Toil and Trouble (20 page)

“I trust nothing that comes out of your mouth, Sinjin. Everything you do and say arises from your own self interests.”

It was nearly our turn to go through the portal trees so Sinjin pulled the skeleton key from his pocket—the same one we’d used to enter the fairy village. I wondered silently if it was a universal key to all fairy villages but wasn’t about to ask. I was still too pissed off.

“Be that as it may, Pet, we have larger issues on which to focus.” Finally, he was thinking about the war. It was about damned time.

As he approached the tree, the key leapt from his hand and impaled itself into the bark, transforming the tree’s center into a semi-transparent cloud. Without waiting for Sinjin, I stepped through the portal. It took me a second to adjust to my surroundings once I was on the other side because as soon as I stepped through, I walked headlong into…Trent. I quickly stepped to the side but not before I saw his flirtatious smile, highlighted by a beam of moonlight.

“Sorry,” I muttered in my own voice, forgetting I was incognito. Not that it mattered because Trent clearly had no clue who I was—his eyes revealing no recognition. Instead, they consumed my face and body unapologetically. He was such a player—how had I never realized that before? Well, I guess I had realized it but dismissed the realization all the same. It was a mistake I’d never make again.

“No problem,” he said with a wolfish glint in his eye. The sound of an owl hooting overhead caught my attention. God, what I wouldn’t have done to switch places with it—to fly away and never look back. But, thoughts such as those were useless.

Trying to reassess my surroundings, I wasn’t able to take in much because the two lines of our legion began to move forward, so I followed. A road sign along the footpath grabbed my attention. It read “Clava Cairns”—something which was a bit difficult to make out in the dark, the clouds having obscured the milky glow of the moon. So, we were en route to the ancient burial site. A pang of fear accompanied the realization that we’d soon face Bella’s legion in a matter of seconds but I squelched it, knowing my fear would only be a liability now.

We trudged through a parking lot and continued following the road signs until the last one proclaimed “Balnuaran of Clava”. We’d reached our destination. The skeletal trees surrounding me dotted a verdant pasture peppered with standing stones, some of which were as tall as me and others even taller. What captured my attention, however, were three strangely circular stone erections. They appeared to be perfect circles comprised of hundreds or maybe thousands of water-worn pebbles, stones and boulders balanced one on top of another to form circles that were about three feet high and ten feet wide. The inside of the circle was empty—probably where the ancients had buried their kin. Two of the cairns had passageways allowing entry to the circles but one did not. Some of the larger boulders surrounding the cairns were etched with cup-like markings almost like ring indentations.

I ran my hand across one of the stones and felt a pulsating energy from deep within, as if the stone were alive. I could sense the stone’s longevity in endless years, rendering it timeless. This place had witnessed so much. As I explored the rough markings decorating it, I withdrew my hand, discouraging any visions. I needed to focus all my concentration on my survival.

I stopped short as the soldiers ahead of me came to a halt. I couldn’t see over their massive heights and was about to weave my way through to see what was happening but the icy clasp of fingers wrapping around my wrist stopped me. I turned to find Sinjin had caught up with me.

“Poppet, stay with me.”

I just nodded. Granted, I was still pissed off but it didn’t change the fact that I needed him. Having him by my side in battle was exactly where I wanted him. My chances of surviving this war had probably just risen.

“Remember your training,” Sinjin continued and his gravity concerned me.

“I will.” I sighed deeply and tried to subdue the fear that was beginning to spiral out of control. I had to keep my wits.

He studied me for a moment or two, without saying anything and then waded through the throng of soldiers, leading me by the hand. When we emerged from the crowd, my heart sunk as I watched Rand heading the legion and facing who else but Bella? She stood alone in powerfully confident defiance. She wore dark blue chinos and a forest green sweater with black boots. Her perfect figure combined with her long, massive mane of blackish-red hair arrested me. It seemed like the wind adored her, the way it breezed around her body, ruffling her hair and caressing her face.

“She is beautiful,” I whispered, startled by the sound of my own voice. She was more beautiful than I remembered.

