rogue shifter 06 - torn apart (12 page)

"I'll be interested to hear more when you return."
Looks like I was gonna be Cascade's new 007, spying in enemy territory and then reporting back. Just what I needed was more pressure. Thank the gods for Garrett, who only wanted me back safely, because I intended to follow his orders to the letter.

When everyone seemed to be finished eating, the music changed from restful strains to more of an upbeat melody, played on stringed and wooden instruments I couldn't name but enjoyed listening to. Garrett and I were dragged out to the grassy field by Aedus and Philladre, divested of our shoes and told it was about time we learned some fae dances. They were folksy in spirit, dancing sometimes in couples and sometimes in circles or lines, the patterns intricate yet smooth. Garrett was better at it than me, although I didn't fall or trip and Aedus was a perfect partner, never making fun of my awkward attempts to be graceful.

Charlie still refused to dance with Linn, but Grady did the honors and was quite graceful for a boy on the edge of puberty. Charlie sat and sulked, refusing to eat dessert, sometimes glaring evilly at Grady. Linn would glance at him and wave and he'd smile back, then she'd return to her dance and we'd see him moping again.

I asked him if he'd dance with me. "I don't like it."

"How do you know? Everyone else seems to be having fun."

"I don't like it," was all he'd say. Later in the evening, I saw him talking to two of the musicians, who were kind enough to show him their beautifully crafted instruments. He perked right up when they allowed him to strum a few notes. Charlie's interests apparently lay elsewhere.

The Cascade Fae were gracious hosts and wonderful company, but it was very early the next morning before Garrett and I finally stumbled into our guest rooms. Before we hit the sack, we checked on our son who'd retired much earlier and was sleeping with a smile on his face. Seems like the day was a success all around.

CHAPTER NINE

Two days later, we were back at home and I was enjoying a late brunch with Liam. I asked him a question that had been on my mind since the party.

"What was up with Linn taking Charlie around with her while she greeted all the Elders and their families?"

"She's chosen him."

"They're five!"

Liam laughed at me. "This is not a binding contract. A very young fae female was letting everyone know what she has in mind for her future. It's quite normal. Brina was all over Aedus from her tenth naming day ceremony on. They didn't end up as bound mates, but not for lack of effort on Brina's part." He chuckled again. "Aedus is considered a prize, although I can't exactly see why."

"That's because you're male. Do you think Philly encourages her to go after Charlie?"

He frowned and shook his head. "She of all fae would never try to force a relationship on someone. She waited for Aedus' commitment for many centuries. If she'd insisted, he would have agreed to their binding much earlier, but she wanted him to be certain of his choice."

"Linn doesn't seem to have her mother's patience."

"No, but certainly her beauty and intelligence."

"Oh, so you had a little crush on her yourself?"

"I don't believe there's a male in Cascade who didn't at one time or another."

"Your brother..."

I never had a chance to finish that thought because I was thrown into the lines so quickly I almost didn't have time to put up my shields and protect myself from their heat. The only warning had been a strong buzz that vibrated in my gut, lasting at the most, ten seconds. Then I was traveling, and a moment later, standing in a circle of salt no more than four feet in diameter.

The summoning circle was created in the middle of a large oval room without windows. The walls were stone as was the floor, the only light coming from wall sconces that gave off a warm glow, probably magical in origin. There was a wooden table on the far side of the room along with two plain chairs. The room seemed to be accessible only through one very large double door.

Feeling the coolness of the stone beneath me, I looked down at my feet and groaned. Apparently, I'd be spending the next three days without shoes. Thank the gods, I was dressed in my usual jeans and tee and not still in my pj pants.

I slowly turned around, looking for Isaiah, but it appeared that I was alone in the room. Extending my hand the way Isaiah always did when he was in a circle, I jumped back in shock when it came up against a very hot wall. Of course jumping backwards only slammed my head and shoulder against another side of the transparent shield, not only burning, but also bruising me. I growled in anger, then crossed my legs and sat down pretzel-style, rubbing the back of my head with my uninjured hand. It looked like Isaiah's brand of fun had begun full force.

