Wicked Wings

by Keri Arthur

  “What? And get us all in trouble again? That would be bright, wouldn’t it? Where are the others?”

  Three “We’re here” followed this question, and all four boys stepped onto the path. There was little contrition on their faces—they’d enjoyed every minute of being ‘lost’, and that alone made me wonder if it had been deliberately done.

  “We’d better get you lot home,” Mrs. Rankin continued. “Before your mothers start wondering where the hell you are.”

  If their mothers weren’t already wondering that, I’d be seriously surprised.

  “So who’s she?” Charlie said. “And why is she carrying my shoe?”

  “She’s the psychic who helped me find you.”

  “By using my shoe?”

  “Yes. And the cost of hiring her is coming out of your allowance, Charlie, I can assure you of that.”

  “Oh, Mom—”

  “Don’t ‘oh Mom’ me. You were warned to keep to the marked tracks and you didn’t. Just thank the lucky stars it was us that found you rather than the Marins.”

  “We’re not that close to their boundary.”

  A comment that all but confirmed my suspicion they weren’t as lost as they’d made out. I shook my head, then turned around and led the five of them back to the SUVs. Mrs. Rankin ushered the boys into the back of her vehicle, then grabbed her purse and handed me the fee. She obviously wasn’t lacking for cash if she carried that sort of change around.

  “Thanks for your help.” She hesitated. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention this little adventure to your ranger friend. I wouldn’t like it getting back to the wrong ears.”

  A request that had come way too late, and one I wouldn’t have obeyed anyway. “I suggest you get back into town without delay, Mrs. Rankin. There’s been some trouble around these parts recently.”

  “That seems to be a running theme in this reservation. Might be time to move again, I’m thinking.”

  I made no comment; I just nodded, climbed into my SUV, and reversed back between the trees so she could get past. Then I followed her back onto the gravel road that wound its way out of the area.

  I’d barely gone a mile or so when there was an odd thump. The steering became sluggish and unresponsive, the wheel began to vibrate, and there was an odd flapping sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. I pulled off the road and jumped out. The rear left tire was flat.

  So much for the sturdiness of new tires.

  I opened the rear door, pulled up the floor mats, and then tugged out the spare and the tire-changing kit. Only to discover the wheel nuts had been done up by Superman himself and there was no way I was ever going to get them undone. Not even by jumping up and down on the lever thingy.

  I blew out a frustrated breath, then grabbed my phone and called the auto club for help. Twenty minutes, they informed me.

  I glanced at my watch and made another call, this time to Aiden. “I am going to be late back.”

  “Haven’t you found the boys yet?”

  “Yes, but the SUV now has a flat tire, and I have to wait for the RACV to turn up.”

  “You don’t know how to change a tire?”

  “Of course I do.” My tone was indignant. “I just can’t move the damn wheel nuts.”

  “Ah. Do you want me to come up there and keep you company?”

  “As tempting as that offer is, it’ll probably take you as long to get here as the RACV.”

  “True enough. Shall I wait outside the café or will you drive straight back to my place?”

  “The latter makes more sense. But I expect a hot chocolate to be waiting for me when I get there.”

  “I’ll throw in some marshmallows, just to sweeten the deal, if you like.”

  “I’m aquiver with excitement.”

  He laughed. “See you soon.”

  I shoved my phone into my pocket then leaned against the SUV and crossed my arms. Mrs. Rankin’s SUV was no longer visible, but even if it had been she would probably have been too busy discussing the day’s events with her darling Charlie to even notice I no longer followed her.

  I shook my head and hoped that, when I finally did have kids, I had the good sense to set a few more boundaries and rules.

  Of course, a daughter born to a witch and a werewolf was likely to be strong-willed in the extreme… I smiled. Talk about wishful thinking.

  I pushed away from the SUV and began to pace, suddenly unable to stand still. Or, if I was being at all honest with myself, unwilling to think about a future that didn’t involve Aiden.

