by Dee, Bonnie
Even the love of his daughter wasn’t sufficient to assuage his hunger for physical contact. He needed to escape his prison and engage in intimate relations or his spirit would shrivel and die. How ironic and what a terrible waste after his glorious reawakening.
Not if she had her way, and she had thought of a way. She cleared her throat.
Dagda swiveled around, automatically getting out of the game. He smiled and stood up to greet her. “Why aren’t you with the others, Sióg? I saw how you soothed their feelings and raised their spirits. You accomplished much with your mere presence.”
“They have no more need of me at the moment. I have something more important to do now. Come, sit with me.” Sióg placed her hand on his arm and walked with him to the well-worn wooden table. She sat down on the bench by it and leaned back on her elbows, gazing up at Dagda. “Do you think no one saw you standing off to the side? Your aura is so pure and powerful, you overwhelm those weaker than you.” She smiled. “The men admire your strength and leadership and the women—and some of the men—admire your body.”
Dagda crossed his arms in front of his chest and answered her smile with a smirk. “I would give up their admiration and my power to have their freedom. Though little chance there is of that.”
“What if I were to tell you that I have found a way for you to leave the Cave?”
Dagda’s laughter bounced in the cavernous room. As the echoes died he fell to his knees before Sióg and leaned in toward her. He gripped her elbows and drew her body close to his. She could feel his anger radiating from his spirit … and his grief and frustration.
“Why are you doing this to me? If Uaithne could think of no way to break this mallacht, how do you dare think you can?”
Even though Dagda’s grip was tight enough to bruise, Sióg made no move to escape. “I’ve studied the words and they can be interpreted to allow you access to Tir’ nan-og.”
Dagda released her arms and thrust her away before he swooped down and brought her into his arms as he stood up again. He stared into her eyes. “How?”
Sióg met his gaze unflinching. “Because, if you were to follow the deepest tunnel down to its source, you would find yourself in our domain below the ground. These chambers, this stream, all eventually lead to my world.” She touched his cheek. “It may not be the world outside the Cave, but it is indeed a new world for you.” Rising on tiptoe, she brushed his mouth with her lips. “You can share it with me if you so wish.”
“Is this true? Has someone finally come to release me from exile?”
“Not only to release you, but to be your mate.” Now Dagda’s smile filled his eyes and he relaxed his embrace. “Have you not noticed the looks I’ve thrown your way? You’ve tempted me from the start, Dagda, but I refrained from acting upon my desire for fear of offending you.”
She settled into his arms, flattening her body against his and pressed her lips against his chest, her words muffled. “If I hadn’t feared I’d scare you with the extent of my lust for you, I would have thrown you down upon the ground, stripped and had my wicked way with you.”
His laughter rumbled beneath her ears. “I hear you, my heart. I would have let you do as you wish had you acted upon your desire.” He tightened his arms and his body stiffened. “Is it possible to visit the Spirit Keepers’ world now? Just for a few moments? I can scarcely believe that I never thought of this way to circumvent the consequences.”
Sióg pulled away and grinned like a child. “I have a strong impetus to bring you to my world and make love to you.” She sobered. “To be honest, you and Brigid had become musty legends and Uaithne a faint memory. No one knew of your fate. Perhaps it was my destiny to release you. Now, come with me to the stream and hold my hand. Repeat what I say and we’ll peek into my world.”
Sióg slipped from his grasp and led him to the free-flowing stream where he had hidden Brigid’s spirit. This was where he had drawn the pure water that saved Eire from the famine so many years before, and today had refilled the cauldron so that it was never empty. They slipped off their sandals and held them in their hands as they stepped into the water.
He heard the words she spoke, and followed her to Tir’ nan-og.
* * * *
Tir’ nan-og
Dagda gazed at the clouds floating high above him. The transformed dome was higher than Carrauntoohil in County Kerry. The trees were laden down with fruit. The stream in which the two Terrans stood gamboled around a reed-covered curve. “Are Cull, Ma’an and Torc nearby? Are my men here?”
