by Keri Arthur
But I wasn’t about to risk Belle’s life on it.
Ashworth and Eli followed Monty out the door. Aiden caught my hand and, as Belle gathered the plates and took them into the kitchen, dropped a kiss onto my palm. “I hope you realize I’ll not be leaving your side during this whole tracking expedition. If this bitch wants a piece of you, she’ll have to go through me first.”
“While I appreciate the sentiment, don’t forget what she is. I doubt she’s afraid of me; she’s certainly not going to be afraid of a werewolf, however fierce and determined he might be.”
“Ah, but you’re forgetting I’m a werewolf who’s wearing a multilayered protection charm. Even if it only keeps her off me for a minute or so, teeth can do a whole lot of damage in that time. And while she’s distracted by me, you can pin her, and Belle can help Vita stab her.”
“Something Belle would rather not think about.” She came out of the kitchen. “I’m generally not the squeamish type, but Vita wants to see her suffer—wants to feel her blood as it washes across my skin—and the thought of that is giving me the jeebies.”
Aiden raised an eyebrow. “Jeebies?”
“As in, heebie-jeebies.”
He snorted softly, then squeezed my fingers and released them. “I’d better go to work for a few hours.”
“You’re welcome to use our shower if you’ve another change of clothes in your truck,” I said.
“We’ve one at the station, and it’s werewolf sized. I’ll see you soon.” He rose, kissed the top of my head, and then left.
“I take it he just cast shade on our shower,” Belle said. “Does he not realize that what it lacks in size it makes up for in pressure?”
“No, and I doubt he’d care. You’ve seen the showers at his place.”
“The word palatial does come to mind. For a down-to-earth, straightforward man, he sure doesn’t mind a bit of over-the-top comfort in his bathrooms.”
“Which makes me wonder if a former girlfriend had some say in the fit out.”
“I could go mind fishing, if you want.”
“No, leave the man alone.”
She simply grinned at me.
“Seriously, don’t.”
Her grin just got wider. I shook my head and gripped the end of the table to push upright. Pain swirled, and a hiss escaped.
Belle’s amusement quickly fell away. “Have you taken your tablets?”
“I’m not due for another lot until eleven. But I will have a cup of coffee, if you don’t mind making it.”
She nodded and, once she was sure I was steady on my feet, headed over to make my coffee. I slowly made my way into the reading room, but didn’t bother moving any of the furniture. I just propped on the table and began working on the tracker spell. Monty was right in that I’d never been taught the spell, but I’d seen him create one, and it hadn’t looked too difficult. Thankfully, I not only had a good memory when it came to spell wording, but I could also picture the needed result in my mind and work from that.
Belle came in with my drink halfway through and watched through narrowed eyes as I tied it off and then briefly activated it. For several seconds, nothing happened. The gently glowing sphere of golden threads sat on my palm, seemingly dead. Then, faintly, came a pulse.
The two tracker threads were active. The Empusae hadn’t yet sensed them.
Relief stirred. I deactivated the spell, placed it carefully on the table, and then accepted the mug Belle gave me. Despite the strong coffee smell, I could tell it had been laced with ginseng and basil, both of which had anti-inflammatory properties as well as being able to boost strength and lower stress.
The latter was certainly needed.
“Do you want to contact Vita now? Or later, when we’re out in the field and have some idea where she is?”
Belle hesitated. “It’s probably better to do it now. That way, I can rest up before we head out.”
It also meant there was less chance of the Empusae sensing what was happening outside her lair, as we’d have to set up a protective circle to prevent Vita trying to take over too soon. Hosting a spirit was physically draining, and the longer the possession went on, the more dangerous it became. There had been cases of witches dying thanks to the stress it had put on their bodies.
I drained my coffee, then carefully eased down onto the floor and crossed my legs. Belle sat opposite and clasped my hands. “Ready?”
