Underworld Queen (21 page)

“We didn’t want to get you further involved,” Jonas started. “But now I think that is out of the question. We all are involved. Just a matter of how much and when.”

Understatement of the century.
Carl wasn’t sure just what kind of involvement he had gotten himself into, but he wasn’t feeling good about it.

Face it, Carl. You’re fucked. Any way you look at it, you’re royally fucked.

He earned another glare from Molly. This one didn’t hurt so bad. He was rather getting used to it.

“Well, is it me, or does anybody else think we don’t have a prayer?” Carl shocked himself with the comment. While he looked at the somber faces in front of him, he was glad he didn’t have their level of knowledge about things dark and things magical. This time, he decided, it was better to be somewhat ignorant. He was the only pure human in the room, and he was glad of it.

Jonas leaned forward, clasping his hands together, forearms resting over his knees. “Molly, I need some information on how we deal with Audray’s condition.” He leaned around and touched Audray’s knee and smiled. “About her pregnancy,” he said as he turned and bored his black eyes into Molly’s.

Molly raised herself a bit, as if Jonas stirred something inside her. Carl at first took it for some sort of sexual electricity, but then he saw a genuine care and concern for the huge dark angel and his consort. It looked like she had been called, despite probable danger to herself and those she loved.

That would be me. Please let it be me she cares about.

Molly nodded her head without looking at him, with a hint of a pouty smile. It was a gesture only the two of them understood. He was relieved to understand Jonas could not read her thoughts. It looked like she couldn’t read his as well.

“It is true, Jonas, I am a light witch. But I am young, only barely finished my apprenticeship. I have not had all the schooling I am to have before I am fully functional, and the peak of my power won’t occur for a few years.” She bit her lower lip, glancing up to Carl before she completed her thought. “I was sent to watch over Carl.”

No! This is not what I wanted to hear! Please!
He stood up, searching around the room as if he couldn’t find the front door.

Jonas was quick to grab him and force him to take a seat. “We have to have our wits about us, man. Where the hell are you going to go with that kind of information? It isn’t safe, don’t you understand?”

Molly stayed seated, gazing at the floor with her head cocked, as if she saw something there that interested her. Carl pushed down his frustration and part of his fear. He wasn’t sure whom he could really trust. And he didn’t care if Molly heard the thought.

“You can trust me, Carl.” Molly said it without a smile. “I don’t lie. Ever.” She gestured for Jonas to take his position next to Audray, and she resumed her story. “At first, the assignment was just to glimmer him a bit. That’s what we call it, “glimmering,” using our powers to cast an erotic spell. It won’t work unless the person is already halfway interested. It was to be a practice run.” She got up and crossed the room, looking out the windows to the street. “I soon learned my mentor suspected something was going on with Carl involving a dark witch, and she was testing me to see if I picked it up as well. When I told her about the interchange with Glenda and my suspicions, she confirmed my thoughts. But she was furious with me for revealing my powers to Carl, so furious that she forbade me to see him again.”

Carl felt pain with these words just as if he’d stuck his finger in a light socket.

“I’ve fallen in love with Carl.” She said it as she looked at him, and Carl saw all the softness and sincerity return to her face. “And I’ve disobeyed her, which could be a huge problem for me, for all of us. But I think I have a way to fix this. I need to bring you and Audray to see her, seek her counsel.”

She went to the kitchen, bringing both Carl and Jonas a steaming mug of coffee with cream.

“You think it’s safe, Molly?” Carl asked as he blew on his mug.

Jonas looked at his coffee and paused before he took a sip. Then he gulped it down.

“I wouldn’t suggest it otherwise,” Molly answered.

“When could we do this?” Jonas asked.

“I don’t see why we should delay any more than we already have. I need to tell all of you, regardless of what you have heard about us, we don’t like to see any of our kind interfering with immortals. It is expressly forbidden. The darks are supposed to honor the same code. It would take a lot even for a dark to cross that line. I’m guessing Glenda is not the real one in charge, that she is doing someone else’s bidding. Someone from the Underworld.”

