The Wicked (19 page)

I met Thalia’s gaze and sighed. “I guess, I should say thank you—I think.”

She gave me a happy nod, her eyes bright with emotion.

Obviously, she liked what she tasted.

In response to my thoughts, she nodded again.

I shook my head at her, and turned my attention to things other than my body. “Are you okay, Haven?”

She pushed her way out of Finn’s arms. “Surely am. Thanks to you.” She bounced over and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.

“We have kept a few alive,” Broden said from the main entrance. “We thought you might wish to question them with regards to the witch.”

“Good thinking, Broden,” Zia said. “Let’s go meet these vampires, Talon.”

“Fess up, kitty,” I snapped at Willow as we stood outside of the lodge. “What the hell are you?”

“I am a cat. What do you think I am?”
she snapped right back.

“Yeah, I see you’re a cat.” She had shifted back to her normal little fluff ball self immediately after the battle ceased. “But why did you change into a panther, and why did you come to help me?”

“That is my duty. I’m your protector,”

“Protector?” I repeated.

“Yes. We are protectors. I don’t know why you have that stupid look on your face. This isn’t that hard to understand.”

“Be nice,” I glared a little. “Why is Zia’s cat not here then?”

“Zia wasn’t in any danger so her cat had no reason to be here.”

“Oh, okay, so because I needed help that’s why you came?”

“Really, is that so hard to believe?”

I ignored her ridicule. “I thought you said you weren’t a were?”

“I’m not a were,”
she replied, appalled.

“Then, how did you shift?”

“I am a familiar. My form is normally this one.”
She gave her body a shake.
“But when I am called upon to protect you, my strength grows and I can take a larger form.”

I picked her up, quite pleased with my little cat. “You are a very good kitty, Willow. The way you killed those vampires for me was amazing. When I get home, I’m going to warm a big bowl of milk for you.”

She purred as I scratched under her chin.
“Yummy. Finally, the treatment I deserve!”

“You’re still alive I see,” Ellery’s snappy voice came from behind me.

I spun around to see her approaching quickly with four vampires strolling behind her.

When she reached us, she leaned in to kiss Thalia’s cheek. “It is nice to see you again, Thalia.”

“Always a pleasure,” Thalia responded.

When Ellery leaned away, she smiled. “You had a taste too I smell.”

Thalia grinned innocently. “Never bite in, no marking scent here, only licked the wound clean, of course—to seal it.”

They both laughed sweetly.

“Moving on please,” I grumbled.

Ellery winked at me. “I wasn’t expecting this to be over so soon. I was waiting for a few of my guards who were running some errands for me.” She looked at the three vampires trembling on the ground. “I see our help was not needed.”

Talon shot me a little annoyed look. “It ended quicker than we anticipated.”

“She was the reason for that?” Ellery asked, pointing to me.

He nodded.

“I heard of your talents,” Ellery said to me. “I could use one like you.”

I laughed. “Another job offer?”

She nodded.

“Sorry. I already turned down Thalia’s. I’m happy right where I am.”

“Such a shame,” she said with a sigh, then, turned back to the vampires. “Rise you idiots.” In an instant, they were on their feet. “Ask them what you need to know. They will answer your questions. Won’t you?” she growled at them.

They nodded quickly.

“Is there more of you?” Talon asked one of them.

The vampire appeared unwilling to answer, but one stern look from Ellery sent his flappers yapping. “No.” He shook his head so fast his teeth rattled. “We were all here tonight.”

“They were not all of mine.” Ellery demanded. “Who were the others?”

“Some were mine,” Thalia interjected. “But yes, who were the others?”

“Rogues,” the vampire answered.

“What are rogues?”
I thought to Zia.

“They’re vampires who do not belong to any one territory. Roamers—dangerous sorts.”

Sometimes having this connection was a huge blessing. That would have been embarrassing if I actually had to ask that aloud.

“What were you doing here?” Zade asked.

“We were preparing for our attack against you,” the vampire said concisely.

The hate and rage wafting off his tone curled my toes.

Zia appeared shocked. “Attack against us?”

“At first, it was our plan to destroy the Guardians one by one,” the vampire said. “As you saw, we began to accomplish that.”

Finn lunged forward and wrapped his hand around the vampire’s throat. “He was my brother,” he growled.

The vampire smiled cruelly, then in a blink, he was dead.

“He was mine to kill,” Ellery chastised Finn.

“No,” he shouted, returning his sword to his scabbard. “He was mine.”

Haven grabbed Finn’s arm, dragging him away. “Let her have the others, Finn. What she’ll do to them will be far worse than anything you’re capable of doing.”

He glanced to her and immediately softened.

She had that effect.

Another vampire spoke up. “When Astoria came into the picture our plan was to succeed where Lazarus failed.”

“Why is Astoria helping you?” I asked.

The vampire shrugged. “She wants revenge for the loss of Lazarus.”

Zia said, “Astoria joined forces with you because of a broken heart?” Her voice showed just how much she believed that.

“It is not only a broken heart,” he spat. “You have destroyed our leader. The one who was going to run the Otherworld as it should be run.”

Ellery slapped his face with pure vampire speed. “Are you that stupid?” The remaining two vampires looked stunned. “How I have such imbeciles within my territory is beyond me. Have I not taught you better than this? Lazarus would never have succeeded with his plans. It is an impossible venture.”

“It was never impossible. Not until that one,” he pointed at me, “came along and ruined everything.”

I fanned my face. “Little old me.” So, I was taunting them. They deserved it.

The vampires snarled at me.

Ellery snarled right back. “Now I have to punish you for what you have done. What a waste.” She motioned toward her guards, who grabbed the vampires.

