rogue shifter 05 - caught between (7 page)

"Gee thanks. That tells me exactly nothing."

"All magic works that way. When you were on the island with Rob and you shifted the second time, without the drug, you believed that you could. When you were Kennet's prisoner and you unraveled his block after I'd been sent back, you believed that you could do it. You had faith in your ability."

"Faith is a strange thing for a demon to talk about."

"Why? I have faith in the strength of my power, in my connection to my magic, and in my will to combine the two flawlessly." He grinned. "You were born with an incredible gift which you can enhance magically. All you need to block all of these shades is your will. Decide not to
see
them, and they will be gone."

"But will they still be there, even if I don't see them?" I asked.

"They will be in stasis. Somewhere none of us can see. A place not of this world."

"I'm afraid to look at them."

"Fear will disrupt the flow of a demon's energy, unless you flip it to anger, as you have many times in the past." Isaiah said with a wry smile.

"Garrett and Liam will vouch for that." I mumbled. " Can you walk me through it?"

"Look at me. At this moment you are using your
sight
."

"I can see them...is that what you mean?"

"A demon connects to the dead by using his
sight
. Yours kicked in when Marie approached you, so now it is..," he hesitated, searching for a word, "...online, so to speak." He grinned slyly, apparently happy with his choice.

"So normally, I'm not online?" I asked.

"Today with Marie was the first time. Do you remember anything different happening right before you noticed her?"

"Besides you being all in-my-face?" I growled.

"Besides that." He arched an eyebrow in amusement.

I thought back to that moment. It was cold and Isaiah was annoyed and holding my arms and then—then there was heat: a hot breeze, as if I stood in front of a furnace. And a spice, some kind of scent that reminded me of my grandmother.

"A scent and a hot wind. The heat is gone, but I think I can still smell the spicy smell. It's not unpleasant."

He nodded in understanding. "That scent is your personal trigger. Command it away, and you will be free of them."

"And how do I do that?"

"First, do you think you will be able to recall it again, if you need to?"

"Yes."

"Then bring up another scent, one that has significance to you."

That was easy. I filled my mind and my nose with Garrett's yummy scent, picturing him smiling at me in his teasing way. The shades surrounding me peacefully dissolved into a mist which floated along the ground and then was sucked into the earth, leaving no evidence of their existence.

"Are they gone for good?" I looked around, not completely successful at hiding my anxiety.

"If you go online again, they'll be back. However it is possible to schedule private time with only one by calling up your trigger scent, but still shielding yourself from the others. Learning that skill will be difficult, but I am here to help you with whatever is necessary."

As he grinned at me, my knees started shaking from exhaustion, and I landed on the bench with a thump, then turned back to glare at Isaiah. I was furious to see that he was looking rather proud of himself, in a very pompous way, adding to my deteriorating mood.

"I'm on the verge of sending you home right now. You manipulated me into speaking to Marie, which woke up my powers and then forced me to ask you to teach me necromantic skills. You went against our agreement."

"Uh uh." He wiggled a finger back and forth. "I didn't teach you anything, until you asked me to. Out loud. In fact you practically begged me, didn't you, little demon?"

"Stop calling me that. You left me with no choice and I was scared shitless." I threw my arms up in exasperation. "Why did you have to go and make my life crazier than it was already?"

His brow wrinkled and he tilted his head curiously. "That's a rhetorical question, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know. You were being true to your nature. A scheming chaos-loving creep."

"Ouch. No one's ever called me a creep." He was enjoying my anger, actually soaking in some of my energy, probably hoping I wouldn't notice.

"I could come up with a few more descriptive words." I directed another blast his way and he laughed, realizing that he'd been busted in the act.

"Knock yourself out. I'm going down to the private beach for some nude sunbathing. I'll see you at dinner."

"And keep your damn talons off of my magic!"

"Your claws are out, not mine. It's a good thing your
sweetie pie
is back from feeding. He'll make a good scratching post."

"I hope you get arrested for indecent exposure."