I had my phone in my pocket, so I pulled it out to look at the time. It didn't work. Big surprise. Time was probably different here in the DR, anyway. I patted my other pockets. Nope, I had nothing else with me. From now on, I'd carry a book around during summoning time. At least then I'd have something to do. My phone didn't work, but maybe I'd have more luck with a charged mp3 player. At least then I could listen to music.

The door opened behind me, so I twisted around to see if it was Isaiah. I blinked twice, not quite sure if what I was seeing was real, but unable to take my eyes off of the creature. The warm brown fur that covered his body was very thick and long—kind of like Cousin Itt, only nicer looking. It walked on four legs, but also had an extra pair of furry arms sprouting from its shoulders, which it used to carry a tray with a pitcher, two goblets and a plate of something that smelled suspiciously like cookies. The fur on its doggy-shaped head was much shorter, so I could see its eyes, black and shiny, along with its mouthful of very sharp-looking teeth.

To place the tray on the wooden table, it stood on two legs, giving it a height of around 6'. It walked upright a few steps in my direction, still keeping at least four yards between us. The middle set of arms were clasped behind it's back, maybe to keep them out of the way, and the top set hung at it's sides.

"Jacqueline, The Lord Isaiah will receive you in a few minutes. He is detained in a meeting." His English was perfect, although my cheetah ears picked up the trace of an accent that brought to mind sun kissed beaches, good beer and shrimp on the bar-bee. Australian was my guess, although I'd never caught a glimpse of a furry six legged creature going walkabout. He kept his features frozen, but I'm not sure I could have read his expression anyway.

"The Lord?" I asked without hiding my sarcasm.

"Our master." He replied, leaving no doubt that he'd caught my insolent tone and hadn't liked it at all.

My smart mouth was all ready to respond when my more logical brain forced me to bite down on my lip—hard—to keep from making my life more difficult. I was sure that Isaiah would get a detailed report. He might even have cameras recording the whole exchange. "Thank you...?'

He said a very long word I would never be able to pronounce. "I'm sorry, I don't understand."

"Call him Stan. That's alright isn't it?" Isaiah appeared in the room heading directly to the table to pour a dark red liquid from the pitcher into the goblets. He was dressed in a suit. A
suit
. He actually looked like one of those hunky European models, with the tousled hair and smokey eyes.

"Thank you, Stan." Stan touched behind his ear, nodded toward Isaiah and dissolved into the lines of the DR.

"He won't mind if we call him Stan. He wouldn't even mind if I called him asshole. I don't think he'd care if I called him..."

"I get the picture,
Lord
."

His grin was wry. "No one uses their real names here." He walked around the circle. "You held your tongue."

"Testing me already?"

"Constantly." He took a cookie from the tray, leaned against the table and smirked. "You should stand in my presence." As he chewed on his cookie, I bit my lip and slowly forced myself to stand. "Straighter." I straightened my back and glared. He brushed a few crumbs off of his suit jacket. "Now bow."

"You're out of your fucking mind," I hissed through gritted teeth.

"Oh good. For a minute there I thought I'd summoned your more reasonable clone." Picking up one of the goblets he walked over and broke the circle with a flick of his shoe. Glaring, I stepped closer to the table. Isaiah pointed to the goblet. "Drink, if you dare."

"Very dramatic. It's not blood is it?" I made a face.

"No, it's wine mixed with magic; the first step."

I stared at the cup but didn't make a move to take it. "Toward what?"

"Syncing with your magic."

But I can already use my demon magic. I can travel the lines and unravel a block..."

"Those were specific skills that I taught you so you could escape. Most of your abilities are locked down and will remain that way until we can coax them out."

I hesitated, watching him down another swallow. "You need it too?"

"Nah, I just like the taste." He finished his cookie in one bite. "Drink. Time is limited and valuable."

When I looked into his eyes, I saw excitement. This was the Isaiah who'd helped me escape from Kennet, taught me how to speak to shades, and was currently training my son. What the heck.

He noticed my wince as I picked up the cup, so he took it from my hand and examined my injury. "Jacqueline, you've been here one minute and you're already wounded. Caelen will have a fit." He cradled my hand in his own, said a few words in Rux then blew gently, the soothing air healing the burn. "Perhaps I should have warned you about the heat of the circle. Anywhere else?" I showed him my shoulder and head. I could still smell the burnt hair. He was annoyed but still repeated the ritual.

