Desert Flame

by Nicole R. Taylor

  “Pick it up with your dukes,” Blue told her with a chuckle. “You’re not at a fancy restaurant out here. Shove it in your gob and enjoy it.”

  Kyne laughed and shook his head. “For someone who used to live in a van, you’re the neatest person I’ve ever known.”

  Wally chuckled and picked up his bit of toast and shoved it into his mouth. The yolk split and oozed out, dripping on his plate.

  “See?” She pointed at the werewolf. “I was trying to avoid that.”

  The wolf chuckled and took another bite.

  Eloise put down her knife and fork. “These eggs are the only thing I can control right now,” she admitted. “All this business with Darius… We’re waiting for the end of the world to come knocking, and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

  “Don’t say that,” Kyne murmured. “We’re working on it.”

  Her lips thinned. Not fast enough.

  The door swung open, letting in a gust of warm air, followed by Drew and Vera.

  Eloise’s expression fell when she saw the bandage around Drew’s neck. She didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to know the jugular vein was a vampire’s favourite target.

  “Darius,” the shifter said, looking at her. “He knew I was watching. It didn’t matter how much distance I had on that camp…he still knew I was there.”

  “Strewth,” Wally said, pulling out a chair for him. “Sit down.”

  “I’m not going to bleed out,” the shifter grumbled.

  “As long as you’re all right, mate,” Kyne told him.

  Before they could get any more details, the pub door flew open again. This time it was Joseph who hurtled in.

  He took one look at Drew and said, “I thought I smelled blood.”

  The shifter sighed and glanced at Vera as if he were asking for her permission.

  “I want to do a spell to see what he’s digging for,” Vera said. “But it’s going to take a lot out of me.”

  “How much is a lot?” Kyne asked.

  “Almost all my magic…but at least we’ll know what he’s digging for.”

  “Are we just going to ignore the gaping wound in the dingo’s neck?” Joseph declared. “Or is it personal?”

  “We’re not,” Eloise told him. “Where’s Hardy?”

  “He went to get Finn.”

  “You two have the gift of foresight or something?” Drew asked, narrowing his eyes. “Because that’s some coincidence.”

  “Blood in the air in a place like this almost always means bad news,” the vampire drawled. “Especially with your newest neighbour hanging around.”

  Drew snorted. “I know you’re looking for an excuse to fly up there and bash up Darius, but this isn’t going to be your trigger.”

  Joseph stepped around the table and glared down at the shifter. “It might be if you don’t start being truthful with me.”

  “Hey,” Wally said, standing. “We don’t go for that kind of behaviour around here.”

  “I’ve had enough of you people standing in my way,” the vampire hissed. “I came for Darius, and I’m going to rip his head off, no matter what.”

  “Calm down,” Blue said. “Fighting ain’t going to help anyone.” He slammed a bottle of bourbon down on the table in front of Joseph. “I hear alcohol is just the thing vampires like when they get angry. Have a suck on that.”

  The vampire unscrewed the lid and downed a mouthful. “Ah,” he said, licking his lips. “Breakfast of champions.”

  He was a third of the way into the bottle when Finn and Hardy arrived.

  “Twice in as many days,” Finn declared, spreading his arms wide. “How about we install some bunk beds out back? The walk here is hard on my feet.” He sat at the table and kicked up his feet on a free chair. He saw the elemental’s breakfast and reached for Eloise’s plate. “Ooh, eggs.”

  “Help yourself,” she said with a sigh.

  As the fae began to polish off her breakfast, the two vampires shot each other knowing looks. They had a whole silent conversation going on until Wally asked, “Is that some vampire thing we should know about?”

  “They’re not telepathic, if that’s what you mean,” Vera said.

  “Just as well,” Blue muttered. “There’s only so much an old human bloke can take.”

  Joseph glared at Hardy. “Don’t you think it’s past time?”

  “For what?” Kyne demanded.

  Hardy said nothing, he just narrowed his eyes. Eloise studied the two vampires, taking note of all the narrowed eyes. Maybe she should start a drinking game.

