Sorcerer: Betrayal: Power of Air (Book 4) (5 page)

Thursday, June 9
^th
, 2016, 2:16 PM

“
Why are we here Ben?”
Aitheria asked softly.

Her hand caressed my cheek gently as she stood on my
shoulder.  It felt like a warm caring breeze.

“Ria.  I killed her.  I’ve killed before, self-defense,
protecting others.  But this… I don’t know what to do with this.  I should
have…”

Aitheria sent, “
It isn’t your fault.  It wasn’t her fault
either.  The guilty parties are already dead, by your will and magic.  Why are
we here?”

I sighed, and looked around my apartment.  It already looked
dusty.  I’d meant to go back to the pack house, but a part of me didn’t.  So I
ended up here. 

“Do you suppose she is with him now… her mate that died so
long ago?”

Aitheria didn’t have an answer, though I really didn’t
expect one.

I finally answered her question, “The pack is throwing a
barbeque, remember?  I just didn’t want to ruin things and bring everyone
down.  The truth is I’m not entirely sure why.  We’ll go soon.”

Aitheria was silent, but she was still a comfort.  I hadn’t
lost anyone I really cared about since my mother.  I considered using my fire
magic to suppress my emotions, but knew that would be a bad idea and cause more
harm in the long run.  Finally, I said out loud what I was thinking.

“She knew Ria.  She knew me, and she knew what I would do. 
She didn’t ignore my warning not to touch, she counted on it.  She… it was her
choice.  It was the only way she could follow the council’s orders, and save me
at the same time.  Why didn’t I see that before, why didn’t I look?”

Aitheria sent in a whisper, “
Because you’d have never
done what the council did.  Using a woman to kill the man she loves, because
she is oath bound.  It never would’ve even entered your mind to use someone in
such a foul way, not even as a jest.
”

I stayed in the apartment for an hour, and let my grief run,
and took comfort from my oldest companion Ria.  It was hardly enough, and it
would be a while before I was back to being myself, but eventually I had to
pull myself together, and get home.  I knew the pack had worked a half day
today after laying a foundation.  Most of the pack would be there already,
including Sierra.

I pulled the power from the air around me and had it take me
home, this time to my new home where I belonged.

It seemed as if I couldn’t do anything right today. 

As soon as I appeared in the yard, I was swarmed by the pack
who gave me supporting and comforting looks, touches, and hugs.  Even Carrie
who was still wary of men outside of her mate gave me a tight hug.  It hadn’t
even occurred to me until now that the pack would feel my emotional state over
the bond.  I should have blocked it, or at least, muted it.

No one asked me what happened, but I could see the question
in all of their eyes as I looked around.  Then my thoughts stuttered as I saw
Aiya there as well, looking at me worriedly while holding Todd’s hand.  I
almost smiled, guess it was getting serious.  How the hell could I tell them
now, with a human here?  On the other hand, I considered bitterly, who gives a
shit?  It wasn’t like the council was going to stop me now.

“Diana, Alexios, and Charis are dead.  I won’t know more
about how it will all shake out until I speak to Ceara again tomorrow.”

There were several pairs of wide eyes, and a few worried
looks exchanged.  I expanded on that, probably a little numb sounding, with
just the facts of what happened.  I didn’t mention supernatural races, or the
council, because everyone already knew all that except Aiya. 

When I finished, Sierra took me over to the table and sat on
my lap while the rest of the pack followed us.  Only Derik and Gerald left the
group to check on the food.  It almost made me smile, even if it was the world
ending, which it wasn’t, the werewolves wouldn’t let good food burn.

Sierra asked, “Are you alright?”

After some thought I answered, “I will be.  I’m sorry if I
worried everyone, I should have come straight back.”

And I would be, okay I mean.  If the horrific loss of my
past taught me anything it was that life had to go on.  It wouldn’t be today,
or anytime soon, but it would happen.  Slowly, the pack broke up in twos and
threes, though Sierra, Suzy, Todd, and Aiya stayed at the table.  There were a
million questions in Aiya’s eyes.

Aiya asked, “Who are Charis and Alexios, and is that the
same Diana that…” she trailed off.