"Jacqueline." Isaiah's voice commanded my attention. "You did well today." He disappeared before I could say anything else, frustrating me even more. When Garrett materialized by the bench, both of my hands were clenched into fists and I was growling. Somewhere in the distance I heard Isaiah laugh.

CHAPTER NINE

Stretched out on the couch with my feet in Garrett's lap and an icepack on my head, I mulled over how I was going to tell them what happened without starting a major war. Liam was watching me like a hawk, positive that Isaiah had caused some kind of trouble, while Kellaine sat at the piano playing soothing music, perhaps sensing what was to come.

"Perhaps you'd feel better if you just talked about it." Garrett was massaging my feet and it felt like absolute heaven, but I knew I couldn't put it off for much longer. I'd promised him that I wouldn't learn any necromantic skills.

But how could I have ignored Marie? Plus once the cat was out of the bag, I definitely couldn't handle bumping into shades constantly, especially those tortured ones. I felt myself shiver, so Garrett tucked a blanket over me, giving me another concerned look.

Twisting my mouth into a frown, I stopped myself from wasting my energy on guilt. The fact was, now that I'd seen it, I wanted him to reopen the lower level. The thought that there were shades trapped underground, and also wandering the property, was distressing. I understood why he'd done it, but the villa needed to be wiped clean of these unhappy spirits. Maybe I could get in some help and we could take care of it together.

Of course the most important thing was for Garrett to agree to talk to his sister. She'd appealed to me to ask him, and I would. Just as soon as I got up enough courage to open my eyes and look at him.

"Jacqueline, please talk to us." He brought my hand up to his mouth and kissed my palm, a sweet gesture that always made me feel loved.

"You're going to be upset." I made myself sit up and look at him.

"I can take it." He smiled.

"Will you two stay?" I looked at Liam.

"Of course."

"Now I'm getting worried. Did he hurt you?" Garrett's eyes were anxious.

"No. I'm fine. He didn't break the agreement." They waited. "He took me to the cells in the lower level."

Garrett hands clenched on my feet. "They were sealed. That shit! We're going to send him back."

"No. Please, just listen." I pulled my feet away and reached out with both hands. He grasped them and scooted next to me as I turned my body to face his. I had to whisper, because somehow my voice was choked with too many emotions. "I met Marie. Your sister."

Garrett sat frozen in place as I told them of my heartbreaking, yet incredible encounter with my ethereal sister-in-law. Liam moved behind Garrett and placed a hand on his shoulder as I spoke, while Kellie stopped her playing to listen.

"She wants to see you. She said you tried so hard to get out of your cell, that you were burned down to the bone." I stroked his face, which looked even paler than normal, then leaned in to hug him.

"I'm so sorry I broke my promise, but Isaiah really didn't teach me anything, at least not down in the cells. He brought me to the cells, but she just came to me on her own. He says it's because of her blood connection with you and Charlie." He still wasn't speaking and that worried me. "Please don't be angry with me."

His voice was husky with his own emotions. "Could this be a trick of Isaiah's?"

"She was the grown up girl from the picture over the fireplace, with your mom's hair and your dad's eyes. She called you her sweet knight."

He clutched me harder against him, trembling slightly. "Can you—can you call her to you?"

Startled, I pulled away from him. "Are you sure? I thought you didn't..."

"I came here to make an end. I'll face her wrath or gain her forgiveness, but there's no turning away from this incredible gift."

As if he would have done anything else, my mate, who always faced the world head on. "She's trapped down in the cells. You need to open them up."

He looked shocked at first, but shook it off, moving into gear in his usual efficient way. He turned to Kellie. "Would you please stay with Jackie? Liam and I have to un-spell and tear down a wall."

She laughed, a sweetly musical sound. "Go ahead, boys. Show us weak little girls how strong you males are." Garrett hesitated, not sure if she was actually offended or just joking. "Garrett, go. I'm teasing."

She poured us honey wine and sat across from me on the love seat. "I have to say, this is exciting. I don't come into contact with the dead often, not even shades."

