Soul Mates Bewitched (12 page)

I watched as more than twenty Reapers moved out of the shadows toward us, their sickles shining in the candle light. Their dark cloaks covered their forms, making it hard to discern where one ended and the next one began. Without a glance at any of my comrades or Jillian I pushed forward to meet the oncoming threat.

The closest Reaper swung his sickle, aiming for my neck, but I blocked it with my sword and then spun around slicing it in half. Ducking to avoid another swing from a second Reaper, I came up in front of it, driving my swords up and through its skull. A glance to the left showed me that Rik and James had taken out another five and Thane had another three down on my right. That left only another ten to deal with.

“Behind ye!” Jillian screamed as a blade sliced at my backside.

I quickly moved forward, avoiding the blade, and then back flipped over the Reaper, scissor cutting his head off in the process. Without stopping, I spun into another Reaper, slicing through its body as if it was butter. As it dropped, I crushed its skull beneath my heel and moved to help Thane take out another two Reapers in a tag team effort.

Rik roared as he completely shifted and ripped the heads off of three more Reapers. James, who had also shifted, was shredding another two Reapers with both teeth and claws. I went for the last Reaper, the one guarding Brice as he attempted to escape the way we’d entered. With one smooth leap, I took his head and was after Brice. I caught up to him as he attempted to scramble up the stairs.

Thane grabbed him and bound his hands with magically infused leather straps, so that he could not work any magic. “You will answer for this.”

“I’ll get Nicu,” James said, pushing out of the room and into the next where we could now hear Nicu moaning.

“Do you have any idea who I am?” he asked cockily.

“I know who you
think
you are,” I said softly. I knew he wasn’t who or what he thought he was. He’d tricked Póg Tocsaineach into believing he was her mate. I’d felt it the minute I’d entered the room. It was as if Gaia was whispering at me once again.

“I am the Unseelie Knight. Consort of Póg Tocsaineach.”

“You are a
liar
. You are not her true mate. You could not survive her kiss, not without help. You used magic to survive. A counter-agent to disengage her poisonous kiss.”

“So what? That doesn’t mean anything,” Brice said, looking slightly less superior.

“It means everything, doesn’t it, Póg?”

“It is true, then, what he speaks?” Póg asked entering the room.

“No! Don’t believe him!” Brice shouted, a look of fear marring his face.

“You don’t have to believe me, kiss him and see for yourself,” I said as Thane and Rik helped Jillian down from the spiked wheel. James waited in the stairway with Uncle Nicu who had been held in an anterior room and was still drugged.

Póg narrowed her eyes and approached Brice. “Is it true, my love? Have you lied to me?” she asked searching his face and dragging her fingers over his chest. “Shall I see if they are right?” she whispered as we made our escape.

I heard Brice whimper as Póg leaned down and kissed him. We didn’t wait to see if he survived. I took Jillian out of Thane’s arms and ran for the Hounds as soon as we cleared the building. The last thing I wanted to do was fight Póg Tocsaineach and it would be a fight since we hadn’t bothered to leave the fake Chalice, let alone the real one. And she would remember soon, when she was finished torturing Brice for his deception. Apex and the other Hounds raced toward us, sliding to a stop in the snow about five feet from us.

Apex leaned down; I placed Jillian upon his back and climbed up behind her. James pulled Nicu up behind him and then we took off, fleeing the Winter Palace as fast as the Hounds would take us.

J
illian was barely alive, and leaning against me, I could feel her heart beat fading as we rode. “Hold on, Jilly. Just hold on,” I pleaded as we raced out of the frozen terrain and into the grasslands. I needed a way back to the mortal plane
now
, and fast.

“I know of a place, Light Bearer,” Apex said in my mind.

“Do it. Take us there,” I implored him.

Apex made a sharp turn, racing toward a light forested area. “It is a different Faerie Mound you will enter, one that has been closed for a long while.”

“New York?” I asked.

“Possibly, but I cannot be sure. No one has used it for many years. The door reappeared only a few months ago.”

“Months?” I frowned. It had only been perhaps a week at the most since Max had opened the New York Faerie Mound.

“It is there, just through those trees you will find a door.”

“Where are we?” Rik asked.

“A different Faerie Mound, Apex believes it may be New York.”

“It is not New York, but I do recognize this place. It has been many years. I believe this is the old entrance to a Mound in Ireland,” Thane said softly. “I must warn you, Light Bearer…”

“What is it Thane?”

“Entering the Never Never through one door and leaving through another…there could be…repercussions.”

“It’s a chance I’m willing to take,” I replied. “Jillian needs medical attention.”

“As you say, Light Bearer. However, you might send Rik back to the door we entered through, to warn my prince and to tell him of our journey.”

I glanced at Rik. “Are you willing, Rik?”

“I’ll go. I’ll let them know where you are and what has happened.”

