When The Fur Flies (14 page)

“Forgive me,” Allison whispered brokenly against his chest. “I love her as a sister. She is needed here to keep the balance, to keep peace. I am nothing to anyone—” She gasped as he pushed her back to glare down into her face.

“You’re my mate! You are everything to me!”

She felt it then. His love was a powerful force driving the air from her lungs as she felt his fingers dig into her arms painfully. Her eyes burned as she stared up into his. There was not only anger reflecting from his beautiful blue eyes. There was a deep love, a need for her, and a fear of losing her. Alexa was a firm believer in the notion that a being’s eyes were the windows to its soul. Allison believed her as she clearly saw the beauty in the man before her. That she was tied to him body and soul made her proud. It also made her determined to protect him.

“You are a cruel, wonderful gift, Alpha Leclair. One I must regretfully let go.” Her fingers clenched in his shirt, denying her words as they clung to him.

“I won’t let you go anywhere without me.” Reginald’s fear hit her with a strength that left her breathless. She listened to the strong male voice in her mind with a sense of awe. It said he was Alpha. He could and would protect her with his life if necessary. “You will come to no harm as long as I breathe.” He swore with emotions shining in his loving eyes that were echoed by his silent pledge of devotion. Allison stood absorbing the warmth of his turbulent emotions. She basked in knowing he would give his very life for her, even as her heart bled with the agony of knowing she could never allow such a sacrifice.

“Don’t you see, Reginald? That is exactly why I have to do this.” She pushed him then. She put all her power into the motion and grabbed out at Alexa as she did so. She saw him hit the wall hard, regret making her wince as she grabbed on to her cousin’s arm. As she felt her magic pull her off her feet, someone grabbed her hair from behind. A terrified cry ripped through the air.

Chapter Eleven

“You shouldn’t be here.” Allison held her new mother’s pale hand as the woman’s blue eyes, so like Reginald’s, blinked up at her. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I’ve tangled with a bull.” Yasmina sat up straighter as she looked around her. Her nose wrinkled at the unpleasant smell of sulfur. “Where are we? What’s that awful stink? Am I in hell?”

“Hell? Not yet, but we could be headed there after this visit. I’m afraid that is the smell of the Earth. Deep Earth.” Alexa spoke softly as she popped a Tums in her mouth. “I bet your higher sense of smell isn’t such a gift right now.”

“You have no idea.” Allison hissed at her cousin as she knelt by her mate’s mother. “What’s with the Tums, Alexa? Aren’t you feeling well?”

“Trying to keep you out of trouble for more than a day would give anyone ulcers, little brat.” Alexa wiped at the dirt streaks on her skirt as she looked around at the darkened cave they had landed in. Allison knew she was listening for sounds of movement above them. She couldn’t hear any movement, meaning they weren’t disturbing any bats. They were a lot deeper in Mother Earth than Alexa would feel comfortable with. After her testing, Alexa was a bit weary of small, dark places.

“I think a little light will help to find our way.” Alexa bent to pick up a handful of dirt, stood, and blew it from her palm. Little bright balls of light burst into life and flew around their heads. “Good, no bats. No bats, no Vampires either. Shall we?” She smiled as she offered a hand to Yasmina who was scowling up at the Keeper darkly.

“Do you think you can walk, Yasmina? We have an hour’s walk from here.” Allison didn’t like the pale cheeks that spoke of the stress Yasmina was experiencing. She never would have brought her along. A trip to the Three Sisters was dangerous and taxing on the body and mind. She hoped the older woman was up to the challenge because they weren’t going back until they saw Elaina Dunt.

“What’s with the ‘Yasmina’ all of a sudden? Am I not still the mother of your mate, Allison?” Yasmina lifted her dark head as she pushed a silver strand of hair back behind her ear. Though her voice was strong, her hand shook.

“Yes, of course...” Allison shrank before the cold blue censure directed at her.

“Then you shall call me ‘Mother.’” Yasmina took Alexa’s offered hand and got unsteadily to her feet. She swiped at her skirts in agitation.

“I’m sorry, Mother. I just thought since I...” Her eyes burned, and her throat clogged as she dropped her eyes to the dirt below her bare feet. She felt bereaved without his scent swirling around her. After pushing him away, she would be lucky if he even looked at her next time they met, if they met once more. What had she done?

