Raven and the Rose (7 page)

A raspy, low-pitched laughter filled the room, causing the air to grow thick, filling him with

dread. From the look on the faces of the others, they felt it, too.

“Everyone, hold hands and surround her,” Walter commanded.

Storm took Shawn and Jasmine’s hands, encircled Rose and began chanting.

Rose’s body contorted and twisted backwards, like someone was folding her body in the

opposite direction.

Closing his eyes, he tried to focus on banishing the demon who’d invaded his home and

threatened his loved ones.

The ground shook as the basement lights flickered.

Although he felt his energy draining, he continued the chant. Storm opened his eyes and

looked around. He could tell the McQueen power was fading quickly. This was something he

couldn’t allow to happen. Because of the blood moon and their limited power, without Viola’s

input, they were losing energy fast. Whatever was inside of Rose was sucking her dry. Intuition made him break the circle to focus on drawing the entity out of Rose and into himself. He lost his footing as the force shook the room.

“Storm, what the hell are you doing?” Jesse yelled.

“Trust me,” Storm retorted. He held his hands out, willing the negative energy from Rose

into himself. He grinned as the shadow hissed and tried to cling to Rose. He continued drawing

on it until it hovered above him.

Rose’s eyes closed and she fell to the floor.

“Storm, you can’t do that!” Shawn hollered, but it was already too late.

It didn’t matter, Storm thought as he pulled the entity inside him. His body began to

convulse when the pain shot through him like fire. It was trying to incinerate him on the inside out, just as it tried to do to Rose. She apparently had the same idea, but because of her fading powers, she wasn’t strong enough to contain it. The demon used her weakness against her and

sought to steal the entire magic of everyone encircling her.

Storm refused to cry out in pain as the thing bounced around inside him. Deciding he

couldn’t contain it in this present realm, he quickly shifted into raven form, breaking through one of the basement windows.

“Storm!” Walter bellowed.

Rose’s cries struck him, but just as Micah had protected Clara and her clan centuries ago, he

must protect the McQueen family at all costs. Soon, he found an opening into the Netherworld.

The thing scratched and clawed at his insides, wounding him severely

Enveloped in darkness he lost his way, and involuntarily shifted from raven to human. Storm

fell for what felt like hours on end, down the seemingly bottomless pit. Reaching out, he tried grasping at the earth in hopes to gain his footing but to no avail. He continued his plight until he hit the ground with a heavy thud.

Body sore, but unbroken, Storm rolled over from his back to his side. As far as he knew, he

was in some sort of underground tunnel or cave. Roots protruded from his dirt imprisonment and

suddenly, a man cloaked in bearskin appeared.

Storm squinted and rose from the floor as the man with eyes of yellow looked up at him,

Black hair streaked with strands of gray hung past the older man’s shoulders. He looked

seemingly familiar, yet Storm was unable to place him.

“Hello, brother. Keeper of Light,” the man spoke as he tossed some dirt into the fire, making

the flames rise. He began to chant as the flames danced higher, and suddenly they were

surrounded by a band of ravens.

“Who are you?”

“Sit,” the man told him.

“Why am I here?” Storm asked, still standing.

“Your journey is over. Now come and join me.” The man’s eyes flashed a golden yellow.

Storm saw his own image within those eyes and it occurred to him who the man was. He

strode over and sat on the cool earth, next to the roaring fire. “Brother. Keeper of Darkness.

Return me to my world.”

“The witches are on their own now.”

Storm tried to shift into raven form, but could not. “What have you done to me?”

“Thank you for bringing me the soul. However, since you’ve failed to bring me the

remaining five souls that still roam free in Raven’s Falls, you’ve lost your Raven spirit.”

“I don’t have time for this. Release me, now.”

“You lack patience.”

“I thought of protecting Rose and her family.”

The man shook his head and sorrow filled his eyes. “Someone within the McQueen family

has made a pact with darkness, thinking they had good intentions.”

“We know about the demons, Niall helped us.”