"Lord Caelen wants a report."

"I expect he does. Will you give him one?"

"Yes." His eyebrows arched up at my blunt reply. "Charlie has allies in Faerie, but only you here in the DR. I'll keep your secrets, but I intend to give him the information he needs to keep Charlie safe."

He frowned. "You're wrong about Charlie. You and Garrett have allies in Faerie. Charlie has no official allies there and will have none until he comes into his powers around the age of fourteen. The elders will have to meet and agree...blah, blah, blah. You know how they operate."

"I told him I would give him information."

He shrugged and picked up another cookie. "I can wipe your memories to keep you from reporting back."

I was speechless for a heartbeat. "You saw what I went through with Kennet; I didn't think you'd be cruel in that way."

"Cruel in other ways, perhaps?"

I surveyed the barren room and sighed. "I want to trust you. I do trust you in my world, but I don't really know what to expect here."

"We'll go someplace more comfortable." Touching my shoulder, he beamed me to the center of another room, the goblets and plate of cookies accompanying us. This very large room had cream-colored stucco walls, more ugly wooden furniture and the same wall sconces. Four large windows were covered by heavy brown curtains so I couldn't see outside. The one standout feature in the room was the floor, which was laid with colorful ceramic tiles patterned in strange designs. There were no paintings or photographs or wall hangings or even one lousy plant in the room. Frankly, I was kind of disappointed that his home wasn't more elaborate. Isaiah always seemed kind of classy, in a demonic sort of way.

"You should fire your decorator."

"Are you volunteering for the job?" He said, his mouth full of cookie. He offered me the plate, but my stomach was too nervous for food.

"Oh no. You'd end up with Ikea." I looked around. "Although..."

He offered me the goblet with a smile. When I didn't take it, he lifted my newly healed hand, positioning my fingers around the stem and then guiding the cup to my mouth. "Drink." I took a long swallow and grinned. It tasted like magic, similar to fae but not quite the same.

"Yum." I took another swallow and he removed the cup from my grasp, placing it back on the table.

"Hey...I wasn't finished." I reached toward the cup.

He grasped my hand before I could pick it up. "You were. Trust me."

A moment later I was really glad that he was still holding my hand. I blinked in shock as sections of the walls and floor disappeared behind swirling bands of multicolored mist. As it moved, the cloud seemed to travel with a sentient purpose through the room, twisting itself around chair legs and making spiraling patterns on the tiled floor. The ethereal coils cooled the room dramatically, turning the floor icy beneath my bare feet. To warm up, I hugged myself with my one free arm and shifted my weight from foot to foot. When the creepy fog snaked around my legs I jumped in fright. Now I couldn't see my feet and soon my body would disappear, gobbled up in the cold mist.

My claustrophobia kicked in big time. "Uh...Isaiah." I clutched at his arm. "I'm having trouble breathing."

"You're safe."

"What's happening?" I squeaked.

"Your reality is adjusting. The room will clear as you use your powers." he started to move away.

"Wait!"

"Learn to control your fear. The creatures of my realm will swallow it down along with the rest of you if you give them half a chance." He waved a hand and the mist moved away from our bodies, pulsing with a rhythm similar to a heartbeat, alive but not. We stood in a cleared circle, six feet in diameter, enclosed in a cloud of vibrant hues. We could have been anywhere, because all I saw was the mist, even overhead. There was nothing indicating that we were in a room at all, except perhaps for the tiled floor beneath my feet and the memory of what it had looked like before my two sips.

"It's so dark."

"Of course, forgive me." The fog grew brighter and I was able to see him again. I rubbed my arms and continued to move in place, trying to warm up my body. I thought about asking for him to warm things up a bit, but now wasn't the time to complain. He might leave me in the mist.

"I'll give you the grand tour, but take notes, because I'll expect you to find your way around without help from now on." A map and a pencil appeared in my hands. I clutched at them reflexively so they wouldn't fall and become lost in the vapor. Unfortunately, the map looked just like the actual space, swirling and pulsing with a magical fog.