I was about to offer her the same deal I made with Mike, but
screw it.  I trusted her, I’ve always trusted Aiya and knew she wouldn’t betray
me.  The only thing that had held me back at all was the council, and again,
not anymore.

“Charis and Alexios were vampires over two thousand years
old, they ruled Chicago’s supernatural world to a limited extent, and were two
of the three rulers over the entire vampire race.  Yes, the same Diana we saved
when we first met, at the bar.  She was a vampire too.”

Todd ogled at me like I’d broken the law or something,
Sierra just looked resigned.  I heard a laugh from across the yard and to be
honest it was a relief.  I wasn’t ready to join in on any fun, but I didn’t
want to drag the pack party down into some kind of group mourning exercise. 
Sierra looked torn, I knew she didn’t care for Diana at all, but at the same
time she was trying to be sensitive about it.

Aiya laughed nervously, “Vampires?” she asked half in
disbelief.

I nodded, “But you know.  Real ones, not Hollywood.  They
have heartbeats, they’re alive, and they can walk in the sun.  They eat, drink,
and all that.  The only thing Hollywood got right was they drink blood on
occasion, and are faster, stronger, and more resilient.”

Aiya asked, “And you’re telling me this now because?”

I shrugged, “Because I killed the ones that set the rules,
and I trust you.  I don’t have to worry about them hurting you anymore.”

Aiya turned to Todd, “So, what are you guys then?”

Todd looked flustered, and a bit scared.  I bit down a
hysterical laugh.  I half expected Aiya already knew what they were since she
was here, the pack would be shifting after eating for a run, so how had Todd
been planning to deal with that?  Maybe I had thrown a wrench into his plan.

Derik said just loud enough to be heard by everyone,
“Burgers and Bratwurst are ready.”

I joked, “Saved by the dinner bell,” and Todd glared at me.

I shrugged, “I won’t tell if you will, I assume you had a
plan for later on?”

Todd nodded and we dropped it. 

Aiya looked a bit curiously at me, as Todd, Sierra, and Suzy
went to load up on food.

I blurted, “There are witches too.  If you want me to shut
up, just tell me.  I think today’s events has ripped my filters off, mostly the
give a crap filter.”

Aiya narrowed her eyes, “It wasn’t your fault.  They tried
to kill you.  What I’m having a hard time accepting is that you can kill
two-thousand-year-old vampires.  Umm, wiccan creed witches, or wicked witch of
the west witches.”

“Both.  Although none of the latter live here in Chicago. 
We call them light and dark, though the light ones aren’t quite as nice as
Glenda.”

My last thought as I slipped into another damned vision was
what the hell now.  I also tried to keep my fire elemental ability out of it,
but failed miserably.

I am Zale.  All eyes of the court were on me as I entered
and moved up in front of my lord.  I ignored them, as they were beneath me, all
except the highest guardians.  Yet, I was wise enough to contain my energy
fully here in this place, it wouldn’t be the course of wisdom to chance
offending my master.

He looked down on me.  His power was on display, and I
could feel it pressing against my energy, a warning to keep my place, and a
demonstration of his power that I’m sure the whole court would feel.

“What have you learned?”

I pulled my energy together even tighter, “Nothing I can
verify, but there are rumors of an exceptionally powerful but inexperienced
sorcerer of both fire and air in Chicago making quite a name for himself.  The
fact that I can’t pull the knowledge of this, be it to verify it correct or
incorrect, lends some credence that it could be our enemy.”

My lord stormed, “If so he is a fool.  Go there, find the
truth with your own eyes if the ether will not bend to your will.”

I felt a moment of doubt, surely my lord was powerful
enough to pierce the veil over this knowledge, “Can you not simply check?”

I knew it was a stupid mistake as soon as the words left
my mouth.

My lord sent out an angry vortex that caused me to cry
out in pain, it was ripping my body apart.  A moment before I would have
expired, the storm settled and I pulled together the tattered edges of my
spirit.

“Fool, yes I could, but that might tip off Liantherius
that we are close.  Do not question me again,” another blast of elemental air
kicked me out of the court, and through several dimensions.