"Hanging with us is always a freakin' roller coaster ride." Kellie laughed at my sarcastic tone, but she could also sense my fear.

"Try to breathe slowly. Your heart is beating like a rabbit's."

"I just hope I can do this. I don't want him more upset."

She took a sip from her glass, observing me closely. "I watch your auras together. Sometimes it seems his covers yours like a soft warm blanket, other times it's more like Kevlar or steel. But no matter what
his
is doing, your emerald aura pushes through and intertwines your energies, making the two into one." She'd woven her fingers together in example. " I can still see the separate bands, but each touches the other. I wonder if he knows how fortunate he is?"

"He does." Garrett was back, his black shirt and pants looking a little dusty, but smiling at me with love in his eyes. He dusted himself off and sat next to me, then reached for my hand. I relaxed against him and he leaned his cheek against my head, both of us needing this small moment of contact because the next few minutes would be very difficult for us both.

Liam spoke. "The wall is down and I've broken the wards. I have no access to the dead, so I have no idea whether the shade has moved somewhere else in the villa or if she's still there."

I looked at Garrett. "Do you still want me to try?" He nodded. "I'll need Isaiah."

Before I finished my sentence, he was there, lounging in a comfy arm chair. "Are you finally growing a set, Garrett?"

He didn't bat an eyelash at the jibe. "Isaiah, you don't amuse any of us. Just do what you were brought here to do, or go back to the archdemon mistress who sent you and explain why you're back so soon. I can guarantee she won't be pleased."

My demon trainer narrowed his eyes, smiling slyly, not denying the statement. "Touché vampire." He twisted back toward me. "Are you game?"

I nodded, stood up and walked toward the fireplace, so I'd have more space to work. Taking a cleansing breath, I brought to mind that uniquely spicy scent. Almost immediately the room warmed and I sensed the presence of
others
. Unfortunately, I tensed up immediately. I didn't want to see those poor tormented creatures, only Marie. When I caught a glimpse of a horribly burned one, I winced and pulled back, losing my focus completely.

Isaiah stood, frowning, and spun me around with a hand on my shoulder. He spoke to me mentally, cutting out Garrett and Liam.
"Your fear cripples you and this is dangerous work, not a game. There are shades strong enough to sense that you are not in control. They will move in to drain you of power."
He spoke out loud again. "Pull up your
sight
and concentrate. I will hold off the others for now."

His hard words had the desired effect and I was able to call up the scent again, mostly because I was sick of Isaiah's lectures. As soon as I was online, he stepped away and leaned against the wall, trying to look relaxed and nonchalant, but I still sensed his controlled excitement. Oddly, he seemed more invested in me speaking to Marie than I could fathom, so I made a mental note to talk about this with Garrett later.

She appeared by the arched entrance, looking lovely yet disoriented. She noticed me standing near the fireplace and walked closer. "Could this be the same house to which I was conveyed? It appears different than I remember."

Other than Isaiah, none of the others seemed to hear or see her. "She's here."

"Where?" Garrett asked.

"Over by the fireplace."I pointed in her general direction and the two fae and Garrett looked, but shook their heads.

"I can help with that, little demon." Isaiah walked to Marie. "Marie Rose Cuvier Brody, Jacqueline will send you energy so that you can see and speak to Garrett. Please concentrate all of your energy on her as she works to make you visible."

She scowled, looking so much like an annoyed version of Garrett that I practically choked. "Who is this creature and why does he call you little demon?"

"This
creature
, " I grinned at Isaiah, "is an upper level demon who helped to save my life from the man who raped me. He calls me that because I have a small amount of demon blood. It's why I'm able to see and communicate with you." She hadn't noticed Garrett, so I asked, "Can you see your brother? He's on the far end of the couch."

"There is only you and the creature. Is this some form of trickery?" She folded her arms, looking angrier.

"You need a boost of my energy in order to see him. Garrett is here. I promise you."

I watched her spiritual body relax as she took me in from head to toe. I guess a pregnant female isn't all that intimidating. "I will attempt what you ask." She locked eyes with me and stood very still.