“Cull, Ma’an and Torc have gone sailing across the inland ocean.” Sióg placed her hand on his arm and stepped onto the shore with him. “Your soldiers have chosen to journey on. Perhaps one day they’ll return above in the spirit of one yet unborn. But the other Spirit Keepers will be eager to get to know you.” She led him toward a sheltered copse and sank onto the plush grass. “But for now, I would know you. Intimately.”
Sióg patted the ground next to her and Dagda knelt by her side. He drew her into his arms and breathed in her scent. Her soft skin cradled his flesh as she slipped her hands beneath his gaudy shirt. He tugged at her simple tunic and dragged it over her head, baring her breasts to his eyes. His mouth watered and his cock stiffened. He inhaled sharply and then let out his breath. “I will never know all of you, but I will make it my life’s work to try.”
She held out her arms and licked her lips. “Lesson one. Make love to me.”
“As you wish, my teacher. I’ll show you what an apt pupil I can be.”
And he did.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Manhattan, East 92nd Street
Gabe read the email from Ireland to Brigid, Ethan and Aviva. They’d gathered in his study for the last time before their ultimate mission.
“All the Terran-mheasctha completed their assignments. They have the disposable cell phones James issued the killers. The first of Nolen’s pre-programmed signals just went off and he’s received confirmation of success. That activated the command that would have compelled the assassins to kill themselves. The ones who released the water demons will receive a pat-on-the-back-good-job message. The last agent left is Macalister and Mach hasn’t let him out of his sight. They figure he’ll release the fluichlari at the same time Nolen performs his sacrifice, just before sunset in Ireland.” Gabe paused and turned his chair around to face the group. “Eileen wrote that everything went off like clockwork. There were no mistakes. Now, it’s up to us and Mach to put an end to Nolen and Ba’al.”
“Timing means everything to our success. Good thing Nolen has always been so anal about it,” Brigid said.
“Aye, and good thing he felt compelled to leave everything to the last few days of the month of Holly. He can’t afford any delays. Once Hazel starts, he’d have to wait for yet another auspicious moment.”
“And knowing Ba’al, I doubt he’ll be willing to give him one more chance.” Aviva’s quiet note of satisfaction reminded them that the Desert Terrans had an even older battle with Ba’al.
“Let’s get everything loaded in the SUV and head on out. I want us there in plenty of time to get the job done.” Gabe closed the laptop and picked up his spear. He had opted to leave his modern armament at home. There was a certain sense of balance to defeat Nolen with the ancient weapon.
Brigid looked like a member of an exclusive sporting club. Her hair had been pulled back into two braids and she wore a light, tan jacket with leather pockets. Her shooting gloves were in one pocket and her arrows were secured in their case hugging her back. Comfortable jeans and flexible walking shoes finished her attire.
Aviva was no less lethally armed, but she had had Anthony bring her Barak SP-21 with him when he went to pick up Khat. Although not quite as popular in Israel as the Glock, Aviva liked its flexibility in functioning due to its double action trigger and separated ambidextrous safety, which allowed for “cocked and locked” carry. Hers was the forty-five caliber model. Heavier, harder for a woman
’s smaller hand to control, but what its bolts struck went down and stayed down. And, to be honest, she preferred it because it was named Barak, after one of the ancient Desert Terran Protectors.
Aviva checked to make sure she had plenty of ammunition. She didn’t trust anything magical to take out Lorraine Foley. Her Singer abilities weren’t strong enough to work on Lorraine, and Ethan might not be nearby to try out his power. Her braided hair hung in a single long tail down her back. Otherwise, except for the holster for the Barak, she was dressed in jeans, jacket and comfortable shoes, just like Brigid.
Ethan reached for Ceol Mhor. Her strings were vibrating as if he had already plucked them. He crooned softly to the harp as he placed her in her case and laced it up. “Soon, m’amhráinin, we’ll play a special tune for Nimhnach.”
Gabe paused at the door. “Everyone ready? It’s time.”