If I’d had a head, I would have shaken it.  As it was, my
entire being shook with fear, I got my bearings and headed for the mortal
world, and Chicago…

Judging by Aiya’s face, I’d been out of it for less than a
second.  It took me a minute to remember her other question.

I frowned, not sure how to answer it, and then I felt
Sierra’s hand on my shoulder.

“He’s too humble to answer that question.  Sorcerers are the
apex supernatural race.  Us lesser races tell our kids the sorcerers will get
them if they’re bad.  That’s why the council tried to kill him, they never
bothered looking past what he was, to who he was.”

I snorted and leaned my head back to look up at her, and she
surprised me with a soft kiss.

Aiya nodded in understanding, “He talks softly but carries a
big stick, that explains a lot.”

Sierra grinned, “Almost. 
We
carry big sticks.  He
carries a thermonuclear device.”

Aiya snorted and got up, “Us humans need food too, be right
back.”

I turned my head as Sierra sat in my lap, and when I went to
talk she fed me a piece of bratwurst with an impudent grin.  I returned her
smile as love filled my heart, I couldn’t help it, and felt a surge of guilt
for doing so.  Diana was dead not more than two hours.

As I chewed dutifully, I sent, “
Ria, I had a vision.  Not
about a human, it was an air elemental named Zale.  He is coming here to look
for me physically, since he’s too weak to pierce your protections.
”

Aitheria sent, “
Show me.
”

At first I wasn’t sure how, but I knew we were bound
together in some way, and when I reached for her it was almost too easy, and it
felt comfortable as I entered her mind.  I couldn’t read everything, just the
surface thoughts, but I was welcomed there with a mental embrace.  After that,
it was easy, I just replayed the memory.

Aitheria sent, “
I’ll be on the lookout for him.”

I swallowed and sent, “
Ria, how do I have elemental
enemies when I’m human, and what is an elemental court?
”

I was a bit frustrated already, because I knew she wouldn’t
answer.  I felt her silent apology, and I retreated from her mind.  I actually
felt guilty for asking, I knew she cared about me but still couldn’t answer.  I
tried to reach for that answer, but nothing came to me.  Maybe I was powerful
enough to see Zale, but the information about the court was protected by the
lord?  Who knew, it was just a guess but probably right.

Another question I had, who the hell was Liantherius, and
was he in my side?  Was he maybe Aitheria’s lord, the one that sent her to
protect me?  I wasn’t sure, but again it made sense.  Zale, and it seemed even
Zale’s lord, feared and hated Liantherius.  I could feel it when the name was
spoken.

My last worry was I was getting too visible now.  The
unnamed elemental lord of air said I was stupid for standing out.  But really I
didn’t know what else I could have done besides flee the city, and while I
needed to keep a low profile that would have put my friends and family in
danger.  One more thing to lay at the council’s feet.  I would take
responsibility for my choice, but they were the ones that forced me to take
action.

Too many things were happening at once, and I was having a
hard time keeping two conversations straight while only being half here anyway
due to what happened earlier.  I decided I could talk to Aitheria more later,
though I wasn’t sure if there was a point.

Sierra and I were feeding each other from the same plate
when the rest of them got back to the table.  The conversation moved to more
day to day things, and I slowly relaxed.  I was still hurting, but the pack, my
mate, and the pack ally bond all soothed me to a certain extent.  Of course,
Aitheria was part of that too, and her comforting presence didn’t leave my
side.

When we finished eating, Todd turned to Aiya a little
nervously.

“I thought the best way to tell you was to show you.”

I could see the confusion on Aiya’s face when they all got
up and walked into the yard, leaving the two of us alone.  I almost laughed at
the shocked confusion, when they all started to strip.  Apparently she wasn’t
as shy as I was, because she didn’t look away, and when they changed her eyes
grew wide, and her voice squeaked.  Then the pack raced out of the back yard
and into the woods.

“Are you okay?”

Slowly, she turned to me, “Umm, werewolves?”

I nodded, “Yes.  Born only, can shift anytime.”

“Born only?”

I shrugged, “Unlike the movies, you can’t catch it from a
bite, it’s not a disease.  They’re a supernatural race, with magic to change
their shape.”