Bound In Blue: Book One Of The Sword Of Elements (17 page)

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

Terror presented itself in its usual cold white, but I wasn’t sure anymore that I could trust what I felt/saw. Ignoring it, I stuffed the crumpled up paper in my fist into the only place my costume would allow—my not-so ample cleavage. A couple of quick rips and the slits in my skirt opened up past my knees. Redcap’s smile had turned into a bit of a leer, but at least I could move freely.

Daley put his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Call Dad.” Tynan nodded and pulled out his phone.

Redcap seemed amused. “Good idea. I’d forgotten the bard has some expertise in canine matters.”

Peter walked back to us, never taking his eyes off the prowling shadows. “What’s a water-hound?”

“A very vicious creature,” Redcap replied.

“Like the Cŵn Annwn?”

Redcap shook his head. “No, nothing like. The hounds of Avalon are dangerous but noble creatures. The Dobhar-chú honor nothing. They kill for the joy of it. Dobhar-chú means water-hound, but they aren’t hounds at all. They’re monsters born in the depths of the sea, but as long as there’s enough water to keep their hides moist, they can make their nests almost anywhere.”

I thought of the wet carpet in the guesthouse and the small stream that ran on the edges of Windfield and behind the main house.

“The Dobhar-chú will study their prey and wait till they have the advantage. They probably followed you here in the hopes of taking you by surprise in the confusion and noise.” He ogled my body and his mouth twitched. “And when you’re hampered by that quite fetching outfit.”

I flushed and crossed my arms over my chest. “Why are they after me?”

Redcap shrugged. “Likely they’ve been conjured by someone to eliminate you.”

“Who?” He shrugged again.

Miko pointed. “That one’s bigger. It might be the leader.” I could see the shape of the creature, but nothing else.

“Can you do anything about its glamour?” Daley asked. Melusine stood close to him and she seemed more solid than before.

The fairy’s face was strained. “I’m trying to break through, but it’s hard.” She swayed again and then straightened her shoulders. There was a moment of change, as if the earth shrugged under my feet, and then everything looked subtly different. Miko had broken the Dobhar-chú’s glamour.

“Fairies are good for something,” she muttered as she fell to the ground.

“Miko!” Peter cried as he rushed to her and pulled her limp body into his arms. Her feathered headdress fell off and I could see the two small puncture wounds on the side of her neck and the thin stream of blood leaking from them. There was a hiss of indrawn breath—Daley’s—and my attention returned to the shadows.

But the shadows were gone. Instead, four enormous creatures stared at me.

Redcap whistled softly. “They hunt in mated pairs. Someone most certainly wants you dead to send two sets after you.”

I was almost submerged in a torrent of white fear. Redcap was right; they were nothing like the beautiful and terrifying Cŵn Annwn. The largest was as long as Tynan was tall. Dark and slimy, rotting seaweed was matted in its wet fur and its claws and teeth were yellow and dripping. The smell of dead fish made me want to gag.

“Dad’s on his way,” Tynan said.

Daley grunted. “I’m not sure he’ll get here in time. We’ll have to take care of this ourselves.”

Tynan hunched his shoulders. “I don’t have anything in me today.”

“You’re bigger and stronger than anyone else here except Peter. Stay between Rhi and the Dobhar-chú.”

I felt a flash of acid purple irritation; I didn’t need a six foot four babysitter. “Why don’t you just zap it?” I made a gesture to indicate throwing lighting.

“My abilities are limited inside. If I can lure them out. . .” He gasped and stared at my arm. Before I could react, he grabbed my wrist.

“Ow!” I cried as he twisted it to catch the light. The silver wheel charm dangling from the delicate chain sparkled with pale fire.

“Where did you get this?” His fingers dug into my flesh.

“You’re hurting me!” I tried to pull away and keep an eye on the Dobhar-chú at the same time, but Daley’s grip was unbreakable. Tynan and Peter watched us in confusion.

Redcap frowned and put his hand on Daley’s. “You’re hurting the girl. Let her go. Now!”