“You thought since you denied Reginald’s will that he would release you from this mating? Silly girl. My son will not quietly let you go, even with death. Yes, I know him well. I raised him, after all.” She slid a hand under Allison’s chin and gently raised her head. “He loves you, nothing changes that. Not even your denial of his claim. He will not sit by and lose you, Allison. Now, shall we finish this journey and see where fate ends and where love begins?”

“I quite like you, Yasmina.” Alexa turned on her heel as her floating lights led them down the narrow pathway into the dark tunnel.

“The heat down here is as bad as the smell of the place.” Yasmina took off her shawl to wipe at her wet face.

“We’re almost there.” Allison knew exactly how she felt. Never had she experienced a heat so suffocating and hot. The tunnel was getting too narrow, forcing them to walk in single file. “I should warn you before we go too far. There are things you should both know about the Three Sisters. One, they aren’t old hags as the old stories told us. They are images of the three forms of the Goddess.”

“The maiden, the mother, and the crone?” Alexa’s question echoed back to her.

“Yes. They are all breathtakingly beautiful, but do not look at them for too long. Their eyes are hollow.”

“Hollow?” Yasmina turned to look at her over her shoulder. Allison smiled because her own reaction to their eyes had been just as shocked.

“Hollow like endless tunnels. You don’t want to seem rude by studying them, but it is hard to stop doing it. The Sisters tend to be a little sensitive about it. I can relate better to them, now.” The change in her own eyes sadly gave her insight into how they felt.

“Don’t be self-conscious of your beautiful eyes, Allison. They have the moon shining out of your sweet, strong soul.” Alexa grunted as she dropped down in front of Yasmina.

“She’s right. I think they make you special. And they can intimidate your enemies if you use them right. Wolven like to use their gifts to their advantage whenever it becomes necessary.” Yasmina followed Alexa to her knees.

“I feel like a freak. I’m just saying, be careful how long you look at them. We don’t want to upset the Three Sisters. You don’t want that kind of enemy,” Allison warned as she bent to get down on her knees as the tunnel suddenly shrank to only allow a small woman to crawl through it. “I hope you aren’t claustrophobic.” She spoke to Yasmina’s rear as they crawled through the dirt.

“I’m a Wolf, honey. We like small dark places.” Yasmina laughed softly ahead of her. “No wonder only women can visit the Three Sisters. A man would get stuck in here pretty fast.”

“Your men would for sure,” Alexa commented from up ahead. “I highly doubt a Vampire would fit in here, but maybe a small human male could do it.”

“Humans would never be allowed this far.” Allison brushed a sweaty hunk of hair off her cheek. “The Three Sisters have a love-hate relationship with men. They came here as a way to get away from humans to protect themselves from the male’s prejudice and lust. According to the texts I deciphered, the Sisters were involved with one male of each species. The youngest, Elea, who took the form of the maiden, fell in love with a Wolven. Gretna, the middle sister, took the form of the expectant mother. She set her heart on a strong male Witch. Truell, the crone and eldest of the three, found love with one of the very first Vampires in existence. The story was very short on details, but from what I gathered, the males could not live together, so different were their attitudes and personalities. Their bickering and fighting forced the Sisters to fight among themselves, leaving their responsibilities as Guardians of the Fates completely at the mercy of the humans. It is said that this is how the humans took control of the world, leaving all others, including the three species, to hide for their survival. Realizing that their love of these males caused such havoc, the Three Sisters cast them away to hide deep within their Mother Earth’s belly.”

“That must have been a very hard sacrifice for the Three Sisters. No wonder they hide from all men. Do you think that might be why all three species have hated one another?” Yasmina’s voice resonated with her feeling of awe.

“It makes a lot of sense. Especially when you take into consideration the fact that joining forces between the three species would more than ensure their survival against the weaker humans who control the world.”

“There must be a balance to all things, Allison. As powerful as our species are the Earth might not fare so well if a war were to break out between those who have magic and those who have guns and bombs. No one would win.” Alexa stopped suddenly. “There’s light up ahead of me.”

“I guess we are there. Remember, no gawking at their eyes.” Allison blinked rapidly as her eyes adjusted to the light from the outer chamber of the sister’s home. She stretched her muscles as she stood up next to Yasmina, who was rubbing at her sore back.