Sinjin sneered derisively. “She is hideous.”

I stopped wasting my time on Bella’s appearance. Instead, I thought about the fact that she was unescorted. It surprised me because I expected her legion to flank her in the same way we supported Rand. Apprehension suddenly pounded through me and my heart began palpitating, echoing the anxiety that was making quick work of my stomach. It was enough for me to bend over and throw up. But, luckily for Sinjin who was standing beside me, I didn’t. Instead, I honed in on what she and Rand were saying.

“Do you accept our doctrine, Bella?” Rand called from his perch next to one of the ancient standing stones. His cadence was deep, strong and sure. Even with his back to me, I could tell he was tuned to Bella’s body language.

“I do,” she replied, with a voice equally unwavering and strong. Her confidence frightened me more than a room full of hungry vampires could have. Why was she agreeing to our terms so easily? Was it just for show? Did she know something we didn’t? Was her legion stronger than ours? I closed my eyes in the confusion of unanswerable questions. I started to hyperventilate, my breathing becoming harsh and irregular.

“Poppet,” Sinjin reassured me in a strong, even voice. “I am here. You have nothing to fear.”

I nodded, relishing the steadiness of his hand on my neck. I had to abandon my fear. I had to get through this.

“And do you still intend to wage war against us?” Rand demanded.

Bella didn’t even pause. “I do.” At her words, a circle of blue light surrounded her and Rand.

“What is that?” I asked.

“The magic seal,” Sinjin answered. “Binding the battle pact, ensuring neither side will attempt to break the battle bond. It is also a failsafe to ensure neither side…cheats.”

Hmm, well that was good to know. I returned my attention to the imge of Rand and Bella before me. Rand’s jaw tightened but he was quick to mask any anger.

“Very well. We shall meet you and your legion at Culloden.” As he turned to face his army, the sag of his shoulders revealed his weary resignation. Did he really think Bella would retreat from our declaration of war? I couldn’t imagine she would but who could say what went on in Rand’s head. I had no clue as to what the warlock was thinking, or planning. But, in that one moment of seeing him address his army, I felt incredible pride. Pride to know him and love him. Pride that he was so noble and honorable.

My adoring thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sounds of hollering. At first the sound seemed to be distant but the more I listened, the more the yelling surrounded us, almost as though it was coming from the trees. Rand’s face wore an expression of shock, no, anger. I rubbed the amber amulet around my neck and I prayed. Without knowing who or what I should pray to, I closed my eyes and prayed we would survive and that Bella’s forces would not be victorious.

“Bloody bitch,” Sinjin seethed, yanking me behind one of the freestanding boulders. He placed himself in front of me and stood, bracing himself as if for an attack.

“What’s…?” I started.

“Bella has ambushed us,” he said matter-of-factly, and no sooner had he announced it, then Bella’s soldiers emerged from the trees like ants defending their hole.

“Oh my God,” I whispered, frozen with fear. “How?” The magic of the battle pact should have ensured that Bella not pull a fast one, right? Wasn’t that what Sinjin had just said? Regardless, somehow Bella had broken it.

Our soldiers scattered. Some ran for cover in the trees while others hid behind the stones that stood among the cairns. In the frenzy of surprise and shock, I could think of nothing but Rand…praying he was prepared for whatever Bella was dishing out.

I scanned the horizon and couldn’t help my gaze as it transferred past Rand to the sight of fifty or so weres descending on the battle scene, led by Grimsley. And true to his word, his wolves attacked Bella’s soldiers and I couldn’t help but smile. But, smiling wasn’t going to help me kill Ryder and that’s what I intended to do.

“I can’t fight if I’m wedged between you and a rock,” I yelled, pushing against Sinjin.

“Stay where you are!” he hissed and pressed me against the rock.