Daley was taller, but Redcap’s face was dangerous. Daley released me and I glared at him as I rubbed my bruised wrist.

Stepping between us, Redcap gave me a reassuring smile and took my hand gently to lift it back up to the light. “Is that what I think it is?” he murmured.

Daley answered him. “It is. I’ve been searching for it all my life! I would know it anywhere.”

Redcap raised an eyebrow at me. “Where
did
you find it?”

“Guys,” Peter interrupted, “I think we have more important things to worry about right now.”

I glanced over at the beasts; they were definitely closer.

“Actually,” Redcap replied, “this is indeed quite important ‘right now’.”

I was starting to panic and yellow fluorescence surged through me; the creatures were getting ready to pounce. “It’s Viviane’s. I found it with her things. Satisfied?”

“Yes, quite.” Before I could move, Redcap snapped the charm off the chain and presented it to Daley with a flourish. “Our Rhiannon may have found the Wheel of Taranis in Viviane’s jewelry box, but I believe it belongs to you.”

The moment Daley’s fingers touched it, the charm expanded until it was the size of a small shield. His hand fit around the edge and between two of the spokes as if it had been made for him.

Which I guess it probably was.

With a mighty heave, Daley threw it against the windows on the outside wall of the gym and they shattered. The scar on my wrist burned and I felt the wheel’s power as it soared into the sky, searching for thunder and lightning.

The Dobhar-chú attacked.

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

I was wrong about Melusine—the dragon hadn’t entirely subsided. As the Dobhar-chú leaped at us, Melusine swept shining claws across the closest one’s belly. It surged through her insubstantial form and collapsed on the ground with its guts spilling out. The ghost disappeared and the other Dobhar-chú skidded to a stop on the smooth gym floor.

The Wheel of Taranis whizzed through the air and returned to Daley’s hand like an electrified boomerang. Pointing it at one of the beasts, he gestured and lightning spun out of it and ripped a long gash along the creature’s back. Even though it was wounded, it never made a sound. Daley raised his arm to strike again, but the beast sprang and knocked him to the ground. The Wheel fell out of his hand and skidded across the floor.

Tynan struggled to pull the Dobhar-chú off his brother as Daley held its forelegs to keep the gnarled claws from slashing his chest. The third beast circled Peter who was still crouched beside Miko. Redcap used his own sharp nails to rake its flank while Peter punched it with his fists.

That left the last, the biggest, facing me. I had to keep my eyes open, but I tried to sense its essence. I almost had it and there was nothing pure about it—the Dobhar-chú’s colors were moldy and putrid—then it slipped away. I needed to get close enough to touch it. Wet eyes gleamed with intelligence and I knew it had orchestrated this moment, separating me from my friends to tear me apart.

Three howls pierced the air and the Dobhar-chú lifted its ugly, dripping head to look past us. A white form sped past me so fast that it was almost a blur. With a great leap, it launched itself at the monster. The two creatures—one black and one white—fought in frenzied motion and eerie silence. When my friends dispatched their own attackers and the beasts lay dead, they gathered beside me to watch.

“What is it?” Peter held Miko tenderly in his arms, but he still flanked me, ready to fight.

“It’s a Cŵn Annwn,” Redcap answered and then frowned, “only, somehow it’s not.”

The Cŵn Annwn was smaller and was losing the fight. Daley lifted the Wheel, but I put a hand on his arm to stop him—there was no way to strike one animal without hurting the other.

I shook off the static electricity that accompanied every contact with Daley. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t get close enough to touch the Dobhar-chú and take its power. The Cŵn Annwn would die and it would be my fault; I would never be able to hide from the shame of what I’d done to it.

Hiding—that was something I knew intimately. Closing my eyes, I conjured up Viviane’s voice.

Rhiannon, listen to me. We cannot be seen. Hide in the shadows and be still and silent.

