Dark Mage (Avalon: Web of Magic, Book 11) (12 page)

“W
HAT THE—!” OZZIE
looked one way, then hopped around and looked the other.

There were no signs of the shadow cats. No blazing, yellow eyes, no sharp, chomping teeth. But there was something else just as terrifying. Heading straight toward him were Tiffany, Molly, and Heather leading twenty tourists through the Ravenswood Preserve.

“This is a famous garden,” Tiffany called out, reading from her notes.

“We can see that,” a grouchy old lady grumbled.

“These heirloom roses were planted in 1836,” Heather added.

“Impressive,” the lady commented. “They look brand new.”

“My feet hurt,” complained a little kid.

“Where’s all the animals?” his mother demanded.

“Ozzie, over here,” a voice whispered.

“Gah!” Ozzie spun around.

Lorren was hiding behind a hedge wall several meters away.

In a single bound, the ferret dove into the nearest bush.

“Where’s Emily?” the bush asked, eyes shifting warily.

“I don’t know,” Lorren answered. “Where are
we
?”

“That piece of shrubbery popped us back to Ravenswood!”

“Nice place,” Lorren observed.

“I’m gonna wring that dOoi gAf—!”

“Someone’s coming.” Lorren pointed to the group advancing toward them. “Quiet.”

The ferret stone erupted with static.

“GAH!”

“Base to Fuzzy One,” Tweek shouted. “There’s been a major shift in the web!”

“Where’s Emily?” Ozzie whispered harshly.

“I lost her signal, but yours is loud and clear. Where are you?” Tweek’s voice became highly agitated. “O me twig, you could be anywhere!”

Ozzie poked his head from the bush and glared up at the library windows gleaming over the backyard of the estate.

“Go to the window,” Ozzie instructed calmly.

“What?”

“The window.” Ozzie waved to the tiny bundle of twigs peering outside. “We’re right here, you twig!”

“Inconceivable!” Sticks and moss plastered themselves against the pane in surprise.

“Get us back to Emily!” Ozzie shook his paw. “You, you, you—”

“Portals are opening all over the place,” Tweek squeaked. “Power crystals, web flux, wild magic—I can’t keep track!”

“Lorren!”

Ozzie jumped as a concerned green face popped into the bushes beside them.

“Tash!” Lorren hugged his goblin friend. “We got separated from Emily and somehow ended up here. What are you doing?”

“Making sure the tour doesn’t wander through a random portal,” Tasha said as several duck-waddling quiffles squashed in beside them. “Something’s happened.”

“I’ll say,” Tweek confirmed. “I had to completely reconfigure my web map to match the new pattern.”

“Can you locate Emily’s jewel?” Lorren asked Tasha.

“It’s very faint.” Tasha’s hand-held jewel locator blinked with light. “But it’s definitely on the web.”

“Can you guide us there?”

“There a portal moving through the forest behind the sculpture gardens.” Tasha pointed. “If you hurry, you could—”

“Let’s go!” Ozzie dashed from the bushes.

“Oooh, there’s that cute little ferret,” a voice cried out.

“Doh!” Ozzie stopped short, trapped as tourists swarmed around him. Three quiffles came barreling into his rear.

“SplaaPh!”

“Hey, we don’t have notes on those animals,” Heather said.

Molly beamed. “Those are rare ducks from… France.”

“Ooooh, a French duck!” Cameras clicked as the quiffles posed and preened their head-feathers.

“Do a trick, Ozzie,” a lady called out, recognizing the ferret from the Ravenswood brochure.

“No way—oop!” Ozzie slapped his paws over his mouth.

“Did he just talk?” Tiffany whispered.

Ozzie shook his head.

Heather bent over the wide-eyed, frozen ferret. “What’s with you, ferret?”

“All part of the show,” Lorren stepped from the hedges.

“Who’s that?” Tiffany and Heather exchanged a look while Molly checked Kara’s carefully scripted notes.

“Greetings from the Fairy Realms, good people.” Lorren bowed with a flourish. “I am Prince Lorren.”

The tour group clapped energetically. “What a show!”

“And such marvelous makeup.”

“He must be the gardener, he’s got a green thumb,” someone cracked.

“This is truly a magical place,” a delighted woman declared.

“Go ahead, Ozzie.” Lorren smiled.

“Huh?”

“Do your trick.”

Ozzie shuffled his feet, moving forward and back, then cart wheeled across the grass.

The group cheered enthusiastically while Tasha and the quiffles sent a herd of deer and peacocks into the crowd. The tourists turned their cameras as the animals strolled among them in search of treats.

Ozzie moonwalked behind a rose bush and vanished.