  Fifteen minutes later, headlights appeared, pinning me briefly in brightness before the driver dropped the high beam. I covered my eyes and saw the yellow paintwork and the lights on top of the cabin. The RACV.

  “Hey,” the driver said as he jumped out of the vehicle. “Got yourself into a bit of a pickle, I hear?”

  “The wheel nuts are too damn tight.”

  “Yeah, that’s a common problem with new cars. We’ll have it fixed in no time.”

  He retrieved a heavy-duty hydraulic jack and a battery-powered wheel nut wrench from the back of his van and in very little time had my tire changed.

  He hefted the flat into the back of my SUV. “I have to say, I don’t think this was an accident.”

  My pulse rate briefly stuttered, and then leaped into a higher gear. “What makes you think that?”

  “This.” He pointed to what looked like a burn mark. “Someone’s deliberately weakened the wall of the tire so that it would blow out under stress. If you’ve been driving along any of the rough old tracks that run off this one—”

  “And I was.”

  “Then that explains it. We’d best check the rest, just in case.”

  He immediately did so. I ran my fingers across the damaged bit of the tire and felt the faint caress of energy. No human hand had done this. A chill rose, and I quickly scanned the area. The sooner I got out of here, the better.

  Thankfully, the rest of the tires showed no sign of damage, though that might not mean anything given the source of the attack was supernatural in origin. Once I’d signed his paperwork, the repairer jumped back into his van, turned around, and drove away.

  I did a quick check just to ensure there was no more magic to be found, then quickly jumped into the SUV and followed him down the road. But as it curved around to the right and took the van from my sight, the SUV shuddered a second time, and then the vibration and flapping sound started again.

  I tried not to panic; after all, while the tires had been checked, it was possible that something had been missed, especially if the weakness was on an inside wall.

  Possible, instinct whispered, but not likely.

  I pulled to the side of the road and immediately locked all the doors even as the memories of just how little it had protected Byron stirred. In the twin beams of the headlights, dust stirred, but there was little else to be seen in the night.

  And yet…

  I grabbed my backpack then climbed out of the SUV and walked around to the back. It was once again the left rear tire—the one we’d just changed.

  I looked around in alarm. While I couldn’t sense or see anything untoward, I had no doubt she was out there, somewhere close. Watching. Waiting.

  I swallowed heavily and got out my phone. Aiden answered second ring. “If Joel hasn’t arrived yet to change your tire, I’m going to kick his butt tomorrow.”

  “He’s been and gone, but I’ve got another flat.”

  Something cracked in the trees to my right. I jumped around, magic dancing like fireflies across the fingers of my free hand. Again, there was nothing to see, but that sense of danger was growing.

  “They’re new tires—this shouldn’t be happening.”

  “I know, and I don’t think it’s an accident.”

  “I’ll ring Joel immediately and get him back—”

  “And put him in the firing line? No way, Aiden.”

  He swore softly. “Then I’ll grab Ashworth an
d be out there in twenty minutes. Have you got your spell stones with you?”

  “Yes.” But they wouldn’t do any good. The elder Empusae had already proven capable of breaking into my protective circle. I rather suspected that, after getting a feel for my magic, she’d be even more prepared the second time around.

  “Then use them. Just keep safe until we get there.”

  “I will.”

  He hung up. I stared at the phone for several seconds, suddenly feeling very alone and out of my depth.

  Which was ridiculous. I might be alone, but I wasn’t powerless. I shoved my phone back into my pocket and then carefully wove a spell around my fingers, one that was a demon net and tracker combined. This time, if my net did hit her in any way, a couple of threads would latch onto her feathers and give me a means of tracking her. Monty might frown at the way I mixed my spells, but as yet they hadn’t failed me.

  I crossed mental fingers that this spell would not be the first.

  I pressed back against the SUV and studied the trees on either side of the road. Aside from that sharp crack a few minutes ago, there was little in the way of movement or sound. But the fact that the cicadas were so quiet suggested something was indeed out there.