  “Is someone going to tell me the big bad secret you’re all keeping?” Joseph looked around at the Exiles. “I don’t think we have the time to sit back and wait for me to prove my loyalty, do you?” He turned to Drew. “Darius took a big chunky bite out of you, dingo. Since you’re here and not dead, I assume he had something to say?”

  The shifter eyed him. “He might’ve said something…”

  Joseph sighed. “Either you open the clubhouse door or I go rouge. Your choice.”

  Finn sniggered, earning himself a warning glare from the Exiles. “What?” He shrugged. “If you can let me into the clubhouse, then you ought to let him. We all want the same thing and once he gets his revenge, where will he go? Out into the big bad world to tell all his vampire mates about this quaint little magical town he found on the arse cheek of the world. I’d rather slip him a membership form, a promotional T-shirt, and tell him about the seal before Darius pops the cork.” The fae’s smirk widened. “Oops.”

  “God save us,” Kyne muttered, shaking his head.

  “That’s one way of solving a disagreement,” Wally added.

  “Can we get on with it now?” Finn asked. “I’m tired of that vampire and his arrogance. He stinks.”

  Joseph had been watching with an amused smirk of his own. “What seal?”

  “It’s a magical rock imprisoning a powerful ancient entity,” Eloise explained. “If it’s opened, it might destroy the entire world.”

  “And there goes the cork,” Finn said, smiling at Kyne. “Pop.”

  Joseph’s expression turned thoughtful as he mulled over this new information.

  Eloise glanced at Hardy, who’d been uncharacteristically silent. The two vampires had become thick as thieves since the day before—they’d obviously spent their night bonding. Whatever plan the elder had been cooking, the younger had jumped on board. Both wanted their revenge, but when push came to shove, would either of them slow down and remember Solace?

  Eloise’s power tingled a little and she rubbed the back of her neck. She wasn’t sure how this was going to go anymore…

  “It must be that key,” Joseph finally said.

  “Key?” Eloise looked at Kyne. “Did he just say…?”

  “Yep,” the miner replied. “He said key.”

  Joseph sighed. “It’s not the first time you’ve heard about it, I see.”

  “What do you know?” Kyne asked him.

  “I know Darius made a big fuss over it,” Joseph went on. “Over the years, I’ve tracked down some of his operations hoping they’d lead to him. I assumed he was looking for magical artefacts to solidify his power, but ever since I realised he was trying to travel to a parallel world, things got a lot more interesting.”

  “What kind of artefacts?” Vera asked.

  “Fae trinkets,” Finn said. “There were a lot brought over when our people moved between our world and Ireland. It stands to reason some survived the closure of the portals and travelled to far shores.”

  Joseph nodded. “And a lot more besides. There are ancient civilisations that had their own supernatural comings and goings. Mesopotamia, Inca, Maya, Egypt, Babylon, the Celts, Norse…all throughout Asia, the Americas, and even Australia. Darius had interests in them all. He funded archeological digs, bought antiquities at auctions, even stole and slaughtered for them.”

  “So, what’s different this time?” Eloise asked.

  “This tim
e, he’s mobilised an entire company and government to dig up a small patch of iron ore in the middle of a remote desert. That’s what’s different.”

  “He’s gone public,” Hardy added. “Before now, he’s likely worked in the shadows, keeping his name and presence out of all his dealings. If he’s on the ground now, he believes he’s found the key. Literally.”

  Eloise looked at Kyne.

  “I didn’t,” he told her. “If I did, then I would’ve known about the iron ore and we could’ve stopped this a long time ago.”

  “Didn’t what?” Joseph asked.

  “We already have a key. A coral key,” Kyne said. “Whatever Darius thinks he’s digging up—”

  “The mountain,” Eloise blurted.

  “Bloody hell,” the miner cursed, running his hand over his face. “It’s another one?”

  “What else could it be?” The black mass inside that mountain was terrifying. The writhing tentacles, the nothingness of it… Rosheen had heard it speak. If it was held back by its own seal and Darius found the key, there’d be more than calamity coming for them. If there was a choice between opening the two, she’d choose the one in Solace any day of the week and twice on Sundays, but she’d prefer not to open either.