I took a deep breath that hurt like blazes and then nodded. Belle deepened the connection between us and said, her mental tone one of command, Vita, appear before us. We need to talk to you. You may enter this building as long as you wish us no harm.
There was no response.
Vita, appear before us, Belle said again, the demand in her voice stronger. The force of it echoed through the air, a call that would be heard well beyond the boundaries of Castle Rock.
Again, there was no response. Not for several minutes. But just as the echoes of her demand began to fade, the magic protecting this place pulsed as Vita arrived and passed through it.
Then she was in front of us. She was far paler than the last time—far more indistinct. Belle was right—she hadn’t yet recovered from her efforts last night.
What is it you wish of me? Her voice, like her form, was faint.
Liz placed a tracking spell on the Empusae last night. We’re going after her in an hour. If you wish to be a part of the kill, you need to follow us.
Let me in—
No, Belle said forcibly. When we have this demon cornered and leashed, I will give you your revenge. Until then, you bide your time.
Annoyance shimmered across Vita’s form, and it had my distrust rising.
I have no choice but to do this your way. But rob me—
If we’re going to throw threats around, then let me give you one—any attempt to overstay will be met by force.
Her amusement stirred the air. My distrust sharpened.
Do not fear, little witch. I have no desire to stay where I am not welcome.
One more thing before you go, Belle said. Is this demon capable of moving around in daylight?
That I cannot tell you, but she’s certainly powerful enough to do so if she wished.
Great, I thought. Just what we needed to hear.
I’ll call again once we have caught this demon, Belle said. Until then, depart this place.
Vita obeyed. Belle took a deep breath, then squeezed my hands and released me. Wisps of weariness clung to her, but they were nowhere near as bad as the first time.
“Go upstairs and rest,” I said. “I’ll give you a call when Monty arrives.”
She nodded and climbed to her feet. “Do you need a hand up?”
I shook my head. “I’ll manage. Go rest.”
She did. I grabbed the table for balance, then slowly got up. I didn’t bother going up the stairs—I just made myself a big pot of tea, grabbed yesterday’s Herald-Sun, and plonked myself down on the table to catch up on the news.
Monty came in about an hour later without his crutches and walked us through the restrictor spell.
“Seems simple enough,” I said.
He nodded. “Just don’t do any variations, because it can be a dangerous spell.”
“I won’t.” I shifted position in the chair, trying to get comfortable. “How likely is it this Empusae will sense our presence when we approach?”
“Highly likely, but given demons generally can’t move around in the daylight, we shouldn’t be in any danger until we step inside her lair.”
“Except,” Belle said, “Vita says this one probably can move about.”
“Even if she can, the cost of shielding herself from the sun would drain her of strength extremely fast.”
“Given how old this demon is and just how fast she can move, she might not need much time to wipe us all out,” I commented.
“We’ve got the power and the knowledge to counter her,” Monty said. “We’ll be fine.”
I hoped he wa
s right, but I couldn’t help thinking he was seriously underestimating this demon.
The rest of the men arrived just before twelve. We left in two trucks—Belle, Monty, and me with Aiden, and Ashworth and Eli following. Once seated, I reactivated my tracker sphere. Its faint pulse rippled across my fingers, and relief stirred. She still hadn’t sensed it.
“Head toward Maldoon,” I said after a moment.
“That’s a distance from where she’s been hunting,” Monty commented.
“She’s winged. Distance doesn’t really matter to her. And after what has happened to her two offspring, maybe she’s decided to try somewhere safer.”
“Somewhere safer would be off this reservation entirely.”
“She won’t leave until she gets her revenge or she’s dead.”
Aiden glanced at me. “Is that your psi senses speaking?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s hope this hunting expedition is a success.” His voice was grim.
The closer we got to Maldoon, the stronger the pulse in the tracker became. Eventually, we went off road, following a series of dusty tracks as we wound our way through the scrublands that surrounded the old town.
“Here,” I said eventually. “Turn right here.”
“Surprise, surprise,” Monty said. “It’s the ruins of another mine.”