The veil of blue mist that appeared in my mind had broken apart almost into nothingness. Acting on intuition, I searched among the orphaned remnants of color in my mind. Similar tones spoke of sadness and loss, but this one was very specific. I was about to give up when I sensed a small amount and called it to myself. With a thought, I added it to Viviane’s mist and repaired it. Giving it a mental push, I opened my eyes.

A substance like filmy cloth lay in my hands.

Redcap approached cautiously. “What is it
, mo leanabh
?”

“The spell Viviane used to hide me, but I’ve changed it a little.” Before he could question me further, I threw the veil of blue over the Dobhar-chú. 

Viviane used this to hide me from the world. Let’s see how you like being hidden from what you need to survive.

Slipping past the Cŵn Annwn, the color molded itself to the other creature’s skin. The hound of Avalon backed away, sides heaving, as the Dobhar-chú tried to claw the veil off. The spell was created by Viviane from her strengths—the hidden depths of water and the dark side of the moon. The Dobhar-chú needed water to survive, but with this spell, I was the master of water. I hid every cell of the creature from even the tiniest molecule of moisture. Thrashing and struggling, it made the first sound since it revealed itself—a sad, strangled whine. Even through the blue, I could see the creature dry and contract until it was a desiccated husk. When I released the spell, the Dobhar-chú’s body collapsed in on itself and crumbled into dust.

Something brushed my leg and I looked down, but I was too sick of myself and what I’d done to be further surprised. A grey wolf approached the Cŵn Annwn. The two animals touched noses in silent communication and then the Cŵn Annwn gave three howls. As the air shimmered, the grey wolf disappeared and Taliesin stood in its place.

I remembered the passage in the bard’s journal:
I have fled as a wolf cub. I have fled as a wolf in the wilderness
. I remembered that Goodfellow had said, “Many a year he once padded through my forests, as silent as the wind.” Taliesin was a shapeshifter. At least, that’s what I guessed he was. He certainly didn’t fit the profile of a snowboarding werewolf.

The bard approached and the Cŵn Annwn followed, limping. “I would like you to meet Seolan. He is the hound of Avalon whose power you took. He has returned to the state of his birth before Cernunnos transformed him and has been rejected by his pack.” Taliesin scratched the dog behind his large ears and the animal leaned against him in satisfaction. “Seolan is an Irish Wolfhound. They were once the hunting dogs of the nobility of that land and he is still formidable, but now mortal. By taking his power, you have declared dominance over him. He accepts you as the leader of your pack and seeks to be allowed into it. To please you, he has been hunting the Dobhar-chú while they have been hunting you.”

Taliesin gestured and the dog took two steps forward, long nails clicking on the gym floor. I kneeled down and placed my hand on his head. Closing my eyes, I searched for his colors, but nothing of the supernatural creature he once was remained. He was just a large dog with white hair threaded with grey.

Seolan lowered his head to his paws and looked up at me with deep, liquid eyes.

I wanted to run. I wanted to wrap myself in a veil of blue so dark no one would ever find me. What I’d done to him was unforgivable. I’d stolen from him the joy of the hunt, the wild sky, and the warm gift of belonging. I’d taken his life out of curiosity and ignorance and left a smaller, greyer one in return. I was the monster here.

But Seolan forgave me. I saw it in his eyes. Throwing my arms around his neck, I pressed my face against his silky hair and cried for the first time since Mom died. Seolan waited patiently while I purged myself of all my grief.

“Guess I missed the fun.”

Miko was awake. Rubbing her neck and grimacing at the fresh blood smeared on her hands, the fairy stepped towards me as if she wanted to say something and then stopped, eyes wide.

“I feel funny  . . .” She convulsed as shudders rippled through her body. There was a wet, ripping sound and wings sprang from her back as delicate and translucent as I’d imagined fairy wings would be.

But they were also black and had the thick ridges and jagged edges of the wings of a bat.

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

Daley and I sat on the landing at the top of the stairs. After a tense drive home, Miko and Peter had gone to her room.

Then the yelling began.

