The Wild (Book Four The Hayle Coven Novels) Page 17

  I was right on her heels the whole way, Quaid next to me as we just walked around the perimeter and to the back. In my mind I wondered if it could really be that easy, when I heard the first snarl and realized it wasn’t.

  Four of the biggest Rottweilers I’d ever seen crouched on the path, between us and the door. Animals weren’t fooled by vampire glamour and rarely by any kind of magic.

  Before Sunny could act, the four dogs whined softly and fell, one at a time, to their sides, heads dropping to the ground. I glanced at Quaid who held out one hand to them, pushing down as they fell. He released a soft gust of air, moving forward to check each one of them individually before patting the largest on the shoulder. It grunted at him and started to snore.

  Well done. Sunny reached the door and touched it with a fingertip. The lock clicked, the door swinging silently inward. Shall we?

  It just occurred to me, how could she enter?

  Nicholas. She answered my obvious question. He invited me here once, before I fell under his control again. And unless Demitrius and the Chosen rebuilt the wards… she stepped over the threshold without a problem, smiling in a way that made me grateful I was her friend. Let’s find your demon.

  ***

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  My fear this was going to be too easy faded after the first half hour or so spent wandering around the impossibly huge place looking for any trace of my demon.

  Sunny left us again as soon as we made it past the first guard. We found a set of glass doors on the other side of the kitchen we entered. Good think the blonde vampire was paying attention because I was all for just barreling ahead.

  Before Quaid could put the man to sleep the same way he had with the dogs, Sunny pounced and pulled the startled guard to the ground. There was barely a rustle of fabric, his pale, startled face lost in the shadow that was the vampire. When Sunny straightened a moment later, the Chosen member lay staring at the ceiling, still alive but lost to reality.

  You must refrain from using your magic. She spoke to Quaid, but I heard her too. I’m certain this house is warded against you. There are witches among them, remember. I will scout ahead. My vampire energy will not be detected.

  I wondered if she knew that for sure or was just looking for an excuse to go on without us because she was worried about me. I scowled at her for being so stubborn as she melted into the dark and left us behind.

  Quaid gave me a look like he knew what I was thinking and agreed with me before grabbing the stunned guard and dragging him into the kitchen. I kept watch while Quaid softly closed the door on the man. He looked to the right and the left of the tall, stone walled corridor. It reminded me a lot of what I imagined a castle would look like on the inside, all tapestries and blood-red carpeting. Quaid raised an eyebrow and gestured.

  Great. He wanted me to pick. Despite Sunny’s warning, I tried opening up to my demon, but found nothing. Best guess it was.

  The place was so big it made Alison’s house look like a dump. A couple of times we had to duck into dark rooms to avoid patrolling Chosen members, but other than those close calls, the whole place seemed quiet and mostly deserted.

  A gigantic grandfather clock clicked and whirred as the mechanism spun over and tolled the hour. It was already midnight. We were running out of time. And while I wasn’t certain when it would happen, when the Wild would rise, I was pretty sure they wouldn’t be waiting on me.

  I still hadn’t figured out how I was going to bypass Mom’s orders to stay away from the site. If it meant being kicked out of the coven, I guess that was the way it would have to be. But there had to be a way around it. Had to be.

  First things first, I kept telling myself. Demon. Home. Wild Hunt. Aftermath. Happily ever after. The end.

  I hoped.

  I almost stumbled over Quaid as he came to an abrupt halt, bruising my nose against his shoulder blade. I rubbed at it, annoyed when he turned and winked at me. He jerked a finger toward a huge wooden door and the gold plaque screwed to it.

  It read: Demitrius Strong

  Long Live The Chosen of the Light

  I rolled my eyes. Yes, he was that arrogant. Perfect. I glanced right and left down the quiet hall as Quaid examined the doorknob. He glanced over his shoulder at me when it eased open like turning a hot knife in butter.

  A trap? Had to be. Like we had much of a choice in the matter. Trap or not, we were going in.