“Niall was misled, he saw only what someone wanted him to see. But, surely you must

know. You’re a weakness Rose McQueen cannot afford. Or so, you tell yourself.”

Anger filled Storm. “She doesn’t see it that way and I know there’s a way out of here.

Surely, you wouldn’t have brought me here for nothing.”

The man frowned and gazed at him. “You possess the traits of a warrior and a wise man. The

witches have century’s worth of darkness surrounding them. It is of little wonder you’ve survived this long. Did you not know of the consequences when you accepted the spirit within yourself?”

“I’m meant to protect them, and will continue to do so, just as Micah Ravencloud protected

Clara.”

“And that has cost you everything.”

* * *

“Where did he go?” Desperation filled Rose as her family helped her to her feet. “Where’s

Storm?” Off balance, she spun around, dazed and confused until her uncle Walter scooped her up

into his arms.

She felt herself being carried up the basement stairs and she was placed on the familiar soft

couch. “Storm,” she moaned. Her energy had been depleted, when she took the demon in. She

could hear her family discussing the incident and knew Storm sacrificed himself for her…So she

wouldn’t suffer. Storm took it upon himself to save them all and she promised herself she’d jump his shit later. For now, her body still burned from the violation and her stomach lurched.

Hours later, she woke from her sleep and immediately sat up. She felt relieved to see she was

surrounded by her family members. “Where’s Storm?”

Aunt Viola frowned and looked away.

“Aunt Viola, tell me!” Rose demanded. She cast a questioning gaze to the rest of her family

members.

“He banished the thing that possessed us,” Jesse said quietly, never taking his eyes from her.

“But it came with a price.”

“Saving me?” She gasped. “This must be some kind of horrible mistake. No. No No! Where

is he? Take me to him.” She clutched her chest, fearing the worse, but only could sense him

partially. A part of him was missing. Her voice quaked as she wept while Corey and Jesse took

her to her chambers.

When she entered their room, the stench of charcoal filled her nostrils and tears immediately

fell when she spotted him lying beneath the purple crushed velvet comforter.
“Storm.”
She gasped, immediately rushing by his side. “Storm, why did you do this? I’m so—sorry.” Rose held

her head down and wept.

“He carried the demon to the Netherworld, and then returned to us,” Corey’s voice was low,

and shook with emotion.

“He’d already shifted to human form when we found him on the grounds. His body was

severely scorched, we healed him as much as we could, Rose,” Jesse informed her.

Lowering over Storm’s body while releasing tears, she felt his pulse, but it was faint.

“Please, baby? Don’t do this to me.”

“Rose.” Viola entered the room, clutching The Book of Whispers against her bosom.

“Leave us,” Rose sounded out harshly, peering at them through her tears.

“Rose, there wasn’t anything anyone could do,” Corey told her softly. “We tried banishing

the demon, but Storm took over because he knew we’d all die, including you.”

Sobs shook her body. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing coming out. The stench of

death was near. Rose immediately knew her mate straddled this plane and the next. Sickened, she lay her head down on his chest, his heartbeat barely audible.

“Rose.”

She felt the mattress of the bed dip beneath her aunt’s weight. Viola gently rubbed her back,

and usually that soothed her, but not this time. It felt like her world had come to a thunderous halt.

“Rose.”

“It’s all my fault,” she admitted in a whisper. “I should have sent him away years ago.”

“Oh, don’t say that. Storm loves you,” Viola softly prompted. “Gentleman. Please wait

downstairs.”

She slowly sat up and Viola reached over, wiping the tears from her eyes. Emptiness filling

her, she was unable to escape and there was no spells to help to ease the pain of the impending loss.

“Don’t you do that.” Viola said. “Do you honestly think he’d want you to do this?”

“What? Mourn? How can I not? Didn’t you mourn the loss of Seneca?”

“I didn’t give up, Rose.” Viola’s tone sounded sharp. “In spite of the pain, I kept moving

forward. Damn, that was my baby girl, that demon took her from me.”

