Gena Showalter - Intertwined 02 (35 page)

Where minutes before there had been calm in this rocky canyon, now vampires and a few wolves battled more fairies than Mary Ann could count. And those fairies were vicious. They might not have had access to
je la nune
poison, but they fought with swords, hacking at fur and flesh, aiming for the vampires' eyes, ears and mouths, blood spraying.

Riley was here. She knew he was. He would have followed Victoria. So where was he? If he was hurt, she would—

Behind her, there was a screech of fury, and then a heavy weight was pushing her down. She flipped midair and realized Brendal had trailed her out, then she hit the ground and lost her breath, her train of thought.

“You cannot leave,” the fairy snarled at her, grabbing her by the shirt and hefting her to her feet. “You must convince Aden to tell me about my brother.”

Midnight would arrive very soon, and the winner—and loser—of this battle would be decided. One way or another. If Mary Ann died, this woman would never learn the truth about her brother. Had the situation been reversed, had Mary Ann's dad been the one missing, she would have been just as determined and desperate for answers as Brendal.

“Your brother…your brother is dead,” Mary Ann told
her gently, still fighting for air. She tried not to cringe when someone screamed behind her.

Shock. Disbelief. Rage. All three passed over the fairy's expression. Brendal shook her head, pale hair slapping her ashen cheeks. “No.”

“Yes. He is. I'm sorry.”

Eyes narrowed. “Then where is his body?”

“I don't know.”

“Who does?”

“Please,” Mary Ann said. “Just tell your people to leave the wolves alone.”

“Who knows?” As she spoke, she shook Mary Ann so hard her brain rattled against her skull. “The boy? The wolf? The vampire?”

Again, Mary Ann ignored the question. She'd given the fairy an answer, but she wouldn't condemn her friends.

“Would you tell me to save your own life?” Brendal reached behind her, and when her hand reappeared, she was gripping a blade. She held its gleaming tip to Mary Ann's throat, slicing her skin, burning. Not enough to kill, just enough to hurt.

Fight. You know how
. But as Mary Ann moved to smash the woman's nose into her brain, the blade sank a little deeper. She froze, panting, a cold sweat breaking over her. She was stronger than she'd ever been, yes, and had
some training now, but this, this she had no idea how to combat.

There was a howl, a blur of black in the corner of her eye, and then Brendal was soaring to the side, away from her. Riley, in full wolf form, landed on top of the fairy, doing his best to subdue her. Mary Ann's relief didn't last long. He wasn't having much luck, his motions slowing, becoming sluggish.

Was he being drained? Was the fairy somehow weakening him?

I'm the Drainer,
Mary Ann thought darkly. If anyone was going to be weakened, it was the fairy. Determined, she lumbered to her feet and stumbled her way to the still-straining bodies. Riley must have sensed her, because he snarled over his shoulder. When he realized it was Mary Ann approaching, he returned his attention to Brendal.

“Hold her as best you can.”

As Riley dropped all of his weight on his opponent, pinning her, Mary Ann crouched and placed her hand on the woman's neck, where her pulse hammered. She hadn't had to touch the witch to feed from her, but then she'd been starving and the draining had been involuntary. This time, she suspected she'd have to use force.

She closed her eyes, tried to blank her mind. An unwanted thought arose. If she did this, everyone would know what she was. Her secret would be out. She
would be marked for death. Well, more than she already was. Not just by the fairies, but by the wolves and vampires.

Another thought formed. If she didn't do this, Riley could be injured. And besides, she might not survive the night, anyway. So, really, what did she have to lose?

Finally, her mind blanked.
I'm hungry,
she told herself.
So hungry
.

She waited. The warmth remained at bay, out of reach.

I'm starving. I need the fairy's energy
.

Again, nothing.

Time to regroup. So far, the ability had worked only on the witches. Riley had said that Mary Ann would begin with the witches, but then her need would expand to fairies, then to all other types of creatures. Perhaps it was still too soon to feed from anyone else.

No. No. She could do this. She had to do this. Mary Ann concentrated, focusing completely on the fairy. Brendal's skin was soft, her pulse strong, so strong, like a drum. A song. Mary Ann listened to that song, allowed it to play inside her mind, absorb in her blood.

Brendal jerked against her hold.