* * * *
Boynton, New York
Nolen smiled with satisfaction as the next pawn in his game plan checked in. James had automated everything before he left. Nolen need do nothing but check the incoming coded operative’s name to be assured of success.
He liked that. No need to waste his time with easily disposed of human agents and pathetically gullible do-gooders. He despised them even more than the unimaginative murderers James had hired. How those environmental activists would suffer if they knew what they had done. Would they figure it out as chaos ensued when people began to die in the tens of thousands, and later on in the millions as the fluichlari fed their hunger?
Nolen doubted it. Most likely they’d already be dead by that time. When the additional carnage ensued as inactive volcanoes erupted all around the globe, who would be able to deal with the mysterious deaths that seemed to involve some sort of plague?
Everything would be triggered by the final sacrifice here tonight. His blood sacrifice of Lorraine Foley, and James polluting Brigid’s Well in Ireland, would make the final connection. Like pulling a switch, the door would open and Ba’al would send down lightning to ignite the volcanoes. He’d find each individual sacrifice left for him and strike the spark that would set off eruptions greater than Krakatoa or Vesuvius and tidal waves higher than the Eiffel Tower. Nolen could hardly wait.
A brief ping heralded the final mission accomplished. Now it was up to him. He gathered his ceremonial dagger and goblet and left the carafe with the remaining fluichlari in the cupboard. Perhaps he’d keep them as pets to take care of the few Terrans left who might challenge him. For even Terrans weren’t immune to the fluichlari or volcanic ash and lava. It just might take them longer to die. Good.
He left the mansion and headed toward the Sacred Grove. The sky was gray and overcast, but he hardly noticed. Over the course of the last few days, he had cut down boughs from each of the nine different trees and stacked them by the altar. Unlike the earlier sacrifices he’d conducted here, this one had to be done precisely. Each piece of wood had to be laid out on the altar in a specific order.
He stripped off his clothes and folded them neatly behind the sacrificial stone structure. Naked, he took the dagger and slashed his left forearm and his palm. Tonight’s rite would require even more blood than usual and from places on his body that were as yet unscathed.
He took a deep breath and sliced a deep line following his jaw line on both sides. Blood dripped onto his chest. For the first time he had willingly sullied his perfect features. No matter. Ba’al had promised him a godlike body and his choice of the willing and unwilling humans and Terrans alike left behind after the global disasters.
He held the goblet to catch the ruby red drops. The first taste of blood would be his. Nolen quite enjoyed it. He remembered the first time he had drunk freely of the source of life that ran through his veins. It had been over three thousand years ago. How time flew.
Once more, he checked his watch, the one piece of modern equipment he still wore. Soon. In a little while he’d seek out Lorraine and lead her to her death. Like a lamb to the slaughter, as the old cliché put it.
* * * *
“I don’t understand it. The last time I was here there was a man guarding the entry code panel needed to gain access to the grounds,” Aviva whispered to Gabe as they ascertained the security around Nolen’s estate. The SUV had been parked a half mile away, an easy jog for them to get to later.
“Perhaps Nolen gave him the day off, wanting fewer witnesses to his activities,” Gabe replied, and motioned for Brigid and Ethan to wait while he and Aviva disabled the security system. With the detailed plans she had acquired which listed the security company Nolen had hired, they’d been able to gain the access codes to the main controls. Using one of Aviva’s little gadgets, they could override the system and still have Nolen believe his perimeter was secured.
Aviva flexed her fingers as she entered the code for the security cameras and popped in a looped disc that would show no activity on the outside of the house. She nodded to Gabe. “We’re good to go.”
Gabe motioned for Ethan and Brigid to join them at the gate as Aviva opened it, programming it to close within a few seconds.
The sound of pounding paws alerted them to the next obstacle to overcome. Three Irish wolfhounds, reminding Brigid, Gabe and Ethan of Nolen’s hellhounds, came racing toward them. Their voices blending together as one, Ethan and Aviva sang the giant beasts to sleep.
“What about their handler?” Brigid asked as the furry guards dropped at their feet.