“Catarina,” Jonas muttered.

“My mentor will not like this violation and wickedness, this diabolical plan. She’ll want to stop it, if she can.”

“And so you think your mentor might help us?” Audray whispered. Her eyes lit up, and Carl could see she had picked up hope.

Molly nodded her head. “She is very temperamental and elderly, not in the best of health. Let’s hope we find her on one of her good days.”

“Meaning she could do something to us. Would she harm the baby?” Jonas asked. “I want a straight answer or we’re not going.”

Molly chuckled, musing on an internal thought Carl wished he could read. “No, you and Audray and the baby have nothing to fear. The worst she will do for you is send you away.”

She paused before she looked up at Carl and smiled. Carl’s stomach dropped to his ankles. “If she’s grumpy, Carl might wind up spending the rest of his days as a frog, and I don’t mean a Frenchman.”

T
he little cabin
was obscured, covered in the largest grapevine Audray had ever seen. It gripped the boxlike dwelling with green tendrils, crisscrossing over windows that could barely be seen through the thick foliage. Audray knew if the house somehow exploded, its contents might be scrambled inside, but the structure would hold firm due to the vines. The plant appeared to have more strength than anything else around it, including forces of nature.

Still, she wasn’t afraid, her need for information was so great. Audray knew she would have to go back to the Underworld, if only to escape the clutches of the dark witch who had set her sights on Jonas. The thought of anyone else lying in his arms, whether he be forced or not, was so abhorrent Audray knew she would gladly kill or die to stop it. But now she carried his child, at least she felt it was his child, wondering if she would ever know for sure. She would not risk harm to her precious package, regardless, and knew she would have to make careful, calculated choices, controlling her hunger for revenge. She’d had a meal of it when she visited Burt just a few days ago so her urge was somewhat satisfied.

Glad I got that one out of the way.

Jonas rubbed the small of her back in response, as all four of them walked down the mossy brick path to the old witch’s front door. Even Audray would have to stoop to enter the low doorframe. The woman answering had a shock of white hair and was very frail, but her emerald green eyes were those of a young woman’s and sparkled with an unearthly enthusiasm.

“Drucilla, these are my friends,” Molly started. The old woman looked each one in the eyes as Molly introduced them, as if deciding whom she would allow to enter. “This is Carl.”

He reached over, bowing with respect, looking down as he extended his hand. “Nice to meet you,” he said to his feet.

Drucilla stepped forward at once and was not careful as she gripped his chin with her bony fingers, requiring him to make eye contact. “You spineless human males are all the same. Afraid to show her granny the face of the man who has kissed her granddaughter in places even she hasn’t seen.”

Audray felt Jonas’ chest rumble, stifling a chuckle. Knowing he found this funny lightened her mood and relaxed her.

“Sorry.” Carl looked at Molly and shrugged. But no one moved. Audray was sure a threshold had to be crossed, a test had to be passed. Carl’s acceptance in the circle was at stake. Fumbling, he knelt on one knee, which also released the hold Drucilla had on his chin. “I am in love with Molly. With all my heart.” The last part he said with both palms pressed to his chest.

Molly looked close to tears. The old woman sized Carl up and down warily, and was about to say something when Carl interrupted.

“And this comes from deep inside my soul. It is not from the glimmer.” His eyes bored into the old woman’s and at long last, she smiled, revealing that several of her teeth were missing.

“It matters not. It’s been a long time since someone with so much sexual energy knelt at my feet, and for that, I thank you.” She patted the top of his head, and Carl stood back up.

Drucilla turned her gaze onto Jonas. “And you are the hunk dark angel.”

Audray squeezed Jonas’ hand. She didn’t like the tone, the liberty the old woman took, being too loose with her comments. Jonas squeezed her hand back, but did not look into Audray’s eyes. He kept his gaze on the old witch.

