Piper’s right, Kendal,” Molly said, her tears falling. “I’ve spent every day from the second I heard my son died thinking of where I’d failed him. Mackey was so lost after Jen died in labor. He simply gave up after that, and we blamed ourselves for not seeing what he was going through…for not seeing his pain.”

  “You have to understand that nothing you did or said would’ve made a difference,” Kendal said, kneeling before Molly. “Look at that beautiful baby and know the power of magic possible in the world. It’s a balance that has both blessed and cursed you, and the only thing they have in common is me.”

  “Asra,” Mac said, placing his hand on Kendal’s shoulder. “That was the name your father gave you, and then he was ripped from your life by the woman that took my son from me. That’s the only thing all this has in common. If I cursed you for something you had no idea of, then I curse Piper and your daughter along with you.”

  “Thank you,” Kendal said, and her tears mixed with Molly’s when she hugged her, then Mac.

  Piper hadn’t seen Kendal cry often, but she was glad her grandparents had come to love Kendal as part of their family. “Thank you, Gran, and Pops.” She lifted the baby to her shoulder and patted her back. “You can see that Kendal showed us the way to be happy again.”

  “That’s right, so if you were worried, don’t be,” Mac said. “I might’ve been waiting a long time, but our tides have turned.”

  “Rolla and the elders had something else aside from that to talk to us about,” Kendal said, getting up when Piper held the baby out to her.

  “Our lives are totally different now, and you’d think that since I have everything I’ve ever wanted, I wouldn’t have anything else to worry about.” She glanced over at Kendal cooing at Hali as she got ready to finish feeding her. Once she’d exposed her other breast, Kendal handed Hali back. “There was only one thing.”

  “What?” Molly asked.

  “Losing the two of you. I have Kendal and Hali, but you’re just as important to me.”

  “You won’t find any way around that one, sweetheart. Hopefully that’s a long way off, but I’m confident we’ll leave you in good hands,” Mac said as Molly leaned against him.

  “There is a way around it, and Rolla will offer it to you tonight,” Kendal said, and Piper almost laughed at the shocked expressions on her grandparents’ faces. “You have to understand the elixir of life isn’t mixed very often, especially by the Clan’s most senior elder, so think about what you want. If you refuse, I doubt he’ll offer again.”

  “The chance at immortality?” Mac said, sounding as if his answer would be no.

  “Everyone drinks for their own reason, Mac. Mine wasn’t perhaps the most noble, but I needed to live long enough to avenge my father. If I’d been offered the same chance now, I’d drink so I’d never be separated from Piper,” Kendal said, and Piper blew her a kiss. “I’d never try to push you into something you might not think you’re ready for, but the possibility of you two always being in Hali and Piper’s lives makes me happy.”

  “We love you just as much, Kendal,” Molly said.

  “Thank you. It’s nice being part of a family again. Of all the things I had in my first life, it was the thing I missed the most.”

  “Will you mind if we talked about it before Rolla gets here?” Mac asked.

  “Of course not. Go ahead,” Kendal said as she helped Molly up. “I’ll come get you when they arrive.”

  The Marmandes walked out holding hands, and Hali finally slowed down enough to let her nipple loose. Hali blinking slowly up at her and her small mouth forming a perfect circle made her fall in love all over again. She was awed that this perfect baby was theirs.

  “I thought you were beautiful from that first day when you cursed me out, but you’re stunning holding her.” Kendal locked their door and knelt next to her. “My two loves.”

  “She looks like you,” she said as she ran her fingers gently over Hali’s thick, black hair. “I’m so lucky.”

  “She looks like both of us, and she’ll be as beautiful as her mother.” The baby gurgled when Kendal lifted her and held her hand out to Piper. “How about a family bath?”

  “You have the best ideas.” Piper followed her into the bathroom, stripping off clothes as she went. “But you haven’t mentioned the other new baby in the house.”