“This is as far as we can go, Light Bearer,” Apex said softly in my thoughts.

“Thank you, Apex, to you and your pack. I am in your debt.”

“It is our pleasure, Light Bearer. Go now, the Sorceress fades.”

I nodded, scooped Jillian up in my arms and ran for the door beyond the trees. James helped Uncle Nicu follow closely behind us. Thane pushed open the door and we all stepped through, into the Faerie Mound. I could see Rik headed back into the Never Never behind us as I shut the door.

“Thane! Light Bearer! The Prince shall be so relieved!”

“We need a doctor, now!” I said without saying hello.

“Yes, of course! We were expecting that. Avril, see that Cederic is brought to the Prince’s chamber. Come, bring her through here.”

“Thank you,” I replied.

“I am Colin, Light Bearer. I shall just let our prince know of your return,” Colin said backing out of the room.

“How much time has passed, do you think?” James whispered to Thane as I laid Jillian down on the bed.

“Does it matter?” I asked as James helped Uncle Nicu into a chair. He still wasn’t talking and I worried about how the drugs were affecting him.

“It could,” James said, but let the matter drop as Cederic entered the room.

“What have we here?” he asked. “A mortal? Well, I’ll see what I can do,” he said rubbing his hands together and then placing them over each wound until they began to close and heal. “She will need plenty of rest. Her aura is weak, she has suffered tremendously. It will take some time for her to heal entirely.”

I nodded and tucked her into the bed, not wanting to leave her side. “Would you check my uncle too please?”

Cederic nodded. “Hmm, yes. He’ll be sleeping for quite a while. Heavy dose of Nectar. He’ll be hallucinating if we wake him now. Best to let him sleep it off.”

“Thank you. Is there perhaps another chamber?”

“Of course, Light Bearer. You,” Cederic pointed at James, “bring him across the hall.”

James looked as if he might give him a snarky reply, but then dropped it, picked Nicu up and crossed the hall.

“Light Bearer, my prince requests your presence in the throne room.”

I sighed as James came back into the hall. “Fine. Take me to the throne room.” James, Thane, and I followed Colin to the throne room, down a darkened corridor, through another hall and finally into the throne room.

“Tony. Thank goddess,” Max said, throwing his arms around me and hugging me.

“Max, what the hell, Dude?”

Max laughed. “Do you have any idea how long you’ve been gone?”

“No, I figured it had been a while, though.”

“Two years.”

“Two…years? Well, shit.”

“Two flipping years? Damn it! I hate the Never Never,” James growled.

“The Goddess assured me you were fine, Rik even assured me that you were fine. He reminded me that time was not moving as it should in the Never Never, but still, I worried. I attempted to go after you a few times, but Gaia sent me back every time. Where is Mylor?” Max asked glancing around the group.

Thane dropped to his knees in front of Max. “Mylor has passed into Summerland.”

“Rik never said. He wouldn’t talk about it. All he said was you had to get the Sorceress to a doctor, that you’d gone through another door, entering the Mound in Ireland. Max placed his hand on Thane’s shoulder. “I am sorry for the loss of Mylor. He fought well and valiantly and shall be remembered.”

Thane nodded.

“You’ve done well, thank you for taking care of my friend,” Max said stepping back. “James, I owe you.”

“Naw, you don’t owe me. We kicked some serious Unseelie tail and we volunteered for this shit. You‘re gonna have to catch me up on all the stuff I‘ve missed, though, Dude.”

Max nodded. “Your uncle? Jillian?” he asked turning to me.

“Nicu will recover shortly, he’s been drugged. Jillian was in worse shape.”

“She was tortured, my prince. It will take time for her to recover.”

“I see.”

“Nicu’s place?” I asked, wondering if Uncle Nicu even had a place to go back to.

“It’s fine. When he disappeared the Guardians took over, and kept things going for him. I assured them he would return.”

I let out a relieved breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “Póg Tocsaineach?”

“She’s been gone as long as you have. What of the Unseelie Knight?”

“He was not the true mate to the Maiden, my prince. She is still without her full powers,” Thane said.

Max smiled. “Well, that’s good news. Damn, it’s really good to have you back here, Tones!”

I grinned. “Yeah I know, things have been boring without me around.”

“You have no idea,” Max replied. “Go, I know you are anxious about Jillian.”

“I am,” I said with a small smile.

I hurried back down the corridor to the chamber Jillian resided in and quietly opened the door. Her eyes fluttered open as I entered the room. “Jilly?” I said softly, going to her and sitting on the side of the bed.

“I knew ye’d come, I knew,” she whispered. “Twas Brice. All this time. Twas feckin’ Brice. He never loved me, never fecking wanted me fer me. He only wanted me feckin’ power. He—”

“Hush, Sweetness,” I said stroking her hair from her face. “He’s been taken care of. He won’t be back to hurt you again.”