One that had toilet facilities, BBQs, and a picnic area, from the look of things. Aiden stopped in the vacant parking area and we all climbed out. Dust swirled as Ashworth stopped beside us.
I scanned the area but couldn’t see the mine. Nor was there an immediately obvious place for the Empusae to hide. But she was out there somewhere, and it wasn’t just the strong pulse coming from the tracker that told me that.
It was the growing sense that the shit was about to hit the fan.
“Which way, lass?” Ashworth said as he jumped out of his SUV.
I pointed to the trees beyond the picnic area.
“Makes sense,” Aiden said. “That’s where the mine ruins are.”
“It’s the ‘where’ in those ruins we need to pin down.” Monty slung his pack over his shoulder. “And that means you’ve still got the lead, Liz.”
I walked through the picnic area and into the scrub beyond. It didn’t take long for remnants of old buildings to appear; at first, they were little more than piles of bricks and stone rubble, but gradually, as we neared the industrial heart of the mine, they became more defined.
The tracker tugged me left, past a couple of water tanks and toward what looked to be three old kilns. The ceilings of two of them had obviously collapsed, because slivers of sunshine were evident beyond their small semicircular entrances. But in the middle kiln there was only darkness.
Darkness and evil.
The latter was extremely faint, though, which was odd given the strengthening pulse within my tracker sphere. Maybe the kilns were deeper than they looked. Or maybe there was something stranger going on.
I tried to ignore the gathering cloud of uneasiness and stopped well short of the kilns. “The signal is coming from the middle kiln.”
Ashworth stopped beside me. “It’s not an ideal area to be placing a circle around.”
“I don’t think we need to,” Eli said. “I think it’ll be better if we simply raise a snare around the entire kiln.”
“It’ll take some power to cover an area that large,” Monty said.
“Yes, but better safe than sorry,” Eli said. “I’ll head to the top of the hill behind the kiln and spell from there. That leaves you two to go inside and deal with this bitch.”
“Watch where you’re stepping,” Aiden said. “The ground doesn’t look that stable.”
Eli nodded and followed the fence line around to the back of the kiln. Monty and Ashworth pulled off their backpacks and began readying their spells.
“Once the snares are set,” Belle said. “I’ll need to call in Vita.”
Monty glanced at her. “Are you sure that’s really necessary?”
“You don’t play games with White Ladies,” Ashworth said. “Not unless you’re willing to pay a very heavy price.”
Monty raised his eyebrows. “Experience speaking?”
“Yes. Get a move on, lad.”
As the two of them continued their preparations, Belle retrieved our spell stones from our backpack and began laying them on the ground, creating a circle large enough to hold Aiden and us. He might be determined to be our protector, but he could do so from within the safety of our circle.
We just had to hope that the combination of both Belle’s magic and my own was enough to hold off the Empusae if she did somehow escape the net and attack. Otherwise, the three of us would be in serious trouble.
I glanced down at the sphere in my hand. The pulse coming from it remained steady and it was definitely originating from that middle kiln.
So why was I uneasy?
Why was I becoming more and more certain that we were all being played?
I didn’t know, and if my psychic senses had any clue, they weren’t forthcoming.
With our spell stones set out, there was nothing more we could do but watch and wait. Until both the snares were set, we dared not raise our magic. The Empusae had felt the sting of my magic twice now and would probably be sensitive to its presence.
Eli reached the top of the hill overlooking the kilns. Ashworth motioned him to proceed, then he and Monty climbed the fence surrounding the kilns and walked toward the middle one. There was no stirring of magic, no sense that the demon hiding in the deeper shadows had moved, and yet… and yet, a sense of expectation and anticipation bled into the air. It wasn’t coming from the three men ahead. It was simply staining the air, its direction difficult to pin thanks to the softly stirring breeze.
I flexed my fingers and resisted the urge to raise the circle or even call to the wild magic that stirred within. I had to be patient. To do anything now, before the others were ready, could just bring disaster down on us all.