Mary Ann absorbed the motion, too. The warmth she'd craved soon followed, sinking inside her, and oh, it was nice, too. Like being inside a cabin, snow all around, yet a fire leaping to life in front of her, soothing her.

The song slowed, however, and she frowned. She wasn't done listening, and now, the melody wasn't quite as pretty. It was lacking somehow. And then, even the warmth faded. She wanted more warmth.
Needed
more warmth.

Enough. You have to pull away, Mary Ann, or you'll kill her. I know you don't want to kill her
.

Riley's voice shouted through her head, jolting her, and she ripped her hand away from the fairy. She blinked open her eyes. Brendal lay motionless, barely breathing, but thankfully alive.

She'd done it. She'd actually done it. She had drained the fairy.

Can you drain the others?
Riley asked, urgent.
Just enough to weaken them?

Trembling, she scanned the still-raging battle. Most of the wolves were as sluggish as Riley had been, the fairies seemingly stronger than ever. She was ashamed of the little spark of glee that flickered in her chest. Not because she wanted to help, but because she want to hear more of those songs, feel more of that warmth. “I'll try.”

V
ICTORIA STEPPED IN FRONT
of Aden and kissed him, just as he had done to her. She was there, in his arms, exactly where he liked her, and with the touch of her hot, soft lips, his senses snapped back into place, Caleb's pleading drowned out, the witch's hold on him broken. Before he could thank her, however, she jumped away from him—flying toward Marie.

“What are you—”

The two clashed together and rolled to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

Victoria's skin couldn't be cut, so Aden didn't worry about her. Yet. He approached the beast, who had positioned himself back in the doorway, keeping everyone inside, and raised his hands, as if he meant to pet. The beast—he needed a name. Chomper, maybe—huffed and puffed through his nostrils, clearly agitated by all the violence.

“Can you place the witches along the wall for me?” Aden asked.

There was a moment of suspended silence, where no one moved or breathed, everyone waiting to see what would happen. Finally the beast dipped his head and began gathering the witches with his mouth, sometimes several at a time, and tossing them along the wall. The ones still conscious tried to dart away, but he snarled in their faces, and they settled against the wall willingly.

Finally, only Marie was left. Her fight with Victoria hadn't slowed. Or gentled. Nails slashed, teeth bit, fists punched and legs kicked.

When the beast moved for her, Aden said, “Not her. Not until I remove the vampire. Okay?”

Chomper snorted as he nodded.

“Good boy,” Aden said. “There'll be lots of pets for you when this is over.”

Chomper's tongue rolled out, red and wet, and his tail actually wagged.

Aden turned to the still-fighting girls. They were rolling on the ground, their punches more concentrated—nose, throats, stomachs—and their kicks more vicious. There was no hair-pulling or slapping. This was knockdown-drag-out, and to the death. Without a single drop of blood spilled, since neither was bleeding.

What was the best way to break up a witch and a vampire?

Caleb babbled, and Aden tried not to allow himself to become distracted. “Victoria. Separate. Please.”

A moment passed before she reacted. Then she flung herself away and pinned herself to the wall, arms splayed, nails digging into rock, as if they were the only thing holding her in place.

Marie spun, facing Aden. “Not much time left,” she taunted.

He raised his chin, refusing to back down. “There's not much time for either of us, then, because I'm taking you to the grave with me.”

“You'll try.”

“I'll succeed.”

“Really? What about her?” Grinning, Marie held out her hand and wiggled her fingers, revealing a ring very much like the one Victoria always wore.

Aden realized what was about to happen, and his stomach twisted.

Victoria threw herself to the right, away from the witch, even as Aden leapt forward, intending to block, forcing the liquid to splash him instead. But he was too late, and Marie moved too quickly. Every poisonous drop hit Victoria's profile. Her face, her neck, her arm and side. Immediately she dropped, screaming her pain, clothes and flesh sizzling.

Aden changed his direction and slammed into Marie; they rolled until he was on top, straddling her and
holding her down. He was so angry, he almost hit her. Almost. But he'd never hit a girl before, and didn't want to start now. Instead, he hopped to his feet and moved out of the way.

“Get her,” he pushed through gritted teeth.

Chomper grabbed the witch and once again threw her against the wall. A gust of air left her on a pained moan.

“Hold her down.”

The beast went back for her, pinning her to the ground as Aden had, using his teeth instead of legs.