  “Where is your key now?” Joseph asked. “If you’re right and this key is not the one he’s after…”

  “Kyne hid it somewhere only an elemental can retrieve it,” Hardy said. “And only he knows its whereabouts.”

  “Smart,” Joseph said.

  “So he’s got the wrong key,” Drew said. “He’s going to chuck a tantrum the moment he figures it out, then he’s going to come for us.”

  “And if he can’t get what he wants from us, he’ll try to work out where the other key goes,” Eloise said with a shiver. “Somehow, I think that’d be worse.”

  “Two seals,” Joseph mused. “Two keys…”

  “I think you’re about to get your wish, vampire,” Drew muttered. “Before he took a bite outta me, he said he was days away from getting what he wanted. If we try to stop him, he will kill us all.”

  Eloise was only half-listening. Her thoughts were fixed on Andante. She was sure the things the old woman had revealed were only a carefully handpicked selection. Kyne was right about her. It was past time they went to pay that secret cave a visit.

  “Not just yet,” Eloise said. “First, we need to see Coen and find Andante. I’m all for stopping Darius, but we need to understand what it is we’re fighting. I’m over not knowing.” She looked at the Exiles, then at Joseph and Hardy. “We need to buy a little time.”

  “If I’m not going to use my magic on that hole,” Vera said, “I can cast a barrier spell around Solace. It’ll keep Darius out, but I’ll need more power.”

  “How can you get more?” Drew asked. “You’re not going to tap into the seal, are you?”

  “No, never,” she replied.

  “I’m out,” Finn declared, backing away.

  “Finn, I’d never ask you and I’d never use the seal,” she went on. “But I can channel one of you. All supernatural creatures have magic. I can join it with mine to amplify the spell.”

  “I’ll do it,” Wally said. “I’m an old wolf. I’m not much of a fighter these days outside of a full moon. At least I’ll be useful this way.”

  “What about that Coen fellow?” Joseph asked.

  “Coen doesn’t fight unless he has to,” Kyne told him. “If we need his help, he’ll come.”

  “And what about you, old friend?” Hardy asked.

  “I think I can hold back my murderous revenge plot for a few hours,” the vampire replied, his gaze shifting to Eloise, “for a warm hug.”

  “Don’t push your luck,” Kyne growled.

  “I meant a literal hug,” Joseph said with a roll of his eyes. “It wasn’t a euphemism.”

  Eloise liked Joseph, but she could see his vampire traits emerging the more she got to know him. And now that she thought about it, she could spot the same in Hardy. The abrupt change in mood, the lingering haze of power, the reliance on their predatory senses, and the old-world thinking—the latter was the most infuriating of the lot.

  “So, are we just taking his word for it?” Drew asked. “Cheapside says it’s a key, so that’s it?”

  “No, it’s not it,” Kyne told him.

  “Andante will know,” Eloise said. “I’ve got a feeling she hasn’t told me everything.”

  “And how is that any better?” the shifter asked. “I trust you, Eloise, but why should we put our faith in an old woman who lives in a cave?”

  “An old woman who no one has ever seen, except when you were dying of exposure in the outback,” Finn reminded her.

  “She was real,” she snapped. “Coen’s seen her, and he wouldn’t lie.”

  “He also likes to leave out most of the details,” the fae quipped.

  “I’ll go with you,” Kyne said, taking her hand. “That way, you’ll have a witness…and some backup.”

  “And someone to turn the screws on her,” Drew said sullenly.

  Joseph snorted. “You’re worried about believing what I said about the key and you’re arguing over the existence of an old lady in a cave.” Unfortunately, everyone had reached their peak Joseph Cheapside quota for the day and were ignoring him.

  Hardy nodded his agreement with Kyne and Eloise. “Joseph and I will help you with your spell, Vera.” He gestured at Drew. “And I’ll sort out that bite. I don’t doubt the miraculous magical qualities of that balm, but it’s rather pungent.”

  “Told you so,” the shifter said to Vera.

  The witch punched him on the arm. “We better get to work. I’ve got to go home and get some things. The sooner the barrier is up, the sooner I’ll feel better.” She shivered. “The air feels heavy.”

