Magick (Immortals and Magick Book 2) (17 page)

“I’ve been sitting here since Gareth left, wondering what the hell I think I’m doing. I know that I can’t just let him keep pulling me into his world from my dreams, I know he needs to be stopped, but I’m scared Noah. What if he senses I’m there? What if he….succeeds…in severing me from my body? Where will I be? I don’t want to be some vegetable hooked up to machines in the hospital.”  I had a hard time swallowing and talking over the lump in my throat. It felt as though something was choking me from the inside.

Noah shifted on the couch to face me, taking hold of my arms gently and turning me towards him. His eyes, though, betrayed the tension he was feeling, the fear he was trying so desperately to hide from me.

“I will not let anything happen to you, Teagan. By the Goddess, I will do anything in my power to bring you back. Not just me, but you’ll have Anna and Harley there as well. We will not let him harm you.”

“I know. I have faith in you all. I have faith in myself. We’ll find what he’s up to, and figure out a way to take him out.” I managed to swallow past the blockage, real or imagined. I could not go into this thing scared out of my wits.

He smiled, the tensioning lessening, but not the fear. He pushed a stray strand of hair behind my ear, letting his fingers glide over my cheek.

“That’s my girl.”

              Later, after dinner was done, he took me to bed and worshipped me. Soft sighs, long kisses, strong strokes full of fire filled the frightened holes inside me, pushing the fear into a tiny corner; enough to keep me aware, but not enough to hamper my resolve.

I lay languid in bed, Noah a precious weight draped across my body. I kept my eyes closed and drifted, feeling the power rising in me, gaining strength. I realized that I had forgotten I was a fighter, ready to scrap at a moment’s notice, never letting anyone take advantage of me, but with the energy coursing through me from my ritual, I was ready for the coming storm. Knowing I had Noah and the rest of my circle helped boost my confidence as well.

“You’re going to be fine. We’re not going to let anything happen to you.”

I smiled, bringing my hand up and running it comfortingly through Noah’s hair.

“I know. I have faith in me, faith in the Morrigan, and most of all, faith in all of you. I got this.”

I opened my eyes to see Noah looking down at me, the smirk that I used to hate but now loved quirking up one side of his mouth.

“You got this, huh?” He asked, flicking the tip of my nose with his finger.

“Hell yeah, would you expect anything different from me?” I replied, using my cockiest expression, but also feeling the confidence running through me. This was no façade I was putting in place. His smile grew but there was still a haunted expression lurking in the depths of his bright blue eyes.

I decided to ignore it. We had prepped and gone over the plan so many times that it couldn’t fail. We didn’t have a choice. We had to make it work, and if two witches and two sorcerers couldn’t make it happen, then I didn’t know what could. It was going to be dangerous, that was a certainty, and I would be scared, but we had to get some intel and get a hand up in this war, rivalry, fight…whatever it was.

“They’re going to be here any minute. We should probably get up.” Noah moved to get up as he spoke, and I rolled off him. Giving myself a mental shake, I stood and walked to the bathroom, already focusing on the task at hand. I was fully in my head, feeling the power, planning what I was going to do. Hoping that it would prove successful.

I wished for the time to take a ritual bath, but our dessert had taken up that valuable time. Hoping that mad sex with Noah would prove as beneficial as the bath, I jumped into the shower, just to feel the water running over me. Noah called through the steam and sound of water to let me know the troops had arrived, so I shut off the taps and let the steam billow around me. With a deep breath, I stepped out. It was time.

I came into the living room, dressed in comfortable clothes. Some witches stand on ceremony and would either be naked or in a robe. Not me. I had on my ragged sweat pants and oversized t-shirt, the most comfortable and comforting things I owned. Everyone was gathered, even Damien, and I sent them all a smile. My friends. A girl should always have five friends that would put their lives on the line for her.

“Ok, let’s do this thing.” I thought I would get some stalling after my pronouncement, but everyone seemed to flow into place, like they had been discussing positions while I was out of the room. Gareth and Damien stood at the end of the couch, with Noah, Harley, and Anna at the other end where I would lay my head. I laid down, moving around a little to make myself as comfortable as could be.