Molly, Tiffany, and Heather looked confused as the group happily fed the animals.

Ozzie ran as fast as his little legs could move toward the portal, Lorren, Tasha, and the quiffles hot on his heels.

Tasha waved her jewel locator at Lorren. “The Spider Witch’s web has expanded!”

Ozzie skidded to a halt at the forest’s edge. Bright magic crackled between the tall firs.

“Heads up,” he said, aiming a beam of orange ferret power at the wandering portal. As the magic hit, planes of light converged into a whirling doorway.

“Emily attached the Otherworlds to the Spider Witch’s web.” Lorren looked at Tasha grimly. “I was just about to tell you.”

“What? Why would she do that?” Tasha demanded.

“We don’t know exactly what happened!” Ozzie defended the healer. “We have to find her.”

“Look.” Tasha held her blinking device in Ozzie’s face. The golden dot indicating Ravenswood was surrounded by green tendrils of the witch’s web. “The Spider Witch has got Ravenswood surrounded.”

“We know what to do,” Rasha, the quiffle, said determinedly. “The warrior taught us how to work with Stormbringer. We will protect Ravenswood.”

“That portal will only stay open for two more minutes, hurry!” Tweek cut in.

“Where will this take us?” Lorren asked, facing the swirling doorway.

“Directly to Emily’s jewel,” the E.F. rattled. “Or you could fall into a black abyss of nothingness from which you will never return.”

“You first,” Ozzie said to Lorren.

“Hurry!” Tasha cried.

The crackling portal warped and began to drift away.

Lorren and Ozzie looked at each other. Each knew time was critical. Emily was in real trouble.

“Keep it together, twig guy!” Ozzie screamed as he soared head first into the portal.

“Look out! Portal flux—pO.Ot!”

The last thing Ozzie heard was an explosion of twigs flying all over the library.

“T
HAT ADRIANE HAS
some nerve hanging up on me!” In spite of all the fun she’d had in the Fashion Realm, Kara was hurt by Adriane’s diss. She juggled dozens of shopping bags as she descended the escalator, in search of the mysterious Logan.

“She didn’t hang up, you wished her away,”
Lyra pointed out.

“Oh.” Kara squeezed her eyes shut. “I unwish not to talk to my friends.”

Nothing happened.

Kara arched an eyebrow at Goldie.

The golden dragonfly shrugged. “Line’s dead.”

“Like I need Bruin Hilda’s help anyway,” Kara scoffed.

“You can’t do this alone,”
Lyra reminded her gently.

“You’re right. Here, carry these.” Kara slung an armload of dress bags over Lyra’s back.

“All this shopping has gone to your head,”
Lyra grumbled.

Kara smacked her forehead. “You’re so right! I wish all this stuff would go to my bedroom!”

Her mountain of packages vanished in a twinkle of magic.

“See, I’m fine. I don’t need anything else.” Kara wandered off the escalator, which led into another bank of shops. “Except maybe this lamp.”

“Ooooo,” Goldie whistled.

“And that chair.”

“Focus!”
Lyra nosed Kara onto the escalator leading to the basement.

There were no bright storefronts or food stalls here. Only a long, empty hallway. The thud of a throbbing bass resonated through the floor, hinting at very cool sounds coming from the end of the dark passage.

“Walk this way,” directed Kara.

Lyra and Goldie sauntered down the dim hallway following in their bonded’s footsteps.

Turning a corner, the blazing star stopped short. Red velvet ropes led to a set of steel doors emblazoned with the insignia of a Black Rose. Two massive stone ogres stood on either side. A trendy club! Excellent! Kara eagerly reached out to open the door.

“ID,” a deep voice boomed.

The statues were glaring at her—they were alive!

“Um, we’re looking for Logan,” she said sweetly. “I was told he could help me with magic tech support.”

Stone eyes glowed. Abruptly the steel doors swung open and the hulking guards stepped aside.

“I got game.” Kara winked at Lyra.

Pounding percussion and heavy bass enveloped them as they entered the dark club. On a raised platform near the wide dance floor, a wiry spriggan DJ hipped and hopped, scratching away on twin turntables. Against the walls were a few dozen booths illuminated by solitary blue candles. The place seemed almost empty, but Kara saw Lyra’s eyes narrow as the cat spotted movement in a crimson velvet booth. Two more stone figures guarded whoever sat in the shadows.

“Guys, is this cool or what?” Kara yelled over the music as she moved past a long table edged with neon light. Several fancily dressed goblins and mysterious fairy creatures turned to watch her pass.

“Word up.” Goldie sat on Kara’s shoulder, grooving to the beat.