I glanced to my right where hundreds of our legion met Bella’s, the sounds of screams, clanking of metal and bursting of magic interrupted the otherwise still night. Good thing we had a spell on the place so no humans could overhear or see what was really going on. To my left was empty forest—just the skeletal outline of trees. At the sound of hollering, I glanced forward and noticed three of Bella’s legion descending on Sinjin and me. Based on their auras, none of them were vamps. Maybe two weres and a witch? I couldn’t be sure—they were moving too fast.

“Crouch down!” Sinjin yelled and I did as I was told, leaning against the rock. “Dragos!” he screamed to the vampire who stood about thirty feet away. The younger vampire nodded and materialized directly beside Sinjin.

Our attackers were momentarily stunned by the appearance of Dragos but to their credit, did not allow their surprise to betray them. The two weres dropped to their knees, while their clothes shredded and fell off. Their muscles rippled as their skin turned into fur. Dragos leapt on one of them and managed to wrestle him to the ground, descending on him like a rabid dog. He ripped into the wolf’s throat with his fangs and reared up his head, fur and flesh hanging from his mouth. The wolf was very dead and lying on the ground, his blood moistening the earth.

The other wolf attacked Dragos from behind, knocking him onto the ground. He rolled over and I was unable to see what happened next since Sinjin suddenly appeared before me, taunting the last of the dreadful trio.

“Come, demon,” Sinjin seethed.

Demon? I’d never seen a demon before, though I knew they existed. I curiously observed the creature which appeared as human as I, yet there was something very primitive and bestial in him. His eyes and skin glowed a crimson flush. When he opened his mouth, teeth that had previously seemed human tapered into sharp points until it looked like the mouth of a shark.

It dropped to the ground and a long red tail unfurled from its backside. Its back arched to accommodate a now bulbous rib cage. With incredible speed, it ran at Sinjin but the vampire did not back down. He met the demon with the force of a tidal wave, bowling the creature over, onto the ground.

Sinjin pummeled the creature with such ferocity, it amazed me. But it didn’t even phase the demon which lashed out with its tail, on the end of which was a nasty barb. It caught Sinjin across his back, and I could see the blood gushing from the ragged wound. Sinjin winced at the pain but didn’t falter. Almost immediately the wound began mending, sowing itself together as if with invisible hands. Sinjin opened his mouth to reveal his fully extended fangs and ripped into the demon’s neck with a speed it never saw coming. And in that same critical moment, Sinjin wrapped his hands around the demon’s neck and snapped it.

The lifeless demon carcass fell to the ground as I glanced back at Sinjin. He was eyeing Dragos and the were in combat. Sinjin approached them, grabbed a fistful of were-fur and threw the hapless wolf into a nearby tree. I winced when I heard the sound of the wolf’s back breaking as it wrapped around the tree. Dragos stood up and semi-bowed with a nod of thanks to Sinjin. He walked over to the suffering wolf, leant down and with his fangs, eviscerated the wolf’s carotid.

My hands were shaking; I wasn’t prepared for this. My training with Sinjin had prepared me physically but not mentally nor emotionally. The horror of murder and death surrounded me—Underworld creatures tearing each other to raw flesh and bone. It was like watching the worst, goriest horror movie. But, the real horror was this wasn’t a movie.

“Love,” Sinjin materialized before me and offered his hand. I remained crouched behind the rock and made no motion to accept it.

“We must find better cover,” he continued.

It suddenly dawned on me that I was a coward. As our legion battled around me, many were dying. It wasn’t right for Sinjin to protect me and it wasn’t right for me to want his protection. I came here to fight and that’s what I’d do.

“Sinjin, I won’t go,” I started and stood up. “I’m here to fight.”

He shook his head. “I will not allow it.”

“Sinjin!” I screamed just as a vamp descended on him. Sinjin swiftly sidestepped the vamp, throwing him to the ground and jumped on him.

“Here!” I remembered the stake in the back of my pants and tossed it to him. Sinjin caught the stake and in one deft act, buried it to the hilt in the vampire’s chest. The vamp spontaneously turned into a pile of ash while a gentle breeze picked up his remains, littering them across the battlefield.

“I’m ready,” I said and I meant it. “I’m ready to fight.”