I looked toward Gareth and Damien, who both offered up a smile of encouragement. There wasn’t much they could do, other than offer support. It still comforted me that they were there, guarding me. I looked up at the three faces above me, those who would be my astral protectors, in case they were needed. Anna’s jade eyes looked concerned, and I knew she was thinking about her lack of experience. I gave her hand a squeeze and her smile widened briefly.

Noah was not happy. He was hiding it, but I felt it coming off him in waves. I switched my gaze to his.

“I got this, remember?”

“Doesn’t mean I have to like it.” He shot back, but he took a deep breath and calmed down a little.

“Maybe not, but I need you calm, not worried about your girlfriend.” I chastised gently.

“Well you are my girlfriend, and I’m scared, not worried. There’s a difference.”

I leaned up and kissed his mouth, happy with the difference. I knew what he meant-he wasn’t worried because he had faith I could do it, he was just scared I’d get hurt through no fault of my own.

“Okay, enough you two. It’s time to get down to brass tacks. Teagan, are you ready?” Harley cut in, all business. She was scared too, but hiding it better than Noah.

I settled down again, relaxing my body inch by inch.

“Getting there. Relaxing.”

I closed my eyes, letting my mind drift. Once I felt as completely relaxed as I could be in the situation, I let my mind focus on where I wanted to be, namely Padraigan’s lair. I didn’t have to know the physical location of it, just let my mind picture the rooms I had been in while dreaming; his bedroom, the living space, the dungeon. I could sense the people surrounding me, but it was a comfort instead of a distraction. I drew on Anna, Noah, and Harley’s energy to focus my thoughts.

I heard voices. They were muffled, and at first I thought it was Noah speaking in hushed tones to someone, maybe Gareth. I couldn’t quite make out what they were saying though. I focused on the voices, using them to pull me towards the people that were speaking.

In a blink of an eye, I was there. I could see and hear. The voices I heard belonged to Padraigan and Charles. I could see them, standing across from each other over a table. Charles looked as good as a person could who had been hanging from his arms in the not too distant past. Padraigan looked…healthy, the bastard. His long black hair shone like silk in the overhead lighting, and even his pale skin looked flushed with health. He obviously had finished healing from Damien’s attack.

I oriented myself in the room. I was back in the same place I had been the last time I visited, and had a clear view of the two of them talking. Although instead of Charles being chained up, this time there was a man and woman chained. From the blood soaking their bodies, I had a feeling they were dinner. My stomach did a slow roll, even disembodied as I was.

“Is she ready? Do you think she’ll be able to handle it?” Charles asked Padraigan.

Padraigan leveled a look at Charles, a smirk playing about his generous mouth.

“Do you doubt my training? My powers of persuasion?” He may have worn a smirk, but his voice was ice.

I watched Charles duck his head, a submissive gesture if there ever was one. I guess if I was a sadistic vampire’s lackey, I’d be submissive too. Well, no. Not really. I probably would have already been eliminated.

“Forgive me, I meant no disrespect. It’s just a…delicate situation, considering what happened the last time she went up against one of their group.”

They had to be talking about Gemma. None of us had been visited by a female vampire other than Gemma, so they must be planning a return engagement. That’s ok. I relished the thought of beating down that bitch.

Padraigan paced the room like a tiger, all sinewy grace and caged ferocity. I could feel his rage simmering below the surface, driving his movements. He really was an impressive man. Too bad he was a psychopathic douche bag.

“She’ll do what’s being asked of her, regardless of what happened the last time she dealt with one of them. Very soon, they’ll all be dead, and I can go back to enjoying my life without that troublemaker working to destroy our lineage.” Padraigan snarled as he walked over to the woman. He bent down to look in her eyes.

“My poppet, you understand my needs, don’t you?” He asked the terrified woman, his voice almost a croon. She looked up at him with frightened eyes, tears having cut tracks through the blood on her face.