  Hardy nodded. “I can feel it, too.”

  Eloise stood and brushed her palms over her shirt. “And the sooner we find Andante, the better I’ll feel.”

  Joseph slammed the bottle of bourbon on the table. “If you’re not back by tonight, I’m going to take matters into my own hands. I’ve waited long enough to give Darius a taste of his own medicine. I’ve cooperated with you long enough and old women in caves is where I draw the line.” He tapped the face of the watch on his wrist. “Tick, tock, little elemental.”

  “And I was just about to offer you that warm hug,” Eloise drawled.

  Kyne took her hand and pulled her towards the door. “C’mon. We better get going before Darius figures out what we’re up to.”

  “He won’t give us any more warnings,” Drew reminded them. “If he catches any one of us, it’s over.”

  Eloise bit her bottom lip, her heart skipping a beat. Everything seemed straight forward enough within the safe walls of the pub, but she was out of her depth again. Vampires, keys, ancient entities, parallel worlds…it was all getting a bit much. Then there was the time crunch.

  She just hoped Coen knew how to find Andante, because she didn’t have a clue what to do next.

  Chapter 19

  Hardy lingered outside Vera’s dugout, watching the surrounding outback for signs of movement. Other than the odd hawk wheeling overhead and the rustling of leaves in the ghost gums, nothing else stirred. Nothing that he could see, anyway.

  He tried not to dwell on their impending doom, but it was difficult to say the least. He knew what Darius was capable of, and so far, they’d been lucky, especially Drew. His maker could’ve left the shifter’s body on Vera’s doorstep and it would’ve served the same purpose, so why didn’t he? Why didn’t Darius kill Drew?

  The door opened, breaking through his thoughts, and Vera stepped out into the sunshine.

  She carried a calico shopping bag over her shoulder—the outside printed with the words ‘Wicca Happens’—and the fabric bulged with the various things she’d gathered for the barrier spell. A bit of paper flapped about in her hand as she fumbled with putting the key into the lock, and he hoped she hadn’t had to w
rite down the instructions. This spell had to go right if they wanted to protect Solace and the seal.

  “I’m ready,” Vera said, locking the door behind her. “Where’s your sidekick?”

  “Staying out of sight at the pub,” Hardy replied.

  “Probably a good thing to keep him on the sauce, but leaving him with Finn…?”

  “They’re fine,” he told her. “They’re both rash enough to keep each other in check.”

  She shook her head. “Two negatives make a positive?”

  “Something like that,” he said with a chuckle. “Besides, if Darius is watching us, I’d rather keep Joseph’s presence a secret. What’s the paper for?”

  “I’ve made a map,” she said. “To cover the whole town, I reckon we need at least twelve points. A dodecagon.”

  Hardy raised his eyebrows. “Who knew witchcraft was so technical?”

  Vera chuckled and handed him a bit of paper. “I’ll put a crystal on either side of the highway at the north and south ends, one behind Kyne’s dugout, one behind Drew’s, then one in the scrub here,” she pointed, “then behind the pub, and mirror it on the other side.”

  “Then once the circle’s complete?”

  “Back to the pub to channel Wally.”

  Hardy looked over the map and nodded towards the highway. “Closest point is the road to the north.”

  They walked in silence. Hardy could hear Vera’s heart thrumming a little faster than usual. Despite her brave face, she was worried—all the Exiles were. Standing up to a vampire as old as Darius was nothing short of a suicide mission. They needed some serious magic of their own if they wanted to best him. Luckily, they had Vera. Even without her Nightshade legacy, she was a formidable witch. Hardy had every confidence in her ability and then some.

  Still, he kept an eye the road and the surrounding scrub. There was a chance Solace was being watched, whether by compelled EarthBore employees, an unknown magical artefact, or an unseen vampire, it didn’t matter—Vera needed to make this quick.

  They reached the northern limit of Solace in short order.

  Vera knelt in the dirt, set the bag on the ground, and rummaged inside it. She took out a jagged piece of cloudy white quartz and held it up to the sun. When she was satisfied, she placed it on the ground, twisting it around until she found the perfect angle.