“I thought I trained mine better as well,” Thalia murmured.

“To think they thought they could change our society.” She shook her head. “Fools.”

Ellery glanced at Talon. “You will not have any further trouble from my vampires. I have called a summit and will bring these vampires,” she pointed back to them, “to show just what happens to those who betray me.”

I gulped deeply. Torture was putting it lightly to what these ones were about to face.

“Sounds intriguing,” Thalia smiled.

Ellery wrapped her arm in hers. “Come then. Let’s make a night of it.”

“I’ll bring the humans.” Hayes chuckled, following behind them.

“Thalia. Hayes,” I yelled after them. They glanced back to me. “Thanks for your help.”

Thalia spun around. “It was well worth it,” she said with a lick of her lips.

I cringed.

She laughed. “Come to me soon, Ryker.”

“I will,” he answered with all types of sultry promise.

I cringed again.

Just as they were leaving, Zia yelled out. “Where is Astoria now?”

One of the vampires turned around. “I don’t know. She was planning to join back with us tonight.”

“She could be here now then?”

He nodded.

“We must get back, Talon, and summon more of the witches,” Zia said, urgently. “It is the only way to defeat her. We cannot fight her on our own.” She glanced around quickly. “We are not safe here.”

Kyden reached for my hand just as a large crow flew right in front of my face. I screamed, startled. “Christ! Did you see that?” I blasted, staring at the crow who was now perched on the fence.

Haven giggled. “I did. I thought it was gonna take a swipe at you.”

Zia was examining the bird with an odd expression on her face.

It intrigued me for a moment, then I glanced back to the bird. It was looking at me as if I was some type of bird seed.

“You are to come to me,”
a voice said in my mind.

I glanced back at Zia. “Did you say something?”

“No,” she responded, clearly confused.

“You are to come to me,”
the voice said again.

I glanced down at Willow who was busy doing a full body bath. “Was that you?”

She looked annoyed at being interrupted.
“I haven’t said a thing.”

“Come to me, Nexi,”
there it was again.

“Did you hear that?” I asked Kyden.

He arched a brow. “Hear what?”

“It is I, who is speaking to you.”

I glanced back to the bird, suddenly, aware that the damn thing was talking to me. “What the…” I pointed to the bird. “That crow is talking to me. You didn’t hear it speak just now?”

He shook his head. His features perplexed.

Suddenly, Zia lunged forward. Worry etched stone in her face. “What is it saying to you?”

“Just for me to come to it.”

“You are to come alone. I have created a portal there for you. You only need to walk into the trees and it will lead you to me,”
the bird said.

“Who are you?” I gasped.

“Astoria,” Zia growled.

Kyden snatched me up. “Do not talk to it.”

“They have no control here. If you do not come I will make them suffer,”
it said.

I met Kyden’s gaze. “She’s threatening us.”

“We must get out of here. Now,” Zia shouted.

Just as her words ended, one of the Guardians standing with us, dropped to the ground.

Haven screamed. Talon dropped to the ground, shaking him, but he was gone—dead.

“The longer you take, the more will die. Soon, I will kill the ones who mean the most, especially the Guardian beside you. I understand the pain of losing a lover all too well.”

“She’s going to hurt you,” I whispered, reaching up to touch Kyden’s face. Then, I glanced around. “All of you. She said she’ll kill all of you.”

Everyone stood shocked, scared—stunned.

“What do we do?” Haven bellowed.

Zia face was riddled with fear. “I—I…”

“Just go.” I gave them a push. “She doesn’t want you. Just go now.”

Kyden held me tighter. “I will not leave you for her,” he shouted. “You hear that, bitch. You cannot have her.”

Suddenly, another Guardian fell to the ground.

Haven’s cries shot terror right through me.
Dear God, I have to stop this.

“She will kill you,”
Zia said in my mind.

“She will kill all of you,” I retorted aloud.

Another Guardian dropped. The group was slowly diminishing. Panic was gripping me, knowing my choices were slim.

“Agree now?”

“They won’t let me leave!” I screamed at it.

“Damn right I won’t,” Kyden bellowed.

“You have the ability to stop them. Use your powers. My patience is running thin.”

Two more Guardians fell.

Screams and cries of pain shook me. The loss of many was plummeting around us.

Kyden’s eyes widened. “Do not do this.” His plea was full of anguish and nearly killed me. “Nexi, don’t!”

It was too late. I drew on my power, knowing exactly what needed to be done. Coolness began to invade every part of me as air filled my soul. I released any control I had on myself. I wanted my power to come out in full force. I dug down deeper, ignoring the sound of Kyden’s rage as the wind began to draw louder. With shivers running down my veins, I released the power outward, demanding it hold them.

“Step forward into the woods.”

I glanced around at them. Haven was crying hysterically, Zia right along with her, and the others looked stricken.

“I won’t let her kill you,” I belted out, then darted toward the woods.

Just before I entered, I glanced quickly back to Kyden, my heart clenching at the torment running through him.

“I love you,” I whispered, and with that, I disappeared from their view. The second I passed the trees, I released my magic, heard Kyden charging forward, screaming my name.

My air gasped out as I was plunged into darkness. This portal was pure hell—screams of horror swept across me as I plummeted through shadows.

I crashed—hitting the ground hard. “Ouch,” I complained, pushing the hair back from my face. I raised my head, agape at the beauty around me. A small lake with crystal blue water led up to an endless display of mountain splendor. Rich evergreens layered the sides of the mountains and nearly reached the snowy peaks. “Odessa Lake,” a crisp voice said from beside me.