Kara took a deep breath as she approached the plush booth. Logan was probably some ancient old wizard. She’d need all her skills of diplomacy to handle this geezer.

“Whazzzafuzz!” A green creature with horns and a long tail suddenly leaped from the table, cackling wildly. The size of a small monkey, it ran around Lyra shooting sparks from its nose. “Who let the cat out? Who? Who? Who? Who?”

Lyra growled deep in her throat, ready to swat the bizarre pest.

“Are you Logan?” Kara asked incredulously.

Laughter spilled from the darkened booth. “Dimwiddie, don’t be rude.”

“Magic time!” The green creature ran back to its master.

“I am Logan,” the silky voice continued.

Kara peered into the shadows. She could make out a pair of pale hands illuminated by flickering light. Black polish gleamed on the nails of long white fingers. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she noticed several ornate rings that caught the light. Some kind of tribal tattoo snaked from the back of his wrist under a silky white shirt and black velvet jacket.

“Hello. I’m Kara Davies,” she said with a bright smile.

Piercing black eyes raked over Lyra, then widened as he saw Goldie perched beneath Kara’s golden tresses.

“How much for the fairy dragon?”

“What?” Kara blurted, taken aback.

“The fairy dragon. How much?”

Kara’s unicorn jewel flashed an angry red. “She’s not for sale and don’t you touch a scale on her head!” Kara scanned the guards, suddenly unsure of what she had walked into.

“My mistake.” Pale hands raised in defense.

A moment of silence followed as he scrutinized her.

“Remarkable. I’ve never seen one bond with anybody. But then again, you’re not just anybody, you’re the blazing star.”

“I guess my rep precedes me,” Kara boasted nervously.

Logan chuckled. “Yes. You were quite the sensation in the mall.”

The blazing star was suddenly self-conscious. She barely stopped to wonder how he knew about her musical welcome.

“You always travel without a chaperone?”

“Do I need one?” Kara asked.

Black eyes turned to Lyra. The cat’s lips pulled back in a snarl, revealing razor teeth. The answer was clear.

“Point taken.” Again, he chuckled, warm and friendly. There was no hint of a threat.

“Goblin Feldman said you could help me.”

“Helping isn’t exactly what I’m known for.”

“Maybe it’s time to change your image,” Kara suggested smoothly.

“Oh? What’s wrong with it?” He leaned forward into the light.

It took all her blazing star power to remain cool. This was no old, wizened crony. The flickering lights illuminated a teenage face, only a few years older than she was. His longish blonde hair was streaked with three shades of pale highlights, setting off his dark eyes and handsome, angular face. In his streamlined black velvet blazer and slick designer jeans, Logan looked more like a rock star than a user of dark magic.

Noting Kara’s appraisal, a slow smile spread across his curvy lips. Logan knew exactly how hot he was and he wasn’t afraid to show it.

Kara recovered her poise quickly. “Point taken.”

“Dimwiddie, get our guests some ice tea,” Logan ordered.

“Blazzzah! Get it yourself.”

Logan gave the creature an exasperated look and it skittered away across the room.

“Gremlins.” He shrugged. “Please, sit.”

Kara perched on the edge of the cushioned booth, Lyra standing protectively close. Goldie hopped onto the table, helping herself to peanuts.

“Nice place,” Kara said, scanning the chic club.

“Bit noisy.” With a wave of his hand, the music lowered to a soft pulse. “The three mages are quite famous—the ‘it’ girls of the web, you could say. But none as famous as the blazing star.”

She didn’t know quite how to react—she wanted to remain steady, cool, focused. She
so
could not. “You’re not what I expected,” she blurted.

“Nor are you,” he countered.

Kara couldn’t help staring at his winning smile. Logan was gorgeous.

“Let me guess…” Logan shifted closer, making her heart beat like a drum.

“Level One blazing star, using a jewel of the unicorns, bonded with this magnificent cat—”

“Level Two, actually,” Kara corrected him.

Logan’s look of admiration melted her. “So you have a paladin protector.”

“Fire stallion.” Kara smiled proudly.

“Fire, of course.” He leaned forward, genuinely interested. “Impressive.”

“What kind of mage are you?” she asked, becoming more comfortable. “I mean, Feldman made you out to be like this total dark magic wiz.”

“I’m not strictly a mage.” Logan smiled again. “I am fairy.”

“A fairy?” Kara was astonished. She peered into the shadows, searching for a pair of glittering wings.

Logan followed Kara’s gaze, then grinned at Lyra. “Not every creature reveals its magic right away. Besides, wings can be awfully uncomfortable, don’t you agree?”

Lyra pinned the dark fairy in her green gaze, unimpressed.