She struggled against the hold. “Let me go!”

Aden raced to Victoria. He gathered her trembling body in his arms and held his wrist over her mouth. She immediately bit down, sucking his blood. “Call the meeting to order,” he told the witch.

“Why don't you come over here and request that to my face,” Marie sputtered.

So she could ensnare him again? Ha!

Do what she says,
Caleb beseeched.
We have to do what she says.

Caleb! Dude. It's not gonna happen. Leave the boy alone. She's bad news
. Julian.

No. She isn't!

Julian cursed at him.

He's ensnared,
Elijah explained,
just like Aden was. Only
Caleb hasn't snapped out of it yet. You won't be able to talk any sense into him until he does.

Victoria's trembling eased and her teeth loosened on Aden's wrist. With his free hand, he smoothed the hair from her face.
His
trembling increased, making him a little lightheaded.

“I think I'll stay here,” Aden said. Victoria's eyes were closed, and she was breathing heavily. She radiated tension, but she wasn't screaming. “Now call the meeting to order, Marie, or I let the beast have you. And if you're warded against death, you'll get to live in his stomach, probably melting from the bile and acid there. Always in pain, never allowing death to relieve you.”

“I don't care! Do you hear me? I don't care. I could call the meeting to order, you're right about that. I don't need the elders. But your friends need to die, and so they will. At midnight. They're dangerous. They're evil. They
will
die.”

She wasn't going to relent, and if she was telling the truth, they would die in just a few minutes. He was just going to have to force her to do what he wanted. And there was only one way to do that.

He settled Victoria gently on the ground and stood, then closed the distance between him and Chomper. “Whatever happens, keep holding her,” he said, patting the beast's side.

A slight nod.

What are you doing?
Caleb demanded.
Don't hurt her. Please don't hurt her. We love her.

“There's only one way for this to end happily for everyone, Caleb.” He hoped.

Possess her?

“Yes.” He would force her to call the meeting to order. He only prayed it counted. “And while we're in there, you can search her memories for bits of your past. Sound good?” If he had to bargain with the soul, he would bargain.

You won't force her to do anything to harm herself?

“I didn't punch her when I had the chance, did I?”

All right, then. Yes
.

“What are you doing?” Marie's struggles increased. “Stop. Don't come any closer!”

“I thought you wanted me to approach you.” Aden crouched down, grabbed her wrist and closed his eyes so that he wouldn't accidentally be ensnared. He shouted as he turned to mist and tried to push his way inside her, but there was some type of block around her, keeping him out.

A ward.

Damn this! He solidified again. “Looks like we will have to hurt her,” he said on a sigh, “but it's only to save her, Caleb,” he added before the soul could protest.

No!

Undaunted, desperate, he searched every one of the witches. He confiscated every ring he found—only four—and returned to Marie. “Tell me which ward to burn away or I'll destroy all of them.” A vow. “And it will hurt, Marie. You know it will.”

Aden
…

She saw the rings in his hand and stilled, panic filling her eyes. Panic and fear. He would do it; she had to realize that. He didn't want to, but he would do it.

“No,” she said. “I—I won't. I can't! Try to understand.”

There was a ward tattooed on her wrist. “I don't have time to understand.” He latched on to her arm and poured several drops of
je la nune
on the ink. She screamed, her body bowing as the pain slammed through her. The scent of burning flesh rose.

He tried again to possess her, but met the same block.
Steady.
“One more chance, Marie, then I'm not stopping until they're all gone.”

“If I…call the meeting…will you vow to release us? Alive.”

“Yes,” he and Caleb said at the same time. Though Aden didn't dare to hope. Yet. “If you will vow not to cast any spells on your way out.”

“I do,” she gritted out.

Thank God. Thank God, thank God, thank God. This might work. This might happen. “Then call the
meeting, and I vow upon my life—and death—that you and your coven will have free passage from this cave.”

“No one can follow us.”

“I vow that no one will follow you.”

She pushed out a breath as her head fell to the ground. She stared up at the ceiling, tears leaking from her eyes. If she meant to waste time, to wait until it was too late…

“Do it now! Or I start pouring.” He took hold of her other arm, revealing the ward tattooed there.

She squeezed her eyes shut. “This meeting is…called to…. order.”

He waited several seconds, but nothing happened. He wasn't sure what he'd expected, but this certainly wasn't it. “That's it? That's all you have to do? All you have to say?”