  “Anastasia is enjoying some time with her proud parents, though Rolla’s little visit might change the dynamics of the happy day. But I’m curious to see how the babies do together.” Kendal handed over a naked Hali and made quick work of her clothes as the tub filled.

  “You know having kids never crossed my mind, but aside from you, it’s the most wonderful thing to ever happen to me.” She sat back against Kendal and laid Hali on her upturned knees. “She’s ours and she’s absolutely perfect.”

  The baby shivered for a moment, but stopped when Kendal carefully drizzled water on her abdomen. “Whatever Rolla wants, once we’re done, let’s come back here and enjoy Hali until we’ll have no choice but to move on.”

  “Like I said, you have the best ideas.”

  “Just wait until we get rid of all these people,” Kendal said, then kissed the side of her neck. “I get my most inspired ideas when I’m alone with you.”

  “Let’s get the show on the road, then.”

  Chapter Seven

  The university’s largest archeology lab was quiet and empty, even though the semester was under way and the specimens that needed cleaning and cataloging were starting to pile up. Oscar had informed the administration that he needed the month off to finish a grant application important for their future funding, so the rest of his staff would take over his workload until then. The only person allowed inside was Pauline, and they had rarely left after his meeting with Alejandro.

  “None of these glyphs have a reference in history,” he said as the computer finished another extensive search. “After we find a few symbols, we’ll be able to fill in the blanks.”

  Pauline nodded as she flipped through the old texts she’d brought from the university’s library, her place, and Oscar’s. “It might not be in any recorded history, but it’s someone’s history. We just need to come close to a hint to what direction we need to take, and we’ll be in business.”

  “It’s a good mystery, but you’ve certainly bought in to Alejandro’s story. You do know the Order of Fuego and the old rumors are, like most ancient stories, fantasy, right?” He rolled his chair back and rubbed his eyes. “When you first got here, I didn’t take you as a fanatic.”

  After he really looked at her, she closed her eyes and shook her head. “What do you know of the old rumors? Your father certainly qualifies as a fanatic, so I’m sure he’s tried to turn you.”

  “What, to there being a great treasure buried at that site?” He laughed at all these educated people who blindly believed in what was most probably a hoax. He moved to the coffeepot and started preparing a new batch. “I’m sure some hidden and unfound treasures might still exist, but we’ll be lucky if that site has a few pieces of broken pottery. The other things left there are a few traps guarding nothing.”

  Pauline stood and sat on his lap, facing him and putt
ing her hands against his neck. “Then why work on it at all?”

  He tried to suppress his sudden surprise and excitement when she brought herself down hard on his crotch. “Whatever the pits were intended for is gone, but the history of it is locked in here.” He pointed to the large blowup pictures they’d made of the glyphs. “I’ll keep looking because to me the real treasure is in the knowing.”

  “That’s it? What if all the old legends are true?” Pauline moved up so that she was firmly pressing into him.

  “Then the museum people will be thrilled, and people like my father will be put out of their misery. I say that since I doubt anything we find will change the fate of man.” He fought to keep his eyes open when Pauline bore down hard, making him stiff. “We might open up a new avenue of study into an unknown civilization.”

  “Clear your mind for now.” Pauline stood and unzipped his pants so she could pull his penis free. “Just think about this and nothing else.” She kicked her pants off and, when she sat back down, guided him inside. “Think only about how good you feel and believe in something. Fuck me until you believe in the possibilities.”

  Her words almost slammed into his head, and he stood up with Pauline wrapped around him. He set her on his desk and thrust almost savagely into her, but that seemed to be what she wanted. “Fuck,” he screamed when she tightened her sex around him. All he could think about was Pauline and how good it was to be inside her.

  It ended too soon, but he came with a roar and squeezed her ass to stay inside her. He was sweaty and tired, but she’d cleared his mind. As he opened his eyes, something seemed to click into place, and he pulled out and shuffled back to the computer with his pants around his ankles.