Everyone else was hiding from the drama and even Seolan had run away into the forest behind the house. With her wings appearing like that, Miko had come clean and confessed she’d let her Ex infect her with his bite. Peter’s deep anger had been frightening and I’d had to block my awareness of him through our bond.

I watched Daley from the corner of my eye. The wheel charm had shrunk back to its original size and he was rubbing it absently.

Redcap had called it the Wheel of Taranis. I wanted to know more, but Miko’s transformation had been so stunning that I didn’t notice when he slipped away. 

Did Mom want me to find it? Why did she have it? Was she hiding it from Daley?

“I should have known. I should have stopped this,” Daley said bitterly.

“How could you possibly have known?”

He shoved the charm in the pocket of his jeans and dragged his fingers though his hair. “Miko always had a thing about not having wings. I thought it was enough that she was Binnorie’s keeper, that she had a purpose. I guess not. She must have been desperate to do what she did. I should have known,” he repeated. “It was my responsibility.”

“No, it’s not. You’re not her keeper or her judge, no matter what Taliesin says.”

His body sagged. “I guess Miko and Tynan have been talking about me.”

I put my hand on his shoulder, but the jolt that shot through it made me gasp and sparks of power danced between my fingers. “Do you see that?” I whispered.

He put his hand over mine and the sparks flew higher. “Yes.” Sliding his fingers down my arm, Daley laughed softly as electricity raised the fine hairs. Shivering, I pulled away, but he grabbed my hand to stop me. Tracing the lines of the scar on my wrist with his finger, he looked at me and blades of lightning flashed through his eyes.

It was hard to be so close—the sting of his power hurt—but it was harder to stay apart. As I pressed myself against him and he put his arms around me, the tremble in his body was like silent thunder.

Ice touched my back and I was wrenched away. Skidding down the stairs on my behind, I hit the ground with a thud. Daley stared at me for a moment in stunned surprise and then came after me.

“Are you all right? What happened?” He helped me to stand.

I tried to cover my embarrassment with a laugh. “I’m OK. I must have slipped somehow.” Movement caught my eye. Melusine hovered above the spot where we’d been sitting and she was smiling. The ghost had pushed me. When she waved at me coyly, light caught the luminous claws on her fingers.

Daley followed my gaze. “What are you looking at?”

I was saved from answering by the sound of a door crashing against the wall. Peter stomped down the stairs and his face was so filled with fury that even Melusine swished out of the way.

Miko ran after him. “I’m sorry!” Her wings were retracted and she looked pale and fragile.

“Save it!” Peter snarled as he pushed past Daley. With a growl, he turned and drove his fist through the window beside the front door. I jumped back as shards of glass hit the floor around him. Miko’s scream brought the bard and druid running.

Rowan approached Peter like he was an animal that might bite. “Steady, lad. Don’t move too fast or you’ll do more damage.”

Ignoring him, Peter yanked his arm out of the jagged break in the window. I was shocked. He wasn’t even scratched. When he looked at me, his eyes were bleak. “We’re all changing so much,” he whispered.

Miko was crying, but Peter just continued to stare at me as the anger drained out of him. Through our bond, I let him feel that I was with him, always. He nodded, knowing I would come with him, and then opened the front door and walked out.

“Rhi?” the fairy said softly.

“Go away, Miko.” I couldn’t look at her, but I heard her obey.

Taliesin walked away without commenting, but Rowan hesitated. “Coming into one’s power is different for everyone, and change is,”—he paused and his face was sympathetic—“inevitable.” After a moment, he followed the bard.

Melusine had already drifted off to wherever she went when she wasn’t stalking Daley. He was clutching her pendant and wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Goodnight,” he murmured and then climbed the stairs to the bedrooms. I was left standing alone in broken glass.

The wood floor creaked and pink splattered across my vision as my heart jolted in surprise. Not quite alone—Tynan lurked in the shadows behind the stairs.

“Good night, Rhiannon.” His voice was strange—darker, older—and the colors it conjured in my mind were disturbing.

I couldn’t manage a reply as I let myself out.