“Please, just let me go, I won’t tell anyone, I promise.” She begged, her voice hoarse, from screaming I guessed. My heart went out to her. Once I got back, I’d try my damndest to get her out of this hell hole.

Padraigan frowned at her, displeased with her response, and casually reached out and sliced her cheek open with his thumbnail. He straightened and licked her blood off his thumb as the women started crying hysterically.

“Where did all this romance go that surrounded vampires since Stoker painted such a pretty picture of us? You would think she’d be grateful.” He cast another disdainful glance at the woman and then turned his attention back to Charles.

“Once they’re gone Sir, I’ll become one of you, yes? Like we agreed?” Charles asked eagerly, casting his own glance at the man chained against the wall opposite the woman.

“Yes, yes, of course. Although Charles, it does seem that you’re doubting me again and I can’t have that.” A flash of lightening hit Charles in the upper arm and Charles was flung back against the wall by the force. I flinched as well, as he landed dangerously close to where I was observing. Being a sorcerer, he might have been able to feel my presence if he had gone through me.

“I’m sorry Sir, I’m sorry, I don’t doubt you!” Charles threw his hands up as Padraigan moved closer to him. Padraigan crouched down in front of him, his head cocked to the side. It made him look like a viper ready to strike.

“It’s getting very tedious listening to your mewling. You are practically worthless to me, yet I keep you around. Remember that Charles, the next time you decide to voice your inner doubts. Only my good graces keep you alive.” His voice was low but venomous, and I felt a tinge of fear for the first time since I arrived in the room. This creature was pure evil. If I believed in the Devil, I would say he was the physical embodiment of Satan.

I watched as he straightened up, so I shifted slightly out of the way. I still didn’t know if my first visit to him was just a connected dream or true astral projection but he knew then that I was there. However, he didn’t sense me the last time I was in this room, so I felt relatively safe, if cautious.

Safety is often an illusion we trick ourselves into.

Padraigan’s head swiveled in my direction, and I became still. He couldn’t be looking at me. No way.

“Well, well. An eavesdropper.”

Oh shit. Oh shit. He knew I was there.

“Again Charles you fail me. What a waste. I’ll deal with you in a moment, my dear.”

Padraigan looked down at Charles again and unleashed a volley of lightning at the cowering sorcerer. I was frozen in fright. I couldn’t even move. I watched as Charles was effectively turned into a pile of ash at Padraigan’s feet, while the nameless man and woman in the room started screaming in fright. Okay, Teagan, time to go, I told myself but I couldn’t focus on my body safely back at home. My mind was completely panic-stricken, unable to process what was happening.

“Now.” Padraigan said as he turned back to me. “What to do with you? I’ve never trapped a conscience before, but how hard can it be?” He lifted his arms up in a sarcastic parody of a shrug, and I died a little inside. I needed to get out of here but my brain wouldn’t unlock from its terror.

“Teagan, come on!” I heard Harley’s voice as it called out to me but I couldn’t respond. Padraigan had locked his eyes on me and was drawing me in. I couldn’t figure out how he knew I was there. I shook my head back and forth in a silent negation of his power. It seemed that he was holding me in place.

I started to move towards him, entirely against my will. I heard Harley’s voice again but couldn’t make out what she was saying. Or didn’t want to. The force of Padraigan’s gaze was enough that it sapped my will. Noah’s voice joined Harley’s and I felt a small pull towards where my body lay paralyzed on the couch, but the promise in Padraigan’s eyes overrode the pull my spirit felt in reaction to Noah’s voice.

“Your friends are trying to get you back, but you don’t want to go back, do you Teagan? Why would you when I can offer you peace.” Padraigan’s voice was eerily seductive, drawing me farther in.

“God dammit Teagan come back to us!” Harley’s voice was awfully strong in my ear and it shocked me enough to break Padraigan’s gaze. I saw Harley standing next to me, pushing energy towards me. Then I was flying backward. And all was black.