“Ye killed him?” Jillian glanced up at me.

“I didn’t have to. Póg Tocsaineach took care of that for us.”

“Why? Why’d she do it?” Jillian asked, confused.

“He was using her too, to gain her powers, so he would have more power of his own. She doesn’t like being used.”

Jillian nodded. “I don’t know how much more I could’ve feckin’ taken,” she said closing her eyes.

“I know, Sweetheart,” I replied, kissing her forehead. Jillian curled into me and sobbed for a while, each cry damn near breaking my heart. “I should have been there sooner. I’m so sorry.”

After a while she sat up, wiped her face, kissed me and took a deep breath. “Roi’t. I’m done being feckin’ messed up aboot this. Tis over an’ done,” she said giving me a smile. “Are they still after the Chalice? An’ ye?”

“I don’t know. I have more to tell you,” I said as she got up and off the bed. “Maybe you should sit back down, Jilly. Your body still needs to heal.”

“I’m fine, I don’t need ye coddlin’ me, mo ghrá,” she said with a wave of her hand. “What the feck is wrong?” Jillian asked putting her hands on her hips. “I ken see it on yer face, Antony, what the feck is it?”

I took a deep breath. “Jilly, we’ve been gone a long time,” I said cautiously.

“What do ye mean, a long time?” she asked narrowing her eyes.

“Two years,” I mumbled.

“Did ye just say two…years? Two feckin’ years?” she said incredulous. “Are ye feckin’ jokin’? Don’t feckin’ mess with me, Antony! Not now!”

“I’m not, Jillian. We’ve been gone two years,” I said calmly.

“How the feck is that even possible?”

“It’s the Never Never. Time moves differently there. I knew it was possible,” I replied. “I think coming through to this Faerie Mound had something to do with it.”

Jillian sat down hard on the bed. “Well, isn’t that jest feckin’ banjaxed.”

“I know.”

“I gotta call Mum and Da,” she mumbled mostly to herself. “They probably knew aboot this. Knew I’d be gone. And didn’t feckin’ say a word.”

“How would they know?” I asked.

“Mum’s the Oracle, remember? She sees stuff. Tis why she and Da formed the Guardians. To fix the stuff she sees. Tis why I’m feckin’ here training.”

I didn’t know what to say to comfort her, so I just rubbed her back and listened.

“Where’s the feckin’ phone?” she asked glancing around the room.

“We’re in Ireland, in the Faerie Mound. There aren’t any phones here, Sweetheart.”

“We’re in Ireland?” Jillian blinked. “How’d we end up here?”

“Long story.”

“Well, where in Ireland, then? Maybe I ken jest go and see Mum and Da.”

“I don’t know, but we can find out,” I said, taking her hand and leading her out of the room and down the corridor to the throne room. “Max,” I said as we entered.

“Sorceress, are you well?” Max asked.

“Jest fine now. Where the feck are we?”

“You’re in Kerry, Ireland. Near Farranfore, actually.”

“Then Mum and Da are aboot five hours away in Carryduff,” Jillian said.

“I can take you to them,” Max said.

Jillian looked wearily at Max and then at me. “Roi’t,” she paused. “All roi’t, then. I’d best change, ken’t go lookin’ like somethin’ the cat dragged in, ken I?” she said, looking down at her jeans and torn blue tee.

“I can help with that, what kind of apparel do you wish, Sorceress?” Max asked.

Jillian frowned. “I need a feckin’ skirt and blouse, matchin’ heels, accessories… maybe one o’ the Fae women have somethin’ I might borrow?”

“No need,” Max said snapping his fingers.

Jillian screamed in surprise when her clothes suddenly changed to a classic black skirt that reached her knees, a deep jade green blouse with short sleeves and a vee neck that buttoned down the front, and three inch spiked black heels. “What in the bloody hell jest happened?”

I caught her arm as she nearly tripped on the heels. “It’s just something Max can…do. You look great, by the way.”

Jillian narrowed her eyes. “Don’t ye ever feckin’ do that again!”

“As you wish, Sorceress. Now, where in Carryduff?”

“Hillsborough Road, big gray and red brick house behind an iron gate, ye ken’t miss it,” Jillian said sourly.

“Very well. Tones, take her hand,” Max said as he placed his hand on my shoulder.

“Wait! Ye can’t go lookin’ like ye been feckin’ fightin’ fer yer life. Tis me mum and da, fer land sakes!”

Max quickly blinked us both into nice black slacks and polo type shirts. “Better?”

“Yeah, that’ll do.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Max flashed us to Carryduff, to stand just outside of the iron gates of Jillian’s parent’s home. She was squeezing my fingers so tight I knew she was nervous. “You okay?” I whispered.

“Don’t be a gack. I’m feckin’ fine. Jest don’t be banjaxed if I start soundin’ like a laudy daw,” Jillian said frowning.