And yet that was going to hit, no matter what we did now.
Eli began to spell, his magic rolling swiftly down the broken hillside and flooding the brick and stone mass that was the kiln. At the same time, Ashworth and Monty placed a net across the kiln’s entrance; its threads were as thick as my fingers and pulsed with power. If it couldn’t contain the demon within, then we really would be in serious trouble.
There was no response from within the cave. No indication that the Empusae was either alert or aware.
Had Vita’s attacks drained her?
Or was this, as my psi senses were now all but screaming, nothing more than a trap? One that was about to be sprung?
“Right, laddie,” Ashworth said. “Let’s force this bitch’s bones into the net and wrap her up tight so our White Lady can claim her vengeance and leave us in peace.”
As the sting of their magic surged, Belle said, “Shouldn’t we raise our circle now?”
I hesitated. “Let’s see if she’s in there first.”
Aiden glanced at me sharply. “Isn’t your sphere telling us that she is?”
“Yes, but something feels off.”
“What?”
“I don’t know.”
“Which is the perfect reason why we should raise the circle,” Belle said. “If it all goes to hell in a handbasket, then this may be our only—”
The rest of her words were drowned out by Eli’s sharp bellow.
My gaze jumped up the hill. Saw him fall—tumble—down the broken slope toward the kilns, his back a bleeding mass of sliced flesh.
Saw the shimmer in the air.
Caught a brief glimpse of bloody claws before they winked out of existence again.
The Empusae wasn’t in the kiln.
She was out in the sunshine, using magic to protect and hide her body.
And she was coming straight at the three of us.
Fifteen
There was no time to get the circle up. No time, even, to raise a rep
elling spell or demon net. Energy surged to my fingertips and it was wild mix of magic that had no defined purpose other than destruction. That was not what we wanted right now, but I threw it anyway.
The tumbling mass of threads and power spun toward the concealed Empusae. She swerved sharply, dipping underneath it, her form briefly appearing before whatever spell she was using reasserted itself.
“Ashworth,” I yelled, even as Belle began raising a protective circle. “She’s outside and concealed.”
Aiden growled, the sound low and dangerous, then his form shifted from human to wolf and he was running, leaping high into air. His teeth snapped and feathers fell even as claws appeared, raking his back, sending fur flying.
And still she came at us.
I swore and flung out a hand, directing the tumbling of threads and power around, sending it chasing after the Empusae. But it wouldn’t hit her soon enough to deflect her trajectory. She was too damn close.
I swore again and knocked Belle sideways. We hit the ground in a tangled mess of arms and legs, and for a second, a red mist rose across my vision, and I couldn’t breathe. Sucking in air did little to ease the wash of pain, but I pushed away from Belle and got up. “Get Vita here, stat.”
“On it. What are you going to do?”
“Keep the bitch away from you.”
I activated the restriction spell and then turned and ran in the opposite direction. Saw the Empusae scream and swoop around for a second attack. I recalled my ball of power, felt it skim over my head, and flicked it up to meet the Empusae. Magic—her magic—rose to meet it. There was a brief, blinding flash as the two hit, and then a surge of energy that knocked me back several feet. I looked up, saw the remnants of both my magic and hers falling like dull snow to the ground. Saw her, no longer hidden, coming straight at me.
A deep and dangerous growl rose from behind me, and I automatically dropped. Aiden leaped high above me and then somehow twisted in the air so that he was no longer coming straight at the Empusae but rather from the side. She tipped a wing and dropped away but not fast enough. His teeth snapped down on one foot and he hung on tight, his weight forcing the demon to drop several feet. The Empusae screamed, a sound that was fury and pain combined, and magic surged again, this time flowing over Aiden, attacking him so fiercely that his whole body glowed with the force of it. For one horrible second, I thought I’d failed him. That he was about to die defending me because my magic simply wasn’t strong enough.