“Yes.”

“My friends are saved?”

“Yes, damn you!”

His knees gave out. Thank God. His friends were safe. They were finally safe, free of their curse. He stayed just as he was for an eternity, shaking, basking, relieved, shocked, numb then excited, numb then sick—how close they'd come to losing—then, finally, blessedly, accepting.

Another battle, another victory. Only, this one was so much sweeter. They. Were. Safe.

“You can release her now,” he told Chomper, and
the beast instantly obeyed. “Will you please guard the vampire while I take care of the witches?”

Another nod, and the beast was clomping off to hover over Victoria, teeth bared at all the witches in warning.

“Carry the ones who can't walk on their own and follow me,” Aden told the women who'd almost destroyed all he'd come to love. Without waiting for a reply, he stood and stumbled his way to the cavern's opening. Footsteps soon echoed behind him, some dragging, most heavy. He snaked left and right through a long hallway, but finally reached the outside.

What he saw shocked him anew, and he stilled, the witches slamming into his back. Fairies littered the ground. Wolves and vampires stood around them, all staring over at Riley, in wolf form, who was in front of Mary Ann and growling. He was…protecting her? From his own people?

Meanwhile, Mary Ann was pale and clutching her stomach, as if in pain. “Aden,” she said on a moan.

All eyes swung to him, and then the vampires were kneeling. The witches gasped and took a collective step backward.

He'd find out what was going on in a minute. “Allow the witches to pass. Don't look at them. Don't touch them. Don't follow them. Just allow them to pass.” He
waited until both the vampires and the wolves had nodded before stepping aside.

Though hesitant, the witches filed out, their unconscious sisters propped between them. The vampires parted, creating a pathway, and Aden released a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding. No one reached out, no one attempted to stop the robed women.

Now for his friends. “Riley, take Mary Ann home.” She was clearly sick and in need of rest.

“But, my king,” a vampire covered in blood said as he rose. “She's a Drainer. She must be killed.”

Someone was going to have to explain the drainer thing, and soon. As for now, he said, “I don't care what she is. No one touches her, and no one follows her, either. Riley, take her home like I told you. Now!”

The guard moved behind Mary Ann and nudged her forward. Again, the vampires and wolves heeded his command—though all of them were stiff and clearly eager to act. More so than they'd been with the witches.

Such blind obedience. In a sudden moment of clarity, he realized these were his people. And he…he was their king. Yes.
Yes
. The admission felt right, so unbelievably right. He'd earned the title with this victory. More than that, he had somehow tamed their beasts. He
was
king, and he wasn't going to fight it anymore.

“The rest of you…stay here. Don't move.” He turned and strode back to the cave. Chomper and Victoria were
exactly where he'd left them, only Victoria was now sitting up.

“Better?” He squatted beside her and cupped her jaw. He gently moved her head left and right, gaze intent on her skin. The burns were already fading.

“Better.” Those blue, blue eyes regarded him with concern. “Are you?”

“I'm just fine.”

“I'm so glad.” She threw her arms around him, placing little kisses all over his face.

Chomper snorted to remind Aden of his presence. Grinning, Aden reached up and petted his new protector behind the ears. So much could have gone wrong tonight, he thought. He could have lost everyone he loved, but with this creature's help, things had turned out okay.

Better than okay.

After he convinced a reluctant Chomper to go back inside Victoria—where he could better protect them both, Aden explained—he and Victoria walked back outside, hand and hand. This time, he wasn't surprised to discover his orders had been obeyed. The vampires and wolves hadn't moved.

Aden looked over at Victoria, and she looked over at him. They shared a grin, happy to be alive and with each other. “I'm king,” he said.

“Yes,” she agreed. “You are.”

He faced the waiting crowd. “Return home. Rest. I'm proud of each of you.” Next week, after
he
had rested, he'd hold a meeting of his own. Things were going to be different now.

As they began to teleport, disappearing from view, Victoria said, “Now I'll take
you
home.”

A moment later, he was standing in his bedroom, Shannon snoring softly from the top bunk. Aden peered up at his friend. He would stay here a while longer, he thought, before moving into the vampire mansion with Victoria, where he would rule as was expected. There were a few things he had to do first. For the boys. For Dan. He wanted to make sure they were forever taken care of, forever safe.