  I flexed my fingers, the movement stretching the spell twined around them and sending a rainbow shimmer of light across the nearby shadows. Just for an instant there was an answering glimmer in the trees.

  A glimmer that looked like eyes.

  Eyes that were round and golden.

  Owl eyes.

  Empusae eyes.

  Oh fuck…

  Energy sparked around my other hand, enriched with the glittering threads of wild magic—the stuff that came from within rather than the stuff native to this reservation. Which had been strangely absent over the last few days, but I guess it couldn’t be everywhere. And it certainly wasn’t logical to expect it to handily turn up whenever I needed it—even if part of me wished it would do exactly that right now.

  The eyes disappeared. The sick churning in my gut intensified. I remained still, every sense I had wide open in an effort to catch the slightest hint of movement or magic.

  Nothing.

  The night remained, at least on a surface level, free of sound and threat.

  But she was out there, watching and waiting.

  For what?

  Are you okay? came Belle’s comment. I’m getting all sorts of weird vibes from you.

  I’ve had two flat tires. Aiden’s on his way out here.

  That doesn’t explain the weird vibes. What’s wrong?

  I think the Empusae might be stalking me.

  Well fuck, where are you? I’ll come get you—

  There’s nothing you can do. And no way she’d get here in time if something did happen. It might be nothing.

  Even as I said that, another crack rang out, jangling my nerves and making my heart skip unevenly for several beats. The bitch was playing with me…

  We both know the latter part of that statement is an outright lie. I’ll head home and—

  Belle, don’t wreck your night—

  Leaving Kash to party on without me in the club is not wrecking my night. You dying on me totally would. I’ll get home and get comfortable, just in case you have to pull on my reserves.

  I drew in a deep breath and released it slowly. Thanks, Belle.

  Energy stirred. Not mine. Not even the Empusae’s. It belonged to Vita. She might have told us she couldn’t track this demon, but she had an uncanny knack of showing up just before the bitch attacked…

  The thought had barely crossed my mind when a figure came out of the trees and arrowed toward me. I swore and flung my net spell. It spun through the air, spreading out as it did so, providing an ever-widening area in which to capture the demon. She screamed in fury, a sound so fierce it made my ears ache. In the blink of an eye she went from flesh to feather form and then soared upwards. I flicked my spell after her; one edge caught her tail and threads of magic spun from the net to her feathers and lashed around them tightly. She screeched and twisted violently one way and then the other even as her magic surged and attacked mine. I quickly unraveled the net spell and let it fall away, hoping against hope that she didn’t see—didn’t feel—the two faint threads still clinging to her. Now I just had to remain alive long enough to make use of them. I wove a second spell around my fingertips, this time a repelling one.

  The demon had disappeared once more. I scanned the skies, knowing she wouldn’t have gone far, knowing she’d be back, and soon, if only because I was alone in the middle of nowhere. She’d never get a better opportunity to attack.

  Vita came closer, and anger stirred through me. It very much felt like she was using me as bait—especially given her energy was similar in feel to the faint wisps that had lingered on the melted bit of the tire.

  Had she set me up?

  Possibly. More than possibly.

  And yet, why would she do that if she wanted Belle’s help? Didn’t she realize the connection between us?

  Probably not, came Belle’s thought. She’s a very old witch, remember, and as far as we’re aware, there’s been no other cases of one witch becoming the familiar of another.

  True, though I had a bad feeling Vita’s actions wouldn’t have changed even if she had known. Our White Lady was very intent on gaining her vengeance no matter what it cost anyone else.

  Which was just one more reason for Belle not to give her access.

  Once again, something cracked deep in the forest, this time behind me. I jumped and turned, my heart pounding in the vicinity of my throat. Nothing. There was nothing.

  And yet she was there.

  What the hell was she waiting for?

  What sort of game was she playing?