“It should have been me!” Rose cried out. “In both instances, I should have died instead of

Seneca. I’m the one who should be lying where Storm is now.” She began sobbing. Her wails of

agony pierced her own ears. Her head throbbed and her heart, once filled with love, shattered

each time she laid eyes on her mate.

“Come here, child, let it all out.” Violet reached over and grabbed her, holding her tight and

rocking her just as she had when Rose was a child. “It’s okay, it’ll be all right. I promise you.”

After about half an hour, Rose sat staring across the room as Viola prepared tea for them.

“This isn’t over,” Viola stated.

Rose gazed down at him, brushing wisps of hair from his cheek. “He should be fighting his

way back to me, right?” She placed a hand on Storm’s forehead, hoping to see whatever it was he saw. She peered up at Violet, hopeful. “Why can’t I read him?”

“Perhaps you’re not meant to. He took the demon to the Netherworld. The price was costly

for it to remain down there. He escaped in the flesh, but spiritually—”

“They’re fighting for his spirit.” Rose trembled.

“And if I know Storm, he’s putting up one hell of a fight.” Viola summoned half a smile, but

not for long. Reaching over, she laid a hand on his forearm. “Storm, baby. Come back to us.”

“What if I went after him?”

“No.”

“Yes. I can do it.”

“But, you may never return. The Netherworld is dangerous enough for a raven to enter, but a

witch? A McQueen witch at that?” She shook her head. “It would be suicide and Storm would

come after me with everything he has.” Viola laid the book on the table. It immediately flew

open. “Look and listen.”

Rose observed the aged pages, and paused several moments, listening to the faint voices of

their ancestors. Gathering her wits about her, she watched as the pictures began to move, forming their own story.

The older woman shifted her gaze to Rose. “What you and Storm are going through is no

coincidence. You’re being tested.”

Roes couldn’t believe her eyes. “Our ancestors are preparing me for what’s to come.”

Viola patted her on the back. “Exactly, chickadee. If you and Storm can overcome this,

you’ll be able to move mountains in the future. Several more days until the Blood Moon runs its course, and we’ll all be in the clear. Just don’t give in, baby. Just relax, focus and let the power do the rest.”

“Oh, Aunt Viola.”

“Hush now. I know what you’re going to say. I’ve lived a long, fruitful life. It’s your turn to take the helm.”

“Okay.” Rose laid her hand over the book, sifting through several pages.

“What are they saying to you?”

“He needs to be protected while in the Netherworld.” Rapid-like, she rose to her feet. She

opened the large cabinet adjacent from the bed and retrieved two large white candles, then lit

them.

Next, she retrieved Asafetida, crushed and burned the herb on a silver plate while Viola

watched on. Finally, after chanting over the contents, Rose brought the remnants over to her aunt.

“This needs to be blessed by an Elder.”

Viola waved her hand over the plate and as she blessed the herb, a rumble sounded beneath

them, making the room shake. “It is done.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Rose pinched the remnants between her fingers and sprinkled it

around the bed to form a protective circle. When she’d completed everything, she watched Storm, looking for signs of movement, but there were none.

“He’ll be okay, I promise.” Viola picked up the book. “Now, we must focus on the other

tasks at hand downstairs.” Viola coaxed as she walked to the double doors. “And you must be

strong. The candles will light his journey to reveal an opening in which he can escape. They may even help him find distant ancestors.”

Biting her lip, Rose said a brief prayer. “I love you, Storm.” With that, she joined Viola and

they walked downstairs. “We only have a small opening around nightfall to get these things out

of town for good. The ancestors spoke to me, and they were very strong, but after that, my

powers will cease tremendously, until The Heightening. I know now how to defeat them.”

“How?” Viola asked.

“I’ll need Clara’s athame in the witch room. If we perform a revealing spell, it will turn them into flesh, and only then we can kill them using it.”

“That could pose a problem. We only have one and there are many of those things. What do

you suggest?” Viola asked with a smile.

The two women quickened their pace through the red-carpeted corridors on the second to the

lower level. With a wave of her hand, Rose opened the large oak double doors to the room. “We