  Quaid went first, me right behind him, fingers locked in the tail of his T-shirt, heart pounding, mouth so dry I couldn’t swallow. This was it, the moment I’d been waiting for, praying for. My demon. My soul.

  I almost passed out I was so worked up.

  The room was dark, but just enough light came in from the glaring spots outside through the giant window it was easy enough for even me to see. One wall was covered in books. A huge, intricately carved wooden desk sat under the window, padded leather chair behind it. A few other heavy, expensive chairs were tucked in corners, a thick area rug muffling the already soft sounds of my sneakers and Quaid’s heavy boots. There was even a globe off to one side and my mind made the rude observation I was sure the Chosen thought the Earth was really flat.

  I seriously wouldn’t have been shocked if they told me they believed.

  We found his center of study, obviously. But no Demitrius and no demon. Quaid pulled me against him and breathed in my ear.

  “Can you feel anything?”

  I drew a deep breath and pulled free of him, closing my eyes to focus. I had to find her. There was no other option. I focused on her, the way she felt, her voice in my head, the way her power burned. I called to her with everything I had in me and reached out, hoping, yearning, needing her.

  Nothing. Not a freaking thing.

  If she was there, I couldn’t feel her.

  Despair so powerful it choked me rose up and filled my chest, my throat, flooded my mouth with the taste of bile. My anger surged with it, fed by weeks of grief and guilt. Without thinking about what I was doing, I grabbed a book from Demitrius’s desk and flung it as hard as I could at the stupid, pretentious globe, wanting to break anything I could.

  Even through my rage I realized something weird happened. The book slammed into something, all right, but it was a good foot out from the old rendition of the world where there was only empty air.

  Quaid lunged forward, hands tracing an invisible bubble filling in the entire corner. His fingers gave off bursts of blue fire running in jagged lighting bolts across the barrier. He glanced at me quickly, eyes lit by the glowing power and I took the hint as he dove for me just as the shield collapsed.

  Nothing happened except I found myself on the floor under him. He made a face like it was funny and pulled me to my feet.

  I caught my breath, my snarky comment for his surge of protectiveness long lost. I stepped forward and touched the outside of a clear bubble that felt like glass charged with a hint of electricity, not caring as the pulse of it coursed through me.

  Nothing mattered but the demon girl standing in the middle of it, staring back at me.

  My heart leaped and I hugged the bubble, blubbering like an idiot, stroking the magic sphere. “You’re here,” I whispered. “You’re really here.”

  “Syd,” Quaid’s voice was low and sharp, “we don’t have much time. If Demitrius set that spell, he’ll have felt it fall.”

  Of course. He was right. We had to free my demon. I leaned back, smiling at her, wanting her to reach for me.

  She just stood there and glared.

  I so didn’t have time for her attitude.

  “Help me,” I said, pounding on the glass with my fists. “I know you don’t want to be a prisoner. We need to get you out, but you have to help.”

  She didn’t move or say anything, aside from a long, slow blink that pretty much told me she planned to do nothing.

  Great. What was her problem?

  I spun on Quaid. “Quick, hit it with magic.” A good dose of earth power might shake it so
hard it broke. Or even air could spin out the electricity and shatter the glass underneath.

  “Are you sure?” He glanced at the door. “Demitrius may not be here yet, but more magic will definitely bring him running.”

  “You know he’s probably coming already,” I snapped. “Just hit it!”

  “You’re both right of course.” We spun toward the desk and the empty chair. Only, it was no longer empty. Demitrius sat there, his cherub angel face wreathed in his familiar smile, pale blue eyes shining.

  Another invisible shield. Stupid, Syd. Really stupid.

  Quaid sidestepped toward me as Demitrius rose from his chair and came around the desk toward us. When Quaid touched me I felt the buzz on his skin and knew his power was gathered just at the surface, ready to strike.

  I’m sure Demitrius knew it too, but he didn’t look the least bit worried. Nor did he call for backup. That concerned me more than anything.