“This is Jonas Starling, Grandmother.”

Drucilla stepped very close to Jonas, having to look up with difficulty into his dark eyes. Audray could feel an electrical connection between the two of them, as if Drucilla were measuring something.

“Lovely. Simply lovely.” Drucilla smiled at Audray, “He even warms my bones, and God knows it’s been decades.” She took the hand Jonas had been holding with Audray, separating them. She put his palm to her cheek and smiled. “In the old days, I’d have taken him for my own, if I could get him. Welcome, Blackbird.”

Audray felt Jonas flinch at the name she called him. She knew it had some significance.

Drucilla placed Jonas’ hand back with Audray’s and squeezed. “So your union is fruitful, I see.” She smiled as she stepped in front of Audray, putting both her hands on Audray’s cheeks.

Drucilla closed her eyes and inhaled. “Ah, the smell of fresh life. It grows strong and healthy.” When she opened her eyes and removed her palms, a little jolt went through her body. “Oh my!”

“What is it grandmother?” Molly said, suddenly alarmed.

“The babe talks to me.”

Audray was dumbstruck. She and Jonas gazed in shocked silence at each other. Deciding it was probably a good sign, they both smiled and then hugged. Jonas whispered, “Thank God, the child is healthy.”

Audray was dying to ask a question. “What did the baby tell you?”

“Well, this is just splendid. I’d thought I’d seen, or felt, it all. The babe asked me whether it should be a boy or a girl. It hasn’t made up its mind. It can choose!”

“That’s incredible,” Molly offered. Carl was speechless. Jonas was tense.

“And what advice did you give my child?” His brow furrowed, his voice deepened. His breathing was irregular and raspy. Audray’s hand was caught in a vice grip with his, cutting off circulation.

Our child. Our child, Jonas.

Jonas relaxed but his focus was intent on getting an answer from the old witch.

“Never fear, sir. I don’t meddle with the affairs of immortals.”

“My child will be immortal?” Jonas asked.

“Not sure,” Drucilla said as she shrugged. “This I cannot tell.” She stepped back and addressed the whole group. “But I told it to let nature take its course. I said it wasn’t a decision any of us should make. I said to let Father decide.” She scanned her audience. “You all seem surprised with this.” She smiled and inhaled. “You have to know about the rules before you decide which ones to bend. But I don’t break them. Your child simply asked a question that was above my pay grade. Unusual for one so small to have such power, though, isn’t it? A really very exciting development, don’t you all agree?”

Audray rubbed her belly, giving silent love thoughts, showering the baby with the goodness in her soul, which was growing each day, mirroring the growth of the baby.

I am changing too, young one. I never thought I could love another as much as I love your father, and my heart is expanding to love you both. But you are flesh and blood. You are the best part of both of us. Be strong, and know you are adored.

Jonas squeezed her, pulling her body into the delicious muscles of his. Audray felt safe and protected in his arms. His strength allowed her softness to take root and grow unbridled. It had never been anything she had wanted before. But now it was something she could not live without.

“Come, come. Let’s go inside and have a spot of tea!” Drucilla clapped her hands in mirth, waddling into the tiny cabin as her guests ducked and followed her.

Inside, it was lighter than Audray would have expected. Skylights that opened let in plenty of fresh air and wonderful late morning light, filtered through the green grape leaves that seemed to turn and grow as she watched them.

Everything around her seemed alive. Drucilla had a pair of small green parrots. A mouse ran across the floor, Drucilla chasing it with a gnarled broom. “Know your place, Tabitha. You will get your introduction soon enough,” she spoke to the mouse, who squeaked a response before making it to the safety of a wall hole. A large fluffy white cat was lounging on a brightly flowered overstuffed couch. He was unceremoniously shooed from the warm pillow with a stern incantation Audray didn’t understand.