Kara flashed on the last fairy creature that had charmed her. That creature had turned out to be shape-shifting monster. She turned a hard look toward Logan.

“If you’re a Skultum, you better tell me
right
now,” she whispered threateningly.

“Skultum?” Logan laughed and brushed his hair back, revealing a pair of pointy ears. “If you faced a Skultum, you are indeed a force to be reckoned with.”

Kara smiled back. “Totally.”

“No, I am most certainly not a Skultum,” he said sincerely. “Although some call my magic dark, but you know how people love to talk.”

“Tell me about it.” Kara nodded as if she knew exactly what he was talking about.

“I study all kinds of magic, mage, goblin, fairy, warlock. You bond with animals. I have found it useful to bond with… a rarer breed of creature.”

“May the horse be with you!” the little gremlin yelled, tottering across the dance floor balancing a tray of drinks.

“Um, yeah,” Kara agreed. “Right on.”

“So how goes the great mage quest?” Logan asked, taking a glass of iced tea.

“Great.” Kara beamed, and then frowned. Geez, did the entire universe know what the mages were doing? Well, so much for playing games. She needed his help. “We’re searching for nine power crystals.”

“The keys to Avalon.”

“Yes.” She felt Lyra nudge her side. Be careful.

Kara shrugged off the warning. “’Cept, I… lost one of the crystals.”

He nodded, waiting for her to continue.

“And Feldman said you could help me make another one.”

“Ah, that’s why you’re here.”

“And I just found this one.” She took out the large unicorn shaped crystal, suddenly eager to impress this hottie. The power crystal spilled jewel light across the glass table. “But it’s acting really weird.”

“May I?”

Kara placed the crystal in his hands.

“This isn’t the original shape.” Logan studied the crystal carefully. “Looks like it copied your unicorn jewel when it bonded to you.”

“It’s a wishing crystal,” she told him.

“Fascinating. So it gave you what you wanted.”

“The catch is I can’t undo my wish.”

“A wish is only as strong as the emotion behind it,” Logan explained.

Kara thought for a moment. “I guess I was pretty mad when I wished not to talk to my friends.”

“Mage magic is based on emotions. That’s what makes it so unpredictable.” A slow grin spread across his face. “I’ll bet you’ve lost your magic more than once, or thought you did.”

Kara was startled by his insight. She, Emily, and Adriane had all “lost” their magic before.

“I thought so. Mage magic is powerful but highly unstable. Anger, self doubt, jealousy, fear, greed. You get the picture. The stronger the emotions, the harder it is to control the magic. That’s why your bondeds are so important.”

Kara listened to every word. This was the first time anyone had ever explained why she had such trouble controlling her magic. It had gone flooie more times than she cared to remember. Each time she’d been on a roller coaster of emotions. Thank goodness she had Lyra and Goldie to ground her. What Logan said made perfect sense.

Kara tossed her hair over her shoulder. “So what’s your magic?”

“I study the arcane arts. Precise magic based on teachings handed down for centuries. I add my own special touch, of course, but there’s no emotion involved. Arcane magic is an exact science. A craft, if you will.”

Kara looked puzzled.

“Didn’t your mentors tell you about the arcane arts?”

“Never had one.”

That got another chuckle. “You really are quite amazing.”

“True.” Kara gave him a dazzling smile.

Even though her instincts told her to be wary of this too-cute-to-be-true fairy, she liked him. She knew she shouldn’t, but she did. Kara prided herself on her people radar, and something about him was genuine, even if his persona was silky smooth Armani.

“So, can these scientific arts help me make another power crystal?” Kara asked hopefully.

“I doubt it.”

Kara stared at him, shocked.

“If you don’t help me, the Spider Witch and the Dark Sorceress will take over the entire magic web!” she exclaimed.

Logan yawned. “Wake me when the party starts.”

Kara was taken aback by his indifference. “Don’t you care?”

“Why should I care what shape the web takes or who controls it? It’s all good for business.”

Kara’s jaw clenched. “And what kind of
business
might that be?”

“I supply exotic goods to my customers. Shadow silk, rune cloth, soul dust, dragonscales, signets, stuff like that. These days everyone wants magic jewels. We’re such slaves to fashion, don’t you think?”

“For sure. But you’re the only one who can help me. I just
have
to make another power crystal. I’m the blazing star and I have to prove I’m better than—”

What was she saying? This was about saving Avalon and the magic web, not about who was the most powerful mage.

“Those are your emotions talking for you,” Logan said wryly.

Kara winced. He was right. “Look, we were chosen for this quest and now I’m stuck. I’ll never find out exactly what we’re meant to do unless you help me.”