  “I’ve been waiting for you.” Demitrius stepped up to the bubble and stroked the surface. “Obviously.” He smiled wider, little dimples appearing. “I was so hoping you’d find your way here, even had to send some of my men on certain routes through the house to divert you. It worked splendidly.”

  “You could have just met us at the door.” Quaid’s voice came out in a deep growl.

  “True.” Demitrius sighed with a chuckle. “But I need my amusements now and then.” He studied me for a moment. “I’m surprised your mother let you come alone, Sydlynn.”

  He was fishing. Did he know about Sunny? “She didn’t,” I said. “I’ve got him, don’t I?” I jerked my thumb at Quaid.

  Demitrius laughed out loud. “Indeed. Let me see if I have this straight. Your mother and father and all the terrible witches are very busy right now trying to save the world while you and your boyfriend came to fetch your demon.”

  “Something like that.” So he did know about the Wild Hunt. Part of me tried to believe even he wasn’t that mad. But no, yet again he proved me wrong. This from the guy who wanted to tear the world apart to try to eliminate witchcraft for good.

  “As you can see,” he stroked the glass, “your demon is quite safe. She and I are actually an excellent team.”

  My demon scowled at him and snorted fire out her nostrils.

  “Looks like it,” I said. “Too bad that’s all over now.”

  He shook his head like I was deluded. Yeah, I probably was.

  “It is over, I’m afraid.” His blue eyes fixed on me, the intensity behind them terrifying. I saw his hand lift, the crystal held in it. “Come here, Sydlynn.”

  I knew that crystal. Guessed the last time we met it was the center of his sorcerous power. Witches used the elements for their power source, but sorcerers were forced to channel energy through objects. Demitrius had access to all five materials, but this crystal seemed to be his favorite.

  It flickered with light and I felt a brief pull against me. But just as it tried to take hold, the protective spell inside my mind flexed and softened, and his energy slid free with nothing to take hold of.

  He looked startled, floored, like I’d handed him something he had no idea what to do with. A flicker of anger passed over his face and he gestured at me again. And again his attempt slid away, ineffective.

  “Very well,” he snarled, some of his madness showing through, “if I cannot control you, I will destroy him.” He lashed out toward Quaid with the clear crystal. I cried out in horror as a sheet of glowing red fire engulfed Quaid’s shields. He stood against the attack for only a heartbeat before collapsing to the carpet, unconscious.

  I caught movement out of the corner of my eye, saw my demon sag and knew Demitrius found a way to use her without her interference.

  The rage I’d felt earlier returned in a surging tide. The protective net around my mind answered me as Demitrius turned to face me, crystal raised. I reached for the power that remained dormant and latent for so long and lashed out at him with everything I had.

  He howled in agony, falling away as a wall of blue and green energy drove him back into the desk. The force was so powerful it shoved the heavy thing all the way back to the window with a thud that shook the walls, knocking books from the shelves and crushing the fancy leather chair between the desk and the stone. Demitrius crumpled, staring at me like I was some horror he’d never seen before, true fear in his eyes.

  “It’s not possible.” He shuddered, flickers of green magic tracing down his arms, leaving them limp at his sides. “You cannot be!”

  I had no idea what he thought I was, but I finally had the advantage. I reached into myself again, fully intending to wipe him from the face of the planet now that I had access to my power again.

  Demitrius lunged at me, terror driving him, the crystal in one hand and a shining blade in the other.

  I lashed out with my magic to finish him.

  Nothing happened.

  ***

  Chapter Thirty

  So not good. I dodged at the last second when I realized whatever saved me wasn’t about to do it a second time. I stumbled over Quaid’s unconscious body and fell, landing hard on my butt next to him as Demitrius pounced on me.

  You know how people say your whole life flashes in front of your eyes when you’re about to die? Not for me. All I saw was a flicker of shadow as Sunny materialized, lashing out with her vampire magic and her fist just before the knife found my chest.