“You know, Alley Cat, it just occurred to me that I never asked. How did you find the Three Sisters? Few know the myths surrounding them, and no one has ever seen them. They are a myth lost in the teachings of our ancestors.” Alexa’s tiny lights burned brighter as they buzzed around the women quietly.

“I can tell you, but you’re not going to like it.”

“Allison Carver—”

“I happened upon a passage in one of the lost scrolls kept in the Coven’s library. It took me forever to decipher the ancient text, but I had a breakthrough the night you told me about Elaina Dunt. I couldn’t sit idle, knowing her life would be drained by the Elder. She didn’t stand a chance unless I could protect her after I freed her. There wasn’t a safe enough place on Earth for her.”

“You did realize you wouldn’t be safe, either?” Yasmina’s breath caught at Allison’s quick shrug of her shoulder. “Allison! You foolish, foolish, brave girl!”

“I didn’t have anything to lose. So, I studied the texts until my eyes wanted to cross. Finally, it was like unraveling a quilt one string pull at a time. It is an intricate spell with many parts, but once you accomplish it, you have easy access to the tunnel forever after.”

“What were you doing in the library? You have never been one to do much studying of the old ways before.” Alexa placed her hands on her narrow waist as she stared around the small cavern they were standing in.

“I was looking for something else, but”—Allison shrugged a shoulder—”I didn’t find it in time.” Alexa inhaled sharply as she turned to eye her cousin.

“You were trying to find a way to save me from the tests. Oh, Goddess!” Her hands slapped together with her anxiety. “Allison, my fate was sealed years ago. You took so many chances—”

“They nearly killed you!” Allison grasped Alexa’s hands in her own. “I would have done anything to keep you from that pain and anguish. I didn’t find the spell in time to save you, but I would have gladly bargained my life with them.”

“They wouldn’t have allowed you to come here. You weren’t meant to interfere with my testing. You are a silly, stupid, sweet brat!” Alexa laughed as she pulled her cousin in for a tight hug. “Thank you, Alley Cat.” She pulled back to wipe a tear from one of Allison’s eyes. “You know, the Sisters might just find it hard not to gawk at your eyes, now.”

“Thanks.” Allison turned with a half-smile to catch her new mother watching them with curiosity.

“No wonder my son was drawn to you, Allison. There’s a strength and courage within you, bound tight with love. You will make a fine Alphina and an even better mate to my son.”

“Thank you.” Allison dropped her eyes, feeling a little self-conscious. “I wasn’t able to garner their aid to help Alexa, so when I heard about Elaina’s wedding, I felt it wasn’t to be her choice. I had to act. I knew that stumbling upon the enchantment to the Sister’s lair had to be for a reason. So, here we are standing in what they call the Mother’s Womb.” The antechamber did resemble a womb with the heat and the round, comforting walls. “The only problem now is we need an invite from them.”

“Yes.” Alexa pulled the small athame she kept strapped to her right leg. Before Allison could protest she sliced a deep cut into her own palm and held her hand out before her. The blood ran freely between her clenched fingers, but instead of falling to the dirt below the droplets floated upward to the ceiling. Her blood expanded as it ran around the ceiling, illuminated by the tiny floating light orbs. The figure of a pentagram formed with her blood, then flashed to disappear.

“You should have let me, Alexa. They know my business here, but now they will want to know yours. They like to bargain with our free will.” Allison sensed something awful as her cousin’s head turned. The deep green eyes held a secret. “Alexa, what—”

The world shifted as they fell down into the Earth, landing on their knees hard before the three Sisters of Fate. Allison grabbed Yasmina’s arm as the woman attempted to stand up. “Remain as you are,” she whispered quickly. “Eyes down.”

“You return to us, Alice.” Allison nodded her head with a smile. The sister who led the three was named Truell. She insisted on calling her Alice after the girl who fell down a hole following a white rabbit. Allison didn’t object to the name, as the similarities between her and the fictional character were uncanny. Besides, one did not argue with a being older than all of the immortals put together.

“I beg your pardon and understanding, Sisters. I would not have come if there wasn’t a great need to—”

“We know of your need, Alice. Elaina Dunt has been sent for. She will be here soon. In the meantime, you must come join us for tea.”