“They don’t need one. James told me that they’re trained to remain with their prey until either Nolen or Lorraine comes to them. They’d only attack if we moved after they cornered us. Nolen didn’t feel a handler was necessary because these guys wouldn’t leave no matter what. Plus, they don’t eat anything other than their own special food. If we had tried to drug them they would have ignored the bait and continued after us. Your everyday thief would never have known this.” Aviva smiled with satisfaction. “James told me quite a bit.”
Gabe interrupted. “Let’s keep going. We still have the secondary perimeter system to take care of.”
“Yes, sir.” Brigid saluted him and hid behind Ethan. “Sorry, darling. I couldn’t resist.”
Gabe frowned, only half teasing. “We’ll conduct a court martial after this is all over.”
“You don’t mean it.”
“You don’t want to find out.”
Ethan touched Gabe on the arm. “Enough. I see one of the checkpoints over there by the tree.” He turned to Aviva. “Shouldn’t a guard be there?”
“Yes. I don’t know what’s going on. The plans indicate that there are two ways of maintaining the system. One requires manual checking, the other way is automatic and will respond like a motion detector. In other words, Nolen has decided to circumvent the manual, more precise security for the lesser one.” She shook her head. “He must want fewer bodies to dispose of.”
Gabe smiled. “Better for us. I’ll take care of this one and disarm the rest through the override. For all intents and purposes, the system will show no movement for the rest of our operation.”
“Time for me to leave you, my friends. I’ll take care of the fluichlari.” Aviva patted her sidearm. “This time I’ll be ready for Lorraine.”
“As soon as you’ve finished, meet us at the Grove by the oak tree entrance.” Ethan reached out and touched her hand. “Take care, a chara.”
Aviva clasped his fingers for a moment and slipped away.
“Let’s get to the Grove. It’s getting close to sundown in Ireland.” Gabe crouched low, and like three shadows, they crept toward their target. Although it hadn’t started raining hard, the fine mist and cloudy skies made it easier for them move unobserved.
* * * *
Aviva entered Nolen’s study through the balcony entrance after making a sweep of the home’s security system. Nolen had shut it down.
Praise be for his monumental ego. She entered and went straight to the full wall built-in cupboard. Hidden within should be a container
with whatever fluichlari hadn’t been freed. After she’d communicated with them about her mission, she’d release them into the sink. Once that was done, she would join Brigid, Gabe and Ethan at the Grove. And soon it would all be over.
Aviva punched in the code to open the cupboard and watched as the door slowly slid back. Sitting in plain sight was a simple crystal container with a glass lid. Next to it was an etched decanter with an inch of liquid, a small clear ladle and a silver funnel. Obviously Nolen used the implements to transfer the water demons to smaller vessels. The decanter must contain the remnants of the water demons.
She reached in and picked up the carafe.
“Don’t move, bitch, until I tell you to, and keep your mouth shut. Now, turn around slowly.”
Aviva didn’t waste time disobeying Lorraine’s snarled commands. She knew that Foley hadn’t left the mansion and might be prowling around. Lorraine obviously had no idea what Nolen surely had planned for her.
Aviva raised her hands to shoulder height and pivoted. If she hadn’t had the container in her hand, she could take Lorraine down. She cursed under her breath and Lorraine heard her.
“Shut up! Thanks for saving me time to open the cupboard. Arven told me that he was keeping the wine in the decanter so we can toast the success of his plans later.” Lorraine disarmed Aviva, setting her gun on the desk, and took the container from her.
“Arven wants you to drink the liquid in this container? Do you know what he really wants? He wants you dead. He wants to sacrifice you to a demon just like he’s sacrificed thousands and thousands of others.”
Lorraine stared at her. “You’re crazy. Arven wants me to live forever with him. When we drink together, I’ll have as much power as he does and I’ll always be beautiful. The world will be pure and Arven and I will rule it! Together.” Lorraine narrowed her gaze at Aviva. “You’re jealous. I saw how you threw yourself at him. You want him for yourself. You’d kill me in a heartbeat to have him.”