  I’d totally take it. I made it to my feet as Demitrius again crashed into his desk, this time sliding over the top and impacting the wall behind it with a sickening thud. He rallied quickly, amazingly considering the blow he took, and lifted his hand, the crystal pointed at Sunny. I cried out, tried to warn her, but it was too late.

  For the second time, but this time to my advantage, nothing happened.

  The look on Demitrius’s face would have been hilarious if we weren’t in that circumstance. It was like someone deflated his favorite balloon. His blue eyes turned to me, flooded with insanity.

  “What did you do to me?” He gestured with the crystal again. And again. Even my demon seemed interested now, leaning against the inside of the glass, watching him with evil intensity. I could hear her nails scraping over the bubble.

  What had I done? Nothing, except defend myself. He staggered toward me, but I no longer felt threatened by him. His face filled with grief to match his madness and he howled.

  “WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!”

  I ignored him, leaving him for Sunny, turned to my demon.

  “You’re free.” Well, not yet. But I knew now with his power some how shut off she could be if she wanted to be.

  She nodded, made a fist. Grinned like it was funny. Hit the bubble with all her power.

  I hated to repeat myself, but… nothing happened.

  Her teeth flashed as she snarled at the barrier.

  “Syd.” I turned to Sunny. The vampire had Demitrius pinned while the Chosen leader wept over his hands. Sunny retrieved the crystal and tossed it to me. I felt a thrill of something travel up my arm and saw a thread of the same green magic crawl from it to me.

  Green magic was Sidhe power. Was Demitrius of the old folk? No, not possible. That magic was keyed to me. I realized then it was always this way from the moment I recognized the comfortable feeling of it in the damaged wards holding my grandmother in to the way it was so easy to use it to defeat the Moromonds.

  It made no sense, about as much as my link with Pain and the dreams of Shaylee, but I’d take anything I could get at that point. Time to figure it out after we escaped. I turned to my demon. Held up the crystal with no clue what I was doing. Felt the green magic travel down my arm and into the stone.

  Tapped the glass with it gently, once.

  It shattered into sparkling motes of magic, spinning outward in slow motion, dissipating one at a time until the final shard winked out and she was free.

  I choked on tears and hugged myself. She was free!

  Quaid groaned, tried to get to his fe
et. I pulled him up, supporting him. He shook his head while he leaned on me. “We have to get out of here,” he said. “The others must know something is wrong by now.”

  I was pretty sure Demitrius gave orders we were his to deal with, but I didn’t put it past them to come running anyway. “Sunny?”

  She cocked her head to one side, shimmering blonde hair almost white in the light from the yard, listening. Then she nodded, grim. “I hear footsteps.”

  I was all for getting out of there. I held my arms open to my demon.

  “Time to come home.”

  She held her distance. “We need to go.”

  I wanted her back now. But maybe she was right. Who knew what reconnecting would do to us? Best to try it in a safe location where we weren’t under threat from a pack of crazy witch killers.

  Speak of the devils themselves, someone chose that moment to pound on the door.

  “Master Strong?” I knew that voice. I’d heard it several times, met him once. Annick, Demitrius’s second in command. The Chosen leader perked immediately.

  “Avenge me!” He lunged from Sunny toward the exit, frothing at the mouth in his rage and madness. “Avenge me!”

  Oh crap.

  Quaid’s magic reached out, sealed the door. I felt a thrum under my feet and knew he’d done his best to shield the whole room, but who knew how long it would last against sorcery?

  Before I could think about it, the protective source of power in my mind lifted my hand. Another thread of green magic, this tied to blue, layered over Quaid’s spell and bound the seal tighter.

  “Where were you when I needed you before,” I muttered at it.

  It ignored me. Naturally.

  I heard glass shatter, turned to see Sunny standing next to a broken window. “This way.”

  I wasn’t leaving without my demon. I watched her crouch over the trembling and gibbering form of Demitrius.