  Perhaps she simply wants you to suffer. Belle’s mental tones were grim. Maybe you should just jump into the SUV and drive as fast as you can away from the area, flat tire or not.

  If I’m in the SUV, I can’t see her coming at me. I don’t want to end up like Byron.

  Byron was stationary. You wouldn’t be.

  I’m not sure it’ll make any difference. I scanned the area again, uncertain what to do, one part of me seeing the sense of Belle’s suggestion while another warned it would be the worst possible step.

  The decision was taken out of my hands.

  Power surged, sparking across the night, its feel so fierce it sprayed across my skin like liquid fire. Light appeared—it was a churning mass of heat that shot through the trees and left a trail of flaming destruction behind it. It wasn’t Empusae in origin. It was witch.

  Vita.

  The bitch was definitely using me as bait.

  And her mass of burning destruction was headed straight for the SUV.

  I swore and ran like hell.

  I wasn’t fast enough. I was never going to be fast enough.

  The fiery ball hit and the vehicle exploded. Heat, flames, bits of plastic and metal and God only knows what else cannoned into the air. The force of it was so strong it sent me flying. I threw out my hands, skinning them along the stony road as I tried to break my fall and protect my face. If it hurt, I didn’t feel it. I stopped sliding and twisted around; saw the remnants of the SUV on fire. Saw the naked, furious form coming straight at me.

  Terror surged. I clamped down on it, scrambled to my feet, and threw the spell still entangled around my fingers. She saw it and dodged, but I flicked a hand and the spell arced around and came at her again. Magic surged, this time to my left. A twisting mass of fiery, angry-looking threads shot out of the trees—and once again, its source was Vita.

  The Empusae leaped skyward, her form once again shifting from human to owl. Vita’s energy didn’t follow; instead, it collided with my repel spell and a second explosion occurred, one that sprayed energy and spell remnants across the nearby ground.

  A scream rent the air. My gaze jumped up. All I saw was talons. Sharp, gleaming talons, coming straight at my face. I flung a hand
up instinctively and the firefly energy that had been dancing across my fingertips formed a thick lance that arrowed directly at the demon. She screamed, dropped away sharply, and then came in under the lance for another attack. More energy surged across my fingertips, its force fainter. I flung it anyway, even as I began another spell that was a combination of a repelling spell and an energy whip. Then I turned and ran into the trees.

  Remaining on the road, in plain sight, with multiple directions from which she could attack me, was stupid. I might in reality be no safer in the trees, but they did at least restrict the speed with which she could attack.

  An incoming sense of doom hit. I slid to a stop, spun around, and cracked my whip toward her. She squawked and tipped to one side, but her descent barely altered in speed. I swore and dropped. Felt air rake my back, an indication of just how close her claws had come.

  I thrust to my feet and lunged to the left, into the deeper undergrowth. Heard her scream, felt the wind of another approach. Lashed my whip around my head even as I ran on, crashing through the scrub, tearing clothes and skin in my desperation to escape.

  A third swoop. I swore and dropped low. Felt her claws snag my hair and rip a chunk free. I bellowed and flicked the whip after her. Its end caught her tail and she squawked as feather remnants rained down.

  It didn’t stop her. Even as I watched, she curved around and arrowed toward me, low and fast.

  I once again pushed to my feet and ran on. Felt the surge of Vita’s magic to my right; saw, out of the corner of my eye, the flare of an incoming sphere. It didn’t hold the fierceness of her original bolt, and I could only hope that it would be strong enough to kill.

  If it hit, that was. She didn’t appear to have the ability to alter the trajectory of her spell after it had been launched

  Which meant I had to hold the Empusae’s attention, and the only hope of ensuring that was for me to allow her to get closer.

  My skin crawled at the thought. I gripped my whip fiercely, but fought the need to use it, fought the desire to spin around and slash the thing across her face, to scar her as she’d scarred me. But the whip wasn’t designed to kill, and that was what mattered most right now. The bait had no choice but to run on.